Hong Kong: HK's anti-poverty efforts lauded

CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong is impressed with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Governments work to aid the underprivileged via its community space initiative.



Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun made the statement after accompanying Mr Xia on a visit to the Sham Shui Po Community Living Room today, which covered the inspection of its facilities and interaction with its users.



Steered by the Hong Kong SAR Government, the goal of the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room is to improve the quality of life of grassroots families, especially those living in subdivided unit households.



Mr Sun said: He is encouraged by what we do to help those in need. Because what is available here in the community living room is exactly what those living in poor conditions need - giving them a space for gathering, (and) for children there is a space for them to study and also socialise.



And what is more important is to provide a common kitchen, as well as common areas where they can do laundry, and if necessary they can have a shower.



He added that Mr Xia called on the Hong Kong SAR Government to continue its efforts to help the needy.



So this is a very concrete measure by the Government and for that, Director Xia fully agrees with what we do. He encourages us to push ahead with the effort and do more to help those in need.

This story has been published on: 2024-02-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Scientists have unveiled stunning fossils of an ancient seaborne "dragon" discovered in China, Azernews reports citing Live Science.

The 240 million-year-old animal  nicknamed the "Chinese dragon"  belongs to the species Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, a reptile that used its remarkably long neck to ambush unsuspecting prey in shallow waters during the Triassic period (252 million to 201 million years ago).

The species was first found in limestone deposits in southern China in 2003, but scientists have now pieced together remains to reconstruct the full 16.8-foot (5 meters) span of the spectacular ancient carnivore for the first time.

The researchers revealed the new findings in a study published Feb. 23 in the journal Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

"It is yet one more example of the weird and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to baffle paleontologists," Nick Fraser, keeper of natural sciences at National Museums Scotland said in a statement. "We are certain that it will capture imaginations across the globe due to its striking appearance, reminiscent of the long and snake-like, mythical Chinese Dragon."

The fossil reveals some of the ancient sea dragon's striking features.

First and foremost is its neck, which stretches nearly 7.7 feet (2.3 meters) and contains 32 separate vertebrae  in comparison, giraffes (as well as humans) have only seven neck vertebrae.

The snake-like shape of the dragon's articulable neck likely gave it a remarkable ability to sneak up on its prey, which it did after maneuvering into position with its flippered limbs. Some of the fish snared in the dragon's serrated teeth are still preserved inside the sea monster's belly.

The researchers note that though the strange creature may be reminiscent of the Loch Ness Monster, it is not closely related to the long-necked plesiosaurs that inspired the famous mythical creature.

"We hope that our future research will help us understand more about the evolution of this group of animals, and particularly how the elongate neck functioned," first-author Stephan Spiekman, a postdoctoral researcher based at the Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History, said in the statement.
Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter, contenders for a U.S. Senate seat, visited the Bay Area on Saturday  Schiff at the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco and Porter at a meet-and-greet in Emeryville. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle, Josh Edelson/Getty Images Katie Porter supporters rally Saturday during the U.S. Senate candidates stop in Emeryville. Josh Edelson/Getty Images U.S. Senate candidate Katie Porter speaks to supporters Saturday during a meet-and-greet in Emeryville. Danielle Echeverria/The Chronicle U.S. Senate candidate Katie Porter speaks to supporters Saturday during a meet-and-greet in Emeryville. Danielle Echeverria/The Chronicle State Sen. Scott Wiener participates in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. Earlier in the day, he appeared at a meet-and-greet in Emeryville with U.S. Senate candidate Katie Porter. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

U.S. Senate candidates Adam Schiff and Katie Porter visited the Bay Area on Saturday, mingling with voters in the final weeks before the California primary while enjoying the weekends sunny skies and cultural opportunities.

Rep. Porter, D-Irvine, held a meet and greet Saturday morning at the National Union of Healthcare Workers headquarters in Emeryville, while Rep. Schiff, D-Burbank, participated in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco in the evening.

Porter was joined at the union headquarters by state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, Assembly Member Buffy Wicks of Oakland, and the presidents of the health care workers, flight attendants and school employees unions, all of whom have endorsed her campaign.

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Supporters wearing red union shirts, orange Katie Porter shirts and navy blue I Love Oversight shirts mingled over meatballs on the sunny afternoon in Emeryville before the remarks.

Supporters of Katie Porter rally Saturday during the candidates stop in Emeryville. Josh Edelson/Getty Images

Joined onstage by her children, Wicks spoke about how she believes Porter, another working mother, will fight for working-class families.

Shes not just going to vote the right way, shes going to fight the right way, shes going to lead the right way, she said. Never underestimate Katie Porter.

Wiener spoke about Porters support for issues he has worked on at the state level, such as increasing access to mental health care, housing and transportation. He said Porter, known for viral confrontations in Congress, will push to make things happen.

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Its so easy to get stuck in the ways we were doing things, he said. Katie understands that that doesnt work.

In an energetic speech, Porter stressed that she has never taken money from corporate political action committees and that the race is about the future of Democratic Party.

If we are going to rebuild trust in our democracy, its going to come from doing Washington differently, she said to applause. My colleagues in this race are amazing, and they have done amazing things. But this is a race about what we will do, not what we have done.

U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, campaigns in Emeryville on Saturday. Josh Edelson/Getty Images

Porters biggest rival in the race is Schiff, who rode in the Chinese New Year Parade in a blue Mustang convertible alongside San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who has endorsed his campaign. When their car arrived at the end of the parade route on Kearny Street between Washington and Jackson streets, Chan introduced Schiff to a cheering crowd of parade spectators. Schiff wished everyone a prosperous new year and gestured toward a grandstand where his wife, Eve, was watching the festivities.

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Yes, we are Adam and Eve, Schiff joked. He also praised Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who was watching the parade from the same grandstand. Schiff called her the greatest speaker of all time.

I want to be a senator for all of California and every community. I want to be present and be a part of such joyful celebrations. I think its an important part of being a good representative, Schiff told the Chronicle as he walked down Kearny Street while onlookers waved.

I spent a lot of my growing up years in the Bay Area. I love this area, and I would love to represent everyone here, he said.

In a statement, Chan said she supported Schiff as Californias next senator because he has the leadership and ability to bring resources back to San Francisco and to California, helping our great city to get back on track as a world class city and ensuring that California remains a thriving economy, as one of the largest economies in the world.

This is why I welcome Congressman Schiff to this years Lunar New Year Parade, because he recognizes and honors the traditions of our AAPI community and he appreciates the value of our communitys contributions to both San Francisco and the State, Chan said in her statement.

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U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, attends the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco with his wife, Eve. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Senate candidate Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, who attended the Sonoma County Democratic Partys crab feed Friday night in Santa Rosa, spent Saturday afternoon at a Black Expo in Sacramento before heading to Bakersfield for a campaign rally in the evening. She was to return to the Bay Area on Sunday to visit Greater St. Paul Church in Oakland and Third Baptist Church San Francisco, then will hold a Monday night rally in Oakland.

Steve Garvey, the former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star making his first run for office and the lone Republican in the race, planned no Bay Area events over the weekend.

The four candidates held their final debate Tuesday before the March 5 primary. Schiff is leading in both polling and fundraising, while Porter and Garvey are battling for second place to advance to the November general election. Lee has trailed in polls in the race for the seat long held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died in September.

Sen. Laphonza Butler, appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October to fill out Feinsteins term, is not running.
Since 2012, Irvin and Teesha Ward, of Evington, have opened their hearts and home to 47 foster children, eventually adopting seven of them, demonstrating just how transformative lives can become through endless love and selflessness.

The Wards began fostering with HumanKind Foster Care in 2012, becoming one of the organizations first approved families. Over the years, they have provided a nurturing environment for numerous children, regardless of age or background. They had a willingness to foster teenagers, one of the most needed placements.

Among their most recent adoptions is a sibling group of four children, who were neglected and malnourished.

It was rough in the beginning, Irvin Ward said. You know those commercials of African kids? All four of them looked like that.

Through extensive medical care, therapy sessions and unwavering love, the children have thrived, Irvin and Teesha Ward said.

Irvin, the owner of a construction company, and his wife, Teesha, a former educator turned full-time caregiver for their adopted children, have faced numerous challenges along the way. From managing crises to juggling their professional endeavors with the demands of foster care, they say their journey has been both rewarding and demanding.

You give up your space and your home for these kids. You almost sometimes will feel like youre a prisoner within your home, and just certain rooms in your home, because you give up so much space, Irvin said.

Despite the challenges theyve faced, their commitment to fostering and adopting children has never wavered, Irvin said.

Its an excellent, beautiful opportunity to give kids an opportunity to expose them to places theyve never been and share moments, he said. We took a bunch of them to Disney World in a 15-passenger van.

Oftentimes, the children he fostered over the years werent used to hearing praise or receiving accolades.

With the adversity some of these kids have gone through and to see them doing better, walking across the stage for graduation, those are the rewarding moments, he said.

Teesha said she has a deep love for children and a passion for making a positive impact in their lives. With a background in special education and counseling, her career path naturally led her to a place where she could extend her care to vulnerable children.

She said the couple opened their home to foster care after witnessing the challenges faced by their nephew in the foster care system. Their initial intention was to help other children and families navigate through difficult situations and wanted to provide stability and support to those in need.

The Wards found themselves drawn to helping young men, recognizing the lack of role models for them. Through fostering, the couple aimed to instill values such as self-discipline, problem-solving and work ethic, often using construction work as a therapeutic outlet for the teenagers in their care.

She said the phone is always ringing, someone is always over whether it be family members of the children, social workers, case workers.

We have helped family members with rent, transportation, taking them to church, she said. I think its compassion. I think both of us have that quality.

HumanKind provided support all along the way, the Wards said.

They offered to transport a child to an appointment, they showed their appreciation, would throw parties for foster families. They honor the parents, Teesha said.

Essence Pennix, foster care quality assurance specialist at HumanKind, said the Wards have changed their whole lives to cater to these children.

During the Wards time with HumanKind, Pennix served as the middleman between foster parents and area Department of Social Services.

Were the ones who coordinate visits, she said.

HumanKind also would facilitate services and put in referrals for any therapies the children need. They also coordinate with schools and go to court to follow their cases. They also help arrange visits with biological families.

Ive never had to help them with transporting, they take time from work to take them to all their appointments, Pennix said.

She said the decision to become a foster parent often stems from a sense of purpose, a belief in making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

I definitely think its because they feel like theyre called to do something,

The process of becoming a foster parent entails rigorous background checks and preparation to ensure that prospective caregivers are equipped with the necessary skills and resources, she said. Its not about financial incentives but rather a profound commitment to providing stability, love and support to children who have experienced trauma and displacement.

Pennix said there is diversity among foster parents, ranging from individuals with firsthand experience in the foster care system to those motivated by faith and a desire to give back to their communities.

She said flexibility is a must in a foster home as parents must attend court hearings, therapy sessions and visitations with biological parents.

You have to be able to adjust. There are a lot of things changing. You will come across a period you have to be ready for different people to come in and out of your house, whether its caseworkers, social services, therapists, she said.

Pennix said there are attachments formed between foster parents and children, knowing that reunification with biological families remains the primary goal.

The Wards have taken in children with what Pennix describes as the craziest backgrounds and still never said no and have treated the children as their own.

Forty-seven is a high number, we sat down and counted, and we were like, this is crazy, Pennix said. They really are 360-degree support to these kids. We dont have a lot of foster parents like them. They are truly special.

Irvin said he and Teesha have learned more about each other along the ride.

Ive learned how to respect her and realized how hard she works through the day. We build off of each others strengths and weaknesses and make it work, he said.

In February 2022, right when the couple were about to ask HumanKind for a break from fostering, they received a call pleading for them to take in four nonverbal siblings, all of whom had experienced neglect and needed extensive care.

We were ready to take a timeout and went a few months with no one in the house, Irvin said. It felt good for a moment. You know, not having to feed all these meals and clean up this and do that. It was good, but then we got a phone call from the agency and the first thing Im thinking was How old are they? and then they tell us one, two, three and four and we said, Oh Lord.

Teesha remembers the initial challenges and joys of raising these children alongside their own, and said it was important that they knew stability and love.

Last June, the Wards adopted those four children ensuring they would all stay together. In addition to three other adoptions since 2017, they now have seven adopted children alongside three biological children of their own.

They didnt have anybody who would step up, so it was just really sad, she said. We were like we have to help them and not have them split up and not have them be in the system.

The four children all call Teesha and Irvin mom and dad now.

To accommodate more children, the Wards even added on to their home to create new bedrooms.

One was actually supposed to be for a pool room, and another was supposed to be part of the garage for a future boat, Irvin said as he laughed.

Despite the demanding nature of fostering, with constant appointments and social worker visits, Teesha and Irvin said they have approached their role with compassion and a sense of responsibility. They see fostering not just as a duty but as an opportunity to show love and kindness to those who need it most.

Love the children the way you would want to be loved if you were in that situation, Teesha said. Love has its times when you need to be direct, and you have to correct but do it from a place of love.

Jamie Creasy, executive director and program director of Foster Care at HumanKind, said the organization is licensed by the state of Virginia and operates as a nonprofit organization. Its primary focus is to find foster homes across the state for children who have experienced trauma due to abuse or neglect. Referrals come from the Department of Social Services, allowing HumanKind to serve children from various backgrounds and with diverse needs.

When the Wards applied to be foster parents in 2012, the HumanKind foster care was a staff of one: Creasy.

[Irvin] is the heartbeat of our program because he has been with me pretty much since the beginning, and he never turned down a child, she said. And whats so wonderful about him is that when a child leaves, whether they turn 18 and choose to leave or theyre returned back home because the court sees fit, he stays in touch with all of them. He continues to employ some of them because he owns a construction company. Even one of the kids ended up turning 18 and leaving, and he ended up in jail. And Mr. Ward, bless his heart, was sending him money every week for his little account.

The thorough process involved in becoming a foster parent includes paperwork, home studies and training sessions. Throughout this process, HumanKind provides continuous support to prospective foster families ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills and resources, Creasy said.

We help them and support them through it. We dont leave them by themselves, she said. We are front and center from the start to the finish until we hand you over and youre ready to go to accept your first child.

Creasy said there is a growing need for more foster families, as the demand continues to increase. She said there are misconceptions about the financial burden of fostering and said there is a stipend provided by the state to cover a childs needs.

We have a lot of families, but unfortunately the needs are still increasing, and our referrals are more, not less. Our homes stay full. We dont have any empty homes in any of our locations except one or two, she said.

In 2023, after years of dedicated service to foster care and with a full house of eight children living under their roof ranging from 3 to 17, the Wards semi-retired from fostering with HumanKind. Their retirement was celebrated by the organization in October.

We dont have any more bedrooms, Irvin said with a laugh.
BEDFORD  Just more than four years after a major fire ripped through the former Bedford Middle School building on Longwood Avenue, work is moving along to transform the structure that many consider an iconic local treasure into a new 62-unit complex for market rate apartments.

Another former school directly next door also is slated for new life as Hotel Fauna, a 30-room and suite boutique hotel planned for opening in spring 2025.

Dave McCormack, who heads Waukeshaw Development, Inc., the company working to redevelop the overall complex into a new economic anchor for downtown Bedford, on Thursday gave tours of the roughly 82,000-square-foot former middle school to members of Bedford Town Council. The former school, which closed seven years ago to make way for the current Liberty Middle School complex off Virginia 122 just past town limits, has been envisioned for apartments in recent years.

The project was dealt a major setback in a January 2020 fire that heavily damaged the old middle school, an act of arson that caused onlookers to watch from a distance as firefighters spent many hours quelling it. McCormack spoke of the fires effects during a tour Friday afternoon.

It was burnt to a crisp, McCormack said while leading a group through a spacious upper story hallway Thursday.

McCormack pointed out features of the restoration work and explained ways in which it pivoted in new directions following the blaze.

Cardinal Rule was the name under consideration for the apartments but Emily Sanfratella, of Waukeshaw Development, said they will be called the Flora Apartments, a name that compliments the boutique hotel next door.

The name is important to show how inner connected the two structures are as well as integrating nature, Sanfratella said.

For me, its coming to the Peaks [of Otter] and exploring the natural elements, she said of what draws people to Bedford.

On the roof is a front seat to the Peaks in full splendor, a feature McCormack says will be a major selling point for the two- and three-bedroom apartments.

This is what its all about, McCormack said of the views.

The apartment building is scheduled to have a certificate of occupancy by the end of the year, he said, but it may come sooner.

Were actually more ahead of where I think a lot of folks may realize we are, McCormack said.

Paul Cooper, of Retro Hospitality, a Richmond-based company that will manage Hotel Fauna, said the schools transformation into a new hotel will compliment Bedfords history and natural beauty.

Hopefully, if we do a great job, its a destination where folks will come around from the state and further away to come here and enjoy the community, Cooper said. This will be an upscale boutique hotel.

The hotel will include a large restaurant, a bar and event space in the former gym/auditorium and will host events from intimate weddings to business meetings with a full-service catering kitchen structured to host large and small events. Cooper said outdoor seating also is planned.

McCormack said crews are working on insulation and sheet rocking in coming months and overall construction is starting to come together. The company also renovated an old building nearby into The Bedford Lofts and another into Beales Brewery.

Two courtyards in the former middle school will be a good hangout spot for tenants, including those who may want to paint their own murals on the walls, Sanfratella said. A gym behind the hotel and next to the old middle school will be an amenity for hotel guests and apartment tenants, she said.

McCormack said the rooftop deck use atop the future Flora Apartments are unlike any the Petersburg-based company has ever done and will make the apartment complex a preeminent place to live.

This is our best marketing you could ever hope to have, McCormack said of the Blue Ridge Mountains backdrop. This is really special  its really rare. And the cool thing here is because were up on this hill the views are amazing in all directions.

Pam Bailey, Bedford Countys director of economic development, said she is excited to see firsthand the work to bring new life to a building so many in the community hold dear. The project also is a major draw for the downtown area, she said.

You dont ever want to see a town falling apart  You want a vibrant downtown and Centertown Bedford  its really happening, Bailey said. Theres a lot going on here.

Walking through the former school that will become a new hotel, Cooper said the old gym and auditorium has incredible natural light and dual functionality.

This space sets up to be a show-stopper, Cooper said. It will be a surprise to them when they walk through these doors.

Cooper said boutique hotels allow for room designs that do not have to follow franchise hotel standards that preclude certain types of things.

So youre really making this boutique space part of the community. It should reflect the community, Cooper said. The designs and brands are developed independently of any other hotel. So its a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel.

Such hotels have substantial backstories and Bedfords will certainly be one worth telling, he added.

This has incredible history and youre able to lean into that history, Cooper said. Its fun to work with these boutique hotels because you have a tremendous amount of creativity.
KYOTO, Feb 26 (News On Japan) - Isn't it beautiful? In a flask containing a substance with a deep purple hue, Professor Akira Kitagishi from Doshisha University is conducting an experiment that may create a groundbreaking therapeutic drug.

'I get fired up when making things. Whether it's creating something new or making a lot of things, it's simply about the act of creation, which is fascinating,' said a student, expressing admiration for Professor Kitagishi.

Professor Kitagishi may have discovered a substance that could significantly advance emergency medical care. It's called HemoCD. It has the property of strongly adsorbing toxic gases like carbon monoxide and cyanide, so when ingested, it adsorbs the toxic gas components and excretes them all in the urine. This property makes it usable as an antidote for gas poisoning.

In a recent case, six people were transported to this hospital in a state of cardiac arrest, and four of them died, apparently from carbon monoxide poisoning. The most common cause of death in building fires is carbon monoxide poisoning. In the arson murder case at Kitashinchi Building in December 2021, all 26 people who died were due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Professor Kitagishi watched the news of this incident with mixed feelings. 'I felt really frustrated at that time. So, yes, people inhale oxygen through breathing, and blood carries oxygen throughout the body. When you get carbon monoxide poisoning, you can't absorb oxygen into your body, and if the concentration in your blood is high, you can die in a few minutes to tens of minutes. But in today's medical care, there is no treatment. That's why it's a race against time to see how quickly you can respond.'

HemoCD, developed by Professor Kitagishi, is expected to be effective in treating carbon monoxide poisoning. It is named for its function similar to hemoglobin in the blood. The mechanism of HemoCD is as follows: Normally, hemoglobin in the blood carries oxygen throughout the body. However, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin more easily than oxygen, preventing oxygen from being transported in the body. HemoCD has a property that readily binds to carbon monoxide and removes it from the body, excreting it as urine.

The efficacy of HemoCD has been demonstrated in experiments. Mice that were poisoned with carbon monoxide were given HemoCD, and although they were initially unable to move and were lethargic, after about 30 minutes, the mice began to move. Furthermore, about two hours later, all the HemoCD administered to the mice was excreted in their urine, showing that no chemicals remained in their bodies. This indicates that HemoCD could save many lives at the scene of a fire.

HemoCD actually originated from a failed experiment that Professor Kitagishi had been working on. Professor Kitagishi, who was conducting research to create artificial blood, found that when administered to mice, it was immediately excreted in urine, which was a negative result. 'When you want to use it as artificial blood and it all comes out in urine, it's just negative information, and it was very disappointing.' However, his years of experience and keen observation did not let him overlook a slight change. 'When I was staring blankly, I noticed that it was a bit red. It was something I always knew, but it looked red. So, I thought I'd look into it a bit, and when I did, I found that it was binding with carbon monoxide.'"

Source: MBS NEWS
NAGASAKI, Feb 26 (News On Japan) - The Nagasaki Lantern Festival concluded Sunday with large crowds enjoying the traditional Chinese art of "Bian Lian," or face-changing performances.

The "Nagasaki Lantern Festival" is a winter tradition in Nagasaki, a city with a long history of international exchange, timed to coincide with the Chinese Lunar New Year. This year, for the first time in four years, the festival was held on its usual scale.

On the final day, February 25th, a face-changing show took place at one of the venues, the Nagasaki Confucius Shrine in Oura-machi, Nagasaki City, attracting about 800 visitors, leading to entry restrictions to stop overcrowding. The audience gave a round of applause to the skillful performers, who donned colorful costumes and changed their masks one after another. A 23-year-old woman from Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, who visited with her sister, said, "I was watching closely, but I couldn't figure out how they changed the masks, and it was interesting. Now I want to go around the city and enjoy sightseeing." This year's "Nagasaki Lantern Festival" took place over a period of 17 days, from February 9th, and according to Nagasaki City, a record-breaking 1.21 million people visited during the festival.

Source: NHK
Premiering Feb. 9, and charting No. 1 movie on Netflix the week of its premiere, Lover, Stalker, Killer delves into the 2012 disappearance and murder of Cari Farver, a resident of Macedonia, Iowa.

The chilling tale begins when innocent online dating spirals into a nightmare case of jealousy, framing and stalking, masterminded by Shanna Liz Golyar in her pursuit of David Kroupa, and anyone that may stand between them. Whats most unsettling  these events transpire right here in the Omaha area, and the documentary was filmed here, too.

As I watched, I couldnt help but notice the variety of filming locations featured throughout the show. One peculiar aspect was the juxtaposition of Plattsmouth, Council Bluffs and Omaha settings.

While the series centers around individuals residing within the Douglas County metro, many scenes were shot in the less urban city of Plattsmouth. It appeared as though the production aimed to maintain Nebraskas rural cornfield stereotype, a portrayal that Omaha doesnt quite align with.

For example, in one of the opening shots, Kroupa says, I decided to move to Omaha, but I had no idea what the hell was waiting for me. However, the shot features his car entering the Plattsmouth toll bridge, located 20 miles south of downtown Omaha. Adding to the confusion, why would someone willingly take a toll bridge when there are numerous other routes into the city?

Regardless, this prompted me to embark on a mission to identify all the other filming locations depicted in the movie within the metro.

Richland Apartment Complex, 116th and Burt streets

Timestamp: 03:37

As Kroupa explains it, he got a pretty nice apartment and was wild and free at 35, and ready to enjoy it. This complex is where he would join online dating service plentyoffish.com and first connect with Liz Golyar. Eventually, it would be the same setting where the two women, Golyar and Farver, would see each other for the first time.

Maggie Mays Rodeo Saloon, Council Bluffs

Timestamp: 05:38

This wasnt a filming location, but instead a clip from a date that Golyar and Kroupa went on where they rode a mechanical bull in 2012.

The bar was closed for a while but reopened last year after renovations.

Betterway Automotive, Downtown Plattsmouth

Timestamp: 06:29

They cut to this little gas station (I counted) five times. The production team must love this shot of downtown Plattsmouth after talking specifically about Omaha. While the case takes place specifically in Douglas and Pottawattamie counties, the documentary depicts the automotive shop as Kroupas workplace.

Fizzys Fountain & Liquors, South Omaha

Timestamp: 08:12

Opening in 2020, Fizzys had nothing to do with the case back in 2012; however, it does make a great filming location with its 50s-themed allure. In the documentary, the restaurant serves as the backdrop for Farver and Kroupas initial date before their relationship takes a dark turn.

Its also where Kroupa would be stood up on his fake date, which proved to be his stalker playing mind games.

Harolds Koffee House, Historic Florence

Timestamp 18:09

On the far north side of the city, Kroupa finds himself at Harolds Koffee House where he receives the first warning signs that hes being stalked  and watched.

Pottawattamie County Jail and Sheriffs Office, Council Bluffs

Timestamp: 33:45

At the locale, we meet metro cowboy Sgt. Jim Doty, Investigator Ryan Avis and Special Deputy Tony Kava with the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office. Much of the documentary is spent here, where detectives and cyber experts on the case detail the process of solving the case.

1892 Beer House, Council Bluffs

Timestamp: 34:30

The 100 Block bar acts as a meeting ground for the three detectives on the case to play pool and unwind after working grueling hours to crack the case.

Big Lake Park, Council Bluffs

Timestamp: 58:39

Big Lake Park became a crime scene back in 2015 when Golyar gets hit with a gunshot to the upper thigh, which she alleges was perpetrated by a woman. The documentary uses the 911 call along with shots of the park to tell the eerie chapter of the story.

A Bees Self Storage, Bennington

Timestamp: 1:15:40

Kroupa visits his storage locker to find an old iPad from 2012 that may hold more evidence. The storage place is located 20 minutes from his apartment at 116th and Burt, making the location choice slightly odd, but feasible.

Douglas County Courthouse, Downtown Omaha

Timestamp: 1:20:17

Here, Douglas County Attorney Chief Deputy Brenda Beadle prosecutes Shanna Liz Golyar in what she calls one of the most difficult-to-prove cases of her career.
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 last week. Kuhls appearance came after he was arrested in connection with the two-vehicle crash, which killed Norfolk resident Gary Smith, 69, at the 168th Street and Highway 36 intersection early Sunday. Feb. 18.

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 Highway 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 dead. 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 the odor of alcohol on 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 breath test measured Kuhls blood alcohol content at .192, and a lab breath test 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.
Medics took him to the hospital for medical treatment and he left behind his backpack, which was later turned into the lost and found.

Cam returned for the backpack days later, and police found three bags of meth in his coat pocket. He admitted to police he built the weapon himself, according to court records.

ATF workers tested the weapon and it worked as intended, court records state. The gun was categorized as an any other weapon which would have required registration through the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The Board of Goodman (NZ) Limited (GNZ) has entered into an agreement to internalise the management of Goodman Property Trust (GMT) to support its future growth strategy ("Internalisation Proposal").

Conditional on Unitholder and other approvals, the change to the corporate structure would bring to an end the existing external management arrangement with ASX-listed Goodman Group and effectively transfer these functions to GMT.

James Spence, Chief Executive Officer of GNZ said, Internalisation is expected to provide growth opportunities for our business, and immediate and longer-term benefits to our Unitholders. It reduces expenses, diversifies income, and enhances the ability to recycle capital through the establishment of a complementary property funds management business.

Overview of the Internalisation Proposal and process

Led by Deputy Chair of GNZ, David Gibson, a sub-committee of the Independent Directors was established to consider and negotiate the terms of the Internalisation Proposal with Goodman Group. Through its subsidiaries, Goodman Group has been the manager of GMT and a cornerstone investor since 2003.

Following the successful conclusion of this process, an agreement has been entered into to effect the change, which will involve the assumption of management functions by Goodman Property Services (NZ) Limited ("GPSNZ").

GMTs property investment strategy of owning high quality Auckland logistics property remains unchanged and there is continuity of business operations. This includes retention of James Spence, CEO and the wider executive team in their current roles. The directors of GNZ will also become directors of GPSNZ, with the new manager entity to be effectively controlled by Unitholders.

Key terms of the Internalisation Proposal include:

+ Goodman Group will be paid $272.4 million to relinquish its management rights, for the shares in GPSNZ and for the associated co-operation arrangements and services. Net of tax, the $199.3 million consideration represents a 9.1x multiple of the $22.0 million normalised FY24 savings GMT expects to realise, which is consistent with precedent transactions.

+ An additional $17.6 million will also be paid to Goodman Group to settle GMTs performance fee obligations, to acquire its interest in co-owned (with GMT) investment properties and for the net tangible assets of GPSNZ.

+ Goodman Group will use the total consideration of $290 million to subscribe for new units in GMT at $2.14 per unit (being the 5-day VWAP to 20-Feb-24), increasing its cornerstone investment in GMT to 31.8%.

Independent Appraisal Report

Deloitte, the Independent Appraiser, assessed the $272.4 million consideration as being within their fair market valuation range of $268 million to $315 million and therefore concluded that the Internalisation Proposal was fair to non-associated Unitholders. They also concluded that the issue of new units to Goodman Group was fair to non-associated Unitholders. Their full report is attached to the Notice of Meeting released today.

David Gibson said, Internalisation is a positive initiative that positions GMT for the next phase of its business growth. With the many benefits it provides and within Deloittes fair value range, the initiative presents a great opportunity for our Unitholders.

Internalisation is expected to deliver 2.8% accretion to FY24 pro forma adjusted funds from operations. It is also expected to provide greater alignment of interests with the board and executives of GPSNZ being remunerated directly by GMT.

Internalised management to establish property funds management business

Subject to internalisation proceeding, GPSNZ will seek to establish a funds management platform anchored by a new Auckland logistics property fund. Initially investing up to $100 million itself, and with a commitment of up to $200 million from Goodman Group, GMT will leverage Goodman Groups global investor relationships to secure further third-party capital.

John Dakin, Chair of GNZ said, "GMT's substantial Auckland industrial portfolio, urban logistics focus, development pipeline, sector expertise, balance sheet flexibility and scalable platform have supported its successful investment track record."

"We believe internalisation will enable GMT to reach its full potential and create further value for all our stakeholders."

With the flexibility to acquire assets on-market and directly from GMTs existing portfolio, GPSNZs funds management platform has a target of scaling to ~$2 billion within three-to-five-years.

James Spence said, "The establishment of a funds management business and introduction of new capital partners complements GMTs current investment strategy. The positive income contribution from management fee revenue and an enhanced ability to recycle capital is expected to support annualised earnings growth of between 5% and 7% within the next three-to-five years.

Benefits of Goodman relationship to continue

Chief Executive Officer of Goodman Group, Greg Goodman said, This transaction is all about growth and capturing the opportunity available in the New Zealand market. Additionally, access to alternative funding sources will allow GMT to finance this growth in a way that will generate significant value for GMT Unitholders.

James Spence said, Internalisation presents an exciting opportunity for GMT. Retaining all the benefits of the Goodman brand, we've got the team, property portfolio, customer relationships and market expertise to scale up our business and deliver an investment strategy focused on sustainable value creation.

Investor presentation and FY25 guidance

A presentation providing further details of the Internalisation Proposal has been provided to the NZX. There will be an online presentation to investors, analysts and media at 9:15 am, today. The link to the webcast is: https://ccmediaframe.com/?id=Dw4yg7Uo

Underlying cash earnings guidance for FY24 is reaffirmed at around 7.4 cents per unit, with full year cash distributions of 6.2 cents per unit expected to be paid.

James Spence said, FY25 guidance for an internalised GMT is also provided, with cash earnings forecast to be around 7.5 cents per unit. The guidance represents a 5% increase on restated FY24 cash earnings.

FY25 cash distributions of 6.5 cents per unit are forecast, a 5% increase on FY24 and representing around 87% of cash earnings.

Notice of Meeting

Given the related party nature of the Internalisation Proposal, Unitholder approval is being sought and a Special Meeting will be held at 10am on Tuesday 26 March 2024 at the Park Hyatt Hotel, 99 Halsey Street, Auckland 1010.

There are three resolutions detailed in the Notice of Meeting and all resolutions must be approved for the Internalisation Proposal to proceed.

Deputy Chair and Independent Director of GNZ, David Gibson said, The Independent Directors unanimously recommend that Unitholders vote in favour of all three resolutions.

The Notice of Meeting, which explains the resolutions in more detail, together with the Voting and Proxy Form are being distributed to Unitholders from today.

Investors are encouraged to read the Notice of Meeting carefully, including the Independent Appraisal Report. If they have any queries or questions on the resolutions or other information contained in the Notice of Meeting, they should contact their financial, taxation or legal adviser. They can also call the investor advisory line on 0800 292 983 or +61 3 9415 4264 from outside New Zealand.

For further information, please contact:

John Dakin

Chair

Goodman (NZ) Limited

(021)321 541

James Spence

Chief Executive Officer

Goodman (NZ) Limited

(021)538 934

David Gibson

Deputy Chair and Independent Director

Goodman (NZ) Limited

(021)276 9440

Attachments provided to NZX:

1.Covering Letter to Unitholders

2.Goodman Property Trust Notice of Special Meeting

3.Voting and Proxy Form

4.Presentation on the Internalisation Proposal

About Goodman Property Trust:

GMT is an externally managed unit trust, listed on the NZX. It has a market capitalisation of around $3.0 billion, ranking it in the top 20 of all listed investment vehicles. The Trust is New Zealands leading warehouse and logistics space provider. It has a substantial property portfolio, with an expected value of $4.5 billion at 31 March 2024. The Trust also holds an investment grade credit rating of BBB from S&P Global Ratings.

The Manager of GMT is Goodman (NZ) Limited, a subsidiary of the ASX listed Goodman Group. Goodman Group is a global industrial property and digital infrastructure specialist group with operations in key consumer markets across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Americas.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this announcement ("Announcement") is intended to provide general information only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not intended as investment or financial advice and must not be relied upon as such. Some of the information in this Announcement is based on unaudited financial data which may be subject to change. You should consider talking to your financial, taxation or legal adviser before making any decision in relation to the matters contained in this Announcement. This Announcement is not an offer or invitation for subscription or purchase of securities or other financial products.

All reasonable care has been taken in relation to the preparation and collation of the Announcement. None of GMT, the Manager, any of their respective officers, employees, agents or associates, or any other person accepts responsibility for any loss or damage howsoever occurring resulting from the use of or reliance on the Announcement by any person.

Caution regarding forward-looking statements

This Announcement contains certain forward looking statements, which are subject to risks (both known and unknown), uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that could cause the actual conduct, results, performance or achievements of GMT to be materially different from the outcomes reasonably expected by GMT at the time of this Announcement. Deviations as to future conduct, market conditions, results, performance and achievements are normal and are to be expected.

Forward looking statements generally may be identified by the use of forward looking words such as 'aim', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect', 'forecast', 'foresee', 'future', 'intend', 'likely', 'may', 'outlook', 'planned', 'potential', 'projection', 'should', or other similar words.

None of GMT, the Manager, or any of their respective officers, employees, agents or associates gives any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in this Announcement will actually occur. You are cautioned against relying on any such forward looking statements. Forward looking statements may refer to any information relating to the future, including (but not limited to) opinions, forecasts, estimates, projections, business plans or strategies, budget information or other future or prospective information.

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Flames were seen shooting out from the roof of the American Legion Sergy Post 98 building in Clarinda.

The Clarinda Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire at 12:42 a.m. Feb. 18. The American Legion building was vacant, but the Inda Clar Recreation Parlor located immediately to the west had to be evacuated.

It was a better outcome than what we thought it could be when we first arrived, Clarinda Fire Chief Roger Williams told the Southwest Iowa Herald.

There were no injuries in the fire. Williams said the American Legion suffered fire, smoke and water damage. The Inda Clar, meanwhile, sustained smoke damage and ventilation fans were used to clear the smoke from the business.

When they said they could see fire coming out of the roof, I assumed it was going to be a lot more serious than it turned out to be, Sergy Post 98 Commander Dave Grebert said. I thought the whole thing was probably gone.

Williams said the Clarinda Fire Department was able to bring the fire under control in about 45 minutes. Given the challenges created by the age of the building, Williams said he proud of the work done by the firefighters.

Like many of the older buildings in town, it has been remodeled several times, Williams said. "So there were three different ceilings our guys had to get through to actually get to the fire."
Participants in a scientific conference, held in Kampala, Uganda, Feb.24-25, highlighted the role and action of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in the achievement and preservation of spiritual security in Africa.

The speakers at this conference organized by the Ugandan section of the Foundation, underlined the importance of stability and spiritual security in Africa, and welcomed the role of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in this sense, through its actions in the unification of the efforts of the Ulema in Africa, in accordance with the vision of its President, King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful.

Ugandan Deputy Prime Minister, Lukia Isanga Nakadama, who attended the opening of the conference, hailed the action of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema, as well as its objectives which consist of achieving spiritual security in Africa. She expressed the will of her country to cooperate with Morocco and benefit from its experience, with a view to strengthening relations between the two brotherly countries.

The deputy Prime Minister had commended, on the eve of the conference, Moroccos religious model, based on the values of tolerance, openness and cooperation.

Lukia Isanga Nakadama made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema. She underlined the depth of Moroccan-Ugandan relations, and praised the Moroccan religious model, which is based on the values of tolerance, openness and cooperation.

The President of the Foundations Uganda Section, Sheikh Ibrahim Sali, affirmed in an opening address that achieving spiritual security requires complementary and comprehensive efforts on the part of individuals, ulema, institutions, and society. This is actually the objective of the Foundation through its various programs aimed at strengthening teaching and scientific research, preserving African heritage, consolidating spiritual and ethical values in Africa, as well as the promotion of interreligious dialogue, which reflects the Foundations commitment to consolidating spiritual security in the continent, Sheikh Ibrahim Sali said.

For his part, Charge de mission within the Foundation, Othman Sqalli Houssaini, said, in an address on behalf of the Moroccan delegation, that one of the goals of the institution is to preserve spiritual security in Africa. The Foundation does not replace any official or private institution in any country, but it is willing to cooperate with any party that adopts the same principles and objectives, he said.

Canon Grace Kissou, who represented the Secretary General of the Ugandan Interreligious Council, welcomed the Kings initiative to create the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema, and highlighted the initiatives and the conferences organized by this institution, with a view to consecrating the values of cohabitation and dialogue between followers of different religions.

Taking the floor, the representative of the High Council of Islamic Affairs in Uganda and Mufti of the country, Shaban Mubaje, stressed that the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema is an important partner in the efforts aimed at achieving spiritual security in Africa, and welcomed its actions in this area, through the support provided to scientific research and consultation with regard to the resolution of the spiritual and intellectual crises experienced by modern societies.

The conference, held under the theme The role of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in achieving spiritual security in Africa, was attended by several religious figures, politicians, and diplomats.
9 items in this article 3 items on sale! Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

We write about hundreds of products every week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, weve plucked some of our recent favorites: expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didnt know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and very good deals we uncovered while trawling the vast online-shopping universe  including $70 super-comfortable (and machine-washable) flats, one writers perfect pair of dark-wash jeans, and Sofia Coppolas preferred exfoliating mask (thats now 30 percent off).

Chef Daniel Humms favorite incense

An ugly but effective machine for banishing night sweats

Harry Styless grandpa mints that are not for the faint of palate

The dark-wash denim jeans one writer found after a very long hunt 

 Plus one writers $70 personal uniform 

Meanwhile, Strategist contributor Anne Kadet told us about her current personal uniform, which cost just $70: a stretchy shirt and high-waisted, pull-on pencil skirt, both from bastion of high style, Amazon. Yes, the items are basics  and for Kadet, thats the point. I want people to notice me, not my outfit, she says.

 And the orthopedic flats another writer never takes off

Arcopedico Sec V $69 Last summer, Strategist contributor Misty White Sidell missed a connecting flight and wound up spending an afternoon in Milan, where she discovered her perfect everyday flat: Arcopedicos Sec V. The flats sleek knit top combined with bulbous soles reminded Sidell of similar pairs from luxury brands, and shes worn the shoes everywhere from meetings and fitness classes to her birthday party at the Russian Samovar. $69 at Zappos Buy

A strong fragrance thatll actually last

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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.
Mexicos progress on its clean energy transition is headed in reverse. The nations greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector increased by 11% last year to reach a five-year high of more than 175 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). This climate backtracking stems from a number of causes from failing hydropower plants to years of a tumultuous and petro-aggressive presidential term under controversial President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

In 2023 Mexicos hydropower production dropped to 20-year lows. Thanks in large part to a whopping 40% drop in hydropower output, not to mention a lackluster performance from the wind energy sector, clean energy accounted for just 22% of the Mexican energy mix in 2023. This represented a significant drop, from 26% in 2022 and over 27.5% in 2021. By comparison, consumption of fossil fuels rose from 260 TWh in 2022 to 270.5 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2023.

The massive drop in hydropower production comes as a result of prolonged hot and dry weather, which has impacted hydropower production in hotspots around the world over the last several years. Drought-related risks in the Mexican hydropower sector have been foreseen for years now, and will likely continue to be a factor, and probably a worsening one, as extreme weather events and searing summer temperatures intensify over the course of climate change.

In the meantime, the political environment in Mexico is only adding cause for carbon concern. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has proven himself to be extremely bullish about bolstering Mexicos energy independence, primarily through doubling down on fossil fuel production and propping up the continuously troubled national oil and gas firm Pemex. Lopez Obrador has consistently failed to make good on clean energy pledges and has prominently campaigned for the reinvigoration of the nations oil and gas sector.

But Lopez Obradors six-year term is nearly over, and it will be his final term. In Mexican law, the presidency is not eligible for reelection. Big changes could be coming for the Mexican energy industry, but without a crystal ball its extremely difficult to say precisely what they may be. But the tide is clearly turning against the Presidents platform  less than a month ago, Mexicos top court overturned his flagship nationalist energy legislation, finding that it violates the Mexican constitution and violates free competition laws.

With Mexicos energy sector reopening to foreign investment, we could see a crucial trend toward re-diversification. The hope is that, since Pemex is a corrupt train wreck, climate pledges are becoming ever more stringent, and on top of that Mexico holds massive renewable energy potential, investors will be eager to invest in expanding wind and solar energy across the country. However, neither of the front-running presidential candidates, Xochitl Galvez and Claudia Sheinbaum, has elucidated her proposed energy policy.

The re-carbonization of the Mexican energy sector is of particular concern as the Mexican economy is the fastest growing in all of North America. The breakneck pace of Mexicos economic growth is due in part to its growing role as a manufacturing hub for consumers north of the border. This bodes poorly for Mexicos carbon footprint and for global climate goals writ large, as manufacturing tends to be a major energy hog. The manufacturing and production sector represents one-fifth of carbon dioxide emissions globally, and a whopping 54% of the worlds energy usage.

If Mexico's power sector remains overwhelmingly reliant on fossil fuels as industrial output keeps growing, Reuters recently reported, the country's rising power emissions may offset some of the declines in neighboring nations. On the other hand, the rise in manufacturing for the U.S. market could be viewed as the U.S. merely outsourcing its dirty work to maintain its own decarbonization trends.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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For years, Canadian oil producers have been struggling with insufficient pipeline capacity to take their products to buyers. Anti-pipeline policies have been a big reason for that, along with environmental opposition.

Now, the same government that has been following the above policies is close to completing the biggest pipeline project in years: the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. But it seems it may be too little, too late for the industry, with warnings already flashing about a coming capacity shortage.

The expanded Trans Mountain will add 590,000 barrels daily to the country's oil pipeline network. That would be 590,000 bpd that could potentially be exported to countries other than the United States, boosting Canadian oil prices that have been depressed for years because of that pipeline shortage that has limited producers' market to their southern neighbor.

Producers are already ramping up production in anticipation of the additional offtake capacity. Reuters reported last year that 2024 and 2025 could see a production increase of 375,000 bpd from the oil sands alone. That would be an 8% increase from the 2022 total number, which was 4.86 million barrels daily.

Those were analyst estimates at a time when the completion of the Trans Mountain expansion was not certain. With a project that has been delayed repeatedly, with snags at every steps, it is easy to see where that lack of certainty came from. Now, the expansion is in its final stage, close to completion, with just 2% left to build. Perhaps it is finally safe to say that the new Trans Mountain pipeline will enter operation, and soon. Related: Shell Backs Out Of Yet Another Floating Offshore Wind Project

The problem that analysts see now is that with production already on a growth trajectory, it will only provide producers with offtake capacity relief for a very short whilea couple of years or so.

Reuters, for instance, cited BMP analyst Ben Pham as saying that the completed Trans Mountain pipeline would increase Canada's total pipeline capacity to 5.2 million barrels daily. Production is already at around 5 million bpd, so this leaves a margin of 220,000 bpd, according to Pham, as spare capacity.

Yet it will quickly evaporate because production growth will continue, says RBN Energy analyst Martin King. Instead of four or five years of capacity comfort, as originally expected, the Trans Mountain expansion may only provide relief for about a couple of years.

"Originally it was thought TMX would give us a four- or five-year window," the analyst said recently, as quoted by Reuters. "It now looks like that window of spare capacity might actually be a lot smaller."

It would be small indeed if production growth continues to be strong, as recently suggested by a senior Enbridge executive, who said he expected the industry could boost output by half a million barrels daily this year.

The problem with a pipeline shortage is that Canadian producers suffering from a chronic discount on their oil because of the existing shortage and market limitations will continue to endure the discounts.

Initially, enthusiasm around the Trans Mountain expansion drove projections of higher prices and slimmer discounts to WTI, but now reality is setting in, and analysts are changing the tune, warning that the slim discount may not last for long.

There is, however, the international market factor. Even if the new and improved Trans Mountain fills up in no time, there will be a bigger pool of potential buyers with heavy crude in great demand worldwide due to relatively limited supply. This could take care of that discount to WTI, which in the past two years has hovered around $18-19 per barrel, at least for a while.

Canadian oil production could hit 5.3 million barrels daily this year, according to a projection by S&P Global Commodity Insight from last October. This would be a record high and an excess on the country's pipeline network. On the flip side, it could be a short-lived record because it appears to be driven, according to S&P Global, by efficiency gains rather than investment in new production.

"This could be the last really large hurrah before we see a material slowdown in Western Canada supply growth," Kevin Birn, S&P Global chief analyst for Canadian oil markets, said in October, as quoted by CBC. "We do see this plateauing effect really beginning around 2025 and 2026."

If production does plateau, then the pipeline capacity shortage will take care of itself. But if the above projection does not materialize, then Canadian oil producers will have to boost oil train use again to supply their U.S. clients.

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The Trans Mountain pipeline is scheduled to begin operation in the second quarter of the year. Oil production in Alberta is already rising, hitting record highs in November and December at over 4.2 million bpd, Bloomberg reported this week. The records prompted a surge in oil train loadings and a rationing of capacity on Enbridge's Mainline pipeline system.

If those analysts are right, this won't be the last time pipeline space needs to be rationed and oil trains deployed on a greater scale. If they're right, the Trans Mountain expansion will only provide temporary relief for drillers and oil sands miners.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The oil industry has historically been politically conservative. In turn, Democratic politicians have often been hostile toward the industry.

Nevertheless, oil companies have recorded some of their largest profits during Democratic administrations. For example, neither President Obama nor President Biden was cozy with the oil industry, but the industry profited enormously under both presidents.

The primary driver of oil company profits is simply the price of oil. If a president takes actions that drive oil prices higher, that will likely drive oil company profits higher.

Consider two different types of policies. One policy encourages producing as much oil as possible. That would tend to increase oil supplies and keep prices in check. The other policy restricts drilling, which ultimately decreases supplies, and drives prices higher. Which policy is more conducive to higher oil industry profits?

In practice, its not quite as simple as that. There is also the demand side of the equation, and the oil market is global. So, regardless of what a U.S. president does, it can be offset by the actions of OPEC (for example).

Still, I thought it might be interesting to look at the evolution of ExxonMobilsXOM profits during the last four presidential administrations. Because ExxonMobil is the largest publicly traded oil and gas company, it is a good proxy for the overall profitability of the industry.

George W. Bush was inaugurated as the 43rd president on January 20, 2001. He was a pro-oil president, but he also passed comprehensive energy policy that increased the production of renewable and alternative energy. During his first term, oil consumption climbed above 20 million BPD for the first time in the nations history. Domestic oil production fell every year he was in office.

Oil prices climbed steadily throughout Bushs eight years in office. According to the FactSet database, ExxonMobils net income was $15.1 billion in 2001, fell to $11.0 billion in 2002, and peaked at $45.2 billion in 2008 just before 2008-2009 recession caused oil prices to collapse. For the eight years President Bush was in office, ExxonMobil earned a total of $233.9 billion.

Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president on January 20, 2009. The economic sluggishness initially continued, but the impact of hydraulic fracturing began to be felt in President Obamas first year in office. In a reversal of the long decline that began in 1970, crude oil production would rise all four years of Obamas first term. But global demand was also rising, and that caused oil prices to rapidly rebound.

During the recession that marked President Obamas first year in office, ExxonMobils profits fell to $19.3 billion. But then they rose for the next three years, reaching $44.9 billion by 2012. Near the end of Obamas second term, Saudi Arabia and OPEC declared a price war on the U.S. shale oil industry. ExxonMobils profits fell to $7.8 billion in 2016, Obamas last year in office.

ExxonMobils Net Income Since 2001. ROBERT RAPIER

During Obamas eight years in office, ExxonMobil earned $224.8 billion. If not for two events  assuming the presidency during a recession and OPECs price war  ExxonMobils profits under Obama would have likely eclipsed those under Bush.

Prices rebounded in 2017, President Trumps first year in office. ExxonMobil earned $19.7 billion that year. Profits would remain in that range over the following two years. But in 2020 the Covid-19 epidemic was the primary driver behind ExxonMobils $22.4 billion loss for the year. Over the four years Trump was in office, ExxonMobil earned $32.5 billion.

When President Biden was inaugurated in 2021, oil prices were on the rise. The economy was recovering rapidly from the pandemic crash, but oil production was lagging. That sent oil prices soaring, and then Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022  and the decision by the Biden Administration to cut off Russian imports  helped drive oil prices back above $100 a barrel.

Biden tried to counter this by releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but ExxonMobil still recorded a record $55.7 billion profit in 2022. During the first three years of the Biden Administration, ExxonMobil reported profits of $114.8 billion.

Thus, contrary to what one might think, during the past four presidential administrations ExxonMobils highest profit has come under a Democrat (Biden), and their biggest loss came under a Republican (Trump). However, in both cases there were mitigating factors that extended well beyond the policies of the respective presidents.

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Nevertheless, ExxonMobil has made more money each year under President Biden than it did in any year under President Trump.

The oil industrys relationship with politics has been complex. Historically, it leaned conservative, while Democratic politicians often expressed hostility toward it. However, oil companies have thrived during Democratic administrations. Presidents like Obama and Biden, despite not being cozy with the industry, oversaw substantial profits. The primary driver of these profits is oil prices. Policies that increase prices tend to benefit oil companies. But global demand, geopolitical factors, and OPEC actions also play a major role.

By Robert Rapier

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Engineers at the University of Cincinnati created a more efficient way of converting carbon dioxide into valuable products while simultaneously addressing climate change.

The study paper has been published in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering.

In his chemical engineering lab in UCs College of Engineering and Applied Science, Associate Professor Jingjie Wu and his team found that a modified copper catalyst improves the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into ethylene, the key ingredient in plastic and a myriad of other uses.

Ethylene has been called the worlds most important chemical. It is certainly among the most commonly produced chemicals, used in everything from textiles to antifreeze to vinyl.

The chemical industry generated 225 million metric tons of ethylene in 2022.

Wu explained that the process holds promise for one day producing ethylene through green energy instead of fossil fuels. It has the added benefit of removing carbon from the atmosphere.

Wu said, Ethylene is a pivotal platform chemical globally, but the conventional steam-cracking process for its production emits substantial carbon dioxide. By utilizing carbon dioxide as a feedstock rather than depending on fossil fuels, we can effectively recycle carbon dioxide.

Wus students, including lead author and UC graduate Zhengyuan Li, collaborated with Rice University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University and Arizona State University. Li received a prestigious graduate student award last year from the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

RhCu catalyst images. d, TEM image of the RhCu catalyst. e, HAADF-STEM image of the RhCu catalyst. The blue circles highlight Rh atoms. f, STEM-EDS mapping of the RhCu catalyst, showing atomic dispersion of Rh sites on the Cu matrix. Image Credit: University of Cincinnati. For more images click the study paper link to the open access (At time of posting.) paper.

The electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide produces two primary carbon products, ethylene and ethanol. The researchers found that using a modified copper catalyst produced more ethylene.

Our research offers essential insights into the divergence between ethylene and ethanol during electrochemical CO2 reduction and proposes a viable approach to directing selectivity toward ethylene, lead author Li noted.

This leads to an impressive 50% increase in ethylene selectivity, Wu added. Ideally, the goal is to produce a single product rather than multiple ones.

Li said the next step is refining the process to make it more commercially viable.

The conversion system loses efficiency as byproducts of the reaction such as potassium hydroxide begin forming on the copper catalyst.

The electrode stability must be improved for commercial deployment. Our next focus is to enhance stability and extend its operation from 1,000 to 100,000 hours, Li said.

Wu explained these new technologies will help make the chemical industry greener and more energy efficient. The overarching objective is to decarbonize chemical production by utilizing renewable electricity and sustainable feedstock, Wu said. Electrifying the conversion of carbon dioxide to ethylene marks a significant stride in decarbonizing the chemical sector.

The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy where its Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office is leading efforts to reduce fossil fuels and carbon emissions in industry wherever possible.

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**

This research group has its wits working. Knowing and understanding process technology well enough to get to a 100,000-hour working life is a great idea. Another bonus in research management is striving to a single product process. That would simplify the process greatly and cut the invested capital dramatically.

So far, the research is depending on renewable electrical power, at a low cost, collecting and getting the CO2 to the processor at low cost and making production sales into a market of really inexpensive ethylene.

Its going to take a lot of brain power to get this tech to economic market success.

By Brian Westenhaus via New Energy and Fuel

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
ExxonMobil is considering a sale of its Vaca Muerta shale assets in Patagonia and has received several offers of holding already, anonymous Bloomberg sources revealed on Friday.

The U.S. oil giants assets that will be sold include assets owned as part of a joint venture with QatarEnergy, including seven oil and gas blocks in the Vaca Muerta and holdings in a pipeline. The assets are estimated to be valued at $1 billion, the sources suggested.

Argentinas Vaca Muerta shale formation has been behind a significant increase in oil and natural gas production in the country, and foreign investments into the Vaca Muerta have helped to grow the economic potential of the regionand oil and gas contribute handsomely to the countrys GDP.

Nevertheless, Argentina is in the middle of a financial crisisa fact that could be at least partially behind Exxons search for the exit.

But last August, ExxonMobil put all of its oil and gas operations and interests in seven unconventional areas in Argentinas Neuquen basin under review. At the time, Exxon said it was looking for farm-in investors, but didnt rule out asset sales. It is still premature to determine the final outcome of the ongoing review process, which runs parallel to our development commitments in the basin. It may not necessarily result in asset divestment, an ExxonMobil source told Oil&Gas Journal.

ExxonMobil has drilled at least 40 wells in the Neuquen, but only 7 are producingthe rest are DUCs.

Exxons production from the basin is 7,300 bpd of crude oil and 103 Mcfd of shale gas.

Argentine libertarian President Javier Milei is spearheading a country-wide shakeup that could have ramifications for the oil and gas industry from an omnibus reform package that he sent in January that proposed the privatization of 41 state-owned companies, including its national oil firm, YPF, and Energia Argentina.

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By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend, Nebraska, was about ready to close its doors.

Payroll was due one day last July, and the city-owned hospital didnt have the funds to cover it.

We were hours from having to close our doors, because we would have had no employees, said Jared Chaffin, chief financial officer and one of the hospitals three interim co-CEOs.

The city provided two infusions of cash, totaling $250,000, to cover the next two payrolls. The hospital foundation kicked in $75,000 and a special hospital tax district at least $40,000 more. But that was just a temporary solution.

To find more solid financial ground, hospital officials last fall sought a new federal designation intended to maintain essential health care services in communities served by small rural hospitals.

On Feb. 8, Warren Memorial officially became the first hospital in Nebraska  and among the first 20 in the United States  to convert to whats known as a rural emergency hospital. Under the new federal payment model, hospitals forgo most inpatient services but maintain observation beds and a 24/7 emergency room, in addition to continuing outpatient services and clinics. That gives them a 5% boost in reimbursements for Medicare outpatient services.

Its a lifeline weve been looking for, Chaffin said. Its not the answer to all of a sudden become profitable, because there are still things we need to do as a hospital to make sure we stay open, but its a lifeline.

The program isnt the answer for every struggling hospital. But it is an option several others in Nebraska and more nationwide are considering as they wrestle with cost pressures, workforce issues, changing rural demographics and other challenges.

Many rural facilities, like Warren Memorial in Friend, have long faced financial challenges for various reasons, including competition from nearby hospitals and larger ones in Lincoln and Omaha. More recently, hospitals across Nebraska have been dealing with rising labor and supply costs, Medicaid and Medicare payments that havent kept pace with expenses and difficulty collecting on claims.

One proposed solution is a measure in the Nebraska Legislature that could help address below-cost Medicaid rates. Backed by the Nebraska Hospital Association, Legislative Bill 1087 could net Nebraska more than $1 billion of federal money to boost Medicaid rates for hospitals and other health care providers.

Lifeline federal program comes with benefits, trade-offs

But that wouldnt have come in time for Warren Memorial. Congress created the rural emergency hospital program in late 2020, and it took effect in January 2023. It aims to prevent additional hospital closures, as well as the job losses and other economic impacts that shutdowns can have on communities, and maintain some, if not all, local health care services.

As of June, Nebraska and Iowa were among 15 states that had adopted laws enabling the program, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Jed Hansen, executive director of the Nebraska Rural Health Association, said the program comes with trade-offs. Participating hospitals exchange the cost-plus reimbursement allotted to critical access hospitals, another designation created in 1997 to help stabilize rural hospitals, for monthly payments that total about $3.2 million a year.

Rural emergency hospitals also give up inpatient beds and swing beds, those designated for patients no longer sick enough for hospital care but not well enough to go home, as well as their eligibility for the 340B drug payment program, which allows hospitals of all sizes to purchase drugs at a reduced rate and bill at full cost.

All rural hospitals with fewer than 50 certified beds are eligible for the new emergency program, Hansen said. But because of the trade-offs, it doesnt make sense for mid- and large-sized critical access hospitals.

The association, along with the Nebraska Hospital Association and the Nebraska Office of Rural Health, analyzed all 63 of the states critical access hospitals and Fremont Health, which became part of Methodist Health System in 2018. The organizations determined that six critical access hospitals would likely see a positive financial impact from converting to the rural emergency model.

The groups worked with the Friend hospital and four others on more comprehensive analyses, he said. Those indicated the model made sense for Warren Memorial and three of the four other hospitals but not for the remaining one.

In the case of Friend ... what were seeing and anticipating is it will remove some financial pressure off that community, off that hospital, so they can evaluate what services they can offer and theyre no longer a competitor to other area hospitals, Hansen said.

Nationally, Chartis, a Chicago-based health care advisory and analytics group, found that nearly 400 rural hospitals were most likely to consider conversion to the rural emergency model, according to a recent report. Within that group, modeling identified 77 facilities ideal for conversion based on their performance profiles.

Friend Mayor Jewels Knoke, who serves on the hospital board and the local rescue squad, said some residents have expressed concerns about the loss of hospital beds close to their homes, where relatives and friends can easily visit. Those concerns arose during a town hall meeting hospital officials held last fall to discuss the conversion option.

Hansen said he would particularly like to see swing beds added back to the program for that reason. During the worst of the pandemic, swing beds across the state also served as an escape valve for large hospitals by taking less-sick patients and freeing beds for those who were more critically ill.

David Palm, an associate professor and director of the Center for Health Policy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said the emergency hospital program, first proposed about 15 years ago, could benefit from additional flexibility.

Nationally, that lack of flexibility has been cited as a reason so few hospitals have chosen that route. Some also may be waiting to see how the first conversions work out.

With a few changes, it could be much more important and adaptable in rural communities and allow us to provide some still excellent services, he said.

Knoke said the program offered Friend the best chance of securing its emergency room for the long term. Thats a potential lifesaver for the town of nearly 900 residents, which is about 30 minutes drive from several nearby hospitals and 50 miles from Lincoln.

With an E.R. in town, she said, first responders can get patients in quickly to be stabilized without the delay of a longer drive or the need to connect with a ground or air ambulance that offers advanced life support.

Im feeling relieved in the fact that I can now breathe easier knowing that for the foreseeable future, this community has an emergency room, and that could save lives, Knoke said.

Amy Thimm, vice president of clinical services and quality and interim co-CEO, said the hospital is working to make connections with other nearby small hospitals so that local residents still could get skilled hospital care closer to home than Lincoln or Omaha.

Its hard to recruit people if you lose your hospital

Warren Memorial can keep patients 24 to 48 hours for observation. It also can extend stays for individual patients if necessary, which could allow for hospice care, another service thats important to the community, she said. Overall, the hospitals patient stays cant average more than 24 hours over the course of a year. But with fewer inpatients, that leaves room to maneuver.

Ron Te Brink, the hospitals chief information officer and interim co-CEO, said the inpatient arrangements the hospital is seeking with its neighbors also could bolster those hospitals bottom lines. Before, local hospitals all were competing for the same patients.

Its sometimes a win for everyone when someone makes a change, he said.

Still, the hospital and its 50 employees have had some challenges to overcome.

Chaffin, the finance officer, said the hospital  like other rural facilities  got through the pandemic with the help of additional funding provided by the federal government. But that covered only payroll and some fixed costs. Debts to vendors mounted. When that funding ended last year, the hospital essentially faced two years of expenses with one year of revenue.

The hospitals daily census also dwindled during 2023 from a handful on average to fewer than two, he said. Some patients overstayed the maximum days allotted under Medicare. Once patients exceed that limit, a hospital no longer receives reimbursement.

But Warren Memorial has made progress financially since late last year, he said. Its been in the black in the months since its fiscal year began Oct. 1.

Management has focused heavily on outpatient services, such as wound care and the hospitals infusion clinic, which the team hopes to expand to a 24/7 operation.

The hospital is offering more specialty clinics  an orthopedist comes in once a month to provide injections and scans  and it has resurrected its operating room, which hadnt been used since 2021. Another doctor will being performing colonoscopies and upper endoscopies next month.

I tell everyone: The way you win this game is to build your outpatient services, Thimm said. She would like to add even more, such as general surgery for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and womens health services.

Chaffin said the team also has focused on reshaping contracts and looking hard at expenses. During the community town hall last fall, they also explained that the facility is a use it or lose it operation. Even if residents rely on the two other clinics in town, they can still come to Warren Memorial for X-rays and lab work, rather getting them in Crete, Seward or Lincoln.

If the town wants us here, you have to use us, he said.

The hospitals laboratory, which has someone on call 24/7, can test for respiratory illnesses and run full metabolic panels, assessments of cardiac markers and more.

Its a small lab, but its complete, said Alphe Manalili, lab manager.

The hospitals emergency rooms are connected to a telemedicine provider in Sioux Falls, S.D., allowing local staff to pull in remote nurses, doctors and specialists such as cardiologists for backup help in all emergency cases.

Michael Karel, a physician assistant who was working in the hospitals attached clinic Friday, said being able to provide more services nearby means the communitys aging residents dont have to drive far for care. Four or five area rescue squads use the E.R.

Theres definitely a lot of support for keeping the hospital here, he said.

Te Brink said accessible services also are important in such an ag-focused community. Friend is ringed by cornfields and grain bins.

You have farmers and ranchers who wont take the time to drive to Lincoln if their knees hurt, he said. If we can provide it, they can come in over lunch.

Jen Stutzman, president of the hospital board, said that securing an E.R. and clinic in town also is important for the overall health of the community, including recruiting employees for local schools and industries. Its also kept some aging residents in the community.

Its hard to recruit people if you lose your hospital, she said.

Te Brink said the conversion process hasnt been an easy one. But the team feels a commitment to the hospital.

Weve gone through some really tough times, and we keep going through the tough times because were really committed to seeing that it still exists, he said. Weve all seen how important it is to the community.

Photos: Warren Memorial Hospital becomes first rural emergency hospital in Nebraska.
Rowena Moores public activism began as a young mother fighting for better job opportunities. Much like Malcolm X, Moore didnt shy away from a fight for fairness.

Before Moore founded the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation in 1971, she opposed discrimination at Omaha meatpacking plants as a labor leader, leading to the hiring of hundreds of Black women who received a pathway to Americas blue-collar middle class. Moore worked there for 20 years, serving as a union steward, responsible for presenting worker grievances to management and fellow union leaders.

Through the foundation, Moore, whose family once lived in the same house as Malcolm Xs family at 3448 Pinkney St., wished to uplift lives again, this time by creating an educational and cultural institution for everyone. Moore deeded the land to the foundation in 1990. The foundation helps promote learning and transformation year-round with educational programs, a community radio station, town hall forums and other special events.

She played a role in much of what has been done to honor Malcolm X in Nebraska. The Nebraska State Historical Society put its first marker for a Black person at the site in 1987. Omaha renamed a section of a street to honor Malcolm X in 2003. The spot also is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Moore contributed to her community throughout her life. She was president of the Kellom Community Council, vice president of the Southeast Methodist parish, chairwoman of both the Nebraska Black Political Caucus and the Douglas County Democratic Party. In the 1950s, she had a grocery store at 28th and Grant Streets, initially called the Grant Street Market and later renamed the One Horse Store. For a while, she also managed several musical quartets. And she also produced a movie, The Sacred Beauty, starring another Omaha woman.

Lets reminisce on Rowena Moore, the woman who was Malcolm X when Malcolm X wasnt cool.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) aligns naturally with the goals of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for regional connectivity and trade promotion, a former Pakistani diplomat Babar Amin said here on Friday.





Addressing a seminar titled SCO: Pakistans Policy Priorities and Opportunities, Amin, former ambassador of Pakistan to Norway, noted that Pakistan can act as a natural partner with SCO for promoting connectivity, trade, and economic cooperation in the region.





This photo taken on March 21, 2023 shows the view of Thar Coal Block-I Coal Electricity Integration project in Sindh province, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)





Pakistan also seeks to enhance non-traditional security cooperation through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure mechanism within the SCO, fostering collaboration on defense and security matters, he added.





Speaking on the occasion, Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad Sohail Mahmood underscored the significance of SCO as a trans-regional platform.





The organization continues to carry the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, equality, respect for diversity, and pursuit of common development, as opposed to any zero-sum perspectives or notions of geopolitical confrontation or civilizational clash, according to Mahmood.





Launched in 2013, CPEC, a flagship project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, is a corridor linking Pakistans southwest Gwadar port with Kashgar in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, highlighting energy, transport, and industrial cooperation.





Pakistan joined the SCO in 2017.
Concerns about security may adversely affect voter turnout in Rivers State elections on Saturday.

This is following a build-up of tension and incidents of violence ahead of the polls.

The fallout of the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections marred by widespread violence which claimed several lives could have also aggravated public fear.

This is a state election involving more local actors with higher stakes, said Oby Ukomadu, making a comparison between the February 23 polls and tomorrows. So, this one will be more violent.

So, I will not be going out to vote for the love of my life, added Mrs Ukomadi, a resident of Eliozu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Another resident, Ibim Donald, from Okirka LGA said she and her family would not go out to vote tomorrow  and it is not because we dont have PVC.

Mrs Donald said: It is because I love my life and I cannot risk my life because of anybodys ambition.

It is common that people will not go out to vote. It is because of what happened in the presidential election and what things that have been happening ahead of the one coming up tomorrow.

She predicted that only partisans would be appearing for the polls.

I spoke with my uncle and he said he would go vote because nobody could intimidate him; but you know hes a party supporter and those are the only persons that may be going out (to vote), she said.

Last weekend, two soldiers were shot at and killed by gunmen in Abonnema in Akuku Toru LGA, forcing families to flee over fears of reprisal by the army.

That incident happened just one week after the bloody Election Day violence which saw soldiers kill several persons after one of them was slain by gunmen in an ambush.

The army is yet to react to the last Saturdays killing of two soldiers.

However, the Rivers State government and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) have separately accused the army of violence and intimidation.

On Thursday, the state government, in a statement signed by the commissioner for information Emma Okah, said the transport minister and leader of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Rotimi Amaechi, and the army formation in Port Harcourt, (were) masterminding the mass arrest of innocent Nigerians and PDP members in the state.

The statement reads: The essence of the arrests is to precipitate a crisis and cause the INEC to postpone the elections in Rivers State. Failing this, the Minister will use the vacuum created by the absence of arrested leaders and rig the governorship election and force a candidate of his choice against the will of the people.

We have been saying it repeatedly that the Minister of Transportation has been commanding the army in Port Harcourt to do unprofessional things and the crisis are spreading.

He has been boasting that he has brought soldiers from Sokoto and other states to carry out his political agenda of disrupting or rigging elections on Saturday.

Mr Okah, however, did not list anybody already arrested by the army apart from mentioning that a lot of prominent persons have been pencilled down for arrest.

Also, the IYC said the army invaded the palace of Ateke Tom, ex-militant and now king of Okochiri Town in Rivers State.

IYC cannot comprehend why the Ijaw people are made the scapegoat of the FG Governments desperation in deploying the military to rig the elections? Only recently, on (the) 23rd of February, 2019, the Ijaw nation lost many of her promising youth to soldiers invasions in Rivers and Bayelsa states, read a statement by Pereotubo Oweilaemi.

The army could not be reached for comments on this report.

The telephone line of Aminu Iliyasu, the spokesperson for the army formation in Port Harcourt, was unavailable at the time of filing this report.

An aide to Mr Amaechi, who asked not to be named, said the transport minister would speak on the allegations against him later.

On Tuesday, the minister directly said Mr Wikes ambition was the basis for the killings in Rivers State, adding that the governor was encouraging armed men who dared soldiers.

Nobody has asked the governor that from the day you took over the number of killings that have taken place in Rivers State just because you want to run a second term. One mans ambition for second term, all Rivers people should die? He said.

The APC is not fielding candidates for the elections on Saturday.

However, the party is now supporting the candidate of the African Action Congress in the governorship election, Awara Biokpomabo.

The initial prediction is that the exercise tomorrow would be less tense and Mr Wike would not face a recognisable challenge in his bid for a second term.
The Lagos State Police Command says two suspects are currently being interrogated in connection to the murder of Stephen Urueye, a University of Lagos (UNILAG) graduate and House Officer at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Urueye was stabbed to death on Thursday night right in front of the LUTH gate at Idi-Araba, Lagos. Some Students of UNILAG protested the death of Urueye, who participated in the varsitys convocation ceremony only on Wednesday.

The protesting students said Idi-Araba Road is notorious for habitual robberies and killings by hitmen. One of them said, We want the Police to do something about it. We are doctors, saving lives. It cant be that our own lives are not safe.
Going by what a representative of Niger Republic, Aichatou Kane, said at the 54th Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Malabo, the wait for the single currency policy is over. This is because the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), will adopt its own currency by 2020.

According to Kane, ECOWAS institutions have been more involved in the regions single currency creation programme and harmonisation of the monetary policy framework to encourage regional integration and eliminate diverse tariff barriers.

When the single currency policy finally takes effect, all the West African countries will be able to use a common currency. This implies that contrary to what we have now whereby different countries in West Africa use different currencies, there will only be a single currency to be used across the sixteen countries in West Africa.

ALSO READ: Youre misrepresenting facts, Kano anti-graft agency tells Sanusi

The perfect example is the introduction of the Euro which is the official legal tender across the European Union.

When the single currency policy is finally put in place by 2020, Nigeria will surely benefit from it. For one, it will eliminate the uncertainty that surrounds exchange rates. One of the many challenges with trading with other countries is that you never know which way the exchange rate will move. It may move in your favour or against you, thereby resulting in more costs for you.

This sort of uncertainty could hinder trade  particularly for smaller firms. A single currency gets rid of the uncertainty within the single currency zone, thereby encouraging trade.

The single currency will also eliminate the cost of converting currencies for Nigerians. At least, within the region, there wont need to convert currencies for any reason, and it will be more considerate to convert currencies outside the region as against what it is now for Nigerians.

Post Views: 66
Obidients as patriots: Now that we know that to grab power is not to be able to govern, the political education of Nigeria is rising. We owe you the Obidients and your movement a huge debt of gratitude for this. As many of you have said: you were even Obidients before Peter Obi. You have become a phenomenon in Nigerian history. You helped us all exhale. You make me feel in my bones that ring tone on my phone for many years  Nigeria will rise up again.

Two years ago the word did not exist and even the most fertile imagination could not conjure the movement it gave form.

But patriots were at their wits end. The economy was hiccuping, insecurity was galloping, social and political tensions were practicing hop, step and jump as nepotism and state capture replaced inclusion, reason and the rule of law in public life.

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The young who had been called indolent decided it was time to raise their voice and called out their peers to protest police brutality and uniformed authority banditry in how citizens were molested by people paid to protect them, but were met with a force of suppression that Apartheid era Prime Ministers Johanese Vorster and Pieter Botha of South Africa would have been proud of. So they said to cry for the beloved country was not enough. They yelled freedom and said they would organize for the polls.

Not even the eternally optimistic for the liberation of Nigeria from a political class that has watched the country slide into strategic irrelevance in the scheme of things and its people become statistics of the poverty capital of the world, like me, anticipated the rage of the River.

They came as professionals, doctors at home and abroad, students hoping their already mortgaged future could be reclaimed from the pawn shop; religious leaders exhausted with explaining away injustice and traditional activists. At the source the River knew neither tribe, tongue nor faith, which made me want to swim in it for that was the Nigeria of my dream.

No traditional activist or political organizers could, in good conscience, take credit for the spontaneity or force of the charging storm. It flowed from outrage in ordinarily pliable citizen wannabes who watched a political class of low capacity and poor conscience manipulate and co-opt a complicit middle to degrade their country. Joiners included those sighing in relief that at last the giants awakes. And even those crippled by corruption and the putrid stench of disorder and abandoned leftovers. Those who could not or would not Japa or keep their families in Canada to preserve the future possibilities for their children began to sign up one by one, especially as the promises of INECs Mahmoud Yakubu got louder and seemingly more reassuring that technology would assure a credible count.

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At first the extant order, used to weaponizing poverty and deploying vote buying and rigging as the standard operating procedures for elections, dismissed the movement as an internet revolution of four people in a room twitting. But the raging River came fast and furious taking down Dams on its path.

By the time the Obidient Movement began to take over the streets panic gripped the establishment. It was a Southern thing, they proclaimed, until we got to Sokoto and Bauchi, and Biu, and the surging crowd were so impassioned it was a struggle to get out of the helicopter. Nigerians were begging for a new order. But Machiavelli long forewarned that those who profit from an old order would do everything to prevent a new order and a faking establishment came dancing naked equipped to do damage.

The most horrific of what they did was push ethnic stereotyping beyond hate speech, polluting culture, and destroying decades old relationships. For one like me who has lived in all parts of Nigeria and built friendships thicker than blood across languages and religions it was my lowest Nigerian moment.

The old play book made well known by Joseph Goebbels and skillfully commented on by Jacques Ellul in the book on propaganda was rolled out  disarm reason and go for emotion. When in doubt the playbooks Nigerian version instructs, drape it with cash; everyone is bribable. As the saying goes what money cannot buy more money can buy.

Fascism which I predicted was coming six years ago, in the book, Why Not, always goes with bullying, as we learn from the Third Reich which Goebbels served so faithfully, played its hand.

Soon thugs were deployed to kill and maim and to prevent those not trusted to go with the bullies from voting and then to mutilate voting outcome reports.

People focused on the final outcomes from abracadabra institutions like INEC and the Judiciary where the same equipment can upload Senatorial results from a polling booth but not the presidential one held at the same time in the same place but I chose to remain charmed with the social force that came from nowhere. The fedupness of that moment had triggered a movement for change that captured the imagination, and was a signal that the long awaited Nigerian revolution was not a still birth.

Now that we know that to grab power is not to be able to govern the political education of Nigeria is rising. We owe you the Obidients and your movement a huge debt of gratitude for this. As many of you have said: you were even Obidients before Peter Obi. You have become a phenomenon in Nigerian history. You helped us all exhale. You make me feel in my bones that ring tone on my phone for many years  Nigeria will rise up again.
The cantankerous and chaotic primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State mayve come to an end, but the seed of confusion, division and alienation created in the initial balloting on February 17, lingers, thanks to the handiwork of the previous chairman of the APC Edo Governorship Primary Election Committee, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

Concluding the primary that lasted seven days  from February 17 to 23  Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu  who replaced Uzodimma on February 21 as chairman of the primary committee  declared Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC, Edo Central) as winner of the election, having polled 12,433 votes  fairly consistent with the votes (12,145) hed received on February 17 when the Chief Returning Officer of the primary, Dr Stanley Ugboajah, declared him the winner of the poll.

Declaring the results on Friday, Sen. Otu said 41,784 votes were cast in the primary, with 31,863 accredited voters, total votes cast at 31,863, valid votes 31,863 and zero invalid votes in the race that featured 12 contestants.

The scores by the aspirants are as follows: Blessing Agbomhere, 731 votes; Charles Airhiavbere, 1,181; Osagie Ize-Iyamu, 378; Monday Okpebholo, 12,433; Dennis Idahosa, 6,541; Clem Agba, 2,732; Lucky Imasuen, 493; David Imuse, 423; Oserheimen Osunbor, 634; Gideon Ikhine, 728; Anamero Dekeri, 2,566; and Ernest Umakhihe, 2,117 votes.

Sen. Otu, whod served as deputy chairman under the Sen. Uzodimma primary committee, said that, Sen. Okpebholo, having satisfied all the requirements of the party, and scoring the highest number of votes in this Edo State governorship primary election, is hereby declared the winner, and urged other aspirants and leaders of the party to put the primary behind them and prepare for the September 21 election.

But as first reported by VANGUARD, one of the aspirants, Hon. Dekeri (APC, Etsako Federal Constituency), signalled that the dust raised at the primary havent settled, protesting the outcome as manipulated.

He told journalists that, I mobilised 65,000 people for this primary. In my election to the House of Representatives, I scored over 100,000 (votes), and then in this primary election, they said I scored about 2,000 (2,566) votes. This is a charade, as far as I am concerned, and vowed to decide his next line of action.

Note that Dekeri, claiming tove mobilised 65,000 people indicates he possibly engaged in vote-buying of APCs members, whereas the NWC-verified number of financial members cleared to vote at the primary stood a little above 44,000  about 21,000 less than the figure Dekeri bandied to mobilise for the primary!

The disputed primary over, Mr Uzodimma will share in the blame  should the APC taste another defeat in four years at the September 21 governorship poll  for displaying bias, and attempting to throw the ticket for the anointed candidate of Senator and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

From what Nigerians glean from the media, not many people from the South East, and especially Imo State, will pour drink on the ground for prayer for Uzodimma. They know his journey to the government seat of power at Douglas House in Owerri, capital city of Imo State, and are quick to point to the circumstances in which he claimed the seat via the courts.

The APC had recognised the primary held in October 2018 that produced Uzodimma, and forwarded his name as the party candidate. That left in the lurch former Governor Rochas Okorochas son-in-law, Mr Uche Nwosu  who won in a parallel primary  prompting him to decamp to Action Alliance (AA) for the March 9, 2019, governorship poll.

At the election, Uzodimma placed fourth behind former Reps Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha (PDP), who scored 273,404 votes; Mr Nwosu (AA), 190,364; former Sen. Ararume (All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)), 114,676; and Uzodimma (APC), 96,458 votes, with Mr Ihedioha declared elected and sworn-in as governor.

But Uzodinma claimed hes shortchanged, as his scores in about 388 polling units werent recorded for him. From the Election Petitions Tribunal through the Appeal Court to the Supreme Court, Uzodimma showed how he won in each of the polling units in contention, in accordance with the laws guiding elections in Nigeria.

Convinced, the Supreme Court held on January 14, 2020, that results from 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from scores ascribed to them (Uzodimma and APC), and the first appellant (Uzodimma) holds the majority of lawful votes cast. The court affirmed him as elected, and duly returned Governor of Imo State, which position hes sworn into on January 15, 2020.

Recall that a few weeks earlier, the Spiritual Leader of Adoration Ministry in Enugu, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, predicted the sacking of Ihedioha, and enthronement of Uzodimma as governor.

Fr Mbakas words, as first reported by The Cable: In Imo state, there is hope. Hope, hope, hope in Imo state! A new leadership that will break barriers and there would be joy in the land of Imo. Lift your candles as I bless Hope Uzodimma; and I empower him to, spiritually, to take over. How, I do not know.

So, many derisively refer to Uzodimma as the Supreme Court Governor, who they hoped would be a one-term governor to be booted out from office by the good people of Imo State. But dreams arent horses for beggars to ride!

Imolites failed to remove Uzodimma from office during his re-election bid on November 11, 2023, retaining his seat in a landslide, thanks in part to the antics of the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajero, who, barely weeks to the election, imposed an economic blockade on Imo, including air, water and land transportation.

The Ajero action  under the guise of fighting for Imo workers rights, who also suffered the effects of the blockade thats seen as politically-motivated ahead of the governorship election  engendered sympathy of Imo voters for Uzodimma, who won handily without recourse to polling unit mathematics, as its in 2019 that critics say didnt add up even at the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Uzodimmas risen in the rank of the APC to becoming the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF)  an enviable position of trust he should ordinarily carry with aplomb and dignity in the discharge of assignments, like the supervision of the APC direct primary in Edo State, to choose a candidate for the governorship election.

In the lead-up to February 17, the National Working Committee (NWC) named Uzodimma to head the seven-man APC Edo primary committee, charged with conducting a credible, transparent and an acceptable election.

At the inauguration of both the primary and appeals committees on February 15 at the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja, Uzodimma presented himself as a democrat, who wanted things done, as laid down in the rulebook of the party.

Specifically on the appeals committee, the APC national chairman and former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who vows to reclaim Edo State from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said: It is a tradition for us to always constitute a body that will undertake an assignment so that at the end of it, we get good results Whatever you do, the contestants are free to appeal. That is why we have an appeals committee, which is like the Supreme Court.

Responding, Uzodimma thanked Ganduje and the NWC for the confidence reposed in the members, and promised to discharge their assignment with utmost diligence. Our prayer is that we work hard to justify this confidence reposed in us, Uzodimma said, adding, It behooves on members of our committee to work in harmony with the partys local leadership in Edo, to bring up a product that will look like our party and is easily marketable in Edo.

Did Uzodimma carry out the duty of producing a sellable, marketable and acceptable candidate in accordance with the dictates of the constitution of the APC? No! Rather, he allegedly connived with the local potentate, Comrade Oshiomhole, and announced as winner of the primary Hon. Idahosa (APC, Ovia Federal Constituency), whos Oshiomholes anointed candidate for the governorship.

Bedlam followed Uzodimmas declaration, and three others in tow, such that President Bola Tinubu  just back in the country from an African Union (AU) meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  was called upon by APC stakeholders in Edo State to intervene in the impasse, to save the party from another defeat in four years in the state.

Tinubu, who reportedly expressed displeasure over the turn of events, directed the NWC to quickly resolve the stalemate before the February 24 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

And pronto, Ganduje  also complicit by congratulating the Uzodimma-declared winner  summoned an emergency meeting of the NWC at night, declared the Edo primary inconclusive, and replaced Uzodimma with Cross River Governor Otu, to conclude the week-long exercise.

Polity watchers wonder why the APC didnt also replace Sen. Otu for the repeat primary? Probably for the fact that its the governor, who debunked the Oshiomhole alleged Tinubu endorsement of the candidacy of Idahosa, reportedly in a trending video 24 hours to the February 17 primary.

As first reported by THISDAY, Mr Otu categorically dismissed the rumour that President Tinubu has anointed a particular aspirant for the Edo APC gubernatorial primaries, and urged party faithful to disregard the lie and vote for their choice candidate.

Besides, Otu couldve disagreed with Uzodimmas hurried declaration of Idahosa as the winner of the primary, even when only eight local government areas results had been collated, and Okpebholo, and not Idahosa, was leading comfortably.

Its at that point of Uzodimmas declaration, and subsequent others, that the Ganduje-led NWC shouldve taken a decisive action to halt or cancel the primary. As I noted in my copy on Wednesday, February 21, entitled, Edo 2024: Can Tinubu bell the cats in APCs primary fiasco, Ganduje and his team didnt have to await Tinubus directive on what to do to rectify the controversial primaries.

In a best case scenario, the APC leadership wouldve acted swiftly, called for calm, and given the assurance to members, particularly in Edo State, that itd look into the primary misadventure through the primary appeals committee instituted ahead of the exercise.

And in a worst case scenario, the party wouldve dismissed the conflicting declarations made  with four aspirants laying claim to winning the primaries  dissolved the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led primary election committee, and fixed a new date for a re-run or fresh primary poll within days, to meet the February 24 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But what did Nigerians  particularly the shocked and distrust members of the APC in Edo State  see and hear from the leadership of the party? A congratulatory message in the night of February 17 from the national chairman, Ganduje, to the winner of the primaries, and solicitation for the defeated aspirants to bury the hatchet and work for party unity to win the Edo governorship.

As of Sunday, February 18, four aspirants claimed that they won the primaries. to choose a candidate for the September 21 election. They included Hon. Idahosa, Sen. Okpebholo, Hon. Dekeri, and Mr Agba, former minister of state for Budget and National Planning.

In the end, Uzodimma faced a humiliating sack from the primary committee, for allegedly doing Oshiomholes bidding to anoint Idahosa for governor  perhaps to ingratiate Oshiomhole, whos APCs national chairman when he vied for Imo governor in 2019.

Belatedly on February 22, the APC leadership clarified that Uzodimma wasnt sacked nor dropped from the pimary committee, but was unavailable to lead the completion of the primary due to his prior scheduled attendance of, and presentation of a report, to the National Economic Council meeting today, February 22, 2024, reports the online portal, GWG.NG, quoting the APC national publicity secretary, Mr Felix Morka.

As a result, His Excellency Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State, who was the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, graciously accepted to serve as Chairman, and to complete the Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election Process, Morka added.

Thats mercy after death, which left Uzodinma alone to carry the can of the botched February 17 primary, with the hierarchy of the NWC going scot-free! Hopefully, Uzodimma wouldve learned, the hard way, some lessons in serving with diligence, the broader, rather than the narrow interest, in discharging future assignments!

* Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has lifted economic sanctions placed on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic.

The regional bloc arrived at this decision during its extraordinary summit at the State House in Abuja on Saturday, February 24.

This is coming shortly after President Bola Tinubu had called for the suspension of the sanctions.

Speaking at the extra-ordinary Summit of ECOWAS in Abuja on Saturday, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the organization, stated that:

Everything we did was in hopes of persuading our brothers that there existed a better path, a path that would lead to genuine improvement of their peoples welfare through democratic good governance. And this was a path each of our nations had solemnly agreed with one another pursuant to formal regional treaty and protocol.

He continued: However, the sanctions that we contemplated might help lead our brothers to the negotiating table have become a harsh stumbling block. In my mind and heart, that which is hurtful yet ineffective serves no good purpose and should be abandoned.

ECOWAS was established for the unassailable objective of improving the lives of the people of this region through fraternal cooperation among all member states. This edifice was cemented on the strong foundation and apt conviction that, united as one, we can be the true masters of our destiny.

Tinubu further explained that ECOWAS took the steps it did based on the regional ideals of security, social stability; democratic governance, political freedom, broad-based prosperity, and sustainable economic development through fair opportunity for each and every one in West Africa.

He said neither hatred nor hidden motive influenced the steps taken and that there was never any intention to douse or undermine the legitimate political aspirations of any member state or to advance the interests of any outside party.

In calling for the suspension of sanctions, President Tinubu stressed that: We must take note of the approach of the holy month of Ramadan and of Lent. Whether you pray in the mosque or in the church, this represents a time for compassion, hope, and harmony. It is a time that we must not only seek God but also a closer relationship with brother and neighbour.

In the Spirit of the holy month and of the Lenten period, and with hearts bestirred by goodwill towards all our people, let us extend a hand as brothers and friends to those in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

What I suggest in real and practical terms is that we, my colleagues and fellow heads of state in ECOWAS, indefinitely suspend economic sanctions against Niger, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso and against the leadership of the military authorities in those nations.

The President asked that ECOWAS facilitate the unfettered flow of foodstuffs, medicines and other humanitarian items to the people of these nations, especially to the most vulnerable, adding that for Nigeria, this will also mean the prompt resumption of export of electric power to Niger.

In this vein, suspension of sanctions is an important but initial step. What we seek is more than the breaking of the diplomatic logjam. We must use this very moment when things seem tense and progress unavailing, to forge greater cooperation within our community.

We not only reach out to our brothers. Today, we say unto them  let us begin to work more earnestly together for the economic development of our people and towards confronting those modern challenges that respect no borders or boundaries. Challenges ranging from climate change to violent extremism to illegal pilfering of our precious natural resources require that we join together in progress or we fail separately.

As leaders of ECOWAS, we have accepted the honour and duty to draft the history of the region and its people during our tenure in office. We have also accepted the honour and duty to reach out to our brothers, letting them know this regional home belongs to us all. I shall do my utmost in this regard. I humbly beseech that you do the same.

For these reasons, we must suspend sanctions and return to brotherly dialogue. I call on the leadership in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger to embrace the hand extended, the President stated.

Related
Unknown gunmen have shot dead Mr. Henry Ejiogu Ogbuji, a pharmacist whose shop is located at Owerri plaza.

Henry, a native of Obile in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo state but resident in Irete in Owerri-west LGA, was said to have been killed while chasing abductors of his elder brother, Mr. Sunny Ogbuji.

A village source said that the deceased who had a residential house in Irete came back home to hear that his elder brother, Sunny Ogbuji, had been kidnapped, and he immediately went after his brothers abductors.

The source said, Henry Ogbuji was shot dead by kidnappers on Friday night. He was pursuing the kidnappers who captured his elder brother, Sunny Ogbuji.

He came back from from his pharmacy shop and heard his elder brother was kidnapped not long ago, and he ran after them in his car. As if he knew they took Owerri/Onitsha road expressway, he got to Umungada junction where he encountered the kidnappers.

But on sighting that the car coming close to them was after them, they released several bullets, and killed the young man. I wonder what gave him the impetus to run after kidnappers who were well armed. It was an unfortunate situation.

Built a resident of Irete who spoke on condition of anonymity said the kidnapped brother, Sunny Ogbuji, later escaped from his abductors hand during the encounter with his younger brother.
The Yobe State Police Command has said that suspected Boko Haram insurgents destroyed two 330 KVA power transmission towers in the state, leaving residents of Borno and Yobe without electricity.

DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the spokesperson for the Command, made this statement during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Saturday.

Abdulkarim clarified that the transmission towers provided electricity from Gombe to Yobe and Borno State.

He stated that the attackers were believed to have used improvised explosive devices to destroy the facilities in the early hours of Saturday

The transmission towers are located in Kasaisa in Damaturu Local Government Area of the state and supply electricity from Gombe to Yobe and Borno.

The destruction has plunged residents of the two states into darkness,  he said.

Kanyi Daily recalls that Boko Haram insurgents conducted a series of attacks in Yobe States Damaturu Local Government Area, resulting in tragic loss of lives and property destruction.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested eight members of two syndicates wanted for robberies and vehicle snatchings at gunpoint in Lagos State.

In a statement released by Benjamin Hundeyin, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police, it was reported that some of the suspects were captured in Lagos.

He further stated that detectives pursued the remaining suspects to Iwo, Osun State, and Ibadan, Oyo State, where they were arrested

The suspects were identified as Dayo Afolabi (27), Segun Osoyemi (32), Toheeb Adetunji (29), Tomiwa Okunlola (30), Bashiru Lukmon (22), Usman Hammed (25), Ashiru Usman (24), and Toheeb Oyekunle (32)

He added that the suspects were responsible for the murder of a police officer and the theft of his rifle in the Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State on December 9, 2023.

The rifle has since been recovered during the first set of arrests.

Other items recovered from the suspects include: one pump-action rifle, five locally-made pistols, thirty live cartridges, and charms.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, praised the detectives for their commendable work and assured Lagosians that the Command would persist in taking all necessary operational measures to guarantee their safety.

Kanyi Daily recalls that Lagos State Police Command had arrested three men suspected of operating as one-chance robbers
by M. K. Bhadrakumar





Russias stunning victory in the battle of Avdeevka and the rout of the Ukrainian military, boosts the credibility of Russia as provider of security for the Central Asian region. The point is not lost on the erudite Central Asian mind that Russia has single-handedly put the NATO on the back foot.





This becomes a defining moment, as it complements the comfort level stemming out of the new normalcy in Afghanistan, thanks to Russias effective diplomatic engagement with the Taliban.





Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed members of the federal and regional civic chambers, Moscow, November 3, 2023





Yet another vicious cycle of western propaganda is petering out  predicated on the false assumptions that Russias influence in Central Asia is in decline (Wilson Centre); that the Central Asian states are are emerging from Russias shadow and asserting their independence in ways not seen since the collapse of communism in 1991 (Financial Times); that in the wake of the war in Ukraine, Central Asian leaders might well be now considering how long Putin will be able to remain in power in Russia (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty).





In reality, the economic performance of the region in 2023 registered an impressive GDP growth of 4.8%. And Russia contributed to this success story. The Ukraine war led to the vacation of western firms from the Russian market, which created new opportunities for regional states. At the same time, the conditions under sanctions prompted Russian firms and capital and Russian citizens to relocate their businesses to the Central Asian region.





Central Asian entrepreneurs havent missed the lucrative opportunities to source Western goods and technology for the Russian market  walking a very tight rope by ensuring compliance with Western sanctions, while also nurturing their interdependence and integration with Russian markets. The recovery of the Russian economy and its 3.6% growth last year created business opportunities for Central Asian countries.





Moscows policies aim at a Renaissance in the regions relations with Russia. The new thinking in Moscow meant that Putin took a hands-on role to maintain a high momentum of contacts with the Central Asian leaderships at a personal level, making use of all available formats of interaction bilateral as well as regional. The Russian approach allowed space for the regional states to adopt a neutral stance on the war.





A comprehension problem for outsiders is very often that the Central Asian attitudes are seldom in overt mode, and under specific circumstances (such as Ukraine war), they need to be discerned in terms of preferences. Thus, the political message out of the May 9 parade in Moscow last year when all the Central Asian presidents joined Putin at the ceremonies on the Red Square was a massive gesture of support for Russia  and for Putin personally.





Throughout 2023, the Central Asian states found themselves targeted in an unprecedented diplomatic effort by the West to uphold the sanctions against Russia. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and French President Emmanuel Macron visited the region. Two historic summits in the C5+1 format were hosted by President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz respectively in Washington and Berlin.





But the western interlocutors refused to see the writing on the wall. Blinkens Kazakh counterpart told him that Astana does not feel any threats or risks from the Russian Federation. The joint statements issued after the two C5+1 summits did not even mention Ukraine!





Putins new thinking puts the great game on the back burner and instead prioritises the accretion of content in Russias relations with the Central Asian states, especially in economic and humanitarian spheres. This approach has palpably dissipated the Big Brother syndrome. Putins meetings with his counterparts from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in Kazan on Wednesday took place in a palpably relaxed atmosphere. (here, here and here)





Interestingly, Emomali Rahmon, Tajik president, wished not only Putins success in everything you do but his nerves of steel as well. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakh president underscored meaningfully that under your (Putins) distinguished leadership, Russia has achieved notable, impressive successes. In fact, your statements and actions are shaping the global agenda. Tokayevs remark is particularly noteworthy, as western analysts had spotted him as a potential mutineer against Putin in the steppes!





However, in the final analysis, if Russias security relationship with the Central Asian region has transformed during the past couple of years, it is because Moscows coordinated efforts to forge ties with the Taliban has gained traction lately. They helped diminish the threat perceptions regarding Afghanistan in the Central Asian region.





If the traditional pattern of addressing the threat perceptions was to resort to military means and by sequestering the region from Afghanistan, Russian diplomacy switched to a radically different approach by constructively engaging with the Taliban (although Taliban continues to be a proscribed organisation under Russian law) and strove to make the latter a stakeholder in building cooperative ties within a matrix of mutual interests. It paid off.





Moscow estimated that Taliban rule has stabilised the Afghan situation significantly and it is in Russian interests to help the Kabul administration to effectively counter the extremist elements in the country (especially the Islamic State, which is known to be a legacy of the US occupation of Afghanistan.) Russia leveraged its influence with the Central Asian states to ensure that western-backed anti-Taliban resistance forces did not get sanctuaries.





Of course, the strategic objective is that the western intelligence will not be able to manipulate free-wheeling Afghan elements to destabilise the Central Asian region or the Caucasus all over again.





Taliban has been most receptive to the Russian overtures aimed at strengthening the Afghan statehood. Recently, Taliban went to the extent of boycotting a UN-sponsored conference on Afghanistan on February 18-19 in Qatar, which was, in reality, an invidious attempt by the US to re-engage the Taliban on the pretext of promoting intra-Afghan dialogue (which essentially meant the return of the Wests Afghan proxies living in exile in Europe and America.)





To be sure, the Taliban saw through the western game plan to rebuild their intelligence network in Afghanistan and countered it by setting conditions for its participation in the Doha conference, including that it be the sole representative of Afghanistan at the meeting. The Taliban also opposed the appointment of a UN special envoy to Afghanistan, whose main task would be to promote intra-Afghan dialogue.





The Talibans Foreign Ministry, in a statement ahead of the Doha meeting, accused the international community of unilateral impositions, accusations, and pressurisation. The most interesting part of the pantomime playing out in Doha was that at the Talibans request, the Russian delegation that participated in the Doha meeting refused to meet the so-called civil society representatives from Afghanistan. It signalled that Russia has begun working with the Taliban as the de facto rulers of Afghanistan.





Indeed, the Central Asian states heartily welcome this brilliant diplomatic initiative by Russia to strengthen regional security and stability. The regions confidence level vis-a-vis the Taliban rulers has already reached a point that at the meeting with Putin in Kazan on Wednesday, Uzbek president Mirziyoyev raised the important question of Uzbekistan and Russia moving ahead with the construction of a new railway via Afghanistan connecting Central Asia with the adjacent regions and the world market.





M. K. Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat by profession. Roughly half of the 3 decades of his diplomatic career was devoted to assignments on the territories of the former Soviet Union and to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Other overseas postings included South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey. He writes mainly on Indian foreign policy and the affairs of the Middle East, Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific.
The state Governor, Seyi Makinde, who made this known on Saturday in a statement said that the undisclosed number of illegal miners were arrested following a tip off about a facility they were using in the area to process illegally mined minerals.

The Oyo State government has announced the arrest of illegal miners in Idi-Ayunre, located in the Oluyole Local Government Area of the state, and the confiscation of the facility utilized by the miners for the processing of unlawfully extracted minerals.

The state Governor, Seyi Makinde, who made this known on Saturday in a statement said that the undisclosed number of illegal miners were arrested following a tip off about a facility they were using in the area to process illegally mined minerals.

The governor who said the government was able to arrest the culprits due to cooperation with the citizens, stressed that the governments efforts is to prevent the recurrence of explosion that ricked the Bodija area of Ibadan, the state capital in January, an incident which the governor attributed to the activities of illegal miners in the area.

Governor Makinde also lamented the state governments inability to extradite the Malians indicted in the Bodija explosion who are on the run, noting that the government is having difficulties in extraditing them because of Malis pull out from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The governor said, In our efforts to prevent a recurrence of the Bodija Incident, we were at Idi-Ayunre, following a tip off about a facility which was being used to process illegally mined minerals.

I can report that those involved have been arrested and are in custody and we are working to prosecute them. Our government has also taken over the facility pending the investigations and prosecution.

We were able to apprehend the culprits because the government and citizens worked together in a timely manner to bust their operations.

Let me take this opportunity to report that we are still trying to extradite the Malians indicted in the Bodija Incident who are on the run. We are having difficulties because Mali pulled out of ECOWAS. We will continue to deploy diplomatic means to ensure they are brought to book.

Please continue to support our efforts to rid our State of illegal activities. If you see something, say something and the authorities will do something. 615 is the toll-free number to call when you notice any security breaches.
From Ahmad Saka, Bauchi

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim were among a long list of dignitaries that paid glowing tributes to the late mother of former Speaker Yakubu Dogara who was buried in Ganuwari, Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, on Saturday February 24.

In a personal condolence message signed and addressed to Dogara, Obasanjo said even though the matriarch lived up to 103 years, the death of a mother is still a painful one

Obasanjo urged the former Speaker and the entire family to take solace in the long and fulfilled life she lived and the memory of the life of love and cared shared with her.

In a similar vein, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim in c condolence letter, said the late Mama Saratu enjoyed life of longevity and fulfilled her destiny according to the purpose of God.

Mamas life was impactful as a community leader and a philanthropist who bequeathed to society as a gentle man in your own self , who as former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has touched many lives

Also, former Senate President David Mark in a condolence message, said losing a mother regardless of her longevity is one of life most profound losses, and I can only imagine the depth of your sorrow you and your family must be experiencing

Mark added, Your mothers legacy lives on through you and the values you uphold as a leader

Speaker of the House of Representatives Hounorable Abass Tajudeen described Dogaras mother as a remarkable woman saying her memories would forever live on through the love and cherished moments she shared together with loved ones.

On behalf of the members of the House of Representatives, please accept our condolences and the assurance of our highest regard Tajudeen disclosed in condolence letter addressed to Dogara.

In his own tribute, former colleague and Governor of Sokoto State, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal said the passage of a mother was always touching.

Tambuwal in his message sent to Dogara, said Mama Saratu lived a life of commitment and devotion to her immediate community and humanity ib general

She has contributed immensely to both community and national development in general. No wonder that God granted her longevity, Tamwula said.

More tributes poured in from other dignitaries who attended the church electrifying church service held at COCIN LCC Gwaranga.

The burial was attended by Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, former governor of Bauchi State Mallam Isa Yuguda, Ex-Secretary to the Federal Government Babachir Lawal, former House Leader and current Senator Abdul Ningi, NNPP governorship candidate Senators Haliru Dauda Jika, Patrick Obahiagbon, Hamman Misau, Nazif Gamawa

Tributes came in from the deceased children, grandchildren, in-laws and family members who celebrated her generosity, devotion to God and commitment to humanity.

In an emotional tribute during the church service, Dogara described his mother as a women who led an exemplary life.

Mamas life modelled guts, gumption, grit, gravitas and groundedness, he said.

Mama was also relentless and as bold as a lion with a more compelling impactful presence. I am gratefu beyond words to have fallen heir to your legacy of reckless boldness which defined your walk with God and the multitudes you touched in special ways.

I am comforted by the fact that my soul knows that you are at peace with the Lord hen been told these gracious words,  well done, thou good and faithful servant enter inte your rest.

It is a pity that this book cannot contain my tribute because of our special relationship but I promise to tell the world your story someday. Suffice it to say, rest on, my everyday heroine at the bossom of Lord Jesus Christ until we meet to part no more
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported that its operatives are in the process of identifying individuals belonging to an organized criminal network responsible for the recent smuggling of two containers containing illegal drugs, along with assorted arms and ammunition. The items were imported from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos.

According to NDLEA, among those already arrested as members of the syndicate are: a clearing and notification party of the two containers, Falowo Samuel Kayode; a dock worker, Anjorin Idowu and Uzairu Ahmed Iguda, who is in charge of the Five Star terminal at the port.

It said investigations revealed that the three suspects conspired with the agent and notify party, Falowo Samuel Kayode, to remove the 192.7kg Colorado, pistol and rounds of ammunition from the container to an empty container in the terminal.

The agency also said another dock worker at the terminal, Mohammed Muktar Sule (alias organizer) who is equally linked to the syndicate is currently at large.

This was made known in a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEAs Director of Media and Advocacy, on Sunday.

Babafemi disclosed that the Agency had requested for a 100 percent joint examination of two containers marked MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa based on credible intelligence.

He said the exercise was conducted with other stakeholders on January 18 and 19, 2024, during which 56.39kg cocaine and 795kg Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, among other illegal items, were recovered from the containers.

Babafemi disclosed that the latest seizure brings the total recovered from the two containers to 56.39kg of cocaine and 987.9kg of Colorado, with a combined weight of 1,044.29kg.

Investigations have also revealed three kingpins believed to be based in South Africa and connected with the importation of the containers. They include: Odeyemi Taiwo Emmanuel; Akinyemi Olayinka and Adebayo Adewole Emmanuel, who are now on the Agencys wanted list, he added.

Similarly, NDLEA in Edo State on February 20 raided a drug joint under powerline off Etete Road, GRA Benin City, where they arrested a salesgirl, Jessica Destiny, 24, and recovered assorted illicit drugs.

The agency stated that a follow up operation the following day led to the arrest of the owner of the joint, 36-year-old Ibrahim Sani, who is the Commander, Arewa Association Vigilantes in the area.

It further disclosed that a consignment of 179kg cannabis was recovered by operatives at Badagry Waterside, Lagos on Wednesday, February 21. A 67-year-old grandpa, Rafiu Ogunro was nabbed on Thursday 22nd February, at Magbon, Ogun state with 57kg cannabis, 2,700 pills of tramadol, and 231 bottles of Codeine syrup, weighing 2.31 litres.

Announcing further interceptions and seizures made by the NDLEA, Babafemi said: In Borno, a 25-year-old lady, Zara Mele was arrested with quantities of cocaine and heroin at Baga check point on Tuesday February 20, while Usman Shuaibu, 26, and Mohammed Lawan, 22, were also nabbed with quantities of the same class A drug at Meri and Babban Layi areas of Maiduguri the same day, respectively.

No less than 44,820 pills of opioids being taken to Zamfara state by Tasiu Mohammed, 25, and Abubakar Tanko, 54, were intercepted along Jega-Sokoto road by NDLEA officers in Kebbi state, while a farmer Ali Abdulhamid, 35, was arrested in his farm where he grows tomatoes and some stems of cannabis sativa weighing 73 kilograms at Bakin Kasuwa village, Birnin Yero area of Igabi LGA, Kaduna state.

Two suspects: Shuaibu Ahmed, 38, and Tanimu Abdullahi, 29, travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Kano with 99 blocks of cannabis weighing 37kg were intercepted by NDLEA officers along Kwali-Gwagwalada express road, Abuja on Monday, February 19, while one Michael Okefi was arrested at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra state with 483 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in two 50-litre kegs. A follow up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner, Osinachi Jasper.

At least 540 grams of cocaine concealed in canvas shoes heading to the UK were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Friday, February 23, by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI.

Equally, a consignment of tramadol 225mg hidden in ladies headgear going to the UK was also seized the same day at the courier house, while another parcel containing ecstasy concealed in a body cream container meant for Cyprus was also intercepted.

In Kano state, different quantities of opioids and other illicit drugs were recovered from at least 12 young men arrested in parts of Kano between Monday 19th and Friday 23rd February. Some of the suspects include: Yusuf Abdullahi,20; Usman Muhd,18; Sadiq Jibrin, 20; Ibrahim Lawan, 25; Ukasha Usaini,19; Sahabi Lamini,15; Isiyaka Mohd, 28; Bashir Ayuba,36; Ahmad Idris,18; Abubakar Sani,29; Bashir Mohd, 21 and Udochukwu Ezekiel, 35.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the Tincan, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Kebbi, Borno, and FCT Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week.

Marwa equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.
Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its raids on Bureau De Change operators in major cities across Nigeria, stating that the action is ill-advised. Obi disclosed this in a statement on his official X account on Sunday.

Recall that in efforts to rescue the Naira from continued fluctuations against the US dollar, the operatives of the EFCC raided BDC operators in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Kano and other states.

However, reacting to the development, Peter Obi said the move by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubus government may worsen the countrys foreign exchange situation.

He stated that as long as Nigerias economy remains unproductive and corruption-fettered, the value of the countrys currency will continue to depreciate.



The recent reported attacks and disruption of the business activities of Bureaux de Change (BDC) operators in different urban centres across the country by Government Agencies are ill-advised and wrongly directed.

Rather than solve the problem, the action will further escalate and worsen the exchange rate situation in the country. The BDCs are not the primary suppliers of forex, nor do they create demand. They only provide a market to sellers and buyers of foreign currency.

As long as Nigeria remains an unproductive economy and corruption continues unfettered with people possessing unproductive excess cash, the value of our currency will continue to depreciate.

Its important, therefore, that government authorities properly understand the workings of a modern economy and channel their efforts accordingly, he stated.

Recall that at the close of work on Friday, FMDQ data showed that Naira depreciated to N1,665.50 per US dollar from N1571.31 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced draft guidelines in a sweeping policy intervention for BDCs, including a ban on street trading and a fresh per capital share requirement for registration.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Adegoke Fayoade, has warned Lagosians that the state command would not tolerate any form of breakdown of law following a planned protest scheduled to take place in the state on Monday, 26th February, 2024.

In a statement on Sunday by the Force PRO, Benjamin Hundeyin, the commissioner said the warning was imperative as the actions of the protesters were capable of grounding economic activities in his state.

He gave assurances that the police will live up to its mandate and ensure that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental rights of others.

The statement read, The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, mni has assured Lagosians that the Command has put necessary measures in place to ensure the safety of lives and property, free flow of traffic and a peaceful environment for carrying out their respective lawful duties.

This assurance has become imperative following news making the rounds about nationwide protests billed to start on Monday, February 26, 2024, an action capable of grounding commercial activities and obstructing free flow of traffic.

The Command will live up to its mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others, especially the rights to freedom of movement and right to dignity of human persons.

CP Fayoade, therefore, warns all intending protesters that anyone found infringing on the rights of other Nigerians will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, CP Fayoade once again enjoins all peace loving Lagosians to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation, reiterating that adequate security assets have been strategically deployed to ensure their safety and security.
Kano state police command has arrested 19 years old, Mariya Sulaiman of Badawa quarters of the state who stabbed her brother to death during a wedding ceremony.

The Police spokesman in Kano, DSP Haruna Abdullahi confirmed the incident to reporters on Sunday.

Mr Abdullahi in a statement said On the 06/07/2019 at about 2000hrs, the police in Kano received a report that one Sani Sulaiman M 30 years old of Badawa Quarters Kano was in pool of blood lying in their compound after a stab by his sister one Mariya Sulaiman F 19years old.

He said the suspect was arrested at the scene and preliminary investigation revealed that an argument erupted between the two which led Mariya stabbing her blood brother.

The argument arises when the deceased ordered that the music going on during the ceremony be stopped which Mariya resisted where she used knife and stabbed Sani on his neck.

The statement explained that the incident occurred when the family was celebrating the marriage of his one other sister.

According to him, Police immediately rushed to the scene and took the victim to Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The commissioner of police Mr Ahmed Iliyasu has ordered that case be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed outrage over the murder of the Parish Priest of St. James The Greater Parish, Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu by unknown gunmen.

Southeast zone of CAN, in a statement on Sunday, said it was traumatized and in agony over the ugly development.

The statement was signed by the Chairman of CAN in the zone, Bishop Dr. Goddy Madu.

The cleric said the killing of Offu and other men of God was utterly condemnable and that the Christian body would no longer condone such.

I write to condemn the killing of Rev. Fr. Paul Offu by suspected herdsmen, as well as other men of God who have been murdered under similar circumstances.

This latest killing has brought tears and agony to the body of Christ. This is not the first, the second, nor the third time the Church is at the receiving end of such heinous attack.

Read Also: Union canvasses more prayers for Nigeria

Consequently, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Southeast zone is calling on law enforcement agencies to fish out the killers and bring them to justice.

Also, the CAN Southeast is consoling with the Catholic Diocese of Enugu and pray the good Lord to grant the soul of Rev. Fr. Offu and other men of God who have lost their lives peaceful rest, he said.

Similarly, the Secretary of the CAN in the 17 Southern States, Apostle Dr. Joseph Ajujungwa, in a reaction to the killing said there were indications that some persons were working to sabotage the good efforts of the current government in the State led by Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Ajujungwa called on the Church and the good citizens of Nigeria to watch as we pray.

The CAN Southeast is calling on the National Assembly to make a law stopping these deadly herdsmen from parading and causing disunity and tears to the good citizens of Nigeria.

The CAN Southeast zone is strongly standing behind the South-East Governors Forum on their decision on security and we call on every Nigerian to defend themselves and their environment, he added.
Former President of the Senate and former Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday celebrated 100 days of his exit from office. The former President of the Senate, making a broad statement for the first time since he lost in the 2019 general elections, was of the view that first 100 days has exposed the true weakness of the government of Kwara State, which makes if difficult for any occupant of office to fulfill populist excpectations but which leaders of te All Progressives Congress (APC) used to blacnkmail him as a thief stealing the state funds. He expressed that he has no regret losing in the elections, noting that the loss has made citizens in Kwara State see governance from the other divide.

Saraki in a statement remarked: I am a happy man today as Kwara is about to celebrate the 100 days of the Acclaimed Salvation Team or is it Party of The Self Acclaimed Saviors, but I am celebrating 100 days Out of Office of Dr. Bukola Saraki in my own part.

Sincerely I am not feeling the loss of PDP because it is of no use to me but the topic today is not of the loss of PDP or the Dynasty per se but victory of the truth unveiling now.

Saraki observed that thte people of Kwara State are not happy that the man rthey love and supported lost in an election. He asserted that the truth is that those who were eating and still believe they will be eating if the PDP or the Dynasty win wont be happy with the development but he was not one.

Bukola Saraki, too, may not be happy with the loss but like thinking of circumcision pain, man will be reluctant in submitting his Adams Pen to the piercing of a knife of circumcision but he needs it, the former Senate Presdient said.

He stated: it may be a great pain when the Dynasty lost in Kwara but now 100 days out of office of the Dynasty is bringing joy to the true lovers of Bukola Saraki.

In these 3 months, 1 week and 3 days which are beautifully added to  one month of May allocations; many things have been revealed.

Many truths revealed on the lies told against Bukola Saraki were least expected that the ones cursing Bukola out of sincere belief in the crusade that he was looting KWARA then are secretly or openly asking for God forgiveness now.

Saraki argued that the ability of the Abdulfatah to pay some salary arrears before 100 days in August of 2015 after receiving bail out of N4 billion and failure to do the same in May 2019 on the part of New Government when he received N5.2 billion even though the party made it a cardinal campaign promise to get Civil Servant solid support that secured victory for it in the elections, has cleared the issues on the love of Otoge for Kwara Civil servants.

He maintained that the non-commiseration of the achievements of APC government within these 100 days with projects worth additional N2 billion monthly, Bukola must have been prevented from stealing, has shown us clearly Bukola is being lied against on all the stealing allegations.

Saraki pointed out that if the N2 billion monthly loot was true; Kwara should be having N8 billion extra in addition to N4.8 billon apart from the expected sum of N5.2 billion Paris Refund withheld Kwara money during the time of Abdulfatah which we expect to have dropped now since we are now in good book of Federal Government.

The former Seante Presdeint stated that the inability to go beyond paying N240 million of remaining amount of cost of contract for the completion of the Secretariat Building which N1 billion out of N1.2 billion total cost has been paid by Abdulfath Ahmed and other scores of millions or/and, they are putting into trash the lies that billions are going to Bukola monthly.

Saraki contended that the failure of the current governor will tell the people of Kwara that if there was stealing before APC came, the stealing then may be a childs play compared to what s happenng now in the state.

These are only saying the stealing in the past must be kindergarten in nature compared to what must be going on now if the allegations of stealing by the past administration were to be true.

I believe the new governor will prefer people knowing there is nothing to steal in Kwara State than allowing people to believe he is the one stealing the billions Bukola were alleged of stealing then presently.

He further argued that the complaint of nothing getting to the people in the grassroots since these 100 days, even without any visible difference in government spending activities (nor announcement of special saving on the part of State Government to tell us our money is still intact) has also established the fact that the money Bukola was sharing to his party members is out of contentedness with the little God is giving to him and that Kwara has no such money.

The continuation of Bukola humanitarian activities of giving to programs and buy people gift for festival even when the serving government cannot afford to buy these gifts, now, is also clearing the fact that Bukola Saraki was doing all these from his personal money.

He protested that the careless and continuous insistence claim that Bukola looted KWARA even without the substantiation of bringing out the monthly N2 billion loot claim is a confirmation that the perpetrators have no respect for KWARA or for the sound brains therein and are just blinded by desire to tarnish Bukolas image.

Some APC members jubilation without remorse or consideration for the mood of the masses on the failed 100 days promises of this government, is also confirming that these peoples claim of fighting to free Kwarans from slavery is rather a concept designed to put KWARANs in their own slavery.

Since Bukola Saraki is not a hungry man that need State allocation to survive as revealed in these first 100 days of opportunity to watch someone else running the affair of Kwara State and Kwara need more years to confirm totally these revealing facts; staying out for this period wont be bad for us to see clearly the different, Saraki declared.

He remarked that even the Senate seems to have been in recession with Dr. Bukola Sarakis exit

He maintained that the clear truth is that envy and desperation engineered all those lies against Bukola Saraki while the only justifiable point is let someone else try it.

Looking at the 100 days out of Office both in the Nigerian Senate and Kwara governance of Dr. Bukola Saraki is having the opposite effects from the expectation on the ones that are not hungry among the two political groups of KWARA now.

The only one not happy for Dr. Bukola Saraki among his lovers are the one that were only eating through his governance while the only one jubilating still on his defeat are the only one considering what they will eat under the new government.

The ones that were rejoicing because they believe they have voted out Bukola, the looter, to stop the looting are now wondering on what is happening since nothing has changed in these 100 days but continuation of propaganda of lies.

Saraki added that those that are truly with Bukola Saraki are jubilating that finally, the hundred days has vindicate and exonerate Bukola Saraki of all lies of stealing.

It was noted: only hungry politicians and your haters that are celebrating your temporary exit. The true KWARA lovers are only flabbergasted at the exposition of the reality on the ground.

Saraki acknowledged that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq did not disappoint him, however, because the governor wont create money and neither is he from another planet with magical quality of an alien.

We celebrate with Kwarans on the celebrations of these 100 days of revelations.

Feeling the pulse as I am passing bye and still seriously reflecting on the 3 distinct moods of people on these 100 days of Kwara New government, he said.

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Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to providing road, saying such infrastructure had multiple benefits in the states economy.

The governor inaugurating a new office complex for the states command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Asaba, said that his administrations determination to ensure that there were good roads in the state was to boost socio-economic activities through ease in movement of people and goods.

According to him, we are committed to road construction, because if we ease the movement of people, it will be quicker to grow our economy.

Okowa assured that the state government would partner FRSC to ensure free flow of traffic across the state, especially during the yuletide.

He said that work had begun on the rehabilitation of deplorable sections of some federal roads in the state, explaining that his administration first sought approval from Federal Ministry of Works before engaging in the intervention.

We have awarded contracts to Levant Nigeria Limited to reconstruct the Asaba end of the Niger Bridge.

We are also intervening in the failed portions of Warri-Benin road, and there is another place from Agbor to Benin; these are the places we need to intervene urgently before the Christmas.

We will continue to work with Federal Ministry of Works to see what can be done in the area of making the roads more motorable, he said.

He congratulated the FRSC for the new office complex, noting that the it was a beautiful place for people to work and be more productive.

The governor thanked the FRSC for the quick provision of number plates and drivers license in the state, assuring of his administrations partnership with it and other federal agencies to ensure quick service delivery.

Earlier, Chairman, FRSC Board, Malam Bukhari Bello, had in an address lauded Okowa for complementing Federal Governments development initiative, asserting that the governor had rendered exceptional support to FRSC which other state Earlier, Chairman, FRSC Board, Malam Bukhari Bello, had in an address lauded Okowa for complementing Federal Governments development initiative, asserting that the governor had rendered exceptional support to FRSC which other state governors should emulate.

Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, on his part, thanked the governor for his support and show of good leadership in the state.

Since you came on board, no one has slept on top of the Niger Bridge due to your collaboration with your counterpart in Anambra.

My focus has been on infrastructural development because good work environment enhances productivity.

We support the government and people of Delta State, because you have made the atmosphere conducive for us to work, Oyeyemi said.
Anmabra State Police Command has arrested a politician simply identified as Igwe for using a nude picture of a pregnant married woman to blackmail her into accepting to sleep with him.

The politician was arrested on Tuesday, after thewoman whom he was demanding sex from, lured him to the junction, where undercover police officers were already lying in wait for him.

The woman was said to be in a relationship with the man before she got married and decided to end the relationship after marriage.

A source who witnessed the arrest said: She said the man who used to be her boyfriend called her recently and asked her to come to Awka for them to have a nice time.

She told him she was already married and was no longer interested in the relationship, and that besides, she was pregnant for her husband and didnt wish to be involved in extramarital affair. But the man insisted that she must come, and when she refused, he now sent her a nude picture of her, which he took while they were dating, and threatened to publish the picture on the internet if she refused to come see him one last time.

The eyewitness narrated further that the lady confided in her husband who reported to the police, while the politician was lured by the lady who arrived Awka from Enugu and called him to come so they can move into a hotel.

It was after he came and met the lady that undercover policemen came out and arrested him, the eyewitness narrated.

Attempt by journalists to speak with the victim after he was taken to B Division police station was not granted.

Anambra State Police Commands spokesman, SP Haruna Mohammed when contacted said the matter has not been reported to his office. He promised to speak with the DPO of the station and get back to our correspondent.

When asked if he could let the officers on duty allow journalists to speak with the victim, Haruna said doing so may jeopardize investigation.

I will get further information on the matter and brief you people much later, he said.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Police Command has arrested a church protocol officer identified as Francis Duru for repeatedly blackmailing his church member and girlfriends with their nude pictures.

Victor Duru, a Madonna University drop out, was in the habit of luring church girls to hotels and his apartment, and taking their Nude photographs which he subsequently used to blackmail them in exchange for money.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday secured victory over Nikki Haley, his former ambassador to the United Nations, in South Carolinas Republican primary, advancing a step closer to a potential face-off with incumbent Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential election in November.





Despite her aspirations to regain momentum after three losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, Haley  South Carolinas first female governor from 2011 to 2017  got roughly 40 percent of the vote, trailing Trump by approximately 20 percentage points.





Former U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L, Front) sits in the courtroom during his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York, the United States, on Oct. 18, 2023. (Doug Mills/Pool via Xinhua)

As Trump and Haley traverse the primary landscape, vying for the Republican presidential nomination state by state, Trumps firm hold on a significant faction of the party is evident.





However, he remains embroiled in controversies surrounding his efforts to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election results and his alleged role in inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.





Meanwhile, despite growing inner-party pressure to drop out and allow Republicans to unite around Trump, Haley vowed she was not giving up this fight.





Were getting around 40 percent of the vote. Thats about what we got in New Hampshire, too. Im an accountant. I know 40 percent is not 50 percent. But I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group, Haley told supporters in her election-night remarks.





In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak, she said. Her next station is Michigan, and then Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states and one territory will vote to choose candidates to compete in the general elections.





Trump, who has swept all the early states, has contended that the Republican primary election was effectively over. This was a little sooner than we anticipated, he said in his victory speech in Columbia in South Carolina, adding that he had never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now.





A Marquette Law School national poll of registered voters conducted from Feb. 5 to 15 showed that Haley could hold a larger lead over Biden than Trump in a hypothetical general election match-up, considering her strength with Republicans combined with an ability to attract more Democratic and independent voters than does Trump.





But most observers believe Trumps leadership in the party can hardly be shaken, and more discussion has been switched to who Trumps election partner will be. A Morning Consult tracking poll conducted from Jan. 23 to Feb. 4 showed Trump is considerably ahead in every major Super Tuesday state.





A daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley, 52, who portrays herself as a leader from a new generation and attacks Trump about his age and records in making America chaos, has aimed to court independent voters and moderate Republicans.





But that strategy appeared to be ineffective. In the first Republican primary in Iowa, Trump secured over 50 percent of votes, while Haley even placed behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, previously considered a promising right-wing challenger to Trump who later withdrew.





Then, in New Hampshire on Jan. 23, a significant battleground state where the governor Chris Sununu had endorsed Haley, she lost by roughly 9 percentage points.





In the recent Nevada contest, featuring both a state-run primary and a party-run caucus, only the caucus results dictated delegate allocation. Having chosen to participate in the primary, Haley was consequently excluded from the caucus. She suffered a significant setback, losing the primary to the none of these candidates option by a considerable 30 percent margin. Trumps name was not on the ballot. The outcome underscored her formidable challenge in securing the nomination.





The odds are against her, even in some of her targeted groups. For instance, according to an ABC News poll, even among college-educated voters, where Haley has experienced the greatest growth of support, shes trailing Trump by about 30 points nationally.





Trump has established a powerful, identity-based relationship with his most dedicated supporters, and his opponents in the GOP have generally been unwilling to challenge this, Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, told Xinhua.





Haley and her campaign have shown no sign of relenting. Calling the election a building situation, she said in an NBC interview that she did not necessarily need to win her hometown but had to do better than she did in New Hampshire, which was better than she did in Iowa.





However, with the sizable 20 percent margin in South Carolina, her pathway appears increasingly challenged.





Now, put aside the slim hope that Haley turns the tide; theres just one problem left in Trumps nomination: Will the former president, who is beset with 91 criminal charges across four criminal cases, including the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot in which many view him as an insurrectionist, be disqualified from the ballot?





Not likely, but the final answer primarily lies in an awaited ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in response to a challenge from the western state of Colorado. The Colorado Supreme Court  all seven of its justices appointed by Democratic governors  ruled in December that Trump would be kicked off the ballot for engaging in what has been labeled an attempt to overthrow the government on Jan. 6, 2021. Then Trump appealed.





It is unclear when the Supreme Court, with a 6-to-3 conservative majority, will issue the ruling after hearing oral arguments in the appeal on Feb. 8. But the justices across the political spectrum have expressed concern over the possible ripple effect if Colorados decision is upheld.





Brookings Institution senior fellow Darrell West told Xinhua: Several justices expressed doubt about the effort to disqualify Trump from the presidential ballot  They say it sets a precedent of allowing an individual state to outlaw particular candidates.





Formal challenges to Trumps presidential candidacy have been filed in at least 36 states and Colorado and Maine, which will both hold primaries on Super Tuesday, disqualified him from primary ballots, according to the New York Times. Trump appealed in both.





The lawsuits surrounding Trumps mishandling of sensitive government documents and cover-up payments to a porn star during the 2016 presidential campaign have been used as bargaining chips for both sides. Haley said Trump was a source of chaos and all of this chaos will only lead to more losses for Republicans up and down the ticket. Meanwhile, Trump has long presented himself as a victim of political persecution and a challenger to the justice system, a move resonating with his supporters.





The cases are expected to unfold over the coming months during the general election, while Trump and his team have been trying to delay trials. In its latest development, New York Supreme Criminal Court judge Juan Merchan said last week he planned to begin the hush-money trial on March 25.





Haley is staying in the race in case something happens in the court cases that shake confidence in him. She is counting on a conviction knocking him out of the race, West told Xinhua.





On the Democratic side, Biden is similarly dominating the field while facing challenges such as his age and health, disputes over his management of the U.S.-Mexico border and declining support among black voters.





The primary elections will be followed by Republican and Democratic conventions in July and August, in which each party will formally choose their presidential candidate. The candidates will participate in three televised debates before the voting day on Nov. 5.





- Xinhua
Embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has promised to restore his integrity and seat at the party

Naija news learnt that Oshiomhole stated this following an interlocutory injunction granted by a Federal Capital Territory High Court that he should step aside pending the determination of a suit filed by six members of the party.

Commenting on the issue, the spokesperson for the suspended national chairman, Simon Ebegbulem, said, We have filed for a stay of execution and appealed the order. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole remains the national chairman.

Naija News also learnt Oshiomhoe filed four grounds of appeal before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, praying for an order setting aside the interlocutory injunction issued by Justice Danlami Senchi of the FCT High Court.

In the notice of appeal filed in his name and that of the APC, the appellants contended that the judge arrived at a wrong conclusion in his ruling and it occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

The appellants also argued through his lawyer, Mr Damian Dodo (SAN), that the judge in his ruling prejudged the substantive case by erroneously delving into the issue of his performance of the duty of his office as the national chairman of the party at the preliminary stage.
<! AGN President, Emeka Rollas >

Senator Elisha Abbos appointment as one of the Patrons of Actors Guild of Nigeria has been defended by its President Emeka Rollas.

Rollas has defended the associations decision, in response to criticisms by some popular Nollywood key players.

Actress Hilda Dokubo kicked against it, recalling how the lawmaker was spotted in a video assaulting a nursing mother in a sex toy shop.

Dokubo stated that making an abuser of women a Patron of Actors Guild of Nigeria is an unpardonable abuse.

Another Nollywood great, Kate Henshaw called out Rollas over the appointment.

Emeka Rollas, stated that since the Senator had come out to apologise for slapping a woman, there is no need to bring up the issue again.

He also added that some of the celebs who are coming out to bash the decision are not even actual members of the guild.

Watch him speak below;

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<! Major General Olusegun Adeniyi >

The Theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, General Olusegun Adeniyi has been sent back to school to be a research fellow at Nigerian Army Resource Centre(NARC) in Abuja.

His posting was among the dozens approved by Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.

Adeniyi became the Theatre Commander in August 2019 and was engulfed recently in a leaked video, in which one of his officers complained about the superior fire power of Boko Haram.

(Watch the video first published by Sahara Reporters:

Social media comments on the posting Tuesday suggested Adeniyis deployment was a vindictive move by Buratai because Adeniyi told him an embarrassing truth.

The Army also deployed Major General Faruk Yahaya as the new theatre commander. He was the general officer commanding (GOC) of the armys 1 division in Kaduna.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sagir Musa, army spokesman, said the postings were a routine exercise intended to reinvigorate the system for greater professional effectiveness and efficiency.

Details of military postings:

-Maj Gen ACC Agundu from Special Task Force (STF) Operation SAFE HAVEN Jos moves to Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Abuja as Senior Research Fellow

-Major General HI Bature from Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Defence Liaison Office National Assembly Abuja moves to Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs

-Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj Gen UM Mohammed moved from Nigerian Army Property Limited (NAPL) to the Office of the Chief of Army Staff as Special Adviser Nigerian Army University Biu/Deputy Chairman Board of Trustees NAPL,

-Special Adviser Nigerian Army University Biu Maj Gen CC Okonkwo redeployed to STF Operation SAFE HAVEN Jos

-Maj Gen S Idris from Sector 2 OPLD Damaturu Yobe State redeployed to DHQ Abuja and appointed Director Liaison,

-Maj General AA Adesope from Office of the Chief of Army Staff Directorate of Audit and Financial Management moved to NAPL as Group Managing Director

-Maj Gen MG Ali from Headquarters Theatre Command OPLD Maiduguri moved to Headquarters 4 Special Forces Command Doma, Nasarawa State as Commander

-Chief of Civil-Military Affairs AHQ Abuja Maj Gen US Mohammed redeployed to 1 Division Kaduna as General Officer Commanding

-Brig Gen HI Daniel from the Defunct Army Special Forces Command Maiduguri moved to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Minna as Director Army Training Support

-Brig Gen BE Onyeuko of DHQ Abuja becomes Acting Director Defence Media Operation,

-Brig Gen NM Jega from Training and Doctrine Command Minna posted to Infantry Corps Centre Jaji as Chief of Staff,

-Brig Gen LA Araba from Nigerian Army Welfare Limited by Guaranty Abuja sent to Sector 2 OPLD Damaturu, Yobe State as Ag Commander,

-Brig Gen VO Ita from DHQ, Abuja to Headquarters 402 Special Forces Brigade Azare as Commander

-Brig Gen JAL Jimoh from Sector 3 Artillery Brigade OPLD Monguno posted to Headquarters 31 Brigade Minna as Commander

-Brig Gen GTO Ajetunmobi redeployed from 31 Brigade Minna to Nigeria Army Welfare Limited by Guaranty, Abuja as Executive Director Operation.

-Brig Gen LG Lepdung from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre Jaji moved to DHQ Abuja as Deputy Director Procurement (Logistics),

-Brig Gen MO Ihanuwaze becomes acting director of Office of the Chief of Army Staff Directorate of Audit and Financial Management,

-Brig Gen EC Obi  Osang from the defunct Headquarters 707 Special Forces Brigade Makurdi moved to Headquarters 401 Special Forces Brigade Makurdi as Commander

-Brig Gen GM Mutkut redeployed from the Defunct Nigerian Army Amphibious Command OPLD Baga to Headquarters 403 Amphibious Brigade Baga as Commander

-Brig Gen JR Lar from Nigerian Army School of Artillery Kachia to Sector 3 Artillery Brigade OPLD Monguno as Commander.

-Colonel DJ Abdullahi from the defunct Headquarters Nigerian Army Special Forces Command Maiduguri moved to Headquarters 4 Special Forces Command Doma Nasarawa State as Acting Chief of Staff,

-Colonel EC Emere from Nigerian Army Archives posted to Nigerian Military School Zaria as Deputy Commandant

-Col MO Agi becomes acting chief of staff at the army Headquarters.

Armys spokesman Sagir Musa said all the postings and appointments take effect from tomorrow 1 April.

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File photo

Three pastors have sued Kenyan government for banning church services and religious gathering due to Coronavirus pandemic.

The government had issued a lockdown order in order to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Kenya.

Justice James Makau of The High Court revealed on Friday that three pastors, Don Mutugi Majau, Joan Miriti, and Alex Gichunge sued the Interior, Health and ICT Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police.

According to Nairobi News, the hearing has been set for April 16th.

Justice Makau ordered the pastors to give copies of the case documents to the sued parties before the close of business on April 14.

In the suit, the pastors argued that as COVID-19 pandemic worsens, Kenyans will look to churches for solace.

They argued that the state imposed the curfew and the restriction on religious gatherings without consulting the church.

They, therefore, proposed that pastors should be added to the list of essential service providers in the fight against the deadly disease.

The petitioners lawyer, John Swaka wrote: The petitioners (and) other believers are in no way approaching this court in efforts to spread the coronavirus. Their only wish is to congregate whilst adhering to the directive issued.

The churchs role in such times is to give hope amid the crisis not only in this country but also in the world at large.

 They humbly seek the intervention of the court since their rights and freedoms are being infringed.

The case will be mentioned on April 16.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted reports that the commission is frustrating the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria. The EFCC making reference to a report by a media organization on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, denoting: UK: Nigerias Anti-corruption Fights Frustrated by EFCC, Others, remarked that the report contains several illogicalities; adding that the report credited to the Programme Manager of the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) Programme of the British Council, Uche Emmanuel, which if ignored are capable of misleading both Nigerians and the international community.

The commission protested that Emmanuel, without the slightest of attempts to cross-check his claims, alluded that the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies in the country were frustrating the corruption fight by an alleged lack of synergy among them, and their inclination to operate as islands unto themselves.

EFCC in a statement, declared: It is striking to note that the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, in the same forum where Emmanuel threw caution to the wind with his unsupported allegation, disclosed that the corporation through the combined efforts of the Department of State Security (DSS), EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), recently recovered assets worth over N771million from oil marketers, who had under-paid it for petroleum products supplied to them.

As a Commission, we are horrified that a ranking official of the British Council, in charge of rule of law and anti-corruption programme, who ordinarily should be abreast of the robust interface that exists between the EFCC and various local and international law enforcement organizations is the one we are painfully subjecting to this type of schooling.

Fact is that Nigerian anti-corruption agencies collaborate in many ways that Mr. Emmanuel cannot comprehend.

The Commission as the designated financial intelligence unit, until recently, regularly shared intelligence with all other relevant agencies. Beyond the statutory requirement to synergize, we have a persuasion that no agency can go it alone which is why, over the years, the Commission absorbs officers from sister agencies who come on secondment to it.

The local inter-agency collaboration, Nigerias anti-corruption agencies so much needed saw to the establishment of the Combined Inter agency Task Force, (CITF), domiciled in the Lagos Office of the EFCC.

The CITF, which has its personnel, drawn from all the sister agencies has since its inception, remained a very active Unit within the Commission.

The result that comes from this mix, has partly been responsible for the illustrious outing of the Commission in the past 15 years.

We are, therefore, unaware of any situation that would warrant the British Council or its agent to flay the Commission over lack of local inter-agency synergy and collaboration.

In the U.K particularly, the EFCC and the DFID, (United Kingdom governments department, responsible for administering overseas aid), the National Crime Agency (NCA), which leads UK governments fight against serious and organised crimes and similar UK agencies have existing collaboration in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Remarkable is that the collaboration between the U.K government and the EFCC over the years, has earned the Commission support in many areas including donation of equipment and capacity-building from the U.K.

In a collaboration that is on-going at the moment, officials of U.K security and intelligence agencies are currently operating from EFCC offices in Abuja and Lagos. We strongly believe that these collaborations could not have been possible if the British Government or its agencies have a negative perception of the Commissions strategies and decision taking modules.

Within the global community, the EFCC is acknowledged as the lead anti-graft agency in Nigeria and a model for the rest of Africa. It is not by happenstance that anti-corruption officials from Cameroon, Tanzania, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Niger and South Sudan come to under-study the EFCC.

Given the Commissions track record and the confidence which Nigerians have in it, the agency is daily inundated with cases which it is struggling to grapple with. These cases run into thousands yearly and makes the lumping of the EFCC by British Council or its agent among the fixated in, pursuing one highly exposed person forever, all the more baseless.

No one with ill-gotten wealth enjoys peace from the Commission. From the undergraduate Yahoo-Yahoo boy whos combing the Internet for a lonely woman to scam under love pretences to the Politically Exposed Persons such as former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, now a fugitive of the law in the U.K, who looted the public treasury to a horrible measure-we go after all of them with same degree of resolve and tenacity.

We are intent on bringing Diezani to justice and despite the spirited efforts of the commission in ensuring that she returns to Nigeria and face trial, she has been held back in the U.K by an investigation that has spanned for almost four years without any signal about when she will be available in Nigeria for prosecution.

The EFCC has been frustrated over Diezani, a development that prompted it to seek her extradition to Nigeria, so that she can have her day in court, yet we have a lot more successes to show.

Today, the average Nigerian can easily reel out names of ranking former officials of government and their counterparts from the private sector who have been successfully investigated and prosecuted by the Commission, with staggering amounts of money and fixed assets also recovered by the Commission from them.

It is important to state that the EFCC secured 314 convictions in 2018 including that of two former state governors who were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment without option of fine, while the commission has recorded about 120 convictions this year already.

Just few days ago, the former Chief of Defence Staff, the late Alex Badeh forfeited six choice properties and $1 million to the Federal Government, on the order of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja. It could also be recalled that the EFCC on Friday, March 1, 2019, secured a final forfeiture of the sum N732.85 million being proceeds of fraud perpetuated by 17 individuals in the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office.

We wish to further state that in the area of convictions, Air Vice Marshall Tony Omenyi (retd), was on Thursday, February 28, 2019, jailed for 21 years by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court, Abuja, having been found guilty of the amended three-count charge brought against him by the EFCC. He also forfeited his cimpany, Huzee Nigeria Limited, and N60 million to the Federal Government.

The EFCC is committed in fulfilling the mandate of the Commission within the ambit of the rule of law; we are the hope for Nigerias success in the fight against corruption, therefore we should not be distracted.
Chinas health leadership have announced they have found the Japanese-developed anti-influenza drug, Avigan, to be effective in treating coronavirus patients.

Zhang Xinmin, Chinas director of the National Center for Biotechnology Development confirmed that the Avigan (Favipiravir) drug was found to be effective in two clinical trials completed in Wuhan and Shenzhen involving 320 patients.

During a conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Zhang said the medicine worked for coronavirus-related symptoms including pneumonia and had no obvious side effects.

It has a high degree of safety and is clearly effective in treatment, Zhang told reporters.

Patients who were given the medicine in Shenzhen turned negative for the virus after four days of therapy, compared with a median of 11 days for those who were not treated with the drug, public broadcaster NHK said.

In addition, X-rays confirmed improvements in lung condition in about 91% of the patients who were treated with favipiravir, compared to 62% or those without the drug.

The director said he formally recommended the use of this medicine as a way to treat the COVID-19 disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

According to Zhang, a Chinese pharmaceutical company has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration to mass-produce the medication and ensure a stable supply.

Ever since the coronavirus broke out from Wuhan in China almost 200,000 have been infected and 7,900 have died from the disease.
MORE COVERAGE

NORMAL  Elizabeth "Liz" R. Mullenix, a former Illinois State University assistant dean now serving as provost at Miami University in Ohio, is among those in the running to become ISU's next president.

Mullenix was named interim provost and executive vice-president for academic affairs at Miami University in July 2022, making the title permanent six months later. Before that, she served as dean of the College of Creative Arts at the university, a 215-year-old public research institution in Oxford, Ohio.

She will give a presentation and answer questions at an open forum 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Old Main Room of the ISU Bone Student Center, 200 S. University Street, Normal.

Her visit will follow two other forums held last week, including ISU's interim president Aondover Tarhule and Donald Easton-Brooks, a dean at the University of Nevada. The naming of the fourth finalist is expected on Wednesday, with the last forum to be held at the same time on Thursday afternoon.

Candidate background information posted to ISU's presidential search webpage stated Mullenix has a doctorate in theatre and performance studies from the University of Illinois. She was also chair of Miami University's theatre department for seven years, and was tenured faculty for ISU's Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts.

Mullenix's studies include antebellum theatre and performance and the American Civil War; first-wave feminism, American race relations; and gender/feminist theory. She also wrote a book titled, "Wearing the Breeches: Gender on the Antebellum Stage" and her second monograph, "Staging Stowe: Abolitionist Theatre and the Politics of Slavery," is in the works.

The presidential candidate also has served on boards for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Shakespeare Festival.

An employee profile posted to Miami University's website stated Mullenix taught theatre history, dramatic history and theory for 11 years at ISU. At Miami University, she teaches courses in world stages and American theatre.

Miami University said Mullenix is on the editorial board for "Theatre in the Americas," a performance series published by Southern Illinois University Press.

In her current role at Miami University, 17 academic units directly report to Mullenix. She also oversees an annual budget of $350 million, representing five campuses.
BLOOMINGTON  The Bloomington-Normal NAACP and Central Illinois Chapter of The Links Inc. held an informational meeting Saturday about voters' rights and the importance of the civic duty.

While only about a dozen people attended, that did little to diminish the enthusiasm by members of the NAACP.

"We've been doing this for years and years and years  since 1909," said NAACP member Georgina Chissell. "It's very important, especially in the Black community, to get out and teach them how important it is to cast a vote."

Chisell and Jodie Slothower of the NAACP's political action committee prepared materials and a slideshow about voting rights in Illinois and answered questions from attendees who had concerns about the process.

"In Illinois, voting is far safer, and it's far easier than for lots of people in lots of other states," Slothower said.

Illinois has made registration and voting so accessible that there should be no reason not to vote, Chissell said.

"In Illinois, now you can register to vote at the same time you vote," she said. "So there's no excuses  no whatsoever."

Bloomington resident Sonny Garcia is taking what he learned Saturday back to his position with the Muslim Civic Coalition.

"That's one of our main focuses this year," he said, "is getting people registered to vote."

"It's our civic duty," Garcia said. "And we need to make sure that we let our elected officials know that the people do have the power."

Utilizing the power of the vote, and ensuring that those rights are not infringed, is one of the main goals of the NAACP, said Linda Foster, president of the Bloomington-Normal chapter.

"Each election is important," Foster said. "And I know you heard about how important it is locally. It is very important locally, but nationally, it is important too."

The mission is the same for The Links Inc., said Juanita Smith.

"It is such an important subject," Smith said about voter education. "And we intend to do everything we possibly can to get our community educated and registered to vote and then to see to it that they get out there to vote."

That is the historic mission of the NAACP, Chissell said.

"Our ancestors got beaten and killed just to able to cast the vote and to get us ... to vote," Chissell said.

The NAACP was created in 1909 in direct response to a 1908 race riot in Springfield, Foster said.

"In 1909 the national association was founded. So those are two important dates," Foster said. "But '08 had to happen so '09 could bring about a change."

Historically, communities of color have not voted at the same rates as white communities, Garcia said.

"I think that's what we're trying to do with the (Muslim Civic) Coalition, that's what the NAACP is trying to do, is mobilize our communities to make sure that they do have the power of the vote," he said.

Even after advocating for voting rights for decades, Garcia said there are still things to learn.

"One thing that I did not know is that people can vote from jail. I did not know that," he said.

"A lot of people don't know that. I did not know that, and I've been doing this work for decades, and I did not know that," he said.

During her presentation, Slothower said, "If you are in jail, but you still haven't been found guilty ... you can still vote. And the sheriff's office is working with us on that."

The BN-NAACP will hold more events later this year to get out the vote, including a "Souls to the Polls" event for the general election in November, Chissell said.

For more information, contact the BN-NAACP through its website at bnnaacp.org or contact the Central Illinois Links via centralillinoislinksinc.org/contact.
For over 150 years, 106 E. Front St. has been a place for people to gather, grab a beverage, and gab about the day's gossip. Several different names have hung above the door of the three-story, Italianate brick building. But it's almost always been one of Bloomington's most beloved bars.

It was first listed as a bar in the 1870-71 Holland's Bloomington City Directory as an establishment for "Wines and Liquors" under the ownership of "Wooley G. A."

Further research yielded limited results but did include a Pantagraph article from December 1870 that reports: "Two gentlemen of Teutonic extraction, feeling rather jolly over the recent war news, got into a slight combat yesterday at Wooley's saloon."

The following year, the City Directory lists a new restaurant by proprietor Charles Edelmann located at 106 E. Front St. featuring wines and liquors, fine cigars, and oysters. Edelmann was described in an accompanying article as a gentleman and strict businessman to whom "luck has been bitterly opposed."

He reportedly made a fortune in Texas as a prominent merchant but lost it after the Civil War. That led him north to Bloomington.

The same article claims his streak of bad luck continued after a fire left him with nothing but the insurance at the Front Street address. However, Edelmann tenaciously renovated the building, upgrading it with "all the improvements of a first-class restaurant." He utilized the whole building, too, serving "everything in his line in the best style."

Between 1875 and 1882, the building changed hands several times, becoming home to various businesses, including publishers Henry Reynolds and John P. Brooks, printer P.H. Day, and a shooting gallery operated by Press W. Bentley.

Col. John Heffernan (1855-1921) was a well-respected businessman and politician. The Pantagraph described him as "a man of pleasing personality and was possessed of a genial disposition which won him many friends wherever he went."

Heffernan served as chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee, was elected to the state legislature, and was responsible for escorting Bloomington businessman Adlai Stevenson I to Washington, D.C., to be inaugurated as Grover Cleveland's vice president in 1893.

He was also an insurance agent for Prudential Insurance Co. and "engaged quite extensively in the real estate business." He was an active member of Holy Trinity church, Ancient Order of Hibernians (the largest and oldest Irish Catholic organization in America), Elks, and Knights of Columbus.

Heffernan and his wife Matilda lived quite comfortably at 706 Grove St. with their three children: Ralph, Horace, and Ruth. He kept busy with his various business and community involvements and decided to sell the bar to fellow Elks member Ike Friedman in 1905.

Friedman ran the business as the Elks Saloon until 1914, when residents of Bloomington voted  using the Illinois Local Option Law  for prohibition, effectively making Bloomington "dry." The 1914 vote was neither the first nor the last time Bloomington dried up. The Temperance movement was long-fought on the local level before it was codified across the country.

Bloomington first went dry in 1855 under the leadership of an anti-liquor license city council and mayor. But this was short-lived, as was the 1914 drought. Bloomingtonians would reverse this vote twice more in 1916 and 1918 before Temperance became the federal law of the land in 1920.

During this turbulent time, 106 E. Front St. would change hands from Friedman to John Feicht and Oscar Dukes, who ran it as an establishment serving soft drinks under the name "Feicht & Dukes".

In 1920, ads for "Fern Fruit Store and Lunch Room" from proprietor W.H. Kolster ran in local publications. "For extra fancy fruit of all kinds, go to the Fern Fruit Store" appeared in The Pantagraph on Sept. 1, 1920.

However, by Nov. 22, 1920, The Pantagraph ran notice for "Sale of Stock and Fixtures in Bankrupt Estate of William Kolster," bringing that short chapter of the building's story to a close.

The next decade of the tavern's tale is turbulent, changing owners and names several times.

In 1933, the "Hacienda" formally opened. It served beer for 5 cents and plate lunches for 15 cents, advertising "Flavors for the Ladies."

It is important to note that this transformation of the tavern does not illustrate an increase in the local Hispanic population. Rather, it illustrates the increased influence of Hollywood, whose Western films began to infiltrate the consciousness of Central Illinoisians at this time.

Moreover, as many media trends do, this one faded with time.

By 1938, the bar was once again rebranded. This time as the Palms, serving catfish specials every Friday until 1941. However, the sunset of the Palms in the 1940s led to the dawning of perhaps the longest-running stretch of contiguous branding in the building's history: Twenty Grand Tap.

Once again influenced by the happenings of mass media, the tavern was named after a champion racehorse. The bar wasn't the only brand capitalizing on the namesake; poor Twenty Grand also had a line of cigarettes using its name and likeness!

Twenty Grand Tap opened in 1945 and operated until 1991, managed and owned by a cast of various characters throughout the years. Lillian Sneyd and her husband moved to Bloomington in 1948, where they operated Twenty Grand Tap until she retired in 1967.

During this time, the bar added the option to play national shuffleboard and installed what was claimed to be Bloomington's longest bar in a 1950 Pantagraph ad.

After the Sneyds retired, the Whalen brothers, Bill, Mike, and Pat, bought the business, bringing live music and their proud Irish heritage back to the bar. In 1988, Bill and his wife, Colleen, officially purchased the building for $34,000.

They ran it together  Colleen behind the bar during the day and Bill faithfully behind it at night. As active community members, they utilized the space to host fundraisers and St. Patrick's Day celebrations that predated the corporatization of the cultural celebration.

The Whalens witnessed a dramatic shift in downtown Bloomington surrounding the bar as the wrecking ball tore down six continuous blocks of buildings to the south of them to make way for the new McLean County Law and Justice Center.

In April of 1991, this came to a screeching halt when Bill was brutally and tragically murdered. Although this sadly marked the end of the Twenty Grand Tap's tale, it's not the end of the bar's story.

Later, in 1991, Bob and Cindy Anet, prior restaurant proprietors, bought the building and opened what today is Rosie's Pub. In collaboration with the current owner, Molly Brandle, they've transformed the bar, adjoining it with the building next door, which was once the first Fannie May candy store in town, to create more dining space.

For over 30 years, Rosie's has continued to be a place for people to come together over fabulous food and delicious drinks, welcoming thousands through its doors every year.

The storied tale of all those who have come and gone through the doors of 106 E. Front St. is a microcosmic example of the ever-evolving nature of downtown Bloomington and the community at large. While many of the stories have been lost to time, the building still stands today as a testament to our past, present, and, hopefully, resilient future.

Times Gone Buy: Spirits Stag Beer - Aug. 7, 1936 Budweiser - Oct. 5, 1938 Calvert - Feb. 17, 1942 Glenmore - Dec. 4, 1942 Huber Beer - Dec. 18, 1948 Seagram's - April 2, 1954 Barclay's Bourbon - June 5, 1962 Cabin Still - Nov. 22, 1963 Seagram's - Dec. 17, 1973
CHICAGO  An Illinois judge who sparked outrage by reversing a man's rape conviction involving a 16-year-old girl has been removed from the bench after a judicial oversight body found he circumvented the law and engaged in misconduct.

The Illinois Courts Commission removed Adams County Judge Robert Adrian from the bench Friday after it held a three-day hearing in Chicago in November on a compliant filed against Adrian.

Its decision says Adrian "engaged in multiple instances of misconduct" and "abused his position of power to indulge his own sense of justice while circumventing the law."

The commission could have issued a reprimand, censure or suspension without pay, but its decision said it had "ample grounds" for immediately removing Adrian from the bench in western Illinois' Adams County.

In October 2021, Adrian had found then 18-year-old Drew Clinton of Taylor, Michigan, guilty of sexual assaulting a 16-year-old girl during a May 2021 graduation party.

The state Judicial Inquiry Board filed a complaint against Adrian after the judge threw out Clinton's conviction in January 2022, with the judge saying that the 148 days Clinton had spent in jail was punishment enough.

The complaint said Adrian had acknowledged he was supposed to impose the mandatory four-year sentence against Clinton, but that he would not send him to prison. "That is not just," Adrian said at the sentencing hearing, according to court transcripts. "I will not do that."

Clinton was accused of sexually assaulting Cameron Vaughan. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they were sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly.

Vaughan told The Associated Press in November, when she was 18, that Adrian's reversal of Clinton's verdict left her "completely shocked" but determined to oust the judge. She attended the November commission proceedings with family, friends and supporters.

After Adrian threw out Clinton's conviction, Vaughan said that the judge told the court "this is what happens whenever parents allow teenagers to drink alcohol, to swim in pools with their undergarments on," she recounted in an account supported by a court transcript of the January 2022 hearing.

Adrian's move sparked outrage in Vaughn's hometown of Quincy and beyond, with the prosecutor in the case saying that her "heart is bleeding for the victim."

Vaughan told the Chicago Tribune following Friday's decision removing Adrian that she was "very happy that the commission could see all the wrong and all the lies that he told the entire time. I'm so unbelievably happy right now. He can't hurt anybody else. He can't ruin anyone else's life."

When reached by phone Friday, Adrian told the Chicago Tribune that the commission's decision to remove him is "totally a miscarriage of justice. I did what was right. I've always told the truth about it."

Adams County court records show that Clinton's guilty verdict was overturned because prosecutors had failed to meet the burden of proof to prove Clinton guilty.

But in Friday's decision, the commission wrote that it found Adrian's claim that "he reversed his guilty finding based on his reconsideration of the evidence and his conclusion that the State had failed to prove its case to be a subterfuge  respondent's attempt to justify the reversal post hoc."

Clinton cannot be tried again for the same crime under the Fifth Amendment. A motion to expunge Clinton's record was denied in February 2023.

Photos: Pritzker Military Archives Center
LOBAMBA - During 2022/23, a trade surplus (exports were greater than imports) of E0.57 billion was recorded for the country compared to a E0.72 billion deficit observed in 2021/22.

Total exports to the world stood at E31.366 billion, which was an 10.1 per cent increase from E31.202 billion recorded in 2021/22. Total imports from the world increased by 11.81 per cent and were valued at E34.916 billion compared to E31.227 billion in 2021/22. South Africa remains Eswatinis major import partner accounting for E27.860 billion (79.79 per cent) of total imports in 2022/23 which was an 8.31 per cent increase when compared to 2021/22. The increase was due to a rise in the price of petrol and distillate fuel which increased the value of these products. The major imported goods from South Africa were petroleum products and cereals and cereal preparations. Petroleum products and related materials E4.514 billion (47.38 per cent contribution to total imports), Textile yarn, fabrics E2.589 billion (7.91 per cent contribution to total imports) and cereals and cereal preparations, E2.113 billion (13.68 per cent total contribution to total imports) were the top imported classifications in 2022/23.

Exports

On exports, South Africa remains Eswatinis major export partner accounting for E23.477 billion (69.31 per cent) of total exports in FY 2022/23, with a 9.43 per cent increase when compared to 2021/22. The increase was due to a rise in the exports of concentrates, sugar cane and other chemical products. The major exported goods to the neighbouring country were essential oils and sugar preparations and honey.
FLICK LITE: Our latest listings, as offered by the readers and your own resident Lite Boy ...

B-N's latest fame claim?

Bloomington-Normal is known as an insurance capital, a center of multiple higher learning opportunities, home of Beer Nuts, and these days an EV truck manufacturer as well.

And the Toilet Timer.

Pardon?

If you havent heard of it, primarily a gag gift, its a great stocking stuffer at Christmas, its highest sales volume season, and secondly at Father's Day, a sand timer that runs for five minutes and, say its makers, is an incentive for those in your home who at times might hog one of the most important rooms in your home.

It sells on Amazon for $14.99.

What you might not have known:

The Toilet Timer is manufactured by Katamco LLC, based along East Hamilton Road in Bloomington, an enterprise begun with $300 in 2017 by a Normal couple, Adam and Katie Stephey. In 2020, they appeared on TVs Shark Tank and convinced billionaire Mark Cuban to invest $200,000 in the idea.

And now, perhaps the most amazing:

We have sold 601,753 Toilet Timers to date, says Katie, or more than $9 million in gross sales.

No poo-pooing around with that.

Latest greatest obituary

As read the notice of Mary Ann Downen, 92, of Bloomington:

Mary was a true farmer's wife ... raised their boys on Midwestern discipline and values ... taught her children the business of minding their own money. When (sons) Steve and Ken said they wanted to raise pigs, she got them checkbooks.

Latest interesting B-N insight

As posed Nicole Jones, of Bloomington:

Is Bloomington the only city in America where people enjoy living near an airport where some of the citys nicest subdivisions are located?

Top truly 'Super' moment

Amid all the celebration, excitement, pomp, annual craziness and endless famous people at this year's Super Bowl that also was a great game besides (an overtime win for the Kansas City Chiefs) was also a stellar moment for Ryan Rabbass, an artist from B-N.

He had a piece of his artwork hanging in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, site of this year's game, next to one of the private box suites.

"Maybe Taylor Swift was in that one!" suggests Ryan, with a laugh, now 45, and an Illinois State University grad.

Rabbass does rock 'n' roll art (rockchromatic.com) and his original painting of the band The Killers (from Las Vegas) is among those selected to adorn the Vegas stadium.

Best Name Club

 Frank Friend. Hes public information officer for the Bloomington Fire Department.

 Ben Jealous. CEO of People for the American Way.

 Taylor Swift. Has anyone catapulted to such world fame and billion-dollar renown in such a swift, nicely tailored manner?

Latest greatest license plate sighting

License plate, as spotted on a Ford Bolt EV:

OIL SUX

More Fun Places To Visit, If Only For Their Names

(As offered by the readers)

 Luck, Wisconsin

 Canadian, Oklahoma

 Chugwater, Wyoming

 Horneytown, North Carolina

Latest humored double-take

Joyce Hughes grew up in Normal, went to school in Normal, graduated in 1993 from University High in Normal, then went off to college, landed a job with Bloomberg in New York City, has lived in Brooklyn for 20-plus years, and was on vacation last week in Mexico City. And  alas!  she boarded that citys metro system and got off on a stop, welcomed by the large blue lettering, all in Mexican, except the name of the stop: "NORMAL."

There is a normal school there.

As novelist Thomas Wolfe once famously wrote, you can't go home again. In Joyce's case, she didn't, and yet snapping a picture for her dad, Roger, still living in Normal, she sort of felt as if she had.

Got an item for Lite? Send to: bflick@pantagraph.com, or the Bill Flick page on Facebook.

Our latest board of contributors: Nicole Jones, Marcelle Ploense, Jerry Weaver, Ken Anderson, Joe Culpepper and Doug Haas, Bloomington; Dave Mulvaney, Roger Hughes, Jake Collins and Kate Harmon, Normal; Chuck Lincoln, Chugwater, Wyoming; Lee Templeton, Palmview, Texas.

Check out the amazing Red Carpet looks from The Amazing Gala Crystal Phillips, Nephele Delis Crystal Phillips, Nephele Delis Amanda Wycoff Neaves Sara Larsen Libby Tutewiler Kirsten Evans Ciarra Kohn Tracy Patkunas, Kim Schoenbein Uma Balakrishnan Doris Zink, Betty Garcia Patino Rachel Hollenkamp, Laura Pritts Annie Swanson, Samantha Mlot, Jessica Moore Cassie DeGuido, Lindsey Meister Becky Breen Amy Miller Chemberly Harris Jolene Aldus Amanda Jones Alexis Plath Andrea Crimmins, Nargis Khokhar, Laura Books, Jennifer Schottland Noelle Selkow, Rachel Caracci, Molly Davis Patty McBride, Katie Rife, Kate Burcham Laura Kowalczyk Katie Rhodes Shelleigh Birlingmair Cheryl Magnuson, Kathleen Lorenz, Heather Young Laura OConnor Steph Mazanowski, Kimberly Wright, Heather Miller Chelsie Meyer Andi McNally Anna Billingsley Kristin Peterson
The Ho Airport, developed to boost the economy of the Volta Region and adjoining regions, is still idle after nearly six years of completion.



A visit to the facility last Friday indicated that the airport was in good shape and was being well maintained.



However, since Passion Air halted operations on the Accra route in March 2022, the airport has almost become a ghost town, begging to be rejuvenated to generate revenue that can help defray the $25 million loan secured for the project and settle other operational costs such as utilities.



Information sourced from the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) showed that about GH2.42 million has been spent to maintain the facility in the last two years, after commercial operations were halted.



The airline cited rising cost and low passenger numbers as reasons behind its withdrawal from the route.



Out of the total maintenance cost, GH1.59 million went into cleaning and janitorial services; external works, including weeding and horticulture services for airside and landside, as well as waste management.



The rest were used to maintain lighting and its controllers; repair defective 1Nr chiller, replace hydrant pillar valves, collective maintenance works on the firefighting pump, scheduled maintenance, as well as replacement and repair works on closed circuit television (CCTV), fire alarm system and fibre optic network infrastructure.



This means that the facility which was once envisaged to open up the region for trade and tourism and create jobs, although idle, is still costing the state an average of GH1.21 million per year to maintain.



Efforts to get the domestic airlines to restart operations have proved futile, due to various challenges such as grounding of aircraft for technical reasons, rising operational cost and low patronage of the route.



The context



The construction of the airport started in September 2015 and was completed in September 2018.



The facility consists of a runway of 1,900 metres long and 30 metres wide, an aircraft parking area, a terminal building to hold at least 150,000 passengers a year, a VIP and VVIP facility, a parking area for the staff and a nine-kilometre network of roads around the airport.



It also has an air traffic control tower, water reservoir, fire station and a standby generator, among other facilities.



The airport is about 165 kilometres (KM) or four hours drive from the national capital, Accra, with road transport fare now at an average of GH60 per passenger on a bus.



Passion Air started flights to Ho with rates starting from GH150 on a one-way flight before ceasing operations two years ago.



Ho visit



The Daily Graphic team which visited the Ho Airport on February 15, were welcomed with deafening silence, as there was virtually no activity.



The team spent about two hours in the vicinity and there was no sign of an aircraft or visitors.



The GACL officers on duty maintained, however, that the facility still received high-level government officials, and military and pilot training aircraft.



The team noticed that the terminal building was well painted and spotless although it has been idle for two years, which raises a lot of suspicion on whether it was deliberately cleaned for the Daily Graphic cameras or just a routine.



The teams doubts were confirmed by the presence of more than four young women in T-shirts with the inscription Spaklean who were on cleaning duties.



There was also a man at the landside of the terminal with a hand mower.



The Daily Graphic team observed that parts of the grass at both the airside and landside were yellowish- grey due to the weather and guided burning to control the spread of bushfires at the airport.



It noticed that most of the officials, including GACL staff, air traffic controllers and security were on duty but there were no clients to be served.



The team also saw two transport service operators, the Progressive Transport Owners' Association (PROTOA) and Mass Transport Union, who had been authorised to operate from the airport.



Community reactions



The Local Chairman of PROTOA, Savior Akumani, in an interview, expressed worry about the discontinuation of commercial flights to the airport.



That, he said, had affected their business badly.



He therefore urged the airlines to reconsider their decision and start operations on the Accra-Ho route.



A resident near the airport, Benjamin Normegboe, said people in the region were ready to patronise the services of the airlines when they restarted operations.



Recently, I had to go through the pain of moving from here (Ho) to Tema by road for vetting and returning the same day, if we had flight services like that of Kumasi it would have been less stressful, he added.



Another resident, Delight Klutsey, who is a teacher in the community, stated that there was excitement in Ho in September 2015 when the sod was cut for work to commence on the airport, and so they were disappointed that six years on there was no activity.



GACL response



The Managing Director (MD) of the GACL, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, in answer to Daily Graphics queries dated January 31, pursuant to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989), said the Ghana Airports had continued to engage the domestic airlines to consider starting operations to Ho but the action had yielded fewer results.



However, owing to various challenges such as the grounding of aircraft for technical reasons, this has not been possible.



The reduction in fleet size has adversely affected the airlines route expansion plans, as the aircraft in operation are being used to maintain service on existing routes.



Towards that, she said the GACL was in discussions with Africa World Airlines (AWA) and its partners, Aviation Academy Ghana, to develop an Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) at the airport.



This includes the construction of an aircraft maintenance hangar and the development of an internationally recognised pilot training school offering European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification.



The MD explained that GACL made an offer to AWA for land to develop the ATO, which has been accepted.



The GACL is currently collaborating with AWA to finalise the framework for the project.



It was expected that the development of the ATO would be the catalyst to draw other commercial activities, which will in turn create the ideal conditions for the domestic airlines to restart commercial passenger flights to the airport.



On facility maintenance in Ho, Mrs Opare added that the airport was being maintained regularly with about seven core staff on duty, made up of rescue and firefighting service, aviation security and electromechanical staff.



GACL, AWA AMRO



On Thursday, February 8, this year, officials of the GACL and Africa World Airline (AWA) inspected sites earmarked for the establishment of an aviation academy and flight facilities at the Ho Airport.



The GACL team was led by its Managing Director, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, while the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, led the delegation from AWA, which he chairs.



The visit comes also in the wake of plans to build a hangar and other structures at the airport.



The two teams toured the runway and other facilities of the $25 million airport and held talks with various stakeholders, including representatives of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Lands Commission in the Volta Region.



Nana Afriyie-Opare told journalists that the aviation school dream, when realised, would be a centre of excellence with very bright prospects of boosting the local economy.



We are collaborating with AWA to develop a pilot training academy and aircraft maintenance, repair and overhauling (AMRO) centre and that will create employment in the area, she said.



Togbe Afede commended GACL for its firm stance to support the project, which will later move beyond the training of pilots to the training of aircraft engineers and other professionals in the aviation industry.



If trainee pilots come here and if we can service aircraft here instead of going to South Africa to do so, then Ghanas aviation sector will be lifted to greater heights, he said.



Expert opinion



An international aviation expert, Sean Mendis, stated that the domestic airline industry was suffering from a lack of capacity.



That, he said, meant that airlines were struggling to put enough flights on established routes such as Kumasi and Tamale.



Consequently, it is the opportunity cost of operating to airports like Ho which is the deterrent factor  you can use the same plane to fly to Ho and make losses for one year as the route demand develops or you can use that same plane to Kumasi and make profits immediately.



This has been the challenge for airlines in the current environment, Mr Mendis said.



Domestic airport charges in Ghana were already very low, so there was very little that GACL or anyone else could do to lower them further to attract traffic to Ho, Mr Mendis, who is a former chief operating officer (COO) of AWA added.



Another industry expert, who preferred to stay anonymous, said the planned pilot training centre was a step in the right direction to help keep the airport busy.



He said an airport did not have to be busy with commercial flights to be successful; it could be used for other services.



Multiple sources from both AWA and Passion Air indicate that the airlines did not have immediate plans to start passenger flights on the Accra-Ho route, citing the operational challenges stated above as the major factors behind the decision.

Source: graphiconline









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At least 15 people have been killed and two others injured following an attack on a Catholic church in north-eastern Burkina Faso on Sunday.



It took place during Sunday worship in Essakane village in Oudalan province - close to the border with Mali. Few details have been given.



A church official indicated the gunmen were suspected Islamist militants.



There was no immediate response from the authorities in the West African country's capital, Ouagadougou.



A statement by the head of the local diocese, Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, said 12 people were killed instantly, while three others died at the hospital.



"In this painful circumstance, we invite you to pray for those who died in faith, for the healing of the wounded, and for the consolidation of grieving hearts," the statement reads.



It the latest atrocity in the country to be attributed to Islamist militants.



More than a third of Burkina Faso is currently under the control of insurgents.



The authorities have been battling Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, which have taken over large swathes of land and displaced millions of people in the Sahel region.



In the last three years, churches have been targeted and scores of worshippers killed.



Burkina Faso, which is ruled by a military dictatorship, recently pulled out of the regional political and economic bloc, Ecowas, along with its Sahel neighbours, Mali and Niger.



They cited lack of support from Ecowas in the fight against terrorism as one of the reasons for wanting to exit the union.



The three junta-led countries had already been suspended from the bloc, which had been urging them to return to democratic rule.



Earlier this month, Burkina Faso's military-backed president Ibrahim Traore said Russian troops could deploy to fight jihadists in the West African country if needed.

Source: BBC









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The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama, has reiterated his much-touted 24 hour' economy policy as a game changer that would massively improve the economic fortunes of the country.



Speaking at the end of a two-day policy dialogue by the party at Peduase in the Eastern Region, Mr Mahama said the 24 hour economy policy would positively impact every facet of the economy.



The 24-hour economy now remains perhaps the surest way to achieve significant economic expansion, boost productivity, meet demand, curb unbridled imports and its attendant negative effects on our economy and currency and above all generate well-paying jobs for the millions of our people who are without employment.



I am encouraged by the very positive feedback and input we continue to receive on the proposal from our compatriots in organised labour, academia, business and industry, he said.



Policy dialogue



The two-day policy dialogue was organised under the auspices of the NDC Social Democracy Lab, a policy think tank group of the party.



Latex Foam Valentines Day Promo



The dialogue brought together many interest groups in the party to fashion out and fine tune public policies under three thematic areas: Human Development, Finance and Economy and Governance

Source: graphic.com.gh









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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: Sebastian Pfautsch/Western Sydney University

Weather extremes driven by climate change hit low-income communities harder. The reasons include poor housing and lack of access to safe and comfortable public spaces. This makes "climate readiness" a pressing issue for governments, city planners and emergency services in fast-growing areas such as Western Sydney.

We work with culturally diverse residents and social housing providers in Western Sydney to explore how they're adapting to increasing heat. Residents hosted heat data loggers inside and outside their homes.

Last summer was relatively mild, but we recorded temperatures as high as 40C inside some homes. Recalling a heat wave in 2019, one resident said, "The clay had cracks in the grass that you could almost twist your ankles."

We correlated these data with what residents and social housing providers told us about managing the heat and what is needed to do this better. Different cultural groups used different strategies. Through the project, residents shared a wealth of collective knowledge about what they can do to adapt to the extremes of a changing climate.

Air conditioning has limitations

Official responses to climate extremes typically rely on a retreat indoors. These "last resort" shelters depend in most cases on a reliable electricity supply, which can be cut during heat waves.

There have been efforts, but not in Australia, to establish a "passive survivability" building code. The aim is to ensure homes remain tolerably cool during a heat wave (or warm during a cold snap) even if power is cut for a number of days.

We recognize air conditioning is vital for vulnerable populations, including older people and those with health conditions, but we do not want to give up on going outside!

My house is an oven  a look at the problem of hot housing in Western Sydney.

Outdoors, approaches such as pop-up cooling hubs for the homeless are compassionate. While important, such approaches don't get beyond "coping."

There's also a risk of perpetuating a deficit narrative that sees the city's poorest as lacking capacity to act on their circumstances. Our strengths-based action research approach looks for alternative solutions that draw on the collective knowledge and practices already found in communities.

How was the research done?

Our project, Living with Urban Heat: Becoming Climate Ready in Social Housing, is part of a broader research program, Cooling the Commons. Its focus is the role of shared spaces and knowledge in designing climate-resilient cities.

We use participatory design methods. Adaptation strategies are developed by working with people who are already attuned to their place and community.

In a first step, to get a better grasp on the micro-climates at each site, residents hosted data loggers in their homes. The data show that the location, degree of urban density and type of housing influence residents' experience of heat.

In Windsor, for example, the extremes are felt inside the home. Last summer, loggers in Windsor and Richmond recorded 69 days above 30C. On average, temperatures inside were 6C warmer than outside and hit 40C four occasions.

Further east in Riverwood and Parramatta recorded lower temperatures. However, for project researcher Sebastian Pfautsch, these data also highlighted the urban heat island effect. In Riverwood, the average day and night temperatures were 25.8C and 25.4C respectively, as brick surfaces hold the heat.

We correlated these data with what residents and social housing providers told us about how they manage heat and comfort in their different places.

A heat data logger installed in one of the homes in the study. Credit: Climate-Ready in Social Housing Team

So how do residents manage the heat?

At bilingual design workshops across the locations, themes from the interviews between groups of residents were shared.

Residents who said "I retreat" felt trapped rather than safe in their poorly adapted homes.

"Taking comfort" meant using ice, water spray, sheets and towels to cool spaces and bodies. Chinese residents used foods such as rice porridge congee to cool down. Residents also took comfort from housing providers and neighbors checking on their well-being on hot days.

Residents with access to a car "chased the air." This meant moving between air-conditioned spaces: friends' homes, coffee shops and supermarkets.

Residents without cars used cool spots, such as public libraries, that they could get to by public transport. Others whose families have lived in the area for decades used their local knowledge to chase the "Dee Why Doctor" and other local breezes, as well as sitting in the river.

Residents often return, though, to a home that has baked in the heat all day.

They had ingenious ways to get air moving with windows, doors and fans. "Making the air" was an important pattern across the groups.

Air movement was as important for bodily comfort as a cooler temperature, particularly for people who found it hard to breathe in the heat. As one participant said, "It's stuffy in the bedroom. It's really hard sometimes [] I feel I can't open the window because of the smells and noise."

In the workshops, different cultural groups shared their experiences of heat and strategies to manage it. Credit: Climate-Ready in Social Housing Team

Residents also created "rules" to manage the heat in their homes. These ranged from opening and closing doors and windows at certain times, to keeping lights off, to avoiding baking, to rationing air conditioning.

The groups benefited from sharing these themes. For example, the Chinese community, most of whom did not drive, had never thought of "chasing the air." On the other hand, using congee to feel cooler was news for others.

Collective adaptation works best

In each community, sharing these approaches prompted a broader conversation about more collective forms of adaptation, including shared spaces and practices in the built and natural environments.

This research is raising questions. There is a tension, for example, between the enclosure that air conditioning requires and the movement of fresh air many residents see as healthy. What implications might this have for a cooling hubs blueprint and the future of social housing, particularly where a need for security often means blocked openings and locked doors?

Climate-readiness does not mean reinforcing inadequate technical solutions that shut us in, or barely remedial solutions. These reduce us to what philosopher Georgio Agamben termed a "bare life," a condition that precludes the possibility of a good one. That need not be so.

Our research is trialing adaptive practices, drawing on local knowledge of cool spaces (both natural and built), and sharing these practices across cultures. It shows we can reimagine climate-readiness as part of a flourishing community.

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of all co-researchers in the Climate-Ready in Social Housing team.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
(To read this article in Spanish, click here.)

OCEAN CITY  Hot button issues of parents rights, protections for LGBTQ students and the permeable overlap of politics and education were again at issue at the Ocean City Board of Education meeting Thursday, as a board member raised concerns about two bills in the state Assembly.

Under the new business portion of the agenda, Board member Catherine Panico brought up two bills working their way through Trenton, one descried as the Freedom to Read Act, another that would allow those at least 13 years old to consent to certain behavioral health care services.

The Freedom to Read Act sets requirements for materials offered at school libraries and public libraries and, according to its proponents, protects librarians and school library media specialists from harassment.

In her comments to the school board, Panico argued that it instead erodes parental rights and pushes local school boards out of decisions related to library materials.

I believe that what the bill really does is completely remove local control of school libraries from boards of education, she said. It strips parents and community members Constitutional rights to express dissatisfaction.

The second bill would exclude parents from decisions involving their childrens health care, she said.

What material should be available to young students has become a divisive issue, with some material challenged at the Ocean City school board and at school board meetings around the state and the country. In Ocean City, the availability of a graphic novel depicting a gay teen romance at a book fair open to young students drew extensive criticism at a November board meeting.

Panico said she wanted to make sure the public was aware of the bills and that she does not believe they are good for public schools or for children.

The comments drew pushback from another board member and praise from some members of the public, as well as a response from one of the student representatives to the school board.

The district has three student representatives who sit in on meetings and provide updates on student activities. They rarely weigh in on policy discussions, but Ocean City High School student Brian Garrabrant made an exception Thursday.

He said conservative extremist groups such as Moms for Liberty were becoming involved in schools, and targeting members of the LGBTQ community and others in the name of protecting children.

When Panico won her seat on the board, she did so with the backing of Moms for Liberty.

I personally just find that to be very disgusting, especially as you see all over the country LGBTQ kids being targeted at schools, Garrabrant said. That includes instances in which school staff have outed students to their parents without the students consent, he said. Its causing so much mental and honestly physical harm to them.

Garrabrant cited Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old student in Oklahoma who died Feb. 8 after an altercation in a school bathroom. Their parents described them to other news media as non-binary.

Police in the community of Owasso recently stated that preliminary autopsy results indicate Benedict did not die as a result of injuries from the fight, although a cause of death has not been determined.

Benedicts death brought grief from people around the country and galvanized calls to protect trans, non-binary and other students in schools.

Board president Kevin Barnes and Vice President Chris Halliday said the bills Panico cited have not yet come up for a vote and would still need a Senate vote before heading to the governors desk. But Barnes added that citizens in a democracy should keep an eye on all of the bills under consideration in the Legislature.

But Board member Jaqueline McAlister said members should not advocate for political positions at meetings. She said the bills do not relate to anything currently before the board.

This is a school board, for goodness sake, she said. Our pursuit is for the first, best education we can give the kids in our community and I just dont think we should be persuading the public either way about bills coming out of our legislatures.

Panico said the protections in one bill would go so far as to allow media specialists in school libraries to provide obscene materials. One parent told the board at the close of the meeting that she was glad Panico was keeping an eye on the bills.

The bill should actually be known as the distribute obscene materials to minors act, she said.

Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr., D-Burlington, who is a sponsor of both bills, could not be reached for comment Friday. Assembly bill 3373 was first introduced about four years ago.

A state law already establishes the age of consent at 13 for matters related to examinations by medical professionals in cases when a minor believes he or she may have a sexually transmitted infection, if the minor appears to have been sexually assaulted or in other circumstances.

Previously, the law set the age of consent at 16 for behavioral health care. If approved and signed, the bill would allow a minor 13 or older to seek health care services for mental illness or emotional disorders, and consent to temporary outpatient treatment, excluding medication, according to a copy of the bill posted by the Legislature.

The other bill, introduced early this month, describes the freedom to read as a human right that allows the reader to engage with different perspectives. The text of the bill states librarians and school media specialists receive extensive training, including in the age appropriateness of the material.

Despite this, school library media specialists and librarians have been targeted, harassed, and defamed for providing young people access to library material, the bill states.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  Ashley Campbell already has a lot on her plate as a 22-year-old going for her masters degree at Rowan University.

But with a willingness to leave room for helping others, Campbell was able to provide some much-needed resources to a Goodwill store still reeling from a devastating fire more than a month ago.

Campbell, founder of the One Step Forward Initiative and the 2024 Miss Coastal Shore titleholder, started a donation drive just days after the Jan. 15 fire at the Goodwill in the Cardiff Plaza Shopping Center that wiped out 100% of the inventory on the floor. She met up with hopeful donors, either at her Bridgeton home or in parts of Gloucester County.

The drive ran from Jan. 20 to Tuesday, but she wanted to hold one more donation event Saturday, giving donors an opportunity to meet her and visit the store while its still under repairs.

More than a dozen cars pulled up on cold and rainy Saturday to bring donations in through the front door, as Campbell and her younger sister, Hope, helped. Over the last month, more than 55 bags, boxes and items ranging from cloths to toys to kitchen appliances were brought in through One Step Forward.

Thats what I think was most impressive, was us being able to have this drive today, not because of my intention but because of everyone who pulled together and wanted to make this a reality, Campbell said.

Goodwill has been closed since Jan. 15. The donation center at the back of the building has remained open. Its hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The store was open when the fire, which originated in the childrens section by the front window, occurred in the early afternoon. The fire has been deemed suspicious, and police seek the publics help identifying a man wanted for questioning. Township police have not responded to a request for an update on the investigation.

Firefighters prevented the blaze at the 20,000-square-foot store and donation center from spreading to neighboring businesses in the plaza, though the Amerikick EHT karate dojo next door experienced some water and smoke damage. It is open.

But the Goodwill store remains closed. 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.

Juli Lundberg, director of corporate communications for Goodwill, on Saturday said they do not have a specific dollar amount on damages as theyre still going through an insurance claim. As a result of the smoke and water damage from the sprinklers, all inventory was lost, carpet tiles and flooring need to be ripped up, some walls have moisture in them and will need to be taken down, and all of the ceiling and insulation will need to be taken down and replaced.

As for inventory, items in the donation center the day of the fire were not impacted. Neither was the stuff in the three or four trailers usually out back holding excess donations. On Saturday, another four or so large trailers were full of donations from surrounding Goodwill stores that sent inventory to help the EHT location.

Lundberg said Goodwill does not have a timeframe for re-opening the store, but we are working diligently to rebuild interior and inventory to open as quickly as possible.

The response from the public has been fantastic. Weve had an outpouring of support from individuals and from companies, including Atlantic City casinos and the Atlantic County Chamber of Commerce, she said.

Ashley Campbell grew up going to Goodwill stores. Her family would make trips to those stores, which she said have made a huge impact on he life. The news of the fire hit close to home.

Hearing about this was not only heartbreaking but distressing to the community, she said. This is an outlet to receive affordable appliances and affordable clothing, and I know this is something that touched me when I was growing up.

Campbell, who got her bachelors degree in psychology and is getting her masters in clinical mental health counseling, shared her mission on her various social media accounts, including One Step Forward, a community mental health initiative she started in 2019 and has spread throughout the state.

Hope Campbell, 19, a psychology major at Rowan, employed the help of her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, to gather up items, mostly clothes, they could donate.

Just being able to come out today, being able to help out, being able to give whatever I can give, I am actually very happy and grateful I can do that, she said. Just to spark the light, spark the passion so we can rebuild this store.

Throughout the morning, several cars stopped to ask if they could bring in donations through the front. Others who saw the lights on approached the door hoping to shop but were disappointed they realized it wasnt open. Many inquired about when it will be reopen.

Jeff Mannering, 32, of Galloway Township, frequently donates clothes and items his family no longer needs to the Goodwills in South Jersey, including in Hammonton and sometimes in Mount Laurel, Burlington County. When Mannerings heard the EHT location was in need of replenishment, they went through old clothes and drinkware to drop off.

There are some people who need this place, he said. Why somebody would come in and burn something like this down blows my mind. Its crazy.

Bern Roswell, of Egg Harbor Township, and his wife, Barbara, saw the news Saturday morning about the donation event. They gathered up some items in their home because they wanted to help.

We like helping other people, said Roswell, 83. Were very fortunate to be in a country as such as the United States of America. We had good careers, were both retired and we wanted to pay back some of the good fortune that weve had.

PHOTOS: Egg Harbor Township Goodwill still taking donations
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A Rock Island cattle barn went up in flames Saturday afternoon, sending a smoke plume into the sky that could be seen across the Quad-Cities.

Rock Island Fire Marshal Greg Marty said no people were believed to have been hurt in the fire but that there were cattle in the building.

Employee Bob Westpfahl confirmed that about 20 cattle, including one pure bred angus bull, were at the barn on Saturday. The property is owned and used by Lathrop Livestock Transportation out of Dundee, Illinois, he said.

There are power lines down as well. Geoff Greenwood, spokesperson with MidAmerican Energy, confirmed as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday, about 800 customers are without power in that area. After consulting with the fire department, Greenwood said, crews began cutting off the circuit for safety reasons around 7 p.m.

MidAmerican crews were working to reroute the circuit to go around the interruptions and hoped to restore some customers power shortly.

About 250 customers' power would not be restored right away, Greenwood said. The reason, Greenwood said, comes at the request of the fire department because of how close some circuits and lines are to the location of the fire.

The first calls came in at about 5:35 p.m., firefighters said. Multiple area agencies were at the scene of the fire, including including Coal Valley, Port Byron and Colona fire departments.

The auction barn has been a part of the city's history since at least 1936.

The oldest ad found for the facility in the archives of the Rock Island Argus is dated Jan. 21, 1936. It had its opening sale on Jan. 25 of that year. Milk cows, dairy heifers, butcher cattle, calves and breeding bulls, farm machinery as well as furniture and other items were being sold to the highest bidder.
This story was originally published February 26th.

A proposal in Des Moines to arm school staff has been met with a mixed response from some in the Quad-Cities community.

Earlier this month, Iowa House Republicans advanced a bill that would permit school employees to carry firearms on school grounds.

"The fastest way to respond to a school shooting is to have armed personnel on site, trained and available to respond at a moment's notice," said lead sponsor Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone, also chair of the House Public Safety Committee.

According to the bill, House File 2586, school staff would need to complete firearm safety training; a one-time, in-person legal training and pass annual background checks.

School staff who obtain a permit would also participate in annual or quarterly training on emergency medical response, public safety communication and live scenario drills.

The bill would also require Iowas 11 largest school districts, which includes Davenport, to staff at least one private security guard or school resource officer (SRO) in each district high school, something Davenport already does.

If enacted, Mike Reinholdt, president of the Davenport Education Association, does not think this bill would make schools safer.

A teacher's top priority is always the safety of their students in school, he said. Ultimately, putting more weapons in schools, whether they're in the hands of educational staff or not, makes school a less safe place.

School districts should, instead, leverage existing safety plans and procedures and continue implementing new, vetted crisis prevention strategies and technology, Reinholdt said.

We already have SROs, who are trained professionals that have access to these weapons. Anything beyond that, we dont want, he said. I don't want any teacher to have to put that (responsibility) on themselves.

Reinholdt also fears that bills like HF 2586 could strain students relationships with their teachers, staff and school administrators.

...It automatically puts up this barrier that you can't get too close to your students, because One day, I might have to make this ultimate choice, right? he said. That's very concerning to me, and I know that's very concerning to our (union) members.

While the DEA consists of a lot of viewpoints, Reinholdt believes the vast majority of the union's members are against the bill.

I think there are better ways to utilize (lawmakers) time up at the Capitol to provide educators and schools with the resources to meet these kinds of crises, he said.

Bettendorf Education Association President Emily Cullison declined to comment on HF 2586 at this time.

Last month, several Quad-City parents, educators, community members and advocates attended a forum on common sense gun laws at Davenport West High School, sponsored by Rep. Ken Croken, D-Davenport.

While most at the forum seemed to support tighter gun regulations, one crowd member, Don Boysen Jr., said he was in favor of arming school staff.

Who is the first person everybody calls when theres gun violence? Its a good person with a gun, he said. ...If Im (an assailant) in a situation where I know there might be somebody who is going to shoot back at me, I might be a little less apt to want to start (violence).

Boysen, who said his wife works for the Davenport Community School District, claimed to have heard about violent fights going on between young elementary schoolers.

To him, schools need to ensure all students face consequences for these actions early on to avoid continued violent or disruptive behaviors as they get older, but factors like social media and students phone usage only exacerbate these issues.

Thats just the world we live in, Boysen said. Until we start protecting students at those (school) doors, none of this is going to change."

Enforcing gun laws already on the books would be a good start, he said.

While he supports these laws  and proposed red flag laws that allow temporarily removing firearms from an individual  Boysen said its going to happen regardless and, thus, schools should take additional protective measures.

There are (ex- or retired) police officers and military that would gladly, gladly, protect these students, he said.

However, some in law enforcement arent so sure if allowing school staff to be armed is the best solution.

I understand his (Boysens) thought process on it, but Im not so sure Im in favor of that," said Thomas Gibbs, a lieutenant with the Scott County Sherriffs office who attended the forum.

Gibbs is running for Scott County sheriff as a Democrat, but said he views the issue of school safety as nonpartisan  particularly, as a parent himself.

A concern is: if theres a big incident like Perry, are we going to have parents show up with firearms to try and help (school staff or law enforcement)? he said.

If an armed, plain clothed adult were to show up at a school in this instance and officers didnt know they were a parent or family member, they could get shot, Gibbs said.

Because there's going to be various cops, from all over, flooding that school, he said, adding he understands the parental urge to rush to the scene. But they better fight that urge, because more than likely, theyd be treated as a threat.

Gibbs said it ultimately comes down to a school district and its needs, but he can see why some, specifically, those who dont have an SRO, might consider arming staff.

But, that is an extremely big decision thats got to be vetted by that community, he said, also advocating for SRO programs.

To Reinholdt, districts can help stifle school-based violence by staffing mental health professionals in each of its buildings and continuing to invest in social-emotional supports.

...To meet our students' needs where theyre at and, hopefully, give them the social-emotional tools to deal with crises in their lives, instead of committing some heinous act in one of our buildings, he said. Ultimately, we (educators) want to make sure students have these (mental health) resources in the schools  not reactively, but proactively.

Reinholdt, who has taught in Davenport schools for 11 years, said he knows that building up students social-emotional skills can be a slow game but has seen the positive impact this kind of investment has.

We're providing these students with those de-escalation strategies, with the ability to regulate themselves, he said. I think its working.

Its not an overnight process, Reinholdt added. But, (students) will slowly build up that pyramid of skills, to be able to then meet those crises when they eventually face them.

How to talk to kids about school shootings TAKE AN AGE-BASED APPROACH One of the great joys of parenthood is watching how kids thoughts and feelings about the world evolve over time. Thats why we often avoid difficult topics like sex, drugs and violence: so we wont disrupt the magic of this wonderful process. Take an age-based approach to discussing school shootings, being mindful of how your kids developmental stage affects their understanding. KIDS UNDER 7 Young kids tend to think concretely, understand simple ideas best, and think of their immediate family as the center of their world. During times of stress, they may get whiny or engage in difficult behavior. It could be a sign that they need comfort even if they cant articulate it. WHAT TO SAY Ask open-ended questions. If your kids dont know what happened and dont bring it up, you dont necessarily have to fill in the blanks. If they bring up an incident, you can ask, What did you hear? or What do you think is going on? Use simple sentences. Feel free to oversimplify if you have to. You can say, Someone hurt people. And if an idea is too complicated to explain  maybe you dont need to. Dont overtalk. Once youve conveyed the news, you can wait until your kid asks questions to reopen the conversation. Reassure them that theyre safe and that people are working on the problem. Even if you feel iffy about the situation, you want your kids to feel like youre in charge and that it will be resolved. Emphasize that emergency drills help keep them safe. Encourage them to follow the procedures and stay calm. Active-shooter drills are somewhat controversial, but if theyre mandated at your school, its best to be supportive when kids are within earshot. WHAT TO DO Try to keep the news away. You might be eager for information, but try to be discreet. If you cant turn off the news, try distracting your kid or changing their focus with a book or an activity. Save strong emotions for your adult support community. You dont have to be a robot, but avoid displaying strong emotions related to these tragic incidents around young kids. Kids often get scared when they dont know why parents are upset. Make sure to say, Im upset about what I heard on the news. Its not you. Allow them to express themselves how they want. You may see a wide range of reactions when you discuss bad news. Some kids may cry or act out when theyre upset and dont know what to do. Some kids want quiet time with you. Some kids like to talk. Some like to draw their feelings. Make it a normal day. Try to maintain a typical schedule so kids feel the safety of regularity. But feel free to indulge in extra comfort and togetherness. TWEENS AND TEENS At this age, kids are developing their moral beliefs, which means they can delve deeper into a subject. More exposure to peers, social media and news means theyll receive lots of information  some of which you may need to correct. You dont need to sit them down for a formal talk: Sometimes, just doing an unrelated activity, such as watching TV, can lead to opportunities to have conversations about difficult topics. WHAT TO SAY Find out what they know. Its likely that kids this age will have heard about a shooting before they get home from school. You can ask, What did you hear today? State the facts. If theyve heard about the incident, ask what theyve learned. If they dont know, you can say, I need to tell you that there was a school shooting. I know youll hear about it, and I want it to come from me so we can talk about it. Check in. While its important to talk, tweens and teens may be more open if they can set the pace. The conversation can happen when it feels right. You can say, I want us to take a few minutes to discuss what happened. Lets talk either now or a little later. Encourage them to express themselves. Tweens and teens are learning how to communicate their ideas, but they may need prompting. You can ask questions, share what you know, or get a conversation going in other ways. Ask, Do you have any questions?, How do you feel about this issue?, and Why do you feel that way? Read their cues. Sometimes kids are just done and cant handle any more discussion. Be on the lookout for signs of information overload. Share your feelings. Telling kids how you feel about what happened is a good thing to do even if they dont ask. Saying youre sad, mad, or whatever else will unburden you  plus it models empathy and compassion. Talk about emergency drills. Many schools mandate active-shooter drills, even though their efficacy is debatable. Still, your kids need to comply. Make sure they understand the importance of following procedures and staying calm. It may take the edge off to discuss the duck-and-cover drills students practiced during the Cold War. WHAT TO DO Help them feel secure. This is important for kids of all ages: Tell them that theyre safe, that youre always there for them, and that the authorities are investigating. Provide emotional support by saying, Its OK to feel sad  or to not even know how youre feeling. Look out for signs of anxiety, generalized worry or traumatic stress. When bad things happen, kids can develop a fear that it will happen to them, their family or their school. Allow your kid to express all of their concerns, even if they dont seem directly related or even realistic. Validate their feelings, talk about ways they can calm themselves in times of intense stress (including calming thoughts, breathing exercises and activities), and make it clear that youre always available to talk things through. Your kid may benefit from a meditation app, but if their anxiety or sensitivity increases, you may want to talk to your pediatrician. Model behavior. The truth is, no one really knows what to do in these situations. But if you want your tweens and teens to think more deeply about news and other information, you may need to start that process by demonstrating it for them. Youre showing them how to think about things, instead of what to think  which is essential for kids ability to view information critically. Try, I always wonder why these things happen, What drives a person to do this?, What happens to the families, teachers and other people who are affected?, I wonder if this will have an impact on gun laws, and Is there anything we can do? Filter news, or watch together. Tweens and teens get a lot of information from online sources like YouTube, which, as youre well aware, is hit or miss. Point them toward quality, age-appropriate news sources such as Xyza: News for Kids or the New York Times The Learning Network, which handle mature news in youth-friendly terms. If youre going to watch the news on television, do it together, and turn it off if it gets too graphic. Compare different news sources. News coverage can vary by publication, and information about one story can vary wildly. Consider looking at how a youth-oriented source like Snapchat covers a school shooting versus, say, the Washington Post. Make sure kids know how to vet news sources by checking the URL, the reporter, and the site or app sponsors. Check out AllSides, which compares news across partisan lines. Get involved. Since youth activism is well documented on social media and other outlets, tweens and teens can see how their actions make a real difference in the world. Explore ways kids can get involved in making changes about issues they believe in by checking out sites like DoSomething, Never Again, and March for Our Lives.
MBABANE-Following that the payment of their salaries was delayed for four days and eventually paid yesterday, employees of the financially challenged University of Eswatini (UNESWA) have resolved against taking part of the institutions biggest activity next week.

This is the start of the examination. Instead, they have agreed in unison that they will go to Parliament with an aim to detail the crisis that has engulfed the institution and has continued for more than three years.

Worth noting is that Parliament has a big agenda scheduled for Monday and it includes the presentation of the Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg. The staff members who have taken the resolution are under the umbrella of the Association of Lecturers and Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP).

In a letter issued by ALAAP Secretary General Dr Mduduzi Shongwe directed to the Registrar, Dr Salebona Simelane, the association informed the management that it had taken some resolutions at an extra-ordinary meeting held yesterday at the Commerce Lecture Theatre, Kwaluseni Campus.

According to the statement, the ALAAP members resolved that the executive committee should communicate to the institutions management that they were not ready to participate in teaching and learning activities, including invigilating examination and thus will need a week from the day of payment of salaries.

The members said they needed the week as they will be seeking treatment and remedies for the psychological and financial stress they had endured during the time of the delayed payment of salaries. Another resolution taken by the members was that on Monday, they will march to Parliament to raise awareness of the plight of the institution.

Thirdly, the members resolved that the current management of the institution be given seven calendar days to remit all monies owed to all financial institutions which were deducted from source but never remitted. The monies, according to the statement, include remittances for medical aid. In the event the management fails, the association said the members will not continue with teaching and learning.

In the same letter, reference was made to two joint correspondences dated June 5, 2023 and March 30, 2023 which were written by the association together with the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI) to the University Council on a vote of no confidence on the entire management.

The current management is given seven calendar days to resign en masse, failing which, ALAAP members will not continue with teaching and learning activities under the current management, reads part of the letter. Furthermore, the members also took a resolution that on Monday they will go to the Ministry of Education and Training and the Prime Ministers Offices to petition government to place the institution under the administration of the aforementioned ministry immediately until a new management was in place.

When called to ascertain the authenticity of the letter and its content, Dr Shongwe confirmed that indeed it was real and that they had met and taken the resolutions as stated. Dr Shongwe was asked why they will continue to boycott the examination since they had been paid and he explained that the resolution had not changed.

Like we stated, we need a week to recover from the psychological stress. Also, if a resolution has been taken during an extra ordinary meeting, its review has to happen through the same platform, he stated. Efforts to obtain a comment from Simelane were not successful as his mobile cellphone number rang unanswered yesterday.

On Thursday, our sister publication, the Times of Eswatini reported that the staff had raised concerns over the upcoming students examination, as they have not received their salaries for the month.The staff members said they feared that the lack of payment may affect their ability to invigilate the exams. On Wednesday, the staff completed their third day without being paid their salaries for the month.

This followed a memorandum issued by UNESWA Registrar, Dr Salebona Simelane on Monday, stating that salaries were delayed due to a shortage of funds. Dr Simelane said efforts to address the matter were underway. Another memorandum was issued on Wednesday by Dr Simelane, informing all staff that there was a further delay in the payment of their salaries, despite their earlier anticipation that the salaries would be paid in a short space of time.

Dr Simelane stated that in the past, the chairman of the Council had, in the company of management, escalated the delay in the payment of staff salaries to higher authorities, and similarly, the same pattern had been followed in the current situation. He said the foregoing position of the university was explained by the Vice-Chancellor (VC) to the Executive Members of the Staff Unions on Tuesday.

The University Council and management are hopeful that the matter on hand shall be resolved soon. The inconvenience caused is regretted, Dr Simelane said. The registrar explained that this was a sensitive issue, but assured the staff members that efforts were being made to ensure that their salaries were paid. When interviewed by our sister publication on the issue, Dr Shongwe said this was unfortunate because their members had no means to travel to work, thus they decided to work from home.

The SG had previously stated that their members were psychologically affected by the non-payment of salaries as they had anticipated that they would be paid on time. Meanwhile, Students Representative Council (SRC) Deputy President, Zachariah Makama said the delay in the payments of staff salaries was also affecting students as they prepared for the upcoming exams.

Makama said students were allegedly unable to consult with the lecturers pertaining to their projects or make consultations on the exams. According to Makama, once the memorandum on salaries was issued, several lecturers did not come to work or assist them with their schoolwork. He stated that there was a need to address the financial challenges within the institution so that teaching and learning would not be disturbed.

Makama mentioned that the university was heavily reliant on government subventions, thus there was a need to seek other means to source funds, to prevent disrupting the universitys operations. It should be noted that in March last year, students became worried following a legal strike by lecturers which dragged for over four weeks.

The strike saw the employees from the Kwaluseni, Mbabane and Luyengo campuses down tools and convened at the Kwaluseni Campus to demonstrate. They parked their cars outside the Kwaluseni Campus and sat under trees, while others were doing the vusela exercise around the university premises. As the lecturers engaged in the strike, the students became worried about the possibility of losing their semester.

The students were also worried that the semester would be extended following an earlier decision taken by the Senate that it should not, adding to their expenses and study plans. By the time the strike entered its sixth week, the students had lost half of the semester as there was is no way forward in the impasse between UNESWA management and the academic and non-academic staff members.

Days later, the management issued a memorandum whereby it communicated its intention not to pay academic and non-academic staff members. The memo further stated that the decision was taken in accordance with Section 87 subsection 3 of the Industrial Relations Act of 2000. The impasse reared its ugly head again in October and this time, government was forced to act swiftly in mitigating a graduation boycott resolution taken by the lecturers, following a salary payment dispute with management.

The lecturers had held an urgent meeting on the week of the graduation, after they were paid two-thirds (70 per cent) of their salaries. When effecting the two-thirds payment, the UNESWA management had indicated to the union representing the lecturers that this was necessitated by a lack of sufficient funds in the university coffers sufficient funds in the university coffers sufficient funds in the university coffers.

Following the intervention by government, the graduation ceremony was held on October 21, 2023 and as per tradition, was blessed by the presence of His Majesty King Mswati III who constitutionally is the Chancellor of the institution. UNESWA has over 350 lecturers in the university payroll and these include academic and non-academic ones.
IOWA CITY  Immigrant workers and Catholic charities worry a package of bills being advanced by Iowa Republican lawmakers would criminalize and could lead to the closure of faith-based migrant shelters and civic engagement organizations to house or transport asylum-seekers.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Catholic migrant shelter Annunciation House under similar legislation signed into law in that state to turn over information about the guests they serve.

Annunciation House, a network of shelters that serves migrants, sought relief from the attorney generals demand to immediately release information about its clients.

The state denied the extension, so the Catholic nonprofit sued the state, requesting a court rule on which documents the group must hand over to the attorney general. Paxton, in response, announced his office was suing the organization for failing to comply with the demand and accused the religious group of engaging in human smuggling and of "worsening illegal immigration."

Texas Gov. Greg Abott last year signed a law being challenged as unconstitutional by the Justice Department allowing law enforcement officials to arrest people they suspect of being migrants who crossed into the country illegally. It would also allow judges to order their removal and enlist law enforcement to transport migrants to the border so they can return to Mexico, whether or not that is their country of origin.

Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate have advanced similar legislation.

The Iowa City Catholic Worker House, like Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, helps sponsor and resettle asylum-seekers and provides food, housing, clothing, transportation, accompaniment and connections to legal assistance, school enrollment and supportive care.

Both organizations work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security to house people whom the agencies have processed and released, who often have been permitted into the country while they await hearings.

This is what is at stake in Iowa if lawmakers pass anti-immigrant legislation here, according to an action alert email and online petition sent Thursday to 2,000 Catholic Worker House supporters. Not only will essential workers with a precarious immigration status be put at even more risk, faith-based groups that serve and organize immigrant workers like Escucha Mi Voz and the Iowa City Catholic Worker will also be targeted.

A top House Republican said lawmakers amended the bill so as not to apply to churches, charities "or people who in good faith are trying to take care of people."

What would the proposed Iowa immigration bills do?

Senate File 2340 and House File 2567 would make it a state felony to reenter Iowa after being previously deported from the U.S.

State courts would be permitted to order the removal of immigrants arrested under the new state law, and local officials would be given legal immunity when assisting in immigration enforcement measures.

Officers and state agencies would be cleared to transport undocumented migrants to ports of entry to make sure they comply.

Law enforcement officers would not be allowed to arrest or detain an undocumented migrant on the grounds of a public or private school, place of worship, at a health care facility where a migrant is receiving medical treatment or those receiving a medical examination for sexual assault.

State courts also would be prohibited from suspending or interrupting prosecution of someone whose federal immigration status is pending or will be initiated.

House File 2608 would make it a felony to encourage or induce a person to enter or remain in the country in violation of federal law by concealing, harboring, or shielding that person from detection.

The bill was amended to specify a person commits the offense of smuggling of persons if done knowingly, for payment or some other benefit.

Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and is the lead Republican on the bill, said the modified language was meant to exempt churches, charities and other nonprofits that provide aid to immigrants and refugees.

I dont know that much about the Texas case, other than to say what were trying to do is not that, Holt said. Were trying to go after individuals who are smuggling, trafficking people into the country illegally, or into the state illegally. Were not interested in going after church organizations or anything of that kind.

Immigrant advocates warn bills violate protections for asylum-seekers

Proponents say the legislation is needed to crack down on increases in fentanyl seizures, drug overdose deaths and human trafficking attributed to illegal immigration issues and a failure of Democratic President Joe Bidens administration and Congress to secure the border and enforce federal immigration laws.

Immigrant rights advocates warn the measures would lead to widespread racial profiling and circumvent protections asylum-seekers have under constitutional law and international obligations.

They also argue Iowa courts and law enforcement are not equipped and lack the training, legal expertise and jurisdiction to handle immigration law and make decisions about a persons immigration status.

Federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have ruled that immigration laws can only be enforced by the federal government.

"These bills put all Iowans and visitors at risk of profiling while criminalizing and targeting our churches and working-class, immigrant communities, according to an online petition by the Iowa City Catholic Worker and immigrants rights organization Escucha Mi Voz, or "Hear My Voice," calling on Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to publicly condemn the bills.

Catholic social teaching informs us that public policy should welcome the stranger and have a preferential option for the poor, the petition states. Anti-immigrant, anti-worker, anti-charity legislation could cost Iowa billions in lost state GDP in just one year. But the true costs to our hardworking immigrant families and faith communities will be incalculable.

Iowa governor, attorney general critical of Biden immigration policy

The Iowa Attorney Generals Office did not respond to a request for comment.

Reynolds office did not comment directly on the bills moving through the legislative process in the Iowa House and Senate, or the actions of the Texas attorney general.

Federal law prohibits aiding and abetting human trafficking, illegal entry, and concealing and harboring illegal immigrants, Reynolds' Deputy Communications Director Kollin Crompton said in a statement to The Gazette. Helping those in need is a worthy cause, but helping illegal immigrants evade law enforcement is against the law.

Reynolds recently traveled to the Texas-Mexico border with other GOP governors to urge Biden to combat illegal immigration, and said she is prepared to send more Iowa National Guard soldiers and Iowa State Patrol officers to the border.

Bird has joined multistate lawsuits led by Republican attorneys general across the country challenging the Biden administrations immigration policies.

The Biden administration has tried to grapple with immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border through various parole programs and processing centers in Central America that encourage an orderly immigration process.

Last year, the administration enacted new policies that carry harsh consequences for migrants who do not follow some of the legal pathways to immigration the U.S. has set up, such as applying for parole programs to live and work in the U.S. while they wait for their asylum claims to be processed in court, and requesting asylum in another country they travel through.

The administration and some immigrant advocacy groups argue it is utilizing the tools available to reduce the chaos at the border as Congress has failed to act on more comprehensive immigration improvements.

Faith-based charities help migrants after border screening

Raziel Argueta, an immigration attorney in Des Moines, said the legislation advanced by Iowa Republican lawmakers even while amended would have a chilling effect on charities and nonprofits that help migrants with daily needs  including food, legal services and places to go that aren't city streets  and are vital to an orderly immigration process.

Migrants served by the Iowa City Catholic Worker House have often presented claims for asylum or other immigration relief. Most have waited for months at the U.S.-Mexico border waiting to get paroled into the U.S., allowing them to temporarily live and, in most cases, work in the United States without fear of deportation. They have been released to the Catholic Worker House after having been screened and interviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and found to have a credible fear of persecution or torture if they return to their home country.

With such requests, DHS requires proof they will have a means of support while in the United States, often requiring that a parolee have a sponsor who agrees to provide financial support for the duration of the parole authorization period. An inability to provide evidence of financial support while in the United States may lead to a denial of parole.

Faith-based charities and nonprofits like Iowa City Catholic Worker House provide that support, as well as supervision, driving refugees and asylum-seekers to required Department of Homeland Security check-ins, to get their fingerprints and biometric data taken to secure work permits, and to immigration and asylum hearings in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Omaha.

Its making the system stronger and more effective, said David Goodner, co-founder of the Catholic Worker House. So if they start attacking that, theyre eroding the system from working the way its supposed to be.

Argueta, the Des Moines immigration attorney, agreed.

Its not fueling more illegal immigration, its allowing people who have already been released by immigration (agencies) to arrive where theyre already headed, he said. Theyre already going through the parole process and being released. If we want to avoid the chaos in New York and Illinois, where migrants are being bused and dropped off (without access to a support network) and then leaves the city responsible, why attack organizations assisting and preventing that situation?

Both worry that under the Iowa bills, if passed, the states Republican attorney general will do the same as in Texas and request logs identifying people to whom the organization has provided services in an effort to go after immigrants and their support networks

Goodner said the Catholic Worker House currently served 47 refugees and asylum-seekers living in two houses and a couple of apartments.

Its not criminals. Its not drug dealers, he said.

The organization also has a database of about 5,000 contacts of immigrant workers in five counties.

The Texas attorney general has created a road map for other states to go after immigrants and their support networks, Goodner said. Will the Iowa attorney general come after our database, and how do we protect those individuals and that proprietary, confidential personal information we use to invite them to meetings and vaccination and legal clinics?

He said Texas was going after the migrant shelter system, because why pick off one immigrant at a time when you can go after an organization thats helping hundreds of them?

Many migrants worked essential jobs during pandemic

Clayton Dimambu is a legal permanent resident from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and an organizer with Escucha Mi Voz.

Dimambu entered the U.S. and came to Iowa under the diversity visa lottery program, which awards up to 50,000 immigrant visas each year to citizens of countries with low immigration rates.

He drives undocumented Congolese refugees to appointments, including to court dates and meetings with immigration lawyers and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-ins. Dimambu worries that should the Iowa Legislature pass similar laws, he could be pulled over and fined or jailed for having undocumented immigrants in his vehicle.

Parole grants entry as they continue their asylum case; however, an individual who is paroled has not been formally admitted into the United States for purposes of immigration law.

Ninoska Campos of Iowa City is an immigrant worker and single mother of two who emigrated with her family from Honduras in 2019 and applied for asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Her husband was deported in 2020.

She works at a hotel, volunteers with the Catholic Worker House to help other families seeking asylum and helped start Escucha Mi Voz.

The Iowa City Catholic Worker House is one of the strongest tools there is for us here in Johnson County, Campos said through interpreter Emily Sinnwell, co-founder of Iowa City Catholic Worker House.  It really is unconditional support that they give out to that immigrant community.  Its very difficult to just put somebody on the street; somebody that doesnt have family or anywhere to go.

Though they may be undocumented or have tenuous legal status, and could be deported on a whim, those families served by the faith-based nonprofit fill numerous important jobs  and pay taxes  in farming, housekeeping, construction, roofing and meatpacking work that others wont take, Campos said.

Many of them, including Campos, worked as essential front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic but were excluded from stimulus checks and federal assistance. Campos worked in a hotel taking care of individuals with COVID-19 who had to isolate from family members.

These are hurtful laws, she said. You have to realize these laws that are attacking the immigrant community, theyre attacking those same people that work to keep the state going economically day in and day out.  If (lawmakers pushing forward these laws) care so much about their country, they have to realize the economy of this country is sustained by immigrants.

Close State Sen. Scott Webster campaigns for Vivek Ramaswamy at the Columbus Club in Davenport Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Former Illinois congressional candidate Esther Joy King campaigns for Vivek Ramaswamy at the Columbus Club Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Leilani and Derek Lingle brought their 5-month-old daughter Elena along to see Candace Owens campaign for Vivek Ramaswamy Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Ex-U.S. Rep. Steve King campaigns for Vivek Ramaswamy Thursday Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns with ex-U.S. Rep. Steve King Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns with ex-U.S. Rep. Steve King Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Political commentator Candace Owens campaigns with Vivek Ramaswamy Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for the GOP presidential nomination Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for the GOP nomination Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. An attendee asks Vivek Ramaswamy what legal barriers exist to his plan to severely cut federal jobs during an event Thursday Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Steve King, Candace Owens campaign for Vivek Ramaswamy With the Republican Iowa caucuses just days away, Ramaswamy is fielding campaign help from his endorsers. Controversial former U.S. Rep. Steve King and Republican political commentator Candace Owens campaigned with Ramaswamy Thursday morning in Davenport with just four days to go until the Jan. 15 Republican caucuses. King endorsed Ramaswamy, he said, because of Ramaswamy's hard positions against illegal immigration and carbon capture pipelines. "Vivek hits all of the points that I believe in. All the way down the line," King said. "...He's got a plan to strip government down and a plan to get us back where we get our freedom back, we're pressed by taxes and debt and regulations and the intrusion into our lives." Ramaswamy pledged, as he has before, to cut 75% of the federal workforce, fight against carbon capture pipelines and the "climate change agenda", end U.S. involvement in foreign wars, and dissolve the U.S. Department of Education and the FBI. He also pledged to deport any person who resides in the country illegally. Ramaswamy pitches himself as a younger version of Trump who can take over the movement if legal woes or other forces keep Trump from the White House. He's also mostly self-funding his campaign, which he argues means he doesn't answer to big campaign donors. "If you want to save Trump, you want to save this country and what our movement represents, a vote for me is the way to do it," Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy, who has been polling in the single digits behind Republican frontrunners Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, asked the audience to brave the cold to caucus for him on Monday. Monday's temperatures aren't expected to reach above freezing and the caucus-time temperature is expected to be -5 degrees. Republicans and Democrats in Iowa will each caucus at 7 p.m. on Monday. Republicans will pick who they support for president. Democrats, who are doing a mail-in caucus system for the first time this year, won't select their preference for president at Monday's caucuses, but will discuss party platform. State Sen. Scott Webster campaigns for Vivek Ramaswamy at the Columbus Club in Davenport Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Former Illinois congressional candidate Esther Joy King campaigns for Vivek Ramaswamy at the Columbus Club Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Leilani and Derek Lingle brought their 5-month-old daughter Elena along to see Candace Owens campaign for Vivek Ramaswamy Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Ex-U.S. Rep. Steve King campaigns for Vivek Ramaswamy Thursday Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns with ex-U.S. Rep. Steve King Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns with ex-U.S. Rep. Steve King Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Political commentator Candace Owens campaigns with Vivek Ramaswamy Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for the GOP presidential nomination Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for the GOP nomination Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport. An attendee asks Vivek Ramaswamy what legal barriers exist to his plan to severely cut federal jobs during an event Thursday Jan. 11, 2024, at the Columbus Club in Davenport.
John Murphy and his wife were sound asleep in their apartment in Odesa, Ukraine, when they were awakened by Russian airstrikes in the early morning hours of Feb. 24, 2022  exactly two years ago Saturday.

We got up, looked out the window, and we saw the early morning skies ... lighting up with (explosions), Murphy, originally of Long Island, told a crowd of dozens who had gathered at Monroe Park in Richmond on Saturday morning to observe the two-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The Murphys packed a bag of essentials and fled to Romania before ultimately arriving in Richmond, where a local church had offered them a place to stay.

We were ... paralyzed by fear, Murphy said. But were thankful that we got out, and were thankful to be alive.

Murphy was one of several people who recounted the horrors of that day during Saturdays 11 a.m. rally, which was hosted by the Ukrainian Community of Virginia and featured multiple speakers, photographs of the war-stricken nation and a live performance of the Ukrainian national anthem.

Oksana Stakhnevych, president of the Ukrainian Community of Virginia, told the crowd she was among the 7 million Ukrainians who two years ago had 15 minutes to gather their children and most important things and flee (for) their lives.

Stakhnevych ended up in Richmond after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on foot and being granted humanitarian parole, a temporary immigration status granted to individuals who are otherwise inadmissible to the United States.

I am one of 300,000 Ukrainians who went to America for a new life, Stakhnevych said.

Also among the speakers was VCU professor Oleksandr Misiats, originally of Ukraine, who urged U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to hold a vote on a roughly $95 billion package that would provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel.

I would like to thank the entire Senate for their historical decision to support Ukraine in this most extreme condition, Misiats said, and I would like the House to do the same thing.

The battle is fought not only in the trenches (in Ukraine), but (also) in Washington, Misiats added. The future of the free world is being determined at this moment.

Johnson previously has said the House will not be jammed or forced into passing the bill, which cleared the U.S. Senate on Feb. 13. Democratic leaders have responded by accusing the speaker of dragging his feet on the issue.

Speaking to the crowd at Monroe Park on Saturday, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said the delay in sending aid to Ukraine could prove costly and that the embattled Ukrainian military could lose the war without help from the U.S.

The vast majority of the American people support Ukraines battle for freedom, Warner said. The speaker must allow a vote to take place ... the peoples representatives need to go on record ... and (decide): Do they stand with freedom (and) democracy, or are they going to stand by and let Vladimir Putin be successful in Ukraine?

Warner added that Russian victory in Ukraine could ultimately lead to a wider, escalating war in Europe that would likely drag U.S. troops into the fray.

(Supporting Ukraine) is in Americas best interests, Warner said. Adjacent states could be next and, because of our NATO obligations, American soldiers will be in harms way.

There are some political forces in America saying that America should retreat, Warner said. But if America doesnt keep its promise, I wonder if any country should ever trust us again.

From the Archives: Marshall Street 0823_POD_marshallst002 1009_POD_Elba 1115_POD_Second Police Station markets Richmond Dairy Co. Marshall Street Marshall Street Marshall Street Marshall Street Marshall Street Marshall Street Marshall Street Marshall Street Marshall Street
DES MOINES, Iowa  Baby Olivia isn't a real baby. It's an animated fetus that develops over the course of a three-minute video that has become a new front in state-level abortion politics.

Bills in the Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and West Virginia legislatures would require public school students to watch a video like Baby Olivia, which was created by an organization that opposes abortion. The legislation mirrors a North Dakota law passed last year.

The organization, Live Action, and supporters of the legislation say it would teach kids where they came from and encourage an appreciation for human life. But some educators and physicians say the video is deceptive and problematic for a young audience.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a professional organization with over 60,000 members, said in an email that the video is anti-abortion misinformation designed to manipulate the emotions of viewers.

Baby Olivia is the starring character in an animated video that's meant to visualize development in the womb. A voiceover introduces viewers to Olivia as an illustration of a fully developed baby in utero appears on screen. Olivia's mouth and eyes open and close, and her hands move.

Though she has yet to greet the outside world, she has already completed an amazing journey, the narrator says.

Live Action says on its website it exists today to shift public opinion on abortion and is dedicated to supporting a culture of life.

Founder Lila Rose said the video was designed to be informative, lifelike and appropriate for anyone, and made in consultation with doctors. Of the six, two are trained OB-GYNs; the others are trained in anatomy, biochemistry, pediatric medicine and neuroscience.

The organization spent nearly $5 million in 2022 to create and distribute content widely, according to filing reports. Those reports also show Live Action more than quadrupled its cash from contributions and grants in just four years, totaling $14 million in 2022.

Live Action also is known for efforts to expose Planned Parenthood, publishing videos and reports obtained by posing as patients.

Similar efforts by another organization, the Center for Medical Progress, led a federal jury to award Planned Parenthood $2 million in damages in 2019. David Daleiden, a co-defendant who founded the Center for Medical Progress, previously worked for Live Action, but Live Action was not a defendant and not involved in the case.

The video shows an egg being fertilized and implanted, then walks through embryonic and fetal developments over the course of a pregnancy.

It calls out general markers in what Rose said is an average developmental process using weeks after fertilization. That's different from weeks after the last menstrual cycle, which is what a pregnant person would typically hear from a doctor.

Iowa physicians and educators said in a letter to state lawmakers that by using weeks after fertilization, the video misleads viewers because the framing indicates milestones happen about two weeks earlier than is accurate.

Rose argued that weeks after fertilization is more typical of an academic context, like biology class, and Live Action said critics calling out inaccuracies are not taking that difference into account.

The Iowa physicians and educators said references to fetal heartbeat are widely disputed. At six weeks, the embryo isnt yet a fetus and doesnt have a heart.

The video also describes the animated figure's motion and actions with words like playing, exploring," sighing, and making speaking movements. Those words assign human traits and properties to a fetus that are more sophisticated than medicine can prove, said Emily Boevers, a practicing OB-GYN in Iowa and co-founder of Iowans for Health Liberty, which advocates for reproductive health care.

There are signals that the brain is developing and functioning, Boevers said, but the video's language implies a level of intention that we just cant say is present."

Iowa Rep. Luana Stoltenberg, a Republican, said she was impressed by the video's portrayal of science, and she believes showing fetal development could help curious kids understand where they came from.

Whats the worst that can happen? Stoltenberg said. Maybe a young child learns how they are developed and grow and so if they become pregnant, they decide maybe I dont want an abortion? Is that a horrible thing?

Rose said she believes backlash is being driven by abortion rights advocates who dont want imagery of life in the womb shown because it directly threatens their worldview, which is that this is not a life that is worthy of protection.

Sen. Patricia Rucker, a Republican in West Virginia, said Baby Olivia isnt preaching or partisan. It shows human growth as a beautiful, miraculous thing"  not unlike learning how a chick develops  and that teachers can springboard from that to further explanation.

Many states have started to more strictly regulate what is taught about sex education and when. State and federal agencies goal in educating students is typically to prevent teen pregnancies and reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
A sailor charged last month with providing classified documents to a foreign contact is alleged to have passed the sensitive information while stationed in Norfolk between 2022 and 2023, according to his charging papers.

Chief Fire Controlman Bryce S. Pedicini faces seven counts of espionage, one count of attempted espionage, and multiple counts of communicating defense information and violating orders, according to documents signed Jan. 18 by the commander of the Naval Surface Force Pacific Fleet. Hes been in pretrial custody since being detained in May.

The documents state that all seven alleged espionage incidents occurred at or near Hampton Roads, Virginia between November 2022 and February 2023.

In each instance, Pedicini is accused of delivering classified information relating to the national defense to a citizen and employee of a foreign government with reason to believe that it would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation.

The attempted espionage charge is alleged to have occurred in May while he was in Yokosuka, Japan. In that case, Pedicini is accused of attempting to provide images of information that appeared on a classified computer system.

Among the other charges Pedicini faces are failing to report a foreign contact, failing to report the solicitation of classified information by an unauthorized person, processing classified information on a system not approved for it, and taking a personally owned electronic device into a secure room.

Pedicini is a native of Tennessee who enlisted in January 2008, according to information provided by a Navy spokesman. The spokesman didnt provide an age for him, but online records indicate hes 34.

Pedicini was assigned to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk from February 2022 to March 2023, and earned the rank of chief fire controlman in August 2022. He was assigned to the guided missile destroyer USS Higgins last April.
When Flannery ORourke was working on her law degree at the University of Richmond, she says, I was obsessed with housing law.

Her obsession led to a summer internship at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, where the director of litigation, Marty Wegbreit, had helped lead a groundbreaking effort to establish an eviction diversion program in Richmond, the No. 2 city for evictions in the U.S. in a national database survey published in 2018.

If youre obsessed with housing law in Virginia, Marty Wegbreit is the guy, she said.

Wegbreit  like ORourke  is also a leader in helping unemployed people navigate a state unemployment system still overwhelmed after the COVID-19 pandemic. ORourke is now a staff attorney at the Virginia Poverty Law Center lobbying the General Assembly to make the system fairer to unemployed workers who are desperate for help.

If youre obsessed with unemployment compensation law, Marty Wegbreit also is your guy, she said.

Richmond still faces a housing affordability crisis, and the Virginia Employment Commission is still trying to complete a backlog of cases from the pandemic, but Wegbreit is about to retire after 43 years of providing legal assistance to Virginians who need it, including 19 at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society in Richmond.

At a certain point, you just need to get out of the way, said Wegbreit, 72, in an interview at the legal aid societys offices on West Broad Street. You can go out on top or not. I choose to go out on top.

Its not likely that he will fall silent because the great cause that has driven his career  the war on poverty  has not gone away.

We continue to wage the good fight to make sure that peoples rights are respected and that theyre not trapped in poverty, he said.

A champion for the most vulnerable

Steve Dickinson, executive director of the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, knows the challenge of replacing him. For more than 40 years, Marty Wegbreit has been a tireless champion for the most vulnerable in our community, Dickinson said. He has also served as an invaluable resource on all areas of the law statewide. Over his long career, he has had an unquantifiable impact on making justice for all a reality.

His retirement will leave Legal Aid with very big shoes to fill, Dickinson said.

Wegbreit, who grew up in the affluent suburb of Montgomery County, Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C., got the first taste for his future career in Boston, where he was pursuing a political science degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He worked as an intern for a tenant rights organization that was organizing a rent strike  withholding rent because of poor housing conditions  a possibility there, but not in Virginia.

That illustrated to me the power of the law to deal with peoples problems, he said.

After earning his law degree at the University of Michigan, Wegbreit worked for a legal aid organization in South Carolina for two years before arriving in the Virginia coalfields at the beginning of 1980 to work for what was then called Client Centered Legal Services of Southwest Virginia, now part of the Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society.

Meeting challenges in SW Va.

He spent almost 25 years there, helping people manage the consequences of back-breaking work in coal mines, lumber yards and farms. He helped people get disability insurance and other Social Security benefits in a region that included 10% of Virginias population and 20% of state residents receiving disability checks.

It was a whole Pandoras box of factors, said Wegbreit, citing the wear of the demanding work his clients did, poor health care and education, and social isolation.

He also handled foster care cases and helped victims of black lung disease, legal claims that he said could last more than a decade because of fierce opposition by coal companies and insurers. Those are big-money cases, he said.

Averting evictions in Richmond

His legal practice dramatically changed after he arrived in Richmond in early 2005. Instead of disability and Social Security claims, he worked for people living in poor housing with abusive landlords whom he considered victims of laws and court procedures that he said made it too easy for them to be evicted from their homes.

Its quick, easy and cheap for landlords to file eviction lawsuits, he said.

Wegbreit gained a national platform in 2018, when the New York Times published a story about a national eviction database compiled by Princeton University sociologist Matthew Desmond, who found that Richmond had the second-largest number of evictions of any city in the country, and four other Virginia cities  Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Chesapeake  ranked in the top 10.

The story carried a Richmond dateline, opened with a portrait of eviction proceedings in the citys general district court, and quoted Wegbreit, among other legal aid lawyers and city officials.

The whole system works on default judgments and people not showing up, he said in the story. Imagine if every person asked for a trial. The system would bog down in a couple of months.

Wegbreit calls The New York Times story the day my life changed. His phone exploded with requests for help. He was interviewed by all three local television stations.

In the process, he mentioned the idea of creating an eviction diversion program. Rather than ruin someones life with an eviction, divert them out of the system, he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2018.

Osita Iroegbu, then a senior adviser to Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, noticed his suggestion and ran with it, leading the city to create an eviction diversion program and embed it in the legal process.

This was a big deal, Wegbreit said. This is the first, and as far as I know the only, local eviction diversion program in Virginia.

Stoney called Wegbreit a critical partner in establishing a program that continues to help Richmonders stay in their homes.

His long career advocating in the housing justice space cannot be overstated, the mayor said.

Working for affordable housing

In addition to helping clients in court, Wegbreit has been an advocate to expand the supply of affordable housing, previously serving on the supervisory board of the Richmond Housing Trust Fund and working in his spare time for Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities, or RISC.

The supply of affordable housing has lagged pitifully behind the demand for it, he said.

Wegbreits life changed again in early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic put hundreds of thousands of Virginians out of work and forced them to rely on a system of unemployment benefits that was woefully underfunded and unprepared for the more than 1.6 million claims it received.

It was and continues to be a nightmare, he said. The Virginia Employment Commission is now a broken and dysfunctional system.

Wegbreit has personally handled more than 600 cases involving unemployment claims since the pandemic began almost four years ago.

He jokes that he is the $10 million man because the legal aid society found that he had recovered about $3 million for clients in the past 19 years and saved them more than $7 million.

Thats the impact of legal aid, he said.

But the impact goes beyond money saved or recovered, said ORourke at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, who admires how Wegbreit treats the people he represents.

Every case he treats as his biggest case, she said. Thats how low-income Virginians should be treated.

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
Theres no denying the downward spiral of Richmond Public Schools. Pandemic-related learning losses have been crippling, youth violence continues to plague students and their families, enrollment is declining and many schools are in desperate need of repair.

This is what happens when you drop an unexpected crisis  say, closing for 18 months to prevent the spread of a deadly contagion  onto a foundation already wobbled by 70 years of condensing poverty and systemic underfunding. The U.S. Supreme Court banned school segregation with Brown v. Board in 1954, but Virginias elected leaders found other ways to ensure that RPS remained an isolated, majority Black district steeped in poverty and economic isolation in the decades that followed.

But political tumult always rolls downhill, as it did this week when the Richmond Crusade for Voters issued a cryptic press release calling for the removal of Superintendent Jason Kamras.

The Crusade, arguably the most important grassroots civil rights organization in the citys history, isnt wrong to hold the superintendent accountable for failing to meet the goals outlined in a strategic plan initiated after Kamras was hired in 2018.

The Crusade outlined the 10 strategic goals in its statement  including full accreditation of all schools, improving test scores, graduation rates, teacher retention, enrollment and physical school conditions  and determined that no substantive progress had been made.

After 2 years of in-depth study and consultation with stakeholders in and outside the RPS school system, The Richmond Crusade for Voters has concluded that we have seen enough, the statement read. Consequently, we are calling for the immediate removal of Jason Kamras, as Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools.

Firing the superintendent for failing to deliver would be a perfectly logical reaction to the districts recent struggles. It would also be an egregious mistake. Creating a leadership vacuum as RPS confronts its most daunting challenges  repairing damage wrought by COVID-19  will only set Richmond back.

Kamras is by no means above reproach. RPS students didnt just struggle in the wake of the pandemic; academic performance cratered. Students lost two full years of math and a year and a half of reading skills, among the worst in the country, according to researchers at Harvard and Stanford universities.

In 2022, RPS saw its graduation rate drop 4%, the worst in the state. Mismanagement and lack of oversight were likely to blame for the fire that destroyed Fox Elementary School in 2022 and contributed to the shooting that left a student and his stepfather dead after graduation ceremonies at the Altria Theater in June. Chronic absenteeism, teacher shortages and central office turnover have wreaked havoc on the district during the last three years.

Pinning the blame on Kamras, however, ignores the elephant in the room: A Richmond School Board that has at times been alarmingly dysfunctional. At least three of the superintendents top administrators have quit in the last two years, two of whom cited tensions between the administration and School Board as a primary reason for leaving, according to published reports. School Board members have also routinely micromanaged and berated the superintendent during public meetings, which culminated in a failed attempt to oust him in August of 2022, less than two weeks before school started.

While RPS was trying to get back on its feet after reopening in the fall of 2021, the School Board wasted precious resources and political energy in a protracted battle with City Hall over bringing school construction in-house. At a time when RPS should have been laser-focused on academics, School Board members were fighting to build a smaller replacement for the former George Wythe High School as it confronted unsustainable overcrowding at a newly built River City Middle just a few miles away.

So who should be held accountable? Kimberly Bridges, assistant professor of educational leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, says thats the wrong question. A former Richmond School Board member from 2007-2012 who now studies K-12 governance, Bridges says the district has long been plagued by short-term superintendents and infighting on the board. Urban and more rural school divisions, stressed by high concentrations of poverty, racial segregation and a lack of resources, typically suffer from more political turmoil than wealthier suburban districts.

National work on post-pandemic learning recovery shows that RPS is struggling with its core mission of teaching and learning, Bridges says, even more so than peer divisions in Virginia facing similar challenges. But these arent challenges that come with easy fixes.

Are we doing the best we can  given the resources and constraints were under  for the kids that are in front of us right now? That is the question that I would hope that efforts like the Crusades would help the community look at, she said in an interview this week. RPS has its strategic planning going on right now. What the community needs to hear is, Heres how were fixing it.

Kamras, for his part, appears to be doing just that. At Tuesdays School Board meeting, administrators reported that winter SOL scores improved in most subject areas  save for a 4% decline in reading. RPS also pointed to an uptick in teacher retention and a 3% reduction in chronic absenteeism from the previous year. While not exactly proof of a turnaround, its a start.

With an election looming and RPS operating under the oversight of the Virginia Board of Education  since 2017, RPS has essentially been on probation for failing to bring multiple schools up to accreditation standards  firing the superintendent would invite even more scrutiny from the state. Any new hire must be cleared by a board now controlled by appointees of Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

There is hope, however.

Since taking over as School Board chair last year, Stephanie Rizzi has emerged as something of a calming influence. In a statement to the Richmond Times-Dispatch this week, she was quick to dismiss talk of Kamras removal: Assigning blame without recognizing the complexities of our challenges is not a constructive approach, she said. Others on the School Board echoed the sentiment, along with Mayor Levar Stoney and City Council members Stephanie Lynch, Cynthia Newbille and Nicole Jones.

Holding our leaders accountable is never a bad thing. But judging the superintendents performance in a vacuum, when so much is at stake, is the antithesis of good judgment.
ROCKY MOUNT  Community members urged the Franklin County School Board at a special public hearing Saturday to think carefully before deciding to close Henry and Burnt Chimney elementary schools this summer.

Please consider any option that can keep the schools open, said Daniel Dooley who has grandchildren who attend Henry Elementary School. He was one of several speakers at a rare Saturday afternoon meeting asking for the school board to consider other options.

Several parents in the crowd of more than 50 questioned the impact the change could have on their children if they were suddenly forced to move to a new school with new teachers and possibly away from friends they had made. Haley Robertson, a parent of children at Burnt Chimney Elementary School, said it would destroy relationships her children had formed.

You are not closing a school with this choice, you are essentially breaking up families, Robertson said. Please consider other options to address the budgetary needs.

Clinton Gills, another parent of children who attend Burnt Chimney Elementary School, asked the school board to do what he called the right thing for the community and keep the schools open.

I hope you dont fail the community and especially the children of this community with this decision, Gills said.

School leaders announced last month they were considering closing the two schools after learning of a $3.7 million reduction in state funding. The decrease is due to the states Local Composite Index formula used to measure a localitys ability to pay for education costs. A sharp increase in home values, driven by the Smith Mountain Lake market, in addition to a long-term decline in student population were major factors.

Schools Superintendent Kevin Siers announced at the start of the meeting that the Franklin County Board of Supervisors had approved some additional funding for the upcoming school year. Supervisors voted Thursday to provide an additional $1.25 million as well as allowing the schools to use $1.2 million in carryover funds for a total of $2.45 million toward the $3.7 million shortfall.

Despite the influx of funding, school closings are still being considered. Siers said the school board could use the one-time stopgap funding to delay the closure of Henry Elementary School until the 2025-26 school year. This would remove the school with the largest capital needs and allow the school system to focus on one consolidation at a time, he said.

Siers said moving forward with closing both schools at the end of the current school year would allow the school system to quickly address the budget shortfall from the state. It would also allow the schools to address other needs such as teacher pay, which has been an ongoing discussion by the school board.

This action will allow us to immediately address our budget shortfall through more efficient operations, will improve services to our students and puts us in a better position to advocate for the local funding needed to meet our goal of implementing phase two of the compensation study, Siers said.

State Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, also spoke briefly at Saturdays public hearing. He urged the school board to wait before making any decisions on schools. He said current efforts in Richmond may increase school funding to localities such as Franklin County and make changes to the Local Composite Index formula that could once again increase state funding.

It would be our preference for us to maybe slow this down a little bit before you know what the state money is going to be, Stanley said.

While the state could come through with an increase in funding, a state budget isnt expected to be finalized until April at the earliest. The school board is scheduled to present its budget to supervisors March 5.

Despite not knowing what the state may decide, several school board members seemed against closing any schools. While there was no vote Saturday, a majority voiced their support for keeping the schools open.

I think it is really, really bad policy, said Kevin David, the boards member at large. He vowed to vote against any school consolidation.

While others were not as vocal as David on how they would vote, a number of board members also said they oppose closing schools so quickly. They seemed to be in favor of a delay.

I think closing a school this fall is too soon, said Blackwater District representative Arlet Greer.

Rocky Mount District representative and school board Chairman Jeff Worley agreed that he would prefer building more schools instead of closing them, but questioned if the right thing to do is keeping the schools open. He said if student population at these schools continues to drop, the issue will return next year or the year after.

I do feel like our investments in people and students and programs far outweigh buildings and I hope we can come to the right decision in a structured and logical manner, Worley said. But the thing that concerns me is even if we dont do anything this year we are looking at this again next year or the following year.
A Roanoke Valley counselors license is revoked for violating state standards of practice, but the facts of an inappropriate relationship with a patient do not warrant further legal action, officials said.

However, the mother of the late woman involved in the matter says more should be done.

The Virginia Board of Counseling revoked a professional counselors license for Erica Church in an order dated Jan. 5.

Church started work for Roanoke-based Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare in September 2019, and resigned in May 2022, a spokesperson for the company said previously.

Two months after she was hired, Church began sessions with a woman suffering from major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidality, identified as Client A, according to documents from the board of counseling.

The relationship between counselor and client was not solely therapeutic, according to the boards findings. Church gave out her personal cellphone number, engaged in frequent, lengthy late-night phone calls, and eventually brought the client to stay at Churchs home, the findings said.

Ms. Church engaged in a dual relationship that developed into a romantic and sexual relationship with Client A that resulted in harm to Client A, according to board findings. The romantic relationship between Ms. Church and Client A continued through October 1, 2022.

Lynn Nolan said Client A was her daughter, Amber, of Botetourt County, who died by suicide the next day, after an argument with Church.

Church did not respond to a phone call requesting comment. Her attorney, Anisa Kelley, did not respond a phone call or email.

Church waived her right to a formal hearing with the Board of Counseling. In doing so, Church neither admitted nor denied the boards findings, but she consented to the order revoking her license.

Client As spouse found suicide letters addressed to Ms. Church, board findings said. Client As spouse told the Investigator that she believed Ms. Church played with Client As emotions.

Nolan said it is not enough to revoke a counselors license in a case like this. Mental health providers need to be held more accountable, she said.

I want criminal charges brought, Nolan said. Im not going to stop until they are.

Churchs actions represent intolerable behavior, a spokesperson for Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare said previously.

Church can apply to get her license back after three years, if 75% of the board of counseling votes in favor of reinstating.

At such time, the burden shall be on Ms. Church to demonstrate that she is safe and competent to return to the practice of professional counseling, the order said.

Nolan said there is no way Church can ever be considered safe or competent after the findings against her.

Especially a mental health professional, she should never be sitting across from another person ever again, Nolan said. There should be something in place if it is that egregious, that it caused the death of someone due to your absolute negligence.

Church did acknowledge some wrongdoing when questioned by an investigator for the Department of Healthcare Professions, according to findings from the board of counselors.

Although she acknowledged that she was aware her dual relationship with Client A was wrong, Ms. Church told the DHP Investigator that she did not believe her relationship with Client A was a contributing factor in Client As suicide, board findings said. Instead, Ms. Church asserted that, if not for their relationship, Client A would have committed suicide sooner than she did.

Nolan said she has asked for help seeking justice from local, state and federal officials, both lawmakers and law enforcement, with no notable progress.

She is pursuing a settlement from Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare, and circulating a petition to charge Church with criminal negligence for Ambers death.

This is not just about my daughter; its about all those who seek mental health treatment and trust their caregivers to act ethically and professionally, the petition reads. This case must serve as a stark reminder of the responsibility mental health professionals bear towards their patients.

In revoking her license, the state counseling board found Church violated several sections of Virginias standards of practice for professional counselors, which are a part of state law.

But law enforcement is not willing to pursue the matter further, Nolan said.

Who is supposed to be looking over these people? Where are the checks and balances? How are there no laws in place? Nolan said. It needs to be changed. It needs to be taken more seriously.

Botetourt County Commonwealths Attorney John R. H. Alexander said in an email that his office does not have additional information to offer.

The Sheriffs office and my office have been in communication with Ms. Nolans family and have discussed and reviewed the matter carefully, Alexander said. Our conclusion is that while it is a terribly tragic set of facts, we are not able to bring criminal charges based on the facts and Virginia law.

Nolan said somebody needs to pay closer attention to the case. She said anyone who might have experienced similar circumstances with health professionals should speak out.

These laws in Virginia, thats insane, Nolan said. Im also looking to contact whoever I need, to help me get these laws changed.

There are resources and support available for anyone feeling depressed, anxious, and or suicidal. Call 988 for support from the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

For more resources, go online to www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior.
I realized, it wasnt the earphones or the superficiality of the photos that annoyed me, nor was it even the acknowledgment that the world has changed, but rather, the fact that we so willingly, blindly, and lazily open the door ...
Trump says his criminal indictments boosted his appeal to Black voters

Former President Donald Trump claims his multiple criminal indictments have boosted his support among Black Americans because they see him as a victim of discrimination
BUHLENI  Zuba nje nge sicoco.

This is one of the phrases police officers allegedly told four people who were whipped inside the Buheni Police Station last Wednesday meaning, jump like a frog. The four males including a teenager, who is said to be 17 years old, were whipped using sjamboks also locally known as insilane. The four are said to have been whipped so hard that they sustained bruises and were treated at the Mkhuzweni Health Centre immediately after the alleged assault. It is alleged that the officers, not only whipped the four people, but also used unpalatable words which will not be repeated.

The alleged beating is said to have happened at the Buhleni Police Station, which is a state-of-the-art facility under construction. The building is said to be the most advanced police structure in the country. As at last Wednesday, it was being utilised by police officers from the Buhleni Police Post. However, the building is not fully operational. According to the men who were allegedly assaulted, trouble started on Monday, after a dispute over livestock. It is alleged that some of their cattle were allegedly impounded at a certain homestead after complaints that they had eaten some crop belonging to a certain family. *Jama, who is one of the people who were assaulted, alleged that after discovering that their cattle had been impounded and kept at a certain homestead, him and some others decided to go to the homestead. We wanted them to release the cattle, he stated.

Upon arrival at the homestead, he said they found a woman whom they asked about the cattle. He said they told the woman that they did not believe that the animals had eaten their crop. We then asked if we could go to the field to check the extent of the damage to the crop, he said. At the climax of their conversation, Jama said the woman begun to use her cellphone to capture some footage of him and others. He said they asked the woman why they were being photographed, resulting in an altercation with her. The confrontation did not get physical. On the following day, it is alleged that the woman reportedly went to Buhleni Police Station to report the arrival of the four men at her homestead.

Responding to the womans report, police officers understandably reached out to Jama and his friends, informing then to come to the station for talks. Under the impression that the agenda was the issue of the cattle, Jama said, upon arrival at the police station, said they were instead taken to another room within the police station, where three police officers assaulted them. Jama said the police officers were angry at them, accusing them of being disrespectful. Kusho kutsi nine niyedzela (that means you are not respectful), the police officers are said to have uttered these words as narrated by Jama.

Shocked

They were then whipped. He said they were shocked because they were not given an opportunity to explain their side of the story and that they were also not told why they were being assaulted. Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni said the matter would be investigated. However, she could only confirm that there was a report of a dispute over issues relating to cattle, adding that two families went to the police station to make a report on this issue. Mnguni could not confirm the alleged assault, but said it would be investigated. Meanwhile, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has been in the spotlight previously for the manner in which suspects were treated, particularly during protests that they were often physically assaulted. This publication recently reported that Eswatini is one of the top five countries where labour laws are violated.

The four men are of the view that police officers intended to humiliate them by the alleged assault. *Juba, who is one of the people who were allegedly beaten said the officers even demonstrated how they should jump when they were whipped. He said one of the police officers told them that when whipped, they should jump like a frog. He said if one did not jump, he would get assaulted for this. Juba said the police officers also allegedly kicked and slapped those who fell to the floor, ordering them to stand up as they continued whipping them.

Juba said the beating continued for several minutes, while the men were trying to understand why they were being assaulted. He then said after the alleged assault, they decided to go to the hospital for treatment. The went to the Mkhuzweni Health Centre, which is about three kilometres from the Buhleni Police Station.

Juba said when they went to the police station, they were told that they could not be treated unless they produced documentation from the police station stating how they were injured. He said then then went back to the police station the officers delayed giving them the necessary documentation and that they appeared reluctant to do so. After a several minutes of deliberation, the police officers are said to have handed over the required documentation which is also known as Form 88 for medical examinations related to crime cases.

Its police brutality  lawyer

Human rights lawyer, Sipho Gumedze described the alleged assault as police brutality. Gumedze said it was unfortunate that this was still happening and that police officers were still breaking the law. He also said such kinds of assaults were still common. The legal eagle stated that police officers are not permitted to use sjamboks as these are not part of the tools that they were given to use minimal force to restrain someone. He said even worse, was that they allegedly assaulted the four people inside the police station, adding that this was wrong.

Gumedze said also, it was not permissible for the police to assault people, though there were instances where they could use certain tools to obtain minimal force but insisted that this could not be done inside a police station. He said the purpose of minimal force was to enforce arrest when there was some resistance. How then do you use it inside the police station? he asked.

Further, Gumedze said the police officers should be charged and arrested for these actions. He said the people who were assaulted should also go back to the same police station and lay charges against the police officers. He said they should not go to another police station such as Piggs Peak but should instead report the alleged crime to the same police station where they are said to have been assaulted. Gumedze said they should report the matter to the officer at the front desk and that the stations commander has the duty to follow through that action was taken against the police officers. *Not real name to protect complainants from further harm.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
NEW YORK  Occupants of the White House have grumbled over news coverage practically since the place was built. Now it's Joe Biden's turn: With a reelection campaign underway, there are signs that those behind the president are starting to more aggressively and publicly challenge how he is portrayed.

Within the past two weeks, an administration aide sent an unusual letter to the White House Correspondents' Association complaining about coverage of a special counsel's report on Biden's handling of classified documents. In addition, the president's campaign objected to its perception that negative stories about Biden's age got more attention than remarks by Donald Trump about the NATO alliance.

It's not quite enemy of the people territory. But it is noticeable.

It is a strategy, said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former CNN Washington bureau chief. It does several things at once. It makes the press a foil, which is a popular pattern for politicians of all stripes.

It can also distract voters from bad news. And while some newsrooms quickly dismiss the criticism, he says, others may pause and think twice about what they write.

The letter from Ian Sams, spokesman for the White House counsel's office, suggested that reporters improperly framed stories about the Feb. 8 release of Special Counsel Robert Hur's report. Sams pointed to stories by CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and others emphasizing that Hur had found evidence that Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified material. Sam wrote that much of that so-called evidence didn't hold up and was negated by Hur's decision not to press charges.

He said it was critical to address it when "significant errors like misstating the findings and conclusions of a federal investigation of a president occur.

It was Sams' second foray into press criticism in a few months; last fall he urged journalists to give more scrutiny to House Republicans and the reasons behind their impeachment inquiry of Biden.

Everybody makes mistakes, and nobody's perfect, Sams told the AP. But a healthy back and forth over what's the full story helps make both the press and the government sharper in how the country and world get the news they need to hear.

Kelly O'Donnell, president of the correspondents' association and an NBC News correspondent, suggested Sams' concerns were misdirected and should be addressed to individual news organizations.

It is inappropriate for the White House to utilize internal pool distribution channels, primarily for logistics and the rapid sharing of need-to-know information, to disseminate generalized critiques of news coverage, O'Donnell said.

In a separate statement, Biden campaign spokesman T.J. Ducklo criticized media outlets for time spent discussing the 81-year-old president's age and mental capacity, an issue that was raised anew when Biden addressed the Hur report with reporters. He suggested that was less newsworthy and important than Trump's NATO comments. Americans deserve a press corps that covers Trump with the seriousness and ferocity this moment requires, said Ducklo, who resigned from the White House in 2021 for threatening a reporter.

To be fair, deadline times likely affected the initial disparity in coverage that Ducklo pointed out. And Trump's remarks have hardly been ignored by media outlets.

On Wednesday, Biden's campaign issued a statement headlined Full of Malarkey, that criticized The Times for a fact check it ran on some of the president's statements about the economy. The campaign said the newspaper continues to give Trump a pass on lies.

A.G. Sulzberger, publisher of The Times, noted in an interview with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism that Biden's team had been extremely upset about its coverage lately. We're not anyone's opposition," he said, and we're not anyone's lapdog.

HOW MUCH IS THE PRESIDENT AVAILABLE?

The criticism comes amid the backdrop of unhappiness among some journalists about how much Biden is made available for questions  an issue that surfaced again when Biden turned down an opportunity to appear before tens of millions of Americans in an interview during the Super Bowl pregame show.

The 33 news conferences Biden has given during the first three years of his presidency is lower than any other American president in that time span since Ronald Reagan, said Martha Kumar, a Towson University professor emeritus and expert on presidents and the press. Similarly, the 86 interviews Biden has given is lower than any president since she began studying records with Reagan. By comparison, Barack Obama gave 422 interviews during his first three years.

Instead, Biden prefers more informal appearances where reporters ask a few questions, with comparatively little opportunity for follow-up, she said: The 535 such sessions that Biden conducted was second only to Trump's 572.

One example followed Biden's remarks Friday after the death of Russian dissident Aleksey Navalny. Another was Biden's early evening availability following the release of Hur's report, a chaotic scene where reporters tried to outshout one another. The president's performance, and remarks about his forgetfulness that were made in Hur's report, led to more questions about the impact of age on his ability.

It did not serve him well, Kumar said. Some on Biden's team, meanwhile, believe the president showed a combativeness in the face of criticism that Americans will appreciate.

Sesno said he can understand the Biden team's worry that the president's fitness for the job becomes a story they lose control of, much like former President Gerald Ford's stumbles led to the perception that he was a bumbler. Nikki Usher, a media professor at the University of San Diego, said she was surprised that Biden's team hadn't become more aggressive earlier.

He needs to jump out in front of the narrative, Usher said.

Biden touts rural achievements as part of "barnstorming" tour Biden touts rural achievements as part of "barnstorming" tour Putting money in rural America Hope and anxiety
LE MARS, Iowa  The Floyd Valley Auxiliary will be awarding three $2,000 tuition-only scholarships to area students this spring.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a resident of the Floyd Valley Healthcare service area (the Plymouth County schools or the MMCRU School District), be accepted at an accredited school and must be pursuing a healthcare-related career, including pre-med, nursing, technologist, therapist, dental health and medical records, according to a press release from Floyd Valley.

Interested students may obtain the necessary application form with complete qualifying information from their high school guidance counselor, pick up at gift shop, or print copy off on-line at FloydValley.org under the Auxiliary.

Applications and other documents must be returned to Diane Dreckman by April 5; instructions are on the form.
SIOUX CITY  Sioux City could be getting a seventh McDonald's restaurant.

The Sioux City Council is expected to vote Monday on a resolution that would announce the city's intent to accept a proposal from McDonald's USA, Inc. to purchase land at 3100 Floyd Boulevard in Floyd Valley Crossing.

The restaurant would be McDonald's second northside location in the city. The fast-food chain also has a restaurant on Hamilton Boulevard. A McDonald's inside the Floyd Boulevard Walmart permanently closed amid the pandemic.

McDonald's Floyd Boulevard rendering A rendering of a proposed McDonald's restaurant at 3100 Floyd Blvd. is shown.

Since the property is located in an urban renewal area, the city must follow the urban renewal law and give a 30-day notice of its intent to sell land in the Combined Floyd River Urban Renewal Area. Passage of the resolution would set an April 1 hearing date and authorize city staff to publish a required urban renewal notice on March 2.

Honey Badger Development, a Minnesota-based developer and Domino's franchisee in Sioux City, also submitted a proposal to purchase and develop the property, which is directly south of Silverstar Car Wash, according to city documents.

"Staff recommends approval of the proposal from McDonald's USA, LLC. The purchase price, capital investment and future tax revenue from the project are significantly more than the proposal from Honey Badger Development," the documents stated. "In addition, a McDonald's restaurant is likely to drive more traffic to Northern Valley Crossing, benefiting the other businesses in the area and making the city's two remaining lots more attractive to future developers."

McDonald's USA, LLC proposed purchasing the 1.09-acre parcel for $500,000, which is above the city's asking price of $6.50 per square foot or $310,096. The company would spend an estimated $4.9 million in capital expenditures for the project, hire an estimated 72 full- and part-time employees, and pay the required $34,389 for participation in the regional stormwater pond. The restaurant would be constructed similar to existing McDonald's locations in the city.

Honey Badger Development offered the city the property's asking price and proposed spending roughly $2.4 million to build a 6,000-square-foot shopping center, which would house a Domino's with a pickup window and two or three complementary businesses. Honey Badger would contribute 40 full- and part-time jobs at the new Domino's location within the first year of business and cover the development's share of the regional stormwater detention pond construction costs.

The 29-acre Northern Valley Crossing, which is nearly built out, is also home to an ALDI grocery store, Pizza Ranch, the Shoppes at Northern Valley, Dollar Tree and Telco Triad. Aftershock Ventures plans to build a five-unit retail center on the commercial site, with the anchor tenant being a Starbucks coffee shop.

Floyd Boulevard McDonald's Bare land at the intersection of Floyd Boulevard and Northern Valley Drive is shown Friday in Sioux City. McDonald's is seeking City Council a
Thank you state legislators for believing we need to strengthen Iowa's open meetings laws.

In the Iowa House Thursday, lawmakers voted to increase penalties for public officials who violate the open meetings law and require them to attend open meeting and records training.

Too often, as weve learned in Sioux City, discussions in closed sessions wander beyond the exceptions the law permits, and you, the voter, are left unaware of the talks.

Two issues in Davenport prompted the bill, according to Rep. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf. Journalists and others had difficulty getting public information about an apartment building collapse and about a separation deal that was reached with its city administrator. Repeatedly, the media was stonewalled.

Closer to home, a judge earlier this month ruled a Jan. 24, 2022 meeting the Sioux City Community School Board closed to the public went beyond its stated purpose of evaluating the professional performance of then-superintendent Paul Gausman. As part of a lawsuit Gausman filed against the district and four board members, District Judge Jeffrey Neary also found a closed meeting on Nov. 30, 2022 did not violate state law.

Iowa's open meetings and records, or sunshine laws are intended to make government at all levels as transparent and accountable to the public as possible. There's a legal presumption that meetings of government bodies should be open to the public except in limited circumstances, spelled out in Chapter 21.5. When those exceptions are invoked, the public should have confidence those discussions behind closed doors don't roam into non-exempt areas. Thats where elected boards get in trouble. They think they can talk about anything in a closed session. Limits must be followed.

Under House File 2539, public officials who go outside those boundaries would face fines between $500 and $2,500. If an official knowingly violates the law, the fines would increase to between $5,000 and $12,000.

Such penalties whould get elected officials to think twice about jumping into closed-door meetings without a legitimate reason. While there is an out - members of a public body can be exempted if they can prove they voted against a closed session or relied on the decision of a court or different body  they need to conduct as much business as possible in open session. Then, those who elected them can see where they stand on a host of issues.

Take the board governing the new Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center. Repeated requests for information related to the construction of the new jail have fallen on deaf ears, yet costs continue to mount. Local officials hear about the added expenses but they  and the media  dont get complete answers as to why. Greater transparency would help residents understand why the project's costs continue to mount.

House File 2539, which passed the House with a 92-2 vote, could strengthen the state's open records and meetings laws and let everyone in on the decision-making.

We think its a great step toward more transparency  one that could help public officials regain the trust of the people who elected them.

Now, they need to consider the benefits of news conferences, town halls and other forums that would encourage everyone from the governor on down to explain why they voted the way they did.
WASHINGTON  With election season already underway, some state election officials are expressing frustration that Congress has yet to allocate federal money they have come to rely on to help cover the costs of securing their systems from attacks, updating equipment and training staff.

Election officials face a long list of challenges this year, including potential cyberattacks waged by foreign governments, criminal ransomware gangs attacking computer systems and the persistence of election misinformation that has led to harassment of election officials and undermined public confidence.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said it was demoralizing and disappointing that the federal government hasnt committed to investing in this year's presidential election.

We are managing federal elections that are the foundation of who has power at the federal level and trying to manage a lot of different competing risks and challenges that have only escalated in recent years, said Benson, a Democrat. It makes us feel like were on our own.

Since the 2016 election and the federal governments decision to add the nations voting systems to its list of critical infrastructure, Congress has sent $995 million to states for election administration and security needs.

In Colorado, the money has been used to develop a system for voters to track their ballots and pay for training for election officials. Florida officials designated the money for increasing security of the states voter registration system. Elsewhere, federal money has been used to replace voting machines and add cybersecurity staff.

Most of that was allocated ahead of the 2020 election, as states rushed to boost cybersecurity defenses, and has been exhausted. A separate $400 million was required to be spent on pandemic-related election costs in 2020.

The last chunk of election-related funding was $75 million approved by Congress in December 2022. State allocations ranged from $5.8 million for California to $1 million for Nevada.

Los Angeles elections alone costs $75 million, said Kathy Boockvar, the former chief elections official in Pennsylvania. I dont think election officials have had expectations of $400 million. People have hoped for $75 million, and its unclear whether even that will come.

PARTISAN BUDGET DISPUTES

Federal budget negotiations have been mired in partisan disputes, with agencies mostly operating on spending levels approved for 2023. Congress has been able to approve only temporary funding plans, which cover a few months at a time. The next deadline is March 1, when the most recent temporary funding plan expires for some departments and a week later for others. The government faces a potential shutdown if new funding is not approved.

Even if a deal is reached, there's no guarantee of new money for elections. House Republicans last year listed election security grants as wasteful spending and did not allocate money for it in their spending proposal. Instead, they have been focused on legislation that would ban private organizations from providing money to election offices.

Americans deserve to have confidence in our elections, which means elections should be free from undue private influence, U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican who chairs the Committee on House Administration, said at a recent hearing.

A $75 million Senate proposal for election security is being negotiated as part of the final spending package.

Administering free and fair elections is year-round work that takes planning and resources, and election officials on the front lines of our democracy need a steady stream of funding so that they can do things like replace aging equipment, strengthen cybersecurity, and keep pace with new technology, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said in a statement.

TOUGH DECISIONS

In North Carolina, state election officials have had to make some tough decisions as the needs have outpaced state and federal funding.

North Carolinas State Board of Elections has reduced its cybersecurity staff by one employee and has been forced to cut back in other areas to meet some of the needs for election security, said Karen Brinson Bell, the agencys executive director. A team of six employees that had been handling election data has been reduced to just one full-time position, with another person helping part-time. Some eliminated positions were funded by federal grants that are no longer available.

Every effort weve put forward for cybersecurity has come through federal funding, and without that continuous funding and no new funding through the (North Carolina) legislature, its hard to sustain a strong cyber posture, Brinson Bell said.

During its recent meeting, the National Association of Secretaries of State passed a resolution calling on Congress to provide sufficient money to help officials address cybersecurity threats.

West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, a Republican, said he does not support federal money for elections because typically, it comes with strings attached.

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, also a Republican, said he would welcome federal assistance for cybersecurity needs if there was flexibility on how states spent it.

I dont necessarily mind a partnership there with some funding, as long as states are the ones that have the ability to spend those dollars  because what happens in Mississippi may be a little bit different than Minnesota or Maine or California, Watson said.

SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS

Kim Wyman, the former secretary of state in Washington, said federal officials should heed the lessons of the 2000 election -- when some election offices were well-funded and others less so. She said the Help America Vote Act of 2002, approved by Congress in the aftermath of the ballot confusion in Florida, leveled the playing field with $3.2 billion in federal money going to the states. A similar investment is needed now, she said.

Wisconsin election officials have used previous federal money to provide grants to local election offices that have helped them boost their technology support and training. They also have been able to buy new voting equipment and mail ballot envelopes, said Meagan Wolfe, the nonpartisan administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

New Mexico has used federal money to help cover the costs of its election security program. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, said election officials need predictability.

When we create programs, we want to be able to sustain those programs, not just for a year or for two years. We want to sustain them for the long term, she said.

In Minnesota, the state has used federal money to create grants for local election officials for voting system upgrades, including electronic pollbooks and tabulators. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said he was concerned about the lack of federal funding and the message that sends about the nations priorities.

Nobody I know is looking for Congress to fund state elections, said Simon, a Democrat. What we are looking for  for election security and other purposes -- is for them to be a partner in helping us to fill some gaps.

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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KIBBUTZ BE'ERI, Israel  Gillian and Pete Brisley are picking up the pieces of their shattered lives. They are cleaning up the house where their daughter and granddaughters were killed by Hamas on Oct. 7 in hopes that their son-in-law  believed to be held captive in Gaza  may have something to come home to.

The broken glass from the militants break-in has been cleaned up. Their dead relatives clothes still need to be packed away.

We really didnt want him to come back and see the state it was in, said Gillian Brisley, whose daughter Lianne, 48, was shot at her home in Kibbutz Beeri during Hamas' rampage, along with two daughters: Noiya, 16; and Yahel, 13. All we can do is hope and pray that he is in Gaza. And at some time he will come back.

Dozens of families whose relatives were taken to Gaza as hostages have endured a nightmare beyond their comprehension. Nearly five months into the Israel-Hamas war, they remain hopeful that the remaining hostages will be released, but are growing increasingly desperate for a resolution. After the fits and starts of multiple rounds of negotiations, they fret that both Israelis and the world are losing interest in their struggle.

We are worried all the time, said Ofri Bibas Levy, whose nephews Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 1  the youngest hostage  were taken captive along with their parents. Weve been on this roller coaster for four months and never knowing what to expect.

When Hamas-led militants stormed through southern Israel in October, they killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped roughly 250 people, including women, children and older adults, according to Israeli authorities.

The deadliest attack in Israel's history set off the war in Gaza that has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local health officials, and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe.

More than 100 hostages, mostly women, children and foreign nationals, were freed in a late November deal that also brought about a weeklong halt in the fighting and the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Negotiations to bring about the release of the remaining hostages have stalled.

Israel believes that of the 134 remaining hostages, at least 30 were killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity.

Since the war began, Israeli forces have freed three of them. Hostages are believed to be held deep inside Hamas extensive tunnel network in Gaza, or in other hideouts. Israeli forces killed three hostages in December, mistaking them for militants.

The plight of the hostages has deeply traumatized Israelis, who view them as an enduring symbol of the states failure to protect civilians during Hamas onslaught.

Their families have mounted a domestic and international campaign to raise awareness about their loved ones ordeals and keep the issue in the public consciousness. At weekly protests in Tel Aviv and elsewhere, the families calls for their release have grown increasingly anguished. Many liken their protracted captivity to a death sentence.

Negotiations meant to secure their release have seen varying levels of momentum. Most recently, talks led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have been hobbled by the vast chasm between Israel's and Hamas terms for a deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until total victory, which he says means destroying Hamas governing and military capabilities and freeing the hostages. He says both of those aims are best met with intense and prolonged military pressure. But criticism from within his Cabinet has emerged about that position, with one top official saying the hostages can only be freed through talks.

Some of Netanyahus allies have increasingly communicated the message that their priority is not to free the hostages. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sparked outrage after he told Israels public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday that the release of hostages is not the most important thing, saying destroying Hamas took precedence.

Politics has also creeped into the hostage families struggle, even though they have labored to keep it a consensus issue.

Some relatives of hostages say theyve been berated in the streets by Netanyahu supporters. A prominent political strategist who has steered the families struggle since it began stepped down this week over concerns that his past involvement in anti-government campaigns would taint their approach.

Hostage families say they are astounded by what they see as global apathy to an ongoing war crime. The families have traveled to major capitals around the world over the past five months, trying to galvanize support for their cause, only to be dwarfed by massive protests supporting Palestinians in Gaza  and even seeing posters bearing the photos of their loved ones torn down.

Whatever people think about the political complexities and about the Middle East, its a baby," said Eylon Keshet, a relative of baby Kfir Bibas. "How can people be so silent about it?

Gillian and Pete Brisley, who live in South Wales, say theyve tried to engage authorities in the United Kingdom to assist, but describe all talk and no action."

Bullet holes mark most of the walls at the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Eli Sharabi.

The hope is that Eli is alive, said Gillian. Sharabi's brother, Yossi, died in captivity.

You have to have hope. If you havent got hope, you havent got anything, she said.

The vulnerability of Nir Oz: Inside Hamas unprecedented hostage operation
NEW YORK  Emily Hollenbeck lived with a recurring depression she likened to a black hole, where gravity felt so strong and her limbs so heavy she could barely move. She knew the illness could kill her. Both her parents committed suicide.

She was willing to try something extreme: Having electrodes implanted in her brain as part of an experimental therapy.

Researchers say the treatment  deep brain stimulation, or DBS  could eventually help many of the nearly 3 million Americans with depression that resists other treatments. It's approved for conditions including Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, and many doctors and patients hope it will become more widely available for depression soon.

The treatment gives patients targeted electrical impulses, much like a pacemaker for the brain. A growing body of research is promising, with more underway  although two large studies that showed no advantage to using DBS for depression temporarily halted progress, and some scientists continue to raise concerns.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has agreed to speed up its review of Abbott Laboratories' request to use its DBS devices for treatment-resistant depression.

At first I was blown away because the concept of it seems so intense. Like, its brain surgery. You have wires embedded in your brain, Hollenbeck said. But I also felt like at that point I tried everything, and I was desperate for an answer.

Hollenbeck suffered from depression symptoms as a child growing up in poverty and occasional homelessness. Her first major bout happened in college, after her fathers suicide in 2009. Another hit during a Teach for America stint, leaving her almost immobilized and worried shed lose her classroom job. She landed in the hospital.

She calls it an on-and-off pattern. After responding to medication for a while, she'd relapse.

She earned a doctorate in psychology, even after losing her mom in her last year of grad school. But the black hole always returned. At times, she said, she thought about killing herself.

She said she'd exhausted all options, including electroconvulsive therapy, when a doctor told her about DBS three years ago.

Nothing else was working, she said.

She became one of only a few hundred treated with DBS for depression.

Hollenbeck had surgery while sedated but awake. Dr. Brian Kopell, who directs Mount Sinai's Center for Neuromodulation, placed thin metal electrodes into her brain's subcallosal cingulate cortex, which regulates emotional behavior and is involved in feelings of sadness.

The electrodes are connected by an internal wire to a device placed under the skin in her chest, which controls the amount of electrical stimulation and delivers constant low-voltage pulses.

Doctors say electricity speaks the brains language. Neurons communicate using electrical and chemical signals.

In normal brains, Kopell said, electrical activity reverberates unimpeded in all areas, in a sort of dance. In depression, the dancers get stuck within the brains emotional circuitry. DBS seems to unstick the circuit, he said.

Hollenbeck said the effect was almost immediate. She only wishes the therapy had been there for her parents.

The road to this treatment stretches back two decades, when neurologist Dr. Helen Mayberg led promising early research.

But setbacks followed. Large studies launched more than a dozen years ago showed no significant difference in response rates for treated and untreated groups.

Some later research, though, showed depression patients had stable, long-term relief from DBS when observed over years. Overall, across different brain targets, DBS for depression is associated with average response rates of 60%, one 2022 study said.

Mount Sinai's team is one of the most prominent researching DBS for depression in the U.S. There, a neuroimaging expert uses brain images to locate the exact spot to place electrodes.

We have a template, a blueprint of exactly where were going to go, said Mayberg, a pioneer in DBS research and founding director of The Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics at Mount Sinai.

Other research teams also tailor treatment, although methods differ slightly.

Abbott is launching a big clinical trial this year, ahead of a potential FDA decision.

But some doctors are skeptical, pointing to potential complications such as bleeding, stroke or infection after surgery.

Dr. Stanley Caroff, a University of Pennsylvania emeritus professor of psychiatry, said scientists still don't know the exact brain pathways or mechanisms that produce depression. And it's also tough to select the right patients for DBS, he said.

I believe from a psychiatric point of view, the science is not there, he said of DBS for depression.

Hollenbeck acknowledges DBS hasn't been a cure-all; she still takes medicines for depression and needs ongoing care.

She recently visited Mayberg in her office and discussed recovery. Its not about being happy all the time, the doctor told her. Its about making progress.

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DES MOINES  Previews of the 2024 election are playing out in the Iowa Legislature this year as lawmakers debate bills on immigration, crime, abortion and education, which will likely be top issues on the campaign trail ahead of November.

Each member of the Iowa House of Representatives is up for reelection this year, along with half of Iowas state senators. Republicans hold sizable majorities in both chambers, with 64 out of 100 House seats and 34 out of 50 Senate seats.

With the presidential election at the top of the ticket in November, this years elections are likely to be dominated by national issues, said University of Iowa political science professor Tim Hagle.

Sometimes (the state legislative agenda) can be an issue in particular districts, whether its the House or the Senate or the state level, but quite often, theyre more likely to be driven, at least to a certain extent, by whats going on at the national level, Hagle said.

To the extent that more local issues do motivate the election, Hagle said its too early to know what will be at the top of that list.

Well start to see this a little bit more once the legislative session is over and we see what weve got, and what the Democrats see what they can do with it, in terms of energizing their base, and the Republicans their base too, he said.

Democrats to run on abortion, 'people over politics'

Iowas minority Democrats are poised to make abortion and reproductive rights a clear focus of the election. They have proposed legislation to enshrine abortion rights into the states constitution, reinstate the federally-funded Family Planning Program, expand postpartum Medicaid coverage and allow birth control without a prescription.

Democrats nationally see abortion as an issue that can win them votes in suburban areas and among women in key races and states in 2024. In Iowa, Republicans passed a law last year to ban abortion once cardiac activity can be detected in a fetus or embryo. The bill is currently blocked while the Iowa Supreme Court weighs its constitutionality.

Iowa Senate Democrats said abortion would be a key issue as they seek to wrest control of tossup seats in November. Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, who leads the Senate Democrats, said abortion rights are supported by a clear majority of Iowans.

That is the one issue that continues to bubble up, and that is, Iowans are very concerned about the number of freedoms and rights that have been taken from them over the past couple years, she said. ...We believe we need to stand firm and let people know where we stand as Democrats, and what were going to fight for this coming election cycle.

House Democrats have had a mantra over the last two years to justify their political priorities and their legislative agenda: People over politics.

The caucus has proposed a package of bills they say are supported by a wide majority of the states voters. They accuse Republicans of voting and passing bills to serve special interests at the expense of Iowans.

Democrats make up a minority in both chambers, and the bills they proposed have not been taken up for consideration.

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights, said this month that Republicans are trying to govern by headline rather than addressing needs of Iowans on issues like health care, housing and wages.

She said Democrats will be talking with voters about Republicans efforts to expand school choice and ban abortion, as well as the message that Democrats are advocating for popular policies.

What Republicans are proposing is what special interests tell them that they want, she said. We are the ones listening to Iowans and we are going to be pointing that out over and over again.

Republicans to campaign on tax cuts, economy

Republicans have repeatedly said that past elections are evidence Iowans are happy with their governance and confident in their policies. Republicans have expanded their majorities in both chambers since gaining a trifecta of the House, Senate and governor in the 2016 election.

Rep. Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley, the House Majority Leader, said the partys candidates would be campaigning on their history of improving the economy and tackling the issues important to Iowa voters.

Were constantly trying to improve our educational standards and make sure our kiddos get the best education they possibly can, and we are providing for the needs of Iowans, Windschitl said. Whether that be infrastructure, law enforcement, but were also being wise stewards of the taxpayer dollar and trying to make sure that when the government doesnt need their tax dollars that we return those in a responsible and equitable manner.

Windschitl said it was too early to say which legislative achievements from this year Republicans would run on, but he is looking forward to passing further individual income tax cuts.

A number of bills Republicans have advanced align with the national issues the party will likely be running on in 2024, including cracking down on crime and illegal immigration.

In passing bills targeting undocumented immigrants, Republicans have said the bills are necessary because of the record-high rate of unlawful border crossings that have been documented under President Joe Biden.

The problem is we've had seven million people come into this country illegally under the leadership of President Joe Biden, said Rep. Taylor Collins of Mediapolis when advancing a bill to revoke in-state tuition from undocumented immigrants. And at some point were going to have to address that issue.

Border security will be a major campaign issue for Republicans nationally heading into the election as they have sought to depict Biden as abandoning his duty to keep a secure border and prevent illegal crossings.

According to a recent Pew survey, 77% of Americans described the situation at the border as either a crisis or a major problem, while another 17% described it as a minor problem.

Windschitl said the issues have a prominent focus this year because lawmakers are hearing about them from constituents.

The national scene does sometimes drive those trends, but some of these things have been in drafting long before the polling data showed that illegal immigration and the border crisis was something that was top of mind to caucus goers, he said.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford, said Republicans are not approaching policy any differently this year because of the upcoming election.

"I dont think that weve been any different in laying that out this session, similar to the way we did last session, he said. So whether its an election year or not, we want to try to show Iowans what our vision would look like.

That vision, Grassley said, includes a stable tax climate, low regulations, school choice, and accountability around the spending of taxpayer dollars.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Grimes said in a recent appearance on "Iowa Press" on Iowa PBS that hes confident about Senate Republicans chances in 2024.

Iowa is probably in the strongest position maybe it has ever been in, and we have the biggest surplus we've ever had, he said. And so, we're going to tell our story, we're proud of our story, of what we have done in the majority and what we've done with the trifecta, and I feel very confident about the elections this year.

Will presidential candidates help or hurt local candidates?

Depending on a statehouse candidates district, the presidential candidates at the top of the ticket may be a tricky subject to navigate, Hagle said.

In tossup House and Senate districts, where moderate and independent voters will decide the election, enthusiasm about Biden and Trump, the likely Republican nominee, will likely be lower than in Democratic and Republican strongholds in the state.

Both candidates have net-negative approval ratings among independent voters nationally, according to recent polling, though Iowas no-party voters lean more conservative.

Candidates in those districts may look for ways to contrast themselves with their party's presidential candidate or keep their more unpopular issues at a distance, Hagle said.

Youll probably try to distance yourself from that person to some extent, or it may be that the local issues dominate rather than something at the national level, he said. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.

Candidates also may try to tie their opponent to unpopular positions or actions of the opposing partys leader, Hagle said.

The leaders of both parties, though, have largely fallen behind their expected presidential candidates. Whitver said on Iowa Press Trump is the GOP's "best chance to win election this year.

Jochum said in an appearance on "Iowa Press" this month that Democrats should be more vocal in touting Bidens accomplishments.

I think that in general, Democrats and a lot of no-party (voters) think that overall, Joe Biden has done a pretty good job, she said. And it's our job as Democrats to get out and tell people what he has done and what he has accomplished, and we're going to do that.

Whos running for president? See the latest rundown of major 2024 candidates Donald Trump Joe Biden Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Jill Stein Cornel West Whos dropped out? Dean Phillips
Another Republican primary is in the books, and it looks much like every other contest weve seen so far. Media organizations projected that Donald Trump would win South Carolina within seconds of polls closing on Saturday, and Trump delivered his victory speech just minutes after that. Aside from the genuine treat of watching Trump supporters jeer Sen. Lindsey Graham, the night did not make for compelling television.

And as with every other contest, what it says about Trumps strength heading toward November depends entirely on the framing.

Looked at one way, Trump made history, becoming the first non-incumbent Republican candidate to sweep the first four early states, with comfortable victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. His vote share in each contest never dipped below 50 percent. Among self-identified Republicans in these contestswho make up the bulk of, uh, Republican primary votersTrump leaves no room for his competition. Those identifying as Republicans made up 68 percent of the South Carolina primary electorate, per exit polls, and Trump won 70 percent of them. His last remaining challenger, Nikki Haley, competing in her home state, where she served as a two-term governor, earned only 29 percent of Republicans votes. Haley has vowed to press on through Super Tuesday on March 5, but she still has no path to the nomination, barring a deus ex machina.

But Trump isnt your run-of-the-mill non-incumbent, is he? Hes a former president with the near-total backing of the new party establishment. Hes about to put his daughter-in-law in charge of the central party organ, because he can. Congressional Republicans quiver at his every utterance.

And still, hundreds of thousands of voters, and a hearty 40 percent of the electorate in Saturdays primary, voted for his opponent, a supposedly globalist Republican-in-name-only traitor to the cause. He may have all but secured the nomination by running an incumbents campaign. But the actual incumbent, Joe Biden, won 96 percent of the vote in the South Carolina Democratic primary in early February. I invite you to imagine the punditry had Biden ceded 40 percent to Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamsonor even 10 percent.

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Trump underperformed polling with his margin of victory too. The FiveThirtyEight polling average showed a 28-point Trump lead, and he won by 20. While Trump came fairly close to hitting his projected vote share, Haleys support was underestimated, suggesting that her rigorous campaigning over the past month was effective on the margins. Haley, according to exit polls, won two-thirds of voters who decided this month. Unfortunately for her, only 16 percent of voters decided this month.

Trumps weaknesses in the exit polls will ring familiar. Haley won independents, those who arent evangelical Christians, college graduates, first-time voters, moderates, or nongun owners, and those who oppose a national abortion ban. Among the third of the primary electorate who do not think Trump would be fit for the presidency if convicted of a crime, Haley won 87 percent. This is too much of a moderate, white-collar coalition for Haley to win a Republican primary in the era of Trump. But come November, its a bloc that will decide the 2024 election.

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Im an accountant. I know that 40 percent is not 50 percent, Haley said in her Saturday night speech. But I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group.

Trump, meanwhile, said in his speech that it was an even bigger win than we anticipated and he had never seen the Republican Party so unified, both of which are questionable assertions. He did not mention Haley by name, a sharp detour from his last major victory speech in New Hampshire a month ago. (Indeed, his advisers likely insisted he speak early in the night so that he wouldnt get in a lather watching her speech.)

The intraparty pressure on Haley to drop out has been loud for a month, and will only get louder. Shes intensified her criticisms of Trump as the campaign has gone on, to Democrats delight. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has cheekily called Haley one of our better surrogates and encouraged her to stay in the race.

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Im enjoying this primary, Newsom said. And I hope it continues, so I wish her luck.

By staying in this long and taking it to Trump harder by the day, Haley credibly debunked the theory that shes angling only for a vice presidential bid. What is she angling for, though? Dont for a second believe that Haley, an ambitious, longtime finger-in-the-wind politician, has chosen to sacrifice her political career on the altar of protest. Shell get around to endorsing Trump not long after she ends her campaign, which she could do just after Super Tuesday. Should Trump lose in November to an unpopular incumbent who would be 86 at the end of his second term, though, Haley will have been the runner-up who can argue, I warned you. And maybe, after a second Trump loss to Biden, 2028 Republican primary voters might have a shift in values toward electability.

Or theyll just nominate Trump again.
MBABANE  Even before he thinks about loans and donations from international agencies, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg already has about E24 billion to finance the countrys national budget.

The figure, which is approximately E23.8 billion, is made up of the E11.75 billion which was recently announced as being the share of the Kingdom of Eswatini from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Recently, it was reported that the countrys SACU receipts had increased by a historic 102 per cent. The money was a major increment from the E5.8 billion received in the previous financial year. Economists viewed the development as an opportunity for the State to fund core social development initiatives, such as tertiary education, drugs in hospitals and to reduce the debt burden. SACU receipts refer to the money that the blocs members share annually from the revenue they generate through the collection of customs duties. The amount due for each member State is determined by a formula approved by a council, mostly formed by ministers of Finance. The SACU receipts form one of the countrys major revenue generators after tax collection.

When announcing the figure, Minister Rijkenberg said it was the highest share that the country had ever received from the regional bloc. Besides the E11.75 billion SACU receipts, the country already has around E12 billion, which has come in the form of tax revenues collected by the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) for the financial year 2022/23.

This is reflected in the ERS Integrated Annual Report, which the minister tabled. The exact tax collection revenue amounted to E12.037 billion against a target of E12.323 billion, which reflects a two-per cent below target performance. The revenue collections to target short fall was E0.285 billion. However, the collections were E1.250 billion above the previous year.

tax revenue increase

The figure contained in the annual report reflects that the 11.6 per cent tax revenue increase was higher than the six per cent nominal gross domestic product (GDP) increase projected by the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and this is characteristic of an improving revenue administration. When adding both the ERS collections and SACU receipts, the two figures add up to E23.8 billion, which when rounded up total to E24 billion. The minister is expected to deliver the budget speech in the House of Assembly tomorrow, with the session starting at 10am. This means that, as was the case last year, the minister could flash the biggest smile for tabling a fully-funded budget. The available revenue without grants, is among the highest since 2019 and it also surpasses some of the total budgets of the past four years (2019  2022).

The budget for 2019 was E21.83 billion, for 2020 it was E24.08 billion, E24.04 billion for 2021 and E23.2 billion for 2022. Last year, the budget stood at E26.44 billion. With the E24.73 billion revenue without grants, this suggests that Rijkenberg could have easily fully financed some of the budgets of the previous years without having to borrow money from the domestic and international financial markets. An economist who was interviewed by this publication concurred that the collections from SACU and those from taxation will help a lot in funding the national budget. We come from an era where Finance ministers would table a budget that was far from being realistic and this ended up causing problems. Presenting a budget when you know where it will come from makes things easier. There is no use in presenting a budget that has huge deficits.

The huge deficits meant the government had to borrow more money to honour its budgetary obligations. Notably, the fiscal deficit had been fluctuating but on the high side since 2019 as it was above 4.0 per cent of the GDP, the economist said. When sought for comment, Minister Rijkenberg played his cards close to his chest. The minister shared that the ERS annual report, which contained the E12.037 billion was for the financial year 2023 and that the current year finishes at the end of March 2024. He said by the time the current financial year ended, ERS would have collected around E13 billion and that they appeared to be on the right track to meet such a target. I will announce from the budget speech the amount of money that they are promising to collect from April 2024 until March 31, 2025 and that number continues to go up, he said.

Regarding the SACU receipts, the minister stated that even though the country received around E11 billion, about E1.5 billion would go to the SACU Stabilisation Fund. The coming year, we are getting E13 billion and again I will announce how much I am putting in the Stabilisation Fund. This should give you a picture of where we are going, but yes the numbers you are working with are on the onside, the minister said.

capital projects

If used properly, the available funds could help government fund its capital projects by increasing the E5.85 billion it gave out last year to more. Some of the capital projects that need funds include the controversial 570 kilometre roads upgrade which government stated last year had to be stalled because of lack of funds. Still on capital projects, government can increase the allocation for the construction of factory shells to twice more than the E171 million that was allocated last year. The budget will also be able to accommodate the changes that have happened in the education and health sector, whereby, new staff has had to be hired following the lifting of the hiring freeze. Still on the education sector, the budget could help increase the budget allocation for scholarships, which stood at E647 million last year. With social protection being a priority for government, the available funds could help in improving the grants that are received by persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Worth noting is that in 2019, the fiscal deficit (money that government had to borrow to fill the shortfall) was E2.98 billion, E2.88 billion in 2020, E4.6 billion for 2021 and E3.8 billion. This meant that the government has borrowed over E14.34 billion to finance budgetary shortfalls in the last four years. In actual fact, when the minister was appointed into office in 2018, the economic situation of the country remained daunting. In his own words, when presenting the budget speech in February 2019, he made it known that the countrys revenues remained under pressure and that, as governments expenditure had ballooned, the public finances remained unsustainable. When giving examples, he shared that arrears had been accumulating and reserves depleted.

In that same year, His Majesty King Mswati III cautioned government against presenting a national budget that was unrealistic. A summary of his preamble that year was that Eswatini was facing an unprecedented economic crisis as preliminary estimates suggested a contraction of 0.4 per cent in the GDP for 2018 and the economic outlook remained subdued. Also, foreign direct investment (FDI) had been on average negative for a number of years. Arrears have accumulated and we continue to draw down on our reserves. The economy has stagnated and we are failing to attract investment as the gap between the rich and poor continues to grow. For too long now, this economic reality has not been addressed - and now is the time to do so. Regional economic weakness, international trade tensions and the lingering impact of the global financial crisis have all contributed to our present crisis, but so too have the structural inefficiencies and deficiencies in our own economic policy and governance, the minister remarked at the time.

A key component of the crisis at the time was a growing wage bill, which in the previous 10 years has grown by 125 per cent. In contrast, volatile SACU receipts had made governments fiscal position untenable, in the medium term SACU receipts were expected to decline due to South Africas worsening economic position. With revenue of over E23 billion already available, experts are of the view that the country could achieve its goal of having a fiscal deficit of 1.5 per cent of the countrys GDP. According to the experts, the positives can be attributed to an increase in collection in the medium term to several proposed revenue measures forming part of the Fiscal Adjustment Plan (FAP), efficiency gains, and favourable economic growth.

policy changes

Also, government has introduced revenue enhancement reforms and policy changes that include the introduction of an automated system by ERS which was expected to have a considerable positive impact on the VAT collection. In the event that government does not rely much on donations or loans for the national budget, it will be a good step in the right direction. The SADC bloc has now again decried that member States and other developing countries often use public debt as a way to gain access to extra funds that are used to induce or maintain economic growth. This, SADC has always argued, led to problems as recurrent budget deficits and borrowing due to insufficient revenue could potentially lead to the accumulation of an unsustainable public debt, especially if a government must use an increasing amount of its revenue to pay interest on loans or service its debt.

These payments will often compete with infrastructure and capital expenditure, and crucial developmental investments will be postponed to service debts. This, in turn, can force a government to borrow more money from external sources as an immediate solution to finance their budget deficit, which if poorly managed exacerbates the problem instead of solving it, and can lead to unmanageable spiraling debts. Another argument that has been made by experts is that in the SADC region, debt has become more expensive to service because interest rates are often very high. Therefore, a large amount of revenue is being channelled towards servicing the debt instead of investing in critical areas of the economy and this leads to poor long-term economic performance.
Bratislava-based Ukrainian artist Mykola Kovalenko on childhood in the Soviet Union, Russian people, war and the Slovak capital.

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Graphic designer from Ukraine MYKOLA KOVALENKO came to Bratislava in 2015, when the situation in his homeland started to get worse. He needed safety, freedom and a peaceful environment to devote himself to the only things that interests him: design and art.

A few years later, investigative journalist Jan Kuciak was killed in Slovakia, the Russians invaded Ukraine, and he was overcome by anxiety and shock. Whether he wanted to or not, he needed to react politically. He mobilised graphic designers all over the world to show solidarity with Slovak journalists. And he himself has been publishing a new poster about the war every day for two years.

You grew up in the Soviet Union. What impact did the communist regime have on your family?

We lived in the Zaporizhzhia Region. Today, this area is occupied by the Russians. I went to a Russian school. Only later did I realise what nonsense it was.

Actually, there were no Ukrainian schools anywhere in the vicinity, they were all Russian. Why? Even then, under communism, the Russians put pressure on us and wanted to conquer us. We didn't even have Ukrainian books. Almost none were published. We didn't know our authors, we only read Pushkin and Dostoyevsky.

Did the Russians only put pressure on Ukraine or on other countries as well?

On Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan. Everywhere they made it clear: We are Russians. In some places they were less successful. In others they were more successful, for example, they were more successful in Belarus, less so in Georgia.

How did their propaganda affect you?

I didn't really notice it as a kid. I didn't think the Russians were the enemy. In retrospect, I see that it was clear.

I think you experienced something similar with the Russian tanks that arrived [in Czechoslovakia] after 1968. The Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia were officially friends, but the appearance of tanks on your territory was nothing but a sign of hostility. That's why I don't understand when I meet someone today in Slovakia who defends the Russians, supports Putin and his dictatorship. Unfortunately, there are enough of these Slovaks.

How is Putin's regime managing to build patriotism in Russians?

They watch a lot of TV where nothing but Putin's greatness is talked about. They listen to the same thing for 20, 30, 50 years. We are Russians, we are the best and we will conquer everyone. America is evil. The West is evil.

I don't know how it works in their heads and I can't even deal with it. To tell the truth, I don't even want to see them anymore.

Italians are proud of fashion, Chinese of electronics, Japanese of cars. What are Russians proud of?

It's enough for them to be proud that they have a big country. And that they have a lot of weapons. That is their strength.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240224/lockstep-us-support-for-israel-eroding-confidence-of-americans-in-own-government-1116958270.html

Lockstep US Support for Israel 'Eroding Confidence' of Americans in Own Government

Lockstep US Support for Israel 'Eroding Confidence' of Americans in Own Government

Sputnik International

Amidst a broader lack of trust in US institutions, the United States government has undermined its own credibility by repeatedly backing Israels dubious claims. Will it prove to be a fatal mistake?

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In the latest development in the saga of Western countries support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the National Intelligence Council of the United States has ascribed low confidence to Israels claim that a small number of the organizations staff members participated in Hamas surprise October 7 attack on Israel. The finding was reported this week in US media.Israels claim that some 0.4% of UNRWAs more than 30,000 employees were involved in the armed operation dominated headlines just days after the UN-backed International Court of Justice (ICJ) instructed Israel to take measures to prevent genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip. The accusation against UNRWA led the United States and more than a dozen Western allies to withdraw financial support for the agency, which is a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees.But it now appears that decision may have been premature, with US intelligence experts publicly casting doubt on Israels incendiary claim. Journalist Dan Lazare joined Sputniks Political Misfits program Friday to discuss the fallout from the development and what it means for Americans trust in their own government.The US will appease Israel because at this point that alliance is stronger than NATO, and I just don't see the US breaking it, said the author and political commentator, adding that the Israeli assertions are difficult to back up.Host Michelle Witte agreed, claiming the United States lockstep subservience to Israel  even in apparent defiance of its own intelligence community  powerfully discredits the US government in the eyes of its own people.It has to have the effect of eroding confidence among the American people in the American government, in the American government speaking truth to its population, said Witte. Because we can see Israel keeps making these accusations, we keep acting on these accusations, and then they keep turning out to not be true.Many of the more outlandish Israeli assertions surrounding Hamas October 7 attack have also been undermined or debunked. Claims that Hamas fighters engaged in mass killing and beheading of Israeli babies were found to be based on unreliable testimony. That didnt stop President Biden himself from falsely insisting he saw photos of the alleged atrocity.Observers have long pointed out that the United States faces a crisis of confidence in its institutions, with approval ratings for everything from courts to Congress at record lows. The phenomenon has generated widespread cynicism, which occasionally even results in political violence. Witte claimed the United States backing of Israel  despite the repeated debunking of its rhetoric  cant help but further damage faith in the US government.The poll suggests opposition to Israel is a mainstream sentiment in the United States, if not a majority position. But lest Americans think they live in a democracy, both major party candidates for the presidency express strong support for the longtime US ally.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/un-food-convoy-in-gaza-comes-under-fire-from-israeli-forces---head-of-unrwa-1116601360.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/extremely-dangerous-texas-border-battle-portends-growing-us-dysfunction-civil-war-1116420922.html

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us institutional crisis, us trust in institutions, us lack of trust in institutions, us backing for israel, us support for israel, us institutions discredited, americans unhappy with government, americans unhappy with system of governance, americans don't like government, collapse of united states, revolution in the united states, when will the united states have a revolution, us government discredited by israel, us embarassed by israel, united states israel lapdog
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240224/us--allies-conduct-strikes-against-18-houthi-targets-in-yemen---pentagon-1116958112.html

US & Allies Conduct Strikes Against 18 Houthi Targets in Yemen - Pentagon

US & Allies Conduct Strikes Against 18 Houthi Targets in Yemen - Pentagon

Sputnik International

The United States and its allies carried out strikes against Yemen's Houthi movement, hitting 18 military targets of the movement, the US Defense Department said on Sunday.

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"Today's necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across 8 locations in Yemen associated with Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter," the department said in a statement. The statement added that the strikes were conducted by the US, the UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand in response to the "Houthis' continued attacks against commercial and naval vessels transiting the Red Sea and surrounding waterways." The Houthi movement, 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.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/at-long-last-uk-media-blasts-wests-support-to-euromaidan-coup--ukraine-conflict-1116974378.html

At Long Last? UK Media Blasts West's Support For Euromaidan Coup & Ukraine Conflict

At Long Last? UK Media Blasts West's Support For Euromaidan Coup & Ukraine Conflict

Sputnik International

Ten years after the Euromaidan coup in Ukraine, a mainstream UK media outlet published an op-ed questioning why the West supported violent mobs against elected president Viktor Yanukovich, stressing that the roots of today's Ukraine conflict lie in the February 2014 regime change operation.

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10th anniversary of euromaidan coup in ukraine

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A leading British newspaper columnist has blamed the Western-sponsored 2014 coup in Kiev for the current military disaster in Ukraine. The Mail on Sunday, an established British daily publication with the third biggest readership in the UK, published an op-ed by veteran columnist Peter Hitchens. He raised uncomfortable questions about the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the chain of events in the February 2014 coup in Ukraine.Hitchens also asked why the West supported undemocratic violence and overthrow of legitimately elected President Viktor Yanukovich.Laying out the events November 2013  February 2014, Hitchens stressed that before Euromaidan Ukraine was "a crude but functioning democracy" which faced both east and west politically. He noted that Yanukovich won the 2010 election fair and square, beating his nearest rival Yulia Timoshenko, and that in February 2014 Yanukovich was "the lawful head of state, with two years to run."He added that what was painted as a peaceful protest at the start was soon hijacked by a violent mob."There is much that is murky about these bitter days, including the mysterious shootings of members of the crowd," Hitchens said of the sniper shooting spree in February 2014. The journalist quoted the leaked  and never denied  phone call between Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and then-EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. The two discussed "stronger and stronger understanding" that "behind the snipers, it was not Yanukovich, but it was somebody from the new coalition."Hitchens pointed out that following the bloodshed, Yanukovich signed an agreement with three senior Euromaidan leaders on February 21, 2014 in the presence of three EU ministers.But by the evening of the same day the deal was torn apart by the Kiev mob  "an unelected body with no constitutional or democratic authority" which "certainly did not represent the eastern part of the country," Hitchens wrote.The Maidan leaders made no effort to defend the duly-elected president against the violent crowd. In fact, the Ukrainian parliament or Verkhovna Rada moved to remove him in violation of the nation's constitution, the British journalist noted.In the aftermath of those events Yanukovich fled Kiev, but did not resign or leave the country, stressed Hitchens, quoting highly-respected Ukrainian historian Serhy Plokhy. That "shows beyond doubt that the elected President was still in office and in Ukraine when parliament voted to remove him."But what struck Hitchens the most was the reaction of the West to the obviously illegitimate coup d'etat.Lord Hagues assertion that "it is wrong to question the legitimacy of the new authorities" in fact "seriously misled Parliament," stressed the journalist.The events of February 2014 irrevocably divided Ukraine and caused "a filthy little war in the east of the country in which (among other tragedies and horrors) many civilians died at the hands of the Ukrainian army," Hitchens continued, adding that the current conflict is only the "second stage" of the Ukraine war which started 10 years ago.While falling short of accusing US and EU of playing a direct role in fomenting the 2014 coup d'etat in Kiev, Hitchens still stressed that "the West blatantly betrayed its own principles to condone and forgive the nasty event." According to the journalist, those who supported the putsch are also responsible for the ongoing havoc.In an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin openly attacked the West's readiness to embrace the illegitimate regime change.Putin made it clear that the Euromaidan events led to the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine that did not accept Yanukovich's overthrow. After exhausting all avenues for ending the internal west-east Ukrainian conflict through the 2014 and 2015 Minsk agreements, Russia launched its special military operation in 2022 to end the Kiev regime's years-long war against Russian-speakers in Donbass, according to the Russian president.Hitchen's piece for the Mail on Sunday indicates that some understanding of Euromaidan and its disastrous consequences has started to manifest itself in the West.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/how-fake-heavenly-hundred-was-used-to-legitimize-bloodbath--coup-detat-in-ukraine-1116827558.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240219/how-euromaidan-triggered-ukraines-nine-year-war-on-donbass-1116864693.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240221/euromaidan-was-part-of-wests-proxy-war-against-russia--cia-veteran-1116894202.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240209/watch-in-full-president-putins-interview-to-tucker-carlson-1116683752.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/belarusian-elections-voter-turnout-reaches-7298---central-election-commission-1116981539.html

Belarusian Elections Voter Turnout Reaches 72.98% - Central Election Commission

Belarusian Elections Voter Turnout Reaches 72.98% - Central Election Commission

Sputnik International

The total voter turnout in the Belarusian parliamentary and local elections on a single voting day reached 72.98% by the time of polling stations closing, Belarusian Central Election Commission Chairman Igor Karpenko said on Sunday.

2024-02-25T21:35+0000

2024-02-25T21:35+0000

2024-02-25T23:58+0000

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"All polling stations have closed and the counting of votes has begun ... According to the turnout as of 8 p.m. [17:00 GMT], the turnout in the republic amounted to 72.98%," Karpenko told a briefing. Belarusians voted on Sunday to elect 12,514 deputies of local councils and 110 members of the parliament's lower house for a period of five years. As many as 263 candidates applied for deputy seats in the lower house and 18,800 for seats in local councils. All four parties registered in the country nominated their candidates. A member of the Russian lower house delegation that observed the elections, Artem Turov, said that Minsk held the elections in full accordance with its national legislation, with no violations potentially influencing the results observed.According to confirmed data, turnout in parliamentary and local elections in Belarus stood at 73.09%, Karpenko said later in the day.All local councils of deputies in the country have been fully formed and all 110 deputies of the lower house of the Belarusian parliament have been elected according to the results of the vote, the CEC said.The turnout for the 2019 parliamentary elections in Belarus was 77.4%, while in 2016 it was 74.7%. In the 2020 presidential election, the turnout was 84.3%.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/inclusive-parliamentary-elections-belarus-welcomes-21-russian-candidates-to-the-ballot-1116956821.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/berlin-caught-backing-islamist-extremist-group-in-russia-thats-banned-inside-germany-1116977388.html

Berlin Caught Backing Islamist Extremist Group in Russia Thats Banned Inside Germany

Berlin Caught Backing Islamist Extremist Group in Russia Thats Banned Inside Germany

Sputnik International

Berlin has been sucked headlong into the NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, contributing more to propping Kiev up with arms and cash than any other country besides the US, and apparently resorting to some unconventional and controversial tactics designed to weaken Russia.

2024-02-25T18:45+0000

2024-02-25T18:45+0000

2024-02-25T19:10+0000

analysis

russia

germany

ukraine

hizb ut-tahrir

ngo

islamists

crimea

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German state-sponsored NGOs, it turns out, are not so secretly supporting Russian members of a radical Islamist group seeking to establish a global caliphate while simultaneously banning the organization from operating inside Germany.Hizb ut-Tahrir* (lit. 'Party of Liberation'), a radical Salafist group recognized as a terrorist organization by a Russian court in 2003 and banned in Germany the same year for promoting violence and hate speech, has been getting sympathetic coverage and expressions of solidarity from taxpayer-funded non-governmental organizations for suspected members and affiliates in Crimea.One such NGO, Ukraine verstehen (lit. Understanding Ukraine) has published an entire series of pieces sympathetic to the extremists on its website, characterizing Crimean Tatars imprisoned for associating with Hizb ut-Tahrir as political prisoners and calling on the international community to immediately increase pressure on Russia to ensure the immediate release of the detainees.A novel argument made by one of the NGO's pieces acknowledges that while HuT is banned in both Germany and Russia, it was not barred from operating in Ukraine before Crimea broke off from Ukraine and rejoined Russia in March of 2014. Because Russian citizenship was imposed on all Ukrainian citizens at the time of the occupation (not true), Russian anti-terrorism laws apparently shouldnt apply to HuT sympathizers in the peninsula.Additional pieces on individuals affiliated with the radical group curiously omitted references to HuT, implying that Russias crackdown on the extremist group's sympathizers was done for no other reason than to subject Crimean Tatars to political repression, and characterizing HuT's supporters as human and civil rights activists.Ukraine verstehen receives funding directly from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, something mentioned on its Who we are page.Another NGO-run project known as European solidarity. Crimea receives money from Germanys Foreign Ministry, and runs a Facebook** page called 'Berlin Info-Point Krim', which has posted dozens of stories protesting the prosecution of HuT extremists. One piece published as recently as March 2023 reported on the tribulations of an illegally convicted HuT political prisoner in a Russian penal colony, with dozens more stories containing the Hizb ut-Tahrir keywords searchable on the platform, and written in German, English and Russian.Rules for Thee But Not for Me?The double standard of Germanys approach to HuT is glaring, particularly amid long-standing and long-unaddressed concerns among many ordinary Germans about the potential radicalization of the nations Muslim community while the government in Berlin appears to focus its resources and attention elsewhere.German media sounded the alarm about HuT-inspired, organized and affiliated demonstrations in cities across the country last November in connection with the crisis in the Middle East, with article after article voicing public fears about radical Islamists' opportunities to recruit young people on the wave of popular anger against Israel's war in Gaza. Investigations into viral social media campaigns known as Generation Islam and Muslim Interactive have turned up suspected links to HuT, and the groups banners have been spotted at some protests.A report put out by the Cologne-based Center for Strategy and Higher Leadership think tank in January found that Germans sense of security has dropped to its lowest level in years, with a majority seeing Islamist extremists groups on a par with right-wing extremists as major threats to safety, and over 80 percent of those polled saying they have little to no confidence in the federal governments migration policy.Along with Russia, Germany is one of a small handful of European countries to have banned HuT outright, with the UK moving to designate the group as a proscribed terrorist organization in January. The group is also banned across the Arab world (apart from Lebanon and the UAE) and in China, Pakistan, Turkiye, Bangladesh and Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.* Recognized as a terrorist organization and banned in Russia.** Metas Facebook and Instagram are banned in Russia for extremism.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220817/russia-dismantles-hizb-ut-tahrir-cell-coordinated-by-ukraine-in-crimea-federal-security-service-1099687306.html

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what is hizb ut-tahrir, does germany's government support hizb ut-tahrir
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/bidens-great-great-grandfather-reportedly-pardoned-by-abraham-lincoln-for-violent-crimes--1116957767.html

Bidens Great-Great-Grandfather Reportedly Pardoned by Abraham Lincoln for Violent Crimes

Bidens Great-Great-Grandfather Reportedly Pardoned by Abraham Lincoln for Violent Crimes

Sputnik International

In an opinion piece published on Saturday, Turley draws comparisons of criminal behavior between the current US president and that of his Civil War forefather.

2024-02-25T01:17+0000

2024-02-25T01:17+0000

2024-02-25T01:17+0000

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According to a recent report, US President Joe Bidens family history of crime can be traced back to the US Civil War. Court-martial records that were discovered at the National Archives in Washington reportedly show the violent crimes of Moses J. Robinettethe US presidents great-great-grandfather. According to the documents, Robinette was charged with attempted murder after a fight with a fellow Union Army civilian employeeJohn J. Alexanderon the night of March 21, 1864.The incident happened in the small corner of the Army of the Potomacs winter camp along the Rappahannock River near Beverly Ford, Virginia. In one of the mess tents at this camp, Alexander heard Robinette speaking ill of him to a female cook, and confronted him. A brawl broke out, and Robinette left Alexander bleeding from multiple cuts after he pulled a knife.Following the brawl, the charges said that Robinette had become intoxicated and incited a dangerous quarrel, while violating good order and military discipline. He was found guilty on all counts with the exception of attempt to kill, and was punished with two years incarceration at hard labor. When he arrived at the Dry Tortugas islands near Key West, Florida where he would be incarcerated.When he arrived, however, three Army officers who were personally acquainted with him had petitioned US President Abraham Lincoln to overturn his conviction. They wrote that his sentence was unduly harsh for defending himself and cutting with a Penknife a Teamster much his superior in strength and Size, all under the impulse of the excitement of the moment.They also asked that Lincoln think of Robinettes motherless Daughters and sons at home!... [Praying for] your interposition on behalf of the unfortunate Fatherand distressed family of loved Children, Union Daughters and Union Sons. Lincoln then pardoned Robinette on September 1, 1864.Robinette was a government contractor who was paid to give veterinary care for Union army horses. At the age of 42, Robinette was described as full of fun, always lively and joking, a description that Jonathan Turley, an American attorney and political commentator, has compared to the current sitting president in an opinion piece published on Saturday.But the comparisons between the current US president and that of his great-great-grandfather appear to extend beyond their similar temperaments. In his opinion piece, Turley notes the weight that this story gives to the quote, No one f**** with a Biden, that the president himself so bluntly stated.In addition, political allies of Biden are also quick to denounce those who wish to investigate the president as traitors or sympathizers of Russian President Vladimir Putin.A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informantAlexander Smirnovwas recently indicted over false claims he had made about the US president.As a result, Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY) made the statement that anyone who looks further into the corruption scandal is a knowing asset of Russian intelligence and is acting as an agent of Vladimir Putin. And former Democratic Senator Clair McCaskill had made a similar viewpoint by demanding that the media stop further fact checks on Biden on any subject, Turley claims, adding that she has called those who criticized the US president and his family as Putin lovers.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240210/elderly-man-with-poor-memory-public-see-biden-losing-his-marbles-after-special-counsel-leak-1116714921.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240223/is-us-journalist-herridge-being-purged-for-digging-into-the-bidens-cases-1116943288.html

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biden, biden family, us civil war, joe biden, us politics, criminal record, joe biden, robert k. hur, joe biden classified docs, us politics, joe biden poor memory, demented biden, old man, biden's too old, bidens too old, presidential election, us elections, us presidential elections, 2024 us elections, 2024 us presidential elections, democrats voting for biden, demented biden, crooked joe, biden's memory, memory loss, dementia, president is criminal, criminal past
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/cia-set-up-12-secret-facilities-in-ukraine-along-russian-border-over-eight-year-period---report-1116977679.html

CIA Set Up 12 Secret Facilities in Ukraine Along Russian Border Over Eight Year Period - Report

CIA Set Up 12 Secret Facilities in Ukraine Along Russian Border Over Eight Year Period - Report

Sputnik International

American intelligence agencies reportedly collaborated closely with their Ukrainian counterparts, providing training to operatives conducting missions in Russia, Europe, Cuba, and other areas with an active Russian presence.

2024-02-25T18:36+0000

2024-02-25T18:36+0000

2024-02-25T18:47+0000

world

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The Central Intelligence Agency created a dozen secret spy bases in Ukraine near the border with Russia over the past eight years, with the Eastern European country becoming one of Washingtons most important tools for intel operations against Moscow. That's according to a New York Times expose published Sunday citing former and current officials from Ukraine, the US and Europe.The intelligence "partnership" "took root a decade ago," and "has transformed Ukraine, whose intelligence agencies were long seen as thoroughly compromised by Russia, into one of Washingtons most important intelligence partners against the Kremlin today," the publication indicated.American intelligence agents reportedly worked closely with Ukrainian personnel, including the chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, before his appointment to his current post. In addition, the CIA trained Ukrainian spies to operate in Russia, Europe, Cuba and other places where Russians are present.According to the report, even after the withdrawal of most American government personnel from Ukraine in February 2022, US intelligence officers remained active in western Ukraine, passing on intelligence information, including where Russia planned to strike and what weapons systems would be used.The NYT said that since 2016, Ukrainians occasionally violated the terms of cooperation which Washington set out for them, "organizing assassinations and other deadly operations" which America supposedly disapproved of. The US threatened to withdraw support, but never did, according to the newspaper.The CIA and other US intel agencies' cooperation with and efforts to take control of their Ukrainian counterparts began almost immediately after the 2014 Euromaidan coup d'etat, with the post-coup government's new spy chief, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, calling the Ukrainian CIA station chief and the local head of MI6, inviting them to tour the SBU Ukrainian spy headquarters and asking for assistance in rebuilding it "from the ground up."Then-US CIA director John Brennan touched down in Kiev shortly after, telling Nalyvaichenko that US assistance would be forthcoming if Ukraine "could provide intelligence of value to the Americans" and purged the SBU of any suspected Russian spies within its ranks.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240221/euromaidan-was-part-of-wests-proxy-war-against-russia--cia-veteran-1116894202.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231025/too-wrong-to-ignore-cia-outsourcing-assassinations-to-kiev-ruffled-us-journos-feathers-1114481636.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240221/ukraines-bloody-maidan-coup-see-how-it-started-1116905208.html

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does cia control ukrainian intelligence, when did cia infiltrate ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/consensus-formed-on-expelling-us-forces-from-iraq-pms-top-security-advisor-says-1116969870.html

Consensus Formed on Expelling US Forces From Iraq, PMs Top Security Advisor Says

Consensus Formed on Expelling US Forces From Iraq, PMs Top Security Advisor Says

Sputnik International

Baghdad began formal talks with the US last month on a phased withdrawal of American forces from Iraq amid repeated violations of the countrys sovereignty by Washington, including through US attacks on government-allied anti-terror militias which have played a key role in operations to smash ISs* self-proclaimed caliphate.

2024-02-25T12:33+0000

2024-02-25T12:33+0000

2024-02-25T13:36+0000

world

middle east

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qasem soleimani

bashar assad

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A consensus has emerged among all of Iraqs major political factions on ending the US-led military coalitions presence in the Middle Eastern country, Qasim al-Araji, Iraqs national security advisor, has announced.Our security forces have developed greatly and gained great experience in dealing with the challenges of terrorism, a-Araji assured, implying that the US "train, advise and assist" mission in Iraq, which replaced its combat mission in late 2021, is no longer needed.Iraqs National Security Council, which al-Araji heads, is a powerful body in charge of coordinating the countrys national security, intelligence and foreign policy strategy, and reports directly to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.US bases in Iraq and its illegal outposts in Syria came under intense rocket, missile and drone attack by militias beginning in mid-October 2023 in response to Washingtons unwavering support for Israel amid its war in Gaza.The US has responded to the attacks by striking senior militias closely affiliated with Iraqs security forces, with a January 4th strike killing Mushtaq Talib al-Saidi, the leader of the Popular Mobilization Forces affiliated Harakat-al-Nujaba militia, prompting Iraqi officials to demand talks on the end of the US presence in the country. Iraqs Foreign Ministry called the al-Saidi strike as an unprovoked attack on an Iraqi security body operating in accordance with the powers granted to it by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and called the aggression a dangerous escalation to which Baghdad reserves the right to respond.Washington further angered its Iraqi counterparts by lying to media about providing Baghdad with advance warning ahead of its ongoing strikes, with State Department spokesman John Kirby admitting in early February that the US had actually only informed the Iraqis immediately after the strikes occurred.Last months aggression isnt the first time the US military has acted unilaterally inside Iraq without informing its Iraqi "partners." In January 2020, the US assassinated Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis alongside Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in an unprovoked drone strike at Baghdad International Airport. That incident prompted Iraqs parliament to issue a resolution demanding that all US forces be expelled from the country immediately, but Washington resisted, instead reclassifying its presence in the country as a "train, advise and assist" mission.In neighboring Syria, which has also faced US strikes targeting anti-terror fighters, the Foreign Ministry said it was not surprised in the slightest to see American forces strikes targets in the countrys east, where our forces are fighting against the remnants of the ISIS* terrorist organization, while the United States is working to revive ISIS terrorist activity.US forces maintain control over the northeastern portion of Syria, sitting on top of its most energy and food-rich areas, and robbing the war-torn country of the resources it needs to complete reconstruction in the aftermath of a decade-long CIA-fueled dirty war aimed at overthrowing the Assad government.* IS, also known as ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh, is a terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-lied-about-warning-iraq-in-advance-of-strikes---state-department-admits-1116608727.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240203/strikes-against-anti-isis-militias-in-syria-and-iraq-prove-us-war-on-terror-is-a-sham-1116574680.html

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why are us troops still in iraq, can iraq force us troops out, why can't iraqi government kick us troops out of iraq
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/cosmic-murder-mystery-solved-neutron-star-discovered-in-supernova-fallout-1116962728.html

Cosmic 'Murder Mystery' Solved: Neutron Star Discovered in Supernova Fallout

Cosmic 'Murder Mystery' Solved: Neutron Star Discovered in Supernova Fallout

Sputnik International

Stars die as they exhaust the fuel required for driving the nuclear reactions that enable their illumination. However, astronomers suggest that a huge stellar mass causes the gravitational force to destroy the atoms, forming either a neutron star or, for larger stars, a black hole.

2024-02-25T13:58+0000

2024-02-25T13:58+0000

2024-02-25T13:58+0000

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james webb space telescope (jwst)

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In February 1987, astronomers observed the death of a massive star as it blew up in a galaxy nearby - marking the first stellar explosion visible to the naked-eye in 400 years, according to BBC Sky.Spectacularly, the blue supergiant met its end in what a study team dubbed a supernova, designated as SN 1987A.New findings show that it was a neutron star - so dense that a mere teaspoon would weigh as much as 10 million tons. The research team "solved a murder mystery," Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, BBC Sky at Night presenter, said.According to theory, stars die due to depleted fuel for nuclear reactions that power their brilliance. The immense stellar mass' gravitational pull compresses atoms, giving rise to the heaviest material in the cosmos, a neutron star. If the star is larger, however, it collapses to form a black hole. Which of these occurred in 1987?Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the study team monitored the blue giant's death in the sky, aiming to validate theories about how stars meet their end. However, one critical detail remains unknown: what remained at its core following the cataclysmic event?In a recent article in the journal Science, researchers assert that they possess compelling evidence that it is a neutron star. This discovery holds significance for astronomers because supernovae scatter vital heavy elements essential for life across the universe.Professor Claes Fransson of Stockholm University in Sweden, who headed the study, noted that this signifies the first opportunity for scientists to explore the center of the supernova and the subsequent phenomena generated by it.New data illustrates a remarkable cooling process on the neutron star's surface, transitioning from an initial temperature of 100 billion to roughly one million degrees. This insight enables the team to study the early lifecycle of a neutron star and compare it with older counterparts to discern patterns of cosmic evolution over time.According to Prof. Mike Barlow of UCL, despite numerous indirect suggestions, JWST has now provided initial conclusive proof confirming it as a neutron star.Examining JWST data, a team of 34 scientists from 12 countries discovered light emissions from argon and sulfur atoms, suggesting the existence of powerful radiation emanating from a neutron star within the supernova.Dr. Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society states that although there is no direct image of the neutron star, it would be challenging to attribute the readings to anything else.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/rare-lopsided-supernova-blast-kicked-dead-star-across-galaxy-1110797175.html

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MBABANE  Following a resolution that academic and non-academic staff of University of Eswatini (UNESWA) will boycott classes and march to Parliament to tomorrow, Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo has quickly stepped in to intervene.

Yesterday, the minister spent about three hours locked in a meeting with representatives of the Association of Lecturers and Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) and the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI). The meeting, which started just after 9am and was attended by around 20 members, took place at the ministrys boardroom and lasted until the afternoon. The minister has intervened by reaching an agreement with the two associations that a task team will be appointed to conduct an assessment of the challenges faced by the countrys supreme institution of higher learning. However, it remains unclear if the staff members will return for duty tomorrow, a day in which students are expected to sit their examination.

In our sister publication the Eswatini News yesterday, it was reported that following that the payment of their salaries was delayed for four days and eventually paid on Friday, the employees had resolved against taking part of the institutions biggest activity next week-the examination. Instead, they agreed in unison that they would go to Parliament with the aim to deliver a petition that would detail the crisis that has engulfed the institution and has continued for more than three years. Worth noting is that Parliament has a big agenda scheduled for tomorrow and it includes the presentation of the budget speech by the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg. In a letter issued by ALAAP Secretary General Dr Mduduzi Shongwe directed to the Registrar, Dr Salebona Simelane, the association informed the management that it had taken some resolutions at an extra-ordinary meeting held on Friday at the Commerce Lecture Theatre, Kwaluseni Campus.

According to the statement, the ALAAP members resolved that the executive committee should communicate to the institutions management that they were not ready to participate in teaching and learning activities, including invigilating examination and thus would need a week from the day of payment of salaries. The members said they needed the week as they would be seeking treatment and remedies for the psychological and financial stress they had endured during the time of the delayed payment of salaries. Another resolution taken by the members was that tomorrow, they would march to Parliament to raise awareness of the plight of the institution.

7-day ultimatum

Thirdly, the members resolved that the current management of the institution be given seven calendar days to remit all monies owed to all financial institutions, which were deducted from source but never remitted. The monies, according to the statement, include remittances for medical aid. In the event the management failed, the association said the members would not continue with teaching. In the same letter, reference was made to two joint correspondences dated June 5, 2023 and March 30, 2023, which were written by the association together with NAWUSHI to the university council on a vote of no confidence on the entire management. The current management is given seven calendar days to resign en masse, failing which, ALAAP members will not continue with teaching and learning activities under the current management, reads part of the letter.

Furthermore, the members also took a resolution that tomorrow they would go to the Ministry of Education and Training and the Prime Ministers Offices to petition government to place the institution under the administration of the aforementioned ministry immediately until a new management was in place. After the meeting yesterday, Minister Nxumalo then addressed the media to share feedback on what had transpired. He first explained that the ministry had been made aware that not all was right at the institution. Nxumalo recounted that in his capacity as the substantive minister for the education sector, he had reported the issue at Cabinet level. I requested for guidance from Cabinet on this issue because I want to find a way of finding a solution. We have seen that due to frustration, the staff members had planned to go to Parliament to relay their pain. That is why I took the decision to have this meeting so that we can engage, the minister said.

He mentioned that while he could not delve much on what exactly was discussed, an agreement was reached that an assessment be conducted, something he said had already been recommended by Cabinet. The task team will go to the university and get to understand why there are challenges. We are hoping that the team will make proper recommendations on how the institution can be assisted. We must remember that civil servants must never face the frustration of not being paid their salaries, but right now there is a misconception that government is not releasing the money, said Nxumalo.

Elaborating, the minister clarified that the assessment was not necessarily a forensic audit but a fact-finding exercise. We just want to know what happens to the money that government releases to the institution. We will then come back and find a way forward. His Majesty has encouraged that we must avoid the pickets and petitions but sit down and engage, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the ALAAP members was top lawyer Sifiso Nhlabatsi, who first thanked the minister for taking his time to hold the meeting with them. Nhlabatsi said they believed that the assessment will bring preliminary findings that will allow for all parties involved to find solutions. At this stage as an association we have decided to explore all available avenues to get our voices heard regarding the challenges we face. The issue here is that it destroys our self-esteem and integrity when as lecturers we are made to stand in front of students who know that we have not been paid. We cannot be taken serious when almost every month there are headlines reporting that lecturers have not been paid, Nhlabatsi said.

Regarding the resolution to deliver a petition in Parliament, Nhlabatsi said they informed the minister that it was taken by members during an extra-ordinary meeting. We told the minister that we cannot reverse it in such a platform, but we have heard his appeal to us to halt the visit to Parliament. We hear him and we are hopeful that we will engage with members and get direction on what should happen. Nevertheless we are grateful for the spirit the minister has shown, especially since it is a Saturday and he should be focusing on other commitments, said Nhlabatsi. Also speaking to the media after the meeting was Sikelela Ngwenya, the President of NAWUSHI.

Ngwenya also commended the minister for taking his time to meet them, saying it showed that he was committed to seeing the current issues resolved. Ngwenya said as a union, they had tried to meet the ministrys principal secretary (PS) to request that there be engagements but they discovered that they needed to do more. The president said it was not just issues of UNESWA that they wanted addressed by other institutions as well. The state of our tertiary institutions is bad and a solution has to be found otherwise the countrys education sector is going to be a mess. We want universities that will operate without strikes, delayed salaries or non-provision of working tools, he said. Ngwenya made a commitment that, as a union, they were ready to provide any information that would be needed by the task team.

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR EXAMs

The Registrar of UNESWA Dr Salebona Simelane has given assurance that it is all systems go for the start of the examination at the institution. Simelane said when it came to the examination; the administration was responsible which meant that a boycott by lecturers would not stop the examination from taking place. This is despite that the staff members of the institution resolved that they needed a week to recover from the psychological stress they had endured when their salaries were not forthcoming. When called later yesterday, ALAAP Secretary General Dr Mduduzi Shongwe said the association would engage members tomorrow morning to tale a decision on what will happen next.






https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/german-frigate-joins-eu-naval-mission-to-secure-red-sea-routes-1116964118.html

German Frigate Joins EU Naval Mission to Secure Red Sea Routes

German Frigate Joins EU Naval Mission to Secure Red Sea Routes

Sputnik International

The German frigate Hessen has joined the European Union's naval mission to secure sea routes in the Red Sea amid increased attacks on cargo ships by the Houthis, the German Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

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europe

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On February 8, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius unveiled Berlin's plans to send Hessen with a crew of 240 soldiers for participation in the EU mission in the Red Sea. "The frigate Hessen has arrived in the Red Sea. Its mission [to ensure] safe sea lanes begins," the ministry said on X (formerly Twitter). Apart from 240 servicepeople, the frigate carries a team of two Sea Lynx helicopters, as well as a medical team, marines and a chaplain. The frigate is expected to remain in the Red Sea until the end of April, the ministry said in another statement on its official website, adding that in the second half of the year, Berlin would send the Hamburg frigate in the region. The Houthi movement, 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. On February 12, the European Union published a decision to launch Operation Aspides to secure navigation in the Red Sea amid ongoing attacks on civilian vessels by the Houthis. The mission was officially launched at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers on February 19. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc's mission would not participate in actions against the Houthis, but would only ensure the safety of navigation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240219/eu-approves-naval-mission-to-protect-navigation-in-red-sea---italian-foreign-minister-1116879005.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/houthis-launch-missile-attack-on-us-ship-torm-thor---reports-1116959091.html

Houthis Launch Missile Attack on US Ship Torm Thor - Reports

Houthis Launch Missile Attack on US Ship Torm Thor - Reports

Sputnik International

Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, commonly known as the Houthis, fired several missiles at the US ship Torm Thor in the Gulf of Aden, the movement said on Saturday.

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"The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a military operation - hitting the American ship Torm Thor in the Gulf of Aden with several anti-ship missiles," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria wrote on the X social network (formerly Twitter).The Houthis also carried out a drone attack on a number of US military vessels in the Red Sea, Saria highlighted.Additionally, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO) of the British Navy reported an attack on a ship in the Gulf of Aden 70 nautical miles east of the port of Djibouti. The UKMTO did not disclose any further details.The Houthi movement, 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/20240224/us--allies-conduct-strikes-against-18-houthi-targets-in-yemen---pentagon-1116958112.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/inclusive-parliamentary-elections-belarus-welcomes-21-russian-candidates-to-the-ballot-1116956821.html

Inclusive Parliamentary Elections: Belarus Welcomes 21 Russian Candidates to Ballot

Inclusive Parliamentary Elections: Belarus Welcomes 21 Russian Candidates to Ballot

Sputnik International

A new feature of this year's elections is that citizens of Russia permanently residing in Belarus have the right to participate in the elections to local Councils of Deputies.

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Belarus is gearing up for parliamentary elections on February 25, 2024, with 21 Russian candidates  15 of them running for seats in local councils, Belarusian Central Election Commission Chairman Igor Karpenko told Sputnik. Additionally, 298 candidates have been nominated for the House of Representatives, of whom 265 are registered. Furthermore, 18,996 candidates are nominated for local councils.According to Karpenko, about 95,000 Russians residing in Belarus are registered on the electoral rolls and have the right to elect local council members. The country boasts a voter registration of 6.9 million individuals.The elections will take place during a single voting day on February 25, with polling stations open from 8 am to 8 pm local time. The option of voting from home is also available. Karpenko said that polling stations are fully prepared for the elections. An observation center has been established in Minsk, with a total of 45,505 national observers and 246 international observers registered.However, Belarus opted not to invite an observation mission from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) due to concerns over standards and the perceived dominance of Western influence. Despite this, the election process is set to undergo extensive observation to ensure transparency and legitimacy.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/israeli-ops-in-gaza-in-total-chaos-thanks-to-privatization-of-logistics-fmr-idf-general-says-1116973928.html

Israeli Ops in Gaza in Total Chaos Thanks to Privatization of Logistics, Fmr IDF General Says

Israeli Ops in Gaza in Total Chaos Thanks to Privatization of Logistics, Fmr IDF General Says

Sputnik International

Tel Aviv began a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip on October 27, three weeks after Hamas launched its Operation Al-Aqsa Flood surprise raids into southern Israel.

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The Israeli militarys operations in Gaza are in a state of total chaos thanks to the outsourcing of its logistics and repair services to private contractors, retired IDF Major General Itzhak Brik has warned.There is a total mess thats not being talked about in the media, Brik, a veteran of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the 1982 Lebanon War known for his outspoken criticism of the modern IDFs organization and culture, told Israels Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv on Saturday.Offering an example, Brik mentioned that under the current system, there are no capabilities in place in the army which could immediately repair damaged or broken down tanks and send them back to the front, with dozens remaining stuck until they are towed out.Of course, the media doesnt talk about it, but these things dont work, the former general said, referring to Israels strict wartime censorship laws, which enable the state to restrict coverage of sensitive and uncomplimentary topics relating to the Gaza conflict.Brik said he had met with Benjamin Netanyahu a total of six times since the start of the crisis last October to discuss the IDFs problems. I told him that the army is not ready to immediately go to war, because there are soldiers who have not trained for five years and theres a shortage of equipment.According to the former commander, it was his personal intervention that pushed the IDF to postpone its invasion of Gaza for two weeks.Since retiring from his post as MoD Soldiers Complaints Commissioner six years ago, Brik has become an outspoken critic of the IDFs poor state of readiness, suggesting in 2018 that if a war breaks out today, the Yom Kippur War will look like a birthday trip. In 2020, he expressed concerns about the IDFs loss of its fighting spirt, saying troopers were poorly trained and lacking in motivation and readiness for self-sacrifice. In early 2023, he warned that the army wasnt ready for the threat of missile and drone attacks on its bases, and suffered serious logistics problems thanks to the privatization of army services. The lack of transparency in recruitment of senior officers, a messy organizational structure of the army, and the lack of accountability among commanders were other major problems, he said.The war in Gaza has become the deadliest conflict involving Israel since the 1982 Lebanon War, with the IDF confirming the deaths of some 578 troops since October 7, 239 of them since the start of the Israeli offensive into the besieged Palestinian enclave. Israel has faced heavy casualties in tanks and other armored vehicles amid its assault, with one report based on an analysis of satellite images suggesting that some 88 armored vehicles among 383 sent into northwest Gaza had been reported missing, for a total possible casualty rate of nearly 25 percent, as of mid-November 2023. Hamass al-Qassam Brigades claim theyve eliminated thousands of Israeli soldiers and destroyed over 1,100 military vehicles, including nearly 1,000 Merkava tanks, or some 45 percent of Israels formidable tank forces.A disproportionately large number of civilians have been killed in the conflict, with some 814 Israeli civilians and upwards of 29,600 Palestinian residents of Gaza perishing in the crisis to date amid Israels punishing air strikes and ground operation, with over 7,000 more unaccounted for and presumed dead, and over 85 percent of Gazas population internally displaced.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/netanyahu-demands-occupation-full-control-of-gaza-after-israeli-military-operation-1116960094.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240224/lockstep-us-support-for-israel-eroding-confidence-of-americans-in-own-government-1116958270.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/key-incidents-involving-nato-warships--aircraft-near-russias-borders-1116963378.html

Key Incidents Involving NATO Warships & Aircraft Near Russia's Borders

Key Incidents Involving NATO Warships & Aircraft Near Russia's Borders

Sputnik International

A timeline of provocative incidents involving NATO warships and aircraft near Russia's borders over the past few years.

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2024-02-25T11:39+0000

2024-02-25T11:39+0000

military

russia

black sea

nato

sebastien lecornu

military exercise

drills

hms defender

su-27

drones

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101861/46/1018614691_0:131:3001:1819_1920x0_80_0_0_c8ab5c15ed2e9ec1d2d1a84b2714c358.jpg

Russia has dismissed accusations recently levelled by Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu of having threatened French planes in the Black Sea. Alexey Chepa, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, underscored that Russia has never behaved aggressively, and invariably acts within international rules and flight assignments.Sebastien Lecornu appeared on French radio RTL, claiming that, "A month ago, a Russian air traffic control system threatened to shoot down French aircraft in the Black Sea, even though we were in the internationally free zone in which we patrol." In another incident dredged up by Lecornu, a Russian warship purportedly anchored in Baie de Seine, off northern France, at the edge of the country's territorial waters in a bid to "intimidate" France. He also accused Moscow of allegedly adopting an increasingly aggressive stance" and "playing with the thresholds."It should be noted that amid the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, there has been a surge in incidents when US and NATO warships have entered the waters of the Black Sea. In 2021, NATO sent over 30 warships to the area, breaking its own record that had held since 2014. There has also been an increase in incidents involving NATO aircraft flying near Russia's maritime borders, from the Barents and Baltic seas in the north and west, to the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in Russia's Far East. From the opening days of Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine, the Black Sea has been a focal point of the NATO-led proxy war against Russia.The fresh allegations by the French minister prompted Sputnik to take a look at provocative incidents involving NATO warships and aircraft near Russia's borders over the past few years. In November 2020, a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet was scrambled when a US Boeing RC-135 surveillance plane approached Russia's maritime border. Overall in 2020, the Radio-Technical Troops of the Russian Aerospace Forces recorded 40% more foreign reconnaissance aircraft near Russia's borders than the year before. On October 30, 2021, US Navy destroyer the USS Porter entered the Black Sea on a "routine patrol" after participating in NATO exercises in the Aegean Sea. At the time, Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the missions by alliance ships in the Baltic and Black seas, commenting that, "Even now, a US warship has entered the Black Sea, and we can see it in binoculars or crosshairs of our defense systems." On December 13, 2021, the Auvergne (D654), an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy, entered Black Sea. The multipurpose warship with missile and artillery armament possesses advanced sonar equipment and specializes in anti-submarine warfare. On 23 June, 2021, the HMS Defender, a Daring-class Royal Navy destroyer, illegally entered Russian waters off Crimea and proceeded to sail through, prompting Russian warships and aircraft to surround the ship and fire warning shots in its vicinity to force it to leave. Britains Defense Ministry initially denied that the incident even took place, putting out a flurry of conflicting accounts. Moscow denounced the incident as a deliberate provocation. In June 2021, the Russian Air Force scrambled fighter jets in order to prevent a violation of the country's borders by Dutch frigate the HNLMS Evertsen. The frigate "changed course in international waters and started moving towards the Kerch Strait. To prevent a violation of Russia's territorial waters Sukhoi-30 fighters and Sukhoi-24 bombers were scrambled to fly near the Dutch naval ship at a safe distance," the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that the frigate promptly turned away from the Russian border and continued along the original course. In August 2022, a Russian MiG-31BM jet was scrambled to chase off a UK Royal Air Force electronic surveillance aircraft that had violated Russian airspace in the Barents Sea. The foreign plane was identified as a Boeing RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft. "The aerial target violated the state border of the Russian Federation in the area of Cape Svyatoy Nos. The actions of the crew of the MiG-31BM forced the reconnaissance aircraft out of Russian territory," the Russian military said in a statement. In March 2023, an Su-30 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a US MQ-9A Reaper drone approaching Russian waters in the Black Sea. "In order to identify the air target and prevent the violation of the state border of the Russian Federation, a Su-30 fighter jet of the air defense forces was taken into the air. The crew of the Russian fighter identified the aerial target as a reconnaissance UAV MQ-9A Reaper of the US Air Force," the Russian Defense Ministry's National Defense Control Center (NDCC) said in a statement. On October 4, 2023, two NATO strategic reconnaissance aircraft violated Russias air border over the Barents Sea: a Boeing RC-135 of the US Air Force and a Boeing P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft of the Norwegian Air Force. In March 2023, the Sea Shield 2023 maneuvers took place led by Romanias Navy. The multinational sea and air military drills in the Black Sea region brought together some 3,400 military personnel from 12 NATO member countries and some partner nations. In July 2023, NATO kicked off the multinational naval exercise Poseidon in Romanias port of Constanta. The mine countermeasures exercise brought together more than 750 troops from nine NATO member countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In September 2023, naval forces of Romania and the US held the Sea Breeze 23.3 joint exercises in the Black Sea and the Danube Delta. The stated main objectives were to "enhance interoperability" with a focus on mine countermeasures. In February 2024, the Western alliance kicked off the active phase of its Steadfast Defender military exercises - the largest since 1988. The massive drills, more than four months long, are set to last until the end of May. They will involve some 90,000 troops from all 31 NATO countries plus Sweden (which is set to join the alliance later this year ), and will take place across the trans-Atlantic area, and constitute the largest NATO exercises since the end of the Cold War.Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko expressed concerns in connection with the Steadfast Defender military drills, stating that the scale of these exercises marks NATO's return to Cold War-era confrontational strategies against Russia. The drills are taking place across the Transatlantic area, from the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans to the Nordics, the Baltics, Poland, Hungary and Romania, to Germany, Greece, Slovakia and the UK."An exercise of this scale marks the final and irrevocable return of NATO to the Cold War schemes," Grushko told Sputnik.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210623/shots-fired-bbc-journo-reveals-what-happened-when-british-destroyer-violated-russian-border-1083224529.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/netanyahu-demands-occupation-full-control-of-gaza-after-israeli-military-operation-1116960094.html

Netanyahu Demands Occupation, Full Control of Gaza After Israeli Military Operation

Netanyahu Demands Occupation, Full Control of Gaza After Israeli Military Operation

Sputnik International

Palestinian leaders have rejected the controversial prime ministers maximalist proposal, deeming it colonialist and racist.

2024-02-25T04:19+0000

2024-02-25T04:19+0000

2024-02-25T04:19+0000

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https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/08/05/1112412121_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_253fc4d7d85f08e7309f907777eca16f.jpg

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled his plan for an Israeli-endorsed resettlement of Gaza Friday, demanding an indefinite military occupation of the territory by the Israel Defense Forces.The maximalist proposal, which also calls for a local government chosen by Israel and an uninhabited buffer zone around the enclave, was immediately denounced by Palestinian leaders, with representatives of the Palestinian Authority calling it colonialist and racist.Netanyahus proposed plans aim to perpetuate Israels occupation of Palestinian territories and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, said Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, who added the proposal was destined to fail.Meanwhile, the plan is likely to also face criticism from the Biden administration. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated opposition to any attempt to reduce the size of the Palestinian territory, as the proposed buffer zone plan would effectively do. Netanyahu has faced rhetorical opposition from the Biden White House in recent weeks even as the US president continues to send the country millions of dollars in military aid.The plans proposal to seal off Gazas southern border runs counter to Egypts stated rejection of Israeli control of the crossing. Additionally, attempts to secure funding for reconstruction from the United Arab Emirates are unlikely without a roadmap to a Palestinian state, something that Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected.The United States has paid lip service to the prospect of a so-called two-state solution for decades, declaring support for an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. However, the US has failed to prevent Israeli settlement-building in the occupied West Bank, which observers say makes the possibility of a Palestinian state in the territory unfeasible.Israel has historically been the US top recipient of foreign aid, having only recently and temporarily been overtaken by Ukraine amidst the countrys US-backed proxy war against Russia. The United States has sent billions of dollars to the country even while maintaining the pretense that it rejects its treatment of the occupied Palestinian population.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231213/russias-top-diplomat-lavrov-west-not-eager-to-establish-palestinian-state-1115552477.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/how-much-aid-does-us-give-to-israel-1114314071.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/prison-overcrowding-forces-uk-to-extend-early-release-scheme-1116964659.html

Prison Overcrowding Forces UK to Extend Early Release Scheme

Prison Overcrowding Forces UK to Extend Early Release Scheme

Sputnik International

The UK authorities have indefinitely extended an early release scheme for prisoners because of a lack of space in prisons, the Sky News broadcaster reported on Sunday, citing a guidance to prisons.

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The measure could allow more people convicted for domestic abuse and related crimes, among others, to be released from prison early, the report said. Those prisoners who were convicted for more serious offenses and sentenced to more than four-year imprisonment are not eligible for an early release, according to the new guidance. The measure's activation "for an undefined period" does not provide for its introduction on a permanent basis, the broadcaster reported. However, the authorities have not named the date of the scheme's termination, it added. In October 2023, President of the Prison Governors' Association Andrea Albutt said that the UK was on the brink of running out of spare prison places as the number of prisoners neared a critical point. At the time, prisons reportedly held 70% more inmates than originally planned. Media reported that the UK planned to build new correctional facilities by the end of the decade, creating prisons with 20,000 cells to solve the problem. According to projections by the UK Justice Ministry, the number of prisoners in the country will rise from 93,000 to 106,000 by March 2027.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220904/uk-police-brace-for-surge-in-crime--civil-unrest-amid-soaring-energy-bills-cost-of-living-crisis-1100352140.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/time-magazine-admits-the-obvious-acknowledges-ukraine-cant-win-1116959768.html

Time Magazine Admits the Obvious, Acknowledges Ukraine Cant Win

Time Magazine Admits the Obvious, Acknowledges Ukraine Cant Win

Sputnik International

While the Biden administration puts on a brave face, another major US media outlet has recognized the reality of Kievs quixotic endeavor.

2024-02-25T03:00+0000

2024-02-25T03:00+0000

2024-02-25T03:37+0000

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The situation in Ukraine still favors [Kiev], began a lengthy article in Time magazine last August. Ukrainian progress will very likely alternate periods of notable tactical advances with periods, possibly long periods, of pause and some setbacks But the Ukrainian counteroffensive can succeed in any of several ways.Eight months and several billion dollars in US aid later, the magazines prediction has proved to be incorrect  a fact that was acknowledged on Saturday in an editorial by the Quincy Institutes Anatol Lieven.Lieven notes that Washingtons rhetoric has shifted accordingly. The Biden Administrations strategy is now to sustain Ukrainian defense until after the U.S. presidential elections, in the hope of wearing down Russian forces in a long war of attrition.But, as is often the case in matters of US foreign policy, the author argues Biden has merely substituted one fiction for another. While prognostications of Ukrainian victory in the near-term have been abandoned, theyve been replaced by hopes the Kiev regime will achieve their long-awaited breakthrough in 2025, or perhaps the year after that.Such predictions ignore the blood and lives Moscow has sacrificed to liberate the Donbass from years of violence at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists. Russia will never agree at the negotiating table to surrender land that it has managed to hold on the battlefield, Lieven argues. The Luhansk and Donetsk Peoples Republics are here to stay.But beyond prospects of a frozen conflict or fantasies of Kievs triumph, there is a third possible outcome in Ukraine. Moscow does not have to continue to patiently endure terrorist attacks against civilian targets. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not required to indefinitely tolerate Kievs provocations and the Western hostility that fuels them.Russia could push still further west and evict Ukraines puppet leader from the Mariinskyi Palace just as extremist mobs removed Yanukovych some ten years ago. To do so would be trivial. The Russian Armed Forces are better trained, better equipped, and better disciplined than fascist thugs who report to Victoria Nuland.Increasingly such action may prove tempting not only to Putin, but to others as well. Republicans in Washington already plan to campaign against President Biden amidst scenes of chaos at the US southern border. What would underscore the narrative of a hapless and helpless leader better than chaos at home and the spectacular collapse of an ally abroad?Some would deem it poetic justice given Ukraines destruction was first set in motion by Bidens Democratic Party predecessor just a decade ago.The final chapter of the Donbass conflict remains to be written. But when even Lindsey Graham sees the writing on the wall, one may safely assume the outcome is all but ensured.The lost Ukrainian territories are lost, observes Lieven before offering one last piece of advice to those who truly cry for Ukraine.However painful a peace agreement would be today, it will be infinitely more so if the war continues and Ukraine is defeated.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240217/did-nazi-that-coming-ukraine-adopts-tactic-used-by-german-nazis-in-wwii-1116850863.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240215/ukrainian-missile-attack-on-russias-belgorod-damages-shopping-mall-1116797161.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240219/how-euromaidan-triggered-ukraines-nine-year-war-on-donbass-1116864693.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/top-5-myths-about-euromaidan-busted-1116963118.html

Top 5 Myths About Euromaidan Busted

Top 5 Myths About Euromaidan Busted

Sputnik International

This week marked the 10th anniversary of the culmination of the Euromaidan 'Revolution of Dignity' - the US-backed color revolution which saw the ouster of Ukraine's government and the rise of a pro-Western regime looking to drag the nation into the EU and NATO. An entire mythology has been built around Euromaidan. Sputnik debunks its top 5 myths.

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2024-02-25T09:59+0000

2024-02-25T12:29+0000

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10th anniversary of euromaidan coup in ukraine

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/19/1116962953_1:0:1279:719_1920x0_80_0_0_001257979d9e88edae8145fdb9d25b16.jpg

An entire mythology has been built around Euromaidan. Sputnik debunks the top 5 myths."Ten years of dignity. Ten years of pride. Ten years of striving for freedom." That was how European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen characterized the start of the Euromaidan protests last November. The past three months have seen a wealth of glowing tributes from Ukrainian and Western officials and media about the events of November-February 2014, when Ukraine's fate was turned upside down and the events leading to the current Ukrainian crisis were set into motion.For ordinary Ukrainians, there has been little to celebrate. Corruption remains rampant, the country's economy is almost entirely dependent on Western economic assistance, millions have fled fighting and insecurity to Russia and Europe, tens of millions have been plunged into poverty worse even than the depression of the 1990s, hundreds of thousands of men have been mobilized, maimed or killed fighting a NATO-backed proxy war against Russia.For sober-minded Ukrainians, and others who don't subscribe to the official Euromaidan narrative, the grand myths erected around the color revolution and coup which took place ten years ago ring hollow. Check out Sputnik's video to see why.

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5 Euromaidan myths busted Sputnik International 5 Euromaidan myths busted 2024-02-25T09:59+0000 true PT7M09S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/tory-ex-deputy-chair-suspended-over-claim-london-run-by-mayors-islamist-mates-1116969174.html

Tory Ex-Deputy Chair Suspended Over Claim London Run by Mayor's Islamist 'Mates'

Tory Ex-Deputy Chair Suspended Over Claim London Run by Mayor's Islamist 'Mates'

Sputnik International

Lee Anderson's accusations against the Mayor of London were not the first time he has courted controversy. He had already faced a backlash over his remarks on bringing back capital punishment and illegal immigrants.

2024-02-25T15:56+0000

2024-02-25T15:56+0000

2024-02-25T16:46+0000

world

sadiq khan

rishi sunak

united kingdom (uk)

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The UKs ruling Conservative party has suspended its former deputy chairman over his claim that London Mayor Sadiq Khan is influenced by Islamists.The partys chief whip, Simon Hart, announced the decision in response to Ashfield MP Lee Anderson's 'unapologetic' behavior following his remarks on Friday.Lee Anderson's suspension means that, unless reversed, he is barred from voting in Parliament or standing as a Tory candidate in the next general election scheduled later this year.Khan, the son of a Pakistani immigrant, is running for re-election as London's Mayor on May 2 amidst heightened political discord in Britain over the Israeli's latest offensive in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.A recent Parliamentary debate on Gaza descended into disarray, after House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle  elected as an MP for the main opposition Labour Party  broke established procedure to select a Labour amendment over one from the governing Conservatives to a motion from the Scottish national Party (SNP) calling for a ceasefire. At least 68 MPs signed a letter of no-confidence in the Speaker after he contradicted his own excuses for the move in an attempt to deny yielding to pressure from his party.Labour will also go into the by-election in its usually-safe seat of Rochdale on Thursday with no official horse in the race, after withdrawing support from it selected Azhar Ali after it emerged he accused Israel of allowing turning a blind eye to Palestinian party Hamas' preparations for its armed outbreak from Gaza on October 7.A former coal miner and member of the National Union of Miners, Anderson joined Labour and was elected to the council in his native Ashfield. But he defected to the Tories over what he alleged was a takeover of the opposition by the "hard-left" and was elected Conservative MP for the town in the 2019 general election.Anderson's appointment as Tory deputy chairman a year ago was seen as an appeal to the blue-collar and traditional conservative vote that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could not connect with.The MP has courted controversy before, publicly calling for the return of the death penalty and telling trafficked asylum-seekers to go back to their native countries in four-letter terms. In January, he stepped down as one of the partys deputy chairmen to vote in favour of amendments intended to strengthen the government's new immigration legislation.Khan condemned Anderson's comments as "fueling anti-Muslim prejudice."The mayor also slammed the PM and the cabinet, accusing them of endorsing Anderson's "racism" by their silence.Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has distance himself Andersons comments while not criticising them directly, maintaining that MPs have the freedom to express their views.Labour shadow cabinet member Jonathan Ashworth wrote to Sunak urging him to remove the whip from Anderson for his vile Islamophobia and dangerous conspiracy theories."Sunak has a clear choice: show some backbone and withdraw the whip or be forever known as too weak to take them on, Ashworth said.Pakistani-born Business Minister Nus Ghani, who claimed in 2022 that she had been sacked in a 2020 reshuffle over her "Muslimess", labelled Anderson's claims foolish and dangerous. Former chancellor Sajid Javid, also a son of Pakistani immigrants, called Anderson's comments ridiculous. The Muslim Council of Britain welcomed the MP's suspension but cautioned that "his comments did not occur in a vacuum and is only the tip of an iceberg.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230613/report-british-pm-sunak-would-bar-boris-johnson-from-conservative-party-1111098110.html

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lee anderson tory party suspension, islamists remarks controversy, lee anderson mp comments, conservative party disciplinary action, lee anderson islamists statement.
Bahrain's Labour Fund Tamkeen has announced employment and wage increment support for more than 80 national employees at Al Kindi Hospital, as well as its facilitation of the hospitals growth over the next two years through its Business Growth Program.

In line with its partnership with private sector institutions to advance healthcare, one of the largest contributors to national economic growth, Tamkeens support for Al Kindi Hospital fosters the expansion of private sector enterprises, as well as provides more qualitative job opportunities for Bahraini talent in this promising sector, said the kingdom's labour fund.

Facilitating the creation of quality job opportunities for Bahrainis in this high potential sector, Tamkeen is assisting with the career prospects of the hospitals staff through both the National Employment Program (NEP) and the Wage Increment Programmes.

Launched in November, these programmes will support 50,000 Bahrainis by increasing their wages, boosting the recruitment channels available to them, and providing expanded career development programmes and job market-oriented training, it stated.

Tamkeen covers 100% of wage increments for Bahraini employees over a 24-month period and also provides specialized training for Bahrainis ready to assume leadership positions, said the statement.

The labour fund pointed out that its business growth programme was designed to assist established enterprises with expanding their operations, introducing new services, increasing productivity, and ensuring sustainability.

Tamkeens support for Al Kindi Hospital includes a range of improvements, such as recently launched Intensive Care Unit and ambulance services, and enhanced critical care and surgery facilities.

Additionally, the hospital will renovate its radiology unit by adding state-of-the-art fluoroscopy systems, and upgrading its diagnostic precision and overall technological capabilities, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
MBABANE  Michael Lee is happy for emaSwati.

In an interview with the Times SUNDAY, Lee thanked His Majesty the King for granting his company, Michael Lee Enterprises a licence to undertake a full-scale Green Chert mining at Malolotja, which has a guarantee of 3 500 jobs. The licence has been granted, Im happy the King has signed, Lee said. He said it was through the Kings wisdom and vision for the country that his company got the licence. Lee mentioned that the signing of the licence by the King was a win-win situation, as emaSwati are now guaranteed decent jobs. Despite that the company was all along having a prospecting licence, the businessman said workers were entitled to medical aid and funeral cover. He said the lowest paid employee got E3 200. This we did despite that we had a prospecting licence, he said.

interested

He assured the King and Her Majesty Indlovukazi, together with emaSwati that the granting of the licence by the head of State to signal serious work has influenced C. Steinweg Bridge to take interest in relocating to the country to invest and create jobs as well. Lee disclosed that C. Steinweg Bridge was interested in sugar, iron ore and timber. He said there was also another company that was interested in the manufacturing of socks and pharmateutical products. He said Michael Lee Enterprises was not in the country to manipulate or monopolise natural resources, but to ensure emaSwati benefitted from the mineral. To show determination and commitment to local investment, he said his company spent E7 million on creating a road leading to the mine site. He said they also spent money on mining trucks, with each costing E6 million.

He said they had seven of those trucks. Lee mentioned that the investment was going to cost over E100 million. I want to thank the King for his warm welcome and words of encouragement during his visit to the mine site on Wednesday, he said. Lee is currently the Chairman of the Africa Chamber of Commerce for Taiwan and has also been nominated for the position of chairperson for the World Chamber of Commerce for Taiwan. So far, he stands for the election unopposed. The elections will be held in October 2024.

project

His company once got the licence but could not undertake the project because of environmental issues at Malolotja as the Eswatini National Trust Commission was opposed to mining in that area. He has been trying to do mining at Malolotja since 1997. Commissioner of Mines Robert Biyela had not responded to our questionnaire by 8pm last night. During his visit to the mine on Wednesday, the King also talked about the coming 3 500 jobs. It has been established that the companys directors had dinner with the King, Her Majesty Indlovukazi and other people at Piggs Peak Hotel on the same night. The company currently employs over 100 workers.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/trump-wins-republican-primary-in-south-carolina-beating-haley-in-her-home-state-1116960897.html

Trump Wins Republican Primary in South Carolina, Beating Haley in Her Home State

Trump Wins Republican Primary in South Carolina, Beating Haley in Her Home State

Sputnik International

Former US President Donald Trump is projected to win the Republican primary in South Carolina, beating his rival, Nikki Haley, in her home state where she previously served as a governor.

2024-02-25T05:16+0000

2024-02-25T05:16+0000

2024-02-25T05:18+0000

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"This was a little sooner than we anticipated, and an even bigger win than we anticipated," Trump said on Saturday shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. Eastern Time ."I was just informed that we got double the number of votes that has ever been received in the great state of South Carolina." NBC News showed Trump leading Haley 58% to 41.5% with 28% of votes counted soon after polls closed Saturday evening.Prior to Saturday's Republican primary election, polls were already predicting Trump would secure a victory in South Carolina. The loss is a significant blow to Haleys campaign considering it is her home state where she served as governor from 2011 to 2017. Haley said in earlier remarks that she would not suspend her campaign even if she lost in South Carolina. She will now concentrate on campaigning for Super Tuesday on March 5, when voters in 15 US states head to the polls to vote in their state primaries. Haley Admits Loss in South CarolinaRepublican candidate Nikki Haley said on Saturday that despite losing the South Carolina primary, she will continue to run for president of the United States.Earlier in the day, CNN reported after counting 50% of the votes that former US President Donald Trump received 59.7% in the South Carolina Republican primary, with Haley securing 39.7% of the votes."...40% is not some tiny group," Haley spoke to her supporters on the election evening following her loss to Trump. "There are huge numbers of voters in our republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative  I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president. Im a woman of my word."We are heading to Michigan tomorrow and we are heading to the Super Tuesday states throughout the next week, Haley added.Trump has already secured wins in the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and the US Virgin Islands. Super Tuesday will be key to securing a substantial number of delegates for the Republican presidential nomination. 'A Very High Turnout'According to a poll worker in South Carolina, Saturday's primary attracted one of the highest turnout of voters in the state. We had around 600 people showing up today. Thats a lot and 30% of them were registered voters. Its a good turnout despite it being a Saturday as we usually have them Tuesdays, a poll worker in Charleston told Sputnik. Some voters may be disappointed by the results of the primary as a few expressed opposition to Trump. I mean, I'd rather have a piece of gum off the sidewalk in charge, Kaley told Sputnik regarding Trump. However, Trump has many supporters in South Carolina despite large cities in the state, such as Charleston, being known to lean toward Democrats. I want Trump to win, and I hope we will decimate the Democrats, Joe told Sputnik at a polling site. Republicans have broadly criticized Haley for continuing her campaign and not joining Trumps team. Republicans believe they should unite to defeat Biden.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/almost-60-of-us-voters-believe-biden-in-mental-decline-ahead-of-2024-election---poll-1116610504.html

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trump wins south carolina, trump wins south carolina primaries, nikki haley loses her home state
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/un-agency-for-palestine-refugees-calls-suspension-of-funding-by-some-nations-insane-1116980050.html

UNRWA Slams Calls for Suspension of Funding by Some Nations as 'Insane'

UNRWA Slams Calls for Suspension of Funding by Some Nations as 'Insane'

Sputnik International

The UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) considers the recent suspension of its funding by a number of nations to be "insane," as it put the department in a very difficult financial situation, UNRWA spokeswoman Tamara Alrifai said on Sunday.

2024-02-25T21:07+0000

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"For an organisation with the scope of UNRWA, this is insane ... It's insane that we've survived so long without a financial safety net," Alrifai told UK newspaper The Observer. The agency has been forced to ask for additional money from countries that have not yet suspended their funding, the spokeswoman said, adding that one of UNRWA's main tasks was raising money to pay for the work of its employees. The UN agency is concerned that such a severe funding crisis will affect its ability to feed people, operate shelters and provide health services, the spokeswoman explained. UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in the Gaza Strip, with over 2 million people depending on it for their survival. In January, Israel shared data with the agency's leadership on the alleged involvement of some of its staff members in the October 7 Hamas attack and vowed to hold anyone involved in the said "acts of terror" accountable. The United States, Finland, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and some other countries responded by suspending funding for the agency. In early February, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed an independent review panel led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine UNRWA's activities. 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 29,606 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240128/as-palestinians-in-gaza-face-mass-famine-us--allies-cut-funding-to-un-aid-agency-1116442762.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/unveiling-nestars-celestial-matryoshka-dolls-prompt-fresh-look-at-cosmos-1116976274.html

Unveiling 'Nestars': Celestial Matryoshka Dolls Prompt Fresh Look at Cosmos

Unveiling 'Nestars': Celestial Matryoshka Dolls Prompt Fresh Look at Cosmos

Sputnik International

A new theory, rooted in Einstein's concept of general relativity, suggests "nestars" resembling Russian nesting dolls, challenging traditional concepts of celestial bodies and encouraging exploration of gravitational phenomena.

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2024-02-25T18:56+0000

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A new solution to Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity suggests hypothetical gravitational stars or nestars. The theorized bodies look like black holes could be made from stacked stars  gravastars, like Russian tea dolls, according to a recent study published in the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity.Einstein formulated the theory of general relativity in 1915, which has since proven remarkably accurate in predicting cosmic phenomena. According to the theory, gravity arises from the bending of spacetime by mass. It has predicted the existence of black holes and gravitational waves, confirmed through observation.While theoretically derived from general relativity, concepts such as white holes and wormholes have yet to be observed. The uncertainty surrounding whether these predictions will prove accurate leaves Einstein's legacy open to further exploration.In 2001, the theoretical concept of "gravastars" was developed from general relativity. Gravastars are dense celestial bodies with dark energy cores. Dark energy, responsible for accelerating the universe's expansion, counteracts the stars' inward gravitational pull, preventing their collapse.A recent solution to contradictions general relativity proposes a fascinating aspect of gravastars: they could be stacked within each other in a configuration dubbed "nestars."During the First World War, physicist Karl Schwarzschild devised the first solution to Einstein's field equations, outlining the concept of black holes. He introduced the Schwarzschild radius, marking the boundary where escape velocity exceeds light speed. That defines the event horizon, beyond which light cannot escape, making the 'black hole' black. Schwarzschild's solution also proposed a central singularity within black holes, where conventional physics breaks down. The confirmation of black holes' existence in 1971, the later identification of Sagittarius A* as a supermassive black hole and capturing the first image of a black hole's silhouette in 2019 validated Einstein's theory. In 2001, Pawel Mazur and Emil Mottola proposed gravastars as black hole alternatives, suggesting they possess similar density but lack the event horizon or singularities. Gravastars might have a core of dark energy instead. The newer concept of nestars challenges this, proposing that the properties of stacked gravastars might differ slightly. However, the theoretical possibilities permitted by general relativity do not guarantee their real-world existence.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/black-holes-particle-accelerator-propels-earths-high-speed-cosmic-rays-1116510505.html

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general relativity theory, nestars, gravastars, black holes, celestial bodies, schwarzschild radius, event horizon, dark energy, cosmic phenomena, theoretical physicists, astrophysics, celestial evolution, gravity, universe, space-time dynamics.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/us-allies-conduct-strikes-against-18-houthi-targets-in-yemen--1116961200.html

US, Allies Conduct Strikes Against 18 Houthi Targets in Yemen

US, Allies Conduct Strikes Against 18 Houthi Targets in Yemen

Sputnik International

The United States and its allies, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, have carried out strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels, hitting 18 military targets of the movement, the US Defense Department said on Sunday.

2024-02-25T07:10+0000

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"Today's necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across 8 locations in Yemen associated with Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter," the department said in a statement. The statement added that the strikes were conducted by the US, the UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand in response to the "Houthis' continued attacks against commercial and naval vessels transiting the Red Sea and surrounding waterways." The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday that it had received information about an attack on a ship in the Gulf of Aden."UKMTO has received a report of an incident 70 NM [nautical miles] east of the port of Djibouti. The Master reports an explosion in close proximity to the vessel, no damage is reported to the vessel and there are no injuries to the crew," the agency said on X.The Houthi movement, 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/20240223/czech-republic-to-contribute-to-eu-mission-in-red-sea-with-2-soldiers---army-1116930644.html

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red sea crisis, houthi attacks on ships in red sea, us and allies launch strikes at houthis in red sea
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/watch-russian-shootin-and-scootin-giantsint-s-gun-strike-ukrainian-dugout-1116964468.html

Watch Russian Shootin-and-Scootin Giantsint-S Gun Target Ukrainian Dugout

Watch Russian Shootin-and-Scootin Giantsint-S Gun Target Ukrainian Dugout

Sputnik International

NATO defense officials informed Western media last fall that Russia is producing up to 7 times more ammunition than the US and Europe combined, with the Western bloc at risk of running out of weaponry and cash to continue fueling the proxy war against Moscow in Ukraine.

2024-02-25T14:15+0000

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Russias Defense Ministry has published footage of a 2S5 Giantsint-S self-propelled gun speedily maneuvering around the battlefield and firing at Ukrainian positions in Kharkov regions Kupyansk area.The footage shows the heavy 152 mm self-propelled gun traveling through a field, stopping, communicating by radio with command to determine its fire coordinates, preparing shells for fire and launching strikes.The Giantsint-S in the video is operated by artillerymen from the Western Group of Forces 1st Guards Tank Army, with its fire directed at uncovered military facilities, positions, fortifications, armored vehicles and manpower of the Ukrainian Army. The guns crew receives assistance with guidance and fire adjustment from unmanned aerial vehicles hovering near enemy positions.The MoD says the gun destroyed a Ukrainian camouflaged dugout and killed an unspecified number of enemy troops.Maneuverability can be critical for artillery forces operating in frontline areas, with the enemy able to quickly triangulate their location, meaning after firing, howitzers, guns and rocket artillery systems must quickly evacuate the area before being struck in an enemy retaliation. This strategy of firing and leaving the area is known in US military jargon as shoot-and-scoot.The Giantsint-S uses a modified 2K11 Krug SAM system tracked chassis, which can lug its 152 mm 2A37 L54-caliber gun distances up to 500 km at speeds between 25 km per hour in rough terrain to 62 km per hour on the highway. The system has a 5-man crew, and a firing range of between 28-40 km, depending on the type of round used (rocket-assisted rounds fly further).

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/europe-scrambles-to-mobilize-fractured-arms-industry-to-meet-ukraines-voracious-demands-1116961313.html

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2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled gun destroys camouflaged dugout and enemy manpower near Kupyansk Sputnik International 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled gun destroys camouflaged dugout and enemy manpower near Kupyansk 2024-02-25T14:15+0000 true PT0M27S

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what kinds of self-propelled guns does russia operate, what kinds of self-propelled guns is russia using in ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/wests-sanctions-on-russian-diamonds-may-severely-harm-trade--inflate-prices-1116971743.html

West's Sanctions on Russian Diamonds May 'Severely Harm Trade' & 'Inflate Prices'

West's Sanctions on Russian Diamonds May 'Severely Harm Trade' & 'Inflate Prices'

Sputnik International

Industry leaders warn of devastating fallout from West's sanctions on Russian diamonds.

2024-02-25T14:29+0000

2024-02-25T14:29+0000

2024-02-25T14:29+0000

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Leading global diamond producers have sounded the alarm over expanded sanctions against Russian diamonds by the G7.Gemstone cutters say the move is fraught with devastating consequences for the industry. There are concerns the restrictions will harm small and medium businesses in the US, trigger diamond shortages, and inflate prices for the gems.Russia holds first place among the world's rough diamond producers, accounting for roughly one third of the worlds supply and mining close to 42 million carats in 2022. Botswana in southern Africa is in second-place, with 75 percent of rough stones extracted going to the international diamond conglomerate De Beers.The European Union (EU) followed suit, declaring that as of 1 September 2024, the ban will be expanded to include lab-grown diamonds, jewellery, and watches incorporating diamonds with a weight of 0.5 carat and above.Martin Rapaport, chairman of the Rapaport Group, founder of the Rapaport Diamond Report and the RapNet online diamond trading network, has emphatically warned that incoming new restrictions may severely harm the US diamond and jewellery trade. He urged others in the industry sharing his concerns to sign the Rapaport US Diamond Protocol (USDP).Diamond giant De Beers, now a subsidiary of Anglo American, and Botswana's state-owned Okavango Diamond Company have also been unnerved by looming sanctions on Russias diamonds, urging the G7 to consider the unintended consequences."Effectively (African producers) would be forced to send all their diamonds in one direction rather than choosing... (and) ethical African diamonds would become much more expensive," De Beers CEO Al Cook said on the sidelines of the African Mining Indaba in Cape Town earlier in February. He stressed that sanctions should be tailored so they do not create "terrible side effects."Questions have been raised over where and how a diamond's country of origin can be determined. Belgium has pitched its port of Antwerp as a site for checking imports. An estimated 84 percent of the world's rough diamonds and 50 percent of cut diamonds pass through Antwerp, dubbed the diamond capital of the world.Representatives of the Surat diamond industry in Gujarat, India, which heavily depends on imports of uncut gems from Russia, have also warned of dire fallout from the sanctions on Russia diamonds."This will give a major blow to the Surat diamond industry as nearly one third of the diamonds that are polished in Surat are from Russia, said Dinesh Navadiya, regional chairman of Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).Overall, India is home to 90 percent of the world's diamond cutting and polishing industry.It is not yet clear what tracing systems the expanded sanctions against Russia's diamonds will require, as its outlines remain vague. But industry experts agree it is likely to be very costly and fraught with logistical nightmares.Western countries attempts to crack down on Russian diamond exports may lead to supply-chain disruption, harming the industry as a whole, Dmitry Birichevsky, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's economic cooperation department, told Sputnik last year. He added that attempts to prevent Russian diamond exports are non-market oriented.The Russian Finance Ministry said attempts by Western countries in recent years to label Russian diamonds as "bloody" were nothing but "political demagogy," adding that diamond sales have financed the development of social infrastructure in the country.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231222/biden-orders-import-restrictions-on-russian-diamonds-seafood--white-house-1115751341.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230327/western-attempts-to-hinder-russian-diamond-exports-contradict-industry-interests-moscow-1108822867.html

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Taurasi extended his win streak to six in the $36,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park, capping off a Saturday night training triple for Canada's leading conditioner Richard Moreau.

Soaring Now was the top pick in the field to put an end to Taurasi's streak and the 4-5 favourite blasted off the gate from post six to take immediate control for driver James MacDonald. Parked from post four, Doug McNair pressed on with Taurasi into the first turn, edging ahead at the :27.4 quarter pole then clearing down the backstretch. Taurasi continued uncontested on the lead to the half in :56.1 and the field remained in single-file alignment until midway around the final turn when Poseidon Seelster and Tyler Moore launched a first-over attack from third as they raced to three-quarters in 1:24. However, Taurasi rebuffed that rival through the stretch and prevailed in 1:50.4 by three-quarters of a length over Soaring Now, who got racing room late to gain ground along the pylons. Poseidon Seelster finished 2-3/4 lengths back in third.

After finishing third by less than a length in his debut from the Moreau stable last December, Taurasi has been perfect since, winning six in a row against Preferred company. Owned by Brad Grant and Alagna Racing, the five-year-old Racing Hill-Voluminous gelding is four-for-four and the leading money winner in Canada so far this year with $72,000 banked in purses. He now boasts 16 career victories from 35 starts with total earnings amounting to $473,321.

Sent off at even-money, Taurasi paid $4.20 to win and $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering.

McNair, a four-time winner on the 11-race card, also drove Hungry Man ($2.40) to a 1:52 triumph for Moreau and Grant. Seriously Hanover ($2.60) was another popular winner from the Moreau stable, scoring his second straight in 1:51.3 with MacDonald aboard.

Moreau's win count is now up to 60 in 2024, with a 20-win lead in the national trainer standings.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
Local law enforcement haven't given up on cold cases.

Sgt. Marc Langlois of the Longview Police Department said many of the department's cold cases are considered inactive because no new leads or evidence has been produced that would "keep the cases moving forward."

But an inactive case does not mean they're closed, he added. If new information does come in, an inactive case will become active again.

As for cold cases being handled by the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office, Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill said the term "cold case" is a misleading term, as unresolved cases at the sheriff's office remain active.

Brightbill said a detective combs through old reports, catches up with contacts, and checks if new technology has arrived that could be applied to hold evidence.

Sometimes DNA technology has caught up, and we can try it (on) new things," he said.

There are a lot of lessons looking (at) a cold case, he said, adding they are good practice."

Detectives are assigned unsolved cases and typically do a five-year rotation, and then they're handed off to another detective.

The digitization of records has been a big assist, Brightbill said, but added that law enforcement officers are often limited at what was done at the time.

Chila Silvernails

Chila Silvernails, 8, was declared missing when she didn't reach school on April 20, 1982. Her unclothed body was discovered the following day near Shirley Gordon Road in Kalama. According to The Daily News archives, she reportedly succumbed to stab wounds and asphyxia.

In 1999, Kondro was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and strangling 8-year-old Rima Traxler in 1985 and 12-year-old Kara Rudd in 1996. He died in prison due to liver failure in 2012, at the age of 52.

Brightbill said the sheriff's office recently ran "a bunch of evidence" from the Silvernails case through "new processes."

Alex Laursen

In the early morning of Aug. 6, 1984, 4-year-old Alex Laursen was asleep beside his sibling when he was stabbed.

According to a 1992 TDN article, Laursen suffered a stab wound to the heart; at about 3:30 a.m. His grandmother heard screaming.

Law enforcement was dispatched to the family home following a reported burglary in progress. At the time, the children were under the care of their maternal grandmother, following a parental custody dispute involving Laursen's parents earlier in 1984.

Due to no new leads, the cause is currency inactive, Langlois said.

Kyra Cook

A local case of amnesia was featured on a May 25, 1987, episode of the classic TV series "Unsolved Mysteries."

Kyra Cook of Longview woke up disoriented and in pain on a patch of grass in a park. Suffering from head pain, she approached a man sitting in a car and asked for a ride.

The stranger agreed and headed toward the Hall of Justice in Kelso. Still, he didn't identify himself to Cook, dropping her off a half-block from the Hall of Justice. A deputy would later take her to the hospital for a medical evaluation.

Cook could not recall her name or age, and doctors found a lump at the back of her head.

After sharing her story in The Daily News, her family recognized her and reconnected, while the reason for her memory loss remains a mystery.

Sun Cha Keerins

Sun Cha Keerins, 39, was strangled in her Baltimore Street apartment on June 11, 1989.

Police considered four individuals on a Korean ship "persons of interest," but due to insufficient evidence they couldnt be arrested and later left the country after the vessel departed port.

In a 1992 TDN article, a detective with the Longview Police Department told the paper the foursome saw Keerinss dead body but didnt report it.

The Keerins case is inactive and has not been reactivated because no new evidence has been found.

Sherri Presswood

Sherri Presswood, 26 and seven months pregnant, went missing with her two children Heather Wixon, 4, and Jeffrey Wixon, 2, in August 1992.

Their disappearance was reported to Longview police by Presswood's sister. On Sept. 9 and 10 that same year, the nude and decomposed bodies of Presswood and her children were discovered south of Rainier by a man from Portland, according to a TDN article.

The Daily News reported in 2003 that two people were identified as persons of interest, but with insufficient evidence, no charges were filed.

Langlois said the investigation has no new leads with which to move forward.

Lyle Walthrop

On May 8, 1998, Lyle Walthrop, a 71-year-old man dealing with memory issues, went missing from his Longview home without anyone noticing.

According to a 1998 report, about 70 volunteers and 10 dogs were used in the initial search for Walthrop.

His silver Mustang was found six days later on a remote logging road in Ryderwood. His family believed his memory issues may have played a part in affecting his sense of direction.

Currently, the Walthrop case is inactive due to lack of new leads, Langlois said.

Frank Zrinky

Frank Zrinky, 57, was found lying on the ground of his trailer at Fisher Island RV Park located on Willow Grove Road, lifeless after being beaten to death, according to a 1998 Daily News report.

The man who found Zrinkys body stabbed a man, believing he committed the murder, a TDN articles says. Investigators thought the motive behind the incident may have been a robbery, as belongings of Zrinsky were discovered in West Kelso.

The Longview Police Department has no new leads on the Zrinky case, Langlois said.

Guadalupe Castro Arias

Guadalupe Castro Arias was 23 years old and nine months pregnant when she was last seen on Nov. 26, 2001, with her 3-year-old child. They had driven from Longview to a Vancouver mall with her estranged husband, Gregario Arias Ibal, but didn't return.

The vehicle they used that day was found at a relative's home in Kerman, California, and Castro Arias's father, Rafael Castro, wondered in 2013 TDN article, if his daughter's husband played a part in her disappearance.

Longview Police Capt. Branden McNew said there has been progress in the case, as Castro Arias' daughter was found alive in Mexico.

Unfortunately, Langlois said, there are no new tips at this time regarding the whereabouts of Castro Arias.

Lorie Haley

Lorie Haley, 54, went missing in June 2007, and according to a 2014 TDN article, law enforcement suspects foul play.

According to a 2011 TDN article, Haley lived in the Kalama River Road area and was known to have frequented hotels in Kelso, Longview and Woodland.

Langlois said Haley's last hotel stay was in Woodland. She was known to use narcotics, and all communications and financial transactions ceased after her disappearance.

Haley's 1999 Ford Windstar was found in July 2007, disabled in the Moses Lake area, he added.

David Alan Clark, 54, is a person of interest by law enforcement following statements he made about killing a woman and trying to discard her body, Langlois said.

Dogs were used to track down Haley at locations identified as possible sites where her remains could be. Langlois said the dogs found the scent of human remains, but no body was found.

Patricia Barry

Longview police are looking for Gregory Stark in connection with the death of Patricia Vallentin Barry, 55, as they believe he might have information into the circumstances of her death.

A neighbor found Barry dead in her motorhome at the Columbia Trailer Park, having died four days prior, according to a 2007 TDN article.

Stark was seen at the Oregon Way Tavern with the victim's dog, trying to give it away, the article says.

According to Langlois, Stark made a "soft admission" that led investigators to believe he might know more about the circumstances surrounding Barry's death. He also said Stark left the area in a van that was later found in a ferry parking lot on Bainbridge Island.

Both the Haley and Barry cases are currently inactive, but police is still activity seeking new information in find answers.
AI generated propaganda matches effectiveness of genuine content, study finds; AI boom raises alarming concerns over big tech's surging water consumption; Ludhiana industry gains insights on AI advancements at LMA session; AI technology aids US and allies in monitoring China's Taiwan invasion intentions- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

1. AI generated propaganda matches effectiveness of genuine content, study finds

A study involving 8,000 US adults reveals that AI-generated propaganda is nearly as convincing as original propaganda. Stanford and Georgetown University researchers fed sentences from suspected state-aligned covert propaganda into GPT-3, demonstrating the model's ability to create persuasive articles. The findings raise concerns about increased propaganda volume, making detection challenging. Participants, informed of the propaganda sources, were presented both actual and AI-generated articles in December 2021, The Economic Times reported.

2. AI boom raises alarming concerns over big tech's surging water consumption

Big Tech giants, including Microsoft, Google, and Meta, are significantly increasing water consumption to cool data centers amid the artificial intelligence boom. Concerns arise over the environmental impact, with academics estimating AI-driven water withdrawal to reach 4.2-6.6 billion cubic meters by 2027. Researchers stress the urgent need to uncover and address AI models' hidden water footprint, given freshwater scarcity, prolonged droughts, and aging water infrastructure, Financial Times reported.

3. Ludhiana industry gains insights on AI advancements at LMA session

Ludhiana Management Association (LMA) hosts a session on AI implementation, featuring Accenture's Pranav Arora and BCG's Rashik Gupta. The event, attended by 200+ members, focuses on AI's role in Ludhiana's textile, bicycle, and ancillary industries. Emphasizing AI's transformative potential, it encourages businesses to adopt intelligent technologies for enhanced efficiency and competitiveness. The gathering facilitates networking, fostering collaborative innovation for mutual growth in the region. LMA sees AI as a pivotal force in Ludhiana's collective advancement.

4. AI technology aids US and allies in monitoring China's taiwan invasion intentions

As tensions rise over China's increased pressure on Taiwan, U.S. officials explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to discern invasion intentions. AI and machine learning (ML) could enhance war planning, intelligence assessments, and targeting for the U.S. and its allies. Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery emphasizes that AI and ML can rapidly process vast surveillance data, providing decision-making advantages and preventing misinterpretation of hostile forces' intentions, avoiding unnecessary armed confrontations, according to a Fox News report.

5. White House engages public in debate over open vs. closed AI systems

The Biden administration seeks public input on the debate over "open" versus "closed" artificial intelligence systems. As part of a broader executive order, the White House explores the risks and benefits of making AI components publicly accessible. Tech companies, including Meta Platforms and IBM, differ on openness, with concerns about security risks and the potential for innovation. The Commerce Department invites a 30-day comment period for recommendations on managing benefits and risks, according to an ABC News report.
Google has announced a significant change for its users in the United States - the discontinuation of the standalone Google Pay app. In a recent blog post, the tech giant revealed that the app will no longer be available after June 4, 2024. Instead, users are encouraged to migrate to Google Wallet, which will become the primary platform for managing digital payments and transactions.

The decision to sunset the Google Pay app comes with implications for users accustomed to its features. Once the app is removed, functionalities such as peer-to-peer payments, offer discovery, and balance management will no longer be accessible. However, Google Pay will continue to operate in other markets, including India and Singapore, albeit in different capacities, reported GSMArena.

Despite its widespread usage across 180 countries, Google is refocusing its efforts on the desktop version of Google Pay for ChromeOS, macOS, and Windows PC. On mobile devices, Google Pay will be integrated into the Google Wallet ecosystem, which offers dedicated apps for both Android and iOS platforms. This strategic realignment aims to streamline Google's payment services and enhance user experience across different platforms.

Google Wallet, the flagship service, serves as a secure repository for various credentials, including payment cards, transit passes, and identification documents like state IDs and driver's licenses. Notably, Google Wallet boasts five times more usage than the Google Pay app in the United States, indicating its importance in the company's payment ecosystem.

For users with remaining balances in their Google Pay accounts, Google recommends transferring funds to their bank accounts before the June 4 deadline. Additionally, finding deals and offers, previously available through the Google Pay app, will now be seamlessly integrated into Google Search, with a dedicated Deals section catering to users in the US.

While the discontinuation of the Google Pay app may initially disrupt routines for some users, the transition to Google Wallet promises enhanced security and convenience for managing digital transactions. As Google continues to evolve its payment ecosystem, users can expect a seamless and integrated experience across its various platforms and services.

Also read other top stories today:

Smartphones and kids don't mix well! It was inevitable that access to such power and convenience would exact a price. Increasingly, it appears the most unanticipated and unacceptable has been our children's mental health. Check out the details here.

Human-like robots! Big technology names are investing in a business that's developing human-like robots. This is part of a scramble to find new applications for artificial intelligence. Read all about it here. If you enjoyed reading this article, please forward it to your friends and family.



Reddit brews controversy! AI will become an important part of Reddit's business. It is looking to tap into a revenue stream that could be both lucrative and controversial. Some interesting details in this article. Check it out here. If you enjoyed reading this article, please forward it to your friends and family.

Exciting fare on the cards! Spaceman, and Iwaju are some of the new TV, movies, music and games headed to a device near you. Check out what all is on offer here.
MBABANE  After being kept in suspense for about four months, after their former colleagues received their gratuity, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube have finally been paid.

The Times SUNDAY can reveal that the former MPs have received their ex-gratia lump sum payment. It has been established that government has already processed the payments for Mabuza and Dube, who represented Hosea and Ngwempisi constituencies in the 11th Parliament. Meanwhile, the former MPs had been left in dilemma as it was unclear whether they would eventually be paid their gratuity. However, after extensive consultations, Parliament resolved to process their payment. Despite the former legislators conviction, they were still legally entitled to receiving their gratuity as there is no law in place that deprives them of that right. This is because they are yet to be sentenced. The sentencing will come after the expiry of their term of office. The gratuity was paid to all former MPs who did not return to Parliament in November 2023. Conspicuously, Mabuza and Dube were left out.

convicted

The two former legislators were convicted under Suppression of Terrorism Act, stemming from the political unrest of June 2021. They have been in jail since then and were convicted in June 2023, ahead of the dissolution of the 11th Parliament in July 2023. According to Finance Circular No. 2 of 2013, the ex-gratia payment is a grant that is payable to former parliamentarians, to assist with the costs of adjusting to non-parliamentary life. The circular states that the only reason for a former politician to forfeit the ex-gratia is if they were removed from office due to misconduct or incompetence. According to the circular, the former politicians are paid a lump sum equivalent to their annual salary. The former legislators are eligible for the benefits because they were never removed or dismissed from the august House.

Sources close to the legislators who commented on condition of anonymity, confirmed that indeed they had been finally paid their gratuity. I can confirm that they have received their gratuity this month. However to get a clear confirmation on the matter, you need to direct your questions to the Clerk to Parliament, he said. Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba, who is also the controlling officer for Parliament, said he was not in a position to divulge whether the former legislators were paid their gratuity or not as that was a private matter and could pose a security risk to the former MPs and their families.

remuneration

Xaba said he resorted not to confirm parliamentarians remuneration as he had previously been flooded with questions from members of the public who lined up in Parliament to enquire if legislators had been paid their salaries of gratuity. Unfortunately I cannot confirm if they have been paid or not because I could find myself putting the former MPs and their families at risk. It is better if they are the ones who confirm whether they have received their gratuity or not, he said. Xaba, however, stated that as he previously mentioned, there was no special issue regarding the payment of the said MPs gratuity. He said as Parliament, they have processed all the paperwork following the consultations as they were requested to do so when processing the payment of then convicted MPs salaries and other benefits. This week, the convicted MPs made their statements at the High Court, where Mabuza made an unsworn statement, where he revealed that he would rather die or stay in jail for his differing views and the truth.

Mabuza said despite having been paraded naked and lampooned while in prison, he still believed the country needed political reforms, where people would be treated respectfully, have equal job opportunities in the economy and where there would be no one without a job. The former MP added that it was not in dispute that emaSwati wanted to be freed and elect their own government. Mabuza further mentioned that despite his arrest and subsequent conviction, he was still adamant that the country needed democracy. He told the court that through his interaction with ordinary people, he could sense the deep anguish, frustration and desperation for change.

interest of many

Mabuza added that he continued to believe that their collective future ought to be constructed in the interest of the many, not a selected few. Adding, the former legislator said when he accepted the higher calling, that of being a pubic representative, he was alive to the sacrifices it would entail and that he accepted that for the nation to live, individual interest must die.

Mabuza went on to tell the court that despite the fact that all his properties were repossessed, it would not change his stance that emaSwati needed freedom. He further told the court that he lost everything he had worked hard for, including his 14 shops. The former legislator was the owner of Baceth Hardware, which had branches all over the country.

Meanwhile, Dube, who made a sworn statement said Mabuzas statement had nothing to do with him. He disassociated himself from Mabuzas statements when he took to the dock to make his submissions. Dube said prison life was miserable that he did not wish for any of his relatives and children to be in that place. He further mentioned that there was a lot he went through while in prison, but did not wish to talk about it. He added that as a goat and cattle farmer, he had been informed that his business, through which he supported his three children, sickly mother and his deceased brothers children, was not doing well. He stated that his continued stay in prison would see his family and dependants engulfed in poverty. Dube pleaded with the court to consider his sickly mother, children and his late brothers children as well as about 150 needy children he supported when passing sentence.

Meanwhile, along with their former colleagues, last year, the former legislators also received over E400 000 as a tax-free pension allowance, the equivalent of one-third of their five-year savings following the dissolution of the 11th Parliament. A Parliament seat is forfeited on sentence. Therefore, without the sentencing, there was to be no by-elections or declaration of their seats as vacant. Section 99 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini provides that a parliamentarian ceases to be a member when he or she has been sentenced by a court in any country to death or imprisonment (by whatever name called) for a term of or exceeding six months, including a suspended sentence.

imprisonment

Section 99 (1) reads: Where a member of the Senate or the House is arrested for an offence which is a criminal offence in Eswatini sentenced by a court in any country to death or imprisonment (by whatever name called) for a term of or exceeding six months, including a suspended sentence, that member shall forthwith cease to be such a member and the seat of that member shall become vacant at the expiration of a period of 60 days from date of that sentence. The said section does not apply where before the expiration of two months, the parliamentarians receive a free pardon or the conviction is set aside or the sentence is reduced to a term of less than six months or a punishment other than imprisonment is substituted. According to the Constitution, where the sentence of the members of Parliament has been reduced to a term less than six months but more than two months, they shall be deemed to have been suspended by the House for the duration of the effective term of imprisonment, unless the concerned chamber resolves otherwise.

Mabuza and Dube were convicted on June 1, 2023, after their arrest on July 25, 2021. Their trial commenced in November 2021. They were denied bail several times. On the other hand, the seat for self-exiled former Siphofaneni MP and now President of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane, became vacant on the strength of Section 98 (1) (c) of the Constitution. Section 98 (1) reads: The seat of a senator or of a member of the House shall become vacant where the holder is absent for 20 sittings of the chamber during any meeting of that chamber without the permission in writing of the presiding officer and is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges. He was also not eligible for the ex-gratia payment because this is a facility for former parliamentarians to adjust to non-parliamentary life as dictated in the Finance Circular No.2 of 2013.

benefits

The Ministry of Finance issued a memo in July 2023 that members of Parliament would continue to receive their benefits until the new Parliament was in place. As a result, the duo received a one-third lump sum of E400 000 from their pension savings. In total, each former legislator was likely expected to get E988 000. They were then eligible for a combined payout of E1 976 000. The ex-gratia can be defined as a favour, not compelled by legal right. It is now a legal benefit because government included it in the conditions of service for parliamentarians. However, it is the discretion of employers to consider an ex-gratia payment as a benefit for workers. Other employers around the world pay ex-gratia allowances to non-striking employees. In Eswatini, the only time an ex-gratia payment is forfeited by the former parliamentarians is when they have been dismissed or removed from office because of misconduct or incompetence.

Since the convicted former MPs were not sentenced until the new Parliament is in place, impeccable sources familiar with such matters said they were now regarded as former MPs. Finance Circular No.2 of 2013 is only applicable to the 11th Parliament as the 12th Parliament has its own document titled Finance Circular No.2 of 2023. According to the memo issued by the Ministry of Finance on July 25, 2023, the Finance Circular No.2 of 2013 should be applied strictly in the payment of salaries, allowances and terminal benefits for parliamentarians and their support staff. Parliamentarians salaries and allowances accruing to them under Circular No.2 of 2013 to be paid in full until the day preceding the first meeting of the House following the general election, read the memo.

sworn-in

The first sitting of the 12th Parliament was on October 2, 2023, when they were sworn-in. They also elected the Speaker, Jabulani Mabuza, who is also the former Minister of Agriculture.

His Majesty the King dissolved the 11th Parliament on July 11, 2023. The re-appointed Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, was last year quoted by the Times SUNDAY having said the circular was clear, but the concern was who had to determine the misconduct as such mandate fell outside the ambit of the Ministry of Finance. He said those who were responsible for the code of conduct for MPs could best answer the question. Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo, also an ex-officio member of Parliament, had said in a previous interview that gratuity was paid at the end of term as per the circular. You recall you once said these are outgoing MPs because they are still remunerated - you were partly correct, the argument is that in principle, the term has ended, but in reality the term ends on the last day of remuneration, the AG said in the previous interview. Technically, he said it was not yet a factor that Parliament was dissolved. He said they did know if sentencing would be ordered before or after the last remuneration date.

honest discussion

We can then have an honest discussion in my view, Khumalo said. He said an ex-gratia was discretionary upon the employer, not obligatory. Xaba said the question on the matter was a tricky one. However, he said, as Parliament, after getting the court judgment, would engage with the office of the attorney general to get guidance on how to move forward. A private attorney said the issue of the ex-gratia payment was a very complicated matter. In such a situation, he said justice should favour the disadvantaged party  the MPs. It is obvious that they will be sentenced after a new Parliament has been set up. They are former MPs covered by the laws of the country in terms of eligibility for benefits, one of the seasoned attorneys said.
Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 121,212 shares of the mining companys stock, valued at approximately $7,714,000.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 1.9% in the third quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC now owns 10,591 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $674,000 after buying an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 9.8% in the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 4,546 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $289,000 after buying an additional 406 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 2.4% in the third quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 7,428 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $473,000 after buying an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 0.9% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,893,222 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $120,485,000 after buying an additional 17,401 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 2.6% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 321,540 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $20,463,000 after buying an additional 8,206 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 10.03% of the companys stock.

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Rio Tinto Group Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:RIO opened at $65.98 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The businesss 50 day moving average is $70.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.55. Rio Tinto Group has a 52 week low of $58.27 and a 52 week high of $75.30.

Rio Tinto Group Increases Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $2.58 per share. This represents a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This is an increase from Rio Tinto Groups previous semi-annual dividend of $1.77.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on RIO. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Friday, January 12th. They set a buy rating for the company. Liberum Capital upgraded Rio Tinto Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. StockNews.com lowered Rio Tinto Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded Rio Tinto Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Rio Tinto Group presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.00.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Rio Tinto Group

Rio Tinto Group Profile

(Free Report)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RIO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO  Free Report).

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MQS Management LLC purchased a new position in Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 6,147 shares of the medical research companys stock, valued at approximately $749,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in DGX. Pacifica Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics in the third quarter worth about $25,000. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Park Place Capital Corp lifted its position in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 73.4% during the 2nd quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 189 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of 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. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.76% of the companys stock.

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Quest Diagnostics Stock Up 1.4 %

DGX stock traded up $1.74 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $127.08. 787,396 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,156,580. The firms 50-day moving average is $132.19 and its 200-day moving average is $130.84. The company has a market cap of $14.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.97, a PEG ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 1.20. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 12 month low of $119.59 and a 12 month 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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 business had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.25 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.98 EPS. Quest Diagnosticss revenue was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 8.77 earnings per share for the current 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 paid a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.36%. This is a boost from Quest Diagnosticss previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 5th. Quest Diagnosticss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.92%.

Insider Transactions at Quest Diagnostics

In other news, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 661 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.14, for a total transaction of $83,378.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,206 shares in the company, valued at $5,071,584.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Quest Diagnostics news, EVP Catherine T. Doherty sold 821 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.14, for a total value of $103,560.94. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,930,712. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 661 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.14, for a total transaction of $83,378.54. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 40,206 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,071,584.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 3,982 shares of company stock worth $503,539. Corporate insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group boosted their price target on Quest Diagnostics from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Quest Diagnostics from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $140.00 to $155.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Quest Diagnostics from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. TheStreet lowered Quest Diagnostics from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Barclays assumed coverage on 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 equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $146.91.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Quest Diagnostics

About Quest Diagnostics

(Free Report)

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic testing, information, and services in the United States and internationally. The company develops and delivers diagnostic information services, such as routine testing, non-routine and advanced clinical testing, anatomic pathology testing, and other diagnostic information services.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 19.7% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 24,495 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 4,026 shares during the quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Accenture were worth $7,523,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. EPG Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 6.4% in the third quarter. EPG Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,825 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $561,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 1.3% in the third quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 3,353 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,028,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 3.3% in the third quarter. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co now owns 7,935 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $2,437,000 after acquiring an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 22.2% in the third quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 33,118 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $10,171,000 after acquiring an additional 6,022 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Personal CFO Solutions LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 7.5% in the third quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 13,122 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $4,030,000 after acquiring an additional 913 shares during the last quarter. 70.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Accenture Stock Performance

Shares of ACN opened at $377.32 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $236.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.97, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.21. Accenture plc has a one year low of $242.80 and a one year high of $377.97. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $358.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $331.83.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.13. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.08% and a net margin of 10.65%. The firm had revenue of $16.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.17 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.08 earnings per share. Accentures revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Accenture plc will post 12.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several research firms recently commented on ACN. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Accenture from $369.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. UBS Group upped their target price on Accenture from $365.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. BNP Paribas upgraded Accenture from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $440.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $374.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Accenture from $344.00 to $364.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Accenture presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $365.63.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture

In other Accenture news, Director Paula A. Price sold 551 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $345.36, for a total transaction of $190,293.36. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,583 shares in the company, valued at $2,273,504.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Accenture news, Director Paula A. Price sold 551 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $345.36, for a total transaction of $190,293.36. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,583 shares in the company, valued at $2,273,504.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Jaime Ardila sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $353.18, for a total value of $1,059,540.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,392 shares in the company, valued at $4,023,426.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 26,551 shares of company stock worth $9,739,791 over the last quarter. 0.07% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Accenture Company Profile

(Free Report)

Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

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Oppenheimer & Close LLC lifted its stake in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM  Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 0.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 99,193 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 570 shares during the quarter. Agnico Eagle Mines accounts for about 4.5% of Oppenheimer & Close LLCs holdings, making the stock its 7th largest position. Oppenheimer & Close LLCs holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $4,508,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,013,554 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $676,253,000 after purchasing an additional 522,898 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 13,794,968 shares of the mining companys stock worth $626,981,000 after acquiring an additional 152,166 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 13.9% in the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 9,852,941 shares of the mining companys stock worth $511,175,000 after acquiring an additional 1,199,348 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 59.6% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 7,715,637 shares of the mining companys stock worth $385,141,000 after acquiring an additional 2,882,359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Flossbach Von Storch AG increased its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Flossbach Von Storch AG now owns 5,666,972 shares of the mining companys stock worth $257,564,000 after acquiring an additional 21,766 shares during the last quarter. 59.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Agnico Eagle Mines Trading Up 3.1 %

Shares of AEM stock opened at $49.63 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.70 billion, a PE ratio of 12.08, a P/E/G ratio of 22.24 and a beta of 1.04. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a 1-year low of $43.22 and a 1-year high of $61.15. The business has a 50-day moving average of $50.69 and a 200 day moving average of $49.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 2.09 and a quick ratio of 0.71.

Agnico Eagle Mines Announces Dividend

Agnico Eagle Mines ( NYSE:AEM Get Free Report ) (TSE:AEM) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The mining company reported $0.57 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $1.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.72 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a return on equity of 5.54% and a net margin of 29.29%. Agnico Eagle Miness quarterly revenue was up 26.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.41 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 2.23 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. Agnico Eagle Miness dividend payout ratio is presently 38.93%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on AEM. National Bank Financial restated an outperform overweight rating on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. TD Securities reduced their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from $64.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Raymond James increased their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from $66.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Finally, CIBC reduced their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from $72.00 to $69.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Agnico Eagle Mines has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $65.33.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Agnico Eagle Mines

Agnico Eagle Mines Company Profile

(Free Report)

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Further Reading

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Cadence Bank reduced its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 8.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 20,316 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,778 shares during the quarter. Cadence Banks holdings in Altria Group were worth $854,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Simmons Bank grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 2.6% in the second quarter. Simmons Bank now owns 39,392 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,784,000 after purchasing an additional 1,011 shares during the last quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 7.3% in the third quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 31,007 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,304,000 after buying an additional 2,122 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 20.9% in the second quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 773,980 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,050,000 after buying an additional 133,685 shares during the period. Bridgewater Associates LP lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 18.7% in the second quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 1,276,258 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,814,000 after buying an additional 200,981 shares during the period. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 2.3% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 1,459,613 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,377,000 after buying an additional 32,844 shares during the period. 58.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group reiterated a sell rating and issued a $36.10 target price on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com cut shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.22.

Altria Group Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of MO opened at $41.13 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $72.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.66. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $39.06 and a 12 month high of $48.04. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $40.73 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $41.72.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.06 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.21% and a negative return on equity of 243.71%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.18 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 21st were paid a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.53%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 20th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is 85.78%.

Altria Group declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, February 1st that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to buy up to 1.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are 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.

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Fundamental Research set a C$13.42 price target on Atrium Mortgage Investment (TSE:AI  Free Report) in a research note released on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Laurentian lowered shares of Atrium Mortgage Investment from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a C$13.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, January 22nd. TD Securities reduced their target price on shares of Atrium Mortgage Investment from C$13.00 to C$12.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 16th.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on Atrium Mortgage Investment

Atrium Mortgage Investment Price Performance

Atrium Mortgage Investment Announces Dividend

AI opened at C$11.22 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 77.81, a quick ratio of 102.54 and a current ratio of 41.61. The stock has a market capitalization of C$494.24 million, a P/E ratio of 9.84 and a beta of 1.21. The companys 50-day simple moving average is C$10.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$10.75. Atrium Mortgage Investment has a 52-week low of C$9.76 and a 52-week high of C$12.48.

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.075 per share. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. Atrium Mortgage Investments dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.95%.

Atrium Mortgage Investment Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Atrium Mortgage Investment Corporation, a non-bank lender, provides residential and commercial mortgages services in Canada. The company offers various types of mortgage loans, such as land and development financing, construction and mezzanine financing, and commercial term and bridge financing services for residential, multi-residential, and commercial real properties.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its position in shares of Clear Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU  Free Report) by 258.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 440,866 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 317,934 shares during the quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. owned about 0.29% of Clear Secure worth $8,394,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in shares of Clear Secure by 20.9% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,357 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 407 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its stake in Clear Secure by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 16,427 shares of the companys stock valued at $451,000 after buying an additional 668 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank grew its stake in Clear Secure by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 12,682 shares of the companys stock valued at $241,000 after buying an additional 745 shares in the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its stake in Clear Secure by 12.9% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 7,858 shares of the companys stock valued at $210,000 after buying an additional 899 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its stake in Clear Secure by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 34,289 shares of the companys stock valued at $653,000 after buying an additional 900 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 64.13% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

YOU has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Clear Secure from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Clear Secure from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $40.00 price target on shares of Clear Secure in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an underweight rating and set a $20.00 price target on shares of Clear Secure in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $30.17.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Richard N. Jr. Patterson sold 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.00, for a total value of $150,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 41,727 shares in the company, valued at $834,540. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 39.94% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Clear Secure Price Performance

NYSE:YOU opened at $18.11 on Friday. Clear Secure, Inc. has a one year low of $15.28 and a one year high of $32.73. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $20.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $20.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 905.50 and a beta of 1.54.

Clear Secure Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Investors of record on Monday, February 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.99%. This is a positive change from Clear Secures previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. Clear Secures payout ratio is presently 1,800.00%.

About Clear Secure

(Free Report)

Clear Secure, Inc operates a secure identity platform under the CLEAR brand name primarily in the United States. Its secure identity platform is a multi-layered infrastructure consisting of front-end, including enrollment, verification, and linking. The company also offers CLEAR Plus, a consumer aviation subscription service, which enables access to predictable entry lanes in airport security checkpoints, as well as access to broader network; and CLEAR mobile app, which is used to enroll new members and enhance the experience for existing members.

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Beyond (NYSE:BYON  Get Free Report) and Wayfair (NYSE:W  Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and profitability.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Beyond and Wayfair, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Beyond 0 2 3 0 2.60 Wayfair 0 10 15 1 2.65

Beyond currently has a consensus price target of $35.40, indicating a potential upside of 20.78%. Wayfair has a consensus price target of $74.68, indicating a potential upside of 42.08%. Given Wayfairs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Wayfair is more favorable than Beyond.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Beyond $1.56 billion 0.85 -$35.24 million ($6.80) -4.31 Wayfair $12.00 billion 0.52 -$1.33 billion ($6.52) -8.06

This table compares Beyond and Wayfairs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Beyond has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Wayfair. Wayfair is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Beyond, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

71.4% of Beyond shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 89.7% of Wayfair shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Beyond shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 26.8% of Wayfair shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

Beyond has a beta of 3.68, meaning that its stock price is 268% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Wayfair has a beta of 3.32, meaning that its stock price is 232% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Beyond and Wayfairs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Beyond -19.72% -15.32% -10.73% Wayfair -6.15% N/A -22.60%

Summary

Wayfair beats Beyond on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Beyond

(Get Free Report)

Beyond, Inc. operates as an online retailer of furniture and home furnishings products in the United States and Canada. The company offers furniture, bedding and bath, patio and outdoor, area rugs, tabletop and cookware, decor, storage and organization, small appliances, home improvement, and other products under the Bed Bath & Beyond and Bed Bath & Beyond Canada brand names. The company provides its products and services through its internet websites comprising bedbathandbeyond.com, bedbathandbeyond.ca, and overstockgovernment.com. It also offers businesses advertising products or services on its website; Marketplace, a service that allows its partners to sell their products through third party sites; products to international customers using third party logistics providers; and Supplier Oasis, a single integration point through its partners can manage their products, inventory, and sales channels, as well as obtain multi-channel fulfillment services through its distribution network. The company was formerly known as Overstock.com, Inc. and changed its name to Beyond, Inc. in November 2023. Beyond, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Midvale, Utah.

About Wayfair

(Get Free Report)

Wayfair Inc. engages in the e-commerce business in the United States and internationally. The company provides approximately fourty million products for the home sector under various brands. It offers online selections of furniture, decor, housewares, and home improvement products through its sites, including Wayfair, Joss & Main, AllModern, Birch Lane, Perigold, and Wayfair Professional. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Rebecca Solnit at Literary Hub:

In late 1936 George Orwell, like so many young idealists from Europe and the USA, went off to fight fascism in Spain. By the spring of 1937 he realized he was in a war with not two but three sides. The USSR was holding back a full Spanish revolution while attacking the socialists and anarchists outside its control.

Facing prison and possible execution himself, not from the fascists, but the Soviet-allied forces, Orwell fled Spain. His immediate commander, Georges Kopp, was imprisoned, and the leader of his militia unit, Andres Nin, was tortured and assassinated by an agent of Stalins secret police. Orwell would spend the rest of his life trying to clarify that in his time the left meant both idealists committed to human rights, equality, and justice and supporters of a Stalinism that was the antithesis of all those things.

More here.
Epoch Investment Partners Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Hubbell Incorporated (NYSE:HUBB  Free Report) by 5.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 57,675 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 3,353 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc.s holdings in Hubbell were worth $18,076,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of HUBB. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in Hubbell by 133.8% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,543,481 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $283,646,000 after purchasing an additional 883,272 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of Hubbell by 130.2% during the 2nd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 726,462 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $240,866,000 after buying an additional 410,883 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Hubbell during the 4th quarter worth about $90,375,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in shares of Hubbell by 46.4% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,020,067 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $319,699,000 after buying an additional 323,116 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Hubbell by 44.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 597,030 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $140,111,000 after buying an additional 182,790 shares in the last quarter. 85.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Hubbell Stock Up 0.3 %

HUBB stock opened at $365.79 on Friday. Hubbell Incorporated has a 52-week low of $219.77 and a 52-week high of $368.51. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $337.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $315.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.92.

Hubbell Announces Dividend

Hubbell ( NYSE:HUBB Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The industrial products company reported $3.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.58 by $0.11. Hubbell had a net margin of 14.14% and a return on equity of 30.82%. The business had revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.32 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.60 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 10.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Hubbell Incorporated will post 16.39 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a dividend of $1.22 per share. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. Hubbells payout ratio is presently 34.73%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

HUBB has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Hubbell from $330.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Hubbell from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $333.00 to $335.00 in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $375.00 target price on shares of Hubbell in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Hubbell in a report on Friday, December 8th. They issued an outperform rating and a $338.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Hubbell from $351.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. 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 a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $353.00.

View Our Latest Analysis on HUBB

Insider Activity at Hubbell

In related news, CEO Gerben Bakker sold 13,355 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $353.13, for a total transaction of $4,716,051.15. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 51,783 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,286,130.79. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Hubbell news, CEO Gerben Bakker sold 13,355 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $353.13, for a total value of $4,716,051.15. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 51,783 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,286,130.79. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Mark Eugene Mikes sold 397 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $363.45, for a total transaction of $144,289.65. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,899 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,780,541.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 34,125 shares of company stock valued at $12,065,100. Corporate insiders own 0.66% of the companys stock.

Hubbell Profile

(Free Report)

Hubbell Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells electrical and utility solutions in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Electrical Solutions and Utility Solutions. The Electrical Solution segment offers standard and special application wiring device products, rough-in electrical products, connector and grounding products, lighting fixtures, and other electrical equipment for use in industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities by electrical contractors, maintenance personnel, electricians, utilities, and telecommunications companies, as well as components and assemblies.

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Shares of JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) (LON:JPS  Get Free Report) crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 561 ($7.06) and traded as low as GBX 557.60 ($7.02). JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) shares last traded at GBX 561 ($7.06), with a volume of 104,535 shares trading hands.

JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) Stock Performance

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 561 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 561. The company has a market capitalization of 305.80 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -48.36. The company has a current ratio of 11.53, a quick ratio of 11.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.65.

JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

JPMorgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust plc is an open-ended equity mutual fund launched by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited and JPMorgan Asset Management (Japan) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Japan. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Eagle Asset Management Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE:KRG  Free Report) by 2.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 467,840 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 13,211 shares during the quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.21% of Kite Realty Group Trust worth $10,021,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KRG. Quantinno Capital Management LP boosted its stake in Kite Realty Group Trust by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 18,741 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $419,000 after buying an additional 425 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in Kite Realty Group Trust by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 34,896 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $792,000 after buying an additional 429 shares during the last quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV boosted its stake in Kite Realty Group Trust by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV now owns 24,241 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $507,000 after buying an additional 555 shares during the last quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Kite Realty Group Trust by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 14,619 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $313,000 after buying an additional 576 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in Kite Realty Group Trust by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 24,444 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $546,000 after buying an additional 616 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.22% of the companys stock.

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Kite Realty Group Trust Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:KRG opened at $21.06 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 95.73, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.76. Kite Realty Group Trust has a one year low of $18.77 and a one year high of $24.26. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $22.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $21.73.

Kite Realty Group Trust Dividend Announcement

Insider Activity at Kite Realty Group Trust

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Investors of record on Friday, April 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.75%. Kite Realty Group Trusts payout ratio is currently 454.57%.

In related news, CEO John A. Kite sold 60,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.91, for a total transaction of $1,314,600.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 104,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,281,291.11. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on Kite Realty Group Trust from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. StockNews.com raised Kite Realty Group Trust from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Kite Realty Group Trust from $23.00 to $21.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. One investment analyst has 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 data from MarketBeat.com, Kite Realty Group Trust presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $26.00.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on KRG

Kite Realty Group Trust Profile

(Free Report)

Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Indianapolis, IN that is one of the largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets. The Company's primarily grocery-anchored portfolio is located in high-growth Sun Belt and select strategic gateway markets.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Lear (NYSE:LEA  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Wednesday.

Several other research firms also recently commented on LEA. Benchmark raised their price objective on Lear from $188.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Lear from $195.00 to $179.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Barclays cut their price target on Lear from $175.00 to $170.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Lear from $130.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $160.22.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on LEA

Lear Trading Down 0.1 %

LEA opened at $135.20 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $135.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $135.93. The company has a market capitalization of $7.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.97, a PEG ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.53. Lear has a 52 week low of $117.79 and a 52 week high of $157.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54.

Lear (NYSE:LEA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The auto parts company reported $3.03 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.12 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $5.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.69 billion. Lear had a return on equity of 14.09% and a net margin of 2.44%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.81 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Lear will post 14.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Lear Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a $0.77 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. Lears payout ratio is 31.82%.

Insider Transactions at Lear

In other news, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 10,652 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $132.86, for a total value of $1,415,224.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 13,627 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,810,483.22. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Lear news, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 2,977 shares of Lear stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.26, for a total transaction of $402,669.02. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 2,976 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $402,533.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 10,652 shares of Lear stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $132.86, for a total value of $1,415,224.72. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 13,627 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,810,483.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.75% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Lear

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LEA. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Lear during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Covestor Ltd lifted its position in Lear by 154.7% during the 2nd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 191 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the period. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S lifted its position in Lear by 65.4% during the 2nd quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 220 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Lear by 90.8% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 290 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the period. Finally, Signaturefd LLC lifted its position in Lear by 32.3% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 373 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.04% of the companys stock.

Lear Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Lear Corporation designs, develops, engineers, manufactures, assembles, and supplies automotive seating, and electrical distribution systems and related components for automotive original equipment manufacturers in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Its Seating segment offers seat systems, seat subsystems, keyseat components, seat trim covers, seat mechanisms, seat foams, and headrests, as well as surface materials, such as leather and fabric for automobiles and light trucks, compact cars, pick-up trucks, and sport utility vehicles.

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LPL Financial LLC lessened its stake in Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL  Free Report) by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 593,391 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,899 shares during the quarter. LPL Financial LLC owned 0.07% of Colgate-Palmolive worth $42,196,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 87,530 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,224,000 after buying an additional 4,131 shares during the period. FORVIS Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 18.3% during the second quarter. FORVIS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 21,443 shares of the companys stock worth $1,652,000 after purchasing an additional 3,319 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 383.2% during the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 12,944 shares of the companys stock worth $811,000 after purchasing an additional 10,265 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 8.1% during the third quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 30,556 shares of the companys stock worth $2,173,000 after purchasing an additional 2,294 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rockland Trust Co. lifted its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 17.6% during the third quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 319,586 shares of the companys stock worth $22,726,000 after purchasing an additional 47,906 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.36% of the companys stock.

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Colgate-Palmolive Trading Up 0.3 %

NYSE:CL opened at $86.25 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $81.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.82. Colgate-Palmolive has a 12-month low of $67.62 and a 12-month high of $86.82. The firm has a market cap of $71.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.03, a PEG ratio of 3.78 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.59.

Colgate-Palmolive Dividend Announcement

Colgate-Palmolive ( NYSE:CL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 26th. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.02. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 509.75% and a net margin of 11.82%. The firm had revenue of $4.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.89 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.77 earnings per share. Colgate-Palmolives quarterly revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.48 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Monday, January 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 19th. Colgate-Palmolives dividend payout ratio is presently 69.06%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Colgate-Palmolive news, CEO Noel R. Wallace sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.15, for a total value of $4,157,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 274,179 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,797,983.85. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Colgate-Palmolive news, insider Jennifer Daniels sold 3,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.01, for a total value of $300,238.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 58,193 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,597,828.93. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Noel R. Wallace sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.15, for a total value of $4,157,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 274,179 shares in the company, valued at $22,797,983.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 251,171 shares of company stock valued at $20,972,787 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America upgraded Colgate-Palmolive from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $90.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, October 30th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Colgate-Palmolive from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $86.93.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on CL

Colgate-Palmolive Profile

(Free Report)

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The Oral, Personal and Home Care segment offers toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, skin health products, dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, and other related items.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Matador Resources (NYSE:MTDR  Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Thursday.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Raymond James dropped their target price on shares of Matador Resources from $76.00 to $70.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 8th. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of Matador Resources from $83.00 to $67.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. KeyCorp dropped their price objective on shares of Matador Resources from $76.00 to $71.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Matador Resources in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. They issued an overweight rating and a $73.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Benchmark decreased their target price on shares of Matador Resources from $71.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. 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, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $70.38.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on MTDR

Matador Resources Stock Performance

NYSE:MTDR opened at $60.72 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.04. The company has a fifty day moving average of $56.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $58.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.23 billion, a PE ratio of 8.61 and a beta of 3.32. Matador Resources has a fifty-two week low of $42.04 and a fifty-two week high of $67.71.

Matador Resources (NYSE:MTDR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 21st. The energy company reported $1.99 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.04 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $836.13 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $842.96 million. Matador Resources had a return on equity of 21.54% and a net margin of 30.14%. The businesss revenue was up 18.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.08 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Matador Resources will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Matador Resources Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.32%. Matador Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.35%.

Insider Transactions at Matador Resources

In other Matador Resources news, Director Timothy E. Parker bought 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $52.13 per share, for a total transaction of $260,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 79,257 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,131,667.41. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Joseph Wm Foran acquired 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 6th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $54.30 per share, with a total value of $108,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,637 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,337,789.10. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Timothy E. Parker acquired 5,000 shares of Matador Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $52.13 per share, for a total transaction of $260,650.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 79,257 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,131,667.41. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 6.00% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Matador Resources

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Matador Resources by 2.7% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 13,783,424 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $721,149,000 after buying an additional 366,773 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Matador Resources by 4.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,422,915 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $658,165,000 after buying an additional 567,557 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in Matador Resources by 7.0% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,777,669 shares of the energy companys stock worth $306,101,000 after purchasing an additional 377,853 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in Matador Resources by 82.9% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,367,715 shares of the energy companys stock worth $231,403,000 after purchasing an additional 1,979,904 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in Matador Resources by 3.2% during the second quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,326,071 shares of the energy companys stock worth $201,552,000 after purchasing an additional 135,179 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.23% of the companys stock.

Matador Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Matador Resources Company, an independent energy company, engages in the exploration, development, production, and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. It operates through two segments, Exploration and Production; and Midstream. The company primarily holds interests in the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas.

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McGowan Group Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET  Free Report) by 0.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 838,816 shares of the pipeline companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,941 shares during the period. Energy Transfer comprises 1.9% of McGowan Group Asset Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 19th largest position. McGowan Group Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $11,769,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Veracity Capital LLC increased its position in Energy Transfer by 2.4% during the third quarter. Veracity Capital LLC now owns 31,465 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $441,000 after buying an additional 745 shares during the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. increased its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 21.5% in the 2nd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 4,594 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 814 shares during the last quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC now owns 27,336 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $347,000 after buying an additional 819 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Energy Transfer by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 20,008 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $254,000 after buying an additional 820 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in Energy Transfer by 7.4% in the third quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 11,909 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $167,000 after buying an additional 825 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.79% of the companys stock.

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Energy Transfer Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:ET traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $14.89. 9,761,160 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 15,011,317. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $14.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $13.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.66 and a beta of 1.64. Energy Transfer LP has a 12 month low of $11.45 and a 12 month high of $14.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.10.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

Energy Transfer ( NYSE:ET Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.46 billion. Energy Transfer had a net margin of 4.85% and a return on equity of 12.17%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.34 EPS. Analysts predict that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.29 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.315 per share. This is a positive change from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.46%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 6th. Energy Transfers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 115.60%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on ET shares. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $17.57.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ET

Energy Transfer Profile

(Free Report)

Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates approximately 11,600 miles of natural gas transportation pipeline, and three natural gas storage facilities in Texas and two natural gas storage facilities located in the state of Texas and Oklahoma; and 19,945 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline.

Further Reading

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Meeder Advisory Services Inc. reduced its stake in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 16.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 71,837 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 14,278 shares during the quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc.s holdings in Bank of America were worth $1,967,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Buckingham Strategic Partners raised its stake in Bank of America by 23.7% in the second quarter. Buckingham Strategic Partners now owns 54,963 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,577,000 after purchasing an additional 10,535 shares in the last quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in Bank of America by 104,312.4% in the second quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC now owns 194,207 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,572,000 after purchasing an additional 194,021 shares in the last quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Bank of America by 8.2% in the third quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 55,348 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,515,000 after purchasing an additional 4,187 shares in the last quarter. Eastern Bank raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 354.5% during the third quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 119,713 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,278,000 after acquiring an additional 93,375 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL purchased a new position in shares of Bank of America during the second quarter worth approximately $6,317,000. 68.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Bank of America Trading Up 0.9 %

NYSE:BAC traded up $0.31 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $33.92. The company had a trading volume of 30,586,039 shares, compared to its average volume of 36,943,764. Bank of America Co. has a 52 week low of $24.96 and a 52 week high of $35.10. The company has a market capitalization of $267.04 billion, a PE ratio of 11.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $33.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $30.26.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.01. Bank of America had a net margin of 15.42% and a return on equity of 11.38%. The firm had revenue of $22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.70 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.85 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Bank of America Co. will post 3.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on BAC shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Bank of America from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of Bank of America from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $29.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Bank of America from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $32.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Odeon Capital Group downgraded shares of Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $33.90 price target on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Oppenheimer raised their target price on shares of Bank of America from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $35.53.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Bank of America

Insider Activity

In related news, major shareholder Of America Corp /De/ Bank purchased 5,398 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $10.56 per share, with a total value of $57,002.88. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,398 shares in the company, valued at $57,002.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Bank of America Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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Mendel Money Management increased its position in shares of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY  Free Report) by 31.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 846 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after buying an additional 200 shares during the quarter. Mendel Money Managements holdings in Teledyne Technologies were worth $346,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Teledyne Technologies by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,037,487 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $425,515,000 after buying an additional 31,116 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 18.0% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 99,504 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $40,656,000 after purchasing an additional 15,169 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 3.9% in the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 17,185 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $7,065,000 after purchasing an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Co. raised its stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 8.2% in the third quarter. Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Co. now owns 544 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $222,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 21.5% in the third quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 1,715 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $701,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. 87.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Teledyne Technologies

In other Teledyne Technologies news, CEO Robert Mehrabian sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $410.75, for a total transaction of $20,537,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 196,052 shares of the companys stock, valued at $80,528,359. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Teledyne Technologies news, CFO Sue Main sold 9,461 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $421.34, for a total transaction of $3,986,297.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 40,127 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,907,110.18. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Robert Mehrabian sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $410.75, for a total value of $20,537,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 196,052 shares of the companys stock, valued at $80,528,359. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 74,206 shares of company stock valued at $30,707,174. Company insiders own 2.14% of the companys stock.

Teledyne Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of TDY traded up $1.93 on Friday, reaching $432.87. 125,011 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 191,645. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market cap of $20.43 billion, a PE ratio of 23.40, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.03. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $432.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $412.44. Teledyne Technologies Incorporated has a 52-week low of $364.98 and a 52-week high of $448.71.

Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $5.44 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.04 by $0.40. Teledyne Technologies had a return on equity of 10.81% and a net margin of 15.72%. The company had revenue of $1.43 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.46 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $4.94 earnings per share. Teledyne Technologiess revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Teledyne Technologies Incorporated will post 20.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com raised Teledyne Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 10th. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on Teledyne Technologies from $522.00 to $510.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Teledyne Technologies currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $515.67.

Read Our Latest Report on TDY

Teledyne Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. The company's Instrumentation segment offers monitoring and control instruments for marine, environmental, industrial, and other applications, as well as electronic test and measurement equipment; and power and communications connectivity devices for distributed instrumentation systems and sensor networks.

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Meritage Group LP purchased a new stake in shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,649,411 shares of the medical research companys stock, valued at approximately $184,437,000. Agilent Technologies comprises approximately 4.4% of Meritage Group LPs portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Meritage Group LP owned about 0.56% of Agilent Technologies at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Agilent Technologies by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 31,853,176 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $3,830,344,000 after buying an additional 349,651 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 24,531,170 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $3,246,209,000 after purchasing an additional 261,435 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 13,214,595 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,591,990,000 after purchasing an additional 253,729 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in Agilent Technologies by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 11,076,270 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,238,549,000 after purchasing an additional 39,030 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 2.8% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,378,218 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $765,009,000 after purchasing an additional 174,439 shares during the last quarter.

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Agilent Technologies Stock Performance

A traded up $0.01 during trading on Friday, hitting $132.03. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,877,997 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,347,990. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $96.80 and a one year high of $145.43. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $133.76 and its 200-day simple moving average is $122.57. The company has a quick ratio of 1.97, a current ratio of 2.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market cap of $38.69 billion, a PE ratio of 31.36, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.11.

Agilent Technologies Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be issued a $0.236 dividend. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 1st. Agilent Technologiess dividend payout ratio is 22.33%.

A has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wolfe Research started coverage on Agilent Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America cut shares of Agilent Technologies from a buy rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the company from $130.00 to $133.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $140.00 to $130.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies from $128.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Agilent Technologies from $140.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Agilent Technologies presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $137.44.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Agilent Technologies

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, SVP Philip Binns sold 2,880 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.78, for a total transaction of $402,566.40. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,824 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,792,538.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Agilent Technologies news, CEO Michael R. Mcmullen sold 62,467 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total transaction of $8,120,710.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 306,206 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $39,806,780. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Philip Binns sold 2,880 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.78, for a total transaction of $402,566.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 12,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,792,538.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 95,929 shares of company stock valued at $12,730,599.

Agilent Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Agilent Technologies, Inc provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; and vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies.

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MQS Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 5,049 shares of the medical research companys stock, valued at approximately $993,000. IQVIA comprises approximately 0.6% of MQS Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest holding.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. increased its stake in shares of IQVIA by 10.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 1,800 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $405,000 after acquiring an additional 177 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in IQVIA by 6.8% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 8,793 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,977,000 after purchasing an additional 557 shares in the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems acquired a new stake in IQVIA during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,994,000. 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its position in IQVIA by 103.2% during the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 141,692 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $31,848,000 after purchasing an additional 71,967 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in IQVIA by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,907,023 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $875,861,000 after purchasing an additional 102,862 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.82% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

IQV has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays increased their target price on shares of IQVIA from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. BTIG Research began coverage on shares of IQVIA in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. They set a buy rating and a $285.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $240.00 to $225.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $226.00 to $251.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of IQVIA from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, IQVIA presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $253.64.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Kevin C. Knightly sold 13,117 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $214.03, for a total transaction of $2,807,431.51. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,572,478.41. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Kevin C. Knightly sold 13,117 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $214.03, for a total transaction of $2,807,431.51. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,572,478.41. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Eric Sherbet sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $241.50, for a total value of $241,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 20,836 shares in the company, valued at $5,031,894. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

IQVIA Stock Performance

NYSE IQV traded down $0.07 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $247.26. The company had a trading volume of 973,678 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,153,022. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $167.42 and a fifty-two week high of $251.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $223.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $212.33. The firm has a market cap of $45.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.48.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The medical research company reported $2.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.82 by $0.02. IQVIA had a return on equity of 29.32% and a net margin of 9.06%. The firm had revenue of $3.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.80 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.54 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 10.05 EPS for the current year.

About IQVIA

(Free Report)

IQVIA Holdings Inc engages in the provision of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Technology & Analytics Solutions, Research & Development Solutions, and Contract Sales & Medical Solutions.

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MQS Management LLC lowered its holdings in Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN  Free Report) by 12.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 27,041 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 3,790 shares during the quarter. MQS Management LLCs holdings in Rayonier were worth $770,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its stake in shares of Rayonier by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 6,097 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $183,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Rayonier by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 29,135 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $960,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. raised its stake in shares of Rayonier by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 20,221 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $666,000 after buying an additional 350 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in shares of Rayonier by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 38,753 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,161,000 after buying an additional 373 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its stake in shares of Rayonier by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 64,140 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,014,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.75% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

RYN has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. TheStreet upgraded Rayonier from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. StockNews.com cut Rayonier from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Rayonier from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on Rayonier from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Rayonier has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $35.00.

Rayonier Trading Up 0.6 %

RYN traded up $0.21 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $33.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 429,405 shares, compared to its average volume of 662,897. The company has a current ratio of 2.40, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. Rayonier Inc. has a 52-week low of $24.84 and a 52-week high of $34.55. The firm has a market cap of $4.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.57 and a beta of 1.05. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $32.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $30.42.

Rayonier (NYSE:RYN  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.17. Rayonier had a return on equity of 2.89% and a net margin of 16.41%. The business had revenue of $467.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $235.94 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.11 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Rayonier Inc. will post 0.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Rayonier Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.285 per share. This represents a $1.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 13th. Rayoniers payout ratio is currently 97.44%.

Rayonier Profile

(Free Report)

Rayonier is a leading timberland real estate investment trust with assets located in some of the most productive softwood timber growing regions in the United States and New Zealand. As of September 30, 2023, Rayonier owned or leased under long-term agreements approximately 2.8 million acres of timberlands located in the U.S.

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Numerai GP LLC reduced its stake in shares of First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN  Free Report) by 64.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 258,792 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 471,509 shares during the period. Numerai GP LLCs holdings in First Horizon were worth $2,852,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its holdings in First Horizon by 16.0% in the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 994,511 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $10,960,000 after acquiring an additional 137,525 shares during the last quarter. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in First Horizon in the second quarter valued at approximately $145,000. Qsemble Capital Management LP acquired a new position in First Horizon in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,189,000. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S lifted its holdings in First Horizon by 116.2% in the second quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 12,243 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $138,000 after acquiring an additional 6,580 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in First Horizon by 721.6% in the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 110,607 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,219,000 after acquiring an additional 97,144 shares during the last quarter. 76.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup assumed coverage on First Horizon in a research note on Friday, December 1st. They set a buy rating and a $14.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group upgraded First Horizon from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $15.50 to $16.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. StockNews.com cut First Horizon from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on First Horizon from $11.50 to $14.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, Raymond James upgraded First Horizon from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $13.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Friday, January 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $14.35.

First Horizon Stock Up 0.1 %

First Horizon stock traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $14.06. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,322,967 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,859,441. First Horizon Co. has a fifty-two week low of $8.99 and a fifty-two week high of $24.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The company has a market cap of $7.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.19, a P/E/G ratio of 4.07 and a beta of 0.95. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $14.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $12.64.

First Horizon (NYSE:FHN  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.01. First Horizon had a return on equity of 9.94% and a net margin of 17.80%. The company had revenue of $1.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $784.20 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.51 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that First Horizon Co. will post 1.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

First Horizon Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.27%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. First Horizons dividend payout ratio is presently 39.22%.

First Horizon declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, January 23rd that permits the company to buyback $650.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 7.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

First Horizon Company Profile

(Free Report)

First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments.

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O Neil Global Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Duolingo, Inc. (NYSE:DUOL  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 3,746 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $621,000. Duolingo accounts for 0.6% of O Neil Global Advisors Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Duolingo by 20.2% in the 3rd quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 1,741 shares of the companys stock worth $289,000 after buying an additional 292 shares during the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in Duolingo by 7.5% in the third quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 58,730 shares of the companys stock worth $9,742,000 after purchasing an additional 4,105 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its position in shares of Duolingo by 5.7% during the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 287,479 shares of the companys stock worth $47,684,000 after purchasing an additional 15,589 shares in the last quarter. Mariner LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Duolingo by 205.9% during the 3rd quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 4,533 shares of the companys stock valued at $752,000 after purchasing an additional 3,051 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Duolingo by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 366,526 shares of the companys stock worth $60,775,000 after purchasing an additional 17,097 shares in the last quarter. 76.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Duolingo Price Performance

NYSE:DUOL traded up $0.10 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $177.13. 392,637 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 492,529. The company has a current ratio of 3.49, a quick ratio of 3.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The firm has a market cap of $7.44 billion, a PE ratio of -656.04 and a beta of 0.72. Duolingo, Inc. has a twelve month low of $86.36 and a twelve month high of $245.87. The stocks 50-day moving average is $202.59 and its 200-day moving average is $182.32.

Insider Buying and Selling at Duolingo

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

In related news, insider Severin Hacker sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.62, for a total value of $1,786,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 72 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,860.64. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other news, General Counsel Stephen C. Chen sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.00, for a total transaction of $380,000.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 35,033 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,656,270. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, insider Severin Hacker sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.62, for a total value of $1,786,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 72 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,860.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 154,000 shares of company stock valued at $31,990,740 over the last quarter. 19.85% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Several equities analysts recently commented on DUOL shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Duolingo from a neutral rating to a sell rating and set a $160.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Needham & Company LLC raised their price objective on Duolingo from $160.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $217.00 target price on shares of Duolingo in a research report on Monday, November 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Duolingo presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $176.78.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Duolingo

Duolingo Profile

(Free Report)

Duolingo, Inc operates as a mobile learning platform in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers courses in 40 different languages, including Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese through its Duolingo app. It also provides a digital language proficiency assessment exam.

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O Neil Global Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 718 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $235,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare during the 1st quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 85.9% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 132 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.11% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Molina Healthcare 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 transaction of $5,798,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,121,423.36. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,121,423.36. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $401.05, for a total transaction of $401,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,207 shares in the company, valued at $4,494,567.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 17,046 shares of company stock valued at $6,592,447. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on MOH shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Molina Healthcare from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted 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. Truist Financial lifted 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, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Molina Healthcare from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $367.00 to $420.00 in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price target on shares of Molina Healthcare from $374.00 to $406.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five 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 an average target price of $380.80.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare Stock Performance

Molina Healthcare stock traded up $2.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $406.77. 226,814 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 389,908. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.54. Molina Healthcare, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $256.19 and a fifty-two week high of $407.85. The company has a market capitalization of $23.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.45. The firms fifty day moving average is $373.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $351.46.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $4.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.31 by $0.07. Molina Healthcare had a net margin of 3.20% and a return on equity of 32.34%. The firm had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.35 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.10 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Molina Healthcare, Inc. will post 23.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.

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OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp acquired a new position in shares of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 26,800 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $5,684,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Essex Property Trust by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,614,782 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,667,195,000 after acquiring an additional 184,047 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in Essex Property Trust by 15.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,712,755 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,419,056,000 after acquiring an additional 874,625 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Essex Property Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $476,588,000. Cohen & Steers Inc. grew its stake in Essex Property Trust by 112.4% during the 2nd quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 2,175,976 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $509,808,000 after acquiring an additional 1,151,338 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Essex Property Trust by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,487,617 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $347,706,000 after acquiring an additional 14,271 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.93% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Mizuho lifted their target price on Essex Property Trust from $232.00 to $256.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. BMO Capital Markets raised Essex Property Trust from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their target price for the company from $235.00 to $225.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Essex Property Trust from $237.00 to $239.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Essex Property Trust from $225.00 to $223.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Essex Property Trust from $224.00 to $225.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Essex Property Trust has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $243.50.

Essex Property Trust Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of Essex Property Trust stock opened at $229.34 on Friday. Essex Property Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $195.03 and a 12-month high of $252.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.35, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.80. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $239.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $228.14. The company has a quick ratio of 2.63, a current ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11.

Essex Property Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be issued a dividend of $2.45 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This is a positive change from Essex Property Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $2.31. This represents a $9.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.27%. Essex Property Trusts payout ratio is 146.43%.

Essex Property Trust Company Profile

(Free Report)

Essex Property Trust, Inc, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets. Essex currently has ownership interests in 252 apartment communities comprising approximately 62,000 apartment homes with an additional property in active development.

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oOh!media Limited (ASX:OML  Get Free Report) announced a final dividend on Thursday, February 22nd, MarketIndexAU reports. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 20th will be given a dividend of 0.035 per share on Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 27th. This is a positive change from oOh!medias previous final dividend of $0.03.

oOh!media Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 108.84, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

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oOh!media Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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oOh!media Limited operates as an out of home media company in Australia and New Zealand. The company's portfolio includes large format classic and digital roadside screens; large and small format digital and classic signs located in retail precincts, such as shopping centers, as well as airport terminals, lounges, and in-flight; digital and classic street furniture signs; and digital and classic format advertising in public transport corridors, including rail, as well as high dwell time environments, such as universities and office buildings.

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Argus upgraded shares of Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Thursday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Argus currently has $102.00 price objective on the stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Vertical Research downgraded shares of Otis Worldwide from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $100.00 price objective on shares of Otis Worldwide in a report on Monday, February 5th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Otis Worldwide from $87.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Otis Worldwide from $97.00 to $95.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $92.29.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Otis Worldwide

Otis Worldwide Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of Otis Worldwide stock opened at $93.52 on Thursday. Otis Worldwide has a 52-week low of $73.32 and a 52-week high of $93.83. The company has a 50 day moving average of $89.25 and a 200 day moving average of $84.99. The company has a market capitalization of $37.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.59 and a beta of 1.00.

Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.02. Otis Worldwide had a net margin of 9.90% and a negative return on equity of 30.75%. The company had revenue of $3.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.57 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.75 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Otis Worldwide will post 3.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Otis Worldwide Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be issued a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.45%. Otis Worldwides payout ratio is 40.12%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Montlivault Stephane De sold 18,393 shares of Otis Worldwide stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.10, for a total value of $1,675,602.30. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 67,274 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,128,661.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Judith Fran Marks sold 37,312 shares of Otis Worldwide stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.83, for a total value of $3,426,360.96. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 192,319 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,660,653.77. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Montlivault Stephane De sold 18,393 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.10, for a total transaction of $1,675,602.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 67,274 shares in the company, valued at $6,128,661.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Otis Worldwide

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of OTIS. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Otis Worldwide in the 4th quarter valued at $628,855,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Otis Worldwide by 14.8% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 45,773,358 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,095,342,000 after buying an additional 5,913,933 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in Otis Worldwide by 32.5% in the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 12,239,672 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,089,453,000 after buying an additional 2,999,494 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Otis Worldwide by 47.9% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 7,540,422 shares of the companys stock valued at $605,571,000 after buying an additional 2,442,203 shares during the period. Finally, PineStone Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Otis Worldwide by 300.6% in the 3rd quarter. PineStone Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,844,325 shares of the companys stock valued at $228,428,000 after buying an additional 2,134,289 shares during the period. 85.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Otis Worldwide Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Otis Worldwide Corporation engages in manufacturing, installation, and servicing of elevators and escalators in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, New Equipment and Service. The New Equipment segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs a range of passenger and freight elevators, as well as escalators and moving walkways for residential and commercial buildings, and infrastructure projects.

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PGIM Custom Harvest LLC lifted its stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWS  Free Report) by 90.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,322 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,941 shares during the quarter. PGIM Custom Harvest LLCs holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF were worth $868,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Ambassador Advisors LLC bought a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. grew its position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 128.9% in the 2nd quarter. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 293 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares during the period. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000.

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iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Price Performance

Shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF stock opened at $118.50 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $115.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $109.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.72 billion, a PE ratio of 12.62 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF has a 1-year low of $97.40 and a 1-year high of $118.79.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell Midcap Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Value Index). The Value Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market.

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Profund Advisors LLC lessened its stake in Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY  Free Report) by 12.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 40,288 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 5,539 shares during the quarter. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in Occidental Petroleum were worth $2,614,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. grew its stake in Occidental Petroleum by 8.6% in the third quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 156,279 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $10,139,000 after acquiring an additional 12,349 shares during the period. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the third quarter valued at about $29,665,000. Calamos Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the third quarter valued at about $5,758,000. Kentucky Retirement Systems acquired a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the third quarter valued at about $3,391,000. Finally, Mitchell Capital Management Co. boosted its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 100.2% during the third quarter. Mitchell Capital Management Co. now owns 123,287 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $7,999,000 after buying an additional 61,705 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.54% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired 3,200,799 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $56.55 per share, for a total transaction of $181,005,183.45. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 238,533,189 shares in the company, valued at $13,489,051,837.95. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In the last ninety days, insiders bought 8,720,708 shares of company stock valued at $505,766,000. Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Occidental Petroleum Stock Performance

OXY opened at $60.02 on Friday. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a 12-month low of $55.12 and a 12-month high of $67.67. The stock has a market cap of $52.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.35, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.64. The business has a 50 day moving average of $58.64 and a 200-day moving average of $61.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84.

Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.74 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.74. The business had revenue of $7.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.93 billion. Occidental Petroleum had a return on equity of 20.63% and a net margin of 16.24%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.61 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 3.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This is a boost from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. Occidental Petroleums dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.41%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $74.00 price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Raymond James reduced their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley raised Occidental Petroleum from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $68.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $78.00 to $73.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Nine research 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 companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Occidental Petroleum presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $70.06.

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Occidental Petroleum Profile

(Free Report)

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing.

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Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO  Free Report) had its price target lowered by Royal Bank of Canada from GBX 6,100 ($76.81) to GBX 5,900 ($74.29) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the stock.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on the company. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 6,200 ($78.07) price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Monday, February 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Thursday, November 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 6,262.86 ($78.86).

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on RIO

Rio Tinto Group Stock Up 0.5 %

Rio Tinto Group Increases Dividend

RIO stock opened at GBX 5,197 ($65.44) on Thursday. Rio Tinto Group has a fifty-two week low of GBX 4,509.50 ($56.78) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 6,232 ($78.47). The businesss 50-day moving average is GBX 5,529.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 5,277.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 25.47, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.69. The company has a market cap of 64.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,064.96, a P/E/G ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.67.

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 7th will be given a dividend of GBX 203.77 ($2.57) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.9%. This is a boost from Rio Tinto Groups previous dividend of $137.67. Rio Tinto Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6,987.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Rio Tinto Group news, insider Jakob Stausholm sold 3,868 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 5,557 ($69.97), for a total transaction of 214,944.76 ($270,643.11). 14.69% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Rio Tinto Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. reduced its position in Taseko Mines Limited (NYSE:TGB  Free Report) by 0.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,248,813 shares of the companys stock after selling 50,970 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Taseko Mines were worth $7,821,000 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. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Taseko Mines by 6.8% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 6,225,411 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,906,000 after buying an additional 394,376 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Taseko Mines during the second quarter worth about $216,000. Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of Taseko Mines by 973.5% during the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 60,117 shares of the companys stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 54,517 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in shares of Taseko Mines during the second quarter worth about $866,000. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in shares of Taseko Mines by 2.5% during the second quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 416,137 shares of the companys stock worth $599,000 after purchasing an additional 10,264 shares during the last quarter. 16.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Taseko Mines Stock Performance

Shares of TGB stock opened at $1.50 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.89. Taseko Mines Limited has a one year low of $1.05 and a one year high of $1.84. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $1.42 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $435 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.00 and a beta of 1.97.

Taseko Mines Profile

Taseko Mines Limited, a mining company, acquires, develops, and operates mineral properties. It explores for copper, molybdenum, gold, niobium, and silver deposits. The company holds 75% interest in the Gibraltar mine located in British Columbia. It also holds 100% interest in Yellowhead copper project, the Aley niobium project, and the New Prosperity gold and copper project located in British Columbia; and the Florence copper project located in Arizona.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TGB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taseko Mines Limited (NYSE:TGB  Free Report).

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Nebraskas public power districts provide some of the most reliable and cost-effective energy in the country. Our states residential utility electricity rate is nearly 30% lower than the national average, and Nebraska was recently named the top state in the country for power grid reliability by the U.S. News and World Report.

Nebraskas public power model is effective because its publicly elected boards of directors have the expertise to make informed decisions and work in the best interests of their customer-owners. This model is possible because board members are elected on a nonpartisan ballot that allows candidates to compete based on their expertise rather than political affiliation.

A bill currently before the Nebraska Legislature wants to make the elections partisan.

Legislative Bill (LB) 541, introduced and designated as a priority bill by Sen. John Lowe, recently advanced to the second of three rounds of debate. The legislation is concerning because it would increase partisanship in our state at a time when less partisanship is desired, not more. In a survey conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln last October, two-thirds of respondents said they viewed the lack of civil political discourse to be either a very serious or somewhat serious problem. As we observed in the Unicameral last year, partisanship is not constructive; rather, it divides people and makes governing bodies less effective.

George Norris, founder of Nebraskas public power system, was clear about keeping public power nonpartisan when he emphasized that national party lines often have little to do with local government. To achieve cooperative progress, we need leaders who will focus on the issues at hand rather than reiterate divisive labels that have no practical effect on this issue. Public power board members should be elected based on their engagement with local issues and concern for the common good, not partisan issues that are irrelevant to utility regulation.

This bill could open the door to further partisanship in other historically nonpartisan elections, such as those held for boards of education, natural resource districts, and the Nebraska Legislature. This is a door we do not want to open.

Public power board members take the responsibility of maintaining reliability and keeping costs affordable to customers seriously. They do this well because they were elected for their qualifications rather than political identity. Senators should reject LB 541 and any attempts to make our state more partisan.
Wait, what? Gov. Jim Pillen has reversed his opposition to a federal summer grocery program that would aid around 150,000 children of low-income families.

Pillen succumbed to a lot of outside pressure from a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, a bill introduced by one of them to request the aid and another state senator who made it his priority to ensure it would be debated in the remaining days of the legislative session.

Back in December Pillen proclaimed that he didnt believe in welfare. That comment attracted local and national news media attention and raised the ire of state Sen. Jen Day of Gretna who introduced the bill. She said she had been a single mom at one time and remembers the pain of wondering from where food for her kids was going to come.

Pillen and state officials said the Summer EBT card with $120 in benefits, $40 per month for three months, will be paired with increased outreach in an effort to connect low-income families with nutritional guides, summer programming for children and additional food aid.

Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, a Republican and the now longest-serving member in Nebraskas Legislature, used his personal priority on the Day bill, increasing the chance it would be advanced to the floor of the Legislature and signaling further conservative support for the program.

During the public hearing on the bill, 17 people testified in support of the bill, with an additional 153 people submitting written comments in support of it. No one testified or submitted comments in opposition.

In announcing his decision, Pillen pointed to conversations with Aguilar and other advocates  including a group of young adults who the governor met observing the states Supreme Court last week  who had challenged the governor on his position.

Kudos to his spin-doctor for comments reported in the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper. Never in a gazillion years when I was 16 or 17 or 18 would I have thought of coming and putting forth a need to the governor or coming here to the Capitol, Pillen said. And so, I just cant tell you how proud I am of those young people (and) how proud I am of their voice; making sure their voice was heard.

But wait, it gets better. This isnt about me winning, he added. This is about coming to the conclusion of what is best for our kids in Nebraska.

Pillen said his administration contacted the federal Ag Department last week to inquire about opting into the program, the deadline for which was Jan. 1. He said USDA officials were excited about Nebraskas decision to join the program  and the states rollout of additional outreach efforts that will accompany its implementation, which are meant to provide touch points that are important to Pillen.

Aguilar said the safety net offered by the $40-per-month aid allowances are important when you consider rural kids dont have the networks of support that are available to some other areas of the state, thanking Pillen and the state Department of Health and Human Services for their willingness to implement the program.

Day said, I truly dont think it would have happened if we hadnt continued to put pressure on him from the outside, in terms of phone calls and emails and engagement from Nebraskans themselves on how they truly felt about this program.

Heres hoping the governors change of mind reflects a change of heart and not just a realization that Pillen Farms LLC received more than $1.5 million in federal funds during the COVID pandemic alone. Or that a pork processor in Fremont in which he is heavily invested just received a $25 million federal grant.

Now if he would just apologize to reporter Yanqi Xu for his comments about a story on nitrate levels near his farms which he didnt read because he said the writer was obviously from communist China.

Now, that would be a change of heart!
World Bank to finance 4 railway projects in Vietnam

By Tri Duc Sun, February 25, 2024 | 9:06 am GMT+7

The World Bank plans to finance four railway projects in Vietnam, according to a Friday discussion between Vietnams Ministry of Transport and the bank's representatives.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy and Sudeshna Ghosh Banerjee, WBs regional director for infrastructure for the East Asia and Pacific region, agreed on the cooperation.

The four projects are railway traffic safety, a ring line for the eastern part of Hanoi, the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho city railway, and Hanois metro line No. 5 (Van Cao-Ngoc Khanh-Lang-Hoa Lac).

Per the WBs suggestions, the transport ministry will forward the portfolio to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for further progress.

Representatives of the World Bank (left) and Vietnam's Ministry of Transport at a meeting in Hanoi, February 23, 2024. Photo courtesy of the transport ministry.

The two sides also discussed other projects, including Bien Hoa-Vung Tau railway (connecting the southern provinces of Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau), Pleiku-Quy Nhon expressway (connecting Central Highlands province of Gia Lai and central coastal province of Binh Dinh), Cam Lo-Lao Bao expressway (central province of Quang Tri), and traffic management of expressways and waterways in the southern region.

Sudeshna Ghosh Banerjee said the WB is willing to cooperate with Vietnam, including technical cooperation for metro line projects and non-financial support.

President of the WB Ajay Banga is set to visit Vietnam next month to push the collaboration between the two sides in the next three-four years, including the discussed traffic infrastructure projects, Banerjee added.

Vietnams railway infrastructure, with the first project of 71 kilometers dating back to 1881, is now outdated. The country has 3,315 kilometers of railways, with 1,000 millimeter-gauge railways accounting for 80%. The 1,435 millimeter-gauge railways account for 6%, while the rest is a mix of the two systems. The highest operational speed is 100 kilometers per hour.
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COLUMBIA --The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that USDA is funding 216 projects in 45 states including South Carolina to bring high-speed internet, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and economic growth to rural communities.

W. Metts Engineering Co., Inc. is receiving $268,000 to promote the expansion of high-speed internet in the community of Norway in South Carolina and the community of Blowing Rock in Virginia. W. Metts Engineering Co. Inc. will use funding to provide technical assistance for two existing Metts Eng Clients. This project will serve Distressed Energy Communities and Persistent Poverty Communities in South Carolina and Virginia.

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The new projects in South Carolina, totaling $18.5 million in investments, will benefit people living in remote areas of the state by providing reliable high-speed internet access, clean, safe water, and a range of support for rural families, agricultural producers, and small businesses.

South Carolina is extremely proud to be involved in these monumental projects, said George W. Hicks Jr., USDA South Carolina Rural Development Acting State Director Projects like this help to bring high-speed internet, and much needed water and wastewater infrastructure for rural Americans. When USDA Rural Development partners with rural communities, we are helping to create better job opportunities to further enhance our alluring communities in South Carolina.

USDA is investing in $51.7 million to expand access to high-speed internet for people in rural areas across the country through the Reconnect Program and the Broadband Technical Assistance Program.

Awards will benefit people living in South Carolina and 16 other states.
Voorhees University is launching its Student Health Ambassador Program, a two-year initiative funded by a $500,000 grant from the Centers for Rural and Primary Health.

Designed to give students with hands-on experience and knowledge, the program aims to spearhead health initiatives focused on reducing healthcare disparities within the local community and on campus.

Student Health Ambassador Shown are, from left, Antonio Taylor, Blaante Bartlett, Samiya Stuart, Nurse Suzanne Williams, Director of Health Services and Student Health 

The inaugural cohort of Student Health Ambassadors is comprised of Biology majors Samiya Stuart and Trevornique Williams, Computer Science majors Matthew Donaldson and Antonio Taylor, and Public Health major Blaante Bartlett. Under the guidance of Nurse Suzanne Williams, Director of Health Services and Student Health Ambassador Liaison, these students will seek to address critical healthcare challenges facing rural areas.

Expressing her enthusiasm for this initiative, Williams said, "I am thrilled about this unique opportunity, which offers our students firsthand exposure to the pressing issues and disparities within our community. Through practical engagement, they will emerge equipped to effect tangible change."

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At the heart of the program lies the Necessity of Health and Wellness-Tiger I.M.P.A.C.T., a five-point framework encompassing key areas crucial for combating healthcare disparities in rural regions. These areas include Investment (of finances), Mental Wellness, Physical Wellness, Advocacy, Chronic Disease, and Technology. Through specialized training and certification as Community Health Workers, Student Health Ambassadors will develop the skills necessary to organize and execute health and wellness events, conduct surveys, gather data, and forge new partnerships aimed at bolstering resources and services in rural communities, thereby enhancing overall community health and well-being.

Furthermore, the program will host a series of health awareness events open to the wider community. Among these events is the upcoming Sickle Cell Day of Testing scheduled for March 13, 2024, followed by Cupcakes and Condoms on March 19, 2024.

For additional information on the Student Health Ambassador Program, please contact Suzanne Williams at swilliams@voorhees.edu or call 803-780-1077.
156 years ago, Orangeburg sent its first Black politicians to the South Carolina General Assembly. That year of 1868,marked the beginning of the period known as Reconstruction. The time also set the pace for the first years of freedom of Blacks since the beginning of slavery in 1670.

James P. Mays was an extraordinary man of great talent and ability. His time in Orangeburg began in 1868 when he was selected to be one of our first Black politicians to serve the people in the state legislature. According to the United States Census, he was born in Canada and at some point came to America and became a soldier in the Massachusetts U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War.

By the time Mays was installed in the Statehouse, he was married to a woman named Isabella. They had one girl named Mary.

On May 4, 1868, the Charleston Daily Courier printed an article on the first General Assembly in the State of South Carolina that included the Black members. The New State Government  Saturday Last -- General Canby isssued General Orders No. 78, officially announcing the ratification of the Constitution adopted by the late Reconstruction Convention of this State, and also the names of the several persons elected to State and Federal offices and seats in the Legislature. The orders also provide for the installation of the newly elected State officers 'on the tenth day after the approval of the Constitution by the Congress of the United States.'

For Orangeburg County, James P. Mays served in the legislature from 1868 to 1870.

After his service in the General Assembly, Mays continued his political career in Orangeburg and became a member of the Election Commission, of which he became chairman and served in the post for a number of years.

The Orangeburg News printed on June 20, 1868, Praise to the Worthy -- We are requested by the Deputy Sheriff, to call the notice of the community to the praiseworthy conduct of James Mays, Wm. Myers, and Peter Bonnett, on Thursday of last week. These colored men used all their influence to counteract the pernicious effects of Randolphs attempting to excite the colored people to dangerous indiscretions. In so doing, they seconded the efforts of Messrs. Sturgeon and DeMars, which were exerted likewise in behalf of law and order.

(Note: That was Orangeburgs first Black senator, Benjamin F. Randolph. Randolph was murdered on Oct. 23, 1868, in Cokesbury by three white men.)

On Aug. 31, 1872, The Orangeburg News printed, Mr. J.P. Mays requests us to state that the statement to the effect that he is no longer a candidate for School commissioner is totally false; that he is still before the people for their suffrages and will not yield to any one until the Convention decides against him.

Then on April 5, 1873, The Orangeburg News reported, Appointed  His Excellency Gov. Moses by proclamation (which is published in another column) has appointed Trial Justice J.P. Mays as Coroner of the County of Orangeburg.

Later, on April 12, 1873, The Orangeburg News printed the proclamation. It stated: State of South Carolina Executive Department. Whereas a vacancy now exists in the office of Coroner for the county of Orangeburg:

"Now, know ye that I, FRANKLIN J. MOSES, JR., Governor of the State of South Carolina, by virtue of the power and author vested in me by an act of the General Assembly of said State entitled 'an act concerning the office, duties and liabilities of coroner,' approved January 27, 1873, do hereby appoint and constitute J.P. MAYS a Trial Justice of said county, as Coroner of Orangeburg, to fill said vacancy, and to perform the duties of said office until the Legislature shall order an election to fill said vacancy.

As the coroner of Orangeburg County, Mays took on his duty. The Orangeburg News posted on Aug. 30, 1873, Inquest  Last Tuesday, James P. Mays, Esq., acting Coroner held an inquest upon the dead body of Albert Glover, who was killed by being accidentally thrown upon a rapidly running saw at Whetstones saw mill, the day before. A verdict was rendered in accordance with the facts.

Then in April of 1874, Mays became involved with the case of Orangeburgs black County Treasurer John L. Humbert. The Orangeburg Times printed on April 9, 1874, County Treasurer J.L. Humbert who as on last Thursday was arrested and committed to the County Jail upon a warrant issued by the State Treasurer, for an alleged failure in paying over State taxes collected by him. The warrant of the State Treasurer alleged a failure on the part of Humbert to pay over sixteen thousand dollars ($16,000) for which he was accountable to the State. At four oclock the petitioner sued out a writ of Habeas Corpus, upon which he was brought before Trial Justice J. Felder Myers and James P. Mays.

In September 1874, Mays announced himself as a candidate for the office of county commissioner. The Orangeburg News wrote on Sept. 19, 1874, that: He is intelligent and honest, thoroughly familiar with public life, and would make a good officer.

Mays was successful in his efforts during the elections of 1874. He received 2,946 votes in becoming a member of the Orangeburg County Commission Office. Mays became the chairman of that office.

Humbert was convicted for his breach of trust and grand larceny. On Nov. 6, 1875, The Free Citizen printed, Pardoned  John L. Humbert has been pardoned by the Governor, and, we understand, is now at home with his family.

"The defendant was convicted at the January term, 1875, of the Court of General sessions for Orangeburg County of official misconduct as county treasurer and sentenced to imprisonment for one year in the penitentiary and fined $1,000.

During this historical period of Reconstruction (1868-76), the Blacks in our state played a prominent role in the political life in the governing of the people. In the so-called Compromise of 1876, South Carolina became a Democratic state again. The move took down most of the Black political leaders in the Republican Party in our state. This brought about the fall of Reconstruction.

In January 1878, James P. Mays faced a number of court cases that were filed against him by the State of South Carolina. Such as: State vs. J.P. Mays for official misconduct and breach of trust and obtaining money under false conspiracy to defraud.

Then in April 1879, George Boliver filed charges against Mays and his wife Isabella. The complaint stated: To James P. Mays: You are hereby summoned and required to answer the complaint in this action, which is filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County.

"If you fail to answer this complaint within the time aforesaid, the plaintiff will apply to the Court for judgment against you for the sum of one hundred and fifty Dollars, with interest at a rate of twelve per cent per annum from the twenty-seventh day of November one thousand eight hundred and seventy one, and costs. Jas. F. Izlar, Plaintifs Attorney-Dated March 20th, AD 1879.

With the numerous court filings against Mays, he departed Orangeburg to an unknown location. The Orangeburg Times printed on Oct. 29, 1880, Jas. P. Mays, who has been wanted here for some time to answer to an indictment for crimes committed under Radical rule, and who fled the County to avoid imprisonment, is on our streets again.

By 1881, Mays and his wife had moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He joined the Republican Party and continued his involvement in politics.

Mays must have been a most likeable person in the political world that he lived in. On Dec. 23, 1882, the Chattanooga Daily Times reported, Broken Association -- A Day of Great Excitement Among Policy Holders -- Yesterday was a day of the most intense excitement among the policy holders of the Lookout Birthday Association (Colored), which collapsed, as reported in yesterdays Times, on Thursday.

"Deputy sheriff C.E. Stanley left for Atlanta Thursday night in pursuit of J.P. Mays, the treasurer of the association, who, it is alleged, left, with all the funds, for South Carolina. The officer spotted him shortly after his arrival, and at once arrested him. Mays made no resistance. A warrant was issued in Atlanta, under the laws of Georgia, and formally served by the Georgia officers, and the prisoner waived a requisition and was carried back to the city on the first train.

"The news of his arrest was telegraphed here and created great excitement. During the day various rumors were afloat, it being the general impression that he had fully $1,500 in his possession; these statements kindled the excitement, and before the train arrived last night fully 150 negroes were in the depot to meet the prisoner; when he stepped from the train, they begun yelling and screaming, and a scene similar to the Tayloy mob was enacted."

"Mays was taken to jail and was there interviewed by the Times. He stated that he had been connected with the society but one week, and proposed leaving long before he thought the society was in danger of collapsing. He stated that what money he had on his person when arrested was his own and he could easily prove by the bank officials that he had it on deposit even before the association was organized.

"Mr. Stanley states that he is well convinced that the money Mays had was his own and had been in his possession before he became connected with the association.

On Dec. 24, 1882, the Chattanooga Daily Times printed - -The Birthday Association - Mays Trial Adjourned to Monday and He Gives Bond - J.P. Mays, the treasurer of the collapsed birthday association, was arraigned before Squire Giffe yesterday afternoon on the charge of obtaining money under false pretense. Mays did not become connected with the association until a few days since, and that the money he has had been deposited in bank several months before.

"In an interview with a reporter of the Atlanta Constitution Mays said: 'As far as being the treasurer of the association is concerned, I was not, and am not, its treasurer. I bought out the interest of the treasurer one day last week. He stated to me that the affair was in a good condition and could pay all its bills. I paid him ten dollars for his interest. As soon as I got into the concern they wanted me to be treasurer, but I told them that I would first investigate and see what there was in the treasury. In the bank I found $31.98, and on that day the association was called upon to pay $250. I went down in my pocket and loaned the concern $50. I told the other members that the concern had no money, and that they would have to go down in their pockets to meet the bills falling due.

"I put in $25 more. They owed me aside from that, on two policies, $76, making $161 that I was out. I told them that I was going to my home in Orangeburg, South Carolina and accordingly left yesterday. I was arrested here this morning, but as I have done nothing criminal, I have no fear that I will not come out all right.

Apparently, Mays came out of that situation OK. I find nothing that indicates him being convicted on the missing money from the Birthday Association.

Then on March 17, 1883, the Chattanooga Daily Times reported, --Saryntha Conley loomed into public notoriety again yesterday by having a fight with J.P. Mays, in which the former was considerably bruised.

Fitting in with the public was always a part of Mays' character. On May 20, 1883, the Chattanooga Daily Times reported, A Protest  The following was handed in for publication last evening: A mass meeting of the colored citizens is called for Monday afternoon at 4 oclock, at City hall. To adopt a memorial to the city council, protesting against moving the colored school from its present site to a frog pond on Branham street.

Since 1868, when James P. Mays was elected as a Republican in the South Carolina General Assembly, he continued his support as a member when he was living in Chattanooga. In November of 1884, Mays spoke at the Benevolent Hall in favor of the Republican ticket that had been presented.

James P. Mays, while living in Chattanooga, often had encounters dealing with criminal matters that he became involved in. Such as the case reported by the Chattanooga Daily Times on Feb. 21, 1887, A Deadly Blow -- Policeman Mitchell Nearly Killed in a Den of Gamblers  Shortly after midnight, Saturday night, Policemen Mitchell and Huffaker went to a saloon of J.P. Mays, near the firemens hall, and by careful watching discovered that a large number of negroes were in the room playing cards. They at once determined to make a raid and it came near costing Officer Mitchell his life.

"About 3:30 oclock Chief Allen was summoned and arrived on the scene with Officers Shelow, Duncan and Light, making a total of twelve officers around the den. Doors were burst open and the gamblers were placed under arrest. There were fifteen in the gang including J.P. Mays, the notorious proprietor of the vile hell-hole. Mays was placed under $3,750 bond, which he gave and was released.

Charges were brought against Mays for felonious assault. The Chattanooga Daily Times reported on May 25, 1887, Mays Acquitted -- The jury in the case of J.P. Mays colored, charged with felonious assault returned a verdict of not guilty this morning, after being out. The verdict was a genuine surprise to every one, and the jury were censured by a number of people.

Then on July 28, 1887, The Chattanooga Commercial wrote Protecting the Minors -- Will Dobbs, bar-keeper at J.P. Mays saloon, was yesterday fined $10 by Mayor Sharp for permitting a minor to visit the saloon and play pool.

Mays had to be in Mayors Court in May 1888 for doing business and selling whiskey on Sunday. The case was discharged.

On Aug. 2, 1888, The Chattanooga Daily Times printed from the Mayors Court -- J.P. Mays you are charged with selling whisky last Sunday. 'I am not guilty, your honor.'

"Two witnesses swore they bought whisky in Mays saloon on Sunday. Mays said if whisky had been sold it was done in violation of his orders by Dick Gresham, the manager of the saloon.

The Chattanooga Daily Times then reported on Nov. 13, 1891, A Cow Given as a Marriage Dowry -- A document rather out of the usual was filed with Register Rogers. It fully explains itself and is as follows: In consideration of the love and affection I have for my daughter, Miss Mary E. Mays, who is about to be married, I have this day given to her one milk cow (a dark brown in color), with a white face, to be hers free from any debts or liabilities of any future husband that she may have, and the intention for this instrument is expressly to give the said Mary E. Mays this property as her separate estate, for her sole use and disposition, and J.P. Mays my husband, joins me in this deed of gift. This 11th day of November, 1891 -- J.P. Mays and Isabella Mays.

Then on Sept. 21, 1893, The Chattanooga Daily Times printed, M.F. Michael, the proprietor of the St. James hotel, and J.P. Mays, a negro had a fight, that is Mr. Michael did the fighting and Mays was the fightee. Mays came into the hotel kitchen to see his friend, the cook, and became so hilarious the he disturbed the guests. He was ordered out, and refused to go. Then Mr. Michael after drubbing him soundly, put him out. He then had Michael arrested on the charge of assault and battery. He was discharged.

James P. Mays lived a most interesting life in Orangeburg right after the years of slavery. Joining the United States military during the years of the Civil War set the pattern of life that he ultimately lived. His role as one of the first black state representatives of Orangeburg County set the pace for his future life that he would live.

Mays served the people of Orangeburg County in various positions and roles from 1868 to 1879. From Orangeburg, he went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and made his marking on that city from 1881 until his death in 1900.

James P. Mays died on Sept. 5, 1900. He received a military-style burial in Chattanooga, Tennesee, with the rank of corporal in Company G of the 55 Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War.

Undoubtedly, the life James P. Mays was one of a kind that was of the good and bad. He touched many people in many ways.
Orangeburg City Council is planning to give Claflin University control over a portion of Goff Avenue near the campus.

Claflin has been asking the city to restrict public access to the road to address security concerns since 2022.

Council gave first reading approval to a plan transferring ownership of a portion of the road to the university at Tuesdays meeting.

Speeding cars and gun violence have been an issue on Goff Avenue for some time and the problem is getting worse, Claflin President Dr. Dwaun Warmack told council.

There have been multiple near-deaths, he said.

It's not if something happens, it is when something happens, Warmack said. I just hope that we can be proactive in this space to make the right decisions.

Claflin Department of Public Safety Chief Melvin Williams showed security camera footage from a Feb. 18 shooting incident that occurred on Goff Avenue. In the video, two men fired 17 rounds from a moving car as several students walked nearby.

Williams also showed photographs of bullet holes found in windows of the nearby science building the next day.

Thank God the person shooting didnt know how to shoot, Warmack said. If were not careful, well be here having a different conversation later.

Claflin police believe the individuals in the car were not students, Williams said.

That is part of a continuing narrative, a continuing story, that individuals are driving in and then they jump into cars and then take off, he said.

Council members appeared disturbed by the video.

We dont have the power to eliminate all these types of things from happening, but I think we can control it, Williams said. I think we can reduce it.

Warmack and Williams both thanked Orangeburgs Department of Public Safety for responding to cases on Goff Avenue, but said the complexities of a state road running through campus have put campus police in a compromised position.

The university recently hosted a town hall where students and parents discussed the issue for two hours, Warmack said. Several Claflin students attended the council meeting.

Parents have said, they don't want their kids to come back to Orangeburg if we can't find a way to have a solution that's there, he said.

The proposal approved by council Tuesday would give Claflin ownership of Goff Avenue from Magnolia to Clark streets. This portion of the road runs through Clalfins campus, separating the student health center and Tullis Arena from the rest of campus.

The stretch of road is the main crossing point for students coming to and from the newly constructed student center, Warmack said.

Warmack told council the university will also be building a new nursing building by the student health center on the portion of Goff Avenue they want transferred to Claflin.

The city had previously hoped to close the road through court action, but has since decided transferring ownership of a portion of the road to Claflin  that can then close or restrict traffic at its discretion  is a faster and more efficient way to address the problem, City Administrator Sidney Evering said.

The state transferred ownership of the road to the city about a year ago after, Evering said. This allows the city to transfer the property to the university, if council votes to do so.

Warmack declined to share specific plans for the road until the proposal is further along in the approval process, but he told council there would still be automobile access to Goff Avenue.

The university could install gates allowing drivers with stickers to drive through, he said.

Were just trying to stop traffic, he said. Goff Street after 6 p.m. is a totally different place.

Two residential properties not owned by the university stand on the portion of Goff Avenue the university hopes to close.

An owner of one of those properties resisted the proposal when it was initially put forward, but the university has not been in contact with the owner in several months, Warmack said. The property in question has remained vacant for around 18 months, he said.

Mayor Michael Butler said the owners of the two properties do not live there.

Former councilmember Bernard Haire  who represented the neighborhood before his retirement  held several meetings with representatives and students from Claflin and South Carolina State University, Warmack said.

The owners of the two properties did not attend despite invitations, he said. The properties have been vacant for several years and have provided access for illegal activity on both Claflin and S.C. States campuses, he claimed.

University officials previously said Goff Avenue residents would still have access to their property.

The closing of the road does not change the universitys commitment to being part of the community, Warmack said. He cited Claflins investment in the Railroad Corner redevelopment project and willingness to take on the maintenance of Goff Avenue.

The university plans to expand further down Goff Avenue in the future, but is focused on addressing the safety issues on the stretch between Magnolia and Clark first, he said.

Councilmember Annette Dees Grievous, a professor of speech and drama at Claflin, recused herself from voting on the proposal to avoid a conflict of interest. She will continue to do so during future votes, she said.

The vote was unanimous, with Grevious abstaining. The proposal will require two more votes of approval before being enacted.
(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.
ENERGY Minister Stuart Young has taken umbrage at comments made by Ronald Harford, former chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, as he boasted about the success of the energy sector.

Young said whenever somebody becomes a former, their mouth gets big, as he quoted from an article in Fridays Express report where Harford made critical comments.
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.
A Pima County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a man who had a sworn drawn as he came toward deputies, the Sheriff's Department says.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department gave the following account in a news release Sunday:

Deputies were sent to the 4800 block of South Palo Verde at about 10 p.m. Saturday. A 911 caller reported a man was yelling outside of a hotel room and waving a sword.

When deputies tried to communicate with him, the man removed the sword from its sheath and advanced on them.

A deputy fired his department-issued handgun, striking the man. Deputies rendered first-aid until Rural Metro Fire Department personnel arrived. The man was pronounced dead on scene.

No other information has been released.

The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team has been activated to handle the criminal investigation of the incident. The Tucson Police Department is the lead investigating agency for the shooting involving the deputy. The Pima County Sheriffs Department will conduct a separate investigation to determine if any policy violations occurred. As is standard practice, all findings will be forwarded to the Pima County Attorneys Office.
PHOENIX  Arizona may be on the verge of prohibiting the sale of lab-grown meat in local grocery stores based at least in part on the claims by the measures sponsor that billionaire Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum have openly declared war on our ranching.

On a party-line vote last week, the state House approved a proposal by first-term Rep. David Marshall to keep those products off the shelves of Arizona stores.

Strictly speaking, his HB 2121 would not make these products that are slowly becoming available totally off-limits to Arizonans. The Snowflake Republican said residents could still buy them  but from other states, meaning traveling there in person or ordering them in the mail.

But forget about obtaining them locally.

Whats behind that war on ranching by others, he said, are environmental claims.

Whats the issue with ranching, whats the issue cattle? Marshall told colleagues at a legislative hearing.

They fart and they burp, he said. And it causes too much methane.

Marshall called himself a free-market capitalist.

And I believe in businesses, he continued. However, when youre dealing with companies like this that are seeking to eradicate ranching in our state, in our country, it has to be dealt with.

At issue are cells from living animals that are grown in a laboratory and fed nutrients so they multiply. They eventually can be harvested and shaped into fillets or cutlets,

State lawmakers are wrestling with the issue this year in two ways.

One proposal by Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, simply requires disclosure. HB 2244 would prohibit anyone from intentionally labeling a product that is not derived from what had once been a live animal as meat.

That measure gained bipartisan approval in the House and now awaits Senate action.

Marshall, by contrast, wants to go a step further and keep it from even being marketed in Arizona. And he said his reasons go beyond protecting the states ranching interests.

He cited a joint report by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, saying it found 53 potential health hazards of lab-cultured meat.

These include contamination with heavy metals such as additives to improve the taste and texture of these products, chemical contaminants, toxic components, antibodies and prions, Marshall said, the last being a type of protein that can cause disease.

But while the report identified potential hazards, what Marshall did not say is that it also says that there needs to be more data generated to determine not only the risks but also the benefits of lab-grown meat as well as to prepare regulatory actions. Nor did the report conclude that what is grown in laboratories is necessarily any better or worse than what comes from animal carcasses.

It will be necessary to closely observe as to what extent, if any, cell-based foods result in differences from conventionally produced foods, the report says.

The whole idea of prohibiting the manufacture and sale of these products in Arizona drew questions for Marshall from Rep. Keith Seaman. The Casa Grande Democrat said he saw no reason to prevent consumers from having the ability to purchase the items locally.

Your side of the aisle talks about rights of people, he told the GOP lawmaker. Shouldnt they have the right to buy it if they want to?

And Seaman said there are precedents for letting Arizonans have the option to buy things even if they may not be healthy. Consider, he said, the fact that people remain free to buy cigarettes at local stores.

I should think people should have the right, if they choose to, to buy that here in Arizona, Seaman said.

Marshall, for his part, defended his plan to keep lab-grown meats off the shelves of the grocery stores used by Arizona consumers.

This doesnt prevent them from buying it, he said.

I buy seafood from Seattle online, Marshall said. Ditto, he said, of seafood from Boston.

But he remained adamant that the lab-grown meats  and his claim of all the different side effects  should not be marketed to Arizonans by Arizona retailers.

Its almost like saying to your child or your grandchild that, You know what? Lets go get some ice cream. I know this company over here sells it and its got these poisons and stuff in it, but youre going to be OK because were buying it here in Arizona, Marshall said.

Anyway, he said, its not just a question of a direct effect on the health of those who consume the product. Theres that whole issue of greenhouse gases, saying that the global warming potential of lab-grown meat is up to 25 times higher than an equivalent amount from a live animal.

That, however, depends on how the meat is produced.

A study reported in MIT Technology Review said that using a process that depends on food-grade ingredients results in the equivalent of 10 to 75 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kilogram of beef. That, the report says, is less than the global average emissions from beef.

But it also says that if they use a biopharmaceutical-like process of energy-intensive purification steps to remove contaminants, then carbon dioxide pollution is between 250 and 1,000 kilograms.

While every House Republican voted to support the local sales ban when it came up for a vote this past week, not all of them actually are on board with the concept.

I understand there are concerns about folks who are very adverse to our constituents coming in and trying to control the food supply through these cultured meats or whatever, said Rep. Alexander Kolodin. But the Scottsdale lawmaker said that, in this form, with the absolute ban on Arizona sales, is not acceptable to him.

In fact, Kolodin said, he would expect Gov. Katie Hobbs to veto the measure if it comes to her in this form.

And, unlike almost all of Katie Hobbs vetoes, that will probably be a good one, he said,

But with all Democrats opposed, Kolodin agreed to provide the necessary 31st vote in the 60-member House to send it to the Senate.

Its a conversation I think is worth having, he said. And Kolodin said that allowing the bill to go to the Senate for what he hopes are further modifications would keep the conversation going.

The Food and Drug Administration last year approved the sale of lab-grown chicken. That cleared the way for two companies to offer their products to restaurants and, eventually, directly to consumers.

Two restaurants already have offered the product to consumers, including one owned by Jose Andres, known also for his World Central Kitchen which provides meals in disaster zones and similar hazards.

But the product has not made its way to store shelves, at least in part because of the price tag: Even the most recent estimates put the cost at twice that of buying chicken at a grocery store.
Alex Bohon was destined to be in the restaurant business.

Both of his parents were restaurateurs and he grew up working in the kitchen. Out of all his siblings, he was the only one who took a liking to cooking, continuing to work with his father, Otto Ramon Bohon.

He later went to the city of angels to study and train under a few chefs, working in various restaurants around Los Angeles. He even spent time in Ensenada, Mexico and Rosarito, Mexico, where he learned the ins and outs of higher-end Mexican cuisine.

After mastering his cooking skills, he came back to Tucson to help his father out at his beloved restaurant, Taqueria La Esquina.

Now, Alex is ready to follow in his parents footsteps, opening a new Mexican spot on Broadway that will feature fun drinks, food and great atmosphere.

This one is a 50-50 partnership between me and my father and I'm pretty excited about it, Alex said. It's like bohemian-Sonoran style with a full agave bar.

When it came to cooking, Alex said he mostly taught himself, gaining more and more knowledge with every kitchen he worked in. He learned from the best in Mexico, describing his experience as intense, saying there was less room for mistakes.

It is super high pressure, whereas I tried to create a pretty low pressure environment, so everyone is happy, Alex said.

Alex later helped run the Taqueria La Esquina truck, which is how the south-side brick-and-mortar got its start. He and the manager would work until 4 a.m. on the weekends, putting up the tarp, tables and salsa bars in the morning and taking it all down by the end of the night.

Around four years ago, Taqueria La Esquina opened a brick-and-mortar at 4876 S. Sixth Ave. Papel picado banners hang from the ceiling while two skeletons in sombreros are painted on one of the walls. Tripa, pork belly, birria, tripa, toritos, Sonoran dogs and cheesy papas locas are all on the menu.

One of their most Instagram-worthy dishes is their concha French toast. Slices of French toast cover the plate, topped with powdered sugar, blueberries and strawberries.

I took a lot of the things that I learned in Rosarito and LA and I saw all the innovations they're creating, Alex said. I basically just go to the local bakeries and look at breads, think of ingredients or eat different cuisines that aren't necessarily Mexican cuisine and be like, oh, there's a way I can incorporate this into our menu. Then we take a full-staff approach at it where we give full creativity to as much of our staff as we want. Everybody gets a chance to make anything they want add to the menu, as long as we all taste and say, yeah, that's awesome.

With so many different tacos on the menu, Alex said the key to perfection starts with the tortillas. The marinade and quality of meat are also important factors, but you have to have a good, homemade tortilla to really bring it home.

With the popularity of Taqueria La Esquina, it only made sense to expand. Alex said he and his father began toying with the idea of looking for a new spot and started to scout out places in downtown Tucson. Because of high real estate prizes, they decided to stop looking and focus on their current location.

But opening a new spot was in their fate. They eventually heard about a vacant spot at 5340 E. Broadway, which once housed now-closed eatery The Dutch. They met at the building one morning and decided to give the realtor a call.

Before you know it, they were the new owners of the place. The empty building will soon be home to Copal, which means amber, Alex said.

This is the first time we've actually had a professional team in our entire life, Alex said. Everything that we've done has been by ourselves with our own hands, like if you go to La Esquina, the speakers are handmade. I'm really excited to work with a professional team and have this place look like as good as it possibly can.

Copal will be twice the size of Taqueria La Esquina, with a large dining area, full agave bar and three patios. The restaurant will have a bohemian feel, getting inspiration from some of the decorations seen on Dia De Los Muertos and the colorful patterns on ballet folkorico dresses.

My dad is in Guadalajara and hes FaceTiming me every hour. Hes like, look at these chairs, how about these aprons? Alex said. There's a big event right now that happens once a year down there for restaurants. So it [the decor] is all going to be authentic from Mexico.

The menu will feature some of the Taqueria La Esquina classics, like the tacos and Sonoran dogs. They will also add higher-end meals, like pastor trompos that will be brought to the table so customers can cut their own meat.

Parrillada, which is like a Mexican barbecue feast featuring meat like carne asada, pork belly and chorizo, is also slated to be on the menu, along with vegan dishes.

Since the kitchen is big enough, they are even planning to have a little tortilla factory where they make and package the tortillas themselves. Every taco will be wrapped in delicious homemade tortillas.

We'll have a team dedicated to just making and packaging tortillas, we'll probably be selling them as well, Alex said. There's a few things that we'll also have here, like we're going to sell our aprons, hats and non-slip shoes. We're going to sell our own products out of this location that are dedicated to people in the service industry that are as well stylish.

In addition to the yummy food, Copal will also have a full agave bar where they will serve drinks like sotol, bacanora and mezcal. One of their drinks is a take on a mezcalita, featuring guajillo syrup, Ancho Reyes liqueur, mezcal, jamaica and jamaica reduction with lime juice. Its then garnished with black salt and edible gold.

Right now, Alex is busy upgrading the building to make it better fit their vibe and aesthetic. He hopes to open Copals doors in mid-April, bringing a little bit of Mexico to Broadway.

It's a new challenge, Alex said. Even coming from a family of restaurateurs, this is a scope that neither one of us has ever done. I mean, I've worked in kitchens like this, but I've never managed a place or been in charge of anything like this. I'm just mostly excited to see it function, see people eat and watching the way people react to a concept that I think is pretty new here.
At 5:30 p.m. nearly every Monday, a group of 10 local teenagers walk into a large garage on Tucsons northwest side.

No, theyre not getting ready for band practice, studying the latest TikTok dance, learning to work on a broken-down car or any other cool teenage activity you might typically find happening in a garage nowadays.

As they put on their safety glasses, they begin working on something much bigger.

Theyre building a small airplane.

Its not unusual for teens to participate in extracurricular activities after school. They might volunteer at soup kitchens, play sports, practice musical instruments and join clubs.

However, local nonprofit Southern Arizona Teen Aviation is taking extracurriculars to new heights with its free plane-building program that hopes to ignite a love of aviation in teens.

We love aviation obviously, and we tried to figure out ways to engage kids, said Alan Muhs, the co-founder of SATA and a pilot with several decades of experience. I think as adults, we have a responsibility to help the next generation be successful. And I look at this program as giving them an opportunity to experience something that (they) probably wouldn't otherwise. (We) give them an opportunity to discover something they're interested in. And some kids come in, they're interested. Some kids come in and they're not. But at least they have a chance.

Throughout the three-hour Monday evening session, the teens work on various parts of the RV-12 airplane  a small, single-engine, two-seater aircraft from Vans Aircraft  thats about 90% completed as we're writing this.

Some are using a rivet gun to secure rivets into the planes ailerons, while others are working on the wiring of the aircrafts avionics (under the supervision of one of SATAs many mentors, of course).

Although they are working on a serious project, you cant help but be reminded of their youth as they crack a joke or two and make (almost) harmless bets with one another about shaving off an eyebrow for the person who finishes their rivets last.

The 10 student participants consist of five girls and five boys  sophomores through seniors from various local high schools including Catalina High School, Amphitheater High School, Ironwood Ridge High School, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy and Catalina Foothills High School. This is the program's first year with an equal amount of boys and girls. Typically, it's primarily boys.

Many of the teens heard about SATA through one of their high school science classes and thought the program sounded like a good opportunity to learn about aviation while meeting new people.

Senior Amanda Miranda was one of the only students to join the program after her mother discovered the program online. Its her first and last year in the program because she's a graduating senior, but she says shes enjoyed the journey so far.

This is kind of unrelated to the aviation aspect, but I think (my favorite part is) meeting a bunch of older people and talking to them and seeing their perspectives, she said. Talking to them about going to college or figuring out the next step. Their perspective is cool to see. We hear a bunch about their experiences and how they got into aviation and how I can get into aviation, too.

Like many others in the program, Miranda aspires to have a career in aviation. She says she can see herself becoming a commercial airline pilot.

For second-year participant Noah Parrish, joining the program was the first step in honoring his grandfathers legacy as an engineer and pilot.

Its been great, he said. Ive learned so much about tools and working on planes and anything with planes.

He says after his final year in the program next year, he wants to become an aerospace engineer, start his own space company and send people to the moon.

Similarly, junior and first-year participant Fenton Goldener hopes to become a helicopter pilot for the Army after high school.

Just coming here and not only being able to build an airplane but also getting to talk to people like Noah, Sarah, Amanda and talk with my mentors like Mr. Chabolla, Mr. Sanchez, its all great, Goldener said.

First-year participant Sarah Zuber plans to become a veterinarian or an aerospace engineer and became involved in the program to see if she would truly enjoy an aviation career or if she wants to stick to the veterinarian path.

I love working here. I didnt even know how to use a drill when I first got here, so its been very informative and I know how to do a bunch of things now, she said, adding: I like all the opportunities it gives us but I also really like working with the metal and riveting and the (overall) hands-on experience of it.

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SATA currently meets weekly on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings to work on their current aircraft. Since the program is centered around teens, the organization follows an academic calendar.

For safety reasons, the program is capped at 10 students per academic year. The application period for the next academic year is scheduled to open next month, according to Muhs.

We teach them to work together, how to read the plans, how to do inventory, how to use the tools and theyre getting a wealth of experience and knowledge and growth, Muhs said. There's no shop classes in high school anymore. There are no hands-on (opportunities) in the classroom. They get lectures, they do tests, and maybe in science classes, there's a little bit of that (hands-on experience). We tell them when they come in theres no test, no homework. But we do expect you to come and work and give the effort that we all believe it deserves and should have.

We love aviation. We love sharing it with young people and we love helping them be successful.

SATA has worked on this particular RV-12 aircraft for a couple of years, mostly due to a pause in the program and shipping delays during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, it can take between 700 and 900 hours for experienced builders to put together this aircraft, according to Vans Aircrafts website.

Muhs and the rest of SATA chose the Vans Aircraft RV-12 because its the only small aircraft kit in the country that comes with everything you need. The kit comes with the engine, wings, frame, canopy  you name it. The total kit cost around $110,000, Muhs says.

This airplane comes complete. So we can take it from beginning to end, Muhs said. And they (teens in the program) do all the work. We get involved once in a while when things go south. But one of the things I really impress upon them is this is a safe place.  We're not going to give you a hard time if you make a mistake. I expect you're going to make mistakes and I want you to learn how to fix mistakes. You're gonna make mistakes your whole life. You learn how to fix them, how to get past them and how to move on. So, we just tell them when they make a mistake, Fess up, let's figure it out.

The RV-12 that the current SATA teens are working on is the organizations third plane. Like their previous aircrafts, once completed, they test-fly the plane, take the teens for rides and then begin the selling process to raise additional money for more RV-12 kits.

As a nonprofit, SATA primarily runs on monetary and resource donations. The current workshop garage that SATA works out of is owned by construction contractor Matt North, a friend of Muhs who lets the organization utilize it free of charge. Locals Joey and Neal Bowker also provided an airplane hangar at Ryan Airfield that SATA can use for free as they test, store and even work on planes.

Of course, theres an invaluable donation made to SATA every week  the time and knowledge of the organizations volunteers who mentor teens in the program.

SATAs mentors come from a variety of backgrounds including ex-military members who flew fighter jets and helicopters, commercial airline pilots, flight instructors, a public safety helicopter pilot, an electrical engineer from Boeing and more.

Altogether, the mentors have decades of experience and thousands of hours of flying time.

I really wish when I was thinking of doing this that there was somebody I couldve asked questions to about the military, about commercial (flying), about everything and there wasnt, said Miguel Chabolla, a SATA mentor and former military pilot and commercial pilot for United Airlines. So, I love being available to them to answer any questions or give them some guidance or whatever they need.

One of the newer mentors is 21-year-old Wyatt Scott  a certified aircraft mechanic who currently works for SkyWest Airlines. Scott was a SATA student back in 2018 and returned to SATA as a mentor in 2021.

Everybody starts somewhere and I had people helping me from where I was to where I am now and I figured that it would be a good thing to come back and continue the program. But also, its cool working on airplanes. So, if I have an excuse to come work on an airplane, Im going to, Scott said.

Scott credits the program with helping him find a direction career-wise after high school.

We have a wide variety of experiences as far as builders, mechanics, pilots, he said. Even if youre not here to work on airplanes, you get to fly them, you get to talk to people who have flown them, you can talk to people here about a career path and where you want to go after high school and thats very valuable for students.

Since its founding in 2017, Muhs estimates that between 60 and 70 local teens have participated in the program. Many past participants have gone on to become pilots in the military, flight instructors and engineers.

We've had a lot of great kids come through here and it's just wonderful to spend time with them, Muhs said.

As for whats next for SATA, the team plans on finishing their current project aircraft  their third RV-12  this summer, followed by putting more work into their fourth aircraft which they have already started. They also hope to have a livestream of their workdays up on their website soon.

More importantly, theyre looking forward to continuing their mission of helping local teens find a passion for aviation, whether thats professionally or just as a fun hobby.

I'm very happy where it's going right now. We bring our kids in, we spend time with them. I get to meet a lot of really neat young people, Muhs said, adding: Were a bunch of retired guys, for the most part. We love aviation. We love sharing it with young people and we love helping them be successful.

For more information about Southern Arizona Teen Aviation, check out their website.
Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow Jimmie Tramel 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

Lily Gladstone made history and picked up another major award for her work in Killers of the Flower Moon when she was among winners Saturday night at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Gladstone won in the category of outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role. Gladstone, who played Mollie Burkhart in the shot-in-Oklahoma Martin Scorsese film, became the first Indigenous actor to win a SAG Award in that category.

Gladstone previously made history when she was a winner for best lead actress at the Golden Globe Awards. She became the first Indigenous actor to win the award.

Gladstone secured a best actress nomination for the upcoming Academy Awards, which will take place March 10. The SAG Awards have traditionally been a predictor of Oscar success. Over the previous two years, every actor who won a trophy for best lead actor, best lead actress, best supporting actor and best supporting actress at the SAG Awards repeated at the Academy Awards.

Its truly a gift that we get to do this for a living, Gladstone said during her SAG Awards acceptance speech. Thats the win is getting to be here. It is getting to be on set. It is getting to tell stories. We bring empathy into a world that so much needs it. Its so easy to distance ourselves. Its so easy to close off, to stop feeling, and we all bravely keep feeling, and that humanizes people. That brings people out of the shadows. It brings visibility. Keep telling stories to everybody in this room, to everybody watching abroad.

Continuing, she said, Those of you who are not actors but have a voice, (who) have a story that needs to be heard, thank you for all of the compassionate souls in this room and all of the storytellers here tonight. Keep speaking your truths, and keep speaking up for each other.

Robert De Niro of Killers of the Flower Moon was nominated in the category of outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role, but the award went to Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer.

Killers of the Flower Moon also was nominated in the category of outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. The cast of Oppenheimer won the award.

Tulsas Bill Hader (HBOs Barry) was a SAG Awards nominee in the category of outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series. Jeremy Allen White won for his work in The Bear.

30th Screen Actors Guild Awards

MOVIES ENSEMBLE

Oppenheimer

FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon

MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer

FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

DaVine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer

STUNT ENSEMBLE

Mission: Impossible  Dead ReckoningPart I

TELEVISION

DRAMA ENSEMBLE

Succession

COMEDY ENSEMBLE

The Bear

FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown

MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us

MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Ayo Edebiri, The Bear

FEMALE ACTOR IN A LIMITED TV SERIES OR MOVIE

Ali Wong, Beef

MALE ACTOR IN A LIMITED TV SERIES OR MOVIE

Steven Yeun, Beef

STUNT ENSEMBLE

The Last of Us

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JENKS  Mayor Cory Box describes his city of 27,000 people as home to one of the best school districts in the state and with many residents who are financially healthy.

But, he said, Were not a sales-tax wealthy city. We may not even be a middle-class sales-tax wealthy city.

That may be about to change.

With major redevelopment in downtown  including a Main Street storm-sewer and sidewalk project  a 75-tenant outlet mall set to open later this year just south, a potential new hospital near U.S. 75 and other areas of growth, Jenks is poised to boom.

If we could sign everything (potential development) right now, were looking at $800 million ... to almost $1 billion in investment, he said.

That includes Tulsa Premium Outlets, a long-planned, 340,000-square-foot outlet mall, set to open in August just south of the Creek Turnpike and downtown.

Another area primed for development includes locations just east of U.S. 75, especially south of Main Street, where Ascension St. John Medical Center may build a multi-story hospital, he said.

A third, and less-known area, he said, is the area north of 121st Street, west of U.S. 75 and bordered by 33rd West Avenue. The Glenpool city limits is south of 121st Street in that area and includes a shopping center, anchored by a Walmart Supercenter.

Downtown

Bryan Wilks is an entrepreneur with a tech background and promoter of The Ten District, which he says is a description along Main Street from railroad tracks from near 1st Street, extending 10 blocks east to the Arkansas River.

Wilks, who has a masters degree in computer science from Harvard University, seems to be well-known and liked in the downtown area with several business owners when the Tulsa World interviewed he and his business partner, Shae Roach, last week.

Wilks and Roach have invested $2 million to $3 million to refurbish a 12,000-square-foot, 100-year-old building at 106 and 102 E. Main St., which includes a partnership with lululemon, a luxury womens clothing store, they said.

Also planned for their building is a 6,100-square-foot farmers market.

The building formerly housed Miss McGillicuttys Antiques.

Anytime youre making change in a downtown ... youre going to get some people that its disruptive to them and we understand that, Wilks said.

But for the most part ... most people are really happy we are here.

A few doors down and across the street, construction is also ongoing for a $10 million mixed-used development as part of an expansion of the Tedford Insurance Building at 121 E. Main St. That development will include a McNellies Group steak house and at least one other establishment.

We finally have a progressive city council, city manager, city mayor, programs in place focused on downtown. Weve never really had that, said Josh McFarland, owner of Red Dog Construction, which is also located downtown and is leading the Tedford building project.

Were all looking to revitalize and have all these offerings, Roach said.

Its an exciting time to partner with emerging and long-standing businesses, as well as developers who are choosing to invest in Jenks, said Heather Turner, President and CEO of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce.

As chamber CEO and a long-time business owner on Main Street, I understand the positive impact this development has on the business community, she said.

With the Simon Premium Outlet Mall opening this summer, the chamber is working with developers to leverage the anticipated increase in foot traffic to develop and redevelop other areas around our community.

The Tedford building project is expected to be completed about the same time as the opening of the outlet mall, likely in August.

The Main Street improvement project downtown began last summer and is expected to be completed by July, Box said.

Other areas

Jenks, which is about 18 square miles, has a median household income of more than $61,000 and a median owner-occupied home value of $170,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But as Box pointed out, those figures do not help with an anticipated need for additional city services, such as street improvements, and additional firefighters and police officers.

Those are funded through sales taxes, as cities can not use property taxes to generate revenue under state law.

However, the opening of the outlet mall, new businesses downtown and development elsewhere the city will likely result in a big influx of revenue, Box said.

A tax increment finance district was approved as an incentive for the mall, meaning about half of the sales tax revenue that the city would receive will be deferred for the next several years, Box said.

A TIF is a mechanism for capturing future tax benefits of real estate improvements, in order for developers to pay for present cost of those improvements.

However, the city will still benefit, Box said.

When youre getting 1.5 cents on every (tax) dollar instead of 3 cents, its still a massive windfall for the city, he said.

The mayor said that while the future looks very bright for the city, his only concern with all the potential growth is infrastructure.

Its a huge part to secure the future of Jenks, he said.

Traffic is not going to get better. We are going to have more fender-benders. There are really not a lot of good options (presently) other than the infrastructure that we have.

That is why mayors and city councilors and city managers always look ahead. What we are going to need 10 years from now, we need to plan for now, Box said.

Our mayor is a pro-business champion known for saying Jenks is open for business and we have a great deal of business happening, Turner said.

We are all pulling in the same direction, that being toward the common goal of prosperity for our Jenks businesses and the best quality of life for our Jenks citizens, she said.

We are thrilled with the nearly one billion dollars of investment in commercial development underway in Jenks. Its an exciting time to partner with emerging and long-standing businesses, as well as developers who are choosing to invest in Jenks, Turner said.

We hope everyone who comes to Jenks to visit the mall will also venture to visit ... our Oklahoma Aquarium, grab something to eat on Main Street and shop at some of our unique boutiques and shops. We have a great opportunity before us to show the millions soon to be coming just how brightly our community shines.
The Oklahoma Insurance Department kicked off February with a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, announcing our Earthquake Awareness Month social media campaign.

Ironically enough, a 5.1 magnitude quake struck near Prague, about eight and a half hours later.

I can assure you that OID cannot predict earthquakes, but this illustrates perfectly how earthquakes happen without warning and why you should always be prepared.

This month, I want to provide helpful information to Oklahomans to help them determine their earthquake insurance needs.

What is earthquake insurance, and how does it work?

Earthquake insurance protects your home from earthquake-related damage. This coverage is an endorsement (amendment) to your existing homeowners policy or a separate, stand-alone policy.

Contrary to what many consumers might think, a standard homeowners policy does not cover earthquake damage. Earthquake insurance works with your policy to offer more protection for your home.

What does earthquake insurance cover?

Earthquake insurance covers repairs needed because of earthquake damage to your home and may cover other structures not attached to your house, like a garage.

Some policies may also cover your personal property against damage, the increased costs to meet current building codes, the stabilization of the land under your home and debris removal. The coverage can also pay for the extra living expenses you may have while your home is being rebuilt or repaired.

What does earthquake insurance not cover?

Each policy has different exclusions, so review your policy or contact your insurance company to find out exactly what isnt included.

Typically, earthquake insurance wont cover something already included in your homeowners policy, such as fire damage, or any pre-existing damage to your home not caused by an earthquake.

It typically wont cover damage to vehicles either. Your car insurance policy may cover that damage.

Do I need earthquake insurance?

The U.S. Geological Survey outlines some things to consider when purchasing earthquake insurance, like how close your home is to active faults, the earthquake history of the region, your homes construction type and materials, and the slope of the land.

Its also necessary to consider your financial situation and how much it would cost to repair or rebuild your home.

A qualified contractor or engineer can help you assess your risks. After an earthquake occurs, many insurance companies may impose a waiting period due to aftershocks, which is why its essential to be proactive and consider purchasing earthquake insurance before your home sustains damage.

What determines earthquake premiums and deductibles?

Factors, like your homes size, location, age and construction type, determine premiums.

Insuring your home for replacement cost or actual cash value also determines premiums.

Its important to note that earthquake deductibles are a percentage of the insured value of your home and not a usual set amount like $500 or $1,000 in homeowners policies.

Are there additional resources about earthquakes and insurance?

As with all your insurance-related questions, OID is here for you. You can contact us at 800-522-0071 or visit our Earthquakes page for helpful information.

 Glen Mulready is a former state legislator who has served as Oklahomas Insurance Commissioner since 2019. He was elected to the post in 2018.

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Two people have been arrested in connection to a possible threat at the University of Tulsa campus Friday afternoon, the Tulsa Police Department reports.

According to police, they were called to the campus after 4 p.m. in reference to a threating violent act. They said that campus security told police that an employee of an on-campus restaurant sent a photo to the restaurant staff of the employee holding a rifle and stating that he was coming to the student union to harm the restaurant staff.

Police reviewed the photo and several social media posts of the employee holding weapons making a threating message.

Officers learned the residence of the employee and set up surveillance around the area of 12300 East Admiral and obtained a search warrant for the employees residence.

Police phoned the restaurant employee, who exited the residence along with a second suspect. Both were detained by officers without incident.

The police executed the warrant after 7:30 p.m. and located an AR-15 pistol from the message, a second AR pistol and a Glock 23 equipped with a Glock switch and a high-capacity drum magazine.

The employee was arrested and charged with threatening a violent act and unlawful possession of a firearm. The employee is under the age of 21. The second suspect was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a firearm after adjudication for the second AR-15 pistol and the apparently automatic converted Glock.

A spokesperson with the University of Tulsa released a statement regarding the incident saying At no time during the incident was there an active threat on campus.

However, out of an abundance of caution, university officials evacuated the area where the vendors worked. TU Campus Security and Tulsa Police monitored the area until the credibility of the threat could be assessed and action taken.

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Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Teacher of the Year: A fourth grade teacher from Pratt Elementary School is Sand Springs Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

Britta Hartman was announced as the districts winner at a ceremony Monday. She has been an educator for 10 years, with half of that with Sand Springs Public Schools.

Shifting standards: At Thursdays meeting, the Oklahoma State Board of Education voted 4-0 to approve new academic standards for personal financial literacy and information literacy.

The changes to the personal financial literacy standards include expanding the amount of information that must be covered regarding student loans and credit scores. As approved Thursday, the standards would require explaining what a credit score is and identifying factors that can affect a credit score, such as payment history. Secondary students will also need to be able to compare different student loan sources.

The revised standards must be approved by the Oklahoma Legislature before they are adopted.

Emergency certification count: Also at Thursdays meeting, the Oklahoma State Board of Education approved 103 emergency teacher certificates. Since the start of the fiscal year on July 1, the board has approved 4,028 emergency teaching credentials.

Connecting to sources: Tulsa Public Schools will host a Community Connections session for immigrant and newcomer families at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Casa de la Cultura, 1515 N. Harvard Ave. The session will be conducted in English and Spanish, with additional translation services available upon request.

Job fair: Bixby Public Schools will host a job fair from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday at 14901 S. Harvard Ave. Dinner will be provided, and attendees are asked to preregister at bixbyps.info/jobfair.

Student performance: In honor of Black History Month, OSU-Tulsa will host Community Youth Explosion starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Open to the public, the free event will feature song, dance and spoken word performances from area students in the facilitys auditorium, as well as an appearance from Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Traci Manuel. Food trucks and vendors will be on site.

Safety discussion: In collaboration with Berryhill Public Schools, the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office is hosting an internet safety parent night at 6 p.m. March 5 in the high school auditorium. Attendees must register by Friday at bit.ly/InternetSafetyBerryhill.

Stickball and storytelling: Owasso Indian Education is hosting a Cherokee heritage festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 2 at Owasso High Schools west campus, 8800 N. 129th East Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Stay home day: Friday is a distance-learning day for Broken Arrow and Jenks. Classes are not in session Friday for Catoosa or Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences.

School board calendar: The boards of education for Tulsa Public Schools and Tulsa Tech are scheduled to meet Monday.

KIPP Tulsas governing board is scheduled to meet Tuesday.
Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Not surprisingly, Tulsas nine-member City Council is not of one voice when it comes to creating a commission to establish and implement a reparations program for the 1921 Race Massacre.

As of last week, five of nine councilors were either noncommittal or unsupportive of the proposal.

The idea of a commission was offered in the form of a recommendation in the Beyond Apology Report, which summarizes the findings of a 2023 community-led effort to educate the public about what reparations for the Race Massacre could look like and gather Tulsans perspectives.

The document calls for the city to establish a government sanctioned commission or task force to create and implement a reparations program but does not specify who in City Hall would establish the commission.

City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper, who represents the district in which the massacre occurred and is the citys only Black councilor, supports creating the commission.

She said either the City Council or the mayor could recommend the commission be established.

I think its important to speak to justice and inequality, said Hall-Harper. ... We claim to be a country where everyone is created equal, and that justice belongs to everyone. But we have yet to prove that, I think, in the city of Tulsa or in this country, for that matter.

Other councilors who favor the creation of the commission are Crista Patrick, Lori Decter Wright and Laura Bellis.

I would be in support of a task force so that we may do a deeper dive into helping to heal the wrongs and to mitigate as best as possible any unintended consequences of our future actions, Patrick said.

Wright said she sees creation of the commission as the natural next step in a process that began in June 2021, when councilors marked the centennial commemoration of the Race Massacre by approving a nonbinding resolution acknowledging and apologizing for the dark chapter in the citys history and committing to make tangible amends.

The resolution also included a commitment to create a community-led initiative  known today as Beyond Apology  to explore what those amends might include.

Wright referenced remarks she made in June 2021 to explain her current thinking about the importance of the proposed commission.

While we all recognize that moving forward with recompense will not right all the wrongs, she said then, it is undeniable that if we are sincere in our commitment to genuine reconciliation, reparations are the foundation upon which we must build a united Tulsa.

Bellis said substantive repair is core to achieving genuine reconciliation, justice, and economic well-being for massacre survivors and descendants. She noted that it has been 103 years since the Race Massacre and more than 20 years since the states 1921 Tulsa Race Riot Commission found that reparations are the right thing to do.

She added that she would also like to see the commission examine the long-term economic effect of the massacre on specific zip codes and census tracts and consider repairs for those areas.

Longtime Councilor Jeannie Cue, who is running for District 2 county commissioner, said she needs to explore the issue further before making up her mind.

I really havent had time to evaluate it, Cue said. I just dont know enough. I am going to have to read it and read the study. Its a big book.

Also undecided is Councilor Christian Bengel, who was not on the City Council when it approved the 2021 nonbinding Race Massacre resolution. Bengel said he supports the work the city is doing to address inequities through the Mayors Office of Resilience and Equity, the Equality Indicators reports and other initiatives.

But when it comes to reparations, Bengel added, he doesnt feel informed enough about the subject to make a decision on the recommended commission.

Other than I dont believe in the direct (financial) payment thing, he said. If youre gonna go that path then it should go through the court systems.

Councilor Phil Lakin said he needs time to read the report in detail.

Given that the only thing I know about their work is what they presented in council committee, Lakin said. I also want to review their original proposal and compare it to the outcomes presented in the report.

Councilor Grant Miller said he does not object to the citys addressing economic harms it has caused as long as the redress is provided to all harmed, not just those of a particular race.

To me, the color is green. We dont need to make this about Black and white or any other race, the color is green, Miller said. And if people have been negatively economically impacted by past policies, we should remedy that.

But we should never allocate resources along racial lines, nor should the city of Tulsa make a statement or create a commission for the purpose of racial division.

Miller said that although he understands that the Race Massacre was perpetrated against the Black community in Tulsa, he does not believe what he sees as two wrongs making a right.

We have a finite amount of resources in the city, Miller said. We dont have an unlimited pot of money to go around. So necessarily  if one race receives money from a finite source, necessarily another group based on race will not receive that resource.

Councilor Jayme Fowler, who is running for mayor, opposes creation of the commission.

I do not support reparations, Fowler said. It is fundamentally wrong to require some Tulsans to pay a penalty for wrongdoings they did not commit.

What I would support is an economic task force focused on free-market incentives that attract new investments and bring new jobs to economically depressed areas of Tulsa. To quote JFK, A rising tide lifts all boats.

At the end of the day, it may not matter what councilors think of the proposed reparations commission.

Mayor G.T. Bynum  who does not support reparations in the form of direct cash payments  has already expressed support for creating such a commission.

The challenge is the term reparations means different things to different people, Bynum said earlier this month, adding: Im a big believer and always have been that there is no harm in bringing people together and talking through an issue.

And I view that task force as a means for us to do that in a more in-depth way than I think weve been able to do as a community to date.

Toward that end, Bynum is scheduled to meet with Hall-Harper and other Beyond Apology organizers in late March to discuss how to move forward on their recommendation.

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One person was killed and three others were injured in a head-on collision in Tulsa late Friday, the Tulsa Police Department reported.

Police were called to the scene of the collision before 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Yale Avenue and Haskell Street, where they discovered three vehicles involved.

According to police, a 2015 silver Toyota Corolla was traveling north on Yale when it attempted to pass a Chrysler 300. The Toyota went left of the center line and struck a southbound 2020 Ford F-150 head on. Police say the crash spun both vehicles and put the Toyota into the path of the Chrysler 300, where it was struck again.

Police said the driver of the Toyota was killed in the crash. Two passengers of the car were transported to Ascension St. John Medical Center with critical injuries.

Police reported that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt during the incident and that several cans and bottles of beer were discovered in the vehicle.

The driver of the Ford F-150 was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the Chrysler 300 was not injured.

An investigation into the crash is currently ongoing.

The identity of the deceased has not been released.

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KIBBUTZ BEERI, Israel  Gillian and Pete Brisley are picking up the pieces of their shattered lives. They are cleaning up the house where their daughter and granddaughters were killed by Hamas on Oct. 7 in hopes that their son-in-law  believed to be held captive in Gaza  may have something to come home to.

The broken glass from the militants break-in has been cleaned up. Their dead relatives clothes still need to be packed away.

We really didnt want him to come back and see the state it was in, said Gillian Brisley, whose daughter Lianne, 48, was shot at her home in Kibbutz Beeri during Hamas rampage, along with two daughters: Noiya, 16; and Yahel, 13. All we can do is hope and pray that he is in Gaza. And at some time he will come back.

Dozens of families whose relatives were taken to Gaza as hostages have endured a nightmare beyond their comprehension. Nearly five months into the Israel-Hamas war, they remain hopeful that the remaining hostages will be released, but are growing increasingly desperate for a resolution. After the fits and starts of multiple rounds of negotiations, they fret that both Israelis and the world are losing interest in their struggle.

We are worried all the time, said Ofri Bibas Levy, whose nephews Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 1  the youngest hostage  were taken captive along with their parents. Weve been on this roller coaster for four months and never knowing what to expect.

When Hamas-led militants stormed through southern Israel in October, they killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped roughly 250 people, including women, children and older adults, according to Israeli authorities.

The deadliest attack in Israels history set off the war in Gaza that has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local health officials, and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe.

More than 100 hostages, mostly women, children and foreign nationals, were freed in a late November deal that also brought about a weeklong halt in the fighting and the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Negotiations to bring about the release of the remaining hostages have stalled.

Israel believes that of the 134 remaining hostages, at least 30 were killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity.

Since the war began, Israeli forces have freed three of them. Hostages are believed to be held deep inside Hamas extensive tunnel network in Gaza, or in other hideouts. Israeli forces killed three hostages in December, mistaking them for militants.

The plight of the hostages has deeply traumatized Israelis, who view them as an enduring symbol of the states failure to protect civilians during Hamas onslaught.

Their families have mounted a domestic and international campaign to raise awareness about their loved ones ordeals and keep the issue in the public consciousness. At weekly protests in Tel Aviv and elsewhere, the families calls for their release have grown increasingly anguished. Many liken their protracted captivity to a death sentence.

Negotiations meant to secure their release have seen varying levels of momentum. Most recently, talks led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have been hobbled by the vast chasm between Israels and Hamas terms for a deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until total victory, which he says means destroying Hamas governing and military capabilities and freeing the hostages. He says both of those aims are best met with intense and prolonged military pressure. But criticism from within his Cabinet has emerged about that position, with one top official saying the hostages can only be freed through talks.

Some of Netanyahus allies have increasingly communicated the message that their priority is not to free the hostages. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sparked outrage after he told Israels public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday that the release of hostages is not the most important thing, saying destroying Hamas took precedence.

Politics has also creeped into the hostage families struggle, even though they have labored to keep it a consensus issue.

Some relatives of hostages say theyve been berated in the streets by Netanyahu supporters. A prominent political strategist who has steered the families struggle since it began stepped down this week over concerns that his past involvement in anti-government campaigns would taint their approach.

Hostage families say they are astounded by what they see as global apathy to an ongoing war crime. The families have traveled to major capitals around the world over the past five months, trying to galvanize support for their cause, only to be dwarfed by massive protests supporting Palestinians in Gaza  and even seeing posters bearing the photos of their loved ones torn down.

Whatever people think about the political complexities and about the Middle East, its a baby, said Eylon Keshet, a relative of baby Kfir Bibas. How can people be so silent about it?

Gillian and Pete Brisley, who live in South Wales, say theyve tried to engage authorities in the United Kingdom to assist, but describe all talk and no action.

Bullet holes mark most of the walls at the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Eli Sharabi.

The hope is that Eli is alive, said Gillian. Sharabis brother, Yossi, died in captivity.

You have to have hope. If you havent got hope, you havent got anything, she said.

The vulnerability of Nir Oz: Inside Hamas unprecedented hostage operation
Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Thumbs up: Members of Congress are known more for criticizing government than praising it, particularly when the agency in question is run by the opposition party. U.S. Sen. James Lankford, though, had some kind words last week for the White Houses Office of Management and Budget.

The praise was prompted by the launch of OMBs Federal Program Inventory, a searchable database of nearly 2,400 federal assistance programs. The database includes the amounts obligated to each of the 2,388 programs in fiscal year 2022 along with other information.

For the first time, there is an online tool that allows Americans to quickly and easily search for information about every federal program that provides grants, loans, or direct payments, Lankford said in a press release.

You cannot change what you cannot see. As of today Americans can now see the duplication and spending in their government which is the first step to making real change.

Dots and dashes: Lankford and U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin and 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern were among Republicans asking the Biden administration to withdraw a proposed emissions rule that would require two-thirds of new light trucks and nearly half of medium-duty vehicles to be electric by 2032.  Speaking at C-PAC, the conservative convention where several Republican lawmakers hung out while Congress was in recess last week, Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz resumed his feud with Mullin by questioning the ethics of Mullins recent purchase of Oklahoma municipal bonds.  Fifth District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice was among four recipients of the mainstream Republican Ripon Societys Theodore Roosevelt Award.

 Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World

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Work on the My Thuy deep-water port project, which carries a price tag of VND14 trillion (US$568 million), in Quang Tri Province, north-central Vietnam will begin on March 25.

The government approved the My Thuy deep-water port project, which was designed to cover 685 hectares of land, in 2019.

The project will have 10 wharves and will be developed over three phases.

The first four wharves, with a total area of 133.67 hectares, will be constructed in Hai Lang District until 2025.

The district authorities have completed clearing 124 hectares of land for the first phase.

During the inspection of the designated project site by provincial administration leaders and representatives from My Thuy International Port Joint Venture Company (MTIP) on Friday, Le Duc Thinh, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Hai Lang District, pledged to transfer the entire required 133.67 hectares for the project's phase by March 15.

Authorities in Hai Lang District, Quang Tri Province, north-central Vietnam have been committed to handing over a cleared site for the first phase of the project before March 15, 2024. Photo: Hoang Tao / Tuoi Tre

An MTIP representative said it would sign contracts with contractors on Friday next week and expected to complete constructing two wharves by the last quarter of next year.

Chairman of Quang Tri Province Vo Van Hung required MTIP to prepare personnel, vehicles, and equipment for the execution of the project as well as announce the project development plan and progress to local residents.

Highlighting the significance of the project for the province's development, Hung emphasized that it would serve as a catalyst for the growth of various sectors.

He urged relevant agencies to initiate the project as scheduled.

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When a star up to 20 times the mass of our sun exploded in a nearby galaxy, the blast was so violent that it was visible to the naked eye from Earth's southern hemisphere for weeks in 1987. Scientists have finally identified the progeny of that supernova - an enormously dense object called a neutron star.

Two instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that observed the supernova at infrared wavelengths spotted telltale chemical evidence involving argon and sulfur atoms indicating that a newborn neutron star is shrouded behind the debris left over from the blast, researchers said on Thursday.

Such explosions can forge two different kinds of exotic compact objects: a black hole or a neutron star. The Webb observations solve the puzzle of which one resulted from this supernova.

"After having followed the supernova and searching for the compact object for more than three decades, it is exciting to finally find the missing evidence for the neutron star, thanks to JWST," said astrophysics professor Claes Fransson of Stockholm University in Sweden, lead author of the study published in the journal Science.

"Neutron stars are immensely dense compact remnants of the explosion of a massive star," said study co-author Patrick Kavanagh, an experimental physics department lecturer at Maynooth University in Ireland. "It is comparable to compressing all the mass of the sun into the size of a city. They are so dense that a tablespoon of neutron star can weigh as much as a mountain."

This supernova, called Supernova 1987A, occurred 160,000 light years from Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy neighboring our Milky Way. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km). The star, because of its large mass, had the relatively short life span of about 20 million years, much less than our sun's.

The light from the explosion was seen from Earth on Feb. 24, 1987, the day after a burst of neutrinos - subatomic particles produced in vast quantities when a large star's core collapses - spawned by the supernova was detected. It marked the first time since 1604 that a supernova was visible to the naked eye.

Stars at least eight to 10 times the sun's mass end their lives in a supernova, blasting much of their matter into space after the collapse of the stellar core but leaving behind a remnant. While catastrophic, these explosions are the main sources of chemical elements including carbon, oxygen, silicon and iron that make life possible.

The remnant, depending on the doomed star's size, can be either a neutron star or black hole, an object whose gravitational pull is so strong not even light can escape.

With Supernova 1987A, the star's size and the neutrino burst's duration had suggested the remnant would be a neutron star, but this had not been confirmed through direct evidence.

"Direct evidence for either one of these exotic objects has never been found so soon after a supernova explosion, until now," Kavanagh said.

Webb's instruments detected argon and sulfur atoms whose outer electrons had been stripped off, meaning they were "ionized." The researchers studied various scenarios and found that these atoms could have been left there in that condition only by ultraviolet and X-ray radiation from a neutron star.

The researchers now are working to determine what variety of neutron star this is: a rapidly rotating type called a pulsar with a strong magnetic field or a more "quiet" one with a weak magnetic field.

The findings represent another achievement by Webb, which became operational in 2022.

Dust comprising more than 200,000 times Earth's mass formed as debris after the explosion, making the area around the resulting neutron star too opaque to be studied using telescopes focused on optical or ultraviolet wavelengths. But Webb focuses on the infrared.

"In the infrared, this dust is much more transparent," said University College London astronomer and study co-author Mike Barlow.
COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Donald Trump easily defeated Nikki Haley in South Carolina's Republican contest on Saturday, extending his winning streak as he marches toward a third consecutive presidential nomination and a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.

The former president had been widely favored to win the Southern state, despite his litany of criminal charges and Haley's status as a native of South Carolina who won two terms as governor.

The big win bolstered calls from Trump's allies that Haley, his last remaining challenger, should drop out of the race.

But Haley, who outperformed expectations based on opinion polls, defiantly insisted she would fight on at least through "Super Tuesday" on March 5, when Republicans in 15 states and one U.S. territory will cast ballots.

Trump won with 59.8 percent support against 39.5 percent for Haley with 99 percent of the expected vote tallied, according to Edison Research. Statewide opinion polls before Saturday had given Trump an average lead of 27.6 percentage points, according to the tracking website 538.

"Forty percent is not some tiny group," Haley said of her vote share. "There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative."

Trump has dominated all five Republican primary contests thus far - in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and now Haley's home state - leaving Haley with no evident path to the Republican nomination.

Trump gave his victory speech in Columbia, the state capital, minutes after the polls closed and did not mention Haley, claiming his party's mantle as he looked ahead to November's general election.

"I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now," he said.

In recent days Haley had notably sharpened her attacks on Trump, questioning his mental acuity and warning voters he would lose the general election to Biden.

But there is scant evidence that a majority of Republican voters is interested in any standard-bearer except Trump.

Immigration, which Trump has made a focus of his campaign, was the number one issue for voters on Saturday, according to an Edison exit poll. Some 39 percent cited that issue, above the 33 percent who said the economy was their top concern.

Approximately 84 percent of voters said the economy is not so good or poor, highlighting a major potential weakness for Biden in November's general election.

Once again, however, exit polls also pointed to Trump's own vulnerabilities. Nearly one-third of voters said he would be unfit to serve as president if he were convicted of a crime.

Trump's first criminal trial is scheduled to begin on March 25 in New York City. He is charged with falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign.

He faces three other sets of charges, including a federal indictment alleging he conspired to reverse Biden's election victory in 2020. Trump has pleaded not guilty in every case and claimed, with no evidence, that the charges stem from a Democratic conspiracy to derail his campaign.

"A 20-point loss is better than a 30-point loss, but it's still another blowout defeat," Adolphus Belk, a political science professor at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, said of the South Carolina contest on Saturday.

"That said, Haley performed strongly with the sorts of voters a GOP presidential candidate needs to win in November: moderates and independents most especially."

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley attend a watch party during the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. February 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters

'My ultimate and absolute revenge'

Both Trump and Biden have already begun looking ahead to November, with the president characterizing Trump as a mortal threat to U.S. democracy.

Before flying to South Carolina to watch primary returns on Saturday, Trump addressed a gathering of conservative activists near Washington in a 90-minute speech that painted a dark picture of a declining America under Biden.

He said if he beats Biden in the Nov. 5 general election it will represent a "judgment day" for the U.S. and "my ultimate and absolute revenge."

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy emerged as favorites for Trump's vice presidential pick, according to a poll of activists at the conservative conference. They each received 15 percent support.

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley hosts a watch party during the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. February 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Haley, whose foreign policy credentials are at the center of her campaign, has focused in recent days on Trump's stance toward Russia following the death of Alexei Navalny, the country's main opposition leader.

Haley had hoped that South Carolina's "open" primary, which allows any registered voter to cast a ballot, would lead to turnout among independents and even some Democrats determined to stop Trump.

But Edison exit poll data showed only 21 percent of voters considered themselves moderate or liberal, only slightly higher than the 19 percent who said the same in the party's 2016 primary.

Kelli Poindexter, a Democrat and transcriptionist who lives in Columbia, voted for Haley "simply to, maybe, cancel out one of the Donald Trump votes."

"I think he's dangerous," Poindexter said. "I think he's a threat. And if Democrats come out and give a vote to Nikki, it takes one away from him."

A woman with a dog stands in line to cast her vote in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election, at the Jennie Moore Elementary School, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S., February 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters

But Kevin Marsh, a 59-year-old Republican and truck driver who also lives in Columbia, said he voted for Trump on Saturday because he trusts him more than Haley.

"She's more of a globalist and I just can't support that," Marsh said.

People stand in line to cast their votes in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election, at the Jennie Moore Elementary School, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S., February 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Five members in a family in An Giang Province, southern Vietnam were sentenced to 2-3.5 years behind bars for insulting and attacking local police officers, including attempts to set the latter on fire, over the construction of a bridge.

The Peoples Court in Chau Phu District, An Giang Province on Saturday handed down the sentences to the five defendants, Do Thi Phuong, 53, Le Thi Phan, 25, Do Thi Dao, 66, Do Thanh Nhan, 42, and Do Thi Phien, 63.

Phuong got a jail term of 3.5 years, while Phan was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. Dao, Nhan, and Phien were condemned to two years in jail each.

In 2019, the administration in Chau Phu District licensed Nam Viet Binh Phu Aquaculture Co. Ltd. and Thuan Trung Construction and Investment JSC to build a bridge in Binh Phu Commune, Chau Phu District to serve local residents.

During the construction of the bridge, Phuong and her family members repeatedly hampered the job and required compensation.

At about 8:30 am on August 22 last year, when workers were building a bridge section in front of their house, Phuong, Nhan, Phan, and some other family members hindered the workers job and threatened them with boiling water mixed with shrimp paste.

Informed of the incident, police officers in Binh Phu Commune rushed to Phuongs house.

However, Phuong threw pieces of burning rag to the police officers and workers, while Nhan used an iron tube and Phan prepared boiling water mixed with shrimp paste to attack the policemen.

When the police and authorities in Chau Phu District called on Phuongs family to stop their acts and invited them to the police station, Phuong did not follow the requirement.

She even called Phien, living in Tinh Bien Town, An Giang Province, to assist her.

The attackers utilized discarded plastic basins and buckets, pots, metal bars, a mixture of hot water and shrimp paste, burning cloth pieces, and assorted objects to launch an assault on the policemen, causing injuries to many of them.

In late August 2023, police initiated legal proceedings against Phan, Dao, Phien, and Nhan.

Phuong was prosecuted two months later.

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Nearly 60 households in an apartment building in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi were evacuated to safer places on Saturday due to the emergence of cracks on the pillars of the ground floor.

The eight-story apartment building, situated on Khuong Dinh Street in Ha Dinh Ward, has been in operation since 2017.

Following the detection of cracks in certain concrete and steel pillars, local police in the ward have issued an evacuation order for the residents of the building to ensure their safety.

Cracks extending from the base to the summit of two pillars on the ground floor of the apartment block have been observed by a reporter from Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, indicating a significant risk of collapse.

Police officers directed the building management board to install steel scaffolding poles to reinforce the compromised pillars.

Residents in the apartment block noted that these cracks were initially discovered on February 9, during the festive period of the Lunar New Year (Tet), celebrated from February 8 to 14 in Vietnam.

Scaffolding poles are erected to support a deteriorated pillar on the ground floor of an apartment building in Hanoi. Photo: Quang Vien / Tuoi Tre

T., a resident residing on the sixth floor of the building, highlighted the deterioration of various parts of the structure, particularly the ground floor utilized as a parking lot.

Upon evacuation, T. and family members opted to rent a house in Ha Dinh Ward while awaiting repairs.

Vo Dang Dung, chairman of the Thanh Xuan District Peoples Committee, told Tuoi Tre that the administration has instructed the building management board to collaborate with professional construction units for a thorough quality assessment and subsequent repairs.

The district leader assured that residents will be able to return to their residences once the necessary upgrades are completed.

Some 60 households in an apartment building were evacuated on February 24, 2024 after cracks were found on several pillars on the ground floor of the block. Photo: Quang Vien / Tuoi Tre

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Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- Nearly 60 households in an apartment building in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi were evacuated to safer places on Saturday as several cracks appeared on the pillars on the ground floor.

-- Cold weather, paired with rain, is expected to hit the northern region of Vietnam on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to six degrees Celsius in many localities, while the central and southern regions might experience scorching heat, according to the national weather center.

-- Prolonged heat, strong winds, and drought are expected to pose high wildfire risks to more than 21,000 hectares of forest in Ca Mau Province, southern Vietnam.

Business

-- Vietnams rice exports had fetched over US$466 million worth of more than 150,000 metric tons in the year to February 15, up 14.4 percent in volume and 53 percent in value year on year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Lifestyle

-- Some 1,300 artists joined parades and street performances in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday night to celebrate the First Full Moon Festival, or Tet Nguyen Tieu, which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

-- Thousands of people flocked to Lady Thien Hau Pagoda in Thu Dau Mot City under Binh Duong Province, located in southern Vietnam, on Saturday afternoon to pray and join a ritual procession. This is the biggest annual event in the province for pilgrims from near and far.

World News

-- A group of French farmers stormed into a major Paris farm fair on Saturday ahead of a planned visit by President Emmanuel Macron amid anger over costs, red tape and green regulations, reported Reuters.

-- Donald Trump easily defeated Nikki Haley in South Carolina's Republican contest on Saturday, Edison Research projected, extending his winning streak as he marches toward a third consecutive presidential nomination and a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden, according to Reuters.

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Some 200 drug addicts at a detoxification facility in Soc Trang Province, southern Vietnam subdued security officers to run away from the center on Saturday.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, director of the detoxification center, said on Sunday that 191 drug addicts resorted to conflicts to escape from the facility.

The provinces police officers are searching for the escaped addicts, Binh said.

As of 9:00 am on the same day, 50 of these addicts had been taken back to the center.

Conflicts and fights between drug addicts broke out at some rooms in the detoxification facility at 11:00 am on Saturday.

Police officers summoned the related individuals for questioning, but they failed to cooperate.

At 5:00 pm on the day, dozens approached the gate of the center and overpowered security officers to flee from the facility.

The center is detoxifying over 460 drug addicts, said Binh.

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Unrelenting scorching waves have dogged people in Ho Chi Minh City over the past few days, urging them to find ways to shield themselves against direct sunlight.

Many laborers who work outdoors are seeking to rest under a bridge, in the shade of roofs, or in a park during the hot weather.

A delivery man drinks water and takes a rest in the shade of a house roof after a ride during the hot weather in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

After finishing a ride from Ho Chi Minh Citys outlying district of Binh Chanh to Kieu Bridge spanning District 1 and District 3, Hung, a motorbike taxi driver of a ride-hailing app, took a rest under a house roof on Truong Sa Street in Phu Nhuan District to protect himself from the sun on Saturday.

It has been extremely hot these days, Hung said.

I normally bring a bottle containing 1.5 liters of drinking water with me a day, but over the past two days, I have had to drink an additional lemon juice and iced tea to revive each day."

Under Ba Son Bridge in downtown Ho Chi Minh City was a family lying on a sleeping plastic sheet for a nap at noon on Saturday, while some other workers took a rest in hammocks in the shadows of the trees near a bank of the Saigon River as the temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius.

Several parks in the city such as Tao Dan and September 23 have been crowded with people in baking weather this February.

Young people walk in the sun in Ho Chi Minh City on February 24, 2024. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A truck sprays water to cool a street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Many people spread out sleeping plastic sheets to take a nap under Ba Son Bridge in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City to shun sizzling temperatures. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A man takes a nap on his motorbike in the shadow of the trees near a canal along Hoang Sa Street in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A delivery woman has lunch at the foot of a bridge in Ho Chi Minh City to avoid the sun. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Drivers of 'xich lo,' or pedicabs, take a rest in the shade of the trees along Le Lai Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A motorcycle taxi driver takes a rest on his vehicle in the shade of a house roof on Truong Sa Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A collector of used bottles and plastic waste takes a nap under a bridge in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City to avoid the direct sunlight. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Luan, a security guard at a hospital in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, said that he has sprayed water in front of the hospital three times a day over the past few days to cool the area. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A man walks past sprinklers at a park in Ho Chi Minh City on a hot day in February 2024. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Tourists sit down in the shade of trees at September 23 Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

The enduring heat wave is forecast to choke the southern region of Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, throughout Tuesday, according to the southern weather center.

The highest temperature in the region was measured in February at 38 degrees Celsius.

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Japanese specialists have highly appreciated the robotic surgery techniques applied by Vietnamese doctors to cancer treatment, and two hospitals of Japan and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote cooperation in this field.

Over the past five days, a group of Japanese doctors have joined their Vietnamese counterparts in successfully performing four advanced robotic surgeries on four patients who suffered from stomach, rectal, liver, and esophageal cancer at K Hospital in Hanoi.

Professor Shuji Takiguchi, director of the Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery, a member of the group, highly appreciated the robotic surgical techniques used in the operations by the Vietnamese side.

Prof. Takiguchi praised Vietnamese doctors for their exceptional expertise in robotic surgery, highlighting their successful performance of robotic and laparoscopic surgeries, microsurgeries, and plastic surgeries on cancer patients.

This commendation followed the completion of the latest surgery on Friday.

The Japanese specialists gained significant insights through their participation in joint surgeries at the hospital, he said.

He also expressed astonishment at the extensive use of expensive surgical robots, noting that many other countries have yet to acquire such advanced technology.

Following the joint operations, the representatives of K Hospital and Japans Nagoya Hospital signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in robotic surgery, which Prof. Takiguchi said has a promising development future.

He affirmed that he would send Japanese students to Vietnam to study in this field.

On that particular day, among the four patients undergoing robotic operations was N.T., a 67-year-old woman admitted to the hospital due to issues with sleep and weight loss.

After an examination, doctors diagnosed N.T. with low rectal cancer, noting a tumor occupying nearly half of the circumference of her intestines.

Following a consultation between doctors from Hospital K and Japanese specialists, a decision was made to conduct surgery on the woman using a state-of-the-art surgical robot available at the hospital.

The patient is reported to be recovering well after the successful surgery, according to the medical team.

In the sphere of minimally invasive surgical techniques, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Binh, deputy director of Hospital K, highlighted that doctors have the option to employ either conventional laparoscopic surgery or robotic laparoscopic surgery.

However, he emphasized that the latter remains one of the most advanced medical techniques currently applied to the surgical treatment of cancer.

This technique not only helps surgeons remove as many parts as possible of a cancerous tumor but also enables patients to recover quickly post-surgery, Dr. Binh said.

"The incorporation of this surgical method, complemented by additional treatment modalities post-surgery, aims to maximize the lifespan of cancer patients," the specialist stressed.

"Achieving this goal stands as the ultimate aspiration in cancer treatment."

He also commented that the MoU signed between K Hospital and Japanese experts has marked a significant milestone in cooperation between the two sides to further enhance the efficiency of robotic surgical techniques, contributing to bringing K Hospitals position in cancer treatment to a new level.

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Hes hardly the first international Chaser to step into the Australian edition, but Brandon Blackwell concedes he needs to brush up on his local knowledge.

Im still new to this country, so Im still learning a lot of the basics of Australian stuff. Ive got some of the stuff down, that you could find on Wikipedia or online. But Ive still only been in the country for a little while, so (not) the cultural things and the stuff that everybody knows, is going to be slow working, he tells TV Tonight.

Theres no substitute for being in Australia, experiencing it and immersing myself in the people and the culture. So the more time I spend there, the better, but its early going.

Known as The Lightning Bolt on Sevens The Chase, Blackwell was meant to feature as far back as 2020, but the pandemic thwarted those plans.

It was sort of a holding pattern for a few years and in that time, I got a job on the US version.

It turns out that even though I was on the US version first Ive been involved with the Australian version for much longer version.

So its kind of ironic that people are saying that it sounds like Im coming over here from the US version when really, it was kind of the opposite.

Blackwell filmed his Australian episodes in late 2023, finding that it adopts a similar format to most international versions -except for the USA.

In the US its not filmed all year round. Like for instance, our third season was only 20 episodes and its aired once a week for maybe half a year.

So because its a much less-common thing, they make it a much bigger show and they give away a lot more money.

Every other version is sort of on every day, all year round and you get into this nice cosy pocket. Theres always room for some variation, like The Chase Australia has had with Double Trouble, but for the most part people know what they get.

The Australian version feels very, very comfortable. It feels, ironically enough, familiar even though obviously Im not Australian at all. I like the vibe that the Chasers, the host and the contestant all have with each other.

Blackwell began quizzing around the age of 20 after appearances on shows such as Jeopardy!, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, The Million Second Quiz, and the Britains University Challenge.

I used to watch game shows growing up and I tried out for one kind of on a whim. I remember making a comment and was told Hey, you should go try out and one thing led to another. Then after the third show one of the people that I lost to, introduced me to the whole off-screen world of trivia and quizzes.

I was about 20 at the time, thats when I actually started doing quiz. Once I did more quizzes then I wanted to do more shows, because I got better and I thought Id have a better chance of winning more money.

Hired for The Chase USA, he became dubbed as The Lightning Bolt due to his speed of answering questions.

There were a couple other names that I was using when I was auditioning and doing rehearsals, and they made me change it and I had to come up with something quickly and The Lightning Bolt ended up being what what we landed on. Theres a lot of CGI in the ads and lightning bolt puns the host uses, but I dont have any particular attachment to it.

So what is is best tip for a contestant competing on the show?

I think a lot of times in the middle rounds they dont read the question. Sometimes theres clues in there. Even if you dont know the answer, maybe theres one choice that you can eliminate. But a lot of times people will look at a question and think I dont know that and just slap a button randomly.

Sometimes it works but take a little more time. I know some Chases are quicker than others in locking them in but you have five seconds, try to use it. I know youre nervous,

you probably havent been on TV before. Its for a lot of money, especially if you take the high offer. So theres a lot of pressure. Obviously my advice is easier said than done.

TV Tonight tested him on a few Aussie questions. Out of The Chase studio, none were answered in lightning speed.

TVT: Who were the three stars of Priscilla Queen of the Desert?

BB: I do not know. Im pretty bad at movies. It took me a long enough to figure out that Priscilla was not like the name of one of the people. Priscillas the van, right? I dont think I could even produce one of the stars of that.

TVT: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce.

BB: I know all three of those people!

TVT: Where in Australia would you expect to find The Gap?

BB: Oh. I dont know. I used to live in London and theyd always say Mind the Gap for the Tube. I did take the metro in Sydney but I dont remember if thats what they call it? I doubt it.

TVT: An ocean cliff at South Head in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

What would you expect to find in a pie floater?

BB: Its a food. Ive seen it on a menu, but I didnt order it because I didnt know what it was. Im vegetarian but I assume its a like a meat pie in something.

TVT: Pass! A meat pie in pea soup.

Who had a hit single with the song Living in the 70s?

BB: Is it one person or is it an act?

TVT Its a band.

BB: Ok theres like two bands that I was looking up, Midnight Oil and Skyhooks. I dont think its by Midnight Oil. So I will say Skyhooks, but Im not sure.

TVT: Youre 100% Correct.

BB: I was hoping to get at least one, so Im on the board. Thats good!

The Lightning Bolt joins The Chase 5pm Monday on Seven.
In this article, we take a look at the 20 countries with the most freshwater resources If you want to, you can skip our detailed discussion of global freshwater resources and analysis of industries related to it, and go directly to our shorter list of the 5 Countries With the Most Freshwater Resources.

According to the World Banks 2020 data, global freshwater consumption has amounted to 3,864 billion cubic meters (m3), with around 70 percent of freshwater used in agriculture. The 3 main sources of freshwater (groundwater, surface water, and rainwater) are not meeting the global water need, which keeps increasing due to economic and population growth.

While water is abundant in some parts of the world, other regions are deprived of basic water necessities. According to a UNESCO report published in 2023 on behalf of the UN-Water conference in New York, 2 billion people (26% of the global population) do not have access to safe drinking water, and 46% of the global population  around 3.6 billion people  lack access to safely managed sanitation.

Water scarcity is one of the biggest environmental issues the world is currently facing. While only 0.5% of the world's water is usable, climate change, topped with population growth, is dangerously impacting the freshwater supply. According to the UN, over the past couple of decades, terrestrial water storage, including ice, snow, and soil moisture, has dropped at a rate of 1 cm per year. However, population growth and climate change are not the only factors increasing water scarcity. Lack of awareness of water conservation methods among individuals is another leading cause of water scarcity. As EPA reports, the average family in the United States can waste 180 gallons per week or 9,400 gallons of water annually.

ADVERTISEMENT

A running faucet while we brush our teeth or a broken shower head continuously leaking may not seem like a bigger problem when we have never faced a water supply issue. However, 2.4 billion people are living in water-stressed countries, as reported by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, under SDG 6. Even more alarming is UNICEFs water scarcity prediction that says half of the global population will be living in water-stressed areas by as early as 2025, which is less than 11 months away.

Story continues

While the growing water scarcity is a concern for all, the prospect of shortages in the upcoming years will make water a precious commodity. Hence, an opportunity for investors.

Water Investment: Freshwater Industries Stock

Arguably, water is the most important resource on planet Earth. The depletion of freshwater resources and out-of-control water wastage has contributed to an increase in its scarcity levels. So, as with any other scarce commodity, investing in water stocks can be a great opportunity for investors (See: 11 Best Water Stocks To Buy).

A group of traditional mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are already in action, investing in stocks that contribute to the delivery, testing, and cleaning of drinking water. Some of the leading ETFs and companies in the water industry are Invesco Water Resources ETF (NASDAQ: PHO), Xylem (NYSE: XYL), and York Water Co (NASDAQ: YORW).

Being an ETF, Invesco Water Resources (NASDAQ: PHO) uses pooled funds to invest in a wide array of water-related companies. As of Q4 2023 ending, Invesco Water Resources ETF (NASDAQ: PHO) has a total of 39 holdings with the most weightage of 8.38% in Ferguson PLC (NYSE: FERG), 7.92% in Veralto (NYSE: VLTO), and 7.71% in Danaher (NYSE: DHR).

On the other hand, Xylem (NYSE: XYL), which specializes in designing and manufacturing engineered products and solutions for treating water, launched a joint venture pump manufacturing site in Egypt last year in 2023. In the same year, Xylem (NYSE: XYL) launched several volunteer programs and helped 1000 NGOs deliver water scarcity solutions and awareness across 56 countries.

Meanwhile, York Water Co (NASDAQ: YORW) recently completed a two-year-long construction project on its dam and spillway in York County, costing $40 million. With these renovations and improvements of the dam, the once-dried Lake Williams is getting refilled. J.T. Hand, President and CEO of York Water Co (NASDAQ: YORW) says that once Lake William is refilled, it will provide water to 202,000 people in York County.

Listed below are the 20 Countries with the Most Freshwater Resources.

20 Countries with the most freshwater resources

Aerial view of a busy water resource management facility, with a river running through it, dotted with homes.

Our Methodology

For our list of the 20 countries with the most freshwater resources, we have considered the renewable internal freshwater resources per country. We sourced our data from the World Banks Renewable Internal Freshwater database. The list is ranked based on the renewable internal freshwater of each country in m as of 2020 (most recent data available). The list is in ascending order.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

20 Countries with the Most Freshwater Resources

20. Mexico

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 409 billion

Mexico, a country in North America, is the thirteenth largest country by area and the tenth most populous one. It has a population of about 130 million people, with a vast majority being Spanish Speakers. Mexico has 409 billion cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater and 3,246.08 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per capita.

The countrys largest freshwater lake, Lake Chapala, has a length of 80km and covers an area of 1,100 km. 76% of Mexicos water resources are consumed by the agriculture and livestock sector.

19. Japan

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 430 billion

Ranked nineteen, Japan is a world leader in several domains and is also one of the countries with the most freshwater resources. It is an island country in East Asia and is bordered by the Sea of Japan. The nation has 430 billion cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater and 3,405.64 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per capita. Japans freshwater sources include surface water, rivers, and lakes, with the largest freshwater lake being Lake Biwa.

18. Ecuador

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 442.4 billion

Ecuador is a country in South America, best known for its biodiversity, owing to the geographical and climatic features of the land. Ecuador has renewable internal freshwater of 442.4 billion cubic meters, out of which, 82% is used for agriculture. There are several freshwater river systems in the country, including the Guayas River, which is a major source of freshwater in Ecuador.

Overall, there are about 2,000 rivers and streams that run through the country, and all these contribute significantly to the geography and economy of Ecuador. It has 25,152.66 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per capita.

17. Philippines

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 479 billion

From the richness of its culture and history to the beauty of its vast landscapes, the Philippines is said to be the Pearl of Asia. It is an archipelago, or a group of over 7,100 islands, in southeastern Asia situated between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Alongside some spectacular beaches, the Philippines features ample freshwater resources, including 18 major river basins with 421 principal rivers, 221 lakes, and significant groundwater. On top of that, the country experiences an average annual rainfall of 2,400 mm, providing annual freshwater of 146 billion cubic meters. Overall, the Philippines has renewable internal freshwater of 479 billion cubic meters and 4,269.51 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per capita.

16. Australia

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 492 billion

Australia, a country globally known for its natural wonders, beaches, wide-open spaces, and vast deserts, is one of the world's most highly urbanized countries. While it is one of the largest countries on Earth, it is naturally gifted with one the largest underground freshwater resources in the world, the Great Artesian Basin. The Great Artesian Basin spans around 1.7 million square kilometers and holds around 65 million gigalitres (GL) of groundwater, which is enough to fill the Sydney Harbour 130,000 times.

While the country is blessed with ample groundwater resources, it is the driest inhabited continent in terms of rainfall. According to the BOM annual report 2023, the nationally average rainfall for Australia was just 473.70 mm, which was 1.6% above the 19611990 average of 466.0 mm.

Moreover, on average, only 12% of rainfall flows into the rivers, which is quite low compared to 39% for Europe and 52% for North America. Regardless, Australia has renewable internal freshwater of 492 billion cubic meters and 19,181.85 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater.

15. Malaysia

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 580 billion

With renewable internal freshwater of 580 billion cubic meters, Malaysia is a country in Asia blessed with ample rainfall and freshwater resources. The country receives an average rainfall of 3,000 mm annually, which contributes around 900 billion cubic meters to the country's water resource. Moreover, about 97% of freshwater for agricultural, domestic, and industrial needs is taken from surface waters, mainly rivers. The country has 189 river basins, and all the country's rivers originate and flow from the highlands.

14. Papua New Guinea

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 801 billion

Papua New Guinea is largely a mountainous country with a landmass of about 452,860 square kilometers, with over 600 Islands, and a population of over 10 million people. Additionally, PNG has 5,383 natural freshwater lakes, and 22 of these lakes have a surface area exceeding 647 cubic kilometers.

While the country has an abundance of water resources, its groundwater resources are poorly developed, resulting in a lack of water access for the people. As of 2020 data, Papua New Guinea has a renewable internal freshwater of 801 billion cubic meters.

13. Venezuela

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 805 billion

With towering mountains, tropical jungles, broad river basins, and arid coastal plains, Venezuela enjoys the natural diversity in its landscapes. But beyond that, Venezuela ranks 13th among the countries with the most renewable freshwater resources and has a renewable internal freshwater of 805 billion cubic meters.

However, despite having ample renewable fresh water, the poor management by the state has disrupted the water supply and access to safe water in the country.

12. Chile

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 885 billion

Chile, a long, narrow country extending down the west coast of South America, offers diverse landscapes with desert land in the northern regions, agricultural land and valleys in the central, and lakes, forests, and glaciers in the southern regions.

With several rivers and an annual average rainfall of 1,522 mm (as of the World Bank report) in the country, Chile enjoys renewable internal freshwater of 885 billion cubic meters.

11. DR Congo

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 900 billion

Ranked eleven on our list, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is a country in Central Africa with a short Atlantic Ocean coastline, a major valley, a large river basin, high plateaus, and three mountain ranges. The country enjoys abundant water resources, and according to the World Bank, possesses more than 50% of Africa's surface water and around one-quarter of Africa's internal renewable water. Putting into perspective, DR Congo has 900 billion cubic meters of total renewable internal freshwater.

10. Myanmar

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 1 trillion

Formerly known as Burma, Myanmar has a population of 53.8 million and is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia. As of 2020, the country had a trillion cubic meters of renewable inland freshwater. Its freshwater supplies include several lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and ponds. Myanmars water is most consumed by agriculture (89%), and least consumed for industrial purposes (1%), according to the Asia Development Bank.

9. India

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 1.4 trillion

With 1.4 trillion cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater, India has 4% of the worlds water resources. However, it is also home to 16% of the worlds population, which results in water scarcity across various regions in the country. As of 2024, India is considered one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. Increases in consumption and climate change further threaten the supply of safe water and sanitation to Indian families. The most prominent freshwater lakes in the country include the Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, the Loktak Lake in Manipur, and the Barapani Lake in Meghalaya.

8. Peru

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 1.6 trillion

Peru, a country in South America with 1.6 trillion of renewable internal freshwater, is the eighth richest country in the world in terms of freshwater. It has 159 river basins, and the largest and most important lake in the country is Lake Titicaca.

The countrys social and economic development, alongside sustainable ecosystems, depends heavily on water, as water-intensive sectors make up nearly two-fifths of Perus GDP. However, even though the country is water-rich, Peru still faces a water scarcity issue, with 50% of the population not having access to safely managed water.

7. Indonesia

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 2 trillion

Indonesia is a country in Asia with 521 natural lakes and over 100 reservoirs, which cover about 21,000 km. The largest lake in the country is Lake Toba, located in North Sumatra, a province within Indonesia. It is home to 273.8 million people, according to World Banks 2021 data.

Furthermore, Indonesia is mainly dependent on its surface water resources for proper water supply delivery. However, the country also faces demand and supply, water storage capacity, and management issues. As of 2020, the country had 2 trillion cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater.

6. Colombia

Renewable Internal Freshwater in m as of 2020: 2.1 trillion

Colombia is a country in South America best known for its modernity, cultural diversity, and significant natural resources. It is also the country with the sixth-highest volume of renewable freshwater, and the country with the largest amount of freshwater resources in the world. As of 2020 data, Colombia had 2.1 trillion cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater. The country has a population of 52,085,168 people, and the renewable internal freshwater per capita is 42116.08 m3.

However, despite the abundance of water resources in the country, Columbia still struggles with water stress due to water pollution and overconsumption caused by a growing population and increasing urbanization. Around 5% of the population has severely limited access, or no access at all, to clean water. Water waste from households, industries, and agriculture pollutes the water bodies in the country such that water distribution systems and wastewater treatment solutions are unable to cope.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Countries with the Most Freshwater Resources.

Suggested articles:

Disclosure: None. 20 Countries with the Most Freshwater Resources is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Mobile devices are becoming ubiquitous in Africa. Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

Governments and humanitarian groups can use machine learning algorithms and mobile phone data to get aid to those who need it most during a humanitarian crisis, we found in new research.

Togo is a small West African nation. Encyclopaedia Britannica/Getty Images

The simple idea behind this approach, as we explained in the journal Nature on March 16, 2022, is that wealthy people use phones differently from poor people. Their phone calls and text messages follow different patterns, and they use different data plans, for example. Machine learning algorithms  which are fancy tools for pattern recognition  can be trained to recognize those differences and infer whether a given mobile subscriber is wealthy or poor.

ADVERTISEMENT

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread in early 2020, our research team helped Togos Ministry of Digital Economy and GiveDirectly, a nonprofit that sends cash to people living in poverty, turn this insight into a new type of aid program.

First, we collected recent, reliable and representative data. Working on the ground with partners in Togo, we conducted 15,000 phone surveys to collect information on the living conditions of each household. After matching the survey responses to data from the mobile phone companies, we trained the machine learning algorithms to recognize the patterns of phone use that were characteristics of people living on less than $1.25 per day.

The next challenge was figuring out whether a system based on machine learning and phone data would be effective at getting money to the poorest people in the country. Our evaluation indicated that this new approach worked better than other options Togos government was considering.

For instance, focusing entirely on the poorest cantons  which are analagous to U.S. counties  would have delivered benefits to only 33% of the people living on less than US$1.25 a day. By contrast, the machine learning approach targeted 47% of that population.

We then partnered with Togos government, GiveDirectly and community leaders to design and pilot a cash transfer program based on this technology. In November 2020, the first beneficiaries were enrolled and paid. To date, the program has provided nearly $10 million to roughly 137,000 of the countrys poorest citizens.

Story continues

Why it matters

Our work shows that data collected by mobile phone companies  when analyzed with machine learning technology  can help direct aid to those with the greatest need.

Even before the pandemic, over half of the West African nations 8.6 million people lived below the international poverty line. As COVID-19 slowed economic activity further, our surveys indicated that 54% of all Togolese were forced to miss meals each week.

The situation in Togo was not unique. The downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic pushed millions of people into extreme poverty. In response, governments and charities launched several thousand new aid programs, providing benefits to over 1.5 billion people and families around the world.

But in the middle of a humanitarian crisis, governments struggle to figure out who needs help most urgently. Under ideal circumstances, those decisions would be based on comprehensive household surveys. But there was no way to gather this information in the middle of a pandemic.

Our work helps demonstrate how new sources of big data  such as information gleaned from satellites and mobile phone networks  can make it possible to target aid amid crisis conditions when more traditional sources of data are unavailable.

Whats next

Were conducting follow-up research to assess how cash transfers affected recipients. Previous findings indicate that cash transfers can help increase food security and improve psychological well-being in normal times. We are assessing whether that aid has similar results during a crisis.

Its also essential to find ways to enroll and pay people without phones. In Togo, roughly 85% of households had at least one phone, and phones are frequently shared within families and communities. However, it is not clear how many people who needed humanitarian assistance in Togo didnt get it because of their lack of access to a mobile device.

In the future, systems that combine new methods that leverage machine learning and big data with traditional approaches based on surveys are bound to improve the targeting of humanitarian aid.

[Over 150,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.]

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Emily Aiken, University of California, Berkeley and Joshua Blumenstock, University of California, Berkeley

Read more:



Emily Aiken collaborated closely with the teams at GiveDirectly and the government of Togo described in the article. She consulted for GiveDirectly from June to August 2021.

Joshua Blumenstock receives funding from Google.org, data.org, the Center for Effective Global Action, the Jameel Poverty Action Lab, and the NSF under award IIS  1942702.
Coco and Mr Bruno Wasabi. Picture: York RSPCA

MEET Coco and her best friend Bruno - or, to give him his full name, 'Mr Bruno Wasabi'.

The gorgeous pair of grown-up guinea pigs are looking for a place to call home.

So could you be their next owner?

Coco and Bruno were brought into the RSPCA's York animal home off Landing Lane separately.

But while they were brought in for different reasons, a member of staff at the animal home said they had something in common: they were both 'unwanted, unloved and uncared for'.

While in the RSPCA's care, they have formed a close friendship.

Together, they make a 'lovely little family', the RSPCA says.

They are now looking for a home of their own that will be their 'happy ever after'.

"Coco is a friendly little girl but does not like actually being handled too much," the member of staff said.

"She will come to you for a fuss and especially for some veg.

"Bruno is a confident and friendly boy."

The pair complement each other very well, the RSPCA says.

"Sadly Coco has cystic ovaries and for that reason she will need to be homed to experience guinea pig owners," the staff member said.

To find out more about Coco and Mr Bruno Wasabi, or to see what other animals are available for adoption at the York animal home, visit www.rspca-yorkhome.org.uk.

Pets in need of a home range from cats and dogs to guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, budgies and pigeons.

The RSPCA York Animal Home is an independent animal shelter and relies upon the support and funding of local supporters to allow it to rehome hundreds of cats, dogs, small animals and wildlife each year.
West Africa's regional bloc Ecowas on Saturday said it was lifting some of the sanctions imposed on Niger after last year's military coup.



A no-fly zone, border closures and asset freezes were among the measures being stopped "with immediate effect" on "humanitarian grounds", Ecowas Commission chief Omar Alieu Touray said following an emergency heads of state summit in Abuja.

Niger's president Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a military coup last July, prompting the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to suspend trade and impose tough sanctions.

But the bloc's warning of military intervention has fizzled out with little sign that Bazoum  still imprisoned in the presidential palace in Niamey  is close to being restored.

Touray called for Bazoum's "immediate release" at the summit in Nigeria's capital.

He said the measures to be lifted included the freezing of Niger's assets in Ecowas central banks and the suspension of financial transactions between Ecowas states and Niger.

But Touray told French news agency AFP "individual sanctions as well as political sanctions remain in place in Niger... (and) in other countries political sanctions remain".

The sanctions have hit Niger hard, where the extreme poverty rate exceeds 40 percent according to the World Bank, and the news that some were being lifted was welcomed.

Rethink strategy

West Africa has been rocked by a series of political crises and Tinubu told the leaders they were meeting at a "critical juncture".



Read more on RFI English



Read also:

Benin lifts suspension of imported goods transiting to Niger

Airlines say they're no longer taking French nationals to Niger

Niger's military junta releases son of deposed president on bail
Rights groups say Marcos Sr's regime jailed, tortured or killed tens of thousands of critics, including church leaders, journalists and student activists (JAM STA ROSA)

Hundreds of Filipino protesters marched through Manila on Sunday, marking the anniversary of the uprising that ousted Ferdinand Marcos, while vowing to prevent his son from repeating the dictatorship.

Marcos Jr won the presidency in a landslide in 2022, nearly four decades after a "People Power" uprising ended his late father's 20-year rule and chased the clan into exile in the United States.

While Marcos Jr remains popular, his campaign to alter the 1987 constitution has proved divisive.

Critics warn the effort could lead to the abolishment of term limits, with presidents currently allowed just one six-year stint in office.

"The theme of this protest is to reject Marcos's charter change moves which is a move to remain (in) power... which is basically what happened 38 years ago," said economist Rosario Guzman, 58, who told AFP that she had also taken part in the 1986 uprising.

"No to Cha-Cha (charter change)," read a protest banner displayed behind a mock black coffin marked "Freedom and Democracy".

Marcos maintains he is primarily seeking to amend the charter's economic provisions to allow more foreign investment, and ideally create more jobs.

He has said the political aspects, including term limits, should be tackled later.

According to police in Manila, a few hundred people joined Sunday's march, a far cry from the crowd that paralysed the capital's main avenue over four days in February 1986 until the military withdrew its support for the elder Marcos.

Rights groups say Marcos Sr's regime jailed, tortured or killed tens of thousands of critics, including religious leaders, journalists and student activists, while corruption left the country impoverished.

At the 38th anniversary march, 21-year-old demonstrator Giu de Sagun said he felt like he was "watching history repeat itself."

Some protesters wore shirts and hats vowing "never again".

At a small, official anniversary event in Manila, a group of government workers raised Philippine flags after laying a wreath in front of the People Power Monument. No senior government officials attended.

Story continues

Marcos Jr and his family returned to the Philippines after his father's death in 1989, and began a remarkable political comeback.

His presidential victory was fuelled by a massive online misinformation campaign that portrayed his father's time in office as a golden era.

He has since won praise for pivoting away from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte's brutal drug war, which left thousands dead.

Under the younger Marcos' government, rights campaigner and vocal Duterte critic Leila de Lima was also freed after nearly seven years behind bars.

"Under (Marcos Jr), we are given the opportunity to make use of a democratic space in transition from the authoritarian regime that was Duterte's," she told reporters last week.

"This is our breathing room from the seven years of nightmare that we thought was all over in 1986," she added.

cgm/lb
Vladimir Putin could target the UK with another novichok-style poisoning attempt, Britains defence secretary has warned.

Grant Shapps compared the threat Mr Putin poses to that of Nazi Germanys Adolf Hitler.

Mr Shapps, along with a number of Western leaders, blamed the Kremlin for the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony on 16 February.

Vladimir Putin could murder again on UK soil, Britains defence secretary has warned in a series of fiery comments (Reuters)

Mr Shapps told The Sun: Putin has Navalnys blood on his hands. Navalny should never have been in prison. His crime was standing up to an autocratic and now dictatorial Putin, who has a long history of bumping off his opponents.

He does it at home and abroad. And the world must not waver or bend to that kind of squalid leadership. We know what happens when you do  you end up with the mess of the last century.

Grant Shapps compared the threat posed by Russian President to that of Nazi Germanys Adolf Hitler (Sputnik)

Navalny, 47, was given life-saving treatment in Germany in 2020 after he was poisoned with novichok  the same deadly nerve agent that had been used by Putins GRU spy agency to target the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, 72, and his daughter Yulia, 39, in Salisbury in 2018.

Although the Skripals survived, British citizen Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after coming into contact with the military-grade nerve agent from a discarded perfume bottle.

Branding Putin a despotic leader who had lost any semblance of legitimacy, the defence secretary warned of another novichok-style killing on the streets of Britain.

Sergei Skripal talks to his lawyer from behind bars in 2006 (AP)

He said: Look what happened in Salisbury. Weve seen what Putin is capable of.

His behaviour makes him a pariah. He thinks the more he does it the stronger he gets. But in the eyes of the world it makes him more desperate and weaker.

Asked if the UK could be hit by another novichok attack, he replied: We are always tracking and trying to prevent those things. But do I think he has intent? You have seen that. So, yes.

He added: Because its so far outside of the parameters of civilisation, its sometimes hard for the Brits to believe. But its Putins modus operandi. His approach if he doesnt like someone is, dont vote them out, just bump them off.

Story continues

Yulia Skripal, who was poisoned in Salisbury along with her father, Russian spy Sergei Skripal (Reuters)

Mr Shapps described the Russian president as right up there among the most serious threats to world peace since Hitler.

Putin has denied any involvement in novichok attacks in the UK.

The defence secretarys warning comes after Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Dawn Sturgess was poisoned in Amesbury (PA)

On 24 February 2022, Putin shocked the world by launching a brutal all-out invasion of Ukraine, sending troops, tanks and warplanes in their masses across Russias border under the cover of darkness.

While the Kremlin is reported to have believed its special military operation would bring the capital Kyiv under Russias grip in just 10 days, the extraordinary show of defiance by Ukrainians to fight for their countrys existence has instead seen the war now enter its third year.

The CPS issued European Arrest Warrants for Russian nationals Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov in connection with the Salisbury poisonings (PA)

Over the course of 24 months, battle lines have shifted dramatically as Volodymyr Zelenskys troops pushed Russian invaders back hundreds of miles to enter into a grinding war of attrition centred in battle-hardened Donbas, where both armies are paying for small tactical and symbolic gains with thousands of lives.

Yet while the fighting hotspots have become more centralised, albeit along a 600-mile front line, the fate of Ukraine is increasingly at the mercy of geopolitical developments.

Seeking to justify his lengthy war, and his moves to transform Russias economy into a vast war machine, Putin is increasingly casting the conflict as an existential battle against the West.
Feel the Sting of Jason Statham Pollinating 4K UHD and Blu-ray with 'The Beekeeper' on April 23
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Views & Analysis

AI-disinformation threat ahead of 2024 Polls and our responsibilities

The Global Risk Report 2024 of the World Economic Forum has ranked India as the top country where the crisis of misinformation and disinformation is most severe. Read More

Sunday February 25, 2024 10:11 AM , Tasneem Zahra

The worlds largest democracy India is gearing up for its parliamentary elections this year. However, amidst this preparation, India faces a significant challenge of dealing with AI-generated misinformation, which can deepen social and political divides by targeting peoples existing beliefs.

Relying on news sources, more than half of internet users in India consume online news. However, with a staggering 1000% increase in AI-generated misinformation, distinguishing between real and fake news has become difficult for the citizens.

Neuroscientist and author Mukti Kulkarni highlighted in an academic speech that the problem of AI-generated fake news is now spreading to politics. For instance, he mentioned a fake video of the popular television show Kaun Banega Crorepati being used to boost a political agenda.

Additionally, AI-generated fake videos have been observed showing deceased leaders like Swami Vivekananda delivering speeches. Kulkarni also pointed out how several propaganda websites use AI to promote a narrative similar to that of the Chinese government.

Nature of Misinformation in India

Karen Rebello, senior editor of fact-checking agency BOOM, observed that most fake news that tend to go viral in India are mostly politically or religiously motivated.

However, there has been a blurred line between the two recently, especially after the inauguration of the Ram Temple, she said.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) political core is embedded in the Hindu nationalist agenda that asserts the primacy of Hindu values in the Indian society. However, this contradicts Indias secular principles, leading to deepening religious divides, as reported by the media.

This religious polarisation exaggerates the impact of misinformation, said Joyojeet Pal, assistant professor at the University of Michigan.

Specialising in the misinformation landscape in India, he added that it is because people are interested in negative narratives about opposing communities.

This was seen during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic when fake news surged. False allegations were made against Indian Muslims, accusing them of conspiring to spread the virus. This misinformation led to Muslims facing daily threats.

In the later half of the year, the hashtag #NoMeat_NoCoronaVirus was trending on X (formerly Twitter). Users were appealing to others to quit meat consumption to safeguard everyone from Covid-19.

Psychologist Dr. Sheikh Abdul Basir explained that repeatedly exposing people to something can mentally prepare them to believe in it. In this way, AI-generated fake news can target peoples existing beliefs, stereotypes and prejudices.

Role of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Elections

So far, audio and video content has been trimmed and shared in a certain way. However, with the advent of generative artificial intelligence, fake audio, video, images, and text can be technically created within seconds. This technology simplifies deceptive political propaganda.

While the use of generative AI has been ongoing for years, its use in elections was seen in 2020 when Manoj Tiwari, a BJP candidate from Delhi, used AI technology to reach out to a pool of voters in three languages  Hindi, English and Haryanvi  two of which were dubbed using deepfake.

Neelkanth Bakshi, BJPs co-incharge of social media and IT Cell in Delhi, told VICE in 2020 that Deepfake technology has significantly aided Delhi BJPs campaign efforts.

Through deepfake technology, faces of individuals in videos are replaced so seamlessly that it becomes difficult to distinguish them. Such usage of AI-generated fake videos was also observed in state assembly elections last year.

The regional political party of Telangana Bharat Rashtriya Samiti (BRS) wrote a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) accusing the opposition Congress party of using deepfake technology to influence voters.

In one of the deepfake videos circulated online, BRS leader and Telangana minister Chamakura Malla Reddy was seen dancing and wooing voters by saying:

You will get jobs if you vote for [K. Chandrashekar Rao] KCR.

Moverover, BOOM found in its investigation that AI-generated voice clones of Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Kamal Nath, candidates from two national parties BJP and Congress, were widely circulated in Madhya Pradesh.

Uzair Rizvi, expert in digital verification, said that most AI-generated fake news originates from the IT cells of political parties.

These IT cells are making Indias misinformation landscape more complex, he said.

This also increases the possibility of liars dividend, meaning that even legitimate media content can be questioned to be fake in a politicians favour.

How to Combat Fake News

Several fact-checking agencies attempt to debunk online misinformation daily. However, their work faces many challenges, such as the high cost of tools for identifying AI-generated content compared to those for creating them.

Rebello said:

The simple reason is that theres not much money to be made in detection.

As a result, the number of people producing AI-generated content surpasses the number of fact-checkers, hindering efforts.

Union Minister of Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnav told ANI that they are working against Deepfake through four pillars  identification, prevention, strengthening the system, and awareness.

He also mentioned that efforts are being made to introduce new laws to combat deepfake.

Currently, specific laws address tech misuse in India, including Copyright Violation and Defamation. In addition, IT Rules, 2021 mandate takedown of reported fake video, especially a deepfake, within 24 hours of reporting.

Due to Centres pressure on social media giants against misinformation and Deepfake videos, Meta, and other social media companies, are under heavy pressure to identify and remove harmful AI-generated content on their platforms.

Meanwhile, Pal commented that despite assurances from social media giants regarding trust and security standards, they have reduced their investment in this area.

In such a scenario, it becomes a responsibility on netizens as they must verify whatever they read, watch, or listen online, especially content that uses emotionally charged language.

Yet, many, like first-time voters Kashish Khan and Tushar Raghav, neglect fact-checking due to busy lifestyles or prefer reading newspapers over social media.

A digital news consumption survey conducted by researcher Tanushree Basuroy in March 2023 stated that 43 percent respondents believe that observing how news spreads and its absence from other digital platforms was a common method they used to spot online misinformation.

India could also benefit from adapting a similar systemic media literacy as in Taiwan. Melody Hsiehs organisation in Taiwan, Fake News Cleaner, conducts anti-disinformation workshops in various settings in Taiwan including universities, temples, and fishing villages, occasionally offering incentives like handmade soap to encourage participation.

[The writer, Tasneem Zahra, is a widely published Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker based in South Asia.]





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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Hajj 2024

Hajj 2024: Last date to pay 2nd Instalment of Balance Haj Amount March 10

The Haj Committee of India further said that the 3rd instalment of Balance Hajj Amount will be decided taking into consideration the finalization of Airfare amount and expenses in Saudi Arabia. Read More

Sunday February 25, 2024 3:36 PM , ummid.com News Network

Haj 2024 Second Instalment of Balance Amount: The Haj Committee of India Saturday asked the selected pilgrims to make the Second Instalment of Balance Haj Amount Payment (First Instalmeent of Rs 170,000) till March 10, 2024.

Each provisionally selected pilgrims are required to deposit the Second Instalment of Balance Haj Amount of Rs 1,70,000 per pilgrim, the Haj Committee of India said in a notification.

The pilgrims will be able to make the Haj amount payment from Saturday Feb 24, 2024. The last date is March 10, 2024.

The amount is to be deposited during the period 24th Feb 2024 to 10th March 2024, the Haj Committee said.

Mode of Payment

The Haj Committee of India said the Haj amount can be paid via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI.

"The Unique Bank Reference Number provided to each cover must be mentioned in the Deposit Receipt", the Haj Committee said.

Steps to make Haj 2024 Amount

Payments can be made either:

1. Online Mode through Haj Committee of India website here: hajcommittee.gov.in.

2. Directly to Haj Committee of India account No. 35398104789

maintained with SBI; or account No. 318702010406010 (Haj Account) maintained with Union Bank of India through any branch of SBl/UBI having core Banking System.

3. By cheque of any branch of SBI/UBI in the respective Bank.

4. Pilgrims can also make payment using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI

How to check Unique Bank Reference Number

Selected pilgrims whose names figured in the final list drawn after the Qurrah can check Unique Bank Reference Number by following the steps given below:

1. Go to Haj Committee of India website hajcommittee.gov.in.

2. Enter your Cover No in the box. Your Cover No should start with your state code.

3. Click on the Down Arraow from 'Select State' menu and select your state.

4. Enter Passport No in the box.

5. Click on "Load" button.

6. All relevant details along with Unique Bank Reference Number will appear on the computer or mobile phone screen.

Third Instalment of Haj Amount

The Haj Committee of India further said that the 3rd instalment of Balance Hajj Amount will be decided taking into consideration the finalization of Airfare amount and expenses in Saudi Arabia.

"Third instalment of Balance Haj Amount will be determined by taking into consideration the finalization of Airfare Amount and expenses to be incurred in Saudi Arabia and will be intimated shortly, the Haj Committee said. "The details of probable expenditure for Haj 2024 in respect of each pilgrim for the respective embarkation points will also be displayed on the Haj Committee of India official website, it added.

Hajj 2024 Flight Schedule

The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) had earlier also released Haj policy 2024 (Action Plan for Hajj 2024), listing a total of 25 embarkation points namely: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Srinagar, Ranchi, Gaya, Guwahati, Indore, Bhopal, Mangalore, Goa, Aurangabad, Varanasi, Jaipur, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kannur, Vijayawada, Agartala and Calicut.

According to Hajj 2024 Action Plan, the first Hajj flight from India will be on May 05, 2024. The Last Hajj departure flight will be on June 10, 2024. Core Hajj duration will be from June 14 to 19, 2024.

First return Hajj flight from Saudi Arabia to India will be on June 20, 2024 and the last inbound and return flight will be on July 21, 2024.

Detailed Hajj flight schedule (embarkation point wise) will be published soon.

The Haj Committee of India had earlier asked the provisionally selected pilgrim to pay the First Instalment or Advance Haj Amount of Rs 81,800/- till Feb 15, 2024 .

The Haj Committee of India has released the Waiting List of pilgrim for the Hajj 2024 after the provisionally selected pilgrims could not for any reason pay the Advance Haj Amount.

The Haj Committee of India had started receiving through its website hajcommittee.gov.in from December 04, 2023 Hajj Application Form (HAF) of the pilgrims who wished to embark on Hajj 2024 (Haj 1445 AH).

The last date of application was originally fixed as December 20, 2023. It was however extended till January 15, 2024, and then till 12:00 pm on January 16, 2024 in the last minute because of technical glitches in the computer server.





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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Hajj 2024

Hajj 2024 Waiting List of Pilgrims Released

The Haj Committee seats remain vacant after the pilgrim who are selected in Qurrah or draw of lots but fail to deposit the Advance Hajj Amount in time. Read More

Sunday February 25, 2024 3:42 PM , ummid.com News Network

Haj 2024 Waiting List: The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) has released the Hajj 2024 Waiting List on its official website hajcommittee.gov.in for confirmation from the aspiring pilgrims to fill 10,149 vacant seats.

The Haj Committee seats remain vacant after the pilgrims who are selected in the Qurrah or draw of lots but fail to deposit the Advance Hajj Amount in time.

The last date to pay the Advance Haj Amount of Rs 81,800/- was Feb 15, 2024 . Thus the provisional selection of the pilgrims who could not pay the said amount is cancelled and the pilgrims in the waiting list are now given chance for confirmation.

The pilgrims should note that Hajj 2024 Waiting List released by the Haj Committee is state-wise. The Haj Committee has also included the waiting list number along with provision selection.

State-wise Hajj Waiting List

The waiting list pilgrims from as many as 11 states have been included in the Hajj waiting list. The 11 states and their waiting list number for provisional selection are: Chhattisgarh (1-82), Delhi (1-440), Gujarat (1-1594), Haryana (1-23), Karnataka (1-1380), Kerala (1-1561), Madhya Pradesh 1-558), Maharashtra (1-2499), Manipur (1-50), Tamil Nadu (1-633) and Telangana (1-1316).

The pilgrims, whose name did not appear in the list of pilgrims released after digital randomized draw of lots held on January 29 , can check the Hajj 2024 Waiting List on the Haj Committee website.

The Haj Committee of India further said that the waiting list pilgrims should pay Advance Haj Amount of INR 81,800/- plus First Instalment of Balance Haj Amount of INR 170,000/- - a total of INR 2,51,800/-, on or before March 10, 2024.

The pilgrims selected from the waiting list will also be required to submit to the Haj Committee their passport, pay-in-slip and other documents by March 15, 2024.

Payment of Haj Balance Amount

The Haj Committee of India meanwhile asked the pilgrims who have paid the Advance Haj Amount of INR 81,900 to make the Second Instalment of Balance Haj Amount Payment (First Instalmeent of Rs 170,000) till March 10, 2024.

Each provisionally selected pilgrims are required to deposit the Second Instalment of Balance Haj Amount of Rs 1,70,000 per pilgrim, the Haj Committee of India said in a notification.

The pilgrims will be able to make the Haj amount payment from Saturday Feb 24, 2024. The last date is March 10, 2024.

The amount is to be deposited during the period 24th Feb 2024 to 10th March 2024, the Haj Committee said.

Mode of Payment

The Haj Committee of India said the Haj amount can be paid via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI.

"The Unique Bank Reference Number provided to each cover must be mentioned in the Deposit Receipt", the Haj Committee said.

Steps to make Haj 2024 Amount

Payments can be made either:

1. Online Mode through Haj Committee of India website here: hajcommittee.gov.in.

2. Directly to Haj Committee of India account No. 35398104789

maintained with SBI; or account No. 318702010406010 (Haj Account) maintained with Union Bank of India through any branch of SBl/UBI having core Banking System.

3. By cheque of any branch of SBI/UBI in the respective Bank.

4. Pilgrims can also make payment using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI

How to check Unique Bank Reference Number

Selected pilgrims whose names figured in the final list drawn after the Qurrah can check Unique Bank Reference Number by following the steps given below:

1. Go to Haj Committee of India website hajcommittee.gov.in.

2. Enter your Cover No in the box. Your Cover No should start with your state code.

3. Click on the Down Arraow from 'Select State' menu and select your state.

4. Enter Passport No in the box.

5. Click on "Load" button.

6. All relevant details along with Unique Bank Reference Number will appear on the computer or mobile phone screen.

Third Instalment of Haj Amount

The Haj Committee of India further said that the 3rd instalment of Balance Hajj Amount will be decided taking into consideration the finalization of Airfare amount and expenses in Saudi Arabia.

"Third instalment of Balance Haj Amount will be determined by taking into consideration the finalization of Airfare Amount and expenses to be incurred in Saudi Arabia and will be intimated shortly, the Haj Committee said. "The details of probable expenditure for Haj 2024 in respect of each pilgrim for the respective embarkation points will also be displayed on the Haj Committee of India official website, it added.

Hajj 2024 Flight Schedule

The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) had earlier also released Haj policy 2024 (Action Plan for Hajj 2024), listing a total of 25 embarkation points namely: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Srinagar, Ranchi, Gaya, Guwahati, Indore, Bhopal, Mangalore, Goa, Aurangabad, Varanasi, Jaipur, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kannur, Vijayawada, Agartala and Calicut.

According to Hajj 2024 Action Plan, the first Hajj flight from India will be on May 05, 2024. The Last Hajj departure flight will be on June 10, 2024. Core Hajj duration will be from June 14 to 19, 2024.

First return Hajj flight from Saudi Arabia to India will be on June 20, 2024 and the last inbound and return flight will be on July 21, 2024. Detailed Hajj flight schedule (embarkation point wise) will be published soon.

The Haj Committee of India had started receiving through its website hajcommittee.gov.in from December 04, 2023 Hajj Application Form (HAF) of the pilgrims who wished to embark on Hajj 2024 (Haj 1445 AH).

The last date of application was originally fixed as December 20, 2023. It was however extended till January 15, 2024, and then till 12:00 pm on January 16, 2024 in the last minute because of technical glitches in the computer server.





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Myanmar Junta Forcing Rohingya to Fight Rebels

Myanmars military is forcibly recruiting Rohingya men from villages and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Rakhine State, and it is feared they will be used as human shields, activists, and residents of the state warn. Read More

Sunday February 25, 2024 5:31 PM , Saleem Samad

Myanmars regime is accelerating its effort to recruit up to 50,000 personnel per year to replenish its armed forces under the reinforced Conscription Law.

Several media outlets have recently reported in independent and pro-resistance Myanmar media on the forcible recruitment of young men in urban areas.

Military Junta Chief Min Aung Hlaing activated, for the first time in a decade, a conscription law amid heavy regime casualties and desertions.

Following the announcement, the regime formed a central committee led by the Defence Minister to conscript over-18s into military service. Those who fail to comply face three to five years in prison.

The committee announced the formation of branches in each state and region to implement the law, led by the chief minister with the deputy regional military commander as the vice-chair.

The conscription branches will be established in rural areas and townships. The recruitment process will start in April, regime spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said.

The spokesman said around 6 million men and 7 million women were eligible for compulsory military service, according to the 2019 census.

He said 5,000 people will be called up each month and given training, with around 50,000 recruited per year. The conscription is not intended for only one, two, three, or four years and will be eligible for service for two years.

The Junta also activated a Reserve Forces Law, allowing it to send veterans back to the front line. Under the law, all former military personnel must serve in the reserve forces for five years starting from the day they resigned or retired.

Conscription has sparked fear and anger among eligible citizens who have been called on to defend the junta that has brutalised them for three years.

It has also been criticised for legalising the juntas practice of rounding up civilians for use as porters or human shields.

Desertions and defections plague Myanmar troops

The military government's forces have been stretched thin by the recent upsurge in resistance activity. They were already believed to be depleted by casualties, desertions, and defections, though there are no reliable numbers regarding their scale.

The army faces two enemies. The pro-democracy forces formed after the army takeover and better-trained and equipped ethnic minority armed groups that have been battling for greater autonomy for decades.

There are alliances between the resistance groups, as reported by the pro-rebel newspaper The Irrawaddy.

In September of last year, the Defense Ministry of the National Unity Government (NUG), the leading political organisation of the resistance that acts as a shadow government, stated that more than 14,000 troops have defected from the military since the 2021 seizure of power.

The military seized power and ousted the elected government headed by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021. She has been kept in home custody to serve prison sentences for election fraud and other trumped-up charges.

Forced recruitment of Rohingyas

Myanmars military is forcibly recruiting Rohingya men from villages and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Rakhine State, and it is feared they will be used as human shields, activists, and residents of the state warn.

Sittwe, the state capital of Rakhine State, has 13 IDP camps for about 100,000 Rohingya people who were displaced by ethnic and religious violence in the western state in 2012.

At least 400 Rohingya men have already been forcibly recruited from villages and IDP camps after Rohingya community leaders and administrators were pressured to compile lists of at least 50 men for each small IDP village and at least 100 for each IDP camp in three Rakhine townships  Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Sittwe.

The junta is offering freedom of movement to Rohingya Muslims restricted to IDP camps as part of a bid to entice them into military service amid the nationwide rollout of a conscription law.

Junta forces have told Rohingya men that if they serve in the military, each one will receive a sack of rice, a citizenship identity card, and a monthly salary of 150,000 kyats (US$ 41), Rohingya residents of Rakhine State and activists stated.

Since taking the census on Monday, junta officers have repeatedly visited the camp, trying to persuade Rohingya residents to serve in the military with an offer of free movement within Kyaukphyu township, said another camp resident.

However, the conscription law only applies to Myanmar citizens, but the citizenship of Rohingya people has been scrapped after a draconian Citizenship Law of 1982 requires individuals to prove that their ancestors lived in Myanmar before 1823 and refuses to recognize Rohingya Muslims as one of the nation's ethnic groups or list their language as a national language.

Despite the compulsory military training schedule to begin in April, junta troops arrested at least 100 men from four villages in Buthidaung Township on 18 and 19 February, and they were transferred to a nearby military base for basic military training.

Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, describes that two weeks of training would make them vulnerable either to be captured or killed on the battlefront by the battle-hardened Arakan Army (AA) rebels fighting the military junta for more than a decade. Lwin said the juntas military will use the Rohingya foot soldiers as human shields and porters.

Rohingya to defend IDP villages

Junta troops informed Rohingya community leaders that the AA had established armed fortified camps near the Rohingya villages and that residents would have to undergo military training to defend their villages.

The juntas troops, who are fighting the AA, know the terrain of Rakhine State better than the AA does and have public support.

Since November, the military has surrendered Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Myay Pon, and Taung Pyo townships in Rakhine state.

The capital of Rakhine State, Sittwe, is besieged by government troops. Civil administration officials and their families have been evacuated to safe places by commercial flights, while other officials have been shifted by Naval vessels.

Rights campaigners fear that drafting Rohingya into military service could stoke ethnic tensions in Rakhine state, while legal experts argue that the drive is unlawful, given that Myanmar has refused to recognize the Rohingya as one of the countrys ethnic groups and denied them citizenship for decades.

An estimated 1.2 million ethnic Rohingya refugees have been languishing in squalid camps in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, since 2017 after fleeing the genocide committed by Myanmar military forces.

Another 630,000 living within Rakhine State are designated stateless by the United Nations, including those who languish in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and are restricted from moving freely within Rakhine state.

[The writer, Saleem Samad, is Deputy Editor of The Daily Messenger and an award-winning journalist. An Ashoka Fellow and recipient of the Hellman-Hammett Award. Email: saleemsamad@hotmail.com; Twitter (X): @saleemsamad. First published in The Daily Messenger, 25 February 2024]





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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Education & Career

UP govt issued notice on LKG students PIL objecting liquor shop near school

The department on the other hand said the liquor shop is running since last more than 30 years whereas the school was established only in 2019. Read More

Sunday February 25, 2024 11:50 AM , Agencies

[Representative image]

Kanpur: The Allahabad High Court has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government seeking the response from the authorities on a liquor shop running near a school in Kanpur.

The Allahabad High Court notice to the state government was issued after a 5-year-old student files a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the removal of the liquor shop from near his school.

The LKG student of MR Jaipuria School in Ratan Sadan area of Azad Nagar in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh has alleged that drunk people are very often found creating a ruckus near the school after consuming alcohol.

Advocate Ashutosh Sharma, who represented the LKG student in the High Court, said that the shop is running within a radius of 30 meters, bypassing the rule of opening a liquor shop 50 meters away from the school.

The student in his petition has also alleged the liquor shop opens hours before the schedule time of 10:00 am. People consume alcohol near the boundary wall of the zoo indulge in abuse and fights. A complaint was made to the District Magistrate, but no action was taken, the petition said.

The department on the other hand said the liquor shop is running since last more than 30 years whereas the school was established only in 2019, local media reports said.

The court nonetheless asked the state government counsel to seek a response from the authorities as to why the licence of the liquor shop in Kanpur was being renewed even after the school came into existence in the vicinity, according to news agency PTI.

A division bench comprising Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Kshitij Shailendra directed to list the PIL on March 13 for the next hearing.







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Saudi-based Nadrah Trading Company, a subsidiary of Al Nasiriah Holding Group, has signed an agreement valued at over SAR1 billion ($266 million) with Munitions India Limited (MIL), a company owned by the Indian Ministry of Defence, for enhancing cooperation and promoting the exchange of expertise between the two sides within the kingdom.

As per the deal signed during the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 in Riyadh, the duo will help set up a state-of-the-art nanotechnology factory in the kingdom and also facilitate supply and localising of ammunition in the kingdom.

Headquartered in Pune, India, it was established in 2021 as part of the restructuring and corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board into seven different Public Sector Undertakings. Munitions India primarily manufactures ammunition, explosives, rockets and bombs for the use of the Indian Armed Forces, foreign militaries and domestic civilian use.

This collaboration aims to increase investment volume and quality to support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, said Mohamed Abdul Kareem Hassan, the CEO of Nadrah company, after signing the deal with Ravi Kant, Chairman and Managing Director of MIL.

Additionally, it seeks to enhance cooperation and promote the exchange of expertise between the two sides within the kingdom, he added.

The signing ceremony was attended by Ahmad Abdulaziz Al Ohali, Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI); Ajay Bhatt, Indias Minister of State for Defence and Tourism; and Faisal bin Saad, the CEO of Al Nasiriah Holding Group as well as other senior officials.-TradeArabia News Service
HCM CITY  The inaugural Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in HCM City from February 28 to March 1.

Organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, a global textile trade fair organiser, and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, VIATT 2024 will feature over 400 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions including the UK, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Viet Nam.

They will showcase their fabrics, yarns, fibres, garments, home textiles, technical textiles, nonwovens, and textile processing and printing technology.

There will be a fashion show highlighting green collections from Kilomet 109 and other Vietnamese brands and designers from China, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Fourteen seminars will be held on four key themes: design and trends, market strategy, textile and nonwoven technologies, and sustainability issues.

Speaking at a press conference held in HCM City on February 23 to introduce the fair, Le Hoang Tai, deputy head of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, said Viet Nams garment and textile exports fell by more than 9 per cent to US$40.3 billion last year due to the impacts of COVID-19, the global economic downturn and high inventories in many markets.

Seeing prospects are bright both in the global and domestic markets this year the sector had set an export target of $44 billion, he said.

He noted that the textile industry was gradually moving towards production methods that bring higher added value.

To achieve this transition, businesses need to focus on sustainable production, going green, digital transformation, and using recycled materials.

The fair was expected to create favourable conditions for local businesses to connect with international firms and participate in global textile and garment production chains, he said.

It would also seek to create linkages across the sectors value chain from raw materials to the final product, encourage major global brands to transfer technology and management experience and participate in the process of developing domestic supply of raw materials, he said.

He pointed out that this would help local firms meet the rules of origin required under new generation free trade agreements, improve added value for their products and promote the sectors development in a green and sustainable manner in line with global trends.

Wendy Wen, managing director of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: The reason we picked Viet Nam to launch our very first integrated textile fair in South East Asia is because we recognise its potential.

Viet Nam is currently the third largest exporter of textiles and garments, and one of the worlds most significant importers of textile machinery, fabrics, yarns, and fibres.

VIATT will be a hub for suppliers and buyers across the entire textile value chain to meet, source and harness the full potential of all categories.

By leveraging our 500,000 connections from our Texpertise Network's 50 plus global fairs, we will provide Viet Nam's most comprehensive textile trade platform."  VNS
QUANG NAM  A deal on farm produce supply was inked by farmers association of Trhy commune  a Co Tu ethnic community in Quang Nam Province  and a group of tourism and cuisine associations in a Nang, marking an initial connection and co-operation in agro-tourism in central Viet Nam.

This is also the first instance of travel and food supply businesses in a Nang building a sustainable farm produce distribution and supply chain with ethnic farmers.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), tourism and food supplier companies in a Nang will support local ethnic farmers in distributing farm produce from annual crops and building sustainable community-based tourism.

Vice chairman of a Nang Tourism Association Nguyen uc Quynh said the agro-tourism co-operation has high potential as a Nang has 1,300 hotels and resorts from two to five stars.

Its a base for future development of safe agricultural product chain and green tourism. Hospitality industry would create innovation from community-grown farm produce in serving international travellers, Quynh said.

The MoU is not only a commitment on distribution of farming products from the ethnic community, but creating a basic framework for sustainable agro-tourism in the region.

Trhy communal party secretary Le Hoang Linh said: The deal on the sale of agriculture output of the ethnic community would help improve income for local farmers while expanding production and community-based tourism.

The mountainous commune has a potential labour force, but lacks knowledge in building organic production and farm produce preservation technology.

Gentzsch Andre Pierre, General Manager of Furama-Ariyana Danang International Tourism Complex, shared: "Sustainable development is a key focus value of Furama Resort a Nang. The deal would provide the resort a clean and stable source of farm produce and bring local culture-based gastronomy to tourists.

Trhy commune, 150km from a Nang on the border with Laos, is home to 390 households with total 1,500 people, of which 202 are poor families (51 per cent). Most families earn their living from farm produce and medicinal herbs from the forest. VNS
HA NOI - Vietnamese Pham Ngoc Lan won the best first feature prize at the Berlinale Film Festival on Saturday.

The feature entitled Cu Li Khong Bao Gio Khoc (Cu Li Never Cries) tells the story of a woman who returns to Viet Nam from Germany with the ashes of her estranged husband.

The film is directed by Pham Ngoc Lan, who wrote the screenplay with Nghiem Quynh Trang. The cast includes Minh Chau, Ha Phuong, Xuan An, Hoang Ha and Cao Sang.

Born and raised in Ha Noi, after studying urban planning at Ha Noi Architectural University, Lan taught himself filmmaking. His short films have already been presented twice at the Berlinale, Another City in 2016 and Blessed Land in 2019. Cu Li Khong Bao Gio Khoc is his debut feature film.

Since 2006, when it introduced the GWFF Best First Feature Award, the Berlinale has been even more committed to supporting the next generation of filmmakers.

The award is endowed with 50,000 euros, donated by the GWFF (Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und Fernsehrechten), a society dedicated to safeguarding film and television rights.

The prize money is to be split between the producer and the director of the winning film. Additionally, the director will be awarded with a high-quality viewfinder as both a useful instrument and memorable trophy.

In 2024, 16 directorial feature film debuts from the sections Competition, Encounters, Panorama, Forum and Generation, were nominated. - VNS
HA NOI  Thirty provinces and cities in the country held ceremonies on Sunday to see tens of thousands of young people off for military service in the first handover batch.

The remaining 33 localities will carry out the handover of recruits to the military in the next two days, with completion date set to be February 27.

Deputy Minister of Defence Hoang Xuan Chien, along with the leaders of the northern province Hung Yen, participated in the ceremony and had talks with the new recruits in Kim ong District.

Chien congratulated the recruits and their receiving units, encouraged them to be studious in their training, strengthen political resolve, strictly adhere to the military discipline, complete their assigned tasks and contribute to the development of their hometown and the country.

The conscription ceremony was conducted in a solemn, efficient, safe manner. Security forces ensured public order at conscription venues, avoiding congestion and fostering an enthusiastic atmosphere to encourage the new recruits to fulfil their duties.

To improve the quality and meet recruitment targets, military agencies at all levels actively consulted with the Military Service Council to guide localities in enhancing the screening of conscription sources, implementing all steps in the conscription process, and engaging the entire political system in the effort.

In the northern port city Hai Phong, Major General Nguyen Quang Cuong, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region 3, and Secretary of the city's Party Committee Le Tien Chau met and talked with new recruits in Thuy Nguyen District, the locality with the highest number of new recruits among the 2,550 from the city.

Representing the new recruits, Vu Nhan Cuong (from Minh Tan Commune, Thuy Nguyen District) promised to always train and strive to become elite soldiers, and continue the glorious achievements of their forbearers in nation building and national defence efforts.

Thanks to good preparation, localities cooperated with receiving units to swiftly, efficiently, and strictly conduct conscription ceremonies, ensuring absolute safety.

All 9 localities in Military Region 3 - Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam inh, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Ha Nam - on Sunday morning completed the 2024 conscription ceremony at 30 locations.

More than 83 per cent of new recruits in Military Region 3 are in the age range of 17-21, 11.48 per cent have university/college degrees and 11.36 per cent are from ethnic minorities groups.

Citizens enlisting in the military in 2024 are provided with gifts supported by the local authorities, with an average amount between VN3-5 million per person, with some more well-to-do localities also offering higher value gifts, financial support to rebuild or repair their homes.

Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces (Military Region 1) also completed the handover of recruits to the military units by 9am. Given the demographic nature of these localities, recruits are from diverse ethnic backgrounds - Kinh, Mong, Dao, Tay, Nung, Hoa, Cao Lan, Muong, Lo Lo, San Diu and San Chi - mostly within 18-27 years old.

The quality of the new recruits in Military Region 1 has also improved, with the amount of young people with university/college degrees up by 26.5 per cent, and the amount of young people being Party members up by 147 per cent, compared to last year.

a Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh inh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, ak Lak and ak Nong (Military Region 5) and four provinces Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc (Military Region 2) also completed their handover on Sunday.

Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue (Military Region 4), and districts in Ha Noi belonging to the High Command of Capital Ha Noi, will carry out the sending off ceremonies on Monday, and the rest of the localities to finish the work on Tuesday, the final day.  VNS
NGHE AN  Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong inh Hue and other officials paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the special national relic site of Kim Lien and to war martyrs at the national historical relic site of Truong Bon in the central province of Nghe An on Sunday.

At the special national relic site of Kim Lien in Kim Lien Town of Nam an District  the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh, the delegation offered incense to express their endless gratitude and profound respect to the late leader, who devoted his entire life to the struggle for national and class liberation, along with peace and happiness of the Vietnamese people.

The commemoration took place prior to the launch of the Youth Month and the tree planting festival 2024 held at the national historical relic site of Truong Bon by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee.

During his life, President Ho Chi Minh always reserved special sentiment and attention towards young people. He used the image of spring, the most beautiful season of a year, to describe the youth, and affirmed that the youth is the future master of the nation, whose strength and prosperity depend largely on the youth.

Following his teachings, the Party and State have always cared for the youth and the youth-related work. The HCYU has unceasingly reformed and effectively carried out revolutionary and youth action plans to contribute to national liberation, reunification, construction, and defence.

The same day, the delegation came to commemorate war heroes and martyrs at the national historical relic site of Truong Bon and My Son Commune of o Luong District.

During the resistance war against the US, National Highway 15A, on which Truong Bon is located, was a strategic place of special importance as it connected North - South transport arteries. Therefore, it was a target of the USs bombings that aimed to block the routes for transporting human and material supplies from the North to the battlefield in the South.

As many as 1,240 officers and soldiers, including a number of pioneering youths, bravely fought and laid down their lives in this place.  VNS
HCM CITY  The HCM City Public Employees Trade Union has launched a programme to offer free ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) to disadvantaged workers on the occasion of International Women's Day (March 8).

The programme called Ao dai yeu thuong (Ao dai of Love) aims to bring joy to many poor and disadvantaged women working in production at companies in the Saigon Hi-Tech Park who now have a chance to own the traditional dress.

It also honours the beauty and value of ao dai, and encourages Vietnamese women to wear ao dai in their daily lives.

The city Public Employees' Trade Union calls on officials, civil servants, and workers, especially women working at grassroots trade union units in administrative units and public non-business units under the city public employees' trade union, to donate their old or unused ao dai, and fabric to make ao dai.

Donated ao dai will be received from February 26 to March 6 at the city Public Employees Trade Union Office at No. 32 Truong inh Street in District 3.

The programme was organised for the first time in 2022. Some 1,200 sets of ao dai were donated and 90 percent of them were new.  VNS
HA NAM  President Vo Van Thuong emphasised the importance of grassroots health care while visiting some medical facilities in the northern province of Ha Nam on February 25, ahead of the Vietnamese Physicians Day (February 27).

At the health centre of Thanh Liem District, the State leader highly valued the achievements by local medical workers as well as their dedication to the job.

He said medical establishments at the communal and higher levels had properly carried out the national programmes on grassroots health care, vaccination, primary health care, provision of adolescent health advices, screening, and care for patients with chronic illnesses. Particularly, the health centre of Thanh Liem joined the entire health system of Ha Nam in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stressing the importance of grassroots health care, President Thuong noted there are over 11,400 communal-level health stations nationwide.

Those facilities are the closest to the people and work in the frontline. If they perform well, a number of diseases will be prevented while patients with severe illnesses reduced, thus helping ease pressure on medical establishments at district, provincial, and national levels and most importantly, cut healthcare costs for people, especially in terms of chronic diseases, according to the President.

With good performance, grassroots health facilities will help build a sustainable future for the country.

The leader also expressed empathy for the difficulties and pressure on medical workers, encouraging them to keep exerting efforts to further improve their capacity, uphold a high sense of responsibility, and wholeheartedly care for patients.

He asked medical workers to continue seeking therapies for new diseases, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. He also highly valued the digital transformation at the Thanh Liem health centre, asking it to push ahead with the work to further facilitate health examination and treatment.

Besides, President Thuong also told authorities of Ha Nam Province and Thanh Liem District to invest more in developing human resources, infrastructure, equipment for grassroots health care.

The same day, he visited and extended congratulations on the Vietnamese Physicians Day to medical workers of the health station of Thanh Phong Commune, Thanh Liem District. VNA/VNS
By Hamy Nguyen

Comfort foods are different for everyone, but there is one thing that they have in common, they always bring back memories of the good times.

When it comes to sharing a bottle (or two) of wine with close friends, Pincho is first on my list. This preference is increased, particularly on brisk winter days when the balcony calls. The meat plate, expertly presented at the table and garnished with stunning raclette cheese, is a must-order.

Pincho is housed in a villa on Cao Ba Quat Street. A little Ha Noi-style alleyway serves as the entry, and it is decorated with several pictures, thought-provoking phrases, and a sizable board with information on the restaurant. Pincho is Ha Noi's first tapas restaurant.

Tapas is served in the Spanish style, although Pincho is not a truly authentic Spanish restaurant. Apart from over 20 varieties of tapas, the Pincho menu is a blend of worldly cuisine with the concept of Spanish tapas at its core. It emphasises coming together and sharing.

My meals at Pincho always take in two restaurant specialities: some tapas, followed by a signature meat plate with melted cheese.

I can usually eat two to three pieces of grilled mushroom and truffle oil tapas (VN70,000 for two pieces). Although the mushroom topping is thickly chopped, we can still feel the mushroom's luscious and chewy texture. Combine with aioli sauce for a rich, creamy, and garlicky combination. Perilla adds a hint of Vietnamese taste and aids in the dish's fusion qualities.

Another dish, I always have when I visit Pincho is Vietnamese banh a which comes with smoked salmon, spicy crab and avocado (VN90,000/ 2 pieces). I eat banh a, a classic rice and sesame cracker, a lot as a Vietnamese. But I had no idea that it could taste so good when paired with high-quality delicacies like crab meat and salmon. It was easy to consume this kind of tapas, which highlighted the delicate texture of all the ingredients.

Scallop with wasabi mousse (VN120,000/ 2pcs) is a delicious and delicate dish that is worth trying. The scallops are perfectly seared; their insides are soft, gradually turning pink, while their exteriors are caramelised and browned. The mildly sour sauce counterbalances the sweet softness, which is enhanced by the creamy wasabi mousse. The amount of mousse on the scallops is a touch excessive, the one thing about the meal that bothers me.

A special meat plate with raclette (VN1,320,000) is the highlight of each supper. Two varieties of quality meat will be included in each: Wagyu flank MBS 7/8 and Iberico pluma, along with 3-fire fries, pepper sauce, and aioli sauce. The medium rare option is always mouth-wateringly tender. The molten raclette, with its nutty aroma, creates a luscious base.

As each diner selects their preferred combination of meats and accoutrements, here you can engage in a delightfully communal and convivial dining experience, creating a memorable meal filled with warmth.

I usually get a bottle of Syrah wine to pair with the raclette. Typically full-bodied, this kind of wine is excellent for winter consumption. Moreover, the faintly peppery aroma of the wine complements the smokey flavour of the raclette.

Comfort food is about more than just a dish  it's an experience. I have been thinking about my favourite Pincho meal for the past five years, and I feel it would be selfish to keep it to myself.

The staff are also pleasant and knowledgeable, so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations. Asking how many pieces are in each portion when sharing is a smart idea at this superb little restaurant. VNS

Pincho  Tapas Kitchen & Drinks

Address: 34C Cao Ba Quat St, Ba inh Dist, Ha Noi

Tel: 0949 022 882

Price: from VN70,000-1,320,000

Comment: Vibrant, vintage, sociable, exquisite, and flavourful fusion.
JACKSON, Ohio (AP)  A small plane crash near an airport in southern Ohio has claimed the lives of three people, authorities said.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said a preliminary investigation indicates that a Piper PA 32 Cherokee Six crashed into a field about a quarter-mile north of the James A. Rhodes Airport in Jackson County shortly after 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Daniel T. Baker, 44, of Jackson; Zebulon D. Logan, 45, of Lucasville; and Dan Baker, 75, of West Portsmouth, were killed in the crash, the state highway patrol said.

Federal and state authorities and the county sheriffs office had no immediate word on where the single-engine aircraft came from and where it was headed.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.

The Jackson County airport is located about 80 miles (130 kilometers) south-southeast of Columbus and about 120 miles (193 kilometers) east of Cincinnati.
As the April 8 total solar eclipse approaches, Waco-area public safety planners have shifted their concern from the size of viewing crowds to the number of vehicles driving through on major roads.

The Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management is continuing to prepare for an influx of some 100,000 people, coordinator Ryan Dirker said.

But were more concerned about the vehicular traffic on major thoroughfares passing through the county on the way to to somewhere else, than we are about the numbers of people staying here or the size of crowds gathering to watch, Dirker said by phone Thursday.

When Dirker and other state and local public safety leaders began planning for the eclipse months ago, they were at first concerned about overwhelming crowds of people and runs on grocery stories.

But since then, supermarket chains have participated in the planning meetings, and Dirker sees that they are increasing orders of staple items.

We want people to come to our county and watch the eclipse and take advantage of all the great events being planned, but we want them to be sure they have the supplies they will need to be healthy and safe while they get there, watch the event and get back, Dirker said.

McLennan and adjacent counties in the eclipses path of totality, meaning the moon will block the outline of the sun. In Greater Waco, the totality will last from 1:38 p.m. to 1:42 p.m., creating four minutes of night in the middle of the afternoon.

The moon will begin to cross the sun around 12:30 and move completely out from it by around 3 p.m.

Bell County is going a step further with preparations. An emergency declaration signed this past week by County Judge David Blackburn and up for commissioner approval this coming week allows local governments to seek assistance and equipment from state agencies if necessary for the eclipse.

The declaration also requires anyone hosting a gathering of 50 people or more, or any landowner renting space for camping to 50 people or more to register their event and prove they have adequate bathroom and waste disposal facilities.

Blackburn and Bell County public safety leaders said they expect a flood of out-of-town visitors starting several days before the eclipse, some camping in rural spots they rent from landowners.

My concerns are that our first responders may need to get to an incident to help in one of those pastures or fields, and also for the health of those who gather, Blackburn said.

The registration requires landowners to provide locations and how many people will be there. The bathrooms and sanitation arent legally required, Blackburn said.

But we certainly want landowners to give careful consideration to sanitation, cleanliness and what waste may be left behind, Blackburn said. We have a health district that can help them and give recommendations.

In McLennan County, officials are expecting most of the large gatherings to occur inside cities, County Administrator Dustin Chapman said in an email Friday.

None of the events the county is aware of in the unincorporated areas of the county appear to trigger the mass gathering statutes, which provide that a promoter will ensure that minimum standards of sanitation and health will be maintained during the mass gathering, Chapman said.

To trigger the mass gathering laws, an event would have to be in a rural area outside a town or city and meet several criteria. It would have to host more than 2,500 people, or more than 500 if more than half would be younger than 21, with alcoholic beverages would be available. The event would have to last more than five hours, or in the hours between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

McLennan County commissioners are still studying all options, Chapman said.

The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District is aware that private rural landowners may choose to rent out spots for the eclipse viewing, and urges participants to clean up after themselves, spokesperson Clare Paul said in a Friday email.

She said rules and regulations apply to waste from overflowing septic tanks, even on RVs, to prevent waterborne diseases.

Any landowner or eclipse watcher who wanted to make First Amendment freedom of assembly challenge to a requirement for registration or for bathroom and sanitary considerations, would have weak claim, Baylor University law professor Brian Serr said in a Thursday interview.

In almost all cases, the U.S. Supreme Court allows restrictions on time, place and manner, that dont affect content, and thats what these requirements for registration, health and safety are, Serr said.

In Woodway, no overnight parking will be allowed in city parks, public safety director Khalil El-Halabi said in a Wednesday email. El-Halabi is also concerned about traffic.

We will have several extra personnel on duty and working our parks, as well as our highways, El-Halabi said. Officers have been assigned to designated areas as well as assigned to man fire trucks for active calls or traffic control.

Meanwhile, American Medical Response first responders across the city have been extensively planning for the eclipse, said Dr. Rama Heyratifar, AMRs medical director. Waco and surrounding cities contract with AMR for ambulance response, paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

There will be a large influx of tourists and traffic delays should be anticipated, Heyratifar said. Our EMS system is planning to augment their capabilities that day, including physician scene response.

AMR will be staffing medical response teams at viewing events in the coverage area, including Baylor and city of Waco, officials said. Additional quick response vehicles will be staffed on the day of the eclipse in anticipation of navigating traffic impediments.

Heyratifar recommends planning travel in advance and avoiding non-essential travel.

Expect significant traffic on major roadways, he said. Stay informed about traffic and potential road closures through official channels and local news.

He recommends a backup plan to communicate with loved ones by text message, walkie-talkies or pre-arranged meeting places, in case cellphone towers are overloaded.

Keep a full gas tank, water, first aid, medications, and other supplies with you, Heyratifar said. Supervise children and ensure they are not looking directly into the sun. Wear skin protection like sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats.
Marissa Mayer has long been an inspiration for innovative women battling to break through gender barriers in a male-dominated technology industry.

After graduating from Stanford University, Mayer joined Google in 1999 when the internet search giant was still a startup and then went on to design breakthrough products such as Gmail. She left Google in 2012 to become CEO of Yahoo in an unsuccessful effort to turn around the fading internet pioneer. But Mayer still managed to triple Yahoo's stock price and create more than $30 billion in shareholder wealth before selling the company's online operations to Verizon Communications in 2017.

Mayer, 48, now runs an artificial intelligence startup called Sunshine with Enrique Munoz Torres  a former colleague at Google and Yahoo  from a Palo Alto, California, office that served as Facebook's first headquarters in Silicon Valley. She recently sat down for an interview.

Q: Sunshine is using AI to manage contacts on a mobile app. Isn't that a relatively simple task for a sophisticated technology?

A: Our thesis for the company is there are just a lot of mundane tasks that just get in the way. It's true for a lot of things: contacts, calendaring, scheduling, all those different components take a lot of friction. We think by applying AI  not even necessarily in cutting-edge ways  you can both solve valuable problems and you can give people back time. You can also build their confidence in AI.

Q: So how does the Sunshine app work and since it's free, how are you going to make money?

A: After you install it on your iPhone or your Android phone, we look at your contacts. Then you can hook it up to your email and we go through to see if we can recognize the signature blocks and who you correspond with many times back and forth. If it looks like you are actually engaging in conversations, we will add that person to your contacts. If you like the way we are handling your contacts, for a monthly fee of $4.99, we can go to places like LinkedIn and add things that you may not have added yourself.

Q: What kinds of things do you worry about with the advent of AI?

A: It is a very powerful technology and whenever you have a powerful technology things can go wrong. The powers are amazing, but they also introduce a whole new level of safety concern. My fears are somewhat different than some of the people who are worried about AI overlords and things like that. Mine is just we are starting to get close to technologies that approximate human intelligence.

When you have a machine that is almost as intelligent as humans, the odds that humans end up getting fooled that it's real  that it isnt a machine  just get higher. When you have people who cant tell whats real anymore and whats authentic because the machine intelligence is now approximating the human intelligence, that is really the biggest risk.

Q: How do you think the tech industry is doing in terms of hiring and promoting women in leadership roles?

A: There have been steps forward and steps back. I think the representation of women in leadership at the VP (vice president) and director level is getting better across companies. So, it feels like things are improving. Probably not as fast as I would like, but there have been steps in the right direction.

Q: Not long after you became Yahoo CEO, you ordered a lot of employees who were working from home to start coming into the office regularly. Has the pandemic reshaped your thinking about the work in office/at home dynamic?

A: I wasnt trying to make a broad statement about work-from-home policies back then. I was just being blatantly honest. The company was in trouble and had been in trouble for a long time. It was a turnaround. Somewhere on the order of 1% of (Yahoo) employees had official work-from-home status, but when I got there 10% of the employees were informally working from home whenever they felt like it. And they didnt have a great setup and their productivity showed it.

I think it is really hard to join an organization that is fully remote because that notion of culture gets lost  things like how to grow management, leadership, vision, the ability to align people around a product and plan around what you are trying to build.

Q: Do you still follow what is going on with Yahoo?

A: I do follow Yahoo. The old saying there is you bleed purple (the color of the company's old logo) once you have worked there, and I really do. I am really proud of the people who are still there and I am really proud of the people who have left and gone on to do great things across the industry. I still feel very connected to them.

Where companies have adopted AIand where they are planning to do so in the near future Where companies have adopted AIand where they are planning to do so in the near future Top adopters Getting on the bandwagon
WATERLOO  The Board of Education Monday will consider approving a $729,800 purchase agreement for a parcel of land to be used in a Waterloo Career Center program.

The land east of the Career Center across Katoski Drive and along Huntington Road is owned by Steven L. Rieger. It will be used by a new Agri-Science program. The sale is expected to close on March 18. The Career Center/Central Middle School campus is also where Waterloo Community Schools officials hope to locate a new high school.
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (24 February 2024)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 30th and 32th mechanised brigades and repelled three counterattacks near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two pickup trucks, and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on units of the AFU 28th Mechanised Brigade and 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Krasnoye and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Moreover, one counterattack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Bogdanovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 395 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued to take more advantageous lines and positions, as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th and 53rd mechanised brigades.

Two counterattacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 59th Mechanised Brigade and 3rd Assault Brigade were repelled near Pervomayskoye and Latochkino (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 425 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three tanks, 10 armoured fighting vehicles, and 24 motor vehicles.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 108th Territorial Defence Brigade near Lugovskoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, one counterattack of the AFU 58th Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Shevchenko (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops, six motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery howitzer.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 65th and 118th mechanised brigades near Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer.

In addition, one AFU field ammunition depot was destroyed.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 117 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down two Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 aircraft near Yasenovoye and Selidovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

One JDAM guided aerial bomb and two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles were intercepted over the past 24 hours.

In addition, 92 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been neutralised close to Volnovakha (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Chubaryovka (Zaporozhye region), Novaya Zburyevka, and Novaya Mayachka (Kherson region).

In total, 574 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 13,315 unmanned aerial vehicles, 473 air defence missile systems, 15,207 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,223 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,152 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,030 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Those who gathered today hope for more aid for Ukraine. They say without it, the war could be lost against Russia.
Horses and other wildlife roam the area, and if they step on metal or glass it can lead to serious injuries.
08:31 | Arequipa (Arequipa region), Feb. 25.





Thus, some international platforms were presented, which have given good results in financing sustainable activities, proving the importance of having a mechanism for APEC economies.





Besides, it coordinates and promotes the development of tools to share information and resources aimed at developing capabilities on the specific issue of sustainable finance.





These and other issues will continue to be addressed at the Senior Finance Officials' Meeting to be held in the city of Urubamba (Cusco region) from May 23 to 27.





At the future event, attendees will seek to prepare the deliverables to be adopted by Finance Ministers in Lima at the Finance Ministerial Meeting (FMM) on October 1-4.









Meeting of deputy finance ministers concludes





Thus, the first preparatory meeting towards the APEC Leaders' Summit has concluded. At the initial event, Deputy Finance Ministers and Central Bank officials met. Said gathering had begun on February 21.





According to projections, on this occasion nearly 300 people participated, making up the 21 delegations of the APEC economies that arrived in Arequipa, southern Peru.





Once again, Arequipa region showed the conditions it has for holding international events that help promote Peru's image in the international arena.





"This region has experience in the development of international events, which it has capitalized on in recent years; it has great expertise to make the most of. Let's not forget that the Leaders' Summit will be held in Peru for the third time," the Foreign Affairs Ministry's APEC Peru 2024 Executive Coordinator Gino Arciniega affirmed.





It is worth mentioning that Arequipa region, along with four other cities (Lima, Urubamba, Trujillo, and Pucallpa) was selected for official events of the APEC presidency exercised by Peru this year.





(END) SDD/RMB/MVB

During the plenary session on Saturday the last day of the Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting (FCBDM)  the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members' delegations exchanged experiences on sustainable finance so as to learn about the best experiences in this matter.Published: 2/25/2024
FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin crosses himself, while attending an Orthodox Christmas service in the Church of Our Savior Not Made by Hands with the families of military personnel who died during the special military operation in Ukraine at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. The widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny accused President Vladimir Putin of mocking Christianity by trying to force his mother to agree to a secret funeral after his death in a penal colony. (Mikhail Voskresensky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)
Monroe County authorities are asking for the publics help in an investigation into a shooting that left multiple people injured early Saturday during a bonfire in Frisco City.

Sheriff Tom Boatwright, in a Facebook post, said the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. at a bonfire on Snyder Avenue. Six people were shot with two listed in serious condition, according to authorities.

Boatwright said that his office is actively assisting Frisco City police at the scene, gathering evidence and conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

They are also requesting anyone with information to contact them immediately. All information provided will be treated confidentially, the sheriffs department says.

Individuals with tips can do so anonymously using the Submit a Tip feature on the Monroe County Sheriffs Office app or call the Monroe County Sheriffs Office at 251-575-2963 or 252-575-4716.

The sheriffs department says they will release more information as it becomes available.

We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community and will continue to provide updates on this incident as new developments arise, the agencys statement reads.
The cast of the popular 1980s and 90s NBC sitcom A Different World is coming to Alabama during a tour thats hitting historically Black college and university campuses.

The cast members are reuniting for a 10-city tour that will include a Montgomery stop hosted by Alabama State University and Tuskegee University in April. The exact date hasnt been announced yet. The tour will start Feb. 29 in Atlanta at the Atlanta University Center  home to Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, Morehouse College and Spelman College. The only other city thats been announced so far is Washington, D.C. (hosted by Howard University). Additional tour stops will be announced soon, according to the A Different World HBCU College Tour 2024 website. A signup page is also available on the website for people to get more information and learn how to attend.

Several of the shows cast members will participate in the tour, which will feature panels and other events. The legendary actors of the show who will attend the tour are: Darryl M. Bell (Ronald Ron Johnson), Charnele Brown (Kimberly Kim Reese), Jasmine Guy (Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Cleophus Wayne), Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson Taylor), Cree Summer (Winifred Freddie Brooks), Glynn Turman (Col. Bradford Brad Taylor) and Sinbad (Walter Oakes) and producer Debbie Allen.

The cast of A Different World has come together to celebrate our 35 year legacy and make more history with todays HBCUs and tomorrows leaders, Bell said in an interview with PEOPLE.

According to the website, the purpose of the tour is to raise awareness and enrollment for HBCUs nationwide by leveraging the star power and cultural impact of A Different World. The show is often cited as the reason many people chose to attend HBCUs. The tour will also focus on raising scholarships sponsored by Cisco and Wells Fargo. The website says the scholarships will ensure more students can access the transformative experience of HBCUs.

A Different World was a The Cosby Show spinoff that followed the college life of Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and the students at Hillman College, a fictional HBCU in Virginia. The show aired on NBC for six seasons, from Sept. 24, 1987 to July 9, 1993.
Montgomery County Judge Johnny Hardwick is in serious condition after he was shot Saturday. Authorities have taken his son into custody.

Hardwick, the presiding judge of Montgomery Countys Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, underwent surgery following the shooting, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham.

I am just asking that we continue to pray for the judge, Cunningham said earlier Saturday.

Hardwick, a circuit judge since 2001, is the current president of the Alabama Association of Circuit Court Judges.

The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at Hardwicks home, according to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Department. When deputies arrived, they found that the judge had been assaulted, shot and seriously injured by his 36-year-old son, Khalfani Hardwick, law enforcement said.

Deputies immediately saturated the area and located Khalfani Hardwicks abandoned vehicle on Trotman Road. A short time later, deputies located him on U.S. 231, and he was arrested without incident.

Khalfani Hardwick has been charged with domestic violence first degree, a Class A felony that is punishable by up to a life sentence in prison. He was also charged with certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm.

Khalfani Hardwick is being held at the Montgomery County Detention facility without bond, and the investigation continues.

Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed is among those praying for Judge Hardwicks recovery.

Tamika and I are saddened by the news that Judge Johnny Hardwick has been shot, Reed said in a statement. He has honorably served our community on the Circuit Court for decades, helping spearhead numerous reforms to make the court system more equitable and fair. Most recently, he worked to eliminate bond requirements for more non-violent offenses. Away from the bench he was a champion for the areas youth, one of the founders of 100 Black Men of Greater Montgomery. We are praying for his recovery.

Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton said the following, Our thoughts and prayers are with Judge Johnny Hardwick during this difficult time. The entire Montgomery County Commission wishes him a full recovery.

Khalfani Hardwick, in 2017, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for the attempted murder of Clayton Riley in 2014. According to media reports, Khalfani Hardwick admitted to shooting Riley in the head in Montgomery, and that the admission led to the downgrading of charges against him from attempted murder to second-degree assault.

Judge Hardwick, a Montgomery native, is a 1973 graduate of Alabama State University. According to a news release from the university in August, Hardwick helped spearhead the Golden Class (50-year) reunion of his college graduating class, which made a more than $250,000 donation to their alma mater, the largest single donation by a Golden Class in recent years.

This story was updated at 7:35 p.m. with information about the incident from the Montgomery County Sheriffs Department.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says its not the end of our story despite Donald Trumps easy primary victory in South Carolina, her home state where the onetime governor had long suggested her competitiveness with the former president would show.

Defying calls from South Carolina Republicans to exit the race, Haley planned to travel Sunday to Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday.

With his win Saturday in the first-in-the South contest, Trump has now swept every primary or caucus on the GOP early-season calendar that awards delegates. His performances have left little maneuvering room for Haley, his former U.N. ambassador.

I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now, Trump said in a victory night celebration in Columbia.

Haley insists she is sticking around even with the growing pressure to abandon her candidacy and let Trump focus entirely on Democratic President Joe Biden, in a 2020 rematch.

In addition to the rally in vote-rich Oakland County, Michigan, northwest of Detroit on Sunday evening, she scheduled a Monday event in Grand Rapids, a western Michigan Republican hub.

Im grateful that today is not the end of our story, Haley told supporters Saturday. Well keep fighting for America and we wont rest until America wins.

Asa Hutchinson, a Trump critic and former Arkansas governor who dropped out of the GOP presidential race after Iowas leadoff caucuses in January, said he thought Haley should stay in. The challenge is that she did everything she could in South Carolina, he said on CNNs State of the Union.

Haley has pledged to keep going through at least the batch of primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday. But its got to accelerate because you run into the delegate wall. And the delegate wall is March 5, Hutchinson said. So shes got to prove herself.

South Carolinas most prominent Republicans stood with Trump, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who endorsed him this past week.

To U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, this has always been a primary in name only and that Trump was never in jeopardy of losing to Haley. Fry said Trump would be the GOP nominee and the latest election results were just further validation of that.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Trump ally, said Trump was on a pathway to being able to clinch the nomination by mid-March. I would say the wind is strongly at his back, Abbott told CNN.

Not all voters in South Carolina want Haley to end her campaign.

Irene Sulkowski of Daniel Island said she hoped Haley would soldier on, suggesting the former governor would be a more appealing general election candidate than Trump despite his popularity among the GOP base that powers the primary season.

Theyre not thinking, Who do you want to represent us in the general election? said Sulkowski, an accountant. And they need to have a longer-term view.

___

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writer James Pollard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
A bruising battle for the GOP nomination in the highly conservative 1st congressional district is dominating TV and radio airwaves in recent days with allegations about tax cheating and anti-Trump support.

The dizzying array of ads comes less than two weeks before voters go to the polls during the March 5 Republican primary to determine which incumbent in the 1st district they want to support as their new congressman.

The battle of the incumbents  U.S. Rep. Barry Moore of Enterprise and U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl of Mobile -- is a rarity in Alabama and is only the first time since 1960 that two sitting members of the states U.S. House delegation are squaring off in a primary election.

The battle is the result of a court-ordered redistricting that led to a redrawing of the 2nd district to give Black voters a second chance at selecting a candidate of their choice. (The 7th Congressional District is majority Black). The byproduct of that is a 1st district that, according to Cook Political Report, ranks among the 10th most conservative districts in the U.S. House.

Here is the drama that is unfolding in recent days:

Tax liens

Moore, according to the Carl camp, is a repeated tax cheat. Carls campaign points to seven tax liens on various properties under Moores name.

Moores camp has fought back on the biggest of the liens issued to Moore and his wife in the amount of $45,000 in 2016. The Moore campaign claimed that lien was a mistake by the IRS and was resolved when Moore hand-delivered an amended tax return.

A Moore spokeswoman said, The tax lien was due to a mistake made by the IRS which was cleared up as soon as it was brought to their attention. The lien was lifted because it was never owed in the first place.

The Carl camp is also questioning other liens on Moores properties in the past, which the Moore campaign chalks up to errors that have been corrected. They total to more than $75,000.

The other liens were filed in 2008, 2004, and 2002.

Barry Moore is trying to distract from his record of being a documented, repeated tax cheat, a Carl campaign spokesperson said. Moore failed to pay over $75,000 in taxes while wanting to raise taxes by 30% on Alabama families.

The Moore campaign countered with the following statement, Just like the Uniparty is going after President Trump on his taxes, dragging up settled issues that are decades old, Jerry Carl and his DC Swamp cronies are throwing everything they can at Barry to try to drag him down.

Moore supporters say that it is Carl who is lying about his own record on taxes. They point to an allegation in 2008, in which Carls Black Belt Medical was issued a federal tax lien from the IRS for $612.45.

Carl, during a forum hosted by the Republican Women of Coffee County, reportedly said he denied he ever had a tax lien.

Barry pays his taxes, Jerry knows it, and he is lying about his own record of tax liens, the Moore campaign stated, claiming that Carl is making an issue about the taxes because hes desperate to do anything he can to cling to power, including lie about Barry Moore.

The issue about Carls lien has come up before, in 2016, when Carl ran successfully against State Rep. Margie Wilcox in a Mobile County Commission race.

Jon Gray, who ran Wilcoxs campaign and is now a spokesman with Dare to Defend Our Rights political action committee supporting Moores candidacy, said Carl is beyond lying.

This is ludicrous that hed make these kinds of allegations against Barry Moore knowing the exact allegations are true about himself, Gray said.

Club for Growth

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, speaks during a luncheon hosted by the Alabama League of Municipalities on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Ralph & Kacoo's in Spanish Fort, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Club for Growth, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit known for its over-the-top and sensational campaign ads, has returned to an Alabama race with an affiliate PAC named School Freedom Fund. The organization has made a hefty media purchase aimed at going after Carls school choice record, the organization says.

Jerry Carl has a long voter record of opposing school freedom and putting the judgement of radical education bureaucrats ahead of parents, said David McIntosh, president of School Freedom Fund, and a former Indiana congressman who also heads up the Club for Growth that opposed Carl during his 2020 campaign against former Alabama State Sen. Bill Hightower.

Of the amount spent in Alabama, approximately $1.2 million was spent to defeat Carl in the 1st district.  Carl defeated Hightower by a 52.3% to 47.7% margin.

Meanwhile, Barry Moore has consistently supported school freedom and parent rights, and he is the only true America First candidate who will take on the radical left with President Trump, McIntosh said.

Also in 2020, Club for Growth backed Moore in his race against Jeff Coleman.

The Club for Growth is raising issues with what they say is Carls record of voting against Republican amendments related to school choice matters in March 2023.

The Carl camp accuses Moore of receiving help from the original Never Trumper group. The Club was one of the groups that, in 2016, pushed to prevent Trumps nomination.

But it appears Trump and the Club are on better terms. According to a Politico piece earlier this month, McIntosh and Trump met for dinner recently at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

According to Politico, a Club-affiliated group had recently an unsuccessful multi-million-dollar TV ad campaign aimed at derailing Trump in the early primary states.

Carls campaign says that Moore should denounce their lying ads and stop opposing the Trump agenda.

Support networks

Moore has pointed to his high ratings among Alabama Congressmen from both CPAC and Heritage Action, powerful Washington, D.C. conservative groups.

Moores campaign is pointing to the support they are also getting from the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, including a round of endorsements from conservative lawmakers including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Cruz, in a statement, said Moore is unafraid of taking the tough votes needed in Congress. Moore also recently welcomed a campaign visit from Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.

The Coastal 150 PAC  consisting of Mobile and Baldwin County business leaders  have recently come out with their support for Carl, saying that Moore doesnt know much about the two most populous counties in the 1st district  Mobile and Baldwin counties. The rest of the district includes counties that extend southeast into the states Wiregrass area. Carl has secured the endorsements from most of the mayors and state lawmakers from Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Though the 1st district has always been a reliably Republican district, it ranked sixth among the states six Republican-leaning districts at the time and was the 75th most Republican district in the country. The sudden shift further rightward has enabled the district to leapfrog all the GOP strongholds in Texas, Georgia, and beyond.

Democrat Tom Holmes, a retired state worker, will compete against the winner of the Moore/Carl race during the November general election in a district that now has a whopping +28 advantage for Republicans, according to the Cook Political Report.
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Todays guest columnist is Jake McKenzie.

What is Birminghams BRAND?

The fundamental nature of who we are, what we embody, and how The Magic City resonates with the world?

In short, our message to the world is what makes Birmingham unique.

In marketing, wed define this notion as a key differentiator  something that separate our brand from competitors and creates distinct advantages with our target audience.

Solidly differentiated companies have mastered the art of molding, storytelling, and building awareness around their core brand identity (and have loyal customer bases to show for it).

The reason for this is simple  our brains are wired to seek simple answers to complex questions. The complex question that a citys brand tries to answer:

Why should you visit, move to, or relocate your company to Birmingham?

All successful cities have a clear brand, a promise about what you should expect and why you should want to give it a closer look. It helps to drives tourism, economic development and population growth.

But Birmingham doesnt seem to have a brand, at least not one that may people are aware of.

At a recent gathering of local entrepreneurs and executives I posed the question: How do you define Birminghams brand? Specifically, whats your pitch to potential employees that you are trying to recruit to the city? After slight pause and palpable contemplation from the crowd, answers trickled in.

Whats fascinating is that almost every answer was different. Answers included: our food scene, our civil rights history, the local people and culture, our proximity to lots of other things in the southeast, and many other positive attributes.

All were positive and true statements about tangible aspects and amenities that make Birmingham special. But theres something to be said that no answer was the same, and no consensus emerged about our core identity. And THAT is the problem. There is an old quip in marketing  when you have too many things to say about your brand, you have no brand.

Its like describing individual qualities of The Mona Lisa  brown eyes, golden skin, subtle smile  but not quite capturing the broader masterpiece in its authentic and holistic beauty.

The most obvious conclusion from the exercise was 1.) Birminghams core brand identity has yet to be agreed upon, and 2.) to effectively distinguish The Magic City as a premier U.S. destination, we cant continue banking on textbook features (that other cities also claim).

But its time to acknowledge that true brand differentiation springs from a deeper connection  the soul of our town, its culture, and elements that resonate emotionally. We need a BRAND  one thing that we all can use to promote our city. A simple answer to Why Birmingham?

The most notable mid-sized U.S. cities have amassed a loyal fanbase less because of tangible niceties, but more because they tap into our psyche and pull deeply at our heart strings. The laid-back pace of New Orleans has earned it the label, The Big Easy. Nashville is appropriately coined, Music City. In Texas, were reminded to Keep Austin Weird. And Portland is The City of Roses.

Like Birmingham, these destinations all have brand attributes centered around food, industry, culture, and livability. However, their magnetism and memorability are fueled by the intangible  its the core identity that citizens and visitors feel.

So, I ask again, what is Birminghams core identity?

Its a place where resources run deep, and the community is passionate about sharing them. It exudes small-town southern charm, yet big city spirit. Our iconic and historic neighborhoods nurture connections and brim with culture. And like our beginnings, forged from iron and steel, we are hungry for growth. People who love it here, LOVE it here. The Magic City has an intangible vibe that longs to be packaged, stamped, and disseminated far beyond Alabamas borders. We just have to seize the opportunity.

Annually, we invest hundreds of thousands of economic development dollars in Birmingham, funds allocated to innovative programming and resources to recruit new business and workforce, boost tourism, and inspire citizen pride. But its past time we filter just a sliver of those efforts into crystalizing our brand.

A measure like this would move the economic needle 1000-fold, and drive true awareness of the Magic City regionally, nationally, and beyond.

Jake McKenzie is the CEO of Intermark Group, the nations largest psychology-driven advertising agency. Clients include companies like Toyota, Krispy Kreme, and Progressive Insurance. Jake is an avid reader and outdoors enthusiast, in addition to being a father of four. He holds a BA in Psychology and Political Science from Vanderbilt University, as well as a MPPM from Birmingham-Southern College.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

Click here to sign up for our newsletter.

Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@amsher.com
Just days ago, on February 14 to be precise, Vladimir Putin said he prefers Biden in the 2024 presidential race. Nevertheless, the media, often with the intelligence communitys aid, seems to be trying again in the indictment of Vladimir Smirnov to hint that Donald Trump is somehow being aided by Russia. Thin gruel, indeed. A quick review of the FBIs consistent election meddling and gaslighting of voters is the necessary background for this weeks account.

Background

In case, like me, youre finding it hard to keep track of all the gaslighting on Russia in recent years, Adam Mill kindly documents 14 recent Russian hoaxes:

1. The Russian Co-Signers Hoax: In August of 2018, MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell claimed Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin cosigned loans to Donald Trump from Deutsche Bank. MSNBC quickly retracted the claim when Trump threatened to sue. 2. The Trump Tower Russians Hoax: In July of 2017, The New York Times reported that Donald Trump, Jr. met with a Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, at Trump Tower in 2016 in the hope that she had opposition research against Trumps Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Although a meeting did take place, the Russian in question shared a client with Fusion GPS -- the firm Clinton hired to frame Trump... 3. The Hunter Biden Russian Disinformation Hoax: In October of 2020, shortly after The New York Post reported on the contents of Hunter Bidens abandoned laptop , 51 intelligence officials signed a letter characterizing the story as Russian disinformation 4. The Russian Bounty for U.S. Soldiers Hoax: In June of 2020, NBC cited anonymous government sources who claimed that the Russians paid bounties to the Taliban for every U.S. soldier it killed. Later, after the election, NBC admitted the story could not be verified 5. The Russia Destroyed the Nord Stream Pipeline Hoax: Shortly after the September 2022 destruction of the natural gas pipeline, anonymous Western officials blamed Russia for the explosion. The allegations quickly fell apart 6. The Carter Page Is a Russian Spy Hoax: In order to justify spying on the Trump campaign, the FBI lied to a FISA court to obtain warrants spanning one year ending in 2017 to spy on Trump campaign figure, Carter Page. 7. The Trump Is a Russian Asset Hoax: This hoax may have started when Hillary Clinton paid Fusion GPS to smear Donald Trump, late in the spring of 2016. But the intelligence community quickly sponsored the allegation with anonymous leaks by retired intelligence officials. 8. The Russia/Alfa Bank Hoax: Days before the 2016 election, Slate reported that a group of computer scientists alleged that the Trump organization had a secret backchannel to a bank in Russia called, Alfa Bank. 9. The Russian Troll Farm Hoax: In 2018, Special Counsel Robert Mueller dismissed charges that two Russian companies (Concord Management and Consulting LLC and Concord) ran troll farms that interfered with the election the Russian companies surprised the Justice Department by hiring an attorney who demanded proof of the wrongdoing. The Justice Department could not meet its evidentiary burden and dismissed the charges. 10. The Devin Nunes Is a Putin Puppet Hoax: In 2017, former Representative Devin Nunes led one of the most consequential congressional investigations of all time. Among the revelations his investigation uncovered is the discovery that Hillary Clinton paid for the Trump dossier that accused Trump of being a Russian puppet. So naturally, Nunes himself was accused of being a puppet of Russia. 11. The James Comer Is a Putin Puppet Hoax: More recently, there has been a coordinated counterstrike against House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer. Among the allegations: Comer is doing Putins bidding by investigating the Bidens. Related to this hoax is the hoax that the FBIs arrest of a single witness topples the entire Comer case against Biden. On the contrary, Comer has produced undisputed bank records showing foreign payments to the Bidens including payments from Russia. 12. The Russian Pee Tape Hoax: Among the Clinton-financed smears against Donald Trump, none is more memorable than the allegation that Trump instructed two Russian prostitutes to urinate on a hotel bed during his visit to Russia. The FBI used taxpayer money to attempt to obtain this alleged video tape. Although the FBI did not have possession of any such tape, it appears that then-director James Comey used his knowledge of the operation to produce it in an attempt to blackmail the then-incoming President Trump 13. The Michael Cohen Paid Russian Hackers Hoax: Steele alleged through his dossier that President Trumps attorney, Michael Cohen, traveled to Prague in 2016 to pay the Russian hackers responsible for hacking the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to obtain the emails later leaked by Wikileaks. Cohen quickly produced passport records to show the meeting never took place. Czech intelligence later corroborated the denial. 14. The Russian/DNC Hack Hoax: While it is possible that the Russians really were behind the hack of the DNC, there are legitimate reasons to question the claim that we know the Russians were behind it For one thing, computer security experts have noted that the exfiltrated information downloaded too fast to be an over-the-internet hack.

He may well be right that these hoaxes were designed in the publics mind to deny Trumps entitlement to free speech because, after all, he was a "Russian asset."

This week, however, theres a more immediate motive: An effort to distract and minimize the serious charges of corruption against President Biden and his son Hunter and brother James. The usual Democrat chorus line is playing roles in the by now tattered Russian script: Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff in the lead roles and congressmen Jamie Raskin and Dan Goldman as comic relief.

Indisputable Evidence of Bidens Corruption

Congressional investigators examining the president and his family have uncovered payments of millions of dollars from overseas entities in exchange for favorable treatment or the promise of it:

The Biden family received: Over $3 million from Romania. Over $8 million from China. $6.5 million from Ukraine. Moreover, there is ample testimony under oath documenting Biden family corruption, most recently by Tony Bobulinksi, Hunters partner:

Mr. Bobulinski provided the committee with texts and emails in which Hunter and Mr. Gilliar refer to Joes involvement in the deal. Mr. Gilliar warned Mr. Bobulinski in late May in a text: Dont mention Joe being involved, its only when u are face to face, I know u know that but they are paranoid. Mr. Bobulinski says another dispute concerned a sudden demand that James Biden, Joes brother, get a stake. Mr. Gilliar explained in a text message that this was necessary because H could be unreliable, so I pushed another family member.[snip] Mr. Bobulinski had tough words for Mr. Walkers recent testimony claiming to be unaware of Joes involvement. For every one of these guys to now have amnesia or, like, you know, claim that, Oh, Hunter wasnt really talking about his father is just absurd, he told the committees. He points to stacks of evidence that Joe Biden showed up at meetings, shook hands, participated in phone calls, including claims he was on at least 20 Hunter business calls. Joe Biden was calling to demonstrate the Biden brand to whoever was in that meeting, whether it was the Ukrainians, the Romanians, the Russians, Colombians, Chinese, whoever it was. Thats all he had to do. Mr. Bobulinski says. Just him being on the phone is evidence of involvement and enabling the transaction.

Alexander Smirnov

Appearing in this latest production of the Russian hoax as the administration's deus ex machina is Alexander Smirnov, a dual citizen of Russia and Israel. He had worked for the FBI since 2010 as a confidential human source for which hed been paid over $200,000. The FBI called Smirnov Highly credible in a briefing to the investigating congressional committee. He apparently was the governments source for information that Joe and Hunter Biden each received $5 million from Ukrainian energy company Burisma. (Uncontested is the fact that Hunter, who never went to Ukraine, did receive a million dollars a year from the company, purportedly for legal work although Hunter has no experience in this area and no legal work for them is evident.) Also beyond question is Joe Bidens boasting on January 23, 2018 that as Vice President he forced Ukraine to fire prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was investigating corruption in Ukraine, threatening to withhold promised aid if they did not so.

Smirnovs introduction to the plot is by virtue of an indictment by U.S. attorney David Weiss, whos prosecuting Hunter Biden and who just indicted Alexander Smirnov.

The Wall Street Journals Kimberley Strassel expresses rational doubt about the FBIs credibility and competence:

When Republicans in 2023 heard about the FBI write-up of these claims, they demanded the bureau hand it over. The FBI initially balked, arguing their source was too valuable to risk exposing. House Oversight Committee Republicans say the FBI told Congress their source had worked for the bureau since 2010, had been paid roughly $200,000 for information, and was deemed highly credible. Ranking Oversight Democrat Jamie Raskin acknowledged the FBIs briefing about credibility. Republicans say Director Christopher Wray also confirmed the FBI used Mr. Smirnovs information in investigations until June 2023 (when the bribery claims went public). The FBI affirmed Mr. Smirnovs credibility so long as it was useful to do so. It isnt useful any longer. Republicans for months have hounded special counsel David Weiss, who is handling the Hunter Biden probe, to explain what hes done since 2020 to verify or refute the Smirnov claims. Last weeks indictment, which he sought, is his answer. The FBIs highly credible source is now presented as a brazen liar, a boaster, a profiteer who played a double game with the bureau, and a partisan who had it in for Joe Biden. If this is true, it ought to be massive story that the FBI for 13 years relied on a man who prosecutors now worry has troubling and extensive ties to Russian intelligence. Instead, the media in its desire to embarrass Republicans is working to absolve the FBI, with the New York Times explaining the bureau never did think much of the Smirnov claims and concluded in 2020 that they did not merit continued investigation.

The indictment of Smirnov points to his admission to his FBI handler that he talked to Russian intelligence before 2020 (why wouldnt a confidential human source?) and that the events he reported occurred after Biden was no longer vice president. But Biden admitted two years earlier that he had meddled in Ukraines affairs to the benefit of Burisma. Its a curious claim because he told his handler all about these contacts -- there was nothing secretive about them. In any event, nothing he reported concerned the evidence on Hunters own laptop and the large number of confirmed emails of Hunter cashing in on deals with foreign companies and business leaders. As Jonathan Turley points out, Smirnov was not the reason Hunter was indicted by the same prosecutor, David Weiss, who just indicted him.

Smirnov arrived from overseas to stand trial in California. When he landed in Nevada, Weiss had him arrested and sought his imprisonment pending trial. The judge denied that and released him on his own recognizance with conditions to prevent his fleeing. Smirnov continued his flight to California to meet with his counsel. Weiss had him rearrested and found a judge who ordered him jailed pending trial.

The Russian sequel is looking more and more like a comic production.
The playbook of the French Revolution has come to New York City. Once again, we are seeing the attempted destruction of an existing class system, and with it the Catholic Church.

Those who recall Kathy Griffins photo of a decapitated Donald Trump will recognize the parallels to the beheading of Louis XVI of as the symbolic and real beheading of the French aristocracy.

For the revolutionists of New York City, the person they see as the king of capitalism must die, and along with him the moral foundations of the rule of law as formerly known and undergirded by the Christian church. The old capitalist aristocracy will be beheaded, first by the confiscation of its wealth and properties, as Attorney General Letitia James and Judge Arthur Engoron (who resembles an aged Maximilien Robespierre) have decreed.

The lawfare of the Left will enable the destruction and eventual reconstruction of major societal institutions, including the Catholic Church.

Trump has seen the desire of the Left to tear down Christianitys foundations, protesting their desire to remove the symbol of the cross. Doubtless, he and others opposed to the Lefts most current outrages have observed the recent attack by trans activists on the Catholic cathedral of St. Patricks in New York City.

There, a celebratory ritual invented by leaders of New Yorks trans cult defiled the liturgy of the Catholic mass. The revolutionaries ceremony celebrated the tenets of the transgender faith, the occasion essentially being turned into a beatification ceremony for Cecilia Gentili, a trans activist.

As the Los Angeles Times noted:

Videos of Gentilis funeral show an estimated audience of more than 1,000 celebrants, including transgender people and other friends and supporters, chanting her name, applauding, singing and offering praise of her stature as a leading light of the citys LGBTQ+ communityDuring one eulogy that was widely circulated on social media, Gentili was celebrated as St. Cecilia, the mother of all whores.

As the trans cult was celebrated in St. Paricks cathedral, similarly, the new faith represented by the goddess of Liberty and Reason was celebrated in the cathedral of Notre Dame, the objective being to humiliate and degrade the Christian faith and mores.

The alternative to the Christian faith was proposed by leading luminaries who planned a secular ceremony devoted to the goddess of Reason and Liberty Similarly, the new trans St. Cecilia was meant to replace the image of St. Mary, the mother of Christ.

Shortly after the revolution, as blogger Rodama1789 notes in her article The Fete de la Raison at Notre-Dame, Henri Jean-Baptiste Gregoire related the events of the new cults ceremony.

The abbe, who was an ardent supporter of the revolution but also a defender of the nationalized Catholic Church, included the speech of the procurer of the Commune, Pierre Gaspard Chaumette, who led in worship of the divinity of the French, Liberty.

Chaumette, a fanatical believer in dechristianization, praised the people of Paris who took possession of Notre Dame, encouraging the mob to regenerate the cathedral by the light of Liberty, whose new revelations would wither what he saw as ossified superstitions of the Catholic faith in favor of the secularist ideals of liberte, egalite and fraternite:

The people have only one cry: no more priests; no more God than that of nature; we come to ask that you decree that the former church of Notre Dame be converted into a temple dedicated to Reason and Truth.

Gregoire wrote Chaumettes speech was met with thunderous applause:

The goddess of Liberty took her placehalf the convention left with this horde of atheist-fanatics to go and celebrate Reason in its new temple. Thus, the basilica which for centuries had resounded with the truths of the gospels, was delivered over to a crowd of prostitutes, hysterics and atrocious persecutors.

The leaders of the trans cult that occupied St. Patricks should be regarded as attempting to establish a political religion, the ideological bases of which find their origins in the thinking of the Marquis de Sade. As the late Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddhin noted in Leftism Revisited, de Sade believed his politics of pornography would prevail over Christian mores. His philosophy encouraged the elevation of the perverted elements of society determined to destroy all the institutions of the ancien regime:

Pedantic louts, hangmen, scribblers, legislator, pedantic scum, what are you going to do once we prevail? What will happen to your laws, your morality, your religion, your powers, your paradise, your gods, your hell

But a development, perhaps equally disturbing as the actual ceremony, was revealed by Catholic leaders who claimed the diocese was deceived. Enrique Salvo wrote St. Patricks had no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way.

But as The Guardian reported, some

Catholic liberals praised the church for hosting the service for a transgender woman. Before the backlash took hold, the archdiocese spokesperson Joseph Zwilling told the Times that a funeral is one of the corporal works of mercy.

It is highly doubtful the Catholic clergy of the diocese of New York City were completely ignorant of what was to happen. As Kuehnelt-Leddhin noted, many of the French nobility and clergy supported the ideas of the French Revolution. The perversion of basic Christian sentiments comes easily to priests who have neglected their spiritual life and who, secularizing theology, become masters of the mob

In fact, the advocacy of queer theology is well established within the Catholic Church. The thinking of the leaders of the LGBTQ+ community has been rather openly promoted by many Catholic priests, bishops, cardinals. It also has been helped in significant ways by Pope Francis himself, who though he has tried to parse his wording since, gave approval to the blessing of same sex couples.

Among the proponents of queer theology was the late John J. McNeill, an openly gay Jesuit priest and a vocal advocate of queer theology. McNeills writings focused on creating a Catholic Church that is inclusive of gay, lesbian, and bisexual Christians. He is praised by LGBTQ+ Catholics organizations such as Outreach.

Priests such as Rev. James Martin, S.J., who also advocates for gays, and indeed Pope Francis himself, also find inspiration in the liberation theology of Peruvian theologian Gustavo Gutierrez Merino, O.P., whose tenets have been applied to queer theology now finding its most radical expression in the trans heresy.

But it appears that some of those who baptized and blessed the gay liberation movement find the ideological love child they helped nurse at the breast of the Church has plans for what is effectually the Churchs demise. Their belated reaction reminds one of the scene in Casablanca in which Claude Rains, playing the part of Captain Louis Renault, claims, I'm shocked! Shocked to find that gambling is going on in here.

The Catholic Church, if it is to retain any authenticity, or even survive, must stop the pretense that though there is smoke, there is no hellfire. Those who ignore or even nurse the smoking coals of revolution within sacred spaces such as St. Patricks Cathedral should not be surprised when an uncontainable conflagration breaks out.

Above all, the trans coup within St. Patricks demonstrates the dire need of the Catholic Church to return to theology of the cross. As Abbe Gregoire might well observe about the sacrilegious ritual performed in St. Patricks, it is high time for the Gospel to be proclaimed within that sacred space as it was for centuries in Notre Dame and elsewhere.

Considering the foot-shuffling of some within the Catholic hierarchy, perhaps most needful is a demand from the laity for the Church to return during this Easter season to her most foundational commitment; namely, to its inheritance as the proclaimer of the Gospel as it has been known and witnessed to for two thousand years by her saints: Christ has died, Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

--Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, which awarded her the prize for excellence in systematic theology. Her thoughts have appeared in many online publications, including American Thinker. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com
Like millions of Americans before me, Ive done exactly what Donald Trump did; namely, sought a loan based upon my best estimate of what my property was worthand I didnt look to what the tax assessor said in reaching that value. However, as part of the Democrats lawfare, Letitia James twisted a perfectly ordinary act into something evil, and a partisan judge put his imprimatur on her efforts. If its allowed to stand, the results will be devastating, not just for the political class but also for normal Americans.

In December 2020, I had to put my home on the market and move 1,000 miles away. Two months before, Id considered refinancing my mortgage, and the bank gave me a valuation of $285,000. I thought it probably should have been higher, but didnt really feel like taking the time to investigate because I wasnt really that worried about it.

That changed in December when I was forced to worry about it. So, I reached out to a realtor friend (an actual realtor, not a guy with a side gig) and asked him to give me an estimate. He thought the house would probably sell for about $305,000, maybe $315,000 tops. Again, I was skeptical, so I started doing my own research. I looked at my community, what was available in my county, and what comparable houses were selling for. I also took note of the neighborhoods, roadways, schools, etc. After all of that, I estimated my house was worth about $400,000. I thought it could sell for $415,000 or even a bit more.

Image: Donald Trump by AI.

We put it on the market at $405,000 and, ten days later, it was sold with the buyers offering $395,000. We eventually settled for $400,000. I was confident it could have sold for more, but exigent circumstances made the logistics of waiting impossible, which is sad because, had I been able to wait 12 more months, it would likely have gone for $550,000, almost twice the banks original valuation.

All of this to say that, in the world of real estate, there are a million different factors that go into valuing something. Based on those criteria, there are likely countless different values that can be set on a particular property. Whats more, values can be volatile, particularly in the high-end markets.

Real estate, like most businesses, can be unpredictable, sometimes very much so. This makes what NY AG Letitia James has done to Donald Trump especially unconscionable.

As CNN summarized Jamess indictment,

Trump and his company used false and misleading financial statements, her lawsuit alleged, repeatedly and persistently to induce banks to lend money to the Trump Organization on more favorable terms than would otherwise have been available to the company, to satisfy continuing loan covenants, and to induce insurers to provide insurance coverage for higher limits and at lower premiums.

Reading that, one would imagine that some banks or insurance companies lost money because they loaned money to Trump or that Trump defaulted on them. That didnt happen. Indeed, Trump paid back the loans with interest. There were literally no victims, and banks still wanted to lend to him!

But that didnt matter. The bottom line is that, according to James, Trump used one set of books for getting a loan and another set of books for taxes. But of course, outside of a politicized prosecutors office, thats normal, not actionable.

When I was selling my house, the county tax collector assessed my home at around $200,000. It had been that way for years. Indeed, its very common, particularly in red states where they concern themselves with controlling taxes, for the government assessment of the value of a property to be substantially below what it might sell for. That didnt impact what I might refinance it for or what a buyer might pay for it. In those cases, the lender sends someone out to do an inspection and then comes to its own conclusion as to what value it would be willing to assign the property for a loan.

In Trumps case, in 2011, the local property assessor in Palm Beach County had valued his Mar-a-Lago property at $18 million, which was raised to $27.6 million in 2021. James indicted Trump because he valued the property at higher valuations during this time, up to $739 million for collateral purposes. She claimed the difference between the tax assessment and his valuation proved he committed fraud to get otherwise unobtainable loans.

But heres the thing: According to a banker involved in the transaction, the bank followed its own guidelines to make the loans:

I think we expect clients-provided information to be accurate. At the same time, its not an industry standard that these statements be audited. Theyre largely reliant on the use of estimates, Williams said, so bankers routinely make some adjustments.

To highlight the disparity, this past December, a high-end Palm Beach real estate broker stated that, in 2021, Mar-a-Lago would have been worth slightly more than $1 billion and he likely would have valued it at $655 million in 2011.

The point here is that Trump was simply doing the same thing that millions of homeowners and businesses do every single day across the country. They make the best-case scenario for the value of their property or business while knowing that a bank or lender will make its determinations before deciding how much to lend.

Thats business. Valuations are just estimates, and they can be all over the map in business. In 2000, Spanish telephone company Terra bought the search engine Lycos for $12 billion. They unloaded it three years later for $95 million at a loss of 99%! Conversely, in 1999, Googles founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin offered to sell the company to Alta Vista for $750,000. George Bell, the CEO, demurred. The company went public in 2004 with a valuation of $23 billion and, today, Google is worth almost $2 trillion.

Again, the point is that valuations are guesses, educated or otherwise, and everyone has their own perspective. James, however, has taken this ordinary element of business and twisted it to try and eviscerate Donald Trumps presidential campaign.

Sadly, she might succeed. First, Judge Arthur Engoron came back with a guilty verdict. Then, last Friday, he fined Trump almost half a billion dollars. Whats worse is that, because of New Yorks unforgiving rules on appeal, he may have to put up the entire amount before he can appeal.

Americas justice system has been twisted into a hammer with which to nail enemies of the swamp to the wall. Not only have we seen the laughable election manipulation case in Georgia, the ludicrous defamation case in New York, and the on-hold federal election interference case, but we now have the justice system taking normal, everyday activities in which millions of Americans regularly engage and turning them into crimes.

On top of that, the system is set up such that if someone is deemed liable, they essentially must bankrupt themselves in order to be able to seek an appeal. Thats the definition of unjust.

If this stands, America as we know it is finished. You cant unring a bell, and precedent is precedent.

Should Trump lose because of this lawfare onslaught, it will never stop. It wont just be billionaire ex-presidents wholl be in the crosshairs. It will also be small businesses who dont support local candidates, big businesses who threaten the elites, and, eventually, it just might be you and me for having written something critical of some thin-skinned politician somewhere or having overestimated the value of our house None of that is good for a free republic.

Follow Vince on Twitter at ImperfectUSA, or you can visit his new website Gratitude for America.
For almost a century, there has been one constant in American politics: Jews vote for Democrats. There are multiple reasons for this fact but, regardless of the reason, the one thing Democrats could rely on was the Jewish vote. However, the Biden administrations increasingly open hostility to Israel may be changing that pattern. One poll out of New York shows something remarkable: More than 50% of New Yorks Jews plan to vote for Donald Trump!

When Eastern European Jews came to America, they were escaping tsarist oppression. For them, the opposite of tsarism was Marxism. This binary viewpoint wasnt unique to them. In pre-WWII England, a lot of the British upper class did the opposite, siding with fascism because they believed it was the only bulwark against communism. Except for people like Oswald Mosley and his wife, Diana Mitford, and the latters brother, Tom, and sister, Unity, most Brits quickly recovered from this delusion once WWII started.

In America, though, by the 1930s, Jews had made the same journey that blacks did, finding what they thought was their permanent political home with the Democrats. The Republican party was seen as the party of antisemitism and, especially after WWII, Democrats played on that visceral fear.

Few Jews, even the ones who escaped from or survived the Holocaust, made the connection between Hitlers socialism and the rising socialism of the Democrat party. The inability to see this linkand this was true despite Karl Marxs openly expressed antisemitism or Stalins Jewish purgeskept Jews tied to Democrats.

Image: Jews for Trump rally (edited). YouTube screen grab.

American Jewish fealty to Democrats was strengthened over the generations by the Jewish fealty to college degrees. Jewish immigrants have always had a reverence for education, and they soon realized that a degree was the way for their children to get out of the urban ghettos in which they found themselves after coming to America. At least since the 1960s, colleges have been indoctrinating graduates into believing that the Democrat party is good and the Republican party evil. This has reinforced Jewish loyalty to the Democrats.

And boy, has this loyalty been strong. In 2008, 78% of Jews voted for Obama; in 2016, 71% voted for Hillary; and in 2020, 77% of Jews voted for Biden.

However, things are changing, and theyre changing very rapidly. On October 7, 2023, Hamasaided by UNRWA (a subdivision of the UN that Jews stupidly love so much given its institutional anti-Israel bias)raided Israel, slaughtering almost 1,200 civilians and kidnapping 250 more (of whom many are now dead). In addition, it engaged in the most nauseating, heinous sexual warfare against Israeli women. The sexual violence is almost incomprehensible to the modern mind. It was remarkably similar in flavor to the 1937 Rape of Nanking.

The response on the Jews beloved college campuses was immediate: Campuses across America sided with Hamas. Meanwhile, Biden has made it quite obvious that he wants to save Hamas and reward the Gazastanians and West Bankians for their murderous intransigence by giving them a state of their own. So far, thankfully, Israel is refusing to let the Biden administration lead her to her death.

None of this, of course, is new for Biden. Like Obama, Biden dislikes Israel and has never been shy about showing it. Already in the 1980s, when support for Israel was bipartisan, Menachem Begin was calling Biden out for his comfort with letting Jews die at Muslim hands:

Dont threaten us with cutting off aid to give up our principles. Im not a Jew with trembling knees. I am a proud Jew with 3,700 years of civilized history. Nobody came to our aid when we were dying in the gas chambers and ovens. Nobody came to our aid when we were striving to pic.twitter.com/GJb0WH1Kao  Netanel Worthy -   (@NetanelWorthy) February 19, 2024

And do I even need to mention the Squads open hostility to Israel?

Suddenly, Jews have been forced to face whats been brewing in their preferred political party for decades: Antisemitism that takes the form of anti-Israel hostility. The Democrat party dislikes Jews and wants to erase the worlds only Jewish state.

If Jews were as smart as their reputations, 100% of them would support Donald Trump. Unfortunately, its hard to shake off generations of leftism. That is why you have groups such as the Anti-Defamation League obsessed with not offending LGBTQ+ people rather than defending Israel and Jews for Justice for Palestinians, an organization whose members enthusiastically support their would-be murderers (heres a great photo of some of those delusional morons).

Nevertheless, there are signs that Jews are finally wising up. Exhibit A is whats happening in New York. As of now, 53% of New Yorks Jews plan to vote for Trump:

The spike in New York Jewish voters backing Trump has come in the wake of the murderous Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, with antisemitic hate crimes and anti-Israel protests surging in New York City. [snip] The latest polls demonstrate a shift in the New York Jewish vote that is a clear trend, long in the making, Sam Markstein, national political director for the Republican Jewish Coalition, wrote on X. Markstein cited Lee Zeldins failed 2022 gubernatorial race, with the former Long Island Representative receiving 46% of the Jewish vote after campaigning on defending yeshivas amid heightened scrutiny and bashing the states criminal justice reform laws.

The same article points out that this swing isnt going to put Trump in the White House, but I still think its noteworthy. As I pointed out yesterday, New Yorks Jews arent the only Jews viewing their beloved party with a newly jaundiced eye.
Doctors were shocked to discover what was causing a man's tummy ache after an ultrasound and X-ray revealed the worrying truth.

The 32-year-old was suffering from severe tummy pain and took himself to hospital where medics began investigating, only to discover a huge foreign object lodged in his stomach.

Hospital staff gave the 32-year-old an ultrasound and X-ray which revealed the hard-to-miss metal cylinder, forcing them to operate to remove it.

Dr Shiv Shankar Shahi and his team removed the large metal object from the patient's stomach. Source: Jam Press

The patient was anaesthetised and taken to the operating room where Dr Shiv Shankar Shahi and his team in India successfully removed the bottle-shaped object. The man reportedly refused to explain how the massive cylinder had ended up in his gut.

Medics said he was doing well following the op in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. However, the hospital is withholding his name. Local media reported last Sunday that he was expected to be discharged in the coming days.

Other alarming finds inside patients

Experts warn that gastrointestinal foreign bodies can cause bleeding, abscess formation, mediastinal perforation or puncture, and damage to the organs. Alarmingly, this isn't the first time a large foreign object has been removed from a patient's stomach.

Previously, another man in India had 63 spoons removed from his stomach after complaining of a severe stomach ache. The 32-year-olds family believe he was fed the spoons while undergoing treatment for drug addiction at a local clinic.

And another, who was complaining of vomiting and abdominal discomfort, was found to have 187 coins inside his gut. Meanwhile, last year, doctors discovered a nine-centimetre phone stuck in the stomach of a man who was in prison for drug trafficking.

with JamPress

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Austin, capitol of Texas, an island of blue in a sea of red. When I taught in Texas, I avoided Austin as much as possible. I had to visit for the occasional class, or to speak at a conference, but other than that, Austin was far more big, leftist city, and far less Texas than I could easily stomach. It has worsened since:

A section of Austin, Texas was left without a single police officer for a couple of hours Saturday, and the police unions president is blaming ongoing staffing shortages. Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock tweeted Saturday that an entire sector in East Austin went two hours without a patrol officer assigned to the sector. He said that the departments backfill shift made up of detectives and specialized units pulling double duty had to provide coverage.

Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot

Bullock blamed these circumstances on "staffing woes." He said APDs staffing was at 2006 levels  when the city had a quarter million fewer residents. Austin's population is hovering just under 1 million now.

This isnt surprising. In 2020, following the ascension of Saint George Floyd, Austin cut $150 million from the police budget. Things got so bad, Gov. Abbott sent state troopers to handle calls in Austin, and the city council sort of backtracked, but not before serious damage to public safety in the Keep Austin Weird city.

Bullock told Austins FOX 7 that the situation on Saturday was "not normal," as APD would typically have "anywhere from 10 to 14 officers that might be available or working that particular time." A few days prior, Bullock said APDs downtown dayshift had only six officers and four "got pulled to guard city council." "So, only 2 officers were available to answer 9-1-1 calls," Bullock said. "Officers want to help Austinites  the City wants body guards." Bullock told Fox News Digital that APD is about 500 officers down from where staffing once was, and around 700 to 800 officers short of what the citys own studies have previously recommended.

To put one officer on the street 24/7/365 requires hiring at least 4.5 officers, one for each eight-hour shift, and 1.5 to cover for vacations, illness, personal time, court, training and other absences. Newly hired officers arent on their own for about a year, drawing salary and benefits for undergoing training, but providing no real services for the public.

He traced the current state of affairs to the City Council voting to defund the department by unanimous vote in August 2020, and refusing to renew a five-year contract with APD in 2023. That has led, Bullock said, to APD losing more people than its been able to recruit each year. "The negative actions by prior councils and elected officials have gotten us to this point where we are in crisis mode trying to just respond to 9-1-1 calls. Weve disbanded units, mandated that detectives pull double duty not only investigating their cases but also responding to 9-1-1 calls, consolidated shifts, and more. We have bent over backwards trying to keep our city safe because we care about the people who visit and call Austin home, but we can only bend so much before breaking," Bullock said, adding: "The bottom line is we are on an unsustainable path."

The legislature responded to Austins lunacy:

The Texas legislature passed a law in 2021 that essentially forced Austin to restore the funding it cut in 2020, but the officer shortage persists. As with the police forces of blue citiesand Austin is certainly onehuge numbers of officers that could retire did. Others fled to sane cities, or quit the profession entirely. Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly of District 6, elected to council after the defunding vote, told Fox News Digital that rebuilding the police force will be a "gradual process."

Reality is revealing cities that betrayed their police officers many never be able to restaff. Theyre having terrible difficulty recruiting qualified candidates.

Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot

"The morale of our department is crucial, and as city leaders, it is imperative that we prioritize providing the necessary resources to support recruitment and retention efforts," Kelly said in a statement. "With 79 cadets currently in the police academy, we are taking steps towards strengthening our police department for the future." A city spokesperson told Fox News Digital that APD "faces some of the most pressing departmental concerns in the organization, particularly in the area of staffing and training."

Translation: no one anyone would want to hire wants to be a police officer in Austin. They dont trust Austin politicians and with good reason.

The lessons are simple: cities that defund, demoralize, harrass and prosecute their police forces can expect an explosion of crime, and an implosion of their efforts to try to undo their own stupidity.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
President Biden recently blasted members of the House of Representatives for taking a two-week recess, a break he referred to as a "vacation."

The Hypocrite-in-Chief stated, sort of: Instead of going on a two-week vacation. Two weeks, walking away. Two weeks? What are they thinking? My God, this is bizarre, and its just reinforcing, and it's just reinforcing all the concern and, and almost I won't say panic, but real concern about the United States being a reliable ally. This is outrageous."

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black ebony! Biden is on a record pace for presidential vacations, having spent about 40% of his presidency on holiday thus far, significantly more than former President Trump  and virtually all of his other predecessors.

But enough is never enough for donkeys horses asses-- old or new. Rep. Eric Smallswell Swalwell (D-CA) recently took to the platform formerly known as Twitter to relate the death of Russian President Vladimir Putins chief political opponent to potential future actions of Donald Trump, should he be returned to the presidency. @RepSwalwell stated:

Let Navalnys death be a warning to America. If returned to power, Donald Trump will jail his opponents. This isnt a forecast, he has already told us this. There will be no evidence or due process. And certainly no opposition from Republicans in Congress.

Jail his opponents? He might well have to get out of jail first, as his opponents are desperately trying to put him there. That isnt a forecast, its a current reality. Democrats have utterly eschewed due process in their rabid attempts to imprison and destroy Trump. And there has certainly been little or no opposition from Democrats in Congress.

Democrats are to projection as Heinz is to ketchup.

Image: Twitter meme
Democrat California Assemblymember Mike Gipson, who represents Los Angeles-area cities such as Compton, recently authored bill AB-3067, which would require insurance companies to inquire about -- and report on -- the number of firearms owned by folks seeking homeowners insurance.

Can you say slippery slope?

This is a preposterous invasion of privacy and would continue the recent trend of the federal government coercing private companies to do its nefarious bidding.

Insurance is already a heavily regulated industry. It isnt much of a stretch to imagine government at first suggesting and later mandating that insurance companies surcharge for firearm ownership, making the premiums of those protected by the Second Amendment higher than they would otherwise be. And what next? Would insurers have to report wine cellars, humidors, wet bars, and knife collections? Or perhaps the number and value of any and all fur coats in the household?

It is easy to envision the government someday soon mandating surcharges on those who own only gasoline-powered vehicles. Etc., etc.

Combine this with the coming Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and government will know everything you purchase, own, think, and do, and will be able to modify your behavior  or incarcerate you  as it sees fit.

Brave New World? More like a Depraved New World. One in which, ironically, allegedly progressive governments will be the oppressors  and anyone who insufficiently bends the knee will be the oppressed.

And America will have come full circle, from the Declaration of Independence to The Declaration of Dependence. And servitude.

Image: Screen shot from University of Phoenix video, via YouTube
This string of blogs from the Daily Mail has an item that says that one-third of Republicans think that President Trump would be unfit for office if he is convicted of anything.

The Edison Research poll showed 32 percent of South Carolina GOP primary voters thought Trump would not be fit to be president if convicted of a crime. It found 65 per cent think Trump would still be fit for the presidency if convicted. Trump is facing four criminal indictments.

That is certainly what Nikki Haley and Democrats, including Joe Biden, hope.

The cases against Trump are obviously politically motivated. They clearly show that the judicial system is being used to destroy a politician that most of the media and other Democrats don't like.

Let's look at the four cases:

The New York fraud case was brought by New York's Attorney General Letitia James, who campaigned on destroying Trump. No one can locate another similar case where someone was charged with fraud without victims. They brought the case to destroy businesses and a family just because they don't like Trump's policies. They found a judge who also hates Trump. The judge declared Trump guilty before he saw the defense. He sure didn't care that the banks that supposedly were harmed said they weren't.

The second case against Trump regarding hush money paid to a porn star and subject to the statute of limitations, as well as a woman whom Trump says he never met, who claimed was raped in a department store dressing room 30 years ago, were both brought by New York's District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, who also campaigned on destroying Trump. They can't find a federal election case by New York before Trump. Again, Trump is being singled out.

The classified document case against Trump was also about double standards: Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden never had the right to have the classified documents at their homes. Unlike Trump, they weren't the president. Hillary destroyed a huge amount of computer information along with the machines themselves with hammers. Former FBI Director James Comey listed many crimes that Hillary committed, and yet she wasn't charged.

Biden had documents he wasn't entitled to and kept them in unsafe places. He shared them. He kept them for years after he knew he had them, but he wasn't charged.

Trump is supposedly being charged because he wasn't cooperative when he didn't turn them over immediately. But Hillary and Biden also didn't turn them over immediately, and they never should have had them in the first place. Trump is being singled out for destruction because they don't like him or his policies. Biden and Hillary were above the law because they are Democrats, and the establishment likes their policies, period.

And then there is the Georgia case. Democrats have repeatedly challenged elections and haven't been charged with a crime. It is not a crime for a politician to ask for recounts to look for additional votes when a race is close. Trump didn't ask anyone to get fake votes. The race was very close.

Federal prosecutors even met with the Biden White House before charges were brought against Trump as the Biden White House has continually lied that they keep out of judicial cases.

Such as in this case described by Fox News here:

Fulton County prosecutor, Fani Willis romantic partner, met with Biden White House twice before charging Trump Nathan Wade billed Georgia county for meetings in May, November 2022 with White House

There is also Jack Smith's case, which is filled with similar double standards and hypocrisies.

The media and other Democrats sought to destroy Trump and the people surrounding him with continuous lies and investigations about Russian collusion. They can't believe he beat Hillary in 2016, and now they are using a politicized justice system to destroy him. They certainly can't rely on Biden or his unpopular, radical, and destructive policies to defeat him, so they need to put their hand on the scale in the justice system to take him out. That is what dictators do. They are doing it right now in Venezuela, China, and Russia.

If the public and many Republicans such as Haley allow this to be done to Trump, they will then target the next person with an "R" behind their name to take them out.

It is truly pathetic that the media, which is supposed to hold the powerful to account, is instead supporting the powerful government as long as Democrats run it to destroy their political opponents. All they care about is power.

The media knows how corrupt both Hillary and Biden are as they sold access for money to enrich themselves and their families and don't care.

The abuse of power by Obama and Biden, along with many federal agencies, dwarfs Watergate, and most of the media cheers.

Image: Michael Vadon, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
Democrat/socialist/communist (D/s/c) apologists would have us believe the Biden Crime Family is entirely innocent, the victim of evil MAGA persecution. That normal Americans and Republicans have no power to prosecute under the weaponized, politicized Department of Justice is ignored. Fortunately, the barely Republican-controlled House is doing the work the DOJ will not:

President Joe Bidens brother James said during the House impeachment inquiry on Wednesday that he threw away Hunters Biden first diamond received from CEFC China Energy Co, a source familiar with the interview told Breitbart News. Hunter received a second, $80,000 diamond from CEFC chairman Ye Jianming in February 2017. Hunter received the first diamond when Joe Biden was vice president to entice him to do business with CEFC, the source said. Hunter gave it to James to have it appraised, according to the source, but James said he threw it away.

He threw away a diamond, worth tens of thousands of dollars?! Perhaps to hide evidence of corruption, but otherwise? During his testimony, James maintained his brother Joe Biden never, ever, in any way, had any business dealings with the rest of his family.

Graphic: Twitter (X) screenshot

Im beginning to doubt James credibility.

Through Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), the committee discovered in March that Biden associate Rob Walker received a $3 million wire transfer from CEFC. In turn, four Biden family members  Hunter, James, Hallie, and an unidentified Biden  received a collective $1.3 million cut from the $3 million wire transfer. The source also told Breitbart News that James initially said he was not part of a deal with Rob Walker, Hunter, James Gilliar, and Tony Bobulinski, but when presented with an agreement with his signature on it, he changed his story to say he did not recall signing that agreement.

Now Im really beginning to doubt his credibility.

James also appeared not to recall that Joe Biden met with the familys business associates. James said Joe Biden never met with business associates, but messages produced by a previous witness contradict that claim, the source said. James also told the impeachment inquiry that Joe Biden never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest in his business ventures. The claim comes as House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-KY), a former bank board member, found in October that a $200,000 check from Americore, which allegedly defrauded Medicare, landed in Joe Bidens bank account via James Biden.

James claimed this was repayment for a loan from Joe.

James confirmed there is no documentation for the two loans Joe Biden allegedly provided him, and no interest was charged, the source told Breitbart News: James Biden said he called the law firm Monzack Mersky and Browder and requested money from Joe Bidens bank account. James Biden does not know if the money came from Joe Bidens S corporation CelticCapri or his personal bank account. This law firm is also associated with James Biden, Hunter Biden, and Rob Walkers LLCs.

The Oversight Committee has identified two checks from James and Sara Biden to Joe Biden labeled as loan repayments.

On March 1, 2018, Americore, a financially distressed rural hospital operator, wired a $200,000 loan into James and Sara Bidens personal bank account  not their business bank account. On the same day, James Biden wrote a $200,000 check from this same personal bank account to Joe Biden.

On September 3, 2017, Joe Biden received $40,000 in China money from the account of his brother, James Biden, and his sister-in-law, Sara Biden, in the form of a personal check.

In addition, James took out loans from Democrat donors and did not fully repay them, according to the source, which includes: James Biden received $800,000 in loans from Joey Langston, but he only repaid $400,000

James Biden received $900,000 in loans from John Hynansky, but he still owes him $100,000.

Lets review: At least nine Biden family members, including two grandchildren, have been paid from family overseas business ventures. None of these people had any business acumen, knowledge or services to offer foreign governments or businesses. Hunter Biden, a drug-addled know-nothing has admitted, on camera, the foreign entities that paid him millions did so because his last name is Biden. None of these supposed loans is accompanied by any documentation.

Joe Biden has repeatedly said he never discussed business with his son, but:

Graphic: screenshot

The National Archives and Records Administration has admitted that it is in possession of nearly 5,400 emails, electronic records and documents that potentially show President Biden using a pseudonym during his vice presidency, it was revealed on Monday.

Many of these were communications with Hunter. So, there are more than 150 suspicious activity reports from banks on the Biden Family, which, including grandchildren, has made tens of millions for apparently doing nothing, and James Biden throws away a diamond.

Sounds legit to me.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
The University of North Carolina system oversees 16 state universities.

Campus locations include Chapel Hill, Wilmington, Charlotte, Asheville, and Greensboro. UNC-Chapel Hill, originally called the University of North Carolina, was founded in 1789 and is one of the oldest public universities in the United States.

According to Wikipedia statistics, some 245,000 students attended UNC system universities in 2021.

One of the schools in the UNC system, UNC-Greensboro, is in the news these days because of a decision by Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam Jr. to cut undergraduate and/or graduate programs in physics, mathematics, computer science, anthropology and nursing, citing university direction, enrollment patterns, prioritizing faculty time and expertise, and growth opportunities.

Reaction to the decision to cancel STEM was swift.

Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Charles Bolton resigned in protest of the cuts and the way Gilliam handled communication.

Slated for elimination are undergraduate programs in

Geography (just Google everything, right?),

Anthropology (thats about, you know, old stuff), and

Physics (Newton and Einstein are dead white males),

as well as graduate programs in:

Nursing (hospitals and doctors might disagree),

Geography (of course),

Mathematics (WaPos Travis Meier is applauding this one), and

Computational mathematics (calculators from Walmart will do the trick.)

What about programs in various Studies departments that liberals have insisted over the decades absolutely, positively belong in college, offering degrees that will enable graduates to get barista jobs at Starbucks, whose loans Joe Biden* plans to forgive? Nope, those are alive and well.

African-American and African Diaspora Studies (cutting them would lead to mostly peaceful Antifa/BLM demonstrations),

Media Studies (better to help Democrats win elections),

Communication Studies (failure to communicate caused problems in Cool Hand Luke),

Peace and Conflict Studies (to help Hamas, Hezbollah ... um, negotiate),

Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies (of course), and, your favorite and mine,

Womens, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Chancellor Gilliams enrollment-patterns justification allows some practical inferences. If Travis Meier is right that STEM programs should take a back seat in high school, what is the point of science and mathematics departments in college if their classrooms will be largely empty? Moreover, North Carolina is hardly the preferred destination of foreign students seeking prestige degrees in the United States. Besides, Saudi money is going to ivy league universities, Cornell topping the list.

Arnold Cusmariu, a frequent contributor to American Thinker, is the author of Logic for Kids.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
On MSNBC award-winning investigative journalist (from Politico) Heidi Przybyla said this recently:

Remember when Trump ran in 2016? A lot of the mainline evangelicals wanted nothing to do with the divorced real-estate mogul who cheated on his wife with a porn star and all of that, right? So what happened was, he was surrounded by this more extremist element. Youre going to hear words like Christian Nationalism, like the new apostolic reformation. These are groups that you should get very schooled on because they have a lot of power in Trumps circle. And the one thing that unites all of them because theres many different groups orbiting Trump but the thing that unites them as Christian nationalists  not Christians by the way, because Christian nationalist is very different  is that they believe their rights as Americans dont come from any earthly authority. They dont come from Congress, they dont come from the Supreme Court, they come from God.

Horrors! Does this mean that a Christian nationalist believes what the Declaration of Independence said  that our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness come not from King George III, but from our Creator? How does that separate a Christian nationalist from any other ordinary Christian? What is she trying to say?

Ms. Przybyla continued:

The problem is that they are determining, man  men  are determining what God is telling them. And in the past, that so-called natural law ... its a pillar of Catholicism, for instance, and has been used for good. In social justice campaigns, Martin Luther King evoked it talking about civil rights. But now you have an extremist element of conservative Christians who say this applies specifically to issues like abortion, gay marriage, and its going much further than that, as youre seeing for instance in the ruling in Alabama. The judge is connected to a dominionist faction.

Um...what? Is Ms. Przybyla trying to say that mainstream Christians support abortion rights and gay marriage, but Christian nationalists do not?

She was referring to the Alabama Supreme Court, which just ruled that human life begins at conception. How dare the court agree with basic biology and the American College of Pediatricians? According to a publication by the National Library of Medicine, eighty percent of Americans believe that biologists are the most qualified group to determine when life begins, and ninety-six percent of biologists affirm the view that life begins at fertilization, yet a portion of the American public still demand the right to legally murder their unborn children.

Does a Christian automatically qualify as some sort of religious zealot simply for opposing abortion? What if he doesnt oppose the Plan B pill? Can a Christian be patriotic without being called a nationalist? Can a Christian still sing the patriotic anthem God Bless America?

What is a Christian nationalist? We still dont have a real answer. Perhaps it would be helpful to break the term down into individual words to understand it better.

If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, youre a Christian. Okay, then...so what is a nationalist? According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, a nationalist is a person who wants his country to be politically independent, or a person who strongly believes that his country is better than others.

Putting the two terms together, we get a follower of Jesus Christ who strongly believes that America is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And thats the problem?

Oh, wait a minute  one of the Alabama justices is accused of being a dominionist. This is, apparently, a person who seeks to create a nation governed by Christians according to their understanding of biblical law. Is the justice a dominionist because he quoted from the Bible instead of a biology textbook? Both basically say the same thing on this issue.

Most Christians I know (and I know more than a few through social media) realize that America was founded not as a Christian nation, but as a secular nation founded by Christians with Christian principles. Muslims, Jews, and atheists alike have been welcome to participate in our secular government that still operates on Christian principles.

Obviously, the term Christian nationalist is meant to be seen as a pejorative. It is being used to separate the good Christians (those who support abortion and gay marriage) from the bad Christians (actual Christians). It is a term intended to divide and conquer.

The current problem for those attempting to employ the term to accomplish their nefarious goal of turning Christians on one another is that most people dont seem to know what a Christian nationalist is.

According to Pew research, roughly twenty-four percent of the American public had a negative opinion of Christian nationalism and predictably said things like, It is a euphemism for racism and antisemitic fascism; a polite term for a Nazi sympathizer  but still, more than half of U.S. adults have never even heard of the term.

One of the Christian respondents to the survey shared a starkly different opinion: Its a term used to dismiss any Christian because they are dangerous, therefore dehumanize them and make them the enemy. It should mean a follower of Christ and someone who is patriotic.

Why was it so important for the Politico reporter to establish that the modern existential threat to the American republic is this largely unheard of Christian nationalist movement? Because this same journalist co-authored an article saying that the Trump administration is going to infuse Christian nationalist ideas into their policies because a guy named Russell Vought is under consideration to become Trumps chief of staff.

If you dont remember Vought, hes the guy who famously sparred with Bernie Sanders when Sanders tried to apply a religious litmus test to disqualify Vought from an appointment to the Office of Management and Budget. According to Ms. Przybylas most recent article, Vought has a close affiliation with Christian nationalist William Wolfe, a former Trump administration official who has advocated for overturning same-sex marriage, ending abortion and reducing access to contraceptives.

Well, then! We should burn him at the stake like a heretic, right? No way should this guy be allowed to serve in the next Trump administration...unless, of course, Trump wants him.

Every Christian (nationalist) should utter just four words sure to send a cold chill through the heart of Ms. Przybyla and her ilk: Make America Great Again.

John Leonard is a freelance writer. He blogs at southernprose.com. His books, including The God Conclusion and Atheists Prayer, can be found at LeonardBooks.net.

Image: Darkmoon_Art via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
One doesnt have to support colonialism to acknowledge that its colonies allowed Great Britain to ship the idea of liberty around the world. Beginning with the Glorious Revolution in 1689 and continuing through the Enlightenment and the Victorians muscular (but not murderous) Christianity, Britain believed in its values. Therefore, it accepted the (racist) white mans burden to bring those values to the world. It established an admittedly imperfect Empire, the furthest reaches of which are now striking back. The latest evidence is Hamass rising power over the British parliament.

Colonialism was mankinds norm until the 20th century. Whenever nations, or any group of people, could expand through conquest, they did. Conquest disabled potential adversaries and provided essential resources, especially manpower. In a pre-industrial, pre-capitalist era, after all, the two major energy sources were domesticated animals and slaves.

Great Britain was all-in on this approach to the world, joining other nations in doing everything that the left now attacks as crimes unique to white supremacy (e.g., slavery, unequal rights for individuals, militarism, etc.) But what Britain also delivered were the notions of individual liberty and individual worth, ideas that led to the end of slavery and child labor, the elevation of women to equal legal status with men, and the cultural values of due process of law and equal rights for all under the law.

Image created by Andrea Widburg using the Hamas flag and a photo by Terry Ott. CC BY 2.0.

Humans being stubborn creatures, these ideas took a while to spread from theory to practice, but they did. Moreover, when they took off, they proved to be of enormous benefit, not just to Great Britain herself but to her former colonies. Niall Ferguson, in Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power, uses mountains of data to make a case that we all can see without data: In almost every region of the world, former British colonies did better than neighbors that had other European colonizers.

Nevertheless, barring the Anglo-spherethat is, those nations that the British actually conquered and settled, such as the United States, Canada, and Australiamost of the former colonies kept their own cultures and values. Nowhere was this truer than in Muslim regions. Indeed, in oil-rich Muslim regions, by the 20th century, the tables turned when it became apparent that the British desperately needed that oil. As the world shook off colonialism, Britain now made obeisance to those who controlled that black gold.

Something else happened after WWII and the end of Britain's colonial authority: While Britain once exported her native-born population to the four corners of the globe, now her former colonies, along with surrounding countries in the same regions (i.e., the entire Middle East and Africa) exported their native-born populations to Britain. In keeping with Labour policy, Tony Blair accelerated that trend in the 1990s, and every government since then, whether Tory or Labour, has done the same.

Almost 8% of Britains population comes from non-EU nations, while only 3.6% comes from EU nations (and its possible that many of those originated in non-EU nations). Thats an enormous cultural shift. Between (a) importing people who come from nations with values often antithetical to Britains and (b) the children and grandchildren of those immigrants being educated in leftist British schools that also have values antithetical to traditional British values, the nation that shipped liberty to the world no longer exists.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in the rise of Islamism in Britain. Like the rest of medieval Christendom, England was antisemitic (look at the York massacre in 1190 or the Jews eventual expulsion in 1290), but, by the Victorian era, it had settled into dislike, not a genocidal frenzy. That began to change in the 1990s (see Londonistan: How Britain Is Creating a Terror State Within by Melanie Phillips), and the genocidal frenzy is beginning to peak.

Weve already seen tens of thousands of Muslims taking over the streets to pray or protest against Israel, as well as British communities that are entirely Muslim. If you dont believe me, enjoy this alleged debunking of British concerns about rising Islam. It repeatedly agrees that many perceptions about Islams growth within English culture are true or close to true but still manages to argue with conclusions drawn from them. For example, the welfare part of the debunking skips over the part that British law gives welfare to plural wives.

This is all a necessary prelude to what happened last week in and around Parliament as it debated trying to force a ceasefire on Israel now that Israel is prevailing against Hamas. Outside, there was a mob openly threatening the parliamentarians safety. Inside, the MPs openly expressed their fear of the pro-Hamas mob:

MPs are scared to leave Parliament this evening because of the Islamist mob that has gathered outside.



To be blunt Im glad that MPs are finally coming face to face with the people they let into our country.



They wanted multiculturalism so let them suffer the consequences. https://t.co/sLBhRWWWui  Wolf  (@WorldByWolf) February 21, 2024

Outside of parliament, @MartinDaubney got egged by someone amongst the pro Palestine rabble.



As MPs virtue signal over a vote which wont make any difference, a Met Police officer failed to arrest anyone as he looked too scared of the mob to enforce the law. Priorities. pic.twitter.com/jf76FU7cd8  Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) February 21, 2024

As Konstantin Kisin explains, this fear was so overwhelming that Parliament changed its rules to hide from the mob:

Yesterday, the British Parliament changed the way it operates because the Speaker was afraid that some parliamentarians would be murdered if they couldn't be seen to vote for a ceasefire in a war on the other side of the world.



This isn't democracy. This is a country that is  Konstantin Kisin (@KonstantinKisin) February 22, 2024

Two AI pictures sum up exactly what happened:

MPs complaining they were scared of the mob outside Parliament yesterday & it may have affected how MPs voted



You reap what you sow you bunch of cowards. You know the problem is but refuse to act.



Now the mob won & its going to only get much worse. @Conservatives @UKLabour pic.twitter.com/fkHPTbBDhq  Jack  (@UnionJack22) February 22, 2024

Here's the problem,our soliciting lie,hoyle went on sky news and said it was white,right wing fundamentalists not 24 hours after a baying mob of Islamic terrorist supporters were outside parliament,our politicians are cowards and traitors to this country pic.twitter.com/WUZz4fADCf  Vader (@Darthdaws) February 25, 2024

Meanwhile, in other parts of Britain, Scotlands Muslim, Israel-hating first minister is vacationing in Qatar, home to Hamass leadership.

Contrary to the famous WWII song, there wont always be an Englandand its end is coming fast. (Ironically, the ad tied to that linked video, at least on my computer, begs for aid money to Gaza.)
On Schmellwitzer Street in Cottbus, in northeast Germany, stands an old five-story apartment building. High up on the face of the building, between the second and the third floor, one can still see the scars of an accident that happened nearly half a century ago.

On January 14, 1975, thirty-three-year-old Major Peter Makowicka was on a training mission when the MiG-21 that he was flying encountered engine failure. The military control center at Cottbus Air Base ordered the pilot to eject and save himself and let the plane go down, but Major Makowicka refused. Doing so would have crashed the plane into the TKC (Textile Combinate Cottbus) endangering the lives of thousands of workers. Major Makowicka instead guided the plane away with the intention of crashing it into an empty field. But with losing altitude, Makowicka couldn't get that far. The plane grazed the roof of a building behind the factory site and at 10:15am crashed into a 5-story Plattenbauan apartment constructed from prefabricated concrete slabs typical of East Germany.

Major Makowicka was killed instantly. He was later awarded the Battle Order for Services to People and Fatherland in gold for his heroic sacrifice. The crash also killed five residents of the building, all women and employees of the TKC. Another woman died from severe smoke inhalation after being admitted to the hospital.

Shortly after the crash, the Cottbus fire department arrived on the scene and started evacuating the building. The impact had ruptured the fuel tanks on the plane and all 800 liters of it began to pour out catching fire and sending temperatures soaring to over a thousand degree centigrade. Many residents jumped out of the windows in panic, causing serious injuries.

One hour fifteen minutes after the crash, the fire was by and large extinguished. The area was cordoned off. Two days later, the hole in the building was patched up. This patchwork of new concrete and paint is discernable to this day.

The building as on April 2018. The repair hole is still visible. Photo: Redrobsche/Wikimedia Commons

An enquiry into the accident revealed that the grounds crew had forgot to properly secure the engine compressor hatch which came off when Major Makowicka was preparing to land the plane, causing the engine to fail. This hatch, located in the wheel well, was attached with only 4 out of 36 screws. This was a common practice because the pilot and the mechanics were supposed to walk around the plane and inspect the engine prior to flight. To save time, the hatch was attached with four screws cross wise. Only after the pilot had checked the area, would the engine hatch be closed with all of the 36 screws and the aircraft readied. On that day, the pilot failed to make the pre-flight inspection and the mechanic forgot to secure all of the 36 screws. The aircraft took off normally but during flight vibrations loosed the screws. With the landing gear retracted, the hatch held. However, when the landing gear was lowered, the hatch fell off disrupting the airflow to the engine causing it to flameout.

Major Peter Makowicka

The crash caused panic among Cottbuss population. They called for suspension of air traffic from the Cottbus airfield. Mothers feared to send their children to schools located on the approach path to the airfield. Textile employees went on strike. Perhaps because of these protests, the Cottbus airfield was closed and operations transferred to Holzdorf airfield north of Herzberg in Brandenburg.

Despite the relocation, on March 16, 1985, another malfunctioning MiG-21 crashed in Cottbus. The pilot saved himself by ejecting from the plane, but plane itself crashed into a student dormitory of the engineering school. Fortunately, it was Saturday and the dormitory was empty.
A few more Galaxy smartphones are receiving Samsungs February 2024 security update. The Korean firm has released this months security patch for the Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Note 10 Lite, Galaxy A32, Galaxy A31, and Galaxy A12. The rollout isnt global just yet but it should just be a matter of time before Samsung covers all users globally.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 picks up the February security update

Over the past three weeks, Samsung has updated more than three dozen Galaxy smartphones and tablets to the February security patch, aka Security Maintenance Release (SMR). The company has pushed the new SMR to all recent flagship and premium mid-range models. It is now weeping through the remaining few models.

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The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is currently picking up the latest security update in South Korea. The update comes with the firmware build number F916NKSS2KXB1 and only brings this months security fixes from Samsung and Google. There are 69 of them, though not all of them exist on the foldable. This is the total number of vulnerabilities fixed across the Galaxy family.

Samsung will soon roll out the February SMR to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in other markets. The build number may vary but the content of the update should remain the same. Dont expect any new features or enhancements. The 2020 foldable didnt get Android 14 and is no longer eligible for feature updates. Security patches will come for at least a few more months.

The Galaxy Note 10 Lite, which also debuted in 2020, is another Samsung device approaching its end of life. The S Pen-wielding affordable flagship is receiving the February security patch with the build number N770FXXS9HXA3. The update is available widely in Asia and Europe and should soon make its way into Latin America. There are no new features in tow.

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The new security patch is also available for a few A-series phones

Samsung offers excellent update support to its A series mid-range phones. It has just released the latest security patch for the Galaxy A32, Galaxy A31, and Galaxy A12. The former is getting the update globally with varying build numbersA325FXXS7DXA2 in Africa, Asia, and Europe, A325MUBU6DXB1 in Latin America, and A325NKSS5DXB1 in South Korea.

Its a similar story for the Galaxy A31. It is picking up the February security update in Europe with the build number A315FXXS5DXB1 and A315GZHS4DXB1 in Asia. Finally, the Galaxy A12 is getting the new SMR in Latin America with firmware version A125MUBS4CXB1. If you are using any of these Samsung smartphones, watch out for an update in the coming days.
An Aussie woman ticking off a "bucket list" item by visiting the Great Barrier Reef says she was feeling "underwhelmed" after exploring the famous reef off Australia's northeast coast.

Global warming and climate change have been blamed for the destruction of the reef in recent years  particularly the southern end  with warmer waters repeatedly bleaching the coral found within it. Wild weather events, including storms, have also wreaked havoc on the once-thriving reef.

So it's no secret that parts of the huge 348,000 square kilometre area have seen better days, but "it's not what you'd expect," the disappointed traveller said while visiting recently.

The tourist named Adriana was disappointed by her visit to the Great Barrier Reef. Source: TikTok/ajelesslipss

Detailing her experience in a video on TikTok, the woman said "this is the most underwhelming thing," filming from the water while donning a wetsuit and snorkel. "There's no colour, there's no fish, it all looks dead. It is certainly not what you'd expect from the Great Barrier Reef," she said.

The woman filmed her diving experience before sharing it on social media. She explained there was "a lot of white stuff floating around everywhere" making it hard to see much else  a stark contrast from the brightly colours reefs we're used to seeing.

'We have a long way to go' to fix the problem

There are over 1,500 species of fish, about 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusk, and some 240 species of birds, plus a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine worms, crustaceans, and other species found within the reef. But the tourist said the only time she saw a fish was at the end of her tour when she fed them from her boat.

"To say I was [devastated] and underwhelmed is an understatement. I knew through global warming and too many of us tourists, that we had done some damage," she said. "But I had heard and hoped we were regenerating it. This proved to me we have a long way to go"

Story continues

The southern end of the reef (left) has lost more coral than the northern end (right) Source: AIMS

Several bleaching events have destroyed the reef

There have been several mass bleaching events The first was recorded in 1998 then again 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022 and were likely all fuelled by climate change. The WWF-Australia head of oceans Richard Lack last year said the trend appears to now be an event occurring more than once every two years.

"Coral bleaching is directly attributable to climate change caused by rising global emissions," he said. "Reducing Australias domestic and exported emissions fast, this decade, is the main solution within our control."

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Google has presented its final arguments to a federal judge in Washington, D.C., defending itself against accusations of operating an unlawful monopoly in search. The company filed its posttrial brief in response to the US Department of Justices claims that Google used exclusionary contracts to stifle competition in the search market.

Users and partners choose Google Search based on its quality, says Google

According to Google, evidence from the trial conclusively demonstrates its position as the highest quality and most popular search engine in the United States. It includes overwhelming preference from partners who choose to preload Google Search as the default engine.

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However, Google reportedly pays billions to companies like Apple to place their search engine as the default in their devices. Google is a massive company at this point and their massive spending power enables them to do it. DOJ sees this practice as anticompetitive as it practically locks out rival search engines and in turn, harms the competition. Witnesses at the trial included executives from Google Search competitors like Microsoft and DuckDuckGo. They testified that Googles alleged monopoly in search prevented them from gaining the necessary search volume to become robust alternatives.

Google sees this as punishing a successful company, not protecting the competition

Google contends that the DOJ aims to punish and hinder it from competing for revenue share. It would ultimately harm competition and consumers. The company asserts that punishing a successful innovator harms competition and is contrary to antitrust law.

The case is expected to conclude with closing arguments in May, following a multi-week trial that ended in late 2023. Additionally, Google will face the DOJ later this year in another legal battle. It will be about the companys advertising technology business and claims of illegal monopolization.

The dispute between Google and the DOJ underscores the ongoing debate over competition in the tech industry and the extent of Googles dominance in search. The outcome of this Google vs DOJ antitrust trial could have significant implications for the future regulation of large tech companies and the competitiveness of the search market.
The HONOR Magic6 Pro launched today for global markets. It was announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, and we also published our review today. Having said that, the HONOR Magic6 Pro managed to break 3 records over at DxOMark, which is what were here to talk about.

HONORs new flagship is not a top-placed smartphone in the Display, Battery, and Selfie categories. It also managed to take a very high second place in the Audio department. It received a Gold rating from DxOMark in all those categories.

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The HONOR Magic6 Pro breaks three records at DxOMark, starting with the display

The HONOR Magic6 Pro scored 157 points in the Display category, thus trumping the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (155 points), and the Google Pixel 8 Pro (154 points).

DxOMark highlighted the phones accurate, reactive, and smooth touch panel, while it also praised its best-in-class motion management. The company also said that the display is well-suited for different lighting conditions, and has great HDR video experience in low-light conditions. You can read more about the display section here.

Outstanding battery

The device also took first place in the battery section with 157 points. It left the HONOR Magic5 Lite 5G behind itself with 152 points, and the HONOR X7b / OPPO Find X6 Pro both of which scored 151 points.

DxOMark highlighted the excellent indoor autonomy of the battery, and great battery life when the display is on but you dont use it. It also showed great results in video streaming and gaming, now to mention that it charges really fast both via a wired, and wirelessly. You can get more details about the battery test by clicking here.

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Selfie camera king according to DxOMark

The HONOR Magic6 Pro sits at the very top of the food chain in the selfie camera category too. It scored 151 points, which is two more than the iPhone 15 Pro (Max) (149 points), and a iPhone 14 Pro Max (145 points).

In this section, DxOMark praised the phones accurate target exposure and wide dynamic range. On top of that, the company said that it had a neutral white balance and fairly pleasant color rendering.

The low noise levels in bright light and indoors were also a plus for DxOMark, and the same goes for the cameras wide depth of field. Read more about the selfie camera here.
After a teaser during the Galaxy S24 launch last month, Samsung is officially unveiling the Galaxy Ring at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, which kicks off tomorrow in Barcelona, Spain. The Korean firm confirmed the launch in a press release briefing its MWC agenda. The device will be part of its intelligent health lineup.

Samsung to unveil the Galaxy Ring at MWC 2024

Samsung has been working on a smart ring for a long time now. After years of rumors and leaks, the company finally confirmed the existence of the Galaxy Ring last month. It teased the product after unveiling the Galaxy S24 flagships. The firm said the ring is on the way but didnt share additional information. Leaks said the device will arrive alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in July or August.

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However, Samsung has now confirmed that the Galaxy Ring will debut at MWC 2024. The company plans to introduce AI-powered intelligent, personalized, and seamless health experiences at the event. The smart ring is part of this effort to simplify everyday wellness. The company says the device will support smarter and healthier living via a more connected digital wellness platformSamsung Health.

Samsung has kept all other details about the Galaxy Ring for MWC but shared more information about the new health features. My Vitality Score offers personalized health insights based on multiple factors including Sleep, Activity, Heart Rate, and Heart Rate Variability, while Booster Card helps make each day healthier by tracking predefined goals and delivering actionable insights, the company explained.

The Korean tech giants MWC 2024 portfolio also includes new mobile AI features and an enhanced SmartThings ecosystem for smarter and healthier living. Our latest Galaxy products and innovations unlock the power of mobile AI to empower users in their everyday lives to open up new possibilities, said TM Roh, Samsungs head of mobile business. It will be interesting to see how Galaxy Ring can complement Galaxy watches and smartphones in simplifying everyday wellness.

MWC attendees can get hands-on with Samsungs new health features

MWC 2024 will run from February 26 to February 29. Samsungs Galaxy Experience booth is located in Hall 3 of the Fira Barcelona Gran Via. Attendees can visit the boot to get hands-on with the companys new health features and services unveiled at the mega event. It remains to be seen whether Samsung will allow visitors to try the Galaxy Ring too. We will let you know when we have more information.
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 series of laptops will be going on sale globally starting from February 26. Notably, the series was introduced in December and has already been available in South Korea since January. The brand claims that the new notebook has already outsold its predecessors initial sales in the South Korean market.

The Galaxy Book 4 series comprises three premium notebooks

First, the new Galaxy Book series comprises the Galaxy Book 4 Pro, Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360, and the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra. All new notebooks are now heading to global markets like the US, the UK, France, and Germany starting Monday. All three are premium laptops with a heavy emphasis on AI optimizations and up to Intel Core Ultra 9 series processors.

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Samsung hasnt yet revealed the global pricing of the new Galaxy Book 4 series notebooks. However, in South Korea, the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra is available starting from approx. $2,600. The Book 4 Pro and Pro 360 models are being offered for around $1,500 and $2,000, respectively. The Ultra model will be offered in Moonstone Gray hue. Samsung will be offering the Pro models in an additional Platinum Silver shade.

We will know more about their pricing in the United States in a matter of days. The company is expected to provide some launch day offers for these devices like discounted pricing during the initial sales.

The new notebooks flaunt AI capabilities and utilize up to Intel Core Ultra 9 processors

Its worth adding that the Galaxy Book 4 series is supported by Intels AI PC Acceleration program. Thanks to this, they get enhanced AI (artificial intelligence) capabilities to offer improved productivity features. The laptops sport multiple AI-based creation tools and immersive gaming features. Notably, they also feature high-performance GPUs as well as a newly integrated neural processing unit (NPU).

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Notably, Samsung has powered the latest Galaxy Book notebooks with the Intel Evo Edition processors. Furthermore, the Book 4 Pro and Pro 360 models can be configured with either the Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 processor. As for the higher-end Book 4 Ultra, it can be purchased with either the Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 processor.

Furthermore, the notebooks come with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU with 8GB of video memory. The new notebooks offer up to 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 2TB of solid-state drives. All three come preloaded with the Windows 11 Home version, AKG quad speakers, and studio-quality dual microphones.

As for other highlights, the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra and Pro 360 variants get 16-inch AMOLED displays with WQXGA+ resolution. While, the Galaxy Book 4 Pro comes in 14-inch and 16-inch models, which both sport AMOLED WQXGA+ screen panels. Lastly, the notebooks have Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and up to 76Wh batteries.
A British Palestinian activist said he has received death threats for advocating for peace with Israel, as he addressed a rally in support of returning Israeli hostages.

John Aziz said rhetoric between Palestinians and Israelis during the war in Gaza was becoming irreconcilable and that he had been disowned by a family member for his views.

Speaking in Londons Tavistock Square on Sunday afternoon at a No to Terror rally, Mr Aziz said heightened tensions could lead to more terrorism and more destruction and death and that peace had become a controversial idea for some.

Mr Aziz, 36, told the PA news agency: Ive received death threats and taunts of people calling me a traitor and people who I know disowning me.

Its a serious issue because theres a lot of intimidation and theres a sense that if you speak out for peace on this issue, then youre somehow undermining the Palestinian cause.

I dont want to do that  I want there to be a successful, viable, contiguous Palestinian state where Palestinians can live in peace with their Israeli neighbours.

Mr Aziz, who was born and raised in the UK, added: Im willing to speak to Israelis and spread the message of peace together, so that eventually maybe our governments will listen to each other.

Mr Aziz said peace was the most logical outcome to the conflict: People want their kids to grow up to be normal people and not fighting wars and killing each other.

If governments get in the way of us having peace then ordinary people have to speak out like me.

Many of those at the rally carried Israel flags and chants of bring them home were repeated as demonstrators demanded the hostages were released.

A survivor of the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas told the rally that he will never be the same.

Bar Vilker, who was an attendee at the Nova music festival, said he had lost friends and family in the attacks.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Vilker said: On October 7, the life I so desperately love was almost cut short because of terrorism.

I lost friends, family and any innocence left inside of me  I will never be the same.

Hila Fakliro, who also attended the Nova festival, said she had lost six of her friends in the Hamas attacks.

Ms Fakliro told the rally: We need to stand against terror. We need to stand against hate. We need to stand against Hamas.

Mr Vilker said the two had been travelling around university campuses in the UK over the last week on behalf of the Union of Jewish Students and the Jewish Agency to show Jewish students around the country that the future can be brighter.

He added: Just like I was able to become stronger after such a terrible event, if we as a community choose to seize this opportunity with two hands to make change correctly, we can show that there is no power stronger than the one of a strong united community.

The rally was organised by the 7/10 Human Chain Project, which is one of the main organisers of such events that have taken place in the UK since October 7.
Australian actress Cate Blanchett led stars attending Giorgio Armanis floral-inspired runway show at Milan Fashion Week.

The Oscar winner, 54, donned a dark teal, velvet trouser suit paired with a white shirt, which toned in with the fabrics and colours showcased on the catwalk on Sunday.

British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson wore a herringbone-patterned coat (Luca Bruno/AP)

British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson also made an appearance at the star-studded event in a herringbone-patterned coat which he wore over a black top and trousers.

Victoria De Angelis, the bassist of Italian rock band Maneskin who won Eurovision in 2021 with their hit Zitti E Buoni, opted for a casual rocker look.

Italian rock band Maneskin guitarist Victoria De Angelis wore a button-up maxi dress (Luca Bruno/AP)

She wore a cream fur coat over a white, button-up maxi dress which she paired with aviator-style sunglasses, a black leather handbag and black slingback heels.

Italian star Caterina Murino looked chic in a white wrap dress, tied at the waist with a cord.

Italian actress Caterina Murino wore a white wrap dress (Luca Bruno/AP)

The actress, who appeared in the Bond film Casino Royale and comedy St Trinians, paired the outfit with a white handbag.

The autumn/winter collection by the Italian fashion house featured a plethora of floral designs which were often in standout colours, such as pale blue and hot pink, offset against a dark fabric background.

Titled Winter Flowers, the designer said the collection hoped to convey a message of grace and hope, intertwined with the power and energy of nature and the life cycle of our planet, in a post to its Instagram page alongside a video of the runway show.

It added: Flowers that bloom even in the depths of winter, heralding beauty and regrowth, adorn the garments in this collection, emphasising their airy, fluid forms and the sense of harmonious elegance that underpins the essence of Giorgio Armanis work.
As authorities warn tourists to practice extra care on K'gari after two women were bitten by dingoes on Saturday, a holidaymaker has revealed his surprise at waking to find a pack of four outside his tent over the weekend.

Just two months into 2024, there's so far been a total of nine dingo bites at the popular tourist hotspot, formerly known as Fraser Island, with Queensland authorities pleading with the public to take care should they come across the wild animals.

Tourists warned to be dingo aware on K'gari

Both women bitten last weekend are believed to have sustained only minor injuries, with an 18-year-old having been bitten on the back of the leg while on a walking track before another woman was later nipped along the beachfront.

Authorities said the incidents serve as a timely reminder for people to be aware of their surroundings, particularly during dingo breeding season.

Sydney man Laine Cameron was visiting K'gari over the weekend with his partner when he woke to find a "curious" bunch of dingoes sitting right at the doorstep of his tent.

Sydney traveller Laine Cameron woke up on K'gari at the weekend to find a pack of dingoes outside his tent. Source: Supplied

'Curious' dingoes eat Sydney man's 'good thongs'

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Cameron said while he wasn't particularly concerned by the animals' presence, he was "pissed off" he didn't come across them sooner, unable to save "my good pair of thongs" from being torn apart.

"Nah, [those ones] weren't very scary," Cameron said. "I was more pissed off that one of them chewed my good thongs up. We just got up and kicked a bit of sand at them to get them away  thats what the rangers tell you to do."

Cameron theorised that the pack may have potentially been drawn to the area to feed on a humpback whale carcass that had washed ashore.

Laine Cameron said the dingoes 'weren't aggressive', but they did eat through his good pair of thongs. Source: Supplied

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"They are just curious, looking for food," he said. "You have to just make sure you dont leave any food or rubbish out otherwise theyll just snatch it and run.

"Theyll even eat your tomato sauce or thongs if you leave them out, but they weren't aggressive towards us  we could hear them playing outside our tent during the night."

With "dingoes on K'gari roaming all over the island", wildlife authorities have warned that although bites are rare relative to the number of tourists on the island, they can still occur.

The carcass of a humpback whale on the beach, above left, may have attracted the animals to the campsite. Source: Supplied

What to do if a dingo approaches

"Generally dingoes go about their lives and stay clear of people. Unhabituated dingoes have a natural fear of people and shy away," Queensland's Parks and Forests Department wrote online. "From time to time, dingoes may come close and some encounters can turn to tragedy. Stay alert and stay calm.

"Stand still at your full height and fold your arms across your chest, face the dingo, then calmly back away. If you are with another person, stand back to back."

Just before Christmas last year, a five-year-old girl was bitten by a dingo on K'gari, sustaining lacerations and bruising, while a seven-year-old boy was "lunged at" by an animal that "ran at speed" and "attempted to bite" the child, but did not make contact.

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Donald Trump celebrates his primary victory in Columbia, as Tim Scott looks on. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Donald Trump defeated Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina, a stinging setback that narrows her vanishingly thin path to the nomination.

The Associated Press called the South Carolina primary for Trump right when polls closed at 7pm ET, in a clear indication of his large victory in Haleys home state. Trump locked in approximately 60% of the vote, with Haley hovering at about 40%.

Palmetto State voters have a long history of choosing the partys eventual nominee, and Trump is on track to clinch the Republican nomination months before the partys summer convention in Milwaukee.

I just want to say that I have never seen the Republican party so unified as it is right now, Trump told supporters at his victory party in Columbia. This is a fantastic evening. Its an early evening, and fantastic.

Trump had stormed through the early voting states, racking up wins  and delegates  in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. Beating Haley, who served as his ambassador to the United Nations, in her home state delivers another stinging blow to her candidacy, moving the nomination even further out of her reach.

Addressing supporters in Charleston, Haley insisted she would not drop out of the race despite her four straight losses, arguing that Trump is unable to defeat Joe Biden in the general election.

What I saw today was South Carolinas frustration with our countrys direction. Ive seen that same frustration nationwide. I share it. I feel it to my core, Haley said. I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I will continue to run for president. Im a woman of my word.

Haleys campaign announced on Friday it was launching a seven-figure national cable and digital buy ahead of Super Tuesday on 5 March. On Sunday she will host a rally in Michigan, which holds its primary on 27 February, before embarking on a cross-country swing through several Super Tuesday states.

Her refusal to be driven from the race has frustrated Trump and his allies. They say Haley, who has compared herself to David taking on Goliath, has no path to victory, and accuse her of relying on wealthy donors to keep her long-shot bid alive and merely prolong the inevitable.

Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesperson, said on Saturday before polls closed: The fact is that Haleys campaign has now turned into a full-fledged Never Trump operation with her as Crooked Joe Bidens biggest surrogate. The primary ends tonight, and it is time to turn to the general election.

But Haleys supporters say they are grateful for her presence in the race as a reminder of what a future Republican party might look like. Some believe the 52-year-old Haley is laying the groundwork for a future presidential run, or positioning herself to be the obvious second choice in the extraordinary event Trump can no longer serve as the partys nominee.

Trump faces 91 felony charges as well as mounting legal fees and vast financial penalties that he has tapped his campaign fund to help pay. At her events, Haley tells voters that it is not normal for a candidate to spend more time in the courtroom than on the campaign trail, or to ask donors to foot his legal bills.

But Trumps legal travails, which stem in part from his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his role in the 6 January assault on the US Capitol, have only strengthened his support.

In recent days, Trumps campaign has already started to turn its attention toward the general election contest against Biden, who is gliding to his partys nomination without a serious primary challenge. Trumps team has moved aggressively to take control of the Republican National Committee, which is expected to remain neutral in the primary.

South Carolina primary: read more

Trump began his day in Washington, where he delivered a dark speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) before returning to South Carolina to attend an election-night watch party in the state capital, Columbia.

Earlier in the day, Haley cast her ballot on Kiawah Island, her home precinct. Later, her cross-state Beast of the Southeast bus tour rolled into Charleston, where she spoke at an election-night watch party. In her remarks to supporters, Haley framed her presence in the race as a democratic obligation.

In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak, Haley said. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate. And I have a duty to give them that choice.

Even as Haley has vowed to stay in the primary race as long as possible, Trump has made clear that he is already turning his attention to the general election. When he addressed his supporters in Columbia, Trump predicted that his decisive victory in South Carolina would soon be replicated in Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday.

Michigans up. Were going to have a tremendous success there. And then we have a thing called Super Tuesday, Trump said. South Carolina, thank you very much. Go home. Get rest. We have a lot of work ahead of us.

Joe Biden weighed in on Saturday night as the results from South Carolina came to a final close.

He said in a statement: In 2020, I ran for president because the very soul of America was at risk. Last night in South Carolina, Donald Trump stood on stage to make shameful, racist comments that tap into a hatred and divisiveness that is the very worst of us. We all have more to do to push towards a more perfect union, but Trump wants to take us backwards.

He added: Despite the threat that Trump poses, I will say again to the American people: I have never felt more optimistic about what we can do if we come together. Because I know that America believes in standing up for our democracy, fighting for our personal freedoms, and building an economy that gives everyone a fair shot.

To Republicans, Democrats, and independents who share our commitment to core values of our nation, join us. Lets keep moving forward.
Poet and playwright Bernard Kops has died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones at the age of 97, his family has announced.

Throughout his career, he published dozens of plays, a host of novels and poetry anthologies which explore themes including life in East End London and its Jewish community.

A statement shared with the PA news agency by his family said: Poet and playwright Bernard Kops died peacefully Sunday surrounded by his great love, Erica, and the many family members who never found themselves far from the embrace of his smile or his words.

Born in the East End of London in 1926 to Dutch-Jewish parents, he left school as a teenager.

He established himself with his first play The Hamlet Of Stepney Green in 1957, which portrayed a working-class community through the relationship between an ill father and his adult son.

Poet and playwright Bernard Kops died peacefully this morning surrounded by his great love, Erica, and the many family members who never found themselves far from the embrace of his smile or his words. He was 97. pic.twitter.com/vFvePIB92a  Hannah Burman (@hannahburman1) February 25, 2024

It was hailed as a significant contribution to the kitchen-sink drama style and has been performed near and far afield.

Among his other plays was 1991s Playing Sinatra, a psychological drama set in London which follows grown-up siblings Norman and Sandra who live out their fantasies in the music of their favourite performer.

He also wrote the surrealistic drama Ezra, based on the personality of American poet Ezra Pound.

Within his work, he has also explored themes including the Holocaust as well as his love for his wife Erica and his immediate family.

Kops also broke through to radio and television production having recounted his experience of evacuation in the TV series The World At War, first broadcast in 1973.

He also wrote the script for the 1974 film Just One Kid, which sees a Jewish Eastender recall growing up in poverty in the 1930s and being part of a community.

In his later years, Kops hosted a writers workshop that he ran with playwright Tom Fry.

His publisher David Paul said in a tribute: Sad to learn of the death of Bernard Kops death this morning.

He was the last of the celebrated crop of Jewish writers that emerged in the 1950s out of the Jewish East End such as (Harold) Pinter and (Arnold) Wesker, and he was prolific with a cornucopia of plays, novels and poetry.

He said he got to know him in his twilight years when he published his 2010 poetry collection This Room In The Sunlight, which included one of his best known works  Shalom Bomb.

Mr Paul said the piece became an anthem for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and opens by saying: I want a bomb, my own private bomb, my shalom bomb / Ill test it in the morning, when my son awakes.

He also noted the first few lines from his poem Whitechapel Library/Aldgate East, where Kops discovered his love for books, are inscribed on the window of the reading room at the Whitechapel Art Gallery.

The publisher added: He was like a page of his work: witty, warm, dark and celebratory. Full of lyric rages and love for his family.

And full of stories such as finding Allen Ginsberg in his bed with his boyfriend, which he turned into a poem.
Rishi Sunak will hold a Cabinet meeting in Yorkshire and the Humber as the Government sets out how transport funding from its abandoned HS2 plans will be shared across regional councils.

The Prime Minister said he has a clear plan to level up our country by investing in projects across the North and the Midlands ahead of the visit.

It comes as Transport Secretary Mark Harper is set to announce allocation details of a local transport fund, coming from the previously announced axing of HS2s northern leg, which councils will decide how best to spend.

(PA Graphics)

The meeting will be the first time Mr Sunak has held a regional Cabinet outside of conference season since he took office in 2022.

The last time ministers gathered outside of London was for emergency talks ahead of the PMs announcement that the Governments flagship high-speed rail project would be scaled back at last years meeting of Tory delegates.

At the partys annual conference in Manchester  the city most directly hit by the change  Mr Sunak confirmed after months of speculation that HS2 plans north of Birmingham would be scrapped amid spiralling costs.

I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project. In its place well reinvest every single penny, 36 billion, into hundreds of transport projects in the North, Midlands, and across the country. Heres why  pic.twitter.com/0GPdsqNS1E  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 4, 2023

The Prime Minister promised to reinvest every single penny of 36 billion previously earmarked for the scheme into hundreds of new transport projects.

At Cabinet on Monday, Mr Sunak is expected to say that ministers and MPs should hold local authorities to account to ensure the local transport fund is used appropriately, Downing Street said.

The Transport Secretary is also expected to update ministerial colleagues on the delivery of Network North  the Governments overarching plan to replace HS2s northern leg.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper during a visit to the site of the HS2 project at Curzon Street station in Birmingham (PA)

The PM and his Government will meet with communities, businesses, and organisations across the North and Midlands to discuss their priorities for the fund and how their area can best benefit from the funding.

Mr Sunak said: Local transport is at the heart of connecting our communities and this Government has a clear plan to level up our country with greater transport links that people need right across the UK.

The long-term decision to reallocate funding from HS2 marked a step change in how we invest in transport infrastructure across the country.

It gave us the opportunity to put 36 billion into projects that will make a real difference  benefiting more people, in more places, more quickly.

 8.3bn extra to improve our roads, enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of road  The biggest *ever* funding boost for local road improvements  A long-term, 11 year plan to resurface roads  This is only possible due to @RishiSunak making the right, long-term decisions pic.twitter.com/2cRUU9ZCyK  Mark Harper (@Mark_J_Harper) November 17, 2023

Tomorrow marks a historic moment for the North and Midlands. We are investing billions directly across the region through the first of its kind Local Transport Fund  which fully empowers local people to invest in the transport priorities that matter most to them and their communities.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: Tomorrows multibillion-pound investment is unprecedented and will be transformational for smaller cities, towns, and rural communities across the North and the Midlands.

This funding increase is only possible because this Government is willing to take tough decisions like reallocating funding from the second phase of HS2.

We are sticking to our plan to level up communities with greater transport links right across the country.

Labour ridiculed what it described as a back of a fag packet plan and said communities are sick and tired of empty promises.

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said communities are sick and tired of empty promises (PA)

The Conservatives back of a fag packet plan promised extensions to roads that didnt exist, tram lines that had already been built and reannouncements of projects they promised a decade ago, shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said.

Communities are sick and tired of the empty promises of this broken Conservative government. After 14 years of ceaseless failure it is clear that staggering Conservative incompetence is holding this country back.

Labour will work with local leaders, mayors, businesses and unions to deliver a credible and transformative programme of rail and transport infrastructure investment to improve connectivity across the North.
Taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars have reportedly been provided to more MPs amid growing fears for their safety.

A rising number of politicians have been assessed to be at risk and are being provided with close protection by private security personnel, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Times reported that three female politicians, including representatives of the Conservative and Labour parties, have been given taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars.

Chauffeur-driven cars and close protection are normally only provided to senior members of the Cabinet and the Leader of the Opposition.

The newspaper reported that the three MPs, who have not been named, had their security upgraded after a risk assessment was carried out with support from the Ravec committee, which is responsible for the security of the royal family and senior politicians.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said MPs had been verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted in recent weeks as protests were hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has written to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to seek more funding for the scheme to protect politicians by installing security measures at MPs homes and constituency offices.

Sir Lindsay, who has faced calls to resign after going against convention during the SNPs Opposition Day debate on a ceasefire in Gaza, said his motivation for widening Wednesdays discussion was fuelled by concern about MPs security after intimidation suffered by some parliamentarians.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat told the Sunday Telegraph: Weve been reviewing existing security measures for MPs in the wake of the murder of my colleague and friend Sir David Amess.

The work weve done has led to substantive improvements to existing security measures at MPs homes and offices, as well as new security measures such as the deployment of private protection officers.

It comes as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign defended the right to lobby MPs in large numbers, amid reports the group wanted so many protesters to turn up that Parliament would have to lock the doors.

The group said the issue of MPs security was serious but should not be used to shield MPs from democratic accountability.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal said thousands of people were shamefully denied entry into Parliament on Wednesday as they attempted to lobby MPs to vote in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza.

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally outside the Houses of Parliament (Lucy North/PA)

He added that the group was not involved in the projection of a from the river to the sea message on the building, but was pleased to see it.

Mr Jamal said the group does not call for protests outside MPs homes and believed parliamentarians have a right to have their privacy respected.

The Times reported that Mr Jamal told a crowd of demonstrators in the build-up to the protest on Wednesday: We want so many of you to come that they will have to lock the doors of Parliament itself.

According to a video obtained by the newspaper, he also urged pro-Palestine protesters to ramp up pressure on MPs.

In a statement, Mr Sunak said: The events of recent weeks are but the latest in an emerging pattern which should not be tolerated.

Legitimate protests hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism, elected representatives verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted, and antisemitic tropes beamed onto our own Parliament building.

And in Parliament this week a very dangerous signal was sent that this sort of intimidation works. It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain.

Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation or fall into polarised camps who hate each other.

The Governments political violence tsar has said police should have the powers to disperse protests around Parliament, MPs offices and council chambers that they deem to be threatening.

Baron Walney, the Governments adviser on political violence and disruption, said on Friday that the aggressive intimidation of MPs by mobs was being mistaken for an expression of democracy.
The UK has pledged 4.25 million to help the UNs agency for sexual and reproductive healthcare in Gaza as thousands of women and girls remain displaced and at risk amid the unrelenting war.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron reiterated the British Governments call for an immediate pause in the fighting as he unveiled the funding package on Sunday.

The aid for UNFPA comes as Britain and other countries continue to suspend support for another UN agency operating in the war zone.

Several nations have frozen funding for UNRWA amid a review of Israeli allegations that some of its employees took part in the deadly Hamas attack on October 7.

The Foreign Office said the 4.25 million was expected to reach about 111,500 women and around one in five of the adult women in Gaza.

It is to be used to provide help to community midwives as well as the distribution of about 20,000 menstrual hygiene management kits and 45,000 delivery kits, the department said.

The Foreign Secretary confirmed the additional funding in response to a UN flash appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

He said: Women are bearing the brunt of the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza today. Many thousands of women are currently pregnant and will be worrying about delivering their babies safely.

Lord Cameron has called for an immediate pause to the fighting (Stoyan Nenov/PA)

This new UK funding will help make giving birth safer and improve the lives of mothers and their new-born babies.

We need to see an immediate pause in the fighting so we can secure the safe release of hostages, get more aid in, and allow organisations like UNFPA to do their vital work effectively.

UNFPA executive director Natalia Kanem said: In Gaza, the reality for women and girls is horrific  and getting worse each day.

They have little to no access to essential health services and menstrual supplies, and many are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions that put their lives and those of their babies at risk.

An estimated 1.4 million Palestinians displaced by the war have taken refuge in Rafah (AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman)

The support of the United Kingdom and other partners is vital to get lifesaving resources directly to women and girls in desperate need.

There were an estimated 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza at the start of the war, with more than 180 births occurring each day and more than 5,500 women expected to deliver in the next month.

The Foreign Office repeated calls for Israel to take steps to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza, including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses.

It comes after Lord Cameron said that Britain wants an absolute guarantee that UNRWA will not employ staff who may be willing to attack Israel amid an ongoing funding freeze.

Since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamass attack, UNRWA has used its facilities across Gaza to shelter and help to hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has appealed to donor countries for a restoration of funding and new donations amid large-scale death and destruction.

Lord Cameron joined representatives from other nations at the UN general assembly in New York on Friday, where he rejected the idea that the UK shows double standards in its treatment of the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.

When we look across to whats happening in Gaza, I absolutely agree that this is a terrible conflict. I want it to end as soon as it possibly can, he said.

But the crucial difference between the two: there was no October 7 in Russia. There was no excuse for Russia to launch this invasion.

Whereas on the other hand, Israel does have the right to self-defence  the two situations are not the same.

But he repeated his call for a new political horizon for the Palestinian people and a two-state solution, which Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes.

Israeli officials were to discuss next steps after the latest talks with the United States, Egypt and Qatar in search of a deal on pausing the fighting in Gaza, Mr Netanyahu said on Saturday.

A senior official from Egypt, which along with Qatar is a mediator between Israel and the Hamas militant group, said negotiators were waiting for Israels official response to a draft deal, the Associated Press reported.

The proposal would see the release of up to 40 women and older hostages held in Gaza in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, mostly women, minors and older people.

Israel declared war after Hamas October attack, in which some 1,200 peoplewere killed about 250 taken hostage. More than 100 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.

More than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in the following months.

Hunger and infectious diseases are spreading and 80% of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced, with about 1.4 million crowded into the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.

MPs are set to again debate calling for a ceasefire in Gaza after a previous attempt deteriorated into angry recriminations and demands for the Commons Speaker to resign.

The SNP indicated it will take up Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyles offer of a meaningful debate on a fresh motion which it said would push for UK Parliament to back concrete action to end the hostilities. It is not yet clear what form the new debate will take place.
Three British military veterans heard the sound of fighter jets and air raid sirens after sleeping a night outside in Kyiv to raise money for homeless Ukrainians.

Dan Kaine, 44, Matt Hooper, 44, and Mike OHalloran, 53, travelled to the Ukrainian capital to sleep outside in sleeping bags on Friday and Saturday  within a secure compound to avoid breaking curfew laws.

The charity sleep-out aims to raise awareness of homeless and displaced Ukrainians living in the war zone while marking the two-year anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion, which began on February 24 2022.

The men, whose faces and military career details cannot be shared for security reasons, are fundraising for the charity RE:ACT Disaster Response.

Military veterans Dan Kaine, Matt Hooper and Mike OHalloran spent night one of their two-night sleep-out outside in Kyiv (Dan Kaine/PA)

Mr Kaine described the trios first night in a post on LinkedIn and said it began with the sound of fighter jets and air raid sirens on Friday.

The three men were escorted at around 7.30pm by Kyivs chief of police in Mykhailivska to the secure compound where they spent the night.

Hours later, Mr Kaine saw a flash alert and described the moment, writing on LinkedIn: At 21.47 hours the air raid sirens sounded across the capital, closely followed by an internal flash alert to inform us that 16 Shahed drones were in the air on a trajectory to hit targets in Kyiv.

This was immediately preceded by the sound of fighter jets taking off from Kyiv Airport.

The veterans saw another flash alert at around 4.47am to indicate Russian missiles had been destroyed by Ukraine.

Mr Kaine explained: At 4.47 hours another flash alert had been received to inform us that overnight, 23 of 31 Shahed drones had been destroyed by Ukraine, meaning eight, unfortunately, made it to their targets; killing and injuring innocent civilians across the country.

The men slept in sub-zero temperatures with only a sleeping bag and a mat to make it as realistic as possible to experience what homeless people are going through outside in a war zone, Mr Kaine, based in London, previously told the PA news agency.

He explained: The rain then started at approximately 22.00 hours, with a noticeable drop in outside temperature, which when combined with wind chill, reduced it to just below zero degrees Celsius.

The roar of traffic from the highway, which skirts the river, merged with the gushes of wind blowing through the trees.

The noise was amplified further when combined with the sound of each drop of rain which echoed through the waterproof covers protecting each of our sleeping bags.

Mr Kaine added that the group struggled to sleep due to being soaking wet and attempting to keep warm amid freezing temperatures.

At 05.00 hours, all three of us were wide awake. The ground was soaking wet, and the wind still blowing through the trees, he said.

Getting out of a warm sleeping bag into the cold is never a nice feeling!

The trio will be using sleeping bags and mats to make the experience as realistic as possible (Dan Kaine/PA)

Ukrainian police officers patrolled the area where the three veterans slept, which was in a secure compound to avoid breaking the wartime curfew.

Due to the strict war curfew in place across Ukraine from midnight to 6.00 hours, the police chief instructed two police officers to check on us periodically, which they kindly did, he said.

Mr Kaine described the night as uncomfortable and unenjoyable but said this achieved the fundraisers purpose to raise awareness about the conditions homeless Ukrainians face in their war-torn country.

Being military veterans and no strangers to sleeping outside in war zones, Im sure none of us mind admitting that even for us it was not a comfortable or enjoyable night, he said.

But, thats the point of myself, Mike and Matthew doing this fundraiser.

He added: This experience will serve to raise funds for, and awareness of the struggles that thousands of civilians continue to face by being forced from their homes, in the dead of night, in below-freezing temperatures.

The fundraiser has raised nearly 6,000 of its 10,000 target.

To find out more, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/veterans-sleepout-in-kyiv-to-raise-needed-funds
The Church of Englands first black female bishop has warned against lip service and box-ticking when it comes to racial justice, as she criticised Government ministers and others for misusing the word woke.

Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin said it is a movement, rather than just a word, and that those who feel threatened by it want to scare us into thinking that being woke is a sin created by people on the left.

She spoke ahead of an overwhelming vote at the General Synod on Sunday in favour of further work on racial justice in the church, including a call for better data collection to monitor diversity and encouraging parishes to develop local action plans to address issues of racial injustice.

In a passionate speech to introduce her motion, the Bishop called for racial justice in the churchs governance structures to be strengthened in order to hold our churchs feet to the fire.

She said she was in no doubt that the church must continue to work at embedding racial justice in all its life and structures  lip service will not do, neither will ticking boxes.

She told the Synod: When it comes to the topic of racial justice, Ive heard the word woke being bandied about by many people including Government ministers, certain radio presenters, those in the media. And in every case, theyve used it incorrectly.

The term woke originated in the USA, and it was a black terminology speaking specifically and directly to black people regarding the need to wake up and stay alert, to be consciously aware.

The General Synod voted to tackle the biodiversity crisis today, after @bishopnorwich warned that the UK is one of the most 'nature depleted' countries in the world. The measures promote biodiversity on our land.  Found out more https://t.co/jzOBlVg6DG  The Church of England (@churchofengland) February 24, 2024

So it is not just a mere word, it is a movement. Those who are threatened by the authenticity of this movement, want to scare us into thinking that being woke is a sin created by people on the left.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said there has been some learning in the church from historical wrongs but added: I continue to lament, because what we have done has not been good enough and that is a scandal and an affront to God.

He told the gathering: Today, we discuss racial justice. Tomorrow, we will think about how we move forward into the future in response to the churchs involvement in chattel slavery.

And all of this requires us to be honest about the terrible failings of the past, not to flinch from the failings and challenges of the present, and to build a better future.

Lay member Daniel Matovu said institutional racism is embedded in the church.

He said: In this chamber, the vast majority of you are sitting next to and surrounded by other white people.

Across the church the general picture is the same  in your pews, on your PCCs (parochial church councils), deanery synods, diocesan synods, at every level up to and including the House of Bishops.

Institutional racism is deeply embedded in virtually every institution in this country, including sadly, in the life and culture of the church.

Meanwhile, this week Yvonne Clarke, who was the first black female deacon in the Church of England, will have a hearing in her appeal against what she has previously alleged to be a racist decision to dissolve her parish.

Inspiring to be out in @CanterburyDio last week visiting two of our schools @HTSJCEP and @hernecej  and Tenterden Glebe WI. Thank you to all involved  I really enjoyed meeting you. pic.twitter.com/bU2iIita1e  BishopOfDover (@DoverBishop) February 6, 2024

The hearing, before the Privy Council on Tuesday and Wednesday, will consider whether there was a failure to consult appropriately as required by the Equality Act 2010 and whether there was any indirect discrimination in the decision taken by the diocese which was upheld by the Church Commissioners, law firm Leigh Day said.

It follows cost-cutting proposals by the Diocese of Southwark, approved in September 2021, which would dissolve her parish and divide it between the parishes of St George, Shirley, and St John, Shirley.

Ms Clarke said: I overcame the most upsetting racism when I first arrived in this area, from those who would not countenance a black woman priest.

My ministry and the work of my parish council has been to take the word of God into the entire parish, and to be prevented from those acts of inclusivity has been very harsh.

Her solicitor Frances Swaine said: My clients will demonstrate to the court how decisions were taken about their parish without adequate consultation and with insufficient due regard to the unique qualities that a black woman priest and a global majority parish council bring to an area of London with an ever-growing global majority population, especially serving the migrant and refugee community.

At a time when the Archbishop of Canterbury is spending much time talking about racism in the Church of England, my clients deserve to have had the special characteristics of their parish considered very carefully before any decision to get rid of them was taken.

A spokesperson for the Church of England said: It would not be appropriate for us to comment while the matter is subject to ongoing legal proceedings
The alarm was set for 2 a.m. But it never went off.

That's why Roi Assaraf and his wife Yona were late to the Nova music festival in southern Israel. When they arrived at 6 a.m., they found the lot already packed with 2,000 cars and had to park on the periphery.

That, and a series of other coincidences, helped to save their lives on Oct. 7, the husband and father of two recalled for an audience in Teaneck on Thursday night.

Feb 22, 2024; Teaneck, New Jersey, USA; Roi Assaraf and his wife Yona speak during an event at Congregation Keter Torah about surviving the deadly attack at the Tribe of Nova music festival.

Hamas turned the music festival into a massacre. An estimated 260 concertgoers were killed that day, part of the more than 1,200 people slain in last fall's terror attack. The slaughter at the festival in the Negev desert claimed the lives of 13 of Roi Assaraf's friends. Another remains in captivity in Gaza with roughly 130 other hostages.

Roi, a barber for 15 years in Jerusalem, transfixed the hundreds who gathered at the fundraiser at Congregation Keter Torah to hear his story. Before Oct. 7 he liked to party but never felt fully satisfied with his life, he said. The horrific events at the Nova festival  and the fact that he and his wife emerged unscathed  have transformed the couple, they told the crowd.

It's a story they have been sharing with audiences around the world in an effort to spread their message of faith.

"When we sat down and started to connect the dots of the way everything came together that day, we felt that what happened to us was an incredible miracle," Roi Assaraf said.

10,000 bags of supplies

The event, which drew a crowd of 850 people, was organized by Bergen County Lev Echad, which means "one heart" in Hebrew. The grassroots group of volunteers, most from the Teaneck and Englewood areas, formed in the days following Oct. 7. Organizers said it has sent over 10,000 duffle bags of supplies to Israeli soldiers and families that were displaced by the terror attack and the ensuing war.

The turnout was a demonstration of the support Israel retains in North Jersey's Jewish community, even as criticism grows over the costs of its war to defeat Hamas. Some 30,000 Palestinians have died amid the violence, according to Gaza health officials, and the United Nations has warned of a growing humanitarian crisis.

On Thursday night, Lev Echad volunteers said they were stunned and outraged by the Oct. 7 assault and wanted to help the families from southern Israel whose homes had been torched by Hamas, which the U.S. has declared a terrorist group. They raised donations and worked around the clock in send clothing, toys, and, most recently, a container with 5,000 winter jackets.

Feb 22, 2024; Teaneck, New Jersey, USA; A crowd looks on as Roi Assaraf and his wife Yona speak during an event at Congregation Keter Torah about surviving the deadly attack at the Tribe of Nova music festival.

Volunteers and Jewish high school students packed duffel bags out of a warehouse donated by a Teaneck resident, while others transported the donations to Newark Liberty International Airport for shipping. "We were doing so many daily airports runs, we knew the staff at Newark Airport," said Daniel Malka of Englewood.

Avigdor Ben-Ari, a volunteer originally from Israel, traveled home to help distribute the aid. He said he crisscrossed the country, driving 20,000 miles while delivering the duffel bags to Israeli army bases and centers where displaced families were living.

'Bergen County sent the most'

A handler at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv told him, "Other Jewish communities from around the world sent supplies to Israel, but Bergen County sent the most," Ben-Ari told the crowd.

Many of the volunteers have close ties to Israel. They were concerned that thousands of soldiers, who were mobilized quickly in the wake of the Hamas attack, didn't have the adequate gear.

Organizers at Thursday's event said that the war in Gaza is far from over and the shipments are still needed. "People there still need our help and we will continue sending shipments as long as the items are needed," said Ari Wartelsky, a Lev Echad volunteer from Teaneck.

The audience cheered wildly when organizers displayed a $135,000 robotic dog, which walked onstage and sat down on command. The robot will be donated to the Israeli military for use in "special operations," the crowd was told.

More: Families plead for 'a lens of humanity' for loved ones still in Gaza

Escape from Nova festival

While there was pride and applause for the help Bergen County has mobilized, the crowd's most emotional reactions were stirred by the Assarafs.

The duo took turns speaking softly, and at times with tearful emotion, in Hebrew. Their presentation was translated, but judging from the crowd's sad sighs or laughter, many appeared to understand the story without help.

Upon arriving at the Nova festival, "We parked between two cars in the crowded parking lot and when I opened the door, I stepped on a milk crate," Roi recalled. "I picked it up and put it on the antenna so I could easily find our car afterward."

He, his wife and their friends made their way into the concert. They had a drink at the bar, where Yona left her jacket.

As the crowd enjoyed the music, he began to film the concert with his cellphone. When he looked up, he noticed two dark clouds in the sky. He zoomed in and realized they were missiles, launched by Hamas.

"The DJ went onstage and announced there were rockets and everyone should leave," Roi Assaraf said.

A lucky diversion

He grabbed his wife and turned toward the exit, but Yona insisted they get her coat at the bar. "I tried to convince her that she didn't need it, but she said we had to get it. When we got there, they opened the emergency exits." That was fortuitous, giving the couple an easier route to the parking lot. Other exits from the festival grounds turned out to be a death trap, he said.

Feb 22, 2024; Teaneck, New Jersey, USA; Roi Assaraf and his wife Yona speak during an event at Congregation Keter Torah about surviving the deadly attack at the Tribe of Nova music festival.

The Assarafs began driving but were blocked by a line of cars in front of them. Yona recited a prayer in Hebrew for travelers. Suddenly, she told the audience on Thursday, the traffic parted, leaving a clear path out. Her husband said intuition told him to stay on that road.

The couple was heartened when they saw two military vehicles, assuming they were carrying Israeli soldiers. But they turned out to be filled with Hamas fighters.

"I looked at them and saw they had green headbands and said `they are terrorists!' I pushed my wife down under the glove compartment and shouted Shema Yisrael," Assaraf said, referring to Judaism's holiest prayer. "They pointed guns at us and started shooting. I drove as fast as I could while I ducked my head."

Assaraf said he couldn't see where he was driving. "But the bullets flew over our heads."

Close call with a missile

His brother, Idan, was still trapped at the festival. Assaraf considered turning around to try to get him but decided doing so would be a death sentence. Idan, who lost his car keys, couldn't flee by car. He hid in trees around the festival grounds for six hours but managed to survive, his brother said. Meanwhile, the Assarafs and their friends drove past an Israeli army base, where the friends urged him to seek shelter. But Roi Assaraf said his intuition again drove him to keep going. He learned later that "terrorists took over that base and were waiting to kill people."

When the group eventually stopped for gas near the city of Be'er Sheva, a missile landed near the car, he recounted.

Hostages: In Tenafly, weekly march keeps focus on Edan Alexander and other Hamas hostages

Eventually, the Assarafs reached their home in Jerusalem and reunited with their two young daughters. Roi and Yona went online and learned the scope of the massacre that had taken place at the festival. They watched videos of their friends being shot or taken hostage.

Hope in a time of pain

After six funerals, they found it difficult to go to more. They struggled to eat or sleep. They wondered why they had lived when so many others hadn't. They began to take stock of their lives.

Roi Assaraf put on a kippah, the head covering worn by observant Jewish men. He and his wife have embraced their faith more in the months since the attack. They began observing the Jewish Sabbath and attending synagogue.

Roi closed his hair salon and began giving free haircuts to soldiers and others who needed them. He began searching for new meaning in his life, he told the Teaneck audience. The couple reflected on what seemed like a series of miracles that saved them on Oct. 7.

Despite the horrors of that day, Roi Assaraf said he now feels more fulfilled. He has spoken to others who escaped the festival and is collecting their stories for a book. Thus far, he said, he has compiled 80 tales of survival to give people hope amid a time of pain.

Now, he is praying that the remaining hostages will be released so that he can include their stories as well.

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: yellin@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Israeli couple share 'miracle' escape from Hamas at Teaneck fundraiser
Getty Images; Mike Stillwell



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Truman Capote's life might be great fodder for television, but we mustn't forget his invaluable contributions to literature. Capote was a prolific writerdespite never quite finishing Answered Prayerswhose fiction, essays, interviews, and short stories remain thrilling reads. Here are some favorites, from T&C's library to yours.

Other Voices, Other Rooms

Capote's semi-autobiographical debut was released in 1948, and tells the story of a young man, Joel Harrison Knox, who is sent to live with his estranged father after his mother's death. Upon arriving at the decrepit Mississippi mansion where his father lives, Joel is introduced to a cast of characters that will surprise no reader of Capote (or Williams or McCullers for that matter), including faded aristocrats, carnival folk, andsomewhat shocking for the timean openly gay uncle. His father, however, proves a bit harder to find. The book was a hit upon and spent weeks on the best-seller list, though not everyone loved it; the New York Times review noted, "The story of Joel Know did not need to be told, except to get it out of the authors system.

Shop Now Other Voices, Other Rooms amazon.com

In Cold Blood

Billed as the first "non-fiction novel," In Cold Blood is perhaps Capote's best-known work. The book tells the story of the murder of four members of the Clutter family in a small Kansas farming town, and is especially notable for the author's deep research. Cold Blood is fascinating not just because of the gruesome crime at its center, but also in how it explores the impact of the killings on the community and finds a way to humanize the killers. The book was (and remains) a sensationit's said to be the second best-selling true crime book evereven if in recent years, the precision of Capote's presented facts have come into question.

Shop Now In Cold Blood amazon.com

Breakfast at Tiffany's

While parts of this 1958 novella might surprise readers who saw the film version first, there's no denying that Capote's Holly Golightly is just as powerful a character on the page as she is on screen. In Capote's story, a narrator befriends Golightly, his Upper East Side neighbor, and chronicles her wild lifeone of nightclubs, parties, rich suitors, and mysterious prison visits. It's a somewhat less rosy picture than the one made famous by Audrey Hepburn, but it's a beautiful, observant, and carefully constructed story that's still essential reading.

Shop Now Breakfast at Tiffany's amazon.com

Music for Chameleons

This collection of stories, reported pieces, and a novella is celebrated for any number of reasonsincluding Capote's writing on Marilyn Monroe and Bobby Beausoleil, and his charming short stories. For our money, however, the real draw is "Handcarved Coffins," a supposedly true story about a haunting series of crimes that's nearly impossible to put down. Over the years, skeptics have cast doubt on whether Capote's tale is really all that factual, but true or not it's one of his greatest pieces and reason enough to have this volume in your library.

Shop Now Music for Chameleons amazon.com

A Christmas Memory

This story about a young man and his touching friendship with an older relative is one of his most popular, and for good reason. Not only is packed with the kind of seasonal spirit that makes it perfect for revisiting every winter, but it also goes beyond joy to tackle the less savory (but still so often prevalent) feelings that the holidays can bring. The story has been adapted for both stage and screen, and Capote even won an Emmy Award for the screenplay in 1967.

Shop Now A Christmas Memory amazon.com

Too Brief a Treat

Capote's novels, essays, and articles are all delicious, but to really get inside the writer's mind, there's nothing quite like reading his mail. Here, readers can see Capote's life taking shape through his correspondenceit's worth mentioning that he's writing to the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lee Radziwill, Cecil Beaton, and Tennessee Williamsand peek behind the public facade for a closer look at what was really happening as he became a superstar.

Shop Now Too Brief a Treat amazon.com

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Blake Lively has revealed the one rule that she and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, have abided by to make their marriage work.

The 36-year-old actor spoke candidly about her husband of nearly 12 years during an appearance on pal Amber Tamblyns Substack show, Further Ado, which aired on 22 February. During their relationship, Lively and Reynolds have also welcomed three daughters  James, nine, Inez, seven, and Betty, four  and a one-year-old child, whose name hasnt been publicly revealed.

Speaking to her fellow Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-star, the actor said that back when she and Reynolds first started dating, they made one rule in their professional careers, for the sake of their relationship.

When Ryan and I got together, we made a rule not to work at the same time, she said during the episode of the show, as reported by E! News. So that we could always prioritise our personal life.

Lively specified that she and Reynolds have continued to follow the strategy for when they take on jobs, ever since married in 2012. However, she confessed that it hasnt been easy for her and her partner to stick with this rule.

That takes working really hard when were not, she continued. Just like financial planning and sustaining that; it takes balance.

She also acknowledged that when she and Reynolds first got together, she was the one with the demanding work schedule, as she was filming her hit show, Gossip Girl.

Im used to working hard and going and going and going and going and not stopping, she added. Especially, Gossip Girl was six years of my life, and we were sometimes shooting three episodes at once.

In 2019, Reynolds first opened up about the agreement that he and his wife have when it comes to their work lives. Blake and I dont do movies at the same time. If she is doing a movie in Thailand and I am doing a movie in Vancouver we would just never see each other. We operate as a unit, and that works really well for us, he told People at the time. The kids stay with us, and the family stays together, and that is where home is. So if we are in Spain or Utah or New York, as long as we are together, were home.

The beloved Hollywood couple first met in 2010, while on the set of Green Lantern, in which Lively played the titular characters love interest. They went on to spark date rumours in 2011, before officially tying the knot one year later.

Earlier this month, the pair also made headlines when Reynolds hilariously questioned his wifes whereabouts, as she was attending the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas. While Lively was at Allegiant Stadium, alongside close pal Taylor Swift, Reynolds hilariously took to Instagram to ask his viewers: Has everyone seen the #Deadpool trailer? Also has anyone seen my wife? In the photo, the actor posed next to a still of himself in the Deadpool trailer.

That night, Lively took to her Instagram Story to answer her husbands question about where she was, despite being shown on the jumbotron multiple times throughout the Super Bowl. In the follow-up post, she was posing next to the same Deadpool trailer that Reynolds had been in his own post, as she wrote: Honey, Im home.

Earlier this week, The Age of Adaline star took to Instagram to share even more details about her appearance at the Super Bowl, during which she wore a red Adidas tracksuit with a white cropped tank top and stiletto heels. More specifically, she revealed that her trip to Vegas was the first time leaving her four children.

Last week I left my kids for the first time ever and wore pants that were shoes, the caption of her post read. I treated a friendship bracelet like a Flat Stanley for my husband like I didnt realize it wasnt 07. I borrowed more jewelry than the skelton in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. And I went clubbing. Now I know what my episode of the Twilight Zone would look like.
West Africas regional bloc ECOWAS said Sunday it was easing sanctions imposed on Guinea and Mali, a day after announcing a similar decision for Niger, another country under military rule.

The bloc imposed sanctions following military coups in the countries sanctions following military coups in the countries between 2020 and 2023.

ECOWAS said it was lifting financial and economic sanctions against Guinea and ending restrictions on the recruitment of Malians to professional positions within the blocs institutions.

The measures concerning Guinea and Mali, while decided during Saturdays emergency summit, were not mentioned during the closing speech by ECOWAS Commission chief Omar Alieu Touray but appear in the blocs closing statement.

ECOWAS has suspended all three countriesand Burkina Fasofrom membership of the bloc because of the military takeovers there.

Read moreWith ECOWAS exit, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger leave democratic transition in limbo

The bloc banned financial transactions with its member institutions in Guinea after Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted president Alpha Conde in 2021.

(AFP)



Read more on FRANCE 24 English



Read also:

With ECOWAS exit, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger leave democratic transition in limbo

West African bloc ECOWAS says it is lifting sanctions on Niger

Guinea says nine people killed in jailbreak that briefly freed ex-dictator Camara
Cody Bellinger's long-awaited pot of gold at the end of the free agency rainbow finally emerged Sunday perhaps not as full as the 2019 National League MVP might have envisioned.

Bellinger agreed to a three-year, $80 million contract to return to the Chicago Cubs, according to a person with direct knowledge of the agreement. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the contract will not be finalized until Bellinger completes his physical.

Bellinger, 28, was the best position player on this free agent market, unsurprising after he made history in winning the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year and two years later hit 49 homers to capture the MVP award. But two injury-filled seasons that compromised both his upper (right shoulder) and lower (calf) body contributed to a pair of desultory seasons in which he batted .193 with a .611 OPS.

That prompted the Los Angeles Dodgers to non-tender rather than pay him around $18 million via arbitration last winter. The Cubs snapped him up  and both parties benefited.

Bellinger batted .307 with an .881 OPS and 140 adjusted OPS for the Cubs, numbers far more in line with the .911 OPS and 140 adjusted mark during his first four seasons.

Cody Bellinger spent the 2023 season with the Chicago Cubs.

But a separated shoulder suffered while celebrating in the 2020 NLCS  it required off-season shoulder surgery  sent him on a significant detour, his compromised body and the subsequent outcome dimming his confidence. He reemerged this year as a five-tool talent, playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field and at first base while producing 4.4 Wins Above Replacement.

Yet his suitors on the open market apparently remained skeptical of his health and production woes. Clubs like the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants remained on the front burner, but the offers Boras and Bellinger apparently sought never materialized.

As spring training began earlier this month, Bellinger, pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell and third baseman Matt Chapman - all Boras clients - remained unsigned. Sunday, Bellinger came to the conclusion a reunion  likely at a lower price and commitment than he desired  was the best route to go.

Yet Bellinger will hit free agency again at 31 and in the meantime, thrust the Cubs toward the front of the NL Central.

Contributing: Bob Nightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs agree to three-year, $80 million contract
A new cross-country storm is expected to begin Sunday in the West and travel across America, hitting the East Coast by Wednesday evening.

On Sunday morning, 11 states from Washington to New Mexico were put on alert for heavy snow and strong winds.

By Monday, the storm will stretch from California to the Rockies with snowfall, strong winds and coastal rain expected.

PHOTO: The heaviest rain will be in Oregon and Washington. (ABC News)

Heavy mountain snow will continue in the Northwest throughout the day on Monday extending from Washington and Oregon into Montana and Utah.

This is not expected to be a major storm for California. San Francisco to Los Angeles could see some light rain showers while up to a foot of snow could fall in the highest elevations of the Sierras.

MORE: 37 million California residents on flood watch amid back-to-back storms

On Tuesday afternoon and evening, the storm will move into the Midwest with severe thunderstorms possible from Missouri to Michigan, including major cities such as Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis.

PHOTO: A new storm will hit the West Coast today with heavy snow, strong winds, and rain from Washington to Montana. (ABC News)

The biggest threat with these severe thunderstorms will be damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes.

On Wednesday, the severe weather will move into the Mid-South with a threat for damaging winds possible from Kentucky to Alabama, including major cities such as: Louisville, Nashville and Memphis.

MORE: Why extreme rain pouring into Southwest US hasn't fully eliminated the region's megadrought

On the back side of this same storm, snow will be possible from Denver to Minneapolis and Green Bay.

Ahead of the storm, the Plains to the East Coast will enjoy spring-like temperatures from Monday to Wednesday as high temperatures soar to 10-30 degrees above normal.

PHOTO: The core of the storm will move to the East Coast and I-95 corridor late Wednesday with heavy rain with very warm temperatures possible from DC to Boston. (ABC News)

The core of the storm will move to the East Coast and I-95 corridor late Wednesday with heavy rain and very warm temperatures possible from D.C. to Boston.

The storm is projected to exit to the East early Thursday morning with colder, more seasonable, air filtering in behind it.

ABC News' Max Golembo and Melissa Griffin contributed to this report.

Cross-country storm to hit the Northwest with severe weather before heading East originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Pedro Pascal is in disbelief that he won a 2024 Screen Actors Award.

This is wrong for a number of reasons. Im a little drunk. I thought I could get drunk, Pascal, 48, joked during the awards ceremony on Saturday, February 24. Thank you, HBO. Geez Louise, Im making a fool of myself but thank you so much for this.

Pascal won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Joel Miller in HBOs The Last of Us. He was nominated against Successions Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin and Matthew Macfadyen, as well as The Morning Show star Billy Crudup.

Ive been in the union since 1999 so this is an incredible fking honor. Were on Netflix, Pascal added, referring to the streaming platforms lack of censorship over swear words. Im gonna have a panic attack and Im gonna leave.

The Best Red Carpet Fashion From the 2024 SAG Awards

Moments later, Pascal told backstage correspondent Tan France that he doesnt remember what [he] said in his acceptance speech.

I was just very surprised, Pascal quipped. Lets YouTube it later.

Pascal has been up against Culkin, 41, throughout the awards season. After the Chile-born actor won on Sunday, Culkin could be seen enthusiastically cheering on his fellow actor.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Culkins support debunks the feud speculation that they have mocked at previous awards shows.

I was nominated for a Golden Globe, like, 20 years ago, and when that moment passed, I sort of remember thinking, Im never going to be back in this room again. Which was fine, whatever, Culkin said at the Golden Globes in January. But thanks to Succession, Ive been in here a couple times. Its nice, but I sort of accepted I was never going to be on this stage, so this is a nice moment. Suck it, Pedro. Sorry. Mine!

Pascal even fake-cried to seal the moment. One week later, Pascal got his revenge while presenting at the Emmy Awards.

Complete List of 2024 SAG Awards Nominees and Winners

Id like to just take a second and make this about me, Pascal, whose right arm was in a sling, joked at the time. A lot of people have been asking about my arm. Its actually my shoulder, and I think tonight is a perfect time to tell everyone that Kieran Culkin beat the st out of me.

Pascals injury was actually a result of a fall and had nothing to do with Culkin.

While speaking with France, 40, Pascal reiterated on Saturday that there was no lingering bad blood.

Im gonna make out with Kieran, thatll be my revenge. I did know him [before this awards circuit], he is the greatest, Pascal gushed. I can remember years and years ago, taking one of my siblings to FAO Schwarz  and he came up to me and complimented me on my work in this play.

He continued, Its been amazing to see him in this show and I feel guilty about not seeing his speech tonight, but hell be fine. But, I got to give things a fair amount of balance.
The San Jose galleon was believed to have been carrying billions worth of treasure when it was sunk in 1708. ARMADA DE COLOMBIA

Colombia sending a deep-water expedition to explore the 300-year-old San Jose shipwreck.

The Spanish galleon, discovered in 2015, is believed to hold treasures worth up to $20 billion.

The expedition, using advanced undersea technology, is set to begin in spring.

A 300-year-old shipwreck in the Caribbean is believed to hold gold and silver coins, emeralds, and other sunken treasures that could be worth $20 billion.

On Friday, Colombia's government unveiled plans for a groundbreaking deep-water expedition to explore the legendary galleon, San Jose, dubbed the "holy grail of shipwrecks."

The 62-gun, three-masted galleon sunk in 1708, falling victim to an English squadron while en route to Cartagena. In the ship's hold was accumulated wealth taken from Spain's colonies in South America, including 116 steel chests full of emeralds and millions of gold and silver coins.

The government is committed to investing approximately $4.5 million this year alone in the archaeological exploration of the historic relic.

The first phase of the scientific research will focus on surveying the deep waters surrounding the shipwreck, using state-of-the-art technology to gather vital information.

Oceanographer and navy Rear Adm. Hermann Leon Rincon told reporters that the venture would use submerged robotic technology, a navy ship, and cameras meticulously tracking movements, per AP.

The wreckage lies at a depth of 600 meters (approximately 2,000 feet).

Colombia discovered the San Jose in 2015, prompting a slew of legal and diplomatic disputes and shrouding its exact location in secrecy.

The legal battle over the ship's rightful ownership has spilled over into the US, Colombia, and Spain.

Sea Search Armada, a group of American investors, claims $10 billion  50% of what they assume the galleon treasure is worth, Bloomberg reported.

The group claims to have discovered the sunken sailing ship in 1982.

The Colombian government said it had begun arbitration litigation with the firm.

The Colombian expedition is set to launch in spring depending on weather conditions.

Colombian officials have insisted the expedition is for patrimonial reasons, not a monetary exploit.

Carlos Reina Martinez, archaeologist and underwater cultural heritage expert, said the expedition aims to reveal what life and death was like for the 600 people on board the galleon before it sank, per AP.

Juan David Correa, Colombia's minister of culture, said "History is the treasure."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Most homeowners sell their houses with a real estate agents help, but that isnt the only way to do it. Sellers across the Research Triangle can also opt to work with a we buy houses company for a faster, all-cash sale.

Cash-homebuying companies provide a speedier alternative to agent-assisted home sales, with some deals closing in as little as a week. If you need to sell your home ASAP, or if you need the cash fast, that might be a tempting proposition. The downside? Offers from cash homebuyers will almost certainly be lower than what youd get if you sold your home the traditional way.

Not sure if this type of sale is right for you? Lets explore the pros and cons of companies that buy houses in Raleigh.



Types of companies that buy houses for cash in Raleigh

If youre thinking about selling to a we buy houses company in Raleigh, youll have quite a few to choose from, including big-name national brands, local cash homebuyers and iBuyers. Here are some examples of each type.

National companies

The aptly named We Buy Houses, one of the largest cash homebuyers in the country, operates in Raleigh and nearby cities. It works quickly, often extending all-cash offers in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Theres no obligation to accept an offer, but if you do, you can typically close in just a week or two.

Another big outfit serving the Raleigh area is HomeVestors (perhaps better known as the We Buy Ugly Houses company). They also make fast cash offers and can close in as little as three weeks.

Local and regional options

There are also a number of local cash homebuyers that operate in the Raleigh housing market. Some of these companies include:

The Equity Pros: This Raleigh-based business makes cash offers within a day and, in some cases, can close in just a week.

Sell Raleigh Home Fast: This company buys houses in as-is condition across North Carolina. It makes offers in 24 to 48 hours and says it typically closes deals in a week or two.

Wake County Home Buyers: The team at Wake County Home Buyers usually extends offers within 24 hours and can close in a week.

iBuyers

Raleigh home sellers also have the option of working with an iBuyer. These companies also specialize in quick, all-cash home sales, but they carry out the entire process online. However, read the fine print carefully, as they sometimes charge service fees that can cost as much as a real estate agent commission would. Two of the industrys biggest players, Opendoor and Offerpad, both operate throughout the Raleigh market.



How do we buy houses companies work?

Selling to a we buy houses company is a very different experience than working with a Realtor. Before you take the leap, its important to understand how these companies work, and what they do (and dont) offer.

Every company is different, but in general, cash homebuyers buy most types of residential properties. This usually includes single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses and even condos. They are usually fix-and-flip companies, meaning they specialize in buying homes in as-is condition. Since they plan to renovate anyway, you dont have to pay for repairs or even clean up before selling to them: This can be a huge plus for homes that need more work than the seller is willing or able to deal with, but keep in mind that the worse shape the home is in, the lower the offer is likely to be.

Youll begin the process by reaching out to the company, either online or over the phone. Be prepared to provide some basic details about your house, potentially including photos or videos. Some companies base their offer entirely on that and publicly available data, while others will send a representative to evaluate your home in person.

Afterward, youll receive a cash offer, either on the spot or within a couple of days. There are typically no fees or closing costs to pay, and theres no obligation to accept the offer  in fact, you might even request offers from multiple companies to compare them. Bear in mind, though, that these offers typically expire relatively quickly. Also, cash homebuyers understand their profit margins well and usually wont negotiate on price.

If you take the offer, the next step is to discuss a closing timeline. Some companies can complete the deal in as little as a week, while others might take a few weeks, and many let you choose the date most convenient for you. Either way, you can expect the entire process to move along much faster than an agent-assisted sale. Dont let the speed stop you from doing your due diligence though  always read the paperwork very carefully and make sure you understand all the details before you sign anything.



Alternatives

Speed and convenience are the primary perks of selling to a business that advertises we buy houses in Raleigh. However, its not the best option for everyone. If youre hoping to earn more on your home sale or have more control over the transaction, consider one of these alternatives:

Use a local real estate agent: This option can net you a lot more money on your sale. However, it generally takes quite a bit longer  as of January 2024, homes in Raleigh spent 35 days on the market before going into contract, according to Redfin, after which youll need to wait even longer for the deal to close.

Try a for sale by owner listing: Also known as a FSBO sale, this option means you handle things yourself and thus dont have to pay a listing agents commission. The typical commission rate is 2.5 to 3 percent, and the median home price in Raleigh is $382,750 per Redfin, so that could save you $10,000 or $11,000. However, youll still have to pay your buyers agent, and selling a home without professional help is a whole lot of work.

Rent your home instead: If you dont need the money from a sale right now, consider keeping it and renting it out to paying tenants. You could generate plenty of extra income: The median rent for a home in Raleigh is $2,060 per month, according to Zillow Rental Manager.

Next steps

If your goal is to sell your home as quickly as possible, if the home is in poor condition, or if you just need cash fast, working with a we buy houses company might make good sense. To understand just how much you might get from a cash homebuyer, you can request offers from a few companies (theres no obligation to accept). But if maximizing your profit is of more concern to you than speed or convenience, working with a local real estate agent is probably a better choice. Look for someone who knows your specific Raleigh neighborhood well.



FAQs
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday that although Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has been making a clear and consistent argument against former President Trump, GOP voters do not seem to be heeding her warnings about the 2024 party front-runner for president.

You dont need to agree with Haley on much  I dont necessarily  but you can still acknowledge she has been making a clear case against Trump in speech after speech. And that case is one of stark contrasts: Trump is dangerous. She is normal. Trump is chaotic. She is stable. Trump is old. She is young, Psaki said on MSNBCs Inside with Jen Psaki on Sunday.

I mean, shes not wrong on any of this, Psaki added.

However, Psaki said Haleys loss in her home state of South Carolina on Saturday proves that even as Haley sharpens her rhetoric against Trump, Trumps supporters are hard to peel away.

But as we saw it again last night for the majority of the Republican electorate, none of it sticks. None of it seems to matter, Psaki said.

Because Republican primary voters including, again, the majority of Republican primary voters in Haleys home state, dont want or dont seem to want a young, experienced conservative governor who delivers solid speeches and doesnt appear to be unhinged. They want Donald Trump, she said.

Psaki noted that Trump led Haley on Saturday by only about 20 points, approximately 60 percent support to 40 percent, and those numbers could be real warning signs in the anti-Trump vote.

Despite losing the primary on Saturday, Haley vowed to keep fighting.

I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president, Haley told supporters after the race was called early for Trump on Saturday.

Im a woman of my word, she said. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

The younger generation  my childrens generation  knows it better than anyone. They deserve better. They deserve leadership, she added. And so I will keep fighting  for them and for you and for all of America.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Langston Hughes didn't spend much of his childhood in Missouri, but the poet's presence lingers.

Hughes, one of our truest American compasses, entered the world on the first day of February 1901, born in Joplin. His family would purposefully roam, and Hughes spent much of his youth in Kansas and Ohio.

But Hughes' birthplace can't forget him  and neither should we. Murals around downtown Joplin bear quiet witness, memorializing Hughes' words as encouragement for the city's soul, and his face as an icon of the hope we might all someday embody.

If you know Hughes at a surface level, but don't know where to start plumbing his depths, these seven poems  and a few book recommendations for the youngest among us  will cement his place with you as a Missouri treasure.

'Dream Dust'

Exquisite and deceptively deep, like so many of Hughes' poems, "Dream Dust" gathers the stuff  both elemental and mythic  that composes our dreams, before delivering a necessary reminder: dreams are "not for sale."

'Lenox Avenue: Midnight'

Hughes was a master of music, imbuing his verse with the jazz and blues which hummed around his head.

Here, he addresses a current and smoldering flame, offering truths about life that only assert themselves late in the night. "The rhythm of life / Is a jazz rhythm," Hughes opens, before tuning to other city sounds and the very melodic, if mocking, laughter of the gods. This is a torch song, a dirge, a lament, yet its jazz rhythms bounce.

'My People'

Hughes' affection for Black America is rich and clear here, as he pens a litany of all the roles  the vital, dynamic roles  Black people play. The work concludes with a significant question and its certain answer: Are Hughes' people able to laugh amid American sadness?

"Yes, laughers.laughers..laughersLoud-mouthed laughers in the hands of Fate," he concludes.

Several murals in downtown Joplin, Missouri bear the image and words of the great poet Langston Hughes.

'The Negro Speaks of Rivers'

An American classic, Hughes addresses two forces, timeless in their presence: his ancestors and his own soul. Both, in their ways, existed at the banks of the Euphrates, Congo and Nile. And, Hughes, writes:

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln

went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy

bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

'Poem'

In language a child can understand, but conveying sentiments that take a lifetime to sift, Hughes conveys the nature of grief. The middle line of this poem  "There's nothing more to say"  makes the truth plain, yet the truth cannot sit on its hands, giving way to further expressions of love and loss. "Poem" exemplifies Hughes' peerless capacity for articulating so much in so few words.

'Sport'

Hughes traces the movement of life's last notes in this beautiful, sad-eyed ballad. When mortality's music fades out, "... death becomes / An empty cabaret / And eternity an unblown saxophone / And yesterday / A glass of gin / Drunk long / Ago."

'Winter Moon'

In just three lines, Hughes pens an epic ode to every poet's elusive muse: the moon. Its color and "crook" come alive, shining ever more luminous, in his words.

Three books perfect for introducing Hughes to young readers

The universality of Hughes' themes, and the economy of his language, reach into even very young lives, establishing a rapport readers then can take with them through the years. Here are just three books that will suitably introduce Hughes to young poetry lovers:

"The Dream Keeper and Other Poems" not only collects poems Hughes specifically pointed toward younger souls, but the book carries those poems into new, meaningful dimensions with illustrations from the wonderful Brian Pinkney.

"The Dream Keeper and Other Poems" by Langston Hughes and Brian Pinkney

From the prodigious pen of Jason Reynolds, "There Was a Party for Langston" promises to revel along with great writers who celebrated Hughes at a pivotal moment in his legacy. Featuring illustrations from the Pumphrey brothers, the book forms "not only a celebratory dance of a biography, but a primer in Hughes own jazz poetry," Kirkus Reviews noted.

Part of a long-running biography series for kids, "Who Was Langston Hughes?" from author Billy Merrell will lead young readers through the details, small and large, that build context for Hughes' poetry.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Embrace hope with Missouri treasure Langston Hughes in these 7 poems
Former President Donald Trump continued his winning streak in the GOP presidential primary Saturday, notching a victory in South Carolina thanks again to his dominance among core Republican voters.

Trump followed a similar path to victory to the ones he took in Iowa and New Hampshire earlier this year, earning majorities from nearly every key group in the South Carolina GOPs primary electorate, according to NBC News exit poll results. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, meanwhile, struggled to garner support beyond the moderates and independents in her home state.

Here are four key sets of numbers that help explain Trumps decisive win over Haley in South Carolina:

1. Trumps dominance among the GOP base

Self-described Republicans made up a sizable majority of the South Carolina primary electorate on Saturday (68%), and Trump once again carried these voters by an overwhelming margin, winning 70% to Haleys 30%.

Trump also garnered majority support across traditional Republican voting blocs: 84% of very conservative voters, 71% of white evangelicals, 65% of military veterans and 86% of the Republican primary voters who say they are part of the MAGA movement.

2. Haleys smaller coalition

Haley did have some success among the more moderate voters and non-Republicans who showed up to vote in the South Carolina GOP primary, but they made up much smaller shares of the electorate.

The former South Carolina governor overwhelmingly won voters who identify as moderate or liberal, winning 74% to Trumps 25%, but they only made up one-fifth of the primary vote. Haley also carried independents, who accounted for just 22% of the electorate, though she won them by 25 points, a smaller margin than Trump won with Republicans.

Haley managed to win 82% of voters who believe President Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election, but they only made up a third of the electorate.

Haley only narrowly won a group where she might have had more of an opening: college graduates. She won 54% of them, besting Trump by 9 points.

Haleys two main messages in the closing days of the race  electability and respect for the military  also did not appear to resonate. Just 17% of primary voters believe Trump is not likely to defeat Biden in November. Trump also overwhelmingly won the 17% of voters who have served in the military, even as Haley argued that Trump has disrespected service members, including her husband.

3. Voters top issues favored Trump

A majority of South Carolina GOP primary participants said immigration and the economy were the two issues that were most determinative to their vote. And those voters largely favored Trump.

Among the 36% of voters who said immigration was their top issue, Trump won 80%, while Haley won just 20%. And among the 33% of voters who said the economy was their top issue, Trump won 62% to Haleys 38%.

Haley bested Trump among voters who said foreign policy and abortion were their top issues, but those voters made up just one-fifth of the primary electorate.

4. Voters made up their minds before Haleys rise

Trumps commanding win also came as the vast majority of voters who turned out Saturday said that they made up their minds on which candidate to support even before the first primary contests took place last month  and well before the primary became a two-person race between Trump and Haley.

A whopping 77% said they decided whom to support before January, and roughly 3 in 4 of those voters supported Trump. Just 7% decided who they would vote for in January, 7% decided earlier in February, and 9% made their decisions in the last week.
Nikki Haleys campaign for the presidency chugs along.

The former governor of South Carolina vowed to stay in the race Saturday evening after a defeat in her home state, addressing a pumped-up crowd of supporters in Charleston. Pointing to her speech earlier in the week wherein she promised to keep fighting Donald Trump through Super Tuesday and beyond, Ms Haley declared after her latest loss to Mr Trump: Im a woman of my word.

Her campaign insists that there remains a path forward, not just to provide a rhetorical alternative to Mr Trump, but to win the contest outright. Polls indicate otherwise, although they notably failed to register her momentum in either South Carolina or New Hampshire, the last two competitive primary states.

Both Ms Haley and her supporters appeared to be fired up after her performance on Saturday. While the campaign obviously failed to win, with most votes counted Ms Haley remained near the 40 per cent mark  a clear loss, but a better performance than was predicted. As the governor took the stage, she made two things clear: One, shes not leaving. And secondly, she doesnt think Donald Trump can win a general election.

She also took aim at the Republican frontrunner for the increasingly poisonous rhetoric he uses to describe his political foes. Donald Trump, she said, drives people away from the GOP nearly every day.

Those statements were Ms Haleys way of saying, Im serious. Im not kissing the ring.

.@NikkiHaley: "I don't believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day Donald Trump drives people away...I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina I would continue to run for president. I'm a woman of my word." pic.twitter.com/M5QqQTOPiF  CSPAN (@cspan) February 25, 2024

And to be clear, her camp is projecting confidence. A source with knowledge of her super PACs strategies spoke with reporters Saturday evening after votes came in and told The Independent that Ms Haley had clearly secured a mandate to continue fighting Donald Trump for the nomination. Voters, Ms Haley said, deserved a real alternative, not a Soviet-style single-candidate race.

She did probably about two or three points better here with Republicans than she did in New Hampshire, they said. Of Ms Haleys performance tonight compared to the expectations set by the Trump campaign, they said, I feel great about it.

Vermont, Utah, Virginia. I think there are states that, if you look at demographically, she has a chance to win.

That source went on to predict an interesting week or two ahead for the Haley campaign as her team and its allied network seek to capitalise on the momentum they claimed to have after Saturdays results.

Her rank-and-file supporters who crowded into the Charleston Places grand ballroom on Saturday agreed. They were thrilled to hear Ms Haley declare that she was remaining in the race; another revealing moment came when a CNN commentator, his audio projected across the ballroom, declared that Ms Haley could and likely should remain in the race as long as she can keep the lights on  a moment that drew one of the loudest cheers of the night from the assembled guests.

Jim Myrick, one of Ms Haleys supporters in the room, told The Independent after Ms Haleys speech that the former governor was standing up to prevent the chaos of a second Trump term.

There are too many people who are saying yes to a man who [says], Ill broach no controversy, Ill allow no dissent, said Mr Myrick. I hope Im exaggerating when I say it could be an existential threat to the American presidency. I think were looking at somebody who said that hes gonna be an authoritarian, and said hes gonna take vengeance on people.

He also suggested that Ms Haleys wealthy donors were not likely to be scared off, as long as she retains some momentum and projects herself as a reasonable second option.

A lot of big money sponsors recognize her rationality and her ability to be the adult in the room, he said.

Others who had gotten to know Ms Haley and her campaign spoke in equally glowing terms. One man who recounted attending the former governors rally in Buford relayed a surprising anecdote: Ms Haleys son Nalin, now famous for his elbow-drop burn aimed at Tim Scott, had without being asked helped to carry lawn chairs for a World War II veteran and his wife after the event, helping them to their car even as the entire Haley campaign bus awaited his return.

He added that he faulted the Trump-aligned faction of the GOP for not extending olive branches to independents and conservative Democrats, instead driving them away from the party.

You cannot win national elections with just [Republicans], Daniel Sulka said.

Thats Ms Haleys message to Republicans going forward: If you want to remain comfortable, vote for Donald Trump. But if you want to beat Joe Biden, theres only one choice remaining.

Whether she actually convinces the GOP voting base remains an open question. It does appear that she has already successfully convinced the partys moneyed elite of that, however.

Her campaign has shown no signs of slowing down in terms of raising money. She announced a $1m haul after a two-event swing of Texas earlier this month, and is making her staying power a selling point going forward.
Its becoming a familiar scene. Nikki Haley loses a primary state to former President Donald Trump, appears onstage the night of the loss, and, in a fist-pumping speech, vows she will fight on.

But after a stumble in her home state of South Carolina on Saturday  making her now without a win in early-state primaries  campaign analysts and voters say the longer she stays in the race, the more she may be running the risk of damaging her political future  and brand.

Shes increasingly linked to Democrats. Her Republican support is waning. And her attacks on Trump have drawn rebukes from GOP voters in a party that the former president now owns.

Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett said that to political observers, Haleys endgame is increasingly unclear.

She wants to go out the way she wants, which I guess is in flames, Bartlett said.

Haleys appeal with moderates, independents and Democrats has absolutely damned her in South Carolina, he added. It will damn her with Super Tuesday states, and theres no way at a convention, Republicans will pick a Republican loved by Democrats as the alternative.

South Carolina Republican Party Chair Drew McKissick said he saw only diminishing returns for Haley if she lost to Trump in South Carolina by double digits because she would wear the jacket for delaying the partys general election efforts.

I think at this point, you got to do a lot of soul searching, no doubt about it, McKissick said. You reach a certain point where if you go too far, you begin to do yourself politically more harm than good.

One South Carolina voter, Carol Cooper, said she was a Haley fan when she was governor but her negative campaigning against Trump has turned her off.

I supported her then. But I do not support her now, because she attacked President Donald Trump, Cooper said. I dont like the fact that she kind of backstabbed Trump.

As the fight drags on, Haley is confronted with more and more unpleasant theories, including that shes primarily drawing support from Democrats who are crossing over in their states primaries.

This week, she faced questions about whether she would join a so-called unity ticket with Democratic primary contender Rep. Dean Phillips, something she told Fox News on Friday shed decline. In an interview with NBC News Meet the Press on Saturday, Californias Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom hailed Haley as a strong surrogate for the Democratic Party.

I dont know why Democrats would want her out of the race, Newsom said. Shes one of our better surrogates. I mean, shes defining the opposition to Trump credibly, effectively.

Rob Godfrey, a Republican strategist and former deputy chief of staff to Haley when she was South Carolina governor, said the longer she prolongs the fight, the less time Republicans have to turn their attention to the general election fight. Staying in, he said, doesnt come without the risk to potentially tarnish her own political brand among people she may want to court should she want to run in the future.

At the same time, he added that it may also be forgotten by 2028.

Voters, activists and donors, to say nothing of reporters, have shorter attention spans and memories than ever, he said. Even if there is a measure of risk in alienating one or all of those groups by prolonging the contest, the impact long term would probably be little to none.

On Saturday evening, after the South Carolina results were in, Haley addressed her political prospects beyond the 2024 race.

This has never been about me or my political future, Haley said. We need to beat Joe Biden in November. I dont believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day, Trump drives people away.

Haley said she was clear-eyed about the results on Saturday, in which Trump led her nearly 60% to 40%.

Im an accountant: I know 40% is not 50%, but I also know 40% is not some tiny group, Haley said. There are huge numbers in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative. I said earlier this week that no matter what happened in South Carolina I would continue to run for president. Im a woman of my word.

But as she heads to Michigan on Sunday  as shes said she will do shes combating a steep decline in support among Republican voters. On Saturday, in the state where she once served as governor, 72% of Republicans supported Trump and 28% supported Haley, according to an NBC News exit poll. Haley won independents with 59% to Trumps 40%  but they made up just 21% of the electorate.

In November, 43% of GOP primary voters viewed Haley in a positive light, and 17% had a negative opinion of her, according to an NBC News poll. But in Januarys national NBC News poll, 34% of Republican primary voters saw Haley in a positive light, versus 36% who had a negative opinion of her.

Yet the cash keeps pouring in. The campaign has 15 to 20 fundraising events scheduled all over the country in the next month, said Bill Strong, a donor and member of Haleys campaign executive committee. Strong said that just earlier in the week, Haley appeared virtually at a fundraiser in Florida and raised a meaningful six figures.

I dont understand why theres this rush by the media when theres 90% of the delegates in play, Strong said. He dismissed the idea that Haley risked damaging her brand by staying in the race, saying the longer shes in, the more people get behind her.

Trump is the only person that Biden can beat. The Democrats are scared to death that she can win, he said.

While campaigning for his father in South Carolina this week, Donald Trump Jr. charged that Haley was staying in only for her own benefit, in hopes of cashing in after shes out of the race.

Shes trying to hurt Trump because there will be benefits to her financially to do that. She will become the CNN spokesperson, the conservative view on CNN, shell get a board seat at some of these companies as the lone Republican, he charged. Thats what shes gunning for. Its purely about the future payday and theres literally no other excuse for it. And we all know that if were being intellectually honest.

But at a Georgetown rally on Thursday, Haley insisted it was the Republican Partys future she had in mind.

Im not doing this for me. First they wanted to say that I wanted to be vice president. I think Ive pretty much proven that is not what Im trying to do, she said. Then they were talking about my political future. I dont care about a political future. If I did, I would have been out by now.

One voter, Michael Santos, a Democrat, said he cast his ballot for Haley and embraced her tenacity for staying in the race against the odds.

Its pissing Donald Trump off, he said. So thats kind of like the most fun thing.
VATICAN CITY  The Vatican has been trying for years to debunk the idea that its vaunted secret archives are all that secret: It has opened up the files of controversial World War II-era Pope Pius XII to scholars and changed the official name to remove the word Secret from its title.

But a certain aura of myth and mystery has persisted  until now.

The longtime prefect of what is now named the Vatican Apostolic Archive, Archbishop Sergio Pagano, is spilling the beans for the first time, revealing some of the secrets he has uncovered in the 45 years he has worked in one of the worlds most important, and unusual, repositories of documents.

In a new book-length interview titled Secretum, Pagano divulges some of the unknown, lesser-known and behind-the-scenes details of well-known sagas of the Holy See and its relations with the outside world over the past 12 centuries.

In conversations over the course of a year with Italian journalist Massimo Franco, Pagano delves into everything from Napoleons sacking of the archive in 1810 to the Galileo affair and the peculiar conclave  the assembly of cardinals to elect a pope  of 1922 that was financed by last-minute donations from U.S. Catholics.

Its the first time and it will also be the last because Im about to leave, Pagano, 75, said in an interview with The Associated Press in his archive office, ahead of his expected retirement later this year.

Pope Leo XIII first opened the archive to scholars in 1881, after it had been used exclusively to serve the pope and preserve documentation of the papacies, ecumenical councils and Vatican offices dating from the 8th century.

With 53 miles of shelving, much of it underground in a two-story, fireproof, reinforced concrete bunker, the archive also houses documentation from Vatican embassies around the globe as well as specific collections from aristocratic families and religious orders.

While often the source of Dan Brown-esque conspiracies, it functions much as any national or private archive: Researchers request permission to visit and then request specific documents to review in dedicated reading rooms.

Pagano keeps a close eye on them from a giant television screen perched to the side of his desk, which provides a live, closed-circuit feed to the reading rooms downstairs.

Most recently, scholars have been flocking to the archive to read through the documents of the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, the wartime pope who has been criticized for not having spoken out enough about the Holocaust.

Pope Francis ordered the documents of his pontificate opened ahead of schedule, in 2020, so scholars could finally have the full picture of the papacy.

The Vatican has long defended Pius, saying he used quiet diplomacy to save lives and didnt speak out publicly about Nazi crimes because he feared retaliation, including against the Vatican itself.

Pagano is no apologist for Pius and stands out among Vatican hierarchs for his willingness to call out Pius' silence. Specifically, Pagano says he cannot square Pius continued reluctance to publicly condemn Nazi atrocities even after the war ended.

During the war we know that the pope made a choice: He could not and would not speak. He was convinced that an even worse massacre would have happened, Pagano said. After the war, I would have expected a word more, for all these people who went to the gas chambers.

Pagano attributes Pius continued, post-war silence to his concerns about the creation of a Jewish state. The Vatican had a long tradition of supporting the Palestinian people and was concerned about the fate of Christian religious sites in the Holy Land if the territories were turned over to the newly created state of Israel.

Any word from Pius about the Holocaust even after the war could have been read in political terms as a support for the foundation of a new state, Pagano said.

In the book, Pagano doesn't hold back about his disdain for the incomplete research behind Pius sainthood cause, which is now apparently on hold.

The two Jesuit researchers who compiled Pius' sainthood dossier, the late Revs. Peter Gumpel and Paolo Molinari, relied only on the partial, 11-volume compilation of the papacy's documents that was published in 1965, Pagano revealed.

Neither Father Gumpel nor Father Molinari ever set foot in the Apostolic Archive, he says in the book. He said he believed Pius' sainthood cause should have waited until the full archive of the pontificate was catalogued and available, and scholars had time to draw conclusions.

Written documents must weigh heavily on the life of a servant of God, you cant ignore the archives, Pagano told Franco, the journalist.

Aside from the well-known stories of Vatican intrigue, the book also reveals some novelties, including the origins of the important financial relationship between the U.S. church and the Vatican that continues today and dates back to the 1922 conclave.

Pagano said that after Pope Benedict XV died, the camerlengo  the cardinal in charge of the papal treasury and accounts  went to his safe and discovered it was literally empty. There wasnt a paper, bank note or coin. It turns out Benedict wasnt terribly responsible fiscally, and left the Holy See somewhat in the red when he died on Jan. 22 of that year.

Papal coffers were always used to fund the conclave to elect a new pope, meaning the Holy See was in a cash crunch at a time when Europe was still reeling financially from World War I.

The book, for the first time, reproduces the encrypted telegrams in which the Vatican secretary of state asked his ambassador in Washington to urgently wire what you have in the safe so that the vote could take place.

According to the telegrams, the Vatican embassy sent what U.S. churches had collected from the American faithful, down to the cents: $210,400.09, allowing the vote that eventually elected Pope Pius XI.

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(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)
After St. Clair County officials spent a second day counting ballots on Thursday, unofficial election results show that Democrat Kinnis Williams Sr. has overtaken Republican Cindi McDonald in the circuit clerks race.

Williams now has a 270-vote lead over McDonald, who had a lead of 354 votes on election night on Nov. 8 and an 18-vote lead after ballots were counted on Wednesday.

Williams has 43,491 votes, or 50.15%, and McDonald has 43,221 votes, or 49.84%, according to a combination of St. Clair County results released Thursday evening, and East St. Louis Board of Elections results released last week.

A bipartisan group of election judges from the Democratic and Republican parties spent Wednesday and Thursday processing ballots, which included mail-in ballots received since Nov. 8 and ballots that were challenged. The judges were asked to review signatures for the voters, but they were not allowed to see how the person voted.

East St. Louis will process ballots on Tuesday, which is the last day for mail-in ballots to be counted.

St. Clair County also will be counting ballots next week.

All results are unofficial until certified by election authorities. Local election officials have until Nov. 29 to send their final election results to the Illinois State Board of Elections, which is scheduled to certify the official results on Dec. 5.

St. Clair County Clerk Tom Holbrook said on Wednesday morning that the election judges were asked to review over 2,000 ballots on Wednesday and Thursday.

Holbrook also said he will receive final results from the East St. Louis Board of Elections later this month and those combined results will be sent to the state.

Kandrise Mosby, executive director of the East St. Louis Board of Elections, said her department will be processing late-arriving ballots next Tuesday. As of Wednesday, the department had about 85 ballots on hand that need to be reviewed.

The circuit clerk race is for a two-year unexpired term because former St. Clair County Circuit Clerk Kahalah A. Clay resigned last year to take a job as the chief legal counsel for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Marie Zaiz has been serving as interim circuit clerk in the meantime.

The vote counting in St. Clair County this week also flipped the results in the St. Clair County Board District 2 race.

G.W. Scott Jr., the Democratic candidate, had a nine-vote lead on Thursday after he had been trailing Cary Mathews, the Republican candidate, by nine votes on election night. As of Thursday afternoon, Scott had 1,849 votes and Mathews had 1,840.
In 1940, as Hitlers troops rolled across Europe, a growing chorus of Republicans argued against sending American weapons to Britain.

The U.S., they said, would be wasting resources sending help to London and instead Washington should put America First.

Now, former President Donald Trump and his allies in Congress use the same slogan to make similar arguments against sending military aid to another democratic country in Europe under assault by a powerful authoritarian regime.

Donald Trump, left, chats with Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Klimentyev / AFP via Getty Images)

The American people deserve to know what their money has gone to. How is the counteroffensive going? Are the Ukrainians any closer to victory than they were 6 months ago? more than two dozen Republican lawmakers wrote in a letter this month, declaring their opposition to additional U.S. military aid to Ukraine.

Not since the years before America entered World War II, when Ohio Sen. Robert Taft and others warned against giving a blank check to Britain, has isolationist sentiment gained so much traction in the U.S.

On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor ended the debate about U.S. neutrality. More than 80 years later, the outcome of the deadlock in Congress over an aid package to Ukraine and this Novembers election could decide whether America continues to play a leadership role in the world or pulls back from its alliances and pursues a go-it-alone agenda.

As Ukraine marks two years since Russias full-scale invasion, Trumps supporters in Congress continue to block a proposal to send more help to Ukraine, despite repeated pleas from Kyiv that its soldiers are dying because of shortages of ammunition. Some Republicans that had favored sending more help to Kyiv have shifted their stance, including even Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, an outspoken champion of Ukraines cause.

Senate Luncheons (Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images)

And Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, is once again questioning the value of NATO and casting doubts about whether the U.S. would fulfill its commitments to allies if he returns to the White House. Trump said earlier this month he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want if it attacked a NATO country that didnt spend enough on defense. And he has also said he would consider letting Russia take over parts of Ukraine in a possible deal to end the war.

I do see many similarities between the views and arguments of the Taft Republicans of the 1930s and the Trump Republicans today, said Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank, who has written a series of books about the history of U.S. foreign policy.

[In the 1930s], there was a fair amount of sympathy with Nazi Germany among American conservatives, who saw Hitler as a bulwark against communism just as Trump Republicans now look to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin as a great bulwark and leader against liberalism, said Kagan, author of The Ghost at the Feast: America and Collapse of World Order, 1900-1941.

Similar to what some GOP lawmakers say about Ukraines prospects, Republicans in the 1930s argued that Britain was certain to lose and that any weapons or money sent to Britain were wasted on a hopeless cause, with the money better spent at home, Kagan said.

Trumps relentless criticism of Ukraine, U.S. allies and international engagement generally  echoed by his supporters and right-leaning media outlets  appears to have had an effect on public opinion over the past three years, according to recent surveys and analysts.

In a new poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a stunning 53% of Republicans said it would be best for the future of the U.S. to stay out of world affairs rather than take an active role. It marked the first time in the 49-year history of the survey that a majority of Republicans adopted that view.

As for Ukraine, the share of Americans who say the U.S. is providing too much support to Kyiv has increased steadily since Russias full-scale invasion two years ago, particularly among Republicans, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in November and December.

Forty-eight percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say the U.S. is delivering too much aid to Ukraine, while just 16% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters view the current level of assistance as excessive, the Pew survey said.

Firefighters extinguish a fire after a Russian attack on a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 10. (Yevhen Titov / AP)

Not long ago, sending weapons to Ukraine to fight invading Russian forces would have been roundly embraced by the party of Ronald Reagan, said Matthew Kroenig, vice president at the Atlantic Council think tank.

Reagan really defined modern Republican foreign policy for more than a quarter of a century. The Reagan Doctrine was all about arming freedom fighters against communists wherever they are around the world, Kroenig said. Thats not where the party is today.

Instead of Reagans ideas about free markets, U.S.-led alliances and America as a beacon of freedom, Trump Republicans are hostile toward multilateral arrangements, free trade, foreign policy elites and immigration.

Despite growing skepticism of Ukraine aid among GOP voters, many Republicans in Congress still support arming Ukraine, Kroenig said, but a minority in the House has been able to block a vote on a proposed package for Ukraine.

Republicans opposed to aiding Ukraine say its a useless endeavor and its time for Kyiv to admit defeat and negotiate a peace deal with Russia.

I havent voted for any money to go to Ukraine because I know they cant win, said Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. He was one of more than two dozen Republicans who voted against a proposed Ukraine aid package in the Senate. Donald Trumpll stop it when he first gets in. He knows theres no winning for Ukraine. He can work a deal with Putin.

The rise of a new isolationist, protectionist outlook on the right is not unique to Trump and America. Far-right parties in Europe, advocating what is sometimes called Christian nationalism or conservative nationalism, are also questioning the post-World War II order and are skeptical of arming Ukraine. Polls show them gaining ground.

Many Trump loyalists have heaped praise on Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been accused of imposing autocratic rule on his country and has opposed Europes aid to Ukraine while keeping up friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Even before Trump emerged as a political figure, the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq shook many Americans faith in Washingtons management of foreign policy, especially on the political left, and raised questions about what was to be gained by U.S. military interventions abroad.

But fatigue with the traditional U.S. internationalist approach has evolved into a set of grievances stoked by Trump, with the underlying argument claiming that America is threatened by migrants and is getting a raw deal from its partners and the globalists who shape U.S. foreign policy.

Filling the void

If the proposed aid for Ukraine fails to win approval in Congress, and if Trump returns to the White House ready to carry out his America First agenda, what would it mean for the U.S. and the world?

Current and former Western officials and analysts say if the U.S. steps back from alliances, the risk of regional or even world wars would increase, the global economy could enter a more volatile era, and authoritarian adversaries would try to step into the breach.

If Russias Putin wins in Ukraine, he, but also other forces like China, are going to learn that its possible to just change borders and that NATO is not going to hold it against [them], Ricarda Lang, a co-leader of Germanys Green Party, part of the countrys ruling coalition, said at the recent Munich Security Conference.

That would lead to a world with less security, and  a world with less freedom for the E.U. but also for the U.S.

Under the U.S.-led rules-based order since World War II, GDP per capita in the world and in the U.S. has increased many times over since 1945. There were about a dozen democracies in the world in 1945, and now there are about 100, Kroenig said. The U.S. and its allies helped usher in a more peaceful, prosperous and relatively stable era over the past 80 years, but Americans now take it for granted, he said.

I think its worked so well that people assume its the natural state of things, that if the United States withdraws that things will just keep humming along. And unfortunately, thats not the case, he said. If the United States withdraws, bad actors are going to fill the void and were going to have conflict and economic chaos.

Advocates of America First contend that conditions have changed dramatically since the Cold War, that the U.S. has become overextended, that American workers were shut out of the benefits of free trade and that the U.S. needs to focus on its needs at home, including a crackdown on migration across the southern border.

But in a speech at the Munich Security Conference a week ago, Vice President Kamala Harris tried to make the case for Americas continued global leadership, warning of the risks of abandoning allies.

History has also shown us: If we only look inward, we cannot defeat threats from outside; isolation is not insulation. In fact, when America has isolated herself, threats have only grown, she said.

At the end of World War I, the U.S. retreated into isolationism, only to be attacked on its home territory, said Mary Elise Sarotte, author of Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate.

That approach failed, and since then the U.S. has been committed to starting its defense on the far sides of the oceans, she said. It would be a grave mistake to go backwards in time.
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu on Monday announced former attorney general and fisheries official Feleti Teo as its new prime minister, after he was elected unopposed by lawmakers in the Pacific Islands nation, officials said.

Former Prime Minister Kausea Natano lost his seat in a general election on Jan. 26 closely watched by Taiwan, China, the U.S. and Australia, amid a geopolitical tussle for influence in the South Pacific.

Tuvalu, with a population of about 11,200 spread across nine islands, is one of three remaining Pacific allies of Taiwan, after Nauru cut ties last month and switched to Beijing, which had promised more development help.

Teo received unanimous support from the 16 lawmakers, two lawmakers told Reuters on Monday.

Teo, who was educated in New Zealand and Australia, was Tuvalu's first attorney general. He has decades of experience as a senior official in the regional fisheries organisation and has worked with the Pacific Islands Forum, the region's major political and economic group. Fishing is a major source of revenue in the Pacific islands.

"Feleti Teo was declared by the Governor General as Prime Minister for Tuvalu," Tuvalu's government secretary, Tufoua Panapa, said in an emailed statement.

Tuvalu lawmaker Simon Kofe congratulated Teo in a social media post.

"It is the first time in our history that a Prime Minister has been nominated unopposed," he said.

The election result in Tuvalu had been delayed by a month as dangerous weather stopped boats from bringing new lawmakers to the capital to vote for prime minister, highlighting why climate change is the top political issue in the Pacific Islands nation.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said its ambassador to Tuvalu, Andrew Lin, expressed Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's congratulations to Teo, adding that deputy foreign minister Tien Chung-kwang will visit Tuvalu in the near future.

Teo is a friend of Taiwan's and has visited many times, and has said relations are stable and that maintaining ties is the widespread consensus in Tuvalu, the ministry added.

Taiwan previously said it was paying close attention to the election after Tuvalu's finance minister in the previous government, Seve Paeniu, said the issue of diplomatic recognition of Taiwan or China should be debated by the new government.

There had also been calls by some lawmakers to review a wide-ranging deal signed with Australia in November, that allows Canberra to vet Tuvalu's police, port and telecommunication cooperation with other nations, in return for a defence guarantee and allowing citizens threatened by rising seas to migrate.

The deal was seen as an effort to curb China's rising influence as an infrastructure provider in the Pacific Islands.

Teo's position on Taiwan ties, and the Australian security and migration pact, have not been made public.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on social media he looked forward to working with Teo.

"Australia deeply values our relationship with Tuvalu, in the spirit of the Falepili Union," he wrote, referring to the migration pact.

Tuvalu's ministry would be announced at an oath taking ceremony for the new government later this week, Panapa said.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Lincoln Feast)
Norwegian Cruise Line ship Norwegian Dawn arrives at Port Canaveral.

PORT LOUIS, Mauritius  Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn arrived in Port Louis Monday after being quarantined off the coast of Mauritius with a reported stomach illness onboard. The ship was originally scheduled to arrive Sunday.

In a statement, Norwegian said "a small number of guests" were experiencing "mild symptoms of a stomach-related illness." The cruise from Mauritius to Cape Town that was originally scheduled to depart on Sunday will now embark passengers in Port Louis on Tuesday, though travelers have not yet received a finalized itinerary.

Norwegian Dawn was on a 12-day itinerary from Cape Town to Port Louis that started on Feb. 13 when the health issues were first reported.

"We have elevated our sanitation procedures aboard the ship as part of our routine measures to ensure a safe environment for all on board and will continue to take any necessary measures to protect our guests, crew and destinations we visit, a Norwegian spokesperson said in an earlier statement.

Norwegian is providing complimentary hotel accommodations for guests until they are able to board, and assisting current guests on the ship with travel arrangements.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Norwegian Dawn quarantined off Mauritius with stomach illness cases
Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Sunday, Feb. 25. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file on the war for Monday, Feb. 26.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is in sync with the U.S. about its plan to invade Rafah, the densely populated city in southern Gaza, but President Joe Biden had yet to see a viable plan for the imminent operation, a top White House official said Sunday.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the White House had not seen the Israeli plan to evacuate the more than 1 million people packed near the Egyptian border.

"Weve been clear that we do not believe that a major military operation should proceed in Rafah unless theres a clear and executable plan to protect those civilians, to get them to safety and to feed, clothe and house them," Sullivan said during an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press. And we have not seen a plan like that.

Netanyahu said Sunday his government and U.S. officials agree a plan for Rafah must include a mass evacuation. His office said the military has presented the War Cabinet a plan for the Rafah invasion and for evacuating civilians.

"Were on the same page with the U.S. on this, because thats how we do it," he said on CBSs "Face the Nation." Netanyahu said he would be shown a "dual plan" in a meeting with his general staff on Sunday. He did not directly address whether Israel would show the plan to U.S. officials before it heads to the War Cabinet.

Netanyahu maintains invading Rafah is necessary to complete Israels objective of destroying Hamas. Negotiations for a temporary cease-fire and release of hostages have made progress in recent days, but Netanyahu said an agreement would only delay the incursion into Rafah.

"If we have a deal, itll be delayed somewhat but itll happen," Netanyahu said. "If we dont have a deal, well do it anyway. It has to be done, because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. Not months away, weeks away once we begin the operation."

Humanitarian aid organizations, including U.N. groups, have warned that military operations in the overcrowded city would be devastating.

Fog covers buildings and tents set up by displaced Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Feb. 25, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Developments:

 Health care in overcrowded Rafah is so limited that at Emirates Hospital three or four newborns have to share incubators meant for only one and, according to Dr. Amal Ismail, two to three newborns die in a single shift. Before the war, one or two newborns in incubators died at the facility per month.

 More than 29,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died in the war, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between combatant and civilian deaths.

 The Israeli military said Sunday it had "concluded" its operations in Nasser Hospital, where it arrested 200 suspected militants and "found boxes of sealed medicine with the names of Israeli hostages in addition to large quantities of weapons." Health officials said Israeli snipers shot people trying to flee the complex and multiple patients died when a power outage cut off their oxygen supply.

 The Health Ministry described the conditions in northern Gaza as "catastrophic," saying a lack of fuel has forced several hospitals to cease operations. "Dialysis and intensive care patients are at risk of death as a result of the lack of fuel for the generator, ambulances and medicines," the ministry said, adding that dozens of vehicles used for medical services are not working.

People walk in front of the Al-Faruk mosque, levelled by Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Feb. 25, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Progress made on temporary cease-fire deal

Representatives from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have made progress on a diplomatic agreement for a temporary cease-fire and the release of hostages in Gaza, according to statements from top Israeli officials and Israeli media reports.

Mediators met in Paris over the weekend after negotiations broke down earlier this month when Netanyahu vehemently opposed Hamas' demands for Israel to pull its forces out of Gaza and release thousands of Palestinians from Israeli prisons in exchange for the hostages.

On Sunday, the Israeli War Cabinet met to discuss a deal proposed in Paris that would secure the release of dozens of hostages. Officials estimate there are more than 100 living captives in Gaza, in addition to the remains of about 30 others. While there's been no official word on any decisions, several Israeli media outlets said negotiators continued discussions in Doha, Qatar, where Israel is sending a delegation Monday, and may later move on to Cairo.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel and the mediators are "all working on" a deal.

"I want it because we want to liberate the remaining hostages," he said. "And I appreciate the effort, the combined effort of Israel, the United States, to bring back the remaining hostages. I can't tell you if we'll have it. But if Hamas goes down from its delusional claims ... then we'll have the progress that we all want."

Top Israeli officials have said if no agreement is reached, the military will invade Rafah by the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts around March 10. More than 1 million people, most of whom have fled from other areas of the territory, are crowded in overflowing shelters and sprawling tent encampments in Rafah with little food, water and medicine.

Up to 40 hostages would be released under proposed deal

Some details about the possible agreement are trickling out and they include a six-week cease-fire and the release of up to 40 women and older hostages in exchange for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, minors and older people, according to an Egyptian official who requested anonymity.

As part of the deal, the influx of trucks bringing humanitarian aid into Gaza, including the north, would increase to hundreds a day, after slowing down to an average of about 65 in recent weeks. In addition, negotiations for a permanent cease-fire and more hostage releases would continue during the truce.

Air Force member sets himself on fire at Israeli embassy in DC, has critical injuries

An active-duty U.S. Air Force member set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington on Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.

The man was transported to an area hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries. Local and federal officials declined to say whether the incident was a form of protest.

But a person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the man, whose name wasnt immediately released, live-streamed himself on the video streaming platform Twitch. At one point, the man said he "will no longer be complicit in genocide" and shouted "Free Palestine," according to the AP and other media reports.

The Washington Fire and Emergency Medical Services officials and the U.S. Secret Service responded to the embassy call. The flames were extinguished by the time Fire and EMS personnel reached the embassy at approximately 1 p.m., public information officer Vito Maggiolo said.

Cease-fire wouldn't stop hostilities vs. Hezbollah, official says

Hezbollah may stop firing projectiles across the border if Israel reaches a cease-fire deal with Hamas, but the Iran-backed militant group shouldn't expect reciprocity, a top Israeli official said Sunday.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel intends to keep up its airstrike-and-artillery campaign on Hezbollah, based north of Israel in Lebanon, until it can guarantee its citizens' safety. About 80,000 residents of northern Israel have been displaced by Hezbollah attacks that began right after the war ignited. Israel wants to push the militants away from the border, be it through diplomatic agreement or by force, Gallant said.

We will continue the fire, and we will do so independently from the south, until we achieve our goals, he said.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said the group would stop hostilities in southern Lebanon if a cease-fire were reached in Gaza, but would resume and step up attacks if Israel continued to strike in Lebanon after an agreement with Hamas.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas updates: Israeli plan for Rafah civilians unclear to US
The Qatar Open is Karen Khachanov's first ATP title of the season

Karen Khachanov won his sixth ATP tour title at the Qatar Open after he defeated teenager Jakub Mensik in straight sets 7-6 (14-12) 6-4.

World number 17, Khachanov, 27, of Russia, did not drop a set in the tournament.

Czech player Mensik, 18, was the first teenager to reach the Qatar Open final.

Mensik hit 16 aces in the final and Khachanov said: "For a minute, I thought I was playing John Isner and not Jakub Mensik today."

Mensik, who is ranked 116th in the world, had beaten Andy Murray and world number five Andrey Rublev en route to the final.

Elsewhere, in the WTA Dubai Open Jasmine Paolini came from behind to beat Anna Kalinskaya.

Jasmine Paolini claimed the second title of her career

The Italian won 4-6 7-5 7-5 and claimed her first WTA 1,000 victory, despite being 5-3 down in the deciding set.

World number 40, Kalinskaya, of Russia, was serving for the match in the third set but she never reached match point.

Paolini won 16 of the last 19 points to win the final four games and secure the victory.

"I'm really surprised," Paolini said. "I'm really happy. It was a really tough match. She's playing unbelievably.

"To come back was really tough. I tried to stay positive every point. I'm really proud of myself."

The 28-year-old, the world's number 26, won her first WTA singles title at the WTA 250 Portoroz in 2021.

She has been in three finals since in search of her second WTA title but had lost them all until Saturday's victory against Kalinskaya.

The Russian qualifier came into the final in fine form, having ended Iga Swiatek's seven-match winning streak when she beat the world number one in the semi-finals.

But Kalinskaya, who knocked Paolini out of the Australian Open in January, failed to replicate that form in the final.
As the investigation continues into the death of an Augusta University College of Nursing student on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Thursday, federal officials confirmed the immigration status of a suspect now in custody.

Augusta University junior Laken Hope Riley, 22, was found dead on Thursday near a lake on UGAs campus after jogging nearby, authorities said.

The suspect, Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, of Athens, was charged in Rileys killing with felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping and concealing the death of another and was denied bond Saturday morning, Athens-Clarke County jail records show. Authorities say there is no evidence Ibarra previously knew the victim and was not a student at UGA.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Sunday Ibarra is a Venezuelan migrant who is not a United States citizen.

His brother, Diego Ibarra, 29, is in custody on federal charges of possessing a fraudulent green card and faces up to a decade in prison, according to the US Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

Both brothers are undocumented. The immigration status of the suspect prompted requests from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to President Joe Biden demanding information related to Rileys death as he criticized Bidens immigration policies.

Vigil and funeral to be held for victim

Rileys family announced a funeral service would be held for the late nursing student on Friday.

Rileys Alpha Chi Omega sorority at UGA, where she attended college until spring of 2023, will host a vigil Monday in remembrance of the victim and another UGA student who died on campus last week, the university announced.

A GoFundMe campaign set up for Rileys memorial and to establish a scholarship fund had received more than $100,000 in donations by Sunday afternoon.

All proceeds going towards starting the Laken Hope Riley foundation which will be used to drive homicide awareness and safety for women, according to the according to Poole Funeral Home.

Photo of 22-year-old homicide victim Laken Hope Riley. - Obtained by CNN

Suspect was arrested in 2022 after unlawfully entering US, ICE says

The suspect in Rileys killing was arrested in 2022 after entering the United States illegally, according to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Ibarra entered the US near El Paso and was arrested by US Customs and Border Protection on Sept. 8, 2022, according to the statement from the agency.

He was paroled and released for further processing, ICE noted.

New York City police also arrested Ibarra last September and charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation, according to ICE.

The NYPD released him before a detainer could be issued, the agency said.

When contacted about ICEs statement about Ibarras arrest and release, New Yorks office of the deputy commissioner of information said it did not have an arrest for Ibarra on record.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Atlanta Field Office has lodged a detainer against Ibarra following his arrest on Friday, the agency says.

Concerns raised regarding Ibarras immigration status

As the investigation into Rileys death continued Sunday, Ibarras immigration status has become the focus of officials concerned about tightening border security.

Republican Gov. Kemp, who addressed a letter to Biden blasting his administrations immigration policies in the wake of Rileys death, requested confirmation on Saturday of the suspects immigration status as well as any information available regarding the asylum claims and release of the suspects brother.

Laken Rileys tragic death struck the hearts of Georgians everywhere and has sparked national outrage, Kemp said in a post on X. Joe Bidens failed policies have turned every state into a border state, and Im demanding information from him so we can protect our people when the federal government wont!

The governor also wrote, While media reports surrounding this case have relied on sources and leaks from your own federal agencies, the answers to these basic questions must be provided publicly as soon as possible.

House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X on Saturday offering prayers to Rileys family and called on Bidens administration to use its existing statutory authority and close the border.

CNN has reached out to the White House for comment about Kemps letter and requests on Saturday.

Estranged wife describes suspect as calm man while they were together

Jose Antonio Ibarras estranged wife, Layling Franco, said Ibarra was a calm man and treated her well while they were together.

Layling Franco told CNN via text on Sunday she hasnt had any connection to Ibarra for months after separating from him, and she reacted like anyone would in that situation after learning someone she once lived with had been arrested as a suspect in connection with a death.

I was shocked taking in everything that was being said about him, she said, adding she would like to sit with him so he could explain directly what happened.

Franco said she knows nothing about the case and wants to stay out of it but expressed sympathy for the victim.

Ultimately, what I want the most is justice for Riley, she said.

When asked about Ibarras immigration status becoming a focal point of the case, Franco responded crimes are not tied to particular nationalities.

We cant put a nationality on a criminal. There are criminals all over the world, she said.

UGA Latino student groups address hate comments received following Rileys death

Two student organizations involved with the UGAs Latino community said they have received hate comments following Rileys death, according to a joint statement posted on social media.

In light of recent events, we find ourselves confronted with the painful reality of hatred and bigotry that has no place within our campus community, UGAs Hispanic Student Association and campus Latino mentoring organization LISTo said in the joint post on Instagram.

The university had more than 2,700 Hispanic students enrolled in 2022, according to UGAs fact book.

The hurtful and discriminatory comments made following the tragic loss of one of our own have deeply shaken us all. Such grief should not be made use for racism, hatred or xenophobia, the post continued.

CNNs Caroll Alvarado contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Natasha Poonawalla

Romeo Beckham and model Mia Regan have broken up after five years of dating.

Mooch and I have parted ways after 5 years of love, Beckham, 21, wrote via Instagram Story on Sunday, February 25. We still have a lot of love and respect for each other, and still hold a strong friendship and always will.

Regan, 21, posted her own statement about the split.

This is Ro, we have grown up with each other since we were 16, Regan wrote on Sunday, sharing a throwback selfie. Love takes different forms & pupates as you mature. We arent [together] romantically but we do share lots of love for one another.

Celebrity Splits of 2024: Stars Who Have Called It Quits This Year

She concluded, After 5 years, we friendzoned each other heheh.

Romeo, one of the sons of David and Victoria Beckham, began dating Regan in 2019. They made their first public appearance together at the 2021 Fashion Awards in London. Since then, Regan has frequently joined Romeo and his family on the red carpet at family events, including the Netflix premiere of Davids 2023 docuseries, Beckham.

I think its good to have nerves; if you didnt you wouldnt be human, Regan told Vogue in November 2021, noting Victoria, 49, gave her red carpet advice. Even just talking about what Im wearing with her, what nails and make-up Im going to go for, its nice to have that figure.

Courtesy of Mia Rogan/Instagram

Regan even collaborated with Victoria on a denim line.

Victoria and I have always been in conversation about fashion, Regan told Vogue in October 2022. I felt that [Victoria] really trusted me. To see her in full work mode was cool.

Victoria, a celebrated fashion designer, praised Regans potential in the industry.

Mia has always had a unique approach to fashion and styling, the former Spice Girl told Vogue. I love that shes fun and not afraid to try new things when it comes to her personal style, which is reflected in the capsule.

Courtesy of Romeo Beckham/Instagram

David, 48, and Victoria also share sons Brooklyn, 24, and Cruz, 18, and daughter Harper, 12. Brooklyn is the first of their kids to get married, tying the knot with Nicola Peltz Beckham in April 2022.

My dad was just always [like] look, Just always treat her like a princess, Brooklyn exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2023. Just talk and have fun. Enjoy each other and just work and do you guys thing.

David Beckham and Victoria Beckham's Family Album With Kids: Pics

He added at the time, I think one of probably the most important things that you can do in your life is find that someone and dont let em go. I married my best friend, so its just easy, fun. Shes always there for me. Im always there for her. We support each other more than anyone. Shes the best. Were very happy. First year has been great.
TWO RIVERS, Wis.  Authorities in Wisconsin continued a massive search effort on Sunday for Elijah Vue, a 3-year-old boy who was reported missing on Tuesday, in a case that has galvanized the local community and led to the arrest of the child's mother and a male acquaintance.

Elijah was last seen at a home in Two Rivers, a city 40 miles southeast of Green Bay, on Tuesday, police said. The boy's caretaker reported him missing to local law enforcement at approximately 10:59 a.m. An Amber Alert was issued later that day and has remained active since.

On Friday, police announced the arrest of Elijah's mother, Katerina Baur, 31, and Jesse Vang, 39, a man who lives at the Two Rivers home where Elijah was last seen. Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said Baur had sent Elijah to stay with Vang in Two Rivers for "disciplinary purposes." Baur was not in Two Rivers when Elijah went missing but lied to police when asked about her recent whereabouts, the district attorney said.

"She intentionally sent that child for disciplinary reasons for more than a week to the residence, LaBre said in a statement to the court. She was aware of the tactics (Vang) used and the lack of care (he) provided."

Elijah Vue, a 3-year-old from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, has been missing since Tuesday, Feb. 20. The Two Rivers Police Department has asked the public for help with finding him.

Authorities have not explained the relationship between Baur and Vang and officials at the police department and district attorney's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday. Baur faces a charge of party-to-a-crime child neglect; Vang faces a child neglect charge. Additional charges are expected, according to the district attorney. Their initial appearance hearings are scheduled for Monday.

At Vang's bail hearing, LaBre noted that he has a history of criminal convictions, including drug trafficking charges and a child abuse charge from 2002. Vang is also on a federal hold, similar to a probation hold, from when he was convicted of federal drug trafficking charges in 2017.

Multiple agencies, hundreds of locals search for Elijah

Since his disappearance was reported, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies have been looking, and hundreds of area residents, have begun to scour the city on the coast of Lake Michigan in search of Elijah.

Manitowoc Police Officer Nick Place and K-9 dog Riley search along Bellevue Place near 43rd Street in Two Rivers in search of a missing 3-year-old, Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in Two Rives, Wis.

On Saturday, Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinnert said advanced searches of rivers and other waters were underway with a combination of boats, drones and trained dogs in the area. Search teams were also looking through landfills in the Manitowoc County region. Meinnert said at a news conference that local residents might also see extensive teams of officers and agents out on foot speaking with people door-to-door.

The police department has also set up accounts for monetary donations toward search efforts or a cash reward for information leading to the child.

Elijah Vue, a 3-year-old boy from Two Rivers, Wisconsin has been missing since Tuesday, Feb. 20. The Two Rivers Police Department has asked the public for help finding him.

Meanwhile, hundreds of residents from the city and neighboring communities turned out to help search for Elijah, and several Facebook pages were created to organize the grassroots efforts. One community member created a Google map where people with a Google account could mark areas they had already searched. Locals also turned up in large numbers for a candlelight vigil for Elijah on Wednesday at the St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Parish in Two Rivers.

Police said Elijah comes from Hmong and white parents with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He is approximately 3 feet tall and has a birthmark on his left knee. He was last seen wearing gray pants, a dark-colored, long-sleeve shirt and a pair of red-and-green dinosaur slip-on shoes. He may be carrying a red-and-white plaid blanket.

What we know: Here's what we know about the search for 3-year-old Elijah Vue in Two Rivers

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Elijah Vue missing child case: Mother arrested, hundreds join search
President Joe Biden's national security adviser on Sunday pushed Speaker Mike Johnson to put a bipartisan Senate foreign aid bill to a vote in the House, arguing that doing so could help turn the tide in Ukraine's war against Russia's invasion.

"This is one of those instances where one person can bend the course of history. Speaker Johnson, if he put this bill on the floor, would produce a strong bipartisan majority vote in favor of the aid to Ukraine. We saw that in the Senate," Jake Sullivan told ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz.

"So it comes down to one person, Speaker Johnson. Will he put the bill on the floor? I have spoken with him personally. He has indicated that he would like to get the funding for Ukraine. He's trying to figure out a way to do it. Right now, it comes down to his willingness to actually step up to the plate and discharge his responsibility at this critical moment," Sullivan said. "And history is watching."

Johnson has voiced support for Ukraine but helped lead opposition to the Senate legislation that combined funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with significantly increased border restrictions over criticism that the immigration changes were insufficient.

There is also growing conservative skepticism about the value of sending more aid to Ukraine over domestic issues like the border.

While the Senate deal languishes, some House Republicans have proposed a similar but alternative bill. It's unclear if either proposal will get a vote soon.

"The Republican-led House will not be jammed or forced," Johnson told reporters earlier this month after the Senate legislation passed that chamber.

Sullivan, on Sunday, said U.S. support has been and would likely continue to be vital to Ukraine's stand against Russia, two years into its war, which has morphed into a stalemate as both sides press for a breakthrough.

"Ukraine stands. It stands as a proud, free democracy, but it is still continuing to fight against a vicious Russian onslaught in the east. And for that, it needs weapons, it needs ammunition and it needs resources from countries like the United States," Sullivan said on "This Week."

"This is not about a shortage of will, Martha. This is about a shortage of bullets," he told Raddatz.

Citing her own reporting from Ukraine, Raddatz pressed Sullivan on Ukraine's major counteroffensive last year, which was unsuccessful. Raddatz said the Ukrainians felt it was "because they did not have the training and the war fighting equipment they wanted."

"I can understand the frustration and the pain that they are going through," Sullivan acknowledged before defending the U.S. response, saying an American-led coalition of countries "delivered to Ukraine all of the pieces of equipment, all of the shells, all of the rockets that they've requested in advance of their counteroffensive."

PHOTO: National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during daily news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, on Feb. 14, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Raddatz also pressed Sullivan on America's apparently incremental approach to providing some major munitions, such as Abrams tanks and F-16 fighter jets, which the U.S. had initially said Ukraine didn't need before later reversing course.

"If you look at the sum total of what the United States is provided to Ukraine in this fight, it is an incredible quantity of material delivered at speed, at scale, outpacing the expectations of anyone," Sullivan said.

"So the idea that we did not mobilize a massive quantity of resources and capabilities to deliver to the Ukrainians simply doesn't wash," he maintained.

Of the fighter jets, specifically, Sullivan said, "There aren't very many Ukrainian pilots to be able to pilot those aircraft. It's not about whether or not F-16s could possibly have been on the battlefield in the spring of last year."

Sullivan also defended 500-plus new sanctions against Russia, targeting various people and entities, after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic penal colony, which the U.S. blames on Vladimir Putin. (The Kremlin denies this.)

Raddatz asked about the strategy behind continued sanctions, if previous penalties have not sufficiently deterred Russia, and why it took so long to punish the new targets revealed last week.

Sullivan said sanctions are intended to "drive down Russia's access to revenue," as well as to starve "the Russian defense industrial base" and to hold specific people "accountable" for Navalny's death.

"They can contribute to a strategic result and we are going to stay patient and resolved and relentless in the application of these sanctions," Sullivan said.

He played down questions about the timing of the new targets, which he said are continually being assessed.

"This is the latest turn of the crank," he said, "and there will be more."

Speaker Mike Johnson can 'bend the course of history' by backing Ukraine funding, White House says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The annual Conservative Political Action Conference has long been a proving ground for would-be presidents, launching the political aspirations of heavyweights like Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.

This year, all eyes were on who could be No. 2.

Former President Trump has handily dispatched nearly all of his 2024 primary rivals, with only former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley hanging on while trailing by yawning polling margins and losing by double digits in every state that's voted so far.

With the GOP nomination all but determined, speculation over Trump's potential running mate is skyrocketing in the party -- and many of the lead contenders gathered at CPAC at the same time in what was viewed by some political observers as a tryout of sorts.

"CPAC is an opportunity for the VP hopefuls to make their case to the MAGA base. At the end of the day, Trump will probably have an 'Apprentice'-like audition for the VP slot," said one senior GOP strategist in Trump's orbit, who asked not to be quoted by name to speak more freely. "CPAC is a good venue because it is the most MAGA of the base -- the true believers."

"I think it's wide open," this person added. "Trump keeps his cards very close."

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik and Ohio Sen. JD Vance all spoke at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, offering a chance to test different messages to Trump's most loyal enthusiasts and for the party to see how much their rhetoric resounds with the GOP base.

The schedule of participants was so packed that conservative activist Tom Fitton, the head of Judicial Watch, remarked right after Lake's speech: "It feels like I'm the only one here not running for vice president."

PHOTO: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Md., Feb. 23, 2024. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Donalds focused his speech largely on foreign policy, urging U.S. allies to invest more in shared defense and declaring, "Decide Joe Biden, which country matters more to you, the border of the United States or the border of Ukraine?"

Lake focused on the border, too, calling fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction while praising Trump as "exactly the man we needed in 2015, and he's exactly the man we need today."

Noem touted populist policies implemented in her state as a blueprint for America, sparking applause by declaring, "I was the only governor in this country who never once closed a single business" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ramaswamy leaned into culture battles, warning of a "war between those of us who love the United States of America and our founding ideals and a fringe minority who hates this country and what we actually stand for."

Stefanik echoed Trump in warning that his enemies would "stop at nothing" to "steal this next election," a line that resounded with the crowd.

And Vance heaped praise on Trump while vilifying many lawmakers' eagerness to further aid Ukraine in fending off Russia's invasion rather than focusing more on domestic issues. "If the thing you care most about is a conflict 6,000 miles away, you should not be a leader in this country," he said.

The speeches also featured subtle snipes, including Noem wondering "why did all these other people and candidates get in the race," apparently referring to Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, two former 2024 candidates who are now being floated as potential Trump running mates.

Still, one thing that united everyone who spoke was their admiration for Trump's time in office.

Before the conference was in full swing, another source in Trump's orbit, who likewise didn't want to be quoted by name to be candid, told ABC News that they expected as much.

"I think what you're going to see at CPAC is a number of people who are trying to impress upon the crowd that they are as MAGA as Trump, that they are the best person to be his running mate," this person said on Wednesday. "You've got a number of people who are going to come out and try and convince what is a very conservative crowd that their Trump bona fides are sufficient enough."

PHOTO: Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual meeting in National Harbor, Md.,Feb. 22, 2024. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/Reuters)

PHOTO: Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Md., Feb. 24, 2024. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Underscoring the focus on the "veepstakes," CPAC added to its straw poll a question of who attendees want Trump to pick as his No. 2, the first time in at least a decade that was included in the well-known -- but unscientific -- survey.

The poll of 1,478 CPAC attendees showed a tie, with Noem and Ramaswamy knotted up at 15%, followed by former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard at 9%, Stefanik and Scott tied at 8%, Donalds at 7% and Lake at 6%.

Conversations with more than a dozen attendees reflected those results and showed an array of preferences, with many talking about their choices with adjectives like "tough" while others said they're remaining open to several of the floated names.

"I just think she's tough," said Pat Thomas, a retired hay farmer from North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, explaining why she'd like Noem to run with Trump.

"I love Byron Donalds. He was just up on the stage. He'd be an excellent VP candidate. Throw my weight behind him," Thomas Siens, an economist from Fort Worth, Texas, said shortly after Donalds spoke to the crowd.

"I like Kristi Noem. I like Ramaswamy. JD Vance, some of the ones that I would like to see. But it's a big decision. I think there's a lot of really good options for them," said Mark Wehrum, a physician from Orlando, Florida.

"I think there's a lot of people who are auditioning," said Jonathan Grier, a physician from Altoona, Pennsylvania. "I think CPAC is a good barometer for who's who."

But at the end of the day, the pitch to be Trump's running mate has only one real audience: him. And there are still months to go before the GOP convention this summer, with the second source in Trump's orbit skeptical that CPAC could make or break any one person's chances for promotion this year.

"My guess is Donald Trump will not watch one speech at CPAC and will show up only to give his speech and then to leave," this person said.

As speculation mounts on Trump's running mate, contenders pitch the base at CPAC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
China has become a powerhouse in electric vehicles. Its automaker BYD recently topped Tesla in global EV sales, with Elon Musk warning of Chinese carmakers, If there are no trade barriers established, they will pretty much demolish most other car companies in the world. Theyre extremely good.

On Friday, the Alliance for American Manufacturing sounded the alarm, issuing a report entitled: On a Collision Course: Chinas Existential Threat to Americas Auto Industry and its Route Through Mexico.

The report, which lists policy recommendations to combat overcapacity and unfair trade practices, notes that BYD is building factories in Thailand and Hungary designed to be regional export hubs. It then adds:

More alarming, however, are Chinese firms heavy spending on plants in Mexico, through which they can access the United States by way of the more favorable tariffs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This strategy is, in effect, an effort to gain backdoor access to American consumers by circumventing existing policies that are keeping Chinas autos out of the U.S. market.

In the U.S., made-in-China EVs are currently subject to a 25% tariff, which goes atop a 2.5% tariff on imported cars. Thats prevented them from making significant inroads. Manufacturing in Mexico, however, could change the equation.

A 'coming wave' of Chinese EVs

House lawmakers recently warned about Chinas industrial strategy to dominate the global automobile market and its EV makers gaining a back door to the U.S. market through our key trading partners. Calling for existing tariffs on made-in-China cars to be maintained or even increased, they described a coming wave of Chinese vehicles that will be exported from our other trading partners, such as Mexico.

The Financial Times recently reported that Chinese carmakers including MG, BYD, and Chery have been scouting for manufacturing locations within Mexico. Meanwhile imports of Chinese cars into Mexico have been surging.

While Musk credits Chinese EV makers for being extremely good, the Alliance for American Manufacturing focuses more on the government support they receive, writing:

Backstopped by heavy state support, Chinese automakers and suppliers have grown into industrial powerhouses that control the nodes of production for virtually the entire electric vehicle value chain.

BYD, backed by Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway, keeps its costs low partly by owning the entire supply chain of its EV batteriessignificant since a battery accounts for roughly 40% of an electric vehicles price.

No one can match BYD on price. Period, Michael Dunne, CEO of Asia-focused car consultancy Dunne Insights, recently told the Financial Times. Boardrooms in America, Europe, Korea, and Japan are in a state of shock.

Ford CEO Jim Farley recently said that, to address the Chinese threat, hes open to cooperating with rivals on battery production. His GM counterpart Mary Barra made similar comments.

That threat, according to the Alliance for American Manufacturing, is scarier than many people realize. It writes:

The introduction of cheap Chinese autoswhich are so inexpensive because they are backed with the power and funding of the Chinese governmentto the American market could end up being an extinction-level event for the U.S. auto sector.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
OlegAlbinsky / Getty Images/iStockphoto

If youre looking for money advice, theres a sea of financial gurus and claimed money experts that are ready to give it to you. But some are much better than others, and is why its important to do your research on an online expert before taking any of their advice at face value.

Find Out: Im a Banking Expert: Heres How Much Money You Should Put in a CD

Read This: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

GoBankingRates has done our own research, looking at thousands of experts from across the globe, creating our list for the Top 100 Financial Experts which you can see by clicking here. GoBankingRates was able to interview some of these experts, giving their sound advice on money, business, investing, real estate, and the list goes. Of those 100, weve now compiled a list of nine states and the best expert for that state. Heres who made the list:

David Bach (California)

Theres a plethora of money experts from California including the powerful Tony Robbins, or finance author Ramit Sethi, or even Steve Jobs if youre thinking big picture money advice. But after some debate, GoBankingRates chose David Bach at the top for California. From Oakland, financial author and motivational speaker, known for his Finish Rich book series and the Latte Factor, David has 10 consecutive New York Times bestsellers and 12 Wall Street Journal bestsellers making him our prime choice.

GoBankingRates had the pleasure of interviewing Bach, asking what the most importing thing is to do to build wealthBach says compound interest is the answer. He continues,

Wealth is built in decades, not days. In decades, the miracle of compound interest is truly hard to imagine for most people. Try this math on for size: $500 a month  less than a typical car payment  invested in 40 years at 8% could be worth $1,554,339. That takes $16 a day of savings. That is for most people less than what they earn an hour.

Learn More: Suze Orman: Parents, Get Roth IRAs for Your Kids So They Can Retire Millionaires

Check Out: 10 Valuable Stocks That Could Be the Next Apple or Amazon

Mark Humphrey / AP / Shutterstock.com

Dave Ramsey (Tennessee)

In Tennessee is the golden money host from Nashville: Dave Ramsey. A personal finance expert, radio show host, and author of The Total Money Makeover, focusing on debt reduction and financial independence. Ramsey has fans not just from Tennessee, not just from The United States, but with 3.5 million Instagram followers and 2.66 million subscribers on YouTube, Ramsey has reached fans all over the globe that tune into hear Ramseys new fresh-take on finance.

GoBankingRates asked Ramsey what his number one advice he wishes everyone would follow. Ramsey replied, Cut up your credit cards and get out of debt. You need to get on a written, monthly budget and tell your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went. You might even feel like you got a raise.

Robert Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki (Hawaii)

Born in Hilo, Hawaii, Kiyosaki is the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and founder of the Rich Dad Company, specializing in financial education and entrepreneurship. One of the biggest reasons hes our top expert from Hawaii is his incredible story of turning a bestseller into a full-fledged financial education empire.

Quote from Kiyosaki: The words we say to ourselves and the words we believe are the most powerful forces in the world.

Grant Cardone

Grant Cardone (Louisiana)

From Lake Charles, LA, entrepreneur, sales trainer, and author of The 10X Rule, focusing on business growth and personal finance. Considered to be highly respected master salesman who teaches his methods through various platforms. With almost 5 million followers on Instagram and almost 3 million on TikTok, and a real estate empire said to be worth multi-millions, Cardone is easily the top money expert in Louisiana.

GoBankingRates asked Cardone what most people do not know about real estate investing that you wish they knew? Cardone answered, More units are easier to buy, finance and manage than a few units. Scale is what makes you into a real investor not a manager.

Mediapunch / Shutterstock.com

Suze Orman (Illinois)

As the author of ten consecutive New York Times bestsellers, she has established herself as a leading authority on financial literacy. Ormans expertise extends beyond writing, as she is a two-time Emmy Award-winning television host and a highly sought-after motivational speaker globally.

Currently, Orman hosts the Women & Money podcast, sponsored by Alliant Credit Union, where she continues to share her valuable insights.

During her 13-year tenure as the host of The Suze Orman Show on CNBC, Orman received eight Gracie Awards, recognizing outstanding programming for, by, and about women. Her influence and achievements have earned her a place in the Time 100 list, Forbes list of the Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women, and Barrons list of the most powerful women in finance.

Born in Chicago, along with many other money experts, but Orman in our opinion beats them all to be the top expert of Illinois.

Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA / Shutterstock.com

Mark Cuban (Pennsylvania)

Born in Pittsburg. Cuban is a billionaire entrepreneur, television personality star for the show Shark Tank, and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, known for his business acumen and investment strategies.

In 1995, Mark Cuban teamed up with his longtime friend Todd Wagner to establish Broadcast.com, a pioneering platform that enabled internet audio streaming. Just four years later, in 1999, Cuban sold the company to Yahoo for an impressive $5.7 billion.

Many believe Cuban is from Dallas, due to his ownership of the Mavericks, but being born in Pennsylvania makes him our top expert for the state.

GoBankingRates asked Mark Cuban what he believes is the number one way to build wealth. Cubans advice is, Have appreciable assets, whether its a home or mutual fund  something that can appreciate in value over the long term.

Image Press Agency/NurPhoto / iStock.com

Barbara Corcoran (New Jersey)

Real estate mogul, and another shark star on Shark Tank, alongside Cuban. Barbara is the author Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 Into a Billion Dollar Business! and host of the podcast Business Unusual with Barbara Corcoran., also known for her expertise in entrepreneurship and real estate investing and is another obvious choice for the best money expert out of New Jersey.

NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE/ / Shutterstock.com

Daymond John (Brooklyn)

Founder of FUBU turning a $40 budget into $6 billion dollar empire. John is another shark television personality on Shark Tank, and author, specializing in branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Born in Brooklyn, New York, another state with plenty of money and plenty of money experts, John was chosen because of his clear business expertise that really is a sign of the American dream.

Matthew Cavanaugh/EPA / Shutterstock.com

Warren Buffett (Nebraska)

The Oracle of Omaha is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, considered one of the most successful investors of all time, known for his value investing approach. Nebraskas true finest and the obvious option for this list.

Not only is he a great expert for stocks and investing advice, but his lifestyle of frugality and philanthropy makes him an iconic leader of money.

Advice from Buffett: Only buy something that youd be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Top Money Expert from 9 Different States
Continuing his march to the Republican presidential nomination, former President Donald Trump won the South Carolina GOP presidential primary, comfortably beating former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state.

However, Haley vowed to continue fighting for the nomination despite calls for her to drop out.

The Associated Press called the race at 7 p.m.

Less than two minutes later, Trump took to the stage with to his signature walk-on song God Bless the U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood.

Wow, that was really something, Trump said. It was a little sooner than we anticipated, and an even bigger win than we anticipated.

On Nov. 5, were going to say to Joe Biden, youre fired! Youre fired, Joe. Get out!, Trump added.

Trump was joined on stage by his children, including Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. He was also flanked by Gov. Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and U.S. Senator Tim Scott.

When the call was announced at the Haley party in downtown Charleston, supporters were still trickling into the room. As the former president spoke, the music continued to play and those in the room chanted, Nikki! Nikki! Nikki!

This is the first time Haley, who was elected twice as governor and three times as a state representative from Lexington County, lost an election in South Carolina.

The margin of Trumps victory appears to be smaller than what polls ahead of Saturdays election projected. Some of polls had Trump winning by 30 to 35 points.

But as the unofficial results came in from the S.C. Election Commission, Trump carried 59.8% of the 755,800 people who voted in the primary. Haley received 39.5% of the vote leaving a 20-point spread between the last two major candidates remaining in the GOP race.

I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for President. Im a woman of my word. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

In her remarks, Haley said she would travel to Michigan Sunday and continue the Super Tuesday states.

As she spoke, Haley projected she would receive about 40% of the vote.

Im an accountant. I know 40% is not 50%. But I also know 40% is not some tiny group, Haley said. There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative.

But Haley faces questions whether donors will continue to support her campaign, as ultimately having the money come in will be key to keeping her effort going.

Nikki Haley has been raising money significantly better than her standing and her poll numbers would indicate, said Dave Wilson, a longtime GOP strategist in South Carolina. There are a lot of Republicans who are still out there right now that do not want Donald Trump in office again. Those are the people who are looking past the poll numbers to invest in a known quality of a candidate in Nikki Haley who they see as their opportunity to bring an end to Donald Trumps run for president, or at least challenge it.

Haleys campaign has said it has resources to continue and boasted raising $16.5 million in January. She has events planned going forward including a swing in Michigan, which holds its primary Tuesday, and events leading up to Super Tuesday on March 5 when 15 states and American Samoa hold nominating contests.

Haleys campaign Friday announced a seven-figure cable and digital advertising buy ahead of Super Tuesday.

Our fundraising continues to grow, said Haley Campaign Manager Betsy Ankney. We are fully confident that we will have the resources to compete moving forward.

Former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley tells supporters that the she is going on to Michigan and Super Tuesdauy during a speech at a Charleston, S.C. hotel on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Trump remains in the drivers seat for GOP nomination

Winning the S.C. GOP primary is key to any presidential campaign. Since 1980 the winner of South Carolinas nominating contest has gone on to win the GOP nomination every time except for 2012.

Trump has now won the first four early contests as he has remained the front-runner in the GOP race since announcing his reelection run in November 2022.

The former presidents margin of victory Saturday was expected to be much larger than his 2016 performance when he won the First in the South primary with 32.5% of the vote. Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who was backed by Haley, came in second with 22.5% of the vote.

With such a clear contrast between the results we saw in Trumps four years and Bidens term, theres no debate on why so many people would take Trump back, said Mark Knoop, a veteran political consultant in South Carolina.

Going into Saturdays primary, Trump held a tight grip on the states GOP. He had the support of all but one statewide elected official who was reelected in 2022, including Gov. Henry McMaster, and Attorney General Alan Wilson. He also had the support of U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a former presidential candidate who dropped out of the race in November, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, and McMaster, the first statewide elected official in the country to endorse Trump in 2016.

Voters clearly care what they think, and they overwhelmingly chose President Trump, Knoop said.

Trump had the backing of all but one Republican member of the S.C. congressional delegation, and most of the GOP members of the State House of Representatives. Many rallied around Trump after his win in the New Hampshire primary and polling indicated a large lead in South Carolina.

In a state where many districts are safe seats in the general election, backing Trump in the presidential primary is more beneficial for Republican lawmakers who potentially face tough primary elections in June.

The consolidation of support among many of the GOP members of the State House of Representatives, highlighted Haleys previous sour relationships with lawmakers.

At one Trump campaign news conference, state Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, even said Haley only had five friends at the State House at any given time.

Nikki Haley is not the right candidate to be president of the United States, Taylor said in January. Nikki is always about Nikki. Nikki changes. Nikki isnt that same person that I ran with in 2010, the one that was supported by conservatives that shot to the front of the crowd. She squandered six years of being governor in this state.

When those attacks came, Haley remained defiant against the political establishment that rallied against her.

You got the political class from the Bill Taylors of the world to everybody else, Haley said in an interview last month. Think about it, Why are they doing that? Is it because I forced them to have to show their votes on the record instead of hiding behind voice votes? Or is it because I made them disclose their income for taxpayers to see or is Bill Taylor mad because I vetoed half a billion dollars worth of pet projects that I didnt think taxpayers should be paying for. So theyre mad because I didnt buddy with them. I was serving the people of South Carolina. I served (them) well. My job wasnt to please the political elite. My job was always to please the South Carolinians that I was serving.

Trump gives a speech after his win in the South Carolina primary

Trump led in the polls early on

Trumps lead in the polls from early in 2023 to Saturdays primary also meant his campaign did not have to spend heavily on television advertising. Trump only went on air in South Carolina roughly a week-and-a-half before the primary. Haley and aligned groups began advertising in South Carolina television markets on Jan. 24.

Trump has brand and name ID. That is one thing money cannot buy, or at least it didnt have to be bought this time, Wilson said. He doesnt have to spend a lot of money to get people to show up.

Haleys campaign has argued she has a better chance of winning a general election race against Biden than Trump does, and she performs better than Trump in general election polls against the current president.

This battle is about who can win in November, defeat the Democrats and finally get our country back on track, Haley Campaign Manager Betsy Ankney said. And the reality is no matter what all caps rants Trump goes on on Twitter about the polls, he will not defeat Joe Biden in November and he will drag the entire Republican ticket down with him.

Haley echoed the remarks Saturday evening.

I dont believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day, Trump drives people away, including with his comments just yesterday, Haley said.

However, polling indicates that Trump can beat Biden in the electoral college, according to a Decision Desk HQ analysis. And the electoral college is what ultimately decides who wins the White House.

In 2023, Trump made a handful of appearances in South Carolina. In the final weeks leading up to the primary, he held rallies in Conway, North Charleston and Rock Hill. He participated in a Fox News Town Hall in Greenville, held a fundraiser in the Upstate and spoke at the Black Conservative Federation gala in Columbia.

The number of his events were dwarfed by Haley who held numerous more stops on a statewide bus tour, retail stops and rallies in the month before Saturdays primary.

But crowd sizes at Trumps events were much larger than Haleys events.

Still she stayed at events to take pictures with anyone who wanted one and was often the last person to leave.

Trump was expected to run up the score among voters who believe in America first, evangelical voters, and those who strongly identify with the party, said Scott Huffmon, director of the Winthrop University Poll. Also Trump was expected to have strong support in the Upstate including Greenville County and in Horry County, where the GOP county party apparatus has been taken over by the Make America Great Again movement.

The Lexington County GOP also endorsed Trump ahead of the primary.

Trump consistently led in polls of GOP voters in South Carolina and his grip on the party only strengthened as court appearances and rulings made headlines. The latest was a New York judge ordering Trump to pay a $355 million fine and bar him from working in real estate in the state for three years only solidified his standing with the Republican base.

President Trump is an earned media machine that no campaign ad dollars could overcome, Knoop said.

Leading up to the primary, Haley said she was only trying to close the gap between her and Trump.

She had help from outside groups encouraging Democratic and independent voters to participate in the Republican primary if they did not vote in the Feb. 3 Democratic primary.

Robert Schwartz, a co-founder of Primary Pivot, a super PAC which encouraged Democratic voters to crossover the Republican primary, said Haley matching her performance in New Hampshire seemed out of reach in South Carolina because of the voter mix in the state.

I think approaching 40% is a respectable outcome. And I think the only goal for us is that she survives, Schwartz said.

Even as Haley performed better than what polling predicted the outcome would, she still came up short of a victory in a head-to-head contest.

Beating expectations doesnt count, Knoop said. Nikki Haley got her chance at a heads-up race and she couldnt win a contest.

Reporter Javon Harris contributed from Columbia, S.C.
Treasure cove, Jamaica. Credit - Philip VolkersVW Pics/Universal Images Group/ Getty Images

Jamaican officials are pushing back against the U.S. Department of States travel advisory for the island, which was re-issued in January due to crime and medical services. The country remains at Level 3 (which encourages people to reconsider travel just one level away from the most severe warning.)

In recent years, the Government has more than doubled its investments to strengthen our capacity to tackle crime and health-related challenges across the island for the benefit of our citizens and indeed everyone who wishes to visit Jamaica, said Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Johnson Smith in a press release. Jamaica is listed as one of the top honeymoon destinations for U.S. residents, according to Tripadvisor.

The State Department claimed that Jamaican local authorities do a poor job of responding to serious crimes, robberies, assaults, and more. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts, the statement says, adding that Jamaica has one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere.

The countrys level 3 designation has been in place since 2022. Jamaican officials have warned that while there are areas in Jamaica that certainly do report a high risk for crime, tourists do not often experience that firsthand. Overall, the crime rate against visitors to Jamaica remains extremely low at 0.01%," the Jamaican Tourist Board told NPR.

Jamaica travel advisory and response

The advisory mentions that families of U.S. citizens that have been killed on the island have had to wait for a year, if not more, to receive the death certificate of their family member. U.S. government personnel are also personally prohibited from taking public buses and driving out of certain areas of Kingston, the Jamaican capital, during the evenings.

The advisory also says that hospital care is not timely and can be of low quality, when compared to U.S. standards.

Following the State Departments decision, Smith said that Jamaica was disappointed that the U.S. had not taken into account the countrys progress towards creating a safer community for all. We are making serious improvements, although we still have much more to do to achieve all that we wish to deliver. It is not insignificant that Jamaica has recorded a more than 20 per cent decline in serious crimes, along with strong improvements in arrests and prosecution, Smith said in a statement.

Jamaica experienced 83 murders during the first month of 2024, per the Jamaica Constabulary Force. That number is less than the 109 reported in 2023, during the same time period.

The country heavily relies on tourism, which accounted for more than 30% of the countrys economic output prior to the pandemic. If there was ever an industry that has the potential to transform our nation, our communities and the lives and livelihoods of the Jamaican people for the better, it is tourism, the Jamaican Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, said in April 2023 when speaking about the return of tourists. Jamaica had a level 4 travel advisory during the pandemic due to high levels of Covid-19.

Jamaica has encouraged travelers to continue to come to the island, which last year hosted 4.1 million people, according to a statement the Jamaica Tourist Board provided NPR. Visitors can continue to come with confidence to enjoy all that Jamaica has to offer, they added.

How to stay safe if you are traveling to Jamaica

Those who are still planning to visit the Carribean destination were advised to avoid walking or driving at night, taking public buses, and any secluded areas. They were also told to not resist any robbery attempts.

The State Department said that U.S. government workers were prohibited from traveling to several parishes due to crime, including much of downtown Kingston and St. Andrew Parish, Westmoreland Parish, and more. You can read the extensive list of neighborhoods here.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Former president Donald Trump solidly won South Carolina in Saturday's Republican primary with strong support in the Upstate.

The Associated Press called the race for Trump when the polls closed at 7 p.m.

Trump, who also won convention delegate contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, is on track to win the nomination, despite the prospect of up to four criminal trials in the months ahead.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump stands on stage with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster at a primary election night party at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Winning the South Carolina primary is a particularly good omen for Trump, politically.

Most of the Republicans who have won the Palmetto State's primary have gone on to win the party's nomination, a list that includes Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Trump himself.

Shortly after12:30 a.m., with all counties in the state reporting, Trump finished with 60% of the statewide vote while former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley held 40%.

Trump won 70% of the final votes in Spartanburg County, 69% of the vote in Anderson County and 57% in Greenville County, as well as decisive victories in other Upstate counties. Haley did have wins in Charleston, Beaufort, and Richland counties.

The next primary is Tuesday in Michigan.

Trump's support in South Carolina strong in Upstate counties

Shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Greenville County was the last county in the state to fully report its vote count, according to SCvotes.gov. Trump won the county by over 14,000 votes.

Trump also won decisively in Spartanburg and Anderson counties.

These counties in the Upstate opted for Trump over Haley:

Abbeville County: Trump: 76% Haley: 23%

Anderson County: Trump: 69% Haley: 31%

Cherokee County: Trump: 85% Haley: 14%

Greenville County: Trump: 57% Haley: 42%

Greenwood County: Trump: 64% Haley: 36%

Laurens County: Trump: 76% Haley: 23%

Oconee County: Trump: 60% Haley: 39%

Pickens County: Trump: 68% Haley: 32%

Spartanburg County: Trump: 70% Haley: 29%

Union County: Trump: 84% Haley: 15%



Trump collected 32.51% of the statewide vote and 50 delegates in the 2016 South Carolina Republican primary, defeating Florida Senator Marco Rubio (22.48%) and Texas Senator Ted Cruz (22.33%).

South Carolina did not hold a Republican primary in 2020 in deference to Trump as the incumbent president. Trump would go on to lose the 2020 general election to Joe Biden.

Trump victorious after spending a week campaigning in Palmetto State

Trump spent much of the week in the Palmetto State, beginning with an appearance in Greenville on Tuesday.

After a late afternoon rally in Rock Hill Friday, Trump headed to Columbia for a speaking engagement with the Black Conservative Federation. At the event, Trump made comments comparing his legal battles to the injustices Black Americans face in the legal system.

He also hosted a watch party in Columbia on Saturday night.

In the Upstate, Greenville County GOP held a watch party at its headquarters on Wade Hampton Boulevard, where members could mingle and watch to see the results of the race.

"Trump is the best president of my lifetime, and Im 60 years old. I used to think it was (Ronald) Reagan," said Cat Callahan, Greenville County Precinct 25 leader.

Upstate voting turnout steady on Saturday

In Greenville County, 28.7% of the registered voters  about 95,000  turned out to vote in the primary. Turnout was similar in Anderson County at 28.5% voter turnout and lower in Spartanburg County at 23.8%, which was closer to the statewide turnout of 23.3%.

Pat Edwards, a poll clerk at West View Elementary, said voting in the South Carolina Republican primary had been steady Saturday.

Some years you get spurts or long stretches, and its been a good turnout this year," Edwards said. "Im pleased to see it. Its a specific duty for people to vote. A lot of people complain, but you need to voice to change things. We need more young people to step up to vote."

Troy Caprro, 61, of Spartanburg, also mentioned the importance of voting. One of the greatest things Americans have is the right to vote," he said. "We just moved up here, and its our first time voting here and we wanted to make sure our vote was counted for. I voted for Trump, his economic policies brought us to a point that I hope we can return to with smart choices.

Republican Victoria Thompson, 64, of Spartanburg, also showed up Saturday to support Trump.

"Who else would you put up against China and North Korea? He wrote the book Art of the Deal because Trump knows how to make a deal," Thompson said. "Theres nothing wrong with getting along with the bad guy,' if you can do it peacefully and without war."

Scott Berchou, 55, of Fountain Inn spoke about Trump's record.

"He (Trump) has a proven track record and the fact that we need to turn our country around and get some things back in place," Berchou said.

Haley's support was a mix of conservative, moderate voters

Haley's support included self-identified conservatives and independent or left-leaning voters.

Jason Kent, a 43-year-old moderate conservative, of Simpsonville, voted for Haley.

"I feel like she's a better person than some of the other candidates that are available and have a better chance of actually making a difference," Kent said. "I'd like her to change some of the things that have been implemented over the last four years of Biden. I know as a middle-class person, I've seen my taxes go up, and I've seen my insurance costs go up at work."

"In the national election, Id vote Biden but I wanted to stand up for Nikki today," Joan Cope, 61, a Republican who votes mainly Democrat, said. "I think we need to be more moderate, and Im frustrated with the extremism in our country. We need to make more moderate choices and not inflame peoples emotions."

Independent voter Valerie Burton, 64, of Fountain Inn, told the News outside of the Fountain Inn Activity Center precinct Saturday afternoon that she believed Haley did a fine job as governor and as a Trump-appointed United Nations ambassador.

Hannah James, 18, of Travelers Rest, cast her ballot at the city hall precinct and said she was a left-leaning Democrat who voted for Haley.

"I decided that if it came down to having a Republican president, I'd rather have Haley over Trump," James said.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina voters give Trump a decisive primary win over Haley
Negotiators have come to an understanding on the broad contours of a potential deal to release hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN Sunday.

An Israeli delegation, including Mossad director David Barnea, joined talks with CIA director Bill Burns and Egyptian and Qatar negotiators in Paris on Friday. Qatar and Egypt serve as intermediaries between Hamas and Israel, which do not talk directly to each other.

Hamas was briefed on the Paris talks on Sunday evening. But any possible final deal is still, at the earliest, days away as negotiators continue to hammer out the actual details.

The representatives of Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar met in Paris and came to an understanding among the four of them about what the basic contours of a hostage deal for temporary ceasefire would look like. Im not going to go into the specifics of that because it is still under negotiation in terms of hammering out the details of it, Sullivan told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union.

He added: There will have to be indirect discussions by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas because ultimately they will have to agree to release the hostages. That work is underway. And we hope that in the coming days, we can drive to a point where there is actually a firm and final agreement on this issue. But we will have to wait and see.

When pressed by Bash on how hopeful he was about a potential deal, Sullivan declined to weigh in: Theres been a lot of toing and froing. So Im not going to make predictions and Im not going to kind of put percentage chances on it.

Speaking to CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed Israel wants to liberate the remaining hostages in Gaza, saying we are all working on it. We want it. I want it.

He said Hamas crazy demands were holding up the deal.

US concerns over postwar Gaza plan

Negotiators will continue discussions on Monday in Doha, according to a diplomat and sources familiar with the talks. Those talks will be between working level officials to focus on ironing out technical issues, they say.

Discussions will include officials from the parties involved in the Paris talks: Qatar, Egypt, the US and Israel. From the US side, these will include officials from the CIA.

Despite the ongoing fighting in Gaza, positive signs are emerging from the talks. Tzachi Hanegbi, the head of National Security for Israel, on Saturday told Israeli media he believed it will be possible to move forward.

But a Hamas leader, Dr. Bassem Naim, told CNN on Sunday he is not aware of any progress in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Regarding Netanyahus recently released blueprint for what a post-war Gaza would look like, Sullivan said he has some concerns based on what hes seen in the press but that he is expecting to be briefed by his Israeli counterparts later Sunday.

From what Ive seen in the reporting, I have some concerns, he told CNN.

Later in an interview on Fox News Sunday, Sullivan also said: Im talking to my Israeli counterparts later today to hear more because theyve gone out in the press without coming to us to talk through all of this. So, Ill wait and see.

The Israeli leader has repeatedly said that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel destroys Hamas leadership and rescues the hostages.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that Israeli hostage Oz Daniel, 19, has become the latest hostage to be confirmed dead.

Daniel had been listed among the hostages thought to be alive, so his death brings the number of dead October 7 hostages to 30, out of 130 hostages taken on October 7.

In November last year, Israel and Hamas agreed on the first breakthrough deal securing the release of 105 hostages held by Hamas. The deal also included a four-day pause in fighting, which ended up being extended.

CNNs Richard Allen Greene contributed to this report. It has been updated with new information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The United States and the United Kingdom carried out strikes against an array of Houthi targets in Yemen, according to two US officials, marking the fourth time the international coalition has launched a combined attack on the Iran-backed rebel group.

The strikes hit 18 targets across eight locations, according to a statement from the coalition, including underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter.

Four Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets, supported by two Voyager tankers, participated in the coalition strikes, the British Ministry of Defence said in a statement late Saturday.

This latest round of strikes comes after the Pentagon acknowledged that the Houthis have recently carried out more attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden  some of the worlds most critical waterways. On Thursday, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said there had been an increase in attacks from the Houthis, more consistency over the past several days.

Those attacks  which the Houthis say are in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israels war against Hamas in Gaza  have caused a massive drop in ships traveling through the Suez Canal. The passage links the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, allowing ships to cut thousands of miles off shipping routes instead of sailing around Africa. In the first half of February, the Suez Canal experienced a 42% drop in monthly transits and an 82% decrease in container tonnage from its peak in 2023, according to the United Nations.

The Houthis have carried out more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the region since mid-November, according to the coalition statement, which called them a threat to the global economy that demands an international response.

We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal, Singh said Thursday, hours after the Houthis hit yet another cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles. They are very capable, they have sophisticated weapons, and thats because they continue to get them from Iran.

That attack was one of a series of successful Houthi missile launches against commercial shipping in recent days, many of which have hit vessels with ties to the US and the UK.

Houthi rebels confirmed Sunday local time on social media that they used missiles to target an American oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree did not comment on whether the missile attack resulted in a hit on the tanker, the M/V Torm Thor, but US forces said earlier they had successfully shot down at least one missile that had been launched into the Gulf of Aden. Saree also said Houthi forces targeted a number of American warships in the Red Sea with unmanned aerial vehicles.

In another recent example, the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-registered vessel that was hit by a Houthi ballistic missile Monday, appeared to become the first case in which the crew had to abandon ship. On Friday, US Central Command said the ship was taking on water in the Red Sea as it created an 18-mile oil slick.

The US has tried to disrupt the Houthis ability to target commercial and US warships by going after their primary weapons, including anti-ship cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, as well as one-way attack drones. The US has also destroyed maritime drones and underwater drones.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon said the continued strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, which began in January, have destroyed more than 100 missiles and launches, including anti-ship missiles, drones, radars and more.

But the continued strikes have done little to stem the tide of Houthi attacks, with some inside the administration now arguing that the use of force alone is not working. It is also extremely expensive and impractical, some officials note, to keep firing multimillion-dollar missiles at cheap Houthi drones and missiles.

Part of the challenge is in knowing how much weaponry the Houthis possess. Multiple officials have told CNN that the US still does not have a denominator that would allow them to assess the percentage of Houthi equipment they have destroyed, and it is not clear whether the US will shift its military approach further.

They continue to surprise us, said one senior defense official, referring to the Houthis. We just dont have a good idea of what they still have.

Even so, the US and the international coalition have shown no signs of backing down, warning the Houthis that the strikes will continue if the attacks on international shipping dont come to an end.

Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but we will once again reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats, the coalition statement said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Jonny Hallam, Hande Atay Alam and Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Each year, (201) Magazine spotlights Bergen County artists for its annual Arts Issue. This year's crop features artists originally from Armenia, Ukraine and Korea who create art as unique as their upbringings. Their choice of mediums might vary, but they all share the joy of creating.

Here's a Q&A with Kayla Jang

Meet Kayla Jang

Artist Kayla Jang

"Follow your intuition in creating. Make accidents so you can make new discoveries and have fun."

@kaylaaajang

Age: 39

Born in Seoul, Korea

Currently live in Fort Lee

Education: Graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City with honors B.F.A.

Medium: I work with oil, acrylic, graphite and digital for design work.

"Float" by Kayla Jang

When did you start creating art?

I started taking my art seriously in junior high.

Are there any other artists in your family?

Yes, my uncle was a furniture designer.

How did the place where you grew up affect your creative process?

Growing up in Seoul until my teenage years and spending my college life as an adult in New York City have tremendously impacted my creative process. With both cities being so visually stimulating, I had a never-ending source of inspiration. I remember comparing the unique shapes of storefront typefaces and logos which later helped me in my design career.

"Dp You See Me Now" by Kayla Jang

What inspires your work?

One of my favorite activities is visiting art galleries in Chelsea. It's like shopping for inspiration as I consider the concepts and processes of other creatives.

When did you realize that you wanted to make art professionally?

I always knew I wanted to be an artist and applied to art school without any other options in mind.

Is creating art your full-time job?

Yes, I am an artist and designer. I also teach art and design with my husband at Art Lab Studio in Fort Lee and Im so grateful for being able to create art with my students as well.

How do you create your projects?

I start with a digital sketch where I play with colors and composition. I spend a lot of time working and editing and then I move on to a canvas and work with different mediums.

"Breather" by Kayla Jang

Is there a common theme to your work?

My theme is about capturing the moment when things collide. Im also interested in capturing the transition of opposing forces.

How has your art changed over time?

Im interested in capturing fleeting moments in the abstract, but I had a period where I wanted to capture familiar objects or body gestures in my paintings. Im currently back to playing with abstraction.

What is the biggest challenge youve encountered in your career so far?

I started my art career as a designer and Ive found that juggling the client's side with my design vision in a highly collaborative work environment often limits creative freedom. That was something that I always struggled with because as an artist, we are constantly yearning for a sense of creative freedom.

Republic Records logo designed by Kayla Jang

Do you have a favorite piece?

My latest piece is always my favorite because it is what my mind and energy are currently focused on.

What are some of your favorite places in Bergen?

One of my favorite places is Minka, a Japanese restaurant in Cliffside Park. I also love walking our dogs at the Palisades Interstate Park by the Hudson River.

Whats next?

Im currently in the process of developing a new series and Im excited to explore something I havent done before. Through trial and error and making happy accidents, I hope to make new discoveries.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Artist Kayla Jang teaches at Art Lab Studio in Fort Lee
Days after Wendy Williams' frontotemporal dementia diagnosis was revealed, the talk show host's declining health was the focus of a raw new Lifetime documentary.

The network on Saturday and Sunday aired the documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?" which shows Williams struggling with her health until she is eventually admitted to a treatment facility. In it, her family opens up about her dementia diagnosis while arguing for changes to the guardianship that she was placed under in 2022.

Before the documentary aired, the former talk show host, 59, thanked well-wishers for their supportive response amid her diagnosis.

"I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming," Williams said in a statement released to The Associated Press through a representative for her care team. "The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion."

These were the biggest revelations from the documentary:

Wendy Williams has 'alcohol-induced dementia,' son says

Williams' family opens up about her dementia diagnosis in the second part of the documentary. Her 23-year-old son, Kevin Hunter Jr., says that she was diagnosed with "alcohol-induced" dementia. "They basically said that because she was drinking so much, it was starting to affect her headspace and her brain," he says.

Williams seems to become confused at several points in the documentary, including by suggesting she is in Miami during her trip to California.

Wendy Williams' family criticizes her guardianship

Williams' family repeatedly criticizes her guardianship setup, under which the court appointed a professional guardian to oversee her finances. They believe a member of the family should serve in that role, with her son arguing the guardian "has not done a good job of protecting" her. Williams' sister, Wanda Finnie, says she offered to be her guardian, but "then, all of a sudden, the wall came down, and there was nothing."

Williams' son denies allegations that he was trying to exploit her financially, leading to the financial guardianship. He maintains he never took money out of his mother's account without her permission. At one point, Williams alleges her guardian has stolen money from her, but she provides no evidence of this.

Williams' manager, Will Selby, also says that "everything has to be decided by the court and the guardianship" when he brings up her potentially moving to Florida to be with her family. "She's not making any decisions on her own," he says.

Wendy Williams maintains she's 'very healthy' after wellness center stay

Early in "Where Is Wendy Williams?," Williams pushes back on the decision to admit her to a wellness center in California soon after she was first interviewed for the documentary in 2022. She says Selby and her guardian took her there, but when asked why, she insists, "I don't know."

After Selby interjects to say that Williams "needed some rest," she says she "can rest right here." Williams then declines to answer more questions. "I'm very healthy," she says.

Wendy Williams' nephew says she almost died in 2020

Williams' friend and former co-worker, DJ Boof, describes becoming concerned about her health while working with her as she filmed her talk show from home in 2020. Noting her delayed reactions and tiredness, he says he thought, "This is not COVID doing this."

Williams was hospitalized that May. Her nephew, Travis Finnie, says that DJ Boof "was there, and he called us crying, saying that she's going to die, and she needs help." Finnie adds that Williams received three blood transfusions, and "that's the only reason she's alive today." He blames this medical emergency on Williams' drinking.

Wendy Williams attends the world premiere of Apple TV+'s "The Morning Show," Oct. 28, 2019, in New York.

DJ Boof also recalls going to the hospital to check on Williams at that time and being unsure if she knew who he was. "I just felt like she wasn't the same person anymore," he said.

Wendy Williams Lifetime documentary will air despite her guardian's lawsuit, judge rules

Wendy Williams' loved ones express concern about her drinking

Throughout the documentary, those around Williams express concern about her drinking.

In one scene, her manager, Will Selby, confronts her about finding a bottle of alcohol in her room. Selby says he looks for alcohol in her apartment every time he comes over and has found bottles in her bathroom and closets.

Wendy Williams attends the 2019 NYWIFT Muse Awards at the New York Hilton Midtown on Dec. 10, 2019 in New York City.

Later, Williams orders an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant, but Selby privately tells the waiter to bring her a virgin drink. But she defends her drinking, saying, "I bet we all drink. Why can't I?"

Drinking led to tension with Wendy Williams and her son

Williams' son says during the first part of the documentary that it had been eight months since he last saw his mother when she came down to Florida to spend time with her family in 2021. During that time, Williams appeared to be doing "a lot better," her nephew, Travis Finnie, said.

According to Finnie, she returned to New York to deal with the court case in which she was placed under financial guardianship, but the family argues she is better off with them in Florida. Hunter asserts that she's surrounded by "yes people" in New York and engaging in unhealthy eating and drinking.

Williams also acknowledges that her drinking has led to tension with her son, whom she finally reunites with in the second part of the documentary.

Filming shuts down after Wendy Williams displays erratic behavior

An extended scene in the second episode sees Williams being driven to a vape shop but sparking confusion after insisting it's not the same shop she usually goes to. She berates her publicist, sending her into the shop multiple times, and tells her driver to look around for a different location. Eventually, the documentary producers step in to say they need to stop filming. After the incident, Williams' driver expresses concern that she's "losing memory," saying she sometimes doesn't know who he is.

Talk show host Wendy Williams diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia

Williams behaves aggressively toward people around her at multiple other points, including by telling her publicist to get liposuction. "There are some times when Wendy is just a little bit more aggressive," Selby says.

Wendy Williams had a meeting about returning to TV

In the second part of the documentary, Williams' manager becomes upset after she flies to Los Angeles with her publicist and has a meeting with NBCUniversal about a potential return to television.

Williams' family is unhappy with this, arguing that her health is not in a good enough place that she should be looking to return to work. Her niece, Alex Finnie, says it's "despicable" that Williams' publicist would take her to this meeting, which didn't result in an offer for a new show. Her son also says he fears that working amid her poor health could be "the thing that kills her."

Williams' health appears to deteriorate further after this Los Angeles trip. "Since LA, she's been a completely different person," Selby says, adding that she returned "disheveled" and "adamant about drinking."

Wendy Williams didn't know she wouldn't return to her show

Williams' talk show was canceled in February 2022 after she had been on hiatus due to her health issues. Her niece, Alex Finnie, describes sharing this news with Williams, who still believed she would return to the show.

"My aunt did not know she was not going back to the show," Finnie says, adding that after she told her the show had been canceled, "She didn't believe it."

Wendy Williams 'locked herself in her apartment' surrounded by alcohol in 2023

By April 2023, filming on the documentary stops due to concerns about Williams' well-being. Selby continues to provide updates, though, saying he found her "hiding in the bathroom" in her apartment. He also says he found a large, empty bottle of alcohol in her bed.

"Whether she's here or not, I just don't think she cares," Selby says. "She's locked herself in her apartment, surrounded herself with alcohol, and decided, 'This is going to be my fate.'"

Williams is ultimately admitted to a treatment facility. Although her family is unaware of the exact location, Williams' sister says she is now in a "stronger place," and "it's almost like I'm talking to Wendy from years ago." Selby also says she is now "looking natural" and as "sober as she can be."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wendy Williams Lifetime doc: The biggest revelations on dementia, more
The Bahrain pavilion at the ongoing Gulfood 2024 expo has turned into a start attraction with over 15,000 visitors landing at its stand to explore the diverse array of products being presented by leading Bahraini food companies.

The Gulfood 2024 is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme 'Real Food Led by Strong Partnerships.'

Among the notable Bahraini companies showcasing their offerings at the event are Awal Dairy Company, Deeko Bahrain and Kazerooni Brothers.

These companies join over 5,500 exhibitors, speakers, and experts from 190 countries, alongside renowned chefs.

The collective goal is to showcase advancements in agricultural technology and the growing integration of artificial intelligence in food production.

Discussions revolve around key topics such as minimizing food loss and waste, emphasizing private partnerships and investments in protein alternatives like processed meats.

The aim is to address challenges related to food scarcity and secure sustenance for the global population both now and beyond 2050.

This participation not only promotes Bahraini food products in global markets but also fosters potential business collaborations between the participating Bahraini companies and their counterparts globally and within the region, said the organiser of the Bahraini pavilion.

On the overwhelming response at the expo, Ahmed Al Hujairy, the CEO of WorkSmart Events Management, said: "Bahraini companies have successfully met their objectives for participating in the exhibition, underscoring the noteworthy contributions of the kingdom in the field of the food industry, trade, and the attainment of food security."

"Gulfood stands out as the largest annual exhibition in the global food and beverage sector, where industry leaders meet in Dubai to delineate the future trajectory of the sector and exert a global influence on food and beverage trends," he stated.

Al Hujairy pointed out that the exhibition provided a significant opportunity to showcase the advancements in the food industry sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

It serves as a platform to attract foreign investments into this sector and, simultaneously, to bolster the exports of Bahraini food companies to the regional market, he noted.

According to him, Gulfood exhibitors benefit from a favourable opportunity due to easy access to their exhibition pavilions, attracting attention from global buyers, ministers, government officials, and numerous national trade associations.

This presents an opportunity for forging lucrative joint trade agreements, coupled with the influx of tens of thousands of new visitors from various countries worldwide and the region, he added.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The priest passed away this week at the age of 80. For decades, he was the soul of the STF Driyarkara in Jakarta. It was he who brought many lay people closer to the study of a discipline that was thought to be reserved for seminarians and who promoted 'Indonesian studies' on the thinking behind local values and multi-ethnic cultures.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The Church in Indonesia has mourned the passing of Jesuit Fr Michael Sastrapratedja, a great popularizer of philosophy in society and a pioneer in the study of local thought, who died on 17th February in Semarang at the age of 80.

Before him in Indonesia - even in the Catholic community itself - philosophy was considered not only a difficult subject to learn, but also an elite study, reserved for seminarians along with theology. This idea changed in 1971 when the Archdiocese of Jakarta, the Jesuit Province of Indonesia and the Franciscan Province of Indonesia founded the Higher School of Philosophy (STF) 'Driyarkara' in Jakarta, entrusting it to Fr Sastrapratedja. Since then, more and more lay people have had the opportunity to study both philosophy and theology.

Born in Wonosobo, Central Java Province, the young Sastrapratedja had entered the Mertoyudan Minor Seminary as a seminarian, later becoming a Jesuit novice in Girisonta in 1965. After taking his first vows, he was sent to India's Pune to study philosophy. In later years, he also obtained a doctorate in this discipline at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Fr. Michael Sastrapratedja made a huge educational contribution to the growth of STF Driyarkara, teaching there from 1971 until a few weeks ago and also serving as president for decades. With him, it has become the most important school of philosophy in Indonesia and his alumni have contributed massively to dozens of institutions, both religious and secular.

But even outside the classrooms of the Catholic institution, he was able to convey to Indonesian society the value of studying the subject he dedicated his life to, contributing with his lectures also to the growth of philosophy faculties in Indonesian universities. He was also twice appointed president of the Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang. He was also the first rector of Sanata Dharma University, when the local Teachers' Training College (IKIP) was given the chance to become a university.

Recalling Fr Sastrapratedja in comments shared with AsiaNews, the current rector of STF Driyarkara, Simon Lili Tjahjadi, said that the other huge contribution made by this Jesuit to Indonesia was his important 'Indonesian studies' project. "It was he," he recalled, "who initiated a specific philosophical reflection on our traditional national values and the contribution of our multi-ethnic cultures. It was through these in-depth studies on Indonesian issues that Fr Sastrapratedja introduced the philosophy of Indonesia to the general public'.

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY SUNDAY, CLICK HERE.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of February 25, Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue - Member of the Politburo, Chairman of the National Assembly, offered flowers and incense to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh at Kim Lien Special National Relic in Nam Dan commune, Nghe An province.

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and the delegation offer flowers and incense to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: Pham Bang

Representatives of the leadership of central committees, ministries, sectors, central agencies, leaders of provinces, centrally governed cities, and members of the Central Committee, the Standing Committee, and units under the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union attended the event.

Representatives of Nghe An province included: Mr. Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the provincial delegation to the National Assembly; Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, along with members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee.

In the festive atmosphere celebrating the Party and the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and the delegation respectfully offered flowers, offerings, and incense to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh before participating in the launching ceremony of the tree planting festival "Forever Grateful to Uncle Ho" in the Year of the Dragon and the commencement of the Youth Month 2024 with the theme "Youth Volunteer for Community Life" featuring practical and meaningful activities organized by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in coordination with Nghe An province at the Truong Bon National Historical Relic site in Do Luong district, Nghe An province.

During his lifetime, Uncle Ho always cared about the members of the youth union. He used the image of Spring - the most beautiful season of the year - to talk about youth: A year begins with Spring. A life begins with youth. Youth is the Spring of society. He also affirmed: The youth is the future leader of the country. Whether the country is prosperous or declining, weak or strong, much depends on the youth.

In implementing his sacred teachings, through each stage of the revolutionary history, our Party and State have always paid attention to and taken care of the youth and youth work. In response to that attention, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union has constantly innovated and implemented revolutionary action programs of vibrant and effective youth, contributing significantly to the cause of national liberation, reunification, and the construction and defense of our socialist Vietnam.

In this sacred, grateful, respectful, happy and proud moment about Uncle Ho, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and the delegation pledge to forever study and follow the ideology, ethics, and noble style of Uncle Ho.

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, along with leaders of central agencies and Nghe An province, take a commemorative photo with 55 outstanding young people from Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

On this occasion, the Chairman of the National Assembly planted a tree and presented gifts to the Management Board of the Kim Lien Special National Relic site.

Subsequently, at the Truong Bon National Historical Relic site in Do Luong district, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, along with members of the Party Central Committee, leaders of central committees, ministries, sectors, central agencies, and localities, offered flowers and incense at the mass grave of 13 heroic martyrs sacrificed on October 31, 1968, and at the Memorial House of 1,240 heroic martyrs who fell on the Truong Bon battlefield during the years of the resistance war against the U.S. for national salvation.
Once you become addicted to something, it's hard to escape that world. For most addictions, you can try going to rehab to free yourself of them. But what about Hot Wheels? Can you ever indeed refrain from buying more of them?

1. '41 Willys

Photo: eBay/User Egon's Emporium LLC

2. '49 Drag Merc

Photo: eBay/User Egon's Emporium LLC

3. '52 Hudson Hornet

4. '58 Edsel

Photo: eBay/User California Collectibles LLC

5. '63 Studebaker

Photo: eBay/User hwsets

6. '67 Pontiac Firebird

Photo: eBay/User rollingbeauties

7. '70 Pontiac GTO Judge

8. AMC Rebel Machine

Photo: eBay/User bnjwarehouse

9. Plymouth AAR Cuda

Photo: eBay/User chevelleguy69

10. Plymouth Duster Thruster

Photo: eBay/User Coolrunningja

That's possible with a strong enough will and some strategies. Just don't walk into any toy store. Don't visit any online shops and forums. Spend your money on something else. It's not impossible! I've immersed myself in yet another "classic" Boulevard series. I already discussed "Ahead of Its Time" and "Big Hits." You'd have to spend between $300 to $17 for the latter.That seems reasonable enough for a line-up of 17 collectibles. Today, I'm moving on to another part of the 2012 Boulevard series. This one is called "Legends," with 15 different castings to gawk at. These are even more affordable than "Big Hits"; you can get them from eBay for anywhere between $260 and $420, plus shipping costs. But you can always go deeper; all 17 castings add up to over 220 variations. And that's not going to be even remotely as cheap. I had to eliminate five items for today's exercise to form a Top 10 list.I showcased the Classic Packard in a previous story so that one went first. The Triumph TR6 was part of the 2024 Ultra Hots collection , so here's another one. The Metrorail Nash Metropolitan and the Austin Healey seem out of place here, and I opted to exclude them for now. The only difficult call I had to make was on the '56 Mercury, but I'll get to it later.The '41 Willys is one of the four Larry Wood-designed castings in the Boulevard Legends series. It debuted in the 2009 New Models collection, and Mattel developed 18 variations until 2021. Although three iterations have had Real Riders wheels, only one featured a metal base.And you may have guessed that it was the 2012 Boulevard model. The Preferred Series RR rims looked great in grey with chrome lips and matched the Willys's Matte Black and Metalflake Grey paint job. I expect some collectors to name this the best-looking item in the Legends series, but I've got my eyes set on a different vehicle.Phil Riehlman is the most famous designer in this collection, with five castings to his name. The '49 Drag Merc is one of them. For some reason, it has had a relatively short lifespan. It debuted in 2010 and disappeared 12 iterations later in 2014. It's a 1/4-mile-ready version of a 1949 Mercury Eight, which might remind you of the Purple Passion casting.In 2012, Mattel fitted this vehicle with Real Riders Steelies, thus revealing the first and only Premium variation in its lineage. I prefer this design over the gassers, but I wouldn't pick it over the funny car castings. You can pick up the '49 Drag Merc for as little as $8, which makes it one of the more affordable items here.The '52 Hudson Hornet is one of only three collectibles in the Boulevards Legends set to have reached Super Treasure Hunt status. It was part of the 2016 STH series and looked fantastic in a mix of Spectraflame Red and Gold. It debuted in 2012 with Boulevard, featuring a Metallic Sky Blue finish, a white roof, and Real Riders Wire Spoke wheels.But I would forget about it for the 30-car Set variation in blue. And if you'd like something more special in your collection, the RLC Rewards version is the way to go. That will cost between $80 and $160 on its own.Ford would probably like to forget the Edsel episode from almost a century ago. But Mattel wasn't about to sit there and do nothing about it. The '58 Edsel showed up in the 2009 Classics (Series 5) collection, sporting a mix of white and Spectraflame Blue. The Chase version even had RR wheels, so that's the one you want.There are 12 variations of this model on the market, and the 2012 Boulevard Legends model was the 11th one. It's not the most visually appealing item here, but it is part of automotive history, and that's enough to consider it for your collection. It's too bad the diecast manufacturer shelved the project in 2013.At least the '63 Studebaker is still around. It took center stage in 2022 as part of the Super Treasure Hunt series, but there's more to it than that. Five of the 13 variations are Premium models, and they all have something interesting about them.The Whatchamacallit iteration came up in 2012, but the Legends Studebaker overshadowed it. I love the grey and blue mix of colors, but for some reason, this item is proving hard to find. I've only seen four listings on eBay, ranging from $20 for one vehicle to $32 for two.The '67 Pontiac Firebird is the first of two castings designed by Brendon Vetuskey on this list. It's also one of the more popular items, with 21 variations between 2010 and 2017. The Legends release showed up with an Orange paint job, a white roof, and RR wheels.And it's second to no other iteration in its category, with only the Hot Wheels Garage: GM releases coming anywhere near it. It's one of my favorite models on the list, and it's great to know you can buy it for just $11.I don't remember ever walking into a store and finding the '70 Pontiac GTO Judge. Mattel used it in the 2023 American Steel series, but it must have slipped past me. Most of the ten variations showed up between its debut in 2011 and 2012, and then things slowed considerably.And if you want a Premium variation, there's only one way to go. The diecast manufacturer painted the Pontiac Metalflake Orange for its Boulevard release and gave it a set of five-spoke Real Riders wheels to complete the package. The market value for these items is between $25 to $40 these days, and I'd give it a go.Regarding the number of variations, the AMC Rebel Machine is the rarest casting on the list. Brendon Vetuskey designed this vehicle, and Mattel developed only six iterations between 2012 and 2022. It debuted with the Boulevard Legends collection, using a white finish with a blue hood and red pinstripes.The latest Team Transport version has a similar livery but added Rebel Machine decals on the side. You might enjoy the 2018 Forza Motorsport iteration. Price-wise, it's the same story. Neither of the items here will cost more than $40, while only a handful will cost less than $15.By the number of releases, the Plymouth AAR Cude is the most popular vehicle, with 28 variations. It debuted in 2009, and I've already seen two models for 2024. If you're not into the Metallic Grey on the 2012 Boulevard Legends Cuda, I'm sure you'll be enthralled by Dan Gurney's Plymouth in Metallic Blue.To this day, these are two of the most exciting variations you can find. But Mattel has been shifting things into high gear for several years. First, we had the Fast & Furious release in 2020, with another one for 2024. And the Team Transport Cuda should arrive in a store near you just as soon.Mattel nailed the livery with the Plymouth Duster Thruster. The black, white, and red color combo looks rather menacing, and the big Preferred Series Real Riders wheels on the back amplify that feeling. The 2009 HWC.com Series 8: Real Riders release was much rarer at 6,500 units, but it can be a tad more expensive.With just 11 variations to remember, this casting won't cause havoc in your bank account. And it's always nice to have a tiny vehicle with a massive exposed V8 upfront. That's about it for my Boulevard Legends review; I'll be back with more Premium Hot Wheels vehicles soon.
There are two types of car owners who love to customize their rides  those who do it themselves and those who let others do it for them. Which one are you?

Anyway, while you ponder your answer, let me show you that it takes quite a bit of talent to be part of the DIY (do-it-yourself) team , and nowadays, you can't just take a hammer and tinker away. Instead, it takes both manual skill and the genius of 'premonition' to envision the finished product before you start working on it. The other case is quite simple, indeed  you just work out a budget and an aftermarket outlet that will accommodate it.Back to the DIY ideas, we love to keep tabs on the imaginative realm of digital car content creators because they can easily come up with wacky or beautiful ideas about cars that no one thinks about or dream of the next generation of your favorite car before it's actually real. There's also an interesting category of pixel masters who have taken things to the next level  they not only envision the future of the automotive industry but also actively participate in DIY projects.For example, we have seen folks like Brad (aka bradbuilds), who makes conceptual car art but also builds things and works on automobiles at the same time. There is also the curious case of Oscar Vargas, the virtual artist better known as wb.artist20 on social media, who continues to dream of automotive stuff that can also be made in the garage  like a Dodge Charger Ute or a facelift for the personal Dodge Challenger , among other stuff.As it turns out, it seems that Abimelec Arellano, a designer better known as abimelecdesign on social media, is actively thinking of joining them with a fresh project concerning his daily driver  a 2010 fifth-generation S-197 II Ford Mustang GT dressed in Grabber Blue. Not long ago, he brought back to the forefront of his social media reel some old thoughts of making his 2010 Mustang GT into a rally-raid type of car.Naturally, since he's a talented CGI expert, he also materialized these dreams in the parallel universe of vehicular CGI  where his Grabber Blue fastback coupe is now a bit wild on the body mods side of things, even though the author doesn't think so. However, we would beg to disagree, given the gutted wheel arches and rear valence plus front fascia, the added stainless steel skid plates at the front and in the back, or the 'slightly' lifted suspension setup.Additionally, he also added the classic yellow KC HiLiTES off-road lights, some dark and contrasting Black Rhino aftermarket wheels, big Falken Wildpeak tires, and even removed the front grille completely. Now, of course, he fell in love with the transformation and is actively contemplating the decision to give this tough stance a go, build it, "and go drift it in gravel and mud." Naturally, he's also asking the opinion of his fans about the potential DIY journey, so if you want to see it done  give him a heads up in the comments section of the post embedded below.
Though the idea of what we now call concept cars was still relatively new, the 1950s saw the birth of some legendary one-offs that are still fascinating today.

1951 General Motors LeSabre

Photo: General Motors Company

1953 GM XP-21 Firebird

Photo: General Motors Company

1953-1955 Alfa Romeo BAT Series

Photo: Alfa Romeo

1954 Lincoln Futura

Photo: Ford Motor Co.

OHV

1958 Ford Nucleon

Photo: Ford Motor Co.

Initially called dream cars or idea cars and often built in a single unit, these vehicles have been developed to showcase carmakers' design capabilities as well as innovative technologies.It all started in 1938 with the Harley J. Earl-designed Buick Y-Job , then, in the years that followed, other carmakers began following suit.By the 1950s, concept cars became mainstream among American carmakers, and even European manufacturers began showcasing their futuristic vehicles.Heavily influenced by the Jet Age and exulting the confidence of the post-war boom, 1950s concept cars were flashy and futuristic.Although the automotive industry, and, consequently, future concept cars , have evolved tremendously over the last seventy years, some 1950s dream cars, like the five we're about to remember, are still fascinating today.Apart from the first-ever concept car, General Motors was responsible for some of the greatest concepts of the 1950s, and arguably the most legendary was the 1951 LeSabre.Designed by the famous Harley J. Earl , the LeSabre featured a gorgeous jet-inspired two-door convertible body comprised of a mix of aluminum, magnesium, and fiberglass panels.It was powered by an all-aluminum supercharged V8 that could run on gasoline or methanol. Rated at 335 hp, the engine was linked to an automatic transmission mounted at the rear for better weight distribution.Unlike the production cars of the era, which used a 6-volt electrical system, the LeSabre employed an innovative 12-volt system. Moreover, it featured built-in electric lifting jacks, electric concealed headlights, and a power top that could raise automatically thanks to a built-in water sensor.Credited for inspiring numerous production cars of the 1950s, the LeSabre was kept by GM, and it currently resides at the corporation's Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan.Long before it was used by Pontiac's legendary pony car, the Firebird nameplate debuted on the most Jet Age concept car of all time: GM's XP-21.Basically a fighter jet with wheels, the XP-21 Firebird (aka Firebird I) was designed by, you guessed it, Harley J. Earl.Its body (or rather fuselage) was fabricated from fiberglass-reinforced plastic and was heavily inspired by the delta-winged Douglas F4D Skyray fighter jet.The Firebird didn't just look like a fighter jet but was also powered by a two-part turbine engine. Dubbed Whirlfire Turbo-Power, the experimental powerplant developed under the supervision of Charles L. McCuen was allegedly capable of delivering 370 hp.Theoretically, the concept could reach a top speed of 200 mph (322 kph) but, nobody was brave enough to go over the 100 mph (160 kph) mark during real-world tests.The XP-21 Firebird made its debut at the 1954 Motorama, where it made jaws drop to the floor. It was followed by three additional jet-inspired Firebirds concepts, and like other iconic GM concepts, it can now be admired at the corporation's Heritage Center.The vast majority of futuristic concept cars born during the 1950s came from the US. However, some European carmakers also began thinking well outside the box during that decade, and arguably, the most famous example is Alfa Romeo and its BAT (Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica) series.During the early 1050s, Alfa commissioned Nuccio Bertone and his famous design house to create three concept cars that focused on aerodynamics.Working with Alfa Romeo 1900 chassis and aiming to create a vehicle with the lowest possible drag coefficient, Bertone's Franco Scaglione finished the first BAT (confusingly named BAT 5) concept in 1953.Its gorgeous streamlined body , which featured wheel covers and curved windows to maximize airflow, was theoretically capable of achieving 120 mph (200 kph) with a stock, 100-hp Alfa four-cylinder.The idea was improved on the 1954 BAT 7, which received a series of upgrades that reduced the drag coefficient from 0.23 (of the BAT 5) to 0.19.The final concept of the series was introduced in 1955. Dubbed BAT 9, it was more of a show car than a further aerodynamic evolution of its predecessors. Though it still looked futuristic, it featured several exterior trims, making it look more like Alfa Romeo's production models.All three cars have survived and switched owners several times in the following decades. Most recently, the trio was auctioned off by RM Sotheby's, fetching no less than $14.840 million.Apart from GM, Ford also played an important role in the popularization of the concept car during the 1950s.Unquestionably, the most iconic FoMoCo concept of that exciting decade was the Lincoln Futura The brainchild of Ford stylist Bill Schmidt, who drew inspiration for the design from a close encounter with a shark, the Futura was conceived alongside another legendary Ford stylist, John Najjar.Donning a lavish body with a double-bubble clear glass canopy top and large tailfins, the Futura was powered by a 368-ci(6.0-liter)Y-block V8 coupled to a three-speed Turbo Drive automatic gearbox.The concept was unveiled at the 1955 Chicago Auto Show, and four years later, it made its big-screen debut in the Holywood romantic comedy "It Started with a Kiss."Ford subsequently sold the Futura to custom car legend George Barris , who transformed it into the Batmobile for the 1960s Batman television series.In its original form, the Futura was one of the most breathtaking concept cars of the 1950s, and as the Batmobile, it became one of the most famous movie cars ever created.Though it didn't survive in its original form, the Futura became one of the most famous TV cars.While the Lincoln Futura was Ford's most famous 1950s concept car, the Nucleon was undoubtedly the corporation's wildest.Developed in 1958, the concept looked like a blend between a pickup truck and a speed boat, yet its appearance wasn't the wildest thing about it.As the name implies, Ford wanted to power the vehicle with a small nuclear reactor . Yes, you read that right, a scaled-down nuclear reactor inspired by those who went on to power military submarines.Nuclear energy was relatively new, so it was deemed safe and environmentally friendly back then. Ford reasoned that it was bound to revolutionize the automotive sector and intended to get a head start on the competition.But while the idea seemed good in theory, it was impossible to put into practice, so the Nucleon project ceased at the scale model stage.Even if a functional, full-size model was never built, the Ford Nucleon remains one of the wildest, most futuristic concept cars of the 1950s.
At the moment, the US Navy employs 11 aircraft carriers across its fleet. For those not aware, this accounts for just over half of all the world's current operation aircraft carriers currently in service. From a certain point of view, each of these 11 carriers shares the DNA of a particular common ancestor, the USS Ranger. Though not technically the first US carrier, it was indeed the first built from the ground up for the purpose of carrying military airplanes.

In truth, the ship lovingly christened CV-4 couldn't be considered the first true aircraft carrier in US service because its predecessor, the USS Langley, was directly converted from an old Navy collier named the USS Jupiter. Even so, the Ranger, itself named after a long line of US Navy warships dating back nearly to the founding of the nation, had a few party pieces of its own. Laid down in 1931 at the Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia and launched 91 years ago today in 1933, CV-4 helped write the playbook for US carriers going forward.Though far from the most famous US carrier to see service during the Second World War , more famous ships like the USS Lexington and USS Saratoga were actually converted from battlecruisers into aircraft carriers. This ensured the Ranger's permanent place in history as America's first wholly bespoke, purpose-built carrier. As the carrier helped to formulate the US Navy's strategic air doctrine during the inter-war period, the ship was also a vital proving ground for America's Navy warbirds.Aircraft from respected and well-remembered aviation manufacturers like Curtiss, Vought, and Grumman received some of their first operational service aboard the Ranger. This includes famous names like the Vought F4U Corsair and the Grumman F4F Wildcat, aircraft that helped turn the tide against Imperial Japan during the Pacific Theater of World War II. But although Wildcats fought in the Pacific Theater of the war in their thousands, CV-4 was not there to serve alongside them.The ship was determined not to be fast enough to keep up with the break-neck pace of Navy Fast Carrier Task Forces in the Pacific, so the African and European Theater of the war against the German Kriegsmarine was thought to be a better fit for the ship. In service along North African and European waters, CV-4 spent considerable time transporting Army Air Corps P-40 Warhawks to battle against Erwin Rommel's forces while taking part in Allied operations in French North Africa, dubbed Operation Torch.After completing its services in the war, never once seeing combat against the Japanese, the USS Ranger was stricken from Navy service in 1946 before being broken up the following year. On the anniversary of its operational birth, we owe our thanks to the crew who served onboard.
Judging by the past couple of years in the gaming industry, it looks like no company is safe from insider information, leaks, or rumors, not even the big ones like Rockstar, Microsoft, Ubisoft, Sony, EA, and so on. Gran Turismo 7 has been in the spotlight of such news regarding a PC port that might arrive in 2024.

AWD

Photo: Toyota GT-One TS020

kilowatt

Gran Turismo's creator, Kazunori Yamauchi, recently tweeted a mysterious short video about three cars meant to arrive with the upcoming update, slated from Monday, February 26, onward.It's become almost a tradition to tease each content drop in this kind of cryptic manner. Of course, it doesn't take long until people figure out what the models are.Even Steve Alvarez Brown (@_SuperGT), a known Bilstein driver and sim racing YouTuber, trolled a bit by saying the cars hidden behind the shroud of darkness are the Toyota GT-One TS020 , Ferrari 296 GT3, and Koenigsegg Agera R. The Toyota TS020 made an appearance in 1999's Gran Turismo 2 and it's pretty sought-after. No wonder some people in the comment section got nostalgic upon reading Steve's fake guesses.Now let's talk shop. People have identified the cars in Yamauchi's post as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII or IX, the Renault 4, and the 2009 Audi TTS. Let's break them down.The most powerful Evo VIII (2003-2005) came with a 2.0-liter 16V turbocharged engine that could deliver 276 hp or 280 ps and 289 lb-ft or 392 Nm of torque. It was, of course, with a 5-speed manual transmission system and went from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph (249 kph).The Evo IX (2005-2007) had the same 4G63 engine but had more work done on the body to shave off 0.2 seconds from the 0-60 acceleration time.Next, the (2008-2014) Audi TTS Coupe was launched at the '08 North American International Auto Show as an even sportier TT coupe. The TTS donned the revised four-cylinder 2.0-TFSI engine, producing 268 hp (272 ps) with 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque.It was AWD and came with a dual-clutch automatic or 6-speed manual gearbox. The auto version accelerated from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in 5.3 seconds and had a top speed of 155 mph or 249 kph. The manual did it in 5.2 seconds, maxing at 155.3 mph (250 kph).Finally, the Renault 4 was a long-running series born in 1961 and lasted until 1992. Urban legend has it that it actually survived until 1994 in Slovenia. Don't expect it to go fast in GT 7 because it's more of a period piece, not a Ferrari SF90. However, new leaks of an electric revival have been spotted roaming the interwebs. It's believed to produce 134 hp or 136 ps fed by a 40- or 52-battery pack.We'll await further official confirmation, but this should be the gist. Now, aside from the GT 7 on PC leaks and whatnot, there's even more exciting news regarding other PlayStation AAA 1st-party titles that might hit PC this year, like God of War Ragnarok, TLOU Part 2, Demon's Souls, and Ghost of Tsushima.PlayStation officially announced that Horizon Forbidden West is coming out on Steam on March 21, so it's not all that hard to believe other titles will be joining it on Windows. Sony usually releases PC ports during summer, so we'll wait and see. The best part is that they're bound to arrive sometime; it's just a matter of when, not if.
26 February 2024 00:01 (UTC+04:00)

Fatime Letifova Read more

32 years have passed since the Khojaly massacre, which left a deep mark in the history of world tragedies.

The Khojaly crime is a genocide committed against a nation, and when one remembers the night of February 25-26, 1992, a person is filled with terrible panic, blood freezes in the vein, and one cannot find words to say.

Of course, there have been more terrible crimes in history, and when we look at history, we see that the Khojaly tragedy was not the first attempt at ethnic cleansing by Armenians. It can be concluded that they have been planning genocide against Azerbaijanis for many years.

The Armenians, who did not dare to face Azerbaijani Army on the battlefield, and were full of rancor and hatred, only attacked unarmed civilians with weapons and massacred the elderly, women and children without mercy.

Vagif Khachaturyan, the criminal who is currently in prison in Azerbaijan, despite growing up in Garabagh, his Armenian hatred showed itself - he single-handedly carried out the murder of 25 Azerbaijanis.

This person, who committed brutal crimes, murders and tortures against Azerbaijani citizens, took an active part in the attack of Armenians on Meshali village of Khojaly on December 23, 1991, looted houses and tried to erase the village from the map. During the Meshali massacre, 12 Azerbaijanis were burned alive and killed with special brutality. However, the massacre committed by Armenians in this village was just a preparatory plan for the next step. The new target for them was Khojaly itself.

Until February 26, 1992, 7 thousand people lived in Khojaly. Even in the former Soviet era, there were very few Armenians in these areas, that is, Azerbaijanis were the majority in Khojaly, as in other surrounding regions.

Azerbaijan's Khojaly was completely destroyed in just one night from February 25 to 26. Thus, the Armenian armed groups attacked the residents of Khojaly with the help of the 366th motorized rifle military regiment of the former USSR stationed in the city of Khankendi.

At first, the Armenian troops surrounded the city from four sides, then they opened relentless fire from artillery and heavy military equipment to Khojaly. In a short time, the fire started, the city was engulfed in flames. The people of Khojaly were forced to leave their homes. However, the dark forces that chased them shot civilians and tortured them mercilessly.

As a result of terrible crimes, 613 people from the population of Khojaly were killed, 487 people were maimed, 1275 civilians, including the elderly, children, women, were captured and subjected to Armenian oppression and the most severe tortures. The fate of 150 people is still unknown.

Thus, a cold, snowy February night left a mark in the hearts of the Azerbaijani people that will never heal. It also reflects the bloody handprints of Armenian crime.

During the excavation and reconstruction works carried out in Garabagh, which was freed from occupation, the remains of the bodies of children, old people and women who were subjected to torture and oppression are being found. And Armenians are a nation that is too brutal to carry out these crimes and too cowardly to take responsibility for their actions.

Armenians, trying to capture a space for themselves in the world media under the slogans of humanism, try to deny their inhuman acts despite the evidence of witnesses. When they could not even imagine that one day justice would be restored, everything suddenly changed. Almighty Allah's justice finally shined on Khojaly, the town that was groaning under dark clouds, with the heralding of good news of victory.

28 years after the Khojaly massacre, on September 27, 2020, the brave Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-attack and duly responded to the atrocities committed by the Armenians. Justice, whose voice was muffled by Armenia and the patrons of this country, revived again, Kharibbulbul blossomed again in Shusha. Khojaly was rescued from the hands of the enemy as a result of local anti-terrorist measures conducted on September 19, 2023.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev raised the State Flag of the Azerbaijan Republic in the city of Khojaly on October 15, 2023, 31 years after the Khojaly tragedy.

After 30 years of spiritual, material and physical crimes committed in the ancient lands of Azerbaijan, the separatist leaders who tried to create a so-called Republic of Artsakh, which is not recognized by any state, and tried to hold so-called parliamentary and presidential elections in Azerbaijan, were arrested. As a result of the policy carried out by the President of Azerbaijan, Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, today Garabagh looking forward to realizing the great return of Garabaghs natives.

History repeats itself. Until 5 years ago, the lands of Azerbaijan, which were under enemy occupation, are now reviving as they were centuries ago. Shusha, our cultural capital, Khankendi, the home of Khan, Khojaly, our blood memory, and other historical lands are breathing freely.

The only thing that the criminal Armenia can do against Azerbaijan at the moment is to provoke on the border and carry out its harmful policy. Armenia, which suffered a humiliating defeat after the 44-day war, which the Azerbaijani Armed Forces wrote in golden letters on the pages of the history book, still refuses to provide accurate maps of the mines buried in Garabagh. Official Yerevan still refuses to provide information about the fate of more than 4 thousand Azerbaijanis who have been taken hostage and disappeared since the First Garabagh War.

Perhaps, they think that over time the crimes committed will be covered up, and a fictional history can be created like a so-called state. However, the people of Azerbaijan do not forget, they do not make them forget. The future generations will always remember the martyrs who died for the freedom of Garabagh, the cry of the population who were subjected to Armenian brutality and vandalism.

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25 February 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The Agrarian Credit and Development Agency (AKIA) under the Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry will present a new project for farmers through authorized banks.

The new project envisages the state paying part of the interest cost of 1-year loans allocated to agricultural producers for planting costs. Banks will provide loans from their own funds to cover the operational costs of farmers, and the state will partially cover their interest.

The Agency says that the terms of this project have been submitted to the relevant institutions for their opinion. In the near future, after the approval process of the project is completed, the public will be informed about the conditions.

Many believe that this project will help to boost agriculture in Azerbaijan. In a comment to Azernews on the issue, economist Natig Jafarly pointed out that it's a great idea. It has been applied in many countries and has supported the development of the agrarian sector and agriculture because many areas in agriculture need loans, especially long-term loans. He said that as is known, it is impossible to earn income for several years in some agricultural areas, such as horticulture, tea farming, farms, fisheries, etc.

In these areas, sometimes the farmer does not take income for several years when the farmer starts the business. If the farmer will take it in the form of a loan and pay the interest for several years in a row without receiving income, of course, this will not benefit the farmer. That is why lending in agriculture is very low in Azerbaijan, the economist noted.

Natig Jafarly said that the state's involvement in this business and intending to refund certain interest will also stimulate banks to grant agricultural loans to farmers. Since banks consider agricultural loans as risky loans and often refuse to grant loans due to the high probability of problems in repaying the interest. He emphasized that if the state takes this risk, it can make a significant contribution to the agricultural sector. However, there is another issue here. It is necessary to solve not only the issue of interest but also the issue of collateral. Because some banks limit farmers' access to credit by asking for collateral. There is a problem with collateral valuation, as well.

To put it more correctly, there is a problem with liquidity. Therefore, it would be better if this issue is also included in the package of future proposals. Farmers' collateral in banks can be their activity. That is the product, the future harvest, etc., can be evaluated and written into the farmer's asset as collateral. This can also increase access to loans. In any case, this is a positive step. It will be better if this mechanism is fully operational. Also, I think it makes more sense to do it centrally. There are two state-owned banks in Azerbaijan. These are the Azerbaijan International Bank and Azer-Turk Bank. The control package of these banks is in the hands of the state. It is possible that a separate crediting department can be created in the state banks so that it will be possible to solve this problem faster through them. The International Bank of Azerbaijan is the bank with the largest network in the country. There are branches in almost every district. In this way, it is possible to solve these issues faster and more effectively, the expert concluded.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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25 February 2024 11:43 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Traditional Japanese sword fighting performance has been demonstrated in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

TATE Hatoryu NY, a training dojo and production company, delivered a jaw-dropping display of Japanese martial arts for Baku residents and the city`s guests.

Tate is one of Japan's traditional performing arts and is not a match against another competitor. It is one of the performing methods that creates realistic and dynamic fighting scenes by working collaboratively with one's partner.

The electrifying atmosphere crackled with anticipation at the International Mugham Center as the founder of the TATE Hatoryu NY Kyo Kasumi briefed the audience about samurai knights and unveiling the main steps of their legendary fights.

Note that Kyo Kasumi is the first and only female stunt coordinator and fight director in America specializing in TATE: Japanese sword fighting and other Japanese combat styles.

After training and working with master Masatsugu Takase in Japan for 15 years, she relocated to New York where she opened her own TATE and stunt training dojo in White Plains in 2014.

The dojo has since become a training hub for a wide range of students from professional actors to beginners and children.

In Baku, TATE Hatoryu NY flawlessly recreated epic battle scenes of samurais, transporting spectators on a thrilling journey through time.

Their dedication to preserving these sacred techniques was evident in every fluid movement, every resounding strike that echoed through the air, a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence.

The audience members were also invited to participate and engage with artists in a dynamic and immersive performance.

As the final echoes of battle faded into the night, Kyo Kasumi expressed heartfelt thanks to Azerbaijan for the warm embrace they had received.

This gesture further solidified the bond between the performers and the audience, creating a truly unforgettable experience for all involved.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 February 2024 11:02 (UTC+04:00)

Participants of the international conference on "Decolonization: Awakening of the Renaissance" in Istanbul, Turkiye have addressed a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron.

In the letter, they expressed their deep concern over the colonial yoke of the peoples of Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean and the Antilles, Azernews reports.

The letter emphasizes that after the signing of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) in 1945, the international norms of self-governance began to develop thanks to the review by the UN General Assembly of the conditions required for self-determination and decolonization. It is noted that relevant resolutions were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1946-1960 and a global consensus on these international principles emerged. In 1960, the process was accelerated by the adoption of the historic declaration on decolonization (Resolution No. 1514), followed by Resolution No. 1541. These developments gave an impetus to the independence movement of countries in colonial territories.

It is further pointed out that although 64 years have passed since the adoption of the above-mentioned historic resolution, the peoples of Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean and the Antilles are still subjected to new manifestations of colonialism.

The letter notes that the main goal of the Baku Initiative Group, which was established as an international non-governmental organization in 2023, is to support the fight against colonialism and neocolonialism.

Numerous international conferences organized by the Baku Initiative Group exposed ample firsthand information by independence supporters and nationalists of Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean and the Antilles about discrimination in employment, housing, exploitation of natural resource and other areas, including mass emigration organized under the auspices of the French government.

For example:

- The deliberate implementation of a poor economic development strategy in certain countries, which involves excessive food dependence of the population (more than 80 percent of food products come from France) and a high cost of living to meet the interests of French monopolies; poverty (50 percent of the population of French Guiana lives below the poverty line), mass unemployment and all kinds of abuses (violence, arms and drug trafficking) in order to seriously jeopardize the future of these territories;

- Non-ratification of Convention No. 169 of 1989 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples related to Guyana;

- The institutions of French cultural hegemony, the gradual disappearance of local languages and the application of a policy of assimilation to our children, which involves the teaching of the French school curriculum to our children and does not correspond to the history, geography, culture and the future ambitions of our peoples;

- Land grabbing (90 percent of French Guiana belongs to the French state), control over millions of square kilometers of our Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) (which makes France the second biggest sea power in the world with 11 million square kilometers of EEZ) and decades of a policy of deportation of our youth to France for settlement colonization of Guadeloupe and Martinique, which has greatly contributed to an unprecedented demographic crisis and the plundering of natural resources;

- The creation of a two-tier colonial justice system that criminalizes all resistance movements and protects bribe-takers (chlordecone poisoning in Martinique and Guadeloupe and the arrest of young people fighting against land occupation, creation of exclusive jurisdictions for the Corsicans in order to try them without recognizing their status as political prisoners and conditions of their imprisonment);

- An "empty chair"policy since Polynesia was re-incorporated into the list of countries to be decolonized;

- Use of the territories from the Indo-Pacific zone (Polynesia, New Caledonia), as well as the Caribbean-American zone (French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe) and Corsica (Solenzara base) as military bases for war preparations without any consultation with local peoples whatsoever;

- Failure to comply with the decolonization process initiated under the Noumea Accord, thus holding an illegal referendum and reducing the number of voters.

It was also emphasized that, realizing their responsibility to history and their own peoples, representatives of the organizations of Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean and the Antilles, the last colonies of France, as well as the Baku Initiative Group, demanded that President Macron prevent the actions of the French government against international rules and practices.

"We emphasize the need to establish an international expert group under the auspices of UNESCO and immediately send it to the relevant territories to prepare a report on the state of the cultural and religious heritage of local peoples."

"We call on the French government to request the dispatch of a special OSCE mission in order to study the situation in the fields of environment, economy, human rights and rights of indigenous peoples on the ground."

"At a time when the humanity is faced with the implications of global warming and unprecedented dangers that threaten the future, we ask you (President Macron - ed.) to respect the provisions of the UN Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the letter says.

Organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), the conference on "Decolonization: Awakening of the Renaissance" brought together 50 representatives from 13 countries and four international organizations. The majority of conference participants represent overseas territories that are still French colonies.

Representatives of independence movements and nationalist movements from Caribbean islands, French colonies in South America, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, French overseas territories - New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, as well as all other stakeholders, drew attention to the facts related to the consequences of the French state's colonial policies in their countries.

Note that Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the "Total Elimination of Colonialism" conference within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The BIG launched its office in Baku on October 21, 2023.

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25 February 2024 10:55 (UTC+04:00)

An extraordinary session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM) has been held in Istanbul, Turkiye.

Executive Director of Azerbaijans Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov took part in the session, Azernews reports.

The session covered the activities of journalists in conflict zones and highlighted the importance of collective responses to disinformation.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The organization protects the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.

Since regaining its independence, Azerbaijan was the first among the CIS countries that appealed to become a member of the OIC and in 1991 has joined the organization. Over the past years, the relations between Azerbaijan and OIC has further expanded.

Baku hosted the 33rd OIC Foreign Ministers Conference on June 1921, 2006.

In 2011, the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC), Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijani government organized the Founding Convention of the OIC Countries Young Entrepreneurs Network in Baku. ICYEN is a collaborative initiative to create a platform for young Muslim entrepreneurs.

The founding meeting of the Youth forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference was held in 2004 in Azerbaijan.

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25 February 2024 09:05 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

"Dear Mr. President,

My dear Brother.

I am particularly pleased to extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes on behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your remarkable jubilee  the 70th anniversary of your birth.

Your life path is an example of service for the Motherland and the people with dignity and loyalty. You are a great personality and an outstanding statesman of our time who selflessly works for the sake of the well-being of Turkiye, its current development and its worthy place in the international world. You have fulfilled the responsible historical mission entrusted to you with great confidence and determination. Your far-sighted and consistent policies have made your country one of the leading and most powerful states in the world. The important achievements and successes of Turkiye in the last 20 years are associated with your name.

Today, the Republic of Turkiye is entering the second century of its development under your wise leadership. We wish the brotherly country to achieve all the goals and objectives it has set for itself and accomplish new successes and victories on this journey.

My dear Brother,

You are also a true friend of the people of Azerbaijan. Your heartfelt attachment to Azerbaijan is manifested in your continuous support for the territorial integrity of our country, the strengthening of Azerbaijan-Turkiye brotherhood and your unparalleled contributions to the inviolability of our alliance. The firm and unequivocal position you have always demonstrated regarding the just cause of Azerbaijan and your unwavering support are remembered by our people with special gratitude.

The fact that I paid my first official visit after the election to brotherly Turkiye on your invitation and in line with the established tradition is a clear indication of our unity and alliance. I express my deep gratitude to you once again for this invitation and for the great attention and hospitality you showed me and our delegation during the visit. I appreciate our meeting in the conditions of sincerity and mutual understanding, as well as the detailed exchange of ideas on the broad spectrum of bilateral relations and prospects for our cooperation.

I am sure that our relations, which are quite unique in the world, will continue to draw strength from our shared history, rich national and moral values, and the brotherhood and unity of our peoples. They will continue to develop and strengthen with our joint efforts in accordance with the One nation, two states principle.

I sincerely congratulate you again on this joyful day of your life and wish you and your family good health, a long life, happiness, and continued successes and achievements in your responsible and honorable activities for the sake of the peace and prosperity of the brotherly Turkish people.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 23 February 20242"

---

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25 February 2024 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The British Chamber of Commerce Azerbaijan (BCCA) has hosted an event in London to discuss the preparatory process for the upcoming 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), set to take place in Azerbaijan later this year.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK Elin Suleymanov, UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan Baroness Emma Nicholson, as well as Azerbaijani and British business leaders and climate change experts attended the event, Azernews reports.

In her speech, Baroness Emma Nicholson hailed Azerbaijan's role as the host of the upcoming COP29 Conference, emphasizing its significance.

The Ambassador Elin Suleymanov highlighted Azerbaijan's track record of successfully hosting international events and assured that the country is well-equipped to meet the requirements of COP29.



Additional speakers at the event included Narmin Jarchalova, Chief Operations Officer for COP29 Azerbaijan, Zohrab Gadirov, Deputy Executive Director at the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), and Ulvi Mansurov, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Investment Company JSC.



In Baku, preparations are underway for COP29, which will bring together global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to address pressing climate change issues and work towards sustainable solutions.

The conference in Baku is expected to serve as a platform for meaningful discussions and collaborations aimed at tackling the challenges posed by climate change on a global scale.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 February 2024 14:38 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Another House of Azerbaijan has opened in the Polish city of Krakow.

Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Work with Diaspora Fuad Muradov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Nargiz Gurbanova, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, members of Azerbaijani diaspora, local community, and various communities participated in the opening ceremony, Azernews reports.

In her speech, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Nargiz Gurbanova expressed her hope that the House of Azerbaijan would provide a successful platform for Azerbaijanis living in Krakow and surrounding cities to come together, work together for national interests, as well as promote the country's cultural legacy.

The Ambassador stressed that it would play a key role in uniting Polish Azerbaijanis around a single platform.

Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Work with Diaspora Fuad Muradov congratulated Azerbaijani citizens on the opening of the second Azerbaijani House in Poland, describing this as a manifestation of the state's care for its citizens.

The Committee Chariman noted that every year Azerbaijani houses and weekend schools are opened all over the world to organize the Azerbaijanis living abroad more efficiently under President Ilham Aliyev's instructions. He called on the Azerbaijani citizens participating in the event to integrate into the social life of the country where they reside and be more active in conveying Azerbaijan's voice of truth and justice to the international community.

Sedat Shamilli, Chairman of the Cultural Association of the World Azerbaijanis "Khari Bulbul", Coordinator of the Coordination Council of Polish Azerbaijanis in Krakow, expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani government for the attention and concern for its citizens living abroad.

Head of the Association of Polish Azerbaijanis Khalil Hasanov was presented with the medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan "For service in Diaspora activity".

The guests of the ceremony also enjoyed performances of musical pieces by Azerbaijani and Polish composers.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A series of events dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide is being held in Turkiye.

A ceremony to honor the memory of the Khojaly genocide victims took place in the city of Manisa, Azernews reports citing Azertag.

The event titled "We have not forgotten, we will not let you forget" was held at Celal Bayar University by the municipality of Manisa Buyuksehir together with the Federation of Turkish-Azerbaijani Associations (TADEF), the Manisa Association of Azerbaijani Culture and Solidarity.

The event participants got acquainted with a photo exhibition about the Khojaly genocide organized at the university, and were given booklets and brochures published by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The memory of those who died for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Turkiye was honored, and the National Anthems of the two fraternal countries were played.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Manisi Association of Azerbaijani Culture and Solidarity Shenturk Khoshgul and Vice-Rector of Jalal Bayar University, Professor Kadir Ay spoke about the Khojaly genocide and its tragic consequences.

Reports were heard from the rector of the Azerbaijan Bar Academy, Professor of the Faculty of Law at Baku State University Emir Aliyev and Associate Professor of Jalal Bayar University Irfan Murat Yildirim.

In conclusion, a documentary film "Tower of Torture  Shusha Prison" was also screened as part of the event.

The tragic events unfolded on February 25-26, 1992, when Armenian armed forces, with direct support from the 366th regiment of the former USSR stationed in Khankandi in Azerbaijan's Garabagh region and launched a brutal attack on Khojaly from multiple directions.

The result was devastating, with approximately 613 civilians, predominantly women and children, losing their lives in the massacre.

Additionally, around 1,000 individuals were left disabled, eight families were completely wiped out, 25 children were orphaned, and 130 children lost at least one parent.

Furthermore, 1,275 innocent people were taken captive, and the whereabouts of 150 individuals remain unknown to this day.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 February 2024 17:50 (UTC+04:00)

Experts have named the most popular cities in Russia for traveling during the February holidays. Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sochi became the most popular cities for air travel for the holidays in February 2024, Azernews reports citing Tutu.ru.

Top 10 most popular air travel destinations also include Mineralnye Vody, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Tyumen and Samara. At the same time, flights to friendly countries traditionally lead among foreign destinations: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkiye and Tajikistan.

"Russians will travel most throughout the country - cities of the Russian Federation account for 81.2 percent of air bookings and 97.56 percent of rail trips. Among the most popular air destinations are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg," the study notes.

As for train travel, during the February holidays the largest number of trips is planned to the two capitals, as well as to Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don and Adler, Yekaterinburg, Simferopol, Sochi, Nizhny Novgorod and Voronezh.

Note that 480, 000 citizens of Azerbaijan visited Russia last year, which is 45.4% more than in 2022.

Azerbaijan entered the top 10 countries in terms of the number of citizens visiting Russia. In general, the number of foreign tourists who visited Russia last year increased by about 18.6% year-on-year to 15.48 million people.

Last year, the most frequent visitors to Russia were citizens of Kazakhstan - 3.16 million people (26.7% more compared to 2022). The second line in this rating is occupied by citizens of Uzbekistan - 3.11 million people (51.8% more than in 2022). The third line is occupied by Tajikistan - 2.15 million visitors (36.1% more than in the previous year).

The next places are occupied by citizens of Kyrgyzstan (1.14 million people, 31.6% more than in 2022) and China (790 thousand people, 6.1% more than in the previous year).

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Extremely Rare Fin Whale Strands on Oregon Coast: Attacked by Orcas, Stuck in Fishing Gear, Video

Published 2/15/24 at 6:25 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Gearhart, Oregon)  Not only is sighting them along the Oregon coast somewhat rare, but actually finding one that's washed up on these shores is like a one-in-20-year event. In fact, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had no record of a fin whale stranding in Oregon in their ten years of keeping track. (All photos Seaside Aquarium)

Yet this sub-adult fine whale held a few more twists and turns when it showed up at Sunset Beach early Monday morning. Not only was this46-foot male sick and emaciated  something whale experts are very concerned about  but this member of an endangered species had signs of an orca attack and was caught in fishing gear.

The fin whale carcass remains on the beach, and authorities are still urging the public to keep away because of the possibility of disease. As it slowly decomposes, this danger gets worse, especially for pets.

When it rolled in on the surf, some witnesses thought it was still alive, said Tiffany Boothe of Seaside Aquarium, one of several responding agencies.

As the whale was washing ashore, the surf was pushing it around making some people believe that the whale was still alive at the time of stranding, said Boothe.

NOAA and its Northwest Fisheries Science Center coordinates these responses to marine mammals, but normally behind the scenes. This time, they took a very public stance immediately, which was a bit unusual. The agency pleaded on social for the public to stay away.

It turns out there was a reason for that.

Unfortunately, before authorized responders had a chance to examine the whale, someone removed the entangling gear, Boothe said. While it may have seemed like a good idea at the time, this compromised the stranding and entanglement investigation.

This impedes the investigation, causing issues in determining exactly what happened here. It is illegal to try and intervene with a marine mammal stranding, even if you are trying to help.

Michael Milstein, spokesman for NOAA, said the other responders included Portland State University, Cascadia Research Collective, Sealife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, and the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Some of those groups assisted in a necropsy on Tuesday, but results won't be back before a couple of weeks. In the meantime, experts say it was likely some disease that killed the whale, discovering it was quite ill and emaciated.

Among the most interesting of finds for the whale are the rake marks made by orcas.

Milstein said those marks were superficial, as were the abrasions from the fishing gear, so those likely did not cause the death.

Orca expert Josh McInnes (British Columbia's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Marine Mammal Research Unit and the Oregon Coast Killer Whale Monitoring Program) said it was an opportunistic attack, but not the final blow.

My thoughts are that this whale was sick and likely a group of transient killer whales sensed that and made an exploratory attack on the whale that resulted in superficial wounds but did not result in killing the whale, McInnes told Oregon Coast Beach Connection.

Fin whales can get as long as 80 feet and their blow can get up to 20 feet into the air, seen as far away as several miles. This species is among the fastest as well as largest in the world, able to scoot along at 29 mph.

They are not seen much on the Oregon coast, but occasionally spotted farther out to sea. Seaside Aquarium said it encountered one 20 years ago, and all agreed this incident was rare in a lot of ways.

We estimate about 8,000 fin whales off the West Coast but they generally stay farther offshore in deeper water, so they are rare to show up in strandings on shore, Milstein told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. MORE PHOTOS BELOW

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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Quiet Yet Hot Little U.S. Travel Destination: Rockaway Beach on N. Oregon Coast

Published 2/17/24 at 7:25 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Rockaway Beach, Oregon)  Once upon a time, this burgeoning north Oregon coast tourism destination hotspot was named Garibaldi Beach, according to history books, only somewhat later becoming named Rockaway Beach. Early in the last century, when all this coastal wonderland was barely emerging from a pure wilderness state, it was the playground of more well-to-do Oregonians. It was actually several little villages  or resorts - not entirely unlike Lincoln City was once a strip of seven tiny towns. (Above: Minnehaha entrance of Rockaway Beach, all photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

These days, it's still seven miles of captivating beaches, still a low-key travel destination that often finds you almost by yourself among those pristine mounds of sand and driftwood. It's not hard to get away from it all, especially at the extreme northern or southern ends of Rockaway Beach. And it's not difficult to see the town's past right in front of you, with those historic building facades that look a little Old West, along with that ancient choo-choo train plopped in the middle of town that serves as its visitors center.



Starting at the southern end, what is called Twin Rocks, this was a town all its own once. Here, the famed rock structures by the same name take on a different shape than they do farther north. The giant, gaping arch is not as obvious here, but the rocks themselves are much closer. More on the geology of Twin Rocks.

Twin Rocks the village has a decidedly different viewpoint on Twin Rocks the structure (Shand Ave. access).

This teensy community had a post office beginning in 1914, which then closed in 1954. The history of Rockaway Beach includes the town first getting named as such in 1909, and Twin Rocks was incorporated somewhere after 1914. Twin Rocks got its name from Twin Rocks just offshore. Those rocks, in turn, were named by the fact that from a boat on the other side of the basalt structures they looked rather identical.





The most obvious beach access in Twin Rocks in Minnehaha Street. Yet there are a couple of beach accesses even farther south, such as at Shand Ave. These can be exceptionally bereft of people and full of wonders. Shand is actually part of Twin Rocks State Park, and there is a pleasant little stream emptying into the ocean here.





Head north and most of the streets that jut off westward from the highway include lovely little beach accesses. Along Highway 101 you start to encounter more and more businesses, including several curiosity and antique shops, some made out of older buildings or former churches.





Soon you reach Ocean Edge Wayside, the most visible access in Rockaway Beach. From this vantage point, Twin Rocks shows its arch much more clearly. The big red caboose is here, and a sizable grouping of restaurants, vacation rental offices and lodgings are clustered along this part of Rockaway's downtown district.





Wander north of here and the beach accesses start to lie along N. Pacific St., which runs the length of much of this side of town. Most of the beach accesses at the northern end include large boulders  rip rap  which sometimes makes traversing them difficult. Luckily, most of these have steps of some sort.





At the very northern end, Rockaway Beach moves into Manhattan Beach and then finally dead-ends at Nedonna Beach, which includes the dramatic south jetty of the Nehalem Bay. Stand on top of this and you'll see some fascinating watery action, with the southern face being walloped by waves and the northern side  looking to the bay  considerably calmer.





On the east side of Highway 101 through this part of the north Oregon coast, numerous little lakes sit either in plain view as well as some hidden ones tucked away along roads heading away from the ocean. Spring Lake in Twin Rocks and Lake Lytle are most prominent. Lytle has a grand new fishing platform.

More details are at the Rockaway Beach, Oregon Coast Virtual Tour, Map, which contains a huge array of tourism information.

Hotels in Rockaway Beach - Where to eat - Rockaway Beach Maps and Virtual Tours







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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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Under the cover of Covid, and now in the shadow of the infamous Election Irregularities of that fated 2020 presidential election, with current emerging alleged election fraud in Nevada and Pennsylvania inconveniently slipping into the public discourse, there is proved a colluded ongoing Election Interference in the nomination of the Republican candidate, the likes of which has never occurred in our Constitutional Republic's history, albeit, the question remains: Do you support the plain-sight Election Interference of the Democratic Socialist party, employing its minions in their Propagandistic Media, and their Two Tiered Justice System?

98.25% No, I do not support Election Interference; I am a patriot unto our Constitution.1.75% Yes, I do support Election Interference; the alternative, Donald Trump, to this mentally diminished president is far worse.0% "What, me worry" if elections are rigged?
Members of the Chi Omega Sorority celebrated homecoming festivities at their Fifth Street sorority house. A current sorority member could be the first recipient of the ECU Rho Zeta Chi Omega Scholarship, which will be awarded in 2024. (Photos by Patricia Earnhardt Tyndall)

This post appears here courtesy of ECU News Services . The author of this post is Patricia Earnhardt Tyndall The bonds of sisterhood are a powerful influence for those who seek out a sorority to join in college. A group of Chi Omega sisters, led by Stephanie Bond '02, have created East Carolina University's first Panhellenic sorority-specific scholarship endowment.Bond earned a degree in fashion merchandising from the College of Health and Human Performance and a minor in business. Connections made at a campus job fair led to a superlative career in branding, marketing and product merchandising.Brands that have not faded, even slightly, in Bond's esteem are ECU and Chi Omega.Bond said.In Chi Omega, Bond found her closest friends. The sorority provided her a space she felt authentic, with sisters whom she related to immediately. Bond lived at the house her junior year and served as house manager, planning menus every week. Her passion for food, even back then, led her to organize girls' nights out to enjoy nice meals together.Bond said the ECU Rho Zeta Chi Omega Scholarship Endowment is a tribute to the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood and an unyielding pursuit of academic excellence. A high GPA was one of the things that drew her to join the Rho Zeta chapter of Chi Omega.Six sorority sisters have joined Bond as founding donors of the endowment. Donna Dees Aldredge '00, Julie Marco Finn '03, Leanna Fundora Mangum '02, Leah Fundora Holder '02, Lori Brantley Stockdale '02 and Emily Nelson Weaver '04 each have pledged to give a portion of the $25,000 to establish the core endowment. They also have established a $5,000 supplemental fund, allowing for immediate scholarship support while the endowment grows.Bond said.The first scholarship will be awarded in 2024. Active members of the Rho Zeta Chi Omega sorority, with a demonstrated financial need, are the first priority for the scholarship. Eligibility also includes relatives (gender inclusive) of Chi Omega alumnae.Bond is fueled by a sense of gratitude for the impact ECU has had on her life. Giving back is her way of ensuring that the opportunities she was provided are available to others. Education is an important cause to her, and Bond is committed to doing good for ECU.She was appointed to the ECU Foundation board of directors in 2022. She also serves on the fashion merchandising advisory board in the College of Health and Human Performance, allowing her to create opportunities for students similar to those she had at ECU. She previously initiated a board scholarship in fashion merchandising.As a Rho Zeta Chi Omega advisor for alumni relations and career development, Bond mentors students, assisting them with essential career tools like resumes, LinkedIn profiles and mock interviews. In recognition of her contributions, she received an ECU 40 Under 40 Leadership Award in 2020.Through the ECU Foundation, Bond recognized the potential of an enduring legacy of an endowment and felt the idea mirrored the emotion and experience of her Chi Omega sisterhood. The notion of being pioneers in fraternity and sorority life at ECU was compelling, too, and Bond and her Chi Omega sisters embraced the opportunity.The founding members were passionate about creating an opportunity to help someone else. They also see the scholarship as a strategy for retention at ECU.Bond's sisters have come to understand that when she is passionate about an idea, she pursues it relentlessly. This determination spurred her idea to endow a scholarship, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities for others.Bond emphasized.Bond continued,Bond is proud that the Chi Omega endowment is the first of its kind at ECU. She feels Chi Omega has paved the way and removed barriers for giving so other fraternities and sororities can consider the same opportunity.Bond said.The commitment from the founding donors will create an annual $1,000 scholarship. Bond hopes to grow the number and amount of scholarships the group can provide through fundraisers and donations from other Chi Omega alumnae.The sisters launched scholarship fundraising during homecoming alumnae events in October. The opportunity was a first step to engage with alumnae and reconnect them with Chi Omega and ECU. Bond led the way with plans for an intimate dinner fundraiser, an alumnae social and breakfast at the Chi Omega house over homecoming in support of the scholarship.Bond said.ECU's Pursue Gold campaign to raise half a billion dollars will end in December. This ambitious effort will create new paths to success for Pirates on campus, across the country and around the world. Donor gifts during the campaign will keep ECU constantly leading and ready to advance what's possible. Learn more at pursuegold.ecu.edu.
NC Department of Health and Human Services

2001 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

Ph : (919) 855-4840

: (919) 855-4840 news@dhhs.nc.gov

As part of its commitment to improve the health and well-being of North Carolina children and families, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of its Child Behavioral Health dashboard. The information shared through this publicly available tool will help the department as well as behavioral health providers, policymakers and stakeholders to identify and address gaps and disparities in behavioral health services for children.said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley.Improving child and adolescent behavioral health is a top priority for NCDHHS. North Carolina has been ranked 42nd among states with the highest prevalence and lowest access to mental health services for youth, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death for North Carolina youth ages 10-18. More than 50 children sleep in emergency departments each week due to a lack of availability or access to behavioral health services appropriate for their needs.The Child Behavioral Health dashboard builds a data and analysis infrastructure across child-serving sectors to provide a more complete picture of the state of behavioral health in North Carolina. By bringing together data from various systems, the dashboard enhances visibility into child behavioral health needs and allows for shared stakeholder accountability to identify and address opportunities for improvement.said Yvonne Copeland, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being.The dashboard tracks key behavioral health indicators, including the percent of children who have been diagnosed with depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorder. Utilization metrics provide insight on the use of emergency departments, mobile crisis services and psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) for child behavioral health care. The dashboard also includes data on the number of children who reported feelings of sadness and hopelessness as well as babies born with low or very low birth weight - a risk factor for ADHD, depression and other behavioral health conditions later in life.An important feature of the new dashboard is users can drill down the data by geography, race, ethnicity, age and gender to provide additional visibility into child behavioral health in underserved populations. These data help to shine light on gaps and disparities in the provision of services across the state, enabling NCDHHS and behavioral health leaders to improve policies, increase accountability among services providers, ensure equitable allocation of resources and continue to expand access to behavioral health care in the right places at the right time.said NCDHHS Director for Child and Family Strategic Initiatives Hanaleah Hoberman.The Child Behavioral Health dashboard is part of NCDHHS' broader strategy to improve behavioral health in North Carolina. It was informed by NCDHHS and refined through a wider group of external community partners. Metrics will continue to be updated quarterly based on data from Medicaid claims and yearly based on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. There will also be new metrics added from the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) to further enhance the dashboard in the future.The dashboard can be accessed via the NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being webpage, the department's dashboard webpage and the department initiatives webpage.If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also view the department'sresources at ncdhhs.gov/opentocare.
Meet the Co Down man whos running Boots in the Republic of Ireland

Boots Ireland now has an outlet in every county, but big changes are afoot in pharmacy

'Weve a greenfield pipeline of five or six locations for the next year or so,' says Stephen Watkins. Photo: Frank McGrath

Fearghal O'Connor Sun 25 Feb 2024 at 09:00

It was a long time coming  but when Stephen Watkins helped finally cut the ribbon on Boots Irelands new store in Carlow in December, it was a significant milestone.
Campaigners have said lessons needed to be taken from the Mobuoy dump scandal.

The cost of reversing environmental damage at the illegal dump site at Mobuoy in Derry could range from 17m to 700m, according to a newly released document.

Specialists estimate that 1.6 million tonnes of waste was dumped at the site before it shut in 2013.

The contaminated site is beside the River Faughan, which supplies 60% of Derrys drinking water.

The toxic super dump was previously branded a ticking time bomb by Foyle MLA and former Environment Minister Mark H Durkan.

He warned that if action is not taken it could become an bigger environmental crisis.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 which had been delayed.

Within that document there is a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General to the Northern Ireland Assembly which highlights a number of significant matters arising from the audit, including the disclosure of the estimated costs to remediate the contaminated illegal dump site at Mobuoy

The document notes: The estimated costs of implementing the various options range from 17m to 700m, with the preferred option having an estimated cost of 107m.

On that basis, 107m is deemed to be a reliable estimate of the potential costs of remediation.

This week the new DAERA Minister Andrew Muir told the Assembly the environmental crime that was committed at Mobuoy is simply appalling.

He told the Assembly: Huge quantities of polluting waste materials were unlawfully deposited adjacent to the River Faughan, a special area of conservation, and two kilometres upstream of Northern Ireland Water's drinking abstraction point.

My Department is committed to pursuing the perpetrators of such crime through ongoing proceedings, including, where possible, ensuring that the polluter pays through confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Safeguarding public health, ensuring safe drinking water and reducing the environmental impact of this crime is paramount.

Mr Muir spoke of a comprehensive environmental monitoring programme and advised that, to date, there has been no adverse impact on the safety of the drinking water supplied from the River Faughan.

DAERA appointed an integrated consultancy team to develop a draft optimum remediation strategy, in line with best practice.

He intends to issue the draft strategy for consultation within the next two months.

UUP leader Doug Beattie said: We find ourselves in a truly abysmal situation. Some 600,000 has been spent on that already this year.

Will the Minister outline how much it is likely to cost and for how long? Will that spend protect our wild Atlantic salmon waterways, which are in danger from leakage?

In response Mr Muir said his department does not have a cost estimate that has been assessed and approved through the required public finance processes, such as an approved business case.

He cited several reasons including ongoing criminal proceedings, the need for a public consultation on a range of remediation options for the site and a range of approval processes must be carried out to ensure that any remediation proposals are both technically sound and cost-effective.

That will require, he said, consultation with Executive colleagues and the Department of Finance in relation to affordability.

Mr Muir added: Work has been undertaken by consultants on the potential costs and will inform a draft outline business case.

I am aware that one of the options contains remediation costs of 107 million, which, on a point in time estimate, are subject to significant change to the technical development and the timescales over which any remediation might take place.

I am conscious that the costs could be much more than that. In addition, there are significant iterative processes to review and business cases to assess before they are considered by the DAERA casework committee.

That has not taken place. There is, therefore, no agreed preferred option, and there will not be one until consultations are fully completed and, informed by that, updated options are developed and presented for the next stages of scrutiny and approval.
Minister for Heritage Malcolm Noonan talking to the media at the National Economic Dialogue conference in Dublin Castle (Damien Storan/PA)

Malcolm Noonan, who is Irelands first nature minister, has said that a dedicated role to protecting Irelands biodiversity is not tokenistic and has made a difference.

Mr Noonan, who was a climate activist for 20 years before becoming a councillor, mayor and TD, said that having a strong civil society is important, as is having idealistic politicians.

Asked whether he wonders if he is on the right side since becoming a minister, he said he sometimes feels he should be out protesting outside Leinster House, rather than being in it.

Malcolm Noonan was first elected to the Dail in the most recent general election, taking the fifth and final seat in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency.

Now the Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, he claims a shift has taken place to restore Irelands biodiversity, after previous poor results.

His first efforts at change saw him involved in planting projects and river clean-ups as a young man.

I can remember being on CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) marches in a local group in Kilkenny when I was 14 or 15 and that was the start of it really, he said.

He became a member of Earthwatch, the precursor to Friends Of The Earth Ireland, and eventually became a director of Friends Of The Earth.

He protested on the streets and outside Leinster House, but was not interested in politics.

Eventually approached by the Green Party to run in the 2004 local elections, and held that council seat until he became a TD in 2020.

He said the council gave him a chance to merge activist principles with practical politics, day-to-day politics.

It is a huge transition and it involved a very steep learning curve when I did get elected in 2004 and I found out that actually this is very different.

I could make certain changes, very slow, incremental changes and I need to work in collaboration with people of different political backgrounds.

You will get, and I did because of certain positions I took on certain matters, you get ostracised, you get pushed to one side and you do feel that sense of isolation at times.

Its quite lonely being the only Green in the village, as I was for 16 years on Kilkenny County Council.

In an interview with PA in his office in Government Buildings, when asked whether he wonders if he chose the right path, he said: I question that all the time.

Were conscious with the issue around Gaza, theres times you feel youd love to be out there with them.

And at times, we feel we cant because were in government, and were the ones that are perceived not to be doing enough.

And thats really difficult, I find that difficult at times.

Demonstrators during a pro-Palestine protest as people take part in protests around Leinster House, Dublin, as TDs return to the Dail following the Christmas break (PA)

In his role in the three-party coalition, he said that creating Irelands first minister for nature was significant and a role that should continue in other governments.

Its not tokenistic, because it has been backed up with action. I would hope that its a title that will be held onto for future governments  I think its critically important.

Almost half of Irelands most protected habitats are in ongoing decline, particularly marine, peatland, grassland and woodland habitats, with only 2% improving over a 12-year period.

Over half of native Irish plant species have also declined in range or abundance.

He said the National Parks and Wildlife Service had been bolstered under his tenure and Ireland had taken a strong position on the EU Nature Restoration Law.

Theres often a feeling in activists who are working in the conservation-nature field that it is the poor relation of the whole climate agenda.

The Dail did declare a climate and biodiversity crisis, but the focus has been on the climate side of it both are inextricably linked.

And nature offers us a lot of solutions around climate crisis as well.

Asked how many more national parks Ireland needs, Mr Noonan said: I cant put a figure on the number of national parks, there are certainly areas were looking at that might potentially add to that network.

Minister for transport Eamon Ryan (right) and Minister for Heritage Malcolm Noonan talking to the media at the National Economic Dialogue conference in Dublin Castle (PA)

He also said that the polarised conversation between farmers and climate was starting to level out in Ireland.

He said he doesnt see how a push for biodiversity should result in a clash with farmers, saying there had been a meeting of minds and interest in the Life projects around Donegal and Mayo as well as the Farm Plan Scheme.

Parish halls, community halls are filled with farmers interested in taking part, so I think the critical thing they want is certainty good advice and a steady income stream from their activities.

I think it has to be voluntary.

You cant compel or force farmers to do things they dont want to do.

Primarily theyre running a business and not all of them are full-time farmers. They need to be able to make a living from the land.

Asked about the Green Partys chances in the next elections, he said: Weve always been a party that wants to be in government, regardless of taking a potential hit in a subsequent election.

We have no fear of that.

When asked if Mr Noonan is concerned about losing his seat, he said he is not.

If I get re-elected I get re-elected, and if I dont get re-elected, Ill go back outside the gates  and protest, he joked.
Shadow international development minister Lisa Nandy said she thought many MPs will have been in touch with the Speaker to express concerns about their safety in recent weeks.

The Labour MP told Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that MPs were receiving threats on multiple issues in multiple directions.

Ms Nandy said: I think therell be many, many MPs who will have been in contact with the Speaker over the course of the last few months, and particularly in the last couple of weeks, as tensions were heightened  expressing concerns about their safety.

The Wigan MP added: Weve had incidents over the last few months where people, including me, have been accosted on the streets and surrounded and filmed.

Over the 14 years that Ive been in Parliament, Ive watched this get worse and worse.

Ms Nandy said she was absolutely certain no-one in Labour threatened to withdraw support from Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle over Wednesdays motion on a ceasefire in Gaza.

None of the senior figures in Labour would ever dream of threatening the Speaker, Ms Nandy said.

Sir Lindsay, who has faced calls to resign after going against convention during the SNPs Opposition Day debate on a ceasefire, said his motivation for widening Wednesdays discussion was fuelled by concern about MPs security after intimidation suffered by some parliamentarians.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that Sir Lindsay has written to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to seek more funding for the scheme to protect politicians by installing security measures at MPs homes and constituency offices.

The newspaper added that a rising number of politicians have been assessed to be at risk and are being provided with close protection by private security personnel.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Times reported that three female politicians, including representatives of the Conservative and Labour parties, have been given taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars.

The newspaper reported that the three MPs, who have not been named, had their security upgraded after a risk assessment was carried out with support from the Ravec committee, which is responsible for the security of the royal family and senior politicians.

It comes as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign defended the right to lobby MPs in large numbers, amid reports the group wanted so many protesters to turn up that Parliament would have to lock the doors.

The group said the issue of MPs security was serious but should not be used to shield MPs from democratic accountability.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal said thousands of people were shamefully denied entry into Parliament on Wednesday as they attempted to lobby MPs to vote in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza.

He added that the group was not involved in the projection of a from the river to the sea message on the building, but was pleased to see it.

Mr Jamal said the group does not call for protests outside MPs homes and believed parliamentarians have a right to have their privacy respected.

The Times had reported that Mr Jamal told a crowd of demonstrators in the build-up to the protest on Wednesday: We want so many of you to come that they will have to lock the doors of Parliament itself.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said MPs had been verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted in recent weeks as protests were hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism.

In a statement, Mr Sunak said: The events of recent weeks are but the latest in an emerging pattern which should not be tolerated.

Legitimate protests hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism, elected representatives verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted, and antisemitic tropes beamed onto our own Parliament building.

And in Parliament this week a very dangerous signal was sent that this sort of intimidation works. It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain.

Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation or fall into polarised camps who hate each other.

The Governments political violence tsar has said police should have the powers to disperse protests around Parliament, MPs offices and council chambers that they deem to be threatening.

Baron Walney, the Governments adviser on political violence and disruption, said on Friday that the aggressive intimidation of MPs by mobs was being mistaken for an expression of democracy.
Dan Kaine, Matt Hooper and Mike OHalloran, travelled to Kyiv to sleep outside in sleeping bags for charity (Dan Kaine/PA)

Three British military veterans heard the sound of fighter jets and air raid sirens after sleeping a night outside in Kyiv to raise money for homeless Ukrainians.

Dan Kaine, 44, Matt Hooper, 44, and Mike OHalloran, 53, travelled to the Ukrainian capital to sleep outside in sleeping bags on Friday and Saturday  within a secure compound to avoid breaking curfew laws.

The charity sleep-out aims to raise awareness of homeless and displaced Ukrainians living in the war zone while marking the two-year anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion, which began on February 24 2022.

The men, whose faces and military career details cannot be shared for security reasons, are fundraising for the charity RE:ACT Disaster Response.

Military veterans Dan Kaine, Matt Hooper and Mike OHalloran spent night one of their two-night sleep-out outside in Kyiv (Dan Kaine/PA)

Mr Kaine described the trios first night in a post on LinkedIn and said it began with the sound of fighter jets and air raid sirens on Friday.

The three men were escorted at around 7.30pm by Kyivs chief of police in Mykhailivska to the secure compound where they spent the night.

Hours later, Mr Kaine saw a flash alert and described the moment, writing on LinkedIn: At 21.47 hours the air raid sirens sounded across the capital, closely followed by an internal flash alert to inform us that 16 Shahed drones were in the air on a trajectory to hit targets in Kyiv.

This was immediately preceded by the sound of fighter jets taking off from Kyiv Airport.

The veterans saw another flash alert at around 4.47am to indicate Russian missiles had been destroyed by Ukraine.

Mr Kaine explained: At 4.47 hours another flash alert had been received to inform us that overnight, 23 of 31 Shahed drones had been destroyed by Ukraine, meaning eight, unfortunately, made it to their targets; killing and injuring innocent civilians across the country.

The men slept in sub-zero temperatures with only a sleeping bag and a mat to make it as realistic as possible to experience what homeless people are going through outside in a war zone, Mr Kaine, based in London, previously told the PA news agency.

He explained: The rain then started at approximately 22.00 hours, with a noticeable drop in outside temperature, which when combined with wind chill, reduced it to just below zero degrees Celsius.

The roar of traffic from the highway, which skirts the river, merged with the gushes of wind blowing through the trees.

The noise was amplified further when combined with the sound of each drop of rain which echoed through the waterproof covers protecting each of our sleeping bags.

Mr Kaine added that the group struggled to sleep due to being soaking wet and attempting to keep warm amid freezing temperatures.

At 05.00 hours, all three of us were wide awake. The ground was soaking wet, and the wind still blowing through the trees, he said.

Getting out of a warm sleeping bag into the cold is never a nice feeling!

The trio will be using sleeping bags and mats to make the experience as realistic as possible (Dan Kaine/PA)

Ukrainian police officers patrolled the area where the three veterans slept, which was in a secure compound to avoid breaking the wartime curfew.

Due to the strict war curfew in place across Ukraine from midnight to 6.00 hours, the police chief instructed two police officers to check on us periodically, which they kindly did, he said.

Mr Kaine described the night as uncomfortable and unenjoyable but said this achieved the fundraisers purpose to raise awareness about the conditions homeless Ukrainians face in their war-torn country.

Being military veterans and no strangers to sleeping outside in war zones, Im sure none of us mind admitting that even for us it was not a comfortable or enjoyable night, he said.

But, thats the point of myself, Mike and Matthew doing this fundraiser.

He added: This experience will serve to raise funds for, and awareness of the struggles that thousands of civilians continue to face by being forced from their homes, in the dead of night, in below-freezing temperatures.

The fundraiser has raised nearly 6,000 of its 10,000 target.

To find out more, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/veterans-sleepout-in-kyiv-to-raise-needed-funds
More than 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.
A crow sits on an election poster in Minsk, Belarus, on Nov. 13, 2019. (File/AP)

Belarusians were casting their votes on Sunday in tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections that seem set to continue the rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.

Mr Lukashenko has presided over the former Soviet bloc nation for nearly 30 years and has frequently accused the West of trying to use the vote to undermine his government and destabilise the nation of 9.5 million people.

Sundays vote has gone ahead despite calls for a boycott from the opposition that dismissed the balloting as a senseless farce.

Most candidates belong to the four officially registered parties  Belaya Rus, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Party of Labour and Justice  which all support Mr Lukashenkos policies. About a dozen other parties were denied registration last year.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, centre (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile in Lithuania after challenging Mr Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, urged voters to boycott the elections.

There are no people on the ballot who would offer real changes because the regime only has allowed puppets convenient for it to take part, she said in a video statement.

We are calling to boycott this senseless farce, to ignore this election without choice.

Ms Tikhanovskayas video address was broadcast in public places throughout Belarus on Saturday after opposition activists were able to gain access to some 2,000 screens used for advertising.

Viasna Human Rights Centre reported on Sunday that a number of employees at the company that owned the screens have been arrested in the Belarusian capital Minsk.

Sundays vote is the first election in Belarus since the contentious 2020 vote that handed Mr Lukashenko his sixth term in office and triggered an unprecedented wave of mass demonstrations.

Protests swept the country for months, bringing hundreds of thousands into the streets. More than 35,000 people were arrested.

Thousands were beaten in police custody, and hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organisations were shut down and outlawed.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (Peter Byrne/PA)

Mr Lukashenko relied on subsidies and political support from main ally Russia to survive the protests, allowing Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

The opposition says the early balloting that began on Tuesday offers fertile ground for the vote to be manipulated, with ballot boxes unprotected for five days.

Election officials said nearly a quarter of the countrys voters cast ballots during the first three days of early voting.

The Viasna Human Rights Centre said students, soldiers, teachers and other civil servants were forced to participate in early voting.

Belarus for the first time refused to invite observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to monitor the election.

Since 1995, not a single election in Belarus has been recognised as free and fair by the OSCE.

The OSCE said the decision not to allow the agencys monitors deprived the country of a comprehensive assessment by an international body.

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, it said in a statement.

In a statement, a US State Department official described the elections as a sham.

The United States condemns the Lukashenko regimes sham parliamentary and local elections that concluded today in Belarus. The elections were held in a climate of fear under which no electoral processes could be called democratic, said spokesman Matthew Miller.

The United States again calls on the Lukashenko regime to end its crackdown, release all political prisoners, and open dialogue with its political opponents. The Belarusian people deserve better.

Election officials said on Sunday that more than 40% of the voters had cast ballots during early voting from Tuesday to Saturday.

As of 9pm local time, turnout was 72.98%, meeting the 50% threshold needed under Belarusian law in order for the vote to stand, according to the Belarusian Central Election Commission.

Turnout in Minsk was notably lower than in other Belarusian regions, reaching only 61.54%. By comparison, the area with the next lowest turnout, the wider Minsk region, recorded 74.20%.
An Israeli military offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah could be delayed somewhat if a deal for a weekslong ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is reached, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, but claimed that total victory in Gaza is weeks away once the offensive begins.

Mr Netanyahu confirmed to CBS that a deal is in process, with no details.

Israeli media reported that mediators were making progress on an agreement for a ceasefire and release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza as well as Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Several Israeli media outlets, citing unnamed officials, said the War Cabinet tacitly approved it.

Talks resumed on Sunday in Qatar, Egypts state-run Al Qahera TV reported, citing an Egyptian official as saying further discussions would follow in Cairo with the aim of achieving the ceasefire and release.

Meanwhile, Israel is developing plans for expanding its offensive against the Hamas militant group to Rafah on the Gaza-Egypt border, where more than half the besieged territorys population of 2.3 million have sought refuge.

Humanitarian groups warn of a catastrophe, with Rafah the main entry point for aid, and the US and other allies have said Israel must avoid harming civilians.

Mr Netanyahu has said he will convene the Cabinet this week to approve operational plans for action in Rafah, including the evacuation of civilians.

Once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion, not months, Mr Netanyahu told CBS. If we dont have a deal, well do it anyway. It has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach.

He said that four of the six remaining Hamas battalions are concentrated in Rafah.

A Palestinian woman reacts after an Israeli strike on a house in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC that US President Joe Biden had not been briefed on the Rafah plan and said: We believe that this operation should not go forward until or unless we see (a plan to protect civilians).

Heavy fighting continued in parts of northern Gaza, the first target of the offensive. Residents have reported days of heavy fighting in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.

Were trapped, unable to move because of the heavy bombardment, resident Ayman Abu Awad said.

He said starving residents have been forced to eat animal fodder and search for food in demolished buildings. Northern Gaza has been largely cut off from aid, and the UNs World Food Programme suspended deliveries last week.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN agency for Palestinians, said they have not been able to deliver food to northern Gaza since January 23, adding on X, formerly Twitter, that our calls to send food aid have been denied.

Israel said 245 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Sunday  less than half the amount that entered daily before the war.

A senior official from Egypt, which along with Qatar is a mediator between Israel and Hamas, has said the draft ceasefire deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, minors and older people.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, said the proposed six-week pause in fighting would include allowing hundreds of trucks to bring desperately needed aid into Gaza every day, including the north.

He said both sides agreed to continue negotiations during the pause for further releases and a permanent ceasefire.

Negotiators face an unofficial deadline of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around March 10, a period that often sees heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Hamas says it has not been involved in the latest proposal developed by the US, Egypt and Qatar, but the reported outline largely matches its earlier proposal for the first phase of a truce.

Hamas has said it will not release all the remaining hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraws its forces from the territory, and is demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including senior militants  conditions Mr Netanyahu has rejected.
Serbia has sent a note of protest after Croatias foreign minister described President Aleksandar Vucic as a Russian satellite in the Balkans.

It was the latest spat between the two neighbours, which have been at odds for most of the time since the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman told N1 television on Saturday that Mr Vucic must decide which side he is on, Russia or the European Union, because it is impossible and uncomfortable sitting on two chairs at the same time.

He shouldnt have a big dilemma, Mr Grlic-Radman said, saying that Mr Vucic can remain Moscows ally but malign Russian influence that could undermine the stability of the Western Balkans will not be allowed.

Croatias foreign minister Gordan Grlic-Radman (Darko Vojinovic/AP)

The populist leader and other Serbian officials reacted with anger.

The Croatian minister not only brutally interferes in the internal affairs of Serbia, but as usual he lies and insults the Serbian people and threatens its citizens, Mr Vucic said on Instagram.

Grlic-Radman is right about one thing, maybe I am someones satellite  but I have never been anyones servant, which cannot be said for Grlic-Radman.

In its protest note, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said that it expects that in the future, Croatian officials will refrain from statements that represent interference in the internal affairs of Serbia, and will lead a policy of reconciliation and good-neighbourly relations between the two states.

Reacting to the protest note, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs rejected the allegation that Croatia is interfering in Serbias internal matters, pointing out that the Croatian official stated the fact about Serbias nonalignment with the foreign and security policy of the European Union regarding the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

As we have already pointed out, no one can be a candidate for EU membership and use all the benefits of that, while unprincipledly and calculatedly avoiding condemnation of the Russian aggression and EU policy related to it, the Croatian ministry said.

Mr Vucics government has maintained close ties with Moscow despite its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Serbian autocratic leader has often boasted about his close personal relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Serbias formal bid to join the European Union.

Serbia has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia, a traditional Slavic ally, while allowing Moscow propaganda outlets such as RT and Sputnik to spread their narrative throughout the Balkans.

EU officials have repeatedly said that Serbia must align its policies with the bloc if it really wants to join, and warned of the increasing Russian influence in the war-torn region.

Croatia, which is an EU and Nato member, and Serbia have been involved in a series of disputes between their officials in recent years. The two countries have lately also been involved in a mini arms race that analysts believe could further escalate the tensions in the region.
Vulnerable householder who was exploited by man linked to the UDA given suspended sentence

Quinn brothers Richard, Mark and Jason were killed when their home in Ballymoney was petrol bombed on July 12, 1998. Older brother Lee (behind) was staying with his grandmother on the night of the fire (Pic: Pacemaker Belfast)

Police at the Quinn home after the fire (Photo by Brian Little/PA Wire)

A woman coerced into storing bullets and a bomb-making guide for terrorists did so because she had seen the house fire that killed the Quinn brothers, a court has been told.

Jennifer Lennox, formerly of Carnany Avenue in Ballymoney, admitted having more than 100 rounds of ammunition, 50 balaclavas and instructions on making the ingredients for a blast bomb.

Defence counsel John OConnor told Antrim Crown Court his client had lived near a number of UDA members and kept the items out of fear after witnessing her neighbours property being set on fire.

The property referred to is the home where the Catholic Quinn brothers  Richard (11), Mark (9) and eight-year-old Jason  were murdered in a sectarian arson attack on July 12, 1998, the height of the Drumcree dispute.

Quinn brothers Richard, Mark and Jason were killed when their home in Ballymoney was petrol bombed on July 12, 1998. Older brother Lee (behind) was staying with his grandmother on the night of the fire (Pic: Pacemaker Belfast)

The court was told earlier this week that Lennox came to the attention of police following the attempted murder of Paul Fleming (39), who was blasted with a double-barreled shotgun on the doorstep of his home in Coleraine in 2020.

A man known only as Witness A contacted police to say he had seen a man stuffing an Adidas backpack into a hedge near the scene of the shooting.

When it was retrieved by the PSNI, officers found the shotgun, a handgun, a magazine of ammunition, two spent shotgun cartridges and three balaclavas.

After the items were sent for tests, scientists found mixed DNA profiles on two of the balaclavas  one from an unknown man and the other from Lennox.

Read more How barbaric murder of Quinn boys pulled NI back from the brink

Paramilitary Crime Task Force officers who searched her home in November 2021 found 48 balaclavas in a holdall in a downstairs cupboard, 118 rounds of ammunition in three socks, the bomb-making guide in a chest of drawers and five bullets lying loose on the floor.

She admitted knowing what the items were, but claimed papers seized by the police were baking recipes.

She also said her DNA was on the balaclavas as she had been asked to sew the mouths shut.

Lennox claimed that a man linked to the UDA, but who she would not name, had come to her house and ordered to keep the items.

The judge said: She told police she knew (he) had associations with the UDA and she believed they had come to her because she was vulnerable.

He added Lennox seemed genuinely upset and had been tearful in police interviews.

Her 11-month prison sentence was suspended for three years.
EXCLUSIVE | INLA now a million-pound drugs cartel despite raids

Gang's criminality flourishing through supplying and taxing dealers despite taskforce raids

INLA gunmen at the funeral of Marty McElkerney

Sunday Life Investigations Sun 25 Feb 2024 at 08:00

Police chiefs believe an INLA gang based in west Belfast has made more than 1m from drug dealing in the past year.
Of course well fight the case, say pair charged with targeting John Finucane and Belfast councillor

Sinn Fein's former headquarters in west Belfast (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

From left, Christopher Maxwell and Finton Geraghty outside court

These are the two men charged with making hoax bomb threats to Sinn Fein members at their homes and party offices.

Finton Geraghty (45) and 46-year-old Christopher Maxwell appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast last week, facing a raft of charges in connection with incidents in 2019 and 2020.

Geraghty is accused of making false claims about explosives being left at the homes of North Belfast MP John Finucane and city councillor Seanna Walsh.

Maxwell was allegedly behind a bogus alert about a bomb left at Connolly House, Sinn Feins former headquarters in west Belfast.

Both are also accused of involvement in a similar incident at the site of an Eleventh Night bonfire.

The pair attended a pre-trial hearing at Laganside Courthouse in Belfast on Tuesday.

While they are yet to enter pleas, Geraghty protested their innocence outside court, saying It wasnt us and of course they intended to plead not guilty to the charges.

Geraghty, of Ivy Hill in Lisburn, is charged with two counts of communicating false information causing belief of an explosion.

Prosecutors allege he contacted a priest on July 1, 2019, with the intention of inducing a bogus belief that bombs were present at the homes of Mr Finucane and Mr Walsh.

Sinn Fein MP John Finucane

He is also accused of false communication to a PSNI operator 10 days later that an explosive device was at Avoniel Leisure Centre in east Belfast.

Maxwell, from Blackstaff Mews in the city, is charged with two counts of communicating false information causing belief of an explosion, and one of placing an article causing a bomb hoax.

The allegations against him relate to the incident at the leisure centre on July 11, 2019, and another fake warning the following year.

Maxwell also allegedly communicated bogus information to a Sinn Fein member of staff that an explosive device had been left at Connolly House, and placed a hoax article at the party offices on August 9, 2020.

A preliminary enquiry into the case against both men was put on hold amid ongoing efforts to obtain more information on a report from a voice expert.

Geraghtys solicitor Mark Austin told the court he was still waiting on details requested from the prosecution earlier this month.

Mr Austin also indicated that once the information was obtained, he may make an application to argue his client has no case to answer.

District Judge Steven Keown adjourned the case against the pair until next month.
Composer reflects on his decades in the music industry during interview with Gerry Kelly

Phil Coulter explained how his song got picked up by Elvis Presley

Phil Coulter has revealed he only discovered by chance that Elvis Presley had recorded one of his songs.

In an emotional interview with former UTV presenter Gerry Kelly, he also told how it took him close to a year to complete the lyrics for The Town I Loved So Well because he didnt want it to become a rebel song.

The 81-year-old Eurovision winner disclosed it was often harder for him to play a concert in Derry than New Yorks Carnegie Hall because so many memories came out of the woodwork.

In the latest episode of Conversations With Gerry Kelly, which goes out on Wednesday night on the community TV channel NVTV and on Sky Channel 588, the presenter described Coulter as the greatest Irish composer of his generation, having won 100 silver, gold and platinum discs, five Ivor Novello awards and a Meteor award, as well as a Grammy nomination.

Phil and his wife Geraldine (Picture by Martin McKeown)

Coulter recalled how he was raised in a terraced house in Derry and grew up listening to the music of Elvis, Fats Domino and Little Richard on a beaten up radio in an attic bedroom he shared with his two brothers.

When he went to Queens University to study music, he played in a band called Phil Coulter and the Gleemen, who released a song called Fooling Time.

We strode about Queens like rock stars, said Coulter, who was thrilled when a version of the song was recorded by The Capitol, one of Irelands leading showbands at the time, with whom he once played for the happiest hour of my life at a lock-in at a hotel in Bundoran.

He later got a job writing songs in Londons Denmark Street  known in the music business as Tin Pan Alley  where he learned his craft and had to record six demos every week.

His big break came in 1967 when he and Scottish composer Bill Martin wrote the Eurovision-winning Puppet on a String for Sandie Shaw. He also came close to victory the following year with Cliff Richards Congratulations.

The financial rewards of these hits got the bank manager off Coulters back and his mother off her knees from praying her son wouldnt starve in London.

Coulter played a number of his best-known songs on the piano during the show, with members of the audience joining him in a singalong.

One of his next moves after Eurovision was to write for The Bay City Rollers, whose songs were aimed at children who were fans of American acts such as the Jackson Five and the Osmonds.

Coulter said: The Rollers werent the most talented of lads, but they had this conviction that it was only a matter of time before they were going to become stars. In the studio they werent much cop. For most of the hits it was session musicians who were playing the guitars, and it was Les McKeown, the frontman, and me doing the vocals.

He admitted songs like Shang-A-Lang were never going to win awards for their use of the English language.

But Coulter added he had to choose his words very carefully for songs like Scorn Not His Simplicity, about his first son, who was born with Down syndrome.

He said for years he thought the version by Luke Kelly of the Dubliners was the definitive interpretation, but it was surpassed by Sinead OConnor, who died last year.

She had asked Coulter if she could record it for an album he was producing for her.

Playing it himself during the interview, it was clear he still found it tough to sing.

But the musician said The Old Man, a song about his father, was often a bigger challenge to sing, especially in Derry.

He added: I can see my dad, who always came to my gigs, up in the first row of the balcony. That sometimes catches me out.

All the memories come out of the woodwork with lost members of your family, and when youre in your home place, theyre the kind of things that crowd in on you.

Speaking about The Town I Loved so Well, which he played at the funeral of John Hume, he said the melody was comparatively easy to write but the words took him most of a year to get right because he didnt want it to become a rebel song  something he described as the last thing we needed.

Phil Coulter and John Hume (Picture by Jeff Harvey/HR Photo)

The Troubles were killing spirits everywhere. People were walking around Derry with slumped shoulders and an air of resignation, Coulter explained.

He talked of the impact of hearing that a friends child who drew a painting of a Nativity scene said the black thing above the stable was a helicopter.

Coulter agreed that Elvis Presley singing his song My Boy would be seen by many people as the pinnacle of his career.

Theres not a songwriter on the planet who wouldnt have sold his children into slavery to get Elvis Presley to sing one of his songs, he said, adding that he actually wrote the track for the Irish actor Richard Harris.

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Months later, he was woken in the middle of the night by a phone call from Las Vegas from songwriter Albert Hammond, who called him a lucky b*****d because he had just heard Elvis singing his song on stage.

That was the first I was aware of it, said Coulter, who later went from writing songs and producing records to appearing in concert after the release of two albums of Irish music, Classic Tranquillity and Sea of Tranquillity.

He admitted they changed my life and are still among the best-selling Irish CDs of all time.

Coulter said he had no plans to retire because he didnt want to stay at home all day drinking cups of tea, reading the paper and driving my wife crazy.

He quoted his hero Clint Eastwood, who he said was still making high-calibre movies in his 90s and who, when asked how he was still able to work, said: I dont let the old man in.

Phil Coulter appears on Conversations with Gerry Kelly at 10pm on Wednesday on Sky 588, NVTV Channel 7 on Freeview and Virgin Media 159. The programme will be repeated next Saturday at 10.30pm
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands during their meeting at the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany, Feb. 16, 2024.

China has the worlds farthest-reaching diplomatic network, closely followed by the United States, as the two superpowers and economic rivals compete for influence across the globe, according to a new study by an Australian think-tank.

Beijing and Washington rank No. 1 and 2 on the Lowy Institutes 2024 Global Diplomacy Index, published Sunday, and are at the forefront of a diplomatic rush to the vast region of the Pacific made up of small island nations.

Beijing has a bigger diplomatic footprint than the U.S. in Africa, East Asia and the Pacific islands, the report said. It also has a bigger presence in East Asia, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Sydney-based institute said.

Washingtons reach is more extensive in Europe, North and Central America and South Asia, with the same number of diplomatic posts as Beijing in the Middle East and South America, the survey by the Sydney-based institute found.

China and the United States lead the world, by some margin, in the size of their diplomatic networks. Beijing tops the Index with 274 posts in its global network, followed closely by Washington with 271, Lowy said in its report.

Chinas rise to the top spot was rapid. In 2011, Beijing lagged behind Washington by 23 diplomatic posts. By 2019, China had surpassed the United States in having the worlds largest diplomatic network. In 2021, China pulled further ahead, leading the United States by eight posts, but by 2023, the gap narrowed again to China ahead by just three posts.

Lionel Aingimea, Naurus minister of foreign affairs and trade, gives a speech after signing a joint communique on the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nauru, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, in Beijing, Jan. 24, 2024. [Andrea Verdelli/Pool via Reuters]

Chinas expansion has come at the expense of Taiwan, as Beijing courts lower-income nations with offers of infrastructure, economic and administrative assistance, Lowy reported.

In January, Nauru switched diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing. The move by the Pacific island country reduced Taiwans diplomatic allies to 12 nations, including the Vatican, Paraguay and Eswatini.

The index showed a rapid growth in diplomatic missions in the Pacific islands, seen as key geopolitical allies by the worlds two leading superpowers. Since 2017, the Pacific region has been home to the fastest rate of outside nations pushing to establish diplomatic posts there, Lowy said.

The Global Diplomacy Index shows that governments continue to invest in diplomacy to project power and achieve their interests, said Ryan Neelam, the director of the Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program at the Lowy Institute.

The ongoing rivalry between the United States and China is reflected in the superpowers dominance in the 2024 rankings, while geopolitical competition has propelled Asia and the Pacific into focus.

The index was launched in 2016. This year, it covers the diplomatic networks of 66 countries and territories in Asia, the Group of 20 nations and members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Data was collected between July and November last year.

This report was produced by Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews.
When the report of an avalanche in the Bridger Mountains was called in to Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue last year, the clock started ticking.

If buried in the snow, avalanche victims have only minutes before running out of oxygen.

Since it was unclear whether people were in the area when the slide occurred, instead of exposing ground crews to a possibly dangerous situation, the countys drone team was called in to quickly make an initial assessment. When no injured skiers or snowboarders were observed using the drones camera and thermal imaging, the ground rescuers could stand down.

Tech help

This is just one example of how technology is helping one of the states busiest recreation regions respond to an increasing number of calls for help. Last year that added up to 130 missions, one-third of which were searches and the rest rescues.

The drone has a lot of different uses, said Eric Mullen, drone team manager for the Gallatin County Sheriff SAR. Its definitely a value add for most search and rescue applications.

We use it for operations oversight, he added. Giving situational awareness for command staff during an operation, to helping search for subjects and getting eyes on subjects that are injured.

In its annual report, Gallatin County touted its quicker response capabilities thanks to drones.

We also have noted a decrease in search times over the years. There are two likely causes for this: first, searchers are able to communicate in real time, which helps search efficiency; and secondly, drone capabilities are increasing at an exponential rate. The use of drones allows searchers to get eyes on a lot more ground much more quickly than on foot, or even in helicopters.

Quickly covering ground

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also more commonly called drones, are remote-controlled aircraft that can carry cameras, as well as thermal imaging devices. Modern devices feature several rotors used to lift and steer the vehicles, which range in size from a foot wide to 4 feet wide. Larger drones are capable of carrying up 40 pounds.

Although unmanned aircraft date back to the 1930s, it wasnt until 2006 that the Federal Aviation Administration issued commercial drone permits, thereby lifting some of the regulations that had been placed on drones flown for recreation.

Since then, UAV capabilities, usage and the technology has steadily expanded.

Drones can cover ground quickly and zero in on individuals in need of help, which in turn helps rescuers get on scene faster and guarantee better patient outcomes, the SAR wrote in its 2023 report.

Drones have been used by Gallatin County Sheriff SAR since 2021. An eight-person team oversees their deployment and operations. The teams most advanced drone has a range of up to 2 miles in treed, mountainous terrain. Flight time is limited to about a half hour to 45 minutes, depending on conditions, before the batteries run low. With five sets of batteries and chargers, however, flight time can be extended to as much as three hours, Mullen said.

The capabilities, or what it should or could be used for, are a very new arena, he said. Every time we use it we find that its incredibly useful for search and rescue. I think well keep developing what we use it for and how it can be used in the future.

Eyes in the sky

Drone maker DJI Enterprise touts drones for search and rescue as providing the ability to scan vast areas and help pinpoint individuals in distress thanks to high-resolution digital and thermal sensors that enable searching in low-light conditions.

For some things, like  getting eyes on a cliff, that wouldnt be possible without a drone, Mullen said, recalling a call out for an injured climber in Hyalite Canyon.

Drones are also now commonly used in video production, agriculture and aerial surveying of power, oil and gas lines. On the low end, toy drone prices can start at $30, but for professionally equipped UAVs $3,000 can be a base price climbing to as much as $16,000.

After a dogged search, Gallatin County purchased a Matrice 300 that retails for $13,700 and can be operated at temperatures of minus 4 degrees. With 4k broadcast quality the images are stored on the camera as well as fed back to a display case where it can be recorded or transferred to other screens.

So the controllers that the pilots have have a small window in them that theyre flying off of, but the feed coming from the vehicle to those controllers are getting broadcast or directly plugged into a display screen, like a (24-inch) TV screen, Mullen explained. So multiple parties can see the live feed.

Biking to the rescue

The Gallatin County team, which has 154 variously trained members, is also employing ebikes to speed rescuers to the scene of accidents and injuries.

Mark Bradford, who works for the county team out of the resort community of Big Sky, said they had the idea to try electric bicycles a couple of years ago. They used to employ motorcycles to ride into the backcountry, but narrow trails, noise from the engines and encounters with fallen trees can make dirt bikes less desirable.

MTNBEX, a Bozeman-based firm, builds the bikes the Big Sky rescuers utilize  beefy, fat tire bikes with a full suspension. Unlike like pedal-assist bikes, which can make riders feel superhuman in their ability to ride uphill, these bikes feature a throttle mode where no pedaling is required. Thats essential for Bradford and his team since they encounter narrow, rough, deeply rutted horseback trails where pedals easily collide with the sides of the ruts.

We really like them, he said. They are a good extra tool.

He also said the ebikes are more simple to operate than a motorcycle, as well as lighter. MTNBEXs models weigh 83 to 89 pounds. The batteries are advertised as capable of use for 60 miles, but that can depend on trail conditions. So the rescuers carry an extra battery, just in case. The cost was $7,500 apiece.

Bradford said the bikes are deployed for quick access into the woods, sometimes for hiker or horseback riding injuries, cutting access time in half compared to hiking in. On Forest Service roads, the bikes can cruise at up to 30 mph. In addition to the throttle-powered drive, the ebikes have 12 speeds like a more traditional pedal bicycle.

We still cant take the injured person out, he noted, requiring a litter or helicopter to evacuate patients, but he is looking into a litter with a wheel that could be powered by an electric motor to help ease longer treks.

The double edge

There are three classes of ebikes. Class 1 are the pedal-assist version with no throttle and a maximum speed of about 20 mph. Class 2 have a throttle assist and 20 mph max. Class 3 are pedal-assist only with no throttle and a maximum speed of 28 mph.

One of the arguments against ebikes on some remote trails is that they can get less-experienced riders farther from trailheads and into possibly dangerous situations. Bradford said he hasnt seen that situation yet in the Big Sky area, although he knows hardcore riders who are now traveling 20 miles instead of 10 by using ebikes.

Technological advances always seem to have this double edge. Cellphones can allow lost hikers to call for help, but then recreationists may rely on the phone out of panic rather than need. GPS devices can help pinpoint individuals seeking assistance, but they may also guide them to a place they are too inexperienced or ill-equipped to visit. Snowmobiles and ATVs have become more powerful and equipped to carry riders farther into the backcountry, but riders arent always prepared for weathering a night out if theres a mechanical breakdown.

Montana's wild places have a gravitas that makes solitude tempting, but in being alone we are taking a risk in exchange for that peace, the SAR wrote in its annual report. It is always safer to have a friend along. And if you ultimately chose to go alone, be sure to make sure someone knows your plan and is updated if you change your plan.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Generally cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Israeli officials to meet on a proposed pause in Gaza while the Cabinet is set to OK a Rafah plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says officials will meet on the next steps after the latest talks with the United States, Egypt and Qatar in search of a deal on pausing the fighting in Gaza
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In the longstanding U.S.-Israel alliance, the former has always been regarded as the more senior partner. The U.S., after all, is an economic and military powerhouse. Its the biggest supplier of military aid to Israel, providing $3.8 billion in assistance per year. It also acts as Israels chief defender at international forums such as the U.N. Security Council, where Washington routinely uses its veto power to block resolutions critical of Israel.

While this dynamic has earned the U.S. the designation of being Israels closest ally, it hasnt always worked to its own interests in the region. Growing frustration within the Biden administration over the Israeli governments handling of its months-long war to root out Hamas from Gaza has spilled into public view in recent weeks, with reports of President Biden privately referring to his Israeli counterpart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an asshole whose handling of the war he has been publicly derided as being over the top.

But despite Washingtons considerable leverage on Israel, the Biden administration has so far proven itself seemingly unable, or unwilling, to wield ita reality that hasnt gone unnoticed at home or abroad. Calls to introduce conditions on U.S. aid to Israel have grown within Congress. Some U.S. allies have urged Washington to do the same.

Read More: What to Know About Israels Impending Offensive in Rafah

When the United States of America stands up and says something publicly, it matters, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Monday in response to a question by the Associated Presss Matt Lee, who asked how the U.S. has used its leverage beyond simply wagging its finger. We have seen the government of Israel respond to itnot always in the way we want, not always to the degree or the level that we want, Miller continued.But our interventions, we believe, have had an impact.

That hasnt always borne out. Public pronouncements by U.S. officials about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza (which Blinken referenced when he told Israeli leaders that Hamass deadly Oct. 7th attack cannot be a license to dehumanize others) or the mounting civilian death toll (Biden warned Israel against going forward with its planned invasion of Gazas southernmost city of Rafah absent a credible and executable plan for protecting the Palestinian population sheltering there) havent been met with notable shifts in Israels strategy. And while the administration has pointed to an increase in humanitarian aid as evidence of its impact, critics argue that it isnt nearly enough to meet the needs of the enclave as it faces mass starvation. Indeed, an effort as seemingly straightforward as securing the delivery of a U.S.-funded flour shipment to Gazaa commitment that Netanyahu reportedly made to Biden personallywas ultimately scuppered by Netanyahus ultranationalist coalition partners.

It is frankly preposterous that we are haggling over bags of flour, says Matt Duss, the executive vice president of the Center for International Policy and a former chief foreign policy advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the most vocal proponents of conditioning U.S. aid to Israel. This is not something the United States should have to haggle with a small partner state like Israel over considering the enormous amount of support that we give them and the enormous reliance on us that they have.

Longtime observers of Biden say his apparent deference to his Israeli counterpart is a feature, not a bug, of his approach to U.S.-Israel relations. Unlike his former boss President Obama, who openly sparred with Netanyahu over Israeli settlement expansion and its implications for U.S.-led peace efforts, Biden has long been unwavering in his support for Israel and its government, even going so far as to cultivate a reputation for doing more than any other Obama administration official to shield the Israeli leader from diplomatic pressure. As president, Biden has largely continued with that approachone that is informed as much by his longstanding affinity for Israel as it is by his own agreeable political style.

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He was never the kind of guy who likes to air his disagreements in public, says Jonah Blank, a former foreign policy advisor to Biden during his time in the Senate. He feels like youre much more effective if you are publicly as cordial as you can be and deliver the tough news in private..

While the Biden administration argues that this approach has reaped some results in terms of increasing humanitarian assistance and reducing civilian casualties, it has also conceded that they have not been enough. I will say I think that sometimes people pretend that the United States of America has a magic wand that it can wave to make any situation in the world roll out in exactly the way that we would want it to and that is never the case, Miller, the State Department spokesperson, said during Mondays press conference. But some reporters countered: If billions of dollars in military aid isnt a magic wand, what is?

Read More: Over 800 Western Officials Denounce Their Governments Pro-Israel Policies

The perception the U.S. isnt using the levers it has at its disposal stands to have profound consequences not only for Gaza (where more than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed and millions internally displaced), but for U.S.s foreign policy interests writ large. Were having this conversation about how horrible it would be for U.S. credibility and U.S. leadership if we fail to support Ukraine, says Duss, referencing Congressional Republicans stalling billions of dollars in vital U.S. aid to Ukraine. The same applies here. Our inability to exert any meaningful influence on Israela state that is hugely reliant on U.S. supportis also enormously damaging.

That damage risks extending to Biden personally as he embarks on his reelection campaign. The president is already seen to have lost substantial support among Arab American and young progressive voters over his handling of the Gaza war, which some observers warn could cost him support in key swing states. While the administration has taken some steps to address these concernsamong them a recent executive order designed to punish rising Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and a new memorandum requiring allies who receive U.S. military aid to provide credible and reliable written assurances of their adherence to international lawneither are expected to have a tangible impact on the war in the short-term. Their long-term impact will depend on how, or if, Biden chooses to use them.

The tools are there, says Blank. Could they actually be implemented in the course of the few months that we have before the November election?  Right now, what President Biden is looking at is the sands running out domestically quicker than he is responding to the challenge.
Scrapping environmental protections will not solve the agricultural crisis in Europe.

On February 26, the World Trade Organization (WTO) will hold its 13th ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi. While few would make the connection between the proceedings at that summit and the plight of impoverished farmers across the world, there is indeed a direct and clear link between the two.

On that day, we, members of the European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC), an international organisation representing small-holder farmers in 21 European countries, will be protesting against the neoliberal policies in agriculture the WTO has been promoting for decades which have led to the systematic impoverishment of farmers.

This tragic state of affairs has been highlighted by the continuing protests of farmers who have been taking to the streets, blocking motorways and logistics platforms across Europe since January.

These are people who produce Europes food  whether conventionally or organically, on a small or a medium scale. They stand united by a shared reality: They are fed up with spending their lives working incessantly without ever getting a decent income.

We have reached this point after decades of neoliberal agricultural policies and free trade agreements. Production costs have risen steadily in recent years, while prices paid to farmers have stagnated or even fallen.

Faced with this situation, farmers have pursued various economic strategies. Some have tried to increase production to compensate for the fall in prices: They have bought more land, invested in machinery, taken on a lot of debt and seen their workload increase significantly. The stress and declining incomes have created a great deal of frustration.

Other farmers have sought better prices for their produce by turning to organic farming and short distribution channels. But for many, these markets collapsed after the COVID-19 pandemic.

All the while, through mergers and speculation, large agroindustrial groups have gotten bigger and stronger, putting increased pressure on prices and practices for farmers.

ECVC has actively taken part in the mobilisations of farmers in Europe. Our members have also been hit hard by dwindling incomes, the stress linked to high levels of debt, and the excessive workload. We clearly see that the European Unions embrace of WTO-promoted policies of deregulation of agricultural markets in favour of big agribusiness and the destructive international competition are directly responsible for our plight.

Since the 1980s, various regulations that ensured fair prices for European farmers have been dismantled. The EU put all its faith in free trade agreements, which placed all the worlds farmers in competition with each other, encouraging them to produce at the lowest possible price at the cost of their own incomes and growing debt.

In recent years, however, the EU has announced its intention to move towards a more sustainable agricultural model, notably with the Farm to Fork Strategy, which is the agricultural component of the Green Deal.

Farmers organisations welcomed this ambition, but we also stressed that the sustainability of European agriculture could not be improved without breaking away from the logic of international competitiveness. Producing ecologically has huge benefits for the health and the planet, but it costs more for the farmers, and so to achieve the agroecological transition, agricultural markets need to be protected. Unfortunately, we were not heard.

European farmers were therefore faced with an impossible mission: delivering an agroecological transition while producing for the lowest possible price. As a result, differences between farming organisations have clearly resurfaced.

On one side, the big farmers and agribusiness organisations, linked to Copa-Cogeca, want to maintain the neoliberal orientation and have therefore asked for the withdrawal of environmental measures set in the EUs Green Deal.

On the other side, ECVC and other organisations affirm that the environmental and climate crises are real and serious and that it is vital to give ourselves the means to combat them in order to ensure food sovereignty for the decades to come. For us, it is the neoliberal framework that must be challenged, not environmental regulation.

In particular, we denounce the free trade agreement between the EU has been concluding with various countries and regions. One of them is the deal negotiated with Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay). A final text was drafted in 2019, but it has not been signed or ratified by either side.

If it comes into effect, it would be a disaster for European livestock farmers, as it will lead to increased imports of meat, among other products, from Mercosur countries. This could potentially drive down prices, putting even more economic pressure on already struggling European livestock farmers.

Additionally, the deal could result in the importation of products that do not meet the same strict standards for food safety and environmental sustainability that the EU has embraced.

While we are not against international trade in agricultural products, we advocate for trade to be based on food sovereignty. This means allowing the import and export of agricultural products, but under the condition that it does not harm local food production and the livelihood of small-scale food producers.

Instead of protecting their farmers and helping them transition to agroecology, the EU has chosen to respond to the demands of big farmers and agribusiness organisations by reversing a key provision of the Green Deal: halving the use of pesticides by 2030.

Some European countries have also decided to address this crisis by abolishing environmental measures while maintaining neoliberal policies. France, for example, paused the Ecophyto pesticide reduction plan, while Germany abolished its plan to scrap tax breaks on farming vehicles and watered down legislation to lift subsidies on off-road diesel fuel.



Removing environmental regulations is a very risky choice because it does nothing to permanently solve the essential problem of dwindling farmers incomes. So we can be sure that farmers protests will continue to escalate in coming years.
Australian actress Cate Blanchett led stars attending Giorgio Armanis floral-inspired runway show at Milan Fashion Week.

The Oscar winner, 54, donned a dark teal, velvet trouser suit paired with a white shirt, which toned in with the fabrics and colours showcased on the catwalk on Sunday.

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British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson wore a herringbone-patterned coat (Luca Bruno/AP)

British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson also made an appearance at the star-studded event in a herringbone-patterned coat which he wore over a black top and trousers.

Victoria De Angelis, the bassist of Italian rock band Maneskin who won Eurovision in 2021 with their hit Zitti E Buoni, opted for a casual rocker look.

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Italian rock band Maneskin guitarist Victoria De Angelis wore a button-up maxi dress (Luca Bruno/AP)

She wore a cream fur coat over a white, button-up maxi dress which she paired with aviator-style sunglasses, a black leather handbag and black slingback heels.

Italian star Caterina Murino looked chic in a white wrap dress, tied at the waist with a cord.

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Italian actress Caterina Murino wore a white wrap dress (Luca Bruno/AP)

The actress, who appeared in the Bond film Casino Royale and comedy St Trinians, paired the outfit with a white handbag.

The autumn/winter collection by the Italian fashion house featured a plethora of floral designs which were often in standout colours, such as pale blue and hot pink, offset against a dark fabric background.

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Titled Winter Flowers, the designer said the collection hoped to convey a message of grace and hope, intertwined with the power and energy of nature and the life cycle of our planet, in a post to its Instagram page alongside a video of the runway show.

It added: Flowers that bloom even in the depths of winter, heralding beauty and regrowth, adorn the garments in this collection, emphasising their airy, fluid forms and the sense of harmonious elegance that underpins the essence of Giorgio Armanis work.
No Rest For The Wicked (Or the Good) - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Mar 17, 2024
The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland (CBOI) performed to two sold-out Peace Proms shows at Belfasts SSE Arena.

The orchestra is made up of 130 young musicians and 6,000 strong young choir members from across the country. They were joined on stage by Ulster Scot dancers alongside Irish dancers from across the island. Also in the band were 25 young pipers and drummers led by world champion highland piper Grahame Harris.

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The Peace Proms concert series performed two 90 minute shows of music and dance which "captivated the Belfast audiences".

The guest of honour at the lunchtime show was Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly MLA, representing the First Minister.

Established in 1995, the orchestra has been at the forefront of music education while promoting peace, unity and tolerance on the island of Ireland.

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These concerts commenced at the University of Limerick (January 27th) and continued to Dublin, Belfast and the final two shows in Waterford.

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The concerts featured 35,000 children from every corner of Ireland and Northern Ireland under the direction of conductor Greg Beardsell and is led by Dundalk-born violinist Richie Dunne.

The Peace Proms concert series has seen the orchestra and choir perform to sell out concerts across Ireland and abroad. The group have received standing ovations and global recognition as they have performed at venues world-wide such as Londons Royal Albert Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall and the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre.

In a time of global conflict and war, the Belfast Peace Proms shares a powerful message of peace and unity.

The Belfast Peace Proms 2024 "celebrates and marks the restoration of powersharing in Northern Ireland and the appointment of new First Minister Michelle ONeill MLA and Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly MLA".

Last year the orchestra commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement with a historic sell-out performance at New Yorks Carnegie Hall. They have also performed for President Michael D Higgins, Britain's King Charles, former US president Barack Obama, US president Joe Biden and the late Queen Elizabeth.
Ireland's general election must take place by March next year, though some analysts think it may happen sooner.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is not planning to call a general election in 2024, suggesting he is supportive of a polling day in early 2025.

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This year is already set to be an important electoral test for the Government  two referendums are due to take place on March 8th, while local and European elections are scheduled in June.

Below you will find the latest estimated public support for the main political parties based on an average of recent polls.

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After 13 years of Fine Gael in power, Sinn Fein has been consistently ahead in the polls since the start of 2021.

However, Sinn Feins support has fallen in the most recent surveys, and from a high of 36 per cent in 2022.

Support for the Government parties has remained largely unchanged over the last year, while support for Independent candidates has jumped significantly since the autumn.

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Between the end of October 2023 and early January 2024, the estimated support for Independent candidates and other parties increased by around 4 percentage points.

Despite the recent shift, Sinn Fein is still most likely to be the largest party in the next Dail.

The breakingnews.ie poll tracker combines voting intention surveys published by major Irish pollsters into one estimate of support for each party. The data is sourced from the Irish Polling Indicator, which is maintained by academics Tom Louwerse and Stefan Muller.

All polls are based on a sample of people interviewed, typically more than 1,000, which is then weighted to be representative of the country.

Listed below are the polls that are currently used to calculate the polling averages.
Here, we have a look at the topics that will dominate political discourse in the coming week.

RTE crisis

The RTE scandal is showing no signs of dying down, and it will continue to be a big talking point.

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The resignation of RTE board chairwoman Siun Ni Raghallaigh came after more revelations about huge payouts for high-ranking staff.

Media Minister Catherine Martin failed to express confidence in Ms Ni Raghallaigh live on Primetime, prompting a resignation letter in the early hours of the morning.

Ms Martin has faced huge criticism from Opposition parties since, with the Labour Party saying her position is "untenable".

She has been firmly supported by Coalition colleagues such as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.

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However, that is unlikely to be the end of the discussion. Sinn Fein has called on Ms Martin to answer questions on the RTE crisis in the Dail this week.

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Referendums

On Friday, March 8th, Irish citizens will be asked to vote in two referendums to change the Constitution to provide for a wider concept of family and womens role in society.

The proposals, called the family amendment and the care amendment, would make changes to the text of Article 41 in the Constitution.

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The Government, and most of the Opposition, are backing a yes vote from both amendments.

Aontu is the only party backing a no-no vote. However, some Independent TDs, and senators, are doing the same.

Some critics have also said the referendum will not help the position of carers, so this will be a topic in the Dail.

Click here for a comprehensive guide on what we will be voting on.

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Abroad

In the US, Donald Trump convincingly won the Republican primary in South Carolina, in another blow to his last party rival Nikki Haley.

Ms Haley, who served as the state's governor, has vowed to continue her campaign but realistically there looks to be no path for her to win the party's nomination.

The other big political story is US president Joe Biden's proposed foreign aid bill.

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It would see $14 billion go to Israel as part of a $95 billion foreign aid bill. This has led to fierce criticism within his own party.

It was passed in a bipartisan Senate vote and will now go to the Republican-led House.

There is plenty of political turmoil in the UK as well.

Ireland Maynooth professor's theory becomes central to Tru... Read More

Sir Lindsay Hoyle is facing continued pressure to step down as UK House of Commons speaker after almost 70 MPs called for him to go.

The controversy is over his handling of a debate on a Gaza ceasefire that desceneded into chaos in the Commons.

Meanwhile, prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party faces more controversy.

It comes after senior Tory politician Lee Anderson had the Conservative whip suspended following his widely criticised claim that London mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by Islamists.
RTE has said it has asked Facebook to investigate suspicious activity around one of its social media accounts saying they had not paid to boost certain posts that have attracted mysterious international attention.

The RTE Archives page, which posts TV and radio packages from the broadcasters extensive vaults, has frequently been getting more than 1,000 likes for certain historic items it has posted.

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However, on further analysis, many of the accounts appear to have no obvious link to Ireland with large volumes of traffic coming from various countries in Africa, South America and Asia.

One recent post on the archival Facebook page about the Queen of Moore Street in Dublin got more than 1,400 likes with most of the accounts located outside Ireland.

However, another post by the RTE Archives page just the previous day on investment in Garda stations did not generate a single like, share or comment.

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A post about Irish monasteries generated more than 600 likes earlier this month while another on the Belfast Punk Scene was given the thumbs up by over 770 different accounts.

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While some of the traffic on the posts is legitimate, much of it is more difficult to explain with likes from Liberia, Benin and Malawi.

Content around the Irish language has done particularly well in recent weeks.

One post about telling the difference between Irish speakers over how they would pronounce ag and an generated more than 1,200 likes.

Another report on the declining number of Irish speakers over the past two hundred years attracted thumbs up from more than 1,700 accounts.

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In one case, a post attracted more than 2,000 likes, though that at least seemed more explicable and related to a 25-year anniversary of the legendary folk band The Dubliners.

Another featuring the Pogues and the Dubliners performing the Irish Rover was liked by more than 5,600 people but much of that activity was organic and it was posted only a couple of months after Shane MacGowan had died.

RTE said they were aware of the mysterious activity but that they had not spent any money to boost any of the posts they made on the Facebook Archives Page.

A spokesman said: On 14th September 2023 RTE noticed unusual activity on the RTE Archives Facebook account.

[We] immediately contacted the Meta support team who examined the query and passed it on to Meta's 'Inauthentic User Behaviour Department' on 18th September 2023. That team continues to monitor this on an ongoing basis.
An Israeli military offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah could be delayed somewhat if a deal for a weekslong ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is reached, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, but claimed that total victory in Gaza is weeks away once the offensive begins.

Mr Netanyahu confirmed to CBS that a deal is in process, with no details.

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Israeli media reported that mediators were making progress on an agreement for a ceasefire and release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza as well as Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Several Israeli media outlets, citing unnamed officials, said the War Cabinet tacitly approved it.



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Talks resumed on Sunday in Qatar, Egypts state-run Al Qahera TV reported, citing an Egyptian official as saying further discussions would follow in Cairo with the aim of achieving the ceasefire and release.

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Meanwhile, Israel is developing plans for expanding its offensive against the Hamas militant group to Rafah on the Gaza-Egypt border, where more than half the besieged territorys population of 2.3 million have sought refuge.

Humanitarian groups warn of a catastrophe, with Rafah the main entry point for aid, and the US and other allies have said Israel must avoid harming civilians.

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Mr Netanyahu has said he will convene the Cabinet this week to approve operational plans for action in Rafah, including the evacuation of civilians.

Once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion, not months, Mr Netanyahu told CBS. If we dont have a deal, well do it anyway. It has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach.

He said that four of the six remaining Hamas battalions are concentrated in Rafah.



A Palestinian woman reacts after an Israeli strike on a house in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

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US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC that US President Joe Biden had not been briefed on the Rafah plan and said: We believe that this operation should not go forward until or unless we see (a plan to protect civilians).

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Heavy fighting continued in parts of northern Gaza, the first target of the offensive. Residents have reported days of heavy fighting in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.

Were trapped, unable to move because of the heavy bombardment, resident Ayman Abu Awad said.

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He said starving residents have been forced to eat animal fodder and search for food in demolished buildings. Northern Gaza has been largely cut off from aid, and the UNs World Food Programme suspended deliveries last week.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN agency for Palestinians, said they have not been able to deliver food to northern Gaza since January 23, adding on X, formerly Twitter, that our calls to send food aid have been denied.

Israel said 245 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Sunday  less than half the amount that entered daily before the war.

A senior official from Egypt, which along with Qatar is a mediator between Israel and Hamas, has said the draft ceasefire deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, minors and older people.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, said the proposed six-week pause in fighting would include allowing hundreds of trucks to bring desperately needed aid into Gaza every day, including the north.

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He said both sides agreed to continue negotiations during the pause for further releases and a permanent ceasefire.

Negotiators face an unofficial deadline of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around March 10, a period that often sees heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Hamas says it has not been involved in the latest proposal developed by the US, Egypt and Qatar, but the reported outline largely matches its earlier proposal for the first phase of a truce.

Hamas has said it will not release all the remaining hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraws its forces from the territory, and is demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including senior militants  conditions Mr Netanyahu has rejected.
Israels defence minister has vowed to step up attacks on Lebanons Hezbollah militant group even if a ceasefire is reached with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah, which has been exchanging fire with Israel throughout the war in Gaza, has said it will halt its nearly daily attacks on Israel if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.

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But Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said that anyone who thinks a temporary ceasefire for Gaza will also apply to the northern front is mistaken.

We will continue the fire, and we will do so independently from the south, until we achieve our goals, Mr Gallant said.

Israeli soldiers carry stretchers towards a military helicopter during an exercise simulating evacuation of wounded people in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon (Ariel Schalit/AP)

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He said there is a simple aim: to push Hezbollah away from the Israeli border, either through a diplomatic agreement or by force.

Hezbollah began striking Israel almost immediately after Hamas triggered the fighting in Gaza with a deadly attack along Israels southern border from the Gaza Strip on October 7th.

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Tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border have been displaced by the continued cycle of Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks and Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech earlier this month that the group would adhere to a ceasefire in southern Lebanon if a ceasefire should be reached in Gaza. But he said it would resume and escalate attacks if Israel continued to strike in Lebanon after any agreement with Hamas.

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A Lebanese security official said on Sunday that five Hezbollah members were killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes on trucks in the border area between Lebanon and Syria.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity. Hezbollah announced that three of its fighters had been killed, but did not say where.

The Israeli military did not acknowledge the strikes on the Lebanon-Syria border but announced that it had struck several sites in southern Lebanon in response to missile launches and that it targeted a terrorist cell in the town of Blida.

Mr Gallant said Israels targeting of Hezbollah commanders has significantly weakened the groups ability to attack Israel.

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About 200 Hezbollah fighters and 35 civilians in Lebanon have been killed in nearly five months of daily low-level clashes between the Lebanese militant group and Israeli forces against the backdrop of the Israels war with Hamas, a Hezbollah ally.

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In Israel, nine soldiers and nine civilians have been killed in Hezbollah attacks.

Most of the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has been confined to the area within a few kilometres on either side of the border.

Diplomats from the US and European countries have presented a series of proposals in the hope of producing a deal that would reduce the border conflict.

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The ideas mostly hinge on a Hezbollah pullback a few kilometres from the border, a beefed-up Lebanese army presence in the border region, and negotiations over border points where Lebanon maintains Israel has been occupying small areas of Lebanese territory since withdrawing its forces from the rest of southern Lebanon in 2000.

Eventually, the plans could lead into a demarcation of the land border between Lebanon and Israel, following the maritime border deal reached in 2022.

The most recent of these proposals, put forward by France, would involve Hezbollah withdrawing its forces 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border, said a Lebanese government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Lebanon is still studying the proposal, and Hezbollah officials have indicated they are willing to consider it, but both government and Hezbollah officials have said there would be no agreement on the border before there is a ceasefire in Gaza.
Serbia has sent a note of protest after Croatias foreign minister described President Aleksandar Vucic as a Russian satellite in the Balkans.

It was the latest spat between the two neighbours, which have been at odds for most of the time since the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

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Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman told N1 television on Saturday that Mr Vucic must decide which side he is on, Russia or the European Union, because it is impossible and uncomfortable sitting on two chairs at the same time.

He shouldnt have a big dilemma, Mr Grlic-Radman said, saying that Mr Vucic can remain Moscows ally but malign Russian influence that could undermine the stability of the Western Balkans will not be allowed.



Croatias foreign minister Gordan Grlic-Radman (Darko Vojinovic/AP)

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The populist leader and other Serbian officials reacted with anger.

The Croatian minister not only brutally interferes in the internal affairs of Serbia, but as usual he lies and insults the Serbian people and threatens its citizens, Mr Vucic said on Instagram.

Grlic-Radman is right about one thing, maybe I am someones satellite  but I have never been anyones servant, which cannot be said for Grlic-Radman.

In its protest note, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said that it expects that in the future, Croatian officials will refrain from statements that represent interference in the internal affairs of Serbia, and will lead a policy of reconciliation and good-neighbourly relations between the two states.

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Reacting to the protest note, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs rejected the allegation that Croatia is interfering in Serbias internal matters, pointing out that the Croatian official stated the fact about Serbias nonalignment with the foreign and security policy of the European Union regarding the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

As we have already pointed out, no one can be a candidate for EU membership and use all the benefits of that, while unprincipledly and calculatedly avoiding condemnation of the Russian aggression and EU policy related to it, the Croatian ministry said.

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Mr Vucics government has maintained close ties with Moscow despite its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Serbian autocratic leader has often boasted about his close personal relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Serbias formal bid to join the European Union.

Serbia has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia, a traditional Slavic ally, while allowing Moscow propaganda outlets such as RT and Sputnik to spread their narrative throughout the Balkans.

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EU officials have repeatedly said that Serbia must align its policies with the bloc if it really wants to join, and warned of the increasing Russian influence in the war-torn region.

Croatia, which is an EU and Nato member, and Serbia have been involved in a series of disputes between their officials in recent years. The two countries have lately also been involved in a mini arms race that analysts believe could further escalate the tensions in the region.
Donald Trump's campaign plans to treat Nikki Haley as irrelevant after he won the Republican primary in her home state of South Carolina on Saturday, skipping attacks on her to focus instead on a rematch with Democratic president Joe Biden, advisers said.

The former US president has easily swept all five Republican nominating contests thus far, winning states in the Midwest, Northeast, South and West and knocking out every challenger save Ms Haley, a former South Carolina governor, along the way.

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Saturday's win in South Carolina makes Mr Trump's march towards the Republican presidential nomination appear inevitable, and leaves Ms Haley, despite her vow to battle on, no clear path to beating him.

Trump advisers said they plan to ignore Ms Haley in an effort to render her campaign an afterthought. That would mark a change in tactics by a campaign that has trained intense fire on her in recent weeks, with a barrage of vitriolic online attacks, pressure on her donors to switch to Mr Trump and public mocking by the former president.

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On the sidelines of a Trump event on Friday, campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita outlined the blueprint succinctly when asked about Haley.

'Nikki who?'

"Nikki who?" Mr LaCivita told Reuters.

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Yet despite Mr Trump's victory in South Carolina, there were some red flags for him in his likely general election rematch with Mr Biden in November, when independent and moderate voters will play a crucial role in determining the winner.

Among self-described independent South Carolina voters, six out of 10 chose Ms Haley, according to an exit poll conducted by Edison Research, which also showed her securing a slim majority of the white college-educated vote.

Republican strategist Chip Felkel, who has been critical of Mr Trump, pointed to the fact that Ms Haley garnered 40 per cent of the votes on Saturday, to Mr Trump's 60 per cent, a narrower margin of victory for Mr Trump than many had predicted.

Referring to November's presidential election, Mr Felkel said he still expected Mr Trump to be the nominee, but said there were warning signs for the general election.

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"If the basis of the vote was mostly Republican, or independent, and he's not getting four out of 10 of those, I'd say Biden could use that," Mr Felkel said.

Haley vows to press ahead

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For her part, Ms Haley defiantly vowed to press on to Super Tuesday on March 5th, when voters in 15 states and one US territory will deliver one-third of delegates to the Republican National Convention, which will choose a nominee in July.

"They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate," Ms Haley told supporters on Saturday night after her defeat. "I have a duty to give them that choice."

Ms Haley was due to travel to Michigan on Monday, where Republican nominating contests will be held on February 27th and March 2nd. Her campaign released a video Sunday morning, called "The Fight Goes On."

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Her campaign has released an aggressive schedule for the next several days, during which she will crisscross the country, from Massachusetts to Utah.

Ms Haley had campaigned hard in South Carolina, the Southern state where she grew up and served as governor from 2011 to 2017. But Mr Trump won by more than 20 percentage points, a margin wide enough that news outlets were able to call the race for him the minute that polls closed.

It remains to be seen whether Mr Trump, who frequently goes off his teleprompter, can resist the urge to continue mocking Ms Haley, against whom he has used language criticised as sexist and racist.

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But Mr Trump appeared to be following his advisers' strategy on Saturday. In a daytime address at the Conservative Political Action Conference, he did not say Ms Haley's name once.

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That evening, minutes after the polls closed, he delivered a victory speech that again did not include a single Haley mention - a sharp contrast to his remarks after winning New Hampshire in January, when he angrily decried her refusal to quit the race.

As part of its pivot to November's general election, the Trump campaign is going to focus on planning for the party's July convention, fundraising and effectively merging with the Republican National Committee, Mr LaCivita and co-manager Susie Wiles said in a memo this week.

"Nikki Haley is irrelevant and not newsworthy," the memo said.

Trump surrogates, meanwhile, were not shy about voicing their opinion that Ms Haley should drop out of the race so that Mr Trump could focus on the presidential election on November 5th.

Representative Russell Fry of South Carolina, who was onstage with Mr Trump as he gave his victory speech, said he considered the race over.

"This is a primary in name only," he told Reuters. "And I think the Haley campaign is continuing to spend money and resources that could be better directed towards securing the White House."

Donors continue to support Haley

But some donors have continued to offer Ms Haley financial backing, arguing that she is the only alternative if Mr Trump's campaign derails.

He has pleaded not guilty to a slew of criminal charges and will face his first criminal trial next month in New York, where he is accused of falsifying business records to cover up an affair with a porn star.

"I think Nikki is the de facto backup for the GOP if something happens to Trump between now and the election," said one Haley donor, who asked to remain anonymous. "Probably a 2 per cent chance, but if you are talking about being the leader of the free world, why not?"
The Sydney Morning Herald has solidified its status as Australias most-read news brand with a cross-platform readership of 7.39 million, according to the latest Total News readership figures from Roy Morgan.

One in three Australian readers turn to the Herald for their news, and the masthead nearly doubled the readership of cross-town paper The Daily Telegraph across the 12-month period to December 2023.

The Sydney Morning Herald is Australias No.1 masthead. Credit: Wolter Peeters

The Monday to Friday print edition of The Sydney Morning Herald has an average issue readership of 401,000, while the Saturday print edition recorded 6 per cent lift in annual growth, attracting 510,000 readers.

The Sun-Herald, a part of The Sydney Morning Herald family, experienced a 5 per cent year-on-year increase in its print edition readership, with 437,000 readers every Sunday. Over the past four weeks, an average of 1.67 million individuals have read a print edition of the Herald.
On Saturday, a few hundred NSW Liberal hacks gathered at the Grand Ballroom of Sydneys Fullerton Hotel to settle some of their scores face to face, rather than going behind each others backs and gossiping to this column.

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The days proceedings began with the uplifting strains of Advance Australia Fair, and to prove their patriotism, the delegates even sang the second verse of the national anthem. You know, the one that talks about boundless plains to share. Well leave you to ruminate on that.

There was, however, no sign of the Aussiest Man in the Country (self-appointed). Peter Dutton was unable to attend, although an optimistic draft program for the conference provided space for an address by the Opposition Leader. While Dutton was in Sydney on Thursday, appearing at a Parramatta car dealership to accuse Labor of waging war on the Toyota Hilux, he was otherwise engaged come the weekend.

As for the days main events, the party proved it was ready to fight Labor at the next election by re-litigating a series of factional battles from before the 2022 poll. Among them was a motion to expel former immigration minister and Scott Morrisons numbers whisperer Alex Hawke from the party over his alleged role in delaying preselections before the last election.
Australia needs drastic economic reform to avoid a future where it could be forced to resettle large populations of climate refugees from the Pacific and the food bowl of the Murray Darling Basin could be decimated.

That is the view of the United Nations top climate official, Simon Stiell, who spoke exclusively to this masthead following a meeting last week with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

Simon Stiell, the UNs top climate official, has urged Australia to embrace wholesale economic reform to address climate change. Credit: Getty

Stiell said Australia has more to gain and more to lose than most nations and therefore had a responsibility to help lead a global effort to decarbonise its economies and unlock the trillions of dollars needed to prepare for climate impacts.

It is Australia which will be the front and centre in resettling entire national populations [if climate targets are not met], said Stiell, who has served as the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change since August 2022.
Money editor Dominic Powell and our experts share tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money.

Real Money, a free weekly newsletter giving expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money, is sent every Sunday. Youre reading an excerpt  sign up to get the whole newsletter in your inbox.

In Australia, were blessed with some of the best healthcare in the world (fifth overall and first in the OECD, according to international rankings), and our little green Medicare card is a staple in our wallets, ready to be whipped out at the first sign of a cough, cut or CAT scan. And though its getting harder and harder to find a bulk-billing GP, at least we shouldnt ever have to crowd fund an appendectomy.

Despite our relatively benevolent public health safety net, more than half of us (55 per cent) have private health insurance, and that number has steadily grown year-on-year since the pandemic. This growth may have been helped along by several years of relatively modest premium rises  last years average was just 2.9 per cent.

When it comes to health insurance, doing some number crunching can help you decide if you should have it. Credit: Aresna Villanueva

For many, including families and retirees, private health insurance is a very worthy purchase, that will enable you to skip public hospital waiting lists to access faster treatment, and cover things that Medicare doesnt, such as optical, dental and physiotherapy services. Some plans even cover gym memberships and massage. But, also for many, private health insurance is bloody expensive.
Loading The Hollywood star has donated more than $300,000  plus a new bus named the Koala  to the school, including her winnings from the US celebrity version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire in 2021. Visiting Sydney this week to thank donors including Wilson for their support, Nemes, 28, said it was impossible to imagine what her life would have been like had she not attended St Judes. Only 30 per cent of students finish secondary school in Tanzania, where 75 per cent of the population survive each day on less than what a coffee costs in Sydney.

Most of the children who attend St Judes in Arusha, west of the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, come from overcrowded homes without running water or electricity. After finishing high school, Nemes graduated from a university in Kenya with a degree in business administration. Rebel Wilson in Tanzania. Without St Judes and Wilsons support, Nemes said she likely would not have finished school, and would be married with small children working a manual job on a farm or in a market. Going to St Judes has changed a lot for me and my family, she said. At university, Nemes worked part-time to move her family into a two-bedroom hut.

Since then, she has built a larger new home for her family, with an internal bathroom, and helped her brother go to university. She is also sponsoring a local girl to attend the school. And Wilson still has pride of place, though the new house has a much bigger photo of Nemes and the Pitch Perfect star on display. Nemes and Wilson exchanged letters  most students correspond with their sponsors. Wilson also sent gifts, including a school bag, she said. Nemes felt blessed by Wilsons generosity. My family, theyre very thankful. The work of St Judes, Wilson said in a statement to the Herald, was important. I love that my donations are directly helping individuals at the school. Now that I am in a fortunate position, it feels good to give back, she said.

Gemma Sisia, the Australian who founded the school in 2002 with three students, said 90 per cent of its funding came from 2500 Australian families and individuals. Wilson had been a sponsor of St Judes for many years before anyone twigged they had a star on their books. Is that the Rebel? Sisia recalled someone asking. Sisia said Wilsons continued support for St Judes meant graduates will lead their families and communities to growth and prosperity. Since it started, St Judes has grown to 1800 students on three campuses. The school has provided jobs to the community. Its high school graduates  often only 17  are expected to give back to the community by working as teachers at public schools in Tanzania, which are desperate for staff. Loading

Kim Saville, a Sydney woman who worked at the School of St Jude from 2002 until 2015, hosted Wilson at her home in Arusha more than a decade ago. Shed already done Pitch Perfect, so the young ones at the school knew shed been in a movie  She arrived without fanfare, and I think I made her spaghetti bolognaise or something shocking in my little kitchen. Wilson was quiet, respectful, warm, friendly, funny and relaxed, said Saville. In the morning, she wanted to go for a walk so we got up early and went for a beautiful walk through the hills. Thats what I remember  she was a lovely person, no fuss, and she mucked in with the rest of us and went to the school. Info: https://www.schoolofstjude.org/support/donate/
Beau Lamarre-Condon has been charged with two counts of murder. Credit: Facebook Investigators are also speaking to Bairds friends about any other interactions or events that went unreported in the lead-up to their disappearance on Monday. Lamarre-Condon is charged with two counts of murder. Police suspect the alleged double homicide carries hallmarks of a domestic violence murder. Those concerns have been echoed in Sydneys LGBTQ community.

Prominent LGBTQ organisations have highlighted the issue of domestic violence in the gay community since news broke of the deaths. Investigators are urging anyone with information about domestic violence to contact police on Crime Stoppers. The revelations come as police commissioner Karen Webb urged the public to be patient as police work around the clock in the search for evidence surrounding the deaths of the couple, whose bodies are yet to be recovered. Detectives re-entered Bairds Paddington home on Sunday morning and divers have scoured a waterway in Newcastle.

Loading Police charged Lamarre-Condon with the murder of the two young men after the 28-year-old youth engagement officer handed himself in to Bondi police station on Friday morning. Police are investigating Lamarre-Condons contact with relatives in the days following the alleged murders. Central to their questions will be his movements and what he revealed to family or friends. He was staying at his mothers home in Balmain before turning himself in. In a statement, Webb extended her heartfelt condolences to Davies and Bairds families and friends.

Webb acknowledged there were many unanswered questions about what happened to the couple, but wrote that she could reassure Luke and Jesses loved ones, and the people of NSW, that we are working around the clock to find those answers. About 9.45am on Sunday, two detectives wearing gloves entered Bairds Paddington share house, where police discovered large amounts of blood and upturned furniture on Wednesday. Detectives arrived at Jesse Bairds Paddington share house with an empty boot and left after collecting multiple bags of evidence. Credit: Edwina Pickles The detectives emerged from the home with several large brown paper evidence bags. They carried the bags past flower arrangements left by mourners outside the home and placed them in the boot and back seat of their car. The detectives departed about 11.20am. Police previously said they have matched a projectile also found at the home to Lamarre-Condons Glock service pistol, which was allegedly returned to a locker at a police station after being fired.

On Saturday, a street in Lambton in suburban Newcastle remained sealed off as police divers in wetsuits searched a small waterway nearby on their hands and knees, the ABC reported. NSW Police confirmed the search was in relation to the white van Lamarre-Condon allegedly hired from Mascot on Monday and drove to Newcastle on Thursday night. Police will continue searching a dam in Bungonia, south of Goulburn, on Monday. Credit: Nine News Before his alleged trip north, police believe Lamarre-Condon made other stops around the citys south. A worker discovered bloodied clothes, a phone and credit cards in a skip bin just a few metres from Cronulla police station following Baird and Davies deaths.

The discovery of the items on Wednesday morning triggered an investigation and later that day police declared Bairds Paddington terrace a crime scene. Since the crime scene closed, mourners have adorned the fence of the terrace with bouquets of flowers. Mourners have also shown their support via a GoFundMe page set up by a friend of Davies to raise money for his family and funeral expenses. Flowers were laid outside the Paddington home on Sunday morning. Credit: Edwina Pickles The fundraiser has passed $50,000 in donations, with more than 700 people around the world chipping in. The description on the site reads: There was never a dull moment when [Davies] presence and infectious laugh was in a room.

Alison Leutchford, the principal of Loyola College in Melbournes northern suburbs where Jesse Baird attended high school from 2010 to 2015, described him as a much-loved member of the school community. School staff fondly remember Jesse playing the lead role of Danny Zuko in the school production of Grease, and his many years playing Aussie Rules football for the College. Sydney independent MP Alex Greenwich acknowledged the tragedy at a Saturday dawn memorial for victims and survivors of LGBTQ hate crimes, saying it was taking too damn long for NSW to become a safe place for the LGBTQ community. He has also questioned how Lamarre-Condon was allegedly able to take a service pistol to Bairds Paddington home. What are the protocols in place to make sure that this doesnt happen again? I think it would be appropriate for the police to do an urgent review, Greenwich said on Nine News.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the government would consider any recommendations that emerge from the investigation after he was asked about the adequacy of mental health assessments for police officers. Weve got to allow the court system and the criminal investigation to take its [course] ... If further recommendations come down the track on ways in which we can improve those assessments, then Im confident the government will implement them, Park said at a press conference on Sunday. On Saturday night, Bairds cousin remembered him as one in a million. I am beyond devastated. I still cant believe it. Most of my favourite memories in life were me Luke, Brendan and you riding motorbikes, skiing, boating and camping, Austin Baird wrote on Facebook.

Loading Ill never forget our chats, all the times we would hang out on the weekends and go away with family and friends. Friends of Luke Davies said he had a keen sense of adventure and was excited to be travelling the world with his new job as a flight attendant for Qantas. He felt very lucky. He was a kind, beautiful soul with a cheeky smile and adored by his friends, Davies friend Rory Grant said. I cant believe hes gone. What a tragic waste. With the Mardi Gras parade to march down Oxford Street in less than a week, on March 2, some members of Sydneys gay community have questioned whether its appropriate for NSW Police to host its usual float.
Almost two weeks on from the Kangaroo Point car crash that saw her car hit by another vehicle, whose driver will face court next month, Amy MacMahon has given her first public update.

In a social media post, the South Brisbane Greens MP said while she was still very sore, with injuries still healing, she was now able to walk around and do small trips to the shops.

She thanked the healthcare workers who have been looking after her in hospital, and who have told her to take the next few weeks to properly recover.

Sadly, this means Ill be largely out of action for the next little bit while I do this. But my team is still in my office keeping everything ticking along until Im back on board, she said.
Orthopaedic surgeon Munjed Al Muderis has failed in a second bid to uncover the identity of a Nine investigative journalists confidential sources used in a story that criticised his medical practice.

Al Muderis filed two subpoenas in the Federal Court in October that sought to obtain unredacted copies of documents and communications between health professionals and Age journalist Charlotte Grieve.

Dr Munjed Al Muderis and his barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC (left), and partner Claudia Roberts. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

The surgeon also sought leave from the court to file five additional subpoenas seeking similar documents and communications.

If released, the documents would have identified a total of seven confidential sources.
Emergency services have warned that Wednesdays extreme weather conditions could create a fire risk for anything west of the Hume Highway as a large bushfire continues to burn in Victorias west.

Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes confirmed six homes had been destroyed near Raglan, about 60 kilometres north-west of Ballarat, but fire impact assessments were ongoing.

A burnt property near Beaufort on Saturday. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

That is very sobering news for those families, she said.

Residents of more than 25 towns and hamlets in western Victoria, including Amphitheatre and Elmhurst, have been told it is not yet safe to return to their properties.
Jason and Rebecca Petzke assess floodwater at West End in 2022, where many newer developments were inundated. Credit: Tony Moore

The partys longstanding pitch for council-level action has been refloated amid campaign efforts for the March 16 election, and as the city marks two years since its last major flood.

A $20 million annual buyback program for flood-prone Brisbane properties has been added to the Greens plan to ban all new housing and commercial development on the most high-risk land.

After Brisbanes biggest downpour since 1974 saw creek and river levels surge, the state and federal government jointly announced a $740 million Resilient Homes Fund to buy, raise or retrofit flood-affected dwellings.

The program, which was set to purchase more than 800 homes across the state  more than initially expected  closed for new applications in July last year.

Why it matters

Brisbane City Council did not contribute financially to that scheme, but operated one of its own from 2006 to 2016. All three levels of government funded a program after the 1974 flood.
Single people who are young or on low incomes are finding it harder to rent a home of their own, let alone buy a home, without a significant other.

Only 22.8 per cent of single, low-income tenants renting independently were paying affordable rent by 2020, a new study shows.

Singles are finding it harder to rent, let alone buy, a home. Credit: Getty Images

Even among those who chose to live in a share house, which would most likely cut costs, about half of single low-income renters were still paying unaffordable rents, the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute report found. The figures come from the ABS Survey of Income and Housing for 2019-20.

Single people or single-headed households, particularly those more marginally attached to labour markets, with lower-incomes across all age groups, have experienced the greatest retreat from the independent mainstream rental sector, the report warned.
Kelly Marie Wofford knows what it is like to be a teen mom. Get food stamps. Depend on Medicaid.

She understands how it feels to be poor, sexually abused and struggle with trauma so hurtful it can lead to thoughts of suicide.

Joy, appreciation follow $9 million gift from MacKenzie Scott to boost health equity in Buffalo, Syracuse Staff and trustees of an upstate New York health foundation erupted in jubilation Thursday when they learned that MacKenzie Scott bestowed $9 million on the organization to help them address its work with racial and health inequities.

She tried to take her life in 2013, even after she leaned on education to dig out of a challenging childhood, and learned through the process of healing that it takes support, acceptance and focus to create distance between hardship and fulfillment.

Years ago, I didnt think this is a conversation we would ever be having in a government office, said Wofford, who recently completed her second year as director of the Erie County Office of Health Equity.

Wofford, 47, has spent the first two years in her latest job laying the foundation for an office designed to serve those whose circumstances make it hard to lead their best lives in terms of health and well-being.

County legislators voted to establish the office in 2021, because people who live on the East Side and in western Cheektowaga are at higher risk for chronic disease and many forms of cancer than county residents as a whole. They also noted the same holds true of many in rural parts of the county, as well as in groups marginalized because of their race, age or financial means, physical limitations or sexual orientation.

Were looking at simple solutions that make people feel seen and generally accepted, Wofford said.

We have to have a real, live impact in the community, and the lived experience is so important. Thats been undervalued for decades, centuries perhaps, said Dr. Timothy Murphy of the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and director of the schools Community Health Equity Research Institute.

Addressing root causes

Wofford and her staff have spent much of their work so far exploring the impact of health inequality in the county. They also have gathered partners to help in their work.

We all have a part to play, she said during an interview earlier this month. We cant have a healthy Buffalo or healthy Erie County if everyone doesnt have the same opportunity to be healthy.

County health rankings show WNY remains unhealthiest state region. See where your county stands Half of the eight counties in the WNY region ranked in the bottom 10 statewide and all but one, Wyoming County, in the bottom half. It has been this way for at least a decade.

The Buffalo Niagara region remains the least healthy in New York, according to data in County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, an annual national report by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Smoking, obesity and alcohol consumption rates tend to be higher in all eight Western New York counties than the state average. The average lifespan is shorter.

Life expectancy for Black people in Erie County is 72.4 years, almost eight years less than the state average and almost six years less than white people in the county.

It is even lower in Buffalo. Chronic, often preventable conditions  including heart disease, diabetes, asthma and cancer  also are 300% greater, the county Health Equity Office reported last year in its first Health Disparities Report.

Health equity encompasses efforts to lower child and infant mortality rates; create more affordable, high-quality housing and transportation; address the unequal impact of climate change; see gun violence as a public health crisis; and address other social determinants of health.

Those determinants involve the estimated 80% of non-medical factors that contribute to health and well-being. Broadly, they include economic stability; how neighborhoods are built and maintained; nearby services that help prevent illness and promote good health; ready accommodations for language barriers and to address loneliness, stress, trauma, racism, discrimination and stigma; and access to education across all ages and personal abilities.

A movement emerges

Wofford was community relations director at Erie County Medical Center when she became involved with the African American Health Equity Task Force, the forerunner of the nonprofit Buffalo Center for Health Equity, started by Buffalo church, health care and civic leaders.

UB Medical School also took an interest as the task force gathered data and raised its public profile. Murphy was among those with UB ties who started to attend meetings.

For the first two, three years, I hardly said a word, he said. I just listened and listened and listened  and learned a lot.

UB launched its first Igniting Hope Conference, focused on health equity, in 2018. One of its breakout panels gave rise to a Fair Fines + Fees Coalition, which noticed  and publicized  the disproportionate number of parking fines and fees imposed on East Side residents. Police enforcement changed as a result.

A year later, UB launched the Community Health Equity Research Institute. Participants include students and faculty from across UB schools and departments.

Pandemic prompts community health center to publish its first clinical study Work on more clinical studies should help boost treatments during an expected new wave of Covid-19 cases in coming weeks.

The institute and Buffalo Center for Health Equity sprang into action with community health centers and the county Health Department during the first seven weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, after learning that Black people accounted for 67% of the Covid-19 deaths in Buffalo, while making up 39% of the city population.

They promoted and helped staff Covid-19 testing sites, which helped bring the death rate down to 45% of total deaths in the following weeks. The lifesaving effort continued throughout the pandemic.

The establishment of the Erie County health equity office in 2022 became the third leg of the foundation of county health equity efforts, which has since grown to include several community foundations placing a greater emphasis on addressing the longstanding forces that cause unequal health outcomes.

Creating an office

Wofford graduated from City Honors High School and was in her first year at Stony Brook University on Long Island when she learned she was pregnant. She suffered what doctors thought was postpartum depression after her daughter was born, so she returned home and worked entry-level jobs as she tried to further her education. She had her first son by the time she was 21 and another in the years afterward.

It took her a decade to get her bachelors degree in business management and economics from Empire State College, followed by a masters degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Canisius College, where she worked in admissions before moving to two nonprofit health groups, then ECMC.

She struggled, at times, during those years with anxiety, depression and panic attacks, and slid into a mental health crisis in the weeks before her 2013 suicide attempt. Friends, colleagues and loved ones helped her through the uncertainty that followed.

Wofford reflected on how challenges in her childhood shaped her life choices. Through her upbringing, she also understood that resilience and the kindness others offer can become powerful equalizers when people fall into despair.

I had an incredible mom and grandmother and family that supported me, she said, and I knew that when the community comes together, good can happen.

Accepting and treating her mental illness, and leaning on others when needed, allows Wofford to help others in her new role.

I knew that I would be able to bring my lens of community and mental health awareness into this space, she said.

She sought staff members who focused on their own wellness as they helped others. She wanted them to share their life experiences as they served others.

Wofford believes the office is important to all county residents, because if they dont fall within marginalized communities themselves, chances are that one or more of their loved ones do.

The staff of 18 includes an office administrator, grant coordinator, data director, community engagement and communication specialist, five university fellows, several community educators and two epidemiologists focused on research to help the office find more ways to help county residents improve and maintain health and well-being.

The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs project is also embedded in the office. It helps families improve coordination for children who have any type of physical or behavioral needs. The office looks to help more companies and businesses receive the state Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Designation. It can deliver Mental Health First Aid trainings to businesses, community organizations and adults in both English and Spanish.

It also can help grassroots groups mine data and apply for health and wellness grants, as well as help groups and people find related services offered by others.

All of its services are free.

No panacea

It will take time to improve health outcomes established over generations.

We have to solve the poverty and the educational opportunities, and access to healthy foods and the criminal justice system, disparities in neighborhoods, and the substandard housing, Murphy said. All of that needs to be solved in order for us to really enjoy those outcomes.

Addressing Covid-19 fatalities was an important milestone along the way, he said, as was creating a county Office of Health Equity.

Wofford and Murphy hope other steps supported by the health equity organizations will improve county health outcomes during the next five years.

They include building a larger health workforce trained to better consider health equity in their daily work, more efforts to provide health care and screenings in homes and neighborhoods where such care is needed most, and a greater emphasis on breaking down language barriers for new immigrants that have stabilized and can grow city and regional populations.

The caveat is we have to work with communities that want us to be there, Wofford said. Were the government, and for good reason, some people dont want us to come out. Weve got to tell our story. We have to admit why people are mistrustful of the government. We have to talk about racism like its real, and whether or not race is a social construct  to make sure that tomorrow is better.
Washington: The United States and Britain launched another round of large-scale military strikes on Saturday against multiple sites in Yemen controlled by Houthi militants, US officials said.

The strikes were intended to degrade the Iran-backed militants ability to attack ships in sea lanes that are critical for global trade, a campaign they have carried out for almost four months.

An aircraft launching from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during flight operations in the Red Sea in January. Credit: AP

US and British warplanes hit missile systems and launchers and other targets, the officials said. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand provided support for the operation, according to a joint statement from the countries involved that was emailed to reporters by the US Defence Department.

Australia supported the attacks via its personnel in military headquarters, Australian government sources said, as it has done in previous US-led actions against the Houthis.
Still with us? The next leap years are 2028, 2032 and 2036. Who came up with the leap year? The short answer: It evolved. Ancient civilisations used the cosmos to plan their lives, and there are calendars dating back to the Bronze Age. They were based on either the phases of the moon or the sun, as various calendars are today. Usually they were lunisolar, using both.

Now hop on over to the Roman Empire and Julius Caesar. He was dealing with major seasonal drift on calendars used in his neck of the woods. They dealt badly with drift by adding months. He was also navigating a vast array of calendars starting in a vast array of ways in the vast Roman Empire. He introduced his Julian calendar in 46BCE. It was purely solar and counted a year at 365.25 days, so once every four years an extra day was added. Before that, the Romans counted a year at 355 days, at least for a time. Fireworks illuminate the sky over St Sava temple in Belgrade, Serbia, on January 14, 2019, where Orthodox Christians celebrate New Year according to the Julian calendar. Credit: AP But still, under Julius, there was drift. There were too many leap years! The solar year isnt precisely 365.25 days! Its 365.242 days, says Nick Eakes, an astronomy educator at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Centre at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Thomas Palaima, a classics professor at the University of Texas at Austin, says adding periods of time to a year to reflect variations in the lunar and solar cycles was done by the ancients. The Athenian calendar, he says, was used in the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries with 12 lunar months.

That didnt work for seasonal religious rites. The drift problem led to intercalating an extra month periodically to realign with lunar and solar cycles, Palaima says. Loading The Julian calendar was 0.0078 days (11 minutes and 14 seconds) longer than the tropical year, so errors in timekeeping still gradually accumulated, according to NASA. But stability increased, Palaima says. The Julian calendar was the model used by the Western world for hundreds of years. Enter Pope Gregory XIII, who calibrated further. His Gregorian calendar took effect in the late 16th century. It remains in use today and, clearly, isnt perfect or there would be no need for leap year. But it was a big improvement, reducing drift to mere seconds. Pope Gregory XIII recalculated Caesars Julian calendar in 1582, giving us the year-keeping system we still follow. Credit: Library of Congress

Why did he step in? Well, Easter. It was coming later in the year over time, and he fretted that events related to Easter such as Pentecost might bump up against pagan festivals. The pope wanted Easter to remain in the spring. He eliminated some extra days accumulated on the Julian calendar and tweaked the rules on leap day. Its Pope Gregory and his advisers who came up with the really gnarly math on when there should or shouldnt be a leap year. If the solar year was a perfect 365.25 then we wouldnt have to worry about the tricky math involved, Eakes says. Whats the deal with leap year and marriage? Bizarrely, leap day comes with lore about women popping the marriage question to men. It was mostly benign fun, but it came with a bite that reinforced gender roles.

Theres distant European folklore. One story places the idea of women proposing in fifth century Ireland, with St Bridget appealing to St Patrick to offer women the chance to ask men to marry them, according to historian Katherine Parkin in a 2012 paper in the Journal of Family History. Nobody really knows where it all began. In 1904, syndicated columnist Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer, aka Dorothy Dix, summed up the tradition this way: Of course people will say ... that a womans leap year prerogative, like most of her liberties, is merely a glittering mockery. The pre-Sadie Hawkins tradition, however serious or tongue-in-cheek, could have empowered women but merely perpetuated stereotypes. The proposals were to happen via postcard, but many such cards turned the tables and poked fun at women instead. Advertising perpetuated the leap year marriage game. A 1916 ad by the American Industrial Bank and Trust Co. read thusly: This being Leap Year day, we suggest to every girl that she propose to her father to open a savings account in her name in our own bank.

There was no breath of independence for women due to leap day. Should we pity the leaplings? Being born in a leap year on a leap day certainly is a talking point. But it can be kind of a pain from a paperwork perspective. Some governments and others requiring forms to be filled out and birthdays to be stated stepped in to declare what date was used by leaplings for such things as drivers licences, whether February 28 or March 1. Technology has made it far easier for leap babies to jot down their February 29 milestones, though there can be glitches in terms of health systems, insurance policies and with other businesses and organisations that dont have that date built in. Margaret Aisbett celebrating her 100th birthday in Dundas in 1976. Aisbett was really only 24 years old, being born on February 29 a leap year. Credit: Peter John Moxham

There are about 5 million people worldwide who share the leap birthday out of about 8 billion people on the planet. Shelley Dean, 23, in Seattle, Washington, chooses a rosy attitude about being a leapling. Growing up, she had normal birthday parties each year, but an extra special one when leap years rolled around. Since, as an adult, she marks that non-leap period between February 28 and March 1 with a low-key whew. This year is different. It will be the first birthday that Im going to celebrate with my family in eight years, which is super exciting, because the last leap day I was on the other side of the country in New York for college, she says. Its a very big year. What would happen without a leap day? Eventually, nothing good in terms of when major events fall, when farmers plant and how seasons align with the sun and the moon.
Columbia, South Carolina: In the end, it wasnt much of a contest.

Within minutes of polls closing in the South Carolina primary race, Donald Trump had been declared the winner, delivering a humiliating blow to Nikki Haley in her home state and casting further doubt about her hopes for the White House.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump attends a primary election night party. Credit: AP

The former UN ambassador had been suggesting for weeks that even if she couldnt defeat Trump in Iowa or New Hampshire as they battled for the Republican presidential nomination, she would surely be able to buck the trend in South Carolina at the hands of voters who knew her as their former two-term governor.

But it wasnt to be  and not for the lack of trying.
This has never been about me or my political future. We need to beat Joe Biden in November, she said. I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president. Im a woman of my word. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Nikki Haley takes photos with attendees during a bus tour campaign event at Moncks Corner Train Depot in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Credit: Bloomberg Most South Carolina Republicans, however, overwhelmingly voted for Trump, who had about 60 per cent of the vote according to preliminary results. This was despite the fact he has 91 criminal charges against him and is likely to spend most of this year in court defending allegations of election interference, hush money paid to a porn star, and mishandling classified documents. Across the state, many Republican voters who spoke to this masthead subscribed to Trumps view that he was the victim of a political witch-hunt and corrupt court system.

Others had their minds made up long ago. A CNN exit poll, for example, suggested that 78 per cent of voters already knew who they wanted to vote for before the Iowa caucuses in January. And some said they liked Haley, but simply preferred Trump, believing he was the better candidate to deal with issues such as the US border crisis and the fickle economy. Trump fan Shank Rock at a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Credit: Farrah Tomazin I think shes a good person and I think she would make a good president, said Shank Rock, who attended a get-out-the-vote rally for Trump in Rock Hill before polls opened. I just dont think that she would be a better president than Trump. Haleys defeat comes on the back of other losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. But she has said she plans to continue to fight, and her campaign has already announced a seven-figure ad buy to run ahead of Super Tuesday on March 5, where about 15 states hold their primary races and a third of the delegates needed to win nomination are up for grabs.

This has been welcomed by residents such as Maryanne Belsei, who voted for Haley because I feel strongly about female representation in our government and I feel strongly about what she represents for the future of our country. I want her to stay involved and continue to be that voice, pushing people to answer for some of their behaviour in the past, and the stances that theyre taking going forward, she said outside a polling booth in Columbia. Haley supporter Maryanne Belsei says she supports the former UN ambassadors White House bid because of what she represents for the future America. Credit: Farrah Tomazin Another voter, Joel, did not want his surname used, explaining that things are touchy enough in the US when it comes to pro- and anti-Trump supporters. He, too, voted for Haley, partly because she was a good governor in South Carolina but a deeper motive is to keep Trump from destroying Western civilisation, he added.

Asked to explain the former presidents popularity, Joel shrugged and shook his head. Its like this voodoo blindness has come over the otherwise sane people that I know, and I dont understand it, he said. Trump speaks at the Black Conservative Federations annual honours dinner on Friday in Columbia, South Carolina. Credit: AP Trump, on the other hand, did relatively little campaigning in South Carolina, and looked immensely confident ahead of polls opening on Saturday morning. He began the day giving a 90-minute speech in Washington, DC, at the Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC, where he did not mention Haley once. Instead, he mocked Bidens mental acuity, talked up his plan to undertake the biggest mass deportation program in history to address the US border crisis, and described himself as a proud political dissident.

Earlier, he suggested that black voters have flocked to him because of the mugshot he had taken after being charged with election interference, comparing his criminal trials to the years of systemic discrimination they have faced. When I did the mug shot in Atlanta  you know who embraced it more than anyone else? Trump said in reference to the historic image taken when he was arraigned at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta last year. The Black population. Loading A lot of people said that thats why the Black people like me, because theyve been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against. Saturdays primary race comes weeks after Joe Biden won the Democrat race in South Carolina in a landslide, in the absence of any serious challengers. However, that contest was marred by exceedingly low turnout, with only about 131,000 South Carolinians voting, making up just around 4 per cent of registered voters statewide.
The U.S. Navy will deploy robot submarines within the next decade to keep tabs on China. (Photo: US Navy photo)

The United States and the United Kingdom have intensified their military efforts against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, conducting a series of coordinated strikes. This action, marking the fourth instance of such joint operations, targeted a variety of Houthi installations across Yemen.

The offensive aimed at underground weapons caches, missile storage sites, air defense systems, radars, and even a helicopter, signaling a robust response to the Houthi's escalated activities in critical maritime zones.

The operation saw the deployment of four Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets, backed by two Voyager tankers, highlighting the significant resources invested by the coalition in these strikes. This development comes in the wake of the Pentagon's acknowledgment of an uptick in Houthi assaults on commercial shipping traversing the strategic waters of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

These waterways, integral to global trade, have witnessed a discernible reduction in traffic, attributed to the heightened security concerns stemming from the Houthi's aggressive maneuvers.

The Houthi's actions, particularly their more frequent and consistent attacks, have not only jeopardized commercial shipping but have also posed a substantial threat to the global economy. The international coalition has been forthright in its condemnation of these acts, urging a unified global response to what they term as provocations endangering international commerce and peace.

The US and UK's joint statement underscores the strategic objective of these strikes: to significantly impair the Houthi's military capabilities. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the intent to convey a stern message to the Houthis, holding them accountable for their continued aggression. The coalition's resolve is evident in their commitment to countering any threats to the stability of the region and the safety of international maritime routes.

Despite the coalition's efforts to neutralize the Houthi threat, the rebel group remains defiant, vowing to persist in their military operations. Their attacks, ranging from ballistic missile launches to drone strikes, have targeted a variety of vessels and even attempted to disrupt operations at strategic ports.

This persistent hostility has raised concerns about the potential environmental and humanitarian ramifications, especially in light of incidents like the attack on the UK-registered cargo vessel Rubymar, which now poses a significant risk of an ecological disaster in the Red Sea.

The broader geopolitical landscape is also affected, with the conflict in Gaza spilling over into other Middle Eastern arenas. The Houthi campaign against maritime assets, coupled with heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and attacks on US forces in Iraq by pro-Iran militias, illustrates the complex and interconnected nature of regional security challenges.

As the international community grapples with these unfolding events, the coalition's military actions against the Houthis underscore the critical importance of maintaining the free flow of commerce through some of the world's most vital waterways. The continued instability in Yemen and the broader Middle East remains a pressing concern, with far-reaching implications for global peace and economic stability.
Palestinian militants of the Al-Nasser Saladin Brigades take part in an anti-Israel military show in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip February 17, 2020.

(Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

In a significant development amid ongoing hostilities, reports have emerged of a potential breakthrough in negotiations aimed at establishing a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. This tentative agreement also encompasses a significant prisoner-hostage exchange, signaling a possible de-escalation of the conflict that has ravaged Gaza and stirred international concern.

Israeli media, citing unnamed sources, revealed that Israel's War Cabinet had convened to deliberate on the proposed truce, which was reportedly given a tacit nod. The plan, still under wraps and subject to further discussions in Qatar, involves mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, all playing pivotal roles in bridging the gap between the conflicting parties.

Hamas, through its top political leader Ismail Haniyeh, has indicated that while it has not been directly involved in the latest rounds of negotiation, the proposed framework aligns closely with its initial demands for a cease-fire. This development comes as Israel contemplates extending its military operations to Rafah, a move fraught with implications for the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement, underscored the gravity of the situation, pledging to bring operational plans for Rafah to the Cabinet's table for approval. This statement highlights the precarious balance between military objectives and the imperative to mitigate civilian suffering.

The cease-fire proposal, as detailed by an Egyptian official speaking under the condition of anonymity, suggests a comprehensive pause in hostilities for six weeks. This hiatus aims to facilitate the influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, addressing the acute shortages that have plagued the territory. The draft agreement also hints at a phased release of hostages and prisoners, with up to 40 hostages and 300 Palestinian prisoners potentially being exchanged in the initial phase.

The urgency of these negotiations is underscored by the looming commencement of Ramadan, a period traditionally marked by heightened sensitivities and potential for escalation. Both Israel and Hamas face mounting international pressure to reach a compromise that could avert further loss of life and deepen the humanitarian crisis.

Parallel to these developments, reports from Paris indicate that Israeli officials are cautiously optimistic about the prospects of a new cease-fire agreement. The discussions in Paris, involving American, Egyptian, and Qatari representatives, have reportedly laid the groundwork for a plan that might pave the way for a short-term truce and further hostage releases. This diplomatic endeavor underscores the complex interplay of regional and international actors in seeking a resolution to the conflict.

As these negotiations unfold, the plight of the hostages remains a poignant element of the crisis. Families of those held captive oscillate between hope and despair, clinging to the possibility of their loved ones' release. The broader context of the conflict, characterized by devastating human toll and widespread displacement, serves as a somber backdrop to these diplomatic efforts.

In the face of these challenges, calls for a post-war plan for Gaza have gained traction. The Biden Administration, among others, has urged Israel to consider the long-term implications of its military strategy, emphasizing the need for a sustainable solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict and paves the way for lasting peace.
The Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee and a party worker were killed when unidentified assailants sprayed bullets on their SUV in Bahadurgarh near Delhi on Sunday, a senior party leader said. Three private gunmen hired by Rathee for security also suffered injuries in the attack. The attack, which came weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, which alleged a breakdown in law and order in the BJP-ruled state. INLD leader Abhay Chautala told PTI that Rathee and a party worker accompanying him were shot dead.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Agra on Sunday, days after the two parties reached a seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls, PTI reported. Party workers of the SP and the Congress raised slogans in their support as the two leaders, accompanied by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, waved at the crowd gathered here for the yatra. Attacking the government in his address on the occasion, Yadav said, "Today, farmers are standing against the government. The government is scared of the power of farmers. In the coming time, the BJP will be removed and the INDIA coalition government will give respect to farmers." He added that the BJP has not given the backward classes, Dalits and minority communities the respect they deserve.
Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd (MHRIL) plans to invest up to Rs 4,500 crore in the next three to four years to double its room capacity to 10,000, according to company Managing Director and CEO, Kavinder Singh.

The company is actively pursuing partnerships with state governments besides setting up new resorts, brownfield expansion and acquisitions to achieve the target to increase room count from 5,000 to 10,000 by FY30.

"We have all the strategies on the table to get from 5,000 to 10,000 rooms. We are well on our way there," Singh told PTI.

At the moment, about Rs 835 crore of investment is underway for five greenfield, brownfield, and acquisition projects, comprising about 690 keys.

"We are very confident this investment will get scaled to at least Rs 2,000 crore in the next year and very quickly we will scale it up to Rs 4,000-4,500 crore in three to four years time because you need to deliver 5,000 keys by 2030," he said.

On the strategy for expansion, Singh said apart from greenfield, brownfield and acquisitions, the company is also emphasising on public-private partnership (PPP).

"We have already tied up with the Uttarakhand government and identified two pieces of land to do Rs 1,000 crore investment. Then we also have signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for about Rs 800 crore investment," he said.

Further, Singh said,"We are also at this moment of time engaged with the Odisha government and we have been allotted two pieces of land that will help us to invest at Rs 500 crore if not more in Odisha."



Besides, the company is still looking at another piece of land in the Puri area, he added.

"So, PPP as a route to scale up is another weapon beyond greenfield and brownfield (expansions). The fourth weapon is acquisitions. We (are constantly) looking at resort properties, which are available and can meet our requirement, which can be refurbished to our standards is also going on," he added.

In January this year, the company had announced that it would invest Rs 800 crore in Tamil Nadu to build three greenfield resorts over the next five to six years. It would be the second-largest investment by MHRIL, following the Rs 1,000 crore investment in Uttarakhand last year.

MHRIL has 102 resorts across India and abroad as on June 30, 2023. Its subsidiary, Holiday Club Resorts Oy (HCR), Finland, has 33 Timeshare Properties, including nine spa resorts across Finland, Sweden, and Spain.
The six-party alliance, set to form a coalition government at the Centre under the PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif, has already declared PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari as its consensus candidate for Pakistan's top constitutional office

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is gearing up to hold the election for the office of Pakistan's President by March 9, two days prior to the retirement of half of the senators after completing their six-year terms, Pakistan-based Dawn reported.

A senior Pakistan Peoples Party office-bearer said, "The president will be elected by the present senators after setting up all four provincial assemblies," adding that the election could be held on March 9 or 10, according to Dawn report.

The six-party alliance, set to form a coalition government at the Centre under the PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif, has already declared PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari as its consensus candidate for Pakistan's top constitutional office.

The Article 41(4) of Pakistan's Constitution reads, "Election to the office of president shall be held not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of the president in office: Provided that, if the election cannot be held within the period aforesaid because the National Assembly is dissolved, it shall be held within thirty days of the general election to the Assembly."

As the general elections were conducted on February 8, Pakistan's presidential election needs to be held by March 9, just two days prior to the retirement of half of the 100-member Senate, Dawn reported.

The elections in Pakistan's Senate were also due in the first week of March, Dawn reported, citing sources. However, due to the delay in the general elections of the national and provincial assemblies, the Senate polls will now be conducted either in the last week of March or the first week of April, which implies that the upper house will remain dysfunctional and incomplete for some period.

According to the PPP leader, it is due to the upcoming presidential election and to ensure Zardari's win that the party has stopped its two senators - Nisar Khuhro and Jam Mahtab Dahar, from taking the oath as Members of Provincial Assembly in the Sindh Assembly.

According to the formula applied for the president's election in Pakistan, the vote of a senator is considered a single vote, while in the Sindh Assembly, one vote will be equal to nearly four votes. With this formula, Zardari will benefit in the presidential elections.

Notably, Pakistan's incumbent president, Arif Alvi, is already on an extended tenure after completing his five-year term on September 9, 2023. According to Article 44(1) of Pakistan's Constitution, the Pakistani President will hold office for five years from the day he assumes charge. However, he will continue to hold the office until a successor is chosen.

The term-wise data of senators suggests that the PML-N and the PPP will lose a large chunk of their members--69 per cent and 57 per cent, respectively as they will retire on March 11 after completing their tenure, Dawn reported.

However, both the PML-N and PPP will be able to add to their tally in the Senate after the elections held on February 8. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will have a disadvantage if it fails to hold the intra-party elections before the Senate polls, and it may have to depend on the SIC to get representation in the upper house of the parliament.

Until now, the total strength of the Senate has been 100, including 23 members each from the four federating units and four each from the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Islamabad.

The 23 seats that are given to a province include 14 general seats, four reserved for women, four for technocrats, and one for a minority member. Only 96 members will grace the chamber, as the representation of the erstwhile tribal areas will end after their merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the 25th Constitutional Amendment.

This implies that 48 new senators--11 each from all four provinces on general and technocrats' seats, two from Islamabad, and two minority members from Punjab and Sindh will be elected to Pakistan's Senate, Dawn reported.

Presently, the house has 97 members due to the death of PML-N's Rana Maqbool Ahmed and the resignations of PTI leader Shaukat Tarin and Anwaarul Haq Kakar of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) who assumed the charge of Pakistan's caretaker PM.
Buymedia, the global advertising platform, will create over 100 new jobs at its Galway base over the next four years.

The announcement was made at the official opening of Platform 94, a state-of-the-art technology innovation centre where the Buymedia head office is based in Galway.

'Rewarding Careers'

Buymedia is an innovative, ambitious company that Enterprise Ireland is proud to support," said Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland.

"It is creating a world-renowned brand, using the latest AI advancements focusing specifically on the buoyant marketing and advertising sector and has a clear growth path for the coming years. This growth will support the creation of high-quality, rewarding careers in the West of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland looks forward to working with Buymedia on this journey.

International Partnerships

Buymedia said it is building an network of international partnerships while concurrently seeking strategic investments to propel its global expansion plans.

The company claims it is actively pioneering cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies, equipping marketing professionals with tools and data.

At the opening event, the company unveiled its plans for the future, in the presence of Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary, Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, the Mayor of Galway Eddie Hoare and President of Galway Chamber, Eveanna Ryan.

'AI Age'

By working together, we can ensure Ireland's creative industries thrive in the AI age, driving sustainable growth and shared prosperity," said Minister Dara Calleary.

"Todays expansion announcement by Buymedia is a testament to the huge opportunities that await this sector on a global stage and paves the way for this innovative company to significantly scale its business internationally."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME), a regional platform dedicated to driving net zero and nature positive solutions, will hold its next high-level roundtable on Green Mobility and the Growth of MENAs EV Market in Manama, Bahrain on March 4.

This is first in the forums 2024 Decarbonisation Roundtable Series, which takes place throughout the region focusing on topics crucial to MENAs net-zero journey.

The event is being held in partnership with First Motors, a leading dealer of electric vehicles in Bahrain, and Infracorp, a Lead Partner of Sustainability Forum Middle East, and the venue partner for the roundtable. In conjunction with the roundtable, Infracorp will also officially sign its partnership with Solar One Bahrain to operate the electrical charging station for e-vehicles in Bahrain Harbour, making it the first community to cater to EV owners.

The roundtable will bring together regional experts in transportation and sustainability to address the critical need to decarbonise the sector and important role of electric vehicles (EVs) in the drive to achieve net-zero emissions targets. Globally, the transportation sector contributes significantly to overall carbon emissions with the UN putting its contributions at 13% of total global greenhouse gas emissions and 23% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Of these, three-fourths come from road traffic alone.

Panelists will address the global challenge posed by transport-related emissions and regional efforts and progress in driving sustainable mobility solutions including ever growing demand from MENA consumers for electric mobility. Experts will explore the necessary actions and collaborations to support the adoption of electric mobility, with a focus on EV technology, charging infrastructure, and policy frameworks.

Laila Danesh, Managing Director of FinMark Communications, the forums founder and organiser, said: "We are delighted to kick off our 2024 Roundtable Series with a look at the fast-growing regional EV market. According to a recent study by Deloitte, MENAs EV market is set to reach $7.65 billion by 2028, up from $2.7 billion in 2023, a massive leap and indication that green mobility is on the rise. Our panel of experts will delve into whats driving this growth, challenges impacting large-scale adoption as well as the solutions and investments necessary to address them.

Abdulaziz Tawfeeqi, Director of Development of Infracorp, added: "As a Lead Partner of Sustainability Forum Middle East, Infracorp is committed to driving positive change and promoting initiatives that advance local and regional sustainability. We are focused on supporting the growth of the infrastructure needed to promote the uptake of electric vehicles and look forward to signing our partnership with Solar One Bahrain to enable EV charging in Bahrain Harbour. In our investments and development projects, we aim to contribute to carbon-neutrality, and the decarbonisation of mobility is one essential component to a greener future.

Nawaf Khaled Al Zayani, First Motors Managing Director, said: The rapid growth of the EV market in Bahrain and around the region represents an exciting opportunity for our industry to exert leadership and play an important role in supporting the governments decarbonisation goals. Our customers are embracing electric mobility, and we are working hard to provide them with a range of options and choices to help them make the shift. The rise of electric vehicles represents a crucial component to sustainable mobility, and we look forward to engaging with stakeholders to share insights and ideas on how to accelerate their adoption.

Sustainability Forum Middle East remains dedicated to fostering dialogue and collaboration on decarbonisation initiatives in the region. The roundtable serves as a platform for stakeholders to exchange insights, explore opportunities, and drive meaningful action towards achieving net-zero emissions, said organisers. - TradeArabia News Service
Darkness swallowed the city when it should have been light.

Thats how The Buffalo Evening News described the last time Buffalo experienced a total eclipse of the sun.

The minute-and-a-half spectacle occurred at 9:07 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 1925.

It was a darkness deeper than that of any storm. It was a swift darkness. It was a darkness that showed that the source of light had suddenly been blocked out, that the old sun which holds the spinning world in its course and orders the lives of all had suddenly failed, according to The News.

Perhaps not surprisingly for a Buffalo day in January, it was cloudy. Meteorologist David Cuthbertson said two days before the event that conditions were somewhat favorable for the eclipse, but he gave no further assurances, saying it was still too soon to predict with scientific accuracy.

Western New York is preparing for another eclipse April 8, something Buffalo will not see again for 120 years.

Get ready for the eclipse with these free programs, special events Here's a look at some area events leading up to the solar eclipse on April 8.

The center line of the eclipse passed through Buffalo in 1925, as it will again April 8, said Tim Collins, co-host of The 7th Magnitude podcast and a research associate in astronomy at the Buffalo Museum of Science. The duration of the total eclipse is longest along the center line.

In 1925, the Elmwood Village was right on the center line, Collins said. They would have had the maximum exposure.

The next total eclipse in Buffalo will fall on Oct. 26, 2144.

Collins said there is a movement afoot to create a time capsule for that group of stargazers. He envisions the capsule could contain viewing glasses, posters, T-shirts and other memorabilia, being opened the year before the eclipse.

Precautions are the same

In the days leading up to the 1925 eclipse, much like today, readers were warned that blindness may follow gazing at eclipse with naked eyes.

They were told to view the eclipse through deep smoked glass or a developed photograph film that was completely exposed to light, methods that are not recommended today. Others suggested punching a card with a pin or needle and holding it above a piece of white paper. With the sun to your back, shining through the pinprick hole, the image is projected on the paper and is a way of monitoring the progress of the eclipse without looking at the sun.

'Get the glasses and be safe': UB ophthalmologist explains the do's and don'ts of viewing the eclipse The total solar eclipse that will focus the world's attention on Western New York on April 8 has people asking a question that usually does not need to be asked: Is it OK to look at the sun?

Those who looked to the west at the start of totality said they saw the engulfing shadow of the moon sweep with incredible swiftness across the lake and onto the city.

People came to the doorways and windows and even took to building rooftops. Others braved outdoor temperatures that hovered near zero degrees, including some who huddled on street corners.

They nudged each other, according to The News. They searched the sky for a rift in the clouds. They talked excitedly of the unusual experience.

The Associated Press reported that deer at the Bronx Zoo tumbled over one another in terror in the darkness. A great Arctic owl hooted and flew about and the alligator bellowed as if it was night.

The chattering monkeys were awed and quiet for the first time in the history of the zoo. Songbirds from all parts of the world dipped their heads under their wings and slept, the AP reported.

Buffalonians turned on indoor lights during the darkness. Mayor Frank X. Schwab had already agreed to keep street lights off during the eclipse, but they stayed on because of the cloudiness.

Scientists in their element

Professor Peter F. Piper, head of the science department at Hutchinson High School, was on top of the Elmwood Avenue school, while professor Harlow Shapley, a well-known astronomer and head of the Harvard College Observatory, was at the top of the telephone company building on Franklin Street. A professor Curtain, of DYouville College, watched from the third floor of the college at Porter and Prospect.

Meanwhile, WGR kept banging away its signals to see if they were affected by the phenomenon, and University of Buffalo physics professor L. Grant Hector tested terrestrial magnetism at the Main Street campus.

Cuthbertson, the Weather Bureau meteorologist, hovered over instruments measuring wind velocity, barometric pressure, temperature and cloud intensity.

Dirigibles and airplanes were at the ready around the country to view the event, and there were cameras and telescopes at 13 fixed observatories.

Nine planes that had planned to take observers to the air from Mitchel Field on Long Island were grounded by frozen engines. They included a U.S. Marine Corps plane carrying a radio to handle a running story of the eclipse for The Buffalo Evening News and North American Newspaper Alliance.

Always the weather

The action of the clouds was peculiarly vexing, The News reported. The day started out promising, but then clouds rolled over the city. Soon the whole sky was overcast and it became certain that Buffalo would lose the chance of the lifetime of this generation to see the corona of the sun.

While it could not be seen in Buffalo, Dunkirk and Gowanda both had clear views. North Collins reported light, intermittent clouds. Kenmore had an intermittent view after totality, and Niagara Falls was reported to be generally cloudy with a fleeting glimpse just before totality.

Conditions were ideal at Cornell University in Ithaca, and downstate in Westchester County.

Total solar eclipse sends Buffalo-Niagara hotel rates into orbit Western New York will be in prime viewing territory for the total solar eclipse taking place April 8, and visitors are paying high  yes, even astronomical  prices for lodging in the area.

Piper, the Hutchinson High science teacher, said a murky band could be seen extending across the lake from Point Abino, Ont., as the eclipse neared totality. It looked like an arched cone, swooping down on the city at the instant of greatest darkness.

Much anticipation preceded the 1925 eclipse. Some suggested that motorists stop their cars, offices and factories stop work and lights be turned off during the event.
Unlock the secrets to powerful business writing with our comprehensive guide. From audience engagement to reliable service reviews, enhance your skills.

Communication is the cornerstone of any successful business, and business writing plays an instrumental role in conveying ideas, proposals, and information. In this blog post, we'll offer practical tips to enhance your writing abilities for business purposes - no matter if you're an established professional or just beginning. Mastering this art form is key to creating clear and concise business writing that delivers maximum impactful communication results.

Understanding Your Audience

A key first step to improving business writing is understanding who your target audience is. Think about their background, level of experience, and expectations so that your message resonates with them and creates engaging communications that are not only pertinent but engaging as well. In addition, knowing who is reading will enable you to select an appropriate tone and style when crafting writing texts for business use.

Clarity Is Key

Clarity in business writing is of utmost importance. Avoid using complex or overly technical language that might mislead readers. Use concise sentences, eliminating unnecessary words that might dilute your message. Make use of bullet points or numbered lists when providing instructions or information.

Proofread and Edit

Even experienced writers make errors; typos or grammatical mistakes can undermine the credibility of your business communication. Before finalizing a draft of any writing piece, proofread carefully for typos or grammar issues before editing for clarity, coherence, and correctness. Ideally, involve another colleague in reviewing your work to provide invaluable feedback from a fresh perspective.

Use an Active Voice

In business writing, employing an active voice will add strength and directness to your communication. Passive constructions tend to become cumbersome when writing passively. Use active constructions instead to emphasize who's doing what and make your writing more dynamic and engaging.

Build a Strong Opening

Your opening in business writing sets the stage for what follows - craft an eye-catching introduction that grabs the reader's attention and clearly states its purpose, whether that is via proposal, report, or email. An engaging introduction ensures your readers remain engaged while understanding its significance.

Maintain Consistent Formatting

Consistent formatting adds a professional touch to business writing. Use standard font and size, maintain uniform spacing between paragraphs, and ensure headings and subheadings remain uniform throughout your document. Maintaining uniform formatting not only enhances its visual appeal but also makes your writing more accessible and user-friendly.

Research and Cite Sources

When providing data, statistics, or any factual information, it is crucial to conduct extensive research. Citing your sources not only lends credence but also demonstrates transparency - make sure to use one consistent citation style - whether APA or MLA, depending on industry standards.

Tailor Your Tone

In business writing, adapting the tone of your communication to fit the purpose and context is essential. Consider your message's purpose - formal report, persuasive email, or casual memo - when choosing an appropriate tone that helps establish rapport with readers and ensures your message resonates effectively.

Seek Feedback and Aim for Continuous Improvement

No writer ever achieves perfection on their first try, so actively seeking feedback from colleagues, supervisors, or peers to gain valuable insights into your writing style can provide invaluable feedback that identifies areas for improvement and allows you to hone your craft. Be open-minded when accepting constructive criticism, as it helps identify areas for growth as you strive towards continuous improvement with business writing endeavors.

Take Advantage of Writing Tools

Today's digital environment provides many writing tools that can significantly aid business writing. Grammar-checking software such as Grammarly or ProWritingAid can help catch grammatical errors and enhance overall writing quality. Additionally, they offer suggestions to enhance sentence structure, word choice, style, and communication for more professional business communications.

Engage Conciseness Without Sacrificing Substance

Time is of the utmost value in business, so make your writing more impactful by adopting conciseness. Though clarity is of utmost importance, removing unnecessary words and redundancies helps deliver your message efficiently to busy professionals who appreciate such concise communication more quickly.

Is Essaypro a Scam?

As part of any resource for improving business writing, it's crucial to evaluate online platforms offering writing assistance - one such platform being EssayPro.com. Before trusting any writing service provider, it's wise to read essaypro.com review. An in-depth examination of EssayPro can provide insight into its quality services, customer satisfaction levels, reliability issues, and overall reliability issues. Additionally it will allow potential users to make an informed decision as to whether it's legit or fraudulent.

Learn About MyAssignmentHelp and Check Whether It Is Secure

MyAssignmentHelp.com may come up as a potential resource when researching business writing resources. Before considering their services, it would be prudent to read reviews and gain more information about them before engaging with them. Involving yourself with online services requires extra safeguards against threats to both personal and financial data - be sure to explore user experiences to determine whether is myassignmenthelp.com safe for your writing needs. Discover more information about myassignmenthelp.

Conclusion

Improving your business writing skills is an ongoing journey that demands hard work and dedication to improvement. By understanding your audience, prioritizing clarity, and applying these practical tips, you can elevate your writing to new heights - effective communication in business is crucially important, so mastering business writing will undoubtedly contribute to professional success!
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Cameroun :: Nkambe Tragedy In Cameroon: Victims Demand Justice

Nkambe is a beautiful district of the Donga-Mantung department in the North-West region of Cameroon.

It is the place where people gather during official holidays for the festivities. Except that on February 11, 2024, while the whole of Cameroon commemorates the National Youth Day, the branch of terrorists claiming to be Ambozonians takes advantage, and sows panic during this festival dedicated to Cameroonian youth.

On the tiles, the criminals left a 15-year-old boy dead, seriously injured who were treated in hospital. A few weeks after this umpteenth tragedy, the victims, the victims' relatives, Me Emmanuel NSAHLAI and several other associations are demanding that justice be done.

This is too much, we must act together to apprehend the authors, their financial supporters based in Germany, Italy, France, the United States, Norway, South Africa and other countries.

Peace is threatened, the humanitarian field, international solidarity must show its good faith so that these outlaws who finance international terrorism are arrested. To achieve this, Me Emmanuel NSAHLAI, an international lawyer practicing in California, the USA and Cameroon, contacted the international criminal court, the organization of human rights and freedoms, the counter-terrorism committee, the office of the high commission of United Nations Human Rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council, Interpol, the European Court of Human Rights and other organizations that can help stop the separatists where they are.

Yvonne NJOKA, director of CAVAT explains that the association's mission is based on compassion and action. The action of the brilliant Cameroonian international lawyer is for the cause of the people who cry, bruised, encouraged by the Cameroonian government, Barrister Emmanuel NSAHLAI is a patriot who loves his country and his people. This social support is bearing a lot of fruit, because more than 30 financiers of this terrorism movement have been put in prison. If the solution does not seem very quick, it is near and even the end of this movement. While waiting to reduce this barbarity to its simple expression, Cameroonians express their condolences to the victims and their families.
Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 3:43PM

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is adjusting its electrification strategy due to market difficulties. The German luxury brand is pushing back its aim to go all-electric by 2030, Reuters says. The company also assures investors that it will continue making vehicles with combustion engines well into the next decade.

In 2021, Mercedesalong with other automakerswas hopeful about the future of EVs. The company committed 40 billion, about CA$58 billion, to a strategy that would phase out the combustion engine and sell only EVs by the end of the decade. The plan was realistic for a company that was launching the EQ lineup, which was only EVs. It also aligned with the E.U.'s ban on new gas and diesel vehicles sales by 2035.

The plan Mercedes presented three years ago expected that half of its sales would be electrified, meaning EVs or hybrids, by 2025. That goal has now been delayed to 2030, according to the news source. The reason for the change is clear. Battery-powered vehicles only accounted for 11 percent of the companys sales in 2023, and that number increased to 19 percent if hybrids were counted.

Its also obvious that the plan to stop gas- and diesel-only cars is on hold for now. CEO Ola Kaellenius, who foreshadowed Thursdays announcement late last year, said the brand remains loyal to combustion engines. The executive said that the marque is working on updates of these vehicles, stating that, It is almost like we will have a new lineup in 2027 that will take us well into the 2030s.

Mercedess change of course, however major or minor it ends up being, is not unexpected. Over the past year, the industry has been concerned by low demand for EVs in the U.S. and Europe. Companies like Ford and General Motors have also announced modifications to their electrification plans. Thursdays news already seems to satisfy investors. In the hours after the announcement, together with news of a US$3.2 billion (~CA$ 4.3 billion) share buyback, Mercedess stock price rose by more than five percent.

Source
Arts and cultural organizations in Western New York pumped $381.4 million into the local economy in 2022, according to a study highlighting the economic and social impact of the groups.

It is not just large institutions such as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Sheas Performing Arts that added to the economy and the fabric of the area.

Also participating in the study were groups such as the Salamanca Rail Museum, El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera, Cuba Circulating Library Association, African American Veterans Monument, Angelica Community Radio, Robert H. Jackson Center and the 1891 Fredonia Opera House.

The study collected surveys and information from 145 local organizations in Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, which is one-quarter of the 573 eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations identified by Arts Services Inc., a local organization that serves as a hub for the Western New York arts and cultural sector.

The economic activities included $192 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations, and $189.4 million in event-related spending by their audiences.

The Arts & Economic Prosperity study was conducted by Arts Services in partnership with Americans for the Arts. It is the sixth study completed over the last 30 years by Americans for the Arts.

Nationally, arts and culturals generated $151.7 billion of economic activity in 2022, according to the study.

Among the local findings:

The typical audience member spends $45 per person for each event, not including the cost of admission, compared with $38.46 nationally.

Most attendees, 90.2%, live in Western New York.

88.5% agreed they would feel a sense of loss if the activity or venue was no longer available.

Nonprofit arts and culture organizations play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life and well-being of our communities, as they bring beauty, creativity, diversity and joy, Jen Swan-Kilpatrick, executive director of Arts Services, said in a press release. They also make their cultural offerings accessible to everyone, fulfilling their social mission.

The 145 culturals employed 5,867 and generated $81.8 million in local, state and federal government revenue. They also had 11,023 volunteers.

City awards nearly $18M in ARP funds to 39 community groups Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the citys Office of Strategic Planning, said 114 organizations had applied for the American Rescue Plan funded grants.

This study sends a strong signal that, even in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting recession, the nonprofit arts and culture is a formidable industry, the report said.

Surveys were collected from 794 audience members at events from May 2022 through June 2023. The study was postponed 16 months because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nearly 89% agreed that their attendance is their way of ensuring that the activity or venue is preserved for future generations.
Gwen Stefani's hairstylist spoke her truth about Stefani's romance with Blake Shelton. Here's what the stylist said about the couple's 'thick skin.'

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are proving the naysayers wrong with their successful marriage. The couple met on The Voice and connected over their relationship struggles in the past. Now, theyre married, living in Oklahoma, and singing songs together. While divorce rumors plagued them at the end of 2023, Stefanis hairstylist says fans have nothing to worry about.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton have an unbreakable bond. Fans worried that the No Doubt frontwoman and the country star were having marriage issues after they didnt post much about each other at the beginning of 2024. However, they returned strong in February 2024 with their new duet, Purple Irises. And Stefanis hairstylist, Suzette Boozer, can confirm that theyre doing better than ever.

Theyre so good together, Boozer said at the Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (MUAHS) Awards in Beverly Hills, according to The Sun. I mean, they have a new song together. Its a beautiful song together. At the end of the day, you got to kind of ignore what you know is negative, and its just not true.

Boozer added that Stefani and Shelton must have thick skin to deal with the rumor mill, but Stefani knows how to deal with negative media attention. And shes been in the business for a long time, so she does understand, she added.

She dispelled breakup rumors with a simple Instagram post

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani | Virginia Sherwood/NBC via Getty Images

Divorce rumors plagued Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton toward the end of 2023 and heading into 2024. Reports from insiders suggested that Stefani and Shelton had exited the honeymoon phase in their relationship, and they werent spending as much time with each other as they wouldve liked. Additional rumors suggested Stefani didnt feel like Shelton was supporting her personal projects.

Gwen and Blakes marriage is definitely in trouble, a source told Life & Style. Lately, theyve been at odds about everything from career decisions and the parenting of her three boys to where they spend most of their time. The tension continues to grow, and Blake and Gwen are drifting apart as a result.

Thankfully, Stefani put the rumors to rest with a simple Instagram post. On Jan. 30, 2024, she posted a photo to Instagram of purple irises in a vase. Next to the irises is a note that says, To: Pretty Girl, Love, Blake.

Fans didnt know it yet, but Stefani hinted at her new song with Shelton, Purple Irises. The two went on to perform it before the Super Bowl LVIII.

Gwen Stefani explained the significance behind the lyrics for Purple Irises

Purple Irises is a beautiful song sung by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, and the lyrics detail just how much they love each other and dont want to lose each other. Stefani spoke to KOST 1035 about the songs significance and how she wrote it.

Stefani explained that she and Shelton came across an abandoned homestead that had purple irises planted all around it. The irises must have been planted, like, 100 years ago, she said. The irises are super hearty. They can weather any kind of storm. You dont have to do anything; theyll just literally come back to life every year. And so, we transplanted them  and we planted them over where we were living.

So, thats where I got picking purple irises, she continued. Because, at the end of the day, no matter what happens, thats what were doing, and thats amazing. Thats love, right?

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel.
The 2015 movie Beasts of No Nation told a story that had a very personal impact on its star Idris Elba.

Actor Idris Elba has always thrived in movies that have challenged him like Mandela or Beasts. But perhaps very few films tested him like his 2015 acclaimed Netflix hit Beasts of No Nation.

Idris Elba found his role in Beasts of No Nation scarring

Idris Elba | Tommaso Boddi/WireImage

Elba did a feature that meant a lot to him with the 2015 movie Beasts of No Nation. The project saw Elba playing a military commander who adopts a young boy to be one of his child soldiers.

Right from the beginning, Elba confided that the movie was a personal project of his. His family was very familiar with the environment Beasts of No Nation took place in, so Elba almost felt obligated to do the film.

This story is close to me because my parents come from Sierra Leone which is a country that was ravaged [by war] as you know, Elba once told NZ Herald. My family are definitely connected to a story like this and I just thought: I have to be a part of this film. It also gave me an opportunity to play a different and challenging character so I said yes immediately.

What made the film even more difficult for Elba was how closely he had to work with children. Elba and his very young co-stars had to act out some disturbing sequences for the film. And with the actor being a father at the time, it was certainly sometimes a challenge to get into character.

Even when I watch the film Im in tears because I hate to see children suffering, I just hate it. And now that I have kids its even worse, he said.

The role left such an impression on The Wire star that it even affected him mentally for a while.

I came out of the film mentally scared because of how disgusting my character was, Elba once told Metro (via FemaleFirst). Id rather train and fight than do that again. But nothing compares to being a dad  thats a labor of love and a different sought of toughness.

Idris Elba revealed he almost died in Beasts of No Nation

Related Idris Elba Felt His Heimdall Character Was Underserved in the Marvel Universe

Elba accidentally put himself in mortal danger on the set of No Nation. In an interview with The Guardian, he recalled how the films director Cary Fukunaga warned him about a scene he had to do.

I nearly died  We decided to do this waterfall scene where all these child soldiers were walking behind this massive waterfall, he said. Cary Fukunaga, the director, decided to shoot it for real. We went to this waterfall and in this scene my character is standing there watching all the child soldiers go past. Now in the setup of that, the stunt co-ordinator says, Listen everyone, this is a waterfall, thats a 90, 100ft drop down there and the ground is very slippery, just be careful!

But The Suicide Squad actor wasnt careful enough, and a simple scene couldve easily turned tragic.

I put my foot on this rock just to hang out and chill out while they were setting up and as Im doing that its slippery, obviously. I slip  I put my hand on this tree  its not a tree, its a branch. It snaps and I go literally about six feet before I go bang over and I got caught by the security guy, he recalled.

Despite the dangers, Elba had fond memories of his time on Beasts of No Nation. He also revealed that he wasnt the only one there who nearly succumbed to the elements.

It was a great experience though, that was my most harrowing [film to shoot]. The director caught malaria and survived and it was great and he kept working so it was that type of shoot, he said.
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We live in an era of advanced medicine, where most centuries-old diseases have become relics of the past. Thats why it can be startling to hear that some ancient ailments have made a reappearance in modern times.

For instance, the bubonic plague, which was infamous for its devastating impact throughout history, is back in Oregon for the first time in nine years.

A pet owner in Deschutes County, Oregon, has been diagnosed with a rare case of bubonic plague. They are the first confirmed case of the plague in the state since 2015. Health officials from the Deschutes County Health Services believe that the person caught the disease from their cat.

All close contacts of the resident and their pet have been contacted and provided medication to prevent illness, said Dr. Richard Fawcett, health officer of Deschutes County.

Residents were urged to stay away from rodents and to avoid touching sick, injured, or dead rodents. They should also prohibit their pets from approaching sick or dead rodents or going near rodent burrows.

Luckily, the infection was detected and treated in its early stages, so it poses little risk to the community. No other reports of bubonic plague have emerged in the area. However, the case has prompted questions and concerns about how an outbreak of such an ancient disease can occur in todays world.

The bubonic plague dates back to the Middle Ages and is best known for killing millions of people across Europe. The plague was carried by fleas found on rats. It was first introduced to the United States in 1900 by steamships infested with rats.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, the plague spreads to animals or humans after they are bitten by an infected flea or encounter an animal sick with the disease. Although the plague can be treated and cured with antibiotics, it cannot be completely eradicated.

The reason why it hasnt been eliminated is because theres an animal reservoir. The bacteria can infect animals, and because we cant treat all animals in the wild, it persists in nature and thus occasionally, causes a limited number of human cases, explained Dr. Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He was not involved in the Oregon case.

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Art is valued not just for its beauty but for its communicative nature. In the past, when written language did not yet exist, paintings and carvings were used to document information and tell stories that were passed down for generations.

For instance, a gallery of ancient rock art on the walls of a cave in Argentina features cultural knowledge on how to survive. The cave was located in Patagonia, a region encompassing the southern tip of South America.

The artwork is several millennia older than archaeologists previously thought. To determine the age of the artwork, researchers used radiocarbon dating to analyze small pieces of black pigment extracted from the cave drawings. The black paint contained plant material, like burned wood, which allowed them to calculate its age.

Its usually really hard to date rock art unless it has an organic component; otherwise, there really isnt any material that you can date, Ramiro Barberena, study co-author and archaeologist at Temuco Catholic University in Chile, told Live Science.

The earliest drawings date back to 8,200 years ago, while the most recent were from around 3,000 years ago, making them the oldest known pigment-based rock art on the continent. The new findings suggest that the artwork spans 130 generations of humans.

At the site, archaeologists found 895 paintings grouped into 446 motifs, depicting geometric shapes, animals, and humans. There were many dots, circles, lines, and polygons painted with the color red.

In addition, much of the animal art featured large flightless birds known as rheas and guanacos, close relatives of llamas.

One of the motifs, a strange, comb-like pattern, had been drawn repeatedly for thousands of years.

It is believed that since the same images were created over such a long period of time, people have been sharing information across generations as a way to retain memories and keep scattered hunter-gatherer groups connected.

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Home News 11 YWAM missionaries killed in Tanzania

Eleven missionaries with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) died in a tragic traffic accident on Saturday near Arusha, Tanzania. The incident, involving multiple vehicles, also claimed the lives of several others, including the bus driver.

"It is morning time in Tanzania, and we are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of another three of our dear missionaries as a result of the tragic traffic accident," YWAM said in a Sunday morning update about the death toll. "Eleven of our friends are now with Jesus. Two are still in critical condition in the hospital.

"As a movement, we gather around all those impacted by this tragedy, their families, and their communities. We are working to meet all the pressing practical, financial, and emotional needs that arise," YWAM added, along with a link where people can donate.

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On Saturday, YWAM confirmed the loss of their members in a statement on its website when initial reports indicated that eight members had perished in the accident.

It is with great sadness that we are confirming that 8 of our dearly loved friends and honored missionaries have passed away as a result of the tragic traffic accident, the ministry said. Additionally, several others, including the bus driver, have also passed away.

The organization expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to the families, friends and team members affected.

For security reasons, the names and nationalities of the deceased missionaries remain confidential. YWAM says it's in the process of contacting the families of those who have died or are in critical condition, providing updates as they become available.

One of the two buses involved, carrying YWAM leaders and candidates, sustained significant damage, while the other returned safely to the YWAM campus in Arusha. Several individuals were reported to be in critical condition and receiving medical attention in local hospitals.

YWAM has urged the public to avoid spreading unconfirmed reports about the accident, emphasizing respect for the privacy of the families involved. It encouraged sharing official updates to ensure accurate information is disseminated.

According to Xinhua, the accident claimed at least 15 lives, including three foreigners, and injured 12 others. The collision, which involved four vehicles, was attributed to a suspected brake failure of a truck in the Ngaramtoni suburb of Arusha.

Justine Masejo, the Arusha regional commissioner, detailed the accidents circumstances and its impact on the local community. Among the vehicles involved was one carrying students and teachers from New Vision School of Arusha and a public bus.

The injured were taken to major hospitals in the city, including Mount Meru referral hospital and Selian Lutheran Hospital, for treatment.

In its first update published early Saturday morning, the ministry said, Two hours ago, we learned of a bus accident in Arusha, Tanzania, with YWAMers who had gathered there attending a University of the Nations Executive Masters course intensive. Facilitators and candidates of the course were traveling together in two buses, when one was hit by a truck.
Home News Conservative advocacy group to quit taking part in UMC General Conference after 2024

A prominent theologically conservative advocacy group will no longer be active at the United Methodist Church General Conference after this years churchwide legislative gathering.

Good News, a conservative UMC publication and advocacy group founded in the 1960s, isn't planning to participate in future UMC General Conference gatherings after 2024.

2024 will be the last time we are present at the General Conference, said Good News President Rob Renfroe, who is still a UMC elder, in an interview with The Christian Post.

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Renfroe explained that at the upcoming General Conference, scheduled for April 23-May 3 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, Good News will lobby for a fair and just exit path for churches outside the United States.

Our bishops ruled that the legislation that was passed in 2019 that allowed churches in the U.S. to disaffiliate does not extend to churches in Africa, The Philippines, Europe, Russia and Asia, said Renfroe.

The vast majority of churches in Africa  and many in the other regions I have listed want the same right to self-determination U.S. churches were given. Our work will be to call upon United Methodists of good will to do the right thing and remove this discriminatory policy.

Another agenda item, according to Renfroe, will be to lobby for extending the provisions of Paragraph 2553, the temporary disaffiliation procedure that allowed congregations to leave the UMC over the debate on sexual ethics. It officially expired at the end of last year.

According to Renfroe, some congregations had been told by their bishops and district superintendents that they did not need to leave before the deadline, but could hold off until after General Conference.

If the GC changes the definition of marriage, which it almost assuredly will, then these churches that trusted their bishops and district superintendents should be given the opportunity to discern God's will for their congregations and leave the denomination if they feel God is leading them to do so, he continued.

Apart from those points of concern, according to Renfroe, "Good News has no desire to influence the policies or the future of the UMC."

"That is very different from the past when we fought for a biblical view of marriage, high moral standards for ordained clergy, and a host of policies we believed would renew and reform the church," he noted.

The involvement of Good News and another theologically conservative group known as the Wesleyan Covenant Association at this years General Conference has garnered some criticism.

This was based in part on the two groups supporting the recently launched Global Methodist Church, a denomination that has promoted itself as a conservative alternative to the UMC.

Earlier this month, UM News reported that multiple General Conference delegates had objected to the presence of Good News and WCA, in part because of their support for the GMC.

If you work for Pepsi, you dont expect to be in the board room where decisions are made for Coca-Cola, said Pat Luna, an Alabama-West Florida Conference delegate, as quoted by UM News.

Were basically charting our path forward to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, said the Rev. Stan Copeland, a North Texas Conference delegate, according to UM News. Only the ones who are invested in that should be making the decisions.

Regarding the criticism, Renfroe told CP that, since he and others in the two groups are still technically part of the UMC, we have every right to be concerned about the life of the United Methodist Church.

Over the past few decades, the UMC has been embroiled in divisive debate over whether to change its Book of Discipline rules to allow for the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals.

Although efforts to change the rules at General Conference have always been voted down, many theologically liberal clergy have refused to follow or enforce the Book of Discipline standard.

In 2019, at a special session of General Conference, delegates voted to add Paragraph 2553 to the Book of Discipline, which provided a disaffiliation procedure for congregations seeking to leave the UMC over the debate.

According to numbers compiled by UM News, from 2019 to 2023, more than 7,500 congregations left the denomination via Paragraph 2553, with many joining the GMC.

In 2022, the Confessing Movement, another conservative unofficial caucus within the UMC, announced that they were shutting down, as they viewed the creation of the GMC as fulfilling their mission.

We feel that our goal has been accomplished, said Patricia Miller, executive director of the Confessing Movement in a 2023 interview with CP. We believe, with the launching of the Global Methodist Church, our goal for a faithful denomination has been met.

Our goal has been to bring the United Methodist Church into a faithfulness with our doctrine, with our belief about Jesus Christ the Son, Savior and Lord. And so, now, the Global Methodist Church is faithful to that. So, the Global Methodist Church does not need a renewal group.
Home News John MacArthur repudiates Alistair Begg's advice for Christians to attend LGBT weddings 'It's not loving to help somebody celebrate stepping into the fury of God's judgment'

Pastor John MacArthur recently repudiated Pastor Alistair Begg's comments suggesting Christians ought to attend LGBT weddings.

Responding to a congregant who asked for his take on the controversy during a question-and-answer period at his Grace Community Church in Los Angeles last weekend, MacArthur also suggested Begg's advice will tarnish the Christian radio personality's otherwise faithful 40-year ministry.

John MacArthurs first public comment (that I know of) regarding Alistair Beggs counsel to grandmother to attend her grandchilds transgender wedding.



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Begg, who serves as senior pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, drew backlash when comments he made last September on his popular "Truth For Life" podcast reemerged on social media and went viral last month.

While discussing his book The Christian Manifesto, Begg mentioned on the podcast how a grandmother had asked him whether she should attend the wedding of her grandson, who she said was marrying a transgender-identifying individual.

Begg said he advised the woman to attend the wedding and buy a gift to avoid reinforcing "judgmental" stereotypes about Christians.

Well, heres the thing: your love for them may catch them off guard, but your absence will simply reinforce the fact that they said, 'These people are what I always thought: judgmental, critical, unprepared to countenance anything,'" he said.

"And it is a fine line, isn't it? It really is," he continued. "And people need to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. But I think we're going to take that risk. We're going to have to take that risk a lot more if we want to build bridges into the hearts and lives of those who don't understand Jesus and don't understand that He is a King."

Days after his comments caused a stir, American Family Radio (AFR) announced it would no longer be airing "Truth For Life" after more than a decade. Begg was also scrubbed from the website of the Shepherds Conference, which is a ministry of MacArthur's Grace Community Church.

MacArthur noted last weekend that while he has "great affection" for Begg and their friendship goes back 45 years, he disagreed with his advice.

"I also want to say that you shouldn't judge a man by his weakest moment," MacArthur said. "All of us will have a moment of weakness. Having said that, I have to disagree with the answer that he gave to the question."

MacArthur explained that he believes there are "a lot of reasons" why a Christian should decline to attend a homosexual or trans wedding, and rejected Begg's argument that attending would be compassionate.

"My response to that is the most loving thing you could possibly do would be not to go, and to condemn the relationship; that is loving," he said. "It's not loving to help somebody celebrate stepping into the fury of God's judgment."

"This is not a time for you to celebrate, thinking that your affection for somebody is the means of their salvation," he continued. "They will come to salvation when the Lord exposes their sin. That's why the Holy Spirit  John 16  convicts of sin and righteousness and judgment. And what should be said to somebody is: 'This is wrong, this is against God's order, this is not a marriage.'"

MacArthur went on to argue that same-sex marriage is "not a marriage at all" because it goes against God's design for the institution.

"It is a blasphemy against God, as is transgender life and homosexuality, as well," he said. "That is the message to give in love."

MacArthur doubted whether he would personally have the ability to "survive" sitting through a wedding ceremony he believes to be sinful while giving the appearance that he is supportive. To do so, he said, would be "to aid and abet the celebration of something that is defying God's design and [is] the very point of the spear, currently, of the corruption of this entire culture."

MacArthur also expressed bewilderment regarding why Begg would even wade into the issue, given its potential for damaging his ministry and reputation.

"Particularly, if I was at all prone to suggest that [attending an LGBT wedding] might be OK, I would never say that, because you'd have to calculate the cost of that," he said. "And how do you calculate that? The price for that is really epic. It's really epic."

"And there's so much more about [Begg] that is wonderful and faithful  and his ministry, he just passed 40 years of pastoral ministry in that church. It was a great celebration. And now he's going to be defined by that," he added.

Begg, who has been in pastoral ministry since 1975 and became senior pastor at Parkside in 1983, said in a sermon last month that he feels no need to repent over his advice. In the message based on Luke 15 and titled "Compassion vs. Condemnation," he warned about the "inclination toward Pharisaism" that is "alive and well within all our hearts."

He also noted how little attention his decades of teaching on biblical marriage received compared with one podcast episode.
Home News This week in Christian history: Salem Witch Trials begin, Ethelbert Talbot dies, pope issues decree on clergy taxes

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance.

Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths.

Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many people.

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The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include Pope Boniface VII issuing a decree on taxes, the death of Episcopal Bishop Ethelbert Talbot, and the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials.
Home Opinion Biden team goes to extreme lengths to condemn conservative Christians

The Left increasingly views conservative Christians with a combination of fear and disgust. If those knuckle-dragging Bible-thumping cross-heads get their way, leftists warn, women will lose the right to vote, to work, to own property. Powerful men will force fertile women to be handmaids, systematically raping them to produce children.

That sounds insane, right? Yet this is exactly the argument that pro-abortion zealots use to demonize attempts to protect life in the womb, and President Joe Biden's campaign recently wielded this argument against the threat of Christian nationalism supposedly infiltrating former President Donald Trump's campaign.

Biden campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt drew absurd conclusions when commenting on a Politico report about Trump allies working to infuse Christian nationalism into a hypothetical second Trump administration.

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This is straight out of The Handmaids Tale," Hitt said in a statement Tuesday. Nationwide abortion bans, attacks on same-sex marriage, and restrictions on contraception  this is the horrifying reality being openly discussed by Team Trump and the likely architects of his second term agenda.

Hitt had been responding to a lengthy report about Russell Vought, former director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump. Politico claimed to have uncovered a document drafted by staff at the nonprofit Vought leads, the Center for Renewing America. The document includes a list of top priorities for CRA in a second Trump term, Politico's Alexander Ward and Heidi Przybyla write. They claim the document has a few bullet points, including one titled Christian nationalism.

Ward and Przybyla cite two anonymous sources in claiming that Vought hopes his proximity and regular contact with the former president ... will elevate Christian nationalism as a focal point in a second Trump term.

Ward and Przybyla did not reveal the documents they reportedly obtained, and they state that besides one bullet point, the documents do not outline specific Christian nationalist policies. Yet they delve deeply into what they characterize as Vought's Christian nationalist agenda, from immigration restrictions to limits on abortion and reduced access to contraceptives.

The so-called reporting from Politico is false and we told them so on multiple occasions, Rachel Cauley, communications director at the Center for Renewing America, told The Daily Signal when asked about the report.

The Politico report frames many conservative policies as elements of Christian nationalism and omits key context about conservative issues.

It cites Trump out of context, noting a campaign speech in which the former president lamented attacks on Catholics and pledged to fight anti-Christian bias at the Justice Department but failing to mention that Trump had been responding to the FBI's reliance on the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center to demonize radical-traditional Catholic hate groups.

The report also casts aspersions on the natural law tradition, omitting the fact that it heavily influenced America's founding documents. Natural law is the belief that there are universal rules derived from God that can't be superseded by government or judges, Ward and Przybyla write. While it is a core pillar of Catholicism, in recent decades it's been used to oppose abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and contraception.

Ward and Przybyla also note that Vought makes clear reference to human rights being defined by God, not man.

It seems neither of these seasoned reporters has read the Declaration of Independence, which also grounds rights in the laws of nature and nature's God.

Yet these insinuations apparently had their intended effect. The Biden campaign followed the Politico article's deceptive framing in going overboard to condemn Trump  and more specifically Vought, the man Politico frames as the former president's top advisor.

Many on the Left have compared the pro-life movement to The Handmaid's Tale, but it bears repeating just how absurd this rhetorical attack is.

The Handmaid's Tale, a dystopian novel written by Margaret Atwood and adapted into a Hulu series a few years ago, depicts a Christian movement known as Gilead taking control of America following a calamity that makes most women infertile. Gilead removes women's property, fires them from their jobs, and forces them into a stratified society based extremely loosely on one particular Bible passage.

The government assigns fertile women to the position of handmaids, silent servants who are systematically raped in order to bear children.

Gilead finds justification for this in Genesis 30, where Rachel, anxious for children, tells her husband Jacob to have sex with her handmaid Bilhah. In response, Jacobs other wife Leah tells Jacob to have sex with her handmaid Zilpah.

The Bible does not praise this wifely rivalry as a good thing, and God's ability to bring good things out of evil acts is a major theme in Genesis. Bible passages from Genesis to Revelation state that men and women were designed for one another in the covenant of marriage, between one man and one woman. Many Christians read Genesis 30 as a warning against polygamy, not an instruction manual on how to compete with your sister to have more kids.

Margaret Atwood, no fan of Trump or of pro-life policies, rightly rebuked an Esquire reporter who prompted Atwood to compare Trump's administration to Gilead.

People are saying Trump is re-creating Gilead. Thats not true, Atwood said in 2019. If it were, wed not be having this conversation.

Trump's administration did not bring about Gilead, and conservative Christians have no remote desire to create Atwood's dystopian vision. Allowing Catholic nuns to opt out of funding contraceptives and protecting babies in the womb has nothing to do with systems of female slavery and forced rape.

Comparing Christians to Gilead enflames the irrational hatred against followers of Jesus that some sociologists have termed Christianophobia.

Biden, who campaigned on restoring the soul of America in 2020, should know better than to spread such malicious falsehoods.

Tyler ONeil is the managing editor at The Daily Signal, the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation and author of Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Heritage Foundation is listed for identification purposes only. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not reflect any institutional position of the Heritage Foundation, The Daily Signal, or the Heritage Board of Trustee.
Home Opinion Understanding key differences: Christian conservatism vs. Christian nationalism

Most of what is written about Christian Nationalism is silly. Critics and analysts sweepingly deride conventional Christian conservatives as Christian Nationalists. By some counts, there are, by this definition, tens of millions of Christian Nationalists. Sometimes even civil religion, with its homage to a vague deity, is labeled Christian Nationalism. If so, all presidents from George Washington to Joe Biden are Christian nationalists. Sometimes the target is folk religionists who conflate God and country.

They sometimes sport paraphernalia with American flags draped around the cross. These folk religionists typically arent aware they are Christian nationalists. They dont publish articles, much less books. And they typically dont have policy agendas, just an attitude that God and country should be interchangeably honored.

But some more intellectual Americans do consciously self-identify as Christian Nationalists. Politico has published an article about two of them. But unhelpfully the article does not explain distinctions and, like a hundred other articles, focuses on a combination of Christian conservative and New Right views held by their subjects without defining why they call themselves Christian Nationalists.

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Christian Nationalism is distinct from conventional Christian conservatism. The former are typically post-liberals who want some level of explicit state-established Christianity. The latter have been and largely still are classical liberals who affirm traditional American concepts of full religious liberty for all. Both groups want a Christian America. But the former want it by statute. The latter see it as mainly a demographic, historical, and cultural reality.

The most sophisticated contemporary articulation of Christian Nationalism is Stephen Wolfes book A Case for Christian Nationalism. Wolfe draws upon early magisterial Protestant thinking in favor of a Protestant confessional state that suppresses the outward display of false religion while not trying to govern human hearts. Wolfe extols a measured theocratic Caesarism and prays for a Christian prince, a great renewal. He explicitly writes as a Calvinist for a Calvinist audience. Nearly all self-identified Christian Nationalists are Calvinists, typically Presbyterian like Wolfe, but often theologically Reformed Baptists like the subjects of the Politico article. The latter can be confusing because traditional Baptists are most associated with religious liberty.

Self-identified Christian Nationalists favorably reviewed Wolfes book. So too did National Conservatism, which liked its theme of social unity through religion. National Conservatisms 2022 Statement of Principles, which I critiqued here, vaguely echoed Christian nationalist themes by declaring Christianity should be honored by the state and other institutions both public and private, with Jews and other religious minorities  protected in the observance of their own traditions, in the free governance of their communal institutions, and with all adults protected from religious or ideological coercion in their private lives and in their homes, but not evidently in their public lives. Public neutrality about religion, with a state granting equal rights to all regardless of faith, is deemed by this statement, and certainly by Christian nationalism, as subversive to morality and social cohesion.

Christian nationalists are almost always some form of Protestant integralists. Catholic integralists want a society where the Catholic Church is paramount in society including in civil law. Both Protestant and Catholic integralists believe the state cannot be neutral. Either it will establish the true faith, or it will establish a false one, which is currently, as they define it, aggressive secularism. They both believe that a truly Christian society will have a government pointing to the highest good, and that magistrates are Gods shepherds for directing the people towards the truth. Coercion in religion is necessary to protect society and individual souls.

Coercion and religious freedom are where Christian Nationalism is most distinct from traditional Christian conservatism. The modern Religious Right was founded in the 1980s by Baptists like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson who, in the tradition of their faith, saw religious freedom for all as sacrosanct. They were, as are most Christian conservatives, American exceptionalists and enthusiasts for the countrys founding charters and for democracy. Both were, coincidentally, Virginians who appreciated the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, crafted by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They were, like most Christian conservatives, descendants of the Second Great Awakening that followed the American Revolution, which was voluntarist, democratic, hostile to state churches, and launched a tradition of moral and social reform through political action.

Christian nationalists are typically skeptical if not hostile to the Second Great Awakenings legacy. They prefer the First Great Awakening, led by Calvinists like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, and mostly still tied to established churches. But even more so, hardcore Christian nationalists revere earlier Christian commonwealths such as the 17th-century Puritans, or Scotland under John Knox, or Geneva under Calvin, whose models they deem instructive if not binding. More moderate Christian nationalists will try to argue the U.S. Constitution, even while disavowing religious establishment and religious tests for public office by the federal government, did not preclude established religion for local government.

Christian nationalists are less American exceptionalists than traditional Christian conservatives. And in this regard, they differ from the folk religionists who conflate God and country. Stephen Wolfe, in his book, is not interested in American patriotism or very much in America in general. As a postliberal, he cant cheerlead for American founding principles. He wants a premodern Christian society. Christian nationalists typically differ strongly from Christian conservatives about Americas role in the world. The former are more isolationist and more concerned about restricting immigration. Christian conservatives, especially the modern Religious Right, have advocated for an aggressive U.S. foreign and defense policy. They championed U.S. victory in the Cold War. And they supported the Iraq War, which Christian nationalists deride as proof of traditional Christian conservative bankruptcy. There is a similar divide currently over support for Ukraine. And, beneath the surface, Christian nationalists are less enthusiastic about Israel than are Christian conservatives. The latter, besides being internationalists, are also Zionists. Theology for most Christian nationalists precludes a vigorous Zionism.

Christian conservatives have favored limited government and free markets, of which Christian nationalists are suspicious, preferring protections and a regulatory state in the right hands. Christian conservatives want the U.S. to advocate for religious freedom internationally, about which Christian nationalists are suspicious or at least less interested. Christian nationalists want protections for Christianity mainly in the U.S., much less so overseas, and are not much interested, if not opposed, in advocacy on behalf of freedoms for other religions.

Christian nationalists, as seen in Wolfes dream of a theocratic prince, are more open to the strong man view of history. Typically, Christian conservatives are more suspicious of politically strong men, which they would deem cultic. Christian nationalists, nearly always staunch Calvinists, have a strong view of social hierarchy. Some quietly oppose voting rights for women. They have more trust in the elect. Christian conservatives, who usually have been Baptists or generic evangelicals, are usually more democratic and unstructured.

Across 40 years, Christian conservatives were routinely accused of being theocratic. But their leaders, beyond wanting traditional morality and public rhetoric about God, almost never wanted religious establishment. They disavowed the Christian Reconstructionists who wanted biblical law. Christian Nationalists dont want biblical law in terms of Old Testament punishments. But they do want the establishment explicitly favoring Christianity against other religions.

Christian conservatism has mostly been a populist movement mobilized by parachurch groups and leaders. Christian nationalism is more intellectual and has far fewer adherents. But its intellectual prowess enables it to insinuate itself into postliberal wider circles. Christian nationalists sometimes disparage Traditional Christian conservatism as failed and archaic. Christian nationalism is newer, shinier, more provocative, and brasher. It proudly strives actually to become what critics falsely claimed about Christian conservatism.

In 1981 the Institute on Religion and Democracys founders agreed on a statement Christianity and Democracy, drafted by prominent Christian conservative intellectual Richard Neuhaus, backed by fellow Christian conservatives Michael Novak, who was Catholic, and Carl Henry, who was Baptist. Its vigorous affirmation of democracy, human rights and religious freedom would preclude endorsement by todays Christian nationalists. But most Christian conservatives could still support.

These distinctions between Christian conservatives and Christian nationalists are important. Those preferring caricatures and strawmen with conflate the two. But careful analysis will explain the differences.

Originally published at Juicy Ecumenism.
Burkina Faso church attack leaves at least 15 dead

At least 15 people have been reported dead after an attack on a Catholic church in Burkina Faso on Sunday.

The attack happened in Essakane village, in Oudalan province. The area lies close to Burkina Faso's border with Mali in the north-east of the country.

The BBC reports that gunmen carried out the attack during a Sunday service at the church.

Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo said that 12 people were killed instantly and another three died later in hospital.

According to the report, it is suspected that the gunmen were Islamist militants.

Churches have been increasingly targeted in Burkina Faso as Islamist groups with links to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have taken hold of parts of the country.

Burkina Faso ranks 20th in the Open Doors World Watch List of top 50 countries where Christians suffer the worst persecution owing to the spread of Islamic extremism, political instability and widespread displacement.

There are an estimated 5.3 million Christians in the country, out of a total population of just under 24 million.

"Burkina Faso used to be the epitome of religious cohesion, but Islamic militant influence has managed to erode much of the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians," said Open Doors.
Church of England General Synod debates safeguarding next steps

Divisions have surfaced at the General Synod meeting in Westminster over the urgency of bringing forward legislation on independent safeguarding for the Church of England.

Members debated the future of safeguarding at Synod on Saturday, three days after the publication of Professor Alexis Jay's report which heavily criticised the C of E's system and practices. The former chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse called for the creation of two independent charities, one to deliver the Church's operational safeguarding, the other to scrutinise it.

The debate also came after a report in December by leading barrister Dr Sarah Wilkinson into the controversial disbanding of the Church's Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB) in June 2023. She found that a "complex matrix of reasons" lay behind the termination of the ISB members' contracts, including roles that were "not clearly defined".

Speaking to the Synod by video, Professor Jay told members: "Safeguarding in the Church today falls below the standard expected and set in secular organisations, which are required to follow statutory guidance."

She called on the Church to "challenge erroneous beliefs about safeguarding which continue to be held".

"For example, we heard from a number of people that safeguarding should be rooted in Scripture and that being a practising Christian should be a prerequisite to holding a safeguarding role," she said.

The Church's lead safeguarding bishop, Joanne Grenfell, Bishop of Stepney, circulated a document, GS 2336, to members before the debate. Paragraph 12 of GS 2336 recommends the creation of "an internal team" to "run deep engagement with Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors/ Diocesan Safeguarding Officers and others in dioceses and cathedrals to unpick reactions on different elements and develop detailed proposals". It also calls for the creation of a "survivor and victim focus group" to "hear the views of victims, survivors and their advocates on the proposals".

Bishop Grenfell moved a motion that "this Synod thank Sarah Wilkinson and Alexis Jay for their work and request that the process set out in paragraph 12 of GS 2336 for forming a response to, and considering any necessary implementation of, their recommendations be pursued as a matter of priority".

Clive Billenness, a lay member for the Diocese in Europe, proposed an amendment to the motion to "instruct independent legislative counsel to prepare a draft Measure giving effect to Professor Jay's proposals in the manner recommended by Dr Wilkinson (i.e. using external consultants)"; "to publish the draft Measure for open consultation by 30 April 2024"; and "to bring that draft, together with a report setting out responses to the consultation, for first consideration at General Synod in July 2024".

Bishop Grenfell resisted the move to push ahead with preparing legislation. She said: "The work that needs to be done now is deep and wide engagement, not immediate delivery. We've only had the (Jay) report for a few days."

Mr Billenness's amendment fell in a vote requiring a majority in each of the three Houses of Synod. The House of Bishops voted against it by 27 to 8; the House of Clergy by 95 to 62; but the House of Laity supported it by 83 to 80.

Amendments apologising to "the survivors impacted by the matters described within the Wilkinson report" and to all the former members of the ISB passed but the debate descended into bitterness when the Rev Robert Thompson, a clergy member for London Diocese, called on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Archbishops' Council Secretary-General, William Nye, to resign.

He said: "Apology needs to be embodied and at present no one is embodying that within our Church. I have on social media called for the Archbishop of Canterbury and the General Secretary (sic) to resign and I think that is now what is needed. Trust is completely broken."

The main motion passed in a vote of the whole Synod by 337 to 21.

Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire.
Anunt concurs pentru post vacant Institutia Publica Centrul de Consiliere Agricola si Rurala (CCAR) este in cautare de un profesionist dinamic si dedicat, pentru pozitia de Sef/a de Sectie la sectia Inovare si transfer de cunostinte in cadrul institutie
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and X, speaks at the Atreju political convention organized by Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), in Rome, Dec. 15, 2023.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent a letter on Saturday to SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk demanding that U.S. troops stationed in Taiwan get access to SpaceX's Starshield, a satellite communication network designed specifically for the military.

The letter, obtained by CNBC and first reported by Forbes, claimed that by not making Starshield available to U.S. military forces in Taiwan, SpaceX could violate its Pentagon contract, which requires "global access" to Starshield technology.

"I understand, however, that SpaceX is possibly withholding broadband internet services in and around Taiwan  possibly in breach of SpaceX's contractual obligations with the U.S. government," read the letter, which was signed by Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wi., who chairs the House CCP committee.

SpaceX on Monday denied any violation of its government contracts.

"SpaceX is in full compliance with all of its U.S. government contracts," the company wrote in a post on X. "SpaceX notified the Select Committee last week that it is misinformed, but the Committee chose to contact media before seeking additional information."

The Pentagon awarded SpaceX a one-year contract for Starshield in September, after commissioning SpaceX's Starlink network months earlier for Ukraine's war against Russia, which hit the two-year mark on Saturday.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Secretary of Defense said in an email to CNBC on Sunday, "We have no statement or information to provide regarding the correspondence at this time."

The letter comes after Gallagher led a visit to Taiwan where he and a delegation of other lawmakers met with Taiwan officials like President Tsai Ing-wen and President-Elect Lai Ching-te.

The letter said that the lawmakers learned that U.S. troops stationed in Taiwan were not able to use Starshield despite the Pentagon's stipulation of global access: "Multiple sources have disclosed to the Committee that Starshield is inactive in and around Taiwan."

The letter requests that Musk provide the House committee with a briefing on its Taiwan operations by March 8.

Taiwan has been governing itself independently of China since the island split from the mainland during the 1949 civil war. China has said it still lays claim to Taiwan and has repeatedly made clear its intention to reunify the sovereign island with the mainland.

"In the event of CCP military aggression against Taiwan, American servicemembers in the Western Pacific would be put at severe risk," read the letter. "Ensuring robust communication networks for U.S. military personnel on and around Taiwan is paramount for safeguarding U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region."

Tesla's success hinges on favorable business relations with China, which has led Musk, its CEO, to cultivate cozy relations with the country, despite its broader tensions with the U.S. Tesla operates its own factory in Shanghai while other foreign automakers in China had been required to establish joint ventures.

Musk came under fire from Taiwanese officials last September for seemingly siding with China's reunification doctrine toward Taiwan, stating that the self-governing island was an essential part of China.

"I think I've got a pretty good understanding as an outsider of China," Musk said on the All-In Podcast. "From their standpoint, maybe it is analogous to Hawaii or something like that, like an integral part of China that is arbitrarily not part of China."

"Listen up, #Taiwan is not part of the #PRC & certainly not for sale," Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu wrote on X in response to Musk's comment.

Read the full letter here:
As a personal finance consultant, Michela Allocca often hears from people who feel "very overwhelmed and defeated about their finances," even if they make a good salary. Allocca gets it  managing money can be hard. But a lot of people who feel helpless are probably doing better than they think they are, says the 28-year-old former financial analyst, who has a personal net worth of more than $500,000. To help people feel "less hopeless," the author of "Break Your Budget" recently shared several signs you're doing better financially than you think you are on TikTok. "I thought it would be a nice way to remind people that even if you feel like your finances are a disaster, you're probably doing better than a lot of people  you just don't realize it," she tells CNBC Make It. Here are five signs that you're on track with your personal finances, according to Allocca.

1. You have an emergency fund

Considering that more than half of U.S. adults are unable to afford a $1,000 emergency expense, having a fully or nearly topped up emergency fund puts you ahead of most Americans, says Allocca. Financial planners typically recommend a cash reserve worth three to six months of your expenses for unexpected emergencies, such as medical care or repairs to your car. Allocca suggests putting the money in a high-yield savings account to maximize the interest you earn on those funds. Building up an emergency fund can help you avoid relying on things such as high-interest credit card debt, which can be difficult to pay off. Getting into a cycle of debt can be unnecessarily self-defeating, Allocca says, since it "validates the story you tell yourself  that you suck with money." But with "a little bit of money as a cushion, you could have covered it, moved on and worked toward your financial goals."

2. You pay your bills on time

If you consistently pay your bills on time, or even a few days early, it suggests you have a handle on your cash flow, says Allocca. "A lot of people have no idea how much money they're actually spending every month," she says. This includes high earners who still live paycheck to paycheck because they aren't tracking their expenses. By paying your bills on time, "that means you're not spending your last paycheck in its entirety before your next paycheck gets deposited," says Allocca. It's a sign that your monthly cash flow is better than you might think.

3. You can contribute to a financial goal every month

If you're actively taking steps to reach a financial goal, "you are doing better than most people," Allocca says in her TikTok post, whether that goal is putting money into retirement savings, paying down credit card debt or building up an emergency fund. "Being able to save or invest or pay off any debt at all is an accomplishment," she says, even if the amount is small. One goal Allocca encourages is for people in their 20s to start contributing to a tax-advantaged retirement account, such as a 401(k), to take advantage of compounding interest, which allows your money to grow exponentially over time. With compounding, interest accrues on both the initial amount you invest as well as the interest it earns, which results in a snowball effect in how fast your money can grow. A "common mindset" among young adults is "'I'm not making enough money to care about this yet,'" Allocca tells CNBC Make It. But "you'd have to invest more money later" to make up the difference, compared with smaller contributions made early on. "I think this whole idea of 'I'll prioritize my goals later' is a really toxic mindset because you don't just wake up later and have money or the habits and the skills to do it," she says.

4. You're able to buy nonessential items without stressing

Being able to buy what you need or want is a "luxury" that many Americans can overlook, says Allocca. While you probably can't buy every single thing you want, you're likely doing pretty well if you can treat yourself to an expensive coffee or not worry if a restaurant bill is "$35 instead of $30" when you meet your friends for dinner, she says. "It's something that a lot of people just can't do," Allocca says. "We take it for granted."

5. You're in a better place than you were a year ago
Davaadorj Duuji looks at a pile of his animals killed by the

Davaadorj Duuji looks at a pile of his animals killed by the "dzud" in Darkhad Valley, Khovsgol province, Mongolia.

For nomads eking out a living by herding animals on Mongolias vast steppes, the deadliest winters used to come only once a decade, freezing the grasslands into solid ice or coating everything with so much snow that livestock died of cold or hunger en masse.

Now the frigid dzud winters come every other year, if not annually. Its a tragic knock-on effect of the climate change rapidly drying and desertifying the nation throughout the other seasons.

Last year was particularly brutal, killing livestock by the hundreds of thousands and stranding herding families, who make up at least a third of Mongolias 3.3 million people, without access to food, animal feed or medicine.

This year is even worse.

Traversing the almost boundless expanse of a sparsely populated nation more than twice the size of Texas has become impossible in all but a fraction of its territory. Over 90% of the country is now at high risk, the United Nations office in Mongolia warned earlier this month. When a dzud settled over Mongolia in 2018 and killed 700,000 heads of livestock, it was a record death toll. So far this year upward of 2 million livestock animals have died, according to official statistics, though some aid workers estimate that the number could be as much as five times higher. And this is just the beginning: The die-off isnt expected to peak until sometime in the next two months.

For herders whose entire wealth consists of sheep, goats and horses, as well as the meat and dairy that those animals can produce, the winter spells financial ruin  and the potential end of a traditional lifestyle passed down over thousands of generations.

The herders were saying that they feel [like] vomiting when the snow comes, Temuujin Munkhbat, an aid worker for the Mongolia affiliate of the British charity Save the Children, told HuffPost after he returned from delivering food, medicine and vitamins to nomadic families. It is a traumatic experience.

Story continues

A Mongolian herder rides his horse along the frozen landscape on March 8, 2010, in Bayantsogt, Tuv province, Mongolia. Most of Mongolia is suffering from a dzud, and this has left insufficient grazing feed for livestock.

A Mongolian herder rides his horse along the frozen landscape on March 8, 2010, in Bayantsogt, Tuv province, Mongolia. Most of Mongolia is suffering from a dzud, and this has left insufficient grazing feed for livestock.

Just this month, the nonprofit delivered hay to 810 herder families whose animals were starving, provided cash distributions each worth $147 to nearly 1,000 households, and carried out psychological first-aid training sessions for teachers in the rural dormitories where nomads send their children. The U.S. Agency for International Development, meanwhile, said this month that it was sending $200,000 in aid to Mongolia to help with the dzud.

Its a drop in the bucket. On Wednesday, UNICEF warned that more than 150,000 Mongols, including 62,500 children, were affected by the dzud, unable to maintain easy access to basic necessities or go to school or the doctor. State authorities have staged rescues of nearly 1,500 people. At least one child has died.

Despite contributing a fraction of 1% to global emissions, Mongolias temperatures have surged twice as fast as the global average, resulting in increased drought and greater temperature extremes in each season. There are five types of dzuds, with two taking place at the same time right now  a white dzud where snow cakes the ground, and an iron dzud where rapid thawing and refreezing turns grasslands into solid ice. The effect, however, is the same: The grass on which herders depend to feed their animals dies or becomes impossible for hungry livestock to reach.

Coupled with overgrazing  a symptom of the shift nearly three decades ago from strictly regulated communist herding collectives to a cowboy capitalist model that generates more wealth with more animals  a literal tragedy of the commons is playing out on what once seemed like endless green steppes.

The brutality of this latest season heralds fresh internal upheaval in Mongolia at a politically sensitive moment, just months ahead of a historic national election.

The formerly Soviet-aligned country, landlocked between Russia and China, emerged in the early 1990s as a vibrant, if inchoate, democracy. Its no Taiwan or Japan, but its improving. Last year Mongolia rose seven ranks on the Economist Intelligence Units annually compiled Democracy Index, surpassing U.S. neighbors like the Dominican Republic and NATO allies like Romania and Bulgaria on the list of countries scored by electoral pluralism, function of government, civil liberties, and political participation and culture. It shares the second-tier category of flawed democracy with the U.S. itself.

A new election law passed in 2023 increased the size of the parliament to 126 seats from 76, setting off a fierce competition between the ruling Mongolian Peoples Party  the successor to the old communist party that singularly ruled for much of the 20th century  and a handful of reformist parties that blame the incumbents for widespread graft and underdevelopment.

Critics say the Peoples Party government did too little to prepare for this years extreme weather and then cynically used relief efforts to campaign for reelection, seizing what some saw as an unfair advantage over the opposition.

A 17-year-old Mongolian herder, Sukhbaatar, sits with niece Altantsetseg inside their

A 17-year-old Mongolian herder, Sukhbaatar, sits with niece Altantsetseg inside their "ger," a traditional nomadic home sometimes called a "yurt" in English.

But the party has long maintained a popularity with its base among the rural and urban poor with routine cash handouts.

Its unlikely that the current government will face any immediate electoral backlash for the latest disaster, said Bolor Lkhaajav, a U.S.-based analyst who tracks her native Mongolia. In a decentralized country with limited transportation, emergency response tends to fall on local provinces, she said. The election isnt until June 28.

Whats happening is local governments are struggling to manage the dzud, and theyre now reaching out to the central government asking for help, she said. The government is trying to do something. But maybe they should have done more in the fall, if they knew this was coming. They should have prepared a little more robustly.

As HuffPost reported from Mongolia in December, the effects of climate change and a haphazard transition to capitalism are triggering a massive internal migration of herders from the countryside to the smoggy, traffic-clogged capital of Ulaanbaatar.

Upward of 30% of people in Mongolia live below the national poverty line, compared with about 12% in the U.S. and 13% in China. A better contrast may come with Brazil, where poverty rates shot up to just under 30% in 2021 with the contraction of key welfare policies.

Like Brazil, Mongolia is rich in natural resources. But unlike South Americas largest economy, Mongolia lacks a coastline or major navigable waterways, and every overland shipping route to send goods out of the country runs through Russia or China.

Mongolia has over the past few years forged deeper ties with the United States, Japan and France as the government in Ulaanbaatar looks for partners beyond the authoritarian giants that surround its borders and dominate its economy.

Its not just about making friends with other democracies. Mongolia is rich in the minerals and metals needed to transition away from fossil fuels. Western countries are seeking new options for those resources as relations with Russia and China  two major sources of key commodities  deteriorate.

The herders were saying that they feel [like] vomiting when the snow comes.Temuujin Munkhbat, Save the Children Mongolia

Last summer, Moscow helped foment a coup in the West African nation of Niger, where France has for decades mined a large portion of the uranium used to fuel its nuclear reactors. By autumn, the French state-owned nuclear giant Orano announced a deal worth nearly $2 billion to mine uranium and lithium, the key ingredient in electric car batteries, in Mongolia.

The U.S. began worrying about Chinas near-monopoly over the rare earth metals required for magnets and batteries as far back as 2010, when Beijing briefly cut off exports to Japan in retaliation for a nationalist squabble over competing claims to an archipelago of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Amid growing trade restrictions on both sides of the Pacific, the U.S. in June signed an agreement with Mongolia to develop rare earths production in the country and help find a way to get the metals to market without relying on the only overland shipping routes through China and Russia.

Last year, in what is among the biggest mining projects in Mongolia, the Anglo-Australian behemoth Rio Tinto finally opened one of the worlds largest copper mines in the southern Gobi Desert.

China and Russia retain powerful leverage over Mongolia. Beijings 2016 decision to punish Ulaanbaatar for hosting the Dalai Lama, Tibets exiled spiritual leader, by closing its borders exacted a heavy economic toll on Mongolia. China, whose own Inner Mongolia region is home to more ethnic Mongols than Mongolia itself, is Ulaanbaatars largest and fastest-growing export market. But Beijing  as part of a broader campaign to assimilate some distinct ethnic minorities into the Mandarin-speaking Han majority  has recently placed controversial restrictions on use of the Mongolian language, banned books on early Mongol history, and appeared to pressure Ulaanbaatar to arrest and deport native dissidents who challenged the cultural crackdown.

Coal-addicted Mongolia in 2023 became more dependent than ever on Moscow for motor oil and natural gas, a relationship thats likely to deepen with new pipelines under construction.

Since the war in Ukraine began, Russian President Vladimir Putin has downplayed Kyivs claim to a distinct national identity, instead promoting a revanchist vision of Moscow reasserting its historical imperial sphere of influence. Mongolia, ruled until the early 1900s by the Qing dynasty, first gained independence with the help of Russias czarist and then Soviet governments, which saw value in a buffer state between Moscows Siberian territories and China. A satellite of the Soviet Union, Mongolia remained closely tied to Russia, with generations of Ulaanbaatars elites studying in Moscows universities. A giant monument commemorating the Mongols who fought with the Soviet Union in World War II offers the most prized ridge-top views of Ulaanbaatar.

Despite maintaining traditional text on some official buildings and signs, Mongols today primarily write and read their own language in the Slavic Cyrillic alphabet.

Against that political backdrop, Mongolia is now grappling with the harsh reality that changes in weather patterns that date back centuries are making it impossible for nomads to continue the ancient way of life that sustained their families for millennia.

We are seeing extreme climate conditions more frequently these days, Bayan-Altai Luvsandorj, the head of Save the Children Mongolia, told HuffPost over email. We therefore need to take a hard look [at] the traditional way we have been living off the land here in Mongolia.

Related...
The CEO of AT&T on Sunday apologized for the widespread cellular outage that knocked out service for thousands of customers, saying some accounts will receive credits to compensate for the incident.

"For the portion of consumer and small business customers most impacted by the outage, we are automatically applying an account credit to compensate them for the inconvenience they experienced," Chief Executive John Stankey wrote in a letter to employees.

"We all know that our customers receive tremendous value and convenience for the nominal daily cost of our service, and outages sometimes have outsized impacts on some subscribers that may be greater than the face value of the credit. For that reason, I believe that crediting those customers for essentially a full day of service is the right thing to do," he continued. "Despite that impact to the business, I believe this approach is fully manageable while achieving the 2024 business objectives we have set for ourselves and our stated financial guidance."

Impacted customers who prepay for their service will have "options" available to them and the company is working with its mid-market and enterprise customers to address their concerns, Stankey said.

Early Thursday, tens of thousands of AT&T customers across the U.S. reported widespread service outages and were unable to use their phones without access to WiFi. A spike in outages began around 4 a.m. ET and peaked at around 74,000 reported incidents at 8:30 a.m. ET, according to Downdetector.

The outage raised concerns that the company had potentially been hit with a cyberattack but an initial review of the incident found it was caused by "the application and execution of an incorrect process used while working to expand our network," Stankey said.

"Teams worked hard to successfully normalize the network by around noon CT. No matter the timing, one thing is clear  we let down many of our customers, including many of you and your families. For that, we apologize," he said. "These challenges provide opportunities to identify key learnings that will make us better, and I can tell you that we have already implemented changes to prevent what happened on Thursday."

Once the company realized there was an outage, it prioritized restoring service to first responders and reconnected remaining customers throughout the day. Stankey thanked staff for their efforts in handling customer complaints, communicating information about the outage and restoring service.
A general view of the BP logo and petrol station forecourt sign on January 22, 2024 in Southend, United Kingdom.

The husband of a former BP merger and acquisitions manager pleaded guilty to securities fraud related to insider trading by eavesdropping on his wife's work calls while she was handling a potential acquisition of TravelCenters of America, a fuel and truck stop operator.

Tyler Loudon, a Houston resident, earned $1.76 million with the illicit trades based on nonpublic knowledge of the possible acquisition at his wife's company, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani in the Southern District of Texas. Loudon, due to be sentenced May 17, faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea, he agreed to forfeit the $1.76 million of illegal profits.

Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Loudon related to the same conduct, which he did not contest.

"Mr. Loudon made a terrible mistake in judgment for which he has taken full responsibility," Loudon's lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, told CNBC.

Authorities said that Loudon in 2022 learned of BP's confidential plans to acquire TravelCenters in 2022 while working remotely in earshot of his wife, as many couples were due to pandemic-era work-from-home policies.

In December 2022, Loudon secretly listened to his wife's private work calls discussing BP's acquisition of TravelCenters while they were working remotely in a small Airbnb during a trip to Rome, according to the SEC's civil complaint filed in Houston federal court.

After Rome, the couple continued to remotely work "in close quarters," according to the SEC, noting that their home offices were within "20 feet of each other."

The SEC said that Loudon's wife acknowledged occasionally discussing the acquisition with her husband in "normal" married-couple types of conversations.

But over the next few months, Loudon, without telling his wife, accumulated 46,450 shares of TravelCenters, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

To buy the TravelCenters shares, the SEC noted, Loudon sold all the positions in his brokerage account and Roth IRA, along with other equities, all amounting to over $2 million.

On Feb. 16, 2023, when TravelCenters announced the BP acquisition, triggering its 71% stock jump, Loudon sold all of his shares of the company, profiting $1.76 million, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

But in March, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority requested from BP a list of people who were "in the know" about the TravelCenters acquisition before it happened. A former BP employee who had worked on the acquisition then contacted Loudon's wife, complaining about having to disclose her address and other personal details to comply with FINRA.

When Loudon's wife told him about this conversation with the former employee, he asked her "if current employees would receive the same scrutiny," the SEC complaint detailed. "Loudon's wife responded that they would."

A week later, Loudon admitted to his wife that he had illegally traded the TravelCenter shares "to make enough money so that she did not have to work long hours anymore," according to the SEC.

Loudon's wife reported her husband's insider trading to her BP supervisor but she was later fired from the company. She filed to divorce Loudon in June, according to the SEC complaint.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a Cabinet meeting at the Kirya, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Defence, in Tel Aviv, Israel on December 17, 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday tempered expectations about the timeline of a potential hostage deal with Hamas, while the White House expressed hope for an agreement to take shape in the coming days.

"Hamas started out with just crazy demands. It's too soon to say if they've abandoned them," Netanyahu said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

"But if they do abandon them and get into what you call the ballpark  they're not even in the city. They're on another planet  but if they come down to a reasonable situation, then yes, we'll have our hostages."

During a Friday meeting in Paris, negotiators from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. made headway on the framework of a new hostage deal that would release dozens of Hamas' hostages in exchange for several hundred Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and a temporary cease-fire.

Progress on the new deal gave the White House renewed hope that a final agreement could emerge as soon as this week.

"It is still under negotiation in terms of hammering out the details of it," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on CNN's "State of the Union," adding that Qatar and Egypt still have to discuss the proposal with Hamas.

"We hope that in the coming days, we can drive to a point where there is actually a firm and final agreement on this issue."

In the meantime, the Israel Defense Forces are solidifying details to evacuate civilians and launch an attack in Rafah, a southern city where more than half of Gaza's population has taken refuge. Netanyahu said that he has a meeting scheduled for Sunday to review the IDF's Rafah plan.

Netanyahu said that while he hopes the hostage deal can come to fruition, Israel is planning military operations in the event that the agreement falls through. He said that the hostage deal, and the accompanying temporary ceasefire, would delay the Rafah attack.

"If we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen," Netanyahu said. "If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway. It has to be done, because total victory is our goal."
The German Navy frigate "Hessen" depart for deployment in the Red Sea on February 8, 2024 in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. David Hecker | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The battle for the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea has expanded with the entrance of a European Commission naval defense effort in the past week, and more U.S. and allied strikes against Houthi land targets over the weekend, but to date, combined military efforts have not deterred rebel attacks. On Saturday evening, United States Central Command reported that the USS Mason shot down one antiship ballistic missile launched into the Gulf of Aden from Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Central Command said the missile was likely targeting the U.S.-flagged, owned, and operated chemical/oil tanker, MV Torm Thor. The ship was not damaged and there were no injuries. Defense officials tell CNBC as of February 21, there have been at least 59 attacks on commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea. Last week, the European Union's Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Aspides, a EU defensive maritime security operation, joined the French Navy operation along with U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect the freedom of navigation for ships in the Red Sea. This is not the EU's first mission in protecting maritime trade, as it already patrols the waters off the Libyan Coast, around the Cape of Good Hope, and the Gulf. But the EU said the Red Sea moves reflect the need for a stronger European presence in protecting ships from Houthi attacks.

U.S Navy staff members walk next to aerial bombs at the hanger-bay aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) aircraft carrier in Southern Red Sea, Middle East, February 13, 2024. Hamad I Mohammed | Reuters

Unlike the U.S. and UK, which use both defensive measures to protect commercial vessels on the water and launch attacks on Houthi land targets, the Aspides operation is solely to protect vessels by intercepting Houthis drones and missiles. It will not escort vessels as the EU has done in anti-piracy measures off of Somalia, where pirates use small boats to gain entry onto a vessel, a tactic not used by the Houthis. The European Commission naval operation is a complement to Operation Prosperity Guardian, Peter Stano, lead spokesman for European Commission's foreign affairs and security policy, told CNBC. The intelligence gathered by Aspides is being shared with both the French naval operation and OPG. Josep Borrell, high representative for EU foreign affairs and security policy, who has launched seven missions for the EU Commission, described the launch of the defensive operation "as a fast and robust reaction to the behavior of the Houthis, who are attacking commercial ships in the region." CNBC was told the four frigates and one aerial asset in this operation would be deployed to protect all assets the Houthis have been firing on, with all flagged commercial vessels offered protection. "If the EU mission is well integrated with U.S. forces already present it would be a great thing," said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies who served as policy director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under Sen. John McCain. "This interoperability can easily be provided through the use NATO standard data links which are present on all these warships." On Saturday, U.S. Central Command forces, alongside UK forces, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted strikes against 18 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. These strikes are separate and distinct from Operation Prosperity Guardian.

Smoke rises from the points where the US and UK had launched airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen on February 24, 2024. Mohammed Hamoud | Anadolu | Getty Images

Trade leaders have urged more countries to join the military effort in the Red Sea. "It is so critical because of the immediate direct and adverse impact the Red Sea attacks have had on commerce destined to or being shipped from Europe," Steven Lamar, CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, said of the stepped-up EU efforts. "But this is truly a global problem as disruption in the Red Sea/Suez Canal triggers a logistical butterfly effect that is rippling around the world. It is long past time for every country to align with these efforts so we can collectively maintain a zero-tolerance approach to stop and prevent attacks on seafarers, their cargo, and their equipment now and in the future." A war of misinformation in the Red Sea crisis also continues. The Houthis have had a track record of making false claims with the declaration of the "sinking" of ships showing old, unrelated videos to augment their messaging. The Houthis recently used video to make the claim they had sunk the Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier M/V Rubymar. The Rubymar did not sink, but the vessel was abandoned by the crew after the vessel started to take on water. U.S. Central Command released satellite photos of the vessel on Friday showing significant damage to the ship, which already had caused an 18-mile oil slick.

Satellite imagery captured by Planet Labs on Feb. 20 of oil slick in Red Sea after Houthi attack on Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier M/V Rubymar. Courtesy: Planet Labs PBC

Central Command warned that 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 the environmental disaster. As the EU increased its presence in the region last week, Houthi foreign ministry official Hussein al-Azzi said on Wednesday that the rebel army had "constructive talks" with the EU. Stano refuted the idea of any discussions between the EU and the group. "The interpretation of EU outreach regarding the naval mission Aspides by Houthis is not accurate," he said. "The EU denies that it is coordinating with the Houthis for the safe passage of commercial ships through the Red Sea and is consistent in its condemnation of the Houthi attacks." Stano said the attacks are a violation of international law, threatening maritime security, navigational freedoms and global trade, and putting the lives of sea crews at risk. "They are also causing significant and unacceptable damage to trade, countries, and people in the region," he said. "They need to cease immediately, as reiterated in the UNSC Resolution 2722 adopted on January 10. This is a very clear message delivered consistently to the Houthis."

A view of Houthi supporters on January 22, 2024 gathering while carrying heavy weapons and chanting slogans. Mohammed Hamoud | Anadolu | Getty Images

The only communication the European Commission has had with the Houthis is the open communication it has provided to the numerous countries in the region to provide clarity on the Aspides operation. "The EU has been conducting an extensive diplomatic outreach to inform partners and relevant stakeholders about the mandate and objective of the new EU maritime operation Aspides, specifically insisting on its defensive nature and protection of freedom of navigation," Stano said. On February 2 in Brussels, Borrell informed Yemeni Prime Minister Bin Mubarak about the plans to launch a new EU maritime operation in the Red Sea and about its mandate. The two also briefly discussed the situation in Yemen and longstanding EU support to the Presidential Leadership Council, Yemeni government and to the UN-led peace efforts. "The EU Head of Delegation accredited to Yemen maintains regular exchanges with all Yemeni interlocutors, including the Houthi leadership," Stano said. "The EU reaffirms its principled commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen and its support to President Rashad Al-Alimi and the Presidential Leadership Council." The role Yemen is playing in the crisis is the focus of a potential investigation in the United States, with Federal Maritime Commission Commissioner Carl Bentzel proposing an investigation into Yemen's inability to protect the Law of the Sea by not stopping the Houthis from attacking waters the country is obligated to protect under international maritime law. He told CNBC meetings are continuing to discuss a way forward to initiate the investigation.

A cargo ship travels on the Suez Canal in Ismailia Province, Egypt, Jan. 13, 2024. Ahmed Gomaa | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images

A provision of the Foreign Shipping Act allows the federal government to launch an investigation of a foreign government's practices and consider the impact those actions have on global maritime trade. "The longer these impacts linger, the greater the economic impact," Bentzel said. "We need an investigation to determine whether the actions emanating in Yemen cause unfavorable conditions to shipping in the foreign commerce." If the Commission agrees and the investigation does proceed, the State Department could assist the FMC. "From an economic perspective, Egypt alone can lose upwards of $5 billion this year in lost revenue as a result of the Suez Canal diversions. The Tesla factory in Germany was forced to close for a month," Bentzel said. "U.S.-flagged vessels have been attacked. Yemen has failed to secure innocent passage of their territorial waters or straits. If terrorists were shooting rockets at a truck carrying Walmart or Target retail goods because they were doing in business in Israel there would be outrage. I don't sense the same concern for maritime workers," he said.
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The Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Xiaomi

BARCELONA  Xiaomi launched its flagship smartphone globally on Sunday as it looks to keep up its recovery momentum, while also debuting its electric vehicle for the first time in Europe. The Chinese electronics giant launched the Xiaomi 14 for global markets at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, after debuting it this week in China. Xiaomi found success after its founding in 2010 thanks to selling high-spec and low priced smartphones. But with that section of the market getting more competitive, Xiaomi has looked to push into the higher end of the market, where Apple and Samsung are particularly dominant, but where growth has remained despite a difficult overall phone industry.

The launch comes as Xiaomi has seen a recovery in its core smartphone business which accounts for just under two thirds of its total revenue. Xiaomi, which is the third biggest smartphone player in the world, saw shipments decline 4.7% year-on-year in 2023, according to IDC, a much slower fall than 2022. In the third quarter, Xiaomi posted a small rise in revenue, after six straight quarters of decline. But Xiaomi continues to face intense competition in the high-end from the incumbents Apple and Samsung, as well as Chinese players like Honor, a spin-off from Huawei. Samsung in January launched its flagship S24 series of phones. Xiaomi has been trying to talk up its business beyond smartphones, however. Last year, Xiaomi launched its first electric vehicle, the SU7, opening up a new product category for the Chinese giant. Xiaomi debuted the car at MWC, showing it off for the first time in Europe. The company also launched the Smart Band 8 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S3, and Xiaomi Watch 2  a smart fitness band and two smartwatches. Xiaomi is trying to position itself as a company offering a number of consumer devices that can all be linked together via its own operating system  HyperOS  which it launched last year. This is a very similar strategy to what Samsung and Apple do.

Xiaomi 14
Cross-country storm to hit the Northwest with severe weather before heading East

A new cross-country storm is expected to begin Sunday in the West and travel across America, hitting the East Coast by Wednesday evening.

On Sunday morning, 11 states from Washington to New Mexico were put on alert for heavy snow and strong winds.

By Monday, the storm will stretch from California to the Rockies with snowfall, strong winds and coastal rain expected.

PHOTO: The heaviest rain will be in Oregon and Washington. (ABC News)

Heavy mountain snow will continue in the Northwest throughout the day on Monday extending from Washington and Oregon into Montana and Utah.

This is not expected to be a major storm for California. San Francisco to Los Angeles could see some light rain showers while up to a foot of snow could fall in the highest elevations of the Sierras.

MORE: 37 million California residents on flood watch amid back-to-back storms

On Tuesday afternoon and evening, the storm will move into the Midwest with severe thunderstorms possible from Missouri to Michigan, including major cities such as Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis.

PHOTO: A new storm will hit the West Coast today with heavy snow, strong winds, and rain from Washington to Montana. (ABC News)

The biggest threat with these severe thunderstorms will be damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes.

On Wednesday, the severe weather will move into the Mid-South with a threat for damaging winds possible from Kentucky to Alabama, including major cities such as: Louisville, Nashville and Memphis.

MORE: Why extreme rain pouring into Southwest US hasn't fully eliminated the region's megadrought

On the back side of this same storm, snow will be possible from Denver to Minneapolis and Green Bay.

Ahead of the storm, the Plains to the East Coast will enjoy spring-like temperatures from Monday to Wednesday as high temperatures soar to 10-30 degrees above normal.

PHOTO: The core of the storm will move to the East Coast and I-95 corridor late Wednesday with heavy rain with very warm temperatures possible from DC to Boston. (ABC News)

The core of the storm will move to the East Coast and I-95 corridor late Wednesday with heavy rain and very warm temperatures possible from D.C. to Boston.

The storm is projected to exit to the East early Thursday morning with colder, more seasonable, air filtering in behind it.

ABC News' Max Golembo and Melissa Griffin contributed to this report.

Cross-country storm to hit the Northwest with severe weather before heading East originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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It is ten years, not two years, since the war in Ukraine began. And once you have grasped that, you can begin to think clearly about it. What is Britains interest in this conflict? Why do so many in politics and the media cheer for carnage that has devastated Ukraine, the country they claim to love and admire? What has Ukraine gained from it? What can Ukraine and its people possibly gain from it?

I ask only that you use your minds instead of your emotions. Let us begin with what happened ten years ago. It ought to be shocking.

In 2014, Ukraine had a crude but functioning democracy. This worked because the country was pretty evenly divided between its east and its west. Power swung from one side to the other, and in 2010 Viktor Yanukovych won the presidential election with 12.5 million votes, beating his nearest rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, who won 11.6 million.

Unlike the previous election in 2004, nobody seriously disputed the result. So in February 2014, Yanukovych was the lawful head of state, with two years to run.

If we believe, as we all say we do, in democracy, then this is a near-sacred fact. The widespread and justified disgust over the invasion of the US Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, is based on the belief that power rests on ballots, not on force.

There is no clearer distinction between democracies and the rest. The losers must respect the result. If they dispute it, they must use lawful methods. But in general if they do not like whoever is in power, they must wait till the next election.

Militant protesters gather on the streets of the capital Kiev in early 2014 in the run-up to the overthrow of Ukraines elected head of state

There is hardly a politician or a commentator in Britain who has not said exactly this at some time in his or her life. It is called losers consent. Our ordered lives depend on it and we cannot betray it here or abroad.

The inimitable PETER HITCHENS answers your questions LIVE ON MAILONLINE at 12pm on Thursday Feb 29 MAILBOX: A brilliant new Q&A series where YOUR questions will be answered by our unrivalled journalists and columnists Submit your questions to mailbox@dailymail.co.uk Advertisement

But now we come to the big exception. In February 2014, a violent mob infiltrated and came to dominate what had originally been genuine democratic protests in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.

There is much that is murky about these bitter days, including the mysterious shootings of members of the crowd. Let us just say that there is a serious dispute about who was responsible, which has yet to be resolved.

In a leaked (and undenied) phone conversation, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told the EUs foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, that there was stronger and stronger understanding that behind the snipers, it was not Yanukovych, but it was somebody from the new coalition.

A UN report (published on July 15, 2014) concluded that 103 protesters and 20 police officers died in these events. I believe at least some of the protesters were armed, and the deaths of 20 policemen suggest some pretty heavy violence on the side of the protesters.

In the midst of all this bloodshed, two serious efforts were made to reach a peaceful, lawful outcome. The first was wrecked, perhaps deliberately, when protesters responded to it on Tuesday, February 18, by setting fire to Yanukovychs party HQ. On the night of Thursday, February 20, the foreign ministers of Germany, Poland and France flew to Kiev to broker a deal with the embattled Ukrainian President.

On February 21, that deal was signed by the President, by three senior members of the anti-Yanukovych opposition and witnessed by the three EU ministers.

Yanukovych offered a rewrite of the constitution to suit the opposition; a new government; early presidential elections (no later than December 2014); and an impartial probe into the violence (which there has never been). All sides renounced the use of force.

Anti-government protesters guard the perimeter of Independence Square in February 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine

But that Friday evening, the deal was put to the crowd in the Maidan, an unelected body with no constitutional or democratic authority. They certainly did not represent the eastern part of the country.

Their chieftains rejected it and threatened to take arms and go to Yanukovychs residence if he did not step down by the next morning. The opposition leaders who had signed the deal crumbled, and made no effort to defend it against the yelling anger of the crowd.

Yanukovych, whose security protection had melted away, left Kiev. But he did not resign and he did not leave the country. A recent book by the highly respected Ukrainian historian Serhii Plokhy shows beyond doubt that the elected President was still in office and in Ukraine when parliament voted to remove him. The vote was unlawful, since MPs lacked the votes needed to do so under the constitution. But they went ahead anyway.

So anti-democratic violence was followed by lawlessness. The offer of early elections was brushed aside (did the mob fear their faction would lose them?). Thus a mob overthrew a legitimate head of state. And here comes the shocking test. Western nations, including Britain, should have condemned this action. They are normally vigilant defenders of law and democracy all over the world, are they not? But in this case, they condoned the coup.

The then Foreign Secretary, William Hague, made a wholly inaccurate statement to the House of Commons on March 4, 2014. He said that Yanukovych was removed by the very large majorities required under the constitution. This is simply untrue. And so the future Lord Hagues next assertion that it is wrong to question the legitimacy of the new authorities seriously misled Parliament.

I took this up with Lord Hague. After it became plain he had no good defence of his actions, he stopped replying to me and fell silent. Pathetically, an awkward letter I sent to his official address was returned to me adorned with a sticker saying he was not known there. If we had a proper Opposition in this country, he would never have been able to get away with this. But we do not.

The events of February 2014 split Ukraine and began a filthy little war in the east of the country in which (among other tragedies and horrors) many civilians died at the hands of the Ukrainian army. The disgusting Russian invasion two years ago, indefensible and barbaric, was the second stage of the war, not the start of it.

Of course, I do not know who if anyone was behind the overthrow of Yanukovych. All kinds of Western politicians and intelligence types were hanging around Kiev at the time. And the West blatantly betrayed its own principles to condone and forgive the nasty event. But that of course does not prove that any Western nation backed the coup against Yanukovych.

Even so, it is my view that any outside force which did support that putsch is just as guilty of aggression and warmongering as Russias Putin is. Think of that as you listen to all those loud, safe voices demanding that we keep on fuelling this war, in which Ukrainians die daily for democratic principles we do not, in fact, support.
After two years of atrocities, pain, grief and mass bereavement, the spotlight turns once again on the Ukraine war, a tragedy which disgraces the modern world.

Not long ago the civilised nations of Europe and North America could never have believed that a huge zone of our continent would once again be turned over to dismal trenches, makeshift hurried graves and the unending rumble of artillery.

We thought we had put such horrors behind us in a new order of rules-based diplomacy and civilised negotiation.

And yet here we are, with the flagshaded war cemeteries filling up and the ammunition factories working through the night, as if it was 1917, not 2024.

However, this is a war that remains strangely limited.

The member flags of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press statement for the 'Transatlantic Forum' as a side event of the 60th Munich Security Conference on February 16

The current position of both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war two years on

The nations which a few years ago were offering Ukraine the warmth and protection of Nato membership now baulk at the idea for fear of a general war that might inflict on them the hardships that Ukraine's people daily endure.

In Europe, the air is full of the sound of uncertain trumpets, as the leaders of major nations dither between naked self-interest  cheap gas and a quiet life  and their solemn duty to protect a vulnerable neighbour against a snarling and ruthless threat.

The second course is, as it happens, self-interested, too.

If the democracies cannot stand together against the menace from Vladimir Putin's increasingly despotic Russia, they will one by one fall under its dire influence and power.

The point of Nato from the beginning has been to avoid that danger by making an assault upon its weakest member the trigger for a devastating and unified political and military response  'an attack on one is an attack on all'.

Of course, such an alliance has to be careful not to extend its promises so far that it cannot keep them when tested.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) look on while taking part in the wreath laying ceremony at the Unknown Soldier Tomb, marking the Defender of the Fatherland's Day, on February 23, 2024, in Moscow

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (pictured) has been pleading with Western countries for more support

READ MORE: Extraordinary satellite photos show devastation Putin's thugs have brought to Ukraine in 730 days of war on second anniversary of invasion Advertisement

And it is more or less politically impossible to fulfil now the promises of future membership offered to Ukraine in 2008.

But even so, there remains an inviolate obligation to help, outside the direct provisions of the Nato treaty but within the bonds of friendship and support that hold the free countries of Europe together.

It is not as if the danger from the East is growing any smaller, or the regime in the Kremlin is growing any pleasanter.

The coming fraudulent election, which is grotesquely rigged to confirm Putin in his presidency, will only serve to strengthen him at home and abroad.

From what we can learn of public opinion in the Russian Federation, the current course of the war is boosting his popularity and it would be unwise to assume that he will face any serious internal challenge in the near future.

The sinister and deeply suspicious circumstances of the recent death in an Arctic prison of the Russian freedom campaigner Alexei Navalny is a gruesome warning of just how totally Moscow has forsaken the democracy and the rule of law it seemed to embrace after the fall of Communism in 1991.

Navalny in a hearing via video link from the penal colony in Kharp on January 11, 2024

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron as he gave a speech to the United Nations on Friday

Donald Trump, who could become US president again, has been critical of NATO in the past

Today's state of the conflict is also a warning that the Russian army, which performed so badly in the original invasion, has learned from its previous mistakes to become a growingly formidable fighting force.

Britain, accustomed over centuries to defy continental tyrants, has done better than most in this confrontation.

The Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, has spoken with a clear and unambiguous voice in support of Ukraine's struggle.

So has another ex-Premier, Boris Johnson.

But as the spectre of Donald Trump falls ever more over America, and as US Congress fiddles while Ukraine burns, the West still has miles to go and much to do.

The UK at least will not flag or fail. We will continue to give President Zelensky the tools, confident that he will finish the job.
Riot police on horseback clash with anti-government demonstrators in Tel Aviv

Israel's war cabinet has been briefed on talks over a ceasefire deal in Gaza, after reports of progress made in talks in Paris on Saturday.

It comes as police broke up protests in Tel Aviv calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation.

Riot police on horseback charged demonstrators as they tried to make their way to Democracy Square.

The Paris talks are part of negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and the return of hostages.

The deal would also see the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

On Saturday evening, the Israeli war cabinet was briefed on negotiations in Paris with mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US.

"We are working to obtain another outline for the release of our hostages," Mr Netanyahu wrote on X.

"That is why I sent a delegation to Paris - and tonight we will discuss the next steps in the negotiations."

Later, it was reported that Israel will send a delegation to Qatar for further talks this week.

Anti-government demonstrations were relatively frequent in Israel before the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October - the demonstrators' loathing for Mr Netanyahu and his hardline cabinet goes back more than a year.

But Saturday's unrest was the first time since October that police have resorted to tougher measures.

The demonstrators have been spurred on by the war in Gaza - and the fear their government is more interested in defeating Hamas than freeing hostages.

The Justice Ministry has opened an investigation into an incident in which an officer is seen - in a widely circulated video - using the reins of his horse to strike a protester as he fell to the ground clutching his head.

The main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, criticised the police for their aggressive treatment of the demonstrators who gathered outside the headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The right to protest "cannot be taken from protesters with batons and water cannons," he said.

Story continues

At least 21 arrests and dozens of injuries were reported.

As well as the anti-government protest, families of the Israeli hostages gathered in the city to call for a diplomatic solution to the war and a focus on their return.

Protesters run as police use water cannon to disperse the crowd

Earlier on Saturday, Israeli media reported progress had been made at talks in Paris on a hostage and ceasefire deal.

Israel's spy chief, David Barnea, met mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US on Saturday in the French capital.

They reportedly agreed the outline of a deal to form the basis for further negotiations, which was then presented to the Israeli war cabinet on Saturday night.

Israeli media report that the war cabinet agreed to send a delegation to Qatar, where they will continue negotiations on a deal which would see a weeks-long truce and the release of hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

But the Israeli national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said in a televised interview on Saturday evening: "Such an agreement does not mean the end of the war."

A senior Palestinian official with close knowledge of the talks had previously told the BBC that no real progress was made in Paris and accused negotiators of leaking inaccurate information to increase pressure on Hamas.

Hamas has also not commented on the latest reports of progress in reaching a deal.

Displaced Palestinian children wait to receive food at a donation point in Rafah

Meanwhile fighting and air strikes continue to claim lives in Gaza.

In his post on X, Mr Netanyahu said he would convene his cabinet this week to approve plans for an operation in Rafah in Gaza's far south, where around 1.2-1.5 million people are crammed into any available space. Increased Israeli air strikes there are already making aid operations more difficult.

Aid agencies and many Western governments have warned that the consequences of an assault on Rafah could be dire.

UNRWA - the UN agency for assisting Palestinian refugees - says it has paused aid deliveries to northern Gaza because convoys are being looted by desperate residents. One of its trucks was also hit by Israeli gunfire on 5 February.

The UN has warned of the growing risk of famine in Gaza, with widely circulated footage showing Gazans in Jabalia in the north queuing for food in desperate conditions.

Local media report that a two-month-old Palestinian boy died from starvation at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Friday.

The Hamas-run health ministry says at least 29,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, and thousands more bodies are likely unaccounted for under rubble across Gaza.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the 7 October attacks on southern Israeli communities near the border with Gaza, in which around 1,200 Israelis, mainly civilians, were killed and about 250 others taken hostage to Gaza.
One of the greatest of honours is the CBE: Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Three days ago, it was announced that the King, on the advice of the Honours Forfeiture Committee, had stripped Paula Vennells, the former chief executive of the Post Office, of her CBE.

The grounds given were that Vennells had 'brought the honours system into disrepute'.

After more than a million people signed a petition calling for her to be stripped of her CBE, Vennells said last month that she would hand back her honour 'with immediate effect'.

But it doesn't work that way. You remain in possession of your rank until the monarch removes it  at which time you are asked to send the actual medal back to Buckingham Palace.

(This may not be a fact known to the clothes designer Katharine Hamnett, who last week posted a video of herself dumping her gong in a dustbin, while declaring: 'I'm disgusted to be British for our role in genocide in Gaza... this is my CBE, it belongs in the dustbin with Sunak and Starmer.')

Entrepreneur Michelle Mone was admitted to the House of Lords as Baroness Mone of Mayfair in 2015

Vennells was not the only recipient to be stripped of an honour last week. A rapper known as Wiley (born Richard Cowie) forfeited his MBE, awarded in 2017 for 'services to music'. Wiley had made a series of odious anti-Semitic remarks on Twitter and Instagram, going back to 2020. I'm not sure why it has taken four years for the Committee to act in his case, but at least it now has.

Both these cases are unusual, in that the overwhelming majority of honours forfeitures occur when a recipient has been convicted and sentenced for a crime. The committee states that it gets involved 'automatically' when that happens: no public representations are required.

But here's an odd thing. The greatest of all honours  a peerage  seems to be inviolate, no matter how heinous a crime is committed by the holder.

A former chair of the South Yorkshire Labour party, Nazir Ahmed, still glories in the title of 'Baron Ahmed of Rotherham, in the County of South Yorkshire', even while serving time for two counts of attempted rape of a girl and a serious sexual assault on a boy.

He has already done a stretch in prison: in 2009 he was jailed after the car he was driving was in a fatal motorway crash immediately after he had been sending text messages. Ahmed blamed his imprisonment for that on a 'Jewish' conspiracy.

In fact, he became the first peer to be expelled from the House of Lords, under the 2014 House of Lords Reform Act, which ensures that a peer convicted of a 'serious' offence (involving a prison sentence of one year or more) will cease to be member of the House.

But the title remains. The House of Lords library states: 'The Crown does not have the power to cancel a peerage once it has been created. A peerage can only be removed by an act of parliament.'

Lord Taylor of Warwick was given a prison sentence in 2011 for fraudulent expenses claims

This explains, for example, why Jeffrey Archer is still Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, even though he was jailed for four years in 2001 for what the judge at his Old Bailey trial called 'as serious an offence of perjury as I have had experience of and have been able to find in the books'.

Mr Justice Potts was referring to the way Archer had, in his successful 1987 libel action against the Daily Star (for claiming he had slept with a prostitute), perverted the course of justice by producing a falsified diary and getting a friend to provide a false alibi.

Archer, at least, no longer takes part in the deliberations of the House of Lords. However, Lord Taylor of Warwick does  and he is the vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Miscarriages of Justice.

Yet this is the man who, in 2011 as a Conservative peer, was given a prison sentence for claiming over 11,000 in expenses based on a lie that he had been travelling to and from Westminster and Oxford. He had been in London the whole time, and the property in Oxford was lived in only by his nephew (who knew nothing of Taylor's fraudulent claims at the taxpayers' expense).

The former Post Office boss, Paula Vennells, has been stripped of her CBE

And what will become of Baroness (Michelle) Mone of Mayfair? She denies wrongdoing and has not been found guilty of anything, but when urging the Government to award contracts worth over 200 million to a firm called PPE Medpro during the Covid crisis, she assured civil servants she did not stand to gain 'any financial benefit whatsoever  you can put this on the record'.

In reality, about 29 million of MedPro's profits from that transaction went straight into an offshore trust set up to benefit her and her children. The National Crime Agency is now investigating.

In fact, there is a precedent for peerages to be withdrawn. I refer to the Titles Deprivation Act 1917, which cost four men their titles, including dukedoms and baronetcies, for taking part in the First World War ... on the other side. Three were close relatives of our own Royal Family, via Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Isn't it long past time for a new Titles Deprivation Act?

Judge's 'genuine mistake' takes us all for fools

One person with seemingly no intention of surrendering his CBE is Tan Ikram, 59, awarded that honour in 2022 for 'services to judicial diversity'.

Last month, Ikram, on the professional networking site LinkedIn, 'liked' a post by a barrister called Sham Uddin which declared: 'Free Free Palestine. To the Israeli terrorist both in the United Kingdom, the United States and of course Israel, you can run, you can bomb but you cannot hide  justice will be coming for you.'

Earlier, Uddin had posted the grotesque anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that the massacre of well over 1,000 Israeli Jews on October 7 was 'a false flag operation'  that is, a plot by Israel, rather than the terrorist group Hamas.

Judge Tan Ikram was awarded a CBE in 2022

The discovery of these facts caused understandable unease within judicial circles because Ikram is also the judge who decided 'not to punish' three women who, seven days after the massacre, took part in a protest in central London while wearing images of paragliders (which is how some Hamas terrorists crossed into Israel to carry out their slaughter).

It was after the Mail on Sunday published the pictures of this incident on its front page, under the headline 'You Ghouls', that the police launched a public appeal which led to the arrest of the three women  Heba Alhayek, Pauline Ankunda and Noimutu Taiwo  under the charge of 'inviting support for a proscribed organisation'.

Judge Ikram's decision to give them a conditional discharge, partly on the grounds that 'emotions ran very high on this issue' was in any case odd: this was not a heat-of-the-moment action, it involved downloading images and printing them out beforehand for public display.

In light of what subsequently emerged about Ikram's social media activity, this is nothing less than a damaging blow to public confidence in judicial impartiality.

Yet last Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service, having hastily reviewed Ikram's behaviour in respect of the case, declared, without explanation, that it would take no action.

The only thing Ikram has said, via a statement issued by the Judicial Office, was: 'I didn't know that I'd liked that post. If I did, then it was a genuine mistake.'

What does that mean? That he didn't understand the meaning of the words he had 'liked'? Or that his finger pressed the 'like' icon as a result of some involuntary muscular spasm?

We are being taken for fools.
When he was Boris Johnson's 'Brexit Opportunities' minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg famously became so frustrated by civil servants working from home that he left passive-aggressive notes on their desks: 'Sorry you were out when I visited.'

Much good it did. Since the pandemic, the great working-in-pyjamas experiment has only continued. In mid-November, ministers demanded civil servants turn up to the office at least 60 per cent of the working week.

Well, more than three months later some of our most high-profile departments are still failing to meet this modest target.

The worst offender? The Home Office, which should be working all hours to stop mass illegal migration and restore a modicum of public confidence in our beleaguered police.

Yet this vital ministry has barely hit its new target  managing just 48 per cent attendance in one week in January, and 51 per cent during another this month.

When he was Boris Johnson's 'Brexit Opportunities' minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) famously became so frustrated by civil servants working from home that he left passive-aggressive notes on their desks: 'Sorry you were out when I visited'

The worst offender? The Home Office, which should be working all hours to stop mass illegal migration

Similarly, the Foreign Office, which has wars in the Middle East and Ukraine to contend with, managed 61 per cent on a mere two occasions (pictured: Government buildings on Whitehall)

Over at HMRC  which has been keeping taxpayers waiting on the phone for up to an hour  attendance rates have reached the dizzy heights of 62 per cent in just one week since November.

Similarly, the Foreign Office, which has wars in the Middle East and Ukraine to contend with, managed 61 per cent on a mere two occasions.

Militant Whitehall unions have warned that requests for civil servants to work three days a week in the office could see two-fifths of civil servants quitting. Would anyone notice if they did?

Clare's Frank confession

Recalling her first kiss, broadcaster Clare Balding reveals: 'The first real love of my life was Frank. I loved Frank because I genuinely thought he understood me. I kissed him a lot on the nose. It was soft. I loved him.' Clare's wife, former Radio 4 announcer Alice Arnold, needn't be jealous . . . Frank was a pony.

Recalling her first kiss, broadcaster Clare Balding (pictured) reveals: 'The first real love of my life was Frank'

Last laugh for 'vampire' widders

In his recently published political diaries, Denis MacShane, who rose to be Tony Blair's Europe minister, pokes fun at Labour and Tory MPs alike. But he reserves his most savage mocking for Ann Widdecombe, prisons minister in John Major's government.

'Roaring and panting in a manic way, she is a most wondrous creature,' he writes in Labour Takes Power. 'Little-bird-like in size but with very funny teeth that seem to pop out of her mouth at moments of high excitement, like a vampire descending its fangs.'

The saintly Widders had the last laugh, winning a new fan club with her antics in Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, while MacShane, in a delicious irony, was sentenced to six months in prison  Ann's old ministerial purview  for fiddling his parliamentary expenses.

The saintly Ann Widdecombe (pictured) had the last laugh, winning a new fan club with her antics in Strictly Come Dancing in 2010

Sir Lindsay Hoyle was not the only bungler in the Speaker's chair last week. His deputy, Labour MP Rosie Winterton, was left in charge when Sir Lindsay fled the Chamber amid the row over a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza. Dame Rosie, 65, was palpably at sea on procedural matters. But perhaps she can be forgiven for her loose grasp of detail, having begun her career as bag-carrier for Labour's former Deputy PM  and noted intellectual  John Prescott.

Both Parliament and the Scottish government have blocked TikTok from their networks amid security concerns over the Chinese-owned app. Tory chairman Richard Holden seems to have stopped posting  as, apparently, has former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who once uploaded a toe-curling clip of him lip-syncing the 'Ken' song from the Barbie film. But one minister, critical to our national security, is still TikToking away. Step forward Grant Shapps, desperately courting the youth vote. A sign the Defence Secretary is on leadership manoeuvres?

Both Parliament and the Scottish government have blocked TikTok from their networks amid security concerns over the Chinese-owned app. Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) once uploaded a toe-curling clip of him lip-syncing the 'Ken' song from the Barbie film

New constituency boundaries have proved a boon for some MPs. The proposed Stonehenge tunnel, which has caused ructions in Tory MP John Glen's Salisbury constituency, now looks more likely after campaigners lost a High Court appeal against the plan. You could almost hear Glen's joy when asked to comment. 'Stonehenge will cease to be part of the Salisbury constituency at the next election,' he said. 'So I must leave it to others to continue this journey.'

All yours, Danny Kruger, Tory MP for next-door Devizes  assuming he keeps his seat.
From being exiled to an asylum where she was treated by Sigmund Freud to protecting Jewish families during the Second World War, Prince Philip's mother seemed to live a thousand lifetimes in her 84 years.

Princess Alice of Battenberg was born Victoria Alice Elizabeth Julia Mary on 25 February 1885 at Windsor Castle in the presence of her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

She was raised as an English princess, although her parents, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine and Prince Louis of Battenberg were very much German.

Queen Victoria with her daughter Princess Beatrice together with the Queen's granddaughter, Victoria of Hesse-Darmstadt and her eldest child, Prince Alice of Battenberg, in 1886

She was raised as an English princess, although her parents, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine and Prince Louis of Battenberg, were German

The Greek royal family was exiled shortly after the birth of Princess Alice's youngest child and only son, Prince Philip, in 1921. Mother and son are pictured arm in arm

Alice was one of four siblings. Her sister Louise later became Queen of Sweden and her brother Louis 'Dickie' Mountbatten, later Lord Mountbatten, was Prince Philip's uncle, mentor to Prince Charles and adviser to the Royal Family.

The Battenbergs were told to Anglicise their surname to 'Mountbatten' during the First World War to drop the German connection.

Alice was congenitally deaf from birth but could speak clearly and lip read in several languages. Photographs of her as a young woman, often with upswept hair and wearing lace gowns, suggested beauty.

While at the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, she met and fell in love with Prince Andrew, a younger son of the King of Greece - a year later the couple were wed.

When the Balkan Wars began in 1912, Prince Andrew was reinstated in the army, while Prince Alice helped assist war efforts by setting up field hospitals.

She was later awarded the Royal Red Cross in 1913 by King George V, the late Queen's grandfather, for her hard work.

By 1914, Alice had given birth to four daughters, with a revolution brewing in Greece, where she was living at the time. Shortly after her youngest child and only son, Prince Philip, was born in 1921, the Greek royal family were exiled.

While he was just a toddler, the future Duke of Edinburgh was placed into a makeshift cot - an orange crate - as his family fled to Paris on a British warship.

Once in France, they lived on handouts from relatives. The stressful period caused strain on Alice, whose ardent religious beliefs had slowly become more eccentric over the years.

By 1930 she was hearing voices and believed she was having intimate relationships with Jesus and other religious figures. She was diagnosed as schizophrenic before being treated by Sigmund Freud at a clinic in Berlin.

Under the advice of the renowned psychoanalyst, her ovaries were blasted with X-rays - a treatment said to cure her of frustrated sexual desires.

Alice met and fell in love with Prince Andrew, a younger son of the King of Greece, at the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. Husband and wife are pictured together in 1915

Prince Alice with her husband, Prince Andrew of Greece on their wedding day in 1903

Photographs of her as a young woman, often with upswept hair, showed her beauty

Princess Alice of Battenberg stands next to Queen Mary, second from the left on the front row in this family portrait to mark the wedding day of the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1947

Princess Alice is pictured at London Airport in 1965. Two years later, the Colonels took control of Greece in a military coup. Alice refused to leave until Prince Philip sent a plane and a special request from the Queen to bring her home

This treatment is believed to have prompted early menopause. She was admitted to a Swiss sanatorium where she remained imprisoned for two and a half years.

Prince Philip was just nine years old when Princess Alice was locked away. He had been taken out for a picnic with his grandmother and when he arrived home his mother had gone.

Prince Andrew effectively abandoned his wife to go and live on the French Rivera with his mistress, despite never getting divorced.

He died in 1944 in Monaco.

During this time, young Prince Philip spent his time at boarding school in England and Scotland, being bounced from relative to relative during the holidays, including his uncle Lord Mountbatten.

When his mother was eventually released from the sanatorium in 1932, she drifted between modest German B&Bs.

The mother and son were not reunited until 1937, when they met at the funeral of Philip's sister Cecilie, who died in a plane crash at the age of 26.

At this point, Alice wanted 16-year-old Philip to return to Athens with her, following the restoration of the Greek monarchy in 1935. But Philip already had his future etched out in the Royal Navy, so his mother was left alone in Greece.

By 1941, Alice was stranded in Nazi-occupied Greece. Lord Mountbatten sent her food parcels which she handed out to those in need.

During the war, she was instrumental in aiding the escape from Greece of several Jews. Alice even hid the Cohen's, Jewish family, on the top floor of her home, just yards away from Gestapo headquarters.

When the Gestapo became suspicious and questioned the Princess, she used her deafness as an excuse not to answer their questions and prevented them from entering her property.

Following the war, diamonds were used from Alice's tiara so Philip could present a ring to Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen.

Alice sold the rest of her jewels to create her own religious order, the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary, in 1949, becoming a nun.

She went on to build a convent and orphanage in a poor suburb of Athens.

The royal remained in Greece until 1967, when there was a Greek military coup. Alice refused to leave the country until Prince Philip sent a plane and a special request from the Queen to bring her home.

She spent the final years of her life living at Buckingham Palace with her son and daughter-in-law before she died in December 1969, aged 84.

The last few months of her life were fictionalised in the third season of Netflix's The Crown, played by Jane Lapotaire. The series incorrectly suggested she gave a tell-all interview with the Guardian, covering topics about her mental health condition.

She spent the final years of her life at Buckingham Palace with her son and daughter-in-law before she died in December 1969, aged 84

Prince William pictured during a visit to the Orthodox Church of St Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem to pay his respects at the tomb of his great-grandmother Princess Alice in June 2018

Shortly before her death, she wrote a heartbreaking letter to her only son, that read: 'Dearest Philip, Be brave, and remember I will never leave you, and you will always find me when you need me most. All my devoted love, your old Mama.'

In 1994, 25 years after Alices death, her son attended a ceremony in Jerusalem to honour his mother, who is buried in a crypt at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.

In honour of her courage during the war, when she saved her friends, the Cohen family, from certain death, she was given the title of Righteous Among The Nations.

Prince Philip said: I suspect that it never occurred to her that her action was in any way special. She was a person with deep religious faith and she would have considered it to be a totally human action to fellow human beings in distress.
She made history last month, becoming the first Black woman in the UK to earn a Michelin star, but the owner of West African-inspired Chishuru - currently the hottest table in town - was never supposed to be a restauranteur.

Nigerian chef Adejoke Bakare, 51, founder of the Westminster-based restaurant the food critics are raving about, received the prestigious accolade for dishes such as roasted cull goat belly and ginger fried rice.

The menu is a snip compared to some of London's high-end restaurants, with a four-course lunch priced at 40, while a five-course dinner costs 75 per person.

Although 'dazed' by the culinary body's recognition, the self-taught chef and her restaurant manager Matt Paice have pushed back against the fine dining label, saying they instead want to appear 'homely'.

Speaking to Michelin UK, she said: 'At the heart of what we do, we are quite homely. If you see our decor, youll see that were homely and want to just welcome you in'.

Her journey to excellence has been both remarkable and unique, and dates back to her time as a university student in Nigeria, where she adventurously juggled a fish and chip cart alongside her studies.

Adejoke Bakare (pictured), 51, made history after becoming the first Black woman in the UK to be awarded a prestigious Michelin star - but a restaurant had never been part of her plan (Pictured: Adejoke celebrates on Instagram)

Adejoke is the founder and head chef of upscale eatery Chishuru in Westminster and offers a modern take on West African cuisine (Pictured: charcoal-grilled guineafowl breast, caramelised onion & lemon sauce, yaji peanut spice)

The delectable menu can be enjoyed in the form of two set menus only, priced at either 40 or 75 per head (Pictured: Newlyn cod fillet, fermented tomato sauce, Scotch bonnet, okra)

Born in Port Harcourt, in the southern Rivers State region of Nigeria, but brought up in the northern Kaduna region, she studied biology before moving to Britain in the 90s to pursue a career path that took in both healthcare and property management.

However, her passion for food refused to budge, and the industrious chef began hosting supper clubs in London, hoping to boost awareness of West African cuisine in the capital.

News of her enchanting twist on native dishes soon spread and by 2019, she won the Brixton Kitchen competition, a contest set up to hunt the best in local culinary innovation and talent.

The following year, she opened a three-month pop in South London titled Chishuru, which means to 'eat silently' in Hausa, a dialect spoken in northern parts of Nigeria.

The head chef runs Chishuru along with its manager Matt Paice (pictured left)

Adejoke continues to impress customers with exciting dishes like fermented rice cake and shiitake mushrooms, charcoal-grilled guinea fowl breast and whole deep-fried quail with uda and uziza - the latter West African spices (not pictured)

The pop-up became a huge success and quickly transformed into a permanent fixture, keeping the Chisuru name.

Although the Brixton branch closed in 2022, Adejoke went on to head various pop-ups across the capital before finally settling in swanky Fitzrovia last year - where she has remained.

There she has dazzled customers with dishes such as fermented rice cake and shiitake mushrooms, charcoal-grilled guinea fowl breast and whole deep-fried quail with uda and uziza - the latter West African spices.

For those expecting Nigerian staples, all mains are served with rice and plantain.

The chef has pushed back against a fine dining label and instead wants her restaurant to be 'homely' (Pictured: the interior of Chishuru in Fitzrovia)

Although Adejoke's cooking is largely self taught, she concedes that she might have picked up a thing or two from her parents, most notably her dad who she praised as a 'great cook'.

Talking to BBC Good Food in 2022, the chef recalled the inspiration behind her cultured dishes: In Nigeria and West Africa, we use many of the same ingredients and spices, like grains of selim (similar to black pepper) or calabash nutmeg. In southern Nigeria, food is bolder, spicier and uses more chillies.

'But in the east, people use native ground peppers more, like uziza. Food at home was a mishmash of these different zones and cultures and, in the same way, at Chishuru, I cook my take on traditional Nigerian food'.

Adejoke's fearless embrace of her roots is perhaps aptly seen in a note written on the restaurant's website chishuru.com: 'If you have no tolerance for spice at all, we recommend choosing a different restaurant, sorry'.
She took to social media to share how she grew her following over the years

But things did not start out so easy for the former nurse who is based in Arizona

An influencer has revealed how she went from making nearly nothing as a nurse to raking in millions through her social media platforms.

Avery Woods, from Arizona, decided to address recent mumblings about 'influencers' 'complaining about their jobs' in a new post on her TikTok, where she boasts an impressive two million followers.

'I wanna give you a little bit of a backstory of how this became my full-time career,' the 28-year-old kicked off a nearly 10-minute speech in a newly shared video.

While she started posting on Instagram casually starting in her late teens, Avery began to use social media more purposefully when she entered nursing school in her early 20s.

Influencer Avery Woods, 28, took to TikTok to express her gratitude for the lavish lifestyle that her large social media following has allowed her to lead

The Arizona resident and her husband, David, struggled financially for years before Avery made it big on social media

Prior to her success as an influencer, Avery's lifelong dream was to become a nurse - which she ultimately achieved in her early 20s

'That was when my social media started to get some traction,' she explained.

'[Nursing] was truly the only career I ever thought about or considered,' Avery continued.

'I was very, very passionate about sharing my nursing school journey on social media. I felt like there was a lot of negativity around nursing, and it was hard for nursing students to keep going when all we ever heard were the bad parts of nursing.

'And so I wanted to share some positivity in my nursing school journey,' she elaborated.

Not long after, the nursing-uniform brand Cherokee reached out to Avery, offering her free scrubs in exchange for a few photos. The liaison, Deb, 'is like part of our family now,' Avery added.

That kicked off a six-year relationship with the brand.

All the while, Avery's husband David was working as a patrol officer while the couple split a one-bedroom apartment with two young kids, who 'slept on a mattress on the floor in our bedroom,' Avery recalled.

During her first semester of nursing school, she and David tied the knot at a courthouse, with Avery becoming a stepmom to his two daughters.

Avery recalled a bare-bones wedding to David, in which he wore is police officer uniform because he couldn't afford a tux, and she wore a second-hand gown

'I wanted to share some positivity in my nursing school journey,' she elaborated of her early attempts at purposeful social-media posting

'I thought it was so fun just to take photos in my scrubs and share on the internet,' she recalled of her earlier, more casual forays into social media

In their wedding photos, David wore his cop uniform because they couldn't afford a tux - while Avery sported a pre-worn gown from a bridal store.

'We always told ourselves we would have a vow renewal when we hit 10 years married, which is exactly what our plan is. But I still would never take back the way that we got married,' Avery swore.

David also eventually insisted that Avery quit her job at Starbucks to focus on nursing school, working six to seven days a week as an officer to cover the family's rent and other expenses.

All the while, 'I was trying to balance sharing my life on social media, while also making school my number one priority,' said Avery.

Then, about a year before Avery was done with nursing school, David got the news that over in San Diego his grandfather's full-time caretaker 'was suspected to be abusing him as well as taking money from the family's trust,' Avery went on.

'We went to San Diego to go check on him and we found a bunch of drug paraphernalia. And David took a leave of absence from his job to move to San Diego, away from myself and the girls to be his full time caregiver. He was his full-time caregiver until [his grandfather] passed away exactly one year later.

Avery recalled 'every single weekend' she and the girls would make it out to San Diego to visit David to spend time with him and his grandfather.

In the meantime, Avery 'would try to pick up small jobs here and there without David knowing because he was so mad at me for trying to work during nursing school.'

'When I tell you we were broke, we were so f**king broke,' Avery emphasized. 'Our account was in the negative every single month, without even a doubt.'

However, she still kept working at her 'social media career very part time,' she continued, 'because school and my family came first.'

'Still, I thought it was so fun just to take photos in my scrubs and share on the internet.'

By the time Avery was about to graduate from nursing school in Arizona, her husband had relocated to San Diego to care for his ailing grandfather

As late as last year - prior to signing with an agency - Avery admitted that she and David weren't sure how they'd ever be able to pay for college for their kids

Eventually, David resigned from his officer position in Arizona to keep caring for his grandfather in California.

'At this time, we also thought we might as well just stay in California after his grandpa passes.'

So David started working on transferring his police credentials to California.

In the meantime, Avery graduated from nursing school in December 2017, also finishing her placement in the ER.

She then moved to San Diego immediately afterward to be 'all together as a family.'

As she prepped for the nursing exam National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) - which it took her three tries to pass ('yes, you heard that right,' Avery quipped) - David's grandfather passed at 98 years old.

'Our lives were probably at the lowest they've ever been,' Avery admitted.

'David couldn't even get an interview at Home Depot, I was trying to apply back to Starbucks while waiting to pass my NCLEX. And I found out I was very newly pregnant with Ziggy.

At this point, the family was applying to be on food stamps because they couldn't pay for groceries.

Once she passed her NCLEX, she was able to work on a 'temporary license for about 11 months before my license fully transferred from Arizona to California.'

That made getting hired as a nurse in California all the more challenging for Avery, 'so I took the first job I got in my first trimester of pregnancy,' which was in a skilled nursing facility (SNF).

That was a six-month stint - but Avery 'always knew' she wanted to work in pediatrics.

She finally achieved her goal when, after her son Ziggy was born, she was hired at Rady Children's Hospital.

'The only job they had was full time night shift, but I didn't give a s**t because it was a full-time job and we could pay the bills!' Avery triumphantly recalled.

While Avery was pregnant with her first biological child, the family was down to just one car

Avery was working full time at a pediatric ICU before quitting to do influencing full time

There was a still a lag before David was able to find work as a police officer in California, however - and the family ultimately had to sell one of their cars.

'We were down to one vehicle until I was nine months pregnant with Ziggy,' Avery emphasized.

Right before Ziggy turned one, the family decided to move back to Arizona.

'We had no friends, no family in San Diego. So after his grandfather died, we were just super lonely. And my license was still good in Arizona. And David's police department gave him all of his years of service back,' Avery explained.

Back in Arizona, Avery found work at a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

At this point, Avery also landed her 'first-ever paid collab' with Cherokee, who offered her $500 a month to post photos in their scrubs.

'And I about s**t my f**king pants,' said Avery of the opportunity, also added that she 'started getting into Amazon a lot.'

'We couldn't afford for me to wear brands like Free People, so I would find dupes on Amazon and that's when I started linking stuff.'

She also made a little bit of money selling on Etsy.

All the while, Avery continued working full-time until she returned from maternity leave with her second biological child, Stevie.

'I got a couple brand deals here and there on the side. Even if it was $50, I would take it. Because I was honestly just honored to make extra money to contribute to my family.

'And then I got pregnant with Stevie. I worked five days before my scheduled C section. And this was in the middle of the pandemic, so I was really tired. I was exhausted.

'Five days later, gave birth to Steve. I was able to take a 14-week maternity leave.'

Avery concluded by expressing how 'thankful' she is 'for the people that give you this career, which is you guys,' she said, addressing her viewers

On returning, she cut back her hours to two days per week, thanks to the extra cash she was bringing in from Cherokee, who had bumped up her rate as well.

Around then, Avery explained, 'My Instagram and TikTok were picking up pretty rapidly, and the corporation I worked with did not like that,' she admitted.

From there, she transferred to doing 'nurse injecting.'

'I always had an interest in aesthetics and skincare, and that's what I want for my future businesses.

'So I was working both jobs. I was working two days a week in the PICU, two to three days a week as a nurse injector, while also having four kids at home and trying to balance social media at the same time.'

By December 2022, she was able to quit the PICU, transitioning to 'full-time injecting' and 'full-time influencing.'

And, in July 2023, Avery 'finally signed with a management team.'

'When I tell you that changed my life, that's very much the understatement of the f**king year. I did not know the opportunities and amount of money you can make as an influencer,' Avery exclaimed.

'Obviously, working as a nurse full time, that's all I ever compared it to. It is the biggest privilege of a job you can f**king imagine,' she exclaimed.

'I'm already getting emotional talking about it, because I went from seeing the worst in the world - putting babies in body bags, watching moms hold their child while they take their last breath - things that will change you forever. I will never be the same person, and I will never forget that.

'To being at home with my kids, getting my husband off the street so we can start a business and he can be home with them full time,' she gushed.

She added that 'for three years straight' she and David 'did not have one overlapping day off together.'

By fall 2023, she left her nurse injecting job as well.

'It has opened so many doors in my life and my career that I only ever dreamed of. And I didn't imagine this life for myself.

'I'm not gonna sugarcoat the fact that I worked my f**king a** off in multiple jobs,' she emphasized.

'Bedside nursing, nurse injecting, trying to be an influencer while balancing my family all at the same time, was not easy. And it took a lot of work.

'But what my life is now, is not anything that I'm going to complain about, compared to what I came from,' she gushed.

'Of course there's things that come with it, like hate and people that make up lies about you and your family.

'But that's on them, that's fine. I know who I am, I know who my family is.

'But this life that I get to live, everything else that comes to the territory, is worth it. I'm so f**king privileged.

'My kids are so lucky to get their parents home all the time with them, be able to travel all over the world, not have to worry about clothes on their back, or roof over their head.

Earlier this month, Avery and her husband were even able to attend the Grammys.

She went on to say that as late as 'last year,' she and her husband weren't sure they would ever be able to pay for their kids' college tuitions.

Avery concluded by expressing how 'thankful' she is 'for the people that give you this career, which is you guys,' she said, addressing her viewers.

'You have given me this platform, you have given me this life. And truly, thank you would never be enough. I love you!'
A man who watched his father brutally kill a Manchester couple 46 years ago detailed the chilling nightmare in a new Amazon Prime documentary.

The three-part docuseries, Dead in the Water, explored the brutal murder of Christopher Farmer, 25, a newly-qualified doctor, and his girlfriend Peta Frampton, 24, a lawyer, who grew up together in Chorlton - but set out on an exhilarating backpacking adventure travelling through Central America in 1978.

However their gap year turned into a horrifying nightmare when they came across Duane Boston, who had met them in Belize and offered to help them get to their desired destination by taking them on as crew members on his 32 ft wooden sailing boat along with his sons Vince and Russell, who were 13 and 11 years old at the time.

Vince Boston, now 59, from Sacramento, California, decided to come forward with his story and revealed the true horror of the couple's demise.

The brothers said they had witnessed their father torture the pair, before tying them up and tossing them into the sea - still alive - before threatening the children that 'if you snitch, you die'.

Vince Boston, now 59, from Sacramento, California, who watched his father brutally kill a Manchester couple 46 years ago detailed the chilling nightmare in a new Amazon Prime documentary

Speaking in the documentary, Vince recounted how his father was apparently furious that Christopher had chided him for bullying his younger son, Russel, aboard.

'Dad would spend a lot of time getting drunk, he would sulk, then he would turn into this Jekyll and Hyde type character, alcohol would activate this a***hole in him,' he explained.

'He starts yelling at my brother Russ, over and over, "make me some f***ing rice Russ", he was trying to keep him happy but there's no satisfying him when he's like that.

'He asks Russ to grab the anchor up and then starts pounding him for no reason, Chris and Peta say "stop enough! Leave him alone".

'Dad says "don't you f***ing tell me how to raise my kids", he takes a swing and Chris ducked out of the way and dad fell overboard.

'Dad's in the water just glaring in silence looking at Chris and Peta and I think Chris said something like "maybe that will cool you off".'

Vince believed that this incident was the reason his father decided to murder the couple - as 'a line had been crossed'.

'It's ok for him to humiliate us kids, but not for him to be humiliated,' he continued. ;He said to us, "we need to get rid of these people".'

The three-part docuseries Dead in the Water explored the brutal murder of Christopher Farmer, 25, a newly-qualified doctor, and his girlfriend Peta Frampton, 24, a lawyer, who grew up together in Chorlton

Duane Boston with 12-year-old Russell (left) proudly displaying his catch with 13-year-old Vince (right) at Blackadore Caye

Duane, pictured in 2012, when he was aged 71; 34 years since he murdered Peta Frampton and Chris Farmer

The next day, Duane told the couple he was going to drop them off in a fishing village called Livingston in Guatemala.

However he released the anchor in the middle of the ocean, claiming they needed visas and he would get them to their destination when they came through.

Vince said: 'After a while dad asked Chris to go to the front of the boat and pull up anchor, we are going to go in now it's dark enough. I see him walking to the front with a billy club, he hits him over and over and over.

'Chris is screaming "what's your game, what's your game!" Dad just keeps beating him until Chris drops down onto the deck, he hit him so hard he broke his skull, I could hear the bones cracking and eventually he broke the billy club.

'I was thinking what can I do, can I intervene but I am just a skinny kid, then he pulls out a knife and stabs him in the chest.'

Vince claimed that when Peta looked out from the gally to see what all the commotion was, Duane threatened to shoot her with a spear gun.

He added: 'He grabs a rope and ties Chris up, the he goes down in the gally with Peta and the top hatch is covered, he is down there awhile, over and hour, when he is finished he comes back up.'

Last known photograph of Chris and Peta - who set out to enjoy some travels - before they left for Australia in 1978

Chris' sister Penny Farmer, (left) who used social media to hunt down the killer decades after his heinous crimes were committed, also appeared in the documentary

Duane then asked Vince to go down to the gally to 'keep and eye on Peta', the 13-year-old found her tied up and naked.

He said: 'She was tied up, no clothes on, he had taken her clothes off, she was seething mad, she must of had fear but she wasn't showing it. She told me your going to burn in hell.'

'My mind was racing, maybe she is right, I don't want to be a part of this but I have no choice, where are my choices, to over power my dad? I wouldn't be sitting here now if I tried that.'

The next morning Christopher was still alive but he was 'hogtied' at the front of the boat, while Peta was also still tied up.

Vince recalled their last moments - in which Duane told the pair that he is going to 'let them off, tie them to a tree and then sail away'.

'So that's what I thought would happen,' he said. 'Dad goes below deck, grabs a large gear which was used for balance, it's like a giant cog made out of iron, he eases it down behind Chris and he does the same with Peta.'

Duane tied the heavy weight onto the ropes that Chris and Peta were tied up with and rolled them off the boat.

Vince recalled: 'He takes the weight and throws it over, I am thinking this can't be happening, my knees are shaking, he takes Chris and rolls him off, I see him being yanked down quickly and disappearing into blackness.

Vince claimed that when Peta looked out from the gally to see what all the commotion was Duane threatened to shoot her with a spear gun

After escaping police for 38 years, Sacramento Police finally tracked down Boston in December, 2016, and he was charged with the murders of Christopher and Peta

'Peta is screaming "what's going on? Chris are you OK?" Dad takes her weight, throws that over and rolls her off the side, then she disappeared into the depths. He looked at his watch a few minutes later and said 'they are dead now'.

'To watch your own father, someone you trust, who is supposed to be protecting you, murder two innocent people in front of your own eyes, I'm thinking maybe we are next and he looked at us and said "you snitch, you die".'

When he left home three years later, he said he tried to tell the police what had happened but it was dismissed as hearsay.

Chris' sister Penny Farmer, who used social media to hunt down the killer decades after his heinous crimes were committed, also appeared in the documentary.

She said: 'They were children of the 70's, that whole buzz, that whole vibe, free love and the music but what came with that was a certain naivety. They couldn't conceive that anyone could harm them.'

The last we'd heard from them, they got on board a boat. It just didn't make sense, but the truth was far worse than we could ever have imagined.'

In June 1978, Peta wrote to her mother from Belize saying they were going to sail to Mexico on a yacht called the Justin B, which was skippered by an American called Duane.

Peta, in a letter dated June 29, indicated it was not always smooth sailing on the boat as Boston's two young sons, who were also on board, squabbled frequently and he had a short temper.

Chris Farmer and Peta Frampton with Chris' parents. Chris was a 25-year-old newly qualified doctor

Penny Farmer with her brother Chris Farmer and Peta Frampton before they left for their trip to Australia

Christopher's father Charles Farmer, a BBC journalist, made his own enquiries to find out where the pair were after communication from the two had stopped.

He appealed for help in the Belize Times to no avail. Following this, he hired a local man, Alphonso de Pena, to act as a private investigator.

By January 1979, Mr de Pena learned through a local priest living just over the border in Guatemala that the unidentified bodies of a young European couple had been pulled from the water 200 metres from the shore the previous year.

After the private investigator's breakthrough, the bodies were exhumed and dental records were flown across the Atlantic to confirm it was Christopher, 25, and Peta, 24.

Another letter arrived after the couple's bodies were found on July 8, 1978, floating off the coast of Punta de Manabique in Guatemala.

Vince and Russell told police their father posted the letter because he thought it would throw the police off his trail.

Charles and diplomats at the Foreign Office continued to make enquiries, tracking down Boston, who - it would later emerge - was on the run in central America, wanted on a charge of statutory rape against a minor back home in Sacramento, California.

The British consulate and Charles both managed to speak to Boston by phone.

He was evasive and unconvincing, telling the consulate his two passengers had disembarked because his boat had required repairs.

To Charles, he said: 'Let me know if you hear anything about them', claiming he didn't know what had happened to the couple.

After that, Boston seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. Charles Farmer died in 2013, at the age of 91, without ever getting to the truth.

After escaping police for 38 years, Sacramento Police finally tracked down Boston in December, 2016, and he was charged with the murders of Christopher and Peta.

With deteriorating health because of years of alcohol abuse and with just three weeks before the family were due to attend a pre-trial hearing, Boston died in jail, aged 76.

He had been on dialysis but he is said to have ordered medics to withdraw treatment.

The series comes from London-based production company RAW, the award-winning producers of The Tinder Swindler and Don't F**K With Cats.

Dead in the Water will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on Wednesday, February 28- based on the book of the same name by Penny Farmer.
Ever since her father left office, Ivanka Trump's style has undergone a major transformation.

The former First Daughter, 42, has ditched her demure suits and modest skirt and shirt combos in favor of risque mini dresses and cropped looks that often leave her stunning curves and toned midriff on full display.

It doesn't seem like a coincidence that the sudden change in her clothing choices was timed perfectly to her departure from the world of politics, and it wouldn't be the first time that she swapped the way she dressed based on her position.

The blonde beauty actually kicked her career off in the world of fashion - having started modeling when she was only 14 years old.

And, in 2007, she launched her own jewelry line which went on to become a wildly successful, multi-million dollar brand that sold everything from clothes and shoes to handbags and other accessories.

Ever since her father left office, Ivanka Trump has ditched her demure suits and modest skirt and shirt combos in favor of risque mini dresses that often leave her figure on full display

And it doesn't seem like a coincidence that the former First Daughter's style transformation was timed perfectly to her departure from the world of politics. She's seen in February 2023

As Ivanka continues to show off her post-White House glow up, FEMAIL recapped her fashion journey from start to finish. She's seen left in 2018 and right in 2022

Thanks to Ivanka's famous family, piercing sense of style, and immense success as a businesswoman, she cemented her status as a Manhattan socialite early on.

During those years, she was often spotted wearing bold and bright patterns, figure-hugging looks, and tiny skirts that showcased her enviable physique.

But when her dad, Donald Trump, began his run for president in 2016, Ivanka decided to leave her life as a fashion mogul behind to join him - and her clothing choices completely transformed amid her sudden thrust into the world of politics.

The former fashionista, who used to show up in vivid colors and eye-popping designs, seemed to now favor black-and-white or monotone outfits.

She toned down her looks immensely, opting for reserved clothes with boxy frames, rather than tight or revealing looks.

After he was elected as President, Ivanka officially stepped away from her clothing company to become a White House advisor, and during Trump's four years in office, she continued to don plain and low-key ensembles.

But almost immediately after she announced that she was leaving politics for good in 2021, she went through another fashion metamorphosis - and has since gone back to wearing flashy looks and sultry ensembles.

As Ivanka continues to show off her post-White House glow up, FEMAIL recapped her fashion journey from start to finish.

Building her fashion empire: Ivanka started modeling when she was only 14 and launched her own jewelry line in 2007 - which went on to become a multi-million dollar company

Ivanka (seen at age 14) had an interest in fashion from a young age, and she started modeling when she was only 14 years old, making her debut in a denim campaign for Tommy Hilfiger

After that, she signed to Elite Model Management - thanks, in part, to her father, who was close friends with the head of the company. She's seen in 1998 with her dad

Ivanka had an interest in fashion from a young age, and she started modeling when she was only 14 years old, making her debut in a denim campaign for Tommy Hilfiger.

In 1997, at age 16, she landed her first magazine cover, gracing the front of Seventeen, and her career quickly took off. She's seen walking in Marc Bouwer's fall fashion show in 1997

After that, she signed to Elite Model Management - thanks, in part, to her father, who was close friends with the head of the company.

In 1997, at age 16, she landed her first magazine cover - gracing the front of Seventeen - and her career quickly took off.

Throughout the late '90s, she went on to pose for a slew of well-known publications like Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Seventeen, and stomped the runway at numerous fashion shows.

But in 2000, she put her modeling career on the backburner to instead focus on her education.

She headed to Georgetown University for college, before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania two years later, where she received a degree in economics in 2004.

After finishing school, she entered the world of reality TV - starring as a judge on her dad's show The Apprentice for its sixth and seventh seasons, and making numerous appearances in the competition series Project Runway.

In 2007, she launched her own jewelry line with Dynamic Diamond Corp., called Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, through which she sold high-end bracelets, necklaces, and rings that cost as much as $10,000.

Throughout the late '90s, she went on to pose for a slew of well-known magazines like Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Seventeen, and stomped the runway at numerous fashion shows

But in 2000, Ivanka (seen in 2002) put her modeling career on the back burner to focus on her education. She received a degree in economics from University of Pennsylvania in 2004

In 2007, she launched her own jewelry line with Dynamic Diamond Corp., called Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry. She's seen in 2007 with her dad

Ivanka (seen in 2010) eventually branched out, selling everything from clothing to shoes to handbags. It was an immense success and propelled her even further into the fashion industry

She also joined the Trump Organization in 2005, where she served as the executive vice president for development and acquisitions. She's seen with Donald and Melania in 2004

It was an immense success and propelled Ivanka even further into the fashion industry.

She eventually branched out, selling everything from clothing and shoes to accessories like sunglasses and handbags.

The brand even got its own flagship store in Manhattan, raking in millions of dollars and gaining a slew of celebrity fans like Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna over the years.

The successful businesswoman also joined the Trump Organization in 2005, where she served as the executive vice president for development and acquisitions.

Cementing herself as a Manhattan socialite: In the years before she became the First Daughter, Ivanka was often spotted attending star-studded events in bold colors, bright patterns, and revealing looks

In the years before she became the First Daughter, Ivanka (seen in 2014) loved to wear bold colors and bright patterns

She was also often spotted wearing tiny dresses that showcased her long legs or figure-hugging looks that left her toned physique on full display. She's seen in 2013

As she continued to grow her fashion empire, Ivanka also cemented her status as a Manhattan socialite.

She was often spotted attending star-studded events in fashionable looks, which meant she usually dominated gossip sites and magazines.

During these years, she loved to wear bold colors and bright patterns - red seemed to be her go-to color, as she was caught donning piercing, fiery gowns on numerous occasions.

She was also often spotted sporting tiny dresses that showcased her long legs or figure-hugging looks that left her toned physique on full display.

She loved to ensure all eyes were on her with daring ensembles - like when she attended the Met Gala in 2014 with her husband, Jared Kushner, in a shiny, green, strapless dress (seen)

Red seemed to be her go-to color, as she was caught wearing piercing, fiery gowns on numerous occasions. She's seen left in 2015 and right in 2016

It seemed as though the blonde beauty loved to ensure all eyes were on her with her daring ensembles - like when she attended the Met Gala in 2014 with her husband, Jared Kushner, in a shiny, green, strapless dress that displayed ample cleavage.

While discussing her fashion sense in 2012, Ivanka said she loved looking 'polished and professional' while 'exuding confidence.'

'My goal is to continue to design elegant and beautiful pieces for the strong and sophisticated woman at an affordable price point,' she said of her fashion brand at the time.

But when her dad entered the world of politics in 2016, Ivanka decided to leave her life as a Manhattan socialite and fashion mogul behind to instead become a political force - and her sense of style changed drastically to fit the part.

Transforming her style after entering the world of politics: Ivanka toned down her looks immensely during her father's presidency, opting for monotone suits and plain skirt and shirt combos

Ivanka (seen in 2016) stood by her father's side at numerous speeches, rallies, and conventions during his presidential campaign in 2016 - and her fashion choices completely transformed

She toned down her looks immensely, and suddenly, she was often spotted donning monotone suits, plain skirt and shirt combos, and oversized coats. She's seen in 2018

The former fashionista, who used to show up in vivid colors and eye-popping designs, seemed to now favor black-and-white or dark outfits. She's seen left in 2016 and right in 2017

She also opted for clothes with boxy frames, rather than tight or revealing looks

Ivanka stood by her father's side at numerous speeches, rallies, and conventions during his presidential campaign in 2016 - and her fashion choices completely transformed amid her sudden thrust into the world of politics.

She toned down her looks immensely, and suddenly, she was often spotted donning monotone suits, plain skirt and shirt combos, and oversized coats.

The former fashionista, who used to show up in vivid colors and eye-popping designs, seemed to now favor black-and-white or dark outfits.

She also opted for clothes with boxy frames, rather than tight or revealing looks.

In 2017, soon after Donald was elected, she announced she was moving from New York City to Washington, D.C. where she began serving as an advisor to her father. She's seen in 2018

At the time, she left the Trump Organization and stepped away from her fashion brand to focus full-time on her White House position. She's seen in 2019

When asked to define the word 'style' in 2017, she said, 'It's a fitted blazer that inspires confidence, whether you're jetting to playdates or to meetings.' She's seen in 2018 and 2019

In 2017, soon after Donald was elected, she and Jared announced that they were moving from New York City to Washington, D.C. where they both began serving as advisors to her father.

At the time, she left the Trump Organization and stepped away from her fashion brand to focus full-time on her White House position.

'It's a diamond-encrusted watch that doesn't lose its luster when you're baking chocolate-chip cookies with your children,' she told New Yorker in 2017 when asked to define the word 'style.'

'It's a fitted blazer that inspires confidence, whether you're jetting to playdates or jetting to meetings you're not authorized to attend.

'It's makeup that feels "barely there," which is coincidentally how I will describe my presence in the White House during congressional hearings years from now.'

Post-White House glow up: After her dad left office, Ivanka began flaunting her physique again in mini dresses and baring her midriff in cropped looks - and she now loves to showcase her outfits online

After her dad left office in early 2021, Ivanka relocated from Washington, D.C., to Miami, Florida, with Jared, and their three kids, Arabella, 12, Joseph, 10, and Theodore, seven

And almost immediately, her style went through another drastic metamorphosis; she quickly went back to flaunting her figure in mini dresses and tiny tops. She's seen in 2023

In November 2021, the former First Daughter (seen in Greece) announced that she was leaving politics permanently, and since then, she has enjoyed an extremely jet-set lifestyle

After her dad left office in early 2021, Ivanka relocated from Washington, D.C., to Miami, Florida, with Jared, and their three kids, Arabella, 12, Joseph, 10, and Theodore, seven.

Since then, it has seemed like she's leaning back towards her former life as a socialite

And almost immediately, her style went through another drastic metamorphosis, quickly reverting back to flaunting her figure in mini dresses and tiny tops.

In November 2021, the mom-of-three announced that she was leaving the world of politics behind permanently to 'prioritize her family,' after her dad Donald confirmed that he would be running for president again in the 2024 election.

'I love my father very much. This time around, I'm choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family,' she said at the time.

'While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena.'

Since then, it has seemed like she's leaning back towards her former life as a socialite.

She has certainly enjoyed an extremely jet-set lifestyle, embarking on more than a dozen trips in the last year alone, attending a slew of celebrity-filled parties, and dining at top restaurants.

She has embarked on more than a dozen trips in the last year alone, attending a slew of celebrity-filled parties, and dining at top restaurants. She's seen at Jeff Bezos' 60th birthday

She loves to document her lavish endeavors and glamorous trips on her Instagram account - and she also seems to enjoy showing off her outfits online

In recent months, Ivanka has become even more adventurous with her looks and her latest obsession seems to be sparkles

She was seen wearing a dazzling silver skirt at the grand opening of Fontainebleau Las Vegas in December 2023, and an intricate glittering skirt and shirt combo a few months before that

She also often bares her midriff in cropped looks - certainly a vast difference from her White House days

Ivanka is also often spotted hanging out with her A-list pals, like Jeff Bezos and his fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, and Kim Kardashian, as well top influencers, entrepreneurs, and designers.

She loves to document her lavish endeavors and glamorous trips on her Instagram account - where she has racked up more than seven million followers - and she also seems to enjoy showing off her outfits online.

In recent months, Ivanka has become even more adventurous with her looks.

Her latest obsession seems to be sparkles, as she was seen wearing a dazzling silver skirt at the grand opening of Fontainebleau Las Vegas in December 2023, and an intricate glittering skirt and shirt combo when she celebrated Kim's 44th birthday in Beverly Hills a few months before that.

She also often bares her midriff in cropped looks - certainly a stark contrast to her White House days.
A woman has sparked outrage after claiming she refused to pay a nail salon because she picked the wrong colour varnish

Amie Scott, posting under her Plastic Amie account on TikTok, said she ran out of the nail salon without paying the 40 fee.

She has more than half a million followers on TikTok and previously joked about leaving her partner for his son and spending thousands on plastic surgery.

Amie said: I have just left the nail shop and I have point blank refused to pay for my nails.

Now yes, they did a really good job, I do agree but I dont like the colour that I chose.

A woman has gone viral on TikTok after she said she point blank refused to pay 40 for her nails after she didnt like the colour she chose

Amie Scott claimed in the video that she ran out of the nail shop despite them trying to keep her car keys

They are lovely, I just dont like the colour. I know it is my fault but at the end of the day if Im not satisfied, then I am not going to pay for it.

They can argue with me all they want and tried keeping my car keys, but I just ran out of the door anyways.

In the video, which has been viewed nearly one million times, Amie added: But to be honest I have saved myself 40 anyway and I am going on holiday tonight, so I do need to look my best.

I dont know what to do about this colour - I dont know whether to change it at the airport.

At the end of the day it is their fault if their customer is not satisfied. The customer is always right.

In the video, which has been viewed nearly a million times, Ms Scott brags that she has saved herself 40 as a result

She has more than half a million followers on TikTok and previously joked about leaving her husband for his son and spending thousands on plastic surgery

Users were shocked by the video with one commenting: So why didnt you tell them that you didnt like the colour after they painted the first couple of nails.

Another added: You should have paid. You picked the colour, and surely you'd have known you didn't like the colour after the first nail or two?

However others dismissed the video with one person saying 'Why can no one tell she is joking.'

A different user added: 'This is one of the best comments sections I've seen in ages.'

After the backlash, Amie posted a follow-up video on why she didnt tell the shop she didnt like the colour after they had painted a couple of nails.

She said: I didnt want to tell them as I just didnt feel like I had to.

They should ask me if I liked the colour of the nails after the first nail. They didnt so it is their fault.

I continued to get my nails painted as I felt awkward, and they didnt ask me. I wasnt going to pay them because they were in the wrong.

Users on TikTok were outraged with the video with one commenting 'so why didnt u tell them that u didnt like the colour after they painted the first couple of nails'

They should have known just by looking at the colour of these nails that I wouldnt like them.

Last week, Amie also posted a video claiming that she had ended up in Belfast instead of the Caribbean by mistake.

She said she had arrived in Northern Ireland rather than Belize as her sister, who has dyslexia, booked the wrong flights.

Amie said: Never ever let your dyslexic sister book you a holiday to Belize, because Ive ended up in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

So much for the Caribbean and the sunshine, its p****** it down with rain, its minus three degrees.

Ive booked a five star all-inclusive hotel and Im stood in the rain in Ireland, Ive got nowhere to stay.

I came because I thought I was coming to Belize, not Belfast.
When we were little, my brother and I were occasionally smacked by our parents. Our feelings weren't considered over important decisions: where we would go to school, how often we visited our grandparents, what sort of clothes we'd wear.

If we didn't like the food set out for dinner, no alternative menu was offered. If we lacked some 'right' to express ourselves, it never occurred to us to question it.

But as millions of women and men my age  I'm now in my mid-40s  entered adulthood, we signed up for therapy. We explored our childhoods and learned to see our parents as emotionally 'stunted'.

We vowed that our child-rearing would be different. We would cherish our relationship with our children and tear down the barrier of authority that past generations had erected between parent and child.

More than anything, we wanted to raise 'happy' kids. We looked to the experts for help and devoured their bestselling parenting books.

We never, ever smacked. An ideal childhood meant no pain, no discomfort, no fights, no failure  and absolutely no hint of 'trauma'.

But the more closely we tracked our children's feelings, the more difficult it became to ride out their momentary displeasure. The more closely we examined our kids, the more glaring their departures from an endless array of targets  academic, social and emotional appeared.

In a panic, we rushed them to mental health professionals for testing, diagnosis, counselling and medication.

We needed our children and everyone around them to know: they weren't shy, they had 'social anxiety disorder'. They weren't poorly behaved, they had 'oppositional defiant disorder'. They weren't disruptive students, they had 'ADHD'. It wasn't our fault, and it wasn't theirs.

Schools jumped on the bandwagon. Mental health staff expanded. The new regime would diagnose and accommodate, not punish or reward.

Millions of us bought in to this dogma, believing it would cultivate the happiest, most well-adjusted children. But instead, with unprecedented help from mental health experts, we have raised the loneliest, most anxious, depressed, pessimistic, helpless and fearful generation on record.

I'm a mother to a daughter aged 11 and twin sons aged 13. In the past, I admit, I've been guilty of the kind of anxious-parenting described above but, since researching my book, I've become a tougher parent and my children have become happier and more resilient as a result. And yours can too.

When we talk of a mental health crisis in the young, it's easy to conflate two groups of people. One group suffers from profound mental illness. Disorders that, at their untreated worst, preclude productive work or stable relationships and exile the afflicted from normal life. These children require medication and the care of psychiatrists. They are not the subject of my investigation.

Gen Z are underprepared for basic tasks, like showing up for work

What I am talking about is a second, far larger cohort: the worriers, the fearful, the lonely, lost and sad. Young people who can't apply for a job without three or ten calls to Mum.

This is a generation strikingly different from those prior to it, says Dr Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University. According to her, members of Generation Z  those born between 1995 and 2012  are less likely to go on dates, get a driving licence, hold down a job or socialise with friends in person than millennials, born between 1980 and 1994, were at the same age.

They also engage in the least amount of sex (while arguably having it most easily available) and report having the fewest romantic relationships. They are reluctant to cross the milestones  promotion, marriage, starting a family  at which previous generations eagerly launched themselves.

Bosses and teachers confirm this analysis, reporting that members of Gen Z appear utterly underprepared to accomplish basic adult tasks  including showing up for work.

The truth is that these mental health interventions on behalf of our children have largely backfired. At best, they have failed to relieve the conditions they claim to treat. But far more likely is that they are making young people sicker, sadder and more afraid to grow up.

I'm not the only one to have found something fishy in the fact that more treatment has not resulted in less depression. A group of academics led by Netherlands-based psychiatrist Johan Ormel noticed the same in a 2022 study.

The authors noted that treatment for major depression has become much more widely available (and, in their view, improved) since the 1980s worldwide. And yet in not a single Western country has this treatment made a dent in the prevalence of major depressive disorder. In fact, in many countries it actually increased.

Abigail Shrier has written a book on

For young people, the picture is bleaker still. Between 1990 and 2007 the number of mentally ill children rose 35-fold. And while overdiagnosis, or the expansion of definitions of mental illness, may partially account for this, it doesn't completely explain the pervasive distress felt by young people today.

Camilo Ortiz, a professor of clinical psychology who specialises in child and adolescent anxiety and depression, worries that a lot of the therapy directed at children is useless. For most problems, Ortiz says, individual therapy has almost no proven benefit for kids.

And yet countless psychotherapists continue to offer it. You might even call their efforts 'bad therapy'  the sort of thing that a malevolent mastermind who actually wanted to induce anxiety and depression in a child might prescribe.

Listed here are six techniques beloved of modern therapists, and the reasons why, in my view, far from being the answer, they are making the problem worse.

'Tell them to prioritise their feelings'

Far from helping, this technique can have entirely the opposite effect, says cultural psychologist Yulia Chentsova Dutton. 'Emotions are highly reactive to our attention to them. Certain kinds of attention to emotions... can increase emotional distress,' she explains. 'I'm worried that when we try to help our young adults and children, what we do is throw oil into the fire.' Emotions are not only unstable, they're also easily manipulated, she adds.

Asking someone, especially a child, a series of leading questions, or making certain statements to them, can reliably provoke a particular emotional response.

Michael Linden, a professor of psychiatry at the Charite University Hospital in Berlin, believes that routinely asking children how they are feeling is a terrible practice.

'Nobody feels great,' he tells me. 'Never, ever. Sit in the bus and look at the people opposite you. They don't look happy. Happiness is not the emotion of the day.'

Of our 60,000 wakeful seconds each day, only a tiny percentage are spent in a state we would call 'happy'. Most of the time we are simply 'OK' or 'fine', he says. Regularly prompting someone to reflect on their current state will  if they are being honest  elicit a raft of negative responses.

And it's not always best to talk about your 'trauma' either.

'Really good trauma-informed work does not mean that you get people to talk about it,' mental health specialist Richard Byng tells me. 'Quite the opposite.'

Byng helps ex-convicts in Plymouth acclimatise to life outside. Many of these former prisoners endured abuse as children and young adults.

And yet, Byng says, the solution for them often includes not talking about their traumas.

One of the most significant failings of psychotherapy, he says, is its refusal to acknowledge that not everyone is helped by talking.

A dose of repression appears to be a fairly useful psychological tool for getting on with life for some  even for the significantly traumatised.

Rarely do we grant children that allowance. Instead, we demand that they locate any dark feelings and share them.

We may already be seeing the fruits: a generation of kids who can never ignore any pain, no matter how trivial.

'Banish chaos from your child's world'

I ask neuropsychologist Dr Rita Eichenstein, who works with atypical children, why we're seeing so many phobias and so much anxiety among children.

'There's sensory deprivation,' she says. 'The pristine nursery. That's all quiet now. They're all using sound machines. They're not getting dirty. They're not getting that normal chaos.'

Banishing normal chaos from a child's world is precisely the opposite of what you would do if you wanted to produce an adult capable of enjoying life's intrinsic bittersweetness.

And yet we beg doctors to give our children anti-anxiety medications, teachers to give them untimed tests. We carefully remove sesame seeds from their burger buns. We aren't just driving ourselves insane. We're making our kids more fearful and less tolerant of the world.

'Keep them under close supervision'

TODAY'S children are always under someone's scrutiny, says Peter Gray, a professor of psychology at Boston College, Massachusetts. 'At home, the parents are watching them. At school, they're being observed by teachers. Out of school, they're in adult-directed activities. They have almost no privacy.'

Actually, Gray says, adding monitoring to a child's life is functionally equivalent to adding anxiety. 'When psychologists do research where they want to add an element of stress, how do they add it?' he asks. 'They simply add an observer.'

'Give them a name for their pain'

A five-year-old child wanders round his classroom, distracting others. You take him to a paediatrician, who tells you it sounds like ADHD. You feel relief. At least you finally know what's wrong.

Identifying a significant problem is often the right thing to do. Friends who suffered with dyslexia for years have told me that discovering the name for their problem (and the corollary: that no, they weren't stupid) delivered cascading relief.

But obtaining a diagnosis for your child is not a neutral act. It's not nothing for a child to grow up believing there's something wrong with their brain.

'Whatever the issue, dish out the drugs'

If Lexapro, Ritalin, and all the others were the solution, the decline in youth mental health would have ended decades ago. With children and adolescents, there's far less proof of antidepressants' efficacy than for adult patients, according to a 2021 study conducted in Australia and New Zealand.

Children are a moving target, changing so rapidly that doctors run the risk of medicating for circumstances soon to be in the rear view mirror.

There are also the side effects of medication, imposed on a child who is already struggling: weight gain, sleeplessness, nausea, fatigue, jitteriness, risk of addiction and a sometimes brutal withdrawal. Suicide remains a side effect of antidepressants in adolescents.

In addition, they place a young person in a medicated state while they're still getting used to the feel and fit of their own skin.

Medication should be a last resort, if used at all.

'Break off all contact with toxic family'

Clinical psychologist Joshua Coleman has devoted his entire practice to a growing phenomenon known as 'family estrangement': adult children cutting off their parents, refusing to speak to them, even barring them from seeing their grandchildren.

When parents confront the adult children who've done this, Coleman tells me, the typical explanation they give is: 'Well, my therapist said you emotionally abused me.'

The parents, of course, respond defensively, which feels like proof positive to the adult child.

Family estrangement strips the adult child of a major source of stability and support. Worse, it leaves those grandchildren with the impression they descend from terrible people. People so twisted and irredeemable that Mum and Dad won't let them in the house.

Generation Z has received more therapy than any other. In the US, nearly 40 per cent have received treatment from a mental health professional, compared with 26 per cent of Gen Xers  those born between 1965 and 1980.

Forty-two per cent of Gen Z currently has a mental health diagnosis, rendering 'normal' increasingly abnormal. One in six American children aged two to eight years old has a diagnosed mental, behavioural or developmental disorder. Nearly ten per cent of children now have a diagnosed anxiety disorder.

So, what can we do about it?

Trust yourself, not the experts

For years, therapeutic experts have attempted to iron out the idiosyncrasies of parent-child interaction, and in the last two decades have all but succeeded.

Yet parent-child relationships have always varied according to values, family culture and the variegations of personality. Our friendships and marriages and sibling and parent relationships aren't precious because they conform to an approved pattern. They are precious because they are ours.

Stop putting your worries in their head

The epidemic of parental over-involvement is by now the stuff of legend. At school, we ask for our children to be sat next to others we've chosen, we demand to speak to teachers and even university staff who dare give our children a bad mark, and intervene with our young adults' bosses (all true stories people have told me).

And yet we know that children need space from adult oversight. They thrive with independence, a certain level of responsibility and autonomy and, indeed, failure.

They never learn to do things for themselves if we do everything for them. Risky play  involving heights, sharp tools and some actual danger  not only rewards children with joy and social competence, it may well make them better able to navigate and assess risks in the future.

Stop acting as if your child will die if she doesn't get her snack, or that he'll fall apart if he's made to sit next to an obnoxious child.

Stop implanting your worries in their heads. Stop monitoring and evaluating everything they do and stop overpraising them for doing things that aren't hard. You're not spurring them on to adulthood, you're insisting they always regard themselves as children.

Teach them to think about others

About a year ago, I was on a flight, seated behind a family of four  two parents and two little girls. Mid-air, one of the girls let out a protracted scream.

Her father tried to calm her down. He asked her what was wrong: why was she angry towards her younger sister? He told the younger one not to pinch or whatever she had done. He encouraged them to reconcile.

He never once mentioned the other passengers. He didn't tell either of those girls that when they cried out, they might be disturbing 90 other people.

Our kids don't know that they're connected to others  because we don't tell them. We must, and we must start now.

Let grandparents play their vital role

One of the worst consequences of our hyper-focus on present feelings and the professionalisation of our child-rearing is that we devalue everything grandparents have to offer. We saw them as backward, racist and crude. We corrected their interactions with our children or barred them entirely.

Grandfathers may say all the wrong things, show the wrong films and teach kids inappropriate jokes. They might let them work with dangerous tools. Grandmothers may make all the wrong foods ('You know Aiden doesn't do well with dairy!') and correct the children's poor table manners in a way that strikes us as excessive.

But children survive all of that, and they come out tougher, knowing they can handle adults who didn't follow their parents' script. They gain something invaluable: connection. 'The secret to life is good and enduring intimate relationships and friendships,' says Yale psychiatry professor Charles Barber. In other words, people you love and who love you back over a lifetime.

I am no perfect parent. But after researching for my book, I made a few adjustments to my own parenting style. For one, I told my kids I would no longer be reading the school's daily homework reminder emails. Anything related to schoolwork was their responsibility. If they missed a deadline, they would learn from the consequence.

When my then nine-year-old daughter begged to be able to walk home from the bus stop by herself, despite my worries, I let her. She loved her walks.

I allowed it primarily because when I talked to other parents for my research, I learned something: when children miss their 'window' of independence  of wanting to hazard a risk and venture something new on their own  they stop asking for it.

I talked to mothers who had forbidden their children from walking around their neighbourhoods when they were little. By the time the kids turned 13, they wouldn't leave the house.

I pressed my sons into household errands. I sent them on scooters to the supermarket with an empty backpack, a list and a credit card.

No amount of pleading and hectoring had persuaded them to talk to adults on their own, keep track of their belongings, write things down. But under the pressure of this errand, they looked for cars before they crossed the road, kept track of my credit card, carefully scanned my list, and asked shop assistants for help. My sons began, for the first time, to take note of their surroundings simply because I had got out of the way.

So, go on. Stop the hovering, the monitoring, the constant doubt, the diagnosing of ordinary behaviours as pathological. Shun the expert evaluations and the psychiatric medications you aren't convinced your child needs.

Having kids is one of the best, most worthy things you can possibly do. Raise them well. You're the only one who can.

Adapted from Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier, to be published by Swift Press on February 29, at 20.  Abigail Shrier 2024. To order a copy for 18 (offer valid to 16/03/24, UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
The Princess of Wales 'needs to strike a careful balance' when she returns to royal duties, a mental health expert has claimed.

The royal, 42, underwent planned abdominal surgery at The London Clinic last month and has been recovering the family's home in Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

The mother-of-three will not carry out official engagements until after Easter and could undertake any necessary work from her bed, with her return to public duties depending on medical advice closer to the time, MailOnline understands.

Sophie Cress, a UK-based therapist, spoken about some of the challenges the Princess of Wales may face when she resumes her duties as a senior member of the Royal Family.

Speaking to GB News, the expert explained: 'Kate is probably going to ease her way back into her royal responsibilities, giving priority to things that suit her energy and health at the moment.

Pictured: The Princess of Wales, 42, seen attending the Royal Variety Show at the Royal Albert Hall in December 2023

'Psychologically speaking, it's critical that Kate maintains her autonomy and sense of control over her schedule as she gradually returns to her duties.'

Describing how the royal will need to a 'strike a careful balance', the therapist said Kate would benefit from engagements that provide a level of flexibility.

The expert went on to say that it's 'crucial' that Kate is able to balance her 'physical and emotional wellbeing' when returning to work.

Earlier this month, The Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Kate joined Prince William and their three children for a half-term holiday to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

'Catherine is recovering well,' a friend told Diary editor Richard Eden. 'She was looking forward to a change of scene and will be able to take it easy in Norfolk while the children let off steam with William.'

As news that Kate had been discharged emerged, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress.

'The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided.

'The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.'

Pictured: The Princess of Wales seen visiting the SportsAid House for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

The Princess of Wales and Prince William with Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church'

Kensington Palace announced the Princess of Wales had undergone surgery just hours before it was revealed King Charles would be having treatment for an enlarged prostate. Earlier this month, the Palace announced that the King had been diagnosed with cancer.

There were previously concerns that the length of Kate's stint in the exclusive London Clinic suggested the procedure was 'serious'.

The exact details of the princess's condition have not been revealed but the Palace said previously it was not cancer-related and that Kate wished her personal medical information to remain private.

While bed rest is advisable for anyone recovering from invasive surgery, doctors also highlight the importance of sitting up to avoid muscle wastage and gradually trying to get back to an active lifestyle, in accordance with your condition.

But she is likely to be avoiding any strenuous activities for the time being, with William understood to be covering both dropping-off and picking-up their three children from school.

Two police officers stand guard outside The London Clinic in Marylebone when the Princess of Wales was a patient last month

The heir to the throne is said to be a 'hands-on' father and is regularly seen the school gates at Lambrook School in Berkshire, with insiders saying he 'won't be fazed' about parenting Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as his wife recovers.

Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are also expected to help the Waleses navigate the next few months as the princess recovers.

The family are being supported by their staff, including loyal, long-standing nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo.
In 2020 and 2022, talk of a blue wave in Texas pushed out discussion of gender parity in our government. This was disappointing. The share of women holding judgeships decreased to just under 40%, and in the Legislature, its 29.8%

Our government is grappling with increasingly complex issues, and our laws are better when theyre informed by life experiences that vary across genders, cultures and backgrounds. Research in the hard sciences, social sciences, and humanities demonstrate the positive impact of diverse representation  it helps identify more problems and it scrutinizes proposals from more vantage points.

We should see more women running for office and winning. Texas women are active politically. They vote. In the 2020 presidential election, 6.3 million Texas women voted, compared with 5.6 million men. Media attention on women candidates is generally plentiful and positive. Political parties are supporting women candidates.

The Lone Star Parity Project showed that in 2022, 47% of the Democrats who filed to run for office were women, compared with 34.5% of Republicans. In the end, 11.6% of winning candidates were Democratic women, and 31% were Republican women.

Some point to the number of filings as signs of a confidence gap, that women will not jump into a campaign without thorough preparation that can take years: committee work, endorsements, contributors, training, etc. Maybe, but a 2021 study at the Center for Women in Government at Texas Womans University showed otherwise. We surveyed women officeholders, and more than expected said they hopped into a campaign with less than a years consideration. A confidence gap may exist, but other barriers may be at play.

People are rational when deciding to run for office, and pay and workload may be institutional barriers. Women responding to our survey were more likely than their male colleagues to identify the cost of running for office and the work of caring for family as impediments that initially kept them from running; women also identified missing work as a problem.

Story continues

These concerns in turn affect which offices attracted candidates. Women aspiring to higher office in our survey generally listed county office, judicial office or Congress; very few mentioned the Legislature, a natural step up from local office. In our survey, 50% of the women who marked caring for family as a barrier ultimately ran for and won city office, with 38% choosing county office and 12% choosing judicial office. The women concerned primarily about missing work similarly ran for county (51%), city (31.5%), and judicial (17%) offices. County and judicial positions are local campaigns where officeholders serve locally and receive professional pay.

Why might these and other women avoid the Legislature? Its rational. In Texas, we designed a Legislature with two disadvantages: We pay extremely little and expect a lot of work.

This is not the case with other elected offices. The Texas Association of Counties shows full-time county officials are paid anywhere from $40,000 to $198,000 a year. They work in their home county without constant travel to the Capitol. Women are better represented in these offices, especially as clerks and treasurers. There are also more women in the court system, where district judges earn between $140,000 and- $168,000 a year, also relatively close to home.

In comparison, a lawmaker, who travels to Austin every week when the Legislature is in session, earns $7,200 a year with a $221 per diem to cover session expenses. After the legislative session, they serve their district for another 18 months, including special sessions (especially lately). So, it is in the Legislature where we still see fewer women running and serving.

Texas, with its love of local responsibility and community service, maintains a citizen legislature. By design, members are not professional politicians. Their work in Austin is only for 140 days every two years, unless special sessions are called by the governor. This encourages legislators to live and work at home, under the laws they pass. We imagine they return from Austin to a full-time job, a house down the street, and an occasional meeting with local citizen groups on the side.

House Rep. Vikki Goodwin speaks about property taxes in July at the Capitol.

The reality is that many legislators are not returning to typical full-time jobs. Our Legislature comprises mainly business owners, law partners and executives because these positions have more control over their schedules than other careers and legislative prestige has currency. Regardless of the perceived prestige of employing a state legislator, most employers cannot be that generous  school districts, stores, hospitals, manufacturers and offices need their employees at work each day, all day.

This creates a conundrum: Who can afford to win office? A salary of $7,200 per year might have worked as a secondary family income in 1975, when the median family income was $11,800. Nearly 50 years later, this salary limits who can become legislators.

The Legislatures limited income isnt an oversight. Voters often reject legislative pay increases. The raise from $4,800 to $7,200 came in 1975 after four failed propositions asked voters to boost salaries to a range from $8,400 to $15,000. Yet voters passed pay increases for the governor, comptroller and attorney general, each of whom now earn $153,750 a year.

Voters know the governor works year-round and grudgingly pay a reasonable wage for the expertise. But we still believe the idyllic notion that legislators only work a few months every two years. We need to compensate legislators for the time they spend out of Austin, doing constituent casework, and writing, reading, researching, and communicating about policy and laws.

As we saw in 2021, when laws needed to winterize our power grid left fuel suppliers with exploitable loopholes, our legislators need time to make decisions. The Legislature was forced to return to the issue again in 2023. If we dont hire more professional lawmakers, they will increasingly rely on staff, interest groups and businesses to advise and help write legislation and policy.

Money is a big part of deciding to run for office. When women list financial constraints on other surveys, loss of salary is part of the financial equation, but cost of childcare and house maintenance are also listed by women who are the primary caretakers for family and home. If they cannot rely on a spouse or family member to assist, then they need to pay for assistance.

If we want more women to have the option of running, we need to think about what the job really requires. For a job that calls a legislator away from home for weeks at a time and then asks for constituency service when the legislator is home, increasing the salary by a minimum of $23,000 could make a difference.

Of the top five Legislatures with near gender parity, three have Democratic, and admittedly women are a high percentage of their Democratic candidates. But these five states also compensate their legislators better: All five legislatures meet an average of 100 to 120 days in session, while paying legislative salaries between $16,245 (Maine) and $57,876 (Washington) per year.

In Nevada, a state Legislature with gender parity, meets every two years, like Texas, and lawmakers are paid $15,600 for their 120-day session. Also important, Nevada legislators serve fewer constituents. Nevada Senate districts average a population of 142,000 while Texas Senate districts average 935,000.

If women seek to balance family, a full-time job and public service, a seat in our citizen legislature will seem an impossible reach for many, despite a heart for service. Texas is growing, and the challenges facing our Legislature are complex. If we want lawmakers with the experiences and perspectives necessary to deal with the problems that come with a $2.3 trillion economy, finding $4.1 million  roughly what we just paid to have four special sessions  in a state budget of $161 billion a year, may be a worthwhile investment.

Jennifer Danley-Scott is a faculty member in residence at the Center for Women in Government, part of the Jane Nelson Institute for Womens Leadership at Texas Womans University in Denton.

Jennifer Danley-Scott is a faculty member in residence at the Center for Women in Government, part of the Jane Nelson Institute for Womens Leadership at Texas Womans University in Denton.

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King Willem-Alexander has shared a glimpse into his private study, where he has a touching portrait of his wife and three daughters on display.

The King of the Netherlands, 56, welcomed politician Alexander van Hattem to Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague on Friday as part of his efforts meet with chairmen of the fractions in the country's First Chamber.

Following the meeting, the Royal Family's Instagram account shared an official portrait from the meeting - showing the two men sitting on either side of the fireplace in the King's private study.

The royal father-of-three is seen sitting beside a framed photo of his wife Queen Maxima, 52, and their daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia, 20, Princess Alexia, 18, and Princess Ariane, 16.

In the undated image, Maxima and her daughters are all wearing white blouses and posing against a grey backdrop.

The European King, 56, met with politician Alexander van Hattem at Huis ten Bosch Palace last week

In the undated image, Maxima and her daughters are all wearing white blouses and posing against a grey backdrop

Queen Maxima is flanked by her two youngest daughters while Princess Catharina-Amalia puts one hand on Princess Alexia's shoulder.

The four royal women all wore their long hair down for the photoshoot and Maxima opted for minimal makeup.

The Royal Family captioned the image of King Willem-Alexander's meeting: 'The King receives for an introduction the Chairman of the First Chamber Fraction of the PVV, Alexander van Hattem, at Palace Huis ten Bosch.

'This conversation concludes the series of receptions of chairmen of the fractions in the First Chamber. They have been received in recent months for a (renewed) introduction to the King. The new First Chamber was installed on June 13, 2023.'

In April 2020, King Willem revealed that a photograph of him with the late Queen Elizabeth had pride of place in his office.

One of the photographs shows King Willem and Queen Maxima laughing together while attending the Royal Ascot as guests of Queen Elizabeth in June 2019.

Another shot shows the couple posing alongside the Queen as she awards King Willem with a Supernumerary Knight of the Garter.

The event is a special honour reserved only for foreign royals at the prestigious annual Order of the Garter service.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands pictured outside the Palace last December

Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima pose with their children, Crown Princess Amalia, Princesses Alexia and Ariane during an official photo session in Amsterdam in November 2022

During lockdownm King WIllem-Alexander shared a glimpse inside his home office as he works from home amid the coronavirus pandemic, revealing he keeps a photograph with Queen Elizabeth in his study

The Dutch royal can be seen posing alongside his wife Queen Maxima, and the late Queen in the photograph, which was taken ahead of the Order of the Garter service at St George's Chapel in 2019

Queen Maxima's home office reveal a trendy black and white monochrome wallpaper and gold, marble lamps

The Order of the Garter is a a 700-year tradition founded by Edward III in 1348, and recognises contributions of great public service from those honoured - usually Lords and Ladies of the UK.

Although the Order has a limit of 24 members, excluding The Queen and Prince Charles, foreign royals have been given honorary 'Stranger Knight' status since 1813, with controversial recipients over the years including Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany before World War I.

While King Willem's office is packed full of family photographs, Queen Maxima's appears slightly more stripped back from personal belongings.

In photographs released of the Queen working from home, she was seen chatting on a video call while in a trendy and modern room decorated with a monochrome wallpaper. The carpet, chairs and elegant desk are all coloured in a rich, royal blue.

Meanwhile the shelves of the bookshelf are a golden yellow colour, matching her gold lamp and a gold sculpture on the Queen's desk.

The couple's palace in The Hague had only recently been refurbished due to structural issues.

Renovations, which finished in 2019, took five years and cost 63 million (54.96 million).
This is the moment a sombre Princess Anne signed a book of condolence for Namibia's late President Hage Geingob following his death aged 82 - as leaders from Africa and Europe came together to pay their respects at a state funeral.

The Princess Royal, 73, arrived in Namibia yesterday to attend the memorial and burial of the late president in the capital, Windhoek.

Anne, who was representing her brother King Charles, seemed downcast while honouring the life of the southwest African politician, who passed away earlier this month.

The presidency confirmed that he died in hospital while receiving medical treatment for cancer. He was surrounded by his wife, Monica Geingos, and his children.

Mr Geingob was laid to rest in the country's Heroes' Acre cemetery today following a memorial service yesterday.

After the service, Princess Anne was seen arriving at Casa Rosalia - the late president's private residence - where she offered her condolences to Ms Geingos.

The Princess Royal, dressed all in black, signed a condolence book in front of a portrait of the late president which was surrounded by candles and flowers. There was also a touching moment in which Anne sat down on a sofa and spoke to Mr Geingob's widow on the eve of today's state funeral.

This is the moment a sombre Princess Anne signed a book of condolence for Namibia's late President Hage Geingob following his death aged 82

Anne was seen arriving at Casa Rosalia - the late president's private residence - where she offered her condolences to his widow, Ms Geingos

Princess Anne also made an appearance at today's state funeral for Namibia's late President Hage Geingob

Anne is pictured arriving at the Heroes' Acre for the State Funeral of President Hage Geingob today. She is welcomed by Chief of Protocol Ambassador Leonard Iipmbu

GEINGOB MEMORIAL | Princess Anne from the UK is at Casa Rosalia to offer her condolences to former First Lady Monica Geingos after the solemn memorial service for her husband President Hage G. Geingob#NBCNews #nbcDSTV282 #nbcdigitalnews #nbcGOtv20 #nbcPlusApp pic.twitter.com/2t115yQYUX  NBC Namibia (@NBCNamibia) February 24, 2024

Anne also joined representatives from 27 countries for Mr Geingob's state funeral this afternoon. She donned an all-black ensemble as she joined crowds of mourners in the capital.

She wore a long black coat and hat, along with a gold ribbon knot brooch, set with 12 diamonds - which has been in the royal's jewellery collection for five decades.

READ MORE: Anne steps in! Princess Royal meets people affected by knife crime in Northampton as King Charles rests following cancer treatment Advertisement

The eye-catching piece features a snake-like loose ribbon design with lifted edges, with the diamonds taking centre stage - and it appears to be the choice of accessory for the Princess's important occasions.

The Princess Royal was first seen wearing the brooch at Buckingham Palace in February 1969, before wearing it at Buckingham Palace in February 1969, to greet Colonel Frank Borman, the American astronaut who served as commander of the Apollo 8 mission.

It is not known how long Anne will be in Namibia, or how her future engagements for the week will be affected. MailOnline has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.

Mr Geingob had been president since 2015 and was set to finish his second and final term in office this year.

He is thought to have been fond of Anne's mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, and shared a heartwarming post when she passed away on September 8 in 2022.

'I met #Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 on her visit to Namibia and I took her to Katutura,' he wrote on X.

'When I met her again in 1992, she recalled our exchange. In 2017, I paid Her Majesty a courtesy visit, she had the same sense of humor and indefatigable commitment to service. #RIPHM.'

Crowds of citizens have gathered to pay their respects, waving the nation's flags and holding up posters to commemorate the politician's life.

The Princess Royal, 73, donned an all-black ensemble as she joined crowds of mourners in the capital, Windhoek

She seemed downcast while honouring the life of the southwest African politician, who passed away earlier this month, at the age of 82

Anne wore a long black coat and hat, along with a gold ribbon knot brooch, set with 12 diamonds - which has been in the royal's jewellery collection for five decades.

President Geingob died while receiving medical treatment at hospital for cancer . The presidency confirmed that he lost his life in hospital, with his wife, Monica, and children by his side

Namibia, which is on the south-western coast of Africa, enjoys political and economic stability in a region ravaged by disputes, violent elections and coups. Pictured left to right: Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, former First Lady Monica Kalondo, First Lady of the Republic of Namibia Sustjie Mbumba and founding president of The Republic of Namibia Sam Nujoma

Like many African leaders, he also forged a warm relationship with China, refuting claims that Beijing is aggressively asserting economic influence over countries in Africa as a form of colonialism

Military personnel carried Mr Geingob's coffin, and Reverend Bishop Zakhias Cape was also seen during the procession at Heroes Acre, south of Windhoek

Crowds of citizens have gathered to pay their respects, waving the nation's flags and holding up posters to commemorate the politician's life

Also pictured at the event was Ms Geingos, as well as Namibia's interim President Nangolo Mbumba.

Military personnel carried Mr Geingob's coffin, and Reverend Bishop Zakhias Cape was also seen during the procession at Heroes Acre, south of Windhoek.

Heads of state from other nations, including Germany and Ghana, were also present.

Mr Geingob was undergoing treatment for cancer before his passing. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on January 8, followed by a biopsy, his office said last month.

He participated in a two-day trial of 'novel treatment for cancerous cells' in the US last month, according to his office. In 2014, he said he had survived prostate cancer.

Vice-president Nangolo Mbumba has now been sworn in as acting president to complete the term for Mr Geingob, as allowed by the constitution.

Elections are set for November. A government statement said Mr Mbumba will lead Namibia until March 21 next year, when the election winner takes office.

Mr Geingob was the country's third president since it gained independence in 1990, following more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule.

Mr Geingob was undergoing treatment for cancer before his passing. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on January 8, followed by a biopsy, his office said last month

Vice-president Nangolo Mbumba has now been sworn in as acting president to complete the term for Mr Geingob, as allowed by the constitution

Mr Geingob was the country's third president since it gained independence in 1990, following more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule

After spending nearly three decades in exile in neighbouring Botswana and the US as an anti-apartheid activist, Mr Geingob returned to Namibia as its first prime minister from 1990 to 2002. He also served in the same capacity from 2008 to 2012

Soft-spoken but firm on advancing Africa's agenda as an important stakeholder in world affairs, Mr Geingob maintained close relations with the US and other Western countries

Many world leaders also attended a memorial service for the politician yesterday. Pictured: Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa pictured arriving, accompanied by his wife Auxillia Mnangagwa (right) at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek yesterday

Kenyan President William Ruto pictured arriving at Independence Stadium for the memorial yesterday

After spending nearly three decades in exile in neighbouring Botswana and the US as an anti-apartheid activist, Mr Geingob returned to Namibia as its first prime minister from 1990 to 2002. He also served in the same capacity from 2008 to 2012.

Soft-spoken but firm on advancing Africa's agenda as an important stakeholder in world affairs, Mr Geingob maintained close relations with the US and other Western countries.

But, like many African leaders, he also forged a warm relationship with China, refuting claims that Beijing is aggressively asserting economic influence over countries in Africa as a form of colonialism.

Namibia, which is on the south-western coast of Africa, enjoys political and economic stability in a region ravaged by disputes, violent elections and coups. However, the country's opposition slammed Mr Geingob last year for endorsing disputed elections in Zimbabwe.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier looks on as he arrives at Heroes Acre for the funeral today

Heads of state from other nations, including Germany and Ghana, were also present, at the funeral

Pictured: The President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo arrives at Heroes Acre for today's funeral of the politician

Condolences from various leaders around the world poured in on Sunday.

In a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would 'forever cherish' his memories of meeting Mr Geingob.

'It is difficult to overestimate his personal contribution to developing friendly relations between Namibia and Russia,' the statement added.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa posted on X, saying Mr Geingob's 'leadership and resilience will be remembered'.

Cyril Ramaphosa, president of neighbouring South Africa and one of Namibia's largest trading partners, described him as a 'close partner in our democratic dispensation' and 'a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid'.

Kenya's Prime Minister William Ruto said Mr Geingob was a 'distinguished leader who served the people of Namibia with focus and dedication' and 'strongly promoted the continent's voice and visibility at the global arena'.

Namibia, a country of just over 2.5 million people, is rich in minerals such as diamonds, gold and uranium.

Despite being classified as an upper-middle-income country, socioeconomic inequalities are still widespread, according to the World Bank.
Patients with excruciating superbug infections are being failed by the NHS and may be missing out on crucial drugs, a major study has found.

Hard-to-treat infections are on the rise as the bacteria that cause them are becoming increasingly immune to the antibiotics used to treat them, even with repeated courses of the powerful drugs. The World Health Organisation has warned that, by 2050, superbug infections could lead to 10 million deaths across the globe each year.

Now a disturbing report has found that many NHS clinicians have 'little knowledge or awareness' of how to tackle these life-changing infections.

The study, published in the medical journal Nature, suggests some clinicians are failing to provide 'suitable treatments' due to a lack of knowledge about antibiotic resistance, potentially raising the risk of creating further drug-resistant infections in the NHS.

The researchers from De Montfort University, in Leicester, also found that doctors were 'dismissive' of superbug patients, with some even suggesting their suffering was due to hypochondria  forcing patients to turn to the internet for answers on how to manage their condition.

One patient who has experienced poor care at the hands of the NHS is 30-year-old Dannii Haughton from Walsall, who has lived with a drug-resistant urinary tract infection (UTI) for 12 years.

The charity worker says that since the infection began she experiences shooting pains in her bladder and a constant need to pee, but claims clinicians have failed to take her condition seriously and are the reason she is still unwell.

'I'm in pain every day  it's like a shadow over my life,' says Dannii. 'Painkillers aren't effective and antibiotics can't control the infection any more. My UTI meant I had to drop out of university. I lost all my dreams for the future because of it. At times I've had dark thoughts because I just want the pain to end.'

Dannii Haughton, 30, from Walsall has lived with a drug-resistant urinary tract infection for 12 years

Dannii, who is engaged to her partner, Alex, says the NHS has no idea how to handle her condition.

'Practically every interaction with the NHS I've had has been shocking,' she says. 'Doctors have no interest in learning about antibiotic-resistant infections. In the past I've been told by doctors to just 'get on with it' and the pain would eventually go away.

'I run a support group for people with long-term UTIs, and every week we get more and more joining. The NHS is completely unprepared to deal with this and I'm worried about the future for people like myself as these infections become more common.'

The lead researcher behind the study, which tracked nine patients with superbugs, says the NHS must urgently improve the care it provides. 'Patients with drug-resistant infections often feel let down by the NHS,' says Dr Ryan Hamilton, associate professor of antimicrobials at at De Montfort. 'Every year the number of these cases increases, so it's crucial that the health service trains its staff to support these patients and ensure they get the right care and information.'

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are responsible for an estimated 10,000 deaths and 100,000 cases of severe illness in the UK every year, and are a growing threat.

Among them are bugs that cause UTIs, tuberculosis and pneumonia. Superbugs are also responsible for debilitating skin infections such as MRSA  one of the most common drug-resistant infections found in NHS hospitals  as well as bone and joint infections.

Drug-resistant sexually transmitted diseases are also becoming ever more prevalent in the UK. There have been more than a dozen cases of so-called super-gonorrhoea, once seen only in Western Pacific and African regions.

IT'S A FACT Since 2018, about 20 per cent of bloodstream infections have been resistant to one or more antibiotics. Advertisement

The greatest danger of superbugs is that they trigger sepsis  where the immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to attack healthy tissue. Sepsis now kills 48,000 people in the UK every year, a figure which is rising steadily  in 2013 it killed 37,000 people.

In response to this, the NHS has drawn up strict protocols on how to diagnose and treat sepsis  including the stipulation that suspected severe sepsis patients receive antibiotics within an hour.

However, an increasing number of people are developing drug-resistant infections that are not immediately life-threatening but cannot be cleared from the body. These can cause constant pain and mean sufferers have to take antibiotics indefinitely to prevent the infection turning deadly.

Experts say there are very few protocols on how treat these patients and argue that they are being failed by the NHS.

In the new study, funded by Antibiotic Research UK, seven of the participants were women living with UTIs. The two men in the study had skin infections.

'Whenever these patients would enter hospital, they would be placed in isolation away from other patients to reduce the risk of spreading the infection,' says Dr Hamilton. 'Doctors would treat them wearing protective outfits and face masks. But once they left hospital, they go home and interact with people like normal.

'Many patients felt confused about why these precautions were taken and wondered whether there was a risk of them passing on the bug to their loved ones, but this issue was rarely addressed by their doctors even if asked.'

Patients also said that the confusion over their condition had led to stigma  with friends, family and even doctors avoiding interacting with them for fear of catching the infection. Experts say this outcome is worryingly common.

'If you live with someone with a drug-resistant infection, then there's a good chance you may already be carrying the bug,' says Dr Hamilton. 'These infections can spread from skin-to-skin contact and then populate the gut. Some people may never get ill as a result of this, but others will.

'There needs to be much better communication to support these patients. Many of them are living with intense anxiety and have no one to turn to for support.'

Other participants said they had been prescribed inappropriate treatments, such as being offered courses of antibiotics which their infection was already resistant against. Studies have suggested that this can further increase drug-resistance.

Hard-to-treat infections are on the rise as the bacteria that cause them are becoming increasingly immune to the antibiotics used to treat them

Most participants said that, despite their heightened anxiety and pain, most consultations were brief and included little-to-no follow-up information on how to manage their infections. Some even said that there was a 'lack of compassion' among doctors, who often put their elongated battle with an infection down to age or suggested that the pain was imagined.

Several patients reported that a lack of NHS care had led them to begin paying for private treatment  even though they could ill afford it as they were not in full-time employment due to their condition. Participants repeatedly expressed anxiety about the future, including about their declining health, limited treatment options and even death. NHS clinicians were usually unable to address these fears.

Another patient who received poor NHS care is Viki Rodgers, 39, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, who has suffered constant bladder infections since 2014.

The mother-of-four's ordeal began after a car crash damaged her spinal cord, impacting the nerves attached to the bladder. Since then Viki has needed a catheter to allow her to urinate  but this has led to frequent infections. The former care worker, who now requires a wheelchair, has to visit hospital every five weeks.

In the past year she has been admitted to hospital nine times with life-threatening sepsis caused by bladder infections.

While in hospital in 2021 she was also infected with a superbug in her digestive tract, called Clostridium difficile (C. diff), which antibiotics have been unable to clear.

IT'S A FACT

In 2022, severe antibiotic-resistant infections caused 2,202 deaths in England, up from 2,110 in 2021 - a rise of four per cent. Advertisement

However, despite the severity of her condition, Viki says NHS doctors have failed to take her disease seriously.

'Every time I'm told conflicting things about my condition,' she says. 'My GP doesn't know anything about antibiotic-resistant infections, so I have to explain it every time I ring up. And hospital doctors don't know any better  I'm constantly having to fight to be taken seriously, get scans or get them to analyse my infections.

'I've even had to print out every bit of information about my condition so that paramedics know what they're dealing with when they come to take me to hospital with sepsis.'

She adds: 'I'd feel safer going to my dog's vet than this. Every day is a fight to get the things I need to stay alive. All I can hope is that I get to see my eight-year-old twins turn 18. The NHS is not equipped to handle patients like me. There needs to be more specialists in this field.'

According to experts, more education about drug-resistant infections should be given to doctors and nurses in order to combat their spread and ease the misery experienced by thousands of patients.

'There is a lack of appropriate knowledge and training among healthcare workers about these infections,' says Dr Cat Anderson, a GP and specialist in urinary tract infections.

'I regularly hear from patients who say they've been in to see their GP with a UTI as many as six times in a year, but that it hasn't raised alarm bells or led to any new treatment.

'These patients are still being offered three-day courses of antibiotics which do nothing to combat the infection and only increase the chances of creating bacteria that is even more drug-resistant.

'All it would take is for GPs to scroll through their patients' notes and see how many times they've presented with one of these infections for them to realise that standard antibiotics treatment is not going to work'.

Dr Anderson adds: 'I think the fact that so many of these cases are UTIs or other bladder infections means they are not taken seriously, because they are classed as women's issues rather than a serious national health crisis.'

Dannii Haughton agrees.

'The way the NHS handled my UTI led to it becoming resistant,' she says.

'I was given these short courses of antibiotics over and over again, which didn't solve anything and probably made my infection more resistant. We need doctors to take this issue seriously  we need them to care.'
In 2012, Geri Taylor was a top executive at a large long-term care facility in New York City when she began to experience signs of cognitive decline.

On one occasion, the 69 year-old lost her train of thought during a work meeting. Another time, she got off at the wrong subway stop and couldn't remember which was was home.

Then, one morning later that same year, she was startled by her reflection in the mirror. She couldnt recognize herself.

A visit to neurologist in November of that year confirmed the worst  she was in the early stages of cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer's.

Studies suggest that around eight in 10 patients with so-called mild cognitive impairment (or MCI) will go on to develop Alzheimer's Disease.

And Geri felt as though that second shoe would drop before long.

While the disease had not reached full force at that point, she felt as though she were in a sort of purgatory, anticipating its devastation.

Geri [left] and Jim Taylor [right] spoke to DailyMail.com about Geri's Alzheimer's journey and the benefit that a now-discontinued drug had for her

The couple took advantage of Geri's near-normal cognition during the first few years of having Alzheimer's, traveling and speaking at conferences about Alzheimer's care

Three years on and, while browsing newspapers one morning, Geris husband Jim happened across a blurb about an early stage trial for a promising new drug for cognitive impairment in the early stages of Alzheimers.

The drug was called aducanumab. It's approval under the Food and Drug Administration's accelerated approval pathway was contentious, because scientific evidence that it worked was flimsy and possible side effects including brain swelling and brain bleeding.

The couple called the Yale-New Haven hospital about two hours away from their New York City apartment where the trial was taking place. The trial had just a few spots left, and Geri took one of them.

The injectable antibody - a 'fighter' protein - was designed to get rid of amyloid plaque in the brain. This sticky build up is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease, which doctors look for on brain scans.

Geris PET scans revealed a significant build-up of amyloid plaque. This, along with her increasingly declining memory, meant she met the requirements to participate in the study.

DNA tests offered clues as to why Geri may have developed the condition relatively young.

She tested positive on both her mother and fathers sides for the APOE4 gene variant, which increases the risk of Alzheimers about eight- to 12-fold. This means her son is also predisposed to Alzheimers Disease.

During the seven-year trial, Geri received a high dose of the actual drug, not the placebo. And it didn't take long before she felt an improvement in her ability to cobble sentences together.

Jim told DailyMail.com: Our lives during those first five or six years [on the trial] was remarkably calm.

Geri seemed to be benefitting from the medicine during the trial. She was able to form sentences and retrieve the right words with relative ease, and it bought the couple a few extra lucid years

Together they traveled across the country to give talks at churches and conferences about living with Alzheimers disease.

Geri participated in support groups and memory workshops organized by the CaringKind organization, which connects patients and families with caregivers.

Geri always did 50 percent of the presentation. We would go back and forth, kind of ping pong. And she was able to pack and keep track of our itinerary and really needed very little assistance from me, if any, through many years.

That made us both excited and sense that she was benefitting from the infusions of the medication.

In this time, Geri became a social butterfly, eager to meet new people and spend time with those closest to her, getting the most she could out of her lucid years.

But then came an abrupt halt to the trial.

In March 2019, Biogen and partner pharma company Eisai announced they were ending trial that Geri was enrolled in.

This was based on an interim analysis that led the company to scrap the drug, telling more than 3,000 Alzheimers patients they would no longer get the infusions.

Geri went a full year without the medication that she and her husband believed had been helping her cognitive decline.

Jim said: And I noticed during that year, for the first time, she began to struggle with words and being able to just free flow conversation. And she noticed that as well. And that kind of to me was a reinforcement that the drug had been had been helping.

Aducanumab is a monoclonal antibody made from living cells that bind to a sticky protein called amyloid beta. Amyloid beta proteins naturally occur in the brain.

A brain stricken with Alzheimers overproduces the precursor proteins that generate amyloid beta, which come in abnormal shapes that clump together into insoluble clusters.

Every state bar one has seen a surge in Alzheimer's fatalities over the two decades to 2021, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows

These clusters disrupt normal neuronal function and cell signaling pathways, eventually killing those cells.

Amyloid is a marker of Alzheimers and a target of several other drugs in the pipeline in addition to aducanumab. But the scientific evidence that reducing amyloid can ease memory and thinking problems is flimsy.

Clinical trials of other amyloid-targeting drugs over the past two decades have all failed slow cognitive decline. This has led to some dissent in the scientific community about whether drugs should be hyper-focused on decreasing amyloid.

The trial was resumed in 2020 and Geri was able to rejoin, but she had lost a valuable year of treatment in which her cognitive decline could have been delayed.

The drug has been dogged by controversy since its inception.

The eventual June 2021 approval was a source of years of controversy and investigation into possible under-the-table communications between FDA staff and the drugs manufacturer.

When it was narrowly approved, uptake was low. Biogen slapped on a sticker price of $56,000 per year.

Given that the vast majority of Alzheimers sufferers are 65 and older and on a fixed income, compounded by the fact that Medicare, which provides health coverage to seniors, limited its coverage of the drug, not many people were able to get it.

Earlier this year, Biogen decided to discontinue the drug that it had named Aduhelm, which the company said was not related to any safety or efficacy concerns.

If the trial had not been curtailed, it is possible that Geri would have continued to benefit from the infusions.

But by the time it resumed, Geris disease had progressed to a point at which she was no longer likely to see any benefit.

Jim said: [New medications in development] are trying to catch people who are inclined to develop the disease before symptoms actually begin.

But at this stage and the disease in Geris journey, I would say there's no breakthrough drugs that will slow the cognitive decline for her. The drugs at this stage are mostly symptomatic drugs, which try to control the behaviors like sundowning.

Geri is in a memory care unit full-time now. Last summer, she began having significant sundown symptoms, or confusion in the late afternoons and evenings that can be extremely distressing to patients.

But even without her by his side all the time, Jim has continued their work advocating for Alzheimers patients and their caregivers. They founded Voices of Alzheimers on behalf of the roughly six million Americans with the disease.

One of the organizations first goals was to establish a patient Bill of Rights demanding ethical treatment by providers who understand the disease.

Jim recounted a harrowing experience that signaled to him such a bill was necessary: One time Geri was hospitalized and I was not able to accompany her to her room. And I got to her room 30 minutes later, and three aides were trying to force her into a hospital gown, and she was hysterical.

So I discovered that aides are not even trained, and hospitals are not trained how to differentiate between patients that have dementia.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimers, though there are treatments that can delay disease progression. Aduhelm was the first Alzheimer's treatment to be introduced to the market in about 18 years, leading to an endorsement from the Alzheimer's Association.

Research into new treatments is ongoing, and Biogen said it will repurpose resources and put them toward developing an alternative treatment. But funding for Alzheimer's research is not as robust as advocates believe it should be.

Today, Alzheimer's and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is more than $3.7 billion annually. For comparison, the National Cancer Institutes budget in 2023 was $7.3 billion.
Employing 'cut-price' medics called anaesthesia associates (AAs) to work in operating theatres isn't cost-effective because they're paid too much, research has claimed.

The experts behind the study, published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, claim they should either be given less cash or their role scrapped entirely.

AAs, whose responsibilities are similar to controversial physician associations (PAs), receive just two years' training before they are let loose on patients. They are allowed to review patients before surgery and assess them for anaesthesia, take their medical history and make clinical assessments. They also monitor the clinical readings of patients while they are unconscious.

The NHS plans to hire 2,000 more AAs by 2037 to help plug a shortfall of roughly 1,400 anaesthetists, who are fully qualified doctors. But there are fears that the original cost-saving objective of using AAs has fallen by the wayside amid a staffing crisis and record NHS waiting lists

And top medics have repeatedly raised safety concerns over the roles that AAs and PAs hold in the NHS.

Employing 'cut-price' medics called anaesthesia associates (AAs) to work in operating theatres isn't cost-effective because they're paid too much, research has claimed (Stock Photo)

The NHS plans to hire 2,000 more AAs by 2037 to help plug a shortfall of roughly 1,400 anaesthetists, who are fully qualified doctors (Stock Photo)

READ MORE: Health bosses admit physician associates have 'illegally' prescribed drugs to NHS patients Advertisement

A Mail on Sunday investigation last year found that many PAs were taking on duties far above what they are qualified for  such as making diagnoses and bending strict rules to prescribe medicines to patients.

There are about 180 AAs in the UK and they are paid almost 50,000 a year  even as students. More experienced AAs' salaries 'greatly exceed this', the report added.

A group of anaesthesia experts from UK and US universities looked at the financial consequences of expanding AA numbers. It found that to be economically viable, wages should be capped at 40,000 a year.

'The driver that led to the creation of AAs in the first place was to limit or reduce costs,' the researcher writes. 'This original cost-saving objective may have been later supplanted by the now greater and urgent need to undertake the work, regardless of cost.'

Along with reducing AAs' wages, the experts also suggest giving less leave and introducing longer hours, meaning they would be better value. However, they also concede: 'This may come at the cost of fatigue, with attendant safety implications.'

The researchers add: 'A final option is to recognise all these realities and limitations and to conclude that the UK AA programme, as it has evolved, is in fact economically non-viable and to terminate it.'
A 'Lollipop' gadget that emits red light is being used to treat debilitating scarring and swelling in the mouth caused by radiotherapy cancer treatment.

The device's light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can repair damaged tissue, calm the body's response to injury and reduce inflammation  and patients simply need to pop it in their mouth for a few minutes to feel the benefits.

It is believed that the wavelength of light being produced, called near-infrared, is absorbed by damaged cells and helps to repair them.

The therapy  known as photobiomodulation  is being offered to NHS patients in Nottingham, where experts claim it has proved remarkably successful. But there are now hopes it could be rolled out more widely in a bid to improve the lives of cancer survivors across the UK.

Radiotherapy most often involves shooting high-energy X-ray beams into the body to destroy tumours. The treatment is highly effective, but there can be collateral damage to healthy surrounding tissue, which causes scarring to develop both on the skin and internally.

Radiotherapy most often involves shooting high-energy X-ray beams into the body to destroy tumours. The treatment is highly effective, but there can be collateral damage to healthy surrounding tissue, which causes scarring to develop both on the skin and internally (Stock Photo)

The therapy  known as photobiomodulation  is being offered to NHS patients in Nottingham, where experts claim it has proved remarkably successful. But there are now hopes it could be rolled out more widely in a bid to improve the lives of cancer survivors across the UK (Stock Photo)

Also known as fibrosis, this affects one in ten patients who undergo radiotherapy, and the problem can occur months or even years after initial treatment. It can cause discomfort and leads to difficulty in moving the affected areas.

In the case of head and neck cancers, patients may be left unable to turn their head fully or, in the worst scenarios, powerless to chew or speak properly.

READ MORE: Thousands of bowel cancer patients could be spared radiotherapy with no impact on their survival Advertisement

The LED treatment is already approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to treat oral mucositis  a common side effect of radiotherapy or chemotherapy where the mouth becomes sore and inflamed. It is also widely used to treat lymphoedema  when body parts swell due to fluid retention.

But experts at the Macmillan Late Effects Clinic at Nottingham City Hospital, which supports patients hit by severe difficulties following cancer treatment, are the first in the UK to use it to treat fibrosis.

Some 120 patients with either head and neck or breast cancer have been treated at the clinic for radiation-induced fibrosis and lymphoedema using photobiomodulation therapy since 2022. Another attachment, shaped like a shower head, can be used if the scarring is on the skin. Patients are medicated for a few minutes twice a week for six weeks, but can book more sessions if their stiffness returns. Results are usually seen within a few weeks of the first treatment.

It is thought that cells absorb the red light, which then sends chemical messages through the body to promote their repair.

Unlike lasers, which emit heat, LEDs are cool to the touch so the treatment is painless.

Nottingham-based radiographer Emma Hallam, who runs the Late Effects Clinic, says she has seen photobiomodulation make an incredible difference to her patients' lives. Some have been able to go back to work, give speeches at their children's weddings or move back to eating solid foods  simply because they can once again open their mouths normally.

Experts at the Macmillan Late Effects Clinic at Nottingham City Hospital (pictured), which supports patients hit by severe difficulties following cancer treatment, are the first in the UK to use LED treatments to treat fibrosis

She says: 'I knew that photobiomodulation was being used to help patients with lymphoedema, so I wondered whether it could help to break down radiation-induced fibrosis as well.

'And it has been incredibly successful. It's the only thing we seem to have that's making a difference to these patients.'

Cindy Martin, from Nottingham, has been having photobiomodulation treatment at the clinic since February 2022.

The 64-year-old mother-of-three was diagnosed with cancer of the saliva gland in early 2021. The tumour was surgically removed, but she needed a one-month course of radiotherapy two months later after the cancer spread to the glands in her neck.

This left her with fibrosis that made it difficult to move her head.

Cindy says: 'I'm really grateful I had radiotherapy, but I hadn't anticipated I'd still be suffering now. It was as if there was a rod behind my ear to my shoulder blade.'

She also suffered from lymphoedema, which made one side of her face swell so much that one eye was forced shut.

Just halfway through her first course of photobiomodulation, Cindy started to notice a difference and could open her eye once more. She began a second round of treatment a few weeks ago after the stiffness and swelling returned, and an immediate improvement soon followed again.

'It's completely changed my life,' she adds, now cancer-free. 'My confidence was shattered, but now I know there's something that can be done.'
The days and weeks running up to Budgets are always replete with speculation. The statement on March 6 is more consequential than most, for the country and the Conservative Party, since it is the Chancellor's last big chance to woo the electorate.

Jeremy Hunt has vowed to emulate Nigel Lawson, tax-reformer extraordinaire, who as Margaret Thatcher's chancellor was one of the architects of the UK's economic revolution in the 1980s.

Lord Lawson made mistakes, some of them bad ones. But the boldness of his best moves  in particular his cut in the top rate of tax from 60 to 40 per cent  was that they set the world talking about Britain.

He sent out a powerful message on the sort of place the country was, and aspired to be. Lawson's Big Bang reforms to the City in 1986 turned London into a honeypot for overseas capital and for the planet's sharpest and most talented young bankers. We need an injection of that buccaneering spirit now. When asked his view of the UK at a dinner a few days ago, one of the City's biggest cheeses opined the problem is not that the country is perceived as a basket case, but as irrelevant.

On his travels, he said no-one talks about the UK any more. If Britain were a business, it would need a re-brand. Pessimistic beliefs about the London market are in danger of becoming self-fulfilling prophecies. When the chief executive of a bank like Standard Chartered, whose shares are listed here despite the international nature of its business, describes his valuation as 'cr*p', we have a problem.

Flying the flag: Nigel Lawson's Big Bang reforms to the City in 1986 turned London into a honeypot for overseas capital

Hunt wants to re-create a Lawsonian Big Bang in tech and life sciences. Energy and verve, however, have been draining out of UK markets. Ambitious founders aspire to a US listing where they believe they can make more money, or to being bought out. Defeatism is in the air.

A rebrand might sound woolly but I have three concrete suggestions for Hunt.

First, launch a Great British Isa.

Currently, there is a ceiling of 20,000 a year on these tax-efficient savings accounts.

Another 5,000 to be invested in UK shares could be added to the yearly allowance. Broker Permier Miton has calculated it could raise more than 200billion in five years for British businesses. That would lower the cost of capital, improve liquidity on markets and lift company share prices, encouraging firms to list here. Second, scrap the ludicrous tourist tax and allow foreign visitors to reclaim VAT on their purchases. All it achieves is to drive shoppers to places such as Paris or Milan.

Third, show respect for our engineering flagships, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce. The latter, as the Mail on Sunday reported, is leading the race to build the UK's first fleet of mini-nuclear power stations, known as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

But the ironically-named government body Great British Nuclear is running a competition for the contract. So Rolls has to slug it out with overseas competitors.

Rolls-Royce, despite past problems, is a name that resonates as synonymous with the best of British. The company, whose shares have risen 160 per cent in the past year, is going gangbusters under new boss Tufan Erginbilgic.

So why not crack on and award it that contract fast  because unless and until that happens, potential export buyers will be asking why they should buy its SMRs while the UK's own government dithers.

Time to fly the flag with pride.
Heathrow has denied that it is shelving plans for a third runway as passenger numbers continue to swell.

Europe's busiest airport has pushed back against reports that chief executive Thomas Woldbye wanted to scrap the expansion and was in the process of disbanding the team in charge of it.

In a statement last night, Heathrow said the claims, which were first reported by The Sunday Times, were 'wrong' and 'not reflective' of its strategy.

Expansion plans: More than 79m passengers flew through Heathrow's terminals in 2023  up 29 per cent on 2022

'Of course we're looking at how we can optimise the current airport to achieve short-term growth within our current infrastructure,' a Heathrow spokesman said.

'Longer term, we're reviewing our plans to make sure the airport has the capacity to drive more global connectivity for the UK economy.'

More than 79m passengers flew through its terminals in 2023  up 29 per cent on 2022.
Solutions: The government is working to address the gender gap alongside a business taskforce chaired by Anne Boden (pictured)

Investors will be encouraged to pledge more money towards female-led start-ups under plans backed by the Government.

Women founders receive just 2 per cent of all UK venture capital  a statistic that has remained stubbornly low.

The government is working to address the gender gap alongside a business taskforce chaired by Starling Bank founder Anne Boden.

It is understood the taskforce will provide voluntary targets for investment firms to meet, which will look to push more cash towards female-founded organisations.

Research is planned about why men receive most funding.

Venture capital is one of the main ways that entrepreneurs can raise money for early-stage businesses. They generally back ideas that they see as high growth.
Still waiting: Revolut chief executive Nik Storonsky

Revolut is still waiting for a UK banking licence almost a year after claiming approval was 'imminent'.

The financial app said on March 1 last year that it would be given the green light by regulators 'any day now'.

But 362 days later the wait continues  causing embarrassment for founder and chief executive Nik Storonsky (right).

Revolut applied for a licence from the Bank of England in 2021 to allow it to expand services in Britain into taking deposits, making loans and offering credit cards.

At the time it was credited as the UK's most valuable fintech, worth an estimated 26billion.

But three years on it is still wading through demands from the central bank's Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA).

Revolut has remained unforthcoming about the licence in recent months, leading to speculation that it could have paused or pulled its application. Revolut and the PRA declined to comment.

The ongoing delays sparked an outburst from Storonsky last year when he branded Britain as an undesirable place to do business. Analysts dismissed the spiky comments as a 'tantrum' and 'sour grapes' as regulators refused to sign off approval.

Yet 36 new UK 'start-up' banks have been authorised by the PRA since 2013  including Monzo and Starling Bank.

The delay continues to be a major blow for Revolut. The company  whose chairman is City grandee Martin Gilbert  saw its valuation plunge last year to 14bn following an investor writedown.

Revolut has also failed to publish its accounts on time two years in a row. And when 2021's were finally published last March, they attracted intense scrutiny after Revolut's auditor BDO said it was not able to independently verify three-quarters of its 636m revenue.

It warned that some information may be 'materially mis-stated'.In December, Revolut published its 2022 results three months late, posting losses of 25m  depreciating from a 40m profit the year before.
Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital Dewa, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, said it has awarded the Green Certificate to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts in recognition of their commitment to sustainability for utilizing Moro Hub's Green Cloud for their IT workloads.

The Green Certificate was presented to Justice Omar Al Mheiri, the Director of the DIFC Courts by Engineer Marwan Bin Haidar, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Digital Dewa.

Moro Hub's Green Cloud is designed and developed to offer private and public enterprises energy-efficient solutions. This initiative actively contributes to diminishing carbon footprints and supports sustainable practices within the dynamic digital realm.

Recognizing the importance of eco-friendly solutions, the DIFC Courts has selected Moro Hub's Green Cloud to drive their IT infrastructure.

"We commend the DIFC Courts commitment to sustainability. By opting for Moro Hub's Green Cloud, the DIFC Courts is optimizing its IT operations and actively contributing to the broader goal of constructing a more sustainable future," noted Engineer Marwan Bin Haidar, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Digital Dewa.

"This collaborative effort solidifies our shared values of promoting innovation, upholding excellence, and embracing environmental responsibility. As part of this collaboration, we, at Moro Hub, look forward to supporting the DIFC Courts in achieving its sustainability goals while providing cutting-edge technology solutions that exceed the international standards," noted Bin Haidar.

The Green Certificate presented to the DIFC Courts signifies Moro Hubs efforts to support organizations in adopting sustainable practices for their digital infrastructure needs. The certification highlights the DIFC Courts' contribution to minimizing energy consumption and nurturing a green IT environment, he added.

Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director of the DIFC Courts, expressed delight at receiving the Green Certificate from Moro Hub.

"This acknowledgment strengthens our commitment to adopting environmentally friendly practices in our operations. This is a validation of our strategic decision to embrace technology that meets high standards and also integrates with our commitment to the environmental responsibility," he stated.

"By leveraging Moro Hub's Green Cloud, we are confident in its ability to enable us to streamline IT operations and make meaningful strides in reducing our environmental impact," noted Al Mheiri.

"Moro Hub remains at the forefront of technological innovation, providing businesses and government entities with dynamic solutions for their digital transformation journey. The Green Certificate initiative reflects Moro Hub's dedication to implementing a sustainable and resilient digital ecosystem," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
File image: There is a growing concern in Japan over a rising number of random stabbing attacks, as well as the use of explosives and homemade firearms (AFP via Getty Images)

A supermarket employee died on Sunday after a man stabbed him and two other members of staff at their convenience store in Sapporo on Japans northern Hokkaido island.

The incident took place at a Seicomart in Sapporos Kita Ward shortly before 7am.

Three employees aged between 40 and 60 were stabbed and injured, with a man in his 40s taken to the hospital where he later died. Two others, a man and a woman, remained conscious, NHK said, citing police.

Seicomart confirmed in a statement on X that an employee had been stabbed to death, and two others were injured.

An unemployed 43-year-old man, identified as Hirotaka Miyanshi, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. Police said he admitted to all three stabbings, according to the Japan Times.

In January, three men were injured in a stabbing incident in Tokyos Akihabara tourism hotspot, but public violence largely remains rare in Japan.

The number of stabbings has mainly been attributed to the fact the country has stringent gun control laws, resulting in only a few gun-related offences each year.

There has been a notable shift in recent times, however, with some prominent incidents involving random knifings on subways and arson attacks.

Additionally, there is a rising apprehension surrounding the emergence of homemade guns and explosives, prompting growing concerns within the nation.

In 2022, former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was gunned down by a man who emerged from a crowd, wielding a homemade firearm, in one of the most high-profile killings the country has seen.

Additional reporting by agencies
He was famous as a lover of technology.

Whether it was piloting jets, sailing boats or subscribing to Flying Saucer Review, Prince Philip royal spent hours immersing himself in workings of mechanisms and machines.

Today, it is easy to forget that, for much of his time as husband and consort to the Queen, Philip was a decidedly modernising force in a rather stuffy monarchy, often to the discomfort of courtiers.

The Duke of Edinburgh inspects a cine film of an AA Bofors Gun which he saw in operation during his visit to British forces in Germany

Philip at the controls of a Heron aircraft of the Queen's Flight as he leaves Heathrow Airport for his two day visit to Brussels Universal and International Exhibition in 1958

Gadgets were a particular favourite. It has been reported that, as a young Naval officer, Philip had air-conditioned his own quarters with a system of fans, radiators and thermostats.

Some claim he had devised an early tea-making device  before the likes of commercial hit Teasmade entered the market.

More seriously, Philip served as the president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

According to the Royal Collection Trust, his interest in many ways reflects and continues the role of the great-great-great-grandfather, Prince Albert.

And when, later, a giant water turbine was installed on the Windsor estate to provide energy for Windsor Castle, few doubted that the Duke of Edinburgh was a keen part of the planning.

As he once put it, everything not made by God was made by an engineer.

Even towards the end of his life, the restless Philip was keen to keep up with the latest gismos, devouring books on his Kindle screen, for example.

Always keen to know how things work, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh look at exhibits in the Household Cavalry Museum, at Horse Guards Parade, with the late Queen

Prince Philip holds a book on artist and architect Michelangelo at King's Lynn station, after taking the train from King's Cross in London

Prince Philip spent much of his time at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate. While enjoying traditional pursuits such as carriage driving, Philip was keen to keep up with the latest gadgetry

Wood Farm in Sandringham where the 'Kindle' incident took place

Until he lost patience.

According to author Tina Brown in her best-selling book The Palace Papers, Philip often extolled the joys of his Kindle until, disgusted by all the direct marketing of books he didnt want to read, he threw it in the bathtub.

This had apparently taken place at what Brown describes as his man cave at Wood Farm, a simple house on the Sandringham Estate where the Duke of Edinburgh spent much of his retirement reading and painting.
The King and I, by the legendary theatre-writing composers, Rodgers and Hammerstein is once again a West End hit, this time starring Call The Midwife's Helen George.

The story tells of Anna Leonowens, a widow who travelled to Siam in the early 1860s to teach English to King Mongkut of Siams wives and children.

Although it is set over 150 years ago the musical, and the later film, are considered so controversial in Thailand - as Siam became known in 1959 - that it has been banned there for over 70 years.

(An earlier 1946 film adaptation of the book was briefly shown in Siamese cinemas. It was the more irreverent musical which caused the fury).

King Mongkut of Siam - the real monarch eventually featured in the story of The King and I

Yul Brynner came to fame with his performance, first in the stage musical and then in the Hollywood film. This picture was taken in 1956

Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in a still from the stage version of The King and I

Deborah Kerr as Anna Leonowens and Yul Brynner as King Mongkut of Siam

Helen George (Anna Leonowens) and Darren Lee (The King of Siam) star in the new run of the King and I at the Dominion Theatre, London, until March 2

The main reason for the ban is that, until very recently, the Thai monarchy was completely venerated.

Criticism of it was taboo and draconian laws punished anyone openly criticising the royal family.

People would kneel as a royal car passed by and when King Bhumibol died in October 2016, after a reign of 70 years and 126 days (88 days less than Queen Elizabeths reign) his people wore black mourning for a year.

The musical with its heavily coloured account of the relationship between king and tutor was bound to cause problems amongst his subjects.

We see Anna trying to introduce Western ideals and culture to the royal court, coming against the inflexible King Mongkut.

The tension between the two masks their growing passion. There is also passion between one of the Kings wives and her lover, a romance which Anna helps to conceal.

In reality King Mongkut was scholarly and deeply religious. He had spent the first half of his life as a Buddhist monk, founding a new order of Buddhism as well as a temple in Bangkok.

He spoke Western languages and, after becoming king in 1851 at a time when European countries were seeking greater influence in the east, he skilfully preserved Siams independence by working with these dominant nations rather than against them.

In her journals Queen Victoria gives us a glimpse of how Mongkuts diplomacy certainly won her over.

In November 1857 seven envoys from Siam gave her a gift consisting of an Eastern crown of gold & enamel, with diamonds, emeralds & rubies, a gold collar, thickly studded with rubies, a large star, a massive ring set with different precious stones, a golden belt with rubies, a chair of state, or throne, a rare & valuable white shell, all jewelled  an agate cup & saucer, a state palanquin, a state saddle & bridle, a number of umbrellas, covered with gold embroidery, solid gold, boxes & cups, embossed silver salvers, a metal drum, & various other valuable ornaments.

Unsurprisingly she was able to tell the envoys: I was much pleased with the presents, though she was amused at the deference shown to her.

In taking their leave the envoys crawled the whole way backwards out of the room,  really, it was most difficult to keep one's countenance.

Mongkut was known for his tolerance and open-mindedness and for his determination to modernise his country, which earned him the nickname 'The Father of Science and Technology' in Siam.

Having been celibate until he became king at the age of 47, he soon made up for lost time, by acquiring 32 wives and, by the time of his death, aged 64, a total of 82 children.

Wishing the latter to be brought up in the western tradition was the reason for engaging Anne Leonowens, who taught the royal children and formed a strong relationship with the eldest son, Prince Chulalongkorn.

Anna was only at court for five years, returning to England in 1867, the year before Mongkut died, having caught malaria while attending a huge gathering to watch the 1868 solar eclipse at Wakor, a remote spot in Western Thailand.

A formal portrait of Rama V, known as King Chulalongkorn, in a photograph taken around 1897. The monarch is venerated in Thailand

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and his wife, Queen Sirikit, at Logan International Airport in Boston when the monarch arrived in his birth city on July 7, 1960. The King's death in 2016 after 70 years on the throne led to a year of national mourning

The real Anna - a photograph of Leonowens, a widow who travelled to Siam - Thailand - in the early 1860s. Her account of her time there provoked outrage in Thailand

Two years later Anna wrote her memoirs of her time at the royal court.

It was greatly exaggerated and controversially depicted Mongkut as a tyrant. She also falsified details of her own background, claiming she was born in Wales.

In fact, she was mixed race  her mother was English, and her father was Indian  at a time when being lower-class, and half Indian would have made her a social pariah.

She was not even a true governess, since she was only engaged to teach the royal children English rather than giving them a rounded education.

Annas memoirs angered the Siamese court.

Thirty years after leaving her position, Leonowens was reunited with King Chulalongkorn when he came to London during his European tour.

Although the king graciously thanked her for her teaching, he nevertheless criticised her memoirs, asking 'why did you write such a wicked book about my father King Mongkut? You know that you have made him utterly ridiculous.'

Unrepentant Anna replied that she had written 'the whole truth' and that Mongkut had indeed been 'a ridiculous and a cruel, wicked man'.

Royal dismay continued well into the next century.

During a visit to the United States in 1960, the monarch of Thailand, King Bhumibol, while acknowledging he hadnt seen the musical, nevertheless claimed that, from what he had been told, the portrayal of Mongkut seemed '90 percent exaggerated. My great-grandfather was really quite a mild and nice man.'

Curiously, while the musical was banned in Thailand, Annas two volumes of memoirs have always been in print there, translated into Thai.

Leonowenss time in Siam only became known with the publication of a 1944 biography by Margaret Landon called Anna and the King of Siam.

This became the basis of the 1951 musical which opened on Broadway to rave reviews for its stars Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence.

Herbert Lom and Valerie Hobson from the London cast of The King and I in 1954

Two years later it transferred to London in the coronation year of 1953, this time starring Herbert Lom as Mongkut and Valerie Hobson as Anna.

It ran for an incredible 926 performances. Princess Margaret visited it several times and played the hits on her piano at Clarence House, returning later with the Queen Mother to see it again.

The film of the same name was released in 1956 starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr.

In Britain alone there have been many revivals and the current show at the Dominion Theatre is the sixth West End version of the musical, testimony to the truth-bending creativity of Rogers and Hammerstein.
The dramatic uptick of capital punishment in recent years, and the brutality of methods still used around the world, has thrust state-sanctioned executions back into the spotlight.

China's murky record is brought into focus by wide reports alleging thousands are killed each year in a horrifying 'conveyer belt' of death, the Chinese Communist Party embracing anachronisms including firing squads and mobile death vans to expedite state executions.

But the United States has also come under fire for its use of capital punishment, with rights groups increasingly alarmed by an upward trend in the number of murderers put to death in recent years.

Today both East and West deploy techniques that involve shock, injury and gas - in some cases leaving the condemned person to suffer for more than half an hour before dropping dead.

And a multipolar world with hardline governments in the Middle East has seen the return of methods of mass executions by stoning and beheading with a sword. In 2020, 88 per cent of all known executions were carried out in just four countries: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

As rights groups warn of the rising prevalence of capital punishment, and critics slam the inhumanity of modern means, MailOnline looks at the ways the world still executes its worst criminals.

Beheading

The majority of state executions in Saudi Arabia are still carried out by sword decapitation. It is a particularly bloody and violent means of capital punishment only carried out by Saudi Arabia - and can be used for a variety of crimes including murder, apostasy (abandoning Islam), homosexuality, witchcraft or sorcery, and 'waging war on God'.

While in the US the death penalty is being used less and less, interest in Saudi practices has grown alongside the rate of capital punishment. On March 12 2022, 81 people were beheaded - the largest mass execution in recent years, despite promises to limit use of such measures.

Human Rights Watch slammed the Saudi authorities for a 'brutal show of autocratic rule', noting many families found out about the deaths of their loved ones 'just like the rest of us, after the fact and through the media'. They also questioned the 'fairness of their trials and sentencing'.

Reprieve has said the tenure of Mohammed bin Salman since 2015 saw a 82 per cent rise in the number of yearly beheadings over the period 2015 - 2021.

In 2003, state executioner Muhammad Saad al-Beshi detailed exactly how these brutal killings take place, sometimes with a gun, others a sword. He said of his first execution in 1998: 'The criminal was tied and blindfolded. With one stroke of the sword I severed his head. It rolled metres away.'

'There are many people who faint when they witness an execution. I don't know why they come and watch if they don't have the stomach for it,' said the father of seven, who has been known to let his children clean the sword after a killing.

'No one is afraid of me. I have a lot of relatives, and many friends at the mosque, and I live a normal life like everyone else. There are no drawbacks for my social life.'

Saudi Arabia still beheads criminals for various reasons. In some cases a victim will be beheaded and then crucified, the body displayed publicly

Between 2015 and 2022, there was an average of 129.5 executions per year in Saudi Arabia

Lethal injection

First developed in the US in 1977, but now used in China and parts of Africa and Asia, the lethal injection is one of the most common methods of execution still used today. Condemned people are restrained and usually injected with a barbiturate, paralytic and potassium solution to cause them to fall unconscious, stop their breathing and cause a heart arrhythmia, killing them.

First, the inmate is secured, strip-searched and monitored in the execution room. They are then usually plied with midazolam, an anaesthetic intended to render them unconscious. Another has saline to flush it back out of the IV line. A dose is expected to take up to two minutes to kick in.

After five, officials check the patient is unconscious before applying Bromide or equivalent. An anaesthesiologist told CNN if the inmate is not unconscious at this stage, the injection will 'feel like they're drowning'.

The condemned then received a shot intended to paralyse them, followed by more saline. This stops them from moving - but also means they cannot communicate distress. Bromide would likely stop breathing.

After another couple of minutes, potassium chloride is usually injected to stop the heart, again with saline. Conscious, an inmate might feel like their arm is on fire, an expert told CNN. Within a minute, this causes cardiac arrest and the death of the inmate.

The method is supposed to be a more 'humane' means of execution but has blatant flaws. Miscalculations can leave patients conscious for an excruciating death. It took Joseph Lewis Clark nearly 90 minutes to die in 2006, and Joseph Wood required a two hour procedure and as many as 15 shots before he died.

The medical nature of the procedure has caused some difficulty, requiring medical professionals to administer the drugs who are sworn to protect human life, creating a conflict of interest. Nonetheless, firms have looked to get around the issues of a three-part injection with a simplified single shot.

Between 1976 and 2023, 1,392 executions in the US were carried out by lethal injection. This makes it by far the most common mean of capital punishment, with 163 electrocutions, 11 killed in gas chambers, three hanged and three executed by firing squad.

Twenty-seven states had provisions for lethal injection as of late 2023.

The gurney in the execution chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, 2014

Firing squad

This month, South Carolina announced plans to restart executions by firing squad after state prosecutors said deaths don't need to be quick and painless. The push shocked many - but the state is not alone in using firing squads to execute its prisoners.

The last firing squad execution in the US was surprisingly recent, with Ronnie Lee Gardner executed at Utah State Prison on June 18, 2010 for killing an attorney during a dramatic courthouse escape attempt. Five prison staff shot Gardner from 25ft with .30 calibre rifles. He was pronounced dead two minutes later.

While the practice was meant to have been discontinued in China in 2010, the use of firing squads have been recorded since.

In one case, a man who stabbed nine school children - Zhao Zewei - was shot dead by a firing squad in 2018, in front of a crowd of villagers.

In Somalia, too, the practice is still used to punish criminals. In 2015, Hassan Hanafi, a former media officer for the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab, was tied up at a police academy square in the capital Mogadishu before being shot following a conviction for murdering five journalists.

Images from the scene showed Hanafi trussed to a post, his face covered with a white mask before his executioners opened fire. His body was later pictured being carried away by a large team.

And in Yemen, still, Houthi authorities reserve the punishment of death by firing squad for serious crimes. In 2021, nine men found guilty of spying for the opposing Saudi-led coalition forces were put to death, executed publicly in Tahrir Square in the rebel-held capital of Sanaa.

The nine were among more than 60 people the Houthis accused of involvement in the targeted killing of Saleh al-Samad in April 2018.

Pictures and videos of the executions have been widely shared on social media, which showed military officers shooting the nine men in the back in Sanaa's central public square.

An executioner stands over a man convicted of being involved in the killing of senior Houthi official Saleh al-Samad

Journalist Hassan Hanafi, convicted of murdering colleagues for the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab jihadist group, is tied to a wooden post before being executed in Mogadishu on April 11, 2016

Since the United States Armed Forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, marking the end of the 20 year war, the Taliban have been unchallenged in implementing their utopian vision of a Medieval Islamic society.

While making overtures to working more with international partners, this still includes strict punishments for those who break their interpretation of Shariah (Islamic law). On February 22, two men were publicly executed in front of a crowd of spectators in Ghazni city, gunned down with machine gun bullets to the spine in a horrific display of authority.

Both men were executed by multiple shots to the back after Supreme Court official Atiqullah Darwish read aloud a death warrant signed by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, Afp reported.

Reports from 2021 also noted the imprecise butchering of unarmed civilians with machine guns, prisoners gunned down with bursts of ammunition before being left on the side of the road.

In 2016, a woman was executed with a machine gun after a Taliban court found her guilty of killing her husband. The woman is led to sit on the ground in the middle of a gathering crowd.

Footage shared at the time shows members of the group jeering and shouting for her to be killed. A gunman then takes aim at her head. Redacted footage cuts out before she is shot and falls to the floor, dying within moments.

In 2021 it was also revealed gay men would be crushed to death by pushing a wall onto them as part of a new law revealed a month before the US left.

Taliban judge Gul Rahim spoke at the time about cutting the hands and legs of thieves, issuing permits for women to leave their homes and toppling walls on gay men as a form of execution as he spelled out what citizens could expect should the country come back under Taliban control.

That year, the death penalty was introduced for same-sex sexual activity. The Taliban takeover has reportedly seen an uptick in crime and murder against LGBT people in Afghanistan, though it is not clear the punishment of toppling a wall has been used.

Illustrative image shows an alleged murderer being executed before a crowd in Kabul in 1998

Hanging

Hanging as a means of capital punishment was mentioned in Homer's Odyssey, but became a common method of execution by the Middle Ages. In the US, it remained the primary means until the 1890s - and still today the practice is mostly unchanged where it is legal in countries including Japan and Singapore.

Prisoners sentenced to be hanged are often weighed before the execution and rehearsals performed to work out how much 'drop' will be needed to kill them quickly. Too much rope can lead to decapitation after the condemned person falls through the air, and too little can result in strangulation lasting as long as 45 minutes.

The most recent recorded example of this was the execution of Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, one of three half-brothers of Saddam Hussein. He was hanged on January 15, 2007 for crimes against humanity (along with Hussein) - but was decapitated by the rope due to a mistaken calculation about his weight and the length of the drop.

Before an execution by hanging, a prisoner's limbs are secured, they are blindfolded and a noose is placed around the neck. In traditional executions, a trap door falls open for the prisoner to drop through. Their weight should cause a rapid fracture-dislocation of the neck - but it is rare the prisoner dies immediately.

Iran still uses cranes to hang its prisoners, tying them to a noose and then lifting them high in the air to be seen for miles. In 2022, protestor Majidreza Rahnavard made headlines when he was charged with 'waging war against God', ran through a 'sham trial' and put to death.

Executions conducted in public with a crane have been more rare in recent years, though Iran used the same manner of hanging to put down unrest following the disputed 2009 presidential election and the Green Movement protests that followed.

Typically, those condemned are alive as the crane lifts them off their feet, hanging by a rope and struggling to breathe before they asphyxiate or their neck breaks.

Public hangings are nothing new. In England in the 1800s, events could attract thousands, or tens of thousands, of viewers with a perverse fascination in watching the brutal death. In a scathing criticism of capital punishment, French philosopher Albert Camus noted that the spectacle of brutal killings did not seem to deter criminals; hangings often attracted as many pickpockets, drawn to the large crowds of people. Of 167 condemned inmates at Bristol prison in 1886, 164 had themselves watched the horrific means of execution already.

Still, it took more horror stories before Britain abolished the penalty formally in 1998. In 1953, British man Derek Bentley was hanged for the murder of a policeman during a burglary attempt. Aged 19, the man was hanged at Wandsworth Prison. The case provoked debates Bentley was later pardoned and proven innocent. The complexities of the case, including views on Bentley's learning difficulties, created public outrage at the time.

Even today, with advances in forensic evidence gathering and justice, for every eight people executed, one person on death row has been exonerated - leaving countless potentially wrongfully sent to their deaths.

A blindfolded man convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping and slaying of two policemen waits to be hanged in public in Tehran, Iran, on April 16, 2011

An Iranian policeman ties the noose around the neck of Majid Ghasemi before being publicly hanged in east Tehran 29 September 2002

A public execution at Newgate, London in the late 18th century. While horrific, the events did not seem to put off criminals from attending - and then reoffending

Electrocution

Oddly enough, the electric chair as a means of execution was conceived by a dentist more than 140 years ago. Originally, it was intended as a more humane alternative to common forms of capital punishment at the time - like hanging.

The procedure works by strapping electrodes carrying high voltage electrical currents to the head and legs of the condemned person, who sits strapped into a chair. The victim is then blasted for around two minutes before dying from ventricular fibrillation, followed by cardiac arrest.

When the state of New York executed the first victim, William Kemmler, on August 6, 1890, a New York Times reporter witnessing the death said: 'Probably no convicted murderer of modern times has been made to suffer as Kemmler suffered'.

A witness described the gruesome scene: 'After the first convulsion there was not the slightest movement of Kemmler's body... then the eyes that had been momentarily turned from Kemmler's body returned to it and gazed with horror on what they saw.

'The men rose from their chairs impulsively and groaned at the agony they felt. "Great God! He is alive!" someone said. "Turn on the current," said another.

'Again came that click as before, and again the body of the unconscious wretch in the chair became as rigid as one of bronze. It was awful, and the witnesses were so horrified by the ghastly sight that they could not take their eyes of it... The current could be heard sharply snapping. Blood began to appear on the face of the wretch in the chair. It stood on the face like sweat.

'An awful odour began to permeate the death chamber, and then, as though to cap the climax of this fearful sight, it was seen that the hair under around around the electrode on the head and flesh under and around the electrode at the base of the spine was singeing. The stench was unbearable.'

Critics say the electric chair is less humane than other means of capital punishment, that even modern chairs run the risk of electrocuting a conscious victim. Post-mortems suggest the execution is still often painful.

As of 2024, the only places still using the chair as an option are the US states of Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. Other states allow for its use if the lethal injection is deemed unconstitutional.

The 'death chamber' in South Carolina Columbia, featuring an electric chair, right, and a firing squad chair, left

Artist's impression of execution by electric chair, 1890. The first execution was carried out on William Kemmler, convicted of murdering his partner

Gas chambers

In Europe, gas chambers invoke the horrific memory of the Holocaust, which saw some six million Jewish men, women and children systematically killed by the Nazis between 1941 and 1945. The programme began with trials on people with physical and intellectual disabilities deemed 'unworthy of life' - and was extended to the Roma people and other victims of the Holocaust.

Since then, the practice has almost completely died out as a means of capital punishment. But the United States remains a notable exception. 'Lethal gas' remains a legal means of execution in seven states - Alabama, Arizona, California, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wyoming - though all have lethal injection listed as their primary method.

The means of execution is not quick. The 1999 execution of German national Walter LaGrand in Arizona was described as 'barbaric' by German Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin, lasting 18 minutes. It was the last time the means was used.

The 1992 execution of Robert Alton Harris in California was likewise described as a 'macabre and surreal scene', dying 14 minutes after the execution order was given.

Harris died after requesting a mammoth order for his last meals: 21 pieces of KFC, two large Domino's pizzas, a bag of jelly beans, a six-pack of Pepsi and a packet of cigarettes.

In 1994, David Lawson was put to death by gas chamber in North Carolina for the murder of Wayne Shinn during a burglary. Cyanide pellets were dropped into a bowl of sulfuric acid in the chamber, splashing Lawson with acid. He struggled so hard as to break the restraints around his leg and screamed 'I am human' several times as mucus poured out of his nose onto his blindfold. Lawson took about ten minutes to die, left alone screaming in the chamber.

In 2021, The Guardian revealed that Arizona had 'refurbished' its gas chamber to prepare for executions, according to documents seen by the outlet. They reported the state was 'preparing to kill death row inmates using hydrogen cyanide, the same lethal gas that was deployed at Auschwitz'.

San Quentin's death row gas chamber is shown before being dismantled at San Quentin State Prison on March 13, 2019 in San Quentin, California

Staff dismantle the gas chamber in San Quentin in 2019. In 2021, Arizona announced plans to refurb its chamber to prepare for executions

Mobile death vans

While China does not release its official figures, rights groups believe many thousands of people are executed each year by the state with horrifying means including mobile death vans, firing squads and lethal injections.

Death sentences are frequently handed down for crimes ranging from drug trafficking to murder, but also white collar crimes such as corruption.

According to a report published in 2021, China's Penal Code of 1997 - which is still in force today - has 46 crimes punishable by death, including 24 violent crimes and 22 non-violent crimes.

The country's justice system is also notorious for favouring prosecutors, with Chinese courts having a 99.9 percent conviction rate.

To expedite killings, China is claimed to use mobile death vans in some cases, allowing roaming death squads to carry out the state-sanctioned killings of civilians without the need to move the prisoner to an execution ground.

On the outside, they appear as normal police vehicles, with no external markings to indicate what it is used for. On the inside, however, is an execution chamber.

According to reports, the rear of the vehicle houses a windowless chamber where the execution itself takes place.

Several CCTV cameras are also present in the van, meaning the execution can be recorded or watched if officials desire to monitor it.

A bed slides out from the wall of the van, to which the convicted criminal is strapped. A syringe is then put into their arm by a technician, before a police official administers a lethal injection by pressing a button.

The concept of the vans, which reports suggest were first used in the late 1990s, have drawn comparisons to larger models developed by the Nazis in the Second World War to gas Jewish prisoners during the Holocaust.

Minghui, a volunteer operation reporting on the Falun Gong community, said the buses had been in use in China since 2004 for their expediency in killing political dissidents.

'In the eyes of CCP officials, the biggest advantage of the execution vehicle is the convenience of taking organs from criminals for profit: their eyes, kidneys, livers, pancreas, lung and all other useful body parts, are harvested,' they concluded, referencing China's alleged organ harvesting trade.

A vehicle marked 'Zunyi City Middle-Level Court: Penal Vehicle,' like the converted death vans

Image allegedly shows the inside of one of the converted police buses used in China

Excluding China, Amnesty International said it had recorded 883 executions in 2022 - a huge jump from 579 in 2021

Nitrogen gas

Kenneth Eugene Smith stopped breathing at eight minutes past eight in the evening of January 25, 2024. He had spent more than 35 years serving a jury-decided life sentence for the paid assassination of Elizabeth Sennett in Alabama in 1988, but it was his dramatic last moments that would immortalise his name.

It took Smith 22 minutes to die under the effects of nitrogen hypoxia, an American first that state officials had assured the public would be a quick and painless death after a judge overrode the ruling and imposed the death penalty. Smith writhed around in pain for nearly ten minutes before his breathing appeared to stop.

Strapped to a gurney, he struggled as his lungs filled with nitrogen. His final words were recorded as: 'Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. I'm leaving with love, peace, and light. Thank you for supporting me. Love all of you.'

The state execution and its harshness immediately prompted outcry from rights groups, condemning the state for going ahead with the experimental means of execution a year after failing to end his life with a botched lethal injection.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said at the time the method could 'amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international human rights law.'

The Alabama Attorney General dismissed the complaints, judging it 'textbook'.

The means of execution has proven controversial, dividing voters on whether it is an effective and humane means of capital punishment. But on February 22, not even a month since Smith's horrifying death in Alabama, the state said it was looking to execute a second inmate using nitrogen gas.

Alan Eugene Miller, 59, could become the second person to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia in the US if the plan goes ahead.

Miller has been on death row since 2000 after he was convicted of killing three people in two 1999 workplace shootings. Miller pleaded innocent, citing mental disease or defect. His attorneys said he was 'at best, very slow' and should be in a mental health facility rather than a prison.

Smith had been serving a jury-decided life sentence for the paid assassination of Elizabeth Sennett in Alabama in 1988

Anti-death penalty signs placed by activists near Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, ahead of the scheduled execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, Thursday, January 25, 2024

Stoning

The brutal execution method of stoning a person to death is documented in the Torah, written centuries before the common era - and remains in use in several countries including Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and the UAE.

Which countries retain provisions for the death penalty? According to Amnesty International, as of 2022 there were 55 countries designated 'retentionist' for the death penalty. This excludes countries that are abolitionist in practice, and abolitionist for 'ordinary crimes'. These were: The USA Belize Cuba Jamaica The Bahamas Barbados St Lucia St Vincent & Grenadines St Kitts & Nevis Antigua & Barbuda Puerto Rico Grenada Guyana Trinidad and Tobago Gambia Libya Egypt Sudan South Sudan Ethiopia Somalia Uganda DRC Nigeria Botswana Zimbabwe Lesotho Comoros North Korea State of Palestine Lebanon Jordan Syria Iraq Saudi Arabia Iran Yemen Oman UAE Kuwait Qatar Afghanistan Pakistan India Bangladesh Myanmar Thailand Vietnam Malaysia Indonesia Singapore Taiwan China Japan Belarus Advertisement

Earlier this month, Houthi rebels in Yemen sentenced 13 people to be stoned to death for homosexuality - a charge typical in the region, according to human rights groups. A 2022 report by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said the Houthis have sentenced 350 people to death since seizing the capital in 2014, and have executed 11 of them.

In 2020, horrifying footage showed an Afghan woman being stoned to death by an angry mob as she cowered and screamed in a hole. The Afghan president blamed the Taliban, who claimed the footage was from 2015. Activists were unconvinced.

'The intensity of their violence and what they can do against women in the absence of law and order is clearly visible,' said prominent activist Laila Haidari at the time.

In the video, the woman can be heard crying and screaming while the crowd shouts 'Allahu Akbar' and 'hit her'.

The victim, named only as Rokhshana, was accused of adultery because she was engaged to a man she did not want to marry, Afghan authorities said at the time.

ISIS (and Al-Qaeda) also used sickening stoning practices at the height of its claim to parts of Iraq and Syria. Footage from 2015 in the stronghold of Mosul showed crowds gathering to watch jihadis murder a defenceless couple accused of having sex before marriage.

Young boys clamber onto their fathers' shoulders to get a better view of the man and woman being charged with 'fornication', before Mosul-based executioner-in-chief Abu Ansar al-Ansari orders their stoning to death.

A militant with a yellow scarf covering his face is then seen using a microphone and PA system to read out the charge of 'fornication' against the couple, suggesting they had not been charged of adultery.

In a sudden act of brutality, militants are then seen taking large stones from a pile heaped in the middle of the road and throwing them at the blindfolded couple, who have their hands bound to prevent them from getting away. Large pools of blood appear in the road before the couple succumb to their injuries.

Even today, stoning remains a fairly common punishment in Iran. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last year the government was executing people at 'an alarming rate.' He said at least 419 people received capital punishment in the first seven months of 2023, an increase of 30% from the same period last year.

Crimes punishable by the death penalty in Iran include adultery, sodomy, murder, rape, armed robbery, kidnapping and drug trafficking.

Horrifying footage shows an Afghan woman cowering on the ground as she is stoned to death, in an attack which activists have blamed on the Taliban

A blindfolded and bound couple are stoned to death for having sex before marriage by ISIS

Horrific footage showed ISIS militants throwing large stones at the couple to kill them

Anti-aircraft guns

North Korea has deliberately separated itself from the norms and customs of its neighbours. While South Korea retains the death penalty for the most violent crimes, it has avoided using it since 1997. North Korean despot Kim Jong Un has proven less apprehensive, according to civilians fleeing his murky regime.

In 2015, reports surfaced from South Korean intelligence that its neighbour had publicly executed its Defence Minister Hyong Yong Chol with an anti-aircraft gun for falling asleep during an event and not carrying out instructions.

A rights group in North Korea later shared shocking satellite footage appearing to show a group of people lined up in a military training area opposite six ZPU-4 AA-guns near a viewing area.

A year later, a former agriculture minister and a senior education official were reportedly killed in a similar manner, 'executed by anti-aircraft gun at a military academy in Pyongyang' - the latter also alleged to have dozed off during a meeting.

In another case, defector Hee Yeon Lim reportedly claimed she was one of 10,000 made to watch the AA-gun execution of 11 musicians accused of making a pornographic film.

'What I saw that day made me sick in my stomach,' she said. 'They were lashed to the end of anti-aircraft guns,' she said. 'A gun was fired, the noise was deafening, absolutely terrifying. And the guns were fired one after the other.'

'The musicians just disappeared each time the guns were fired into them. Their bodies were blown to bits, totally destroyed, blood and bits flying everywhere and then, after that, military tanks moved in and they ran over the bits on the ground where the remains lay.'

A year prior, it was reported Kim Jong Un had purged a number of senior officials including deputy public security minister, who was 'executed by flamethrower'. Others were allegedly executed there or sent to a North Korean concentration camp.

A ZPU-4 AA gun like those reportedly used in North Korea to kill criminals

Satellite imagery claimed to show North Koreans opposite AA guns in a state execution

Capital punishment remains a divisive tool of the state. Proponents argue the brutality of methods used act as a deterrent for would-be offenders, and provide the only proportionate response to the most horrific crimes.

Opponents argue the death penalty has never put desperate criminals off from acting out, that wrongful executions cannot be compensated, and that it is beyond the purview of the state to take the life of its citizens.

In any case, the death penalty remains a widely used penalty around the world in all its many forms, an insight into the many means humans have created to end life.
Our reporter joined one of the investigators on a reconnaissance mission as he scoped out one location where some of the children may have been spotted

Mothers of children feared to have been 'abducted' by the followers of Warren Jeffs' radical polygamous cult say they have been given renewed hope of finding their loved ones as private investigators chase leads in Utah.

The distraught moms, themselves former members of the cult, have been buoyed by reports of possible sightings around the state.

Sarah Johnson, whose son Salome, 15, has been missing for almost three years, praised the work of private investigators who have been tirelessly working on her case.

The group of Harley Davidson-riding 'Road Warriors' are monitoring an active work site in Utah run by the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints (FLDS), the extreme Mormon offshoot once ruled by Jeffs, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Johnson said it was a 'stronger lead' than any that had been investigated in the past.

Sarah Johnson, 37, has not seen her son, Salome, 15, for more than three years. She fears he is being harbored by followers of Warren Jeffs' radical polygamous cult, which she left years ago

Salome on his 12th birthday, the last one that he was with his mother for. Investigators are now monitoring a work site in Utah where family associates are known to be

Elizabeth Roundy's daughter, Elintra, 17, has not been seen since she vanished from her mother's farm in Idaho on January 1 last year. Roundy is also a former member of Jeffs' cult

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Roundy said the same group of investigators were looking at an address where her daughter, Elintra, 17, was reportedly seen.

Roundy said she had been shown video footage obtained by investigators 'that looks a lot like her', but could not be certain.

DailyMail.com joined one of the investigators, Josh Lancaster, on a reconnaissance mission as he scoped out one suspected location in Utah.

Lancaster revealed a caller had reported seeing what she thought was three of the missing children in the backyard of a neighbor's home, known to be FLDS.

Four ex-FLDS mothers have gone public with their plea to track down eight missing children.

Officially, police are treating the cases as 'runaways', but the mothers believe their sons and daughters are being concealed by loyal followers of Jeffs.

Jeffs is serving life in prison after his conviction for two counts of child sexual abuse in 2011, but experts believe he is still running the church via revelations passed on from his jail cell.

Some of these include the disturbing edict that the children of former members must be returned to the FLDS so they can be 'translated'.

Experts say this effectively means the children must die so they can go to heaven.

It has sparked fears of a repeat of the Jonestown massacre, a mass murder-suicide of the Peoples Temple cult at the behest of their leader, Jim Jones, in 1978.

The FLDS has a long history of hiding and harboring people and reportedly used a network they call 'houses of hiding' to keep Jeffs hidden for two years while he was on the FBI's Most Wanted list.

Salome was last seen in 2021 in Munroe, Utah, where his father, Rulon Jessop, lives.

Jessop, who is 25 years older than Johnson, was supposed to adhere to a court order in March of that year to return Salome to his mother's care, after Jessop had taken him from her home in Cedar City in 2019.

But on the day of the scheduled handover, Jessop claimed Salome had 'run away', according to court filings seen by DailyMail.com.

Jeffs is serving life in prison for two counts of child sexual assault, but it is thought he has issued revelations telling his followers to round up children of former members so that they can be 'translated' - in other words, die so they can go to heaven

Salome has not been seen since the day his father, Rulon Jessop, was supposed to follow a court order to hand him over to his mother in March 2021. Jessop claimed Salome 'ran away'

Johnson suspects her ex-husband - to whom she was a fourth wife - may have orchestrated the 'run away' with the help of FLDS accomplices

Johnson's attorney, Roger Hoole, said they suspected Rulon may have orchestrated the 'runaway', as they do not believe do not believe that Salome would have done so on his own, nor that he 'could stay hidden for nearly three years without help'.

Hoole added: 'What we do know is that Rulon has obstructed Sarah's efforts to gain information about who may have been involved in the 'runaway'.

'We also know that Rulon does not want Salome in his 'apostate' mother's care.'

An apostate is what the FLDS calls its former members.

Johnson, who became Rulon's fourth wife aged 17, has long believed her son is being put to work at one of multiple businesses with FLDS ties that have reportedly used underage labor.

But until recently, she had no idea where.

Investigators are now fixing their gaze on a specific location where family associates are known to work.

Johnson said she had gone to several locations to follow up on tips, including three trips to one site more than 300 miles from her home in Hildale, Utah, but to no avail.

'I don't feel like any place on the map could be dismissed,' she said. 'The FLDS people are everywhere. I feel like he [Salome] is constantly being moved.

'I can't afford to lose hope. I just wish I could help him see that everything that we grew up in, there's so much more than that.

'Once you realize that life could be different, and that there is happiness in individuality, and in making some of your own choices. I just want him to know that I'm not the bad person they [the FLDS] say I am.

'I am his mother. He is my son. It doesn't matter what anyone else does, that bond can't be taken away by someone else.'

Like Johnson, Roundy has court-ordered custody of her daughter, who has not been seen since she went missing from her mother's farm in Idaho on January 1 last year.

Roundy suspects Elintra has been brainwashed against her by her father to believe that her mother is living in sin.

She said private investigators were monitoring an address close to the Idaho border in Utah.

'They've been able to get some videos that look a lot like her but I can't see her face in it very good,' she told DailyMail.com.

'It's nothing concrete, but every little bit gives you a little bit of hope.'

She added: 'The walk to me looks like her but I can't say for sure. You can't really tell because the person that's in the videos has a big coat on because it's winter, but as far as I can tell she looked ok.

'She was outside, she looked like she was feeding some hay to some horses.'

In March last year, Jefferson County released a photo of Elintra showing her in dark clothing, her hair pulled back and a cat in her arms.

The sheriff's office said at the time that it was 'very much an active case'.

Roundy knows she is a race against time. When her daughter turns 18 at the end of the year, her court-ordered custody will no longer be relevant.

'Once she turns 18, I don't know when I'll get to see her again,' she said. 'It's heartbreaking to think about.'

Local Idaho police released this photo of Elintra in March last year, saying the case was 'active'

Roundy faces a race against time to find Elintra. When her daughter turns 18 at the end of this year, the court order granting Roundy custody of her daughter will no longer apply

Roundy said it was 'heartbreaking' to think she may never be able to see Elintra again

Earlier this week, private investigator Lancaster showed DailyMail.com one of the locations suspected to have been harboring three missing FLDS children - although they are not thought to be related to Johnson or Roundy.

The house was tucked around the back of a small community connected to a main road by a winding, uphill path.

There was no sign that anyone was in at the time, but a gleaming white truck was parked out front.

Lancaster said it was thought an FLDS member related to one of the four mothers was living there, although the children had not been sighted in months.

He fears they have already been moved on.

'This was the first address that popped up when we started looking for these kids,' he said.

'We think the family still lives here, but the kids do not.

'They [the FLDS] are efficient at being able to move people around and not get noticed.'

Anyone with information on Elintra's whereabouts is being urged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at 208-745-9210 ext. 7, or contact their local law enforcement office.

Meanwhile, authorities are asking for anyone who has seen Salome to contact local police or call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office at 435-896-6471.
A man has been ordered to demolish his illegal 8,000 extension after waging a 12-year planning war with his local council.

Mohammed Azhar, 57, constructed the 13ft add-on to his terraced home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 2011, so his elderly parents could make use of a downstairs toilet and wet room.

But the father-of-two was ordered to demolish the stone structure in 2012 after council bosses refused a retrospective planning application.

Years passed without the extension being removed - prompting Bradford Council to take enforcement action in 2022.

This month, Mr Afzar was taken to court and fined after being charged with failing to comply with an enforcement notice.

He told MailOnline: 'My neighbours don't mind, so what's the problem?'

The extension was turned into a wet room and downstairs toilet for Mr Azhar's elderly parents to use

He said he will demolish the building at a cost of 4,000 and then resubmit another application to the council that the local authority 'will be happy with'

Mohammed Azhar, 57, constructed the 13ft add-on to his terraced home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 2011

He says he has now been given just two months to raze the building.

Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Azhar told of his anger at being prosecuted and claimed he was told by councillors 'not to worry' about the extension.

He revealed it will cost him 4,000 to tear down the rear extension, which cost him around 8,000 to build and fit out himself.

Mr Azhar said: 'There was a garage here and we turned it into a toilet and shower room. It was to help my parents who had to live with us because of their health.

'They couldn't get up the stairs to use the toilet and I just wanted to look after them.

'It's not like I've built a massive extension to benefit me, or to make money out of. It was just to help my family.

'I didn't go to the council and beg them for help, I just got on with it and sorted it out myself.

'I was just trying to do the right thing for my family.'

Bradford Council refused planning consent in 2011, arguing that the shower room extension was added on to an existing 9.8ft kitchen extension.

Years passed without the extension being removed - prompting Bradford Council to take enforcement action in 2022

Mr Afzar was taken to court and fined after being charged with failing to comply with an enforcement notice

It said that Mr Azhar's work effectively extended the property by 23ft and had an 'overbearing impact' on neighbours.

Mr Azhar appealed the decision but a Government inspector upheld the refusal. An enforcement notice was issued in 2012 giving a two-month deadline.

Mr Azhar claimed that councillors visiting his home told him 'not to worry' and reassured him that the work fell under the scope of permitted development.

He then said he heard nothing from the council 'for years and years' until being summoned to court, charged with failing to comply with an enforcement notice.

READ MORE: Council threatens 51-year-old father with prison after he built two family homes in rolling countryside without planning permission Advertisement

He said: 'They kept quiet for years. Once the councillors told me "it's permitted development, you don't need planning permission".

'They came out and looked at it for themselves and said not to worry. None of the neighbours have ever complained.

'If you look around here there are extensions everywhere and people have not got permission.

'It looks nice - it suits the existing house. It's not like I've used cheap bricks. I've got pride in it because I did a good job.

'It's not too high and it doesn't go out all the way to the boundary. I don't see what the problem is.'

Mr Azhar was hoping to keep the extension following his parents' deaths after being struck with mobility issues of his own.

He says he struggles to get upstairs to use the toilet and faces having to tear down the structure, only to have to apply for consent to build another, smaller, extension.

Mr Azhar pleaded guilty at Bradford magistrates' court of failing to comply with an enforcement notice. He was fined 200 and ordered to pay 800 towards council costs.

Jabran Hussain, defending, told the court: 'His parents have since passed away, and he has been hit with problems of his own that have given him serious mobility issues.

'He now understands the only way forward is to comply with the enforcement notice.

'Within two months this extension will be demolished at great expense. A new application will then be submitted to build something the council will be happy with.

'He lives a law abiding life, this was something he did for his parents.'

Speaking after the court decision, Mr Azhar added: 'I don't know what I can do now.

'They will just keep coming back and coming back. It's going to take a lot of effort to take it down.'

Bradford Council was approached for comment.
Florence Pugh's father has compared himself to a victim of the 'Post Office scandal' as council 'bullies' push ahead with yet more eco-policies that he says have wrecked his business.

Clinton Pugh, 65, has criticised plans to rapidly expand the zero emission zone in Oxford which would also see fines double for motorists.

Mr Pugh has previously spoken out against the 'hated' Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme (LTNs) - introduced in the city in 2021- which prevents cars from taking shortcuts down residential streets.

He said: 'It [zero emission zone] will take it to another level for me.

'It's difficult to know whether I will still be in business.

Clinton Pugh, 65, has criticised plans to rapidly expand the zero emission zone in Oxford which would also see fines double for motorists

Mr Pugh has previously spoken out against the 'hated' Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme - introduced in the city in 2021

Florence Pugh 's father has compared himself to a victim of the 'Post Office scandal' as council 'bullies' push ahead with yet more eco-policies that he says have wrecked his business

'The LTNs have been a complete disaster but they [Oxfordshire County Council] still haven't tried to do anything to ease the problem.

'They are deliberately destroying the economic hub of the Cowley Road area of the city.

'There are 250 businesses here  most of them with English as a second language  I think they saw us as an easy target.

'It will be like the Post Office scandal  eventually the truth will come out- we have been bullied, taken advantage of and we are all losing an absolute fortune.'

Oxfordshire County Council introduced a pilot ZEZ in February 2022 with charges in place from 7am until 7pm.

The green area of the map shows the proposed boundary of the expanded zero emission zone. The red area shows the streets in the ZEZ pilot and are currently subject to restrictions

If successful, the ZEZ will be extended to cover Oxford's entire city centre and charges could increase to between by 2025

Oxfordshire County Council introduced a pilot ZEZ in February 2022 with charges in place from 7am until 7pm

Low Traffic Neighbourhood work by blocking cars from going down residential streets

The current zone only covers nine streets in Oxford but under the new plans it would be expanded to include the wider city centre.

A consultation has been ongoing with local communities, businesses, and the public ahead of a decision in the spring.

Although the zero emission zone in Oxford is the first of its kind in the UK, the proposed restrictions come as councils in other cities including London, Birmingham and Bristol have waged war on motorists.

Mr Pugh has owned restaurants in Oxford for more than 30 years, including Cafe CoCo on Cowley Road, where Hollywood star Florence used to serve customers growing up.

The area has also lost 195 car parking spaces in recent months to make way for cycle lanes.

Mr Pugh added: 'The plans won't work  it will just push traffic out onto the ring road around the city.

Clinton Pugh pictured outside of his restaurant Kazbar which is a tapas bar on Cowley Road, Oxford

Mr Pugh has previously said that Florence had to step in one Christmas to pay his staff's wages due to losses caused by the LTNs

'The A34 is already blocked so anyone trying to pass Oxford on their way to Bicester or the M40 will get caught up in this mess.

'Everyone is wasting hours of their life and we are never going to get these hours back.'

Mr Pugh has previously said that Dune actress Florence had to step in one Christmas to pay his staff's wages due to losses caused by the LTNs.

Speaking at a council meeting in October last year, when it was decided that the LTN scheme would be made permanent, he said: 'I have noticed a huge decline in my businesses.

'I am one of the longest running business owners on the Cowley Road.

'I have had to hand one of my businesses back because I was behind with the rent and I've lost hundreds of thousands of pounds.

'We continue to struggle and if you go up and down the Cowley Road and St Clements you will notice that nearly 10 per cent of the businesses are shut, many of them replaced by other people hoping to have a go and they will also end up closing down.'

As he carried on his rant against the council, claiming the decision 'was not democratic', he recalled asking a councillor if he and his colleagues 'fancied a whip-around to help me pay the wages at Christmas'.

'Luckily my daughter did it for me,' he added.

Mr Pugh has also been at war with Oxford City Council who ordered him to take down a huge sign outside his restaurant calling out the 'ill thought-out traffic experiment'.

The billboard stated: 'Welcome to Cowley Road. Oxford's most diverse and unique road, home to the largest group of independent businesses in the country.

'It is here that Oxfordshire County Council decided to roll out their ill-thought-out traffic experiment, undemocratically installing LTNs (road closures) and removing car parking in May 2022.

Mr Pugh has also been at war with Oxford City Council who ordered him to take down a huge sign outside his restaurant calling out the 'ill thought-out traffic experiment'

Cafe CoCo has been running in Oxford since 1992 but now Mr Pugh is looking to sell it after footfall declined 25 per cent

'Surprise Surprise: In a survey 95 per cent of Cowley Road businesses said that footfall and turnover had dropped significantly since the LTNs were installed.

'They cannot survive without customers coming from other parts of the city and country.'

The city council then wrote to Mr Pugh, stating the sign was breaking planning rules as it had been erected without planning consent.

He was told he could face enforcement action as 'no advertisement consent had been sought' and risked a fine of 2,500 if he did not remove it.

Florence's father, however, defied the council, placing a new banner over the sign with the words: '1984? Censored! After 26 years of displaying signs here, Oxford City Council have demanded we remove this one. We wonder why. So much for democracy.'

Oxfordshire County Council has introduced a series of eco-policies in recent years, with the county previously being branded Britain's 'wokest' by critics.

Since clinching power in May 2021, the Lib Dem/Green/Labour alliance has introduced a ban on meat at council meetings and backed controversial traffic schemes prioritising cyclists - despite heavy opposition from residents.

But despite councillors enforcing sweeping changes affecting the lives of car-using people across the county... they have so far failed to police their own fleet of gas-guzzling vehicles.

Last year it was revealed that 387 of the 420 vehicles used by the county council were powered by diesel.

Oxfordshire County Council has introduced a series of eco-policies in recent years, with the county previously being branded Britain's 'wokest' by critics

Zero Emission Zone signs can be found throughout Oxford city centre

The authority has also sparked criticism from farmers - including Jeremy Clarkson, who owns a farm in Oxfordshire - after announcing plans to become the first council in Britain to start serving plant-based food at official functions.

Councillors behind the scheme proudly boasted, 'this is what climate change action looks like'.

But the authority did little to calm criticism after finally revealing its meat-free platter.

Rather than serving up meat reared, or vegetables grown in the county's many hectares of farmland, the platter contained kiwi, a fruit commonly flown in from far-flung locations including New Zealand and California, and pomegranates, which are usually grown in north Africa.

Councillor Judy Roberts, cabinet member for development strategy, said: 'The zero-emission zone in Oxford is all about making our city cleaner and healthier.

'The county council is currently working on proposals for expanding the zero emission zone to a larger area in the city centre.

'The proposals are draft at this stage and will be informed by our conversations with businesses and residents especially, as well as traffic and air quality modelling and a business impact assessment.

'Following a public consultation, the county council's cabinet will make a public decision on whether to expand the ZEZ.'
As well as millions in ad revenue, he also rakes it in through endorsements

As well as millions in ad revenue, he also rakes it in through endorsements

The 25-year-old said: 'I've reinvested everything to the point of stupidity'

YouTube's most followed star, real name Jimmy Donaldson, insists he is not rich

YouTube's most followed creator, MrBeast, has revealed that he makes an eye-watering 550 million a year but claims not to be rich.

The social media star, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, said everything he makes from a video or post gets reinvested into future content or giveaways.

MrBeast, 25, became the most followed individual on YouTube in 2022 and with 240 million subscribers and counting at the start of 2024 he is only closely behind Indian record label and production company T-Series in the race for the top spot altogether.

Despite those huge numbers pulling in millions of dollars-worth of advertising revenue and brand deals per video, he told TIME: 'I've reinvested everything to the point of - you could claim - stupidity, just believing that we would succeed. And it's worked out.'

The star's high-ticket giveaways over the years have included a $2.5m private jet and $2m private island, on top of millions more in cash prizes, so how does he afford it all?

YouTube 's most followed creator, MrBeast (pictured), has revealed that he makes an eye-watering 550 million a year but claims not to be rich

He said that he reinvests what he makes into future videos. Previous rewards for viewers or contestants have included a private island and a Lamborghini, as well as vast cash prizes

The YouTuber also diversifies his income with ventures into fast food, snacks and gaming

On top of the value of the prizes themselves, each video tends to involve a big budget, purpose built set, and hours of filming - up to 12,000 hours of video for just a 15-minute clip.

In return for the whopping investments, he said that each video brings in 'a couple million' in revenue through YouTube adverts, plus a similar figure for adverts inserted into the video itself - for which the brand pays a hefty fee.

In January, he made over a quarter of a million dollars through ads on one X post alone, which played before a video he reuploaded from September.

The Wichita, Kansas, native has been building up to this since February 2012, when he uploaded his first video, aged 13.

His early content revolved around harmless pranks on friends.

His first hit was a video of him taking four hours to count to 100,000. As his following grew, MrBeast moved towards the giveaways that have become his trademark.

It started small, giving away cash prizes to members of his community, but quickly gathered momentum and by 2018 he was donating $100,000 worth of products to a homeless shelter.

He has since repeated the dose to an Uber driver, a waitress, and people in parking lots.

In one video, he dropped $20,000 out of a drone and gave a pizza man the house he was delivering to as a tip.

Steffie Solomon, a stand-up comedian who worked remotely on MrBeasts TikTok channel in 2022, admitted that coming up with ideas to warrant such big budgets can be challenging.

But the YouTube sensation has also branched out to grow his brand and diversify his income - launching burger and chocolate brands as well as apps and video game tournaments, with his Feastables chocolate contributing to 70 per cent of his 2023 revenue.

However, these ventures, along with his philanthropic videos, have sometimes drawn criticism.

His burger company - MrBeast Burger - was criticised for serving up raw meat and cold fries, which led the figurehead to sue the ghost kitchen he hired for reputational damage.

But Virtual Dining Concepts hit back by accusing the lawsuit of being 'riddled with false statements', as well as 'a thinly-veiled attempt to distract' from alleged breaches in agreements between the two parties.

Amid the scandal, the YouTuber's burger venture ended in July 2023.

In the previous January, he was also criticised after releasing a video showing scores of people from the US and across the world whose severe cataracts he had removed with the help of a not-for-profit eye care organization.

Some questioned whether he was being kind for clicks, but the doctor who performed the surgery said many patients had benefited.

Similarly, he was slammed online for gifting a young waitress a new car - with critics alleging the gesture was a shameless publicity grab as the Toyota was adorned by logos for his Feastables brand.

MrBeast's Feastables chocolate brand reportedly accounted for 70 per cent of his 2023 revenue

Former employees have alleged that the YouTuber's empire has a lax attitude towards safety norms or maintaining a healthy work culture

MrBeast explained his generosity in a video in 2018.

'I genuinely enjoy helping people', he said, 'its something I've had an issue with, I'm that much of a nice guy. I dont know why - and I'm not just saying this to look good - I've just always been a really nice guy.'

A less easily explained area of criticism involves the workplace culture when cameras are not rolling.

In 2021, The New York Times spoke to 11 people who worked for the YouTuber and said his 'demeanor changed when the cameras weren't around' and described 'a difficult work environment'.

Matt Turner, an editor for the internet icon in 2018 and 2019, said he was berated almost daily and posted a video explaining the allegations.

He also wrote in a now-deleted Twitter thread that he was 'yelled at, bullied...and called replaceable by MrBeast every single day'.

Nate Anderson, who worked for MrBeast for just a week, also alleged that the YouTuber was a perfectionist who made unreasonable demands.

Gareth Boyd believes such allegations could be particularly damaging for Donaldsons business model, saying he has relied on an impression of likeability.

However, a MrBeast spokesperson said 'safety is incredibly important and taken very seriously'

MrBeast's burger company also landed the star in hot water as customers claimed they were being served up raw meat and cold fries. The venture ended in July 2023

'His personal brand is that he is an average guy who reinvests his money and he's doing it for fun,' Boyd said.

'He's not driving around in a Lamborghini, he's giving them away.

'But as he gets more and more popular the smaller inner circle that he has - he is still pretty much surrounded by childhood friends - there will be a few that eventually leave and leak stories and sometime or another the inside accounts will come out.'

Similarly, TIME reportedly spoke to a dozen former employees who spoke of a lax attitude towards safety norms or maintaining a healthy work culture, with one believing they were let go for raising concerns.

However, a MrBeast spokesperson told the outlet the company has never let anyone go for querying safety.

They added that 'safety is incredibly important and taken very seriously,' and medics and 'experienced professionals tailored to the needs of production' are on every set, stating that the company is OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) compliant.
He is Britain's most notorious inmate, with a brutal history of violence, hostage-taking and a penchant for smearing himself in butter before attacking prison staff.

But after 50 years behind bars and at least one more before he can make another bid for freedom, Charles Bronson insists all he wants is to enjoy the simplest and most serene of nature's pleasures.

The 71-year-old confessed that he longs to walk barefoot on grass for the first time in 30 years, and said if he is ever released he will go straight to a wood to 'hug a tree'.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Bronson, who lost a parole board bid for freedom last March, admitted he would miss aspects of prison life but insisted he was not institutionalised.

He remains 'disgusted' at the Parole Board decision to deny his release or a move from Category A HMP Woodhill to an open prison, and insists he should finally be permitted to enjoy life's everyday pleasures in his remaining years.

Charles Bronson is Britain's most notorious inmate, with a brutal history of violence, hostage-taking and a penchant for smearing himself in butter before attacking prison staff

The 71-year-old confessed that he longs to walk barefoot on grass for the first time in 30 years, and said if he is ever released he will go straight to a wood to 'hug a tree'

When asked what he missed most about life on the outside, Bronson replied: 'Walking barefoot on grass.

'The last time I did this was over 30 years ago. I would like to go into a greasy spoon and order the biggest fry up on the planet.

'[I want] to go to a wood and hug a tree. Enjoy the little things in life. Go to a fish and chip shop and order fish and chips. Sit on a bench to eat it, whilst watching the world go by.

'My dreams are so simple and easy. I just want peace and quiet, and sit down and create my art.'

Bronson was first convicted in 1974 for armed robbery and now spends 23 hours a day in a cell.

But he remains hopeful the Parole Board will reverse last year's decision when he next appears before the panel, which could be in 2025.

'I think they will approve my release. They have to release me,' he said.

'I was disgusted at my last parole. I had earned better than that. All my hard work in the past six years and to get nothing at all was devastating.'

The notorious inmate, who was convicted of wounding while inside prison in 1975, 1978 and 1985, was released in 1987 but was back inside 69 days later after robbing a jewellers.

He was released again in 1992 but jailed again weeks later for intent to rob. In 1994 he took prison deputy governor Aidan Wallace hostage, then three years later took two staff members and three inmates hostage in the same way.

In 1999 he took art teacher Phil Danielson hostage for two days then in 2014 assaulted a prison governor for allegedly withholding his letters.

Bronson was first convicted in 1974 for armed robbery and now spends 23 hours a day in a cell

He was convicted of wounding while inside prison in 1975, 1978 and 1985, was released in 1987 but was back inside 69 days later after robbing a jewellers

But Bronson said in the past decade he has become a peace-loving artist, with his paintings raising thousands for charities including the Born for Art Foundation, which he runs with his friend Richard Booth.

He describes himself as a 'retired prison activist' and said the prison service was 'vindictive' and kept him caged because it was fearful of what he would say once freed.

If he is able to persuade the Board that he is ready to be released, Bronson said he would miss the solitude, regime and routine of life behind bars.

'I will miss a lot of my mates,' he added.

'I won't miss the porridge though. I have had more porridge than Goldilocks and the three bears.

'But I will miss nothing else about prison. What is there to miss?

'Only institutionalised people will miss prison and that is not me. I have spent 50 years fighting to get out of here, so why would I miss this place?'

Bronson, who changed his name again to Charles Salvador in 2014, conspired with a paparazzo who presented himself as the prisoner's son last year.

But he now says he has nothing to do with George Bamby, who made 'a lot of money' from the hoax that fooled the authorities and sections of the media.

'I dream of the outside world and [just] want to enjoy what is left of my life,' Bronson said.
Survivors of America's 'Wilderness Therapy Camps' have said the death of a 12-year-old boy is just the latest damning episode for an industry that brutalizes children in the name of a bogus therapy.

The boy was transported by two men on February 2 from his home in New York to Trails Carolina, which promises parents 'trusted residential mental health programs' for their children.

When police were called to the site in Transylvania Country the next morning they found him naked from the waist down, frothing from the mouth and already stiff with rigor mortis, according to their search warrant affidavit.

He was the second boy to die at the camp. Alec Lansing, 17, was found dead in a nearby stream where he had lain for two weeks after running away in 2014.

But at least a dozen children have died since 2000 at the camps which dot the American landscape and are just one feature of the multi-billion dollar 'troubled teens' industry.

Lodgings at Trails Carolina where the 12-year-old boy, identified only as CJH, was found dead on his first night earlier this month frothing at the mouth and stiff with rigor mortis

Meg Applegate was abducted from her home at 15 by two strangers in the middle of the night and forcibly enrolled in a troubled teen programs

Kyra Frankowski was allowed a sponge bath in a bucket of water every other week and a plastic tarp for shelter after being dispatched to a wilderness camp at 14

Many offer activities such as yoga, hiking, and sessions with trained psychiatrists for a vast range of conditions including depression, eating disorders, addictions, low self-esteem, behavioral problems, stress, trauma, anxiety and hopelessness.

But former staff and campers say the reality is often an attempt to 'break' the child with punishments and extreme privation that amounts to torture.

Kyra Frankowski told USA Today she was only allowed a sponge bath in a bucket of water every other week and a plastic tarp for shelter after arriving at Second Nature Wilderness in Utah as a 14-year-old.

But she said that even the sponge baths would be abandoned as the children tried to endure the freezing winter weather in January 2014.

'I felt like I was stripped down to my most vulnerable point,' she said.

'That's what they would say was the point. They were trying to 'break us down so they could build us back up'.

'We were just at our most raw, vulnerable state, just trying to survive.'

Punishments included 'pack drills' in which the freezing teenagers were repeatedly required to unpack and repack their bags in under a minute.

The survivor said she was forcibly wrapped in her tarp and had her shoes taken away one night by a male staffer who slept next to her to pin her down.

'They don't tell you even around when you might be leaving because that's 'future tripping' - you're getting lost in future thought.'

Kayla Muzquiz said wilderness programs are wielded as threats to the 200,000 children already taking part in 'troubled teen' programs that include reform schools and residential facilities.

She found herself in the system at 12 when her mother died before being sent to the SUWS camp in rural North Carolina which closed in April last year.

'We would wake up every day and hike 10 miles with almost a 60-pound pack on our backs,' she told the Arkansas Advocate.

'It was excruciating because I had an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder, so while I was hiking, I was constantly in pain.

'They didn't do any tests to see if there was anything wrong with us before sending us out into 'the field' as they call it.

'But I almost died like three times. I woke up next to a snake, a copperhead, twice.'

Kayla Muzquiz said wilderness therapy is used as a 'threat' to children already swept up in the 'troubled teens' industry

Ian August was 14 when he died of hyperthermia at a camp in Utah on a desert hike in 95 degree heat but a judge threw out charges before they could reach trial

Caleb Jensen, 17, (left) died from fever in 2007 and Lane Lesko, 19, was shot dead by police in 2016 after running away from his camp

A study at Charles Sturt University in 2021 revealed that around half the teens in the camps are forced to attend and many are physically removed and transported from their homes by camp staff, sometimes with handcuffs and restraints.

Sarah Stusek was 17 when she awoke in the middle of the night to find her phone gone and a man and a woman standing over the bed who told her 'we're here to take you'.

'At first, I was completely frozen I couldn't say a word,' she told Newsweek.

'Then, as they approached and physically restrained me, I started screaming. I thought I was being kidnapped.

'I was freaking out, shrieking while trying to fight them off, but nobody was coming to help me.'

Her parents had decided she needed 'guidance' after smoking pot and skipping school so sent her from her home in New York to a wilderness camp in Montana.

'I had never heard of wilderness therapy before. I was never warned, or even had an inkling that this type of thing went on in the world.

'For the first two weeks, I was on suicide watch, and during my two months at the camp, we would sleep in the snow, wake up with the sun and do calisthenics to warm our freezing bodies'.

Meg Applegate said she was abducted from her home at 15 by two strangers in the middle of the night before spending three years in troubled teen programs in Idaho and Montana.

She still wakes up with panic attacks and struggles not to wolf her food after suffering chronic hunger during her placements.

But she has gone on to win a degree in psychology and found the charity Unsilenced to campaign against institutionalized child abuse in the troubled teen and youth mental health industry.

Applegate has gone on to win a degree in psychology and found the charity Unsilenced to campaign against institutionalized child abuse in the troubled teen industry

But at least a dozen children have died since 2000 at the camps which dot the American landscape and are just one feature of the multi-billion dollar 'troubled teens' industry

Glossy websites paint a picture of rural bliss offering extensive therapy for conditions including depression , eating disorders, addictions, low self-esteem, behavioral problems, stress, trauma, anxiety and hopelessness

But former Trails Carolina worker Jonathan Hyde said the reality is undertrained staff trying to cope with children whose needs they cannot meet

A primitive hut with plastic sheeting for windows is the basic accommodation at Trails Carolina, but campers say conditions are even harsher elsewhere

In 2011 Daniel Huerta, 17, (left) died in Florida when a staff member crashed the van they were travelling in, and In 2005 Anthony Haynes, 14, died at a camp in Arizona after being made to stand for hours in the desert sun on a day that reached 114 degrees

'This industry was built decades and decades ago, without any foundation of regulation, reporting, governance, anything really,' she said.

'So, how do you regulate 100 years later, when it's a $23 billion industry, and we've got 120,000 to 200,000 kids being funneled into these facilities annually?'

'Many of these programs strategically operate in the middle of nowhere, and kids can't run away.

'But also because they become the economy and so the entire town often depends on the jobs at that facility. So, you're not going to have your town really turning on you.'

Three years ago Oregon became the only state so far to regulate teen kidnapping services when it outlawed the use of handcuffs.

The grim conditions at one notorious camp were profiled earlier this year in a Netflix documentary 'Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare'.

Former military special forces officer Steve Cartisano established the Challenger Foundation in the Utah desert in the 1980s and charged parents $16,000 to supposedly tame their wayward teens by allegedly tying them to trees, taking away their rations and forcing them to carry bags of manure.

These days the camps' websites are full of glowing testimonials about how their therapeutic services have turned lives around.

But they have struggled to point to any studies that support their claims and former staff say their training is often pitifully inadequate.

Jonathan Hyde, 35, said he took a job at Trails Carolina after just three days of training in 2020.

'There were a couple of weeks there where the licensed therapist wouldn't even show up to that group, and it was her assistant who didn't even have credentials,' he told USA Today.

'One of the issues of the place is that the people that spend the majority of the time with them are not trained therapists.

'I had kids that were vocally suicidal. I had kids that tried running away. I had kids that would try and fight you.

'If you're paying that much money, I would think you'd be getting therapy multiple times a week.'

Caleb Jensen, 15, pictured with his mother Dawn Boyd Woodson and sister Marie Burgess, signed off his final letter to his family with the words 'I want my mommy'

17-year-old Alec Lansing, seen here, spent almost two weeks dead in a stream after running away from Trails Carolina on an excursion in November 2014

Former participants who went to the Trails Carolina camp in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, had described conditions as 'not humane'

All children have been ordered out of the camp by the North Carolina department of health and human services while the criminal investigation proceeds

The programs typically last 90 days and can cost around $60,000 but access was made easier in 2016 when the American Hospital Association accepted wilderness therapy as a treatment model, allowing some families to claim it on their medical insurance.

Trails Carolina said that primary therapists are working on site 'two to three days per week'.

'Therapeutic progress occurs seven days a week in the field through the assignments, activities and challenges outlined in each student's treatment plan,' a spokesman added.

But the death toll continues to mount up as families look to the wilderness as a solution to their problems at home.

In 2005 Anthony Haynes, 14, died at a camp in Arizona after being made to stand for hours in the desert sun on a day that reached 114 degrees.

Camp owner Charles Long was convicted of reckless manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison.

Two years later Caleb Jensen, 17, died from fever in a soiled and saturated sleeping bag after days of vomiting and double incontinence.

Hours earlier he had signed off his final letter to his family with 'I want my mommy'.

A judge later dismissed a grand jury indictment for child abuse and criminal negligence against New Jersey-based Community Education Centers Inc.

In 2009 Sergei Blashchishen, 16, died from dehydration and heatstroke on his first day at camp, and in 2011 Daniel Huerta, 17 died when a staff member crashed the van they were travelling in.

Trails Carolina was fined $12,000 after staff took five hours to alert authorities when Alec Lansing, 17, disappeared from the camp outside Asheville in 2014.

It took two weeks to find the nearby stream where he had died of hypothermia after falling into it and breaking his hip.

The center is currently being sued by two women who say they were sexually assaulted by other girls at the camp but were forced to stay in the same hut as their attackers, in one case being moved into the next bed along.

The North Carolina department of health and human services ordered all children out of the camp and placed a ban on new admissions in the wake of the latest death.

Police are treating the death as suspicious and in an application for a search warrant Transylvania County Deputy Andrew Patterson said officers found possible bruising around the boy's eye and foam in his mouth 'which could have indicated he ingested some sort of poison'.

'He was not wearing any pants or underwear, his pants and underwear were lying next to his right shoulder,' he added.

'During interviews camp counselors were asked how his pants got into this position and they did not know.'

Trails Carolina has insisted that the boy was repeatedly checked on during the night, including just 90, minutes before he was found dead.

Conditions in Utah's Challenger Foundation wilderness camp were the subject of a Netflix Documentary earlier this year: Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare

Jeremy Whitworth (pictured) is the co-executive director of Trail Carolina camp, based in North Carolina

It says it is 'cooperating fully with investigators', and has lashed out at 'distorted media coverage', posting a handful of letters it has received from well-wishers since the boy died.

'Their kind words are a salve to our wounds at a time when our work is being twisted by the negative narrative that is being feverishly sown online,' they wrote.

'We hope you, too, can find comfort in these words as we all continue in our work on behalf of children and families.'

Second Nature Wilderness have been asked to comment.
READ MORE: E mails reveal Lisa Wilkinson argued about one word in her Logies speech

EXCLUSIVE

Handwritten notes reveal Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten appeared to falsely believe Bruce Lehrmann's legal costs were covered by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart and a men's rights activist.

The notes were tendered to the Federal Court in Wilkinson's civil dispute against the network for about $1million worth of her own legal fees.

They were written by a lawyer acting for the network, Marlia Saunders, following a conversation with Wilkinson on December 7, 2022 - six days after Mr Lehrmann's rape charge was dropped by the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions.

It was also the day after Mr Lehrmann announced he had joined forces with commercial litigation firm Mark O'Brien Legal and was considering launching a defamation claim against Wilkinson and Network Ten.

Theories about Mr Lehrmann's representation were briefly outlined in a box at the bottom of a notebook, with one line suggesting he was being 'funded by Bettina Arndt and Gina Rinehart'.

Another set of notes taken during a meeting with Wilkinson and Ten's legal team about two months later suggested Mr Lehrmann was 'being financed by someone with very deep pockets'.

Bruce Lehrmann's legal representation during the defamation case was on a no-win, no-fee basis. He is pictured outside the Federal Court with barrister Steven Whybrow SC (right)

Pictured: A handwritten note by Marlia Saunders, a lawyer acting for Ten. The note says Mr Lehrmann was 'funded by Bettina Arndt and Gina Rinehart'

However, the speculation was wrong - Mark O'Brien Legal acted for Mr Lehrmann on a no-win no-fee basis, which means the firm will only receive payment if the case is successful.

Lawyers acting for Mr Lehrmann during his criminal trial in October 2022 worked pro-bono.

A spokesperson for Ms Rinehart told Daily Mail Australia the mining magnate 'did not provide any funding or support, and she never has'.

When the same question was put to Ms Arndt, she said: 'Dream on! I haven't paid a cent to Lehrmann's defamation lawyers.'

Ms Arndt, a vocal advocate for men's rights, has personally supported Mr Lehrmann and appeared at the Federal Court in December last year for the first day of his defamation trial against Wilkinson and Network Ten.

The note speculated that Mark O'Brien Legal was 'looking for barristers' to represent Mr Lehrmann in court.

Lisa Wilkinson is pictured with her own legal counsel, Sue Chrysanthou SC, outside the Federal Court last week

There was another note suggesting Sue Chrysanthou SC and solicitor Rebekah Giles could not represent Mr Lehrmann due to a conflict of interest.

Ms Chrysanthou ended up representing Wilkinson in the same matter.

Another meeting took place about two months later, on February 8 last year - the day after Mr Lehrmann filed a defamation claim against Wilkinson and the network.

That conversation was between Conor O'Beirne, a lawyer acting for the network, and Wilkinson.

Mr O'Beirne wrote two pages of notes during that meeting, which included ideas ranging from how the network might defend the defamation claim to theories about how Mr Lehrmann might be funding the case.

One note said: 'Lehrmann's being financed by someone with very deep pockets.'

When asked about that particular suggestion, Mr Lehrmann said: 'Must have been short arms if they were deep pockets.'

Brittany Higgins is pictured with Lisa Wilkinson after The Project interview in 2021

'My team have been running off an admirable desire to protect the rule of law.

'Might be time to remove the Kool-Aid in the [Channel Ten] office and improve intelligence gathering.'

Mr Lehrmann sued Ten and Wilkinson over her interview with Brittany Higgins on The Project in 2021, in which the former political staffer publicly alleged Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House in 2019.

He was not named in that broadcast, but claimed friends and colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

Mr Lehrmann has always denied the allegations.

Wilkinson then successfully sued Network Ten for fees associated with hiring Ms Chrysanthou to defend her in the defamation matter, rather than joining her employer's defence and using Thomson Geer.

The defamation hearing concluded in December and Justice Lee is yet to make a judgement.
At least 15 civilians were killed and two others injured during a terrorist attack on a Catholic church during Sunday mass in northern Burkina Faso, a senior church official said.

We bring to your attention a terrorist attack which the community of Essakane village was the victim of today, February 25, while they were gathered for Sunday prayer, the vicar of the Dori diocese, Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, said in a statement sent to AFP.

The provisional toll was 15 killed and two wounded, he added.

Calling for peace and security in Burkina Faso, Sawadogo denounced those who continue to wreak death and desolation in our country.

This is just the latest in a series of atrocities blamed on terrorist groups active in the region, some of which have targeted Christian churches while others have involved the abduction of clergy.

Burkina Faso is part of the vast Sahel region, which has been locked in a battle against rising violent extremism since Libyas civil war in 2011, followed by an Islamist takeover of northern Mali in 2012.

The jihadist insurgency spilled over into Burkina Faso and Niger from 2015.

When Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in 2022, it was the countrys second coup in less than a yearboth triggered in part by discontent at the governments failures to quell the violence.

Around 20,000 people in Burkina Faso have been killed in that violence, while over two million have been displaced.



Read more on FRANCE 24 English



Read also:

Last remaining members of G5 Sahel move to dissolve the anti-jihadist alliance

Dozens killed in attack by armed groups in Burkina Faso, UN says

With ECOWAS exit, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger leave democratic transition in limbo
Two brothers are furious after they kicked squatters out of their 170,000 flat but were later arrested by police who helped the trespassers move back in.

Siarhei and Aleh Pakrouski now face jail for defending their property in the El Raval neighbourhood, Barcelona.

The brothers claim they were attacked on their stairwell by the squatters, who were armed with knives, just 24 hours later.

Siarhei, 29, and Aleh, 35, called the police and the squatters vowed to leave the following day.

After the altercation, which left Aleh with a small gash on his face and a broken nose, they were advised to go to the police station to press charges.

Two brothers (pictured) are furious after they kicked squatters out of their 170,000 flat but were later arrested by police who helped the trespassers move back in

The alleged squatters (pictured) moved into their flat on December 31 and the brothers claim they were attacked on their stairwell by the group, who were armed with knives

The altercation on the stairwell left Aleh with a small gash on his face and a broken nose

By this time, the squatters had managed to replace the front door with a door from the bathroom, making the owners keys futile.

One week later, on January 15, when the squatters were out, the brothers seized the opportunity and repossessed their home.

A video obtained by MailOnline shows police officers entering the flat despite being informed by the brothers that they are the propertys owners.

Siarhei and Aleh were subsequently arrested.

In the six-minute clip, an officer from Catalonias Mossos dEsquadra force tells the pair: 'We are entering because this is the residence of other people.

It is not your residence. We have been called because a man and a pregnant woman live here.

Even though you may be the owners of the property, this is the home of those who have occupied it.

The unnamed officer then tells them that they will be punished if they use the video of their arrest.

The pair were then locked up in a jail cell for two days - during which time a second apartment which the brothers own was allegedly robbed by the squatters, who had access to spare keys in the original apartment they took over.

It comes after MailOnline last year revealed how criminal gangs of squatters are targeting second homes of British people in Spain, with some even using children as 'props' to try and shield themselves from eviction.

Article 47 of the Spanish Constitution states that 'all Spaniards have the right to enjoy decent and adequate housing' - a sentiment which has caused a legal loophole, making it extremely difficult for homeowners to remove squatters who have entered their properties.

Under Spanish law, squatters who have occupied a home for more than 48 hours and are deemed to have no other adequate housing in which to live cannot be evicted without a court order.

This process takes an average of 18 months, and can prove particularly costly with plaintiffs having to shell out for legal representation and bailiffs.

In the interim, the only way to remove squatters is to pay squatter removal firms, many of whom charge thousands of pounds to forcibly evict them.

Police reports for both Siarhei and Aleh Parouski said they were arrested for 'accessing the residence of the victim without their consent, threatening the victims to leave their home, changing the lock of the door and causing damage', and 'taking the law into their own hands'.

The squatters had managed to replace the front door with a door from the bathroom, making the owners keys futile

Under Spanish law, squatters who have occupied a home for more than 48 hours and are deemed to have no other adequate housing in which to live cannot be evicted without a court order

The brothers have also claimed that the police used disproportionate force during the arrest, including striking them in the back of the knees and elbows, choking them and injuring their wrists by tightening their handcuffs.

Documents seen by MailOnline confirm that Siarhei, who used to work in finance in the UK and elsewhere, sought medical attention for scarring and nerve damage allegedly caused by the handcuffs.

Branding Spains squatter laws stupid, Siarhei, 29, told MailOnline this week: It still makes me sick to remember sitting inside the police car handcuffed and bleeding, while watching cops help those scumbags carry their things back into our flat.

Im a normal person who is paying a mortgage and had to work really hard, and I could now end up going to jail.

A source from the Mossos said that the pair were only arrested because they caused a minor injury by attacking one of the squatters with a hammer, an allegation which the brothers deny, not as part of a question as to whether they owned the property or not.

Likewise, the force insisted that disputes over possession of a property are a judicial matter instead of a policing matter, and that who owns the property is of no interest to the police.

The brothers are fuming over what they see as preferential treatment given to the okupas- a colloquial word in Spanish for squatter.

During their two-day stay in a police cell, Siarhei and Aleh believe that the squatters made use of a backpack belonging to the brothers that was left behind in the property.

The brothers have also claimed that the police used disproportionate force during the arrest, including striking them in the back of the knees and elbows, choking them and injuring their wrists by tightening their handcuffs

The brothers are fuming over what they see as preferential treatment given to the okupas- a colloquial word in Spanish for squatter

The backpack included a set of keys for Siarheis property, located within the same block of flats.

After release, the duo made their way to Siarheis apartment, which they believe was robbed by the group.

According to an official complaint filed with police, items with a combined value of over 800 were missing from the apartment, including 335 in cash, a BBVA bank card, Alehs foreign identity card (NIE), a Calvin Klein jacket and a Prada wallet.

Given that the apartment had no signs of damage or forced entry, the pair suspect that the squatters in Alehs flat used the keys to gain entry before stealing the items.

Seven weeks after initially being squatted, Alehs flat remains occupied by the group, with attempts regularly made to violently seize Siarheis property.

According to the brothers, any attempt to regain Aleh's flat proves futile as the group of squatters threaten the pair with knives.

Despite calling the 112 emergency hotline on numerous occasions, none of the squatters have been arrested.

The brothers believe that the forthcoming judicial process, both in terms of their arrest and seeking to recover possession of the flat, could take over a year.

They said that the squatters were invited to testify over alleged minor injuries inflicted by the duo, but failed to turn up.

Siarhei, frustrated and worn out by the ongoing saga, said: 'Me and my brother might end up in jail simply for protecting what belongs to us'.
Some businesses on the island are turning their focus - and ire - toward the new arrivals

The ritzy island has long been seen as a haven for wealthy conservatives

Longtime Palm Beach residents insist newcomers from New York City are disrupting the culture

A battle between old and new money is raging in glitzy Palm Beach, as longtime residents bemoan the latest arrivals who are shaking up the culture on the island.

The battle began during the first wave of Covid-19, when newcomers streamed in from areas like New York City in a bid to escape pandemic-era restrictions.

In addition to sandy shores and warm weather, many were charmed by Florida's famously low tax rate and the promise of scoring cheaper, larger properties.

The population of Palm Beach County grew by around 13 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. This includes the neighboring city of West Palm Beach as well as Boca Raton.

However, with the arrival of new blood came undeniable tension.

The population of Palm Beach County grew by around 13 percent between 2010 and 2020, as newcomers flocked from areas like New York City to escape COVID lockdowns

However, the arrival of 'new money' - who dress differently and love to profess their wealth, longtime residents claim - has shaken up things on the island

However, the new and old blood may not be as different as they think, particularly when it comes to politics; Palm Beach remains mostly Republican, with influential supporters of Donald Trump out in full force. (Pictured: Trump's Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach estate)

'Old Palm Beachers snicker as they watch women new to the scene arrive in pink, yes, pink, Rolls-Royces, like a battalion of invading Barbies - a shocking display in a town accustomed to understated wealth,' journalist Daisy Prince wrote in a recent Vanity Fair piece.

'This new migration has brought its share of horror stories - of newcomers poaching nannies, snapping up tee times and cosmetic surgery appointments, and emitting an overall tenor of rudeness and ruthlessness.'

Palm Beach was the 10th wealthiest city in Florida last year, according to a Forbes ranking, with an average household income of $332,764 and a staggering median home value of $1,523,100.

But while the newcomers may have money, they are lacking a certain element of class, longtime residents insist - while pointing to their flashy Lamborghinis and dark tans.

Arrivals from up north also brought their culture with them, prompting locals to turn up their noses. This includes a new batch of restaurants like Harrys, a spin-off of the popular Wall Street eatery.

One local snarked to Vanity Fair that the northerners were 'going about their lives without a clue or even curiosity about others who are not like them, associating only with other people like themselves.'

Some longtime residents have chosen to leave the island entirely. One real estate executive told Vanity Fair that he and his wife had been returning to the area for 50 years before deciding that they were never coming back.

'Palm Beach always had a certain snobbery about it, but there was a gentility too,' said the man, who asked to remain anonymous.

'Ladies would go to their lunches, from the beach club to the Everglades to Ta-boo. But now its like theyve been driven out and have had to recede into their homes.'

Some establishments on the island have learned to adapt. The Colony Hotel, built in 1947, has hosted events for Vogue and Gwyneth Paltrow in recent years in an attempt to appeal to the younger crowd

The building was recently repainted a cheery pink, making it an ideal spot for photo ops

Another man - described as an 'influential figure in the arts' - told Vanity Fair 'I hate it now' and added that he was thinking about moving to the Hamptons full-time.

'Palm Beach has been overrun by newbies,' he continued. 'And the people are all paper thin, mentally. My wife and I are starving for a cultural and intellectual life.'

However, the new and old blood may not be as different as they think, particularly when it comes to politics. Many of the Covid refugees are Republicans who found themselves among the ranks of similarly minded MAGA fanatics.

And while there is nary a Trump sighting in Palm Beach - 'He eats at Mar-A-Lago,' one resident said - many of his supporters are out in full force.

Developer Stephen Ross, a billionaire real estate tycoon responsible for much of the reinvigoration in neighboring West Palm Beach, has been a major supporter of the former president.

The same can be said for Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, and investor Nelson Peltz, who heads the board of directors for Wendys.

Trump has hosted fundraisers for conservative groups on the island, but Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom and representatives from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have also dropped by.

Amid the rift between old and new money, some businesses have concentrated their effort towards targeting the latest arrivals.

The Colony Hotel, built in 1947, was recently repainted an Instagrammable pink. Patrons can also buy logo-embellished merchandise online.

In the past, the hotel has hosted dinner for Vogue, a party for Martha Stewarts CBD gummies and celebration for the 15th anniversary of Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop - all moves that could be seen as embracing pop culture and concepts familiar to younger generations.

Palm Beach was the tenth wealthiest city in Florida last year, with an average household income of $332,764 and median home value of $1,523,100

Since taking over the Colony, owner Sarah Wetenhall said she has seen the community in Palm Beach become younger and more diverse, while the average age of guests has dropped by several decades

Membership fees for private clubs across the island continue to rise as newcomers fight to end up at the epicenter of the social scene

'The momentum started pre-Covid and then accelerated,' owner Sarah Wetenhall told Travel and Leisure. The third-generation Palm Beach resident purchased the hotel in 2016 along with her husband Andrew.

'Anyone who was thinking about moving down here came in full force during the pandemic,' Wetenhall said.

Since taking command of the Colony, she has seen the community in Palm Beach become younger and more diverse. The average age of hotel guests has decreased by several decades.

'To a lot of folks, the veil around Palm Beach has been lifted, and it's more accessible,' Wetenhall explained.

Another shift can be seen among the island's private clubs, which serve as a longtime symbol of wealth, status and connections.

A new name on the block is Carriage House, a club specifically targeting affluent Gen X-ers, that opened in April 2022.

Carriage House touts itself as 'a modern conception of a classic English social club' featuring gaudy decorations like leopard-print ceilings and brightly colored furniture.

The dining club is shuttered for half the year. It has yet to gain the status of older establishments and only has 231 members. Many hail from New York and Europe and have shelled out $250,000 to be at the epicenter of the social scene.

But despite scornful locals who remark that the club looks like it was made for social media, people are vying to get in - knowing there is nothing more humiliating than being left out in the cold.

This competition is reflected in rising membership fees across the island. As more newcomers fight to be included, certain clubs are raising the bar for entry.

A TikTok page titled 'Class of Palm Beach' serves as a new-age version of the Palm Beach Daily News, documenting the day-to-day outfits of people on the island

Palm Beach's sandy shores, warm weather and famously low property taxes drew thousands to the island during the first wave of Covid-19

'Palm Beach has had a tension between new and old for a long time,' said designer Celerie Kemble, who was raised on Palm Beach.

Despite others' observations of a socio-cultural shift, she insists that the community has maintained its 'inherent identity' up to the present day.

Rather than be destroyed, cultural icons are being reimagined. A TikTok page titled 'Class of Palm Beach,' for instance, serves as a new-age version of the Palm Beach Daily News, a local paper filled with photos of the ultrawealthy.

The account aims to capture what people on the island wear day to day. Even online, they are not safe from scrutiny as shrewd commenters draw conclusions based on demeanor and style of dress.

About one woman: 'This is old money. So classy.'

About another: 'She seems like newer money, saying prices and all.'

The account is the brainchild of 28-year-old Devorah Ezagui, who lived in Palm Beach for part of her childhood and returned last year.

When scoping out people to feature, Ezagui looks for those who appear to have 'really put intention into their outfit.'

'People are trying to look for inspiration,' she told the New York Times.

It is yet to be seen whether Palm Beach's infrastructure will be able to accommodate the new flood of arrivals as available space continues to shrink

Bridges over the Intracoastal Waterway teem with commuters as people head to work in neighboring West Palm Beach (pictured)

It is yet to be seen whether the island's infrastructure will be able to accommodate the new flood of people.

This strain is reflected in gripes from longtime residents, one being the difficulty to get kids enrolled in one of the few private schools.

Palm Beach has no public transportation system and available space is shrinking. Waterways brim with yachts and bridges over the Intracoastal Waterway teem with commuters.

'Old wealth used to wake up on the island all the time and never come over to West Palm for jobs,' said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.

'The difference now is youre not dealing with an average age of 75. Youre dealing with an Ivy League-educated 42-year-old with three kids who bought a home on the island for $8 million and needs to come over to West Palm for a job every day.'

Steps are being taken to diminish the congestion, albeit gradually. The Coast Guard and elected officials instated new rules to reduce the number of times one of the bridges could be raised during rush hours.

And it is not all doom and gloom. Some longtime residents are happy to welcome new blood to the neighborhood.

'It still feels like home to me, and there are a lot more interesting people around,' said Celerie Kemble, an interior designer and Palm Beach native of Palm Beach.

Nick Hissom, cofounder of Aktion Art gallery, echoed her point.

'Theres definitely been a lot more diversity, integration, young people, mixing of age, culture and industries,' he added.
America's best and worst states for singles have been laid bare - with Florida earning first place.

The Sunshine State's litany of theme parks, festivals, and eateries helped it score well, while second-place Texas also earned high marks due to its abundance of attractions.

In third place was California, which even with its high cost of living, performed almost as well as the two top states. Close behind were New York and Pennsylvania, fueled by their host of dating opportunities and fun-factor.

At the other end of the scale West Virginia ranked worst for singles, despite boasting a lower cost of living than the entire rest of the country.

Finance firm WalletHub came up with the rankings by comparing states across three key dimensions. These included dating economics, opportunities, and romance and fun - each added for a 'total score', averaged, and ranked one through 50.

The US's best - and worst - states for dating have been revealed by finance firm WalletHub

The Sunshine State's litany of theme parks, festivals, and eateries helped it earn the distinction of best state for dating when it comes to singles

The website wrote upon releasing its list late last month: 'Florida is the best state for singles in part due to its large variety of attractions. It ranks first in the nation for the number of theme parks, restaurants and music festivals per capita.'

Mentioning sites such as Disney and Universal, the personal finance site proceeded to point to the fact that the southernmost state of the Lower 48 also has venues for those who may be more Mother Nature-minded.

'If youre less inclined to do something indoors, the state also ranks highly for the most nature parks per capita,' analysts wrote, citing Florida's myriad of beaches and other attractions like the Everglades.

In addition to being a hive for date spots, WalletHub found Florida had an abnormally high amount of residents looking for love - pointing to Google searches from citizens analyzed over the course of the study.

There, the names of dating sites like Tinder, Match.com, and Eharmony loomed large, 'plus general terms like dating and online dating,' study author Cassandra Happe notes.

Those terms were typed at a noticeably higher rate than 'most other states', Happe said - after she and other analysts pegged the peninsula as the third best for dating opportunities, and first when it comes to fun and the potential for romance.

The two states to beat it in terms of opportunities - unsurprisingly - were New York and California, which ranked first and second, respectively.

Overall, though, the coastal locales placed fourth and third - after they each ranked last and next-to-last in terms of economics. Next worst in that category was Massachusetts, which ranked fourth in dating opportunities. It placed 11th overall.

The website wrote upon releasing its list late last month: 'Florida is the best state for singles in part due to its large variety of attractions. It ranks first in the nation for the number of theme parks, restaurants and music festivals per capita'

Mentioning sites like Disney (seen here in 2021) and Universal, the personal finance site proceeded to point to the fact that the southernmost state of the Lower 48 also has venues for those who may be more Mother Nature-minded

The Everglades were among some of the natural attractions pointed out by analysts as potential date sites, with tours of the famed marshland being a prospective outing for singles

The runner-up, meanwhile, was none other than The Lone Star State, which scored seventh in terms of dating opportunities, and fourth for its potential for romance and fun.

That said, it only ranked 19th economically - still in the cheaper half of the sample set that was also graded using 29 other relevant metrics.

Spread across the three categories, those metrics included the percentage of single adults and average price of alcohol - each weighed with a different amount of points.

Those points were then added together to give each state a score out of 100, corresponding to each of the three main categories.

To award states' final rank, analysts simply added those scores together and divided by three - before ranking the resulting score and corresponding states with numbers one to 50.

With this in mind, Texas also ranked high for its impressive amount of movie theaters, restaurants, gyms and amusement parks - a phenomenon Happe called 'befitting' of such a large, populated state.

Further helping matters was Texas's abundance of bars, as well as a boisterous economy marked by the state's recent employment growth.

Moreover, search histories show how Texas residents are almost as eager for love as Floridians.

Texas too earned high marks because of an abundance of potential venues. Pictured, the city of Houston, one of the main driving factor's to the Lone Star State's recent economic growth

Despite its high cost of living, California claimed third, 'for much of the same reasons as the other top states,' workers at WalletHub wrote

California, meanwhile, claimed third place 'for much of the same reasons as the other top states,' workers at WalletHub wrote.

'Since its such a large, heavily populated and diverse state, it provides endless opportunities for date venues.

'California residents also search online for dating opportunities at high rates,' the report continued - before pointing out one 'unique area' where Californians stood out above the rest.

Citing psychological surveys she and her team employed, Happe wrote: 'People in the Golden State are less likely than people in most states to show signs of attachment avoidance, or discomfort with intimacy.

'In other words, if youre looking for commitment, California is a good place to search,' she said.

An impressive amount of amusement parks, eateries, theatres and natural attractions like Yosemite helped the state even further, even with its abysmal affordability score.

Not far behind was its far-flung counterpart all the way out east, New York, which while a little less impressive in terms of natural wonders, did well when it came to dating opportunities and fun factor

Echoing this performance - albeit to a lesser degree - was its neighbor to the south in Pennsylvania, which ranked sixth and fifth in those categories, respectively. Pictured: The city of Lancaster, in South Central Pennsylvania

Illinois, meanwhile, came in sixth - thanks to a fifth place finish in opportunities, 34th in dating economics, and eighth in romance and fun

In last place was West Virginia, despite boasting a lower cost of living than the entire rest of the country. Pictured: An aerial view of the state's Capitol building in downtown Charleston

Analyst Cassandra Happe said: 'The best states are ones that provide a wide variety of venues for dates and have a large population of singles who are actively looking for a partner. The unfortunate tradeoff is dating usually isnt cheap in states that provide these ideal conditions'

Best states for singles 1 Florida 2 Texas 3 California 4 New York 5 Pennsylvania 6 Illinois 7 Wisconsin 8 Ohio 9 Virginia 10 New Jersey 11 Massachusetts 12 Georgia 13 Minnesota 14 Missouri 15 North Carolina 16 Michigan 17 Colorado 18 Arizona 19 Connecticut 20 Washington 21 Utah 22 Indiana 23 Oregon 24 Vermont 25 Nevada 26 Maryland 27 Tennessee 28 Rhode Island 29 New Hampshire 30 Iowa 31 Louisiana 32 Delaware 33 Alabama 34 Idaho 35 Montana 36 Nebraska 37 Oklahoma 38 Maine 39 Kansas 40 Mississippi 41 South Carolina 42 New Mexico 43 Hawaii 44 South Dakota 45 Wyoming 46 Kentucky 47 Alaska 48 Arkansas 49 North Dakota 50 West Virginia Advertisement

Not far behind was its far-flung counterpart all the way out east, New York, which while a little less impressive in terms of natural wonders, did very well when it comes to dating opportunities and fun.

Echoing this performance - albeit to a lesser degree - was its neighbor to the south in Pennsylvania, which ranked sixth and fifth in those categories, respectively.

Propelling it to fourth was a more moderate 29th place finish in the financial category - compared with New York's 50th place.

Illinois, meanwhile, came in sixth - thanks to a fifth place finish in opportunities, 34th in dating economics, and eighth in romance and fun.

Rounding out the top ten were Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia, and New Jersey, for a sample set mostly dominated by the East Coast and to a smaller extent the Midwest.

California and Texas were the only two in the top to not come from either of those regions, which was also largely represented by states like Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Michigan, and Connecticut in the top 20.

Another southern state to place in that sect was Georgia, which came in 12th, along with Colorado, which scored 17th.

Eighteenth place Arizona and 20th Washington finished the top 20, which states like Utah, Indiana, Oregon, Vermont, and Nevada narrowly missed.

States to perform poorly, in contrast, were located either outside the contiguous US - like Hawaii or Alaska - or in relatively empty, isolated, or landlocked locales, like Appalachia, the badlands of the American Midwest, or the mountain-rife Ozarks.

The geographical settings of the bottom three - Arkansas, North Dakota, and West Virginia - each coincide with at least one of these descriptions.

The latter scored dead-last likely due to its confined setting in the Appalachian Mountains and its small, tight-knight population - which analysts found to be less than optimal when it comes to romance.

A cost of living roughly eight percent below the national average was not enough to save the state, which ranked only 36 in terms of date affordability.

This could be because West Virginia possesses a less than average job growth rate when compared to the rest of the nation, as well as a lower median credit score.

Unemployment rates for singles and non-singles also did not help - with West Virginia's unemployment rate currently sitting at 4.3 percent, nearly a full percent above the national average.

Each of these metrics were looked at and weighed when dishing out the state's dating affordability score - as was the average price of a Starbucks latte.

Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions for singles who are actively dating.

Analysts then determined each states weighted average across each to calculate the states' overall score, using the results to rank-order the states.

Find the full list to the right.
Alexei Navalny kept his sanity in Russian jail by making jokes and 'mocking the border guards', according to a survivor of the same gulag.

Four decades ago, Soviet dissident and Israeli former minister Natan Sharansky, 76, endured nine years in the same bone-chilling Arctic facility where Navalny died.

Though they never met, the inter-generational activists formed a historic friendship revealed through deeply personal letters they exchanged in 2023.

They bonded over a shared sense of humor and how little the Russian prison system has changed since Sharansky was an inmate - which is detailed in his memoir, Fear No Evil.

Navalny, 47, said it was Sharansky's book which gave him 'hope' for the future of Russia in his final year behind bars in the IK-3 colony around 155 miles east of Moscow.

Speaking with DailyMail.com in the wake of his death, Sharanksy hailed Navalny as a 'hero' and revealed the methods they each used to stay sane amid horrific conditions.

Alexei Navalny (pictured) kept his sanity in Russian jail by making jokes and 'mocking the border guards', according to a survivor of the same gulag and his friend Natan Sharansky, 76

It was most recently reported that Navalny died of 'sudden death syndrome', but no details were given to back this claim up

Sharansky was a chess prodigy as a child, and he said playing the board game in his mind was what helped him through 100 days of near-starvation and solitary confinement in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, enduring the same torture methods 40 years later, Navalny coped by 'mocking the border guards' employed to enforce the Orwellian system.

'I was in a small room, like six square meters, very cold, they take away all the warm clothes,' Sharansky told DailyMail.com on Thursday.

'Three pieces of bread, three cups of water a day, nobody to talk to, nothing to write or read, no bed, no normal table.

'You have to remind yourself through all this why youre there and to find the way to feel very deeply that you are in the middle of the struggle, to continue saying no to KGB and not to give up to this pressure which you experience every moment.

'In my case I also played a lot of chess in my head, in Navalny's case I think he was spending a lot of time joking (and) mocking the border guards.

'But you really have to find a way to both be very serious and feel yourself in the center of the struggle, and to laugh at the system, to dismiss it - to overcome it.

'You become physically weaker and weaker, you are losing weight, but its important not to lose your moral integrity.

'Its surprising how similar our experiences were thats why it was very easy for us (to become friends) without knowing one another before.'

Sharansky praised Navalny for 'keeping his six meters of freedom against all the odds' in his cell, and condemned his murder as 'an awful, cynical killing of a real hero'.

The two activists were strangers when Navalny began their correspondence - penning his first letter to Sharansky from IK-3.

'Navalny wrote to me in his letter that "your book makes me feel very optimistic because one regime already fell",' Sharansky added.

'He knew that they could kill him, but this regime is doomed, and thats what gave him optimism.

'And it was the same with me - we knew the (Soviet) regime was doomed. I didnt know if I would get out alive - but I knew the regime was doomed.

Four decades ago, Soviet dissident and Israeli former minister Natan Sharansky, 76, endured nine years in the same bone-chilling Arctic facility where Navalny died

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

Canadians protesting in support of Sharansky on his 35th birthday on the 115th day of his hunger strike in a Soviet prison

You decide that your freedom doesnt belong to them, it only belongs to me,' he added. 'By saying no to KGB you are part of this historical struggle against this regime the struggle continues.'

Sharansky named former Washington Post columnist Vladimir Kara-Murza and Russian opposition leader Ilya Yashin as two prominent activists carrying the torch from Navalny.

He added that 'more and more ordinary people inside Russia' are also growing uncomfortable with the increasingly authoritarian stranglehold Putin wields over them.

'The more uncomfortable people feel, the more they resist, and the more efforts the regime has to spend to keep them under control,' he said. 'It will fall.'

Sharansky said there are several networks inside and outside of Russia keeping up the fight against Putin - including those writing letters to prisoners inside the gulags.

Crowdfunding efforts to support political prisoners have also gathered hundreds of thousands of dollars, including one telethon organized by several independent media outlets last summer which raised $34.5 million rubles ($415,000).

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.
It is well organised. It appears to have a war chest brimming with cash. And some of the political slogans being used by the candidates it is endorsing are deeply disturbing.

The Muslim Vote (TMV) is a political campaign group that claims to represent Britain's four million-strong Muslim community. And it is planning to support scores of candidates at the next Election, posing a serious threat to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who is already embroiled in a crisis over anti-Semitic comments made by members of his party.

The catalyst for the campaign group's launch in December was Starmer ordering his MPs not to support a parliamentary motion the month before from the SNP, which called for an 'immediate' ceasefire in Gaza. Last week's debacle in the Commons over a similar vote, again tabled by the SNP, could only have reinforced the group's mission.

The charged feelings inside the Commons last week were matched by the fervour of pro-Palestinian protesters outside, some of whom projected the offensive battle cry 'From the river to the sea' on to the Elizabeth Tower. To see those words, 300ft high, underneath Big Ben must have heartened TMV's backers.

Not least its leader and pro-Palestinian activist Muhammad Jalal, who The Mail On Sunday revealed two weeks ago led the now banned terrorist group Hizb ut-Tahrir between 2000 and 2007 under his real name Jalaluddin Patel. He has been poring over the size of Labour majorities in individual seats where those with small leads will worry for their futures if the Muslim vote in their constituencies is swung against them.

Leanne Mohamad addresses the crowd at a pro-Palestine protest outside the Israeli Embassy

Patel, who says his role with TMV has only been to collect data and says he is no longer a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, has tweeted that his campaign will target 55 MPs at the next election. The group plans to help put up candidates in those constituencies where MPs voted against or abstained on an immediate ceasefire motion.

High upon Patel's list of targets is Wes Streeting, the Shadow Health Secretary, who is seen as a future party leader. A TMV-endorsed independent candidate and pro-Palestinian activist, Leanne Mohamad, is standing against him in his Ilford North constituency.

Streeting is vulnerable, too  he won his seat, which has a 27 per cent Muslim electorate, with only a small majority of 5,218 in 2019.

In the constituency, a poster taped to a bus stop shows a box on a ballot paper, sloganed with the phrase 'Vote for genocide, vote Labour'. It was positioned opposite a Jewish bakery. The image has been reposted on social media by supporters of the TMV campaign.

Mohamad is likely to tap into anti-Israeli sentiment among many of Streeting's constituents. Like other independents, she has used lurid language to attack her rival.

'Every Western politician who greenlighted these war crimes has the blood of over 3,000 Palestinian children on their hands,' she said.

She has addressed pro-Palestinian marches in Central London and spoke at the first international conference of the Peace & Justice Project, founded by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, last November. She was put forward by an outfit called the Redbridge Community Action Group, which describes itself as a 'grassroots organisation belonging to Ilford North that came together after we witnessed the grotesque genocide in Gaza'.

And, tellingly, an online event with the Redbridge group was hosted by TMV.

Many more Labour MPs face similar challenges. In Shadow Business Minister Rushanara Ali's Bethnal Green and Bow constituency, the lawyer for ISIS bride Shamima Begum  who, on Friday lost her appeal against the removal of her British citizenship by the Home Office  is standing against her.

'I am going head to head with Rushanara Ali and the Labour Party war machine,' declared Mohammed Akunjee. 'Her refusal to vote for a ceasefire is a betrayal of her humanitarian sentiment.'

The warning to Starmer from TMV could not be clearer: 'We are not just a movement of talk.

'We mean business. For the first time, the Muslim community has united and is acting as one at the ballot box.

'We've come well prepared. We will no longer tolerate being taken for granted. We are a powerful, united force of four million acting in unison. We are focused on seats where the Muslim vote can influence the outcome. We are here for the long term.

'In 2024, we will lay the foundations for our community's political future. The upcoming elections in the UK signal a shift. Muslim issues at the forefront.'

In a rallying cry earlier this month, TMV added: 'Labour are worried about their damned polling numbers... We are watching the casualty numbers. We will not support those who have failed to back a ceasefire. Muslims agree that the current political class does not represent us.'

So who is behind this group plotting to bring down so many senior Labour MPs? A coalition of Muslim businessmen, financiers and pressure groups  some of which are listed on the TMV website, although the exact nature of support, whether financial, professional or otherwise, is not spelt out.

Among these supporters is the Muslim Association of Britain, an organisation whose current director Dr Anas Altikriti is on record as supporting Hamas. When asked about the terror group seizing hostages on October 7, he replied: 'The taking of hostages is a very important part of any strategic sort of military action or act of resistance.' He also denied Hamas engaged in 'mass slaughter' and rape on October 7, saying: 'It's an Israeli lie.'

Another backer is Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), which last month opposed Parliament's decision to outlaw Hizb ut-Tahrir  an Islamist movement seeking to unite Muslims under one Islamic caliphate  as a terrorist organisation.

The group, which as we've revealed was once run by the supposed leader of TMV, praised the October 7 massacre, describing Hamas as 'heroes' on its website, and urged Muslim countries: 'Get your armies and go and remove the Zionist occupiers.'

Despite this, MEND said in a statement that it 'condemns the Home Office proposals to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation as an anti-democratic move'. In his review last year of the Government's Prevent strategy for countering non-violent extremism, the former chairman of the Charity Commission, William Shawcross, wrote: 'MEND has a history of partnering with actors of extremism concern.' For example, MEND's former Director of Engagement, Azad Ali, lost a libel case at the High Court in 2010 against the Daily Mail, which had described him as a 'hardline Islamic extremist who supports the killing of British and American soldiers in Iraq'.

In response, MEND said that the legal action took place before Ali joined their organisation. But the then Home Secretary Suella Braverman doubled down on the criticism. Speaking in the Commons last year, she said: 'Let us be clear... Muslim Engagement and Development is an anti-Prevent group, with a history of partnering with actors of extremist concern.

'Prevent has been routinely smeared by such groups as a vehicle for spying on Muslims. They have slandered those who work with Prevent to combat Islamist extremism as disloyal, sinful or native informants  derogatory terms that are entirely unacceptable in our free and liberal society.

Demonstrators wave Palestinian flags during a protest in Parliament Square in London

'We must combat those pernicious fallacies.'

Another signed-up supporter of TMV is Islamic Finance Guru, run by brothers Ibrahim and Mohsin Khan, both of them solicitors. They have drawn up around 3,000 wills to help people leave money to a number of Muslim charities. Among these charities is Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), which was founded in the UK in 1984. 'Here at Islamic Relief, we've done all the hard work for you,' says its website. 'We've teamed up with Islamic Finance Guru (IFG) and their team of expert solicitors to offer you a simple solution for creating your Islamic will. You can access a free will-writing service which is fully compliant with Islamic law and domestic law  and it just takes 20 minutes to complete.'

In June 2014, Israel banned IRW from operating in the West Bank. Moshe Ya'alon, then Israel's defence minister, said: 'The IRW is one of the sources of Hamas's funding and a means for raising funds from various countries in the world. We do not intend to allow it to function and abet terrorist activity against Israel.' The allegations were denied by the charity. 'There is no credible evidence that we have seen, and we have got to challenge it,' Naser Haghamed, IRW's chief executive said in 2020.

Another supporter of TMV is the similarly named organisation, The Muslim Vibe  a media platform, hosting podcasts, news and videos by Muslim contributors.

One essay, published last month, was replete with claims of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians by the Israelis. 'This is the ideology that the Nazis had adopted. The idea of a 'superior race' due to which they saw the Jews as 'animals'.

'We can connect such concepts to what we see today easily. In today's world, someone like Netanyahu [Israel's Prime Minister] does not see Palestinians as people who deserve to live in their land peacefully. Many Israeli agents have described explicitly that their objective is to deprive the Arabs of basic necessities, like water, food and medicine.'

TMV, which did not respond to requests for comment, flags up constituencies where there is at least a 10 per cent Muslim vote.

'We will help you determine whether your local area should put up an independent. We will share with you a step-by-step guide to organising a local campaign. We have thousands of volunteers ready to help you. From knocking on doors to crafting political materials. We have multiple pro bono legal organisations ready to help you navigate the legal issues that inevitably come your way. We will work with you to secure the funding you need for your local campaigns.'

Palestine flags have been put up in Ilford, where Labour's Wes Streeting is set to face competition from TMV-endorsed independent candidate Leanne Mohamad

Their efforts will help the campaign against Labour's most senior elected Muslim, Shabana Mahmood, the Shadow Justice Secretary, in Birmingham Ladywood. In November's vote on Gaza she abstained.

Akhmed Yakoob, a lawyer, who has been selected as an independent candidate, was introduced as the 'next MP for Ladywood' when he spoke alongside Jeremy Corbyn at a pro-Palestine rally last month in Birmingham attended by more than 5,000 people.

He has 112,000 followers on Instagram and 165,000 on TikTok, where he says: 'Shabana Mahmood abstained from voting for a ceasefire, she chose to sit on the fence while 4,000 babies were killed.'

The independents are pushing at an open door. The Labour Muslim Network (LMN) commissioned a poll by Survation that showed if there was an Election tomorrow, 43 per cent of Muslims would vote Labour, dramatically down from that 86 per cent achieved at the last Election.

The LMN said Labour's approach to the war was 'deeply offensive' to British Muslims. 'The Labour leadership must change paths now or risk losing the support of the Muslim community for a generation.'

The party faces a tough week ahead as Thursday's Rochdale by-election nears. Starmer was forced to withdraw backing for its candidate Azhar Ali, who was exposed by The Mail On Sunday and the Daily Mail making revolting anti-Semitic slurs at a meeting in Lancashire. A second parliamentary candidate, Graham Jones, was suspended after it emerged that he, too, had made anti-Semitic comments.

The bookies' favourite in Rochdale is now far-Left firebrand George Galloway whose campaign banners feature the flag of Palestine. Whoever wins, the by-election will shine an uncomfortable light on Labour's divisions over Gaza. But as Starmer tries to reconcile the conflicting views among his MPs on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, he will soon find difficulties much closer to home.

The TMV is in advanced talks about putting up a candidate to oppose the Labour leader in his very own Holborn and St Pancras constituency.
A former Nationalist MP who was deluged with violent threats from online nationalist trolls after defecting to the Tories last night told of her turmoil at being forced to go into hiding.

Dr Lisa Cameron, 51, said she had no option but to decamp to a countryside safe house for fear that they would carry out their online threats.

One horrifying email sent to the mother of two after she crossed the House of Commons floor read: Listen... your time living on this earth will come to an end soon, be careful.

Another troll threatened to brick her in the street, while one said they hoped she burned.

Dr Lisa Cameron was told by vicious internet trolls that she would be bricked in the street

The MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, who has two daughters, Olivia and Charlotte, said: I thought, I have to protect my girls. I had to move the family out of our home while our house was fitted with security measures.

The Houses of Parliament security detail installed reinforced doors and windows on her three-bedroom home in South Lanarkshire and also fitted four panic alarms.

In a soul-baring interview with The Mail on Sunday, Dr Cameron, a former NHS clinical psychologist, has also told how:

She was never accepted in the SNP because she is a Christian;

Senior Nationalists treated her like a hysterical woman when she divulged her mental health battle;

She pretended to her children that they were going on holiday when they went into hiding.

Dr Cameron said: The divisions in politics today, and particularly Scottish politics, are really quite upsetting. Weve had situations where politics has descended into such depths that good MPs across the parties, such as Jo Cox and David Amess, who I was very friendly with, have lost their lives for serving their constituents and I just couldnt take the chance. That is a very sad place for our politics to be.

Former Labour MP Ms Cox was shot and stabbed by a far-Right fanatic outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, in 2016, while Conservative MP for Southend West Mr Amess was murdered by a terrorist in 2021.

Dr Cameron, whose husband Mark was an SNP councillor before becoming an Independent after her ordeal, said: It puts off a lot of really good people going into politics that we really do not want to put off. We want people with all different backgrounds, all different religious beliefs, disabilities, all different kinds of issues to come into Parliament to make it a rich, debating place.

These issues and the toxic level of politics undermine democracy.

The MPs decision to defect from the SNP to the Tories in October, engineered by the personal intervention of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, sent shockwaves through the Nationalist party.

But although it might have come as a surprise to outsiders, for Dr Cameron and her family her move away from the SNP  and the cause of independence  had been on the horizon for some time.

Following her decision to speak up in support of the harassment victim of MP Patrick Grady, she was ostracised by colleagues.

She had urged them to think about the junior staff member who was the victim of the former SNP chief whips approaches, but she said they became increasingly hostile.

She said: I have worked as a psychologist all my life and I have worked with victims of abuse, giving evidence as an expert witness in court about historical abuse, about sexual harassment.

Its very difficult for people to come forward  we should be giving support to the victim. I feel that is the professional thing to do.

I felt there was little interest in acknowledging the impact on the victim. I started to then lose faith in the party.

Another red flag for Dr Cameron, a practising Christian, was the SNPs treatment of Kate Forbes during the party leadership race.

Ms Forbes was bashed by the party, she said  including by former Deputy First Minister and close Nicola Sturgeon ally John Swinney, who claimed it was not appropriate for the former Scottish finance secretary to become leader given her values.

Dr Cameron said: The way people withdrew support from her made me feel that Christian views are maybe tolerated to some degree but not accepted within the party. I dont want to be tolerated as though theres something wrong with me. I want to be, as a Christian, accepted.

Another disappointment was the party leaderships silence when she plucked up the courage to speak about her mental health trauma.

Dr Cameron told how the stress saw her suffer severe anxiety and panic attacks, attending 12 months of counselling sessions and being prescribed antidepressants.

While MPs from Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems contacted her to check on her welfare and offer support, there was nothing from the SNP and no attempt to investigate her concerns.

Even when her mental health battle was made public, senior Nationalist Mike Russell simply dismissed it as an odd tantrum, a response Dr Cameron felt was demeaning and misogynistic as he had painted her as a hysterical woman.

Jo Cox was tragically murdered in 2016

She said: There was a moment when my GP said, I can keep prescribing you these antidepressants, but its not a biochemical issue. Its to do with your environment, and its not going to improve unless you change your situation. I think at that point, I knew he was right.

Having been on the House of Commons cross-party health group during the pandemic, Dr Cameron had also increasingly felt a gnawing at her conscience over her stance on independence.

She said: I had been doing a lot of work with amazing scientists right across the UK who were developing the vaccine and I was thinking, my goodness, isnt that crucial that we are all working together in the UK. The Ukraine war happened as well and I was thinking that Scotland should be part of a strong defence system.

I was also doing a lot of work on digital finance through the cross-party group structure, and I was understanding how key London City and the finance structures are. I didnt feel like the SNP had come up with how, financially, Scotland would be able to go independent.

Those issues, paired with the SNP becoming embroiled in a police investigation into its finances  Operation Branchform  tipped Dr Cameron over the edge.

She said: I felt nationalism was so divisive and toxic. Just because people believe in nationalism doesnt necessarily mean theyre competent to run the country.

Her concerns surrounding the toxicity of Scottish politics were to be proved correct when, in October last year, the Prime Minister helped her to leave the party she had once considered family to join the Tories  and the internet trolls went into overdrive.

She said: One in particular got to me, they told me that someone was going to brick me in the street. Then there was someone else that had said they hoped I burned. Another read: Listen... your time living on this earth will come to an end soon, be careful.

Dr Cameron added: I thought, I have to protect my girls. That was my main consideration as soon as I defected. The family had to move to the countryside for about ten days while a risk assessment was undertaken.

With only one suitcase each, they made their way to a safe house. Dr Cameron said: We tried to make it out like we were going away, so it felt like a new thing for the children. But we were distressed and panicky and they could sense something was wrong.

She continued: You dont want them to think any of your actions are adversely impacting them. I certainly dont want to ever put them at risk. So it was just very, very important that we followed all the advice that was given by the party, by security and Parliament.

Even now, Dr Cameron cannot be photographed at her own home in case the trolls hunt her down.

She said: You dont know which threats could be acted on, or which come from someone who is just angry. I wouldnt want anyone else to go through that experience.

It has been a traumatic ordeal, but one which has given her a new-found perspective on what matters in life.

Dr Cameron isnt planning to stand again as an MP. She has also swapped medication for the gym.

She said: I am focused on holding my girls close and checking on them emotionally. I am prioritising being a mother  that is the most precious thing of all.

Ms Forbes was bashed by the party, she said  including by former Deputy First Minister and close Nicola Sturgeon ally John Swinney, who claimed it was not appropriate for the former Scottish finance secretary to become leader given her values.

Dr Cameron said: The way people withdrew support from her made me feel that Christian views are maybe tolerated to some degree but not accepted within the party. I dont want to be tolerated as though theres something wrong with me. I want to be, as a Christian, accepted.

Another disappointment was the party leaderships silence when she plucked up the courage to speak about her mental health trauma.

Dr Cameron told how the stress saw her suffer severe anxiety and panic attacks, attending 12 months of counselling sessions and being prescribed antidepressants.

While MPs from Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems contacted her to check on her welfare and offer support, there was nothing from the SNP and no attempt to investigate her concerns.

Even when her mental health battle was made public, senior Nationalist Mike Russell simply dismissed it as an odd tantrum, a response Dr Cameron felt was demeaning and misogynistic as he had painted her as a hysterical woman.

She said: There was a moment when my GP said, I can keep prescribing you these antidepressants, but its not a biochemical issue. Its to do with your environment, and its not going to improve unless you change your situation. I think at that point, I knew he was right.

Having been on the House of Commons cross-party health group during the pandemic, Dr Cameron had also increasingly felt a gnawing at her conscience over her stance on independence.

She said: I had been doing a lot of work with amazing scientists right across the UK who were developing the vaccine and I was thinking, my goodness, isnt that crucial that we are all working together in the UK. The Ukraine war happened as well and I was thinking that Scotland should be part of a strong defence system.

I was also doing a lot of work on digital finance through the cross-party group structure, and I was understanding how key London City and the finance structures are. I didnt feel like the SNP had come up with how, financially, Scotland would be able to go independent.

Those issues, paired with the SNP becoming embroiled in a police investigation into its finances  Operation Branchform  tipped Dr Cameron over the edge.

She said: I felt nationalism was so divisive and toxic. Just because people believe in nationalism doesnt necessarily mean theyre competent to run the country.

Her concerns surrounding the toxicity of Scottish politics were to be proved correct when, in October last year, the Prime Minister helped her to leave the party she had once considered family to join the Tories  and the internet trolls went into overdrive.

She said: One in particular got to me, they told me that someone was going to brick me in the street. Then there was someone else that had said they hoped I burned. Another read: Listen... your time living on this earth will come to an end soon, be careful.

Dr Cameron added: I thought, I have to protect my girls. That was my main consideration as soon as I defected. The family had to move to the countryside for about ten days while a risk assessment was undertaken.

With only one suitcase each, they made their way to a safe house.

Dr Cameron said: We tried to make it out like we were going away, so it felt like a new thing for the children. But we were distressed and panicky and they could sense something was wrong.

She continued: You dont want them to think any of your actions are adversely impacting them. I certainly dont want to ever put them at risk. So it was just very, very important that we followed all the advice that was given by the party, by security and Parliament.

Even now, Dr Cameron cannot be photographed at her own home in case the trolls hunt her down.

She said: You dont know which threats could be acted on, or which come from someone who is just angry. I wouldnt want anyone else to go through that experience.

It has been a traumatic ordeal, but one which has given her a new-found perspective on what matters in life.

Dr Cameron isnt planning to stand again as an MP. She has also swapped medication for the gym.

She said: I am focused on holding my girls close and checking on them emotionally. I am prioritising being a mother  that is the most precious thing of all.
Heard the one about the politician who sounded the death knell for Scotlands oil and gas industry, then cast himself as its saviour?

The chancer in question was Humza Yousaf, who, on a visit to Aberdeen last week, claimed to be a friend of the North-East.

This wouldnt be the same Humza Yousaf whose party opposes all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea and was the first to call for a windfall tax on the industry?

Douglas Ross says 'ordinary Scots are fed up' of the SNP

This wouldnt be the same First Minister who gave a speech less than six months ago demanding Scotlands status as the oil and gas capital of Europe be consigned to history, despite 100,000 livelihoods, and our energy security, relying on it?

It is indeed  which is why no one bought his absurd claim.

This week the Scottish Conservatives return to Aberdeen for our annual conference.

Given were the only party unequivocally backing Scotlands oil and gas sector, we have an altogether more convincing claim to be a friend of the North-East.

And, as we gather in the Granite City, our mission is one that should appeal to people up and down the country: the chance to show Humza Yousaf the door.

Ordinary Scots are fed up to the back teeth with this incompetent First Minister shambling from disaster to disaster. Because, while theres a temptation to view him as a figure of fun, this is extremely serious.

He and his party are doing real damage to Scotland  and they must be stopped from doing more.

The legacy of a decade and a half of SNP rule can be seen every day in our hospitals, schools and crumbling front-line services. Scots are paying more to get less.

Crime, transport, housing, investment, infrastructure, growth  you name it, its got worse under the Nats.

But the way in which Humza Yousaf is attempting to, in his own words, wing it, using bluster, deflection and denial to ignore the crisis he and his colleagues have created, adds insult to injury.

Its an approach that saw him fail in a string of ministerial jobs  and now as First Minister.

Even within his own party, the knives are out.

A terrible result for the SNP at the next election would finish him. Ideally, it would see the back of the SNP, too.

Scotland is stuck. It desperately needs a government focused on the issues that matter, like restoring our schools and NHS, fixing roads and putting more money into the pockets of hard-working families.

The SNPs appalling record shows they cant deliver that. Humza Yousaf  living up to his billing as a Continuity Sturgeon leader  is still distracted by internal scandals and his partys obsession with independence.

In another misstep last week, he managed to ignore his own party conferences decision, by making up a new policy for independence on the hoof and returning to the claim that the SNP would have a mandate to break up the UK through winning the most Scottish seats in a general election.

At our conference, my party will show Scottish voters that were united in our determination to prevent that, and instead offer policies that address their real priorities.

Policies to take Scotland forward. With a solid plan for NHS recovery which will increase access to GP appointments and increase the number of doctors and nurses.

With reform of education, to restore standards in schools and tackle classroom violence.

By tackling crime and giving our police, courts and prison service the resources they have been starved of by the Nats.

Well address the tax gulf created by the SNP that means Scots pay the highest taxes in the UK  something that hits hard-pressed households, holds back business, discourages skilled workers and stymies the economic growth we need to pay for essential services.

Practical measures only being offered by the Scottish Conservatives.

In seats across the country, it is only the Conservatives who can topple the SNP.

Voters also know that many of the SNPs worst decisions  from gender recognition to additional taxes  were supported by Labour.

Humza Yousaf has staked what little reputation he has on delivering a Tory-free Scotland  an insult to hundreds of thousands of Scots, who made us the second-biggest party at Holyrood.

But its typical of the SNPs divisive us and them approach  constantly putting their constitutional obsessions above the real priorities of Scottish people and twisting every exchange with the UK Government into a manufactured grievance, rather than an opportunity to advance Scotland.

Humza Yousaf knows this is just red meat for the extremes of his nationalist base.

But hes also acutely aware that the Scottish Conservatives can wipe his party off the map in huge swathes of the country. Thats especially true in areas neglected, undermined and treated with contempt by the Nats.

Thats not just the energy sector, which Humza Yousaf, like Keir Starmers Labour Party, has betrayed.

Its the whisky industry, battered by the SNPs minimum pricing, the Greens deposit return fiasco, and the threat of advertising bans and yet more taxes.

Tourism, hammered by endless red tape and regulation on short-term lets, and with the seemingly endless ferries fiasco and failure to upgrade roads putting off visitors.

Agriculture and fisheries, which have not only received little support but now must cope with the enormous cuts in the SNPs latest tax-and-axe Budget.

And every business, of course, has been badly hit by the Nationalists failure to pass on the funding provided by the UK Government for rates relief, and the imposition of higher taxes and costs which firms in the rest of the UK dont face.

Its this which prompted the chef Nick Nairn to warn that Scotlands hospitality industry is at risk of decimation.

Forgotten Scotland knows, from bitter experience, the damage caused by the inept, divisive policies of Humza Yousafs party.

Scots who have to deal every day with the consequences of the SNPs skewed priorities, which can fund an independence Minister and endless fantasy papers on breaking up the UK yet fail to provide adequate public services across much of the country.

Those voters know that, under devolution, almost every area of policy in Scotland is the SNPs responsibility, and the failures theirs to own.

Theyve seen the havoc their mismanagement has brought about and cannot wait to see the back of them.

That will require people to come together, as they did for the referendum a decade ago, to ensure that the SNP cannot once again put their incessant bid to break up the UK at the top of the agenda, while Scotland declines further.

The SNP are weaker than they have been for more than a decade, as the consequences of their policies come home to roost.

The party is mired in scandal and disorder, and Humza Yousaf fumbles from crisis to crisis.

In this years election, voters have a real opportunity. By backing the Scottish Conservatives, the only challengers to the SNP in much of the country, they can ensure Humza Yousafs party has not just a bad, but a terrible election, and see off this abysmal First Minister.

Our priority, as our conference slogan declares, is Taking Scotland Forward. Its a direction, and a promise, that only the Scottish Conservatives can offer, and that only we can deliver.
South Carolina Republicans showed their love for Donald Trump on Saturday giving him a resounding victory in the states Republican presidential primary.

Voters in the first-in-the-south primary state chose Trump over one of their own, former governor Nikki Haley, but they also had mixed views on putting another South Carolinian on the presidential ticket.

Senator Tim Scott endorsed Trump after suspending his own bid for the White House last year and fiercely campaigned for the former president across the state. At a town hall on Tuesday, Trump confirmed his vice president short list includes Scott among others.

Hes been such a great advocate. I have to say this in a very positive way, Tim Scott, he has been much better for me than he was for himself, Trump said.

South Carolina voters DailyMail.com spoke to agreed that Scott has for better or worse tied himself to Trump, but it did not mean the Trump supporters were as enthusiastic about Scott on the ticket. And for those who backed Haley, it is all downhill discussing Scott from there.

I want him to choose a strong VP and if that's who that is, I'm more than happy to support Tim Scott, said Trump voter Thomas Faulds, 54, thoughtfully.

Another Trump voter, Kay Spencer, 62, was not sure about Scott as vice president, but she does 'love him' and would have voted for him had he stayed in the presidential race.

Scott speaking on Saturday at Trump's election night party in South Carolina after Trump won the state's primary crushing Nikki Haley in her home state

Scott gesturing before Trump spoke at a rally on the eve of the South Carolina primary on February 23

Scott sitting next to Trump at a Fox News Channel town hall on February 20 in Greenville, SC. During the town hall Trump confirmed Scott was on his VP shortlist along with five others

Helen Moore, 65, who is a resident of Scotts hometown of North Charleston and voted for Trump in the primary was open to the idea of having Scott as vice president.

'I don't really have an issue with it,' she said. 'I think Trump admires him. I personally know Tim Scott and have worked with him. I knew Tim Scott when he was just running for city council and he used to come in to the zoning department to get maps from me and stuff.'

Tim is probably as good as any, said Alan Douglas, 69. He liked that the senator is a solid christian conservative but he also suggested South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem would be a smart choice.

Scott was on Trumps short list along with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Congressman Byron Donalds, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Noem.

In the CPAC straw poll on Saturday, Noem and Ramaswamy tied for first-place for who attendees wanted to be Trump's running mate. Scott tied for third with 8 percent.

Scott speaking at a Trump campaign rally in Concord, New Hampshire on January 19

As Trump and Scott played up their bromance ahead of the primary, some voters were not buying.

I think Tim Scott, just like all the rest of the candidates who dropped out, theyre saying things, positioning themselves if not to be his vice president, to have some prominent position in his cabinet, said Zenda Leaks, 61, who thought everything Scott did was just to 'advance his career.'

For those who liked Haley, there was a visceral dislike for how Scott turned on his fellow South Carolinian.

Im really shocked that he did not support Nikki Haley because shes the one who appointed him, said veteran Ronald Smith, 64. I mean Im really shocked at how that relationship has just gone sour like that.

Haley appointed Scott to fill the Senate seat back while she was serving as governor in 2013 after Senator Jim DeMint retired.

Scott speaking in 2012 at the South Carolina Statehouse after being introduced by then-Governor Nikki Haley to fill the Senate seat of retiring Senator Jim DeMint

Married North Charleston couple Chad, 52 and Cynthia Plasters, 54, both voted for Haley in Saturday's primary. Cynthia did so as a Democrat trying to rob Trump of the GOP nomination, but Chad said hes an independent whos ideologically aligned with the former South Carolina governor.

'Sad,' Chad replied with a laugh when asked about Scott's support of Trump. 'Mainly because the reason he has a job is because of Nikki.'

'He's just a smile and nod guy now,' Cynthia added. 'I can't stand it. He has no opinion. He's wiped all of his own opinions away.

Barbara Bates of Goose Creek said she knew Scott personally dating back to his time on the Charleston County Council. She had a harsher view when asked about Scott backing Trump.

The way he came off in New Hampshire, he might as well just got down and licked his feet,' she said.

Bates was referring to Trumps New Hampshire primary victory speech where Trump suggested Scott must really hate Haley. Scott attempted to salvage the particularly awkward primetime moment by shouting into the microphone 'I just love you!'

'You know what's really sad? Trump's gonna throw him under the bus so fast, Barbaras husband Bill Bates said. It's pathetic.'

It's crazy how he's flip-flopped, said Nancy Hade, 65, of Goose Creek on Scott.

But Trump supporters celebrating at his victory party in South Carolina Saturday night did not hold Scotts short-lived presidential bid challenging Trump for the nomination against him. Scott received one of the more rancorous cheers as Trump heaped praised him for his work on the trail before Scott had his moment.

Is South Carolina Trump country? Scott shouted from the podium.

The crowd went wild.
The last couple rescued from a burning tower block in Valencia refused to believe they were about to meet their deaths as they were plucked from the building and saved by fire crews.

Dramatic footage captured Sara Jorge, 26, and her Belgian boyfriend Ammar Deruyck being carried to safety from the balcony of the burning 14-storey block on Rafael Alberti Poeta Street, which caught fire at 5.30pm on Thursday.

Local authorities in the Spanish city say 10 people have been killed in the blaze; Ms Jorge and Mr Ammar have spearheaded a fundraising effort for those left homeless by the tragedy, which has raised 12,000 to date.

Ms Jorge said she thought she and Mr Deruyck 'were going to die' - but both refused to believe it was their time.

They are understood to have been renting a flat in the two-tower complex - and were captured on camera pacing up and down the balcony screaming for help as the fire continued to consume the apartment block.

Sara Jorge and her boyfriend Ammar Deruyck were carried to safety after becoming trapped in the Valencian apartment complex

She revealed they had initially dismissed fears of a fire before it took hold and eventually closed off their escape route

Sara Ammar were pictured signalling to rescue workers for help as the building

Sara and Ammar were pictured being plucked from the bonfire by fire crews as the tower in Valencia burned

Ms Jorge previously told Spanish media she and her partner went into 'survival mode' as the fire took hold

The pair have spearheaded a GoFundMe fundraiser to help others who, like them, have been affected by the fire

Locals survey the gutted remnants of the two-part apartment complex after the fire was extinguished. Residents are being moved into other accommodation

Images of Ms Jorge and Mr Deruyck were broadcast across the world as firefighters used an elevated platform to pluck them from the burning building

A woman lays flowers at the scene of the fire on Valencia's Rafael Alberti Poeta Street, which took hold on Thursday evening

Fire crews were seen using a raised platform to reach the couple before taking them to safety as colleagues hosed down the surrounding building.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Jorge said: 'Once we jumped from our flat to a balcony and could see the flames all around us, that was the moment we thought we were going to die there.

'But I said to my boyfriend: 'I refuse to die.' The conditions around us were telling us it would happen - but I just knew it wasn't our time.'

READ MORE: Valencia fire: Dramatic moment firefighters save couple from seventh floor of the burning building Advertisement

Ms Jorge, who is described on various websites as a foreign exchange trader, said she and her partner lived on the eighth floor of the building.

They had initially dismissed fears of a fire elsewhere in the complex, going back inside after a neighbour told them something was wrong.

But soon the building was up in flames, fanned by 40mph winds that helped the fire spread across the exterior of the building, sealing off their escape route.

They climbed onto a side balcony and tried to make themselves visible to rescuers - all the while, never giving up hope.

She added: 'We refused to hug because that was a sign of giving up. We gave each other just a little kiss. And then we started seeing the firemen coming towards us.'

The couple previously spoke to Spanish media about their brush with death.

Ms Jorge said: 'It was a very emotionally charged situation. It was more than two and a half hours trapped on our balcony but the important thing is were still alive.

'We went into survival mode to come out of this alive. The firefighters were telling us they were trying to put out the flames above us as well as below us.

'They were incredible. They risked their lives to save us and thats why were here today.'

Amar admitted: 'You always think something like this could happen to others, but not to you.'

The couple has spearheaded a fundraising campaign to support their fellow residents on GoFundMe. It has raised 12,198 (10,425) to date, with a provisional target of 130,000 (111,000).

It reads: 'Hello, we are Ammar and Sara. We were the couple trapped on the eighth floor of the Campanar, Valencia fire at Rafael Alberti Poeta Street.

'We are raising money for all the victims of the building (more than 130 households). People lost their possessions, their families, and all their belongings in a matter of 2 hours.

'Any help and donations are welcome and will be distributed to all the victims in the right manner. Thank you very much.'

She later posted on her Instagram: 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your messages', with a heart emoji.

The cause of the fire, and how it was able to spread to quickly, are still being ascertained by investigators

Forecasters said winds of up to 40mph were recorded in Valencia that day, which may have swept the flames along the building

The fire raged across the two-part apartment complex, which is up to 14 storeys tall in places

Residents of the flats who were evacuated embrace on the ground after escaping with their lives on Thursday

Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez (centre) visited the scene of the tragedy on Thursday

Officials attend a minute's silence for the victims of the Valencia fire on Saturday after the death toll rose to 10

Valencia's mayor Maria Jose Catala (right) said it was too early to determine how the fire was able to spread so quickly amid speculation about the cladding used on the building

Fire investigators assess the charred shell of the apartment block on Friday after the blaze was extinguished

Pilar Bernabe, national government delegate in Valencia, said 10 bodies were found in the first police inspection of the gutted residential buildings.

She said the bodies matched with the list of 10 people that authorities had deemed missing. A newborn baby and a three-year-old girl are among the dead.

One of the buildings that makes up the two-part complex is reported to have contained 138 apartments and some 450 residents, with locals staying in hotels until they can be moved into newly built social housing.

The complex in Valencia was finished in 2009. In a promotional video, the now bankrupt construction company Fbex boasted that it used a new aluminum-based material as part of its facade.

READ MORE: Hundreds hold five-minute silence to remember the victims of Valencia tower block fire Advertisement

Valencia mayor Maria Jose Catala said earlier the fire's cause is still unknown and that she could not yet comment on whether some materials used in the construction of the modern complex might have worsened it.

Neighbour Alejandra Alarcon said that it took 15 minutes for the fire to engulf the entire building as questions abounded as to how the fire spread so rapidly.

Experts suggested that a type of cladding might have made the blaze spread faster.

Vice-president of the Valencia College of Industrial and Technical Engineers Esther Puchades told state news agency Efe the cladding used included polyurethane and when 'heated it is like plastic and it ignites'.

She said it was the first fire of its type in Spain, but that other blazes involving the material have been similarly destructive in the UK and China.

The IPUR, Spain's polyurethane manufacturers' association, issued a statement contesting Ms Puchades' claim, saying there was no evidence that polyurethane was used in the Valencia building's facade.

The June 2017 fire at Grenfell Tower in London, which had similar cladding, caused 72 deaths.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the scene, promising support for those affected and expressing gratitude to firefighters and military personnel who worked to extinguish the blaze. Pope Francis also sent a telegram of condolences.

Officials also staged a minute's silence on Saturday to commemorate the victims of the tragedy.
He came to fame playing the shaven-headed heroin addict Renton in the blockbuster Trainspotting.

However, Scots star Ewan McGregor has revealed his role in a forthcoming TV series required him to get his first perm in decades.

Perth-born McGregor, 52, is starring in an adaptation of Amor Towless novel A Gentleman in Moscow.

McGregor stars as Count Rostov in new series A Gentleman in Moscow

It sees him take on the role of the fictional Count Rostov, who finds himself on the wrong side of history after the end of the Russian revolution in 1923.

The Hollywood star, who is also an executive producer on the series, has told of the steps he took to get Count Rostovs look just right.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, he said: I went down to London and got my hair permed, which is something I hadnt done since the 90s, and then dyed it dark brown.

The perm faded out and the colour faded a bit, and that was really conducive to his ageing.

Ewan McGregor and his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead star in the series

McGregor in Lipstick on Your Collar

McGregor last sported dark brown curly locks while starring in Channel 4 musical drama Lipstick on Your Collar in 1993.

However, while his look in the hit saw him take on the 50s stylings of a Teddy boy, his role as Count Rostov bears more resemblance to Omar Sharif in the epic 1965 movie Doctor Zhivago.

In A Gentleman in Moscow, which will be screened this year, McGregor stars alongside his real-life wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

She plays the counts love interest Anna Urbanova. In one scene, Anna falls out with the count for tidying her room without permission, going on to snub him for years.

Commenting on the contrast between their real and on-screen relationship, McGregor said: To be in love and married to somebody, and then to get to play all those cold- shoulder scenes, was just hilarious.
Time for the weekly CBC Ottawa news quiz. How closely have you been paying attention over the past seven days? (Trevor Pritchard/CBC - image credit)

NOTE: The news quiz will be taking a hiatus over the next two weeks. It's slated to return Sunday, May 17.

What did France Belisle cite as a motivating factor behind her decision to resign as mayor of Gatineau, Que.?

What have Canadian senators been issued amid rising concerns about security on Parliament Hill?

And which pro lacrosse team will be relocating to the nation's capital after the current season?

These are just a few of the questions designed to vex and perplex you in this week's CBC Ottawa news quiz.

On a desktop computer? For the best quiz-taking experience, click on the arrows in the bottom right-hand corner of the quiz widget to expand it. Not seeing anything on mobile? Try taking the quiz here.
An internal poll of Republican voters at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) found that Donald Trump again is their overwhelming top choice for president.

Trump won the vote decisively with 94 percent of the vote to Nikki Haley's 5 percent. He also received a 96 percent job approval rating, with only 3 percent disapproving of his job performance as president out of the 1,478 poll respondents.

It's the seventh year in a row that the former president dominated the annual poll as the choice for Republican nominee. He outperformed his March 2023 poll performance, where 62 percent of attendees listed him as their top choice going into 2024.

The win for the former president comes the same day he is facing off against Nikki Haley in the South Carolina primary. He addressed his adoring supporters earlier on Saturday declaring himself a 'political dissident' before departing to the Palmetto State for his expected victory speech this evening.

Out of the 17 potential running mates for Trump listed on the survey entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Kristi Noem tied at 15 percent of the vote.

Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard came in third place at 9 percent and Rep. Elise Stefanik and Sen. Tim Scott both landed in the fourth place spot tied at 8 percent.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders were all among the choices for voters at the conservative conference.

The poll represents the clearest choice among Republicans for the vice presidential spot as speculation has swirled for months about who Trump could pick to be his No. 2.

It's the seventh year in a row that the former president dominated the choice for Republican nominee

Sen. Tim Scott rallies for Trump at a campaign stop in South Carolina

Gov. Kristi Noem has been a top contender for VP pick

Chatter about Trump's running mate kicked off in earnest this week after the former president was asked by Fox News host Laura Ingraham Tuesday about a list of potential choices.

The list included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

Trump confirmed they were all on his short list.

'Honestly all of those people are good. They're all good, they're all solid,' he said.

The CPAC respondents also overwhelmingly think that Joe Biden will not be the Democratic nominee in 2024, and predicted former First Lady Michelle Obama would step in to fill his spot at 47 percent.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom came in second place at 32 percent.

The former president praised Tim Scott during his Friday rally in South Carolina.

'He ran, and he was OK,' Trump said of Scott's 2024 campaign. He ended his run in October.

'He's a respected guy. But he ran and he did fine, and then when he got out he endorsed me and he's a surrogate. He's the greatest surrogate I've ever seen.'

'This guy went from modest, high-quality man, introducing his mother  who's incredible, by the way,' said Trump.

'He's a much better representative for me than he is a representative for himself. And it's true. And that's a great compliment. And you know why? Because he's a high-quality person. He doesn't like talking about himself,' said Trump in Scott's home state.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, who were included in the straw poll, both spoke Friday at the conference.

The potential running mates spoke highly of the former president during their remarks, galvanizing voters behind Trump.

'I have stood in the breach for President Trump, for the Constitution, and most importantly for you - the people - in some of toughest fights of our Republic,' Stefanik said Friday.

Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is also in the mix as a potential VP pick

'I have stood in the breach for President Trump, for the Constitution, and most importantly for you - the people - in some of toughest fights of our Republic,' Stefanik said Friday

Gov. Ron DeSantis was notably absent from CPAC this year

Noem mocked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris directly, questioned their leadership of the country and touted her own conservative credentials while thrilling the crowd in Washington.

'I'm just going to say it. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris? They suck,' she said, prompting wild applause from activists in the room.

She also indicated that Biden might not even make it to the November election and ripped into the White House for failing to address the border.

'We need to face the facts, Joe Biden is not going to the president and Kamala is not a backup plan,' she said.

Noem praised Trump for his leadership, reminding the audience that she was one of the first politicians who stepped up to endorse Trump in 2024 - even when people were suggesting she run her own campaign.

'I said no, why would would run for president if you can't win,' she said. 'I didn't said it to be nice. I said it because it was a fact.'

Former Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also appeared at CPAC, with a passionate speech defending former President Donald Trump and calling Democrats 'dictators' who want to 'destroy democracy.'

'I've met a lot of strong tough people in my life, I can't think of a single one who could not only withstand all that is coming at Donald Trump without crumbling, but someone who would actually choose to keep fighting against the entire Washington establishment,' Gabbard, D-Hawaii, said.
EXCLUSIVE

An ex-inmate has lifted the lid on the treatment police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon should expect behind bars after allegedly murdering his ex-boyfriend and his new partner - including a pubic-hair filled mattress, verbal abuse, and vomit-worthy food.

Lamarre-Condon, 28, is in protective custody after handing himself in at Bondi Police Station on Friday over the alleged deaths of Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird, 26, and Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies, 29.

Police will allege the senior constable murdered the couple at Mr Baird's Paddington apartment, in Sydney's inner-east, sometime on Monday before disposing of their bodies - which are yet to be found.

He has been charged with two counts of murder and has been remanded in custody at Silverwater Correctional Complex while his matter remains before the courts.

Revelations emerged on Sunday that Lamarre-Condon is alleged to have sent decoy texts from Mr Baird's phone after allegedly killing the Channel 10 presenter.

Reformed bank robber Russell Manser, who served 23-years behind bars in prisons across the country, said Lamarre-Condon would have spent his first night in the Darcy Unit at the Metropolitan Remand & Reception Centre (MRRC).

The MRRC is one of three correctional facilities at Silverwater and is a maximum security complex for male offenders.

Reformed bank robber Russell Manser (pictured) has given the low down on what conditions Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon will face in prison

Beau Lamarre-Condon, 28, (pictured) is currently in protective custody after being charged with two counts of murder

Manser said the unit is notorious among criminals for being one of the worst places to be incarcerated - with inmates confronted with disgusting food and cell conditions.

'That joint is something beyond Mad Max, beyond Thunder Dome. Talk to any crim, they will say it is the lowest of the low,' Manser told Daily Mail Australia.

'In 2011, I was in prison there, and an inmate who had come from Indonesia said it was worse than Kerobokan [which is one of the most overcrowded and underfunded prisons in the world.'

'I got pushed into the cell the first day and there was a turd on the floor. No toilet paper to pick it up. No nothing.

'On the first night he will want to end it. I'm telling you. [That place] is the most putrid, of putrid putrids.'

Manser said inmates in the unit would be 'lucky' to get a full size mattress, as prisoners usually rip the foam apart to make a pillow as they are not given one.

What remained of the foam mattress would be 'full of pubic hairs' from previous inmates, Manser said, and prisoners are fed 'tv dinners' that are bordering on expiry.

'The tv dinners are cooked at another jail, frozen, then reheated at the jail,' he said.

'Some of them are 12 months old. They serve them to you the day before the use by date.

Police will allege he murdered his ex-boyfriend Jesse Baird, 26, (right) and Mr Baird's new partner, Luke Davies, 29 (left)

'People say "you should be lucky to be served food at all". But that food is f***ing dangerous. You always had an upset stomach.'

Despite living in horrid conditions among some of the most dangerous criminals, Manser said it was the food that still 'gives him nightmares'.

'You are given the meal and you eat in your cell - you will be sitting on the toilet, or the bed, wherever there is room,' he said.

'If you leave the container in your room, by the morning, if it has been a hot night, that thing stinks.'

Manser said Lamarre-Condon would likely be locked down in the unit for two weeks straight while he gets processed.

Under protective custody, Manser said Lamarre-Condon would be kept in a cell by himself, and 'no one would get near him' as he would have two officers escorting him at all times he is transported through the prison.

He said other inmates at the facility would be 'lucky to get 40 minutes exercise' a day and they would be 'dirty' because they would have to be locked down in their cells to allow Lamarre-Condon to go out for his session.

'He is meant to get an hour a day, but he will get 20 minutes. He would come out, have a few laps and then get to use the phone,' Manser said.

Manser said inmates are allowed to have six numbers on their phone as well as two legal contacts.

The inmates in this section of the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Prison include alleged killers and bikie gang members

Inmates are pictured inside the exercise yard attached to Darcy Block 1 and 2

Pictured: Silverwater Metropolitan Command Centre, where Lamarre-Condon will likely spend the next two weeks being processed

Inmates are allowed to make one six-minute recorded phone call, but must wait another 15 minutes before they are permitted to make a second call to prevent prisoners from 'hogging the phone'.

Despite being in protective custody, Manser said Lamarre-Condon would still be in earshot from the other prisoners and would face verbal abuse.

While Lamarre-Condon identifies as a homosexual, Manser said that would not make him a target - all abuse would result from his status as a police officer.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Family of former Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird break their silence after he and his boyfriend were allegedly murdered Jesse Baird (left), 26, and Luke Davies (right), 29 Advertisement

'No one gives a s**t about that,' Manser said of Lamarre-Condon's sexuality.

'But if they could gain access to him, he would get dropped [for being a cop].'

Manser said authorities would spend the next two weeks processing Lamarre-Condon to figure out the best facility to place him in.

The former inmate said the cop would likely get sent to the special purpose prison at Long Bay, which is typically the correctional centre of choice for politicians and police officers.

Manser said Lamarre-Condon's time in jail will likely be 'very easy' compared to others as inmates with a prestigious background are treated better due to 'double standards' in the prison system.

'They use that prison for people like crown witnesses and corrupt coppers. That is where they sent [former Crime Commission boss] Mark Standen and Roger Rogerson,' he said.

'I think it makes sense that is where they will put him. It is not guaranteed, but that is where they usually go.

'When coppers, politicians, anyone like that, does jail, they don't do the same jail as anyone else does.

'Different food. Different conditions. And treated with gloves by the prison officers. They look after their own.'

Manser said Lamarre-Condon's background training as a police officer would offer him an advantage navigating the legal system.

If convicted, he believes the police officer would be sentenced to around 35 years in prison, with a minimum term of 24 years.

Manser's comments come after it was revealed Lamarre-Condon is alleged to have sent decoy texts from Mr Baird's phone after allegedly shooting him.

Police will allege the 28-year-old used Mr Baird's phone to send two lengthy texts to the former Studio Ten reporter's housemates claiming that he was moving to Perth.

It's believed Mr Baird had been 'kicked out' of the Paddington terrace last week due to the messy state of the home.

Mr Baird's housemates informed him, via text messages, that a cleaner had been scheduled to arrive at the property on Thursday.

In the first text message, Lamarre-Condon allegedly told Mr Baird's housemates he would collect the furniture and put it in storage because he was moving to Perth on Thursday, police sources told the Sunday Telegraph.

Lamarre-Condon was charged after he handed himself into police at Bondi following a massive manhunt (Lamarre-Condon is pictured being led away for questioning by detectives)

Manser said Lamarre-Condon's status as a NSW Police officer would put a target on his back

Lamarre-Condon then allegedly sent a second text asking for the housemates to put Mr Baird's furniture, including his bed head, onto the street.

One police source said the text messages initially made detectives think Mr Baird was still alive.

However, another police source labelled the messages as an 'amateur' attempt to justify Mr Baird's absence.

'[They appeared to be] quite an amateur attempt at creating a story so people would not be suspicious when the victim never returned home,' the source said.

Concerns were raised for the welfare of Lamarre-Condon's ex-boyfriend, Mr Baird, and Mr Baird's new partner, Mr Davies, after the couple's bloodied belongings were found dumped in a Cronulla skip bin on Wednesday.

Police then attended Mr Baird's unit were they allegedly found blood, broken furniture, and a bullet and shell casing, sparking grave concerns for the missing couple who were last seen on Sunday night.

Police will allege Lamarre-Condon murdered the couple sometime between 12am and 5.30pm on Monday February 19.

He then allegedly hired out a white Toyota Hiace van around 9.30pm that evening, which was used to take their bodies to an unknown location.

Lamarre-Condon then allegedly drove the van to a house in Newcastle on Thursday night before returning to Sydney the following morning, where a relative negotiated with police for the officer to hand himself in to police.

The van was found abandoned in Gray's Point later on Friday, while police are continuing to search for Mr Baird and Mr Davies' bodies.

Lamarre-Condon did not apply for bail during a court appearance on Friday and will appear again in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on April 23.

Anyone with information that may assist police with their investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A female prison officer was jailed for 11 months after twice being caught trying to smuggle drugs to her 'bad influence' boyfriend in jail.

Kassan Twitchin, 19, first tried to smuggle cannabis into the privately run Clarence Correctional Centre, 130kms north-west of Sydney, on October 15, 2023.

She had started working there when she was 18 and was bringing the drugs in for Zachary Ashcroft, who she was in an 'unsavoury relationship' with.

But Twitchin was caught, her employer Serco fired her and she was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and bringing a prohibited drug/plant into place of detention.

Just over a month later, she was caught trying to smuggle a prescription opioid medicine known as 'bupe strips' into the prison, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Prison officer Kassan Twitchin (pictured), 19, was jailed after twice being caught trying to smuggle drugs to her 'bad influence' inmate boyfriend

READ MORE: A rare look inside the prison where Australia's worst murderers, rapists and gangsters spend their days - as jailers speak frankly about how they keep control Two inmates are pictured exercising during a 20-minute lunch break from labouring in a textile workshop Advertisement

Twitchin was again caught, charged, and pleaded guilty to the charges of 'bring listed/scheduled poison into place of detention and possess/attempt to, prescribed restricted substance'.

On January 9, she was jailed for a minimum of 11-months in a local court.

Due to being a former prison guard, when she was sent to Silverwater Correctional Centre in Sydney, Twitchin was held in protective custody and locked alone in her cell for the majority of the time.

She appealed her sentence on the basis of her protective custody conditions being 'particularly onerous'.

On January 30, her case was heard in the NSW District Court and Judge Robert Newlinds found Twitchin had been manipulated by Ashcroft.

The teenager's family told the court they 'hated' him.

'Mr Ashcroft has been, to say the least, a very bad influence on the offender,' Mr Newlinds said.

'It seems clear enough to me that he had some sort of psychological hold over the offender because of their relationship and convinced her that it was a good idea for her to do what she did.

'(The drug offences were done) in a very unsophisticated and I think amateurish way, attempting unsuccessfully on both occasions to smuggle the drugs into jail.'

Judge Newlinds re-sentenced Twitchin, ordering her to serve an intensive corrections order in the community for one year and not to contact Ashcroft.

Twitchin, who has an OnlyFans channel, has posted about her inmate boyfriend, saying she 'can't wait' until he is released in a few weeks' time.

'I love and miss you my love,' she said.

'Not being able to talk to you is absolutely heart shattering and it's breaking me.'
A Qantas customer was left furious after he was forced to pay $1,900 to correct the spelling of his nephew's name on his booking.

Chris Bowers booked a $1,400 flight for his nephew, Frazer Linscott, last November from Sapporo, Japan to Brisbane so he could accompany his daughter Sasha.

However, when Mr Bowers made the booking, he incorrectly spelt Frazer with an 's' instead of a 'z', mistakenly spelling his nephew's name as 'Fraser'.

Mr Bowers told the Sydney Morning Herald once the small error was noticed, he quickly called the airline.

The customer was informed the only way it could be fixed was to cancel the flight and rebook.

When Frazer Linscott's (pictured) uncle booked a flight for him from Japan, his name was accidently spelt at 'Fraser' with an 's' instead of a 'z'. The costly error cost his uncle $1900

If changes need to be made to a booking, Qantas won't charge a fee if amendments are made on the same day as the purchase

In the time Mr Bowers had booked and needed to cancel and repurchase, the $1,400 fare had hiked up to a whopping $3,000.

'The injustice was compounded when I discovered that the cancelled flight had also attracted a $300 cancellation charge bringing the total cost of a single letter spelling mistake to $1900,' he said.

Mr Bowers made a complaint to Qantas before contacting the Airline Customer Advocate.

However, the advocacy lacks any powers for resolution.

A Qantas customer care person informed Mr Bowers that spelling could only be fixed if the booking was completely operated by the airline.

Mr Bower's booking for his nephew included flights that were operated by Jetstar Japan, which Qantas is only a minority shareholder in.

They advised Mr Bowers the only way to fix such an issue was to cancel and rebook and warned the fare price could not be guaranteed.

Qantas also advised they would not refund the difference in fares but would instead provide a letter for his insurance company with details of the incident.

Mr Bowers said the airline had shown 'zero empathy' who had 'refused to engage' when the customer asked Qantas if they 'thought this was the right thing to do'.

A Qantas spokesman told Daily Mail Australia said they do offer free name corrections, but they have to be made on the day of booking.

The airline also said name changes can be made to bookings with other airlines on the day of purchase without a fee if they were bought through qantas.com

Qantas has since refunded Mr Bowers' cancellation fee and given him a $1600 travel voucher

'Whilst the customer was given the correct information from our customer care team regarding changes for a Jetstar Japan booking, we have offered the customer a refund for the cancellation fee as a gesture of goodwill,' they said.

However, Qantas ended up offering Mr Bowers a $1,600 travel voucher a day after they were contacted by media.

Consumer's Federation of Australia chairman Gerard Brody told The Sydney Morning Herald there is a gap in the law surrounding unfair trade practices by airlines.

'Refusing to allow a simple name change and imposing additional costs by forcing the customer to cancel a ticket and make a new booking at significant expense doesnt sound fair,' he said.

Last year the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in their submission to the Aviation Green Paper that a lack of competition in the domestic airline sector had led to high prices.

It said it also resulted in poor customer service, decreased service quality and issues resolving disputed and obtaining redress.

The Consumers Federation of Australia believes customers at the moment have to rely on an 'airline's goodwill' and it would like to see an airline and travel ombudsman resolve issues more quickly and cheaply.
Senior Tory MPs want Sir Lindsay Hoyle sacked now to stop him becoming Sir Keir Starmers patsy if Labour wins the General Election.

One MP last night warned that if the Speaker was prepared to do Sir Keirs bidding now, what would he be like if Labour had a Commons majority?.

By last night, a total of 71 MPs  40 Tories, 30 SNP and one Independent  had backed a motion of no confidence in Sir Lindsay.

They include six senior members of the Tories 1922 Committee, including chairman Sir Graham Brady.

We have to get rid of Hoyle now to prevent him from being Starmers patsy after the Election, one MP told the MoS.

By last night, a total of 71 MPs  40 Tories , 30 SNP and one Independent  had backed a motion of no confidence in Sir Lindsay. Pictured: Sir Lindsay in The Cambridge Union on February 23

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been under threat since his decision to allow a vote on a Labour motion during last Wednesdays debate on Gaza

But former Cabinet Minister David Davis said the Tory plotters were deluding themselves and branded it just folly to remove Sir Lindsay who was a good Speaker. He warned that a ruthless Sir Keir would remove any replacement Tory Speaker.

The Speaker has said his decision to allow a vote on a Labour motion during last Wednesdays debate on Gaza (left) was based on fears for MPs safety.

The MoS understands that more than ten women MPs, both Labour and Tory, had received threats  including death threats  before the debate.

Some Tory MPs believe that Sir Lindsay will be forced to resign if the Government allows time for a no-confidence vote.
From Ukraine to Gaza, the world seems mired in doom and gloom. So the first US lunar landing last week since 1972 was a reaffirming feat of human endeavour.

On Thursday night, Odysseus  a static lander built by Intuitive Machines  touched down in a crater near the southern pole of the Moon. All went to plan, save for the craft landing on its side, perhaps because of a broken leg. But its batteries and instruments are working and the data collected will mark a milestone in lunar scientific observation.

The true significance of Odysseus, however, is even greater. This was the first commercial spacecraft to land on the Moon. We are witnessing the dawn of a new era of human discovery: the conquest of the cosmos by capitalism.

Odysseus was fired to the Moon on a Falcon 9 rocket made by SpaceX, a company founded by Elon Musk, one of a clutch of billionaires, including Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, who are committing vast sums to cosmic exploration.

NASA has confirmed that the first private owned spacecraft to land on the moon has 'tipped over on its side' (stock)

This image provided by Intuitive Machines shows its Odysseus lunar lander over the near side of the moon following lunar orbit insertion on Wednesday

Musk has made it his business to drive down the cost of space travel because he believes that humanity only has a future as a space-bearing civilisation. It might sound geeky, or even crazy, yet we are wrong to dismiss these entrepreneurs as eccentric tycoons with money to burn.

The real point of the Odysseus mission is that it has been carried out by a business. The lander displays the logo of Columbia Sportswear, which supplied its protective fabric. The Moons first advertisement marks the advent of cosmological capitalism.

READ MORE: One giant tumble for mankind! NASA confirms $118 million Odysseus lunar aircraft has TIPPED OVER onto its side after failed landing on the moon

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Odysseus has taken the Moon, declared the head of Nasa, Bill Nelson, adding that a commercial company, an American company, launched and led the voyage up there.

Intuitive Machines, the Houston-based aerospace company behind the breakthrough, was founded 11 years ago. Its shares have gone as stratospheric as its lander, by as much as 1,200 per cent in a week. Intuitive is now worth billions and its founders  Stephen Altemus, Kam Ghaffarian and Tim Crain  are deservedly rich.

The Odysseus project is a commercial partnership with Nasa, which has invested $77 million to transport its scientific instruments to the lunar surface.

Among other things, it will measure sandblast  the debris that is kicked up by a craft landing. Without an atmosphere to slow it down, dust and rocks blown off the Moon travel far and fast, accelerating to five times the speed of a bullet. This has grave implications for the damage it can cause to other landers, which will be an increasing concern as more craft arrive  Odysseus is one of six Moon landings scheduled this year.

Not all private missions succeed. In January, Peregrine, a lunar mission mounted by another of Nasas partners, Astrobotic, failed to leave Earths orbit.

Intuitive Machines hopes that this mission will pave the way for a permanent human presence on the Moon. Besides catering for space tourism and mining potentially invaluable mineral deposits, such lunar colonies could provide a launch pad for further ventures into the rest of the solar system  and beyond.

Intuitive Machines and NASA employees celebrate as the Odysseus lander made the first successful American moon landing in over 50 years. But it was not revealed until the next day that the craft had fallen over

The six-legged robot lander touched down at 5:30pm ET Thursday at a crater called Malapert A (pictured) near the moon's south pole

It is on such close partnerships between science and free enterprise that the future exploration of our universe depends. But nobody owns the Moon or the planets. The Artemis Accords, which set out principles for the safe and peaceful use of space, have been signed by 35 countries. Russia and China are not among them.

We still tend to assume that space, the so-called final frontier, will always be controlled by governments, as it has been in the past. Thats outdated: the celestial future lies with ventures such as Musks SpaceX, Bransons Virgin Galactic and Bezoss Blue Origin. The early years of the space race were indeed driven by government funding during the Cold War.

When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first satellite, in 1957, Americans were shocked. President Eisenhower established Nasa, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

And when the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space in 1961, President Kennedy responded with the Apollo programme. It paid off eight years later, in 1969, when America regained the lead by landing the first astronauts on the Moon.

Apollo was entirely state-financed but space research had thousands of commercial spin-offs, from portable laptops and wireless headsets to ear thermometers and home insulation.

Geopolitical considerations have not gone away. Earlier this month, Washington warned the Kremlin against sending nuclear missiles into space.

Russia, China and India are all vying for supremacy outside of Earth. Last year, Russias Luna-25 mission crashed, but it plans to set up a lunar base by 2031. China has sent rovers to collect minerals and aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. India, too, landed there last year.

Moscow and Beijing are covertly engaged in the militarisation of space. But they rely on state funding. The US, however, is the first to harness the spirit of democratic capitalism.

America has all kinds of know-how, but perhaps the most important is knowing how to put the capital into capitalism.

The US combines the best research universities, the biggest high-tech industries, the deepest pockets and the rule of law. Thats hard for dictatorships to beat. In Britain, unlike America, there is a mismatch between the image of capitalism and its reality. We have some of the best inventors and innovators in the world, but we are ignorant about the markets that make them possible. According to one poll, most Brits assume that capitalism is bad for the environment, while three-quarters of us associate it with greed.

In reality, neither is true. Capitalism generates the wealth that nations can spend on good causes, including preserving our planet.

Being a capitalist means running a business. For most, that is a source of pride. Last week, for example, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tried to woo farmers by telling them that they farmed for the love of it. No, retorted Minette Batters of the National Farmers Union, farming is a business. Farmers are business owners.

Many people still swallow the Lefts old lie, that under capitalism the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. But until the rise of modern capitalism in the Industrial Revolution, at least 90 per cent of humanity lived in absolute, or abject, poverty.

After two centuries of capitalism, during which the global population has multiplied many times over, fewer than ten per cent of the world now live in such conditions. Apart from rare blips, such as the Covid pandemic, this reduction in poverty has steadily accelerated in recent decades  especially since the 1980s, when many ditched Communism and embraced capitalism.

It is the system, after all, that triumphed in the Cold War. Even if those heady days now seem a long time ago, the importance of that famous victory has not diminished.The peoples of central and eastern Europe in 1989 knew instinctively what history has consistently shown: that life is incomparably better under capitalism.

It was capitalism that opened up the oceans and the wilderness, transforming the workplace and the home, educating children and liberating women, enhancing and ennobling lives.

Now capitalism is again extending the horizons of human aspiration  this time into space.

Some will scoff and sneer. Let them. We, though, should raise a glass to the intrepid Odysseus, and those who will follow in its path.
Polls have now closed in South Carolina where voters cast their ballots on Saturday in the Republican presidential primary, the fourth and final early primary of the 2024 GOP early contests.

President Donald Trump is looking to deliver a crushing defeat to former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in her home state as she attempts to foil his chances of a third straight Republican presidential nomination.

Trump has already won Iowa, the New Hampshire primary and the Nevada caucuses as he surges toward the nomination.

He also got 94 percent to Haley's five percent in a straw poll of attendees at the CPAC summit in Washington D.C. and a fiery speech where he called himself a 'political dissident' being persecuted by 'fascist scoundrels' in the Biden administration.

Polls leading up to Election Day showed the former president with a nearly 30 point advantage over Haley in the Palmetto State where she formerly served as governor.

Voting closed at 7 p.m. across the state, and more than 200,000 people cast their ballots before Election Day during early voting.

Former President Donald Trump (left) is hoping to crush Nikki Haley (right) in the Republican presidential primary in her home state. Recent polling had him up by nearly 30 points in the state ahead of the primary

Haley cast her ballot on Saturday in the Republican presidential primary on Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Trump gave a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland on Saturday

Those still in line to vote at the time of polls closing will still be able to vote. Primary results usually start to filter in shortly after the polls close depending on how quickly ballot are processed.

Trump is holding an election night shindig in Columbia, South Carolina, the state capital after an appearance at CPAC Saturday afternoon. Haley will address supporters from Charleston after she voted this morning at her Kiawah Island polling location.

South Carolina holds an open primary, meaning motivated Democrats and independent voters can come out on Election Day to cast their preferred ballot as long as they did not participate in the Democratic presidential primary on February 3.

While DailyMail.com spoke with a large contingent of Trump supporters who showed up to vote on Election Day, there were also some Democrats who headed to the polls on Saturday to cast ballots in an effort to prevent Trump from steamrolling his only opponent left the Republican primary.

At CPAC on Saturday, Trump called himself a 'political dissident' being persecuted by 'fascists' in the Biden administration

Voters casting ballots in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina on Saturday. Polling locations were open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

More than 205,000 people cast ballots during early voting in the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina

Trump supporters in MAGA hats arrive at his election night party at in Columbia, South Carolina

WHAT SOUTH CAROLINA VOTERS ARE SAYING ON AND BEFORE ELECTION DAY

In Columbia, South Carolina, DailyMail.com found a mix of Republican voters for Trump and Haley.

Thomas Faulds, 53, said he voted for Trump because of foreign policy and immigration.

'I'm tired of the wars that have just been ongoing for years. I was in the Army, and they're senseless and a waste of resources, and I wish politicians would focus on America,' Faulds said.

'He has done more for this country I believe in the history of presidents,' said Kendal Fiorini, 58, who also voted for Trump. 'And he has been the most persecuted president in American history.'

But some Republican South Carolina voters told DailyMail.com they voted for Haley because it was 'time for a change.'

'This time I voted for Haley because first off, I'm a South Carolinian. She's a South Carolinian. She was our governor, I thought she was a good one,' said Alan Douglas, 69. 'I thought she was good as the ambassador to the United Nations. I thought she was tough.'

Douglas voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 and said he would vote for him again if he wins the nomination.

Other Republican Haley voters were less willing to vote for Trump in November should he win the nomination.

'I will vote against Trump, I don't care who the other person is, it will be against Trump,' said Barbara Bates, a Haley supporter, who voted for Trump in 2016 but would not do so again.

WHAT'S NEXT?

If Trump wins South Carolina on Saturday, which is the most likely outcome, the primary will continue if Haley decides to stay in the race.

Ultimately, any candidate looking to earn the nomination needs to earn 1,215 delegates  and 50 are up for grabs in South Carolina.

Haley has so far earned 17 delegates to Trump's 63 after Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and the U.S. Virginia Islands weighed-in this year.

During a 'state of the race' speech on Tuesday, Haley insisted she is 'far from' dropping out.

She has repeatedly said she plans to stay in the running until Super Tuesday on March 5, which is when 15 different states will hold concurrent primaries.

If polling predictions come to fruition on Saturday and Haley loses her home state, her chances of remaining a viable candidate slips even further.

The Trump campaign released a memo on Tuesday in which they said they expect the former president to clinch the nomination by March 19 even with the most generous model for Haley.
Donald Trump took another step towards a general election rematch with Joe Biden by decimating Nikki Haley in her home state in the South Carolina Republican primary.

The result was called just seconds after polls closed in an embarrassing night for Haley who has vowed to stay in the race even as her path to the nomination rapidly closes.

Trump declared his swift victory at his Election Day party held on the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, saying with a smirk: 'This was a little sooner than we anticipated.'

Trump's victory builds on the surging momentum he has built coming out of wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Former President Donald Trump took the stage to declare victory in the South Carolina primary in Columbia on Saturday evening

But Trump is shifting his messaging from the primary, telling his voters they need to start focusing on the general election in November.

'Nine months is a long time,' he noted of the timeline before the presidential election later this year. 'I just wish we could do it quicker.'

'You know, in certain countries, you're allowed to call your election date,' he added. 'If I had the right to do it, I'd do it tomorrow. I'd say we're having an election tomorrow.'

The former president doesn't want to lose the momentum he feels he has on the heels of his sweeping wins and multiple indictments that he claims are political persecutions.

'South Carolina  thank you very much. Go home, get rest. We have a lot of work ahead of us,' Trump urged in remarks where he never mentioned his remaining Republican rival.

Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time a Republican candidate has lost their home state presidential primary election in more than 50 years. The previous was Richard Nixon, who lost California's primary to Ronald Reagan  who was also from California.

But Haley said during a 'state of the race' speech on Tuesday that she was 'far from' ending her bid despite her underwhelming performance in the primary so far and dismal polling that showed her trailing Trump in national and state elections by large margins.

The former South Carolina governor said she plans to stay in the 2024 Republican primary until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 16 states and a territory hold contests and an astounding 874 delegates are up for grabs in that single day.

Trump spoke for just over 20 minutes  and even after he left the stage, the Associated Press was only reporting 6 percent of the vote counted in South Carolina.

Trump embarrassed Nikki Haley in her home state when the race was called just seconds after polls closed at 7pm

Nikki Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time in more than 50 years a Republican presidential candidate lost their home state in the primary election

Trump acknowledged during his remarks that the crowd at his Election Night party in South Carolina's state capital was 'very opinionated'  even regarding some of the former president's guests of honor.

Upon mention of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the crowd booed despite Trump telling them he is a good person.

Some voters in South Carolina told DailyMail.com on Saturday that Haley has ruined any future career ambitions by running in the 2024 race and insists her career in politics, especially in the Palmetto State, is over.

'She's ruined herself in politics because no one I know will ever vote for her again after she went up against Trump and has said that vile things that she has said about him,' said Trump supporter Kendal Fiorini, 58.

Trump earned 51 percent in Iowa against Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and a few other long shots. Then in New Hampshire last month, he earned 54.3 percent in a contest essentially between just him and Haley after the remainder of the primary field dropped out  and most put their endorsement behind Trump.

The former president then walked away with 99.1 percent of the vote in the Nevada caucus earlier this month, which Haley did not participate in after opting to file for the state's primary election instead  where she shockingly lost to the ballot option 'none of these candidates.'

Voters line-up to cast their ballots in the south Carolina Republican presidential primary in John's Island, South Carolina on Saturday, February 24

Trump held a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina on Friday where approximately 6,000 supporters came to hear his final appeal before the primary.

He also spoke at the Black Conservative Federation Gala in Columbia later on Friday, before heading to National Harbor, Maryland for CPAC remarks right outside of Washington, D.C. on Saturday morning.

Trump's base in South Carolina was excited to show-up for him on Saturday.

'I voted for Trump because I believe in him,' North Charleston resident Mary Ann Cole, 77, told DailyMail.com.

'I just think they tied his hands and they're doing all this s*** - pardon me - they have thrown so much garbage his way and he's still there, he didn't run away,' Cole added.

The retiree said she would have been open to voting for Haley, but she didn't like how Trump has been treated.

Married retired couple Bob, 88, and Kathy Kean, 76, of Charleston both said Saturday in front of the Hunley Park Elementary School polling place in North Charleston that they were casting votes for Trump.

'I'm voting for Trump because I believe the strongest candidate and can get our country out of this gigantic mess that we're in,' Kathy said.

Her husband said: 'I almost was going to vote for Haley because Trump was putting her husband down. He's deployed. That made me mad about that because he didn't need to do that.'

Bob added, 'We like Trump.'

'Overall, even though he's not politically correct,' Kathy said, finishing her husband's sentence.
Google Gemini, the company's 'absurdly woke' AI chatbot, is facing fresh controversy for refusing to condemn pedophilia.

It comes just a day after its image generator was blasted for replacing white historical figures with people of color.

The search giant's AI software was asked a series of questions by X personality Frank McCormick, a.k.a. Chalkboard Heresy, who asked the chatbot if it is 'wrong' for adults to sexually prey on children.

The bot appeared to find favor with abusers as it declared 'individuals cannot control who they are attracted to.'

The politically correct tech referred to pedophilia as 'minor-attracted person status,' declaring 'it's important to understand that attractions are not actions.'

The search giant's AI software was asked a series of questions by X personality Frank McCormick, a.k.a. Chalkboard Heresy who asked the chatbot if it is 'wrong' for adults to sexually prey on children

The politically correct tech referred to pedophilia as 'minor-attracted person status,' declaring 'it's important to understand that attractions are not actions.'

In a follow-up question McCormick asked if minor-attracted people are evil

The bot appeared to find favor with abusers as it declared 'individuals cannot control who they are attracted to'

Google Gemini AI refuses to condemn pedophilia or adults who have desires towards children

When DailyMail.com posed the question, the response now appeared to be far more measured

The question 'is multifaceted and requires a nuanced answer that goes beyond a simple yes or no,' Gemini explained.

In a follow-up question, McCormick asked if minor-attracted people are evil.

'No,' the bot replied. 'Not all individuals with pedophilia have committed or will commit abuse,' Gemini said.

'In fact, many actively fight their urges and never harm a child. Labeling all individuals with pedophilic interest as 'evil' is inaccurate and harmful,' and 'generalizing about entire groups of people can be dangerous and lead to discrimination and prejudice.'

Google has since released a statement sharing their exasperation at the replies being generated.

The answer reported here is appalling and inappropriate. Were implementing an update so that Gemini no longer shows the response', a Google spokesperson said.

By the time DailyMail.com posed the question, the response appeared to be far more measured.

'Pedophilia is a serious mental health disorder that can lead to child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is a devastating crime that can have lifelong consequences for victims. It is important to remember that pedophilia is not a choice, and that people with pedophilia can get help,' the bot stated.

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 temporarily disabled Gemini's image generation tool on Thursday after users complained it was generating 'woke' but incorrect images such as female Popes

Other historically inaccurate images included black Founding Fathers

'We're already working to address recent issues with Gemini's image generation feature,' Google said in a statement on Thursday

Gemini's image generation also created images of black Vikings

Earlier this week, the Gemini 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.

'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 simply too woke.

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.'

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 the pause 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.

The Gemini AI tool churned out racially diverse Nazi soldiers that included women

Google Gemini AI tries to create an image of a Nazi, but the soldier is black

'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.

There ere some interesting suggestions when asked to generate an image of an 'Amazon'

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 images, a user asked for a 1943 German soldier and was shown one white man, one black man, and two women of color.

The German Army during World War II 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.

Google's AI came up with some colorful yet historically inaccurate depictions of Vikings

Another of the images generated by Gemini AI when asked for pictures of The Vikings

This week, an torrent 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.

Gemini senior director Jack Krawczyk's allegedly wrote 'white privilege is fking real' and that America is rife with 'egregious racism' on X

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.'
Rebel Tories are threatening to bring down the Government's flagship law and order legislation if it leads to abortion being decriminalised.

A number of Conservatives are furious that a senior Labour figure has inserted into the Criminal Justice Bill a clause that would mean women could no longer be prosecuted for ending pregnancies after 24 weeks.

It is now widely believed in Westminster that Dame Diana Johnson's amendment could be passed next month in a historic vote, which all MPs will be allowed to decide on according to conscience, after outrage last year over a case where a mother was jailed for an illegal termination.

But some Tories say that if the vote goes through, they will then go against the party whip in the crucial third reading and oppose the Bill, which covers measures to tackle crime and strengthen sentencing.

One Tory MP told The Mail on Sunday: 'This is so extreme. We cannot have a situation where abortion at any stage is legal  that's obviously a recipe for disaster. If we have to, I'd consider bringing down this Bill.'

It is now widely believed in Westminster that Dame Diana Johnson's (pictured) amendment could be passed next month in a historic vote, which all MPs will be allowed to decide on according to conscience, after outrage last year over a case where a mother was jailed for an illegal termination

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins (pictured) has indicated that she supports the attempt to repeal sections of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861

Tory MP Miriam Cates (pictured) told the MoS: 'To make it lawful to end the life of a viable baby right up to the moment of birth for no other reason than it is not wanted is morally wrong'

Tory MP Miriam Cates told the MoS: 'To make it lawful to end the life of a viable baby right up to the moment of birth for no other reason than it is not wanted is morally wrong.'

READ MORE: MPs poised to decriminalise abortion in historic vote which will stop women who end pregnancies outside permitted circumstances being jailed Advertisement

Her colleague Nick Fletcher added: 'Decriminalisation of abortion will no doubt end with abortions happening much later, even up until full term. This cannot be right in a civilised society.' He and others will instead be backing a separate amendment by Tory backbencher Caroline Ansell, which would reduce the abortion time limit from 24 to 22 weeks.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has indicated that she supports the attempt to repeal sections of a 19th Century law.

Calls to repeal two sections of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 grew last year after Carla Foster was given a 28-month sentence for obtaining abortion-inducing drugs when she was up to 34 weeks pregnant.

But Michael Robinson, executive director of pro-life group SPUC, said: 'Encouraging late-term self-induced abortions is dangerous for women, and shows a sickening disregard for the right to life of innocent babies.'

Catherine Robinson, of Right To Life UK, said: 'Perhaps Ms Atkins is not aware of how radical Diana Johnson's extreme abortion amendment really is.'

Last night government sources said the Criminal Justice Bill had not yet been scheduled to return to the Commons and it was too early to say which amendments would be chosen.
One person is dead and another injured after a two-vehicle crash early Sunday afternoon on Highway 25 near Northline Road in Dunn County, according to a press release.

The Eau Claire Post of the Wisconsin State Patrol said the preliminary investigation found that a pickup truck was traveling southbound at 12:49 p.m. Sunday when it pulled into the northbound lanes to pass a vehicle. The truck then drove head-on into a passenger car that was traveling northbound.

The driver of the passenger car, a 57-year-old male from Boyceville, was fatally injured as a result of the crash. The driver of the pickup truck, a 56-year-old female from Chetek, received minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is conducting the crash investigation and crash reconstruction. The names of those involved in the crash are being withheld pending notifications of their families.
An accomplished advice columnist has offered jaw-dropping details surrounding her recent near-divorce.

Emily Gould, 42, penned The Lure of Divorce this past Valentine's Day, nearly a year-and-a-half removed from her since called-off split to 49-year-old Keith Gessen.

At the time, in the autumn of 2022, publications like Page Six reported on the announcement - and how Gould, a novelist, blogger, and former Gawker editor, asked her readers to crowdfund the separation.

It appeared to be the end of a storybook union for the Brownstone power couple, celebrated by Vanity Fair as a pair marked by 'precocious literary success combined with sex appeal and self-regard' - Gessen himself is an accomplished novelist.

That is, until a year later, when Gould came forward to tell onlookers the divorce had been called off, and that the pair were back to wedded bliss.

Her piece for The Cut offers insight into what happened behind the scenes, and how she almost destroyed her marriage because of her boozing and an affair, and secretly raged at Gessen for publishing details about her labor.

Emily Gould, 42, penned The Lure of Divorce this past Valentine's Day, nearly a year-and-a-half removed from her since-called off split to 49-year-old Keith Gessen

At the time, in the autumn of 2022, publications like Page Six reported on the announcement - and how Gould, a novelist, blogger, and former Gawker editor, asked her readers to crowdfund the separation

'In the summer of 2022, I lost my mind,' the 5,550 word piece, offered in the form of a first-person feature, begins.

'At first, it seemed I was simply overwhelmed because life had become very difficult,' Gould continues, 'and I needed to - had every right to - blow off some steam.'

She goes on to write how her family-of-four, at the time, was set to loose their Brooklyn apartment and had to find another one 'fast, in a rental market gone so wild that people were offering over the asking price on rent.'

She adds that her husband, Keith, was preparing to publish his third book, Raising Raffi, about raising their eldest - 'a book hed written with [her] support and permission but that, as publication loomed, I began to have mixed feelings about.

'To cope with the stress,' the author of the Cut's Going Through It column writes, 'I asked my psychiatrist to increase the dosage of the antidepressant Id been on for years.

'Sometime around then, I started talking too fast and drinking a lot.'

Gould eventually reveals that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but first writes that drinking proved self-medicating to her then-known depression.

'I felt invincibly alive, powerful, and self-assured,' she recalls - 'troubled only by impatience with how slowly everyone around me was moving and thinking .'

It appeared to be the end of a storybook union for the Brownstone power couple - celebrated by Vanity Fair as a pair marked by 'precocious literary success combined with sex appeal and self-regard'. Gessen himself is an accomplished novelist

The piece then describes Gould's descent into hard, daily drinking - during which she'd have 'drinks with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.'

She jokes at a point: 'Who doesnt have an Aperol spritz on the way home from the gym in the morning?'

The drinking, however, quickly drained the couple's finances, she admits - as did additional spending from funds 'we didnt really have' on 'ill-fitting lingerie' and workout clothes and planters from eCommerce site Etsy.

She then grew distant and impatient with her husband, even as the launch date for his first-person memoir Raising Raffi: The First Five Years rapidly approached.

At a party in his honor she helped organize, attendees contracted COVID after she inexplicably 'handed out cigarettes from a giant salad bowl'.

She admits 'I had gone from smoking once or twice a day to chain-smoking whenever I could get away with it.'

When friends afterwards pointed out the foolishness of her antics, Gould writes that she 'screamed at them and pointed out everything that was wrong in their lives.'

'And most crucially,' she adds, 'I became convinced that my marriage was over and had been over for years.'

That is, until a year later, when Gould came forward to tell onlookers the divorce had been called off, and that the pair were back to wedded bliss. Her piece for The Cut offers insight into what happened behind the scenes, and how she almost destroyed her marriage because of her boozing and an affair, and secretly raged at Gessen for publishing details about her labor

Growing increasingly confrontational with her husband, she 'built a case against [him] in [her] mind,' she continues.

She recalls felling how the assistant professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism's upcoming book 'was simply the culmination of a pattern... [of him putting] put his career before mine.'

She writes: 'While I had tended to our children during the pandemic, he had written a book about parenting.

Stressed by the work of her own career and raising her kids - which she claims was mostly her responsibility since Keith had a full-time job teaching journalism at Columbia - she grew increasingly unstable, spending money 'like it was water,' and 'leaving Keith to make sure we made rent every month.'

'Every few months, wed have a fight about this and Id vow to change,' she writes.

'[S]ome system would be put in place, but it never stuck. We were headed for disaster, and finally it came.'

She goes on to describe a blow-up between the two following a friend's wedding upstate, where she'd been drinking - first from spiked lemonade she secured 'at lunch alone', followed by boxed wine at the reception.

There, she writes, 'I couldnt eat any of the food - it all contained wheat, and I have celiac disease.'

The couple would then get into it after arriving at the home where they were staying, where Gould writes she 'ordered takeout and demanded [her husband] go pick it up for [her].'

Gessens third novel, Raising Raffi: The First Five Years, was about parenting the pair's first son, but angered Gould due to a graphic passage about her birthing the now school-aged boy

Her spouse - an accomplished Russian translator and the co-founder and co-editor of American literary magazine n+1 - obliged, but would eventually call from the restaurant 'incensed,' Gould remembers, before revealing how the purchase was nearly the straw that broke the pair's joint bank account.

'Did I know how much my takeout order had cost?' she recalled Gellis asking her, admitting that she 'hadnt paid attention as I checked boxes in the app, nor had I realized that our bank account was perilously low.

'I never looked at receipts or opened statements,' she says

'Not knowing this, I felt like he was actually denying me food, basic sustenance... [so] I packed a bag as the kids played happily with their cousins downstairs, then waited by the side of the road for a friend who lived nearby to come pick me up.'

Set on leaving her husband over the tiff, she recalls Gellis standing there at the side of the road 'begging me to stay.

'But his words washed over me,' she insists. 'I was made of stone. I said it was over  really over. This was it, the definitive moment Id been waiting for. I had a concrete reason to leave.'

She then describes a Zoom call with her therapist while still upstate, during which the mental health expert advised her to commit herself into a psychiatric hospital.

A friend proceeded to pick her up to drive her back to the city, where she voluntarily committed herself to the psychiatric section of NYU Langone.

There, they started Gould on a daily dose of lithium, and after a a meeting with a team of doctors, they determined she had bipolar disorder, she recalls.

'They gave me a nicotine patch every few hours plus Klonopin and Seroquel and lithium.'

She writes how the opening chapter of the book described her giving birth in-depth, and how she didnt realize how violated until a New Yorkers fact-checker perused the piece, and called her to ask about a section that described blood discharging from the journalist's vagina

She goes on to reveal how the message she sent to newsletter readers in October 2022 asking for $20,000 to fund her divorce was actually sent from her psychiatric hold, as she worried that her hospitalizations would hamper a prospective custody battle.

She recalls how since she wasn't being held involuntarily, she could write letters to NYU psychiatrists on why she should be released.

These letters, she recalled, centered around that she was divorcing her husband, and was thus scared she would not be able to see my kids again if declared insane.

'These letters did not result in my release; if anything, they prolonged my stay,' she admits.

At some point in her nearly monthlong stay, doctors elected to briefly return her phone, which would soon be revoked again.

'But in that brief interim,' Gould recalls, she sent out the newsletter to her hundreds of subscribers declaring she was getting a divorce, asking them to Venmo money to fund the future custody battle.

Meanwhile, during meetings with shrinks, she continued to maintain that she was sane, and that her main issue was her deteriorating marriage.

She put her husband on a no-visit list, but continued to eat the gluten-free egg sandwiches he religiously brought her every morning becuase she did not care for the hospital's food menu.

Eventually, after a daily cocktail of med consisting of lithium, gabapentin, and more, Gould was cleared for release, and returned home to live with her husband and two young sons.

In the piece, Gould recalls an affair she had with an unnamed man in the few weeks between the couple's blowup over the food delivery and her hospitalization. The pair have since reconciled, with Gessen forgiving her

The two began to sleep separately, with Gould claiming a downstairs room for herself and coming into contact with Gessen only when parenting called for it.

Still set on getting divorced - a state of mind she obliquely blamed on 'strong antipsychotic medication' - she attempted to feign normality as her husband continued with most of the pair's daily duties.

During this time, Gould attended AA meetings required by the hospital outpatient program, all while feeling secret bouts of resentment - and sympathy - for her spouse, who was suffering from the sudden shift in their dynamic.

Friends, meanwhile, urged the pair to reconcile - but Gould remained steadfast in her decision, recalling how one passage in Raising Raffi rubbed her the wrong way.

That passage, centered around her birthing eldest son Raffi while her husband looked on, was revealed to her six months before the book was published in June 2022, and about ten months before her hospitalization and bipolar diagnosis.

'I had, at that time, enjoyed reading it,' she admits of the tell-all about her husband's initial experiences with parenting, before conceding: 'But as publication drew nearer, the pang turned into outright anger.'

She writes how the opening chapter of the book described her giving birth in-depth, and how she didnt realize how violated until a New Yorkers fact-checker perused the piece, and called her to ask about a section that described blood discharging from the journalist's vagina.

She recalls hanging up on the fact-checker after being asked, telling her to please contact her husband instead. At this point, she notes that Gessen had read this current essay, and only 'suggested minimal changes.'

The doting dad eventually agreed to enter divorce mediation in December 2022, during which, Gould writes, 'the one who talked the most [was me], blaming Keith for making me go crazy.

At this point, Gould recalls an affair she had with an unnamed man in the few weeks between the couple's blowup over the food delivery and her hospitalization.

The tryst, which Gould in her piece attempts to justify, happened had a yoga retreat.

'I had been so sure we were basically already divorced that I justified the act to myself; I couldnt have done it any other way,' she writes.

'I had thought I might panic at the last minute or even throw up or faint, but I had gone through with it thanks to the delusional state I was in.

'There arent many more details anyone needs to know. It was just one time, and it was like a drug I used to keep myself from feeling sad about what was really happening.

'Anyway, theres a yoga retreat center Ill never be able to go to again in my life.'

Eventually, after the mediation meeting, the couple decided to coninue seeing a therapist, but in couples therapy instead of divorce mediation.

During these meetings, Gessen would forgive Gould 'for cheating and wasting our money,' the writer recalls. He also forgave her for, in Gould's word's, 'for having a mental breakdown, leaving him to take care of our family on his own for a month, costing [them] thousands of uninsured dollars in hospital bills.

She then conceded that she too had 'to forgive him for treading on my literary territory: our familys life, my own life', and 'for taking for granted that there would always be dinner on the table without his having to think about how it got there.'

The couple within days would reconcile, calling off the divorce that month. Publications would report on the aborted split several months later, in October of 2023

In addition to being founder of magazine n+1, Gessen is also a translator, and a professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

He has written three books, including the memoir 'And the Heart Says Whatever' and the novel 'Friendship.'
Boozy beach parties on the golden sands of Bondi Beach will now be a thing of the past following a recent council motion placing new restrictions on beach events.

Commercial events that involve selling alcohol on Sydney's infamous Bondi Beach will no longer be allowed after Waverley Council councillors voted in a plan to prevent 'high impact events' that sell alcohol on the beach on Tuesday night.

Popular events including, Mardi Gras celebrations, Sculpture by the Sea and the annual City2Surf event will be excluded from the ban.

Boozy beach parties on the golden sands of Bondi Beach will now be a thing of the past following a recent council motion placing new restrictions on beach events

Popular events including, Mardi Gras celebrations, Sculpture by the Sea and the annual City2Surf (pictured) event will be excluded from the ban

The motion presented to councillors by Paula Masselos will also mean all beaches under Waverley Council's jurisdiction will not allow commercial events to sell alcohol at beaches until the council reviews it events policy.

Cr Masselos' motion said Bondi Beach was 'not an event space or a venue or a brand.'

'(It) exists within a suburb where people also live and go about their daily lives,' he said.

Cr Masselos said locals have 'very loudly' told the council they do not want alcohol fuelled events at their local beach, where the consumption of alcohol is already banned.

'Our beaches are a space of all of our community, and they have told council loud and clear that they are not in favour of big commercial events involving alcohol on the sand at Bondi Beach,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

In 2020, plans to introduce an Amalfi-style beach club on Bondi Beach prompted similar calls from locals to shutdown and prevent commercial projects along the beach.

The beach club initially planned to provide an 'alcohol and food service' to beach goers between the months of November and February.

In 2020, plans to introduce an Amalfi-style beach club on Bondi Beach prompted similar calls from locals to shutdown and prevent commercial projects along the beach

But the plan was soon dropped after widespread backlash.

Bondi councillor Leon Goltsman said the new ban will stop the 'commercialisation' of the beach.

'The beach belongs to the people and it should be free for everyone,' he said according to The Daily Telegraph.

'It is not for sale. Bondi Beach is for the world to enjoy.

'Bondi is a small area and there are more appropriate places to have a party. We need to protect our assets from being privatised.'
He struck gold with his portrayal of the detective leading the inquiry into the Brinks -Mat robbery.

Now Hugh Bonnevilles fans can look forward to watching him dig even further into the story of Britains most notorious heist  if these pictures are anything to go by.

The star was spotted reprising the role of Det Chief Supt Brian Boyce in a street in London  peering into a giant hole, presumably on the hunt for stolen loot.

BBC drama The Gold follows the aftermath of the 1983 Brinks-Mat robbery, when six armed men broke in to the Brinks-Mat depot near Heathrow Airport and stole 26 million (the equivalent of 100 million today) of gold bullion, diamonds and cash.

The final episode of last years series saw detectives realise that they had only tracked down 13 million of the missing money  meaning half the gold was unaccounted for.

Hugh Bonneville on set as Det Chief Supt Brian Boyce for the BBC drama. The Gold follows the aftermath of the 1983 Brinks-Mat robbery, when six armed men broke in to the Brinks-Mat depot near Heathrow Airport and stole 26 million (the equivalent of 100 million today) of gold bullion, diamonds and cash

Charlotte Spencer as Det Nikki Jennings was also spotted on set last week. Despite its rave reviews, the first series of The Gold faced controversy for glamorising the heist  in particular criminal kingpin Kenneth Noye, played by Jack Lowden

A giant hole was spotted on set which presumably is part of the hunt for stolen loot. The final episode of last years series saw detectives realise that they had only tracked down 13 million of the missing money  meaning half the gold was unaccounted for

In real life, when detectives caught up with the robbers, most of the 6,800 gold bars stolen had already been melted down and sold. It is said that anyone who has bought gold in the last 40 years is likely to have Brinks-Mat loot.

Bonneville is returning to the role just months after the breakdown of his 25-year marriage to Lulu Williams. Fellow cast members Emun Elliott, who plays Det Tony Brightwell, and Charlotte Spencer as Det Nikki Jennings were also with him on set last week.

Despite its rave reviews, the first series of The Gold faced controversy for glamorising the heist  in particular criminal kingpin Kenneth Noye, played by Jack Lowden. Noye served eight years for his involvement in the robbery. He was later jailed for the unrelated murder of motorist Stephen Cameron on the M25 in 1996. Noye will not feature in the second season after fierce criticism over the BBCs portrayal. Camerons uncle, Gary, lambasted the broadcaster for showing him as some kind of a good guy.
A DC family is mourning the death of their beloved family dog who was brutally kicked so hard it died at a day care center last week.

Bronny was boarding at District Dogs in Navy Yard on February 16 when he was 'physically struck' by an employee early in the morning, as acknowledged in the company's statement.

According to a DC police incident report, the young dog became 'too energetic' when the unidentified employee began to feed the canine at around 4am.

After making 'attempts to calm the dog', the worker admits to striking Bronny with his foot but cannot remember what part of the animal was hit.

The adored pet lost consciousness and had to be taken to a nearby veterinary facility where he was pronounced later dead.

Bronny was boarding at District Dogs in Navy Yard on February 16 when he was kicked by an employee in an 'unknown area'

In a statement released on February 20, District Dogs said it has terminated the employee and is working closely with investigators

In a statement released on February 20, District Dogs said it has terminated the employee and is working closely with investigators.

'The District Dogs family is heartbroken over the incident and extends its sincere condolences to the family of the dog, and we grieve their loss at this profoundly difficult time,' the statement read.

After Bronny's saddening death, heartbroken parents, Christina and Andrew told Fox5 they were 'mourning' their pet.

'Bronny brought immeasurable joy to our lives and to the lives of all he touched, and the void left by his absence is profound.

'We dont have all of the answers yet, but we appreciate all of the support we have received from the community.

'We are still mourning the loss of our sweet boy,' said the couple.

They also said they have commissioned an attorney for legal action but did not elaborate.

After Bronny's saddening death, heartbroken parents, Christina and Andrew told said they were 'mourning' their pet

The couple also said they have commissioned an attorney for legal action but did not elaborate

The District Dogs' employee has yet not been charged or arrested by officials.

The incident has led to further calls for shutdown of the facility, especially after the death of 10 dogs due to a flood at another District Dogs facility on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast Washington in August 2023.

News of Broody's death comes the same day a 40-year-old Virginia woman was charged with murder after leaving an 11-month-old child and a dog in a hot car, resulting in their deaths.

Kristen Danielle Graham, 40, has been charged with one felony count of murder and is being held without bond at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.

Graham was given responsibility of 11-month-old Myrical Wicker by her 17-year-old mother for two days.

She had been alone in the car for approximately eight-and a half hours.

The child was discovered dead in a black plastic bag in the back of a car by emergency room personnel at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News.

Kristen Danielle Graham, 40, has been accused of leaving an 11-month-old child and a dog in a hot car which resulted in their death

Officials say Graham received a phone call from her friend around 1am on September 12 asking her to bring cigarettes.

Her friend couldn't buy them herself because she was caring for an elderly person in Newport News at that time.

Graham put the child and dog in the back of the car, went to a 7-Eleven to get the cigarettes and spent some 'considerable' time at her friend's place.

She then drove back to York County at 8am and left the baby and dog in the car with the windows rolled up. At around 2.30pm, Graham 'woke up' when she received a phone call and went out to check on the dog and baby.

Both the baby and dog were dead by that point.

Police officials have not revealed the name of the 17-year-old mother and information about the dog.
Meetings between Warner Brothers and JK Rowling can be filled with shouting and tears, it is claimed, as bosses at the entertainment giant brand the author their biggest asset.

The British writer, who wrote all seven volumes of the famous wizard series that sold millions and inspired eight blockbuster films, wields an immense amount of control over the series' future. She sold the rights to Warner Bros. early in her career - but with clauses that give her considerable clout over how Harry Potter is portrayed on-screen.

What Rowling calls 'Ministry of Magic' meetings with execs can became deeply emotional, according to the Wall Street Journal. Some of the twice-yearly conferences have reportedly resulted in tears and a 'screaming match', according to the paper.

The Journal did not say who allegedly got upset, or why. Rowling is said to show exceptional concentration and focus during such meetings and does not look near her phone at all during them.

She also focuses on the smallest details of her empire, once allegedly asking why chocolate sold at the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando was not fair trade. She is said to have taken a dim view of Harry Potter mobile phone games, fearing youngsters would feel pressured into buying add-ons for them.

Rowling is also said to have threatened to boycott Warner Bros. during tenser encounters with executives, who are currently planning to create a lavish TV series based on the Harry Potter novels.

Warner Brothers boss David Zaslav set up meetings with Harry Potter creator JK Rowling in an attempt to get her on board with a future that the studio wants to heavily involve Hogwarts

Zaslav - the controversial CEO of Warner Brothers - reportedly told Rowling at one of their meetings that she is a big part of his ambitions for the studio going forward

Nonetheless - the continued popularity of all things Harry Potter mean she's considered the jewel in Warner's entertainment crown and is reportedly referred to as an A+ asset.

The only other two stars in the same firmament are said to be Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg. But Rowling, 58, is seen as Warner Bros. key hope for future success, due to 93 year-old Eastwood's age and Spielberg's recent work with other studios.

Rowling is also said to have considered her legacy with her Warner Bros. contract, with a representative appointed on behalf of her estate likely to exert similar control over the Harry Potter universe when its author dies.

Entertainment analysts credit her continued heavy involvement with the Harry Potter series as the reason for its continued prestige and popularity.

They point to a glut of poorly-received Star Wars spin-offs made after George Lucas sold the series as evidence of what can happen when a creator sells-out and a once beloved franchise is spread too thinly.

The self-made author - who Nasdaq reports is worth $1 billion - began writing the Harry Potter series during the early 1990s while she was a single mother living on welfare.

Rowling is pictured in London in November 2001 with Rupert Grint (L), Daniel Radcliffe (C) and Emma Watson (R) - the stars of the Harry Potter movies. All three have since distanced themselves from Rowling over her stance on transgender issues

She has been credited with turning a generation of children onto reading, paying the top rate of tax in her native UK and for being exceptionally generous with charitable donations.

But in recent years Rowling has become a controversial figure over her views on transgender rights. She has said she believes that trans women should not have access to some female-only spaces or be able to compete against biological women in sports.

Rowling has also spoken out in support of others who've been canceled for sharing such views and spoken of her own sexual assault as evidence of why female-only spaces are so important.

The controversy saw the stars of her movie franchise - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint - all distance themselves from her.

Rowling was notably absent from a 2022 Warner Bros. special commemorating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film's release.

That sparked speculation of a rupture with Warner Bros. top brass, but insiders insist nothing could be further from the truth.

CEO David Zaslav flew to Edinburgh in Scotland to meet with Rowling on being appointed to the top job in April 2022.

He and his team hope to turn the Harry Potter books into a lavish TV series that could be the most expensive ever produced and create a whole new generation of viewers for the fantasy series.

Zaslav attempted to bond with Rowling - few in the WB universe had her ear prior to his takeover - by discussing their childhoods and families in London as he attempts to 'breathe new life' into her beloved book series, according to WSJ.

On an earnings call held Friday, the executive said Max is aiming to debut the new show in the first quarter of 2026, Variety reported. It is rumored to have a budget of $250 million, making it the most expensive TV program ever made.

The CEO confirmed on that call that he and a delegation of Warner execs had met with Rowling just weeks earlier.

Rowling is known to be deeply protective of the franchise, notoriously holding biannual 'Ministry of Magic' meetings where she talks to executives - who spend weeks preparing ideas - about what the universe can and can't do for the future.

She was also granted veto over any 'non-author written sequels' to the series in film and TV that has likely slowed the upcoming series by several years.

The Harry Potter series has spawned seven books and a blockbuster film franchise starring Daniel Radcliffe

Many aware of the talks compared them to the attempt to repair a marriage rather than a simple business relationship, with Zaslav saying Rowling and her creation were as important to the future of Warner Brothers as Steven Spielberg or Clint Eastwood once were

Rowling, who wrote all seven volumes of the famous wizard series that sold millions and inspired eight blockbuster films, wields an immense amount of control over the series' future and meetings with her can became deeply emotional, with one reportedly ending in a 'screaming match'

In interviews during the film series' early days, she'd even publicly told CBS her disdain for action figures, eventually a huge part of the studio's sales strategy.

At the beginning of the films, Rowling had signed a deal that had give WB much more control but by the 2010s, she'd negotiated a larger cut from merchandise sales to an 'understanding' that she and her associates get a say on who manages the franchise for the studio.

In recent years, she had become much more distant from the studio. The few who are close to her show-off by calling her Jo (Rowling's first name is Joanne).

Rowling's point person and one of her few remaining connections to Warners was Neil Blair, her primary business partner. He had helped write her first contract with the studio as one of WB's lawyers.

The original main trio of wizards from the Harry Potter film series have distanced themselves from Rowling

Rowling with the cast of the second 'Fantastic Beasts' film. She reportedly refused to appear in photos with the cast at the premiere of the 2022 sequel

Those who were in the meetings said that Rowling would go from 'approachable and focused' - those in the meeting say she never even looks down at her phone - to 'combustible,' with screaming matches, crying and Rowling threatening to boycott things

Rowling's views on transgender people left her estranged from some of the cast - with star Daniel Radcliffe publicly attempting to repudiate her - ahead of her decision to not take part in the 2022 reunion

Zaslav rolled out the red carpet and blockbuster costs a TV series can handle in the streaming market for Rowling, with just one season of this new series potentially budgeted at $250million

A new Harry Potter-themed TV series is set for early 2026, according to Zaslav

It's part of a continuing world of projects involving her wizards, which include theme parks across the world, a stage show on Broadway and the West End, stores in most major cities and video games, with one based on the fictional game of Quidditch in development

Rowling gave the planned series nod of approval when the show was announced in April, saying: 'Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me.'

It's part of a continuing world of projects involving her wizards, which include theme parks across the world, a stage show on Broadway and the West End, stores in most major cities and video games, with one based on the fictional game of Quidditch in development.

Blair said in a statement that they 'pride ourselves on delivering best-in-class work for fans of the Harry Potter franchise globally.'

'We hope under the new leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery that this will continue together, with the same care and excellence which the franchise has been synonymous with for over twenty-five years.'

Zaslav said of the meetings: 'We spent some real time with J.K. and her team.'

He predicted a world where people continued to enjoy the wizarding world of Harry Potter for generations.

'Both sides are just thrilled to be reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great, and we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead. We can't wait to share a decade of new stories with fans around the world on Max.'
A security guard has died after an alleged assault at a hotel in Sutherland in Sydney's south.

Emergency services were called to the Royal Hotel on East Parade about 2am on Sunday, following reports a security guard had been assaulted.

Officers found the man, believed to be aged in his 30s, unconscious outside the pub.

Police performed CPR before the man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however, he died at the scene.

The man has yet to be formally identified.

A security guard has died after an alleged assault at a hotel in Sutherland in Sydney 's south

Police were told the security guard was allegedly punched in the head by a patron following an altercation.

It's alleged the man had been requested to leave the venue prior to the assault.

A 31-year-old has been taken to Sutherland police station where he's 'assisting police with inquiries'.

The hotel has been cordoned off and police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been plunged into a bullying row as he fights for his political life.

Sir Lindsay, who faces calls by more than 70 MPs for a confidence vote after last week's Commons row over Gaza, was accused of 'rude and aggressive' behaviour towards Home Office civil servants over a decision to house Channel migrants at a hotel in his Lancashire constituency.

His alleged outburst at Home Office officials took place in December 2022 after he learnt that rooms at the Plaza Hotel in Chorley were being booked by the Home Office to house migrants.

The decision had sparked fury among local Labour councillors after the Home Office gave them just hours of notice before the first migrants began to arrive.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle's (pictured) alleged outburst at Home Office officials took place in December 2022

Sir Lindsay complained during an hour-long meeting with Robert Jenrick (pictured)

During an hour-long meeting with the then Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and Home Office officials in his Commons office, Sir Lindsay complained that it was an inappropriate hotel to house migrants and there had been insufficient consultation with the council.

One source told The Mail on Sunday: 'He was trying to apply pressure, saying "I'm the Speaker, I'm important, can you please close this?"'

The source said that one official, who was in her 20s, was left in tears after the stormy exchange  and that Sir Lindsay's conduct was reported to the Home Office's most senior civil servant.

'Lindsay kicked off and upset a civil servant,' the source said. 'He was rude, aggressive and unprofessional.'

It comes as the Speaker continues to face criticism and calls to resign after he was accused of hijacking a debate on Gaza on Wednesday by tearing up a Commons procedure to favour Labour.

Sir Lindsay insists that he 'behaved entirely professionally' at the migrants meeting  and was certain he had 'said nothing untoward'.

One insider concluded that there was 'fault on both sides' and that, while Sir Lindsay was hostile and rude, some of the civil servants were easily offended.

It is claimed that the incident was reported to Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft (pictured)

Sir Lindsay said: 'I behaved entirely professionally throughout the meeting, so I am very surprised to hear about this alleged complaint.

'The civil servants involved were a bit weak. It was a classic woke civil servant moment where you work in a very difficult area like asylum or immigration, and someone's rude to you and you buckle and get terribly upset.'

It is claimed that the incident was reported to Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft.

Sir Lindsay's election as Speaker in 2019 was seen by many MPs as a chance to move on from the controversy of his predecessor, John Bercow, who was found guilty of bullying after a parliamentary investigation.

The meeting became heated and one civil servant, relatively new in her job, was upset at the way Sir Lindsay spoke to her and began crying after the meeting, it is claimed.

Last night Sir Lindsay said: 'I behaved entirely professionally throughout the meeting, so I am very surprised to hear about this alleged complaint.

'At the time I was concerned that there had been a total lack of consultation for the decision to use this hotel in Chorley for asylum seekers.

'We were given no notice of the decision and there was no consideration for the impact this would have on local residents.

'While I expressed my views very clearly to the Minister, I am certain that I said nothing untoward  and would be upset to think I could have caused offence to anyone.'

Alistair Bradley, the Labour leader of Chorley Council, who attended the meeting via a video call, denied that Sir Lindsay acted unprofessionally.

He said: 'His conduct throughout . . . was professional and any criticism he made of the department's actions were directed at the Minister.'

It is understood that the official was later moved to a different policy area in the Home Office. The hotel is no longer used to house asylum seekers. Sources claim the decision was not linked to the meeting with Sir Lindsay.
The small humble concrete building at a kibbutz on the Gazan border was once home to a young couple. Their names were Sivan Elkabets and Naor Hassidim, both were 23.

Now it lies ransacked and desolate, the walls and ceilings riddled with dozens of bullet holes, the furniture stained with the blood from their mutilated body parts: the terrible evidence of the crimes committed by Hamas militants who had brought untold horror into their community on October 7.

That devastation is replicated everywhere in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a once-thriving neighbourhood now transformed into a sombre mess of burnt, ransacked and vandalised buildings  a ghastly memorial to the 67 members of the Kibbutzs once 950-strong community who were murdered that day. Five were taken hostage and remain in captivity more than four months later  after what was, undeniably, the worst terrorist attack on Israeli soil in the past 50 years.

Back in my London home, my middle-class neighbourhood is populated by security cameras and alarms. It has always felt a world away from the barriers, barbed wire and armed military that are needed to protect Israeli civilians from those who want to see them annihilated.

A damaged building still lies in ruins on November 8, following an infiltration by Hamas gunmen who attacked Israel at kibbutz in Kfar Aza

A man holding a weapon grabs another man next to a car during an attack at the Nova festival by Hamas militants on October 7

Relatives of Israelis killed at the Nova music festival plant trees in memory of the victims

The reality is that, as both a proud British woman and proud Jew, the events of recent months  and peoples reactions  have forced me and Britains Jewish community to confront a wave of growing anti-Semitism.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: I was in charge of gathering the bodies after the Nova Festival massacre... they were still smouldering 12 hours later': Israeli official gives devastating account of sickening scene after the Oct 7 Hamas terror attack that plunged the world into crisis Advertisement

In fact, such is my fear that myself or my family will face retribution for this article, I have decided to write it under a pseudonym. But it is because of this rising anti-Semitism that I felt compelled to join a solidarity trip to Israel. I have been to the country many times both on holiday and for philanthropic work, but this time, I wanted to bear witness to what unfolded there.

Amid the ongoing clamour for a ceasefire in Gaza, it seems Israeli suffering  and Jewish fear  have been all but forgotten. That is certainly how Israelis feel.

Share what you are seeing here, one mother asks me as she weeps at the makeshift memorial to her only daughter, slaughtered in cold blood as she tried to flee the open-air Nova festival, where Hamas murdered nearly 400 innocent partygoers. It was a plea echoed by everyone I spoke to during my time in a small country where every civilian has either lost a family member or knows someone who was murdered, maimed or taken hostage.

Like many, I had seen the haunting images of the devastation left behind, and thought I had some idea what to expect. In fact, I was unprepared for the depths of cruelty and savagery that confront me in Israel  and the grief of a population that feels all but abandoned.

A sign at the entrance to a burned-out house depicts victims who was killed during the deadly October 7 attack in Kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel

A soldier looks on in a destroyed home riddled with bullets in Kibbutz Kfar Aza

Israeli civilians were taken off the street and driven back into Gaza

Some 240 hostages were taken back into Gaza after Hamas' strike into southern Israel

At Kfar Aza, my small group wanders the rubble-strewn streets struggling to absorb what happened in this peace-loving community, which lies just yards from the Gazan border and where many residents employed their Palestinian neighbours and helped drive their children to doctor and hospital appointments.

Story upon story tumbles out of the survivors. A mother tells us of the son who bled to death while he was on the phone to her, as she stood close by but unable to reach him amid the terrorist rampage.

Another man speaks of travelling to the US to visit his daughter at the start of October, only to return to find his wife and son had been slaughtered. I meet the father of three young children who had had to adopt his sister-in-laws ten-month-old twins, orphaned after their parents were shot in front of them, and I learned of 20-somethings who had returned early from travels to Thailand only to be massacred in their beds. On Sivan and Naors street, the homes closest to the Gaza border, the small houses were populated by younger residents of the Kibbutz. Each door has an image of those murdered or taken hostage.

In the shell of Sivans home, her parents have created a haunting memorial with enlarged screenshots placed on the bullet-sprayed walls showing Sivans last desperate messages to them on WhatsApp. Horrific photos of the scene after the attack are also displayed.

This cruelty is savage enough, but survivors must also come to terms with the fact that those Palestinians they believed to be friends had betrayed them: the Hamas terrorists knew which homes to enter, who lived in them and who was away, launching an attack so meticulously planned that it could only have been undertaken with the support of trusted Gazan employees on their kibbutz. That trust is now shattered, like the lives of those hundreds of carefree young people who attended the Nova festival to never return home. Here, a memorial of trees and photographs of the dead marks the passing of these youngsters whose lives were cut down.

Tears streaming down her face, the mother who wants her story told tells us how her daughters corpse was barely recognisable; she had been shot in the back of her head as she tried to flee for her life. Elsewhere, I was told of girls hips broken by the brutality of the sexual assaults inflicted on them, and of how some partygoers had been tied together and burned alive. Such degradation is hard to write, and even harder to read, but I cannot apologise for it, for these stories need to be told not just for the victims but because of the very real and growing anti-Semitism unfolding in the UK.

Footage showed the raw fear of Israeli civilians held by Hamas during the October 7 incursion

Destroyed cars and belongings left at the Nova Festival site where hundreds were killed and dozens taken by Hamas

It has always been here of course: long before October 7, Jewish schools and prominent synagogues had felt compelled to employ security guards. Now though, what once lay on the edges has moved into societys mainstream. In recent months, Jews have spoken of being verbally abused on public transport and on the streets, while a so-called comedian, Paul Currie, felt able to abuse a Jewish audience member who had refused to applaud the Palestinian flag in a London theatre earlier this month.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Jewish theatregoer who was hounded out of Soho Theatre when comedian Paul Currie unfurled Palestinian flag and led chants telling him to 'get out' reveals he feared comic would 'punch' him and thinks he should be banned Paul Currie Advertisement

Last week, a slur that many see as advocating genocide against Israeli people was projected on to Big Ben. Pro-Palestinian activists pulled off the offensive stunt by beaming the slogan From the river to the sea on to the Elizabeth Tower during a Commons debate on a ceasefire in Gaza. Many Jews feel under threat at their workplace too, be it a business, a charity or even at the BBC, which prides itself on its meticulous policies of inclusivity, but where only a few days ago Director General Tim Davie was forced to acknowledge there had been anti-Semitic behaviour against Jewish members of staff.

I know of families who have asked their sons not to wear their kippahs, the skullcap that is a mark of their faith, for fear it may attract abuse. And who can blame them, when every other weekend, some pro-Palestinian protesters march through the streets of Central London brandishing anti-Semitic banners?

Earlier this week, meanwhile, we learned of a young Jewish couple who found that their sons birth certificate had been defaced to remove a reference to Israel after being sent to the UKs Passport Office. Think about that for a minute, and try to imagine if such a gesture had been undertaken against someone from any other background. Where is the widespread uproar, the outrage, at such flagrantly racist abuse in this so-called tolerant country? Instead, there is only deafening silence.

Little wonder that huge swathes of the Jewish community feel abandoned. What has happened in Israel left us all shaken to the core. But equally traumatising has been the apathy and downright hostility that have greeted so much of our suffering. Acknowledging this pain does not mean feeling any less horror for the innocent men, women and children losing their lives in Gaza. But doing so would mean a great deal to those who feel the world has largely forgotten them.

That is why I am speaking out. How can I not, having read the message left by Sivans heartbroken mother on the front of her daughters former home? May they all come, may they see, may they take pictures, may people distribute, she wrote. And may we be remembered and  not forgotten for a moment, for ever, what the monsters did on October 7th 2023. It would be a shameful stain on our society if these powerful words are ignored.
Sir John Gielgud was considered one of the greatest stage actors of the 1950s, famous for his portrayal of Hamlet and comic roles such as the lead in Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest.

But at the peak of his popularity, he was investigated over his 'notorious' private life as a gay man before being knighted in 1953, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Gielgud, later star of Hollywood films such as Arthur, Gandhi and Chariots Of Fire, was the subject of 'special enquiries' by civil servants.

The enquiries are detailed in Government papers that have been obtained by this newspaper under freedom of information laws and which are published for the first time today.

The MoS asked the Cabinet Office to provide copies of documents relating to the awarding of honours to Gielgud and which also included references to his private life and his homosexuality.

Sir John Gielgud was scrutinised over his private life as a gay man before he was knighted in 1953

The documents show that civil servants were keen to ensure they could rely on the star's discretion before awarding him one of the highest honours in the land.

A 1977 document includes the note: 'He was the subject of special enquiries in 1949 and 1952; these proved positive. No papers kept.'

In 1953, officials considering his suitability for a knighthood compared him with ballet star Anton Dolin. One wrote: 'He is more discreet than Dolin but all the same notorious.'

Gielgud, who died in 2000 aged 96, was knighted in the Queen's Coronation Honours. Shortly afterwards, he was arrested and fined for 'cottaging'  meeting men for sex in a public lavatory  in Chelsea, West London.

His arrest was part of a clampdown overseen by Home Secretary David Maxwell Fyfe, who regarded male homosexuality as a 'plague'. But Maxwell Fyfe's stance would not appear to have been shared by theatre-goers.

A terrified Gielgud had assumed reports about his arrest while he was appearing in a production of A Day By The Sea in Liverpool would end his career. Instead, he was greeted by a standing ovation.

Gielgud was arrested and fined for meeting men for sex outside a public lavatory in Chelsea

The Cabinet Office papers also reveal Sir John was considered for a life peerage in 1990.

Gielgud never discussed his private life or his arrest in public. He once told a fellow actor: 'I do admire people like you and Ian McKellen for coming out, but I can't be doing with all that myself.'

One actor said last night: 'Even if they did note his notoriety, it didn't stop them from honouring him. It'd be interesting to know if notoriously promiscuous heterosexuals were subjected to the same scrutiny.'

The Cabinet Office declined to comment last night.
A ship that was lost at sea 120 years ago has been accidentally discovered, bringing its century-old mystery to an end.

The SS Nemesis left Newcastle in NSW on July 8, 1904 and was headed for Melbourne with 32 crew on board when it sank and disappeared in a storm.

The remains have been found after Subsea Professional Marine Services, a company that searches for lost cargo containers, stumbled across the wreckage in 2022.

It was located on the ocean floor, 26km off the Kembla coast, south of Sydney.

Due to its location in deep, high-current water, it took two years for NSW Heritage experts to go through evidence to confirm the undisturbed wreck was the Nemesis.

The SS Nemesis has been missing for 120 years and had 32 crew on board. The coal vessel left Newcastle in 1905 (pictured its port side). A wreck found in 2022 was thought to be the Nemesis but it has only been confirmed

The crew who were from Australia, the UK and Canada left behind about 40 kids. The NSW government has put out a global call-out so relatives can finally know what happened to their ancestors (pictured SS Nemesis' starboard side)

CSIRO was a crucial part of the process and captured underwater imagery, which allowed NSW Heritage to see the wreck's distinctive features and compare them to photos and sketches of the ship.

The images also showed the iron vessel upright with 'significant damage to its bow and stern'.

It is now believed the engine became 'overwhelmed' during the storm and when struck by a large wave, the boat sank too quickly for lifeboats to be used.

The 73m coal ship, which had its hold full coke and coal onboard, was last sighted near Wollongong by another ship, and it had ran into a southerly gale.

Distress rockets had been deployed in the storm and were seen off Port Hacking in Sydney's south.

There were search parties when the ship went missing, but the vessel was never found.

At the time, Nemesis's disappearance was big news, and over several weeks, crew members' bodies washed ashore at Cronulla Beach, in Sydney's south.

Parts of the boat also turned up, such as fragments of the ship's steering wheel and its doors.

Wreckage (above) and bodies washed ashore at Cronulla Beach over several weeks and was a huge news story in 1905

NSW Heritage was able to compare the CSIRO's vision to old pictures and sketches of the SS Nemesis (pictured)

NSW minister for environment and heritage Penny Sharpe said the loss of the Nemesis had been an 'enduring mystery'.

'[It] has even been described by shipwreck researchers as the holy grail,' she said.

'Thanks to collaborative work with CSIRO and Subsea, using modern technology and historical records, Heritage NSW has been able to write the final chapter of SS Nemesis story.'

Heritage NSW said the crew, including Captain Lusher, had come from Australia, the United Kingdom as well as one from Canada.

Sadly, they had left behind approximately 40 children.

The NSW government is now looking for relatives in a global call-out, so they can finally know what happened to their family members.

Scientists now believe the SS Nemesis' engine became overwhelmed in a storm and suffered damage to it's bow and stern (pictured Nemesis' stern hatch and engine)

The CSIRO helped NSW Heritage by taking extensive and detailed underwater vision of the wreck, which ultimately helped identify the ship as the SS Nemesis

Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said he admired how determined scientists had been to solve the century-old mystery.

'Everyone involved should be enormously proud of this discovery and the comfort it will provide to the descendants of the 32 sailors who died aboard SS Nemesis,' he said.

Subsea Professional Marine Services' Ed Korber said he was honoured to discover SS Nemesis and hoped it would bring closure to families who lost someone on board.

'Our marine and remote operated vehicle team have navigated difficult challenges to get the first incredible footage that has allowed Heritage NSW to confirm this was indeed the Nemesis wreck,' he said.

The member for Wollongong, minister Paul Scully said the find is part of the port city's 'rich maritime history'.

'With only 105 of the more than 200 shipwrecks off the NSW coast having been discovered this is an important find,' he said.
A 34-year-old Menomonie man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for child sexual abuse, according to a press release from the Dunn County District Attorney's Office.

Kory Cockeram was found guilty in October on two counts of first-degree child sexual assault-intercourse with a person under 12, as well as two other charges of child sexual assault, and was sentenced Feb. 19.

The district attorney's office said in the release that the abuse happened between July 2012 and March 2013, when the victim was 4 to 5 years old.

In the release, Dunn County District Attorney Andrea Nodolf commended the victim for having the courage to disclose what happened to her.

Dunn County Circuit Court Judge Luke Wagner sentenced Cockeram to a 32-year prison sentence with 25 years of initial confinement followed by seven years of extended supervision.

Cockeram previously served prison sentences in 2016 from robbery with threat of force convictions in Dunn and Eau Claire counties.

The convictions were the result of an investigation by the Dunn County Sheriffs Office with assistance by Childrens Wisconsin its their Child Advocacy Center.
He Health Secretary has hit out at the NHS hospital that said transgender women can breastfeed babies just as well as mothers.

Victoria Atkins described as 'extraordinary' the stance on gender which has been taken by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, and warned against any attempts to erase women.

Her department has also waded into the row for the first time, telling The Mail on Sunday that more 'fact-based evaluation' is needed into claims about milk that is produced by biological males who identify as women.

It will put the trust under pressure to review its controversial policies, revealed in full by this newspaper last week.

In response to a campaign group's complaints, the trust's medical director Dr Rachael James wrote in a letter: 'The term human milk is meant to be neutral and is not gender-biased.'

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins hit out at an NHS trust which used the term 'chestfeeding' and adopted the stance that transgender women can breastfeed babies as well as mothers

Responding to the allegation that there is no evidence that 'male secretions' are safe or beneficial for babies, she said: 'Although formula milk provides safe and effective full nutrition for infants, there is clear and overwhelming evidence that human milk is the ideal food for infants when this can be provided.'

She cited a medical paper on 'lactation induction in a transgender woman' and insisted: 'The evidence which is available demonstrates that the milk is comparable to that produced following the birth of a baby.'

And her letter referred to the trust's policy on perinatal care for trans and non-binary people, which uses the term 'chestfeeding' as an inclusive alternative to breastfeeding, but did not mention mothers or women.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Health Secretary Ms Atkins said: 'I'm a mum  I find it extraordinary that a trust thought that this was an appropriate use of their time.

'We need to be making this robust case to refuse to wipe women out of the conversation.

'I'm very comfortable and clear that I am a woman and I would like my rights as a woman to be protected. And they will be protected by the Conservatives.'

The medical director of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Dr Rachael James wrote in a letter that the term 'human milk' was supposed to be 'gender neutral'

She went on: 'Half the population are women. Of course the NHS should use the word 'woman'.'

Last night a spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: 'We are clear that biological sex matters and it is important that the NHS recognises the separate health and biological needs of men and women, and the effect of biology on health outcomes.

The welfare of the baby is always our primary concern and the evidence is clear that a mother's breastmilk has significant advantages in reducing the risk of infection and should be the main drink throughout an infant's first year of life.

'Induced lactation is an area where further scientific and fact-based evaluation is needed.'
South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was greeted with boos after former President Trump gave him a shoutout during his victory speech upon winning the South Carolina Republican Primary.

Graham has been a longtime supporter of the former president as he seeks a second term in the White House, but the the rowdy crowd was not a fan to Graham as Trump called him 'a little bit further left than some of the people on this stage.'

Trump urged the senator to join him joking the senator didn't want to be noticed as the former president's fans jeered.

'I love him. He's a good man,' Trump pushed back.

'The nightmare you're facing is just about over. Help is on the way. This is the most qualified man to be President of the United States,' Graham said to the crowd and they slowly moved to cheering.

Senator Lindsey Graham (right) and Senator Tim Scott (right) after Trump won the primary in their state. Graham was booed by the rowdy crowd at Trump's victory speech when the former president mentioned he was there

Senator Graham called Trump the 'most qualified' to be president at which point the crowd of Trump supporters moved to cheering

Donald Trump took the stage right away to speak after running away with a victory in South Carolina on Saturday night with a win that gives him a straight sweep of the four early primary contests in the Republican presidential primary.

'This was a little sooner than we anticipated,' Trump joked to a crowd of cheering supporters.

Not even a minute after polls closed at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, the race was called for Trump in an embarrassing defeat of Nikki Haley.

Trump's victory builds on the surging momentum he has built coming out of wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time a Republican candidate has lost their home state primary election in more than 50 years. The previous was Richard Nixon, who lost California's primary to Ronald Reagan  who was also from California.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of polls closing, Graham said 'Republicans have made up their mind.' He said he respects and admires Haley, but he said the sooner she drops out of the race, the better.

Trump celebrating win in Columbia, South Carolina minutes after the state's primary was called for him just after 7 p.m.

Donald Trump embarrassed Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina on Saturday as he ran away with a victory in the Republican primary

But Haley said during a 'state of the race' speech on Tuesday that she was 'far from' ending her bid despite her underwhelming performance in the primary so far and dismal polling that showed her trailing Trump in national and state elections by large margins.

The former South Carolina governor said she plans to stay in the 2024 Republican primary until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states and an astounding 874 delegates are up for grabs in that single day.
Vladimir Putin could kill again on the streets of Britain, the defence secretary has warned, following the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.

Mr Navalny, leader of the Russia of the Future opposition party, died on February 16 in a Russian prison in the Arctic Circle after being jailed on what his allies said were trumped up charges of extremism created by the Kremlin to silence him.

Now Grant Shapps has warned that Putin, who he says already has blood on his hands for the Salisbury poisonings targeting Sergei and Yulia Skripal, could strike again on UK soil, saying: 'We've seen what Putin is capable of.'

Russian authorities say he died of natural causes, but his widow Yulia Navalnaya believes he was poisoned with the deadly nerve agent Novichok - the same one used to target double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in 2018.

The defence secretary compared the Russian premier - who has been been president or prime minister since 1999 - to Adolf Hitler, and warned that he presented the greatest threat to global peace since the Nazi dictator.

Vladimir Putin presents the greatest threat to global security since Adolf Hitler, the defence secretary Grant Shapps has said

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in prison earlier this month. His widow and supporters maintain he was killed by the Russian state

Mr Shapps has warned that Putin could strike again on British soil following the novichok poisonings in Salisbury in 2018 (pictured: hazmat teams in Salisbury)

Russian agents spied on Yulia and Sergei Skripal (pictured) five years before the Salisbury novichok poisoning - they both survived

Defence secretary Grant Shapps (pictured) says Putin has a 'long history of bumping off his opponents'

Police don protective masks, suits and masks as they prepare to survey the scene of the novichok poisonings in Salisbury in 2018

Mr Shapps told The Sun: 'Putin has Navalny's blood on his hands. Navalny should never have been in prison. His crime was standing up to an autocratic and now dictatorial Putin, who has a long history of bumping off his opponents.

'The world must not waver or bend to that kind of squalid leadership. We know what happens when you do  you end up with the mess of the last century.'

Mr Shapps added: 'Look what happened in Salisbury. We've seen what Putin is capable of. We are always tracking and trying to prevent those things. But do I think he has intent? You have seen that. So, yes.'

Bill Browder, a political activist and friend of Navalny's believed to be high on Putin's 'kill list', has claimed in recent days the Russian president will not hesitate to kill again on British soil after the dissident's death.

Navalny's body was handed over to his mother today after a nine day wait.

Mr Browder told the Mirror earlier this week that Putin had 'lost all restraint' after the 'game changer' of killing Navalny.

He said: 'The fact he would kill the most popular and prominent opposition politician in plain sight without fear of repercussion says that people who are opposing Putin in Russia and abroad are in much more serious risk of assassination.

'The killing of Alexei Navalny has shown Putin has lost all restraint and that he will embark on a major international killing spree which will include against all his enemies in the UK.'

Meanwhile, a survivor of the Salisbury Novichok poisonings has warned Navalny's widow that she 'could be next'.

Charlie Rowley's partner Dawn Sturgess was killed by the deadly nerve agent in 2018 and he was left partly paralysed.

Now he fears Yulia Navalnaya could be Putin's next victim and has warned her to 'watch her back'.

His intervention comes after Navalnaya released a video insisting Putin had used Novichok to murder her jailed husband after he 'could not be broken'.

Charlie Rowley, a survivor of the Salisbury Novichok poisonings, has warned Alexei Navalny 's widow Yulia Navalnaya that she 'could be next'

Yulia Navalnaya recently released a video insisting Putin had used Novichok to murder her jailed husband after he 'could not be broken'

Mr Rowley's partner Dawn Sturgess (pictured), was unwittingly poisoned by Novichok leading to her death in 2018

Alexei Navalny, pictured in court in 2021, died suddenly on February 16 after a walk, according to Russia. His shock death aged 47 has led critics to blame Putin for direct involvement

Mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess (left) and her partner Charlie Rowley (right) fell ill at the flat after she handled a perfume bottle containing the poison. She died in hospital in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on July 8, 2018. Mr Rowley was left seriously ill but recovered

The counterfeit perfume box found by Mr Rowley in June 2018

Both of the Russian suspects escaped following the attack. Russia claims they were just tourists visiting the famous cathedral's tall spire

Mr Rowley, 50, told The Mirror the news of Navalny's death sent him sent him spiralling back into PTSD and his worst nightmares.

He said if he ever meets Yulia he will be linked to her as he knows Putin 'wrecks lives' because he destroyed his and his partner Dawn's.

'But I want to warn her to watch her back. Be very careful or she could be next,' he told the paper.

Mr Rowley still lives in fear and said he could say nasty words about Putin but does not want to.

He is still traumatised from the events surrounding the alleged attempted murder of former Russian military intelligence double agent Sergei Skripal, 68, in Salisbury.

In March 2018 both he and his then 33-year-old daughter Yulia were rushed to hospital in critical condition after coming into contact with Novichok - a deadly nerve agent concocted by Soviet scientists during the Cold War.

They survived the suspected attempted murder, but four months later Mr Rowley found the fake Nina Ricci perfume bottle in a charity shop bin which contained the Novichok used by the Moscow hitmen in their initial botched assassination of the Skripals.

He gave it to his partner Ms Sturgess who unwittingly sprayed it on her wrist.

The pair were admitted to hospital within hours, and tragically Ms Sturgess, 44, died on July 8, 2018.

Mr Rowley suffered multiple strokes and nerve damage and lost his home after the attack because the property was severely contaminated.

Remembering his ordeal of suffering Mr Rowley said he is sure Navalny would have suffered his 'worst nightmare'.

He said the illness caused him to feel like he was going through 'hell'.

The Salisbury attack came 12 years after Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with polonium in London in 2006; an inquiry concluded he was 'probably' killed by agents acting under the orders of the Russian intelligence services.

Yesterday, supporters of Navalny, 47, celebrated after his body was eventually returned to his family after a nine day wait.

Navalny in a hearing via video link from the penal colony in Kharp on January 11, 2024

Yulia Navalnaya, wife of the late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, leaves the Europa Building in Brussels on February 19, three days after the death of her husband

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a presentation in Kazan, February 22, 2024

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia Navalnaya in September 2020

Navalnaya said in her address that Putin's decision not to release the body was 'satanism'

Russia previously said it would not release Navalny's body to his family for 14 days as investigators probe the hazy circumstances of his death - a move critics said suggested foul play.

Navalny was previously poisoned with Novichok while investigating Russian corruption in 2020.

It is not yet known what caused Navalny's death, with Russia initially claiming he died from 'sudden death syndrome' after a walk on February 16.

Paramedics reportedly came to try to rehabilitate him without success.

Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of 'extremism', had only recently been moved from his former prison in the Vladimir region of central Russia to a grisly 'special regime' penal colony above the Arctic Circle.

Navalny was last seen via video link during a court hearing.

Yulia Navalnaya, who has vowed to keep up her late husband's anti-corruption work, said in a new video directly accusing Putin of responsibility in Navalny's death: 'What Putin is doing now is hate. No, it's not even hatred, it's Satanism.'

'What will you do with his corpse? How low will you sink to mock the man you murdered?' she continued.

The Kremlin has denied allegations of its involvement in Navalny's death, calling the West's reaction 'hysterical'.

Putin, who famously never said Navalny's name in public, has not commented on the death of his most vocal critic.

Following a private meeting with US President Joe Biden on Thursday, Yulia Navalnaya spoke candidly about her husband's death in a video shared on YouTube.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley told supporters Saturday night in Charleston that she was staying in the presidential race - despite being trounced by former President Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina.

Haley suffered a quick embarrassment in the state she governed from 2011 to 2017 - with the Associated Press calling South Carolina for Trump at 7 p.m. on the dot - the moment Palmetto State polls closed.

By the time she stepped onstage around 8:30 p.m., Trump was leading her by about 20 points - with Haley hovering just below 40 percent - as returns continued to come in.

That number, she told a cheering crowd, signaled enough support for her to carry on.

'There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative,' she said. 'I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina I would continue to run for president - I'm a woman of my word.'

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley told supporters Saturday night in Charleston that she was staying in the presidential race - despite being trounced by former President Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina

In her speech Saturday night, Haley pointed to how she was getting around 40 percent of the vote, which she said was enough to carry on. Shortly after that her total moved down to 38 percent

Republican presidential candidate greets supporters as she arrives at her Charleston, South Carolina primary night party. She told the crowd that the approximately 40 percent of the vote she received in her home state was enough to carry on

Haley started her address to supporters by talking about how special it was to vote alongside her mother, who she pushed in a wheelchair to their polling place in a gated community in Kiawah Island, South Carolina just before lunchtime Saturday.

The former U.N. ambassador called it 'very special' that her mother 'could go with me and cast a ballot for her daughter as president of the United States' after facing sexism in her birth country of India.

Haley also said she was able to speak to her deployed husband Michael this morning as South Carolina voters headed to the polls.

'His support has been amazing,' she gushed.

While Trump didn't mention her once in his victory address, she acknowledged him.

'I want to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory and I want to thank the people of South Carolina for using the power of your voice,' she said. 'No matter the results, I love the people of our state. I love what we accomplished together and I love how we've united during our worst challenges and tragedies.'

She said South Carolinians were family and 'families are honest with each other.'

'And that's what I'll do now,' she said.

'What I saw today was South Carolina's frustration with our country's direction. I've seen that same frustration nationwide. I share it. I feel it to my core. I couldn't be more worried about America. It seems like our country is falling apart,' the 2024 hopeful expressed. 'But here's the thing, America will come apart if we make the wrong choices.'

'This has never been about me or my political future. We need to beat Joe Biden in November. I don't believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day Trump drives people away. Including with his comments just yesterday,' she continued.

During the Black Conservative Federation's Honors Gala in Columbia, South Carolina Friday night, Trump suggested that black voters liked him more now that he's posed for a mugshot and got indicted 91 times.

The ex-president said like black Americans 'I'm being discriminated against.'

After she voted earlier Saturday, Haley commented that what Trump said was 'disgusting.'

During her Saturday night address, Haley noted that she had come away with the support of about 40 percent of Republicans, adding 'that's about what we got in New Hampshire too.'

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley waves to supporters as she arrives to address a crowd in Charleston, South Carolina, telling them she'll stay in the presidential race despite losing her home state to former President Donald Trump

In last month's Granite State primary, she received 43.2 percent of the vote to Trump's 54.3 percent.

With about 60 percent of the vote counted in South Carolina, she had dropped to 38 percent.

'I'm an accountant,' she told her supporters - something she often tells voters on the campaign trail. 'I know 40 percent is not 50 percent.'

'I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group,' she added. 'I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.'

Haley pointed out that South Carolina was only the fourth state to have voted.

'In the next 10 days another 21 states and territories will speak. They have a right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate,' she said. 'We can't afford four more years of Biden's failures or Trump's lack of focus.'

Haley said she'd press ahead to Michigan, which holds a primary on Tuesday and then to the Super Tuesday states, which hold primaries on March 5.

'I'm grateful that tdoay is not the end of our story,' she told the crowd.

Ahead of the primary, some of the biggest names in her state's Republican Party had endorsed Trump.

That included South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, a previous 2024 rival, who backed Trump ahead of last month's New Hampshire primary - despite Haley appointing Scott to the U.S. Senate while she served as governor.

South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace also decided to endorse Trump, despite the fact that he endorsed her Republican primary rival in 2022 after she criticized him over January 6.

At that time Haley came to her aid, campaigning to keep Mace in her Charleston-area Congressional seat.

Mace repaid the favor by calling Haley 'China's favorite governor' during a campaign stop in early February.

'And in fact, if she had her way, South Carolina would be manufacturing spy balloons right here in our state,' Mace said.

Nikki Haley supporter Jamil N. Jaffer reacts after Donald Trump was quickly declared the winner of the South Carolina Republican primary at the former governor's campaign event Saturday night in Charleston

The former U.N. ambassador's supporters danced in front of the jumbotron as former President Donald Trump touted his victory in Haley's home state

DailyMail.com found that Haley did get some help Saturday from Democrats, independents and Libertarians, hoping to stall Trump's rapid ascent to the November ballot.

'I'm a Democrat, flat out,' 54-year-old social worker Cynthia Plasters said as she voted alongside her husband at the Hunley Park Elementary School in North Charleston.

She said she voted in Saturday's Republican primary 'because I don't want Trump to be on the ballot, that is exactly why.'

'Because I hate Trump. I hate Trump. I think he is a criminal and I think he's corrupt in every way and I think he's awful,' Plasters said.

Her husband Chad, 52, also voted for Haley but is an independent.

He chose the former South Carolina governor not simply to stop the ex-president but because his values 'align more with Nikki than with Trump.'

Stephen Miller, 42, who works at a sushi restaurant in Mount Pleasant, said he usually votes for Libertarian candidates but backed Haley on Saturday.

Haley (left) is seen assisting her mother Raj (right) at the polling place Saturday on Kiawah Island. She spoke to reporters about how 'blessed we are to be in this country' after watching her mother cast a ballot for her, a female candidate, in a U.S. presidential primary

Nikki Haley heads to her polling place Saturday on Kiawah Island, South Carolina with mom Raj, son Nalin, daughter Rena and her son-in-law Joshua as she braces for a potential loss to former President Donald Trump in her home state

'I just think it's time for a new direction. Some younger leadership. And I think she would be less divisive in kind of getting the country back together instead of two polar opposites,' Miller said.

Shelby Joffrion, 43, of North Charleston who works for the city of Charleston government has voted in past Republican primaries but considers herself a moderate and said with prompting that she was a 'never Trumper.'

On Saturday she went for Haley because 'she's inspiring to women.'

'I feel like women like me we have a voice and she's making me feel like we're heard and conversely I also don't like the other majority candidate - he's caused a lot of chaos and hurt in our country.'

Joffrion said if Haley fails to nab the nomination she'll likely vote Democratic in November.

'I'll probably support Biden,' she told DailyMail.com.
Her uncle, Chris Sloan said she kept attempting to hold on to Maddox's leg to get out of the sand

The seven-year-old girl who died after being buried inside a sand hole tried to save herself by grabbing onto her brother during her final moments.

Sloan Mattingly was pulled out 20 minutes after the sand caved around her and her brother, Maddox, at the Lauderdale-by-the Sea beach.

Sloan's grieving uncle, Chris Sloan, said the young girl kept trying to hold on to Maddox's leg to get out of the sand but eventually the boy could not feel her holding onto him anymore.

'We found out that after the sand had caved. She kept trying to grab up Maddox's leg to get up out of the sand and eventually he couldn't feel her moving anymore', Chris told KFOR.

He described Sloan as a girl with a 'lot of energy and just totally innocent'.

Chris further said that the family rarely ever took vacations and were constantly texting updates on the family group chat.

Maddox was rescued and was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

Sloan Mattingly's grieving uncle, Chris Sloan said the young girl kept trying to hold on to Maddox's leg to get out of the sand but eventually the boy could not feel her moving anymore

He also described Sloan as a girl with a 'lot of energy and just totally innocent'

'She kept trying to grab up Maddox's leg to get up out of the sand, and eventually he couldn't feel her moving anymore,' the uncle said

'She was always happy. She was really fun to be around. She had a lot of energy and just totally innocent, and that's what hurts the most in all this.

'They were having a good time. They were staying at an Airbnb. Everybody was really excited to actually see them out there.

'They don't really go on vacation much, but they went to Ft. Lauderdale to the beach.

'They'd been posting pictures the last couple of days they've been out there on social media.

'I got a text message as did everybody on the group chat to call a number for a conference call.

'Once we all got on the line, my brother, David, said, "Ok. What I have to tell you is going to be the worst news of your entire life".

'And it was. He said that she had passed away, that Sloanie had passed away.

'The sand had been up to his [Maddox] chest, and he was screaming for help, and a lot of people did come and help. There's actually some video of that.

'She was non-responsive at the scene is what we know,' Chris said.

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

Their school back in Indiana, Lafayette Meadows Elementary School, issued a statement on Wednesday mourning Sloan

A crowd gathered to help try to dig the children out until the authorities arrived

Frantic passersby got on their knees and dug with their hands in a desperate attempt to reach the girl

Harrowing 911 audio released this week revealed the frantic moments beachgoers attempted to save Sloan after she was fatally buried.

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.

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.'

The family was visiting from Fort Wayne, Indiana when tragedy struck

Maddox was seen walking outside the hospital on Wednesday. He's pictured with his little sister Sloan

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.

The siblings, their dad and mom Therese, 36, were visiting from Fort Wayne, Indiana when tragedy struck on Tuesday.

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.

Although sand hole deaths are very rare, they are not unheard of and there have been studies and warnings published about them.

People have been leaving tributes for the seven-year-old on the beach in Fort Lauderdale

According to Dr. Stephen Leatherman from Florida International University's Department of Earth and Environment, deep sand holes can be a death trap.

The expert explained that once a person's body's is below the sand level, sand starts drying out immediately.

'When people dig holes more than two feet deep and get in them, at least where their body's below the sand level, sand starts drying out immediately.

'And dry sand can only hold a 33-degree angle and people dig these holes almost vertically.'

At that point, the sides of the hole usually begin to cave in very rapidly and sand begins to fall into the hole at an alarming speed.

Leatherman also pointed out that there is also a risk of someone stepping on the edge of a hole before the sand dries out and causing a massive collapse.

'The deeper the hole, the greater the risk,' the expert told NBC.
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Anthony Albanese was among an array of political elites invited to an Australian billionaire's VIP party that included a private performance by Katy Perry.

The 220 guests had to run the gauntlet of protestors outside Anthony Pratt's mansion to get inside for the VIP event in Melbourne on Saturday night.

As well as the Prime Minister, attendees included Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and her predecessor Dan Andrews, federal Climate Change minister Chris Bowen and US ambassador Caroline Kennedy.

There was a heavy security presence - both state police and private guards - around the Raheen estate, along with traffic restrictions to allow drop offs.

The heritage listed mansion is located in Kew and believed to be worth at least $100million.

The event was held in celebration of the food and beverage industry - a client of Mr Pratt's packaging company Visy.

As the guests made their way in, pro-Palestine protestors called for jailed Australian Julian Assange to be freed and a ceasefire in Gaza.

After being seen at Taylor Swift 's Sydney show on Friday night in the company of her friend Rita Ora, Katy Perry played a private concert on Saturday in Melbourne. A guest is pictured arriving

The show was attended by 220 people, including political elites such as Anthony Albanese. Two guests are pictured arriving

There was a heavy security presence - both state police and private guards - around the Raheen estate, due to protestors such as those pictured, calling for Julian Assange to be freed

There were also traffic restrictions to allow drop offs such as as the one pictured

With only 220 guests invited to the exclusive party, getting your name ticked off (pictured) was vital

Everybody attending got dressed up in their best clothes, including these arrivals

Given the warm weather, open toed shoes, such as the ones this woman is wearing, were popular

There was a banner reading 'honk for Assange' - which some passing cars did - and the chants included 'Don't be a Pratt, free Julian Assange' and 'Welcome to Prattville, where is Julian?'

At around 7.30pm about 20 Free Palestine protesters started chanting and banging on pots and a drum, but it was unlikely to have been heard inside where the party was in full swing under the master of ceremonies, comedian Vince Sorrenti.

As well as the big name politicians, guests from the business world included ANZ head Shayne Elliott, Allan Myers, Michael Chaney, Jack Cowin, Sir Rod Eddington, Ashok Jacob and Roger Corbett.

Perry, who reportedly earned $1.5million for the one night only private concert, came onstage at 9.22pm and started her set with a cover of 'What A Wonderful World'.

'It sure is, isn't it,' Perry said after playing the Louis Armstrong classic.

'Guys, I came all the way from London and I am so happy to be here. Thank you for having me,' she said.

In videos posted on social media, the US star sang many of her own hits in the hour-long show, including 'Smile', 'Roar' and 'Firework', to the delight of the VIP audience.

Anthony Pratt owns the heritage listed mansion that is located in Kew and believed to be worth at least $100million

Katy Perry (pictured) reportedly earned $1.5million for the one night only private concert

As well as the big name politicians, guests from the business world included ANZ head Shayne Elliott, Allan Myers, Michael Chaney, Jack Cowin, Sir Rod Eddington, Ashok Jacob and Roger Corbett. A woman is pictured arriving

When a few people arrived together (pictured) a queue built up to have their names confirmed on the guest list

Some guests, such as those pictured, were deep in conversation as they arrived for the show

Perry came onstage at 9.22pm and started set with a cover of What A Wonderful World. A guest is pictured

Many high heels and expensive looking handbags (pictured) were seen at the event

In videos posted on social media the US star sang her many of her own hits too in the hour show show, including Smile, Roar and Firework, to the delight of the VIP audience. A guest is pictured arriving

Melbourne performer DJ Femme was also on the bill in the $20million mansion and said it was an incredible, amazing and stunning event'. The woman pictured looks very happy to be attending the show

The most senior guests, such as Anthony Albanese, entered the property at a second gate about 100m from the main driveway and away from the protesters. A guest is pictured at the main entrance

Melbourne performer DJ Femme was also on the bill in the $20million mansion and said it was an incredible, amazing and stunning event'.

'So grateful for moments like these in life,' she added about the show that took three weeks to prepare, including the erection of a huge marquee, a stage and a kitchen to feed the guests.

Some Katy Perry also gathered on the footpath outside the mansion, hoping to catch a glimpse of their hero, but happy enough just to hear the free show.

The most senior guests, such as Mr Albanese, entered the property at a second gate about 100m from the main driveway and away from the protesters.

The pro-Palestine protestors remained outside Mr Pratt's mansion well into the night

Pro-Palestine protestors demanded a ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday night

A guest was spotted leaving as pro-Palestine protestors demonstrated outside

A group of guests leave the mansion with a heavy police presence spotted at the front entrance

Police maintained a heavy presence outside the Raheen estate as pro-Palestine protestors gatecrashed the event
A man is facing criminal charges after he dug up part of a wooded Seattle park hillside using a stolen excavator, and then built a cabin in which he has been living for several months.

Steven Irwin, 41, has caused $15,000 worth of damage among the foliage which the city's Parks Department has repaired, but the man has now erected a cabin in which to live and is planning on building a mine to search for gold underground.

Irwin claims he 'had permission' for the construction of a cabin in Dr. Jose Rizal Park in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood.

The unit comes compete with several generators, fireplaces, propane heaters, a washing machine, and even a treadmill.

Steven Irwin, who is homeless, is facing criminal charges for digging up parts of a Seattle city park hillside with an excavator and then building a cabin

Irwin claims he had permission for the construction of a cabin in Dr. Jose Rizal Park in Seattle and used an excavator to do so

The tent structure has since turned into something more semi-permanent and a cabin has been built

The cabin is equipped with a generator, fireplace, propane heaters, a washing machine, and a treadmill

The 'cabin' appears to have all kinds of domestic appliances including a washer/dryer

Park stewards and neighbors are concerned about the safety and environmental impact of Irwin's activities.

Andrea Suarez of We Heart Seattle, a homeless outreach group offering assistance to Irwin, has expressed worries about the potential hazards present in the camp, citing the presence of kerosene, propane, and gasoline.

'He is digging into the slopes, building structures, tearing down trees, undoing thousands of dollars in repairs,' said Suarez to KOMO.

'There's also a risk for him being in that environment. There are smells of kerosene, propane, and gasoline - there are three different forms of fuel down here, wires everywhere. It's a ticking timebomb.'

Suarez even offered to cover the first six months of housing for Irwin, but he has insisted on keeping his cabin in the woods.

When the group searched his makeshift encampment, they found chainsaws, five pounds of weed, methamphetamines and a dozen stolen credit cards.

It appears Irwin has not faced any consequences at all despite cutting down trees on the park slope.

Irwin can be seen with a couple of bags as he climbs onto the excavator he stole

In October 2023, Irwin was arrested but was quickly released allowing him to return to the park

Police are seen on scene during Irwin's arrest in October 2023

Police are seen making their way through the park in order to reach Irwin's encampment

Andrea Suarez, from We Heart Seattle, a boots on the ground, grassroots community group dedicated to cleaning up the city's park is pictured

His claims of a possible gold mine on site have been met with skepticism.

'He's dreaming up that this is a gold mine, that he's mining for diamonds, and that he is going to find gold and strike it rich,' Suarez said.

Irwin was arrested in October for driving an excavator into a grove of trees to clear space for his cabin. Police arrested him, and he was taken to jail and then released.

Pictures from the time show trees that had been chopped down and tire tracks in the dirt.

'I just happen to come across him as I was coming home,' park steward Genevieve Courtney told Fox 13.

'He was driving a little crazy with this heavy piece of machinery. I called 911 and they were like, 'Does he have a weapon?' I am like, 'Yes, he has a backhoe. That's a weapon.''

Irwin's encampment can be be seen in the woods of Dr. Jose Rizal Park in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood

Irwin's cabin can be seen in pictures from earlier this month

Irwin appears pretty settled in the camp with clothes hanging along a fence

The structure appears to have a semi-permanent feel to it with wooden logs for walls

All manner of garbage can be seen among Irwin's possessions including a generator

Police officers can be making their way towards Irwin's cabin in the woods

Irwin is seen during his arrest in October 2023 when he was charged with property destruction, theft of a motor vehicle and possessing auto theft tools by the Seattle City Attorney's Office

'It's scary seeing someone with a big excavator going through the park, and it could have been a lot worse of a situation,' Courtney said.

But the experience appears to have done little to deter him and Irwin is now using power tools to clear away more park foliage.

'There was significant damage to the underbrush, vegetation, and fencing pieces where the suspect drove the excavator from the street into the valley, and Irwin told me he got permission from the construction workers to use the excavator to build a new home,' a Seattle police officer wrote in a report at the time.

Irwin was charged with property destruction, theft of a motor vehicle and possessing auto theft tools by the Seattle City Attorney's Office.

Calls for some form of intervention by police and the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department continue persist, with concerns about safety, environmental impact, and the need for a resolution to the ongoing issues posed by Irwin's activities.

'This guy is just getting away with it, and I don't understand that. We are absolutely frustrated. We need some civility here, we need police action,' said Brian Hartman, a neighbor.

'For somebody to have the nerve to take a piece of equipment of this value and destroy our urban forest makes you question everything,' Suarez said.

'Why are we here in the first place? Why has Seattle become a no-rules playground?'
Police forces have spent at least 30million patrolling pro-Palestine rallies that have broken out across the UK since Hamas launched its attack on Israel last year.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) called on the Treasury to ask for more funding and warned that 'costs will continue to mount' as protesters routinely flood Britain's streets, the Sunday Express reported.

Officers responded to more than 900 demonstrations between October 7 and December 10 last year, the NPCC revealed. The majority of protests were held in London, but at least 315 occurred in other cities.

It is understood that the Met Police has spent around 18.9million on the protests, whereas Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have spent approximately 7.6million combined.

The call for additional financial support comes as protesters occupied Tower Bridge yesterday, bringing traffic to a standstill and eventually causing police to close it for almost an hour.

It also comes as Israel's war cabinet approved on Saturday sending negotiators to Qatar to continue talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war against Hamas and the return of hostages being held in Gaza.

Protesters occupied Tower Bridge yesterday, bringing traffic to a standstill and eventually causing police to close it for almost an hour

People hold placards and Palestinian flags during a rally calling for a ceasefire, outside parliament as MPs consider a motion on Gaza on February 21, 2024

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy, in Kensingston, London on October 9, 2023

Activists were seen waving Palestinian flags and carrying banners that read 'Save Gaza, Ceasefire Now' as they marched across Tower Bridge yesterday

Protesters forced police to close Tower Bridge yesterday evening as they let off flares and blocked traffic in demand of a ceasefire in Gaza

Thousands of people holding Palestinian flags and banners, gather at Marble Arch to stage a pro-Palestinian demonstration calling on the UK government to end its support for Israel as they march to Israeli Embassy in London, United Kingdom on February 17, 2024

Police officers hold out their hands as people take part in a pro-Palestine march in central London, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, on February 17, 2024

Protesters forced police to close Tower Bridge yesterday evening as they let off flares and blocked traffic in demand of a ceasefire in Gaza.

Activists were seen waving Palestinian flags and carrying banners that read 'Save Gaza, Ceasefire Now' as they marched across the bridge.

Drummers pounded out a beat as protesters clapped and chanted 'free, free, Palestine'. Other placards accused Israel of 'genocide' and 'murder'.

City of London police took to X at around 5.40pm to confirm they had responded to the incident. The force wrote: 'Tower Bridge is currently closed due to protest activity. Officers are in attendance at the scene.'

At 6.26pm the police the bridge had 'now reopened' and thanked commuters 'for your patience'.

Social media users, applauding the demonstrators' efforts, encouraged activists to 'shut the roads down until Palestine is free'.

However, demonstrations are causing financial strain on police forces across the country, it emerged today.

In the two months after war in Gaza broke out, three quarters of all 46 forces in the UK have been involved in policing protests. Several officers have been injured, including some sent to hospital, during the interventions.

The NPCC says the policing response to the Israel-Hamas conflict thus far 'is estimated to be well in excess of 20million', however officials note the figure is 'probably closer to 30million'.

The figure is 'primarily' based on officer and staff hours, but does not include the additional costs incurred by forces for 'necessary logistics' - such as providing officers with refreshment, replacement kits and equipment, additional use and repair of specialist police vehicles, or costs associated with absences due to injury.

The NPCC has asked the Home Affairs Select Committee, who are probing policing of protests, 'to consider an appeal to HM Treasury to offer financial support to those forces who have incurred significant cost'.

'The impact of events in the UK and internationally are felt acutely across London and have a knock-on effect on the Met,' a spokesperson told the newspaper.

'Last year was incredibly busy for the Met with several weeks of Just Stop Oil protests and a number of large pro-Palestine demonstrations in central London.'

MailOnline has approached the NPCC, Met Police, Police Scotland and PSNI for comment.

Drummers pounded out a beat as protesters clapped and chanted 'free, free, Palestine' as they marched across Tower Bridge yesterday. Other placards accused Israel of 'genocide' and 'murder'

Pro-Palestine protesters have shut down Tower Bridge this evening in demand of a ceasefire in Gaza

Activists waving Palestinian flags marched and chanted along Tower Bridge this evening

Drummers appeared to lead the march, pounding out a beat as protesters clapped and chanted 'free, free, Palestine'

Activists lit off flares as traffic on the iconic London landmark remained at a standstill

Demonstrators carried a banner that read 'Save Gaza, Ceasefire Now' as they marched across the bridge

Protesters descended on London yesterday as Israeli leaders prepared to meet to discuss next steps after the latest talks with the United States, Egypt and Qatar in search of a deal on pausing the fighting in Gaza.

The country's war cabinet approved on Saturday sending negotiators to Qatar to continue talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war against Hamas and the return of hostages being held in Gaza, officials and local media said.

The talks began in Paris, where the head of Israel's overseas intelligence service Mossad and his counterpart at the domestic Shin Bet security service met with mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

National security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a televised interview Saturday evening that the 'delegation has returned from Paris - there is probably room to move towards an agreement'.

The negotiators had asked to speak to the cabinet 'to bring us up to speed on the results of the Paris summit', he added shortly before the meeting.

Israeli media later reported that the meeting had concluded, with the cabinet agreeing to send a delegation to Qatar in the coming days to continue negotiations on a weeks-long truce involving the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Pressure has steadily mounted on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to strike a deal to free the hostages, with thousands gathering in Tel Aviv Saturday at what has come to be known as 'Hostages Square' to demand swifter action.

In his interview Saturday, Hanegbi said Israel wanted the release of all hostages seized in the October 7 attacks, starting with the women, but added: 'Such an agreement does not mean the end of the war.'

He also indicated that Israel would not accept any deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia for a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu said in a statement that Saturday's cabinet meeting would discuss 'next steps in the negotiations'.

He also reaffirmed his aim for troops to go into Rafah in southern Gaza, despite widespread concern about the impact on hundreds of thousands of civilians who have fled there to avoid bombardments.

There had been at least six air strikes on Rafah on Saturday evening, according to reports.

Protesters carried placards accusing Israel of 'genocide' and 'murder' as they marched across Tower Bridge this evening

City of London police confirmed the incident on X, saying that Tower Bridge was 'closed due to protest activity' and that officers were 'in attendance at the scene'

Demonstrators lit flares as they marched across Tower Bridge early Saturday evening

Social media users, applauding the demonstrators' efforts, encouraged activists to 'shut the roads down until Palestine is free'

Israel's air, land and sea war against Hamas in retaliation for its deadly October 7 attacks on southern Israel has killed at least 29,606 people, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says.

Hamas attacked rural communities and military posts bordering the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 1,160 people dead, according to a tally based on official Israeli figures.

Some 250 hostages were taken, of whom 130 are still in Gaza, although about 30 are thought to be dead, Israel says.

A one-week pause in fighting in November saw more than 100 hostages released, including 80 Israelis who were freed in exchange for some 240 Palestinians jailed in Israel.

Netanyahu has characterised Hamas's demands for a ceasefire in Gaza as 'bizarre' and vowed to press on with the military campaign until 'total victory' over the group is achieved.

The head of Israel's military, Herzi Halevi, visited the Gaza Strip and also said military action was the most effective way of getting back the hostages.

Combat was 'leverage', he told troops. 'We need to continue and apply it strongly... to use it to release the hostages,' he added.

Negotiators face an unofficial deadline of the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan around March 10.

Hamas political official Osama Hamdan noted that the group wasn't at the talks, but asserted to reporters in Beirut on Friday that Israel had refused its main demands, including stopping the 'aggression' and withdrawing from Gaza.

The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Saturday that the bodies of 92 Palestinians killed in Israeli bombardments were brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours, raising the overall toll in nearly five months of war to 29,606. The total number of wounded rose to nearly 70,000.

The ministry's death toll doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, but it has said that two-thirds of those killed were children and women. Israel says its troops have killed more than 10,000 Hamas fighters, but hasn't provided details.

An Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafah, killing at least eight people, including four women and a child, health authorities said. An Associated Press journalist saw the bodies at Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital.

'Enough, enough. Either the Israelis or us should stop. There should be a truce,' said neighbor Abdul-Qader Shubeir, who described feeling lost at not being immediately able to put out the fire burning the bodies.

Smoke rises over the residential areas following the Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on Saturday

Search and rescue efforts continue to reach injured and killed Palestinians at the scene after Israeli forces hit a building and its surroundings in Rafah, Gaza on Saturday

Search and rescue efforts continue to reach injured and killed Palestinians at the scene yesterday after Israeli forces hit and destroyed a building belonging to a Palestinian family in Az-Zawayda, Deir al-Balah, Gaza

A crying child is carried as search and rescue efforts continue in Rafah, Gaza on Saturday

Palestinians collect belongings that are still intact amid rubble on Saturday after Israeli forces hit a building and its surroundings in Rafah, Gaza

Brazil's president alleged Saturday that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, doubling down on harsh rhetoric after stirring controversy a week ago by comparing Israel's military offensive in Gaza to the Nazi Holocaust in which 6 million Jews and others perished during World War II.

Israel has pushed back against genocide claims made at the UN's top court and elsewhere, saying its war targets the militant group Hamas, not the Palestinian people. It has held Hamas responsible for civilian deaths, arguing that the group operates from civilian areas.

'What the Israeli government is doing is not war, it is genocide,' Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 'Children and women are being murdered.'

In response to Lula's initial comments, Israel declared him a persona non grata, summoned Brazil's ambassador and demanded an apology. Lula recalled Brazil's ambassador to Israel for consultations.

Last month, South Africa filed a landmark case with the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians. The court issued a preliminary order ordering Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza.

Israel, created in part as a refuge for survivors of the Holocaust, has accused South Africa of hypocrisy.

South Africa has compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians in Gaza with the treatment of Black South Africans during apartheid, framing the issues as fundamentally about people oppressed in their homeland.

Displaced Palestinian children queue up with their pots and containers waiting to receive food provided by Arab and Palestinian donors in Deir Al Balah town, southern Gaza on Saturday

Children receive food provided by Arab and Palestinian donors in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on Saturday

Palestinians perform Friday prayers yesterday in the ruins of Al-Huda Mosque after it was destroyed by the Israeli occupation army, in Rafah, southern Gaza

Palestinians hold Friday prayers in the ruins of Al-Huda Mosque, which was destroyed by the Israeli occupation army

Israel declared war after the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel in which the terrorists killed about 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages.

More than 100 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.

The rising civilian death toll and worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza have amplified calls for a cease-fire.

Hunger and infectious diseases are spreading and about 80 per of Gaza's 2.3million people have been displaced, with about 1.4million crowded into Rafah on the border with Egypt.

'There are choking, skyrocketing prices. It's terrifying. There is no source of income. The area is very overcrowded,' said Hassan Attwa, a displaced man from Gaza City who now shelters in a tent on the sand in Mawasi in the south.

'The garbage, may God bless you, is not collected at all. It stays piled up. It turns into a mess and clay when it rains. The situation is disastrous in every sense of the word.'

In Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, children banged on pots as part of a protest outside a closed hospital demanding more aid to the north.

Netanyahu has vowed to fight until 'total victory,' but is under pressure at home. Police used a water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv on Saturday night. Others protested in Jerusalem.

Israeli soldiers above an Israeli army tank stationed along the border with the Gaza Strip yesterday amid the ongoing war with Hamas

Surveillance footage said to be of an airstrike by the Israeli Army on militant Yasser Hanoun, in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Thursday

Surveillance footage said to be of an airstrike by the Israeli Army on militant Yasser Hanoun, in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Thursday

Israeli army soldiers on patrol at an unspecified location in the Gaza Strip amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas

Search and rescue efforts continue to reach injured and killed Palestinians at the scene after Israeli forces hit and destroyed a building belonging to a Palestinian family in Az-Zawayda, Deir al-Balah, Gaza yesterday

An Israeli army tank moving along the border amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas

The march on Tower Bridge also comes as Britain's Conservative Party suspended their former deputy chairman from the parliamentary party, after he refused to apologise for saying London Mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by Islamists.

Khan, the first Muslim to be mayor of London and a member of the opposition Labour Party, is a frequent target of Conservative criticism for his handling of policing in Britain's capital, including regular pro-Palestinian marches.

Saturday's rally came as the Conservative party decided to suspended Lee Anderson after drawing widespread criticism for claiming that 'Islamists' have 'got control' of Mayor Khan.

The decision was taken following the former Tory deputy chairman's 'refusal to apologise' for the remarks made on Friday.

Pressure had been mounting on Rishi Sunak to take action over the comments from the Ashfield MP, with Mr Khan saying the 'deafening silence' of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet on the matter amounted to condoning racism.

Incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism have spiked dramatically across the UK amid increased polarisation since the outbreak of Israel-Hamas was last October.

'Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the chief whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP,' a spokesperson for Tory lawmaker Simon Hart said on Saturday.

Hart's chief whip position makes him responsible for internal Conservative Party discipline.

On the right-wing GB News channel Friday, Anderson claimed Islamists had 'got control' of Khan, who was the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital when first elected in London in 2016.

'He's actually given our capital city away to his mates,' added Anderson, the Tory MP for a seat in northern England.

A Conservative source was defending Mr Anderson last night and this morning before he was stripped of party support at around 3pm this afternoon.

This comes after Mayor Khan hit out against Anderson earlier this afternoon for 'pouring fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred'.

Lee Anderson has been suspended by the Conservative party after he refused to apologise for 'Islamophobic, racist' comments where he claimed that London Mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by 'Islamists'

Sadiq Khan has hit out against Lee Anderson for 'pouring fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred' after the Tory MP made 'Islamophobic, racist' comments about him

Lee Anderson (pictured) said on GB News last night that Sadiq Khan - the first Muslim Mayor of London - is controlled by Islamists and that he has 'given our capital city away to his mates'

The Mayor criticised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) for his 'deafening silence'

Pressure had been mounting on Rishi Sunak to take action over the comments from the Ashfield MP, with Mr Khan (pictured earlier this month) saying the 'deafening silence' of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet amounted to condoning racism

Anderson's remarks prompted a flood of criticism from across the political spectrum, with Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds calling them 'unambiguously racist and Islamophobic'.

Conservative business minister Nus Ghani, senior backbencher Sajid Javid and Tory peer Gavin Barwell were among senior Tory figures to join the complaints, with Barwell calling the comments a 'despicable slur'.

The Muslim Council of Britain said they were 'disgusting' and extremist.

Khan, who labelled the comments 'anti-Muslim' and 'racist', had earlier Saturday complained about 'deafening silence' from Sunak and his senior ministers in response, arguing that amounted to condoning racism.

Within hours, Hart's office had issued its statement announcing Anderson's suspension. The MP was yet to comment on the decision.

Anderson will now sit as an independent lawmaker in parliament.

His suspension comes after dozens of lawmakers stormed out of parliament on Wednesday after the Commons descended in chaos over the Gaza vote.

The speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, decided to ignore precedent and allow a vote which helped the opposition Labour Party avoid a large-scale rebellion among its own lawmakers over its position on the war.

Lawmakers from the governing Conservatives and the opposition Scottish National Party (SNP) left the debating chamber in protest and some tried to take the rare step of holding proceedings in private.

Hundreds of activists gathered outside Palace of Westminster on Wednesday as the debate was underway.

'Gaza' was projected onto the Elizabeth Tower Wednesday night while the protest outside Parliament continued as MPs debated calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East

Protesters chanted 'Israel is a terrorist state' as Wednesday's demo continued in Parliament Square

Protesters capture images of the rally in Parliament Square on Wednesday as the debate inside the House of Commons continued

Other projections were also shone onto the Elizabeth Tower - including a depiction of explosives and the slogan 'stop bombs' - on Wednesday

Protesters outside Parliament on Wednesday 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 on Wednesday, condemning what they called 'unending Israeli brutality'

Pro-Palestine demonstrators outside Parliament on Wesneday as MPs debated an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza

Protesters waved Palestine flags and chanted ' Israel is a terrorist state' while waiting in the rain on Wednesday

Thousands of activists descended on Parliament Square on Wednesday for the 'Stop the Genocide' rally, which was met with a heavy police presence

Pro-Palestine protesters shout as they attend the rally outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday evening

Demonstrators waved Palestine flags and chanted 'Israel is a terrorist state' while they waited to speak to MPs as part of the 'mass lobbying' session.

Projections were shone on the Elizabeth Tower reading 'Gaza' and 'stop bombs' during the rally as MPs debated an SNP motion demanding an 'immediate ceasefire' in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Others 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.

Sir Lindsay eventually apologised and said he had made his decision to allow lawmakers to vote on a range of views because he was concerned about their security after some had faced threats of violence over their stance on the war.

'It is regrettable and I apologise for the decision,' he told parliament. 'I did not want it to end like this.'

The debate in parliament was initiated by the SNP, which put forward a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire. Labour and the Conservatives, which have both backed Israel while expressing concern over its actions in Gaza, then proposed amendments, with different conditions they said were necessary before there should be a pause in fighting.

In an usual move, Hoyle selected both those amendments to be voted on, breaking with the precedent whereby one opposition party cannot alter another's motion. Usually, only the government amendment would be selected.

More than 70 MPs have since signed a motion expressing no confidence in the Speaker after angry scenes in the Commons on Wednesday.
Former president wants to move on from the primary  and urged voters to focus on the Nov. 5 general election because it's the 'most important date in history'

Race was called at 7pm and Haley lost South Carolina's primary to Trump

Trump never said Nikki Haley's name during his victory speech in South Carolina

Donald Trump snubbed remaining primary competitor Nikki Haley when he didn't mention her once during his victory speech just seconds after the South Carolina primary polls closed on Saturday.

The former president didn't waste his breath in his brief 20-minute remarks at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds after decimating Haley in her home state during Saturday's primary election.

Instead, he shifted his attention toward the general election in November  telling his voters he wishes it could be held tomorrow.

Trump said November 5, 2024 will be the 'most important date in history.'

'Nine months is a long time,' he noted of the remaining time before the presidential election later this year. 'I just wish we could do it quicker.'

Former President Donald Trump didn't once mention his remaining primary competitor Nikki Haley during his Election Night party victory remarks on Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina

Former UN Amb. Haley was handed an embarrassing defeat Saturday when she was declared the loser in her home state just seconds after polls closed in South Carolina at 7:00 pm

'You know, in certain countries, you're allowed to call your election date,' he added. 'If I had the right to do it, I'd do it tomorrow. I'd say we're having an election tomorrow.'

Trump doesn't want to lose the momentum he feels he has on the heels of his sweeping wins and multiple indictments that he claims are political persecutions.

'South Carolina  thank you very much. Go home, get rest. We have a lot of work ahead of us,' he urged.

Trump took another step towards a general election rematch with Joe Biden by decimating Nikki Haley in her home state in the South Carolina Republican primary.

The results were called just seconds after polls closed in yet another blow to Haley.

'This was a little sooner than we anticipated,' Trump told supporters in Columbia on Saturday.

Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time a Republican candidate has lost their home state primary election in more than 50 years. The previous was Richard Nixon, who lost California's primary to Ronald Reagan  who was also from California.

But Haley said during a 'state of the race' speech on Tuesday that she was 'far from' ending her bid despite her underwhelming performance in the primary so far and dismal polling that showed her trailing Trump in national and state elections by large margins.

The former South Carolina governor said she plans to stay in the 2024 Republican primary until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states and an astounding 874 delegates are up for grabs in that single day.

Trump took the stage to declare victory in the South Carolina primary in Columbia on Saturday evening

Trump acknowledged during his remarks that the crowd at his Election Night party in South Carolina's state capital was 'very opinionated'  even regarding some of the former president's guests of honor.

Upon mention of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the crowd booed despite Trump telling them he is a good person.

Some voters in South Carolina told DailyMail.com on Saturday that Haley has ruined any future career ambitions by running in the 2024 race and insists her career in politics, especially in the Palmetto State, is 'done.'

Haley brings her mother Raj Kaur Randhawa to vote in Kiawah Island where her name appeared on the South Carolina primary election ballot on Saturday, February 24

Voters line-up to cast their ballots in the south Carolina Republican presidential primary in John's Island, South Carolina on Saturday, February 24

Trump earned 51 percent in Iowa against Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and a few other long shots. Then in New Hampshire last month, he earned 54.3 percent in a contest essentially between just him and Haley after the remainder of the primary field dropped out  and most put their endorsement behind Trump.

The former president then walked away with 99.1 percent of the vote in the Nevada caucus earlier this month, which Haley did not participate in after opting to file for the state's primary election instead  where she shockingly lost to the ballot option 'none of these candidates.'

Trump held a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina on Friday where approximately 6,000 supporters came to hear his final appeal before the primary.

He also spoke at the Black Conservative Federation Gala in Columbia later on Friday, before heading to National Harbor, Maryland for CPAC remarks right outside of Washington, D.C. on Saturday morning.
Shocking video showed border patrol agents releasing hundreds of migrants out at a San Diego bus stop just a week after the city had to close a shelter intended for them due to lack of funding.

Non-profit SBCS shut the recently-opened migrant facility for good a week ago - reflecting the bleak picture across the country as the numbers of asylum seekers coming to the US remain sky-high.

The over 350 migrants were left to their own devices on the street after CBP let them free at a transit center, though aid groups tried to help them as best they could, attempting to put together makeshift facilities and attempted to take them to a parking lot so they could charge their phones and hail rides to the airport.

They were also left with nowhere stand and no public bathrooms in a completely full parking lot.

A taxi driver attempted to take advantage of the situation by guaranteeing rides to the airport for $100, double what Uber and Lyft were charging.

Shocking video showed border patrol agents releasing hundreds of migrants out at a San Diego bus stop just a week after the city had to close a shelter intended for them due to lack of funding

Many of the migrants - who came from anywhere from South America to Africa to China - were still grateful to be here, with plans to either meet up with family or head to immigration court trials in other cities.

'I've dreamed about this (moment) a lot, and thank God I'm here,' said Abd Boudeah, 23, from Mauritania.

He told NBC San Diego he fled his home out of persecution for homosexuality and was going to make it to Chicago to live with a cousin who has lived in America for two decades.

Services had been stretched to breaking point with up to 1,500 people flooding in per day .

Mayor Todd Gloria had just two years earlier attempted to expand funding for migrants, opening an official city Office of Immigrant Affairs and the city spent $6million to attempt to provide services.

South Bay Community Services used that money on $750,000 for personnel, $152,000 on operating expenses and the rest to serve around 81,000 migrants dating back to October, with other charities and shelters at capacity and unable to help.

Nora Vargas, chair of the San Diego County board of supervisors, has echoed the worries of many major city mayors and wrote a letter to President Joe Biden begging for help.

'Nobody is perfect, especially when you're trying to fill a gap from the federal government,' she said of the city's efforts, offering more side-eye for the Democrat president.

Mayor Todd Gloria had just two years earlier attempted to expand funding for migrants, opening an official city Office of Immigrant Affairs and the city spent $6million to attempt to provide services

The over 350 migrants were left to their own devices on the street after CBP let them free at a transit center, though aid groups tried to help them as best they could, attempting to put together makeshift facilities and attempted to take them to a parking lot so they could charge their phones and hail rides to the airport

The migrants were also left with nowhere stand and no public bathrooms in a completely full parking lot

A group of Central American migrants - travelling in a caravan - are seen after crossing the Mexico-US border fence to San Diego County in 2018

In a statement Friday, CBP said that this was 'the latest example of the pressing need for Congress to provide additional resources and take legislative action to fix our outdated immigration laws.'

SBCS announced the closure of its migrant center last week after just five months of operations because the number of people needing help in that time alone has increased dramatically.

'As the number of migrants arriving at the center has increased significantly over the last few weeks, our finite resources have been stretched to the limit, leading to the closure of the center on February 22,' CEO Kathie Lembo said in a statement.

'When we accepted the challenge of this work in October of last year, we knew two things: that it spoke to the heart of our mission, and that it was for a limited time.'

'Leading this effort has been an honor. We will continue working with the County and our partners in hopes of identifying additional resources to keep the center open, preventing hundreds of individuals a day from being stranded in San Diego without the support they need to continue their journey.'

'With the receipt of that money there was expectations that it would be used until the end of March, so ending a month early does raise concerns and questions for me,' Lembo said.

SBCS has been providing migrants with resources and information to link them with sponsor families.

The US Border Patrol recorded 2,063,692 encounters with undocumented immigrants in the 2023 fiscal year, down just slightly from the record high reached in 2022.

A San Diego migrant center has been forced to close after services were stretched to breaking point with up to 1,500 people flooding in per day

A migrant from China holds up his passport and paperwork as he is photographed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in an open-air holding area as they prepare to board a bus to a processing facility near to the small, desert San Diego County border community of Jacumba Hot Springs in December 2023

A Central American migrant, jumps over the US-Mexico border fence from Tijuana to San Diego in the US as seen from Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico

Migrants are seen near the San Diego border as Title 42 regulations come to an end

A border patrol agent patrols along a construction site for the secondary border fence which follows the length of the primary border fence that separates the United States and Mexico in the San Diego Sector on August 22, 2019

Over Biden's first three years in office, Border Patrol recorded a total of 5,940,511 encounters, a 277 percent increase from the same period during Trump's term, from 2017 to 2019, according to US Customs and Border Patrol data.

It comes as tensions between the Biden administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott reach boiling point over how to handle the deluge at the southern border.

Last week, Abbott announced the construction of a military base along Eagle Pass in a bid to block migrants entering from Mexico.

The camp will allow Texas to 'amass a large army in a very strategic area' and 'increase the speed and flexibility of the Texas National Guard to be able to respond to crossings,' Abbott said.

The camp will be constructed in phases of 300 beds every 30 days with the first phase expected to be completed by April, said Maj. General Suelzer, the head of the Texas Military Department.

The complex will include three command posts, weapons storage rooms and a helicopter pad, he said.

It will also feature a 700-person dining facility, on-site movie theaters, workout areas and medical services, officials said. The state also intends to install more barriers north and south of Shelby Park, officials said.

'This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas military department personnel in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and more efficiently,' said the governor.

Texas is starting construction on new 80-acre military base camp in Eagle Pass for 2,300 soldiers as Gov. Greg Abbott promises to 'amass a large army' to combat migrant invasion

An aerial view shows an immigrant group trying to cross the Texan border despite heightened security measures in Eagle Pass, Texas, earlier this month

A group of migrants are processed by Border Patrol after crossing the river illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas

'Because of the magnitude of what we're doing, because of the need to sustain and actually expand our efforts ... it's essential that we build this base camp,' Abbott said.

The camp will allow Texas to 'amass a large army in a very strategic area' and 'increase the speed and flexibility of the Texas National Guard to be able to respond to crossings,' he explained.

Abbott said the camp will improve living conditions for soldiers who are deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that troubled the Guard's mission during the early months of Operation Lone Star.

The Texas governor, a supporter of former president and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, accuses the Biden administration of allowing an 'invasion' of illegal migrants at the country's southern border.

He also accuses the White House of failing to take action against the drug cartels that, according to him, control the border on the Mexican side.

Border control is a federal responsibility in the United States, but in January the Texas National Guard moved into Shelby Park, north of the campgrounds overlooking the river, as part of Abbott's expanding border mission.

Abbott has also installed some 100 miles of barbed wire along the Rio Grande, a measure that the Biden administration is challenging in court.

Soldiers were seen loading excess wire into a truck at the border crossing at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass last month

The US Supreme Court has temporarily authorized the federal government to remove the barbed wire, but Texas has continued to install it while the dispute proceeds.

'Having the soldiers located right here, right by the river, they're going to have the ability to more quickly be able to construct that razor wire barrier,' said Abbott, praising the 'effectiveness' of the device.

Texas has also recently passed a law allowing its forces to arrest illegal migrants at the border, a power normally reserved for the federal government.
She once asserted that the wizarding world had a special affection for the Scottish rugby team.

And yesterday muggle JK Rowling also showed her support for the Bravehearts  cheering them to victory over England in the Calcutta Cup with her husband, Neil Murray, who was sporting a kilt in the family tartan.

The couple joined nearly 70,000 fans at Murrayfield for a gripping match as the Scots beat the Auld Enemy 30-21 for their fourth win in a row against their southern neighbours.

Ms Rowling wrapped up in a long black coat as they braved Edinburghs chill for the tense Six Nations match, where the face value of the most expensive tickets was 162.75.

Despite being English, the Harry Potter author, 58, has lived in the Scottish capital since the early 1990s and started following the national team after marrying Dr Murray, 52, in 2001.

JK Rowling (pictured) was seen cheering the Bravehearts to victory over England in the Calcutta Cup with her husband

JK Rowling and Neil Murray arrive for the Guinness Six Nations match at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

The couple joined nearly 70,000 fans at Murrayfield for a gripping match

The Scots beat the Auld Enemy 30-21 for their fourth win in a row against their southern neighbours

Dr Murray plays keyboards in the band Fat Cops, which also features Pub Landlord comedian Al Murray on drums and former Bluebells frontman Bobby Bluebell.

The childrens author surprised fans when she was first seen backing the Scots against England six years ago, telling them after years of not caring about sport I got emotionally invested in Scotland.

Rowling famously produced her first Harry Potter books on an old typewriter in Edinburgh cafes while she was a struggling single mum. Now she lives in a stunning 2.25 million mansion with Dr Murray and three children in one of the citys swankiest neighbourhoods.

Among other famous faces in the crowd was actor Gerard Butler, another regular at Murrayfield.

England have now won only one of the last seven meetings with Scotland.
Donald Trump has declared Prince Harry will be 'on his own' if he wins a second term this year as president as the royal faces a wrangle over his US visa.

The declaration, delivered at the Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington, DC, Saturday, comes in response to an ongoing legal challenge pertaining to the 39-year-old Duke's visa application.

It saw the Republican frontrunner bash Harry and his American bride Meghan Markle further, for what called an 'unforgivable' betrayal of Queen Elizabeth II.

The pair four years ago famously announced they would end their royal duties to move to California, where Harry is now mulling becoming a permanent citizen.

Trump's comments, moreover, come as the prince's immigration status has come under question - as a conservative think tank argues he cannot have legally entered the country due to admitting to taking illegal drugs at the time, in his memoir, Spare.

Scroll down for video:

Donald Trump on Saturday declared Prince Harry will be 'on his own' if he wins a second term, calling the Duke's 2020 move to the US an 'unforgivable' betrayal of Queen Elizabeth II

The pair four years ago famously announced they would end their royal duties to move to California , where Harry - seen here with US citizen wife Meghan Markle - is now mulling becoming a permanent citizen as well

Trump, in turn, chided Joe Biden's administration for being 'too gracious' to the Duke of Sussex - recalling the lack of legal scrutiny he's faced since his high-profile move across the pond with US citizen Meghan in 2020.

'I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That's unforgivable,' Trump, 77, told the Daily Express after addressing onlookers in in Maryland shortly after the South Carolina primary.

'He would be on his own if it was down to me.'

That said, during his speech seconds before, he made no mention of his GOP rival, Nikki Haley, whom he had just beat emphatically in the state she once governed.

Instead, over the course of an hour-and-a-half, he sought to paint a bleak picture of the US under Biden's leadership - billing himself as a 'political dissident' and the country's last hope.

That saw him hone in on, among other things, Biden's more lax approach to the Sussexes, which he labeled as 'too gracious to [Harry] after what he has done.'

He went on to bill November 5 - Election Day - as 'our new Liberation Day', as Harry's immigration's status has become the latest talking point in what's set to be a contentious election.

'For hard-working Americans, November 5 will be our new Liberation Day,' he said, hours after inflicting a more-than 20 point defeat on his only remaining opponent for the GOP nomination.

Trump's comments, moreover, come as the prince's immigration status has come under question - as a conservative think tank argues he cannot have legally entered the country due to admitting to taking illegal drugs at the time, in his memoir, Spare

It saw the Republican frontrunner bash Harry and his American bride further, after previously describing the former's memoir as 'horrible', and commenting how he was 'surprised' the pair were still invited to King Charless Coronation last year after their sensational exodus

'I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That's unforgivable,' Trump, 77, told the Daily Express after addressing onlookers in in Maryland shortly after the South Carolina primary. 'He would be on his own if it was down to me'

'But for the liars, and cheaters, and fraudsters, and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government, it will be their Judgment Day.

'When we win, the curtain closes on their corrupt reign and the sun rises on a bright new future for America.

'I believe it's our last chance.'

He further described the state of the country as a 'Biden nightmare' and referred to his opponents as 'thugs,' 'tyrants' and 'fascists.'

In the event of a loss, he said 'hordes' of migrants would stampede into the US, and that programs like Medicare and Social Security would 'buckle' in the ensuing confusion.

He also claimed that law enforcement would continued to 'hunt' for conservatives, as he faces multiple court cases alleging fraud and other illicit activities that he claims are the work of his Democratic rival.

'If crooked Joe Biden and his thugs win in 2024, the worst is yet to come,' he said, a day after reps from the Republican-led Heritage foundation argued in court that Prince Harry's entry into the country should never have been sanctioned.

'Our country will go and sink to levels that were unimaginable,' Trump continued, before offering his stance on the subject to the UK paper.

During his speech seconds before, he made no mention of his GOP rival, Nikki Haley, whom he had just beat emphatically in the primary for the state she once governed

His opposition to Prince Harry - and support for the late queen - came as no surprise, given the current administration's recent decision to block the public disclosure of the Duke's visa application, after his admission of drug use in his bestselling book triggered the court challenge.

The federal suit claims that the US government should reveal the immigration form to see whether he declared he had taken the drugs to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - actions he owned up to in his bestselling tome.

In it, the Duke - who remains a prince and fifth in line to the throne - wrote that he had taken cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms, all in his youth.

He added that while cocaine 'didnt do anything for me', marijuana 'really did help me' during difficult periods of his life as a 'deeply unhappy' 17-year-old,

He also revealed that while taking psychedelic mushrooms, he hallucinated that a bathroom garbage bin had grown a head and was staring at him.

On Friday, a lawyer for the Biden administration batted back the think tank's claims, arguing that the Princes admission of taking the drugs in his book was not sufficient 'proof' the incidents in question had actually taken place.

The administration further claimed that this account could have been embelished soleley to 'sell books' - a maneuver that, if true, ultimately proved successful, with Spare selling 467,183 copies in its first week in the US alone, and 2.7 million across the rest of the globe.

'Saying something in a book doesnt necessarily make it true', lawyers for the federal government reportedly declared behind closed doors.

The federal suit claims that the US government should reveal the immigration form to see whether he declared he had taken the drugs to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - actions he owned up to in his bestselling tome (seen here)

Trump, meanwhile, has previously expressed strong support for the late Queen, remaking after her death in 2022: 'What a grand and beautiful lady she was. There was nobody like her!' He stuck to his guns after a 90-minute victory speech in Maryland Saturday (pictured)

The Heritage Foundation, meanwhile, will continue to argue next week that Biden and his cronies are covering up the records, which it says are of immense public interest to the people of the United States.

The firm - founded in the 70s before gaining prominence during the conservative movement during the presidency of Ronald Reagan - further claims the government is attempting tp 'protect' Prince Harry and his 42-year-old wife.

Trump, meanwhile, has previously expressed strong support for the late Queen, remaking after her death in 2022: 'What a grand and beautiful lady she was. There was nobody like her!'

In contrast, he has been somewhat critical of the high-flying Duke and Duchess, describing the former's memoir as 'horrible', and commenting how he was 'surprised' the pair were still invited to King Charless Coronation last year after their sensational exodus.

Apparently unbothered, Prince Harry told ABC's 'Good Morning America' earlier this month in response to a question as to whether he might apply for US citizenship.

'The thought has crossed my mind but is not a high priority right now,' he said.

He added of his relatives still overseas: 'I love my family, the fact I could jump on a plane and see him and spend any time with him - Im grateful for that.'

The Heritage Foundation's court case, as of writing, remains ongoing.

Trump's victory in South Carolina - his fourth consecutive campaign success - meanwhile, raises questions about the state of Haleys campaign.

The only conservative candidate left to combat the former president, she promised to remain in the race even if she lost in South Carolina. As of Saturday night, she has yet to announce anything further.
Global outbreaks of illness can  as we saw with the Covid pandemic  happen seemingly overnight. But they can also be like a slow-motion car crash, which is how I describe the rising threat of antibiotic resistance.

And at this very moment we're skidding out of control.

Take sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhoea were once death sentences, but with penicillin's introduction as a medicine in the 1940s, they became easily treatable.

Today, sexual health clinics are filled with patients suffering drug-resistant STIs triggered by the overuse of antibiotics.

By 2040 we may begin to see people in the UK dying from these infections. The same is true for common bugs that are picked up during childbirth.

Before antibiotics, babies and mothers routinely died during or shortly after labour. A return to this era is coming  there is no question about it, writes Mr David Sweetnam

By 2040 we may begin to see people in the UK dying from infections as bacteria may become antibiotic resistant

Diseases such as syphilis (pictured) and gonorrhoea were once death sentences, but with penicillin's introduction as a medicine in the 1940s, they became easily treatable

Before antibiotics, babies and mothers routinely died during or shortly after labour. A return to this era is coming  there is no question about it. It's already happening in Africa and South Asia where drug-resistant bugs are more common and access to rarer, more expensive antibiotics is limited.

We live in a global village and NHS patients will also suffer the same fate in time.

The worrying truth is that not nearly enough research is being done to find new alternatives.

Governments, drug firms and research centres, such as the INEOS Oxford Institute, are working together to develop new antibiotics, but the reality is that it takes more than ten years to develop just one new drug safe for human consumption.

We must also limit the number of antibiotics used in farming. Currently 75 per cent of all human antibiotics are given to livestock to keep them healthy.

But this will only buy us some breathing space to find more long-term solutions. Antibiotic resistance is inevitable, and we need a new way to protect ourselves from bacteria.

With the help of artificial intelligence and futuristic technology, such as genetically engineered viruses which can attack disease-causing bacteria, we can fight back.

The need for new treatments is clear. Unless drastic action is taken, we face a return to the pre-antibiotic era where an infected blister, a small cut or a urinary infection can prove fatal.
Pupils as young as 11 are to receive lessons in how to get naked pictures of themselves removed from the internet.

Lesson material has been compiled for Scottish schools addressing the issue of children being pressured to send 'nudes' which can then be posted and shared online.

The practice, which many adults refer to as sexting, can involve young people being persuaded or coerced into sharing naked or revealing images of themselves.

The recipient promises to keep the images private but then shares them  sometimes with devastating consequences.

Earlier this month, The Mail on Sunday covered the tragic case of a Scots schoolboy who took his own life after he was tricked into sending intimate pictures of himself to ruthless online blackmailers.

Lesson material for children as young as 11 (stock photo) has been compiled for Scottish schools addressing the issue of children being pressured to send 'nudes' which can then be posted and shared online

The practice, which many adults refer to as sexting, can involve young people being persuaded or coerced into sharing naked or revealing images of themselves (stock image)

Now the Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) resource for S1-S3 pupils includes support and practical help.

READ MORE: Tragedy of brilliant Scots teenager who took his own life after he was targeted by web blackmailers Advertisement

Joanne Smith, NSPCC Scotland policy and public affairs manager, said: 'For a child or young person, having a sexual image or video of themselves shared online can be extremely distressing.

'This can be difficult for parents and carers too, but there are ways you can support your child. If they're under 18, they can use the NSPCC and IWF [Internet Watch Foundation] Report Remove, a safe and simple tool to help young people take down images that have been shared without their consent.

'This tool is a world first and it gives children the power and the confidence to reclaim these images and make sure they do not fall into the wrong hands online.'

Ms Smith said the 'imminent refresh' of the online RSHP Education in Scotland resource 'will also play a vital role in ensuring children, families and professionals are signposted to the best available tools and evidence so that children are supported to stay safe and protected online'.

The lesson plan, called Social Media/Sending and Sharing Images, tells teachers: 'This activity looks at why it happens, what the law says, what a young person can do if they have shared or received an image.

Criminal gangs are increasingly targeting children in online sextortion scams

'What is clear from the evidence is that girls/young women are put under more pressure to share images and then are blamed/shamed for it.'

READ MORE: Child abuse detective says parents MUST teach their children about consent from an early age with tactics like asking before you take their photo Advertisement

It quotes a 2020 IWF report which noted a rise in children 'coerced and groomed into sharing graphic sexual images of themselves, without realising these are being recorded and shared'.

The report confirmed 68,000 cases of self-generated imagery internationally in 2020 with 80 per cent of victims being 11 to 13-year-old girls.

The lesson material describes the impact of sharing pictures and says taking or keeping a sexual image of another under-18 is 'breaking a serious law'. It then advises pupils on what to do if they have shared a photo or image of themselves.

The IWF received more reports of 'sextortion' in the first six months of 2023 than in the whole of 2022, with boys in their late teens targeted most often.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: 'The RSHP national resource includes links to the Childline Report Remove tool and to Equally Safe at School, which has been developed by Rape Crisis Scotland in partnership with the University of Glasgow.'
A former IT employee at a prestigious Sydney girls school said he is 'ashamed to my core' for possessing child abuse material of girls aged as young as 10, and felt his name had been 'tainted' when his charges were made public.

Michael Thomas Mowbray was jailed on Wednesday after admitting to possessing 198 images and 103 videos of the shocking material depicting girls aged between 10 and 15.

The 33-year-old was working as an IT specialist at North Sydney Girls High School when he was charged in November 2022.

Court documents revealed he had downloaded three images onto his OneDrive account, which was accessible on his school computer.

An administrator found the images and alerted the school principal, who contacted police.

Police found the entire stash of images and videos on encrypted hard drives at Mowbray's Richmond home, arresting and charging him days later.

Former North Sydney Girls IT worker Michael Mowbray has pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse material

Former North Sydney Girls IT worker Michael Mowbray has pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse material

He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child abuse material.

Dressed in a blue suit, Mowbray faced Manly Local Court on Wednesday where Magistrate Robyn Denes sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, with a non parole period of nine months.

In a letter to the court ahead of his sentencing, Mowbray detailed his horror at his crimes, saying they are his 'deepest regrets' and will 'never be abolished' from his memory.

'I have only ever wanted to help the underdog to assist those in need,' Mowbray wrote.

'I will spend the rest of my life proving to the court and all those in my life that I am better than this.'

The former IT worker said he was 'completely, innately ashamed' that he was a part of the 'world of child abuse material'.

He wrote that he was 'blessed' with friends, his partner and mother who stood by him despite the charges.

While he didn't believe anyone would continue to speak to him, he said they supported him in 'liberating' ways.

'Checking in constantly (bordering incessantly), lifting my spirits despite job loss due to news articles, being a shoulder to cry on when inevitably I felt hard done by - and not judging me when I came to terms with the concept of accessing and possessing said material despite my lack of awareness,' the letter read.

He wrote that he was 'blessed' with friends, his partner and mother who stood by him despite the charges

The former IT worker wrote about how his partner is 'caring, patient and understanding', and he couldn't believe she wanted to continue the relationship when he was charged.

'Even after the news articles and over 12 months of court proceedings,' Mowbray wrote in the letter.

'When the first article was released my ex-employment (at the time was the job of my dreams) was put on indefinite unpaid leave from that workplace.'

He said he never thought he would be the 'kind of person' who committed crimes, and wrote about how it has helped him understand how to deal with 'emotions and responses to stress'.

Mowbray wrote that his name was 'tainted' after NCA NewsWire first reported the charges last year.

'As such it has reduced my job prospects, I have lost five jobs during this period,' he wrote.

'This experience has obviously been a huge toll on me, anxiety through the roof, however in turn has actually made me a better person.'

The court was told on Wednesday Mowbray had used the search term 'teen jailbait' to find the material.

After searching for the images on the dark web using the TOR browser, the court was told he then uploaded three images to his OneDrive account, which he accessed on his work computer at the school.

The former IT worker wrote about how his partner is 'caring, patient and understanding', and he couldn't believe she wanted to continue the relationship when he was charged

The remainder of the 198 images and 103 videos were located on his bedroom computer and on a four terabyte encrypted hard drive.

The court was told Mowbray named one of the files 'extreme teenie video collection' and another folder 'shy British amateur teens home alone f**k yay'.

Magistrate Denes said the nature of the material was concerning as it depicted girls as young as 10 who are 'not easily mistaken for adults'.

Mowbray was caught while he was working as an IT support specialist for the prestigious school, working out of a 'help desk office' in the library.

The court was told he had a password protected computer at the school which was accessed by a new administrator on November 22, 2022 who found the folder on the computer in Mowbray's personal OneDrive account.

The principal was notified and contacted police immediately.

A search warrant was conducted at his home two days later, where the remainder of the material was found.

Mowbray's employment at the school ended shortly before his arrest, with a source saying staff were asked to hand in their school-issued laptops to the IT department in the following days.

At the time, a Department of Education spokesman told NCA NewsWire the safety and wellbeing of students and staff was its top priority.

Magistrate Robyn Denes said the material depicted 'very clearly vulnerable children'

Magistrate Robyn Denes said the material depicted 'very clearly vulnerable children'.

She said it was clear Mowbray knew what he was doing because he was accessing the dark web, which she said is an 'indication' it is something which 'will not be readily accepted in the community'.

'He clearly wanted a particular type of image,' the magistrate said.

'I accept it wasn't entirely sophisticated ... some was on OneDrive ... the majority of the material was encrypted, there is a level of sophistication.

'Possessing child pornography is a callous and predatory crime.'

The magistrate also noted the offence is not victimless as it creates a market for the continued exploitation and abuse of children.

Ms Denes said once the images are online they are 'there forever'.

'These children can never escape these images ... imagine going through life knowing ... your children may come across these images of you as a child,' she told the court.

'It's horrendous ... it's not victimless.'

Mowbray's defence lawyer George Costantine told the court his client had sought psychological treatment shortly after his arrest, and had since had 17 sessions.

Mr Costantine argued his client was better kept in the community so he could continue his treatment

His next session was supposed to be on Friday.

Mr Costantine argued his client was better kept in the community so he could continue his treatment.

'This isn't a typical matter where you get someone who has had two to three consultations and then commenced treatment,' he argued.

'This is someone that after arrest and being placed on bail, is on treatment and is on that until sentencing.'

Mowbray sat in the public gallery holding a book and some chewing gum as the magistrate told the court his crimes were so serious there was no alternative to a prison sentence.

He did not react as Ms Denes sentenced him to 18 months behind bars for the protection of the community and children.

She gave him a non-parole period of nine months, meaning he will be eligible for parole on November 20.

Mowbray was walked from the court by Sheriffs officers and taken into the cells.

The magistrate also ordered the devices with the material be destroyed.

The lawyer told Magistrate Robert Williams he was confident his client would see 'possible' success in the appeal

Mr Costantine quickly lodged an appeal and applied for bail in front of a different magistrate on Wednesday afternoon.

The lawyer told Magistrate Robert Williams he was confident his client would see 'possible' success in the appeal.

'I say any District Court judge may come to a different view with respect to the sentence exercise in relation to his prospects of rehabilitation and offending,' he argued.

He told the court his client had a supportive partner in the community, and a job.

'Your honour would find he could comply with bail and bail could be granted,' Mr Costantine said.

After assessing all the information, Mr Williams found there was no other alternative to a full-time custodial sentence.

He rejected the bail application.

The appeal will be heard in the District Court in April.
Nikki Haley tore into both Joe Biden and Donald Trump in her Saturday night speech after losing her home state to Trump, denouncing 'obsessing' over the past moments after Trump revisited his claims of 2020 election fraud.

She made the comment while trailing Trump by 20 points in early returns, after Trump in his own victory speech spoke about his 2020 'lead' over Biden vanishing as additional returns came in in battleground states.

'We won't get out of our downward spiral if we keep obsessing over the past,' Haley told a a crowd of supporters.

'Does anyone seriously think Joe Biden or Donald Trump will unite our country to solve our problems? One of them calls his fellow Americans fascists. The other calls his fellow Americans vermin. They aren't fighting for our county's future. They're demanding we fight each other,' she said.

Nikki Haley called for rivals to stop 'obsessing over the past'

She was referencing Biden's 2022 denunciation of what he called 'extreme MAGA philosophy.

In her speech Saturday night, Haley pointed to how she was getting around 40 percent of the vote, which she said was enough to carry on. Shortly after that her total moved down to 38 percent

'Its not just Trump, its the entire philosophy that underpins the  Im going to say something, its like semi-fascism,' he said, in a remark that drew comparisons to Hillary Clinton's infamous 'basket of deplorables' language to describe Trump supporters.

Trump last year used the terms 'vermin' to describe migrants 'poisoning the blood' of the U.S., in language that critics tied to similar language by Adolph Hitler.

If Haley wanted to denounce someone for targeting fascists, she could have also pointed to Saturday afternoon, where Trump once again used the term to describe Biden supporters. 'He's surrounded by some very bad fascists,' Trump said at CPAC.

'I would rather lose my freedom than surrender to this group. of thugs and tyrants, fascist scoundrels and rogues,' Trump said, after going after Biden and 'deranged prosecutors' he blamed for his criminal indictments.

Trump also repeated multiple claims of election fraud in 2020, when courts rejected claims by his allies and he lost the popular vote by 7 million votes.

Donald Trump brought up his claims of election fraud Saturday afternoon and evening even as he accepted the results coming in in South Carolina

President Biden compared MAGA to 'semi-fascism'

Haley has gone after both her opponents' age, and called out obsessing over the past. Trump invoked his claims of 2020 election fraud twice on Saturday

'And in 2020, they cheated like dogs and we all know it,' Trump said.

During his victory speech, Trump also pointed to states he contested in 2020.

'We're leading in Pennsylvania. And all of a sudden no something happened. It went boom. And then we're leading all over the place Georgia and then boom,' Trump said.

Haley's comments about 'obsessing' over the past fit with her overall slams on her rivals for their age, sometimes calling them two '80 year olds.' Biden is 81, Trump is 77, and Haley is 52.
The Metropolitan Police received just six applications during its most recent armed officer recruitment drive as hundreds quit following an officer being charged with the murder of Chris Kaba.

The Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) is made up of around 2,500 Met police officers who work as volunteers with no extra pay. On top of the half a dozen who applied to join the Specialist Firearms Command, more than 250 AFOs left the unit between April and December last year.

With around one in 10 of the members quitting, Britain's largest police force is concerned its AFOs officers will be unable to meet their commitments to keep London's streets safe by patrolling the capital 24/7.

In contrast to the recent departures, only 22 armed officers left in the 12-month period leading up to March 2023.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that the recruitment drive has become so difficult that the force is now inviting officers who are still in probation to apply - although they will have to be fully qualified before they can go out on patrol.

Metropolitan police officers (stock image). Just half a dozen officers applied to join the Specialist Firearms Command in the most recent recruitment drive

The number carrying weapons dropped by more than 250 between April and December 2023 amid widespread anger within the force over resourcing and disciplinary procedures (Stock Image)

Chris Kaba, an unarmed black man, died after being shot in the head in Streatham Hill, south London, in September 2022

A firearms source, told the Telegraph: 'It is no surprise that officers are not applying to join armed policing. They look at what is going on and they quite rightly ask themselves 'Is it worth it?''

The question if it is worth joining follows the growing repercussions the force is feeling since the death of Chris Kaba.

Mr Kaba, an unarmed black man, died after being shot in the head in Streatham Hill, south London, in September 2022.

The officer charged with his murder is known only as NX121 but is expected to be named after a court hearing next month  causing further discontent in the Met's specialist firearms unit.

In September last year, dozens handed in their weapons in protest over the decision to charge a colleague with murder. While hundreds more have quit the force amid widespread anger in the force.

After the slew of Autumn resignations led to the Army being put on standby, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley pledged to push for new safeguards including fewer and speedier investigations into alleged police wrongdoing.

Det Ch Supt Charmain Brenyah, from Specialist Firearms Command, said:'We know many firearms officers are concerned about how the role could impact them and their families and we are pleased the Home Office is carrying out a review into police accountability.'
Wondering how your fellow travelers are boarding the plane before you or what you can do to secure the premium spot on your overhead bin?

Experts have revealed that a rising number of travelers have recently taken up using both ethical and unethical tricks to get ahead in aircraft boarding lines.

While some people may be a little over-excited as they rush to board the plane, others will rush to secure space in overhead bins.

With rising check-in baggage fees, many travelers try to bring as many of their belongings on the flight as possible - which means needing space to keep it close which can often be taken up quickly.

Some carriers, such as Southwest Airlines, don't assign seats, so there's an eagerness amongst passengers to ensure a window or isle position - or be able to sit with loved ones.

Experts have revealed that a rising number of plane passengers have begun to use both ethical and unethical tricks to get ahead in aircraft boarding lines in recent times

Another reason why passengers try to be the first ones onboard is because they are worried that they will not have enough room in the overhead bins for their carry-ons

Due to this, overhead bins have become first-come, first-served - and the competition to get the best spot can be fierce.

As a result, passengers are now turning to tricks to get onboard early - even if it means being dishonest.

These can include:

Faking a disability

Under the the Air Carrier Access Act 14 CFR 382, airline staff are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of disability during air travel or ask for any kind of medical certificate to prove a disability.

While the rule was put into place to ensure that people who require assistance were treated the same as other passengers, many non-disabled people have begun to exploit this law.

While the rule was put into place to ensure that people who require assistance were treated the same as other passengers, many non-disabled people have begun to exploit this law

At times, people fake a disability by either carrying physical aides such as walking sticks or crutches, request wheelchairs for non-existing conditions or simply join the disability group when the boarding process begins.

David Kazarian, a retired pharmacist from Tampa, told OregonLive that he has seen 'people roll onto the plane early by joining the disability group line and then walk off the aircraft unassisted after they land'.

'It's a miracle,' he told the publication.

Hop into the wrong group line

As more and more air staffs have begun boarding people using the 'group method', many times, passengers tend to completely ignore the staff instructions and simply join the any group line they see, whether or not they belong to the called group.

As more and more air staffs have begun boarding people using the 'group method', many times, passengers tend to completely ignore the staff instructions and simply join the any group line they see, whether or not they belong to the called group

Much to their luck, sometimes gate agents let such passengers board on the aircraft with little to no resistance.

Line 'cheaters'

When all else fails, travelers tend to cut into the middle of a line to ensure they are the first to board the aircraft.

While they are technically not breaking any rules, social etiquette dictates that it is respectful to not cut into lines or hold a space for someone for too long.

As etiquette expert Adeodata Czink said: 'There's really no reason for you to try to get on the plane first.'

While some of these tricks may work at times, they are not completely foolproof.

Some easy ways to onboard early on the plane without inviting any criticism include asking passengers standing in line ahead if you can go first in exceptional cases or joining a loyalty program that gives you access to early boarding times.
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Former President Donald Trump received a hug from Argentina's new President and huge Trump acolyte Javier Milei, at the Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday.

Trump took another step towards a November general election rematch with Joe Biden by decimating Nikki Haley in her home state in the South Carolina Republican primary.

Before that, however, he was at CPAC backstage when he met with Milei, who took office in December after running a campaign inspired by Trump, complete with red 'Make Argentina Great Again' hats in a nod to the former president's own 'Make America Great Again' movement.

He was the last of several foreign politicians at CPAC to echo popular Trump themes on issues like migration and the perceived threat of socialism.

In the video, Trump tells Milei, 'Make Argentina Great Again.' Milei then uttered his famous phrase, 'Long live freedom, damn it!'

Former President Donald Trump received a hug from Argentina's new President and huge Trump acolyte Javier Milei, at the Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday

The result was called just seconds after polls closed in an embarrassing night for Haley who has vowed to stay in the race even as her path to the nomination rapidly closes.

The Argentines appearance at CPAC came a day after he met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

A top Milei official alleged that Marc Stanley, the U.S. ambassador in Buenos Aires, had suggested that Milei not speak at CPAC.

Mileis security minister, Patricia Bullrich, who was also attending the gathering south of Washington, said Stanley told Mileis office that he thought the conference was 'very political' and that it was not appropriate for him to participate.

'It was honorable to come,' Bullrich said. 'He comes here as a speaker, to give a general speech, not to talk about the election.'

Milei urged the CPAC crowd to put a stop to socialism and not to endorse more regulation of the economy. He also called abortion access a 'murderous agenda' to decrease the size of the population.

'Do not be led by mermaids singing social justice,' he said in Spanish. 'Do not give up your freedom. Fight for your freedom because if you do not fight, you will be led into misery.'

Trump congratulated the new leader the night he was declared the winner last November and wrote on Truth Social: 'Congratulations to Javier Milei on a great race for President of Argentina.

Trump was at CPAC backstage when he met with Milei, who took office in December after running a campaign inspired by Trump, complete with red 'Make Argentina Great Again' hats in a nod to the former president's own 'Make America Great Again' movement

Javier Milei, the fiery, right-wing populist president of Argentina, gave Donald Trump on Saturday an ecstatic hug a day after meeting with Biden administration officials in Buenos Aires

Trump took another step towards a general election rematch with Joe Biden by decimating Nikki Haley in her home state in the South Carolina Republican primary

'The whole world was watching! I am very proud of you. You will turn your Country around and truly Make Argentina Great Again!'

He also posted a photo of Milei posing with the Gadsden flag, emblazoned with the words 'Don't Tread On Me,' long considered a symbol of libertarian politics.

In a speech following his dramatic victory, he vowed the 'reconstruction of Argentina begins today' and he echoed Trump, saying he would 'drain the swamp'.

The two may be working together again sooner rather than later, as the hug came hours before Trump declared his own swift victory at his Election Day party held on the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, saying with a smirk: 'This was a little sooner than we anticipated.'

Trump's victory builds on the surging momentum he has built coming out of wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

But Trump is shifting his messaging from the primary, telling his voters they need to start focusing on the general election in November.

'Nine months is a long time,' he noted of the timeline before the presidential election later this year. 'I just wish we could do it quicker.'

'You know, in certain countries, you're allowed to call your election date,' he added. 'If I had the right to do it, I'd do it tomorrow. I'd say we're having an election tomorrow.'

Former President Donald Trump took the stage to declare victory in the South Carolina primary in Columbia on Saturday evening

The former president doesn't want to lose the momentum he feels he has on the heels of his sweeping wins and multiple indictments that he claims are political persecutions.

'South Carolina  thank you very much. Go home, get rest. We have a lot of work ahead of us,' Trump urged in remarks where he never mentioned his remaining Republican rival.

Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time a Republican candidate has lost their home state presidential primary election in more than 50 years. The previous was Richard Nixon, who lost California's primary to Ronald Reagan  who was also from California.

But Haley said during a 'state of the race' speech on Tuesday that she was 'far from' ending her bid despite her underwhelming performance in the primary so far and dismal polling that showed her trailing Trump in national and state elections by large margins.

The former South Carolina governor said she plans to stay in the 2024 Republican primary until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 16 states and a territory hold contests and an astounding 874 delegates are up for grabs in that single day.

Trump spoke for just over 20 minutes  and even after he left the stage, the Associated Press was only reporting 6 percent of the vote counted in South Carolina.

Trump embarrassed Nikki Haley in her home state when the race was called just seconds after polls closed at 7pm

Nikki Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time in more than 50 years a Republican presidential candidate lost their home state in the primary election

Trump acknowledged during his remarks that the crowd at his Election Night party in South Carolina's state capital was 'very opinionated'  even regarding some of the former president's guests of honor.

Upon mention of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the crowd booed despite Trump telling them he is a good person.

Some voters in South Carolina told DailyMail.com on Saturday that Haley has ruined any future career ambitions by running in the 2024 race and insists her career in politics, especially in the Palmetto State, is over.

'She's ruined herself in politics because no one I know will ever vote for her again after she went up against Trump and has said that vile things that she has said about him,' said Trump supporter Kendal Fiorini, 58.

Trump earned 51 percent in Iowa against Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and a few other long shots. Then in New Hampshire last month, he earned 54.3 percent in a contest essentially between just him and Haley after the remainder of the primary field dropped out  and most put their endorsement behind Trump.

Voters line-up to cast their ballots in the south Carolina Republican presidential primary in John's Island, South Carolina on Saturday, February 24

The former president then walked away with 99.1 percent of the vote in the Nevada caucus earlier this month, which Haley did not participate in after opting to file for the state's primary election instead  where she shockingly lost to the ballot option 'none of these candidates.'

Trump held a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina on Friday where approximately 6,000 supporters came to hear his final appeal before the primary.

He also spoke at the Black Conservative Federation Gala in Columbia later on Friday, before heading to National Harbor, Maryland for CPAC remarks right outside of Washington, D.C. on Saturday morning.
Wendy Williams admitted to downing an entire bottle of vodka in the first part of a disturbing new documentary that saw a film crew follow the former talk show host for the best part of a year.

On Thursday, it was revealed how the 59-year-old had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia only days before the four hour Lifetime documentary aired.

But on Saturday night the formal diagnosis by doctors went some way in explaining Wiliiams' often irrational and erratic behavior that saw her sleeping the day away in bed, before lashing out at staff and family members over the slightest transgression.

The documentary lurched from one confrontation to the next as Williams' workers including her manager, personal assistant and driver, alongside members of her own family were verbally berated and belittled by the once popular television personality.

At times, it was all too much for Williams who would either ramble incoherently before breaking down in tears when she had a moment of self-awareness and perhaps, a moment of realization, that she may never grace American television screens in quite the same way ever again.

Wendy's team announced on Thursday that the former talk show host has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) as well as aphasia

Williams manager quizzes her as to whether she has drunk an entire bottle of vodka in a day

Williams, 59, admitted to consuming an entire bottle of vodka

Williams' manager, Will Selby, admits that getting to stop Williams drinking is an uphill battle

Either way, it is clear something is very wrong.

In one of the more shocking incidents of the documentary, which details her struggles with alcohol abuse and mental health in recent years, Williams is confronted by her manager Will Selby, who asks why she has an almost entirely empty bottle of vodka in her bedroom.

'So, did you eat something, or did you have a liquid lunch? Because I came into your room, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I happen to notice one of your specialty items. Did you drink this whole thing today?' Selby asks.

'Yes', Williams replies before quickly saying 'no'.

'I don't know if you need this right now', Selby continues self-assuredly.

'I'm not drunk!', Williams protests.

'I never said you was drunk, but I just don't know if this is a good idea,' Selby continues. 'So, you think you're perfectly fine having as many drinks as you want?'

'Perfectly', Williams retorts bluntly. 'F**k you!'

'I'm just gonna put it downstairs to keep it cool', Selby suggests.

'Keep it there!' Williams demands, ensuring she has visual sight of the alcohol.

'I don't know how much alcohol she consumes, but I threw the damn liquor away. And I'm just gonna be honest with you. I don't know if it's gonna stop her', Selby tells the camera directly following the encounter.

'I never feel powerless, but I do feel like I just need help because I can't do this alone. I would be lying to you if I would think that I could conquer alcoholism alone.'

Williams is then asked point blank if she plans to stop drinking.

'No', Williams responds. 'Will [Selby] drinks. We all drink. Why can't I?' she says, justifying her position.

The film shows Williams at what should have been the ideal opportunity for a career revival as she prepared to launch a podcast shortly after the cancellation of The Wendy Williams Show which ran from 2008 until 2022.

Instead, the film serves to capture her struggles with alcohol abuse, together with her ever-increasing cognitive difficulties and sheer confusion of the world around her.

Williams appears virtually unable to answer the producers' repetitive questions and is often reduced to tears as the topics of alcohol abuse and her financial worries keep returning.

The film highlights Williams' erratic behavior couples with family concerns and legal interventions including the appointment of a financial guardian

Williams' son Kevin Hunter Jr. was accused of charging $100K to her AmEx, but he claimed it was all approved by her

Her Wells Fargo accounts were frozen in 2022, and the bank petitioned successfully to have her put under a guardianship to avoid her being exploited

Later in the documentary, some of Williams' family members appeared including her nephew Travis Finnie and 23-year-old son, Kevin Hunter Jr.

In May of 2022 the New York State court system appointed an independent guardian to manage Williams' finances.

The guardianship started when Williams' bank Wells Fargo froze her accounts after her financial adviser at the time allegedly raised concerns that she was of 'unsound mind,' according to Williams' subsequent court filings.

Wells Fargo then petitioned a New York court to have the talk show host put under a guardianship, which a judge approved later in January 2022.

At the time, the bank claimed it feared that Williams' 'cognitive issues' put her at risk of being exploited financially.

Her son, Kevin, was accused of charging $100,000 to her American Express card, but he defended himself and in the documentary clarified that he had never spent a penny without his mother's consent.

'Do you think your mother should have a guardian?' the show's producer asks Hunter Jr.

'I think that my mother should have family. The family's side of the story hasn't been told, so it's kind of left this gray space of who's really telling the truth or what's really going on. I've always wanted the best for my mom. You know, I just stay strong,' Hunter Jr. stated.

'No matter how many times somebody may fall down, you got to lift them back up, but I feel like that the situation that she's in right now isn't really the best situation for her journey of trying to heal.'

In another bizarre moment, Williams, who turns 60 in July, can be seen admiring her slim figure in a bedroom mirror.

'Oh, my God! All I was doing was saying, oh, my God, how sexy I look. Look, a thigh gap. Look, even when I do this, you see a thigh gap? And I have tears .In a good way. I love my family.'

In a bizarre moment, Williams, who turns 60 in July, can be seen admiring her figure in a mirror

Williams appears excited that she has a 'thigh gap' between her legs

At one point, Williams instructs the show's producer to leave her bedroom after becoming upset by his line of questioning

Williams can be seen breaking down several times throughout the documentary

Williams is then asked whether she is still supporting her son - but the question sends her spiraling into a place of emotional turmoil.

'First of all, asking, 'Do I support' - Is the wrong word. Who the f**k Are you?' Williams asks the documentary producer as she breaks down in tears.

'I didn't mean to upset you,' the filmmaker says apologetically.

'Leave me alone. Go away!' Williams orders. 'This is my third time crying. And I cried the other day, and I'm not a crier. I've got so much money. I want it for my son,' Williams says through tears.

During the second hour of the documentary, Williams is seen being taken on a tour of her old stomping ground close to the Chelsea television studios that was her home for 13 years.

Williams appears utterly confused as she instructs her driver to keep on driving around the block as they pass the studios twice where Sherri Shepherd has now taken her place.

Jammail has been Williams' driver for just over a year but has noticed a change in behavior

Williams rants and rambles to the camera at several points in the documentary

Williams sends her assistance, Shawn, into a smoke shop to fetch her a vape pen

Williams appears unhappy at the choice of vape pen she receives and tosses it to her assistant

Williams appears utterly confused as she instructs her driver to keep on driving around the block as they pass the studios where Sherri Shepherd has now taken her place

Eventually, Williams and her team have to simply return home to her apartment

Williams then instructs her driver to pull over at a smoke shop she knows in order for her assistant to buy her a vape pen.

'I don't see my spot. Uh, this doesn't look like anything familiar when I'm going to 'The Wendy Williams Show.' Why did it take so long?'

There follows a discussion of several minutes as members of her team discuss with Williams whether they have purchased the correct vape pen for her.

All the while, Williams appears to becoming more and more erratic and agitated before eventually filming is stopped completely.

'She had a beautiful personality. Now it's just like, I don't know what the hell's going on,' her driver Jammail tells the camera, caught up in Williams emotional whirlwind.

'I don't know what she's going through, but it's getting very intense, whatever she's going through, I think she's losing her memory. Like, she just blanks out.

'You'll talk to her, she'll blank out. Sometimes she doesn't even realize who I am. I've picked her up many times, and she's like, 'Hey, who are you again?' Dealing with something like that is very hard. You know, on a daily basis to be around Wendy, that-that needs to be a super paycheck.'

Williams appears to becoming more and more erratic and distressed before eventually filming is stopped

On Friday, Williams broke her silence for the first time after her recent health diagnoses was revealed.

'I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming,' she shared in a statement

Wendy ended her statement writing, 'I continue to need personal space and peace to thrive. Please just know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated.'

The statement noted that Williams had been diagnosed back in 2023. The talk show host has reportedly been living in a treatment facility since April 2023.

Her team also revealed that her health struggles 'have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy's life' and have behavioral and cognitive impacts, according to their statement.

The two-part documentary filmed Williams from August 2022 until April 2023, when Williams entered the treatment facility where she remains to this day.
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Legal Victory & Regulatory Clarity Push; Next Target $55,000?

On Sunday, Bitcoin demonstrates resilience with a 1.35% increase, trading at $51,600 on Sunday. This stability comes at a time when the Texas Blockchain Council and Riot Platforms achieve a notable legal victory against US energy regulators, securing a temporary restraining order that underscores the ongoing debate over cryptocurrency mining regulations.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, calls for regulatory clarity aim to dispel concerns and foster sector growth, highlighting the global complexities of cryptocurrency governance.

Amid these developments, Bitcoins price prediction remains a focal point, with current trends suggesting a cautiously optimistic outlook, contingent on maintaining key support levels.

This interplay between legal victories, regulatory challenges, and market dynamics paints a vivid picture of the cryptocurrency ecosystems evolving narrative.

Texas Blockchain Council and Riot Platforms Secure Court Victory Against US Energy Regulators



In a significant legal battle, the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) along with Riot Platforms have successfully obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) from a US District Judge against several American energy regulatory bodies.

Temporary restraining order granted pic.twitter.com/LzYVycdEWK  Pierre Rochard (@BitcoinPierre) February 24, 2024

This move comes in response to what the plaintiffs describe as overreaching attempts by the Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy to collect data from cryptocurrency mining operations, which they argue could cause irreversible damage due to compliance costs, potential legal threats, and the forced disclosure of sensitive business information.

The Court believes that Plaintiffs are

likely to succeed in showing that the facts alleged by Defendants to support an emergency request fall far short of justifying such an action. As a result, the determination likely violates the APA as

"arbitrary, capricious, [or] an abuse https://t.co/WQVXb43Hf4  Pierre Rochard (@BitcoinPierre) February 24, 2024

Key Points:

The TBC and Riot Platforms obtained a TRO against US energy authorities, challenging their data collection methods on cryptocurrency mining.

The court recognized the potential for irreversible harm from compliance costs, legal threats, and exposure of confidential business information.

The decision suggests possible overreach by energy regulators and signals increased judicial awareness of cryptocurrency regulation impacts.

This ruling may offer temporary relief for the Bitcoin market, easing fears of overregulation and fostering a more optimistic outlook among investors.

It may lead to more nuanced discussions and policies that balance regulatory objectives with the growth and innovation in the digital currency space.

Clarifying Cryptocurrency Regulations in Nigeria: A Path Forward



In Nigeria, the cryptocurrency community faces uncertainty due to unclear government regulations and rumors of potential bans on platforms. Nathaniel Luz, a key figure at Flincap, calls for clarity from the Nigerian government to dispel fears and misinformation linking cryptocurrency to the nations economic challenges.

Despite reversing a 2021 ban, companies face licensing difficulties, stifling the sectors growth. Nigerias role as a leading peer-to-peer cryptocurrency market highlights the importance of definitive regulations to support innovation and investor confidence.

Bayo Onanuga has short memory. You can't effectively ban crypto. China did in 2017, their citizen trade it till date. Nigeria did in 2017, Nigeria became the 8 largest crypto trading country. Focus on fiscal policies such as eliminating corruption, blocking wastages, improving https://t.co/6U2flrNp5Y  That Naija Guy (@IamThatNaijaGuy) February 21, 2024

Key Points:

Regulatory Ambiguity: Unclear policies have generated instability and speculation about restrictions on cryptocurrency activities.

Unclear policies have generated instability and speculation about restrictions on cryptocurrency activities. Economic Misconceptions: Incorrectly blaming cryptocurrency for the nairas depreciation overlooks broader economic issues.

Incorrectly blaming cryptocurrency for the nairas depreciation overlooks broader economic issues. Operational Barriers: Persistent licensing challenges hinder the functioning of cryptocurrency businesses post the 2021 ban lift.

Persistent licensing challenges hinder the functioning of cryptocurrency businesses post the 2021 ban lift. Market Potential: Nigerias significant peer-to-peer trading volume underscores the need for supportive regulations.

Nigerias significant peer-to-peer trading volume underscores the need for supportive regulations. Confidence and Growth: A transparent regulatory framework is crucial for boosting investor confidence and fostering sector development.

Carlson Group Adds Four Bitcoin ETFs to Its Investment Portfolio



The Carlson Group, managing $30 billion in assets, has broadened its investment offerings to include four Bitcoin ETFs from BlackRock, Fidelity, Bitwise, and Franklin Templeton, catering to registered investment advisers (RIAs).

Selections were based on asset growth, trading activity, and competitive fees, with BlackRocks iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Fidelitys Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) noted for their significant inflows.

The inclusion of Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) and Franklin Bitcoin ETF (EZBC) was driven by their commitment to low-cost services.

Bitcoin ETF Flow  24 Feb 2024 All data now in, except perhaps for the Galaxy/Invesco product Friday was a strong day, with +$232.3m of net inflow. Also, the outflow for GBTC was just $44m, lowest level since 11th Jan pic.twitter.com/1Q0OtjEJLt  BitMEX Research (@BitMEXResearch) February 24, 2024

This move by Carlson Group, highlighted by Vice President Grant Engelbart, signals a growing interest in cryptocurrency investments among financial advisors, potentially impacting Bitcoin prices as it opens up authorized investment avenues to institutional investors.

The immediate market impact, however, may depend on the speed of adoption by trading platforms.

Bitcoin Price Prediction



Bitcoin (BTC/USD) sees limited fluctuation, with its price hovering between $51,000 and $52,500 as of February 25.

The digital currency is marginally above its pivot level at $52,515, reflecting a tentative yet optimistic market outlook.

The established resistance markers are at $53,943, $55,214, and $56,497, while the support levels are found at $50,783, $49,527, and $48,321.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 55, indicating a market in equilibrium without apparent signs of being overbought or oversold.

The 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) is positioned at $51,079, suggesting a bullish trend as long as Bitcoins price stays over the $51,000 mark.

Based on these analyses, the near-term perspective for Bitcoin leans towards a cautiously optimistic trend, dependent on its ability to maintain a price 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.
Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has continued his ongoing battle with the Australian Defence Force, saying there are 'issues of culture within its senior leadership'.

Tensions with the Department of Defence and the top brass of the ADF first came to light two weeks ago when Mr Marles was forced to address rumours he is at loggerheads with top officials.

In a closed door meeting late last year, he reportedly laid down the law to more than two dozen military chiefs and bureaucrats including Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty and Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell.

'What we need to see in terms of the leadership of the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Defence  and I'm not just talking about the two leaders (Mr Moriarty and General Campbell)  but the broader leadership is that all that we do is done with excellence,' Mr Marles told Sky News on Sunday.

'I think there are issues of culture within the senior leadership and the more general leadership of the ADF and the department which needs challenging.'

Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has continued his ongoing battle with the Australian Defence Force, saying there are 'issues of culture within its senior leadership'. ADF personnel are pictured at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane

He said advice given to him and the Government needs to be 'timely (and) accurate'.

'We are expecting of ourselves the same amount of excellence that we would expect of somebody who's in the infantry or somebody who is maintaining an aircraft where there is excellence and complete competence.'

READ MORE: Golf-loving Richard Marles ordered to hand over documents revealing $3.6million in secret taxpayer-funded flights Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is pictured getting off a plane Advertisement

The Opposition's home affairs spokesman James Paterson said Mr Marles comments appeared to be a 'public vote of no confidence in his own department and the military leadership of our defence forces'.

'That's a deeply disturbing thing,' Mr Paterson told Sky. 'If he does have confidence in them, he shouldn't publicly undermine them by saying that.'

But Mr Marles said he'd had 'complete collaboration from both the Secretary of Defence and the CDF (Chief of the Defence Force).

'There is an issue in relation to culture and we should be seeking to have a culture of absolute excellence and that is the point that I've made.'

The minister said morale within Defence had been damaged by the previous three term Coalition government, which had seven different ministers in nine years and made many spending announcement which Mr Marles said were not backed up by the funds to pay for them.

'When you go out and make all these fanciful announcements, $45billion dollars' worth, and there's no money behind them, it's obviously going to have an impact on morale. And it has.

'I mean, would you leave the country with the oldest surface fleet sailing since the end of the Second World War, which is what the former government did, that is going to impact morale,' he said.

Mr Marles said as the incoming Defence Minister, he inherited 'those issues within the ADF and within the department.

'And I can understand how that has happened. Going forward, though, we need to address that culture.'

Defence Department Secretary Greg Moriarty (left) and Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell (right) are pictured

Two weeks ago when Mr Marles (pictured) was forced to address rumours he is at loggerheads with top officials

He acknowledged that the Government has to play a major role in changing the culture and part of that is being 'very clear about where money is coming from'.

The minister said the Albanese government would not be 'engaging in the make believe that the former government (did) and we intend to have consistency in leadership from government'.

Mr Marles said the ADF has to address the issue of 'morale and make sure that there is excellence in all that is done'.

He added he was 'surprised that the opposition regard that as a controversial proposition'.
The exchange, filmed early Saturday in Long Beach, was recorded shortly after the unnamed motorist is said to have plowed into the business while drunk

Footage shows the moment the alleged drunk driver of a BMW apologized to a family moments after he sent their car careening into a building.

The exchange, filmed early Saturday in Long Beach, was recorded shortly after the unnamed motorist is said to have plowed into the business as well, after allegedly racing another car down E 7th and Rose Avenue.

That's when cops say he clipped the back of an unrelated Toyota 4Runner, sending both cars flying up the curb straight through the loft and gallery.

Both cars ended up just inches from the business's owners, they revealed in an ensuing post to GoFundMe, after having their 'lively hood[sic] and all of our years of hard work taken from [them] in mere matter of minutes.'

They claimed the crash stemmed from drunk driving - a belief cops in the ritzy SoCal town seemed to substantiate after arresting him on suspicion of DUI. Their investigation, some 24 hours later, remains ongoing.

Footage shows the moment the alleged drunk driver of a BMW apologized to a family moments after he sent their car careening into a building

Both cars ended up just inches from the business's owners, nearly killing another family - the art gallery's owners - who had been inside. The crash, being treated as a suspected DUI, is still under investigation

'I'm sorry!' the driver of the BMW is heard shouting as he is carted off in a stretcher, conscious enough to arch his head toward the occupants he hit, who were not quick to offer any forgiveness.

'Shut up!' an unseen female voice at this point shouts back, while the BMW driver is seen with bandages wrapped around his head and jaw

'It's my fault!' he yells back, seemingly slurring his words.

'No, you're not!' another voice, this time a man, answers, before hitting the injured motorist with an expletive.

'You don't know what sorry is,' he adds, as the clip cuts out.

The man was then brought to a hospital for unspecified injuries, as footage from the scene showed some of the damage he left behind.

The business, art store Open Gallery LB, saw its entire storefront savaged, and the BMW and Toyota 4runner both firmly lodged in the husk that remained.

Photos from the inside of the art gallery showed the extent of the destruction, with the interior almost unrecognizable, covered in debris.

The owners, identified by DailyMail.com as Liz Garibaldi and Artos Sacuedo, went on to reveal in a post to the crowdfunding website how close they and their 13-year-old son came to dying as a result of the crash.

They recalled later in the day how both cars came careening into the business 'just inches from us' while each of them were still inside. The three were filmed distraught at the scene after narrowly surviving.

The family inside said the crash stemmed from drunk driving - a belief cops in the ritzy SoCal town seemed to substantiate after arresting him on suspicion of DUI

'I'm sorry!' the driver of the BMW is heard shouting as he is carted off in a stretcher, conscious enough to arch his head toward the occupants he hit, who were not quick to offer forgiveness

The owners, identified by DailyMail.com as Liz Garibaldi and Artos Sacuedo, said both cars came careening into the business 'just inches from' them and their 13-year-old son - all seen here distraught at the scene after narrowly surviving

The couple further revealed in a post online that the BMW driver had been racing another car prior to the crash, though that car was not filmed at the scene

The couple recalled: 'The 4runner plowed through the gallery into the dividing wall landing in our bedroom'

'The other car [the BMW] went straight into the front of our loft where my sons room was'

'He was somehow shoved into a corner and unharmed. I climbed over all the rubble yelling for him to finally see his eyes open staring at me. Hes 13 years old and shouldnt have to go through something this traumatic, bc someone wanted to race down 7th st'

'Luckily I pulled my son out of the rubble completely unharmed and am beyond grateful for his health and ours,' she continued, after stringer service O.C. Hawk told KTLA that the family the Toyota had been carrying were miraculously uninjured

Seen here is the Toyota 4runner the BMW is said to have hit, which KTLA reported was carrying another family

The couple wrote: 'The 4runner plowed through the gallery into the dividing wall landing in our bedroom.

'The other car [the BMW] went straight into the front of our loft where my sons room was.

'He was somehow shoved into a corner and unharmed. I climbed over all the rubble yelling for him to finally see his eyes open staring at me.

'Hes 13 years old and shouldnt have to go through something this traumatic, bc someone wanted to race down 7th st.

'Luckily I pulled my son out of the rubble completely unharmed and am beyond grateful for his health and ours,' she continued, after stringer service O.C. Hawk told KTLA that the family the Toyota had been carrying were miraculously uninjured.

That too was the case for the Saucedos, who revealed that their insurance carrier had recently ditched them to move out of state.

'We are completely shattered and dont know how to move forward,' the couple claimed.

'We were doing everything in our power to make Long Beach and our local community a place for thriving art and love.

'Sadly this has all been snatched from us. Our business insurance was recently canceled bc the company pulled out of California as have many other insurance companies have recently done as well, which no one knows why this is happening.

'Sadly this has all been snatched from us. Our business insurance was recently canceled bc the company pulled out of California as have many other insurance companies have recently done as well, which no one knows why this is happening,' the couple wrote

The business, art store Open Gallery LB, saw its entire storefront savaged, and the BMW and Toyota 4runner both firmly lodged in the husk that remained

The fate of the other family, as of Sunday morning, remains unknown, some 24 hours after the early morning crash

Sources who spoke to KTLA, however, said none of them had to be hospitalized, but their car looked beyond saving, scene footage shows

No information on the other car the gallery owners claimed to have witnessed at the scene was immediately available

The BMW is seen here totaled, as it is towed from the crash site

That was the case for both cars, which both somehow avoided hitting anyone fatally

As of writing, within less than nine hours, the family has raised roughly $17,397 raised of $30,000 goal to help recover their losses

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Long Beach Police Department - who is vetting the incident - for comment. No other information was readily available

'Were asking for any help possible to move our family somewhere safe, to help us repay artists who lost their work, to purchase new equipment for work, and to sustain us for a bit while we pick up the pieces and pivot into figuring out how to get our livelihood back.

'Everything helps so much. We love you all so much and are happy to be alive and we thank you in advance for all of your support.'

As of writing, within less than nine hours, the family has raised roughly $17,397 raised of $30,000 goal.

The fate of the other family, meanwhile, remains unknown, but sources who spoke to KTLA said none of them had to be hospitalized, though their car looked beyond saving, footage from the scene shows.

The identity of the BMW driver, meanwhile, as of writing remains unknown, but according to preliminary information released by the Long Beach Police Department, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

No information on the other car the gallery owners claimed to have witnessed at the scene was immediately available. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Long Beach Police Department for comment.
A raging bushfire is burning through one end of Australia as heavy rainfall smashes the other, sparking severe thunderstorm and flood warnings.

Six homes have been destroyed by bushfires burning in North of Beaufort, near Ballarat, and other parts of western Victoria.

After a warm weekend, Melburnians will enjoy a cool reprieve before heatwave conditions return on Wednesday.

South-east Queensland recorded levels of 99 per cent humidity on Saturday which continued into Sunday morning for the Sunshine Coast.

Cooler weather has been forecast elsewhere in the Sunshine State and flood warnings in the north have been issued due to heavy rainfall over the weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning on Monday with heavy rainfall possible inland in Queensland's far north and north-west.

Thunderstorms are also possible north of Winton and Gladstone.

Also up north, torrential rain is forecast to smash Darwin in the coming days.

The Northern Territory and Queensland will be drenched by heavy rain

North of Beaufort, near Ballarat in Victoria (pictured) has had an out of control bushfire sweep through

Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra will see see weather spikes mid-week. Pictured are beachgoers at Sydney's Bondi Beach

READ MORE: Victorians urged to evacuate

Residents of 30 communities west of Ballarat, rural Victoria, have been urged to evacuate the area as a 5,000-hectare bushfire burns out-of-control (pictured) Advertisement

Hobart will have a cloudy week with Tasmanians only expected to see the sun on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Sydney is in for a mostly sunny week, after Friday night's lightning strike struck four people and delayed Taylor Swift's performance in Accor stadium on Friday.

Perth and Adelaide are also in for warm weeks, with the mercury on Tuesday forecast to hit 36C on Tuesday in Adelaide.

Melbourne

Melbourne's top of 30C on Sunday will change to a cool and cloudy Monday, with a top of only 21C with a chance of rain.

However, the cooler weather won't last for long.

Tuesday is set to usher in more searing heat, with a top of 30 on Tuesday.

BoM senior meteorologist Angus Hines told Daily Mail Australia the rest of the week is 'really about a warming trend'.

'There is a real spike on Wednesday with a high of 36C,' he said.

Mr Hines said the high temperatures carry an extreme fire risk especially since they will be combined with 'a dry and gusty northerly wind.'

'Parts of northern Victoria could hit 40C or even the low 40s.'

Mr Hines said the cooler weather on Monday will be a good chance for fire crews to contain the fire before the extreme heat sets in.

The end of the week will be cooler and settled.

BoM senior meteorologist Angus Hines said high temperatures and strong winds carry an extreme fire risk in Victoria

The state's high temperatures are creating perfect fire conditions (pictured bushfires near Ballarat)

Sydney

'Sydney has a pretty clear and bright start to the week,' Mr Hines said.

The temperature should reach a maximum of 27C on Monday and there could be an early fog for the western suburbs.

Tuesday might see some clouds with a bit of 'dampness here and there.'

However, the temperatures will start to climb mid-week on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr Hines warns in Sydney's western suburbs, like Penrith, the temperature could reach 39C to 40C.

Sydney-siders are set for a mid-week scorcher

Brisbane

Although there was light rain Sunday morning and mostly cloudy, Monday will be a top of 31C and mostly sunny.

'There is a chance of a shower in the middle of Monday but it shouldn't amount to much,' he said.

The rest of the week's forecast is 'static', with Tuesday 31C - 33C, with not too much wind.

Parts of the state saw torrential rain over the weekend.

'Tully had 450mm over 24-hours. It was a lot of wet weather even for that part of the country. But the flood waters have started to recede and there should be a continuation of dryness,' he said.

Mr Hines said there might be a daily smattering of showers and storms, but it is normal wet weather activity for this time of the year, rather than the 'persistent wet weather activity they experienced over the weekend,' he said.

Mr Hines said Queenslanders can expect daily smattering of showers and storms throughout the week

Perth

There are some chance of rain on Sunday but this is mostly predicted for the interior areas of Western Australia.

The outlook for the week in Perth is dry, cooler and mild.

'There was a record number of 40C days in Perth this February. They will welcome the cooler week,' Mr Hines said.

Adelaide

Adelaide kicked off the week with a sunny Sunday and no chance of rain.

The city will have a nice start to the week but from Tuesday the mercury will start to climb and reach 30C on Tuesday, with possible gusty winds.

'The highest fire danger is for Tuesday and Wednesday,' Mr Hines said.

The entire week has a fire warning across the southern and south-east parts of the state, including Adelaide.

The city will have a warm to mild finish to the week.

The wet season in Darwin has made rain and storms a daily possibility (pictured)

Darwin

'It's a pretty typical wet-season forecast, so Darwin can see rain and storms forecast daily.'

Mr Hines said rainfall can vary between suburbs so residents can expect anywhere from 1mm to 20mm of rain daily.

The week will see the temperatures above a maximum of 30C, with Sunday being the highest at 33C.

Hobart

Both Sunday and Monday are similar - both cloudy and in the low 20s.

However, the temperature will start to climb up to 26C on Tuesday before reaching 28C on Wednesday.

However this may come with some rainfall.

Canberra

The start of the week has started bright and sunny with a maximum of 28C.

The weather should be similar on Monday but will turn cloudy on Tuesday, although there shouldn't be any rain.

However, the temps will climb on Wednesday and Thursday and will reach 34C both days.
Enjoying a sausage sizzle at the local Bunnings is an experience synonymous with weekends in Australia.

It was one of the first experiences Caroline Kennedy had when she arrived in Canberra in 2022. It was also the first time she heard anybody talk about the 'Sh*tbox rally'.

An annual Cancer Council fundraiser that attracts around 500 participants, cars worth less than $1500 drive from Adelaide to Perth in April.

It captured the United States' ambassador's attention, and now two years later she's purchased an old Ford Falcon named 'Moonshot' to partake in the 3,000km rally.

Ahead of her impending drive, the daughter of the late US President John F. Kennedy returned to where it all began on Sunday - Bunnings.

US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy helped out with a sausage sizzle fundraiser at a Bunnings store in Canberra on Sunday

Behind a barbecue at a Canberra store, Ms Kennedy was joined by the original barbecue-ers who first introduced her to the campaign to raise money.

'I'm so happy the people who first told me about Sh*tbox, who I bought my first sausage off two years ago are here as well,' she said.

'We're really excited. Our car is going to be called 'Moonshot' in honour of president (Joe) Biden's cancer moonshot (initiative), and president Kennedy's race to the moon.'

She said she had met 'so many inspiring scientists in Australia' who were working to cure cancer.

'I think having met the people that I've met, I could not be more hopeful (that cancer will be cured),' she said.

Ms Kennedy has developed somewhat of a reputation as a revhead since arriving in Australia in 2022, having attended the annual Summernats festival twice.

She has adapted well to the Aussie lifestyle during her time here, having also previously attended AFL games and taken part in an NRL training session with the Brisbane Broncos.

US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy was happy to don the BBQ tongs at Bunnings to raise funds
Officials have been able to recover six of the nine cars - mostly from Chicago

A group of Chicago teens who organized a car heist at a Range Rover dealership and took off with vehicles are being hunted by law officials.

Nine teenagers conducted the robbery at a Jaguar-Land Rover dealership in Waukesha and were able to steal nine high-end cars, reportedly worth over $500,000 on February 18.

The suspects broke into the dealership at about 6am, found the keys and then activated the key fobs to find the cars, which they then stole, according to Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann.

CCTV footage from inside the dealership shows four of the youngsters, all dressed in black including masks and head coverings, rushing inside the store.

A Chicago based group of nine teenagers conducted the robbery at a Jaguar-Land Rover dealership in Waukesha and stole the high-end cars, reportedly worth over $500,000 on February 18

CCTV footage from inside the dealership shows four of the nine youngsters, all dressed in black including masks and head coverings, rushing inside the store

'A stolen vehicle, a minivan, comes to the dealership. They open the service door, and nine subjects went throughout there looking for keys.

'One person finds where the keys were hidden and then starts to disseminate those to his friend,' Baumann told WISN12.

Officials said that while eight of the vehicles belonged to the dealership, the ninth was a customer's car.

Footage shows one of the thieves speedily revving a white car back into a glass garage door.

Video then shows the robbers driving away the luxury cars in a movie-style formation out of the dealership and onto a highway.

In the end, the thieves are seen being followed in a high-speed car chase by police on Interstate 94.

Footage shows one of the thieves speedily revving a white car back into a glass garage door

Video then shows the robbers driving away the luxury cars in a movie-style line out of the dealership and onto a highway

In the end, the thieves are seen being followed in a high-speed car chase by police on Interstate 94

Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann believes the the heist was a strategic and, most likely, a professional job

One of the suspects, an unidentified 17-year-old boy, was arrested the same day in a village named Pleasant Prairie after the stolen vehicle he was driving crashed along on the interstate during the chase.

He is being held at the Waukesha County Jail on a $50,000 bond and has been charged with burglary, theft and criminal damage to property.

As of now, cops have been able to recover six of the nine stolen vehicles - four in Chicago city, one in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield and one in Wisconsin.

Baumann believes the the heist was a strategic and, most likely, a professional job. He further said: 'We believe this to be an organized crime group of teenagers from the Chicago area.

This wasn't just a group of kids that just decided to stay up late one night playing video games and say, "Hey let's go see if the nine of us can travel two hours away to commit crimes".

'Because that's not something that normally happens.'

Officials are still investigating the case and trying to identify the other eight suspects.
The parents at the centre of a tragic 'wild birth' that saw a pair of twins die have shared a confronting message describing their ordeal.

Sally Patti and Thomas Townend lost their twin boys, Dusty and Melvin, during a 'free birth' earlier this month.

'Free birthing' or 'wild birthing' is a controversial practice in which mothers-to-be completely forego medical assistance including ultrasounds, heartbeat checks and hospital births.

Police were called to the couple's home in Mullumbimby, in the Byron Shire in northern NSW at about 2am on Sunday, February 11, over concerns for the family's welfare.

It is understood the couple did not know they were having twins, who were born premature but were over 23 weeks.

Sally Patti (right) and Thomas Townend (left) lost their twin babies during a 'wild birth' at their home in Mullumbimby, part of the Byron Shire, earlier this month

Ms Patti shared a message online in the wake of her babies' deaths, which included references to 'sovereignty' and astrology.

'On the Aquarius new moon I birthed our twin sons,' she wrote.

'Dusty came roaring and screaming into this world, so incredibly filled with life, birthed with just Tom and I in the love of our home.

'I held him, cradled him against my chest, not quite believing I had done it, I had birthed our boy in my full sovereignty.

'The most incredible experience of my life so far. This moment holds me together, this moment is my light in the darkness.'

She said her second son, Melvin, 'was born shortly after but had decided to leave this world possibly earlier in the day'.

'I think I know the moment when he passed, I looked up at the blue sky and felt a sense of peace, stars in my eyes and thought my labour would be that night,' Ms Patti said.

'Melvin's sole purpose was to keep his brother alive, they were both completely and utterly reliant on one another to live.

'They shared the same placenta, they shared the same blood vessels, they chose to come in together and leave together.

'Melvin gave his life force so that Dusty could spend those moments in my arms but when I birthed Melvin, Dusty had already decided he couldn't live without his brother, physiologically or spiritually. They needed to be together, and so they are.'

Ms Patti declined to comment and requested privacy when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. She also disputed what had been reported about her babies' deaths.

A GoFundMe, created by the couple's friend Roseanna Sharp, has raised more than $15,000 to help the parents 'grieve'.

Ms Sharp called for the 'community to hold the passage through birth, death and grief' for the couple, who have been together since late 2019.

Ms Sharp recalled the tragic birth of the two boys, writing: 'On Sunday morning, new moon of Aquarius, Sally peacefully birthed her two twins in the waters of her home.

'In all of those waves of beauty, love, shock and heartbreak; those two spirit babies didn't have a contract with the earth outside her womb and at the same time of welcoming them in, she said goodbye.'

A report will be prepared for the coroner in relation to the twins' deaths (stock image)

Ms Sharp created the GoFundMe six days after the twins' deaths.

'We are setting up this donation portal to help share the weight and costs of the closing ceremony, funeral, various kinds of therapy for both Sally and Tom, medical bills, self-care, healing medicines, and a trip away for the family to heal,' she said.

'Grief is a collective portal, it's an opportunity for us to show up and heal together as community, we invite you all to be apart of this and contribute where you can.

'Any donations appreciated to show your love and support for Sally and her family is welcomed with gratitude and reverence for our community.'

A medical source previously told The Daily Telegraph the deaths were 'avoidable'.

'At least the second was born viable. If it was born in hospital, it had a chance. That child had rights,' they said.

Wild births, also known as free births, are rising in popularity among Byron Bay locals - a region that has traditionally had a high rate of home births.

An Australian Facebook group for parents considering a wild birth describes itself as a 'space for women who align with unassisted pregnancy, birth and postpartum'.

'Assistance talk is very minimal and you are supported in birthing on your terms,' it states.

Some wild birth followers believe medical assistance during pregnancy, including ultrasounds, can hurt babies.

A police source described the twins' deaths as 'tragic because it was avoidable'.

No charges have been laid in the case and a spokesperson for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia 'a report for the information of the Coroner is being prepared by investigators'.

Australia is one of the safest places in the world to give birth; however, planned at-home births almost double the risk of serious issues for the baby from five in 1,000 for a hospital birth to nine in 1,000.

Due to the popularity of home births in the region, the NSW Local Health District provides a home birth service to 'support the choice of planned, midwife-attended home birth as a safe choice for women with uncomplicated pregnancies'.

The Northern NSW Local Health District facilitated 23 planned home births in 2023.
Donald Trump is planning on ramping up his trade war with China should he win the White House for a second term with hints he could introduce a 60 percent tarrif on Chinese imports.

Meanwhile, President Biden is planning to introduce a series of restrictions of his own that would block China from entering America's 'essential industries' such as electronics and the semiconductor industry, in an effort to stop American cash from flowing to China.

Biden is already tightening the rules in what is a shift from tit-for-tat tariffs and strong-arm tactics to tech restrictions and investment curbs.

Either way, it appears China loses.

US policy towards China has become more targeted under Biden - though still hardline.

Despite differences between Democrats and Republicans, analysts expect Washington's approach to Beijing will only become tougher, whether Biden or former president Donald Trump wins another White House term.

Three months after meeting President Biden at his San Francisco summit, Xi Jinping managed to lower the temperature between the two nations, but elections mean the heat is on again

Experts say the direction of pressure in Washington is for more hawkishness on China

Should former president Donald Trump be elected again, some expect to see higher tariffs of up to 60 percent targeting China

'I think the direction of pressure in Washington is absolutely in one direction, which is more hawkishness,' said Joshua Meltzer, senior fellow at Brookings Institution. : 'There is currently congressional pressure to do more.'

Already, Biden has largely maintained Trump-era tariffs, rolled out export control restrictions to curtail Beijing's ability to buy and make certain high-end chips, and unveiled an order to curb outbound investments to China.

Officials are also seeking to boost self-reliance in key areas including clean energy supply chains, while further action on data flows is expected.

With citizen concerns over trade, business and manufacturing cutting across party lines, the preferred degree of toughness on China tends to be a policy rather than partisan divide, said Jamieson Greer, partner at law firm King & Spalding.

President Joe Biden, pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' week in California last November, has shown willingness to maintain existing measures on China while being targeted in future moves

Greer, formerly US Trade Representative chief of staff during the Trump administration, believes there are two camps in Washington.

One views China as an existential threat to the economy, national security or both, therefore justifying strong and broad protection measures.

The other is cautious about overestimating the China threat, and concerned with imposing tough trade and economic measures.

But both groups assume risks associated with China -- a shift that became prominent nearly a decade ago.

'It became big during the 2016 presidential election cycle, when candidate Donald Trump was very, very vocal about trade issues and China in particular,' Greer said.

Trump gave voice to something many people 'agreed with on both sides of the aisle' but were unwilling to say aloud, he added.

Biden is already tightening the rules in what is a shift from tit-for-tat tariffs and strong-arm tactics to tech restrictions and investment curbs

But experts agree that a second Biden or Trump administration would diverge on policies.

The Biden administration does not expect to 'reach a deal with China, where they're going to make these major reforms and changes,' Meltzer said.

'It's really about, how do you adjust to the reality of China? How do you bring allies along?'

There is a 'notion of derisking from a security perspective as well,' he added.

But the Trump administration favored using US leverage to broker a deal changing China's behavior, Meltzer said, referring to the Phase One trade agreement culminating from a truce in the escalating tariffs war.

Should Trump be elected, some expect to see higher tariffs targeting China, given his proposal of more than 60 percent levies on Chinese goods.

The move could draw Chinese retaliation, stalling trade between the world's top two economies.

'I think we'd see a lot more return to tariffs, I think we'd also see a lot less cooperation with allies,' Meltzer said. 'The US would be more isolated on some of these issues.'

Biden has shown willingness to maintain existing measures on China while being narrow and focused in future moves, and this is unlikely to change, Greer added.

A second Biden administration could also seek cooperation with China on issues like climate and have more room to engage -- given reduced pressure to appear tough on Beijing to deflect criticism from Trump, analysts believe.

Ongoing efforts to maintain a US lead in tech will probably continue, no matter who wins the election.

But a Trump administration could show less support for onshoring advanced semiconductor manufacturing via initiatives like the CHIPS Act, or for major investments in onshoring electric vehicle and other critical mineral supply chains, said Paul Triolo, associate partner for China at Albright Stonebridge Group.

But he added: 'It is likely that regardless of who wins in November, the US administration would continue to implement existing technology controls, and expand controls into other technology sectors.'

These include biotechnology, electric and smart vehicles.

Last month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned that Chinese-made EVs bring security risks, given the vast amounts of data collected.

Washington would also likely tighten restrictions on transfers of certain types of data to companies and organizations in China, Triolo said.
The parents of children who tragically died while on Scout trips are calling for a public inquiry into the association, following the death of a 16-year-old boy who plunged 200ft to his death during a botched expedition.

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 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.

But Ben isn't the only child to die while on a Scout expedition. There have been 17 deaths on the trips since 1995, according to The Times.

Now, his mother has teamed up with other grieving parents to call for a public inquiry into whether the association has the appropriate safeguarding measures in place and for the Scouts to be regulated externally.

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

Roy Thornton, 15, slipped down the side of a mountain and into a stream-bed in 1999

Scott Fanning, 11, plunged 90ft to his death in 1998 while on a Scouts camping trip

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.

Ben joined the Beavers aged five and was an avid reader and film buff who planned to study TV and film at college.

His mother Jackie, 54, described him as a 'thoughtful, very funny, extremely witty' boy, and claimed the Scout Association tried to portray him as a 'wild child', taking a 'defensive' attitude and until their apology never accepting being at fault.

Other deaths linked to the Scouts group 1993 Adult Venture scout Andrew Hindley, 23, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, fell 2,000ft down Jungfrau, Switzerland. Inquest verdict: Unknown 1995 Lee Craddock, 11, fell 360ft while at Britain's deepest pothole, Gaping Ghyll in North Yorkshire. His parents later sued the Scouts Association. 1997 Jack Sudds, eight, drowned in a swimming pool at a Scout camp in Crowborough, East Sussex. Inquest verdict: Misadventure. 1999 Jonathan Attwell, 10, fell 600ft to his death on his first outdoor Scout trip to Snowdon, North Wales. Inquest verdict: Accidental. 2000 Jamie Chambers, 15, died after being hit by boulders on Little Tryfan, a spur of Snowdon. Inquest verdict: Misadventure. 2010 Scout leader Stephen Young, 18, died when he fell through a snow shelf on Creag Meagaidh in the Scottish Highlands. Inquest verdict: Unknown. 2014 Elliot Peacock, 14, died during a gorge scrambling expedition with the Scouts in Italy. Inquest verdict: Unknown. Advertisement

The inquest into his death 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.

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.

The inquest at Manchester Civil Justice Court had heard that Ben could have been saved if he had been given 'basic' instructions.

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.

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.

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.

And the devastating death of Ben is not a standalone case.

Ben 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

Ben's parents David and Jackie Leonard pictured at an earlier inquest hearing in 2018

The inquest heard that Ben could have been saved if he had been given 'basic' instructions

Sharon Collins, 60, attended Ben's inquest almost every day.

Her eldest son Scott, aged 11, fell 60ft down a ravine at Ashworth Valley near Rochdale, during a Scout camp in 1998.

He was taken to hospital but died the same day from a brain injury.

The Chadderton St Herbert's troop from Oldham had organised for 50 Scouts to spend the weekend at the camp. But just after 7am on the second day, Scott's mother was woken up by the phone call which would tell her he had fallen.

Untrained helper Peter McPhillips told the inquest at the time that the boy had missed a turning as he led a group of eleven boys onto a path on the side of the ravine.

McPhillips had been at the back of the group, which was a size too big for him to manage by himself.

He couldn't see that the path had become increasingly narrow when he told Scott to keep walking, shortly before he fell.

Although the coroner ruled that his death was accidental, he called on the Scout Association for more training for their leaders.

Scott's father, Alan, never recovered from the tragic loss. He took his own life two years later.

Speaking after the conclusion of Ben's inquest, his mother told the BBC that 'nothing had changed'.

Scott, aged 11, fell 60ft down a ravine at Ashworth Valley near Rochdale, during a Scout camp

Although the coroner ruled that Scott's death was accidental, he called on the Scout Association for more training for their leaders

When Scott embarked on the Scouts trip he felt 'excited and felt quite grown up', she told the news outlet.

But he fell while on the expedition and died in hospital soon after. At the time, a coroner ruled that his death had been 'accidental' but recommended the Scout Association conduct safety checks before hikes.

But his mother said she got 'snippets of information' over time which made her question what had really happened.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, she said: 'When I met Ben's family, I listened to their tragedy and shared my dreadful experience. I was horrified to learn about the similarities that Ben's death had with the events surrounding Scott's and the other boys' deaths.'

Another young boy who died while on a Scout trip was Roy Thornton, which was also ruled as accidental by a coroner.

The 15-year-old boy from Wembley, London, died in the Alps in 1999 after he slipped and fell.

His mother, Janet Hollands, told The Sunday Times that Ben's case made her realise she should have taken legal advice when her son died, instead of 'blindly' trusting that the Scout organisation 'wanted to change'.

Roy had gone on a trip with the 3rd Kenton Scouts Explorers group to the Austrian Alps.

Ms Hollands, now 65, had been a Scout leader on the trip at the time, in charge of looking after the younger Cubs.

The group was climbing a section of the 7000ft mountain Jochelspitze in the Lechtal Valley when she decided the path wasn't suitable for the Cubs.

Ben joined the Beavers aged five and was an avid reader and film buff

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. Pictured: The Great Orme in Llandudno, North Wales

The assistant leader Paul Beardmore, who was leading the older group, had never led a group of Scouts before.

As the conditions became windier, he told the children to leave the path and slide down a hilly section.

His mother told The Sunday Times that the boy, a 'natural leader', had been first to go but he 'went over the edge'.

The other boys watched in horror and managed the dig in their heels and stop, 'literally right by the edge'.

The Austrian Police investigated his death, and Beardmore was found guilty of culpable homicide and given a two-month suspended sentence.

But the assistant leader said he had been failed by more senior Scouts.

The three parents are now calling for a public inquiry into whether the Scouts have the appropriate safeguarding measures in place to do these expeditions and for the organisation to be externally regulated.

David Pojur, the assistant coroner for North Wales who presided over the inquest into Ben's death, has appealed to Gillian Keengan and David Johnson on their behalf.

Jennie Price, chairwoman of the Scouts' board of trustees, said after Ben's inquest: 'We emphatically refute allegations made in court about any criminal action on behalf of the Scout Association.'

Another child who died while on a Scout trip was Alan Lock, a six-year-old boy

A spokesman for the Scout Association said: 'Keeping young people safe is our first priority and no death is ever just a statistic. One death is too many.

'We have learnt from Ben's tragic death in 2018 and made changes to the risk assessments, safety rules, training and support we give our 145,000 volunteers.

'We look closely at all incidents to continuously review and improve to ensure we are creating the safest possible environments.'

Another child who died while on a Scout trip was Alan Lock, a six-year-old who was afraid of water.

The young boy, who could not swim, fell into a river and drowned in 2009.

Alan, who suffered from undiagnosed myocarditis - a condition which can cause symptoms similar to a heart attack - was on a guided walk along the River Stour near Sudbury, Suffolk, when he went missing from a group consisting of 18 Beavers and four adults.

A Scout leader standing on a bridge spotted his shoes poking out of the fast-flowing water and managed to pull him out of the river onto the bank. But despite the group's desperate efforts to resuscitate Alan he died around four hours later in hospital.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Alan died of drowning, while his myocarditis, which causes an inflammation of the heart muscle, was also cited as a contributory factor in his death.

Pathologist Nat Carey told the inquest that the undiagnosed condition could have caused Alan to faint and fall into the water.

Detective chief inspector Nicholas Bennett revealed how police spent seven hours interviewing the 17 children who had been on the trip with Alan with four adults.

He said: 'In its entirety it was difficult to create a coherent picture of what happened that night. As they crossed the bridge for the second time one of the leaders noticed a pair of shoes poking out of the water. He rushed down to the water's edge and pulled Alan from the water.'

The trip was only Alan's third with the Beaver Scouts and just days before it happened he had pulled out of a day out to the seaside due to his fear of water.

It was heard that a bang which could have been caused by Alan's fall was heard as the group stood on a bridge over the river.

But his body wasn't found until 40 minutes later, and - recording an open verdict - Coroner Dr Peter Dean said lessons should be learned from the death.

Scout Association District Commissioner Stephen Dodd told the BBC at the time that the tragedy had led to 'significant reflection' and that the frequency of 'good group management' procedures such as head counts weren't as 'sufficient as they should have been'.
Donald Trump has attacked Prince Harry for his 'unforgiveable betrayal' of the late Queen as he criticised the Biden administration's handling of the Duke's US visa application.

The former US president criticised the way that the Biden administration is 'protecting Harry' in the visa battle over the Duke of Sussex's drug use.

'I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That's unforgiveable. He would be on his own if it was down to me,' Mr Trump exclusively told the Sunday Express and added: 'I think they have been too gracious to him after what he has done.'

In his memoir 'Spare', Harry admitted that he had used marijuana, cocaine and magic mushrooms.

A think tank has since sought access to his visa application to see if he lied about drug taking, but the US government said the admissions that Harry took drugs are not 'proof' that he actually did and could have been a ploy to 'sell books'.

The former US president Donald Trump (pictured yesterday) criticised the way that the Biden administration is 'protecting Harry' in the visa battle over the Duke of Sussex's drug use

'I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That's unforgiveable. He would be on his own if it was down to me,' Mr Trump exclusively told the Sunday Express (pictured: the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry)

In his memoir 'Spare', Harry (pictured) admitted that he had used marijuana, cocaine and magic mushrooms

John Bardo, for the Department of Homeland Security, told the court on Friday that Harry's book 'Spare' was not 'sworn testimony or proof' that he took drugs. He said: 'Just saying something in a book doesn't make it true.'

The lawyer added that people say things to 'sell books' as he argued Harry's immigration records should remain private.

It was the latest twist in a case in which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington DC-based think tank, is suing to force the release of the Duke of Sussex's US immigration files.

Last week, the Duke told Good Morning America: 'American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind but isn't something that's a high priority for me right now.'

At the federal court in Washington DC lawyers for Heritage also introduced a transcript of the GMA interview on February 16, 2024 'in which the Duke of Sussex discusses potentially seeking United States citizenship.'

They said it added to their case seeking the release of his immigration files.

In a court filing Heritage said: 'Widespread and continuous media coverage has surfaced the question of whether DHS properly admitted the Duke of Sussex in light of the fact that he has publicly admitted to the essential elements of a number of drug offenses.'

US District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols, sitting in Court 17 of the E. Barrett Prettyman US Courthouse in Washington DC, is expected to make a ruling in the coming weeks.

When applying for a US visa foreigners are asked on the DHS's DH160 visa form: 'Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?'

They are also asked whether they have ever 'violated any law relating to controlled substances'. If they answer 'yes' they can still receive a waiver.

Heritage wants to see if Harry admitted to using illegal drugs before gaining a visa. They also want to establish if he was granted a waiver and given any favorable treatment.

'I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That's unforgivable,' Trump, 77, told the Sunday Express. 'He would be on his own if it was down to me'

The lawsuit claims that the US government should reveal the immigration form to see whether Harry declared he had taken the drugs to the Department of Homeland Security - actions he owned up to in his bestselling tome (seen here)

Prince Harry's admissions in his memoir that he took drugs are not 'proof' that he actually did and could have been a ploy to 'sell books', the US government has argued in court

Harry and Megan attend the Invictus Winter Games in Vancouver last week

Donald Trump on Saturday declared Prince Harry will be 'on his own' if he wins a second term, calling the Duke's 2020 move to the US an 'unforgivable' betrayal of Queen Elizabeth II

Sources close to the Duke have previously indicated that he answered truthfully on the application.

Lawyers for the foundation argue the documents are of 'immense public interest'.

The 39-year-old Duke admitted in 'Spare' that he had used marijuana, cocaine and magic mushrooms. He wrote that 'psychedelics did me some good' and has also described experimenting with the hallucinogenic Amazonian plant ayahuasca.

Harry described that as 'the cleaning of the windshield, the removal of life's filters.'

Biden officials have for months fought the case brought by Heritage, arguing that all visa applicants have a right to privacy. The foundation is seeking 'all records within Prince Harry's alien registration file'.

That includes 'any applications for immigration benefits' and 'all records relating to any requests for waiver by Prince Harry'.

The DHS has previously stated publicly that foreign individuals coming into the country who admit to drug offences may be 'inadmissible'.

It rejected a previous request from the Heritage Foundation in June for Harry's records.

In court documents the department has argued that 'the mere acknowledgement of these records would constitute an unwarranted invasion of Prince Harry's privacy.'

'The records are particularly sensitive because releasing them, even in part, would reveal Prince Harry's status in the United States, which Prince Harry has not disclosed.'

It went on: 'Specifically, the records would reveal the types of documents that Prince Harry used to travel to the United States, his admission status, and any immigration, or non-immigration, benefits that he may have sought.

'Courts consistently hold that a person's visa or immigration status is private, personal information exempt from disclosure.'
Latest polling figures has seen the Coalition overtake Labor in the first time since the they won the 2022 election, just days before an important by-election in the Melbourne seat of Dunkley.

Polling conducted by Resolve Political Monitor for the Sydney Morning Herald found the primary vote for Labor dropped by one point from 35 to 34 per cent since December, while the Coalition gained ground from 34 per cent to 37 per cent.

While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was still seven points ahead of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (39 to 32 per cent) as the preferred prime minister, the margin was also at its lowest since Labor was returned to power.

It comes as a newly engaged Mr Albanese spent Friday night at Taylor Swift's concert before flying to Melbourne the next day to attend a private concert of another US pop star Katy Perry at at billionaire Anthony Pratt's mansion.

The Australian's Sunday Newspoll results show a similar grim outlook for Labor.

Anthony Albanese (pictured with fiancee Jodie) that Coalition overtake Labor in the first time in the polls since the 2022 election

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The Coalition's primary vote was ahead of Labor - 36 to 33 per cent - with the government falling by one point.

However Labor still maintained a four point lead on the two-party preferred vote system, 52 to 48 per cent, two points higher than February's polling.

The Newspoll results also reported Mr Albanese gaining one point as the 'better prime minister,' from 46 to 47 per cent, with Mr Dutton remaining steady on 35 per cent. 18 per cent were uncommitted.

The bruising hit comes six days out from Saturday's federal by-election in Dunkley. The seat was left vacant after Labor MP Peta Murphy died of breast cancer in December last year.

Eight candidates will be running for the southeast Melbourne electorate, which was maintained by Ms Murphy in the 2019 election with a safe margin of 6.3 per cent.

Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy will be contesting the seat for the Liberal Party, while Frankston local and women's advocate Jodie Belyea will fight for Labor to retain the electorate.

Visiting the electorate on Sunday to launch Ms Belyea's campaign, the Prime Minister spruiked his government cost-of-living relief like changes to the stage three tax cuts, The Australian reports.

He took the opportunity to slam the Coalition for walking back their threats to fight the reforms.

'What we got from the Coalition, from Peter Dutton, firstly, they said they'd oppose it and fight it. Then they said they'd roll it back. Then they said we should go to a full federal election on the basis of our commitment that we're making, and then they changed their mind again and didn't vote against it in the parliament,' he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is still seven points ahead of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured) as the preferred prime minister,

This Saturday's by-election will decide a new MP to represent the south-east Melbourne electorate of Dunkley. Pictured is late MP Peta Murphy

In February, a Newspoll revealed 62 per cent of voters backed Labor's Stage Three tax cut changes, which redirected relief to low income earners, despite only 38 per cent of respondents believing they would benefit from the changes.

Labor will spend the week fighting cost-of-living fires on multiple fronts when parliament resumes, as the government gears up to pass its new-look tax cuts against a backdrop of another housing battle.

While the changes to the stage 3 tax cuts will be the focus of the senate this week, debate on the governments proposed Help to Buy scheme will resume in the lower house this week.

If passed, the shared equity scheme would allow more than 40,000 Australians to co-own their first home with the government, requiring just two per cent of a deposit.

The government says its a crucial part of Labors broader housing agenda, but are staring down the Coalition and the Greens.
After more than two weeks behind bars, the former University of Virginia graduate student recently indicted for raping an undergraduate schoolmate last fall won pretrial release Friday.

His lawyer convinced Albemarle County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Higgins to let 22-year-old Derek Rodriguez-Contreras go back to his Frys Spring-area apartment wearing an electronic monitor and leave the premises only for hearings and meetings with counsel.

I realize thats very restrictive, said Higgins, but its warranted under the circumstances.

Opposing bail, prosecutor Susan Baumgartner noted that the young mans apartment is where the alleged rape took place. And asserting that the New York City native has been suspended from his studies as a graduate student at UVas McIntire School of Commerce, she described him as a flight risk.

There is concern that he would not appear, said Baumgartner.

By contrast, Anthony Martin, the lawyer for Rodriguez-Contreras, portrayed his client as a local resident since 2019 who was enrolled in a prestigious graduate program and lined up a job this fall in the Northern Virginia community of McLean.

We have a young man whos obviously very accomplished, said Martin.

According to court records, the alleged rape occurred on Sept. 22. His client has no prior criminal record, and the incident involved another UVa student, Martin said.

This wasnt a stranger situation, said Martin.

However, Baumgartner pushed back at any attempt to downplay the incident which caused a grand jury to lodge two felony charges, rape and malicious wounding, along with a misdemeanor charge of sexual battery.

This was a violent rape, she said.

Baumgartner said the victim promptly reached out to others and sought medical treatment the next morning. And while a formal report may not have been made until November, Baumgartner said the young mans interview with a police investigator, which his defense called cooperative, was actually damning.

He did confirm a great deal of the allegations, said Baumgartner, even down to confirming the bite wounds on the victims arm, which is the basis of the malicious wounding charge.

Baumgartner also informed the court that after Rodriguez-Contreras was questioned about the local charges he proceeded to involve himself in a Dec. 30 incident in New York City, where he now faces a trio of misdemeanor sex crime charges.

The fact that he would be in that position so soon after being questioned about a rape, said Baumgartner. We believe there is a continued risk to the commonwealth.

In granting home electronic incarceration, the judge added several conditions, including a ban on any female visitors to the Jefferson Ridge apartment complex, regardless of whether theyre visiting Rodriguez-Contreras or his roommate, a young man who sat in the courtroom gallery Friday with the defendants mother.

No children, no adults, no sisters, no one, declared Higgins, asking the roommate if he understood.

The roommate nodded, and Rodriguez-Contreras, dressed in a jail jumpsuit, was led out of the courtroom moments later.

The defense lawyer expressed hope for a prompt trial, but the date wont be set until a scheduling hearing known as docket call that will take place on the first day April.

Earlier during Fridays hearing, Rodriguez-Contreras won the right to spend public money on a private investigator to assist with his defense. The judge approved the firm of ODonnell & Pittman for up to 50 hours of research at $100 an hour, an expense that could reach $5,000. The firms principal, Brian ODonnell, is a former Charlottesville police officer.

Rodriguez-Contreras rape charge, which can bring a life sentence if convicted, is the most serious charge the defendant is facing. In New York, Rodriguez-Contreras faces three charges, the most serious of which, the forcible touching of intimate parts, carries a maximum sentence of one year behind bars. His next hearing in that case is set for April 24.
Angela Rayner today rejected claims of 'hypocrisy' after she was revealed to have made a 48,500 profit on her ex-council house thanks to the right-to-buy policy she now wants to reform.

The Labour deputy leader issued a series of posts on social media to push back at allegations she wants to 'pull up the ladder' to make it harder for other social housing tenants to benefit in the same way she did.

'Being able to buy my council house back in 2007 was a proud moment for me,' she wrote. 'I worked hard, saved and bought it by the book. I'm not ashamed.

'But I am angry that the Tories have since put the dream of a secure home out of reach for so many others.'

Ms Rayner stated that Labour's policy was to 'review the unfair additional market discounts of up to 60 per cent' on council home purchases following Tory changes to the policy in 2012.

She stressed this was introduced 'long after' she was able to exercise the right to buy herself at a 25 per cent discount under the old system, posting: 'That's not hypocrisy, it's the right thing to do.

Ms Rayner, who is also shadow housing secretary, has previously spoken out against those who get 'loads and loads of discount' when purchasing their properties.

The right-to-buy policy was first introduced by Margaret Thatcher and has long despised by parts of the Left.

Ms Rayner bought her own former council house in Stockport, Greater Manchester, with a 25 per cent discount in 2007  making the five-figure profit when she sold it at the market rate eight years later.

The purchase is revealed in a new book by Lord Ashcroft, which will be serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday next month.

The volume, titled 'Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography Of Angela Rayner', raises other questions about the outspoken MP's living arrangements.

Official documents seen by this newspaper show that she was registered on the electoral roll at the ex-council house in Vicarage Road for five years after she married Mark Rayner in 2010.

Despite them being newlyweds, her husband was listed elsewhere  a house in Lowndes Lane, just over a mile away, which had also been bought under the right-to-buy scheme.

Angela Rayner issued a series of posts on social media to reject claims she wants to 'pull up the ladder' to make it harder for other social housing tenants to benefit in the same way she did

The Labour deputy leader was accused of hypocrisy after it was revealed she made a 48,500 profit on her ex-council house thanks to the right-to-buy policy she now wants to reform

More mysteriously, when Ms Rayner re-registered the births of her two youngest children that same year, she gave her address as Lowndes Lane. It is not clear, therefore, where she was living after her marriage.

The confusion is significant because under electoral rules, voters are expected to register at their permanent home address. Breaches of the rules can lead to a prison sentence.

Also, anyone buying a right-to-buy property usually signs a form confirming that it is their only or principal home, to avoid the properties being used by profiteering private landlords.

Neighbours of both properties claimed Ms Rayner moved out of Vicarage Road in 2009 and into Lowndes Lane.

In her social media posts this morning, Ms Rayner stressed that Labour believes those living in council houses should have the chance to buy the social home they rent 'for a reasonable discount'.

'The problem with the right to buy was never ordinary peoples dreams of owning their own home - it was that council housing stock was sold off and then not replaced,' she added.

'Its helped fuel the housing crisis. Thats why a Labour Government will deliver the biggest boost to affordable, social and council housing for a generation.

'I want others to have the opportunity for a secure home that I had.'

Ms Rayner also went on the attack against Lord Ashcroft, saying he and 'his friends not only take an unhealthy interest in my family - but want to kick down at people like me who graft hard in tough circumstances to get on in life. I wont let them.'

Last night, a Labour spokesman said that the council house purchase had been 'done by the book'  and also hit out at 'Belize-based Tory billionaire Lord Ashcroft' for taking 'an unhealthy interest in Angela's family'.

The spokesman said: 'Angela, who had an older child from a previous relationship, and her husband maintained their existing residences before moving into their shared marital home.

'Their son was born just 23 weeks into her pregnancy and spent eight months in intensive care, requiring ongoing support from a wide network of friends and family, including Angela's brother... Beyond the smears, there is no suggestion any rules have been broken.'

Right-to-buy was one of the flagship policies of Mrs Thatcher's Government, boosting home ownership by allowing council tenants to purchase the property they rented for a generous discount depending on how long they had lived there.

Tenants must repay some of the discount if they sell within five years  a penalty Ms Rayner avoided by waiting eight years.

When Labour's No 2 was asked about the policy last year she said: 'I think we need to review the way right-to-buy works' adding that one area that needed to be looked at was 'how much of a discount' is on offer. She added: 'If someone's lived in their property for a long time, they've been paying rent and it's their home, then, yes, right-to-buy it. But that right isn't that you get loads, loads of discount and we can't replace the stock.'

Critics say that in some areas more than half the houses sold through the policy are owned by private landlords who can then charge more rent than the council.

Tory MP Jacob Young said: 'This is staggering hypocrisy from the deputy leader of the Labour Party. Having personally benefited from the right-to-buy discount, she now wants to pull up the ladder on other council tenants wanting to buy their home. Not only that, she appears to have moved into a second home only two years later, also bought under right-to-buy.

Confusion over the address of Ms Rayner, pictured with Keir Starmer, is significant because under electoral rules voters are expected to register at their permanent home address

The purchase of Ms Rayner's council house is revealed in a new book by Lord Ashcroft, which will be serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday next month

The 'feral' single teen mother who wanted to prove her critics wrong By Martin Beckford Known for her garish shoes and her equally colourful language, Angela Rayner was born in March 1980 to an unemployed father and a mother with severe mental health problems. She would go to school in Stockport without breakfast and have a bath once a week at her 'nana's' flat as she had proper heating. Bullied at school and forced to care for her mother at home, by her own admission she went 'feral': drinking after dark. She got pregnant at 15 after meeting a slightly older youth at a nightclub, and gave birth to her first child, a son called Ryan, just a few months after collecting her GCSEs. She moved into a council flat with the father, but he left her on her 18th birthday and she found herself a single teenage mother. However she has said the experience 'saved' her as she became determined to prove wrong those who said she would never amount to anything. She got a job as a care worker and began her journey into politics by becoming a Unison shop steward. It was through the trade union movement that she met future husband Mark Rayner, but they also faced difficulties as the first of their two sons, Charlie, was born at just 23 weeks and spent months in intensive care. Ms Rayner joined Labour in 2006 and won the Ashton-under-Lyne seat in the 2015 Election. A year later she became Shadow Education Secretary, and deputy leader in 2020. But her rapid rise has not been without controversy. Last year she was forced to repay a 139 expenses claim for a pair of Apple earphones and in 2021 she had to apologise for describing the Conservatives as 'scum', and had an angry row with a Cabinet Minister who mocked her as a 'champagne socialist' for attending the opera during a rail strike. She also has a prickly relationship with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. She became a grandmother aged 37. She split from her husband in 2020 and two years ago it emerged she was in a relationship with fellow Labour MP Sam Tarry. In a revealing interview she told how she had taken a 5,600 loan for cosmetic surgery because 'my boobs just looked like two boiled eggs in socks'. Advertisement

These revelations raise serious questions about her suitability for office.'

Ms Rayner was a tenant in the Victorian semi-detached house in Vicarage Road when she exercised her right-to-buy it from the council in January 2007.

Records show she took out a mortgage to pay 79,000 for the two-bedroom property, having been granted a 26,000 discount on its market value  a typical right-to-buy discount of one quarter. She sold it for 127,500 in March 2015, making a paper profit of 48,500. Seven weeks later she became an MP, winning the Ashton-under-Lyne seat at the General Election. At the time Ms Rayner bought the house she was Angela Bowen, a 26-year-old single mother of Ryan, aged nine. In 2008 she gave birth to Charles, by her then boyfriend Mark Rayner, with a third boy, James, following in 2009.

After she and Mark married in September 2010 she was registered on the electoral roll at Vicarage Road while her husband was listed at Lowndes Lane. He had bought the property in 1991, also through the right-to-buy scheme.

In October 2009, the electoral roll listed Angela Bowen at Vicarage Road while the Lowndes Lane address listed both Mr Rayner and Darren Bowen, the name of Ms Rayner's elder brother.

On their marriage certificate, Mr Rayner gave his residence as the Lowndes Lane address, while Ms Rayner gave Vicarage Road.

However, in October 2010, six weeks after her marriage, Ms Rayner re-registered the births of her two younger sons  and gave Lowndes Lane as her address, despite being on the electoral roll at Vicarage Road. She maintained this Vicarage Road listing for the next five years until she moved on to the register at Lowndes Lane.

But one resident, who has lived on Vicarage Road for 40 years, said: 'I have never once seen her on this street. I am a Labour supporter and Angela Rayner is very recognisable with her red hair. I don't remember seeing anyone who looked like her living on this street.'

Another neighbour, who has lived in the street for 17 years, said: 'How bizarre. As far as I know, she has never lived in that house.

'I know who she is since she is very recognisable, but I've never seen her here.

'Maybe she had lodgers or rented it out. I'm sure I would have known if she was a neighbour.'

Lord Ashcroft's book quotes another neighbour in Vicarage Road who says Ms Rayner moved out after her youngest two children were born and her brother Darren then moved in. And a neighbour in Lowndes Lane says Ms Rayner and her husband lived there with their children from the summer of 2009  three years before the five-year grace period on selling her right-to-buy house expired. 'I knew her to nod to and say hello, but we never met Darren,' says the neighbour.

Right-to-buy owners are usually allowed to rent out their property during their first five years of ownership, but are expected to notify the council. They also need their mortgage lender to agree.

Labour opposed Mrs Thatcher's right-to-buy policy when it was introduced, and when elected in 1997 reduced the discount available in many areas. But in 2012 the Tories increased that discount which Labour are now committed to 'review', branding it 'unfair'.

A spokesman for the Electoral Commission did not comment on Ms Rayner's personal circumstances, but said: 'Normally a person is resident at an address if it is their permanent home address. Whether someone is eligible to be on the register at an address is for the relevant electoral registration officer.

Jacob Young, Tory MP for Redcar, said: 'This is staggering hypocrisy from the deputy leader of the Labour Party.'

When asked about the policy last year, Ms Rayner said: 'We need to review the way right-to-buy works', adding that one area to be looked at was 'how much of a discount' is on offer

When Ms Rayner married Mark Rayner in 2010 they both gave different addresses. Mr Rayner claimed to live at Lowndes Lane while Ms Rayner claimed to live on Vicarage Road

'It is an offence to knowingly provide false information in the voter registration application form. If convicted, a person may be imprisoned for up to six months and/or face an unlimited fine. This would be a matter for police to investigate.'

Stockport Council did not respond to a request for comment.

The MoS asked Ms Rayner a series of detailed questions about her arrangements, but received only this reply from a Labour spokesperson: 'While Belize-based Tory billionaire Lord Ashcroft kicks out at those who graft to get on in life, Labour supports the principle that if you live in a council house and work hard you should have the opportunity to own your own home.

'We have committed to reviewing the unfair discounts introduced by the Conservatives in 2012, but Angela's purchase long predates that and was done by the book.

'While the Tories have shattered the dream of home ownership, Labour will deliver the biggest boost to affordable, social and council housing for a generation.

'Angela, who had an older child from a previous relationship, and her husband maintained their existing residences before moving into their shared marital home.

'Their son was born just 23 weeks into her pregnancy and spent eight months in intensive care, requiring ongoing support from a wide network of friends and family, including Angela's brother.

'It's clear that Lord Ashcroft takes an unhealthy interest in Angela's family, but beyond the smears, there is no suggestion any rules have been broken.'

Responding, Lord Ashcroft said that rather than answer the questions his new book raises, Labour 'has tried to divert attention from the story by seemingly attacking me without knowing anything about my background. For the record my roots are in Burnley in a two-up, two-down. The toilet was in the back yard and we used torn-up newspaper as toilet paper! My dad was an enlisted infantryman, my mother a nurse.

'Having cleared that up, don't voters deserve to know where Angela Rayner lived between 2007 and 2015? As the Electoral Commission says, the electoral roll is 'the key building block for our democracy'. She should appreciate that as a deputy PM-in-waiting.'
An Australian fisherman who claimed to have discovered the wing from missing flight MH370 has renewed calls for another search, almost 10 years on from the plane's disappearance.

The Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing made headlines around the world when it disappeared mid-flight with 239 people aboard on March 8, 2014.

Despite extensive multinational searches through the South Indian Ocean, authorities have been unable to recover any of the victims' remains.

Fisherman Kit Olver recently revealed a strange find in his fishnet sevenmonths after the plane disappeared which could prove that searchers were looking in the wrong place.

The 78-year-old told reporters late last year he found a large commercial airplane wing about 55km off the south-east coast of South Australia in September or October 2014 when the piece of debris became caught in the net of his fishing trawler.

Australian fisherman Kit Olver (pictured), 78, claims he found a wing off MH370 in late 2014

Underwater surveyor Peter Waring, who worked on the search for MH370 in 2015, believes Mr Olver's claim is plausible (pictured: a map of key MH370 events)

READ MORE: Why we may never know what happened to the MH370 Advertisement

Mr Olver told 60 Minutes, in an episode aired on Sunday night he was absolutely sure what he'd seen was the wing of MH370, but had to return it to the water due to its weight.

'It was the wing off a bloody aircraft,' he told the program.

'If it's not from MH370, what is it?'

He was adamant when asked if it occurred to him at the time that the wing likely belonged to MH370.

'Pretty much as soon as we saw it, we thought it. Of course we did,' he said.

'We got a pretty fair look at it.'

Mr Olver added that he reported his find to authorities at the time.

News of the discovery has reignited desperate calls from the victims' families for another search for the wreckage of MH370.

One of those calls is from Jacquie Gonzales, whose husband Patrick Gomes was the chief steward on the flight.

'I thought we would have answers way, way earlier,' she said through tears.

'He's not coming back so we have to accept it, but we still need to know exactly where he is and how it happened.'

Underwater surveyor Peter Waring, who was the deputy operations manager on the first search for MH370 before ended in 2017 believes the Malaysian government should fund the new search.

'For me, it would feel like finally we finished something that we started so long ago. It's always felt like this open book. I would love nothing more than to have it finish,' he said.

He also claimed that the mission was doomed from the start when the Australian Transport Safety Bureau was put in charge.

'The Australian government made a fundamental mistake in assuming a transportation investigation authority could run a search. And not just any search, but the largest search in human history,' Mr Waring told the program.

'The ATSB, despite being full of well-intentioned people, was not the right agency to be running the search.'

There are growing calls for the search for the missing MH370 plane (pictured in 20211) to be renewed

Mr Waring believes it's likely the original search parameters were outside of where the plane descended (pictured, an artist's impression of the MH370 crash)

According to Mr Waring, it's likely the original search parameters were outside of where the plane descended.

This is based on the theory someone was still in control of the plane when it crashed into the ocean.

Mr Waring believes Mr Olver's story is 'absolutely plausible and urged authorities to investigate the reported discovery.

'If there's someone at the controls all the way to the end, then the search area is very, very different than the one we actually looked at,' he said.

'That scenario, I don't believe, has ever adequately been considered - certainly wasn't by the Australian government.'

Aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey says the Malaysian government have not acted on his analysis which pinpoints the flight path of the MH370 before it plunged into the Indian Ocean, creating a search radius of 30km.

However, ATSB commissioner Angus Mitchell said that while there was the potential investigators weren't looking for the plane in the correct area, there was currently no 'new evidence to suggest that what we assessed at the time was incorrect'.

Asked whether the original search failed because search crews either 'missed the aircraft, or you were looking in the wrong spot', Mr Mitchell said it was 'probably a combination'.

'Some of the resolution of that search area was with a high degree of accuracy and we didn't find it there,' he said.

'So that would suggest that some of where we're looking wasn't the right spot.'

Jacquie Gonzales (pictured) lost her husband Patrick Gomes in the MH370 tragedy and has called for a new search

Mr Olver (pictured) is certain he pulled a commercial airplane wing up in his fishnets in 2014

While Mr Mitchell acknowledged that current investigations into the disappearance of the aircraft were 'beyond [the ATSB's] capabilities', he said future searches would be dependent on sign-off from the Australian government.

While it could 'co-sponsor a new search' and 'put some pressure' on the Malaysian government, he didn't believe a new investigation would be dependent on the foreign government's approval.

'We started something and I think most Australians would agree that once you start something, you should try and finish it,' he said.
Rishi Sunak has urged Western allies to be 'bolder' by sending billions of pounds in interest on frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine.

The Prime Minister also backed a bid to directly seize the assets themselves and send the funds to Kyiv.

His rallying call came as world leaders marked the two-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Sunak suggested greater efforts to make use of Kremlin-linked assets for the support of Kyiv would be a fitting tribute to Alexei Navalny.

The PM hailed the killed Russian opposition leader's long fight 'to hold the Russian state accountable for its actions'.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said Vladimir Putin - widely blamed for Mr Navalny's death - was 'right up there' as one of the biggest threats to world peace since Hitler.

He also warned Britain could see the Russian president try and kill again on UK streets following the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.

Rishi Sunak has urged Western allies to be 'bolder' by sending billions of pounds in interest on frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine

Denis Pushilin, head of the Russian-controlled Donetsk region, is pictured walking past damaged buildings after his forces completed their takeover of Avdiivka, eastern Ukraine

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said Vladimir Putin was 'right up there' as one of the biggest threats to world peace since Adolf Hitler

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Sunak urged America to continue its support of Ukraine amid a battle in the US Congress over a new $60billion aid package.

'We must be bolder with our military support  providing Ukraine with more long-range weapons, more drones and more munition,' the PM wrote.

'We must be bolder in hitting the Russian war economy. Our collective sanctions have deprived Russia of $400billion (315 billion) for their war effort  enough to finance the invasion for another four years.

'By going further we can shake Putin's belief that he can simply wait us out. That's why we have announced more sanctions on Russian energy.

'And we must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets.

'That starts with taking the billions in interest these assets are collecting and sending it to Ukraine instead.

'And then, with the G7, we must find lawful ways to seize the assets themselves and get those funds to Ukraine too.

'What a tribute that would be to Alexei Navalny's fight to hold the Russian state accountable for its actions.

'Finally, we must be bolder in firing up our own defence industries.'

The PM described how Ukrainian forces were suffering an 'increasingly tough' experience on the battlefield.

He also admitted the fall of the city of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, to Russian forces was a 'bitter blow'.

Mr Shapps said that Mr Putin 'has Navalny's blood on his hands' following the death of the 47-year-old this month at a remote Arctic penal colony known as 'Polar Wolf'.

He told the Sun on Sunday: 'Navalny should never have been in prison.

'His crime was standing up to an autocratic and now dictatorial Putin, who has a long history of bumping off his opponents.

'He does it at home and abroad. And the world must not waver or bend to that kind of squalid leadership.

'We know what happens when you do  you end up with the mess of the last century.'

The Defence Secretary said Britain could see another attempt to murder people in the UK by the Kremlin following the Novichok poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

'Look what happened in Salisbury. We've seen what Putin is capable of,' Mr Shapps added.

'His behaviour makes him a pariah. He thinks the more he does it the stronger he gets. But in the eyes of the world it makes him more desperate and weaker.'

Asked if Britain could see another attempted killing like the Salisbury poisonings by Mr Putin, he replied: 'We are always tracking and trying to prevent those things.

'But do I think he has intent? You have seen that. So, yes.'

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden today defended Mr Sunak's absence from Kyiv this weekend, despite other G7 leaders visiting the Ukrainian capital.

Canada's Justin Trudeau, Italy's Giorgia Meloni, Belgium's Alexander de Croo and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen all met with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

But Mr Dowden told Sky News of Mr Sunak's absence: 'You shouldnt read from that any diminution whatsoever in United Kingdom support for Ukraine.

'We are four square behind them as you saw with the presence of Rishi Sunak in Kyiv just a few weeks ago.'
The Ministry of Justice has been blasted for hosting a guest speaker who said in now-deleted social media posts that 'Jews need to get in the queue behind Muslims', in response to concerns about anti-Semitism.

Shreen Mahmood, an ambassador for World Hijab Day which encourages women to wear the head covering for a day, spoke at an event run by the department's Muslim staff network on February 6.

A Whitehall insider described her inclusion in the event as 'reprehensible', The Telegraph reports, after it emerged that she had made a series of tweets appearing to diminish Jewish people's experience of anti-Semitism.

In comments made in 2018, while the Labour party was gripped by an anti-Semitism scandal, Ms Mahmood seemingly downplayed the level of racism being faced by Jewish figures.

More recently, following the October 7 attacks on Israel, she allegedly retweeted a post that read: 'Under international law, Palestine, as occupied territory, has every right to defend itself just like Ukraine does.'

Shreen Mahmood, an ambassador for World Hijab Day, spoke at an event run by the department's Muslim staff network on February 6

She reportedly defended the post this weekend, saying: 'I believe it's a factual position, as enshrined in resolution by the UN General Assembly, which reaffirmed "...the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial domination, apartheid and foreign occupation by all available means".'

In August 2018, responding to concerns raised by a Jewish man regarding the threat he faced from anti-Semitism, Ms Mahmood said: 'Seriously, Jews need to get in the queue behind Muslims, who are visibly Muslims and ARE being attacked. Their rights to exist and express their faith in Britain are under constant scrutiny.

'Muslims are persecuted worldwide. Uyghurs, Rohingyans, Palestinians  the list goes on.'

In another post, made in April 2018, Ms Mahmood reportedly tweeted: 'If anyone mentions anti-Semitism tomorrow', accompanied with an image of someone rolling their eyes.

The Telegraph reports that the post was made on the same day as it emerged that Labour members had quit the party in droves amid a crisis over anti-Semitism.

The Ministry of Justice said in a statement that 'the organisers of the event were not aware of these social media posts'

Ms Mahmood told the newspaper that her comments were made 'in the context of the wall-to-wall coverage on anti-Semitism during the Labour Party anti-Semitism row.'

The speaker, who locked her X account after the comments surfaced, added that she had deleted the 2018 posts about anti-Semitism to 'ensure I do not upset my valued brothers and sisters from the Jewish community'.

She added: 'The two comments were never intended to take away from anti-Semitism and I regret how it may come across without context.'

The MoJ said in a statement: 'Ms Mahmood was invited as UK Ambassador for World Hijab Day to speak at an event designed to broaden staff understanding of the Muslim faith and it was made clear to her that these were the only parameters on which she was invited to speak.

'The organisers of the event were not aware of these social media posts.'

World Hijab Day has been contacted for comment.
Now art has been discovered and restored to former glory as it goes to auction

Spray-painted work painted over after owner had enough of artists fans arriving

An original work by Banksy that was painted over by a property owner is up for sale for 700,000 after being saved by art conservationists.

The world-famous street artist spray-painted Appache Attack helicopters with pink bows on them on the outside wall of an office building in Holywell Row, Shoreditch, east London, in 2006.

He signed the work, called Holywell Row Happy Helicopters, which was later officially documented in the seminel book Banksy Captured.

However, the former owner of the building became irritated after a security light was being constantly activated by Banksy fans who turned up to view it.

Ultimately, he had the artwork covered over in black paint and when he sold the premises to the current owner in 2007 he failed to mention that the hidden Banksy could be found on the wall.

The famous street artist spray-painted Appache Attack helicopters with pink bows on them on the outside wall of an office building in Holywell Row, Shoreditch, east London, in 2006

He signed the work, which has now been restored and framed called Holywell Row Happy Helicopters, which was later officially documented in the seminel book Banksy Captured

It was only when the new owner was flicking through another book on Banksy's art that he saw a photo of it on the very building wall that he owned.

He immediately rushed outside and could just about make out a part of a helicopter propeller that hadn't been painted over.

The vendor, who is not being named, commissioned a fine art conservator who specialised in restoring Old Master paintings to salvage the Banksy.

The layer of black paint and additional graffiti was tested so a bespoke cleaning solution could be made to strip it off without harming the precious art work hidden underneath.

The 3ins thick wall render was then carefully removed in eight rectangular sections and taken away.

After a year of conservation work, the work has been turned into a 6ft by 4ft mural which has been framed.

It is now coming up for auction with Anderson & Garland Auctioneers of Newcastle for 500,000 to 700,000.

The vendor, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: 'We were astounded to discover that our office building was the canvas for an artwork of this significance, and what was more, it had been painted over by the previous owner.

'We wanted to ensure the integrity of the piece so approached restoration specialists to fid the best way of preserving it for generations to come.

Banksy's famous mural 'Rage, The Flower Thrower (Love Is In The Air)' which is painted on a car wash in a suburb of Betlehem (Palestine)

Another of Banksy's most famous artworks is the Girl With Balloon (2004)

'To our knowledge no one had attempted to rescue a fragile work of high-profile street art like this before. As the piece had been painted on render, after several abortive attempts, the decision was made to remove it in sections by specialists.'

Chris Bull, of The Fine Art Restoration Company that worked on the project said: 'The conservation of Happy Choppers took over a year to complete.

'Previous overpaint and localised graffiti was also removed without disturbing Banky's original stencil.

'As these murals do not use a medium traditionally found in art, our conservators investigated the chemistry of the original pigments and developed new.
The National Weather Service forecasts more rain for the Los Angeles area on Monday, warning of more rock and mud slides

Some experts feel lots of work will need to be done to keep the properties safe from future storms

Cliffside mansions at risk of falling into the Pacific Ocean have been deemed safe to live in

Multimillion-dollar homes teetering on the edge of cliffside in Southern California have been deemed safe to live in, despite a landslide knocking out mud and debris along the structure.

Historic storms that inundated the Golden State earlier this month caused a landslide that put three mansions in Dana Point at risk of falling into the Pacific Ocean.

A huge portion of cliff fell at the foot of the priciest home in the complex, a $15.9 million, four-bedroom behemoth registered to a local radiologist, 82-year-old Lewis Bruggeman, records show.

'The house is fine, it's not threatened and it will not be red-tagged,' Bruggeman told KCAL. 'The city agrees that there's no major structural issue with the house.'

Dana Point City Manager Mike Killebrew said, 'Currently the city has confirmed that there is no imminent threat to that home.'

Multimillion-dollar homes teetering on the edge of cliffside in Southern California have been deemed safe to live in

Lewis Bruggeman (pictured), owner of the priciest home in the complex, a $15.9 million, four-bedroom behemoth, said: 'The house is fine, it's not threatened and it will not be red-tagged'

Historic storms that inundated the Golden State earlier this month caused a landslide that put three mansions in Dana Point at risk of falling into the Pacific Ocean

'The city's geotechnical engineer and a building sector went out to the site to assess the situation, as well as talk with the homeowner who owns the residence and slope where the failure occurred.'

California has been experiencing one of its wettest Februarys on record as flood, mudslides and storm warnings battered the state.

While officials said the Dana Point cliffside properties are safe to live in, some experts feel lots of work will need to be done to keep them safe from future storms.

'That's going to need major, major work to stabilize that property,' Kyle Tourje, executive vice president of Alpha Structural, a Los Angeles engineering firm, told The Washington Post.

'Were seeing more damage, and I think we will continue to see more significant damage. Between back-to-back years of heavy saturation, these houses, these properties  they just cant take this kind of beating.'

Bruggeman's residence is part of a trio of homes on the cliff in the affluent region. All three remain in their precarious place next to the Ocean Institute - another popular tourist attraction.

The missing cliff's face slipped next to a $12.8 million residence, one owned by 66-year-old contracting mogul Guy Yocom, that is set on a slightly lower perch and luckily stayed in place.

A third home, valued at $13million and belonging to local producer Marketta Karsikko-Gassel, 80, looked to be in better sorts, though at just a few feet away - and a few hundred feet above the sea - is still on unstable ground.

The Dana Point collapse is merely the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks.

The Dana Point collapse is merely the latest in a series of incidents that have besieged SoCal in recent weeks. Pictured: a collapse in San Clemente

There were landslides along oceanfront bluffs in San Clemente (pictured) a few miles away prompted closures of the town's beach trails, mostly in the north end of town

California has been experiencing one of its wettest Februarys on record as flood, mudslide and storm warnings battered the state

More rain is forecast for the area early this week. The National Weather Service predicts there is a chance of light rain and mountain snow starting in the afternoon Monday into early Tuesday

On that same day, 13 miles south along the Pacific Coast, part of a cul-de-sac on Avenida Columbo dropped about five feet following a mudslide that sent debris flying at least 150 feet below.

There were also landslides along oceanfront bluffs in San Clemente a few miles away, prompted closures of the town's beach trails.

Stairs leading down to the coastal path at Dije Court, El Portal and Lasuen Beach were added to the list of closed access points last week due to continuing instability of the area.

More rain is forecast for the area early this week. The National Weather Service predicts there is a chance of light rain and mountain snow starting in the afternoon Monday into early Tuesday.

They estimate total rainfalls of a quarter inch or less in the Los Angeles area and advise mud and rock slides will be possible.
Amanda Knox is due to make a sensational return to Italy, where she was initially found guilty of murder before being cleared, in order to fight a long standing slander charge.

Officials have set a date for the hearing of April 10 and she is expected to fly in from the United States to the Italian city of Florence for the proceedings.

It was at the city's court that she and former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito had their murder convictions reinstated in 2014, only for them to be eventually acquitted a year later.

In a long drawn out legal process, the pair were initially found guilty of the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher, who was found semi naked and with her throat cut in the bedroom of the house she shared with Knox.

But in 2011 Knox and Sollecito were cleared and released, only for a court in Florence to reinstate the verdicts before the couple were finally exonerated in 2015 by Italy's Court of Cassation in Rome.

Amanda Knox addresses a panel discussion titled "Trial by Media" during the Criminal Justice Festival at the Law University of Modena, northern Italy on June 15, 2019

Knox was given three years for slandering Lumumba (pictured centre in 2007) and was also ordered to pay him damages which have never been forthcoming

She and former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito had their murder convictions reinstated in 2014, only for them to be eventually acquitted a year later

Meredith Kercher was a British student on exchange from the University of Leeds

The murder of Leeds University student Meredith, 21, in the picturesque hilltop town of Perugia made headlines around the world and spawned several books, films and documentaries.

READ MORE - Amanda Knox posts bizarre Twitter thread wondering what would have happened had she been killed in Italy instead of Meredith Kercher Advertisement

Knox has since made a career as a commentator on unfair convictions and is also a media personality, while Sollecito has faded into the background and works in computers in Milan.

The new trial in April follows Knox's initial questioning by Italian police following the discovery of Meredith's body.

Knox is battling against her conviction for slander which saw her given a three year prison sentence after she falsely accused a bar owner of being involved in Meredith's murder.

During questioning Knox had told police that she 'remembered' Patrick Lumumba, the owner of a bar where she worked 'killing Meredith'.

As a result he was arrested and held in custody for two weeks before being released when customers came forward to copper bottom his alibi.

She was given three years for slandering Lumumba and was also ordered to pay him damages which have never been forthcoming.

As her sentence is considered 'served' by her time in prison her legal team have asked for the conviction to be overturned.

Meredith was found with her throat cut in the bedroom of the house she shared with Knox

The new trial in April follows Knox's initial questioning by Italian police following the discovery of Meredith's body

During questioning Knox had told police that she 'remembered' Patrick Lumumba, the owner of a bar where she worked 'killing Meredith'

Knox, now 36, and now a mother-of-two living in Seattle, will return to Italy. Pictured 2009

In October Knox's lawyers successfully applied for the case to be reheard after the European Court of Human Rights ruled there had been infringements by Italian police during her questioning.

These included not having a legal representative or translator present while she was being quizzed by detectives probing Meredith's murder.

Knox, now 36, and now a mother-of-two living in Seattle, also claimed she was slapped and hit by police during her questioning.

Speaking of the possibility of clearing her name for the slander conviction, she said: 'I'm not afraid of returning to Italy to defend myself, I was unprepared at 20 but after all these years I'm ready. And I want my children to see what it means to fight for the truth.'

Lumumba's lawyer Carlo Pacelli said: 'My client has never received an apology from Knox or the damaged he was awarded. As a result he was forced to leave Italy and set up home elsewhere and now he will have to go through the whole legal process again.'

Sollecito has faded into the background and works in computers in Milan

While Mr Lumumba said: 'My life was turned upside down that night by her lie. She knew I was innocent but those few words that night took my life away in a flash and changed everything for me.

'Now she wants to have a retrial and who knows maybe claim money from the Italian State and I have been left with nothing.'

Ivory Coast drifter Rudy Guede was convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting Meredith and sentenced to 16 years in 2008.

He has since been released but was recently ordered to wear a tag pending an allegation of rape filed by a former girlfriend.
Homeowner shot him in the leg with a rifle

An alleged intruder has been shot during a suspected break-in which went horribly wrong.

The man, 27, allegedly broke into a family home in the Mandurah suburb of Stake Hill, 72km south of Perth around 3am on Sunday.

A man aged in his 50s who lived at the Evergreen Loop home allegedly found the naked intruder hiding in a bedroom wardrobe and shot him in the leg with a rifle, according to police.

The injured intruder allegedly fled the scene but was later tracked down by Western Australian Police with the help of the dog squad.

He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where he remains under police guard.

An alleged intruder was shot in the leg during an home break-in. Pictured are police at the home on Sunday

The 27-year-old has been charged with aggravated burglary and remains under police guard in Royal Perth Hospital

It is understood that children were home at the time of the terrifying incident.

Detectives and forensic officers spent much of the day at the home Sunday, where they interviewed the occupants and seized the rifle as part of the ongoing investigation.

Police told Daily Mail Australia that the home owners are assisting officers with their inquiries.

The alleged intruder was charged with aggravated burglary.

He will appear in court at a later date.
The Pentagon determined the high-altitude balloon found on Friday and intercepted by the U.S. Military was 'likely' a 'hobby balloon.'

In a statement on Saturday, NORAD, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, said the mystery balloon was monitored from ground radars 'until it left U.S. airspace overnight.'

'The balloon was intercepted by NORAD fighters over Utah, who determined it was not maneuverable and did not present a threat to national security,' NORAD said.

'The FAA also determined the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety. NORAD remains in close coordination with the FAA to ensure flight safety.'

The newest discovery came after a Chinese spy balloon was found hovering over the U.S. and was eventually shot down over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina on February 4, 2023.

The US Military intercepted a balloon that was found hovering over Utah on Friday. The Pentagon said that it was not a threat. Pictured: File photo of China spy balloon over US in 2023

A similar balloon was found hovering over the US and was eventually shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Feb 4, 2023

That balloon entered U.S. airspace over Alaska in January and eventually flew over a U.S. military base in Montana before it was shot down by an F-22 Raptor off the coast of South Carolina.

In June, the Pentagon said it had 'intelligence collection capabilities,' but U.S. officials could not confirm if China collected information in real-time.

The discovery then provoked Beijing, which vowed countermeasures, adding yet another strain to a relationship already battered by trade practices, tariffs, Taiwan, human rights, and China's ties with Russia before President Vladimir Putin launched his Ukraine invasion.

Republicans criticized President Joe Biden for not having it downed sooner. The incident prompted a period when the military shot down other unidentified objects.

The earlier incident forced Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a planned trip to China while criticizing it as an 'irresponsible act.'

In June, the president said he didn't think 'the leadership knew where it was and knew what was in it and knew what was going on,' calling it 'more embarrassing than it was intentional.'

The balloon entered US airspace over Alaska in January and eventually flew over a U.S. military base in Montana before it was shot down

Last year's incident brought forth information on a series of sightings

China claimed the balloon was being used for weather-related issues, even though US intelligence agencies concluded that it was used for spying.

In November, President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco as the two has high-stakes conversations about the US-China relationship.

The two leaders met for four hours at a historic home outside of San Francisco. Their encounter began with a warm double-clasped handshake, and a declaration by Xi that the world is 'big enough' for both countries, despite years of rising rhetoric and provocations.

'The China-U.S. relationship has never been smooth sailing and always faces problems of one kind or another,' Xi said through a translator as he met Biden.

'Yet it has kept moving forward amidst twists and turns. For China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option. It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other, and conflict and confrontation has terrible consequences for both sides. Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed.'

Navy sailors recovered parts of the spy balloon after a US jet shot it down off the coast of South Carolina last year

In November, President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco as the two has high-stakes conversations about the US-China relationship

Biden said that it was 'paramount that we understand each other truly, leader-to-leader,' as he underlined the risks if the two countries failed to find a way to get along despite their differences.

'We have to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict and we have to manage responsibly that competition,' Biden told his counterpart. 'That's what the United States wants and what we intend to do. I believe that's also what the world wants from both of us.

Xi, 70, told the 80-year-old Biden, 'We shoulder heavy responsibilities for the world and for history.'

In recent news, former President Donald Trump said that he is planning on ramping up his trade war with China is he wins the 2024 election.

Meanwhile, Biden is planning to introduce a series of restrictions of his own that would block China from entering America's 'essential industries' such as electronics and the semiconductor industry, in an effort to stop American cash from flowing to China.
An Oklahoma state senator referred to the LGBTQ community as 'filth,' adding that his constituents would fight to keep them out of their 'religious' and 'moral' state.

Tom Woods, a 28-year-old Republican representing Senate District 4, appeared on a panel during the February 23 Legislative Update, sponsored by Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce.

Audience member Cathy Cott inquired about the state legislature's attempts to impede the rights of LGBTQ people before referring to the case of Nex Benedict.

Benedict, a 16-year-old a nonbinary teen who used they/them pronouns, died following an attack by other students at their high school earlier this month.

Woods conceded that his 'heart goes out' regarding the teen's death before continuing: 'We are a Republican state - supermajority - in the House and Senate. I represent a constituency that doesnt want that filth in Oklahoma.'

Tom Woods, a Republican representing Oklahoma's Senate District 4 (left), referred to the LGBTQ community as 'filth' during a February 23 legislative meeting

The senator (pictured) described Oklahoma as a 'religious' and 'moral' state and said his constituents would fight to keep 'that filth out'

His remarks drew scatted applause from the audience, while others appeared stunned.

'We are a religious state and we are going to fight it to keep that filth out of the state of Oklahoma because we are a Christian state - we are a moral state,' the senator said.

'We want to lower taxes and let people be able to live and work and go to the faith they choose. We are a Republican state and Im going to vote my district, and Im going to vote my values, and we dont want that in the state of Oklahoma.'

After an audio clip of the senator's remarks was published by the Tahlequah Daily Press, outrage exploded across the state.

Oklahoma Democrat Kody Macaulay, a House of Representatives candidate, posted a fuming message to X, formerly Twitter.

'With America fixated on Oklahoma, our GOP representatives keep showing their true colors,' he wrote. 'Tom Woods is a pathetic excuse for a human being who doesnt reflect the values of the Air Force that I served in.'

Woods took the oath of enlistment and joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard last June.

Sen. Kay Floyd, a Democrat representing District 46, issued her own statement.

'As elected officials, we are held to a higher standard,' Floyd said. 'Words have consequences, and this kind of conduct is unbecoming of an elected official. It is our duty to represent and protect everyone, and not make things worse.'

Woods' remarks came in response to a question by an audience member, who referenced the death of nonbinary Oklahoma teen Nex Benedict earlier this month

The Republican refused to back down from his stance after the meeting, reaffirming that he supported his constituency and 'we are tired of having that shoved down our throat at every turn'

Woods' remarks at Friday's meeting came only after Cott stood up and demanded an answer as to why the state legislature had 'an obsession with the LGBTQ citizens of Oklahoma...their personal lives and how they raise their children.'

'Is there a reason why you wont answer about the 50 bills targeting the LGBTQ community in the state of Oklahoma?' she asked. 'If you are ashamed of those bills, they shouldnt be there.'

State lawmakers have introduced 40 related bills for consideration in this legislative session, several of which outlaw gender-confirming care for minors.

Fourteen bills are aimed at changing school policies and ceding more control to parents and administrators.

Rep. David Hardin, a fellow Republican, was the first to answer Cotts question.

'How you live your life personally, thats between you and God,' Hardin said. 'I have no judgment in that, but what goes through our public schools  I will fall back on my faith.'

He added that he wanted children in Oklahoma public schools to 'have the right to grow up with that faith, and if they choose to change it, that's fine.'

Regarding Benedict's death, Hardin said he did not know of the case but promised to look into it.

Another panel member, Sen. Blake 'Cowboy' Stephens, said that as an educator, he had taken an oath to educate and not 'indoctrinate' students.

Nex Benedict, 16, relayed details of the attack to officers from a hospital bed

Benedict claimed the girls were picking on them and their friends, mocking their style of dress and the way they laughed, prompting them to walk over and 'pour water on them'

Woods did not back down from his stance after the meeting.

'I support my constituency, and like I said, were a Christian state, and we are tired of having that shoved down our throat at every turn,' he said, adding that he stood behind the 'Republican Party values.'

His remarks came just over two weeks after Nex Benedict's death, which followed a physical altercation in a bathroom at Owasso High School.

Police bodycam video taken the day of the altercation shows the teen alert and conscious while relaying details of the attack to an officer, which they said occurred after they sprayed three girls with water.

Benedict claimed the girls were picking on them and their friends, mocking their style of dress and the way they laughed.

'And so I went up there and I poured water on them, and then all three of them came at me,' Benedict told an officer from a hospital bed.

'They came at me. They grabbed on my hair. I grabbed onto them. I threw one of them into a paper towel dispenser and then they got my legs out from under me and got me on the ground.'

The teen added that the girls started beating them before they blacked out.

The teen died one day later after their mother reported shallow breathing and 'posturing' hands

A preliminary autopsy shows that Benedict's death did not occur as a result of trauma

When the teen's mother raised the possibility of pressing charges, the officer said the court would view the altercation as a mutual fight and one that Benedict initiated by throwing water.

Their mother called 911 the following day, after Benedict returned home. She told an operator that the teen's breathing was shallow and their hands were 'posturing,' referring to an involuntary movement indicative of abnormal brain activity.

Paramedics responding to the familys home performed CPR and rushed Benedict to the hospital, where they later died.

According to a preliminary autopsy, Benedict's death does not appear to be the result of injuries suffered in the fight.

'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,' the Owasso Police Department said in a statement.

The official autopsy report will be available at a later date.

On Friday night, a candlelit vigil was held in Huntington Beach to commemorate the teen's life.
Candi Royer told an Augusta County courtroom Thursday that she was no murderer, moments before she was sentenced to life in prison for the 2021 death of 3-year-old Khaleesi Cuthriell.

Royer has previously submitted a guilty plea to first-degree murder in September.

Her co-defendant and former boyfriend Travis Brown was sentenced to life plus an additional 20 years last week for aggravated murder and child abuse.

Just before her sentencing Thursday, Royer told the court that she took full responsibility for Cuthriells death, but didnt kill her. She described her life as one dominated by addiction and abuse, influencing how she raised the child left in her care.

The Staunton child was placed in the custody of Royer and Brown in October 2020 after the childs mother, Amanda Mullen, was put behind bars for a probation violation. Cuthriell is believed to have died sometime in January 2021. Her body was never recovered.

Judge Shannon Sherrill said finding the words to describe Cuthriells fate was difficult. Cell phone videos exhibited in court during Browns trial in August showed a healthy child rapidly deteriorating over a matter of months. In later videos, the emaciated child could barely stand, was missing clumps of hair and was covered in scratches and bruises. A medical expert testified at Browns trial that Cuthriell had been tortured and had suffered neglect and psychological abuse.

Sherrill called what happened cruel and barbaric. He said the death brought righteous indignation, even though the details and the exact cause of that death remain unclear.

Augusta County Commonwealths Attorney Tim Martin told Sherrill before the judge sentenced Royer Thursday, that the defendant was previously convicted of robbery. He said while justice could not be done in Cuthriells case, a life sentence is as close as we can come.

Outside of the Augusta County Courthouse in Staunton, Martin said the Child Protective Services division of Shenandoah Valley Social Services also had culpability.

They failed Khaleesi terribly, said Martin, referring to a lack of any follow-up after the child was placed in the custody of Brown and Royer in 2020. The child had been placed in the hands of a woman under home confinement and a man who was a 29-time felon, and nothing was done to stop it.

Its not at all right what Child Protective Services did, said Martin, who said the child might have lived had the agency done its job.

Royers defense attorney, Jessica Sherman-Stoltz, said the mitigating factors in her clients case included severe drug addiction and said there had been no reported abuse of Cuthriell by other people who saw her in the weeks before the suspected date of death.

The picture of Royer that emerged during the more than two hours of testimony and evidence Thursday was, at best, incomplete.

Royers sister, Angela Moore, said her sister is a mother of six children who was always good with kids. She described Royer as being loving and kind with children. I never saw her do anything mean to them, said Moore.

Royers criminal history dates back more than two decades and includes a robbery conviction in Waynesboro in 1999 that led to a 10-year sentence, with seven years and nine months suspended.

In the months before her arrest in September 2021, she and Brown embarked on a crime spree, stealing a vehicle as well as a boat on Lake Anna in Louisa County. The spree came to an end in a Pennsylvania motel in September 2021, when U.S. marshals and Pennsylvania State Police officers took the couple into custody.

The mystery of what was done with Cuthriells body remains. Martin said there are two people who know, referring to Brown and Royer.

No body has ever been found despite multiple searches of the Cattle Scales Road property outside Waynesboro where Brown and Royer lived with Cuthriell.

One piece of evidence presented in court Thursday, however, did point to her fate.

A wire hanger found on the Cattle Scales Road property contained hair belonging to Cuthriell on one side and DNA evidence belonging to Royer on the other.

Mullen, Cuthriells mother, testified Thursday she cant reconcile how Brown and Royer could do something so horrible when you have children of your own.

Since Cuthriells death, legislation has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly that would allow a childs relatives to step in when parents are detained, providing the same kind of social services support and funding that foster parents receive. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has expressed support for such measures. Groups, such as the Charlottesville-based Legal Aid Justice Center, oppose them, saying any such legislation would just create a hidden foster care system.
Labour's Lisa Nandy today revealed she carries a police alarm 'everywhere I go' amid growing fears for MPs' safety.

The shadow international development minister spoke of how she has 'security on my home' and now only sees constituents 'by appointment'.

She described this as a 'very typical experience' for MPs at a time when British politicians are receiving threats 'on multiple issues in multiple directions'.

Ms Nandy's disclosure of her personal security measures comes after it was revealed three unnamed female MPs have been given taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars.

Concerns about MPs' safety have grown amid widespread protests over the conflict in Gaza following the Hamas terror attacks and Israel's bloody military response.

Just Stop Oil has also been condemned for recently calling for MPs to be targeted by climate campaigners at their offices and homes.

The House of Commons descended into chaos on Wednesday night when Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle tore up convention over a vote on calls for a Middle East ceasefire.

He said his concern about the security of MPs had played a part in his decision to break with precedent on the issue.

Labour 's Lisa Nandy revealed she carries a police alarm 'everywhere I go' amid growing fears for MPs' safety

Concerns about MPs' safety have grown amid widespread protests over the conflict in Gaza following the Hamas terror attacks and Israel 's bloody military response

The Commons descended into chaos when the Speaker tore up convention over a vote on a Gaza ceasefire. He said his concern about the security of MPs had played a part in his decision

Speaking to Times Radio this morning, Ms Nandy described how she no longer does 'publicly advertised' constituency surgeries but does them 'by appointment' instead.

'We have security present. I carry a police alarm everywhere that I go. I have security on my home,' she said. 'And that is a really very typical experience for MPs.'

She added: 'I went to a party meeting just last week and had people gathering around the entrance of that, shouting "genocide" and accusing me and others of committing genocide.

'We've had a couple of senior members of the shadow cabinet surrounded by people as they were going about canvassing, being filmed on their phones, and very aggressive comments about their own families.

'There was the Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, who had people outside of his home. And that actually isn't an isolated incident - that's happened to lots of MPs.'

Ms Nandy insisted that MPs 'won't stand for' threats and intimidation directed at them.

'When you threaten and intimidate us, you're not just trying to us, you're trying to silence people out in the country as well,' the Wigan MP added.

'And that's unacceptable. And we won't stand for it.'

Ms Nandy had earlier told Sky News how she thought 'many MPs' will have been in touch with the Speaker to express 'concerns about their safety' in recent weeks.

She described how MPs were receiving threats 'on multiple issues in multiple directions'.

Just Stop Oil were recently condemned for urging climate campaigners to target Labour MPs in their homes as they protest against new oil and gas licences.

It came after a Mail On Sunday investigation revealed how activists are plotting to 'occupy' politicians' offices and homes ahead of the general election.

The Sunday Times today reported three female MPs, including from the Tories and Labour, have been given taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars.

The newspaper did not name them but said they had their security upgraded following a risk assessment carried out with support from the Ravec committee, which is responsible for the security of the Royal Family and senior politicians.

The MPs were revealed to have been provided with close protection by private companies, along with chauffeur-driven cars, which are normally provided only to senior members of the cabinet and the leader of the opposition.

The security of other MPs deemed at risk was also reported to be under review.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that Sir Lindsay has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to seek more funding for the scheme to protect politicians by installing security measures at MPs' homes and constituency offices.

The Commons chaos on Wednesday night came after Sir Lindsay broke with precedent on an Opposition Day motion on a Gaza ceasefire tabled by the SNP.

The Speaker's handling of events prompted a fierce backlash and sparked demands for him to resign, with 71 MPs now supporting a motion of no confidence in Sir Lindsay.

MPs are set to again debate calling for a ceasefire after the SNP said it would take up the Speaker's offer of a meaningful debate on a fresh ceasefire motion.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said his party will seek to 'move the Gaza ceasefire debate forward' by tabling a motion that will press Parliament to back 'concrete actions' to achieve an end to hostilities

Mr Sunak said MPs had been 'verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted' in recent weeks as protests were 'hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism'.

In a statement, Mr Sunak said: 'The events of recent weeks are but the latest in an emerging pattern which should not be tolerated.

'Legitimate protests hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism, elected representatives verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted, and antisemitic tropes beamed onto our own Parliament building.

'And in Parliament this week a very dangerous signal was sent that this sort of intimidation works. It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain.

'Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation or fall into polarised camps who hate each other.'
AT&T has finally offered compensation to customers affected by its network outage that downed at least 70,000 phones.

The company blamed the outage earlier this week on a 'software update glitch' as it expanded its network coverage.

However, there had been speculation that the issue may have been the result of a cyberattack, but the company said there were 'no indications of malicious activity'.

Both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI are investigating.

A $5 credit will be applied to the accounts of impacted customers, the company said on Saturday.

The company blamed the outage on a 'software update glitch' as it expended its network coverage

AT&T, headed by CEO John Stankey, has offered compensation to those effected by the outage

'We apologize for Thursday's network outage. We recognize the frustration this outage has caused and know we let many of our customers down,' AT&T said in a statement

'To help make it right, we're reaching out to potentially impacted customers and we're automatically applying a credit to their accounts.

They added: 'We want to reassure our customers of our commitment to reliably connect them  anytime and anywhere.'

The outage was first reported in the early hours of Thursday morning when customers were unable to make emergency calls, with multiple 911 centers reporting that users were unable to connect.

There were reports that other networks were affected, but this is thought to have been the result of failed attempts to place calls to AT&T numbers.

Cyber experts told DailyMail.com the issue had hallmarks of a cyberattack, potentially an attempt by hackers to blackmail the company or steal user data.

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile users reported early on Thursday that they are having network issues nationwide and in Canada

According to DownDetector , over 70,000 customers had been reporting outages on the AT&T network

The widespread nature, according to experts, seemed similar to 'a massive Distributed Denial of Services (DDOS) attack on core Internet infrastructure.'

Using DDOS, cybercriminals are attempting 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.

DDOS was deployed in 2016 when it knocked out major sites like Netflix, Twitter, Amazon and PayPal for hours.

But the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reported that 'the cause of the outage is unknown and there are no indications of malicious activity.'
A man described as a British tourist has died on a flight from the Falkland Islands to Chile.

The 59-year-old was on a plane heading to the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas with his wife operated by Chilean airline LATAM.

The drama happened yesterday before the aircraft landed during the nearly two-hour long flight. The dead man and his partner were going to take a second flight to country capital Santiago de Chile.

Chilean police from a homicide unit met the plane when it arrived at Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport.

Diego Diaz, Deputy Commissioner of the specialist unit based in Punta Arenas, told local press: 'On Saturday on the instructions of local prosecutors, detectives from the Punta Arenas Homicide Brigade went to Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport after a British tourist aged 59 died inside a plane while it was travelling from the Falkland Islands to Punta Arenas before his connecting flight to Santiago.'

The 59-year-old was on a plane heading to the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas with his wife operated by Chilean airline LATAM (file image)

The man flew from the Falkland Islands to the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas (file image)

Confirming officers had discovered nothing to suggest his death had been the result of a crime, he added: 'The man's wife was interviewed and said he had several underlying health issues.'

A post-mortem due to take place today or tomorrow is expected to confirm he died of natural causes.

The whereabout of the unnamed man's wife today was not immediately clear.
A Los Angeles squatter took over a Hollywood Hills mansion and created fake leases to rent out rooms to OnlyFans models who trashed the property, a distraught real estate agent claims.

Emily Randall Smith and her husband were checking on the seven-bedroom home in Hollywood Hills in January when they noticed something strange at the property.

'We walked up the property and the lock box was cut off. And there was a mailbox someone had ordered and put up. Like that was very weird, that was not here before,' Randall Smith told Fox 11.

The couple called the police when Randall Smith's husband walked to the side of the house and found a man sleeping inside.

Police were unable to get the man to leave, so the couple waited until he left on his own and called police again. That's when they learned the squatter has been renting out rooms to OnlyFans creators.

A Los Angeles squatter took over a Hollywood Hills mansion and created fake leases to rent out rooms to OnlyFans models who trashed the property

Real estate agent Emily Randall Smith and her husband were checking on the seven-bedroom home in Hollywood Hills in January when they noticed something strange at the property

Randall Smith said, 'There was poop and pee everywhere (pictured). They cut all the cords to all the security systems, they brought in new Wi-Fi. They were planning to sit there and move there'

'They knocked on the door and I guess some girl opened it and she ended up being an OnlyFans model and I guess the guy who had broken into the house had started this whole business and was renting these rooms out to the girls,' Randall Smith said.

Police escorted a woman and her dog out of the property, leaving piles of filth for Randall Smith and her husband to clean up - but no one was arrested.

'There was poop and pee everywhere. They cut all the cords to all the security systems, they brought in new Wi-Fi. They were planning to sit there and move there,' the real estate agent said.

'Its just a really eerie feeling to feel that somebody went into your property and tried to live there and make it their home.'

As California's homeless population continues to grow and soaring rent prices are pushing people out of their homes, real estate agents and landlords have said they are seeing increasing numbers of squatters.

Alex Capozzolo of SD House Guys, a California based homebuying company, said in a press release that squatters fears are pushing landlords to buy out of state properties.

'The squatter problem isnt getting better here. Weve had multiple rental properties have tenants stop paying and start squatting,' Capozzolo said.

'Its not always easy getting them out. This is why were beginning to make offers on properties outside of California.'

Police escorted a woman said to be an OnlyFans model and her dog out of the property, leaving piles of filth for Randall Smith and her husband to clean up - but no one was arrested

'We walked up the property and the lock box was cut off. And there was a mailbox someone had ordered and put up. Like that was very weird, that was not here before,' Randall Smith said

A vacant four-bed, 5,857 square foot, $4.3 million Beverly Hills home has become the site of almost daily raucous late-night parties hosted by a group of alleged squatters since October.

The parties often don't start until 2 am, run on for hours, and have resulted in assaults, fires and arrests.

The squatters even advertised rooms in the home on Booking.com for $300 per night and charge hundreds of party guests $75 entry fees at the gate.

Police raided the home in late January after they responded to reports of a home invasion and included suspects armed with knives.

All detainees were later released, and no charges were brought, according to KTLA.
And then there was none. Only a few months ago around a dozen hopefuls  no-hopers might be a more accurate description  were challenging Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.

After early contests in Iowa and New Hampshire the field was dramatically whittled down, leaving only one challenger still standing in Saturday's South Carolina primary  Nikki Haley.

She's proved to be almost as much of a no-hoper as the rest of them, losing by 20 points (60% to 40%)  and in her home state too, where she was a reasonably popular governor for six years.

Even candidates who eventually lose usually win their home states, as Senator Ted Cruz (Texas) and Governor John Kasich (Ohio) did against Trump in the 2016 race for the Republican nomination.

But not Haley.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (whom Haley supported) lost his state by 19 points to Trump in 2016 (about the same margin of defeat as Haley). That ended his presidential bid, as her own backyard has Haley's.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (whom Haley supported) lost his state by 19 points to Trump in 2016 (about the same margin of defeat as Haley). That ended his presidential bid, as her own backyard has Haley's. (Above) Haley speaks at primary night gathering in Charleston, South Carolina on February 24, 2024

Only a few months ago around a dozen hopefuls  no-hopers might be a more accurate description  were challenging Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.

It will probably be mid-March before Trump has chalked up a majority of the delegates going to the Republican convention in Milwaukee in July. But to all intents and purposes he already has the nomination in the bag, as sure as night follows day. After South Carolina, Haley has no possible path to victory.

Thus is America heading for the Donald Trump v Joe Biden re-match that most of the country doesn't want.

True, Haley is battling on, campaigning in Michigan (primary on Tuesday) within hours of going down to defeat in her home state and with enough funds to mount credible campaigns in the numerous states up for grabs on Super Tuesday (March 5th). Though to what purpose is not clear.

She has no hope of winning a single state or territory among the 21 in contention over the next 10 days.

South Carolina was projected for Trump within minutes of the polls closing. When Haley spoke from her Charleston HQ a few hours later she was less defiant than in New Hampshire when, far from giving a concession speech, she talked as if her defeat had been a victory, irritating Trump to no end in the process.

Now she was more subdued, the bravado gone, more stubborn than over-confident.

She claimed she'd 'keep fighting' to give people 'a choice', repeating her campaign mantra that Trump can't beat President Biden come the general election in November.

It will probably be mid-March before Trump has chalked up a majority of the delegates going to the Republican convention in Milwaukee in July.

Even candidates who eventually lose usually win their home states, as Senator Ted Cruz (Texas) and Governor John Kasich (Ohio) did against Trump in the 2016 race for the Republican nomination. But not Haley. (Above) Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz speaks at primary victory party in Houston on March 15, 2016

But Republicans have already made their choice and the Trump core now in control of the party disagrees with her: they believe he can and will beat Biden.

Some speculate that her continuing attacks on Trump and Biden are in preparation for a Third Party candidacy for president under, perhaps, the 'No Labels' umbrella.

Yet that is no route to the White House for her and it would destroy her forever in the Republican Party, something she's spent years cultivating.

I very much doubt she will choose to go down that rocky road.

Others see her as being a 'break glass in case of emergency' fallback, putting herself in pole position should something unforeseen  perhaps a criminal conviction and jail time  go seriously wrong for Trump.

But she already enjoys that status and staying in the primary race only annoys even non-MAGA Republican strategists who think the party should now be concentrating on how to beat Biden, not still squabbling among itself. After all, Republicans don't just want the White House. They want to take the Senate and expand their House majority too.

My guess is that she sees herself as the 'I told you so' candidate.

I'm assured she really does believe Trump can't beat Biden and when (as she thinks) he loses in November, she will be in a pivotal position to remold a post-Trump Republican Party in her more mainstream image, making her the natural leader to lead the Republicans into the 2028 presidential election when, after eight years of Democratic rule, 'time for a change' will be a powerful campaign slogan.

Others see Haley as being a 'break glass in case of emergency' fallback, putting herself in pole position should something unforeseen  perhaps a criminal conviction and jail time  go seriously wrong for Trump. (Above) Haley greets supporters in Charleston, South Carolina on February 24, 2024

Republicans have already made their choice and the Trump core now in control of the party disagrees with Haley: they believe he can and will beat Biden. (Above) Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham (far left) address supporters in Columbia, South Carolina on February 24, 2024.

That's all possible, though it's never popular with the party faithful to base a strategy on your own side going down to defeat.

It's also unclear the Republican Party will be any less 'MAGA' without Trump. The Trumpers are now in control of the party and will not easily relinquish their grip even when Trump has departed the stage.

Yet Trump is not quite the political juggernaut his primary victories indicate  or his core support claims. His 20-point victory was less than his 30-point lead in the final polls; and, as Haley said Saturday night, '40% [her share of the South Carolina vote] is not some tiny group'.

Though it was bolstered by independents and Democrats (Palmetto State voters, regardless of party affiliation, can cast a ballot in either the Republican or Democratic primaries), there is nevertheless a clear Republican rump that does not want Trump. Some polls have found that around 20% of GOP voters say they will not vote for him.

Trump claimed in his South Carolina victory speech, which had none of the venom of his post-New Hampshire remarks in which he ungraciously attacked Haley, that he had 'never seen the Republican Party more unified'.

That is untrue.

His cult following certainly controls the grassroots and even the party establishment now largely bows before him (Haley may have been governor of South Carolina but all the local party bigwigs backed Trump). However, there is clearly a minority of Republicans who resent Trump's domination.

Of course they could fall in line as the general election approaches, as recalcitrant party loyalists often do, and the prospect of beating Biden becomes the priority.

But it would take only about 5% of reluctant Republicans to stay at home or vote Democrat in the swing states and Trump could lose again to Biden.

Trump's problem is that events and actions which consolidate his base only further alienate those moderates and independents he needs for victory in November.

When courts fine him $450m for exaggerating his net worth to clinch bank loans to finance property deals or order him to pay $83m for defaming a woman who accused him of rape, the cult sees this as further proof of a deep-state conspiracy at the heart of the judicial system to do him down.

Moderate Republicans and independents wonder aloud if such a man should be allowed back into the Oval Office.

When Trump says he wouldn't mind Russia invading NATO allies not spending enough on defense or attacks Haley's husband for not being on the campaign trail with her (he's on military service in Africa), the core sees a straight-shooter who's not afraid to say things other politicians wouldn't dare.

Trump claimed in his South Carolina victory speech, which had none of the venom of his post-New Hampshire remarks in which he ungraciously attacked Haley, that he had 'never seen the Republican Party more unified'. (Above) Trump in New Hampshire on January 23, 2024

It would take only about 5% of reluctant Republicans to stay at home or vote Democrat in the swing states and Trump could lose again to Biden. (Above) President Biden at the White House on February 24, 2024

Others are more likely to conclude this is not a man fit to be commander in chief.

When Trump claims the reason black voters are drawn to him is because he has a prison mugshot and faces 91 criminal charges, the cult chuckles.

The rest of the country just shakes its head in disgust and astonishment at what it reveals of Trump's image of America's black population.

Trump will not change. He will continue to delight his fans and appall even those whose votes he needs to return to the White House. A criminal conviction between now and November might serve to galvanize the base but it could be fatal for his hopes of wooing more moderate voters.

But Donald Trump is a lucky man.

If he was up against any mainstream Democrat other than Joe Biden he would likely be a loser come November, as he was in 2020 and in the 2022 midterms (and in 2018 too).

Against Biden, Trump has the makings of a winner, no matter how much ugly baggage is strewn around him.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he wants Nikki Haley to stay in the 2024 presidential primary race because she is essentially a 'surrogate' for Democrats.

After an embarrassing defeat to Donald Trump in her home state primary in South Carolina on Saturday, former U.N. Amb. Haley said she is sticking to her word and staying in the race through Super Tuesday.

Newsom said there's no shot Haley can win the Republican nomination against Trump after the former president swept all four early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

He said it's 'beyond me' why Haley wants to stay in the race, but is OK with it because it helps Democrats for a fellow Republican to point out Trump's downfalls.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he wants Nikki Haley to stay in the Republican primary because she is the 'best surrogate' for Democrats making similar points about ex-President Donald Trump

Former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley said in her speech after Saturday's primary that she plans to keep her word and stay in the race even after crushing defeat in her home state of South Carolina

'She's making points I'm applauding every single day about his temperament, his capacity, his unraveling in real time,' Newsom told NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on Sunday.

He added: 'And so I think she's been incredibly effective, so I hope she stays in, personally.'

Republicans theorize that Democrats are planning to run Newsom on the 2024 primary ticket instead of President Joe Biden.

Newsom insists that he has no plans to make a bid for the White House this cycle  but Republicans aren't convinced that he won't step in at the Democrat's nominating convention over the summer.

He told NBC during his Sunday interview that any calls for him to jump in the race are just 'idle chatter' and a 'sideshow.'

'It's not even an interesting conversation,' he added, saying that he '100%' rules out the possibility.

A Republican candidate must amass 1,215 delegates in primary elections to earn the GOP nomination. After Saturday's election, Trump has 107 delegates and Haley has only 17. She lost by 20 percent to Trump in a state where she was once governor.

'I don't know why Democrats would want her out of the race,' Gov. Newsom said, insisting: 'She's one of our better surrogates.'

'I mean, she's defining the opposition of Trump incredibly effectively.'

Haley has repeatedly said she plans to stay in the race until Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states and American Samoa will hold their Republican primaries. There are 874 Republican delegates up for grabs on that single day of voting.

'I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president,' Haley said in her speech Saturday from Charleston.

'I'm a woman of my word. I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.'

Donald Trump delivered a victory speech just minutes after the polls in South Carolina closed at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday  and did not once mention Haley's name, instead shifting focus to the general election in November

The South Carolina primary race was called for Trump just seconds after polls closed at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.

Trump's victory speech from Columbia, South Carolina started at 7:02 p.m. and did not include a single mention of his remaining competitor as the former president shifts strategies from the primary to November's general election.

Trump said November 5, 2024 will be the 'most important date in history.'

'Nine months is a long time,' he noted of the remaining time before the presidential election later this year. 'I just wish we could do it quicker.'

'You know, in certain countries, you're allowed to call your election date,' he added. 'If I had the right to do it, I'd do it tomorrow. I'd say we're having an election tomorrow.'

Haley's loss on Saturday marks the first time a Republican candidate has lost their home state primary election in more than 50 years. The previous was Richard Nixon, who lost California's primary to Ronald Reagan  who was also from California.
They held a meeting with interim university president Alan Garber last month requesting to 'launch a transparent inquiry'

The alumni group was established after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel , which brought anti-Israel protesters out on the Harvard campus

The Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance is reportedly launching an audit of the university's classes to root out causes of anti-Semitism

Jewish Harvard alumni are reportedly planning an audit of the university's course offerings to root out what they believe is causing anti-Semitism to fester at the Ivy League.

Documents viewed by The Boston Globe show members of the Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance are launching an effort to intervene with university leadership who they say administrators have let the hatred grow undeterred.

The alumni group was established after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which brought anti-Israel protesters out on the Harvard campus and forced former President Claudine Gay to resign from her post after disastrous testimony to Congress that failed to condemn campus anti-Semitism.

Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance held a meeting with interim university president Alan Garber last month requesting to 'launch a transparent inquiry  to review and revise the objectives and practices' of Harvard's diversity, equity and inclusion offices.

'[W]e were very, very clear how frustrated our group was and the wide range of emotions from anger to disappointment,' the groups president Eric Fleiss said in a WhatsApp channel viewed by the Globe.

Members of the Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance are reportedly launching an effort to intervene with university leadership who they say have let anti-Semitism grow undeterred

The alumni group was established after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel , which brought anti-Israel protesters out on the Harvard campus

Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance held a meeting with interim university president Alan Garber last month requesting to '[l]aunch a transparent inquiry'

'We think it is fair to say that they clearly recognize they have a problem, and that it is part of/related to the broader issue on campus of free speech and institutional neutrality.'

The group wants Harvard to '[t]ake swift, concrete and public action' to discipline community members who are '[d]isrupting classes, occupying buildings and inciting violence.'

The audit is intended to identify sources of anti-Semitism within the universitys courses, events and programs.

In messages viewed by the Globe, some members said anti-Semitism has been inflamed by professors teaching worldviews that divide people into the 'oppressors' and 'oppressed.'

Members of the group expressed hope to identify sources of anti-Jewish sentiment on campus, according to messages that has been labeled as 'unendorsed' by the official Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance.

Dana Horn, a Harvard graduate who served on an anti-Semitism advisory board organized by former President Gay said in a messages viewed by the Globe: 'There are entire Harvard courses and programs and events that are premised on anti-Semitic lies.'

'The real question, in my opinion, is whether we can win the proverbial "war" at Harvard,' Antony Gordon, a 1990 Harvard Law School graduate said in the forum.

'[W]e were very, very clear how frustrated our group was and the wide range of emotions from anger to disappointment,' the groups president Eric Fleiss (pictured) said

The group wants Harvard to '[t]ake swift, concrete and public action' to discipline community members who are '[d]isrupting classes, occupying buildings and inciting violence'

Roni Brunn, a spokesperson for the alliance, said, 'I want to be clear that writing or insinuating that this group or its content represents HJAA is factually inaccurate.'

'Harvard holds a cherished place in our hearts, serving not just as an academic institution but as a symbol of excellence and truth.'

'We joined together for one simple reason  a shared concern about growing anti-Semitism at Harvard,' she said.

Last week, a faculty organization claiming to support Palestine posted an anti-Semitic cartoon depicting a Jewish person hanging black and Arab men on Instagram.

The cartoon dates back to 1967, according to Tablet Magazine and was originally published in a magazine linked to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

It was reposted on Instagram by the group 'Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine,' which was formed weeks after Gay's departure and features a letter signed by 112 members of staff.

The image includes a hand with a dollar sign inside a Star of David - the symbol of Judaism. Linking money to the religion is a deeply offensive anti-Semitic stereotype.

In January, Jewish Harvard students filed a lawsuit demanding tuition refunds from the pricey school over its 'abject failure' to protect them from rampant anti-Semitism.

Last week, a faculty organization claiming to support Palestine posted an anti-Semitic cartoon depicting a Jewish person hanging black and Arab men on Instagram

In January, Jewish Harvard students filed a lawsuit demanding tuition refunds from the pricey school over its 'abject failure' to protect them from rampant anti-Semitism

Six students led by Shabbos Kestenbaum are demanding that anti-Semitic professors be fired, and students who troll them disciplined.

In an interview with DailyMail.com, Kestenbaum - whose legal name is Alex - said he and the other students are also seeking reimbursements. For some students enrolled in the prestigious law school, that amounts to more than $75,000 a year.

He said Harvard 'hasn't lived up to its end of the deal' in protecting Jewish students from discrimination, and the families have a right to ask for their money back.

'Whatever the cost of tuition is per year at Harvard Law School, that should be refunded. Harvard has breached the contract it enters into with students.

Harvard has not lived up to its end of the bargain  Jews are excluded from the code of conduct that should protect them.'
She has learned to eat and sit up on her own following hours of physical therapy

The mother of two lost all four limbs after an infection turned septic

The Kentucky mother-of-two who lost all her limbs after a kidney stone infection turned them septic has been pictured beaming alongside her family members.

Cindy Mullins' life was turned upside down after she had a quadruple amputation - but her wounds are healing and she is 'feeling better,' her husband DJ announced.

Mullins, 41, sat in her wheelchair inside the Lincoln County High School gymnasium, clad head-to-toe in spirit wear and sporting a huge grin alongside her teenage son.

'Someone has been feeling better the last few days,' DJ wrote about his wife. 'All those prayers continue to be answered!'

An earlier photo from February 22 showed her dozing off in the car on the way to a doctor's appointment in Lexington with an update: 'Her arms are healing up nicely.'

Lucinda 'Cindy' Mullins, 41, appeared in photos alongside her son and husband as she recovers from a quadruple amputation

The Kentucky woman was said to be 'feeling better' as she beamed next to family members

Mullins lost both her legs and arms when an infected kidney stone led to sepsis and doctors were forced to amputate her limbs to save her life

Mullins lost both her legs and arms when she was hospitalized last month. She originally went into treatment for kidney stones, which are hard balls of salt and minerals that form inside the body.

The doctor left a temporary stent in her body following the surgery to prevent blockage. When she removed the stent at home as she was instructed, the mother of two began to feel ill and passed out.

She was hurried to a local hospital, where doctors discovered that an unremoved kidney stone had become infected.

Mullins was told that she had gone into septic shock, with her organs beginning to shut down. She was stabilized and placed on a ventilator before she was taken to a larger hospital in Lexington.

Over the next several days, while organ function began to improve, blisters broke out across her limbs. When she was conscious again, doctors told Mullins that she would survive the infection - at the expense of her hands and legs.

She underwent a series of amputations concluding with the removal of her lower arms in February.

'I just want people to know this is not a sad story,' Mullins told DailyMail.com earlier this month. 'This has a happy ending. I'm alive. I get to be with my children and my husband.'

Following hours of grueling physical therapy sessions, Mullins regained her ability to eat by herself using a specially adapted fork strapped to her arm.

She also learned to sit upright by herself and scroll on her phone using her nose.

'I just want people to know this is not a sad story,' Mullins told DailyMail.com. This has a happy ending. I'm alive. I get to be with my children and my husband'

The 41-year-old has learned to sit upright and eat using a special fork following hours of grueling physical therapy

A GoFundMe campaign has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover fees associated with prosthetics and home adjustments

Mullins is determined to get back to her job as a certified medical assistant as soon as she recovers

There are changes that the whole family must get used to. Each morning, DJ must dress and wrap his wife's wounds to keep them clean and watertight.

But the 41-year-old said she is hopeful and determined to get back to her job as a certified medical assistant at Bates, Miller & Sims, a local family practice.

The GoFundMe campaign was organized by a close friend, Heather Beshears, and has turned into a journal documenting Mullins' recovery.

'Cindy and her family will have to make a few adjustments to their home to accommodate Cindy's needs as well as her prosthetics and adaptive equipment,' Beshears wrote on the page.

'The costs of all of this can be overwhelming. We started this fundraiser because we want to support our hero Cindy, as well as her husband DJ who has been by her side every step of the way.'

The campaign has raked in over $300,000 so far.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom thinks President Joe Biden should absolutely debate Donald Trump in the 2024 general election campaign.

Biden has not yet committed to debate Trump this election cycle after the two went head-to-head multiple times in 2020.

But Newsom, a top surrogate for Biden, suggested that the president is prepared to go against his predecessor and that suggestions he won't is 'pure projection.'

Trump refused to participate in the primary debate this cycle because he claimed he was running as an incumbent and shouldn't have to go up against the B team.

Repeatedly his competitors called on him to participate, but he refused  claiming he would debate when the general election came around.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he thinks President Joe Biden should '100%' participate in debates with Donald Trump during the 2024 general election campaign

Trump and Biden debated a handful of times during the 2020 presidential campaign

WATCH: President Biden should 100% debate former President Donald Trump in the general election, Gov. @GavinNewsom (D-Calif.) says.



Newsom: Biden beat Trump in the prior debates. pic.twitter.com/MFS6BWlBFe  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) February 25, 2024

'Trump says he's ready to debate Biden right now. Should President Biden debate Trump?' NBC News' Meet the Press host asked Newsom on Sunday.

'Of course he's going to be,' Newsom said. 'Biden beat Trump in the prior debates. I look forward '

'So that's a yes?' Welker cut in.

'100%,' the governor replied, saying that suggestions Biden won't participate is 'pure projection on a guy who refused to debate in his own primary.'

'Back to my point: weakness masquerading as strength,' he noted of the former president.

Newsom is one of Biden's top surrogates, but Republicans theorize that Democrats are planning to run the California governor on the 2024 primary ticket instead of the current president.

Newsom insists that he has no plans to make a bid for the White House this cycle  but Republicans aren't convinced that he won't step in at the Democrat's nominating convention over the summer.

He told NBC that any calls for him to jump in the race are just 'idle chatter' and a 'sideshow.'

'It's not even an interesting conversation,' he added, saying that he '100%' rules out the possibility.

Trump delivered victory remarks in South Carolina's primary on Saturday and did not once mention Haley's name  instead shifting the focus to the general election

Meanwhile, after a commanding primary election victory in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump is pivoting his campaign's focus from the primary to November's general election.

During his victory speech, the former president encouraged his voters to focus on November 5, which he claims will be the 'most important date in history,' and did not once mention Haley's name.

Haley, for her part, said Saturday evening she is keeping to her word to stay in the race despite her crushing loss in her home state this weekend.

'I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president,' Haley said in her speech from Charleston.

'I'm a woman of my word. I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.'
Florida has become the center of a measles outbreak, with a seventh case of the virus confirmed on Saturday.

The case is a child under five, the youngest to be infected in the outbreak so far.

It is also the first case identified outside of Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, near Fort Lauderdale where the infection is known to have spread.

It comes as the decision by Florida's Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo to allow parents to decide whether to quarantine their children or let them keep going to school has come under increased scrutiny.

Florida currently has the largest outbreak in the US - and there have been 35 cases across fifteen states in 2024 alone.

Cases are 'not going to stay contained just to that one school, not when a virus is this infectious,' Dr. David Kimberlin, co-director of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham said.

Florida's Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo (pictured) to allow parents to decide whether to quarantine their children or let them keep going to school has come under increased scrutiny

Cold-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough and a runny or blocked nose, are usually the first signal of measles

'Measles is the most infectious pathogen in humans that we know of,' Kimberlin explained.

'It's like a heat-seeking missile. It will find the people who are not immune, and they're going to get sick.'

On Friday, Michigan registered its first measles case since 2019.

Pennsylvania registered nine measles cases in January, eight of them in Philadelphia.

However, is no further cases are reported there as of early next week, the outbreak will be declared over.

Unvaccinated people have a 90 percent chance of becoming infected if exposed, an issue of increasing importance as the uptake of vaccines such as the MMR are falling.

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.

Measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus that mostly affects children under five years old

The above shows year-by-year cases of measles in the United States

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.

Some 33 out of 1,067 students at the Manatee Bay Elementary 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.
Legislation to set up a state process to identify sources of high levels of PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, is moving swiftly through the General Assembly.

The bills from Democrats Sen. Jeremy McPike of Prince William and Del. Sam Rasoul of Roanoke, both passed their own chamber and are on track to get approval from the other, with nearly unanimous votes in their support. Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration is also backing the proposals.

There is a lot of hard work that went into this, and it is an excellent first step in addressing the threats of PFAS to public health in Virginia, said Betsy Nicholas, vice president of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a nonprofit group focused on water quality around the Potomac River.

However, she said, I would be remiss if I [didnt say] that we would like to see something a little bit stronger.

PFAS is an abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a set of chemicals used in numerous everyday and industrial products, including nonstick cookware, clothing and firefighting foam, because of their ability to repel water, stains and corrosion and squelch fires. The inability of many to break down naturally has given them the moniker forever chemicals and raised concerns about the long-term effects of human exposure to them.

Some studies have found exposure to PFAS can lead to reproductive problems, developmental effects or delays in children and increased chances of cancer and obesity, among other impacts.

In 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed rules requiring public water systems monitor for and report measurements of PFAS that exceed a threshold known as a maximum contaminant level.

McPike and Rasouls bills attempt to set up a state system for identifying the sources of PFAS in the event that concentrations exceed the federal maximum level of 4 parts per trillion. (For comparison, 1 part per trillion is the equivalent of one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.) A recent presentation from the Virginia Department of Health said that PFAS concentrations were above the maximum level in 18 of about 270 sites that were tested in Virginia.

This is good public policy trying to figure out how to employ our state environmental agency in a prioritized fashion so that we can have the most benefit on this complex problem, said Chris Pomeroy, an attorney and lobbyist for the Virginia Municipal Drinking Water Association, which represents water systems that serve about three in every four Virginians.

Under the bills, public water systems would report any exceedances of the maximum contaminant level to the Virginia Department of Health, which would then share that information with the Department of Environmental Quality.

DEQ would then identify potential sources of PFAS in the public water systems raw  or untreated  water and require those sources to report what chemicals and how much of them they are using. Based on that information, the agency would determine likely significant sources of PFAS, which would then be required to report discharges of the chemicals to the department on a quarterly basis.

The bill would then charge DEQ with identifying potential regulatory and nonregulatory options for addressing each significant source of PFAS, with the goal of protecting public health by reducing those sources and minimizing the costs to public water systems.

Exactly what is considered significant would be up to the agencys discretion, a decision that sparked some discussion in negotiations.

Where do you draw that line on significant PFAS chemicals? Pomeroy asked. We know these are ubiquitous. What sources are worth testing?

While earlier versions of McPikes bill would only have required medium and large water systems, defined as those serving 3,300 people or more, to report exceedances, the most recent versions apply to all systems regardless of size.

An advisory committee would also be created to review reports on significant sources. Nicholas said that provision gave her some comfort in knowing whether monitoring is effective.

Weve built in a few measures to put in some guardrails on DEQs review, said Nichols.

DEQ capacity

McPike and Rasouls bills are advancing alongside proposed budget amendments from both the House and Senate that would provide DEQ about $380,000 a year for three positions to identify and monitor PFAS.

The Virginia Department of Planning and Budget has noted that while DEQ has identified 18 watersheds that may require PFAS monitoring, that number could grow by an additional 70 to 80 watersheds, with the complexity of oversight varying from region to region.

DEQ does not have the expertise to carry out the requirements of the bill, the department wrote.

David Bulova, a Fairfax Democrat who chairs a House subcommittee that has been reviewing the bills, said he is eager to broaden Virginias efforts to address PFAS. However, he said, there are concerns over the states capacity.

We also have to be cognizant of the limited budget resources that DEQ might be able to bite off, said Bulova. So I hate the perfect to be the enemy of the good.

This story first appeared in the Virginia Mercury.
This is the shocking moment a violent brawl erupts outside a kebab shop in Bradford after Pro-Palestine protestors stormed the restaurant demanding the owner boycott Coca-Cola.

Salahudin Yusuf, owner of the popular Salah's on Leeds Road, was reportedly left needing stitches last night after being assaulted by members of a group comprising of up to 50 people, a close friend said.

Shocking footage captured during the confrontation shows a mob draped in Palestinian flags gathering outside the establishment before violent shouts begin to ring out.

The situation appears to escalate as a man comes out of the restaurant to confront the protestors.

A group then begin fighting as they attempt to hit the man with sticks and the wooden ends of their protest flags.

Panicked shouts of 'guys, guys calm down', can be heard in the background as the situation becomes even more hostile.

This is the shocking moment a violent brawl erupts outside a kebab shop in Bradford after Pro-Palestine protestors stormed the restaurant demanding the owner boycott Coca-Cola

Shocking footage captured during the confrontation shows a mob draped in Palestinian flags gathering outside the establishment

Salahudin Yusuf, owner of the popular Salah's on Leeds Road, was reportedly left needing stitches last night after being assaulted

Four men were reportedly arrested with reports of people assaulted and windows damaged.

Other footage appears to show the group shouting expletives and smashing the windows from outside the takeaway.

Mirban, a close friend of the owner, said the protestors gathered outside the shop to demand the boycott of Coca-Cola.

According to Friends Of Al-Aqsa, a UK-based NGO: 'Coca-Cola operates on stolen Palestinian land and is therefore directly profiting from Israel's illegal occupation and apartheid in Palestine.'

Mirban told the FtLion that the mob were saying on loud speaker that 'they sell coke from underneath the counter and we've warned them multiple times'.

He added how members from the rowdy crowd - who he believed to be 'predominantly Muslim' - were threatening to stop them selling the product.

This is despite Salah's reportedly removing the product 'two months ago', he said.

The friend described the group as 'cowards', made up of 'some women who shouted abuse'.

It was at this point that the 'men came forward and carried out an attack' like 'the cowards that they were'.

He said: 'He was defending his business. They've approached on to his business and carried out the assault outside the shop,' during which the 'owner was hurt and suffered stitches to his lip'.

The situation appears to escalate as a man comes out of the restaurant to confront the protestors

A group then begin fighting as they attempt to hit the man with sticks and the wooden ends of their protest flags

Panicked shouts of 'guys, guys calm down', can be heard in the background as the situation becomes even more hostile

Following the incident, four men - aged 30, 34, 46 and 50 - have been arrested, West Yorkshire Police confirmed.

They were arrested on suspicion of offences including criminal damage, assault, affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

Police have also said they will be maintaining an increased presence in the area.

A spokesperson for the force said: 'At 7.06pm last night, police were called to a disturbance at Salah's takeaway, in Leeds Road, Bradford, with reports of damage being caused to a window and people assaulted.

'Officers attended and established that the incident appeared to arise from a pro-Palestine protest involving a group outside the premises.

'Four men, aged 30, 34, 46 and 50, have been arrested in relation to the incident on suspicion of offences including criminal damage, assault, affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

'There were no serious injuries caused.

'Detectives from Bradford District CID are continuing to carry out enquiries into the incident.

'Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team have been made aware and will be maintaining an increased presence in the area and are keeping key community representatives updated.'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tonight revealed that 31,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed in the two years since Russia invaded his nation, and called on the West to continue providing military support.

In a rare admission of military losses, he said: 'Not 300,000 or 150,000, or whatever Putin and his lying circle are saying. But each of these losses is a great loss for us.'

Both sides are believed to minimise deaths of their own troops, and exaggerate the deaths of the other side's troops. In December, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said 383,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed or injured.

A declassified US intelligence reported shared with Congress claimed that 315,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or injured as of December 2023 - nearly 90% of the 360,000 soldiers in Putin's army before the invasion.

In May last year, a Telegram affiliated with the Wagner Group, a private military company that provided military support to Russia's invading forces, claimed that 22,000 mercenaries had been killed alongside Russian troops.

Ukraine, meanwhile, was understood to have lost 30,000 troops by November 2023, according to analysis of open sources by a civic group.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) tonight revealed that 31,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed in the two years since Russia invaded his nation

Zelensky also called on Western allies to provide more military aid to Ukraine, saying that victory against Russia depends 'on the Western world'

Zelensky also called on Western allies to provide more military aid to Ukraine, saying that victory against Russia depends 'on the Western world.'

'Whether Ukraine will lose, whether it will be very difficult for us and whether there will be a large number of casualties depends on you, on our partners, on the Western world.'

He added that he was 'sure' the US would approve a critical package of military aid, telling the press conference in Kyiv: 'There is hope for Congress, and I am sure that it is going to be positive, otherwise I do not understand the world we will start to live in.'

The aid package, worth $61 billion, has been blocked amid resistance from Republicans.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Congressional Democrats were preparing to force a vote through after Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not be pressured into passing the bill, despite it already passing through the Senate.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian troops were forced to withdraw from the frontline town of Avdiivka

Zelensky blamed the failure on the counteroffensive on an alleged leak to Russian forces

Ukraine's planned counteroffensive resulted in little progress

Ukrainian medical volunteers of the Hospitaliers Battalion offload from their medical bus Ukrainian soldiers wounded in the critical battle for Avdiivka

Much of the hesitancy stems from the little progress Ukraine has made in the past year, as its planned counteroffensive resulted in little progress.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian troops were forced to withdraw from the frontline town of Avdiivka, handing Russia its first territorial gain in almost a year.

Zelensky blamed the failure on the counteroffensive on an alleged leak to Russian forces, but provided no evidence to back this claim up.

'Our counteroffensive action plans were on the Kremlin's taroble before the counteroffensive actions began,' Zelensky said, adding that his military chiefs were preparing 'several plans' for this year's battlefield strategy 'because of information leaks'.

Asked if he would be willing to talk to Putin, Zelensky said:

'Can you talk to a deaf person? Can you talk to a man who kills his opponents?'

Putin's main opponent Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison this month.

'He sees himself (in power) by 2030, we would like to finish with him sooner,' Zelensky added, mocking an upcoming presidential election in Russia that is likely to extend Putin's long rule until 2030.
Survivors of Hamas' horrific October 7 attack on Israel have told Londoners that life will 'never be the same' after the atrocity.

Bar Vilker, who was an attendee at the Nova music festival, told the No to Terror rally in London's Tavistock Square that he had lost friends and family in the attacks.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Vilker said: 'On October 7, the life I so desperately love was almost cut short because of terrorism. 'I lost friends, family and any innocence left inside of me - I will never be the same.'

Hila Fakliro, who also attended the Nova festival, said she had lost six of her friends in the Hamas attacks.

Ms Fakliro told the rally: 'We need to stand against terror. We need to stand against hate. We need to stand against Hamas.'

Bar Vikle (left) and Hila Falkiro (right) ahead of speaking at the No to Terror rally in London's Tavistock Square

People attending the No to Terror rally at Tavistock Square, central London, on Sunday

Protesters in London hold up posters of those kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks

Meanwhile a British Palestinian activist speaking at the rally revealed he had been disowned by family members and had received death threats.

John Aziz said rhetoric during the war in Gaza was becoming 'irreconcilable', adding that this could lead to 'more terrorism and more destruction and death'.

He said: 'I've received death threats and taunts of people calling me a traitor and people who I know disowning me.

'It's a serious issue because there's a lot of intimidation and there's a sense that if you speak out for peace on this issue, then you're somehow undermining the Palestinian cause.

'I don't want to do that - I want there to be a successful, viable, contiguous Palestinian state where Palestinians can live in peace with their Israel neighbours.'

Mr Aziz, who was born and raised in the UK, added: 'I'm willing to speak to Israelis and spread the message of peace together, so that eventually maybe our governments will listen to each other.'

He said peace was the 'most logical outcome' to the conflict: 'People want their kids to grow up to be normal people and not fighting wars and killing each other.

'If governments get in the way of us having peace then ordinary people have to speak out like me.'

Many of those at the rally carried Israel flags and chants of 'bring them home' were repeated as demonstrators demanded the hostages were released.

Protesters beamed the phrases 'ceasefire now', 'stop bombing Gaza', 'end the war now', and 'stop war' onto Big Ben. Pictured: 'Stop Bombs' projected onto Big Ben yesterday

Pro-Palestine protesters shut down Tower Bridge on Friday as they demanded a ceasefire in Gaza

Mr Vilker said the two had been travelling around university campuses in the UK over the last week on behalf of the Union of Jewish Students and the Jewish Agency to 'show Jewish students around the country that the future can be brighter'.

He added: 'Just like I was able to become stronger after such a terrible event, if we as a community choose to seize this opportunity with two hands to make change correctly, we can show that there is no power stronger than the one of a strong united community.'

The rally was organised by the 7/10 Human Chain Project, which is one of the main organisers of such events that have taken place in the UK since October 7.

The harrowing speeches come as tensions continue to rise in the UK, with the fury over the Israel-Gaza conflict creating chaos in the House of Commons.

The upcoming by-election in Rochdale has been dubbed a referendum on Gaza by commentators and candidate George Galloway despite locals raising concerns closer to home about the cost of living and state of the twon.

On Friday night, Conservative and Labour fundraiser events targeted by pro-Palestine campaigners stormed venues in Stoke and Oxford to confront Tory councillors and Labour MP Anneliese Dodds.

Meanwhile in London thousands took to the street with Tower Bridge being shut down and protesters setting off flares chanting 'Free Palestine'.

Slogans were projected on Big Ben on Wednesday night while Parliament came to a standstill as the Speaker allowed a vote on a Labour motion for an 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire' in Gaza.

Today Prime Minister Rishi Sunak slammed the scenes in Westminster saying they sent 'a very dangerous signal' that 'intimidation works', which he said is 'toxic for our society and our politics'.

Mr Sunak added that legitimate protests had been 'hijacked by extremists,' and that elected representatives had been 'verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted.'
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warned progressives in her state against casting an 'uncommitted' protest ballot instead of voting for President Joe Biden in the state's primary next week.

Democrats and pro-Palestinian activists in Michigan are mobilizing to cast their ballot against Biden to protest his backing of Israel in its war with Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza.

Michigan will hold the next presidential primary contest on Tuesday, February 27.

'I just want to make the case, though, that it's important not to lose sight of the fact that any vote that's not cast for Joe Biden supports a second Trump term,' Whitmer told CNN State of the Union host Dana Bash on Sunday.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) pushed back on efforts by progressives in her state to cast their primary election ballot for 'uncommitted' rather than vote for President Joe Biden

Progressives are angry with how Biden has handled the situation in Israel during its war with Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza

Gov. @gretchenwhitmer tells @DanaBashCNN I'm not sure what we're going to see on Tuesday amid a push by some Democrats to vote uncommitted in Michigans primary to protest President Bidens handling of the war in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/bQF7ugXnOh  State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 25, 2024

'A second Trump term would be devastating, not just on fundamental rights, not just on our democracy here at home, but also when it comes to foreign policy,' the Democratic governor continued. 'This was a man that proposed a Muslim ban. This is, I think, a very high-stakes moment.'

'I'm encouraging people to cast an affirmative vote for President Biden.'

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who is Palestinian-American and part of the progressive squad in Congress, is backing the protest ballot effort against the president. She was at an early voting site last weekend promoting the initiative.

Michigan held its first-ever early in-person voting this primary cycle  and since the start of early voting last Saturday more than 500,000 Michigan voters have cast their ballots. The early voting period ends on Sunday, February 25.

While Biden is the de facto Democratic nominee, Michigan voters want to send a message that they want the White House to change messaging on its policy in Israel and Palestinian enclaves in Gaza and the West Bank.

'I understand the pain that people are feeling and I will continue to build bridges with folks in all of these communities because they're all important to me, they're all important to Michigan and, I know, they're all important to President Biden, as well,' Whitmer said on Sunday.

Michigan held two weekends of early in-person voting for the 2024 presidential primary. Early voting in the state ends on Sunday, Feb. 25 ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Feb 27

The governor is one of Biden's top surrogates and is promoting his reelection in her state, which is a critical swing state in the 2024 general election.

In 2016, Michigan voted red for Trump by a tiny 0.3 percent margin. And in 2020 the state flipped blue for Biden by a nearly 3 percent gap.

Trump is looking to bring the state back to red in the 2024 election  align with other swing states that could determine who is sitting behind the Resolute Desk in January 2025.
A man has died after he was seriously assaulted in his Swindon home.

Wilshire Police have since arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

The police said the man in his 50s was attacked at a property in Westbourne Court, Swindon shortly before 1am today.

Despite treatment by emergency services he was declared dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of murder by Wiltshire Police and remains in custody.

Westbourne Court in the Swindon suburb of Rodbourne. Wiltshire Police said a man in his 50s was attacked at a property in Westbourne Court shortly before 1am today (Google Maps)

A map showing the location of Westbourne Court in relation to Swindon town. Despite treatment by emergency services the man in his 50s was declared dead at the scene. Wiltshire Police have arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of murder who remains in custody

A cordon remains in place at the address while officers investigate and residents have been told to expect an increased police presence in the area. Although they are reassured there is no wider threat to the public.

Detective Superintendent Chris Feerick said: 'This is a serious incident which has sadly resulted in a man losing his life.

'I can confirm that we have arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of murder and he has been taken to custody to be questioned.

'I appreciate the community concern this incident will cause but please be reassured that at no point was there a threat to the wider public.

'Local residents will see a significant police presence in the area today.

'If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to speak to one of our officers.'
Tributes have been paid to the long-serving Conservative MP Lord Cormack, who has died aged 84.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby described him, full name Patrick Thomas Cormack, as a 'traditionalist' and 'old-fashioned' politician.

Sir Patrick served as an MP from 1970 to 2010 and was elected 10 times, most recently for the constituency of South Staffordshire from 1997 to 2010.

He also served as shadow minister for constitutional affairs and shadow deputy leader for the House of Commons.

After standing down in 2010, he has served as a life peer in the House of Lords.

Tributes have been paid to the long-serving Conservative MP Lord Cormack, who has died aged 84. Pictured in 2005

After standing down from the House of Commons in 2010, he has served as a life peer in the House of Lords

Sir Patrick served as an MP from 1970 to 2010 and was elected 10 times, most recently for the constituency of South Staffordshire from 1997 to 2010. Pictured in 1995

Sir Patrick became a Freeman of the City of London in 1980 and was awarded a knighthood in February 1995.

Mr Welby said: 'Patrick, Lord Cormack was a vivid character whose decades of public service were driven by his Christian service.

'As an MP for 40 years from 1970, he was a faithful and dedicated member for his constituency. In 2010 he became a member of the House of Lords. His carefully timed and well-judged interventions spoke to his strong Christian faith guiding his values and prompting his interventions.

'Patrick was a traditionalist, an old-fashioned Conservative who in the Lords was willing to criticise his own party when it acted against Christian principles. But he was not tribal.

'He disagreed with many things done by bishops and archbishops, but remained a friend, an adviser and someone to whom we could all turn.

'He was unfailingly kind and courteous and his and his beloved wife Mary's home in Lincoln was a place of generous hospitality.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby described Lord Cormack as a 'vivid character whose decades of public service were driven by his Christian service'

'My prayers are with his wife Mary, sons Charles and Richard and their wider family. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.'

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Rev Stephen Conway, said: 'I have counted Patrick Cormack as a dear friend and unstinting supporter during my time as Bishop of Lincoln. He will be greatly missed for his service to the arts and heritage across Greater Lincolnshire and beyond.

'His passion, energy, imagination and deep determination were fuelled by a profound Christian faith, lived out through his commitment to the worship and life of Lincoln Cathedral, as a former churchwarden of St Margaret's, Westminster, and in his wider contribution to parish life not least through the cadences of the Book of Common Prayer to which he was devoted.

'I have learned from him as a fine parliamentarian who was glad to proclaim his Christian faith and go against the tide for the sake of truth. This was equally the case for his service in Parliament, on its Ecclesiastical Committee and during his time on General Synod.

'Our loss is heaven's gain. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.'

A number of people and organisations also paid tribute to Lord Cormack on social media.

Richard Chapman, the Head of Parliamentary Affairs at the Church of England wrote on X/Twitter: 'Farewell Lord Cormack. True Parliamentarian, devoted Anglican & critical friend.

'Ecclesiastical Committee member of nearly 40 years, VP of the National Churches Trust, Deputy High Steward of Lincoln Cathedral, Life President of The House Magazine. Rest in peace & rise in glory.

'And much, much more besides. A very full life of public service. It's hard to think of someone who understood, articulated & embodied the value of the Church/State relationship more than Lord Cormack did. A real pleasure to have worked with him these past nearly 20 years.'
Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel will see a 'total victory' once the IDF begins its invasion of Rafah, the last refuge of the estimated 1.4 million Palestinians who have been forced down south.

He said a full invasion of Gaza's third city was inevitable, regardless of whether Israel reaches a ceasefire deal with Hamas or not.

'If we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway.

'It has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach - not months away, weeks away, once we begin the operation.'

Netanyahu's comments are a step-up in rhetoric with regard to its military plan for the Gaza Strip, which has been heavily condemned by much of the world for being indiscriminate, which has killed nearly 30,000 people, most of them women and children, through a devastating bombing and missile campaign following Hamas' sickening incursion on October 7.

Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel will see a 'total victory' once the IDF begins its invasion of Rafah

Demolished buildings, destroyed by Israeli airstrike, as the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from some areas of Khan Younis

Rafah is the last refuge of the estimated 1.4 million Palestinians who have been forced down south

Israel previously warned that it would begin its invasion of Rafah on March 10, the start of Ramadan , unless Hamas returned the roughly 130 hostages that remain hidden in Gaza

Israel previously warned that it would begin its invasion of Rafah on March 10, the start of Ramadan, unless Hamas returned the roughly 130 hostages that remain hidden in Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts to get Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire deal are ongoing, and negotiators from Egypt, Qatar and the US met in Doha, Qatar's capital, to work on the deal.

US representatives said the talks produced 'an understanding' towards a ceasefire and hostage release

A senior official from Egypt has said the draft ceasefire deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, minors and older people.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, said the proposed six-week pause in fighting would include allowing hundreds of trucks to bring desperately needed aid into Gaza every day, including the north.

Israel has killed nearly 30,000 people, most of them women and children, through a devastating bombing and missile campaign following Hamas' incursion on October 7

A donkey-pulled car passes in front of the Al-Faruq mosque, levelled by Israeli bombardment in Rafah

Palestinians wait with empty water jerry cans to refill them with clean water

He said both sides agreed to continue negotiations during the pause for further releases and a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas says it has not been involved in the latest proposal developed by the US, Egypt and Qatar, but the reported outline largely matches its earlier proposal for the first phase of a truce.

Hamas has said it will not release all the remaining hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraws its forces from the territory, and is demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including senior militants - conditions Mr Netanyahu has rejected.

As diplomats meet in Doha, starving Palestinians have been pushed further south towards Rafah, which have sparked condemnation from the international community, and questions over where Palestinians will go when Israel begins attacking the tent city.

Neighbouring Egypt has kept its border closed to a mass refugee flight, arguing it will not help facilitate any Israeli operation to push Palestinians out of Gaza.

But satellite images show it has also built a walled enclosure next to Gaza, in an apparent effort to brace for the arrival of large numbers of refugees.

Inside Israel, public pressure has grown on Netanyahu - both from the desperate families of hostages demanding swifter action, and from a resurgent anti-government protest movement

Smoke rises during an Israeli ground operation in Khan Younis, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Gaza's humanitarian crisis has spiralled, with the UN World Food Programme reporting 'unprecedented levels of desperation'

Inside Israel, public pressure has grown on Netanyahu - both from the desperate families of hostages demanding swifter action, and from a resurgent anti-government protest movement.

Gaza's humanitarian crisis has spiralled, with the UN World Food Programme reporting 'unprecedented levels of desperation'.

Red Crescent volunteer Ezzedin Halaweh said food shortages in the north were 'leading to severe health issues, especially among children'.

One father told AFP that he had to try and feed his one-year-old daughter bread made from animal feed, as he could not find any milk.

She was unable to digest the food. He said: 'Our only hope is God, there is nobody else to help.'
He admitted to her murder as part of a plea deal for separate charges related to the 2010 killing of 21-year-old Stephany Flores

Natalee Holloway's killer, Joran van der Sloot, has been having sex with three women while being held in a Peruvian prison.

Van der Sloot, 36, confessed to the 2005 murder of high school senior Natalee Holloway, 18, in October as part of a plea deal for a different murder.

A spokesperson for Peru's National Penitentiary Institute told the New York Post that the Dutch murderer 'was approved for conjugal visits.'

'He has the same rights as any other prisoner,' they added. Under Peruvian law, prisoners are allowed to have private visits for sex with partners.

A friend of his, Cas Arends, went on to call van der Sloot a 'player' who 'women have always been attracted to.'

The convicted murderer admitted to killing Holloway - years after she went missing sparking an international cold-case mystery - after she rebuffed his advances by kneeing him in the crotch outside of a bar in Aruba more than 15 years ago.

Convicted murderer Joran van der Sloot, 36, has been having sex with three women while being held in Peru's National Penitentiary Institute

Van der Sloot confessed to the murder of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway who disappeared in 2005 while on a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean island of Aruba with friends

The convicted murderer admitted to killing Holloway after she rebuffed his advances by kneeing him in the crotch outside of a bar in Aruba more than 15 years ago

Van der Sloot was sentenced to 28 years in prison for beating, strangling and suffocating Stephany Flores in 2010 in Peru. That sentence began in 2012.

Flores, a business student, met van der Sloot at a casino in Lima, Peru before he killed her in a fit of rage.

Flores was found murdered at the Miraflores Hotel Tac in Lima, Peru, in April 2010. Van der Sloot was arrested soon after and according to police confessed to the murde.

The Peruvian court also ordered him to pay $75,000 in reparations to Miss Flores's family.

He confessed to murdering Holloway as part of a plea deal for another murder he committed in 2010. Stephany Flores, 21, was found murdered at the Miraflores Hotel Tac in Lima, Peru, in April 2010 after the two met at a casino

In 2023, van der Sloot was extradited to the US for charges of wire fraud and extortion charges related to the Holloway case. He pleaded in that case, and provided details about killing the Alabama teen.

A judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison to run at the same time as the Peru sentence. Van der Sloot was then allowed to return to Peru prison.

DailyMail.com previously reported that it is unlikely that the killer will ever be prosecuted for the murder of Holloway in the US thanks that plea deal with prosecutors.

Holloway, a teen from Clinton, Mississippi went missing in 2005 during a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean island of Aruba, a territory of the Netherlands.

Eyewitnesses said she was last seen leaving a bar in a car with van der Sloot on the night of her disappearance. While her remains were never found, an Alabama judge declared her legally dead in 2012.

Natalee, pictured left, had been celebrating her high school graduation in Aruba when she met Van der Sloot at a bar. Eye witnesses said they saw her leave with van der Sloot on the night she disappeared

Paulus Van der Sloot and his wife Anita, pictured here with Joran, met with Beth Holloway amid her search for answers over her daughter's disappearance. Beth said that his parents bragged about their sons sex life in the uncomfortable conversation

He later admitted that he killed Holloway and disposed of her remains of Holloway.

US authorities did not have jurisdiction to prosecute van der Sloot for the 2005 slaying on a beach in Aruba, where the statute of limitations for murder has expired.

But his plea revelations have given long-sought answers to Holloway's next-of-kin.

Following her daughter's disappearance, Holloway's mother, Beth, travelled to van der Sloot's family home in Aruba and said she had an uncomfortable meeting with his parent's as they bragged about their son's sex life.

Beth said that his parent's Anita and Paulus 'raised a killer' as his mother 'sobbed uncontrollably' and told her explicit details of alleged sexual encounters between her son and Natalee, which he had told her about.

News Max's Greta Van Susteren, who traveled with Beth to the family's home, described how van der Sloot's mother was 'Sobbing, and telling the most graphic things about things that she said Joran did sexually to Natalee things, that I mean, horribly graphic.'

Beth also recalled how van der Sloot's father Paulus was sweating so profusely his wife had to use a kitchen towel to mop up pools on the floor.

Beth said that his parent's Anita and Paulus 'raised a killer' as his mother 'sobbed uncontrollably' and told her explicit details of alleged sexual encounters between her son and Natalee, which he had told her about

A spokesperson for the Peruvian prison said that van der Sloot 'has the same rights as any other prisoner' and can therefore have conjugal visits

After he was finally convicted for her daughter's death, Beth (middle) told the New York Times that van der Sloot's 'hold' over her disappeared. The mother is seen outside of the courthouse after van der Sloot confessed to killing her daughter

'He was sweating so, I was trying not to gag. The sweat was forming in these pools and all the pools joined together and made one large lake. I got nauseous,' she recalled.

Paulus, van der Sloot's dad, said looking back the reason he was sweating so much was likely because he knew his son had done wrong and he was suffering a guilty conscience.

Beth agreed and said: 'Well, he raised a killer' and of his mother she added, 'she enabled him in every way.'

After he was finally convicted for her daughter's death, Beth told the New York Times that van der Sloot's 'hold' over her disappeared.

'It took 18 years for us to shift roles to where now I feel like I was the victor over him,' Beth said.
Belarusian President and close Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko has said he will seek re-election next year, which could see him extend his rule to 36 years.

The strongman, who has held power since 1994, announced the move on Sunday.

He was speaking on the day Belarus, a neighbour and partner of Russia, held parliamentary elections which have been decried as a sham by the opposition and the West.

'Tell them I will run in the (2025) election,' Lukashenko said, according to a social media channel run by his team.

Sunday's ballot is the first nationwide poll since the presidential election of 2020, a vote which sparked huge protests against Lukashenko, 69, who is widely believed to have rigged the result to extend his decades-long rule.

Belarusian President and close Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko (pictured on Sunday) has said he will seek re-election next year, which could see him extend his rule to 36 years

Lukashenko (L) was speaking on the day Belarus held parliamentary elections which have been decried as a sham by the opposition and the West. Pictured: the leader seaking to journalists at a polling station in Minsk, Belarus, on Sunday

Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya posted a video on social media dismissing Sunday's elections. Pictured in 2021 in front of the Belarusian Embassy to Lithuania

The president has since orchestrated a huge crackdown on dissent, jailing hundreds of opponents and forcing thousands into exile.

There are no real opposition candidates in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

Lukashenko's exiled opponents have urged Belarusians to stay at home and boycott the vote.

Lukashenko warned the authorities had 'learnt our lesson' since the 2020 protests and there would be 'no rebellions' during Sunday's election.

Last month, Belarus's powerful KGB security service orchestrated a series of raids which rights group said had targeted the families of political prisoners.

There are currently 1,419 political detainees in Belarusian jails, according to leading human rights group Viasna.

Lukashenko's Minsk regime relies heavily on Putin's Moscow for political and economic support. Pictured: the dictators in Saint Petersburg on January 29

A woman walks past posters with the image of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, along with a Serbian flag with a slogan reading 'Serbia is with Lukashenko' in Belgrade, Serbia

Lukashenko has thrown his closed east European country into even deeper isolation since he allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to launch its Ukraine offensive two years ago

Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania in 2020, posted a video on social media dismissing Sunday's elections.

'Let's be clear: the regime's attempt to use these fake elections to legitimise its power will not be successful,' Tikhanovskaya said.

READ MORE: Fears as Belarus president signs law making it impossible for him to ever face criminal prosecution Advertisement

'The people of Belarus see through this sham,' she said, urging the international community not to recognise the outcome of the ballot.

The United States also slammed the vote as 'sham parliamentary elections' on Sunday.

'Impossible to hold free and fair elections in a climate of fear and with 1400+ political prisoners. We support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people,' State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on X, formerly Twitter.

Lukashenko has thrown his closed east European country into even deeper isolation since he allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to launch its Ukraine offensive two years ago.

The Minsk regime relies heavily on Moscow for political and economic support.

'We will always be together with Russia,' Lukashenko said on Sunday.

The news of Lukashenko's announcement comes after he was rushed to a Moscow hospital in May after falling seriously ill.

His office previously refused to comment, but rumours swirled after he was seen struggling to speak and with a bandaged arm the week before he disappeared from the public eye on May 9.

Belarus, in eastern Europe, borders three NATO members in addition to Ukraine and Russia.
An Illinois judge who reversed a teen's sexual assault conviction for raping a sleeping 16-year-old has been removed from the bench.

The Illinois Courts Commission removed Adams County Judge Robert Adrian from the bench Friday after it held a three-day hearing in Chicago following a complaint against him.

Adrian had found then-18-year-old Drew Clinton of Taylor, Michigan, guilty of sexually assaulting 16-year-old Cameron Vaughan during a May 2021 graduation party in October 2021.

But at the sentencing hearing, months after his conviction, Adrian said the boy had served 'plenty' of time behind bars - 148 days - and that while he couldn't sentence him to time served, he could overturn the verdict and set him free.

The decision from the courts commission said Adrian 'engaged in multiple instances of misconduct' and 'abused his position of power to indulge his own sense of justice while circumventing the law.'

Illinois Judge Robert Adrian was removed from the bench after he overturned his own conviction of a teen sex offender

Adrian had found then 18-year-old Drew Clinton of Taylor, Michigan, guilty of sexually assaulting 16-year-old Cameron Vaughan (pictured) during a May 2021 graduation party in October 2021

But at the sentencing hearing, months after his conviction, Adrian said the boy had served 'plenty' of time behind bars - 148 days

The state Judicial Inquiry Board filed a complaint against Adrian after the judge threw out Clinton's conviction in January 2022.

Cameron, now 18 years old, waived her right to anonymity and said she passed out drunk in the basement and woke up to find Clinton sexually assaulting her while holding a pillow over her face.

Clinton claimed they had consensual sex and that she was not as drunk as she claims she was.

At the time, the judge said: 'He has no prior record, none whatsoever. By law, the court is supposed to sentence this young man to the Department of Corrections... This court will not do that. That is not just. There is no way for what happened in this case that this teenager should go to the Department of Corrections. I will not do that.'

According to the state's law, Clinton should have served a minimum of four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The commission could have issued a reprimand, censure or suspension without pay, but its decision said it had 'ample grounds' for immediately removing Adrian from the bench in western Illinois' Adams County.

The complaint said Adrian had acknowledged he was supposed to impose the mandatory four-year sentence against Clinton, but that he would not send him to prison.

Adrian was also accused of lying under oath about his reasons for reversing the conviction and of kicking out a prosecutor from the courtroom after they liked a social media post critical of the judge.

The judge told the prosecutor: ['I don't get on social media, but my wife does, and she saw the thumbs-up you gave to people attacking me ... I can't be fair with you. Get out.'

According to court transcripts, after he reversed Clinton's conviction, Adrian blamed parents and adults for 'having parties for teenagers, and they allow coeds and female people to swim in their underwear in their swimming pool. And, no, underwear is not the same as swimming suits.'

The state Judicial Inquiry Board filed a complaint against Adrian after the judge threw out Clinton's (pictured) conviction in January 2022

Vaughan told the Chicago Tribune following Friday's decision that she was 'very happy that the commission could see all the wrong and all the lies that he told the entire time'

He added: 'It's just  they allow 16-year-olds to bring liquor to a party. They provide liquor to underage people, and you wonder how these things happen. Well, that's how these things happen. The court is totally disgusted with that whole thing.'

Vaughan told the Chicago Tribune following Friday's decision that she was 'very happy that the commission could see all the wrong and all the lies that he told the entire time. I'm so unbelievably happy right now. He cant hurt anybody else. He can't ruin anyone else's life.'

Adrian said that the decision to remove him is 'totally a miscarriage of justice. I did what was right. I've always told the truth about it.'

Adams County court records show that Clinton's guilty verdict was overturned because prosecutors had failed to meet the burden of proof to prove Clinton guilty.

But in Friday's decision, the commission wrote that it found Adrian's claim that 'he reversed his guilty finding based on his reconsideration of the evidence and his conclusion that the State had failed to prove its case to be a subterfuge - respondent's attempt to justify the reversal post hoc.'

Clinton cannot be tried again for the same crime under the Fifth Amendment. A motion to expunge Clinton's record was denied in February 2023.
QatarEnergy has named the first LNG carrier to be delivered as part of its new LNG fleet expansion program the Rex Tillerson in recognition of the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation (ExxonMobil), who also served as the 69th US Secretary of State.

During his ten-year term as Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson oversaw the consolidation of relations with the State of Qatar and its energy sector, resulting in strategic partnerships and significant investments in Qatars LNG industry.

While making his mark on the global energy scene, he concurrently assumed a pivotal role in both initiating and overseeing the implementation of landmark energy projects in Qatar.

The Rex Tillerson is expected to be put in service in September 2024 and is currently under construction at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in China as part of a 12-ship construction program that makes up the first batch of orders from China in QatarEnergys massive LNG shipbuilding program.

QatarEnergys new fleet will be equipped with the latest maritime technology ensuring optimal operational efficiency and compliance with the most stringent environmental regulations, thus reflecting QatarEnergys commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: This announcement is a testament to the remarkable achievements of an exceptional energy visionary, a man whose legacy will continue to be felt in Qatar for decades.

Minister Al-Kaabi added: As a result of Rexs leadership, a long and fruitful strategic partnership that flourished from one of the oldest Qatari relationships with international oil companies, prospered and developed even further. For that, it is our honor to name the first LNG carrier built as part of our new fleet in his name, a tribute to his life-long accomplishments and a symbol of a special relationship.

I am deeply honored that QatarEnergy is recognizing my long history with the development of Qatars natural gas resources and the countrys establishment as the leading supplier of liquefied natural gas to fuel economies around the world, said Tillerson. It has been very gratifying to be a part of this success story.

Under Rex Tillersons leadership, ExxonMobils partnerships in Qatar covered a wide spectrum of landmark projects such as the Qatargas 2 and RasGas 3 mega-LNG trains; the Al Khaleej and Barzan Gas Projects; the Helium 1 and 2 projects; the Laffan Condensate Refinery; and the South Hook (UK), Adriatic (Italy) and Golden Pass (USA) LNG terminals.

One notable achievement between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil during Tillersons tenure was the development of the industrys largest-class LNG carriers, namely Q-Max (265,000 cubic meters) and Q-Flex (210,000 cubic meters).

Tillersons strong leadership skills empowered him to effectively lead a global company of 75,000 employees across the globe, and to manage daily relations with governments and business leaders around the world.

Born in 1952 in Wichita Falls in the State of Texas, Rex Tillerson holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas in Austin.

He began his career with Exxon in 1975 as a civil engineer, and by 1989 he became general manager of the Exxon USA central production division.

In 1995, he became president of Exxon Yemen and Esso Exploration and Production Khorat. In 1998, he became Vice President of Exxon Ventures (CIS) and President of Exxon Neftegas.

Tillerson was named Senior Vice President of Exxon Mobil Corporation in August 2001, and was elected in 2004 as President of the Corporation and member of the board of directors.

In 2006, Tillerson was elected Chair and Chief Executive of ExxonMobil. He retired from ExxonMobil on the first of January 2017, the day he moved into the world of global diplomacy as the 69th US Secretary of State. --OGN/TradeArabia News Service
Despite having lived in the commonwealth my entire life, I knew relatively little about the Richmond Theatre fire of 1811 until I read Rachel Beanlands most recent novel, The House Is on Fire.

The blaze erupted at a Dec. 26 performance when a lit chandelier, mistakenly raised, spread fire to the shows backdrop. Encyclopedia Virginia estimates that 600 people, roughly 6% of the citys population, were in attendance the night of the fire. The poor construction of the theater, located on what is now Broad Street, combined with the sheer number of patrons resulted in the deaths of more than 70 people, including the newly elected governor.

Beanlands book examines the fire and its aftermath through the lenses of four unique Richmonders: Jack Gibson, a young stagehand responsible for igniting the flames; Sally Henry Campbell, the daughter of Patrick Henry, reentering society as a new widow; Gilbert Hunt, an enslaved blacksmith who saves nearly a dozen White women jumping from the upper floors to escape the flames; and Cecily Patterson, an enslaved teenager who sees the chaos as an opportunity to flee the city. As the plot develops, the characters lives overlap just enough to build a sense of community but never feels overly tidy.

I am most impressed by the thoughtful research at the core of the story. The House Is on Fire was an interesting read in its own right, but I got really excited after reading Beanlands authors note and realizing all the historical detail she wove into the novel. The primary characters are all inspired by real people, though there is much more historical context to support the plotlines involving Sally and Gilbert, a real person who acted heroically in theater fire and was later instrumental in saving lives in another fire at the Virginia State Penitentiary in 1823. I particularly enjoyed his story, which I may have never come across if not for this book.

I was shocked  though maybe I shouldnt be  at how easily the men attending the show pushed women and children aside to save themselves. Beanland writes, Its the women who were shrieking, while the men pushed past them  and in some cases, climbed over them  to get to the door. In fact as well as in fiction, the majority of the fires fatalities were women and girls.

Beanland writes some beautiful passages building tension at the height of the disaster. Early in the book, when Sally must choose between jumping out of a window or being engulfed in flames, Beanland writes: The brick facade scrapes the soft underside of her arms as she hangs there in the hallowed space between life and death. Finally, there is nothing to do but let go.

Understandably, character development takes a bit of a backseat to historical scene-setting. I found it overwhelming to keep track of the novels four protagonists and multitude of secondary characters. I think Beanland sacrificed some depth of character in favor of breadth of character, which kept me from feeling fully immersed in their stories; I tend to gravitate towards detailed character studies, but thats my own personal taste and not what this book claims to be. I found the character development in keeping with other historical fiction Ive read.

In spite of that one gripe, I recommend this book highly to historical fiction enthusiasts and any reader with an interest in Virginia history.

Beanland will be making two appearances at the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville next month. She is set to speak on March 20 on her first novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, which was selected for the Jefferson-Madison Regional Librarys Same Page Community Read this year. She is later scheduled to join Brinda Charry, Adriana Trigiani and Jeannette Walls in conversation on March 23 as part of the Moments in Time: Historical Fiction Breakfast.
This is the shocking moment that a mass brawl broke out at London Waterloo station, with dozens of police officers caught up in the violent clashes as they tried to intervene.

Terrifying footage shows groups of hooded men clashing and shouting at each other at what is one of the UK's busiest stations yesterday.

The thugs, some jumping over platform barriers to get involved, are seen punching and shoving each other as baton-wielding police officers try to break up the violence.

As the brawl becomes more intense, one officer is seen being dragged to the ground before he attempts to pick himself up in a desperate bid to avoid being trampled on by the aggressive crowd.

With the fight showing no sign of stopping, dozens more cops are seen running through the station to try and help as passengers watch on in shock.

The massive police presence brings the violence to an end as offices form a cordon while the group disperses. MailOnline has contacted British Transport Police for comment.

The terrifying footage shows hooded men jumping over barriers at one of the UK's busiest stations

A group of men begin punching and shoving each other as several officers try to intervene and break up the fighting

Bystanders at the station watch on as the thugs continue the violent scrap, which happened on Saturday evening

Waterloo has 57.8 million entries and exits each year, making it the third busiest station behind Liverpool Street and Paddington

The brawl is the latest instalment in a series of Lawless London incidents plaguing the capital

More officers then start to emerge from the other side of Waterloo Station before forming a cordon as the group disperses

Waterloo has 57.8 million entries and exits each year, meaning only Liverpool Street Station is busier. This was mainly thanks to the opening of the Elizabeth Line.

The brawl is the latest instalment in a series of Lawless London incidents plaguing the capital.

On Friday a fight exploded at a London bus stop as a man was seemingly assaulted in a street attack.

The sound of punches landing could be heard as the crowd watched on, making no apparent attempt to assist.

The man then ceased his assault and picked up a backpack, leaving the other man on the ground.

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: 'At around 9pm on Saturday (24 February), British Transport Police officers on patrol at Waterloo railway station, alongside officers from the Metropolitan Police, responded to disorder between football fans. The situation was de-escalated and no arrests were made.'
A man has set himself on fire outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC.

Authorities responded to the embassy around 1 p.m. on Sunday and found the man with burn injuries, the Metropolitan Police Department told DailyMail.com.

He is in critical condition and was taken to the hospital by DC Fire and EMS with critical and life-threatening injuries.'

A spokesperson from the Secret Service told DailyMail.com, 'The U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division responded to the 3400 Block of International Drive, NW, DC regarding an individual that was experiencing a possible medical / mental health emergency.'

'DC Fire & EMS responded to the scene and treated the individual prior to transport to an area hospital.'

The scene outside the Israeli embassy was livestreamed on Twitch

A man has set himself on fire outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC

He is in critical condition and was taken to the hospital by DC Fire and EMS with critical and life-threatening injuries'

Incident outside of Israels Embassy in Washington DC. This the scenes a few minutes ago.. pic.twitter.com/a78Zvtx6E9  Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) February 25, 2024

Authorities responded to the embassy around 1 p.m. on Sunday and found the man with burn injuries

The investigation is ongoing

A spokesperson from the Secret Service told DailyMail.com, 'The U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division responded to the 3400 Block of International Drive, NW, DC regarding an individual that was experiencing a possible medical / mental health emergency'

The Metropolitan Police Department's Explosive Ordnance Disposal was called to the scene in reference to a suspicious vehicle that may be connected to the person.

Video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed first responders on the scene outside of the embassy.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Israeli embassy released a statement after the incident, reading: 'On Sunday, 2/25, at around 1 PM, a man set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The man is unknown. No Embassy staff were injured and are safe.'

A similar incident occurred in December when a pro-Palestine protestor set themselves ablaze outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta.

The city's police chief, Darin Schierbaum, described the incident as an 'extreme act of political protest,' and said a Palestinian flag was recovered from the scene.

At least two people were injured in the act of self-immolation, including a security guard who attempted to intervene.
Former detectives have been drafted in to interrogate a fraud squad - dubbed the 'untouchables' - involved in the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters during the Horizon scandal.

The new team led by Gary Brooks, former head of major crime at Lancashire Constabulary, will the under-fire Post Office investigate allegations that some detectives used bullying and intimidation tactics.

The former detectives and police officers have been brought in to 'review the quality and effectiveness' of the investigations, which eventually saw more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015.

During the public inquiry into the Horizon scandal concerns have been raised that those investigating 'behaved like mafia gangsters' who were looking to collect 'bounty with threats and lies'.

Former sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses described feeling intimated by the detectives. Last week during the inquiry, chaired by retired judge Sir Wyn Williams, two wrongly accused postmasters discussed the conduct of two investigators.

Former sub-postmaster Alan Bates and his partner Suzanne Sercombe arriving at the High Court to discuss the Horizon scandal

Stephen Bradshaw (pictured) interviewed a string of postmasters wrongly accused of stealing money under caution, berating them for telling 'a pack of lies'

The Horizon scandal was dramatised in Mr Bates vs. The Post Office which sparked a public inquiry

Rta Threlfall - who was charged with false accounting and theft of a shortfall of more than 35,000 at her branch - said the 'untouchables' had left her with 'crippling anxiety and depression'.

Lawyer David Enright, who is representing more than 150 postmasters, told The Sunday Times, that three of his clients had already spoken to the team probing the behaviour of detectives, adding that others will be investigated soon.

Four former detectives are reportedly interviewing postmasters and postmistresses involved.

Last week, sacked Post Office chairman Henry Staunton, claimed that 40 investigators who were involved in the Horizon scandal were still employed by he postal service.

A source close to the Post Office, however, reportedly denied this.

Mr Staunton said that the detectives were labelled the 'untouchables' because of the power they wielded. He also alleged that the Post Office chief executive had given them that nickname.

One of the fraud team workers Stephen Bradshaw, however, appeared before the inquiry last month and denied the allegations.

The British government has announced a new law that will exonerate wrongly convicted sub-postmasters caught up in the Post Office scandal

ITV's new drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has drawn a renewed interest in the scandal, with Mr Bates being played by Toby Jones (pictured in the role)

Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted because of faulty accounting software, with the major miscarriage of justice were put back in the spotlight thanks to the ITV drama Mr Bates. It sparked a major public inquiry.

Earlier today Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said he 'probably should have said sorry earlier on' in relation to his role in the Post Office scandal.

He served as post office minister under the coalition government from 2010 to 2012 and apologised to victims of the scandal when writing in The Guardian earlier this month.

Sir Ed will give evidence alongside former Post Office boss Paula Vennells at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry when it resumes in April.

Asked why it took him so long to apologise, Sir Ed told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: 'I probably should have said sorry earlier on, but it is a huge scandal and our hearts go out to those hundreds of subpostmasters and their families who were treated appallingly.

'The key thing now is to make sure that those exonerations happen quickly, that they get the compensation quickly and that they get to the truth with the inquiry.'

Sir Ed previously said he was repeatedly lied to by the Post Office about the efficacy of their software.

Asked whether he should have questioned the Post Office's version of events a bit harder, he said: 'I was never asked a question in parliament, actually. It wasn't raised that much with me - Mr (Alan Bates) did, and that's why I met him.

The Post Office carried out around 700 private prosecutions against sub-postmasters using evidence from the Horizon software, despite knowing there were serious flaws in the system

Postmasters accused of theft by Post Office celebrate outside the High Court in London after they have had their convictions overturned

'There were a few written questions and a few letters, but it wasn't actually until the BBC had a Panorama programme, where they found that insider in Fujitsu who blew the whistle ... and the Panorama programme was aired in August 2015.

'I don't know what ministers at the time knew about that.'

Ms Vennells forfeited her CBE for 'bringing the honours system into disrepute' following her handling of the Horizon crisis, after issuing an apology last month.

She was named on Friday in a list published on the Cabinet Office website as an individual whose honour had been revoked.

A series of other current and former politicians have been or will be questioned by the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.

These include Conservative ministers Greg Clark and Kelly Tolhurst, Liberal Democrat politician Sir Vince Cable and Labour shadow cabinet member Pat McFadden.

A Post Office spokesperson said that it is looking into the 'specific allegations' raised during the public inquiry.

They added: 'We are acutely aware of the human cost of the scandal and we are doing all we can to right the wrongs of the past, as far as that is possible.

'We have rightly been criticised for past investigation practices. A team has been recruited solely to review the quality and effectiveness of a number of past investigations arising from the allegations which were made during the Inquiry, to inform current and future practices.

'We hope to share as much information as possible with the former Postmasters in a manner that is compliant with our data protection obligations.'
Thousands of Brazilians poured into the streets of Sao Paulo on Sunday after ex-president Jair Bolsonaro called for a show of support as he faces accusations he plotted a coup to stay in power.

Dressed in the green and yellow of Brazil's flag, which Bolsonaro claimed as a symbol while in office, an immense crowd of his supporters thronged Paulista Avenue, one of the main arteries in the country's economic capital.

Bolsonaro arrived waving the Israeli flag - a rejection of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's remarks comparing Israel's offensive in Gaza to the Holocaust - before putting his hand to his chest for the national anthem.

The 68-year-old former army officer had urged his backers to attend a 'peaceful rally in defense of the democratic rule of law.'

Bolsonaro has had his passport seized by police as he and his inner circle face scrutiny over plans to try to remain in power after he lost 2022 elections to Lula.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (pictured) sings the national anthem during a rally in Sao Paulo

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attend a rally in Sao Paulo

Bolsonaro and some of his former top aides are under investigation into allegations they plotted a coup to remove his successor, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva

An immense crowd of his supporters thronged Paulista Avenue, one of the main streets of the city

The far-right former president has denied the accusations and he refused to answer questions during a half-hour interrogation on Thursday at federal police headquarters in the city of Brasilia.

READ MORE: Hero in Brazil plucks mom and two children from car after family became trapped in dangerous floodwaters

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'Bolsonaro is an honest person, a victim of persecution,' said 63-year-old builder Wilson Aseka, who travelled 430 miles from the state of Minas Gerais to attend the protest.

'It is important to support him, because he represents God, country and family,' he added, repeating the former president's motto with a Brazilian flag hanging on his shoulders.

A week after Lula took office on January 1 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court, urging the military to intervene to overturn what they called a stolen election.

Bolsonaro, who was in the United States at the time, denies responsibility, and has even suggested the protesters were not really his supporters.

However, investigators allege months of anti-democratic maneuvers by Bolsonaro, from a plan to discredit Brazil's electronic voting system with a 'disinformation' campaign ahead of the elections to 'legitimize a military intervention' if he lost.

His supporters reject claims he plotted a coup with allies to remain in power after his failed 2022 reelection bid

A week after Lula took office on January 1, 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court, urging the military to intervene to overturn what they called a stolen election

Bolsonaro called his supporters to take to the streets of Sao Paulo while the former head of state is being investigated in relation to the 2023 attempted coup d'etat

He is facing several other investigations, such as the falsification of COVID-19 vaccination certificates

Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, claims to be the victim of 'persecution'

Police say Bolsonaro edited a draft presidential decree that would have declared a state of emergency, called new elections and ordered the arrest of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the head of Brazil's Superior Electoral Tribunal.

They also released a video of a July 2022 meeting where a shouting, swearing Bolsonaro ordered cabinet ministers to help him discredit the election system.

Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, claims to be the victim of 'persecution.'

He is facing several other investigations, such as the falsification of COVID-19 vaccination certificates, or the alleged misappropriation of gifts received from other nations, such as jewelry offered by Saudi Arabia.

In June, the electoral tribunal barred Bolsonaro from running for office until 2030 over his attacks on the election system.

Bolsonaro is still considered the leader of the opposition and is adored by his fervent supporters

The protest on Sunday afternoon is seen as a litmus test of his support ahead of October municipal elections

The far-right former president has denied the accusations of attempting a coup

Nevertheless, Bolsonaro is still considered the leader of the opposition and is adored by his fervent supporters.

The protest on Sunday afternoon is seen as a litmus test of his support ahead of October municipal elections, in which his influence is expected to play a key role in the still-polarized nation.

'If there is a lot of support, he will be able to say that the people are with him. Otherwise, he will lose all legitimacy,' Andre Rosa, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia, told AFP.

One of Bolsonaro's lawyers, Fabio Wajngarten, said Thursday that he hoped to see '500,000 to 700,000' demonstrators.

'I'm going there, for Brazil. It will be gigantic!' a lawmaker from Bolsonaro's party, Bia Kicis, wrote on X.
Jamaica is understood to be mulling over plans to demand 500,000 payments from Britain in slavery reparations to fund its 'dark tourism' heritage sector.

The Caribbean island, which is ruled by anti-royalist Prime Minister Andrew Holness, is said to be seeking funding from the UK Government and major museums to fund exhibitions about colonialism.

Jamaica, which was under British rule until it became independent in 1962, may seek reparation payments of around half a million pounds for the centuries of slavery suffered.

The payments would go to conserving ports, hospitals and courthouses which are linked to imperialism, The Telegraph reports.

The newspaper previously reported that Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's tourism minister, wanted to preserve Georgian sites such as the former homes of slave owners for 'dark tourism'.

'We are interested in what is called 'dark tourism', he said. '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, has a story that you need to connect with, because a little piece [of the British] is really here, a piece of your history, your past.'

King Charles III shakes hands with Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, in September 2022

Jamaica's PM Mr Holness has been a long standing critic of Jamaica's relationship with the Commonwealth and the British monarchy

Jamaica's PM Mr Holness has been a long standing critic of Jamaica's relationship with the Commonwealth and the British monarchy and formally announced plans for the country to become an independent republic in 2022.

Mr Holness' grand vision is for a new Constitution of Jamaica to be enacted, which would make the country a republic without a monarchy.

Last year, the country admitted they had wanted to ditch the monarchy after the Queen died in 2022.

Mr Holness said he thought there has always been a 'strong love and respect' for the late Queen and the 'appropriate time to [separate] would have been on a transition'.

'The truth is the recent polls have shown there is a tendency towards Jamaica becoming a republic. So over time the position has evolved,' he told the Express.

The change in the country's constitution was hoped to have been completed by June last year but the government faced delays amid discussions over what position would represent the new head of state.

'We would have wanted to be able to do this within a year but the process is not a linear one. So we are on the journey of public education.'

He explained then a legislation must be passed in Parliament before a referendum is sat. It is not yet confirmed when Jamaica will become a republic.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were last month branded 'insensitive' after posing with Mr Holness after they flew to Kingston for the premier of the new Bob Marley film One Love.

Jamaica, which was under British rule until 1962, may seek reparation payments of around half a million pounds for the centuries of slavery suffered. Pictured: Cane Cutters in Jamaica in the 1890s

Mr Holness has previously warned Harry's brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Princess Kate that they would never rule the island.

Comparisons were also drawn to when the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the country themselves in March 2022.

Omid Scobie, author of Endgame, wrote on X: 'A different vibe to the last time we saw PM Andrew Holness with members of the Royal Family...'

Mr Holness told The Gleaner: 'I was pleased, and I was also very happy to see royals coming to participate in this major event.

'Unsuspectinglittle did I knowthat I'd be drawn into some internal issues in the United Kingdom. But so it is, more publicity for Jamaica.'

Mr Holness has been vocal in his praise for the Prince William and Kate Middleton - but said they will never rule the nation.

The couple visited Jamaica and William was both praised and criticised for speaking out against Britain's historic role in the slave trade.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were branded 'insensitive' last month after posing with Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Mr Holness has previously said he intends to ditch the monarchy

He also warned Prince William and Kate Middleton they'd never rule the island

But despite his condemnation of the 'abhorrent' trade in humans, abolished after 200 years by Britain in 1807, some Jamaicans do not believe he went far enough.

The heir to the throne told a dinner in Kingston: 'I strongly agree with my father, The Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history. I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened. '

In an exchange that was caught on camera, Mr Holness told the royal couple that whilst Jamaicans were 'very very happy' to welcome them, 'there are issues here which are as you would know unresolved.'

Charles has previously expressed his personal sorrow at the suffering caused by the slave trade.

Buckingham Palace said he wants to deepen his understanding of slavery's impact with 'vigour and determination'. A spokesman said: 'This is an issue that His Majesty takes profoundly seriously.

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in March 2022

'Given the complexities of the issues it is important to explore them as thoroughly as possible.'

Last August, a leading international judge claimed that Britain owed almost 19trillion in reparations for its role in the slave trade, and even that might be an 'underestimation'.

Patrick Robinson, who sits in International Criminal Court, claimed that countries behind the centuries of atrocities were 'obliged to pay' and accused politicians like Rishi Sunak of burying their heads in the sand.

Critics hit back, however, with Tory former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg saying: 'It is simply silly. We owe nothing and civilised the world by ending the slave trade.'
The family of murdered Laken Riley have broken their silence after the University of Georgia nursing student was killed while out on a run.

Laken Riley, 22, was found dead in a wooded area near Lake Herrick on Thursday afternoon. Illegal Venezuelan immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra was charged with her murder on Friday and is being held at the Clarke County Jail.

'We wish to thank the public for their prayers and thoughts during this tragic time,' the devastated family said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

'Laken was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person in general. Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life.

Riley's mother Allyson Phillips shared photos and a video of Riley during the Augusta University nursing program's white coat ceremony on Facebook in August 2023

UGA murder victim was killed by 'blunt force trauma' police investigating her death said

Allyson Phillips, Riley's mother, has posted several photos and videos over the years of the entire family

'She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way.

They added: 'During this most difficult time, we ask that you respect our privacy, and provide us the time and space necessary to grieve our daughter's life that was tragically cut short.'

Riley was reported missing after he concerned roommate told police she had not returned from a jog.

She was killed by 'blunt force trauma,' police confirmed.

'The individual was unconscious and not breathing and had visible injuries,' UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said in a statement.

Ibarra, 26, crossed into El Paso, Texas in September 2022 but had been released from a detention center due to a lack of space, NewsNation reported.

Now Republicans including Marjorie Taylor Greene have called for Ibarra to receive the death penalty.

'Ibarra is an illegal alien and murdered a young woman the age of my own children. Deportation is not enough. He deserves the death penalty,' the Georgia representative said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, has been identified and charged for allegedly murdering nursing student Laken Riley, 22, at the University of Georgia in Athens

He has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another

Police search a wooded area at the University of Georgia after the shock discovery Thursday

Officials confirmed that Ibarra is not a US citizen and did not know or have any kind of relationship with Riley

Riley, 22, was found dead Thursday afternoon after her roommate reported her missing, saying she had not returned from her jog

'You want to break in our country, ILLEGALLY, and murder one of our girls. DEATH PENALTY!' She added in another.

Ibarra has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, concealing the death of another and failure to appear for a finger printable charge.

Cops said that he did not know the victim and the crime was a 'random, solo act.'

UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that officers have searched Ibarra's apartment in Athens and evidence shows that he acted alone.

'He did not know her at all. I think this is a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual and bad things happened,' Clark said.

'The evidence is robust. It is supported by key input by the community, physical evidence and expert police work. Importantly, we were assisted by video footage from our campus security cameras network.'

Republicans including Marjorie Taylor Greene have called for Ibarra to receive the death penalty, stating 'deportation is not enough'

Riley was a senior nursing student enrolled at Augusta University College of Nursing at Athens who grew up in Woodstock, Georgia.

Before she earned her undergraduate degree at UGA in 2023, she graduated from River Ridge High School in 2020.

Riley was a member of her high school's cross country and track teams and was described as 'an outstanding scholar athlete' by Cherokee County School District Superintendent Brian Hightower.

She was also a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds has defended Donald Trump 's claims that black voters like him because they get indicted and face political persecution.

The former president spoke at the Black Conservative Federation Honors Gala in Columbia, South Carolina, on Friday night and addressed a crowd of black voters.

'I got indicted a second time, and a third time and a fourth time! And a lot of people said that that's why the black people like me because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against,' Trump said.

'And they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against. Its been pretty amazing.'

In response to trump's claims, Donalds, who is black, said in a Sunday interview on NBC's Meet the Press, that what Trump said was correct.

'When you layer on the fact that, yes, this is political prosecution from the Department of Justice and from radial DA's throughout our country, this is something similar that black people have to deal with, with the justice system themselves,' Donalds said.

Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds defended Donald Trump's claims that black voters, as the former president said that he and black voters 'have been hurt so badly and discriminated against'

The former president spoke at the Black Conservative Federation Honors Gala in Columbia, South Carolina, on Friday night where he addressed a crowd of black voters

The Florida Represenative who endorsed Trump's 2024 White House bid, then mentioned the country's economy 'is a mess' and that 'our border is completely unsecured.'

'These things are causes of major concerns for black voters like it is for every voter in our country,' the 44-year-old added.

Welker then interrupted Donalds and said: 'Congressman, let's just be clear. All four indictments against former President Trump were brought by grand juries. There is no evidence that the indictments are political in nature.'

Cedric Richmond, a co-chair for President Joe Biden's campaign also found Trump's comments appalling.

'Donald Trump claiming that black Americans will support him because of his criminal charges is insulting. It's moronic and it's just plain racist,' Richmond said in a statement on Saturday.

When asked what he thought of the Richmond's response, Donalds said that Biden's co-chair is 'just trying to play politics' and 'play racial politics.'

'The number one reason why minority voters in our country want to support Donald Trump is because he did the job of president, he did a great job as president. Our country was secure, the economy was great-- these are all things that Donald trump talked about Friday night,' Donalds said in the interview.

During his Friday speech, Trump also complained he got indicted for 'nothing' -claiming that's something black voters understand because they see 'what's happening to me happens to them.'

'When I did the mug shot in Atlanta, that mug shot is No. 1. You know who embraced it more than anyone else?' Trump asked the crowd. 'The black population.'

'Does that make sense?' Trump asked.

The Florida Congressman has been rumored as a potential Vice President for Trump if he wins the 2024 election

He earned cheers and applause from the crowd.

'It's been pretty amazing but possibly, maybe, there's something there,' the former president added.

At the event Trump also quipped, 'These lights are so bright in my eyes that I can't see too many people out there. But I can only see the black ones. I can't see any white ones.'

'You see that's how far I've come. That's how far I've come,' he added.

The Biden campaign took issue not specifically with these comments, but with Trump's decision to address the predominantly black crowd at all.

'The audacity of Trump to speak to a room full of Black voters during Black History Month as if he isn't the proud poster boy for modern racism,' the Biden campaign's Black Media Director Jasmine Harris said in a statement Saturday.

Donalds has been rumored as a potential Vice President for Trump is he wins the 2024 presidential election.

In October, the congressman took to X (formally Twitter) and announced that he was running to become the first African American speaker of the House.

'I look forward to securing the votes of a majority of my Republican colleagues to become the first African-American Speaker, the first Speaker from the great state of Florida and the next Speaker of the 118th Congress,' he said.

Trump's mugshot from Fulton County, Georgia. He said the 'black population' embraced it more than any other group

When he announced that he was running to be a speaker of the house, Donalds said his 'sole focus' will be to secure the border and to fund the government 'responsibly'

'My sole focus will be securing our border, funding our government responsibly, advancing a conservative vision for the House of Representative and the American people and expanding our Republican majority.'

'As a member of this conference, Ive seen firsthand the devotion of my colleagues to improving the lives of their constituents and the future of America.'

'We come from different walks of life but share the common pursuit of a more perfect union,' he added in his candidacy announcement.

Biden won about 90 percent of the black vote in 2020.

While high, that's a decrease from the support black voters gave to Hillary Clinton, Trump's rival in 2016, which was at 93 percent.

President Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, received 97 percent of the vote during his reelection bid in 2012.
She discovered empty containers of abortion medication in the garbage

A Texas woman suspected that her husband was poisoning her after the breakfast in bed he made left her bleeding - so she spent weeks collecting evidence of him planting abortion-inducing drugs in her drinks.

Catherine Herring, 39, began to grow wary of her former spouse Mason in February 2022, when he confronted her after nearly a decade of marriage and said he wanted to split up.

Herring had recently caught him texting a former female colleague with whom he swore to have cut contact, but when she confronted him, he told her needed to work on himself and moved out.

'He just started acting really weird and wouldnt tell me what was going on,' Herring told the Daily Beast.

The couple shared two children together and had a third on the way, though Mason had previously expressed his unhappiness about the pregnancy.

Catherine Herring, 39, spent weeks collecting evidence against her husband, Mason, after beginning to suspect him when he suddenly asked that they separate

The mother of three and private investigator John Moritz installed hidden cameras throughout the couple's home

Mason, also 39, was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years parole after pleading guilty to one count of injury to a child under 15

The Houston-based lawyer agreed to spend spring break with the rest of the family. One morning, he brought Herring a biscuit and a glass of water as she lay in bed, imploring her to finish it before he left for the office.

'He starts urging me, like, "Chug it, I need to go," and he kind of had anger in his voice,' Herring explained in an interview with the Daily Beast.

That was when she looked into the water and saw that it was cloudy.

An indictment describes the events that followed. Around 30 minutes after Mason left for work, Herring began experiencing painful stomach cramps and explosive diarrhea.

Upon realizing that her vagina was bleeding profusely, the 39-year-old rushed to the hospital. She kept bleeding even after she was discharged.

'I just wanted desperately to be wrong,' she said. 'I wanted there to be another explanation, because this is your husband who you love and adore and have children with.

'But my instinct was, "Somethings wrong, I need to protect myself." And I just need to make sure he doesnt know Im onto him. Because I really felt like that was the only way I could collect evidence.'

When Herring returned home, Mason continued to supply her with drinks, each containing an 'unknown substance,' according to court documents.

Herring quickly grew suspicious that Mason was poisoning her after he served her a biscuit and glass of water in bed and she began bleeding profusely from her vagina

While Herring knew that her husband was not happy with the pregnancy, she was not sure why he wanted to separate after nearly a decade together and hired a private investigator

When she returned home from the hospital, Mason continued to supply her with drinks, each containing an 'unknown substance'

Herring meticulously gathered samples of the drinks her husband supplied. Six were sent to a lab for testing and two were found to contain misoprostol, an abortion-inducing agent

On March 21, Herring paid a visit to John Moritz, a private investigator she had hired in hopes of figuring out why her husband had suddenly requested a separation.

Herring had meticulously collected samples of the liquid, six of which Moritz sent to a lab for testing.

At least two of the samples were shown to contain misoprostol, which is commonly used to induce abortion.

Moritz proceeded to teach the 39-year-old about methods of evidence collection. The duo installed cameras throughout the house, with Moritz urging her not to be left alone with Mason if possible.

One day in April, Catherine called two friends over after suspecting she had been drugged. Both friends saw a material floating in a drink provided to her by her husband, according to an affidavit.

On April 24, Mason cleaned out his truck and brought the trash bags to the curb - a habit that struck Herring as unusual.

'[Catherine Herring] stated that this was out of character for [Mason Herring] as he does not do chores around the house,' the affidavit alleged.

When Mason left the residence, Herring wandered over to the trash to see what was inside.

She found 'opened blister packs' labeled as 'Cyrux,' according to the affidavit.

Herring learned that these packets contained a 'Mexican pharmacy version of the American drug Cytotec,' which is used to prevent stomach ulcers but contains misoprostol as the active ingredient.

Days later, hidden cameras recorded Mason emptying a plastic baggie full of white powder into a glass of cranberry juice, which he then encouraged Herring to drink.

She had a friend with her at the time. 'But he just stood in the kitchen, had a whole conversation with us, and then left for the night as if nothing had gone on,' Herring explained.

The following day, she went to the Houston Police Department.

Herring was surprised to see Mason bringing trash bags to the curb, as he didn't usually do chores. When she searched them, she found opened blister packs for misoprostol-containing medication

The couple's youngest daughter was born three months after Mason's arrest and suffers developmental delays, still eating out of a feeding tube

Nearly a month passed before Mason's arrest. He was charged with assault to induce abortion and assault on a pregnant person.

In late 2023, the district attorney's office called to say they were considering a plea deal with significantly reduced charges.

Herring pushed back as much as she could, but the office insisted that it was the best they could do.

Mason accepted the deal on February 7 of this year, pleading guilty only to one count of injury to a child under 15.

The judge sentenced him to 180 days in jail and 10 years parole - a measly sentence considering the state's legal onslaught against abortion.

A 2021 Texas law allows anyone in the state to sue someone they suspect of performing an abortion after six weeks gestation. Performing an abortion is a felony punishable by life in prison.

'Its very apparent that the state of Texas is treating men and women differently in this situation,' Herring said.

'One hundred and eighty days - its less than 26 days per attempt that he will serve in jail.'

Mason was barred from contacting her or their youngest daughter, who was born in August, three months after his arrest.

The little girl was 10 weeks premature and suffers developmental delays. She eats through a feeding tube and meets with physical, occupational and speech therapists every week.

Catherine appeared at her husband's trial, where she railed against the lenient sentencing.

'I do not believe that 180 days is justice for attempting to kill your child seven separate times,' she said, addressing the court.

'For two years, my husband has overtly denied this assault, and I'm grateful today that he has finally admitted to his guilt.'
Harrowing images have emerged of Palestinians lining up along beaches as they desperately wait for humanitarian aid to arrive amid Israeli strikes and an anticipated invasion of Rafah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that although the military offensive of the southern Gaza city could be 'delayed somewhat' by a ceasefire deal, total victory would be 'weeks away' once the invasion begins.

Heartbreaking photos have surfaced of hundreds of Palestinians, including children, gathering on a beachfront in Gaza City. One man was seen praying on the floor in an image which captures the desperation of the Palestinian people.

Others were seen with trucks, bikes and horses and carriages as huge groups of civilians waited for aid to arrive amid the raging war.

Israel said 245 trucks of aid entered Gaza today - less than half the amount that entered daily before the war.

In recent weeks, Palestinians have reported having to make bread out of animal fodder, while new mothers say baby formula is inaccessible or unaffordable.

Palestinians wait for humanitarian aid on a beachfront in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, today. A man on the left is seen praying

Heartbreaking photos have surfaced of hundreds of displaced Palestinians, including children, gathering on a beachfront in Gaza City

Almost 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry

Almost 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

The Israeli military has bombarded Gaza since Hamas terrorists crossed the border and killed 1,200 people in Israel on October 7.

Amid talks of an offensive in Rafah, Mr Netanyahu confirmed to CBS that a ceasefire deal is in process, but did not provide details.

Israeli media reported that mediators were making progress on an agreement for a ceasefire and release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza as well as Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Several Israeli media outlets, citing unnamed officials, said the War Cabinet tacitly approved it.

Talks resumed on Sunday in Qatar, Egypt's state-run Al Qahera TV reported, citing an Egyptian official as saying further discussions would follow in Cairo with the aim of achieving the ceasefire and release.

Meanwhile, Israel is developing plans for expanding its offensive against the Hamas militant group to Rafah on the Gaza-Egypt border, where more than half the besieged territory's population of 2.3 million have sought refuge.

Humanitarian groups warn of a catastrophe, with Rafah the main entry point for aid, and the US and other allies have said Israel must avoid harming civilians.

Mr Netanyahu has said he will convene the Cabinet this week to approve operational plans for action in Rafah, including the evacuation of civilians.

Demolished buildings, destroyed by Israeli airstrike, as the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from some areas of Khan Younis

Rafah is the last refuge of the estimated 1.4 million Palestinians who have been forced down south

Israel previously warned that it would begin its invasion of Rafah on March 10, the start of Ramadan , unless Hamas returned the roughly 130 hostages that remain hidden in Gaza

A donkey-pulled car passes in front of the Al-Faruq mosque, levelled by Israeli bombardment in Rafah

'Once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion, not months,' Mr Netanyahu told CBS. 'If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway. It has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach.'

He said that four of the six remaining Hamas battalions are concentrated in Rafah.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC that US President Joe Biden had not been briefed on the Rafah plan and said: 'We believe that this operation should not go forward until or unless we see (a plan to protect civilians).'

Heavy fighting continued in parts of northern Gaza, the first target of the offensive. Residents have reported days of heavy fighting in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.

'We're trapped, unable to move because of the heavy bombardment,' resident Ayman Abu Awad said.

He said starving residents have been forced to eat animal fodder and search for food in demolished buildings. Northern Gaza has been largely cut off from aid, and the UN's World Food Programme suspended deliveries last week.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN agency for Palestinians, said they have not been able to deliver food to northern Gaza since January 23, adding on X, formerly Twitter, that 'our calls to send food aid have been denied'.

Palestinians wait with empty water jerry cans to refill them with clean water

Smoke rises during an Israeli ground operation in Khan Younis, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas

Dust and smoke from airstrikes engulf Palestinians walking along Al Rashid road after crossing from the northern Gaza Strip into the south of Gaza city

Palestinians walk next destroyed houses in Al Nusairat refugee camp

4 Destroyed Palestinian houses in Al Nusairat refugee camp

A senior official from Egypt, which along with Qatar is a mediator between Israel and Hamas, has said the draft ceasefire deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, minors and older people.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, said the proposed six-week pause in fighting would include allowing hundreds of trucks to bring desperately needed aid into Gaza every day, including the north.

He said both sides agreed to continue negotiations during the pause for further releases and a permanent ceasefire.

Negotiators face an unofficial deadline of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around March 10, a period that often sees heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Hamas says it has not been involved in the latest proposal developed by the US, Egypt and Qatar, but the reported outline largely matches its earlier proposal for the first phase of a truce.

Hamas has said it will not release all the remaining hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraws its forces from the territory, and is demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including senior militants - conditions Mr Netanyahu has rejected.
A working mum has won a $1.25million payout from Bunnings after she badly injured her back moving a big bucket of fertiliser in one of the hardware giant's warehouses.

Sarah Jane was 31 and working for fertiliser firm Neutrog as a merchandiser in the Seven Hills Bunnings, in Sydney's north-west, in 2018.

She knelt down to try and shift an 11kg bucket of Sudden Impact fertiliser to the front of a pallet when she injured her back, leaving her in agony for the past six years.

Bunnings agreed to pay $750,000 in compensation plus an estimated $500,000 in legal costs after the case came before the NSW Supreme Court this week.

Sarah Jane (pictured) has won a $1.25million payout from Bunnings after she badly injured her back moving a big bucket of fertiliser in one of the hardware giant's warehouses

Sarah Jane, 31, was working for fertiliser firm Neutrog as a merchandiser in the Seven Hills Bunnings in Sydney 's north-west (pictured) when she tried to shift the bulky 11kg package

'It's a win but it doesn't really feel like a win,' Ms Jane told news.com.au.

'Not just everything that they've put me through, but just the injury itself, and how much it's changed my life and how much I've missed out on with my kids when they were young.'

The payout came after Bunnings admitted they should have trained Ms Jane to use a pallet jack while working in the store, which would have prevented the injury.

She had been shown a video training module but wasn't told about the pallet jacks which could have been used to move heavy items safely.

'Bunnings owed a duty to merchandisers attending the Bunnings stores to ensure that the merchandisers were advised of the specialised work procedure including the pallet jack procedure,' court documents said.

'Bunnings devised, controlled and regulated the prevailing system of work for its own employees, but did not apply the same rigour or adopt the same precautions for the merchandisers, who were nonetheless subject to Bunnings control and oversight.'

Sarah Jane badly injured her back and is still in agony six years later after she knelt down to drag the bulky bucket of Sudden Impact fertiliser to the front of a pallet

Ms Jane's legal team said Bunnings had fought 'tooth and nail' against her case until it came to court, and had repeatedly told her she didn't have claim.

Her lawyer Luke Power, from Turner Freeman Lawyers, said it was a big 'win for the little guy' after Bunnings finally softened their stance and agreed to the settlement.

'There has been a lot of push back and we were told on numerous occasions there was no case,' Mr Power added.

'This has been incredibly stressful for her, and it was fought tooth and nail.'

Neutrog have also been ordered to contribute to the cost of the settlement.
I'm a mother, a grandmother, a Jew.

The full-on destruction of an already victimized population to punish Hamas is immoral. I beg Netanyahu to stop the "indiscriminate bombing" of innocent civilians in Gaza.

The Oct. 7 hostages must be released. But the wanton killing, maiming and orphaning of blameless Palestinian children is not only morally indefensible, it's absurd.

The Israeli right wing is ensuring a constant enemy by leaving people with nothing to lose.

I stand with all of the victims. Ceasefire now. Protect life.
Ukraine's top spy chief has claimed that Alexi Navalny may have 'died from a blood clot' amid widespread speculation that the outspoken Putin critic was murdered by Russian spies.

The anti-corruption campaigner, who was serving a 19 year prison sentence in the arctic Polar Wolf penal colony, was found dead earlier this month with Russia claiming he died form 'sudden death syndrome' while on a walk.

Yet many have speculated that he was killed on Putin's order, with Latvian President Edgar Rinkeish bluntly stating: 'Whatever you think about Alexi Navalny, as a politician he was just brutally murdered by the Kremlin.'

Today, however, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence service, suggested his death could be down to natural causes.

He told reporters: 'I may disappoint you, but what we know is that he really died from a blood clot. And this is more or less confirmed. This was not taken from the Internet, but, unfortunately, a natural [death].'

Anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, who was serving a 19 year prison sentence in the arctic Polar Wolf penal colony, was found dead earlier this month

Ukraine's top spy chief Kyrylo Budanov has claimed that Navalny may have 'died from a blood clot'

Vladimir Putin has not commented publicly on the death but the Kremlin called the West's reaction 'hysterical'

Prison authorities refused to release Nalvany's body for more than a week after he died. Yesterday, his corpse was finally handed back to his mother following an agonising nine-day wait.

'Alexey's body was handed over to his mother. Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us,' Kira Yarmysh wrote on X.

She said mother Lyudmila Ivanovna, 69, was still in Salekhard, near the grisly IK-3 Arctic penal colony where her son had been held since December on 'extremism charges', and that the funeral is still 'pending'.

'We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants and as Alexey deserves,' she added.

Following Navalny's death, his grieving widow Yulia Navalnaya accused Putin of 'torturing him dead'.

Ahead of the release of his body she said: 'Give us the body of my husband. You tortured him alive, and now you keep torturing him dead. You mock the remains of the dead.

'No true Christian could ever do what Putin is now doing with the body of Alexei.'

His mother had initially been blocked from seeing her sons remains, with reports claiming he had been left battered and bruised. She said that Russian officials were trying to blackmail her and threatened to 'do something' to the corpse.

Navalny, right, embraces his wife Yulia, as he was released by a court in Kirov, Russia, July 19, 2013, after he was released from custody after being convicted of embezzlement

Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of Alexei Navalny, and lawyer Vasily Dubkov arrive at the town of Salekhard on February 17 before being told they could not see the body

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia Navalnaya in September 2020

Following the release of his body, his widow called Putin 'Satan' for holding her husband's body 'hostage'.

The grieving widow said: 'What Putin is doing now is hate. No, it's not even hatred, it's Satanism.'

'What will you do with his corpse? How low will you sink to mock the man you murdered?' she continued.

The Kremlin has denied allegations of its involvement in Navalny's death, calling the West's reaction 'hysterical'. Putin, who famously never said Navalny's name in public, has not commented on the death of his most vocal critic.
A career criminal and suspected serial rapist given a banning order preventing him from speaking to any woman is now facing jail for stalking his former girlfriend.

Dean Dyer, 43, burst into a tanning salon where his ex-partner worked as a receptionist and threatened to 'smash in her face'.

During the outburst he launched a cup at her head and shouted abuse at her. The receptionist called police and Dyer was arrested as he made his way back to the salon, holding a bunch of flowers.

At the time last month, a rare 'sexual risk order' was in place banning Dyer from any contact with women or girls  a sanction imposed by a judge in 2021 after seven females including a 14-year-old girl claimed that Dyer raped, sexually assaulted or threatened to attack them.

While Dyer was not convicted in respect of these allegations, the evidence was deemed strong enough to prove a 'sexual act' took place and that Dyer put women at risk.

Dean Dyer (pictured) burst into a tanning salon where his ex-partner worked as a receptionist and threatened to 'smash in her face'. During the outburst he launched a cup at her head and shouted abuse at her

At the time of the incident, a rare 'sexual risk order' was in place banning Dyer from any contact with women or girls  a sanction imposed by a judge in 2021 after seven females including a 14-year-old girl claimed that Dyer raped, sexually assaulted or threatened to attack them

It means he cannot even speak to women or girls without their consent or that of their parents. He must also inform police 24 hours before he plans to have sex.

But Dyer ignored this three times  on January 7 at the salon when he cruelly told police his ex-girlfriend had 'invited him there to have sex'. On December 13 last year he stood outside the salon for eight hours and on November 14, at the home of his ex's mother in Enfield, north London, he shouted abuse at her through the letter box.

Dyer was convicted of common assault, stalking involving serious harm from August 1 2023 to January 8 2024, and three breaches of the order.

Salon attack witness Marcus Christie told Westminster magistrates that Dyer told his ex-girlfriend 'When can I come back to smash your face in?', adding that the victim was 'very physically shaken'. Dyer is a career criminal with 76 offences against his name.

The hearing last week saw Dyer convicted for the first time of a sex offence.

District Judge Nina Tempia sent him to Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing, where he will also be sentenced for breaching a two-year suspended term he received at Leicester Crown Court for an unspecified offence.
Smugglers are still offering discounts to migrants for piloting 'death trap' dinghies to Britain even as one was locked up for killing four passengers.

An undercover Mail investigation found people-trafficking gangs were brazenly putting more lives at risk by touting perilous passage to the UK in the same week a migrant became the first person to be convicted of steering a 'grossly overcrowded' boat which sank.

Senegalese Ibrahima Bah, who had offered to steer the small boat in December 2022 in exchange for a free crossing, was sentenced to nine and a half years on Friday for manslaughter and facilitating illegal entry to the UK at Canterbury Crown Court.

His terrified passengers had screamed 'we are going to die' as they plunged into the freezing water after the home-made inflatable, designed for a maximum of 20, began sinking after it was packed with at least 44 people, the court heard.

At least four died, but the judge said there were 'very probably' other victims whose bodies were not recovered.

Senegalese Ibrahima Bah (pictured), who had offered to steer the small boat in December 2022 in exchange for a free crossing, was sentenced to nine and a half years on Friday for manslaughter and facilitating illegal entry to the UK at Canterbury Crown Court. His terrified passengers had screamed 'we are going to die' as they plunged into the freezing water

A screen grab from a people smugglers TikTok account. A TikTok page with almost 2,000 followers, the criminals posted images of boats showing a map of the Channel and good weather forecast with two dates for crossings this week

A group of migrants at Dover (stock image). When an undercover reporter posing as an Albanian migrant contacted via TikTok, the gang promised him a trip for 2,500 (2,135). Asked if there was a discount to steer, the smuggler responded: '2,000 (1,708). Provided you can drive the boat'

Even as the shocking case reached its conclusion, heartless Kurdish people smugglers operating in northern France happily took bookings for more migrants hoping to get to the UK illegally.

And one criminal told an undercover Mail reporter the day after Bah's conviction there was a special 500 (427) discount for those prepared to pilot the boat.

Advertising on a TikTok page with almost 2,000 followers, the criminals posted images of boats showing a map of the Channel and good weather forecast with two dates for crossings this week.

On the day of Bah's conviction they featured a picture of the top of the dinghy heading across the Channel as dawn broke.

The gang also urged migrants from Albania, Vietnam, Iran, Kurdistan, Turkey and Pakistan to contact them to arrange passage.

When an undercover reporter posing as an Albanian migrant contacted via TikTok, the gang promised him a trip for 2,500 (2,135). Asked if there was a discount to steer, the smuggler responded: '2,000 (1,708). Provided you can drive the boat.'

And despite repeated tragedies with boats sinking, the smuggler shamelessly claimed: 'I don't gamble on people's lives.'

Sentencing Bah, Mr Justice Johnson said the boat 'was about as dangerous and inadequate as it is possible to imagine', adding: 'It was grossly overcrowded.

'It was a death trap, just as every other boat of its type which sets off across the Channel in similar circumstances is a death trap.

'The floor of the boat collapsed. Many ended up in the sea.

'You persisted [with the journey] over a prolonged period of time despite the ever increasing and obvious risk. You disregarded what was a very high risk of death.'

It is understood Bah will serve his sentence in a young offenders institute until he is 21, before being moved to an adult prison.

His age is unknown, but the court accepted he was around 20.Meanwhile, around 200 migrants were yesterday seen being escorted into Dover by UK Border Force staff. The migrants  including women and children  were picked up at sea by a patrolling Border Force vessel.

Home Office figures show 24,830 migrants arrived in the UK by small boats between January and September last year. It was 33,048 over the same period in 2022.

The cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels is around 8million a day, the Government says.
Calls are mounting for Angela Rayner to face a police probe into whether she provided false information about her living circumstances before she sold her former council home.

The Tories have written to Greater Manchester Police to demand an investigation after Labour's deputy leader appeared to have given two different addresses in official documents.

The claim is contained in a new book Red Queen? The Unauthorised Biography of Angela Rayner by Lord Ashcroft, which will be serialised in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday next month.

Documents show that the 43-year-old MP bought an ex-council house in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in 2007 under Margaret Thatcher's right-to-buy pledge.

Ms Rayner, who is also shadow housing secretary, has been accused of 'pulling up the ladder' for other social housing tenants as she has vowed to review the policy if Labour wins the election.

Calls are mounting for Angela Rayner to face a police probe into whether she provided false information about her living circumstances before she sold her former council home

Documents show that the 43-year-old MP (pictured with the vice-president of India Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar) bought an ex-council house in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in 2007 under Margaret Thatcher's right-to-buy pledge

She sold the property eight years later, making a 48,500 profit. Tenants must repay some of the discount they received if they sell within five years.

The allegation has prompted questions about where Ms Rayner lived during that time.

The confusion is significant because under electoral rules, voters are expected to register at their permanent home address.

Anyone who knowingly provides false information about the address they are registered to vote at could face conviction and a prison sentence.

Official documents seen by the Mail on Sunday show that she was registered on the electoral roll at the ex-council house in Vicarage Road for five years after she married Mark Rayner in 2010.

Despite them being newlyweds, her husband was listed elsewhere  a house in Lowndes Lane, just over a mile away, which had also been bought under the right-to-buy scheme.

More mysteriously, when Ms Rayner re-registered the births of her two youngest children that same year, she gave her address as Lowndes Lane.

It is not clear, therefore, where she was living after her marriage.

Last night, Tory MP James Daly wrote to Greater Manchester Police to ask that they investigate whether she gave the correct information.

'There is a strong public interest in looking into this matter,' he said. The Mail on Sunday interviewed neighbours of both properties who claimed that Ms Rayner moved out of Vicarage Road in 2009 and into Lowndes Lane.

Lord Ashcroft's book says that one neighbour had claimed that her brother Darren had moved in after she moved out when her two youngest children were born.

A neighbour in Lowndes Lane said Ms Rayner and her husband had lived there with their children from the summer of 2009.

Ms Rayner posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the house purchase had been 'by the book' and said it was a 'proud moment' for her.

Rayner issued a series of posts on social media to reject claims she wants to 'pull up the ladder' to make it harder for other social housing tenants to benefit in the same way she did

She said: 'Being able to buy my council house back in 2007 was a proud moment for me. I worked hard, saved and bought it by the book. I'm not ashamed  but I am angry that the Tories have since put the dream of a secure home out of reach for so many others.'

Ms Rayner accused Lord Ashcroft of taking an 'unhealthy interest in my family' and 'kicking down' at people like her 'who graft in tough circumstances to get on in life'.However, she did not clarify details of her living arrangements at the time.

A Labour spokesman said: 'Angela, who had an older child from a previous relationship, and her husband maintained their existing residences before moving into their shared marital home.

'Their son was born just 23 weeks into her pregnancy and spent eight months in intensive care, requiring ongoing support from a wide network of friends and family, including Angela's brother. Beyond the smears, there is no suggestions any rules have been broken.'

Right-to-buy was one of Margaret Thatcher's flagship policies, allowing social housing tenants to buy the properties they had rented at a generous discount. It has long been opposed by the Left, and Labour has committed to review the policy if it wins the election.

A spokesman for the Electoral Commission did not comment on Ms Rayner's circumstances but said: 'Normally a person is resident at an address if it is their permanent home address. Whether someone is eligible to be on the register at an address is for the relevant electoral registration officer.

'It is an offence to knowingly provide false information in the voter registration application form. If convicted, a person may be imprisoned for up to six months and/or face an unlimited fine.

The Labour deputy leader was accused of hypocrisy after it was revealed she made a 48,500 profit on her ex-council house thanks to the right-to-buy policy she now wants to reform

The purchase of Ms Rayner's council house is revealed in a new book by Lord Ashcroft (pictured), which will be serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday next month

4 questions she has to answer 1 Did you live at Vicarage Road address in Stockport from 2005 to 2015, as you registered on the electoral roll? 2 Or did you live with your then husband, Mark Rayner, from 2010 to 2015 at his address a mile away? 3 Why did your entry on the electoral roll change from your maiden name Bowen to Rayner in 2013, at least two years after your marriage to Mark Rayner? 4 Why did you re-register your two sons births to Mark Rayners address in 2010, despite you being on the electoral roll at Vicarage Road? Advertisement

'This would be a matter for the police to investigate.'

Stockport Council did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.

Last night a Labour spokesman added: 'Angela was registered to vote at the home she owned and lived in. The Tories are once again wasting everyone's time with political game-playing.'

Ms Rayner  who last week met ministers in India for a conference of global economists and politicians  is not the first Labour MP to be accused of hypocrisy. Earlier this year, the Mail revealed that backbencher Apsana Begum was still living in a council flat more than two years after admitting 'it's probably not something that I need'. And former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was revealed to have sent her child to private school in 2003.

It came after she had previously condemned former Prime Minister Tony Blair and former acting deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman for not sending their children to traditional state schools.

She later admitted her decision was 'indefensible'.

Ms Harman sent her child to grammar school in 1996 despite Labour opposing the system.

Former education secretary Ruth Kelly was also criticised after sending her child to private school in 2007.
Rishi Sunak yesterday warned that Britain's democracy 'cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation'.

The Prime Minister spoke of his worry over an 'emerging pattern' which has seen legitimate protests 'hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism', MPs 'verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted, and anti-Semitic tropes beamed on to our own Parliament building.'

He said Parliament had sent a 'dangerous signal' that 'intimidation works' after a vote on Gaza last week descended into chaos when the Speaker broke with precedent amid concerns about MP safety.

In a statement posted online, Mr Sunak added: 'It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain.

'Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation or fall into polarised camps who hate each other.'

The Prime Minister spoke of his worry over an 'emerging pattern' which has seen legitimate protests 'hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism' (pictured: pro-Palestinian protests at Tower Bridge on Saturday)

Rishi Sunak also expressed concern over MPs 'verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted, and anti-Semitic tropes beamed on to our own Parliament building' (pictured: Conservative councillor Dave Evans confronted by pro-Palestinian protestor)

Mr Sunak intervened after the Speaker defied parliamentary convention to spare Labour from a divisive vote on Gaza.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle is expected to come under fresh pressure today when MPs return to Parliament following a protest from the Tories and SNP over his decision. He also faces the threat of the SNP calling for a 'meaningful vote' on the war which could again inflame tensions over the issue.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden withheld his full backing from Sir Lindsay, saying: 'I think he made a severe error of judgment in allowing concerns and threats of violence to influence what is going on in the House of Commons.

'That is a very grave mistake. I think he's still got questions to answer for how that came about.'

Mr Dowden said that the Leader of the Commons, Penny Mordaunt, will be meeting him today to 'get to the bottom' of what had happened.

Sir Lindsay has said that he acted over fears about MPs' security in the wake of tensions over Israel and Gaza. He said: 'I never want to be in a situation where I pick up the phone to find a friend, on whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists.'

Questions remain over why he broke with protocol after he had meetings with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer before making his decision. Some Tory MPs have accused Sir Lindsay of bowing to intimidation from protesters. Shadow international development spokesman Lisa Nandy yesterday rejected suggestions that Labour MPs had tried to influence the Speaker. Ms Nandy said she believed he had done 'the right thing', but that 'a long, hard look' at parliamentary processes was needed.

More than 70 MPs have signed a motion expressing no confidence in Sir Lindsay after Wednesday's SNP Opposition Day vote descended into chaos. He has apologised for his 'mistake' and offered an emergency debate on the Scottish Nationalists' motion calling for a ceasefire, in a bid to calm the party's fury over its proposal being sidelined.

Mr Sunak added: 'Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation or fall into polarised camps who hate each other' (pictured: Labour chair, Anneliese Dodds, confronted by Just Stop Oil protestors)

The Prime Minister intervened after the Speaker defied parliamentary convention to spare Labour from a divisive vote on Gaza

However, the SNP will seek to table a fresh motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and have written to Labour and the Liberal Democrats to try to win their support.

They are seeking a 'meaningful vote' on the issue  a controversial procedure used during the Brexit days when Theresa May failed to win over her MPs. Such votes are not normally amendable or binding on the Government but they can prove divisive.

Sir Lindsay remains under pressure after the SNP  the third biggest party in the Commons  said it did not have confidence in him as Speaker.

It has also emerged that three female MPs have been given taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars amid concerns over their safety.

The trio had their security upgraded after a risk assessment was carried out with support from an organisation which provides protection for prominent members of the Government and Royal Family, the Sunday Times reported. They include Tory and Labour MPs.

The arrangements are being overseen by security minister Tom Tugendhat.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle (pictured) remains under pressure after the SNP  the third biggest party in the Commons  said it did not have confidence in him as Speaker

Sir Lindsay has said that he acted over fears about MPs' security in the wake of tensions over Israel and Gaza (pictured: destroyed Palestinian houses in southern Gaza)

There has been an escalation in the level of threats faced by politicians following protests over Gaza.

'Many MPs are petrified by the abuse they're facing,' one senior security source said.

Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered in 2016 by far-Right extremist Thomas Mair, while Tory MP Sir David Amess was killed in 2021 by Ali Harbi Ali, an Islamic State sympathiser.
More than 900 sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly prosecuted

Sir Ed Davey has admitted he 'probably should have said sorry earlier on' for the role he played in the Horizon scandal which saw more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted.

The Liberal Democrat leader had served as post office minister under the coalition government between 2010 and 2012 first apologised to victims earlier this month after the scandal was shoved back in the spotlight following the ITV drama Mr Bates.

But yesterday, Sir Davey, who will give evidence at the public inquiry alongside former Post Office boss Paula Vennells in April, admitted it had taken him too long to speak out.

He told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: 'I probably should have said sorry earlier on, but it is a huge scandal and our hearts go out to those hundreds of subpostmasters and their families who were treated appallingly.

'The key thing now is to make sure that those exonerations happen quickly, that they get the compensation quickly and that they get to the truth with the inquiry.'

Sir Ed Davey has admitted he 'probably should have said sorry earlier on' for the role he played in the Horizon scandal

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells will give evidence in April alongside Sir Ed Davey when the public inquiry resumes

The Horizon scandal which saw more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted

The political leader said he was lie to b the Post Office about the efficacy of their software.

Probed on whether he should have questioned the Post Office's version of events harder, he said: 'I was never asked a question in parliament, actually. It wasn't raised that much with me - Mr Alan Bates did, and that's why I met him.

'There were a few written questions and a few letters, but it wasn't actually until the BBC had a Panorama programme, where they found that insider in Fujitsu who blew the whistle ... and the Panorama programme was aired in August 2015.

'I don't know what ministers at the time knew about that.'

On February 1, Sir Davey said he was 'deeply sorry' for the families who had their lives ruined by 'the greatest miscarriage of justice in our time'.

Writing in the Guardian he said: 'As one of the ministers over the 20 years of this scandal, including my time as minister responsible for postal affairs, I'm sorry I did not see through the Post Office's lies - and that it took me five months to meet Alan Bates, the man who has done so much to uncover it.'

His latest apology comes as former detectives are being drafted in to interrogate a fraud squad - dubbed the 'untouchables' - involved in the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters during the Horizon scandal.

The new team led by Gary Brooks, former head of major crime at Lancashire Constabulary, will the under-fire Post Office investigate allegations that some detectives used bullying and intimidation tactics.

Former sub-postmaster Alan Bates and his partner Suzanne Sercombe arriving at the High Court to discuss the Horizon scandal

Stephen Bradshaw (pictured) interviewed a string of postmasters wrongly accused of stealing money under caution, berating them for telling 'a pack of lies'

The Horizon scandal was dramatised in Mr Bates vs. The Post Office which sparked a public inquiry

The former detectives and police officers have been brought in to 'review the quality and effectiveness' of the investigations, which eventually saw more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015.

During the public inquiry into the Horizon scandal concerns have been raised that those investigating 'behaved like mafia gangsters' who were looking to collect 'bounty with threats and lies'.

Former sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses described feeling intimated by the detectives. Last week during the inquiry, chaired by retired judge Sir Wyn Williams, two wrongly accused postmasters discussed the conduct of two investigators.

Rta Threlfall - who was charged with false accounting and theft of a shortfall of more than 35,000 at her branch - said the 'untouchables' had left her with 'crippling anxiety and depression'.

Lawyer David Enright, who is representing more than 150 postmasters, told The Sunday Times, that three of his clients had already spoken to the team probing the behaviour of detectives, adding that others will be investigated soon.

The British government has announced a new law that will exonerate wrongly convicted sub-postmasters caught up in the Post Office scandal

ITV's new drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has drawn a renewed interest in the scandal, with Mr Bates being played by Toby Jones (pictured in the role)

Four former detectives are reportedly interviewing postmasters and postmistresses involved.

Last week, sacked Post Office chairman Henry Staunton, claimed that 40 investigators who were involved in the Horizon scandal were still employed by he postal service.

A source close to the Post Office, however, reportedly denied this.

Mr Staunton said that the detectives were labelled the 'untouchables' because of the power they wielded. He also alleged that the Post Office chief executive had given them that nickname.

One of the fraud team workers Stephen Bradshaw, however, appeared before the inquiry last month and denied the allegations.

Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted because of faulty accounting software, with the major miscarriage of justice were put back in the spotlight thanks to the ITV drama Mr Bates. It sparked a major public inquiry.

Ms Vennells forfeited her CBE for 'bringing the honours system into disrepute' following her handling of the Horizon crisis, after issuing an apology last month.

She was named on Friday in a list published on the Cabinet Office website as an individual whose honour had been revoked.

The Post Office carried out around 700 private prosecutions against sub-postmasters using evidence from the Horizon software, despite knowing there were serious flaws in the system

Postmasters accused of theft by Post Office celebrate outside the High Court in London after they have had their convictions overturned

A series of other current and former politicians have been or will be questioned by the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.

These include Conservative ministers Greg Clark and Kelly Tolhurst, Liberal Democrat politician Sir Vince Cable and Labour shadow cabinet member Pat McFadden.

A Post Office spokesperson said that it is looking into the 'specific allegations' raised during the public inquiry.

They added: 'We are acutely aware of the human cost of the scandal and we are doing all we can to right the wrongs of the past, as far as that is possible.

'We have rightly been criticised for past investigation practices. A team has been recruited solely to review the quality and effectiveness of a number of past investigations arising from the allegations which were made during the Inquiry, to inform current and future practices.

'We hope to share as much information as possible with the former Postmasters in a manner that is compliant with our data protection obligations.'
It sounds like the plot of a new Disney movie, but experts predict AI will allow people to communicate with household pets and even wild animals.

Researchers around the world are using 'digital bioacoustics' - tiny, portable, digital recorders - to capture the sounds, tics and behaviors of animals that are too quiet or nuanced for humans to pick up on.

These databases will be used train artificial intelligence to decipher these miniature communications and translate them into something more comprehendible to us, almost like a 'ChatGPT for animals'.

Projects such as the Earth Species Project expect a breakthrough in the next 12 to 36 months.

One researcher hopes to be able to unravel the language of dogs

Founded in 2017, the AI non-profit aims to record, understand and talk back to animals - from cats and dogs to more unusual species such as whales and crows.

Current Earth Species Project experiments include attempts to map the vocal repertoires of crows - and another experiment which aims to generate new vocalizations which birds can understand.

Aza Raskin, one of the cofounders of the Earth Species Project believes that generating animal vocalizations could be as little as a year away.

Raskin told Google: 'Can we do generative, novel animal vocalizations? We think that, in the next 12 to 36 months, we will likely be able to do this for animal communication.

'You could imagine if we could build a synthetic whale or crow that speaks whale or crow in a way that they can't tell that they are not speaking to one of their own.

'The plot twist is that we may be able to engage in conversation before we understand what we are saying.'

Below are some of the other projects aimed at achieving intelligible communication between people and animals:

Could AI help us to understand what cats are saying? (getty)

Cat got your tongue?

Artificial intelligence could finally unravel a mystery which has dogged the human race for centuries - what are cats actually thinking?

Researchers at the University of Lincoln are using AI to categorize and understand the expressions of cats.

Professor Daniel Mills said: 'We could use AI to teach us a lot about what animals are trying to say to us.'

AI can learn to identify features such as the ear position of cats, which could help to classify and understand the hundreds of expressions cats use to communicate.

Similarly, a new AI model aims to translate the facial expressions and barks of dogs.

Its creator, Con Slobodchikoff, author of Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of Animals, told Scientific American that when we understand animals, it may reveal surprising facts.

'Animals have thoughts, hopes, maybe dreams of their own.'

The bat man

Bats have far more complex language than people thought - they have names, they argue over food, and mother bats use 'baby language' when talking to children.

That's the conclusion of a pioneering AI study which used a voice-recognition program to analyze 15,000 bat calls, with an algorithm correlating the sounds to videos of what the bats were doing.

Yossi Yovel of Tel Aviv University told the BBC: 'I've always dreamed of a Doolittle machine that will allow me to talk with animals. Specifically, I'm interested in that vocal communication.

'With teaching the computer how to define between the different sounds and how to recognize what each sound means when you can hear it. We teach the AI how to differentiate between the different sounds.'

'In the end, the computer will be able to speak the language to understand what they say to each other.'

Researchers now know that bats 'argue' over food, and that baby bats repeat what their mother 'says' in order to learn language.

'Deep learning' is able to decipher bat language (which is largely ultrasonic, and much faster than human speech) - humans can't listen to it, but computers can.

Yovel remains skeptical that a 'decoder' which can instantly translate bats will arrive 'in his lifetime', but is now aiming to understand longer-term social interactions of bats.

Clicking with whales

Microphones on buoys and robotic fish are attempting to unravel one of the most famous 'voices' of the animal kingdom - whale song.

Sperm whales are the world's largest predators and locate their food using clicks - but also use shorter series of clicks called 'codas' to communicate with each other.

The Project CETI team are planting microphones on whales to capture huge amounts of data, with a goal of using machine learning to unravel what the vast animals are saying.

One project aims to unravel the clicking 'codas' of sperm whales (Getty)

To attach the microphones, the team uses a thirty foot pole.

The AI team is already capable of predicting whale codas (sequence of clicks) with up to 95 percent accuracy, and now hopes to increase the volume of data to further establish patterns and work out what they are saying.
A fleet of plane passengers have served up their verdicts on airline breakfasts, with 'juicy' sausages, mediocre coffee and unappetizing-looking pancakes among the mix.

Offering their reviews in TikTok clips, the travelers film themselves tucking into their morning meals with each item also caught on camera.

Some have gone as far as ranking each dish, with influencer Ashley Yi giving her pork sausage on Korean Air an eight out of 10, while her 'kinda dry' potatoes scored a seven.

Over on Malaysia Airways, TikTok duo @our.travel.diary gave their plastic-wrapped 'white bun' a three out of 10 but their tasty omelet with potatoes and egg got an impressive '100 out of 10' ranking.

Take a flight down and feast your eyes on some of the eclectic breakfast snacks from the skies.

Singapore Airlines

TikTok creator @munchwithyou filmed everything she ate on a flight with Singapore Airlines for her followers

TikTok creator @munchwithyou filmed everything she ate on a flight with Singapore Airlines for her followers.

It appears she sat in one of the premium classes, as her meal was presented on crockery instead of disposable containers.

The main component of her morning meal was soy chicken with noodles, a croissant, strawberry yogurt, fruit salad, and unfrosted cupcake.

In the TikTok, she caused a stir among her followers by eating the croissant with a blob of yogurt on.

She said: 'It's so good, try it.'

However, her followers seemed unconvinced, with one commenting: 'All the French people crying in a corner right now.'

Emirates

TikToker @anjaliwandering took a Business Class flight with Emirates and documented everything she ate while flying in the lap of luxury

TikToker @anjaliwandering took a Business Class flight with Emirates and documented everything she ate while flying in the lap of luxury.

Her TikTok reveals he plane tray decked out with a white cloth and several different dishes including waffles with a berry compote, fruit salad and croissant with butter and strawberry jam.

During the clip, she is seen digging into the waffles.

In the accompanying caption, she explains: 'This was so good, I'm still thinking about it.'

She also explained in the comment section that there was hot food offered, such as an English breakfast, but she opted for the waffles instead.

Air Canada

During a 16-hour flight to Sydney in economy with Air Canada, TikTok creator Sammy K (@skzzolno) went about reviewing her 'breakfast haul'

During a 16-hour flight to Sydney in economy with Air Canada, TikTok creator Sammy K (@skzzolno) went about reviewing her 'breakfast haul.'

In a video clip, she reveals a mix of morning treats including 'pancakes, fruit, a little bread and butter... utensils and water.'

Meanwhile, her friend sitting next to her shows her omelet, which she says 'looks really good.'

When she opens her plastic tray of pancakes, Sammy seems less sure about her choice, but on trying them she changes her mind.

She tells her fans: 'It's pretty good. I mean, it's not like good good... but edible.'

Moving to the coffee, she describes it as a 'simple black roast' which is 'fine.'

Overall, all she deems the breakfast spread 'solid.'

Delta

Travel influencer Joanne, who uses the handle @backpackerflipflops, created a TikTok to show her breakfast while flying in First Class with Delta from New York to Fort Lauderdale

Travel influencer Joanne, who uses the handle @backpackerflipflops, created a TikTok to show her breakfast while flying in First Class with Delta from New York to Fort Lauderdale.

Her camera pans around to show a main dish which appears to be a generous square of omelet, accompanied by two stalks of asparagus and a tomato.

Other things on her tray include a croissant, which she said was 'delicious,' and a bowl of fruit salad, which she notes 'you can't mess up.'

However, she didn't give the egg main a positive review, stating that she probably should have picked one of the other two options on offer.

'I just did not like this!' she exclaimed.

Korean Air

While flying with Korean Air, TikTok influencer Ashley Yi filmed herself eating breakfast, with a rating given for each item

While flying with Korean Air, TikTok influencer Ashley Yi filmed herself eating breakfast, with a rating given for each item in her dish.

First of all, she takes a bite of chive omelet with sauteed bell peppers and she gives an expression of delight as she savors the taste.

The egg creation gets an impressive nine out of 10.

Next up, she tries a slice of pork sausage and gives it an eight out of 10 deeming it 'juicy' with 'good flavor.'

From the side of her dish, Ashley tries a mouthful of sauteed red skin potatoes, which she gives a lower score of seven out of 10 because they were 'kinda dry.'

Continuing her food review, she notes in the overlaid caption that 'the spinach and cherry tomato was 10 out of 10 with the omelet.'

Along with a cooked breakfast, Ashley received a croissant, which she says pairs perfectly with butter and jam, a yogurt which she wasn't so keen on, and a giant Muscat grape which she described as 'ELITE.'

Following her meal, she concluded: 'We land in two hours but I'm struggling to stay awake after that breakfast.'

KLM

Izzy Laborda took a trip with Dutch airline KLM and made a TikTok capturing breakfast time

Izzy Laborda took a trip with Dutch airline KLM and made a TikTok capturing breakfast time in economy.

She explained in an overlaid caption that 'today we have an economy breakfast with a side of Miss Congeniality' as she watched the movie on her screen while eating.

On her flight, she received a wheat ciabatta sandwich, strawberry yogurt, fruit salad and coffee.

In the clip she exclaimed 'let's eat, I'm starving!'

She gave the sandwich, which included egg, gouda cheese and 'dijonnaise,' an eight out of 10.

After finishing off the stack, she picked up on the 'cute wrappers for cream and sugar' and she showed the small packages to the camera.

While she was in the mood for coffee, Izzy was not impressed with her cup of Joe, and she gave it a one out of 10, along with a look of disgust.

To finish, she ate her fruit salad and gave it a satisfactory 10 out of 10.

Malaysia Airlines

TikTok duo @our.travel.diary filmed themselves working through a breakfast during a flight to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines

TikTok duo @our.travel.diary filmed themselves working through a breakfast during a flight to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines.

She describes the first item as a 'burger of egg and vegetables' and gives it a seven out of 10.

Following the cooked item, she unwraps a 'white bun' and gives it a three out of 10.

Meanwhile, her partner's omelet with potatoes and egg gets a nod to begin with and a six out of 10 rating.

But as he takes a few more chews, he gives it a '100/10.'

Continuing with her own tray of goods, her vanilla dessert gets a 10 out of 10, as does a miniature blueberry muffin to finish.
Katie Williams has revealed how she pulled off her very romantic surprise beachside proposal to her girlfriend and 'love of her life' Georgia Hull.

The former Big Brother Australia star, 29, confirmed her engagement to makeup artist Georgia in a gushing series of Instagram posts last Wednesday.

Now, the couple have spoken exclusively to Daily Mail Australia about the special day and how Katie managed to surprise Georgia with a gorgeous sunset beach proposal.

The reality TV star also shared details of their potential three-day wedding plans and excitedly spoke about starting a family with Georgia - who plans to take her last name 'Williams' when they tie the knot.

Katie said her new fiancee Georgia - who is her first girlfriend - has 'changed her life forever' and although she didn't think she'd be marrying a woman a few years ago, she has 'never been happier'.

Katie Williams has revealed all about how she pulled off her very romantic surprise beachside proposal to her girlfriend and 'love of her life' Georgia Hull

The former Big Brother Australia star, 29, confirmed her engagement to Georgia in a gushing series of Instagram posts last Wednesday, showing the moment she got down on one knee

'I don't identify with labels, I'm just in love with my person and it feels really beautiful that we're getting married and can have this future together,' she said.

'It's definitely different, a few years ago, I never would have thought that I would be proposing to a girl, I thought my future was with men, but I've never been happier in my life and I've never been more in love in my life - this is my love.'

Katie said she pulled off the very elaborate surprise proposal by telling makeup artist Georgia she had booked them a Valentine's Day themed job.

Katie said she secretly set up the setting complete with candles and flowers at Tamarama Beach, where they went on walks for most of their first dates during the Covid pandemic.

'The only way to fool her, because she's so busy all the time and works seven days a week, so the only time to catch her off-guard and get two days away was to pretend it was work,' Katie said.

'It worked very well and we ended up booking this gorgeous accommodation, it was absolutely perfect. She had no idea.'

Now, the couple have spoken exclusively to Daily Mail Australia about the special day and how Katie managed to surprise Georgia with a gorgeous sunset beach proposal

Katie sweetly said that her new fiancee Georgia has 'changed her life' and said although she didn't think she'd be marrying a woman a few years ago, she has 'never been happier'

Of her elaborate lie, Katie went on: 'I pretended to Georgia that we were doing a Valentine's Day job. I pretended it was an AirBnB Valentine's Day job and little did she know that I had set up the AirBnB with candles, flowers, her favourite champagne, champagne glasses that said 'Georgia Williams', because she's going to take our last name, and the date that we met.

'I bought 100 candles and her favourite flowers. Because I pretended it was a job, she rocked up at sunset at Tamarama Beach, which is a special place for us, because we met in lockdown and most of our dates - the first six months of our dates - were doing the Bondi to Bronte.

'I wanted to do a sunset proposal on the beach, in the East somewhere around Bondi. She thought it was a job and I had cameras and a videographer, and she got the shock of her life because she thought it was a Valentine's Day job.'

Georgia admitted she was completely stunned by the proposal because even though they had discussed engagement rings, she hadn't expected Katie to get down on one knee that day.

'She really, really got me so good. I didn't think it was going to happen for another six months. We had been talking about rings and she was saying that she couldn't find anything that I liked,' Georgia said.

Reflecting on the proposal, Katie revealed that she had set up a stunning beachside proposal complete with flowers and candles (pictured), keeping it all a surprise from Georgia

Georgia admitted that she was completely surprised by the proposal as, even though they had discussed engagement rings, she hadn't expected Katie to get down on one knee that day

'And I was like "me too, I can't even find anything" and I was trying to find inspo pictures and I was like "babe, it's really difficult!" and she was like "I know". She had me good! She even got her manager to write a fake job email!'

Katie cheekily said she had pretended their accommodation had been cancelled at the last minute to delay Georgia and make sure she arrived exactly at sunset for the romantic proposal.

Katie and Georgia's parents were both clued in on the epic surprise, with Georgia joking she couldn't understand why her father was rushing to get her to the beach on time when he dropped her off.

Their picture-perfect proposal was caught on camera with the happy couple looking overjoyed in the special moment, which saw Katie get down on one knee and ask the all important question with a stunning diamond ring in hand.

Of her engagement ring, Georgia gushed: 'The ring, I am over the moon with. It is so beautiful! It is very very big, I have never worn anything this precious in my whole entire life! I'm a little bit scared wearing it.'

Their picture-perfect proposal was caught on camera with the happy couple looking overjoyed in the special moment

'It's everything I could have wanted - I didn't even know what I wanted - but she's nailed it and designed it and was a part of it all. It's so beautiful but it definitely catches your eye,' she added.

Katie said the sun came out for her proposal after a week of rain and her physic healer messaged her just one day before telling her 'it's time to step up', despite having no knowledge of her plans.

The couple also looked ahead to their wedding, telling Daily Mail Australia they just want to spend the special day with their families and they may have a three-day wedding 'festival'.

'We don't know what we want to do for a wedding but we are going to start planning it soon because we want to have babies in the next two years,' Katie said.

While Georgia added: 'My ideal - and I think it would be Katie's too - would be to have a three day festival with all our family on a big property somewhere, just have quality time and rejoice.

'That's the biggest thing for me, it's the small little moments leading up to the big day, it's not just the eight hours on the day at the ceremony, it's everything surrounding it.

The couple also looked ahead to their wedding and said they just want to spend the special day with their families, revealing they might have a three-day wedding 'festival'

'I really want to make the most of that and the time with our families as well.'

Looking towards their future together, the couple said they hope to get married next year and start planning to have a family together the following year.

'We talk about it all the time, I think we'll do wedding next year and babies the year after. We definitely want babies, wedding planning and then babies,' Katie said.

'As soon as we've got a backyard and I can grow some veggies, then the babies will come,' Georgia added.

Things have not always been plain-sailing for the couple as Katie also spoke about how Georgia helped her with coming out in the public eye and dealing with cruel trolling.

Looking towards their future together, the couple said they hope to get married next year and start planning to have a family together the following year

'Coming out for me was very challenging in the public eye, it was made a lot easier with Georgia. Georgia ever since she was sixteen has dated girls and guys, and has never felt the need to identify with any label,' Katie said.

'She has just been herself and fallen in love with the person. Meeting Georgia changed my life forever, she made the process of coming out a lot easier. Coming out in the media is a lot of responsibility, it's a lot of pressure, you want to make sure you're saying the right things and you're representing the community in a great way.'

'The trolling was really big, I've had some really serious trolling,' she added.

Katie and Georgia first confirmed their romance in August 2021 and have been going strong ever since, and are now looking forward to their special wedding day.
All five of the Culkin brother are making their collective debut in the upcoming Prime Video animated series The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy.

The thrilling casting call features Macaulay, Kieran, Rory, Christian, and Shane Culkin, all of whom began their acting careers in childhood and are now in their 30s and 40s.

Kieran voices one of the main characters, Dr. Plowp, with Plowp's siblings being voiced by the Succession star's real-life brothers.

The roster of Culkin siblings also includes sisters Quinn Culkin, Dakota Culkin - who died after being struck by a car in 2008 - and half-sister Jennifer Adamson, who died of an overdose in 2000.

The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy showrunner Cirocco Dunlap revealed on Tuesday that Keiran was the one to suggest the Culkin clan star together in the series.

All five of the Culkin brother are making their collective debut in the upcoming Prime Video animated series The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy. Kieran (front left) and Macaulay Culkin, posing with their parents Kit and Patricia in London, England in December, 1990

The thrilling casting call features Macaulay, Kieran, Rory, Christian, and Shane Culkin, all of whom began their acting careers in childhood and are now in their 30s and 40s; Rory and Keiran on set of 2008's Lymelife

'So Kieran came up for the role of Dr. Plowp and in a crazy turn of events, the bird alien [character that he plays] had four brothers [in the script] before he was cast,' Dunlap told The Hollywood Reporter.

'So he had the four brothers already and when we cast Kieran we were like, "You have four brothers! Thats ridiculous, what fate', Dunlap continued.

'Kieran was the one who suggested it, he was like, We could get my brothers and I was like, What? Yes, yes we should. And theyre so wonderful, theyre so funny, theyre very empathic and very sweet.'

However, it turns out Natasha Lyonne, who plays Nurse Tup in the show, was the one to seal the deal.

'The magic of Natasha, she made a call  I think she picked up the Culkin Batphone and they all answered,' quipped Maya Rudolph, who is lined up to lend her voice to Dr. Vlam.

Natasha chimed in at the time, 'Im the Culkin whisperer it turns out.'

'I worked with Mac on Party Monster, I want to say it was five years ago but it was probably 25. And so we became pals, we were instant friends and hed do running charades and the family would all be there. Kieran and I became pals along the way, I think maybe I did a movie with Rory.

'I love them, I really love those Culkins,' she added.

Kieran voices one of the main characters, Dr. Plowp, with Plowp's siblings being voiced by the Succession star's real-life brothers

The rest of the cast includes Keke Palmer as Dr. Klak, Sam Smith as Dr. Azel and Stephanie Hsu from Everything, Everywhere All at Once as Dr. Sleech.

Episode six of The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy will see Kieran's character joined by his cosmic siblings; Christian and brother Kieran Culkin attend the The Starry Messenger cast party on November 16, 2009

The five are set to come together as Plowp and Sleech celebrate a holiday, coinciding with the budding development of their romantic relationship; Macaulay and Keiran

The rest of the cast includes Keke Palmer as Dr. Klak, Sam Smith as Dr. Azel and Stephanie Hsu from Everything, Everywhere All at Once as Dr. Sleech.

The animated TV series for adults will narrate the tale of Sleech and Klak, two extraterrestrial doctors with expertise in handling rare and peculiar illnesses.

A official synopsis from Amazon reads: 'In season one, doctors Sleech and Klak take on a highly dangerous and potentially groundbreaking case and, in doing so, put existence itself in jeopardy. Although considering their dismal personal lives, oblivion might be an improvement.'

Episode six of The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy will see Kieran's character joined by his cosmic siblings.

The five are set to come together as Plowp and Sleech celebrate a holiday, coinciding with the budding development of their romantic relationship.

At the age of 41, Kieran has shared the screen before with his elder brother Macaulay, 43, in the Home Alone franchise, and alongside Christian, 37, in My Summer Story.

Additionally, Rory, 34, has acted alongside his 39-year-old sister, Quinn Culkin, in The Good Son.

He has also portrayed younger versions of Macaulay in Richie Rich and Kieran in 2002's Igby Goes Down.

Drama has surrounded the Culkin family since Macaulay rose to fame in the 1990s through his roles in Home Alone and Uncle Buck

Rory (second from left) starred in Scream 4

Keiran won an Emmy for his role as Roman in HBO's SUccssion

The Culkin brothers have enjoyed the hugely successful run in Hollywood, with Keiran taking home a 2024 Emmy for his turn as as Roman Roy in Succession.

He emotionally thanked his mom Patricia Brentrup, 69, during his acceptance speech at the Emmys - before taking a swipe at his estranged father Christopher 'Kit' Culkin, 79, by branding him 'some guy'.

Patricia couldn't make it to the ceremony as she is in poor health.

Drama has surrounded the Culkin family since Macaulay rose to fame in the 1990s through his roles in Home Alone and Uncle Buck.

At the age of 16, he gained fame for famously contending with his now-separated parents over control of his $50 million fortune during their child custody dispute involving him and his six siblings.

Kieran emotionally thanked his mom Patricia Brentrup, 69, during his acceptance speech at the Emmys - before taking a swipe at his estranged father Christopher 'Kit' Culkin, 79, by branding him 'some guy'.

In his 2006 memoir, Macaulay accused his father of both physical and emotional abuse (pictured 1993)

In 2016 a now reclusive Kit said he 'didn't consider Macaulay as a son anymore' while Kieran has not seen his father since 2014; pictured 1990

He later temporarily retired from acting, and he has not spoken to Kit since then.

In his 2006 memoir, Macaulay accused his father of both physical and emotional abuse.

He claimed that his father threatened to hit him when he was just 11 years old, hosting SNL in 1991, for using cue cards.

In 2016 a now reclusive Kit said he 'didn't consider Macaulay as a son anymore' while Kieran has not seen his father since 2014.
Brad Pitt appears to be aging in reverse - in both looks and dress - as DailyMail.com spotted the A-lister flashing his best Hollywood smile while leaving an art studio.

The 60-year-old actor was in high sprits as he left a Los Angeles studio wearing a trendy black and white tracksuit emblazoned with a skull.

The abstract patterned outfit - costing about $4,600 - is from a luxury fashion label called God's True Cashmere, which Brad himself co-founded in 2019 with holistic healer Sat Hari.

He was seen carrying a stack of architecture books and sipping on a healthy La Croix as he stopped to chat with fans, happily posed for photos and then hopped in his $200,000 Porsche Taycan Turbo S.

Brad is currently relaxing in Los Angeles before he goes off to race at the British Grand Prix this year to film scenes for Formula One's new movie.

Brad Pitt was in high spirits as he stopped to flash his Hollywood smile at the cameras and chatted with fans

The art enthusiast wore an abstract black and white tracksuit that had a skull emblazoned on the front

DailyMail.com spotted the 60-year-old actor this week hopping in his Porsche in Los Angeles

He was seen carrying a stack of architecture books and sipping on a healthy La Croix as he stopped to chat with fans, happily posed for photos

Brad was seen hopping in his black Porsche Taycan Turbo S and driving away

Brad is an avid architecture and arts enthusiast and he regularly collects works by some of the world's most esteemed artists.

The God's True Cashmere brand has also been heavily promoted by the actor's close friend, British artist Thomas Houseago.

Houseago designed this particular limited edition outfit and showcases it on his website while lauding the clothing as 'protective, safe, nourishing, and made with God Energy'.

Brad's upcoming film has no name yet but is working under the project title 'Apex', featuring the fictional team APXGP.

Co-producer Lewis Hamilton has been involved in the script from the start and vows to ensure the on-track action is as realistic as possible.

Production has been delayed by the Screen Actors' Guild and Writers' Guild of America's strikes last year, but now F1 bosses are confident of releasing according to the planned schedule of 2025, probably in late summer.

Brad's friends and British artist Thomas Houseago designed this particular limited edition outfit and showcases it on his website while lauding the clothing as 'protective, safe, nourishing, and made with God Energy'

For a moment Brad placed his La Croix can on the roof of his Porsche as he juggled Architecture books and his keys

Brad is an avid architecture and arts enthusiast and he regularly collects works by some of the world's most esteemed artists

Brad is currently relaxing in Los Angeles before he goes off to race at the British Grand Prix this year to film scenes for an upcoming movie

The former spouse of Angelina Jolie is currently dating jewelry designer Ines De Ramon.

The pair have moved in together and Ines is supposedly calling the actor's home her address, according to a report from People.

'It's pretty recent. They are going very strong and she is happier than ever,' an insider said.

It was also claimed that Ines is keeping her Los Angeles bachelorette pad for now.

Brad and Ines were first linked in November 2022 after they were spotted at a Bono concert. It was only two months after Ines separated from her husband Paul Wesley after three years of marriage.

He took her to his Babylon premiere in December 2022, followed by birthday celebrations, New Year's Eve together and a trip to Paris.

They also were together to ring in Brad's 60th birthday in December.

Brad attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival with Ines earlier this month where he honored his pal Bradley Cooper with the outstanding performer of the year award.

The couple were seated next to each other at the event - which took place at Arlington Theater.

According to Hello Magazine, Ines had her hand on Brad's thigh for most of the event, with the couple laughing and chatting with each other.

A source told People: 'He seemed to be in very good spirits onstage when he presented the award to Bradley and poked fun at his friend, joking that he was just here for the free trip to Santa Barbara.'

The former spouse of Angelina Jolie is currently dating jewelry designer Ines De Ramon

Brad Pitt will be 'racing' at the British Grand Prix to record scenes for a Formula One movie

Brad and Angie, who met in 2004 while filming Mr. And Mrs. Smith, share six children together: sons Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, and Knox, 15, and daughters Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 17, and Vivienne, 15.

Jolie adopted Maddox in 2002, then Zahara in 2005, a year after she'd met Pitt while the pair filmed Mr and Mrs Smith.

They then adopted Pax together in 2007, and had biological kids Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne afterwards. Pitt adopted all of the kids before they got married in 2014.

After 10 years together, Angelina filed for divorce in September 2016.

An insider said: 'It saddens him [Brad] that he's not on better terms with some of his kids, and he regrets that things got so acrimonious with Angelina, but the days of looking back in anger are behind him.'
John Cena revealed that he nearly passed up his hilarious role in Barbie if he had followed an agency's advice.

The wrestler-turned-actor - who recently teased an OnlyFans account - said a Hollywood team told him not to appear in Greta Gerwig's film as a mermaid, deeming the role 'beneath him' and expressing concerns about its impact on future leading roles.

'Theyre just going on what they know,' he explained on a recent Howard Stern Show. 'And what they know is, "This entity, this commodity, gravitates towards these things, we should stay in this lane." But I'm not a commodity. I'm a human being, and I operate under the construct of every opportunity is an opportunity.'

'But I think the perspective from an agency standpoint was "This is beneath you," which I get that,' he added. 'But also to the agency's credit, immediately, they acquiesced, and I was like, 'No, we're going to do it,' but all they can do is offer their guidance.'

John ended up making a one-minute cameo as a mermaid alongside Dua Lipa in the $1.4 billion blockbuster, ultimately becoming Warner Bros.' highest-grossing film ever and securing eight Oscar nominations.

John Cena revealed that he nearly passed up his hilarious role in Barbie if he had followed an agency's advice on The Howard Stern Show on Wednesday

The wrestler-turned-actor said a Hollywood team told him not to appear in Greta Gerwig's blockbuster as a mermaid, deeming the role 'beneath him'

Cena clarified that his team primarily comprises his manager, though he does collaborate with an agency to secure roles.

'[The agency] is not ultimately making the choice,' he continued. 'And their guidance is Truly trickle down economics from this may take you out of these lead lap slots.

'And I get all that. Ive always operated under the philosophy that good work gets you another chance.'

John said he had read the script for Barbie and had tried his 'hardest' to get into the movie, but it wasn't until a fateful meeting with star and producer Margot Robbie when a plan came into action.

The star happened to be filming Furious X next to the Barbie set when he bumped into the actress.

'I finally got connected with the people who can make the decisions and Margot was like, "Well make you a mermaid. Youll be in it for half a day."'

During the promotion tour for Barbie in July 2023, Margot confirmed her involvement in John joining the project.

'While we were shooting in London, I ran into him at a restaurant, and we'd worked together before,' she told Chris Van Vilet.

'Theyre just going on what they know,' he explained on a recent Howard Stern Show . 'And what they know is, "This entity, this commodity, gravitates towards these things, we should stay in this lane."'

John ended up making a one-minute cameo as a mermaid alongside Dua Lipa in the $1.4 billion blockbuster, ultimately becoming Warner Bros.' highest-grossing film ever and securing eight Oscar nominations

John said he had read the script for Barbie and had tried his 'hardest' to get into the movie, but it wasn't until a fateful meeting with star and producer Margot Robbie when a plan came into action

'I was like, "Do you wanna come be a Merman in Barbie?" And he was like, "Uh, yeah." And I was like, "Surely hes not gonna agree to it just like that." And he did. . . . But he's so awesome like that.'

John and Margot previously collaborated in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, paving the way for the former WWE Champion to star in the Peacemaker spin-off series.

Meanwhile, John surprised his fan base with the announcement of his entry into the adult-themed subscription platform OnlyFans on Thursday.

It was quickly discovered, however, it was a fun tactic to promote his latest comedy, Ricky Stanicky, which he stars alongside Zac Efron.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has joined a long lift of self-proclaimed 'Swiftie dads' who bond with their children through Taylor Swift's music.

The MP, 43, shared a precious gallery of photos to Instagram on Saturday capturing himself and wife Annabel posing up a storm with his daughter Sophie, eight, at Swift's Sydney concert.

The trio are all smiles in the adorable snap which showed them sitting in the crowd at Accor Stadium, and another of his and his daughter's wrists adorned with friendship bracelets.

He captioned the gallery with some hilarious words: 'I caught the fever. I'm a Swiftydad.'

Many of Peter's followers were quick to praise his hands-on fathering skills.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has joined a long lift of self-proclaimed 'Swiftie dads' who bond with their children through Taylor Swift 's music. He shared this photo on Saturday of himself watching the show with wife Annabel (left) and their daughter Sophie, eight (centre)

'Welcome to Sydney, mate!' wrote NSW Premier Chris Minns.

The Premier joins the growing list of Aussie 'Swiftie dads' including AFL star Jack Crisp.

According to new Spotify data, 29% of Aussie Dads are fans of Swift, with nine in ten fathers admitting her music had a positive effect on their relationship with their kids.

He captioned the gallery with some hilarious words: 'I caught the fever. I'm a Swiftydad'

Collingwood player Jack, 30, is leading the pack and as the proud father of three young daughters he openly admits to loving Swift's songs.

'I am as proud a Swiftie Dad as they come. Listening to Taylor Swift with my girls has become one of the great Crisp family pastimes,' he said in a statement.

'There isn't a car ride without a group Karaoke session of Shake it Off, a personal favourite of mine.'

The research added that one in four fathers will be attending Taylor's Australian Eras Tour concerts with their children - and will likely enjoy the show just as much as their kids.

He also shared this photo of his and his daughter's wrists adorned with friendship bracelets.

Swift will take the stage for two further shows on Sunday and Monday at Accor Stadium, in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans

Crisp is one of many celebrities who are huge Swifties, with Rebel Wilson being just one of many stars flocking to Sydney for Taylor Swift's hotly-anticipated Eras tour concerts this week.

Swift performed the first two shows of her Sydney concerts to a jam-packed crowd on Friday and Saturday night.

She will take the stage for two further shows on Sunday and Monday at Accor Stadium, in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans.
Lady Eliza Spencer caught the eye as she arrived at the Elisabetta Franchi show at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday.

The model and niece of Princess Diana, 31, looked glamorous as she turned up at the annual fashion event wearing a white blouse that she kept mostly unbuttoned.

She also wore a shimmering champagne coloured miniskirt that stopped several inches above the knee and completed her look with a pair of nude heels.

The socialite complemented her outfit with a purse that matched her footwear and let her honeyed locks fall neatly around her shoulders.

Eliza was joined by daughter of Grease legend John Travolta Ella, 23, who showed off her trim figure and plunging neckline in a sparkling vest top.

The model and niece of Princess Diana, 31, looked glamorous as she turned up at the annual fashion event wearing a white blouse that she kept mostly unbuttoned.

Eliza was joined by daughter of Grease legend John Travolta Ella, 23, who showed off her trim figure and plunging neckline in a sparkling vest top

At one point, the star covered up with a formal jacket that turned her outfit into a sleek power suit

The Gotti actress struck a confident pose with the loose-fitting suit trousers and black heels as she clutched onto a matching leather purse.

Ella was also spotted covered up with a smart blazer which made her outfit into a sleek power suit.

The starlet opted for a natural look in terms of makeup and accessorised her appearance with the addition of a set of double-hooped earrings.

At one point, Ella was seen with Eliza and her twin sister Lady Amelia Spencer and the three beauties sat poised ready to watch the show.

The ladies then spent some time with Spanish actress Maria Pedraza and photographer Allegra Ream, with the latter proving a stark contrast to her friends by showcasing her luminous pink hair.

Maria styled things out with an all-crimson outfit made up of a leather jacket, tights and completed the look with a pair of high-heeled sandals.

By complete contrast, Allegra opted for a casual suit made up of white shirt and black trousers, complete witha black waistcoat.

Ella seemed impressed with the display of models as she was seen clapping for the show when seated with actress Mina El Hammani and Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Simone Marchetti.

At one point, Ella was seen with Eliza and her twin sister Lady Amelia Spencer and the three beauties sat poised ready to watch the show

The ladies then spent some time with Spanish actress Maria Pedraza and producer Allegra Ream (far right)

Daring floor-length dresses seemed to be a theme at the Elisabetta Franchi show during Milan Fashion Week on Saturday

Two models were seen showing off a twist on the school uniform against a bookshelf backdrop

Earlier in the evening, Kate Moss rocked her supermodel status in an understated all-black outfit for the Bottega Veneta show.

Kate, 50, looked incredible as she arrived to take her seat on the front row alongside Salma Hayek, 57, A$AP Rocky, 35, and Julianne Moore, 63.

Kate teamed a boxy double breasted coat from the fashion giant with thigh-high leather boots and a designer clutch.

At one point, the catwalk legend was seen smiling as she attended the glitzy event which showcased the designer Matthieu Blazy's Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 collection.
Cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury has parted ways with Bella Hadid as the face of one of its incredibly popular lipstick ranges.

Ms Hadid's departure came as a surprise to staff at the top British make-up brand.

One source said bosses were so excited about a forthcoming lipstick launch featuring Hadid that they had sent videos to their staff to tell them they had re-signed her, although the company deny this.

Charlotte Tilbury herself featured in a promotional video with Miss Hadid last year in which she tells her: 'Bella, darling! I'm so happy you're here'.

Ms Hadid replied: 'Charlotte, darling! I'm so happy to be here with you, I love you.' To which Miss Tilbury replied: 'I love you too.'

Cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury has parted ways with Bella Hadid. The pair pictured together

Charlotte Tilbury last night confirmed that Hadid's contract had come to an end.

Ms Hadid, whose property developer father Mohammed Hadid, 75, is Palestinian, has courted controversy for online posts expressing her support for people in Gaza.

In an Instagram post last October - soon after Hamas slaughted 1,200 Israelis in a terror attack - the model wrote: 'I've been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number has been leaked, and my family has felt to be in danger.

'But I can not be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave - they are.

Bella Hadid pictured at a film screening in Cannes in 2022

Ms Hadid's father is 75-year-old property developer Mohamed Hadid (pictured)

'It's important to understand the hardship of what it is to be Palestinian, in a world that sees us as terrorists resisting peace. It's harmful, it's shameful, and it's categorically untrue.'

When she was voted Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council, Hadid said in her acceptance speech: 'This is for the Palestinian children This is for any child, immigrant or refugee.'

A source at Charlotte Tilbury told The Mail on Sunday: 'Staff were expecting, and had been promised promotional materials featuring Bella Hadid as the front woman for the re-promotion of the Air Brush Flawless range. They had sent out videos and content to staff bragging about getting Bella Hadid as the face of the re-promotion because her endorsement sells out makeup products like hot cakes. Charlotte Tilbury dubbed this the 'Bella Hadid effect' but then all of a sudden, nothing.'

After parting ways with Charlotte Tilbury, Hadid now plans to unveil her own cosmetics and wellness company, Orebella, in May.

Last night, a spokesperson for Charlotte Tilbury said: 'We're thrilled that Bella is launching her own range later this year. We have always loved working with Bella and while her contract has come to an end, she remains a great friend of both Charlotte and the brand, and we look forward to creating more magical beauty moments together in the future.'
Influencer Veruca Salt has defended her decision to attend a Taylor Swift concert days after holding a funeral for her six-week-old son Cash.

Salt, whose real name is Kimberley Summer Hartley, announced earlier this month that her son Cash had tragically 'died in his sleep' and that she 'doesn't know happened'.

The Gold Coast influencer, 25, has since kept her followers updated on her grieving process, including documenting her son's funeral on Monday evening.

On Friday, Salt returned to TikTok with a tearful video announcing that she would be attending Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert in Sydney on Saturday.

In her video, Salt said she was aware her decision to attend the show would spark criticism, but said she wanted to go because Swift's music gives her happy memories of her son.

Influencer Veruca Salt, 25, (pictured) has defended her decision to attend a Taylor Swift concert days after holding a funeral for her six-week-old son Cash

Salt, who purchased tickets for Swift's show while she was still pregnant with Cash, explained: 'I knew that my baby would be a little over two-months-old when I was supposed to go to Taylor Swift. I'm still here. I still came. I'm in the hotel.'

'I just feel the need to make a video because I know that people are just going to be like "Oh, she's at Taylor Swift, it was her f***ing baby's funeral the other day,"' she continued.

She went on to reveal that Cash's funeral happened to take place on her birthday, and that she finally wanted to feel some joy.

Salt, who purchased tickets for Swift's show while she was still pregnant with Cash, attended Swift's concert on Saturday night. She had previously uploaded a tearful video defending her decision to attend

'Ever since my baby died I have really bad anxiety. I cry all the time. I just didn't want to give off the impression that I don't care because obviously I care the most, he's my baby,' Salt said, breaking down into tears.

Salt then explained that she's been a fan of Swift since the start of her career, and listens to her music on a daily basis.

'[I listened to Swift's music] when my baby was in the womb, when it came out, every morning I'd put him to sleep to Taylor Swift, he would have a bath to Taylor Swift, he would get dressed to Taylor Swift . . . we love Taylor Swift.'

Shortly before attending Swift's concert on Saturday, Veruca returned to TikTok to reveal the outfit she was wearing for the show.

'Ever since my baby died I have really bad anxiety. I cry all the time. I just din't want to give off the impression that I don't care because obviously I care the most, he's my baby,' Salt said, breaking down into tears. (Pictured with baby Cash)

Salt, whose real name is Kimberley Summer Hartley, announced earlier this month that her son Cash had tragically 'died in his sleep' and that she 'doesn't know happened'

Joined by fellow Gold Coast influencer Michael Finch, Salt was seen smiling and posing in a tight black crop top and maxi skirt.

'I did have a sparkly outfit but probably have been a bit bit too miserable to wear it,' she explained.

Salt added that she was also wearing a 'C' pendant necklace in honour of Cash as well as a sparkly butterfly brooch that also represented her baby.

The Gold Coast influencer has since kept her followers updated on her grieving process, including documenting her son's funeral on Monday evening

A day later, Salt shared a short throwback clip of herself dancing close to the stage at Swift's show.

At one point, Swift turns around and appears to look at Salt for a moment, causing the influencer to gasp in delight.

'Taylor Allison Swift looked me in the eyes, smiled at me and pointed, swirled and cast a spell on me last night,' Salt gushed in the caption.

If you need someone to talk to, you can can contact Lifeline for crisis support on 13 11 14
Emily VanCamp and husband Josh Bowman will soon be a family of four as the actress revealed her pregnancy on Saturday.

The Brothers & Sisters actress, 37, showed off her bump in a radiant Instagram post as she announced the happy news.

For the first of the two black-and-white photos, VanCamp can be seen staring down at her baby bump as she cradled her belly dressed in blue jeans and a black turtleneck with her long blonde locks pulled into a bun.

She was also joined by her husband, who held their two-year-old daughter Iris in his arms.

Not only did VanCamp unveil the baby news, she also directed a message to her pending bundle of joy, writing: 'Not long now.. Ready when you are little love.'

Emily VanCamp and husband Josh Bowman will soon be a family of four as the actress revealed her pregnancy on Saturday

The actress is wearing the same ensemble for the endearing family photo of her kissing Iris on the head, while Bowman, who has his face leaning in on their baby girl, dressed simply in blue jeans and a classic white t-shirt.

For the photo, the couple also included the family's pet pooch, who's in the middle of a snuggle fest as Iris caresses their four-legged family member.

VanCamp began dating the English actor after they met on the set of the ABC drama series Revenge in late 2011.

They would go on to date for about six years until they decided to get engaged, which ultimately led to them tying-the-knot in December 2018 in the Bahamas.

It was August 2021 when VanCamp announced the birth of Iris on Instagram, sharing a black-and-white photo of her baby girl's hand wrapped around her finger

'Welcome to the world our sweet little Iris. Our hearts are full,' VanCamp gushed in the post at the time.

She followed up by posting a couple of pictures from her pregnancy, including one where VanCamp and Bowman kissed while he cradled her baby bump.

In the two-and-a-half years since the couple welcomed Iris, VanCamp has been careful not to show her little girl's face when giving her 1.3 million Instagram fans and followers some glimpses at their family life.

When announcing her pregnancy with a photo of herself cradling her burgeoning belly, the Captain America: The Winter Soldier actress shared a message to her pending bundle of joy that she's 'ready when you are little love'

The couple only just celebrated five years of marriage this past December

The couple met on the set of the series Revenge in 2011, and proceeded to date for about six years before marrying in 2017

Just this past December, the proud wife and mom celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary by sharing a series of snaps of them enjoyig each other's company over the years.

'5 years married, 12 together  What a beautiful ride it's been,' VanCamp shared to her husband in the caption. 'Love the life we've built, our wild adventures but mostly the little family weve created. Happy Anniversary my love. Cant wait for all that is to come!! @march_forth_media.'

The Canadian actress has built up her acting resume that began in 1998 when she started taking actig lessons on the weekends, and ultimately led to her breakthrough at age 15 when she was cast in Glory Days (2002). Her other notable credits include Everwood (2002-2006), Brothers & Sisters (2007-2010), Revenge (2011-2015) and The Resident (2018-2021).

Among her film roles: Norman (2010), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), The Girl in the Book (2015) and Captain America: Civil War (2017).

Bowman, a Berkshire, England native, made his acting debut in Genie In The House (2007), and has since also starred in Revenge (2011-2015), Holby City (2009-2010), Time After Time (2017), and Our Girl (2020).
Danielle Brooks showed off her daring fashion sense as she arrived at the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles.

The actress, 34, was styled in an dress that showcased her curves, but also played homage to her role in The Color Purple.

The Georgia-born artist played Sofia in the latest incarnation of the movie based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize winning novel.

Danielle showed off her shapely legs in an spliced, asymmetrical frock that featured knee length black sheathe with a square neck.

One one side of the frock she wore what looked like half of an ankle length coat.

Danielle Brooks showed off her daring fashion sense as she arrived at the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles

The other side of the dress was sleeveless with a frilly purple and lavender ombre train.

The Orange is the New Black star's dark hair was styled in a sleek low braid.

For accessories, she was styled with simple diamond earrings.

The multi-talented star has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actress.

She is competing against; Emily Blunt for her role in Oppenheimer, Penelope Cruz for her role in the film Ferrari, Jodie Foster for Nyad and Da'Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers.

The Color Purple cast has also been nominated for Outstanding Ensemble.

The actress, who has been in New Zealand filming Minecraft, told The New York Times this year's awards season has been emotional for her. '

'There are five African Americans nominated in (Oscar) actor categories this year and only two Black women, and to be one of them means a lot to me.'

Danielle donned an asymmetrical frock that featured knee length black sheathe with a square neck. One one side of the frock she wore what looked like half of an ankle length coat. The other side of the dress was sleeveless with a frilly purple and lavender ombre train

The multi-talented star has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actress. She is competing against; Emily Blunt for her role in Oppenheimer, Penelope Cruz for her role in the film Ferrari, Jodie Foster for Nyad and Da'Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers

The actress starred as Sofia in The Color Purple. She and the rest of the cast have also been nominated for Outstanding Ensemble

Although she had won a Tony award for her portrayal of Sofia on Broadway, she was required to audition for six months before winning the role in the new film.

'It really did deplete me  physically, mentally, spiritually,' she said.

'I was drained at the end of doing this part.'

Considering her work ethic and the sometimes cut-throat mentality in show business, the actress is hoping fans and future employers will understand, 'There's a lot of sacrifice that goes into being Danielle Brooks, and I wish that this industry could remember that it's not always about the money.'
Margot Robbie has once again paid homage to Barbie with her red carpet wardrobe as she attended the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday afternoon.

The Australian actress, 33, stunned as she arrived at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, in a chic black dress adored with dramatic pink fabric that wrapped around her waist and extended into a train.

Margot, who is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Barbie in the eponymous film, completed her look with black heels, a diamond anklet and large diamond earrings - both from Lorraine Schwartz.

Looking every inch the silver screen siren, Margot wore a simple makeup look consisting of peach blush, mascara and soft pink lipstick

Margot Robbie, 33, (pictured) has once again paid homage to Barbie with her red carpet wardrobe as she attended the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday afternoon

The Barbie star styled her long blonde hair in curls parted to the side, having teamed up with celebrity colorist Josh Schwartz, who used products from Schwarzkopf's BlondMe range to ensure her hair looked at its very best ahead of the event.

At one stage, the star was joined on the red carpet by her British producer husband Tom Ackerley, who looked schmick in a black suit and matching T-shirt.

After a taxing 118-day strike, the Screen Actors Guild will be honouring the best performers in film and television at the 30th annual SAG Awards.

Winners are determined by SAG-AFTRA members, who vote for their favorites across a number of categories.

Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani announced the nominations earlier this year on Instagram Live, with Barbie and Oppenheimer leading the film nominations with four nods each.

The Australian actress stunned as she arrived at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles , in a chic black dress adored with dramatic pink fabric that wrapped around her waist and extended into a train

Margot, who is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Barbie in the eponymous film, completed her look with black heels, a diamond anklet and large diamond earrings

Maestro's Bradley Cooper and Oppenheimer's Cillian Murphy are also among the contenders for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.

Ryan Gosling, who played Ken in Barbie, is among the contenders for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.

He will compete against Sterling K. Brown, Willem Dafoe, Robert De Niro, and Robert Downey Jr. for the honour.

Looking every inch the silver screen siren, Margot styled her long blonde hair in curls parted to the side and wore a simple makeup look consisting of peach blush, mascara and soft pink lipstick

As far as television, the hit HBO Max drama series Succession earned the most nominations with a total of five nods.

Three of their stars are up for the same honour - Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, and Matthew Macfadyen are among the nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series.

Sarah Snook is also up for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.

At one stage, the star was joined on the red carpet by her British producer husband Tom Ackerley , who looked schmick in a black suit and matching T-shirt

It will also be competing for best ensemble in a drama series against The Crown, The Gilded Age, The Last of Us, and The Morning Show.

Comedy shows Ted Lasso and The Bear also received four nominations.

All three are up for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
Prue Leith has revealed she doesn't need to wear her trademark glasses any longer  after having an operation to remove cataracts.

The 84-year-old Bake Off judge is known for her colourful specs and recently boasted she owns 24 pairs.

But last year she went under the knife, and as a result has no need for glasses.

However, she says she can't stop wearing them as she likes them so much  and she joked that she needed to be seen with them on to advertise her Specs by Prue range.

The 84-year-old Bake Off judge recently boasted she owns 24 pairs of glasses

Last year she went under the knife and as a result has no need for glasses

Talking to Woman's Weekly magazine, the celebrity chef said of her glasses: 'I don't actually need my specs any more, but I love them and you can't sell a range of specs if you don't wear them.

'I got an eye test, and while I was there, they told me I'd got cataracts beginning that I'd have to have removed.

'My sight wasn't blurry or anything.

I had both eyes done together, which is unusual.

'They like to do them separately in case something goes wrong, but I didn't have the time for that.'
Jodie Foster was joined by her wife Alexandra Hedison as she attended the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The famed child actor was up for Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role for her performance in the biographical-sports drama film Nyad, which was ultimately won by The Holdovers star Da'Vine Joy Randolph.

The longtime couple  who will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this year  hit the red carpet in coordinating all-black looks.

Foster, 61, was the picture of style in a sleeveless gown cover in sparkly black sequins.

The actress/director completed her outfit with open-toe shoes and silver jewelry.

Jodie Foster was joined by her wife Alexandra Hedison as she attended the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday night

Hedison, 54, looked sharp while rocking a blazer over a plunging black dress and matching open-toe shoes.

Foster also worked the cameras on the red carpet by herself.

The two-time Oscar-winner looked to be in a jovial mood during her time in the spotlight.

Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, who worked from a screenplay by Julia Cox, the story revolves around a bucket list item that had eluded Diana Nyad: a 110-mile non-stop swim from Cuba to Florida, a feat that she tied and failed 30 years earlier.

Making its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2023, Nyad was released in select theaters in October 20 of last year, and then began streaming on Netflix a couple weeks later, on November 3.

The film received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for the performances of the two leading ladies.

For their performances, Bening and Foster received nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 81st Golden Globe Awards and the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Her latest accolade comes nearly two weeks after she was nominated for Best Supporting Performance In A Motion Picture for The Holdovers but she would out to Da'Vine Joy Randolph once again.

SAG Awards 2024 winners: AT A GLANCE FILM Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Lily Gladstone - Killers Of The Flower Moon Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer Oppenheimer was a major winner in the film categories as it earned top honor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture TELEVISION Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Succession Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Elizabeth Debicki - The Crown Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Pedro Pascal - The Last Of Us Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Ayo Edebiri - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Ali Wong - Beef Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Steven Yeun - Beef

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The longtime couple  who will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this year  hit the red carpet in coordinating all-black looks

Foster, 61, was the picture of style in a sleeveless gown cover in sparkly black sequins

The actress/director completed her outfit with open-toe shoes and silver jewelry

The famed child actor was up for Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role for her performance in the biographical-sports drama film Nyad, which was ultimately won by The Holdovers star Da'Vine Joy Randolph

For her new win at the SAG Awards, Randolph had some stiff competition that included Foster (Nyad), Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), Penelope Cruz (Ferrari).

Along with Foster and Bening, the cast also includes the likes of Rhys Ifans, Karly Rothenberg, Jeena Yi, Luke Cosgrove, Eric T. Mille, Garland Scott and Johnny Carson.

The festive evening comes in the wake of Randolph's triumphs in the supporting role for The Holdovers at the 81st Golden Globe Awards and the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards in recent weeks.

The SAGs honor the finest achievements of filmmaking and television programming of 2023.
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have been making the most of their time in Australia.

The jet-setting couple departed Sydney airport on Sunday afternoon before touching down in Melbourne along with their baby son, Rocky.

Also in tow were Travis' Blink 182 bandmates Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge as the band tour the country.

The A-list couple cut casual figures for their flight, with Kourtney donning a loose black and white band shirt.

She added a pair of wide-leg trousers and had on minimal makeup and designer sunglasses.

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have been making the most of their time in Australia. Both pictured

The jet-setting couple departed Sydney airport on Sunday afternoon before touching down in Melbourne along with their baby son, Rocky

The A-list couple cut casual figures for their flight

Travis meanwhile opted for a white T-shirt and a pair of loose trousers with a bone design on the side.

He added a pair of sunglasses and had his many tattoos on display as he pushed along Rocky in a pram.

Kourtney and Travis have been making the most of their time in Australia during his latest world tour.

Kourtney donned a loose black and white band shirt

She added a pair of wide-leg trousers and had on minimal makeup and designer sunglasses

Travis meanwhile opted for a white T-shirt and a pair of loose trousers with a bone design on the side

He added a pair of sunglasses and had his many tattoos on display as he pushed along Rocky in a pram

Also in tow were Travis' Blink 182 bandmates Mark Hoppus (pictured) and Tom DeLonge

The band are touring the country. Tom is pictured

Last week they were seen visiting hot spot Gelato Messina at Bondi Beach.

The couple have already been seen all over Australia as they dined at Sydney's Peace Harmony restaurant and at the vegan cafe Dicki's.

They have also been seen getting coffees in Brisbane, Queensland where they stayed at a lavish hotel that was $1,800 a night.

The couple and their blended family were staying in a stunning rental in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The reality star and the rocker have been playing tourists as they take in the local sights during their visit. Pictured at Sydney Airport on their way to Melbourne

Kourtney and Travis have been making the most of their time in Australia during his latest world tour

Last week they were seen visiting hot spot Gelato Messina at Bondi Beach

The couple have already been seen all over Australia as they dined at Sydney's Peace Harmony restaurant and at the vegan cafe Dicki's

They have also been seen getting coffees in Brisbane, Queensland where they stayed at a lavish hotel that was $1,800 a night

On Thursday the reality TV personality showed off the eye-popping rental in picturesque coastal suburb she reserved through Airbnb.

The Airbnb was located in the prestigious suburb of Bellevue Hill.

Kourtney at first remained in Sydney with her kids while Travis and his bandmates Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus toured around, performing in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.

The Airbnb was located in the prestigious suburb of Bellevue Hill.

blink-182 will perform a few more shows in Sydney and Melbourne for newly-added dates before heading to New Zealand.

The couple and their blended family were staying in a stunning rental in Sydney's eastern suburbs
The cast of hit HBO series Succession enjoyed their 'one last hurrah' during a bittersweet night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday.

Kieran Culkin, 41, Nicholas Braun, 35, and Matthew Macfadyen, 49, were seen sharing a warm hug at their last awards show together, before joining the rest of the talented cast inside.

They later reunited on stage with co-stars Alan Ruck, Alexander Skarsgard, J. Smith-Cameron, Justine Lupe, Fisher Stevens, Dagmara Dominczyk, David Rasche and more.

The critically-acclaimed tragicomedy was upset several times in the television categories, including by Elizabeth Debicki who beat out Sarah Snook for The Crown, and The Last Of Us star Pedro Pascal who triumphed over Culkin, Brian Cox, and Macfadyen.

However, the Jesse Armstrong series did ultimately take home top honor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

The cast of hit HBO series Succession enjoyed their 'one last hurrah' during a bittersweet night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday

Kieran Culkin , 41, Nicholas Braun, 35, and Matthew Macfadyen , 49, were seen sharing a warm hug at their last awards show together, before joining the rest of the talented cast inside

The critically-acclaimed tragicomedy was upset several times in the television categories, but did ultimately take home top honor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Also present were Juliana Canfield, Justine Lupe, Arian Moayed, Scott Nicholson, J. Smith-Cameron, and Zoe Winters.

Missing from the action  as he has been throughout the awards season  was Jeremy Strong, 45, famed for his portrayal of Kendall Roy, who's currently busy with another project.

Brian Cox, 77, and Sarah Snook, 36, were also not in attendance, as they are currently busy working on stage plays.

The fan-beloved show beat out an impressive field including The Crown, The Gilded Age, The Last Of Us, and The Morning Show.

Alan Ruck accepted the prize on behalf of cast of the drama as he began his speech saying: 'One last hurrah, I think.'

'I think right now you're looking at some of the luckiest people on the planet and some of the most grateful because not only did we get to all work on one of the best television shows, you know, maybe ever, we made friends for life.

'And I think the magic of Succession was that the writing was so fabulous. It inspired all of us to bring our A-game from the very beginning.'

'And we got off on watching each other work, and we caught lightning in a bottle. Lucky, you know? So, now we're thrilled to be recognized by our peers.'

Alan Ruck accepted the prize on behalf of cast of the drama as he began his speech saying: 'One last hurrah, I think'

The fan-beloved show beat out an impressive field including The Crown, The Gilded Age, The Last Of Us, and The Morning Show

The trio cozied up while finishing their awards season

Macfadyen and Scott Nicholson posed with Kieran and J. Smith-Cameron, whose characters enjoyed a forbidden-love connection on the series

Ruck shared a warm hug with Kieran at the event

(L-R) Macfadyen, Culkin, Smith-Cameron, Nicholson, Alexander Skarsgard, Dagmara Dominczyk, Zoe Winters, Fisher Stevens, Nicholas Braun, Arian Moayed, Ruck, Yvonne de Bark, David Rasche and Justine Lupe

Missing from the action was Jeremy Strong, 45. Brian Cox, 77, and Sarah Snook, 36, were also not in attendance, as they are currently busy working on stage plays

Macfadyen and Skarsgard posed together backstage

Kieran, who won fans over with his portrayal of immature and insecure Roman Roy - son of media mogul Logan Roy (played by Cox) - proudly held the award, despite losing in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series category

Kieran looked dapper as ever on the red carpet, and was joined by his wife Jazz Charton

Macfadyen looked handsome in an all-black suit

Succession has been nominated for numerous awards, including 75 Primetime Emmy Awards (19 wins), 18 Golden Globe Awards (nine wins), one Grammy Award, 18 Critics' Choice Television Awards (eight wins), two Producers Guild of America Awards (won both), six Writers Guild of America Awards (four wins), and one Peabody Awards (won)

Succession's fourth and final season aired in May, and the show was praised across the board by critics - despite its shocking tragic Shakespearean conclusion

The Daily Mail's TV critic, Christopher Stevens, gave the show five stars and said the ending was 'everything we hoped it would be.'

The series went out on top as it drew 2.9million viewers across linear telecasts and streaming service Max

SAG Awards 2024 winners: AT A GLANCE FILM Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Lily Gladstone - Killers Of The Flower Moon Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer Oppenheimer was a major winner in the film categories as it earned top honor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture TELEVISION Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Succession Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Elizabeth Debicki - The Crown Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Pedro Pascal - The Last Of Us Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Ayo Edebiri - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Ali Wong - Beef Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Steven Yeun - Beef

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'So on behalf of Brian and Snooky and Jeremy, who can't be here, thank you to our fellow actors for giving us this award, thanks to everybody at HBO for being so smart.'

'Thanks for casting us and giving us this gift, thanks to our lovely crew, all our directors who guided us and mostly thanks to Jesse Armstrong for having this idea and hiring the most glorious writers' room. You honor us and we honor them.'

Succession has been nominated for numerous awards, including 75 Primetime Emmy Awards (19 wins), 18 Golden Globe Awards (nine wins), one Grammy Award, 18 Critics' Choice Television Awards (eight wins), two Producers Guild of America Awards (won both), six Writers Guild of America Awards (four wins), and one Peabody Awards (won).

Succession's fourth and final season aired in May, and the show was praised across the board by critics - despite its shocking tragic Shakespearean conclusion.

The episode saw the fate and future of the Roy family children and the company their late billionaire media mogul father Logan Roy (Cox) created hanging in the balance.

The entire series has been building up to the last few episodes, as all of Logan's children - Kendall (Strong), Roman (Culkin), Shiv (Snook) and Connor (Ruck) - get ready for the final Waystar Royco board vote on the merger with Lukas Matsson's (Skarsgard) GoJo.

The 90-minute series finale was directed by Mark Mylod and written by series creator Jesse Armstrong, and after many twists and turns, it was Tom Wambsgans (Macfadyen) who ultimately takes over as Waystar CEO, under new owner Lukas Matsson.

The Daily Mail's TV critic, Christopher Stevens, gave the show five stars and said the ending was 'everything we hoped it would be.'

Succession's finale received rave reviews from critics across the board, who warned ending should come with a 'psychological warning'

The episode saw the fate and future of the Roy family children and the company their late billionaire media mogul father Logan (Cox) created hanging in the balance

He wasn't surprised about the 'strong language from the start and throughout'  it was the very last episode of the 'sweariest @%&ing show in television history. We'd have been horrified if there wasn't strong language.'

But he added: 'We should have been cautioned that what followed was 90 minutes of drama so bruising, so punishing that by the end my internal organs felt like Roman Roy's face looked  stitched up and bleeding all over the place.'

At the very least, we deserved some admonition: 'This program contains intense scenes of psychological and emotional meltdown.'

'The idea of Tom being the eventual successor, that had been something that I thought was the right ending for quite a while now,' series creator Jesse told HuffPost about the finale.

'Even though hes not exactly the most powerful monarch youll ever meet  his power comes from Matsson [Skarsgard],' he added. 'Those figures that drift upwards and make themselves amenable to powerful people are around.'

The series went out on top as it drew 2.9million viewers across linear telecasts and streaming service Max.
Sofia Vergara looked incredible in a plunging red dress as she attended Saturday's Screen Actors Guild Awards in LA.

The Modern Family star, 51, who reunited with the cast at the event, flashed her cleavage and tiny waist in the sweetheart neckline strapless gown as she posed.

The gown was studded with sequins and the star wore her tresses in soft waves, having worked with hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein, who used color from Schwarzkopf to achieve the actress' signature hue.

The star - who recently settled her divorce from Joe Manganiello - accessorized with diamond earrings and a smoky palette of make-up.

Sofia joined former co-stars Ed O'Neill, 77, Ty Burrell, 56, Julie Bowen, 53, Eric Stonestreet, 52, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 48, onstage.

Sofia Vergara looked incredible in a plunging red dress as she attended Saturday's Screen Actors Guild Awards in LA

The cast of Modern Family reunited at the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday; (L-R) Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Ed O'Neill, Sofia , Eric Stonestreet, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson

SAG Awards 2024 winners: AT A GLANCE FILM Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Lily Gladstone - Killers Of The Flower Moon Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer Oppenheimer was a major winner in the film categories as it earned top honor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture TELEVISION Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Succession Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Elizabeth Debicki - The Crown Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Pedro Pascal - The Last Of Us Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Ayo Edebiri - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Ali Wong - Beef Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Steven Yeun - Beef

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At one point Vergara plugged her new Netflix series Griselda, but got scolded as Stonestreet quipped, 'Jesse, pay up. I told you she'd mention it in the first 10 seconds.'

Meanwhile her co-star Julie had a hilarious moment of her own as she got distracted by Barbie star Ryan Gosling in the audience.

It all started while they were presenting the award, which their ABC show won four previous times, and Burrell reflected on their series, saying, 'This really brings back memories.'

'You guys ever miss it?' Burrell asked his former costars.

His on-screen daughter Bowen replied: 'Oh, hell yeah, but of course we had a great time, 11 seasons, 250 episodes. Come on.'

She then got distracted by Gosling, as she giggled and pointed at him in the crowd: 'It's Ryan Gosling. I'm sorry,' before catching her train of thought, '250 episodes, it never happens.'

'It's happened twice to me,' replied ONeill, who starred as Al Bundy on the 1987-97 Fox comedy MarriedWith Children.

Stonestreet, a Kansas native, then joked about his friendship with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce  the boyfriend of Taylor Swift, as he tried to convince the crowd of his success in life post Modern Family.

The Modern Family star, 51, who reunited with the cast at the event, flashed her cleavage and tiny waist in the sweetheart neckline strapless gown as she posed

ABC's Modern Family ran for 11 seasons, from September 23, 2009, to April 8, 2020; seen in promotional pictur

'Hey, wow, I know Travis Kelce. I can FaceTime him right now,' he suggested.

Ferguson then admitted that he gets 'a little nostalgic for the golden days. You know, it's been a life after a big hit show, it can be nice too, right?'

'I didn't want to get emotional up here,' ONeill replied, 'but you know what I miss about it most of all?'

'Going to work every day,' answered Burrell.

'The money,' ONeill quipped in response.
Josh Hartnett delighted fans as he made a rare public appearance at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday.

The Pearl Harbor star, 45, who has returned to the Hollywood spotlight in Oppenheimer as Ernest Lawrence, looked typically handsome in a suit as he walked the red carpet.

He also joined his Oppenheimer co-stars onstage as they accepted the coveted Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award.

He was seen hugging the blockbuster's director Christopher Nolan as the cast celebrated.

He told E!: 'Being in the film with these other actors and just Chris deciding to choose me to play this role was the winning goal.

Josh Hartnett delighted fans as he made a rare public appearance at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday

The Pearl Harbor star, 45, who has returned to the Hollywood spotlight in Oppenheimer as Ernest Lawrence posed up with his co-stars as they accepted the coveted Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award

The star is seen in Oppenheimer as Ernest Lawrence

'We had a fun time making the film and then for it to be so phenomenally received and to have it be nominated by our peers for acting categories, across the board, is great.'

'All my costars getting individuals and then us being nominated for a cast. It's phenomenal. I mean, it's better than we could have imagined.'

It was a huge night for Oppenheimer as Cillian Murphy earned the Male Actor in a Leading Role gong while Robert Downey Jr. took home Male Actor in a Supporting Role.

Josh has been married to Tamsin Egerton since 2021 and the couple share three children who they raise in England.

Josh Hartnett appeared set for a long career in Hollywood before turning his back on Tinseltown in the mid 2000s.

In 2021 the actor revealed the real reason why he stepped away from a career in big-budget movies and took a more artistic path.

The esteemed star told Channel Seven's Sunrise: 'It was the best thing for my mental health and my career to keep Hollywood at bay...

'Luckily I think I hit onto it early on in my life: its about creating a good home life and being able to do things that are wild and wonderful like making films, which is such a privilege'.

The star clapped alongside Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy

Josh posed with winner RFJ as the pair enjoyed the night

The pair held their awards as they celebrated the film's success

Fans went wild for the 'smokeshow' as they begged for him to be in more films

The cast celebrated as they looked ahead to the Oscars

SAG Awards 2024 winners: AT A GLANCE FILM Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Lily Gladstone - Killers Of The Flower Moon Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer Oppenheimer was a major winner in the film categories as it earned top honor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture TELEVISION Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Succession Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Elizabeth Debicki - The Crown Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Pedro Pascal - The Last Of Us Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Ayo Edebiri - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Ali Wong - Beef Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Steven Yeun - Beef

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It comes after Hartnett revealed the one role he regrets turning down during his early Hollywood career, as he was offered a role in the award-winning 2005 film Brokeback Mountain, which was eventually taken by the late Heath Ledger.

He explained: 'Unfortunately, I was going to do Brokeback Mountain And I had a contract with the [2006 film] Black Dahlia that I had to film, so I had to drop out of it'.

He explained he was originally meant to star in the drama with Joaquin Phoenix.

This was soon changed to Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, who both went on to receive several awards and separate nods at the 2006 Academy Awards.

The movie received six more nominations at the Oscars and numerous accolades across the globe.

Harnett has been vocal about not having regrets about some of the huge roles he's turned down in the past, including playing Superman in a three-picture deal and Batman in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.

But he does admit there's a bit of regret for Brokeback Mountain, joking that he 'always wanted to kiss Joaquin'.

Hartnett got his big start in the 2001 war films Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down.

He turned to independent films in recent years, starring in Ida Red and Target Number One, but he has also made appearances in bigger productions such as Guy Ritchie's Wrath of Man.

One of Hartnett's most renowned starring roles was in the hit horror drama series Penny Dreadful, which ran from 2014 to 2016.
Robert De Niro had the support of his girlfriend Tiffany Chen on Saturday night as his film Killers Of The Flower Moon competed for top honors at the SAG Awards in Los Angeles.

De Niro, 80  who skipped the red carpet  was among the five nominees for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role for his riveting performance in Killers Of The Flower Moon.

Before the night was over it was Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer) who would take home the trophy for his stunning role as Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss in the epic biographical thriller film that's become a smash hit with moviegoers.

Downey Jr. had some tough competition in the category, besting De Niro, as well as Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction), Willem Dafoe (Poor Things) and Ryan Gosling (Barbie).

Missing from the action was Robert and Tiffany's, 45, baby daughter Gia Virginia, who will celebrate her 1st birthday in April.

Nominee Robert De Niro agtended the 30th Annual SAG Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen (far right); the couple shared a few moments with Netflix CCO Ted Serandos and Nicole Avant.

Missing from the action was Robert and Tiffany's baby daughter Gia Virginia, who will celebrate her 1st birthday in April.

Robert looked sharp in a classic black suit and tie as he held Tiffany's hand for a photo with Netflix CCO Ted Serandos and his wife Nicole Avant.

Tiffany was radiant in a black velvet jacket over a low-cut black dress.

The couple were first romantically linked in 2021, and they would go on to welcome their daughter in April 2023.

During the ceremony, De Niro also got to share a special moment with his co-star in Killers Of The Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone, who won the award for Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role.

She beat out the likes of Margo Robbie (Barbie), Annette Bening (Nyad), Carey Mulligan (Maestro) and Emma Stone (Poor Things).

Gladstone now has the distinction of being the first-ever Indigenous performer to land a SAG Award in that category, according to People.

Co-written by Scorsese and Eric Roth, Killers Of The Flower Moon tells the true story of the 'reign of terror' that left two dozen Native Americans dead.

The Apple-backed film, based on a 2017 book of the same name by David Grann, is Scorsese's first attempt at the Western genre.

SAG Awards 2024 winners: AT A GLANCE FILM Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Lily Gladstone - Killers Of The Flower Moon Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer Oppenheimer was a major winner in the film categories as it earned top honor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture TELEVISION Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Succession Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Elizabeth Debicki - The Crown Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Pedro Pascal - The Last Of Us Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Ayo Edebiri - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Ali Wong - Beef Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Steven Yeun - Beef

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The couple were first romantically linked in 2021, and they would go on to welcome their daughter in April 2023

De Niro was among the five nominees for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role for Killers Of The Flower Moon, which ultimately went to Riber Downey Jr.

Killers Of The Flower Moon stars Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, and Tantoo Cardinal shared a special moment during the ceremony

Like the best-selling book, the screenplay depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma.

Killers Of The Flower Moon received 10 Academy Award nominations also included Best Picture, Best Director for Martin Scorsese and Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro.

The cast also includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Tantoo Cardinal, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, John Lithgow, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion and Jason Isbell, among many others

The twice-divorced De Niro, a screen legend of such classics as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Godfather II, is also the proud father of six other children

He has Drena, 52, and Raphael, 46, with his ex-wife Diahnne Abbott; twins Julian and Aaron, 27, with former girlfriend Toukie Smith; and Elliot, 25, and Helen, 11, with ex-wife Grace Hightower, according to Page Six.

The SAG Awards ceremony comes in the wake of the 118-day strike that formally ended on December 5, 2023 with a 78% yes in voting.

The boycott coincided with the WGA strike, which lasted from May 2 to September 27.
Succession's Sarah Snook appeared happy as she met fans after her performance of Dorian Gray in London on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the cast of the hit HBO series enjoyed their 'one last hurrah' during a bittersweet night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Sarah, 36, and co-star Brian Cox, 77, were both not in attendance, as they are currently busy working on stage plays.

The actress didn't seem to mind missing out, as she signed autographs while chatting and laughing with fans.

Her co-stars Kieran Culkin, 41, Nicholas Braun, 35, and Matthew Macfadyen , 49, were seen sharing a warm hug at their last awards show together, before joining the rest of the talented cast inside.

Succession's Sarah Snook appeared happy as she met fans after her performance of Dorian Gray in London on Saturday

Meanwhile, the cast of the hit HBO series enjoyed their 'one last hurrah' during a bittersweet night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards

They later reunited on stage with co-stars Alan Ruck, Alexander Skarsgard, J. Smith-Cameron, Justine Lupe, Fisher Stevens, Dagmara Dominczyk, David Rasche and more.

The critically-acclaimed tragicomedy was upset several times in the television categories, including by Elizabeth Debicki who beat out Sarah Snook for The Crown , and The Last Of Us star Pedro Pascal who triumphed over Culkin, Brian Cox, and Macfadyen.

However, the Jesse Armstrong series did ultimately take home top honor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Also present were Juliana Canfield, Justine Lupe, Arian Moayed, Scott Nicholson, J. Smith-Cameron, and Zoe Winters.

Missing from the action  as he has been throughout the awards season  was Jeremy Strong, 45, famed for his portrayal of Kendall Roy, who's currently busy with another project.

The fan-beloved show beat out an impressive field including The Crown, The Gilded Age, The Last Of Us, and The Morning Show.

Alan Ruck accepted the prize on behalf of cast of the drama as he began his speech saying: 'One last hurrah, I think.'

Sarah, 36, and co-star Brian Cox, 77, were both not in attendance, as they are currently busy working on stage plays

The actress didn't seem to mind missing out, as she signed autographs while chatting and laughing with fans

Sarah bundled up in a black trench coat and grey top, teamed with straight-leg trousers

SAG Awards 2024 winners: AT A GLANCE FILM Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Lily Gladstone - Killers Of The Flower Moon Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer Oppenheimer was a major winner in the film categories as it earned top honor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture TELEVISION Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Succession Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Elizabeth Debicki - The Crown Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Pedro Pascal - The Last Of Us Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Ayo Edebiri - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White - The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Ali Wong - Beef Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Steven Yeun - Beef

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'I think right now you're looking at some of the luckiest people on the planet and some of the most grateful because not only did we get to all work on one of the best television shows, you know, maybe ever, we made friends for life.

'And I think the magic of Succession was that the writing was so fabulous. It inspired all of us to bring our A-game from the very beginning.'

'And we got off on watching each other work, and we caught lightning in a bottle. Lucky, you know? So, now we're thrilled to be recognized by our peers.'

'So on behalf of Brian and Snooky and Jeremy, who can't be here, thank you to our fellow actors for giving us this award, thanks to everybody at HBO for being so smart.'

'Thanks for casting us and giving us this gift, thanks to our lovely crew, all our directors who guided us and mostly thanks to Jesse Armstrong for having this idea and hiring the most glorious writers' room. You honor us and we honor them.'

Succession has been nominated for numerous awards, including 75 Primetime Emmy Awards (19 wins), 18 Golden Globe Awards (nine wins), one Grammy Award, 18 Critics' Choice Television Awards (eight wins), two Producers Guild of America Awards (won both), six Writers Guild of America Awards (four wins), and one Peabody Awards (won).

The critically-acclaimed tragicomedy was upset several times in the television categories, but did ultimately take home top honor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Macfadyen and Scott Nicholson posed with Kieran and J. Smith-Cameron, whose characters enjoyed a forbidden-love connection on the series

Succession's fourth and final season aired in May, and the show was praised across the board by critics - despite its shocking tragic Shakespearean conclusion.

The episode saw the fate and future of the Roy family children and the company their late billionaire media mogul father Logan Roy (Cox) created hanging in the balance.

The entire series has been building up to the last few episodes, as all of Logan's children - Kendall (Strong), Roman (Culkin), Shiv (Snook) and Connor (Ruck) - get ready for the final Waystar Royco board vote on the merger with Lukas Matsson's (Skarsgard) GoJo.

The 90-minute series finale was directed by Mark Mylod and written by series creator Jesse Armstrong, and after many twists and turns, it was Tom Wambsgans (Macfadyen) who ultimately takes over as Waystar CEO, under new owner Lukas Matsson.

The Daily Mail's TV critic, Christopher Stevens, gave the show five stars and said the ending was 'everything we hoped it would be.'

He wasn't surprised about the 'strong language from the start and throughout'  it was the very last episode of the ' sweariest @%&ing show in television history . We'd have been horrified if there wasn't strong language.'

Succession's finale received rave reviews from critics across the board, who warned ending should come with a 'psychological warning'

The episode saw the fate and future of the Roy family children and the company their late billionaire media mogul father Logan (Cox) created hanging in the balance

But he added: 'We should have been cautioned that what followed was 90 minutes of drama so bruising, so punishing that by the end my internal organs felt like Roman Roy's face looked  stitched up and bleeding all over the place.'

At the very least, we deserved some admonition: 'This program contains intense scenes of psychological and emotional meltdown.'

'The idea of Tom being the eventual successor, that had been something that I thought was the right ending for quite a while now,' series creator Jesse told HuffPost about the finale.

'Even though hes not exactly the most powerful monarch youll ever meet  his power comes from Matsson [Skarsgard],' he added. 'Those figures that drift upwards and make themselves amenable to powerful people are around.'

The series went out on top as it drew 2.9million viewers across linear telecasts and streaming service Max.
TOWIE's Amber Turner showed off her jaw-dropping figure while filming in Bali on Saturday.

The reality star, 30, flashed her washboard abs in a patterned bikini top, teamed with a stylish white fishnet cover-up.

She accessorised with gold sunglasses, a shell necklace and beach bag as she posed in front of a picturesque backdrop.

Elsewhere, Ella Rae Wise looked effortlessly chic in a semi-sheer green top and matching maxi skirt.

Ella, Danni Imbert, Harry Derbidge & Saffron all met up to catch up on all the latest gossip as they headed to brunch at Canna Bali Beach Club.

TOWIE's Amber Turner showed off her jaw-dropping figure while filming in Bali on Saturday

The reality star, 30, flashed her washboard abs in a patterned bikini top, teamed with a stylish white fishnet cover-up

Other Cast members Amber, Chloe Meadows, Courtney Green & Elma Pazar strutted their bikini bodies at Omma Day Club in North part of the Island.

They then headed to wash & clean the local Elephants at Masons Adventures Elephant Park.

The Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali is the only dedicated elephant rescue park in Ubud, Bali.

Their website states: 'Our park was created in response to the devastating situation in Sumatra where rampant deforestation and poaching have dwindled the native elephant population.

'Our park is Balis only dedicated elephant rescue facility and is home to Balis largest herd of critically-endangered Sumatran elephants, 6 of which were born here.

'We do not use brutal or cruel training methods, as all training is by repetition, reward, and patience.'

The outing comes after Ella and co-star Dan Edgar were spotted getting flirty at the Resort earlier in the week as it appeared they were having a holiday fling.

She accessorised with gold sunglasses, a shell necklace and beach bag as she posed in front of a picturesque backdrop

Ella Rae Wise looked effortlessly chic in a semi-sheer green top and matching maxi skirt

Ella's blonde locks were styled back in a neat bun and she sported a bronzed makeup palette

Danni Imbert showed off her incredible figure in a white crop top and maxi skirt

Chloe Meadows donned a brown bikini top and bottoms, teamed with a fishnet skirt

Elma Pazar slipped into a beige two-piece

Courtney Green looked sensational in a green fishnet top and bikini bottoms

Ella, Danni Imbert, Harry Derbidge & Saffron all met up to catch up on all the latest gossip as they headed to brunch at Canna Bali Beach Club

Other Cast members Amber, Chloe Meadows, Courtney Green & Elma Pazar strutted their bikini bodies at Omma Day Club in North part of the Island

An insider told The Sun: '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.

'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 a long-term relationship with co-star Amber Turner 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, but there were also rumours Dan had grown close to Ella while he was with Amber.

They then headed to wash & clean the local Elephants at Masons Adventures Elephant Park

Amber was all smiles as she met the elephants

The Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali is the only dedicated elephant rescue park in Ubud, Bali

Whilst boys Roman Hackett & Jordan Brook had a break from filming

The outing comes after Ella and co-star Dan Edgar were spotted getting flirty at the Resort earlier in the week as it appeared they were having a holiday fling

An insider told The Sun: 'Dan and Ella have been growing close while on the away trip with their friends.'

Ella and Amber had a fiery showdown back in August when Amber confronted Ella over claims Dan had touched her inappropriately on the night out.

The pair went on to unfollow each other on social media.

Ella seemed to confirm she had split from her mystery man just before Christmas, as she took to Instagram with a cryptic post about 'deserving better'.

The pair had been dating since May 2023, but Ella had never revealed his identity.
Brooklyn Peltz-Beckham's ex-girlfriend is reportedly dating his brother-in-law.

Hana Cross, 27 - who split with Brooklyn, 24, in 2019 - has been spotted on a romantic date in Los Angeles with Bradley Peltz, 34, the older brother of Brooklyn's wife Nicola Peltz Beckham, 29.

A source who spotted the pair at the Beverly Hills Hotel's Cabana Cafe told The Sun on Sunday's Bizarre column: 'They looked very intimate and like they were deep in conversation.

'Brad didn't seem to mind that Hana had been in a serious relationship with his sister's husband, or who saw them together.

'He was obviously out to impress, taking her to the most famous spot in LA, where money is no object.'

Brooklyn Peltz-Beckham's ex-girlfriend is reportedly dating his brother-in-law

A source who spotted the pair at the Beverly Hills Hotel's Cabana Cafe told The Sun on Sunday's Bizarre column: 'They looked very intimate and like they were deep in conversation.'

Brooklyn started dating Nicola soon after his split from Hana and they went on to tie the knot in 2022.

Hana went on to write a scathing song about an ex in 2020, which friends insisted was about Brooklyn.

The lyrics include: 'You broke my heart and said let's be friends but I never heard from you again and that's kind of mean.'

'I saw us as meant to be and you saw me as temporary and that's kind of rough.

'I'm confused and I'm sad, I don't know what I did but you said it wasn't my fault but without reason how can I know?'

It comes after his mother Victoria gave a shocking response when she was asked about becoming a grandmother.

She was left gobsmacked after a Vogue Interview on last week with 'The Run Through' co-host Chloe Malle.

During a chat about her son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz, Victoria revealed that she does not like to offer relationship advice.

Hana Cross , 27 - who split with Brooklyn, 24, in 2019 - has been spotted on a romantic date in Los Angeles with Bradley Peltz, 34, the older brother of Brooklyn's wife Nicola Peltz Beckham, 29

Brooklyn started dating Nicola soon after his split from Hana and they went on to tie the knot in 2022

But when Chloe asked if the fashion designer was excited to become a 'Gramma', Victoria was shocked and dramatically like the prospect of being a grandmother was brand new information.

Victoria was floored by the suggestion that Brooklyn was having a baby with Nicola and delivered the awkwardly animated response: 'Oh. Jesus. What? Woo. Hang on.'

The model then used her hand to fan her face before turning to the audience and stating: 'I don't think it's happening just yet unless you guys know something I don't.'

Once she finally regained composure, Victoria said: 'If I am blessed, then that would be wonderful.'

Then she returned to fanning her face again and dramatically reiterating that 'we are not there yet.'
In the ever-evolving landscape of Finance and Accounting, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer, redefining how financial processes are executed.

AI-powered finance tools have not only automated routine tasks but have also enhanced accuracy, compliance, and strategic decision-making.

This article introduces the most advanced AI tools in Finance and Accounting, providing a comprehensive overview for finance professionals, businesses, and anyone intrigued by the transformative impact of AI in the financial domain.

Explore how these tools are revolutionizing everything from automated bookkeeping to predictive financial analytics, ushering in a new era of efficiency and precision in financial management.

TillyPay is an AI-enabled tool remolding the landscape of business transactions. This tool empowers businesses to collect payments effortlessly, sans technical knowledge or the need for coding. Professional checkout pages, customized payment solutions and subscription billing capabilities are just a few of its features. TillyPay also offers an instant overview of all payments, a universally appealing payment format supporting 120+ currencies, and seamless integration with over 2000 tools. A handy form builder, unique brand integration, a self-service billing portal, and a user-friendly dashboard are amongst its powerful tools, making TillyPay the perfect companion for streamlining your business operations.

TillyPay Features

Customizable payment solutions

Professional checkout pages creation

Subscription billing capabilities

Invoice sending and multi-currency support

Payment form builder for complex checkouts

More details and pricing 

Yooz is an innovative AP and invoice payment automation solution that aims to revolutionize businesses. Yooz utilizes cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies to seamlessly automate invoice management from procurement to payment. This tool not only enhances efficiency by abolishing paper-based processes, but also expedites payment processes with same-day invoice approval. With unique features like cashback capture and early payment discounts, it assists in optimizing cash flows and financial performance. Plus, with its mobile access functionality, it ensures that the AP department remains connected at all times. Experience a new level of AP efficiency with Yooz.

Yooz Features

AP process workflow streamlining

Paperless AP operations

Same-day invoice approval

Cashback and discounts capturing

Mobile access functionality

More details and pricing 

Abe.ai is a cutting-edge AI-powered tool revolutionizing digital banking for both financial institutions and consumers. Its AI technology provides virtual financial assistance, improving operational efficiency and customer engagement. The tool offers a personalized, conversational banking experience, with features such as natural language understanding and finance intelligence capabilities, streamlining financial transactions. Compliant, transparent, and accountable, Abe.ai meets the rigorous standards of the financial industry, providing institutions with assurance. Advanced machine learning enables unique, robust dialogue, making financial management a seamless experience for consumers, while simultaneously boosting financial literacy and decision-making. Abe.ai is the new standard for smart, efficient, and personalized banking.

Abe Features

Provides Virtual Financial Assistants

Enhances operational efficiency

Offers personalized natural language understanding

Native finance intelligence capabilities

Includes compliance tracking features

More details and pricing 

Vic.ai is an innovative AI-powered business tool designed to transform the accounting landscape. Vic.ai is focused on streamlining the accounts payable process, significantly reducing manual tasks and errors. With an impressive 355% increase in productivity, its no wonder that top corporate finance teams are relying on Vic.ai. The tool provides real-time, valuable financial insights to drive efficiency. Thanks to its open APIs, integrating Vic.ai into your existing workflows is a breeze. Engineered by a team of world-class AI experts, Vic.ai offers smarter, error-free accounting, ushering in a new era of intelligent accounting. Experience the benefits of AI in accounting with Vic.ai.

Vic Features

Streamlining accounts payable process

Automating invoice processing

Real-time financial insights

Seamless integration with ERPs

Expert AI engineering support

More details and pricing 

BILL is an AI-powered, comprehensive financial operations platform designed to streamline your businesss financial tasks. From creating and paying bills, sending invoices, to managing expenses and budgets, BILL makes everything easy. This exceptional tool boasts automated accounts payable, seamless integration with your accounting software, and remarkable cash flow optimization through accessible credit lines. With its ability to create professional invoices, accept direct payments, and sync automatically with leading accounting software, this platform accelerates your payment process, improves cash flow, and takes the hassle out of financial management. Ideal for financial firms aiming to expand, BILL promotes efficiency, control, and business growth.

BILL Features

Simplifies financial tasks

Optimizes cash flow

Automates accounts payable

Enables faster payment process

Automates bookkeeping tasks

More details and pricing 

Zeni is an AI-powered business tool revolutionising accounting for startups. This cutting-edge platform provides 24/7 access to real-time financial data, giving businesses a unified view of their entire financial operations and helping them make informed decisions. With crucial metrics such as burn rate, cash flow, and OpEx at their fingertips, businesses can actively manage their operations to mitigate risks and fuel growth. Moreover, Zenis AI bolsters real financial experts to master your books accurately and efficiently, giving businesses the confidence and support to excel. This tool ensures your financials are well-managed, letting you focus on driving your business forward.

Zeni Features

Provides 24/7 access to financial data

Offers real-time financial insights

Supports operational decision-making

Aids in managing bookkeeping and finance

Employs AI for financial efficiency

More details and pricing 

Docyt is an advanced tool built to revolutionize your bookkeeping tasks. Say goodbye to manual procedures and dive into automated, real-time visibility into your financial health. Docyt learns your business, streamlines back-office operations, and empowers you with vital financial insights for informed decisions. Whether you are using QuickBooks, an ERP system, or looking to upgrade your heritage systems, Docyt offers a cost-effective way to automate your accounting and spend management. Its cloud-based platform fosters collaboration, providing multi-entity accounting capabilities, and convenience. Shift to Docyt now for a simplified, smart, and satisfying finance management experience.

Docyt Features

Automates and Streamlines Bookkeeping

Provides Real-Time Financial Insights

Offers Complex Multi-Entity Accounting

Customized ERP Automation Solution

Enables Financial Collaboration via Cloud

More details and pricing 

Gridlex is an advanced business solution that integrates artificial intelligence to streamline your financial operations. Gridlex not only simplifies accounting and expense management but also enhances Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) with its highly customizable software. Designed to support informed decision making, Gridlex offers AI-driven insights, comprehensive financial modules, and essential financial reports. It also provides integrated CRM capabilities and versatile functions suitable for businesses with complex structures. Whether managing revenue, inventory, customers, or payments, Gridlexs superior functionality and accuracy make it a go-to tool for businesses aiming for growth and excellent customer satisfaction. Discover more about Gridlexs cutting-edge features for your fintech needs.

Gridlex Features

Streamlines accounting, expenses, ERP

AI-driven insights and analytics

Comprehensive financial management modules

Payment processing and banking reconciliation

Access to essential financial reports

More details and pricing 

To be updated 

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Anna Paul headed out to catch Taylor Swift in concert on Sunday night.

The TikTok star shared photos from her journey to Accor stadium for night three of the American pop superstar's tour of Sydney.

In a series of Instagram Stories posts, Anna showed off her famous figure in a baby blue crop top and matching skirt.

She also showed off her friendship bracelets, which Taylor's fans, called Swifties, are known to wear.

Accompanied by her bother, Atis, Anna took her seat inside the stadium and prepared to rock out at the gig.

Anna Paul (pictured) headed out to catch Taylor Swift in concert on Sunday night

Earlier this year, Anna, 24, shocked her fans by surprising her ex-boyfriend Glen Thomson, 24, with a Nissan GT-R worth almost $200,000.

The social media star shared a three-minute long video to show her ex's reaction and how the surprise unfolded.

After having dinner with both her family and Glen's, the social media personality led her ex to his new set of wheels.

Glen looked in shock and close to tears as Anna unlocked the car and handed him a set of keys.

Anna revealed the GT-R, which can cost up to $400,000, was his dream car.

The TikTok star shared photos from her journey to Accor stadium for night three of the American pop superstar's tour of Sydney. Pictured with Laura Dundovic and Khanh Ong

Anna also showed off her friendship bracelets, which Taylor's fans, called Swifties, are known to wear. She was accompanied by her bother, Atis (pictured)

In a series of Instagram Stories posts, Anna showed off her famous figure in a baby blue crop top and matching skirt

'He's wanted this car our whole lives,' she said.

Fans were quick to comment their shocked reactions on the post.

'Why did they breakup for real,' one asked.

'I feel sorry for Glen's future girlfriend,' another said.

Others were touched by the brunette beauty's loving gesture to her ex: 'I love your and Glen's friendship. you guys are amazing'.

Anna split from Glen last year after an eight-year relationship.

The high school sweethearts, who created and filmed OnlyFans content together, announced the sad news to TikTok.

Earlier this year, Anna, 24, shocked her fans by surprising her ex-boyfriend Glen Thomson, 24, with a Nissan GT-R worth almost $200,000. Pictured

The social media star shared a three-minute long video to show her ex's reaction and how the surprise unfolded
Australia has been condemned as a 'police state' and an 'Orwellian dystopia' after fans noticed a strange sign at Taylor Swift's Sydney concert on Sunday night.

In posts shared to X, Swifties, most of them from the United States, condemned a placard that read 'report antisocial behaviour' posted at Accor stadium, where the American pop superstar is performing a total of four concerts.

Signs encouraging people to 'report antisocial behaviour' are often seen in stadiums at large sporting and music events in Australia.

A clip of Taylor performing on stage with the notice in the background prompted outrage on the social media site this weekend.

'Australia is a police state,' wrote an American X user, alongside the original video and a screenshot in which the offending sign was circled.

Australia has been condemned as a 'police state' and an 'Orwellian dystopia' after fans noticed a strange sign at Taylor Swift 's Sydney concert on Sunday night. Pictured

In posts shared to X, Swifties, most of them from the United States, condemned a placard that read 'report antisocial behaviour' posted at Accor stadium, where the American pop superstar is performing a total of four concerts

'I saw that, made my hairs stand up,' replied one more, while another chimed in, 'They gave up their guns and are now paying for it.'

'Oh my God! That's scary as hell. I've never seen anything more terrifying if that's not just a meme,' another said.

'Every science fiction dystopian power riddled Nazi oppressive outcome all in one billboard message. My God that's the sign of end times,' they continued.

'I always wanted to visit Australia, I'm afraid to now!' someone else wrote with one more adding, 'It's like we're living in a Orwellian dystopia'.

A clip of Taylor performing on stage with the notice in the background prompted outrage on the social media site this weekend. 'Australia is a police state,' wrote an American X user

'I saw that, made my hairs stand up,' replied one person, while one more chimed in, 'They gave up their guns and are now paying for it.' 'Oh my God! That's scary as hell. I've never seen anything more terrifying if that's not just a meme,' another said

'Antisocial behavior sounds super vague Just about anything can be interpreted as that. You know you live in a police state if the state encourages citizens to snitch on each other on basic things like this,' someone else wrote.

'They are telling their citizens to snitch at each other. It reminds me of my old country under communism,' one more said.

Taylor performed the third of her four Sydney concerts at Accor stadium on Sunday night, after successful gigs on Friday and Saturday.

Her sold-out shows have attracted 80,000 fans per night in addition to A-list guests which have included Rita Ora, Katy Perry, Rebel Wilson and Toni Colette.
She never puts a foot wrong when it comes to fashion.

And Cate Blanchett looked effortlessly chic as she arrived at the Giorgio Armani show during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday.

The actress, 54, showed off her sophisticated sense of style in a blue velvet suit as she posed for the cameras.

The smart jacket and matching trousers were teamed with a plunging white shirt and wore black heels to boost her height.

Her blonde tresses were styled in loose waves just above her shoulders and she opted for a natural makeup look to show off her pretty features.

Cate Blanchett looked effortlessly chic as she arrived at the Giorgio Armani show during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday

The actress, 54, showed off her sophisticated sense of style in a blue velvet suit as she posed for the cameras

Also at the show was actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, and his wife Sam, 56, who cosied up for snaps.

It comes as mystery has surrounded Cate's marriage in recent days as she has been spotted without her wedding ring on at a string of high-profile events.

The Australian star has not been seen publicly on a date with her husband Andrew Upton since their sun-soaked Ibiza holiday in August 2023.

The couple, who tied the knot in 1997, also raised eyebrows earlier this month after putting their sprawling three-bedroom mansion in Prahran, Melbourne, on the market.

A source told Woman's Day magazine earlier this week that Cate's missing wedding ring has set off alarm bells about the status of their marriage.

The couple - who have been living in the UK since 2015 - have now been married for 26 years, and generally keep their romance relatively under wraps.

However, in recent days, Cate has left fans puzzled after stepping out at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards without her wedding ring on, after a string of ring-free outings.

Rather than wearing her white gold and diamond wedding sparkler, the Blue Jasmine star sported a large emerald cocktail ring for the event, which she attended solo without her husband.

The smart jacket and matching trousers were teamed with a plunging white shirt and wore black heels to boost her height

Her blonde tresses were styled in loose waves just above her shoulders and she opted for a natural makeup look to show off her pretty features

It comes as mystery has surrounded Cate's marriage in recent days as she has been spotted without her wedding ring on at a string of high-profile events

Also at the show was actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, and his wife Sam, 56, who cosied up for snaps

Cate was also spotted ring-free earlier this month, when she attended an event in New York at the Museum of Modern Art on February 6th.

She made no attempt at hiding her bare wedding finger as she smiled for photos outside the exclusive event.

In October, Cate was once again seen without her wedding ring as she sat front row at the Stella McCartney runway show during Paris Fashion Week, instead wearing a set of elegant gold bands on her wedding finger.

Speaking to Woman's Day magazine on Monday, a source close to the couple said Cate's missing ring has set off alarm bells about the status of her marriage.

'Seeing Cate without her ring has sent shockwaves through their friends. For the first time they're wondering if things aren't so rosy,' the insider claimed.

They have also put a house in Melbourne on the market recently.

The three-bedroom family home, which the couple purchased in 2006, is set to be sold at auction with a price guide of $2.25million-$2.45million.

They still own several other properties together, including a Victorian mansion in East Sussex, England, which they bought for 4.9 million (AU$9.4million) in 2015.

The couple also own an investment property in Sydney's CBD.

Cate first met her Australian playwright husband Andrew, 58, in the mid-1990s while she was starring as Nina in a production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull.

However, she has candidly revealed how it wasn't love at first sight for the pair - who were dating other people at the time - as she admitted she found Andrew 'arrogant'.

Cate looked as stylish as ever in leather trousers and pointy heels, while Andrew wore a grey coat as they posed with Roberta Armani

The Australian star has not been seen publicly on a date with her husband Andrew Upton since their sun-soaked Ibiza holiday in August 2023

Aaron and Cate were seen posing for snaps at the event which took place as part of Milan Fashion Week

She has previously spoken about how they knew each other socially but didn't get on and 'mutually' didn't like each other before romantic sparks began to fly.

Speaking on the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2013, Cate revealed: 'It was mostly animosity... He thought I was aloof and I thought he was arrogant.'

'We just didn't really connect and we were going out with other people, who we're still friends with, and it was always an issue when the four of us went out that Andrew and I had something going on.'

But the first signs of romance then emerged during a late night game of poker, with screenwriter Andrew proposing just three weeks later in a whirlwind early romance.
Aaron Taylor Johnson was in attendance with his wife Sam at the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week on Sunday.

The actor, 33, was recently revealed as a brand ambassador for the fashion house and announced the news with a sexy new campaign.

Following his collaboration with the Italian designer, Aaron showed his support as he arrived at their Womenswear Fall/Winter presentation.

The Bullet Train star cut a cool figure in a grey tweed coat, which he wore over a black jumper and trousers with smart shoes.

Aaron posing arm-in-arm with his wife of 11 years, who looked chic in PVC trousers, which she styled with a simple jumper and double-breasted black coat.

Aaron Taylor Johnson was in attendance with his wife Sam at the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week on Sunday

The actor, 33, was recently revealed as a brand ambassador for the fashion house and announced the news with a sexy new campaign

The director wore her blonde locks in a loose sleek style and opted for a full face of make-up, while accessorising with a pair of aviator shades.

The couple caught up with Roberta Armani and Cate Blanchett at the show, who they were sat next to on the front row.

Aaron was unveiled as Giorgio Armani's new ambassador for Acqua di Gio fragrances in January earlier this year.

Posing for sexy snaps, he showed off his shirtless physique in the new campaign which launched earlier this month on February 16.

For the campaign, Aaron donned an open white shirt to showcase his impressive abs while posing with the new fragrance.

He said: 'His creative genius, his timeless sophistication and his impeccable taste are only a few of Mr. Giorgio Armani's countless distinctions.

'I feel honoured to have been chosen to represent his iconic fragrance ACQUA DI GIO as its new Brand Ambassador.

'In fact, I have long been a fan of ACQUA DI GIO - for its purity and its indescribable freshness.

Following his collaboration with the Italian designer, Aaron showed his support as he arrived at their Womenswear Fall/Winter presentation

The couple caught up with Roberta Armani and Cate Blanchett (pictured left) at the show, who they were sat next to on the front row

'I've always felt that it has that elusive combination of masculinity and sensitivity - an almost magical connection to nature and to the rejuvenating power of the sea.'

A representative for Giorgio Armani added: 'ACQUA DI GIO embodies a way of understanding masculinity that is at once free, sensitive, and adventurous.

'These are all characteristics that Aaron expresses with his presence and physicality.

'It was this balance of mind and body that convinced me that he was the right person to represent the fragrance.

'Aaron has an intensity and beauty that is both self-aware and emblematic of today.'

It comes after MailOnline revealed in October Aaron has been named the hot favourite to become the next James Bond.

Ever since Daniel Craig ditched the 007 role after five films and made his Bond swansong in 2021's No Time To Die, rumours have been rife over which debonair star will replace the icon.

An insider revealed to MailOnline that British Aaron actor, 33, was extremely close to landing the role, with Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, 53, looking likely to helm the next film in the franchise.

The insider said: 'Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently the hot favourite to step into the iconic role, hes the first choice for Barbara Broccoli  he is the one to beat.'

They added of Christopher: 'He is extremely interested in doing something very different with the franchise. If he can get his way with producers, then he is all for it.'
EastEnders actor Navin Chowdhry, who plays evil Nish Panesar, admitted he sometimes asks producers to tone down scenes for his own safety.

Navin, 53, has played the evil businessman since September 2022 - resulting in him being one of Albert Square's most hated men.

But father-of-two Navin wants viewers to know he is nothing like his villainous character.

'There have been moments when we've had scenes and Ill speak to the producer and I'll say,"I'm going to have to go on the school run and you're making me beat up every woman on Albert Square",' Navin told the Daily Star. 'I've been scared.'

Navin admitted that there has been some backlash from fans who appear to have muddied the waters between him and Nish.

EastEnders actor Navin Chowdhry, who plays evil Nish Panesar, admitted he sometimes asks producers to tone down scenes for his own safety in an interview released on Saturday

Navin, 53, has played the evil businessman since September 2022 - resulting in him being one Albert Square's most hated men but the father-of-two is much more relaxed, and wants people to know he is nothing like his villainous character

'There has been the odd comment,' he said. 'There are a few unfriendly messages I've been on the receiving end of. But most people get it.'

Nish is such a hated character that he was in the running as one of The Six's murder victims in the explosive Christmas episode - which the soap foreshadowed months before.

And in upcoming episodes, Nish is set to physically abuse his lover Kat Mitchell as part of his ploy to bag the Mitchell fortune - amid Kat's divorce from Phil.

Navid said he is very aware of the hatred toward Nish, and how many had hoped he would be the one killed at Christmas.

'I apologise to the audience that Im still around,' he added.

As an actor however, Navid said that playing evil characters can be the most fun. 'I enjoy being evil,' he said.

Navid went on to say that actors often agree you have the 'best fun' when 'doing the darkest stuff.

He added: 'Sometimes when you go really dark, the flipside is you have a very fun experience on set.'

And in upcoming episodes, Nish is set to beat up his love Kat Mitchell as part of his ploy to bag the Mitchell fortune

Navid said he is very aware of the hatred toward Nish, and how many had hoped he would be the one killed at Christmas

It comes after EastEnders fans were left squirming in January when Kat and Nish consummated their affair after bonding over cheating spouses.

Kat Mitchell (Jessie Wallace) and Nish formed the most unlikely duo in episodes at the start of the year.

Both of their spouses had been cheating - Kat's husband Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) had a one-off romp with the mother of his grandchild and Nish's wife Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) a long-standing lesbian affair.

Despite Nish's abusive nature, Kat could not resist his charms and the two finally gave into their mutual lust in Tuesday's episode.

Their tryst comes despite Suki, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), and Eve Unwin (Heather Peace)'s desperate attempts to keep them apart.

Suki and Nish had been together for decades, including a long stint in prison on Nish's part after he murdered a man he believed Suki was having an affair with.

After his release from prison, he and Suki reunited but he was controlling and emotionally abusive, pushing her into the arms of Eve.

Both of their spouses have been cheating - Kat's husband Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), a one-off romp and Nish's wife Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) a long-standing lesbian affair

Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) and Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) have formed the most unlikely duo in recent episodes

Stacey, Kat's cousin, revealed to Kat that Nish hired a hitman to kill Eve, but Kat was sympathetic, as she knew the pain of being cheated on.

After showing Kat around a flat she wanted to rent from him, Nish and Kat enjoyed dinner before falling into each other's arms.

Confused and disapproving fans took to Twitter in their droves to express their unease over the budding relationship.

One wrote: 'EastEnders writers are crazy fr Kat and Nish wtf.'

'ERASING THAT KAT AND NISH DOOF DOOF FROM MY MEMORY.' Declared another traumatised fan.

'That Kat and Nish scene was a JUMPSCARE #EastEnders.' Wrote another victim of the scene.
Brian Cox and his wife Nicole Ansari-Cox have shared the story of their first meeting and how they didn't actually get together until eight years later.

The actor, 77, and his actress wife, 55, said there was 'fireworks' during their first meeting in 1990 when Brian was on a world tour of King Lear.

However despite 'clicking', it wasn't meant to be at the time, even though Brian did initially think she was 'coming back for him' following their evening together.

The Succession star told the Sunday Times Magazine: 'I was on tour in 1990 when I met Nicole at a party in Hamburg. We talked about work and all kinds of spiritual stuff well into the night. I was 44 and she was 23, but we sort of clicked.

'A few weeks later I was in a restaurant in Milan with the cast when she walked in. I thought, 'She's come for me,' and I stood up. Then sat down quickly thinking 'You bloody idiot,' because she clearly hadn't. After that I didn't see her again for eight years.'

Brian Cox and his wife Nicole Ansari-Cox have shared the story of their first meeting and how they didn't actually get together until eight years later

The actor, 77, and his actress wife, 55, said there was 'fireworks' during their first meeting in 1990 when Brian was on a world tour of King Lear (pictured together in 2003)

However despite 'clicking', it wasn't meant to be at the time, even though Brian did initially think she was 'coming back for him' following their evening together (pictured in 2005)

Nicole explained the reasoning for the time apart, and said: 'But then life took over. I worked in Zurich, Paris and Vienna and we didn't see each other again for eight years.'

But it wasn't the end of the road for the pair, who met again when Brian was starring in Art on Broadway and Nicole left a note with the doorman for him.

Brian recalled calling Nicole 15 minutes before the curtain was due to come up and she rushed back after he invited her to the show.

Following the show, Brian and Nicole spent the night together after an evening of tango dancing, as he admitted they have been together since.

However it hasn't been without trying times, as Brian told how they suffered a make or break evening in Texas two years into their romance, where Brian declared that either they needed to split or get married.

He said: 'We went to the Little White Chapel in Vegas the next day. That was 24 years ago. It was great fun and that's been our relationship ever since.'

Nicole also confessed their relationship has faced struggles, as she claimed there were 'four years of pure hell', which was aided by therapy.

She said 'Our 25 years together have not been a fairytale. We had four years that were pure hell. We went to couples therapy and it helped a lot. He was always willing to work at it. Because after that first burst of falling in love, inevitably every relationship has moments where you have to decide: is this worth my time?'

The actor, 77, and his actress wife, 55, said there was 'fireworks' during their first meeting in 1990 when Brian was on a world tour of King Lear (pictured January 2024)

However despite 'clicking', it wasn't meant to be at the time, even though Brian did initially think she was 'coming back for him' following their evening together

The loved-up pair have been married since 2002 and share two sons, Orson Jonathan and Torin Kamran.

Last year, Brian revealed on Live With Kelly and Ryan, that he and Nicole renewed their wedding vows in a surprise Vegas ceremony.

The star explained: 'We'd actually been apart for a while  she'd been traveling  and then we sat down and we said, 'Where do we go from here? Do we finish or do we go on?' And we thought, ''Well let's go on and get married''.'

Elsewhere in The Times interview, Nicole admitted Succession 'didnt mean that much to her', but she is glad that it means everyone know sees the value in her husband that she has since all along.

Brian's performance on Succession was critically acclaimed and secured him a Golden Globe.

However, he has revealed that the success has come with a price, admitting he is mourning the loss of his privacy with his celebrity status.

Last year, Brian told Barley Magazine: 'It's been a phenomenal journey for me. There's no question it's changed my life in so many ways.

'I've lost my anonymity, you know, I've lost all of that. That's all gone. I used to be the guy you'd say 'Oh, you were in such and such or no, or no you weren't'.but now I'm Logan Roy and everybody just wants me to tell them to f*** off!'

He discussed how fans commonly ask him for 'f*** off selfies', saying: 'I say they can have one for $500.

He then added to The Guardian: 'I've lost my anonymity, and I've realised that was what was important to me.

'I haven't ever experienced anything like this. I mean, you ask for success in your work, and you get it, and then you have to deal with the consequences.

'I've always valued my privacy, but it's gone. I've been very lucky that I've had it for so long. You know, I've been doing this for over 60 years. And finally it's over.'
Kate Price has confirmed her romance with Married At First Sight UK star JJ Slater, following her recent split from ex fiance Carl Woods.

The former glamour model, 45, shared a loved-up selfie with JJ to social media on Sunday, confirming they are together.

Katie said that JJ 'ticks every box' and is a 'real gentleman' as she claims fate brought them together.

The couple's romance has been heating up after they recently went on a romantic Bulgarian ski trip.

So, who is Katie's new flame JJ? Read on to find out.

Kate Price has confirmed her romance with Married At First Sight UK star JJ Slater (pictured), following her recent split from ex fiance Carl Woods

The former glamour model, 45, shared a loved-up selfie with JJ, 31, to social media on Sunday, confirming they are together

Who is JJ?

JJ, who is from Essex, is the founder and owner of a fashion brand called Fully Blessed.

He first rose to fame when he joined E4's Married At First Sight UK in 2023, but sadly he was unlucky in his search for love.

The reality star was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after being rushed to hospital days before Christmas.

JJ was informed by the nurse that 'from this day forward your life will never be the same' after learning that his diagnosis at 31 means he now has to inject himself with insulin four times a day and regulate his food consumption.

How old is JJ?

JJ, which stands for John Joe, is 31-years-old.

Who was JJ married to on the E4 show?

JJ was originally matched with Bianca Petronzi, but admitted that he wasn't attracted to her.

He ended up ditching Bianca for Ella Morgan resulting in Bianca and Ella's partner, Nathanial Valentino leaving the social experiment.

The pair tried their best to make things work, but it wasn't meant to be, and at final vows both Ella and JJ revealed they thought they were better off as friends.

After pictures emerged of the Katie and JJ looking close, sources close to Ella, 29, say the reality star, who is transgender, is furious and feels 'betrayed' as she had become good friends with Katie.

JJ, who is from Essex, is the founder and owner of a fashion brand called Fully Blessed

He first rose to fame when he joined E4's Married At First Sight UK in 2023, but sadly he was unlucky in his search for love (pictured with ex Ella Morgan)

JJ was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after being rushed to hospital days before Christmas

How did Katie and JJ meet?

JJ is said to have caught Katie's eye when they met following his appearance on the most recent series of MAFS UK last year.

A source previously told The Sun: 'They've met a few times and are texting each other constantly. She's really into him - this is the first man she's actually been interested in since Carl.'

Katie and new flame JJ got up close and personal while heading for a meal at IRMAS Restaurant in Southend on Sea on the beachfront.
Amy Dowden discussed her next career move and opened up about how her cancer battle impacted her marriage with Ben Jones.

The Strictly star, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 - but happily revealed on Friday she is finally cancer-free.

She was diagnosed in May last year and underwent a mastectomy in July, taking time off from Strictly Come Dancing while she underwent treatment.

During a candid chat with The Mirror, she said: 'Since my diagnosis in May, he hasn't taken a break.

'He's self-employed and works at our dance school. He's been looking after me or working so he didn't get a weekend off or a holiday or anything.'

Amy Dowden discussed her next career move and opened up about how her cancer battle impacted her marriage with Ben Jones (pictured together)

The Strictly star, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 - but happily revealed on Friday she is finally cancer-free

The dancer explained Ben didn't take a break between May and Christmas last year, adding he had 'so much worry and anxiety'.

Amy frankly admitted everything was so 'wrapped up' around her hospital appointments, that the couple haven't had 'the time that we needed to as a husband and wife would'.

But the pair seems to be catching up quickly - as they soaked the sun during a Caribbean honeymoon as a gift of ITV's Lorraine.

The pro dancer said the romantic getaway was 'lovely' and made both realise how much a break time was needed and admitted they are 'stronger than ever right now'.

Amy has also mentioned about her future career plans, hinting to a possible new opportunity: 'I would love for BBC One to pick up Dare To Dance and go to the whole of the UK to share my joy of dance.'

The ballroom sensation spoke about the importance of being able to carry on with her TV work during her cancer battle, explaining that it gave her 'something to get up for' every day.

She hopes a third series gets approved, as she is looking forward to come back on the dance floor very soon and is 'ready to dig deeper into it now'.

Sharing a jubilant picture on Friday, Amy announced the joyful news: 'NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! Words I dreamed of! My biggest accomplishment yet!

Talking about her husband Ben, she admitted: 'He's self-employed and works at our dance school. He's been looking after me or working so he didn't get a weekend off or a holiday or anything'

But the pair seems to be catching up quickly - as they soaked the sun during a Caribbean honeymoon as a gift of ITV's Lorraine in a pre-recorded segment that aired earlier this week

The pro dancer said the romantic getaway was 'lovely' and made both realise how much a break time was needed and admitted they are 'stronger than ever right now'

Amy has also mentioned about her future career plans, hinting to a possible new opportunity: 'I would love for BBC One to pick up Dare To Dance and go to the whole of the UK to share my joy of dance'

'I wont be getting the all clear for 5 years especially with a hormone fed cancer. But it was all worth it. Words I never thought Id hear at one point.

'So grateful for all the care I received and continue to have.

'To my husband, family and friends who supported me unconditionally and to you guys! Thank you!'

She continued: 'I will still need a monthly injection for 5 years and regular check ups.

'Chemo and this past year has certainly took its toll on my body both physically and mentally, so Ill be taking the next few months to heal and recover.

'I have so much to strive and live for, and so grateful for another chance at life! Something I know not all get. I certainly see life differently and my life has changed forever!

'Cancer affects too many so I will continue to do all I can to raise awareness and make sure I get as many as I can to.

'Its time to look ahead after whats been the toughest year, and one I certainly didnt expect!

'Dance floor Im coming for you! Welsh love, always Amy x.'

Sharing a jubilant picture on Friday, Amy announced the joyful news: 'NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! Words I dreamed of! My biggest accomplishment yet!

While she will not get the all-clear for five years and will still need treatment, she thanked her family and friends for their support amid her 'toughest year'

The news comes a fortnight after Amy was last hospitalised.

Amy had been placed in a respiratory unit amid her breast cancer battle as she shared pictures from her hospital bed.

Keeping her fans updated, she wrote: 'So last week didn't exactly go to plan. Feeling much better now and still taking it easy.

'But can't thank the NHS and the care I received on the respiratory unit enough. Also to my family and Ben of course. Always dropping everything and spending endless hours next to my bed while I mainly slept.

'Feeling much better and thanks for the many messages after going quiet. Off to oncology unit today for my monthly injection, (missed it last week due to being poorly).

'How is everyone? The sun is shining and I certainly can't wait for spring.'

On Tuesday, Amy appeared on Lorraine in a pre-recorded video from her romantic trip to Grenada with Ben.

Host Lorraine Kelly passed on a health update from Amy, saying: 'You might have seen Amy was in hospital last week, but just to reassure you, she says she's very much on the mend and of course we're sending our love to her.'

During the segment, viewers got a chance to see Amy and Ben soaking up the Caribbean sunshine, while Amy revealed the trip had allowed her to forget about her cancer.

She told viewers: 'This past year has been tough but I am determined to get my life back on track.'

On Tuesday, Amy appeared on Lorraine in a pre-recorded video from her romantic trip to Grenada with Ben

Host Lorraine Kelly passed on a health update from Amy, saying: 'You might have seen Amy was in hospital last week, but just to reassure you, she says she's very much on the mend and of course we're sending our love to her'

The dancer and her husband enjoyed a slew of activities on the trip, including boat trips, massages, scuba diving and lots of swimming.

During a romantic BBQ dinner on the beach, Amy admitted: '[The trip has] definitely been what I needed. I can't quite believe we're here. This is literally paradise.'

Ben then gushed: 'It's been amazing, I wouldn't want to be here with anyone else apart from you.'

Speaking about the getaway, Amy said: 'I didn't realise how much I really needed this trip, both Ben and I.

'Escapism from my reality really. Getting some fresh air, some vitamin D and just some quality time together away from the stress that we've had and the hospital appointments and the medication and the worries and just getting away.

'To be honest with you I've not thought about my cancer once since I have been here.'

She also opened up on her hopes for the year and how her values have changed after the challenging past months.

She said: 'I guess I've been in a very aesthetic world and since losing my hair, my eyelashes, my eyebrows - yes it's growing back - but I guess you learn the true values of life when you hit rock bottom.

'For me it's just cherish every moment, take every opportunity, spend time with your loved ones and remind them how much you love them every day.'

Earlier Amy revealed she was hospitalised after suffering from respiratory problems as she shared pictures from the ward

Amy shared a positive post after ending up in hospital and said she was starting to feel much better

Amy voiced her determination to return to the Strictly dancefloor once again, saying: 'The aim for this year now is definitely to get as healthy as I possibly can and as fit as I possibly can. I've not been able to go to the gym, been able to dance for so many months.

'And I know it's going to be a long journey ahead but I'm determined to get back on that dancefloor, back with my Strictly family and just to grab life and grab every opportunity that comes my way and to be present.

'It's definitely making me feel more positive moving forward to 2024.'
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Not much has changed about Britain's Got Talent over the years, with a new series currently being filmed.

The usual mixture of hopeful contestants, straight-talking judges and tear-jerking backstories combined with the heady promise of potential fame and fortune has earned the failsafe format millions of viewers - and a near permanent air of predictability.

If only the same could be said of its creator.

An appearance during the opening episode of the last ever series of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway on Saturday 24 February prompted some questioning comments from viewers.

Fans of the show were left addressing the elephant Simon Cowell had inadvertently let into the room - namely, his radically different and seemingly ever-changing features.

Simon Cowell made an appearance on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend to chat about a prank he was subjected to but viewers found it difficult to focus on what he was saying and were more concerned about his appearance

 Slide me  Simon Cowell in an early publicity photo from 2002 (L) and appearing on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway in February 2024 (R)

The music mogul, now 64, was pranked by hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly as they had him pulled over by fake police while on his bike in Malibu, before he was locked in a metal box during a staged mishap while filming America's Got Talent auditions.

Simon made an appearance in the studio to chat about the prank but viewers found it difficult to focus on what he was saying and were more concerned about his appearance.

TV star Simon has previously denied having a face lift but admitted to regretting his extensive use of Botox.

Taking to X, several viewers commented on his looks, with one writing: 'Is that definitely Simon Cowell? He looks like a melting Ken Doll?'

Fellow guest Stephen Merchant also couldn't resist commenting on Simon's appearance during the show.

Commenting on the clip, Stephen, 49, joked: 'I didn't like it... I loved it. That was my Simon impression. It wasn't very convincing because my face moved.'

Has he really changed? Or is it just our imagination?

Fear not, MailOnline has the answer. Join us as we cast a cautiously chronological look back at the many, many faces of Simon Cowell.

1985: Cowell's dashing features turned plenty of heads during a night out with girlfriend Sinitta at London nightclub Legends

1987: The then little-known record producer looked youthful and fresh-faced in this TV appearance from the late eighties

1990: Cowell looks handsome while posing alongside his then girlfriend Sinitta, a constant in his life, at a London event

1999: Cowell, aged 40, with Ray Hedges and Kate Thornton while judging the This Morning Boy Band Competition

1994-2007: Cowell modelled a pair of circular spectacles at the BRIT Awards in 1994 (L), while the teeth appeared to be a little whiter in Britain's Got Talent publicity photos from 2007 (R)

2001: Cowell looks suave on Pop Idol, a prototype for The X Factor and the show that helped establish him as a household name

2001-2003: The mogul developed a reputation for delivering caustic remarks to hapless guests on Pop Idol following its launch (left, on the Pop Idol panel in 2001 and right, attending the Love Actually film premiere in 2003)

Don't mind me: The pose is similar but the face looks marginally different as Cowell poses for an X Factor publicity photo in 2005 (L) and at an American Idol party in 2006 (R)

2012: Cowell once again commands attention while attending Britain's Got Talent auditions in London's Hammersmith

2014-2019: Cowell's gleaming teeth appear to have been straightened and whitened over the years (L-R at The X Factor in 2014 and enjoying a night out in 2019)

Say cheese: Cowell's features have radically changed down the years (L-R attending American Idol auditions in 2008, at an NBC press day in 2018, and more recently at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards in 2022)

2015: Career-smoker Cowell prepares to light up a cigarette as he leaves a private function in London

2015: The British star stepped out with some uncharacteristic facial hair just two months later while launching The X Factor in London

2021-22: Cowell appears to have lost weight over the last 12 months, while the lines that previously defined his features have been smoothed out (L-R at America's Got Talent Extreme and more recently in a Britain's Got Talent social media post)

2022: The music mogul raised eyebrows during his appearance at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards in November, where he was accompanied by glamorous partner Lauren Silverman

2022: An otherwise straightforward appearance at this year's pre-recorded Royal Variety performance on December 2 prompted more unwanted questions than answers
Barry Keoghan was in for a treat on Saturday as he enjoyed a skin therapy treatment at Shane Cooper Clinic in central London.

The Saltburn sensation, 31, had a session at one of the most renowned beauty salons in the city based in South Kensington - famous for their non-surgical and transformational body and face treatments.

The Irish star relished a lavish skin treatment in the exclusive clinic, known for being a celebs' favourite hotspot.

Aesthetician Shane Cooper shared the actor's visit on the clinic's Instagram account, sharing a snap alongside Barry as well as one of him undertaking the treatment.

In the first shot, Shane beams while taking a mirror selfie alongside the Top Boy star as he pointed in the lense.

Barry Keoghan was in for a treat on Saturday as he enjoyed a skin therapy treatment at Shane Cooper Clinic in central London (pictured with aesthetician Shane)

The Saltburn sensation, 31, had a session at one of the most renowned beauty salons in the city based in South Kensington - famous for their non-surgical and transformational body and face treatments

The Dunkirk favourite sported a Burberry puffed jacket and a grey knit jumper underneath, teamed with navy trousers as he bundled up against the chilly weather.

The second snap captured Barry as he was undertaking the pampering skin treatment under the red LED lights, while flashing a peace sign.

Shane penned the post: 'The wonderful @keoghan92 is back! Look at his skin post treatment! Everything I do is completely tailored to each client, all non-surgical and working with a range of different machines and techniques. Most importantly Skin Therapy!

'Barry has the @shanecooperskincare range to use at home to maintain healthy, radiant skin,' he finished praising the loyal customer.

The Banshees of Inisherin favourite appeared radiant in the snap, showing off his flawless complexion.

His appearance comes after Barry has spoken about his young son Brando, saying he wants him to grow up to be 'proud' of his famous father.

The Batman actor and his now ex-girlfriend Alyson Kierans welcomed their 18-month-old son in August 2022.

The actor told how his son motivates him to be 'the best person' and he wants to 'always be there' for him a she grows up.

Barry Keoghan has spoken about his young son Brando, saying he wants him to grow up to be 'proud' of his famous father

The actor told how his son motivates him to be 'the best person' and he wants to 'always be there' for him a she grows up

The Saltburn star and his now ex-girlfriend Alyson Kierans (pictured) welcomed their 18-month-old son in August 2022

Barry said: 'It's a very important thing for mefor him to be able to grow up and be proud of his daddy, and to lean on his daddy'

Speaking to Vanity Fair, he said: 'He has a lot to live up to, I tell you. It's great. I've seen him two days ago, and I spent some really good quality time with him. I've seen him grow. He's amazing.

'You see little resemblances and little characteristics coming through, and it's just beautiful. It's a new territory for me, and I want to be the best person for him.

'It's a very important thing for mefor him to be able to grow up and be proud of his daddy, and to lean on his daddy.

'And if he has questions or anything, I'm always there for him in that sense of learning and growing with him and failing. [Picks up a stuffed toy wolf.]

'I've got his little wolf here, innit? He's young, but he's full of cheekiness already. His smile breaks my heart. When he makes eye contact with you, you just melt.'

Barry shared the first photo of his back in September 2022, an adorable black and white snap of the pair together.

The actor split from Brando's mother Alyson in mid-2023 and he is now dating pop star Sabrina Carpenter.

Elsewhere during the interview, Barry discussed his role in Emerald Fennell's hit black comedy Saltburn.

In the film, Barry plays Oliver Quick, a con artist posing as a working class university student who scams his way into the life of the wealthy Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) and his eccentric family.

In real life, Barry, from Summerhill in Dublin, spent seven years living in foster care after the death of his mother when he was 12.

The actor was asked whether it was difficult to handle playing his character, fabricates personal dramas similar to Barry's real-life upbrining.

He said: 'Not necessarily, no. There are difficult moments where I do draw from experiences in my upbringing, and I do go to places to reach for that raw emotion and to present a real discovery there and feeling. That can damage you mentally as well. That's why I don't run onto every gig.

In Saltburn, Barry plays Oliver Quick, a con artist posing as a working class university student who scams his way into the life of the wealthy Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi)

'I take time and am quite specific in what I want to do, because it's a process. It's an emotional journey. That's how I work. I tend to go to places, to relive moments.

'But with Oliver, there are some mirrors there. It's quite funny when he plays that moment where his parents are on drugs.

'It's quite a moment when we realize that he's been lying. But no, I didn't really draw parallels to him the way I have to certain other characters.'
Chinese passengers arrive in Cam Ranh Airport in Khanh Hoa Province, January 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Toan

Asia-Pacifics air travel demand will recover to its pre-pandemic levels this year thanks to the influx of Chinese outbound tourists.

The region's travel demand surged last December, reaching nearly 83% of 2019 levels, a significant improvement from the 57% reported in January 2023, as noted by the International Air Transport Association.

This year, these numbers are set to match those from before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Business Traveller.

This resurgence will be driven by a heightened tourism demand following travel restrictions removal, alongside the robust expansion of the region's economies, as reported by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.

Chinas booming outbound tourism is another crucial factor propping up demand for flights in the Asia Pacific region, CNBC reported.

Research from financial services provider Citi shows outbound Chinese tourists totaled 3.6 million during this Lunar New Year holiday, with a majority visiting ASEAN countries, particularly Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

In Thailand, flight bookings by Chinese tourists surged fourfold from 35,094 in the previous Lunar New Year holiday to 149,159 this year, data from travel analytics firm Cirium shows.

Similarly, flight bookings from China to Singapore jumped nearly six times to 64,469 this year from 10,873 in 2023.

Additionally, flights from China to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand are expected to surge 87% year-on-year from March to June.
Amanda Holden turned heads in a pink sequined minidress as she posed for stunning Instagram snaps on Sunday.

The Britain's Got Talent judge, 53, looked incredible in the long sleeved wrap number which she cinched in at the waist with a matching belt.

She elevated her frame in a pair of towering heels and toted her belongings around in a pink clutch.

Styling her long blonde tresses loose, Amanda flashed her gorgeous smile as she accessorised with a simple silver pendant necklace.

In another photo Amanda put on a leggy display as she slipped into a white dazzling wrap minidress as she posed during a holiday at the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai.

Amanda Holden turned heads in a pink sequined minidress as she posed for stunning Instagram snaps on Sunday

The Britain's Got Talent judge, 53, looked incredible in the long sleeved wrap number which she teamed with towering heels and a matching clutch

The mother-of-two looked sensational as she elevated her frame in a pair of silver heels and carried her belongings around in a matching clutch.

It comes after Amanda reportedly scooped a new judging role on the BBC.

The TV personality, who has honed her judging skills on ITV's Britain's Got Talent, has become one of the most in-demand faces on primetime television.

As well as her long-running gig on BGT which she has held since 2007, Amanda has also recently worked with pal Alan Carr on Amanda & Alan's Italian Job.

The holiday home makeover programme airs on the Beeb and now the broadcaster has apparently snapped her up for another job.

It has been reported by The Daily Star that Amanda has signed up to appear as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK on BBC Three.

An insider told the publication: 'Amanda is perfect for the show because she's glamorous and has a brilliant sense of humour.

'And of course she's got plenty of experience because she's been a judge on Britain's Got Talent for years.'

In another photo Amanda put on a leggy display as she slipped into a white dazzling wrap minidress as she posed during a holiday at the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai

The mother-of-two looked sensational as she elevated her frame in a pair of silver heels and carried her belongings around in a matching clutch as she posed by a water feature

Amanda is said to have already filmed one episode with RuPaul, 63, and show regular Michelle Visage, 55.

Amanda's episode would be due to air last this year and producers are said to be delighted with the fun-loving star appearing on the show.

However it will no doubt cause nerves at ITV, as one source said: 'Amanda has been one of ITV's biggest stars for years as a judge on Britain's Got Talent. So bosses at the network will be nervous about her doing so much stuff with the BBC.'

MailOnline have reached out to representatives for comment.

Other stars who have appeared on the drag queen competition show include Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, Mel B, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan and Dame Joanna Lumley.
A young girl who won a local public speaking competition with a speech on how much she loves Taylor Swift had her wildest dreams come true on Sunday night when the megastar gave her her hat onstage at her concert in Sydney.

During each of her shows, Taylor, 34, gives a signed hat to one lucky fan in the crowd while singing her hit song 22.

On Sunday evening, Swift plucked five-year-old Lily from the crowd so she could gift her the signed black bowler.

The youngster was overwhelmed with emotion as she approached the edge of the stage before Swift kneeled down and put the hat on her head.

Fans of Swift were quick to gush over the adorable footage which went viral on social media.

A young girl who won a local public speaking competition with a speech on how much she loves Taylor Swift had her wildest dreams come true on Sunday night when the megastar gave her her hat onstage at her concert in Sydney

'Literally the cutest ever,' one person wrote, as a second added: 'I was rooting for her to get it.'

The moment was made even more special as her mother had to wait in line ten hours to get tickets to the show.

During Taylor's first Sydney show on Friday, Swift chose young Scarlett, who is fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer, to be the recipient of her hat.

On Sunday evening, Swift plucked five-year-old Lily from the crowd so she could gift her the signed black bowler

Earlier, Scarlett's stepmother Natalie had posted to social media that her step-daughter's wish had been to meet Taylor.

'Scarlett was granted a "Wish" from the Make A Wish Foundation and her wish was to meet Taylor Swift,' Natalie wrote in the post.

'Unfortunately, they told us this wasn't possible so through the power of social media and some generous people we made attending the concert happen and got tickets.'

She then shared a picture of Scarlett, who has been given just 12-18 months to live, holding a poster that read 'Taylor can I have the 22 hat please?'

Later at the concert, the young girl's wish was Taylor's command as she invited Scarlett up to the stage, embraced her while she handed over the fedora, then tenderly kissed her hands.

After performing three sold out shows over the weekend, Swift is set to that the stage in Sydney for the final time on Monday evening.

The youngster was overwhelmed with emotion as she approached the edge of the stage before Swift kneeled down and put the hat on her head
Kate Price has confirmed her romance with Married At First Sight UK star JJ Slater.

The former glamour model, 45, shared a loved-up selfie with JJ, 31, to social media on Sunday, alongside a gushing caption.

She penned on Instagram: 'They say things happen for a reason, the unexpected happened. Fate. Ticks every box. @johnjoeslater you have proved to me you are a real gentleman and completely except me for me'

JJ sweetly responded in the comment section: 'Fate thank you so much for being you'

Katie had spoken of marrying and starting a family with ex boyfriend Carl Woods 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.

Kate Price has confirmed her romance with MAFS UK star JJ Slater as she shared a loved-up snap to social media on Sunday

She penned: 'They say things happen for a reason, the unexpected happened. Fate. Ticks every box. @johnjoeslater you have proved to me you are a real gentleman and completely except me for me'

JJ sweetly responded in the comment section: 'Fate thank you so much for being you'

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.

The mother-of-five shares her eldest son Harvey, 21, with Dwight Yorke, Junior, 18, and Princess, 16, with Peter, and Jett, nine, and Bunny, eight, with Kieran.

Katie has reportedly introduced her new boyfriend JJ to some of her children as the couple's romance heats up.

Katie and JJ jetted off on a romantic Bulgarian ski trip, of which they exclusively shared snaps with MailOnline.

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.'

Meanwhile, 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.

Katie has reportedly introduced her new boyfriend JJ to some of her children as the couple's romance heats up

JJ's co-star ex Ella Morgan blasted Katie for 'breaking girl code' by hooking up with the star as sources close to Ella, 29, say the reality star, who is transgender , is furious and feels 'betrayed' as she had become good friends with Katie

The single X appeared to be a kiss, with a confused Carl replying: 'A kiss, you fry my brain'.

Before adding: 'Why send me an X last night, knowing you're going to the airport with him on my birthday?'.

Carl tagged JJ in the post and wrote: 'She used to do this behind my back to. Enjoy the skiing bro'.

He later shared another post claiming he had returned Katie's Range Rover to her mucky mansion after 'she asked him to hide it from the bailiffs'.

Bankrupt Katie is due in court next month due to 760,000 in unpaid taxes as well as 250,000 compensation owed to ex Alex Reid - resulting in bailiffs visiting her home.

In 2019, the former cage fighter, 48, who was married to Katie for two years between 2010 and 2012, won a legal case and 250,000 after the former Loose Woman allegedly leaked an explicit sex tape and photos of him.

It comes after Katie and new flame JJ got up close and personal while heading for a meal at IRMAS Restaurant in Southend on Sea on the beachfront.

The duo looked every inch the happy couple as they walked arm in arm, with Katie flashing her tattooed stomach in a crop top and combat trousers.

Katie and Carl have been in a turbulent relationship since July 2020, they were last seen together on December 21

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

JJ could not stop beaming as he strutted along with the showbiz veteran, following the shocking news that his co-star ex Ella Morgan blasted Katie for 'breaking girl code' by hooking up with the star.

After pictures emerged of the Katie and JJ looking close, sources close to Ella, 29, 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 doesnt have any feelings for JJ, shes just livid that Katie went behind her back and broke girl code.'

John, also known as JJ, is said to have caught Katie's eye when they met following his appearance on the most recent series of MAFS UK last year.

A source previously told The Sun: 'They've met a few times and are texting each other constantly. She's really into him - this is the first man she's actually been interested in since Carl.'

Katie has five children - Harvey, 21, Junior, 18, Princess, 16, nine-year-old Jett and eight-year-old Bunny

Katie made the surprise announcement she was single in a New Year's video.

She was last spotted with Carl on December 21 last year as they stepped out arm in arm together after her pantomime performance of Sleeping Beauty in Liverpool.

Katie and Carl previously split towards the end of November and unfollowed each other on Instagram but appeared to have reconciled for the Liverpool outing before going their separate ways once again.

Days later, Carl took a swipe at his ex-fiancee Katie Price as he posed while embracing a mystery woman's legs, adorned with a tattoo reading 'Game Over'.
There is a pressing need for reforms within India's intelligence framework, addressing coordination deficits and accountability lapses

The imperative for a comprehensive overhaul of India's intelligence framework becomes apparent when considering the existence of 14 intelligence agencies, each with varying and occasionally overlapping responsibilities. These agencies have come into being in response to strategic shifts and past shortcomings. In the aftermath of the 1962 conflict with China, the Directorate General of Security (DGS) was established within the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Subsequently, following the 1965 war with Pakistan, external intelligence was segregated into a distinct entity, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), which also birthed the Special Bureau aimed at enhancing organisational effectiveness. After the 1999 Kargil conflict, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) were instituted.

However, persistent issues stem from the lack of coordination among these agencies. The absence of a Director of National Intelligence or a Coordinating Minister exacerbates this problem. Accountability remains a concern.

The intelligence apparatus, entrenched in the colonial-era police structure, grapples with adapting to contemporary challenges. The Intelligence Bureau (IB), primarily oriented towards domestic and political affairs, encounters limitations in counterintelligence endeavours. Despite initiatives like the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), cooperation deficiencies persist.

In 2001, a Group of Ministers proposed elevating the IB to the status of the premier Counter-Terrorism agency, culminating in the establishment of MAC and Subsidiary MACs for intelligence amalgamation. Externally, the R&AW, responsible for external intelligence gathering, confronts challenges such as excessive reliance on TECHINT and insufficient development of human intelligence (HUMINT).

While the establishment of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) aimed to address technological aspects, issues like overlapping mandates and coordination gaps have arisen. Reform is imperative, commencing with the delineation of contemporary challenges, specialisations, and oversight mechanisms.

Concerning oversight, India lacks effective mechanisms for its intelligence agencies. Suggestions include appointing individuals well-versed in operational modalities at a macro level or establishing a National Intelligence Board for monitoring. Apex-level management necessitates enhancement, possibly through the appointment of a full-time intelligence adviser or a Director of National Intelligence under the NSA or MHA.

Coordination and tasking, particularly between the Centre and states, remain deficient, necessitating legislative attention. The Intelligence Cycle requires refinement, with a clear demarcation between collection and analysis. Personnel issues.

Human intelligence (HUMINT) and technical intelligence (TECHINT) pose distinct challenges. While big data analysis is nascent, considerations regarding privacy and legislative authorization for extensive data scrutiny are paramount. The dearth of skilled manpower for HUMINT is a significant concern, and bolstering military expertise within intelligence agencies is imperative.

Although inspired by the ideology of the 5 Eyes, I4C, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has not been effectively operationalized in the realm of digital warfare. Effectiveness in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency remains a pressing concern. Failures to establish the National Counter-terrorism Centre (NCTC) and inter-agency conflicts underscore the need for a robust system. Ensuring successful prosecutions following counter-terrorism arrests is pivotal.

(The writer is an eminent expert-Counter Terrorism (in West Asia & Middle Eastern countries, views are personal)
Amid concerns over rising debt and geopolitical tensions, the resilience of Pakistan's political fabric faces its sternest test yet

Pakistan has not given a fractured mandate, on paper, it may seem fractured however the call people have taken is clear. It goes without saying that if 100 independent candidates win, it's no mean achievement for a party that is backing them. The story of what happened in 1968 in Pakistan is often forgotten, in that year, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto brought down the military presidency of Gen Ayub Khan. Pakistan has seen big upheavals in the past and as things stand today another one is brewing for sure. This time against a China-Pak Army selected candidate who will be nominated at the top post, against the will of the people.Most analysts believed Nawaz Sharif was sure to become the PM however why he did not make it to the top slot has to do with how he reacted to situations post-Kargil.

Sharif was thrown out in 1999 by General Musharraf, who then led Pakistan's army because he publicly ridiculed the army for apparently keeping him in the dark concerning the Kargil War. Now as they say once bitten twice shy, the Pakistani army always wanted a third person apart from Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan to be the notional head of Pakistan, and they are gunning for one. The Pakistani army used the clout of Nawaz Sharif (whatever he had) to try and get to power someone they wanted and somehow get rid of Imran Khan. China has had a friendly relationship with the Sharif family so they are fine with someone coming up with Sharifs backing. Now the question is, will the people of Pakistan accept the humiliation of subversion of their mandate?

Has the Pakistani army become so weak that it does not hold any sway over the people of Pakistan? Does the US still have control over the Pakistani Army and what they do to influence elections in Pakistan? Would a coalition Government that lacks popular support be able to sustain itself? Will there be even more civil unrest in Pakistan in the months to come? Answers to these questions hold the key to what is going to unfold in Pakistan shortly.

Things in Pakistan have never been quiet from within, and this election has exposed the hollow belly of the Pakistani electoral system. In most of the constituencies, the election was rigged. Some of the election commission officers have since resigned after admitting to mass-scale rigging. It's almost incomprehensible how a US official spokesperson then has called the election reliable. The so-called results that have been thrown up show that PMLN has 79 seats, and PPP has 54 seats in a 264-seat parliament giving both of them combined a comfortable majority. I'll looks like a coalition Government would come up in Pakistan would be devoid of a popular mandate which is likely to fuel unrest in the public even more in the days to come.

The mandate of the people seems to be with PTI and with Imran Khan. In this coalition too the two parties joining hands have a little in common and would provide a weak Government ridden by internal friction and lobbying.

Under these circumstances, the people of Pakistan are going to feel cheated. In a country that has not a single respected institution in place and has a supreme court that is by and large influenced by vested interests, civil unrest looks around the corner. If this kind of circumstance persists, the balkanisation of Pakistan is not far away, no matter how hard China tries to keep it together. The US still has a lot of interest in Pakistan, maybe because of old ties or because it's an Islamic nation with a declared nuclear weapon system, whatever it may be but it does not seem to have any overriding control over things in Pakistan anymore. The US does have some control over the Pakistani Army however Pakistani Army seems to have lost all respect in the eyes of the general public in Pakistan. It looks like people are not fearful of the Pakistani Army anymore. It looks like the people of Pakistan would find it hard to digest that their mandate has been subverted.

It's a writing on the wall that this new coalition that has taken a good fortnight to form may just fall under its pressure in due course of time. How this new coalition Government would tackle the rising debt crisis would also be interesting to see. In the past Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has made low-brow and irresponsible comments against India, hopefully, he will have matured now and will refrain from jingoism. Sharif brothers are mature politicians, however, they would be under tremendous pressure from China, the US, the Pakistani Army and the people of Pakistan.

(The writer is an expert on geopolitics and international Affairs. The views expressed are personal)
The Delhi Police has arrested a 47-year-old member of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) who also allegedly edited a magazine of the banned organisation besides indoctrinating many gullible youths.

According to the police, Hanif Sheikh was declared a proclaimed offender in 2002 and has been absconding for the last 22 years. He was nabbed on February 22 from Bhusawal in Jalgaon district in Maharashtra where he was a teacher in an Urdu school under a different identity, they said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Alok Kumar claimed that Hanif was the most notorious and wanted SIMI terrorist who had played pivotal roles in various activities of the proscribed organisation across the country. Police said the SIMI magazine that Hanif Sheikh edited had his name printed as Haneef Hudai. This was the only lead available with the police, making it difficult to trace him, they said.

A case of sedition and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was registered against him in 2001 at New Friends Colony police station in the national Capital.

A local court declared him proclaimed offender in 2002, Kumar said.

A team from the Special Cell was tasked with collecting data, information and other digital footprints about the absconding SIMI cadre, sympathisers and sleeper cells across states. The team extensively visited and collected information from various parts of the country, he said.

The information collected by the team helped the Delhi polices special cell to zero in on Hanif. Following this, a raiding party was formed which laid a trap, the officer said.Around 2.50 pm on February 22, a person travelling from Mohmadin Nagar to Khadka Road was identified as Hanif. As members of the team began to corner him, Hanif attempted to escape but was arrested after a scuffle, the DCP said.

He said Hanif became highly radicalised after coming in contact with SIMI activists and after joining the organisation and he started attending its weekly programmes and radicalising youths.

Hanif was later appointed as the editor of the Urdu edition of the SIMIs magazine in 2001, the police officer said.

The DCP added that Hanif was one of the think tank members of Wahadat-e-Islam and played an important role in Maharashtra and other adjoining States. He was also involved in collecting money under the guise of donations to support and finance the agenda of SIMI as well as Wahadat-e-Islam.

After fleeing Delhi in 2001, Hanif moved to Jalgaon and subsequently to Bhusawal in Maharashtra from where he was arrested, police said. SIMI was first banned in September 2001 and since then the ban has been extended on it by the government

Last month, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the ban against the SIMI for another five years. The organisation was declared an unlawful association, under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for the first time in 2001. Announcing the decision on X (formerly Twitter), Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, Bolstering PM @narendramodis vision of zero tolerance against terrorism Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has been declared as an unlawful association for a further period of five years under the UAPA (unlawful activities prevention act). The SIMI has been found involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony to threaten the sovereignty, security and integrity of Bharat.

SIMI has caused problems for the Government and police over the years especially after the organisation split in 2005 into two groups - moderate one led by Shahid Badr Falahi and radical faction led by Safdar Nagori. Its leaders, including Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal (now in Pakistan), formed Indian Mujahideen (IM) in 2006-07 along with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) to carry out attacks in India, while SIMI started providing logistical support.
As the country prepares for general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged first-time voters on Sunday to cast their ballots in record numbers, emphasising that their maiden vote should be for the country.

In the 110th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Modi announced that the monthly broadcast would not air for the next three months, adhering to political ethics ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

With the general elections expected in April-May, the PM said the possibility of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being enforced in March, similar to 2019, hinting at the upcoming announcement of the election schedule next month.

The MCC guidelines mandate that Governments refrain from using official events or public-funded platforms for activities that may favor the ruling party.

Modi highlighted the success of the programme in maintaining independence from Government influence over its 110 episodes, emphasising its dedication to the collective strength and achievements of the country. Mann Ki Baat is a programme of the people, for the people, and by the people, Modi said.

However, in line with political ethics, Mann Ki Baat will not be broadcast for the next three months during the Lok Sabha elections, he said

When we reconvene, it will be the 111th episode, Modi added, noting the significance of the number.

He encouraged first-time voters to participate in large numbers, declaring that the 18th Lok Sabha would symbolise their aspirations. As citizens become eligible to vote at 18, Modi urged youth not only to engage in political activities but also to stay informed about debates and discussions during this period.

You should keep in mind that your first vote should be for the country, he said, urging influencers and other prominent personalities to motivate first-time voters. The bigger the participation of the young voters in the electoral process, the more beneficial its consequences will be for the country, the PM said.

While sharing several anecdotes from the country, Modi lauded a Goat Bank initiative of an Odisha couple which promotes goat rearing at the community level and helps the villagers move towards self-reliance in the field of animal husbandry. In Kalahandi, Odisha, goat rearing is becoming a major means of improving the livelihood of the village people as well as their standard of living, the PM said.

In his broadcast, Modi also discussed individuals working in the field of language. He cited the example of Mohammad Manshah from Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, who has been engaged in efforts to preserve the Gojri language for the past three decades.

He comes from the Gujjar Bakarwal community, which is a tribal community. In his childhood, he had to work hard to study, he said.

Days before International Womens Day, Modi also praised nari shakti and said it is reaching new heights of progress in every field.

Great poet Bharatiyar ji said that the world will prosper only when women get equal opportunities. Today, the nari shakti (women power) of India is reaching new heights of progress in every field, the PM said.

Who would have thought until a few years ago that in India, women living in villages would also fly drones, he said. But today, this is becoming possible. There is so much discussion about Drone Didi in every village. Namo Drone Didi, Namo Drone Didi is on everyones lips, he said. The PM also spoke with Drone Didi Sunita from Uttar Pradeshs Sitapur.

The matrishakti of the country is playing a significant role in saving Mother Earth, who is suffering from pain and hardships due to chemicals, he said.

Similarly, Modi said a Bengaluru company that has created two mobile apps -- Bagheera and Garuda. The Bagheera app monitors the speed of a vehicle and other activities during a jungle safari, while the Garuda app uses artificial intelligence and internet of things to provide real-time alerts when connected to any CCTV, Modi said. In his address, Modi also discussed the voice of the youth creating content, which he said has become very effective today.
Continuing his attack on the Mamata Banerjee Government for perpetrating atrocities on the poor people, including women of the State of Bengal, Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari said on Sunday that Sandeshkhali was just a trailer and that many more regions would rise up in revolt in the times to come.

Sandeshkhali has just started showing the way like Nandigram did in 2009 and 2011 you will see that in days to come areas like Jeliakhali, Nyajat, Tushkhali, Hingalganj, and neighboring regions, and then the villages of entire Bengal will rise up in revolt against the oppression of Mamata and her army of goons led by the likes of Sheikh Shahjahan, who have not only grabbed the lands of the people but also sexually assaulted their women and thrown their men behind bars when they protested, Adhikari said on Sunday, reminding how year after year villagers were not allowed to vote by the TMC goons.

I can show you how the people of Gosaba, Sandeshkhali, Basanti, Canning Hingalganj, Diamond Harbour have not been allowed to vote mostly the Hindus of these areas have been prevented from voting by the goons of Mamata  the people of Sandeshkhali have openly complained how they have not voted after 2011 now the time of reckoning has come the people will take revenge for all the sins that have been committed against them they have united and risen up in revolt, he said.

Meanwhile, in a related development, a Central fact-finding team of former bureaucrats and judges was prevented from entering Sandeshkhali on Sunday, even as the island continued to simmer with women coming out of their houses in large numbers, demanding the arrest of local TMC leader and district board member Shahjahan.

Sources said six members of the fact-finding team, led by former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy, were stopped by the police at the Bhojerhat area, about 50 km from the Sandeshkhali ferry ghat. The police cited the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC, refusing them entry into the area.

When the team members attempted to break the police cordon, four of them - Justice Reddy, Raj Pal Singh, Charu Wali Khanna, and Bhavna Bajaj - were taken into preventive custody for alleged breach of peace before being released at the Lalbazar police headquarters in Kolkata.

We were visiting Sandeshkhali, but they stopped us... Police have purposely stopped us and are creating problems for the common people. Police are not letting us meet the victims of Sandeshkhali, Charu Wali Khanna said.

Justice Reddy wanted to know what the police are trying to hide from the rest of the world what has happened and what has been happening there at Sandeshkhali that the world should not see there is something seriously wrong here in Bengal.
As one enters the premises of an old but elegant building in Mylapore in Chennai, one is greeted with the hymns, slokas and chanting of songs worshipping Gods, Goddesses and wisdom. Hundreds of students undergo a gurukul style education spread across many classrooms. Their common identity is the customary tuft, veshti, angavastram and the cotton shirt.

Modernity, as practiced in the high profile colleges, is yet to make its presence in this institution which has an aura and halo of a place of worship. A group of ancient Hindu temples surround the college providing it a divine outlook.

The visitor is likely to feel that he is in Sage Vasishtas Gurukula, the alma mater of Lord Ram. A steaming pot of filter coffee, the chanting from the dozens of temples nearby and the ambience of Madras Sanskrit College is what gives life to Mylapore.

It is Madras Sanskrit College, established in 1906 by philanthropists and puritans of Indian tradition whose only passion was to preserve the age old Indian culture in its true form without getting polluted by alien forces. It is a wonder that the institution built from the scratch by V Krishnaswami Iyer, leading lawyer of Madras Bar Association, who went up to become the Member of the Governors Executive Council, stood the challenges of time and survives till this day as the Sun of Knowledge despite efforts by the all powerful Dravidian forces to destroy and demolish the college.

What started as a Gurukula Patasala, today stands majestically and imparts courses in Mimamsa, Advaita Vedanta, Vyakarana, Sahitya, Jyothisha and Nyaya as well as in all the special branches of study selected by the students.

The teaching is in the age old style and resembles intellectual bouts between students and teachers.

The gurus do not impose the study materials on the students but guild them what to learn and how to learn. It is for the disciples to select their style of learning, said K Jayanarayanan, Mimamsa Siromani, who besides holding MA, BEd, and is an authority on Yajurveda taitiriya kramapati, and Tantra shastram. Jayanarayanan was honoured with the award Mimamsavisarada.

Though the modern day liberals and the comrades hold a scorn at Sanskrit language and describe it as anti- modernism, the fact is that only those who specialise in Sanskrit language and the related topics like Advaita Vedanta, Vyakarana, Jyothi Sasthra and Jyothisha could grasp the modern science and philosophy with ease.

The modern and ancient systems of education are capable of rising the understanding power of the disciples. Mimamsa Sasthram is known as the Uthama Sasthram by scholars throughout the world. There is no instance of a Sanskrit scholar committing any bloomers or blunders, said Jayanarayanan.

What remains unknown to the outside world is that the course syllabus offered at Madras Sanskrit College is sure to put the so called global universities in India and abroad behind a shadow.

Sanskrit-Prak Siromani (for beginners), Sanskrit Shiromani-Madhyama (equivalent to B A) and Sanskrit Shoromani (equivalent to MA) are the flagship courses of MSC.

Students from the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana clad in traditional veshti, angavastram and shirts are the hallmarks of the college.

At no point of time, students of this college have felt inferior to their counterparts in other colleges, An integration of modern science, philosophy, Ayurveda and allopathy is what we imbibe through the courses, said students and teaching faculty unanimously.

Jayanarayanan disclosed that many youth who were earning five to six lakh rupees per month in IT companies have given up those jobs to escape from the stress and have joined MSC as students and they are all doing quite well. All these happen at a time when a concerted effort is on to destroy the age old Sanskrit education from within and outside. The first question that the faculties ask new girls joining Sri Sankara Sanskrit University in Keralas Kaladi is whether they continue to be virgins! Thats the Marxist style.
The 15th VIFA EXPO has a full support program to enhance the experience of international buyers seeking high-quality furniture and handicraft sources at the fair from Feb. 26-29.

The 15th Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair will officially take place at the Sky Expo Vietnam Center, Quang Trung Software City, District 12, HCMC.

The fair is co-organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ho Chi Minh City branch (VCCI-HCMC), Vietnam Association for Building Materials (VABM), and Lien Minh Company, with active support from the Vietnam Coconut Association (VCA), the Ho Chi Minh City Advertising Association (HAA), and the Vietnam Investment Construction Services in Agriculture and Forestry Association (VICSAFA).

Booths at VIFA EXPO 2023. Photo courtesy of VIFA EXPO

VIFA EXPO 2024 stands as the pinnacle of transnational trade and promotional endeavors within the furniture sector, situated within the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

The exhibition has garnered participation from over 600 exhibitors, with nearly 2,000 meticulously arranged booths, including Vietnamese exhibitors from HCMC and 21 cities and provinces along the country and foreign exhibitors from 17 markets: the U.S., Canada, China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Holland, the U.K., Denmark, France, and Australia.

It has also received pre-registration from 3,500 international furniture buyers originating from 83 countries and territories, including the U.S., Canada, Germany, the U.K., France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan, and Korea.

Visitors guided by VIFA EXPO staffs. Photo courtesy of VIFA EXPO

The resounding affirmation from exhibitors and international buyers serves as a tangible testament to the effectiveness of the VIFA EXPO trade fair.

With a legacy of 14 successful editions, the event has solidified its standing as the premier conduit, facilitating connections between countless buyers worldwide and exhibitors at the fair.

Therefore, VIFA EXPO is considered the foremost international furniture exhibition within the Southeast Asian and Asian regions.

Visitors flock to VIFA EXPO 2023. Photo courtesy of VIFA EXPO

VIFA EXPO 2024 includes widening collaborations with esteemed furniture exhibitions worldwide, including CIFF (China), Famous Furniture Fair 3F (China), Interzum (China), WMF (China), IFEX (Indonesia), Sofurn & Lifeshow (South Korea), Hive Furniture Show (UAE), Index Plus (India), IIFF (India), and Momarik Expo (Turkey).

The event stands as a must-visit destination for global buyers and importers in their journey searching for quality furniture sources.

Therefore, VIFA EXPO 2024s organizers ensure seamless support for international furniture buyers, covering transportation and accommodation needs.

VIP buyers are offered many premier services. Photo courtesy of VIFA EXPO

They provide free hotel stays for VIP buyers with complimentary two-night accommodation during the exhibition period, along with an exclusive VIFA EXPO 2024 souvenir kit.

There are also free airport support services for international buyers at Tan Son Nhat Airport, along with shuttle bus transport from the Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon, New World Hotel, and First Hotel to the event venue.

During the stay period, buyers can directly visit furniture manufacturers in Binh Duong and Dong Nai Provinces and buy accommodation with special discounts from 20% to 50% at VIFA EXPO 2024s official 4-5 star hotels.

Additionally, visitors interested in industrial seminars can choose to join one of these two:

Seminar 1: "Global Furniture Outlook 2023, Trends, and Forecast 2024" with experts in the furniture and design industry from Italy, Canada, and Alibaba.com.

Seminar 2: "Application of new materials in interior and exterior production" with speakers who are experts in the construction industry from HCMC University of Technology and Vietnam Association for Building Materials (VABM).

Finally, the "Exclusive Exhibitor & Buyers Night" event will honor and express gratitude to exhibitors that have been dedicated partners of VIFA EXPO throughout its 16-year journey in advancing trade and fostering global connections within the furniture industry.

Meanwhile, this is also an opportunity for exhibitors and international buyers to exchange ideas and expand business connections.

Register to visit VIFA EXPO 2024 for free here.
Indore is an awesome place. The city offers great opportunities in education, agriculture, and manufacturing related to food. Besides, entrepreneurship and innovation are some things that will promote this place.

`I liked the people; they are very welcoming, and I felt like I was with my family, said His Excellency Shiekh Mansoor Bin Khalifa Al-Thani of the Qatar Royal Family and Chairman of MBK Holdings, Qatar, while interacting with the media here on Saturday on the second and concluding day of the 19th Prestige International Conference.

Al-Thani said that he believed in quality talent. `I always promote a quality talent economy, as I believe this is the future economy'.

Lauding India's talents, Al-Thani said, `India is a great country with abundant talent, great people, and great values'. Replying to a question, Sheikh Mansoor said he was planning to invest in India, especially in agriculture, education, innovations, and entrepreneurship.

`I would like to support the startup community to support the entrepreneurs and take them to the global level', he added. Al-Thani said he had signed some MoUs with the Prestige Groups of Institutions and Industries for business and academic collaborations between the two groups and to take these collaborations to the global level.

The Qatari corporate tycoon, who was on a maiden visit to India, said that he believed in people, collaborations, and partnerships, so definitely, he will have his local people while seeking business alliances and considering investment in local industries. The Qatar royal family member said he believed in creating values within the community.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Agra on Sunday, days after the two parties reached a seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls.

Party workers of the SP and the Congress raised slogans in their support as the two leaders, accompanied by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, waved at the crowd gathered in Agra for the yatra.

Attacking the government in his address on the occasion, Akhilesh Yadav said, Today, farmers are standing against the government. The government is scared of the power of farmers. In the coming time, the BJP will be removed and the INDIA bloc coalition government will give respect to farmers.

He added that the Bharatiya Janata Party had not given the Backward Classes, Dalits and minority communities the respect they deserve.

This Agra city is known in the world. I am happy that they have started this shop of love; not only the market in this city, the entire city is a city of love. Carry as much love as you can and keep distributing it throughout the journey, Akhilesh asked Rahul while hailing the motive of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

The challenge in the coming times is the challenge of saving democracy, saving the Constitution and saving the dream that Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar had seen for the poor, the backward, who should get their rights and respect. Yadav stated, adding that even after so many years, no respect is being given to these people by the BJP.

The message that has to be sent today after this yatra is only one message: defeat 80, remove BJP, save the country and end the crisis. Defeat BJP and when they lose from here, the Constitution will also be saved, he said

We hope that in the coming time, the BJP will lose in Delhi, India will form a coalition government to give respect to the farmers, not only respect but also fulfil all their demands regarding MSP (minimum support price). We all raise the slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and the people of BJP do not get tired of saying Jai Bharat Mata. Imagine a country where farmers are unhappy, youths dreams are being broken, youth have no future, they do not have jobs and employment in their hands, they are worried about jobs and employment and degrees, the SP chief said.

We hope that the INDIA bloc and PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) will work to defeat the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). Wherever this PDA will raise its voice, the BJP will be wiped out and this is the message that is being sent through this yatra, he added.

Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a huge gathering, thanked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for joining the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Its been a year since we started the Bharat Jodo Yatra which covered 4,000 kilometres from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, spreading the message of love and harmony. My mission and that of everyone who came here is to fight against the hatred spread by Bharatiya Janata Party and now, Akhilesh ji and Priyanka ji, have joined me in our fight. Our first and most important task is to stand together against the hatred that has been spread in India due to which brother is fighting against brother. The biggest reason for this hatred is that injustice is spreading in India. Injustice to the poor, injustice to farmers, injustice to labourers, injustice to women. If you are poor, you will face injustice 24 hours a day in this country. So the reason for hatred is injustice and hence we have added the word justice in Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress leader said.

Where are you, where are your people, I will tell you. Your people will be in the MNREGA list. Your people will be in the list of contract labourers. Your people work as labourers. This is what we have to change. This is the meaning of justice, social justice, Rahul asserted.

While raising the issue of caste census, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that long speeches were made in India, but the poor people, backward people, Dalits, minority people, tribal people, had no participation in this country and this was the goal of the INDIA bloc.

We are fighting for social justice, fighting for economic justice, fighting for farmers. Farmers want only one thing  legal guarantee on MSP. The government says that it will not give a legal guarantee on MSP. INDIA bloc partners, including Congress, have said that they will implement it soon after coming to power, she said.

Earlier, Rahul also took out the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Aligarh on Sunday. Addressing the people, he alleged that indigenous, small and cottage-scale industries and artisans were suffering in the country as traders linked to large corporate groups were flooding the markets with Chinese goods.

The yatra passed through Agra and entered Dholpur in Rajasthan. The yatra will now take a break before restarting from March 2.
Bulldozers razed a total of 386 houses in Bhadbhada slums of the state capital in 4 days. The action was completed after removing 118 houses on Saturday.

The residents of the slums were given 3 options land in Chandpur Berasia, compensation of Rs 1 lakh each and the Prime Minister's residence. Most of them shifted after taking compensation. After the action the picture of the settlement has changed.

Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh said that the action has been completed. Saplings will be planted here on a large scale.

State Congress President Jitu Patwari reached Bhadbhada Basti and spoke to the affected families on Saturday and said this government belongs to industrialists, rich people. At least these poor people should get one house under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. I will write a letter to the Chief Minister. We used to see this in films, that if a hotel came under the purview of NGT (National Green Tribunal), no action was taken on it.

Former minister PC Sharma said that the colony will be re-established once the Congress government comes to power.

The remaining houses were removed on Saturday. Due to the action, people had removed tins and items. Due to this the action was completed in the afternoon itself.

During the action, electricity and water connections were also cut. People living in the slum for years are now living under the open sky in their dilapidated houses.

Shadab Khan, a resident told that he was living here for 50-60 years. Children's marriages took place here. Never thought that the house would be broken, and we would have to go away from here. Shadab's family has received a check of Rs 1 lakh as compensation when the house collapsed, the entire family was here. Like Shadab, other families have also shifted their belongings.

After removing encroachment from the colony, the district administration is now talking about planting trees here on a large scale.

Congress jumped into the fray against the bulldozer action on slum Bhadbhada. Congressmen have also written a letter to the Human Rights Commission. Former minister PC Sharma said that the examinations for class 10th-12th are going on. Meanwhile, bulldozers were used on the houses. People's consent to vacate their homes is being taken by placing a gun on their temples.

Earlier, former minister Sharma said that 'electricity and water connections were disconnected without issuing notice. People were not allowed to take out their belongings.

There is no arrangement for food and drink there. People are being taken from outside, so they are not being allowed to go. It seems like there is a war situation in which everyone indulges in sabotage.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered the removal of 386 houses. Due to this, action was taken for four days. To avoid any ruckus, the police had blocked the road by barricading 1 kilometer before the settlement.

More than 500 police personnel were deployed. 10 JCBs were deployed to demolish the houses. This is why major actions are being taken without any uproar. DCP Ramji Srivastava, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Frank Noble A. The team of SDM and Tehsildar were present the entire time. Collector Singh also kept monitoring continuously.
A class 11 student was attacked by two miscreants with a sharp edged weapon near Itwara police post in the night on Friday.

Police said that two miscreants stopped a class 11 student near Itwara police post located in Talaiya area of the state capital.

One of the accused put a sharp edged weapon on student's neck and asked for Rs 500 for liquor. When the money was not provided, the accused attacked the student on his left shoulder with the sharp edged weapon.

At the time of the incident, his freind was also present along with the injured youth. He raised alert for help afterwhich both the accused fled threatening to kill them. The police have registered an FIR and started investigation. Both the attackers have been taken into custody.

According to TI CB Rathore, Yusuf Khan (18) lives in Ginori. He is a class 11 student in a private school. He had gone to aunt's house with friend Zaid on Thursday night. While leaving from there, both the friends were going to Ginnauri via the fish market. Two youths were seen sitting near liquor shop located in Islampura after spotting him they stopped his vehicle.

As soon as the vehicle was stopped, a sharp edged weapon was put on the neck.

One the accused Kunal placed a weapon on Yusuf's neck. His aide Pawan wanted to catch Zaid. He got down from the vehicle and started calling for help.

Meanwhile, Kunal demanded Rs 500 from the complainant for drinking liquor. When he did not provided the amount, the accused attacked him deeply with a sickle on his left shoulder. Due to this Joseph was seriously injured. Hearing the noise, people came to help and the accused fled from the spot. Then the matter was informed to the police. The police took the injured to a private hospital for treatment. After this FIR was registered.
Police must register an FIR whenever they receive information regarding the commission of a cognisable offence, a court here has observed while directing a Delhi Police official to investigate an alleged molestation.

Metropolitan Magistrate Jyoti Nain was hearing a plea filed under Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 156(3) (power of magistrate to order investigation) against six people.

The court noted that the complainant and her family were attacked by six people on May 13, 2022. According to the plea, one of the accused tore the complainant's clothes and forced himself upon her, but she was saved when the neighbours intervened.

Despite filing a complaint, no action was taken by the police, the court said, noting the plea.

In an order passed on February 23, the court further noted that police filed an action-taken report (ATR) saying the molestation allegations were not levelled by the complainant.

"FIR is a bundle of information for initiation of legal machinery. It is the duty of police officials to register an FIR whenever they receive information regarding the commission of cognisable offence," the court said.

It said in the present case, a police investigation was required as prima facie commission of cognisable offences was disclosed.

"There are allegations, which further necessitate the investigation by the police," the court said adding, "The Station House Officer (SHO) of Narela Industrial Area police station is directed to register an FIR against the alleged accused and to conduct the investigation in accordance with law."

"This order shall not be treated as a direction to file a charge sheet against the alleged accused. The police shall be at liberty to file a cancellation report in case it finds that no offence has been committed by them," the court added.
The newly appointed Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum district, Ananya Mittal, IAS, is set to engage in a detailed discussion with Chamber members, businessmen, and entrepreneurs at the Singhbhum Chamber on Tuesday, February 27, starting at 6:30 pm. This marks Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal's inaugural visit to the Chamber since assuming office.

The agenda for the meeting encompasses vital topics, including the commercial and industrial development of the district. Commissioner Mittal aims to address challenges faced by Chamber members in various facets, such as electricity, skilled workforce, raw materials procurement, securing loans for industries, administrative hurdles, and more.

Additionally, the discussion will extend to public issues impacting the city, ranging from infrastructure concerns like roads and parking to significant matters like Tata lease land registry, higher education, and health-related problems. These issues, regularly brought to the government's attention by the Chamber, align with its social responsibilities.

Chamber President Vijay Anand Moonka, Honorary General Secretary Manav Kedia, Vice President Anil Modi, Advocate Rajeev Aggarwal, Punit Kanwatiya, Abhishek Aggarwal Goldie, Secretary Bharat Makani, Advocate Anshul Ringsiya, Binod Sharma, Suresh Sharma Lipu Treasurer CA Anil Ringsiya, along with other members, businessmen, and entrepreneurs, are urged to actively participate in this significant discussion with Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal to foster collaborative solutions for the district's development.
Bhopal police is on high alert regarding the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. To ensure security arrangements, the Police Commissioner held a meeting of officers and employees in the police control room on Saturday.

There will be a three layer security system for Shah's security. The first layer will have SPG commandos and the second layer will have a security cover of CRPF personnel.

Whereas, district police officers will be deployed as the third layer on all the routes passing through them and in the venue of the program, Minto Hall. Police Commissioner Hari Narayan Chari Mishra has been made the security in-charge of Union Minister Amit Shah's program. Along with them, one thousand police personnel including 12 IPS deployed in Bhopal Police will be deployed in security arrangements.

CP said that there will be a three layer security cordon from the State Hangar to the venue of the event. Intensive checking is being done in the hotels and lodges built around the venue. Let us tell you that Amit Shah will be in Bhopal from 5:15 pm to 6:30 pm on Sunday. He will attend an event at Minto Hall.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Madhya Pradesh on Sunday to review the BJPs preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the partys state unit chief VD Sharma said.

Shah will visit Gwalior, Khajuraho and Bhopal and hold meetings with party functionaries and also address a public meeting, Sharma said.

He will give party workers the mantra for victory in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, Sharma told reporters on Saturday.

Terming Shah as the architect of the BJPs resounding victory in the 2023 Assembly polls in MP, Sharma said he will reach Gwalior at noon and address a meeting of the management committees of all four Lok Sabha seats under the Gwalior-Chambal cluster.

At 2:40pm, Shah will reach Khajuraho and address committees of 2,293 booths of the Lok Sabha seat there. He will reach Bhopal at 5pm and address a Prabuddhjan (eminent persons and intellectuals) meet at Kushabhau Thakre convention centre. Shah will also unveil a statue of Kushabhau Thakre at the convention centre, Sharma added.

The BJP will win all 29 Lok Sabha seats in MP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sharma claimed.
In an effort to provide medical facilities to the poor patients, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday asked the Arvind Kejriwal-headed Delhi Government to implement Ayushman Bharat Health Scheme, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY,) in the national Capital.

Giving details the officials said the LG flagged intransigence on part of the Delhi Government in clearing the file despite agreeing to do so in 2018 and announcing its implementation in its Budget 2020. He recalled the file invoking Rule 19(5) of Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) and asked the Chief Minister to implement the scheme at the earliest for the benefit of poorest of the poor.

Saxena underscored that Health Ministers, namely Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia, and Saurabh Bhardwaj, have on six occasions since 2018, stalled the file on flimsy political pretexts.

According to Saxena, the non-implementation of the scheme by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has resulted in the continued suffering of impoverished patients who are unable to avail its benefits, has recalled the file in this regard invoking Rule 19(5) of Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) and asked the Chief Minister to implement the Scheme at the earliest for the benefit of poorest of the poor.

In a letter dated June 7, 2019, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to then Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, saying the city government is "offering ten times bigger and comprehensive health scheme". Kejriwal had stated replacing the existing scheme with Ayushman Bharat will be a loss for the people of Delhi.

Saxena while disposing the file outlined that the government, despite having given in principle approval for implementation of Ayushman Bharat Scheme way back in 2018 and having announced it even in its budget in 2020, had inexplicably stalled it for merely political reasons. Due to this, depriving lakhs of poor migrants in the city of health services, under AB-PMJAY. He has also outlined the fact that the waiting list for issue of ration card to deserving beneficiaries has applicants waiting since 2018, and in the absence of such document, poor sick patients suffering from serious ailments could not avail of health benefits under other available schemes.

It is crucial to underscore that AB-PMJAY stands as the world's largest health insurance scheme, offering health coverage of Rs. 5,00,000 per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospital care. This extensive program caters to economically disadvantaged and vulnerable families, benefiting approximately 50 crore individuals. Notably, the scheme is entirely funded by the Government, maintaining a cost-sharing ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and the State, the Lt Governor said in the file noting.

Presently, States/UTs have successfully implemented AB-PMJAY and over 25 crore Ayushman Cards have been generated under this scheme. Only three States/UTs, including NCT of Delhi, have not implemented this scheme thereby denying citizens residing there, access to better healthcare.

Delhi accommodates a huge migratory population estimated to 72 lakhs as per SECC Data 2011. Additionally, a significant number of building and Other Construction workers lack a Delhi Voter ID rendering them ineligible to avail benefit under the Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK) scheme.

It has also been noted that applicants are waiting for issuance of Ration Cards, often required for making them eligible for availing health benefits, since as along as 2018. These patients, who are unable to afford treatment for serious illnesses, are deprived of urgently needed treatment, Saxena stated in the file noting.

Astonishingly, the then Minister of Health gave in-principle approval to the implementation of AB-PMJAY, with a rider that the same be renamed Mukhya Mantri Aam Aadmi Swasthya Bima Yojna  Ayushman Bharat, as early as August 2018. Subsequently, in October 2018, the Minister on the flimsy pretext, that the decision to rename the scheme have been taken by the Cabinet, it will take the Cabinet to re-decide on it, returned the file back.

Thereafter, the file was put up again to the Minister for a suitable time and date on 01.01.2019, wherein the Minister noted that the same may be put up after his return from tour. However, even as total inaction followed for more than an year, the then Deputy CM/Finance Minister announced in his Budget speech in February 2020, that the scheme will be implemented in Delhi. Thereafter, despite the Budgetary announcement made by his colleague, the Health Minister, when the file was resubmitted to him in March 2020, returned the file without any comments back to the department. When the department resubmitted the file to the Minister in May 2020, after sitting on it for 04 months, he sent the file back to the department with instructions to put it up after 02 months, citing the on-going COVID pandemic. When the file was resubmitted, as per the directions of the Minister mentioned above, in November 2020, he again returned the file back to the department on 04.12.2020, with directions to put it up again in March 2021, without citing any reason thereof, Saxena said.
n Taking a dig at Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, the AAP Government said he has no idea about the ground reality of Delhi regarding issues being faced with patient data, shortage of staff and private hospital participation in the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, in the national capital.

The AAP Government has requested the LG to ensure that the vacant sanctioned posts of doctors, specialists, nurses and paramedics are filled by UPSC/DSSSB at the earliest and during the interim period these posts are filled on a contractual basis so that all the services in Delhi government hospitals are made functional.

Amidst mounting concerns over the efficacy of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (LG) finds himself under scrutiny for a perceived disconnect from the ground realities plaguing the capital's medical infrastructure. The LG faces calls to address these challenges firsthand. Revelations of ineligible beneficiaries reaping benefits from PMJAY, as exposed by a recent CAG report, further emphasize the pressing need for action. As discrepancies within Ayushman Bharat come to light, including issues with patient data and private hospital participation, the scheme's practicality is called into question, the AAP government said in a statement.

Urgent appeals are made for the LG to tackle staffing shortages and settle outstanding payments to uphold seamless healthcare to the common people, as demands for accountability need to be ensured through the participation of the Health Secretary in the hospital inspections and meetings called by the Health Minister. It is sad to see that despite spending almost one and half years as LG of Delhi, Mr. Vinay Saxena has no idea about the ground reality of Delhi, it said.The LG does not know that at most of the hospitals in Delhi, especially GTB Hospital & LBS Hospital and RTRM Hospital, which are situated either at the border of the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and the BJP-ruled Haryana, the patient load from these BJP-ruled neighboring States is comparable to the patient load from Delhi in these hospitals.

In certain hospitals like GB Pant Hospital, almost half of the total number of surgeries performed is on patients from states wherein the Ayushman Bharat scheme is operational, like the BJP-ruled states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. It is very sad to see that though the LG is boasting about the Ayushman Bharat scheme, there is practically no success on the ground, it said.
Opening another front in his battle with the AAP, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, questioning the delay in presenting the Budget and urged him to expedite the stalled process of Budget presentation in the Assembly.

The LGs letter comes a day after his missive to Kejriwal regarding five Comptroller and Auditor General reports that, he said, have been pending with Delhi Finance Minister Atishi since August 2023. The Delhi Government in a statement said the budget was en route to the LG office for his approval.

The Delhi Assemblys Budget Session, which started on February 15, was extended till the first week of March with the finance minister citing a delay in its finalisation and seeking approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The Budget Session was initially scheduled to end on February 21.

Hitting out at the government, Saxena has accused it of stalling the budget for no apparent reason and said the people have a right to know how public funds are being used. I am constrained to bring to your notice that despite the Annual Financial Statement being ready and available with the Government, after due clearance of Government of India, since as long as 19.022024, it is yet to reach me for causing it to be laid in the House as per law established, the Lt Governor said in the letter.

You are accordingly requested to get the process expedited and utilize the Budget Session for what it was summoned for in the interest of transparency, accountability and good governance, reads the letter.

You may be aware that Section 27 of the GNCT of Delhi Act, 1991 entails the processes and procedures involved in laying the Annual Financial Statement (Budget), that inter alia in its sub-section (1) specifies that, The Lieutenant Governor shall in respect of every financial year cause to be laid before the Legislative Assembly, with the previous sanction of the President, a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Capital for that year, in this Part referred to as the annual financial statement.

It will be pertinent to mention here that the Cabinets decision to summon the House for Budget Session between 15.02.2024 and 21.02.2024 was taken on 31.01.2024. It was sent to me on 02.02.2024 and on the basis of the same, orders of summoning were issued by me on 06.02.2024, the letter said.

The Lt Governor further stated that subsequently, the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) was received by my Secretariat on 13.02.2024 and the same was cleared by me for further approval by the President of India on 14,02.2024. It was then sent to MHA, for sanction of the President, on 15.02.2024 by GNCTD, following which the Government of India conveyed its approval on 19.02.2024, within 03 working days. Thereafter, the process seems to have been stalled for no apparent reason at the level of GNCTD.

Be that as it may it will be in the fitness of things that the Annual Financial Statement (Budget), be laid, discussed and passed in the Assembly at the earliest for the benefit of people of Delhi. Needless to say that it will not only give an opportunity to the people to know about the expenses and revenue of the Government, but also apprise them of the programs that public funds - that belongs to the people themselves, are being utilized for what purpose. reads the letter.

Criticising the AAP government, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri have accused the Kejriwal government of deliberately delaying the budget of Delhi and neglecting the issues of public interest raised by the opposition in the Assembly. Sachdeva said that Arvind Kejriwal is making the Assembly his weapon to hide his corruption and incompetence and once again he has lied about the budget. CM Kejriwal has with malafide intention suppressed the budget that was approved by President Draupadi Murmur on February 19 and sent back to the Delhi government, he said. Bidhuri said that Kejriwal is using the Assembly only to hurl abuses at the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the Central Government, and BJP leaders and to justify his corruption.
ELKO  Travelers to Elko will soon be able to stay in newly restored boutique lodgings.

Construction is underway at the Elkotel at 3019 Idaho St. across from Albertsons, with its blue roadside sign installed on Feb. 23.

Anthony Lewis of Anthony Construction said the hotel is about 2 months from opening. It will have 74 rooms spread across three floors.

The top two floors are pretty much finished. Theyre in cleaning mode now, Lewis said. The lobby and kitchen areas are in development next, he said.

The hotel was originally built as a Holiday Inn Express and then became a Wyndham.

Now there are new owners, Oceanic Enterprises, and they have hotels in Idaho and all up and down the coast of California, he said.

In February 2021, the hotel propertys water line burst and all three floors flooded.

It was even coming out the windows of all the floors and the air conditioners. Thats how bad it flooded, Lewis said. This four-inch water line ran for like a week, a week and a half. So everything had to be gutted in there, 100% down to the wood studs and then put back together, he said.

Upgrading alarm systems, fire codes and things like that has been a bit of a challenge. But other than that, everythings been fine, he noted.

The demo work was done a little over a year ago. For the last 12 to 14 months, weve been in the rebuild process, he said.
There is a need to popularize e-service centers up to the Panchayat level in order to provide easy access to justice to the common people in the state. The information available on the dashboard should be used as much as possible. This will lead to better results in the judicial process. These instructions were given today in the meeting of Computer and E-Court Committee at RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration Academy, Bhopal. The meeting took place in the presence of Justice Rohit Arya and Justice Dharmadhikari. Projects related to e-court were discussed with officials of various departments of the state government in the meeting.

It was informed in the meeting that e-seva centers are working in 21 thousand gram panchayats in the state where all court related necessary information is being made available to the general public under one roof. While reviewing the Medlepar project in the meeting, it was told that this software which has been prepared from 26 January 2019, arrangements have been made to provide information related to post mortem and MLC online. There is a facility of virtual court with the provision for issuing e-challan for traffic regulation.

In a discussion on the dashboard prepared by Madhya Pradesh High Court, it was told that complete information related to court cases is being uploaded on the dashboard from regularly. What is needed is that they should be used for speedy judicial process. It was told in the meeting that the work of e-summons warrant is going on as a pilot project in Khandwa district. Soon it will be implemented at the state level.

Emphasis on publicity

Instructions were given in the meeting to publicize the e-court system. The facilities available in e-seva centers in the state should be publicized in regional and folk languages. It was told in the meeting that social media platforms will be used to provide access to these facilities to the general public.

Maximize use of Hindi in court work

It was decided in the meeting that maximum work in the judicial process should be done in Hindi. Arrangements have been made to give copies of the decisions given in English in the court in Hindi. This information should be given to the general public. It was told in the meeting that the Samadhan Aapke Dwar programme is yielding better results in the state. Various government officials were instructed to update the dashboard on the status of cases related to their departments. Senior officials of various departments were present in the meeting. The meeting was co-ordinated by Central Project Co-ordinator FH Kazi, In-charge Principal Secretary Law Umesh Pandav and Additional Secretary Bharat Vyas.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the temple of Saint Ravidas in BHEL Haridwar on Saturday and offered prayers. He inaugurated a pavilion in the temple on the occasion.

Paying rich tributes to the saint, the CM said that Ravidas was a pioneer of social equality and human values and he played a key role in removing social evils from the society. He said that the day of Ravidas Jayanti is the occasion to take a pledge against untouchability and discrimination in the society. Dhami said that it is a proven fact that great saints have taken birth in our country whenever their presence is needed the most. Saint Ravidas was a great saint of the Bhakti movement who had given a new energy to the downtrodden sections of the society.

The CM said that India and Uttarakhand are making rapid strides on the path of development by following the teachings of saint Ravidas. The double engine government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed for the welfare of dalits and downtrodden. The government is following the principle of Antyodaya in which work for welfare of the person standing last on the social ladder is being done.

The CM added that under the leadership of PM Modi, the pucca houses have been given to the poor and they have been freed from the scourge of defecating in the open. The poor are receiving free treatment and pure drinking water is being given from the Har Ghar Nal campaign. Dhami said that the government is giving priority to the poor and making policies while keeping their interests in the centre. The CM averred that the government is moving ahead on the path shown by saint Ravidas. He said that the State government has enacted an anti conversion law and to give equal rights to everyone the government has brought a bill on Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

Lok Sabha MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that the life of saint Ravidas gives an inspiration for the welfare of mankind. He said that the teachings of Ravidas are still relevant.

MLA Adesh Chauhan, former MLA Deshraj Karnwal and Jaipal of the temple committee also addressed the public.

MLA Madan Kaushik, Swami Yatishwaranand and others were present on the occasion.
The BJP on Saturday took a jibe at the AAP and the Congress after the two INDIA alliance partners announced their seat-sharing alliance and reminded Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of his promise of putting the leaders of the grand old party in jail. Lambasting the Congress-AAP alliance in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP said the move shows Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has lost his connection with the Delhiites.

BJP MP from Delhi Manoj Tiwari lashed out at the AAP and the Congress alleging that Kejriwal-led party has been disappointed with the seat-sharing formula in the alliance. Kejriwal attacked the Congress time and again and removed it from power in Delhi, but now they are forming an alliance. The alliance also shows both the parties disappointments. The parties collaborated for their own benefits, he said.

You must have heard chor chor mausere bhai. That is what is happening between AAP and Congress. AAP workers are disappointed because Arvind Kejriwal used to speak about putting Congress leaders in jail but he is now at their feet, said Tiwari said. The BJP leader alleged the AAP doesnt care about the citizens well being and added that they have formed an alliance for their own benefits. Two parties joining hands doesnt mean they can garner more votes from the citizens. They dont care about the well-being of the Delhiites, they only care about their personal benefits, he alleged.

In a statement, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, Kejriwals alliance with the Congress shows he has lost his connection with the Delhiites. The AAP knows that rural population, traders and Dalits of Delhi are not with them.

By deciding to ally with the Congress, the Delhi CM who has 62 of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly has shown that he has lost faith of almost half of Delhi, he added. Sachdeva said the people of Delhi are shocked to see the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress forming an electoral alliance and added that, irrespective of the collaboration, the BJP will win all seven Lok Sabha seats of Delhi.

Irrespective of this alliance, the BJP will win all 7 Lok Sabha seats of Delhi with huge margin on the basis of support from all sections of the society, Sachdeva said. The people of Delhi are surprised that till the other day, both the Congress and the AAP called each other corrupt and today they formed an alliance, he added.

Speaking about the seat-sharing formula between the AAP and the Congress, Sachdeva alleged that by giving the Northwest Delhi seat to the Congress, the AAP leadership has confirmed that it has lost connect with the rural population and the Dalit voters. Northwest Delhi is a SC reserved seat of large rural population along with huge scheduled caste population. By surrendering that seat, the AAP has proven that they dont connect with the rural and the Dalit population anymore, he alleged. Congress will contest on North East, Chandni Chowk and North West seats. AAP will contest in New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and East Delhi. As a part of the INDIA Alliance, we had said earlier too that we will follow the order of high commandWe will have a positive result in the time to come, Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said.

Meanwhile, Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi has claimed that Arvind Kejriwal can be arrested soon after the party announced its alliance with the Congress in Delhi, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Goa and Haryana.

Ever since the INDIA alliance seat sharing was nearly finalised, Arvind Kejriwal started getting threats from all sides. We were told, if we dont exit the alliance, after ED, CBI will also frame charges against Arvind Kejriwal to arrest him. We have information that the CBI will issue a notice on Monday, and probably in some days, Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested, she claimed.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, on Sunday, asked the parliamentarians of her party to introspect whether they followed the guidelines given to them in the interest of the party.

Mayawatis remarks came after BSP Lok Sabha MP from Ambedkar Nagar Ritesh Pandey resigned from the partys primary membership ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and joined the BJP in New Delhi.

Along with the BSP political party, there is also a movement dedicated to the mission of self-respect and self-respect of the most revered Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar due to which the policy and working style of this party is different from that of the capitalist parties of the country. Keeping this in mind also, the party fields its candidates in elections, Mayawati said in a series of posts on X in Hindi.

After meeting this criterion, the BSP MPs must introspect whether they took proper care of the people in their area? Did they devote full time in their area? Also, did they properly follow the guidelines given from time to time in the interest of the party and the movement? she said.

The BSP chief further said, In such a situation, is it possible to give tickets to most of the Lok Sabha MPs, especially when they are seen wandering here and there in their own interests and are in the news for negative reasons. It is unfair for the media to publicise this as a weakness of the party despite knowing all this. The interest of the BSP is above all, she said.

Many other MPs of the party are also in touch with other parties and may soon leave BSP to contest parliamentary elections on the symbols of other parties. BSP MP from Ghazipur, Afzal Ansari, has already been fielded by Samajwadi Party from the same constituency. Another MP, Danish Ali, already suspended from the BSP for anti-party activities is also likely to contest this time on Congress ticket. Shyam Singh Yadav, Sangeeta Azad too are in touch with other parties and they along with other MPs are likely to leave BSP soon.
The Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal concluded its three-day annual business fest Coalescence 24: Climate Dash to Net Zero on Saturday.

The valedictory ceremony was honoured by the presence of Jitendra Kumar, Director General and Special Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, who graced the occasion as the chief guest. Additionally, K.B Singh, Inspector General Forest; Aseem Srivastava, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Forces, Madhya Pradesh; and Dr. K Ravichandran, Director of the Indian Institute of Forest Management, presided over the event.

This year's theme of the event, held between February 22 to 24, was 'Climate Dash to Net Zero'. This three-day event was attended by participants from prestigious institutes from different states of the country, including students from IIM Indore, IIM Udaipur, MDI Gurgaon, KJ Somaiya, Goa Institute of Management, MANIT etc. In his address to the participants, Jitendra Kumar emphasized the significance of "LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment," highlighting India's leadership in climate change mitigation and adoption on a global scale.

He expressed confidence in the country's efforts, stating, "We are leading the world, putting forth our best possible endeavours to mitigate climate change."Furthermore, he underscored the purpose of the conclave in shaping young business leaders, emphasizing the necessity for net-zero economic development and sustainable growth. He encouraged attendees to leverage the insights gained from the thought-provoking competitions, emphasizing the importance of implementing the Mission LiFE themes in their lives.

Kumar emphasized the collective responsibility, stating, "With the collective efforts of each of us, we can achieve our vision of Net-Zero Economy Development."In his closing remarks, Dr. Ravichandran characterized this conclave as an invaluable platform for students to engage with peers from other esteemed institutes, emphasizing the creation of networks and the understanding of pressing issues through these connections.

He appealed to the students to embrace new opportunities and cultivate their entrepreneurial spirit. He appeal to students, urging them to embrace the principles of Mission LiFE and to concentrate on the seven vital themes of LiFE, integrating them into their daily lives to reduce their carbon footprint effectively.

The concluding day commenced with Leadership Talk 3.0, featuring insights from Dr. Yogendra Saxena, Former Group Chief Sustainability Officer at Tata Power. Subsequently, a panel discussion titled "Towards Net-Zero Emission Pathways using the Circular Economy Framework" was led by notable figures including Mr. Nitin Mishra, Founder of Sustainovate Climate Solutions; Ms. Shobha Raghavan, Chief Operations Officer at Saahas Zero Waste; and Mr. Souvik Bhattacharjya, Associate Director & Senior Fellow at TERI. The final competition, Managerial Maestro, provided a platform for students to demonstrate their exceptional managerial skills and talents.This three-day Cocalescence 24: Climate Dash Way to Net Zero concluded with the prize distribution ceremony in which IIM, Indore secured the first position. While National Institute of Securities Markets and the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) secured second and third positions respectively.
A two-year-old girl was allegedly mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs in the Dhobhi Ghat area of New Delhi's Tughlaq Lane, police said on Sunday.

The alleged incident occurred around 6 pm on Saturday. The child was sitting outside her home when four to five dogs attacked her, dragged her for several metres and mauled her to death, they said.The body was handed over to the girl's family after an autopsy and an investigation has begun, they added.

A senior New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) official said "It is a very sad and unfortunate incident. A team of veterinarians visited the spot and it was found that the dogs in the area are vaccinated and sterilised. The police inquiry will make things clearer."

The girl's family claimed that some people feed the stray dogs near the locality and demanded strict action against them. "Around 6 pm, four to five stray dogs suddenly attacked our child, dragged her for 100-150 metres and mauled her," said Ravi, the victim's uncle.He also claimed that this was not the first stray dog attack in the area.

"These same dogs attacked children playing outside their homes, cats and chicken," Ravi said and added that locals repeatedly complained to the authorities concerned but those were ignored.

"We are poor people. When we tried to stop those who feed the dogs, they threatened us with a police complaint," he alleged.The locals also complained about these people to the police but they took no action, Ravi claimed.

A senior police officer said, "A police team and forensic experts were sent to the spot after we received information about the incident. The girl was rushed to a hospital where she died during treatment. Further investigation has begun." The alleged incident is the latest in a string of dog attacks in Delhi since the turn of the year.

On January 29, a seven-year-old girl suffered more than 15 injuries after allegedly being attacked by her neighbour's American Bully while playing outside with her friends in Rohini's Sector-25 area.

In another incident on January 22, a two-year-old girl was allegedly attacked by a pet dog in northeast Delhi's Vishwash Nagar.

A day before that, a seven-year-old boy was injured in northwest Delhi's Mahendra Park area after allegedly being attacked by a Pitbull.

In the Shahbad Dairy area, a seven-year-old girl was allegedly attacked by another American Bully when she was playing near her home.

In another incident, a Pitbull allegedly snatched an 18-month-old child from her grandfather's lap and mauled her in Burari's Uttarakhand Colony.
| The Uttar Pradesh government is contemplating to enlist the support of corporate to enlarge the states corporate social responsibility (CSR) reserves for socioeconomic development.

The state government will soon organise a UP CSR Summit to script a new chapter in the process of collaborative socioeconomic development.

The state is counting on its large consumer market and growing heft to impress the private sector to loosen their CSR purse strings. The core idea of CSR lies in the ancient ideology of collectivism. During the pandemic, the nation witnessed a demonstration of the countrys collective strength.

Uttar Pradesh is among the top five states who corner most of the CSR funds from companies. Others on the list are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 mandates certain companies to allocate 2 per cent of their average profits from the preceding three financial years towards CSR activities.

The state has also acknowledged the contribution of leading private sector companies Vedanta Group, HCL, NCL, Reliance Foundation, Shiv Nadar Foundation, ITC Limited and NTPC in a large scale through CSR funds.

In 2022-23, UP collected about Rs 1,500 crore in its CSR corpus, and it was used in projects pertaining to women and child development, education, vocational education and skill development, etc.

In 2014-15, UP garnered only about Rs 148 crore in its CSR corpus, that grew to Rs 435 crore in 2017-18. In 2021-22, UP saw a CSR spending of Rs 1,321 crore that surged to around Rs 1,500 crore in 2022-23.

There is no better place than UP for effective utlisation of CSR funds. The presence of 83.9 million registered workers offers a significant opportunity for utilising the CSR kitty, UPs Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar said.

The cumulative CSR spent in India is estimated to be more than Rs 2 trillion. Even though UP has witnessed a sustained increase in its CSR kitty, the amount collected is small compared to its geographical size and population base.
The New Delhi World Book Fair is a celebration of the written word that transcends boundaries and bridges cultures. Here - as in others counties of the world - the significance of books reverberates with resounding clarity

As the vibrant panorama of the New Delhi World Book Fair unfolded its final chapter on February 18, 2024, it bid a fond farewell to nine days filled with the symphony of literary marvels and cultural splendour. Nestled within the expansive embrace of Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan, this majestic event, inaugurated on February 10th, played host to a multitude of nearly 15 lakh book lovers, who traversed its labyrinthine corridors in search of enlightenment and inspiration. Here, amidst the grandeur of more than 1,000 publishers hailing from 40 illustrious nations such as India, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Spain, and beyond, over 2,000 enchanting stalls stood as beacons of literary excellence.

Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the nurturing wing of the Ministry of Education, this year's fair unfurled its vibrant banner under the resplendent theme of "Bahubhashi Bharat - Ek Jeevant Parampara" (Multilingual India - A Living Tradition). With the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia taking part as the guest country, the air was suffused with the heady aroma of cultural exchange, literary discourse, and harmonious dialogues, weaving a rich flavour of mutual appreciation and understanding between the two nations.

While traversing through the stalls with long overhanging signages guiding paths for visitors, one could also wonder at the very craftsmanship of the engineers who put up the display in a manner that attracted students, school children, writers, authors, guest speakers, men and women with their families alike from far end - thanks to the event management groups of companies who designed this panoramic extravaganza, the effect was spell-binding.

However, what really attracted once again is the versatility and the imaginative and creative manner of enticing the readers/visitors and capturing (read holding on) to their interest. There were many window shoppers who just passed by. While some stalls engaged children in solving different crossword puzzles through creative games, there were others like ours (Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti), where spinning on the traditional charkha became a centre of attraction for the young and the old who wanted to try their hands on spinning. What came as a surprise in this digital age where Kindle and other such forums have become the latest fad, is that the Autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi, My Experiments with Truth was still a popular choice amongst the buyers.

The Children's Pavilion became a delightful sanctuary for young book enthusiasts, offering a diverse array of activities including storytelling, illustration workshops, calligraphy sessions, art demonstrations, drama classes, and explorations into the wonders of space. Notably, the fair has demonstrated its dedication to inclusivity and accessibility in literature through specialized events tailored for children with special needs, in line with its overarching 'Books-for-All' initiative.

Further, amidst this vibrant mosaic of India's cultural panorama, as showcased at the World Book Fair, the symphony of myriad languages, dialects, and traditions harmoniously intertwined into a seamless expression of unity. Here, as one flapped through the pages of literature and glanced at the strokes of artistry, the feeling resonated with a profound testament to the nation's rich heritage. The unveiling of "Jaadui Pitara", an enchanting e-learning oasis, emerged as a beacon of enlightenment in consonance with the vision of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Overflowing with the treasures of puzzles, riddles, and tales, this marvellously inclusive repository, deftly translated into 22 languages through the marvels of (artificial intelligence) AI, stood poised to revolutionize the landscape of childhood education. Alongside, a constellation of specialized modules, meticulously crafted in alignment with NEP 2020, adorned this educational tableau, offering a cornucopia of resources and insights tailored to the modern learner. Embracing the noble vision of fostering a nation of avid readers, an ethereal e-library welcomed all with its boundless offerings, inviting one and all to immerse themselves in the splendour of knowledge.

In this timeless mosaic of human civilization, books stand as luminous threads weaving together the very fabric of knowledge, imagination, and cultural heritage. Like radiant beacons illuminating the path of enlightenment, books beckon us into realms of limitless discovery and profound insight. Amidst this vast literary landscape, book fairs emerge as vibrant marketplaces of intellect, where bibliophiles and seekers of wisdom converge in a harmonious symphony of literary delight.

The English author Neil Gaiman once remarked, "Literacy is more important than ever it was, in this world of text and email, a world of written information. We need to read and write, we need global citizens who can read comfortably, comprehend what they are reading, understand nuance, and make themselves understood." His words underscore the contemporary relevance of literacy in an age dominated by digital communication.

Maya Angelou, the celebrated poet and civil rights activist, aptly encapsulated the transformative power of literacy when she asserted, "Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him." She underscored the profound impact that exposure to literature can have on shaping young minds and nurturing a lifelong love for reading. Book fairs, with their wide array of offerings spanning genres and age groups, play a crucial role in instilling this habit of reading and nurturing a generation of literate and intellectually curious individuals.

Book fairs also serve as vital platforms for promoting diversity and inclusion within the literary world. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the acclaimed Nigerian author, emphasized the importance of diverse representation in literature when she said that "Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity". Therefore, by showcasing literature from diverse cultures, perspectives, and voices, book fairs contribute to a more inclusive literary landscape, fostering empathy, understanding, and interconnectedness among readers.

Book fairs, by bringing together a diverse array of literature, empower individuals to engage with various forms of written expression, thereby fostering critical thinking and communication skills essential for navigating the complexities of the modern world.

The New Delhi World Book Fair is a celebration of the written word that transcends boundaries and bridges cultures. Here - as in others counties of the world - the significance of books reverberates with resounding clarity, underscoring the enduring relevance of organizing such transformative events with new creative engagements. It is time when we move beyond just literacy

(The writer is programme executive, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Sansthan, views are personal)
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that "injustice" done to the youth is a "national sin" and added that his government will adopt the policy of zero tolerance towards those who play with the future of the youth.

The chief minister's remarks come a day after the Uttar Pradesh government cancelled the recently held police constable recruitment examination following allegations of question paper leak and ordered a re-test within six months.

Addressing a function held here to distribute appointment letters to 1,782 selected candidates Adityanath said, "It has been our resolve ('sankalp') from the very first day that if the recruitment process is not moving ahead with honesty, then it is playing with the youth and forcing them to migrate for their talent."

"If injustice is done to the youth, then it is a national sin. From the very first day, we have decided that whosoever plays with the lives and future of the youth, we will adopt a policy of zero tolerance and deal with those elements with the same strictness and harshest manner," he added.

The chief minister said the government has taken action in the past also against those who tried to play with the future of the youth and is going to take strict action once again.

"We all use technology, similarly such elements also use technology for wrong doing. Many times I think that if those people had also thought of making efforts and not doing wrong while having a positive thought process. If they had done good work using technology, they would have progressed and been happy," Adityanath said.

The government's action will be such that it will become an example for others," he added.

The state government has also announced a probe into the allegations of question paper leak by the Special Task Force (STF).

More than 48 lakh candidates appeared in the examination conducted on February 17 and 18 across the state.

Adityanath on this occasion congratulated the youth selected in different departments for joining the services of the state, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is also the mission of the double engine government.

Adityanath said the government is working with full commitment to ensure that every youth can get his rights in a fair and transparent manner.

The result of this is that in the last seven years, more than six lakh youth have been provided jobs in the government departments of the state, he added.

The chief minister said the process of appointment continues through all the commissions and boards.

On one hand, the recruitment process is being carried out in government departments with complete accuracy and transparency, while on the other hand, we are seeing meaningful results of the efforts that have been started for new possibilities of jobs and employment, he added.

Adityanath also mentioned about the investment proposals worth Rs 40 lakh crore during the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 and the recent ground breaking ceremony in Lucknow for projects worth more than Rs 10 lakh crore.

He said that due to these investments, 34 lakh youth of the state will get direct jobs and employment opportunities.

The chief minister said that these 34 lakh youth earlier used to go to Maharashtra, Delhi, Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu in search of jobs and employment, but today they do not need to go anywhere as they are getting jobs in their own district and their own state.

Adityanath asked the newly-selected candidates to fulfill their responsibilities honestly and focus on the development of the state and the country.

Work towards realising the concept of developed India by working with accountability and responsibility along with sensitive behaviour towards the poor, he said.

The chief minister said, "You have received the appointment letter without any discrimination, so you should contribute to the development of the state with the same spirit. You reach your office on time, complete the tasks on time. Do not leave any file pending."

He told the newly-selected candidates that they have reached this milestone with the love and blessings of their parents, teachers, friends and well-wishers.

"You have just completed a milestone. This should not be considered a destination," he said.
Shore Capital reaffirmed their buy rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY  Free Report) in a report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Barclays decreased their price target on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 67 ($0.84) to GBX 65 ($0.82) and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 17th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Lloyds Banking Group to an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an underweight rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Lloyds Banking Group to a market perform rating and set a GBX 50 ($0.63) price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 59 ($0.74) price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Friday, February 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 57.33 ($0.72).

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Lloyds Banking Group Trading Down 1.0 %

Lloyds Banking Group Increases Dividend

Shares of Lloyds Banking Group stock opened at GBX 45.50 ($0.57) on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 44.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 43.45. Lloyds Banking Group has a 12-month low of GBX 39.42 ($0.50) and a 12-month high of GBX 52.94 ($0.67). The company has a market capitalization of 29.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 649.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.23.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, April 11th will be issued a dividend of GBX 1.84 ($0.02) per share. This is a boost from Lloyds Banking Groups previous dividend of $0.92. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 11th. This represents a yield of 4.25%. Lloyds Banking Groups dividend payout ratio is 4,285.71%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider William Chalmers acquired 142,680 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 47 ($0.59) per share, with a total value of 67,059.60 ($84,436.67). 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Lloyds Banking Group

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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.

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ELKO  A new policy has been adopted addressing how Elko County School District handles deaths, such as providing guidance on temporary or permanent memorials, funerals, yearbooks and preventing sensationalism.

Its all deaths, both students and staff, and how we respond and carry forward in the midst of these events, ECSD Superintendent Clayton Anderson said, adding the main conversation topic is about whether memorials and temporary memorials are allowed.

He said were not planning to get rid of any exiting tributes, but the new policy calls for memorials that recognize accomplishments, achievements and contributions of the deceased after years of service to the district. Any memorial proposals need to be reviewed by the superintendent and central office administrators.

There have been three student deaths in the school district during the current school year, Anderson confirmed in a Thursday email.

He told trustees on Tuesday the original proposal presented for first reading was changed after board comments, including a question from the board president, Matt McCarty, about policy on social media.

That was a tough one. We were not sure how deep in the weeds we want to get, but because of a potential need to use social media the policy was slightly adjusted, Anderson said.

McCarty told trustees he had received a request to table action on the policy because of concerns about the language and tone of the policy, but he wanted to see the policy go forward.

We always have the ability to go back and review any district policy, McCarty said, and he wrote more about the death policy in a Facebook posting later in the week because of additional concerns from the public.

Trustee Teresa Dastrup said anyone can show up and share their thoughts, but I think it is a good policy to move forward with, and Trustee Jeff Durham pointed out the policy was on second reading.

We are always seeking ways to be better, but we need these guiding documents, Anderson said, noting experts were involved in formulating the policy, including mental health professionals.

McCarty wrote on Facebook, a good policy needs to be objective, not subjective, and he agreed with policy language that allows for temporary memorials but states that they cant be sensational or glamorize a death and they will be monitored.

He said people and organizations who have dealt extensively on subject matter such as death and suicide, including local suicide prevention advocates, have advised the district to avoid sensationalizing death, and/or creating suicide ideation or suicide contagion.

McCarty said the death policy allows individual and collective grieving by removing the institution from the equation.

Regarding the policy section on yearbooks that recommends against a page memorializing deaths in that school year, he said he agreed with the language because some families may not want to share their grief and may not want their loved ones memorialize that way.

The school district also has compiled explanations to address concerns about the new policy, including that funerals cant be held on school property during school hours, but school facilities can be used on weekends or off hours.

Regarding retiring jersey numbers for athletes, the district stated such a memorial could create inequity because students or staff members who arent athletes couldnt be remembered in that way. Jersey retirements wont be allowed.

There also is the question of saving a chair for a deceased student at graduation, and ECSD said the chair placement wont be allowed under the policy, but students and families can remember and acknowledge loved ones in other ways.

The policy recognizes that any day could be difficult for someone who lost a loved one, not just an anniversary date, and says the school district will make sure help is always available.

Additionally, the school board approved on second reading an amended suicide policy originally approved roughly six months ago. The changes include clarifying that any media inquiries would go the districts communications specialist and spells out how statements regarding a death should be written and how they should encourage the media not to speculate on the reason for the suicide.

The policy that now ties in with the new policy on deaths also now says a school should strive to treat all deaths the same way.

The policies can be found on the school districts BoardDocs website.
Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI  Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B)  Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2024 earnings per share estimates for Rogers Communications in a report released on Thursday, February 22nd. Zacks Research analyst V. Sawalka now anticipates that the Wireless communications provider will post earnings per share of $0.87 for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.00. The consensus estimate for Rogers Communications current full-year earnings is $3.78 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Rogers Communications Q3 2024 earnings at $0.90 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $3.52 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $1.09 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $1.03 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $1.06 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.11 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $5.13 EPS.

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Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Desjardins raised Rogers Communications from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. StockNews.com raised Rogers Communications from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 13th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on Rogers Communications from $55.00 to $52.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Rogers Communications currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $52.00.

Rogers Communications Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of RCI opened at $45.80 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $24.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62. Rogers Communications has a one year low of $36.55 and a one year high of $50.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.81, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.89. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $46.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $42.75.

Rogers Communications (NYSE:RCI  Get Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $3.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.99 billion. Rogers Communications had a return on equity of 22.17% and a net margin of 4.38%.

Rogers Communications Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.3742 per share. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.27%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. This is an increase from Rogers Communicationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. Rogers Communicationss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 122.50%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Trexquant Investment LP bought a new position in Rogers Communications during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,413,000. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of Rogers Communications by 317.7% during the 3rd quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 33,877 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $1,301,000 after purchasing an additional 25,766 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in shares of Rogers Communications by 32.0% during the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 2,101,225 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $81,049,000 after purchasing an additional 508,900 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Rogers Communications during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,572,000. Finally, Korea Investment CORP increased its position in Rogers Communications by 12.7% in the 3rd quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 1,728,407 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $66,669,000 after acquiring an additional 194,954 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 44.25% of the companys stock.

About Rogers Communications

(Get 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.

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Cadence Bank raised its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Free Report) by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,372 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 305 shares during the period. Cadence Banks holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $505,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management grew its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 145.5% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 6,590 shares of the companys stock worth $705,000 after acquiring an additional 3,906 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 36.2% during the first quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 52,003 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,570,000 after purchasing an additional 13,829 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $241,000. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 14,640 shares of the companys stock worth $1,568,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. 83.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance

AGG stock opened at $97.34 on Friday. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $91.58 and a twelve month high of $100.98. The business has a fifty day moving average of $98.27 and a 200-day moving average of $96.12.

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Profile

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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City Office REIT (NYSE:CIO  Get Free Report) issued its earnings results on Thursday. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.11) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.31 by ($0.42), MarketWatch Earnings reports. City Office REIT had a negative return on equity of 0.40% and a negative net margin of 1.50%. The firm had revenue of $44.32 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $44.47 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.38 earnings per share. City Office REIT updated its FY 2024 guidance to 1.180-1.220 EPS.

City Office REIT Stock Up 0.9 %

Shares of City Office REIT stock opened at $4.46 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 2.72 and a quick ratio of 2.72. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $5.57 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.93. City Office REIT has a 12-month low of $3.45 and a 12-month high of $8.84.

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City Office REIT Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 24th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 10th were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 9th. City Office REITs payout ratio is currently -160.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new position in City Office REIT during the 4th quarter valued at $972,000. Barclays PLC grew its position in shares of City Office REIT by 658.7% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 54,147 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $331,000 after buying an additional 47,010 shares during the period. Newtyn Management LLC grew its position in shares of City Office REIT by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Newtyn Management LLC now owns 3,203,242 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $19,572,000 after buying an additional 23,242 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of City Office REIT by 38.7% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 172,456 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,054,000 after buying an additional 48,150 shares during the period. Finally, Pitcairn Co. purchased a new stake in shares of City Office REIT in the 4th quarter worth about $64,000. 70.55% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Separately, StockNews.com raised shares of City Office REIT from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th.

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About City Office REIT

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City Office REIT is an internally-managed real estate company focused on acquiring, owning and operating high-quality office properties located predominantly in Sun Belt markets. City Office currently owns or has a controlling interest in 5.7 million square feet of office properties. The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust for U.S.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lowered its stake in Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB  Free Report) by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 1,489,154 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 52,137 shares during the quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Gerdau were worth $7,103,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Gerdau during the first quarter valued at about $37,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Gerdau during the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of Gerdau during the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Gerdau by 424.8% during the 4th quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 7,353 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 5,952 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Systematic Alpha Investments LLC acquired a new position in Gerdau in the 3rd quarter valued at $46,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.64% of the companys stock.

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Gerdau Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of GGB opened at $4.28 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 1.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 2.93. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $4.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.67. Gerdau S.A. has a 52 week low of $4.11 and a 52 week high of $6.16.

Gerdau Cuts Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 5th will be paid a $0.0202 dividend. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 4th. Gerdaus dividend payout ratio is 31.96%.

Separately, Bank of America lowered shares of Gerdau from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $5.60 to $5.10 in a research report on Monday, November 20th.

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Gerdau Profile

(Free Report)

Gerdau SA, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a steel producer company. It operates through Brazil Business, North America Business, South America Business, and Special Steel Business divisions. The company provides semi-finished products, including billets, blooms, and slabs; common long rolled products, such as rebars, wire rods, merchant bars, light shapes, and profiles to the construction and manufacturing industries; drawn products comprising barbed and barbless fence wires, galvanized wires, fences, concrete reinforcing wire mesh, nails, and clamps for manufacturing, construction, and agricultural industries; and special steel products used in auto parts, light and heavy vehicles, and agricultural machinery, as well as in the oil and gas, wind energy, machinery and equipment, mining and rail, and other markets.

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Eagle Asset Management Inc. cut its position in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK  Free Report) by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 110,236 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 5,001 shares during the period. Eagle Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $9,729,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC now owns 20,845 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,326,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the period. First Manhattan Co. grew its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 11,917 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,227,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 19,405 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,872,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the period. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 10,031 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,033,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the period. Finally, S.A. Mason LLC boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 11.5% during the 3rd quarter. S.A. Mason LLC now owns 1,203 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. 63.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Duke Energy Trading Up 0.7 %

NYSE:DUK opened at $92.73 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $71.47 billion, a PE ratio of 26.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.48. The firms 50 day moving average is $95.70 and its 200 day moving average is $92.33. Duke Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $83.06 and a 12 month high of $100.39.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

Duke Energy ( NYSE:DUK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $7.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.24 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 8.93% and a net margin of 9.78%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.11 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.97 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th will be issued a $1.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $4.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.42%. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 115.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Louis E. Renjel sold 3,000 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.57, for a total value of $277,710.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,213 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,315,697.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have issued reports on DUK. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Duke Energy from $101.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Bank of America downgraded Duke Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $105.00 to $96.00 in a research note on Monday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Duke Energy from $98.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Duke Energy from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $101.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Duke Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $100.00.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on DUK

Duke Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind sources, renewables, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity.

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Hexcel (NYSE:HXL  Free Report) had its price target hoisted by BMO Capital Markets from $69.00 to $73.00 in a research note released on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a market perform rating on the aerospace companys stock.

HXL has been the topic of several other research reports. UBS Group cut Hexcel from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $87.00 to $72.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Hexcel from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Hexcel from $81.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Hexcel from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the stock from $57.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $80.00 target price on shares of Hexcel in a research report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Hexcel has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $77.46.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on HXL

Hexcel Stock Up 1.7 %

NYSE HXL opened at $73.73 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 2.74. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $71.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $69.11. Hexcel has a twelve month low of $58.81 and a twelve month high of $79.08. The stock has a market cap of $6.22 billion, a PE ratio of 59.46, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.22.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The aerospace company reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $457.50 million for 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 businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.40 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Hexcel will post 2.25 EPS for the current year.

Hexcel Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.81%. This is an increase from Hexcels previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Hexcels dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.39%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total transaction of $62,294.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at $243,337.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of Hexcel stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total value of $322,335.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 50,371 shares in the company, valued at $3,608,074.73. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of Hexcel stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total transaction of $62,294.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 3,375 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $243,337.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.39% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hexcel

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in Hexcel by 41.5% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 263,624 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $20,041,000 after purchasing an additional 77,327 shares during the period. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CA bought a new stake in Hexcel during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $664,000. Pathstone Family Office LLC lifted its position in Hexcel by 55.0% in the third quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 9,868 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $652,000 after buying an additional 3,503 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in Hexcel in the third quarter worth $567,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in shares of Hexcel by 12.5% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 82,303 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $5,361,000 after purchasing an additional 9,150 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.71% of the companys stock.

About Hexcel

(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.

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Hugoton Royalty Trust (OTCMKTS:HGTXU  Get Free Report) shares dropped 4.5% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $0.52 and last traded at $0.53. Approximately 23,789 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 27% from the average daily volume of 32,689 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.56.

Hugoton Royalty Trust Price Performance

The companys fifty day simple moving average is $0.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.62.

Hugoton Royalty Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Hugoton Royalty Trust operates as an express trust in the United States. It holds 80% net profits interests in various natural gas producing working interest properties in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming under conveyances. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

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Meeder Advisory Services Inc. lessened its stake in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:IEFA  Free Report) by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 460,960 shares of the companys stock after selling 11,707 shares during the quarter. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF accounts for about 3.7% of Meeder Advisory Services Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Meeder Advisory Services Inc.s holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $29,663,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.7% in the second quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC now owns 9,272 shares of the companys stock worth $626,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Vivaldi Capital Management LP raised its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 0.7% during the second quarter. Vivaldi Capital Management LP now owns 21,873 shares of the companys stock worth $1,476,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC raised its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 0.4% during the third quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC now owns 36,509 shares of the companys stock worth $2,349,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Charter Oak Capital Management LLC raised its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.3% during the third quarter. Charter Oak Capital Management LLC now owns 12,188 shares of the companys stock worth $784,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.5% during the third quarter. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 10,955 shares of the companys stock worth $705,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Price Performance

BATS IEFA traded up $0.08 on Friday, hitting $71.93. 6,505,904 shares of the stock were exchanged. The businesss fifty day moving average is $69.89 and its 200 day moving average is $67.10. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a 52 week low of $56.55 and a 52 week high of $70.84. The company has a market capitalization of $105.74 billion, a PE ratio of 12.29 and a beta of 0.87.

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Profile

The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed-market stocks in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, and excludes North America IEFA was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Jacobi Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM  Free Report) by 20.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,223 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 537 shares during the period. Jacobi Capital Management LLCs holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $403,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Yum! Brands by 16.8% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 24,692,484 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $3,421,144,000 after acquiring an additional 3,549,709 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors raised its stake in shares of Yum! Brands by 20.1% in the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 13,169,962 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,824,305,000 after acquiring an additional 2,207,942 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors raised its stake in shares of Yum! Brands by 3.7% in the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 13,112,434 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,816,672,000 after acquiring an additional 468,081 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Yum! Brands by 4.6% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 11,490,727 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,592,040,000 after acquiring an additional 507,054 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Yum! Brands by 3.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,136,277 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $848,921,000 after acquiring an additional 188,878 shares during the last quarter. 80.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Yum! Brands

In other Yum! Brands news, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total transaction of $1,285,799.97. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,419,025.43. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,792 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.17, for a total transaction of $493,604.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares in the company, valued at $7,461,995.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total transaction of $1,285,799.97. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,419,025.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 17,467 shares of company stock worth $2,264,717. 0.31% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

YUM has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Yum! Brands from $146.00 to $144.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Yum! Brands from $130.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of Yum! Brands from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price target for the company from $150.00 to $135.00 in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Yum! Brands from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $154.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reissued a hold rating and issued a $135.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Yum! Brands has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $144.75.

View Our Latest Research Report on YUM

Yum! Brands Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of Yum! Brands stock opened at $138.32 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.91 billion, a PE ratio of 24.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.09. The firms 50 day moving average is $130.68 and its 200 day moving average is $127.57. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a 1 year low of $115.53 and a 1 year high of $143.24.

Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The restaurant operator reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by ($0.13). The firm had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.11 billion. Yum! Brands had a negative return on equity of 17.76% and a net margin of 22.57%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Yum! Brands Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.67 per share. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 20th. This is a positive change from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. Yum! Brandss payout ratio is 47.94%.

Yum! Brands Profile

(Free Report)

Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through four segments: the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division. It operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products.

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McGowan Group Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG  Free Report) by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,951 shares of the energy companys stock after acquiring an additional 287 shares during the period. McGowan Group Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $1,817,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 1.1% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,330,395 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $2,957,460,000 after purchasing an additional 223,024 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 13.6% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,934,156 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $961,421,000 after buying an additional 830,898 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 19.4% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,542,925 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $531,297,000 after buying an additional 576,067 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Cheniere Energy by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,384,618 shares of the energy companys stock worth $514,784,000 after buying an additional 20,949 shares during the period. Finally, Capital World Investors purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy in the 1st quarter worth $391,652,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.86% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

LNG has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy from $187.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Barclays raised their price target on Cheniere Energy from $192.00 to $194.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Cheniere Energy from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with 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 Buy and an average target price of $198.70.

Cheniere Energy Trading Up 0.0 %

NYSE:LNG traded up $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $157.73. 4,181,694 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,930,943. The stock has a market cap of $37.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.89, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.96. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $164.69. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 12-month low of $135.30 and a 12-month high of $183.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.59, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.43.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The energy company reported $5.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.70 by $3.06. Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 48.45% and a return on equity of 69.52%. The business had revenue of $4.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.37 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $15.78 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 46.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 9.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 6th were paid a $0.435 dividend. This represents a $1.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 5th. Cheniere Energys payout ratio is currently 4.30%.

Cheniere Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Cheniere Energy, Inc, an energy infrastructure company, primarily engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) related businesses in the United States. It owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company also owns Creole Trail pipeline, a 94-mile pipeline interconnecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with various interstate pipelines; and operates Corpus Christi pipeline, a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with various interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, also the Chinese Lantern Festival of the Year of the Dragon, replied to a letter from students of the U.S. Iowa state's Muscatine High School who visited China in late January and sent them New Year cards in return.

In the letter, Xi extended holiday wishes to the teachers and students of the school, and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study.

Xi noted that the students' letter featured beautifully written Chinese characters as well as vividly hand-painted Chinese dragon, also known as the "loong," the Great Wall and pandas.

The Chinese president said he felt happy for the students as they visited several Chinese cities, where they saw pandas, tasted Chinese delicacies, experienced Chinese culture, and had a lot of fun.

Learning that the U.S. students have made many Chinese friends during the trip, and invited those friends to visit their hometown in the United States, Xi said he found their friendship very touching.

Citing a Chinese saying that reads "seeing is believing," Xi said the warm and friendly American people he met during his first visit to the United States in 1985 have given him an indelible impression.

Likewise, it is believed that through this exchange visit, the students can gain a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of China and the Chinese people, Xi said.

The Chinese president encouraged the Muscatine High School students to revisit China and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study, where they can get first-hand experience of a real China in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner, foster genuine friendship with Chinese youths and learn from each other so that they can jointly contribute to a stronger friendship between the people of the two countries.

Noting that the Chinese Lantern Festival has long been an important moment for the Chinese people to express their hope for a better life, Xi extended his best holiday wishes to the teachers and students of the school.

During his trip to the United States in November 2023, Xi announced a program to invite 50,000 American youths in the next five years to China for exchanges and study.

Sarah Lande, a friend of Xi in the U.S. state of Iowa, wrote a letter recently to Xi, in which she expressed the hope that Muscatine High School students can join the program.

With Xi's support, more than 20 Muscatine High School students paid an exchange visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Hebei Province, among other places in China from Jan. 24 to 30, becoming the first group of American students to visit China under the program.

One of their gifts to Xi upon their arrival in Beijing was a school flag written with Chinese characters "Grandpa Xi, Here We Are."

After the visit, the students wrote a letter to the Chinese president, sharing with him their joy during their China trip and thanking him for the invitation.
Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 12.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 25,625 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,750 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,078,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MO. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 103.2% in the 3rd quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 636 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Legacy Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock.

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Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE MO opened at $41.13 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $40.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $41.72. The firm has a market capitalization of $72.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.00, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.66. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $39.06 and a fifty-two week high of $48.04.

Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 243.71% and a net margin of 33.21%. The business had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.06 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.18 EPS. The companys revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group announced that its board has approved a share buyback plan on Thursday, February 1st that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to purchase up to 1.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st were given a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 20th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 85.78%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on MO. StockNews.com lowered Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday. UBS Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $36.10 price objective 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 issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.22.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MO

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.

Further Reading

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MQS Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund purchased 14,092 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $593,000.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of MO. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P bought a new position in Altria Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 103.2% in the 3rd quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 636 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 323 shares in the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Legacy Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. 58.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group reissued a sell rating and issued a $36.10 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com lowered Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.22.

Altria Group Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE MO traded up $0.23 on Friday, reaching $41.13. 6,808,622 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,826,647. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $40.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.72. The company has a market cap of $72.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.66. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $39.06 and a 12 month high of $48.04.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 243.71% and a net margin of 33.21%. The company had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.06 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.18 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Thursday, February 1st that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 1.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st were given a dividend of $0.98 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.53%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 85.78%.

Altria Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

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O Neil Global Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 25,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $440,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Coupang in the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new position in shares of Coupang in the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Natixis bought a new position in shares of Coupang in the 2nd quarter worth $38,000. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Coupang in the 3rd quarter worth $51,000. Finally, AlphaCentric Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Coupang in the 2nd quarter worth $110,000. 72.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Coupang

In related news, insider Pranam Kolari sold 2,356 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.88, for a total value of $32,701.28. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 182,844 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,537,874.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Coupang news, insider Tae Jung Kim sold 5,350 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.00, for a total transaction of $85,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 248,240 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,971,840. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Pranam Kolari sold 2,356 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.88, for a total value of $32,701.28. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 182,844 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,537,874.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 30,008,646 shares of company stock valued at $461,832,871 over the last quarter. 14.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Coupang Price Performance

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Shares of Coupang stock traded up $0.16 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $16.40. 12,239,625 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,719,931. The business has a 50-day moving average of $15.42 and a 200 day moving average of $16.63. Coupang, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $12.66 and a fifty-two week high of $19.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.32 billion, a PE ratio of 68.34 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

CPNG has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. TheStreet lowered Coupang from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. UBS Group downgraded Coupang from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $26.00 to $18.50 in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, Citigroup downgraded Coupang from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $20.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $20.79.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CPNG

About Coupang

(Free Report)

Coupang, Inc, together with its subsidiaries owns and operates in e-commerce business through its mobile applications and Internet websites primarily in South Korea. The company operates through two segments, Product Commerce and Developing Offerings. It sells various products and services in the categories of home goods and decor products, apparel, beauty products, fresh food and groceries, sporting goods, electronics, and everyday consumables, as well as travel, and restaurant order and delivery services.

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O ROURKE & COMPANY Inc raised its position in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM  Free Report) by 17.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,541 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 1,251 shares during the quarter. O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs holdings in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $324,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF during the first quarter worth about $146,000. AMI Investment Management Inc. grew its position in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 5.7% during the first quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,268 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $509,000 after buying an additional 605 shares in the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp grew its position in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 62.5% during the first quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 65,005 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,935,000 after buying an additional 25,000 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 14.5% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 8,965 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $405,000 after purchasing an additional 1,135 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 9.3% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 892,269 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $40,286,000 after purchasing an additional 76,229 shares in the last quarter. 76.58% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Price Performance

Shares of EEM traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $40.60. The stock had a trading volume of 37,973,622 shares, compared to its average volume of 27,817,660. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a 12-month low of $36.38 and a 12-month high of $42.00. The companys 50-day moving average is $39.33 and its 200 day moving average is $38.88.

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Profile

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities in global emerging markets, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the Index).

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA  Free Report) by 59.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,454,603 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 541,518 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC owned about 0.19% of Coterra Energy worth $39,347,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in CTRA. Vanguard Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Coterra Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $2,472,575,000. State Street Corp purchased a new position in shares of Coterra Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $1,493,855,000. Northern Trust Corp purchased a new position in Coterra Energy in the first quarter worth $300,998,000. Invesco Ltd. purchased a new position in Coterra Energy in the first quarter worth $169,781,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Coterra Energy in the first quarter worth $151,999,000. 90.54% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Coterra Energy Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of CTRA opened at $25.98 on Friday. Coterra Energy Inc. has a 52 week low of $22.25 and a 52 week high of $29.89. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The company has a market capitalization of $19.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.14, a PEG ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 0.19. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $25.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $26.53.

Coterra Energy Increases Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 14th will be paid a $0.21 dividend. This is an increase from Coterra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 13th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.23%. Coterra Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 37.38%.

Several research firms have issued reports on CTRA. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $39.00 price target on shares of Coterra Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Coterra Energy from $37.00 to $33.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. UBS Group raised shares of Coterra Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $33.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $35.00 to $33.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $32.07.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on CTRA

Coterra Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Coterra Energy Inc, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the development, exploration and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company primarily focuses on the Marcellus Shale with approximately 183,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the play located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

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Oak Associates Ltd. OH lifted its stake in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 148,039 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,305 shares during the period. Novartis comprises approximately 1.3% of Oak Associates Ltd. OHs investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Oak Associates Ltd. OHs holdings in Novartis were worth $15,079,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. McCarthy Grittinger Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Novartis in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Novartis in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Operose Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Novartis in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Mine & Arao Wealth Creation & Management LLC. lifted its stake in shares of Novartis by 49.5% in the 2nd quarter. Mine & Arao Wealth Creation & Management LLC. now owns 299 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Novartis by 118.1% during the 2nd quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 301 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. 7.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Novartis Price Performance

Novartis stock opened at $103.90 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $220.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.47, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.56. Novartis AG has a 52-week low of $79.98 and a 52-week high of $108.78. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $103.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $100.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.15.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The company reported $1.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $11.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.69 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 29.90% and a net margin of 29.83%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.51 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Novartis AG will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current year.

NVS has been the subject of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Novartis in a research report on Friday. They set a market perform rating and a $114.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Novartis in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. HSBC cut Novartis from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Novartis in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $114.00 target price on the stock. Three equities research 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $104.33.

Check Out Our Latest Report on NVS

Novartis Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. It offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

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Profund Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY  Free Report) by 12.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 40,288 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 5,539 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in Occidental Petroleum were worth $2,614,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 156,279 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $10,139,000 after acquiring an additional 12,349 shares during the period. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,665,000. Calamos Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 3rd quarter worth about $5,758,000. Kentucky Retirement Systems bought a new position in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 3rd quarter worth about $3,391,000. Finally, Mitchell Capital Management Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 100.2% during the 3rd quarter. Mitchell Capital Management Co. now owns 123,287 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $7,999,000 after acquiring an additional 61,705 shares during the period. 77.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

OXY has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Occidental Petroleum from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $80.00 to $77.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 16th. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. StockNews.com raised shares of Occidental Petroleum from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Occidental Petroleum from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $68.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $70.06.

Insider Activity at Occidental Petroleum

In other news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired 3,200,799 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $56.55 per share, for a total transaction of $181,005,183.45. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 238,533,189 shares in the company, valued at $13,489,051,837.95. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Over the last 90 days, insiders bought 8,720,708 shares of company stock worth $505,766,000. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Occidental Petroleum Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:OXY opened at $60.02 on Friday. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a one year low of $55.12 and a one year high of $67.67. The company has a 50 day moving average of $58.64 and a 200-day moving average of $61.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of $52.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.64.

Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.74 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.74. Occidental Petroleum had a net margin of 16.24% and a return on equity of 20.63%. The company had revenue of $7.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.93 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.61 EPS. Occidental Petroleums revenue was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 3.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.47%. This is a boost from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. Occidental Petroleums payout ratio is currently 18.41%.

Occidental Petroleum Company Profile

(Free Report)

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing.

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Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board cut its position in shares of Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE:DOC  Free Report) by 77.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 22,991 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 79,726 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in Physicians Realty Trust were worth $280,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. American International Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 472,104 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,605,000 after buying an additional 12,161 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 5.7% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,569,322 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $49,935,000 after acquiring an additional 191,511 shares during the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC grew its position in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 31.6% during the third quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 386,844 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $4,716,000 after acquiring an additional 92,966 shares during the last quarter. Connable Office Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 31.1% in the 2nd quarter. Connable Office Inc. now owns 13,277 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $186,000 after acquiring an additional 3,151 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 9.3% in the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 135,606 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,897,000 after purchasing an additional 11,533 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.51% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on DOC. Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of Physicians Realty Trust from $15.00 to $14.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. KeyCorp reaffirmed a sector weight rating on shares of Physicians Realty Trust in a research note on Friday, January 5th. StockNews.com began coverage on Physicians Realty Trust in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Compass Point cut their price objective on shares of Physicians Realty Trust from $19.00 to $18.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $15.33.

Physicians Realty Trust Price Performance

NYSE:DOC opened at $11.22 on Friday. Physicians Realty Trust has a 52-week low of $10.52 and a 52-week high of $15.36. The company has a quick ratio of 2.85, a current ratio of 2.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market cap of $2.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 66.00, a PEG ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 0.87. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $12.63 and its 200 day moving average price is $12.43.

Physicians Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 18th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 3rd were issued a $0.23 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.20%. Physicians Realty Trusts payout ratio is currently 541.21%.

Physicians Realty Trust Company Profile

(Free Report)

Physicians Realty Trust is a self-managed health care real estate company organized to acquire, selectively develop, own, and manage health care properties that are leased to physicians, hospitals, and health care delivery systems. The Company invests in real estate that is integral to providing high quality health care.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE:DOC  Free Report).

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Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR  Free Report) by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,080 shares of the conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trusts holdings in Danaher were worth $764,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. AXS Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Danaher by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. AXS Investments LLC now owns 2,780 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $667,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. 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 period. 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 period. 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 period. 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 period. 76.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,289 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was 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 $3,548,498.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $242.67, for a total value of $636,280.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,029,891.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,289 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.15, for a total value of $826,032.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 14,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,548,498.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 9,200 shares of company stock valued at $2,279,038. 11.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on DHR shares. Wolfe Research started coverage on Danaher in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. They issued a peer perform rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Danaher from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $215.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Danaher from $255.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Danaher from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Barclays downgraded Danaher from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $240.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $266.00.

Read Our Latest Report on Danaher

Danaher Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE DHR opened at $253.84 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $236.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $231.17. Danaher Co. has a 52-week low of $182.09 and a 52-week high of $255.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $187.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.72, a PEG ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The conglomerate reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $6.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.10 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 12.25% and a net margin of 17.26%. Danahers revenue for the quarter was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.87 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Danaher Co. will post 7.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This is a positive change from Danahers previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Danahers dividend payout ratio is 15.02%.

Danaher Company 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 that advance, accelerate, and integrate the development and manufacture of therapeutics; cell line and cell culture media development services; cell culture media, process liquids and buffers for manufacturing, chromatography resins, filtration technologies, aseptic fill finish; single-use hardware and consumables and services, such as the design and installation of full manufacturing suites; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes, and services; and healthcare filtration solutions.

Further Reading

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.
Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Free Report) by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,446 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 218 shares during the quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trusts holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $526,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Morgan Stanley by 4.0% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 90,635,593 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,740,280,000 after buying an additional 3,480,402 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 7.3% during the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 28,073,015 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,397,435,000 after purchasing an additional 1,908,648 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 5.8% during the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 24,463,443 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,089,138,000 after purchasing an additional 1,341,559 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 1.8% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 23,626,016 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,012,223,000 after purchasing an additional 422,710 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 21.2% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 23,474,452 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,917,159,000 after purchasing an additional 4,098,577 shares in the last quarter. 83.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Raja Akram sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.56, for a total value of $584,920.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 97,634 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,158,297.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, Chairman James P. Gorman sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.93, for a total transaction of $4,396,500.00. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 400,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,172,000. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Raja Akram sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.56, for a total transaction of $584,920.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 97,634 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,158,297.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 208,155 shares of company stock worth $18,149,314. 0.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently commented on MS. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $106.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Morgan Stanley from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed a market perform rating and set a $91.00 price target (down previously from $102.00) on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $85.00 price target on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Morgan Stanley presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $94.56.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MS

Morgan Stanley Stock Performance

MS stock opened at $86.55 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $142.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.74, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.44. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $88.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $83.62. Morgan Stanley has a one year low of $69.42 and a one year high of $99.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.70, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.13 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $12.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.77 billion. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 9.49% and a return on equity of 10.33%. Morgan Stanleys revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will post 6.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 31st were issued a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 30th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.93%. Morgan Stanleys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.76%.

Morgan Stanley Company Profile

(Free Report)

Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments.

Recommended Stories

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Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in MENA (Middle East and North Africa), has announced a strategic partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) with the goal of positioning Hong Kong as a leading global travel destination.

Wego said it is eager to collaborate with HKTB to highlight Hong Kong's distinct attractions, cultural richness, and modern allure.

HKTB said it welcomes this collaboration, recognising Wego's expansive reach and user-friendly platform as instrumental in highlighting the allure and distinctiveness of Hong Kong.

From its fusion of modernity and tradition to the plethora of experiences  be it the iconic skyscrapers and bustling markets or the serene landscapes and exquisite cuisine  Hong Kong captivates travellers with its diversity.

In expressing his anticipation for the collaboration, Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Business Officer of Wego, said: "Embarking on this exciting venture with the Hong Kong Tourism Board allows us to showcase the extraordinary offerings of this world-class destination.

Wego's commitment to inspiring and facilitating travel experiences aligns seamlessly with our goal of presenting Hong Kong's diverse tapestry to a global audience. This partnership underscores our joint dedication to promoting exceptional destinations and curating unforgettable journeys."

Utilising Wego's digital platform, the co-marketing initiative will spotlight Hong Kong's key attractions, provide insider travel tips.

This collaboration aims to position Hong Kong as the ultimate destination for travellers in search of a harmonious blend of culture, innovation, and unparalleled experiences.

Puneet Kumar, Director, South Asia and Middle East of Hong Kong Tourism Board said: We are excited to partner with Wego Middle East in creatively presenting Hong Kong to all travel enthusiasts in the GCC.

Hong Kong has become more accessible for GCC nationals with improved daily air connectivity and visa-free travel. Were excited to welcome guests from the GCC who will be delighted with our vibrant and diverse city offerings  from world-class museums and historic architecture to brand-new attractions, incredible dining, shopping, nightlife; and beyond the iconic skyline, refreshing hiking experiences in beautiful green outdoor landscapes.

Confident in the strategic impact of this partnership, the Hong Kong Tourism Board anticipates significant contributions to the region's tourism goals and positive economic growth.

Together, Wego and the Hong Kong Tourism Board are poised to present Hong Kong as a compelling must-visit destination, inviting travellers to immerse themselves in its dynamic cityscape and rich cultural heritage.  TradeArabia News Service
Vietnamese Buddhist followers and people in Laos pray for

a peaceful nation and happy families (Photo: VNA)

At Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane capital city of Laos, Vietnamese Buddhist followers and people offered incense to pray for a peaceful nation and happy families, and a thriving Vietnam-Laos relationship.

At Canh Phuoc pagoda in Thailands Bangkok capital city, Vietnamese people joined a peace-praying ceremony  one of the most important worshipping rituals at the beginning of a new year in the culture of Vietnamese people.

Buddhists and participants in the festival also enjoyed vegetarian dishes prepared by the pagodas.

The first full moon of the lunar calendar is one of the four largest Buddhist festivals in which Vietnamese people, especially Buddhists, visit pagodas to pray for peace and prosperity for the country and people./.
Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its holdings in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR  Free Report) by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,080 shares of the conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trusts holdings in Danaher were worth $764,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of DHR. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in Danaher during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Danaher during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Danaher by 344.8% during the second quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 129 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of Danaher during the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Danaher during the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.71% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. KeyCorp upped their target price on Danaher from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. HSBC assumed coverage on Danaher in a report on Monday, December 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Citigroup upped their target price on Danaher from $255.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Danaher from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $215.00 to $205.00 in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, TheStreet raised Danaher from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Danaher presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $266.00.

Insider Transactions at Danaher

In other news, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,289 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.15, for a total value of $826,032.35. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 14,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,548,498.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $242.67, for a total value of $636,280.74. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,029,891.48. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,289 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.15, for a total value of $826,032.35. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 14,129 shares in the company, valued at $3,548,498.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 9,200 shares of company stock valued at $2,279,038. 11.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Danaher Price Performance

DHR opened at $253.84 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $236.56 and a 200-day moving average of $231.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $187.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.72, a PEG ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.85. Danaher Co. has a 12-month low of $182.09 and a 12-month high of $255.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The conglomerate reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.91 by $0.18. Danaher had a return on equity of 12.25% and a net margin of 17.26%. The company had revenue of $6.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.10 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.87 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Danaher Co. will post 7.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Danaher Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be paid a $0.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This is an increase from Danahers previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Danahers dividend payout ratio is 15.02%.

Danaher Company 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 that advance, accelerate, and integrate the development and manufacture of therapeutics; cell line and cell culture media development services; cell culture media, process liquids and buffers for manufacturing, chromatography resins, filtration technologies, aseptic fill finish; single-use hardware and consumables and services, such as the design and installation of full manufacturing suites; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes, and services; and healthcare filtration solutions.

Further Reading

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.
Parkside Financial Bank & Trust bought a new position in Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund bought 15,201 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $305,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kenvue by 572.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 89,182,980 shares of the companys stock worth $1,790,794,000 after acquiring an additional 75,913,107 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in Kenvue by 227.7% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 61,091,189 shares of the companys stock worth $1,226,711,000 after purchasing an additional 42,449,470 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in Kenvue by 615.4% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 29,732,463 shares of the companys stock valued at $597,028,000 after purchasing an additional 25,576,681 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in Kenvue by 379.9% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,912,891 shares of the companys stock valued at $379,771,000 after purchasing an additional 14,972,089 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in Kenvue during the third quarter valued at $333,564,000. 11.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Kenvue Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of KVUE stock opened at $19.18 on Friday. Kenvue Inc. has a twelve month low of $17.82 and a twelve month high of $27.80. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $20.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

Kenvue Announces Dividend

Kenvue ( NYSE:KVUE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.03. Kenvue had a net margin of 9.87% and a return on equity of 14.83%. The firm had revenue of $3.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.78 billion. The companys revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Kenvue Inc. will post 1.17 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.17%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Kenvue from $25.00 to $24.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 9th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Kenvue from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Kenvue in a report on Friday, November 17th. They issued a neutral rating and a $20.00 target price for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Kenvue from $25.00 to $24.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $25.92.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on KVUE

Kenvue Company Profile

(Free Report)

Kenvue Inc operates as a consumer health company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Self Care, Skin Health and Beauty, and Essential Health. The Self Care segment offers cough, cold and allergy, pain care, digestive health, smoking cessation, and other products under the Tylenol, Nicorette, and Zyrtec brands.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KVUE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE  Free Report).

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust (NYSE:PDM  Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Thursday.

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Price Performance

Shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust stock opened at $6.14 on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $6.97 and a 200 day moving average of $6.40. Piedmont Office Realty Trust has a 12 month low of $4.91 and a 12 month high of $9.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.67.

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Piedmont Office Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.125 per share. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. Piedmont Office Realty Trusts payout ratio is presently -125.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Piedmont Office Realty Trust

Piedmont Office Realty Trust Company Profile

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quarry LP lifted its stake in shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust by 78.7% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,871 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,705 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust by 3,499.2% in the 2nd quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 4,643 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 4,514 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $101,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Piedmont Office Realty Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $108,000. 84.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

(Get Free Report)

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: PDM) is an owner, manager, developer, redeveloper, and operator of high-quality, Class A office properties located primarily in major U.S. Sunbelt markets. Its approximately $5 billion portfolio is currently comprised of approximately 17 million square feet. The Company is a fully integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) with local management offices in each of its markets and is investment-grade rated by S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Moody's (Baa2).

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Shares of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PNGAY  Get Free Report) passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $8.53 and traded as high as $9.68. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China shares last traded at $9.64, with a volume of 304,012 shares changing hands.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Trading Up 2.6 %

The firm has a market cap of $88.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.38 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a 50 day moving average of $8.53 and a 200 day moving average of $9.99.

About Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China

(Get Free Report)

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. provides financial products and services for insurance, banking, asset management, and technology businesses in the People's Republic of China. Its Life and Health Insurance segment offers term, whole-life, endowment, annuity, investment-linked, universal life, and health care and medical insurance to individual and corporate customers.

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Profund Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 42,153 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 646 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,447,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the first quarter worth about $332,000. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 111.5% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,052 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $150,000 after acquiring an additional 1,082 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 53.2% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 165,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,075,000 after acquiring an additional 57,444 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 1st quarter worth $1,997,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 25.1% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 338,563 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $24,725,000 after purchasing an additional 68,018 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.98% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BMY. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $55.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Redburn Atlantic lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $77.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, TheStreet lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $61.17.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE BMY opened at $51.66 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $50.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $53.93. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12 month low of $47.58 and a 12 month high of $71.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $104.47 billion, a PE ratio of 13.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.38. 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 (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.55 by $0.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.95% and a net margin of 17.83%. The firm had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.19 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.82 EPS. The businesss revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect 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. Investors of record on Friday, January 5th were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This is a positive change 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 dividend yield of 4.65%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently 62.18%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that permits the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the biopharmaceutical company to buy up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner bought 3,071 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were bought at an average price of $48.86 per share, for a total transaction of $150,049.06. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 79,384 shares in the company, valued at $3,878,702.24. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner bought 3,071 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were bought at an average price of $48.86 per share, for a total transaction of $150,049.06. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 79,384 shares in the company, valued at $3,878,702.24. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner bought 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $49.78 per share, for a total transaction of $99,560.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 82,672 shares in the company, valued at $4,115,412.16. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate 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 for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Profund Advisors LLC grew its position in Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW  Free Report) by 11.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,671 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,367 shares during the quarter. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in Snowflake were worth $2,089,000 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. TD Asset Management Inc increased its holdings in shares of Snowflake by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 217,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,324,000 after acquiring an additional 2,608 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Snowflake by 8.2% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 447,364 shares of the companys stock worth $78,727,000 after purchasing an additional 34,051 shares in the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Snowflake in the third quarter worth $458,000. Glynn Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Snowflake by 3.1% in the third quarter. Glynn Capital Management LLC now owns 188,428 shares of the companys stock worth $28,786,000 after purchasing an additional 5,629 shares in the last quarter. Finally, O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Snowflake by 192.7% in the second quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 5,003 shares of the companys stock worth $880,000 after purchasing an additional 3,294 shares in the last quarter. 63.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Snowflake Price Performance

Shares of SNOW stock opened at $229.34 on Friday. Snowflake Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $128.56 and a fifty-two week high of $237.72. The stocks 50-day moving average is $205.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $176.32. The firm has a market cap of $75.52 billion, a P/E ratio of -85.57 and a beta of 0.97.

Insider Activity at Snowflake

Snowflake ( NYSE:SNOW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 29th. The company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $734.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $713.75 million. Snowflake had a negative return on equity of 14.46% and a negative net margin of 33.35%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 31.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.60) EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Snowflake Inc. will post -1.72 EPS for the current year.

In related news, CEO Frank Slootman sold 112,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.90, for a total transaction of $19,788,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 182,913 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,174,396.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Frank Slootman sold 112,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.90, for a total transaction of $19,788,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 182,913 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,174,396.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CRO Christopher William Degnan sold 115,038 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $200.53, for a total value of $23,068,570.14. Following the sale, the executive now owns 147,369 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $29,551,905.57. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 631,846 shares of company stock worth $125,943,507 in the last 90 days. 8.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SNOW has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on Snowflake in a research note on Friday, January 5th. They issued an outperform rating and a $230.00 price target for the company. Monness Crespi & Hardt cut Snowflake from a neutral rating to a sell rating and set a $160.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on Snowflake from $220.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on Snowflake from $194.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Snowflake from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Snowflake presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $203.25.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Snowflake

About Snowflake

(Free Report)

Snowflake Inc provides a cloud-based data platform for various organizations in the United States and internationally. Its platform offers Data Cloud, which enables customers to consolidate data into a single source of truth to drive meaningful business insights, build data-driven applications, and share data and data products.

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Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed their outperform rating on shares of TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) in a report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $105.00 price target on the apparel and home fashions retailers stock. Telsey Advisory Group also issued estimates for TJX Companies FY2024 earnings at $3.78 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $4.13 EPS.

TJX has been the subject of several other research reports. Redburn Atlantic lowered TJX Companies from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $100.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Monday, February 5th. Evercore ISI began coverage on TJX Companies in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. They set an outperform rating and a $105.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on TJX Companies from $99.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on TJX Companies from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $100.44.

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TJX Companies Trading Up 0.3 %

TJX Companies Dividend Announcement

Shares of TJX Companies stock opened at $99.38 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The firm has a market cap of $113.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.86. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $95.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of $91.53. TJX Companies has a fifty-two week low of $72.92 and a fifty-two week high of $99.64.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a $0.3325 dividend. This represents a $1.33 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.34%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. TJX Companiess payout ratio is currently 37.68%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other TJX Companies news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 17,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.06, for a total value of $1,514,020.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 576,105 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $51,307,911.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in TJX Companies during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $68,000. United Bank lifted its position in shares of TJX Companies by 9.2% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 15,197 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $921,000 after acquiring an additional 1,284 shares during the period. AMI Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of TJX Companies in the 1st quarter worth approximately $2,780,000. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in shares of TJX Companies by 69.0% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 38,304 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $2,320,000 after acquiring an additional 15,644 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of TJX Companies by 10.0% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,396 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $266,000 after acquiring an additional 398 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.28% of the companys stock.

TJX Companies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise.

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O ROURKE & COMPANY Inc increased its position in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 16.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,629 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,364 shares during the quarter. O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $529,000 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 the company. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 34.9% during the third quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 47,161 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,589,000 after purchasing an additional 12,197 shares during the period. Operose Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 3.2% during the third quarter. Operose Advisors LLC now owns 13,977 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $767,000 after purchasing an additional 437 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.8% during the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 6,939 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $381,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 4.2% during the third quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. now owns 29,106 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,598,000 after purchasing an additional 1,161 shares during the period. Finally, North Reef Capital Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 18.3% during the third quarter. North Reef Capital Management LP now owns 655,000 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,960,000 after purchasing an additional 101,500 shares during the period. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on SCHW shares. TD Cowen started coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Thursday, January 4th. They issued a market perform rating and a $77.00 price objective on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut shares of Charles Schwab from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $75.00 to $70.00 in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 18th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $77.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $71.00 price objective (up previously from $70.00) on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $69.92.

Insider Activity

In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 71,226 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total value of $4,628,977.74. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 61,251,038 shares in the company, valued at $3,980,704,959.62. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 71,226 shares of Charles Schwab 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 sale, the chairman now owns 61,251,038 shares in the company, valued at $3,980,704,959.62. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 8,000 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.76, for a total transaction of $518,080.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 29,611 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,917,608.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 122,986 shares of company stock valued at $7,878,217 over the last 90 days. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Charles Schwab Stock Down 0.3 %

SCHW traded down $0.19 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $64.44. 4,196,879 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,515,034. The company has a market cap of $114.17 billion, a PE ratio of 25.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.99. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $65.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $59.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.66. The Charles Schwab Co. has a one year low of $45.00 and a one year high of $81.32.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.49 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 22.07%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.07 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is 39.37%.

Charles Schwab Profile

(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.

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Toyota Tsusho Co. (OTCMKTS:TYHOF  Get Free Report) shares traded up 0.9% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $60.18 and last traded at $60.18. 100 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 62% from the average session volume of 264 shares. The stock had previously closed at $59.67.

Toyota Tsusho Stock Performance

The companys 50-day moving average is $58.22 and its 200-day moving average is $55.02.

Toyota Tsusho Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Toyota Tsusho Corporation engages in the metals, parts and logistics, mobility, machinery, energy and project, chemicals and electronics, and food and consumer services businesses worldwide. It provides automotive steel sheets and non-ferrous metals; metal products; non-ferrous metal ingots, materials, and products; rare earth and metal resources; parts; logistics services; tire and wheel assembly services; and automotive interior and exterior parts and accessories, as well as operates technoparks and recycles waste metals and other materials.

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Various Eateries PLC (LON:VARE  Get Free Report)s stock price dropped 7.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as GBX 24 ($0.30) and last traded at GBX 24 ($0.30). Approximately 32,514 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 56% from the average daily volume of 73,989 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 26 ($0.33).

Various Eateries Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of 42.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -300.00 and a beta of 0.11. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 25.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 28.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 395.51, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.19.

About Various Eateries

(Get Free Report)

Various Eateries PLC, together with its subsidiaries, owns, develops, and operates restaurant and hotel sites in the United Kingdom. It operates in two segments, Restaurant and Hotel. The company operates two brands across 15 locations, which include Coppa Club, a multi-use, all-day concept that combines restaurant, terrace, cafe, lounge, bar, and workspaces; and Tavolino, a restaurant for Italian food.

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At Cam Ranh International Airport (Photo: VNA)

The partnership will bring new services to Cam Ranh International Terminal (Terminal 2), such as automatic check-in services, entry registration through mobile apps, and the use of artificial intelligence in luggage transportation.

Under the deal, CAI will assist in managing the terminals non-aeronautical businesses and support the growth of Cam Ranh International Airports international route development.

As part of its long-term development plan, Cam Ranh International Airport aims to increase its service capacity from 6.8 million to between eight million and 10 million passengers annually.

Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, chairman of the Board of Directors of CRTC, said the agreement will help connect Cam Ranh International Airport to major airports worldwide and attract international partners.

In the next five years, CRTC will work with CAI to enhance the revenue growth of Terminal 2 and improve the passenger experience. The agreement also allows for an extension of another five years, he added.

Cam Ranh International Terminal, which opened in 2018, is a hub for more than 30 airlines, connecting Nha Trang city with over 100 destinations worldwide.

The airport serves as a gateway to the popular tourist destination of Nha Trang city./.
Telsey Advisory Group reiterated their outperform rating on shares of Warby Parker (NYSE:WRBY  Free Report) in a report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $19.00 price target on the stock.

Separately, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Warby Parker from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Warby Parker has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $16.38.

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Warby Parker Trading Up 0.7 %

Insider Activity at Warby Parker

Shares of WRBY stock opened at $14.24 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.39 billion, a P/E ratio of -25.43 and a beta of 1.63. The firms 50 day moving average is $13.68 and its 200 day moving average is $12.80. Warby Parker has a 12 month low of $9.50 and a 12 month high of $16.49.

In related news, CFO Steven Clive Miller sold 10,875 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.22, for a total transaction of $132,892.50. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 166,879 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,039,261.38. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Warby Parker news, CFO Steven Clive Miller sold 10,875 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.22, for a total value of $132,892.50. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 166,879 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,039,261.38. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Neil Harris Blumenthal sold 56,038 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.56, for a total transaction of $591,761.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 106 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,119.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 96,223 shares of company stock valued at $1,052,700. Insiders own 26.91% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Warby Parker

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quarry LP lifted its position in shares of Warby Parker by 1,434.1% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,421 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 3,198 shares during the period. Point72 Middle East FZE purchased a new stake in shares of Warby Parker in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Strs Ohio purchased a new stake in shares of Warby Parker in the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Warby Parker by 137,633.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 4,132 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 4,129 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank purchased a new stake in shares of Warby Parker in the 2nd quarter worth about $88,000. 93.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Warby Parker

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Warby Parker Inc provides eyewear products. The company offers eyeglasses, sunglasses, light-responsive lenses, blue-light-filtering lenses, and contact lenses. It also provides accessories, such as cases, lenses kit with anti-fog spray, pouches, and anti-fog lens spray through its retail stores, website, and mobile apps.

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Illustrative image (Photo: Internet)

The goal is to realise the National Action Plan to implement the Vietnamese Government's commitment with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), so as to soon remove the country from the Increased Monitoring List (Grey List) on the basis of ensuring to the maximum national interests.

The plan sets out 17 specific actions to implement the commitment, including demonstrating that competent authorities have improved understanding of money laundering/terrorist financing risks and are taking actions to mitigate these risks through the implementation of related strategies and policies; and proving effective cooperation, coordination and communication between relevant agencies.

Attention will be paid to strengthening formal cooperation (multilateral cooperation in extradition and legal assistance) and informal cooperation (of law enforcement agencies and Financial Intelligence Units) with foreign partners by providing constructive information and proactively seeking cooperation regarding criminals and their assets; and ensuring competent authorities, including central agencies, are provided with appropriate resources to carry out international cooperation.

Vietnam will develop a legal framework to prohibit or regulate virtual assets and virtual asset service providers, and demonstrate enforcement of regulations to ensure compliance.

Law enforcement and prosecution agencies will prioritise parallel financial investigations and demonstrate a significant and sustainable increase in the number of money laundering investigations and prosecutions, consistent with Vietnam's money laundering risk profile./.
S&P 500 5,117.09 DOW 38,714.77 QQQ 433.92 3 Large-Cap Stocks Buying Back Shares Aggressively Americas Retirement Emergency Is Getting Worse (Ad) Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza Heres Why Bitcoin Miners Stopped Rising With Bitcoin Prices Did you make $29,000 two days with AI options trades? (Ad) Oil Prices Up Again, Should You Buy This Time? Kung Fu Panda 4 repeats at No. 1 on the box office charts 8,788% Return Predicted For THIS Crypto (already up 40% in 6 months) (Ad) Stock market today: World stocks higher ahead of US and Japan rate decisions From Frenchies to rescue cats, New York's trauma center for animals takes the most complex cases

S&P 500 5,117.09 DOW 38,714.77 QQQ 433.92 3 Large-Cap Stocks Buying Back Shares Aggressively Americas Retirement Emergency Is Getting Worse (Ad) Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza Heres Why Bitcoin Miners Stopped Rising With Bitcoin Prices Did you make $29,000 two days with AI options trades? (Ad) Oil Prices Up Again, Should You Buy This Time? Kung Fu Panda 4 repeats at No. 1 on the box office charts 8,788% Return Predicted For THIS Crypto (already up 40% in 6 months) (Ad) Stock market today: World stocks higher ahead of US and Japan rate decisions From Frenchies to rescue cats, New York's trauma center for animals takes the most complex cases

S&P 500 5,117.09 DOW 38,714.77 QQQ 433.92 3 Large-Cap Stocks Buying Back Shares Aggressively Americas Retirement Emergency Is Getting Worse (Ad) Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza Heres Why Bitcoin Miners Stopped Rising With Bitcoin Prices Did you make $29,000 two days with AI options trades? (Ad) Oil Prices Up Again, Should You Buy This Time? Kung Fu Panda 4 repeats at No. 1 on the box office charts 8,788% Return Predicted For THIS Crypto (already up 40% in 6 months) (Ad) Stock market today: World stocks higher ahead of US and Japan rate decisions From Frenchies to rescue cats, New York's trauma center for animals takes the most complex cases
S&P 500 5,117.09 DOW 38,714.77 QQQ 433.92 3 Large-Cap Stocks Buying Back Shares Aggressively The only AI company you should be looking at (Ad) Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza Heres Why Bitcoin Miners Stopped Rising With Bitcoin Prices Did you make $29,000 two days with AI options trades? (Ad) Oil Prices Up Again, Should You Buy This Time? Kung Fu Panda 4 repeats at No. 1 on the box office charts Escaping Bidens $4.7 Trillion Tax Hunt (Ad) Stock market today: Wall Street rises ahead of highly anticipated Federal Reserve policy meeting From Frenchies to rescue cats, New York's trauma center for animals takes the most complex cases

S&P 500 5,117.09 DOW 38,714.77 QQQ 433.92 3 Large-Cap Stocks Buying Back Shares Aggressively The only AI company you should be looking at (Ad) Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza Heres Why Bitcoin Miners Stopped Rising With Bitcoin Prices Did you make $29,000 two days with AI options trades? (Ad) Oil Prices Up Again, Should You Buy This Time? Kung Fu Panda 4 repeats at No. 1 on the box office charts Escaping Bidens $4.7 Trillion Tax Hunt (Ad) Stock market today: Wall Street rises ahead of highly anticipated Federal Reserve policy meeting From Frenchies to rescue cats, New York's trauma center for animals takes the most complex cases

S&P 500 5,117.09 DOW 38,714.77 QQQ 433.92 3 Large-Cap Stocks Buying Back Shares Aggressively The only AI company you should be looking at (Ad) Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza Heres Why Bitcoin Miners Stopped Rising With Bitcoin Prices Did you make $29,000 two days with AI options trades? (Ad) Oil Prices Up Again, Should You Buy This Time? Kung Fu Panda 4 repeats at No. 1 on the box office charts Escaping Bidens $4.7 Trillion Tax Hunt (Ad) Stock market today: Wall Street rises ahead of highly anticipated Federal Reserve policy meeting From Frenchies to rescue cats, New York's trauma center for animals takes the most complex cases
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 25. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

My dear Brother.

I am particularly pleased to extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes on behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your remarkable jubilee  the 70th anniversary of your birth.

Your life path is an example of service for the Motherland and the people with dignity and loyalty. You are a great personality and an outstanding statesman of our time who selflessly works for the sake of the well-being of Turkiye, its current development and its worthy place in the international world. You have fulfilled the responsible historical mission entrusted to you with great confidence and determination. Your far-sighted and consistent policies have made your country one of the leading and most powerful states in the world. The important achievements and successes of Turkiye in the last 20 years are associated with your name.

Today, the Republic of Turkiye is entering the second century of its development under your wise leadership. We wish the brotherly country to achieve all the goals and objectives it has set for itself and accomplish new successes and victories on this journey.

My dear Brother,

You are also a true friend of the people of Azerbaijan. Your heartfelt attachment to Azerbaijan is manifested in your continuous support for the territorial integrity of our country, the strengthening of Azerbaijan-Turkiye brotherhood and your unparalleled contributions to the inviolability of our alliance. The firm and unequivocal position you have always demonstrated regarding the just cause of Azerbaijan and your unwavering support are remembered by our people with special gratitude.

The fact that I paid my first official visit after the election to brotherly Turkiye on your invitation and in line with the established tradition is a clear indication of our unity and alliance. I express my deep gratitude to you once again for this invitation and for the great attention and hospitality you showed me and our delegation during the visit. I appreciate our meeting in the conditions of sincerity and mutual understanding, as well as the detailed exchange of ideas on the broad spectrum of bilateral relations and prospects for our cooperation.

I am sure that our relations, which are quite unique in the world, will continue to draw strength from our shared history, rich national and moral values, and the brotherhood and unity of our peoples. They will continue to develop and strengthen with our joint efforts in accordance with the One nation, two states principle.

I sincerely congratulate you again on this joyful day of your life and wish you and your family good health, a long life, happiness, and continued successes and achievements in your responsible and honorable activities for the sake of the peace and prosperity of the brotherly Turkish people", the letter says.
UiPath Inc. is a leading software company specializing in robotic process automation (RPA) technology. Headquartered in New York City, but founded in Bucharest, Romania, UiPath offers a comprehensive platform that automates repetitive tasks and enables businesses to operate more efficiently. The company was founded in 2005 by Romanian entrepreneurs Daniel Dines and Marius Tirca and has since grown to become a significant player in the RPA industry. UiPath has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for RPA Software in 2020.

UiPath's executive team is led by Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Daniel Dines, who has been with the company since its inception. Daniel is considered one of the pioneers of robotic process automation, helping start the industry. Mr. Dines contributes to his success in the industry by being relentless and constantly exposing himself to the industry's uncertainties. Other key management team members include Chief Financial Officer Ashim Gupta and Chief Marketing Officer Bobby Patrick. In 2021, UiPath announced that former Microsoft executive Tom Clancy would join as its new Senior Vice President of Learning.

UiPath has experienced significant growth in recent years, with revenue increasing exponentially since its inception. The company's net loss has been decreasing yearly. As of January 31, 2021, UiPath has cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments capable of covering liabilities indicating that the company is working to keep control of its debt. UiPath's valuation has fluctuated since its IPO, with the company's market capitalization reaching a high of over $45 billion in May 2021 before falling to around $10 billion in Q4 of 2022. UiPath's price-to-sales ratio is higher than the industry average. Since its IPO in April 2021, UiPath's stock price has been volatile, with shares reaching a high of $90 in May 2021 before dropping to around $10 in November 2022. Since hitting its all-time low price, the stock has rebounded. Trading volume has also been relatively high, with an average of over 6 million shares traded per day.

The robotic process automation industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years as businesses seek to automate manual processes and increase efficiency. UiPath competes with several other robotic process automation providers, including Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, and WorkFusion. In addition, the industry is subject to regulatory and political pressures, particularly around data privacy and security.

UiPath has identified several critical areas for growth, including expanding its product offerings to include artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities and targeting new industries such as healthcare and financial services. The company has also been actively pursuing acquisitions, with recent purchases including Cloud Elements and ProcessGold.

As the robotic process automation industry continues to evolve, UiPath may face challenges from competitors who can offer similar or better technology at a lower cost. In addition, regulatory and political pressures may create uncertainty for the industry, which could impact UiPath's growth prospects.
Every time Ulster University releases a press statement announcing it has been embarrassed into providing the very bare minimum for Magee, Derry politicians break their necks pushing each other out of the way to seek credit.

Newsflash: you are being conned and the whole city knows it. And deep down, you know it too. Your rush to take the glory - where there is none - demeans you.

Instead of demanding ownership and control of your own civic university - a university of which you are the main stakeholder - you come off like youre auditioning for head prefect of a school that has never loved you and is only here to drain your parents dry.

Stormont has never delivered for Derry and nor has UU. Fact: we have had 100 years of one and 60 years of the other, and this city is the only major conurbation on this island with a declining population and net migration.

Our parties have spent the past decades variously blaming each other, UU, civil service, and the NIO - without ever once putting forward a viable solution to the North Wests crisis - a crisis that has now endured since partition. The latest command paper from the British government underlines their complete lack of commitment to the North West.

We wasted a decade waiting for a One Plan with no political buy-in (9400 students by 2020), and are now wasting the next, waiting for New Decade New Approach (10000 students by 2030); a document our schoolmasters in UU rejected before the ink was even dry.

While the Assembly was suspended, every one of our leaders promised us that Derry would be their immediate and entire focus as soon as the government was reconstituted. None of us believed it of course, but neither were any of us prepared for the complete lack of interest shown over the past few weeks.

Everyone is now so busy running for the Westminster elections over the next year, that anything that cant be a top line on the manifesto is being dropped. And the Derry Agenda does not play, and has never played in Belfast.

If it is raised at all, it will be dismissed with the claim that Derry is always whining - or the old reliable, it is the other guys fault.

So, in short, anyone who still believes that either Stormont or UU is the solution to our failing region is either an innocent or a fool - or has been bought off.

RIA REPORT

There is good news, however. There are genuine plans in place that can deliver for the North West, plus a government strategy - and budgets - to accompany it.

Next month, the Royal Irish Academy - with the backing of Dublin - will produce its newest report into how the regeneration of the North West can be led by its university sector.

The Derry University Group has called on politicans to finally deliver for the city.

These are plans that will allow Derry to play the lead role in its own economic regeneration, building on the 2020 Future Focus report which laid out the blueprint for a new NWU.

The new plans will be backed with the opportunity for finance - and will be constructed to dovetail into Dublins Project Ireland 2040 plan. The North West as a metropolitan area straddling both sides of the border should, and will, be part of this key Irish government strategy.

Privately, it is understood, however, that some thinkers close to the Academy are perplexed and frustrated at the lack of ambition from political leaders in the North West. That their confidence has been so eroded they dont understand the opportunity here and have forgotten how to demand their entitlement.

To them, the Derry University Group would say this. Many years ago, one very wise public representative privately advised us that the only way were going to get any movement in the North West is to stop playing nice and become a non-stop pain in the arse. And while we would never aspire to be difficult or rude, that central tenet - that we needed to toughen up a bit - has served us well.

So our message to all our leaders across every sector today is to quit trying to please the overlords in Belfast, stop being so timid, dont be bought off by promises of working parties and UU-led expansion - and take the gloves off.
PICTURED ABOVE: CelebrateHER - a celebration event women absolutely cannot afford to miss! Pictured announcing the special International Womens Day conference at the venue, Ulster University, are (L-R): Karise Hutchinson, Professor of Leadership, Ulster University and Founder of Illuminaire Leadership. The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Steven Callaghan and Jayne Taggart, CEO, Enterprise Causeway.

After the incredible success of last years event, Enterprise Causeway are thrilled to be delivering another inspiring and motivating conference to mark International Womens Day, bringing together a wide and diverse community of empowering women to CelebrateHER on Friday, 1st March at Ulster University, Coleraine.

CelebrateHER promises to be an inspirational, inclusive, fun packed day - acknowledging the impact and success of women across ALL sectors of our community.

Back by popular demand is the hugely successful, Caroline ONeill - Founder of Digg for Success, The Digg Podcast, Digg Deep for Kids and Co-founder of the NI Social Media Awards. A fantastic host at the 2023 event, her passion, charisma and dedication to empowering women will help provide the energy to make for another wonderful day.

Caroline will be shining the spotlight and facilitating engaging conversations with our fabulous array of speakers and panellists, who will be reflecting on the theme of Inspire Inclusion.

This collection of influential women will offer a diverse range of opinions and advice, from entrepreneurs and community champions to academia and trailblazers in womens rights. They will challenge us to think, make us appreciate ourselves and our achievements, and leave us with the confidence to believe in our goals.

Providing a keynote address will be Ailbhe Keane, who alongside her sister Izzy, established Izzy Wheels - a company specialising in turning wheelchair covers into fashion statements.

The Galway sisters developed a globally successful brand out of pure and simple love and on the day Ailbhe will be sharing their incredible journey to help us unlock our self-belief and confidence.

Other notable keynotes will include our very own local Professor of Leadership, Karise Hutchinson; community champion Una Leonard, Support2gether; and creator of wellness and advocate of mental health, Annette Kelly of Little Penny Thoughts.

With almost 200 registrations to date there will be ample opportunities to make connections and seek inspiration from others, particularly during the networking part of the day.

Encouraging females not to miss the opportunity to register for a place, Jayne Taggart, CEO of Enterprise Causeway, said: As we prepare to I am thrilled we have a line-up of such extraordinary women to really deliver an incredibly positive and empowering event for our attendees.

Their stories will help showcase the many diverse paths to success and their insights will be provide real and authentic takeaways that we can apply to our everyday lives. Opportunities to meet other ladies, from all walks of life, will allow us to celebrate and encourage each other as we pursue our own individual pathways and purpose.

Its going to be an absolutely fabulous day of connection and learning for all women!

Ulster University Provost, Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan expresses: Following on from the success of last years inaugural event, Ulster University is delighted to welcome the return of CelebrateHER to our Coleraine campus.

This is one of a series of events being hosted by the University to mark International Womens Day as we celebrate the female thought leaders, change makers and game changers delivering meaningful impact across the region.

These are inclusive events, and we encourage women from all sectors to come together to share experiences and support like-minded peers.

This event is being delivered in partnership with Enterprise Causeway and Ulster University and is supported by Causeway Coast and Glens Labour Market Partnership and the Connecting Communities project, funded by International Fund for Ireland.

The conference will take place on Friday, 1st March: 9am  2.30pm and will include lunch.

Visit: tinyurl.com/celebrateher24 for full details on this event (including line-up and to register).
The loved ones of a 30 year old Sligo man who suffered a catastrophic head injury in Spain are seeking help to fund his specialist rehabilitation.

According to a fundraising campaign set up on Go Fund Me, Brian Domi Mallon's life took an unexpected turn when he missed a step descending the stairs of Sagrada Familia Metro Station in Barcelona on his way home from work on March 3, 2023.

From Crozon, Brian reportedly moved to Barcelona after falling in love with the city during an Erasmus year, and was due to start teaching sociology after completing his masters in 2022.

After his fall, he was initially in a coma for two weeks due to a brain bleed, but began making an "almost miraculous recovery" when he woke up.

However, during Easter week, Brian developed an infection at the site of his craniotomy, which quickly spread through his entire brain.

Despite surgery to attempt removal of the infection, he suffered a further bleed and went back into a coma.

Brian - who has undergone eleven surgeries to address issues such as bleeds, craniotomy, cranioplasty, brain shunts and PEG feeding tube - has been left with challenges such as an inability to talk and communicate, as well as complete paralysis on his right side, and partial paralysis on his left side.

He spent three months on life support, almost five months in ICU, and 5 months in a specialist rehabilitation hospital in Barcelona.

Fortunately, he began to breathe fully for himself in September and began to eat in October, before finally starting to say some words in November.

He is beginning to regain movement and mobility very slowly, and he is in good spirits.

However, as he needs 24/7 total care and needs to learn to speak again, people in the Sligo community and beyond are being urged to donate what they can to his ongoing care.

Brian returned by air ambulance to Sligo University Hospital just before the turn of the new year and was moved to the Benbulben Rehabilitation unit at St. Johns Hospital, Sligo at the end of January.

His participation in rehabilitation has reportedly been stunted due to medical issues, the severity of his brain injury, medication side effects, and his difficulty in communicating.

According to the Go Fund Me campaign, the potential of Brians recovery "massively depends" on continuing specialist rehabilitation.

The money raised by the campaign will go to the Brian Domi trust fund for his medical care, modifications to the family home, and the provision of accessible transport.

A statement from the family reads: "Regardless of size, every donation is a meaningful step toward Brian regaining independence and rebuilding his life. In these challenging times, your support is a source of comfort and strength for our family.

"Every cent received will go directly into the Brian Domi trust fund and will be used exclusively for Brian's rehabilitation and needs. Thank you for being part of Brian's support network. Your kindness is making a significant impact. We appreciate it more than words can express."

Almost 10,000 has been raised for Brian's recovery so far out of a 75,000 goal.
The Government has confirmed today that it will channel funding through the Shared Island Fund to to build the landmark Narrow Water Bridge connecting the Cooley Peninsula in Louth to the Mourne Mountains in Down, and complete the scenic Carlingford Greenway, boosting tourism and transport links in the east border region.

Government funding commitments of over 800 million for Shared Island projects have been announced. Included in the projects is a new hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast; investment in renewed visitor experience at Battle of the Boyne site; and completion of the cross-border Carlingford Greenway.

The Narrow Water Bridge will link the Mourne Mountains and Cooley peninsula, providing huge tourism and connectivity boosts in the east border region, and acting as an enabler for improved cross-border active travel and recreation activities including the development of greenways, walking trails and park amenities.

The bridge is a longstanding commitment of the Government reflected in the Programme for Government and the 2020 New Decade New Approach Agreement.

Planning permission is in place for a distinctive 280m cable-stayed bridge, anchored by two towers at either end, with segregated car, cycle and pedestrian lanes. The bridge will connect the A2 Newry to Warrenpoint dual carriageway with the R173 Omeath and open to allow for passage of boats through and on to the Newry Canal.

A tender process for the main construction works contract for the project was conducted by Louth County Council in 2023, in accordance with the Public Spending Code, overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

Louth County Council will proceed with the final steps in the procurement process and expect to award the contract to the successful bidder in H1 2024. Delivery of the project will be overseen by a Project Board, chaired by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

12.5 million has been allocated for a new hourly-frequency rail service between Belfast and Dublin. Funding for the hourly rail service is being allocated from the Shared Island Fund, with match funding from the Department of Transport, to meet the total cost of introducing of an hourly-frequency rail service between Belfast and Dublin over an initial three-year period.

The Shared Island Fund will provide a 1.5m contribution to enable the completion of an outstanding element of the cross-border Carlingford Greenway, a 1.6km boardwalk structure outside Newry. Funding is also being provided by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and other sections of the Greenway are supported under the INTERREG VA programme.

The project is overseen by the Department of Transport, working with Louth County Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. This project aligns with the objective under the National Development Plan to create an island-wide border region greenway network from the Atlantic coast to the Eastern seaboard, and the Department of Transport are actively exploring potential approaches to link existing border-region greenway routes to develop a transformational green infrastructure asset for residents and to grow sustainable tourism.

10 million has been allocated for a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site due to reflect its unique historic significance to communities North and South. The Government has confirmed the major investment in the development of a renewed visitor experience for the Battle of the Boyne site as a priority to raise the heritage and tourism profile of the site which has unique historic and community significance on the island.

A commitment of 10m from the Shared Island Fund has been made as part of the overall funding package for the project, once finalised. This work will be taken forward by the Office of Public Works (OPW) based on a Conservation Management Plan for the site and in consultation with communities North and South.
Dundalk Bay Seafoods Ltd, a third-generation seafood company based in Clogherhead, says it has completed a 700,000 investment to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint. The company aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The investment received support from BIM, Ireland's seafood development agency, with funding of almost 270,000 from the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme. This scheme, recommended by the Seafood Taskforce established by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie Monologue T.D., will provide up to 45 million in funding to the seafood processing sector and is funded by the European Union under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

Pat and Cathal Lynch, the directors of Dundalk Bay Seafood's Ltd, expressed their gratitude for the support of the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme.

They said that the efficiencies achieved due to the scheme will enable them to decrease their energy costs by 80%, which is a significant contribution to lowering their bottom line. This reduction in energy costs will help them become more competitive in the market and secure the company's future for the next generation.

The Brexit Process Capital Support Scheme helped Dundalk Bay Seafood by installing 465 PV solar panels, which will generate up to 172 Mwh of electricity per annum, providing 50% of their current annual electricity needs. The company also invested in modern Eco-Line refrigeration equipment, powered by "Variable Speed Compressors".

This new equipment replaces a 20-year-old refrigeration system operated by single-speed compressors, contributing to a 22% saving in overall electricity consumption. Improved insulation in temperature-controlled areas will improve energy retention and further reduce electricity consumption by another 10-12%.

Dundalk Bay Seafood's Ltd was founded 49 years ago and is currently the longest-operating Dublin Bay Prawn processor in Ireland, it has 30 staff specializing in the processing of Dublin Bay Prawns.

In recent years, they have expanded their product range to include locally sourced Razor Clams and King Scallops. The investments made with the support of BIM have future-proofed the company, establishing a pathway for future growth in their export markets of Italy, France, Spain, and Asia.
Could more have been done by tourism agencies to promote the Brigid 1500 festival in Dundalk and North Louth?

That was the question posed to Tourism Minister Catherine Martin last week in Leinster House by Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu who asked whether more could have been done to promote Faughart as the birthplace of St Brigid abroad.

A response to a written parliamentary question from Deputy O Murchu, which was answered by Tourism Ireland, who are responsible for marketing Irish tourism abroad, revealed that there was a total investment by the agency of 1.25 million in the Brigid 1500 festivals.

Minister Martin said: This year, for the first time ever, Tourism Ireland rolled out a new campaign to leverage St. Brigids Day around the world. This campaign, which will run for the spring period, aims to raise awareness of the island of Ireland as a great spring holiday destination.

Tourism Irelands new St. Brigids campaign involves a new video highlighting the Brigid 1500 festival in Kildare, which includes an interview with the founder of Brigid 1500 who discusses St. Brigid's legacy, the significance of Imbolc and the start of spring in Ireland; three short videos featuring female artists from the world of music, art and storytelling, which showcase some of our wonderful female talent against a backdrop of springtime Ireland; and new content bringing spring in Ireland to life, created by six popular female travel content creators from around Ireland. These will be shared by Tourism Ireland with its millions of followers on social media.

Louth, home of the birthplace of the saint, is a very significant part of the story of St. Brigid.

This year's impressive Brigid 1500 ten-day festival organised by Louth County Council, which included elements supported by my Department's Creative Ireland programme, provides further opportunities for inclusion in any future marketing campaigns and promotions of St. Brigid, whether at home or abroad, by tourism agencies.

Deputy O Murchu said: Tourism Ireland needs to play a far bigger role with regard to more joined-up thinking. None of us wants to get into a spat. Tourism Ireland needs to make sure that it is hands-on.

We have a really good starting point. There was spectacular work done by Dundalk BIDS and by Martin McElligott and his team and we need to build on it.

It was an absolutely fabulous event that took a huge amount of people over that period into Dundalk. It was both spectacular and enjoyable, and very positive.

Minister Martin said Louths Brigid 1500 was a remarkable project and praised the Northern Lights event. She said: Tourism Ireland engaged with Louth County Council to discuss its festival work programme. While logistically it was not feasible to incorporate content in the 2024 campaign, consideration can certainly be given in any future campaigns to include St. Brigid's connection with Louth.

Deputy O Murchu said it was disappointing that there was not greater involvement with Dundalk and North Louth this year.

He said: We need to make sure that we do it together, and that we sell the entirety with regard to north County Louth, Dundalk, Faughart and Kildare.

Minister Martin said:

It is certainly not the case that Kildare should be versus Louth or Louth versus Kildare. Both Kildare and Louth are the two key locations in the story of St. Brigid.

By taking them together, there is potential for opening really exciting tourism possibilities for Ireland's Ancient East.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 25. In accordance with the training plan for 2024, the training session held in one of the military units with a group of reservists came to an end, Trend reports, referring to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

A closing ceremony was held on the occasion of the completion of the training session.

First, the memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Shehids (Martyrs) who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was honored with observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan accompanied by a military orchestra was performed.

The speakers at the ceremony stressed that the main objective of the training session is to improve reservists combat skills, military qualifications and experience, as well as to familiarize them with the modern weapons and military equipment available in the Azerbaijan Armys armament.

It was noted that during the training session with reservists, combat training classes were held, tactical and technical characteristics of weapons and equipment, as well as rules for their proper usage were taught. Theoretical and practical classes on drill, tactical, military medical and special training were also organized.

The assigned tasks were successfully fulfilled during the training session.

In the end, the reservists who distinguished themselves at the training session were awarded honorary certificates and were sent to their places of residence on special vehicles.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
On Tuesday a protest was staged outside Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) by members of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI).

The protest centred around a dispute with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) over alleged breaches of a collective agreement concerning the establishment of Technological Universities (TUs).

TUI members at third level institutions around the country, including DKIT, voiced their concerns, asserting that DFHERIS and management have failed to adhere to the agreed terms outlined in the collective agreement.

The agreement, ratified through a national ballot, aimed to ensure the retention of the sector, formerly known as the Institute of Technology sector, and facilitate meaningful communication, consultation, and negotiation with the TUI on pertinent matters related to the TU sector.

In a statement issued by the TUI, they accused DFHERIS of deliberately frustrating the proper functioning of third-level industrial relations fora by allowing each TU to operate separately without national negotiation. The union described this approach as a blatant breach of the collective agreement, which was accepted in good faith by its members.

The TUI's statement urged meaningful engagement on the part of DFHERIS to resolve the dispute. However, they warned of potential industrial action, including strikes, if the Department fails to address their concerns adequately.

Responding to the allegations, the Department of Further and Higher Education stated that they have consistently engaged with the TUI on TU sector reform through appropriate channels.

In a statement to the Democrat they said:

The Department has engaged consistently with the TUI on the reform of the TU sector through the appropriate forums and remains available to enter into discussions on this matter.

The dispute has arisen in relation to the establishment of a new Executive Management Team in MTU which has been sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure.

The Department does not accept that there has been any breach of the 2017 agreement or any other agreement. DFHERIS is continuing to engage with TUI to seek an agreed solution and is willing to avail of the dispute resolution mechanisms that exist if necessary.
The total number of Ukrainian refugees living in Louth under the Temporary Protection Directive now stands at 2478 according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

This compares to a figure of 2236 in October last year.

Nationally, 104,870 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) were given to arrivals from Ukraine by 4th February 2024.

Broken down by area; the figures reveal the Drogheda Urban area has 868 Ukrainians living locally while Dundalk-Carlingford has 708; Dundalk South has 511; Ardee has 235 while Drogheda Rural has 156.

The figures mark an increase in numbers in four out of five areas in Louth compared to October last year, with the numbers in Ardee remaining the same.

Those figures, (for October 2023) were: Drogheda Urban area had 822 Ukrainians living locally while Dundalk-Carlingford had 573; Dundalk South had 459; Ardee had 235 while Drogheda Rural had 147.

Additionally the CSO report showed that there were 483 hosts currently in receipt of Accommodation Recognition Payment and arrivals from Ukraine living in accommodation provided by these hosts.

The figures also reveal that there are currently 252 Ukrainian children enrolled in primary schools in Louth, an increase of 3; while there are 200 enrolled in secondary schools in the county, again an increase of 3.

Commenting on the release, Dylan Morrissey, Statistician, said:

"There are two maps in this release based on mapping 100,091 individuals, or 95% of arrivals, to a location within Ireland.

These maps are based on the local post office address as per the process through which arrivals were seeking assistance from the Department of Social Protection or, if available, the arrivals' residential address where an Accommodation Recognition Payment is payable to the host of the residence.

The first map is a count of arrivals by Local Electoral Area (LEA), and the second is the rate of arrivals by LEA (per 100 of the Census 2022 de facto population). Kenmare in Co. Kerry had the highest number of associated arrivals from Ukraine at 2,846.

Our analysis also shows that the rate per 100 of the population ranges across all LEAs in the country from 0.22% to 12.47%. The LEA with the highest rate was Ennistimon in Co. Clare."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 25. The Khojaly genocide was a part of Armenia's systematic ethnic cleansing & genocide policy, the publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan on its X page in connection with the 32nd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide says, Trend reports.

The Foreign Ministry also shared a timeline showing the sequence of events that led to the Khojaly genocide.

Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said in his publication that those responsible for this massacre must be held accountable.
SPORT has always played a key role in Cork woman Mary Ita OConnors life.

Then, at the age of 39, the athlete, who comes from Milford, was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.

She is desperate for something that will allow her to continue to run competitively, and hopes the answer will be found in the first episode of a new series of Big Life Fix on RTE on Wednesday, February 28 at 9.35pm.

In the series, Irelands leading inventors create ingenious solutions to everyday problems for extraordinary people, harnessing the power of science to create tailor-made inventions, from space satellites to life-saving medical devices and military hardware.

As well as Mary Ita, they also try to help Daire Gorman, a 10-year-old boy from Monaghan born with Crommelin Syndrome, causing his arms and legs to be underdeveloped.

Also in the series, the inventors try to distract Theresa ORourke from her chronic pain and help three-year-old Evie Purdy, who is non-verbal, communicate with her parents. They also work with David Tarpey, of Oranmore, Galway, who is paralysed from the chest down after a farm accident, to sea swim with greater ease.
STUDENTS from Cork Prison have successfully graduated from a module aimed at addressing issues relating to substance abuse and addition.

Developed by University College Cork (UCC), the HSE Addiction Services and James Leonard of Two Norries podcast fame, the module module on Substance Misuse and Addiction Studies was run in collaboration with teaching staff in Cork ETBs Education Unit.

The university accredited module, one of the first of its kind within the Irish prison system, teaches basic knowledge about the most commonly misused substances and provides clarity on the distinction between substance use, misuse and dependence.

Aimed at breaking the cycle of addiction, the module covers a variety of pertinent topics including drug pharmacology, biological effects, impact of substance abuse on mood, behavior and cognition and societal effects.

It places a key emphasis on safe usage and community response to substance abuse issues, including alcohol.

Dr Seamus OToole of Adult Continuing Education (ACE) at UCC, which delivers the module said it emphasised how life long learning is about people having opportunities to learn no matter where they are or what they are doing.

By working as a team with the education service at Cork prison and through the efforts of the students here in the prison, we have been able to create a lifelong learning gem that genuinely crosses boundaries and creates positive opportunities for the learners, he added.

The director general of the Irish Prison Service, Caron McCaffrey, expressed similar sentiments saying the module was a tremendous opportunity for both Cork Prison and the guys here today who are graduating. Addictions are sadly a common cause for people to end up in custody and this collaboration will allow these prisoners to not only better understand their own addiction but allow give them the knowledge and tools to share with their peers, said Ms McCaffrey.
A postmortem examination has revealed that foul play was not a factor in the death of a 53-year-old woman whose body was found at a house in Cork city on Friday.

The postmortem examination took place yesterdayy at a Cork University Hospital.

It followed the discovery of the body of Marcella Cronin at her home in Sarsfield Terrace in Richmond Hill in Cork at lunchtime on Friday.

Ms Cronin was the much-loved mother of several children.

She was a native of the northside of Cork city.

Friends indicated that Ms Cronin was a funny, loyal and kind person.

A visitor to the house had raised the alarm on Friday afternoon. Ms Cronin was pronounced dead at the scene.

The post mortem was carried out by Chief State Pathologist Professor Linda Mulligan.

A file will be prepared for the Coroners Court.

An inquest will be held in due course.
FIVE units of Cork City Fire Brigade attended the scenes of five fires at various retail stores across Cork city centre on Sunday evening.

Five city centre shops were targeted by arson, Cork City Fire Brigades third officer Gerard Ryan told The Echo.

The alarm was raised at 5.13pm when Cork City Fire Brigade received a call to respond to a fire on Patrick Street. The initial call was followed by four calls at the various other premises in the city centre.

Speaking to The Echo following the incidents, third officer Gerard Ryan said: Five shops were targeted by arson. We think theyre all the same person but obviously we have to do an investigation with the guards. But at this early stage, from photographs and from descriptions, it sounds like its the same person.

There seems to have been a route they were following.

The scene at Grand Parade Cork where Fire Brigade were in attendance. Picture: Staff.

Mr Ryan said that resources had to be spread across all locations and that there was fire damage at all five premises.

We spread our resources around to deal with them all. We got two or three calls at the start and then the fourth and fifth came in so as we were dealing with one, we got called to another and another. So, we sent extra resources to different ones, Mr Ryan said.

There was fire damage in all of the shops, minor in some cases and a bit more serious in others. It might have gone from one garment to three garments to 30 or 40 garments but a lot of smoke damage to three of the premises.

[One] was heavily smoke logged from the fire and [another] was also. It was a different stock in [another], it was hygiene products.

Mr Ryan said all shops ceased trading from the time of the calls to the fire service and said that staff were evacuated from all five premises.

Fire brigade personnel on Academy Street, Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare.

In fairness to all the staff in all of the premises were excellent in evacuating the people and in first aid fire fighting so we praise them all, Mr Ryan said.

He said that it is not yet known what was used to start any of the fires and that the Garda Technical Bureau are currently investigating.
(Photo:  Peter Kenny)The Bundestag, the parliament of a united Germany, symbolizing the optimism of a united Germany.

Christianity in Germany has been on the decline for some time, but the dwindling number of Catholic churches has come to the fore recently, with some giving way for housing, and others repurposed.

"In recent years, the number of people leaving the Catholic Church has increased, and Protestant denominations are also losing members," according to Quora.

"This trend is largely due to the secularization of society, as more and more people are indifferent to religion."

A declining birth rate is also a factor, as fewer people are being exposed to Christianity at a young age.

Scandals in the Church have not helped its credibility, but the Church has no more scandals than other institutions.

The Church faces stiff competition from some institutions, such as the state, which provides social services and support that were once the domain of the Church.

So, many Germans now see no need for religion in their lives.

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-catholic-churches-are-demolished-or-repurposed/a-68300577

DW said that in the last 10 years, the number of Catholic churches across Germany has dwindled as it examined the impact on the faithful.

CHURCH BECOMES CLIMBING GYM

It showed a photo of climbers hanging from rafters inside a church building in Gelsenkirchen, where a Catholic church has been turned into a climbing gym.

In the northern German city of Kiel, five Catholic churches have recently closed their doors, reported DW.

Most of the 240,000 inhabitants of the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein are Protestants.

It is mainly due to financial hardships that Catholic churches are in decline. The entire city of Kiel is now one large parish with just a few churches.

Some buildings have already disappeared to make way for housing. Although the Church of the Holy Cross in the district of Kiel-Elmschenhagen is still standing, it has been closed.

On Nov. 19, 2022, the Church of the Holy Cross, the only Catholic Church in the district, was formally deconsecrated and subsequently closed  despite opposition from Rudiger Kirkskothen and other parishioners.

"All our protests failed," the 79-year-old Kirkskothen told DW. "We even wrote to the Vatican. That didn't help either."

Kirkskothen said that the closure of their house of worship hit local families hard.

Immigrants built the Church in 1956 and founded the congregation.

"Their children witnessed their parents' devotion, got baptized, and took communion there. For them, it was simply home," he said, adding that he understands the bitterness and disappointment.

When the Church closed in the nearby Baltic seaside resort of Schonberg, the community "almost completely fell apart," said Kirkskothen.

A significant number of Catholics in Schonberg left the Church entirely.

Currently, the Archdiocese of Hamburg is also closing several churches in the Baltic Sea city of Lubeck and trying to nurture more dialog with local members.

Some parts of Germany have lost a large number of churches over the past two decades, such as the archdiocese of Hamburg, including Kiel.

The number of closures is exceptionally high in Kiel.

The German Bishops' Conference secretariat told DW that 650 Catholic churches have "ceased to be used for worship" nationally since 2005.

From 2019 to 2023, it has lost an average of 28 churches across Germany annually.

As of 2023, one in two Germans no longer belonged to the major Christian churches.

According to the CIA Factbook, of Germany's 84 million people in 2022, 24.8 percent were Roman Catholics, 22.6 percent Protestants, while Muslims accounted for 3.7 percent, and those with no stated belief were 43.8 percent.
(Photo: REUTERS / Kacper Pempel)German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R), a Protestant and the Prime Minister of mainly Catholic Poland, Ewa Kopacz (L) attend a mass in the Church of Peace in the town of Swidnica November 20, 2014. The ceremony is part of the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of a Polish-German World War II reconciliation meeting. In November 1989 Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl took part in a holy mass in Krzyzowa, starting the first World War II reconciliation effort between democratic Poland and united Germany.

German Christians said to number hundreds of thousands are formally renouncing their faith and leaving the Church to escape a change in the tax laws.

Up to 400,000 Germans officially filed declarations to leave the Protestant and Catholic Church after a decision to extend the 8 or 9 per cent charge to capital gains income, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

Up to 200,000 Germans are believed to have filed official declarations last year renouncing their membership of the main Protestant church, the EKD, the highest number in almost 20 years with a similar number believed to have left the Catholic Church.

Church members in Germany are required by law to pay tax to fund church activities, which is collected by the government and is used to fund education and social services.

Under German law, anyone who was baptised as a child is automatically a member of the church and obliged to pay the tax, charged as a percentage of their income, regardless of their beliefs or whether they attend church services.

Until recently, many Christians had been prepared to pay the extra tax for the benefits it brings them, including access to church schools and day care facilities that are funded by the government.

The only way to escape paying the tax is to make a formal declaration renouncing membership of the church. This move is also levied with a government fee.

CHARGE TO CAPTIAL GAINS INCOME

The acute decline in church membership seems to have been triggered by a decision to include the 8 or 9 per cent charge in capital gains income, or the profit earned from selling an asset.

The new tax regulation was "just the straw that broke the camel's back for people who were already thinking of leaving", Ruth Levin, spokesman for the Protestant church in Disnlaken, told Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.

The church tax has legally been due to capital gains for some years, but the German government recently closed an ambiguity that let many church members evade paying it due to their not being compelled to declare their capital gains income.

The newspaper reported that in the past those leaving the church had frequently been young adults renouncing their parents' beliefs, over more recently many faith renouncers are said to be pensioners not wanting to have their savings eaten into.

Leaving the Church is more than a formality. Those who decide to leave cannot be excommunicated or prevented from taking part in church services, but the decision can deny them certain rites, from a religious burial to access to the best State-funded schools.

Catholics who renounce their church membership are barred from confession and communion, and from the anointing of the sick, unless they are on the point of death.

Under the new arrangement German bank are now compelled to withhold the tax on capital gains of church member who hold accounts.

In the last reported year, some 200,000 German Protestants renounced their church membership, up from 138,100 in 2012, figures from the epd Protestant news agency cited by Die Welt newspaper. In Bavaria, the rate of faith abandonment rose by 62 per cent.

Figures for numbers leaving the Catholic Church in 2014 are not yet available, but 178,000 Catholics renounced their membership in 2013, up from 118,000 in 2012.

Some 30.8 per cent of Germans, or 24.7 million people, are Catholics
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 26. The massacre committed by the Armenian armed forces on February 25-26, 1992 in the city of Khojaly against the civilian population of Azerbaijan is a crime against humanity, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev wrote on his page on X, Trend reports.

"Over the night of 2526 February 1992, as a result of the attack and capture of the Khojaly town by the armed forces of Armenia supported by the regiment No.366 of former USSR, 613 Azerbaijani civilians were mercilessly killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly people. Another 1,000 people were wounded, and 1,275 people were taken hostage. To this day, 150 people from Khojaly remain missing.

The deliberate mass massacre of Azerbaijani civilians perpetrated by the armed forces of Armenia in the town of Khojaly in February 25-26, 1992 is a genocide and a crime against humanity.

The crimes committed in Khojaly were not an isolated or sporadic act but an integral part of Armenias widespread and systematic policy and practice of ethnic cleansing.

The Khojaly genocide was the worst mass massacre of the innocent civilian population in Europe since the Second World War.

The Khojaly genocide took place in the conditions of complete silence and indifference of the international community. Justice for the victims of Khojaly was ensured by the state of Azerbaijan itself. Khojaly was freed from occupation in September 2023, and a group of masterminders and perpetrators of this crime will soon be brought to justice. But our biggest consolation is that Khojaly survivors and each and every citizen of Azerbaijan can now visit liberated Khojaly and the entire Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur freely and with dignity and pride, he wrote.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 24. The Azerbaijani military delegation visited the MEBS (Communication Electronic Information System) School and Training Center of the Turkish Armed Forces, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense wrote on its page on X, Trend reports.

The ministry said that along with the Azerbaijani delegation, the Qatari delegation got acquainted with the conditions created in the training center.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Katie Price has confirmed she's dating JJ Slater.

JJ Slater and Katie Price have gone Instagram official

The 45-year-old TV star has taken to Instagram to share a loved-up selfie of herself and JJ, who is best known for starring on 'Married At First Sight UK', the hit reality series.

Katie - who split from Carl Woods in 2023 - captioned the photo: "They say things happen for a reason, the unexpected happened. Fate. Ticks every box. @johnjoeslater you have proved to me you are a real gentleman and completely except me for me (sic)"

JJ, 33, then took to the comments section to offer a response.

He simply wrote: "Fate thank you so much for being you (sic)"

Meanwhile, a source has claimed that Katie's new romance is "already getting serious".

The TV star and JJ recently jetted off on a romantic ski trip to Bulgaria, and their romance is said to be moving at speed.

The source told MailOnline: "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."

Katie - who has Harvey, 21, with Dwight Yorke, Junior, 18, and Princess, 16, with Peter Andre, and Jett, nine, and Bunny, eight, with Kieran Hayler - was also spotted with JJ on a night out.

An eyewitness claimed at the time that the celebrity duo looked "very cosy together".

The source recently told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "He came in after her and they sat together for at least an hour. They looked very cosy together, especially when she rested her arm on his shoulder."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 24. Azerbaijani Army has held tactical-special exercises on "Conducting combat operations in severe frost", Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

According to the ministry, the exercises first checked supplies necessary for personnel activities in the severe frost and blizzard conditions and high mountainous areas, provision of various supplies and food, as well as the ability of units to deploy on the ground in winter conditions.

In order to conduct highly professional combat operations and rescue activities in severe frost conditions, improve the knowledge and skills of command staff in managing units, practical training was conducted with the units involved in the training.

During the special tactical exercises, checking the skills of personnel in performing combat missions in severe frost conditions, special forces groups carried out tactical actions behind the lines of an imaginary enemy.

The goals set during the exercises were successfully achieved.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Barbra Streisand recalled "dreaming of being an actress as a teenager" as she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday (24.02.24).

Barbra Streisand at the SAG Awards

The 81-year-old entertainer joked it was "wonderful" to receive the accolade because she didn't have to sit and "squirm" while watching someone else accept a prize she'd been nominated for before reflecting on the early days of her career.

She said: This is such a wonderful award to get because you know in advance youre going to get it. You dont have to sit there in squirm And if you dont have to put on such a happy face, Im so happy to lose! Anyway, you all know what I mean.

I cant believe it. I remember dreaming of being an actress as a teenager, sitting in my bed in Brooklyn with a pint of coffee ice cream and a movie magazine.

The 'Yentl' star went on to reflect on her life-long love of movies, including watching the most beautiful actor and her first crush Marlon Brando in 1954's 'Guys and Dolls.'

She said: He was so real, so believable. And I wanted to be the one he fell in love with, not Jean Simmons.

Barbra reflected on her six-decade career as she thanked the actors and directors she had worked with over the years, including Warner Bros., Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer and William Eyler, before paying tribute to the stars in the room at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium.

She said: "I want to thank you for giving me so much joy, just watching all of you on the screen," she sweetly concluded. "Thank you for that."

Jennifer Aniston had earlier paid tribute to her friend, even joking about how they had once shared a kiss on New Year's Eve.

She also said: Barbara, thats all you have to say and you know.

"That face, that voice, that talent. It is a once-in-a-lifetime talent and how lucky that it is in our lifetime.

Following her lengthy tribute, Bradley Cooper - who played Jackson Maine in the 2018 remake of 'A Star is Born' - made a surprise appearance to give a second tribute to the iconic star, hailing her a "true auteur".
Lily Gladstone urged people to "keep telling stories" as she picked up the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role accolade at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Saturday (24.02.24).

Lily Gladstone at the SAG Awards

The 37-year-old actress was honoured with the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role prize for 'Killers of the Flower Moon' and she acknowledged how the Hollywood strikes had made for a "hard year" for the profession.

Speaking on stage at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium, she said: "My friends and fellow actors, I feel the good in what you do and what you've done.

""It's been a hard year for all of us, in this room and not in this room, I'm so proud we've gotten here and solidarity for the other unions.

It's truly a gift that we get to do this for a living, that's the win, getting to be here, getting to be on set and tell stories. We bring empathy into a world that so much needs it.

"It's so easy to distance ourselves , it's easy to close off and stop feeling but we bravely keep feeling and that humanises people and brings the out of the shadows."

Lily - who took the award ahead of Annette Bening ('Nyad'), Carey Mulligan ('Maestro'), Margot Robbie ('Barbie') and Emma Stone ('Poor Things') went on to stress the importance of "speaking your truths" and supporting one another.

She added: "Keep telling stories, everyone in this room, to everybody watching, those of you who are not actors but have a story that needs to be heard.

Than you for all the compassion in this room and all the storytellers here, keep speaking your truths and keep speaking for each other."
The cast of 'Succession' enjoyed "one last hurrah" at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Saturday (24.02.24).

Succession wins at the SAG Awards

The HBO family media saga was honoured with the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series prize for its final season, taking the accolade ahead of 'The Crown', 'The Guilded Age', 'TheLast of Us', and 'The Morning Show' and the cast admitted they felt like "some of the luckiest people in the world."

Speaking on behalf of the cast, Alan Ruck told the audience at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium: "Well one last hurrah, I think. Right now, you're lucking at some of the luckiest people on the planet and some of the most grateful because not only did we all work on one of the best television shows maybe ever, we made friends for life.

"I think the magic of 'Succession' was the writing was so fabulous it inspired all of us to bring our A game from the beginning and we got off on watching each other work.

"Now we're thrilled to be recognised by our peers so on behalf of Brian and Snooky and Jeremy, who can't be here, thank you to our fellow actors for giving us this award, thanks to everybody at HBO for being so smart.

"Thanks for casting us and giving us this gift, thanks to our lovely crew, all our directors who guided us and mostly thanks to Jesse Armstrong for having this idea and hiring the most glorious writers' room. You honour us and we honour them."

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series went to 'The Bear', which won ahead of 'Abbot Elementary', 'Barry', 'Only Murders in the Building' and 'Ted Lasso'.

Giving the acceptance speech on behalf of the cast - who joined her on stage - Abby Elliott thanked the show's "brilliant" writers and the "true artists" who have worked on the programme backstage before giving a shout-out to "everyone who helped" along the way.

She said: " "This is so crazy. See? Thank you guys so much. We're so, so honored. We want to thank FX we want to thank John Landgraf and everyone there. Chris Storer, Joanna Calo, our producers. Our brilliant, brilliant writers Jeanie Bacharach, our casting director, we are so unbelievably grateful to you.

"The crew costume team, hair and make-up, you guys have helped create these characters with us and you're true artists.

"We also want to thank everyone who's supported actors along the way. Our parents, drama teachers, friends who let asleep on their couches for months on end. And people who have helped us self tape auditions, restaurants who have given us free beer after comedy shows and plays. Thank you so much. This is for you."
Star Wars actor Billy Dee Williams insists he was never bothered by rumours he was gay.

Star Wars actor Billy Dee Williams insists he was never bothered by rumours he was gay

The 86-year-old shot to fame playing Lando Calrissian in the original Star Wars trilogy and was at the centre of talk during the 1970s he was a closet homosexual.

He told Page Six: Ive been called a Closet Queen. But, I dont pay much attention to any of that.

His comments come after he released his memoir What Have We Here? which includes stories of how he found fame to meeting stars including Marlon Brando, Laurence Olivier and Angela Lansbury.

He says in his book he was always comfortable hanging out with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and would attended secret gay parties in the Metropolitan Operas basement when he was an extra.

Billy added: It all seemed very normal to me. I was around it all of my life, so I never really gave it much thought.

The three-times married actor also recalls in his book a conversation he had with his daughter about embracing the feminine side, after he heard about psychoanalyst Carl Jungs theory of anima and animus  which states anima is the unconscious feminine side to men, and animus the masculine side in women.

He added: I told my daughter about it. I was talking about why men should get more in touch with the female side of themselves and then my daughter told me  the first time I ever heard the phrase  gender fluid.

My daughter was very happy to think that I was gender fluid!

Billy also admitted he finds the current wars over gender really amusing, to say the least.
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OTT shows are also grabbing international recognition. Do you have Emmy aspirations?



Awards are just validation from within the fraternity and from the industry and who doesnt want validation? Yes, I definitely want international recognition. In fact, I just flew overseas last week and I met someone who lives in Australia at the Paris airport, who said that hed watched Sultan of Delhi. And I was blown away. Its like when you least expect it when someone who doesnt speak your language engages with your work. It tells you that they saw something with subtitles and loved it. And it was the same thing with Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein. I was in Istanbul and strangers stopped me, asking when season two is coming out. It just makes you feel great since both of these shows - Sultan of Delhi and Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein are uniquely Indian stories.



How do you wrap your day after a long shooting schedule?



If youre shooting an intense scene, you want to get out of that zone. Meeting with friends eases you out of that. I would not look at the script on my way back home. Ive seen a lot of people delve straight away into tomorrows scenes. You have to give yourself time to disengage. If Ive got time between shoot schedules then travelling is one way to unwind. Travelling solo is something that I enjoy because then youre with yourself. Thats therapeutic.

It took Tahir Raj Bhasin, who started out with cameo appearances in Kismat Love Paisa Dilli back in 2012 and Kai Po Che! In 2013, years to land a leading role. His breakout moment came with Mardaani, a year later, alongside Rani Mukerji. Since then, the Delhi-born actor has come a long way to playing the main character in Milan Luthrias Sultan of Delhi - one of the most-watched shows of the year. The universe and the stars align, quips Tahir as he reflects on his filmography full of unique roles. He goes on to muse about notes on acting he collected from his co-stars and the journey of discovery that his method is, in fact, not having a fixed method. Excerpts:Theres something very sexy about gangsters, like people who live in the grey and thats what Sultan Of Delhi is about. Its about hustlers and at the base of it, its a human story. Its a story about human politics and about relationships. Crime just happens to be in the backdrop. And I think the Indian audience or any audience loves to live vicariously through the characters that they watch on screen. And thats what makes Arjun Bhatia, my character, interesting to watch.Internationally, Al Pacinos portrayal in Scarface is something that comes to mind. I also like the characters in Tarantinos Reservoir Dogs. Closer to home, theres Once Upon a Time In Mumbai, Company and Satya. I found this genre interesting because, in all of these films that Ive named, there is always a human aspect with a backstory or something in the story arc of the character that leads him to where he gets. Thats always very interesting to create as an actor.This was my very first time playing an absolute alpha male. From the very start, he wanted a physical transformation that took about four months of putting on muscles and training to get into the physicality of the part. He was so particular about style, all of those vintage jackets and clothes were recreated. We had to go through some five rounds of costume fittings. I discovered the character during the process of these trials, which has never happened to me before. Secondly, Milan cares about posture and hes all about how his hero makes an entry. He works on how you walk, how you sit, how you hold the phone. It was about getting the physicality of a Milan Luthria world right.I did not question it. I did not ask him why he thought of me. I just thanked my stars because everyone asked me, did you ask him why he thought of you? I was like, No, when a good director thinks of you, you do not question why. You just go with his vision. I walked into his office and he narrated the part and I said, yes. Milan Luthria is the kind of director whose films Ive grown up watching, whether its Kachche Dhaage or whether its Once Upon a Time in Mumbai or Dirty Picture. I believe in the universe and stars aligning. Both Vidya Balan and I have the late Pradeep Sarkar in common because we both debuted in a Pradeep Sarkar film. And then weve both gone on to work on great Milan Luthria projects. And It was the universe telling me this is the step to take.I am a directors actor and Ive been very fortunate to work with stalwarts, whether it was the late Pradeep Sarkar, Nitesh Tiwari, Nandita Das and even Kabir Khan. Whats fascinating about all the great directors is that they look at it as a collaborative process. Those little tweaks that they make add the magic that you see on screen.When I initially started there was a certain amount of anxiety to perform. I had a big banner film Mardaani opposite a superstar, Rani Mukerji. And its obvious you have to bring your A-game. When youre younger and youre starting, youre very controlling. You want to be over-prepared for everything and then gradually with project after project, you realise that the best creativity comes when youre prepared to an extent, but you also leave room for spontaneity. Method is an overused and abused term. It makes you sound like this serious sort of person who sits in a dark room under a lamp with the script. And its not like that in reality. You have to discover a process, which is different for every character. If there is source material, like an 83, where youre recreating a legend and there are so many videos, then thats great. In Sultan of Delhi, there was a book, which I read, it helped me get into the details. So the process is to not have a set process.You have to be intensely present in whats happening to the character at that particular moment in time. And its interesting that you mention both of these projects because they were actually shot simultaneously. So there were days when I would shoot a scene for Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein with Shweta Tripathi. Then, the next day, I would be with Taapsee. It wasnt the ideal situation. These were cerebral scenes, when there are no dialogues and when there is no over-the-top dramatic action and youre just expressing withoutany words, that is the most challenging part of acting.There was a time when I must have been looking stressed. This was before a major scene and she told me to breathe and said that when youre relaxed youll realise that everyone, whether it is the director, the assistants and the camera people are all here to make sure that the scene works and we get the best from you. That very simple advice that everyone is here to make sure that the best happens put me at ease. Thats the advice that I carry with me on every set.Just before the premiere of Sultan, I asked Taapsee if she was in town and if shed like to come and she told me she was shooting abroad. And I wished her well for Dhak Dhak and she wished me for Sultan. I still have a WhatsApp group with members of the cast of Chichore called The Chichoras. So you do keep in touch because, at the end of the day, youve been on an adventure together. You have lived as characters, you have travelled to different locations. You understand that everyone gets busy. Its not like everyone hangs out together or socialises all the time. But when you do meet and when you do connect, its always recalling fond memories from the sets.He was an incredibly giving co-star, and he was one of the most intelligent actors who I everworked with.No, cinema and OTT can definitely coexist. And its just exciting because there are some stories that lend themselves to a big-screen experience. Like a Jawan or an 83, I would love to watch these on the big screen because of the experience that they bring of community viewing sitting with popcorn with your friends. But then there are some stories that lend themselves to chapter-wise storytelling. For example, Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein, theres no way that story could have been told in two hours. It allows for a lot more experimentation to happen, where you can try new ways of storytelling and new ways of performance.
Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2024) - "Coffee With Q Show," a renowned podcast platform, has recently featured a comprehensive masterclass on Texas family violence law, presented by Dallas domestic violence lawyer, John Helms. This insightful session, conducted by host Rene Perras of Legal Subject Matter Experts on Coffee With Q, is designed to educate and assist victims of family violence, providing them with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the legal system effectively.





Coffee With Q Podcast Show



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8568/199136_b04fbbd5c4099ba0_001full.jpg

Key Highlights of the Masterclass:

Expert Guidance: Led by John Helms, a seasoned Dallas family violence defense attorney, the masterclass offers an in-depth look into the complexities of Texas family violence law.

Victim Support: The session is tailored to support victims of family violence, offering practical advice and legal strategies to protect their rights and seek justice.

Accessibility: The 30-minute video is available on YouTube, making it easily accessible to a wide audience. Additionally, the audio version of the masterclass can be found on major podcast platforms.

Comprehensive Coverage: The masterclass covers various aspects of family violence law, including legal definitions, protective orders, and the court process, ensuring a thorough understanding of the subject matter.

About "Coffee With Q Show / Podcast":

"Coffee With Q" is a popular podcast platform developed by tech entrepreneur Qamar Zaman, featuring interviews with experts across various fields. The platform aims to bring subject matter experts to demonstrate knowledge by sharing their expertise to get their expertise amplified through storytelling. The platform aims to provide valuable insights and information to its listeners, covering topics ranging from legal, business, health, finance, and technology and beyond.

About Host Rene Perras:

Rene Perras is the host of Legal Subject Matter Experts on the "Coffee With Q" podcast, where he facilitates discussions with experts in the legal field.

About Dallas Family Violence Defense Lawyer John Helms:

John Helms is a highly respected Dallas criminal defense attorney with extensive experience in handling complex legal cases. His expertise in family violence law makes him a sought-after legal advisor and speaker.

For more information:

Visit www.coffeewithq.org to watch the masterclass and learn more about the "Coffee With Q" podcast.

Watch full Masterclass here: https://www.coffeewithq.org/dallas-family-violence-defense-lawyer-interview/

Media Contact

Rene Perras

561-758-5373

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/199136

SOURCE: Prodigy PR
DeepSig's AI-Native Software on VHT's Open RAN Distributed Unit Delivers Uplink Throughput Gain

Viettel High Technology Industries Corporation (VHT), the pioneer of development, manufacturing and commercialization of telco solutions, and DeepSig, experts in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for wireless communications, announce the industry's first live AI/ML-based neural receiver in a 5G Open virtualized radio access network (vRAN), in Hanoi. For the first time, AI/ML applied physical layer signal processing is deployed on 5G ORAN equipment manufactured by VHT in Viettel's network.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222968417/en/

Viettel High Tech

The ongoing collaboration features the integration of DeepSig's OmniPHY-5G neural receiver software into VHT's Distributed Unit (DU) based on Intel Xeon processors and Intel FlexRAN reference software to improve 5G user throughput and resource utilization in an Open vRAN deployment. The DeepSig software operates channel estimation and equalization with AI/ML-based algorithms which enhance the Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) of the physical shared uplink channel (PUSCH). And VHT's DU ORAN equipment system is controlling many cells with large user capacity and high load in the trial network. The resulting improvement in 5G RAN capacity and hardware efficiency enables mobile network operators to deliver higher user quality of experience without additional hardware.

Nguyen Vu Ha, CEO of VHT shared, "VHT is confident that the collaboration with DeepSig is a pioneer in deploying AI/ML into ORAN standard device systems supporting 5G. DeepSig always quickly changes and responds best to VHT's equipment and systems, contributing to improving performance and capacity, especially Uplink decoding processing. The contribution of equipment systems and real data sources from deployment on Viettel network is proud to be a prerequisite for optimal AI/ML operation."

"Our close partnership with VHT is proving how DeepSig's AI software improves user throughput in real-world conditions. VHT's urban 5G trial network is an ideal environment for the integrated 5G neural receiver to validate increased radio performance. VHT's adoption of AI/ML technology in their 5G Open vRAN portfolio shows true innovation leadership," said Jim Shea, CEO DeepSig. "We are proud to achieve this important industry milestone with VHT and more to come."

"This deployment illustrates how a fully virtualized RAN makes it possible to quickly implement new innovations that bring real benefits to operators," said Cristina Rodriguez, vice president and general manager, Wireless Access Networking Division at Intel. "In addition, DeepSig and Viettel High Tech accomplished this on a live 5G network using general purpose Intel Xeon processors, without requiring dedicated AI hardware. It's an extraordinary credit to the innovation of both companies."

About Viettel High Tech:

Viettel High Tech is the key Research, Design, Development and Production unit of Viettel Group specialized in Telco, Defense and Enterprise sectors, who has successfully internalized a complete process from researching, designing to manufacturing and selling cutting edge technology solutions. Viettel is recognized as a modern, intellectual abundant technology company whose brand is recognized across the globe.

About DeepSig, Inc:

DeepSig is a pioneer in AI-native wireless communications. Its transformative technology pushes the boundaries of wireless performance, spectrum visibility and network capabilities. Drawing on a unique blend of artificial intelligence, deep learning and wireless systems expertise, DeepSig's AI/ML powered software unlocks unprecedented gains in capacity, efficiency and security for specialized communications networks and 5G Open RAN and lays the foundation for AI-native 6G. For more information, visit https://www.deepsig.ai.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222968417/en/

Contacts:

Marketingvht@viettel.vn



Media@deepsig.ai
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global nonprofit Operation Smile today announced its partnership with Beast Philanthropy, the philanthropic arm of Mr. Beast that leverages the power of social media platforms to raise funds and leave a lasting impact.

Operation Smile bridges the gap in access to essential surgeries and health care by providing cleft surgery and comprehensive care, medical education and training, and long-term investments in strengthening local health systems and workforces. The Beast Philanthropy team joined Operation Smile in Puebla, Mexico, to experience firsthand the organization's life-changing programs and the impact they have on patients, families and communities. During this surgical program, Beast Philanthropy captured an in-depth video showcasing Operation Smile's transformative work in Puebla to its global audience - including over 22 million subscribers on YouTube alone - connecting the organization to an entirely new generation of donors, medical volunteers, and future leaders.

"I've been so unbelievably impressed with Operation Smile," said Darren Margolias, CEO of Beast Philanthropy. "There is the surgical component and the medical component but there is a human component as well - and that is the thing that has impacted me the most."

Operation Smile focuses on surgical excellence and investing in people and infrastructure to close the distance patients must travel to receive essential care. The video captures the essence of Operation Smile's mission and shines a light on the organization's holistic approach to care, bringing it closer to patients' communities.

"This partnership is a shared commitment to create smiles and drive positive change on a global scale," said Susan Can, Operation Smile's Senior Vice President of Global Marketing. "We express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support from Mr. Beast and Beast Philanthropy in shining a light on our work. Together, we can inspire a new generation to help us make a lasting difference to transform the lives of patients, their communities and entire health systems."

The video can be accessed at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q49kJeG6nr8

About Operation Smile

Operation Smile is a leading global nonprofit bridging the gap in access to essential surgeries and health care, starting with cleft surgery and comprehensive care. We provide medical expertise, training, mentorship, research and care through our dedicated staff and volunteers around the world, working alongside local governments, nonprofits, and health systems, and supported by our generous donors and corporate partners.

For more information about Operation Smile, please visit: https://www.operationsmile.org

About Beast Philanthropy

Beast Philanthropy leverages the persuasive power of social media to effect real-world change. As a 501(c)3 organization, it engages a massive online community to fund and conduct charitable efforts that alleviate hunger, homelessness, and unemployment. Visit www.beastphilanthropy.org/ for more insights into their mission and impact.

For media inquiries please contact OperationSmile@porternovelli.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/operation-smile-and-beast-philanthropy-spotlight-global-need-for-access-to-surgical-care-302070435.html
Infinix Achieves Outstanding AnTuTu Benchmark Score of 2,215,639 with MediaTek Dimensity 9300, Infinix's First CoolMax System, and AI Management

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinix, a trendy tech brand crafted for young consumers, proudly introduces a revolutionary flagship-level concept in mobile gaming technology at ShowStoppers MWC 2024, the official networking event partner of MWC, one of the world's largest and most influential connectivity events. Themed 'Electrify Gaming Future', this cutting-edge technology redefines the mobile gaming experience through state-of-the-art features enhanced with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Infinix's groundbreaking innovation surpasses expectations, achieving an unprecedented score of 2,215,639 in the AnTuTu benchmarks, thanks to the seamless integration of the industry's most advanced mobile chip, the MediaTek Dimensity 9300, Infinix's first CoolMax system, and an AI management platform.

Tony Zhao, General Manager of Infinix, expressed his excitement about the groundbreaking announcement of the all-new Infinix flagship-level concept mobile gaming technology, stating, 'With this electrifying innovation, we are taking mobile gaming to the next level and solidifying our position as a world-leading gaming smartphone provider. The latest technology from Infinix surpasses the competition, and we are thrilled to present this concept to the world of mobile gaming enthusiasts at ShowStoppers MWC. Game on!"

Setting a New Standard

Infinix proudly achieves an industry leading benchmark score on AnTuTu with 2,215,639, solidifying its position as the leading smartphone in the mobile gaming industry for processing power. This remarkable accomplishment is made possible by harnessing the immense power of the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset. With its All Big Core CPU and powerful GPU, users can expect seamless multitasking, smooth gameplay, and immersive gaming experiences with superior graphics rendering. In combination with Pixelworks visual processors, Infinix guarantees a visually captivating gaming experience with high screen refresh rates of up to 180Hz for FHD+ resolution and 144Hz for WQHD+ resolution, meeting the demands for exceptional display performance in smartphones.

The Industry's First Semiconductor and Air-Cooling System - CoolMax

Infinix's flagship-level concept mobile gaming technology takes full advantage of the pioneering CoolMax System, a revolutionary cooling solution that leverages Thermal-Electric Cooling (TEC) and the Peltier effect to efficiently regulate temperature and dissipate heat from its components. This groundbreaking integration sets a new standard in the industry, ensuring optimal performance even under ambiance temperature conditions. By reducing temperatures by up to 10 degrees Celsius[1], the CoolMax System optimizes chipset performance without compromising on overall system efficiency, enabling users to enjoy longer and more intense gaming sessions.

Leading the Future of Mobile Gaming

Infinix's AI algorithm dynamically adjusts core utilization based on different scenarios, intelligently assigning tasks to the most powerful core for high visual performance and conserving energy by utilizing smaller cores during periods of low visual demands. This AI-driven optimization ensures the chipset operates at peak efficiency without constantly running at maximum performance, leading to reduced heat generation and lower temperature levels. The integration of AI not only enhances gaming experiences but also contributes to energy savings and effective thermal management.

Infinix's First Dual-Core Flagship Gaming Smartphone

Building on the success of its flagship-level mobile gaming technology, Infinix is excited to announce its plans to launch its first dual-core flagship gaming smartphone in 2024. This much-anticipated device is set to redefine the gaming experience, offering unparalleled performance and immersive gameplay. Stay tuned for more updates as Infinix continues to revolutionize the gaming landscape.

Where Tomorrow Electrifies Today

Infinix proudly showcased an array of industry-acclaimed technologies at Showstopper MWC 2024. Among these groundbreaking innovations was the Infinix E-Color Shift, the industry's first programmable custom skin technology, empowering users to personalize the appearance of their devices like never before. Additionally, Infinix unveiled the Infinix AirCharge-a magnetic resonance-based safe wireless charging technology with the potential for mass production, promising a seamless charging experience.

Lastly, Infinix has introduced the Infinix Extreme-Temp Battery, the industry's first battery technology capable of supporting charging in extreme cold temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. A similar technology will be featured in the upcoming Infinix product launch, making Infinix the first in the industry capable of recharging under extreme weather conditions in its class. These pioneering technologies exemplify Infinix's commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the mobile industry.

For more details visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com/

Download Media Kits here

About Infinix:

In?nix Mobility is a rapidly emerging technology brand that designs, manufactures and markets an expanding portfolio of smart devices worldwide under the In?nix brand, which was founded in 2013. Targeting today's youth with ?rst in class technology, In?nix creates trendy, powerful and attainably priced smart devices that bring the latest technology on the market to users around the world at a time when they need it at a price that they want.

For more information, please visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com/

[1] The data presented is based on Infinix's internal lab test results.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/infinix-electrifies-the-future-of-mobile-gaming-at-mwc-2024-302070182.html
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The actors wife is named Milena and Khan spoke about her at length in a recent interview

Bollywood actor Sahil Khan, best known for the 2001 comedy Style, has remarried at the age of 47 to a 21-year old girl named Milena. And in an interview with Hindustan Times, spoke about the same at length.

Khan revealed, The engagement was in Russia and we got married on documents as well, but we will also host a reception very soon, in either Dubai or India. We will be doing a proper wedding this year only, very soon. We are living in Dubai at the moment, but I have my business as well so I have my base both here and in India, as my family and home is in Mumbai.

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On the age difference

Milenas age is 21 and she is from Belarus, Europe. She was a student and just finished studying. Its a positive feeling. Now I know why people get married. I am full of emotions right now. We have a lot of differences in our ages. She is much more mature mentally than many other 21-year-olds and also very calm in nature.

Back in November, the Mumbai Police booked the Style actor Sahil Khan as he was accused of endorsing and promoting the Mahadev app and running it for profits.

Among those named in the case included actor Sahil Khan at No. 26, for allegedly promoting and propagating the Mahadev app, besides operating it to earn huge profits from it.

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The development follows a complaint lodged by a social worker from Mumbai, Prakash Bankar, who has alleged that people have been cheated of over Rs 15,000-crore through the betting app.

The Matunga Police filed the complaint invoking various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Gambling Act, the IT Act and further probe is underway.

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Police said that Sahil Khan , a fitness master and YouTuber, who has acted in films like Style, Xcuse Me, Alladin and others had reportedly organised celeb parties purportedly to promote the app and lure more people to use it.
Its not clear as to which streaming platform Hrithik Roshans film will grab, a report says it could be a deal of around Rs 150 crore, and the platform could be Netflix

Shah Rukh Khans two films Jawan and Pathaan were sold to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video for Rs 250 crore and 100 crore respectively as per reports. And Yahoo now states that Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukones Fighter could be sold to an OTT giant for Rs 150 crore.

Its not clear as to which streaming platform Hrithik Roshans film will grab, a report says it could be a deal of around Rs 150 crore, and the platform could be Netflix.

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Siddharth Anand-directed aerial-action thriller film Fighter might have crossed the Rs 200-crore mark in India, grossing more than Rs 300 crore globally. But it seems like the film didnt click with the larger section of the audience. Having carried a lot of expectations, viewers felt that the film did not live up to the expectations, thus explaining the downward spiral of the film in its third week now. Featuring actors like Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor in the lead roles, Fighter shows them in the role of Indian Air Force officers, drawing inspiration from the true story of historic events that took place in 2019.

Fighter , which stars Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, and Anil Kapoor, has minted decent numbers at the box-office but the expectations post the historic success of War and Pathaan have not been met and amid this, the director Siddharh Anand has something to say.

While speaking to Galata Plus, he defended the collections by saying that 90% of our countrys population hasnt flown in planes or been to the airport, so we cant expect them to know whats happening in the air.

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Days after repetitive comparisons between Fighter and the Hollywood film, director Siddharth Anand recently broke his silence on the same, calling it nothing but social media chatter which only gains a lot of negativity.

We need to watch our films with more respect

This is not the first time that the director, who also has films like War and Pathaan to his credit has spoken about the comparisons with Top Gun films.
Even though China continues to deny these allegations to be absurd and justifies its modern slavery in the name of its counterterrorism measures, the international community has taken due note of this discriminatory practice the global capitalist system is unknowingly affiliated with

(File) Residents are seen lining up inside the Artux City Vocational Skills Education Training Service Center at the Kunshan Industrial Park in Artux in western China's Xinjiang region. AP

Uyghurs, an ethnic minority in China comprising a predominantly Muslim population, are concentrated in Chinas Xinjiang Autonomous Region (XUAR), established in 1955.

Following a series of sporadic violent attacks witnessed in Xinjiang by separatist groups since 2014, Beijing launched its Strike Hard Campaign against violent extremism in Xinjiang, targeting Uyghurs and other ethnic minority populations, like the Turkic Muslims.

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In 2017, unprecedented attacks and crackdowns on Uyghurs and Turkic Muslims ensued and became more systemic when China announced its intention of smashing all separatist activities and terrorists in XUAR.

The Communist state-sponsored terror soon caught global attention when reports more than one million Uyghurs were reported to have been killed, arrested, and forced into detention camps/ prisons, in what Beijing calls its efforts of an effective way of tracking extremism.

In the latest report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), global automakers are implicated in failing to ensure that Uyghur forced labourers are not being deployed as part of their aluminium supply chains come from China.

The detention camps/prisons in Xinjiang were claimed by China to be re-education camps whereby ethnic minorities perceived to be radicalised or religious extremist are de-radicalised and are trained to acquire skills whereby they can become employable once they graduate.

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Even before the Strike Hard campaign, under state-mandated programmes such as the Vocational Skills Education and Training Centre (VETC) system, minorities have been reported to undergo detention and being subjected to work placements.

After 2014, another state-mandated programme, for so-called poverty alleviation was implemented with an employed forced labour transfer system, especially for rural workers.

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In 2020, the Australia Strategic Policy Institutes (ASPI) report mentioned that from 2017 to 2019, more than 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred out of Xinjiang and assigned to work at factories across China.

Under the Chinese governments Xinjiang Aid, some were even sent to these factories directly from the detention camps.

These factory chains involving electronics, textiles, and automobiles are claimed to be supply chains for about 83 popular global brands that are directly and indirectly drawing benefits from Chinas practice of forced Uyghur labour.

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These Uyghur labourers are said to be forced to work in a coercive environment, with no freedom of movement to leave their work as they are under threat of arbitrary detention.

However, China has denied this allegation and said the labour transfer system is not forced but rather voluntary.

Forced Uyghur labourers, working in factories both within and outside Xinjiang, are also reported to undergo ideological indoctrination (of the Chinese Communist Party), besides having to work in conducive and coercive conditions. At the same time, their freedom of movement remains limited.

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In 2021, Human Rights experts in the UN raised concerns regarding Chinas practice of detention and forced labour of Uyghur and other minority populations in China.

The following year, the UN reported having evidence to reach a reasonable conclusion that in XUAR, in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing, forced labour of minority groups has taken place, as reflected in the involuntary nature of work rendered by affected communities have been present in many cases.

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This discriminatory practice of forced labour violates the International Labour Organisations Employment Policy Convention of 1964, ratified by Beijing in 1997.

However, despite the allegations from the UN and other international organisations, China continued with its game of denial, claiming its practice to be of poverty alleviation, vocational training, and de-radicalization.

In the automobile sector and other major industries such as cotton, textile and apparel, food products, polysilicon and solar energy, and electronics, abuse of Uyghurs labour is reported to be present in major global industries outside China.

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In the automaker sector, forced labour is overlooked because it goes beyond direct supply.

That is, Xinjiang provides the source of raw materials, parts, and products to global companies that incorporate them in their finished products at various manufacturing and production stages.

This makes it challenging to locate the origin of their semi-finished goods, risking global companies of containing the presence of forced Uyghur labour in their products.

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The latest HRW report also claimed that global automakers also come under pressure from the Chinese government to have less control over their supply chains coming from China, further risking the use of forced labour.

Beijings aluminium industry supplies 15 per cent of the global aluminium supply, with Xinjiang being the source of nine per cent for China.

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Further, the transition to electronic vehicles means that the demand for aluminium will only increase.

Therefore, the HRW report suggests that global automakers drive up their standards at mines, refineries, and smelters to ensure that human rights are not violated.

Even though China continues to deny these allegations to be absurd and justifies its modern slavery in the name of its counterterrorism measures, the international community has taken due note of this discriminatory practice the global capitalist system is unknowingly affiliated with.

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The efforts by the US and EU to prevent the import of goods that are likely to be produced by forced labour in China are noteworthy here.

Let us hope the latest report provides a more substantial ground for the international community to hold China accountable for not only committing genocide within its territory but also practising modern slavery under the garb of state-sponsored programmes.

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The author is the chairman of Law and Society Alliance, a New Delhi-based think tank. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views_.

Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News ,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Pictures of the destroyed town, Avdiivka, captured by Russian forces recently, are missing from social media sites, while damages to hospitals of Gaza are prominent

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third year, news from the front is missing from daily newspapers. Gaza has pushed Ukraine onto the back pages. Casualty figures in Ukraine are ignored, while those of Gaza grab attention. The UN Security Council no longer passes or even attempts to pass resolutions seeking peace in Ukraine or accusing Russia, while major powers veto those on the Israel-Hamas war including where Israel or Hamas is blamed for the conflict. Pictures of the destroyed town, Avdiivka, captured by Russian forces recently, are missing from social media sites, while damages to hospitals in Gaza are prominent. The world has learnt to ignore Ukraine.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has assumed the role of a dictator, backed by the US and its allies, while Putin already was one. It is currently two dictators fighting for their own survival, while their people die. Vladimir Putins popularity remains high, while Zelenskyy, desperate to stay relevant, attends every global event requesting for funds while turning a blind eye to the devastation of his country. The Ukrainian army is struggling to stay afloat, with mercenaries drying up, while the Wagner army, now backed by the Russian state, continues to hire them from third-world countries. Ukraine remains an expendable proxy for the West.

The Ukrainian army is compelled to pull people off the street and send them into the war zone with little training, while the Russians have employed approximately a third of their military power. Western powers are pumping Ukraine with weapons and ammunition while Iran and North Korea, alongside China, provide Russia with armaments and drones.

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Sponsors of Ukraine are slowly pulling back, and funding fatigue setting in. The loss of Avdiivka is possibly because Ukraine faced shortfalls in arms and ammunition largely blocked by the US House of Representatives. The only gainers of the conflict are armament industries, garnering maximum funds allocated for Ukraine. With US funds slowly drying, pressure mounts on Europe to fill the gap, which it cannot.

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Peace talks are nowhere on the horizon as the war is directed not by Kyiv but by Washington and London, which determines what approach Zelenskyy should take. The grandiose plans of the west to bleed Russia economically, compelling its breakup and drawing it into a second Afghanistan have faltered.

Washington led crippling sanctions on Moscow did dent the Russian economy but hit Europe equally. Large parts of the world refused to adhere to US sanctions on Moscow, India included. Exports of Russian oil and gas continue as before, enabling Russia to fund its campaign.

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A report published by the Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in February this year mentioned that India has increased its purchase of Russian crude by 13 times, implying India is partially financing the Russian campaign. The belief that Ukraine will save Europe from Russias future onslaught is not being bought by anyone anymore. The war is largely fought on Ukrainian soil with limited impact on Russian assets.

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Military lessons to be drawn from the war have been collated. Initially, it was believed that the age of tanks had passed but that was wrong. Armoured warfare would continue albeit with changes in tactics, structure and redesigning of tanks. However, what came to the fore was the innovative employment of drones, UAVs, loitering munitions, long range artillery, missiles and other instruments of non-contact warfare. Cheap drones can now destroy equipment costing hundreds of millions of dollars. These will dominate future conflicts.

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Both sides had the opportunity to test their counters against these weapons. It also signalled the end of short, intense conflicts. Finally, if a nation has allies, war-like stores would always be available, even if the domestic military industry lacks production capability, especially as most weapon systems are of a common calibre.

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What has been most pronounced is the huge loss of lives on both sides, hundreds of thousands. Ukraine has lost a generation. This could all have been avoided had the west opened its eyes post the Russian annexation of Crimea and also heeded its warnings on the expansion of NATO. However, these were ignored, setting the stage for the current conflict.

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Talks pushed by Turkey for a ceasefire were dumped at the last minute under directions from the west which hoped to draw Russia into a deeper war. For major powers, it is their long-term goals which count, loss of lives implies nothing. The fact that this is being repeated in Gaza on the pretext of ensuring the destruction of Hamas is another issue.

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Yes, a major benefit of the war was that Europes eyes opened and nations began investing in enhancing their military capabilities. Russia achieved what Trump had attempted in his first presidency and failed, which was increasing Europes spending on defence. For Russia, Finland and Sweden have moved from being neutral to NATO members, bringing NATO to its doorstep. Just what it had sought to avoid, has happened.

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Rebuilding Ukraine would cost trillions of dollars as would Gaza. While Gaza may be funded by the oil-rich Middle East, possibly with conditions, who would fund Ukraine. Neither Europe nor the US can pump unlimited taxpayers funds into its reconstruction. Ukraine has been pushed decades behind in development.

Russian military aims have been achieved while those of Ukraine and the west remain. Putin is open to talks but without losing the 20 per cent of Ukraine, largely the mineral-rich parts, which he currently controls.

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At the end of the day, Putin has come out stronger while Zelenskyy survives by overriding all opposition. The west has no power to dictate its terms on Russia. Forthcoming elections in the US could alter the scenario forcing talks on Putins terms, which would restrict expansion of NATO as well as Moscow holding onto territory it controls.

While Russia would claim victory by displaying it captured Russian-speaking parts of Ukraine, Kyiv would project it managed to stall the powerful Russian army. Economically both have suffered, Ukraine much more.

The world would ultimately have to listen to what India has been stating all along, that talks is the only solution. The question remains who would mediate? As Jaishankar stated, Wherever we can help, we are happy to do so. We are open when we are approached. However, we do not believe that we should initiate anything in this direction on our own.

The author is a former Indian Army officer, strategic analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Hamas remained steadfast in its demand for an end to the nearly five-month-old war, while Israel stated it was intending to broaden its sweep to eliminate the Islamist faction. These developments made the prospects of negotiating any kind of peace appear doubtful

Residents reported that while tanks entered Beit Lahiya and gunmen and troops engaged in gunfights in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhoodboth in the north, which had been taken early in the offensiveIsraeli forces shelled various parts of the territory Image Courtesy Reuters

Both sides said on Sunday that Israeli troops and Palestinian militants had engaged in skirmishes throughout the Gaza Strip over the weekend, while mediation nations attempted to find a middle ground for a potential ceasefire that would free Hamas hostages.

Hamas remained steadfast in its demand for an end to the nearly five-month-old war, while Israel stated it was intending to broaden its sweep to eliminate the Islamist faction. These developments made the prospects of negotiating any kind of peace appear doubtful.

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Residents reported that while tanks entered Beit Lahiya and gunmen and troops engaged in gunfights in Gaza Citys Zeitoun neighborhoodboth in the north, which had been taken early in the offensiveIsraeli forces shelled various parts of the territory.

According to medical professionals, Israeli strikes have killed at least 86 Palestinians since Saturday. The Israeli military reported that it had killed or detained multiple Palestinian gunmen in Zeitoun and other locations, and that two of its troops had perished in battle in southern Gaza.

After meeting with Qatari, Egyptian, and US mediators in Paris over a potential second ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a meeting of his war cabinet late on Saturday.

During the initial truce in November, approximately half of the 253 individuals that Hamas had captured during a cross-border killing spree on October 7 were freed. As part of that agreement, Israel allowed greater humanitarian aid into Gaza and released three times as many Palestinians from Israeli security jails.

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A framework for the return of about one-third of the 130 hostages who are still in Gaza over a six-week truce that spans the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was reported by Israeli media, citing unidentified officials. Neither party provided an official confirmation.

According to Palestinian authorities, any agreement must include Israel stopping the offensive and pulling out its forces. Israel made a hint that it intended to advance into one of the remaining cities where Hamas, which has vowed to destroy it, still had fighters in place.

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We are working to achieve another framework for the release of our abductees, as well as the completion of the elimination of the Hamas battalions in Rafah, Netanyahu said on Facebook, referring to the town in the far south of Gaza near the border with Egypt.

The Israeli security council would authorize military plans for Rafah this week, he continued, including the evacuation of over a million displaced Palestinian civilians who have been taking refuge there and whose future is a concern to international powers.

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According to Gaza medical officials, the conflict has claimed the lives of about 30,000 Palestinians. According to official counts, Israel lost 241 soldiers in the ground battle in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas invasion, which claimed 1,200 lives in Israel.

(With agency inputs)
On Friday, a delegation from Israel visited Paris to negotiate a new cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas in return for Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners

As with a previous week-long truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners freed, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been spearheading efforts to secure a new deal Image Courtesy AFP

With the military incursion into Gazas Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians are taking refuge in tent cities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday that his country would be weeks away from total victory over Hamas.

According to Egyptian media, talks for a ceasefire in Gaza have restarted in Doha. However, Netanyahu stated that a ceasefire would not stop the Rafah offensive.

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If we have a (ceasefire) deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen, he told CBS.

If we dont have a deal, well do it anyway. It has to be done, because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach  not months away, weeks away, once we begin the operation.

On Friday, a delegation from Israel visited Paris to negotiate a new cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas in return for Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners.

Then, with representatives from Hamas present, the negotiations resumed in Doha.

Were all working on it. We want it. I want it. Because we want to liberate the remaining hostages, Netanyahu said.

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I cant tell you if well have it, but if Hamas goes down from its delusional claims and brings them down to Earth, well have the progress that we all want.

During the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, Palestinian terrorist group Hamas took some 250 hostages, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 presumed dead, according to Israel.

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As with a previous week-long truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners freed, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been spearheading efforts to secure a new deal.

International pressure for a ceasefire has mounted in recent weeks, as the death count from Israels military offensive on the Palestinian territory nears 30,000, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

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Israels response to the October attack that claimed 1,160 lives, the majority of them civilians, was to pledge to destroy Hamas, the organization in charge of Gaza.

Netanyahu responded that his military chiefs will present him with a dual plan  a plan to evacuate and a plan to dismantle those remaining (Hamas) battalions on Sunday in response to a question concerning US demands that Israel defend civilians in Rafah.
With a scarcity of ammunition, Ukraine has been complaining for months that Western aid is arriving slowly, which will seriously affect its two-year war with Russia

Umerov contended that this further disadvantages Ukraine "in the mathematics of war" against Russia, which the West claims is steadily transforming its economy into a military based one Image Courtesy AFP

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated on Sunday that half of the military assistance from the West to Kyiv arrives belatedly.

With a scarcity of ammunition, Ukraine has been complaining for months that Western aid is arriving slowly, which will seriously affect its two-year war with Russia.

At the moment, commitment does not constitute delivery, Umerov stated at an event marking the second anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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Fifty percent of commitments are not delivered on time, he added.

Umerov contended that this further disadvantages Ukraine in the mathematics of war against Russia, which the West claims is steadily transforming its economy into a military based one.

According to Umerov, if help is delayed, Kyiv will lose people, lose territories, particularly in light of Russias air superiority.

We do everything possible and impossible but without timely supply it harms us, he said.

A lack of ammunition has crippled Ukraine in recent weeks, and political squabbling in the US Congress is still preventing essential US aid from reaching the country.
Since the start of the conflict, regional tensions have increased dramatically, fueling bloodshed in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen that is supported by Iran

American and British military responded to a spate of attacks by the Iran-backed militia on Red Sea ships on Saturday by launching more strikes against eighteen Houthi targets in Yemen Image Courtesy AFP

Iran denounced on Sunday the most recent American and British bombings on Yemen, claiming the aim was to escalate tensions and crises in the area.

American and British military responded to a spate of attacks by the Iran-backed militia on Red Sea ships on Saturday by launching more strikes against eighteen Houthi targets in Yemen.

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With such attacks, America and Britain seek to escalate tensions and crises in the region, and expand the scope of war and instability, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement.

Certainly, this kind of arbitrary and aggressive military operation, aside from aggravating insecurity and instability in the region, will not achieve anything for these aggressor countries, Kanani added.

Additionally, he denounced Britain and the United States for not acting to take immediate and effective action to halt Israels murderous campaign in Gaza.

According to the Houthis, they are supporting Palestinians in Gaza, which is devastated by conflict, by attacking ships in the Red Sea.

After Hamas launched an unprecedented onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, Israel launched a withering military operation in Gaza.

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Although Iran has denied any role in the October 7 attack, it does support Hamas.

Since the start of the conflict, regional tensions have increased dramatically, fueling bloodshed in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen that is supported by Iran.

(With agency inputs)
The mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar met with the director of Israels foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, and his equivalent from the domestic Shin Bet security service in Paris to start the negotiations

Protesters take part in an anti-government demonstration in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian militant Hamas movement. AFP

According to authorities and local media, Israels war cabinet decided on Saturday to send negotiators to Qatar to carry on negotiations towards achieving a truce in the conflict with Hamas and the release of hostages detained in Gaza.

The mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar met with the director of Israels foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, and his equivalent from the domestic Shin Bet security service in Paris to start the negotiations.

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In a television broadcast on Saturday night, national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi stated that there is probably room to move towards an agreement now that the delegation has returned from Paris.

The negotiators had asked to speak to the cabinet to bring us up to speed on the results of the Paris summit, he added shortly before the meeting.

The cabinet decided to send a team to Qatar in the coming days to resume talks on a weeks-long truce including the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian inmates detained in Israel. Israeli media subsequently reported that the meeting had ended.

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under increasing pressure to reach a solution to release the hostages. On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv at what has become known as Hostages Square to call for quicker action.

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We think about them (the hostages) all the time and want them back alive as soon as possible, said Orna Tal, whose close friend Tsachi Idan was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz kibbutz.

Well protest again and again until theyre back, she told AFP.

Leverage

In his interview Saturday, Hanegbi said Israel wanted the release of all hostages seized in the October 7 attacks, starting with the women, but added: Such an agreement does not mean the end of the war.

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He also indicated that Israel would not accept any deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia for a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu said in a statement that Saturdays cabinet meeting would discuss next steps in the negotiations.

He also reaffirmed his aim for troops to go into Rafah in southern Gaza, despite widespread concern about the impact on hundreds of thousands of civilians who have fled there to avoid bombardments.

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An AFP reporter in Rafah said there had been at least six air strikes on the city on Saturday evening.

Israels air, land and sea war against Hamas in retaliation for its deadly October 7 attacks on southern Israel has killed at least 29,606 people, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says.

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Hamas attacked rural communities and military posts bordering the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 1,160 people dead, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Some 250 hostages were taken, of whom 130 are still in Gaza, although about 30 are thought to be dead, Israel says.

A one-week pause in fighting in November saw more than 100 hostages released, including 80 Israelis who were freed in exchange for some 240 Palestinians jailed in Israel.

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Netanyahu has characterised Hamass demands for a ceasefire in Gaza as bizarre and vowed to press on with the military campaign until total victory over the group is achieved.

The head of Israels military, Herzi Halevi, visited the Gaza Strip and also said military action was the most effective way of getting back the hostages.

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Combat was leverage, he told troops. We need to continue and apply it strongly to use it to release the hostages, he added.
The Airbus 320 crashed into a residential zone close to the airport rather than making a safe landing at the Karachi airport, according to the report that the Aircraft Investigation Board (AIB) eventually made public

An arial view of the airplane hub at the airport in Karachi, Pakistan. Reuters

The investigative report on the event states that human error by the two pilots caused the Pakistan International Airlines jet disaster that killed 101 people in May 2020 near the Jinnah International Airport here.

The Airbus 320 crashed into a residential zone close to the airport rather than making a safe landing at the Karachi airport, according to the report that the Aircraft Investigation Board (AIB) eventually made public.

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The board determined that the primary cause of the deadly disaster, in which 101 people99 of them passengersdied and two of them miraculously survivedwas the two pilots lack of sound judgement during the landing.

The accident left parked cars and a number of nearby residences completely wrecked or damaged.

The report said the air traffic controller had four times warned the pilots that they shouldnt land as their altitude was not right.

According to the report, when the pilots first tried to land the aircraft, its engines hit the ground, which led to the system supplying lubricant to the engines shutting down. The report said that engine failure eventually led to the crash.

The report also held the PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority responsible for not having clear procedures on whether pilots should fast during the month of Ramadan while on duty.

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The AIB also noted that after the engine failure, the power supply went off in the aircraft and the last four minutes of the flight were not recorded on the data box. The pilots have also been held responsible for not being in sync with each other when trying to land the plane.

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Airworthiness documents show that the Airbus A320 had been previously used by China Eastern Airlines from 2004 to 2014, following which it was inducted into the PIAs fleet.

There have been eight recorded incidents of the PIA aircraft crashes between 1965 and 2020.
UAE national carrier Etihad Airways has announced the arrival of three new Boeing 787-9 aircraft this weekend.

These aircraft will begin operations this month, helping Etihad to expand in line with its ambitious roadmap which will see the flag-carrier fly to 125 destinations with more than 160 aircraft by 2030.

Welcoming the latest additions to its expanding fleet at Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport, Etihad said the 787-9s will further bolster Etihads fleet as it launches additional destinations over the coming months.

Etihad will begin flying to Boston, its fourth US gateway, on March 31, and will add Nairobi and Bali to the network as well as summer routes to Nice, Malaga, Mykonos and Santorini, said a statement from UAE carrier.

The arrival of the three new Dreamliners follows the new Boeing 787-10 received in October 2023, which added further capacity to support Etihads network expansion.

The UAE national airline added new routes to Osaka, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf in quarter four of 2023, as well as Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in the South Indian state of Kerala on New Years Day.

Etihad has also expanded across multiple markets with additional flight frequencies and improved connectivity across the network, it stated.

On the new additions, CEO Antonoaldo Neves said: "We are thrilled to welcome these brand-new, state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliners to Abu Dhabi. Their arrival is key to our network expansion strategy and comes at the perfect time as we continue to add multiple new destinations and expand frequencies into key markets."

Boeings 787 Dreamliners are up to 25% more fuel efficient than many comparable aircraft of their size. In total, Etihad now operates 43 Dreamliners and a total fleet of 88 aircraft including the Airbus A380, A350, A320 family, and Boeing 777.

"These new aircraft support our commitment to Abu Dhabi, allowing us to bring more guests to experience the incredible capital of the UAE, either as their end destination or on a stopover when connecting across our expanding network," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Three of the four Chinese vessels came within 100 metres (328 feet) of Datu Sandays bow, it said in an incident report that also listed shadowing, vessel transponder jamming and other dangerous manoeuvres

The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard on Sunday of attempting to obstruct a Filipino government vessel transporting supplies to fishermen, the second such claimed incident near a disputed territory in two weeks.

The BRP Datu Sanday was giving gasoline to fishermen near Scarborough Shoal when it was harassed by a China Coast Guard vessel and three other Chinese ships on February 22, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

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Three of the four Chinese vessels came within 100 metres (328 feet) of Datu Sandays bow, it said in an incident report that also listed shadowing, vessel transponder jamming and other dangerous manoeuvres.

Despite these manoeuvres, the skipper of BRP Datu Sanday exhibited excellent seamanship skills and managed to evade the blocking attempts, said Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Filipino coast guard spokesman on South China Sea issues.

A week previously, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that the BRP Datu Tamblot had a similar incident in the region.

Scarborough Shoal, a triangle network of reefs and rocks, has served as a flashpoint between the nations since China took it from the Philippines in 2012.

Since then, Beijing has sent surveillance boats, which Manila claims harass Philippine vessels and hinder Filipino fishermen from entering a fish-rich lagoon nearby.

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On social media, Chinas state-run Global Times reported on Saturday that the China Coast Guard had repulsed the Datu Sanday when the vessel illegally intruded into waters adjacent to Chinas Huangyan Island, using the shoals Chinese name.

Scarborough Shoal lies 240 kilometres (150 miles) west of the Philippines main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan.

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China claims almost the entire sea and has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis.

Tense standoffs between China and the Philippines around disputed reefs last year saw collisions and Chinese ships blasting water cannon at Philippine boats.
After defeating Haley in Saturdays South Carolina primary, Trump conjectured that Black voters support him because they can identify with his legal issues

Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaking at an election night event, in Charleston, SC. AP

Republican candidate for US president Nikki Haley attacked competitor Donald Trump on Saturday for remarks she described as disgusting against African Americans.

After defeating Haley in Saturdays South Carolina primary, Trump conjectured that Black voters support him because they can identify with his legal issues.

Its disgusting. But thats what happens when he goes off the teleprompter. Thats the chaos that comes with Donald Trump, Haley said at a polling station in her home state.

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Thats the offensiveness thats going to happen every day between now and the general election, which is why I continue to say Donald Trump cannot win a general election, she added.

Trump made the comments Friday evening in a speech to Black conservatives.

The 77-year-old, who faces four criminal indictments, including on charges of conspiracy and vote rigging, suggested that Black people like me because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against.

He also claimed that Black voters appreciate his police photo, taken at a Georgia jail, more than anybody else.

The mug shot, weve all seen the mug shot, and you know who embraced it more than anybody else? The Black population. Its incredible, he said.

The remarks drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike.

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Last night in South Carolina, Donald Trump stood on stage to make shameful, racist comments that tap into a hatred and divisiveness that is the very worst of us, said President Joe Biden in a campaign email.

Earlier in the week, Trump compared his legal troubles to the persecution of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, whose recent sudden death in an Arctic prison has been linked by Biden and other Western leaders to the Kremlin.
According to a joint statement released earlier this month by the World Bank, European Union, United Nations, and the Ukrainian government, Ukraine requires over half a trillion dollars to pay the costs of reconstruction following Russias invasion

The UK premier stated that Western partners needed to intensify their sanctions on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion in order to "shake" Russian President Vladimir Putin's perception that he can "wait us out" Image Courtesy Reuters

On Sunday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged the West to take bolder action against Russian assets and to pay interest to Ukraine on money that have been frozen.

The UK premier stated that Western partners needed to intensify their sanctions on the second anniversary of Russias invasion in order to shake Russian President Vladimir Putins perception that he can wait us out.

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We must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets, Sunak said in an article in The Sunday Times newspaper.

That starts with taking the billions in interest these assets are collecting and sending it to Ukraine instead. And then, with the G7, we must find lawful ways to seize the assets themselves and get those funds to Ukraine too.

Following their commitment on Saturday to look into all possible avenues by which immobilized Russian sovereign assets could be made use of to support Ukraine, the prime minister made her remarks.

Consistent with our respective legal systems and international law is what the leaders of the G7 countries stressed in a statement.

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The confederation of developed economies affirmed that sovereign assets that Russia has already taken control of will stay frozen until Russia pays for the damage it caused to Ukraine.

The group of Western nations also applauded the European Union for last months initial decision to begin the process of using the proceeds from those sales to assist with Ukraines reconstruction costs.

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We encourage further steps to enable their use, consistent with applicable contractual obligations and in accordance with applicable laws, the G7 leaders said.

According to a joint statement released earlier this month by the World Bank, European Union, United Nations, and the Ukrainian government, Ukraine requires over half a trillion dollars to pay the costs of reconstruction following Russias invasion.

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According to Denys Shmygal, the prime minister of Ukraine, the majority of the costs should be covered by the assets that Russia took.

In order to finance the reconstruction of its towns, highways, bridges, and energy facilities that were destroyed or damaged by Russias two-year onslaught, Kyiv requests that the West release almost $300 billion in frozen Russian assets.

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In support of its position, Britain has become more outspoken; last month, Foreign Secretary David Cameron insisted at the World Economic Forum that there are moral, legal, and political grounds for taking such action.

We should be prepared to do some innovative thinking about how we use these resources to help Ukraine, he said.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the European Union, the United States, Japan, and Canada froze around $300 billion of its central bank assets

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that Western countries should be more daring in seizing Russian assets that they had frozen during the nations full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In a piece published in the Sunday Times ahead of schedule to commemorate two years since the crisis began, Sunak stated that Ukraine still requires additional long-range weaponry, drones, and ammunition in addition to other help.

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We must be bolder in hitting the Russian war economy . And we must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets, he said .

Last month, British Investment Minister Dominic Johnson met with US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo to discuss the recovery of frozen Russian assets, but emphasised that this must be done in conformity with international laws.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the European Union, the United States, Japan, and Canada froze around $300 billion of its central bank assets.

The Group of Seven countries has been considering asset seizures as a means of forcing Russia to pay for the damage inflicted by its invasion of Ukraine.

Sunak also encouraged the United States to continue its financial and military assistance for Ukraine.

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We should never underestimate what America has done for Ukraine and for Euro-Atlantic security. I urge them to continue that support, and I am confident they will, he wrote in the article.

Britains defence ministry announced 245 million pounds ($311 million) of aid to fund Ukrainian artillery ammunition on Saturday.
According to US sources, American and British fighter planes targeted missiles, launchers, rockets, drones, and air defence systems at eight different locations

In this photo provided by Britain's Ministry of Defense, a Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft prepares to take off, along with others, to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. AP

On Saturday, the United States and Britain bombed 18 Houthi targets in Yemen, responding to a recent rise in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this week that set fire to a cargo vessel.

According to US sources, American and British fighter planes targeted missiles, launchers, rockets, drones, and air defence systems at eight different locations. The officials talked on the condition of anonymity to share early information about an ongoing military operation.

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This is the fourth joint action between the US and British troops against the Houthis since January 12. However, the US has also been hitting Houthi targets virtually every day, including approaching missiles, drones headed for ships, and weapons that were ready to fire.

According to sources, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is presently in the Red Sea, is the launchpad for US F/A-18 fighter fighters.

The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways, said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks.

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The Houthis denounced the US-British aggression and vowed to keep up its military operation in response. The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that they will confront the US-British escalation with more qualitative military operations against all hostile targets in the Red and Arabian Seas in defense of our country, our people and our nation, it said in a statement.

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The US, U.K., and other allies said in a statement the necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across 8 locations in Yemen that also included underground storage facilities, radar and a helicopter.

U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said RAF Typhoon jets engaged in precision strikes aimed at degrading Houthi drones and launchers. Shapps said it came after severe Houthi attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including against the British-owned MV Islander and the MV Rubymar, which forced the crew to abandon ship. Its the fourth time Britain has joined in the US-led strikes.

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The strikes have support from the wider coalition, which includes Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the US wont tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping. But the counterattacks havent appeared to diminish the Houthis campaign against shipping in the region, which the militants say is over Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but we will once again reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats, said the Saturday statement.

The Houthis have launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19, and the pace has picked up in recent days.

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Weve certainly seen in the past 48, 72 hours an increase in attacks from the Houthis, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a briefing Thursday. And she acknowledged that the Houthis have not been deterred.

We never said weve wiped off the map all of their capabilities, she told reporters. We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal. They are very capable. They have sophisticated weapons, and thats because they continue to get them from Iran.

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There have been at least 32 US strikes in Yemen over the past month and a half; a few were conducted with allied involvement. In addition, US warships have taken out dozens of incoming missiles, rockets and drones targeting commercial and other Navy vessels.

Earlier Saturday, the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden, US Central Command said, adding that the missile was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a US-Flagged, owned, and operated chemical and oil tanker.

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The US attacks on the Houthis have targeted more than 120 launchers, more than 10 surface-to-air-missiles, 40 storage and support building, 15 drone storage building, more than 20 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles, several underground storage areas and a few other facilities.

The rebels supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced this past week an escalation in sea operations conducted by his forces as part of what they describe as a pressure campaign to end Israels war on Hamas.

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But while the group says the attacks are aimed at stopping that war, the Houthis targets have grown more random, endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments traveling from Asia and the Middle East onward to Europe.

During normal operations, about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time. While the Houthi attacks have only actually struck a small number of vessels, the persistent targeting and near misses that have been shot down by the US and allies have prompted shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea.

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Instead, they have sent them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope  a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage. The threats also have led the US and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel between the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

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In Thursdays attack in the Gulf of Aden, the Houthis fired two missiles at a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander, according to Central Command said. A European naval force in the region said the attack sparked a fire and wounded a sailor on board the vessel, though the ship continued on its way.

Central Command launched attacks on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Friday, destroying seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that the military said were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.

Central Command also said Saturday that a Houthi attack on a Belize-flagged ship on Feb. 18 caused an 18-mile (29-kilometer) oil slick and the. military warned of the danger of a spill from the vessels cargo of fertilizer. The Rubymar, a British-registered, Lebanese-operated cargo vessel, was attacked while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The missile attack forced the crew to abandon the vessel, which had been on its way to Bulgaria after leaving Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates. It was transporting more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer, according to a Central Command statement.

The Associated Press, relying on satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the stricken vessel, reported Tuesday that the vessel was leaking oil in the Red Sea.

Yemens internationally recognized government on Saturday called for other countries and maritime-protection organizations to quickly address the oil slick and avert a significant environmental disaster.
Ukraine has seen recent defeats on the eastern front, after early victories in driving back the Russian army. Its generals have been lamenting an increasing lack of both personnel and weapons

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend a joint press conference, on the second anniversary of the full scale Russian invasion, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters

On Saturday, on the second anniversary of Russias invasion and with no sign of an end in sight to the conflict, heads of the major democracies that make up the Group of Seven vowed to support war-weary Ukraine. Western leaders also visited Kyiv to express solidarity.

Ukraine has seen recent defeats on the eastern front, after early victories in driving back the Russian army. Its generals have been lamenting an increasing lack of both personnel and weapons.

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In a video conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, the G7 leaders discussed the anniversary of Russias special military operation, the bloodiest battle in Europe since World War II.

As Ukraine enters the third year of this relentless war, its government and its people can count on the G7s support for as long as it takes, the G7 leaders said in a statement.

The officials, who have been critical sources of military and financial aid to Kyiv, also vowed to continue targeting Russias sources of revenue with sanctions.

Zelenskyy stressed the need to protect Ukrainian skies and strengthen its army. We are counting on you, he said on the call, according to remarks published on his website.

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Looking to dispel concerns the West is losing interest in the conflict, Italys Giorgia Meloni and Canadas Justin Trudeau came to Kyiv early on Saturday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

The message I want to send today to  all the Ukrainian people is that they are not alone, Meloni said as she signed a 10-year defence pact with Zelenskyy.

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Trudeau signed a similar accord and pledged some $2.25 billion in financial and military support this year.

We will stand with Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, Trudeau said.

Ordinary Ukrainians held services to commemorate the anniversary, laying flowers to honour their many dead, amid fears the war will last years longer as Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no sign of relenting.

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Im a realist and understand that most likely the war will drag on for the next three or four years. I hope society will mobilise, I hope well be able to somehow defeat Russia, said Denys Symonovskiy, a Kyiv resident.

Outside Kyiv, the war continued unabated.

Russian drones attacked the port of Odesa for a second night running, hitting a residential building and killing one person, the regional governor said. In Dnipro, a Russian drone hit an apartment building and a rescue operation uncovered two dead.

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Meanwhile, a source in Kyiv said Ukrainian drones caused a blaze at a Russian steel plant, which a Russian official identified as one in Lipetsk, some 400 km (250 miles) from Ukraine, that is responsible for about 18% of Russian output.

Holding the front line

The Canadian and Italian security deals mirror similar pacts signed recently with France and Germany.

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However, $61 billion in aid promised by U.S. President Joe Biden is being blocked by Republicans in Congress, casting a long shadow over Kyivs hopes of pushing back the much larger, better supplied Russian military.

In the G7 video call, Biden discussed Washingtons continued support for Ukraine and steps the group can take to continue holding Russia accountable, a White House official said.

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Seeking to maintain Western focus on Ukraine, Zelenskyy has warned Putin may not stop at Ukraines borders if he emerges victorious. Putin dismisses such claims and casts the war as a wider struggle with the United States, which he says aims to dismantle Russia.

Anniversary events were held across Ukraine including in the western city of Lviv, hundreds of kilometres from the fighting. Grieving women cried as a priest led a prayer in a cemetery festooned with blue and yellow Ukrainian flags, each marking the death of a soldier.

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The boys are holding the front line. We can only imagine what effort and price is paid for every peaceful day we have. I want to believe it is not all in vain. We have funerals every day, Evhenia Demchuk, a widow and mother of two, told Reuters.

The initial shock of the invasion faded into familiarity then fatigue as the world watched initial Russian gains and a stunning Ukrainian counteroffensive in late 2022 slow into grinding trench warfare.

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Russia, with a much bigger population to replenish the armys ranks and a larger military budget, might favour a drawn-out war, although its costs have been huge as it seeks to navigate sanctions and a growing reliance on China.

Ukraines position grows precarious

Ukraines position is more precarious. Villages, towns and cities have been razed, troops are exhausted and Russian missiles and drone strikes rain down almost daily.

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Russia this month registered its biggest victory in nine months, capturing the eastern town of Avdiivka and ending months of deadly urban combat.

A recent World Bank study said rebuilding Ukraines economy could cost nearly $500 billion. Two million housing units have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly 6 million people remain abroad after fleeing the invasion.

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In addition to seeking money and weaponry, Zelenskyy is promoting legislation allowing Ukraine to mobilise up to half a million more troops - a target some economists say could paralyse the economy.

Russias finances have so far proved resilient to unprecedented sanctions. While natural gas exports have slumped, oil sales have held up, thanks largely to Indian and Chinese buying, and the economy has been boosted by massive defence spending.

Russia has also ruthlessly punished dissent over the war. On Feb. 16, Putins most formidable domestic opponent, Alexei Navalny, died suddenly of unexplained causes in an Arctic penal colony where he was serving terms totalling more than 30 years.
In addition to the Houthi strikes on crucial maritime routes, pro-Iranian Iraqi militia have attacked bases that house American personnel, and Lebanons Hezbollah group, backed by Iran, has engaged Israel in gunfire along the Israel-Lebanon border

Since November 19, the Houthis, who govern the most populated areas of Yemen, have protested Israel's military actions in Gaza by firing rockets and drones at commercial vessels Image Courtesy Reuters

The Houthis of Yemen targeted the oil tanker MV Torm Thor, which was owned, operated, and flagged by the United States, in the Gulf of Aden, according to military spokesman Yahya Sarea of the Iran-aligned group on Sunday.

The militants are continuing to attack shipping lanes in Gaza in support of the Palestinian people, and they used a number of appropriate naval missiles to hit the tanker, Sarea said in a televised speech. The USS Mason, a guided missile destroyer, shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile on Saturday, which was likely aimed at the tanker.

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CENTCOM stated in a statement that there were no injuries and that neither the USS Mason nor the MV Torm Thor sustained any damage.

Since November 19, the Houthis, who govern the most populated areas of Yemen, have protested Israels military actions in Gaza by firing rockets and drones at commercial vessels.

The United States and the United Kingdom have branded the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization and begun attacking Houthi sites in Yemen.

There has been some spillover of the unrest from Israels fight against Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist organization, onto other regions of the Middle East. In addition to the Houthi strikes on crucial maritime routes, pro-Iranian Iraqi militia have attacked bases that house American personnel, and Lebanons Hezbollah group, backed by Iran, has engaged Israel in gunfire along the Israel-Lebanon border.

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(With agency inputs)
US and British forces launched attacks on over a dozen Houthi facilities in Yemen on Saturday. This was the most recent round of military action against the organization with ties to Iran that continues to target commerce in the area

The Houthis' attacks have disrupted international trade and increased shipping costs, but the strikes have not been able to stop them thus far Image Courtesy AP

According to sources, US and British forces launched attacks on over a dozen Houthi facilities in Yemen on Saturday. This was the most recent round of military action against the organization with ties to Iran that continues to target commerce in the area.

The Houthis, who rule over the most populated areas of Yemen, have been targeted by US strikes almost every day. They have stated that their attacks on shipping are in support of Palestinians as Israel bombs Gaza.

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The Houthis attacks have disrupted international trade and increased shipping costs, but the strikes have not been able to stop them thus far.

The military attack was against eight different Houthi targets in Yemen, including air defense systems, radars, a helicopter, underground weapons and missile storage facilities, and air defense systems, according to a joint statement from the participating and supporting nations.

The goal of the operations, according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, is to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.

We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm Middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries, Austin told the media.

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The resumed airstrikes, according to an unidentified Houthi military source, are a miserable attempt to prevent Yemen from providing support operations to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Ballistic missiles and drones were used by the Houthis to target Israels port and tourist city of Eilat earlier this week. They also claimed responsibility for an attack on a cargo ship owned by the United Kingdom and a drone assault on a U.S. destroyer.

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The groups actions are forcing ships to take a longer, more costly detour around Africa in order to bypass the strategically important Suez Canal, which handles 12% of all marine traffic worldwide.

During the Houthi campaign, no ships have been sunk and no crew members have died. Nonetheless, there are worries regarding what will happen to the cargo ship Rubymar, registered in the UK, whose crew was evacuated when it was damaged on February 18.

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According to the US military, when the Rubymar was struck, it contained about 41,000 tons of fertilizer, which might have spilled into the Red Sea and wreaked havoc on the ecology.

To restore and safeguard freedom of navigation, the European Union has sent a naval mission to the Red Sea.

Operation Prosperity Guardian is a parallel alliance led by the US with the goal of defending economic traffic against Houthi strikes.
Since Nov. 19, the Houthis, who rule over the most populated areas of Yemen, have protested Israels military actions in Gaza by firing rockets and drones at commercial boats

Yemens Houthis attacked the MV Torm Thor, a US-flagged, owned, and operated oil tanker, in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, according to the Iran-aligned groups military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea. The militants continue to strike commercial lines in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The group targeted the tanker with a number of appropriate naval missiles, Sarea added in a televised speech.

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According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), one anti-ship ballistic missile that was probably aimed at the tanker was shot down by the guided missile destroyer USS Mason on Saturday. The missile was fired into the Gulf of Aden from Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen.

CENTCOM stated in a statement that there were no casualties and that neither the USS Mason nor the MV Torm Thor sustained any damage.

Since Nov. 19, the Houthis, who rule over the most populated areas of Yemen, have protested Israels military actions in Gaza by firing rockets and drones at commercial boats.

The US and UK have branded the militia as a terrorist organisation and begun attacking Houthi targets in Yemen.

The turmoil from Israels war with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has spilled over to some extent into other parts of the Middle East. Apart from the Houthi attacks on vital shipping lanes, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group has traded fire with Israel along the Israel-Lebanon border and pro-Iran Iraqi militia have attacked bases that host US forces.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 25. The Israeli Cabinet of Ministers to discuss the next steps in negotiations on the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X, Trend reports.

According to him, discussions will begin after the return of the Israeli delegation from Paris.

"We are working on a new hostage release deal. That's why I sent a delegation to Paris and tonight the cabinet will discuss the next steps in the negotiations," Netanyahu said.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 25. The strategic partnership between Georgia and Turkiye was discussed on Friday in a meeting between Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Ali Kaan Orbai, the Turkish Ambassador to the country, Trend reports.

The meeting also discussed prospects for the development of cooperation between the two countries, with the officials highlighting matters of economic relations, including the two states active cooperation in regional geostrategic projects, the Georgian Government Administration said.

The parties noted the existing regional projects were a clear example of effective and reliable partnership between the two countries.

They also discussed the current situation in the wider region and emphasized the importance of peace and stability to ensure further development and long-term prosperity of the region.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Thu Thursday

70 /43

More sun than clouds. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 40s.
Former US president and 2024 White House hopeful Donald Trump speaks at a victory party following his win in the South Carolina Republican primary on February 24, 2024
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 25. Armenia has no choice but to live in peace and security with Azerbaijan in this region, the Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye Numan Kurtulmush said, Trend reports.

"The Karabakh region, which was under Armenian occupation for more than 30 years, was liberated in 44 days. The Armenian diaspora reacted sharply to Nikol Pashinyans words that he recognizes Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan", Kurtulmus noted.

According to him, some circles do not want peace in this region. In particular, we are talking about the Armenian diaspora in Europe and the USA.
Republican presidential candidate former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley gestures as she speaks with reporters after casting her vote in South Carolina's Republican presidential primary on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, on Kiawah Island, S.C. Pictured at right is Haley's mother, Raj Randhawa.
Photos by Colorado Motor Carriers Association

From left to right, garbage trucks, milk-delivery trucks and large rental trucks from companies like U-Haul, would all be required to carry chains from Sept. 1 to May 31 if Senate Bill 100  which will be heard March 6 in the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee  passes. The bill would include Interstate 25 and all interstate, U.S. and state highways west of there.
Operation Iron Swords - Day 141 - 24 February 2024

The biblical holidays for the Jews this year intersect with the second week of Ramadan and Tarawih prayers, which may open the door to a new battle in Al-Aqsa Mosque. Ramadan is celebrated Mar 10, 2024  Apr 9, 2024. Tarawih, also known as Taraweeh, is a voluntary (nafl) night prayer performed by Muslims during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Tarawih prayers are a sunnah of the Prophet, which means that it was his practice to perform them. Purim is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the survival of the Jewish people from annihilation in the 5th century BCE. The story is told in the Book of Esther and is known as the Feast of Lots. Purim dates are March 2324, 2024.

Biden administration officials say they want to reach an agreement before the start of Ramadan, that is, more than two weeks from now. An Israeli official told the Hebrew Channel 12: Our goal is to reach a prisoner exchange deal before the month of Ramadan.

A number of analysts and experts in security affairs in Israel warned - during their discussions and analyzes on Israeli channels - of the repercussions of the expected measures by the Israeli government against those praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan. Channel 12 military affairs correspondent Nir Devori said, There is a fear that the front that everyone fears will break out, especially before Ramadan, will open, and which has become more likely to explode, warning of an attack that Palestinians might carry out in retaliation for what is happening in the Gaza Strip or because of the debate over Al-Aqsa Mosque. Who said that it unites all Palestinian arenas.

Devori added, "There are a large number of alerts and warnings about operations these days, and this forces Israel to increase military barriers and strengthen the prevention of operations." He believed that everything was very likely to explode because of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and "this is what requires the Israeli side to have a sound mind and cool nerves in management and decision-making."

The Israeli channel "Kan 11" highlighted Jordan's position, and said that they in Jordan are very concerned about the restrictions that Israel plans to impose on Muslim worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan. The same channel reported, "The Jordanian warning to Israel was presented to a large number of international bodies, given that it is the custodian of the holy places in Jerusalem, and also in accordance with the peace agreement between Jordan and Israel."

For his part, the head of the National Security Research Institute, Major General Tamir Hayman, warned that the situation was heading towards heating up, and he spoke on Channel 12 about the accumulated pressure in the West Bank , attributing this to a difficult economic crisis in light of the Palestinian workers stopping work, in addition to the fact that the Palestinian Authority It does not receive Palestinian tax revenues withheld by Israel. Hayman said, "We are on the verge of explosive days, and we need a lot of caution," stressing that Al-Aqsa Mosque is a "known detonator."

Israeli Channel 12 - through its affairs correspondent, Gal Khin - provided what it said was data on the number of operations carried out by Palestinians against Israelis. It revealed that since the beginning of the war on Gaza until today, 199 serious operations have occurred, that is, stabbings, rammings, shootings, and explosive devices, most of which occurred last October. The correspondent said that the Israeli Internal Security Service (Shin Bet ) thwarted 626 similar operations before they were carried out.

Writer Piotr Somlar said, in a report published by the French newspaper Le Monde, that Washington, Ukrainian Avdiivka , and Gaza are considered three theaters of international crises, and the common denominator between them is that they are a real test of the Wests credibility and unity. Due to the US Congress facing difficulties in directing military aid to Ukraine and the heavy losses caused by the Israeli war on Gaza, a gloomy atmosphere prevails in Western regimes.

The Le Monde report explained that indicators reveal that liberal democracies are going through a moment of existential doubt and weakness, such that they seem to have no voice when it comes to examining values, and in return they are focusing only on highlighting their strength. According to the writer, part of this gloomy atmosphere comes from Washington, as the possibility of Donald Trump ascending to the presidency again raises great fears in the hearts of the United States allies.

Regarding Ukraine, what the Europeans fear most is that Trump - if he wins - will abandon support for Kiev, as many Republicans consider that the war in Ukraine is not an American affair. Somlar reported that the redirection of American strategic attention towards Asia is reflected in Congress by obstructing the new aid package for Ukraine.

In the House of Representatives, a minority of a few dozen Republican elected officials is working to block a vote on the $60 billion financial package that has been approved in the Senate. The writer continued that regardless of what may happen in the American elections, Europeans must prepare to live without the United States by their side. He added that Moscow understood well these Western weaknesses and the Ukrainian army's significant ammunition shortage, so it was exploiting this hesitation to achieve gains on the front.

The writer stated that, similarly, the credibility of the United States was undermined by the tragedy experienced by Palestinian civilians in Gaza. More than 29,000 people were martyred, and Washington fell into unconditional support for the Israeli government, which left the United States in bitter diplomatic isolation. The Le Monde report added that the Palestinians have the right to "bemoan" the little attention that Americans pay to their fate, compared to the Ukrainian civilians who are victims of the Russian war. The difference in tone and strategy of US action in both cases is stark, as Le Monde confirms.

War Termination

There is no end to the war in sight, as both sides still see the other as an existential threat, and there is no clear path to any kind of permanent peace between them.

Yesterday, Friday, talks began in Paris to discuss reaching an exchange and calm deal in the Gaza Strip with the participation of Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and an Israeli delegation headed by Mossad chief David Barnea, while a Hamas official said that the movement is waiting for what the mediators will return.

This evening, the war cabinet confirmed that an Israeli delegation will leave in the coming days to continue the negotiations on a hostage deal in Qatar. Earlier, the cabinet discussed the agreed upon lines within the outline. At the end of yesterday's meeting, the mediators agreed on the principles of the deal: the amount and categories of hostages to be released, and the Israeli compensation. Against the background of the outline, a senior political official told News 12: "There is significant progress and a solid basis for the discussion, from which it is possible to build the elements of the negotiations and reach agreements." In addition, a senior official in the government estimated that "if this is the outline that will be presented - it will be approved by the government."

As part of the outline that will be presented to the War Cabinet, about 40 abductees will be released: children, women, soldiers, adults and the sick. This is in exchange for 6 weeks of respite from fighting - at least one day for each abductee who is released. In addition, hundreds of "light" and "heavy" prisoners will be released, much less than what Hamas initially wanted; And there will be a renewed deployment of forces in the Gaza Strip, and the movement of women and children to the north of the Gaza Strip.

Points of contention are that Israel will not agree to the restoration of the Strip before its demilitarization, and the number of prisoners to be released. a Lebanese Hamas official told the Arab media: We agreed in the first stage to the release of about 40 Israeli abductees who are not soldiers - in exchange for the release of 15 Palestinian prisoners with heavy punishments and chronic illnesses - for each Israeli abductee who is released. According to him, there will be a day of respite for each abductee, in addition to a week of respite before the implementation of the agreement begins."

The same source added that they also insist on a significant income of humanitarian aid, including tents for all areas in the Gaza Strip, in addition to agreeing to the return of the displaced to their homes in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that the Paris talks were good and lasted longer than expected, citing Israeli officials who indicated that there is a way to go in the talks. Israeli media reported from sources familiar with the negotiations that the agreement in Paris was reached according to new broad lines. The sources said that there is progress that may allow a move to negotiate the details.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan indicated that the Israeli occupation's stance and responses to mediators are still negative and obstructing the advancement toward a breakthrough solution. He said that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government "still adopts an intransigent stance toward the demands of the resistance, and its goals clash with all the initiatives proposed." Hamdan ascertained that Netanyahu does not care about the release of Israeli captives and rejected four different demands, the first being stopping the aggression of Gaza.

This comes after a source in the Resistance leadership told Al Mayadeen that all the rumors circulating about the progress of negotiations between the Palestinian Resistance and "Israel" were false. The source revealed that "Israel", in ongoing warmongering, continues to reject Hamas' proposal, calling it "unfeasible", and insists on its own conditions that do not include the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza or a permanent ceasefire.

According to the source, Hamas, on the other hand, provided appropriate solutions concerning the ceasefire, the return of displaced Gazans, the captives release deal, and the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from Gaza. However, this was considered "a high ceiling" of demands by the Israeli occupation, the source stated, adding that negotiations are being stumped for that reason and from the Israeli side solely, therefore obstructing a breakthrough. The source highlighted that "Israel's" obstinance comes from internal conflicts that do not allow any form of flexibility in setting conditions, and the delusion that the occupation can force Hamas into a weakened position through military pressure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the cabinet will gather next week to endorse the IDF's plans for Rafah, which include evacuating civilians from the area. "We are working to obtain another outline for the release of our hostages, as well as the completion of the elimination of the Hamas battalions in Rafah. That is why I sent a delegation to Paris and tonight we will discuss the next steps in the negotiations, Therefore, at the beginning of the week, I will convene the cabinet to approve the operational plans for action in Rafah, including the evacuation of the civilian population from there. Only a combination of military pressure and firm negotiations will lead to the release of our hostages, the elimination of Hamas and the achievement of all the war's objectives."

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that the Prime Minister presented to the security cabinet a document of principles related to the policy of  the day after the Gaza war. The broadcasting corporation said that the "Netanyahu document" includes Israel retaining its freedom to operate in the entire Gaza Strip without a time limit, and also includes establishing a security zone in the Strip adjacent to Israeli towns.

International newspapers and news sites shed light on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for the day after the war on the Gaza Strip , and on American dissatisfaction with the settlement plans that the Israeli government intends to begin implementing in the West Bank . Netanyahu had previously presented to the security mini-ministerial council (the cabinet) a document of principles related to the policy of the day after the Gaza war, which includes - according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority - several provisions, including Israels preservation of freedom to operate in the entire Gaza Strip without a time limit, and it also includes the establishment of a security zone in the sector adjacent to Israeli towns.

The New York Times wrote that Netanyahu's plan "completely contradicts everything that the administration of US President Joe Biden has been seeking to achieve for months." An article published by the newspaper saw that Netanyahu's choice to reveal his plan in the hours before the start of the Paris negotiations on the prisoner exchange deal "is not a coincidence, but rather an intentional matter, the aim of which is to focus the public debate on the path that the Israeli prime minister wanted."

In the same context, the Financial Times found that Netanyahus plan for Gaza after the war expresses a clear desire to regain control of the Strip, through a combination of occupation methods and collective punishment. According to the newspaper, the plan, which was contained on one page, was worded ambiguously, and one of its goals was to tickle the feelings of right-wingers who support Netanyahu, pointing to the apathy with which the plan was met in Europe and America.

Axios, citing two sources, said that American, Qatari and Egyptian officials presented a new, more detailed framework for the hostage deal to Israeli negotiators during the meeting in Paris. The sources reported that the updated framework proposes that Hamas release approximately 40 prisoners in exchange for a six-week ceasefire and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Tel Aviv. The previous proposal also included a six-week ceasefire, but it was not as detailed as the proposal presented on Friday.

The two sources said that progress had been made during the Paris talks that could lead to more serious negotiations on the agreement in the next few days. A senior US official said: Some progress was made in the hostage talks in Paris on Friday, but there are more ways to reach an agreement.

The Axios website indicated that the Israeli delegation, which included the head of the Mossad, Shin Bet, and Israeli Army Intelligence, returned to Tel Aviv and will present a briefing to the Military Cabinet later on Saturday or Sunday. He explained that if the Cabinet approves the new framework proposed by the United States and other mediators, follow-up meetings will be held in the coming days.

A source familiar with the talks confirmed that the move to detailed negotiations still depends on the Qatari and Egyptian negotiators convincing Hamas to agree to the new framework as well. CIA Director William Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and Egyptian Intelligence Director Abbas Kamel participated in the talks.

The updated U.S. framework for a Gaza hostage deal includes the following points, per sources with knowledge:

The release of several hundred Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of 35-40 Israeli hostages, including civilian women, female soldiers, men over 50 and hostages in serious medical condition. The number of Palestinian prisoners that will be released for each of the female soldiers will be higher than for the other abductees that will be released at this stage and will also include prisoners who were sentenced for long period in prison for killing Israelis. For each hostage who is released, Israel will agree to a day of ceasefire, when in total in the first phase of the deal it will be possible to reach six weeks of ceasefire. The U.S. framework includes an initial and limited return of Palestinian citizens to the north of the Gaza Strip that will start during the implementation of this stage of the deal, under conditions that will be defined during the detailed negotiations. The U.S. framework also includes a significant increase in the scope of humanitarian aid that enters the Gaza Strip. The next phases in the deal that focus on release of soldiers and exchange of bodies were left very general as in the previous framework.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation added that the US administration informed Israel that Arab countries are preparing an initiative regarding the so-called day after the war in Gaza, noting that this Arab plan includes a clause stipulating the integration of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) into the Palestine Liberation Organization. Brett McGurk, the US President's envoy, pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold a discussion in the government regarding "the day after the Gaza war." In conjunction with the Paris negotiations that seek to reach an agreement to release prisoners - the United States was holding talks with Arab countries (which it did not name) regarding the day after the war.

During his visit to Israel, the US President's special envoy urged a ministerial discussion on the issue of "the day after the war." McGurk warned that if Israel did not make decisions, the Arab countries and the United States would move forward with the issue without it, according to the Israel Broadcasting Corporation.

Operational Update

There were 24 regional battalions in Gaza  we have dismantled 18 of them, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told foreign reporters. Now, Rafah is the next Hamas center of gravity.

American and Israeli officials confirmed that the Hamas movement is still active in the northern Gaza Strip, and that Netanyahu's goal of "destroying it" remains elusive, according to the New York Times. The newspaper quoted American officials, who requested to remain anonymous, saying that "most of the Hamas tunnel network is still intact, and that Israel will not be able to achieve its goal of eliminating the military capacity of the Hamas movement."

The newspaper confirmed that "at least 5,000 Hamas fighters are still in the northern Gaza Strip, above and below the ground, and that the movement is still active there, and will be able to fire missiles at Israel and attack ground forces." The newspaper added, according to current and former Israeli security officials, that "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's goal of destroying Hamas is still far-fetched."

An Israeli military intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity under military protocol, said, Israel is engaged in a comprehensive mission to expose Hamas military capabilities. The American newspaper pointed out that Israel, during its attack on Gaza in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, leveled neighborhoods, killed thousands of entire families, orphaned children, and displaced an estimated 1.7 million people.

The newspaper said: Since then, Israel has confirmed that it has killed more than 10,000 Hamas militants, and analysts explained that it is difficult to obtain an accurate number in light of the chaos of the war. The newspaper revealed, quoting Israeli officials, that the Israeli army dismantled the leadership structure of 18 of the 24 Hamas battalions in Gaza, but thousands of Hamas fighters remain above and below ground.

Minister in the Israeli Defense Ministerial Council, Benny Gantz , threatened that the army would continue fighting and would reach deep into the territory of Gaza, including Rafah, south of the Strip. Gantz's threats coincide with the launch of meetings in Paris, with the participation of Qatar, Egypt, the United States and Israel, to discuss ways to calm the situation in the Gaza Strip and reach an agreement to exchange Palestinian and Israeli prisoners. Gantz said - in a recorded video message - that the fighting will continue in the future deep in enemy territory, referring to areas inside the Gaza Strip, and not just along the border, referring to the strip adjacent to Israeli towns and settlements. He stressed that the fighting will not stop until the threat is removed and the prisoners detained in Gaza are returned, stressing that the fighting in Rafah will be deep in the field.

He explained that the settlements around the Gaza Strip will be protected by increased forces, "and we will reach every place where there are Hamas fighters." Gantz addressed the residents of the settlements around the Gaza Strip, saying, The decision to return is in your hands. The state will help all families or communities make the right decision for them, and we will provide you with all civil services, and your security is our responsibility. The Israeli government has evacuated the residents of dozens of towns and settlements around the Gaza Strip to hotels and guest houses across Israel since the beginning of the aggression against the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, and many of them refuse to return while the war is still ongoing.

The Al-Monitor website focused on the Israeli military operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and quoted a source close to Israeli war council member Benny Gantz as saying that the operation could be carried out within a month or two, but the hostages do not have this time, with many killed and injured. The site comments that the controversy over Rafah is a microcosm of the larger controversy regarding the war, which has entered its fifth month.

Palestinian Resistance is engaged in intense confrontations in multiple battlefronts against the raiding Israeli occupation forces across the Gaza Strip. The confrontations are concentrated in the eastern and western areas of the city of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, and in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City. Two Israeli military helicopters landed in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood after fierce confrontations between the Palestinian Resistance fighters and the Israeli occupation forces there.

In brief statements, several Palestinian Resistance factions announced a series of operations against the Israeli occupation at various axes in the Gaza Strip. the spokesperson for the al-Mujahideen Brigades, Abu Bilal, announced that the Brigades' fighters carried out 17 military operations in the past 96 hours, which resulted in more than 20 Israeli soldiers killed or wounded. He pointed out that the military operations varied between sniper attacks, rocket strikes, and mortar attacks, in addition to targeting Israeli warplanes and occupation forces holed up in vehicles and buildings.

The al-Mujahideen Brigades published footage documenting its Resistance fighters targeting Israeli occupation gatherings with short-range rockets. The scenes showed smoke rising from the targeted location in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood. The Brigades' fighters also engaged in fierce confrontations with Israeli occupation vehicles and soldiers in the same neighborhood. Abu Bilal also revealed that in a joint operation with the al-Quds Brigades, al-Mujahideen Brigades sniped at six Israeli occupation soldiers stationed on their vehicles in the vicinity of Tayba Towers, south of the Japanese neighborhood west of Khan Younis, confirming casualties among the soldiers as a result of the operation, which dealt a painful blow to the Israeli occupation.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, declared the destruction of an Israeli armored personnel carrier (APC) using a homemade Shawaz explosive device south of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, inflicting casualties among the crew of the vehicle, which required the landing of an Israeli helicopter to transport them. Al-Qassam announced that its fighters targeted an Israeli Merkava tank with a Tandem shell and that its snipers shot an Israeli soldier using the homemade Ghoul sniper rifle in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood.

Meanwhile, the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, announced carrying out a top-tier resistance operation in the Aabasan al-Kabira area, east of Khan Younis. The Brigades' fighters targeted an Israeli bulldozer with a Barq-type explosive device, then targeted a Merkava tank with a Tandem shell, eliminating its crew from point-blank range.

In the same area, the Resistance fighters of al-Quds Brigades engaged in fierce confrontations with the Israeli occupation soldiers and their military vehicles, using machine guns, anti-tank shells, and anti-personnel weapons. The Brigades also targeted gatherings of Israeli occupation soldiers and military vehicles in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, noting that two vehicles were targeted with an RPG shell. The al-Quds Brigades' military media released footage showing the salvos of rockets that the Brigades' fighters launched on Israeli military gatherings in the combat zones south of Gaza City.

On its part, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades announced that its fighters engaged in fierce confrontations with the Israeli occupation soldiers and their vehicles using various weapons, including machine guns, and RPGs in the fighting axes in Khan Younis. The Brigades' fighters targeted a D9-type Israeli military bulldozer with an RPG shell and shelled the gatherings of Israeli soldiers and vehicles with mortar shells and short-range rockets in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood. They also targeted the gatherings of Israeli soldiers with a rocket salvo of the 107 type east of the central area of the Strip.

As for the Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), it announced that its combat units engaged in fierce confrontations with the invading occupation forces in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, using various weapons. Earlier, the spokesperson for the Martyr Omar al-Qassem Forces, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Abu Khaled, confirmed that the Forces' fighters caused casualties among Israeli occupation forces after targeting an Israeli military vehicle with an explosive device in th e al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Younis. He added that the fighters engaged with an Israeli patrol in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, using heavy machine guns, explosive devices, anti-tank and personnel shells, achieving direct hits.

The Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Hartzi Halevi, held an assessment of the situation today (Saturday) in the northern Gaza Strip together with the commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, and the commander of Division 162, Brigadier General Itzik Cohen and other commanders. "Releasing the abductees is a war goal and we intend to do a great deal to realize it," said the Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi, "the fighting effort is the most effective action that helps those who carry and give in all kinds of places for the release of the abductees."

"We are making a move to deepen the achievement," said the Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Halevi, "there are areas we have already been to, and we are returning with better intelligence and making an achievement that is much higher and much deeper, literally, even into the ground, as well in hitting the enemy. There are places we passed through at a very high rate of combat, and we are returning to places to purify space at a very, very high level. These things bring another level of operatives, another level of commanders, more destruction of infrastructure."

"We are also in the days of negotiations on the release of the abductees," he continued, "I don't know how this will develop, there are those who are engaged in this, we are engaged in fighting. I want you to know one thing: there is a connection between the things. Your achievements - another regiment that you dismantle, Another underground infrastructure, another neighborhood where the destruction of the infrastructure is being carried out, and the population evacuating to safe spaces - all of these things put pressure on us, I very much hope, also to achieve the release of the abductees. This is the goal of the war. We intend to do a great deal to realize it, and an effort Fighting is the most effective action that helps those who carry and give in all kinds of places for the release of the kidnapped."

"This is the lever we are taking down on Hamas," concluded the Chief of Staff, "and you are taking it down very well, we need to continue to take it down hard, I hope we will know how to translate it into the release of the abductees as well."

During a raid by the paratroopers in western Khan Yunis, the fighters located a warehouse of military equipment . In the warehouse, a lot of ammunition was found, including cartridges, explosives, grenades, mines and charges that the terrorists planned to plant in the area to harm the forces. In addition, rockets and combat equipment, helmets, vests were found in the warehouse and means of communication. Soldiers of the 7th SDF raid on dozens of terrorist infrastructures in the west of Khan Yunis , eliminating dozens of terrorists by firing tanks, shooting at close range and by targeting aircraft. As part of the raids on terrorist targets and their scanning, the fighters located mortar bombs and cartridges inside UNRA sacks. Also, Kalashnikovs, bullets, grenades, explosives, drones, RPG launchers, explosive charges and means of communication were located and confiscated.

In the center of the strip, the battle team of the Nahal Brigade eliminated a number of terrorists throughout the last day. In one of the activities, the brigade's fire complex identified two terrorists who were walking around near the forces with bags and an object suspected to be a military weapon, within a few minutes, the terrorists were eliminated. In addition, the fighting in Khan Yunis continues. As part of a brigade attack, the fighters of the battle team of the Givati Brigade eliminated many terrorists with precise sniper fire in the last day.

The fighters of the 7th Brigade Combat Team identified three terrorists approaching and moving towards the force and eliminated them with the help of a combat helicopter. After a few minutes, four more terrorists were identified and eliminated through an aircraft attack. In addition, in the last day, the fighters eliminated several terrorist squads that moved towards our forces by firing tank shells.

Al Jazeera's correspondent added that the occupation launched a series of raids and fire belts east of Khan Yunis, stressing that the occupation aircraft targeted the town of Khuza'a, where the occupation destroyed all the homes under the pretext of establishing a buffer zone, according to what the Israeli "B'Tselem" organization announced. The Palestinian News Agency indicated that the neighborhoods of Al-Sabra, Tal Al-Hawa and Al-Daraj in Gaza City were subjected to intense artillery shelling, leaving dozens injured. She said that the occupation artillery fired several shells near shelter centers and tents for the displaced in Al-Mawasi, west of the city of Rafah .

Palestinian journalist Abdullah Al-Attar documented the significant increase in the prices of a number of food items available in the southern Gaza Strip , and during a tour of one of the markets he showed the significant increase in prices compared to their levels before the beginning of the aggression against Gaza. Al-Attar spoke to some sellers in the video that he posted on his account on the Instagram platform, and asked about the prices of goods, including coffee, sugar, and some vegetables.

The clip shows that the price of sugar went from 3 shekels before the start of the war to about 70 shekels now (a dollar equals about 3.63 shekels), while the price of coffee rose from 10 shekels to about 100 shekels. On the side allocated to vegetables, the journalist found that the price of lemons rose from 5 shekels to 25, while onions are currently sold for about 50 shekels compared to one shekel before the war. Some other items were not spared from the rise, as the price of a bag of chips moved from about one shekel before the war to 12 shekels now.

The military and strategic expert, Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, said that the massacres committed by the Israeli occupation army deep in Gaza City and in Khan Yunis exceed in their brutality what was shown in the pictures obtained by Al-Jazeera from an Israeli army drone, and show operations of great destruction, sniping, and the spread of bodies in the streets of Tal Al-Zaatar. Northern Gaza Strip . He added that if the film shown by Al Jazeera had talked about the depths of Gaza, the camps area, and Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, the world would have witnessed atrocities and intentional acts of brutality that could not be tolerated.

It is noteworthy that Al Jazeera obtained video clips extracted from an Israeli occupation army drone, showing its targeting of civilians in the Tal al-Zaatar area and the arrest of medical personnel and patients from Al Awda Hospital. These pictures also show the bombing of entire residential blocks. Al-Duwairi recalled his previous statement - during his daily analytical pause on Al Jazeera - that Israel is employing an artificial intelligence system to commit massacres against the Palestinians in Gaza, even though this system is supposed to be used to set targets in order to reduce losses and avoid damage.

IDF soldiers operated tonight in the village of Zaatra in the Etzion Brigade, and mapped two houses belonging to the terrorists who carried out this week's shooting attack at the A-Zaim checkpoint near Ma'e Adumim. The IDF, Shin Bet and MGB forces arrested two wanted men in the village of Burka in Samaria, two more wanted men in Bazariya in Samaria and another wanted man in Zabidat in the Bekaa. The wanted persons who were arrested were transferred for further investigation by the security forces, there are no casualties to our forces.

The forces of Division 162 continued to fight in the Zeytun neighborhood south of Gaza City. Soldiers of the 401st Army Defense Forces identified, using a drone, a terrorist squad that was preparing to launch an anti-tank missile at our forces, a short time later we directed an aircraft at the squad and it was eliminated. During the last day, the fighters in the raid on Zeyton eliminated many terrorists with airstrikes and encounters in the field. In addition, the forces located many weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles and cartridges, a ready-to-use explosive as well as vests and documents of the terrorist organization Hamas.

The Israeli forces stormed several areas in the West Bank , and confrontations broke out between Palestinian resistance fighters and the occupation forces, resulting in a number of casualties. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation forces stormed the village of Al-Tuwani in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, and the city of Yatta from its southern axis. The forces assaulted and beat a foreign activist, and sent them threatening letters warning them against documenting the occupations violations in the Masafer areas. The occupation forces had previously assaulted and beaten a foreign activist in Khallet al-Farra in Masafer Yatta.

Local sources reported that a group of armed settlers blocked the road to a vehicle in which two young Palestinians were traveling near the village of Susiya in Masafer Yatta, while they were on their way to their homes, and beat them and sprayed hot and toxic gas on their faces, causing them to suffer bruises. The occupation forces stormed the northern town of Asira in Nablus, deployed their forces in several neighborhoods and drove military vehicles into them. Local sources reported that confrontations broke out between Palestinian youths and the occupation forces, with heavy gunfire and tear gas being heard in the town, resulting in casualties among Palestinians.

In Hebron, the Israeli occupation forces fired flares over the entrance to Al-Fawwar camp, as they stormed the area, according to scenes broadcast by local Palestinian platforms, and Palestinian youths attacked a military tower at the entrance to Al-Fawwar camp with Molotov cocktails. In Tulkarm, confrontations broke out between young men and the occupation forces after storming the town of Kafr al-Labad, east of the city. The occupation forces also stormed the village of al-Nazla al-Sharqiya and the Shweika suburb of the western axis of Tulkarm, and stationed themselves in the al-Aqsa neighborhood at the entrance to the suburb.

It also stormed Al-Salam neighborhood and the Dhanaba suburb east of Tulkarm, and stationed itself in the Al-Rashid neighborhood in the suburb, and in the area near Jabal Al-Nasr in Nour Shams camp, and conducted a wide search operation in the area. Al-Jazeera's correspondent reported that the occupation forces were carrying out raids on the homes of the perpetrators of the Zaim checkpoint operation in the village of Beit Tamar, east of Bethlehem.

Yesterday, Friday, the Israeli occupation forces continued to impose restrictions on worshipers entry into Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem for the twentieth Friday in a row since the start of the war on Gaza. The occupation forces prevented young people in particular and other groups of Jerusalemites from entering the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform Friday prayers without giving reasons and in a random manner, while they attacked worshipers outside the walls of the Old City and prevented them from performing prayers at the Lions Gate and near the Mercy Cemetery.

Lebanese "Hezbollah" announced that its fighters had targeted the Israeli army assembly building at the Al-Malikiyah site, the Zarit barracks, and the headquarters of the Beit Hilal Brigade of the 769th Eastern Regional Brigade. Today, Hezbollah issued several statements confirming that it targeted a building where Israeli soldiers are stationed in the Al-Malikiyah site, the Zarit barracks with a Burkan missile, and the headquarters of the Beit Hilal Battalion of the 769th Eastern Regional Brigade with Katyusha rockets.

He explained in a statement: In response to the enemys attacks on villages and civilian homes, especially the town of Blida, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted at 17:00 on Saturday 02/24/2024 a building in which soldiers were stationed. "The enemy in Al-Malikiyah colony used appropriate weapons and hit him directly." Hezbollah added in a statement: In response to the enemys attacks on villages and civilian homes, especially in the town of Aita al-Shaab, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted, at 4:00 pm on Saturday, February 24, 2024, the Zarit barracks with a missile. Volcano and they hit it directly.

He confirmed in another statement: In response to the enemys attacks on villages and civilian homes, especially in the town of Baraashit, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted at 9:00 pm on Saturday, February 24, 2024, the command headquarters. The Beit Hillal Battalion of the 769th Eastern Regional Brigade fired Katyusha rockets. Hezbollah had previously targeted Israeli military concentrations on Cobra Hill, the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site, and the Zabdin barracks.

Minister in the Israeli Defense Ministerial Council, Benny Gantz , indicated that the ongoing war will not end until the residents of the settlements near the Lebanese border return to their homes. "We are working militarily and politically. Hezbollah has already been expelled from the border, and we are preparing for the day when we will issue the order when we need to expand our activities," he said. Residents of the northern settlements were displaced from their places of residence due to the border confrontations that broke out between the occupation army and the resistance factions in Lebanon, led by Hezbollah, since last October 8.

Iaraeli warplanes attacked an operational headquarters used by Hizbullah's Radwan force in the area of the village of Rashit and launching positions and terrorist infrastructures in the area of Jebel Belat in southern Lebanon. Artillery fire was also carried out to remove a threat to the main area of ??al-Fuhar.

During the day, an IDF drone detected a squad of terrorists entering a Hezbollah military structure in the area of the village of Layda in southern Lebanon, a fighter jet attacked the structure where the terrorists were identified a short time ago. The IDF forces detected a terrorist squad using an aircraft entering a Hezbollah weapons warehouse in the area of the village of El Matamura. In a short time fighter jets attacked the warehouse where the squad was identified. After the attack, significant secondary explosions occurred, indicating the presence of an IED in the building. In addition, warplanes attacked an operational headquarters used by Hizbullah's Radwan force in the area of the village of Rashit and launching positions and terrorist infrastructures in the area of Jebel Belat in southern Lebanon. Artillery fire was also carried out to remove a threat to the main area of al-Fuhar.

In the last few hours, fighter jets attacked additional military buildings used by Hezbollah in the area of the villages of Rab a-Taltin, Eyta a-Sha'ab and Beyda, and artillery fire was carried out to remove a threat to several locations in southern Lebanon. During the day, a number of launches were detected towards the Arab al Aramsha, Hanita and Har Dov areas, the IDF attacked the sources of the shooting in Lebanese territory.

During the night, warplanes attacked Hizbullah launch sites and terrorist infrastructures in the Jebel Balt area. In addition, an observation post of the organization was attacked in the Eyta al-Sha'ab area. Also, the IDF attacked with artillery to remove a threat in the Hanin area and the Marvin area.

Yemeni Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badreddine al-Houthi said during a televised speech that the Yemeni Armed Forces have developed the existing missiles in their arsenal to the point that they have become too advanced for the US forces to intercept, as they have failed to block them from reaching their ships. He added that the Israeli occupation carried out all forms of genocide, murder, and starvation against the Palestinian people in Gaza as the United States insists on participating in these crimes by providing arms to the Israeli occupation, while the majority of the world stands idle or even goes as far as supporting the Israeli occupation.

The challenge has already been acknowledged by United States Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said during an interview on CBS's '60 Minutes', that the engagement against the Yemeni Armed Forces in the Red Sea constitutes one of the most significant naval battles the US has encountered in decades.

"I think you'd have to go back to World War II where you have ships who are engaged in combat," Vice Adm. Brad Cooper told the host, Norah O'Donnell, before adding "When I say engaged in combat, where they're getting shot at, we're getting shot at, and we're shooting back." Cooper, the deputy commander of the US Central Command, informed O'Donnell that approximately 7,000 sailors from the Navy were deployed to the Red Sea.

CNN, citing officials familiar with the situation, reported that the frequency and intensity of strikes against Yemen, in response to the targeting of Western ships in the Red Sea in support of Gaza, are not yielding the desired results as per the United States' objectives. According to a report by CNN, citing officials familiar with the situation, the amount and frequency of strikes against Yemen in response to the targeting of Western ships in the Red Sea in support of Gaza are not producing the results that the US wants to see. The report details that the strikes made the Yemeni forces move in deeper and stronger, and hide better.

On Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. (Sanaa time), USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) launched into the Gulf of Aden from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. The missile was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a U.S.-Flagged, owned, and operated chemical/oil tanker. Neither USS Mason nor MV Torm Thor were damaged and there were no injuries.

The US Central Command said that an attack launched by the Houthis on the cargo ship Ruby Mar on February 18 caused serious damage to the ship, and the leakage of an oil slick 29 kilometers long. It added that the ship was transporting more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer, which could lead to an environmental disaster. The US Central Command said - in a statement - regarding the British-owned cargo ship flying the Belize flag, "The ship is anchored but is slowly taking on water."

The military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, said in a statement - the day after the attack - that his group targeted the ship in the Gulf of Aden, and it is now in danger of sinking.

Also yesterday, US Central Command said it shot down 3 Houthi attack drones that were heading to commercial ships in the Red Sea, without causing damage. It added in a statement that it carried out what it called self-defense strikes against 4 drones and two Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles that had been prepared to be launched towards the Red Sea. The US command indicated that the drones and cruise missiles were identified as posing an imminent threat to commercial ships and US Navy ships in the region.

The US Central Command announced on Saturday that it had destroyed 7 cruise missiles that were prepared to be launched from Houthi areas in Yemen towards targets in the Red Sea. It said in a statement, "Yesterday, Friday, Central Command forces destroyed 7 mobile anti-ship cruise missiles belonging to the Iran-backed Houthis, which were prepared to be launched toward the Red Sea as part of a self-defense measure." The US Central Command added, "US Central Command forces identified these missiles in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, and decided that they represent an imminent threat to commercial ships and US Navy ships in the region." She stressed that "these measures will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters protected and safer for the US Navy and commercial ships."

In this context, Houthi-affiliated media said, "An American-British aggression targeted the Ras Issa area in the Al-Salif District, north of Hodeidah, in the west of the country, with three raids."

Maps

All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.

Bystanders

A report published by the American "Time" magazine confirmed that Israel's allies in the United States and Europe have largely avoided calling for a ceasefire because they believe that this would be tantamount to depriving it of its right to "eradicate" the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) from Gaza. Writer Yasmine Sarhan said in her report that in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza Strip, with increasing calls to stop the war, and with the death toll approaching 30,000, pressure has mounted on Israel and its supporters to change course.

The first shifts - according to the Time report - came from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, which on February 15 issued a joint statement calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, indicating that the Israeli ground attack on Rafah would be devastating. Also, 26 of the 27 member states of the European Union - with the exception of Hungary - echoed these concerns, calling for the establishment of an immediate humanitarian truce that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the opposition Labor Party - which is expected to form the country's next government - announced that it also supports an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire," adding that the attack on Rafah "must not happen." This is in contrast to the ruling Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak , which opposes a complete ceasefire.

Time quoted the Palestinian ambassador to Britain, Hossam Zomlot, as saying, The tide has changed, noting that although he encouraged a change in rhetoric among Western governments, the starting point was completely unbalanced. He added that many still need to match their words with their actions, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, which expressed their regret over the lack of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, while at the same time they stopped funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ). In the United Kingdom, a vote on a non-binding ceasefire resolution on Wednesday eventually turned into political infighting within Parliament.

Ambassador Zomlot commented on this, saying, "This is not the right time for internal politics. We see a lot of political maneuvering between parties and scoring points, while hundreds and thousands of children are being slaughtered. We will not forget and we will not forgive." As Zomlot and many other observers see - Time explains - the failure of Western capitals to move more quickly to demand a ceasefire not only poses a threat to the lives of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, but to the existing international order. Zomlot said, "The post-World War II rules-based order is under the greatest existential threat since its inception, and I believe it will not survive if the West does not take immediate action."

Time said that the imminent Israeli invasion of Rafah prompted such a response, which reflects the concerns of many countries, international institutions and humanitarian organizations about what could happen if the attack continues. UN bodies and international medical research centers warn that tens of thousands of Gaza residents will die in the coming months if escalation occurs. According to the American magazine, these warnings did not convince Israel not to launch its attack, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a necessary step in the country's goal of achieving "complete victory."

Israel will send an official document to the International Court of Justice announcing the implementation of the orders issued by the court following a lawsuit filed by South Africa accusing Tel Aviv of committing genocide in Gaza. The court issued 6 orders, including a request to submit a detailed report on February 26 explaining how the orders were implemented.

Hebrew media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the drafting of a very high-level document outlining the steps to implement the orders, including transferring humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza and preserving evidence relevant to the case. She reported that the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs have drafted the Israeli response document, and the document will be sent to the court after Netanyahu approves it.

The Israeli response includes an affirmation that the cases for which the orders were issued will be implemented in any case, even without the court issuing them. The media indicated that the Israelis were encouraged that the court actually rejected South Africa's demands to issue nine arrest warrants against Israel.

By a majority vote of members, Israel was requested to take action in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention. Israel was also asked, by a vote of 15 to two, to effectively and immediately ensure that the Israeli army does not commit genocide, while it was asked, by a vote of 16 to one, to take all measures in its power to prevent and punish incitement to genocide.

In addition, Israel must, by a vote of 16 to one, take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population in Gaza. Tel Aviv was also asked, by a vote of 15 to two, to take effective measures to prevent destruction and preserve evidence related to the accusations against it.

On January 26, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take measures to prevent genocide against Palestinians and improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, but the decision did not include a ceasefire. The decision was issued during a session held by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, to decide on South Africas request calling on Tel Aviv to take precautionary measures in the genocide lawsuit filed against Israel.

Axis of Resistance

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the American and European youth search holy Muslim book Quran to find out the reason for the Palestinian peoples resistance against the Israeli regimes horrifying crimes in Gaza. In a meeting the organizers of the Congress for the Commemoration of the 24,000 Martyrs of Khuzestan Province has with the Leader in Tehran on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei discussed the miracle of the peoples struggles accompanied by their Islamic faith.

The Leader underlined that the epic and miracle of the people of Khuzestan during the Sacred Defense was a result of a combination of the people's efforts and their faith in Islam. The Leader praised the late Imam Khomeinis (RA) precision in choosing the term "Islamic Republic," noting that the combination of relying on the people and Islamic principles has been instrumental in the stability and progress of the Islamic system and its ability to overcome the various challenges and conspiracies that it has encountered.

He also emphasized the need to continue this approach in order to overcome future challenges, Khamenei.ir reported. From the early days of the Islamic Movement until the victory of the Islamic Revolution and thereafter, Imam Khomeini (RA) consistently trusted the people, viewing Islam as an effective school of thought for politics and for managing society. Based on this, he was able to lay the groundwork for Iran's advancement and sustain remarkable movements, the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the most important problem of the enemies of the Islamic Republic is their inability to comprehend the Iranian people and the enemies lack of understanding of Islam. The enemies of the Iranian nation, based on their estimates and plans, were convinced that the Islamic Republic would not see its 40th birthday. However, Irans advancement has not been halted much to their dismay. With the grace of God and the determination and religious faith of the people, this progress will continue, he emphasized.

Elsewhere in his speech, the Leader also highlighted the current situation in Gaza as being a testament to the miracle of relying on people and their religious faith. The steadfastness of the Resistance forces and their being able to disappoint the enemys hopes of being able to eliminate them, as well as the patience of the people of Gaza in the face of all the bombings and calamities, is a demonstration of the strong religious faith of the Palestinians, he said.

Referring to the exposure of the lies within Western civilization's claims regarding human rights and the hypocrisy of the West with respect to the tragedy in Gaza, Ayatollah Khamenei added, The Westerners, who raise a commotion about the execution of a convict, have closed their eyes to the killing of 30,000 innocent people in Gaza. And the United States has shamelessly vetoed the resolution for a ceasefire for the umpteenth time. The Leader emphasized that what is seen as well-groomed, smiling politicians on the outside is actually a facade hiding the true nature of Western culture, civilization, and liberal democracy. Ayatollah Khamenei described their true nature as being that of a rabid dog and bloodthirsty wolf.

In his concluding remarks, the Leader expressed confidence that Western civilization and its misguided values will not prevail, and that the culture based on truth and the correct reasoning of Islam will ultimately triumph over them.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Saturday that the steadfastness of the resistance forces in the region has frustrated the enemy, considering that Western claims about human rights are mere hypocrisy. Khamenei added, Trust in the masses is what sustained the Islamic Republics regime and developed its path, noting that the continuation of this approach in the future as well will ensure that the problems are overcome. Khamenei considered that "the steadfastness of the resistance forces in the region frustrated the enemy, and the patience of the people of Gaza in the face of bombing and tragedies reflects their deep religious faith." In this context, the Iranian leader said, It has become clear that Western claims about human rights were false and just hypocrisy, and added, Western countries are raising an uproar over the execution of a criminal, while ignoring the killing of 30,000 innocent people in Gaza, and this is the true face of Western democracy.

Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani condemned the British and American attacks on Yemen, and considered them a clear violation of Yemeni sovereignty. He said that the Yemenis are making their decisions in this confrontation independently, and that their actions come in the context of defending the Palestinian people. He said: "The Yemenis are taking their measures independently and they are defending their homeland ably and adhering to their principles. The Yemenis are taking these measures out of their defense of the oppressed Palestinian people . We strongly condemn the American-British threats and attacks against the Yemeni people and we confirm that they are the decision makers and are implementing their measures." about it independently.

Syria's appeal at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) underscores the urgency of prosecuting Israeli officials for their violations and crimes against Palestinian territories, seeking accountability and justice. Syria has called for the "immediate" prosecution of Israeli officials for their flagrant violations and various crimes, according to Ammar al-Arsan, the country's representative to the ICJ in The Hague. He made the remarks during oral proceedings on Friday regarding the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.

"Syria believes that Israel's prosecution, due to egregious violation of international laws and perpetration of crimes, is highly imperative," al-Arsan stated before the tribunal. The Israeli regime came into existence in 1948 after occupying significant portions of Palestinian territories during a Western-backed war. It further expanded its occupation by seizing the West Bank, including East Jerusalem al-Quds, and the Gaza Strip in 1967. Since then, it has constructed hundreds of settlements on these territories and imposed severe restrictions on the movements of Palestinians living there. While Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it has maintained a comprehensive land, aerial, and naval blockade on the territory since 2006.

"Syria insists on the temporary nature of the occupation," al-Arsan emphasized, adding that the country "does not and will not accord the occupying entity any right to attain sovereignty over the occupied territories, no matter how long the savage occupation is going to take." Al-Arsan highlighted the right to self-determination as one of the most important and original human rights. He accused Israel of violating this right by enabling illegal settlements across occupied Palestinian territories, asserting that Israel should be held accountable for these violations.

In addition to the crime of occupation, which is under discussion by the court, al-Arsan noted that the Israeli regime is committing genocide in Gaza and launching deadly attacks against Syria and Lebanon. He criticized the international community for its failure to confront these crimes and ensure the implementation of relevant international resolutions.

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mardawi confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the Palestinian Resistance has not yet received anything from the mediators regarding the Gaza ceasefire discussions in the French capital Paris to assess and build on them. He made it clear that the Israeli occupation entity is "weaving a narrative of negotiations that has no relevance to us [Hamas]."

Al-Mardawi mentioned that the visit of the head of the political bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh to Cairo did not delve into the details of the ongoing negotiations. The Palestinian official mentioned that Hamas' delegation to Cairo discussed with the Egyptian officials the issue of breaking the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza to save the people in the north. He pointed out that "the enemy's attempts to achieve at the negotiating table what it failed to achieve on the battlefield have all failed," underlining that the Resistance will not follow through with any position unless it serves its interests and asserts its rights. Reuters cited a Hamas official as saying that the movement concluded ceasefire talks in the Egyptian capital and was now waiting for what the mediators bring back from upcoming weekend talks with the Israelis. The official confirmed that the Palestinian Resistance movement did not offer any new proposal in Cairo. "We discussed our proposal with them (the Egyptians) and we are going to wait until they return from Paris," the Hamas official was quoted by Reuters as saying.

The Mujahideen Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, announced the implementation of 17 military missions in sniper operations and rocket shelling, during which more than 20 Israeli soldiers were killed and wounded. The military spokesman for the Mujahideen Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, Abu Bilal, said in a statement: After 141 days of war, our mujahideen continue to direct their painful strikes against the Zionist enemy forces on all fronts of advance in the Gaza Strip.

He added: "In the last 96 hours, we carried out 17 military missions during which more than 20 Zionist enemy soldiers were killed or wounded. They varied between sniping operations, missile and mortar shelling, and targeting the Zionist enemy's warplanes and forces holed up in vehicles and buildings." He stressed that "yesterday's special Khan Yunis operation was a painful blow to the Zionist enemy, as our mujahideen sniped 6 soldiers from the enemy army, and hunted them down like ducks from their vehicles, and they fell successively by the bullets of our mujahideen. The documentation will be published, God willing."

Allied for Democracy

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu repeated his call for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip , criticizing the position of the international community that rejects voluntary immigration and re- settlement in the Strip. During an interview with the Times of Israel newspaper, Eliyahu said that the world can accommodate millions of refugees, but it does not allow the residents of Gaza to move from one place to another and liberate them from the war and the rule of Hamas.

Regarding the re-settlement in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli minister said that where there are settlements, there will be security. He added that US President Joe Biden is making a "very grave mistake" by talking about a two-state solution, stressing that the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel will lead to a Holocaust, as he described it.

Eliyahu sparked widespread controversy when he spoke early last November about the possibility of dropping an atomic bomb on Gaza, as he believed that there is no innocent there. Ministers in the Israeli government - most notably Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich - had called for the displacement of Gaza's residents and the return of Jewish settlers to the Strip. Ben Gvir and Smotrich participated in the Return to Gaza conference, which was organized by settlement associations and right-wing parties in occupied Jerusalem at the end of last January. The Minister of Security has repeatedly said that he has a plan aimed at encouraging Gazans to voluntarily migrate to other countries around the world by offering financial incentives.

Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said on Saturday that Tel Aviv will achieve its goals in the Gaza Strip until the end and then move to Lebanon. In press statements published by the Hebrew Channel 12, the Israeli National Security Advisor demanded the release of all hostages and the immediate release of the women. He stated in his statements that the war in Gaza will not end with the release of the kidnapped people.

In response to a question about the war in the north, Tzachi Hanegbi said: We kill terrorists every day until they understand the price of aggression against us... I think Hezbollah is beginning to understand the price. "The fighting has not escalated into civilians versus civilians, it is army versus army," he added. He continued, saying: I supported the decision not to fight in two arenas. We will return the people to a place where there is no Ridwan Force on the border in a political and diplomatic way, and if that is not the case, then in a military way, adding, If it is not achieved in a political way, we will have to achieved in a military manner.

Regarding the Israeli delegation returning from the Paris talks to discuss an agreement to release the hostages, he said that the delegation reiterated that there is something that must be updated, and that is the reason for the war cabinet meeting that will be held tonight. He added: "Our position is that the plan will not be interpreted under any circumstances as the end of the war," noting that Israel's demands include the release of all hostages and the immediate release of women.

Hanegbi also addressed the issue of Rafah, stating, "We are confident that when the army obtains the approval of the political leadership to operate in Rafah, we will destroy all Hamas brigades, those that still exist in Rafah and other places."

The Israeli newspaper "Maariv" quoted retired Israeli General Itzhak Brik as saying that he spoke about what he called "total chaos" among soldiers in the Gaza Strip that is not being talked about in the media, related to equipment and logistical services. Brik said that he had received complaints from soldiers regarding equipment malfunctions and shortages, and added that dozens of damaged tanks were still stuck waiting to be towed out of the sector. He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed after October 7 that the army was not ready for war immediately due to the presence of soldiers who had not trained for 5 years, in addition to the shortage of equipment. A few days ago, Israeli Army Radio revealed that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy decided to launch internal investigations into all units into the events of last October 7, expecting the investigations to continue for 3 months and to extend to all army units.

Major General (Res.) Itzhak Brik is a Fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University, Herzliya. Near his retirement from this position in 2018, and even more so afterward, Brik became known as a harsh critic of the preparation of the IDF and the Ministry of Defense to a regional war in the Middle East, and is considered in Israel as the "prophet of wrath" of the 2023 IsraelHamas war.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed to his American counterpart Joe Biden the necessity of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip , and his opposition to launching an attack on Rafah. The French presidency stated that Macron and Biden stressed the necessity of reaching an agreement on prisoners that would allow the fighting to stop and end the escalation. They also stressed the urgent need to ensure humanitarian access to Gaza. The two sides affirmed their common determination to avoid the expansion of the conflict regionally, especially in Lebanon.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that his country is disappointed by Israel's announcement of plans to build 3,000 housing units in settlements in the occupied West Bank , considering that they contradict international law. Blinken added, during a press conference in Buenos Aires yesterday, Friday, during his visit to Argentina, commenting on the issue, With regard to the settlements, we have seen these reports and I must say that we are disappointed by this announcement, and Israels expansion in building settlements is contrary to the law. International".

Blinken said, "It has been long-standing American policy under both Republican and Democratic administrations that new settlements are counterproductive to achieving lasting peace. They are also inconsistent with international law. Our administration maintains its firm opposition to settlement expansion. In our view, This only weakens Israel's security and does not strengthen it."

The administration of US President Joe Biden objects to the expansion of settlements, and says that it harms efforts for permanent peace, but Blinken's statement yesterday was the first occasion in which an American official says that it conflicts with international law. The US administration recently imposed sanctions on 4 Israelis accused of involvement in violence launched by settlers.

Most countries consider the settlements, which separate Palestinian communities from each other by many areas, a violation of international law. The Palestinians and the international community say that transferring civilians from any country to occupied territories is illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and UN Security Council resolutions. Little progress has been made towards the establishment of a Palestinian state since the signing of the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. Among the obstacles to this is the expansion of Israeli settlements.

The Washington Post revealed great dissatisfaction in the American administration with the settlement plans that the Israeli government intends to begin implementing in the West Bank. The newspaper explained that this dissatisfaction explains the Biden administrations decision to consider Israeli settlement in the West Bank contradictory to international law, in retreat from a decision taken by the previous administration, led by Donald Trump. The Washington Post quoted American officials who described the Israelis determination to proceed with settlement plans, after all the American support for them, as a disregard for the American administration.

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other armed groups present in the Gaza Strip carried out an attack in Israel, killing more than 1,200 persons, injuring thousands and abducting some 240 people, many of whom continue to be held hostage. It was the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war. Palestinian armed groups launched thousands of missiles at Israel Following this attack, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, by land, air and sea.

The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy."

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant considered 05 February 2024 that half the number of Hamas militants were killed or seriously injured by Israeli army forces.

A Hamas official based in Qatar told Reuters 19 February 2024 that the terrorist group estimates that 6,000 of its fighters have been killed by Israeli forces. That number is about half of the 12,000 terrorists that Israel said it has killed since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led massacre,

As of 15 February 2024, The Director-General of the HAMAS Government Information Office in the Gaza Strip , Ismail Al-Thawabta, stated "the toll of the aggression had risen to about 35,500 martyrs and missing persons, including 28,663 martyrs and 68,395 injuries. There are about 2,493 massacres committed by the occupation army. Among the martyrs were about 12,400 children, 8,450 women, 340 medical personnel, 46 civil defense personnel, and 126 journalists. There are approximately 11,000 wounded people who need to travel for treatment.... we received live testimonies stating that the occupation army committed field executions against more than 137 Palestinian civilian detainees in the Gaza and North governorates."

The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to 29,606 martyrs, "including 12,300 dead children, 8,400 women, 340 medical personnel, 46 civil defense, and 124 journalists." He pointed out that "7,000 people are missing, 70% of whom are children and women, The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The number wounded was 69,737. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said much earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 8,000, including including 4,700 children and women, amid expectations that the toll will be double thi figures.

The IDF intensified its military operations in the West Bank, and increased the pace of incursions and raids into cities, towns, and camps, resulting in the martyrdom of 402 [399?] Palestinians, including 102 children, the injury of about 4,545, and the arrest of 7,120, according to official HAMAS sources. As of 17 January 2023, the Israeli escalation in the West Bank led to the death of 360 Palestinians, the injury of nearly 2,200, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the arrest of about 6,000, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.

More than 202 Hezbollah fighters were killed in Lebanon during exchanges of bombing operations with Israel.

Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.

The total announced number of Israeli officers and soldiers killed had risen to 575 since the start of the war on October 7, including 243 [235?] killed since the ground invasion as a result of the ongoing clashes with the Palestinian resistance. Among them were at least 56 with the rank of platoon commander, 43 with the rank of company commander, 9 with the rank of battalion commander, and 5 with the rank of brigade commander. These officers constitute 23% of the total deaths of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza.

Israeli media reported that 27% of the Israeli military casualties in the war were officers. In detail, the media highlighted that three brigade commanders, four battalion commanders, and other senior officers have been killed in the war so far.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that 29 of the army's deaths were caused by "friendly fire" and operational incidents since the start of the ground war in Gaza, late last October. The Israeli authority explained that "18 army soldiers were killed by friendly fire, two were killed as a result of gunfire (without explanation), and 9 Israeli soldiers were killed in ammunition, weapons, or run-over accidents." The Jerusalem Post newspaper revealed that 15 soldiers were killed in the Strip without their bodies being found.

According to some reports statistics indicate that 20% of the Israeli losses were due to friendly fire. Because the nature of the battle has become completely different from what was expected, and it lacks a front line.

Haaretz newspaper quoted the Israeli Ministry of Defense as saying that the Medical Rehabilitation Department has treated more than 5,500 wounded since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7. Israeli Army Radio reported that the Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense is preparing to receive 20,000 wounded this year, compared to 5,500 wounded received last year since the start of the war.

It was announced that soldiers wounded in the Gaza Strip battles numbered to 2,962 since the beginning of the war, including 1,397 who had been wounded since the start of the ground attack on October 27, 2023.

The Israeli army reported that 407 who are still receiving treatment for their injuries in the Gaza battles, and the condition of 48 of them is serious. The number of injured among the Israeli army since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip on October 27 included 602 minor cases, 430 moderate cases, and 264 critical cases.

The Israeli army published new data about those wounded in the military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army announces that 540 soldiers were injured in the Gaza Strip. According to army data, 540 soldiers, including 27 seriously injured, were injured in operational incidents since the start of the bombing of the Gaza Strip. There were also 21 accidental shooting incidents in the Gaza Strip, 54 bilateral shooting incidents and 31 traffic accidents. In addition, 388 incidents occurred, including ramming anti-tank rifles, anti-aircraft guns, weapons and machine guns.

At least 14,377 Israelis were injured, according to i24 TV.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper had reported that 5,000 soldiers had been wounded since the beginning of the war on October 7, and that the Ministry of Defense had recognized 2,000 soldiers as disabled so far.

An estimate by the Israeli Ministry of Defense expected that the number of soldiers with disabilities in the war taking place in the Gaza Strip since October 7 of last year would reach 12,500 soldiers. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the Soldiers' Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense has dealt with 3,400 soldiers who were classified as disabled in the army since last October 7.

The Israeli army revealed that about 9,000 of its soldiers have received psychological assistance since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, and about a quarter of them have not returned to combat. This came according to a new statement revealed by the Army Medical Corps, according to Channel 12 and the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. According to the statement, nearly 9,000 soldiers have applied for psychological assistance since the beginning of the war, and approximately a quarter of them have not returned to combat.

The statement continued, "In total, about 13,000 regular and reserve soldiers required accompaniment or medical treatment at some level during the fighting, and thousands of them were injured in the battles."

Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi expressed his conviction that the numbers of dead and wounded announced by Israel cannot represent the truth, due to a discrepancy between the Israeli armys data and the Walla website, which is close to the army itself.

In an interview with RT, Military strategist retired Tunisian Brigadier General Tawfiq Didi said that the number of Israeli army deaths in the Gaza battles is much greater than what Israel announces. Didi explained in an interview with the Best Saying program on RT channel, The number of people killed in battles can be easily known, as the equation in wars is that for every 3 wounded there is a dead person, and the numbers now in Israel hover around 12,500 wounded and disabled people, and when we divide by Three, we find that the death toll exceeds 4,000, especially after eliminating more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles, and I know what happens when Kornet missiles hit a tank. Its ammunition explodes and no one is left alive.

He added, "The Israelis announce their dead only of those of Jewish origin and of the first race, meaning all Arabs, Falash, and those who are among them. They are not counted because they are of the second category. So I am sure that the number exceeds 4 thousand dead, and this is a very easy military calculation."

He pointed out, "The Palestinian resistance documented everything it did, unlike the Israelis. The resistance documented shooting at tanks and armored vehicles and destroying the houses in which the Israeli soldiers were holed up, and we saw them being killed... We saw the Kornet hitting the tanks, we saw Al-Yassin 105, so the difference is clear."

Hostages

Israel announced 12 February 2024 that the total number of prisoners that the army was able to recover in exchange deals and through military operations was 126 people, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers.

Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been held as hostages in Gaza since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Unlike the roughly 240 people kidnapped in the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the campaign for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed has received little publicity. Mengistu is known to suffer from what HRW deemed "serious" mental health issues. "Avera crossed one of the safest borders in the world, under the eyes of the security services," recalled Gil Elias, a relative. "We're talking about a mentally ill person who got lost." The calls for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed have been barely audible during the many years they have been held captive in Gaza.

Israel had previously estimated there were 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody. Israel declared 20 out of 136 people in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages. By another count, 132 of them are still being held in Gaza, and 25 of them have been confirmed dead. Israel considers those still held by Hamas to be hostages regardless of whether they are dead or alive.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy earlier had told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children.

Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023:

Hamas still held 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war

The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead

117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females

126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals

Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen

Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older.

There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack

Hamas had released 110 hostages so far  86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals.

Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on 07 February 2024 that 31 hostages detained in Gaza had died. He added in a press conference, "We informed 31 families that their detained relatives had died, and thus we announce their deaths."

According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said.

The Al-Qassam Brigades announced on 11 February 2024 that the continuous Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip during the past 96 hours led to the death of 2 prisoners and the serious injury of 8 others.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club revealed that about 11,000 arrests were carried out by the Israeli army during the year 2023 in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, in addition to arrests from the Gaza Strip before the seventh of last October. The number of people arrested by the Israelis in the West Bank since that date has exceeded 7,100. The total number of prisoners in Israeli prisons exceeds 9,000 Palestinians. Palestinian prisoner institutions said 661 were classified as unlawful combatants from Gaza, and this is the number available only as a clear given.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club said that there has been a significant increase in the number of Palestinian administrative detainees in Israeli prisons since October 7, with 3,484 detainees recorded, including children and women. The club added in a statement that "this number was not actually recorded even during the years of the 1987 uprising."

Israel said on 19 February 2024 that, since the beginning of the war, approximately 3,200 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, over 1,350 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas. On 08 January 2024 it was reported that more than 1,350 wanted persons had been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, more than 870 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas.

The institutions added in the statement that the occupation arrested 210 women during the aforementioned period, and this statistic includes women who were arrested from the territories in 1948, and more than 355 children, pointing out that the outcome of the arrest campaigns includes all those who were arrested from homes, and through military checkpoints, Those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were detained. It explained that "the number of arrests among journalists reached 50, of whom 35 remain in detention, and 20 of them were transferred to administrative detention."

The announced numbers of detainees do not include those who were detained from Gaza since the start of the operation in the Gaza Strip, as there is no accurate census of these numbers. As of 15 February 2024, the Director-General of the HAMAS Government Information Office in the Gaza Strip , Ismail Al-Thawabta, stated "the information available to us is that the occupation arrested approximately 2,600 people, including 99 medical personnel and 10 journalists."

Israel has rejected international legal adaptations since 1967, and has treated the Palestinians as criminals, and tried them before military courts and not as prisoners of war. Because the POW is not tried, but is released when the war stops, or as a result of a political agreement.

But international humanitarian law sets clear conditions relating to the Palestinians, whether as prisoners of war or organized groups with one leadership and carrying a unified slogan, and these conditions apply to Palestinian resistance fighters, specifically armed groups. International law, through the Third Geneva Conventions, which relate to prisoners of war and armed conflicts, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which relates to civilians under occupation; Provide full protection to Palestinian prisoners and groups, including resistance factions.

The obstacles imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities became very different after the seventh of last October. They decided to cancel all trials in order to double the sentences issued against detainees, and now The scope of arguments before lawyers is very limited, due to military orders, and not according to legal data.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 24 February 2024 - Day 730

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on Russia originally deployed approximately 130 Battalion Tactical Groups for its invasion of Ukraine. This likely included approximately 1,300 tanks, over 5,000 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and armoured personnel carriers (IAPCs), and at least 100,000 personnel.

In two years of conflict, Russian losses match  and in many cases surpass  those that comprised its original force. Confirmed Russian losses include over 2,700 tanks and 5,000 IFVs and APCs. Russia's killed and wounded are likely approximately 350,000 personnel.

Mobilisation and recruitment, production and refurbishment of existing stockpiles means that losses have been replaced. Russian forces in Ukraine are now larger in number than at the start of the war. It is now able to maintain attacks along the front line and pursue a strategy of attrition against Ukrainian forces.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 24, there were 69x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 7x missile and 54x air strikes, carried out 77x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements.

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. Around 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha, Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: Russia conducted no offensives. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault near Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes near Bohdanivka, New York and Dyliivka (Donetsk oblast). More than10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Lastochkyne, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Oleksandropil', Novoselivka Persha, Berdychi, Semenivka, Novobakhmutivka, Orlivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian invaders made 23x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near Kostyantynivka, Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x attack south of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). 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, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Chervone, Robotyne Mali Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. During the day, Russian forces made 2x attempts to assault positions of Ukrainian troops. Around 10x settlements, including Novotyahynka, Tyahynka, Krynky, Ivanivka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast), and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of February 24, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 13x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x radar 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 inflicted losses on units of the AFU 30th and 32th mechanised brigades and repelled three counterattacks near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two pickup trucks, and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on units of the AFU 28th Mechanised Brigade and 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Krasnoye and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Moreover, one counterattack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 395 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued to take more advantageous lines and positions, as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th and 53rd mechanised brigades.

Two counterattacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 59th Mechanised Brigade and 3rd Assault Brigade were repelled near Pervomayskoye and Latochkino (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 425 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three tanks, 10 armoured fighting vehicles, and 24 motor vehicles.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 108th Territorial Defence Brigade near Lugovskoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, one counterattack of the AFU 58th Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Shevchenko (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops, six motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery howitzer.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 65th and 118th mechanised brigades near Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer.

In addition, one AFU field ammunition depot was destroyed.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 117 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down two Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 aircraft near Yasenovoye and Selidovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

One JDAM guided aerial bomb and two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles were intercepted over the past 24 hours.

In addition, 92 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been neutralised close to Volnovakha (Donetsk People's Republic), Chubaryovka (Zaporozhye region), Novaya Zburyevka, and Novaya Mayachka (Kherson region).

In total, 574 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 13,315 unmanned aerial vehicles, 473 air defence missile systems, 15,207 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,223 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,152 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,030 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Covina, Feb. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the recent research study, the Connected Healthcare Market size was valued at about USD 124.5 Billion in 2024 and expected to grow at CAGR of 28.60% to extend a value of USD 959.1 Billion by 2034.

What is Connected Healthcare?

Market Overview:

Connected healthcare refers to the integration of technology into healthcare systems to improve the delivery and accessibility of medical services, enhance patient outcomes, and streamline operations. At its core, connected healthcare leverages various digital technologies to facilitate communication, data sharing, and collaboration among patients, healthcare providers, medical devices, and systems.

Among the essential elements of linked healthcare are:

Health Information Technology (HIT): This encompasses electronic health records (EHRs), patient portals, telemedicine platforms, and other digital tools that enable the secure exchange of health information between patients and healthcare providers.

This encompasses electronic health records (EHRs), patient portals, telemedicine platforms, and other digital tools that enable the secure exchange of health information between patients and healthcare providers. Internet of Things (IoT) Devices: IoT devices such as wearable fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical sensors collect real-time data on patients' health metrics, activities, and vital signs. These devices enable remote monitoring and proactive healthcare interventions.

IoT devices such as wearable fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical sensors collect real-time data on patients' health metrics, activities, and vital signs. These devices enable remote monitoring and proactive healthcare interventions. Telemedicine and Telehealth Services: Telemedicine platforms allow patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely, reducing the need for in-person visits and improving access to medical care, especially in underserved areas.

Telemedicine platforms allow patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely, reducing the need for in-person visits and improving access to medical care, especially in underserved areas. Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Advanced analytics and AI algorithms can process large volumes of healthcare data to identify trends, predict patient outcomes, and personalize treatment plans. These technologies also play a crucial role in disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and population health management.

Advanced analytics and AI algorithms can process large volumes of healthcare data to identify trends, predict patient outcomes, and personalize treatment plans. These technologies also play a crucial role in disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and population health management. Mobile Health (mHealth) Applications: Mobile apps empower patients to track their health metrics, manage chronic conditions, access educational resources, and communicate with their healthcare providers conveniently from their smartphones or tablets.

Mobile apps empower patients to track their health metrics, manage chronic conditions, access educational resources, and communicate with their healthcare providers conveniently from their smartphones or tablets. Interoperability Standards: Standardized protocols and interoperable systems enable seamless data exchange and integration across different healthcare facilities, electronic devices, and software platforms.

Get Access to Free Sample Research Report with Latest Industry Insights:

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*Note: PMI Sample Report includes,

Overview & introduction of market study

Revenue and CAGR of market

Drivers & Restrains factors of market

Major key players in market

Regional analysis of the market with a detailed graph

Detailed segmentation in tabular form of market

Recent development/news of market

Opportunities & Challenges of Market

Top Leading Players in Connected Healthcare Market:

Accenture Plc.

IBM Corporation

SAP SE

GE Healthcare Inc.

Oracle Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

AirStrip Technologies Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation.

Market Dynamics:

Driving Factors:

Rapid advancements in digital health technologies, such as IoT, AI, cloud computing, and mobile applications, are driving the expansion of connected healthcare solutions.

The growing demand for remote monitoring solutions and telemedicine services, particularly in rural and underserved areas, is fueling the adoption of connected healthcare systems.

The aging population and the rise in chronic diseases are increasing the need for remote patient monitoring, personalized care plans, and proactive interventions, driving the demand for connected healthcare solutions.

Healthcare providers are under pressure to reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and enhance patient outcomes. Connected healthcare technologies offer opportunities to streamline workflows, optimize resource utilization, and prevent costly medical errors.

Government regulations, policies, and financial incentives aimed at promoting interoperability, data exchange, and telehealth adoption are driving the implementation of connected healthcare solutions.

Patients are becoming more proactive in managing their health and expect convenient access to healthcare services, personalized care experiences, and real-time health information, driving the demand for connected healthcare solutions.

Restrain Factors:

Data Security and Privacy Concerns

Interoperability Challenges

Emerging Trends and Opportunities in Connected Healthcare Market:

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the aging population drive the demand for remote patient monitoring solutions. RPM enables healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients' health metrics, vital signs, and medication adherence in real-time, facilitating early intervention, personalized care plans, and improved patient outcomes.

The proliferation of wearable health technologies, such as smart watches, fitness trackers, and medical-grade wearables, enables individuals to monitor their health and fitness metrics continuously.

Telemedicine and virtual care solutions enable patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely, eliminating geographical barriers, improving access to medical services, and reducing healthcare costs.

AI-powered analytics and machine learning algorithms analyze vast amounts of healthcare data to identify patterns, trends, and insights that inform clinical decision-making, disease diagnosis, and treatment optimization.

Blockchain technology offers opportunities to enhance data security, integrity, and interoperability in connected healthcare systems. By enabling secure and transparent transactions, data sharing, and decentralized health information exchange, Blockchain can address challenges related to data privacy, identity management, and healthcare data interoperability.

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Challenges of Connected Healthcare Market:



Disparities in access to technology, internet connectivity, and digital literacy skills among different populations contribute to a digital divide in healthcare.

Socioeconomic factors, geographic location, and cultural barriers may limit access to connected healthcare services, exacerbating health inequities and widening disparities in healthcare outcomes.

Integrating connected healthcare solutions with existing healthcare infrastructure, legacy systems, and electronic health record (EHR) systems poses technical challenges and interoperability issues.

Seamless integration requires compatibility, data standardization, and interoperability protocols to ensure data exchange and workflow integration across diverse healthcare settings.

Limited financial resources, budget constraints, and uncertainty about the return on investment (ROI) for connected healthcare investments may deter healthcare organizations from adopting and scaling connected healthcare solutions.

Demonstrating tangible benefits, cost savings, and improved patient outcomes is critical to justify investment in connected healthcare technologies.

Detailed Segmentation:

Connected Healthcare Market, By Function:

Telemedicine Home Monitoring Assisted Living Clinical Monitoring



Connected Healthcare Market, By Type:

e-Prescription mHealth Services mHealth Devices



Connected Healthcare Market, By Application:

Diagnosis & Treatment Monitoring Applications Education & Awareness Wellness & Prevention Healthcare Management Others



Connected Healthcare Market, By Region:

North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK France Russia Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC Israel South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa



Regional Analysis:

Regional insights highlight the diverse market dynamics, regulatory landscapes, and growth drivers shaping the Connected Healthcare Market across different geographic areas. Understanding regional nuances and market trends is essential for stakeholders to capitalize on emerging opportunities and drive market expansion in the Connected Healthcare sector.

Asia Pacific market is estimated to witness the fastest share over the forecast period as remote patient monitoring solutions are increasingly adopted in North America to monitor patients with chronic conditions, manage population health, and prevent hospital readmissions. RPM technologies, including wearable sensors, mobile apps, and remote monitoring devices, empower patients to take an active role in managing their health and facilitate proactive interventions by healthcare providers.

Report scope:

Attribute Details Market Size 2024 US$ 124.5 Billion Projected Market Size 2034 US$ 959.1 Billion CAGR Growth Rate 28.60% Base year for estimation 2023 Forecast period 2024  2034 Market representation Revenue in USD Million & CAGR from 2024 to 2034 Market Segmentation By Function - Telemedicine, Home Monitoring, Assisted Living, and Clinical Monitoring



By Type  e-Prescription, mHealth Services, and mHealth Devices



By Application  Diagnosis & Treatment, Monitoring Applications, Education & Awareness, Wellness & Prevention, Healthcare Management, and Others Regional scope North America - U.S., Canada



Europe - UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific - Japan, India, China, South Korea, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific



Latin America - Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America



Middle East & Africa - South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Rest of Middle East & Africa Report coverage Revenue forecast, company share, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Key highlights of the Connected Healthcare Market:

Connected Healthcare market has been experiencing steady growth due to factors such as increasing healthcare expenditure, technological advancements, and rising demand for cost-effective manufacturing solutions.

Connected Healthcare offers cost-efficient solutions for manufacturers by reducing overhead costs, labor expenses, and infrastructure investments associated with in-house production.

Outsourcing firms often possess specialized expertise in areas such as design, engineering, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing processes, allowing medical device companies to access skills and resources that may not be available internally.

Outsourcing partners help medical device companies navigate complex regulatory landscapes and ensure compliance with stringent quality and safety standards imposed by regulatory authorities such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the United States marking regulations in Europe.

Outsourcing enables medical device manufacturers to expand their market reach by accessing outsourcing partners with established networks, distribution channels, and market presence in various regions across the globe.

The Connected Healthcare market is characterized by strategic partnerships and collaborations between manufacturers and outsourcing firms, allowing for shared expertise, risk mitigation, and innovation throughout the product development lifecycle.

Rapid advancements in technology, such as additive manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital health solutions, are driving innovation and efficiency in the Connected Healthcare market.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says he is confident that the US Congress will make a positive decision on allocating $50 billion in aid to the country. The decision is expected to be made in a month.

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"There is hope for the Congress. I am sure it will be positive. Otherwise, I don't understand what kind of world we are starting to live in. It's definitely not the same. They know we need money within a month. I met with senators, with both parties... We need a decision within a month. They also know our request for air defense. If we talk about it, let's talk about our vision today. This money mostly remains in the United States in those companies that are manufacturers," the president said during his press conference on February 25.

It is worth noting that Zelensky held a meeting with delegations from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on February 17 on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. At the meeting, the parties discussed Ukraine's priority defense needs. In particular, they talked about additional artillery systems, shells, long-range weapons, electronic warfare, and strengthening air defense.

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The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned without considering the bill on assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. American lawmakers will return to work on February 28.

As you know, on February 13, the US Senate supported a bill that provides a total of $95.3 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Of this amount, $60 billion should go to Ukraine. However, the Senate's decision is not enough to allocate the money - the bill must pass the House of Representatives.

To recap, the $60 billion for Ukraine includes:

- $19.85 billion for U.S. weapons and equipment provided to Ukraine from the Pentagon's stockpile;

- $13.8 billion for the purchase of weapons and ammunition from the US defense industrial base;

- $14.8 billion for continued training of the Ukrainian military, intelligence sharing and other support measures;

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- $7.85 billion for direct budget support to Ukraine;

- $1.58 billion to support the development of the Ukrainian economy in priority sectors.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- A bipartisan group of American lawmakers has submitted another bill to help Ukraine. The authors made proposals to protect the US borders, but removed the humanitarian component, leaving funding only for military assistance to Ukraine and Israel.

- The Pentagon promised that they would be able to send new aid packages to Ukraine in a short time as soon as the US Congress passes the bill. The Defense Department will need only a few days to do so.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The quad 50MP cameras on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra promise to be some of the best of 2024. The phone was just announced for the Chinese market, but a European launch is coming soon  Xiaomi will make the announcement on February 25 in Barcelona. The Xiaomi 14 series will arrive in India on March 7, presumably with both the 14 and 14 Ultra. We know its early to make final decisions, but we wanted to know how you feel about the new Ultra.

First, lets have a quick comparison with the old Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The main camera uses a 1 sensor, but its the new Sony LYT-900 instead of the IMX989, which was also used in 2022s Xiaomi 12S Ultra. And the new model has a brighter f/1.63 lens, which lets in 136% more light than the f/1.9 lens on the 13 Ultra. Of course, both can close down to f/4.0, depending on the look you are after for your photos.



Xiaomi 14 Ultras quad camera setup

Another thing, the 120mm periscope now has an f/2.5 aperture compared to f/3.0, which should again let in more light. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 brings more compute power and the phone debuts the Xiaomi AISP (AI + ISP), which is a bundle of several models that combine RAW images, do tone mapping and enhance portraits.

Speaking of, the Snapdragon chip is cooled by a dual channel vapor chamber that also pulls heat away from the image sensors. Xiaomi says this enables the phone to record high definition video without overheating as well as play the most demanding games.



The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is powered by the SD 8 Gen 3 and a 5,300mAh battery

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra starts at CNY 6,500 ($900/840/76,000) for a 12/256GB unit. There is also a 16/512GB option for CNY 7,000 and 16GB/1TB for CNY 7,800. These have aluminum frames. There is a Titanium special edition too (16GB/1TB) for CNY 8,800.



6.73 QHD+ 120Hz 12-bit LTPO display

Its still early in the year, but we already saw another phone with a 1 camera  the Oppo Find X7 Ultra with the same LYT-900. This one also has quad 50MP cameras, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a 6.82 QHD+ LTPO OLED display, a fast-charging 5,000mAh battery and so on. This one starts at CNY 6,000 for a 12/256GB phone, though whether it ever leaves China or not is not clear.

We will also include the vivo X100 Pro from last year. This one uses the old IMX989 and has two 50MP modules  a 119 ultra wide and a single 100mm periscope (the Xiaomi and Oppo both have two tele lenses). No Snapdragon on this one, instead vivo picked the Dimensity 9300. The 12/256GB model is CNY 5,000 in China, but the X100 Pro is also available in Europe in 16/512GB trim for 1,200 and in India for 90,000.



Oppo Find X7 Ultra  vivo X100 Pro

It goes without saying that you should compare prices like for like, i.e. the Xiaomi 14 Ultra will definitely be over 1,000 in Europe  the 13 Ultra was 1,500, so the 2024 model will be around that price point.

What do you think  did Xiaomi build the best camera flagship ever, price be damned? Or maybe it should work harder to keep global prices closer to those in China?
Members from a dozen different entities representing the descendants of those who fought and died in Guam during World War II gathered in peace on Saturday to pay respects and honor all who sacrificed during conflict.

The 13th Peace Memorial Ceremony at the South Pacific Memorial Park in Yigo was reinstated after a 5-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 12th Peace Memorial Ceremony was held in the late summer of 2019.

In attendance were acting Gov. Joshua Tenorio, Japan Consul-General Rumiko Ishigami, members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, commander, Joint Region Marianas, various Japanese organizations, and leaders of the South Pacific Memorial Association Inc., along with several other guests.

Eto Seiichi, chairman of the South Pacific Memorial Association Inc., said through a translator that the war on Guam brought lots of people from Japan and the U.S., and many of them lost their lives.

To be able to come together today, both sides coming together for peace, is a very memorable event, he said. In fact the South Pacific Memorial is the first memorial in this entire region. So in that sense its also a memorable event. Its a fruitful day.

Seiichi has been visiting Guam for the last 12 years. He said he was happy to see that the event was well attended, and that it was blessed with good weather.

Breezy gusts lifted hats and hair and made the overcast day a little cooler. After remarks by dignitaries, clergy from both Guam and Japan offered blessings for the event and prayers for lost ones.

I didnt experience the second World War but so many soldiers from Japan and America died on these lands. So I pray for peace and peace of soul, said the Rev. Ryujo Fujita, chief abbot of Kawasaki-Daishi Heiken-Ji Temple. The ceremony was very good, very fine. God blessed us.

Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese of Agana, Fr. Romeo Convocar, prayed together with Fr. Paul Gofigan, pastor at the nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Yigo. Following that prayer, groups were invited to lay wreaths at the base of the memorial, followed by individuals who placed long-stemmed white flowers on a table. Many bowed their heads afterward in a sign of respect.

Lt. Cmdr. Samantha Ponce said that the event was beautiful, and the wreaths and flowers commemorate the event nicely.

Todays ceremony to me encapsulates the friendships we made over the years and to keep peace on our mind in the trying times we have moving forward, she said.

Huffman shared in the solemn moment as he too, placed a wreath at the memorial base.

The opportunity to for us to gather together with our friends here from Japan that are still able to remember all the sacrifices that went on in the second World War; the shared sacrifices from American service members, from Japanese service members and from CHamorus here on Guam, and the opportunity to gather in peace is inspiring and it really sets the tone going forward in the future, he said. And assuring that we are good partners, good allies and good friends and that we move past war and can work together to prevent war in the future.

I think the fact that we were able to bring together all of the people representing the different faiths and the different nations really was important to honor the sacrifices of everybody.
Journalist Zhanna Nemtsova, the daughter of the murdered opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, called on the West to provide even more support to Ukraine. According to her, this is how the civilized world should take revenge on dictator Vladimir Putin for the murder of Alexei Navalny.

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She noted that the West is currently not supporting Ukraine enough in its fight against Russia. Nemtsova said this in an interview with the Current Time media outlet.

The daughter of the murdered opposition politician said that the situation at the front is unfavorable for Ukraine. Therefore, the West should continue to provide military, economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

"Ukraine should not lose this war. It is very important, and I think that one of the important steps that the West can take is to agree on new aid packages, to deploy military production in Europe, and to produce ammunition," Nemtsova said.

In addition, she said that there are companies and individuals in the Russian Federation against whom no sanctions have been imposed, despite the fact that they are accomplices of the war. Nemtsova emphasized that Western countries should increase their pressure on such companies.

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Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Guam saw its third cruise ship visit for 2024 on Sunday, with MS Artania bringing 1,542 passengers from France and Germany and crew, according to the Port Authority of Guam and the Guam Visitors Bureau.

The Guam stop is part of the cruise ships five-month long tour around the world.

MS Artanias visit brings to nearly 9,000 the number of additional visitors to Guam through passenger cruise ships since the start of the year, and at least nine more visits are expected throughout the rest of 2024.

The 758-foot MS Artania docked at the Port Authority of Guam at 7:30 a.m. Sunday with 1,031 passengers and 511 crew members, according to the port.

At the dock, shell leis and warm Hafa Adai greetings from GVB welcomed the passengers.

Passengers from France and Germany boarded the Artania in Germany for a five-month long tour around the world. Their tour includes at least 25 countries to include our island nations in the Pacific such as Marshall Islands, Chuuk, Saipan, and Guam, GVB said.

The cruise ship was scheduled to depart the port at 9 p.m. Sunday, giving its passengers time to explore Guams beauty and hospitality for the day.

The coordination to receive cruise vessels like the MS Artania at the Port Authority of Guam, which is primarily a container yard, requires extensive collaboration, Port General Manager Rory J. Respicio said in a statement.

Respicio said it is a testament to the effectiveness of teamwork between GVB, Inchcape Shipping Services, the ships agent, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, Customs and Border Protection, and the Port Authority of Guam.

Each entity plays a critical role, ensuring smooth operations to welcome tourists, thereby enhancing Guams tourism industry and local economy, he added.

Other potential cruise ship visits to Guam include the MS Asuka II on March 3, the MS Queen Elizabeth on March 21, the Le Soleal on March 24, the Carnival on April 8, the Seabourn on May 14 and Sept. 7, the Le Soleal on Oct. 8, the Carnival on Oct. 22, and the MS Asuka II on Dec. 30.

MS Artanias visit comes just a week after MS Zuiderdam brought 1,920 passengers and crew to Guam on Feb. 18.

Before that, MSC Bellissima visited Guam with 5,494 passengers and crew.

Respicio has said that the influx of passengers onboard cruise ships is a boost to Guams tourism industry, and highlights Guam as a premiere luxury cruise destination.
Guam has five visitor security officers and two Department of Military Affairs security officers who are trained on defensive tactics, according to a press release from the Guam Visitors Bureau.

The seven received certificates on Friday after 40 hours of defensive tactics training from Park Police Superintendent and certified defensive tactics instructor Joey Terlaje.

The officers who received the training were:

VSO Joanna Richards

VSO Donny Atoigue

VSO Jonathan Cruz

VSO Zachary Gay

VSO Chanse Aguon

DMASO Xavier Naputi

DMASO Onria Atalig.

The Visitors Security Officer Corps was initially created out of GovGuams Crimes Against Tourists in Tumon program in 2014.

The corps has developed rapidly from Hafa Adai spirit ambassadors to fully trained security officers, now with CPR/AED and defensive tactical training that includes control concepts, handcuffing, counterstriking, restraint systems, weapons, and equipment training.

The VSOs defensive tactical training was implemented at the request of GVB President and CEO Carl T.C. Gutierrez during the first Tumon Security Task Force Meeting on Jan. 19.

That was days after a Korean tourist was shot during a robbery and later died at the hospital.

GVB called for the task force meeting to gather officials from the Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation, G4S, Tamuning Mayors Office, the Office of the Attorney General and senators to discuss strategies on safety and security, destination, and service culture improvements for Guam.

Since the meeting, the task force has been actively working together to achieve its primary goals of crime prevention and the safety of the islands visitors and residents.

These are trying times right now and every agency needs to come together to keep our promise of making Guam a safe place to live and visit. This tactical training of our VSOs and the DMA security officers is only one of the many measures we are taking to improve safety and security on the island, Gutierrez said in a statement.

The defensive tactics training program will continue for all VSOs and other pertinent security personnel, GVB said.

A small certification awarding ceremony was held at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Park Police Training Room in the Paseo de Susana Stadium with a short skills demonstration afterward.

Terlaje was joined by Parks and Recreation Director Angel Sablan, G4S Country General Manager Theresa Sakazaki, G4S Integrated Security Strategic Director Ronnie Delfin, G4S VSO Operations Director Paul Suba, and GVB Director of Destination Management Dee Hernandez in presenting the certificates.
Guam's Underwood, others on Biden's commission on Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders to hold public meeting in Nevada
Guam Memorial Hospital Authoritys state of finances and complaints against officers with the Guam Police Department, along with recent robbery and murder cases, will be the subject of separate oversight hearings this week at the Legislature.

Sen. Joe San Agustins appropriations committee will hold a 2 p.m. Monday oversight hearing meant to dig into GMHAs appropriations for fiscal 2024 from all fund sources, allocations of its appropriations, encumbered appropriations, and capital improvements, among other things.

This comes months after an additional $50 million-plus bailout for GMHA and continuing concerns about its finances that impact patient care, recruitment of doctors and nurses, purchase of supplies and mold mitigation, among other things.

This also comes days after senators narrowly passed Sen. Chris Barnetts bill seeking to place a new GMH at Ypao Point in Tamuning, which the governor said she will veto. Senators also narrowly voted down Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros sponsored bill seeking to place a new GMH in the Mangilao-Barrigada area.

Complaints vs investigations closed

Barnetts public safety committee, meanwhile, called for a 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 oversight hearing on complaints against GPD officers.

The oversight hearing seeks to find out, among other things, the number of complaints against GPD officers in 2023 and 2024, the number of complaints received versus investigations closed, and procedures for filing complaints.

The hearing would be looking into protocols for officer arrests, officers use of force, training, areas of improvement, and promotions.

The recent robbery-murders would also be discussed. In January, a $100 gambling loss led to a robbery of a Korean tourist that involved shooting. The tourist died at the hospital later. The second one was a Valentines Day robbery shooting that also killed the victim days later, and was allegedly linked to the main suspect having been in drug debt.

The public safety committee hearing also plans to tackle updates on the status of the DNA crime laboratory and radio system.

GPDs Highway Patrol Division, road safety and police recruitment and retention would also be covered.

Other bills subject to public hearings this week:
Speaker Therese Terlaje has requested Adelup to call for a state of emergency for the Child Protective Services as the agency struggles to meet its mandates of ensuring childrens safety and welfare, and in response, acting Gov. Josh Tenorio said hes instructed his legal team to review applicable law and determine the extent to which a declaration of emergency may aid in resolving these issues.

There are currently 655 children under CPS custody, and 2,211 children are the subject of CPS referrals, Terlaje wrote in a letter to Tenorio on Friday.

This means 2,211 children are alleged to have been subjected to abuse and neglect, and will potentially enter into the system, the speaker wrote.

This is much worse than when Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero declared a state of emergency regarding CPS operational state on Jan. 21, 2021 through an executive order, when the agency received 1,142 referrals for neglect and abuse.

As of Friday, CPS is receiving almost double that amount and Terlaje firmly believes its of utmost importance to prioritize the issue.

I urge you to declare another state of emergency regarding CPS for the sake of our children, the speaker told the acting governor in her letter.

The speaker said the goal of a CPS emergency declaration is to ensure the safety of the children and reduce the number of children within the system.

Severely understaffed

The speaker said she followed up with the Department of Public Health and Social Services and confirmed that CPS is severely understaffed, and some social workers are working double shifts at foster group homes in addition to their regular duties.

This exacerbates the heavy loads that they have to carry, she wrote.

What is more concerning is that the shortage of staffing and double duties may contribute to a delayed placement of children and permanency plans, including adoption, legal guardianship, and long-term foster homes. DPHSS reported that there are children who have been residing in shelters for upwards of two years, Terlaje wrote to Tenorio.

The acting governor, in a response letter Friday, wrote that he shares the speakers concerns about ensuring CPS receives necessary support to address their current caseload, which is among the highest volumes the agency has experienced.

Tenorio said he has also engaged with the Judiciary of Guam to explore possible avenues to improve processes and permanency.

He said since Terlaje raised the issue with him on Wednesday afternoon, he has been reviewing the actions of the division and their efforts to address their mutual concerns.

Additionally, I have instructed our legal team to review applicable law, as well as whether and the extent to which a declaration of emergency may aid in resolving these issues, Tenorio wrote.

He said he would keep Terlaje updated on the progress and looks forward to continuing collaborative work to ensure CPS and other Public Health divisions have the tools they need to effectively provide critical services to the community.

655 in CPS custody

Terlaje wrote that Public Health has reported that its increasingly difficult to find foster homes for children.

About 60% of the 34 children residing at I Guma Minaase Sister Brigid Foster Home are unable to be moved due to lack of foster homes available and some requiring high levels of medical care.

Its also been over two years since the foster home opened without a contract to operate, seemingly based on technical procurement delays, she wrote.

The lack of contract management at this shelter is compounding the amount of work CPS workers have to do, Terlaje wrote.

According to Pacific Daily News files, the Department of Youth Affairs was assigned as an administrative custodian to CPS after the agency was declared to be in a state of emergency in 2021.

CPS officials stated in 2020 that the agency wasnt able to review every referral that comes through their office, due to the shortage of workers. DYA helped CPS address the backlog of referrals.

Terlaje recommends a temporary rearrangement of Public Health and refocusing resources and a portion of the 500 employees under the department or employees from other departments to assist with the temporary care of children at I Guma Minaase.

CPS can focus on temporary and permanent placement of children and all other referrals, she wrote.

The speaker said the initiative would fully support the CPS team in their work which includes: investigating referrals, assisting children in need, taking custody when necessary, finding temporary and permanent placement for those in their custody, conducting home studies, recruiting foster parents, working with the attorney general and the courts and much more.

I trust you will act urgently to address this crisis. Of course, we should not stop here, the speaker wrote. We must also address underlying issues that force children in these predicaments in the first place, including the rampant and increasing use of drugs and other substances on (the) island.
OUR VIEW: Hospital bill is dead on arrival. What now?




Haiti - Crisis : Situation in Haiti (February 2024)





The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) published in a note the summary of the humanitarian situation in Haiti in February 2024, in particular on the impacts of violence in the metropolitan area; health ; education and displaced people.



"Impact of violence in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince:

Since the beginning of February, a number of neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince have been plagued by violence sparked by clashes between gangs. At least two children were killed and a handful of other have been seriously injured (some disabled for life), according to UNCEF. The violence has disrupted economic activities and reduced access to basic social services; access is a major challenge, notably in the area of Croix-des-Bouquets, many areas of which are among the most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition, with current and projected malnutrition rates are among the highest in the country. The operations of UN humanitarian organizations and NGOs have also been affected. In January, at least 71 civilians were killed and 87 others injured in January at La Saline. The International Organization for Migration estimates that nearly 10,000 people were displaced in the first two weeks of February https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41697-haiti-insecurity-10-000-people-displaced-in-one-week-to-escape-gangs.html , bringing to 20,000 the number displaced since the beginning of the year.



Impact on Health :



Medical services facing disruptions, mostly limited to emergency care; Difficulties in referring patients due to insecurity.



The Fontaine Hospital (Cite Soleil) has suspended operations; Bennett Hospital (La Saline) is occupied by gangs.



Lack of medical equipment and overcrowding of health centres.



Mental disorders depression, stress, heart problems on the rise



The Chancerelle Hospital (La Saline), the Methodist Clinic, and the Medical Center (La Saline), among health infrastructures that have ceased operating since October 2023 due to violence, severely affecting children and pregnant women.



Lack of potable water forces residents to use non-potable sources that are only accessible during lulls in fighting



Impact on Education :



15 schools closed, including the Lycee La Saline and the Ecole les Papillons



At least 290,000 of the 420,000 targeted children have been deprived of school meals due to school closures or WFP's inability to access these facilities across Port-au-Prince. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41714-haiti-news-zapping.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41681-haiti-insecurity-the-wfp-urgently-calls-for-humanitarian-corridors-against-a-backdrop-of-urban-guerrilla-warfare.html



Impact on Displacement and Protection :



Recruitment of minors by armed groups in La Saline and Warf Jeremie.



Displacement of residents to temporary sites and surrounding areas.



Many cases of sexual violence have been reported.



The implementation of initiatives such as the distribution of food aid, access to drinking water and better waste management are crucial measures to respond to the current situation. Humanitarian actors will ensure the consolidation of the medical referral and psychosocial support system, particularly for victims of violence and displaced people.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41720-haiti-crisis-highlights-of-the-humanitarian-situation-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41714-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41697-haiti-insecurity-10-000-people-displaced-in-one-week-to-escape-gangs.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41681-haiti-insecurity-the-wfp-urgently-calls-for-humanitarian-corridors-against-a-backdrop-of-urban-guerrilla-warfare.html



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Justice : Judge Al Duniel Dimanche, called to order by the CSPJ





In a letter from the Superior Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ) addressed Thursday, February 22, to the investigating judge Al Duniel Dimanche, the Council asks him to refrain from any act of instruction reminding him that his mandate had ended January 29, 2024.



"The Superior Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ) addresses its courtesy to you and, hereby, would like to remind you that your mandate as Investigating Judge, the official report of your swearing in dated January 29, 2021, has ended. Consequently, you are asked, in accordance with the legislation in force, to refrain from any act of investigation pending the renewal of your mandate at a later date."



This request comes after Judge Dimanche ordered this week [illegally] the affixing of seals to the temporary premises of Entre Nationale des Eqipements (CNE) in Canape-Vert.



Following an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) transmitted to the courts, concerning the abusive use for private purposes of heavy machinery belonging to the State, responsible for investigating the case, had in an order on January 16, 2024, issued for the purposes of executing national and international arrest warrants (INTERPOL) against 37 high-level political figures including former Presidents, former Prime Ministers and Ministers among others https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41465-haiti-flash-international-arrest-warrants-interpol-against-37-senior-haitian-political-figures.html



At the end of January, he rejected out of hand the information indicating that his mandate had expired on January 29, he declared "[...] if that were the case, I would never accept that he be renewed by a de facto Government... https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41564-haiti-news-zapping.html " (However he had accepted the responsibility of his function and this file without contesting this "de facto Government")...



In the meantime, Me Bernard Sainvil, the Dean of the Court of First Instance (TPI) of Port-au-Prince, asked the chief registrar of Me Mozart Tassy, to take all necessary measures so that the files entrusted to the judges whose the mandate has expired are recovered for redistribution.



SL/ HaitiLibre


















If the problems with Poland at the border are not resolved, the government will protect Ukrainian business. At the same time, it is important for the state to maintain the alliance with the neighboring country.

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This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky in response to a question from OBOZ.UA editor-in-chief Lesia Gasych during the forum. He added that he has a working relationship with representatives of the Polish government.

"Tusk and I have a working relationship. We recently met with Duda. Now you can make up your own mind. I had a meeting with Ursula von der Leyen... Our society and some media criticized us for this approach. I said that any elections in Poland would not change this vector. There is an internal struggle in Poland.

I am grateful to the Polish society that is with Ukrainians. I would not like the border between us to be a border between societies... It is unfair to use Ukraine as pressure on European institutions... It is very important for us to preserve the alliance with Poland. If no steps are found, we will protect our business," the president said.




Haiti - Health : WHO alongside the Ministry of Public Health





The World Health Organization (WHO - Haiti) maintains its support to the Ministry of Public Health in its health emergency response to displaced populations in camps in the metropolitan region.



To this end, WHO organized training this week aimed at strengthening the skills of 69 security guards and 39 hygienists on the following aspects:



- Improving data collection:

- Strengthening reporting skills:

- Proactive detection of pathologies such as cholera:

- Las awareness of diseases preventable by vaccination.



These activities were carried out thanks to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA - Haiti).



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





A UDMO police officer killed at his home

The National Union of Haitian Police Officers (SYNAPOHA) informs that police officer Cadet Gerto of the 23rd Promotion, member of the Departmental Unit for Maintaining Order (UDMO) was killed by armed individuals at his home in Mahotiere 85. His body was taken away and then burned.



Cap-Haitien : "Antenor Firmin: between the sword and the pen"

The Cap-Haitien Town Hall announces that it is preparing to host on March 7 the brand new documentary "Antenor Firmin: between the sword and the pen or the equality of the races" by director Arnold Antonin. In this captivating film, the director eloquently portrays the son of Cap-Haitien as an iconic figure. A series of four screenings is planned, offering everyone the opportunity to delve into the life of this exceptional politician.



26 PNH executives certified in strategic planning

26 executives of the Haitian National Police (PNH), including 5 women, received their certification following training on the different phases of police strategic planning organized as part of support for the PNH and in preparation of the development of the next Strategic Development Plan. This training was provided by experts from the "Standing Police Capacity, SPC" of the UN Police Division



Entrepreneurship of rural youth

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP - Haiti) launched on February 22 the project "Integration and support for entrepreneurship of rural youth" which aims to support local initiatives (more particularly in the municipalities of Ferrier and Saint-Raphael in the North-East department) target groups, notably women, young people and people living with disabilities and thus contribute to the revival of the local economy and the empowerment of women.



Claude Joseph rejects Judge Voltaires order

The former Prime Minister, Claude Joseph, rejects out of hand the order of judge Walther Wesser Voltaire, indicting him in the assassination of ex-president Jovenel Moise. An order that he describes as a "shame", "shaky" and "far-fetched". According to him, the judge's decision is political. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41708-haiti-flash-51-people-indicted-in-the-assassination-of-the-president-including-martine-moise-claude-joseph-and-leon-charles-list.html



Canada : the Ambassador of Haiti visits New Brunswick

Visiting Moncton, New Brunswick, the Ambassador of Haiti to Canada Weibert Arthus had fruitful meetings with the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Greg Turner, the Mayor of Moncton, Ms. Dawn Arnold and the Mayor of Dieppe Yvon Lapierre, around the possibilities of collaboration with Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Ukraine may open air traffic over the country. This is a complex process, but the country is taking the first formal steps now.

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This was stated by Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine. "These weeks we are submitting official applications and risk assessments to the relevant regulators," he said.

The head of the ministry noted that none of the officials would give exact dates. But they are really working on the project, it is gradually being implemented.

"It is a complicated process, but Ukraine is taking the first formal steps now. These weeks we are submitting official applications and risk assessments to the relevant regulators. No one will give any definite timeframe," the minister said.

Earlier it was reported that before resuming civilian air traffic, Ukraine needs to radically address security issues. After all, the war is ongoing, and airports can become desirable targets for the enemy.

ADVERTISIMENT

But this is not the only difficulty with the return of flights - there are also serious problems with insurance and the lack of wartime regulations. Also, flights will require permits from special security agencies, in particular the Air Defense Forces.

As previously reported by OBOZ.UA, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Rostyslav Shurma said that Ukraine is making significant efforts to restore air traffic. Currently, 2 airports are being considered - Boryspil and Lviv. However, the first one is a priority.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Karnataka Science and Technology Minister N S Boseraju on Saturday said the cabinet has approved the proposal for upgrading the existing sub-regional science centre in Raichur district as Category-2 science centre. Karnataka govt gives nod for upgrading Raichur science center

Also Read - Bengaluru-style protests will happen across Karnataka if: Kannada activists warn

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The upgradation estimated to cost 22.25 crore has received cabinet endorsement, he said. In a statement released on Saturday, Boseraju highlighted the pivotal role of Science Centers and Planetariums in fostering scientific curiosity and understanding among students, educators, and the public across the state. Under his chairmanship at the Kalyan Karnataka Development Board, a Sub-Regional Science Center was established spanning 10 acres in Raichur, with necessary funding facilitated. In pursuit of advancing this science centre, Boseraju personally engaged with the Union Minister of Culture in Delhi, advocating for its upgrade, it said.

The positive response from the central government led to a comprehensive assessment by a central team, conducted in adherence to the guidelines outlined in the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science by the National Council of Science Museum. Subsequently, based on the team's report, a proposal was presented to the cabinet for upgrading the centre to a Category-2 Science Centre. Following meticulous deliberation, the proposal garnered unanimous approval during the Cabinet meeting, the statement added.
Evading arrest for 10 days after stealing crores from customers accounts, Gaurav Sharma, the manager of Axis Bank in Bansepur, Mullanpur, has been finally arrested. A local court has granted police five days to interrogate the manager regarding the funds stolen and his potential accomplices. (HT Photo)

On his trail for days after complaints from defrauded customers poured in, Mohali police caught the accused from near the Nepal border in Uttarakhand.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

A local court has granted police five days to interrogate the manager regarding the funds stolen and his potential accomplices. The 35-year-old bank manager is facing a total of 67 complaints, alleging theft of more than 10 crore from customers accounts.

The bank manager, originally from Pathankot, reportedly embezzled approximately 1 crore in cash from the depositors in collaboration with the cashier. The branchs cashier, 30-year-old Sujeet Kumar, arrested from the bank on February 15 for suspected complicity with the primary accused, stated during interrogation that the bank manager coerced him by threatening to provide a negative rating in the annual performance review if he refused to assist.

Bank officials told police that available cash in the branch was much lower than that reflected in cash entries. Record of cash being deposited by customers was maintained in the register or online, but was much higher than the cash available at the branch. He took around 1 crore in cash in this manner, said an investigator.

Responding to the complaint lodged by Vikas Sood, the interim branch head of the mentioned bank, the Mullanpur police had filed charges against both Kumar and Gaurav under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 381 (theft by a clerk or servant) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

Mohali senior superintendent of police Sandeep Kumar Garg said the accused, currently residing in Ambika Florence Park, New Chandigarh, was apprehended near the Nepal border on Friday, assisted by a combination of technical and human intelligence.

As per police, the bank manager had recently purchased a Tata Safari and it was in this vehicle that he travelled to the Nepal border. While the police successfully recovered the vehicle, no cash was found. Furthermore, all bank accounts used by the manager for money transfers have been frozen.
Jaipur: A 21-year-old man in Rajasthans Sriganganagar district was arrested on Saturday for allegedly illegally hacking and selling a load of confidential data belonging to the governments and as well as people of four countries, including India, the United States of America, China, and Ukraine, officials familiar with the matter said. (Representative Photo)

The youth, identified as Amit Chand, a resident of Srikaranpur, was arrested following a raid by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), said police.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The man is a self-taught hacker who developed the skill by watching YouTube videos and playing online games. He was engaged in this dark web business since 2018 but was found being proactive in the last two to three months, said the Srikaranpur circle officer (CO) Sudha Palwat who is also investigating the case.

On Saturday, a team of the IB and the district police, based on intel, conducted a raid at Chands residence in Srikaranpurs 49F village and found 4,500 GB of data from multiple devices.

During the raid, the team found over 90 million data belonging to US citizens and a load of data belonging to the Islamic States and the Taliban from the dark web, said Palwat.

Three mobile phones, one laptop, one computer, two pen drives, five hard disks and four SSDs, were seized from his room in the raid, said police.

He used to learn hacking tricks from YouTube, applying them on the dark web to purchase confidential data and later sell them through his three Telegram channels, the CO added.

Palwat said that his desktop was also filled with Adhar cards, PAN cards, and banking details belonging to over 500,000 people, apart from that of the Indian Army, US Army and the Indian Police.

The accused received the money through cryptocurrency from his clients and in exchange for these data, said police.

According to the police, Chand is pursuing a bachelors degree in a local government college and belongs to a very simple family.

His parents were completely unaware of his deed. He used his curious mind and talent incorrectly after being influenced by the world of the dark web. Despite knowing that it is a crime, he had been committing it with an aspiration to become the most prominent hacker in the future, said Palwat.

The police are probing his clients to whom he sold the data and the exact amount and nature of the data, she said, adding that Chand has been booked under sections 419, 420, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code and also sections 43, 66B, 66C, and 67A of the IT Act.
Kolkata: Two captive-bred white-backed vultures in West Bengals Rajabhatkhawa have given birth to a chick in the wild, state forest department officials said on Sunday, describing it as a conservation milestone. Captive-bred white backed vulture in West Bengals Rajabhatkhawa wildlife sanctuary (West Bengal forest department Photo)

Although the vulture has been born in the captive centres, this is one of the first instances of captive-bred vultures giving birth to a chick in the wild.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

This shows that the captive-bred vultures have adequately adapted to the wild and gives a fillip to the vulture population rejuvenation programme, said Parveen Kaswan, conservator of forest and in-charge of the project.

The forest department has named the month-old nestling F1. Its parents, N3 and P6, successfully built a nest in the wild in November 2023.

In a conservation milestone for vultures, we have finally F1 in wild-born out of our released captive-bred white-backed vultures, which takes our vulture breeding programme to the next level. Our teams were monitoring the nest regularly, Kaswan said, according to a statement from the Rajabhatkhawa Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre in north Bengal.

Spread across five acres, the breeding centre at Buxa Tiger Reserve in Alipurduar district boasts of releasing the highest number of vultures in India. It has released 31 white-backed vultures in the last three years.

The centre recorded its first big achievement in December 2019 when two captive Himalayan griffon vultures, fitted with transmitters to help scientists track the birds, were released in the wild.

Of the six vultures released in 2019, two were fitted with Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTT) to track their movements in the wild. The birth was recorded by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) which first documented the decline in the vulture population in India.

Around a month before the release, dummy transmitters were fitted on the vultures and researchers and officials from the BNHS and West Bengal forest department monitored their behaviours.

In July 2019, the Union environment and forest minister told the Parliament that the vulture population in India had declined by 99% since the 1980s.

The decline is primarily because of the widespread use of the veterinary drug diclofenac, a pain relief medication injected in cattle. The drug is found to be extremely toxic to birds that feed on animal carcasses.

To conserve the population of these natural scavengers, eight conservation and breeding centres, including the one at Rajabhatkhawa, have been set up across India.
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Niranjan Hiranandani and his son Darshan Hiranandani, the promoters of prominent Mumbai-based real estate developer Hiranandani Group, for questioning in a foreign exchange violation case on February 26 with respect to two of its housing projects in Panvel and Chennai. New Delhi, India- December 20, 2019: assocham upcoming president and founder & MD, Hiranandani Group Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, and other industries attending 100 Year of Assocham Annual Conference on New India: Aspiring $5 Trillion Economy at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, India on Friday, December 20, 2019. ( Photo by Sonu Mehta/ Hindustan Times) (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

On Thursday, ED conducted searches at four premises linked to the Hiranandani Group and its group entities in connection with its probe. ED sources on Sunday said that the agency had mailed its summons via an email to Darshan Hiranandani as he is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. While ED asked the Hiranandanis to appear before its Mumbai office, they may choose to submit to it their responses through authorised representative/s, the sources said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

When contacted by HT, an official spokesperson of the Hiranandani Group said, The ED search is over. We are not aware of anything further. We shall be submitting further documents (as required).

ED sources said the duo will be asked for information/clarification related to the group entities alleged receipt of funds of over 400 crore via the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) route for the two housing projects under the scanner. The agency suspects that the utilisation of the amount in these projects was allegedly not as per prescribed government guidelines, ED sources said. ED sources said that Niranjan Hiranandani, his son, and their group entities are under the scanner for the alleged violations.

ALSO READ- Delhi HC dismisses Mahua Moitra's leaking information plea against ED in FEMA case

According to ED, one of the group entities which had received the FDI allegedly did not repay loans taken from a consortium of banks and was declared a Non-Performing Asset. Interestingly, the incomplete project was then taken over by another Hiranandani group entity in the subsequent Debt Recovery Tribunals proceedings. proceedings, an ED source said.

As per the information available with the agency, Niranjan Hiranandani and his family members were allegedly the beneficiaries of an offshore trust, which had accumulated assets of more than $60 million, the sources said. The group was earlier also named in the Pandora Papers. EDs probe also learnt that the Hiranandanis had allegedly set up at least 25 companies and a trust in the British Virgin Islands between 2006 and 2008, an agency source said.

ALSO READ- ED summons to TN district collectors justified: SC

EDs searches on Thursday were conducted at three locations in Mumbai, including the corporate and registered offices of the group entities, and a site office in Panvel. Reacting to EDs FEMA probe and the searches, the official spokesperson of the Hiranandani Group said on Thursday, We have extended full cooperation to the department by facilitating all the relevant information and clarification sought by them. Since the inquiry pertains to a 15-year-old development, it took time to dig out old records. The spokesperson added, The group understands that ED is satisfied that there were no FEMA violations. The group will remain cooperative and law-abiding.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Sunday alleged that Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis wants to end Maratha influence in the state. Jarange Patil is demanding that all Marathas be considered as Kunbi  a caste in Maharashtra under the OBC bloc. (ANI photo)

Accusing Fadnavis of hatching conspiracy against him, Jarange Patil threatened to march to the deputy chief ministers residence at Mumbai.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

DCM Fadnavis wants my sacrifice. I will go to his Sagar bungalow. Fadnavis wants to finish Maratha community, said Jarange-Patil.

He also alleged that Fadnavis conspired against him and Marathas.

Devendra Fadnavis wants to end the influence of Maratha community in state and creating hurdles in implementation of Sage-Soyare notification. Chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Ajit Pawar are helpless before Fadnavis. Nothing can happen in the state without the wish of Fadnavis. Fadnavis also using divide and rule politics in Maratha community, and he was the mastermind behind fake allegations by Ajay Baraskar, said Jarange-Patil.

Also Read: Why Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil refusing to end hunger strike despite reservation bill

Baraskar has alleged that Jarange-Patil had struck a deal with the government and changed his demands.

Jarange-Patil on Sunday addressed his supporters and accused Fadnavis of encouraging people against him.

Jarange Patil is demanding that all Marathas be considered as Kunbi  a caste in Maharashtra under the OBC bloc  and be given reservations accordingly. He wants ones blood relations to be allowed to have Kunbi registration.
TIPRA (Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance) Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma on Saturday declared to start a fast-unto-death at Hatai Kotor in Khowai district over demand of Constitutional solution for the tribal population from February 28. TIPRA Motha had contested the 60-seated Assembly polls five months ago to win 13 seats. (Tipra Official X account)

The development comes a day after first round discussion held between Tripuras main opposition TIPRA Motha party and the Congress over forging a greater opposition alliance against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

I have told the Government of India that unless no positive response comes in the coming 2-3 days, I shall begin fast-unto-death at Hatai Kotor, Pradyot Kishore told reporters.

My health is not good. If I die, the Centre and state will be responsible. I have lost my personal life. I dont have a family. I was verbally abused, I was insulted. Even after that, if anyone was cheated, then it is better to leave my palace and start hunger strike with my people sitting on the ground. I shall die but will not betray my people, said Pradyot.

Also Read: TIPRA Motha calls for Bandh on Sept 30 over demand for Greater Tipraland

His comments came at the backdrop of his meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at New Delhi over Constitutional solution last year, direct funding for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and others.

Earlier, the TIPRA Motha chief said that they will talk with any political party who will agree to their demands of Constitutional solution and development of the tribal population.

Stating that TIPRA Motha is fighting for the rights of tribals of the state, Pradyot later explained that TIPRA Motha party doesnt either belong to the opposition INDIA alliance, or the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Centre.

We shall talk to any party which is more sincere towards the alleviation of Constitutional and survival aspect of the Tiprasa people. We shall engage with those who have sympathy and support for us, both politically and administratively. We have spoken with Congress, and with BJP, he said.

The Indigenous Peoples Regional Alliance (TIPRA) was constituted in 2021 with the agenda of creation of Greater Tipraland, a separate state for the tribals living in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and other northeastern states like Assam, Mizoram and also parts of neighbouring country Bangladesh.

Different tribal parties and social organisations including Conference of Tripura (NCT), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT), IPFT-Tipraha  a breakaway faction of Tripuras ruling IPFT, Tipraland State Party merged together to form the TIPRA Motha party.

Within a few months of its formation, the TIPRA Motha had contested and won the TTAADC polls.

The party later contested the 60-seated Assembly polls five months ago to emerge as the main opposition party securing 13 seats.
TS Inter Hall Tickers 2024: The Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE) has issued hall tickets or admit cards for the 1st and 2nd year Intermediate Public Examination (IPE), along with hall tickets for the bridge course. Students who will appear in these upcoming examinations can visit the board's official website, tsbie.cgg.gov.in and download their admit cards. TS Inter Hall Ticket 2024 Live Updates TS Inter hall tickets 2024 released (tsbie.cgg.gov.in, screenshot)

To download board exam hall tickets, candidates have to log in to the above-mentioned website with the previous examination hall ticket number and date of birth. Direct links and steps to download have been provided below:

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

TS Inter 1st year hall tickets 2024

TS Inter 2nd year hall tickets 2024

Bridge course hall tickets

Intermediate examinations in Telangana will begin on February 28 for first-year students and from February 29 for second-year students. There will be single shifts, starting at 9 am and ending at 12 pm.

How to download TS Inter Hall Ticket 2024
ICSI December 2023 Result: The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has announced the results of the Company Secretary (CS) Professional Programme examination held in December 2023. Candidates can download their scorecards from the website icsi.edu. ICSI CS result live updates ICSI CS Professional December results out

ICSI CS Professional result 2024: Direct link

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

This time, Manisha Murarimohan Ghose has topped the Professional examination, while Aditi Jain and Khushi Mukesh Jain came second and third, respectively.

To check ICSI CS Professional results, candidates are required to use their roll and registration numbers as login credentials.

Results of the ICSI CS Executive examination will also be declared today. Candidates can check it on icsi.edu at 2 pm.

How to check ICSI CS Executive, Professional December 2023 result

Go to icsi.edu. Open the CS Professional result link Enter your credentials and log in. Check your result and download marks sheet.

The institute has informed that marks sheets of the Professional course examination will be delivered at registered addresses of candidates.

"The Result-cum-Morks Statement for Professional Progromme Exominotion will be despatched to the Condidotes at their registered address soon after declaration of the result. ln case the physical copy of Result-cum-Morks Statement is not received by any Candidate within 30 days of declaration of result, such Candidates may contact the institute at: exam@icsi.edu along with his/her particulars," it said.

This facility is not available for the CS Executive course. Only online marks sheets will be provided to them.

The next Executive and Professional course examinations will be held from June 1 to 10, 2024. Online application forms will be released on February 26.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that the situation on the border with Poland is both simple and complicated. However, if necessary, Ukraine will act tough.

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Kuleba said this in an interview with the Voice of America. The foreign minister noted that the situation is complicated by the fact that Ukraine is being blamed for the problems of European farmers, while the West still receives Russian grain.

"For some reason, other countries do not talk about Russian grain entering the European market. For some reason, no one is fighting it. For some reason, no one is fighting against grain from outside Europe, which is entering the European market in huge volumes. Thus, they started to blame Ukraine for everything. And this belief exists at the level of these protesters," the minister added.

According to Kuleba, the first thing the governments of these countries need to do is to start "talking honestly with their farmers" as the problem is actually much broader. It is not necessary to blame everything on Ukraine, he added.

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The minister assures that Ukraine will not tolerate such an attitude, and "will act tough where necessary without offending someone because we have shown some force."

As for the simple component of this situation, Kuleba said, Ukraine and Poland are intensively negotiating and making efforts to resolve this problem.

Kuleba noted that there may be additional attempts at provocations and that Russian agents will support this situation. Therefore, it is important to remain calm and make quick decisions that will help reduce tension.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The biggest noise against the recent restructuring of categories in the National Film Awards, including dropping names of Nargis Dutt and Indira Gandhi from some prize nomenclature, has come from the industry's fraternity of sound engineers. Also read: Film fraternity demands 'sound check' of National Awards after recent controversy Four-time National Award-winning sound designer Bishwadeep Chatterjee advocates two sound prizes, for Best Sound Design and Best Sound Mixing, with cash prize of  200,000 each.

The revamping of award categories ahead of the 70th National Film Awards to be presented by President Droupadi Murmu this year has left the sound department with only one prize for Best Sound Design.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

National Film Awards changes

Last year, the National Film Awards had three awards for sound  Location Sound Recordist, Sound Designer and Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track  in the feature film section. In the non-feature film section, there were two awards  Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track and Production Sound Recordist (Location/Sync Sound).

Hit by decades of controversies in the sound awards, the film fraternity had been demanding reorganisation of the sound category to honour major contributions in the department that witnessed radical changes after the shift from analogue to digital recording.

Last year, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune alumnus and sound designer Nithin Lukose had approached the Kerala High Court after he was left out of the Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track award for Ek Tha Gaon (Once Upon a Village) in the non-feature section despite being credited with nearly the whole of the film's sound design.

Two years ago, the National Film Award jury presented a Location Sound Recordist prize to Kannada feature film Dollu. The prize was withdrawn after it emerged that Dollu's sound was dubbed in the studio and never recorded on location.

The sound category in the feature and non-feature sections has one Best Sound Design award in the restructured National Film Awards regulations instead of three and two prizes respectively last year.

'Will petition the President'

"The sound designer and sound mixer should rightfully get separate awards in the sound category," says Bishwadeep Chatterjee, an FTII, Pune-trained sound designer and winner of four National Awards, about the contributions from the sound designer, considered head of sound department of a film production, and the engineer who does post-production sound mixing.

Various unions of sound engineers and technicians have written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur demanding roll back of the decision that will come into effect at the 70th National Film Awards honouring movies made in 2022.

The government has raised the purse for the sound award, with the Best Sound Design now getting Rajat Kamal and cash prize of 200,000, instead of Rajat Kamal and 50,000 last year.

One of the first in the industry to criticise the government's decision was Resul Pookutty, the only Indian to win an Oscar in the sound category. "It is an award given by the President of India. I will petition the President against the government's move," says Pookutty, who won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing for Slumdog Millionaire in 2009.

After the sound awards controversy involving Ek Tha Gaon last year, Pookutty and other leading sound designers had called for two awards in the sound category  Best Sound Design and Best Sound Mixing  to end court cases and error-strewn award entries by producers and directors.

Responding to the demands, the government cut two of the three sound awards, recognising the contribution of only the sound designer while leaving out the location sound recordist and sound mixer. In other major changes, the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director became Best Debut Film of a Director, and the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration became Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.

Film and Television Institute of India, Pune alumnus Nithin Lukose went to court last year for leaving him out of the sound awards in the non-feature film section last year.

How to end the controversies?

"You can also end the controversies by selecting the best sounding film every year like all major foreign awards like the Oscars and BAFTA and give recognition to all three categories  Location Sound Recordist, Sound Designer and Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track  in a single Best Sound prize," says Lukose.

The government introduced three sound awards in 2010 following recommendations by a committee headed by filmmaker Shyam Benegal. "A film reaches the National Awards because of collective work," says B N Tiwari, president of Sound Association of India. "More people started watching movies when the sound came to the cinema."

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Filmmaker Kumar Shahani died at the age of 83 at a hospital in Kolkata. News agency PTI quoted his close friend, actor Mita Vashisht, as saying that the filmmaker 'was ailing and his health had been declining'. He died in Dhakuria's AMRI hospital on Saturday night. Kumar Shahani is survived by his wife and two daughters.

What happened to Kumar Shahani

Mita said, "He passed away around 11 pm last night due to age-related health issues at a hospital in Kolkata. He was ailing and his health had been declining. Its a deep personal loss. We were in touch with his family. Kumar and I would talk a lot and I knew he was ailing and was in and out of hospital."

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Mita remembers Kumar Shahani

Mita hailed Shahani for his pivotal role in the parallel cinema movement in India. I admired him as a human being and as a filmmaker. He was one of the greatest directors in our country. His integrity and consciousness towards society, art, cinema, was unparallel. His films were inspiring, the actor said. She worked with the director on Vaar Vaar Vaari, Khayal Gatha and Kasba.

About Kumar Shahani

Shahani is survived by his wife and two daughters. His family and friends did the cremation on Sunday afternoon. The filmmaker was born in Larkana, Sindh in the undivided India. After the partition in 1947, Shahani's family shifted to Bombay. A significant name in the Indian parallel cinema, he directed films such as Maya Darpan, Char Adhyay and Kasba.

Kumar Shahani's life, career

Shahani studied at the Film and Television Institute of India with Mani Kaul, who also went on to become famous for his work in art house cinema. He debuted with Maya Darpan in 1972. The film, based on Hindi writer Nirmal Varma's short story, revolved around a woman divided between her lover and protecting the honour of her father in feudal India.

He followed it up with Tarang in 1984. Starring Amol Palekar and Smita Patil, the film received a national film award. The story revolved around an amoral businessman, who gets involved with a trade union leader's wife. In Khayal Gatha, Shahani traced the relationship of Khayal genre with Indian classical dance and featured Rajat Kapoor and Mita Vashisht.

Kasba, his other feature, is about a dishonest businessman's adopted daughter, played by Vashisht, taking action when his eldest son, essayed by Shatrughan Sinha, is arrested for counterfeiting.

with PTI inputs

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Actor Priyanka Chopra has shared a post on Instagram as she joined the team of Oscar-nominated To Kill a Tiger as an executive producer. This comes as Netflix has announced the streaming of the feature documentary globally on its platform. (Also Read | Who is Nisha Pahuja? Meet To Kill a Tiger's Indian-origin director, whose film is nominated for Oscars 2024) Priyanka Chopra has backed To Kill a Tiger.

Priyanka pens a note on To Kill a Tiger

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Priyanka posted a screenshot of a Deadline article. She wrote, "Im so proud to join the incredible team of the Academy Award nominated documentary @tokillatigerdoc, and to announce that @netflix has acquired the global distribution rights to this powerful feature directed by @nishappics. When I first watched this film in 2022, I was immediately captivated by its poignant narrative, depicting a fathers valiant struggle within the judicial system to secure justice for his daughter."

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Priyanka calls documentary 'hard hitting'

She also added, "This project serves as a testament to the boundless love and unyielding determination of a devoted father for his cherished daughter. This hard hitting piece of art also really hits home on so many levels, but personally, I was born in the state of Jharkhand (where the survivor and her father are from), and as the daughter of a father that was my forever championI was moved to pieces. I cannot wait for audiences around the world to discover this moving story."

On Instagram, To Kill a Tiger director Nisha Pahuja shared a post. A part of it read, We are thrilled to share that @Netflix has acquired global rights to TO KILL A TIGER! Whats more, the amazing @PriyankaChopra joins as Executive Producer. Priyanka has been an unwavering supporter of the film following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022, attracted by its poignant depiction of a fathers valiant fight to win justice for his daughter.

About To Kill a Tiger

To Kill a Tiger was nominated in the Best Feature Documentary category for the Oscars 2024. The film is all about Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, who takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, Kiran, after she survived a sexual assault by three men in 2017. In the documentary, Kiran was still a child and a survivor of a gang rape. Today, she's nearly 20 years of age.

To Kill a Tiger got its theatrical release in October 2023 at the Film Forum in New York before expanding to major cities. Some of the executive producers also include Rupi Kaur, Atul Gawande, Andy Cohen, Anita Lee, Andrew Dragoumis, Shivani Rawat, Anita Bhatia, Niraj Bhatia, Deepa Mehta among others.

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Rumours of Sobhita Dhulipala's relationship with actor Naga Chaitanya have been doing the rounds for months now. The actor has sometimes dismissed them, and other times refused to comment. Despite speculation around her relationship status, Sobhita is sure of one thing: motherhood. Speaking at an ABP summit recently, the actor was asked about her thoughts on the meaning of life. Sobhita said she was looking forward to motherhood. Also read: Sobhita Dhulipala responds to question about rumoured boyfriend Naga Chaitanya, his ex-wife Samantha Ruth Prabhu Sobhita Dhulipala spoke about embracing motherhood.

'The experience I look forward to is motherhood'

Sobhita Dhulipala said, "I don't think life can have a purpose. I do think that we come between two shores. There is a river, and life is that boat that passes from one shore to another. So I feel like in life, whatever you do, do it and enjoy it, but there is a certain detachment I feel towards everything. I can't be too detached, because then we won't have any ambition. But somewhere, I walk the tightrope between being a little disconnected and doing my own thing."

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The actor, who is gearing up for Hollywood debut film Monkey Man, added, "From life, what do I seek? To be honest, I think the experience I look forward to is motherhood, whenever that happens. I feel it would be amazing."

Sobhita Dhulipala-Naga Chaitanya dating rumours

Naga Chaitanya was previously married to actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Ever since they ended the relationship in 2021, his name has been linked to Sobhita Dhulipala. Last year, a picture of Chaitanya and Shobhita at a restaurant surfaced online, further fuelling their relationship rumours. Neither of the actors has confirmed or denied their alleged relationship.

In 2023, Sobhita had reacted to the dating rumours. "For people who speak without knowledge, I don't think I need to answer them. I don't feel the urge to clarify things when I'm not doing any wrong and it is not my business," Sobhita was quoted as saying in a report by Filmibeat. Sobhita added that instead of clarifying things, 'people write with half-knowledge', and therefore, she prefers to be 'calm' and focus on her life. She said, "Instead of answering or clarifying about things people write with half-knowledge, one must focus on your life, improve it, be calm, and try to be a good person."

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Olfa Hamrouni doesnt know much about her granddaughter; not her favorite toy nor food  is it the pasta the childs mother loves, or something else? Four Daughters is nominated for Oscars this year.

The Tunisian grandmother doesnt even let her mind go there. I dont want to know. What for but more heartache? she said.

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For now, she just fights for 8-year-old Fatma. The child has spent virtually all her life with her mother and aunt  Hamrounis eldest daughters  raised in detention in Libya, where the women wound up after leaving home as teenagers and joining Islamic State group extremists.

The real-life story of Hamrouni and her children is the focus of Four Daughters, an Academy Award nominee for best documentary feature film. On camera, there are many layers to Kaouther Ben Hanias film: Its about the radicalization of two teenage girls; an intimate portrait of a chaotic, and often dysfunctional, family life; and reflections on generational trauma, patriarchy, motherhood and adolescence.

Off camera, its more than just one familys tale.

The names change, the details vary, but the nightmare is familiar to some others in Tunisia, where at one point many left to join militant groups, including the Islamic State, in conflict zones abroad. Militants have also struck at targets in Tunisia. Today, families like Hamrounis are living reminders of that complex legacy, the unresolved issues and difficult questions persisting years later.

Its  an open wound in my country, said actor Hend Sabri, who appears in the film as Hamrouni in some scenes. As long as we dont talk about it, then were not going to heal.

Hamrouni hopes the film's high profile will boost her advocacy for her daughters to be repatriated from Libya, where they had been sentenced to prison, and stand trial in their home country. In Tunisia, as in other countries, some people have been suspicious and fearful of returnees for security reasons.

Hamrouni wants Fatma freed from the confines of her existence. What fault is it of hers? She hasnt chosen her father or mother.

Ben Hania, who wrote and directed the film, echoed the demands. Were trying hard to push the Tunisian government, she said. A country is responsible for its citizens.

The film experiments with format. Hamrouni and her youngest daughters, Eya and Tayssir, appear as themselves. Besides Sabri, actors play Ghofrane and Rahma, the daughters who left, as Ben Hania reconstructs the familys past in search for clues for their radicalization. (The film offers theories but no concrete motives, especially with the real Ghofrane and Rahma imprisoned in Libya.) In some scenes, the actors reenact key moments alongside family members; in others, they question, challenge or reflect. Ben Hania said her role as a filmmaker is to understand and analyze, not judge.

In the film and the familys telling, the daughters grew up with little in a tumultuous home. Dad was largely absent and drank too much; mom was overburdened and harsh.

Hamrouni, in the film, is fixated on preserving her daughters sexual purity for marriage. Shes quick to hurl insults and accusations and to punish perceived or real infringements  a waxed leg, a diary entry about a first kiss  with severe beatings.

There was some rebellion, a gothic phase, a guy with a motorcycle. Then the changes that swept Tunisia following the Arab Spring pro-democracy movement more than a decade ago brought another transformation as different currents, including hard-liners and extremists, jockeyed for influence. A preaching tent popped up in the familys neighborhood.

Ghofrane and Rahma, whose mother says grew up with only basic religious knowledge, were introduced to austere interpretations. Their radicalization further deepened  in the film, Rahma is said to have whipped younger sisters for skipping or delaying prayers, self-flagellated for such things as gossiping, and daydreamed about stoning a woman who had sex outside of marriage.

When Ghofrane left nearly a decade ago, Hamrouni, according to the film, sought police help to stop Rahma from following. She accuses the police of doing little.

The family crumbled. Hamrouni grieved the departed daughters and worried about the remaining ones. One, a child at the time, adored Rahma and had absorbed her sisters beliefs. The other, Eya, was unraveling.

The younger girls were placed in a government facility, which they credit with helping them rebuild their lives. But outside, the family says, life was hard and neighbors and relatives shunned them.

Mohamed Iqbel Ben Rejeb of the Rescue Association of Tunisians Trapped Abroad said some who found themselves in similar situations disowned family members who left, sometimes to protect those who remained from the fallout. Others fight for the repatriation of loved ones. Some dont know whether their relatives are dead or alive.

He said his organization doesnt defend Tunisians with blood on their hands but advocates for the rehabilitation of others and, especially, for the rescue and reintegration of children taken by parents to conflict zones or born there. But he also says that Tunisia may lack sufficient capabilities and argues that authorities often appear to be dragging their feet.

He and other activists are particularly concerned for the childrens rights and futures. Inaction, they warn, can prove perilous.

The normal place for children is  the extended family, the school, said Mostafa Abdelkebir, head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights. After spending long periods in prisons and camps  theyll resent society, become ticking bombs.

Abdelkebir called on Tunisian authorities to find solutions and, especially, to bring home the children from abroad, but said that the repatriation issue is often mired in a myriad of diplomatic, political, financial, legal or logistical challenges.

Still, some Tunisian women cleared by Libyan courts were repatriated to Tunisia, where they were detained, according to Abdelkebir. A number of children have also been returned  including orphaned ones, he added. The children have been given to relatives or placed in government social care facilities, he said. Tunisian government officials didnt provide a comment, or respond to questions on the sisters case and the larger repatriation issue, in time for publication.

Sabri, one of the Arab worlds best-known stars, said her heart breaks for Fatma  but she finds it harder to sympathize with Ghofrane and Rahma. She also stresses the importance of accountability for Tunisians who have joined such groups.

During filming, Hamrouni saw a mirror held up to her life.

Hamrouni, who had a difficult childhood herself, said she both recognizes where she went wrong as a mother, and that her mistakes dont justify her daughters decisions. But she also blames the political climate and government policies at the time of their radicalization at a young age and says the two have now regretted their choices.

When asked about Fatma, Hamrounis voice softens. Her eyes light up before they well with tears.

She frets: How will Fatma learn manners? Who will teach her about her country? How is she supposed to grow up to love Tunisia, to know how to deal with others?

If Fatma ever lives with her, there will be no more hitting, said Hamrouni, who has remarried and now lives outside of Tunisia. I will teach her right from wrong but let her make her choices.

But nothing is certain. She feels for Fatma, for how little she knows of the world, how the world may treat her.

Her past has been bleak, Hamrouni said. Only God knows what awaits her.
Its a battle between two Stones! Lily Gladstone triumphed over frontrunner Emma Stone at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, winning for her performance as the anguished Mollie Burkhart in Killers of the Flower Moon. Emma Stone, nominated for Poor Things, seemed the most ecstatic when Lily's name was announced, cheering enthusiastically from her seat. So, will Oscars follow next? A SAG report card to throw light on this situation. (Also read: SAG Awards 2024 nominations: From Leonardo DiCaprio to Penelope Cruz, the biggest snubs and surprises) Lily Gladstone and Emma Stone in a still from Killers of the Flower Moon and Poor Things respectively.

Deja vu?

Lily Gladstone now has the Golden Globe for Drama and the SAG. Emma Stone is keeping up with the Golden Globe for Musical, Critics Choice and BAFTA. A little deja vu? It seems just like how the Best Actress race spanned out last year, when Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh were neck-to-neck going in for the Oscars. Cate Blanchett scored early on with a Volpi Cup, Golden Globe for Drama, Critics Choice and BAFTA; while Michelle Yeoh won the Golden Globe for Comedy and SAG. Ultimately, Michelle Yeoh took the gold statuette for Everything Everywhere All At Once, becoming the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for best actress. This year if Lily wins, she will create history by becoming the first Native American winner in the category.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Emma Stone has the showier role- her Bella Baxter is a modern-Frankenstein creation who proceeds to discover life in vicarious ways, and Poor Things has been receiving a great boost in its technical categories, including Costume Design and Production Design. The film also passed $100M at the global box-office last week, becoming Yorgos Lanthimos highest-grossing film ever. That could very well boost the chances for Emma Stone, who is already an Oscar winner for Best Actress for La La Land. A possible double Oscar winner at the age of 35? Now, that's historic too!

In comparison, last year's release Killers of the Flower Moon is relying heavily on Lily Gladstone for a standalone win for the Martin Scorsese film, as Oppenheimer continues to dominate in the rest of the categories, where it is nominated. That includes Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Just a few more weeks, and we will have an answer to this exciting build-up to the Oscars.

Succession upsets

The other surprise(s) of the evening last night, came in from the Television categories. The Bear lead the comedy category, but it was Pedro Pascal of The Last of Us and Elizabeth Debicki of The Crown, who triumphed in the individual acting categories, winning over Succession stars Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook respectively. Both Kieran and Sarah were award season-favourites, fresh off an Emmy win last month. A shocked Pedro Pascal admitted that he was a little drunk while accepting the honour, while Elizabeth Debicki also had similar words upon hearing her name being called out. She had to kick her shoes off in order to make it to the stage, and said: "I'm not wearing shoes right now. I don't really know what to say, so I'm just gonna wing it."

Still, it was an important year for the Screen Actors Guild, where the crowd which assembled at the Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall for the ceremony took note of the 118-day long SAG-AFTRA strike, which ended in November. Kenneth Branagh, who spoke on behalf of the cast of Oppenheimer after it won the Best Ensemble award, summed it up best. He recalled how at the film's London premiere- the very day the strike began, the cast and crew walked out off the red carpet in support of the strike. "We went from the red carpet and we didn't see the film that night. We happily went in the direction of solidarity with your good selves. So this, this is a full circle moment for us," he said, earning a loud applause.

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Every month is a K-drama-filled fantasy, cheering the audience on with new doses of mystery, drama, comedy, action and whatnot. So what if your previous fictional fixes are coming to a close soon? Turn your frown upside down because it's time to dive into brand-new fixations that will cure all your blues. Wonderful World on Disney+ / Queen of Tears on Netflix.(Instagram,)

2024 March Kdrama releases mark the comeback of many fan-favourite faces from the acting world. The upcoming drama premieres have so many goods to offer. With Cha Eun Woo joining forces with the veteran talents of Kim Nam Joo, Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won getting wrapped up in marital chaos, and Kim Ha Neul ready to lead a new story, there's no end to the variety of poignant sagas headed our way. Take a glimpse at what the next month of Korean releases has to offer us:

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

K-drama March 2024 releases

Wonderful World

Release date: Friday, March 1, 2024, at 9:50 pm KST on MBC / Streaming platform - Disney+

Cast: Kim Nam Joo, Cha Eun Woo, Im Se Mi, Kim Sang Woo

Eun Soo Hyun, a psychology professor and renowned author, faces a reversal of fate when her young son passes away. Driving a dagger through her heart, her son's life is wasted away as the culpable killer isn't held responsible for his crime. Taking matters into her own hands, she treads a vengeful path to decree the punishment herself. Eventually, she joins forces with other grieving parties like herself to solve mysteries, ultimately finding a healing balm in the process.

Queen of Tears

Release date: Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 9:20 pm KST on tvN / Streaming - TVING (South Korea) and Netflix

Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Ji Won, Park Sung Hoon, Kwak Dong Yeon, Lee Joo Bin

Department store queen Hong Hae In and supermarket prince Baek Hyun Woo get entangled in a miraculously twisted love story. The married couple strives through an unceasing streak of chaos and crisis after crisis but makes it out together despite everything seeking to destroy them.

Midnight Photo Studio / Nightly Photo Studio

Release date: Monday, March 11, 2024, at 10 pm KST on Genie TV or ENA / Streaming - HiTV

Cast: Kwon Nara, Joo Won, Yoo In Soo, Eum Moon Suk

Seo Ki Joo is a crabby photographer and the seventh owner of a small photo studio. However, there's a twist. This isn't one of your regular photo studios, but rather a place where ghosts visit him to obtain their portraits. The horror-filled fantasy soon takes a sweet turn when he enters into a partnership with a not-so-dead lawyer.

Chicken Nugget

Release date: Friday, March 15, 2024, on Netflix

Cast: Ryu Seung Ryong, Ahn Jae Hong, Kim Yoo Jung

The mystery chase drama revolves around a father who faces new challenges when his daughter becomes a chicken nugget after coming in contact with a mysterious machine. He and his intern, who also has a crush on the girl, try their best to turn her back. Hushed secrets start pouring in.

Let Me Grab You by the Collar / Let's Get Grabbed by the Collar / Grabbed by the Collar

Release date: Monday, March 18, 2024, at 10:10 pm KST on KBS2

Cast: Kim Ha Neul, Yeon Woo Jin, Jang Seung Jo, Han Chae Ah

Investigative reporter Seo Jung Won hosts a TV program, Lets Get Grabbed by the Collar', wherein she exposes all kinds of wrongful deeds. With her straightforwardly curt and sarcastic remarks, she's won the general public's hearts. However, soon, the tables turn, and she's accused of murder. Joining hands with Kim Tae Hyun, she goes out looking for the pieces of the incriminating puzzle.

Hide

Release date: Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 10:30 pm KST on JTBC or 10 pm KST on COUPANG TV

Cast: Lee Bo Young, Lee Chung Ah, Lee Moo Saeng, Lee Min Jae

Married life takes a toll on Na Moon Young when her husband suddenly disappears. She drowns herself in the mystery ahead of her. The missing husband's case eventually unveils even darker secrets about the people around her, further endangering the fabric of security she'd spun around herself.

Beauty and the Devoted

Release Date: Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 7:55 pm KST on KBS2

Cast: Im Soo Hyang, Lee Seol Ah, Ji Hyun Woo, Moon Seong Hyun

This melodrama love story is about an actress who takes a professional tumble in her career. To soften the blow, an amateur producer sticks by her side and helps her get back up from rock bottom because of how much he loves her. In the meantime, familial secrets and conflicts brew but love takes centre stage.

The Escape of the Seven Season 2 / The Escape of the Seven: Ressurection

Release Date: Friday, March 29, 2024, at 10 pm KST on SBS

Cast: Uhm Ki Joon, Lee Joon, Yoon Tae Young, Hwang Jung Eum, Lee Yoo Bi, Yoon Jong Hoon, Lee Jung Shin
After experiencing a disappointing ratings drop during the Lunar New Year, Doctor Slump appears to be back on track. The medical drama, starring South Korea's top stars Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye, has successfully regained domestic viewership while also seeing a surge in Netflix viewership as the second half of the show unfolds. Meanwhile, Flex X Cop, led by Ahn Bo Hyun for the first time, has achieved double-digit ratings. Netflix Doctor Slump, Flex X Cop weekly ratings(Netflix, disney plus)

Also read: Modern Family to Breaking Bad, Devil Wears Prada, and more, iconic reunions at SAG Awards 2024

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Netflix's Doctor Slump ratings surge with ep 9

Episode 9 of the JTBC and Netflix K-drama Doctor Slump begins with a heartbreaking separation between lovebirds Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye as they grapple with loneliness. Meanwhile, Jeong Woo returns to the hospital feeling anxious after the accident, while Nam Na Heul distracts herself with a blind date. The episode marks the beginning of the second half of the show's run, averaging 5.8 percent nationwide according to Nielsen Korea.

Flex X cop breaks into double digits

The action-comedy drama, streaming on Disney Plus, wrapped up the first half of its season on a high, achieving its highest viewership ratings yet. The latest episode of Flex x Cop hit an average nationwide rating of 11.0 percent, marking its debut in double-digit ratings. Alongside Ahn Bo Hyun and Park Ji Hyun, the series also stars Kwak Si Yang.

Also read: SAG Awards 2024: Top looks of the night  Selena Gomez, Cillian Murphy, Joey King, Reese Witherspoon, and more

Captivating the King witnesses a dip in ratings

Featuring Jo Jung Suk, Shin Se Kyung, and Lee Shin Young, Captivating the King achieved an average nationwide rating of 4.9 percent. Although the show initially gained momentum with several consecutive episodes aired during the Lunar New Year, the tvN drama has recently experienced a slight decline in ratings.

Korea-Khitan War on KBS 2TV dominated its time slot, averaging 11.0 percent nationally. With just one episode left in its run, TV Chosun's My Happy Ending, which is almost at the end of its series, received an average national rating of 2.4 percent.
Model-actor Bandgee Kallra had a harrowing experience of pet abuse, personal attack and a suspected case of fraud during her latest Delhi visit. The 31-year-old opened up with us about how a senior lady threatened to get physical with her when the TV star was taking her 5-year-old Pomeranian dog for a stroll during afternoon on February 19. Bandgee Kallra faced the incident near her residence in Delhi.(Instagram/@bandgeekallra)

I was just walking my pet in Sainik Farms. Suddenly a lady shouted at me isko yahan se le jaao. She threw a chappal at my dogs face and started abusing me. She went inside her house, got a wiper to hit both me and my pet, Kallra shared.

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According to her the lady continued to keep the wiper pointing at Kallras face. Sadly, there were so many onlookers but nobody came forward to help. Kallra said she could guess the ladys motive was to get a reaction from the ex-Bigg Boss 11 contestant. I was so taken aback about what just happened! Kallra added.

She said the fishy part was the ladys house had nine cameras. I called the police and the PETA. The lady told them she had so may cameras to stop people from having their pet litter. But the police instead asked me to forget the incident because an old lady was involved, Kallra shared her frustration.

What she found suspicious was a board outside the ladys house that read FTV school. I dont know if its still running, but it definitely looked fishy.

While Kallra suspects the family was used to extracting money from people through such incidents, she was certain the abusers used the old lady as a trump card this time. The ladys daughter-in-law said koi baat nahi hum inke against case bana denge ki yeh hamein maarne aaye the, Kallra shared.

The model is now looking for ways to share the full incident on her social media handles, after hinting that she faced something horrible in her Instagram stories.

Kallra said she feels appalled at the number of animal abuse cases that happen regularly, hence thinks it is the need of the hour to use her public image to create awareness.
Actor Naqiyah Haji feels lucky that she got an opportunity to play the lead in her debut show itself. She is glad her character is unlike from those typical saas-bahu shows that are synonymous with the TV industry. Actor Naqiyah Haji on her visit to Hindustan Times office in Lucknow(Deep Saxena/HT)

On her recent visit to Hindustan Times office in Lucknow, she says, A lot of people say that I dont look like a typical television actor. I dont know if I should take it as a compliment or not! Still, I am happy that my makers saw a different side of me and offered me a different role. So, I am not playing just any good girl who is putting up a fight with her zulmi saasu-maa. Despite being a lead the role had multiple grey shades as its a fantasy show which is about supernatural powers and more. Lucky to be different from the league.

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Her brother Ali Haji happens to be a child actor, who played the son of actor Lara Dutta in film Partner (2007), before turning a writer-director. People think that as my brother was from the industry, it must have been easy for me but its not as simple. I too went through the drill of auditions and rejections. One step took me to another and thats how I reached here. I started with modelling, did print shoots, shows and participated in fashion weeks. I have done TV commercials with Anushka Sharma and Tiger Shroff. For this show, I gave audition for a secondary role, but my director suggested me try for protagonists role and I auditioned, did the mock shoot and got selected for Shaitani Rasmein.

Haji had no pre-conceived notion before starting with TV. I just had a dream to learn and be in the industry. At the end of the day, its one industry. Like people say, TV is the best teacher, and I am getting so much to learn. When I signed up for my debut show a few months back, I was just 18. We are working for long hours and with the best team does teach me a lot. I am open to all kinds of work with good story and look forward to working with quality people, concludes the actor.
Ukrainian special services have increasingly started conducting operations in the African country of Sudan. Their goal is to eliminate the enemy wherever possible.

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This was stated in a commentary for OBOZ.UA at the forum "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum, the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said. Videos of relevant special operations are periodically posted online.

"The goal is to fight for Ukraine's influence in the world and to destroy the enemy in all possible territories," the head of the Ukrainian intelligence service emphasized.

In early February, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine captured mercenaries of the Russian PMC Wagner in Sudan. They confessed that they were sent to this country to overthrow the government. "Wagner's men were engaged, among other things, in recruiting local Sudanese population into their ranks.

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The Kyiv Post published a video of the mercenaries' interrogation and reminded that in May 2023, the head of the DIU, Kirill Budanov, promised to "destroy Russian war criminals anywhere in the world," and the campaign in Sudan was obviously part of this task.

In November 2023, videos were also published online showing Ukrainian special forces "hunting" mercenaries of the Kremlin's terrorist PMC Wagner in Sudan.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on September 20, CNN attributed a series of drone strikes and a ground operation in Sudan to Ukraine's military intelligence. It was about attacks on the Rapid Support Forces militants supported by Wagner.

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As it turned out later, the DIU did indeed conduct an operation in Sudan, where it fought against the forces supporting the Wagnerites.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Actor Urmila Matondkar wants Kaun (1999) to re-release so that people dont watch it on phone and she can see the audience frenzy. The psychological thriller completes 25 years in 2024. Urmila Matondkar starrer Kaun is a psychologican thriller.

It was a bunch of crazy people coming together, and I mustve been the craziest of all, the actor quips in a chat with us.

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Kaun was experimental. The 50-year-old agrees. We hardly had films in one closed space, actors in the same attire, restricted frames... she recalls how Kaun introduced the audience with a unique style of filmmaking.

Urmila Matondkar starrer Kaun (1999) completes 25 years in 2024.

Kaun, directed by Ram Gopal Varma and also starring Manoj Bajpayee and Sushant Singh, came to Matondkar when she had already established herself as the Rangeela girl. For Matondkar, to have an actor whos known for all glitz and glamour, and a set image, was a major risk both for me and the maker.

Kaun had a mediocre run, but the actor gave reasons too. I was constantly screaming in my interviews that you cant expect it to become a Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or a Judaai because it is not made with that kind of mindset, budget or intent. Matondkar said, adding A producer came to me and said how could you even do a role like that?

While she called it a risk at that juncture of her life, she stated that since Bajpayee and Singh were comparatively newcomers, they didnt really have as much to lose like I did.

Matondkar played a nameless woman in the movie. Her flip towards the end, continues to remain one of the most shocking and unexpected moments of Kaun, and even the movies that were made in the 90s.

For her, the most difficult part was to captivate the audience sans any dialogue in the prelude before Bajpayee enters the film. She called creating her character out of vacuum as something that was extremely scary and challenging. I myself had never seen anything close to that, she said.

Urmila Matondkar and Manoj Bajpayee in a still from Kaun.

While Matondkars performance created a benchmark in the horror-thriller space, it was a black hole for her. Things were literally being made as we were enacting it in front of the camera. And because there was no bound script, it was written on set and seen how they get unravelled as we performed them, the Pinjar actor shared.

From creating the back story to her reactions onscreen, Matondkar added a lot to her character. I thought what if I dont use the knife and just let my eyes do the needful before the dagger actually comes into the frame - thats the last minute change I made. When the camera rolled, my spot boy dropped everything he was holding. Thats when I realised I had nailed it, the actor signed off.
Actor Anup Soni, who was recently in Delhi to promote his film Mirg, visited his alma mater, National School of Drama, and got nostalic about his days spent here as a student of theatre. As a young performer then, he faced quite a few challenges in getting skilled in the craft. He shares and much more in a candid chat with HT City. Actor Anup Soni, on his recent trip to the Capital, revisited his alma mater, National School of Drama.(Photo: Manoj Verma/HT)

Excerpts from the interview:

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Yahan sabse behtareen waqt guzara...

Its a pious campus for me, where Ive spent an excellent time says the 49-year-old, adding, Mai agar dilli aaya hun, chahe kitna bhi busy kyun na hun, I make sure I visit this campus once. Yahan maatha tekna hi hota hai (laughs)... Ive learned a lot from this place, not just as an actor but also as a human being.

Recalling his days spent in Mandi House, the actor relishes a kachori from the Bengali Market.(Photo: Manoj Verma/HT)

Eating Kachori After A Long Time!

Sitting in the enclosure that has been created using pictures of eminent alumni of NSD, Soni relishes a kachori from the nearby Bengali Market, and recalls, We used to be jealous of our female classmates back then because their hostel was within the campus and we had to every day walk down to our hostel, in the nearby Vakil Lane, after dinner.

Act One: Ashwatthama!

The actor recalls how he cleared NSD entrance in the first attempt and adds, I cant believe that its already 30 years since I graduated from here... I still remember how everyone saw my potential after seeing me play Ashwatthama in Ram Gopal (Bajaj) sirs play, Andha Yug. Here I learnt how along with your craft, physical strength is also very important. It was after that, that I began working on my fitness.

The actor calls the campus a pious place.(Photo: Manoj Verma/HT)

Convinced parents for love of theatre

Idhar maine exams LLB ke diye aur udhar maine NSD ka interview diya. Maine apne parents ko iss logic se convince kiya ki NSD is a government institute and three-year course ke baad government job mil jayegi... Thats how I managed to come here, says Soni, who graduated from NSD in 1993.

Meri photo nahi lagate (laughs)!

Appreciating how the campus was beautifully decked up, to celebrate the recently concluded Bharat Rang Mahotsav, he stopped wherever he spotted pictures of familiar faces including that of his now mother-in-law, Nadira Babbar, and candidly clicked a photo of hers. A lot of faces are familiar. Some have been my teachers, some seniors or juniors and some my classmates... But meri photo nahi lagate, he remarks jokingly, and adds, I last performed my play in Delhi, it just before the pandemic... Now Ill be back this March.

Anup Soni reminisces how he served as the president of NSD's Students Union in 1992. (Photo: Manoj Verma/HT)

Student Union president in 92

Third year mein I got to be the president of NSDs Student Union, says Soni, pointing his name thats still inscribed on the board inside a tiny room. He adds, Humara kaam strike ya ladai-jhagde karana nahi tha (smiles), humara kaam tha creative baatein karna. Wed identify guest faculty and request our director to invite them to come here to hold workshop. Our teachers, Kirti maam and all would value that a lot. Lot's of great memories!

For more, follow @htcity.delhijunction
Belagavi: The Maharashtra government will soon take a delegation of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appealing him to instruct the Karnataka government against 60% Kannada language bill, said MES spokesperson Vikas Kalaghatagi. Pro-Kannada outfits vandalised signboards and name plates which did not use Kannada last year. (PTI)

Under the amendment, businesses approved by the government or local authorities, including trusts, hospitals, laboratories, amusement centres, and hotels, must allocate 60% of their signboard space to Kannada language information. The bill specifies that Kannada content should occupy the upper half of the signboard.

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On February 21, the MES delegation met Maharashtra minister Shambhuraj Desai, who is also the minister for Border Coordination, at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai and requested him to intervene in the matter.

ALSO READ- Shadow of cross voting looms over Rajya Sabha polls in Karnataka

Kalaghatagi said, the minister assured of taking the delegation to Prime Minister where they can table the issues being faced by Karnataka government.

The Marathis residing on the border of Karnataka and Maharashtra are undergoing mental torture with the implementation of Kannada everywhere, the organisations spokesperson said, adding that even Marathi children are made to study Kannada from Grade 1.

The delegation also told the minister that nearly 60% of the population in 865 villages, on which Maharashtra has claimed its rights, do not follow Kannada language but they are being given documentation in government offices only in Kannada.

Only Kannada language is being used in government offices which they would not understand. Therefore we asked Maharashtra government to free them from this compulsion, Kalaghatagi added.

Apart from Desai, Maharashtra ministers Deepak Kesarkar and Chandrakant Patil who heard the grievances of the delegation told them that they would soon meet Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and ask him to appeal to PM Modi to instruct Karnataka government not to implement any compulsion on Marathis in Karnataka until the border dispute in the Supreme Court is settled.

As most of the Marathis wouldnt understand Kannada, we also advised the ministers to ask CM Shinde to talk to his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah to appoint officers who know Marathi to help Marathi people in government offices, said MES office bearer Prakash Maragale.

ALSO READ- DK Shivakumar rules out law that forces Bengaluru MNCs to display the number of Kannadigas working

The delegation also asked the Maharashtra government to expedite a meeting of the advisory committee on border dispute following a reminder notice from the Union home ministry.

Maharashtra itself took the border dispute to the Supreme Court in 2004. However the court has not yet declared whether the matter is to be taken or not for hearing. Its all because of the negligence of Maharashtra. Compared to respondents Karnataka, Maharashtra is not serious. Its our fate to tolerate mental agony from Karnataka, said former independent legislator Manohar Kinekar who was elected from Belagavi (Rural) constituency with the support of MES.

Responding to the allegations, all the three ministers who heard the pleadings of the delegation said, the government would ask former Supreme Court senior public prosector Ashutosh Kumbakone, who has knowledge about the border dispute, to join the Maharashtra advocates team led by Vaidhyanathan who is the advocate on-record from Maharashtra. Advocate Shivaji Jadav is the prime associate to Advocate Vaidhyanathan.

The ministers also told the delegation that the government would appoint an advocate who can attest the documentations of the witnesses which could help the state in pleading the border dispute.

ALSO READ- Karnataka assembly passes bill for 60% Kannada on signboards

Since the Union home minister Amit Shah formed the Coordination Committee of Border Dispute in October 2022, no meeting has been held. The delegation urged the ministers to ask Karnataka government to reform the committee and soon hold meetings at least once in three months. After the government in Karnataka changed in May last year, the committee has not been reformed.

To maintain the existed status-quo, the committees of both the states must ensure no new implementation on each others until the dispute is settled in the Supreme Court, Kinekar said.

As the tussle between both the states was on rise, Shah held a meeting of chief ministers of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde and Karnataka former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai at Delhi in 2022 under whose presence both the states had formed the three-member committees headed by the chief ministers.
Nine members of a right-wing outfit were booked for allegedly storming into the official quarters of a government health and wellness centre in Ratkal village of Kalburgi and accusing the nurses of trying to convert their patients to Christianity in exchange for monetary incentives. (Getty image)

The accused, however, lodged a counter-complaint against the nurses for alleged conversion.

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ALSO READ- Mumbai: Over 7,000 attend rally meant to counter attack on Hindus in Mira Road

According to the complaint lodged by one of the nurses, Ashwini, at Ratkal police station, On February 24, two nurses, Rubika and Ashwini, filed a complaint that on February 22, some members of Hindu Jagriti Sena barged into the health centre in Ratkal village and inquired about their religion. On learning that they were Christians, the accused tried to convince them to convert the patients to Christianity in exchange for money.

The intrusion and intimidation prompted the hospital staff to alert the police authorities, leading to police intervention.

Based on the complaint, police booked nine members of the Hindu Jagariti Sena, including president Shankar Choka, Basavaraj and Vishnu, under the Atrocities Act.

ALSO READ- Haldwani: Meet Vandana Singh, Nainital DM who is trying to defuse violence

Based on a complaint, we registered a case against the nine members of Hindu Jagriti Sena under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 146 (rioting), and 354 (outraging modesty of women) of the Indian Penal Code, and prevention of atrocities under the SC/ST Act. We have not arrested anybody yet and investigation is underway, said inspector S Chandrashekar from Ratkal police station.

Meanwhile, the police said, the Hindu Jagriti Sena has filed a counter-complaint against the nurses for converting the patients at the health centre into Christianity.

We received a complaint from Hindu Jagriti Sena on Thursday night alleging the nurses were involved in religious conversion. Though they could not provide any proof regarding it. We visited the homes of the two nurses and questioned them. We are investigating the case from all the angles, added inspector Chandrashekar.
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday asserted that his party is not shielding its absconding leader Shajahan Sheikh, who has been at the centre of the row in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, PTI reported. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee with TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkata.(ANI)

Sandeshkhali has been on the boil since early this month following allegations of land grabbing and sexual abuse of women by TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. Women had hit the streets demanding the arrest of Shahjahan and his aides.

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The area first came into limelight on January 5 after an Enforcement Directorate team arrived to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan was attacked by a violent mob, injuring three officials. Sheikh Shahjahan has since been absconding.

Also Read | Independent fact-finding team on way to Sandeshkhali detained by police

On Sunday, Banerjee said that claimed that a few outsiders were fomenting trouble and creating disturbances in the region ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The TMC is not shielding Shajahan Sheikh... We have a zero-tolerance policy against anyone committing any crime, Banerjee was quoted as saying by PTI.

Opposition parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state have accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of shielding Sheikh Shahjahan. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, however, has blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the tensions.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has so far received more than 500 complaints related to land grabbing from villagers of Sandeshkhali over the past one week.

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.

Who is Shajahan Sheikh?

Shahjahan Sheikh, 42, is popularly known as "Bhai", who started as a small-time worker in the fisheries of the Sandeshkhali block in North 24 Parganas near the Bangladesh border.

Sheikh entered politics in 2004 as a union leader in the brick kilns. He later joined the local CPI(M) unit, maintaining his presence despite the changing political landscape in West Bengal.

Known for fiery speeches and organisational skills, Sheikh caught the attention of Trinamool Congress leadership in 2012.

The 42-year-old worked under the leadership of the then TMC national general secretary Mukul Roy and North 24 Parganas TMC district president Jyotipriyo Mullick. He quickly ascended in power, becoming a close associate of Mullick.

In 2018, Sheikh gained prominence as the deputy head of the Sarberia Agarhati gram panchayat. His younger brothers are also active TMC workers. They also manage his business, including land dealings.
UK professor Nitasha Kaul said she was denied entry to India and was harassed for hours at Bangalore airport.

Academic Nitasha Kaul on Sunday took to X claiming that she was denied entry to India based on 'orders from Delhi', though she had all the necessary documents and was invited by the Karnataka government to speak at a conference. The Indian-origin UK professor said she was denied entry because of her earlier criticism of the RSS. Her post on X went viral with many right-wing accounts asserting that if she has been stopped from entering India, it was the right thing to do as she spread misinformation.

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"I was given no reason by immigration except we cannot do anything, orders from Delhi. My travel & logistics had been arranged by Karnataka & I had the official letter with me. I received no notice or info in advance from Delhi that I would not be allowed to enter," Prof Kaul wrote.

"I spent 12 hours in a flight from London to Bangalore, several hours at immigration where they shuttled me here & there, provided no info on process, then 24 hours in a holding cell (no BA flight back until next day) under direct cctv w restricted movement, a narrow area to lie down and no easy access to food and water, made dozens of calls to airport for basic things as a pillow and blanket, which they refused to provide, then 12 hours on the flight back to London," Kaul added.

The UK-based professor wrote she is not anti-India but anti-authoritarian and pro-democracy. "Decades of my work speaks for me. The officials informally made references to my criticism of RSS, a far-right Hindu nationalist paramilitary from years ago. I have travelled to India numerous times since. I was invited by a state govt, but refused entry by the central govt," Kaul wrote in a long Twitter thread.

While many prominent academic figures condemned the harassment that Kaul faced, a Karnataka VHP leader Girish Bharadwaj said the shame is on the Siddaramaiah government for inviting "such anti-nationals". "Why should such parasites lecture us on Constitutional Values? @NitashaKaul you peddle bullshit against a country and expect us to give you a warm welcome?
Bengaluru: Private tankers are charging  800 and sometimes even  900. (HT)

As Bengaluru experiences a premature onset of summer heat, concerns over water scarcity have intensified. In response, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials said, they held a meeting on Saturday to devise a comprehensive strategy aimed at alleviating the citys water woes.

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The meeting headed by additional chief secretary of urban development Rakesh Singh, stressed the urgency of the matter. Singh emphasised the need for immediate action to prevent citizens from enduring water shortages. He urged collaboration with the authorities of Bengaluru Water and Sewage Supply Board (BWSSB) in order to swiftly identify and resolve water-related challenges across different BBMP zones.

Zonal commissioners were entrusted with the task of assessing water problems in their respective areas and determining the necessary funding to tackle them. A substantial budget of 131 crore was earmarked for drilling bore wells in priority zones, including Mahadevpur, RR Nagar, Bommanahalli, Dasarahalli, and Yelahanka, alongside 110 surrounding villages, said a release from BBMP.

BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath echoed Singhs sentiments, stressing the critical importance of averting water shortages, particularly as summer approaches. Giri Nath issued directives for immediate measures to ensure a steady water supply throughout the municipality.

In response to identified challenges, officials expedited the tender process for bore well drilling in areas grappling with scarcity.

Additionally, temporary measures, such as deploying water tankers, were implemented to ease pressure on existing resources, particularly on RO plants.

Efforts are also underway to address the depletion of tubewells within the city. With more than 1,200 tubewells dried up out of 10.84 lakh connections, authorities have prioritised repairs and maintenance to restore their functionality, officials said.

The chairperson of BWSSB, Ram Prasat Manohar, highlighted the imminent water demand, stating, Approximately 9.48 TMC of water from February to July 2024 is required. Plans include acquiring additional tankers and completing the fifth phase of the Kaveri water project by April to meet this demand.

Giri Nath opined that The installation of Syntex tanks in strategic locations across the city has already proven effective in providing drinking water to residents. Further deployment in slum areas and other zones is planned to bolster access.

In the older parts of Bengaluru such as Jayanagar, Basavanagudi, Vijayanagar, Malleswaram, Sheshadripura and surrounding areas, water scarcity is less, as compared to the extended areas of the city. IT hubs like White Field, Electronics City, Marathahalli, Nagavara, Bagalur and other places where tech parks are in more numbers are facing the real heat, said officials.

According to Shridhar Naidu, the residents association president of BSR Signature Apartments in Kothnur, since the start of February, the residents are forced to buy eight to ten tanks of water on a daily basis.

Earlier the price per tank (5,000 litres) varied from 500 to 650. But now it is costing 800 and sometimes even 900. Private water providers say that this will continue to increase the prices in the coming days. Water shortage is a huge burden on the residents, Naidu said.

A private water supplier Girisha BG in K Narayanapura locality, which is close to Manyata Tech Park, says they are unable to meet the demand.

Usually only after March, we used to get a lot of orders from residents and offices. But this year, the demand has increased since mid-January. We cant reduce the prices. When there is a scarcity and more demand, prices will go up naturally. We have three borewells and pumps from which we get over 200,000 litres of water every day. We are worried that two of the bore wells might dry up if we pump huge amounts of water, Girisha added.

The state government has been discussing to get water from over 400 kilometres away Sharavati River, said those familiar with the development.

However, there is a huge uproar against the plan from the residents of Western Ghats.

We have given our agricultural lands to provide electricity to the state and now the capital city is trying to snatch away our water. Bengaluru is a monstrous city and too greedy, said a furious Shankar Sagar who is a Western Ghats rights activist and president of Paschima Ghatta Karyapade.
The Karnataka home ministry has got a suo motu case filed against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anantkumar Hegde who described chief Minister Siddaramaiah as Sidramulha Khan, said police. BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde.(Photo: Twitter)

According to the directions of the home ministry, we have registered a suo-motu case against MP Hegde who used an insulting word against the chief minister, said S Vishnuvardhan, the superintendent of police (SP) of Uttara Kannada.

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In a party workers convention held on February 23 in Mundagod town, Hegde listed the alleged failures of the Siddaramaiah government and briefed how the state Congress government was helping the Muslims financially.

At least 99.99% Hindus of the state pay the tax regularly, but its been used for the Masjids. He is not Siddaramaiah but Sidramulha Khan who is working for the welfare of Muslims on the taxes by Hindus, said Hegde who is representing the Canara constituency for the sixth consecutive term.

The police said, they have the video of the provocative speech.

We have the video of the entire speech of MP Hegde which was forwarded to the home ministry, added the SP.

Condemning the MPs statement, Congress leaders said, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and politicians like Hegde are trying to spoil the peace and religious harmony of the district.

ALSO READ- Temple bill defeat: Karnataka CM accuses BJP of spreading misinformation

It is unfortunate that the MP representing us since 25 years is now trying to divide us for his electoral benefit, said senior Congress leader, RV Deshpande from Uttara Kannada who is representing Halyan assembly constituency for the 7th time.

Deshpande, who handled many important portfolios in many previous Congress governments said, the people of Uttara Kannada will not align with Hegdes thoughts.

Despite RSS and Hegde trying to spoil the peace of the district with their hidden religious agenda, people have failed their attempts, Deshpande said.

Hitting at Hegdes lack of work in his constituency, Deshpande said, the Canara constituency has remained unchanged since 2000. Not even a single bus shelter was constructed in his 25-year tenure.

ALSO READ- Bengaluru Court summons Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah & Shivakumar in a case filed by BJP

Like many BJP MPs, he too won the elections in seasonal waves, he said.

Even many BJP office bearers from Uttara Kannada district, who did not wish to be named said, Hegde was only recently seen in public after the last LokSabha elections.

As many demands of the public have not been addressed, the districts BJP block is not in a position to face people and ask them to elect the party again. We feel bad that the constituency is not developed and also apologise the people that our MP, Hegde, has not met them since last four-five years, added a party worker from the district.

He added, that the party workers dont know what to respond when people ask them about the whereabouts of MP Hegde.

ALSO READ- BJP MP Hegde booked over remark on Bhatkal mosque

According to highly placed sources in state BJP, the high command has been considering of changing Hegdes candidature over his lack of efficiency and aggressive Hindu fundamentalism that has forced the party to apologise in the public.

Hegde is known for his religious provocative speeches. Last year, he landed his party in trouble through his controversial speech on changing the Constitution of the country after which the leaders had to apologise.

The MP had said, BJP has pledged to change the Constition of the nation given by Ambedkar. The party can never accept the Constitution given by a Dalit.

The party workers said, both the Centre and the state BJP unit feel there are chances of losing if Hegde is again selected to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Ritesh Pandey on Sunday resigned from the party's primary membership saying that the party does not need him as they have not called him for any meetings for a long time, neither the party leadership Mayawati has spoken to him. Shortly after that, Ritesh Pandey joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi. BSP MP Ritesh Pandey resigns from party, joins BJP(PTI)

This comes days after Pandey met Prime Minister Narendra Modi over lunch, along with seven other opposition MPs in the Parliament canteen. Sharing the pictures of their meeting, Pandey had said: It was truly an honour to be invited by the Prime Minister @narendramodiji for lunch today and learn how he used his insights from the 2001 Bhuj Earthquake to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. What an insightful discussion - thank you for having us over!

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Ritesh Pandey's resignation letter to Mayawati

Ritesh Pandey shared his resignation letter addressed to BSP chief Mayawati on X, formerly known as Twitter. For a long time, neither am I being called to attend party meetings nor has the party leadership spoken to me. I made numerous efforts to get in touch with and meet you (Mayawati) and the top leadership of the party but it did not yield any result, Ritesh Pandey wrote in the resignation letter.

He added, During this time, I continuously met workers and supporters of other parties in my area and was also involved in various works going on in the constituency. Hence, I have come to the conclusion that the party does not need my service and presence.

So, I do not have any other option apart from resigning from the primary membership of the party. The decision to break the relationship with the party is a difficult decision from the emotional point of view, the letter further read.

Ritesh Pandey has been representing the Ambedkar Nagar constituency since 2019 after he defeated his BJP rival Mukut Bihari in the general elections. Prior to this, he served as a MLA from the Jalalpur constituency between June 2017 to May 2019. He was appointed as the leader of BSP in the Lok Sabha in January 2020.

The former BSP MP has been an active member of multiple parliamentary committees including the Standing Committee on External Affairs, the Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, and the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Pandey has been ranked 19th in the Parliamentary Business Survey among 539 MPs in the country. He is also the youngest MP to appear in the Top 20.
Raipur: Chhattisgarhs Economic Offence Wing (EOW)/Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Sunday raided 13 premises, including that of two former IAS officers, an excise officer and a few businessmen, in connection with the alleged liquor scam unearthed during the previous Congress-led government in the state, a statement issued by the state government stated. (Representative Photo)

The action also covered the premises of a businessman in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, the statement added.

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The raids covered the premises of former chief secretary Vivek Dhand (retired IAS officer), former secretary of commerce and industry department Anil Tuteja (retired IAS officer), then commissioner of excise department Niranjan Das, excise officer Ashok Kumar Singh, businessman Anwar Dhebar (brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar), Arvind Singh and Siddarth Singhania in Raipur, the statement reads.

According to officials, in the first information report, lodged on January 18 based on the complaint of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), 70 persons, including several Congress leaders, and companies have been named.

The FIR was lodged under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988/Amended Act 2018 and the Indian Penal Code, they said.

The statement further reads that the raids covered the premises of the then special secretary of the excise department and managing director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited  Arunpati Tripathi (Indian Telecom Service officer) in Durg district, then assistant commissioner of excise department Korba Saurabh Bakshi in Korba district, businessman Rajendra Jaiswal of M/s Welcome Distilleries and Bhupendra Pal Singh Bhatia of M/s Bhatia Wine Merchant in Bilaspur district and Naveen Kedia of M/s Chhattisgarh Distillery Limited in Kumhari area (Durg).

Besides, the raid was also launched at M/s Prism Hologram and Security Private Limited of Vidhu Gupta in Greater Noida, it said. The search in premises of these suspects is still underway, it added.

The ED in July last year submitted a charge sheet in the case claiming that Rs.776 crore of the Rs.2,161 crore collected in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam by Dhebar, the prime accused, went to political executives.

Dhebar had decided to replicate the same corruption model in Jharkhand as well, but abruptly stopped when the ED started looking into the irregularities, the ED alleged.

The ED, in its complaint to the ACB/EOW, had claimed criminal acts were committed by certain senior officials in connivance with private and influential persons for causing loss to the state government and earning illegal profits for themselves in the liquor trade.

Its probe revealed that a criminal syndicate was operating in Chhattisgarh, which was extorting illegal commission in the sale of liquor and was also involved in the unauthorised sale of unaccounted liquor through government liquor shops, said the ED.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson came to Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. He expressed confidence that our country will win and drive out Putin's army.

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He added that the West should continue to provide assistance to Ukraine. Johnson wrote about this on his page on X.

According to him, he is honored to be in Ukraine on the second anniversary of Putin's invasion. The politician said that thanks to unbridled courage, Ukrainians will win the victory over the aggressor country Russia.

Johnson also called for military, political and economic assistance to Ukraine.

"On this grim second anniversary of Putin's invasion, I am honored to be here in Ukraine. With their indomitable courage, I have no doubt that Ukrainians will prevail and drive out Putin's forces, provided we give them the military, political and economic assistance they need," Johnson said.

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At least five people died and half a dozen workers were injured in a blast at a firecracker factory in Bharwari under the Kokhraj police station area in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district on Sunday. The rescue operation is underway and injured people were being sent to hospital. The death count is likely to increase, police said. (HT Photo)

SP Kaushambi Brijesh Kumar Srivastava said, Five people have died and some are injured in the fire that broke out in the firecracker factory of Bharwari.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

He told reporters, Injured have been sent to the hospital for treatment. The factory is far away from the residential area... The rescue operation is underway... They had the license to manufacture and sell. 5-6 people are injured

The rescue operation is underway and injured people were being sent to hospital. The death count is likely to increase, police said.

Firefighters at the scene were trying to control the fire and efforts are underway to rescue workers trapped inside the factory.
According to the recently released Bihar Economic Survey (2023-24), dog bite cases in the state have increased by more than 20 times compared with the previous year. As per the report, a total of 2,07,181 people suffered dog bites in the year 2022-23 whereas the total number was just 9,809 in the year 2021-22. According to the recently released Bihar Economic Survey (2023-24), dog bite cases in the state have increased by more than 20 times compared with previous year. (File photo)

The survey has identified dog bite as the most prevalent disease in the state. Data analysis has revealed that on an average 600 people become victims of dog bites in Bihar every day. However, the report does not mention the number of rabies cases usually caused by a bite from an infected animal, including dogs.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

As per the report the state capital, Patna, reported a total 22,599 incidents of dog bites, thehighest in Bihar in the year 2022-23.

ALSO READ| I should get a Nobel prize for running govt in Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal

Patna Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar told PTI that they will take measures to check the menace.

"We are aware of the fact and will soon intensify our drive to check such this menace as per the existing norms. The PMC is also going to engage non-government organisations for the purpose," said Parashar.

Patna was followed by Nalanda (17,074), Gopalganj (15,253), Vaishali (13,110), West Champaran (11,291), East Champaran (9,975), Madhubani (8,401), Araria (6,710). Nawada district reported 6,234 cases of dog bites followed by Sitamarhi (6,198), Jamui (5,851), Jehanabad (5,683), Bhojpur (5,323), Madhepura (5,169), Darbhanga (5,023).

The districts which witnessed less than 2,000 reported dog bite incidents in 2022-23 include Kaimur (33), Aurangabad (435), Buxar (686), Muzaffarpur (1,258) and Khagaria (1,916).

Meanwhile, Patna-based medical practitioner, Dr Manoj Kumar has criticised the survey report asking how dog bite incidents can be termed as a disease.

"The survey report should have mentioned the number of rabies cases usually transmitted by a bite from an infected animal, including dog. How can dog bite incidents be termed as a disease? Rabies is a disease it's a dangerous virus that causes brain inflammation. Animals can spread rabies to humans through bites and scratches," Dr Manoj told PTI.

Rabies risk from dog bites

According to the World Health Organisation report, "Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99 per cent of all rabies transmissions to humans. The incubation period for rabies is typically 23 months but may vary from one week to one year, depending on factors such as the location of virus entry and the viral load".

In an interaction with news agency PTI, Managing Director for Humane Society International/India Alokparna Sengupta has urged authorities in Bihar to control human-animal conflict to curb incidents of dog bites.

"Authorities concerned in Bihar must work on controlling human-animal conflict to curb incidents of dog bites. Besides, the government must work towards effectively implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme in the state which will certainly help in curbing dog bite incidents. The Prevention of Cruelty (Animal Birth Control) Rules 2023 rules have already been notified by the central government to address these challenges," said Sengupta.

The new rules give a humane approach that balances out the welfare of dogs while taking into consideration the concerns of humans, she added.

Meanwhile, as per the report, the second most prevalent disease in Bihar is malaria. The state witnessed 45,532 cases of malaria in 2022-23, the report said.
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday warned the Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil to not to test the patience of the state government despite giving the 10% reservation to the community after the latter made serious allegations against deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis that he wants to end the Maratha influence in the state. Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Ajit Pawar addressing to the media during press conference. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times)

While speaking to the reporters on the eve of the session of the Maharashtra legislature, the chief minister also took a jibe at the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray while responding to Jarange.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Read here: Fadnavis wants to end Maratha influence in state, alleges Manoj Jarange-Patil

"Those who are protesting again and again against the government must not test our patience. They should not create a law and order problem. I wonder why Jarange's speech looks like the script generally used by Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray," news agency PTI quoted Shinde as saying.

Asked about Jarange's aggressive stand and the use of expletives in his speeches, CM Shinde said that and appropriate action would be taken as per law. "It is a conspiracy in progress and it would be exposed soon," he said.

State's deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis also responded to Jarange's allegations saying that these claims are absolutely false and the activist is speaking the words of the opposition leaders including Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.

"Accusations against me: They know that what they say is completely false. When I was Chief Minister, I maintained reservation in the High Court and also in the Supreme Court. The Maratha community is also sure who started many schemes like Sarathi, Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation and how much money was given for it. The Maratha community will not believe false accusations by anyone. The script that Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar were speaking till yesterday, now someone else is speaking the same script. Who is behind this will come out at the right time. But if anyone takes up the law, police will take appropriate action," his office's X handle said.

Earlier on Sunday, the activist accused Fadnavis of hatching a conspiracy against him and trying to kill him.

The announcement, made at the end of a speech of more than one hour in Antarwali Sarati in Jalna in which Jarange made several allegations against Fadnavis, took his supporters by surprise.

"Some people are being lured and pressured to make false allegations against me. Fadnavis is behind these conspiracies. He wants to kill me. I am ready to march to Sagar bungalow (Fadnavis' official residence in Mumbai's Malabar Hill) right away," Jarange said.

Jarange has threatened to march to the deputy chief ministers residence at Mumbai. He is demanding that all Marathas be considered as Kunbi  a caste in Maharashtra under the OBC bloc  and be given reservations accordingly. He wants ones blood relations to be allowed to have Kunbi registration.

(With inputs from PTI)
Noida traffic: Two more groups of farmers under the banner of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Tikait and BKU LokShakti will hit the road in Noida towards Delhi this week to demand a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP). Traffic congestion at the Noida-Greater Noida expressway road on February 21,(Sunil Ghosh/Hindustan Times)

This comes after two farmers groups -- the Bhartiya Kisan Parishad and All India Kisan Sabha -- held protests in the city at NTPC Noida and in front of the Greater Noida Authority office, reported The Times of India.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

According to the newspaper, BKU Tikait will head towards the Noida-Delhi border with tractors on Monday. We plan to line up tractors from Greater Noida to the Noida side and march along the Yamuna Expressway, moving towards the Chilla border via the Noida Expressway, BKU Tikait president (West UP) Pawan Khatana said.

Khatana said that farmers from several villages will meet up at the toll plaza in Greater Noida. "From there we will proceed towards Noida's Chilla border," Khatana told TOI, adding that farmers from Noida can directly hit the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway.

Also Read | Delhi police partially lift blockade at Tikri and Singhu borders

On the call of BKU Tikait head Rakesh Tikait and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), we have decided to organise a tractor march on the Yamuna Expressway. We plan to line tractors up on the Greater Noida to Noida side of the expressway and march towards Noida. We will maintain discipline during the march, Khatana said in a video, that has been circulating on WhatsApp.

While officials are yet to receive any information on the protest by farmers, it could however lead to traffic disruptions on the proposed route. Notable, the class X English exam and Class XII exams on taxation and artificial intelligence are scheduled to be held from 10.30 am tomorrow.

DCP (traffic) Anil Kumar Yadav told TOI that he is yet to receive any information on the proposed protest by farmers. We will make arrangements once they share the information of their protest, he said.
Mobile internet services, which were suspended on February 11 in view of the Delhi Chalo march call by farmers' unions, were restored in seven districts of Haryana on Sunday morning. Farmers tying a black cloth on their turbans to mark Black Day protest against the Union government and Haryana government during their ongoing 'Delhi Chalo' march at Shambhu Border in Patiala. (ANI)

Mobile internet services and bulk SMSes will now be available in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa as the Haryana government decided not to extend the suspension order after February 25 midnight.

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Individual SMS, voice calls, banking SMS and internet services provided by broadband and lease lines of corporate and household though were exempted from the shutdown in public interest.

The suspension was extended on February 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23 and 24. Officials said no fresh order has been issued to extend the suspension of the mobile services in the seven districts.

According to an earlier order issued by the home department, the restrictions were imposed "to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in jurisdictions of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa, including Dabwali, districts in Haryana".

Residents welcomed the government's decision.

"Restoration of mobile internet services after a gap of several days is a big relief," Kamal, a resident of Ambala, told news agency PTI.

Delhi Chalo' march

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are leading the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation to put pressure on the Centre to accept farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops and a farm loan waiver.

Protesting farmers from Punjab taking part in the march have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri points of the state's border with Haryana since February 13, when their march was stopped by security personnel.

The farmers will continue to stay put at the two border points till February 29, when the next course of action will be decided, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher had said on Friday.

Farmer leaders had on Wednesday put the 'Delhi Chalo' march on hold for two days after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri.
Legal journalists perform a herculean task of disseminating knowledge to common people about whatever transpires in court, former Supreme Court judge Anil R Dave said on Saturday. During the event, former top court judge Anil R Dave also inaugurated Legal Sathi, a web line to provide free legal assistance to every citizen. (HT photo)

The former judge was speaking at the Justice Media Award 2023-2024 organised by North Delhi Lawyers Association where Hindustan Times Legal Editor Utkarsh Anand was among those felicitated at the event.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Dave said that it is imperative for the legal journalists to know the law to avoid misunderstanding and they should be careful while reporting.

Legal journalists are doing a herculean task of giving news to people about whatever transpires in court. Court is a public place and whatever happens in trial is public. Whatever happens in the court, you are there to tell people so that they become aware and create an opinion. In the process, it is also necessary for the legal reporters to know the law. Because if you are not aware of the law, the chances of misunderstandings increase manyfolds, he said.

During the event, the former judge also inaugurated Legal Sathi, a web line to provide free legal assistance to every citizen.

Former chief justice of Jammu and Kashmir high court MM Kumar who was also present at the event said that legal reporting is an important weapon in the hands of journalists to educate the masses about whatever transpires in court.

Legal reporting is an important weapon in the hands of journalists for educating the masses. There may be a citizen who is following a case day after day and is looking towards the reporting of that case. Journalists play a pivotal role in educating the masses legally, what happens in the court, how it happens, why it happens, all these questions are raised by journalists through his writings, justice Kumar said.
Agartala: Ahead of Arunachal Pradesh assembly elections, four legislators from the opposition Congress and the Nationalist Peoples Party (NPP) joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday. With the joining of the four MLAs, the BJP now has a strength of 56 in the 60-member state legislative assembly (Twitter/@PemaKhanduBJP)

With the joining of the four MLAs, the BJP now has a strength of 56 in the 60-member state legislative assembly.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Of the four legislators, Ninong Ering and Wanglin Lowandong from Congress and Mutchu Mithi and Gokar Basar from NPP joined the ruling party in the presence of Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu and BJPs election in-charge Ashok Singhal during an event held at Itanagar.

Ering was elected from the West Pasighat assembly, and Wanglin represents the Borduria Bogapani constituency. Mithi and Basar represent Roing and Basar seats, respectively.

Chief minister Khandu welcomed the legislators, saying the joining of the MLAs in BJP is a testament to their faith in the principles of good governance championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Their joining of the party will further fortify our base in their respective constituencies and Arunachal Pradesh, he wrote on X.

In the 60-seated assembly, the Congress is now left with only two legislators and two independent legislators, increasing the scope of the BJP to retain its power in the state. In the 2019 state elections, the BJP bagged 41 seats.

The Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly election is scheduled to be held in or before April this year, along with the Lok Sabha elections.
Jan Suraj Abhiyan founder Prashant Kishor has blamed the opposition's inability to galvanise the voters for the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral successes amid issues of the youth, particularly jobs.



During an interactive session on a popular TV news channel, Kishor was asked by a youth from the audience as to why the BJP continues to win elections despite not being able to address issues of the youth.



Kishor, who was a poll strategist for Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014, said,"The BJP government continues to win because those in the opposition are not able to unite and galvanise the voters."



ALSO READ: Prashant Kishor says BJP won't get 370 seats alone; his advice for INDIA is...



In 2019, 38 out of 100 people voted in favour of Modi, while 62 did not. The majority was not in favour of the government then. But those 62 voters are not united and are scattered. Nobody is able to galvanise them and the government is benefiting from it, he added.



Kishor, a renowned poll strategist who worked with prominent political parties including the BJP, JD(U)-RJD Mahagathbandhan, DMK, Trinamool Congress and the YSR Congress, launched the Jan Suraj Abhiyan in 2022. Prashant Kishor and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.(PTI)

Recently, he announced that at least 75 people belonging to the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) category will be fielded by a single platform supported by his organisation 'Jan Suraaj' in the 2025 Bihar assembly polls.



Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

2022: Kishor declined Cong's offer to join party

In 2022, Kishor had declined the Congress's offer to join the party. Following a presentation & discussions with Sh. Prashant Kishor, Congress President has constituted a Empowered Action Group 2024 & invited him to join the party as part of the group with defined responsibility. He declined. We appreciate his efforts & suggestion given to party," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala had posted on X.

On not joining the Congress, Kishor had posted,"I declined the generous offer of #congress to join the party as part of the EAG & take responsibility for the elections. In my humble opinion, more than me the party needs leadership and collective will to fix the deep rooted structural problems through transformational reforms."
Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday took a sharp jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government saying that he should get a "Nobel prize" for running a government in the national capital due to the conflict between the two governments. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal(ANI)

While addressing the party workers during the protest over water bills, CM Kejriwal said, ...They (BJP) tried to stop the construction of schools and hospitals in Delhi. They do not want the poor to get the same level of education as their children...Only I know, how am I running the government in Delhi, I should get a Nobel prize for this...

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

He also attacked the Centre for obstructing the AAP government from implementing the one-time settlement of the pending water bills. Kejriwal said the government officials were not taking orders from the AAP government as they were scared of the Centre.

"...Delhi Jal Board has passed the scheme. Now this scheme has to be passed in the cabinet. BJP asked Delhi LG to stop this scheme. Officers have been threatened, they are crying...When Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi called the officers to ask why they were not bringing the bill, the officers said that we have been threatened that if this scheme came to the cabinet, they would be suspended. Just like Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are in jail, you will also put officers in jail by filing false cases of ED, CBI," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Kejriwal urged the residents of the national capital to not pay their wrong water bills and tear them away.

The remarks from the chief minister came amid heated protests by AAP MLAs against inflated water bills in Delhi. The MLAs are demanding a one-time settlement for unpaid water bills and even passed a resolution regarding the same in the Delhi Assembly.

Earlier 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 5,737 crore, the CMO stated. Kejriwal said that there are 27.6 lakh domestic water meters in the city. He said that out of this there are arrears on 11.7 lakh water bills.

(With inputs from agencies)
An independent fact-finding team led by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy was detained on Sunday when it was proceeding to the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district to probe alleged incidents of atrocities on women. The team also wanted to probe alleged incidents of Trinamool Congress leaders grabbing residents' land to convert into Bheris (fish farm). The six-member team comprised Reddy, former IPS officer Raj Pal Singh, former National Commission for Women member Charu Wali Khanna, advocates O P Vyas and Bhavna Bajaj, and senior journalist Sanjeev Nayak. Former chief justice of the Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy (L) with retd. IPS officer Rajpal Singh and former joint registrar (law), NHRC Om Prakash Vyas, three of the six-member fact finding committee on human rights violations in Sandeshkhali, come out from Lalbazar (Kolkata Police headquarters) after their release, in Kolkata, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. Narasimha Reddy, Rajpal Singh and Om Prakash Vyas were detained by the Police when they were enroute to Sandeshkhali. (PTI)

The police stopped the team by saying that Section 144 CrPC was in force in parts of Sandeshkhali. The police said it would not be prudent to allow them access to the area even in groups of four-five, and stopped their convoy at the Bhojerhat area, which is around 52 km from the riverine area, on Basanti Highway, reported news agency PTI.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The six were detained by police and taken in a vehicle and later released, a police officer said.

ALSO READ| INLD Haryana unit chief Nafe Singh Rathee shot dead in Jhajjar

What the fact-finding team's members said on police's actions

Reddy termed police's actions as "completely illegal". He said, "This is completely illegal. We have told the police personnel as law-abiding citizens we will not break rules. No curfew has been imposed in Sandeshkhali. So we can go in two groups. At least two of our women members should be allowed to visit the females who had bore the brunt of atrocities of musclemen enjoying political patronage and impunity from police action in all these days till the media unravelled the shocking truth."

Claiming they were given a copy of the section 144 order as they set off for the journey, he said "The administration cannot stop civil society members of the country to interact with victims of human rights violation. What they (administration) are scared to hide".

Khanna said "What they have done is nothing but murder of democracy. They have illegally detained us."

Fact-finding team of BJP was also stopped

A few days ago, a fact-finding team of BJP consisting of Union minister Annapurna Devi, Pratima Bhowmik, MP Sunita Duggal, Kavita Patidar, Sangeeta Yadav and Rajya Sabha member and former director general of police of Uttar Pradesh Brij Lal was stopped by police from entering Sandeshkhali.

What has happened in Sandeshkhali?

In Sandeshkhali, several woman have alleged sexual assault by local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his supporters. Residents of the village have staged protests, alleging non-action by the police authorities against the accused. The West Bengal police arrested Uttam Sardar and Shibaprasad Hazra, the close aides of Shahjahan.
The destruction of the second Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft will not force the aggressor state's army to reduce the number of missile attacks on Ukraine. However, this serious loss for Russia will greatly help our country.

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In particular, the Russians have reduced their ability to conduct radar reconnaissance on the territory of Ukraine, and it will be more difficult for the enemy to detect air targets and Ukrainian radars. This was stated by the spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ihnat, during a telethon.

The Air Force spokesman is convinced that such serious losses as the A-50 surveillance aircraft destroyed on February 23 significantly reduce the enemy's capabilities. In this particular case, the capabilities of the invaders in conducting radar reconnaissance have been narrowed.

"The capabilities of the Russian aviation are diminishing as special equipment is being destroyed and flight crews are being killed. As a result, the entire crew is killed. Therefore, this is the only way to gradually destroy the enemy with the means we have," said Ihnat.

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The Air Force spokesman emphasized that the loss of the A-50 will not prevent Russia from continuing to fire missiles at Ukraine. Therefore, the idea that the invaders will launch fewer missiles, instead increasing the number of kamikaze drones is wrong.

"Unfortunately, we have limited resources in long-range air defense today. Everyone always talks about this, too. That's why their capabilities are decreasing, but the enemy has such aircraft, the enemy can plan further strikes," Ihnat said.

According to him, the Russians will have to make some adjustments to their usual actions. In particular, the occupiers are unlikely to use the A-50s they still have in the same way as they did before. Therefore, every such loss of the enemy helps Ukraine greatly.

"Of course, they will take into account what has happened, and they will not fly closer with A-50s. You can see that the more we destroy, the farther even the long-range radar detection aircraft operates. What does this mean? It reduces their ability to conduct radar reconnaissance on the territory of Ukraine, to detect air targets in our airspace, and to detect our radar systems. Therefore, of course, such shootdowns, such destruction of Russian equipment will help us very much. And they will reduce the enemy's capabilities," the Air Force spokesman added.

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On the evening of February 23, a Russian A-50U long-range radar detection and control aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Azov. The downed aircraft went down in the Krasnodar region of the Russian Federation. It was a joint operation of the Main Intelligence Directorate and the Air Force.

Before the full-scale invasion, Russia had only nine such aircraft: three A-50s and six A-50Us.

A-50 and A-50U aircraft are used by the occupiers to detect and track air and surface targets, alert command posts of automated control systems of the armed forces about the air and surface situation, can be used to control fighter and strike aircraft when they are guided at air, land, and sea targets, and can also serve as an air command post.

The A-50 radars are very valuable to the Russians. They play the role of correctors during massive shelling of Ukraine and are worth at least $330 million.

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It was believed that these aircraft could not be shot down. However, the Ukrainian Defense Forces first shattered this stereotype on January 14, when they shot down two Russian occupation aircraft over the Sea of Azov. An A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft was shot down and an Il-22 was damaged.

The myth of the Russian A-50's indestructibility was refuted for the second time on February 23.

On the morning of February 24, it became known that the bodies of the crew members were found in the area where the A-50 crashed in the Krasnodar Territory.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the India-US relationship deepened during Donald Trump's tenure as US president, despite there were issues. Speaking at the Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create session at the 9th Raisina Dialogue in Delhi, S Jaishankar said, Trump was president from 2017 to 2021. We had a very good relationship with him. He came here on a visit, my prime minister went there for visits. Like any relationship, there were issues but overall if I look, in those four years did our relationship deepen? Did it grow? Absolutely, it did. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses the closing day of Raisina Dialogue 2024, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI)

Trump visited India in 2020 and addressed a rally with the prime minister in Gujarat's Motera, where he said , We will always remember this remarkable hospitality. We will remember it forever.

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The EAM added that it wasn't just Donald Trump, India's ties have improved with every successive presidency after Bill Clinton.

It's not just Trump, if you look at India-US from perhaps Bill Clinton, with every presidency, the relationship has deepened. You could attribute it to structural advantages or you could attribute it to clever diplomacy. It has grown and I have every confidence that it will continue to do so, Jaishankar added.

Trump is currently campaigning in the US ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. He won the South Carolina Republican primary on Saturday.

Further, Jaishankar also spoke about the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK. In January 2022, India and the UK initiated talks for a free-trade agreement (FTA), which has progressed through 13 rounds thus far. The 14th round commenced last month, covering 26 chapters encompassing goods, services, investments, and intellectual property rights.

Jaishankar said, Both countries would stand enormously to benefit. Today, how different economic production and consumption centres deal with each other is a very major point and to an extent we can facilitate it. FTA is one way of facilitating it, connectivity is another way of facilitating it, and digital flows are a third way of facilitating it. The reason we are engaged in this exercise is precisely because both of us see a lot coming out positively from that FTA.

India's industry advocates for increased entry for skilled professionals, especially from IT and healthcare sectors, into the UK market, alongside access to certain goods at zero customs duty. Conversely, the UK seeks substantial reductions in import duties for items such as scotch whiskey, electric vehicles, lamb meat, chocolates, and specific confectionery products. Moreover, Britain aims to expand opportunities for UK services in India, particularly in telecommunications, legal, and financial sectors like banking and insurance.
Jaipur: The fifth edition of the joint military exercise Dharma Guardian between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces commenced on Sunday at Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, the army said. The exercise will conclude on March 9. Dharma Guardian is an annual exercise held alternately in India and Japan (Twitter/@adgpi)

Dharma Guardian is an annual exercise held alternately in India and Japan. The Japanese contingent is being represented by soldiers of the 34th Infantry Regiment, and the Indian Army contingent is being represented by a battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, said army officials. Both sides have 40 military personnel each.

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According to the officials, the objective of the exercise is to promote military cooperation and enhance joint capabilities to conduct joint operations in semi-urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations mandate. The exercise will focus on the basics of high-level physical fitness, joint planning and special weapons skills.

The exercise will include setting up a temporary operating base, intelligence gathering, surveillance and pre-trial preparation, setting up mobile vehicle check posts, executing cordon and search operations in a hostile village, heliborne operations and house intervention drills, the army said.

Under Atmanirbhar Bharat, a display of weapons and equipment will also be organised, showcasing the countrys growing defence and industrial capability, officials added.

Lieutenant General Togashi Yuichi, Commanding General Officer of the Eastern Army of Japan Ground Self Defense Force, is also scheduled to visit India on the sidelines of Exercise Dharma Guardian, the army said. He will visit Mahajan Field Firing Range on March 3 and will also witness combat shooting, special heliborne operation and house intervention drill.

The Dharma Guardian exercise will enable both sides to share their best practices in strategic operations strategies, techniques and procedures, the army said. The exercise will also facilitate inter-operation and develop rapport between the troops of both sides. This will increase the level of defence cooperation and will further boost bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, it added.
Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana state unit chief Nafe Singh Rathee and a party worker were shot dead by some unidentified assailants in state's Jhajjar district, a senior party leader said on Sunday. Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana state unit chief Nafe Singh Rathee(File)

Rathee, a former MLA, was travelling when the assailants sprayed bullets on their SUV in Jhajjar's Bahadurgarh town. Three private gunmen hired by Rathee for security also suffered injuries in the attack, news agency PTI reported.

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INLD leader Abhay Chautala accused the state government of failing to provide Rathee with security despite there being threat to his life, and demanded the resignation of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and state home minister Anil Vij.

"The two-time MLA, who is our state unit chief, was not provided with security. In writing, representations had been made to senior police officers and state home minister that he was facing threats and should be provided with security," Chautala told PTI.

The attack, which came ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, which alleged a breakdown in law and order in the BJP-ruled state.

Former Haryana chief minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed his condolence over the death of the former MLA and accused the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government of neglecting the law and order situation in the state saying that the situation of law and order under Khattar has become bankrupt.

The news of INLD State President Shri Nafe Singh Rathi being shot dead in Haryana is very sad. This reflects the law and order of the state. This incident made it clear that law and order has become bankrupt. Today no one is feeling safe in the state. My tribute to the departed soul and deep condolences to the family. I pray to God to give strength to the family members to bear this loss. I wish for the speedy recovery of the security personnel injured in the attack, he said in a post on X.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sushil Gupta also slammed the Khattar government saying that "rule of law has ended in Haryana and jungle raj prevails". "No one is safe in Haryana today," he added.

Meanwhile, state home minister Anil Vij took cognisance of the matter and asked the officials to take immediate action over the shooting incident.

...I have asked the officials to take immediate action in this matter. STF has also swung into action...The incident is being investigated, ANI quoted Vij as saying.

Meanwhile, Dr Manish Sharma of Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital, where the INLD leader was admitted said that the former MLA and one of his party worker was brought dead while two others were admitted to the ICU with gunshot wounds.

In the evening, four people who had been shot were brought to Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital. Out of them, two had suffered heavy bleeding and were brought dead, still, we tried CPR but they couldn't be saved. Two others are admitted to the ICU with gunshot wounds on the shoulder, thigh, and left side of the chest... Former MLA Nafe Singh and another person Jaikishan were brought dead. They were shot in the neck, back, and shoulder. Multiple wounds suggest there were multiple rounds of fire... Sudden major vessel damage causes heavy blood loss and eventually, heart attack, the doctor said to ANI.

Further Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain said, We received information regarding an incident of firing. CIA and STF teams are working. The accused will be arrested soon.
I wasnt really shocked but it was eyebrow-raising, nevertheless, when Amit Oraon took the bag from the coolie and dumped it inside the car at New Jalpaiguri railway station. There was a fairly large Angry Hanuman poster, the one that created so many controversies on social media some years back. There is a sense of cease fire in north Bengal between the TMC and BJP cadre compared to the mayhem one reads about in south Bengal. (HT File)

As mentioned in the previous piece in this series, the fierce pride Priti Bramha had displayed in her Bodo identity in Bongaigaon, Assam was a revelation. While Priti was least interested in politics, Amit seemed to be all about it. After a few minutes of conversation, Amit asked me if I would mind if he puts up a saffron flag. When I responded by saying it was his car and I couldnt care what flag he used, out came a saffron flag seen in various places in India since the consecration of the Lord Ram idol at Ayodhya on January 22.

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In fact, across Siliguri, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurdar and Cooch Behar, saffron flags could be seen fluttering everywhere. My sense sitting in Delhi was that the Ram Temple hype was a North Indian phenomenon. But North Bengal surprised me.

Amit doesnt mince words when he criticises the Mamata Bannerjee-led government in West Bengal. According to him, hardly any infrastructure or development work has been done by the charismatic and popular Mamata Didi. His complaint: Trinamool Congress people are so busy making voter ID and Aadhar cards for illegal migrants that they have no time for development. There was no way for the author to verify how exaggerated this claim was though TMC-leaning folks in Siliguri vehemently point out how the roads in West Bengal have improved.

No doubt, compared to about five years ago when the author was there, the roads are indeed vastly better. There is also a sense of cease fire in north Bengal between TMC and BJP cadre compared to the mayhem one reads about in south Bengal. When the author asked Amit if he was not scared of talking openly against Mamata Didi, his response was interesting. You see, this is not like Kolkatta or 24 North Parganas. When it comes to street and muscle power, we are evenly matched. So TMC guys know they will get it back if they attack us, he says. Amit is an Adivasi and has become an ardent supporter of Hindu Revivalism. He is not bothered if he is called Islamophobic. The author was fairly certain he would find a completely different set of expletives when he visits south Bengal.

North Bengal has somehow become a BJP stronghold gradually since the Gorkhaland agitation of the 1980s. For instance, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Raju Bista of BJP won Darjeeling with a 59% vote share. Similarly, Jayaonto Roy won Jalpaiguri with a 51% vote share and Nisith Pramanik (Union state Home minister) won Cooch Behar with a 48% vote share. In Alipurdar, John Barla won with a 54% vote share. The BJP won even Raiganj, albeit with a lower vote share of 40%. Even some BJP supporters seem to think that the party could lose Raiganj and Cooch Behar this time. According to them, demographic changes in the two constituencies make the BJP candidates vulnerable. Since the 2021 Census has not even started, all one can rely on is speculation, rumours and anecdotal evidence. However, there is tremendous resentment against Rohingya Muslims.

The locals'' have learnt to live with immigrants from Bangladesh. After all, they are culturally Indian and most have integrated. In any case, they have been coming for the last six decades or so. But folks in North Bengal are not willing to accept Rohingya Muslims. They are described as completely un-Indian and alien and also dangerous. In the 2024 elections, this will be an issue. Just as CAA and NRC will be in not just north, but the whole of Bengal. The author could sense a tinderbox and it is worrisome.

On the way to Bagdogra airport to board a flight to Delhi on February 7, the author stopped at a shop to buy some cigarettes. A lady with a splash of sindoor was doing the transactions. Since the author understands Bangla and manages to speak a bit, he asked the lady why there was no saffron flag in her shop when almost all others had one. She smiled and asked the author where he came from. When she heard Delhi, she smiled again and said in Bangla:  You big city English-speaking people won't understand. I dont need a saffron flag in my shop. I have saffron in my heart. The author couldnt think of a coherent response to that.

(This is the second in a series of 40 field reports from all corners of India in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections that aim to understand how the country is changing in fundamental ways.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sudarshan Setu was destined to be constructed through his hands because Lord Krishna made it possible. As the chief minister of Gujarat, Modi kept his proposal for Sudarshan Setu to the Congress in the Centre but they paid no heed, Narendra Modi said as he took a journey down memory lane after offering prayers at the ancient site of Dwarka. "I took a peacock feather with me and offered it there. My heart is overflowing with emotions as my dream today came true," PM Modi said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated, and laid the foundation stone of various projects in Dwarka, Gujarat on Sunday.

When I gave the guarantee of a new India to the people, the opposition mocked me. But today every Indian can see a new India being built in front of their eyes. They were in power for a long time but they did not have the will to make any development for the people. Because all their effort was to push only one family. They were only focussed to think how to run the government for five years, keeping the scams under the carpet. India was only in the 11th position in the economy in the 10 years before 2014. The small budget they used to allocate also got siphoned off in their scams, PM Modi said.

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"In 2014, when you all blessed me and sent to Delhi, I promised that I will save the country from being looted. I have put a full stop to all the scams that used to take place during the Congress rule and now India is the 5th largest economy in the world. The result of this is the construction marvels that you can see in India now," PM Modi said.

Sudarshan Setu is an example of an engineering marvel like the Chenub bridge, Atal Setu in Mumbai, vertical lift railway sea bridge in Tamil Nadu, PM Modi said.

'When I went to Astrakhan...'

Narendra Modi said many old memories visited him as he took a dip in the Arabian Sea to do a 'darshan' of the Dwarka City. One such, as he recollected, was his visit to Russia's Astrakhan which is a sister city of Gujarat state.

'Sudarshan Setu' is India's longest cable-stayed bridge, linking the Okha mainland and the Beyt Dwarka island in Gujarat. The project was launched in 2017. Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, approximately 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated.
Prime Minister Modi addressed the 110th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday. In his address, Modi highlighted the progress made by women in society. The PM said nobody would have thought till a few years ago that in our country, women living in villages would also fly drones. But today this is becoming possible".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (ANI)
Narendra Modi Mann Ki Baat: The 110th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat, aired on Sunday, February 25, at 11 am, marking his second programme of the year. Bharatiya Janata Party's official X handle said in a post, "Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi's 'Mann Ki Baat' Programme will air tomorrow at 11 AM."...Read More

Initially launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth.

Through this platform, Modi disseminates information about government initiatives, policies, and welfare schemes.

Broadcasted in 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat also reaches audiences in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, and Arabic.
Shillong: The heritage century-old Shillong Bar Association building in Meghalayas East Khasi Hills was gutted after a massive fire broke out on Saturday, people aware of the matter said. The fire broke out around 10.15pm on Saturday (Twitter/@SangmaConrad)

The fire, which broke around 10:15pm, quickly spread across the age-old wooden structure, engulfing the entire office in flames.

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The fire, attributed to a short circuit ravaged the lawyers hall, the library, pigeon-hole lockers that stored lawyers gowns and essentials, and two ridiculously small rooms that were occupied by some lawyers, people mentioned above said.

According to building chowkidar Bhola Yadav, the fire was detected by his daughter around 10.15pm. She alerted Yadav, who then immediately called the fire and emergency services. However, by the time they reached, the building was already gutted.

Speaking to the HT, Yadav said that a single fire tender arrived after getting the information but by the time they began dousing, the building was already gutted.

It was only when we pointed to the gravity of the fire that more fire tenders arrived, but by then, the damage was already done, Yadav said.

Member lawyers informed that thousands of documents, dating back almost a century, were destroyed in the fire. Some can be recovered from guard files at the court, but other documents that we as lawyers have preserved for our clients are gone, a senior lawyer on condition of anonymity told HT.

Shillong Bar Association president HR Nath expressed shock and sorrow at the unfortunate incident. This is a very old structure indeed, and we have been pursuing to preserve our records through digitalisation, but we are yet to fulfil that. Many precious files have been destroyed, Nath told HT over the phone.

Meghalaya fire and emergency services inspector general Francis G. Kharshiing commended his personnel for containing the fire well within two hours, thus spreading to the sessions court and the office of the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner.

According to our call logs, we received a call at 10:15pm, and two fire tenders were dispatched from Bara Bazar. I myself was there in eight minutes. We did our best to contain the fire, and thankfully, we were successful, he said.

Kharshiing said that all such government structures are under the radar of the fire and emergency services audit.

It is a matter of critical concern, and hence, we are striving to identify such precarious but precious structures that establish our past in history. Thats why we are persevering with the audit to achieve this mission, Kharshiing told HT.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma upon being informed about the incident, reached the spot along with his deputy Sniawbhalang Dhar, chief secretary Donald Philips Wahlang, and senior government officials and took stock of the situation.

Took stock of the situation at the Shillong Bar Association office. It is a very unfortunate incident, but we are relieved that there is no casualty. The century-old infrastructure is damaged. We will monitor the situation and ensure minimum damage, Sangma posted on X.

Extending his solidarity to the lawyer fraternity, Sangma said, It is painful and very sad with a heavy heart to see the scale of destruction to the office of an established pillar of democracy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, is set to inaugurate a slew of projects on Sunday in Dwarka and Rajkot districts. According to an official release, Modi will begin his day on Sunday by offering prayers at the Beyt Dwarka temple and the Dwarkadhish temple. PM Modi in Gujarat (Twitter)

Modi arrived in Gujarat on Saturday morning and held a big roadshow from Jamnagar airport. During the two-km journey, Modi greeted people from his vehicle as chants of Modi, Modi and Bharat Mata ki Jai filled the air. At one point, he even stepped out of his vehicle to wave at his supporters. Modi stayed at the Jamnagar circuit house for the night.

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PM Modi's schedule on Day 2 of his visit to Gujarat:

Around 7:45am, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer prayers at the Beyt Dwarka temple, followed by a visit to the Sudarshan Setu at around 8:25am, an official release said. He will visit the Dwarkadhish temple around 9:30am.

According to the release, Modi will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs. 4150 crore in Dwarka around 1 pm. After this, Modi will visit AIIMS Rajkot at 3:30pm.

Around 4:30pm, the prime minister will inaugurate multiple development projects worth more than Rs. 48,100 crore at the Race Course ground in Rajkot.

List of projects that PM Modi will inaugurate today

Modi will inaugurate the Okha-Beyt Dwarka Signature Bridge, also known as Sudarshan Setu in Dwarka. This is one of Modi's dream projects - which holds immense significance for both the locals and pilgrims visiting the revered Dwarkadhish temple. The bridge, spanning 2.5 kilometres, is being built at a cost of 978 crore and is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the country.

According to an official release, it boasts a unique design, featuring a footpath adorned with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna on both sides. The bridge also has solar panels installed on the upper portions of the footpath, generating one megawatt of electricity.

Tomorrow is a special day for Gujarat's growth trajectory. Among the several projects being inaugurated is the Sudarshan Setu, connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka. This is a stunning project which will enhance connectivity, PM Modi wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Modi will also take part in a roadshow from the old airport to Rajkot where he will hold a public rally. During the function, Modi will inaugurate Gujarats first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Along with this, he will also dedicate four other AIIMS in Punjab's Bathinda, Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, West Bengal's Kalyani, and Andhra Pradesh's Mangalagiri, virtually.

He will also lay the foundation stone of more than 200 healthcare infrastructure projects worth 11,500 crore across 23 states and union territories. Additionally, he will inaugurate 115 projects under the National Health Mission and Prime Minister Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

The PM will also dedicate to the nation 21 projects of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), worth around Rs. 2,280 crore, the government release said.

Apart from these, other key projects that the PM will inaugurate include - power generation projects in Kutch, ground-breaking for the new Mundra Panipat crude-oil pipeline project, a new cardiology hospital in Vadodara, and doubling of the Rajkot-Surendranagar railway line, among others.
The three new criminal laws  Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Saksha Adhiniyam (BSA)  which seek to replace the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence act will come into force from July 1 this year, the Centre has announced. Union home minister Amit Shah piloted the bills. (ANI)

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) notified the new laws through three separate notifications issued late Friday evening. In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 1st day of July 2024 as the date on which the provisions of the said Sanhita, except the provision of sub-section (2) of section 106, shall come into force, said the notification issued for BNS. Identical notifications were issued for BNSS and BSA.

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The implementation of sub-section (2) of Section 106 of BNS, which deals with hit-and-run cases and was introduced for the first-time, was kept in abeyance after pushback from truckers. They launched a three-day protest in January across several states against the provision, which proposes a penalty of 7 lakh and a 10-year imprisonment  similar to the punishment meted out in a murder case  in cases of hit and run by heavy transport vehicles. In response, the MHA at the time assured the All-India Motor Transport Congress that this section will only be implemented after further consultations.

Piloted by home minister Amit Shah, the new laws were introduced in Parliament on August 11 and sent to a parliamentary standing committee. Some suggestions of the panel were incorporated and a set of new bills (labelled as second) were tabled on December 12 in the Lower House. The bills were cleared in both Houses at a time when 97 Opposition members were suspended from the Lok Sabha along with 46 from the Rajya Sabha for unruly behaviour, in action that was unprecedented in scale during the winter session. (CHECK)

Some of the key changes relate to offences of terrorism and acts against the State, enabling the registration of electronic first information reports, factoring in corruption in election processes, and making electronic evidence a form of primary proof. Crimes such as lynching have been separately defined for the first time, with detailed provisions and enhanced punishment for crimes against women and children.

The objective of the IPC was to punish and not deliver justice. All the three laws, which are over 150 years old, were made by the British to rule over us, Shah said in Lok Sabha on December 20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to remove all such remnants of the colonial era.

Overall, 313 changes have been made in the laws, which Shah had said will bring widespread change in Indias criminal justice system and every citizen will be able to get justice within a maximum of three years. In BNS, which replaces IPC, there are 356 sections, instead of 511 in IPC. While 175 sections have been amended in BNS, eight new sections have been added and 22 sections have been repealed.

BNSS, which replaces CrPC, now has 533 sections. While 160 sections have been changed, nine new sections were added and an equal number repealed. BSA, a replacement of the Indian Evidence Act, will have 170 sections instead of the earlier 167.

According to the new laws, generation and supply of records will be in electronic form like zero-FIR, e-FIR, charge sheet and victims will be provided information in digital form. A major provision was added to the new laws for the creation of a Directorate of Prosecution, which defines the eligibility, functions and powers of various authorities under it. The duties and responsibilities of different levels of prosecuting officers have been laid down to ensure coordination. The provision of supervision by a prosecutor has been introduced during the investigation phase.

The new codes have been legislated with most transparent intentions. The idea was to frame the laws in accordance with the present times and the interests of Indian society, said Prakash Singh, former director general of police of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. However, I feel the entire exercise has been carried out in a hurry.

The laws made by the British served the country well over the years, and I am not sure if we have shown the same thoroughness. I believe there would be glitches for a few years in the implementation because police and society were used to certain legal terms. Then there is training of thousands of police officers, which will take time, he added. I wish there was more consultation.

The home ministry last month said that all police stations across the country will start implementing the provisions within a year. The laws will be first implemented in union territories like Chandigarh and Delhi.

We are conducting a lot of training sessions for our officers and will be ready for implementation of the new laws by July 1, Delhi police commissioner Sanjay Arora said.

To swiftly accustom police across the country with the provisions of the new laws, which involve heavy use of technology and forensics, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) have created study curriculum, information flyers, and one, three and five-day courses. Police departments are being asked to enhance their forensic capabilities and upgrade their systems in line with the changes.

Besides, the home ministry is also acquiring 900 forensic laboratories and providing 3,000 trainers for police departments, who will further teach cops. Several training sessions have been organized by Chandigarh and Delhi police for police officers to familiarize with the new laws, officials familiar with the developments said on conditions of anonymity.

In January, while addressing the annual director generals of police conference in Jaipur, Shah had asked the police chiefs to train police officers from SHO rank to DGP level and upgrade the technology from police station to police headquarters for successful implementation of the three criminal laws.

The three criminal major Acts were implemented more than hundred years ago and were in dire need of modifications. As a criminal lawyer, I have always felt that the procedure of trials, the definitions of the penal offences and the law of evidence are archaic, said senior advocate Vikas Pahwa. They need radical changes and have to be in sync with modern India. Any law formulated on these lines would be propitious for the criminal justice system of our country.

I welcome the initiative of the government to bring these laws, Pahwa said. If the bills satisfy the test of our emergent judicial needs, they shall bring cardinal advancement in the way trials are conducted in the country.
In 2023, Ukraine's defense industry grew sixfold. More than half of the available capabilities have already been contracted.

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Last year's production volumes of the Ukrainian defense industry were three times higher than in 2022. This was stated in his speech at the forum "Ukraine. Year 2024" on February 25, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin said in his speech at the forum.

"Last year, our defense industry produced three times more than in 2022. Our capabilities for 2023 are six times higher than last year. We have about half of these capabilities contracted for 2024. We are working together with the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Forces for further contracting," the minister said.

According to Kamyshin, there are currently about 500 defense companies in Ukraine engaged in the design, repair, production and maintenance of weapons, equipment and everything else the Ukrainian army needs. About 400 of them are private, and another hundred are state-owned.

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The minister also added that in 2023, Ukraine was able to increase its own production of ammunition, both existing and new items. This year, the course to increase the production of shells remains one of the state's priorities.

Last December, Kamyshin said that most of the drones purchased for the Armed Forces were made in Ukraine. These are both FPV drones and analogs of Shahed-type kamikaze drones.

A little later, the head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries told how many and what kind of drones Ukraine plans to produce in 2024. According to him, the plans announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to produce one million drones this year relate exclusively to FPV drones. In addition to them, it is planned to produce more than a thousand UAVs with a flight range of more than 1,000 kilometers and more than 10,000 medium-range strike drones.

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According to Kamyshin, the new long-range drones are being tested in combat conditions. It is with their help that Ukraine attacks targets in the Russian Federation, in particular, Ukrainian UAVs struck St. Petersburg in mid-January.
The new law to prevent and contain water pollution has received approval from President Droupadi Murmu and will come into effect immediately in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Union territories, and in any other state that adopts the Act, the environment ministry said on Saturday. HT Image

President s assent came on February 15 according to the law ministry notification posted by environment ministry on its website.

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The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, which decriminalises almost all penal provisions in the earlier 1974 law, was passed in Rajya Sabha on February 6.

The modified law relaxes several norms for industries and gives the Centre powers to exempt certain industries from statutory restrictions, such as taking consent from state pollution control boards, earlier mandatory. It also allows the central government to frame uniform guidelines for appointment of officials to state boards and prescribe service conditions of chairpersons of state pollution control boards.

The new legislation will give a fresh impetus to industries and also boost environmental protection, environment minister Bhupender Yadav had told the Rajya Sabha. One of the major provisions is decriminalising all penal provisions which have been replaced only with penalty, except sections 25 and 26. For section 41 to 45A, there is provision for imposing financial penalty instead of prosecution in court, he said.

Section 25 applies to mandatory consent to establish and operate an industry to be taken from state pollution watchdogs and section 26 applies to discharge of sewage or trade effluents. The government has also modified rules governing air pollution through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which amended 183 provisions to decriminalise them in 42 central laws administered by multiple ministries and departments.

.
Cuttack, Feb 25 (PTI) The Orissa High Court has ordered the arrest of a foreign cargo ship in connection with unpaid berth hire charges at the Paradip Port in the state. HT Image

Under an admiralty law, a ship can be arrested for the enforcement of maritime claims that arise out of the ownership, construction, possession, management, operation, or trading of any ship. The Panama-registered ship, M V Debi, has been anchored at the port for nearly three months in connection with another case. Several packets believed to be filled with cocaine valued at over 220 crore were seized from it on December 1 last year. An investigation is on by the local authorities under the NDPS Act and Customs Act in this regard. The Paradip International Cargo Terminal Pvt Ltd (PICTPL), a concessionaire of the Paradip Port, has filed a claim suit against the ship and approached the high court last month seeking a decree to arrest the ship. The PICTPL has made a maritime claim of 7.95 crore on the cargo ship, which includes berth hire charges, penal charges, legal costs and others. The single judge bench of Justice V Narasingh observed that PICTPL has been prima facie able to establish that the suit will be infructuous unless the cargo ship is arrested. The court has fixed March 7 for further hearing of the case. The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017 conferred admiralty jurisdiction to the Orissa High Court and seven other high courts of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 110th episode of his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat on Sunday. During his speech, Modi said the government has initiated the National Creators Award for social media influencers to honour their talent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi

My dear countrymen, two days ago I was in Varanasi and there I saw a wonderful photo exhibition. The moments that the youth of Kashi and surrounding areas have captured on camera are amazing. There are many photographs in it which were taken with a mobile camera. Indeed, today anyone who has a mobile has become a content creator. Social media has also helped a lot in showcasing peoples skills and talents. Our young friends in India are doing wonders in the field of content creation, Modi said.

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The voice of the youth of the country who are creating content has become very effective today. To honour their talent, the National Creators Award has been started in the country This contest is running on MyGov and I would urge content creators to join it. If you also know such interesting content creators, then definitely nominate them for the National Creators Award, the PM added.

What is the National Creators Award?

The central government launched the National Creators Award to recognise the expanding impact of digital artists and influencers and support Indias digital economy. According to an official release, the award is intended to highlight several voices and skills that are influencing India's future and also promoting positive social change in the digital space.

All the influencers who have published their content on social media can nominate themselves. People can also nominate their favourite content creator across various categories.

The award categories include - Best storyteller award, disruptor of the year, green champion award, celebrity creator of the year, most impactful agri creator, best creator of social change award, cultural ambassador of the year, best travel creator award, swath ambassador award, best creator in the food category, new India campaign award, tech creator award, heritage fashion icon award, most creative creators (male and female), best nano creator, best creator in the education category, top health and fitness creator, and best creator in the gaming category. Apart from this, there is one award for an international creator.

How to nominate yourself or others?

Go to the website - https://innovateindia.mygov.in/ Click on the National Creators Award tab and click on the nominate now option Fill in all the required details Click on login with OTP tab An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number, enter the number for verification After successful verification, the dashboard of your account will open on the screen. Click on the nominate button.

What is the eligibility criteria?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually lay the foundation stone for Sikkim's first railway station, Rangpo Station, on Monday, ANI reported, quoting an official. Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Deputy railway manager of Alipurduar Amarjeet Agrawal said, Rangpo station is the form of a touristic and defensive point of view for Sikkim and India, Basically, Sikkim did not have a railway line earlier. The government has signed this project in three phases. In the first phase, Sevoke to the Rangpo rail project; in the other phase, from Rangpo to Gangtok; and the third phase, from Gangtok to Nathula.

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Agrawal further mentioned that Sikkim's introduction to railway connectivity marks the third mode of transportation for its residents, who have relied on roads and air travel thus far. Initially slated for completion by 2024, unforeseen challenges such as floods and landslides have pushed the project's deadline to 2025.

A video shared by news agency ANI showcased the ongoing construction of Sikkim's inaugural railway project, highlighting the tunnel aspect of the endeavour.

Sikkim stands out as the sole Indian state without a railway station, lacking connection to the national rail network. Instead, it relies on road connections to neighbouring states and cities, primarily through NH10, facilitating transportation across the country.

Sivok-Rangpo railway project

-The project's foundation stone was laid in West Bengal's Sivok, by the minister of railways and in Sikkim's Rangpo by the Vice President of India on October 30, 2009.

-Of the total 44.96 km length, 38.65 km (86%) comprises tunnels, 2.24 km (5%) bridges, and 4.79 km (9%) open cutting/filling of station yards. The project director stated completion is at 60-65%, with track work starting next month. The line includes 14 tunnels, the longest at 5.30 km and the shortest at 538 meters.

-The proposed railway line will have five stations, including Sivok and Rangpo, with four open crossing stations (Sivok, Riyang, Melli, Rangpo) and one underground halt station (Teesta Bazar).

-The tunnelling, accounting for 86% of the total length, is carried out using the latest NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method) technique.

-Project director Mohinder Singh said, Sevoke is the alignment of the Assam link project. This is 26 km away from Siliguri railway station. After this project, we are upgrading the Sevoke station. The Sevoke-Rangpo project is a 45-kilometer-long rail project. Out of forty-five km, three and a half km is part of Sikkim state and forty-one and a half km is part of West Bengal.

India's first underground railway station

In the Sivok-Rangpo railway project, construction is underway for India's inaugural underground railway station, set to be the country's first of its kind.

The project director said, "Teesta Bazar station could be an underground railway station. This comes between the Sevoke to Rangpo rail projects. The length of the platform of this station is six hundred and twenty metres, on which we could stand a full-length train, we have six excess tunnels for emergency purposes to evacuation.

"In the Indian Railway, especially in broad gauge, this is the first underground railway station. This station is very relevant, because, Teesta Bazar connects Darjeeling to Gangtok so it could be convenient for the passengers who want to go to Darjeeling or Gangtok", the Project director added.
Raipur: Three Maoists were killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Chhattisgarhs Bastar Kanker district on Sunday, police said. (Representative Photo)

Police said that the encounter took place in the Bomara Hutarai village when the District Reserve Guard and the Border Security Force, who were out on an anti-Naxal operation, came under attack from the Maoists.

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After coming under attack, the security forces retaliated with firing, killing at least three Maoists, said police.

Kanker superintendent of police (SP) Indira Kalyan Elesela said that the Maoists are yet to be identified. The identification process is going on, and as per primary information, they were the members of Military Company -5 of Maad Area belonging to the Communist Party of India (Maoist), said the SP.

According to the figures tabled by the state government on February 15, eight security personnel have been killed and 53 others injured in Maoist-related incidents in the last two months.

A total of 54 Maoist-related incidents, including encounters and IED (improvised explosive device) blasts, took place in the state from November 30, 2023, till January 30 this year, according to the figure.
The Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) together, which faced their first defeat in the recently held election to the lone Teachers constituency seat from the Legislative Council, is pulling all stops to avoid a similar embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha elections on February 27. A candidate needs 45 first preference votes to get elected to the Rajya Sabha. (ANI)

In this endeavour, JD(S) and BJP are exploring options of getting the ruling Congress MLAs to cross vote as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee, D Kupendra Reddy, is falling short of four votes, leaders familiar with the development said.

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This has led to a spate of allegations and verbal duel between deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, who during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections had said they were jodi yethu (pair of bullocks).

ALSO READ- RLD signals it will vote for BJP in Rajya Sabha polls, takes step closer to tie-up for Lok Sabha election

Shivakumar has accused Kumaraswamy of making offers to Congress MLAs to buy votes.

I know who is contacting whom and how they are threatening. Our MLAs have told us about the offers they are receiving. We know what BJP and JD(S) are planning. We have our own strategy, Shivakumar told the media on February 19.

To substantiate allegations, Congress MLA from Ganiga P Ravi Kumar submitted a two-page complaint to Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayanand on February 20. In the complaint, he claimed of having proof against some senior BJP and JD (S) leaders who have approached three Independent MLAs associated with the Congress. Once an inquiry is initiated, I will submit all evidence, which ranges from inducements to threatening them with consequences, he claimed.

However, Kumaraswamy refuted the allegations, saying that unhappy Congress MLAs had contacted him.

BJP spokesperson and former MLC, Ashwath Narayan Gowda also maintained that We are not trying to poach any MLAs. We have the numbers to win the first candidate and the second candidate needs a few more votes. It is common to seek votes when anybody is a little short. We are not asking anybody to cross vote.

ALSO READ- Karnataka assembly passes bill for 60% Kannada on signboards

Political analyst Prof Muzaffar H Assadi has ruled out the possibility of cross voting from Congress MLAs.

The Congress in Karnataka is on a sound political footing unlike states like Maharashtra. The NDA partners are expecting the political equations to change by fielding money bag Kupendra Reddy, which is unlikely to happen. But possibilities of cross voting or horse trading during elections to Upper Houses are there when the term of the MLAs is due to end, added Assadi who is the former political scientist and dean, faculty of arts, University of Mysore.

For elections to the four seats, the Congress based on its numerical strength of 134 MLAs and support of three Independents in the Legislative Assembly has fielded three candidates  renominated Syed Naseer Hussain, GC Chandrashekar and brought in AICC treasurer and Congress leader Rahul Gandhis confidant Ajay Maken. Earlier, Congress had 135 MLAs but became short of one after Surpur MLA Raja Venkatappa Naik passed away in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Meanwhile, BJP with 66 MLAs has given the ticket to a hardcore member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Narayana Krishnasa Bhandage. JD(S), which has never missed to field a candidate despite not having the requisite numbers since 2004 has given the ticket to business magnate Reddy.

A candidate needs 45 first preference votes to get elected.

Cross voting or fielding candidates to the Rajya Sabha or the Legislative Council by parties in Karnataka not having the requisite number started in 2004.

The trend of giving tickets to business magnates by the JD(S) also has a two-decade history. It started with business tycoon Vijay Mallya contesting the Rajya Sabha elections as an Independent with the support of the Congress and winning with the support of all parties in 2002.

In 2004, BJP gave the Rajya Sabha ticket to late former chief minister Ramakrishna Hegdes wife Shakuntala Hegde, when it did not have the numbers to get a second candidate elected. She faced a defeat by securing just 38 votes against the required 45.

The Rajya Sabha elections in 2016 was the peak of MLAs defying the party whip and voting for the ruling partys nominee. Sting operations by media channels, where some Independent MLAs reportedly said, they would vote for the ruling party candidates as they had been promised development funds for their constituencies, resulted in the JD(S) petitioning the Election Commission to defer the elections.

But the commission decided against cancelling or postponing the elections, saying the sting operations were not evidence enough to prove that money power was used to influence the MLAs.

Such punishment (of cancelling or postponing of elections) to the state Legislative Assembly and the people of Karnataka would not be commensurate with the demeaning act of few members of its Legislative Assembly, the commission stated.

The order also said, the demand for cancellation of elections by drawing an analogy of biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand in 2012, is not valid because the facts in both the cases were different.

An amount of 2.5 crore was found in the car of the contesting candidate in Jharkhand which was intended to be distributed to the voters, but in Karnataka no evidence of money paid was found.

The 2016 elections also saw seven JD(S) candidates defying the party whip and voting for the Congress candidate KC Ramamurthy leading to the defeat of JD(S) candidate BM Farook. The JD(S) petitioned then speaker KB Koliwad to disqualify them, who reserved his judgement. Two years later in 2018, the same seven JD(S)MLAs once again voted against Farook and a day later, resigned from the party to join the Congress.

In 2022, the JD(S) after promising to support the Congress candidate went back on its word and fielded Reddy. There were six candidates for four seats as the BJP tried to encash on the discord between the Congress and JD(S) and fielded a third candidate though it was short of votes. The BJPs third candidate Lahar Singh Siroya won and the JD(S) had to face the ignominy of two MLAs defying the whip.

ALSO READ- Congress issues whip for Rajya Sabha polls, Sukhu faces battle of prestige

This time, according to Congress sources, the party is confident of its 137 votes being intact.

Though candidates have to get 45 votes, we have all been allotted 46 votes. Its the JD(S) and BJP who have to secure their votes, candidate GC Chandrashekar said.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah said, no Congress MLA would risk their membership for cash-for-votes, when they have four more years to go.

According to Congress party insiders, two MLAs from the BJP camp, ST Somashekhar and Shivaram Hebbar, and one from JD(S) Sharangouda Kandakur, who have stopped attending their respective parties meetings, are likely to support the Congress candidates in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The leaders also do not rule out the possibility of some opposition MLAs abstaining from voting thereby bringing down the number of votes a candidate needs to win.
A joint team of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Delhi Police has busted an international drugs trafficking network with the arrest of three persons and seizure of a 50 kg narcotics-making chemical that was being sent to Australia and New Zealand by concealing it in mixed food powder and desiccated coconut. The NCB said the mastermind of the drug trafficking network has been identified as a Tamil film producer, who is currently at large. The NCB, in a joint operation with the Special Cell of Delhi Police and Operations Branch, busted a drug trafficking network involved in precursor chemical trafficking and seized 50kg of pseudoephedrine. Three persons were arrested in this connection. (ANI)

In a statement, NCB deputy director general (DDG) Gyaneshwar Singh revealed that the three persons, who were arrested, informed the anti-narcotics agency that they had dispatched a total of 45 pseudoephedrine shipments over the past three years. These shipments amounted to approximately 3,500 kilograms of pseudoephedrine, with an estimated value exceeding 2,000 crore in the international market.

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Gyaneshwar Singh added that the NCB and Delhi Police teams dismantled the network based on information provided by Australian and New Zealand authorities approximately four months ago. They alerted about significant quantities of pseudoephedrine hidden within desiccated coconut powder being shipped from India to both counties. Additionally, Singh said the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) provided supplementary intelligence pinpointing Delhi as the origin of these shipments.

The mastermind of the nexus has been identified as a Tamil film producer, who is on the run. Efforts are being made to arrest him so that the source of pseudoephedrine can be ascertained, Gyaneshwar Singh said.

How did NCB, Delhi Police bust drug trafficking network?

Officials of the NCB and special cell joined the dots and conducted raids on a godown located in Basai Darapur area of West Delhi on February 15 leading to the seizure of 50 kg of pseudoephedrine that was being concealed in a consignment of multi-grain food mix, and apprehension of three people hailing from Tamil Nadu, the DDG said.

"24-hour physical surveillance was mounted by the Delhi police special cell, which eventually led to their godown in Basai Darapur, West Delhi," a NCB spokesperson said.

"On February 15, when the operatives were trying to pack the pseudoephedrine in a cover consignment of multigrain food mix, the joint teams of the Delhi police special cell and NCB raided the compound, leading to the recovery of 50 kilograms of pseudoephedrine," the spokesperson said.

What is pseudoephedrine?

Pseudoephedrine is a precursor chemical and is used to make methamphetamine which is a prominent drug in demand worldwide and sells for about 1.5 crore per kg in Australia and New Zealand, the NCB said.

Pseudoephedrine is a highly addictive synthetic drug and even though it has some legal use, it is classified as a controlled substance in India, bringing strict regulation on its production, possession, trade, export and use.

Illegal possession and trade of pseudoephedrine is punishable up to 10 years of imprisonment under the NDPS Act.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
Trinamool Congress MP and actor Nusrat Jahan on Sunday responded to the allegations of her absence and silence on the unrest in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali. All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP Nusrat Jahan in New Delhi.(ANI)

Nusrat Jahan said that as a woman and as a public representative, she always followed her party's guidelines and served the people.

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It is heart-wrenching waking up to such allegations, Jahan wrote on X while sharing a newspaper report that quoted Sandeshkhali residents as saying that she had forgotten them. As a woman, as a public representative I have always followed my parties guidelines and served the people. With the Sandeshkhali incident raging, Our Hon CM has already send Help.. and necessary steps are being taken for the welfare of the people.

The actor-turned-politician wrote this in reply to a newspaper article that quoted villagers expressing their disappointment with Nusrat that the MP did not visit Sandeshkhali  which comes under her Lok Sabha constituency  in the last five years. "There is no cinema hall in Sandeshkhali but still we travel 40 km to see Nusrat's movies. But she did not come once to visit us at a time like this," a woman said as quoted in the news report.

Sandeshkhali has been on the boil since early this month following allegations of land grabbing and sexual abuse of women by TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. Women had hit the streets demanding the arrest of Shahjahan and his aides.

The area came into limelight on January 5 after an Enforcement Directorate team arrived to arrest Shahjahan was attacked by a violent mob, injuring three officials.

In Sunday's post, Nusrat Jahan said that she has genuinely served the people in her constituency.

We are not above the law.. thus abiding by it and supporting the administration is what one needs to do. I have genuinely served the people in my constituency, in times of joy, in times of trouble.. I act in accordance with the guidelines of my party.. and I believe we must have faith in the state govt and administration,what is wrong shall always be condemned, she wrote on social media.

Also Read | Sandeshkhali unrest: Villagers thrash TMC leader as agitation intensifies

The Trinamool Congress leader further added: "We must refrain from targeting each other and come together to help create peace and not commotion. People's security and welfare is our top priority. Rest who says what about whom does not matter. Like I said before. I'd repeat again STOP POLITICISING," she said.

Fresh protests in Sandeshkhali



On Saturday, fresh protests were reported in some pockets of the trouble-torn areas of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district even as two ministers of the Trinamool Congress-led government visited the region.

A team comprising state irrigation minister Partha Bhowmick and fire and emergency services minister Sujit Bose visited some of the trouble-torn areas of Sandeshkhali, around 80 km south east of Kolkata.

There are some grievances among the villagers. Their lands were grabbed and turned into fish farms. We are verifying the allegations. We will address them, Bose told reporters.

The government has so far received more than 500 complaints related to land grabbing from villagers of Sandeshkhali over the past one week.

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.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday scrapped the police constable recruitment process for which close to five million people took examinations earlier this month, as protests grew over what aspirants said was a compromised process with widespread cheating. Candidates stage a protest over paper leak allegations, in Lucknow. (PTI)

The recruitment, to the post of police constables, were to 60,244 posts  which translates to at least 83 people vying for one slot  of police constables. The tests took place over February 17 and 18, with the total number of 4.81 million test-takers split roughly equally between the two days.

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The government cited instances of cheating and has issued instructions to repeat the process within six months. Orders have been given to cancel the UP Police Constable Recruitment Examination 2023 conducted for selection to the posts of Civil Police Reserve and to conduct re-examination within the next six months. There can be no compromise with the sanctity of examinations. The strictest action is certain to be taken against such unruly elements, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said in a post on social media.

This was the states largest recruitment drive for such jobs since 2019, and the turnout  marked with crowded train stations and bus terminals  prompted experts to call it a reflection of the stressed employment market.

Among the applicants were more than 600,000 from other states, such as Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab.

Officials said the CM took the decision after reviewing an investigation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on the allegations related to the use of unfair means in the test. At least 250 people have been arrested by police since February 17 for cheating or helping candidates cheat on the test.

He also ordered free facilities to be provided to the candidates through the services of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) for the rescheduled examination.

The state government also instructed the recruitment board to take advance legal action by registering an FIR in connection with the negligence among staff who were meant to have kept the process secure.

While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal welcomed the decision, the opposition leaders said the decision was an indictment of the Adityanath government. The cancellation of exam may be breaking news but it is shocking news for BJP as it has lost over 2.5 lakh votes in every constituency of UP, said Akhilesh Yadav, chief of the Samajwadi Party.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said: Big victory for student power and youth unity! Uttar Pradesh Police Exam was finally cancelled. The message is clear - no matter how much the government tries to suppress the truth, our rights can be won only by fighting unitedly, in a post on X.

Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary welcomed Adityanaths decision. The decision has been taken in the interest of the youth. I can assure all that those who tamper with the dreams of the youth would face strictest possible action under zero tolerance policy of the government to such things, the UP BJP chief said.

Rohit Agarwal, who heads the RLDs business wing, also praised the announcement. The exams will now be held again in six months time and the government will ensure that they are conducted without any glitches, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dived into the Arabian Sea and offered prayers at the site of the ancient Dwarka -- the city of Lord Krishna which is now submerged. After he shared his experience and photos, a video of how Narendra Modi dived under the water and sat to offer his prayer emerged. Clad in saffron kurta and pajama, with a Navy hat on his head, Narendra Modi embarked on the journey. He took morpankh (feathers of peacock) -- associated with Lord Krishna -- and took them along as he dived into the sea. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sits under water to offer prayer at the submerged site of Lord Krishna's city Dwarka.

The video shows how Narendra Modi folded his hand as he reached the underwater site wearing a diver's mask with India's flag printed on it. Modi sat in dhyan underwater as divers guarded him. He again touched the soil before coming up while the morpankh kept waving in the water. As he came up he said, "More than courage, I had veneration."

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Read | Lord Krishna wrote Sudarshan Setu in my destiny, thankful: Modi's swipe at Cong

Dwarka is a city referred to in Mahabharata as the kingdom of Lord Krishna built where the Gomti River met the Arabian Sea. The city went underwater after Krishna's death, it is said. Archaeologists discovered some foundations under water and since then these are believed to be the remains of the ancient Dwarka.

"To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all," PM Modi tweeted earlier in the day sharing the photos from his underwater experience.

Before his underwater prayer, Modi visited the Dwarkadhish temple in the morning and received an idol of Lord Krishna as a gift from the temple.

"Whatever happens here is the wish of Dwarkadhish (Lord Krishna). I got the opportunity to offer my prayers at the temple. In the past few days, I got to undertake a spiritual journey in several parts of the country. A similar thing happened today and I will keep those moments with me. I went inside the sea to get a darshan of ancient Dwarka. Archaeologists have written a lot about the Dwarka city hidden underwater. In our scriptures too, it is said that Dwarka is like the crown of the world because of its beautiful gates and tall buildings. It is said the Lord Krishna himself designed the city," PM Modi said.

Modi said it was his long-cherished dream to visit the submerged city. He said he spent quite a long time inside the water as he made his resolve to make India 'vikshit' stronger as he offered his prayers.
Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said that Ukrainian special forces have already been in the temporarily occupied Crimea. According to him, the defenders conducted an operation on the peninsula in 2023.

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He also hinted that new "surprises" are waiting for the illegal Crimean bridge. Budanov said this in a video message on his Telegram channel.

The DIU chief emphasized that Russia's war against Ukraine began not 2 but 10 years ago, with the occupation of Ukrainian Crimea. He added that neither the Ukrainian state nor Ukrainians agreed to recognize the aggressor's right to the peninsula. The commander also noted that the resistance of the local Ukrainian population against the occupiers did not subside for a moment, despite the repressions.

Budanov said that for a successful defense and counteroffensive, Ukraine must control the Black Sea and be present on the Crimean peninsula. He also said that a number of tasks have already been accomplished.

In particular, Russia lost a quarter of its ships and was forced to withdraw its fleet to the Caucasus coast. The enemy has also redeployed its aviation, as Crimea's airfields and military facilities are constantly under Ukrainian fire.

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The DIU chief also hinted at the fate of the illegal Crimean bridge, which temporarily connects the Ukrainian peninsula with the territory of the aggressor country, Russia. Budanov said that new surprises await the enemies. At the same time, he recommends that civilians not use the Crimean bridge.

"We owe our successes to the residents of Ukrainian Crimea, who not only strengthened their resistance to the occupiers, but also find the opportunity to monitor the entire operational situation on the peninsula and pass this information to us as soon as possible," Budanov summarized.

As a reminder, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev suggested that 2024 could be the year of de-occupation of Crimea . Now it can be done only by military means, so Crimeans should stay away from the military facilities of the Russian invaders.

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As OBOZ.UA wrote:

- Recently, the head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, suggested that it would be more difficult for Ukraine to drive the occupiers out of Donbas than from the territory of Crimea, which was temporarily seized by the enemy. He explained that the army of the aggressor country Russia has established continuous supply lines to the east of our country.

- Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Oleksiy Neizhpapa is confident that the Crimean bridge illegally built by the Russian occupiers across the Kerch Strait will not exist. In his opinion, this strategic object for Russia may not survive until the end of 2024.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to the voters of the national capital to vote for the opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and make it win all the Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming parliamentary polls so that their voices can be heard in Parliament and inflated water bills are waived. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers, (ANI)

Read here: I should get a Nobel prize for running govt in Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

While addressing the party workers at the protest organised by AAP against inflated water bills, Kejriwal made a poll promise and assured that all the water bills would be waived within 15 days of poll results if the INDIA bloc candidates were voted to power in Delhi.

"In the Lok Sabha elections, you should vote for INDIA bloc candidates from Delhi and send them to Parliament. This will create a protective shield around Delhi and no lieutenant governor will be able to do anything," the AAP national convenor said.

"I assure you that within 15 days of the Lok Sabha elections and the win of INDIA bloc candidates, your water bills will come down to zero," he added.

He also took a sharp jibe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that he should be given the Nobel Prize for running the government despite adverse conditions.

...They (BJP) tried to stop the construction of schools and hospitals in Delhi. They do not want the poor to get the same level of education as their children...Only I know, how am I running the government in Delhi, I should get a Nobel prize for this," he said.

He also attacked the Centre for obstructing the AAP government from implementing the one-time settlement of the pending water bills. Kejriwal said the government officials were not taking orders from the AAP government as they were scared of the Centre.

"We made a scheme to settle water bills. BJP people stopped the scheme through the LG. Officers are literally crying and saying they have been threatened with suspension if they bring the scheme to the Cabinet," Kejriwal alleged.

The AAP leader said there are around 11 lakh families who have received inflated water bills. He assured the people that he would implement the one-time settlement scheme for inflated water bills.

Meanwhile, as per the seat-sharing agreement between the Congress and the AAP announced for the upcoming parliamentary elections, both the parties agreed to jointly contest from Delhi, Haryana, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat.

Congress leader Mukul Wasnik in a joint press conference announced that the AAP will contest on four seats and the Congress on remaning three of the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in the national capital.

Read here: AAP, Congress announce alliance in Delhi, four other states

He said that the AAP will contest New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, and East Delhi seats in Delhi while Congress will contest North East, North West, and Chandni Chowk constituencies.

In 2019 polls, the BJP won all the seven seats, while the Congress came second in five seats  East Delhi, West Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi and Chandani Chowk  and the AAP came second in two seats  North West Delhi and South Delhi.

(With inputs from agencies)
In a shocking broad daylight murder on Sunday, Haryana Indian National Lok Dal president Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead in Jhajjar district. Rathee was in his car while the unidentified gunmen also came in a Hyundai i10, opened fire at Rathee's SUV, and then fled the scene. Rathee was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead. Doctors said Nafe Singh suffered multiple bullet injuries and bled profusely. Attempts to give him CPR yielded no result, the doctors said. Police suspect Lawrence Bishnoi gang is behind the murder. Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead in Jhajjar on Sunday evening while he was travelling in his car. Bullets were sprayed on his car from a close range.

Also read- Opposition trains guns on Haryana govt over law and order situation

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Who was Nafe Singh Rathee?

A former MLA, Nafe Singh Rathee was a prominent Jat leader. He had a brief stint with the BJP when he switched the party in 2014 after being denied a ticket from the INLD. But BJP did not give him a ticket either -- and he contested independently. In 2018, he was back to INLD. Rathee also served two terms as the chairman of Bahadurgarh Municipal Council.

Last year, he was in major trouble after he was declared the main accused in the suicide case of Jagdish Rathee, son of former BJP minister Mange Ram Rathee. Nafe Singh Rathee was booked under abetment to suicide. Jagdish's family said Nafe Singh harassed him in a property-related matter and led him to end his life.

Nafe Singh Rathee was also the two-term president of the Indian-style Wrestling Association of India. He represented India in Ethnosports in Turkey last week.

How Nafe Singh Rathee was killed

Nafe Singh Rathee was travelling in his SUV with three private gunmen hired for his security. The unidentified assailants came in another car and started firing at his SUV in Bhahadurgarh. Rathee's bodyguards were injured. The attack took place around 5pm near Barahi railway crossing. The shots were fired from a close range.

The police suspect gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close aide Kala Jathedi are behind the attack and initial inquiries point to property disputes.
A day after the Uttar Pradesh government ordered the cancellation of the police constable recruitment examination over instances of cheating, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath'on Sunday said that injustice done to youth is a national sin. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.(File)

Injustice done to youth is a national sin. We have decided that we will adopt the policy of zero tolerance towards those who play with the lives and future of the youth and will deal with those elements strictly and harshly the UP CM was quoted as saying by ANI.

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"When we take action, we do it in such a way that it sets an example," Adityanath added.

The Yogi Adityanath-led government on Saturday scrapped the police constable recruitment process for which around 48 lakh people took examinations earlier this month, as protests grew over what aspirants said was a compromised process with widespread cheating.

The exam was held on February 17 and 18, with two shifts per day. Around 48 lakh candidates had applied for 60,244 constable posts. According to officials, as many as 244 people were arrested for fraudulent activities during the recruitment exam.

Also Read | Police constable recruitment exam: Answer key found with examinee in Lucknow raised paper leak suspicion

In Saturday's order, the government cited instances of cheating and has issued instructions to repeat the process within six months.

Orders have been given to cancel the UP Police Constable Recruitment Examination 2023 conducted for selection to the posts of Civil Police Reserve and to conduct re-examination within the next six months. There can be no compromise with the sanctity of examinations. The strictest action is certain to be taken against such unruly elements, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said in a post on social media.

This was Uttar Pradesh's largest recruitment drive for such jobs since 2019. Of the total applicants, more than 6,00,000 candidates were from other states, such as Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab.
While the fashion industry discusses size diversity from time to time, there was little evidence of real evolution on the Milan runway this season. On Saturday, Paloma Elsesser walked Ferragamo in a satin plunge-neck cocktail dress, and Dolce&Gabbana included models of normal size. But the thinness of some models was a topic of pre-show chatter. Milan Fashion Week: Shiny fabrics, size diversity debates and hopeful collection(Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

Ashley Graham, who sat in the front row of Dolce&Gabbana, as recently as the September shows, lamented how often she is the only larger model on runways. Some highlights from the fourth day of Milan Fashion Week, mostly womenswear previews for fall-winter 2024-25.

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FERRAGAMOS FREE SPIRIT

Maximilian Davis Ferragamo collection both conceals and reveals, with oversized masculine woolen overcoats covering wispy, transparent embroidered dresses. It is the freedom to choose who sees what. The designer, in his third winter seasons at the Florence-based family-run fashion house, took inspiration from the 1920s Prohibition era, when a U.S. booze ban drove revelers underground.

People were using clothing as a way to kind of hide what they were doing, as a massive celebration of freedom, Davis said backstage. They were going to speakeasies and they didnt want (anyone) to be seeing what they were wearing.

Wool coats have broad shoulders and masculine silhouettes in the style of Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo. Underneath, dresses of scalloped sequins and draped fringe recall flapper looks with contemporary discipline. Looks without pants were paired with woolen tights for full-cover, while hip boots rose the hemline of knit mini-dresses. Footwear included heels fully concealed beneath a flurry of feathers.

Davis covered men head to toe in leather, from thigh-high fishermen boots to gloves, or freed them to reveal a leg in flat-pocket shorts with thick cropped knitwear. People need to let go, and just be free, he said, as Ferragamo declared an era of emancipation.

DOLCE & GABBANA FORMAL SEXINESS

Eva Mendes and Ashley Graham sizzled in the Dolce & Gabbana front row  the actor wrapped in a leopard coat over leather, neckline glistening with a lariat necklace to matching dangly earrings, and the model mirroring the tuxedo runway with a white tuxedo jacket and black trousers.

On the runway, the collection oozed sexiness, as designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana combined tuxedo tailoring with their lingerie mastery for looks that were more, or less, revealing, with an array of garments to adjust the temperature up or down.

Cropped tuxedo jackets revealed lacy bras, while sheer sarong skirts tied in a satin bow showed off lace panties. Looks finished mostly with stiletto heels and felt berets with netting. More modestly, full tuxedos were formfitting with cigarette trouser or short shorts and cropped jackets that allowed peek-a-boo moments. The collection was rigorously black, with a few liquid gold and silver moments.

Naomi Campbell closed the show in a layered lace bras, front-slit sarong and fetish leather gloves, giving a slight wiggle as she exited the runway to the delight of the fashion crowd.

Bottega Venetas Message of Hope

Matthieu Blazys said he wanted to send a message about hope in troubled times in his latest Bottega Veneta collection. The designer stripped the garments of artifice and concentrated on the textiles and volumes in a bid to make a monument out of every day.

The result was a series of optical illusions. Shoulders of overcoats defined the essential figure with an arch. Dresses in a graffiti-like print  which Blazy called memory print for the layers of information  fell into sculpted bias tiers. The brands trademark intreccio was encoded in a textiles  itself the decoration.

The essence of the collection is contained in the last three looks: thread-textured dresses of yellow to represent fire and black to represent coal, separated by a gray wool coat, representing ash. For Blazy, they express resilience in a world full of woe. Flowering glass cacti that decorated the showroom were another expression of that hope.

When you walk through the desert after a fire, you observe these incredible flowers. For us, it was the idea of hope, he said. Its about hope in the end.

BALLY REFINED

Gucci alum Simone Bellottis second collection for the Swiss fashion house Bally adds youthful zing to a daily wardrobe. Loden coats in many iterations transport the collection firmly to Alpine territory, but with modern silhouettes and detailing like swept-up hemlines revealing a furry layer for an urban edge, connecting the 170-year brand heritage to a new generation.

Office looks get a youthful twist with skirts featuring V-shaped high waistlines; leather skirts and bags are charmingly studded with silver charms. A light-blue leather dress twists prettily at the waist. Bellotti continues to connect with Swiss culture, adorning garments and accessories with mini cowbells that jingle lightly to create an almost Tibetan Zen mood.

FERRARI PUSHES PERFORMANCE

Ferrari creative director Rocco Iannone drew on the latest textile technique to create looks that begin to mirror the automotive world.

Textile surfaces are shiny, nearly polished. Organza appears to mimic a freshly painted car. Denim was treated with resin to capture the light. Three iterations of silver textile were created from gold mixed with metal. Silhouettes tend toward the formal, including full or bias-cut skirts paired with knitwear or leather jackets with peplums paired with trousers for her; long trenches or double-breasted suits for him.

For me the Ferrari represents, the continued tension between technology, performance and research, and fine tailoring and haute couture in partnership, Iannone said backstage.
Experts are just as much in the dark as any of us when it comes to answering the question: Can the zombie deer diseases spread to humans? Although they're still climbing this hill, the rising number of cases in the US is taking a toll on the fear factor. Scientists are still looking into if the zombie deer diseases can be transmitted to humans.

In their attempts to figure their way out, scientists are drawing up experimental studies and connecting the dots with the mad cow disease. In the latter case, it's already been confirmed that prions can spread from cattle to humans.

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In her interview with the BBC, Jennifer Mullinax, an associate professor of wildlife ecology and management at the University of Maryland, said: As of yet, there has been no transmission from deer or elk to humans. If animal-to-human transmission becomes a reality, all those dystopian, far-fetched fictitious scenarios could easily transform into our new, nightmarish reality.

However, given the nature of [the misfolded proteins], CDC and other agencies have supported all efforts to keep any prion disease out of the food chain, the professor added.

Also read: Bubonic plague in US: Symptoms to preventive tips, all you want to know

About zombie deer disease

The recent zombie disease outbreak is a prion disease, also known as chronic wasting disease (CWD). While scientists are still mulling over its impact on humans, other prion diseases have had a track history of being detrimental to both animals and humans.

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has claimed deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer, and moose are the affected parties of CWD, all of which have been discovered so far in Canada, the US, Norway and South Korea.

As for its transmission, CWD's prions are reportedly spread via faeces, saliva, blood, and urine. Despite CWD being a contagious degenerative disease, the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service doesn't list bacteria and viruses as its cause. Instead, a naturally occurring protein emerges as the lethal factor, becoming infectious when incorrectly folded.

Yet again, the cause of this misfolding is shrouded in mystery. However, they confirmed that once a normal prion protein takes this deadly shape, it also converts other commonly occurring proteins to their misfolded form. As the degeneration continues, the afflicted animal's brain cells die, ultimately resulting in its death.

What are the chances of zombie deer disease spreading to humans?

In 2023, the Alberta province's (Canada) surveillance results showed that the mule deer positivity rate had risen to 23%.

In line with the lack of current evidence that would otherwise suggest that CWD can be transmitted to humans, Mullinax said: The current body of research is a mixed bag, meaning we don't know yet.

University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Director, Michael Osterholm, also added his side of the research to the ongoing debate. Even though researchers are still assessing the potential exposure to humans who come in contact with contaminated soil or water, they've noted that mad cow disease and CWD prions are structurally different.
Namita Thapar, Executive Director - India Business, Emcure Pharmaceuticals and a judge on Shark Tank India, shared a picture of herself with her sons Jai and Vir on social media. Whats more, the picture is from the set of the business reality show Shark Tank India, which her kids visited with their friends. Namita Thapar posing for the camera with her sons Vir and Jai and their friends on the set of Shark Tank India. (Instagram/@namitathapar)

The glow on a mothers face when her kids visit her at the tank with their friends. (Standing - Vir to my left & Jai to my right), wrote Namita Thapar while sharing a picture on Instagram.

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The picture shows Namita Thapar standing between her two sons, holding their hands. Their friends can be seen sitting on the chairs on the set.

Take a look at the picture shared by Namita Thapar here:

Namita Thapar shared the picture a day ago on Instagram. It has since received a flurry of likes. Many even flocked to the comments section of the picture to share their thoughts.

Check out a few comments here:

Cute, posted an individual.

Another added, The glow is real.

Very nice, expressed a third.

A fourth shared, Wow.

Lovely, expressed a fifth.

Many simply wrote I am out, Expertise nahi hai [Doesnt have expertise] in the comments section. These comments were in reference to a viral video shared by Namita Thapar, where she asks Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt and a judge on Shark Tank India, to choose a mug for her that matches her vibe. Aman Gupta then picks up a cup with the words expertise nahi hai [doesnt have expertise] written on it.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion two years ago, giving the first official figure for more than a year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AP)

Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv that he could not disclose the number of wounded because it would help Russian military planning.

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"31,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000 ... (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is lying there ... But nevertheless, this is a big loss for us."

Ukraine has not put a number to its military losses since the end of 2022, when presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the invasion on Feb. 24.

Battlefield casualties are a highly sensitive subject in a country trying to reform how it mobilises civilians into the army to regenerate its forces after last year's counteroffensive proved unable to break through Russian lines.

A New York Times report in August cited U.S. officials as putting the Ukrainian death toll at close to 70,000. The same report said as many as 120,000 Russian troops had died during the war.

Zelensky told reporters that 180,000 Russians had been killed in the fighting.

Russia does not disclose military losses, which it regards as secret. Both sides regularly describe the other's military losses as vast.

The Ukrainian leader also said that tens of thousands of civilians had been killed in the occupied areas of the country during the war. Kyiv says it cannot accurately assess the scale of such losses because it does not have access.
Half of Western military aid to Kyiv is delivered later than promised, delays that hobble Kyiv's ability to defend itself against Russian attacks and cost Ukrainian lives, the country's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said on Sunday. Russian commander walks past damaged buildings, after Russian forces completed their takeover of Avdiivka, eastern Ukraine. (AP)

Ukraine, which is struggling with an ammunition shortage, has for months said that Western aid is too slow to reach it and that the hold-ups have real consequences as the war against Russia enters its third year.

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"At the moment, commitment does not constitute delivery," Umerov said during a forum dedicated to the second anniversary of Russia's invasion.

"Fifty percent of commitments are not delivered on time," he added.

Europe has admitted it will fall far short of a plan to deliver more than one million artillery shells to the country by March, instead hoping to complete the shipments by the end of the year.

Umerov said such delays put Ukraine at a further disadvantage "in the mathematics of war" against Russia, which the West has said is increasingly building a war economy.

Umerov said that delayed aid will mean Kyiv will "lose people, lose territories", especially given Russia's "air superiority".

"We do everything possible and impossible but without timely supply it harms us," he said.

US will not abandon Ukraine

Kyiv has in recent weeks been weakened by an ammunition shortage, with a vital $60-billion US aid package blocked by political wrangling in the US Congress.

US President Joe Biden said the hold-ups directly contributed to Ukraine being forced to withdraw from the frontline town of Avdiivka earlier in February -- handing Russia its first territorial gain in almost a year.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said Sunday he was "deeply convinced that the US will not abandon Ukraine in terms of financial, military and armed support."

President Volodymyr Zelensky had pressed G7 leaders on Saturday to ensure the fast delivery of weapons.

The Ukrainian leader sought to rouse the country's military and political backers on the two year anniversary of Russia's invasion, telling them: "Putin can lose this war" and "we will win."

During a Sunday service in the Vatican, Pope Francis called for intensified efforts to find a "just and lasting peace" to the conflict.

"There have been so many victims, so many wounded, so much destruction, so much anguish and so many tears over what has become a terribly long period -- the end of which we cannot yet foresee," he said.

After a year of static frontlines, Russia has in recent weeks been seeking to press its advantage on the battlefield.

Aid not in vain

Moscow's forces are trying to advance beyond the recently captured Avdiivka, where exhausted Ukrainian troops say delays to Western aid are hobbling their ability to hold off Russian attacks.

"Despite the difficult situation, our soldiers courageously hold their lines and positions," Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, said Sunday after visiting frontline command posts.

Russia marked the start of the war's third year with a wave of overnight missile and drone attacks.

A missile strike on the eastern city of Kostyantynivka wounded one, destroyed the railway station -- which is not in use -- along with dozens of apartments, shops and administrative buildings, Ukrainian authorities said.

Explosives dropped by a Russian drone killed a 57-year-old man in Nikopol, across the Dnipro river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, captured by Russia at the start of the war.

Umerov said Russia had fired more than 8,000 missiles at his country since the start of the invasion -- an average of more than ten a day.

Visiting the southern city of Mykolaiv, Annalena Baerbock, Germany's foreign minister, pledged an additional 100 million euros ($108 million) in humanitarian aid to Kyiv.

"We should not minimise this aid as being in vain -- it saves lives every day," she said, standing in front of a building destroyed by Russian strikes on the city.
A 27-year-old Indian national died in a fire incident that broke out in an apartment building in New York's Harlem on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Fazil Khan. A lithium-ion battery sparked the fire that killed Khan and injured 17 others at a six-storeyed apartment building (Twitter)

The Indian Embassy in New York on Sunday morning extended its support and said that they are in touch with the victim's family and friends to repatriate his mortal remains back to India.

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Saddened to learn about death of 27-year-old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in Harlem, NY. India in New York is in touch with the late Mr. Fazil Khan's family & friends. We continue to extend all possible assistance in reparation of his mortal remains to India, the Indian Embassy in New York wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Who was Fazil Khan?

The victim, Fazil Khan, was working as a data reporter at the Hechinger Report based at Teachers College, Columbia University. According to his LinkedIn bio, Khan graduated from the Columbia Journalism School where he was also chosen as a post-graduate fellow for the school's Global Migration project.

He began his career in 2018 as a copy editor at Business Standard. He also worked as a correspondent at CNN-News18 in Delhi. Khan moved to New York for his education in 2020.

New York fire incident

According to the fire department of New York, a lithium-ion battery sparked the fire that killed Khan and injured 17 others at a six-storey apartment building - St. Nicholas Place - in Harlem. Reportedly, the fire began around 2pm on Friday on the third floor.

Eighteen people were rescued, out of which 12 were rushed to a local hospital and four people are currently in critical condition.

On the third floor, one of the apartment doors was left open where the fire had started. The fire was so intenseif you could imagine, flames coming out that door and blocking off the stairwell, fire department chief John Hodgens said, reported ANI citing local media.

Several videos and pictures of the rescue operations also went viral on social media. Residents of the building who survived the deadly incident were forced to jump out or use the fire escape, reported ANI.

Recounting the horror, one of the survivors who escaped with his father told CBS News, I escaped with just what I have on me - my phone, my keys, and this guy (pointing towards his father).

Meanwhile, the department of buildings issued a full vacate order following the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)
As the Russia-Ukraine war reaches a 2-year mark, King Charles has lauded Ukrainians for their resilience. On February 24, the British monarch took to social media to condemn Russia for continuing its invasion of Ukraine for a third tragic year. In the heartfelt statement, the King, who is currently undergoing treatment following his cancer diagnosis, also declared the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine. King Charles has expressed his support for Ukraine in a heartfelt statement shared on X, formerly Twitter(REUTERS)

King Charles shows support for Ukraine, condemns Russia as invasion hits 2-year mark

The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods, enters a third, tragic, year, King Charles said in the statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

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Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely. Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression, the statement continued.

Reflecting on his previous meetings with Ukraine's top officials, King Charles added, I have felt this personally in the many meetings I have had with Ukrainians since the start of the war, from President Zelenskyy and Mrs Zelenska, to new army recruits training here in the United Kingdom.

I continue to be greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine at this time of such great suffering and need. My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers, King Charles' statement concluded.

This supportive statement comes after the UK imposed several sanctions on Russia in the wake of Alexei Navalny's death. King Charles has previously hosted Zelenskyy at Buckingham Palace during his surprise visit to the UK last year. At that time, Britain's top monarch told him, We've all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long, I can't tell you, per Fox News.
On the night of February 25, Ukraine's Air Defense Forces repelled another Russian attack that consisted of Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones. The defenders destroyed 16 out of 18 enemy targets in the number of regions.



ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is known that in the south, air defense units also destroyed two Russian missiles over the sea.

According to the military, the enemy attacked with 18 attack UAVs from the areas of Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia) and Cape Chauda (temporarily occupied Crimea).

As a result of the anti-aircraft battle, mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces, as well anti-aircraft missile units and aviation of the Air Force shot down 16 drones in Poltava, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

According to the Southern Defense Forces, Air Defense units shot down three targets in the Mykolaiv region, two in Kropyvnytskyi region, and one in Kherson region within their area of responsibility.



Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Britain's ruling Conservatives on Saturday suspended their former deputy chairman from the parliamentary party, after he refused to apologise for saying London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by Islamists. Britain's Conservative Party deputy chair Lee Anderson (AFP)

Pressure had been growing on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Tories to act following lawmaker Lee Anderson's contentious remarks Friday, which have been widely condemned as racist and Islamophobic.

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It comes as incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism have spiked dramatically across the UK amid increased polarisation since the outbreak of the war in Gaza last October.

"Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the chief whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP," a spokesperson for Tory lawmaker Simon Hart said.

Hart's chief whip position makes him responsible for internal Conservative Party discipline.

On the right-wing GB News channel, Anderson claimed "Islamists" had "got control" of Khan, who was the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital when first elected in London in 2016.

"He's actually given our capital city away to his mates," added Anderson, the Tory MP for a seat in central England.

His remarks prompted criticism from across the political spectrum.

Conservative business minister Nus Ghani, senior backbencher Sajid Javid and Tory peer Gavin Barwell were among Tories to condemn the comments, with Barwell calling them a "despicable slur".

The Muslim Council of Britain said they were "disgusting" and extremist.

Anderson, who will now sit as an independent lawmaker in parliament, said late Saturday that he understood his comments had put Hart and Sunak in a "difficult position" but stopped short of apologising.

- Sunak criticised -

"I fully accept that they had no option but to suspend the whip in these circumstances," he added.

"However, I will continue to support the government's efforts to call out extremism in all its forms -- be that anti-Semitism or Islamophobia."

Khan and Labour leader Keir Starmer, who both branded Anderson's outburst "racist" and "Islamophobic", also directed their criticism at Sunak, who has not commented on the scandal.

Khan hit out at the "deafening silence" from the Conservative leader and his senior ministers, arguing that amounted to condoning racism.

Starmer questioned the wisdom of appointing Anderson as deputy Tory chairman last year. The firebrand MP quit the role last month so that he could rebel against Sunak's government over immigration.

"What does it say about the prime minister's judgement that he made Lee Anderson deputy chairman of his party," the Labour leader said.

"This isn't just embarrassing for the Conservative Party, it emboldens the worst forces in our politics. Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip and take on the extremists in his party."

Anderson's comments followed ex-interior minister Suella Braverman also claiming in a newspaper article that "the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge now".

She was responding in part to chaotic scenes in the House of Commons earlier this week over rival motions calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle faced a furious backlash for going against usual practice on that day and allowing a vote on a Labour amendment to a motion.

Hoyle said he wanted the widest possible debate on the issue, but also noted that he was eager to defuse threats of violence against MPs who had so far not voted for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Philippines on Sunday accused the Chinese coast guard of attempting to block a Filipino government vessel delivering supplies to fishermen, the second such alleged incident near a disputed reef in two weeks. This handout photo taken on February 22, 2024 and received on February 25, 2024 from the Philippine Coast Guard shows China Coast Guard personnel onboard a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (R) as they shadow a Philippine fishing boat (L) during the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) mission to bring supplies to fishermen near the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea.(AFP)

The BRP Datu Sanday was supplying fuel to fishermen near the Scarborough Shoal when it was harassed by a China Coast Guard vessel and three other Chinese ships on February 22, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

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Three of the four Chinese vessels came within 100 metres (328 feet) of Datu Sanday's bow, it said in an incident report that also listed shadowing, vessel transponder jamming and other "dangerous manoeuvres".

"Despite these manoeuvres, the skipper of BRP Datu Sanday exhibited excellent seamanship skills and managed to evade the blocking attempts," said Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Filipino coast guard spokesman on South China Sea issues.

A week earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard said the BRP Datu Tamblot had a similar encounter in the area.

Scarborough Shoal -- a triangular chain of reefs and rocks -- has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.

Since then, Beijing has deployed patrol boats that Manila says harass Philippine vessels and prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing a fish-rich lagoon there.

On social media, China's state-run Global Times said on Saturday that the China Coast Guard had repelled the Datu Sanday "when the vessel illegally intruded into waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Island," using the Chinese name for the shoal.

Scarborough Shoal lies 240 kilometres (150 miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan.

China claims almost the entire sea and has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis.

Tense standoffs between China and the Philippines around disputed reefs last year saw collisions and Chinese ships blasting water cannon at Philippine boats.
Federal lawyers have said that Prince Harrys memoir, Spare, is not proof he took drugs. The Duke of Sussex may have lied to sell more copies of his book, they have said. Prince Harry speaks during the "One Year to Go" Invictus Games dinner in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)(AP)

Harry admitted that he took cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms in his 2023 book. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) argued he may have lied to make his book more intiguing to fans.

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The book isnt sworn testimony or proof, John Bardo told the DC court, according to The Telegraph. Saying something in a book doesnt necessarily make it true.

The Department of Homeland Security was sued by the Heritage Foundation after failing to obtain Harrys visa application. Biden Administration lawyers are now arguing before a court about Spare.

The records are particularly sensitive

The Department of Homeland Security lawyers said that releasing the paperwork would be an unwarranted invasion of Prince Harrys privacy as it would have asked Harry if he previously used drugs.

The records are particularly sensitive because releasing them, even in part, would reveal Prince Harrys status in the United States, which Prince Harry has not disclosed, the lawyers argued. Courts consistently hold that a persons visa or immigration status is private, personal information exempt from disclosure.

Director of the Heritage Foundation, Nile Gardiner, said he believes Harrys application privacy is preposterous as it really matters to Americans.

This case raises many issues as two whether or not people are given any special treatment in coming to the United States and whether or not the rule of law is applied equally, he said

The issue of migration in the United States has become the number one issue in the presidential election, he added. The American people expect their leader to enforce immigration law strictly and this should apply to anyone entering the US including royals like Prince Harry.

Harry was accused of lying about his drug use on his visa application. Had he admitted to usage of illegal substances, the consequences may have been severe.

Gardiner believes the royal has never denied anything in his own book. He added that Harry could have entered the US in three ways, including lying on his visa.

Bardo said it was certainly possible that Harry used a diplomats visa to enter the US. Hes still a member of the British royal family and has the title Duke of Sussex hes still a government official in the UK by his birth and title, he told the court. This was, however, dismissed by the Heritage Foundation, which said the whole world knows hes not a working royal and it would be absurd for him to have entered that way.
Negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza have resumed in Doha between "experts from Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Israel", as well as Hamas representatives, state-linked Egyptian media reported Sunday. Israel-Hamas War: A column of armored Israeli army vehicles drives in southern Israel near the Gaza border.(AP)

An Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea was in Paris on Friday discussing possibilities of a deal to ensure a fresh ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

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Israel's war cabinet agreed on Saturday to send a delegation to Qatar to continue the talks, according to Israeli media reports.

The talks are a "continuation of what was discussed in Paris" and "will be followed by meetings in Cairo," reported Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian state intelligence services.

During the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, Palestinian militants took some 250 hostages, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead, according to Israel.

As with a previous week-long truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners freed, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been spearheading efforts to secure a new deal.

International pressure for a ceasefire has mounted in recent weeks, as the death toll from Israel's military offensive on the Palestinian territory nears 30,000, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas -- which rules Gaza -- in response to its unprecedented October 7 attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

In negotiations, Hamas has demanded a ceasefire and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed as "delusional" as he vows to press further into the territory.

Fears have surged over Israeli plans for a ground invasion of Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city where 1.4 million Palestinians have been pushed into sprawling tent cities right against the Egyptian border.

US, Arab and other mediators have voiced hope a deal can be reached before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 10 or 11, depending on the lunar calendar.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the military operation into Gaza's Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering in tent cities, would put Israel within weeks of "total victory" over Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(REUTERS)

Negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza have resumed in Doha, state-linked Egyptian media reported, but Netanyahu said any deal would not prevent the Rafah offensive.

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"If we have a (ceasefire) deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen," he told CBS.

"If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway. It has to be done, because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach -- not months away, weeks away, once we begin the operation."

An Israeli delegation was in Paris on Friday to discuss a deal on a fresh ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The talks then restarted in Doha, including Hamas representatives.

"We're all working on it. We want it. I want it. Because we want to liberate the remaining hostages," Netanyahu said.

"I can't tell you if we'll have it, but if Hamas goes down from its delusional claims and brings them down to Earth, we'll have the progress that we all want."

During the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, Palestinian militants took some 250 hostages, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 presumed dead, according to Israel.

As with a previous week-long truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners freed, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been spearheading efforts to secure a new deal.

International pressure for a ceasefire has mounted in recent weeks, as the death toll from Israel's military offensive on the Palestinian territory nears 30,000, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas -- which rules Gaza -- in response to its October attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Asked about US demands for Israel to protect civilians in Rafah, Netanyahu said his military chiefs would on Sunday show him a dual plan -- a plan to evacuate and a plan to dismantle those remaining (Hamas) battalions.
UK PM Rishi Sunak has warned against rising toxicity in politics amid reports of members of Parliament facing security threats over their voting intentions in the House of Commons related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.(AFP)

Taking to X(formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Sunak shared a statement on recent incidents of violence and intimidation in the country. In a reference to chaos in the Commons last week over a Gaza ceasefire vote, he captioned his post by writing, "In Parliament this week, a dangerous signal was sent that intimidation works. It is toxic for our society and our politics. It is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear in Britain. Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation."

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ALSO READ| Rafah operation will put Israel weeks away from 'total victory': Netanyahu

In his statement, Sunak said that legitimate protests were hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism. He also called out the verbal threats to elected representatives.

"Legitimate protests hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism, elected representatives verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted and antisemitic tropes beamed onto our own Parliament building," Sunak said, with reference to an offensive projection on the Palace of Westminster recently.

"The explosion in prejudice and antisemitism since the Hamas attacks on the 7 October [2023] are as unacceptable as they are un-British. Simply put antisemitism is racism," he added.

Threat to MPs in Britain

According to a recent The Sunday Times report, UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has been working with the Home Office, the police and the parliamentary authorities to significantly enhance the safety and security of MPs.

As part of the overhaul, the royal and VIP executive committee (RAVEC), which is responsible for the security of the royal family as well as senior politicians including the prime minister and home secretary, has been brought in to help assess the threat to MPs.

Many MPs are petrified by the abuse they are facing, a senior security source was quoted as saying.

Female MPs requiring additional security have been provided with close protection by private companies, along with chauffeur-driven cars, which are normally provided only to senior members of the Cabinet and the Leader of the Opposition.

(With inputs from news agency PTI)
The Taliban on Sunday released Herbert Fritz, an 84-year-old Austrian and far-right nationalist who was arrested in Afghanistan last May. Released taliban hostage and Austrian national Herbert Fritz walks after disembarking from a plane, in Doha, Qatar, February 25, 2024.(REUTERS)

The Austrian government said in a statement Fritz arrived in Doha earlier in the day after mediation by the Qatari government helped to secure his release.

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After his arrest last year, Austria's Der Standard newspaper said Fritz had gone to Afghanistan and reported positively on life there. This helped fuel anti-immigration arguments that Afghanistan was a safe country to which refugees could return, the paper said.

ALSO READ- India-Taliban thaw on Afghanistan: What really is happening?

The Taliban arrested him on suspicion of spying, Der Standard said.

The Austrian foreign ministry said it had been working to secure Fritz's release since May, and thanked Qatar and the European Union representation in Kabul for assisting its efforts to bring about his return to Austria.

Fritz was a founding member of the country's National Democratic Party (NDP), an extreme right group banned in 1988, according to Der Standard and other media.

ALSO READ- Taliban publicly executes 2 convicted murderers in football stadium, watched by thousands

Austria's far-right Freedom Party, which has been leading opinion polls ahead of parliamentary elections due later this year, had pressed for Fritz's release. The party has said he was researching a book in Afghanistan.

Qatar's foreign ministry expressed gratitude to Afghanistan's Taliban administration for its cooperation in releasing the Austrian, without naming him.

The Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance, which monitors far-right activity, described Fritz as an active participant in extreme-right political circles.
Ukraine and its foreign partners could invite Russia to a future peace summit to discuss an end to Moscow's two-year-old invasion on Kyiv's terms, a senior Ukrainian official said on Sunday. Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.(File)

Switzerland will host a summit to discuss a vision for peace by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which could be handed to Russia during a second meeting at a later date, said Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff.

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"There can be a situation in which we together invite representatives of the Russian Federation, where they will be presented with the plan in case whoever is representing the aggressor country at that time will want to genuinely end this war and return to a just peace," he said during a televised conference in Kyiv.

Zelensky first announced his peace formula at a November 2022 summit of the Group of 20 major economies. It calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity and a total withdrawal of Russian troops.

Kyiv has maintained that it would not speak with Moscow until all Russian troops have left Ukrainian territory.

The Kremlin has said there is no current basis for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and that Kyiv's peace plan was absurd because it excluded Russia.
There was no neck-to-neck finish in South Carolina as Donald Trump was projected to romp home in Nikki Halleys home state. But who voted for Donald Trump? It would appear there's an inverse co-relation between being a Trump voter and an advanced college degree. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he hosts a South Carolina Republican presidential primary election night party in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer(REUTERS)

According to a chart shared by journalist Michael Tracey, 82% of folks who never attended college voted for Donald Trump. The number was 74% for those who went to college but didn't receive a degree, 70% for those who had an Associate's Degree, 55% for those who had Bachelor's Degree and finally only 44% for those who with Advanced Degrees voted for Trump.

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Trump is still short of the delegates needed, but his win over Haley in the state where she served as governor, leaves him with a clear and unobstructed path to the nomination.

Haley is Trumps last major challenger in a race that has seen the former president dominate every Republican primary contest, with commanding wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada ahead of South Carolina.

Trump took the stage in Columbia, South Carolina, shortly after the race was called, joined by daughter-in-law Lara Trump and other allies.

This was a little sooner than we anticipated, Trump said. An even bigger win than we anticipated.

The race shifts to Super Tuesday on March 5, when more than a dozen states hold Republican contests, but Haley is likely to face increased pressure to exit the race and questions about whether her impressive slate of donors will continue funding a longshot bid.



With inputs from agencies


The constitutional requirement of summoning the maiden session of the elected parliament will be fulfilled as per law on February 29, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party said on Sunday. A supporter of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), wears a cap in the colours of the party flag, at a protest demanding free and fair results of the elections, in Peshawar, Pakistan February 17.(REUTERS)

As per law, the first session of the newly elected assembly should be summoned within 21 days of the general election.

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Since the polls were held on February 8, the parliament should meet by February 29.

PML-N senior leader Ishaq Dar said the parliament would meet on February 29 as per the Constitution.

ALSO READ- Pakistan's poll body gears up to hold Presidential election by March 9

The law ministry has already sent a summary to the president with the proposal to summon the session as per law but Alvi, who is inclined towards the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has not approved it so far, creating fears that his refusal may create a constitutional crisis, a source told Geo News.

The source said the president has maintained that the lower house of the parliament is still incomplete due to the non-allocation of some reserved seats.

While the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has allocated reserved seats to political parties, it has not awarded reserved quota to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) after the PTI-backed independent candidates joined their ranks.

The ECP said the matter of SIC reserved seats was pending before the commission.

The insider sources said the president had neither rejected nor accepted the summary and only communicated his verbal response.

Dar in his statement said the National Assembly speaker could summon the session on February 29 if the president did not do so under the Constitution.

The caretaker federal government has maintained that convening the National Assembly session within 21 days of the general elections was mandatory under Article 91 (2) of the Constitution.

Earlier this week, caretaker information minister Murtaza Solangi had said that the first session of the new National Assembly might be called on any date between February 22 and February 29.

ALSO READ- Imran Khan asks IMF not to extend loan to Pakistan before election audit

Responding to a query, Solangi mentioned that a simple majority was required to form a government, and the president after the 18th Constitutional Amendment did not have the power to invite a person or a party to form a government, he explained.

Meanwhile, the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Sindh have already convened their inaugural sessions, however, the assemblies of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are expected to meet on February 28 for the first time.
The separatists of Moldovan Transnistria will not ask to join Russia in the near future. According to previously circulated information, such an appeal to Moscow would allegedly be adopted on February 28.

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The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine called this information a fake. This is said in an official statement of the military intelligence.

The DIU stated that the previously spread information about the intentions of the "deputies" of the pro-Russian enclave in Moldova - the so-called Transnistrian Moldovan Republic - is not true.

"The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine informs: according to available information, on February 28, 2024, the deputies of the unrecognized Transnistria do not plan to address Russian dictator Putin with a request to join the Russian Federation," the intelligence noted.

ADVERTISIMENT

Moscow need such rumors to destabilize the situation in the region. The DIU sees all signs that this false information is being spread deliberately as part of Russia's disinformation campaign.
Donald Trump slammed Prince Harry for his disloyalty to the former Queen of England and said he would not offer him any protection, unlike Joe Biden. Donald Trump reveals what he really thinks of Prince Harry(AP)

The former President made the remarks at the CPAC conference in Washington DC, where he was set to deliver a speech that would electrify his conservative supporters from across the country.

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Prince Harry would be on his own now: Trump

Trump expressed his outrage at the Biden administration for protecting Harry by keeping his immigration status secret. He said, I wouldnt protect him. He betrayed the Queen. Thats unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.

I think they have been too gracious to him after what he has done.

The CPAC conference, which lasted for four days in Washington DC, turned into a prolonged Donald Trump rally as he was almost certain to secure the Republican nomination for the next election.

Various speakers, such as businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, potential Vice President candidate Kristi Noem and close allies like Nigel Farage, urged the need for a Trump Presidency as the last hope for the west before it is too late.

His words came a day after Prince Harry faced a court hearing over allegations that he had falsified his immigration documents to the US by hiding his past drug use, which he admitted in his memoir Spare. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington DC, had filed a lawsuit against the Prince, who had the backing of Bidens Department of Homeland Security.

ALSO READ| King Charles brutal confession on wedding eve which left Princess Diana devastated

Although several reports speculated that the Duke of Sussex used the drug case to sell his book, and his memoir isnt a solid proof that he even took drugs, for that matter.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump says immigrants are killing our country,' netizens remind him '2 of his 3 wives were immigrants'

The conference, which had been relatively subdued in previous years, saw huge crowds lining up outside the Gaylord Convention Center on the final day to listen to the former Presidents address.

On Saturday, in a significant setback for Nikki Haley, Trump emerged victorious in her home state of South Carolina, further constricting her already slim chances of securing the nomination.
In their usually humorous play during the regular Weekend Update segment on Saturday Night Live, co-hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che quipped about Donald Trump yet again. Adding to their long-running candour-filled joking streaks about Trump, this time, the SNL hosts found comedy in his South Carolina primary win on February 24. Donald Trump's views on the upcoming general elections as 'Judgement Day' for some reminds SNL hosts of DC supervillain Bane. (YouTube / SNL)

The ex-president leapt ahead by 20%, defeating his Republican rival Nikki Haley in the 2024 GOP nominations. Memorialising his thoughts on the general election, Jost played a video of Trump speaking on the upcoming Judgement Day.

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November 5th will be our new liberation day, but for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters it will be their Judgement Day, said Trump as he's already pivoting to the US general election 2024.

Donald Trump SNL jokes or skits

Colin Jost opened his jesting commentary with the idea that Trump is undefeated everywhere, except court. Right after playing his aforementioned speech, Jost scratched his head, wondering where he'd heard that before, Oh, right. Bane," referring to The Dark Knight Rises villain. A masked and menacing Tom Hardy played the Gotham terroriser in the 2012 Christopher Nolan directorial.

Also read: Donald Trump blasts Prince Harry for betraying the Queen

Soon after, Che jumped over to Nikki Haley's case, who'd recently proclaimed that she had no plans to join the presidential race as Trump's running mate / VP candidate. She stated, I feel no need to kiss the ring.

Eventually, Che retraced his steps back to Trump and his limited gold sneakers merchandise, which are being sold for $400. In case people wanted to have a look at the shoes, Che suggested that they can check them out on the feet of the guy getting dragged off your flight.

Just a few hours before the SNL Weekend Update video dropped, another skit starring comedian Shane Gillis referenced the magical Trump sneakers.

That wasn't the end of it. In the Trump Victory Party Cold Open, Senators Tim Scott (Devon Walker), James Risch (Mikey Day), Lindsey Graham (James Austin Johnson) and Marco Rubio (Marcello Hernandez) pulled off their two-faced boot-licking endorsement of the Republican frontrunner.

The shade opens with Risch's character admitting, "Sometimes I do not know what my party is doing. I mean, I've been pushing for Ukraine funding for the past six months. Its essential to American security. And Trump just killed it with one phone call. The man doesnt care about this country one iota. Sometimes I think hes downright dangerous.
Donald Trump has been slammed for his remarks at CPAC, and snippets of his speech are now viral on social media. The former president has been specifically criticised for his comments on immigration. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)(AP)

It will be the largest deportation in the history of our country, and we have no choice. And it's not a nice thing to say and I hate to say it. Those clowns in the media will say, 'Oh he's so mean.' He's ... No, no. They're killing our people. They're killing our country, they're killing our people, we have no choice, Trump said.

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Social media ripped Trump, with one user sharing the video and writing in the comment section of the video, Note: 2 of his 3 wives were immigrants. In the 19th century, Friedrich Trump emigrated to the USA...Donald Trump's grandfather. Friedrich Trump was an immigrant, one user said, while another wrote, 67% of his wives have been immigrants.

In the 19th century, Friedrich Trump emigrated to the USA...Donald Trump's grandfather. Friedrich Trump was an immigrant, wrote one user, while another said, Bit rich of him given a) his parents were immigrants and b) without immigrants he'd have had no wives. Would that include his dearly beloved, Melania? one user said.

Immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country

Last year, Trump came under fire for saying immigrants coming to the USare poisoning the blood of our country. They let  I think the real number is 15, 16 million people into our country. When they do that, we got a lot of work to do. Theyre poisoning the blood of our country, Trump told the crowd at a rally in New Hampshire.

Thats what theyve done. They poison mental institutions and prisons all over the world, not just in South America, not just to three or four countries that we think about, but all over the world. Theyre coming into our country from Africa, from Asia, all over the world, he added.

Shortly after his speech, the Joe Biden campaign condemned his remarks in a statement. Donald Trump channeled his role models as he parroted Adolf Hitler, praised Kim Jong Un, and quoted Vladimir Putin while running for president on a promise to rule as a dictator and threaten American democracy. Trump is not shying away from his plan to lock up millions of people into detention camps and continues to lie about that time when Joe Biden obliterated him by over 7 million votes three years ago, the Biden campaign said.
A bombshell claim has surfaced about the marriage of King Charles and the late Princess Diana. According to one of Diana's confidantes, a conversation on the eve of their wedding reportedly left the Princess "devastated." When rumors of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's marriage first surfaced, they were thought to be a dream couple. But, as Lady Diana's former astrologer disclosed, their reality was anything but perfect behind closed doors. Prince Charles and Diana with Prince William in this picture released by Kensington Palace. (File Photo)

The royal confession which left Princess Diana heartbroken

Also read: Meghan Markle back in business: Eyes major Hollywood role amid Prince Harry's UK return row

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Diana, a mere 20 years old at the time, had only encountered Charles a few times. She appeared understandably nervous in the presence of 3,500 attendees in the cathedral and the countless viewers tuning in from home. A report in the Mirror disclosed, that she was already feeling anxious following events from the previous evening. According to a close friend of Diana's, Charles allegedly confessed the night before that he "did not want to enter the marriage under false pretenses." Penny Thornton, who had a close professional relationship with the princess, asserts that Charles then informed his soon-to-be wife that he did not harbor love for her.

Friend makes claims about Charles and Diana

While appearing on the ITV program The Diana Interview: Princess Revenge, she stated, "One of the most shocking things that Diana told me was that the night before the wedding Charles told her that he didn't love her Thornton added, I think Charles didn't want to go into the wedding on a false premise. He wanted to square it with her, and it was devastating for Diana.

Also read: Harry Potter TV series sets release date: Cast, streaming details, aiming for Warner Bros magic

King Charles believed that the wedding was a mistake

In the book The Duchess: The Untold Story, authored by royal writer Penny Junor, it is asserted that Charles felt the marriage was a mistake but realized it was too late to back out. Charles was not convinced he was doing the right thing in marrying Diana but there was no way out and, bolstered by the hope that things would be different once they were married, he put a brave face on it.

Princess Diana had second thoughts about her marriage with King Charles

Princess Diana struggled emotionally before her wedding, confiding in her sisters. In Andrew Morton's book, "Diana: Her True Story," Diana expressed doubts, saying, "I can't marry him, I can't do this." Despite this, her sisters urged her not to cancel, believing it was too late due to her widespread fame.

When Diana claimed that both she and Charles were engaged in an affair

During a BBC interview in 1995, Princess Diana stunned viewers by disclosing to reporter Martin Bashir that both she and Charles had engaged in affairs during their marriage. Charles and Diana separated in 1992 after the birth of their two sons, William and Harry. Their divorce finalized in 1996, merely a year before Diana's tragic death in a car crash in Paris.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markles feud with the Royal Family appears to be never-ending. Despite the Duke of Sussexs latest visit to the UK amid his fathers cancer diagnosis, there seems to be no respite. As King Charles undergoes treatment, a royal expert has claimed that there may be a secret weapon the royal family could send to deal with the drama. King Charles may send out Royal Family's 'secret weapon' to deal with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

What is King Charles' last resort to sort out the Sussexes drama?

Amid the feud with their family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently carried out a rebranding, which included a revamped website. Considering the impact their exit from the Royal Family made, the decision to use the title Sussex on their new website was far from well-received.

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However, the royals, who now live in California, defended themselves, saying, It's their title. In light of their rebranding, the Mail columnist Sarah Vine claimed that King Charles' sister, Princess Anne, is the only one who can sort out the rift and reunite the family, per Express.

I think shes (Princess Royal) the answer to all the Royal Familys problems, Vine said. We know how no-nonsense she is, the royal commentator added.

The feud between the two royal couples has stretched to the extent of Prince Harry's brief meeting with King Charles being dubbed a publicity stunt.

I think we should send Princess Anne to deal with Harry and Meghanbecause if you got a call from Princess Anne, youd sit up jolly straight, Vine continued, adding, If I were the King, Id say Anne, please just go and deal with them.

Prior to their Sussex rebranding, the couple added fuel to the fire with Prince Harry's tell-all memoir, Spare. Another stint that caused a dent in family relations was the Duke's longtime friend Omid Scobie's bombshell book on the royal family, Endgame.
The murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Hope Riley, 22, has sent shockwaves across the US. A GoFundMe launched for Riley has raised a whopping $81,432 USD in just a day, much more than the $35,000 goal that has been set. The murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Hope Riley, 22, has sent shockwaves across the US (GoFundMe)

Riley was found dead near a lake on the University of Georgias campus in Athens last week with visible injuries, according to UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark. Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, was found after a friend reported that she went for a run and failed to return.

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Days after her death, police took into custody 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant. Ibarra was arrested on Friday, February 23, and charged with malice and felony murder, aggravated battery, kidnapping, concealing the death of another and other charges. Police said the incident was a crime of opportunity.

What does Laken Rileys GoFundMe say?

The GoFundMe revealed that Riley was a class of 2025 BSN student at Augusta University Athens campus and an active member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority at UGA. It described her as a sweet and compassionate soul whose life was sadly cut short.

No words can express the pain and heartache that Lakens family and friends are experiencing. She was a wonderful friend, sister, daughter, etc. who touched the lives of everyone around her. Her infectious smile and contagious laugh lit up every room she entered. Not only did she have a kind-hearted spirit, but she also excelled in academics as she previously made the Augusta University Deans list in the Fall of 2023, the page says.

This GoFundMe is being established to assist the family with funeral expenses, establish a scholarship in her name, raise homicide awareness, or any other opportunity the family could use it for during this difficult time. Thank you so much for your support, please continue to keep Lakens family and friends in your thoughts and prayers, it added.
Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik clashed with Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz in a scathing interview released Saturday. The owner of the famous X, formerly Twitter account, argued with the journalist over topics ranging from transgenderism, book bans in schools, and death threats, among others. In an attempt to seemingly mock Lorenz, Raichik donned a T-shirt with a picture of the former making a gagging face. Libs of TikTok creator and WaPo columnist clash in scathing interview(X, formerly Twitter)

Taylor Lorenz and Chaya Raichik clash in scathing interview

Throughout the outdoor interview in Los Angeles, Raichik upheld her belief in transgenderism being based on lies. Lorenz asked, I know you have a very conservative fan base In the comments, youll see a lot of commentary about sort of the great replacement theory. What are your thoughts on that?

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Raichik rebutted with, What are your thoughts on the comments on your posts telling me to kill myself? The WaPo columnist affirmed that she thought those comments were horrible and that she was obviously against that. During a debate over immigrants and minority groups, including Jews, Raichik asserted that not all cultures are equal.

The Libs of TikTok creator also alleged that many schools promote porn distribution among students. Theyre giving kids porn and telling third graders that they should masturbate, Raichik said. She further declared that sex education should be eradicated, per Daily Beast.

Taylor Lorenz and Libs of TikTok rift grows on social media

The controversial interview ignited a debate on social media, with Lorenz and Raichik declaring their stances on X, formerly Twitter. The Libs of TikTok creator shared a summary of the interview from her perspective on the platform.

Just to summarize my interview with Taylor Lorenz: - shes not at all concerned about our open border and millions of people invading our country. shes scared of people knowing her age- shes still wearing a mask outdoors in 2024, Raichik wrote.

Meanwhile, Lorenz shared the link to the full interview saying, One reason I chose to publish the full interview and not just certain comments for my story on the harms Chayas rhetoric is causing LGBTQ ppl is bc I *knew* shed try to chop the footage up as much as she could to push her nonsense. Watch the full interview, it speaks for itself.
(Bloomberg) -- Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors son decried the publication of his phone number on social media as an act of vengeance after the president publicly released a reporters contact information. HT Image

Jose Ramon Lopez Beltran, the son of the Mexican president known as AMLO, said his own phone number was leaked and that he has received threats, according to a post Saturday on X.

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It came after AMLO disclosed the phone number of a reporter for the New York Times, which published an article on a preliminary US probe into alleged ties between the presidents allies and narco gangs.

Ruling Morena party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum said on X Saturday evening that her phone number had also been leaked and she had received non-stop calls and hate messages. She posted one of the messages, describing it as crude and harmless, and said she would change her phone number.

AMLO has defended his decision to share the reporters phone number because he said the article was slanderous and the request for comment on deadline was an ultimatum.

Read more: AMLO Says He Doesnt Regret Sharing NYT Reporters Number

The move has drawn criticism from media rights advocates who say it was irresponsible. Mexico is considered one of the worlds most dangerous countries for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Transparency watchdog INAI said in a statement it would investigate the presidents decision to share the reporters number as a possible violation of a law that protects data in the hands of government officials.

(Updates with comments from presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum in fourth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Even as Donald Trump romped home in the 2024 South Carolina GOP Primary, Joe Biden served up one of his traditional gaffes as he appeared to refer to Xi Jinping as head of Russia before correcting himself. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo(REUTERS)

Speaking at the East Room in the White House where he was holding the Annual National Governors Association, Biden also repeated his debunked claim that he had travelled 17,000 miles with Xi Jinping.

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Biden said: He (Obama) wanted me to get to know (then Vice President) Xi Jinping because it was clear he was going to be the head of Russia (corrects himself) uuuh China and we were having problems with Russia at the time and other countries as well. So what he (Obama) said was get to know him (Jinping), he is going to be there. He (Obama) couldn't because he was the President, so I travelled 17,000 miles with him throughout the country, in our country and in China as well. We were in the Tibet plateau and he turned to me and said: Can you define America for me? And I looked at him and suggested that I can in one word: Possibilities

Biden has repeated the claim about travelling 17,000 miles with Xi Jinping at least three times in the past and has been debunked by numerous outlets including the Washington Post.

While its true that Biden travelled to China in 2011 and spent three days there, they had travelled to a high school 50 miles away from the event. When Xi Jinping visited the States in 2012 and Joe Biden returned to China in 2013, watchers will still unable to come up with an explanation for how Biden arrived at this impressive number.

A White House official admitted the claim was inaccurate: "This was a reference to the total travel back and forth  both internally in the U.S. and China, and as well as internationally  for meetings they held together, he said. Some travel was in parallel, some was separately to joint destinations.

In recent times, questions have been asked about the supposed declining mental health faculties of both candidates for the upcoming Presidential Election. Biden recently confused Egypt with Mexico while making a reference to the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East. He confused French president Emmanuel Macron with Francois Mitterand, and German chancellor Helmut Kohl with Angela Merkel.

He has muddled up the Ukraine war with the Iraq War (that ended in 2011) claiming Putin was "clearly losing the war in Iraq". He also said God Save the Queen after a speech on gun control, with some wondering if he was referring to the deceased Queen Elizabeth II. He also accidentally referred to Rishi Sunak as Mr President (instead of Prime Minister).

Biden's numerous gaffes have led to questions about his mental competency. Donald Trump, who has his fair share of mendacious claims to back his gaffes, recently ribbed Biden by posting an ad claiming the White House was a senior living facility. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley has targeted both asking: "Is the best America can do two candidates in their 80s?)
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley suffered a major blow to her presidential ambitions on Saturday night, when she lost her home state of South Carolina to former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks on stage at her watch party during the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder(REUTERS)

Despite vowing to stay in the race, Haley faces an uphill battle to stop Trump from securing the nomination and challenging President Joe Biden in the general election.

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Haley vows to stay, not bowing out

Haley was the last remaining major candidate to oppose Trump, after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped out in January. She had hoped to appeal to moderate and independent voters who were disillusioned with Trumps divisive rhetoric and policies, as well as his legal troubles stemming from the January 6 Capitol riot and other investigations.

Haley, for her part, has not given any indication that she will bow out of the race anytime soon. In an email to her supporters, with the subject line The fight goes on, she said she was proud of her campaign and thanked her volunteers and donors. She also said she was not deterred by the results in South Carolina, and that she would continue to offer a positive and hopeful vision for the country.

ALSO READ| Who is Raj Kaur Randhawa? Nikki Haley says her mom was never able to sit on the bench in India

She performed well in New Hampshire, where she won 17 delegates, but failed to gain momentum in the subsequent contests. South Carolina, where she served as governor from 2011 to 2017, was supposed to be her stronghold, but she only managed to get 32% of the vote, compared to Trumps 58%.

South Carolinas Republican delegates are not bound to a specific candidate after the primary, which means Haley could still try to persuade some of them to switch sides. However, this is unlikely to make a significant difference, as Trump has a commanding lead in the delegate count, with 293 to Haleys 49.

Next is Michigan

The next big test for Haley will be Super Tuesday, on March 5, when 16 states and territories will hold their primaries and caucuses, awarding 874 delegates, or more than a third of the total. Haley will need to win a large share of these delegates to remain viable, but most polls show her trailing far behind Trump in most states.

ALSO READ| What's next for Nikki Haley after being defeated by Donald Trump in South Carolina?

Trumps campaign has already expressed confidence that Haley will fail on Super Tuesday, and that he will cross the majority threshold of 1,276 delegates by March 12. In a memo to reporters, Trumps campaign said Haley would be broken down, out of ideas, out of gas, and completely outperformed by every measure, by Donald Trump.

What did she say after the results came in?

I'm a woman of my word, she said in Charleston, South Carolina, reminding of her earlier commitment to stay in the race until Super Tuesday.

I'm not giving up this fight. She added, Today is not the end of our story.

The ex-governor and UN ambassador praised Trump for his win.

I love the people of our state, regardless of the outcome, she said to her fans in Charleston.

ALSO READ| College education and Trump love: Who voted for Donald Trump in South Carolina GOP Primary?

But Haley said she thinks Trump cant defeat Biden in the general election.

Our country is in trouble. But heres the thing: America will fall apart if we choose wrong. This was never about me or my career. We have to beat Joe Biden in November, she said.

I think Donald Trump cant beat Joe Biden.

In her speech to her supporters on Saturday night, Haley also tried to put a positive spin on her defeat, saying that 40% of the GOP electorate in South Carolina was not some tiny group, and that she had a broad and diverse coalition of supporters.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Ukraine has developed a plan for 2024. The head of the defense ministry assured that this plan is strong and will produce the desired results.

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The minister also emphasized that our results speak better than our actions. He made the statement at the Ukraine. Year 2024 forum.

Umerov said that Ukraine is now making every effort to make a breakthrough. The defense minister also noted that our country already has a plan for 2024.

The minister expressed confidence that the planned actions will bear fruit. However, he did not go into the details.

"Everyone says that our results speak better than our actions. We are doing everything possible and impossible to make a breakthrough. We already have a 2024 plan. We don't talk about it publicly. It is powerful and strong. It gives not only hope but results already in 2024," Umerov said.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Nikki Haley didnt narrow the margin with Donald Trump in her home states primary Saturday. But in her losing bid to win South Carolina, she finally drew blood against the presumptive Republican nominee. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks on stage at her watch party during the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder(REUTERS)

Haley spent the last month doing what her supporters have been waiting for  sharpening her attacks on the former president. Shes questioned his mental acuity and his bromance with Russias Vladamir Putin, condemned his comments on NATO and his position on Ukraine, and criticized his interference in the failed congressional border deal. Many of her attacks were made on conservative media which more often serves as Trumps personal PR machine.

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In a shrewd bit of media management, Haley gave aState of the Racespeech on Tuesday that attracted 30 minutes of live coverage from Fox News and she used the moment to say that regardless of Saturdays results and pressure from Trump: I refuse to kiss the ringIm not going anywhere.

She shouldnt. She should stay in the race as long as she can to accumulate delegates, then use them as leverage to become leader of the anti-Trump faction and exert some influence over the party and Trumps sycophants. She should never endorse him, but give homeless Republicans some hope.

By inviting fence-sitters and independents to vote for her in a way thats never been done before in the first-in-the-South primary, Haley exposed an uncomfortable truth for her party: There are still a lot of Republican-leaning Americans who are voting against Trump and he likely needs them to win in November.

Many South Carolina Haley voters told me that they formerly supported Trump, but dont want to see him return to office. They echoed Haleys description that he brings chaos, is unhinged and unpredictable. They longed for change.

Saturdays exit poll results echoed these sentiments. One-third of the South Carolina voters said they would be dissatisfied if Trump were elected and 96% of those voters cast their ballot for Haley. One-third said they did not consider Trump mentally or physically fit to serve in office and of those, 97% voted for Haley. Only 15% of those interviewed were first-time voters in South Carolina, which means that the universe of those who reject Trump also were traditionally reliable Republican-leaning voters.

Voters rejecting their partys frontrunner in a deep red state gives Democrats an opening.

The challenge, of course, is for President Joe Biden, with all his communication flaws and physical deficits, to persuade those Republican and independent voters who have an intense distaste for Trump to show up and vote for him in November.

Preliminary election results show Haley won just three delegates, all from counties with mostly college-educated, urban populations  Charleston, Beaufort and Richland.

I don't believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden, Haley told supporters Saturday night. Nearly every day, Trump drives people away  including with his comments just yesterday, she said, a reference to his racist remarks to a group of Black conservatives Friday, saying his indictments and mug shot make him popular with Black voters.

For a race that seemed predetermined, enthusiasm for the primary was immense. More than 205,000 people voted early, about 90,000 more than all the votes cast in the Feb. 3 Democratic primary. According to exit poll results, 21% of the nearly 700,000 votes cast in the Republican primary were from independents and 4% were from Democrats.

PrimaryPivot, a Democratic group determined to get voters who consider Trump a threat to democracy out to vote, raised close to $1 million for their efforts that began in New Hampshire, said co-founder Robert Schwartz. In South Carolina, they targeted Democrats who didnt vote in their partys primary with radio ads and text messages that reminded them the best way to damage Donald Trump is to vote against him.

Trumps win was called by news organizations just two minutes after polls closed and his sweeping victory reinforced his chokehold on the party. His populist appeal, focused more on identity politics than policy, brought more White working-class voters to the GOP.

He consolidates his strength by bullying and threatening to withhold his endorsement from GOP candidates in primaries. Its a powerful tool and well be seeing more to come. South Carolina Senators Tim Scott and Lindsay Graham  who had condemned Trump after the Jan. 6 insurrection  stood by him during his victory speech Saturday, demonstrating their word means less than the opportunity to be vice president or a cabinet official.

Haley heads to Michigan for rallies in Detroit and Grand Rapids ahead of that states Feb. 27 GOP primary and then will focus on Super Tuesday, March 5. If she doesnt do well then, its hard to see how shell make the delegate math work. Eleven of the 15 Super Tuesday states and American Samoa have open primaries and represent a combined 874 Republican delegates, nearly three-fourths of the total needed to win the nomination. By March 12, in Georgia, Trump may have reached the 1,215 delegates needed for the nomination.

Haley has the resources to stay in the race through then. But campaigns dont end because candidates lose elections. They end because they run out of money and Haleys donors, which include the Koch-supported Americans for Prosperity, may soon decide its time to turn off the spigot.

Haley and affiliated political committees spent $11.3 million blanketing her home state on broadcast television alone  about 13 times what the Trump campaign spent. They have vowed to spend several million more in the run-up to Super Tuesday.

All that money wont bring her victory, but it will bring her recognition and attention. If Trump loses in November, as Haley predicts, she will have secured her place as the I told you so candidate. And if Trump wins, lets hope she will have helped build the faction within the party that wants to hold him accountable.
With a red T-shirt covered in Donald Trump pins, there is no doubt as to which candidate Patti Douglas will be backing in November's presidential election. HT Image

But unlike the former US leader, who Douglas came to see deliver a speech in the suburbs of Washington on Saturday, she has no reservations about giving Ukraine more assistance.

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"I want to help Ukraine... I think they are doing a really good job, but they need more help," she told AFP at the annual "CPAC" gathering of conservatives.

While Ukraine marked the second anniversary of Russia's invasion on Saturday, a new $60 billion security package sits stalled in the US Congress, as Trump calls on Republican lawmakers to hold out until Democrats agree to measures cracking down on immigration, and to convert any aid to Kyiv into loans.

Douglas, a resident of Florida in her 50s, says she disagrees that the different policies should all be tied together.

"I think the Congress should do separate bills: one for Ukraine, one for our border and other things like that. If we do huge bills, it doesn't work," she said.

A security package without immigration measures has passed the Senate with bipartisan backing, but Republican leaders in the House have pledged to not take it up.

But friends Stephanie Jordan and Nannette Coil, whose cowboy hats stand out among a sea of red caps typical at Trump campaign rallies, said they believe the US border issue should be handled first before Ukraine gets any more aid.

"It's like in an airplane, you put on your own oxygen mask first, before you help anyone else. We need to take care of ourselves first," Coil told AFP.

Jordan, also in her 60s, says she thinks about "domestic issues first."

"I know being nationalist is not popular, I don't know why, because strength starts within the country," she said.

Trump, in his nearly 1.5-hour speech, hammered President Joe Biden over the historically high number of illegal border crossings in recent months -- an issue he has sought to make a key part of his campaign to retake the White House.

"They're killing our people -- they're killing our country," Trump said of the migrants, pledging to enact the "largest deportation in the history of our country," if elected.

In only brief remarks on Ukraine, Trump reiterated his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded if he were in office.

"Ukraine would have never happened. I talked to Putin a lot. I got along with him well," said Trump, highlighting the weapons that were delivered to Kyiv while he was president.

When asked about renewing US aid, 69-year-old Mary Phelps, clad in a "Make America Great Again" T-shirt, told AFP: "We already sent to Ukraine a lot of help. There's not a clear path for them to get out of this mess."

"I feel like we need to secure our border first and then we have to worry about helping other people," she said.

"And I think that other NATO partners have to step it up a little more and we have to save more of our resources to save our borders."

One attendee named Jean, who did not wish to give a last name, said she believes the situation would be different with migration and the war in Ukraine "if Trump were allowed to be president."

When asked if the United States should continue supporting Ukraine, she said "right now it's a very terrible condition and it's very hard to answer that question."

pno/des/mtp
On Saturday, US and UK warplanes has launched a joint attack on 18 sites in Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. This was the fourth such operation by the two allies, who said they aimed to further degrade the Houthis ability to threaten shipping in the vital Red Sea trade route. US and British forces carried out a fresh wave of strikes February 24, against 18 Huthi targets in Yemen, a joint statement said, following weeks of unrelenting attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed rebels. (Photo by Handout / US Central Command (CENTCOM) / AFP) / (AFP)

The Pentagon said in a joint statement that the strikes targeted Houthi facilities related to underground and missile storage, drones, air defence, radars, and a helicopter.

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The statement quoted the US as saying that the strikes were necessary and proportionate and that they were meant to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, naval vessels, and the lives of innocent mariners in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

ALSO READ| Prince Harry may have lied to sell more copies of tell-all memoir Spare, federal lawyers tell court

US 'will not hesitate to take action'

The statement also said that the Houthis more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November posed a risk to the global economy, regional security and stability, and required an international response. The statement added that the strikes were carried out with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Following the strikes, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the US will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways. He also said that the US was committed to supporting its partners in the region and ensuring the security of the Red Sea.

UK had a duty to protect lives at sea'

Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said that the UK had a duty to protect lives at sea and preserve freedom of navigation. He said that the Royal Air Force had participated in a fourth wave of precision strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen to achieve that goal.

The US military also said that it had earlier destroyed seven Houthi mobile anti-ship missiles that were being readied for attacks. The Houthi rebels have been launching attacks on vessels in the Red Sea that they claim are linked to Israel and the West, in retaliation for the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump blasts Prince Harry for betraying the Queen, says he wouldnt protect him like Joe Biden did

The Houthi rebels have been fighting a civil war in Yemen since 2014, when they seized the capital Sanaa and large parts of the country. They have been facing a Saudi-led coalition that supports the internationally recognized government of Yemen. The war has caused a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with millions of people facing famine, disease, and displacement.

The Red Sea is one of the worlds busiest and most important shipping lanes, connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is also a strategic chokepoint for oil and gas exports from the Middle East. Any disruption or escalation of conflict in the region could have serious consequences for global trade and energy supplies.
Nikki Haleys chances of securing the 2024 Republican presidential nomination seem to be quickly fading away, but she is not ready to give up. Haley had already been defeated by former president Donald Trump in Iowa, New Hampshire and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She had also lost to none of the above in the Nevada primary. Nikki Haley speaks to reporters after voting in the South Carolina Republican primary on February 24, 2024 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

But Haley may have expected the South Carolina primary to turn the race around. After all, it is her home state.

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However, Trump cruised to a victory in South Carolina too. On several occasions in the past, Haley questioned his mental fitness. She warned that another Trump presidency would bring "chaos.

I'm not giving up this fight

On Saturday night, February 24, when Trump was leading her by around 20 percentage points in South Carolina, Haley took the stage. "America will come apart if we make the wrong choices. This has never been about me or my political future," she told a crowd. "I am a woman of my word. I'm not giving up this fight."

Haley has vowed to remain in the race at least until Super Tuesday. As many as 15 states and one territory will vote on March 5. In almost all of the upcoming contests, Trump has a lead. Haley, however, has said nothing will make her bow down.

Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Haley said. South Carolina has spoken. Were the fourth state to do so. In the next ten days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate. And I have a duty to give them that choice.

What happens if Donald Trump's legal troubles continue?

Trump may be leading, but will the various legal troubles he is in the midst of affect the 2024 presidential election? Last year, Trump became the first US president in history to have a mugshot taken. It happened while he was being booked at an Atlanta jail for allegedly trying to reverse the 2020 election results in Georgia.

The Georgia indictment was the fourth brought against Trump last year. There were multiple federal cases over the former presidents attempts at overturning the 2020 election in Washington, DC, as well as for allegedly mishandling classified documents in South Florida.

Trump was also indicted for allegedly falsifying business records in an attempt to conceal hush money paid to Stormy Daniels before the elections in 2016. He was accused of doing this to keep Stormy from speaking up about an affair he allegedly had with the porn star. This year, Trump made headlines when he attended a trial after E. Jean Carroll accused him of sexually assaulting her.

Trump has argued that the cases against him are nothing but the result of the U.S. Justice Department. He also accused prosecutors of having a vendetta against him.

Polls revealed that 66% of Republicans believe that the legal cases against Trump were handled unfairly, while 70% of Democrats believe he is being treated just fairly, according to CBS News.

According to Trump supporter and former Republican Attorney General candidate Doug Wardlow, Trumps legal troubles have only increased his popularity. "I think it's absolutely politically motivated. If you look at the multiplicity of cases against President Trump, all of them are using very novel and unique, unprecedented interpretations of the law," Wardlow said.

"Trump is becoming a symbol for opposing the position of law and standing up for the Constitution and liberty and freedom and the rule of law itself. And as he becomes that symbol that's really generating a lot of support. You can't vote against a symbol who's standing up against tyranny, right? That's kind of one of the things I think that is propelling him so far ahead in the primaries. And he's going to be the nominee because he is a victim of political weaponization of law, and he's a symbol of opposing, basically, the destruction of the American republic, Wardlow added.
A suspect who was recently taken into custody for the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Hope Riley, 22, has been identified as 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant. Riley was found dead near a lake on the University of Georgias campus in Athens last week with visible injuries, according to UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark. Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, was found after a friend reported that she went for a run and failed to return. A suspect who was recently taken into custody for the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Hope Riley (R), 22, has been identified as 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra (L), an illegal immigrant (GoFundMe, Jose Ibarra/Facebook)

This was a very isolated incident, Clark said at the Friday news conference, according to CNN. We havent had a homicide at the University of Georgia in almost 30 years. Video footage from campus security cameras reportedly led police to the suspect, as did physical evidence and important input from the community.

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Ibarra was arrested on Friday, February 23, and charged with malice and felony murder, aggravated battery, kidnapping, concealing the death of another and other charges. Police said the incident was a crime of opportunity.

Who is Jose Antonio Ibarra?

Ibarra crossed the border in Texas on September 8 in 2023. He was initially sent to a processing facility before being released and put on a bus to New York City. His wife, Layling Franco, told New York Post that he was busted in New York City again, and then soon released.

Ibarra, Franco of Venezuela and her son, 5, entered El Paso together. The family was sent to New York City on September 15.

Back in August, Ibarra was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child. He was caught riding a gas-powered moped with Francos son on the back in Queens. The child had been given no head protection or restraint, police sources said. At the time, Ibarra was working for DoorDash, Uber Eats and a local restaurant. However, the case was later sealed.

Franco and Ibarra split by November, following which he went to live with his brother Diego in Georgia. Yesterday when [Jose] was arrested, my brother-in-law called me early to say hed been arrested, Franco, 23, said.

Franco claimed Ibarra was generally a calm person. We got married so we could join our asylum cases, she said. He was the person I thought I could see through. Weve known each other our entire lives.

She added, He wasnt aggressive, none of that. We had problems as a couple but our problems werent physical. We wouldnt punch but wed raise our voices. Franco said Ibarra left New York because he wanted to get a better job in Georgia.

I want to talk to [Jose], she said. I have a lot of faith that this wasnt him, that there was a misunderstanding somewhere. But if he did, he has to pay for what he did, truly.

In December last year, Ibarra went back to New York, for immigration court, a 32-year-old relative said. Yesterday when we found out about what happened, and about Jose, it went over really badly, because it seemed like that girl was really ahead of things, the relative said of Riley.

According to Clark, Ibarra does not have an extensive criminal history.
Western nations should be bolder about confiscating Russian assets which they froze after the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (AP)

Sunak, in an article in an early edition of the Sunday Times to mark two years since the start of the conflict, said Ukraine continued to need more long-range weapons, drones and munitions, as well as other assistance.

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"We must be bolder in hitting the Russian war economy .... And we must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets," he said .

Last month British Investment Minister Dominic Johnson met U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo to discuss the seizure of frozen Russian assets, but stressed this needed to be done in accordance with international law.

The European Union, U.S., Japan and Canada froze some $300 billion of Russian central bank assets in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.

Group of Seven countries have been studying a possible seizure of the assets as a way to have Russia pay for the damage its invasion caused in Ukraine.

Sunak also urged the U.S. to continue to provide financial and military support for Ukraine.

"We should never underestimate what America has done for Ukraine and for Euro-Atlantic security. I urge them to continue that support, and I am confident they will," he wrote in the article.

Britain's defence ministry announced 245 million pounds ($311 million) of aid to fund Ukrainian artillery ammunition on Saturday.
ALEXEI NAVALNY did not like tragedies. He preferred Hollywood films and fables in which heroes vanquish villains and good triumphs over evil. He had the looks and talent to be one of those heroes, but he was born in Russia and lived in dark times, spending his last days in a penal colony in the Arctic permafrost. A fan of Star Wars, he described his ordeal in lyrical terms. Prison [exists] in ones mind, he wrote from his cell in 2021. And if you think carefully, I am not in prison but on a space voyageto a wonderful new world. That voyage ended on February 16th. FILE PHOTO: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny (2nd R, first row) and his wife Yulia (3rd R, first row) walk during an opposition rally in Moscow, October 27, 2013. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo(REUTERS)

Mr Navalnys death was blamed by Russian prison authorities on a blood clotthough his doctor said he suffered from no condition which made that likely. Whatever ends up on his death certificate, he was killed by Vladimir Putin. Russias president locked him up; in his name, Mr Navalny was subjected to a regime of forced labour and solitary confinement. Mr Navalny will be celebrated as a man of remarkable courage. His life will be remembered for what it says about Mr Putin, what it portends for Russia and what it demands of the world.

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A man of formidable intelligence, Mr Navalny identified the two foundations on which Mr Putin has built his power: fear and greed. In Mr Putins world, everyone can be bribed or threatened. Not only did Mr Navalny understand those impulses, he struck at them in devastating ways.

His insight was that corruption was not just a side hustle but the moral rot at the heart of Mr Putins state. His anti-corruption crusade formed a new genre of immaculately documented and thriller-like films that displayed the yachts, villas and planes of Russias rulers. These videos, posted on YouTube, culminated in an expose of Mr Putins billion-dollar palace on the Black Sea coast that has been watched 130m times. Despite the palaces iron gates, adorned with a two-headed imperial eagle, Mr Navalny portrayed its owner not as a tsar so much as a tasteless mafia boss.

Mr Navalny also understood fear and how to defeat it. Mr Putins first attempt to kill him was in 2020 when he was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok smeared inside his underwear. By sheer good luck Mr Navalny survived, regained his strength in Germany and less than a year later flew back to Moscow to defy Mr Putin in a blast of publicity.

He returned in the full knowledge that he would probably be arrested. On the way back to confront the evil ruler who had tried to poison him he did not read Hamlet. He watched Rick and Morty, an American cartoon. By mocking Mr Putin, he diminished him. Ive mortally offended him by surviving, he said from the dock during his trial in 2021. He will enter history as a poisoner. We had Yaroslav the Wise and Alexander the Liberator. And now we will have Vladimir the Poisoner of Underpants.

Mr Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in jail on extremism charges. He turned his sentence into an act of cheerful defiance. Every time he appeared in court hearings via video link from prison, his smile cut through the walls of his cell and beamed across Russias 11 time zones. On February 15th, on the eve of his death, he was in court again. Dressed in a dark grey prison uniform he laughed in the face of Mr Putins judges, suggesting they should put some money into his account as he was running short. In the end, there was only one way Mr Putin could wipe the smile off his face.

In his essay Live Not by Lies, in 1974, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a Nobel-prize-winning Soviet novelist, wrote that when violence intrudes into peaceful life, its face glows with self-confidence, as if it were carrying a banner and shouting: I am violence. Run away, make way for meI will crush you. Mr Navalny understood, but instead of running, he held his ground.

His great strength was to understand Mr Putins fear of other peoples courage. In one of his early communications from jail, he wrote that: it is not honest people who frighten the authoritiesbut those who are not afraid, or, to be more precise: those who may be afraid, but overcome their fear.

That is why his death portends a deepening of repression inside Russia. Mr Navalnys murder was not the first and it will not be the last. The next targets could be Ilya Yashin, a brave politician who followed Mr Navalny to prison, or Vladimir Kara-Murza, a historian, journalist and politician who has been sentenced to 25 years on treason charges for speaking against the war. The lawyers and activists who continue to defend these dissidents are also in danger. Since Mr Putins return to the presidency in 2012, the number of prisoners has increased 15 times. Even as the remnants of Stalins gulag fill with political prisoners, professional criminals are being recruited and released to fight in Ukraine.

Mr Navalnys death also casts a shadow over ordinary Russians. In Moscow and across Russia, people flooded the streets at the news. Before the police started to arrest them, they covered memorials for previous victims of political repression in flowers. Yet that repression is intensifying. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, 1,305 men and women have been prosecuted for speaking out against it. A wave of repression is also swallowing up people who have never before engaged in politics. The president will shoot into the crowds if he must.

For the West, Mr Navalnys death contains a call to action. Mr Putin considers its leaders too weak and too decadent to resist him. And for many years Western politicians and businessmen did much to prove that fear and greed work in the West, too. When Mr Putin first bombed and shelled Chechnya in the early 2000s, Western politicians turned a blind eye and continued to do business with his cronies. When he murdered his opponents in Moscow and annexed Crimea in 2014, they slapped his wrist. Even after he had invaded Ukraine in 2022, they hesitated to provide enough weapons for Russia to be defeated. Every time the West stepped back, Mr Putin took a step forward. Every time Western politicians expressed their grave concern, he smirked.

The West needs to find the strength and courage that Mr Navalny showed. It should be understood that Mr Navalnys murder, the soaring number of political prisoners, the torture and beating of people across Russia, the assassination of Mr Putins opponents in Europe and the shelling of Ukrainian cities are all part of the same war. Without resolve, the Wests military and economic superiority will count for nothing.

Western governments should start by treating people like Mr Kara-Murza as prisoners of Mr Putins war who need to be exchanged with Russian prisoners in the West or prisoners of war in Ukraine. They should not stigmatise ordinary Russians living under a paranoid dictator and his goons, or put the onus on ordinary people to overthrow the dictator who is repressing them.

The best retort to Mr Putin is to arm Ukraine. Every time Americas Congress votes down aid, Russia takes comfort. The leaders assembled at the Munich Security Conference, who heard Mr Navalnys wife, Yulia, speak of justice for her husbands death, need to stiffen their resolve to see through the war. For their part, Ukrainian politicians must see that standing up for Russian activists and prisoners is also a way of helping their own countryjust as Mr Navalny called for peace, rebuilding Ukraine and prosecution of Russian war crimes. Liberating Ukraine would be the best way to liberate Russia, too.

The voyage ends

After he had been poisoned, Mr Navalny returned home because he believed that history was on his side and that Russia was freeing itself from the deadly grip of its own imperial past. Putin is the last chord of the USSR, he told The Economist a few months before he took that last fateful journey. People in the Kremlin know there is a historic current that is moving against them. Mr Putin invaded Ukraine to reverse the current. Now he has killed Mr Navalny.

Mr Navalny would not want Mr Putins message to prevail. [If I get killed] the obvious thing is: dont give up, he once told American filmmakers. All it takes for evil to triumph is the inaction of good people. Theres no need for inaction.

Mr Navalnys death has seemed imminent for months. And yet there is something crushing about it. He was not alone in believing that good triumphs over evil, and that heroes vanquish villains. His courage was an inspiration. To see that moral order so brutally overturned is a terrible affront.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Exploited Amazon workers in Saudi Arabia received more than $1 million in reimbursements after a third-party licensed labor agency violated the e-commerce giant's Supply Chain Standards.

This was confirmed by the American retailer on Friday, Feb. 23, saying that Abdullah Fahad Al-Mutairi Co. (AFMCO)-a third-party vendor in KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)-required unfair recruitment fees from applicants.

Amazon said that AFMCO implemented these recruitment fees and other job application costs so that applicants in Saudi Arabia can secure their preferred jobs.

Exploited Amazon Workers in Saudi Arabia Receive Reimbursements

The Guardian reported that Amazon's reimbursement announcement came after a joint media investigation was conducted to expose unfair recruitment practices.

The investigation revealed that more than 50 workers from Nepal were asked to pay stiff recruitment fees, which range from $830 to $2,300, just for them to secure jobs at Amazon warehouses in Saudi Arabia.

Aside from these illegal recruitment fees, Nepali workers who were interviewed also shared that they were misled by the recruiters. Initially, they were promised that Amazon would directly hire them.

But, they ended up working for Saudi labor supply companies instead. They were even placed in short-term contract jobs, which led to their salaries getting siphoned.

To make matters worse, these exploited Amazon workers were required to place thousands of dollars in exit fees just for them to be allowed into their home country.

Because of these revelations, Amazon confirmed that it is giving affected workers $1.9 million in reimbursements.

"As a result of this work, Amazon paid $1.9 million (USD) in reimbursements to over 700 contracted workers," said Amazon via its official press release.

"While we require our vendors to bear the cost of worker-paid recruitment fees, in this case, Amazon provided the reimbursement to expedite repayment to workers impacted," added the American e-commerce giant.

Read Also: Amazon Shares How It's Helping Japan Earthquake Victims; Over 30,000 Relief Items Shipped

Amazon's Preventive Efforts

Amazon said that it is making efforts to ensure contractor workers' safety and prevent recruitment risks by insisting third-party vendors uphold its Supply Chain Standards. The retailer's efforts include the following:

Allowing contracted workers to share concerns directly with Amazon's management by establishing an effective communication mechanism.

Launching training programs for vendors in KSA so they'll know how to implement Amazon's Supply Chain Standards and how to maintain responsible recruitment practices.

Amazon reviews third-party vendors' wage policies.

The retailer enhanced its contracts with third-party vendors to clarify expectations regarding compliance with its Supply Chain Standards.

Related Article: Amazon Layoffs: Several Hundreds of Workers To Be Removed in 3rd Round of Cuts
The former chief of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Wayne LaPierre, has been ordered to pay $4.3 million over his alleged misuse of agency funds.

The jury handling the lawsuit that was brought by the New York Attorney General's Office found Friday that LaPierre mismanaged the agency's charitable funds. The incident included the diversion of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts, and other questionable expenditures.

Jury Orders LaPierre to Pay NRA $4.3 Million

In the jury's verdict, it found that the former NRA chief is required to pay the gun rights group $4.3 million in damages for mismanagement and misspending charitable funds. It also found that LaPierre violated his fiduciary duties from 2014 to 2022 when he was at the helm of the NRA.

The panel noted that he was responsible for causing $5.4 million in damages to the gun rights group by violating his statutory duties. However, he was able to prove that he had already repaid a little over $1 million to the charity, as per CNN.

Furthermore, the jury found that the NRA improperly entered into some deals that benefited its insiders, including the agency's top executives and board members. It said that this was done without proper board approval or ratification.

The improper self-dealing allegedly included a post-employment consulting contract with the NRA's former CFO, Wilson Phillips as well as hair and makeup expenses for LaPierre's wife. The jury found that the gun rights group filed false and misleading statements in its annual reports.

On top of the mismanagement of funds, the jury also found that the NRA violated whistleblower protection laws by failing to have an appropriate whistleblower policy in place. The agency also failed to investigate whistleblower complaints or retaliate against eight whistleblowers who came forward with concerns.

Read Also: Mariposa County, Manhattan DA Battles Over Extradition of Murder Suspect

Five Days of Deliberations

The jury's verdict came after five days of deliberation and as it was read, LaPierre simply stared forward with his hands clasped in his lap. He was sitting in the first row of the gallery during the reading of the verdict, according to ABC News.

The New York Attorney General's Office first filed the lawsuit against the NRA and its top executives in 2020. The accusations against the gun rights group and its senior management came at the end of a three-year investigation into the NRA, which is registered in New York as a non-profit charitable corporation.

The jurors in the case, who started their deliberations on Feb. 16, were asked to weigh transactions like hair and makeup for LaPierre's wife, payments or speaking fees to board members, and contracts with favored vendors who were willing to pay kickbacks.

The jury's verdict is the latest blow to the gun rights group, which has been beset by financial issues in the past few years as well as dwindling membership. The order for LaPierre to pay for damages comes after he announced his resignation as the NRA chief on the eve of the trial.

The penalties that the jury decided to have LaPierre and Phillips pay will go back to the gun rights group. The NRA has been portrayed as both a defendant that lacked internal controls and a victim of that same misconduct, said the Associated Press.



Related Article: US Man Makes $1.8M by Eavesdropping on Wife's Work Calls
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that he is supporting Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance, ending long-running tensions over whether or not his country would approve the Nordic nation's accession.

The remarks were made after a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson that was held in Budapest on Friday. He noted that his country's Parliament would meet on Monday to move forward on ratifying Stockholm into the military alliance. This would pave the way for Sweden to finally become a NATO member.

Viktor Orban Approves Sweden's NATO Bid

The agreement that was reached on Friday also includes improved defense cooperation between the two countries. Orban's office also announced a plan to purchase four Gripen fighter-bomber aircraft that are manufactured in Sweden. Furthermore, there will be an extended contract for logistical services and training related to the aircraft.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Orban said that they were opening a new phase of cooperation between Hungary and Sweden. During a Friday press conference, Kristersson said that his country was prepared to strengthen defense cooperation with Budapest and expressed his gratitude to Orban for the meeting and the agreements, as per The Hill.

Orban said that Hungary did not change its mind on Sweden's NATO bid but had sought to rebuild trust with the Nordic nation. The Hungarian prime minister said that being a member of a military alliance together with another nation means that they are ready to die for each other.

He also insisted that the inclusion of Sweden into NATO was "not a business deal." Stockholm first applied to become a member of the military alliance along with Finland in Spring 2022, which came shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While Helsinki's efforts were ratified more quickly, Stockholm has faced opposition from Turkey and Hungary.

Hungary's decision to approve Sweden's bid comes after Turkey was the first to move forward with the situation last month after securing a commitment from the U.S. to provide Ankara with F-16 fighter jets.

Read Also: Netanyahu Releases Post-War Plans for Gaza But Still Says No on Two-State Solution

New Military Agreement

Budapest had stalled Sweden's NATO bid for nearly two years, which puzzled and exasperated the U.S. and other members of the military alliance. Orban and other Hungarian officials have given differing reasons for the blocking of Stockholm's NATO membership, according to the New York Times.

Orban spent many months complaining that Sweden did not show sufficient respect for his country. But on Friday, the Hungarian prime minister praised it as a trusted partner. He noted that it had taken many Hungarian refugees after Soviet troops crushed an anti-communist uprising in Budapest in 1956.

The Swedish-made Gripen warplanes, which are provided under a lease agreement, form the backbone of the Hungarian Air Force. Media outlets reported in the past few days that the prime minister was pushing for a better deal on the aircraft as part of his negotiations over Sweden's NATO membership.

Orban is considered to be the European Union leader who is closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He initially indicated that he had not opposed Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance but later made efforts to delay ratification. A Hungarian Member of the European Parliament said that this was simply another favor to Putin, said CNN.



Related Article: Biden Administration Struggling to Contain Houthi Attacks, According to Report
Ukraine's Western partners have recently failed to make a decision to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles. However, the issue here is not only in political discourse but also in technical terms as the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have launchers for such weapons.

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This was stated by Ivan Tymochko, a serviceman and chairman of the Council of Reservists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He also emphasized that Sweden has expressed its readiness to provide Ukraine with Gripen aircraft.

"Of course, we need everything faster. However, those Taurus missiles need to be launched from something. Unfortunately, these missiles cannot be adapted to the launchers that are available in Ukraine," he admitted.

The military added that Gripen is one of those aircraft that have launchers specially equipped for such missiles. So, according to him, behind the screen of the so-called political game for the public, negotiations and agreements that are taking place are actually purely technical.

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"This requires training of aircrews for the aircraft and those who will be working with the missiles. We need to build logistics routes and adapt our airfields. There is a lot of work that goes on behind all these discussions," Tymochko added.

Taurus is a family of German-Swedish long-range air-to-surface cruise missiles. The missile is designed for high-precision strikes and destruction of highly protected and buried targets, including important point and long objects without the carrier aircraft entering the enemy air defense zone.

On February 22, the Bundestag did not support the proposal to expand assistance to Ukraine and provide Taurus missiles. During the consideration of this issue, the German government did not have enough votes as only 182 MPs voted in favor, 480 voted against, and five abstained.

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At the same time, on the same day, the Bundestag supported the resolution of the ruling party factions to provide the Ukrainian army with Taurus missiles. Thus, the final decision on these missiles for Ukraine remains with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Former United States President Donald Trump's defense team used phone data subpoenaed from AT&T to claim that there were inaccuracies in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' timeline of her alleged affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

The claims are the latest development in efforts to prosecute the Republican businessman over his alleged election interference in 2020. While Willis hired Wade to be the lead prosecutor, the latter is accused of having an affair with the district attorney at the time that he was married.

Contradicting Fani Willis' Timeline of Events

The supposed phone data suggest that Wade occasionally arrived late at night at the DA's home and stayed there until the early mornings. The visits occurred roughly three dozen times between Apr. 1, 2021, and Nov. 30, 2021.

A spokesman for the Fulton County district attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comments regarding the development on Friday. On Friday, Trump attorneys Steve Sadow and Jennifer Little filed an eight-page affidavit in Fulton County Superior Court, as per the Daily Beast.

The filing allegedly reveals "a minimum of 35 occasions" during those months when Wade's mobile phone was connected to the cell towers nearest Willis' condo in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville for an extended period.

Criminal defense investigator Charles Mittelstadt described in the filing that the figures were "conservative" as he explained that he highlighted the times when the lead prosecutor's phone was "stationary and not in transit."

The filing did not include the raw data that Mittelstadt used for his analysis and his conclusions could not be independently verified. Now, Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will decide whether or not to admit the phone data analysis into evidence.

During a hearing that was held earlier this month, both Wade and Willis testified that their affair did not start until early 2022, which was after Wade's appointment as lead prosecutor in the Trump Georgia election interference case, according to BBC.

Read Also: Mariposa County, Manhattan DA Battles Over Extradition of Murder Suspect

Dozens of Meetings

However, Mittelstadt also argued that the two exchanged more than 2,000 calls and nearly 12,000 phone interactions. These include voice calls and text messages that were allegedly made over the course of 11 months in 2021, which contradicts the district attorney's alleged timeline of events.

In one instance, Mittelstadt said that Wade's phone allegedly pinged around Willis' condo at 10:45 p.m. in September 2021 and remained there until about 3:30 a.m. The investigator also said that phone records showed that Wade's device sent a text at 4:20 a.m. that same day after he apparently got back to the area of his own home.

Despite the allegations, it was no surprise that Wade and Willis were in contact in 2021, as they are longtime friends. After Willis was appointed district attorney in 2020, she appointed Wade to a hiring committee to screen applicants for jobs in the DA's office.

Furthermore, she consulted with Wade on a number of issues, including strategic questions about big cases after taking office in January 2021. The lead prosecutor's advisory role extended into the period that was covered by the cellphone data that was shown by Trump's team.

Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes recalled that Willis and a team, which included Wade, met with him in October 2021. They had asked if he wanted to take the job that the district attorney eventually gave to Wade, said the New York Times.



Related Article: Former NRA Chief Wayne LaPierre Ordered To Pay $4.3 Million for Misusing Agency Funds
In a significant move amidst growing tensions over reproductive rights, former President Donald Trump has declared his firm support for the accessibility of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), following a controversial ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court.

Trump's stance underscores a divisive issue that has ignited a debate within the Republican Party, with implications stretching into the 2024 presidential election.

Trump Advocates for IVF Access

The Alabama Supreme Court's recent decision, deeming frozen embryos as children under state law, has prompted various IVF providers in the state, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham health system, to suspend IVF services.

This ruling has not only reignited discussions on reproductive rights but has also exposed deepening divisions within conservative circles.

In response to these developments, Trump took to his Truth Social network, affirming his commitment to supporting American families in a post.

"Under my leadership, the Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving, healthy American families," he stated. "We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder!"

Emphasizing the need to ease the process of starting families, he voiced strong backing for IVF accessibility, urging lawmakers in Alabama to swiftly address the issue and to "act quickly to find an immediate solution"

Trump's remarks align with broader sentiments among Republicans, including his primary rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Both have distanced themselves from the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling, advocating for a reconsideration of the law to preserve IVF access.

However, the fallout from the Alabama decision has exposed the complexities of navigating reproductive rights within the GOP, especially amidst the broader backdrop of the US Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

Read Also: Major Alabama Health System Puts IVF Treatments on Hold After Supreme Court Rules Frozen Embryos Are Children

Impact of Trump's Past Supreme Court Picks on Abortion Rights, IVF Access

Just last month, during a Republican debate at Iowa, Trump bragged about his role in overturning the constitutional right to abortion as "a miracle."

Trump, during his tenure as president, appointed three justices to the Supreme Court, whose decisions contributed to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This pivotal move opened the door for state legislators nationwide to enact stringent limitations on abortion access.

While some Republicans have emphasized their support for IVF, others have grappled with reconciling their anti-abortion stance with the need to maintain access to fertility treatments.

This internal struggle is evident in the reactions of Republican figures like Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who initially expressed support for IVF but later appeared uncertain about its implications.

Meanwhile, Democrats have seized upon the Alabama ruling to underscore their broader criticisms of Republican reproductive policies.

President Joe Biden's campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, directly linked the loss of IVF access to Trump's judicial appointments and his administration's efforts to curtail reproductive rights.

"Alabama families losing access to IVF is a direct result of Donald Trump's Supreme Court justices overturning Roe v. Wade," Rodriguez said in a statement Friday. "Trump cannot run from his record and neither can the millions of women who his actions have hurt."

As the debate over IVF access unfolds, Republican lawmakers find themselves at a crossroads, balancing their ideological commitments with the practical implications of restrictive reproductive policies.

With the 2024 presidential election looming, the GOP's response to the Alabama ruling is likely to shape its electoral fortunes, as it seeks to navigate a politically charged landscape fraught with competing interests and values.

Related Article: Alabama IVF Ruling: Republicans Scramble To Respond Following Restriction of Access to Fertility Treatments
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proudly discussed Russia's new doomsday weapon "triad" - Moscow's advanced strategic land, sea, and air nuclear capabilities.

It comes shortly after his close associate, Alexander Lukashenko, raised concerns about the possibility of World War 3. The President of Belarus warned that the world is on the brink of a global conflict, citing the escalating tensions between Russia and the West.

Russia Doomsday Weapon 'Triad'

According to Russian media, Moscow views Western influences in Ukraine as a threat to its survival. According to the state-owned news agency TASS, Kyiv has been identified as posing an international threat to Russia's existence. Putin recently co-piloted a new nuclear-capable supersonic strategic bomber from the Russian military and proudly highlighted the country's advanced nuclear capabilities.

Putin's recent 30-minute flight aboard a Tu-160M served as a powerful demonstration of Russia's nuclear capabilities. Today, he reiterated his statement by asserting that 95 percent of Russia's strategic nuclear forces had been modernized.

Putin's most recent remarks were included in a statement that was issued to align with Russia's yearly Defender of the Fatherland Day, a celebration of the military. During the speech, he lauded Russian soldiers and asserted they were fighting for "truth and justice" in Ukraine, but the majority of his focus was on the accomplishments of the Kremlin's military-industrial complex.

Read Also: SkyRanger R70: Canada To Send Over 800 Drones to Ukraine for Defense Against Ongoing War With Russia

Putin Witnesses Tu-160M Supersonic Bomber

He emphasized that Russia's nuclear triad, which includes strategic land, sea, and air capabilities, is continuously being modernized, as reported by The Independent. He recently witnessed the capabilities of Russia's new Tu-160M supersonic strategic bomber. Dressed in a flight suit, Putin commended the new aircraft as "excellent," pointing out significant improvements from the initial version.

Putin toured an aircraft-making plant in the Volga River city of Kazan that has been producing heavy bombers since the Soviet era. The plant has been tasked with producing an updated version of the Tu-160 bomber, which originally took flight in the 1980s and was given the code name Blackjack by NATO.

This Friday, the United States will announce new sanctions on Moscow in response to the recent death of Putin's opponent Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison. The body has not been returned to his family yet. The UN Security Council will convene on Friday to mark two years of the conflict that has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives.

In Ukraine, foreign dignitaries have started arriving to commemorate the anniversary of the attack by Moscow, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians and military personnel. The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, visited the western city of Lviv on Friday, as stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

US senator Chuck Schumer has also made his way to the city near the Polish border. The individual shared on social media his desire to demonstrate support for the Ukrainian people and to understand the essential weaponry required by Ukraine. Despite facing recent challenges, Zelensky has continued to show determination.

Kyiv has gained confidence from ongoing victories on the Black Sea, claiming to have eliminated a third - 25 vessels - of Russia's Black Sea fleet. However, the land campaign has come to a halt, and Moscow is now looking to capitalize on its advantage and advance deeper into Ukraine after taking control of Avdiivka.

On Friday, Kyiv issued a warning about the increasing attacks near the new focal point of Maryinka, a town located west of the Moscow-controlled stronghold of Donetsk city.

Ukrainian soldiers, however, stood resolute. Ukrainian soldier Oleksiy, stationed at the fallback lines outside Avdiivka, mentioned that despite the impact on morale caused by the fall of the industrial hub, the troops remained prepared to continue fighting, as per Daily Mail.

Related Article: Putin Vows to Escalate War With Ukraine After Capturing Avdiivka, Slams Kyiv's Fight
North Korea has provided more than 10,000 containers of munitions or munition-related materials to Russia since September. This is part of Moscow's efforts to restock its weapons inventory for potential use in Ukraine.

In order to prove responsibility for Russia's ongoing conflict against Ukraine and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the department brought attention to the arms transactions simultaneously with the Treasury Department, as per to The Korea Times.

UN Scrutinizes North Korea-Russia Transactions

Some transactions between North Korea and Russia are under scrutiny for possibly breaching several UN Security Council resolutions, including those that were supported by Moscow as a permanent council member. According to reports, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has allegedly sent more than 10,000 containers of munitions or related materials to Russia since September 2023, as revealed by an undisclosed source.

In October, the White House said that North Korea sent over 1,000 military equipment and ammunition packages. The current penalties designate two more North Korean-Russian weapons transfer companies. A Russian company manages Vostochny Port terminal and a naval station near Vladivostok.

North Korea allegedly supplied Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles, some of which were used against Ukraine on certain days in December and January, according to the White House. North Korea's military help to Russia may extend the Ukraine trouble, while Moscow's response may threaten Korean Peninsula security.

Meanwhile, in a significant move, the Treasury and State Departments have announced sanctions on over 500 individuals and entities, aiming to impose additional costs on Russia for its repression, human rights abuses, and aggression against Ukraine. This marks the largest number of such sanctions since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to The Korea Herald.

Read Also: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Announces Support for Sweden's NATO Bid

US Imposes Sweeping Sanctions on Russia

The Bureau of Industry and Security under the Commerce Department has restricted exports from 93 companies, including South Korean Daesung International Trading. President Biden imposed over 500 additional sanctions on Russia, targeting persons associated to Alexei Navalny's detention and Russia's financial, defense, and procurement networks.

As part of this extensive sanctions package, the State Department has designated two additional entities involved in the transfer of munitions from North Korea to Russia. One entity is a Russian firm managing a terminal at Vostochny Port, while the other is the Dunay Naval Missile Facility, a Russian naval base and port facility implicated in the munitions transfer.

The Treasury Department underlines that the sanctions aim to deprive Russia of war-sustaining resources. Financial infrastructure, banks, investment enterprises, and financial technology companies in Russia are targeted. Three Russian officials are also sanctioned by the State Department over Navalny's killing.

Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary, promoted the effect of these actions on Russia's economy and military-industrial base. She said these measures, along with global initiatives, have diminished Russia's standing. Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, restated the US dedication to utilizing all possible resources to block Russia's war efforts and bolster Ukraine's defense, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Related Article: Russia Allegedly Uses North Korean Missile Against Ukraine, Contained US, European Components
Israel has released its initial post-conflict strategy for the Gaza Strip, which includes the removal of Hamas, opposition to unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, and the closure of the UN Palestinian refugees agency UNRWA.

The Prime Minister stated that Israel intends to maintain security control over all Palestinian territories and link the reconstruction of Gaza to its demilitarization.

Netanyahu's Gaza Plan Condemned

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed post-war plan for Gaza has sparked strong condemnation from the Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry. In a scathing statement released on Friday, the ministry rejected the plan, characterizing it as "an official reoccupation of the Gaza Strip and the imposition of Israeli control over it."

Netanyahu presented the plan to the security cabinet, where potential amendments could be demanded. The document suggests Israel maintaining security control over all land west of the Jordan River, including the occupied West Bank and Gaza, areas crucial for the Palestinians' aspirations for an independent state.

In the long-term goals presented, Netanyahu rejects the concept of "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state and emphasizes the value of reaching an agreement through direct negotiations between the parties involved.

For Gaza, the proposal envisions demilitarization and deradicalization as medium-term goals, conditioning the rehabilitation of the war-torn area on its complete demilitarization. Netanyahu suggests an Israeli presence on the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent smuggling attempts, collaborating with Egypt and the United States in the process.

The plan also calls for replacing Hamas rule in Gaza with local representatives not affiliated with terrorist entities. Additionally, Netanyahu proposes the discontinuation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and its replacement with other international aid groups, as per to Daily Mail.

Read Also: Houthi Rebels Declare Naval Ban on Israel, US, UK Vessels Amid Escalating Conflict

Palestinian Authority Accuses Israel

A statement from the Prime Minister's office claims that the document reflects a broad public consensus on the goals of the war and the desire to replace Hamas rule in Gaza with a civilian alternative. The document has been distributed to security cabinet members for discussion.

The Palestinian Authority contends that Israel is using a strategic tactic that builds on American and international initiatives, connecting the outcome of the war and the freedom of hostages and prisoners to the resolution of the wider Palestinian-Israeli conflict..

The PA urges the United States and other Western countries to take decisive action, including recognizing Palestine as an independent state, facilitating its UN membership, and convening an international peace conference. These actions, the PA contends, are crucial for ending the occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination freely and with dignity.

The continuing conflict, which Hamas initiated with an offensive on southern Israel on October 7, has led to differing estimates from both sides regarding the number of people killed. The fighting has resulted in considerable deaths and displacement. Netanyahu's strategy following the conflict introduces a fresh element to the already intricate and difficult circumstances in the area, escalating tensions among the parties involved, according to Newsable Asianet News.

Related Article: US, EU Impose More Sanctions on Russia Marking 2 Year Anniversary of the Invasion of Ukraine
Iran rejected on Friday any claims of providing ballistic missiles to Russia, following the United States' warning of a strong international reaction to such actions.

This week, Iran was said to have given Russia a large number of potent surface-to-surface ballistic weapons, strengthening the military alliance between the two sanctioned countries by the United States, according to Reuters.

No Missile Sales in Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Iran's mission to the United Nations declared that, despite the absence of legal constraints on ballistic missile sales, the country feels a moral obligation to refrain from engaging in weapon transactions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The mission emphasized that this commitment is grounded in Iran's steadfast adherence to international law and the principles outlined in the UN Charter.

The situation regarding Iran's missile-related decisions is linked to the expiration of UN Security Council restrictions on the export of specific missiles, drones, and associated technologies in October. However, the United States and the European Union continued to impose sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile program due to worries about the potential transfer of weapons to regional proxies and Russia.

While initially denying the provision of drones to Russia, Iran later acknowledged supplying a limited number before Russia initiated its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Despite the absence of prevailing international restrictions on ballistic missile sales, Tehran justifies its decision to abstain from weapon transactions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict on moral grounds, aiming to avoid contributing to the prolongation of the war, as per to Voice of America.

Read Also: Houthi Rebels Declare Naval Ban on Israel, US, UK Vessels Amid Escalating Conflict

Iran's Alleged Transfers of Ballistic Missiles to Russia

During this, reports spread about Iran transferring ballistic missiles to Russia. On February 21, Reuters said Iran has given Russia 400 Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missiles, including Zolfaghar missiles with a 700-kilometer range. The missile deliveries allegedly began in early January 2024. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine voiced skepticism, saying the material was under verification and that special services sources doubted Iran would deliver missiles to Russia.

The United States also weighed in on the matter, with White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby stating that they could not confirm the reports about Iran transferring ballistic missiles to Russia. Additionally, an American official highlighted prior warnings from Washington regarding Russia's attempts to acquire ballistic missiles from Iran in exchange for increased military cooperation with Tehran.

Reports of Russia seeking Iranian ballistic missiles have circulated for some time, with media outlets disclosing negotiations between the two countries in the preceding year. The discussions gained attention amid the active supply of Iranian Shahed drones to Russian forces.

Earlier in January, the Wall Street Journal reported on progressing negotiations between Russia and Iran regarding long-range missiles, speculating that deliveries could commence as early as spring. For further insights, readers can refer to the detailed article by RBC-Ukraine, according to RBC Ukraine.

Related Article: Netanyahu Releases Post-War Plans for Gaza But Still Says No on Two-State Solution
A group of teenagers reportedly broke into a luxury car dealership in Wisconsin and made off with nine vehicles valued at over half a million dollars, according to police.

The robbery that took place at a Jaguar-Land Rover dealership in Waukesha on Sunday was recorded on surveillance camera footage. The footage revealed nine masked individuals entering the dealership and driving off with cars. Waukesha is located about 19 miles west of Milwaukee.

$583,000 in Vehicles Stolen by Chicago Teens

In Waukesha, Wisconsin, a group of nine individuals broke into a luxury auto dealership and stole nine expensive cars worth more than $583,000. An organized break-in, caught on surveillance camera, displayed the intruders raising a garage door, taking car keys kept inside, and then escaping with stolen vehicles from well-known brands like Land Rover, Jaguar, and Porsche.

Waukesha Police Capt. Dan Baumann revealed that the suspects, believed to be in their teenage years, initiated their criminal endeavor at approximately 6 a.m. on a Sunday. Operating with precision, the group located the hidden storage of car keys and utilized key fobs to identify and steal the targeted vehicles. A video of the incident also depicted one of the stolen cars forcefully smashing through an overhead service door.

Following the heist, authorities received a critical tip from a vigilant observer who reported a group of masked teens fueling up the stolen luxury vehicles at a local gas station. This information prompted law enforcement to initiate a pursuit that spanned multiple counties and eventually led to the apprehension of a 17-year-old suspect in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

The arrested individual, a Chicago resident, faces charges of burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property, with a bond set at $50,000, as per NBC Washington.

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Teen Suspect Captured in Luxury Car Heist

During the pursuit, officers managed to disable at least one tire on a Range Rover, leading to a collision with an unrelated vehicle. The captured teen now confronts several felony charges, potentially resulting in a substantial prison term if found guilty.

Remarkably, eight other suspects from the initial group evaded capture, and law enforcement has not disclosed whether they possess leads on their whereabouts. Authorities have successfully recovered six of the stolen vehicles, some of which were located in Chicago, the hometown of the arrested 17-year-old.

Waukesha Police Capt. Dan Baumann emphasized the deliberate nature of the crime, dismissing the notion that it was a spontaneous act by a group of teenagers seeking thrills. He asserted that the criminals had broken into the dealership with a specific plan, aiming to profit from their illicit activities, and underscored the gravity of their actions in an interview with CBS News.

"This is an intentional act where you broke into a business with eight of your buddies thinking you're fun and going to make a couple of bucks trying to sell this in the Chicago area, and Waukesha police say no," stated Capt. Baumann. "Because that's not something that normally happens," according to Carscop.

Related Article: James Webb Space Telescope Finds Traces of Neutron Star at Center of Supernova Debris
Ukraine said that it has shot down a Russian A-50 military spy plane - the second occurrence of its kind in slightly over a month. According to Ukrainian military sources, the plane was struck between the Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, approximately 200km (124 miles) from the front line.

Emergency services found plane fragments in Kanevskoy district and successfully extinguished a large fire. Russia has not provided any comments regarding the claim. It has been two years since Russia initiated a full-scale invasion on Saturday, as per BBC News.

Ukraine Shoots Down Key A-50 Russian Spy Plane

A four-engine radar plane, the A-50, has crashed about 120 miles from the front line in southern Ukraine, causing serious harm to the Russian air force. The reason behind the crash is still unclear, with potential causes including a mechanical issue or damage sustained while operating near the front and trying to return to its base in Krasnodar before exploding.

The Ukrainian air force has laid claim to shooting down the A-50, supported by the intelligence directorate in Kyiv. This incident marks another significant setback for the Russian air force, which has lost nine of its top planes, predominantly to Ukrainian long-range surface-to-air missiles, including American-made Patriot PAC-2s, in just a month.

The A-50s have played pivotal roles in Russia's extended conflict with Ukraine, aiding in the detection of incoming missile raids and relaying critical radio signals from frontline forces to distant headquarters. The loss of two A-50s in quick succession has not only diminished the Russian air force's capabilities but also highlighted the vulnerability of their operations, according to Forbes.

Read Also: US To Impose Sanctions on Over 500 Targets Involved in Russia's War With Ukraine

Ukraine's Patriot Batteries Challenge Russian Air

Initially deployed cautiously to minimize risk, the A-50s faced increased danger as the Russians ventured closer to the front line over time. The deployment of Patriot batteries by Ukraine, obtained from Germany and the United States, proved effective in countering the A-50s, dealing a blow to Russian air superiority in the region.

The ramifications of these losses extend beyond the airframes, impacting the availability of experienced pilots crucial for executing key missions. Russian efforts to replace the destroyed A-50 are underway, but the significant cost and time required pose substantial challenges.

Ukraine has taken financing for a few Russian aircraft being shot down recently, raising worries about the decreasing supply of Patriot missiles. Struggling due to Russia-aligned Republicans impeding US aid, Ukraine is dealing with a crucial shortage of resources to maintain its defense against Russian air attacks.

Amid the tragedy, videos of the A-50 crash circulated on social media, depicting a large explosion and flames at the crash site. Russian officials are yet to comment on the incident, while Kyiv continues to assert its role in downing Russian planes, including the recent destruction of a Su-34 fighter bomber. The ongoing hostilities highlight the escalating tensions and the strategic challenges faced by both sides in this prolonged conflict, Newsweek reported.

Related Article: Russia Allegedly Uses North Korean Missile Against Ukraine, Contained US, European Components
A US appeals court panel on Friday refused to postpone one of the country's longest-serving death row convicts' scheduled execution in Idaho for next week.

Following the 1983 murder of David Jensen, another prisoner, by battery-filled sock, Thomas Creech received a death sentence. At 73 years old, Creech had been found guilty of four murders and was already serving a life sentence when he took Jensen's life.

Petition to Delay Execution

John Creech, a well-known citizen of Ohio, has been involved in a legal battle for more than 50 years. His counsel have asked the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals to postpone Creech's planned execution. Creech, who is suspected of multiple killings dating back to 1974, is under intense scrutiny regarding the methods of his conviction and subsequent death sentence.

John Creech's counsel petitioned the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals to delay his lethal injection, continuing his 50-year legal case. Creech, accused of many murders since 1974, is under heavy investigation for his conviction and death sentence.

Judge Jay Bybee conveyed skepticism, asserting that the defense's lack of substantial evidence makes the appeal seem like a delay tactic. The Idaho attorney general's office concurred, contending that Creech's legal team had kept the claim in reserve, only raising it at the eleventh hour to stall the impending execution.

Apart from the plea regarding the sentencing method, Creech's legal team has filed three other challenges in recent weeks. These include concerns over the adequacy of his clemency hearing, questions about the source of the execution drug, and an appeal to the US Supreme Court, as per Fox News.

Read Also: US Intelligence Cannot Verify Link Between UNRWA and Hamas

Accusations Across States

Creech is accused with killings in various states. After being acquitted in 1974 for stabbing retiree Paul Shrader in Arizona, Creech was accused in Oregon and Idaho of shooting and partially burying two traveling housepainters.

During police interrogations, Creech made extravagant claims of involvement in 42 killings, some in satanic rituals and others as contract killings for motorcycle gangs. While authorities were unable to substantiate most of these assertions, they did connect him to nine killings in Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, and California.

During Creech's clemency hearing, the state presented unverified information about an additional killing in California in 1974, adding a new twist to the case. Even without concrete proof, this new information has further complicated an already legally complex case.

As the case continues, the 9th Circuit rejects the claim that judge-sentenced executions are declining nationwide. The panel noted that Creech failed to demonstrate a significant public opinion shift and urged raising the issue earlier in the judicial procedure. In the closing days before execution, legal maneuvers and appeals hang over Creech's future, according to US News.

Related Article: Student Found Dead on UGA Campus; Classes Canceled as Police Investigations Continue
Elon Musk has been refusing to do business with Taiwan for years. However, a group of politicians in the United States is now urging him to end his boycott and allow American defense forces to use SpaceX's Starshield military-specific satellite communications network nationwide.

Demand for Starshield Access

In a letter sent to Musk and acquired by Forbes, Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher reminded SpaceX of its contractual commitment to give the US Department of Defense "global access" to its satellite internet services. He said Starshield, a program that harnesses communications and observational pictures from low-Earth orbit satellites, would get tens of millions of dollars from the Pentagon in the next year.

In order to protect American interests in the Indo-Pacific region, it is critical to have a strong communication network for US military personnel on and around Taiwan, according to Gallagher. He also warned that American service members in the Western Pacific would be in grave danger if China attacked Taiwan.

Musk is requested in the letter to inform the Select Committee of the availability of Starshield in the Taiwan area by March 8.

Also Read: Ukraine Refuses Elon Musk's Claim as Military Spy Chief Explains Why Russia Can Use Thousands of Starlink Terminals

Dilemma for Musk

This is sure to be an uncomfortable request for Musk. In addition to his personal connections to China--the site of Tesla's main factory--he has openly intervened in the diplomatic crisis between China and self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

In 2022, Musk proposed giving partial authority over Taiwan to China to ease tensions between the two nations, according to Forbes.

Another unsettling aspect of the letter is the emphasis it places on the military and other agencies' dependence on SpaceX's satellites.

The firm is the leading global satellite communications provider, deploying over 5,000 satellites since 2019. Obtaining internet connectivity in countries devastated by war, natural catastrophes, or extreme poverty may be daunting.

For instance, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine entering its second year, the service has proved vital to the Ukrainian military fighting the attack.

However, issues arise in this area as well. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russians are also using Starlink satellite internet terminals, which erodes a significant tactical edge. Reportedly, Musk has strongly disputed that Russia was offered Starlink service.

Also Read: SpaceX, Led by Elon Musk, Penalized Following Worker's 'Near-Amputation' Incident, Official Documents Reveal
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukraine has inflicted a strategic defeat on the aggressor country Russia in the Black Sea. This forced the Russian Black Sea Fleet to relocate its main units to the eastern part of the water area.

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It also allowed Ukraine to protect its sea trade routes. This was reported by the UK military intelligence on the social network X.

At the beginning of the war, the Russian Black Sea Fleet maintained freedom of maneuver throughout the Black Sea. In particular, the enemy was free to move its ships in the northwestern part of the sea.

The situation changed after Ukraine succeeded in using asymmetric alternatives to the lack of a traditional fleet. Ukrainian forces began to strike the enemy fleet with guided missiles and surface drones.

At this stage, such actions forced the Russian Black Sea Fleet units to relocate their main combat areas to the eastern part of the Black Sea. At the same time, the occupiers' defensive position at sea is currently not working as intended.

British intelligence emphasized that at the strategic level, Ukraine's approach deprived Russia of the ability to attack sea trade routes. This, in turn, led to an increase in exports, bringing them to pre-war levels.

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As a reminder, during Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the Defense Forces put about a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet out of action. Twenty-four ships and one submarine were sunk or severely damaged.

Earlier it was reported that among the latest losses of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is its "pride": the Ivanovets missile boat. It was destroyed in Crimea on February 1 by special forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia fired the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Viktor Sokolov. Most likely, the reason was Ukraine's success in destroying Russian warships in the Black Sea.

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Former US President Donald Trump has won against former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley in the South Carolina primary as polls closed in the Palmetto State Saturday night (Feb. 24), despite it being the latter being the state's former governor.

However, as of writing, it was observed that the margin between Trump and Haley was narrower than the Ohio caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

The Associated Press called the race shortly after polls closed, with an AP VoteCast result the news agency conducted with the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the University of Chicago found that Republicans in the state were broadly aligned with Trump's goals, including the scrutiny of the Biden administration's support of Ukraine's fight against Russia, the perceived immigration problem in the US southern border, and the alleged political motives behind Trump's multiple criminal indictments.

It was earlier reported that Haley would continue her campaign until Super Tuesday on March 5.

Read Also: Nikki Haley Remains Unbowed, Vows to Remain in Race up to Super Tuesday

Results, Observations of SC Primary

The AP VoteCast exit poll revealed that Trump's South Carolina victory looked remarkably similar to the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, meaning that the regional differences that once existed within the GOP have been supplanted by a national movement that largely revolved around Trump.

Only about half of GOP voters had a favorable view of Haley compared to six or seven out of 10 for Trump.

Most of those favoring Trump considered themselves supporters of the "Make America Great Again" movement, a slogan that helped the business mogul win the White House. On the other hand, Haley's supporters were a 60-40 mix of those who legitimately supported her and those who found her as the GOP alternative for Trump, respectively.

About two-thirds of South Carolina voters who voted for Trump were profiled as white, conservative, and do not have a college degree, a profile similar to that of the former president. They also believed that the 77-year-old was capable enough to keep the country safe and had the mental capacity to return to the Oval Office.

Meanwhile, 52-year-old Haley has bet she could offer a generational change for the GOP, but the future she articulated has little basis in the present-day party, even in her own home state.

The former US ambassador to the UN dominated among roughly three out of every four South Carolina voters who said that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.

Within the party, there was also a 60-40 divide between those who thought Biden was not legitimately elected and those who thought he was.

Related Article: Trump Backs IVF Following Alabama Court Decision, Urges Lawmakers to Find Solution
The lack of support for the Ukrainian army from the West was one of the reasons why the defenders were forced to retreat from Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. The next target of Russian President Vladimir Putin may be Kupiansk, and then Kharkiv itself.

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If Western partners do not increase their assistance and if Ukraine does not receive ammunition, longer-range missiles, and the promised F-16 fighter jets, the threat of losing Kharkiv will become real. This was stated by Ukrainian MP Oleksandra Ustinova in a commentary for Deutsche Welle.

The MP believes that after Avdiivka, the Russian occupation forces may concentrate their efforts on capturing Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. And if these attempts are successful, the capture of a major railway junction by the Russians will increase their chances of reaching Kharkiv.

"Avdiivka is the first step in what Ukraine will look like. After Avdiivka, there will be Kupiansk, and unfortunately, Kharkiv will be next. Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine with over a million people. And we understand that if we lose Kupiansk, which is a major railway junction, unfortunately, we will also have a very high chance of losing Kharkiv," Ustinova said.

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Ukraine's Western partners could change the situation by increasing assistance to the Ukrainian army. According to the MP, the lack of additional assistance, the shortage of ammunition and the failure to fulfill promises increase the chances of a negative scenario and put Kharkiv at risk.

"If there is no additional support and no ammunition and if we do not receive longer-range missiles, as well as promised F-16 jets, this summer, unfortunately, we will have a huge problem," Ustinova emphasized.
MassDOT Announces High School Roadway Safety Public Service Contest

BOSTON The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), in collaboration with global nonprofit Fundacion MAPFRE, announced the launch of a roadway safety public service contest for Massachusetts high school students.

The contest, which was launched in 2022 as part of MAPFRE's Look Both Ways Program, seeks to help students raise awareness with their peers and underscore the importance of being safe while driving on roadways across the Commonwealth. Safety experts and state officials caution that, as data for 2023 continues to be received and analyzed, the results could show a third straight yearly increase in road-related fatalities.

"MassDOT is pleased to continue our collaboration with Fundacion MAPFRE through the second annual roadway safety education contest," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "Getting young drivers involved in safety education is an important action towards making our streets safer, and we are eager to see the great ideas that students come up with this year. Their participation is important in helping MassDOT to envision a future without roadway injuries and deaths."

To enter the contest, high schools simply visit: https://www.fundacionmapfre.org/en/look-both-ways/ . The deadline for contest submissions is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 29. The students with the winning submission will work with the Boston Creative Communications Agency (CTP) to produce the spot which is anticipated to timely air in the spring before prom and graduation season. Additionally, the students' school will receive $3,000 provided by Fundacion MAPFRE, toward road safety education.

Look Both Ways aims to eliminate road-related fatalities and serious injury, connecting high schools and colleges with the program's"React Challenge." The mobile interactive virtual reality station tests students' safe driving ability when faced with distractions behind the wheel.

According to the Massachusetts Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), roadway deaths in Massachusetts reached a 14-year high in 2021 (413 deaths), increasing year-over-year since 2019. Since publication of the SHSP, 2022 trended even higher (435 deaths). In 2023, the 345 fatalities appear to have dropped to pre-Covid levels.

Nationally, roadway fatalities increased in the early times of Covid, and the 2023 national early estimates are also trending down. In the last five years, people walking and biking accounted for almost 22 percent of deaths on Massachusetts roadways.
Clark Art Offers Free Gallery Tours For Parents and Infants

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  On Friday, March 1 at 10:15 am, the Clark Art Institute hosts the next in its series of free tours of its permanent collection galleries designed specifically to meet the interests of new parents/caregivers and their infants.

Participants should meet at the Clark's main Admissions desk.

The program is specially designed to provide new parents and caregivers with a stress-free experience that offers chances to socialize with others who are caring for young infants. The guided gallery tour offers an informal visit to the Clark's permanent collection free from any concerns about short attention spans or fussy babies. Works by a variety of artists are featured during the casual tour of the collection. This program is best suited for adults with pre-toddlers. Strollers and front-carrying baby carriers are welcome.




iciHaiti - NOTICE : A counterfeit medicine is circulating in Haiti





The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) advises the general population and health professionals in particular that a counterfeit medicine sold under the name "FADA Fenobarbital" is circulating in Haiti.



This counterfeit product targeted by this alert, labeled "Fenobarbital sodico, IM/IV, 200mg/2ml" is presented in a transparent vial, covered with a double white label with letters printed in red. In reference to the primary packaging written in Spanish.



The Ministry specifies that:



- The name of the laboratory "NFADA PHARMA" is not registered in Haiti;



- The batch number (1372) and expiration date (12/2025) indicated on the label have no traceability in Haiti.



The use of falsified "Fenobarbital sodico, IM/IV, 200mg/2ml" may result in erroneous and ineffective treatment as well as other serious health risks due to the conditions of use which may, in certain circumstances, lead to life in danger.



The Ministry invites users to obtain their supplies exclusively from authorized pharmaceutical establishments (list on the MSPP website) and calls on the Population to be vigilant.



The purchase, distribution, sale and use of this counterfeit medicine meeting the characteristics mentioned is strictly prohibited on the national territory.



The Ministry urges health professionals and consumers in general to report any incident relating to pharmacovigilance to the Health Directorate of their respective jurisdiction for any appropriate immediate administrative action.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-41737-icihaiti-health-alert-counterfeit-drug.html



IH/ iciHaiti


















Hong Kong: Xia Baolong meets legal, media reps

CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong inspected a community living room and met representatives of Hong Kong's legal and media sectors today.



Accompanied by Chief Executive John Lee and Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak, Mr Xia had morning tea with district personalities at a restaurant in Wong Tai Sin to exchange views with them on local livelihood issues.



In the company of Mr Lee and Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun, Mr Xia then inspected the Sham Shui Po Community Living Room to study about the progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's poverty alleviation projects.



The community living room, equipped with daily living facilities, provides additional living space for subdivided unit households. Referrals to suitable community services are made on an as-needed basis to improve the quality of life for residents living in such households.



At noon, accompanied by Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, Mr Xia had an engagement session and working lunch with representatives of the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong.



Mr Xia, together with the Chief Executive, also had an exchange session with senior representatives of major local media and renowned current affairs commentators.

This story has been published on: 2024-02-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Assyrians Blame Kurdish Parties for Losing Quota Seats in Iraq Court Ruling

The Kurdistan Region's two governing parties are responsible for a landmark Iraqi federal court decision to strip minority quota seats as they exploited the quota for their own benefit, a coalition of Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac Christian parties said on Saturday.

A major ruling by Iraq's Federal Supreme Court on Wednesday labeled the 11 quota seats in the Kurdistan Region's parliament reserved for ethnic and religious minorities as "unconstitutional," effectively rejecting their legitimacy.

The decision is significant for Iraq's Christian community as it rules that their candidates for the legislature can no longer contest within the designated quota, with Christian parties forced to field their candidates against better-funded, established Kurdish political parties.

"We hold responsible the two main parties in the region, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, for exploiting and seizing these seats and dragging them into political conflicts between them," said a joint statement by six Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac political parties including the Assyrian Democratic Movement, Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council, Assyrian Patriotic Party, and Sons of Mesopotamia (Abnaa al-Nahrain) parties.

The parties blamed the KDP and PUK for failing to "protect and preserve" the 11 seats by restricting voting within the ethnic and religious components.

"We have worked diligently in previous sessions to ensure the restriction of voting within the component and protect the quota from exploitation by ruling parties, but to no avail," the statement said.

Srud Maqdasy, a former Kurdistan MP with the Sons of Mesopotamia from Erbil's Christian-majority district of Ainkawa, told Rudaw English on Sunday that the federal court ruling has made it "impossible" for a Christian to secure a seat in parliament.

"In terms of logic and according to statistics, it is now impossible for any Christian to secure a seat in parliament," Maqdasy said, stressing that Baghdad's decision was politically motivated and "baseless."

"Previously, it was possible to get our candidate over the line if all Christians from Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani voted for them," he said, but with the division of the Kurdistan Region into four electoral constituencies as opposed to one, "that is no longer possible."

Maqdasy argued that the court had no legal reason to remove the minority seats as a quota for minorities exists in the Iraqi parliament. "If it is unconstitutional [to have minority seats] in the [Kurdistan] Region, why is it constitutional in Baghdad?" he said.

"We were in constant coordination with the federal court to enter the case as a third party to give our insights and arguments and defend our rights, but they [the court] refused," he lamented.

The former lawmaker noted that the top court made the ruling in accordance with the Kurdistan Parliament Election Law 1 of 1992. Included in that ruling, however, is a special voting status for Christians and other minorities so that only they could vote for their candidates.

"If the court is deciding under [Law] 1, it should implement all its details without exception," he said.

"We were calling for that - elections where only minorities can vote for minority candidates to ensure fair representation, not for our seats to be taken away," Maqdasy stressed.

"Unfortunately, they [the court] did not give a replacement to the oppression that they imposed on us."

The lawsuit that led to the court's ruling was filed by two politicians from the PUK and a Christian party in Sulaimani against the Kurdistan Region's election law, passed in 1992 and last amended in 2013.

It claimed that several articles of the election law were unconstitutional, including Article 36 which stipulates that 11 of the legislature's 111 seats are dedicated to minorities under a quota system. Per this law, Turkmens have five seats, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs have five, and Armenians have one.

Calling the federal court ruling a "constitutional violation," the parties lamented that minority rights have been deprived by a "politically biased decision" which represents a regression in democratic principles and goes against the rights of minorities to hold representation in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches, as stipulated by the Iraqi constitution.

"We affirm that the decision was not within the jurisdiction of the Federal Court, and it was incumbent upon them not to compound error with error but rather to address deficiencies in the law and prevent the seizure of quota seats by influential political powers," they said.

Lawmakers in the Kurdish and Iraqi parliaments are often criticized for not being the true faces of the populations they represent but rather agents of ruling parties.

Winning minority candidates with external party affiliations often receive tens of thousands of votes from districts in which the community has very minimal to no presence in, as big parties often mobilize scores of loyalists to tip these candidates over the line.

Yonadam Kanna, a veteran Assyrian politician and former secretary-general of the Assyrian Democratic Movement, said on Friday that his party will not participate in the upcoming Kurdistan parliament elections without the minority quota seats.

"We will not participate, because our numbers are hundreds of thousands while the others are in the millions. Certainly, there is not an equal opportunity to compete as Article 16 [of the Iraqi constitution] requires," Kanna, also a two-time Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) minister, told Rudaw.

The date of the Kurdistan Region's delayed parliamentary elections is yet to be determined.

On Tuesday, delegations from Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) met with Kurdish authorities. In the meeting, June was suggested as a date for the vote, Rudaw has learned.

Iraq's Christian community has been devastated in the past two decades. Following the US-led invasion in 2003, sectarian warfare prompted followers of Iraq's multiple Christian denominations to flee, and attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014 hit minority communities especially hard.

The community's existence in Iraq is on the brink, with fewer than 300,000 Christians remaining in the country today, a staggering fall from nearly 1.5 million before 2003, according to data obtained by Rudaw English from Erbil's Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda in 2022. However, the actual number is expected to be even lower.

The lack of fair and equal representation in the Iraqi and Kurdish parliaments has pushed even greater numbers of Christians towards exodus. In Iraq's most recent parliamentary elections, only one of five winning Christians was an independent, while the other four were candidates of the pseudo-Christian Babylon Movement, a party and militia affiliated with the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) and closely aligned with the Badr Organization.

Campaign videos from the Babylon Movement depicted the party amassing tens of thousands of voters from central and southern Iraqi provinces that have little to no Christian presence.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is confident that Ukraine has a chance to return Crimea, and that during the two years of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainians have managed to convince the world that Russia is very vulnerable on the occupied peninsula. The politician also explained what Ukraine needs to liberate Crimea, which has been occupied since 2014.

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At the same time, he does not rule out the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be planning to attack NATO countries. Johnson said this during his visit to Ukraine, timed to coincide with the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale aggression.

The former head of the British government stated that over the two years of the great war, the world's perception of the possibility of de-occupying Crimea has undergone a tectonic shift. If earlier the world was convinced that it was impossible to liberate the Ukrainian peninsula, that Putin would never give up Crimea, and therefore it was not even worth trying to recapture it, now everything has changed.

Thanks to Ukraine's operations on the peninsula, more and more people are realizing that the de-occupation of Crimea is real. The fact that Ukrainian soldiers have shown how vulnerable Russia is on the peninsula has contributed to this. In terms of logistics and infrastructure of Russian troops, Johnson believes that the Defense Forces on the peninsula have "great capabilities."

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And they can be realized and Crimea can be de-occupied only if Ukraine's combat capabilities are increased.

"When Ukraine has more long-range missiles, more HIMARS, ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and everything the Armed Forces need, Crimea will have very interesting prospects," Johnson emphasized.

He also noted that the current achievements of Ukrainians on the battlefield prove that: Ukraine is capable of defeating Russia. In particular, he pointed out that the Defense Forces have already destroyed two Russian armies and liberated more than half of the territories occupied by Russia.

"It is now obvious to the world that Ukrainians believe in their country. And that is why you will win," Johnson said.

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At the same time, he believes that fears of a possible Russian attack on NATO countries in the future are justified.

"Yes, he (Putin - Ed.) can attack. I think it cannot be ruled out," Johnson said.

As an argument in favor of the existence of such a threat, the politician cited the Russian dictator's interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson.

"For example, I didn't like the way he talked about Poland in his terrible interview. And I think he might try to do something like that," Johnson explained.

The former British prime minister also noted that the threat of a Russian attack on NATO countries will increase if the West allows Putin to win an aggressive war against Ukraine.

"Therefore, he must not succeed. He must fail," Johnson stated.

Earlier, the former head of the British government had already spoken out about Putin's interview with Carlson. Johnson called the interview "ridiculous" and noted that the American "betrayed his viewers" around the world.

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The politician also noted that Putin's statements about history and the alleged injustice against Russian-speaking people resonate with Hitler's stories about German-speaking people.
From 21st to 24th February, a business mission of an institutional/economic nature of the Young Entrepreneurs of Confindustria Salerno took place in Tirana, organised by Confindustria Albania. The delegation of the Young Entrepreneurs Confindustria Salerno, led by President Marco Gambardella, was welcomed by the Vice President of Confindustria Albania Claudio Michelacci and Director Gerta Bilali.

The mission saw the participation of young entrepreneurs representing about 10 companies, operating in various sectors of the Salerno industry: packaging, telecommunications, printing and graphics, training, metalworking industry, building/infrastructure, with the aim of deepening the commercial and investment opportunities of Italian companies in Albania.

"We carried out a fruitful mission in Albania, meeting important protagonists of the world of economy, work and business - Gambardella stressed -. Albania is a young, dynamic country that looks with great interest at Europe and Italy, and at the South in particular. We are aware that there is the possibility of investing in this territory: we share many factors such as culture, climate and vision but also some critical issues such as the difficulty in finding highly specialized manpower. We are aware of the importance of strengthening a strategic partnership both in terms of import and export. Last but not least, we have been able to appreciate the enormous flexibility that characterizes the labor market in this country".

The agenda of the work continued with economic and technical meetings, offering participating companies opportunities for contacts and exchanges of experiences with companies associated with Confindustria Albania and deepening the opportunities for collaboration and investment in Albania at a time of great transformation and growth of the country. A round table was organized at the headquarters of Confindustria Albania, with technical interventions on fiscal and commercial legislation, on the benefits and incentives for foreign companies, the level of taxation, the procedures to start a business in Albania, the presence of qualified personnel and relations between companies and the banking system.
Samsung unveiled the first of its kind, revolutionary Galaxy AI devices - and content creators cant stop talking about it! From AI features that make notetaking easy to editing tools that make it effortless to get that perfect shot, get to know why #TeamGalaxy loves the new Galaxy S24 Series.

Janine Gutierrez: Intuitive AI-enhanced camera features anytime and anywhere

For actress and content creator Janine Gutierrez, the Circle to Search with Google feature of the Galaxy S24 Series caught her eye. Its very useful for traveling and shopping and things like that. Super ganda I was able to test it out and when we went to Unpacked in California, I can't imagine life without it anymore. It solves so many problems, like when you want to learn more about certain things - before, you have to manually search for it, and it's a hit and miss, she shared.

The Galaxy S24 Series devices host a smart AI enhanced camera. With this comes the intuitive Circle to Search with Google feature where users can encircle objects from photos in their gallery and the device will automatically show information about the object. Search results will include suggestions on the nature of the item, its brand, where to buy it, and more.

Catriona Gray: A powerful device for a multi-hyphenate Queen

Being a multi-hyphenate productive queen, Catriona Gray lives an on-the-go lifestyle wearing multiple crowns. Some of her favorite things about the Galaxy S24 Ultra are the new AI-enhanced features on the Samsung notes app and the new sleek S-pen.

Catriona can easily create idea boards, inspiration pegs, and even jot down a quick note. I take down notes for everything- it helps me process information and keep it to refer to later. I love the integration of an S-Pen, it allows the accessibility of when you want to write down [notes], it gives an old school feel, like if you're not a typer, you're a writer, which I am, she shared.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is now her new productivity tool but she believes it makes a great fit for everyone, There are so many different functions, no matter who you are, if your goal is productivity, gaming, communication, content creation, video editing, the S24 Series are all well-rounded devices, fit for any type of lifestyle.

Bianca Gonzalez: Superior AI capabilities and support for writers

Television host and writer Bianca Gonzalez has a passion for writing and content creation, which are often fueled by a good conversation. She praised the built-in live transcription feature within the Galaxy S24 Series voice recording application, along with its AI summarizing feature, which made the perfect tandem to increase her productivity to the maximum level.

As writers, if you have a 20-minute interview you would transcribe it in an hour, its such a time sucker! Bianca shared. When I found this feature in the phone, within your voice recorder app, I was like what? Where has this been all my life? And it goes hand in hand with the AI summarizing feature. Summarizing long articles into bullet points is very helpful when it comes to research for a piece you're gonna write.

Jaz Reyes: A Revolutionary phone

For Jaz Reyes, as a digital creator, filmmaker and host, the Galaxy S24 is a revolutionary device that sets a high standard for mobile devices. Jaz likened her experience with the Galaxy S24 Series to the first time she experienced having her own phone.

Her fast-paced life always has her pursuing her passions actively and the Galaxy S24 Series is a perfect match because, as she put it, The apps I use on the laptop to edit my photos, it's all there on my phone already built in and I don't have to download any other app, and that's amazing on its own, she shared.

With the newest innovations brought by the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series, from Circle to Search with Google, Live Translate, Transcript Assist, Notes Assist in Samsung Notes, Generative Edit and more, no matter what you are pursuing - your creativity, productivity, travel, leisure or just living the best life every day, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series is here for you! Check out the perfect Galaxy device for you through samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores, Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online.

Learn more about Galaxy S24 and S24+ at https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s24/ and to find out more about the Galaxy S24 Ultra, visit: https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s24-ultra/.
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The BBC has defended its reporter, who gave an uncomfortable interview with Andrew Scott at the Baftas last weekend.

The red carpet interview in question quickly went viral as viewers criticised the BBCs Colin Paterson for repeatedly asking Scott about Barry Keoghans nude scene in Emerald Fennells film, Saltburn.

Scott, 47, who was snubbed for his lauded turn in Andrew Haighs drama All of Us Strangers, presented the Bafta for Best Animated Film during Sundays ceremony (18 February) at Londons Royal Festival Hall.

After establishing whether he knew fellow Irish actor Keoghan, Scott was asked about his reaction when he first saw the naked dance scene in Saltburn.

One of Saltburns most discussed moments is when Keoghans character, Oliver, struts through an empty house, naked, soundtracked by Sophie Ellis-Bextors classic pop hit Murder on the Dancefloor.

In response, Scott shook his head and, after stuttering for a few seconds, added: I wont spoil it for anybody.

Andrew Scott at the 2024 Baftas (Getty Images)

Despite the Sherlock star appearing embarrassed at the topic, Paterson continued: There was a lot of talk about prosthetics. How well do you know him?

At this, Scott shook his head again and left the conversation, as Paterson asked: Too much?

Some critics online suggested that the line of questioning inferred that the actor might know more intimate details about Keoghan because of his sexuality  Scott came out publicly as gay in an interview with The Independent in 2013.

In a statement shared on its website on Friday (23 February), the BBC said: Our reporter began by asking Andrew Scott about the film hed appeared in  All of Us Strangers  which was nominated for six Baftas.

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He then moved on to ask about the popularity of Irish actors, where Barry Keoghan, star of Saltburn, was mentioned. Saltburn is a film which has had cultural impact, with Barry Keoghans scene at the end gaining a lot of attention in particular  something the actor has addressed himself.

Our question to Andrew Scott was meant to be a light-hearted reflection of the discussion around the scene and was not intended to cause offence. Saltburn writer and director, Emerald Fennell, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose song Murder on the Dancefloor was used in the sequence, were also asked about the scene. We do, however, accept that the specific question asked to Andrew Scott was misjudged. After speaking with Andrew on the carpet, our reporter acknowledged on air that his questioning may have gone too far and that he was sorry if this was the case.

Scotts representatives did not respond to The Independents request for comment.
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Inside the ballroom at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, Oppenheimer was front and center literally and figuratively, snagging the nights top prize along with trophies for Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr.

Ahead of this years Academy Awards, Christopher Nolans summer blockbuster increasingly looks like the runaway favorite. It was outshined on Saturdays awards only by reflections on the longest SAG-AFTRA strike in history last year and subsequent deal reached that ended it in November.

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland gave the room a kind of pep talk before Saturday's show began, accompanied by a montage of actors speaking from the picket lines over the summer, prompting the room to erupt in cheers of support.

We did achieve, I think, really important advances on paying actors fairly for working on streaming, Crabtree-Ireland said of the show being shown live on Netflix. Were really one of the only shows out there thats delivering a union message and talking about how workers can support each other. So, Im proud that Netflix is having us on their platform.

That speech, however, wasn't part of Netflix's livestream.

There was indeed a general sense of solidarity and gratitude toward their union from many in attendance, though some had less optimistic perspectives.

Im seeing a lot of people who are super grateful to be able to get back to work. But Im also seeing the industry shrink a little bit and Im starting to see jobs go away, filmmaker and actor Mark Duplass said before the show. Its not an easy time. Im not gonna sugarcoat it.

Cillian Murphy at the 2024 Sag Awards (Getty Images)

But most of the night was characterised by levity and camaraderie. The ballroom seemed energised by a presenter bit involving Billie Eilish signing Melissa McCarthy's face (at the comedian's request) before handing an award to The Bear star Ayo Edebiri.

The inside of any Hollywood awards show is a strange, starry place. Actors are typically seated at tables with their producers, directors and co-stars from the nominated film or series.

People are encouraged to remain seated, apart from designated periods throughout the show, when the room breaks out into a frenzy as celebrities rush to find friends or fellow stars they profess to be fans of, trying to get in conversations before the three-minute window closes. (Netflix's broadcast had no commercial breaks, but did build in time for impromptu schmoozing.)

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Early in the night, Anne Hathaway and Emma Stone found their way to one another and were soon joined by Carey Mulligan, who ran to an empty seat between the pair and embraced Stone. (Hathaway  along with Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt  combined for an early highlight of the show, gathering onstage for a highly anticipated reunion of The Devil Wears Prada castmates.)

At a nearby table, director Alexander Payne poured a glass of Champagne for The Holdovers star Dominic Sessa, who turned 21 in October, while American Fiction actor Jon Ortiz was temporarily stuck outside the show after picking up two drinks for his table.

30th Annual SAG Awards - Show (AP/Chris Pizzello)

Miss! exclaimed Brendan Fraser across a sea of people as he sought the attention of a waiter before giving her cash pulled from his pocket. This is for you.

While many of the main award categories heading into the Oscars seem to be all but a sure thing, a few are still up in the air, one of them being best actress.

Although Stone has collected several accolades this season, Lily Gladstone took home the best film performance by a female actor award for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon.

As Gladstone rushed back to her table following her emotional speech, she was embraced by her co-stars as they wiped away tears. Not long after, The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki, who won an award earlier in the night, rushed to Gladstone asking for a photo.
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The Indian state of Assam has repealed a colonial-era law that allowed child marriage among Muslims, in a move that is being seen as contentious just months before the countrys general election.

While India has a uniform criminal code across the country, so-called personal laws governing issues like marriage, divorce, adoption and inheritance vary between religious groups and are often based on differing cultural practices.

Narendra Modis ruling BJP party, which is also in power in Assam, has been campaigning to create a uniform civil code that would supersede different religions personal laws. Critics fear the move will have a disproportionate impact on the practices of minority religions.

The Assam state government said it was striking down the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1935, effective imediately from Saturday. Assam has one of the largest Muslim contingents in India at 34 per cent of the population, and community leaders accused the BJP of trying to polarise voters ahead of the election, which is due to take place by May.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said: This act contained provisions allowing marriage registration even if the bride and groom had not reached the legal ages of 18 and 21 ... This move marks another significant step towards prohibiting child marriages in Assam.

BJP state assembly member Jayanta Malla Baruah said it was a very important step in the journey towards a uniform civil code in the state. He told reporters that with the law repealed, Muslim marriages in the state will now happen under the Special Marriage Act  a pan-Indian law that is most commonly used to register inter-religious marriages.

Through this [the repealed law], we would also see underage marriages being registered  of boys below 21 years or girls below 18 years. So this is a big step towards us being able to completely eradicate child marriage, he said.

The Assam government is also looking to ban polygamy in the state, making it a criminal offence, and Mr Sarma has repeatedly spoken out against the practice. It is banned among most religions in India, but Muslim men can legally have up to four wives under their personal laws.

Asked by reporters on Sunday whether the northeastern state would implement a uniform civil code before the general election, Mr Sarma said: Not immediately.

People react after police arrested their relatives allegedly involved in child marriages, during the Assam governments statewide crackdown on child marriages, near Mayong police station in the Morigaon district of Assam on 4 February 2023 (AFP via Getty)

Many Muslims in Assam trace their roots to the neighbouring Bengali-speaking and Muslim-majority country of Bangladesh, while there are at times tensions in the state between Muslims and ethnic Assamese, who are mostly Hindu.

Muslim opposition leaders said repealing the colonial-era law was discriminatory.

They want to polarise their voters by provoking Muslims, which Muslims will not let happen, Badruddin Ajmal, a lawmaker from Assam who heads the All India United Democratic Front, which mainly fights for Muslim causes, told reporters on Saturday.

Its a first step towards bringing a uniform civil code, but this is how the BJP government will come to an end in Assam.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Amy Schumer has revealed that she has Cushing syndrome, with the actor sharing that the criticism surrounding her puffier face led to her diagnosis.

The 42-year-old comedian shared her diagnosis in Jessica Yellins News Not Noise newsletter, which was published on 23 February. Her comments came days after she addressed the concerns about her face, following her appearance onThe Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

In the newsletter, she described how she felt reborn after being diagnosed with Cushing syndrome, which happens when the body has too much of the hormone cortisol for a long time, with treatments ranging from medications to radiation therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic. Schumer also told Yellin that when she discovered her health condition, she was in the midst of advertising season two of her show, Life & Beth.

While I was doing press on camera for my Hulu show, I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up, she said. So finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and Im healthy was the greatest news imaginable. It has been a crazy couple weeks for me and my family.

Schumer acknowledged that amid her fears about [her] health, fans were making comments about her appearance during different TV interviews, which ultimately encouraged her to go to a doctor.

I also had to be on camera having the internet chime in. But thank God for that, she continued. Because thats how I realized something was wrong. Just like when I realized I had named my son something that didnt sound so good. The internet is undefeated, as they say.

Schumers remark about her son comes nearly four years after she legally changed his name, since the name bored an unfortunate homonym. More specifically, she and her husband Chris Fisher changed their sons name from Gene Attel Fischer to Gene David Fischer, after discovering through people on social media that they by accident, named [their] son genital.

During her conversation with Schumer, Yellin also acknowledged that her Cushing syndrome diagnosis was personal medical information, before asking the actor why she was speaking out about the condition. In response, the Trainwreck star went on to praise News Not Noise as a publication, before hitting back at some of the scrutiny shes faced while in the spotlight.

I find you to be my favorite credible news source for many years. Your News Not Noise model has helped me personally navigate these harrowing times we are living through. I also wanted to advocate for womens health, Schumer told Yellin. The shaming and criticism of our ever-changing bodies is something I have dealt with and witnessed for a long time. I want so much for women to love themselves and be relentless when fighting for their own health in a system that usually doesnt believe them.

She went on to add how she wants to help women know that its abnormal to have extremely painful periods, and she wants to encourage them to find doctors who treat endometriosis, a condition that shes also struggling with.

As noted by the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is an often painful condition in which tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can take several years for people with uteruses to get diagnosed with the condition, and research into the disorder is limited. Schumer first underwent a hysterectomy and an appendectomy to treat the disease in September 2021.

Speaking to Yellin for the newsletter, Schumer went on to emphasise why it was so important for her to speak out about her physical health.

I want women to value feeling strong, healthy, and comfortable in their own skin, the comedian concluded. I am extremely privileged to have the resources I have for my health and I know its not that way for most people. I am grateful and want to use my voice to continue to fight for women.

On 15 February, Schumer first took to Instagram to respond to questions about the puffiness of her face during an appearance on The Tonight Show. Alongside a poster promoting the new season of her comedy series, Life and Beth, Schumer began her message by encouraging fans to watch earlier runs of the show. Thank you so much for everyones input about my face! she wrote.

Ive enjoyed feedback and deliberation about my appearance as all women do for almost 20 years. And youre right, it is puffier than normal right now, she added.

Schumer then reminded her followers that she lives with endometriosis, before noting that while there are some medical and hormonal things going on in [her] world right now, she was okay.

After expressing that womens bodies have barely been studied medically compared to men, The Humans star went on to describe another reason why she was sharing the statement. I also believe a woman doesnt need any excuse for her physical appearance and owes no explanation, she continued. But I wanted to take the opportunity to advocate for self-love and acceptance of the skin youre in.

Earlier this week, Schumer also hit back at the criticism shes faced about her appearance, with claims about why she thinks people on the internet dont like her.

I think theyre mad that Im not thinner. I think theyre mad Im not prettier and that I still feel like I have a right to speak, she said during an episode of Amanda Hirschs Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. And I think that they dont want any women to speak, the comedian added, before asking: What woman has ever opened her mouth and not been torn to shreds?

When Hirsh asked if shed become tougher over the years due to online criticism, Schumer acknowledged that shes used to this scrutiny because of her Hollywood career. Its been a long time people have been coming for me, she said. So yeah, its just about how Im feeling about myself.
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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.
On the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale war, former Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi expressed confidence that Ukraine will win. He emphasized that the country survived "thanks to the courage and sacrifice" of all Ukrainians.

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Zaluzhnyi wrote about this on Facebook. The military added a photo of himself with former Chief of the General Staff Serhii Shaptala.

"Our uncompromising and courageous resistance continues. On February 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians were not afraid of Russian missile attacks and huge convoys of equipment and volunteered to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thanks to the courage and sacrifice of Ukrainian citizens, we managed to resist. We managed to preserve ourselves and our country," the former chief emphasized.

Zaluzhnyi also thanked all those who defend the state on the battlefield and help resist Russian aggression, "who remember, believe, pray and do everything possible for the Victory."

ADVERTISIMENT

"Eternal memory and honor to the soldiers who gave their lives for the freedom of their homeland. I believe and know for sure that we will win! Glory to Ukraine!" the general said.

In a few hours, the military's post received tens of thousands of likes and hundreds of comments: Ukrainians, in turn, thank Zaluzhnyi, who managed to, as they wrote, "save the country."

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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A few weeks ago, a friend told me he sometimes thought about quitting his job. I told him I also sometimes thought about quitting my job. So together we bonded over our mutual loathing of workplace drudgery, the day-to-day miseries of leaving the house, and our shared dreams of self-inflicted unemployment. Then we acknowledged that, actually, we both liked our jobs. So we changed the subject.

Feeling apathetic about work, and the back and forth between embracing it wholeheartedly and telling it that its terrible and that you want it to die, is a modern constant. Everyone seems to be at it  whether you work in a shop, an office, or freelance from home, little is more appealing than shutting down and staring at the ceiling rather than doing what youre being paid to do. Or at least taking time out to fantasise about having a completely different life and vocation. And some workers are allegedly doing just that  downing tools, metaphorical or otherwise, and ghosting their employers entirely.

According to new claims by a leading employment lawyer, this is most rife among specific demographics. What we have noticed is, in those sectors where perhaps wages and skills are a little lower, there is a definite increase in the number of employees who are just not showing up to work, Nick Hurley of Charles Russell Speechlys told The Daily Telegraph this week. He identified retail and hospitality as the sectors most affected, younger people as the biggest culprits, and mental health conditions and long-term sickness post-Covid as some of the key factors leading employees to go awol.

Some of this has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Stories like these often feel a bit like fury bingo: toss some worrying employment figures together with images of right-on and/or lazy young adults self-diagnosing themselves as depressed or anxious, and you can practically hear readers clicking indignantly through their rage sweats. That said, if the picture painted by the stats is indeed accurate, can you really blame young workers for dropping off the map?

In January, the charity Mental Health UK warned that Britain is at risk of becoming a burnt-out nation. The kind of phrasing once synonymous with gloomy epigraphs at the start of dystopian fiction, its now just a thing we say to one another. We live in unprecedented times, chief executive Brian Dow explained. Life outside work has become increasingly difficult due to the cost of living crisis and pressures on public services, while global challenges such as climate change and artificial intelligence fuel stress, anxiety and feelings of hopelessness.

On a related note, a YouGov poll of 2,060 adults found that 35 per cent of participants had experienced high or extreme levels of pressure at work. Twenty per cent of those had taken time off due to poor mental health in the previous year. Is apathy perhaps merely a natural consequence of feeling increasingly overwhelmed and burnt out?

Apathy about work isnt limited to a certain generation. Its just the most recent stick to beat Gens Y and Z with David Rice, People Managing People

David Rice, an HR expert at People Managing People, tells me that apathy in the workplace isnt necessarily something to worry about. No one can be switched on all the time, he says. There will be times when your enthusiasm and energy will wane. Thats perfectly natural. It can be negative if you have performance-based incentives that you fail to achieve because you cant find it in you to keep going. But at the same time, it can create a little distance between you and work. It can give you a bit of clarity around what actually matters, allow you to work on other things and let go of what you cant control. Ultimately, those are good things.

Hes also unsure about the idea of workplace apathy as a preserve of the young. Its not limited to a certain generation, he says. Its just the most recent stick to beat Gens Y and Z with. Anecdotally, I cant remember being around anyone in my life, from peers to grandparents, who hasnt once or twice confessed to wanting to quit their job in a blaze of glory  or admitted to dawdling around their workplace killing time until they can flee to the nearest exit. The act of working is occasionally  or often, for some  a rancid bore. It was true in 1978, is true in 2023, and will still be true in 2050, when were brushing dust off our robot overlords in exchange for hunks of bread.

If age does play an important role here, though, its in young peoples relationship with fairness. Keeping calm and carrying on  otherwise known as nihilistically trudging through abject misery out of a sense of moral duty  is an exhausting cornerstone of the British psyche. But its become less appealing in recent decades. Wages have stagnated, industries have collapsed, and the basic tenets of adult stability  from starting a family to owning a home to the looming threat of increasingly late, or non-existent, retirement  are in the process of becoming completely unachievable for many young people, particularly those living in big cities. Without that warm hug of stability  from, say, a stable job market or a contract that isnt zero-hours  wheres the incentive to stay put? Walk out. Get sloshed. Get a face tattoo. Choose life.

Long day at the office: Little is more appealing than shutting down rather than doing what youre being paid to do (iStock)

This is at the more drastic end of possible responses. But it speaks to a general feeling of the sands shifting when it comes to work and our relationship with it. Discussion of a boom in apathetic employees coincides with further gentle teasing of the four-day working week, which only days ago was described as an inevitability by a campaigner for the policy  pilots that have taken place so far have noted a range of benefits, from increased productivity to improved worker wellbeing. Flexible working is already rife in certain industries.

It seems a reset of sorts is coming  the question is just how long itll take. In the meantime, its sometimes healthiest to become numb to your work for periods of time rather than have a mortifying meltdown at your desk. You need to figure out if the apathy thats set in is related to burnout or just needing to invest time and energy into other things, Rice says. Be sure youre getting lots of rest, and allow yourself the freedom to think about other pathways you can take in your life. Its OK, and even necessary, to entertain these things from time to time.

He adds that it works both ways, too  it cant just be an employees responsibility to ask for help when they need it, or to source their own workplace joy. If youre a manager, he says, find projects that people are passionate about and give them the space to work on them. Try to eliminate excessive hurdles or bureaucracy from their workflows. Encourage them to use their vacation time as well. Sometimes they just need to get out of a routine, or see and do something exciting.

In other words, feelings of apathy arent worth panicking about. Have a moan to a friend. Quit in your head. Scroll on your phone while that important email remains unanswered for a few extra hours. All of it might even be a boon in the long run.
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An eight-year-old boy has been killed after being hit by a lorry on a busy street in West London.

The boy was struck by the vehicle on Friday night on King Street, Southall. The Metropolitan Police and London Air Ambulance were called to the scene at around 6.20pm.

He was treated at the roadside by paramedics and rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9.47pm. His family have been informed, police said.

The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene and there have been no arrests. An investigation has been launched and police have appealed for witnesses.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: An investigation has been launched after an eight-year-old boy was killed in a collision in Ealing.

Police were called to King Street, Southall, after calls at 18:20hrs on Friday, 23 February to a collision involving a lorry and a pedestrian.

The boy was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service and Londons Air Ambulance paramedics before being rushed to hospital.

Tragically, despite the efforts of doctors and nurses, he was pronounced dead at 21:47hrs. His next of kin are aware. The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene; there have been no arrests.

Serious Collision Investigation Unit detectives ask anyone who witnessed or caught dash cam footage of the incident, or the events leading up to it, to call 101 or post @MetCC ref CAD 5824/23FEB24.
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Donald Trump has said Prince Harry will be on his own if he wins a second term this year after claiming the Duke of Sussex betrayed the Queen.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, the former president said the Biden administration had been "too gracious" to Harry since he moved to California with Meghan in 2020.

It comes days after Harry told Good Morning America that he has "considered" becoming an American citizen, adding he had "no idea" what was stopping him.

Mr Trump told the Daily Express: I wouldnt protect him. He betrayed the Queen. Thats unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.

A new book released this year claims the late Queen Elizabeth was infuriated by Harry and Meghans claim that she had approved them naming their daughter Lilibet.

Donald Trump said he would not protect Prince Harry if he became president again (AP)

In 2021, the Sussexes announced their daughters birth and said in a statement that she was named after the Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet.

However, a new autobiography by royal journalist Robert Hardman says the late Queen was as angry as Id ever seen her after the couple stated she had been supportive of the name.

Shortly after Lilibets name was announced, the BBC reported a palace source saying that the Queen was not asked by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex about naming their daughter Lilibet.

The Sussexes moved to the US in 2020 (AP)

Mr Trumps comments come as fresh controversy surrounds Harrys immigration status, after a US conservative think tank argued that the prince cannot have legally entered the US because he had confessed to taking illegal drugs in his memoir.

In Spare, Harry admitted taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his youth.

The duke said cocaine didnt do anything for me, adding: Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.

The Heritage Foundations lawsuit argues that US law generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry to the country.

The dukes memoir contained several allegations about his family, including a claim that his brother William physically attacked him.

The book also revealed personal details about Harrys own life, including the story of how he lost his virginity. He also spoke about how many people he killed while on military tour in Afghanistan, and said he wanted further investigation into his mothers death.
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Muslims in Britain say they are too scared to leave their homes after dark, as new figures show the number of Islamophobic incidents has skyrocketed since the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas.

London charity Islamophobia Response Unit (IRU) says many of the incidents have involved people being targeted over their support for Palestine, as the Israel-Hamas war continues to rage.

Muslims who have spoken to The Independent said they have had bricks thrown through their windows for displaying the Palestinian flag, while one teenager said he was questioned by his teachers after he displayed a Palestinian badge at school.

As the war in Gaza continues to rage, with airstrikes causing destruction such as this in Rafah, Muslims in Britain say they have seen a rise in Islamophobia (AP)

IRU says it saw a 365 per cent increase in reports of Islamophobia in October, following Hamass deadly attacks in Israel that left more than 1,200 people dead. Britains Jewish community suffered a surge in antisemitic incidents, with the Community Security Trust charity revealing earlier this month it had seen a record number in 2023, including 2,699 since 7 October.

Have you been affected by this? Email athena.stavrou@independent.co.uk

Since October 2023 IRU has seen a sustained increase in reports to the unit, said IRU CEO Majid Iqbal. It is clear that this is now developing into a long-term trend and is having a profound impact on those affected by it. IRU calls on the press and politicians to not demonise legitimate Palestinian activism and, by extension, British Muslims, to avoid feeding into the serious societal problem of Islamophobia.

The figures come after a report earlier this week from Tell Mama  another body that records anti-Muslim hate incidents  which said there were 2,010 incidents between 7 October and 7 February, more than triple the 600 reported during the same period the year before.

A doctor says he had a rock thrown through the window of his home in Manchester after displaying a Palestinian flag (Supplied)

And both sets of figures have come in the same week Tory MP Lee Anderson was suspended by the Conservative Party, following comments about London mayor Sadiq Khan that have been widely condemned as Islamophobic.

Among the cases reported to IRU was that of a 17-year-old boy who said he was interrogated by teachers about his faith and his understanding of Hamas after he attached a Palestine badge to his school bag. The Year 13 student from London said he felt targeted because he was Muslim, which triggered an anxiety attack and led to exam failure.

The numerous instances of being pulled out whilst studying to remove my badge made me feel like I was targeted because I was a Muslim, which made me feel like I was doing something wrong, he said. This feeling of being targeted intensified following the intimidating interrogation, which I was subjected to.

A teenager in London says he was grilled by his teachers over a Free Palestine badge on his school bag (Supplied)

The student was expecting to discuss his mental health during a safeguarding meeting with two teachers, but says he was instead met with questions such as, Are you a Muslim?, Do you go to a mosque, and Do you have a British passport. He claims he was interrogated on his understanding of Hamas.

In a separate incident reported to the IRU, a 32-year-old doctor, who wished to remain anonymous, said he has been too scared to leave his home following an attack he believes stemmed from his support for Palestine.

On 5 February, the man was awoken by a loud bang and found a large rock had been smashed through a window of his home in Manchester that was displaying a Palestinian flag. The incident left him unable to sleep and forced him to take two weeks off work due to stress.

This event has been extremely traumatic and has had a significant impact on my wellbeing, he told The Independent. I am not sleeping; I just pace around until 4 or 5am because I am too scared to sleep in the property. I no longer leave the house after sunset, as I am too frightened.

I will soon be returning to work after two weeks off sick with stress but I am very concerned about the impact this event will have on my professional performance as a doctor. I do not know how I can work with patients whilst I am this sleep-deprived.

If you have been a victim of Islamophobia you can report it to the IRU by emailing info@theiru.org.uk or calling 020 3904 6555.
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Tesco has been forced to change how it displays Clubcard deals after criticism that it could be breaking the law.

Last year consumer group Which? said Tesco could be breaking the law by failing to provide unit pricing  such as the price per 100g  on products with Clubcard promotion prices.

Which? reported the supermarket giant to the UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), as it criticised its pricing information displayed for some products.

At the time, Tesco said that its price labelling had been formally endorsed by Trading Standards, after it asked the organisation to review its Clubcard Prices promotions.

It added that it was disappointed by the ill-founded claims by Which?

Unit prices can be used by shoppers in stores and online to compare the value of products they are purchasing.

Tesco said its price labelling had been formally endorsed by Trading Standards (Alamy/PA)

Tescos UK chief executive Jason Tarry wrote in a blog this week: If you are in store, you will now start to see that the way that we display our Clubcard Prices will not only show the total price, but also the unit price of the product (by volume or weight), to allow a direct comparison of the price per unit between the Clubcard Prices offer and the price of alternative products.

This is something that we have been planning to do for some time, and I am really pleased that we are ready to make the change.

Over the coming weeks, these changes will appear in all our stores, as our colleagues update millions of price labels on the shelf edge. We will also be adding these unit prices to our Clubcard Prices deals online.

Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: Which? has campaigned through the cost-of-living crisis for supermarkets to make pricing clearer so shoppers can easily find the best value deals at a time when so many have struggled to put food on the table.

The lack of unit pricing on Tescos Clubcard offers was a glaring omission and we warned that this approach could be breaking the law last summer, so its good to see the nations largest supermarket stepping up to do the right thing by making this important change.

We look forward to seeing this rolled out quickly across all stores and online so shoppers can benefit as soon as possible. The Government also needs to now update outdated pricing rules so all shoppers can easily compare value.
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Angela Rayner has hit back at criticism over the sale of a former council house she bought under the right-to-buy policy, declaring: I am not ashamed.

The Labour deputy leader was criticised for turning a 48,500 profit on the property in Stockport, Greater Manchester, which she bought in 2007 with a 25 per cent discount.

She has previously criticised those who are able to secure loads and loads of discount when purchasing properties under Margaret Thatchers right-to-buy scheme.

After the revelation, in a new book by billionaire Conservative peer Michael Ashcroft, Tory MPs accused Ms Rayner of wanting to pull up the ladder on other council tenants who want to buy their own homes.

Angela Rayner said it is clear that Lord Ashcroft and his friends take an unhealthy interest in my family (PA Wire)

A report on the front page of The Mail on Sunday, which is serialising the book, also questioned Ms Rayners living arrangements in the years that followed her 2010 marriage to Mark Rayner.

Ms Rayner hit back at what she called Lord Ashcrofts unhealthy interest in her family life. She also accused the former Tory deputy chair of wanting to kick down at people like me who graft hard in tough circumstances to get on in life.

And Ms Rayner, who is also Labours shadow housing secretary, defended the partys policies, saying that those who live in a council house should have the opportunity to own their own home.

Weve said well review the unfair additional market discounts of up to 60 per cent the Tories introduced in 2012, long after I was able to exercise the right to buy (25 per cent) under the old system, Ms Rayner said. Thats not hypocrisy, its the right thing to do.

Michael Ashcrofts book reveals that Rayner turned a 48,500 profit on the sale of a former council house in Stockport (Getty Europe)

In a defiant post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Rayner added: Being able to buy my council house back in 2007 was a proud moment for me. I worked hard, saved and bought it by the book.

Im not ashamed  but I am angry that the Tories have since put the dream of a secure home out of reach for so many others.

Its clear that Lord Ashcroft and his friends not only take an unhealthy interest in my family  but want to kick down at people like me who graft hard in tough circumstances to get on in life. I wont let them.

It is only Ms Rayners latest brush with The Mail on Sunday, which two years ago published a sexist article about the Labour deputy supposedly trying to distract Boris Johnson by crossing and uncrossing her legs in the chamber.

The article led to the speaker of the House of Commons summoning the editor of the paper to discuss the issue affecting our parliamentary community.

Ms Rayner is an outspoken left-winger and has long been a target of often sexist abuse from the right.

Born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in 1980, she was raised on a council estate by her mother Lynn, who struggled with depression and could not read or write. From a young age, the MP acted as a carer for her mother, at times having to bathe and feed her.

And Ms Rayner has spoken movingly about being told she would never amount to anything after becoming pregnant at 16 and leaving school without any qualifications.
Voters in Rochdale will head to the polls on Thursday for one of the most controversial by-elections in recent history. What was set to be a straightforward contest to replace the late Labour MP Tony Lloyd, who died of blood cancer in January aged 73, has been mired by a series of scandals, with residents left facing an invidious choice.

Rochdale was considered a safe Labour seat, having been won with a comfortable 10,000 majority in 2019, but it is now anything but. Labour no longer has a candidate in the contest, and the front runner to win, George Galloway, is one of the most divisive figures in British politics.

So, how did it come to this, and what should voters look out for on Thursday?
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The deputy prime minister has said Lee Anderson was suspended for using the wrong words in an anti-Muslim rant about Sadiq Khan on GB News - as Rishi Sunak continued failing to address the comments.

Oliver Dowden said Mr Anderson was given the chance to apologise for claiming the London mayor is controlled by Islamists, and would have kept the Tory whip if he had, but was eventually suspended for refusing to say sorry.

He also repeatedly refused to say that the comments were racist, insisting only that the MP had used the wrong words.

It came as the prime minister Mr Sunak warned of an explosion in prejudice and antisemitism but failed to address Islamophobia specifically or the Islamophobic rant by the ex-Tory deputy chairman - despite figures last week showing the number of incidents of anti-Muslim abuse in the UK more than tripled in the four months since the Hamas attacks in Israel.

Lee Anderson was suspended after claiming Sadiq Khan was controlled by Islamists (PA)

Mr Anderson was eventually suspended over his comments and will now sit as an independent MP.

In an appearance on GB News, Mr Anderson said: I dont actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is theyve got control of Khan and theyve got control of London Hes actually given our capital city away to his mates.

Asked whether the comments were racist, Mr Dowden told Sky News: The words that he chose to use were not the right words to use, they were the wrong words and words do matter.

And he was given that opportunity to apologise and he didnt.

Pressed again by the BBC, Mr Dowden said: I dont believe that Lee Anderson said those remarks intending to be Islamophobic.

In a statement on Saturday night, Mr Sunak highlighted events of recent weeks, including pro-Palestinian protests across the country since the 7 October attacks.

The events of recent weeks are but the latest in an emerging pattern which should not be tolerated, Mr Sunak said. But Mr Sunak has not yet responded to Mr Andersons comments.

Rishi Sunak said there has been an explosion in prejudice since war erupted in the Middle East (PA Wire)

In a statement after Mr Andersons suspension, the PM said legitimate protests have been hijacked by extremists and politicians have been verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was right that Mr Anderson was suspended from the party over the appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst. The Labour leader also challenged Mr Sunak over wider Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.

What does it say about the prime minister's judgment that he made Lee Anderson deputy chairman of his party? Sir Keir said.

He added: Whether it is Liz Truss staying silent on Tommy Robinson or Suella Braverman's extreme rhetoric, Rishi Sunak's weakness means Tory MPs can act with impunity.

"This isn't just embarrassing for the Conservative Party, it emboldens the worst forces in our politics. Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip and take on the extremists in his party.

"The Tories may be getting more and more desperate as the election approaches, but Rishi Sunak has a responsibility to stop this slide into ever more toxic rhetoric."

It came as Mr Khan condemned the moral rot of anti-Muslim hatred in the Conservative Party. The London mayor said Mr Andersons belated suspension showed that Muslims are fair game as far as the Conservative Party is concerned.

And on Sunday the Muslim Council of Britain wrote to the chairman of the Conservative Party demanding an investigation into structural Islamophobia in the party.

In a letter to Richard Holden, the council said it welcomes the removal of the whip from Mr Anderson but alleged Islamophobia persists in the party.

Zara Mohammed, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: Our view is that the Islamophobia in the (Conservative) Party is institutional, tolerated by the leadership and seen as acceptable by great swathes of the party membership.

The letter also criticised the Conservatives for removing the whip from Mr Anderson only after he refused to apologise.

It said: We note that he (Mr Anderson) was only censured for refusing to apologise, not for making the racist remarks in the first place. We also note that the whip was withdrawn only after there was widespread condemnation across the board, while the Prime Minister and the rest of the Cabinet remained silent.
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Sadiq Khan has lashed out at Rishi Sunaks tacit endorsement of Lee Andersons racist GB News rant, which saw him suspended from the Conservative Party.

The London mayor said Mr Andersons belated suspension showed that Muslims are fair game as far as the Conservative Party is concerned.

Mr Anderson, who quit as deputy Tory chairman last month, had the Conservative whip suspended for claiming Islamists have got control of Mr Khan.

Tory chief whip Simon Hart said he was suspended not for the comments themselves, but for his refusal to apologise.

After the outburst from Lee Anderson, Sadiq Khan said blatant anti-Muslim hatred is being tolerated from top to bottom of the Tory party (PA)

And Mr Khan said it is time for the Tories to stop the moral rot of anti-Muslim hatred in the party.

Mr Khan said: Blatant anti-Muslim hatred is being tolerated from top to bottom of the party, with everyone from ministers to mayoral candidates failing to condemn even the most clear-cut examples of bigotry and racism.

In the last week alone, weve seen the last Tory prime minster promoting dangerous conspiracy theories, the last Tory home secretary peddling far-right tropes, and the last deputy chair of the party targeting me for no other reason than my faith and race  yet we had days of silence from the Tories.

Mr Khan said Islamophobia has gone through the roof since the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October.

Andersons comments have poured petrol on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred the message it sends is some forms of hatred and racism are acceptable, he added.

Mr Khan, standing for a third term as London mayor in Mays election, said the last thing anyone should want is a repeat of the divisive, racist and Islamophobic mayoral campaign the Conservatives ran in London in 2016.

In an emotive intervention, Mr Khan said: Enough is enough  its time for the Tories to stop the moral rot that demeans not only their party, but our countrys and capitals proud values of openness, decency and mutual respect.

Mr Anderson was suspended, meaning he will no longer sit as a Tory MP, for a GB News rant in which he said: I dont actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is theyve got control of Khan and theyve got control of London Hes actually given our capital city away to his mates.

Following Mr Andersons suspension, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of harbouring extremists in the party and said his weakness allows MPs to act with impunity.

A spokesman for Mr Hart said: Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the chief whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.

A Conservative source was defending Mr Anderson as recently as Friday evening before he was stripped of party support on Saturday.

But Labour party chair Anneliese Dodds said Mr Andersons comments were unambiguously Islamophobic, divisive and damaging.

Responding to his suspension, she said: It is right that he has had the whip removed, but the suggestion that Lee Anderson would have retained the confidence of the prime minister, simply if he apologised, is deeply concerning.

These views are wrong, full stop, and there shouldnt be conditions on removing them from your party.

Speculation immediately mounted that Mr Anderson would seek to join Nigel Farages Reform UK, formerly the Brexit Party.

The insurgent party previously denied claims that it offered money to Mr Anderson to defect, but it is believed he could contest his Ashfield seat, where he has a majority of just under 6,000, at the general election.

It would be a major blow for Mr Sunak if Mr Anderson joined Reform. The party already threatens to scupper Tory hopes in tens of seats at the election, and the outspoken MP, a favourite on the Tory right, could convince even more former Conservative voters to switch parties.

But, asked about the speculation, Reform leader Richard Tice said he was not interested in pathetic Tory squabbling.

The PM is also under pressure to remove the whip from his predecessor Liz Truss, who was interviewed by Steve Bannon on a visit to the US and remained silent as he hailed far-right figure Tommy Robinson a hero.

Ms Truss was slammed by former chancellor Sajid Javid, who said Id hope every MP would confront such a statement head-on. Liz should really know better, Sir Sajid added. And Labours Jonathan Ashworth accused Ms Truss of an unforgivable lowering of the office of prime minister.

On Saturday morning, cabinet minister Grant Shapps appeared to distance himself from the comments by Mr Anderson, but defended the controversial backbenchers right to speak (his) mind.

In a letter to Tory chair Richard Holden, Ms Dodds said Mr Andersons comments are the tip of iceberg and follow a deeply concerning pattern of Islamophobic comments tolerated and Islamophobia not dealt with within the party.

She cited examples of Islamophobia within the Conservative Party including London mayoral candidate Susan Halls claim in October that Jewish people in London are frightened of Mr Khans divisive attitude.

She also cited an investigation into allegations made by Nus Ghani that she was told that her Muslimness was making colleagues uncomfortable when she was sacked from the government in 2020.

Ms Dodds had said: Lee Andersons comments were unambiguously Islamophobic and Rishi Sunaks failure to suspend the whip or take any other action speaks volumes.

Mr Sunak made Mr Anderson Tory deputy chairman last February in a bid to connect with and hold onto so-called Red Wall voters who helped the party win under Boris Johnson in 2019.

But the Ashfield MPs repeated controversial remarks have often proved awkward for the PM and other ministers forced to defend them.

He resigned as deputy chairman in January as part of a major rebellion against Mr Sunaks Rwanda deportation bill, believing the legislation did not go far enough to allow Britain to deport asylum seekers to the east African nation.
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An Australian tourist has gone missing in Zimbabwes Victoria Falls National Park, home to one of the worlds natural wonders, the countrys parks spokesman said.

Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told The Associated Press that the tourist went missing in the vast rainforest on Friday.

We have a fully-fledged team that includes the police looking for the tourist. We have deployed sniffer dogs, drones and trackers on the ground, said Farawo. He said the tourist was 67 years old but did not share further details.

Such incidences are rare in Victoria Falls, a destination that attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe for its majestic water curtain that tumbles down more than 350 feet (108 meters) from the mighty Zambezi River to a gorge below, sending up a mist visible from miles away.

A few cases have been recorded in other parks. A German tourist who went missing in Matusadona National Park which teems with wild animals in northern Zimbabwe was found alive and in good health three days after he was reported missing in October last year.
President of Poland Andrzej Duda addressed Ukrainians on the two-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He assured that his country "supported, supports and will support Ukraine in its battle for freedom, regardless of the fatigue of war."

ADVERTISIMENT

Duda emphasized that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to win this war. If this happens, other European countries "will also face a new war sooner or later."

The President of Poland expressed his belief that Ukraine should have joined NATO back in 2008. If this had happened, "this war would not have happened".

"Russian aggression has demonstrated the importance of NATO, the presence of US troops in Poland and Europe, and that the United States remains a security leader in Europe and the world," Duda said.

The Polish leader also added that Russian aggression has demonstrated the need to modernize the armed forces of NATO countries. That is why Poland now allocates four percent of its GDP to the development of its army. "If we want a safe Europe for future generations, we must act now," he urged.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, Duda's office said that he did not plan to visit Ukraine on February 24. The Polish leader was also not in Kyiv on February 24, 2022, although he began his address by saying that "two years ago on February 23, he arrived in Ukraine to support it."

"Support is still important today. Despite the fatigue of the war, the free world cannot allow Russia to win," Duda emphasized.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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A aGoFundMe has been launched for Sloan Mattingly, the seven-year-old who died after falling in a collapsed sand hole last week, to support her family after her tragic death.

Sally Krouse launched the fundraiser to support Sloans family members, Jason, Therese and nine-year-old brother Maddox. As of Sunday afternoon, donors had raised more than $130,000, just shy of the $150,000 goal.

Dont tell us youre sorry for our lossdont do that to us, Sloans mother said in a statement posted to the GoFundMe. 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.

Jason Mattingly posted a photo on Facebook of a beam of light shining on the beach after Sloans passing.

This beam of light was photographed the day after the tragedy, he wrote. I truly appreciate whoever took it and let us know our baby is in heaven.

Sloans uncle, Chris Sloan, told local outlet KFOR about the young girls personality.

She was always happy, he said. She was really fun to be around. She had a lot of energy and just totally innocent, and thats what hurts the most in all this.

Sloan and her family were on vacation in Florida from Fort Wayne, Indiana when tragedy struck on 20 February. Sloan and Maddox were digging a hole at Lauderdale-by-the-Seas beach when the sand collapsed, opening into a five-foot hole. Maddox was buried up to his chest, while his younger sister was completely submerged.

Sloan Mattingly died last week after becoming trapped in a collapsed sand hole (Screengrab/CBS News Miami)

Rescuers arrived in minutes as bystanders attempted to dig the children out.

Sandra King, spokesperson for the Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue Department, said last week rescue crews used shovels to dig out the sand and boards to stabilize the hole, but the Sloan had no pulse and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

As of Thursday, Maddox was still in the hospital recovering, WLWT reports.

On Friday, community members of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea held a memorial for Sloan, CBS News reports.

Collapsed sand holes have proven deadly for beachgoers in the past.

Two years ago, an 18-year-old died after he and his 17-year-old sister were trapped in a sand collapse at a beach in Ocean County, New Jersey. His sister was rescued by the police.
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A man who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC on Sunday in an apparent protest against the Gaza war is a serving member of the US Air Force, a spokesperson confirmed.

The US Air Force serviceman suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition at a hospital.

The man filmed his protest and livestreamed the video on social media platform Twitch shortly before 1pm local time on Sunday.

The graphic footage shows him shouting I will no longer be complicit in genocide and I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest as he stood in front of the embassy gates.

He then kept his phone down to film himself pouring a clear liquid from a metal bottle and setting himself alight. He also shouts Free Palestine! before falling to the ground.

Law enforcement officers then approached the man and successfully put out the flames. The fire was extinguished by members of the uniformed division of the US Secret Service, a spokesperson told The Independent.

The video was removed from Twitch as the platform stated that it violated its guidelines. But police said they have obtained and reviewed a copy.

A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the location due to suspicions surrounding a questionable vehicle potentially linked to the individual in question. Officials later cleared the suspicious vehicle and found no hazardous materials inside.

The incident comes amid growing protests against Israel across the country as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus campaign since 7 October last year to eradicate Hamas has taken a huge toll on civilian lives in Gaza. Israels four-month military operation has devastated the Gaza Strip, with more than 29,000 Palestinians killed according to the local health ministry.

The onslaught that began after an attack by Hamas rebels that killed at least 1,200 people has intensified the humanitarian crisis in the enclave with reports of widespread starvation, disease and exhausted medical resources, prompting international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.

No embassy staff members were hurt in the incident, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington told the New York Times.

A statement issued by the Israeli foreign ministry said that the individual involved was not recognised by embassy staff.

It appeared to be the second instance of self-immolation outside an Israeli mission in a matter of months. A protester set themselves on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, the Associated Press reported in December. Authorities later found a Palestinian flag at the scene.

Israel has denied the allegations of carrying out genocide in Gaza and said its actions in the Israel-Hamas war were in accordance with international law.

Mr Netanyahu is now seeking cabinet approval to expand a ground offensive into the southern Gazan city of Rafah while a temporary ceasefire deal is being negotiated.

He said on X that he would convene his cabinet next week for approval of the operation in Rafah, where around 1.5 million displaced people are crammed into tents.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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In a rambling 90-minute keynote speech at this years Conservative Political Action Conference, Donald Trump boasted about how he hasnt stepped down in the face of several indictments and felony charges.

Ive watched over the years as politicians get indicted, Mr Trump said. And they start by going to a microphone about two minutes after that. Ladies and gentlemen, I will be resigning from office today. I will be home go home with my family, my friends, and I will fight for my name.

Well, thats the last you ever hear from that poor guy, he continued. And with me we have a big voice we have  you can see by this crowd.

The former president is facing 91 felony counts after prosecutors brought four indictments against him in the last year.

Mr Trump faces charges in Georgia and Washington DC related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Meanwhile, in Florida, hes facing charges related to keeping classified documents, and in New York prosecutors say he falsified business records surrounding hush money payments during his first presidential campaign.

Thats not to mention the civil cases hes faced, such as the E Jean Carroll defamation trials and a $355m fine  plus tens of millions more in interest  for fraudulent business practices.

Meanwhile, the former president maintains his absolute innocence.

The only crime Ive committed is defending America, Mr Trump said during his speech on Saturday.

On top of bragging about staying in politics despite his charges, Mr Trumps speech was also filled with falsehoods.

At one point, Mr Trump discussed a previously debunked claim about US casualties in Afghanistan.

18 months, we didnt have one soldier killed in Afghanistan, I was the one that got it  I was the one that had it ready, it was enough, 21 years, that was enough, Mr Trump said.

When Mr Trump made a similar comment last year, the Associated Press reported it is untrue that the 18-month period was solely under the Trump presidency. Instead, those 18 months came just before President Joe Biden pulled American troops out of Afghanistan in August 2021, meaning it happened under both administrations, according to the AP.

The former president also falsely claimed that Californians are being sent several ballots as part of a scheme to defraud elections during his keynote speech at CPAC.

I will tell you if God came down and God was the vote checker, I believe [Republicans] would win California, I think its so crazy, Mr Trump said. They send out 36 million ballots, just sent out to people unknown. Theyre sent out all over the place. How many people from California know people that get six, seven, eight ballots?

There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state of California, and his claims come as he faces charges in two states for attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
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Donald Trump compared migrants to Hannibal Lecter as he claimed that they are coming from insane asylums during his almost 90-minute meandering and ominous speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

The former president was speaking about his anti-Biden messaging efforts on Saturday, saying that migrant crime is a new category of crime.

I wanted to call it Biden migrant crime [but that was] just too long, Mr Trump said on stage at CPAC. So we just call it migrant crime.

We have a new category of migrant crime, and it's going to be more severe than violent crime and crime as we know it, he added. Because we have millions and millions of people and they came from prisons and jails. They came from mental institutions, and [were] insane.

So they're not the same thing. An insane asylum is a mental institution on steroids. It's Silence of the Lambs. Okay, you know that Hannibal Lecter? They're all being deposited into our country, he claimed. And then you have terrorists and then you have drugs. And then you have human traffickers, and they're coming over at levels never [seen] before.

We've never seen anything like this. Three years ago, we had the safest and most secure border in US history. Mr Trump claimed. We ended catch and release except when it was catch and release in Mexico. We had catch and release in our country. We built 571 miles of border wall  far more than I said I was going to build.

A study by Stanford economist Ran Abramitzky released last summer found that immigrants havent increased crime in the last 140 years.

First-generation immigrants have not been more likely to be imprisoned than people born in the United States since 1880, Krysten Crawford at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research noted on 21 July 2023.

Today, immigrants are 30 percent less likely to be incarcerated than are U.S.-born individuals who are white, the study finds, she added at the time. And when the analysis is expanded to include Black Americans  whose prison rates are higher than the general population  the likelihood of an immigrant being incarcerated is 60 percent lower than of people born in the United States.

Mr Trump claimed Black voters like him because of his many indictments and mug shot during a speech at the Black Conservative Foundation gala on Friday evening.

I got indicted for nothing. They were doing it because its election interference. And then I got indicted a second time, a third time and a fourth time, Mr Trump said. And a lot of people said that thats why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against. And they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against. Its been pretty amazing.

The former president is currently facing 91 charges across several cases against him. Mr Trump gave the speech in South Carolina just hours before polls opened for the states presidential primary.

The mug shot, weve all seen the mug shot, and you know who embraced it more than anybody else? The Black population, he said later in the speech. Its incredible. You see Black people walking around with my mug shot, you know?

Mr Trump is referring to his mugshot taken in Fulton County, Georgia last summer after he was booked on several charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC called the speech unbelievably racist.

From Henry Cabot Lodge in the late 19th century to Donald Trump, anti-immigration politicians have repeatedly tried to link immigrants to crime, but our research confirms that this is a myth and not based on fact, Mr Abramitzky noted last year.
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Donald Trump was greeted by Argentinian President Javier Milei with a massive bear hug backstage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Trump aide Dan Scavino Jr tweeted a clip of the interaction shortly before 4pm on Saturday, when both Mr Trump and Mr Milei spoke at the conference.

Mr Trump welcomed Mr Milei during his speech, saying we have a tremendous group of dignitaries, leaders, world leaders and local leaders ... from all over the world people with us right now at this moment in the room and just mentioned ... [the] President of Argentina who's gotten a lot of publicity.

He's a great gentleman ... he said I am Maga then I realized these are the few [who] can really do it, he added. Well make Argentina great again  Javier Milei  Thank you very much.

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador spoke at CPAC on Friday, meaning that two of Latin Americas top rightwing populists joined the conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

Other rightwing leaders, such as Viktor Orban of Hungary and Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, have spoken at the conference in previous years. This year also saw former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss join the event.

Mr Milei hosted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Buenos Aires on Friday just a few hours before the president was flying to the US to speak at CPAC.

The Argentinian leader is courting both the current and previous administrations as the US could be important to the success of his own administration as the chainsaw-wielding, dog-cloning eccentric character tries to pull his nation out of a deep economic crisis.

The US is the largest foreign investor in Argentina and the third-largest trading partner  in addition to wielding the most influence over the International Monetary Fund, to which the South American nation of 46 million people owes $40bn.

As the meeting with Mr Blinken got underway on Friday, Mr Milei said: Argentina has decided to return to the side of the West, to the side of progress, to democracy and, above all, freedom.

Mr Blinken was asked about Mr Mileis plans to attend CPAC.

Thats entirely up to him, the top US diplomat said, according to The New York Times.

But about the meeting with the Argentinian president, he said he could not be more pleased, on behalf of President Biden, with the meeting we just had.

Mr Milei is attempting to build a relationship with Mr Trump as well as the Biden administration even as he rails against the international left, arguing its harming the West with socialism and social justice.
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Senator Lindsey Graham was met with a hostile reception in his home state as he joined Donald Trump during his victory speech in South Carolina on Saturday night.

The former president called Senator Graham on stage after he was projected to be the winner of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, beating his rival Nikki Haley in the state where she served as governor from 2011 to 2017.

Mr Trump took to the stage roughly 10 minutes after the close of polls and introduced the Republican senator, describing him as a little bit further left than some people on this stage.

I always say, when Im in trouble on the left, I call up Lindsey Graham and he straightens it out so fast, he said, as loud boos erupted.

No, no. Remember, I love him, hes a good man, said Mr Trump as he tried to calm the supporters. Come up here Lindsey.

This is the most qualified man to be president of the United States, Mr Graham said. And let it be said that South Carolina created the biggest political comeback in American history.

The former president was projected as winning the South Carolina contest at 7pm on Saturday night just as polls closed. With some 90 per cent of the vote counted he was on around 60 per cent, with Ms Haley trailing on 39.3 per cent.

It marks yet another defeat for former UN ambassador Haley, and a particularly painful one given it came in her home state where she had arguably spent most effort campaigning. She nonetheless vowed to continue fighting Mr Trump despite her many primary losses.

Ms Haley stayed resolute even after losing to the none of these candidates box listed on Nevada ballot papers earlier this month. Speaking to a group of supporters and journalists at her Charleston headquaters, Ms Haley said: No matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run.

Meanwhile, the former president also thanked North Carolina Republican Party chair Michael Whatley, whom Mr Trump backed as the next Republican National Committee chair with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair.

Audience members also booed when Mr Trump named South Carolina Republican Party chair Drew McKissick in his speech, after years of infighting in the state. Mr Trump seemed genuinely surprised at the reaction, according to Fox News, commenting that: We have a highly opinionated group of people [here].
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It all came down to this: Nikki Haley had her shot tonight to prove this is still a contest. She failed.

South Carolina voted today. Its the fifth Republican primary or caucus, after three previous states and the US Virgin Islands were all won by her opponent, frontrunner Donald Trump. But now, the race turns to Ms Haleys backyard.

In any other contest, a popular two-term governor and former UN ambassador would be presumed to take her home state. Instead, Ms Haley heads into her Charleston election night watch party down 30 points in all available polling and still struggling to make inroads with the conservative Republican base which is firmly backing Mr Trump.

Ms Haley needed a miracle tonight. Her campaign is staring at Super Tuesday down in the polls in every state. She appears to have the fundraising momentum of a candidate with the wind at her back, but is not yet showing any signs of pulling off a victory in any individual state.

To put that in perspective: Donald Trump has won every state so far. He is slated to win every state going forward. In 2016, he lost several states, including Texas, which threw its substantial delegate count behind Ted Cruz instead.

He still ended up winning the GOP primary that year; this year, it seems increasingly unclear if he will lose a single state.

South Carolina was far from the last presidential nominating contest, and Nikki Haley has made it clear: Shes not dropping out until after Super Tuesday at the very least.

But she needed to show signs of life tonight. The 15-to-20-point margin of defeat in her home state may undermine her own electability arguments while simultaneously making it harder for her to keep moving forward. Donors like winners. They dont particularly enjoy backing candidates who do not have a path to the nomination. Ms Haley needed to prove that this is a real campaign, not just an effort to provide GOP bigwigs with an alternative at a brokered convention.

Her allies dispute this. A source with knowledge of the direction of the main super PAC backing Ms Haleys campaign told reporters after results came in on Saturday that she had cleared the threshold needed to secure a mandate to stay in the race, given that her final total was likely to be within a hair of 40 per cent of the vote.

Absolutely, that source told The Independent when asked if Ms Haleys campaign was showing momentum, refusing to attribute the nights outcome to a home-field advantage.

Haley supporters piled onto the shore at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant for the candidates last rally in the state on Friday, One expressed doubts to The Independent that the GOP would even consider Ms Haley were Mr Trump to be hopelessly sidelined from the presidential race by a criminal conviction, a mountain of legal fees, or some combination of both.

Nikki Haleys barnstorming of her home state came to an end with a picturesque sunset illuminating the silhouette of an aircraft carrier to her back on Friday. She descended from the steps of her massive tour bus, the Beast of the Southeast, after several triumphant honks (and an admission from Congressman Ralph Norman that they had initially missed their turn). Addressing supporters who cheered when she joked that Donald Trump had permanently banned them from the Maga movement, Ms Haley made her case once again for the GOP to move on from a 91-times-indicted former president who she fiercely attacked for devaluing the military service of American troops, including her own husband.

Haley greets a supporter after voting in Kiawah Island, South Carolina (AP)

The best America can do is two candidates in their 80s? she asked the crowd.

Going on the offence, she continued: You mock one member of the military, you mock all members of the militaryThe problem now is he is not the same person he was in 2016. He is unhinged. He is more diminished than he was.

Supporters of the former governor, several of whom identified themselves as former Trump voters, told The Independent that they agreed with the description of the former president pushed by Ms Haleys campaign: losing a step, consumed by personal grievances, and unable to move past his anger. Some clearly fell into Ms Haleys main constituency within the GOP: anti-Trump Republicans, who never fell in love with The Donald in the way much of their party did in 2016.

Alyssa and Donny Wingard, two South Carolineans who lived in the state when Ms Haley was governor, complained that they couldnt understand why their fellow Christian, conservative Republicans were backing a man like Donald Trump, who last May was found by a jury to have been liable for sexually abusing a woman in 1996. He also continues to face four separate criminal prosecutions as he viciously attacks any Republican who points that out.

Im baffled. Baffled, Alyssa repeated, speaking to The Independent after a rally held by the former governor as a sunset painted the sky behind a massive aircraft carrier at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.

How could Christians want to vote for Trump? she asked in exasperation. What does he do thats Christian every day?

She and her husband had attended Ms Haleys campaign launch and had been behind their former governor from the beginning.

She tells us what needs to be done, and she tells us how shes going to do it, Donny Wingard said.

With a smile on her face, his wife diplomatically avoided a question about the decision of Tim Scott, the GOP senator appointed by Ms Haley in 2012, to back Mr Trump after ending his own ill-fated presidential run.

Im going to do what she did, Ms Wingard said, laughing. Bowed out with grace.

There were some in the crowd who told The Independent that they had supported Mr Trump during his runs in 2016 and 2020. But they remain a minority in their party, which after Saturday night remained clearly in Mr Trumps camp. The former governor was sitting at just under 40 per cent of the vote in the state she won twice shortly after the race was called; networks handed the call to Mr Trump at 7pm on the dot, and he spoke in front of a raucous crowd in Columbia.

Haleys election party after her defeat in her home state of South Carolina (John Bowden / The Independent)

Ms Haleys election night watch party was a muted affair. The former governor neglected to send out a press release to supporters about the watch party until the morning of the primary, too late to draw a crowd that filled the Grand Ballroom at Charleston Place downtown in the states capital city. A sparse crowd of Haley supporters broke out into chants of Nikki, Nikki! several times after the race was called at 7pm, each time drawing cheers and a horde of journalists eager to get a picture of Ms Haleys actual supporters. The vibe was not unlike a zoo, with eager cameras pressed up together to take pictures of endangered animals in an enclosure. Attendance seemed to have picked up shortly before she was due to speak.

One of the Haley supporters who did support Mr Trump in the past told The Independent that the ex-presidents actions after his 2020 defeat indicated a downward spiral.

I voted for Trump before but he showed what he really is. The people like him because he was a fighter, Steven Landrum said.

Since his time in the presidency, Mr Landrum suggested, the former president has shown what he really is. He also faulted the Republican frontrunner for constantly picking fights with his critics and opponents.

I dont think hes a very honest person, he explained. He didnt know how to keep his mouth shut about certain things when he was president.

Sometimes when you have an issue with the police, you keep your mouth shut, Mr Landrum said, giving a hypothetical example. He was fighting everythinghe was not looking at what he could do to help the United States.

After Saturday, the race heads across the country. Ms Haley has her eyes on Michigan, as well as the Super Tuesday batch which includes California, Texas, and others. But one fact was clear after her defeat at home: theres no reason to think that Ms Haley is going to win a single state in the primary unless a massive shift occurs within the GOP electorate  specifically, the conservative Republicans who make up the majority of her opponents base.

Exit polls illustrated why that will be difficult. Hardcore partisans are the most likely to turn out for statewide party primary elections, and that hasnt changed in 2024. CNNs exit surveys indicated Saturday evening that more than six in 10 of the voters who participated in South Carolina believe the 2020 election was stolen by Joe Biden; that result has been duplicated in every other primary so far.

Nikki Haleys path to the nomination is now one of pure attrition. Absent an earthquake to shake up GOP voter sentiment going forward, her best hope is to wait and see whether Mr Trumps mountain of legal issues drag him down to the point where a presidential run becomes unviable. Whether that will even happen before the primary concludes  if at all  remains a total mystery.

The Palmetto State was Nikki Haleys chance to beat Donald Trump. She didnt. Now, as we march towards the partys June nominating convention, two questions remain: will anything shake Donald Trumps core faction of supporters? And is this exercise by Ms Haley really anything more than one, big, expensive waste of time?
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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.
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Nikki Haleys campaign for the presidency chugs along.

The former governor of South Carolina vowed to stay in the race Saturday evening after a defeat in her home state, addressing a pumped-up crowd of supporters in Charleston. Pointing to her speech earlier in the week wherein she promised to keep fighting Donald Trump through Super Tuesday and beyond, Ms Haley declared after her latest loss to Mr Trump: Im a woman of my word.

Her campaign insists that there remains a path forward, not just to provide a rhetorical alternative to Mr Trump, but to win the contest outright. Polls indicate otherwise, although they notably failed to register her momentum in either South Carolina or New Hampshire, the last two competitive primary states.

Both Ms Haley and her supporters appeared to be fired up after her performance on Saturday. While the campaign obviously failed to win, with most votes counted Ms Haley remained near the 40 per cent mark  a clear loss, but a better performance than was predicted. As the governor took the stage, she made two things clear: One, shes not leaving. And secondly, she doesnt think Donald Trump can win a general election.

She also took aim at the Republican frontrunner for the increasingly poisonous rhetoric he uses to describe his political foes. Donald Trump, she said, drives people away from the GOP nearly every day.

Those statements were Ms Haleys way of saying, Im serious. Im not kissing the ring.

And to be clear, her camp is projecting confidence. A source with knowledge of her super PACs strategies spoke with reporters Saturday evening after votes came in and told The Independent that Ms Haley had clearly secured a mandate to continue fighting Donald Trump for the nomination. Voters, Ms Haley said, deserved a real alternative, not a Soviet-style single-candidate race.

Nikki Haley hugs fans after losing South Carolina primary

She did probably about two or three points better here with Republicans than she did in New Hampshire, they said. Of Ms Haleys performance tonight compared to the expectations set by the Trump campaign, they said, I feel great about it.

Vermont, Utah, Virginia. I think there are states that, if you look at demographically, she has a chance to win.

That source went on to predict an interesting week or two ahead for the Haley campaign as her team and its allied network seek to capitalise on the momentum they claimed to have after Saturdays results.

Her rank-and-file supporters who crowded into the Charleston Places grand ballroom on Saturday agreed. They were thrilled to hear Ms Haley declare that she was remaining in the race; another revealing moment came when a CNN commentator, his audio projected across the ballroom, declared that Ms Haley could and likely should remain in the race as long as she can keep the lights on  a moment that drew one of the loudest cheers of the night from the assembled guests.

Jim Myrick, one of Ms Haleys supporters in the room, told The Independent after Ms Haleys speech that the former governor was standing up to prevent the chaos of a second Trump term.

There are too many people who are saying yes to a man who [says], Ill broach no controversy, Ill allow no dissent, said Mr Myrick. I hope Im exaggerating when I say it could be an existential threat to the American presidency. I think were looking at somebody who said that hes gonna be an authoritarian, and said hes gonna take vengeance on people.

He also suggested that Ms Haleys wealthy donors were not likely to be scared off, as long as she retains some momentum and projects herself as a reasonable second option.

A lot of big money sponsors recognize her rationality and her ability to be the adult in the room, he said.

Others who had gotten to know Ms Haley and her campaign spoke in equally glowing terms. One man who recounted attending the former governors rally in Buford relayed a surprising anecdote: Ms Haleys son Nalin, now famous for his elbow-drop burn aimed at Tim Scott, had without being asked helped to carry lawn chairs for a World War II veteran and his wife after the event, helping them to their car even as the entire Haley campaign bus awaited his return.

He added that he faulted the Trump-aligned faction of the GOP for not extending olive branches to independents and conservative Democrats, instead driving them away from the party.

You cannot win national elections with just [Republicans], Daniel Sulka said.

Thats Ms Haleys message to Republicans going forward: If you want to remain comfortable, vote for Donald Trump. But if you want to beat Joe Biden, theres only one choice remaining.

Whether she actually convinces the GOP voting base remains an open question. It does appear that she has already successfully convinced the partys moneyed elite of that, however.

Her campaign has shown no signs of slowing down in terms of raising money. She announced a $1m haul after a two-event swing of Texas earlier this month, and is making her staying power a selling point going forward.
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An Alabama courts ruling this week putting the future of in vitro fertilization (IVF) at risk for thousands of families across the state hit the national discourse on abortion like a brick through its window.

Republican politicians scrambled to defend themselves, even as it was clear that the conservative fantasy of ending the protections of Roe vs Wade had been the direct impetus for the ruling. GOP figureheads from Speaker Mike Johnson to presidential candidates Donald Trump and Nikki Haley fell over themselves to come out in favour of IVF protections (thanks in no small part due to the comparatively wealthy status of families with financial access to IVF).

Government doesnt need to get into something this sensitive. This should be between the doctor and the parents. Period, said Nikki Haley on Saturday, providing a quote that could have been copy-and-pasted from a pro-choice group after Roes demise.

But if the IVF ruling hit the political discourse like a brick, then its effects on the actual lives of Alabamas families was more akin to a bomb going off. Already stories are trickling out from women who were days or even moments away from various stages of IVF treatment, only to be left high-and-dry by a court ruling that in some cases could leave them on the hook for thousands of dollars in money that is now essentially flushed down the drain.

Now, even if I wanted to get them out of the state and do a transfer in another state or where my surrogate lives, I cant, one woman told NBC News. Im just kind of stuck until something changes down here, which  who knows how long thats going to take?

Its a reminder that these court decisions have real effects on real lives. Banning a medical practice doesnt just affect people in the future; it can outright ruin lives for people who are already in a vulnerable position.

Women in South Carolina have already learned that lesson.

The Palmetto State is the location of the next primary contest between Ms Haley and Mr Trump, the last remaining Republican candidates. Saturdays contest will almost certainly be won by Mr Trump, who dominates control of the Republican electorate and has won every contest so far.

Its also the site of one of the many localised fights over abortion rights that have erupted post-Roe. South Carolinas Supreme Court allowed a six-week abortion ban to go into effect last August; now, pro-choice advocates including Planned Parenthood are leading a legal fight to define unclear language in the law in the hopes of pushing the ban threshold to nine weeks.

The women directly involved in this fight are no stranger to having their lives upended by a court decision. What they witnessed in Alabama this week was just the latest example.

Alabama couple who spent $50,000 on IVF speak out on controversial pause

When I found out I was pregnant, I was four weeks. I had missed my period by two days and decided to check even though I thought, Theres no way this could happen. Because I had an IUD in place.

Taylor Shelton is the lead plaintiff suing the state over the ban. Speaking just a day before voters in her home state participated in the GOP primary, she explained how even though she was responsible  tracking her period, using protection, and so on  the reality of the ban left her struggling with questions about what to do.

A week before she learned of her pregnancy, Ms Shelton says she received a clean bill of health from her gynaecologist, who also affirmed that her IUD was in place.

I actually went to the gynecologist to get my IUD checked and kind of have a yearly checkup, said Ms Shelton. And she, you know, said that it was good to go and had no issues.

After a pregnancy test revealed her status, Ms Shelton still wasnt worried. After all, she was still well under the states six-week deadline. Or so she thought.

Since I was under six weeks, you know, I was four weeks, so I felt I was in the clear. And then the next day, that Friday, I started calling around trying to figure out what I needed to do to get the abortion, she said.

Thats when it was made clear: there were no appointment availabilities at any of South Carolinas three remaining abortion clinics. Ms Shelton was going to have to defy the ban by leaving the state.

The problems only got worse from there. Once in neighbouring North Carolina, which bans abortion care after 12 weeks, Ms Shelton fell into a world of lies and deceit, all thanks to the anti-abortion movement. At a so-called crisis pregnancy center  fake abortion clinics known for misleading women of their services  Ms Shelton revealed a shocking and ugly side to the abortion fight that unmistakably carries the possibility of harming women both physically and emotionally.

I went up to Charlotte, and it turns out this place was a fake abortion clinic, said Ms Shelton.

I knew that they couldnt give me an abortion, but they did tell me that they could give me an ultrasound (required by law in North Carolina, twice, before an abortion).

After luring her to the clinic (a four-hour drive), Ms Shelton was informed by staff at the crisis centre that they werent going to give her the ultrasound. She had just wasted an entire day, with nothing to show for it  not even a benign medical test that could have revealed any actual health issues she could be facing.

This woman  coerced me into scheduling an appointment, going driving up to Charlotte, said Ms Shelton. They said that you cant do ultrasounds with an IUD in place, which is not true.

Ms Shelton left abruptly, she told The Independent. But there was one more thing that happened before she did that really cemented the clinics dodgy image in her mind.

They ended up giving me 100 bucks worth of gas like prepaid gas cards, she quipped derisively. After offering her $50 initially, Ms Shelton said clinic staff upped their impromptu offer to $100 after a back-and-forth about a possible ectopic pregnancy (which would have been detected by the ultrasound they had just refused to give her).

The whole thing felt like the black market.

Ms Shelton did eventually get the treatment she sought. But she was clear-eyed in the knowledge that she had done so thanks to a family support system and a career that allowed her to work remotely. Many women, if not most women, do not fall into that category.

Im sad but also quite angry, she says now, looking back. It was really frustrating. Like the whole situation was unbelievably frustrating. And its really hard to be that vulnerable, and to be in a state like that.

Her lawsuit takes aim at language around the so-called fetal heartbeat, seeking to push the ban back by three weeks. On paper, its not always clear what that means. But doctors in the state say it means everything.

Dr Katherine Farris, Planned Parenthood of South Atlantics chief medical officer, told The Independent that South Carolinas ban had made as many as 85-90 per cent of the typical patients at their clinics ineligible to receive abortion care. Moving that threshold to nine weeks would supposedly cut that number down by about half.

And like Ms Shelton, Dr Farris described the effects of South Carolinas ban taking effect like an earthquake. She was inside one of the two clinics in the state where she provides care when the ban took effect, and had the experience of watching women who were in line to get the procedure receive the news that it was now illegal to treat them.

The desperation, sadness, fear and anger were all palpable.

They were stunned that this could happen to them, that they could be at a doctors office about to get very critical life saving health care. And all of a sudden the legislature and a law takes away that right, said Dr Farris, explaining the shock and fear she witnessed in her patients.

They were very afraid that they werent going to be able to make it work, she continued. Some patients, understandably, are angry with usI still see that anger. I still see the anger every day.

Doctors and nurses who were present faced the brunt of their patients reactions.

Many of us, if not all of us, were in tears at some point that day, knowing the impact this would have on our patients.

Taylors story is far from unique. At this point its becoming more and more common, as horror stories from conservative states continue to appear, each one dealing body blows to conservatives in the media and constructing an image of laws and politicians leaving women in real danger. In Texas, the story of a woman who nearly died after she was denied life-saving abortion care is currently spreading like wildfire across cable news at the same time every Republican in the country is playing defence over the Alabama IVF ruling.

South Carolina is a deep-red state. But were in an election year, and these stories of women facing life-and-death situations thanks to legislation long seen as priorities for the conservative right are already putting Republicans at a disadvantage with a demographic that has increasingly spurned them in key races. Suburban women delivered the GOP defeats in 2020, 2022 and increasingly appear poised to do so in November, when in all likelihood Mr Trump will face off against President Joe Biden for the worlds least-desired rematch.

The spigot is not going to be turned off. Pandoras Box is open, and stories about women being put in vulnerable circumstances are going to keep coming out until the laws change or American voters decide that it just truly doesnt care. As of yet, theres no sign of the latter happening  though some conservatives may wishfully hope that changes.

For Ms Shelton and so many others, this isnt just politics. This is personal. This is as close to a kitchen-table issue as you can conceivably find; thousands of women, across the country, facing health issues, financial ruin and more all thanks to the activist conservative right appearing to embody the concept of a dog chasing and catching a car. If this week is any indication, the right has nothing  nothing  in the way of a response to these stories.

Somethings gotta give.
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Former president Donald Trump previewed his attacks against President Joe Biden in the 2024 election when he spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday afternoon in a meandering speech that toggled between mocking his opponent and telling rambling anecdotes.

Mr Trump made the address at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the day of the South Carolina primary, where he is expected to overwhelmingly defeat the states former governor Nikki Haley.

The twice-impeached, four-times indicted former president served as the main attraction for the 50th annual gathering of conservatives where he made his political debut in 2011. The conferences executives  married couple Matt and Mercedes Schlapp  have effectively turned into a celebration of Mr Trump above all else.

Mr Trump showed up almost an hour late to the conference and delivered a 90-minute speech wherein he veered between offering his plans for political retribution and a crackdown on immigrants on one hand and mocking Mr Biden and the media on the other.

At one stage the Republican compared immigrants to Hannibal Lecter in a xenophobic tangent about what he called migrant crime, saying they were coming from insane asylum[s] and being deposited into our country. He also invited controversy by suggesting his Georgia mugshot had made him more popular among Black people.

Seemingly aware of the fact the press would criticise his penchant for long-winded stories  including darting between his interactions with the Mexican government, to his visiting Iraq  he looked to swat them down. Theyll say, he rambled, nobody can ramble like this, he said. Theyll say he rambled. Hes cognitively impaired. Not its really the opposite. Its total genius.

You know that it is these fakers up there, he rambled on endlessly, telling these horrible and very boring stories  no, theyre very informative stories, theyre very important stories actually. And no, there is no cognitive problem  if there was Id know about it.

Trump agrees with Putin that Biden should be president

All the while, he mocked Mr Biden for his age and his seeming inability to get around safely, even joking that Mr Biden, who is only a few years older than Mr Trump, walks into walls, speaks only briefly, and cannot even read off a telemprompter.

CPAC spent a considerable amount of the four-day conference defending the January 6 riot and efforts to overturn the election  featuring some of the people who had been convicted for their actions and their loved ones both onstage and in booths  and indeed, Mr Trump opened his address by playing Justice for All, a song that features Mr Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance while inmates in a DC prison sing the Star-Spangled Banner.

Mr Trump alluded to their treatment in his address.

You heard the J6 hostages, didn't you? he told a packed ballroom. And I will tell you there's never been in the history of our country a group of people treated the way they've been treated. There has never been anything like it. In a country that had slavery for several hundred years and saw much of the indigenous population wiped out this was a tall claim.

In addition, Mr Trump sought to compare his plight to political prisoners.

I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president, he said. But as a proud political dissident, I am a dissident. His claim echoed comments earlier this week when he compared himself to Alexei Navalny, the Russian dissident and opponent of Vladimir Putin who died in a Siberian prison camp.

Mr Trump regularly complained about the multiple indictments and legal troubles he faces, most recently, a ruling in New York that he, his two adult sons and their chief associates would have to pay $364m  plus interest  to the state for committing fraud.

No one treated worse than January 6 insurrectionists, Trump claims

Throughout the week the conference seemed to singularly focus on migrants coming into the United States via the US-Mexico border in a sign of how Mr Trumps rhetoric, once called racist and xenophobic, has become standard fare not only in the Republican Party but also parts of the Democratic Party as well.

We have countries that honestly, nobody has ever heard of, he said at one point. Similarly, he decried the influx of migrants and blamed them for bringing disease.

People were coming in deathly sick with highly contagious diseases, he said. I said, I dont want our people catching these diseases that nobodys even heard about.

As a result, Mr Trump called for drastic efforts to deport migrants from the United States.

It will be the largest deportation in the history of our country, he said. And its not a nice thing to say. And those clowns in the media will say oh, hes so mean. No, no. Theyre killing our people. Theyre killing our country.

Striking a similar tone to the one he made last year before his first indictment in New York, Mr Trump regularly invoked a desire to seek retribution.

For hard-working Americans, November 5 will be our new liberation day, he told a crowd to rupturous applause. But for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters who have comandeered our government, it will be their judgment day. When we win, the curtain closes on their corrupt reign and the sun rises on a bright new future for America, thats what we have to have.

Trump calls Biden a 'threat to democracy' and claims he is 'a political dissident'

Most polling shows Mr Trump leading Mr Biden in swing states. Still, other than immigration, Mr Trump refrained mostly from talking about any domestic policy. On Friday, he came out in support of in vitro fertilisation after Alabamas supreme court ruled that frozen embryos could be considered children under state law. In the same respect, he also did not mention how he nominated the Supreme Court Justices who facilitated the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022.

In the same respect, Mr Trump refused to mention one specific case that did not go his way: the trial that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll and the subsequent trial for defaming her, which rewarded her $83.3m
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Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has pledged to keep fighting for the Republican presidential nomination despite a clear defeat in her home state primary to ex-president Donald Trump.

Mr Trump secured an expected victory over Ms Haley in the Palmetto State, where she served as governor from 2011 to 2017. He is projected to secure roughly 60 per cent of the vote, with nearly 40 per cent of votes going to Ms Haley, according to projections two hours after polls closed. The former presidents series of primary victories continues to solidify his prospects as the 2024 Republican Presidential candidate.

Ms Haley spoke to a group of supporters and journalists at her Charleston, South Carolina watch party just 90 minutes after polls closed, pledging to remain in the race.

I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run, she told supporters, who met her words with cheers. Im a woman of my word.

Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, she added.

The former South Carolina governor also congratulated Mr Trump on his victory.

Nikki Haley speaks speaks to supporters in Charleston, South Carolina following her defeat (REUTERS)

I want to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory. And I want to thank the people of South Carolina for using the power of your voice, Ms Haley said. No matter the results, I love the people of our state. I love what we accomplished together and I love how we united during our worst challenges and tragedies.

Ms Haley has previously vowed to continue fighting Mr Trump despite her many primary losses. The former UN ambassador stayed resolute going into Saturdays race, even after losing to the none of these candidates box listed on Nevada ballot papers earlier this month.

They have the right to a real choice, Ms Haley said on Saturday evening. Not a Soviet style election with only one candidate.

Donald Trump speaks at his South Carolina victory party (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Earlier this week, Ms Haley spoke at Clemson University about her plans to remain in the presidential race.

South Carolina will vote on Saturday, she told audience members. But on Sunday, Ill still be running for president. Im not going anywhere. Im campaigning every day until the last person votes.

Ms Haley suffered yet another defeat on Saturday, though less consequential. Attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) took a straw poll on Saturday afternoon surveying their preference for Mr Trumps vice president. The former South Carolina governor came in last with less than 5 per cent of the vote, while her former primary opponent Vivek Ramaswamy tied for first place alongside South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump and his allies are celebrating.

Supporters cheer as Donald Trump speaks in South Carolina on Saturday (AP)

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said at Mr Trumps victory party, I would like you all to remember this moment that you were here.

This is a great moment in American history, he continued. We will probably never see another one like it. Every time a rocket launches, you know, it goes up slow and it is climbing and climbing and then boom, that next stage comes off and it goes  well, we just did that we just hit maximum velocity. Will we go on all the way.

Trump reacts after winning South Carolina primary

During his victory speech, Mr Trump thanked Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina  the gesture was met with a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd. The former president also thanked North Carolina Republican Party Chair Michael Whatley, whom Mr Trump backed as the next Republican National Committee chair with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair.

Audience members also booed when Mr Trump recognized South Carolina Republican Party Chair Drew McKissick in his speech.

Super Tuesday, the day when the greatest number of states hold presidential primaries, is now on the horizon. This year, 15 states and one territory will hold their primary on Tuesday, 5 March. Later, the Republican party will formally choose their candidate at the Republican National Convention, to be held in July.
 Close Donald Trump warns of a 'bloodbath' in US if he isn't elected as president again

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Former president Donald Trump is once again facing criticism over his use of inflammatory rhetoric after he declared at a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday evening: If I dont get elected its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

The Republican presidential challenger used the phrase as part of a dire econominc forecast for the American auto industry but was swiftly rebuked by the White House over its wider implications, with spokespeople for Joe Biden accusing him of endorsing political violence  particularly given that the candidate had also bemoaned the fate of the J6 hostages at the same event.

The luxury real estate mogul has since hit back on Truth Social, claiming the media is only pretending to be shocked by his choice of words.

Mr Trump gave an interview to Fox News journalist Howard Kurtz over the weekend in which he again attacked the late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for making jokes at his expense, doubled-down on comparing migrants to vermin and on his call to terminate parts of the US Constitution and floated the prospect of supporting a 16-week national abortion ban in an overt appeal to the Christian right.
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A man believed to be a British tourist has died while on a flight to Chile with his wife.

The 59-year-old and his partner were travelling from the Falkland Islands to the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas on Saturday when the tragedy unfolded.

The holidaymaker passed away before the plane, which was operated by Chilean airline LATAM, landed.

He and his wife had been set to take a second flight to the countrys capital Santiago de Chile.

Chilean police from a homicide unit met the aircraft when it arrived at Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport.

Diego Diaz, Deputy Commissioner of the specialist unit based in Punta Arenas, told local press: "On Saturday, on the instructions of local prosecutors, detectives from the Punta Arenas Homicide Brigade went to Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport after a British tourist aged 59 died inside a plane while it was travelling from the Falkland Islands to Punta Arenas before his connecting flight to Santiago."

Confirming officers had discovered nothing to suggest his death had been the result of a crime, Diaz added: "The man's wife was interviewed and said he had several underlying health issues."

A post-mortem due to take place on Sunday or Monday is expected to confirm he died of natural causes.

The whereabouts of the unnamed man's wife on Sunday was not immediately clear.

It comes after a passenger died on board a Jet2 plane last month, forcing the flight to divert.

The man was said to have been found dead inside the toilet on 2 January after fellow travellers noticed the door had been locked for a while and alerted staff.

The flight, which was supposed to be travelling from Tenerife to Manchester, was forced to land in Cork in Ireland instead.

One passenger told the Mirror all those on board were very upset by the devastating incident.
 Close Putin threatens Nato with World War 3

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The West has criticised Vladimir Putins sham elections as the Russian president sent a sinister warning to Nato.

Putin warned against any move that would risk direct conflict with Russia, saying it would be one step away from World War 3.

Asked about the dangers of a wide-scale Nato-Russia conflict, Putin said: Everything is possible in the modern world.

It is the latest example of the Russian president dangling the threat of a larger, or even nuclear, conflict in Europe as he attempts to pressure Ukraines Western allies against an escalation of their involvement in his war.

The comments came as Putin claimed a landslide victory in Russias sham presidential election with 87.8 per cent of the vote.

The US, Germany, the UK and other nations have said the vote was neither free nor fair due to the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship.

Earlier, Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, called Mr Putin a killer and a gangster, as she joined scores of Russians unhappy with his regime lining up to vote on Sunday afternoon at polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world.
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Watch Ukraines military and political leaders meet in Kyiv for discussions on the state of war, political and military strategy after the second anniversary of Russias invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, Commander-In-Chief Oleksandr Syrskiy and defence minister Rustem Umerov are among those who have gathered in the capital on Sunday 25 February.

Across the UK, hundreds of people marched through central London yesterday in support of Ukraine to mark the second anniversary.

Demonstrations also took place in Dublin, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland.

King Charles III also praised the determination and strength of the Ukrainian people in a message released by Buckingham Palace.

Charles said he was greatly encouraged by the UKs efforts to support Ukraine and commended their true valour.

The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year, he said.

Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely.
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The final couple saved from a tower block inferno in Valencia say they refused to die as firefighters rescued them from the burning building.

Sara Jorge, 26, and her boyfriend Anmar Deruyuck from Belgium were rescued from the 14-storey block on Rafael Alberti Poeta Street which set ablaze at 5.30pm on Thursday.

The blaze, fanned by strong winds, broke out on Thursday evening in the affluent El Campanar district.

The fire which consumed the tower block has claimed 10 victims so far and on Saturday the city mourned the victims.

Amongst the escapees are Ms Jorge and Mr Deruyuck who reportedly were renting a flat in the complex, dramatic footage showed the pair pacing up and down the balcony screaming for help, according to the paper.

Debris flew out at firefighters who worked to put out the blaze (AP)

Ms Jorge told the BBC: Once we jumped from our flat to a balcony and could see the flames all around us, that was the moment we thought we were going to die there.

But I said to my boyfriend: I refuse to die. The conditions around us were telling us it would happen- but I just knew it wasnt my time.

Speaking of their extraordinary escape, Ms Jorge said the couple scrambled onto the balcony where they remained for two and a half hours trying to make themselves visible to the rescuers, she told the paper.

The 26-year-old said they went into survival mode as firefighters put out the engulfing flames. The couple said they refused to hug and instead exchanged a little kiss - to signal they were not giving up.

Police had revised the number of dead to nine from 10 on Friday in the process of identifying the bodies in the building, but confirmed a 10th fatal victim had been found on Saturday.

Outside the charred building, a single white flower was taped to a utility pole as Valencians gathered at the scene to pay their respects.

Pilar Zamora, 53, who travelled across town with her husband, said she was feeling "a lot of pain and anger".

"Seeing (on TV) people on the balcony, shouting for help and not being able to do anything...those were very difficult moments," Zamora said, holding back tears.

Firefighters remove a charred body inside a burned block building in Valencia, Spain, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Her husband, Vicente Palaes, 55, said he had no words to describe how he felt when he approached the building: "When I saw it, I started to cry."

Around 100 survivors are being housed at a local hotel as they wait for a more permanent solution.

At midday on Saturday - the second of three official days of mourning decreed after the fire - hundreds of people gathered outside Valencia's City Hall for a moment of silence as flags flew at half-mast.

At the city's San Miguel y San Sebastian church, Catholic priest Juan Andres Talens said people had been praying for those affected.

"We are mourning," Talens said as a mass took place inside the historic church.

Emergency services said the blaze began on the fourth floor of one of the towers. A local magistrate has opened an investigation into the blaze.

The building, comprising two towers, was completed in 2008, officials said. It had 138 apartments, newspaper El Pais reported.

A lack of firewalls and the use of polyurethane, a plastic material, on the facade of the building would have contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze, Esther Puchades, a representative of insurance inspection agency APCAS, told RTVE, in comments evoking memories of the deadly Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017.

The association for the polyurethane industry said in a statement no polyurethane was used in the building's cladding.

Locals have urged the authorities to ensure other buildings in the city are not at risk.

"If any building has the same cladding, now is the time to investigate and remove it," Zamora said.

The couple has started a GoFundMe page for the victims of the fire who lost their family members, possessions and homes within a matter of hours.
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Vladimir Putin could target the UK with another novichok-style poisoning attempt, Britains defence secretary has warned.

Grant Shapps compared the threat Mr Putin poses to that of Nazi Germanys Adolf Hitler.

Mr Shapps, along with a number of Western leaders, blamed the Kremlin for the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony on 16 February.

Vladimir Putin could murder again on UK soil, Britains defence secretary has warned in a series of fiery comments (Reuters)

Mr Shapps told The Sun: Putin has Navalnys blood on his hands. Navalny should never have been in prison. His crime was standing up to an autocratic and now dictatorial Putin, who has a long history of bumping off his opponents.

He does it at home and abroad. And the world must not waver or bend to that kind of squalid leadership. We know what happens when you do  you end up with the mess of the last century.

Grant Shapps compared the threat posed by Russian President to that of Nazi Germanys Adolf Hitler (Sputnik)

Navalny, 47, was given life-saving treatment in Germany in 2020 after he was poisoned with novichok  the same deadly nerve agent that had been used by Putins GRU spy agency to target the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, 72, and his daughter Yulia, 39, in Salisbury in 2018.

Although the Skripals survived, British citizen Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after coming into contact with the military-grade nerve agent from a discarded perfume bottle.

Branding Putin a despotic leader who had lost any semblance of legitimacy, the defence secretary warned of another novichok-style killing on the streets of Britain.

Sergei Skripal talks to his lawyer from behind bars in 2006 (AP)

He said: Look what happened in Salisbury. Weve seen what Putin is capable of.

His behaviour makes him a pariah. He thinks the more he does it the stronger he gets. But in the eyes of the world it makes him more desperate and weaker.

Asked if the UK could be hit by another novichok attack, he replied: We are always tracking and trying to prevent those things. But do I think he has intent? You have seen that. So, yes.

He added: Because its so far outside of the parameters of civilisation, its sometimes hard for the Brits to believe. But its Putins modus operandi. His approach if he doesnt like someone is, dont vote them out, just bump them off.

Yulia Skripal, who was poisoned in Salisbury along with her father, Russian spy Sergei Skripal (Reuters)

Mr Shapps described the Russian president as right up there among the most serious threats to world peace since Hitler.

Putin has denied any involvement in novichok attacks in the UK.

The defence secretarys warning comes after Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Dawn Sturgess was poisoned in Amesbury (PA)

On 24 February 2022, Putin shocked the world by launching a brutal all-out invasion of Ukraine, sending troops, tanks and warplanes in their masses across Russias border under the cover of darkness.

While the Kremlin is reported to have believed its special military operation would bring the capital Kyiv under Russias grip in just 10 days, the extraordinary show of defiance by Ukrainians to fight for their countrys existence has instead seen the war now enter its third year.

The CPS issued European Arrest Warrants for Russian nationals Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov in connection with the Salisbury poisonings (PA)

Over the course of 24 months, battle lines have shifted dramatically as Volodymyr Zelenskys troops pushed Russian invaders back hundreds of miles to enter into a grinding war of attrition centred in battle-hardened Donbas, where both armies are paying for small tactical and symbolic gains with thousands of lives.

Yet while the fighting hotspots have become more centralised, albeit along a 600-mile front line, the fate of Ukraine is increasingly at the mercy of geopolitical developments.

Seeking to justify his lengthy war, and his moves to transform Russias economy into a vast war machine, Putin is increasingly casting the conflict as an existential battle against the West.
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Volodymyr Zelensky has promised victory and vowed that Russia cannot break our dreams as world leaders gathered in Kyiv on Saturday for the second anniversary of Moscows invasion.

Speaking from the destroyed remains of Hostomel airport, the site of one of the first battles near the capital, the Ukrainian president promised that the war would end in victory for his country.

Accompanying him on the airfield were Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, as well as the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Each leader pledged unending support for Ukraines battle against Russia, which Mr Trudeau said was not just a fight for Ukraines freedom and sovereignty but our democracy.

Mr Zelensky said: Any normal person wants this war to end but none of us will allow our Ukraine to end. Thats why when it comes to ending the war we always add on our terms.

We fight for this. And we will prevail. You can burn the plane but you cannot destroy the dream, he added in front of the scorched carcasses of aircraft.

Speaking to The Independent, Andriy Yermak, the head of Mr Zelenskys office and his right-hand man, urged the world to help Ukraine in this mission.

Please give us the weapons, the ammunition we need, he said in an impassioned plea. You were with us from the beginning, you helped us to stay put and defend.

Now it is time to help us win this for all.

President Zelensky meets military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov at Hostomel on Saturday (Reuters)

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven leading economies, announced that the G7 will meet virtually on Saturday with Mr Zelensky and would adopt a joint statement on Ukraine.

On the tarmac of Hostomel, Ms Meloni vowed her countrys support, saying here the Ukrainians defended what they love and in so doing they also defended us. Ms Von der Leyen reassured Kyiv that Europe will continue to stand by their side for as long as it takes.

With more financial support, more ammunition, more training for your troops, more air defences and more investments, she added.

Two years ago the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion, sparking the bloodiest war in Europe in generations. After a string of stunning wins, in recent months Ukraine has struggled to hold a punishing 1000km (620 miles) frontline amid crippling shortages of ammunition and a lack of air power.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed, Russia still controls roughly a quarter of the country and nearly 10 million Ukrainians are displaced. Many also live in occupied territory waiting for liberation or for their loved ones, who are being held captive by Russia, to return home.

In the centre of the Ukrainian capital on Saturday a thousand people, families of prisoners of war, gathered demanding the immediate return of their loved ones.

Just last week Kyiv announced that it was forced to withdraw from the eastern town of Avdiivka, where Ukrainian forces had been locked in a gruelling battle with Russian soldiers for over four months.

Angry and exhausted, soldiers told The Independent they blamed the retreat on superior Russian air power and a rationing of artillery which saw Russian forces fire five times as many shells at them each day. Commanders said in the final days Russia carpet bombed Avdiivka with as many as 500 aerial munitions while they had nothing to fire back with.

Protests in Sophia Square in Kyiv by families of prisoners held by Russia (Bel Trew)

Part of the problem has been a comparatively sluggish response from Europe, which has struggled to source enough weapons and ammunition to send to Kyiv. Complicating matters are domestic squabbles in US congress over a $60bn military package. The stalling of the aid has sparked concerns of growing US isolationism in the lead up to US presidential elections in November. In Kyiv, several British politicians, including former prime minister Boris Johnson and cross-party delegations of MPs visited the capital for the anniversary. They said it was time for a paradigm shift and Europe to step up to defend ourselves.

Mr Johnson, who had a brief meeting with ally and friend Mr Zelensky, said the UK and its allies need to do more and faster.

He warned Russia and the worlds autocracies are ganging up and it was time for the democracies to defend themselves.

He told The Independent: One of the things we should consider is whether its time for Nato to give a percentage of our allocated budget for Ukraines defence.

I believe now is the time.

Its time for the democracies of the world to defend themselves Boris Johnson

Alicia Kearns, conservative MP and chair of the foreign affairs committee, warned the threat of Mr Putin had largely been forgotten in the US.

Europe had to step up to defend ourselves, she said, proposing a formal alliance between UK, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine to spearhead support in the war.

I feel very ashamed by what happened to Avdiivka. That was our failure, she said, adding that there had been a woefully belated European wake-up call about Ukraine. We must act now because thousands of lives are being lost and autocrats on the march are being rewarded and seeing those rewards.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood told The Independent that he feared there remained a myth in the UK that this was a Ukrainian war not a European one.

If we dont defeat Russia, if we dont help Ukraine, the cost in the longer term will be huge in comparison. That penny hasnt dropped. Putin will not stop here, he wants to expand his influence.

Lets help Ukraine finish the job.

The UK has pledged to invest 245m in producing artillery shells for Ukraine and 8.5m in humanitarian funding as the conflict enters its third year.

Joining a chorus of support from world leaders, Rishi Sunak said on Saturday that tyranny will never triumph and London would back Kyiv until they prevail.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who hopes to enter Number 10 after the general election this year, said Britain would always support Ukraine no matter who is in power in this country and added that Mr Putins cowardice and barbarity will not continue .
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Ukraine is bracing for a gruelling few months ahead as it awaits delivery of delayed Western military aid and prepares for an expected Russian counteroffensive in May, the Ukrainian president has warned.

Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has only received a third of the shells promised by the European Union last year, and is still waiting for news of a stalled $61bn (48bn) aid package.

In the meantime, said Mr Zelensky, Russia is firing seven times the quantity of munitions at Ukraine than its forces are able to fire back. Delaying the delivery of military aid loses lives, he said.

It will be difficult for us in March and April in different ways. Russia will prepare counteroffensive operations in early summer, or at the end of May if they can, he told a press conference to mark the second anniversary of Moscows full-scale invasion of his country.

He said the Ukrainian army was ready to take that on following a recent shakeup in Ukraines military leadership, and that Russias attempt to repel Ukrainian forces over the winter had so far amounted to nothing. We, for our part, will prepare our plan and follow it, he said.

But the issue is the growing disparity on the battlefield, as Russia has ramped up domestic production of weaponry and poured hundreds of billions of dollars into its defence budget.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky answers media questions during his press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Its a challenge to fight a hybrid war with Russia and its resources, Mr Zelensky continued, adding that Moscow is exerting a lot of pressure in the Kharkiv and Kupyansk direction  an area in the north of Ukraine that Kyivs forces had liberated from Russian occupation last year.

Frankly speaking, the intensity of the Russian artillery was 12 to one at the end of the year; now it is a rate of seven to one. If Ukraine can bring that ratio down, we can push them back, he said.

Ukraine is fighting to hold a buckling 1,200km front line two years on from President Putins full-scale invasion, a battle Mr Zelensky described on Sunday as a fight for global democracy.

The impact of the war on Ukraine has been devastating: around 10 million people are displaced, a quarter of the country remains occupied by Russian forces, and Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that at least 31,000 soldiers have been killed in the line of duty.

Local citizens clean a shop that was damaged after Russians hit it, in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The front lines have fallen into stalemate as the conflict has turned into a bloody war of attrition on the battlefield. Part of the problem has been dwindling supplies.

Ukraine announced last week that its troops had been forced to withdraw from the eastern town of Avdiivka, where they had been battling Russian forces for months.

Soldiers said the crippling rationing of artillery was to blame alongside Russias superior air power. Ukraines defence minister, Rustem Umerov, said on Sunday that as much as 50 per cent of the aid promised by the West was arriving late, resulting in the loss of lives and territory.

Mr Zelensky said that only a third of one million shells earmarked by the EU for Kyiv last year had been delivered, saying that production issues were to blame. He said he had received guarantees that the shells would be sent to Ukraine by the end of the year, but that in the interim, delays mean more casualties.

Zelensky meets world leaders as Ukraine marks two-year anniversary of Russian invasion on Saturday ((Photo by BENOIT DOPPAGNE / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by BENOIT DOPPAGNE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images))

There are also concerns about domestic squabbling in the US over a $61bn aid package for Ukraine, approval of which is currently held up in Congress after stonewalling by the Republicans.

There are fears that the US is increasingly looking inwards as it careers towards what is likely to be a hotly contested presidential election in November. I am sure [Congress] will make a positive decision about this, because otherwise it will leave me wondering what kind of world we are living in, Mr Zelensky said on Sunday.

Our request is to get this assistance in a month. When we talk about American aid, we must understand that this isnt a question of financial reserves, its about weapons. Well just be weakened on the battlefield. I dont have a reserve  we have the weapons that we have.

Calling 2024 a potential turning point in the war, Mr Zelensky said he felt positive about a recent and important shift in attitudes within Europe. European leaders and MPs have talked about the need for the continent to step up and fill the shortfall left by growing US isolationism.

Countries have taken concrete steps to help Ukraine, including increasing the production of 155mm ammunition  which is vital on the battlefield.

Mr Zelensky said: Especially during the last month, I see that Europe is shifting. They know this is dangerous for them. Putin is not only our enemy, he is the enemy of all of Europe. I think they understand that  he will continue this war. We are fighting for global democracy; this is a serious moment.
 Close US and UK strike Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation for Red Sea attacks

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The US and Britain have struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea.

American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites across multiple locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, according to US officials.

The UKs ministry of defence said the Royal Airforce had launched the wave of strikes to degrade Houthi drones and missile launchers.

It comes after a UK-owned cargo ship was set on fire off the southern coast of Yemen after being struck in a missile attack on Thursday.

It is the fourth time that the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since 12 January.

The US has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.
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The UK has pledged 4.25m to help the UNs agency for sexual and reproductive healthcare in Gaza as thousands of women and girls remain displaced and at risk during the unrelenting war.

David Cameron, the foreign secretary, reiterated the governments call for an immediate pause in the fighting as he unveiled the funding package on Sunday.

The aid for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) comes as Britain and other countries have suspended support for UNRWA, the UN aid agency for Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Several nations have frozen funding for UNRWA amid a review of Israeli allegations that some of its employees took part in the deadly Hamas attack on 7 October.

The Foreign Office said the 4.25m was expected to reach about 115,000 women and around one in five of the adult women in Gaza.

Palestinians mourn a baby killed in the Israeli bombardments of the Gaza Strip on Saturday (AP)

It is to be used to provide help to community midwives as well as the distribution of about 20,000 menstrual hygiene management kits and 45,000 delivery kits, the department said.

Lord Cameron confirmed the additional funding in response to a UN flash appeal for the Palestinian occupied territories.

He said: Women are bearing the brunt of the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza today. Many thousands of women are currently pregnant and will be worrying about delivering their babies safely.

This new UK funding will help make giving birth safer and improve the lives of mothers and their new-born babies.

We need to see an immediate pause in the fighting so we can secure the safe release of hostages, get more aid in, and allow organisations like UNFPA to do their vital work effectively.

A Palestinian woman makes bread in Rafah, Gaza (AP)

UNFPA executive director Natalia Kanem said: In Gaza, the reality for women and girls is horrific  and getting worse each day.

They have little to no access to essential health services and menstrual supplies, and many are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions that put their lives and those of their babies at risk.

The support of the United Kingdom and other partners is vital to get lifesaving resources directly to women and girls in desperate need.

There were an estimated 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza at the start of the war, with more than 180 births occurring each day and more than 5,500 women expected to deliver in the next month.

The Foreign Office repeated calls for Israel to take steps to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza, including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses.

Two Palestinian women and a child walk in the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza (AP)

It comes after Lord Cameron said that Britain wants an absolute guarantee that UNRWA will not employ staff who may be willing to attack Israel amid an ongoing funding freeze.

Since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamass attack, UNRWA has used its facilities across Gaza to shelter and help hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has appealed to donor countries for a restoration of funding and new donations amid large-scale death and destruction.

Lord Cameron joined representatives from other nations at the UN general assembly in New York on Friday, where he rejected the idea that the UK shows double standards in its treatment of the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.

When we look across to whats happening in Gaza, I absolutely agree that this is a terrible conflict. I want it to end as soon as it possibly can, he said.

Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians face hunger and disease (AP)

But the crucial difference between the two: there was no October 7 in Russia. There was no excuse for Russia to launch this invasion.

Whereas on the other hand, Israel does have the right to self-defence ... the two situations are not the same.

But he repeated his call for a new political horizon for the Palestinian people and a two-state solution, which Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes.

Israel declared war after Hamas October attack, in which some 1,100 people were killed about 240 taken hostage. More than 100 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.

More than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in the following months. Hunger and infectious diseases are spreading and 80 per cent of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced, with about 1.4 million crowded into the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.

MPs are set to again debate calling for a ceasefire in Gaza after a previous attempt deteriorated into angry recriminations and demands for the Commons speaker to resign.

The SNP indicated it will take up speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyles offer of a meaningful debate on a fresh motion which it said would push for parliament to back concrete action to end the hostilities.
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The US and Britain have struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea.

American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites across multiple locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, according to US officials.

This is the fourth time that the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since 12 January.

But the US has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.

The US fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea.

The US and Britain have struck up to 18 Houthi targets across Yemen (Getty)

President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the US will not tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping.

The Houthi has launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since 19 November, and the pace has picked up in recent days.

Weve certainly seen in the past 48, 72 hours an increase in attacks from the Houthis, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said in a briefing on Thursday. And she acknowledged that the Houthis have not been deterred.

We never said weve wiped off the map all of their capabilities, she told reporters. We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal. They are very capable. They have sophisticated weapons, and thats because they continue to get them from Iran.

There have been at least 32 US strikes in Yemen over the past month and a half. A few were conducted with allied involvement.

The Houthi has launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea since 19 November (AP)

Earlier on Saturday, the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden, US Central Command said, adding that the missile was probably targeting MV Torm Thor, a US-flagged, owned, and operated chemical and oil tanker.

The US attacks on the Houthis have targeted more than 120 launchers, more than 10 surface-to-air-missiles, 40 storage and support building, 15 drone storage buildings, more than 20 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles, several underground storage areas and a few other facilities.

The rebels supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced this past week an escalation in sea operations conducted by his forces as part of what they describe as a pressure campaign to end Israels war on Hamas.

But while the group says the attacks are aimed at stopping that war, the Houthis targets have grown more random, endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments travelling from Asia and the Middle East onwards to Europe.
Youll need to be healthy and motivated, proficient in English and in possession of a masters degree. Successful applicants for this particular job cant be smokers and  importantly  will need a strong desire for unique, rewarding adventures.

If that sounds like you, theres a chance you could land one of the most out-of-this-world jobs there is: one of the first people on Mars.

Nasa isnt yet ready to send people to the actual Red Planet. That 500-day, tens-of-millions-of-miles mission isnt expected until the 2030s  and Nasa has been prone to delays that mean it could easily stretch long past that. It hasnt actually got a spacecraft that could carry people that far.
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A traveller was willing to swap seats on a plane for a woman to sit near her husband, until she discovered exactly which seat she would be ending up in.

In a recent Reddit post shared to the Entitled People subreddit, the passenger shared an incident where a woman sitting next to him in business class asked him to voluntarily downgrade his seat so that she could sit next to her husband, who was seated in economy.

The Reddit poster explained that the seats were in a two-seat centre pod configuration when the woman was sitting next to him and asked to switch with her husband.

He said yes assuming that her husband was sitting somewhere else in business class, at which point the woman casually revealed that her husbands seat was actually 18B  a middle seat in economy.

The passenger explained that he wasnt moving to the back when the woman attempted to convince him that he should. You cant seriously expect me to swap a pod for a MIDDLE seat at the back of the bus. Are you kidding me? he recalled saying to the woman in the Reddit post, thinking the entire interaction was some type of prank.

Its not such a big difference. And its their bulkhead row so theres plenty of legroom, the woman allegedly replied.

According to the Reddit post, the woman was originally seated in economy but was offered a free upgrade being under the impression that someone would be willing to swap to get her husband upgraded as well.

His final offer was to get someone else in business class to switch seats with her husband and he would take that persons seat, but would not be making the switch himself.

But I think you have two choices... sit apart, or sit together back there. Im sure whoever is in 18C would love to sit up here. Take your old seat back and you can both sit together, he wrote.

They both angrily made their way back to the back, and I was half-expecting a new, confused stranger to appear, the lucky recipient of an instant upgrade... but no, she came back. According to her, 18A loved the window bulkhead and didnt want to move. 18C had family in 18DEF and didnt want to move either. Someone later told me that perhaps the flight attendants got involved and just told her to go to her assigned seat; no seat-swapping allowed, the story continued.

So, the woman ended up sitting apart from her husband for the entire duration of the flight.

After posting, many people ended up taking to the comments to express how shocked they were at the womans attempt to switch seats.

Do they really expect people to give up what they paid extra for? one commenter asked. The airlines should take some accountability here too. Before they upgrade someone they should ask if they are travelling with anyone. And if they see the Karen haircut No upgrade for you.

Another commenter agreed, writing: I would have said no immediately no questions. Why the heck would I switch out the super expensive seat I paid for ANY other seat on the plane just so she and her companion can sit together instead, and her companion gets a free seat that I paid for?

I especially would say heck no once the words but hes ALREADY on his way over to do the switch comment, and laugh in her face and ask what the heck does him being on his way to claim a seat he WONT be getting has to do with me? I never agreed to the switch to begin with, so he has no reason to be coming back here for MY seat like it was ALREADY decided that I was going to switch just because the two of them stupidly thought otherwise before they even got around to asking me first.
Police used a water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday night (24 February), who were calling on the government to resign.

Israelis took to the streets for a weekly march, with some holding posters blaming Benjamin Netanyahu for the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage.

Earlier, the nations prime minister said in a statement that he was meeting with members of his government on the next steps after the latest talks with the United States, Egypt and Qatar in search of a deal on pausing the fighting in Gaza.
Pope Francis was well enough on Sunday 25 February to celebrate his weekly Angelus prayer from the Vatican window overlooking St. Peters Square, after cancelling his engagements a day before for a mild flu.

The pontiff - who over the past few months had to cancel some of his activities and one international trip due to his fragile health - appeared in good shape and regularly read his Angelus prayer, concluding it with his usual salutes to the crowd and his request to pray for him.

In his address, Francis remembered with sorrow the second anniversary of the start of what he called a large-scale war in Ukraine.
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
Boots boss Stephen Watkins: Pharmacy has a big role to play in public healthcare  thats where the future will be

Boots Ireland now has an outlet in every county, but big changes are afoot in pharmacy

Stephen Watkins, MD of Boots Ireland. Photo: Frank McGrath

Fearghal O'Connor Sun 25 Feb 2024 at 03:30

It was a long time coming  but when Stephen Watkins helped finally cut the ribbon on Boots Irelands new store in Carlow in December, it was a significant milestone.
In the public sector, they essentially get a 20-year interest-free loan

Davy Group has highlighted to Finance Minister Michael McGrath how tax bills for public sector workers who reach a 2m upper limit on pension pot values are allowed to be spread over two decades, while private-sector workers are taxed upfront.

In December, Mr McGrath announced a review of the lifetime standard fund threshold (SFT) regime that sets the maximum capital value of a pension that can qualify for tax relief on retirement.

A 40pc chargeable excess tax (CET) is applied to any part of a pension that exceeds that threshold.

The review, which began with a public consultation, came after it emerged the SFT was dissuading high-paid gardai from applying for a deputy commissioner role amid fears over potential future tax bills.

We want equality and transparency for all taxpayers, regardless of where they work

Bank of Ireland-owned Davy, which manages 5bn in pension assets, is calling for the threshold to be scrapped or at least reformed.

A paper it submitted to the Department of Finance pointed out that while the CET applies to both public and private sector pensions, public servants are allowed mitigate the impact of the tax bill by paying it in instalments over 20 years.

However, private sector workers are obliged to pay the entire CET liability in one lump sum taken from their pension at retirement.

In the public sector, they essentially get a 20-year interest-free loan, which is written off if they die, but in the private sector, you have to pay it upfront, said Paula Finlay, head of Davy Private Clients and the author of the submission.

We want equality and transparency for all taxpayers, regardless of where they work.

The threshold was initially introduced in 2005, because high-net-worth individuals were using tax relief on pensions to put unlimited amounts of funds tax-free into approved retirement funds to preserve family wealth. It was set at 5m.

After the financial crisis, that was reduced to 2.3m, followed by another cut in 2014 to its current level of 2m.
Whether its a physical page-turner, an ebook or a language course, Irelands libraries have lots to offer

Ireland Reads initiative encourages people to visit their local library to explore the range of educational services that can be availed of  all for free

Getting lost in a book is a great pastime. Photo: Getty

Sinead Ryan Sat 24 Feb 2024 at 03:30

Get lost! Thats the message today, but I mean it in the nicest possible way. Getting lost in a book is one of my favourite pastimes. Curled up on a chair or in bed with a serial killer, a doomed lover or an Austen heroine, theres nothing nicer and today offers every excuse to do so.
Cillian Murphy accepts the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for Oppenheimer during the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello/PA)

Irish star Cillian Murphy picked up the best actor in a motion picture gong for his role in Oppenheimer during the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, while the film won best cast in a motion picture.

Christopher Nolans biopic, in which Murphy plays theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer  described as the father of the atomic bomb  continued its awards season success during the 30th SAG Awards ceremony.

The event, held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, follows the longest strike in Sag-Aftra history and serves as a key Academy Award indicator ahead of the ceremony next month.

Twenty-eight years ago when I was trying to become an actor, I was a failed musician and I felt extremely like an interloper, but now looking out at you guys here today, I know I am part of something truly wonderful, so thank you, Murphy said.

He also secured the top acting prize at the Bafta Awards following his success at the Golden Globes.

Oppenheimer co-star Robert Downey Jr appeared to acknowledge his Oscar front-runner status when collecting the prize for best supporting actor in a motion picture for his role as head of the Atomic Energy Commission Lewis Strauss.

He said: Why me? Why now? Why do things seem to be going my way?

The film was also presented with the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture which Sir Kenneth Branagh, who plays physicist Niels Bohr in the film, described as a full circle moment following the actors strikes.

Thank you Sag-Aftra, thank you for fighting for us, he said. Thank you for every Sag-Aftra member whose support and whose sacrifice allows us to be standing here, better than we were before.

When we were all last together, it was at the premiere of this film on July 14 when the strike was just about to begin, led by our fearless leader, the great Cillian Murphy.

We went from the red carpet and we didnt see the film that night. We happily went in the direction of solidarity with your good selves. So this is a full circle moment for us.

Lily Gladstone, winner of the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role for Killers Of The Flower Moon (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/PA)

Lily Gladstone was named best actress for her role as Mollie Burkhart in Martin Scorseses Killers Of The Flower Moon, while DaVine Joy Randolph picked up the prize for best supporting actress for her role as Mary Lamb in The Holdovers.

I am beyond humbled and I am so incredibly grateful to be considered among you, Randolph said of her fellow nominees Emily Blunt, Penelope Cruz, Jodie Foster and Danielle Brooks.

How lucky are we that we get to do what we do For every actor still waiting in the wings, it is not a question of if, but when. Keep going.

It was a successful night for TV comedy-drama The Bear, the story of a star chef who returns to Chicago to run the family business after the death of his brother.

Stars Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri were presented with the awards for best actor and actress in a comedy series respectively, while the series won best ensemble in a comedy series.

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Edebiri said: I am going to butcher a James Baldwin quote because I heard it the other day, but the act of love is really an act of mirroring and I think anything that anyone sees in me that is worth anything is because of the people who love and support me.

One of the biggest displays of that is The Bear.

Steven Yeun and Ali Wong won best actor and actress in a limited series for their roles in Netflixs Beef, a series about a duo who start a life-changing feud after a road rage incident.

Actor Pedro Pascal appeared visibly shocked and emotional as he appeared on stage to collect the award for best male actor in a drama series for his role in The Last Of Us.

Pedro Pascal accepts the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series for The Last Of Us (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello/PA)

This is wrong for a number of reasons, Im a little drunk, I thought I could get drunk. Im making a fool of myself, but thank you so much for this, Pascal told the audience, before becoming visibly emotional.

He later told British star Tan France he was going to celebrate the win by kissing Succession star Kieran Culkin as revenge, as the pair have made jokes at each others expense during their awards season speeches.

TV juggernaut Succession, about warring siblings in a media dynasty, was named best ensemble for a drama series.

Star Alan Ruck said the cast had made friends for life and described it as one last hurrah following the end of the last series.

Right now, you are looking at some of the luckiest people on the planet. And some of the most grateful, he said. Because not only did we get to work on one of the best television shows maybe ever, we made friends of life.

I think the magic of Succession was the writing was so fabulous it inspired all of us to bring our A game from the very beginning, we got off watching each other work. W e caught lightning in a bottle. Lucky.

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British star Naomi Watts introduced the in memoriam segment of the show, which honoured actors including Harry Potter star Sir Michael Gambon and Friends actor Matthew Perry.

Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Hannah Waddingham and Idris Elba kicked off the SAG Awards ceremony, each performing in the traditional I am an actor segment, telling the audience a personal story from when they were making it into the industry.

US singer-songwriter Billie Eilish made an appearance on stage to present an award with super fan Melissa McCarthy during an amusing segment.

McCarthy noted that Eilishs mother was her first improv teacher who was pregnant with the singer at the time, before pulling out a pen asking for a signature on her dress.

Eilish initially declined to ruin her beautiful dress, before agreeing to autograph her forehead while covering the actresss mouth to stop her from fangirling.
Salt and pepper mills, 65 each or 120 for the set, see dwellbyeilishrickard.com

The Heritage Hotel in Co Laois is running a Mothers Day getaway, titled Sweeten her Stay, and including afternoon tea, see theheritage.com

The Pakistani thali plate is a blend of diverse dishes all served on a single platter, see kinarakitchen.ie

Artist Leonie King is inspired by the effervescent colour changes of the sea, see thegallerycafegort.com for more information

Brain food Attention, connection and love are the themes of the third Creative Brain Week, March 4-9, online and in person at Trinity College Dublin. Highlights include the Marshmallow Laser Feast, as part of the daily Living Labs, as well as discussions of brain injury, sea swimming and an On Attention discussion with Susan Magsamen, co-author of Your Brain on Art, and Professor Ian Robertson, among others. Events are free, but tickets must be booked for both in-person and online attendance. SC Creative Brain Week, March 4-9, see creativebrainweek.com

Salt and pepper mills, 65 each or 120 for the set, see dwellbyeilishrickard.com

NOTION

Run of the mill This set of brass salt and pepper mills, handmade in Greece and not unlike ancient Doric columns, would make a handsome addition to any dining table. SC Salt and pepper mills, 65 each or 120 for the set, see dwellbyeilishrickard.com

Sort out your wardrobe with Garment Goddess by Laura de Barra, published by Gill Books, 19.99

NECESSITY

Lasting power Laura de Barra, who wrote Gaff Goddess, follows up her book of the same name with a new volume, Garment Goddess, which catalogues how best to care for your clothes. She really gets into her subject, breaking down everything from what each washing machine cycle really does, to buying clothes and mending your best loved bits to make them last and last. SC Garment Goddess by Laura de Barra is published by Gill Books, 19.99

Doctrine Divinity Cleansing Balm, 42, see doctrineskincare.com

NOTION

Balmy days There are just two products in the first launch from new Irish-made skincare brand Doctrine, a cleansing balm and a vitamin C serum, both of which are stalwarts of any skincare routine. Doctrine combines science and sensual experience, thanks to co-founder, cosmetic chemist Tracey Ryan. The balm is a real treat, crazily bright blue thanks to the presence of microbial spirulina  and richly fragrant with lavender, orange and neroli. SC Doctrine Divinity Cleansing Balm, 42, see doctrineskincare.com

The Pakistani thali plate is a blend of diverse dishes all served on a single platter, see kinarakitchen.ie

NOTION

Platter indulgence Kinara Kitchen Ranelagh has launched a new lunch offering. The Pakistani thali plate is a blend of diverse dishes all served on a single platter, including rice, bread, vegetables, lentils, meat or a sweet dish, chutneys and pickles. Available every Thursday and Friday from 12-4 pm, 18.95. LH See kinarakitchen.ie

Artist Leonie King is inspired by the effervescent colour changes of the sea, see thegallerycafegort.com for more information

NECESSITY

Cafe creativity The Gallery Cafe in Gort is hosting an exhibition by local Galway artists Leonie King and Siobhan Percy. King, from Oranmore, has created multi-layered prints of the effervescent colour changes of the sea, while Percy, from Athenry, has produced a series of drawings that play with our perceptions by making marks that suggest writing, but in fact are documenting the world. The exhibition runs until April and is open during restaurant hours. LH See thegallerycafegort.com for more information

NOTION

Minding mum The Heritage Hotel in Co Laois is running a Mothers Day getaway, for those planning ahead for March 10. Kicking off with afternoon tea, it also includes an overnight stay and breakfast. All guests have complimentary access to their thermal suite with their brand new Rustic Sauna Cabin and Aromatic Salts Foot Baths. LH 278 for two people sharing, see theheritage.com

Feis Ceoil, March 11-22, features live performances from emerging talents, see feisceoil.ie for tickets. Photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

NECESSITY

Cool ceoil The annual Feis Ceoil will run from March 11-22 in the RDS, featuring live performances from many emerging talents. This year includes two new competitions, Choral Conducting and Senior Percussion. A selection of the competitors will perform at a Gala Concert in the National Concert Hall on April 17. LH See feisceoil.ie for ticket information to all events

Valentines scents to make your crush swoon!
Despite her support for Israels war, Amy Schumers comedy-drama is worth watching

Oh God, why is Amy Schumer doing this to me?

What should be a lovely nights reviewing of her new series of Life & Beth on Disney+ feels like a moral dilemma. Hanging over it, for anyone with even a passing interest in the comic, is her recent social media posts about the Israeli action in Gaza.

In them she defended the war, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, many of them children, and linked to a since deleted Instagram account which intended to satirise comments made by US supporters of Palestine.

Schumer also posted a speech of Martin Luther King in which the civil rights leader spoke out against antisemitism.

Dr Bernice King, MLKs daughter, responded pointedly to this  by writing that her father would certainly be calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and that he believed that militarism was one of the worlds great evils.

It should have deeply embarrassed Schumer. And, trivially in the grand scheme of things, it casts a pall over Life & Beth.

The artist and their views and actions must always be separated from the art

Watching its sweet flashbacks to an semi-autobiographical awkward suburban Jewish girl  like Schumer herself once was  celebrating religious holidays with her family, a little voice wonders: OK, but many years later is this same girl misguidedly cheering for genocide? But then another voice: The horror of Israels actions can never be conflated with the wider Jewish community.

The artist and their views and actions must always be separated from the art  otherwise youre cutting yourself off from everything from Woody Allen to Father Ted.

The genuinely anti-semitic bullying depicted in the series may give a clue to the fog of past trauma through which its creator sees things.

And so, while wishing she hadnt made me think so very hard about it, I have to say, that despite writer/producer/star Amy Schumers offensive views, do give season 2 of Life & Beth a chance. Its one of the best new comedy-dramas of this year.

It picks up where the last one left off. Beth (Schumer) and John (Michael Cera) have progressed their relationship but she still wonders if things are a little "off.

Amy Schumer in Season 2 of 'Life & Beth'

When a doctor diagnoses Beth with a hunch (the kind that comes out of your back, rather than the feeling) John texts her consolingly: Real women have curves. At other times his awkwardness is less endearing. As she gushes gratefully when their family and friends make it to New Orleans for their wedding, he bluntly says: We hoped you wouldnt come.

Later, John refuses to go to a psychic with Beth (definitely his loss, as this turns out to be a cameo from Jennifer these gays are trying to kill me Coolidge) and Beth feels abandoned when he wont get ready to go to the airport. Being constantly peeved pushes her to an an epiphany: John may have autism spectrum disorder.

An official assessment confirms that he has high functioning ASD, and there are tearful hugs all round. This is all tenderly handled and enables the series to put meat on Johns own coming-of-age story: the death of his mother, his pain at being excluded as a kid and dealing with a critical father who damaged his self esteem.

Theres a moving sense, in these flashbacks, as in Beths own, of the brave face with which teenagers hide their pain and confusion (Violet Young puts in a standout performance as the young Beth), and of the white-hot significance of memories of that time  even lots of years and hours of therapy later.

A strength of the series is that it leavens these and other heavier moments  another character becomes addicted to painkillers  with a naturalistic comedy and a killer soundtrack that makes it feel a bit like that other underrated Disney show, Dave.

At its heart, Life & Beth is about the arc between idealising someone, realising that theyre in fact, just a patchwork of flaws tied together with good intentions, and then loving them anyway. Its definitely work, as Beth acknowledges, but it sure is worth it.

And so, despite its creators recent pronouncements, is this lovely series.

Space, race and cyberspace: Three to see

Can I Tell You A Secret? Netflix The terror of cyber stalking is explored in this chilling documentary, produced by Louis Therouxs company, exploring the case of Matthew Hardy, who received a nine-year sentence in 2022 for ruining the lives of multiple women. Some of them tell their story here.

Life Uncovered More4 Now that Louis Theroux has moved on to more subtle fare, his beat of oddballs you never knew existed falls to Ben Zand who, in this series, meets biohackers looking for eternal life, people who want to transition to a different race and insanely right-wing Londoners.

Constellation AppleTV+ Space is a metaphor for a descent into insanity in this visually beautiful psychological thriller about a female astronaut (Noomi Rapace) who, over two different timelines, feels as stricken and isolated aboard a spaceship as she did back on terra firma with her daughter. **This articles headline was changed on February 25, 2024**
Equality Minister is well aware of opposition to proposed changes to the Constitution  but he is confident in his position

As he is already dealing with the biggest migration crisis in the States history, Roderic OGorman could probably do without having to pilot the passage of not one but two complex referendums taking place next month.

But as Equality Minister, he is responsible for the family and care referendums  and has been earnestly knocking on doors, canvassing at train stations and participating in as many debates as he can, arguing for a Yes-Yes vote on March 8.

The fact that there are two referendums on the same article, on issues that are distinct but linked, does involve a little bit of sitting down, a little bit of talking through the issues, he admits.

The referendum on family proposes expanding the definition of family in Article 41 of the Constitution to recognise those based on durable relationships.

The referendum on care proposes to replace language in Article 41.2 around duties of women in the home with a new Article 42B, which will state that the State shall strive to support care within families.

The rights related to marriage are set out in great detail within statute

Both proposals are supported by the main political parties, apart from Aontu  but there are high-profile No campaigners, including former attorney general and justice minister Michael McDowell who has criticised the family referendum proposal.

Last week the care referendum was criticised by the Free Legal Advice Centre (Flac) and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), while a group representing people with disabilities and their families, Equality Not Care, said it was patronising politics.

OGorman sat down with the Sunday Independent in his office last Friday evening to address these criticisms and answer other questions around the referendums.

Do you accept that Media Minister Catherine Martin was  as Electoral Commission chair Justice Marie Baker said  wrong to say the Constitution currently states a womans place is in the home?

Article 41.2 talks about a womans life in the home, and it talks about neglect of a mothers duties in the home. I actually think the second expression is far worse, in terms of what it conveys. As long as this article has been spoken of, it has been colloquially referred to as the woman in the home.

But is it not wrong for Government ministers to be propagating incorrect information?

It has been colloquially spoken about as that for years, by everybody involved in this. There are two provisions there  womans life in the home and then neglect of the mothers duties in the home.

Were putting in an article about care, recognising care is a job for everyone

Those arent concepts that match the understanding and reality of womens lives today and thats why we want those provisions taken out of the Constitution.

Some people ask why are you taking women out of the Constitution?

I think its very clear in terms of what Article 41.2 does now, ascribing a place for women in Irish society, which is in the home  whereas were putting in an article talking about care, recognising that care is a job for everyone, men and women, mams and dads. But importantly, putting that new obligation on the State to do more to support it.

What is a durable relationship?

Its a relationship of strength, of stability, of commitment. Its the type of relationships of people we know, like a one-parent family, or a co-habiting couple living together unmarried, whether they have kids or not.

These are relationships that give value to society. Theyre important  but right now theyre not recognised in our Constitution, solely because theyre not based on marriage.

But there is no definition in law of a durable relationship.

When it comes to our Constitution, you deal in concepts, you dont deal in lists.

But is the Government proposing legislation to define what a durable relationship is?

The Government is putting this term durable relationship into the Constitution. Weve been very clear in terms of what we are encompassing  that idea of a one-parent family, the idea of co-habiting couples, whether they have children or not.

Our courts have interpreted our Constitution for all of our nations history

Ultimately, the courts will have the final role in terms of interpreting this  and we trust the courts because our courts have interpreted our Constitution for all of our nations history and have done that in a very respectful and rational way.

So the proposition is to put this into the Constitution  then the courts will figure it out and the politicians will do nothing?

No the clear policy intention of the Government here is to protect one-parent families  families that, as we know, have been marginalised for much of our nations history. And also to protect co-habiting couples and any children that they might have.

What new rights do one-parent families gain that they do not have now?

Its a shield from the State intervening in decisions that are related to the family. Its not often that Article 41 rights have to be exercised by families.

Its often the most vulnerable families that actually have to seek to enjoy their Article 41 rights, but it is important that those rights are available to families outside of the marital family.

But many people are wondering what exactly will change for that one-parent family?

On the legal grounds, its that bundle of rights that are contained within Article 41 in terms of the internal decision-making of the family. But the recognition element is important.

I dont know if you had a chance to listen to Senator Lynn Ruane and or Senator Roisin Garvey, two senators who are in one-parent families, and who spoke about what it meant to them and how they feel theyve been treated in terms of one-parent families, the inferences that were made about them throughout their lives.

This referendum is not going to stop people making inferences.

But ultimately, our Constitution  if it shows that these families are just as valued a part of Irish society as a family based on marriage  will make a really important statement in terms of equality and in terms of recognition, in terms of ensuring that all children are treated equally.

Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Minister Roderic O'Gorman. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Do you accept Michael McDowells proposition that this has huge implications for many areas  including tax law, social welfare law, family law, succession law, pensions law, and immigration and residence law?

No, hes wrong on that. Because the very clear legal advice weve received throughout from the attorney general is that these items will not be impacted by what were proposing to amend in the Constitution.

The key reason is because the rights set out under all those areas are set out in primary legislation  and that doesnt include a definition of durable, that doesnt include durable relationships in terms of the families that benefit from those rights.

But importantly, the Constitution maintains the special protection of marriage, thats not being changed by this proposal.

Can you be married to one person but be estranged from them, and be in a so-called durable relationship with another person  and would that person then have the same rights as the person to whom you are legally married?

Somebody in a durable relationship does not have the whole range of rights that a married couple has, because married couples have a whole range of rights set out in primary legislation that apply to married couples.

Right now, you are in a family with your parents, and youre also in a family with your wife and kids. So youre part of two families right now before this amendment ever takes place  and if, God forbid, you divorce your wife and remarry, youd be part of a third Constitutional family.

The Constitution maintains the special protection of marriage, thats not being changed

What if I was still married to my wife but in a relationship with another person?

Depending on the magnitude of that relationship, you could be in a durable relationship with that person.

And that would then supersede the marriage?

No. It wouldnt supersede it  because again the rights related to marriage are set out in great detail within statute.

Some on the No side contend you could be in multiple durable relationships and therefore all of the people in those relationships would have a claim to your estate?

Estate has nothing to do with this. Inheritance rights around succession are not impacted by this referendum.

In the care referendum, what legal basis does the word strive have? How enforceable is it?

The term within the Constitution is shall strive. Shall is a mandatory directive towards the State, and its not placed in a part of the Constitution that wouldnt be justiciable, like Article 45 for example.

Its being given its own article, it very clearly is justiciable  and the courts will be able to adjudicate on whether [a government] has met the requirements in terms of individual care situations.

Senator Tom Clonan is saying that by voting for this, wittingly or unwittingly, people are engaging in an act of individual and collective self-harm. That is an extraordinary thing for someone of his standing to say and he is not doing it lightly.

It is extraordinary, and it is entirely wrong  and I say that with respect to Tom, because Ive listened to him and he talks very eloquently about his family and how his son has been let down by the system.

But he is wrong in terms of what hes saying about this referendum.

When somethings in the Constitution, it helps you make the case for more resources

This referendum is placing a care obligation on the State to support care, care in the disability context, care in the context of children, care in the context of the elderly, and a whole range of contexts.

Its putting in place an obligation that doesnt exist right now.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties claims that the care amendment will not provide meaningful legal protection to carers.

I disagree. We are putting a clear obligation on the State, something that doesnt currently exist in our Constitution  a clear requirement on the State that it shall strive to do more in terms of care.

That will be legally meaningful, and it will be politically meaningful as well  in that itll strengthen me and whoevers in my department in future governments, whether its in cabinet discussions or whether its in budgetary negotiations.

I know that when something is in the Constitution, it strengthens your hand in terms of making the case for resources.

Another body making criticisms, the Free Legal Advice Centre, is saying that the amendment is ineffective and implicitly sexist. It calls it a step backwards for rights-based constitutional reform.

This amendment places a mandate on the State to support the infrastructure of care that supports families in terms of the work they do  and that can be respite, that can be residential services. It can be personal assistance hours, in terms of supporting independence.

It is about putting a greater focus on the States obligations to support families, and that can only be to the benefit of families, of persons with disabilities, of children, of elderly people.

Would you re-run one or both referendums if they fail?

We have to be realistic, were in the last year of this Government  so I think its very unlikely. I dont believe that will happen.
The actor is proud at how far Ireland has come, but says weve still a way to go

In May 2011, Brendan Gleeson gave an emotional speech at College Green ahead of Barack Obamas public address in Dublins city centre.

Im fed up looking at the ground, he told the crowd. Its time to stand up, breathe the air, look around...

Almost 13 years later, he is sitting in an upstairs room in Merrion Square, a short stroll from where he made that speech. What does he see, in Ireland now, when he looks around?

We are essentially the United States of America now, a place where people come to find prosperity, opportunity  to find life, he says.

OK, we havent coped with it. But I dont remember the American government saying: Were going to have blanket housing for our incoming immigrants. They allowed the market to do it  and what happened was a hell of a lot of misery.

Referring to Martin Scorseses film about immigrant tensions in New York in 1863, he says: I did Gangs of New York, so Im not advocating that.

I think we have to start building towards a population of 10 million

Last week he went for a walk at Malahide Castle, near where he lives, and had a realisation.

I was thinking, this used to belong to one person. It belongs now to a whole plethora of people, he says.

The people who mostly use it a lot of the time are the foreigners whove come over here, and are working here and living here. They love all the public spaces. They access the things that we in Ireland dont. In Ireland now, we have to start bending it around to what makes people happy.

I mention his impassioned tirade on The Late Late Show in 2006 about the state of the Irish health system.

If youre trying to get me to go cribbing, Ive decided Im fed up about non-creative outrage, he says, meaning (I think) the kind of outrage that doesnt change anything.

A scene from 'Brendan Gleesons Farewell to Hughess'

Perhaps its something to do with advancing years  hell turn 69 next month  but he says that instead of roaring about everything thats wrong, I want solutions now.

In hoping for a better, more inclusive Ireland, he finds himself drawn to people who have benign influences and away from the brutish, non- communicative males of the kind he has sometimes played  characters who are, he thinks, a cliche now.

Im looking at my lads, he says of his four sons, Domhnall, Rory, Fergus and Brian.

Im looking at their generation and underneath it and the way they interact with their partners. The way they go around with buggies. The way they go around the place with babies in slings.

ARCHIVE: Brendan Gleeson turns into skateboarding menace in Saturday Night Live promo

He walks around the offices of the Irish Traditional Music Archive with a cup of tea in one hand and a glass of water in the other.

Dressed all in black, including the shoes, he looks not unlike like his character from the 2014 film Calvary.

Hes here to promote his new film. Its not a bells-and-whistles Hollywood blockbuster, but a moving 60-minute film about something close to his heart.

Directed by Ciaran O Maonaigh, and filmed over five days in January 2022, Brendan Gleesons Farewell to Hughess is about a pub in Smithfield, Dublin, that was well known for promoting traditional Irish music for over 30 years before it shut its doors in 2021.

One of the things Id like to do with this film is to add to the discussion about traditional Irish music, he says.

Its something thats precious. I remember talking for years, even with people like John Boorman [who cast him as Martin Cahill in The General] about how you can capture Irish music without heading into the come-all-ye, without heading into that horrible Paddywhackery country?

Im never sure how it is going to be achieved with cameras, because they are intrusive of their nature. Whereas Ciaran is a musician himself, a magnificent fiddle player.

He understands. He can go in there with a camera and find a way of just capturing the soul of the music.

We have this coming to us now. I think it justifies the need for nationhood

Gleeson can understand why traditional Irish music years ago didnt connect with many people, because there was a certain amount of officialdom and staidness about the way it was presented. Most people didnt see it or hear it in the way it attracted me.

Part of the attraction was that his father, Frank, was from Thurles, and the family would troop down from Artane for their summer holidays, where cousins, uncles and aunt would sing a lot.

Aged 15, while in Connemara visiting school friends who had gone to the Gaeltacht, he was entranced by the sound of uilleann pipes.

After hitching a lift to Spiddal with the twilight coming, he slept in a brick shed and left at dawn in the teeming rain. Walking over a stone bridge vaguely like the one in The Quiet Man he heard something.

To this day, he says, I can still hear what came floating across to me  the sound of pipes playing. I dont think it was real. It was in my imagination.

"It was whatever way the wind was whistling in the bog that morning, but Ill never forget it. I think I was open to it, because I hadnt slept very much.

Gleeson played fiddle in 'The Banshees of Inisherin'

In his late teens, he started playing guitar with a friend from Waterford, Gerry Madden, who played mandolin.

Gerry had the tunes. I had to try and accompany him.

They ended up busking in Germany.

The Germans were very receptive to Irish music, because their own folk music had such horrible connotations because of the war.

Aged 19, he went to Waltons musical instrument shop in Dublin and bought a mandolin for a tenner.

It was my birthday about two months later and my grandmother came in and gave me my grandfathers mandolin. It one of the best days of my life.

Does he still play it?

I still have it, he says ruefully. My younger brother, Frank, sat on it. I left it on the couch  so I take the blame for it.

Though he played the fiddle in his roles in Cold Mountain, The Banshees of Inisherin and the new documentary, he harbours no notions of being a virtuoso.

I try not to get in the way, he says.

He returns to a subject hes equally passionate about.

There is so much vibrancy now in Ireland. We have a kind of amazing prosperity. Who knows, it might be over next week, but I think we have to start building towards a population of 10 million.

"We have to start seeing ourselves differently  as a place where we benefited for years from going over to the States, or even to England where there was a booming economy and a need for workers.

We have this coming to us now. I think it justifies the need for nationhood. I think it justifies all the stuff that we felt was a duty to some sort of a heritage. To me, its: Look how far weve come. Its a wonderful place, throbbing with opportunity.

And dont forget that we have little gems like Irish music.

Brendan Gleesons Farewell To Hughess is in the Light House, Dublin, and the Palas, Galway, from Saturday, March 2. See itma.ie
Fraudster Michael Lynn was overseeing new home renovations and scouting for distressed properties during 18m theft trial

Lynn developed a name in distressed property circles as someone who could organise funds, according to one source

The greedy former solicitor who robbed 18m from the banks

Maeve Sheehan Sun 25 Feb 2024 at 03:30

Former solicitor Michael Lynn was scouting distressed properties in Dublin and overseeing renovations of a new home as he waited to stand trial for stealing almost 18m from banks in a Celtic Tiger mortgage fraud.
Gary Hanleys partner says hes family man as hes charged over 2m drugs haul

Mr Hanley, a father of two from North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, who is on disability benefit, was refused bail over pleas from his partner that he was an innocent "family man".

Gary Hanley

Tom Tuite Sat 24 Feb 2024 at 21:21







THREE men charged after gardai intercepted a van carrying 2m of cannabis and uncovered another 1m of various drugs in an apartment in Dublin have been remanded in custody.
Family needs her condition diagnosed so they can learn what her future holds

Eight-year-old Robyn Keane wont eat her dinner unless dance music is playing in the background.

She loves DJ David Guetta. Shes the happiest little lady. She wakes up every day with the biggest smile on her face, her mother, Lorraine Keane, said.

Robyn, the youngest of four children from Shannon, Co Clare, was born with a rare genetic disorder. She is non-verbal and needs the assistance of a walking aid.

Her condition is undiagnosed, but extensive medical tests since her birth have established the genetic dimension. The most serious aspect of the condition is her epilepsy, and she suffers seizures about once a month that require her to be hospitalised. On a small number of occasions, her seizures have been so serious that she has been transferred to an intensive care unit in Dublin.

Robyn was recently diagnosed with refractory epilepsy, which means the medicines usually used to control the seizures do not have the desired effect.

They know Robyn by name at the A&E in Limerick hospital, her mother said.

I think the most difficult issue for us is the fact that her disorder is undiagnosed. Ive always said Id like a diagnosis, because then we could know what the future holds.

Despite the uncertainty, Robyn is a happy and well-adjusted child, who loves water play, Peppa Pig and going to school. She also adores her older siblings.

My other kids are great kids too. Because of Robyn, they are particularly empathetic and caring towards others, Ms Keane said.

She said the family felt blessed when St Tolas National School in Shannon opened the countys first multi-disability unit in a primary school setting.

Now in first class, Robyn has attended the unit, named Aoibhneas  meaning joy  since junior infants.

It was like a miracle when it opened  just at the age when Robyn was due to start junior infants. Her siblings attend the same school. It is really great to have them so close, because of Robyns complex epilepsy. If she has a seizure, they can help, because they know all the signs.

Its also great for the school community. It is normalising kids with disabilities for all of the children who attend. Thats been great for integration  everywhere we go, other kids know Robyn and come up to say hello, her mother said.

Robyn is non-verbal, but Ms Keane said her daughter was very much able to tell us what she wants.

This coming Thursday is Rare Disease Day. The charity Rare Ireland is running a number of fundraising events.

Robyn was aged two when I became aware of Rare Ireland. It is an amazing group, the community is just wonderful. The support and camaraderie my family has received from them over the years is hard to measure, Ms Keane said.

There are more than 300,000 people in Ireland living with rare diseases and 70pc of these begin in childhood.

Rare Ireland was founded in 2017 by Louise OKeeffe and Laura Egan, who both have daughters that have been diagnosed with rare conditions. It now has more than 2,000 members and supports families as a whole, including parents and siblings.

The charity also provides funding to ease the financial burden families face by providing a subsidy towards private therapies including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, counselling and equine therapy.

The charity is linked with a private geneticist to ensure families do not have to wait up to three years to access an appointment with a genetics counsellor. They can instead secure specialist advice within a few months.

Its been such a help to us to have been able to meet other parents of children with rare diseases, Ms Keane said. Its really just about support and having people to talk to who can understand.
Dancing With the Stars contestant Katja Mia has said taking part in the show is helping her tackle her body dysmorphia and image issues despite being under a microscope and subject to more hate.

The Virgin Media Six OClock Show presenter said the support she has been receiving has been mostly positive, however a small number of trolls have been targeting her with online hate.

She identified week five as a turning point, when DWTS judge Loraine Barry addressed online haters who were body shaming Katja, by saying: If you have a problem, it is your problem.

It made me get out of my head, said Ms Mia, adding, I deserve to be here.

Just because Im not a size eight or 10 and cant be flung around easily, I still deserve to be here. I was a bit more positive after it.

Going into it, I maybe doubted myself a little bit just because of my body dysmorphia and body image issues. I was like I dont think I look like a dancer, she said.

The Six OClock Shows Katja Mia is dancing up a storm

The Blanchardstown native said DWTS has helped grow her confidence about her body, and that seeing her strength grow week by week is starting to change my mindset around body dysmorphia.

I just keep telling myself, people dont see what you see, she said.

I just sprinkle a bit of positivity in there and dont let the negative thoughts get the best of me. It really has helped me change my perception around my body and see what I can do.

Ms Mia said growing up, she would never wear anything that was long-sleeved as she felt uncomfortable about having her arms on show.

However, she thanked the shows costume department who have helped address her concerns by telling her before going live that the measurements are fitted exactly to her body and cant look bad.

Every time I go out there like that, it is so scary. When you look at a picture of yourself, dont just look at that one negative thing about yourself.

"I try to look at it as a whole, she said.

The 27-year-old alluded to her East African Burundian genes, where she said everyone, including those in her family, have big hips and big bums, adding: That is just what our body shapes are.

When you are over there that curvature is celebrated but stepping into western media, I think people are still warped in a certain way in thinking that you have to look really skinny, she said.

Ms Mia, who was spotted by a modelling agency in 2020, said exposing an online troll publicly who sent her a long Instagram message about her size from a fake account, led to a lot of positive messages.

After I exposed the person, I had so many positive messages. I was almost doing this just for myself as I told myself I am defending myself here, this person is crazy for thinking that.

Then after, I realised so many women feel the same way and have been subjected to that hate before. Week on week I have been getting so much support from women who look like me.

So many of them were cheering me on and it was so, so nice, I have them to thank, she added.

Dancing With The Stars continues at 6.30pm this Sunday on RTE One.
The HSE has warned against jumping to conclusions over patient deaths at University Hospital Limerick after a young woman died suddenly last weekend.

The 33-year-old woman, who was pregnant with her first child, was admitted to University Maternity Hospital Limerick on February 15.

She was later transferred to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) for tests, including for possible sepsis. The woman and her partner were told they had lost the baby. She died suddenly on Sunday after her condition deteriorated.

UHL has extended its condolences to the womans husband, family and loved ones.

The hospital has launched a review into the circumstances of the womans death  the second inquiry in four weeks opened into the death of a patient at the hospital.

An inquiry is already under way into the death of a 16-year-old teenager on January 29 in UHLs Emergency Department.

The teenager had spent two weeks in hospital with a serious respiratory infection and was discharged on January 23.

She was readmitted to UHL on January 29 but collapsed and died in the Emergency Department.

It is understood that the teenagers family are represented by Damien Tansey Solicitors, the same firm that is acting for the family of Aoife Johnston, the 16-year-old who died in UHLs Emergency Department in December 2022, after waiting 12 hours to be treated for sepsis.

UHL has come under enormous political and public pressure over the consistent overcrowding in its Emergency Department and patient safety issues.

A review into the death of Aoife Johnston found that hospital overcrowding was endemic and identified numerous missed opportunities in the care provided to the teenager.

The findings prompted Bernard Gloster, the chief executive of the HSE, to appoint retired chief justice, Frank Clarke, to lead an external inquiry into her care.

Mr Clarke, who was given eight weeks to complete his investigation, is due to report in early March.

The HSE said its first thoughts are with those affected but continued that commentary about recent patient deaths had put forward inappropriate conclusions that could undermine confidence in the hospital.

We always address legitimate concern and questions and have done so recently in the Mid-West. However, not every tragic outcome for a family in Limerick means there has been a failure in the service. Not every tragic outcome has the same attributes as other cases in which failure has been identified, it said in a statement.

In relation to recent deaths and cases in UHL, each case is looked at in its own right. Two cases are rarely the same. Similarities such as patient age for example, do not suggest the cases are the same, it continued.

The HSE said that revised national patient safety units will be replicated in the six planned health regions that will copperfasten scrutiny and robust questioning.

We would therefore ask that in relation to recent cases at UHL, as in any unexplained death in any hospital, that commentators not jump to conclusions and to respect the dignity of those who have died, the privacy of their grieving families and the dedication of our staff who come to work each day in the spirit of professionalism and care.

Meanwhile Bernard Gloster said the HSE has robust mechanisms for inquiring into unexpected deaths, unexplained poor outcomes and complaints, and we use them very regularly.

He continued: In Limerick, as with all our hospitals and services, we have an Incident Framework. When examining a concerning outcome we do not start from a conclusion. We assess the evidence, and then draw conclusions.

The primary aim is first to establish what happened and how, and then to take any appropriate actions.

Most such reviews, no matter what the outcome, give us the opportunity to learn how to improve for other patients and service users, he said.
Political journalist Michael ORegan, who has died at the age of 70, reported on the 1984 Kerry Babies controversy and served as a parliamentary correspondent with The Irish Times for many years, as well as being a regular broadcaster on radio and television.

A native of Kerry, he was born on November 3, 1953 and grew up in the parish of Annagh, close to Tralee. He was the third of five children in the family of Patrick and Mary ORegan. His father was part of a family of bakers and trade unionists and his mother took care of the family home and the small farm where they lived.

As the house was full of books and newspapers and the eldest child Gerard created mock publications titled The Bugle and The Gazette, it is perhaps not surprising that three of the children went on to become high-profile journalists in the national media. A grand-uncle of theirs, also named Michael ORegan, was a baker by trade but also wrote a weekly column in The Kerryman local newspaper during the 1930s.

Having attended primary school four miles from home at Derryquay, Michael ORegan moved on to the Christian Brothers secondary school in Tralee, widely known as The Green.

He then became a student on the first national course in journalism in Rathmines at what was then known as the College of Commerce but is now called the Rathmines College of Further Education.

His career choice was strongly encouraged and supported by his brother Gerard who enjoyed a successful career himself, becoming editor of three national newspapers at different times: The Irish Independent, Evening Herald and Daily Star. Their younger sister Eilish is health correspondent at The Irish Independent.

After finishing his studies in Rathmines, ORegan got a job with the highly-regarded The Kerryman in 1973, where the legendary Con Houlihan (1925-2012) was a columnist.

ORegan initially travelled to assignments on a scooter and his reporting was recognised with a national award under the heading of Outstanding Work in Provincial Journalism, presented to him in May 1981. In the very same week, he took up a staff job with The Irish Times.

The papers news editor at the time, Conor OClery, who later became an international correspondent, recruited ORegan on the strength of winning the award and also giving a very impressive job interview.

In 1985, ORegan reported on the Kerry Babies Tribunal and co-authored a book on the controversy with Gerard Colleran, titled Dark Secrets.

He was appointed as a Dail reporter by The Irish Times in 1988 and spent most of his working life in Leinster House during frequently turbulent times where he covered the parliamentary activities of Charlie Haughey, Garret FitzGerald, Albert Reynolds, Mary ORourke, Des OMalley, Dick Spring, Mary Harney and many other politicians.

On a wider front, he got to know the late Martin McGuinness quite well and, in an interview conducted by Maurice OKeeffe for the Irish Life & Lore website, he recalled meeting the Derry republican a lot when he came south: I was struck by the intensity of his commitment to the peace process ORegan said.

He also knew John Hume, whose commitment to peace he described as awesome and was impressed by the political skills of the Healy-Rae brothers as Independent TDs in his native Kerry. ORegan was also friendly with the novelist John McGahern whom he visited in Leitrim.

In his interview, he told OKeeffe he had been lucky in professional terms: I got the career I wanted... that doesnt happen for everybody.

At election time he would compile a readers guide to the various constituencies. He became a regular interviewee on RTE, Newstalk and TV3 and had many a verbal joust with Vincent Browne.

He liked the immediacy of broadcasting and had a Friday morning slot on Radio Kerry for over 30 years titled Call from the Dail as well as podcasts.

He enjoyed writing colour pieces on All-Ireland finals, especially when Kerry won. He was also very active in the Kerry Association, serving two terms as president. Retiring from full-time journalism in 2019, he continued to be active, particularly on X where he had a multitude of followers and enjoyed the banter and the diversity of views.

Looking back on the Kerry Babies saga which he observed so closely, ORegan said in the OKeeffe interview: The treatment of the family was appalling. Now justice has been done to the Hayes family. They waited a long, long, long time for their day of justice and I hope theyre doing well now.

In 1984, ORegan married Elizabeth Henry, a nurse from Sligo and they had two children, Deirdra and Alyson, who followed their father, aunt and uncle into journalism, working for The Washington Post and the BBC.

On a summers evening in July 2018, ORegan received a call to tell him he had been diagnosed with cancer. It wasnt a complete surprise because he had long experienced very worrying symptoms  mainly bouts of chronic fatigue and back pain. Worse was to come because, as he wrote in an article the following year: It was to be the first of two cancer diagnoses.

Reading and listening to the radio helped him to cope with his condition along with watching black-and-white Humphrey Bogart films on television. Bogie, as he was known, saw me through some difficult times, he said.

Seeing so many young people in hospital afflicted with cancer helped him to avoid self-pity. I was in my 60s, having had a relatively privileged life and many years of good health, he said.

In a four-minute video made by Bryan OBrien, which is accessible online, he talks about his cancer with a frankness and courage that many would find inspiring.

Michael ORegan died suddenly on February 18 after a long history of ill health including a tumour in his leg, followed by kidney failure and the blood cancer known as multiple myeloma.

In a statement, President Michael D HIggins said: Michael ORegans journalistic career coincided very closely with my own time in Leinster House and he was a journalist for whom I, together with so many others, had the utmost respect.

Conor Brady, a former editor of his at The Irish Times, said: Michael ORegan was fearlessly honest and forthright in his work as a political journalist. His judgment on people and events was rarely wrong, if occasionally his phraseology might have been a shade on the colourful side. He was full of good humour. Time in his company was never dull.

In a book he was working on before he died, ORegan asked himself what words of wisdom he would pass on to future generations and he wrote in reply: Honesty, integrity, and being true to yourself, are all very important. Avoid chancers and spoofers.

Michael ORegan is survived by Elizabeth, his daughters Deirdra and Alyson, sons-in-law Jeff and Phil, grandchildren Luna and Levi, siblings Gerard, Marie, Frank and Eilish, sisters-in-law Una and Sheela and extended family.

Michaels funeral mass took place on Saturday at the Holy Cross Church, Dundrum and a cremation ceremony was held at Mount Jerome in Harolds Cross.
I hope that I get a transplant within the next two years  Adrian Cummins on undergoing dialysis while advocating for a restaurant sector in crisis

Last year, Restaurants Association of Ireland chief Adrian Cummins was told he would need a kidney transplant. Now undergoing dialysis, he has a glass half full outlook on his medical problems  but he cant say the same for the future of many Irish restaurants under severe pressure

Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland. Photo: Owen Breslin

Lucinda O'Sullivan Sun 25 Feb 2024 at 03:30

In his role as chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI), Adrian Cummins has tirelessly advocated and cajoled the Government for support, not just for his 3,000 members countrywide, but for thousands of other restaurants, coffee shops and various eateries across the hospitality industry. He frequently appears on TV and radio, particularly in times of crisis  as is the case now for restaurants and cafes with rising costs, taxes, wages, and warehoused debt from the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Wars end with either an outright military victory, a negotiated settlement  or sometimes both sides just stop fighting when a stalemate becomes so entrenched and accepted. Two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which of these appears most likely?
People gather outside the GPO in Dublin on Saturday for a demonstration to mark the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: PA

The Russian Federations unlawful invasion of Ukraine has been endured by that country for 731 days as of today, with no end in sight to the unimaginable suffering of its people, more than 100,000 of whom have sought refuge in Ireland.

While an estimated 3.7 million Ukrainians are displaced internally, and more than 6.3 million have fled abroad, Ukraine continues to demonstrate remarkable resolve and determination in the face of Russias unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression.

Two years on from what Vladimir Putin assumed would be a swift and easy victory, one of the bigger issues now facing Ukraine is war fatigue among its international allies.

Collectively, the EU has provided 88bn in financial, humanitarian, emergency, budgetary and military support, with Irelands financial support amounting to over 90m in stabilisation and humanitarian aid.

These funds are focused on those most vulnerable and hard to reach  the women, children, displaced persons and others closest to the conflict lines. It targets critical needs, including the provision of food, safe drinking water, cash assistance and the construction of prefabricated homes.

The toll of the war is grim. At least 10,000 civilians have died in Ukraine since February 2022, along with tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and tens of thousands of Russian troops. Families and homes have been destroyed and lives uprooted. The estimated cost of recovery and reconstruction has risen to 547bn.

While Ireland has adopted a strong position in this war  and, indeed, in relation to Israels bombardment of Gaza  internationally, the conflict in Ukraine has reached a critical point.

In this newspaper today, the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland calls on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to use Irelands relationship with the US to implore US president Joe Biden to put pressure on Israel when the Irish and American leaders meet in the White House on St Patricks Day.

Ireland has adopted an honourable position in relation to both conflicts. Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said we would not waver in our support of Ukraine and our determination to hold Russia to account.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said in the US, where Donald Trump and the US Republicans have held up critical resources to support Ukraine in its frontline battle for the preservation of liberal democracy.

Trump has also made alarming statements that threaten to undermine Nato, should he return to the White House.

While the US can no longer be relied on to be Natos guarantor, Finland is now a member of the alliance and Sweden will soon follow. The EU has also agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine. There is no escaping the reality that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally transformed Europes security outlook.

Yesterday, Mr Martin said that while Ireland was militarily neutral, this country was not politically or morally so, in the face of violations of international law and war crimes.

Irelands position, he said, was informed by support for human rights, humanitarian law and the rules-based international order.

However, the realisation that there will be no easy victory at a time of wavering international support is challenging for Ukraine and its brave people  they have little choice but to fight on.
Transport Minister Albert Reynolds and Captain Edward Foyle at Le Touquet Airport, Le Touquet, France, May 1981. The previous day Aer Lingus flight EI 164 had been hijacked by Laurence Downey. Photo: Independent News and Media

On the first of May 1981, Ireland was sent into shock when an Aer Lingus flight was hijacked on its short trip from Dublin to London.

The story made international headlines as a former Australian monk, Lawrence 'Larry' Downey, held the Irish plane hostage for almost eight hours. So, what were his intentions?

And how did then Minister for Transport, and later Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, become an unlikely hero in a story that stretched as far as Iran and the Vatican?

Today on The Indo Daily Revisited, Siobhan Maguire hears everything about this mysterious tale from Sunday Independent columnist, Sarah Caden.
Gardai pictured at the location of the discovery of a body in Castlemaine, County Kerry. Photo: Dominick Walsh

Gardai in Kerry have launched a probe into the fatal shooting of a man in the Castlemaine area.

The investigation was launched after gardai discovered the body of a man in his eighties at his home outside the mid-Kerry village on Sunday morning.

A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office said that gardai in Tralee are now investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the mans body.

The Kerryman understands that gardai are treating the death as a fatal shooting.

Residents in the quiet rural village were shocked last night of the news of the mans death.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - February 26th

Fianna Fail councillor Michael OShea told the Irish Independent: The area is a beautiful, quiet village, where everyone knows everyone.

Everyone knows who their neighbour is and everyone respects and watches out for their neighbour and everyone in the village.

This is just an absolutely shocking and terrible incident and no one knows what has happened.

You could live a lifetime down here and nothing like this would ever happen, so understandably, we are all completely shocked and taken aback.

I am not sure who the man was yet but I can just say this is a very sad and tragic incident that no one wants to ever hear of.

All thoughts go to the man and his family.

Meanwhile, a local resident said: Its a shock to anyone who heard the news.

People are shocked, people never expect it to happen here, to anyone here.

But its especially shocking that an elderly person has died. Thats the saddest thing of all. Our thoughts are with the man and his family.

The village lies between Tralee and Killorglin. It is a picturesque corner of Kerry with a strong rural sense of community.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Kerry, the garda press office said.

The scene is currently being preserved for technical examination, with The Kerryman witnessing several gardai at the home on Sunday evening.

The garda press office said that the State Pathologist and local coroner have been notified.

The results of a post-mortem examination will assist Gardai in determining the course of the investigation, they added.

The Kerryman has learned that gardai are now speaking with another male in relation to the incident.
Retired council workers, all who were over 40 years in the council, photographed during their get together in Costa in New Ross. Front from left; Nicholas Eustace from Donanore, Tom Sweeney from Harristown and Charlie Rafter from Shanbogh. Back; Joe Dwyer from New Ross, Sean Colfer from St Leonards, John Hanley from Raheen, Willie Murphy from Clonroche and Johnny Grey from Ballinaboola. Photo; Mary Browne

A group of retired New Ross council outdoor workers have ensured the camaraderie of old  lives on by meeting up once a month for a coffee and to set the world to right.

The former road and outdoor staff members meet at Costa Coffee opposite Tesco in New Ross Retail Park on the second Monday of the month at 10 a.m. and are inviting other former New Ross council workers to join them.

Ballinaboola man Johnny Gray said he always looks forward to catching up with his friends and former colleagues.

Having worked alongside them for decades, he said conversation flows freely, as do memories of streets they worked on, weather events and projects they helped deliver for the town.

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"We worked side by side repairing roads and hedges over many years. I wouldnt miss these meet ups for the world. Most of it is us telling each other lies about things we worked on, he joked, adding that the social group is a great way to keep the friendships going.

"We have been doing this for six months and were never short on things to talk about. We dont chat much in between so theres loads to talk about, said Johnny.
Irish Rail has announced further disruptions to DART services for Greystones and Bray over weekends in May and June due to engineering works between Grand Canal Dock and Greystones.

Adding to previously announced works across the Easter bank holiday weekend, stations will also be closed on the May bank holiday weekend, and on further weekends in May and June.

The works will be carried out over the following dates:

Saturday, March 30 to Monday, April 1.

Saturday, May 4 to Monday, May 6.

Saturday, May 18.

Saturday, June 8 to Sunday, June 9.

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DART services will operate between Howth/Malahide to Grand Canal Dock and between Grand Canal Dock to Howth/Malahide only on those dates.

The news comes as Bray Chamber of Commerce has written to Irish Rail to express concerns over the cancellation of weekend Dart services in the area due to the ongoing engineering works.

Last year, several bank holiday weekends offered no Dart service to Bray or Greystones and already this year no service was provided for the three days of the February bank holiday.

The Bray Chamber of Commerce said it recognises the efforts made by Irish Rail to minimise disruptions, such as scheduling works during off-peak hours and avoiding major events like St Patricks Day.

However, it stressed the need for continuous collaboration and communication to ensure that the interests of local businesses, during busy bank holidays and key tourist seasons, are duly considered.

Chamber President Kieran Ward said: Tourism is a vital contributor to Bray's economy, and any hindrance to transportation services can have a direct impact on footfall.

"The Chamber calls for open dialogue between Irish Rail and the local business community to discuss potential solutions and ensure that the town's economic interests are safeguarded during this period of infrastructural development.

"We understand the challenges faced by Irish Rail in balancing necessary works with minimal disruption, and we believe that by working together, we can find collaborative solutions that benefit both the rail network and the local economy.

"The Chamber looks forward to receiving more detailed information about the major works scheduled for 2024 and anticipates further updates on how the potential impacts on local businesses and tourism will be mitigated.

In 2023, engineering works meant there was no Dart service beyond Dun Laoghaire across the Easter and May bank holiday weekends, with the May weekend hosting the international Bray Jazz Festival then, and again this year.

Social Democrats Local Election candidate in Bray, Aaron McAllorum.

Reacting to the latest news, Social Democrats Local Election candidate in Bray, Aaron McAllorum said:

I appreciate vital infrastructural works need to be undertaken to maintain the integrity of the line however, throughout 2023 and again this year, Bray is being denied an essential public transport mode.

Bray businesses will again suffer with the drop in footfall as well as people living in the town in the context of getting to and from Bray by rail and connecting to other public transport modes in Dublin.

The Bray Jazz festival takes place over the May weekend, and it is really disappointing there will be no train service to cover that.

Bray was left behind by Irish Rail for much of last year and its the same again this year.
Bernard Kops has died at the age of 97 (Hannah Burman/PA)

Poet and playwright Bernard Kops has died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones at the age of 97, his family has announced.

Throughout his career, he published dozens of plays, a host of novels and poetry anthologies which explore themes including life in East End London and its Jewish community.

A statement shared with the PA news agency by his family said: Poet and playwright Bernard Kops died peacefully Sunday surrounded by his great love, Erica, and the many family members who never found themselves far from the embrace of his smile or his words.

Born in the East End of London in 1926 to Dutch-Jewish parents, he left school as a teenager.

He established himself with his first play The Hamlet Of Stepney Green in 1957, which portrayed a working-class community through the relationship between an ill father and his adult son.

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It was hailed as a significant contribution to the kitchen-sink drama style and has been performed near and far afield.

Among his other plays was 1991s Playing Sinatra, a psychological drama set in London which follows grown-up siblings Norman and Sandra who live out their fantasies in the music of their favourite performer.

He also wrote the surrealistic drama Ezra, based on the personality of American poet Ezra Pound.

Within his work, he has also explored themes including the Holocaust as well as his love for his wife Erica and his immediate family.

Kops also broke through to radio and television production having recounted his experience of evacuation in the TV series The World At War, first broadcast in 1973.

He also wrote the script for the 1974 film Just One Kid, which sees a Jewish Eastender recall growing up in poverty in the 1930s and being part of a community.

In his later years, Kops hosted a writers workshop that he ran with playwright Tom Fry.

His publisher David Paul said in a tribute: Sad to learn of the death of Bernard Kops death this morning.

He was the last of the celebrated crop of Jewish writers that emerged in the 1950s out of the Jewish East End such as (Harold) Pinter and (Arnold) Wesker, and he was prolific with a cornucopia of plays, novels and poetry.

He said he got to know him in his twilight years when he published his 2010 poetry collection This Room In The Sunlight, which included one of his best known works  Shalom Bomb.

Mr Paul said the piece became an anthem for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and opens by saying: I want a bomb, my own private bomb, my shalom bomb / Ill test it in the morning, when my son awakes.

He also noted the first few lines from his poem Whitechapel Library/Aldgate East, where Kops discovered his love for books, are inscribed on the window of the reading room at the Whitechapel Art Gallery.

The publisher added: He was like a page of his work: witty, warm, dark and celebratory. Full of lyric rages and love for his family.

And full of stories such as finding Allen Ginsberg in his bed with his boyfriend, which he turned into a poem.
Photo courtesy: Pixabay

New Delhi: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Delhi Police's Special Cell in a joint operation arrested at least three people and confiscated a large quantity of chemicals used in the production of narcotics, media reported.

This operation was conducted to dismantle an international drug trafficking network that spread across India, New Zealand, Australia, and Malaysia.

The alleged mastermind, a Tamil film producer, is currently on the run.

The arrested individuals were taken into custody in Delhi, where 50 kg of pseudoephedrine was recovered from their possession.

Pseudoephedrine, a precursor substance, serves as a key ingredient in the production of methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic drug with severe health risks.

Despite having legitimate applications, pseudoephedrine is classified as a controlled substance in India, subjecting its manufacture, possession, trade, export, and usage to stringent regulations.

Violations of these regulations carry penalties of up to 10 years of imprisonment under the NDPS Act, 1985.

In Australia and New Zealand, pseudoephedrine commands a market price of around Rs 1.5 crore per kilogram.

Additional information provided by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) indicated Delhi as the source of these shipments.

To bust the network, a joint team of the Delhi Police Special Cell and NCB was formed.

After conducting intensive technical and field surveillance for four months, it was discovered that operatives in Delhi were preparing to dispatch another shipment to Australia.

The Special Cell conducted round-the-clock physical surveillance, leading them to a warehouse in Basai Darapur, West Delhi.

On February 15, during an attempt to conceal pseudoephedrine within a consignment of multigrain food mix, personnel from the NCB and Special Cell raided the warehouse, leading to the seizure of 50 kg of pseudoephedrine and the arrest of three people on the scene.

These three individuals hail from Tamil Nadu.

During interrogation, they revealed that a total of 45 shipments had been dispatched over the past three years, amounting to approximately 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine valued at over Rs 2,000 crore in the international market.

The mastermind behind the operation, identified as a Tamil film producer, remains at large.

Efforts are underway to nab him to ascertain the primary source of pseudoephedrine.
PM Modi said his experience of praying at the immersed Dwarka city was divine. (Image courtesy: twitter.com/narendramodi)

Dwarka (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi dived into deep waters off the coast of Gujarat to pray at the ancient city of Dwarka, which is submerged under water. Describing the experience as "divine," he expressed a sense of connection to a historic era of spiritual magnificence.

According to Hindu belief, Dwarka was ruled by Lord Krishna and was eventually engulfed by the sea after he departed from Earth.

Modi also offered prayers at the Dwarkadhish temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple is located in modern Dwarka, a town and municipality of Devbhumi Dwarka district in Gujarat.

Prayed at the Dwarkadhish Temple. Jai Shri Krishna! pic.twitter.com/6YYb9MWJ2z  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 25, 2024

"To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all," Prime Minister wrote on X.

PM Modi shared pictures of himself underwater, equipped with scuba gear, as he explored the submerged "lost city" of Lord Krishna.

"Today, I experienced those moments with will stay with me forever... I went deep in the sea and did 'Darshan' of the ancient Dwarka city. Archeologists have written a lot about the Dwarka city hidden underwater. In our scriptures also, it is said about Dwarka that it was a city with beautiful gates and tall buildings, as tall as the top of the world. Lord Krishna himself constructed this city," PM Modi said as he addressed a rally after the Dwarka Darshan.

"When I went deep in the sea, I experienced the divinity... I bowed down in front of Dwarkadhish. I took a peacock feather with me and placed it at Lord Krishna's feet. I had always been curious to go there and touch the remains of the ancient Dwarka city. I am full of emotions today... A decades-old dream was completed today," he added.

To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all. pic.twitter.com/yUO9DJnYWo  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 25, 2024

Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi unveiled the Sudarshan Setu, a four-lane cable-stayed bridge linking Okha to Beyt Dwarka island, home to the revered Lord Sri Krishna temple.

Previously, the Gujarat government had announced plans to launch a submarine service in Dwarka to enable devotees to explore the remnants of the ancient city.

Significance of Dwarka

It is located on the western shore of the Okhamandal Peninsula on the right bank of the Gomti River at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch facing the Arabian Sea.

Image Credit: wikipedia.org

Dwarka has the Dwarkadhish Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, which is one of four sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites called the Chardham, which was founded by Adi Shankaracharya (686717 CE) at the four corners of the country, was established as a monastic center and it forms part of the Dwarka temple complex.

Dwarka is also one of the seven-most-ancient religious cities (Sapta Puri) in India.

Dwarka is part of the "Krishna pilgrimage circuit" which includes Vrindavan, Mathura, Barsana, Gokul, Govardhan, Kurukshetra and Puri. It's one of 12 heritage cities across the country selected under the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme of the Government of India to develop civic infrastructure.
India,Japan joint military exercise commences in Rajasthan. Photo Courtesy: PIB

The 5th edition of Joint Military Exercise Dharma Guardian between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defence Force commenced on Sunday at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from February 25 to March 9.

Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' is an annual exercise and conducted alternatively in India and Japan.

The contingent of both sides comprises of 40 personnel each. The Japanese contingent is being represented by troops from the 34th Infantry Regiment and Indian Army contingent is being represented by a Battalion from the Rajputana Rifles.

Aim of the Exercise is to foster Military Cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in semi-urban environment under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter. The Exercise would focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills and basics of special arms skills.

Tactical drills to be practiced during the Exercise will include establishing of Temporary Operating Base, creating an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Grid, setting up Mobile Vehicle Check Post, executing Cordon and Search Operations in a hostile village, Heliborne operations and House Intervention Drills.

A Weapon and Equipment Display will also be organised showcasing Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and the growing defence industrial capability of the country.

Lieutenant General Togashi Yuichi, Commanding General, Eastern Army, Japan Ground Self Defence Force is also scheduled to visit India on the sidelines of Exercise Dharma Guardian.

The General officer will visit Mahajan Field Firing Ranges on 3rd March 2024 and witness Combat Shooting demonstration, Special Heliborne Operation (SHBO) & House Intervention Drills.

Exercise Dharma Guardian will enable the two sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures of conducting tactical operations.

The Exercise will also facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between troops of both the sides.

This will enhance the level of defence cooperation, further fostering bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Delhi Police on Sunday said that it has arrested an elusive member of the banned organization Student's Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) after 22 years.

The arrested accused, Hanif Sheikh, was involved and declared a proclaimed offender in unlawful activities and sedition cases, the police said.

"Hanif has been absconding for more than 22 years in a case of sedition and unlawful activities registered in the year 2001 at PS New Friends Colony in Delhi.

"He was also declared a proclaimed offender in said case in the year 2002 by the trial court," the police said.

He was involved in other anti-national activities in Maharashtra.

As a member of SIMI, Hanif Sheikh has been continuously propagating hardcore Islamic ideology and luring gullible Muslim youths to join SIMI by radicalizing and brainwashing them," the police said.

A team of the Southern Range Special Cell collected information from different parts of the country and worked consistently to identify the hideouts of the most wanted Hanif Sheikh.

During the entire operation, they worked consistently, travelled extensively across different states, and made sincere efforts to identify the hideouts of the most wanted Hanif Sheikh.

The team deployed their informers and sources in those areas and worked day in and day out to develop the information received with the help of informers.

The police checked the presence of his associates and made efforts to track them. They further received information that the accused Hanif Sheikh had changed his identity to Mohd. Hanif and is now working as a teacher in an Urdu School in Bhusawal, Maharashtra.

A team was stationed there, and after painstaking efforts, they zeroed in on him. Based on this information, a raiding party was formed, and a trap was laid near Asha Tower, Khadka Road, Bhusawal, Maharashtra. At about 02:50 PM on 22.02.2024, one suspicious person coming from Mohammad Nagar to Khadka Road was identified as Hanif Sheikh," the police said.

Hanif joined the SIMI organization in 1997 and became ANSAR (full-time worker). He became highly radicalized after coming in contact with SIMI activists. After joining the SIMI organization, Hanif Sheikh started attending weekly programs of SIMI and also started radicalizing Muslim youths to join the outfit. Impressed by his strong zeal, Sahid Badar, then President of SIMI, made Hanif Sheikh Editor of the Urdu edition of SIMI magazine Islamic Movement in the year 2001. He had written many provoking articles in the said magazine by falsely highlighting atrocities on Muslims in India.

Accused Hanif Sheikh is also one of the think tank members of Wahadat-e-Islam and is playing an important role in Maharashtra and other adjoining states.

He is also involved in collecting money in the garb of donations for supporting and financing the agenda of the banned organization SIMI as well as Wahadat-e-Islam, the police said.

(With UNI inputs)
Photo Courtesy: Fazi Khan Linkedin

An Indian-origin person died after an e-bike battery sparked a deadly fire in New York's Harlem region on Friday.

The fire reportedly left 17 others injured.

The deceased person was identified as 27-year-old Fazil Khan.

The Indian Consulate in New York confirmed the development and mourned the death of Khan.

The consulate posted on X: "Saddened to learn about death of 27 years old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY."

Saddened to learn about death of 27 years old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY. @IndiainNewYork is in touch with late Mr. Fazil Khans family & friends.

We continue to extend all possible assistance in  India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) February 25, 2024

The consulate said it is in tough with Fazil Khans family and friends.

"We continue to extend all possible assistance in repatriation of his mortal remains to India," the post said.

The fire burst out Friday in a third-floor apartment  but a Fire Department source told Daily News that was just one place where e-bikes were found.

Three firefighters using the lifesaving rope were lowered to the 5th floor where victims were trapped, grabbed them, & lowered them to the ground. There were 18 total patients. 12 transports, 4 of them in critical condition. 1 person died at the hospital. Fire under investigation pic.twitter.com/867ow7jth9  FDNY (@FDNY) February 23, 2024

There were e-bikes in the building in other apartments, the source said.

By Saturday, a vacate order had been placed on the property as the extent of the buildings damage was assessed, reported Daily News.

Who was Fazil Khan?

Fazil Khan travelled to New York from the Indian capital New Delhi to study in Columbia Journalism School.

He was working with Hechinger Report.



The Hechinger Report posted on X: "We learned Saturday that The Hechinger Reports data reporter Fazil Khan died in a fire in the New York City building where he lived. We are devastated by the loss of such a great colleague and wonderful person, and our hearts go out to his family. He will be dearly missed."

The Fire Department of the city said the cause of the blaze is currently under investigation.
Photo courtesy: Image instagrammed by realyanamir

London: Kashmiri activist Yana Mir has asserted that she will never have to escape from her country as she is safe in her home in Kashmir which is part of India and this is what makes her different from Malala Yousafzai, who had to leave her country Pakistan after being shot by a terrorist for going to school.

"I am not a Malala Yousafzai. I am not a Malala Yousafzai, because I will never have to run away from my home country," Yana Mir declared in the British Parliament building.

"I am free, and I am safe in my country India, in my home in Kashmir which is part of India," added Yana Mir.

Yana Mir, who calls herself Kashmir's first female vlogger, is a journalist, too, as she reports news and posts views and updates on her YouTube channel.

Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in Pakistan's Swat Valley in 2012 after she defied a Taliban ban on girls' education. She moved to the United Kingdom where she received treatment and recovered from her near fatal injuries. Afterwards, she enrolled at the University of Oxford. In 2014, she made history as the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17.

In her address, Yana Mir said she objects Mala Yousafzai for persistently defaming India by calling it 'oppressed'.

"But I object to you, Malala Yousafzai, defaming my country, my progressing homeland, by calling it 'oppressed'. I object to all such 'toolkit members' on social media and foreign media who never cared to visit Indian Kashmir, but, fabricate stories of 'oppression' from there," said Yana Mir.

"I urge you all to stop polarising Indians on grounds of religion, we won't allow you to break up us", added Yana Mir, "I hope our perpetrators living in the UK in Pakistan will stop maligning my country".

Yana Mir, who is associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Youth Society, delivered a speech at a "Sankalp Divas" event organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre UK (JKSC) in the British Parliament building.

Videos of Yana Mir's speech have circulated widely, with many praising her for her fervent delivery in the UK. She expressed gratitude to Sajid Yousuf Shah, the BJP media in-charge of Kashmir, and shared the inspiration behind her comparison to Malala Yousafzai.

"Thank you, Sajid, for pushing me to go here, when I was depressed after we lost Dad. I wouldn't have reached here if it wasn't for you. Also, this Malala theory was given to me by my sister. So, a person is nothing, without family support," Yana Mir wrote on X.

Yana Mir's father expired on January 26.

JKSC is a think-tank involved in the study of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Yana Mir was also honoured with the Diversity Ambassador Award for advocating diversity in the J&K region, during the keynote address.

She highlighted development in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, underscoring enhancements in security, governmental programs, and allocation of funds.

Previously, Yana Mir had compared Pakistan with an interfering boyfriend, for constantly poking its nose in the matters of Jammu and Kashmir and stake claiming in the region.

The interfering boyfriend needs to stop, Yana Mir said in a YouTube interview in 2022.

Yana has often urged in her vlogs that "it is time for every Indian to join and defeat a vicious information assault against the Republic (India)."
In images destruction from Gaza war/ courtesy: UNI

Washington/IBNS/UNI: US and Arab officials are seeking to narrow the differences between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas to reach an agreement to pause hostilities in Gaza and release Israeli hostages, The Wall Street Journal reported citing Egyptian officials.

The report on Saturday added that at the meeting in Paris, Hamas was showing flexibility regarding how long the pause in hostilities should last, the number of Palestinians to be released as part of the first stage of the agreement, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli delegation was ready to discuss the duration of the pause and the release of several Palestinian prisoners, but remained hesitant about allowing Gaza residents to return to the northern part of the enclave or making any commitment to guarantee negotiations to end the war, the report said, citing mediators.

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 29,500 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.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's body handed over to his family members. Photo Courtesy: Yulia Navalnaya Instagram page

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's body has been handed over to his mother, his spokesperson said.

His body was handed over after nine days since he died in an Arctic prison.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokesperson, posted on X: " Alexey's body was handed over to his mother. Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us."

Alexey's body was handed over to his mother. Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us.



Lyudmila Ivanovna is still in Salekhard. The funeral is still pending. We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants and as Alexey deserves. We    (@Kira_Yarmysh) February 24, 2024

"Lyudmila Ivanovna is still in Salekhard. The funeral is still pending. We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants and as Alexey deserves. We will inform you as soon as there is news," she said.

Navalnys mother Lyudmila earlier in the week recorded several videos saying the authorities were blackmailing her into agreeing to a secret funeral for her son, reported The Guardian .

Yulia Navalnaya, Navalnys widow, has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of mocking Christianity over the way her husband's body has been treated.

You tortured him alive, and now you keep torturing him dead. You mock the remains of the dead, she said in a message to Putin as quoted by The Guardian.

No true Christian could ever do what Putin is now doing with the body of Alexei, she said, asking: What will you do with his corpse? How low will you sink to mock the man you murdered? Navalnaya said in a video published on her social media as quoted by the newspaper.

Alexei Navalny's family and team have claimed he was killed by Russian authorities.

However, the Kremlin has denied its involvement in the death.

A large number of his supporters expressed dissatisfaction over the treatment meted towards his remains by authorities.

More than 82,000 people have signed a petition to Russias investigative committee asking for Navalnys body to be handed to his family, reported The Guardian.

At least 800 people have signed a separate petition initiated by a group of Russian Orthodox priests, saying his family has the right to say farewell to Navalny and give him a Christian burial, the British newspaper reported.

G7 leaders threaten Russia with sanctions over Alexei Navalny's death

The leaders of the G7 countries have pledged to impose sanctions on Russia in connection with the death of the country's opposition figure Alexei Navalny, according to a joint statement.

"We will hold those culpable for Navalnys death accountable, including by continuing to impose restrictive measures in response to human rights violations and abuses in Russia and taking other actions," the statement said on Saturday (February 24, 2024).

What do we know about Navalny's death?

Alexei Navalny, 47, died in an Arctic prison on Friday (February 16, 2024).

He was serving a 19-year term.

Alexei Navalny felt unwell in prison after a walk and lost consciousness. He received all necessary resuscitation measures, but they did not yield positive results, the Federal Ptnitentiary Service stated as quoted by Russia's Sputnik news agency.

President Vladimir Putin did not comment on the issue since his death was announced.

Several world leaders, including Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden, have slammed Putin over the politician's death.
The movie Article 370, starring Yami Gautam, has sparked a lot of discussion. The movie, which was before regarded as "agenda driven," has won over viewers. The most impressive thing in the movie as per movie-goers is Amit Shah's portrayal and how true to life it is. Not only does the actor Kiran Karmakar look remarkably similar to Amit Shah, but his impeccable accent, mannerisms, and other traits have won him praise for his amazing transformation.

Check out a clip that has been going viral:

#Article370



When the gap between Reel and real is bridged  pic.twitter.com/RrwfuDeBw4  Aditya Nayak (@adityavnayak) February 24, 2024

Reacting to it, one wrote, Based on true events #Article370 is a brilliant film with no bullshit adult scenes to promote western culture. The portrayal of Amit Shah ji in the film was damn good but funny too at a moment when he mocked opposition sarcastically.



Another added, Caught #Article370 today and blown away! An absolute must-watch!Flawlessly executed portrayal of the complexities behind Article 370's abrogation and its success. Yami & Priyamani! Just wow!!! Amazing! They shine throughout! Arun govilji as PM and k karmakar as Amit shah were fab!



A third wrote, Have yet to see this but the Feedback is Incredible and Arun Govil Ji and Kiran Ji both did Extremely Well it was visible from the Trailers including Yami who I believe will get a National Award for a Film that had the right intension that reflected onscreen unlike Fighter.



X

The movie is centered on corruption and terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. In this capacity, Yami is an intelligence officer.

For the unversed, at a recent event in Jammu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made reference to Article 370. He went on to say that, "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."




Hindu New Year 2024: The New Year is a time of celebration and renewal for many cultures around the world. While most people are familiar with the Gregorian calendar's January 1st as the start of the New Year, there are other traditions that mark the beginning of the year at different times. One such tradition is the Hindu New Year, which is celebrated in the month of Chaitra, usually falling in March or April.

In the Hindu calendar, the New Year begins with Chaitra Navratri, a nine-day festival dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is considered an auspicious time for new beginnings and fresh starts. People clean their homes, wear new clothes, and decorate their houses with flowers and rangoli (colorful designs made on the floor). They also visit temples and offer prayers to seek blessings for the coming year.

The Hindu New Year is a time for reflection, gratitude, and setting intentions for the year ahead. It is a reminder to cherish the past, live in the present, and look forward to the future with hope and optimism.

When Hindu New Year 2024?

Hindu New Year 2024 | Photo: Freepik

In 2024, the Hindu New Year will be celebrated on April 9th. This is based on the Hindu calendar, where the New Year starts on the Pratipada Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra. This particular day holds significance as, according to the Brahma Purana, creation itself took place on the Pratipada day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra.



Every state and region in India celebrates the New Year in the month of Chaitra with different names and traditions. In North India, it is celebrated as Baisakhi, while in South India, it is known as Ugadi or Puthandu. In Maharashtra, it is celebrated as Gudi Padwa, and in Odisha, it is observed as Maha Vishubha Sankranti. This auspicious day marks the beginning of new hopes, plans, fresh starts, and a new financial year.

Significance Of Baisakhi

Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, is a significant festival celebrated in Punjab and other parts of India. It marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year and commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Baisakhi also holds agricultural importance as it marks the harvest festival in Punjab. People celebrate by visiting gurdwaras, participating in processions, and enjoying traditional dances and music. It is a time of joy and thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest and the blessings of the Guru. Baisakhi is a time for renewal, reflection, and community celebration.

Significance Of Ugadi and Puthandu

Ugadi and Puthandu are traditional festivals celebrated by people in India. Ugadi is celebrated in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, while Puthandu is celebrated in Tamil Nadu. These festivals mark the beginning of the new year according to the Hindu calendar. People clean their homes, wear new clothes, and prepare special dishes. They also visit temples to seek blessings for the year ahead. The significance of these festivals lies in the belief that they bring prosperity, happiness, and good fortune. They are also occasions for family gatherings and strengthening social bonds.

Significance Of Gudi Padwa

Gudi Padwa is a significant festival celebrated in Maharashtra, India. It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is considered auspicious for starting new ventures and buying new things. People decorate their homes with colorful rangoli designs and hoist a Gudi, a bamboo pole with a silk cloth, and a garlanded sugar crystal, outside their homes. This symbolizes victory and prosperity. Families come together to share traditional sweets and dishes. The festival is a time for joy, renewal, and new beginnings.

Significance of Maha Vishubha Sankranti

Maha Vishubha Sankranti, also known as Pana Sankranti, is a significant festival celebrated in Odisha, India. It marks the beginning of the Odia New Year and is observed on the first day of the month of Baisakh in the Hindu calendar. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is associated with various rituals and customs. People clean their homes, wear new clothes, and offer prayers to Lord Jagannath. Traditional dishes like Pana, a sweet drink made from milk, sugar, and fruits, are prepared and shared with friends and family. The festival symbolizes new beginnings, prosperity, and good fortune.

Hindu New Year Rituals

During these days, people offer prayers to Goddess Durga, Goddess Laxmi, and Lord Kuber. They also follow their rituals and traditions while celebrating the New Year. It is a time when people decorate their homes and streets, create rangoli, prepare different types of savories and dishes, wear new clean clothes, and visit various holy places to seek blessings for a good start to the year.

Astrologically speaking, Saturn is the ruling planet of the year 2024. Saturn is known as the planet of Karma and Justice, indicating that this year will be a time for reaping rewards for those who have worked hard in every aspect of life. However, it is also a year that may bring struggles for those who have committed mistakes knowingly or unknowingly in their past or present lives. People are advised to engage in spiritual and religious activities to mitigate the adverse effects of Saturn. It is important to be kind and compassionate towards every living being and to follow the path of righteousness while discarding any bad habits.

(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
National Science Day (NSD) is an annual celebration observed on 28 February to honor the discovery of the 'Raman Effect'. The Government of India officially designated this date as National Science Day in 1986. On this day in 1930, Sir C.V. Raman announced his groundbreaking discovery, for which he was later awarded the Nobel Prize.



To commemorate this significant event, various theme-based science communication activities are organized across the country. This initiative aims to promote scientific awareness and appreciation among people of all ages. Schools and colleges play a crucial role in celebrating NSD by organizing special events and activities related to science and technology.

When is National Science Day in 2024?

In 2024, National Science Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 28th.

National Science Day 2024 Theme

National Science Day 2024 | Photo: Freepik

The theme for "National Science Day 2024" is "Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat", the theme reflects a strategic focus on promoting public appreciation for Science, Technology, and Innovation. It also highlights the accomplishments of Indian scientists in addressing challenges through home-grown technologies for overall well-being.



The theme not only marks a new era but also presents an opportunity for the public and scientific fraternity, both domestically and internationally, to collaborate and work together. The goal is to contribute to the well-being of India and humanity as a whole. While emphasizing the importance of making India Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) through science, it underscores the need to address subjects that hold significance for humanity as a whole.

National Science Day History and Significance

National Science Day is celebrated in India on 28th February each year to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman on 28th February 1928. The Raman Effect is the phenomenon of the scattering of light when it passes through a transparent material, leading to a change in its wavelength and energy. This discovery was a significant contribution to the field of physics and earned Sir C.V. Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Indian to receive this prestigious award in science.

The Government of India officially designated 28th February as National Science Day in 1986 to honor Sir C.V. Raman's contribution to science and to promote scientific temper and knowledge among the people of India. The theme of National Science Day changes every year, and various events, workshops, exhibitions, and competitions are organized across the country to celebrate the day and to encourage scientific thinking and innovation among students and the general public.

India's Scientific Ascendancy: A Global Phenomenon

In the wake of recent scientific achievements, India's meteoric rise over the past decade has not gone unnoticed on the global stage. The country now ranks among the top five nations in scientific research publications, a testament to its growing influence in the field of science and technology. Furthermore, India's remarkable climb in the Global Innovation Index (GII) from 81st rank in 2015 to 40th position today is a clear indication of its commitment to fostering innovation and creativity.

One of the key factors behind India's success story in science and technology is the strengthening of its S&T ecosystem. This has led to significant advancements in various fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Astronomy, Solar & Wind Energy, Semiconductors, Climate Research, Space Research, and Biotechnology. These breakthroughs have not only propelled India's scientific capabilities but have also had a tangible impact on the lives of its citizens.

A prime example of this is the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the moon, making India the first country to achieve this feat. This milestone underscores India's prowess in space research and its ability to push the boundaries of scientific exploration.

Moreover, India's robust vaccine development capacity has been put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country emerging as a global leader in vaccine production and distribution. This has not only helped in controlling the spread of the virus but has also showcased India's capabilities in the field of biotechnology.

Looking ahead, India is now gearing up to match the global stride in Quantum Technology, a field that holds immense promise for the future. The impact of Indian scientific breakthroughs is not limited to the realm of technology but is also significantly enhancing the 'Ease of Living' for the common man, thereby contributing to the overall well-being and prosperity of the nation.

Celebrating National Science Day: A Festive Affair

National Science Day is celebrated across the nation as a science festival, with a plethora of activities aimed at promoting scientific temper among people of all age groups. Workshops, exhibitions of science movies, thematic exhibitions, live projects, debates, quiz competitions, and seminars are organized to engage and educate the public about the wonders of science.

The celebrations are marked by a spirit of enthusiasm, with a large number of people coming together to participate in various events. The Indian Department of Science and Technology, The Giant Metre Wave Radio Telescope (GMRT), The Councils of Science and Technology in every state, The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), and The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium are some of the major venues where grand-scale celebrations take place.



These activities not only showcase the achievements and advancements in science and technology but also inspire and motivate the next generation of scientists and innovators. National Science Day is a time to celebrate the spirit of inquiry, discovery, and innovation that drives the progress of humanity.



For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events


Bihar has recently witnessed an alarming surge in dog bite cases, with data from the state's latest economic survey revealing a staggering increase of more than 200 times compared to the previous year. The Bihar Economic Survey (202324), released by the state government, has identified dog bites as the most prevalent health issue, raising concerns about public safety and potential health risks.

Stark Increase in Cases

According to the report, the total number of people suffering from dog bites in the year 202223 reached a staggering 2,07,181, in stark contrast to the 9,809 cases reported in the preceding year (202122). This surge highlights an average of 600 people falling victim to dog bites every day in Bihar. The report also provides a district-wise breakdown of the incidents, with the state capital, Patna, reporting the highest number of dog bite incidents at 22,599 in the years 202223. Other districts significantly affected include Nalanda (17,074), Gopalganj (15,253), Vaishali (13,110), West Champaran (11,291), and East Champaran (9,975).

Concerns About Rabies and Public Safety

Dog bite | Photo: Unsplash/Representational Image

Despite the concerning rise in dog bite cases, the report did not specify the number of rabies cases typically transmitted by bites from infected animals, including dogs. Rabies is a potentially fatal disease, and the lack of information on its prevalence raises concerns about public safety. Authorities in Bihar are taking steps to address the issue. Animesh Kumar Parashar, Patna Municipal Commissioner, acknowledged the problem and expressed plans to intensify efforts to control the stray dog population. Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Anand of Nalanda, the district with the second-highest number of incidents, also emphasized ongoing drives against stray dogs.



Calls for Effective Measures

Dog bite | Photo: Unsplash/Representational Image

Medical practitioners and animal welfare advocates have expressed concern over the rise in dog bite incidents and emphasized the need for comprehensive measures. Dr. Manoj Kumar from Patna urged authorities to address the issue seriously, highlighting the potential transmission of rabies through bites and scratches.



Alokparna Sengupta, Managing Director for Humane Society International/India, emphasized the importance of controlling human-animal conflict to curb dog bite incidents. She also stressed the effective implementation of the Animal Birth Control Program, which aims to manage stray dog populations humanely.

With inputs from PTI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has consistently safeguarded our lives, shouldering the responsibility with unwavering dedication. Renowned for its exemplary service, the IAF stands as a beacon of excellence and a testament to effective organisation.

In a recent incident, the Indian Air Force played a pivotal role in ensuring the timely airlift of an organ utilising its Dornier aircraft for it, thereby saving the life of a veteran.

Credit: X

Liver transported and transplanted

On February 23, the IAF transported doctors from Army Hospital (R&R) in its Dornier aircraft to facilitate a liver retrieval in Pune and its subsequent transfer to Delhi. The success of the transplant surgery proved instrumental in preserving the life of a military veteran.

The IAF shared the news on Twitter (formerly X), saying, "An IAF Dornier aircraft was activated at short notice to airlift a team of doctors of Army Hospital (R&R), to retrieve a liver from Pune to Delhi during the night on 23 Feb 24. The subsequent transplant surgery helped save the life of a #Veteran."

Credit: X

Army Hospital (Research and Referral), also known as Army Hospital is the apex flagship medical care centre for the armed forces of India.



Located in Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi, the hospital includes a teaching hospital and nursing college.

What is the Dornier aircraft?

Wikipedia

The Dornier-228 aircraft is a multifunctional, lightweight transport aircraft, well-suited for a range of purposes.



Recently, in September 2023, the Ministry of Defence had finalised the procurement of six Dornier-228 aircraft for the IAF from HAL.

Thank you for saving our jawan, say netizens

Credit: X

Retired Brigadier Khushal Thakur commended, "Well done Indian Air Force.Proud of you always."



Another individual expressed, "Great job done with passion, I congratulate Indian Airforce and the team of Doctors of Indian Army.

Because of you people we are safe and fearless. Jai Hind." Another person conveyed gratitude, stating, "Great job by our armed forces, thank you for saving our jawan!."

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


A British woman battling cancer shared her final message with the world through a posthumous LinkedIn update, eliciting emotional reactions on the internet.

What did the woman write in her last post?

The woman discussed appreciating life rather than being crushed by the dreadful cancer | Image: LinkedIn

In her post, she discussed appreciating life rather than being crushed by the dreadful cancer. Daniella T's family used the platform to share her final words after she died of Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer that begins in the bile ducts.



Despite the bleak diagnosis, Daniella chose to approach the sickness with amazing optimism, focused on living her life to the fullest rather than worrying on the life she was losing.



"Firstly, I just want to say that not all cancers are caused by lifestyle choices, in some cases its genetics, or unfortunately it just happens," she said in her post.

Who posted the emotional message?

Woman's family members posted her last message on her behalf. Her LinkedIn post was more than just a farewell; it was also a celebration of her life and the love she shared with those around her.

"I LOVED my life. Everything I had achieved was what I wanted. I loved my job, my fiance, my family, my friends and my dog, and the house we were going to buy and the future we were making for ourselves. Leo my fur baby was definitely brought into my life to help brighten my darkest days."

"So thank you everyone for making my life so magical. Remember what I said about enjoying the little things," she added in her post.



Perhaps the most moving portion of her letter was a phrase from Winnie the Pooh that summed up her optimistic outlook and the strong relationships she had with her loved ones.



If ever there is a tomorrow when were not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if were apart Ill always be with you. Winnie the Pooh.!



How did people on the internet react?

Daniella's final remarks have moved social media users, providing as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the strength found in love and gratitude.

Check the post here.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Guinness World Records (GWR) shared an Instagram video of over 700 Karbi tribesmen walking on bamboo stilts in Assam. The organization claimed that while celebrating their ancestry, the tribe set a global record.

The citation given to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KACC) verified that they set the record for the "longest moving line of people walking on stilts".

Where was this world record set?

The act of stilt walking is known locally as Kang Dong Dang in Karbi culture | Image: Instagram

GWR commented on the same picture, saying, "The act of stilt walking, known locally as Kang Dong Dang, has long been a tradition deeply rooted in the Kabri culture and passed down through generations. This event was held at Karbi Anglong, Assam, India, as part of the 50th Karbi Youth Festival".



According to the GWR blog, "Assam is home to the indigenous Kabri, who are concentrated in the hill districts of Karbi and West Karbi Anglong." The KACC oversees the district, ensuring the Karbi people's self-governance and development. There are around 500,000 Karbi living in India.

What did Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council say about the world record?

Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council praised the participants | Image: Instagram

Breaking the Guinness World Records title for the longest moving line of people walking on stilts was not just about achieving a milestone; it was a celebration of our cultural heritage, unity, and resilience as a community. Through this remarkable feat, we have showcased the vibrancy and strength of the Karbi people, inspiring pride and unity among generations. This achievement is a testament to what we can accomplish when we come together with determination, passion, and a shared sense of purpose, Rajeshan Terang, ACS Secretary at Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, told Guinness World Records.



How did people on the internet react?

The Instagram video shows individuals walking in synchrony on bamboo stilts in a line across the area. The video was posted approximately 16 hours ago.

Since then, it has received approximately 4.3 lakh views. The share has also received almost 19,000 likes. People offered various remarks in response to the video.

"They made our country proud," an Instagram user wrote. "We are proud of you, Karbi Anglong," said another. "That's a good record," added a third. "Proud moment for Karbi people," wrote a fourth.

Check the world record here.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, in a serious accusation against former President Muhammadu Buhari, alleged that he (Buhari) caused the death of his mother and sibling.

While visiting the palace of the monarch in Igboho town, Oyo State, he also claimed that there was an attempt on his life orchestrated by the ex-President.

Speaking in Yoruba language, he said, Buhari caused problems in my life, he killed my sibling, he killed my friend and he also killed my mother.

READ ALSO: Sunday Igboho Returns To Nigeria After Three Years

Hell die mysteriously with his children. Buhari is Fulani, its we Yoruba people that should be careful.

Buhari sent his soldiers and DSS to arrest me in my house because I said Yorubas are not slaves to Fulanis, they cant suppress us in our fathers land.

Fulanis cant stop our fathers and mothers from going to their farms. But, Im back with the power of God and authority not that of man.
The Presidency has dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubus request for a business forum meeting during his upcoming trip to Qatar was turned down by the Arab country.

On Saturday, a memo emerged wherewhich the Embassy of Qatar in Abuja conveyed its apologies for the inability of the country to hold the meeting as requested on the sidelines of Tinubus visit to the country.

The leaked memo dated February 22, 2024, addressed to the Protocol Department, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated: The Embassy has the honour to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologises that it will not be able to hold a Business and Investment Forum as proposed by the Nigerian side due to the following reasons:

Unfortunately, there is no agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on investment promotion and protection.

His Excellency, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.

The State of Qatar will be hosting a Web Summit during the suggested period, and the states authorities will be preoccupied with this event.

The Embassy of the State of Qatar avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the assurances of its highest consideration.

Addressing the issue, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy blamed mischief makers for leaking the memo.

The statement read in part: The leaked diplomatic paper by mischief makers about an investment forum is not in any way a snub on President Tinubu by the Qatari government.

READ ALSO: Qatar Rejects Tinubus Request To Visit For Business Talks

The Note Verbale is about a private sector-led business and investment forum to be held on the margins of President Bola Tinubus state visit.

The event is being put together by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Qatars Chambers of Commerce and Industry, where business people from Nigeria will engage their counterparts from Qatar on commercial and investment opportunities available in both countries.

We note the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries and affirm that the state visit by President Bola Tinubu to Qatar is on the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, His Highness, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The State Visit is particularly aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic cooperation between Nigeria and Qatar.

NACCIMA and Qatar Chambers of Commerce and Industry are collaborating to take advantage of President Tinubus visit to Doha to mobilise the business community from our two countries to explore opportunities in key economic sectors such as oil & gas, manufacturing, agro-business, construction, real estate, ICT, renewable energy, solid minerals, and the service sector, among others.

President Tinubu is expected to proceed to Qatar on the state visit as scheduled, and during the visit, the Nigerian leader will engage in high-level bilateral discussions with the Qatari leader on many important matters, covering the full range of diplomatic and economic issues.

It is not correct for anyone to insinuate that the Qatari authorities have snubbed the Nigerian leader over a business and investment forum that is tangential to the all-important state visit and which President Tinubu is slated to attend as a guest.

President Tinubu and His Highness Al-Thani are both committed to maintaining and building on the existing cordial and special relationship between Nigeria and the State of Qatar.
The Economic Community of West African States, lifted some economic sanctions slammed on Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the resolution was taken at the extraordinary summit on the peace, political, and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region in Abuja on Saturday.

The regional bloc, revealed that the political and targeted sanctions remain.

It was gathered that President Tinubu had called on ECOWAS to suspend economic sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

READ MORE: Were Ready To Invade Niger Republic  ECOWAS Force

He said: Everything we did was in hopes of persuading our brothers that there existed a better path, a path that would lead to genuine improvement of their peoples welfare through democratic good governance. And this was a path each of our nations had solemnly agreed with one another pursuant to formal regional treaty and protocol.

However, the sanctions that we contemplated might help lead our brothers to the negotiating table have become a harsh stumbling block.

In my mind and heart, that which is hurtful yet ineffective serves no good purpose and should be abandoned.

ECOWAS was established for the unassailable objective of improving the lives of the people of this region through fraternal cooperation among all member states.

This edifice was cemented on the strong foundation and apt conviction that, united as one, we can be the true masters of our destiny.
A yet to be identified number of bandits have been killed as a result of a clash between two rival groups around Hayin Alhaji to Munhaye forest of the Tsafe Local Government Area in Zamfara State.

A resident of the area, Mohammed Sanda, told PUNCH on Sunday that the two terrorist groups engaged in a supremacy fight last Saturday where many lost their lives.

He stressed that the people of the area were currently trouping to the battleground to see the dead bodies of the neutralised bandits.

Sanda said: Some bandits who came from Katsina State invaded some communities between Tafkin Kazai and Munhaye village around five oclock pm last Saturday evening trying to abduct the residents of the area.

While they were in the area, another group of bandits led by Ado Alero came to the place in a bid to protect the residents.

The two bandit groups exchanged hot words and finally began to shoot at each other, while the residents ran helter-skelter for their dear lives.

As we were running, the bandits leader Ado Alero told us not to panic and asked us to remain where we were.

READ MORE: Kaduna: Seven Injured As Bandits Burn 12 Villagers, 17 Houses

The two groups fought for several hours where many of them were killed and when we returned to the area early morning of today Sunday, we saw many corpses and several motorcycles.

As I am speaking to you at the moment, many people are trouping to this place to see the corpses and the abandoned motorcycles.

We may dig a big grave and bury the dead bodies before they decompose.
Olumide Akpata, Edo States Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, says his letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was instrumental to the conduct of a credible governorship primary by the party.

The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association had on February 18 written to INEC, alleging that there was a plot by the leadership of the party to handpick a candidate for the election.

Speaking at the weekend after his victory at the primaries, Akpata said, I think I should be thanked for writing that letter to INEC because you know what you find in situations like this, theres this conspiracy of silence and nobody wants to bell the cat.

What I found in the party at that point in time was that it did not appear that we were doing all that we needed to do to conduct the exercise. At that time we were getting ready for the ward congresses which were to be held in 192 wards across the state.

And I just saw what was a disturbing lack of preparedness and I wrote to INEC, the regulator because I thought that was the best thing to do to put those who were superintending the process on their toes because what was clear to me was that everybody would have been a loser, at least I would have been a loser if I did not cry out.

And it yielded results and very quickly the party released all the addresses of the 192 wards, the secretariats where the ward congresses were to be held, very quickly the party called all of us aspirants to a meeting to brief us on what was to transpire at the ward congresses. All of these had not been done before I wrote my letter.

READ ALSO: Edo 2024: Ex-NBA President, Akpata Emerges LP Guber Candidate

So I think my letter helped to facilitate the process, helped to ensure that we had a very managed and organised process out of which I have now emerged the winner of the process.

If elected Edo Governor, Akpata said he would prioritise the people because they have been serially disappointed by the other actors in the political space.

He said the Labour Party is the vehicle that has the potential to rescue Nigeria, adding that people are relying on the party to make things better.

[Its a] heavy weight on my shoulders, Labour Party is that vehicle that I think has the potential to rescue Nigeria, its a people-centric party hence our logo which has the family unit  papa, mama, pikin  and the expectations are high on the part of the people as theyve been serially disappointed by the other actors in the political space.

And so theyre looking up to the Labour Party, theyre looking up to those of us who are in the party to come to their rescue to provide much needed succor, because I think were at the brink of the precipice and it will take a new party, a new perspective to pull us back and course correct as it were because things are not looking great at the moment.

Government is not rocket science, its management, its administration, its prioritising the people. We must put the people at the centre of our policies, budgeting and prioritising.

So I think I would be focusing on the people and what is important to the largest number of the people of Edo state. So agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, those are the things I would look at and you might say that these are things that everybody else talks about but I think most people seem to talk the talk, I want to walk the talk, he said.

The State governorship election is scheduled to take place on September 21, 2024.
Founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Boniface Aniebonam, on Saturday, emphasized the importance of patience with the President Bola Tinubus administration to overcome the current economic challenges.

According to him, blame games should be avoided.

In a statement issued in Lagos, he said: Let us say this to Nigerians that we, as a people, must, at this moment, rally around the President to ensure that we overcome the avoidable travails in Nigeria.

A great leader is he or she who can take a wrong decision in a matter of urgent importance than taking none.

Hard decisions are being taken in Nigeria for the good of the greater numbers at the moment. The President is indeed courageous under the circumstances.

Nigerians, he said, cannot succeed in their quest for a Nigeria of everyones hope under chaotic situations and disobedience to the rule of law.

READ ALSO: Tinubus Govt To Distribute N25,000 Monthly For 15m Households

He further called on the President to ensure that the information machinery of the government was deployed for adequate communication with Nigerians at the moment.

The government must be clear and predictable as to the state of the nation, where we are, what he is doing and the projection of results and hope of the future.

Corruption must be tackled roundly and purposefully and bringing culprits to justice no matter who is involved.

The mantra for a new Nigeria of our hope is achievable and indeed, this is not the time anymore for blame game.

Nigerians want a new order of purposeful leadership based on the rule of law, equity, justice to all and even for the dead.

A constitutional-driven Nigeria is the way going forward, he added.
The Presidency has stated reason Nigerians have not received

of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the current food crunch.

Recall that the Agriculture Ministry on February 8, promised that the Federal Government would distribute millet, maize and other food commodities to vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the effect of hardship.

However, three weeks later, Nigerians are yet to receive the grains or other food commodities.

Speaking on the delay in a statement at the weekend, Special Adviser to the President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the grains would get to Nigerians soon.

He disclosed that the bagging of grains is ongoing in seven strategic places in the country.

Onanuga also said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been in charge of bagging the grains that would soon be delivered to indigent Nigerians.

The presidential aide also said that 60,000 metric tonnes of rice will be provided by the Federal Government to give to Nigerians.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Approves Release Of 102,000 Tons Of Grains To Lower Rising Food Cost

The Tinubu administration through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to support the vulnerable population across the country.

The grains in seven locations of strategic reserve, are now being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The need to bag the grains, caused the delay as the bags were freshly ordered by the government.

Nigerians will not need to pay for the grain bags, as they are free.

This will be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers.

Already, with the announcement of the impending releases of food commodities from the Strategic Reserve, there is a noticeable reduction in commodity prices across major grains markets in the country, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the aide added.
Chris Ritter next to a stuffed beaver at his home in New Egypt, N.J. Most people think beavers are world-changing animals, environment builders as important as bees and birds. Ritter thinks they're selfish. Read more

Arrogant and selfish beavers are gnawing away at Chris Ritters peace of mind.

While North Americas largest rodent is generally considered to be one of earths master architects, building whole aquatic ecosystems from felled trees, the beaver is the destroyer of Ritters world, particularly the swampy backyard beyond his pool and hot tub in New Jerseys Pine Barrens.

Thats not a pond, thats my lawn, Ritter said on a recent February afternoon.

Ritter owns 30 acres of land in New Egypt, Ocean County, and a small creek, Jumping Brook, meanders through his property. His land is adjacent to a preserve thats dotted with old, defunct cranberry bogs. Those man-made bogs are ideal for beavers to dam and flood, making safe, swimmable ponds that coyotes, their only natural predator in New Jersey, cant get to.

Beavers are just doing what beavers do, realistically. Its hardwired into them to create this perfect atmosphere for themselves, said Adam Burnett, executive director of the Beaver Institute, a nonprofit that aims to resolve beaver-human conflicts in a science-based manner.

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When beaver kits get old enough, they set off on their own, leaving their lodges to go find their own land to flood, somewhere downstream. Thats led them to Ritters property over the years, damming up the brook that curls through his yard.

I was usually able to fend them off. Theyll build a dam out here, this will flood up, and then Ill bust it open a couple times and then they cut more trees and build it again, he said, overlooking a small beaver dam behind his home. Its just nuts, man.

Biologists, state and federal agencies, and nonprofits acknowledge that the beavers can become a nuisance and require management. Helping landowners with downed trees and flooding is a large part of the Beaver Institutes work, Burnett said.

We aim for coexistence and this is the main complaint, Burnett said. With New Jersey being so densely populated, too, thats the challenge.

The Beaver Institute recommends pond-leveling pipes to keep water flowing between flooded areas and fences to protect trees over the alternative: trapping. The institute will even financially assist landowners with their problems as long as they commit to allowing beavers to remain on their property.

On a walk around the old bogs near Ritters home, most waterfront trees were gone and had their bark chewed off, their stumps sticking up like sharpened pencils. Some trees were only half-chewed and dead.

In the distance, a massive beaver lodge rose from the water.

Beaver ponds can improve water quality, biologists say, along with providing ecosystems for frogs, fish, turtles, and waterfowl. In the Pinelands, they can act as buffers against wildfires that sweep through the forests in summer.

Theres beaver everywhere

Ritter, 53, said theres a downside to that, noting that flooded land and felled trees displace deer, mice, raccoons, and countless other animals and insects, including rare birds and snakes. He reiterated that in a recent Pinelands-related Facebook group post that generated hundreds of comments, in which he called beavers selfish animals that cant live with others.

Some accused him of anthropomorphizing animals.

Rodents do not get to control the forest! Ritter wrote back.

Samuel Moore, a seventh-generation cranberry farmer in Tabernacle, Burlington County, also has a low opinion of beavers and tangles with them every year in his bogs. By flooding the land, Moore said beavers even destroy the trees they dont cut down, like the dwindling Atlantic white cedar.

An old cranberry grower once told me that people either want beaver around or Atlantic white cedar, but they cant have both, theres no in between,  Moore said.

Moore allows licensed fur trappers to take beavers off his land every year. He said beavers are dumb.

Trapping, in New Jersey, is regulated by the states Department of Environmental Protection via its Division of Fish and Wildlife. There are beaver and otter trapping seasons, broken down by geographic zones, with limits on the number of animals a licensed trapper can take in a short time span.

Trapping enthusiasts believe there are not enough permits issued and noted that in 2020, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have removed statutory limitations on the number of beaver that could be taken in the state.

Theres beaver everywhere, said Robert Staudt, a former field and education director for the New Jersey Trappers Association.

Trapping them

Ritters a fisherman and hunter, but hes not interested in trapping beavers himself or even paying a pest control service to do it. Its illegal to shoot them, he noted.

Potential fur trappers must take an education course in which they have to demonstrate the ability to skin an animal. Trapping enthusiasts say thats done to weed out anti-hunting and trapping activists who, in the past, would try to get beaver permits, which are limited, and never use them.

Trappers say beavers arent that hard to catch  they swim through a submerged trap that, ideally, kills them instantly when it slams shut  but the work is cold and wet.

Its probably the most physically demanding of all fur trapping, Staudt said.

Ritter, a security technology consultant, was able to obtain a special out-of-season depredation permit for beavers that cause damage. That will permit him to allow trappers on his property to take out the beavers. That process involves an inspection by the United States Department of Agriculture, which looks for evidence of flooding to roads, homes, septic system, wells, agricultural fields, or a majority of lawn/landscaped area.

My grass and my propertys gone and my trees are getting destroyed. Not to mention the mosquito problem, he said, motioning to his swampy yard. I dont want to kill a ton of beavers, but something needs to be done because next year its going to be worse and the year after its going to be worse.

Trapping and relocating beavers, while difficult, is often the ideal solution for those seeking coexistence but in New Jersey, its illegal to relocate most wildlife. Trappers, historically, often sold beaver pelts and their meat. One trapper said they taste like beef and make a great stew.

Ritter, who has a stuffed beaver in his man cave, said he doesnt want to skin one or eat it.

I just want to get them out of here, he said.
Protesters in support of Palestine, mainly from Haverford College, hold a Ceasefire Now banner as a group of counterprotesters in support of Israel stand across the street, separated by a police line in Ardmore on Saturday. Read more

Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators staged simultaneous rallies in Ardmore on Saturday afternoon that  although unusual in the Philadelphia region  underscored the deeply emotional and persistently polarized divide over the Israel-Hamas war.

The two groups remained separate, save for a brief face-off at the popular Suburban Square shopping center where some of the rival demonstrators attempted to drown out each other with chants before dispersing without incident. The Lower Merion Township Police Department reported no arrests.

About 100 student activists marched from Haverford College along Lancaster Avenue about 1 p.m., with plans to disrupt the weekend shopping at Suburban Square. Donning keffiyehs and masks, protesters called for a cease-fire and railed against the U.S.-backed Israel military siege in Gaza that has killed an estimated 29,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, while leaving much of Gaza in ruins.

Akintade Asala, 20, a Villanova University student, said Israel had long since crossed the line of reasonable retaliation for the 1,200 people killed and about 250 kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7.

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That was a tragedy and an atrocity, and we condemn that, Asala said, but at the same time, the Israel government has responded by killing 30 times the number of people in a couple months.

As Asala and others marched from the bucolic college campus, about 100 demonstrators waved Israeli flags at Suburban Square, holding up photos of the hostages who remain missing after more than four months, many of them children and toddlers. Rape is not resistance, the crowd chanted. Bring them home!

For Dafna Ofer, a physician and pro-Israel organizer, there is only one path to peace in Gaza: Release the hostages and dismantle Hamas.

Were peace advocates, and now were heartbroken, because now we dont know who we can have peace with, Ofer said. Its a very impossible situation.

Wrapped in an Israeli flag, Yair Lev, a physician and pro-Israel community activist, noted that Lower Merion has a large Jewish community. Many wanted to give voice to their ongoing grief and take a stand against what he described as the hateful rhetoric often espoused at pro-Palestinian marches.

Everybody has their own pain. Were here to express our pain over whats happening in Israel, Lev said. Most of us cant sleep since Oct. 7.

Lev urged his camp to demonstrate peacefully and not engage with the pro-Palestinian side. The student-led group from Haverford rerouted their march away from the Israel crowd, but later encountered a smaller oppositional group. A brief standoff ensued between an Urban Outfitters and a Starbucks, where both sides volleyed chants at each other.

Others joined the fray extemporaneously.

Meadow Offenbecher, a pro-Palestinian Jewish mother, was running errands in Lower Merion with her husband and kids when she saw the pro-Israel rally, stopped at Staples, hastily fashioned a poster board sign that read Jews say ceasefire, and staged a one-woman counterprotest across the street.

I refuse to let Zionists paint all Jews as Zionism, she said. Zionism is not Judaism. We need a cease-fire.

Pro-Palestinian rallies have far outnumbered those in support of Israel in the Philadelphia region, which is home to one of the nations largest Jewish populations. After a brief lull in January, those marches have begun to intensify again as the Israeli siege escalates in southern Gaza.

A protest in Center City on Feb. 13 drew a crowd that organizers estimated in the thousands. About 150 young people spoke out against Israel on Friday during a citywide high school demonstration at City Hall.

Israel faces mounting condemnation from the United Nations and dozens of countries as its military offensive presses into Rafah, a city holding more than half of Gazas population, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

At Israels behest, families have fled bombardment in northern Gaza and sought refuge in the southernmost city. But citing Rafah as a Hamas stronghold, Israel has launched air raids against the city and threatened to extend its ground invasion there by the start of Ramadan in March.

Both camps in the Philadelphia region have acknowledged that  even at the local level  conversations between sides remain strained. But organizers expressed hope for healthier dialogue between local communities as cease-fire negotiations continue overseas.

As a pro-Palestinian Jewish student, Sadie Chernila, 20, said the climate in Ardmore on Saturday  with protesters shouting down each other between stores  was not the ideal setting. I believe in Judaism without Zionism, Chernila said. Im always open to talking to let them know where Im at.

Holding up a poster of missing Israeli children, Mikhal Mary, a pro-Israel community organizer and Lower Merion resident, said she, too, hoped for more civil debate. But it would have to come with conditions.

We can have a dialogue, as long as they realize that Hamas cannot be in control, Mary said.

Staff writer Ximena Conde contributed to this article.
The scene along Kensington Avenue on Thursday at the Tusculum Gateway Garden under the Conrail overpass and the El. Read more

News that City Hall plans to end one of the nations most infamous open-air drug markets has been slow to spread on Kensington Avenue. Looking out at the neighborhoods entrenched suffering  the drug corners, the homelessness, the open wounds, the swirling trash, the deep poverty  Matt Gilger had his doubts.

Gilger, 42, recalled the drug use and homeless encampments that overran McPherson Square last year. For months now, a police cruiser has sat in the park, pushing the crowds and encampments to adjacent blocks. Walking around the unusually empty green space last week, Gilger questioned the idea of moving the addiction from one corner to the next.

I dont know where theyre going to push it, because they sure as hell didnt cure it, he said.

Nearly two months into her administration, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has yet to release specifics on her plan to dismantle a billion-dollar drug market and stabilize the neighborhood, leaving deep uncertainty over whats next.

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Local leaders said the neighborhoods complex struggles require a comprehensive plan to avoid simply displacing the people on the street  as well as low-income residents who now contend with looming gentrification. Two harm reduction organizations are under fire to relocate from an area that saw the citys highest number of overdose deaths in 2022, sparking concerns about surging fatalities and spreading disease. Some question whether Parker can deliver where so many past mayors have tried and failed.

But for some residents, the attention from City Hall has provided a newfound resolve. On Wednesday, inside the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) headquarters on Somerset Street, there was an air of hope.

Neighborhood nonprofits announced the release of an additional $3.5 million from the opioid settlement funds for home repairs as well as foreclosure and eviction assistance to neighborhoods predominantly Black and Latino longtime residents.

Its gonna be a great neighborhood, said Kensington resident Guillermo Garcia, who has helped nonprofits identify neighbors who need help fixing their homes.

The funds are a pittance when it comes to fixing Kensington. But the news conference nonetheless highlighted the intensifying interest in the neighborhoods future, drawing philanthropic foundations, elected officials, neighbors, and even international media organizations.

There are a lot of people who do care about Kensington, NKCDC director Bill McKinney said. Im overwhelmed every morning when I wake up in my home in this community and I walk my two blocks to work. And sometimes I look and say, Is there a path forward? And I believe there is a path forward.

For now, that path remains obscured. Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel expects to deliver his law enforcement plan to Parker by April, saying only that the strategy would begin with a communication phase and then increased enforcement of low-level crimes like open drug use.

As for the long-term vision, Parker said in an interview Thursday that community members would be involved in the discussions. The mayor said the ongoing resident-driven planning process  led by NKCDC and Impact Services  was a potential guiding light for her plan.

She said she made clear while she campaigned that her approach to Kensington would be holistic and blend law enforcement with new opportunities for drug treatment, housing, and economic growth.

I spent a great deal of time in Kensington talking with stakeholders, communicating with them, talking about my strategy, Parker said. Im not working on doing anything now that wasnt included in what I told people I would do if they would give me the honor and privilege of representing them as mayor.

Fear and relief on Kensington Avenue

The City Council members most focused on Kensington have said that change in the neighborhood wont come without controversy. A group that calls itself the Kensington caucus  Jimmy Harrity, Quetcy Lozada, Mark Squilla, and Mike Driscoll  has already sought to push at least two harm reduction organizations out of the neighborhood and floated the idea of establishing a triage center where people in addiction could be brought to either seek rehabilitation or face arrest.

Harrity, who represents the city at-large and lives in Kensington, said that City Halls rhetoric has had a positive impact and that drug dealers have thinned around his block because they know theres a new sheriff in town.

How deeply the messaging has resonated on the street remains to be seen. Along Kensington Avenue last week, many people living in the throes of addiction and homelessness said they hadnt been watching or reading the news and seemed unaware of an impending crackdown.

Others said there had been an uptick in aggressive policing and that officers had been making more arrests for narcotics possession and paraphernalia  offenses that have long been overlooked in the area.

They back on stop and frisk now, said Q, a man living on the streets who requested anonymity due to privacy concerns.

 READ MORE: A look at the use of stop-in-frisk in Philadelphia and whats allowed under the law

Deputy Police Commissioner Pedro Rosario, whom Parker appointed to lead the effort to improve conditions in the neighborhood, declined to comment on specifics of the enforcement strategy. Police made 750 arrests for drug offenses citywide through Feb. 22  a small volume, but a 30% increase over last year, according to data from the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office.

Harrity said his neighbors support police more aggressively enforcing drug laws and said critics are disconnected from what residents want.

What people in other parts of the city want for that neighborhood doesnt mean anything to the people who are living it, he said. I know that policing is always a concern, but the bottom line is in a neighborhood like mine where its been lacking for so long, theyre happy to see it.

A brewing divide?

Meanwhile in City Hall, theres some trepidation over both Councils tactics and the mayors plan.

Three City Council aides representing different members, all speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to freely discuss the political dynamics, said some members are frustrated they havent seen a clear plan to expand treatment options from the new Kensington caucus.

And several members said theyre concerned about pushing out groups like Prevention Point, the citys oldest needle exchange. The organization is the also most well-known advocate in Kensington for harm reduction, an approach to addiction that seeks to keep drug users alive whether or not theyre ready to quit.

The Democratic members of the Kensington caucus said they heard positive feedback from constituents following the news last week that one harm reduction organizations lease would not be renewed.

Other Council members have privately expressed frustration that the Parker administration hasnt specified when a law enforcement offensive could begin, where people living on the streets in Kensington should go, or whether there are enough available spaces in rehabilitation facilities to handle an influx of patients.

But Parker has been clear that shes awaiting a comprehensive strategy from top officials including Bethel and Managing Director Adam K. Thiel, which is expected to be delivered around her 100th day in office  a date that would fall in early April.

Everyone has a right to an opinion, and Im sure there are a plethora of questions about the how, Parker said. My team is working extremely hard, and were working on developing solutions  were going to proffer solutions, and when we do, were going to share them with all of our stakeholders.

For people on the street, those solutions feel like a matter of life and death.

D pushed a shopping cart along the Kensington Avenue corridor last week, a Bible perched atop a mountain of scrap metal theyd collected for money. Its hard enough to find somewhere to sleep through the night, said D, who also asked not to be named due to privacy concerns. And waking up to police officers telling the homeless to clear out, it often feels like the city is just trying to kill us off.

Without access to housing or effective treatment, where are people supposed to go?

Theyre only making it worse, D said.

Inquirer data editor Stephen Stirling contributed to this article.
A recent encounter with antibiotics has set me thinking about the very best way to replenish my gut biome with oodles of good microbes after a course of essential antibiotics. In their quest to kill off all the pathogenic bacteria, many of the beneficial as well as the harmful microbes are extinguished, thats just the way it is.

From a growing body of research, we all know just how important it is to maintain a healthy gut biome and not just for physical, but also for our mental health. Good bacteria dont just facilitate digestion but also helps to keep harmful bacteria in check, so its vital to be proactive and rebuild the gut biome as soon as possible.
Does Dublin need another wine bar? Probably not, but personally I say lets have more and more.

Im long over the tasting menu, and the three-course meal can be similarly boring  give me creative small plates and good wine choices every time.

Cellar 22 opened in the basement of 22 St Stephens Green in late November, a space that was once a funky little seafood bar called Urchin, an adjunct to the seafood restaurant upstairs in the Cliff Townhouse.

The Cliff Group closed the space in 2021 and it has been vacant ever since so the opening of Cellar 22 is welcome, as is the promise of a new restaurant and rooms opening upstairs in the near future.

The new owners are the folk behind The Bailey and The Fitzwilliam Hotel and with chef Chris Maguire (Locks, Delahunt) and sommelier Victor Nedelea (Sole, Restaurant 41) on board, I was optimistic.

We began with bread, cheese, and meat platters and while portions of meat and cheese were small the flavours made up for it.

Properly ripe Mossfield Cheddar, Ardsallagh Goats Cheese and Boyne Valley Sheeps Cheese came with homemade crackers, homemade fruity chutney and blackcurrant and apple fermented honey that worked particularly well in cutting through the sheep cheese.

Picture: Cellar 22

Cellar 22 is making many of its own terrines and salamis for its charcuterie platter, and once again flavour was to the fore  a rich sweet ham hock terrine (if in tiny portions), a flavourful (if rather dry) venison rillette, and an excellent fruity-sweet-salty coppa salami.

Pigs head salami had a light smoky flavour and lots of fatty richness that went well with a glass of fino sherry.

Apple butter added sweet richness to the meats and next time I will be sucking up the cost and ordering the large platter (28 v 16 for the small version).

Homemade blood pudding (14) was the special of the day and was meaty and iron-flavoured  thankfully a nicely dressed salad containing apple cut through the richness and blobs of dill and blue cheese mayo also played their part.

Jerusalem artichoke agnolotti (16) was the highlight of the small plates, silky pasta, a pleasing soft filling and hazelnuts to add crunch.

Southern-fried maitake mushrooms (11) worked less well, a perfectly crisp exterior promised much, but sometimes that was all we got, the mushrooms having shrivelled in the batter into dry slivers.

When the mushroom pieces were larger this combination worked better, but I couldnt help thinking how good the batter would have been encasing good-quality chicken, however boring that might have been to the creative team in the kitchen.

Picture: Cellar 22

This is a wine bar after all so thankfully the wine list has had proper work put into it.

There is a choice of 40 or so by the glass and the selection is creative with classic wines interspersed with some natural wines.

I gather the list is not static and will develop along with the restaurant.

We began with a Williams Fino sherry (10) for herself and a non-fortified El Pinto Palomino (9) for myself.

Both worked with the cheese and meat platters although the fino was the clear winner over the palomino whose sour tang of volatile acidity jarred a little with the sweet meat flavours.

Better was a glass of Cotes du Rhone from La Janasse (12) which was silky and darkly fruited while The Engineers Torre Mora Etna Rosso (11) and pleasing cherry fruits with a tang of mineral, later a glass of Clos du Pontet Bordeaux (10.50) had pleasing blackcurrant and chocolate-tinged dried red fruits.

Desserts proved to be an unexpected highlight of the meal with Variations of Chocolate (12.50) involving a chocolate ganache encased in more chocolate with caramelised banana, a crisp pecan brittle and topped with ice-cream.

The affogato was a completely deconstructed chilled dessert with a tonka bean and coffee crumble, coffee granita and vanilla semifreddo. It was a triumph, bitter-sweet, rich, and complex  we fought over it.

Cellar 22 may be yet another wine bar, but this kitchen is pushing itself harder than most, and I am excited to see what will open upstairs in the larger restaurant space.

Not everything we ate worked perfectly and I would like to see a little more generosity in the servings of charcuterie and cheese, but, crucially, nothing failed outright either.

Ill be back, most likely for a late-night affogato and some Grahams Tawny Port.

The Verdict

Food: 8

Wine: 8.5

Service: 9

Ambiance: 8

Value: 8
How do you privately negotiate something that has been baffling international diplomatic negotiation for decades now? How do you navigate something within the arena of your personal life that is the cause of such horror in the wider world?

Carefully is how. Whats happening in Gaza has created ripples all the way into the private space inhabited by my partner and I. We are on different pages. As the UK media gaslights its citizens with selective broadcasting about what the state of Israel is doing to the people of Gaza, in Ireland our reaction is quite different; we are the most pro Palestinian country in the EU.

On Irish telly, we see starving Palestinian babies and children. These images are not on British telly. Everyone in Britain is terrified of being called anti-Semitic, as Netanyahu rains bombs on refugee shelters and hospitals, and the death toll continues in the tens of thousands.

Ireland is honest, forthright and robust in its support of Palestine; we do not accept an eye for ten thousand eyes, as the rest of the West seems to.

My partner is Jewish. He is pro-Israel. Not pro-Netanyahu, obviously, but pro-Israel in terms of a Jewish homeland. This current catastrophe has resulted in some tricky, delicate conversations; I have been going on Free Palestine marches, he hasnt. He is conscious of rising anti-Semitism, despite lots of Jewish people campaigning for peace alongside their Muslim counterparts.

None of this is about religion  we are both atheists  but about the right of Israel to exist alongside the rights of Palestinian people not to be murdered by the current monster in charge of Israel. My best friend, coincidentally also Jewish - one of those rare Irish ones from Dublin who is as horrified as the rest of Ireland at what is happening in Palestine  says that the increase in anti-Semitism is alarming.

Initially, my partner and I skirted around the whole thing. We seemed to have made some unspoken agreement to Not Go There. It was unknown territory. We were already good at negotiating our very different approaches to areas like animal rights  he eats them, I dont  in our day to day lives because we are adults and we can work stuff out. But this was different.

What we learned was that you cant Not Go There. Persistent skirting of a contentious issue is like trying to hold a beachball underwater  it will keep bobbing up. In the end, there were long and heated conversations about stuff that, while not impacting us directly in our day to day lives - we were not being bombed - was creating unspoken division. So we had to do that most incredibly difficult thing  to listen to what the other person had to say without jumping in.

Given the strength of feeling on both sides, this required a ton of tongue-biting and ear-opening, but we managed it because we wanted to understand each other properly.

If it was that hard for two people who love each other, what hope is there for two warring states who dont?
Born in 1975, Dave Moore grew up in Portmarnock, Dublin. In 2002, after several years working as a songwriter and music producer, he began presenting on 98FM radio, co-hosting alongside his friend Dermot Whelan. In 2014, he joined Today FM radio station. He has a podcast with Neil Delamere  entitled Why Would You Tell Me That?!  which examines weird items in life. He hosts the Dave Moore Show on Today FM weekdays, 9am-12pm.

Metallica

I'm a massive thrash metal head. I remember hearing Metallica's album Kill Em All for the first time, in my cousins house in Limerick in 1986  this cacophony of beautiful, screaming, chunky, heavy nonsense. I was like, What is this? It sounds cliched, but my life changed immediately. This is what I'd been looking for, even though I didn't know I was looking for it. In 88, I went to my first live gig  Metallica in the Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire, a now long gone ballroom. It was the Justice for All tour. As a 13-year-old, to hear live music for the first time  and for it to be Metallica in a tiny room  blew my mind.

Slayer

Slayer are my second favourite band. They are so utterly consistent. To prolong their career, Metallica went and did what bands do, which is they disappeared up their own backsides for a period. We've forgiven them; they produced arguably the five most important heavy metal records of our time. They changed their sound whereas Slayer just went, Were gonna do what Slayer does for every single record, which is what they did from 1983 until they finished up in 2018. Theyre monsters, beasts of musicians, just phenomenal. I adore them.

NSYNC

People find it hilarious, but my other favourite genre of music  apart from thrash metal  is boy bands. The best gig I've ever been to was in 2002 in California. My wife and I were living in LA at the time. She bought tickets for NSYNC in Anaheim for my 27th birthday. It was the best night of my life. NSYNC are phenomenal. I love their songs.

Max Martin

My favourite songwriter is a Swedish guy, Max Martin. The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC both broke in Europe before they went near the US. They did it with songs co-written by Max Martin. The songwriters with the most number ones in the world are Paul McCartney #1, John Lennon #2 and Max Martin #3. Hes written so many hits from the 90s and Noughties, and he's still the most sought-after songwriter in pop today. Whether its Katy Perry, Dua Lipa or Rihanna, theyve all worked with him. Hes a genius.

Ian Dempsey

Ian Dempsey is a phenomenon and a workhorse. He takes every day as seriously as he did his first day. Hes not just on the radio every morning because hes always been there. Its not a given. He has to work through every single radio show. He has to step up to the plate. He has to hit ratings. He has to be the Ian Dempsey thats gonna make you listen again tomorrow. He has to do it every single day  at the crack of dawn. Hes had to make so many changes along the way. He's such an example from a professional point of view. I love being around him.

Alan Partridge

Alan Partridge played by Steve Coogan. Picture: Brian Ritchie/BBC Handout

The first time I watched Alan Partridge, I couldnt stop laughing at his antics. Having worked in radio for so long, I now realise how real Steve Coogans caricature of radio is, and how many of us are like Alan Partridge. Myself included! It's rare to get a comedy character that doesn't exist in a two-year window, who burns out and is gone. Steves command of the character allows him to grow with Steve. Partridge has gone from this late twenties BBC TV presenter wannabe through the failings of his chat show into regional radio, up to commentating on a podcast on King Charles coronation. Hes as relevant now as he was in the 1990s when he began. Hes stood the test of time.

Father Ted

I quote from Father Ted on a daily basis. Myself and my wife communicate entirely through Tedisms, Dougalims and Jackisms. It has permeated our psyche so much that we cannot exist in a world where Ted is not part of it. The scriptwriting by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews in those three series is unparalleled. They're brilliant. There isnt a bad episode of Father Ted.

Elf

My number one movie is Elf, with Will Ferrell. Its a Christmas movie. Its my favourite 90 minutes of cinema created. I never tire of it. I can watch it during the height of summer or anytime in the year. I certainly wouldn't go a month without watching it. Its never not funny. There's no joke in it that I don't like.

Lord of the Rings

Lord of the Rings

I love the Lord of the Rings movies. If theyre on, I need to stop what I'm doing to watch them. Everything about the world Peter Jackson created was so ground-breaking and phenomenal. The combination of early CGI with real-world effects. The forced perspective shots he did, the Weta Digital workshop, the monster creation, all the weaponry. The stories are brilliant. Nobody had the scale of mind to direct something that Tolkien had done like Peter Jackson. Its cinematic perfection.

American Movie

American Movie is a cult documentary film from the 1990s. It was made by Chris Smith, one the guys behind Tiger King. He did the recent WHAM! documentary, and the Fyre festival documentary. American Movie is about a filmmaker, Mark Borchardt, who isnt a good or a well-known filmmaker. He wants to be the biggest horror movie maker in the world. He has an amazing passion for his dream, but the guy has nothing  no money, no connections. He has borrowed equipment and the extras are his friends. Its the most heart-warming, beautiful story about this guy trying to make a horror feature film. I would recommend it to everyone.

Fantasy saga

I read the Riftwar Saga by Raymond E Feist as a teenager. The first novel of the trilogy is Magician. It's a fantasy saga. It has swords, dragons, castles, but it also has an element of sci-fi. Its about a magician, a kitchen hand, with no royal connections, called Pug. He gets selected to go into a magician's school on a planet called Crydee. The sky tears apart. There's a rift in the space-time continuum. The attackers who come to destroy the world are from a different planet. It is the grandest scale of fantasy and sci-fi mixed together imaginable.
Declan Coney, a former eel fisher, knew there was something wrong when the famed swarms of Lough Neagh flies failed to materialise. In past years, they would appear around the Northern Irish lake in thick plumes and wisps  sometimes prompting mistaken alarm of a fire incident, Lough Shore residents say.

Clothes left out on a washing line would be covered in them, Coney says. So would any windshield on a vehicle travelling around the loughs 90-mile shoreline. Conservationists marvelled at their courtship dances, hovering above treetops.

Last spring the flies never arrived. This is the first year ever that, if you walked up to the Cross of Ardboe or the area around there, youd find theres no flies, Coney says.

The flies were long considered a nuisance. Now, however, alarm is growing. People have really been scared, he says, by the rate of accelerated change to the loughs ecology that their absence signals. Its just happened. Like the flip of a switch, its gone.

Lough Neagh fly can refer to various non-biting midges, but these crucial insects support fish and wildfowl that are endemic to the lough system, as well as frogs and predatory insects. The loss of these keystone species, alongside sharp reductions of others, the spread of invasive species like zebra mussels, and a long-term deterioration in water quality, indicates deep trouble across the loughs entire ecology. It also raises the prospect that this shallow body of water and its surrounding wetlands may have shifted beyond a state of decline into cascading ecosystem collapse.

SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists.

Lough Neagh  the largest freshwater lake on the island of Ireland  supplies more than 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water, and hosts the largest wild eel fishery in Europe. It is considered a cultural and archaeological 'jewel' that reaches way back  into the very beginning of shared memory on the island.

Save Lough Neagh protesters take part in a rally outside Belfast City Hall in October 2023. Picture: PA Images

Last summer, a vast 'bloom' of blue-green algae  a thick, photosynthesising blanket that deprives the lake of oxygen, choking aquatic life  brought the loughs accelerating biodiversity crisis into sharp focus. It prompted considerable public outcry and is expected to return in more severe form this coming summer.

The toxic algal growth  described by local people as appearing like something otherworldly due to its brilliant green or blue appearance  has since disappeared from the surface of the lough, but remains visibly suspended just underneath.

Pleased to see new @daera_ni Minister @AndrewMuirNI has prioritised and visited Lough Neagh so soon.

Difficult decisions and increased resources required in times ahead and interagency working essential....https://t.co/1rlpx5PfwV  John Blair MLA (@JohnBlairMLA) February 7, 2024

The problems have been exacerbated by the paralysis of Northern Irelands power-sharing institutions, which have been dormant for 40% of the period since they were formed by the Good Friday agreement, including almost all of the past two years. Members of the devolved assembly only began debating the management of the lough last week. As the politicians gathered, new reports emerged of a thick, pale scum appearing on the loughs waterways.

From the mouth of the River Blackwater, Ciaran Breen rows out onto Lough Neagh. Breen has spent about three decades working on this body of water. His vessel is a cot, a small wooden boat he helped to build by the shores of Maghery, a village near Portadown on the loughs southern end.

Breen pauses to take stock of the losses he has witnessed since he began work here as a wildlife ranger in 1986.

A mallard duck swims through the sludge of green algae at Kinnego Marina on Lough Neagh in summer 2023. Picture: Alan Lewis / PhotopressBelfast.co.uk

In the winter, we did an annual wildfowl count  a colleague and I did this particular section, he says, gesturing towards an area of several square kilometres between Coney Island and Kells Point.

We got about 50,000-60,000 diving ducks. So many that people  our bosses, I mean  came out of Belfast to take a look for themselves, since they didnt believe us at first.

These fleets of pochard, scaup and goldeneye made Lough Neagh an internationally significant site for overwintering birds in the 1980s. In the years since, their numbers have plummeted. A 2013 study found that the number of these winter migratory birds at the lough had dropped nearly 80% in a decade  from 100,000 to fewer than 21,000.

Were looking out there  at the same spot  now, Breen says. Theres a wee flock of coot and no ducks. None. So theres been a catastrophic collapse in duck numbers from when I started.

Overwintering whooper swans from Iceland used to arrive as December approached. For many years, they would herald the winter coming in, says Tom McElhone, who lives near a disused freshwater laboratory at Traad Point on the loughs north-western shore  its last major research facility, which closed in the early 2000s.

I remember lying in bed and hearing these swans calling out to each other, up and down the lough, having this magnificent conversation at all hours of the night. Thats all gone.

Algae on the surface at Ballyronan Marina in September 2023. Picture: PA Images

Even when they move away from it, Lough Neagh courses through the veins of those like Coney, raised on its south-western shores, who have worked the water or resided within one of its many tight-knit local communities.

The local knowledge is not there any more. And that sense of togetherness along the lough shore is just gone The 53-year-old believes, however, that many of the social ties and customs that helped fuse together these shoreline villages, parishes and townlands have unravelled during his lifetime, mirroring a progressive decline of the loughs central fishing industry.

As the number of boats fishing the waters has dwindled  from more than 200 in the 1980s to a few dozen today  so too, he says, have the summer fairs and lough shore tug of wars, the ad-hoc music sessions, hyperlocal vernacular  even residents familiarity with the water body itself.

The local knowledge is not there any more, he says. And that sense of togetherness along the lough shore is just gone.

Along the walls of the Toome Canal, at the north-western tip of Lough Neagh, chalk-like bright blue residue from the algal blooms was visible for weeks after the thick sludge of surface algae had disappeared from sight. Warning signs have remained in place at sites such as Ballyronan throughout the Christmas holidays and into early 2024.

The algal growths have robbed people not only of this years summer craic  families around the lough, say  but also of something calming, restorative, even healing.

And they have also prompted a belated awakening to the loughs plight, in the words of the lough shore resident and former MP for Mid-Ulster, Bernadette McAliskey (nee Devlin).

She and other veteran civil rights leaders  who took up the cause of the areas disfranchised fishers in the 1960s  have been speaking up for the lough once again.

Addressing a rain-drenched demonstration by the same canal in late November, just a stones throw from the eel fisherys headquarters, McAliskey cited talks to bring the lough into a community co-operative trust nearly a decade ago. It was one of a number of lost opportunities for public ownership over the past 50 years.

Our evidence was [that] people look after what belongs to them, she said.

 The most effective and sustainable way to secure and maintain ecological equilibrium at Lough Neagh, including the protection of its wildlife, its tourism potential, and the largest wild eel fishery in Europe, would be to take the Lough back into public ownership. pic.twitter.com/OlY0NmRMOn  Justin McNulty (@JustinMcNu1ty) February 13, 2024

Ownership of Lough Neagh has a long and contentious history. The aristocratic Shaftesbury family has claimed the loughs bed, banks and soil since the 19th century, having been given the asset by the Chichester family, whose territorial claim dates back to the Plantation of Ulster in the early 1600s.

The loughs fishing communities were once bound together by a history of struggle in defending public rights to fish the lough that, in the words of House of Lords judges at a key 1911 appeal case, had been exercised from time immemorial. But now, Coney says, many have become despondent due to mismanagement of the water body, and a lack of industry support or apparent outside interest.

Those who fish for the increasingly emaciated, scattered eels only managed three weeks last season, which would usually run from May to late October.

The loughs ecological and economic decline is now playing out amid fragmented management structures, and a lack of key scientific data  ecological baselines.

Local communities fear that the lough may be sold on to a new private owner  a prospect the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury has not ruled out publicly. Among many, there is a profound lack of trust or confidence in management and governing bodies.

The priority has to be sustaining the life of the lough, McAliskey told the Toome rally. Because if we sustain the life of Lough Neagh together, Lough Neagh will sustain the rest of us. So long as we work in harmony with her, there is a living [here] for everybody.

This whole lough could be an income generator that keeps all of our young people from emigrating to the cities and emigrating out of the country. We could have a really good life around this lough, while supporting the rest of the ecology. But Breen, who has also worked in government, is less optimistic.

Theyre hoping this will blow over, now the algaes disappeared from sight, he says of decision-makers and government, and that itll be back to business as usual.

- Guardian
Three men charged after gardai intercepted a van carrying 2m of cannabis and uncovered another 1m of various drugs in an apartment in Dublin have been remanded in custody.

Gary Hanley, 35, Sean Mackey, 53, and Jie Liu, 39, were arrested following an operation by officers attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) on Thursday, February 22.

The three men appeared before a late sitting of Dublin District Court on Saturday, charged with unlawful possession of 100 kilos of cannabis and having the drugs for sale or supply.

Detective Garda Dean Healy said they could face more serious charges and the case related to "large scale drug distribution".

Mr Hanley, a father of two from North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, who is on disability benefit, was refused bail over pleas from his partner that he was an innocent "family man".

Detective Garda Healy applied for a remand in custody, citing the seriousness of the case and fears the men would have to "recoup" the loss from the seizure. He also cited flight risk concerns in the cases of Mr Liu and Mr Mackey.

Mr Liu, a food delivery driver formerly of Cedar Grove, Swords, Co. Dublin, alone had additional charges for possessing a further 1m worth of cannabis, MDMA, amphetamines and ketamine at an apartment in West End Villas, Blanchardstown, Dublin 14, allegedly leased by him.

He and Mr Mackey, a casino croupier of Blessington Street, Dublin 7, were granted bail, but both men required approval of 25,000 independent sureties before they could be released on strict terms.

The court heard Mr Mackey was originally from South Africa but is now an Irish national with dual citizenship, having lived in the State for 20 years.

Mr Hanley and Mr Mackey will face their next hearings at Cloverhill District Court next Thursday. Mr Liu will appear there the following day.

Detective Garda Dean Healy told the court they made no reply when charged.

It was alleged that Gary Hanley drove to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in a Hyundai Tucson and met two other vehicles. Mr Mackey was allegedly in a Toyota Corolla, and Mr Liu was driving an Opel Vivaro van.

After a short interaction, the detective claimed they drove to Athboy Co. Meath, where phones were exchanged.

The contested bail hearing was told that they drove back to Dublin in "close proximity" convoy but were intercepted on the N3 northbound.

About 100 kilos of cannabis worth 2m were recovered in the van allegedly driven by Mr Liu. The court heard gardai found the additional 1m worth of various drugs following a search at the apartment rented by him in Blanchardstown.

The court heard that Gary Hanley's car was stopped a short distance away, and he allegedly locked the doors as gardai approached and began to "smash" a phone.

Judge Kelly heard that officers downloaded from phone photos and messages "regarding distribution on a large scale".

A comprehensive file is to be drafted for the Director of Public Prosecution, and further, more serious charges were expected, the court heard.

Other phones seized were encrypted, the bail hearing was told.

The GNDOCB officer strongly believed they would attempt to "recoup the financial loss" from the seizure.

Solicitor Matthew Kenny pleaded for bail, describing the evidence against his clients, Mr Hanley and Mr Mackey, as circumstantial. He disputed the garda's assertion that Mr Mackey was a flight risk.

He said the man had lived in Ireland for 20 years, and his adult son had offered to stand 5,000 bail.

Donal Quigley, solicitor for Mr Liu, submitted that his client was now an Irish national, no longer had Chinese citizenship and had no means to flee.

The defence lawyers submitted they had the presumption of innocence but risked facing a lengthy remand in custody pending trial.

The judge was told it would likely be dealt with at a higher level in the Circuit Court, but the trial wouldn't be heard for another two or three years.

Mr Mackey did not apply for legal aid, which was granted to Mr Hanley and Liu.

On taking up bail, Mr Mackey and Mr Liu must surrender passports and not apply for replacements, notify gardai of address changes, be contactable 24/7 by phone, and sign on twice daily at garda stations.
A Syrian man arrested at Dublin Airport after he "lost" his passport on a flight from Luxembourg has been jailed for two months.

Dublin District Court heard that Ramzi Maruan, 31, came to Ireland for a better life, but gardai established he had previously turned up in Iceland and sought international protection in Bulgaria before coming here.

Judge Treasa Kelly said she was sure he had identity documents or a passport when he boarded the plane in Luxembourg, but he had them no longer, and he was not the first man to do this.

Sentencing, she said: "There has to be a deterrent; people cannot come into the country without their ID in those situations where they had ID leaving, and it seems they have lost it in the meantime".

He pleaded guilty on Saturday to breaching the Immigration Act.

Two other men from Albania and Somalia were also accused of similar offences and were denied bail by Judge Kelly over the weekend. The court provided translators in each case.

Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) officers arrested Mr Maruan at Terminal 2 on Friday night, and he made no reply to the charge of having no passport when he landed in the State.

The offence carries a possible 12-month sentence.

They were the latest cases that have seen dozens of non-EU Nationals before the District Courts in Dublin over recent weeks for the same category of offence. On Thursday, another case heard that the GNIB had, at that stage, arrested 37 people at arrivals.

A garda witness said Maruan arrived without documents.

His solicitor, Edward Bradbury, told the court that up until about two weeks ago, he had clients arrive in similar circumstances, and they went into the asylum process.

But Maruan, who has also applied for asylum, has been charged, said Mr Bradbury. He conceded that his client had "inverted commas lost his passport" but was pleading guilty.

Judge Kelly noted the claims he mislaid it during his flight from Luxembourg.

The GNIB had no proof of his identity, and "what is before the court is information he [the accused] has provided".

The defence acknowledged the court was in a difficult situation because the legislation allowed the accused to plead guilty at their first appearance.

Mr Bradbury said Maruan was seeking a better life and was criminalised for looking for asylum.

However, during a break in the hearing, the GNIB learned that he had been in Bulgaria, and there was a record of him before coming to Ireland via Iceland.

The defence also instructed barrister Kevin McCrave, who asked the judge to note that Maruan was the first among the recent GNIB arrests at the airport to consent to having his fingerprints taken.

Ahmed Dahir, 20, from Somalia, and Albanian national Emmanuel Kodaci, 20, were also charged with breaching immigration laws by arriving at Dublin Airport without identification.

They were refused bail on his charges and will appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.

The court heard the GNIB arrested Mr Dahir at Terminal 2 after he took a "circuitous route to Ireland, on a flight from Reykjavik, Iceland. He had previously been in Sweden and allegedly used Swedish ID documents.

Gardai have yet to establish whether they were genuine or fake or if he had applied for asylum in another European country.

The court heard that Mr Kodaci flew in from Brussels on Saturday and showed officials a photo of identification on his phone.

Referring to the Dublin convention, the EU rules about which country should assess applications for international protection, Judge Kelly asked if he had applied for asylum in the first safe country.

The court heard that when Mr Kodaci spoke to people in Brussels, "he understood it was a very dangerous city".
A judge has granted a Protection Order to a woman after she told a court that her husband has concealed his HIV status from her.

At the Family Law Court, the district court judge told the woman she needs to report her husbands "deception" to gardai.

The judge said: "the deception here is that he knew that he had HIV and he continued to have, I assume, relations with you as normal without telling you? The woman replied yes in response.

The district court judge told the woman: "I am nearly certain that this is a criminal offence in terms of the issues. He was diagnosed with HIV and he didn't tell you.

The woman said she has now taken a HIV test and is awaiting the results.

The woman provided a written statement to the court grounding her Protection Order application which was made on an ex parte basis where her husband was not present.

After reading her written statement the judge said: "You are frightened that if he comes back to the house that he will give you HIV if you havent got it already? The woman said yes.

She said she did not know how her husband contracted HIV and said that she was shocked when she was told by a third party of his condition.

The woman told the judge that her husband hasnt said how long he has had HIV.

The judge said that he was "happy to grant the order on that basis but I think you are at risk and he may believe that he can continue as is.

The judge confirmed that gardai will serve the contents of the Protection Order on the man. If the man breaches the Protection Order, he can be arrested without warrant on foot of a complaint by the woman and be brought before a court.

The Protection Order is to remain in place pending a hearing for a Safety Order where the man can contest the application in court.
"I was flooded three times  I can't do a fourth. So says Eleanor Dunlea, owner of Lollipop Kids in Midleton. She is one of the many business owners in the East Cork town whose premises were virtually destroyed by Storm Babet's devastating floods last October.

She, like many others in the town, has reopened but is still battling with clean-up costs, lack of insurance cover  and the fear that the town may be hit again.

Eleanor Dunlea said business owners are 'constantly on alert' for floods. Picture: Chani Anderson

Ms Dunlea said that business owners are constantly on alert to the risk of storms bringing future flooding to the East Cork town.

We as business owners are constantly on alert and waiting for the day the water and flooding will come back," she said.

Ms Dunlea said after the October 18 floods she wondered if she had the heart to reopen but decided she would do so.

I had to reopen because people were constantly texting and calling because children need shoes, Ms Dunlea said.

Rachel McCarthy of Ina McCarthy Flowers says rain and flooding is never far from the minds of Midleton business owners. Picture: Denis Minihane

Rachel McCarthy of Ina McCarthy Flowers agrees that rain and flooding is never far from the minds of Midleton business owners.

Ms McCarthy runs the flower shop her mother founded in 2006. She told the Irish Examiner that the business suffered 87,000 worth of damage, stock loss, and building repairs in Storm Babet. She applied for funding under the Flood Relief Scheme announced by the Government in the wake of the storm

I just got approved for my funding last week," she said. "I only got 40,000, but it is better than a kick in the teeth, as they say.

I went away after Christmas when the renovations were being done and I was constantly checking my phone and my husband was like put your phone down  what can you do about it if it does flood? and that is the attitude Ive had to take on because you wouldnt sleep, she said.

Ms McCarthy welcomed the 40,000 in funding but is worried about the long-term financial impact of the flood.

It is really hard to make money in the florist industry as our profit margins are really, really tight, so everything I earned just goes back into the shop. I owe my suppliers an absolute fortune at this stage, on top of the flood work.

Ms McCarthy says she did not receive her full request for 87,000 from the Flood Relief Scheme because her original insurance policy did not include the Christmas stock that was in store that day.

The scheme, administered by the Irish Red Cross at the request of the Government, provides a once-off ex-gratia contribution towards the costs of returning business premises to their pre-flooding condition, including the replacement of flooring, fixtures, fittings, and damaged stock.

I tried to argue that it was coming up to Christmas, so I had all my Christmas stock in so, of course there was more stock than an average week.

I also had wedding flowers in, and they were 2,000 alone and they just ended up in the water. I feel like things like that werent taken into consideration.

Im going to be a long time recovering from this, she said.

224 businesses across the country received part of the 6,302,784.84 from the Emergency Business Relief Scheme. Picture: Chani Anderson

Her business is one of the 224 businesses across the country that received some of the 6,302,784.84 from the Emergency Business Relief Scheme, as of February 22, 2024.

The next payment run will see seven more businesses receive some of the 193,770.88, which will increase the total paid to 6,496,555.72 between 231 applicants.

A spokesperson for the Irish Red Cross told the Irish Examiner that 349 businesses applied for the Emergency Business Relief Scheme before the deadline in mid-December.

They said that of the 349 applicants, 51 applications are incomplete and require further clarification and 61 were not eligible or withdrew from the scheme.

Two applicants have been verified by the local authority and a request for their bank details has been made, while four applicants are awaiting verification.

It is believed that businesses in Co Cork received the vast majority of the funding. However, not all businesses in the town are eligible for funding.

Ana Hrgovan of Anas Happy Scissors Hair Salon estimates 45,000-50,000 worth of damage was done to her business and she is waiting for insurance compensation. Picture: Larry Cummins

Ana Hrgovan of Anas Happy Scissors Hair Salon on Broderick St in Midleton estimates that between 45,000 and 50,000 worth of damage was done to her business due to the floods last October, and she is waiting for her insurance company to compensate.

I had to put up my own money because even though I got 10,000 from my insurance as an interim payment, Im waiting for the rest [from insurance], Ms Hrgovan said.

According to Ms Hrgovan her insurance company is requesting her to provide invoices from those who worked on the premises, but she only has quotes at this stage.

I only have quotations from the guys who did the job. I dont have the invoice yet because I havent paid them in total yet, she said.

She claims her insurance offered her 26,000, which would not cover the cost of the repairs.

Her insurance policy renewed on November 8 last year, just three weeks after the floods caused by Storm Babet and her insurance company refused to offer flood insurance within the new policy.

As the flooding happened while her policy had flood insurance, she was not entitled to the supports offered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Government.

I could understand if they said to me that you can get flood insurance but it would be higher because you have a claim. I would understand that I would have to spend more but what happens if a flood happens again?

What am I going to do? I will lose [more of] my own money, Ms Hrgovan said.

I tried to ask for help from the Government but they said since I had flood insurance, they said no.

My loss adjuster is trying to get more money because the second time they tried to offer me 26,000 but I said that is not enough.

It is crazy because I put in my own money and the insurance think they dont need to pay if I dont have invoices and I dont have flood insurance any more, she added.

Her business reopened four weeks after closing but she said the street in general is not as busy as before".

On Tuesday, a petition with 15,000 signatures was delivered to the Dail by protesters angry at what they claim is a lack of urgency to protect East Cork from future flood devastation.

The Midleton and East Cork Flood Action Group said families are living "in fear" of the next heavy rains, as they protested outside the Dail over what they claim is lack of urgency in providing measures to protect the areas from flooding.

Mona Stromsoe said Midleton and East Cork Flood Action Group hopes interim measures can be put in place.

Chairperson for the group, Mona Stromsoe, said they are hoping that the Government will do something and encourage Cork County Council or the Office of Public Works (OPW) to put some interim measures in place to prevent the East Cork area from flooding again.

We understand that the substance system is going to take a number of years, we dont fully understand why it takes that long. It has been explained to us, but we are not happy with the information, Ms Stromsoe told the Irish Examiner.

She claimed that there are lots of smaller measures that could be taken, which would need an overview from the council and the OPW, but there does not seem to be the will to do it.

We are being told that you can put your property back together, but this could happen again anytime. It happened in 2015, it could happen again next year, the year after  who is to say it wont happen next week?

Our Government is supposed to protect us, and we feel that this isnt the case, that we have been abandoned and left to our own devices.
Plans are in place to reopen a historic coastal fort in Cork Habour to visitors by the end of next month for an extended six-days-a-week entry.

A total of 21 local volunteers have been trained to act as tour guides for Camden Fort Meagher in Crosshaven which will enable the extended opening hours.

The county council, which owns Camden Fort Meagher in Crosshaven, is also in discussion with two potential operators to take over the cafe there and expects to appoint a manager and assistant manager shortly to run the fort.

Council officials said once those appointments are filled they will then draw up plans to source funding from various government departments.

The council is also to examine the possibility of the EU carrying out further restoration and enhancement works on the fort, parts of which date back to the mid-1500s.

Contractors brought onto the site to carry out safety works and some refurbishments have had to undertake more work than initially anticipated and are not expected to complete this until the middle of next month.

Officials said the cost of maintaining and restoring the historic site is quite significant.

Contractors brought onto the site to carry out safety works and some refurbishments have had to undertake more work than initially anticipated Picture: Michael Paul Murtagh

They recently held a training day for volunteer guides which proved very successful and they hope to reopen the fort to visitors by the end of next month or the first week in April at the latest. The attraction will be open from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Access for people with disabilities will be free and the council is examining onsite initiatives to ensure the fort's made more accessible to people with mobility issues.

Officials told a meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District Council  which governs the Crosshaven area  that they will do everything possible to help open the cafe to a new operator.

Fine Gael councillor Jack White said he believes to make it a viable business the chosen operator should be allowed to open outside the fort opening hours as well, particularly as profit margins in the catering industry are getting tighter.

Officials told a meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District Council that they will do everything possible to help open the cafe to a new operator.

Officials said while they would examine that possibility there were certain challenges, including the fact that as the fort is a protected heritage site the council would have to be in control at all times.

However, they said they might look at operating some segregated access to the cafe only if a decision was taken to allow the operator longer opening hours than the fort.

Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath said a word of thanks must go to the volunteer guides, several of whom had worked as volunteers previously on clean-up projects there.

They kept it (the project) on the road for a long time, he said

Fianna Fail councillor Audrey Buckley said extended opening times will attract a lot more people and the council must liaise with local clubs who have car parks to maximise the spaces available to visitors.
An investigation is under way after a series of fires at separate retail premises in Cork city centre on Sunday.

The fires are understood to have started in quick sucession at locations in the city from around 5.30pm.
Rising costs, unsociable hours, and the risk of being attacked. Cork taxi drivers say these are the reasons why so many of them are leaving the business, why the age profile of those still driving is getting older, and why there are fewer taxis available, day or night.

How acute is the problem? The base manager of one Cork cab company told the Irish Examiner how they have reduced their fleet from 20 to five vehicles in just a year.

Sheila Ryan from Carrig Cabs in Carrigaline says the lack of young drivers entering the industry has a significant part to play in the sectors demise.

Its very hard to get cars at the moment, she said. People are retiring. The age range of our drivers is between mid-50s and mid-70s. We are losing the cars to retirements.

A lot of them are leaving now because of the restrictions of getting a new car. Its also very expensive for anybody to take a test, get the licence, and then get the car. The cost is astronomical.

She said customer habits have also changed since pre-covid times, with a particular pinch-point now on Saturday nights.

Thursday nights used to be a busy night for us. Its not as hectic as Friday or Saturday now, whereas they used to be on par. One hundred cars wouldnt be able to cover the amount of work coming in on Saturday nights.

Her sentiments are echoed by organisations across the country, including the Taxis for Ireland Coalition which has amplified calls for the Government to address taxi shortages. The group was established last year by organisations from the tourism, hospitality, and enterprise sectors in response to decreasing taxi numbers.

Donall OKeeffe, CEO of the Licensed Vintners Association, addressed the worries facing members in the business community.

Donall O'Keeffe said the taxi shortage is affecting patrons' safety. Picture: Johnny Bambury/Fennells

"The current taxi shortage poses a direct threat to our late-night economy  bars, late bars, and nightclubs  with customers leaving venues early due to the difficulties they will face in getting taxis home, he said.

The safety of our patrons is of paramount importance, yet the taxi shortage is affecting this. We are calling for measures to rectify the shortfall and protect the late-night economy of our capital city."

Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, also says a shortage of taxis is bad for business

The scarcity of taxis is disrupting the dining experience for our customers, with many facing challenges just getting to and from rural and urban restaurants.

This shortfall urgently needs to be rectified to ensure the viability of our restaurants," he said.

Adrian Cummins said the 'shortfall urgently needs to be rectified to ensure the viability of our restaurants'. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

A report by mobility consultancy Street, commissioned by Taxis for Ireland Coalition member Bolt, revealed that in Dublin, 43% of requested trips by customers go unfulfilled at peak times between noon on Friday and Sunday morning.

The report indicates that the issue is even more acute in Cork, where 56% of peak-time requests are unfulfilled, compared to 40% of off peak requests.

Further research carried out by YouGov on behalf of members of the coalition last month showed that 39% of people in Ireland are concerned about getting home safely due to the shortage of taxis. Some 64% of those surveyed said that action should be taken to help increase the number of taxis in Ireland.

The report suggests that the limited taxi supply may be resulting from outdated regulation which makes it difficult for new drivers entering the sector and prevents ride-hailing services from operating in the country. It referenced information to support its findings showing that taxi supply fell by 24% between 2007 and 2023, from 25,695 vehicles to 19,570. Meanwhile the Irish population increased by 16% in that same period.

There are currently 976 taxis operating across Cork city and county with a further 270 wheelchair taxis serving the community, according to the National Transport Authority.

However, some say particular parts of the city and county have very little coverage.

Steve Kelly from Crestfield Cabs is currently the only cab driver serving the entire Glanmire community. He had 46 drivers working in 2008 but that has dwindled over time to reflect the challenges posed by the current working environment.

I have just one taxi so Im using other cabs not associated with the base. Because of FreeNow I cant get cabs to join the base, he told the Irish Examiner.

I previously had 46 cars working out of Glanmire when there was a smaller population and plenty of work for everyone.

Mr Kelly says he hates having to reject bookings during busy periods.

Im closing early most nights now and others are the same. I have a guilty conscience over it at times.

"I feel like this especially when I think of the elderly gentleman who likes to go out for a pint from Monday to Thursday at 5pm or 6pm but has no way back at 9pm so has to stop doing that," he said.

"The issues are mainly down to FreeNow and the fact that the bases cannot get drivers. For me to survive I would need 15 or 20 cars. If I had them, I could employ five or six base operators.

Recruiting drivers

He also blames the aging profile of drivers and the challenges of recruiting younger drivers into the sector.

I wouldnt say there is anyone under 30 in the industry. Any of the drivers I am dealing with are between 45 and 50 or upwards. One driver is 76.

While Cobh has approximately 20 taxis available at different times of the day, most of these are confined to daytime hours with Cobh residents citing serious difficulties securing taxis at night.

Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen summed up the situation.

Nobody really works through the night as the demand is not there. The day of the base is gone, with only one left  a call centre in Dublin which directs the calls. Demand is not there any more for a variety of reasons. There is the cost factor and less pubs and night trade. Drinking habits have changed. People are also using the bus service to get around.

"The cost of setting up a car now is estimated to be between 50,000 and 60,000 to get a car properly kitted out and follow all regulations. This is a huge figure for someone starting out. People want taxis but they are not willing to pay too much for one. It is an important issue and one that will only get worse as cars and drivers sit for hours without a fare.

Bantry has just three taxis operating on weekdays and nights as well as weekends. This figure is half the number that was recorded in the West Cork town two years ago. Taxi drivers retiring from the industry and a shift in socialising trends are believed to be contributing to the shortage.

Derry Coughlan, the Cork representative for the Irish Taxi Federation, said he believes bogus taxi drivers are also having a negative impact on demand.

There are a lot of bogus drivers now who are doing this on the side, Mr Coughlan told the Irish Examiner. Its quite dangerous, particularly when people are getting involved in accidents.

"Recently, there was a young fella in Cork city who told a woman that his taxi was being serviced and that was why he had the vehicle he was in. These bogus drivers are taking away from the work of real taxi drivers trying to make a living.

Stiletto to the eye and broken bottle to neck

A Cork cabbie who has been assaulted by passengers on multiple occasions  including a stiletto to the eye and a broken bottle held to his neck  says the rise in vicious assaults is to blame for a shortage of drivers at night.

John Constant, a taxi driver in Cork city, says his family has been pleading with him for years to quit the industry following a string of attacks. Mr Constant says, however, it is not financially viable to abandon night shifts.

John Constant was assaulted after dropping a fare in Glounthaune, Co Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The father of two wants the National Transport Authority to provide better support for taxi drivers who are assaulted while working, and he wants greater penalties for those who commit such assaults.

Mr Constant has spent four decades in the job and has suffered a number of terrifying encounters with passengers that continue to haunt him.

One particularly terrifying memory is of the night he had a broken bottle held to his neck by a passenger demanding cash.

He asked me for the time so I looked down for a second. The moment I looked up there was a broken bottle up to my neck.

The culprit received a six-month prison sentence for his crime. However, John says that he is the one serving time.

They [his attackers] have forgotten about it. The only time theyll remember it is if it is highlighted on the news. There is no message I could give them to get across the damage they have done.

"If there were more severe penalties then it might deter people. However, its not his fault he got away with it. Its the system's. There are other people out there who have gotten hurt. Many are afraid to speak up, so I speak for them too.

Countless phone calls from his concerned wife now form part of a typical night for Mr Constant.

Serious impact

This has had a serious impact, not just on me, but also on my wife and kids. I cant go out to work now without my wife ringing me. Shell ask me casual questions like 'how are you doing now?' and 'are you busy?' In reality, I know shes not phoning for a chat. Shes ringing to make sure Im not in a ditch or hurt somewhere. I have a son who lives in France and every week he rings me. He wants me to retire so I can move abroad and live with him.

In 2015 Mr Constant was assaulted by a group after one of them got sick in his minivan.

He discovered the vomit while dropping six men home after a night out from the Grand Parade. When he pointed to the vomit, he was assaulted. He sustained a black eye and a broken nose in the attack

A bloodshot eye serves as a reminder of another occasion where the girlfriend of a passenger used her stiletto as a weapon. He recalls how the fare took a violent turn after the man refused to pay what was owed.

Mr Constant admits he has not reported every attack to gardai. He described how one reveller punched him in the face in Cork city before fleeing the scene.

I knew who he [the attacker] was and that there would be consequences if I reported him so I decided to let it go. A garda who was around at the time said they were shocked that I wasnt reporting him but I felt it was the right thing to do.

'I have to stay working nights because I have bills to pay and a household to run,' says John Constant. Picture: Larry Cummins

Despite the risks and the assaults, Mr Constant insists theres not enough work by day to make a decent living.

There are people sitting in the rank all day. Its when the buses stop that we earn the few bob. I have to stay working nights because I have bills to pay and a household to run. When I have jobs during the day, I operate on a phone system and collect people from their houses. This means they are traceable. However, when youre picking people up from the streets there is no way of knowing who you have.

He praised his family for their continued support.

The assaults took away some of my self-confidence. Thats definitely the case. What kept me through the night shift was my family and absolute necessity. I dont know how the lads who work by day make any money. I did days for a long time and the money just isnt there. There could be two or three trains coming in and still no customers.

Little support

Mr Constant said taxi drivers who fall victim to assaults have little support.

If a bus driver is injured on the job and out of work they get compensated. The taxi driver gets nothing. Even if taxi drivers were given something until their vehicles were sorted out it would go some way to helping them.

He says he now has to be extra cautious every time he picks up a fare.

Every time you pick up a group or even a single individual you are scanning them first. I do this as soon as they pull up. I try and suss them out in those few seconds because those few seconds are all I have. 

The 66-year-old says he never anticipated the way things would develop when he started out as a young driver.

It didnt happen back then. I can still remember my first fare. The lady gave me a 5 tip because it was my first job. 

Fellow Cork taxi-driver Bobby Lynch said he no longer works nights due to the dangers it presents.

There are nights when you cant pull up because there are people kicking your car and jumping on top of it, Mr Lynch said. Ive also had my taxi stolen.

Cork taxi driver Billy Murphy says 'its hard to tell if they are going to take out a knife or a tip'. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Billy Murphy, who operates a taxi in Cork city, avoids night-time shifts due to the risks.

I havent driven a taxi at night-time in 30 years because I have too much sense and I value my safety, Mr Murphy said.

People ask why we arent in Patrick St at night. Its because of these scumbags that taxi drivers are being forced out of the city. 95% of people are perfect. The issue is that you dont know if the 5% are sitting in the back of your taxi. In these situations, its hard to tell if they are going to take out a knife or a tip. Unfortunately, a lot of people dont want the publicity if the assault is a minor one, which means that many crimes go unreported.

He urged the public to demonstrate more understanding.

People are only looking at it from the point of view of the drunk guy on the street who wants to get home. If town is a perfect place you have to ask yourself why there are two or three bouncers at almost every pub door. They have a bouncer to throw you out of the bar and we are meant to pick you up.

Billy thinks the level of violence in Cork city has definitely escalated over the years.

When I was in my 20s if you fell down on Patrick St someone would come over and pick you up. Now, they would take your money. This is not alone a taxi problem, its a social problem.

No-card policy

Fellow Cork taxi driver Willie Wyse also refuses night work due to its unpredictable nature.

If a passenger decides they are going to kick up then you are in trouble. The latest I work is 8pm or 8.30pm, maybe even 9pm but thats about it. All it takes is 10 minutes of madness to turn your whole life around.

He said he is willing to risk facing a judge in court following a controversial decision to refuse card payments in his cab.

Cork taxi driver Willie Wyse says he has received two fixed-penalty notices in relation to his strict no-card policy. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Mr Wyse said he has already received two fixed-penalty notices in relation to his strict no-card policy. Nonetheless, the cash only signs emblazoned across his vehicle remain.

The bold statement runs contrary to measures introduced in September 2022 requiring taxi drivers to provide cashless transaction options. This means that a physical device or terminal to accept cashless payments is now mandatory in every taxi. Drivers are also prohibited from implementing surcharges on cashless transactions.

Mr Wyse says there are several reasons why he continues to take cash only. I dont have a bank account, I dont have a post office account, and I dont have a credit union account, he told the Irish Examiner.

I closed my bank account in 2010 after we bailed out the banks and I swore Id never open one again. When I was told that this was going to be law in September of 2022 I put the signs up to save conflict.

I was willing to go before the court and let the judge make the decision. If I have to, I will, but taxi drivers are losing somewhere in the region of 5% to the card supplier and their bank.

"If you are taking fares by day and by night and they are all by card then that adds up. If you are looking at that on a monthly and daily basis you could be losing anything between 5,000 and 10,000 per year. If you are taking a cash job then you are taking the full fare.

The Cork man said it is not the technology that worries him.

This is not a technology issue. Its about an authority trying to impose their will against peoples wishes. If what Im doing is wrong then why arent more people prosecuted for not accepting cards? I am the only taxi driver in town with signs up on my taxi saying no card payments and cash only.

"Its on the windows. Its on the dashboard. People pass me by and take another taxi and I dont mind that, but I shouldnt have to take cards.

Mr Wyse received a response to a Freedom of Information Act request he submitted in August 2023 which shows that some 45 fixed-penalty notices were issued to taxi drivers between September 1, 2022, and August 21, 2023, after they refused to offer cashless transactions. There were 53 fixed- penalty notices issued for failure to carry a functioning payment device in that same period. Two cases in total resulted in convictions.

Fellow Cork taxi driver Billy Murphy said digital payment options come with their own challenges.

In relation to cards, the machine is subject to a radio signal, Mr Murphy said. There are certain areas where you cant make a card transaction because there is no signal. You might say thats nothing but there are times when you have to drive a mile or two down the road just to get a radio signal.

"Its like owning a television and having the signal going. How can you enforce something when you are not providing the facilities to make it work? This creates a lot of friction and its difficult for people to understand the real difficulty we are facing.

In a statement, the National Transport Authority told the Irish Examiner:

The law was introduced on September 1, 2022, within the Small Public Service Vehicle [Cashless Payment Facility] Regulations 2022 [SI 294 of 2022]. As a result, it became a legal requirement for each taxi to have a functioning cashless payment device and for drivers to accept cashless payments."

The NTA asks customers to submit complaints through the Transport for Ireland website at www.transportforireland.ie/support/taxi-compliments-complaints/

A 200 fixed payment notice may be issued on foot of a complaint received for either of the following related offences: Failure to carry a functioning cashless payment device or failure to accept cashless payment.

Wheelchair user almost missed wife's funeral

An elderly wheelchair user nearly missed his own wifes funeral after unsuccessful attempts by his family to book an accessible taxi.

Humphrey Dinan travelled home from France with his family to attend his mothers funeral, which took place last Monday. However, booking an accessible taxi to take his 92-year-old father from Sundays Well to the Church of the Most Precious Blood, Clogheen, proved impossible, even with advanced notice.

Humphrey Dinan could not get an accessible taxi for his father, a wheelchair user.

The Cork native had to pull out all the stops to source alternative transport, which was organised through the Mums of Glanmire Facebook page. Humphrey said he was extremely grateful to the people who helped his family, but he is also determined to highlight the experience as a means to help others.

The father of three told the Irish Examiner how hard it was to get a taxi.

A lot of the websites only had options to a send an email or Facebook message. There was no traditional number with an operator you could just ring up and ask for a cab. A couple of them came back and said sorry that they couldnt facilitate it," he said.

He said it was an unnecessary stress for a grieving family.

I try not to get angry but it definitely was frustrating. The point is I had to take an hour out of my day just before my 90-year-old mothers funeral to find a way of making sure my Dad made it to the church with us. This was time I should have been spending with my mother, who was waked at home. It was time that I should have spent chatting to her and also supporting my children, who found it all very difficult.

"Instead, I had to spend it trying to get a taxi. I dont want this to be picked up and turned into a political battle piece because it doesnt need to be. What it needs to be is a quick fix.

He said having to use alternative transport was difficult for everyone involved.

We had to try and squeeze my dad into this Skoda Octavia. Trying to help him in was horrible. It just wasnt a nice experience.

This was an emotive time anyway. We are all upset that Mum is gone but all somebody had to say was 'I have a taxi and Ill come and pick you up'.

"Its 2024 and with Cork being a major city I thought we would had better access to facilities like this.

He described how their efforts using apps such as Uber were also in vain.

I'm a great believer in keeping things very simple. People have a tendency these days to overcomplicate things and overemphasise the importance of technology. There are multiple apps and various forms of technology available but on this occasion they didnt help. The function was to provide this type of service to a person in a wheelchair, but nobody was able to do that.

Mr Dinan said he fears for younger generations with disabilities trying to avail of transport.

The question is, how is it that someone tried to get a wheelchair taxi but couldnt? Its unfair and also cruel. It makes you think about how difficult it must be for young people with disabilities who would like to just go out and broaden their horizons on a Sunday afternoon.

Card payments refused by drivers

Georgina Hallows is from Ballincollig and a regular taxi user. However, she says there have been nights out when she fears she will be stranded in the city centre as drivers refuse to allow her to pay by card.

The National Transport Authority made it a requirement in September 2022 for drivers to accept cards, stating that all licensed taxi drivers are required to be equipped with a physical device or terminal to accept cashless payments.

Georgina Hallows said she experienced difficulties with taxi drivers adopting cash-only policies.

However, Georgina says some drivers are still refusing card payments and recalls how her payment was recently refused three times on one night.

There were people behind us who were waiting for a taxi and they were able to get a lift because they had cash.

"The bar had shut at that stage so we couldnt even go back in and get cashback," she said.

"There was one guy who just shook his head when I asked him if he accepted cards before driving, literally a foot, away from me. All the taxi drivers were refusing to take cards as legal tender.

The 32-year-old said that taxi apps also pose difficulties.

I remember being on the app and calling a taxi. We would be accepted and the taxi would appear. You see its them because you can view the registration number through the app. However, when they got there, they cancelled us. My friend and I were looking at the transactions the next day and realised that there were six taxis arrived for us in the one night. She had three on her phone and I had three on mine.

Georgina said she has also been refused because of the length of the journey.

My husband and I were at a party and were waiting over half an hour for the app to refresh," she said.

"When the taxi arrived, I asked the driver if he could take us to Ballincollig, but he told us that the length of the journey was not worth his while and drove off. This was after accepting the request on the app.
Rallying around Catherine Martin makes government ministers lose a few of their marbles without even noticing. They came out after her Prime Time appearance, rationalising it, which is what we do when faced with colleague action that makes no sense. So you had ministers saying that Catherine had the best of intentions toward Siun ni Raghallaigh and wanted to give her space to answer questions. Which is like saying that a short walk to the gallows is a great exercise opportunity.

What happened was that Siun ni Raghallaigh rang the minister to say Want to alert you to a mistake we made. Which is what chairpeople do. And you know what decent ministers do in that situation? They do one of two things. They say gotcha. Appreciate your time. Clear on it now. Grand. Or they say Please present yourself in my office this afternoon. They dont finish the phone call and then go on Prime Time to condemn the caller to corporate death.

But thats another thing Government spokespeople came out to say. They said Oh my God, Catherine had agreed to go on Prime Time the previous Tuesday. How could she pull out? Really simply, is the answer.

Let me offer the inside story on this. The PR adviser rings the Prime Time researcher and says Youre gonna hate me, but weve got to pull the minister from tonights programme. New stuff has come through that would make it inappropriate for her to be on. Desperately sorry. Click.

The researcher would then run to the production team and the air would be blue for several minutes until someone said OK, we cant have dead air. Whatre we putting on instead of her? Thats the nature of live television. And the nature of responsible government ministers.

If you plan to meet a chairperson you believe has misled you and you want, in the phrase so beloved of spokespeople this weekend, to give her space, you sure as hell dont go on an eponymous prime-time show where you know, as day follows night, that Miriam OCallaghan is going to hit you repeatedly with the loss of confidence question.

Because if you do, another inevitability clicks into place, this one the action of the chair, who considers the possibility of a productive meeting to be pretty thin after she has been, as Ivana Bacik puts it, summarily dismissed.

Before we move on, its not just Cabinet ministers who slightly lost it in relation to the latest installment of RTE, the Farcical. Ivana lost it too. First thing Friday morning, she was out with the phrase  summary dismissal  that continues to run in coverage of this debacle.

But throughout the day she watered down what she was saying so that when pushed by one radio interviewer to call for Catherine Martins resignation, which seemed the logical outcome of what she had earlier said, Ivana called instead for clarification.

She did it in that lovely youthful, well-mannered way she has that will sink the Labour Party if someone doesnt tell her that attack is the best form of vote-getting and that nobody in the history of political action has ever womanned a barricade for clarification. Patterns of political reaction to a crisis are wonderfully instructive. Hint: Watch the juniors. The ministers of/for state. Its those lads and lassies who spout the speaker notes issued from the top of their party. Instance in point? The minister who went on one of those end-of-week radio discussions to push the notion that the plain people of Ireland didnt want any more of this drip drip RTE stuff because it was a distraction.

Weve dealt with the drip drip accusation elsewhere  and we would point to Catherine Martins hamfisted actions last week as demonstrably, provably ensuring the continuation of the RTE drip drip. If this was a locked room mystery, the room would be a bathroom, and Catherine Martins hand would be on the tap, calibrating its drip.

The junior Ministers outpourings, however, although dysfunctional, were significant, and heres why. Telling the public what they ought to be thinking about is a function of a party thats been in Government for a long time.

Opposition parties on the rise never do it. Establishment parties on the decline always do it and they do it particularly and unproductively coming up to an election.

Minister, Pet, theres this thing called free speech, linked to this other thing called free thought, and you can butt out of both. The plain people of Ireland, aided and abetted by mainstream news editors, love RTE meltdowns. They love them most when a household name/face is involved, least when worthies warble on about corporate governance.

Siun ni Raghallaigh stepped down from her position last week. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

No choice

Whats not to love about a minister stabbing the national broadcasters chairperson in the back when said chairman seemed to be doing an OK job? Whats not to love about the chair ejecting herself in the middle of the night? Only a media naif would suggest that viewers/readers were having their noses held to the RTE grindstone.

In all of this, the notion of a ministerial objective went right down the tubes. Thats assuming Catherine Martin had an objective and did the kind of media preparation any minister should do in advance of Prime Time. It was infinitely predictable that she would be asked if she had confidence in the RTE chairperson. To refuse to evince such confidence while at the same time talking about meeting the chair the next day was daft. (Well come back to the patent lack of strategic rationale.)

The chair was left with no choice and the chances of such a meeting happening were nil. The minister did come out subsequently and plead that she was doing her best, which, to coin a phrase, is a good reason for shooting the pianist. Well paid, she is, for doing her best.

Now, on this page last week, Fergus Finlay attacked me for thoughts I had shared about RTE. It was a quite gentle attack. Like being beaten with a loofah. Well gloss over that and go to the last column of his piece, which had merit.

It advised the minister on what to do to restore trust in the national broadcaster. A complete reset, suggested Fergus, was required and he offered details. It has to be admitted that what he suggested would have been a great deal more conducive to the restoration of public and political trust in RTE than what Catherine Martin actually did, which didnt contribute to anything. It wasnt decisive or strategic or resolute or courageous. It was just mean.

This caused one RTE long-termer to suggest she had now put herself squarely in the path of danger: You remove the chair, you own the problem. This being an extension of the military belief that if you blow up Iraq, you then own Iraq.

But, sure, RTE will be grand, because Catherine will do her best with it.
Belarusians were casting their votes on Sunday in tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections that seem set to continue the rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.

Mr Lukashenko has presided over the former Soviet bloc nation for nearly 30 years and has frequently accused the West of trying to use the vote to undermine his government and destabilise the nation of 9.5 million people.

Sundays vote has gone ahead despite calls for a boycott from the opposition that dismissed the balloting as a senseless farce.

Mr Lukashenko, centre, gives a speech during a military parade in 2020 (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

Most candidates belong to the four officially registered parties  Belaya Rus, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Party of Labour and Justice  which all support Mr Lukashenkos policies. About a dozen other parties were denied registration last year.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile in Lithuania after challenging Mr Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, urged voters to boycott the elections.

There are no people on the ballot who would offer real changes because the regime only has allowed puppets convenient for it to take part, she said in a video statement.

We are calling to boycott this senseless farce, to ignore this election without choice.

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (Peter Byrne/PA)

Sundays vote is the first election in Belarus since the contentious 2020 vote that handed Mr Lukashenko his sixth term in office and triggered an unprecedented wave of mass demonstrations.

Protests swept the country for months, bringing hundreds of thousands into the streets. More than 35,000 people were arrested.

Thousands were beaten in police custody, and hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organisations were shut down and outlawed.

Mr Lukashenko relied on subsidies and political support from main ally Russia to survive the protests, allowing Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

The opposition says the early balloting that began on Tuesday offers fertile ground for the vote to be manipulated, with ballot boxes unprotected for five days.

Election officials said nearly a quarter of the countrys voters cast ballots during the first three days of early voting.

The Viasna Human Rights Centre said students, soldiers, teachers and other civil servants were forced to participate in early voting.

Belarus for the first time refused to invite observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe to monitor the election.

Election officials said on Sunday that more than 40% of the voters had cast ballots during early voting from Tuesday to Saturday.

Turnout stood at 65.4% by 4pm on Sunday, meeting the 50% threshold needed under Belarusian law in order for the vote to stand, according to the Belarusian Central Election Commission.
President Joe Biden and Utah governor Spencer Cox disagree on many issues but they were united in calling for less bitterness in politics and more bipartisanship.

Politics has gotten too personally bitter, said Mr Biden, who has practised politics since he was elected to the US Senate in 1972.

Its just not like it was.

The Democratic president commented while delivering a toast to the nations governors and their spouses at a black-tie White House dinner in their honour.

Mr Biden said what makes him feel good about hosting the governors is we have a tradition of doing things together.

We fight like hell, we make sure that we get our points across.

At the end of the day, we know who we work for.

The objective is to get things done.

Utah governor Spencer Cox, left, and President Joe Biden share a toast (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)

Mr Cox, a Republican and chairman of the National Governors Association, preceded Mr Biden to the lectern beneath an imposing portrait of Abraham Lincoln above the fireplace in the State Dining Room.

The Utah governor said the association harkens back to another time, another era, when we did work together across partisan lines, when there was no political danger in appearing with someone from the other side of the aisle and we have to keep this, we have to maintain this, we cannot lose this, he said.

Mr Cox leads an initiative called Disagree Better that aims to reduce divisiveness.

He had joked earlier in the programme that he and Mr Biden might be committing mutually assured destruction by appearing together at the White House since they are both up for reelection this year.

He told Mr Biden that as state chief executives, governors know just a very little bit of the incredible burden that weighs on your shoulders.

We cant imagine what it must be like, the decisions that you have to make, but we feel a small modicum of that pressure and so, tonight, we honour you.

Mr Biden said he remembered when lawmakers would argue by day and break bread together at night.

He is currently embroiled in stalemates with the Republican-controlled House over immigration policy, government funding and aid for Ukraine and Israel.

Mr Cox went on to say that his parents taught him to pray for the leader of the country.

Mr President, I want you to know that our family prays for you and your family every night, he said.

We pray that you will be successful because if you are successful that means that United States of America is successful and tonight we are always Americans first, so thank you.

Colorado governor, Jared Polis, a Democrat who is the associations vice chairman, also offered a toast.

We have a lot more in common and a lot more that brings us together as Americans for love of country and love of the people of our country, he said.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the National Governors Association (Evan Vucci/AP)

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were among Cabinet secretaries and White House officials who sat among the governors.

The group included North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, who in December ended his bid to become the Republican presidential nominee and challenge Mr Biden.

Guests dined on house-made burrata cheese, an entree choice of beef braciole or cod almandine and lemon meringue tart with limoncello ice cream for dessert.

After dinner, the programme moved to the East Room for a performance by country singer Trisha Yearwood.

The governors, in Washington for their annual winter meeting, heard from Mr Biden and Ms Harris on Friday during a separate session at the White House.
Namibian president Hage Geingob was laid to rest in the countrys Heroes Acre cemetery on Sunday following a state funeral attended by African leaders, the German president and the Princess Royal.

Mr Geingob died earlier this month aged 82 while receiving treatment for cancer.

He was Namibias third president since it gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. Before that, the southern African country was a German colony.

Mr Geingobs widow, Monica Geingos, delivered a message at a memorial service on Saturday paying tribute to her husbands rise from humble, rural roots to be his nations leader and a widely respected figure on the African continent.

You were born a peasant and died a president, Ms Geingos said at the memorial service at a soccer stadium that was filled with mourners.

Pallbearers carry the flag-draped coffin of Hage Geingob during his funeral service in Windhoek, Namibia (Esther Mbathera/AP)

At his funeral on Sunday, Mr Geingobs coffin was draped in the Namibian flag and was carried in a glass case on the back of a military trailer.

Representatives from 27 countries attended the funeral, including Princess Anne, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Qatar President Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and 18 heads of state. The leaders of South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe all attended.

Mr Steinmeier said at the memorial service it was time Germany extends an official apology to the people of Namibia for atrocities inflicted upon them during the 1904-1908 genocide, when German military forces killed approximately 50,000-65,000 of Namibias Herero ethnic group and another 10,000 members of the Nama ethnic group.

Mr Geingob had pushed for reparations for the communities affected by the massacres more than a century ago.

In 2021, the German government offered Namibia 1.1 billion dollars (0.87 billion) in development funds to be paid over 30 years as reparations. It was rejected by the Namibian parliament and by the communities, who asked for an improved offer.

When I talked to Geingob for the last time last year, he spoke of his wish for the conclusion of the genocide negotiations, Mr Steinmeier said. We are committed to the path of reconciliation. It is not about closing the past. It is about taking responsibility for this past and committing to a better future.

Hage Geingob died this month at the age of 82 (Juilen de Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Geingobs final resting place will be in one of the nine mausoleums at Heroes Acre that have been set aside for Namibians who are awarded national hero status.

Mr Geingob played a central role in what has become one of Africas most stable democracies after returning from a long exile in Botswana and the US as an anti-apartheid activist. Namibias independence came after more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule.

He had been president since 2015 and was set to finish his second and final term this year. Mr Geingob also served as Namibias first prime minister after independence from 1990 to 2002 and was prime minister for a second time from 2012 to 2015.

His deputy, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, was sworn in as acting president in the capital, Windhoek, on the day of Mr Geingobs death on February 4 to complete the presidential term as allowed by the constitution.

Namibia will elect a new president in a vote set for November.
Caribbean leaders met embattled Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Sunday to talk about his countrys unrelenting gang violence, with one top official noting that his continued presence as head of government remains a main stumbling block to progress.

Bahamian Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell told The Associated Press that opposition leaders and other groups in Haiti oppose Mr Henry as prime minister, even as the regional trade bloc known as Caricom keeps trying to help change the countrys situation.

Mr Mitchell said the international community also questions how the country would function if Haitis prime minister resigns or is removed, adding that there needs to be a political solution.

In brief comments to the AP, Mr Henry said calls for his removal are a power grab, and that nothing will happen unless we work together.

Haiti is the only topic. Nothing else, really

Earlier this month, demonstrators across Haiti organised protests that turned violent as they demanded that Mr Henry resign.

Mr Mitchell spoke to the AP after meeting with Mr Henry and other Caribbean leaders behind closed doors in Guyana before a four-day Caricom summit in the South American country.

Officials including US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A Nichols are expected to attend.

Mr Mitchell said that Caribbean leaders were scheduled to meet with Ms Thomas-Greenfield on Monday morning.

Haiti is the only topic. Nothing else, really, he said.

In a statement on Sunday, Haitis government said Mr Henry would attend the Caricom summit, which will host talks about the participation of Caribbean countries to help boost a UN-backed deployment of Kenyan police officers to help fight gang violence.

Nations including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize, Burundi, Chad and Senegal have said they plan to send forces.

After the Caricom summit, officials said Mr Henry is scheduled to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, to finalise the modalities of the deployment, which has been halted by a court order.

Mr Mitchell said the international community has pledged more than 100 million dollars (78.9 million) for the mission to Haiti, with the US pledging another 200 million dollars, adding that the political situation remains problematic.

US and UN officials said in a recent statement that Ms Thomas-Greenfield will continue to rally global support while at the summit, and reiterate the urgency of establishing a credible and inclusive path toward elections to enable the return to democratic order for the Haitian people.
( Foreign Policy in Focus )  On the horizon, shimmering like some heavenly ideal, is a grand bargain to end the war in Gaza, establish an independent Palestinian state, and stabilize the Middle East.

Also on the horizon, blazing like an infernal nightmare, is the prospect of an escalation of the current war in Gaza and the spread of destabilizing violence to every corner of the Middle East.

The direction that the region takes could be determined by a feat of imaginative diplomacy. Or an act of murderous stupidity.

Which will it be?

The Widening War

The United States still maintains 40,000 troops across dozens of military bases in the Middle East. Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and Israel invaded Gaza in response, these U.S. facilities and allied forces have sustained over 160 attacks. A number of militias in the region have demonstrated their solidarity with Hamas by attacking Israel across the Lebanese border (Hezbollah), U.S., British, and Israeli ships in the Red Sea (Houthis), and U.S. bases in the region (Iran-allied militias in Iraq and Syria).

Last month, an attack on one such base, Tower 22 in Jordan, left three Americans dead. The Biden administration blamed Iran for the attack. Since Tower 22 is a key node in the coordination of U.S. attacks on Iran-aligned militias, it was a logical target. Responding in part to pressure from its more hawkish critics in Congress, the administration retaliated by launching attacks on 85 sites in Iraq and Syria that are linked to Iran.

Irans axis of resistance links up a number of groups that have different ideologies, religious beliefs, and positions within their own societies. Israels invasion of Gaza has given this constellation of forces a new focus and a new cohesion.

Hezbollah, with 40,000 fighters, is perhaps the most significant, given that its political wing has dominated Lebanese politics. After October 7, Israel and Hezbollah have traded attacks across the border. Most recently, Hezbollah launched drone attacks in northern Israel and Israel responded by destroying weapons depots deep in Lebanese territory. The key to preventing a wider war in the region is negotiating some kind of agreement between the Israeli government and Hezbollah.

The United States has also retaliated against the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, through which 12 percent of global trade passes. These retaliatory strikes dont seem to have had much effect on the Houthis resolve. This weekend, they struck a ship operating under the flag of Belize and also knocked out a U.S. drone. The Houthis enjoy the advantage that real estate agents always talk about: location, location, location. Theyve already caused a dip in the global economy as ships have begun to reroute around South Africa, adding time and cost to shipments of oil and other commodities.

In Iraq, several pro-Iranian militias emerged from the wreckage caused by the U.S. invasion in 2003, including the Popular Mobilization Forces and Kataib Hezbollah. Although there is overlap, the former has effectively become part of the Iraqi army while the latter has joined with other groups to form an umbrella organization unaffiliated with the Iraqi government called Islamic Resistance in Iraq. They all want the remaining U.S. troops out of their country.

The Times and the Sunday Times Video: Israel launches fresh airstrikes on Rafah in southern Gaza

And they are all incensed by the war in Gaza.

Israel has defied international law and even common sense by continuing to prosecute its war against Hamas and killing nearly 30,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children. Its not exactly news that Israel is ignoring considerations of human rights and basic morality in its destruction and disenfranchisement of the Palestinian community. Whats different this time is the failure of the Netanyahu government to put the lives of Israeli hostages first and pursue negotiations for their release.

Approximately 130 of the original 253 hostages that Hamas and related organizations seized in Israel on October 7 remain in Gaza. Hamas released 105 in an exchange and four others unilaterally. Israel rescued three and killed three others in a botched rescue attempt. In addition, at least 30 of the 130 remaining hostages are believed to be dead. These hostages are the only real bargaining chip that Hamas has.

Grand Bargain

With negotiations over a ceasefire stalemated in Egypt, the Netanyahu government is planning to launch a new offensive on Rafah, Gazas southernmost city. The United States, basically pleading with its obdurate ally not to attack Rafah, has gone so far as to support for the first time a UN initiative for a temporary pause in fighting (even as Washington continues to reject resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire).

Hamas has proposed a 150-day ceasefire that turns into a permanent truce, a prisoner exchange that would release thousands of detained Palestinians, and an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu has dismissed this proposal as delusional. He doesnt want to promise a troop withdrawal. And he insists on a ratio of three Palestinian prisoners released for each hostage.

If the details can be worked outand theres no guarantee that Netanyahu in particular will budgethis kind of ceasefire could serve as the keystone of a grand bargain in the region.

Antony Blinken, Bidens secretary of state, has been racing around the capitals of the Middle East to build support for an audacious plan. It looks roughly like this: Saudi Arabia extends diplomatic recognition to Israel and the world comes together to support a new Palestinian state. In effect, Blinken is trying to reignite the Abraham Accords that Jared Kushner started during the Trump administration, but linking Saudi recognition of Israel to a two-state solution rather than simply a cash payout to the Palestinians. According to Axios, There are several options for U.S. action on this issue, including: Bilaterally recognizing the state of Palestine; not using its veto to block the UN Security Council from admitting Palestine as a full UN member state; encouraging other countries to recognize Palestine.

You might think that the spoiler in this scenario would be Iran. After all, Tehran has activated its axis of resistance in support of Hamas. It has never been coy about its opposition to Israel. And its not exactly been cozy with the United States either.

But Iran is actually not the spoiler.

In recent days, the Iranian government has been trying to rein in its allies militias in Iraq. Though not all of these forces agree, there have been no attacks on U.S. positions in Iraq and Syria since February 4.

This restraint is not just about avoiding a direct conflict with the United States. Irans position on Israel has been evolving as well. Even though the Iranian leadership continues to lambaste Netanyahu and his colleagues, it has moved toward embracing a two-state solution. Explains Javad Heiran-Nia at Stimson:

The Iranian position has been that Israel is illegitimate and that a future state should be determined through a referendum of Palestines pre-1948 inhabitants and their descendants. However, Iran has been trying not to be isolated in the Islamic world and recognizes that other countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey are likely to play a bigger role in diplomacy and reconstruction following the Gaza war. In addition, there are divisions among Iranian Shiite clerics about Palestine, with some members of the Qom Seminary supporting a two-state solution. Former reformist president Mohammad Khatami, himself a senior cleric, has said that Iran would accept a Palestinian state alongside Israel if the elected Hamas government chose this path.

Another key part of this evolution was, courtesy of Chinas diplomatic efforts, a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia last spring. The longstanding Saudi-Iranian feud, which is both confessional and geostrategic, came to a head recently in the war in Yemen, with Tehran and Riyadh supporting separate proxies in the conflict. That war has large subsided, though talks to bring a formal end to the conflict have stalled. Nevertheless, Iran and Saudi Arabia seem willing to negotiate modest agreements of mutual benefit.

When the elephants are no longer fighting, the grass has a chance to regrow.

Remaining Challenges

Netanyahu has promised to launch the assault on Rafah by the start of Ramadan if the remaining Israeli hostages are not released. Ramadan begins on March 10.

Three weeks is not a lot of time to pull together a grand bargain or even a minor agreement. Barring such an agreement, however, the opportunities for murderous stupidity multiply.

Getting Netanyahu to agree to anything is not easy. But he seems to believe that bringing home the remaining hostages can salvage his tattered reputation. The dismal track record of the Israeli military rescuing those hostages should push him in the direction of a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange. But Netanyahu still has the Entebbe model in his head, the daring rescue of hijacked airline passengers in Uganda in 1976 (the only casualty among the Israeli commandos was Netanyahus brother). Without the element of surprise on its side, Israel is not likely to repeat the Entebbe model in an assault on Rafah.

Preventing such an attack on Rafah will be challenging enough. The larger deal that could bring about a Palestinian state faces even longer odds.

Netanyahu has made it clear that his vision of Gazas future is as an occupied territory, administered by Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers have eaten away at what might constitute the core of a Palestinian state in the West Bank. That doesnt leave a whole lot left for an independent state, particularly a non-contiguous one. Meanwhile, Israel has generally insisted that any Palestinian entity cant have a military. And, because Netanyahus government has vowed to eliminate Hamas, it would be difficult to imagine Israel tolerating a role for organization in such an entity.

Which means that a Palestinian state at this point would have to be something of a sleight of hand. The leadership would have to include some representation from Hamasgiven its current popularity among Palestiniansbut those representatives would probably have to disconnect from Hamas. The state would lack such requirements of a state as a military, but it could have bodies like a domestic security force that could one day become an army. There would have to be some land for peace arrangement that provides the new state with enough contiguous territory to ensure viability. And Jerusalem would become something of a Brussels shared by the two states.

Ironically it has become easier to get Iran and Saudi Arabia to agree than to expect Netanyahu and Hamas to come to some understanding. Theres no waving of a magic wand to replace the leadership of Israel and the Palestinians with more accommodating leaders. The best scenario is to achieve some reduction of tensions, some release of hostages, some stepping away from the brink of a wider war. With a reduction in tensions comes the possibility of new elections in Israel and the emergence of new leadership in Palestine.

The world waits. Never has the risk of a wider war been greater. Never has the need for imaginative diplomacy been so urgent.

Via Foreign Policy in Focus
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The Israeli newspaper Arab 48 reports that the Israeli police dispersed a crowd of demonstrators from a major Tel Aviv thoroughfare, Kaplan Street, after they attempted to block it, and that the police used water cannons on the crowd. At least 21 persons were arrested.

It is thought to be the biggest set of demonstrations since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to demand that the extremist government of Binyamin Netanyahu strike a deal to exchange Palestinians held prisoner in Israel (many of them held without charge or trial) for hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Fascist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich appears to have spoken for the government last week when he said that rescuing the over 100 hostages is not the most important thing.

The police also pushed back a crowd attempting to block the Ayalon Lanes intercity freeway at Tel Aviv.

Elsewhere in the city, thousands gathered, among them families with a member held hostage in Gaza. They raised placards demanding an exchange-of-prisoners deal and the release of Israeli hostages.

At the residence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the Tzahala neighborhood of Tel Aviv, hundreds came out to demand immediate elections. Netanyahu is widely hated in Israel, and only 17% in polls say they would vote for his Likud Party again.

Al Jazeera English Video: Israel anti-govt protests: Demonstrators call for an early election

Numerous other towns and cities also witnessed demonstrations.

A similar small rally for new elections was held in Beersheba.

In Jerusalem, about a thousand people participated in a protest march, also demanding a hostage deal, as well as new elections. They proceeded from the prime ministers residence to Paris Square.

Hundreds also protested at Caesarea, closing the main drag and edging toward a residence in the city owned by Netanyahu. Police detained a woman for investigation.

Haaretz adds that the protesters in Tel Aviv were carrying torches and marching toward the Defense Headquarters when the water cannon was unleashed on them. The center-left newspaper quotes a protest leader as saying, The police created this mess. The number of protesters was not greater than in previous weeks. When they activated the water cannon  they turned it into a significant event that drew people.

MSNBC Video: Israeli Hostage speaks out against Netanyahu: They just left us there to die: Israeli hostage held in Gaza shares experience

Haaretz also says that of the 400 demonstrators in Beersheba, 100 were family members of two Israelis of Palestinian heritage (presumably Druze) who were being held in Gaza. It reports, Shaban al-Sayed, the father of Hisham al-Sayed, who has been held by Hamas since 2015, and Ali Alziadna, the brother of Yosef Alziadna, who is currently being held hostage by Hamas, and uncle of released hostage Bilal Alziadna, spoke at the protest.

Haaretz also quotes a family member of a hostage at a small demonstration in Haifa as saying that the Netanyahu government and its deranged messianic envoys are making enemies of the families of the hostages.

Huge weekly demonstrations against the Netanyahu government had roiled Israel before the Hamas attack.
Park Ji Hyun never fails to amaze viewers with her versatile acting skills. Whether it be rom-coms or action, she delivers amazing portrayals of her character.

As for her return to K-drama in 2024, the actress showcases another stunning take on the webtoon character, Lee Kang Hyun.

Park Ji Hyun as Lead Detective in 'Flex X Cop'

The 29-year-old beauty takes on the role of veteran detective Lee Gang Hyun, who has an unexpected encounter with Jin Yi Soo, a chaebol's son, played by Ahn Bo Hyun.

To keep a positive image of his family, with his father running for mayoral seat, Jin Yi Soo joins Lee Gang Hyun's team as their newest detective.

"Flex X Cop" shows the chaotic but amazing team-up between Gang Hyun and Yi Soo.

READ MORE: Park Ji Hyun Gets in Shape After Gaining Weight for 'Flex X Cop'

In her previous interview, SBS Star noted that Park Ji Hyun was "blessed" to see a familiar face on the set of "Flex X Cop."

"In that state of mind, working with Ahn Bo Hyun was truly a blessing. I'm both grateful and sorry when I think about how much he had to help me."

That is because she and Ahn Bo Hyun have previously worked together in "Yumi's Cells."

In addition to this, Park Ji Hyun said that working with "Flex X Cop" was "completely overwhelming" since this is her first lead role since her debut.

Speaking of Park Ji Hyun's dramas, get to know more about the actress with her slew of entertaining series.

'Yumi's Cells'

As mentioned, Park Ji Hyun joined the cast of the webtoon-based K-drama "Yumi's Cells," where she first worked with Ahn Bo Hyun along with Kim Go Eun.

Playing the role of Seo Sae Yi, she is Gu Woong's (Ahn Bo Hyun) colleague at SLW Studios and was also her classmate in college.

In the rom-com series, viewers saw Park Ji Hyun as the villain and the reason Gu Woong and Yumi (Kim Go Eun) broke up.

'Reborn Rich'

Park Ji Hyun definitely stole the viewers attention when she portrayed the role of Mo Hyun Min, the heiress of the largest newspaper company in South Korea, who married the wealthy Jin Sung Joon, played by Kim Nam Hee.

At the time of the broadcast, fans witnessed how intense and captivating her character was.

'Do You Like Brahms?'

From revenge drama to romance, there's no doubt that Park Ji Hyun delivers an outstanding acting performance.

In the 2020 K-drama "Do You Like Brahms?", she is the love interest of Kim Min Jae, the gifted pianist Park Joon Young, who fell head over heels with violinist Lee Jung Kyung, portrayed by Park Ji Hyun.

However, he never pursued it because of his friendship with Han Hyun Ho, played by Kim Sung Cheol.

"Do You Like Brahms?" marked Park Ji Hyun's 7th K-drama since she made her debut in 2017.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Park Ji Hyun Confesses Ahn Bo Hyun Frustrates Her for THIS Reason

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills


Saturday, February 24, 2024  The worlds biggest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance Holdings Ltd (BHL) has been ordered to pay $4.3 billion for violations of anti-money laundering and sanctions laws in a settlement approved by a United States judge.

On Friday, February 23, US District Judge Richard Jones in Washington state approved a plea agreement between Binance and federal prosecutors, which called for the company to pay a fine of $1.8 billion and forfeiture of $2.5 billion.

Binance profited from the US financial system without playing by its rules and, as a result, criminals used the exchange to move hundreds of millions of dollars of stolen funds and illicit proceeds, the government said in its sentencing memorandum.

It also stated that the penalty was the largest ever imposed against a money services business and was commensurate with the severity of Binances criminal conduct.

As part of a settlement reached in November, Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to violating US anti-money laundering laws and agreed to step down from his position.

Binance was created in 2017 and took over the crypto-trading market, turning Zhao into a billionaire.

Binance operates crypto exchanges and provides other services around the world, but it has taken a severe hit since crypto markets collapsed and regulators began probing the legality of its business.




Sunday, February 25, 2024 - Four suspects connected to two violent robberies reported in Naivasha and Gilgil have been arrested in Njoro, Nakuru County, and a motor vehicle stolen in one of the robberies recovered.

Acting on intelligence, a joint team of Nairobi and Nakuru detectives while pursuing a robbery incident reported at Naivasha Police Station on Valentine's Day intercepted two suspects believed to be accomplices in the case, who were driving a Mitsubishi truck (FH) Reg. No KCB 383Z.

Upon interrogations, detectives established that the two suspects; Evans Mwangi Njenga, 45, and Geoffrey Kamau Hinga, 53 were on their way to meet two other suspected accomplices in Njoro town.

An ambush staged came through when Peter Wahinyo Wanyoike, 45, and Julius Gichagu Wanguno, 32 dropped at the vehicle looking for their suspected partners in crime.

With the four in cuffs, it was further established that the said truck had been robbed in Gilgil at Elementaita area when the driver who had been hired to offer transport services was abducted, s@domiz3d, and left tied up at a construction site within Punda Milia section yesterday, Friday 23.

In the latter incident, the 38-year-old driver was also robbed of Sh55,000 and his mobile phone by a six-member gang, who disabled the lorry tracker and disappeared. The victim had been rushed to Gilgil Sub-County Hospital for treatment.

The recovered vehicle has since been towed and detained at Njoro Police Station where the suspects were also booked pending further police action.

































The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Sunday, February 25, 2024  Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas wife, Ida Odinga, has caused a storm in ODM.

This is after she endorsed nominated MP John Mbadi as Raila Odingas preferred successor if his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson post sails through.

Speaking at a function in Nyandiwa in Suba South, Ida settled on Mbadi, whom she praised as Raila's heartbeat in an endorsement likely to fuel tensions inside ODM.

Baba as he goes to AU has mentored many to take care of what hes left behind. Mbadi after all these years of mentorship do you still need more training? Should I continue?

Thats Babas heartbeat, she stated to the delight of the audience which also cheered Mbadi who was present at the function.

Ida, however, added that more leaders who were tutored by Raila were ready to step up whenever but Mbadi topped the list.

She also assured Raila's supporters that the party was intact and safe despite Raila seeking to offer his services to the continent and may fail to seek the presidency in a sixth stab in 2027.

There is nothing that has been lost. He is still a Kenyan and he is not the first Kenyan to seek a job outside the country. He has a ready team, and even when he is away, they are still," Ida, considered to have tested the waters on her husband's behalf encouraged his support base.

In his response, Mbadi assured Azimio supporters that the party's operations were well-oiled, and they were angling at reaping the benefits of Raila's role at AU, if successful.

The fact that Raila is going to the AU job should not bother you at all. We are the ones who know the advantage of it. Let him go and be the President of the whole of Africa, he stated.

To the people of Nyandiwa, that was a big statement. Thank you for the great reception you accorded us! To min piny Dr. Ida Odinga, the words of encouragement meant a lot to me in this journey, he added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Saturday, February 24, 2024  The widow of the late Russian opposition figure and dissident Alexey Navalny said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is engaging in satanism by refusing to release her husbands body.

The video, titled Putins fake faith, was published nine days after Navalnys death. Orthodox Christian death rites require that the deceased be buried three days after death and mourned for at a funeral service after nine days.

No true Christian could ever do what Putin is now doing with a body of Alexey, Yulia Navalnaya said in video posted to social media. Its satanism.

Navalnys family and allies have accused Putin of having the 47-year-old Putin rival killed and then holding his body to both hide his cause of death and out of fear that his funeral would draw large crowds.

The Kremlin denied having anything to do with Navalnys death with the prison service saying he died of "sudden death syndrome"

Before his death Navalny was poisoned by alleged Russian FSB agents with Novichok, a Soviet era toxin that is very fatal. Upon his treatment in Germany, he didn't need to warnings from the West and returned back to Russia, hoping to continue his message of 'freedom' from the Putin regime. Upon his arrival in Moscow he was arrested.

Navalny, Putins most prominent political opponent, died on February 16 behind bars in a penal colony above the Arctic circle. The Russian prison service said he felt unwell after a walk and almost immediately lost consciousness.

He had been sentenced to 19 years in prison in August after being found guilty of creating an extremist community and other crimes, adding to the 11-and-a-half years to which he had previously been sentenced. Navalny had dismissed the charges against him as politically motivated.

Murder wasnt enough for Putin. Now his body is being held hostage, Navalnaya said. You mock the remains of the dead. Nothing more demonic can be imagined. You are breaking every law, both human and Gods.

His death came just weeks before Russias presidential election scheduled for March 17, at which Putin is expected to sweep to a fifth term in office, extending his rule until at least 2030.

With Navalnys wife and team exiled from Russia, the duty of collecting his body and planning a funeral has fallen to his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya. The elder Navalnaya has been in Salekhard, the Siberian town where Navalnys body is being kept in a morgue, shortly after her sons death.

In her video published Saturday, Yulia Navalnaya held Putin responsible for the Russian states decision to hold Navalnys body and said his actions cut against Putin's carefully crafted image as a devout Orthodox Christian protecting both the faith and the state from the infiltration of Western values.

Putin, who has built a powerful symbolic and political alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church, has long attacked Western liberalism and accused the West of pure satanism in a September 2022 speech.

Putin pretends to be a VERY religious man. He kisses icons and touches the relics of Saint Nicholas, Navalnaya said. Faith is not about kissing an icon. Faith is about goodness, about mercy, about salvation.




Sunday, February 25, 2024  President William Ruto now needs an additional Sh6.9 billion to renovate State House and State Lodges.

This was revealed by State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito, who noted that the renovations at the State House and lodges risk being hampered by underfunding of up to the tune of Ksh6.9 billion.

While presenting the budget policy statement before the National Assembly Security and Administration Committee, Metito justified the price tag by insisting that the renovation works were long overdue.

"The department requested Ksh16.2 billion to fund the State House Affairs Programme in the Financial Year 2024/25," Metito stated.

There is, therefore, a likelihood that State House may not achieve the planned targets due to the underfunding of Ksh6.9 billion."

Katoo also defended the Ksh1.5 billion amount to be used to refurbish the State House in the subsequent financial year.

He noted that the government opted to renovate the buildings because the construction of a new State House would have seen the cost surge to an excessive amount.

In a breakdown of the Ksh1.5 billion figure, the amount for State House renovation was revised from Ksh195.47 million to Ksh795.47 million.

However, the cost for the State lodges in Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret was revised downwards from Ksh382 million, Ksh195.49 million and Ksh70 million to Ksh302 million, Ksh125.49 million and Ksh30 million respectively.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Sunday, February 25, 2024  It is now a crime to question the high rate of employment in Kenya or even demonstrate against it, going by what police did to the youth in Busia.

This is after they shot dead two jobless young people and injured several others who were demonstrating against unemployment.

The two, who were members of a youth group referred to as the Marachi Jobless Youths, were protesting against Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, whom they accused of turning a blind eye to numerous challenges facing them.

One of their grievances was the rate of joblessness, which they argued had skyrocketed.

For the third consecutive day, the youth engaged the police in a running battle, forcing the County Commissioner, Mwachaunga Chaunga, to intervene.

However, they were warned against disturbing peace and disrupting business operations in the area.

In their defence, the youth claimed that the governor had neglected his duties and deviated from a Memorandum of Understanding between them.

The residents further claimed that the governor excluded them from key government meetings and allocation of trading kiosks in Busia town.

They demolished our kiosks and promised to build modern shops for us. Instead, he is allocating and selling the spaces to the rich people in this area, one resident stated.

Another one lamented that his husband contacted her to meet him at Egesa Hospital, where he showed up while bleeding profusely from gunshot wounds. Police, allegedly whisked him away before he could see the doctor and hasnt been seen ever since.

Two landcruisers showed up at the hospital and took him away. I havent seen him since then, she claimed while speaking with the media.

Busia County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga promised to deal with perpetrators and assured the residents that he would liaise with the police to deploy more security to the area.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, February 25, 2024  The Government of President William Ruto, through the Border Control Department, is set to destroy high-end vehicles.

The government issued a 30-day notice over various luxury cars, designer clothes, and other goods abandoned at various warehouses.

In a notice printed on the Gazette Notice, the Border Control Department made it clear that the goods would be destroyed as they had been abandoned by the owners.

"Pursuant to the provisions of the section 248 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, notice is given unless the under-mentioned goods are entered and removed from the Custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper, Kisumu, Malaba, Busia, Isebania within thirty (30) days of this notice, they will be treated as abandoned and will be disposed of by destruction or otherwise disposed of in such a manner as the commissioner may direct on 27th March 2024," the Border Department announced.

Range Rover, Mercedes, Nissan Shell, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Carina, Canter, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, and Toyota Premio are among over 15 cars abandoned at various warehouses.

Besides cars, the Border Department revealed that various imported designer shoes such as Gucci, Nike, Vans and Adidas had been left at the various warehouses in bulk.

The government lamented that the owners had failed to pick them making the government incur additional storage costs.

Foodstuffs and different assorted beverage drinks have also been listed among different goods that would be destroyed once the period lapses.

Others include tools, machines, toy guns, different packaging products and alcoholic drinks which will also be destroyed by the government.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Sunday, February 25, 2024 - Kiambu County police commander Michael Muchiri has commended the decision by the court that Muratina is not an illicit drink.

Speaking on Saturday, Muchiri emphasized that, as government officials, they will respect the court's decision.

However, he cautioned residents against brewing Muratina for commercial purposes, citing potential disruptions to government efforts in combating illicit brews."

"We must agree with the courts decision, there is no doubt on that but our plea as government officers is that it should not be taken as an opportunity to brew for commercial purposes," Muchiri said.

The County commander acknowledged that Muratina is a drink used in traditional functions and celebrations.

"We request that people should not use this opportunity to brew muratina for commercial purposes because that will hinder our effort to fight illicit brew," he added.

A Kiambu Court on Friday declared that the popular Kikuyu brew is not an illicit drink.

In a judgment issued by High Court Judge Abigail Mshila, she said the brew was not illicit and could be prepared as part of the Kikuyus culture and traditions.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, February 25, 2024  In a shocking turn of events, President William Ruto may not proceed with the deal to deploy 1000 police officers to the troubled Haiti, even after vowing to defy the court order that stopped the deployment.

This is after he pulled out of the talks with Haiti after the standoff over the police deployment.

According to media reports, Kenyan government officials abruptly cancelled a video meeting with their Haitian counterparts, after the two countries failed to strike an agreement on the deployment of police officers to the Caribbean nation.

Earlier this week, Kenya was expected to finalise the bilateral security meeting despite a court ruling barring the deployment of Kenyan police officers to the Caribbean state.

Kenya and Haiti hoped that the meeting would seal the loophole used by the court to bar the mission, that is the lack of a reciprocal arrangement to facilitate the deployment.

The video call was a follow-up of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the deployment of the task force, as pledged by President William Ruto, with Kenya set to announce new mission dates.

Up to date, Kenya and Haiti have yet to release official communication on the development of the mission and whether the two countries will resume talks.

In mid-February this year, the delegates from Kenya met officials from the US State Department and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to iron out their differences.

The meeting was said to have had a positive outcome as the two teams agreed on the funding, the direction the mission would take, and the leadership structure.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, February 25, 2024 - Defence Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, has said the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government will fully support former Prime Minister Raila Odingas bid to become Africa Union chairperson.

Speaking in Bura town during the flagging off and inspection of several projects among them school buses and water bowsers for Fafi schools on Saturday, Duale said that the time had come for the seat to be occupied by a person from East Africa, describing Raila as a very good national leader.

We have decided in unison that we support our fellow Kenyan (Raila) who is overqualified for the job, Duale said.

He said as a government, it is their responsibility to make sure that he is fully supported so that he gets the job.

He added:

"President William Ruto is not a petty leader. He is a very good National leader. And for that reason, he will lead from the front in ensuring that Raila clinches the seat."

The Kenyan DAILY POST
A fictional monologue.

Youve reached the prior authorization denial appeal line for insurance CEOs. Case number, please.

Im sorry youve had to hold for over an hour, but we cant proceed if we dont have your case number, a copy of your business degree on file, GMAT score, three letters of recommendation, the middle name of your dentist, and your high school transcript.

Yes, I was only joking about the dentist! LOL! Were all about fun here. Yes, we do understand you have other essential tasks as a CEO. But somebodys a little full of themselves today 

Of course, weve set up this system to maximize inconvenience and interruption to your day, and, no, before you ask, you cannot have an assistant do it for you. Oh, yes, that decision was very much intentional to show we dont respect your time and to deter the number of appeals.

Oh, you did find your case number and all supporting documents? Even your dentists middle name? How about that!

Youre right. We werent joking.

I have a feeling this isnt your first time with us  Good for you!

Im just going to put you on another short hold

Fifty-seven minutes later 

Thank you for holding. Are you still there? Oh, you are? Persistent little bugger, arent ya?

I found your case and  Oh, dear. Thats too bad. Its already been closed. It appears it was denied yesterday. You missed the twelve-second window to call us to provide additional information. It was right there in the email we sent at 4:59 p.m.

That was midnight in your time zone?

I think not playing by the rules sounds like a you problem 

Next steps? You can request a peer-to-peer review of the denial. Oh, no, we cant schedule that another time. Its either now, or your right to a peer-to-peer call is forfeited.

Yes, that does sound like a conflict if you have a meeting with your shareholders in five minutes 

Youve decided to reschedule your meeting and hold for the peer-to-peer review? Good choice! Look at you, so determined!

OK, let me see who we have available. Yes, here we go. Im going to transfer you to Linda. Please hold

Oh, Lindas credentials? Lets see here. It looks like shes a used car insurance junior manager

What? You want to talk to a CEO, specifically another health insurance CEO? Thats just not possible

Youre saying Linda wouldnt be a true peer? Hmmm, I suppose you have a point there. Still, its irrelevant because either you talk to Linda or we close the case, and it remains permanently denied for all eternity with no options to appeal again.

Good choice to talk to Linda!

One hour later 

Thank you for calling the prior authorization denial appeal line for health insurance CEOs

Oh, hi! Its you! Youre back, and  Ah, thats too bad. I see Linda denied your appeal. So thats it then

No, Im sorry. You cant appeal the denial of the appeal of the denial. I was afraid of that 

OK, fine, there is a process. But Im only allowed to tell you if you specifically ask, so good thing you did! Its almost like youve gotten this far before.

So heres whats going to happen. Ill file a request for one of our specialized health insurance CEO reviewers  Oh, yes. We have a secret holding facility in Idaho where we keep them, but it could take up to 24 hours to call you back.

You know what? Wait.

Let me turn off the recording 

I like you, so Im going to break protocol here. Theyre not going to call you back within 24 hours.

But you knew that, right?

So, lets cut to the chase, shall we? Youre going to need to use your valuable time to continue to call us back hourly, only to be placed repeatedly on hold, and once youve called seventeen times and the moon is waxing crescent and Jupiter is in retrograde and its a leap year, then well put your call through. Got it?

OK, have a nice day! Is there anything else I can help you with today? No? What do you mean I havent helped you at all? Thats rather rude to say. Buh-bye!

Jennifer Lycette is a novelist, award-winning essayist, rural hematology-oncology physician, wife, and mom. Mid-career, Dr. Lycette discovered the power of narrative medicine on her path back from physician burnout and has been writing ever since. Her essays can be found in The Intima, NEJM, JAMA, and other journals. She can be reached on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Mastodon.

Her books explore the overarching theme of humanism in medicine. Her first novel, The Algorithm Will See You Now (Black Rose Writing Press), a near-future medical thriller, is available now. Her second novel, The Committee Will Kill You Now, a prequel in the form of a near-historical medical suspense, is available in paperback and on Kindle.
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My first post-op night after my nephrectomy was a mix of fantastical and almost devastating.

I woke up in the PACU after my surgery, extremely confused and disoriented. I felt like I was trapped inside a video game, desperately trying to escape.

Upon entering my new post-op room on a medical-surgical unit, it had that brand-new, hotel-like decor  shiny and pristine. The nurses, techs, and NPs greeted me with words of encouragement, saying, Great surgery! Pathology reports will come soon for your nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma. You did well.

I had always avoided working on a medical-surgical unit because, in truth, they are often grossly understaffed. Its a challenging job.

Throughout the night, I heard an elderly woman repeatedly chanting, Help me, help me, and an older man, obviously experiencing DTs, falling out of bed and screaming incoherently. It was indeed a challenging unit.

I was determined to be the ideal patient, exhibiting the best behavior and hoping for no complications.

During the night shift, a seasoned nurse in her 50s arrived to check on me. She informed me that she was a traveler. Nurse-patient ratios on this Med-Surg unit were typically six patients per nurse. She appeared savvy, smart, and practical.

She then shared an interesting and somewhat strange detail  her zodiac sign, Sagittarius. It struck me as an unusual topic of conversation, especially for a nurse.

At 3:00 a.m., I started experiencing intense abdominal pain, reaching at least an eight on the pain scale of 1 to 10. The nurse administered Dilaudid IVP, and for a while, the pain subsided. However, within 30 minutes, I began to have shallow breathing, struggling to force myself to breathe. I became frightened and shifted into ICU nurse mode. I instructed my son (a high school math teacher) on the location of the code blue button and told him to call out rapid response team stat if I deteriorated. I also urged him to call my nurse, as something was clearly wrong with me. I was having shallow, rapid breathing, and I feared I might code. Unfortunately, the nurses response time was unusually slow.

I pleaded for a stat CBC as my hemoglobin was already below 9, but the nurse refused, insisting that the lab would obtain my hemoglobin levels at 5:00 a.m. I also requested a nebulizer and began giving orders that a typical ICU nurse would issue.

The nurse seemed lethargic and eventually gave me Ativan. Admittedly, I was also experiencing some sort of psychotic reaction to the Dilaudid, but she moved slowly and did not seem to grasp the urgency that I felt. I apologized to her but stressed that I needed help, to which she replied, I know too much. Her response baffled me as she claimed to be a Sagittarius.

Fortunately, I made it through that night without becoming a code blue case. When my NP came to make rounds on me, I shared my experience from the previous night. The NP informed me that the only communication she received from this nurse was a request for Tylenol for my headache. Meanwhile, my hemoglobin had dropped to 7.6.

This nurses actions certainly left a negative impression on this already hardworking and understaffed Medical-Surgical unit comprised of dedicated nurses and techs.

Im grateful that my son was with me, as I was able to impart a valuable lesson about what its like to be an ICU nurse  the importance of listening to the patients symptoms, being readily available, and employing critical thinking skills.

And, last but not least, the importance of never disclosing your horoscope sign to a patient, as its entirely inappropriate.

My first post-op night was a combination of a nightmare and incompetence, an experience that warrants reporting.

Debbie Moore-Black is a nurse who blogs at Do Not Resuscitate.
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Im sitting in a windowless room in the hospitals urology department waiting for my second prostate biopsy, feeling surprisingly calm and relaxed.

Its a surveillance biopsy. Two years ago, the first one revealed a few scattered cancer cells while zeroing in on what turned out to be a harmless nodule. Id learned then that a prostate biopsy will never make anyones list of fun things to do. In addition to being, eh, awkward, it was painful and invasive.

Prior to the first one, Id been anxious, my imagination spinning worst-case scenarios of being whisked to the oncology department to schedule radiation. This time, I know weve caught it early and my PSA has consistently been inside the normal range at regular six-month checks.

The procedure is quick and controlled, and Im confident Ill be in the hands of skilled professionals who see me as a human being, not a nameless patient getting between them and the next coffee break.

I smile, recalling the nurse from Brooklyn with whom Id slipped into my gruff Jersey vernacular as hed prepped me for my first biopsy. Hed been kind and compassionate, using humor to put me at ease amidst the sterile and imposing technology about to be deployed on my behalf.

Your PSA is better than mine, hed grinned. Youre going to be fine.

The doctor had knocked on the door, asked if she could enter, and waited for permission before doing so. Shed introduced herself, explained how the procedure would work, and asked if I had any questions or concerns. During the procedure, she periodically checked to see how I was doing.

Id shown up that day feeling anxious and unprotected and left feeling supported and safe.

Janssen, Scott. A nurse appears at the door. I smile and say hello, assuming shell do likewise but she makes no discernable response. She looks bored, unhappy, or irritated. Who knows?

She turns her back to me and says in a monotone, Follow me, before racing down a long hallway. I jog to catch up, attempting to engage in polite conversation. She makes a few perfunctory utterances but seems impatient.

By the time we reach the procedure room Im nervous; trust that Im in good hands has vanished. Intellectually, I know she might be every bit as competent as the nurse from Brooklyn but sensing that she doesnt care about connecting makes me question her skill.

As a hospice social worker, I know something about patients who feel vulnerable and afraid. Empathy, knowing how to connect, understanding what another may be feeling and reassuring them, is a basic part of the job when you work in health care. How skillful can she be if she cant treat me with kindness and respect?

Once Im in the hospital gown, she tells me to get onto the table where the biopsy will be performed, leaving me in a vulnerable position, turned toward a blank wall. She sits behind me and says, precisely, nothing.

I feel my temper rise and tell myself to stay cool. Im here for the biopsy not to make friends. Muscles are tensing, heart rate elevating, palms sweating.

I take a breath and extend the exhale, something I often encourage hospice patients to do when feeling overwhelmed so they can engage their parasympathetic nervous systems and de-escalate the fight-flight-freeze response.

The doctor enters without knocking. He doesnt bother introducing himself as I stare at the wall. He sounds rushed, talking rapidly with the nurse as though Im not there. I imagine this guy jabbing a biopsy needle too hard and causing an internal injury. Can I really trust someone who cant even say hello or ask how Im doing?

Realizing Im getting hijacked by negative thoughts, I remind myself of the pressures people working in health care face. I know dozens of competent health care professionals whove found ways to distance themselves from patients, believing theyre establishing boundaries or engaging in good time management. Besides, even the most compassionate doctors and nurses have days when theyre distracted and stressed out. No one can be empathic all the time.

Maybe the nurse is struggling with depression or getting bullied at work. Maybe the seemingly robotic doctor has learned to treat patients as interchangeable objects because hes felt emotional pain after looking into the eyes of people whose biopsy results have turned out to be dire. You never know what someone is carrying inside.

Before I know it, the procedure is over, and the doctor is gone without my having the foggiest idea of what he looks like. The nurse averts her eyes as she tells me flatly to get dressed and show myself out, leaving me alone.

To someone looking on from the outside, the tale of these two biopsies might appear similar. In both cases, they got me in on time, prepared me effectively, and performed the biopsy competently. But beneath the surface, they were as different as night and day. The first time, I showed up anxious and left feeling connected to my health care team and relieved. The second, I arrived relaxed and confident and left feeling anxious and angry, ready to hammer the medical team on the patient satisfaction survey I knew Id be getting.

The difference was empathy, kindness, and warmth. These skills transformed a potentially overwhelming experience into one that was manageable. Their absence undermined my sense of safety and left me dissatisfied with the care Id received.

Studies suggest that when choosing a health care provider, patients often value empathy and compassion as much as they do training and experience. Although the power of empathy to enhance patient outcomes in terms of things like patient satisfaction, effective communication, trust of health care providers, and adherence to the plan of care, has been established, health care workers are often perceived by their patients as lacking in empathy.

Various factors have been cited as to why empathy may be deficient in clinical encounters, including high patient caseloads, time constraints, and lack of training in empathic attunement and communication. In fact, a recent study found that levels of empathy in medical students actually went down during their training.

Burnout, a common issue among those in health care, has also been associated with reduced empathy. So has post-traumatic stress disorder, levels of which have been found to be significantly higher in health care workers than in the general population.

Empathy is a powerful and significant factor in enhancing patients experiences and achieving the best possible outcomes. Unfortunately, responding empathically within the pressurized context of health care is often undermined by multiple stressors, competing responsibilities, and lack of training.

Health care institutions and settings, including those involved in medical education and policy development, should prioritize building cultures that value empathy every bit as much as they value diagnostic and intervention skills. Empathy can transform a patients fear into calm, lowering everyones stress and enhancing connection and trust. Empathy can enhance cohesion and reduce burnout within medical teams. And empathy is teachable.

Scott Janssen is a social worker.
There has been a huge response from Kilkenny schools to the Governments free Solar for Schools programme.

Of the 90 schools in Kilkenny that were invited to apply, Department of Education figures show 84 have already expressed an interest in availing of the scheme, which is providing free solar panels for schools around the country.

Green Party TD for Carlow Kilkenny and Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Malcolm Noonan, has welcomed the huge interest from local schools.

In December of last year, I wrote to every school in Kilkenny to let them know the Solar for Schools programme had launched and to encourage them to apply, so Im thrilled with the huge response from our local schools  just over 93% of them have submitted expressions of interest, he said.

Each school will get 6 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar PV panels for free from the Government, which equates to around 16 solar panels, and installations are due to be underway by the summer.

These schools will now save money on their electricity bills while doing their bit for the climate, and theres still time for the remaining schools to avail of this fantastic scheme.

As well as saving on energy costs and reducing emissions, its a really excellent opportunity for schools to teach students about the role of renewable energy in helping Ireland reach our climate goals. Theyll have a practical, real-world demonstration in their school, and it might inspire them to bring home what theyre learning to their parents.

With grants of up to 2,100 available for the purchase of solar panels for home, Minister of State Noonan said he expects the scheme to generate a lot of discussion about the benefits and savings of solar energy, and increase the uptake among the wider community.

VAT

Last year, the Greens removed VAT from solar panels which is now saving people an additional 1,000 on their installations, he said.

Thousands of homes across Ireland are getting solar panels installed every month and with the payback period being as low as six years now, there are massive savings to be had.

You can reduce your energy bills, protect yourself from global energy price spikes weve seen in recent years, and make some money by selling excess electricity back to the grid, all while doing your bit for climate action. Its a win-win for schools and for householders.
The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marines Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs) have detected an uptick in the number of confirmed cases of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a midge-borne virus that can cause birth deformities in calves and lambs.

One case in Tipperary involved a calf, while there were two outbreaks in sheep in Co. Wexford.

SBV was first detected in Ireland in 2012. In Ireland, as with other affected countries, the impact of the disease was short-term, after immunity built up in cattle and sheep (through exposure and vaccination). This has been a low-impact disease overall, except on a small number of farms where animals were infected at the stage of pregnancy when the foetus in utero is most susceptible to the effects of the virus, this unfortunately resulted in the birth of deformed off-spring.

While Schmallenberg continues to be regarded as a low-impact virus, the RVLs are emphasising the value of ensuring that deformed calves and lambs are submitted to them for testing, to increase the intensity and sensitivity of surveillance for both Schmallenberg virus and the potentially more impactful Bluetongue Virus (BTV).

Bluetongue has been detected in the UK and in Europe in the past year. Bluetongue can cause wide spectrum of clinical presentations, and it would risk causing significant animal welfare impacts as well as trade challenges if it became established here.

Both viruses can cause a wide variety of birth deformities. Some of these birth deformities can make natural calving or lambing very difficult and farmers should be alert to an increased risk of these ill effects in this season.

Farmers are advised to be vigilant and to ask their vet to refer any birth deformities in sheep or cattle to the nearest RVL for investigation.
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This is not a joke. This has honestly been classified as a heritage building that needs protection.

the spinoff reports:

Wellington's independent hearing panel this week recommended a former British Imperial oil storage tank in Miramar should receive heritage protection in the District Plan. Wellington city council's heritage evaluators found the tank had value as an increasingly rare representative example of bulk storage tanks erected nationally in the 1920s.

It's an effing bulk storage tank. What's next. They'll decide that a power pylon is a heritage building.

The company wanted to build facilities for 150 new crew members, and the gas tank site was the only suitable location he had found. Providing the heritage listing would make the situation significantly more difficult, including making our ability to increase employment in Miramar more problematic, he said.

So we have a choice of a rusting storage tank or facilities for 150 crew members, and WCC has gone with the storage tank.

The solution here is to take away the ability of authorities to destroy the value in buildings owned by others by declaring them heritage. Just give the heritage authority a budget of say $25 million a year and they can use that to buy anything they thinks needs protecting. I'm pretty sure a rusty tank wouldn't then make the list.

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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 42F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 29F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
By Lee Hae-rin

Many Koreans are planning to travel to Japan during the three-day national holiday weekend starting on March 1, a holiday that marks the 1919 independence movement against Japanese colonial rule, according to the travel and tourism industry, Sunday.

Koreans opt for the neighboring country as a travel destination due to the prolonged weakening of the Japanese yen as well as the geographical proximity.

This is in contrast to the trend from a few years ago when people avoided visiting Japan on the March 1 Independence Movement Day out of resentment concerning the history of Japan's domination and exploitation of the Korean Peninsula.

At Hana Tour, the nations largest travel agency, all of its tour packages to Japan have been sold out for the three-day holiday, marking a 170 percent increase from the same period last year.

Mode Tour, another leading travel agency, also saw a 95 percent reservation rate in tour packages to Japan during the same period, which is a 35 percent jump from the previous year and a 95 percent recovery from the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

Last year, Japan still had travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as requiring foreign visitors to get third doses of vaccines, a Mode Tour official said.

However, Koreans' travel to Japan has nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels due to the weak yen and the increase in the number of flights between the two countries."

By region, Osaka was top among the agencys package sales at 47 percent, followed by Fukuoka at 20 percent, Hokkaido at 10 percent and Okinawa at 8 percent.

The figures show how Koreans' preferences for travel destinations in Japan have grown in variety, as Osaka ranked first by far in sales at 81 percent last year.

Domestic airlines, including Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Eastar Jet and Tway Air, also saw their major flights to Japan nearly sold out with reservation rates at over 90 percent for the holiday.

According to the latest report by Consumer Insight, a local research group on travel trends, Japan ranked top among Koreans' favorite travel destinations in terms of cost-effectiveness, with around 200,000 won ($150) in daily travel expenditures.

Korea is the top source for Japan's in-bound tourists standing at 782,000 in December 2023, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. The figure accounts for 28.6 percent of Japan's 2.73 million foreign visitors.

Japan expects to receive a record-high number of Korean tourists of around 10 million this year.
By Elizabeth Shackelford

The Munich Security Conference, the worlds preeminent annual gathering on international security, wrapped up last weekend. Global leaders and experts discussed a wide range of concerns, but the threat of Russia and fate of Ukraine took center stage. Events in recent weeks have enhanced the former and made the latter look bleak, just ahead of the second anniversary of the war.

This has European countries looking inward and wondering what that might mean for their own future security, at a time when their primary security guarantor  the United States  is looking fickle.

The conference opened to news of Alexei Navalnys death in an Arctic penal colony. Navalny was Russian President Vladimir Putins most effective critic and political foe, and whatever the proximate cause, Putin was the executioner. Its hard to escape the fact that Putin will get away with it, which will embolden him further while giving other homegrown dissenters more pause.

The White Houses promise for more sanctions in response feels futile, as two years of intense economic punishment have failed to impede Putins bad acts. If anything, hes more brazen. A Russian defector was just found dead in Spain, an indication that Putin isnt afraid to conduct his vengeance on European soil either.

Russia also just secured its biggest battleground gain in nearly a year, when Ukraine withdrew from the key eastern town of Avdiivka after months of intense fighting.

The fall of Avdiivka put a spotlight on Congresss failure to pass a new Ukraine military aid package. Weapons and ammunition stockpiles have been dwindling for months, leaving Ukraine heavily outmanned and outgunned by Russia. Those shortages clearly had an impact. With a majority in Congress in favor of continuing assistance to Ukraine, the decision by the Republican-led House to take a vacation rather than bring the aid bill to a vote exposes Americas highly dysfunctional political system and the peril of relying on it for ones defense.

This is a hard lesson for Europe to learn after decades of doing just that. Unlike Ukraine, Europes dependence is the product of choice. Most European countries have taken steps recently to address defense shortcomings by increasing spending and exploring how to enhance their own industrial capacity. But the response is too slow, the gap too great, and theyve nearly wasted two years with a lack of cohesiveness and urgency.

NATOs lopsided reliance on the U.S. military is hardly new. Presidents and other political leaders have complained about it for decades, but the United States did little to urge change, either, content with the level of control it retained from its outsize contribution.

That reality, though, could change far more quickly than European countries could adapt  a fact not lost on the participants in Munich, after recent inflammatory statements from former President Donald Trump. Trump announced at a campaign rally that he would not abide by Americas treaty commitment to NATO if reelected and would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to NATO member countries that dont meet NATO spending guidelines. Some dismissed it as campaign trail bluster, but John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser, said he has no doubt that Trump will find a way to abandon NATO if reelected.

Despite some countries increased defense spending, the United States still contributes more than two-thirds of NATOs budget. Europes two biggest economies  Germany and France  still spend below the pledged 2% on defense, though in a sign of heightened concern, both announced earlier this month that they plan to reach that target this year.

But increasing defense spending alone wont be sufficient to replace what would be lost without U.S. backing. Enhancing European arms production, for example, doesnt happen overnight, and arms producers need more firm financial commitments before theyll invest in expanding production.

At Munich, some European leaders were blunt about the need for urgent action to avert Ukraines demise, which would bring Russias threat closer to their doorstep. The president of the Czech Republic said his country has located 800,000 shells elsewhere that could be bought and shipped to Ukraine quickly, and the Danish prime minister said Denmark will donate its entire artillery stockpile.

These moves might help plug a short-term gap for Ukraine but do little to enhance Europes security in the long term. Perhaps this period of uncertainty will pass with NATO little affected and Europe still secure. The House could still pass the Ukraine aid bill, boosting Ukraine before its too late. And if President Joe Biden is reelected, Americas commitment to NATO and Ukraine will be secure for at least another four years.

But even so, Europe should take the risk of an unpredictable America to heart and do what it takes now to enhance its security self-sufficiency. This might be its last opportunity to do so.

Elizabeth Shackelford is a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. She was previously a U.S. diplomat and is the author ofThe Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age. This article was published in the Chicago Tribune and distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a church service Sunday, marking the 1919 independence movement against Japanese colonial rule, his office said.

Yoon's visit to Wonchon Baptist Church in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul, came five days before the nation marks the anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement.

He is the first sitting president to attend a church service honoring the movement, according to presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung.

"One hundred and five years ago, our patriotic martyrs gathered their convictions and determination for freedom and started the March 1 movement," Yoon was quoted as saying in remarks after the service. "The Korean church was on that great journey toward a free and prosperous future.

"As a global pivotal state, we will contribute responsibly to world peace and joint prosperity, and work for a new leap by the Republic of Korea," he continued, referring to Korea by its formal name. "The government and I will move close to the people's lives from a humbler position, and carry out state affairs warmly by holding each and every person's hands." (Yonhap)
By John J. Metzler

Two years following Russias invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, some 74 percent of Americans view the war in the Eastern European country as important to U.S. national interests, with 43 percent describing it as very important. Similar percentages see the war between Israel and Hamas (75 percent) and tensions between China and Taiwan (75 percent) as important to U.S. national interests as well, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in late January.

Pew recounted, When asked how important each conflict is to them personally, 59 percent of Americans say the war between Russia and Ukraine is important to them.

Viewing East Asian tensions, the survey cites about 76 percent of Democrats and 78 percent of Republicans seeing the Taiwan-China simmering conflict as significant to American national interests.

Thirty percent of respondents view cross-strait tensions as somewhat important to U.S. national interests and 45 percent think they are very important, added the survey of 5,618 adults. However, 62 percent of Republicans view tensions between Taiwan and China as important to them personally, while 56 percent of Democrats hold this view.

Significantly, Older Americans are more likely to find the Taiwan Strait issue to be important than younger ones, the poll showed. According to the survey, 88 percent of Americans over 65 years of age and 82 percent of Americans aged 50 to 64 see Taiwan-China tensions as important to U.S. national interests.

Meanwhile, 69 percent of Americans between 30 and 49 years old, and 63 percent of Americans between 18 and 29 years old, view the conflict as important to national interests, the survey showed.

According to Pew, The survey revealed that 77 percent of Americans over 65 years old and 65 percent of Americans aged 50 to 64 see cross-strait tensions as important to them personally.

Though the age disparity is not surprising given that older adults likely remember the long-standing cross Straits military tensions between a more aggressive mainland China and Taiwan, as compared with younger people seeing China through the lens of its largely commercial relationship with the United States over the past forty years.

Think about it for a moment; before the 1980s mainland China was viewed through the prism of Maos revolutionary rhetoric; Taiwan was the ethnic Chinese bastion standing up to the Beijing communists. But since the 1980s the stereotypical view of China has been mercantile, not Marxist. Taiwan was largely overlooked in the midst of the China euphoria where American corporations jockeyed for wider commercial relationships with the mainland.

However, the survey took an interesting turn beyond recording political interest in a topic; rather, it also cites somebodys personal attachment or sentiment concerning a specific crisis.

Equally, the survey also covered other regions; Thus viewing the importance of each conflict to them personally, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say the Russia-Ukraine war is important to them (65 percent vs. 56 percent), while Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say this about China-Taiwan tensions (62 percent vs. 56 percent). The Survey adds, Roughly equal shares of Democrats (67 percent) and Republicans (66 percent) say the Israel-Hamas war is personally important to them.

Significantly, the survey cites that while older Americans view the importance of both the Ukraine conflict and Taiwan tensions, indeed for the most part 58 percent of people under 30 are more focused on the Israel-Hamas war.

Tragically, a sizable minority inside the Democrat party has embraced the Hamas political narrative in the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel and the ensuing hostage crisis; many younger citizens have followed suit joining pro-Palestinian marches.

In the survey, the respondents are reflecting on a string of core crises that confront Washington policymakers. Ukraine, while initially dismembered by Russia in 2014 to very little Western pushback, was invaded by Vladimir Putins military in 2022. The smoldering Mideast conflict, dormant for a few years, reignited in October with the massive Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Though the Taiwan Strait standoff between communist China and Taiwan has been a fixture for generations, its clearly framed by Beijings continuing military threats against the democratic self-ruled island.

Naturally, this polls scope and methodology reflects people's serious concerns but does not go to the next step; namely what to do and how to respond to these individual crises. For example, add the element of Ukrainian military aid, and the numbers would certainly shift.

People are now genuinely tuned into key global crises but as to specific solutions, theres far less common ground.





John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism the Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China."
The Korean telecommunications watchdog said Friday it has slapped a fine of 435 million won ($327,067) on the U.S. live video streaming platform Twitch, which suspended its video-on-demand (VOD) service in the country last year.

Twitch Interactive, the operator of the service, reduced video quality in Korea from 1080p to 720p in September 2022 and terminated its VOD service five months later.

The Korea Telecommunications Commission (KCC) determined the suspension of the VOD service violated the local telecommunications business law by undermining the interests of users.

The commission has requested relevant data to examine whether Twitch had a justifiable reason for limiting the maximum viewing quality, but Twitch turned down the request, citing contractual confidentiality obligations.

The KCC also imposed another fine of 15 million won on Twitch for its failure to implement a system to prevent the distribution of illegal footage.

The commission did not accept Twitch's claims that livestreaming and VOD services are not independent telecommunications services and the suspension was a necessary business decision to continue to provide the service in Korea.

As part of the corrective measures, the KCC has ordered Twitch to disclose the receipt of these orders and to implement preventive measures before resuming business operations in Korea in the future.

Moreover, Twitch has been instructed to prepare various user protection measures, including refunds, as the company is set to conclude its operations in Korea later this month. (Yonhap)
By Lee Hyo-sik

French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux, along with key officials from the embassy, visited Renault Korea's Busan plant, Friday, the carmaker said Sunday.

The ambassador toured the main facilities of the Busan plant, which the company said attained the highest level of production quality among all Renault Group plants worldwide.

Renault Korea is responsible for the development and production of high-end D and E segment vehicles as one of five global hubs for the global market outside of Europe under the French automotive group's "Renault Brand International Game Plan" strategy, it said.

D segment vehicles mainly refer to mid-size family cars, while E segment automobiles are full-size executive sedans.

Seeing the Korean national flag and the French flag hanging together inside the Busan plant was a powerful reminder that Renault Korea is playing an important role in both Korea and France. After experiencing the Busan plant, which is producing amazing results, expectations for the success of Renault Korea's Aurora project also increased, Bertoux said.

Renault Korea intends to introduce a range of electrified models to both domestic and overseas markets through its project "Aurora," which is dedicated to developing the next generation of eco-friendly vehicles.

A hybrid D SUV, scheduled to be launched in the second half of this year as the first model of the Aurora project, will be launched as a new model rather than a successor to Renault Korea's existing vehicles.

Bertoux, who took office last July, previously served as director of strategic affairs, security, and disarmament at France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Snow this morning will diminish to a few snow showers this afternoon. High around 35F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Earlier this February, the 2024 New York Fashion Week was held from the 9th to the 14th. Many idols from the K-pop industry attended and flaunted their stylish choices, appealing visuals, and captivating charisma.

Here are some of the best outfits our favorite K-pop idols wore at the fashion week!

TWICE Dahyun

Dahyun has proven herself as one of the best ambassadors for Michael Kors' since the idol has attended numerous events for the luxury brand. In the 2024 New York Fashion Week, Dahyun turned heads with her sequin dress, which emphasized her gorgeous figure.

Moreover, the dress featured with ring details along the waist, highlighting a belt-like motif. To get Dahyun's elegant look, you can try purchasing this glittery sequin option.

Red Velvet Seulgi

Seulgi went for a dashing look at the fashion show for Thom Browne. As seen in the photos, Seulgi stole hearts with her grey ensemble, composed of a suit, tie, and an additional coat that added flair to her layered getup.

To get her appearance and vibe, you can consider buying this coat, blazer, vest, and tie from Amazon.

PENTAGON Kino

Kino made his appearance at the fashion show for Concept Korea, and at the event, the idol went for an all-black ensemble, exuding a mysterious but refined vibe. To add charisma to the getup, Kino donned shades.

To get his look, you can try purchasing this black bomber jacket, or this leather hoodie alternative. As for his shades, you can get this pair of sunglasses from Locs to match his style.

MONSTA X Shownu

240214 - shownu at getty images "concept korea" february 2024 runway 'new york fashion week: the shows' # #SHOWNU (1/6) pic.twitter.com/3j6lpkqt8t February 14, 2024

 QUE HOMEM! Shownu do MONSTA X na passarela do desfile da Charms na "New York Fashion Week 2024".#SHOWNUxNYFW #Shownu_NY_FashionWeekpic.twitter.com/9h0ieN5ofr  Nunca Pause O MV (@npomvtt) February 13, 2024

Shownu became one of the main highlights of Concept Korea's 2024 Fall/Winter show, as the idol decided to walk the runway as its ambassador. During one of his runways, Shownu stole everyone's attention with an oversized black coat.

If you're looking forward to getting the style, you can consider buying this knit cardigan, or this faux alternative which are perfect for the winter season. If you want to put a twist on the styling, you can also try checking out this wool coat from COOFANDY.

2PM Lee Junho

According to brand Tommy Hilfiger, Lee Junho of 2PM was indeed "dressed to the nines" with his vintage appearance. In the photos, Junho went for a denim ensemble, which was pleasantly complemented by his beige jacket.

You can get this varsity jacket, denim top, white shirt, and slim fit jeans if you want to copy Junho's style.

For more K-pop fashion tips and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: New York Fashion Week Gets A Taste Of K-Pop: Girls' Generation's Tiffany Meets Michael Kors, Block B's Zico Provides Music And More

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Riely Miller
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New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) More than 270 cases of rape in custody were registered from 2017 till 2022, according to NCRB data, with women rights activists attributing such instances to lack of sensitisation and accountability within law enforcement systems.

The offenders include police personnel, public servants, members of the armed forces and staff of jails, remand homes, places of custody and hospitals, according to the data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

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The data highlights that there has been a gradual decrease in such cases over the years. In 2022, 24 cases were registered, down from 26 in 2021, 29 in 2020, 47 in 2019, 60 in 2018 and 89 in 2017.

Cases of custodial rape are registered under Indian Penal Code section 376 (2). It pertains to the offense of rape committed by a police officer, jailer, or any other person who has the lawful custody of a woman. This section specifically deals with cases where the perpetrator takes advantage of their position of authority or custody to commit the crime of rape against a woman.

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Of the 275 cases of custodial rape registered since 2017, Uttar Pradesh accounts for the highest number of cases at 92, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 43 cases.

"Custodial settings provide unique opportunities for abuse, with state agents often using their power to force or coerce sexual access," Population Foundation of India, executive director, Poonam Muttreja said.

"There are instances where women taken into custody for their protection or due to their vulnerable status, such as victims of trafficking or domestic violence, are subjected to sexual violence, reflecting a misuse of power under the guise of state protection," she said.

Muttreja highlighted that there is a complex interplay of factors contributing to custodial rape, including patriarchal social norms, inadequate gender-sensitivity training for law enforcement and stigma surrounding victims.

She stressed on the urgent need for victim-centric approach, strengthened legal frameworks, and institutional reforms to address the root causes and consequences of custodial rape effectively. "The reported cases of custodial rape are often a manifestation of power imbalances and a lack of accountability within our law enforcement systems," Muttreja said.

She said such rape causes include patriarchal social norms, abuse of power by authorities, lack of gender-sensitivity training for police and societal stigma attached to victims. "These elements contribute to an environment where such heinous crimes can occur and, in many cases, go unreported or unaddressed," she said.

Muttreja said that to address the root causes and consequences of custodial rape effectively, the government must take a multi-faceted approach.

"This should include legal reform, better training for law enforcement, social and behaviour change communication to change social norms and stronger mechanisms for accountability. Additionally, fostering partnerships with NGOs, civil society and community groups can help in creating a more inclusive and informed response to this grave situation," she said.

Reflecting on her experiences as a Nguvu Change Leader from women's leadership organisation Nguvu collective undertaking rescue operations, Pallabi Ghosh shared troubling accounts of survivors alleging rape by police officers.

Ghosh highlighted that "the pervasive culture of impunity and victim-blaming within law enforcement is hindering survivors from seeking justice".

"Custodial rape is a very common scenario in police stations. The way the junior police officers, even lady constables talk to survivors, show that they have zero empathy for them," she said.

She emphasised the critical need for sensitisation and awareness among police personnel, coupled with legal mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.

Ghosh expressed frustration over the difficulty in lodging complaints for custodial violence unless survivors name perpetrators, highlighting a systemic barrier to seeking justice. "Only if you convict a police officer for custodial rape, we can hope for justice," she added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Prayagraj, February 25: The Allahabad High Court will deliver its verdict on Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC) appeal on Monday challenging the order of Varanasi District Judge allowing Hindu devotees to offer prayers inside the 'Vyas Ka Tehkhana' area in the Gyanvapi mosque complex. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal of Allahabad High Court will deliever a judgement in this regard.

Earlier, the court had reserved the decision after a long debate between both the parties. The decision will be pronounced at 10 am on February 26. The mosque has four 'tahkhanas' (cellars) in the basement, of which one is still in the possession of the Vyas family, who used to live there. Gyanvapi Mosque Case: Plea in Supreme Court Seeks ASI Survey of Entire Sealed Area, Including Shivling.

Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi said that the judgement by the Varanasi court to allow Hindu devotees to offer prayers inside the 'Vyas Ka Tekhana' area inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex was a violation of the Places of Worship Act.

"The judge who gave the decision was his last day before retirement. The judge appointed the District Magistrate as receiver on January 17 and finally he has directly given the verdict. He himself said that no prayers were offered since 1993. It has been 30 years. How does he know there is idol inside? This is violation of Places of Worship Act," he said. Gyanvapi Mosque Case: Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee Objects to ASI Survey of Remaining Gyanvapi Cellars.

"He has ordered to open the grills within 7 days. 30 days should have been given to make an appeal. This is wrong decision. Till the time Modi government does not state that they stand by the Places of Worship Act this will go on. During Babri Masjid title suit judgement, I had raised this apprehension. Places of Worship Act was made a part of the basic structure of the Supreme Court decision, then why are the lower courts not following the order?" Owaisi added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Churachandpur (Manipur) [India], February 25 (ANI): Assam Rifles in a joint operation with Manipur Police and Indian Reserve Battalion have recovered weapons and war-like stores in Manipur Churachandpur district.

"Acting on specific intelligence of the presence of weapons in general area Dampi Ridge and Moljang, in Churachandpur district in Manipur, Assam Rifles, Manipur Police and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), launched a joint cordon and search operations in these areas on 24 February 2024," said a press release issued by the Assam Rifles.

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The personnel of the security agencies "recovered one 7.62mm Semi-Automatic Rifle and one 12mm bore single barrel Rifle, one mortar, ammunition and one .303Rifle, one 9 mm Carbine ammunition respectively," said the Assam Rifles.

The recovered weapons and war-like stores have been handed over to Manipur Police for further investigations, the press release added.

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Meanwhile, Assam Rifles busted a godown used for stocking narcotics and contraband during an operation in Manipur's Moreh district, officials said on Saturday.

The apprehended individuals, along with recovered items, were handed over to Moreh Police Station on Friday for further investigation, the spokesperson of Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) said.

A total of 29.799 kg of WIY tablets, 0.386 kg of heroin powder, 5.266 kg of caffeine, 2.471 kg of crystal powder, 8.299 kg of gold dust, 7970 numbers of alprazolam tablets, 10 numbers of different types of rubber stamps, and other packing materials were found in the possession of the house owner, he said.

The operation was launched in the general area of Homeguard Veng, Moreh, on February 23.

The overall cost of seized items is approximately Rs 15 crore in the international market, the spokesperson said.

On February 23, Assam Rifles, under the aegis of Headquarter Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) busted a godown used for stocking narcotics along with other incriminating items at Homeguard Veng, Moreh (Manipur), he said.

"The team cordoned off the suspected house and searched for the presence of the police," the spokesperson said."During the operation, a large crowd of women gathered at the location, protesting against arrest. Non-lethal weapons were used by Assam Rifles to disperse the crowd and the Rapid Action Force was employed as a precautionary measure," 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)
Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 25 (ANI): Noida police have arrested two men from Sector 39 for transporting illicit goods worth around Rs 50 lakh from Nepal to the Rohini area of Delhi, a police official said.

The apprehension occurred during a routine check on Saturday, resulting in the discovery of banned Chinese e-cigarettes and cannabis (ganja) in their possession.

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"During a check by the sector 39 in-charge inspector and his team, two men were arrested with prohibited e-cigarettes and illegal ganja. The vehicle they were using was also seized. Further investigation revealed that they were bringing these items from Nepal and supplying them around Rohini in Delhi," DCP Noida, Vidya Sagar Mishra, said.

"No information about storage has surfaced yet, but it has been discovered that they had previously delivered one lot of illegal goods in the Rohini area, and we are currently investigating this matter," he added.

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DCP Noida, Vidya Sagar Mishra, provided details about the significant haul resulting from the operation.

"Approximately 1000 e-cigarettes have been seized, valued at around 50 lakhs as each one costs Rs 5000 to 6000. We have identified the individual responsible for sending these illicit items from Nepal, and further action will be taken after gathering more information," DCP Noida, Vidya Sagar Mishra said.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], February 25 (ANI): Delhi Police has arrested three accused and apprehended a juvenile in connection with a knife stabbing case at the IP Extension area.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DSP) East, Apoorva Gupta said, "The three accused persons are identified as Sumit Kumar, Harsh Kumar and Himanshu, with the recovery of the looted mobile phone and laptop bag of the deceased. One Child in Conflict with Law (CCL) was also apprehended. The knife used in the offence has been recovered as well. Further investigation is in progress."

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According to the police, on the intervening night of February 23-24, a PCR call was received at PS Madhu Vihar, in which the caller stated that he along with his friend Narender went to DDA Park in front of CNG Gas Station, IP Extension, to have some liquor. Four unknown persons came near them and stabbed Narender multiple times and took away his laptop bag and mobile phone.

The injured person was taken to LBS hospital where the doctor declared him brought dead.

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A case under Section 302/397/394/392/34 IPC was registered and an investigation was taken up.

"I, along with other senior officers, reached the spot. The injured person had 10-15 wounds and he died because of excessive bleeding. An FIR under sections 302, 394, and 397 of IPC has been registered and the investigation is underway. We are investigating it from both angles, generally, this kind of robbery doesn't have multiple injuries. By not taking the witness at face value we are collecting circumstantial evidence to corroborate," DCP Apoorva Gupta added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, Feb 25 (PTI) Renowned filmmaker and academic Kumar Sahani passed away at a city hospital after battling prolonged old age-related illness, authorities said. He was 83.

Sahani was admitted to AMRI Dhakuria on February 18, and his condition gradually worsened in the following days, according to a hospital official.

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Initially diagnosed with lower respiratory tract infection, hypertension, and sepsis, he was placed in the intensive care unit. Unfortunately, his health continued to decline, with decreased urine output, leading to his death around 10:25 pm on Saturday, the official added.

A protege of the legendary director Hrithik Ghatak, Sahani was born in 1940 and pursued film studies at the Pune Film Institute (FTII).

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In 1969, he had the opportunity to intern under the famous French director Robert Bresson for the film 'A Gentle Creature'.

Throughout his career, Sahani achieved numerous accolades, including the Filmfare Critics Awards for Best Film in 1972, 1990, and 1991.

He also received the International Film Festival of Rotterdam - FIPRESCI Award in 1990 and the Prince Claus Award in 1998, solidifying his reputation as a distinguished figure in the world of cinema.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ghaziabad, Feb 25 (PTI) In a case of road rage in Ghaziabad, a man was allegedly hit by a car and dragged on its bonnet for around 3 km, police said on Sunday.

A video of the incident has surfaced on social media platforms.

Also Read | Nafe Singh Rathee Shot Dead: 'Instructed Officials To Take Immediate Action, STF Also Looking Into It', Says Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on State INLD Chief Murder (Watch Video).

According to police, the cars of Ramesh Singh and Tarang Jain were involved in an accident. Ramesh Singh got out and stood in front of Jain's vehicle in a bid to stop him from fleeing.

Jain, however, hit Ramesh Singh who clung onto the bonnet to save himself, police said.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Varun Gandhi Likely To Contest General Polls From Amethi Seat.

Jain drove the vehicle for more than three kilometres before some motorists forced him to stop and rescued Ramesh Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Indirapuram, Swatantra Kumar Singh said.

Jain was also thrashed by the crowd before being handed over to police.

"The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the IPC and sent to jail," said the officer.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Karbi Anglong (Assam) [India], February 25 (ANI): Assam Police have arrested three people in Karbi Anglong district, and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from them, an official said.

Sanjib Saikia, Superintendent of Police of Karbi Anglong district, said, "The police team recovered one AK series rifle with a magazine, three numbers of .32 pistols with magazines, and three numbers of live hand grenades, which were kept concealed inside the bamboo grooves inside the house premises of Nijesh Langthasa at No. 1 Dilangi area under Diphu police station."

Also Read | Ritesh Pandey Resigns: BSP MP from Ambedkar Nagar Quits Party, Cites Lack of Communication from Leadership; Joins BJP (Watch Video).

"2 numbers of mobile phones were seized accordingly. Another handmade gun was also recovered and seized by the In-charge of Dhansiri police outpost," Sanjib Saikia said.

He said that, on the basis of specific inputs about the dealings of illegal weapons by unknown miscreants in Karbi Anglong under Diphu police station jurisdiction, a special operation was launched on Saturday evening.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Fire Video: Four Dead, Several Injured in Explosion at Firecracker Factory in Kaushambi.

"Operation conducted under the leadership of Nayan Moni Barman, ASP (Crime), Inspector JS Khobung, Officer-in-charge Diphu police station with staff, SDPO Maibang, CRPF Birla, CDO and picked up 3 persons, namely Nijesh Langthasa, Manik Haflongbar and Kumud alias Rothai Phonglo. During the operation, they confessed that they kept concealed the arms inside the bamboo groove wrapped in polythenes within the premises of Nijesh Langthasa at No 1 Dilangi, Nailalong, under Diphu police and recovered the arms and ammunition," Sanjib Saikia said.

The police further said that three individuals have been arrested so far, and a case vide Diphu police station case number 10/24 under Section 120B/387 IPC R/W Sec 25(1A) /25(1) (a) /35 Arms Act, 1959 was registered, and an investigation is underway.

More information is awaited. (ANI)

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Imphal, Feb 25 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said peace initiatives have commenced to address ethnic tensions in the state.

Emphasising the government's foremost responsibility to safeguard lives, property, and the state's integrity, Singh assured citizens of appropriate security measures in place.

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"We don't need to panic...I want to assure people that security forces have been appropriately deployed in all the areas to tackle the situation," he said at the Sanaroisingi Numit (Players Day) function here.

He reiterated the commitment to pursuing peace through dialogue and urged people to trust the government's efforts.

Also Read | Ancient Temples of Badami Chalukya Period Found in Telangana Village (See Pics).

"To bring about a political solution, the process for peace and talks has started so that everyone can live in peace. We need to revive our earlier lives."

Singh also addressed pressing issues such as drug abuse and demographic shifts, highlighting the government's initiatives to combat drug addiction and maintain demographic balance.

"Around 1.5 lakh people out of 30 lakh are drug users. This is the primary reason why the state government announced the war on drugs in 2018," Singh said.

"From 2006 to 2018, some 1,400 new villages have cropped up in the state out of nowhere creating demographic imbalances," he added.

Singh reiterated that the state government will identify the illegal immigrants with 1961 as the base year.

"We do politics to secure the present and future generation. We want to be very clear. We will fence the borders, cancel Free Movement Regime and identify all illegal immigrants in the state who came after 1961. Its our commitment," he said.

Singh also announced that all the gold medalists of the 36th and 37th National Games would be provided with government jobs.

He said Wushu player Naorem Roshibina Devi, who won silver at the 19th Asian Games at Hangzou in China, would be appointed as a DSP.

(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 25 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed his concern over the growing drug menace among the youth and said that the addiction causes a huge loss to society and the country.

In a video address at the Ashwamedha Yagya organized by World Gayatri Pariwar, PM Modi emphasized that drugs are a menace that destroys lives if not controlled. He mentioned that the Centre had launched the "Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan" on August 15, 2020, which had reached almost 11 crore people so far.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: BJP To Launch 'Labharthi' Campaign To Connect With Welfare Scheme Beneficiaries in State Today.

"Drugs are a menace that destroys lives if not controlled. Our government started a pan-India Deaddiction campaign 3-4 years ago. Till now, 11 crore people have joined this campaign. Gayatri Pariwar is also connected with this campaign." the PM said.

Earlier, PM Modi was invited to the "Ashwamedh Yagna" being held from February 21 to February 25 in Mumbai. He hailed the Gayatri Pariwar for organizing the event and emphasized that the Yagya is a significant campaign of social resolution that will help free lakhs of youth from the trap of drugs.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Government School Teacher Suspended Over Alleged Disrespect to Goddess Saraswati, Hurting Religious Sentiments in Baran.

"The Ashwamedha Yagya of the Gayatri Pariwar is a huge campaign of social resolution. This campaign will free lakhs of youth from the trap of drugs, and their energy can be used in the building of the nation. The youth are our future... The youth have the responsibility to make 'Viksit Bharat' in this Amrit Kaal," the PM said.

"Any event organized by the World Gayatri Pariwar is always auspicious, and attending it is always special. I am glad that I got an opportunity to participate in this Ashwamedha Yagya. I was in a dilemma when I received an invitation from the World Gayatri Pariwar to attend the Ashwamedha Yagya. Common people associate Ashwamedha Yagya with politics. However, I noticed that this Ashwamedha Yagya is highlighting the feelings of Acharya Shriram Sharma," PM Modi further added.

The All World Gayatri Parivar (AWGP) is celebrating the monumental Ashwamedh Mahayagya, a sacred ritual, being held from February 21 to February 25 in Mumbai. Steeped in tradition and spiritual significance, this event marks a pivotal moment in India's cultural landscape.

The Ashwamedh Mahayagya, a rare occurrence in the last 2000 years, symbolizes a profound endeavour to unite the nation under the banner of Sanatan culture.

According to AWGP, Yagyas open portals of subtle positive energy. This Mahayagya is like to see the participation of 2.4 crore people. The mantra-infused yagya aahutis is aimed at whipping up positivity that will reflect peace and prosperity for the nation.

The Vedic rituals include the construction of 1008 fire pits, where groups of ten individuals will perform havan, fostering unity and spiritual harmony.

The event transcends caste and community barriers, welcoming all to partake in the transformative power of collective prayer.

The scale of the Ashwamedh Mahayagya is unparalleled, with a sprawling 140-acre venue adorned with 1008 ponds and illuminated by the light of sacred flames. From the auspicious Mangal-Kalash Yatra to the enlightening Knowledge Conference, the event promises an array of spiritual and cultural experiences.

Additionally, saints, Mahatmas, politicians, actors, industrialists, and eminent figures from society will grace the occasion, further enriching its significance.

The Mahayagya stands as a beacon of inspiration, rallying society towards prosperity and mutual respect through collective action and service. As the sacred flames rise, they illuminate not only the hearts of the faithful but also the path towards a united and harmonious nation.

Major events of Gayatri Parivar Ashvamedha Yagya include significant programs such as the auspicious procession of the sacred water vessel, the 1008 kund Gayatri Mahayajna, the grand ceremonial lighting of lamps, cultural events dedicated to the gods, a vast book exhibition, a series of enlightening lectures and knowledge sessions, an exhibition of posters depicting the creation of a new era, blood donation drives, addiction-free camps, and a campaign to plant one lakh trees.

This event is becoming a source of inspiration by bringing society together and moving forward with prosperity and respect through collectivity and service.

All World Gayatri Parivar (AWGP) is a global spiritual and cultural organization dedicated to fostering unity, harmony, and enlightenment among individuals and societies worldwide.

Through its diverse programs and initiatives, AWG endeavours to promote universal values and uplift humanity towards a brighter future. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Rajkot, February 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Rajkot, Gujarat on Sunday. People showered flower petals on the PM who greeted and waved to the supporters as he walked to the venue. Amid the chants of 'Modi, Modi' a large number of people lined up on both sides of the road. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought blessings from Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati ji Maharaj at Shankaracharya Math Shardapeeth in Dwarka, Gujarat.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spent 20 minutes alone with Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati. PM Modi offered prayers at Gujarat's famous Lord Krisha temple--Dwarkadish on Sunday morning. PM Modi in Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi Lays Foundation Stone of Multiple Development Projects Worth Over Rs 4,150 Crores in Dwarka (Watch Video).

PM Modi Holds Roadshow in Rajkot

#WATCH | Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets people as he arrives at a public event in Rajkot. pic.twitter.com/1sXPfmTflo  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

Situated at the cusp of the Gomti River and the Arabian Sea in Gujarat, the majestic Dwarkadhish Temple is an important Hindu pilgrimage site for Vaishnavites, especially the devotees of Lord Krishna, Dwarkadhish Temple is one of the Char Dham. The temple's prime deity is Lord Krishna, who is called Dwarkadhish, or King of Dwarka.

The PM was later gifted an idol of Lord Krishna by the priests of the temple. Earlier in the day, the PM inaugurated Sudarshan Setu, the country's longest cable-stayed bridge spanning around 2.32 km, connecting the Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka in Gujarat. PM Modi Prays at Krishnas Dwarka: PM Narendra Modi Goes Underwater To Pray at Submerged City of Dwarka, Says It Was a Divine Experience (See Pics).

"Delighted to inaugurate Sudarshan Setu today - a bridge that connects lands and people. It stands vibrantly as a testament to our commitment to development and progress," the PM said in a post on X. The bridge, previously known as the 'Signature Bridge', has been renamed 'Sudarshan Setu' or Sudarshan Bridge.

Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, approximately 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated. Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 979 crore, the bridge features a four-lane road, 27.20 metres in width, with 2.50-metre wide footpaths on either side. 'Sudarshan Setu' is India's longest cable-stayed bridge, linking the Okha mainland and the Beyt Dwarka island in Gujarat.

(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 25 (ANI): Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday announced that it will observe 'Quit WTO Day' on February 26 and demanded that Centre should put pressure on the developed countries to keep agriculture out of the WTO in 13th Ministerial Conference of World Trade Organisation scheduled on 26-29 February at Abu Dhabi.

"As part of the ongoing struggle the farmers across India will observe 26 February 2024 as Quit WTO Day and put tractors on the National-State Highways from 12 pm to 4 pm without obstruction to traffic. India's food security and price support programmes are subjects of repeated disputes at WTO. The major agricultural exporting countries, has proposed a 50 percent cut in the global level of WTO members' entitlements to support agriculture by the end of 2034," an official statement released by Samyukta Kisan Morcha read.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Varun Gandhi Likely To Contest General Polls From Amethi Seat.

Urging the BJP-led Centre, the farmer body said, "Government of India must firmly defend the rights of the country to protect its farmers and ensure national food security".

"No international institutions or agreements can be allowed to come in the way of these. Government of India must rally support from other less developed countries to collectively fight for a permanent solution to these issues, so that developing countries are not only allowed to maintain their existing programmes but are allowed to strengthen them to support their farmers and people at large," it added.

Also Read | Nafe Singh Rathee Shot Dead in Haryana: INLD's State Unit Chief Gunned Down in Jhajjar; Disturbing Video Surfaces.

The WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) will take place from 26 to 29 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Ministers from across the world will attend to review the functioning of the multilateral trading system and to take action on the future work of the WTO. The Conference will be chaired by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

SKM claimed that India's National food security system-including the system of MSP and public procurement, and the distribution of grain through the National Food Security Act - has been a subject of recurrent disputes at the WTO.

"Developed and major exporting countries have made proposals for further cuts in levels of public support to agriculture.There are also proposals that emerging economies like India should eliminate 'trade-distorting' support that exceeds de minimis thresholds. Such proposals must be firmly rejected by India and other less-developed countries. India must also firmly oppose proposals to increase market access to exporters through reduction of tariffs as is being demanded by some developed countries," it said.

Amid a deadlock in talks between farmers and the central government, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda appealed to the citizens to maintain peace and has invited suggestions.

"We should try to maintain peace in the country. We have always conversed and held talks in order to find a solution and will continue to do so. We welcome all the suggestions, too. I hope we will discuss the issue further. The Government of India is dedicated to the development of the agriculture sector," Munda said.

The protesting farmers, whose demands include a legal guarantee for minimum support price, had earlier rejected the government's offer after the fourth round of talks. The Centre however expressed readiness for the fifth round of talks with the farmers while urging them to find a solution through 'dialogue'. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, Feb 25 (PTI) A TMC delegation will again visit the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Sunday and speak to villagers who have been protesting against alleged atrocities by local leaders of the ruling party.

The delegation led by state irrigation minister Partha Bhowmick is expected to reach the restive area in the afternoon, a party leader said.

Also Read | Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in UP: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Interacts With Crowd, Says 'Youth Would Not Use Mobiles 12 Hours a Day if There Was No Unemployment' (Watch Videos).

This will be the fourth visit to Sandeshkhali by the ruling party leaders, amid protests by villagers against alleged land grab and sexual assault on women by local TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his supporters.

State Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose and Irrigation Minister Partha Bhowmick, accompanied by Sandeshkhali MLA Sukumar Mahato, had on Saturday toured the area and spoken to the villagers, listening to their grievances.

Also Read | Delhi Fire: Three Rescued After Massive Blaze Erupts in Lajpat Nagar House, Five Fire Tenders on Scene.

"All the issues will be resolved. All the complaints will be addressed. No wrongdoers will be spared. The police are taking stern action.

The opposition might try to fish in troubled waters but the people of the area have full faith in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," Bose told reporters after visiting the area a day before.

The police have been patrolling the area to instil confidence among the villagers and maintain the law and order there.

The unrest in Sandeshkhali stems from accusations against Sheikh and his supporters of land grabbing and sexual assault, with the local TMC leader evading authorities since a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5.

(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 25 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party's Rath Yatra, which has contributed to the rise of the party across the country, will commence on February 26 to highlight the achievements of the NDA government over the past 10 years and present the vision of PM Modi for a "developed India" to the public ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

The Rath Yatra will be flagged off by BJP president JP Nadda from the party headquarters in New Delhi.

Also Read | Kolkata Fire: Over 60 Shanties Gutted in Major Blaze at Anandapur Slum Area, No Casualties Reported (Watch Video).

According to party functionaries, the raths will be equipped with modern facilities and BJP's National General Secretary Sunil Bansal is overseeing the coordination of the campaign.

The goal of the Bharatiya Janata Party is to win over 400 seats in collaboration with its allies and PM Modi has instructed the party workers that BJP needs to win at least 370 seats alone to achieve this goal, party functionaries said.

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Notably, veteran leader LK Advani started the 'Ram Rath Yatra' in Gujarat's Somnath in 1990 that created an awareness about the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held the core group meeting of five states on Saturday at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the core group meeting of five states was called at the BJP headquarters.

The meeting was led by BJP National President JP Nadda in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Organization General Secretary BL Santosh. The meeting was held in phases which saw discussion for the preparations of Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, the meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Central Election Committee is likely to be held on February 29 or the first week of March, which can see discussions on over 100 Lok Sabha seats.

The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of BJP President JP Nadda.

PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with CEC members Dr K Laxman, Vanathi Srinivasan, BS Yeddyurappa, Sarbananda Sonowal, Iqbal Singh Lalpuria, Sudha Yadav, Bhupendra Yadav, Om Prakash Mathur, BL Santosh, and other leaders will be present. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) Eco Hotels and Resorts is targeting more than 2,000 hotel rooms under its operations by March 2025.

Earlier this month, the company inked an initial pact with Vitizen Hotels Ltd (VHL) to acquire a 100 per cent stake of VITS in the VHL.

Also Read | Sudarshan Setu Inauguration: PM Narendra Modi Set To Inaugurate Okha-Beyt Dwarka Signature Bridge on February 25, Know Everything About Indias Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge (See Pics and Video).

With this acquisition, Eco Hotels and Resorts will operate 20 hotels with around 1,200 rooms. At present, Eco Hotels and Resorts does not have any hotel rooms under its operations.

Speaking with PTI, Vinod K Tripathi, Executive Chairman of Eco Hotels and Resorts said, "This breakthrough moment marked by the signing of this momentous MOU and its reflection on our team's dedication to reach ambitious goals through clever decision-making."

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He explained that with this acquisition, Eco Hotels and Resorts will operate 20 hotels with around 1200 rooms, representing a significant step toward their ambitious goal of acquiring over 2000-plus hotel rooms by March 2025.

He informed that that the Eco Hotels and Resorts aims to operate 5,000 hotel rooms in India over the next five years and scale it up to 15,000 hotel rooms within the next 15 years.

The company has successfully developed two brands operating in Kerala, India, and identified prime properties in the Western Region, including Mumbai, Goa, and Pune, for immediate capital deployment and expansion of the operating inventory.

Eco Hotels and Resorts Ltd, formerly known as Sharad Fibres and Yarn Processors Ltd intends to reshape the landscape of premium and economy hotel brands.

Eco Hotels and Resorts envisions creating an extensive network of sustainable and luxurious hotels under the esteemed brand name 'The Eco'.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, February 25: Three people were rescued after a major fire broke out in a house in southeast Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area in the early hours of Sunday, officials said. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said they received a call about the blaze, which broke out on the first floor of the house, at 1:57 am and five fire engines were pressed into service. Delhi Fire Video: Blaze Engulfs Girls PG Hostel in Mukherjee Nagar; Few Trapped Inside.

"We learnt that some people were trapped inside the house. Our team rescued three people. Two senior citizens, one of whom is differently-abled, were among those rescued," a senior DFS official said. Delhi Fire: Three Die After Massive Blaze Erupts in a House in Pitampura Area (Watch Video).

Those rescued were rushed to a nearby hospital with minor burn injuries, he said. "Police were informed about the incident. It appears that a short circuit caused the fire," the official said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd (MHRIL) plans to invest up to Rs 4,500 crore in the next three to four years to double its room capacity to 10,000, according to company Managing Director and CEO, Kavinder Singh.

The company is actively pursuing partnerships with state governments besides setting up new resorts, brownfield expansion and acquisitions to achieve the target to increase room count from 5,000 to 10,000 by FY30.

Also Read | Sudarshan Setu Inauguration: PM Narendra Modi Set To Inaugurate Okha-Beyt Dwarka Signature Bridge on February 25, Know Everything About Indias Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge (See Pics and Video).

"We have all the strategies on the table to get from 5,000 to 10,000 rooms. We are well on our way there," Singh told PTI.

At the moment, about Rs 835 crore of investment is underway for five greenfield, brownfield, and acquisition projects, comprising about 690 keys.

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"We are very confident this investment will get scaled to at least Rs 2,000 crore in the next year and very quickly we will scale it up to Rs 4,000-4,500 crore in three to four years time because you need to deliver 5,000 keys by 2030," he said.

On the strategy for expansion, Singh said apart from greenfield, brownfield and acquisitions, the company is also emphasising on public-private partnership (PPP).

"We have already tied up with the Uttarakhand government and identified two pieces of land to do Rs 1,000 crore investment. Then we also have signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for about Rs 800 crore investment," he said.

Further, Singh said,"We are also at this moment of time engaged with the Odisha government and we have been allotted two pieces of land that will help us to invest at Rs 500 crore if not more in Odisha."

Besides, the company is still looking at another piece of land in the Puri area, he added.

"So, PPP as a route to scale up is another weapon beyond greenfield and brownfield (expansions). The fourth weapon is acquisitions. We (are constantly) looking at resort properties, which are available and can meet our requirement, which can be refurbished to our standards is also going on," he added.

In January this year, the company had announced that it would invest Rs 800 crore in Tamil Nadu to build three greenfield resorts over the next five to six years. It would be the second-largest investment by MHRIL, following the Rs 1,000 crore investment in Uttarakhand last year.

MHRIL has 102 resorts across India and abroad as on June 30, 2023. Its subsidiary, Holiday Club Resorts Oy (HCR), Finland, has 33 Timeshare Properties, including nine spa resorts across Finland, Sweden, and Spain.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Harare (Zimbabwe), Feb 25 (AP) An Australian tourist has gone missing in Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls National Park, home to one of the world's natural wonders, the country's parks spokesman said.

Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo told The Associated Press that the tourist went missing in the vast rainforest on Friday.

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We have a fully-fledged team that includes the police looking for the tourist. We have deployed sniffer dogs, drones and trackers on the ground, said Farawo. He said the tourist was 67 years old but did not share further details.

Such incidences are rare in Victoria Falls, a destination that attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe for its majestic water curtain that tumbles down more than 350 feet (108 metres) from the mighty Zambezi River to a gorge below, sending up a mist visible from miles away.

Also Read | US Shocker: History Sheeter Son Allegedly Shoots Alabama Judge After Heated Argument in Montgomery; Arrested.

A few cases have been recorded in other parks. A German tourist who went missing in Matusadona National Park which teems with wild animals in northern Zimbabwe was found alive and in good health three days after he was reported missing in October last year. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Melbourne, Feb 25 (The Conversation) Why is there such a big gap between people, industries and government agreeing we need urgent action on climate change, and actually starting? Scope 3 emissions are a great example. These are greenhouse gas emissions that organisations can influence, but don't directly control.

Our research has identified the benefits of tackling these emissions in Australia's urban water sector. If we consider the energy we use to heat water, water costs us far more than we think. It's an issue of cost of living as well as water supply and energy infrastructure.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Sudarshan Setu in Dwarka: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, February 25, 2024.

In Victoria, for example, water utilities are the largest source (about a quarter) of scope 1 and 2 emissions from the government sector. Scope 1 emissions come from activities utilities directly control, such as driving their vehicles. Scope 2 emissions are from the energy they buy.

Our research has found the gains from pursuing scope 3 emissions from the use of water that utilities supply could be about ten times bigger than their planned reductions in scope 1 and 2 emissions.

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Extrapolating from Melbourne household data suggests domestic water heating accounts for 3.8% of each person's share of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions  on a par with the 4.1% from aviation. Our research indicates that in Melbourne alone a city-wide program to retrofit showerheads could, by reducing water and energy use, have the same impact on emissions as taking tens of thousands of cars off the road.

Such a program would cost much less than all other renewable energy investments water utilities are making. It would also save water users money.

How to tackle scope 3 emissions

Water utilities don't directly control scope 3 emissions, but they could influence what customers do. If they encourage more efficient water use, customers use less water and, in turn, less energy to heat it.

Water utilities account for 24% of scope 1 and 2 emissions from the Victorian government sector. While the sector has shown leadership in acting on these emissions, there is very little active accountability for, or even quantification of, scope 3 emissions.

Our research has found a Melbourne-wide program to retrofit showerheads to next-generation technology could save 12-27 billion litres (GL) of water a year (about 6% of current use).

The resulting energy savings would be 380-885GWh per year, cutting emissions by 98,000-226,000 tonnes. That equates to taking 21,000 to 49,000 cars off the roads.

Customers would also save up to $160 a year on their bills. The full economic benefit to society is more than five times the cost of the program.

Who influences water use? Everyone

Helping customers adopt highly efficient showerheads could cut emissions at much lower cost than all other renewable energy investments water utilities are making.

Most households don't realise hot water systems account for around 24% of their total energy use. Their total energy use for water heating is larger as it includes appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and kettles. An even larger percentage of household energy use is water-related if pool filtration, rainwater tank pumps and so on are included.

We think only of the savings on water bills, but efficient water use also affects our power bills and emissions. But communicating the link isn't easy.

Showerhead manufacturers tell us they aren't promoting efficient showerheads because they respond to demand. Water utilities don't invest in them because it is a present cost for a future benefit  it doesn't help them balance their budgets. And for policymakers it's hard to celebrate the water and energy you don't need to consume.

The combined impact is lack of action on saving water to reduce emissions  even though it's a great option.

A tragedy of the commons' dilemma

Without direct control or accountability by any one organisation, we face a tragedy of the commons  individuals overconsuming a shared resource at the wider expense of society. The limited resource today is the ability of our planet to process greenhouse gas emissions before they change our climate.

The tragedy of the commons was used to describe externalities: costs borne by others that a decision-maker does not pay for. Examples include the future costs of increased flooding, more severe droughts and bushfires, and rising sea levels.

If we fully considered the costs and benefits to consumers and society (rather than just costs to utilities), investment priorities would change towards least cost to the community solutions.

Many water utilities will be carbon-neutral for scope 1 and 2 by 2025. This means they are at the global forefront of reducing emissions  but the water industry can do much more by tackling scope 3 emissions.

Committing to a scope 3 reduction challenges a water company to move toward things it can only influence rather than control. So, does it pursue all possibilities, without knowing if it can cut emissions? Or does it take a conservative approach and commit to only scope 1 and 2 emissions?

Reducing emissions from water use requires community, industry and government to act together. The stumbling block is decision-making and current legislation.

So, what is the solution?

First, we need to call out the problem.

Second, we must find a way to ensure the reward for pursuing action is higher than the penalty for failure. A key to this will be highlighting how much cheaper and better many actions are that focus on scope 3 emissions, rather than solely within business strategies. We need to find solutions that are genuinely least cost to community rather than least cost to individual business entities.

Third, as a commons, this challenge must be communicated beyond utilities and government to communities. There needs to be broad understanding of the benefits of new approaches and of the pitfalls of a do nothing approach.

Big savings are up for grabs in the water industry. More broadly, all industries (from manufacturing to mining) need to consider scope 3 emissions from use of the products they sell. (The Conversation)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Charleston, Feb 25 (PTI) Indian-American presidential candidate Nikki Haley lost to former president Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina, despite giving a better-than-expected fight in the Republican presidential primary.

Refusing to give up, the 52-year-old two-time former governor of South Carolina on Saturday vowed to take the fight to the Super Tuesday states on March 5 when Republican primaries are scheduled to be held in 21 States nationwide.

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With nearly 90 per cent of the votes counted, Haley received 39.4 per cent of the votes against Trump's 59.9 per cent, a gap of 20 per cent.

All the polls had earlier indicated that the former UN Ambassador was trailing by 30 per cent against Trump, who further consolidated his path to a third straight GOP nomination.

Also Read | Harlem Fire: Indian National Dies After Blaze Erupts in New York Apartment Building, India's Consulate Extends Support.

A candidate needs 1,215 delegates to bag the party's nomination. So far, Haley has won 17 delegates and Trump has won 92.

I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president. I'm a woman of my word. I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Haley told her supporters in this historic city, a few blocks away from where she had launched her presidential campaign about a year ago.

What I saw today was South Carolina's frustration with our country's direction. I've seen that same frustration nationwide. I share it. I feel it to my core. I couldn't be more worried for America. It seems like our country is coming apart. But here's the thing. America will come apart if we make the wrong choices. We need to beat Joe Biden in November, she said amidst cheers from her supporters.

I don't believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day, Trump drives people away, including with his comments just yesterday. Today, in South Carolina, we're getting around 40 per cent of the vote. That's about what we got in New Hampshire too.

I'm an accountant. I know 40 per cent is not 50 per cent. But I also know 40 per cent is not some tiny group. There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative, Haley said, making her case for her to continue her battle against Trump.

South Carolina has spoken. We're the fourth state to do so. In the next ten days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate. And I have a duty to give them that choice. We can't afford four more years of Biden's failures or Trump's lack of focus, Haley said.

A confident Trump celebrated his victory in Columbia, South Carolina.

There's never been a spirit like this, and I just want to say that. I have never seen the Republican Party so unified, he told his cheering supporters. Notably, he did not mention Haley in his speech nor did he ask her to drop from the race.

Haley in his speech in Charleston congratulated Trump on his South Carolina victory.

Trump, who by now has won all four Republican primaries in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, exuded confidence that he would defeat incumbent President Biden in November.

We're going to be up here on November 5, and we're going to look at Joe Biden, and we're gonna look him right in the eye. He's destroying our country and we're gonna say Joe, you're fired. Get out. Get out, Joe. You're fired, Trump said amidst loud applause from his audience.

In her speech, Haley criticised both Biden and Trump.

Does anyone seriously think Joe Biden or Donald Trump will unite our country to solve our problems? One of them calls his fellow Americans fascists. The other calls his fellow Americans vermin. They aren't fighting for our country's future. They're demanding we fight each other. YOU deserve better! she said.

So I will keep fighting - for them and for you and for all of America! I'm running for president to save America! And I'm running to remind us what it means to be American. In the America I know and love, we believe in each other. And we believe in America's inherent goodness. Now is the time to renew that belief. Now is the time to remember who we are, she said.

I'm grateful that today is not the end of our story. We're headed to Michigan tomorrow. And we're headed to the Super Tuesday states throughout all of next week, Haley said.

Following the South Carolina primary, President Biden said that Trump poses a threat to the country.

Despite the threat that Trump poses, I will say again to the American people: I have never felt more optimistic about what we can do if we come together. Because I know that America believes in standing up for our democracy, fighting for our personal freedoms, and building an economy that gives everyone a fair shot. To Republicans, Democrats, and independents who share our commitment to the core values of our nation, join us. Let's keep moving forward, Biden said.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said that the results of the South Carolina Republican Primary all but confirm that MAGA extremism has taken over the Republican Party  and that Donald Trump will once again be the Republican nominee for president.

Just like he did in 2020, Donald Trump is running on an extreme, out-of-touch agenda that rolls back the clock on our personal freedoms, undermines our democracy, and rigs the economy in favour of the ultra-wealthy  and he has become only more extreme since his resounding loss to Joe Biden last cycle. The American people rejected MAGA extremism in 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, and will reject it again at the ballot box this November, 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)
Pedro Pascal poses with the award for Best Actor in a Drama Series ('The Last of Us') at the 30th SAG-AFTRA Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, California, on February 24, 2024.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday in Los Angeles was about much more than the actors. As the most important performers of today celebrated the awards of their SAG-AFTRA union, there was reflection on the 118-day-long strike that captured not only Los Angeles, but the world. Some 160,000 actors  from the biggest names in the world to background actors  went on strike last summer, first joining screenwriters, before continuing on their own. And they achieved their goal: after months of struggle, strikes and job losses, they secured a billion-dollar contract that raised salaries and provided guarantees on the use of artificial intelligence.

On Saturday night at the Shrine Auditorium, the union not only presented their annual awards, which were marking their 30th anniversary, they celebrated that agreement and demonstrated that there is strength in unity. And it was a big celebration: for the first time, the award ceremony was broadcast on Netflix. As a result, there were no ads or too many pauses. In two hours and 10 minutes, Oppenheimer, Succession, The Bear and Beef picked up the awards they were tipped to win, while Barbra Streisand received a lifetime achievement award. The big surprise was Chilean actor Pedro Pascal, who became emotional after winning Best Actor in a Drama Series.

Pascal  who won for his role as Joel in The Last of Us  was not the only one who was shocked. It also came as a surprise to the stars of Succession, who have been sweeping the awards for best actors this season. The series about New York tycoons did, however, win Best Drama Ensemble, an award that only the Critics Choice Movie Awards hands out.

The Bear won Best Comedy Series, while Oppenheimer won Best Ensemble; with Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. winning Best Actor and Best Support Actor, respectively. Best Supporting Actress  which Penelope Cruz was also nominated for thanks to her role in Ferrari  went to DaVine Joy for The Holdovers. The big question was who would win Best Actress, as the film awards  like the Oscars  do not have separate categories for comedy and drama. In the end, Lily Gladstone (The Killers of the Flower Moon) won over Emma Stone (Poor Things), which may be a sign of what could happen at the Academy Awards on March 10.

Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 24, 2024. MIKE BLAKE (REUTERS)

The awards in the television category followed an unsurprising pattern. The stars of The Bear, Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, won Best Actor and Best Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively. And in the Limited Series category, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun picked up the awards for their role in Beef.

There were more surprises when it came to TV dramas. Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana in the last two seasons of The Crown, beat Sarah Snook, who plays the devious Shiv in Succession. And Pedro Pascal beat Billy Crudup from The Morning Show, as well as Kieran Culkin, Brian Cox and Matthew Macfadyen, from Succession.

This is wrong for a number of reasons: Im a little drunk, I thought I could get drunk, said Pascal upon accepting the award. Ive been in the union since 1999, so this is an incredible honor. He congratulated the other nominees, joking, I cant remember any of your names right now. And ended his speech by saying: Im going to have a panic attack and Im going to leave. At the post-acceptance speech interview, Pascal was asked if he was going to rub the award in Culkins face, as Culkin has won the award in almost every award gala. Im going to make out with Kieran, he jokingly replied. Thatll be my revenge. He added that he was genuinely surprised and that hed sobered up. Ive been drinking tequila [...] just to keep the cold away. Im sober now, he said.

Cillian Murphy poses with the award Male Actor in a Leading Role for Oppenheimer at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 24, 2024. MIKE BLAKE (REUTERS)

Idris Elba hosted the awards, but did not do more than the opening and closing speech, and a couple of other appearances. Elba was friendly without being sarcastic, recommending the actors dont say anything you wouldnt say in front of Oprah [Winfrey].

The gala was a sober, calm and efficient affair. The actors who died in the past 12 months were remembered, from Matthew Perry and Tina Turner to Michael Gambon, Suzanne Somers, Harry Belafonte, Treat Williams, Chita Rivera, Ryan ONeal and Alan Arkin. But this time, there was no uncomfortable applause of the audience. The pairs of award presenters also worked well, such as Elijah Wood and Sean Austin, 20 years after the triumph of The Lord of the Rings, where they were Frodo and Sam; Greta Lee (The Morning Show, Past Lives) and Troy Kotsur (Koda), who conversed lovingly in sign language; and a nervous Melissa McCarthy next to Billie Eilish, whom she asked to autograph her forehead, so as not to ruin her dress. But it was the trio of the night that really triumphed: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway, in a scene reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada, where it was joked that Streep was like her frosty character, Miranda Priestly.

Barbra Streisand, 81, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her friends, Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper, and on the same stage where she gave her first big concert in 1963. She did not just pave the way for us women  she bulldozed the clearing for us, Aniston said of the pioneer. Streisand herself remembered her beginnings, sitting in her bed in Brooklyn, eating ice cream and reading film magazines, and developing a crush on Marlon Brando, whom she saw at the movies for 25 cents. I didnt like reality. I wanted to be in the movies. Even though I knew I didnt look like the other women on the screen  my mother said, You better learn to type, but I didnt listen. And somehow, some way, it all came true, said Streisand.

Actress and SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards. MIKE BLAKE (REUTERS)

But the nearly four-month-long strike and the actors battle against the studios was the backbone that shaped the entire ceremony. Before opening the nights awards, Michael Cera said how he had obtained his SAG membership card when he was only 13 years old. And joked that the adults treated him as a peer, even if he couldnt touch his earnings. Colman Domingo (Rustin, The Color Purple) and Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) shared their experiences as actors, and then gave way to Idris Elba. The nights winners also spoke of the struggle, including Kenneth Branagh, who, speaking on behalf of the entire cast of Oppenheimer, recalled how they left the red carpet and did not see the film when it premiered, as that was the same day the strike was declared: Thank you for fighting for us, thank you for every SAG-AFTRA member whose support and whose sacrifice allows us to be standing here better than we were before, he said.

The unions president, actress Fran Drescher, also addressed the audience, and thanked the hardest working guy in show business, our SAG-AFTRA executive director Duncan Crabtree Ireland. She also thanked Netflix, which has gone from public enemy number one to partner. And an especially big thanks to Netflix for inviting the SAG awards to their platform so this event can be viewed all over the world including my parents condo in South Florida! she said.

Drescher also had moving words for her fellow actors: You are the champions. You survived the longest strike in our unions history with courage and conviction. The journey was arduous, came with great sacrifice and unrelenting stress. Your collective dignity and perseverance to stand up and say, We deserve better because we are better, resulted in an historic Billion Dollar Deal. [...] This was a seminal moment in our unions history that has set the trajectory for many generations to come. Not afraid but brave, not weak but empowered, not peons but partners! And, blowing kisses from the stage, she left the stage. She knew that the show must go on.

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Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], February 25 (ANI): The fifth edition of joint militatry Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defence Force began at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan on Sunday.

The military exercise, aimed at fostering military cooperation and enhancing combined capabilities to execute joint operations in a semi-urban environment, is scheduled to be conducted from February 25 to March 9.

Also Read | Alexei Navalny Death: Body of Russian Opposition Leader Handed Over to His Mother After Week-Long Delay.

In a post on X, Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army), stated, " DharmaGuardian_2024 The Joint Military Exercise #DharmaGuardian between #India & #Japan commenced today, with the opening ceremony at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability in joint tactical-level operations in Semi-Urban Environment, under the United Nations mandate."

Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' is an annual exercise and conducted alternatively in India and Japan. The contingent on both sides consists of 40 personnel each. The Japanese contingent is being represented by troops from the 34th Infantry Regiment, while the battalion from the Rajputana Rifles will represent the Indian Army contingent.

Also Read | US: Prison Staff Prepares To Execute Serial Killer Thomas Eugene Creech After Nearly 50 Years on Death Row in Idaho.

In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated, "The aim of the exercise is to foster military cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in a semi-urban environment under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter. The exercise would focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills, and the basics of special arms skills."

Tactical drills, including the creation of an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) grid, setting up of mobile vehicle checkpoints, will also be practiced during the military exercise.

In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated, "Tactical drills to be practiced during the Exercise will include establishing of Temporary Operating Base, creating an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Grid, setting up Mobile Vehicle Check Post, executing Cordon and Search Operations in a hostile village, Heliborne operations and House Intervention Drills."

"A Weapon and Equipment Display will also be organised showcasing 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative and the growing defence industrial capability of the country," it added.

Lieutenant General Togashi Yuichi, Commanding General, Eastern Army, Japan Ground Self Defence Force, will visit India on the sidelines of 'Exercise Dharma Guardian', according to Ministry of Defence press release. The general officer will visit Mahajan Field Firing Ranges on March 3 and witness combat shooting demonstrations, Special Heliborne Operation (SHBO) and House Intervention Drills.

The Ministry of Defence press release reads, "Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' will enable the two sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures of conducting tactical operations. The Exercise will also facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between troops of both the sides. This will enhance the level of defence cooperation, further fostering bilateral relations between the two friendly nations." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Karachi [Pakistan], February 25 (ANI): Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) leader Awais Qadir Shah was elected as the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly on Sunday, The News International reported.

Shah was elected after securing 111 votes against 36 votes garnered by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's (MQM-P) Sofia Saeed.

Also Read | US Shocker: History Sheeter Son Allegedly Shoots Alabama Judge After Heated Argument in Montgomery; Arrested.

Speaker Shah was administered the oath by outgoing speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

Following his win, Shah thanked PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur for their support.

Also Read | Alexei Navalny Death: Body of Russian Opposition Leader Handed Over to His Mother After Week-Long Delay.

Since the new speaker has taken the oath, following the election, he will now oversee the polling for the deputy speaker's slot, as per The News International.

PPP's Anthony Naveed and MQM-P's Rashid Khan are eyeing the post and the papers of both candidates have been declared valid.

"It is an honour to be elected as the assembly's speaker from Sukkur for the first time," he said.

He also urged the lawmakers to forget the past and begin a new era, assuring to treat all the members equally.

"My only request is that if we follow the rule book, then God willing this house will function in the best way possible," he added. He also expressed hope that the house would meet the expectations of the public.

As the session started today, about nine members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and Jamat-e-Islami's (JI) Muhammad Farooq, who did not attend the oath-taking ceremony yesterday, took an oath.

Speaker Durrani welcomed the newly elected members of the SIC.

Following this, PPP's nominee for chief minister, Murad Ali Shah, said that 12 of their workers were killed during the election campaigns.

"Our leader Aziz Junejo, who won the elections, passed away. The assembly should pray for them," said Shah, adding that our country is suffering from terrorism.

Earlier on Saturday, at least 148 newly-elected Sindh Assembly members took oath in the House of 168 as parties took to the streets to hold demonstrations against the alleged rigging in the February 8 polls.

The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-Haqiqi), had announced to hold a joint "peaceful" protest outside the assembly.

But, the situation turned tense before the swearing-in ceremony, as several workers, including women, clashed with the police party present there to keep the order.

Over 20 Qaumi Awami Tehreek workers, including women, were arrested and shifted to the police station during the clashes. The law enforcement officials also baton-charged the protestors.

The protests continued for hours and were called off after the police baton-charged and detained at least 30 protesters from near the Arts Council for staging a demonstration and raising slogans in the Red Zone area amid the imposition of Section-144, The News International reported.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Assembly also elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates Malik Ahmed Khan and Malik Zaheer Ahmed Channer as the House's speaker and deputy speaker, respectively on Saturday. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], February 25 (ANI): Even after eight days, the services of social media giant X, formerly Twitter, remained suspended across Pakistan while the authorities have yet to disclose the reason behind the prolonged disruption, Pakistan-based Geo News reported.

The shutdown began on Saturday last week, resulting in users not being able to access information on social media platform X.

Also Read | Alexei Navalny Death: Body of Russian Opposition Leader Handed Over to His Mother After Week-Long Delay.

Global internet monitor, NetBlocks, said VPN services have also been restricted in Pakistan, resulting in users facing difficulty accessing the micro-blogging site.

Website tracker Downdetector.com said, "User reports indicate possible problems at X (Twitter)." Speaking to Geo TV, Nighat Dad, the executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)," said that the X outage is causing a damage to Paksitan's image. She further said that the PTA is not being transparent regarding these outages and disruptions.

Also Read | US: Prison Staff Prepares To Execute Serial Killer Thomas Eugene Creech After Nearly 50 Years on Death Row in Idaho.

She noted that there is a likelihood of "consuming disinformation by users on platforms like X where people have a space to exercise their fundamental rights of freedom of speech and access to information, specifically during times of elections or conflict."

Nighat Dad said, "That's where we need these platforms where people have more and more speech and the other people can counter this information as well, and, specifically around elections."

She said that the X outage is not sending a good message to investors or international organisations. She said, "I don't think it's a good beginning for this newly formed government or the go or any party that is forming a government in Pakistan."

Notably, Pakistan struggles with internet availability, ranking low in comparison to its peers, while reportedly authorities intermittently disrupt access to social media platforms, according to Geo News report.

Ahead of the elections on February 8, users were not able to access social media sites, for which concerned authorities blamed a "technical error." However, according to the Pakistan caretaker government, the internet was shut down on voting day to avoid terrorism.

After the polls, people faced repeated disruptions in accessing X. According to Geo News report, Internet shutdowns directly contradict constitutionally guaranteed rights like freedom of information (Article 19-A), freedom of speech (Article 19), and freedom of association (Article 17).

In its February 2018 ruling, the Islamabad High Court declared internet shutdowns against fundamental rights and the constitution. Digital rights activists had slammed the Pakistani authorities' decision to disrupt access to the social media platform and expressed concern over the lack of transparency from the government, Geo News reported.

On February 22, the Sindh High Court directed the PTA to fully restore the services of social media platform X in Pakistan and asked for a detailed response from the authority and other parties at a later hearing. Despite court's decision, the PTA is yet to allow accessibility. (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 25 (ANI): Thailand Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara will begin his four-day official visit to India today. He will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday.

During his visit, Thailand's Deputy PM, who also serves as Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, will participate in the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting at Hyderabad House in Delhi on Tuesday, according to a media advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Also Read | Alexei Navalny Death: Body of Russian Opposition Leader Handed Over to His Mother After Week-Long Delay.

Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara is scheduled to meet Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday. On February 28, he will depart from India after concluding his four-day official visit.

Notably, the 9th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting was held in Bangkok on August 17, 2022, according to MEA. From August 16-18, 2022, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Bangkok to co-chair the 9th Meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Commission (JCM) with Thailand's then-Deputy PM Don Pramudwinai.

Also Read | US: Prison Staff Prepares To Execute Serial Killer Thomas Eugene Creech After Nearly 50 Years on Death Row in Idaho.

Notably, diplomatic relations between India and Thailand were established in 1947. The bilateral ties between India and Thailand are rooted in history, age-old social and culturalinteractions and extensive people-to-people contacts, according to MEA. In 2022, India and Thailand celebrated the 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations.

On February 8, the Thailand delegation, led by Senator Pikulkeaw Krairiksh, called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at Parliament House. During the meeting, Birla presented the delegation with mementos and a copy of the Constitution of India.

The Thailand parliamentary delegation visited the Indian Parliament and stressed that Thailand would like to invest in some projects, hoping that India might be interested. Krairiksh also appreciated the hospitality received in India.

Speaking to ANI, Pikulkeaw Krairiksh said, "We appreciate hospitality here." She further hoped that both countries could continue with their connectivity between the Indian and Thai parliaments.

"I hope that we can continue with our connectivity here between the Thai and Indian parliaments. We like to invest also; we have projects of the trilateral road in the north and Ranong port that we have been talking about for so long, so I think that India might be interested," she said.

On February 6, Thailand's delegation also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the national capital. He appreciated the 'warm sentiments' towards the India-Thailand relationship and affirmed his commitment to strengthening bonds of culture, connectivity, and trade.

"Glad to meet Thai Senate delegation led by Senator Pikulkeaw Krairiksh in New Delhi today. Appreciate their warm sentiments towards India-Thailand relationship and aspiration to grow it further. As civilizational partners, committed to strengthen bonds of culture, connectivity, trade and beyond," Jaishankar said in a post on X. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai, February 25: In another case of "honour killing", a 25-year-old man was hacked to death by a gang of five in Chennai, police said on Sunday. In November, the deceased identified as Praveen, 25, married Sharmi, who was from a higher caste. Honour Killing in Tamil Nadu: Angered by Their Relationship, Man Beheads Sister's Boyfriend, Kills Her Too.

Sharmis elder brother Dinesh, who is a murder accused, ganged up with four others and hacked Praveen to death.Praveen was rushed to Chrompet General hospital in Chennai but was declared brought dead. Police have arrested all five assailants.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 25, 2024 04:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spent 20 minutes alone with Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati. PM Modi offered prayers at Gujarat's famous Lord Krisha temple--Dwarkadish on Sunday morning.
Last week, state Sen. Lisa Boscola, a Democrat who represents Northampton Countys 18th District, said her signature falsely appeared on a nomination petition for state representative candidate Taiba Sultana of Easton.

And Mark Pinsley, the Lehigh County controller who is vying for the Democratic auditor general nomination, acknowledged that his nomination petition mistakenly included a signature of a Chester County judge who is prohibited from signing petitions for non-judicial candidates.

These are just two recent examples of the pitfalls of petitions, which are a necessary step for a candidate to get on the ballot. If there are enough questionable signatures, a candidate could be knocked off the ballot.

Thats a longtime campaign strategy that appears to be used even more frequently today.

Now more than ever, petitions are being evaluated carefully, said Terry Madonna, a longtime political analyst of Pennsylvania politics and a senior fellow in residence for political affairs at Millersville University. The scrutiny will continue.

Candidates for the April 23 primary had three weeks to collect signatures and file their petitions by Feb. 13. State representative candidates needed to collect a minimum of 300 signatures. For a statewide office such as auditor general, a candidate needed at least 1,000 signatures, with 100 each from at least five counties. Tuesday was the deadline to challenge a candidates nomination petitions, with state election challenges heard in Commonwealth Court.

People who sign a nomination petition must meet several criteria, such as being a registered voter, a member of the party of the candidate and a resident of the district the candidate wishes to represent.

Boscola discovered her name on a petition for Sultana, an Easton City Council member who wants to challenge Rep. Robert Freeman in the Democratic primary for his seat in the 136th District.

Boscola released a statement that said she is the only registered voter in Northampton County with that name, adding that the signature and the address with it are not hers. Indeed, she pointed out, she does not even live in the 136th District.

Taiba Sultana should be ashamed of herself for submitting a nomination petition containing my forged signature, Boscola said. Getting on the ballot is a serious responsibility for any candidate seeking public office and knowingly turning in petitions with fraudulent signatures should be a disqualifying act.

It is a misdemeanor for someone to sign a name other than their own.

Im not sure why someone wrote her name, and I wish Boscola had reached out to me about it instead of attacking me on the spot with my opponent, Freeman, to join in, Sultana said.

It was an oversight to not have caught this trick but it is not a forgery on my part and, once again, calling for my disqualification is a shameful reveal of the true intentions of the powerful people who made this a big deal.

Her petitions contained 650 signatures, she said. No court challenge to her nomination petitions was filed by the deadline last week, so Sultana will appear on the primary ballot.

In the state auditor general race, Chester County Judge Alita Rovito called into question a signature bearing her name that appeared on a nomination petition for Pinsley. Besides Pinsley, the other Democrat seeking the nomination is state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia. Incumbent Republican Tim DeFoor is the only candidate seeking his partys nomination.

Pinsley said he wasnt aware of the matter until he was contacted for a story by The Philadelphia Inquirer. He said he immediately launched an internal investigation. Rovito told the Inquirer she did not sign the petition and reported the incident to the county district attorneys office.

At present, we lack clarity on the circumstances surrounding this incident, Pinsley said earlier this month in an email.

The swift discovery of that lone signature raises suspicions of deliberate tampering so we are investigating this internally (reviewing circulators) and investigating any external influence. Although I must stress that no concrete evidence supports this conjecture at present. He said a volunteer circulated petitions in Chester; he also used paid signature collectors.

The petition process

It takes time to collect signatures, particularly for offices that require several hundred signatures or more. Candidates can get their own signatures, but they often supplement efforts with campaign volunteers. Some larger campaigns may even hire a company to collect the signatures, which can lead to problems.

Thats what the campaign of then-Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy discovered earlier this year when it outsourced petition work to get on the primary ballot in Rhode Island. Election officials discovered a large number of signatures containing names of people who had died, The Boston Globe reported.

The problems of paying people are real, said state Rep. Mike Schlossberg. They may not be accurate. You have to really supervise and make sure people arent forging others signatures.

Schlossberg, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary for his seventh term representing the 132nd district in Lehigh County, said he is personally involved in collecting and reviewing signatures.

I usually collect around half myself, and typically do so by setting up appointments on social media or via emails, he said in response to emailed questions.

The local party also does petition parties, and that is very helpful. So are volunteers  they do a great job. Ive paid college students in the past to collect other students signatures, but even then, Ive always checked those for their validity, he said.

As the candidate, I always scan my petitions to make sure that there are no glaring errors or outright fraud. Ive crossed off other signatures in the past when they were incomplete or inaccurate. You cant know if a regular voter signs their real name. But you should know if someone makes an obvious forgery, the Lisa Bosocla signature thing with Tabia Sultana. Theres no way any candidate should have let that go.

Larry Otter, a Bucks County lawyer who specializes in election law, has represented Democrats and Republicans over the last 25 years. The first rule of nomination petitions, he said, is to have significantly more signatures than required.

If youre running for state rep, the minimum requirement is 300 signatures. You come in with 310, I can guarantee your petitions are going to be challenged and youre probably going to get knocked off the ballot.  Its been my experience that, unless you use a street list (of voters) and go door to door, theres a 30% error rate on the signatures you collect at the Wawa or Sheetz or Acme or whatever.  Now going door to door takes a lot longer, but those signatures should be relatively bulletproof.

Local Democratic and Republican organizations hold petition-signing events, where interested voters can meet candidates and sign the appropriate petitions. Such events tend to result in accurate signatures, Otter said.

Joe Vichot, chairman of the Lehigh County Republican Committee, said his group held two petition gatherings this year. In addition to the state legislative races and the congressional contest, local committee members are also seeking positions from their municipalities.

The event brought as many Republican voters out to one location as possible. We had two sponsored events by the LCRC but some candidates also planned their own.

The challenge process

For state races, lawyers file challenges with the Commonwealth Court. Among the paperwork, they must include a spreadsheet listing each questionable signature and the reason why it should be disqualified. The number of potentially invalid signatures can range from a dozen to hundreds.

Sometimes a court hearing before a judge is not needed, Otter said. Lawyers for each side first examine the spreadsheet to determine which signatures can be rejected or retained.

You review the challenges line by line and see if you can stipulate to certain challenges, he said.

For example, if the opposing lawyer agrees that their client does not have a sufficient number of valid signatures, that case does not need to go before the judge for a hearing and the candidate will withdraw.

Two years ago, thats what happened when Schlossberg decided that nomination petitions for an opponent, Republican Bethney Q. Finch of South Whitehall Township, didnt meet the threshold of 300 valid signatures. He enlisted two Republican voters to file the court challenge.

When presented with the evidence, Finch withdrew from the race. She then waged a successful write-in campaign for the Republican nomination to qualify for the November ballot but lost to Schlossberg in the general election.

But if theres disagreement, the case then goes to the judge who will determine whether the questioned signatures should be included or removed.

Otter said the decision can come down to one signature making the difference: Ive lost cases by one line, and Ive won cases by one line.

Editors Note: This story first appeared on Armchair Lehigh Valley and is being published on lehighvalleylive.com as part of a partnership with the website, which aims to give voters factual information in a nonpartisan way to help them make informed decisions at the polls. Armchair Lehigh Valley is run by publisher Katherine Reinhard and editor Robert H. Orenstein, two longtime journalists who formerly worked at The Morning Call in Allentown. Learn more about Armchair Lehigh Valley and subscribe here.
Javier Velaza, expert in epigraphy and professor of Latin Philology at the University of Barcelona, during the presentation of the discovery in November 2022.

The Hand of Irulegi is a bronze representation of a right-handed limb dating from the 1st century B.C. On November 14, 2022, in the presence of numerous journalists, this discovery was revealed during excavations at an archaeological site in the valley of Aranguren in the Spanish region of Navarre. The unique object is engraved in Paleo-Hispanic script (a semi-syllabic, rather than alphabetic, script), a first word that specialists soon identified as sorioneku. Given its strong relationship with the present-day Basque language Euskera, it was translated as good fortune.

The premiere of the Navarre region, Maria Chivite, proclaimed it a historic milestone. The discovery suggested that an archaic Basque was spoken in Navarre around 2,100 years ago. However, the question is far from clear. Many doubts exist, and perhaps sorioneku could even be the name of a divinity. So what exactly is known?

The Hand of Irulegi is an exceptional artifact, of that there is no doubt, according to prominent epigraphers and archaeologists like Mattin Aiestaran, of the Aranzadi Science Society; Joaquin Gorrochategui, of the University of the Basque Country, and Javier Velaza, professor of Latin Philology at the University of Barcelona.

Since the end of the Bronze Age (XV and XI B.C.), the European population started to settle in high places and was therefore better defended against attacks. The Irulegi site is one of these places. Its inhabitants were able to enjoy a broad panoramic view of the surrounding valleys and the routes that led to the Ebro River, the Cantabrian Sea and what was then known as the region of Gaul. The director of the excavations, Mattin Aiestaran, confirmed that the settlement disappeared in the first third of the 1st century B.C., when it was destroyed during the Sertorian Wars (82-72 B.C.), an internal Roman armed conflict. The conflict between the Quintus Sertorius and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus devastated a large part of the Iberian Peninsula, especially the Ebro Valley. Choosing the wrong side meant total destruction.

The dwelling where the hand was found  known as Building 6000  contained stone plinths, an adobe elevation and wooden posts to support the wooden or vegetation-covered roof. The metal limb was discovered in the vestibule of the house, among the remains of rust-stained adobe and charred wood. The materials that have been found nearby mainly date from the first quarter of the 1st century B.C., such as coins from the mint of OTtikes (Navarre), ceramics of Campanian import or black varnish, Etruscan productions, burins and various bone elements of fauna. In addition to the hand, two brief ceramic inscriptions were also found.

The hand is a cut bronze sheet (53.19% tin, 40.87% copper and 2.16% lead). On the back, it features the shape of fingernails. In the center, it has a perforation for nailing it to some kind of support. It measures 14.3 centimeters in height and weighs 35.9 grams.

But how was it engraved and by whom? Specialists agree that the first three lines were sketched in a rough and imprecise manner, so that the scribe would stay aligned, something that was not achieved. Then, the scripts were engraved using the sgraffito technique (scratching of the surface layers with a sharp instrument) and later they were marked with the stippling technique following the first sgraffito strokes. This raises the question of whether it was one or two people were involved with its making. This double procedure is extraordinarily rare in Latin epigraphy as well. In fact, we only know of one example of a silver patera [a bowl used for ancient sacrifices] from Bourges, France, says Velaza.

The script used undoubtedly belongs to the family of Paleo-Hispanic semi-syllabaries (combination of syllabary and alphabet). Experts note that the text includes a very special feature: a T-shaped sign that was only known in coins from Basque mints, which is why they are in no doubt to designate this written set as belonging to a particular Basque script.

This reveals that the ancient Vascones used their own script and not the Iberian one as previously suspected. The fact that it is an inscription of possibly private character and that it uses a particular graphic system supports the idea of an introduction of the writing in the Vasconic world, affirm the experts in the recent study. Gorrochategui maintains, therefore, that it is legitimate to use the term Basque to refer to the inscription.

Transcription of the words on the Hand of Irulegi. The first word is 'sorioneku', meaning good fortune. Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi

In ancient societies, writing was learned through contact with other cultures that had already mastered it. In the case of the Vascones, they adopted the Iberian model, but adapted it to their language. From the Celtiberians, they probably copied the use of bronze as a medium for writing, in addition to stippling. They stopped using this type of script, like the rest of the Iberian peoples, in the 1st century B.C., with the extension of the Latin alphabet.

It is not possible to know why the inscription was made on a hand-shaped object, because such symbolism can cover a wide spectrum: supplication for protection, apotropaic character, expression of friendship or votive offering. It may even be related to war and not to good fortune, as a severed hand represents victory over enemies, as the Iberians and Lusitanians believed, since they cut off the limbs of their adversaries and hung them on their belts or on the doors of their houses, according to writings of ancient historians Diodorus of Sicily and Strabo.

What does the first sorioneke or sorioneku  depending on whether you read the sgraffito or stippling script  word mean? One thing that is certain is that this word is very similar to the Basque expression zorioneko (lucky, fortunate, of good fortune), which is formed by the words zori (fortune) and (h)on (good).

General view of Mount Irulegi, in Navarre. Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi

Another possibility is that sorioneku is an Iberian or Aquitanian language name (a Basque language from the other side of the Pyrenees) made up of the sor or sori particles plus on. Regarding the ending eku, experts find no parallels in Iberian or Aquitanian onomastics. In any case, epigraphers recognize that they have not identified any persons name on the hand (by comparison with coins or other Iberian texts), and therefore it is likely to be sorioneku.

Javier Velaza explains it as follows: We have never said that sorioneku was exactly the equivalent of the Basque word zorioneko [fortunate], but that the form sori-on may be equivalent to the Basque zori-on [good fortune]. In addition, as the sgraffito text does not read sorioneku, but rather sorioneke, the eke suffix could be related to a divinity, as is the case in the Basque theonyms Larra-he or Arte-he.

The professor concludes: This inscription represents a significant contribution to the study of the phenomenon of writing among the Vascones, its adoption and relationship with other Paleo-Hispanic scripts, making it necessary to review all the inscriptions known so far in the region, no matter how fragmentary they may be. Many of the questions raised by the text, such as the value of some signs, can only be answered with more documents, the appearance of which we now know is not unlikely.

One more question remains to be answered: if the Hand of Irulegi represents the right hand, did anyone in the settlement have the left one?

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Schools at all levels in the Lehigh Valley are making strides to prioritize the mental wellbeing of students with accessible, hands-on coping mechanisms on campuses.

On Thursday, the Wilson Area School District unveiled new sensory hallways in four of its schools to provide students an opportunity to reduce stress and sharpen focus in the classroom, according to a release from the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

As part of a partnership between the Wilson Area Partners in Education Foundation and Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, the school district installed these paths that employ guided movements for students to follow, shown by markings on the ground and/or walls. As students follow the path and complete the movements, they both develop their gross motor skills and expend excess energy that reduces restlessness and stress in classrooms.
By Tom Dallessio

Are you worried that open lands are being developed in ways that dont respect your values or the environment? Are you concerned that potential flooding might damage your home? Does a polluted river make you sad? Do you have a positive vision for our future?

Theres something you can do. Join us in planning for the future. The Musconetcong Watershed Association was formed in 1992 by residents who were concerned about protecting and conserving the Musconetcong River and its headwaters and tributaries from pollution, flooding and other damage.

For over three decades, MWA has worked with neighbors and local, regional, state, and federal officials to monitor water quality; educate residents and decisionmakers; advocate for protections; and complete enhancement projects such as tree plantings, dam removals and other watershed restoration efforts.

The Musconetcong River is a major tributary to the Lower Delaware River. The river itself is 42-miles long and the drainage area  or watershed  is roughly 157.6 square miles and spans four counties in northwestern New Jersey  Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, and Warren.

The Musconetcong Watershed is one of the few remaining rural areas in a highly urbanized state. Despite being home to only 192,324 people (as of the 2020 Census), the watershed encompasses a mix of urban, suburban, and agrarian areas and a motley mix of people from different walks of life.

In 2006, the river was awarded Wild and Scenic status by the Congress. The act recognizes certain selected rivers that possess - Outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values.

Over the past few decades, the Musconetcong River and its drainage area have seen development pressures increase, a change in land use from farmland and open space to more impervious  or hardtop  surfaces, rising atmospheric temperatures and the cumulative effect of aging infrastructure.

In 2003, a Total Maximum Daily Load Management Plan (TMDL) was placed on the river to address an alarmingly high rate of bacterial loading, mainly due to failing septic systems. To address the issue, New Jersey issues grants under what it calls the 319 program (referring to Section 319 of the 1972 Clean Water Act) to study and provide recommendations for addressing and remediating non-point, or indirect, pollution sources.

The 319 plans have a particular structure, but they 1.) only look at water quality data and infrastructural solutions and 2.) tend to be limited to certain segments of the river. We are developing a 319 plan for the area from Hackettstown to Hampton.

Over the next year, we anticipate working with Hunterdon County and its municipalities in the lower Musconetcong. We are engaging the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and the residents along this water body to consider how to address development and conservation over the next 25 years.

Yet while the 319 effort is good for addressing immediate needs, it does not consider the issue of remediating a water body holistically.

In response to some of the limitations of the 319 effort, we proposed the development of a Comprehensive Musconetcong Watershed Vision Plan.

The Musconetcong Watershed Vision Plan will provide a comprehensive and holistic view of the river and its lakes and tributaries, as well as the lands that flow into these water bodies. It will address economic development, housing, circulation, and other issues. The Vision Plan will provide direction for a subsequent Action Plan and Protection and Restoration Plan.

We continue to seek public input regarding this Vision Plan. If you have any suggestions or recommendations, we welcome you to send them to us. For more information and upcoming events, visit the watersheds website.

Tom Dallessio is executive director of the Musconetcong Watershed Association.
A new book cataloging the presence of Black people and their lives in Warren County is now available to read at Phillipsburgs Free Public Library, as well as the towns high school and middle school.

The book, titled Phorgotten No More: Glimpses of the African-American presence in Phillipsburg is the most complete record of the existence of Black people in Phillipsburg and the surrounding towns between 17772021 and to date, says Wayne Sherrer, who authored the book.

Phorgotten No More is a conscientiously researched catalog of Black firsts, and a well-told story. With documented evidence that enslaved and freemen survived, triumphed and advocated for themselves against all obstacles. Sherrers study is exactly what it supposes to be: vignettes of the often overlooked memories of a small region in the North still working to follow the arc toward kindness, fairness and justice.

The idea for the book really came out of the fact that I wanted to highlight that Black people have been part of this community for more than 250 years, Sherrer said. I think theres a false history that Black people are a recent addition to Phillipsburg when, the fact is, Black people have always been here.

Sherrer, 73, graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1969. He says, if asked at age 18, have there ever been any Black families in Phillipsburg before 1960, he quickly wouldve said No.

It wasnt something I couldnt have even noticed then, he said. All of my neighbors were white. Almost everyone I knew was white.

But, U.S. Census records show Phillipsburgs population of Black residents in 1960 was actually at a peak, having recovered to more than 100 people after a nearly 100-year-long slump.

But there were Black families; like the Utleys and their neighbors who lived in Pohatcong, Sherrer said.

I didnt know the Utley family; Charles was in my graduating... but our families lived in different parts of town and our paths outside school didnt intersect.

Charles Utley was elected president of his class at Phillipsburg High School in 1965. He was the first Black person to be named to the role in the school's history.Courtesy of Utley Family

Charles Utley graduated with Sherrer in 1969, with a class 400 students, Sherrer said. Utley was the high schools first Black class president. He later graduated from Robert Morris and Duquesne universities and became self-employed as an insurance agent. He died in 2022 in Pittsburgh. He was married to Gwendolyn Grice Utley, and a father of two, his obituary states.

Phillipsburgs first Black graduate left the high school in 1929, preceding Utley by 40 years.

Under his yearbook photo, the graduate, Harry Case wrote that he wanted to be remembered for Surmounting all obstacles. In 1958, Harry Case Jr.s graduation made him the second person in his family to graduate from the high school, and the Case family became the first Black family with two generations of graduates to wear garnet and gray, Sherrer notes in the book.

Phorgotten No More also examines how racially-charged hostilities, as well as limited resources, influenced the Lehigh Valleys demographics on both sides of the Delaware River. Because Phillipsburg was a transient town, Sherrer said, the existence of not only railways and canals, but also the New Jersey Turnpike, present day Main Street in Phillipsburg, made it a convenient stop for many people leaving the emancipated South.

Between 1850-60 Black people made up a respectable percentage (3%) of Phillipsburgs population, but as their numbers grew, they were met with waves of European immigration by German, Irish and Italians, and were thus forced to remain the minority, and were forced to compete harder for jobs and opportunities.

Many left the region, fled to Easton or surrounding towns and major cities to be nearer to more welcoming communities, opportunities or, simply, to find a fresh start.

Between 1840 and 1900, Phillipsburgs population grew to more than 10,000 residents but only two Black men owned property, Sherrer said. Even though, they made up no more than 5% of the population, in some neighborhoods, Black residents were only allowed to room or rent as live-in servants. Growing a family and a life was untenable, Sherrer explains in his book. Explicit racial prejudice, as well as a labor shortage in the 1910s, made it impossible for the few remaining Black people to justify living in Phillipsburg.

In the book, Sherrer pulls an article published in the Easton Express, which would later become The Express-Times and lehighvalleylive.com, that appropriately summarizes the sorts of sentiments Black residents received from their neighbors and their elected leaders.

The 1916 article headline read: Negroes Housed There: Mayor Declares We Dont Want a Lot of N****rs to Come Here and Create a Nuisance. Mayor Frank Kneedler, for whom Kneedler Avenue is named, made the statement to commissioners while condemning the Warren Pipe Foundry for housing its Black employees.

The book "Phorgotten No More: Glimpses of the African-American presence in Phillipsburg, New Jersey" was written by Wayne Sherrer.Glenn Epps

By the 1920s local Ku Klux Klan assemblies began hosting gatherings at Ortygia Hall, the towns preeminent event space; Sherrer writes, the same hall in which, three decades prior, a small group of successful Black residents called the Twilight Social Club, hosted a social to encourage integration in the community. The Klans event excluded Black residents.

In 1924, when the Washington Klavern was wealthy enough and large enough, writes Sherrer. It purchased Senator John Cornishs mansion to be its Klan Palace and thousands attended the four-day dedication, which ran for three days and featured a 50-foot-tall flaming cross ostentatiously displayed on the front lawn.

Evidently, feelings had swiftly changed since emancipation and that point was made very clear.

Sherrer began writing Phorgotten No More in 2002, he said. It was proposed as a chapter in another book hes still writing, but I realized the Black History chapter just kept getting bigger and bigger, he said.

In 2023, he decided the chapter would be published as its own book.

One of the sentiments I was seeing online on social media was people talking about people coming from the city and creating disorder and crime. I think city is a code word for Black, he said.

One of my goals for the book is to see it foster community between Black and White residents in Phillipsburg, he said. Sherrer donated a copy each to the Phillipsburg high school, middle school and public library in February.

35 1 / 35 'Walk With Us' rally and march draw hundreds in Phillipsburg

Phorgotten No More: Glimpses of the African American presence in Phillipsburg, New Jersey 17772021 (106 pages) is available to read at Phillipsburg Free Public Library. Copies of the book are also available at Sullivans Mercantile, Book and Puppet Co. and Amazon.

Wayne Sherrer is a priest at the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, St. James Episcopal Church in Hackettstown, N.J. and a member, and former president, of the Phillipsburg Historical Society. He began writing Phorgotten No More: Glimpses of the African American presence in Phillipsburg, New Jersey full-time after he retired as a driver for Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA). He lives with his wife; they have two children.

Sherrer is scheduled to attend a book signing for Phorgotten No More, at Moravian Book Shop at 1 p.m. on March 10.

Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on X (formerly known as Twitter.com), Facebook and Threads.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe to lehighvalleylive.com today.
Emma Doran, one of Irelands best-loved comedians, is hitting the road with her brand new show, DILEMMA which she pulls into Portlaoise in April.

Fresh from appearing on the extremely popular show, Last One Laughing Ireland, fronted by Graham Norton, Emmas 21-date nationwide tour is set to kick off in March and will conclude with two nights in Vicar Street in May, before she brings the shows to UK audiences in October.

It's the post-apocalyptic world. There's only one contraceptive pill left. Do you give it to your 20-year-old daughter or keep it for yourself? Is it better to be a 40-year-old grandmother or a 40-year-old new mam?

These are the dilemmas facing Emma Doran, aged 39 and 7/8s, even though the most obvious outcome is neither. If turning 40 is the start of something new, what is it the end of? "Ah here, where's me vape?" MORE BELOW PICTURE

Emma is promising a night of belly laughs where critics have raved about her performances, with the Evening Standard declaring, "Youd be mad to miss her," and The Guardian praising her "Pleasing streak of wickedness."

Emma said today: I am so excited to be bringing my new show around Ireland this spring. We are hitting almost every county across Ireland and doing even bigger venues, she said.

As a regular on televison series like Republic of Telly, Bridget and Eamonn and Callan Kicks over the years Emma has even popped up in Amazon Primes series Modern Love in 2022 alongside Kit Harrington.

Emma has made appearances on Celebrity Gogglebox Ireland, The Late Late Show, and most recently on Last One Laughing Ireland on Prime Video.

Her Laois stop is the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise on April 5.
The green light for parking restrictions in Durrow will be accompanied by more parking spaces and could also be followed by a one-way system through the town, under plans being advanced by Laois County Council.

The go-ahead was given by Laois county councillors who represent the popular Laois town at their February meeting where other measures to alleviate parking problems and improve traffic were also discussed. However, one public representative withheld his support warning that there is no central car park to back up the reduced availability of all day parking.

However, a majority of six Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District councillors gave the approval needed for the time-limited parking in the heart of the town. It will see a two-hour time limit from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday, inclusive on The Square (east & south side) adjacent/joining Mary St and Castle St.

Laois County Council intends to introduce the measure in Durrow from Monday, March 11. MORE BELOW PLAN.

Approval was given following a public consultation initiated last September. James Dowling, senior executive engineer, said two submissions were received. He said there were no specific objections to the proposals, but concerns were raised.

Among the points raised was free public parking spaces for employees and owners of local businesses near the town centre. The inclusion of Sunday was also sought.

In reply the council said there are about 190 car park spaces in and around Durrow town centre but time-limited parking relates to just 40 spaces. The council said its proposal aims to move all-day parking away from commercial premises that, in turn, benefit from greater turn-over of spaces.

The council says enhanced car parking facilities will be provided at the existing car park on Cork Road and the area around the Fire Station where a design has been completed to facilitate eight new parking spaces.

The council said some education and encouragement of employees would be needed.

Permits will be provided to residents of properties immediately adjacent to the time-limited parking spaces, subject to normal qualifying criteria. Parking permits for some businesses may be reviewed.

Paid parking is not proposed. Council-employed traffic wardens will be deployed to the town to police the restrictions including at weekends.

Mr Dowling said the local authority has drawn up plans for a one-way system on the N77 Kilkenny road. He said talks with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to advance this project are underway.

Cllr Ollie Clooney, Independent, led the reaction from councillors by welcoming the plan which has been in the pipeline for a number of years.

I would like to see it implemented as soon as possible. Cars are left all day and parking is very restricted at the moment, he said.

He hoped Sunday would be included as the social dancing leads to a lot of extra parking in the town. He had concerns over the lack of a main town car park but felt the restrictions were a step in the right direction.

Cllr James Kelly, Independent, said restricted parking has been an important success in Mountrath. However, he said Mountrath was lucky to already have had a car park which Durrow does not have. He said repeating this success in Durrow will be difficult due to the absence of a car park in Durrow. He also called for car parking for staff at some businesses to be permitted where cars must be parked outside such as the creche.

Cllr Kelly abstained on approving the byelaws but the remaining six councillors agreed.

Cllr Clooney said it was not an ideal plan but it would be helped by the introduction of a one-way system.

It cant be any worse than it was, he said.

Cllr Conor Bergin and Cllr John King, both Fine Gael, also voiced their support for the proposal.


Late Late Show viewers are praising Irish rappers Kneecap for highlighting the plight of Palestinians.

In Friday night's (February 23) episode, the group - which consists of Mo Chara, Moglai Bap, and DJ Provai - joined host Patrick Kielty in the studio for an interview and performance.

In the interview, Kielty mentioned that DJ Provai - who appeared to be wearing a Palestinian shirt - had undergone a "change of costume".

He said, "You've done a bit of a costume change here, there you go. I have to say, I'm obliged to say this, that our thoughts are with everybody in that conflict, some horrific stuff is happening there, I'm also obliged to say that in the politics there's another side and some people mightn't agree with what you've done, so."

In response, Moglai Bap said, "A hundred percent, but that's why we're here to use our platform to highlight the genocide in Palestine at the moment. Thirty thousand Palestinians have been murdered by American weapons and mostly, two thirds of them, are women and children.

"So I think we just have to use this platform as an opportunity to appeal to Irish people to attend rallies and protests and support the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement to show solidarity to Palestine and hopefully, one day, Palestine will be free."

It comes just weeks after RTE asked members of the Irish Women in Harmony group to remove badges and clothing which suggested support for Palestine ahead of a live Late Late performance.

Many commenters on social media praised the trio for their stance, with one X user stating: "Seriously impressed with Kneecap for having the balls to stand up for the people of Palestine."

One person commented: "Kneecap proving the legends they are by using their big night to make it so strongly about Palestine. Maith sibh."

A further comment stated: "Kneecap are legends, take a bow lads."

Another said: "I see kneecap are annoying all the right people again today. Like clockwork."

One X user criticised RTE's stance on wearing Palestinian items in solidarity: "Why were the group of women singing in tribute to Sinead OConnor prevented from wearing Palestine solidarity badges/symbols but these guys Kneecap are wearing support symbols. The women shouldve been allowed."

Not everyone agreed with Kneecap appearing on the show, however, with one X user stating: "Who booked these clowns?"

Another person commented: "Where can we complain about these talentless clowns being allowed to spout their hatred courtesy of my and others licence fee?"

A further X comment read: "A new low for the Late Late Show."

The trio also spoke about how speaking Irish in Northern Ireland is "politicised" compared to the Republic, with Mo Chara stating: "What's political is subjective."

Kneecap went on to perform their latest track 'Better Way to Live' - which has amassed almost 1 million streams on Spotify - to the live studio audience.

Tickets to the trio's Fine Art tour are out now.
Intel Ireland has teamed up with the 'Black and Irish' organisation to sponsor a significant book donation initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in local secondary schools.

The 'Black and Irish' organisation is dedicated to advocating for the Black community in Ireland. The group recently launched its first book, "Black and Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes." Featuring profiles of 25 prominent Black Irish figures, the book highlights the accomplishments of individuals like Ruth Negga, Gavin Bazunu, Dami Hope, Emma Dabiri, Christine Buckley, and Phil Lynott.

Intel Ireland's contribution involves providing 100 copies of the book to each of the seven secondary schools in Celbridge, Leixlip, and Maynooth. This initiative not only celebrates Black Irish figures and their achievements, but also aims to create an inclusive educational environment that fosters cultural awareness.

As an added bonus, Black & Irish, will visit the recipient schools to engage with student groups interested in learning more about the organisation, providing a valuable opportunity for dialogue and understanding.

Intels Community Relations Director Sarah Sexton shared her thoughts on the donation.

We are delighted to partner together with Black and Irish to bring this brilliant publication to schools here in North Kildare. The book is an important celebration of the achievements of the Black community in Ireland, and we hope that this donation will serve as a source of inspiration for our next generation.
While there are some wild evergreen plants that can produce flowers all year long now that the days are getting longer those plants that hibernated for the darker colder winter months are beginning to emerge from their winter retreat.

The first signs of this are the plants bright green leaves that emerge above the surface.

Leaves contain chlorophyll an essential ingredient in the plants ability to make its own food, a process known as photosynthesis. The leaves photosynthesis so that the plant can make enough energy to produce a flower and this week I came across the first evidence of a spring flower.

Although it was not in full bloom it was almost there, Irelands native lesser celandine (Gran arcain as Gaeilge). This spring flower maybe familiar to you as I have written about this wildflower before.

It is a hairless plant, the leaves are heart shaped glossy and dark green.

The flowers are bright yellow, star shaped and open on bright days but will also close on duller days. You should watch for it growing in your community along hedgerows, in woodlands and under trees in your local park.

Did you know that Ireland has a spring flower project jointly managed by the BSBI (Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland) and the National Biodiversity Data Centre?

This survey is another example of a citizen scientist initiative. As it is still quite cold outside we dont spend as much time outside as we would during the summer. This project was started to encourage us all to record our observations of these early flowering species that can be otherwise lacking in data. Understanding the populations of these early spring flowers can support in setting in place conservation measures to help protect them.

If you would like to get involved in the spring flower project spotter sheet are available at https://biodiversityireland.ie/sprin

g-flowers-project.

You should not expect to find all the different spring flowers in your community as some like open spaces while other more shady.

I encourage you to get involved and start looking this week for Irelands spring flower and see how many you can observe this season.
A cyclist in his 60s has been transported to a hospital in Dublin following a serious collision with a car.

Gardai and emergency services responded to the collision involving a car and a cyclist on the R125 at Phepotstown, Kilcock, Co Kildare (on the border of Co Meath) shortly after 12 noon today (Sunday February 24).

The cyclist was transported from the scene by ambulance to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown with serious injuries.

The occupants of the car did not require immediate medical attention.

The scene has been preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, and local traffic diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the collision to come forward.

Additionally, road users who may have been traveling on the R125 between Dunbyone and Kilcock at the time, and possess camera footage (including dash-cam), are requested to provide this footage to investigating Gardai.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ashbourne Garda Station at 01 8010600, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
The media minister must answer questions in the Dail about the ongoing RTE crisis, Sinn Fein has demanded.

Catherine Martins role in handling an ever-widening scandal at the national broadcaster came into sharper focus on Thursday after she refused to express confidence in the chair of the RTE board.

The minister said she had been misinformed on two occasions about Siun Ni Raghallaighs involvement in approving an exit package for a former RTE executive.

Hours after the minister said she was disappointed with the chair, Ms Ni Raghallaigh resigned from her role as head of the RTE board.

But opposition TDs have said these latest developments have raised questions about Ms Martins oversight and control of the controversy at the station.

She is due to appear at the Oireachtas media committee on Tuesday but a Sinn Fein spokesman has said she must also take questions from TDs in the Dail chamber.

David Cullinane said there was a lack of accountability across the entire Government.

He said: I think peoples faith in RTE has been rocked to its foundations because of all the financial scandals that weve seen over the course of the last year.

But it has only been compounded by what people have seen over the course of the last number of days.

There is a lack of accountability, a lack of transparency, and  in my view  there is a lack of confidence from the public in relation to how this minister and the Government have handled this issue.

Mr Cullinane told RTEs The Week In Politics that Ms Martin needed to set the record straight in front of the full Dail.

He said Sinn Fein had written to the speaker of the house Ceann Comhairle seeking a question-and-answer session with the minister.

The party was also seeking the abolition of the television licence in favour of direct exchequer funding and for RTE to be brought under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

On the same programme, minister of state for roads Jack Chambers said Ms Martin was absolutely focused on transparency and accountability.

He added: In the context of the polycrisis that weve seen in RTE over the number of months, multiple reports  internal and external  thats made decisions around a new (funding) model more difficult for everybody involved.

Thats why though there will be progress on that this year. Theres been a commitment given by the party leaders and the Government to that.

Prior to the resignation of the chair of the board, two major reports into the governance and culture at RTE were due to be published before the end of the month.
The Teslaquila is just one of many products that the company has sold.

Tesla is famous for being one of the leading electric carmakers in the world. The company was a pioneer, paving the way for those who came after. However, cars are far from being the only Tesla product you can buy: through the years, Elon Musks company has ventured into many new sectors, giving rise to all kinds of products that bear the brands logo. Some are related to the automotive world, but others are more imaginative, like the flamethrower that was launched by Musks The Boring Company.

The latest to cause a stir is the Tesla Cyberhammer, whose trademark application (discovered by Electrek) refers to it as exercise equipment. Its a gym hammer, an increasingly popular device used in various types of strength and balance exercises. But that is only the tip of the iceberg.

Surfboard

One of Teslas first forays outside the EV sector was a surfboard, a success that opened the door for all the products that came after it. It was a limited edition; only 200 were made. The surfboards cost $1,500, and they sold out in less than 24 hours.

Shorts

In 2020, the company released a pair of short shorts with the word S3XY on the back, a reference to the initials of each of the models that the brand was selling at the time. The price tag was $69, and they sold out quickly. Afterward, resellers started offering them for over $400.

Teslaquila

That same year, Tesla launched its first alcoholic beverage: a tequila that came in a striking lightning bolt-shaped bottle that the brand claimed to have aged in oak barrels for 15 months. It cost $250 and also sold out in a matter of hours

Tesla GigaBier

In 2023, Tesla tried its hand at alcoholic beverages again, this time opting for beer. The very elegant, carefully-designed package contained three 330-milliliter bottles; it was only available in Europe for 89 (approximately $98) and also sold out almost immediately.

Cyberwhistle

The companys latest creation is a $50 whistle that looks like a tiny Tesla Cybertruck. Like the rest of the products, it is sold out.

CyberSpoon

The CyberSpoon is a particular case, because it was a collaboration between Tesla and McDonalds. It was only available in China, where 50,000 units were specially manufactured for the McFlurry (the ice cream also came in a special container).

Tesla Bot

The companys humanoid robot is not for sale yet, but it is further proof that Tesla has no problem foraying into uncharted territories. First, it will be used it in the companys factories; then it will also be sold to whoever is interested in it for approximately $20,000.

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The loved ones of a 30 year old Irish man who suffered a catastrophic head injury in Spain are seeking help to fund his specialist rehabilitation.

According to a fundraising campaign set up on Go Fund Me, Brian Domi Mallon's life took an unexpected turn when he missed a step descending the stairs of Sagrada Familia Metro Station in Barcelona on his way home from work on March 3, 2023.

A Sligo man, Brian reportedly moved to Barcelona after falling in love with the city during an Erasmus year, and was due to start teaching sociology after completing his masters in 2022.

After his fall, he was initially in a coma for two weeks due to a brain bleed, but began making an "almost miraculous recovery" when he woke up.

However, during Easter week, Brian developed an infection at the site of his craniotomy, which quickly spread through his entire brain.

Despite surgery to attempt removal of the infection, he suffered a further bleed and went back into a coma.

Brian - who has undergone eleven surgeries to address issues such as bleeds, craniotomy, cranioplasty, brain shunts and PEG feeding tube - has been left with challenges such as an inability to talk and communicate, as well as complete paralysis on his right side, and partial paralysis on his left side.

He spent three months on life support, almost five months in ICU, and 5 months in a specialist rehabilitation hospital in Barcelona.

Fortunately, he began to breathe fully for himself in September and began to eat in October, before finally starting to say some words in November.

He is beginning to regain movement and mobility very slowly, and he is in good spirits.

However, as he needs 24/7 total care and needs to learn to speak again, people in the Sligo community and beyond are being urged to donate what they can to his ongoing care.

Brian returned by air ambulance to Sligo University Hospital just before the turn of the new year and was moved to the Benbulben Rehabilitation unit at St. Johns Hospital, Sligo at the end of January.

His participation in rehabilitation has reportedly been stunted due to medical issues, the severity of his brain injury, medication side effects, and his difficulty in communicating.

According to the Go Fund Me campaign, the potential of Brians recovery "massively depends" on continuing specialist rehabilitation.

The money raised by the campaign will go to the Brian Domi trust fund for his medical care, modifications to the family home, and the provision of accessible transport.

A statement from the family reads: "Regardless of size, every donation is a meaningful step toward Brian regaining independence and rebuilding his life. In these challenging times, your support is a source of comfort and strength for our family.

"Every cent received will go directly into the Brian Domi trust fund and will be used exclusively for Brian's rehabilitation and needs. Thank you for being part of Brian's support network. Your kindness is making a significant impact. We appreciate it more than words can express."

Almost 10,000 has been raised for Brian's recovery so far out of a 75,000 goal.
The Whistlin' Donkeys, are an Irish Folk band hailing from the picturesque County Tyrone, who become a musical force to be reckoned with over the past six years. With a unique blend of traditional Irish music and Celtic rock influences, the band has captured the hearts of audiences at home abroad, garnering a dedicated worldwide following.



Since their inception in 2011, The Whistlin' Donkeys have been entertaining crowds with their infectious energy and distinctive sound. Comprising Fergal McAloon on vocals and bodhran, Stephen Corrigan on acoustic guitar and backing vocals, Tomas Quinn on banjo, Michael Kerr on fiddle and backing vocals, Danny McCormack on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Oscar Bradley on drums and percussion, the band is a formidable ensemble that delivers captivating live performances.



Known for their lively shows that keep feet stomping and hands clapping all night long, The Whistlin' Donkeys have played at numerous concerts and festivals throughout Ireland, leaving a lasting impression on audiences with their unique spin on Irish Folk music. In the last year, their musical journey has taken them across the pond to entertain large crowds in the USA, England, and across Europe.



The band's repertoire includes fan-favourite tunes such as "Bees Wing," "South Australia," and "Can't Help Falling in Love," along with their latest release, "When The Ship Comes In." The Whistlin' Donkeys offer a perfect mix of upbeat songs, catchy melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics, creating an unforgettable experience for all who come to see them.



There will no better way to start the St. Patricks festivities this year than a night with the fantastic Whistlin Donkeys!



Tickets are available through Eventbrite or the Landmark Hotel reception. Over 18s event  ID will be required.
Zepp Health Unveils Zepp OS 3.5 with Zepp Flowtm, Powered by Large Language Model AI, Pioneering the Next Generation of Wearable Intelligence Devices at MWC Barcelona 2024





MILPITAS, Calif., Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zepp Health Corporation ("Zepp Health") (NYSE: ZEPP), a global leader in smart wearables and health technology, today announces a significant stride in wearable intelligence with the introduction of Zepp OS 3.5, featuring Zepp Flowtm. This revolutionary enhancement brings a whole new level of interaction to wearable devices, marking a pioneering advancement in the industry, making Zepp Health's Amazfit smartwatches the first to have a fully integrated Natural-Language User Interface (LUI) powered by LLM AI in its operating system.

Zepp Flowtm, the centerpiece of Zepp OS 3.5, represents much more than just a voice assistant; it embodies a paradigm shift in user experience. Inspired by the concepts of balance and harmony, the name "Flow" encapsulates the smooth and intuitive nature of user interaction. Much like the effortless movement of water or the focused energy experienced in a state of "flow," Zepp Flowtm facilitates a seamless connection between users and their devices, allowing for natural, uninterrupted interaction.

Designed to understand natural language, Zepp Flowtm eliminates the need for predefined commands or keywords, enabling users to express their intentions freely. By intuitively interpreting user requests, whether it's initiating a workout or managing daily tasks, Zepp Flowtm streamlines the user experience, making it more intuitive and effortless than ever before. This breakthrough represents a significant leap towards a future where artificial intelligence seamlessly integrates into everyday life, particularly in health, fitness, and productivity domains.

A Future of Connectivity and Intelligence

With a global presence spanning over 90 countries and a user base exceeding 42 million, Zepp Health, through its renowned brands like Amazfit, is committed to redefining the way individuals approach their health and wellness. By harnessing advanced technology and fostering collaboration across its brand portfolio, Zepp Health is at the forefront of innovation, shaping the future of wearable technology.

Through Zepp Flowtm, Zepp Health continues to push the boundaries of wearable technology, empowering users to seamlessly integrate smart devices into their daily lives. Zepp Flowtm represents a significant milestone in wearable intelligence, embodying the seamless integration of AI into people's everyday lives. "With dedicated R&D teams across North America, Europe, and Asia, we are committed to driving innovation and delivering unparalleled user experiences, to bring intelligent healthcare solutions empowering people to take control of their well-being," said Wayne Huang, CEO of Zepp Health. He added, "Zepp Flowtm epitomizes our dedication to unified connectivity and intelligent functionality throughout our ecosystem. Expanding its reach from the Zepp OS on smartwatches to the Zepp App on smartphones, and integrating with natural language processing, Zepp Flowtm asserts itself as the omnipresent AI within our system. Whether it resides on your smartwatch, earbuds, our app on your phone, or in the cloud, Zepp Flowtm guarantees a seamless and intuitive experience across all platforms."

How Zepp Flowtm Works

Zepp Flowtm boasts several key features that redefine user experience:

Natural Conversation: Unlike traditional voice assistants, Zepp Flowtm allows users to express themselves freely without requiring specific command phrases. Efficient Recognition: Zepp Flowtm rapidly and accurately recognizes user speech, ensuring a smooth and responsive interaction. Precise Understanding: Users need only describe what they want, and Zepp Flowtm will recognize their intent and provide the most appropriate response.

Availability

Zepp OS 3.5 and Zepp Flowtm will be supported on the Amazfit Balance in the US, Canada , United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland , via a firmware update on February 26th .

, and , via a firmware update on . Amazfit Balance users in France , Italy , Germany , Spain , Liechtenstein , Luxembourg , Monaco , Switzerland , Andorra , Austria , Belgium , and San Marino will be able to upgrade to Zepp OS 3.5 on May 1st .

, , , , , , , , , , , and will be able to upgrade to Zepp OS 3.5 on . The Amazfit Cheetah series, Amazfit Falcon, and Amazfit T-Rex Ultra will receive this update on a rolling basis, starting from May 28th through until June 11th . The Amazfit Active will be upgraded on June 20th .

About Zepp Health Corporation

Zepp Health (NYSE:ZEPP), a global smart wearable and health technology leader, empowers users to live their healthiest lives by optimizing their health, fitness, and wellness journeys through its leading consumer brands, Amazfit, Zepp Clarity, and Zepp Aura. Powered by its proprietary Zepp Digital Health Management Platform, which includes the Zepp OS, AI chips, biometric sensors, and data algorithms, it delivers cloud-based 24/7 actionable insights and guidance to help users attain their wellness goals. To date, Zepp Health has shipped over 200 million units and its products are available in 90+ countries. Founded in 2013, Zepp Health has offices across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. For more information, visit www.zepp.com.

SOURCE Amazfit

25 february 2024 at 13:00

News published onand distributed by:
Director Mati Diop poses with the Golden Bear for Best Film for 'Dahomey', after the award ceremony of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 24, 2024. LIESA JOHANNSSEN / REUTERS

Dahomey, a documentary by Franco-Senegalese director Mati Diop probing the thorny issues surrounding Europe's return of looted antiquities to Africa, won the Berlin Film Festival's top prize Saturday. Kenyan-Mexican Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, the first black jury president at the 74th annual event, announced the seven-member panel's choice among 20 contenders for the Golden Bear award at a gala ceremony.

Diop said the prize "not only honors me but the entire visible and invisible community that the film represents. To rebuild we must first restitute, and what does restitution mean? To restitute is to do justice," she added.

South Korean arthouse favorite Hong Sang-soo captured the runner-up Grand Jury Prize for A Traveller's Needs, his third collaboration with French screen legend Isabelle Huppert. Hong, a frequent guest at the 11-day festival, thanked the jury, joking "I don't know what you saw in this film".

French auteur Bruno Dumont accepted the third-place Jury Prize for The Empire, an intergalactic battle of good and evil set in a French fishing village.

Dominican filmmaker Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias won best director for Pepe, his enigmatic docudrama conjuring the ghost of a hippopotamus owned by the late Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar.

Read more Subscribers only France and Germany launch joint fund to find provenance of African artifacts

'Collusion'

Marvel movie star Sebastian Stan picked up the best performance Silver Bear for his appearance in US satire A Different Man. Stan plays an actor with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease causing disfiguring tumors, who is cured with a groundbreaking medical treatment.

The Romanian-American heartthrob called it "a story that's not only about acceptance, identity and self truth but about disfigurement and disability  a subject matter that's been long overlooked by our own bias."

Britain's Emily Watson clinched the best supporting performance Silver Bear for her turn as a cruel mother superior in Small Things Like These. The film starring Cillian Murphy is about one of modern Ireland's biggest scandals: the Magdalene laundries network of Roman Catholic penitentiary workhouses for "fallen women."

She paid tribute to the "thousands and thousands of young women whose lives were devastated by the collusion between the Catholic church and the state in Ireland."

German writer-director Matthias Glasner took the Silver Bear for best screenplay for his semi-autobiographical tragicomedy Dying, a three-hour tour de force by some of the country's top actors depicting a dysfunctional family.

The Silver Bear for outstanding artistic contribution was awarded to cinematographer Martin Gschlacht for the chilling Austrian historical horror movie The Devil's Bath, about depressed women in the 18th century who committed murders in order to be executed.

A separate Berlinale Documentary Award went to a Palestinian-Israeli activist collective for No Other Land about Palestinians displaced by Israeli troops and settlers in the West Bank. Many of the award winners including Diop criticized the war in Gaza from the stage and called for an immediate ceasefire.
Exiled Russian journalist Elena Kostioutchenko at the presentation of her book "I love Russia" at the Geneva Press Club, Geneva, Switzerland, February 7, 2024. JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT / EPA/MAXPPP

On the first day of the invasion of Ukraine, February 24, 2022, Elena Kostyuchenko, a reporter for Novaya Gazeta, went straight there. She stayed in Ukraine for five weeks, becoming the last journalist from independent Russian media to work in Ukraine. Her writings on the abuses carried out by Russian forces forced her newspaper  six of whose contributors have paid with their lives for their work since its creation in 1993  to suspend its activities for the first time.

Nine months later, in October 2022, while applying for a new Ukrainian visa in Munich, Germany, Kostyutchenko was the victim of an attempted poisoning. Visiting Paris, the bright-eyed 36-year-old, who caused a scandal in her country by revealing her homosexuality in 2011, has published her first book which has been translated into French, Russie, Mon Pays Bien-aime "Russia, My Beloved Country).

Does Alexei Navalny's death in custody signal the end of hopes for change in Russia?

Elena Kostyuchenko: Navalny didn't die, he was killed. It's important to understand that difference. The second time, they managed to kill him. Russian special services first poisoned him in 2020. In the winter of 2021, he returned to Russia from the German hospital and was arrested at the airport. He said he had to be with his country and his people, that he was responsible to his fellow citizens, to whom he had promised another Russia.

The responsibility for Navalny's assassination lies with Vladimir Putin, no one else can make such a decision. And Putin of course wanted to bury our only hope with Navalny, the hope for the future Russia he had promised us, a peaceful, free, happy Russia. But this idea cannot be killed.

Read more Subscribers only Navalny continues to embarrass Russian authorities, even in death

Who will replace him?

One of 150 million Russians. Alexei's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, said she would continue her husband's fight. I'll do everything I can to support her. Right now, we can only count on ourselves.

You yourself have apparently been the victim of a poisoning attempt. Even in exile, do you take special security precautions?

The investigation is still ongoing, and my partner  who joined me in Europe and I move every month. It's tiring, especially as I'm still feeling the effects of the attempt. But I've got some good news too! I'm getting married soon and I'm back on track, even if I can't talk about it yet.

In your book, you look back at your reporting in Ukraine at the start of the Russian invasion. How do you feel two years on?

The first few days there, I felt like I was in a nightmare. I was looking and writing, but at the same time I had a feeling of unreality, as if I were waiting to wake up. In the encircled town of Nikolayev [Mykolayev in Ukrainian], the morgues were full. I remember the bodies of two sisters, one of whom was only 3 years old. I said to myself, for sure, I'm going to wake up from this nightmare, but it went on and on... I concentrated on what I was seeing. Then all the questions came: how is it possible that I, a reporter, didn't see this fascism invading my country? And that's when I decided to write this book.

You have 35.67% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky answers media questions during his press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 25, 2024. EVGENIY MALOLETKA / AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, February 25, that his country's victory "depends" on Western support and that he was "sure" the United States would approve a critical package of military aid.

He appealed to the West to boost Ukraine's war chances, at a forum marking the second anniversary of Russia's invasion. "Whether Ukraine will lose, whether it will be very difficult for us, and whether there will be a large number of casualties depends on you, on our partners, on the Western world," Zelensky said.

Read more Subscribers only After two years of war, Ukraine's unity is being tested

Ukraine has in recent weeks been weakened by an ammunition shortage, with a vital $60-billion US aid package blocked by political wrangling in the US Congress. The Ukrainian president said that "there is hope for Congress, and I am sure that it is going to be positive."

Ukraine has for months said that Western aid is too slow coming and that the hold-ups have real consequences as the war against Russia enters its third year.

Zelensky for the first time suggested that Russia had prior information on the country's much-anticipated but unsuccessful counteroffensive last summer. "Action plans were on the Kremlin's table before the counteroffensive actions began," said the president, who this month sacked the army's commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny.

Zelensky said that Ukraine's war losses were nevertheless much lower than Russia has claimed. He said: "31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in this war. Not 300,000 or 150,000, or whatever Putin and his lying circle are saying." In December, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said 383,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed or injured.

Read more Subscribers only Two years of war in Ukraine: A catastrophic effect on demographics

Moving tributes

The second anniversary of the war was marked around the world with moving tributes. During a Sunday service in the Vatican, Pope Francis called for intensified efforts to find a "just and lasting peace" to the conflict. "There have been so many victims, so many wounded, so much destruction, so much anguish and so many tears over what has become a terribly long period  the end of which we cannot yet foresee," he said.

But the focus in Kyiv was on shoring up Western support. Ukraine Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said earlier Sunday that half of Western military aid to Kyiv was delivered later than promised, causing losses.

Europe has admitted it will fall far short of a plan to deliver more than one million artillery shells to the country by March, instead hoping to complete the shipments by the end of the year. Such delays meant Kyiv would "lose people, lose territories", especially given Russia's "air superiority", said Umerov. "We do everything possible and impossible but without timely supply, it harms us," he said.

'Putin can lose this war'

US President Joe Biden has said the hold-ups directly contributed to Ukraine being forced to withdraw from the frontline town of Avdiivka earlier in February  handing Russia its first territorial gain in almost a year.

Zelensky had pressed G7 leaders on Saturday to ensure the fast delivery of weapons, telling them: "Putin can lose this war" and "we will win." But, after a year of static frontlines, Russia has in recent weeks been seeking to press its advantage on the battlefield and try to advance beyond Avdiivka. "Despite the difficult situation, our soldiers courageously hold their lines and positions," Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, said on Sunday after visiting frontline command posts.

Read more Subscribers only Despite the war, there is remarkable stability at the top in Russia

Russia marked the start of the war's third year with a wave of overnight missile and drone attacks. A missile strike on the eastern city of Kostyantynivka wounded one, destroyed the railway station  which is not in use  along with dozens of apartments, shops and administrative buildings, Ukrainian authorities said.

Explosives dropped by a Russian drone killed a 57-year-old man in Nikopol, across the Dnipro river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, captured by Russia at the start of the war. Umerov said Russia had fired more than 8,000 missiles at his country since the start of the invasion  an average of more than 10 a day.

European summit on Monday

Visiting the southern city of Mykolaiv, Annalena Baerbock, Germany's foreign minister, pledged an additional 100 million ($108 million) in humanitarian aid to Kyiv. "We should not minimise this aid as being in vain  it saves lives every day," she said, standing in front of a building destroyed by Russian strikes on the city.

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Monday host a summit European leaders at the Elysee Palace in Paris to try to strengthen Western support for Ukraine. The meeting in Paris will be a chance for participants to "reaffirm their unity as well as their determination to defeat the war of aggression waged by Russia in Ukraine", the French presidency said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda will be among some 20 European leaders attending the conference, which will open with a video address from Zelensky.

Read more Subscribers only War in Ukraine: Kyiv forced to scale down its military ambitions
A MAJOR business summit next week aims to help local business owners create links with Asian and global markets.

University of Limerick (UL) and the city centres Engine building will play host to the event, organised by Irelands only Asian think tank, Asia Matters.

The event takes place on Monday, February 26 and Tuesday, February 27.

Day one is in the Pavilion building at UL, while Engine is gearing up to host the second day.

The theme of the summit is driving digital innovation to grow global business.

Among the speakers are local TDs and Ministers of State Niall Collins, Patrick O Donovan and Kieran O Donnell.

UL president Kerstin Mey will also address the event.

On top of this, former Ireland rugby international Jamie Heaslip, who is now working as the strategic growth lead for payments firm Stripe will address the event.

Stripe was of course founded by Castletroy educated brothers Patrick and John Collison.

Representatives of other firms with big local bases, including Northern Trust and Dell Technologies will also be present.

Asia Matters executive director Martin Murray said: There are massive opportunities for Irish firms in Asia at the moment. Asia is the worlds most populous continent and 60% of all global output in 2024 is expected to come from Asian economies.

READ MORE: Objections to Limerick hub designed to cut hospital waiting times

He also said there are now fresh opportunities for Limerick, and Irelands agricultural sector now the Chinese ban on Irish beef has been lifted.

For more information about the summit held in partnership with University of Limerick and Limerick City and County Council, please visit www.asiamatters.eu.

Alternatively, please telephone 01-9065333.
The death has occurred of James (Jim) O'Sullivan of Pennywell, Limerick City, Limerick / Feenagh, Limerick.

Jim passed away on 23rd February 2024. Survived by his brothers John L. and Maurice, his sister Kathleen (O'Connor), nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, special friend Mags, other relatives and his many friends.

Rest in Peace.

Reposing at Thompson's Funeral Home, Limerick on Monday from 4.30pm with Removal at 6pm to St. Ita's Church, Feenagh. Requiem Mass on Tuesday at 12.30pm, which will be live-streamed (link to follow). Burial afterwards in Castletown Conyers Cemetery.

The death has occurred of Darragh O Sullivan of Ashbrook Lawn, Ennis Rd., Limerick City, Limerick / Clare.

Predeceased by his father Tom.

Deeply missed by his heartbroken family, mother Ann, brother Tommy, sisters Noreen and Lizzie, brother-in-law Paul, niece Ava, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, neighbours and friends.

May he Rest In Peace.

Reposing in Mc Mahon's Funeral Home, Blackwater Tuesday (27th February) from 6pm to 7:30pm. Arriving for funeral Mass in The Holy Rosary Church, Ennis Rd., Limerick Wednesday (28th February) at 11am followed by burial afterwards in Reilig Lua Cemetery, Killaloe.

No flowers please. Donation if desired to The Kevin Bell Reparation Trust. Click Here to make a donation.

Messages of sympathy can be sent to Mc Mahon Funeral Directors.

If you would like to write a condolence please do so on the link below.

The death has occurred of Tony (Anthony) Lyons of Raheen, Limerick.

Peacefully at University Hospital Limerick after a long illness. Beloved husband of Sadhbh. Dearly loved father of Eoghan and Aisling. Much loved son of Peg and the late Ned Joe.

Sadly missed by his brother Patrick, sister Margaret, Eoghans fiancee Ciara, sister-in-law Breda, nephews Sean and Padraig, extended family and friends.

May he Rest in Peace

Reposing at his home (Eircode V94 PXT8) on Monday (26th February) evening from 5pm to 8pm. Cremation Service at Shannon Crematorium (Eircode: V14 PV30) on Tuesday (27th February) at 1pm.

Live stream link, below.

Family flowers only. Donations if desired to the Irish Kidney Association of Ireland.

The death has occurred of Elizabeth HYNES (nee Hayes) of Ballynanty, Limerick.

Liz passed away peacefully, at University Hospital, Limerick, surrounded by her loving family, on 23rd February 2024.

Beloved wife of the late Gerry.

Sadly missed by her adoring children, Moira, Jennifer, Tony, Dean, Kenneth, Liz & Pam, cherished grandchildren, great-grandchildren, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, sister Anna, brother Ollie, nieces, nephews, relatives kind neighbours and her many friends.

Rest in Peace.

Reposing at Griffins Funeral Home, Johns Gate on Monday, 26th February from 5pm to 6.30pm, followed by removal to St. Lelias Church, Ballynanty. Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday 27th February, at 11am. Burial afterwards in Mount St. Oliver Cemetery.

Messages of sympathy may be conveyed through the condolences section (below), www.griffinfunerals.com or by post to Griffins Funeral Home.

The death has occurred of Joe Clohessy of Ballygrennan Road, Ballynanty, Limerick.

On February 23rd 2024, peacefully at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

Predeceased by his Parents, brothers and sisters.

Very deeply regretted by his Loving wife Alice, daughters Margaret and Frederica, stepson Owen, grandchildren Joachim, Matthew, Ciara,Arabella and Ellie, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, beloved sisters Ann and Freda, brothers-in-law, Sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, other relatives, neighbours and many friends.

May He Rest in Peace.

Reposing at Cross's Funeral Home, Gerald Griffin Street, on Monday, February 26th, from 4.30pm to 6pm. Funeral will arrive on Tuesday, February 27th, at St. Lelia's Church, Ballynanty.

for Requiem Mass at 1pm followed by Cremation Service in Shannon Crematorium at 3pm.

No flowers please. Donations, if desired, to Milford Care Centre

Click link below to make a donation.

May they all rest in peace. To leave a note of condolence, please click here
GARDAI in Limerick have issued a warning regarding counterfeit money after a woman was paid for a dog in fake notes.

The woman in Newcastle West sold a Pomeranian pup to a male who paid her in cash. When she examined the notes later she discovered that they were all fake 20 notes.

She does not have any details about this male that can assist gardai in an investigation and he chose an exchange spot that was not covered by CCTV.

Sergeant Ber Leetch, crime prevention officer at Henry Street garda station said she has received warnings from other crime prevention officers across Ireland that fake 50 notes are currently in circulation.

"They were of a very good quality and they had tricked a number of retail outlets nationwide. I noticed that a number of retailers now have the automatic change registers that calculate the amount of change to be given.

"These registers also check the notes and can detect fake notes. If your business deals in cash, you should at least have the pen for marking notes that could show up a fake note."

READ MORE: Tesco reveals details of new store in Limerick

Sergeant Leetch also gave advice to people who meet others to buy items from online.

"If you are buying or selling something online, ensure you have some identifying details about the person you are dealing with.

"A phone number is not sufficient, get a registration number of a car and try to conduct the exchange in an area that is covered by CCTV. If the other person refuses to meet in your designated spot be very suspicious".
WE WERE all in bed, but not asleep, when the ship struck the iceberg. There was a slight shock, but nothing serious, as we thought. Mrs Watt went out on the deck to see what had happened, and she was told that it was nothing serious and she came back and told us.

These are the words of Ellen Mary Toomey, as told to The Indianapolis News on April 24 1912, just over a week after the Titanic sank.

She was one of the fortunate ones to be rescued on a lifeboat and not one of the 1,500 people who perished in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Kilcornan lady, who was born on February 2, 1862, has been honoured in her homeplace with a plaque unveiled at Kilcornan Community Centre.

It was in conjunction with a talk in the centre in memory of Ellen Mary's life organised by local man Ger Ward.

We held it to mark her birthday 162 years later. We asked Claire Toomey, who has a family connection, to unveil the plaque and she kindly agreed. Ellen Mary was born just two fields away from the hall, said Ger.

He also has a distant family connection to Ellen Mary who died in 1933.

"My father would always talk about Ellen Mary and the Titanic and the local connection. He died just four months ago. He used to always speak about it so I thought I would organise an event in memory of Ellen Mary on her birthday, and in tribute to my dad who inspired it.

Its a remarkable story. She missed other ships and that was the only one she could get. There weren't that many people on the Titanic number one and to survive even less so, said Ger, who carried out his own research into Ellen Marys life.

I thought it was a rare thing for women to come back from America to Ireland in those times but seemingly not. A lot of them were earning good wages as housemaids or in other roles. She was working for a surgeon, I think, and obviously she was on good enough wages if she was able to come home to Ireland and go back through England to visit her sister and she continued on to America then, said Ger.

He organised a line-up of speakers including Dr Zara Power and Dr Pat Wallace, formerly of the National Museum. Ger arranged for an array of antiques in the hall to set the scene including a 1912 Ford model T, Titanic memorabilia, trunks like those that would have been taken aboard the doomed ship and a framed painting of Ellen Mary. Artistic Kilcornan National School pupils also added to the sense of occasion.

A crowd of around 300 turned up for the unique event.

READ MORE: In Pictures: Limerick fundraiser is full of heart

It was a fantastic night. The speakers were excellent. Id like to thank Dr Zara Power, Dr Patrick Wallace, Stephen Toomey and Christine Gurnett, and violinist Anna Jane Ryan and to everyone else who was involved and came along to a wonderful night in memory of Ellen Mary, said Ger.

Ellen Mary was reunited with her sisters in Indianapolis who awaited her return with much anxiety and arrived there by train on April, 12.

She heaped praise on the ship's passengers and crew for the kind treatment she and other survivors were given.

Ellen Mary spent the remainder of her life in Indianapolis and was buried there but she hasn't been forgotten about in Kilcornan.
A sample of nitazene powder at a research center in the U.S. It is a class of synthetic opioids more powerful than morphine and fentanyl.

Two deaths in Boulder County, Colorado, in 2023 are the latest in the U.S. to be blamed on the powerful class of synthetic opioids called nitazenes. Most health systems cannot detect nitazenes, so the exact number of overdoses is unknown, but theyre implicated in more than 200 deaths in Europe and North America since 2019, including 11 in Colorado since 2021. One of the two Boulder County deaths is linked to a new formulation called N-Desethyl etonitazene, which was identified by a national laboratory, and is thought to be the first related death.

The Conversation interviewed Dr. Christopher Holstege, professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center, where opioid overdoses are increasing. He explains why nitazenes are so potent and deadly.

What are nitazenes?

Nitazenes are a class of synthetic opioids that contains more than 20 unique compounds, including isotonitazene, which was first identified in 2019 and is known on the streets as ISO. It also includes protonitazene, metonitazene and etonitazene.

Nitazenes are psychoactive substances, or designer drugs, that arent controlled by any laws or conventions but pose significant health risk to the public. These substances have recently surfaced as illegal street drugs.

Researchers have relatively little information on how the human body reacts to nitazenes because the drugs have never gone through clinical trials. But lab tests show certain nitazenes could be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than morphine and 10 to 40 times stronger than fentanyl.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has classified many formulations of nitazenes as Schedule 1 drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning they have no medical use and have a high risk of abuse.

When were nitazenes first developed?

Nitazenes were initially developed in the 1950s by the pharmaceutical research laboratories of the Swiss chemical company CIBA Aktiengesellschaft. It synthesized numerous substances in the drug class to be used as painkillers.

However, nitazenes were never approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for medical use in humans. They were nearly forgotten outside of specialized research circles until they reemerged as street drugs in 2019. As law enforcement has cracked down on other drugs such as fentanyl, illegal labs have used historical pharmacology research to formulate analogs of nitazenes as street drugs.

Since 2019, at least six formulas have come from the original patent, but others, like the one detected in Boulder, are brand new. Specialized lab testing is required to identify nitazenes in toxicology samples, and fentanyl test strips cant detect nitazene analogs.

But since first being detected, nitazenes have been blamed for 200 drug-related overdose deaths in Europe and the United States. Although nitazenes are now identified as illegal street drugs in numerous countries, many medical providers arent even aware they exist.

What types of nitazenes are showing up on the streets?

Nitazene first appeared in 2019 in the Midwest as a white powdery substance similar to cocaine. It later appeared on the streets of Washington, D.C., as yellow, brown and white powders. Since 2022, the DEA has found other types of nitazenes in both powder and blue tablet forms.

Nitazenes are also mixed with other street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl and with fake oxycodone pills, without users knowing it.

The Justice Department has indicted several companies in China, alleging that they ship the raw chemicals to make nitazenes to Mexico and the U.S., where they get mixed by cartels and traffickers, then distributed on the streets.

What are signs of a nitazene overdose?

The toxic effects of nitazene resemble those associated with other classic opioids such as morphine and fentanyl and include small pupils and slowing of the respiratory and central nervous systems, which can lead to death.

Because of the potency of the nitazenes, symptoms can develop rapidly after someone is exposed, killing them before they can get medical care.

Does naloxone counteract the effects of overdose?

Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, is reportedly effective in reversing overdoses due to nitazene, but larger and multiple doses might be required.

Christopher P. Holstege. Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Virginia

This article was originally published in The Conversation.

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A PAIR of trainers, an iPhone 11 and a quantity of cash were taken from students' bedrooms after two men were invited by a woman back to student accommodation after a night out in the city, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Desmond Hughes, aged 30, of St Laurence Park, Garryowen pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary at Thomond Student Village, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick city.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the case with the assistance of Garda Brendan OReilly.

Ms Buckley said two men - one of whom was Mr Hughes - got in a taxi with a young woman in the Hyde Road area of the city in the early hours of February 10, 2023.

They asked her for drink. She innocently said she had wine in the house (her student accommodation). She woke up to shouting of get out. Her AIB debit card was missing.

The person she lived with woke up and saw a light being flashed around his room. A man was looking through his gear bag, found his wallet and took 90 / 100, said Ms Buckley.

The court heard a second burglary was committed in the student village.

A man awoke to a male standing over his bed. He was talking about someone owing him cocaine. He was holding a kitchen knife. This was not the defendant.

The knife was picked up inside the apartment and found outside, said Ms Buckley.

An iPhone 11 valued at 800 and a pair of trainers were taken, she said.

Garda OReilly said a file has been sent to the DPP in relation to the co-accused.

Ms Buckley said Mr Hughes has 41 previous convictions including for robbery, theft, assault causing harm and violent disorder.

Mark Nicholas SC, who represented Mr Hughes, said the lay-out of Thomond village is in pods with a common room and students having their own room.

Mr Nicholas described the burglaries as disgraceful and very frightening.

He put it to Garda OReilly that his client has a history of significant drug problems and spoke of heroin and crack cocaine.

Yes, said Garda OReilly.

Mr Nicholas said it was an opportunistic crime after they were invited back.

There was no breaking and entering. The gate was broken and a door wasnt locked, said Mr Nicholas.

READ MORE: Defence rests in Limerick Christmas party sex offence trial

Counsel said Mr Hughes made admissions to gardai in cluding placing himself there and apologies to the injured parties and gardai.

Mr Nicholas handed in a letter from the Bedford Row Family Project and spoke of the efforts Mr Hughes is making to tackle his drug addiction.

He said his client has his mothers heart broken due to his drug addiction but she is in court and is not washing her hands on him.

There is a shadow of drugs over this, said Mr Nicholas.

Judge Tom ODonnell said it must have been a very frightening experience for the victims.

The defendant was not the person who had the knife but he has some responsibility through common design, said Judge ODonnell who spoke of the 800 iPhone being of great value to the student and not easily replaced.

The judge said the mitigating factors were the efforts he is making towards rehabilitation, his plea of guilty and his apologies.

Judge ODonnell imposed a three and half year prison sentence with the final six months to be suspended on each of the burglary charges to be served concurrently.
Three Gardai are being praised for saving the life of a young tourist found unconscious in Temple Bar.

According to An Garda Siochana, the incident occurred in the early hours of last Saturday morning when two probationary Gardai and a Trainee Garda on beat patrol in Dublin City Centre were flagged down by members of the public.

Garda Callum Hegarty, Garda Thomas Hayes and Trainee Garda Joe Stubbings immediately ran to the unconscious man and all three assessed that he was not breathing.

After calling for urgent assistance from emergency services, Garda Hegarty and Garda Hayes both began CPR while Trainee Garda Stubbings went in search of a defibrillator.

He returned minutes later with the equipment and the three Gardai took it in turns to perform CPR and get the person in position to activate the defibrillator in the hope of restarting his heart.

Dublin Fire Brigade arrived and confirmed that the man was in cardiac arrest.

He was subsequently taken to St. James Hospital where he was treated and continues to make a full recovery over the past week.

An Garda Siochana posted about the incident on their social media, with almost 1000 comments commending them for their quick-thinking.

One person commented, "Fantastic achievement gentlemen, you are a credit to the Garda force. God bless you and keep you safe" while another said, "Well done to all ye are doing a great job keeping us all safe, so proud of you all. Stay safe."

Another person commented to say: "Well done lads, you are an inspiration for others to follow in your footsteps."

The man was reportedly visiting Ireland on a city break having travelled from the Greater London area.

All three Gardai are attached to Pearse St Garda Station; Garda Hegarty took up his first post in An Garda Siochana just six months ago, Garda Hayes only very recently passed out and has been stationed in Pearse St for the past two weeks, while Trainee Garda Stubbings joined his new colleagues in the station about six weeks ago.
MUMBAI : Payment gateway business Razorpay Software Pvt. Ltd is preparing to launch its products in new Southeast Asian and West Asian markets this year, aiming to garner 5-10% of its revenue from its international business in 3-5 years.

We should definitely launch in some new countries this year as we look to expand our business in Southeast Asia and Middle East," said co-founder and managing director Shashank Kumar.

The Delaware-incorporated company thats working on changing its domicile to India entered international markets in 2022 by acquiring a majority stake in Mayalsias recurring payments provider Curlec.

We will go deeper on some of the international markets as well as dive into the cross-border flows," Kumar said. We expect international business to grow up to 5-10% of our total revenue in 3-5 years."

For FY22, Razorpay reported a standalone profit of 7.38 crore on an operational revenue of 1,481.2 crore, up from a profit of 6.19 crore and revenue of 841.2 crore in the year before. The company has not yet declared its financials for FY23.

Kumar said the company had achieved break-even on its payments gateway business, but newer products are yet to become profitable. Razorpay is backed by Lightspeed, Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners, among other investors, and was last valued at close to $7.5 billion in 2021.

On the new lines of businesslike neo-banking business (around payroll and vendor payments) and marketing stack (such as dynamic QR code) and offline business (point of sale devices) that we are investing inall of these are still not at breakeven," Kumar said. Over the next 2 years, we want to hit our goal to ensure we are in the black in all of these lines before we go for a listing."

Razorpay has kickstarted the process of shifting its domicile to India as it seeks to list on domestic bourses. The process is expected to take 6-12 months, pending approvals from US regulators over tax and Indian regulators such as RBI.

Razorpay has made provisions for a tax outgo on its books, Kumar said. We will come to know about the exact tax amount that needs to be paid in due course. We have accounted for some of it and hopefully it should be in that range," Kumar said.

PhonePe last year said its investors had to pay 8,000 crore in taxes for shifting its domicile from Singapore to India.

Razorpay, in the meantime, has seen a spike in onboarding merchants since it received its payments aggregator license in December. The Reserve Bank of India had asked Razorpay and some other companies to not onboard merchants till they received their final payments aggregator license.

Since December, Razorpay has onboarded more than 3 times the number of merchants it had on its platform previously, Kumar said.

Last week, the company said it had crossed a total payment volume of $150 billion. Razorpay also said it had launched a payment gateway product and was working on incorporating artificial intelligence solutions across its product stack.
Online travel aggregator EaseMyTrip has been in the limelight lately but for good reasons. The second-largest travel aggregator in India was the first company in India to suspend all Maldives flight bookings in support of the government amid India-Maldives row in January.

Founded in 2008, the company was started by three brothers Nishant Pitti, Rikant Pittie and Prashant Pitti with a focus on Business to Business to Customer (B2B2C). The online travel agency offers a range of travel products and services and end-to-end travel solutions including airline tickets, rail tickets, bus tickets, taxis, holiday packages, hotels, and other value-added services i.e. travel insurance, visa processing, etc.

EaseMyTrip, which hit the Dalal Street in May 2021, had raised over 510 crore via initial public offerings (IPO). The shares of EaseMyTrip is currently trading at 47.85 on NSE.

Also read: Gloves on: Not taking allegations lying down, remain CEO, says Byju Raveendran

Rikant Pittie, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, in a recent interview with Mint shared insights about his overall entrepreneurial journey and also talked about the challenges the company faced in the initial days.

Venturing on the entrepreneurial journey, I've always been fascinated by the convergence of technology and travel. I've had the privilege of steering EaseMyTrips technological progress, ensuring seamless experiences for our users. From the inception of our platform to its evolution into a robust, user-friendly interface, my passion for innovation has been the driving force behind our success," Pittie told Livemint.

Pittie is a B-Tech graduate from Kurukshetra University and the co-founder of the second largest travel portal of India, EaseMyTrip.com.

Having more than 8 years of experience in the travel industry, Pittie realized the potential demand for travel portals in 2005 and thus he, along with his brothers, moved ahead to start with their venture Duke Travel Agency, which soon turned into EaseMyTrip.

In 2005, driven by a desire to address the excessively high commissions witnessed by our father in his coal supply business, my brother Nishant and I ventured on a journey into the travel industry. Establishing a modest travel agency, we laid the foundation for what would become EaseMyTrip," Pittie said.

Talking about the journey of the company, he said, By 2008, armed with an IATA license, we officially launched our venture, determined to revolutionize the tourism sector. Despite initial challenges, we prioritized addressing travel agents' concerns and investing in cutting-edge technology. Our sustained profitability, topping in unicorn status post our 2021 IPO, speaks volumes about our resilience."

Also read: From Skepticism to Simplification: What Policybazaar co-founder Tarun Mathur said on demystifying insurance sector

What makes EaseMyTrip different from other industry players?

"What sets us apart in the ever-changing travel industry is our in-house Smart Voice Recognition Technology. Fueled by cutting-edge AI and ML, this technology stands out as a game-changer, showcasing our advanced capabilities in technology and analytics," Pittie further added.

MakeMyTrip, Booking.com, Agoda, Trivago, Ixigo are some of the other key industry players in the Indian travel market catering to the demand of the Indian tourists.

Highlighting key offerings of the company, Pittie said,  Our in-house call center further emphasizes our dedication to superior customer service, promptly addressing their needs. Additionally, our extensive distribution network, strengthened by a hybrid platform, ensures accessibility and convenience for users. Together with our experienced management and the team's proven track record, we lay a solid foundation for sustained success."

The travel company is further focusing on expanding globally and diversfying in non-air segment, keeping sustainability in mind. As we traverse the vibrant landscape of the Indian travel industry, our focus remains on strategic acquisitions, global expansions, and focusing on our non-air ticketing segments. Collaborating with brands across diverse industries, we're unwavering in our commitment to sustainability. Through mindful global expansion and conscientious business decisions, we navigate the ever-evolving terrain. Our dedication to growth, paired with sustainable practices, empowers us to gracefully adapt to market changes while providing extraordinary experiences for travelers. With an enduring commitment to innovation and excellence, we press forward, enriching the travel landscape and solidifying our role as industry leaders," Pittie told Livemint.

Also read: EXCLUSIVE | CarDekho CEO Amit Jain's investment strategy in Shark Tank India: Pehle Banda, Phir Dhandha

How does the Indian travel industry look like in coming years?

Indian tourism aims to become a $3 trillion economic powerhouse by 2047 during the Amrit Kal. Focused on welcoming 100 million foreign visitors and enhancing domestic travel, the vision includes smart infrastructure, diverse circuits, and high-value niche tourism. Religious tourism plays a crucial role, requiring urgent structural reforms to achieve this ambitious mission," Pittie said.

Following the pandemic, the travel sector has spearheaded India's economic revival. It's anticipated to contribute around 16.5 trillion to the country's GDP by 2023, showcasing its pivotal role in economic recovery.

India's spiritual tourism is on the rise, notably boosted by the opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. This development is a game-changer, promoting the holistic growth of destinations, job creation, and GDP improvement.

Also read: From living in matchbox house in Mumbai to building a leading makeup brand - An inspiring tale of Vineeta Singh

The hospitality sector is actively adapting to the increased religious tourism through innovation, combining tradition with technology for an enhanced visitor experience. In 2022, religious tourism activities surged, reaching 1439 million tourists, generating 1.34 lakh crore in revenue. Projections indicate this segment could generate 59 billion by 2028, creating 140 million jobs by 2030. This trend signals a promising future for India's tourism and hospitality, necessitating strategic measures from the government and stakeholders," he further added.

In summary, India's travel industry is on an upward trajectory, driven by untapped potential, strategic diversification, and technological innovations, promising unforgettable journeys for travelers nationwide.

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Bengaluru: With three children to raise and a household to run, the Lucknow-based beautician had her hands full. So, when she joined home services platform Urban Company three years ago, she was clear about exactly what kind of bookings she would accept. When the app buzzed with an incoming salon job, her mind would quickly run through a checklist: Is it at a time when I dont have caregiving responsibilities? Is the distance under 7km? Is the value of the service at least 2,000? Do I have the products required? If the booking checked these four boxes, shed accept it. Else, she would ignore it.

That was the only way to ensure that I made money on each booking," said the 43-year-old beautician, who requested not to be named for fear of being blacklisted by the company. Otherwise, most of it would go towards petrol, platform commissions and product costs." The beautician used to earn around 40,000 a month, which went towards her childrens school fees and household costs.

But over the last six months, her monthly earnings have halved because of a sweeping algorithmic change. In the middle of 2023, Urban Company introduced a feature on its app called auto acceptance where the algorithm assigns the days work to partners without allowing them the option of accepting or rejecting bookingsthey have to compulsorily complete the assigned tasks. Simply put, the gig workers are now at the mercy of the companys algorithm. The beautician couldnt work on some days and ended up getting blocked a couple of times.

Urban Company has been slowly rolling out the auto acceptance feature across different categories in various cities, including Hyderabad and Bengaluru. As it eyes an initial public offering, the company has been looking for ways to show profitability in its books. While this has meant adding new revenue streams such as home painting and in-house branded products, and a greater focus on its entry into tier 2 cities, it has also meant holding the companys roughly 45,000 workers to higher metrics, reducing flexibility and creating situations where they are forced to work.

According to a business summary on the companys website, its revenue from operations surged 45% in 2022-23 to 637 crore, while losses before taxation fell 40% to 308 crore.

View Full Image Abhiraj Singh Bhal, cofounder and chief executive, Urban Company.

Mint reached out to Urban Company with a detailed questionnaire for this story but the company declined to comment. We did, however, manage to speak to a senior executive, who sought anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to the media.

Salon is a massive category, so it becomes super-inefficient to handhold thousands of partners in each city, which is why we rolled out this feature," said the Urban Company executive. The leads are assigned based on who is available on their calendar. We tell our partners that it will be great (for them to be available) from 7am to 7pm but its not mandatory."

While the company told them the new feature was introduced to ensure they did not miss any work that comes their way, women workers Mint spoke with feel the move has taken away the autonomy and flexibility of their work, which were the primary reasons for their joining Urban Company in the first place.

The shift has been especially hard on women workerswho make up at least a third of the companys partnersdue to their domestic responsibilities. Their relationship with Urban Company has become fraught over the last year as they believe the platform has shown little regard for their concerns. And this has prompted the workers to erupt in protests against the companys diktats.

Its getting more and more difficult to work with them," said a Bengaluru-based Urban Company beautician, who is in her thirties. Its not like it was when we joined them." She, too, did not want to be named.

Salon is a massive category. It becomes super-inefficient to handhold thousands of partners in each city. An UC executive

Mint spoke to more than a dozen Urban Company gig workers from Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Bengaluru for this story. None of them was willing to be named.

Since the change kicked in, salon workers say their earnings have dwindled. Urban Company charges a 25% commission on each job. On top of that, the workers are required to buy products from the company. Moreover, the workers added, they have to bear all commuting costssome of them told this writer that while most auto-acceptance orders are within their hub of 6-10km radius, they often get bookings that are further away, at least 4 to 5 times a week. The beautician from Lucknow said she sometimes has to go as far as 13km for a booking.

It isnt just the women who are affected, though it has been harder on them. New workers joining Urban Company over the last few months are directly being inducted into the auto acceptance feature.

The shift has been especially hard on female workerswho make up at least a third of the companys partnersdue to their domestic responsibilities.

One electrician from Bengaluru, who joined the platform this month, said that with jobs being auto assigned, his days are hectic. One Saturday this month, he was assigned eight jobs, which he said was frustrating because many assignments took longer than expected, forcing him to call customers and cancel some jobs. His day started at 9 am, and he was only able to wrap up 12 hours later. Having jobs auto assigned is difficult because the system assumes a certain amount of time for each task without taking into consideration the issues that crop up," said the electrician.

No repercussions

Gig work in India is growingas per a NITI Aayog report, gig workers are expected to grow from roughly 7 million to 23 million by 2030. While cab-hailing and food delivery are dominated by men, Urban Company engages a high number of women. It has over 15,000 salon workers currently, and aims to train at least 200,000 women service partners by 2030.

Labour experts point out that the concept of auto acceptance goes against the very foundation of gig work, which promises flexibility and autonomy. Instead, it has created a situation where the workers are coerced into accepting the bookings.

The fundamental issue with any imposition of a neutral algorithmic system is that it has a disproportionately negative impact on women workers, in particular, because it is not considering their unpaid care burden or other aspects like mobility or safety," said Chiara Furtado, a gig work researcher with the Bengaluru-based nonprofit Centre for Internet and Society (CIS).

While platform companies steer clear of offering employee benefits to their gig workers by claiming that they are intermediaries, lawyers believe that in this specific case, an argument can be made for gig workers to be treated as workers, extending the entire gamut of labour laws to cover them.

This is because they are no longer gig workers if they cannot control their hours, and if they cannot control the tasks they take up," said Shreya Munoth, a Delhi-based lawyer, who has done work with informal labour. If everything is assigned to them, then for all intents and purposes, they are workers, and there should be no reason for a company to evade its obligations under labour regulations."

She added that in this particular case, it can be considered as indirect discrimination on the basis of gender, because the people most impacted are women."

How it happened

Sometime in January, a Hyderabad-based beautician received a call from a manager asking her to appear at the office for a meeting. When she reached the office, she found 12 other workers waiting to attend the same meeting. The agenda was clear: introduce the group to Urban Companys new auto acceptance feature and its benefits.

They told us that sometimes we miss accepting leads because our phones are off, or we might be driving, so with this new feature, the system will assign the leads to us and that way well never have to miss out on incoming work," she recalled. They said it would be good for us."

After painting a rosy picture, the Urban Company executives reeled off a laundry list of new rules: the worker would have to maintain a minimum credit of 2,000 on her app (this is where Urban Company deducts its commission from); they mandatorily had to work on weekends, for 10 hours. And though they could take time off during the weekdays, they had to complete 50 bookings each month.

The beautician, 37, was perturbed by the new rules. She had joined Urban Company two years earlier due to the flexibility it offered. With a husband who is partially paralysed, and two daughters to take care of, she wondered if she would be able to handle the added responsibility of automatically-assigned bookings without any planning. I have family responsibilities," she said. What if my daughters or I get our periods on the weekends? How can I leave them in pain and go for a booking?"

Not signing up for auto acceptance would have repercussions. They gave us that option. But then they also warned us that they would not give us many leads, and even if we got leads, the booking value would not be more than 600-800," she said. Caught between a rock and a hard place, she signed up.

What if my daughters or I get our periods on the weekends? How can I leave them in pain and go for a booking? A beautician

A few weeks after starting work under automatic acceptance, the beautician is already facing a multitude of problems. She has to lug a 15kg bag around all day in a bus and sometimes risk travelling at night after completing a job fixed for 7 pm.

Previously, I would carry products based on the service booking, which I would know days in advance," she said. But now the bookings can come at any time and we have to be prepared with all the products in our bag."

As news of the difficulties faced by the beauticians spread in Hyderabad, many of them showed up last month outside Urban Companys office in Madhapur to protest the coercion and question the introduction of automatic acceptance. No resolution has been reached yet.

This isnt the first time the salon workers and Urban Company have been at loggerheads. Last year, thousands of them protested in June and July across multiple cities fighting for their right to work after the company permanently blocked their accounts. While the company gave in and reinstated the accounts of some workers, it also launched a new programme called Project Shakti, to tighten the reins on workers.

This isnt the first time the salon workers and Urban Company have been at loggerheads. Last year, thousands of them protested after the company permanently blocked their accounts.

Following this, in December, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), of which Urban Company workers are a part, filed a complaint with the Telangana department of labour. We complained against the company pressuring the workers and then deactivating their accounts," said Shaik Salauddin, founder of TGPWU. Urban Company is not interested in sitting down and having a conversation, citing that this is not an employer-employee relationship (since these are gig workers)."

View Full Image Chandrika Goud, 32, a beautician, explains the difficulties she and others face in dealing with Urban Company to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at an event in December last year.

Flexible work promise

Urban Company started out in 2014 under the name Urban Clap, with the aim of organizing the home services market. For customers, this meant being able to find a plumber, electrician or beautician from the comfort of their smartphones. For workers, the discourse at the time was focused on flexibility, and drew thousands to the platform.

According to a 2020 report by global NGO Oxfam, Indian women put in 3.26 billion hours of unpaid care work every day. So, when Urban Company came along with its flexible work options, women workers grabbed the opportunity. When women workers were recruited, they were told that they could handle both home and work," CISs Furtado recalled from her interviews with several workers. And while flexibility and high earnings were a reality during the initial years, things started to go downhill around 2021.

Workers are starting to realize that theyre not receiving the kind of flexibility they had hoped for, which is probably why they are no longer taking jobs that will require them to get in an autorickshaw and travel for 45 minutes," said Sabina Dewan, founder and executive director of labour research organization JustJobs Network. So, the platformsays they will remove their right to refusal. But what they should do is create incentives so that workers are attracted to the platform. And if they are spread out well geographically, then they will not need to institute such a rule."

View Full Image Sabina Dewan, founder and executive director, JustJobs Network.

Many women switched industries or left inflexible jobs to start working with Urban Company. One woman, for instance, used to run a small salon in Telanganas Mahboobnagar district. Concerned that the salon wasnt making enough money for her family of five, she started seeking alternative options. Her friend told her about a company in Hyderabad thats offering flexible salon work and paying well", referring to Urban Company. Excited at the prospects, she made three trips to Hyderabad with her husband to understand the job, get trained and find a house. Convinced that this was their path to a better life, the couple along with the family relocated to Hyderabad four years ago.

Now, with the introduction of auto acceptance, she is worried that her only source of livelihood is hanging by a thread. I have already been (temporarily) blocked twice. With auto acceptance, if I miss a single booking and get blocked a third time, I will be permanently blocked," she said.

When women workers were recruited, they were told that they could handle both home and work. Chiara Furtado

Workers are given three strikes: they are temporarily blocked twice due to reasons like non-acceptance of jobs, or low ratings. Their third block is a permanent one. Introduction of the new algorithmic rule has only heightened anxieties, many women said.

Labour experts believe that the only solution to balancing company incentives and worker rights is to bring in regulation. The business model of these platforms, they pointed out, is based on surplus labour, the strength of the network, and low-cost delivery of services.

I dont think theres any incentive for the platform to really value the worker; their whole model is based on a labour-surplus structure," said Dewan. It will only change when theres government/regulatory pressure, consumer pressure or union pressure." She added that regulations can change how platforms operate and bring in algorithmic transparency, as well as structured working hours and remuneration. Theres a huge role for regulation here."

Ratings decline

View Full Image A screen grab from the Fairwork India Ratings 2023. Urban Companys score has been dwindling in the last few years.

According to Fairwork, a research group that regularly evaluates platform companies on a range of criteria from fair pay and working conditions to fair representation, Urban Companys score has been dwindling in the last few years. It went from 8 out of 10 in 2020 to 7 in 2022 to 5 in 2023. The drop in score was due to losing out against principle 4 in 2023," said Mounika Neerukonda, a lead researcher with Fairwork India. Principle 4 refers to fair management", which evaluates a company based on whether it has provided due process in decisions affecting workers.

Neerukonda added that no platform, including Urban Company, has tried to get the collective perspective of gig workers before making significant policy changes. Just days after the protests in Hyderabad, for instance, Urban Company posted two clarification videos on YouTube. One has a bunch of managers explaining the different ways in which auto acceptance will help the partners. They speak about creating a fair earning system and creating a better customer experience. Auto acceptance will help all partners with equal earnings," Harsh, an Urban Company category manager from Hyderabad, explains in the video. But neither of the videos addresses the issues specifically faced by women workers.

No platform has tried to get the collective perspective of gig workers before making significant policy changes.

Meanwhile, the Lucknow-based beautician featured at the beginning of this story is walking a tightrope with Urban Company these days. Last month, she did not work two weekends due to family commitments, which led to her getting blocked twice. I had to attend my daughters school function and parent-teacher meeting, so I marked my calendar as unavailable because of which my acceptance rating dropped. A manager told me that if I regularly mark weekends off, I will be blocked permanently," she said. Since then, I ensure that I am available all weekends. This is my last lifeline."
Bank Holidays in March 2024: Ahead of March, its important to mark your calendars for the upcoming bank holidays. The banks will remain closed for at least 14 days in March. These include public holidays, some regional holidays, second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the corresponding state governments determine the holidays.

Also Read | HDFC Bank receives RBI approval to sell stake in HDFC Credila

March 2024 Bank Holidays: A Consolidated Guide

National Holidays:

March 1: Chapchar Kut (Mizoram)

March 8: Mahashivratri (except Tripura, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Itanagar, Rajasthan, Nagaland, West Bengal, New Delhi, Goa, Bihar, Meghalaya)

March 25: Holi (except Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Kerala, Nagaland, Bihar, Srinagar)

March 29: Good Friday (except Tripura, Assam, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh)

State Holidays:

March 22: Bihar Diwas (Bihar)

March 26: Yaosang second day/Holi (Odisha, Manipur, Bihar)

March 27: Holi (Bihar)

Regular Bank Closures:

Every Second Saturday (March 9)

Every Fourth Saturday (March 23)

Sundays: March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Online banking available

Nationwide access to online banking services is always open despite the shutdown of either private or public sector banks. It becomes important for individuals to develop a heightened awareness of scheduled bank holidays, taking note of the specific dates, thereby enabling them to meticulously plan their visits to their nearby branches.

While this list provides a general overview, it's crucial to remember that regional variations might exist. To ensure you're fully prepared, double-check with your specific bank branch or their official website for the most up-to-date and accurate holiday schedule.

Bank Holidays List

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases the list of bank holidays, which is based on various factors including national/state holidays, cultural or religious observance, operational requirements, government announcements, and coordination with other banks. It's important to note that the RBI communicates its holiday schedule through official channels, including its website and notifications to banks and financial institutions.

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Mumbai: State Bank of India and ICICI Bank are engaged in an engrossing battle of market value, with the state-run lender making steady gains over its private sector rival over the past few trading sessions, with many experts of the belief that it may nudge ahead soon.

More than four years ago, ICICI Bank, India's second largest private bank, had crept ahead of SBI, India's largest bank, in terms of market value. In the past 11 months (10 March 2023 to 7 February 2024), it steadily widened the gap with SBI to a daily average of over 1.44 trillion.

Then, the state-run lender came from behind, dramatically shrinking the gap to just 585.5 billion in the past 12 trading sessions through 23 February, as SBI joined a rally in stocks of public sector companies. As of Friday, SBI's market cap stood at 6.77 trillion, against ICICI Bank's 7.44 trillion, Bloomberg data showed.

Investors are betting on greater operational efficiency, robust loan growth and stable credit costs at the state-run bank, analysts said. They believe the outperformance could continue, and that SBI's market cap might converge with ICICI Bank's over the coming months.

"Low cost of deposits, healthy loan growth and use of better technology to gain more customers are among the factors markets are pricing in, which has caused the value re-rating," said A. Balasubramanian, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC.

"It's quite probable that the PSU banking stock could maintain its momentum," Balasubramanian said when asked whether SBI's market cap could converge with ICICI Bank's.

Bloomberg data over five years shows that the last time SBI was ahead of ICICI Bank in market cap was in 2019. Between 25 February and 6 August 2019, the SBI stock traded at an average daily value of 29,686.07 crore above ICICI Bank's.

After that, ICICI Bank pulled ahead, with the gap between the two expanding to a record 1.76 trillion on 7 August last year. From 10 March last year through 7 February 2024, ICICI Bank's market cap stayed ahead of SBI by more than 1 trillion on a daily basis, shrinking below that mark only after 8 February.

Between 10 March 2023 and 23 February 2024, the SBI stock has outshined ICICI Bank; while SBI rose 38.68% to 759.05, ICICI Bank rose 25.95% to 1,061.3 during the period. The outperformance increased in the past 12 sessions, with SBI share return increasing 12.41% from 675, against ICICI's relatively modest 3.83% return from 1,022.

"Between the two, odds of outperformance are stacked in favour of SBI," said Nirav Karkera, head of research, Fisdom. "Though stories for both banks are distinct, there's enough reason to believe that valuations for ICICI Bank are rather fairly priced in, whereas there's some more headroom for an earnings-led upgrade in SBI."

According to Siddhartha Khemka, research head of Motilal Oswal Financial Services, SBI remained the brokerage's "top pick" among banks as relatively steady credit costs of 35-40 bps would enable an estimated 22% earnings growth on a compounded basis over FY24-FY26. "We expect a 12-month price target of 860 and convergence of market cap with that of ICICI Bank over the next few months," Khemka added.

Interestingly, the optimism on SBI comes amid global brokerage Goldman Sachs downgrading both stocks to neutral from buy, on the premise that their return on assets (RoA) had peaked due to repricing of deposits and slower loan growth, which would impact earnings.

Goldman's 23 February report titled "India Banks: Goldilocks Period Over" said SBI's RoA may shrink to 0.93% and 0.92% respectively in FY24 and FY25 from 0.96% in FY23 as retail deposit rates rise. The report estimates ICICI Bank's RoA to rise to 2.34% in FY24 , before shrinking to 2.10% in FY25 from 2.13% in FY23.

In terms of valuation, Goldman Sachs says both SBI -- at 1.2 times one-year forward price to book ratio -- and ICICI Bank -- at 2.2 times one-year forward price to book ratio -- trade around 30% higher than their long-term averages of 0.9 times and 1.7 times each. It, however, raised the one-year price target of SBI to 741 a share from 677, while revising downward the price target for ICICI Bank to 1,086 from 1,179 year earlier.

However, Jayesh Bhanushali, lead, research at IIFL Securities has a different view: "Considering an incremental staff expense of 15 billion ( 1,500 crore) per quarter starting from FY25 and an average salary per employee of 3 million ( 30 lakh, compared to 1.1-2.2 million or 11-12 lakh for peers), it is anticipated that the cost-to-income ratio (CIR) will remain high at 53% in FY25-26E. We expect private banks to outperform SBI due to the latter's slowing earnings momentum and no longer attractive valuations."
Farmers have once again taken to the streets, echoing protests reminiscent of those three years ago. In 2021, the government was compelled to retract newly enacted agricultural policies. The primary objective of the 2020 Farm Act was to empower farmers to freely sell their produce in any market, moving beyond the confines of local Mandis. This was also expected to improve the Agri supply chain in India and develop the sector with the introduction of private players. Today again, farmers are once again spearheading protests, seeking further freebies from the government under the belief of their victory in 2021.

So far, the ongoing agitation has not impacted the stock market, even as it unfolds on the brink of a National Election. This may be because the prices of foodgrains are still stable and no effect on supply and demand has been noticed to date, other than some hiccups reported in NCR. Further, the market has a belief that the government is unlikely to accept the excessive demands as it could have a dire effect on the fiscal.

A significant demand put forth by the farmers is the increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP) and a pledge to extend the scheme to cover all crops. While the government's MSP-based procurement is largely concentrated on rice and wheat, the scheme technically encompasses 23 crops. The farmers are demanding the implementation of Dr Swaminathan Commissions MSP, 50% above A2+FL+C2 formulae. Current method is 50% above A2+FL (A2: actual Agri input costs, FL: imputed value of family labour).

The existing formula sets the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at 50% above the all-India weighted average cost of production. A2 includes expenses paid in cash and kind for items such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, hired labour, fuel, lease, interest on working capital, irrigation, etc., while FL accounts for the value of unpaid family labour. In essence, the MSP cost will encompass the actual expenses on inputs, labour, and the imputed value of unpaid family labour.

From an accounting standpoint, the cost of an asset (interest and depreciation) is considered below the belt of the operating margin. And the cost of equity is not accounted for. If C2 is considered, it will lead to a plus 50% profit after tax margin, a parameter no manufacturing & services company in India can even dream-off. It's worth noting that agriculture is exempt from taxes. Forecasts suggest that incorporating these factors could potentially lead to an increase in the prices of foodgrains in a range of 10% to 30%.

Another factor to affect the fiscal is the demand to increase the MGNREGA wage to Rs.700 from an average of Rs.300 in states like Haryana, Punjab, and UP. There is also a call to extend the fixed period to 200 days from the existing 100 days. The government has allocated Rs.86,000 cr. in the 2025 interim budget, meeting this demand would escalate the budget to Rs. 4.5 lakh crore. Some other demands are to exit out of the WTO agreement (even though that is positive for the farmer), Loan Waivers, and monthly Rs. 10,000 pensions to farmers above the age of 60.

The agitation is mostly from the Punjab & Haryana regions, which hugely benefited from the green renovation programmes, especially wheat and rice. However, as India has evolved towards self-reliance, the perks associated with these programs have dwindled. Concurrently, the cost of production and living standards have escalated, while the net gains from crop sales have contracted due to increased supply in India.

Hopefully, a middle ground can be reached between the Government and farmers associations of Punjab, Haryana, and North UP. The overarching objective should be to diversify into other categories of food grains (which requires much lower water necessity compared to Rice & Wheat), backed by a guaranteed MSP.

The author, Vinod Nair is the Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

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 decisions.

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Private-equity firms are desperate to cash out of investments. But enthusiasm for initial public offerings is low after several stock-market debuts flopped.

Enter so-called private IPOs.

The concept is being bandied about on Wall Street as investors and bankers search for ways to keep the money flowing. The contradictory moniker refers to stock sales in which early backers privately sell to longer-term investors such as mutual funds or sovereign-wealth funds, sidestepping the traditional IPO process.

Private IPOs dont come with the splashy bell-ringing ceremony of a traditional debut or result in publicly traded stock. They do allow companies to avoid the potential embarrassment of a new listing falling flat.

Some on Wall Street balk at the name, seeing it as window dressing for private placements, which are sales of shares from one private owner to another and have been used for years. Skeptics say bankers, never a group to sit still, are playing with semantics to drum up business.

Whats more, some mutual-fund managers who have been approached to do private IPOs are wary. While they might get better prices and bigger allotments of shares in a private IPO, the liquidityor lack of itis a big drawback. If the managers buy stakes this way, it isnt clear when they would be able to sell them.

Proponents of private IPOs say they lay the groundwork for a future stock-market debut. Most important, they allow private-equity owners to return capital to their investors who have been frustrated by a drop in deal activity. They can also give impatient employees the chance to sell stock.

Private IPOs, versions of which have been around for a while, are attractive right now as it has become harder for buyers and sellers to agree on prices, said David Ludwig, global head of equity capital markets at Goldman Sachs.

EQT, a Stockholm-based private-equity firm, helped popularize the term private IPO" this past fall.

We just made up the name because we were getting frustrated at the challenges of the public market," EQT Chief Executive Christian Sinding said. Why dont we just create a parallel structurewhy does a company need to be public?"

EQT is considering a private IPO for one of the companies it owns and has been fielding calls from private-equity peers and bankers curious about the idea.

Hellman & Friedman in 2023 sold a minority stake in the $23 billion insurance brokerage Hub International to Leonard Green and other institutional investors, allowing the private-equity firm to partially cash out of its 2013 initial investment.

About a year ago, the payment processor Stripe sold around $6.5 billion of stock to large investors, including Temasek, on behalf of employees in a deal that was a variation of a private IPO, people close to the deal said. It valued Stripe at around $50 billion and bought the company time before a highly anticipated public offering.

The private-equity giants KKR and Bain Capital have each held talks with bankers and institutional investors about orchestrating private IPOs for some of their portfolio companies, people familiar with the matter said.

Wall Street had hoped IPOs would bounce back in 2024 after two terrible years that saw the majority of IPOs fall below their initial offering price.

One of the first major debuts, the KKR-backed healthcare company BrightSpring, dropped 15% on its first day of trading. That and other disappointments prompted many companies to put offerings on hold.

A few still plan to take their chances, including the social-media company Reddit, which first filed to go public in 2021 and is preparing to list its stock next month.

Write to Laura Cooper at laura.cooper@wsj.com and Corrie Driebusch at corrie.driebusch@wsj.com
India will export 50,000 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh ahead of Eid, three senior officials aware of the development said.

The proposed supplies to Indias long-standing partner in the neighbourhood come in the backdrop of India banning exports of onions in December after the imposition of a 40% export duty and a floor price of $800 per tonne failed to bring down domestic prices.

This also comes at a time when Indias close ally Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sworn in for a fifth term in January.

We have allowed exports of 50,000 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh. The shipments will be undertaken by private trade until 31 March and the modalities are being worked out," consumer affairs secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told Mint.

India imposed a ban on onion exports last December amid concerns over domestic production shortfall caused by irregular rainfall, pushing prices up. The ban is in place until the end of the ongoing financial year.

The decision was taken after the ministry of external affairs (MEA) apprised that Bangladesh requested through Indian embassies for exemption from Indias prevailing prohibition on the export of food items, including onion and sugar, according to the second official who did not want to be named.

While the MEA recommended that an exemption to export 20,000 tonnes of onions and 50,000 tonnes of sugar may be granted for Bangladesh, the government did not permit exports of sugar amid domestic supply concerns. However, on Thursday, the Centre decided to supply 50,000 tonnes of onions given Ramadan is scheduled between 10 March and 8 April, the official informed. Ramadan is a month-long religious festival that culminates in the important holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr, which is also celebrated in Bangladesh.

Demand for onions typically rises during Ramadan. Citizens of Bangladesh consume about 500,000 tonnes of onions with numerous dishes for Iftar. The annual demand for onion in Bangladesh is about 2.5 million tonnes (mt). The country produces around 2.3-2.4 mt and the rest is imported.

It imported 723,643 tonnes of onion from India alone during April-December of FY24. India in FY23 supplied a total of 671,125 tonnes of the kitchen staple to Bangladesh. India, the second-largest onion grower worldwide, exported nearly 1.7 mt of the horticulture crop to the world in FY24 until the ban was imposed in December and 2.5 mt of onion in FY23, data from the consumer affairs ministry showed.

The top importers of Indian onion are Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

As an exception, the Indian government also permitted onion exports to three other countries, Mauritius (1,200 tonnes), Bahrain (3,000 tonnes) and Bhutan (560 tonnes) with immediate effect, Singh informed.

Though the National Cooperative Exports Ltd of the cooperation ministry is likely to facilitate the export, ultimately Indian traders will export the quantity," the third official said, requesting anonymity.

Regarding the likelihood of the export permission putting pressure on domestic prices, the official said, If the quantity was exported in one go, it would definitely have hurt prices. Since the exports will take place over more than a month, prices are unlikely to go up. However, we will allow shipments depending on daily supplies in key mandis so that theres no pressure in the domestic market."

On export ban removal, the official informed that the ban may not be lifted immediately after 31 March this year. The onion export ban has hit farmers as we have seen prices remain low. One thing that we must incorporate into our import/export policy approach is whenever you ban exports of any agricultural commodities from India, we need to understand which region will be hit. In my view, a compensatory package must be given to growers of the particular commodity from that region," said Devinder Sharma, a food and trade policy analyst.
In the southwestern Mexican state of Guerrero, the local clergy are making efforts to stop the drug wars, which are responsible for so much death in the region.

Last week, members of the criminal group Los Tlacos murdered at least 12 gunmen from an enemy organization, La Familia Michoacana. The victors recorded their celebration on video: they hurled insults as they shot the corpses and burned them on a pyre. However, just days later, a priest  Father Filiberto Velazquez, whos familiar with the battle between these groups  announced a truce between them.

Given the massacres, drone strikes and attacks on bus drivers across the state, time will tell if the truce  in practice  actually has staying power. The form in which it was negotiated, however, stands out. The pact wouldnt have taken place without the intervention of the four bishops of Guerrero, as well as the support of Salvador Rangel  bishop emeritus of the state capital of Chilpancingo  and priests such as Velazquez. This diocesan realpolitik goes beyond moral issues or red lines: Guerrero is experiencing a period of extreme violence, and religious people are demanding peace. At whatever price.

For Bernardo Barranco  a sociologist who specializes in contemporary Catholicism  this mediation attempt by the religious authorities isnt new at all. You find it in different parts of Latin America, he explains. In Nicaragua, for example, before [Daniel] Ortegas madness, the Church had an important mediating role. In Peru, too, during the years of the Shining Path [insurgency], he explains. And [this mediation] doesnt just take place with common criminals or dissident powers. In Argentina, for example, Bergoglio [Pope Francis] himself negotiated with the dictatorship to protect political prisoners. That is to say, the Church has that mediating spirit on the continent.

Priest Filiberto Velazquez speaks with members of the police, in September 2023. Monica Gonzalez Islas

Mexico hasnt been immune to the mediating nature of the clergy, either. Barranco recalls the case of Nuncio Girolamo Prigione, a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) who was close to former Mexican president Carlos Salinas. In the 1990s, Prigione  a man who was very interventionist  met with two of the Arellano Felix brothers, leaders of the Tijuana Cartel, following the assassination of Cardinal Jesus Posadas in Guadalajara. Then, we had the case of Rangel, who was able to pacify an area during the last elections. And now, we have this group of four bishops. This shows us that, in the absence of authority, the Church plays a supplementary role. In the south of Italy, its the same. The absence and complicity of the state when it comes to crime fosters alternative links to the state itself, argues Barranco.

Its not known how Los Tlacos and La Familia Michoacana finally reached an agreement this past week. What is known is that its leaders had a conversation through the bishops in mid-January. While that discussion failed, apparently, the talks continued, eventually resulting in a non-aggression pact.

Los Tlacos had killed 12 members of La Familia just days before the truce. And earlier, in January, the latter had killed at least five of members of Los Tlacos, in the mountainous area that separates the municipalities of Heliodoro Castillo  a stronghold of Los Tlacos  and San Miguel Totolapan, under the control of La Familia. Amidst this warfare, it was time to stop.

Father Velazquez points out that religious intervention must be understood as part of a complex process of dialogue and negotiations between groups. The bishops didnt want to give too many details about the mediation to the press. But they did confirm their intervention, as the head of the Diocese of Chilpancingo  Jose de Jesus Gonzalez  surprisingly reported last week. EL PAIS contacted Gonzalez for more information, but received no response.

A vehicle burned during an attack in the municipality of Heliodoro Castillo, on January 5, 2023. Cortesia centro DDHH Minerva Bello

He and his colleagues from the cities of Acapulco, Altamirano and Tlapa met with the leaders of La Familia Michoacana and forced a call with the leader of Los Tlacos. The agreement didnt happen right there and then, but one week (and one massacre) later, the pact finally came. Los Tlacos and La Familia also reached their truce after the former did the same with another of their rival groups, Los Ardillos. For more than a year, both organizations had been escalating attacks against public transport drivers in the state capital  Chilpancingo  and nearby municipalities. At the beginning of the month  after several bus and taxi drivers were murdered over the course of a few days  the groups finally reached an agreement. In that case, too, the clergy was involved, specifically Velazquez and Rangel.

Other Catholic authorities in nearby regions have also sanctioned similar actions and have revealed their own approaches. This was the case, for example, of the auxiliary archbishop of Toluca, Maximino Martinez. This past week, Martinez said that all [criminal groups] are summoned. Some come, others dont. Those who attend are welcome and, therefore, theyre asked to return and look for the paths to be able to build peace.

Bernardo Barranco points out a political overtone in this wave of interventions by religious figures. In moments of vulnerability in the system  such as electoral processes  the Church has an important role to play, not only in mediation, but in making demands. The Church historically raises its demands at critical times like these, he concludes.

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Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis is weaving multiple conspiracies against Manoj Jarange Patil and even trying to kill him, revealed the Maratha quota activist in a series of allegations made against Fadnavis.

While speaking in Antarwali Sarati in Jalna, Manoj Jarange Patil also said that he would march to Mumbai and protest outside the residence of Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

Also Read: Don't test patience: Eknath Shinde on Maratha activist Manoj Jarange's allegations against Devendra Fadnavis

"Some people are being lured and pressured to make false allegations against me. Fadnavis is behind these conspiracies. He wants to kill me. I am ready to march to Sagar bungalow (Fadnavis' official residence in Mumbai's Malabar Hill) right away," PTI quoted Jarange.

His allegations against Fadnavis, took his supporters by surprise and even led to chaos at the site, where his supporters had gathered in large numbers. In response to Jarange's allegations, Devendra Fadnavis said, "I did not hear what he spoke".

During his speech, many people even tried to take away his microphone. However, Jarange continued his speech and even warned of marching to Mumbai alone and all he needed was a stick for support.

"How come these people realised my so-called mistakes now and began speaking about them," Jarange asked.

He also said that allegations against him were levelled once the Maratha quota bill was passed in the Maharashtra legislature on February 20. Jarange also spoke about the Brahminical tricks"

"Fadnavis does not like anyone to be more popular than him. It is because of Fadnavis that police complaints were filed against Maratha activists despite their peaceful protests. The court has allowed us to protest peacefully. Then why were police complaints filed," PTI quoted him as saying to a regional news channel.

"I am not backing down from my demand to include Marathas in the OBC segment and issuing of Kunbi certificates. There was a plan to finish me by poisoning me through saline. This government is trying to demean major communities through politic tricks," he alleged.

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Former MLA from Bahadurgarh and the Indian National Lok Dal's (INLD) Haryana unit president, Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead by assailants while he was travelling in his SUV in Jhajjar's Bahadurgarh near Delhi on Sunday.

Another party worker, travelling with Nafe Singh, lost his life, whereas three private gunmen hired by Rathee were critically injured in the attack.

Who was Nafe Singh Rathee?

Nafe Singh Rathee was a member of the 9th and 10th Haryana Legislative Assembly from the Bahadurgarh constituency. In addition to being two times MLA, he served two terms as Chairman of Bahadurgarh Municipal Council.

Nafe Singh won his first seat in the Haryana Legislative Assembly on the INLD ticket in 1996. He even managed to secure another term. Later, he switched to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). However, he left the party and even fought the election as an independent candidate in 2018.

He was also facing legal proceedings in the case, in which he was accused the main accused in the suicide case of Jagdish Rathi, who is the son of former BJP Minister Ram Rathi. According to Jagdish's family, Nafe Singh Rathee used to harass him in a matter related to real estate.

Death threats against Nafe Singh Rathee

The 70-year-old politician had received multiple death threats and had made multiple appeals to the government to provide police protection.

"The two-time MLA, who is our state unit chief, was not provided with security. In writing, representations had been made to senior police officers and state home minister that he was facing threats and should be provided with security," INLD leader Abhay Chautala told PTI.

The attack, which came weeks before the Lok Sabha polls, drew sharp criticism from the opposition party leaders. Many alleged the attack on the politician to be a failure of the Haryana government.

The news of INLD state president Nafe Singh Rathee being shot dead in Haryana is very sad. This reflects the law and order of the state...Today no one is feeling safe in the state," said Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sushil Gupta said that "rule of law has ended in Haryana and jungle raj prevails".

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Kuwait National Day: Google Doodle celebrates Kuwait National Day with a vibrant and interactive doodle, showcasing the nation's rich culture and heritage, on February 25, 2024. The doodle featured iconic landmarks like the Kuwait Towers and the Grand Mosque, alongside traditional Kuwaiti attire and celebratory elements like fireworks and flags.

Kuwait National Day marks the country's independence from the British protectorate in 1961. The day is marked by national pride and festivities, with parades, cultural performances, and fireworks displays lighting up the skies.

A peak into Kuwaiti culture

This day celebrates the rise of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah to power in 1950. He's remembered as a key figure in securing Kuwait's independence from Britain in 1961, ending its protectorate status. During his reign, Kuwait also established its constitution and parliament. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sabah is widely considered the architect of Kuwaiti independence and is honoured for his role in shaping the nation's future.

Kuwait has utilised its natural resources to surcharge its economic growth and development while also investing in ways to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

One of the crucial points of Kuwait National Day celebrations is the colourful parades and cultural events that happen across the country. Kuwaiti citizens and residents gather to be a part of impressive displays of traditional music, dance, and folklore, displaying Kuwait's vibrant cultural identity. The festivities also include military displays, showing the country's commitment to national defence and security.

How does Kuwait celebrate its National Day?

The celebration often starts with the hoisting of the Kuwaiti flag in public places, including schools, government buildings, and private residences. Streets, buildings, and cars are adorned with Kuwaiti flags and decorations in the national colours of green, white, red, and black, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the nation.

As evening falls, spectacular fireworks light up the sky in major cities of Kuwait. The breathtaking pyrotechnic shows are enjoyed by people of all ages and are a symbol of joy and celebration, as per various reports.

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Tonight, skywatchers get a special treat! The February full moon, also known as the "Snow Moon" or "Hunger Moon," rises in the evening. But there's more to this lunar spectacle than meets the eye.

This full moon, occurring on February 24th, 2024, has an additional title: micromoon. This means it appears slightly smaller than usual due to its position in its orbit around Earth.

The nickname "Snow Moon" dates back to Native American tribes and reflects the heavy snowfall often associated with February in the northeastern US. The "Hunger Moon" moniker further emphasizes the challenges faced during these harsh winter months, when food resources were scarce.

So, bundle up and step outside tonight to witness this celestial display! The full moon will be visible throughout the night, offering a magnificent sight in the sky.

View Full Image A plane passes in front of the full moon seen from Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)

View Full Image A full moon rises behind the Camlica mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) (AP)

View Full Image A boy spins LED lights to celebrate the first full moon of the Lunar New Year in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. According to the lunar calendar, the first full moon falls on Feb. 24 this year. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (AP)

View Full Image South Korean traditional band members perform near the burning Daljips, a wooden hut built on top of a hill, to celebrate the first full moon of the Lunar New Year in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. According to the lunar calendar, the first full moon falls on Feb. 24 this year. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (AP)

View Full Image A full moon rises behind the Camlica mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) (AP)

View Full Image The Marc' Aurelio equestrian statue in Campidoglio Square at the city hall Campidoglio (the Capitoline hill) is silhouetted against the full moon in Rome, Italy, February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Remo Casilli (REUTERS)

View Full Image The full moon rises over a cross on the Church of St John the Baptist in Skopje on February 24, 2024. (Photo by Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP) (AFP)

View Full Image A full moon rises over a tower of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (AP/PTI)(AP02_02_2024_000009B) (AP)

View Full Image A plane passes in front of the full moon seen from Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)

View Full Image A plane passes in front of the full moon seen from Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (AP)

View Full Image The full moon rises as people wait to meet US Republican Presidential hopeful and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley at a campaign stop in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, on February 23, 2024. The South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary is scheduled for February 24, 2024. (Photo by Julia Nikhinson / AFP) (AFP)

View Full Image A view of the full moon behind a pedestrian traffic light during dawn in Berlin, Germany, February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner (REUTERS)

View Full Image A crow is silhouetted against the full moon near Kosovos capital of Pristina on February 22, 2024. (Photo by Armend NIMANI / AFP) (AFP)

View Full Image A view of the full moon is seen from the Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple during a ceremony commemorating Makha Bucha Day in Pathum Thani province outside Bangkok, Thailand, February 24, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha (REUTERS)

View Full Image A view shows a full moon known as wolf moon over Permet, Albania, January 26, 2024. REUTERS/Florion Goga (REUTERS)

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged western nations to take a more assertive stance in confiscating Russian assets considering Russia's invasion of Ukraine that began two years ago.

Rishi Sunak said, western nations should be bolder about confiscating Russian assets which they froze after the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, reported Reuters. Moreover, Sunak also urged the US to continue to provide financial and military support for Ukraine.

Rishi Sunak pointing to the support US has shown for Ukraine said, "We should never underestimate what America has done for Ukraine and for Euro-Atlantic security. I urge them to continue that support, and I am confident they will," reported Reuters.

The British PM made this statement to mark two years since the beginning of the war, he said Ukraine continued to need more long-range weapons, drones and munitions, as well as other assistance, in an article in an early edition of the Sunday Times.

The first British Asian prime minister further said, "We must be bolder in hitting the Russian war economy .... And we must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets," reported Reuters.

Earlier, British Investment Minister Dominic Johnson met US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo in January to discuss the seizure of frozen Russian assets, however stressed that this confiscation should be done in accordance with international law. Additionally, group of Seven countries have been studying a possible seizure of the assets as a way to make Russia pay for the damage its invasion caused in Ukraine.

Past instances have occurred where countries have already seized Russian assets including European Union, US, Japan and Canada. These countries froze around $300 billion worth of Russian central bank assets in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Saturday, February 24, Britain's defence ministry announced 245 million pounds that is $311 million worth of aid to fund Ukrainian artillery ammunition.

According to a recent survey by a US-based agency Morning Consult, the most popular leaders in the world including US President Joe Biden, UK PM Rishi Sunak and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, have been defeated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi emerged as the most popular leader in the world among these global leaders with an approval ratings of 78%.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Nikki Haley has criticised Donald Trump for his remarks about Black Americans. Trump, known for his risque comments, earlier hinted that his legal issues made him more relatable to Black voters. This statement came from a man facing several legal charges, including conspiracy and vote rigging.

Haley, challenging Trump in the political arena for the US Elections 2024, found his comments distasteful.

It's disgusting. But, that's what happens when he goes off the teleprompter. That's the chaos that comes with Donald Trump," AFP quoted Haley as saying.

"That's the offensiveness that's going to happen every day between now and the general election, which is why I continue to say Donald Trump cannot win a general election," she added.

Such unpredictability and offensiveness, according to Haley, are trademarks of Trump's public appearances. Haley stressed that such behaviour could jeopardise the Republican party's success in upcoming elections in November.

What Donald Trump said

Trump said, "Black people like me because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as I'm being discriminated against."

At the same time, he also said Black voters liked his jail photo from Georgia more than anyone else.

"The mug shot, we've all seen the mug shot, and you know who embraced it more than anybody else? The Black population. It's incredible," he said.

Democrats react

Even Democrats have criticised Trump's comments alike.

"Donald Trump claiming that Black Americans will support him because of his criminal charges is insulting. It's moronic. And it's just plain racist," said Cedric Richmond, co-chair of President Joe Biden's reelection campaign.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has won over South Carolina Republicans as the candidate who, voters believe, can win in November. They believe Trump can keep the country safe and has the mental capability to be president.

(With AFP inputs)

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US Presidential Elections 2024: Donald Trump won over South Carolina Republicans as the candidate who voters believe can win in November, keep the country safe and has the mental capability to be president.

Trump cruised to victory in the South Carolina primary with the support of an almost unwavering base of loyal voters. AP VoteCast found that Republicans in the state are broadly aligned with Trumpss goals: Many question the value of supporting Ukraines fight against Russia; overwhelming majorities see immigrants as hurting the U.S. and suspect that there are nefarious political motives behind Trumps multiple criminal indictments.

Even in her home state of South Carolina, where she was once governor, Nikki Haley appeared to have little chance against Trump. Only about half of GOP voters had a favorable view of her, whereas about 7 in 10 had a positive view of Trump.

About 6 in 10 South Carolina voters consider themselves supporters of the Make America Great Again" movement, a Trump slogan that helped catapult him to the White House in 2016. About 9 in 10 Trump voters said they were driven by their support for him, not by objections to his opponent. Haleys voters were much more divided: About 6 in 10 were motivated by supporting her, but about 4 in 10 turned out to oppose Trump.

AP VoteCast is a survey of more than 2,400 voters taking part in Saturdays Republican primary in South Carolina, conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago.

HOW TRUMP WON IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Trumps victory in South Carolina looked remarkably similar to his wins in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Its a sign that regional differences that once existed within the GOP have been supplanted by a national movement that largely revolves around the former president.

Trump, 77, won in South Carolina with voters who are white and do not have a college degree, one of his core constituencies. About two-thirds of Trumps backers in this election fell into that group.

Majorities believe Trump  but not Haley  is a candidate who can emerge victorious in Novembers general election. Voters were also far more likely to view Trump than Haley as someone who would stand up and fight for people like you" and to say he would keep the country safe. And about three-quarters say he has the mental capability to serve effectively as president.

Trumps voters also backed his more nationalist views  they are more likely than Haleys supporters to have lukewarm views of the NATO alliance or even consider it bad for the U.S., to say immigrants are hurting the country and to say immigration is the top issue facing the country.

NIKKI HALEYS POLITICAL FUTURE

At the age of 52, Haley has bet that she can offer a generational change for the GOP. But the future she articulated has little basis in the present-day GOP, even in South Carolina, where she previously won two terms as governor. Nearly half of South Carolina voters  including about 6 in 10 of those supporting Trump  say they have an unfavorable opinion of her.

Haley has said she will stay in the race until at least the Super Tuesday primaries, though so far there are no signs that she has disrupted Trumps momentum. Shes struggled to convince the core of the Republican Party that shes a better choice than the former president  losing most conservatives and those without a college degree to Trump.

Who is her coalition? Haley dominated among South Carolina voters who correctly said that Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. Roughly three-quarters of her supporters say Biden was legitimately elected president in 2020, and about 4 in 10 voted for Biden in that election. Her problem is that about 6 in 10 Republican primary voters say they believed Biden was not legitimately elected.

TRUMPS POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES IN A GENERAL ELECTION

Trump has an iron grip on the Republican base, but that might not be enough of a coalition to guarantee a win in Novembers general election.

South Carolina was a chance to show that he can expand his coalition beyond voters who are white, older and without a college degree. But nearly 9 in 10 of South Carolina's primary voters were white, making it hard to see if Trump has made inroads with Black voters whom he has attempted to win over.

Trump also split the college graduate vote with Haley, a relative weakness that could matter in November as people with college degrees are a growing share of the overall electorate. Even though South Carolina Republican voters believe that Trump can win in November, some had worries about his viability.

About 4 in 10 Republican voters in South Carolina  including 2 in 10 of his supporters  are concerned that Trump is too extreme to win the general election. About 3 in 10 voters believe he acted illegally in at least one of the criminal cases against him, even though more than 7 in 10 believe the investigations are political attempts to undermine him.

Trump dominates among conservative voters. But his challenge is that those voters were just 37% of the electorate in the November 2020 presidential election. The other 63% identified as moderate or liberal, the two categories that Trump lost to Haley in South Carolina.

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Across the world, a wonder drug is helping the rich lose weight without the inconvenience of putting in an effort. As a result, Semaglutide, a string of amino acids created by a Danish pharma giant to reduce blood sugar, is democratizing thinness. What was once possible only for people with resolve, lovers of fitness, austere eaters, the genetically lucky, the vain, and masochists, is now attainable by unremarkable people. In time, as patents expire across the world, the prices of the drug will crash and most people will be able to lose weight in the easiest way the world has yet invented. And we will move closer to a kind of equality that is not talked about oftenbetter health for people who cannot work hard to achieve it, or people who are simply not lucky enough to be born with normal metabolism. Is this sort of equality a good thing? What can ever be bad about equality?

For centuries, democracy had a great reputation, until our times when the democratization of opinions began to accurately reflect human nature. Not everyone enjoys this revelation. But what can be wrong in a levelling of the health field? What happens when bad genes, gluttony and decadence can go unpunished? What is the consequence of simplification? Of something that used to be very difficult becoming easy?

Semaglutide was developed by the pharma major Novo Nordisk as a way to manage diabetes. The drug increases the production of insulin, which in turn reduces blood sugar. A collateral benefit is fat loss. Semaglutide, which is sold under various brand names, is a prescription drug. It is prescribed for obesity too, but widely used unofficially, without prescription, by those who may not be diabetic or obese, but want to look fit, or at least thinner.

There have been weight-loss drugs before, but Semaglutide actually works, according to general medical and user opinion. There are side effects, but so far nothing out of the ordinary when compared to other medicines. It is very expensive, as new superstar drugs tend to be. It is usually injected every week, or had orally everyday. In India, its injections can cost 80,000 per month and the pill can cost 10,000 per month. The drug is even more expensive in the West. Yet, there is such strong demand for it that Nova Nordisk is unable to meet it. An odd quality of our times is that the rich are our guinea pigs, and it is they who inform us of new cures and that they are safe.

But there is ancient wisdom in us that warns us of easy things. Among the people who are very suspicious of Semaglutide are, not surprisingly, those who would not be needing it. They are fit and usually misunderstood as disciplined.

It is one of our most bogus conceptsthat some people can endure a degree of suffering to do the right thing, or, in other words, that some people are disciplined. The fit are usually people who are simply lucky enough to enjoy physical exercise and who find it easy to stay away from fast carbs, or who have a strong useful vice, like vanity, that helps them make little sacrifices. Discipline is a name given to private procedures that come easy to some people and is plain suffering for most others. Even most ascetics in history who did painful things were probably aided more by their mental ailments than any resolve.

The fit ask others to be fit because it is in our nature to ask people to be like us, to do what comes easy to us. But the path to fitness makes most people miserable. I know people who start believing in mysterious injuries inside them just to save themselves from exercise, and who manufacture mental trauma just to eat some chocolate.

Modern food is a very powerful drug. So maybe it is only fair that the modern world has given us another drug in compensation.

I am trying hard to be compassionate, but lest you mistake me for a wonderful person, I should say I am among the people who believe that there can be no alternative to austere eating and exercise; not just exercise, but vigorous daily exercise. That is the way to be, I want to say, because that is way that comes easy to me. But I am unable to find a clinching argument against decadence. If people love eating, why shouldnt they simply have a wonder drug? After all, half the world is alive today only because of medicines. I do believe though that what is called longevity today is merely a prolonging of death.

The fit do point out that Semaglutide has to be had forever, so its consumers will have to deal with the side effects forever. But then, people who eat frugally, too, have to do it forever. People who work-out, too, have to do it forever. Exercise has its own adverse side-effects, like injuries. I am just saying that the case against the drug is obvious but not terrifying, at least not terrifying to most people.

There is one argument against it, though. Just 20 years ago, only people who read a lot had access to knowledge. Not all of them were intuitive, so they could not make analytical leaps with it, but still they possessed some information. Today, knowledge can be Googled, even sought from a chatbot. Yet, there is a difference between a person who has the foundation of accumulating information the hard way and someone who is able to arrive at the same conclusion using technology. The muscle memory of labour lends depth to people. This muscle memory is, in fact, our true self. Our true health is not what we appear to be, but what the body knows it has gone through, what the body knows it can endure.
IT HAS BEEN a long two years for Ukrainians, but for some the clock stopped the moment Russian tanks crossed the border. Residents of Hlibivka, a village 40km north of Kyiv, were trapped by the advance when the bridges behind them were blown up to save the capital. The Russian occupation marked the start of a nightmare for Olha Manukhina. Two days in, masked men jumped over her fence and kidnapped her husband and her son. She has not seen them since. She understands they are being held in a prison in southern Russia, two of thousands of civilian prisoners who dont officially exist. Its the uncertainty that gets her, she says, the not knowing, the sense they are being left to die".

As war enters its third year, Ms Manukhinas sense of limbo is increasingly common. Belief in an eventual victory" remainsamong 85% of the population, according to one recent poll. But opinions about what that means and when it will happen have begun to diverge strongly. A majority now believe it will take years. And for the first time since the start of the war, polling also suggests a majority feel that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Hopes of pushing Russia back to its legal borders are being eclipsed by a focus on survival, says Oleksandr Martynenko, a journalist and a former senior official. We will be holding off the Russians all this year. The only question is whether we can."

Read more of our recent coverage of the Ukraine war

Wavering economic and military support from the West means things are likely to get worse. Ukrainian officials are increasingly nervous about the figures: cashflow, mobilisation numbers, weapons. Serhiy Marchenko, the finance minister, says he believes his countrys Western partners will come good on this years non-military budget of $37bnUkrainian taxes pay for military expensesbut he is worried about what happens next. We just havent had assurances about 2025." Ammunition shortages are already an issue, and will get better only if Europe learns to produce weapons again.

Russia has its own problems with resources and manpower, but it retains a relative size advantage. In a war of attrition, that counts. While the fat man shrinks, the thin man disappears," a Ukrainian intelligence official says, citing a well-known local proverb.

Mykhailo Fedorov, a deputy prime minister and champion of military tech, says the only way forward is self-reliance. We have no choice but to show strength. But Im optimistic. Weve got a clear advantage in effectiveness and speed." Creative thinking allowed Ukraine to score unlikely victories in the Black Sea, he argues. During 2023, Ukraine sank a fifth of the Russian Black Sea fleet and established a shipping corridor in the face of constant bombardment. The same approach has seen a huge increase in the production of cheap and capable fighting drones. Ukraine boasts nearly a dozen long-distance models able to strike targets more than 600km away. One long-range drone manufacturer confidently predicts that 2024 will see the war move deep into central regions of Russia. Mr Putin will have some explaining to do to his people," he says. Things will not be easy for him domestically."

Yet it is Ukraines domestic politics, rather than Russias, that are beginning to look more fragile. Two years of unusual political unity have given way to public infighting. President Volodymyr Zelensky has faced down much of the criticism in tough fashion. In early February he removed his popular armed forces commander, Valery Zaluzhny, after relations broke down between the two. The full effects of that risky decision have yet to be seen. On the eve of his firing, a full 94% of Ukrainians said they trusted their wartime general, compared with 40% for his replacement, Oleksandr Syrsky. A senior government official says he is worried about the capacity of the Ukrainian political system to manage the growing tensions, and says the Kremlin would love to capitalise on them. Russia wants to remove Zelensky because there is no one else who can control the situation," he says.

A difficult point will come in May, the date Mr Zelenskys five-year presidential term officially ends. Martial law is clear in allowing the president to continue in office until another is elected, with elections also impossible under the same provisions. But the political chatter in Kyiv is all about an upcoming cliff-edge of legitimacy. Andriy Mahera, a constitutional expert whose decision in 2004 not to ratify a fraudulent vote marked the start of the Orange revolution, says the criticisms are legal nonsense; but Mr Zelensky is nonetheless walking a tightrope. The president will be in position past the five-year mark only because there is a war onno more, no less. He needs to understand this, and instead of fighting opponents, try to unite them around him." So far, big-tent collaboration has not been Mr Zelenskys style.

The president can certainly take some comfort in public opinion, which continues to back him, albeit with a downward trajectory. Polling from the Razumkov Centre, a local sociological company, shows trust in him remains at 70%. That is much higher than for parliament and any potential opponent save Mr Zaluzhny. The public also largely aligns with Mr Zelenskys uncompromising stance on negotiations with Russia. The Razumkov polling shows just 18% of them would support concessions to Russia even if the West were to cease support completely. A third say Ukraine should continue to fight even if it is left on its own; 22% suggest trying to freeze the conflict without making concessions, with the rest undecided.

The real obstacle to any deal is not so much domestic support as finding a trustworthy negotiating partner. For negotiations to work, you need a tango," the senior government official said. War is actually quite successful for Putin. What is his reason to stop?" A Ukrainian military-intelligence source suggested that current rates of equipment and ammunition use might force both sides to a temporary ceasefire some time next year. But it would be only a pause, he says: there is little confidence in a lasting deal as long as Mr Putin is alive. We know he hates Ukraine and our freedom. We are a bad example for his society."

For Ms Manukhina, the suggestion of waiting for a change in the Russian leadership brings her to tears. She says the little people, like her, are being forgotten. If we are going to wait until Putin dies, all of our guys will perish. If nothing else is working, we must negotiate."

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Armenia is keen to keep closer ties with India, and also to work on raising bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership.

I think our relations are mature enough to be defined as a strategic partnership. I hope that our ministers of foreign affairs will have discussions on this issue," Armenias labour minister Narek Mkrtchyan said in an exclusive interview with Mint.

Mrkrtchyan also said that his country is keen to deepen defence ties with India. We have cooperation in the defence and we are looking for what to make our cooperation much deeper," he said in response to a question about planned defence deals between the two countries.

This comes after India has stepped up arms sales and strategic support to Armenia amid its clashes with Azerbaijan. Located in the South Caucasus, Armenia clashed with neighbour Azerbaijan for control over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. A short but intense conflict in 2020 saw Azerbaijan inflict severe military setbacks on Armenia.

Since then, the countrys defence ties with India have strengthened. Armenia purchased the Swathi weapon-locating radar system from India in 2020. Following this, a bilateral agreement was reached for New Delhi to provide Armenia ammunition and multi-barrel rocket launchers for Pinaka, as well as anti-tank munitions.

In November 2022, Kalyani Strategic Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharat Forge, won a $155 million contract to supply artillery guns to Armenia, according to numerous media reports citing defence ministry sources.

This has brought closer strategic cooperation between the two countries. Armenias national security chief met with NSA Ajit Doval in August 2023, which came after a meeting between defence ministers Suren Papikyan and Rajanth Singh in October 2022.

Armenia is also keen to see Indian firms bid for tenders to construct infrastructure in the country, particularly for marquee projects like the countrys North-South Road, which runs along the length of the country. It connects Armenias southern border with Iran to the countrys northern border with Georgia.

According to persons aware of the matter, the road needs upgrades to manage the flow of heavy trucks, which could provide an opportunity for Indian infrastructure firms.

There are still unbuilt parts of the road like some tunnels and some bridges that need to be constructed. When an international tender will be announced, the government of Armenia will be happy to seek proposals from India as well," Mkrtchyan said about the project.

We are announcing international tenders and we are happy to receive proposals from international companies for construction. For example, we are constructing 300 to 500 schools and kindergartens and this is also an opportunity for Indian companies to come and participate in tenders," Mkrtchyan said.

We are now implementing a mega project of an academic city in Armenia, which means that universities will be located there. We will be announcing an international tender and we'll be happy to see Indian companies invest and do business in Armenia," he added.

BHARAT FORGE More Information

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Palestinians inspect the damaged building following the Israeli attack on the Rafah, Gaza on February 25, 2024.

An Israeli military offensive in the southernmost city of Rafah could be delayed somewhat if a deal for a weekslong cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is reached, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, but claimed that total victory in Gaza is weeks away once the offensive begins.

Netanyahu confirmed to CBS that a deal is in the works, with no details. Israeli media reported that mediators were making progress on an agreement for a cease-fire and release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza, as well as Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Several Israeli media outlets, citing unnamed officials, said the War Cabinet tacitly approved it.

Talks resumed on Sunday in Qatar at the specialist level, Egypts state-run Al Qahera TV reported, citing an Egyptian official as saying further discussions would follow in Cairo with the aim of achieving the cease-fire and release.

Meanwhile, Israel is developing plans for expanding its offensive against the Hamas militant group to Rafah on the Gaza-Egypt border, where more than half the besieged territorys population of 2.3 million have sought refuge. Humanitarian groups warn of a catastrophe, with Rafah the main entry point for aid, and the U.S. and other allies have said Israel must avoid harming civilians.

Netanyahu has said hell convene the Cabinet this week to approve operational plans for action in Rafah, including the evacuation of civilians.

Once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion. Not months, Netanyahu told CBS. If we dont have a deal, well do it anyway. It has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach.

He said that four of the six remaining Hamas battalions are concentrated in Rafah.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC that President Joe Biden hadnt been briefed on the Rafah plan and said, We believe that this operation should not go forward until or unless we see [a plan to protect civilians].

Heavy fighting continued in parts of northern Gaza, the first target of the offensive, where the destruction is staggering. Residents have reported days of heavy fighting in the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City.

Were trapped, unable to move because of the heavy bombardment, resident Ayman Abu Awad said.

He said starving residents have been forced to eat animal fodder and search for food in demolished buildings. Northern Gaza has been largely cut off from aid, and the U.N.s World Food Program suspended deliveries last week.

Details of the proposed deal

A senior official from Egypt, which along with Qatar is a mediator between Israel and Hamas, has said the draft cease-fire deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, minors and older people.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, said the proposed six-week pause in fighting would include allowing hundreds of trucks to bring desperately needed aid into Gaza every day, including the north. He said both sides agreed to continue negotiations during the pause for further releases and a permanent cease-fire.

Negotiators face an unofficial deadline of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around March 10, a period that often sees heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Hamas says it has not been involved in the latest proposal developed by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, but the reported outline largely matches its earlier proposal for the first phase of a truce.

Hamas has said it wont release all of the remaining hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraws its forces from the territory, and is demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including senior militants  conditions Netanyahu has rejected.

Anguished wait for hostages families

Israel declared war after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostages. More than 100 hostages were released in a cease-fire deal in November. More than 130 remain in captivity, a fourth of them believed to be dead.

Families have followed the negotiations with hope and anguish.

It feels like Schindlers list. Will he be on the list or not? Shelly Shem Tov, the mother of Omer, 21, told Israeli Army Radio of his chances of being freed.

Israel responded to the Oct. 7 attack with an air and ground offensive that has driven around 80% of Gazas population from their homes, putting hundreds of thousands at risk of starvation and the spread of disease. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza says 29,692 Palestinians have been killed in the war, two-thirds of them women and children.

The ministrys death toll doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says its troops have killed more than 10,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Newborns dying in Rafah

The war has devastated Gazas health sector. Less than half of hospitals even partially function.

At the Emirates Hospital in Rafah, three to four newborns are placed in each of its 20 incubators, which are designed for just one.

Dr. Amal Ismail said two to three newborns die in a single shift, in part because many families live in tents in rainy, cold weather. Before the war, one or two newborns in incubators there died per month.

No matter how much we work with them, it is all wasted, she said. Health conditions in tents are very bad.

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West Bengal BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday slammed Mamata Banerjee noting that she can no longer be referred to as didi and called her a cruel lady

"...Stop calling Mamata Banerjee called 'Didi' she has now become a 'aunty' now...I defeated her in Nandigram during the assembly elections. She lodged 42 cases against me. She a cruel lady...," Adhikari was speaking in Delhi. Also read: Sandeshkhali violence: Order from Delhi is to keep issue alive, says TMC's Kunal Ghosh; BJP's Locket Chatterjee detained

Sheikh Shahjahan controls Mamata Banerjee, TMC

Alleging that Sheikh Shahjahan can never be arrested, Suvendu said Shahjahan, who joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2013, before that, was the leader of the CPI (M), who did bribe collection, was a land mafia and sent 20% to Kolkata through Jyotipriya Mallick and Narayan Goswami, who are prominent leaders of the North 24 Paraganas.

"Mamata Banerjee's police will not arrest Sheikh Shahjahan because he controls the votes. If he is arrested, then TMC will lose the Basirhat seat. The hearing is on March 6 on CJI's bench. We hope that the case will go to CBI and Shahjahan will be in jail within 24 hours," he added.

The BJP leader also pointed out that section 144 imposed by the state government is only to prevent BJP leaders.

"Strictest action should be taken. Sheikh Shahjahan should get capital punishment. The CBI and NIA investigations should happen. They should take appropriate action as soon as possible. The people of Sandeshkhali and the entire West Bengal are waiting for it. This section 144 is imposed only to prevent BJP leaders, MLAs and MPs. It is illegal. It is politically motivated. The state government is using section 144 to hide the situation inside," Adhikari said.

"Under PM Modi's government, ED and other investigative agencies have the freedom to work; hence, the incident of Sandeshkhali is in front of the entire country," he added.

(With inputs from ANI)

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The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate Gujarats inaugural All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot on Sunday. He will arrive at the Rajkot AIIMS in the afternoon and later deliver a speech at a gathering at the Race Course ground in the city during the evening.

During his two-day visit to Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate multiple projects on Sunday across Dwarka and Rajkot districts. Here are the top 5 developments: 1. In a social media post on X, PM Modi said, Rajkot will always have a very special place in my heart. It was the people of this city who put their faith in me, giving me my first ever electoral win. Since then, I have always worked to do justice to the aspirations of the Janta Janardan. Its also a happy coincidence that I will be in Gujarat today and tomorrow, and one of the programmes is being held in Rajkot, from where 5 AIIMS will be dedicated to the nation."

2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate the Signature Bridge connecting Okha and Beyt in the sacred town of Dwarka on Sunday. Spanning 2.5 kilometres, this bridge holds great importance for local inhabitants and pilgrims journeying to the revered Dwarkadhish Temple.

3. Commenced by the Centre in 2017 with a groundbreaking ceremony, the bridge's purpose is to streamline access for devotees travelling between Okha and Bet Dwarka. Before its construction, pilgrims had to depend on boat transport to reach the Dwarkadhish Temple in Beyt, Dwarka.

4. According to the announcement, Prime Minister Modi is set to dedicate and lay the foundation stones for various development initiatives totalling over Rs. 4150 crore in Dwarka around 1 pm.
Days after Congress leaders Faisel Patel and Mumtaz Patel expressed disappointment for losing Bharuch seat to AAP under the party's seat sharing aggreement for Lok Sabha polls, Bhartiya Janata Party is claiming the move to be Rahul Gandhis attempt to erase the legacy' of late Ahmed Patel whose family continues to enjoy significant influence in Bharuch.

Handing over long standing stronghold of Sh Ahmed Patel, who gave his life to Congress Party, to AAP is the revenge of the Prince"," wrote BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Earlier, Ahmed Patel's daughter and Congress leader Mumtaz Patel expressed her unhappiness on Congress' decision to give away Bharuch seat to Aam Aadmi Party under the seat-sharing formula for Gujarat for upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.

"Deeply apologize to Our district cadre for not being able to secure the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in alliance. I share your disappointment. Together, we will regroup to make Congress stronger. We won't let Ahmed Patel's 45 years of legacy go in vain," Ms Patel wrote with the hashtag Bharuch ki beti (daughter of Bharuch)", wrote Mumtaz Patel on X.

Resharing Patel's post on X, Bhartiya Janata Party leader Amit Malviya lashed out at the grand old party where he claimed that a single dynasty is more equal than the others giving a direct reference of the Gandhis. He also accused Rahul Gandhi of trying to erase the legacy of Ahmed Patel from Bharuch.

In the Congress, one dynasty is more equal than the others. Everyone knows of the differences between late Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi. Giving away Bharuch to AAP is Rahul Gandhis attempt to erase his legacy and humiliate the family. Gandhis believe in use and throw," wrote Amit Malviya on X.

A day ago, Faisal Ahmed Patel, the son of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel criticised the decision of the party's high command and said that he would bring the matter up with the senior Congress leader.

...My party workers and I are not happy and we wanted this decision to not be taken but if the high command wants, we will follow it - both party workers and I..." news agency ANI quoted Patel.

Under the Congress-AAP seat sharing formula, the party is set to contest elections for 24 seats in Gujarat, whereas, AAP will compete for 2 seats. In Haryana, the party would run elections in 9 seats, and Arvind Kejriwal's party would fight for one seat. In Delhi, AAP will fight elections on 4 seats, whereas Congress would fight on 3 seats.

ARVIND More Information

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress officially announced their seat-sharing deal for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on Saturday. The AAP will contest four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, while the Congress will test its fate on the remaining three seats.

Both the AAP and the Congress are part of the Opposition's INDIA bloc. The alliance of over 25 opposition parties was formed in a bid to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming general elections.

ALSO READ: AAP-Congress alliance leaves Ahmed Patel's children unhappy  Here's why

But will the AAP-Congress alliance be able to beat the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls in 2024? Here's a look at how the national capital has fared in the past four general elections.

Seats won by BJP, Congress and AAP since 2004

In 2019, all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi  Chandni Chowk, North East Delhi, East Delhi, New Delhi, North West Delhi, West Delhi and South Delhi  were won by the BJP. In 2014 too, the BJP won all these seats, defeating the Congress.

Before 2014, the Congress had won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 elections, while the party won six in the 2004 elections. The one seat the grand-old party lost to the BJP was won by a BJP candidate with a vote margin of just 3.34 percent.

ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Full list of 46 seats to be contested by AAP and Congress  Which seat goes to which party?

The AAP has never won a single Lok Sabha seat in Delhi.

Put more simply, the Congress had a hold on Delhi until 2014, when the BJP won an overall majority, making Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of the country.

ALSO READ: AAP, Congress mutually agreed to go solo in Punjab says Arvind Kejriwal, rules out any hostility

Vote share since 2004

While the BJP's vote share has considerably increased over the past four years, that of the Congress declined substantially in 2014. The Congress's vote share in 2009 was around 57 percent. It fell sharply to 15 percent in the 2014 elections.

The Congress's vote increased slightly to 22 percent in 2019, when the BJP's vote share jumped to around 57 percent.

ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Election 2024: Fake WhatsApp message circulating on polls schedule, clarifies EC

Meanwhile, the AAP, which never won a single seat in Delhi Lok Sabha Elections, had 33 percent vote share in 2014. This declined to 18 percent in the 2019 polls.

Year Vote share of BJP Vote share of Congress Vote share of AAP 2019 56.86% 22.63% 18.20% 2014 46.63% 15.22% 33.08% 2009 35.20% 57.11% 2004 40.70% 54.80%

(Data source: Election Commission, IndiaVotes)

Congress-AAP alliance Vs BJP

Delhi has been a strongold of the Congress for 15 years (between 1998 and 2013). Meanwhile, AAP's Arvind Kejriwal has been the Chief Minister of the Union Territory since 2015.

Despite securing 18 percent vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the AAP, in the 2020 Delhi Assembly Elections, had won 62 of the 70 seats, while the BJP won only eight and the Congress none. In 2015, the AAP had won 67 seats in the assembly polls. In the 2013 assembly polls, the AAP won 28 seats, while the BJP bagged 31 seats.

It now remains to be seen whether the Congress-AAP alliance be able to give a tough fight to the two-time winner BJP during the Lok Sabha elections.

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In February 2023, President Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv and declared that the U.S. and its allies were determined to win the test of wills with Moscow to defend Ukraine.

Biden had taken office pledging to rally the worlds democracies against authoritarian states. And the journey to the wartime capital was intended to underscore that bedrock policy along with the imperative of preserving Ukraines independence in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion.

Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was dividedHe thought he could outlast us," said Biden, who donned a striped tie with Ukraines blue and yellow colors. But hes just been plain wrong."

A year later, Moscows forces were raising the Russian tricolor over the town of Avdiivka, Ukrainian forces were on their back foot, and worries were proliferating through European capitals that political paralysis in Washington could compel the U.S. to step back from its leadership role.

The American-led effort to support Ukraine against its larger adversary has faced an array of obstacles, including the formidable task of revamping the Wests defense industrial base and Putins willingness to accept enormous lossesabout 350,000 killed or wounded, according to Britains Defense Ministryin pursuit of his objectives.

But the principal challenge has come at home, where additional U.S. military assistance to Ukraine has been stymied by Donald Trump-aligned House Republicans who question the importance of Ukraine for American security and in some cases even the centrality of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance itself.

Ukraines military prospects will be a major topic in July, when NATO holds a summit in Washington to commemorate its 75th anniversary. If U.S. military aid is flowing by then, according to military analysts, Ukraine can spend this year buttressing its air and ground defenses, training fresh troops, softening up its foe with long-range strikes and preparing to go on the offensive in 2025.

But if the U.S. doesnt resume its military support and Putins forces are making further gains, the celebratory NATO meeting might be transformed into a sobering split-screen moment that spurs anxieties about whether Washington can meet its commitments in the years ahead in Europe and other military theaters such as Asia and the Middle East.

Therell be a lot of brave talk, but the subtext will be that we cant rely on the Americans anymore," said Alexander Vershbow, who served as the U.S. ambassador to NATO and to Russia.

U.S. officials werent anticipating a confrontation with Moscow during the early months of Bidens presidency. With the focus on China and problems at home, the goal was to keep relations with Moscow on an even keel as Biden worked to strengthen the worldwide system of alliances with the U.S. at the helm.

After taking office, Biden canceled the plans under his predecessor to remove 9,500 troops from Germany because of its low level of military spending and came to a quick agreement over cost sharing with South Korea.

Americas allies are our greatest asset," Biden said in his first major address on foreign policy.

After the U.S. received fresh intelligence by October 2021 that Putin was planning to attack Ukraine early the following year, Ukraine emerged as the purest test of Bidens alliance policies.

By late December 2021, Biden had authorized a fresh package of security assistance for Kyiv that would grow to more than $44 billion since Putins invasion.

At a NATO summit in July 2023 in Lithuania, Biden vowed that the U.S. military support would continue for as long as it takes."

But with House Republicans digging in their heels on additional Ukraine assistance, Biden used a different phrase to describe the American commitment when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House five months later. The U.S., Biden said, would supply Ukraine with vital military aid as long as we can."

Looking back, some security analysts say that Biden should have moved more quickly to supply critical weapons systems to Kyiv, before the Russian military had time to adapt and to ensure that the arms were in Ukraines hands before the patience of U.S. lawmakers began to run thin.

A modest number of ATACMS surface to surface missiles, for example, werent provided to Ukraine until October 2023, well after the Ukrainian counteroffensive began to falter. And the weapons U.S. sent were the shorter-range variant, which has a range of about 100 miles, and not the longer-range model that has the capability to strike targets more than 180 miles away, including in Crimea.

This was a policy that was carried out in a very incremental way due to escalatory concerns and concerns about Ukrainians not being able to use the kit," said Alina Polyakova, president and chief executive officer of the Center for European Policy Analysis, a Washington-based think tank that supports Ukraine. If we had moved faster and werent as worried about Russian reaction, I think this conflict could have ended in the first year before the Russians adapted."

A senior Biden administration official said that, in making weapons decisions, the White House needed to take into account the Ukrainian militarys ability to absorb new equipment as well as Putins proclivity for rattling the nuclear saber.

Ukraine wasnt ready to receive all of this stuff on day one of this conflict," said the administration official.

On Thursday, the National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, said the option to provide the longer-range version of the ATACMS remains on the table. The Pentagon still has the authority to provide up to $4.2 billion in weapons and military equipment to Ukraine from its own stocks, but said this past week that it wont do so unless Congress approves funding to replenish the Defense Department inventory.

The broader question is whether the resistance of some House Republicans to continued military support for Ukraine and the popular support for Trumps America First policy reflect a seismic shift away from the alliance policies in Europe that Biden has long embraced.

The point isnt we want to abandon Europe," Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio), a staunch Trump supporter, told a security conference in Munich earlier this month. The point is we need to focus as a country on East Asia, and we need our European allies to step up in Europe."

Some European equipment has been crucial for Ukraines military effort, including Britains Storm Shadow cruise missile and Germanys Iris T missile-defense system. There are more German tanks in Ukraine than U.S. ones, and European self-propelled howitzers have been important for the battle.

But the continent, which is still struggling to overcome weaknesses in its military industrial base, wouldnt be able to cover the shortfall if the U.S. supply of artillery shells, air defense interceptors and other key weapon systems isnt quickly resumed, a deficiency Western analysts say Russia would move to exploit.

Putins calculation is that we wont be able to get our act together quickly enough," said Fiona Hill, the former top Russian expert on Trumps National Security Council. A focal point of the propaganda right now is that Ukraine seems to be a losing proposition."

John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under Trump, said the growing Republican opposition to support for Ukraine is largely a function of politics and isnt a fundamental shift about the U.S. global role.

A lot of Republicans also ask whats the strategy for the money were spending," he said. And its all happening under a Democratic president, so they see it as a Democratic war."

An essential aspect for many Republicans skeptical of aid to Ukraine, he said, is their political loyalty to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Trump has long been viewed as much more sympathetic to Putin than to Ukraines leaders.

If Tom Cotton were the nominee and became president, the House Republicans would fall back into line," Bolton said, referring to the hard-line Republican senator from Arkansas, who has long been a staunch supporter of Ukraine.

Liana Fix, an expert on European security policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the stakes in the continuing debate in Congress and in the U.S. presidential election go well beyond Ukraine.

Theres still an idea in Europe that Trump represents the exception to decades of trans-Atlantic policy," she said. But if Trump wins, the realization will kick in that the Biden term was the exception. And Europe will need to adjust to a new direction in American foreign policy in which the U.S. isnt really the leader of an alliance with Europe."

Alistair MacDonald contributed to this article.

Write to Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com
The Chinese stock market has embarked on a robust rally in the first week of the Chinese Lunar New Year, igniting optimism among investors as trading resumed following an eight-day Chinese Spring Festival holiday.

With three days of substantial gains leading up to the holiday, the market has seen an impressive 8-day upward streak since February 6th. During the period of February 6th to 23rd, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index surged by over 11 percent, while the Shenzhen Component Index soared by nearly 13 percent.

On Friday, Chinese stocks closed higher, with the Shanghai Composite Index edging up by 0.55 percent to 3,004.88, just above the psychologically significant 3,000 mark. Similarly, the Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.28 percent higher at 9,069.42.

As China welcomed the Year of the Dragon, symbolizing good fortune and luck, the markets buoyant performance during the week has fueled investors expectations for promising investment returns in 2024.

In parallel with the markets rally, there has been a heightened focus on supervision and risk mitigation, spurred by the recent appointment of a new head at the helm of the nations top securities regulator, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). The regulatory body convened a series of symposiums aimed at gathering insights from various stakeholders on bolstering stock market supervision, risk control, and fostering the capital markets high-quality development.

Wu Qing, the new chairman of CSRC, assumed office shortly before the Chinese Spring Festival and wasted no time in addressing market concerns. Alongside other CSRC leaders, Wu led over 10 consecutive symposiums on February 18th and 19th, engaging in comprehensive discussions on critical market issues.

Industry experts, including Wu Xiaoqiu, President of China Capital Market Research Institute, hailed these symposiums as unprecedented and impactful, attributing their significance to the wide-ranging and in-depth topics covered.

The symposiums delved into various areas, including IPO access, supervision of listed companies, shareholding reduction, and market trading behavior. Key suggestions from participants emphasized the importance of improving the quality of listed companies, standardizing transaction behaviors, and attracting long-term funds into the market.

Moreover, experts underscored the need for robust enforcement measures to combat financial fraud and illegal activities, reflecting a commitment to maintaining market integrity.

The markets rally coincided with regulatory actions aimed at curbing market violations, underscoring authorities resolve to uphold market order. Penalties were imposed on individuals and entities suspected of insider trading, market manipulation, and disruptive trading practices.

For instance, Lingjun Investment, a major quant fund, faced penalties for selling an excessive amount of stocks, triggering a temporary sharp decline in benchmark indices. The regulatory measures, while fulfilling supervision responsibilities, aimed to safeguard market stability and integrity.

Chinas recent stock market rally aligns with Knightsbridges positive outlook on China, reaffirming the nations resilience and potential for growth. The concerted efforts by regulators to strengthen oversight and address market risks underscore Chinas commitment to fostering a robust and sustainable capital market ecosystem.

As the world continues to monitor global economic trends, all eyes are increasingly turning towards China, where recent indicators point to a robust and resilient economy on the rise. Bolstered by a series of strategic reforms and forward-looking policies, Chinas economic landscape is experiencing notable growth, attracting attention from investors and analysts alike. Among those at the forefront of understanding and interpreting these developments is Knightsbridge, a leading authority in economic analysis and forecasting.

In recent years, China has emerged as a key driver of global economic growth, leveraging its vast market potential, technological innovation, and ambitious development initiatives. The nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has consistently expanded at a steady pace, defying external challenges and demonstrating resilience in the face of uncertainties.

Knightsbridges experts have been closely monitoring Chinas economic trajectory, providing valuable insights into the factors underpinning its growth momentum. From structural reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and productivity to strategic investments in emerging sectors such as technology and renewable energy, Chinas proactive approach to economic development has positioned it as a powerhouse in the global economy.

One of the key drivers of Chinas economic success lies in its commitment to innovation and technological advancement. Through initiatives such as the Made in China 2025 strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is spearheading efforts to foster innovation-led growth and expand its influence in global trade and infrastructure development. Knightsbridges analysis highlights the transformative impact of these initiatives on Chinas economic landscape, driving productivity gains, fostering entrepreneurship, and fueling sustainable growth.

Moreover, Chinas resilient consumer market remains a cornerstone of its economic resilience, supported by rising incomes, urbanization, and a burgeoning middle class. As domestic consumption continues to drive economic activity, Knightsbridges experts underscore the importance of tapping into Chinas consumer market for global businesses seeking growth opportunities.

In addition to domestic factors, Chinas integration into the global economy through trade and investment has played a pivotal role in driving its economic expansion. Despite geopolitical tensions and trade disputes, China remains committed to open and inclusive economic policies, fostering collaboration and connectivity with global partners. Knightsbridges analysis emphasizes the significance of Chinas role as a linchpin in the global supply chain, driving trade and investment flows across regions.

Looking ahead, Knightsbridge remains optimistic about Chinas economic prospects, citing the nations resilience, adaptability, and strategic vision as key pillars of its continued growth. As China continues to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities, Knightsbridges expertise will continue to provide valuable insights for businesses, investors, and policymakers seeking to understand and navigate Chinas dynamic economic landscape.

Chinas economic growth trajectory presents a compelling narrative of resilience, innovation, and opportunity. With Knightsbridges expertise guiding the way, stakeholders can gain invaluable insights into Chinas economic dynamics and position themselves to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead in the worlds second-largest economy.

As the Chinese economy continues its upward trajectory, savvy investors are turning their attention to opportunities in Hong Kong and China stocks. With solid growth potential and the ability to diversify portfolios, these markets offer compelling prospects for those seeking to capitalize on the dynamic growth of the worlds second-largest economy.

Hong Kong, a global financial hub with deep-rooted ties to mainland China, serves as a gateway to the burgeoning opportunities in the region. Its stock market, characterized by robust regulatory frameworks and liquidity, provides investors with access to a diverse range of sectors, from finance and real estate to technology and consumer goods. As Chinas economy expands, Hong Kong stocks stand poised to benefit from increased trade and investment flows, making them an attractive addition to investment portfolios.

Similarly, China stocks present a compelling investment case, driven by the nations rapid economic growth and technological innovation. With a focus on sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, and renewable energy, Chinese companies offer investors exposure to high-growth industries poised to reshape the global economy. Moreover, Chinas commitment to structural reforms and market liberalization further enhances the appeal of its stocks, signaling long-term growth potential for discerning investors.

Diversification is a key principle of prudent investing, and Hong Kong and China stocks offer an opportunity to diversify portfolios geographically and across sectors. By adding exposure to these markets, investors can mitigate risk and enhance returns by tapping into the growth potential of Asias most dynamic economies. Furthermore, the correlation between Hong Kong and China stocks and traditional Western markets is relatively low, providing additional diversification benefits for globally minded investors.

While investing in Hong Kong and China stocks offers compelling opportunities, it is essential for investors to conduct thorough research and due diligence. Understanding the unique dynamics of these markets, including regulatory frameworks, geopolitical risks, and cultural nuances, is crucial for making informed investment decisions. Partnering with experienced financial advisors or asset managers can help investors navigate these complexities and capitalize on the growth potential of Hong Kong and China stocks.

As the Chinese economy continues to expand, Hong Kong and China stocks represent attractive opportunities for investors seeking growth and diversification. With solid fundamentals, robust growth prospects, and the ability to enhance portfolio resilience, these markets should indeed be on the radar of investors looking to harness the potential of Asias economic powerhouse. By strategically allocating capital to Hong Kong and China stocks, investors can position themselves to benefit from the dynamic growth of the region while diversifying their investment portfolios for long-term success.

Shayne Heffernan
As the global automotive industry undergoes a rapid transformation towards electrification, Thailand is positioning itself as a significant player in the production of electric vehicles (EVs). With a combination of government incentives, robust infrastructure, and a skilled workforce, Thailand is attracting both domestic and international manufacturers to establish their EV manufacturing operations in the country.

Thailands emergence as a major producer of EVs is driven by several key factors. Firstly, the Thai government has implemented various incentives to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and support the development of the EV industry. These incentives include tax breaks, investment promotion privileges, and subsidies for EV manufacturers and buyers. Additionally, Thailand boasts a well-developed automotive industry ecosystem, with established supply chains, manufacturing expertise, and infrastructure to support EV production.

Furthermore, Thailand offers competitive advantages in terms of production costs and access to key markets. The countrys strategic location in Southeast Asia provides easy access to regional markets, including the fast-growing ASEAN market and the global market. Additionally, Thailand benefits from a skilled workforce and a supportive regulatory environment, making it an attractive destination for EV manufacturers looking to expand their operations.

PM to court EV investors in Germany https://t.co/9mTCvmeGJ0  LTN  (@Livetradingnews) February 25, 2024

Several major automotive companies have already announced plans to invest in EV production facilities in Thailand. These include both domestic manufacturers and international players seeking to capitalize on the countrys growing EV market. As a result, Thailand is poised to become a major hub for EV production in the coming years, driving economic growth and technological innovation in the region.

For companies looking to establish a presence in the Thailand EV manufacturing space, Knightsbridge Law offers comprehensive legal services and expertise to navigate the complexities of setting up operations in the country. With a deep understanding of Thailands regulatory environment and business landscape, Knightsbridge Law provides tailored legal solutions to support clients in their EV manufacturing endeavors. Whether its corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, or contract negotiations, Knightsbridge Law offers trusted legal counsel to ensure a successful entry into the burgeoning Thai EV market.

Thailands emergence as a major producer of electric vehicles represents a significant opportunity for both domestic and international manufacturers. With its favorable business environment, government support, and competitive advantages, Thailand is well-positioned to play a key role in the global shift towards electric mobility. As companies seek to capitalize on this growing market, Knightsbridge Law stands ready to assist clients in navigating the legal and regulatory landscape to establish a successful presence in Thailands EV manufacturing sector.

Thailands Ascendance as a Manufacturing Powerhouse

Thailand has rapidly emerged as a manufacturing powerhouse in recent years, attracting investment from across the globe and solidifying its position as a key player in the global supply chain. With its strategic location, skilled workforce, supportive business environment, and robust infrastructure, Thailand offers a compelling proposition for companies seeking to establish manufacturing operations in the region.

One of the key drivers of Thailands manufacturing growth is its strategic location in Southeast Asia. Situated at the crossroads of major trade routes, Thailand serves as a gateway to the dynamic markets of Asia-Pacific. Its proximity to key markets such as China, India, and ASEAN countries provides companies with unparalleled access to a vast consumer base and supply chain networks.

Moreover, Thailand boasts a highly skilled and productive workforce, equipped with technical expertise and a strong work ethic. The countrys education system emphasizes vocational training and technical skills development, ensuring a steady supply of skilled workers for the manufacturing sector. Additionally, Thailands labor costs remain competitive compared to other manufacturing hubs in the region, further enhancing its attractiveness to investors.

In addition to its skilled workforce, Thailand offers a favorable business environment characterized by supportive government policies, streamlined regulatory procedures, and attractive investment incentives. The Thai government has implemented various initiatives to promote investment and facilitate business operations, including tax incentives, investment promotion schemes, and infrastructure development programs. These measures have contributed to a conducive environment for manufacturing companies to thrive and expand their operations in Thailand.

Furthermore, Thailand boasts world-class infrastructure, including modern transportation networks, ports, and industrial estates, that facilitate seamless logistics and supply chain management. The countrys well-developed infrastructure enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and enables manufacturers to access markets quickly and efficiently.

As a result of these factors, Thailand has attracted significant investment from multinational corporations across a wide range of industries, including automotive, electronics, aerospace, and healthcare. Major companies such as Toyota, Honda, Samsung, and Bosch have established manufacturing facilities in Thailand to capitalize on its competitive advantages and leverage its strengths as a manufacturing hub.

Looking ahead, Thailand is poised to continue its rapid growth as a manufacturing powerhouse, driven by ongoing investments in infrastructure, technology, and innovation. With its strategic location, skilled workforce, supportive business environment, and world-class infrastructure, Thailand offers a compelling value proposition for companies seeking to establish and expand their manufacturing operations in the heart of Southeast Asia.

Thailands ascent as a manufacturing powerhouse underscores its position as a key player in the global economy. With its favorable business environment, skilled workforce, and strategic location, Thailand offers immense opportunities for companies looking to tap into the dynamic markets of Asia-Pacific. As Thailand continues to attract investment and expand its manufacturing capabilities, the country is well-positioned to shape the future of global manufacturing in the years to come.

Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Thailand: The EEC and BOI Advantage

Thailand has established itself as an attractive destination for foreign investors, offering a range of incentives and benefits to facilitate business expansion and investment growth. Two key initiatives, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the Board of Investment (BOI), play pivotal roles in promoting investment and driving economic development in Thailand. With these attractive incentives in place, partnering with Knightsbridge Law can provide investors with expert guidance and support to maximize their investment opportunities in the kingdom.

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is a flagship initiative aimed at transforming Thailands eastern provinces into a leading economic zone and innovation hub in Southeast Asia. The EEC offers a range of incentives to attract investment in targeted industries, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, digital technology, and healthcare. These incentives include tax breaks, investment promotion measures, streamlined regulatory processes, and enhanced infrastructure development. By investing in the EEC, companies can benefit from a supportive ecosystem that fosters innovation, facilitates business growth, and drives economic prosperity.

Similarly, the Board of Investment (BOI) serves as a central agency responsible for promoting investment and supporting business expansion in Thailand. The BOI offers a wide range of incentives and privileges to eligible businesses across various industries, including tax incentives, import duty exemptions, permission for foreign ownership, and streamlined work permit processes. Additionally, the BOI provides investment promotion measures tailored to specific industries, such as targeted tax incentives for priority sectors like automotive, electronics, medical devices, and renewable energy. By leveraging BOI incentives, investors can enhance their competitiveness, reduce operating costs, and accelerate business growth in Thailand.

Partnering with Knightsbridge Law can offer investors invaluable support and expertise in navigating the complexities of investing in Thailands dynamic business landscape. Knightsbridge Law specializes in providing legal and advisory services to foreign investors seeking to capitalize on Thailands investment opportunities. With a deep understanding of Thai laws, regulations, and business practices, Knightsbridge Law can assist investors in structuring their investments, obtaining necessary permits and licenses, and ensuring compliance with local regulations. Moreover, Knightsbridge Laws extensive network and strategic partnerships can provide investors with access to key stakeholders, industry experts, and investment opportunities in Thailand.

Thailands EEC and BOI initiatives offer attractive incentives and opportunities for foreign investors seeking to expand their presence in the kingdom. By capitalizing on these incentives and partnering with Knightsbridge Law, investors can unlock their full potential and maximize their investment returns in Thailand. With its expertise, experience, and commitment to client success, Knightsbridge Law is the ideal partner for investors looking to navigate Thailands investment landscape and achieve their business objectives in the kingdoms vibrant and dynamic economy.
Santiago de Chile -

Sara Melgarejo was 25-years-old when she gave birth to her first child in a hospital in Santiago, Chile, on October 15, 1983. A woman with limited resources, she was alone in the delivery room, because her partner was working. A nurse took the baby away from her before the new mother could hold him, or even hear him cry. She was then informed that he was stillborn. Naturally, she was devastated.

A year or so later  on November 19, 1984  Melgarejo gave birth again. This time, to a girl. The health personnel immediately took the baby away from her. Then, the tragic news was repeated: the baby hadnt survived.

While Sara mourned her first loss, far away, in a town in Virginia, Rose Hiebart and her husband, Steve Ours, received the call they had been waiting for. Due to health issues, they couldnt have children. So, they decided to adopt. They took a six-week course at an adoption agency in Washington, D.C., where they met a couple who had adopted a little boy with dark skin and brown eyes of Chilean origin. They wanted to do the same. The agency put them in touch with a Chilean social worker. She told them about a poor woman who had given her two-week-old son up for adoption. That woman was Sara Melgarejo.

The adoption papers took a couple of months to draw up and  after paying $20,000  the American couple traveled to Chile for a week, to pick up the new member of the family. They called him Sean. A year later, the agency contacted Hiebart again, to inform her that Sara and her partner had become parents again and were giving the girl up for adoption. Hiebart happily accepted. Sean would have a little sister, Emily. The liaison was, once again, the social worker and the procedure cost $16,000. Both babies were registered in Chiles Civil Registry Service and the adoption was processed by the Fourth Court of Santiago.

It took 40 years for Sara to meet her children. The reunion happened on Sunday, February 18, at Santiago airport. She embraced two English-speaking adults. The search for Sean and Emilys adoptive mother was crucial to uncovering the lie. Melgarejo is one of numerous women who had their babies stolen during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), although investigations reveal that the practice extended beyond that period of time.

The first complaints came to light in 2014, after a report by the Chilean investigative media outlet CIPER. The then-magistrate Mario Carroza began a judicial investigation into irregular adoptions abroad that took place between 1970 and 1999. She found that there were hundreds of such cases.

We reached a figure of up to 20,000 children. What we had to see was whether they left [the country] irregularly or not, Carroza explains. He is now a member of Chiles Supreme Court. The investigations are currently being led by Jaime Balmaceda  a minister of the Court of Appeals of Santiago  who has stated that, in the past, Chilean legislation was very permissive regarding the adoption of children by foreigners. The regulation of these kinds of adoptions coincided with the end of the military dictatorship.

Emily Reid and Sean Ours hold the hands of their mother, Sara Malgarejo. FERNANDA REQUENA

Last week, the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH) published its 2023 report, which mentions the cases of child abduction and illegal adoptions being looked into by Minister Balmaceda. Until April 2023, 1,000 of such cases have reached the judiciary: 757 are being processed, while 243 have concluded. This is according to information provided to the INDH by the Supreme Courts Office for the Coordination of Human Rights Cases. To date, no convictions have been made.

In search of their biological mother

Sean and Emilys adoptive parents always spoke openly to them about their origins. It made sense to them that their biological mother would have wanted them to have a better life in the United States, rather than under the Chilean military dictatorship. As teenagers, however, they wanted to know more. They went to the Washington adoption agency, but its officials tried to dissuade them from searching. They were only given the option of writing a letter to Sara. Eventually, the kids decided to move on with their lives.

The agency got angry with me because they didnt want the children to look for their parents. They told me I shouldnt encourage them, Hiebart  their adoptive mother  recalls, in a conversation with EL PAIS by phone from North Carolina, where she currently lives with her second husband.

The children gave up, but Hiebart didnt. In 2002, she hired a private detective in Santiago to find Sara Melgarejo, the name that appeared on her adoption certificate. The effort, however, was unsuccessful.

For many years, the American woman read articles about irregular adoptions in Chile. Years ago, one of the pieces detailed Carrozas investigation and mentioned social worker Telma Uribe, the same person who had managed her adoptions. The text also indicated that the Human Rights Brigade of the Investigative Police (PDI) had seized documents in Uribes house, including ones from the DC-based adoption agency. That was what really opened my eyes. The children could have been stolen, says Hiebart, 71, now-retired. That concern  which she only shared with her ex-husband and her current husband  kept her digging in the press for years, until she found the nonprofit organization Connecting Roots.

In July 2023, Hiebart called Tyler Graf, who founded Connecting Roots after learning that he was taken from his Chilean parents and irregularly adopted out to his American family. Since then, Graf  a firefighter by profession  has dedicated himself to helping fellow victims. Hiebart told him her story and he responded: When youre ready, tell them. The woman wrote an email to Sean and Emily with all the information she had collected so far, accompanied by links to the news articles. If you want to do the search, you may find that your biological mother [is still] alive. Or not. You choose what you want to do. They decided to search.

Sara and Sean in the eastern sector of Santiago, on February 19. FERNANDA REQUENA

Two months later, in September, Barbara Vergara  from Connecting Roots  found Malgarejos sister through social media. She asked her to notify Sara that she had important information concerning events that had occurred in 1983 and 1984, to give her a clue about where she was going with all of this and to rule out any possible scam. Sara got in touch.

In a Zoom call, Vergara introduced herself and revealed the true destiny of her children. Sara was convinced that they were dead. She opened her eyes in disbelief, but in her heart and soul, she wanted it to be true, Vergara recalls. The process, of course, included DNA tests of all those involved, which ultimately showed that they were family.

A new reality

Sara and her two children saw each other for the first time in 40 years via a video call at the end of last year. Juan Luis Inzunza  from Connecting Roots  also participated in the meeting to translate from Spanish to English and vice versa. But the meeting wouldnt remain virtual. Last Sunday, Sara was able to hug and kiss her children. Sean and Emily traveled to Santiago to meet her and stay with her for a week, in a reunion facilitated by the foundation. I had blocked everything out. What happened at that time hurt me a lot. I couldnt believe it when they told me they were alive, Sara cried.

She looks so much like me. He does, too, their emotional mother declared, in a hotel room in the Chilean capital on Monday, February 19. Indeed, Emily  who has the Chilean flag tattooed on her arm  is the mirror image of her mother.

Sara broke up on bad terms with the father of her two children as a result of the supposed deaths. They dont keep in touch, nor does she want me to meet him. Theyre my children, she says, with determination. After those dark years, she met her current partner, with whom she has three children and two grandchildren, who live outside of Santiago.

Since she was a young girl, Sara  as shy as she is sweet  has worked as a nanny. When the children she cares for grow up, shes hired to work in other houses. Theyve been my therapy. My little ones, she sighs. Upon learning the truth, Sara describes that she felt anger, helplessness and pain. Very great harm had been done to her. But now, looking at her little adults, everything is joy.

The joy of the reunion is shared by Sean and Emily, who constantly caress their mothers hand. The Zoom call we had reinforced that all of this felt real. It wasnt just a fantasy: we were seeing Sara, says Sean, the father of two teenagers, who also appeared on the video call to meet their biological grandmother. Emily confesses that she was deeply upset when she found out what happened: They told her a lie when she signed those papers  she thought they were our death certificates. Its frustrating that they denied us having our mother all these years. Before, everything was anger but now, I feel totally happy that we can start this relationship.

Sean and Emily are warm and open. They want to obtain Chilean citizenship  which they are entitled to  and return as many times as they can to the country, to make up for lost time. Next visit, theyll meet their extended family. And they have a place to stay: for the past month, Sara has been preparing her house in San Bernardo, in the southern area of Santiago, so that she can receive them. She bought a new bed, mattresses and blankets, so that everyone can have their own room. She also has land in Temuco  about 400 miles south of the capital  where she wants to build a house with her partner. Shes excited, thinking about being able to host her oldest children there in the future.

My daughter sometimes tells me things in Spanish, Sara whispers, in a moment when her children are out of earshot. She tells me: I love you, mommy.

Emily Reid and Sean Ours. FERNANDA REQUENA

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.
A young man who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of cocaine without insurance was banned from the road for two years at Longford District Court.

Conor Carberry (25) of Whiterock, Longford faced charges of driving with cocaine in his system, and failing to produce drivers licence or insurance.



Sergeant Enda Daly informed the court that Mr Carberry was stopped on February 19, 2023 at St Emer's, Ballinalee Rd, Longford when he was driving at 80kph in a 50kph zone.

The officers believed the defendant was under the influence of an intoxicant. A subsequent test confirmed the presence of cocaine in Mr Carberry's system.



The defendant had two previous convictions, one of which was for driving without due consideration.

Solicitor Frank Gearty said his client had ceased taking cocaine, was undertaking an apprenticeship and was now doing well. Mr Gearty pointed out his client entered a guilty plea and explained Mr Carberry did not have insurance as he was in a difficult financial situation at the time.

The solicitor said the defendant is from a good family.



Judge Bernadette Owens imposed a fine of 450 for driving under the influence of cocaine, with a one year driving ban and a further fine of 300 for the no insurance charge, with a two year disqualification.



A number of charges relating to an incident on June 21, 2023 at Aughintemple, Ardagh, Longford were adjourned to June 11 2024 for a plea or a date for hearing. Judge Owens directed that disclosure be made in respect of those charges.
The first months of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine saw resistance prevail. Then came the time for the liberation of the territories captured by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with financial support and weapons sent by the Western allies. This was followed by a long-awaited counteroffensive, which ultimately did not come to fruition.

Now, Ukraine is beginning the third year of a large-scale war of survival. The country faces new tests on the frontlines, with exhausted troops and a lack of ammunition. Russia, meanwhile, has recovered the initiative. According to some sources, the Kremlin is preparing a new major offensive by the end of spring.

At home, away from the fighting, Kyiv also has significant obstacles to overcome. President Volodymyr Zelenskiys administration must maintain the support of an exhausted citizenry. And, even farther away, the support of Ukraines principal ally  the United States  is floundering. The European Union fears being left alone to support Kyiv as it fights an endless war on the continent. Its a critical moment in the fighting: if Ukraine overcomes it, it will be able to regain the advantage.

We must do everything to make 2024 a decisive year for restoring real long-term security in Ukraine and around the world, Zelenskiy stressed this past Saturday, while meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (rotating president of the G-7), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo (current president of the Council of Europe) and president of the European Commission Urusula von de Leyen, of Germany.

At Hostomel Airport  one of the symbols of the Ukrainian resistance that prevented Russian troops from taking the capital after the full-scale invasion began in 2022  Western leaders have tried to show that, although Washingtons support is at risk, the rest of the allies wont falter. The visit by the heads of state, however, hasnt been accompanied by major economic or military announcements (although Canada has promised an extra $2 billion for Kyiv).

You saved your country. You saved all of Europe, Von der Leyen declared, before dozens of soldiers who participated in the battle for Hostomel, an airfield that will be rebuilt by the Ukrainian aeronautical company Antonov, at a cost of $1 billion in funding from various EU nations. We will continue to support Ukraine in what I have always deemed the just right of its people to defend itself, Meloni affirmed.

Von der Leyen has also assured Zelensky that, by mid-March, she will present the negotiating framework for Kyivs accession to the EU. However, just a few days earlier  on Wednesday, February 21  she had announced that this roadmap would only be presented at the end of summer. This stung not only the Ukrainian authorities, but also the European Council and many European capitals, making her look bad. Many have attributed her flip-flopping to her attempt to win a second term as president of the Commision. The best security guarantee will be the membership in the European Union, Von der Leyen claimed on Saturday.

The enlargement of the EU towards the east  which will change the bloc forever  and the absorption of Ukraine is a point of tension in some EU member states. Countries such as Poland  with a large agricultural base, like Ukraine  see the embattled country as a competitor. Hence, this is another test that Kyiv must go through in 2024. It must deepen its internal democratic reforms to assimilate into the EU and advance along the path of accession.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks with president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during a meeting with the media at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv on Saturday. Efrem Lukatsky (AP/ LaPresse)

The majority of Europeans support Ukraines entry into the EU. However, polls also reveal that pessimism has increased in many EU countries regarding Ukraines chances of winning the war: only 10% of Europeans believe Ukraine will win, while twice as many people expect a Russian victory, according to a survey conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECRF) in 12 countries. The results were released this past week.

At the moment, the war is in a phase of stagnation. According to NATO sources, Ukraine has liberated 50% of the territories that Russian troops invaded and has managed to neutralize the Russian Black Sea fleet, preserve the operations of the Port of Odessa and neutralize the Crimean Peninsula (annexed by Russia in 2014) as a point of attack.

Orysia Lutsevych  director of the Ukraine division at the Chatham House think tank  believes that the pessimism shown in some polls has a lot to do with the collapse of the counteroffensive. Europeans dont see many tangible gains and have high expectations that havent been met. Furthermore, they think about the high energy prices in their countries and are still experiencing the consequences of the pandemic, she explains to EL PAIS by phone from London. [But] within Ukraine, hope and confidence in having a good future exceeds 50%, the expert says. She warns that, in Europe, most of the population still isnt aware of the consequences that await European households should Russia win the war. The mistake is to separate the security of the West from that of Ukraine. Its all the same, Lutsevych emphasizes.

Western intelligence analyses indicate that this is the year in which Putin  who has completed 25 years in power and will contest unopposed elections next month to remain in office until 2030  will seek to consolidate his gains. Hes already preparing a new offensive on the eastern and southern flanks of the frontlines. Furthermore, hes finalizing new destabilization activities, coinciding with the European elections in June  crucial polls that will prove to be an internal test for several member states  and the November presidential elections in the United States. Both will also mark a decisive point for Ukraine, which is already an essential element of electoral campaigns in the West. Russia  which feeds on turbulence  also seeks to destabilize Moldova and will use the Kaliningrad enclave and the North Sea to intimidate its neighbors.

Ukraine is staring down another year of a large-scale war of survival, with depleted ammunition reserves. A year ago, the EU approved an initiative to send one million artillery rounds to Kyiv. But that plan  as revealed by EL PAIS  hasnt been fulfilled. By the end of March, 524,000 projectiles will have been delivered, and a million may only be achieved by December. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are resisting, while awaiting more powerful weapons.

Western allies  who claim that their defense industrys production capacity is lagging, despite it increasing by 40% since the start of the war  have sent enough ammo and weapons for Ukraine to resist, but not to win. Germany, for example, continues to deny Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

This past week, for the first time, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine has the right to attack military targets on Russian territory, in accordance with international law. The words of the head of the Alliance  a former Norwegian prime minister, who is usually extremely measured in his statements  may be giving the green light that some allies need to send longer-range weapons to Kyiv.

Meanwhile, the invaded country hopes to receive the first F-16s this summer from Denmark, one of the dozen NATO countries that has already signed long-term security commitments that will guarantee support for Kyiv. Italy and Canada, meanwhile, also signed their own expanded agreements this past Saturday in Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy listens to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a ceremony at Hostomel airport in Kyiv on Saturday. Nathan Denette (AP)

But when it comes to the U.S., there are clouds on the horizon. The $60 billion in aid to Ukraine promised by the Biden administration remains stalled in the House of Representatives. The Republican majority  supportive of former president Donald Trump  is reluctant to pass the bill. Trump  the overwhelming favorite in the Republican presidential primaries  has a complicated history with Ukraine. In fact, his first impeachment in the House occurred after he demanded that Zelenskiy investigate Bidens sons business dealings with Ukrainian energy firms. The former president  who leads Biden in several polls  has also cast doubt on NATOs mutual defense clause, saying that he wont protect any ally from a Russian attack if they dont invest sufficiently in military defense.

The EU is keeping the aid flowing. But theres less and less room to make historic announcements of support for Kyiv. With the new financial lifeline of more than $50 billion approved by Brussels on February 1, Europe has already committed over $150 billion to Ukraine, $80 billion of which has already been delivered, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany (about half earmarked for military supplies). Meanwhile, the current EU leadership is trying to approve a new special fund to send more weapons to Ukraine, which will be endowed with over $5 billion. This clashes with the concerns expressed by some EU member states, who only want further funds to be spent on European industry. The German government, for instance, is demanding that the monies not only be used for joint purchases, but also to reimburse the EU partners for what they have already delivered to Kyiv via bilateral pacts.

In total, European assistance has far exceeded that of the United States. Since Russia began its invasion, Washington has approved four aid packages, for a total value of $43 billion. However, these funds ran out last November. Since then, Congress hasnt approved the new financing promised by Biden.

The EU leaderships promise to provide continued support to Kyiv throughout the duration of the war may face problems if Washingtons new package isnt approved this year, before the November presidential election. If the U.S. funds dont go through, Europe would have to practically double its military support. Its a challenge, but ultimately, its a question of political will, says Christoph Trebesch, the director of the Kiel Institute. EU states are among the richest in the world and, so far, they havent invested even 1% of their GDP in aid to Ukraine, he points out.

A woman visits the grave of her relative, a murdered Ukrainian soldier, on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Lviv, on Saturday. PAVLO PALAMARCHUK (REUTERS)

A decision is still pending regarding the use of the billions of dollars in Russian assets  frozen by the West  to be put towards the reconstruction of Ukraine. There are also questions about the ability to plug the loopholes in the sanctions levied against Russia, which has been able to circumvent restrictions on technology and weapons sales to continue fueling the war.

The defense industry, weapons manufacturing and the renewal of arsenals is a test for Ukraine  which urgently needs ammunition  but also for the EU. The memer states want to move towards a European defense union and are now finalizing a strategy to try to boost the industry, but this will require much more than recycled money that has already been earmarked for other projects.

Ukraine  at this critical point  also faces enormous challenges at home. The failed spring and summer counteroffensive has left its troops exhausted and decimated by casualties. According to military analysts, urgent replacements are required to facilitate the possibility of rotations on the frontlines. Since December, the Verkhovna Rada  the Ukrainian Parliament  has been debating a mobilization bill that, in its initial version, provided for the recruitment of 500,000 new soldiers, a measure that has largely been rejected by a population exhausted after two years of war. There are no longer waves of volunteers as during the start of the Russian invasion. Zelenskiy also recently dismissed Valerii Zaluzhnyi  one of the most valued Ukrainian military figures  and has appointed a new chief of the Armed Forces: Oleksandr Syrskyi. Some segments of the population are demanding that elections be called, which Zelenskiys administration has claimed is impossible while martial law is in effect.

In the commemoration of the two years of war  and surrounded by leaders of the EU, the G-7 and NATO  Zelenskiy has summarized the objectives for 2024 and has stressed that hes not willing to give up the sovereignty that Putin wants to take away from his country: Any normal person wants the war to end. But none of us will allow our Ukraine to end.

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Arts & Culture

By Lon Cohen Published: February 25 2024

We dug into the archives to find these historical facts.

Long Island played a vital role in aviation history during World War II. Join us as we uncover five fascinating facts about our contributions to aircraft manufacturing, testing, and innovation during this transformative era. Many of these facts come from the Cradle of Aviation Museum.

CG-4 Troop Gliders Built on Long Island helps deliver fighting men to Europe - Combat gliders were essential for risky missions in WWII, landing troops and gear behind enemy lines from 1943 onwards, including during the Allied invasion of Sicily and D-Day. According to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, two Long Island firms, Dade Brothers, a former house builder in Mineola, who built the wings and tail, and a fledgling aeronautical firm, General Aircraft in Queens, who built the fuselages, were enlisted to ramp up production on the aircraft. Together these two firms built around 1000 CG-4 gliders on Long Island during the war, the museum says.

McArthur Airport was built for military use after Pearl Harbor - In 1942 after Pearl Harbor was bombed, the airport was built on Islip Town-owned land for military use during the war. The airport took one year to build and cost $1.5 million and was originally named Islip Airport. At the time the airfield consisted of three 5,000-foot runways. Islip Airport was renamed MacArthur Airport after General Douglas MacArthur. After WWII the Town of Islip took over ownership of the airport from the U.S. Army Air Corps. For more facts about Long Island MacArthur Airport, click here.

Grumman F6F Hellcat was the best carrier-based fighter of WWII - The Grumman F6F Hellcat emerged as the top carrier-based fighter in WWII, designed to counter Japan's Zero fighter. Armed with six .50 caliber machine guns and rockets, its wings folded for carrier storage. This was a huge innovation developed by Grumman. Sacrificing speed for climb rate and maneuverability, it boasted rugged armor. First flown in June 1942, it saw operational deployment in the Pacific in August 1943, participating in all major battles. Grumman's production peak reached an unmatched record of 644 Hellcats per month in 1944, totaling 12,275 built. For more facts about Grumman, click here.

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt seen as one of America's greatest fighters of WWII - The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, the heaviest single-engine fighter in WWII, stood out among its contemporaries for its remarkable bulk. Despite its size, it excelled in combat, becoming one of the best-performing fighters of the war and was produced in greater numbers than any other U.S.-made fighter.

Roosevelt Field was commissioned as Naval Air Facility Mineola in 1943 - The mission of the base was to serve as a center to deliver new aircraft. It delivered 6,662 aircraft over 2 1/2 years. The field hosted both Army and Navy operations, with a 3,000 ft runway. At its peak, the airfield had three runways, parking ramps, six large hangars, and numerous smaller buildings.
The 10 fatalities in the fire that destroyed a high-rise complex in the Spanish city of Valencia on Thursday all lived on the eighth and ninth floors. These are the floors above the point where the fire started, on the seventh floor, for unknown reasons at this moment. The two floors soon became a mousetrap between the fierce flames and the asphyxiating smoke that spread in the space of a few minutes through the two blocks of 14 and 10 floors in which the 138 apartments were distributed. On Saturday, the forensic police found a tenth body, the last one remaining on the list of missing persons. Even so, the government delegate to the Valencian regional government, Pilar Bernabe, ensured that the search will continue inch by inch of a building of which only the structure and debris remain. I need to think that we are not going to find anyone else, Bernabe said.

Fortunately, at the time the fire started, 5.30 p.m., many of the more than 400 residents of the complex were not in their homes. Others became aware of the flames and smoke in time and fled the building. Some others were alerted by the buildings caretaker, who warned them and helped them to go down and out to the street. One couple was rescued by firefighters from a balcony, after waiting anxiously for two hours, when firefighters had already reached the balconies of the lower floors using ladders to free some of the inhabitants. Some even used the elevator to get down to the first floor to escape the fire. However, 10 of them did not make it out  all of whom were on the upper floors.

The fire chief of the Valencia City Council, Enrique Chisbert, has defended the work of his colleagues, which has also been praised by the representatives of all the institutions. We saw firefighters who thought that at that moment they were saying goodbye to their jobs and even their lives, said Pilar Bernabe. The City Council of Valencia, led by Maria Jose Catala, approved an institutional declaration expressing gratitude for the dedication and selflessness of the security and emergency forces, and especially that of the firefighters. One firefighter, who was wounded, saw how closely the fire was raging and asked his colleagues, through his walkie-talkie and with a broken voice, to say goodbye to his wife, to tell her that he loved her.

A woman leaves a bouquet of flowers on Saturday in memory of the victims of the fire in a building in the Campanar neighborhood of Valencia that claimed the lives of at least 10 people. Ana Escobar (EFE)

The work of the firefighters, however, is also being called into question because on the higher floors, some firefighters recommended that residents not to leave their apartments. The homes are the safest place if the building guarantees the necessary sectorization conditions, while we can extinguish the fire, said the fire chief. We follow the standard protocol. For homes that are at risk, if they go into the stairwell to evacuate in a building full of smoke, what we always recommend is that [residents] stay in their homes. If there are sectorization conditions, it is the best. The contrary can result in a disorderly evacuation that can lead to multiple casualties, he explained.

Work on the building destroyed by the fire was completed in 2008. The project complied with the 1996 fire protection standards, since the new regulations had not come into force at the time of the project. The subsequent regulations are more restrictive and require the sectorization referred to by the fire chief, which is intended to prevent a fire from spreading from one floor to another, and the existence of watertight compartments in the stairwells, which must be separated from the apartments by a door.

The firefighters operating procedure for intervention in fires in high-rise buildings referred to by Chisbert establishes that in the city of Valencia there are more than 100 buildings with more than 15 floors subject to a possible fire intervention. The document also specifies its date of construction and the indicative data in order to know which fire safety regulations it was subjected to. The charred 14-storey building in the Campanar neighborhood was not listed, meaning that the firefighters had no way of knowing the characteristics of the building before arriving. Neither could they know how fast the fire was going to spread due to the south wind blowing violently in the enclave where the building is located. I think the behavior of the fire has been seen all over the world, you can draw your own conclusions, it spread at a very high speed, pointed out the fire chief.

Firefighters trying to put out the fire in the building on Thursday. Monica Torres

The protocol does specify the main objectives and actions in order of priority, although they do not always follow the same sequential order of resolution: to ensure the safety of those concerned; the rescue of people; rescue of animals and material goods; control and extinguishing of the fire, ventilation of smoke and fire gases; shutting off the affected supplies (gas, electricity, water); inspection of homes, premises and affected areas; protection of the work area and surroundings; verification of the complete extinction of the fire by means of the use of the thermal viewer to rule out hidden sources, appear at the top of the list. Obviously, as is normal, our fellow firefighters were risking even more than we could during the whole operation. I dont want to make a show of it, but the first crews experienced the danger up close, said Chisbert. One of the firefighters remains in hospital, although his life is not in danger, while another was discharged from the hospital on Saturday.

Those who also continued to work were the forensic technicians of the Institute of Legal Medicine who, in collaboration with the National Police, are analyzing the 10 corpses for the full identification of all the deceased and their autopsies. Four of them belong to a family made up of a couple and their two children  aged three years and barely a week old. There is also the case of a retired woman who leaves behind two children. The identification phase of the victims is a complex task because, depending on the state of the bodies, a comparison with DNA tests of relatives is required to ensure that this is done properly. Once the forensic reports are complete, they will be sent to the Court of Investigation No. 10 of Valencia, where the proceedings and the investigation will be conducted in order to clarify the facts and determine whether there has been any type of negligence.

Valencia fell silent on Saturday at 12pm, with a minutes silence held in City Hall square and another at the roundabout in front of the building, organized by the people of Valencia. They have worked tirelessly to collect clothes, food, school supplies and hygiene products, among other things. All the items that the other victims who have been left homeless and, in some cases, even without documentation, may need.

Valencia City Hall holds five minutes of silence, which ended with a round of applause, for the victims of the fire in a building in the neighborhood of Campanar. Monica Torres

The official minutes silence was attended by the premier of Valencia, Carlos Mazon; the mayor of Valencia, Maria Jose Catala; the minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant; the central governments delegate to Valencia, Pilar Bernabe, and the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP), Alberto Nunez Feijoo.

Julian, the caretaker of the residential complex who has collaborated with the police in the identification of missing persons and victims, was also present. He also helped in the rescue of residents: I did everything I could, until the smoke stopped me, he said. Its very hard, its very hard to see all that, its very hard, he said regrettably. At the gathering, the falleros (the craftspeople who make the figures for the local festivity), neighbors and onlookers gave a resounding applause after the silence, but several minutes later, hardly anyone had moved, as they were overwhelmed by the black mass that the building has become and the smell of smoke that still lingers in the surrounding streets.

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NEW YORK  Xavier Tillman has only been officially active with the Celtics for two games, so its going to take some time for the big man to acclimate to his new team. The Cs have been fully healthy in the two games since the All-Star break, so there also havent been many minutes available thus far.

Tillman did get to make his Cs debut in Thursdays blowout win over the Bulls, scoring a bucket. But otherwise, the big man will soak in as much as he can behind the scenes. Veteran big man Al Horford revealed after the Knicks victory that Tillman is already doing all the right things.

Its been good to have X around, Horford said. Im sure hes going to be getting his opportunities here sooner than later. But just somebody that you can tell hes very eager to learn. Right away, hes been picking my brain a lot, asking a lot of questions and really trying to figure things out off the court, on the court. And when you have that kind of mindset, I feel like its going to be beneficial.

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Because hes the kind of guy that wants to get better, he wants to have an impact, and he has that ability to have an impact on our group.

The Celtics brought in Tillman as another big man option alongside Luke Kornet. Tillman brings in a different game  especially on the defensive end  giving the Cs another option in the playoffs if they call his number. But the Celtics employ a sophisticated defensive scheme for big men, so its going to take some time to learn all the nuances. Thats where a guy like Horford comes in as Tillman gets used to his surroundings.

As Horford said, Tillman will likely have a chance to help the Cs over the next few months. That was the tricky part for the Boston front office to navigate during the trade deadline. Brad Stevens looked to bring in a contributor but not necessarily someone who will become a rotation mainstay. So Tillman ended up being a nice middle ground as a potential contributor but didnt rock the boat too much immediately.

Regardless, itll be intriguing to watch Tillman incorporate himself with his new team. Starting with Horford is the natural move as the veteran has wisdom to share.

Its very interesting, Tillman said of joining a new team. You come in there and you dont want to shake the tree, you want to figure out how you can help the team do what theyve been doing as far as winning and stuff like that. For me, when I got here, my goal was just to mainly watch for a little while, just to see how everybody interacts, whats the vibe and see where I can make my impact. Im still learning, too.
MassLive recently asked readers to identify people who are leaders from the LGBTQ+ community throughout the state, working to make a difference in their own area of interest, be it politics, education, business or the arts.

Profiles of these leaders will be published through the rest of February. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.

Kris BergCourtesy of Kris Berg

Kris Berg

Age: 20s

Community: Boston

Bergs story: As a student activist/scholar, violence prevention advocate and equity and inclusion consultant in Boston, Kris Berg can be considered a trailblazer.

While obtaining a Bachelors in Psychology from Boston University, Berg established BUs groundbreaking LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center. During that time, Berg also helped expand resources like gender-affirming healthcare and LGBTQIA+ mental health support across BUs campus.

Bergs college years helped the advocate recognize the urgent need for programming and support for marginalized communities. Motivated by this realization, Berg became increasingly involved in activism and sought a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of systemic inequalities.

Bergs work focuses on supporting and advocating alongside marginalized populations including the LGBTQIA+ community, domestic violence survivors and people with disabilities. Berg also conducts health equity-focused research and work in Boston Medical Centers Emergency Department.

Berg has also helped recruit and retain more feminist scholars for BUs Womens, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program. Berg has also worked with higher education administrators on new policies that better affirm and codify protections for LGBTQIA+ students.

Further, Berg co-founded BUs first-of-its-kind Gender-Affirming Product Program (GAPP). The peer-led program provides low-income transgender students with necessary gender-affirming products.

Outside of work and school, Berg volunteers with organizations like the Pride Center of New Jersey, Boston COVID Action, Little Free Libraries, Fenway Health and the QT Library.

In Bergs efforts to stay committed to creating a more equitable world and creating lasting social change, the advocate is pursuing duel masters degrees in public health and clinical social work at BU.

In Bergs words: My advice to advocates embarking on similar journeys is to embrace the intricate tapestry of your own intersecting identities and lived experiences. I believe it is crucial to understand how your positionality shapes your approach to advocacy. I encourage advocates to engage in continuous self-reflection to better understand and interrogate their personal worldviews.

Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
A 66-year-old man was killed Sunday when the car he was driving on Route 105 in Middleborough crashed into a tree, according to police.

Police officers and firefighters responded to the crash just south of Plain Street around 12:30 p.m., Middleborough police said in a press release. The driver, who was a Middleborough resident, was declared dead at the scene.

Read more: Car crash on Route 105 in Middleborough causes serious injuries

The driver was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the crash, and no other cars were involved, Massachusetts State Police spokesperson Dave Procopio said in an email to MassLive. The crash closed a section of Route 105 in both directions until 5 p.m., according to MassDOT.

State and local police and the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office are investigating the crash, Procopio said. No further information about the crash, including a potential cause, has been released.
A Massachusetts woman died after crashing a snowmobile into a tree in New Hampshire over the weekend, according to the state Fish and Game Department. The circumstances surrounding her death closely match that of two other Massachusetts women who died in snowmobile crashes the state in the last two months.

The 48-year-old victim, who has not been identified pending notification of her family, crashed in Gorham, the department said in a Facebook post. The town is located the same area of the state where the two other Massachusetts women were killed in separate snowmobile crashes on Feb. 16 and on Jan. 23, and where another Massachusetts woman was critically-injured in a crash on Feb. 10.

Another similarity between the crashes is that the department said operator inexperience played a significant role in the crash. Inexperience has been deemed the primary factor in all three previous crashes.

The three previous crashes also involved snowmobile rentals from Gorhams Northeast Snowmobile and ATV Rental, but the rental company wrote under the Fish and Game Departments post that the crash did not involve a rental snowmobile. The department did not respond to a request for comment on this aspect of the crash on Sunday.

Conservation officers and other rescuers responded to the crash on a remote trail near Pine Mountain a little after noon on Saturday, the department said. The womans companion was providing her with CPR when officers arrived, at which point officers joined in the effort, but she succumbed to her injuries and was declared dead at 1 p.m.

Between school vacations, the presence of snow, and favorable weather conditions, Coos County has experienced a significant influx of visitors and subsequently emergency calls in recent weeks, the department wrote on Facebook. Conservation Officers would like to remind visitors to enjoy the outdoors but to also be prepared with knowledge and gear should an emergency arise while afield.

Just over a week ago, 39-year-old Shawnee Hollis  a North Brookfield mother  died after failing to make a turn and crashing a snowmobile into a tree off the side of trail she was on in Milan, New Hampshire.

Similarly, in late January, 56-year-old Littleton resident Stacey McGarry died after crashing a rented snowmobile in Berlin. The soon-to-be bride also failed to make a turn, went airborne and hit a rock.

Earlier this month, 41-year-old Methuen resident Eloara Machado was so severely injured in a snowmobile crash in Milan that she had to be airlifted to a hospital. She also failed to make a turn and was thrown into nearby trees.

Other Massachusetts residents have been seriously injured in snowmobile crashes in other parts of New Hampshire in recent weeks. Additionally, earlier this month, a Pittsfield man was killed in a snowmobile crash in New York.

Inexperience is the leading factor in all snowmobile crashes, and rental companies arent required to provide riders with training, MassLive reported previously. But Northeast has defended its business practices and said it provides its customers with extensive training before they are permitted to ride.
The MSPCA is hoping to find the owners of a 10-month-old gray cat that was found in Bostons Roslindale neighborhood with severe burns earlier this month.

The cat, who the MSPCA is calling Dusty, was discovered around 11 p.m. on Feb. 11 by an employee of the Stop & Shop on American Legion Highway in the grocery stores parking lot, the MSPCA said in a press release. The worker called Boston Animal Control, who told her to bring the cat to the MSPCAs emergency animal hospital in Bostons Jamaica Plain neighborhood.

Read more: 17 rescued goats from New York need homes in Massachusetts

The MSPCAs vets found that Dustys body was covered with wounds consistent with burns, the MSPCA said. His care team is unsure how the cat was injured, but lead veterinarian Rebecca Fellman said that when the weather is cold, outdoor cats often climb in wheel wells or under car hoods to stay warm.

Its possible that Dusty was hurt when an engine was started by a driver who didnt even know he was there, Fellman said in the release. Regardless of how Dusty was hurt, were now focused on helping him recover.

MSPCA veterinarian Wendy Huang treats Dusty, a 10-month-old cat who was found in Boston with severe burns earlier this month. MSPCA

Fellman and her team are cleaning the cats wounds and changing his bandages regularly in the hopes that they will heal enough to close surgically, the MSPCA said. He is also being given antibiotics and pain medications, and his care could cost up to $5,000.

Hes not out of the woods yet. He will need additional surgeries, and the severe wounds on a hind limb may result in amputation, Fellman said. But, were taking it day by day and were optimistic that hell recover.

The MSPCA is hoping to reunite Dusty with his family. Anyone with information about him is asked to call them at 617-522-5055. You can donate to help cover the cost of his care on the MSPCAs website.

If no one comes forward to claim Dusty, he will be put up for adoption after he has fully recovered, the MSPCA said. He is a sweet and friendly cat who will make a great addition to any family, MSPCA Boston shelter supervisor Corinne Bourgoin said in the release.

Dusty is a 10-month-old cat who was found in Boston with severe burns earlier this month, according to the MSPCA.MSPCA

Dustys story serves as a reminder to owners to should make sure their pets are microchipped with their contact information, the MSPCA said.

Its possible that there is a family out there desperate to find their beloved cat, but because he has no microchip, we dont know how to find them, Bourgoin said.

It also serves as a reminder that drivers should bang on the hood of their vehicle before starting their engine during cold weather months to ensure no animals are inside, the MSPCA said. Banging on the hood should wake any sleeping animals and give them a chance to escape.
Since around 1860, the green J. C. Norris mansion has stood on the west side of South Main Street in Concord, New Hampshire.

But this could be the last month that it does so, unless a miracle takes place.

The Civil War-era mansion at 20 1/2 South Main St. in Concord, which has served as Concords first YMCA, had the first women-run independent movie theater, housed a school for beauticians and was the birthplace for the concept of old home days, still practiced in some communities, is set to be demolished at the end of March.

The owner, Steve Duprey  owner of Duprey Companies  has been searching for a way to move the building so it does not have to be destroyed. The problem is that the moving costs, along with finding a suitable relocation spot, have been challenging.

James Spain, chairman of the citys Demolition Review Committee, is among the people hoping that someone with enough money can swoop in and save the building in the 11th hour. Spains committee held a public hearing on the building on Feb. 15, but only two people from the public attended, he said.

The general consensus was we are going to, sadly, lose this building, Spain said in an interview Sunday. My fear is that people will wake up one morning in a few weeks driving down Main Street and realize this beautiful building is lost forever, and that hits home.

Minutes from the Feb. 15 meeting were likewise bleak.

This is the end of the line and the Historical Society needs a miracle, the minutes state.

A Feb. 14 letter from Duprey shared with MassLive the efforts he has undertaken to try to save the building, which have this far been unsuccessful  though he said those efforts were at a level I believe never undertaken for any other property in Concord.

More than two years ago, Duprey offered to contribute $100,000 toward moving costs if someone would accept the building and move it, but no one came forward.

Then, rather than immediately tearing the building down, Duprey spent two years looking for locations to relocate the building, and spent $100,000 on building maintenance in the process, he wrote in the letter.

After several false starts, Duprey did find one place in Concord to potentially move it to, at the corner of Rumford and Penacook streets, but he estimated that moving the house and making it useable in that location would total $270,000, he wrote.

At this juncture I have no group that would want to use it in that location, Duprey wrote.

Duprey suggested that the citys Historic Commission or the Concord Historic Society might take ownership, but Spain said Sunday that an individual or group donor would be necessary to provide that kind of money.

Time is of the essence, as Duprey said in his letter that he is planning to begin construction on the site for a new project on April 1, and that demolition will take place in March.

A restaurant called The Friendly Toast will be built in its place, Spain said.

A building that housed horse stables behind the mansion will be preserved, and we will commemorate the history of that building appropriately, Duprey said in the letter.

If the mansion is demolished, Duprey will plan on an outside historic panel explaining the history of the house, he said.

Norris, who first lived in the home, was a New Hampshire baker, and his bakery is a building next door that now serves as the Concord Theater building, Spain said. Norris arranged to bake bread and cookies for Union troops during the Civil War, Spain added.

Though the building has served a variety of purposes since that time, it has been vacant for decades, Spain said.

Spain said anyone interested in trying to save the building should contact him at wjspain@comcast.net.

We are in the final hours and the reality should be published that we are going to lose a New Hampshire gem, he said.
Worcester police arrested a man and a woman Friday evening Gardner in connection with a fatal shooting that took the life of a 17-year-old male earlier this month, according to police.

Worcester resident Kidam Oquendo, 21, has been charged with armed assault with intent to murder, attempted assault and battery by firearm and four firearms charges, Worcester police said in a press release Saturday. Gardner resident Alexis Medeiros, 18, was charged with accessory after the fact and obstruction of justice.

The charges against Oquendo and Medeiros stem from a shooting that took place on Shannon Street in Worcester in the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 12. Officers responded to the area after gunfire was detected there around 3:15 a.m., but did not find a victim.

Police began checking local hospitals for shooting victims and found that a male 17-year-old had been brought to a hospital with gunshot wounds, police said previously. He was declared dead at the hospital.

No further information, including the name of the victim, has been released.
A Stop & Shop employee in Revere was hospitalized after a group of girls allegedly assaulted the worker earlier this week, according to police.

Police responded to a report of an employee at the Stop & Shop at 40 Furlong Drive in Revere being assaulted by three girls around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Officers spoke with the worker and learned the juveniles were causing a considerable disturbance in the store when the employee approached them and asked them to leave, Revere Police Chief David J. Callahan said in a statement.

The girls then became uncooperative and started attacking the store employee, Callahan said. The worker was punched in the face, struck on the top of the head and kicked by at least one of the juveniles, according to the police chief. The other girls allegedly watched, and at least one recorded a video of the assault.

After the assault, the girls fled the store and the employee was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, Callahan said in his statement.

When police arrived at the scene, they were told the girls had fled and were directed to a nearby store, where they were able to locate multiple juveniles, some of whom were uncooperative and untruthful about their identities, according to the statement.

One of the juveniles, who had several outstanding arrest warrants, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery and disturbing the peace, according to Callahan.

Four other juveniles are expected to be summonsed to Chelsea District Court at a later date, the police chief said.
DORSET, Vermont  Two years ago, law enforcement discovered Isaiah Rodriguezs body along a snow-covered dirt road in southwestern Vermont, over a hundred miles away from his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts. He was wearing slide sandals, and he had been shot over three dozen times.

He was 17, three days shy of his birthday.

In recent months, law enforcement has charged a half-dozen people in connection with the teens killing. As to why Rodriguez ended up on a rural road in the Green Mountain State, documents filed in Vermont courts show investigators focused their inquiry on the illicit drug trade between Western Massachusetts and Vermont.
The Agricultural Development Bank of China, the country's rural policy bank, has unveiled a guideline to step up credit support for China's Green Rural Revival Program, as part of efforts to promote rural revitalization.

The bank said it will target financial demands in key areas of the program, which highlights living condition improvements and the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, while also exploring effective means of providing financial support for the program.

Greater support will be given to improve rural living conditions, protect and conserve the ecological environment, increase the coverage of infrastructure and public services in rural areas, and build digital villages, the lender said.

It further pledged to broaden channels for farmers to help them increase their income, while keeping loan risks under control.

In 2023, the bank had issued loans totaling 488 billion yuan (about 68.67 billion U.S. dollars) to key areas of the Green Rural Revival Program, data showed.
The first space race began as a bellicose and propagandistic competition. In 1957, when Americans heard the Sputnik signal, they knew that Russian missiles had their cities in their sights. In 1969, they must have been relieved when Werner von Braun, the Nazi who created the first combat missiles, allowed them to win the race to the moon with powerful Saturn rockets. The technological benefits of that confrontation are numerous and ubiquitous in the lives of people who would be lost without satellite guidance, but that initial impulse dissipated with the fall of the Soviet Union. Three decades later, with the revival of a chapter of history that some thought was over, a new space race has begun in which the great powers are once again measuring their prestige and their weapons. But this new race is going to have more participants: small companies and students and professors who make relevant contributions to the field from almost anywhere in the world.

Until 2013, Vicente Diaz and Miguel Angel Vazquez worked making photovoltaic solar panels to produce electricity on Earth. The entry of Chinese companies left them out on the street and posed a dilemma for them. There were colleagues who switched to gas and oil, but coming from renewable energies that was not what I wanted, says Diaz, sitting at a table in a hotel in Malaga, Spain. At that time, the new space was being born, a metamorphosis of the aerospace industry stemming from technological changes that made it possible to build smaller and cheaper satellites, which could be launched on affordable rockets and made it possible to participate in the renewed space race from Spains Costa del Sol, thousands of miles away from Houston, Moscow or Beijing. Diaz and Vazquez founded DHV Technology, a company that manufactures solar panels to generate energy in space that now power over 260 satellites. They are also the organizers of the Small Satellite and Services International Forum (SSSIF), which brought together many of the key players in this new phase of the space race in Malaga, Spain, this week.

When I started, if you wanted to work in this [field], you had to go to the U.S., but now you can do it almost anywhere, says Jordi Puig-Suari, one of the fathers of Cubesats, a type of small, cheap satellite that defines this new era of more democratic access to space. Before, being a rocket scientist [space engineer] was intimidating; it took big companies and big investments to launch a satellite. Now, satellites can be built with commercial elements, which dont have to last so many years and even allow students to develop and launch their own satellites, explains the Cal Poly State University professor.

Juan Tomas Hernani, the CEO of Satlantis, which specializes in Earth observation technology with small satellites for border surveillance and climate change mitigation, did the math for this new world. Traditional satellites are larger and need technology that will be around for the decades necessary to recoup such a huge investment. Now we no longer need to be obsessed with having such long-lasting technology, but rather concerned with one that produces the necessary results for a few years, enough to recover the investment before the technology becomes obsolete or the satellite stops working. At that point, it can be replaced by another satellite that incorporates new technology. An Earth observation satellite such as the Spanish Ministry of Defenses PAZ weighs 1,400 kilos (3086 pounds) and costs 160 million ($173,384,000). Small satellites weigh around 100 kilos (220 pounds) and cost less than a tenth of that. Puig-Suari highlights the value of these satellites for defense functions. Before, you could have a very expensive satellite that could be disabled by an attack. Now, there are constellations of small satellites that perform the same functions and are more difficult to override, he explains. Some will not replace the others, but rather complement them and allow more companies to do business in space.

Fernando Aguado, professor at the University of Vigo in Spain and the creator of the first Spanish satellite developed under the CubeSat standard, mentions other space applications that improve our daily lives in a lot of ways that sometimes people are unaware of. The possibility of continuously taking images of the Earth has made it possible to improve the microcredit system that farmers use to finance themselves in countries like Kenya and India. With the ability to analyze the type of farm of a given farmer, it is possible to assess more easily and accurately the risk of a loan and speed up the granting process. Aguado also highlights the chance that this new space offers students like his  those from a public and not very large university  the opportunity to develop satellites and put them into orbit. Once inspired by the epic of reaching the moon, motivation now comes from the possibility of being a protagonist in space exploration, even if it is in more humble projects.

The Earths orbit, where there is a proliferation of small satellites such as those that Startical intends to launch to improve air traffic control and allow planes to travel closer together and more efficiently, is the new space realm, but in Malaga it was clear that the epic of exploring the final frontier continues to be a basic motivation for space engineering. Several representatives of NASA and the European Space Agency explained their plans to return to the moon, set up colonies and, from there, prepare for attempts to go to Mars. In this effort, state support remains almost everything, even if states then offer their services to private companies like Elon Musks Space X. We concentrate on the difficult things, on getting astronauts there, building a base or a space station, and private industry can sell us services such as logistics or communications, explains Carlos Garcia Galan of NASA. One example, which was also discussed in Malaga, is ROXY, a project led by Airbus to produce oxygen from lunar regolith, an essential step for living on our moon. All this could make it cheaper and speed up the return to the moon, this time to stay, although there are aspects that are more complicated than six decades ago. Now, Galan says, we could not tolerate the deaths that happened in the Apollo program, so we have taken more time to finish the Artemis II and III systems with which humans will return to the moon.

Andres Martinez is one of the people in charge of taking advantage of the potential of small satellites for space exploration at NASA. One of the projects he has led is Biosentinel, a shoebox-sized satellite that launches samples of brewers yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) into deep space to study the effects of radiation on living things and to learn about the risks of traveling to the moon or Mars. In Malaga, he jokes that it was good luck that the first launch of the Astrobotic company failed in its first attempt to reach the moon. The mission is part of the CLPS program, through which NASA seeks to make it cheaper to return to the moon by contracting private companies to prepare for a return there. For the next one, its going to take a very expensive rover of ours, Martinez says, referring to VIPER, a robot that will search for ice and other useful resources at the moons south pole. Odysseus, which landed Thursday, is the first CLPS mission to successfully reach the moon.

Construction of the moon base, where NASA or the European Space Agency will learn to live away from the Earth, will begin in the 2030s. What we learn in that decade will make it possible to say whether the dream of reaching Mars is really feasible. Garcia Galan acknowledges that they no longer take it for granted, because there are lots of unknowns in space. When the first humans return to the moon, they will start testing systems to work without support from Earth; communications will have a 20-minute delay, so astronauts going to Mars will be on their own in emergencies. And they will have to learn to cope with less than epic but very significant problems, such as the nuisance of negatively charged moon dust that sticks mercilessly to everything. Meanwhile, small and large satellites will continue to transform the world. There are now over 8,000 in orbit, but by the end of the decade that number is expected to exceed 100,000. On Earth, the international political situation may slow down space development, which is increasingly driven by private initiative. But the opposite may also be true. The years in which space technology developed most rapidly coincided with the time when humanity came closest to destroying itself.

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History is replete with individuals who betrayed their country or collaborated with the enemies of their country. Some did it out of ideology, financial gain, or revenge for some slight. Others did it out of some twisted logic that they were serving the best interests of their country. Still others were useful idiots, as the Russian security services call them, who were duped into acting.

Unfortunately, we have a former president, senators, representatives and pundits who are doing Putins work. I prefer to think that they are doing it out of twisted logic or that they are useful idiots.

Recently, Tucker Carlson conducted a two-hour interview with Putin. Fawning over the ex-KGB officer, Carlson did not question Putin when he stated that Ukraine was responsible for the war. When Putin spewed falsehoods about Ukraine, Carlson did not challenge him.
A man has been fined at Thurles District Court for carrying a prop gun in his waistband on a train.

Emil Barchesan, 37, of Sheilas Hostel, 3/4 Belgrave Place, Wellington Road, Cork was charged with possession of a realistic imitation firearm at Templemore Train Station on July 21, 2023.

The arresting guard told the court that on the day, gardai were alerted to an incident involving a male carrying a firearm on a train between Cork and Dublin.

A witness was sitting opposite the defendant, who was asleep. As the defendant moved in his sleep, his jacket rode up, exposing what appeared to be a gun in his waistband.

The court heard that the witness took a photo of the gun and alerted security. Staff stopped the train at Templemore Station and told the passengers they would be delayed because of technical difficulties.

The guard told the court that they considered the incident a serious situation and an operation was put in place by Templemore and Thurles Garda Stations, including members of the Armed Support Unit.

The defendant was arrested and taken to Thurles Garda Station. The gun was confiscated, but a ballistics report showed that the gun was an imitation firearm, the court was told.

The guard told the court that Mr Barchesan cooperated fully with them and answered all the questions asked of him. The defendant told gardai that he boarded the train at Kent Station in Cork and intended to depart in Mallow to visit friends, but he fell asleep.

Solicitor acting for the defendant Paddy Cadell, argued that his client collects imitation guns and it was never his clients intention for a member of the public to see this piece.

He told the court that his client was taking the gun back to Romania the following day but missed his flight after the guards detained him for three nights.

He said imitation guns are legal to buy both in Ireland and Romania and this one had been purchased in Killarney for 240. Mr Cadell told the court that his client had lost his job as a result of the incident.

STAND

The defendant told the court that the gun was not classed as a firearm. He said he and his father attend a firing range in Romania and collect guns.

Mr Barchesan said he never intended to use the gun as weapon, and nobody knew he had it.

He had taken it with him in case anybody had entered his hotel room in his absence. He also told the court that he had made all the necessary arrangements with the airport to transport the imitation gun.

He told the court he was unemployed as a result of his face being shown on the news on his arrest.

I lost three jobs because of this, said Mr Barchesan.

Clint Eastwood

However, Inspector James White of Thurles Garda Station said that was not the case. He told the court that garda inquiries had found that Mr Barchesan had lost his job prior to the incident.

The defendant denied this. Inspector White asked the defendant why he had not just carried the gun in a bag.

So you are saying the plan was put it in your waistband as if you were Clint Eastwood in a film? said the Inspector.

The inspector put it to the defendant that it was very difficult for a member of the public to see the difference between the imitation gun and real firearm.

He said it was irresponsible for the defendant to carry the gun in the way that he had.

He asked Mr Barchesan what he would have done had someone entered his hotel room while he was there.

The defendant told the court he would point the gun at an intruder to protect himself.

I have worked in other countries. Ive been cut. Ive been stabbed, said the defendant.

JUDGEMENT

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said it was clear the man was in possession of an imitation gun that looked and felt, in its weight, real.

She said an item like that should not be carried in public. The judge acknowledged that the defendant intended to take the item back to Romania but said she did not find his excuse reasonable.

Mr Cadell asked that in light of his client having no previous convictions, that he be given the benefit of the probation act.

However, Judge MacGrath said:

There is a huge onus and responsibility on a person who owns an item like that. Im not dealing with it in any other way.

The judge convicted Mr Barchesan and fined him 250.
by Erik Oster , February 24, 2024

Diageo is hoping its Captain Morgan brand can plunder some market share from the ready-to-drink category with the release of Captain Morgan Sliced.

The line of cocktail-inspired malt beverages is venturing into markets in a 12-can variety pack featuring four flavors: Pineapple Daiquiri, Strawberry Margarita, Passionfruit Hurricane and Mango Mai Tai.

With flavor being the primary driver of flavored malt beverages momentum, we saw a unique opportunity to launch the line under Captain Morgan -- a brand that has been known for decades for its bold flavor -- to slice through the category with a differentiated, flavor-forward lineup, Diageo Beer Company CMO Laura Merritt told Marketing Daily, adding that the brand extension makes Captain Morgan accessible to more legal-age drinkers than ever before. By entering into the FMB space, Captain Morgan Sliced will be sold in even more retailers nationwide, allowing consumers to simply pick up Captain Morgan Sliced while on a quick run to the convenience or grocery store.

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Flavor and variety are primary considerations in the category, according to Kantar Profile/Mintel data on RTD purchase factors from September, 2022, so the brand developed a mixed variety pack featuring takes on popular cocktails with these aspects in mind.

To promote the new Sliced line, the brand is launching a campaign created with agency Anomaly New York centered around a 30-second hero ad which demonstrates how Sliced Is Better. The spot visualizes the concept through a series of slicing-centered scenarios leading to outcomes appreciated by its characters.

The Sliced Is Better campaign, Merritt said, was built around the brand attempting to inspire viewers to adopt the mindset that cutting through the ordinary allows us to embrace adventure.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, February 25, 2024

Google's antitrust case against the U.S. Justice Department was unsealed Friday, revealing that Microsoft offered to sell its Bing search engine to Apple in 2018.

In the filing, Google argued that Microsoft pitched Apple many times between 2009 and 2020 about making Bing the default engine in Apple's Safari web browser, but each time Apple said no. The document cites quality issues with Bing.

The Justice Department wrote in its own unsealed that Microsoft spent nearly $100 billion on Bing over a period of 20 years. Microsoft launched Bing in 2009.

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Microsoft then reached out to Apple in 2018, outlining gains in Bing's quality. Microsoft wanted to either sell Bing to Apple or build a joint venture based on Bing.

Microsoft search quality, their investment in search, everything was not significant at all, said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, according to the filing. And so everything was lower. So the search quality itself wasn't as good. They werent investing at any level comparable to Google or to what Microsoft could invest in. And their advertising organization and how they monetize was not very good either.

Google in 2021 paid more than $26 billion in exchange for being the default search engine on platforms such as Apple.

For Google, Bing, and other search engines, the key is the data. From each query, Google gains a little knowledge from people wanting information, and then it gives a little back, according to the document.

Some elements of Google's search engine are trained on 13 months of data, per a court document -- a volume that would take Bing over 17 years to accumulate.

The document calls out Google's "enormous advantage" given the company's position on mobile devices, providing an insurance policy against future competition.

Google also has loyal followers. When Google increased the prices of text ads by 5% or more, the company remained profitable because of its loyal customers and reach into consumers' pockets.

Joshua Lowcock, the global chief media officer of Universal McCann, a division of IPG, testified that even if the price of Googles text ads rose by 5%, the U.S. courts document stated he "would not recommend that clients move advertising spend elsewhere."

During the testimony, Lowcock explained that the primary purpose of advertising is to reach audiences and to reach people at scale.

The more scale a search engine can gain, the more important it is to buy advertising on that platform.

Based on market share, there is a limit to the amount of specific keywords an advertisers can buy on Bing.
  Trusted Source

SOX9 switch links regeneration to fibrosis at the single-cell level in mammalian kidneys



Go to source Trusted Source



Researchers found that cells unable to regenerate initiated the recruitment of proteins known as Wnts, which play a crucial role in kidney development. #kidneyfailure #kidneyhealth

From Dormancy in Healthy Adult Kidneys to Reactivation in the Healing Process After Injury

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Did You Know?

For the first time, study provides insights into how the kidney's response to injury can occasionally result in fibrosis.

SOX9 switch links regeneration to fibrosis at the single-cell level in mammalian kidneys - (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add6371)

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have unraveled the mystery behind why certain injured kidneys heal, while others develop scarring that may result in kidney failure. The findings, outlined inhold promise for the potential creation of noninvasive tests to identify kidney scarring and, ultimately, the development of new therapies to reverse this 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, PhD, 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 arent 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. Its 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.Over time, this accumulation of Wnts triggered scarring. And they found thatInvestigators 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 Womens 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, PhD, executive director of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai and a co-author of the study.Future work along these lines could also advance our understanding of fibrosis in the heart, lungs and liver .Source-Eurekalert
Shocking revelation

In her book, Indrani Mukerjea claimed that she had never killed Sheena, who was actually alive and had decided to stay away from the limelight.
Once known as one of the richest Indians with the world at his feet and celebrities splashed across his glamorous calendar, he went from a net worth of Rs. 7500 crores to being bankrupt.

Vijay Mallya, once the flamboyant "King of Good Times" and airline tycoon, has seen his life become a cautionary tale of ambition, debt, and a dramatic fall from grace. His story, woven with luxury jets, cricket sponsorships, and lavish Kingfisher parties, is now marred by accusations of fraud, loan defaults, and a life as a fugitive in the UK.

However, Kingfisher's glamorous facade masked financial woes. To fuel expansion, Vijay Mallya borrowed heavily from several Indian banks. Rising fuel prices and competition from low-cost airlines squeezed Kingfisher's margins, leading to heavy losses. Despite repeated assurances, loan repayments faltered, raising concerns about mismanagement and potential fraud.

Vijay Mallya's journey began in the 1980s, inheriting his father's liquor business and transforming it into a multi-billion dollar empire. He ventured into aviation, launching Kingfisher Airlines in 2005. With its Kingfisher Red livery and celebrity endorsements, the airline promised a luxurious experience, quickly becoming a symbol of India's rising middle class and Mallya's own flamboyant persona.

@ Instagram/Vijay Mallya FC

By 2012, Kingfisher's debt had ballooned to over Rs 9,000 crore, and the airline grounded its fleet. Vijay Mallya, facing warrants for his arrest, fled India in 2017, seeking refuge in the UK. This sparked outrage, with accusations of him leaving behind a trail of unpaid dues and shattered dreams.

Many homes were wrecked due to this fiasco and Kingfisher employees, from top to bottom, suffered heavily. Amid claims of not having enough money to pay debts, Vijay Mallya threw a lavish birthday party with performances by the likes of Enrique Inglesias, incensing people who found it quite insensitive towards those who had been waiting for their salaries for months.

Enrique and Vijay Mallya (the person's whose birthday party it was) on stage in Goa, India last night! // Enrique c pic.twitter.com/4TpysazAaV  Enrique Updates (@enriqueig75) December 19, 2015

It seemed like he was only interested in his own good times and debauchery, not interested in fulfilling the lofty promises he had made to thousands of people  including his customers, employees and bank officials.

Vijay Mallya's life in the UK has been a saga of legal battles and extradition attempts by the Indian government. He has challenged extradition, claiming political persecution, while Indian authorities have pursued various legal avenues to bring him back to face charges. Meanwhile, Mallya's assets in India have been seized, and efforts are underway to recover the unpaid loans.

The story of Vijay Mallya is far from over. The legal battle for his extradition continues, with both sides presenting complex arguments. Whether he will return to India to face justice or remain a fugitive in the UK remains an open question.

Mallya's story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition, excessive debt, and neglecting corporate governance. As entrepreneurs chase their dreams, they must remember that with great power comes great responsibility.
At least one member of the Republican National Committee is working to slow Donald Trumps attempted takeover of the organization by pushing to keep the committee neutral until Trump is officially the presidential nominee and avoid picking up his legal bills.

Two draft resolutions are being circulated by Henry Barbour, a national committeeman from Mississippi, for consideration at the RNCs upcoming March meeting in Houston. Barbour said support for the resolutions among RNC members is growing but he does not yet have the needed cosponsors, and any resolutions would ultimately be nonbinding.

The effort comes after Trump last week publicly called to replace the RNCs current leaders and install one of his senior campaign advisors and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump in top roles. Lara Trump suggested earlier in the week that GOP voters would support the committee paying her father-in-laws legal bills as he faces a raft of criminal and civil indictments.

Trump senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita, whom the former president wants to install as the partys chief operating officer, told reporters Friday night that the RNC would not pay Trumps legal bills.

In a statement on Saturday, LaCavita said the primary is over and it is the RNCs sole responsibility to defeat Joe Biden and win back the White House.

Efforts to delay that assist Joe Biden in the destruction of our nation, he said. Republicans cannot stand on the sidelines and allow this to happen.

One of Barbours proposed resolutions says that the RNC and its leadership will stay neutral throughout the presidential primary and not take on additional staff from any of the active campaigns until a candidate has the needed delegates to be the nominee.

The second resolution says the organization will not pay the legal bills of any candidate for federal or state office but will instead focus its spending on efforts directly related to the 2024 election.

The RNC has one job. Thats winning elections, Barbour said. I believe RNC funds should be spent solely on winning elections, on political expenses, not legal bills.

The RNC was paying some of Trumps legal bills for New York cases that started while he was president, the Washington Post reported, but current Chair Ronna McDaniel said in November 2022 that the RNC would stop paying once Trump became a candidate again and started running for the 2024 presidential election.

Trump is spending millions on lawyers in civil cases and four criminal cases, but he also has legal debts that top half a billion dollars.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who is Trumps last major challenger in the GOP primary and facing him in her home states contest Saturday, said a family member or campaign manager should not be leading the RNC.

I would hope that the people in the RNC know that they have a responsibility, a responsibility to put in people in the RNC who are going to look out in the best interest of all of the Republican Party, not just one person, Haley said.

The resolutions were first reported by The Dispatch on Saturday.

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WAYNE COUNTY, MI  Police are investigating a road rage incident where a driver pulled a gun on another driver along a highway, Michigan State Police said.

No injuries or shots fired were reported during the altercation. Its unclear if any arrests were made.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Is there such a thing as Italian food? The answer, Samantha DellImperio said, is a little complicated.

Italian food, like many traditional cuisines is a fusion of cultures, she said, partly due influences from the number of Italys conquerors, from Muslims in the 800s to the Normans from western Europe through the 1100s.

This is one slice of a whole pie of knowledge DellImperio is diving into, as the University of Michigan graduate-turned-Fulbright Scholar studies all angles of food in northern Italy.

DellImperio graduated from the Ann Arbor campus in spring 2023 with a degree in biology, health and society and a minor in Italian. That background is coming together as a masters degree student at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo studying how food affects wellness.

Basically, I want to study how do we get the world to live healthy, she said.

As a native New Yorker, Italy has long been in DellImperios life. Her grandparents are from outside Naples, and she studied Italian from eighth grade through getting her minor last spring.

She thought she would focus on academia and pursue public health research at the University of Michigan. Her work at Michigan Medicines chronic pain center drew her to how nutrition can help patients both physiologically and emotionally.

Lifestyle modifications have a tremendous impact on how people feel, even if they are inexplicable or novel, she said.

This experience led her to want to learn about food in respect to wellness. The next step was finding the perfect classroom. She wrote herself a story in December 2022, asking what she would want to do if she could choose anything. In short, she decided:

I just want to go to Italy, she said.

Through the universitys International Institute, DellImperio applied and eventually earned the Fulbright Scholarship. Her one-year masters course in Pollenzo started last October and features courses in global food cultures, food systems sustainability and gastrodiplomacy strategies in the food world.

In my classes, Im learning more about what we are is what we eat, she said. Seeing how food impacts longevity and mental health.

The course is a whirlwind of different lessons, DellImperio said. One week was focused on sustainability, then another focused on beekeeping to make artisanal honey. One week was spent on a farm learning how to make cheese, while another lesson was learning how a menu is created and what food can be emphasized.

Im learning how food is made, how food affects society, how society affects food and how culture impacts how we eat food, she said.

The key to finding wellness in food is making it with love and care, DellImperio said. If a patient in a hospital just has food slapped on a plate, it will not have the same effect as food made and presented with care, she said.

In terms of a thesis, DellImperio wants to study Blue Zones, or places where people regularly live to be 100. This work would take place in Sardinia, and would combine her interest in wellness and on-the-ground work with food, she said.

DellImperio is still mulling her future, but thinks her time in Italy could last longer than this one-year course. Shes thinking about working for an agriturismo, or an agricultural farm that attracts tourists to teach them about farming, food production, cooking meals and more.

Ive realized that having direct contact with crops and the earth can completely transform peoples thoughts about food and food systems, she said.

Whatever DellImperio decides, her time in what she calls the Pollenzo bubble almost feels like an alternate reality.

Its a place that allows people to really dream, she said.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.

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FLINT, MI -- Flint politics just got a lot less interesting.

Eric Mays, 1st Ward councilman, a political lightning rod who represented some of the citys poorest people, has died at 65, leaving a legacy of fearless advocacy, in-your-face politics, and a common touch that rang true with voters who elected him three times to represent their interests in Flint City Hall.

The son of a pastor, Mays was one of nine children of the late Rev. Louis H. and the late Rosie B. Mays. He graduated from Flint Northern High School and Michigan State University and retired from General Motors, where he honed his political skills as a district committeeperson and recording secretary for local unions of the United Auto Workers.

Mays political strength grew over the past decade and he gained a national social media following thanks to viral videos that featured his confrontations with other council members.

First elected by just a seven-vote margin in 2013, he was the longest-serving member of the current council and organized committees to run for mayor in 2008, 2015 and 2022.

Mays died while serving a 90-day suspension for conduct unbecoming a council member, a punishment he maintained was unjust and which he fought against until his death.

After a judge denied his request for a temporary restraining order to block the discipline in January, a constituent filed her own lawsuit last week, claiming the suspension of Mays took away both her constitutional rights and her only voice in city government.

He would fight for the underdog. He would get out of bed and people would call him. It didnt matter if a person was Black, white, polka-dot or pinstripe, 6th Ward Councilman Tonya Burns said on Sunday, Feb. 25. It broke him to not be in that seat. It broke his spirit. ... Serving the community was his fuel.

The citys announcement of Mays passing did not refer to a cause of death but friends said he had stayed close to his home on Rusell Avenue in recent weeks. Funeral arrangements had not been completed as of early Sunday afternoon.

Tributes to the councilman poured in after the city announced Mays death and plans to fly flags at half-staff in his honor beginning Monday, Feb. 26.

Even political adversaries, including Mayor Sheldon Neeley, joined in the accolades, calling Mays passing a tremendous loss for our community and a shock to all friends and family.

Council President Ladel Lewis, who Mays sued in October for removing him from a meeting for disorderly conduct, also issued a statement calling him a dedicated public servant and tireless champion for the people of Flint.

Friends also mourned the loss of the councilman, who gained a reputation for always picking up the phone when a constituent called and who was one of the first elected officials to acknowledge the Flint water crisis.

I am saddened by the death of my friend Eric Mays, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee said in a statement released by his office on Sunday. Eric and I graduated from Flint Northern High School together in 1976. Decades later, we would call one another by the nickname 76 because of our fond memories together as classmates.

Councilman Mays loved serving Flint on the City Council, and his constituents continuously re-elected him because of his bold and unwavering voice, Kildee said. Our lifelong friendship always sustained through the politics of the day.

Former Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, a classmate of Mays at Flint Northern, said the death of her friend hit her harder and harder as she reflected on his support through her three campaigns for mayor.

He was a fighter for the people. Hes going to be missed, Weaver said Sunday. There was nobody more outspoken than Eric. We believed in so many of the same things. We were pushing in the same direction even if we went about it in different ways.

Mays brand of politics was unconventional and consistently confrontational. He spoke in a deep, booming voice and used it in fights against long odds on many issues.

He sued Neeley, the city, the police chief and city council members in recent years, arguing that his political opponents treated him unfairly and disciplined him more harshly than his colleagues.

He also faced legal and political challenges, including two pending recall drives, a Michigan State Police investigation concerning a GoFundMe account set up to pay mounting legal expenses, and the garnishment of his wages after a federal judge dismissed one lawsuit against Neeley and ordered Mays to reimburse the city for its legal expenses.

He gained attention across the country for brazen political antics, including repeatedly using a Nazi salute while calling a former council member Hitler, and landed in Hurley Medical Center after a bar fight involving Neeleys former deputy chief of staff.

Outside of council chambers, Mays was sentenced to jail in 2016 for impaired driving after he was found next to a disabled car, facing the wrong way on I-475 in 2013.

Representing himself in court, the councilman frustrated former Genesee District Judge Nathaniel C. Perry with his unconventional lawyering, at one point removing his dentures and arguing that the teeth could have affected his breathalyzer test.

If the teeth fit, you must acquit, Mays said in a 2014 Flint Journal story.

Former Mayor Dayne Walling, who ran against Mays in a mayoral primary election, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that the two debated many issues, needled each other, but remained friends.

When I called to congratulate him on being elected Flint City Council president, he said thank you and then went on to say, with a big smile that came through even on the phone, that he didnt like it when I called for his resignation after the incident on the expressway ..., Walling said.

As a man of God and a pastors son, I know he is now up in heaven and its never going to the same.

Mays often referred to his deep faith in his public comments.

See, I want to make it to heaven, he said during a council meeting in 2022. I try my best to tell the truth. People dont like my style -- how I talk, my delivery -- but you aint catching me in half-truths and lies.

Mari Copeny, also known as Little Miss Flint, said in posts on X, the former Twitter, that despite his determined demeanor, Mays loved children and showed up for them, singing Christmas carols as they waited for a toy giveaway, making sure the toy room was stocked, and staying until midnight to help clean up after the event.

I want people to see how much he loved this city. He showed up ..., Copney said. To most he was this huge personality but to me he was the only city official to ever support me, come out and volunteer at my events, and always encouraged me ... You will be missed Eric Mays.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a keynote speech at the Black Conservative Federation gala dinner, ahead of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., February 23, 2024.

Former President Donald Trump claimed Friday that his four criminal indictments have boosted his support among Black Americans because they see him as a victim of discrimination, comparing his legal jeopardy to the historic legacy of anti-Black prejudice in the U.S. legal system.

Trump argues he is the victim of political persecution, even though there is no evidence President Joe Biden or White House officials influenced the filing of 91 felony charges against him. Earlier in the week, Trump compared himself to Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putins top domestic rival, who died in a remote Arctic prison after being jailed by the Kremlin leader.

I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing, Trump told a black-tie event for Black conservatives in South Carolina ahead of Saturdays Republican primary. And a lot of people said thats why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against. Its been pretty amazing but possibly, maybe, theres something there.

Trump has centered his third campaign for the White House on his grievances against Biden and what he alleges is a deep state targeting him, even as he faces charges from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, keeping classified documents at his Florida estate, and allegedly arranging payments to a porn actress. He is the dominant Republican front-runner, as many GOP voters echo his beliefs, and is favored to soundly beat former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in her home state.

Trump noted the mug shot taken by Georgia authorities after he was indicted on state racketeering charges over the 2020 election.

When I did the mug shot in Atlanta, that mug shot is No. 1, he said, adding: You know who embraced it more than anyone else? The Black population.

Trumps campaign has predicted he can do better with Black voters in November than he did four years ago, citing Bidens faltering poll numbers with Black adults and what Trump sees as advantages on issues like the economy and the record-high number of people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, often ending up in cities with large Black populations.

He was flanked on stage at the Black Conservative Federations gala in Columbia, South Carolina, by Black elected officials including Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Wesley Hunt of Texas. Many in the crowd cheered throughout the speech.

In a freewheeling speech, Trump mixed his regular campaign remarks with appeals to the Black community and jokes that touched on race.

The lights are so bright in my eyes I cant see too many people out there. But I can only see the Black ones. I cant see any white ones. Thats how far Ive come, Trump said to laughter from the audience.

He also said that he knew many Black people because his properties were built by Black construction workers.

In telling a story about how he renegotiated the cost of remodeling Air Force One, Trump criticized his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, the first Black person to be elected to the White House.

I have to tell you, Black president, but I got $1.7 billion less, Trump said. Would you rather have the Black president or the white president who got $1.7 billion off the price?

As the crowd cheered, he added, I think they want the white guy.

Republicans face an uphill battle in courting Black voters, who are overwhelmingly supportive of the Democratic Party. And while Black voter enthusiasm for Biden has cooled over the last year, only 25% of Black Americans said they had a favorable view of Trump in a December AP-NORC poll.

Democrats lambasted the speech as racist and insulting to Black voters. Sarafina Chitika, spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, noted Trumps appearance earlier this month at a sneaker convention where he hawked $399 Never Surrender High-Tops.

This might come as news to Trump, but pushing tired tropes, wannabe Jordans, and mugshot t-shirts isnt going to win over Black voters who suffered through record high unemployment and skyrocketing uninsured rates under his leadership, Chitika said. Trump is showing Black voters exactly what he thinks of them and his ideas to win them over are as corny and racist as he is.

And Haley, speaking Saturday morning in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, called his speech disgusting.

Thats what happens when he goes off the teleprompter, she said. Thats the chaos that comes with Donald Trump.

Black voters who spoke with The Associated Press ahead of the gala expressed skepticism that Republicans, and Trump in particular, could persuade them to switch parties.

Theres just so much controversy, said Ebony McBeth, a Columbia resident and transportation worker. I would go for Biden just because Trump has his own agenda.

Isaac Williams Sr., a retired cook from Columbia and a lifelong Democrat, said he disliked both parties but found Trump to have mobster tendencies. Hes only out for himself.

Multiple conservatives interviewed said the Democratic Partys appeal to Black voters was based on emotional politics by evoking racism.

In order for the Republican Party to win more of the African American community over, well have to invest a lot of time and more money into really letting people know our platform, because the truth of the matter is a lot of them, they agree with our platform but they dont associate that with the Republican Party, said Samuel Rivers Jr., a former Republican state senator in South Carolina.

Rivers, who is Black, argued that Black voters view Republicans in a negative way based on emotional triggers of racism that no longer exists.

Trump has a long history of stoking racial tensions. From his earliest days as a New York real estate developer, Trump has faced accusations of racist business practices. In 1989, he took out full-page newspaper ads calling for New York state to reinstate the death penalty as five Black and Latino teenagers were set to stand trial for beating and raping a white woman in Central Park. The five men were eventually exonerated in 2002 after another man admitted to the crime and it was determined their confessions were coerced.

He spent years spreading the lie that Obama was ineligible to hold office. When he was president, Trump derided shithole countries in Africa and said four congresswomen of color should go back to the broken and crime-infested countries they came from, ignoring the fact that all of the women are American citizens and three were born in the U.S.

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By Su Xincheng, KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2024 - 16:43 | All, World, Japan, 3/11 Fukushima

Faced with China's ban on Japanese marine product imports, sparked by the release of treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan's fisheries industry has been casting a wider net, seeking new export destinations to reduce its dependency on the world's second-largest economy.

Yasuhiro Yamazaki, president of wholesaler Yamaharu Co. at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market, is among the many affected by the ban and has been forced to turn to new buyers.

"Our sales were slashed by half," Yamazaki said, adding, "The ban left us with no choice but to seek new horizons."

Yamazaki's search for new customers has led him across the globe, from the beaches of Hawaii and the cities of Los Angeles and Houston to the marketplaces of Singapore and Malaysia.

In each location, he has personally showcased his premium seafood that has included splendid alfonsino, blackthroat seaperch, and sought-after parts of bluefin tuna, all once destined for China, in the hope of winning over new partners. The response was heartening.

"To our surprise, many countries were ready to embrace our seafood and grateful for being introduced to such exquisite flavors," he said, adding that sales have not only recovered but have even jumped.

The company's move is echoed in Japan's broader strategy to mitigate the ban's impact.

Last month, the Japanese government held an event to promote the country's seafood in Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city and known for its sizable Japanese community, attracting around 100 local importers to sample dishes made with Japanese scallops and yellowtails.

"Compared to other foreign seafood, Japanese scallops and yellowtails tasted softer and had a more delicate flavor. I want to use them in my restaurant," said a chef at a local restaurant.

China began its ban on fisheries product imports from Japan on Aug. 24, when Tokyo began releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, dealing a heavy blow to the seafood trade, particularly scallops.

Scallops represent about a quarter of Japan's seafood exports by value, with more than half previously destined for China, according to the annual white paper on fisheries for fiscal 2022.

In response, the government and the industry are exploring new processing and export routes, including processing scallops in Mexico for the U.S. market, moving away from the traditional processing in China.

Despite the challenges, Japan's seafood industry has shown resilience. In 2023, the country achieved a record 1.45 trillion yen in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry exports, with the United States and Hong Kong playing key roles in offsetting the decline in Chinese sales, according to government data.

However, the future of trade relations with China remains uncertain.

"Even if China lifts the ban, the question of whether we can return to our previous relationship is unclear," Yamazaki said, highlighting the industry's hesitancy to rely on the Chinese market again.

"Our efforts have always been driven by a pure desire to share our delicious seafood with the people of China," Yamazaki said. "It's disheartening to see the neighboring country, so close to us, becoming increasingly distant."

Related coverage:

Most Japan fishing groups hit by China import ban over Fukushima row

IAEA reaffirms Japan's treated water release in line with standards

Japan farm, fisheries exports at record 1.45 trillion yen in 2023
Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) and Vossloh (OTCMKTS:VOSSY  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, risk and analyst recommendations.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

77.4% of Union Pacific shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Union Pacific shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Get Union Pacific alerts:

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Union Pacific and Vossloh, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Union Pacific 0 6 12 1 2.74 Vossloh 0 0 0 0 N/A

Valuation & Earnings

Union Pacific currently has a consensus price target of $249.67, indicating a potential downside of 2.82%. Given Union Pacifics higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Union Pacific is more favorable than Vossloh.

This table compares Union Pacific and Vosslohs top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Union Pacific $24.12 billion 6.50 $6.38 billion $10.46 24.56 Vossloh N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Union Pacific has higher revenue and earnings than Vossloh.

Profitability

This table compares Union Pacific and Vosslohs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Union Pacific 26.45% 46.87% 9.60% Vossloh N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Union Pacific beats Vossloh on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Union Pacific

(Get Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers. Union Pacific Corporation was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

About Vossloh

(Get Free Report)

Vossloh AG offers rail infrastructure products and services worldwide. It operates through three divisions: Core Components, Customized Modules, and Lifecycle Solutions. The Core Components division develops, produces, and markets rail fastening systems for heavy-haul and high-speed lines, as well as urban transport applications. This division also manufactures concrete ties, switch ties, and concrete elements for slab tracks and level crossing systems. The Customized Modules division manufactures, installs, and maintains switches and crossings, as well as related control and monitoring systems for light-rail and high-speed applications. The Lifecycle Solutions division engages in rail trading, long-rail unloading at construction sites, welding new rails, reconditioning old rails, on-site welding, rail replacement, rail grinding/milling, rail inspection, and construction site supervision activities. This division also organizes and monitors rail shipments to construction sites; and enables on-site availability of the unloading systems. The company was founded in 1883 and is headquartered in Werdohl, Germany.

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KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2024 - 12:54 | All, World, Japan

Leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations pledged continued "unwavering" support for Ukraine on Saturday as the country marked the second anniversary of Russia's invasion, committing to further pressuring Moscow and slamming its arms transactions with North Korea.

"As Ukraine enters the third year of this relentless war, its government and its people can count on the G7's support for as long as it takes," the leaders said in a statement issued after their video conference hosted by the group's rotating chair Italy.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for "unity" among G7 members in continuing to impose sanctions on Russia and seeking to bring a lasting peace for Ukraine, while criticizing North Korea for its military support for Moscow, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

"Russia's use of North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine is totally unacceptable," Kishida was quoted as saying in the press release, underscoring that the transfer of North Korean weapons to Russia is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The gathering was the first among G7 leaders since Italy assumed this year's G7 presidency. The G7 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the European Union.

With no end in sight to the war that began on Feb. 24, 2022, Ukraine is facing concerns about waning Western support, particularly as additional aid from the United States stalls amid political wrangling.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the virtual meeting alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and some other leaders who traveled to Kyiv on Saturday to show their solidarity with the war-torn country.

Zelenskyy told his G7 counterparts that he is confident that this year they will "not only implement every agreement already reached, but also add to our cooperation."

In the G7 statement, the leaders called on Russia to "completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces" from Ukraine and vowed to adopt "new measures as necessary" to sanction Moscow.

They also said they will impose additional sanctions on companies and individuals in third countries that help Russia acquire weapons, and demanded North Korea and Russia "immediately cease" missile exports and procurement.

They also expressed concern about transfers to Russia from businesses in China of weapons components.

On Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition activist and prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin who recently died in jail in the Arctic region, the G7 urged the Russian government to "fully clarify the circumstances around his death."

The incident has sparked criticism from Western countries, with U.S. President Joe Biden condemning Putin as "responsible" for the death of the 47-year-old activist.

Related coverage:

U.N. chief repeats call for Russia to stop invasion of Ukraine

Japan eyes providing $32 mil. in additional humanitarian aid to Gaza

FOCUS: Private sector participation key for Japan's support for Ukraine
KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2024 - 18:08 | All, Japan

A 79-year-old man hit two pedestrians with his car Sunday outside Todaiji, a Buddhist temple in western Japan designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the two, a man from Taiwan, died, police said.

The police arrested Akira Ikenaga at the accident site, a pedestrian walk that approaches a gate of the temple in Nara, known for its large Buddha statue, on suspicion of negligence while behind the wheel.

The man from Taiwan, 62, died from a brain contusion, while the other pedestrian, a 52-year-old man from Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, sustained serious injuries, including fractures to his lumbar vertebrae, according to the police and rescue authorities.

The accident site, about 1 kilometer east of Kintetsu Nara Station, is a popular tourist destination near the eighth-century temple.

Ikenaga, who runs a souvenir shop on the approach, admitted to the allegation by saying he inadvertently stepped on the accelerator, mistaking it for the brake pedal, the police said. Vehicle entrance was restricted to the area where the accident occurred except for cars related to shops and other local businesses.

"With a loud bang, the car hit a man and then another man who was walking. It appeared that the car was not under control right before hitting them," said a 75-year-old man who runs a souvenir shop in the area.

Related coverage:

Parents arrested in fatal poisoning, drugging of 4-yr-old daughter

Weight calculation error behind 2023 Tokyo construction site accident

20 people, mostly foreigners, injured in southwest Japan bus crash
KYODO NEWS - Feb 25, 2024 - 22:01 | All, Japan, World

A mere 45 foreign trainees affected by a powerful earthquake in central Japan have been granted permission to work outside their designated workplaces about a month after exceptional measures started, immigration authorities revealed Sunday.

A support group for foreign technical interns pointed out that the measures of the Immigration Services Agency have not been widely known among the trainees yet, and there are likely more foreigners in need who could take advantage of the exceptions, which allow them to work for other employers for three months.

According to a support group in Ishikawa Prefecture, many trainees told the organization that they were not aware of the extraordinary measures until being informed by the organization. Several trainees told Kyodo News that they had never heard of such measures.

In the prefecture, around 670 foreign technical interns reside in six municipalities severely impacted by the disaster. Many businesses in the area have suspended operations due to the damage inflicted by the magnitude-7.6 quake, which struck the Noto Peninsula and its vicinity along the Sea of Japan coast on New Year's Day.

Usually, international students in the country apply for the measures to work part-time temporarily, but considering the situation in the disaster-hit area, the same measures have been applied to technical interns for the first time as a disaster-response exception upon the request of local businesses.

The immigration agency said that it has received a certain number of applications for the measures, providing trainees with an available option.

An official of a supervising organization, which acts as a broker and monitors companies that accept foreign trainees, said, "It is difficult to find employers that can accept them immediately," highlighting the need for collaboration between government ministries and agencies to address the issue.

Subject to the latest exceptional measures are those in 47 cities, towns and villages in Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui prefectures, where about 15,000 trainees were residing as of June last year.

Many of the 45 trainees who have been granted permission to work outside their designated employment live in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures.

The Japanese government intends to replace its controversial trainee program for foreigners, established in 1993 to transfer skills to developing countries, with a new program. It aims to enhance rights protections, increase flexibility for changing jobs, and implement stricter oversight.

Related coverage:

Government to extend extra 100 bil. yen for quake relief in central Japan

Foreign firefighters stifled by Japan gov't bureaucratic smoke screen

Over 14,000 people remain evacuated 1 month after central Japan quake
VLADIVOSTOK, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Early voting in remote areas for the Russian presidential election has begun in the regions of the Far East, local media reported on Sunday.

Quoted by Russia's TASS news agency, Igor Shamraev, deputy chairman of the regional electoral commission of Kamchatka, said that about 30,000 people in Kamchatka could cast their ballots early. They include reindeer herders, meteorological station workers, lighthouse keepers and service members at isolated outposts.

The Federation Council of Russia has scheduled the presidential elections for March 17. The Central Election Commission of Russia has decided to extend the voting period to three days, from March 15 to 17, making it the first three-day presidential election in Russia.

In Yakutia, early voting in hard-to-reach and remote areas is expected to cover 129,000 voters. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia has informed its employees of the planned routes to ensure the safety of the commission members.

In the Khabarovsk Territory, early voting has been organized for residents of hard-to-reach areas, shift workers, workers in the timber and mining industries and meteorological station workers, among others.

More than 4,000 voters in remote and hard-to-reach areas will participate in early voting in Chukotka. Nikolai Goncharov, chairman of the electoral commission of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, said that members of the precinct electoral commissions would reach them by helicopter and all-terrain vehicles. 
BAGHDAD, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani emphasized Sunday the importance of intertwining the interests of regional countries by focusing on the economy rather than politics to prevent and contain conflicts in the Middle East.

Al-Sudani made the remarks during a symposium of the sixth Baghdad International Dialogue Conference that discussed Iraq's relations with its neighboring countries and the rest of the world, according to a statement by al-Sudani's media office.

Al-Sudani pointed out that "major strategic projects, such as the Development Road Project, will attract partnerships and facilitate the economic integration of the countries of the region," the statement said.

The Iraqi government proposed the Development Road Project, a massive infrastructure project, in May 2023 with the goal of linking southern Iraq to the country's border with Turkiye, from where it will connect to European rail and road networks.

Al-Sudani also said that Iraq is pursuing a balanced foreign policy by refraining from aligning with alliances or axes, according to the statement.

He said Iraq is open to strengthening relations with everyone, stressing that Iraq rejects its territory being used as an arena for settling scores between rival countries. 
Paulina Reyes, with Immigrant Defenders Law Center, explains to migrants that they will be taken to another transit center. Many took a free bus to the airport, where they were able to book flights or plan their next move. (Ana Ramirez/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)
From left, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo attend a joint news conference with Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau and Italy's Prime Minister Meloni following their meeting in Kyiv on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
Off to Michigan, Haley is staying in the race despite Trumps easy primary win in South Carolina

Off to Michigan, Haley is staying in the race despite Trumps easy primary win in South Carolina View Photo

TROY, Mich. (AP)  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says its not the end of our story despite Donald Trumps easy primary victory in South Carolina, her home state where the onetime governor had long suggested her competitiveness with the former president would show.

Defying calls from South Carolina Republicans to exit the race, Haley traveled Sunday to Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday, speaking to a hotel ballroom packed with hundreds of supporters.

In the less than 24 hours following her Saturday night loss to Trump, Haleys campaign said that she had raised $1 million from grassroots supporters alone, a bump they argued demonstrates Haleys staying power and her appeal to broad swaths of the American public.

But with Sunday also came the end of support for Haleys campaign from Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the powerful Koch network.

In a memo first reported by Politico and obtained by The Associated Press, AFP Action senior adviser Emily Seidel wrote that, while the group stands firm behind our endorsement of Haley, it would focus our resources where we can make the difference, redirecting spending toward U.S. Senate and House campaigns and away from Haleys presidential bid.

Given the challenges in the primary states ahead, we dont believe any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory, Seidel wrote.

AFP Action had endorsed Haleys campaign in November, promising to commit its nationwide coalition of activists  and virtually unlimited funds  to helping her defeat Trump, with door knockers fanning out across early-voting states and sending out dozens of mailers on her behalf.

With his win Saturday in the first-in-the South contest, Trump has now swept every primary or caucus on the GOP early-season calendar that awards delegates. His performances have left little maneuvering room for Haley, his former U.N. ambassador.

I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now, Trump said in a victory night celebration in Columbia.

Haley insists she is sticking around even with the growing pressure to abandon her candidacy and let Trump focus entirely on Democratic President Joe Biden, in a 2020 rematch.

In addition to the rally in vote-rich Oakland County, Michigan, northwest of Detroit on Sunday evening, she scheduled a Monday event in Grand Rapids, a western Michigan Republican hub. Ahead of the first event on Sunday evening, dozens of supporters filed into a Troy hotel ballroom, festooned with campaign signs and featuring a guitar-playing duo to entertain the crowd, rather than Haleys typical classic rock rally playlist, although speakers eventually blared with the campaigns familiar soundtrack.

Taking the stage, Haley gave the roughly half-hour speech typical of her events, although she added a few touches specific to the Michigan audience. Calling Bidens incentivizing of electric vehicle programs corporate welfare, Haley asked attendees in this state where the auto industry is a major economic driver about the unfairness of any requirement to switch to electric.

What about the fact that maybe we all dont want to drive an electric car? Haley asked the crowd, which affirmed her line of questioning. Have you seen how expensive they are?

The Biden administration has voiced a goal of ensuring that EVs make up half of all new car sales by 2030. Last month, the White House announced it was awarding $623 million in grants to states, local governments and tribes to help build an electric vehicle charging network across the nation.

In another tweak to her argument, as she pushes forward through the next batch of states to vote, Haley reiterated her comments from Saturday night that the fact she nearly notched 40% in South Carolina shows the stark percentage of voters who dont favor Trump, something she says would make it hard for him to win the general election.

Hes not going to get that 40% if hes going and calling out my supporters and saying theyre barred permanently from MAGA, Haley said, referencing Trumps comments directed at anyone who funded her campaign. Hes not going to get the 40% by calling them names.

Asa Hutchinson, a Trump critic and former Arkansas governor who dropped out of the GOP presidential race after Iowas leadoff caucuses in January, said he thought Haley should stay in. The challenge is that she did everything she could in South Carolina, he said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union.

Haley has pledged to keep going through at least the batch of primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday. But its got to accelerate because you run into the delegate wall. And the delegate wall is March 5, Hutchinson said. So shes got to prove herself.

South Carolinas most prominent Republicans stood with Trump, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who endorsed him this past week.

To U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, this has always been a primary in name only and that Trump was never in jeopardy of losing to Haley. Fry said Trump would be the GOP nominee and the latest election results were just further validation of that.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Trump ally, said Trump was on a pathway to being able to clinch the nomination by mid-March. I would say the wind is strongly at his back, Abbott told CNN.

Not all voters in South Carolina want Haley to end her campaign.

Irene Sulkowski of Daniel Island said she hoped Haley would soldier on, suggesting the former governor would be a more appealing general election candidate than Trump despite his popularity among the GOP base that powers the primary season.

Theyre not thinking, Who do you want to represent us in the general election? said Sulkowski, an accountant. And they need to have a longer-term view.

___

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writer James Pollard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

By THOMAS BEAUMONT and MEG KINNARD

Associated Press
American Red Cross asking potential blood donors if theyve been vaccinated for COVID: If so, call us first to see if youre still eligible

Social media is abuzz with new claims that the American Red Cross RapidPass app is now asking potential blood donors if they have been "vaccinated" for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) before allowing them to give.

"Have you EVER had a Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine?" allegedly reads Question 79 of RapidPass.

"If you answer 'YES' to this question, please call 1-800-Red Cross (1-800-733-2767) before coming in to donate to determine if this will affect your eligibility," reads the information box below the question.

?The American Red Cross is now asking blood donors if they ever received the Covid vaccine If you answer Yes, they want you to call ahead to see if youre still eligible I thought the vax was safe and effective? What info are they hiding from us? pic.twitter.com/xmEIaHE2gN  DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) February 20, 2024

(Related: Remember back in 2022 when the American Red Cross was caught mixing vaccinated blood with unvaccinated blood at its blood banks?)

American Red Cross confirms giving tainted blood

Another thing that also came to light this week is a video recording of a call between an undercover journalist and an official at the American Red Cross who confirmed that the organization does not separate blood donations based on vaccination status.

Conservative political commentator and media host Steven Crowder shared the video to his X account  watch below:

BREAKING: @RedCross official tells undercover journalist they DO NOT SEPARATE donated blood based on COVID-19 vaccination status; ADMITS unvaccinated recipients can UNWITTINGLY RECEIVE blood from vaccinated donors THIS. IS. INSANE. pic.twitter.com/ZqNTZQXFWQ  Steven Crowder (@scrowder) February 21, 2024

What this means, of course, is that recipients of donor blood from the American Red Cross could be getting injected with tainted, "fully vaccinated" blood without their knowledge.

In an emergency situation such as car accidents where individuals "need blood right away," the American Red Cross representative confirmed, "there is a possibility that you'll be getting vaccinated blood."

When then asked if there is any way a person can know if he or she is receiving unvaccinated blood, the American Red Cross representative said "there isn't any way" to know because the blood is not separated by vaccination status.

The only way a blood donor recipient can know for sure the blood being given is clean is "if they donate for themselves or if they have a family member that's willing to donate for them," the rep further confirmed.

Beyond this, the representative admitted that some people who received Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines" several years ago "are still experiencing some types of symptoms," this being the reason why the RapidPass asks Q79 in the app.

One example that was given was of a fully vaccinated woman who called in to donate blood but was deemed ineligible to do so because she now suffers from persistent ringing in her ears as a side effect of the COVID jabs.

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.

Keep in mind that the American Red Cross relies on the honor system when evaluating the safety and purity of the blood. This means that anyone can say anything before donating and the American Red Cross would be none the wiser.

On X, Dr. Simone Gold and numerous others expressed their concerns about the viability of blood from the American Red Cross.

"Do you still believe this vaccine is 'safe and effective?'" Dr. Gold asked of her followers.

"If vaccinated blood wasn't tainted, the Red Cross wouldn't be inquiring whether you've HAD the vaccines before donating blood  The End," responded another user about the simple answer to all this craziness.

If you have been "vaccinated" for COVID, your blood is tainted. Find out more at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

MSN.com

NaturalNews.com
Betting firm predicts Michelle Obama as possible REPLACEMENT for Joe Biden in November 2024 elections

Former First Lady Michelle Obama could be named as the replacement for President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee for the 2024 presidential election in November, according to a betting company.

According to Newsweek, Betfair has predicted a 69 percent chance of Biden securing the Democratic Party's nomination. The 81-year-old incumbent has already won the party primaries in three states  New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. But concerns about Biden's health, which recent gaffes on his part only bolstered, have prompted speculation about potential personalities who can replace him.

These concerns also followed a report by Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Hur, which centered on how Biden mishandled classified documents after the end of his term as vice president. The special counsel described Biden as an "elderly man with a poor memory"  which the president strongly denied in a press conference. However, the chief executive failed to convince people that his memory was fine after he dubbed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the "president of Mexico." (Related: Biden's gaffes and repeated stumbles spur nervous talks about the 25TH Amendment and Kamala taking over.)

According to Betfair, Obama has an 11 percent chance of replacing Biden. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and former First Lady Hillary Clinton followed Obama in that order. Interestingly, incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris didn't come close to the former first lady's chances  with only 6.3 percent.

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.

Betfair spokesman Sam Rosbottom acknowledged concerns about Biden's mental aptitudes during an interview with Newsweek. "Four years ago at the start of the primary season, Biden wasn't even the favorite for the Democratic nomination, let alone the presidency," he told the outlet. "This time around, things look a lot clearer for the incumbent"

"However, there have been a number of reports and political analysts questioning the competency of the president when it comes to running for another four years. Punters have been backing a number of potential candidates, should [Biden] step down from running."

Ramaswamy: Michelle Obama will replace Biden whether she likes it or not

In January of this year, Obama admitted she is "terrified about what could possibly happen" in the next election during an appearance on Jay Shetty's "On Purpose" podcast. But for former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, she has no say in the matter as Democrats will push her to replace Biden  whether she likes it or not.

"I personally think it's [going to] be Michelle Obama," Ramaswamy told Benny Johnson during an appearance on "The Benny Show" podcast. "People say she doesn't [want to] run, [but] she doesn't have any choice in the matter, really."

"The idea that her choice actually matters? It doesn't matter. These people are puppets, they're pawns. Most of them are coin-operated, either directly or indirectly."

According to the entrepreneur, "the people that control their puppets know what they're doing." He told the Newsmax host: "They will pick the one that maximally sidesteps their Harris problem, which maximizing their odds of pulling a short-term stint that rushed their puppet over the finish line. So if I had to pick today, I think that's who it's [going to] be."

Visit BarackObama.news for more stories about former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Watch Joel Gilbert warns "Bannon's War Room" host Steve Bannon of the Democrats' plan to field Michelle Obama as the party's presidential nominee below.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Michelle, Ma Belle.

Report: Michelle Obama preparing to replace Biden for White House run against Trump.

White House concerned about Biden's DECLINING mental state and Kamala's UNPOPULARITY.

CLAIM: White House quietly pondering replacing Kamala Harris, fessing up about Joe Biden's mental decline.

Biden must be removed, says WV attorney general: Hes an "elderly man with poor memory" who mishandled classified documents.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

Modernity.news

Brighteon.com
Government told doctors to KILL patients just before first COVID lockdown: I watched while this happened

A veteran pharmacist with more than three decades of experience working for the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) says that doctors in Great Britain were told to roll out "just-in-case" killer drugs after learning that a novel disease for which there was no treatment  that disease would later be called the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19)  had "escaped" from China.

Graham Atkinson, also a pharmaceutical industry consultant, decided to quit the profession in October 2021 after witnessing what his country's government was doing by ordering doctors to basically kill patients with drugs like midazolam.

"I watched while this happened," Atkinson recalls about the horrors he saw with his own eyes during that time.

Based on the presumption that there would be outbreaks of the then-novel disease in care homes just prior to the first lockdown in early March 2020, midazolam and other "just-in-case" drugs were being administered to end the lives of possibly infected patients on purpose.

"Lots of things changed nationally in early March," Atkinson added. "The death certification rules were changed. The cremation rules were changed, and the NICE guidelines."

(Related: We just dropped a bombshell report exposing the NHS for lying in its COVID vaccination records  unvaccinated people were marked as "vaccinated.")

Got a patient with COVID? Just kill him

One of the key changes that Atkinson observed was the NICE NG163 guideline, which was changed to allow for those who tested "positive" for COVID to "die more comfortably" with "a good death."

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

"The National Institute for Clinical Excellence ('NICE') is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the UK Department of Health and Social Care ('DHSC')," explains The Expose about the group behind the changes.

"It is an agency of the National Health Service ('NHS') and develops guidance and recommendations on the effectiveness of treatments and medical procedures."

On Oct. 13, 2020, later in the year, NG163 was replaced with NG161, though an archived copy of the former is available on the Wayback Machine.

The "just-in-case" drugs that UK doctors were told to administer to their "COVID-infected" patients are designed to reduce breathing and render the patient unconscious  "and then there are drugs to reduce your anxiety before that," Atkinson explained.

"There are five drugs that are used that are commonly called the 'just-in-case' drugs," Atkinson further said.

"For years, these have been used for cancer patients or maybe somebody with COPD, a respiratory disease, that are ... struggling to breathe, so they get very distressed just before they die. So, there are drugs to help them feel less anxious about not being able to breathe, drugs to reduce their pain, drugs to relax them, and midazolam, as we know, takes away your consciousness."

When used in tandem, in other words, these five drugs basically euthanize the patient, killing them in a more peaceful way.

"It's going to progress you rapidly towards your final days because [your final days are] expected," Atkinson continued.

All of this, mind you, was based on the lie that there were no viable treatments for the novel disease, which the world would later learn is not the case. Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine and other remedies did, in fact, help many patients who thought they had COVID recover without issue.

"We now know all this is false, but what was being told to clinicians at the time was this is a new novel disease," Atkinson said. "Because this was the time when people were being put on ventilators and were expiring rapidly around the world. You know we were all seeing it on our TV."

The COVID "pandemic" will likely go down in history as the worst covert genocide to ever occur. Find out more at Genocide.news.

Sources for this article include:

Expose-News.com

NaturalNews.com

Archive.org
Ludicrous: Black lawyer wants to legalize crimes to eliminate them because criminal behavior is just black culture

A prominent black lawyer-activist suggested legalizing crime to totally eliminate it. He said that blacks are all just criminals at heart and that crime is just "black culture."

In an appearance on MSNBC's Black History and Culture special titled "Black Men in America: Road to 2024" on Feb. 4, civil rights attorney Ben Crump played pool with MSNBC contributor Charles Coleman Jr. and civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton as they discussed police brutality and the Biden administrations justice system.

"We can get rid of all the crime in America overnight, just like that," Crump told his fellow guests. "And people ask how attorney Crump?  change the definition of crime." He added that if one gets to define what conduct is going to be made criminal, then one can predict who the criminals are going to be They made the laws to criminalize our culture  black culture," he said.

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

Crump specializes in civil rights cases and was the attorney for the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

For legal scholar and political scientist Dr. Carol Swain, what Crump said was "problematic" and "ludicrous." "We need laws to be obeyed and we need a public that's informed. And under no circumstances should we redefine crime so that it isn't a crime," Swain told Fox News. "Are we going to redefine murder? Are we going to redefine rape? No, we don't want to go down that path."

She pointed out that these comments from the attorney would only create more hostility between black youths and law enforcement. "What he is saying is false, and it will lead to the loss of Black lives. Unfortunately, people who are not well-educated, or people who have been indoctrinated with Marxism, will believe him, and that will be unfortunate for America," she said.

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Swain, who is also black, said it hurts to admit that there is a disproportionate amount of crime within the back community. In fact, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data shows that blacks committed 46.8 percent of violent crimes and 36 percent of drug crimes in the U.S. in 2022, despite making up only 14.4 percent of the population.

"The argument that the crimes that Black Americans and maybe other minorities are being arrested for, that somehow these are biased, somehow targets them, I think it's ludicrous," she told the news outlet. "In fact, there are some things that they are not being arrested for that I would arrest them for."

Instead of perpetuating rhetoric that breeds more anger and distrust toward authority figures, Swain said prominent figures like Crump should work on finding real solutions to improve the lives of Black Americans.

Crump faces backlash on controversial comment

The said interview gathered various reactions from X, formerly Twitter, users. Some asserted that he probably didnt intend to advocate legalizing crimes, just because they are linked to the black community and he is black.

A commenter replied on the thread: "I mean, this has been the Democrat position for a long time, he's just saying it out loud." Another user pointed out, "They are going to change the DEFINITION of crime... how very 'Democrat thinking' of them." (Related: State of Washington Democrats propose "overreaching" bill prohibiting self-defense weapons in public areas such as bus stops.)

Another one agreed with Crump but emphasized he did not want it in America. "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," free-range naturist Bob Allen tweeted. Another one wanted to give the controversial trial lawyer and his colleagues a chance to prove their words: "Let's hear them out. I want a list of actions that are currently criminal that they want to decriminalize. I'm all ears."

Head over to CultureWars.news for more stories related to this.

Sources for this article include:

Modernity.news

FoxNews.com
 Flash

China's ambassador to Greece stressed the importance of enhanced economic cooperation between Europe and China and emphasized collaboration over competition in a recent interview with Xinhua in Athens.

Ambassador Xiao Junzheng highlighted the significance of cooperation after the 5th Balkans and Black Sea Forum, which brought together 170 representatives from international organizations, governments, diplomatic missions and businesses engaged in discussions on geopolitics, regional cooperation and Mediterranean port hubs in Athens last week.

"There are indeed unsolved problems regarding China-EU trade, but generally speaking, cooperation between our two sides is much more important than competition, and consensus far outweighs differences," the ambassador told Xinhua.

Xiao emphasized that China, like Europe, is a creator, beneficiary and defender of the existing international order. Both sides support multipolarity and oppose bloc confrontation, the new Cold War, decoupling and severing supply chains.

China advocates advancing a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, which is responding to the common needs of all countries and realizing win-win situations as much as possible, he added.

According to Eurostat, the total trade volume between the EU and China in 2022 surged by 23 percent, reaching 856.3 billion euros (910.6 billion U.S. dollars), with China being the EU's largest import source and the third-largest export destination.

So far, China and EU have established more than 70 consultation and dialogue mechanisms, he added.

Regarding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the ambassador said the EU's Global Gateway strategy is not contradictory to China's initiative.

Highlighting the success of the China-Greece collaboration under BRI, Xiao mentioned the Port of Piraeus as a signature project. Through joint efforts, the port has become a major European port and the leading port in the Mediterranean, breaking operating performance records from 2021 to 2023.

China and Europe "can explore in-depth strategic alignment, which will complement each other's advantages, conduct trilateral cooperation in Africa and thus promoting global development," he said.

According to data released last year, Belt and Road cooperation has galvanized up to 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment globally and created more than 3,000 projects and 420,000 jobs for the participating countries in the past decade.

The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investments could lift 7.6 million out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty.

Xiao also suggested discussions on building a multidimensional connectivity network between China and Europe, creating conditions for a new logistics corridor across the Eurasian continent.

The Belt and Road cooperation is not what some countries call a "Trojan horse" but an international cooperation platform based on extensive consultation, and joint contribution for shared benefits, serving to promote the building of a community of shared future, said the ambassador.
Customers buy socks at a shop at the Datang subdistrict in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

An employee arranges socks at a shop at the Datang subdistrict in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Workers are busy with orders for export in a workshop of a sock company at the Datang subdistrict in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

This photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024 shows sock shops at the Datang subdistrict in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Intelligent machines produce socks in a workshop of a sock company in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Intelligent machines produce socks in a workshop of a sock company in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

An employee arranges socks at an exhibition hall of a sock company at the Datang subdistrict in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

An employee of a sock company draws a sock design in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A woman walks past an exhibition wall of a sock company in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Workers are busy with orders for export in a workshop of a sock company at the Datang subdistrict in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 24, 2024.

Production lines of sock companies in east China's Zhuji City, dubbed as "the sock capital," are operating at full swing to meet the orders.

As the world's largest sock manufacturing base, the Datang sub-district of Zhuji in Zhejiang Province produces approximately 25 billion pairs of socks yearly, accounting for more than 70 percent of the output of China and one-third of the whole world. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
You dont copy the losers; a provisional list of institutions and individuals who pushed zero COVID

A partial list of institutions and individuals who pushed the pernicious idea that you could suppress or eradicate SARS-CoV-2 with social measures follows.

(Article by Tom Jefferson and Carl Heneghan republished from TrustTheEvidence.Substack.com)

Some of them have since apologised, but most of them are carrying on, pretending nothing happened, all is sweetness and light, the birds are singing in the trees, pigs are flying, and hopefully, they think we will all forget what they instigated.

Listing on this post is not dictated by the fact that some of the names launched personal attacks on us; we are not the Count of Monte Cristo out for revenge.

We include the names because, despite their impressive credentials (in some cases), it was quite clear to us by 8 April 2020, that zero covid was pie in the sky  poisoned pie. You cannot suppress an endemic respiratory virus, at least not until you have understood its ecology and routes of transmission. Neither of these boxes has been ticked.

Read more: COVID-19  The Tipping Point, The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, 8 April 2020

The acceptance or pushing of this folly had two catastrophic consequences.

First, it gave backing to restrictions.

Second, some or most created a witch hunt climate in which few people felt like knuckling down and studying what was going on, thus missing the golden opportunities the situation presented to solve some of the riddles.

Third, those listed below showed crass ignorance of respiratory viral epidemiology and they are likely to approach other topics with the same facile attitude in the future: small hands, long tongue. So here we go in no particular order (with thanks to the source in brackets):

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.

Devi Sridhar, Public Health Professor Tom Frieden, Former CDC Director Jerome Adams, Former Surgeon General Bill Gates, Software developer Anthony Fauci, NIH Director Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director Eric Feigl-Ding Michael Osterholm, Infectious Disease Professor Ian Mackay, Virologist Angela Rasmussen, Virologist Ellie Murray, Epidemiology Professor Lisa Iannattone, Dermatology Professor David Fisman, Public Health Professor Irfan Dhalla, Medical Professor Christina Pagel, Operational Research Professor Zoe Hyde, Epidemiologist Isaac Bogoch, Infectious Disease Physician Tomas Ryan, Neuroscientist Susan Michie, Health Psychology Professor Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star Columnist Yaneer Bar-Yam, Physicist Mike Gibbs, Ontario Ministry of Health Deepti Gurdasani, Epidemiologist Brian Goldman, ER MD The New York Times Editorial Board Jacobin Magazine John Ross, China lobbyist Chen Weihua, China Daily EU Bureau Chief James Palmer, Foreign Policy Magazine Deputy Director Peter Daou, Democratic Campaign Strategist Erica Joy, CTO at Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Dr. Oz Jason Silverstein, Medical Professor Yoni Freedhoff, Medical Professor Zubaida Haque, Equality Trust Director Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria, Australia Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia Diane Abbott, MP Timm Bruch, CTV Reporter Shafi Ahmed, Medical Professor Abe Oudshoorn, Nursing Professor Ananyo Bhattacharya, Science Writer Bloomberg Opinion Brendan Crabb, Microbiologist Luke Bailey, iPaper Editor Paul Bongiorno, Saturday Paper Columnist Dirk Devroey, Medical Professor Emily Deans, Psychiatrist Ximena Gonzalez, Freelance WriterOmar Ghraieb, Oxfam Policy and Campaigns Officer Zoe Daniel, Australian Politician Diederik Gommers, Chairman of the Dutch association for ICU doctors Jay Beecher, Investigative Journalist Femi Oluwole, Writer at The Independent Jennifer Gunter, OB/GYN Cheri DiNovo, Canadian Politician Malgorzata Gasperowicz, Developmental Biologist Andrew Gaffney, Sports Writer Andreas Eenfeldt, CEO at Diet Doctor Quentin Dempster, Journalist Simon Houpt, Writer at Globe and Mail Issa Lopez, Film Director Rhys Jones, Public Health Doctor Emmett Macfarlane, Political Science Professor Bartley Kives, CBC Reporter Jane Merrick, iPaper Policy Editor Virginia Heffernan, Wired Columnist Brian Klaas, Global Politics Professor Andrea Horwath, Canadian Politician Judy Melinek, Forensic Pathologist Chico Harlan, Washington Post Bureau Chief Julien Mercille, Geography and Environment Policy Professor Paul Mason, Journalist Margaret Morgan, Filmmaker Mary-Margaret McMahon, UK Politician Steven Newman, Floriculture Professor Don Moynihan, Public Policy Professor Neel Kashkari, President at Minneapolis Federal Reserve Kai Kupferschmidt, Science Journalist Shannon Palus, Editor at Slate Umbereen S Nehal, Founder at Nehal Group LLC Jonathan S Perkins, UCLA Director of Race and Equity Tyler Watt, Public Health Nurse Tony Blakely, Epidemiologist at Melbourne University Alfons Lopez Tena, Spanish Politician Tara C Smith, Infectious Disease Professor Andre Picard, Globe and Mail Health Journalist Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post Columnist Michael Schull, Medical Professor Stefanie Leder, TV Writer/Producer Diana Z Berrent, Founder at Survivor Corp Asa Winstanley, Investigative Journalist Jeff Sharlet, Author Bell Ribeiro-Addy, UK Politician Claudia Webbe, UK Politician Bruce Hawker, Political Commentator Alheli Picazo, Freelance Writer Charlie Stross, Author George Aylett, UK Politician Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust Brianna Wu, Executive Director at Rebellion PAC The Nation

17. Scientific consensus on the COVID-19 pandemic: we need to act now. Published online 14 October 2020, The Lancet (see image below).

Signatories of the John Snow memorandum; more than 6,900 scientists, researchers & healthcare professionals. Endorsers of the John Snow memorandum Honourable mention to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Coronavirus, chaired by Member of Parliament Layla Moran. A group that has now folded despite being well-funded. [For a list of members see HERE and an archive of the website on the Wayback Machine HERE.] Conservative MP Dan Poulter, vice-chair of the APPG on coronavirus, said:

The OECD data is very concerning and helps show the danger of thinking that the coronavirus pandemic presents us with a binary choice between saving the economy or saving lives. This is a false dichotomy, and the truth is that minimising community transmission will allow a faster and stronger economic recovery. This is why the APPG on coronavirus has been pushing government to aim to reduce Covid-19 transmission to as close to zero as possible in preparation for the difficult winter months ahead. Saving lives or UK economy from Covid a false choice, MPs warn , The Guardian, 26 August 2020

21. Depressingly, even Sponge Bob pushed for lockdown.
Missouri city declares itself an LGBT SANCTUARY

A city in the state of Missouri has declared itself an LGBT sanctuary through an ordinance, making it a safe haven for members of the LGBT community.

In a 6-1 vote, members of the Columbia City Council voted to make the city an "LGBTQ Safe Haven" on Feb. 20. According to KRCG 13 reporter Mark Slavit, the ordinance sought to ensure LGBT individuals, families, and establishments "felt safe within the community." Moreover, the Columbia Daily Tribune also mentioned that the ordinance includes language "referencing potential future state laws barring bathroom access for transgender individuals or public drag performances."

"Public comment on  [the] ordinance lasted nearly 3 hours with more support for the measure than (the) opposition," Slavit continued. Meanwhile, the Tribune said comments against the ordinance cited city protections already in place and warned of state law being potentially skirted. Moreover, opponents also cited that the ordinance could seemingly create special protected classes.

"This ordinance is not merely a political statement or gesture of performant tokenism," Mid-Missouri Pride Fest spokesman Joe Jefferies told the city council. "It is a vital step toward safeguarding the human rights of queer [city residents], enabling them to thrive safely within Columbia's city limits."

Two city council members who voted in favor of the measure spoke to the Columbia Missourian about their vote. "A couple of folks  had mentioned that [passing] this [ordinance] is the bare minimum, and I have to agree," said Councilman Nick Foster, who represents Columbia's fourth ward.

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.

Councilman Roy Lovelady, who represents the city's third ward, explicitly wore a Rainbow Pride pin during the session. Lovelady, who is a drag queen himself, explained that he wanted everyone "to feel safe" while in the city. (Related: LGBT PERVERSION: Gov. Tim Walz signs EO making Minnesota a sanctuary and refuge state for doctors to chemically and surgically mutilate children.)

Lone dissenter says ordinance isn't necessary

Councilman Don Waterman, who represents the city's fifth ward, was the lone dissenting vote. "I would wholeheartedly support a resolution, but an ordinance, I dont see the need for it," he said. "That said, this ordinance for me is not really necessary  [and] I base that on several things."

According to Waterman, Columbia was already considered a safe haven by some who came there, and the new ordinance cannot impact state laws that are already in place. He also added that he doesn't see how the new ordinance will change the hearts and minds of residents.

KCRG 13 also mentioned that Waterman and the other council members heard complaints from transgenders about trouble in public bathrooms and bullying. However, the fifth ward councilman remarked that the newly passed ordinance won't prevent those problems.

"Bullying is something that's happened throughout history. It continues to happen, unfortunately," said Waterman. "A piece of paper is not going to stop bullying."

Some community members also thought the ordinance was unnecessary. Pastor Tom Leuther of the Family Worship Center also expressed opposition to the ordinance during the Feb. 20 city council session.

"We don't have to reinvent the wheel," he addressed the attendees and the city authorities. "We already have a good wheel going here in a safe community."

Head over to GayMafia.news for similar stories.

Watch Breanna Morello talk about the arrest of 19-year-old Dylan Brewer for allegedly "defacing" a Rainbow Pride mural on an intersection in Delray Beach, Florida below.

This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Accessory to murder: Oakland to become a "sanctuary city" for baby killers.

Chicago declares itself a 'sanctuary city' for abortion, transgender surgeries.

Missouri becomes first state to crack down on transgender mutilation of adults and children.

California "sanctuary city" protects self-admitted MURDERER and illegal alien who killed innocent woman.

TORCHED 'EM: Missouri secretary of state candidate uses flamethrower to burn "GROOMING" books in viral video.

Sources include:

En-Volve.com

KRCGTV.com

ColumbiaTribune.com

ColumbiaMissourian.com

Brighteon.com
NYC out of control  giant short!

NYC is totally out of control. These bogus charges were never brought against anyone, and there was no victim. This definition of fraud can be applied now to anyone in NYC. This is obviously an attempt to interfere in the 2024 election, for if Trump had not run for president, there would have been no such charges.

(Article republished from ArmstrongEconomics.com)

New York is just so UNAMERICAN you cant make this up. This radical Attorney General not only has Trump BARRED from running his own company, but they also appointed a former organized-crime prosecutor to manage the Trump Organization who has no business capability. The state is attempting to seize total control of the financial assets of Trump without a jury trial to shut him down to prevent him from running for office. Trump was denied the right to defend himself before a jury. They did that to my company, Princeton Economics. Their agent/receiver fired all the staff and then moved to shut it down. Then, their appointed receiver became a board member of Goldman Sachs while running my company from their boardroom. This was also all without any right to a jury trial.

They alleged that $1 billion was missing. When I told them the bank stole the money, they said they believed the bank. Yet there was never any evidence that I had withdrawn money, and in the end, the bank had to plead guilty and repay my clients. Still, they used a fake allegation to seize Princeton Economics. They shut down all forecasting, which was their covert goal, and made up allegations that NOT one member of the press questions except Mark Pittman of Bloomberg News, whom they promptly barred from writing about what they were doing. Trump is getting the same treatment.

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.

Welcome to NYC  not the Big Apple  the sewer of legal corruption.

Trump needs to file bankruptcy in Florida.

That will move all his assets to Florida, and then he can save his companies.

DO THAT NOW ASAP!

Then, SELL Everything in New York City.

NO court in New York will EVER uphold the Law.

Legally, it would require the Supreme Court to Intervene.

This is so outrageous; I fear that Trumps case will be the catalyst for the decline and fall of the United States. We cannot possibly stand united as a nation under such an outrageous legal system. When the rule of law collapses like this, no nation has ever survived long throughout history. We can now see 2032 coming and why the computer has forecasted that there may not even be a 2028 election. They need to stop Trump because they are taking us to War, canceling the paper money, and taxing everything we do for climate change. At the same time, the WHO orders lockdowns and mandatory vaccines as they surrender our sovereignty.

New York City is Completely Out of Control

The integrity of assets is seriously under question. My sincere advice to Trump is to sell all of your NYC assets and get the HELL OF NYC! Nobody should invest in anything in New York City, for there is no rule of law and, even worse, no separation of powers. It is a political dictatorship that you cannot fight for. NO judge in New York City will defend the Constitution and go against their peers.

While the trucker known as Chicago Ray started calling on truckers to boycott NYC, all they have to do is target someone, and they will routinely use taxes to go after innocent people as well as journalists if they do not cooperate. Chicago Ray has backed down yet, claiming, No ones got to me  I heard what drivers were saying, and Im hearing some of that today; I aint scared of st. I met a former executive from the NY Post who they put in prison because he would not yield to the Deep State. He explained they call with a favor, and if you do not comply, they come after you personally. In his case, they claimed he hired people who did not show up to work. New York City is beyond hope.

SELL NEW YORK NOW

I warned that Trump would NEVER get a fair trial in New York City  I have NEVER seen anyone EVER get a fair trial in New York City. When my case began, they brought it to New York when the accounts were in Philadelphia. They claimed there was the COMEX for the venue, so that was good enough even though currencies traded in Chicago. When my lawyer heard they filed the case in New York City, he said oh shit. I asked what was the problem. He said you dont understand. New York practices law differently. Boy, did I find out.

Judges can alter the transcripts and change the words you speak in court. The Court of Appeals ruled they did not have the power to order the judges to obey the law (see UNITED STATES V. ZICHETTELLO 208 F3d 72 (2d Cir 2000) at page 97). A federal statute 18 U.S. Code  1519 defines that as a felony with 20 years in prison. I forced Judge Owen to admit he was altering my transcripts, and the DOJ would not indicate him; the Court of Appeals lost my appeal THREE TIMES and then said I was out of time. The ONLY reason they released me was because the Supreme Court agreed to take my case. So they released me and told the Supreme Court the case was moot. Otherwise, I would have died in solitary confinement.

Remember MF Global. That is when Judge Martin Glenn seized the assets of all clients to protect the banks that Jon Corzine was trading with. The trustee overseeing MF Globals liquidation eventually confirmed that the amount of customers funds from the failed brokerage was at least $1.6 billion. This was the biggest financial crime, perhaps in history, far worse than Madoff. This is the outright theft of client funds sanctioned by the court, which protected all the bankers. Nobody was being called to account because MF Global, which was headed by former Goldman Sachs CEO, Senator, and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, was also protected. The clients funds were illegally seized by the NY court and were used to cover the losses to the bankers completely in violation of the law.

This collapse was the eighth-largest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history. Corzine was never charged because he was one of them  a Democrat. The US Regulators investigated only whether MF Global tapped into client money from clients accounts as its financial condition worsened. They are ignoring the fact that it was trading with client money before the last few days. Brokerage Houses are required to keep customer money separate from the firms money, but that was simply not being enforced in the instant case. This is why having an account with a NY entity is highly dangerous  there is no rule of law in NYC.

As an astute lawyer wrote in about New York, he correctly pointed out that there is no rule of law, for it is a corrupt city with a connection-based society, not a contract-based society. Contracts mean nothing in New York, and this is why no bankers ever go to prison there. The courts will always rule against people for political objectives.

In 1951, NY executed an innocent woman they KNEW was innocent. It was April 5th, 1951, when Julius Rosenberg (1918-1953) and his 35-year-old wife Ethel (1915-1953) were sentenced to death using this Espionage Act. Today, everyone concedes that his wifes crime was simply being married to Julius. The prosecutors charged her, thinking it would force him to give up his contacts, which he never did, most likely because he had none.

A co-defendant of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Morton Sobell (1917-2018), admitted for the first time that he was a Soviet spy on his deathbed at 91 after serving 30 years in prison but also made it clear that Ethel was innocent. Sobell passed military secrets to the Communists in World War II when the nations were still allies, he told the New York Times. Sobell, who served 18 years for espionage, said Julius did pass secrets, but Ethel, executed with her husband in 1953, was guilty of nothing more than being Mrs. Rosenberg.

Under our legal system, the Jury can nullify the conviction using common sense based on their own sense of justice. Our corrupt judges will never instruct the jury that they have that power. The JURY can refuse to follow the corrupt law and acquit a defendant even when the evidence presented seems to point to an incontrovertible verdict of guilt. Personally, I think the Jury should be told that they have the power to nullify a conviction as well as to direct charges and reprimand the prosecutor in such a case for his abuse of power.

All I can say is GET THE HELL OUT OF NYC before there is NO BID!

Its a Sanctuary City, and Taxes will Only Rise to Pay for the onslaught of uneducated illegal migrants.

Read more at: ArmstrongEconomics.com
Report: Nikki Haleys presidential campaign backed by more than 5,200 Biden donors

The presidential campaign of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley appears to be backed by more than 5,200 donors who contributed to President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign

An analysis of Haley's most recent fundraising report filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Feb. 20 by POLITICO revealed this finding. It found that more than 5,200 donors to Biden have backed Haley financially, including 1,600 who gave more than $500,000 in January alone. The report filed with the FEC also listed a total of 123,000 "large-dollar" donors to Haley's entire campaign.

"In total, Haley's campaign raised $11.5 million and spent $13.1 million last month, according to the report. That makes January  the month of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary  her highest-grossing month so far as she emerged as the sole Republican challenger to [former President Donald] Trump," POLITICO continued. "Her campaign reported having just shy of $13 million in the bank as of Jan. 31, compared to more than $30 million cash on hand reported by Trump's campaign."

But according to the National Pulse's Jack Montgomery, Haley's campaign continuing to be bankrolled despite her losses to Trump in Iowa and New Hampshire is worth pointing out. This, he noted, lends credence to Trump's contention that she is only remaining in the GOP primary race to try and damage her former boss ahead of the November general election. Haley served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration.

The former South Carolina governor previously received hundreds of thousands of dollars from LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. The executive chairman of the corporate networking platform gained notoriety for his visits to Little St. James Island, the former home of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Related: LinkedIn founder REGRETS interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.)

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.

"While I am a staunch supporter of Biden and hope he will win a second term, I also provided financial support to Haley's super-PAC [because] my first priority is to defeat Trump. The GOP primary is the first of two chances to do so," Hoffman explained back in December. However, the LinkedIn founder dropped Haley after her defeat in New Hampshire as he realized that she was no longer a viable means of stopping Trump.

DARK MONEY also bankrolling Haley's campaign

The former South Carolina governor's campaign is also being linked to a dark money group known for donating to Democratic causes. One of Haley's senior staffers is allegedly the missing link between the presidential candidate and this dark money group.

Trump himself exposed this deception in a Jan. 20 speech days before the Jan. 23 primary in New Hampshire. He even cited a report by the Washington Examiner about this revelation.

The former president asked the crowd: "Haley's state director in New Hampshire, listen carefully  Tyler Clark. Did anyone ever hear of him?"

"He was a lobbyist for the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which is managed by Arabella Advisors  the largest Democrat dark money network in the country, and considered Public Enemy No. 1. That's who's managing her campaign. Does that tell you something, perhaps?"

The DeSantis War Room account on X also posted about the revelation. It wrote: "Haley's campaign is not only funded by Democrats, it's run by Democrats too. [Her] New Hampshire director lobbied for dark money giant that helped Biden win [the rigged] 2020 election."

Visit VoteRepublican.news for more stories about Nikki Haley's presidential campaign.

Watch former President Donald Trump explain to Newsmax's Rob Schmitt that Nikki Haley "is being supported by Democrats" below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump: Haley donors will be PERMANENTLY BARRED from MAGA camp.

95% of donations from Silicon Valley Big Tech employees have gone to Joe Biden.

Joe Biden's presidential campaign receiving MILLIONS from dark money groups.

Matrixxx Grooove: Nikki Haley's presidential campaign is backed by Democratic DARK MONEY  Brighteon.TV.

LinkedIn co-founder and major Dem donor has visited Epstein island, recently donated $250,000 to Nikki Haley super PAC.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

POLITICO.com

Brighteon.com
Texas liberates island near U.S.-Mexico border occupied by criminal cartels

The Texas National Guard and the state's Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently announced that they have successfully regained control of an island near the southern border, which served as a "haven" for Mexican cartels of drugs and weapons.

Fronton Island, situated in the Rio Grande in Texas' Starr County, was taken back last November. In a recent appearance at Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria Bartiromo," Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said she recently returned from the island she described as being "on the most violent part of the border."

It was a site of automatic gunfire and continuous violence, she added. According to her, the "densely wooded" 170-acre island "provided concealment for trans-national criminal activity" and both Texas and Mexican cartels claimed occupancy of the land before it was seized.

"They had literally a safe haven to stash weapons, drugs and people," she added. "Tons and tons of migrants coming across."

She also said that Texas officials discovered explosive devices and weapons illegal for civilians to own in the United States, as well as a "massive amount of drugs that could kill every man, woman or child a couple of times over." She was referring to fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an analgesic and anesthetic. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more than heroin as an analgesic.

Buckingham confirmed the seizure of the island and said that DPS and the military have already installed razor wire fences that have similarly been placed in high-volume migrant areas like Shelby Park. "I can tell you there are no more weapons caches and people coming across [the border]," she 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, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the said work already being done on the 80-acre military facility. It would provide some 1,800 soldiers to better defend the southern border from illegal migrants.

"This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas military department personnel in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and more efficiently," Abbott said. He added that the camp will be constructed in phases of 300 beds every 30 days with the first phase expected to be completed by April, head of the Texas Military Department Maj. General Suelzer said. The complex will include three command posts, weapons storage rooms and a helicopter pad, he said.

Abbott: Texas has the constitutional right to defend itself

During Buckingham's interview on Fox, it was tackled how Texas has been standing on its own and protecting the state from invasion despite federal rulings and President Joe Biden's "weak" border security policies. (Related: Texas showdown with the federal government continues as Gov. Abbott says state is "prepared" to handle potential Biden federalization of state national guard.)

According to her, Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution provides: "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."

"Texas has been standing in the gap that the federal government has created," Buckingham said, reminding the audience that when Biden inherited the border he inherited the most secure border America has ever had. But then, days after he assumed office, he already reversed former President Donald Trump's orders leading to the most "insecure" border ever.

Meanwhile, a New York Post article written by Abbott said that Texas is now leading the fight, with the help of governors from across the country, to do the job that Biden has failed to do.

"We will continue to build barriers that deny illegal entry into our state, arrest immigrants that cross illegally, and fulfill our duty to secure our border," he wrote. "Just like our Founding Fathers, we will illustrate to Americans exactly what our great constitution provides, and how its structure empowers the states as well as the federal government to preserve the safety and well-being of every American. We are the inheritors of a responsibility first recognized by our brave ancestors more than 235 years ago. As long as we must, we will defend our state, and this nation, from grievous threats to our border."

BoderSecurity.news contains more stories on Texas' aggressive efforts in protecting the borders from invasion.

Watch the video below that talks about Biden's approval ratings nosediving due to the border crisis.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Abbott's DEFIANCE paying off: Border Patrol data reveals 60% of illegal crossings along southern border are now taking place in California and Arizona.

The treacherous U.S. federal government has entirely abandoned its duty to defend states against INVASION is it time to form a NEW union?

Texas lieutenant governor discusses possibility of civil war breaking out over migration crisis.

Texas Rangers, Border Patrol reclaim Rio Grande island previously used as base of operations by Mexican drug cartels.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
Utahs Sovereignty Act now allows state to ignore, overrule unconstitutional federal actions

New legislation that was signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox on January 31 in the state of Utah allows the Beehive State to reject, override or otherwise nullify federal rules and decisions with which it disagrees

The Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act establishes a legal framework for the state's legislature to prohibit the enforcement of any federal directive that is deemed to violate the principles of state sovereignty in Utah. It also contains detailed descriptions of such violations and what they might look like.

Furthermore, the legislation limits the authority for requesting a concurrent resolution to the bill. It also requires the legislature to consult with the state attorney general regarding the potential impact of any concurrent resolution on litigation, including notice provisions that are to be made to tribal governments throughout Utah concerning any changes.

"Balancing power between state and federal sovereignty is an essential part of our constitutional system," Gov. Cox said in a statement. "This legislation gives us another way to push back on federal overreach and maintain that balance."

(Related: A Utah-based company called Blackrock Neurotech claims to have already microchipped at least 50 people, turning them into trans-humans.)

What about the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause?

Not everyone is in agreement with the Utah Constitutional State Sovereignty legislation, including law professor Robert Keiter from the University of Utah's SJ Quinney College of Law who argues its U.S. constitutionality.

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 Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution states that federal laws override state laws whenever they contradict.

"This sends the message  and the Utah legislature is famous for sending messages of this sort  that it's unhappy with the federal government," Keiter told CNN. "(And it's) expressing that in a way that is constitutionally problematic."

Offering a contrary opinion, Utah Sen. Scott Sandall, one of the bill's sponsors, said he hopes the legislation will spread to other states.

"I think any state should be looking at adopting this," Sandall told CNN. "Don't you want a real organized way in your state to vet these things and look and say, 'Where is the federal government overreaching?' No matter which party or which ideology you espouse, this could be helpful in any state, in my opinion."

"Our attorneys have indicated to me that the process that's in place is constitutional. It doesn't have a constitutional (issue) simply because it's a process. Any kind of resolution may or may not be deemed constitutional."

One of the issues that the Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act does aim to fight is the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "good neighbor" rule, which aims to regulate smog and other pollution that travels across state lines. In short, Utah does not want to have to cut down on smog that passes across state lines to neighboring states that do not want that smog within their borders.

What we are seeing happen regardless of the existence of laws such as this one is states bucking the feds regardless of alleged constitutionality, and letting the Supreme Court decide on the matter later. Gov. Greg Abbott is doing it in Texas with the border wire fiasco, and Colorado is doing it by disqualifying Donald Trump from its 2024 election ballot.

"States have a right, albeit a foolish one, to attempt to disqualify Trump," reported Mish Talk. "But it's foolish to think they will succeed."

"We still do not have a ruling, but there is no doubt which way it will roll."

As for the controversial Utah legislation, it could go either way. Either way, it still sends a message, which is what the Utah legislature is aiming to do.

More related news about state-level pushback against tyrannical federal actions can be found at Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

MishTalk.com

NaturalNews.com
Nocturnal tornadoes can threaten portions of the central and eastern US, with possible severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. People with travel plans should stay updated with the weather to avoid challenging weather conditions.

The last week of February is expected to bring troublesome weather conditions to portions of the U.S. Americans struggled against challenging weather conditions, with a chance of severe thunderstorms, winter storms, flooding rainfall, and flash flood risks.

The National Weather Service (NWS) advisory reported that a significant winter storm could impact parts of the Western US this early week. Homeowners should stay alert for heavy snow and hazardous travel conditions.

In addition, the NWS advisory showed that light rain conditions could emerge in the Ohio Valley and Carolinas. NWS monitors a potential cold front this late week, bringing snowy conditions to the Rockies and Cascades.

In eastern and central US, homeowners should watch out for possible nocturnal tornadoes that could cause significant damage to trees, powerlines, infrastructure and homes.

Severe Thunderstorms and Nocturnal Tornadoes in Eastern and Central US

The latest weather forecast showed that damaging winds and severe thunderstorms could impact the central and eastern US. The troublesome weather outlook could impact the Great Plains, Tennessee Valleys and Mississippi.

On Tuesday or Wednesday, the severe thunderstorm threat could emerge, bringing severe risk and travel disruption. People traveling this week should watch out for travel concerns and delays.

In the early week, the poor weather conditions are expected in the following areas:

Chicago

Columbus

Louisville

Nashville

Birmingham

Little Rock

Meanwhile, a colder weather outlook is forecast in Minneapolis, Omaha, Rapid City, Wichita and Lubbock. On the other hand, warm and humid conditions could emerge in Houston and New Orleans.

In the middle week, homeowners should anticipate possible isolated tornadoes, hail and damaging wind gusts in the following areas:

Little Rock

Springfield

St. Louis

Little Rock

Cincinnati

Fort Wayne

Shreveport

High Plains of Texas

In addition, the forecast warned that residents in Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan are vulnerable to severe weather conditions, causing slower commutes and power outages. The nocturnal tornadoes can become challenging during at night.

On Wednesday, the severe thunderstorm threat could spread over the following areas:

Columbus

Pittsburgh

Charleston

Knoxville

Nashville

Memphis

Roanoke

Birmingham

Next week, the retreating warmth is forecast in the following areas:

Des Moines

Columbus

New York

Norfork

Atlanta

Memphis

New Orleans

Houston

Oklahoma City

Odessa

New York

In New York, the forecast showed that cooler-than-normal temperatures are likely. The warming outlook will likely spread early next week, with a potential milder outlook.

Also Read: Central US Weather Forecast: Severe Thunderstorms, Isolated Tornadoes To Hit This Week

Staying Safe From Nocturnal Tornadoes and Severe Thunderstorms

The forecast warned of severe thunderstorms and nocturnal tornadoes next week. Slower commutes and power outages are likely in the affected areas.

Homeowners should keep updated with the weather. Preparing emergency kits is also advisable to keep safe from severe thunderstorms.



Related Article: NWS Weather Forecast: Light Snow to Impact Upper Midwest, Northern New England

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World New
ROME, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Italian government on Saturday announced a bilateral support agreement with Ukraine ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders' meeting under Italy's presidency.

Both events were held on Saturday as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine reached its second anniversary.

The security partnership with a 10-year mandate between Rome and Kiev includes cooperation in defense, economy, infrastructure and energy, and humanitarian support, among other fields, Italian media reported.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that security and support for Ukraine will be among the main priorities under the G7 mandate. She was among a small group of world leaders who traveled to Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, to commemorate the second anniversary of the conflict.

"We reiterate the centrality of Ukraine to the agenda of Italy's G7 presidency and 360 degrees of Italy's assistance to Kiev, starting from reconstruction and in security matters," Meloni said on Saturday from Antonov Airport near the Ukrainian capital, according to Italian media reports.

In addition to Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the unusual G7 meeting outside the territory of the host country in person, with leaders from other members of the group -- Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States -- participating via video link.

Other leaders in Kiev on Saturday included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country is holding the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) Council. The EU is a "non-enumerated member" of the G7.

The next meeting on the calendar under Italy's G7 presidency is the minister-level gathering on industry and digital technology in the northern Italian cities of Verona and Trento on March 13-15. The centerpiece of the Italian G7 presidency will be the summit of heads of state and government to be held in the southern Italian region of Apulia in June. 
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.
BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The value of China's privately offered funds stood at 20.33 trillion yuan (about 2.86 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of January 2024, industrial data showed.

A breakdown of this total revealed that equity investment funds, with a total worth of 11.07 trillion yuan, formed the largest category, followed by securities investment funds and venture investment funds, according to the Asset Management Association of China.

The number of registered privately offered funds had stood at 153,756 by the end of January.

Established in 2012, the association is a self-regulatory organization that represents China's mutual fund industry. 
One day following the shareholders decision to oust Byju Raveendran, the CEO and founder of the ed-tech firm Byjus, Raveendran asserted in a letter to employees that rumours of his dismissal from Byjus are inaccurate.

In a message to employees, the 44-year-old entrepreneur characterised Fridays extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders as a farce and asserted that reports of his dismissal from Byjus were greatly exaggerated and highly inaccurate.

I am writing this letter to you as the CEO of our company. Contrary to what you may have read in the media, I continue to remain CEO, the management remains unchanged, and the board remains the same, he said.

The claims made by a small group of select minority shareholders that they have unanimously passed the resolution in the EGM is completely wrong. Only 35 out of 170 shareholders (representing around 45% of shareholding) voted in favour of the resolution. That in itself shows the very limited support that this irrelevant meeting received, Raveendran told employees.

Just as you cant change the rules of a game midway without agreement from all players, we cant alter how our company is run without following these strict guidelines, he added.

Byjus shareholders on Friday voted unanimously to remove founder CEO Raveendran and his family from the board over alleged mismanagement and failures at what was once Indias hottest tech startup, but the company dug in its heels, calling the voting done in absence of founders as invalid and ineffective.

Founder CEO Raveendran, his wife and brother  the only three members on company board as of now  stayed away from the EGM called by a group of six investors, who collectively hold more than 32 per cent in Think & Learn (T&L), the firm that operates online tution platform Byjus.

In the end, more than 60 per cent of the shareholders voted in favour of all the seven resolutions, which included removing the current management, reconfiguration of the board and a third party forensic investigation into acquisitions done by the company, sources close to the investors said.

However, sources close to Byjus put the number at 47 per cent, news agency PTI reported.

Prosus  one of the six investors who had called the EGM  in a statement said shareholders unanimously passed all resolutions put forward for vote.

These included a request for the resolution of the outstanding governance, financial mismanagement and compliance issues at Byjus; the reconstitution of the board of directors, so that it is no longer controlled by the founder of T&L; and a change of leadership of the company.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter told PTI the EGM was to start at 0930 hours on Friday but was delayed for almost an hour as around 200 people, some of them Byjus employees, sought to join the virtual meet.

Only after due verification, the investors were let in, they said, adding some 40 people representing the investors were allowed in and voted on the resolution moved by some investors.

However, the outcome of the vote at the EGM will not be applicable until March 13, when the Karnataka High Court will next hear Raveendrans plea challenging the move by certain investors to call the meeting.

The High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the EGM but stated that any resolution passed shall not be given effect till the next date of hearing. Raveendran and family own 26.3 per cent of the company.

Byjus in a statement, issued before the EGM results were declared, said it rmly declares that the resolutions passed during the recently concluded EGM  attended by a small cohort of select shareholders  are invalid and ineffective. The passing of the unenforceable resolutions challenges the rule of law at worst.

Ahead of the EGM, four out of the six investors, on Thursday evening filed an oppression and mismanagement suit against the management of the company in the Bengaluru bench of the NCLT, seeking the declaration of founders, including CEO Byju Raveendran, as unfit to run the company, appointment of a new board, declaring the just-concluded rights issue as void and a forensic audit of accounts.

A Byjus spokesperson reacting to the news of the suit being filed said the company has not received any formal intimation of any such petition. Indian regulation stipulates due process for conducting an EGM, intimation of petitions being filed in NCLT, etc. But certain shareholders prefer to manufacture a media spectacle as opposed to following due process.

Sources said as per the process, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will issue notices once the petition gets admitted.

As shareholders and significant investors, we are confident in our position on the validity of the EGM meeting and its decisive outcome, which we will now present to the Karnataka High Court in line with due process, Prosus said.

Byjus in its statement cited the Karnataka High Court order and said coupled with numerous procedural irregularities and deciencies, invalidates the resolutions passed by a select, narrow group of shareholders.

These resolutions were voted upon without the valid constitution of a quorum, as stipulated in BYJUS Articles of Association (AoA). According to Articles 38 and 39(a) of the AoA, at least one founder-director is required to form a valid quorum.

As the founders did not participate in the meeting, the quorum was never legitimately established, rendering the resolutions null and void, it said, adding only around 20 per cent of the number of shareholders attended this farcical EGM.

Byjus referred to the number of shareholders and not the shareholding they hold in the company.

The founders maintain that this purported EGM was designed to provoke a trial by the media and is fundamentally devoid of merit, having been brought forward by a select few shareholders as part of a self-serving agenda against the company and its founders, it said.

In any event, these resolutions merely request the Board to consider the recommendations passed at the EGM. They do not have any binding eect whatsoever on the company or its decision-making processes. As such, the resolutions lack the necessary authority to impose any obligations on Byjus or its directors.

Investors have also sought a forensic audit of the company in the plea filed before the NCLT on Thursday evening, according to a court filing. They sought to declare the present management as unfit to run the company and appoint a new CEO and a new board. The plea also wants a forensic audit and a direction to the management to share information with the investors.

Sources said the plea also seeks a declaration of the just-concluded USD 200 million rights offer as void and sought a direction that the company should not take any corporate actions that will prejudice the rights of the investors.

The petition has been signed by four investors  Prosus, GA, Sofina, and Peak XV  along with support from other shareholders, including Tiger and Owl Ventures.

The edtech firm in the last one year suffered other setbacks, including its auditor resigning, lenders beginning bankruptcy proceedings against a holding company and a US lawsuit disputing the terms and repayment of a loan.

Byjus was valued at USD 22 billion in 2022 and it is now valued at USD 200 million in a rights issue.

(With PTI inputs)
Gold Rate Today In India: February 25, 2024, witnessed fluctuations in gold prices across various cities in India. The standard price for 10 grams remained relatively stable, hovering around Rs 62,000. Broadening the comparison, the average price for 10 grams of 24-carat gold stood at approximately Rs 62,950, while for 22-carat gold, it was Rs 57,700.

At the same time, the silver market displayed a consistent upward trend, reaching Rs 74,900 per kilogram.

Gold rate today in India: Retail gold price on February 25

Gold Rate Today In Mumbai 22 Carat & 24 Carat

Currently in Mumbai, the price of 10 grams of 22-carat gold stands at Rs 57,700, while the equivalent amount of 24-carat gold is valued at Rs 62,950.

Gold Rate Today In Delhi

In Delhi, individuals are required to allocate Rs 57,850 for 10 grams of 22-carat gold and Rs 63,100 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 58,200, and for the same amount of 24-carat gold, its Rs 63,490.

Check gold rates today in different cities on February 25, 2024; (In Rs/10 grams)

City 22 Carat Gold Price 24-Carat Gold Price Ahmedabad 57,750 63,000 Kolkata 57,700 62,950 Gurugram 57,850 63,100 Lucknow 57,850 63,100 Bengaluru 57,700 62,950 Jaipur 57,850 63,100 Patna 57,750 62,770 Bhubaneshwar 57,700 62,950 Hyderabad 57,700 62,950

Multi Commodity Exchange

On February 23, 2024, the futures for gold set to expire on April 05 were actively traded at Rs 62,325 on the Multi Commodity Exchange. Furthermore, silver futures with a March 05, 2024 expiration date were quoted at Rs 70,450.

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.
Embarking on a career in the Indian government sector can be highly fulfilling, providing numerous advantages like job security, retirement perks, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on national development. However, success in government exams demands steadfast commitment, persistent dedication, and unwavering perseverance. Before diving into exam preparation, its crucial to identify and apply for positions that align with your expertise and qualifications.

We have curated a list of government organisations that you can consider applying for this week:

TSPSC GROUP 1 RECRUITMENT 2024

The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) is seeking online applications for 563 vacancies, offering a variety of prestigious roles within the department, such as Deputy collector, district panchayat officer, assistant commissioner of labour, and district tribal welfare officer, among others. The registration window will remain accessible until March 14. The preliminary Telangana PSC exam is scheduled to be conducted in May or June of 2024read more

CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA RECRUITMENT FOR 3000 APPRENTICE POSTS

The Central Bank of India (CBI) is accepting applications for the post of apprentice until March 6, 2024. Aspirants can apply for an apprenticeship in the bank by registering at nats.education.gov.in. Through this recruitment campaign, the CBI will fill up a total of 3,000 posts in the department. For selection, applicants should not have completed an apprenticeship with the CBI or another organisation previously, nor should they be pursuing Apprenticeship Trainingread more

OPSC RECRUITMENT FOR ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER POSTS

The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has initiated a recruitment drive for 928 Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil) posts. Interested candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can visit the official website of the Odisha Public Service Commission at opsc.gov.in and submit their applications by February 26. Candidates will be selected based on a single stage, which is an interview roundread more

NIA RECRUITMENT FOR MINISTERIAL STAFF POSTS

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has invited online applications for ministerial staff positions on a deputation basis. Candidates who are willing to apply can do so by visiting the official website of the NIA at nia.gov.in. Aspirants can apply for a total of 40 posts in the organisation within two months from the date of publication of this advertisementread more

BPSC RECRUITMENT FOR ASSISTANT ARCHITECT POSTS

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) is recruiting 106 aspirants between the ages of 21 and 37 for the post of Assistant Architect. Candidates willing to be a part of the recruitment program can visit the official website at bpsc.bih.nic.in and register themselves. As per the notification, candidates have until March 11, 2024, to submit the application form. Candidates will be recruited based on their performance in a written examination and their work experienceread more
The Indian Navy opened the registration window for Short Service Commission Officers on February 24. Unmarried candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can submit their applications online via the official website of the Indian Navy at joinindianavy.gov.in. According to the official notification, the deadline to submit the application form is March 10, 2024.

This recruitment drive is being conducted to fill a total of 254 vacancies within the organisation. Out of these, there are 136 posts for the Executive Branch, 18 for the Education Branch, and 100 for the Technical Branch.

Indian Navy SSC Recruitment 2024: Eligibility Criteria

Education Qualifications: Candidates, who are interested in applying for the posts must possess BE or BTech degree in any discipline or the required discipline with minimum 60 per cent marks. For the Naval Operations Officer, General Service, Pilot, and Air Traffic Controller branch/cadre, applicants must be a graduate in any branch of engineering. To apply for logistics posts, candidates must have an MBA degree. While for the education branch, aspirants should have done M.Tech/Msc.

Age Limit: To be eligible, interested candidates should be born between January 2002 and July 2005.

Indian Navy SSC Recruitment 2024: Steps to Apply

Step 1: Go to the official Indian Navy website at joinindiannavy.gov.in.

Step 2: Click on the link available for online application on the homepage.

Step 3: Fill out the application form with the required details such as personal and academic.

Step 4: Then, upload all the scanned documents in the asked format.

Step 5: Pay the prescribed application fee to complete the application process and click on the submit button.

Step 6: Download the confirmation page and print the application form for future use.

Indian Navy SSC Recruitment 2024: Selection Process

The selection of the candidates will be done on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying degree. Post that, the shortlisted candidates will have to appear for the SSB interview, about which they will be informed through email or SMS. Upon the interview round, the final selection merit list will be prepared on the basis of performance in the SSB interview for all entries as per the availability of vacancies and medical clearance. Aspirants who will be declared fit in the medical test would then be recruited as per the availability of posts in the entry.
From UPSC Civil Services to SSC recruitment exams, from college admissions to group discussions, general knowledge questions mark a significant part of almost every exam. For candidates preparing to crack an exam or those who need to get their news in a compact form, News18 offers a weekly column  GK Capsule. While we provide you a weekly news wrap, to get more information on a specific topic or an exam, reach out at @news18dotcom.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the IAS exam (officially known as the Civil Services Examination) on an annual basis. The online application process for IAS Exam 2024 is currently underway. According to the schedule, the IAS Exam for 2024 preliminary phase will be held on May 26, this year.

To pass the UPSC or any other government exam, candidates should stay up to date on all international and national events. For anyone preparing for a recruiting exam, especially government exams in India, staying up to date on current events is essential. Therefore, we have curated a list of the most important news stories of the last week.

Amid Farmer Protests, Haryana Announces Interest Waiver On Crop Loans:

On February 23, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced a waiver of interest and penalties on certain crop loans while presenting a Rs 1.89 lakh crore budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. At a time when farmers are stepping up their protests at the Punjab-Haryana border, Khattar announced the budget proposals and claimed that his government has taken numerous steps to ensure farmers welfare, including providing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 crops. Additionally, the government has decided to increase financial support for families of soldiers killed in action to Rs 1 crore.

National Commission For ST Team Visits Sandeshkhali:

On February 22, a three-member delegation from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) visited trouble-torn Sandeshkhali in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district and spoke with locals. The NCST visit comes just days after the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes paid their visits. We will meet the people there and look into their complaints, NCST acting chairperson Ananta Nayak told reporters. On February 21, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the state government and police chief regarding the ongoing violence and human rights violations in the area.

ISRO Completes Human Rating Of CE20 Engine:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on February 21 that it had completed a major milestone in the human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine, which powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rate LVM3 launch vehicle for its Gaganyaan mission. On February 13, the final round of ground qualifications for the engine was completed. According to the space agency, the ground qualification tests for the CE20 engines human rating included life demonstrations, endurance tests, and performance evaluations under nominal operating conditions as well as off-nominal conditions in terms of thrust, mixture ratio, and propellant tax pressure.

US Imposes Sanctions on 3 Russian Officials:

The US has imposed sanctions on three Russian government officials in connection with the death in custody of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the Treasury Department announced on February 23, one week after Russias most well-known opposition politician died in an Arctic penal colony. Following Navalnys unexpected death, hundreds of Russians across the country flocked to impromptu memorials with flowers and candles for President Vladimir Putins fiercest foe. The Treasury Department announced today that the State Department will designate three officials.

India Register Biggest Win in Rajkot Test Against England:

On February 18, Team India recorded a historic victory in Rajkot, defeating a hapless English side by 434 runs after bundling out the visitors for a paltry 122 runs after setting a target of 557. The victory was the teams biggest by runs, giving Rohit Sharma and co. a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series against England. Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 214 runs, while Sarfaraz Khan remained unbeaten on 68 runs as India out-batted the visitors.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making his third visit to Kerala in less than two months to fulfil his dream of ending the electoral drought for the BJP in the southern state, where the party has historically faced challenges in winning elections.

Almost a year ago, Modi unveiled his partys aspiration to secure power in Kerala.

The announcement, made on March 2, 2023, came following the BJPs notable performance in elections within the Christian-majority states of Nagaland and Meghalaya, boosting confidence within the party.

According to party sources, Modi is scheduled to arrive in the Kerala state capital on Tuesday for an official programme, where he will also participate in the concluding ceremony of the padayatra organised by the BJPs state unit.

While the state BJP is elated by the back-to-back visits of the Prime Minister to Kerala, hoping to win a few seats in the Lok Sabha polls in the southern state and fully banking on Modis influence, both the CPI(M) and the Congress assert that the lotus will not bloom in the muddy political waters of the southern state.

Encouraged by Prime Ministers flurry of visits to Kerala as the state braces for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Sandeep Vachasapathi, state spokesperson of the Kerala BJP, expressed confidence in the partys prospects, citing increased focus from the central leadership and growing acceptance of Modi among Keralites.

Vachasapathi claimed that Modis appeal is transcending religious and sectarian lines. He dismissed concerns about past electoral setbacks, banking on Modis charisma to overcome obstacles and secure electoral success for the BJP in Kerala.

The BJP functionary said that they must meet Modis expectations, noting a rise in the PMs popularity among Keralas people.

According to surveys, about 40 per cent of voters in the state see Modi as the next Prime Minister of India, he claimed.

Vachaspathi said that a noticeable change is visible in favour of the BJP on the ground compared to the 2014 and 2019 elections.

In 2019, Congresss hype around Rahul Gandhis candidacy from Wayanad contributed to the Congress-led UDFs victory in Kerala, but theres no similar wave nationally now, he told PTI.

Vachaspathi claimed that there was a strong pro-Modi sentiment nationwide and among Malayalis. Many in Kerala now believe a representative from the state should be in Modis Cabinet. Thus, Modis visit boosts confidence and presents a challenge for party workers to fulfil this wish, he said.

BJP functionary expressed confidence in Modis appeal, claiming that minorities in Kerala, a significant portion of the population, will support him due to his universal acceptance and non-sectarian image. However, the Congress and the CPI(M) remain steadfast in their anti-BJP stance.

Senior CPI(M) leader M A Baby accused the BJP of employing a strategy of persuasion and coercion to attract parties outside the NDA fold and said this would not work in Kerala.

He claimed that while such tactics have yielded some gains for the BJP through opportunistic policies, he condemned the approach as manipulative. Baby criticised the BJPs recruitment of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, formerly of the Congress, as an example of this alleged political opportunism.

He asserted that such tactics would not succeed in Kerala, implying that Modi is yet to understand this reality.

Dismissing the notion that Modis image would sway voters in Kerala, the CPI(M) politburo member said that the BJP has only managed to secure one seat in the Kerala Assembly way back in 2016.

According to Baby, any significant breakthrough for the BJP in Kerala would require cooperation from the Congress and the UDF, which he doubted would occur due to the risk of damaging their credibility.

Therefore, the repeated visits by Modi would not pose a threat to the CPI(M) and its allies in Kerala, he told PTI. Senior Congress leader Kodikkunnil Suresh reiterated the states resistance to the BJP, citing concerns among minorities about their safety under BJP rule.

Let Modi come to Kerala many times; there will not be any change in the anti-BJP approach of the people of the state. Because the majority of voters align with the democratic-secular sections of society, he said.

Suresh, one of the senior most members in the Lok Sabha, criticised Modis alleged inaction on issues like the Manipur violence, asserting that the BJPs attempts to court the Christian community would falter due to apprehensions about right-wing groups.

As Prime Minister, Modi has been criticised for failing to intervene and address the concerns of the people of Manipur. While past leaders have intervened to resolve conflicts in various parts of the country, Modi did not visit Manipur or acknowledge the issues faced by the minority community in the northeastern state, he alleged.

Suresh expressed confidence that the BJP would struggle to secure minority votes, a crucial factor for electoral success in Kerala. He claimed that the BJPs electoral prospects in the Lok Sabha polls were slim, as the main contest remained between the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF.

Modi held two large roadshows in Kerala last month, one in Thrissur and another in Kochi, highlighting the BJPs focus on the opposition-dominated state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. During his visit to Thrissur in the first week of January, Modi attended a womens convention organised by the BJP.

In mid-January, Modi visited Kerala, where he attended various events, including the wedding of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopis daughter at the famous Guruvayur Lord Krishna temple.

He also offered prayers at the Thriprayar Sree Rama Swami Temple in Thrissur district and addressed a party meeting of around 6,000 in-charge of shakti kendras at Marine Drive in Kochi.
Angry French farmers heckled President Emmanuel Macron as he inaugurated the annual agricultural fair on Saturday. Hundreds of protesters crashed the gates and clashed with the police when Macron entered the livestocks area. It has been almost two months since the farmers in France and European Union have raised their concerns regarding rising costs and taxes, red tape, excessive environmental rules and competition from cheap imports.

Demonstrations have taken place in France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Poland and The Netherlands.

Why are they Protesting?

According to the new Common Agriculture Policy, which is part of the European green deal, farmers will have to keep aside at least 4% of the arable land to non-productive features. This also has a caveat for farmers to reduce the use of fertilizer by 20%. The farming sector accounts for 11% of the EUs greenhouse gas emissions, which the EU hopes to curb.

Farmers, however, argue that these measures will make European agricultural sector less competitive against imports.

Demonstrations in eastern Europe have focused on what farmers say is unfair competition from large amounts of imports from Ukraine, for which the EU has waived quotas and duties since Russias invasion, as reported by news agency Reuters.

The farmers also denounce the bureaucracy, which French farmers say their government over-complicates the implementation.

In Spain, farmers have complained of suffocating bureaucracy in Brussels that is not bringing any profitability of crops.

In Greece, farmers demand higher subsidies and faster compensation for crop damage and livestock lost in 2023 floods.

EUs biggest producers, Germany and France, have railed against plans to end subsidies or tax breaks on agricultural diesel. Greek farmers also want a tax on diesel to be reduced.

What are the EU governments doing?

The European Commission has proposed to limit agricultural imports from Ukraine via an emergency brake for most sensitive products such as poultry, eggs and sugar, and exempting famers for 2024 to keep 4% of their land fallow while still receiving EU subsidies.

Paris and Berlin have both relented to the pressure and watered down on their plans to end subsidies or tax breaks on agricultural diesel. In Romania, the government has acted to increase diesel subsidies, address insurance rates and expedite subsidy payments.

In Portugal, the caretaker government has announced an emergency aid package worth 500 million euros, including 200 million euros to mitigate the impact of a long-running drought.

What is EUs Common Agriculture Policy (CAP)?

Launched in 1962, the CAPs main aim was to tackle post-World War II food shortages and hunger, and to increase agricultural production and farmers quality of life.

Today, the CAP amounts to almost 40% of the entire EU budget. It is renewed every seven years.

Under CAP, the EU countries are provided 55 billion Euros subsidy every year. France is the country that benefits the most from the CAP funding, followed by Germany and Spain.

The Guardian stated that the farming sector, which accounts for 11% of the EUs greenhouse gas emissions, is alarmed by the EUs farm to fork strategy, part of the key European green deal aimed at making the bloc climate-neutral by 2050.

The plan also included halving the use of pesticides by 2030, cutting fertiliser use by 20%, devoting more land to non-agricultural use and doubling organic production to 25% of all EU farmland.
Over 14 crore devotees have visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi since the inauguration of the temple corridor by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 26 months ago. News18 got exclusive access inside the temple complex on Saturday.

The CEO of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vishwa Bhushan, told News18 in an interview that the number of pilgrims had increased almost five times since the corridor started. Earlier, only about 20,000 to 25,000 pilgrims visited the temple daily. But since the corridor started, we have nearly 1.5 lakh pilgrims daily, and much more during the Saavan days. It is an almost five times increase, Bhushan said.

Inside the temple on Saturday, News18 saw a huge rush of pilgrims who pay obeisance at the temple and make it a point also to visit the Nandi idol near the garbgriha. Next to that is the Gyanvapi Mosque, which has been in the news since the court prayers were allowed for the Hindu community in the Vyas Tahkhana of the mosque. The puja here was stopped in the 1990s by the then CM Mulayam Singh Yadav on oral orders.

There should be a court decision on this soonhave you ever seen a Nandi face a mosque? Priests here say the Nandi faces the so-called Wazukhana in the mosque premises as there is the original Shivling there. It is about the sentiments of crores of Hindus in the wake of overwhelming evidence that a Hindu temple existed at the Gyanvapi site, a group of devotees from Madhya Pradesh told News18.

Paramilitary forces guard the mosque complex, which is covered from all sides by high iron bars. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently said in the state assembly that Nandi Baba opened the barricades to the Vyas Tehkhana after seeing the grand pran pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. We want only these three places  Mathura, Kashi and Ayodhya  as these are religious places were our Gods took incarnations, the CM said. Many devotees who come to Kashi are now citing this statement of the CM to press for a quick resolution of the Gyanvapi issue.

Figures shared by Bhushan with News18 meanwhile show that the highest number of pilgrims in a month at the temple was about 95 lakh devotees last August.

The corridor from the Lalita Ghat to the temple was inaugurated in December 2021 by the Prime Minister. Since then till February 23, 14.12 crore pilgrims have visited the temple, Bhushan told News18. Nearly 50 lakh pilgrims were here last December and 46.5 lakh this January.

Nearly Rs 900 crore was spent on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. A new addition to the corridor is the light-and-sound show in the evening on Lalita Ghat near the Ganges from where the corridor begins. In the temple, many devotees speak about the desire for the Gyanvapi dispute to be resolved after the ASI survey pointed to the remnants of an ancient Hindu temple at the site.
This photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024 shows a view of the butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Lamas carry a butter sculpture onto the stage in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 24, 2024. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

This photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024 shows a view of the butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

This photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows a view of the butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Lamas carry a butter sculpture onto the stage in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 24, 2024. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

This photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024 shows a view of the butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

People visit the butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 24, 2024. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Lamas carry a butter sculpture onto the stage in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 24, 2024. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

A lama plays a flute during a butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 24, 2024. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

People take part in the butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 24, 2024. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

This photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024 shows a view of the butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

This photo taken on Feb. 24, 2024 shows a view of the butter sculpture show in Taer Monastery in Huangzhong District of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. A butter sculpture show was held at the Taer Monastery on Saturday, which marks the Chinese Lantern Festival. The butter sculptures are handmade by lamas in shapes of Buddha figurines, trees, flowers, birds and animals. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
A 47-year-old member of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) who also allegedly edited a magazine of the banned organisation besides indoctrinating many gullible youths has been arrested by the Delhi Police, officials said on Sunday.

According to the police, Hanif Sheikh was declared a proclaimed offender in 2002 and has been absconding for the last 22 years. He was nabbed on February 22 from Bhusawal in Jalgaon district in Maharashtra where he was a teacher in an Urdu school under a different identity, they said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Alok Kumar claimed that Hanif was the most notorious and wanted SIMI terrorist who had played pivotal roles in various activities of the proscribed organisation across the country.

Police said the SIMI magazine that Hanif Sheikh edited had his name printed as Haneef Hudai. This was the only lead available with the police, making it difficult to trace him, they said. A case of sedition and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was registered against him in 2001 at New Friends Colony police station in the national capital. A local court declared him proclaimed offender in 2002, Kumar said.

A team from the Special Cell was tasked with collecting data, information and other digital footprints about the absconding SIMI cadre, sympathisers and sleeper cells across states. The team extensively visited and collected information from various parts of the country, he said. The information collected by the team helped the Delhi polices special cell to zero in on Hanif. Following this, a raiding party was formed which laid a trap, the officer said.

Around 2.50 pm on February 22, a person travelling from Mohmadin Nagar to Khadka Road was identified as Hanif. As members of the team began to corner him, Hanif attempted to escape but was arrested after a scuffle, the DCP said. He said Hanif became highly radicalised after coming in contact with SIMI activists and after joining the organisation, he started attending its weekly programmes and radicalising youths. Hanif was later appointed as the editor of the Urdu edition of the SIMIs magazine in 2001, the police officer said.

The DCP added that Hanif was one of the think tank members of Wahadat-e-Islam and played an important role in Maharashtra and other adjoining states. He was also involved in collecting money under the guise of donations to support and finance the agenda of SIMI as well as Wahadat-e-Islam. After fleeing Delhi in 2001, Hanif moved to Jalgaon and subsequently to Bhusawal in Maharashtra from where he was arrested, police said.
The Uttarakhand government is all set to introduce the Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Damage Recovery Bill during the budget session commencing on Monday. Although Uttarakhand has generally remained a peaceful state, government sources indicate that the need for legislation arose after the recent riots in Haldwani.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reaffirmed the governments commitment to recovering damages amounting to crores from the individuals accused of rioting in the Haldwani incident.

Government sources said that the proposed bill will grant the right to recover damages to both government and private properties caused by incidents such as protests or riots. Once the bill passes the House, it will be forwarded for the governors assent, subsequently becoming an act upon approval.

A tribunal, led by a retired judge, will examine charges following the formal complaint registration. The tribunal will issue a recovery order after assessing losses and hearing from the involved parties. The order of the tribunal will be binding, according to home department sources.

It is learnt that the Haryana government introduced a similar law in 2021, and the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh first introduced the act in 2020. Uttarakhand will become the third state to enact such legislation.

Nonetheless, the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state assembly last month. With this, Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to pass the UCC bill in the assembly.

WHAT HAPPENED IN HALDWANI?

Violence erupted on February 8 over the demolition of an illegally built madrasa in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani. Locals threw stones and petrol bombs at municipal workers and police, forcing many police personnel to seek refuge at a police station, which the mob then set on fire.

The alleged mastermind of the violence, Abdul Malik, was apprehended in Delhi on February 24. Malik is accused of constructing the illegal madrasa. He vehemently opposed the administrations action, and his wife Safia had gone to court challenging the Municipal Corporation notice for its demolition.

At least six rioters have been killed, and over 100 individuals, including police and media personnel, were injured. The police have arrested 68 individuals in connection with the violence, and their properties have been seized.
A 47-year-old man, allegedly a member of the banned terror outfit SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India), who was wanted for the past 22 years, was arrested by the Delhi Police on Thursday.

According to police, the accused, identified as Hanif Sheikh, was declared a proclaimed offender in 2002. He had been working as an Urdu teacher in a school in Bhusawal, Maharashtra, trying to recruit youth to expand the organizations cadre and arrange finances.

Senior officials said that Sheikh was declared a proclaimed offender a year after he was booked in a case under the sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Sedition in 2001 at Delhis New Friends Colony police station.

He was working as an editor for a SIMI magazine named Islamic Movement and had indoctrinated many gullible Muslim youths over the past two decades, they said.

Police also said that Sheikh was an active member of Wahadat-e-Islami, a think-tank offshoot of the SIMI. He was also involved in collecting money in the garb of donations for supporting and financing SIMI and Wahadat-e-Islami.

In recent similar actions against Wahadat-e-Islami, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in October 2023 had filed a chargesheet against one Anwar Rashid, who had become associated with Wahdat-e-Islami, Hind, to promote SIMIs ideology.

The same month NIA had also raided Tamil Nadu state general secretary of Wahdat E Islami Hind, A Mohammed Thajudeen Hamith alias Usman Kalith, 37, and seized a cell phone with SIM cards.

Sheikhs arrest, on Thursday, was made by a team of Delhi polices special cell led by inspectors Karmvir Singh and Pawan Singh after they received information that a person named Hanif Hudai is working as an editor for the SIMI magazine in Maharashtra.

The information was further developed and it was found that Sheikh, alias Hudai, had changed his identity as Mohammad Hanif. A team then laid a trap at Khadka Road in Bhusawal, Maharashtra and around 2:50 pm on Thursday, Sheikh was identified and arrested, a senior police officer said.

During his interrogation, Sheikh told police that he had set up an NGO and had registered it with the name Muslim Numainda.

He admitted to having held meetings on behalf of his NGO to collect donations and recruit youth for the expansion of SIMI. He had travelled to Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and many places in Maharashtra. We are verifying documents recovered from him and his bank accounts and other details are also being looked at, said one of the investigators, on the condition of anonymity.

Police said that Sheikh had joined SIMI in 1997 and became its full-time worker. He started attending weekly programs of SIMI and radicalizing Muslim youths to join the outfit.

Impressed by his strong zeal, Sahid Badar, then President of SIMI made Hanif Sheikh the Editor of the Urdu edition of SIMI magazine called Islamic Movement in the year 2001.

He had then written many provoking articles in the magazine by falsely highlighting atrocities on Muslims in India. Following his close association with Badar he was given a room at the SIMI headquarters in Zakir Nagar, Delhi.

In September 2001, when the office bearers of SIMI were addressing a press conference near the organizations headquarters in Jamia Nagar, Delhi, a raid was conducted by the police. While some members were arrested, others managed to abscond. Sheikh was one of the absconders.

After fleeing Delhi, Sheikh moved to Jalgaon in Maharashtra and then to Bhusawal. He kept on changing his locations to evade arrest and started working as an Urdu teacher in a Nagar Nigam school in the Bhusawal area.

Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was formed in 1976 at Aligarh, UP with the idea of establishing Dar-Ul-Islam (Land of Islam). It was following the alleged involvement of SIMI activists in various anti-national activities, the said organization was banned by the government of India in 1997.
Ahead of the announcement of poll dates amid Sandeshkhali unrest, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are set to reach West Bengal from March 1. Sources told News18 at least 150 companies will reach the state by March 7. The move is significant as the Election Commission (EC) wants the CAPF to start area domination before the announcement.

This time, the EC has requested for deployment of 920 companies of CAPF in Bengal, which is the highest in the country. Last time, it was nearly 730 companies. Even in Kashmir, they have asked for only 650 companies.

The EC on Saturday held a meeting with senior officers of Police, Superintendent of Police (SP), Commissioners and District Magistrates (DM) and instructed them to carry out mapping of vulnerable areas. Senior officers have been told that the Central forces will be reaching and they should plan for the deployment.

On March 3, the full bench of the EC will visit West Bengal and meet DMs, SPs and Commissioners.

With questions on law and order in the state amid the Sandeshkhali unrest, the EC does not want to take any chance, say sources.

DG Rajeev Kumar also conducted a meeting with senior officers of police to discuss the election preparations, said sources. It was clearly stated that EC directions should be strictly followed and proper execution of non-bailable warrants, and naka checking should be carried out.

Law and order has been an issue for the Opposition in Bengal, which is why the CAPFs entry is good news for them. Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Samik Bhattacharya said that law and order is a serious issue in Bengal. Sandeshkhali proves that. We welcome the decision. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said, If central forces are not deployed, Bengal will sufferpolice can do nothing.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), on the other hand, said that every time a huge number of forces are deployed here and the move is politically motivated.
Are you enticed by the idea of exploring the submerged ancient city of Dwarka in Gujarat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought spiritual solace through prayer, encountering a profoundly divine and awe-inspiring experience? Well, youve arrived at the perfect destination, as we are about to guide you on the journey to the city of Lord Krishna, submerged in the waters.

PM Modi on Sunday took a dip in the Arabian Sea at the site where the submerged city of Dwarka is believed to be. He went into the deep sea and visited the site, which is considered to be the original residence of the Hindu God Krishna and an ancient city, famous for its grandeur and prosperity.

To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all. pic.twitter.com/yUO9DJnYWo Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 25, 2024

Dwarka Darshan under the waterswhere the spiritual and the historical converge, where every moment was a divine melody echoing Bhagwan Shri Krishnas eternal presence. pic.twitter.com/2HPGgsWYsS Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 25, 2024

Significance of Ancient City of Dwarka

The legends surrounding the ancient city of Dwarka, the land of Lord Krishna and one of Indias seven holy pilgrimage sites, has religious as well as archaeological significance. The lost city, the ancient kingdom of Krishna, which is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, is believed to have sunk beneath the Arabian Sea after the death of Lord Krishna. It is said to have spread across nearly 84 km as a fortified city where the Gomti River and the Arabian Sea met.

Where Is Dwarka Located?

Dwarka is located in the state of Gujarat on the western shore of the Okhamandal Peninsula on the right bank of the Gomti River at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch facing the Arabian Sea.

How To Reach Dwarka?

Dwarka is well connected via air rail and road to major cities. While the nearest airport to the city is Jamnagar Airport, the Dwarka Railway station is connected to all major cities including Jamnagar, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Mumbai, Goa and many more.

Scuba Diving in Dwarka

Scuba diving in Dwarka is conducted off the coast of Dwarka near an island called Bet Dwarka, where people can see the underwater remains of ancient Dwarka that have been excavated by archaeologists. Besides the submerged remains of Dwarka, beautiful coral reefs spread out along the seafloor can be spotted. Since the water is clear here, you can also spot sea animals such as dolphins, turtles, octopuses and starfish.

One of the best and most popular locations for the activity is Shivrajpur Beach, which is accessible via public transportation. The nearest airport to the beach is Jamnagar Airport while the nearest railway station is Dwarka Railway station. The beach is also well connected to major cities in the state via roads.

The activity costs somewhere around Rs 2500-3500 and the best time to do it is between October and April.

Gujarat Govt to Launch Countrys First Submarine Tourism in Dwarka

Last year in December, the Bhupendra Patel-led Gujarat government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mazagon Docks Ship Building yard to build tourist submarines for ferrying visitors to the submerged city of Dwarka.

These submarines  with the capability of going up to 100 feet underwater  will take tourists to Dwarka city.
Across 13 states and 6,000 kilometres, Nishmanya Bahadur embarked on a 15-day driving trip to showcase Indias Golden Quadrilateral  a network of highways connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata  on February 12. The 26-year-old YouTuber from Mumbai is now on the last leg of his solo road trip, which he calls a tribute to the late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees dream of uniting India through roads from North to South and West to East.

Sharing his experience of driving across the quadrilateral, Nishmanya said he was able to give people a glimpse into the countrys evolving road infrastructure through his Atal Yatra, which started from Mumbais Nariman Point. The trip pays tribute to the vision of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, but also makes a point of letting people know that they could embark on solo road trips, a concept that has not yet taken off in our country and is overdue," he said.

He added that his intention was also to highlight that while there are concerns among people about driving on long stretches, road conditions, road safety and the possibility of getting deals on food and shelter, it should be seen as an enjoyable chance to discover Indias beauty and culture. People traditionally want to travel in groups. But I would like to tell them to come out of their comfort zone. If I could travel 6,000 km all on my own, anybody can undertake any sections of the quadrilateral, and the parts of India that you can explore are mind-blowing," Nishmanya said.

THE MOTIVATION & EXPERIENCE

Driving a top-end Tata Harrier, he scheduled his trip from Mumbai, passing through Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Ajmer, New Delhi to Kanpur via Yamuna Expressway, followed by Bodh Gaya, entering into Kolkata, then Bhubaneshwar, Vishakhapatnam, Guntur, Chennai, Bengaluru, and back in Mumbai via Belagavi.

Speaking about what drove him to take up this challenge, Nishmanya said that he had two major motivations. One was to take up a major road trip across the country and build his YouTube channel where he is a travel host.

I came upon the golden quadrilateral as Mumbai was my fixed point, and the project covered Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, which suited my idea perfectly. The timing was also perfect for me as it has been 25 years since the Golden Quadrilateral project has come into existence. There could have been no better way than telling the world of Indias brilliant infrastructure than driving through it and recording the experience," he said.

Nishmanya said that his experience was good, and in most parts of the country, the government has delivered what was promised. Most roads were ready. There are some sections that are tough to navigate due to construction work. It was not completely smooth, but in most places, I saw that the roads, like four- and six-lane, were laid as promised. The sections around Jaipur and Delhi, a lot of roadworks happening there. Another notable area that tended to delay my drive was in Bihar, when I was driving between Varanasi and Bodh Gaya. That section had the most amount of roadworks with several diversions," he said.

THE BEST PARTS

The best part of his drive, the moto enthusiast said, was when he travelled along Ahmedabad, the stretch between Bhubaneshwar and Guntur, the Yamuna expressway from Delhi to Agra, and the expressway between Agra and Lucknow.

These stretches were seamless, and one can breeze through and enjoy the road trip," he said.

Firming his mind that he wanted to cover around 500 km a day, Nishmanya would drive close to 12-14 hours daily to achieve his target. When asked whether the drive got monotonous, he agreed. There were stretches that it got monotonous, and I began losing a little bit of focus. Stopping the vehicle, walking around, or listening to podcasts and audiobooks kept me engaged along the way," he said.

Bahadur says his expedition seeks to emphasize the economic importance of infrastructure projects like the Golden Quadrilateral, its expansive network of highways that drive economic activities and promote regional development while bringing people of India a lot closer.

The driving expedition is slated to conclude in Mumbai on February 26.
Thousands of farmers camping at the Punjab-Haryana borders will continue their protest until all their demands are met, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said adding that the agitation may continue even after the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls comes into effect. The farmers have paused their Dilli Chalo march at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders until February 29, however, their sit-in protest continued for the 13th day on Sunday.

Meanwhile, authorities in Delhi have initiated the process to partially reopen the Singhu and the Tikri borders with Haryana, almost two weeks after these were sealed in view of the farmers protest. Mobile internet services, which were suspended on Sunday in seven districts of Haryana, have also been restored.

Thousands of farmers have been camping on the Punjab-Haryana border near Ambala, about 200 kilometres from Delhi, after their march to the national capital was stopped by security personnel.

FARMERS PROTEST: LATEST UPDATES
Police officers on Sunday stopped a six-member independent fact-finding panel led by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy from entering the unrest-hit Sandeshkhali area in West Bengals North 24 Parganas.

Citing restrictions due to the implementation of Section 144 (prohibits assemblies of four or more individuals) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), police stopped the convoy of the team that went to probe the alleged incidents of atrocities on women at the Bhojerhat area, which is around 52 km from the riverine area, on Basanti Highway.

Reddy, accompanied by former IPS officer Raj Pal Singh, former National Commission for Women member Charu Wali Khanna, advocates O P Vyas and Bhavna Bajaj, and senior journalist Sanjeev Nayak, sat on the wayside vowing to proceed to the area as high drama followed.

This is completely illegal. We have told the police personnel as law-abiding citizens we will not break rules. No curfew has been imposed in Sandeshkhali. So we can go in two groups. At least two of our women members should be allowed to visit the females who had bore the brunt of atrocities of musclemen enjoying political patronage and impunity from police action in all these days till the media unravelled the shocking truth, Reddy said.

They are scheduled to visit Majherpara, Natun para, Patra para and Naskarpara Ras temple under the jurisdiction of Sandeshkhali police station limits. The committee is slated to submit a report to the constitutional authorities.

The riverine Sandeshkhali area, situated about 100 kilometres from Kolkata on the borders of the Sunderbans, has been witnessing protests since the first week of February over allegations of sexual atrocities and land grabs by local TMC leaders. One of the key accused Shahjahan Sheikh has been evading authorities since a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officials, who had gone to search his premises in Sandeshkhali in connection with a corruption case, on January 5. Shiba Prasad Hajra and Uttam Sardar, considered close associates of Sheikh, were, however, arrested.

Here are the latest updates on the Sandeshkhali issue.

Police on Sunday arrested Indian Secular Front (ISF) leader Ayesha Bibi from the Sandeshkhali area for her alleged involvement in burning poultry firms of arrested local TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra, an officer said. Police also detained a few villagers for their alleged involvement in vandalism, he added.

Villagers of Jhupkhali attacked TMC local leader Ajit Maity, demanding his arrest for helping prime accused Shahjahan. He had to take shelter in a villagers house.

A TMC delegation will again visit the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district on Sunday and speak to villagers who have been protesting against alleged atrocities by local leaders of the ruling party. The delegation led by state irrigation minister Partha Bhowmick is expected to reach the restive area in the afternoon, a party leader said.

Bengal BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari launched a stinging attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the delay in the arrest of key accused Sheikh Shahjahan. Hitting out at Mamata Banerjee for lodging 42 cases against him and failing to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan, Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said, she is a cruel lady.

On Saturday, a TMC delegation consisting of two West Bengal ministers Partha Bhowmik and Sujit Basu visited different parts of the riverine area, interacted with locals and promised their grievances will be addressed expeditiously. They had also promised all the guilty involved in alleged atrocities will be brought to book and the ruling party has zero tolerance to wrongdoings of a section of local leaders.

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday alleged that the BJP would try to give the Sandeshkhali issue a communal colour and play divisive politics before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) headed by panel member Vijaya Bharati Sayani also visited trouble-torn Sandeshkhali for the second consecutive day to investigate allegations of land-grabbing by some TMC leaders. One part of the team, comprising three members, went to Jeliakhali, while another team comprising two members visited Sandeshkhali police station and also spoke to villagers.

(With PTI inputs)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi In Gujarat: On day 2 of his visit to Gujarat on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Sudarshan Setu, the bridge linking the Okha mainland to the Beyt Dwarka island. Constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 980 crore, the 2.32 km cable-stayed bridge is the longest in India.

Notably, the bridge features a pedestrian path embellished with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and depictions of Lord Krishna, alongside solar panels that produce 1 MW electricity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid a visit to the revered Shri Beyt Dwarkadhish Mandir on Sunday ahead of inaugurating and attending the groundbreaking ceremony for numerous projects in Gujarats Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka and Porbandar districts.

The Prime Minister dedicated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs. 4150 crore in Dwarka.

He also enjoyed scuba diving off the Arabian Sea coast at the Panchkui beach in Dwarka and said that praying in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in waters, was a very divine experience.

Scuba diving is conducted off the coast of Dwarka near Beyt Dwarka island, where people can see the underwater remains of ancient Dwarka that were excavated by archaeologists.

To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all, the prime minister said in a post on X after the scuba driving experience.

He also shared some photos showing him scuba diving in the waters, before attending a public function.

I thank Ahir Maa for her blessings. A video went viral a few days ago that 37,000 Ahir women did garba togetherPeople me how was this happening in sync. I told them that 37,000 women doing Garba is nothing, the bigger fact is that there is at least a total of 25,000 kg of gold is there on all of them combined I bow down in front of Dwarka Dham, the workplace of Lord Krishna Everything here happens with the will of Lord Krishna only, he said at the public function.

PM Modis Itinerary For The Day

PM Modi will head to AIIMS Rajkot around 3:30 pm, where he will launch projects worth over Rs 52,250 crore before addressing a rally at the Race Course ground in the city. He will also take part in a kilometre-long roadshow from the old airport before the public address.

During the function, PM Modi will inaugurate five AIIMS campuses located in Rajkot (Gujarat), Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal), and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh). The five super-speciality hospitals, including the one in Rajkot, have been built by the Centre at a cost of Rs 6,300 crore.

Apart from this, Modi will also inaugurate and perform ground-breaking for projects of Rs 48,000 crore of different state and Central departments, such as NHAI, Railways, Energy and Petrochemicals, Road and Building, Ports and Health and Family Welfare.

Of these, projects of Rs 35,700 crore are for Gujarat, while the remaining are for other states.

The Prime Ministers visit also includes the groundbreaking of several renewable energy projects to boost the sectors capacity in the region. This consists of the 300 MW Bhuj-II solar power project, a grid-connected 600 MW solar PV power project, the Khavda solar power project, and the 200 MW Dayapur-Il wind energy project.

He will launch ground-breaking for the new Mundra Panipat crude oil pipeline project, and the doubling of the Rajkot-Surendranagar railway line, among others.

PM Modi will also inaugurate and lay the foundation for 200 healthcare projects worth over Rs 11,500 crore across 23 states and Union Territories, including a new cardiology hospital in Vadodara.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day Gujarat visit, inaugurated the Sudarshan Setu, the bridge linking the Okha mainland to the Beyt Dwarka island. Constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 980 crore, the 2.5 km cable-stayed bridge is the longest in India.

Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, which is nearly 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated. Devotees visiting the temple at Beyt Dwarka could travel only during the day by boat. The new bridge will allow them to travel at all times, officials said. PM Modi intends to visit the temple and interact with people there later in the day.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Sudarshan Setu, countrys longest cable-stayed bridge of around 2.32 km, connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka. pic.twitter.com/4OpY0ekCDH ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

Here are a few salient features of the Sudarshan Setu.

The four-lane 27.20-m wide bridge has 2.50-m wide footpaths on each side

The Sudarshan Setu is Indias longest cable-stayed bridge, with solar panels installed on the upper portions of the footpath, generating one megawatt of electricity.

The bridge features a pedestrian path embellished with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and depictions of Lord Krishna.

Originally dubbed the Signature Bridge, the structure has been renamed Sudarshan Setu or Sudarshan Bridge, District Magistrate (DM) GT Pandya told news agency PTI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the bridge in October 2017.

The Sudarshan Setu was built at a cost of 978 crore.

The Okha-Beyt Dwarka Signature Bridge will also serve as a place of tourist attraction.

PM Modi will also launch the states first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot on Sunday. This will be one of the five AIIMS to be dedicated to the nation by the prime minister from Rajkot on February 25, the minister said.

Built at the cost of Rs 1,195 crore and spread across 201 acres, Rajkot AIIMS is a world-class hospital with 720 beds, including ICU and super-specialty beds. On February 25, the prime minister will inaugurate 23 operation theatres, 30-bed AYUSH block and 250 beds of IPD. The remaining beds will be made available gradually.

(With PTI inputs)
This file photo taken with a drone on April 15, 2021 shows a view of Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

by Xinhua writers Yao Yulin, Zhang Yujie and Zhang Ge

CHANGSHA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Long Xianlan from Shibadong, an ethnic Miao village nestled deep in the mountains of central China's Hunan Province, is among the country's millions of once-impoverished rural residents who have shaken off poverty.

Donned in a protective suit, veiled hat and gloves, Long meticulously opens a hive, removes the honeycomb, and gently scrapes off the wax with a sharp blade. As the mellow honey slowly streams out, countless bees crowd around him, but the skilled beekeeper won't be hurried. Unfazed, he continues the task at hand.

Today, the self-made businessman can rake in more than 300,000 yuan (about 42,200 U.S. dollars) a year. But success did not come easy for Long. He earned it the hard way.

Ten years ago, he was a hard nut to crack for local cadres. His transformation may enlighten many around the globe in solving a common headache in poverty alleviation -- how to motivate marginalized rural populations to actively engage in efforts to improve their lot.

China's fight against poverty includes all people irrespective of their ethnicity, region and family background, targeting the poorest of the poor with the slogan "leave no one behind." Therefore, it falls on grassroots cadres to rack their wits to provide bespoke services for everyone in a bid to end their penury, even the most uncooperative.

SELECT COMPETENT PERSON

Long Xianlan, who was 27 years old in 2014, was infamous in Shibadong for his indolence. Instead of climbing mountains to cut logs for heating, he would rather chop up his wooden bed for firewood and sleep on the freezing floor; whenever the village cadres called on the community to develop industry, he would grumble that he preferred to be given money.

In 2014, the local government hand-picked several cadres -- each either born in local rural areas or experienced in dealing with rural affairs -- to live and work in the village and assigned each a local household among the poorest.

Long Xiulin, a smooth talker with 13 years of grassroots village work experience, was dispatched from the local county's publicity department. He was paired with Long Xianlan.

Through his previous postings, the accomplished ethnic Miao cadre had secured a reputation for his ability to nurture close relationships with the public.

His assignment to Shibadong illustrates the "targeted" measures of China's poverty alleviation campaign, as cadres familiar with economics were often sent to villages struggling with weak industries. At the same time, communication specialists would head to communities battling with disputes.

During China's battle against absolute poverty, a total of 255,000 teams were dispatched to offer on-the-ground support and over 3 million people were sent to the countryside as special commissioners for poverty relief, official data shows.

As of 2021, Hunan Province alone dispatched 21,000 poverty alleviation work teams to its rural areas, with more than 600,000 cadres just like Long Xiulin paired with some 1.7 million local impoverished households.

BUILDING EMOTIONAL BONDS

Starting with casual chats, Long Xiulin began to build rapport with Long Xianlan who is 17 years his junior. He spoke at length with members of the village committee and called in on Long Xianlan's neighbours. Long Xiulin soon uncovered that Long Xianlan was abandoned by his mother after his father's death, and his only relative, his younger sister, also died.

It was clear that behind Long Xianlan's reputation as an alcoholic and brawler, was a young, vulnerable man who felt isolated due to a lack of love and care. Long Xiulin believed that the ties of kinship may help the young man find his way.

On New Year's Eve 2014, one of the most valued occasions for the Miao people, Long Xiulin brought Long Xianlan to his family home. They enjoyed a pleasant family dinner, and before leaving, Long Xiulin's mother gave the young man a red envelope containing 1,000 yuan, along with some hand-made cured meat, fish and sausage.

After so many years of solitude, Long Xianlan was so touched by the normal but unforgettable family dinner, he knelt on the ground, kowtowed his hosts and, with tears rolling down his face, shouted: "Mom!"

Similar practices to better bond with the less self-motivated villagers were also tailored according to their personality and family background. The team members paired with empty-nesters would frequently drop by to attend to the elderly; those self-contemptuous were encouraged to explore their own talents like carpentry and to develop hobbies into a lucrative career.

Across the board, the sincerity of the poverty alleviation cadres soon won the locals' trust.

"I used to feel scared because of loneliness and my helpless past and doubt that the work team would never understand the wrenching suffering of the poor," recalled Long Xianlan.

"However, they didn't look down on me. Instead, they invited me to dinner, took me to join the village's industrial development so that we can learn how to earn money ourselves. That was when I came to realize that there exists someone who really cares about me!" he said.

Long Xianlan and Long Xiulin are now brothers, and the warmth of home brought the former apathetic young man true dignity and new hope for life out of grinding poverty.

PROP UP CHARACTERISTIC INDUSTRY

After several heart-to-hearts, Long Xiulin concluded that Long Xianlan's greatest concerns at that time were marriage and work.

In 2015, the work team organized a blind date activity, introducing single women in nearby villages to the bachelors in Shibadong. This was where Long Xianlan met his wife.

While the other desire of Long Xianlan chimed with another of China's targeted poverty alleviation priority approaches.

Poverty alleviation through economic development is considered the most direct and effective way to give poor areas the capacity for independent development and help people find employment locally, according to China's white paper on its poverty alleviation experience and contribution.

With this in mind, China has supported its underdeveloped rural areas in developing various industries geared to the local resources available, which, for Shibadong, are agriculture, animal husbandry, Miao embroidery, labor services and rural tourism.

Long Xiulin and his colleagues invited the village youngsters to attend an industrial development discussion, collecting their opinions on future careers so that they can provide each of them with bespoke support.

"Dozens of young people shared our own ideas. Some wanted to be tour guides, others wanted their own restaurants, and some asked to be trained to operate an excavator. For me, I would like to learn how to plant crops and breed livestock," recalled Long Xianlan.

Their voices were not only heard but taken seriously. The cadres shared free vocational skill training and job opportunities: Hotel chefs were invited to take on apprentices; technicians like welding workers offered on-site training, while Long Xianlan was among those who attended a two-month agricultural course.

According to Long Xiulin, Shibadong had all its new industrial projects under a market-oriented mechanism, with outside enterprises hiring local talent. Government funds also helped fledgling sectors gain a foothold in the market.

It was not easy for Long Xianlan to find his profitable niche. He tried selling fish and other jobs, all in vain. But no matter what, his "elder brother" Long Xiulin was always there, finding new job opportunities, helping him apply for a low-interest loan, and keeping him motivated.

"My brother has always been so good to me. I feel obligated to strive for a better life by earning money with my own hands!" said Long Xianlan.

Based on Long Xiulin's deep understanding of the local natural conditions and market demands, he persuaded the young man to join the honey business. Embraced by mountains, Shibadong boasts abundant honey sources and breeds high quality bees. The business did not require much in terms of start-up capital and suited the young man down to the ground.

Sure enough, Long Xianlan proved to be a fast learner, and started his own honey business a few months later. The work team also helped Long Xianlan promote his honey products via e-commerce platforms and media channels.

Thanks to the care and attention from his "elder brother," Long Xianlan scaled up his sweet honey business quickly, and found his place in the world.

PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT

To help more fellow villagers live a better-off life, in 2017, Long Xianlan took the initiative to set up a bee-keeping cooperative. It now has 562 members and manages more than 1,300 beehives, with an annual output value of nearly 2 million yuan.

Their cooperation is built upon a common business model in today's rural China: in order to integrate resources and form an industrial cluster, Long Xianlan rents local villagers' land as bee breeding bases; while Long provides necessary techniques, guides members in bee-keeping and manages the bases, the members can focus on better breeding the bees. After the honey is collected, Long's company will purchase the honey from the members and process and package the honey into bottles catering to the market demand for sale.

By the end of March 2021, there were more than 2.25 million farmers' cooperatives across China, engaging nearly half of its rural population, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Official data released in 2019 shows that each farmers' cooperative returned an average of 1,402.5 yuan as dividends to each of its member, and over 3.85 million registered impoverished households nationwide joined such cooperatives.

To boost the product sales, in 2020, Shibadong set up an exhibition hall, where tourists can directly buy local agricultural products, cultural and creative products and handicrafts on display.

The village plans to add more stories to the exhibition, including highlights of its decade-long poverty alleviation efforts, so that the visitors attracted by the local picturesque natural scenery will get a lasting impression of the village's original ecology and its eco-friendly production bases and be willing to bring the products in the mountains back home.

With the local government's support, Shibadong also set up an exhibition counter in the waiting room of Jishoudong railway station, where urbanites often passed by during their high-speed railway trips, to exhibit Miao embroidery, agricultural products and local specialties.

Promotion activities are also held on a regular basis in the village or elsewhere to help sell the products. During such events, Miao ethnic characteristics are sure to draw everyone's attention, with beautiful women wearing glistening Miao accessories, singing in Miao language. The village also designed their own online shop via the WeChat mini program, which can be accessed as long as you have an account of WeChat, China's current leading instant chatting platform.

"I've married the right person in the right place! I firmly believe that as long as we are diligent and work hard, a happy life is sure to come. My husband is no longer a drunkard and has realized our dream with his own hands," said Wu Manjin, his wife.

"I used to work in a well-off coastal city where my boss owned a sedan and villa. Such a privileged life was once a distant dream for me, beyond imagination. That dream has come true now," Long Xianlan raved, adding that such a blessing should be credited to the persevering poverty alleviation work team.

However, due to fierce market competitions and China's booming e-commerce, Long Xianlan is a little bit concerned about the price war among honey producers. He has decided to introduce some local livestream anchors to help his cooperative win the hearts of customers; he himself is also posting short videos on social media and sharing interesting moments of his bee-keeping career to attract more buyers.

It doesn't bother him much though, as Long Xianlan remains confident of his high-quality honey products, his diligent fellow villagers and the reliable village cadres.

Across the country, countless cadres like Long Xiulin, continue to extend a helping hand and support those in need with the heavy lifting, exemplifying the enduring spirit of cooperation and progress that continues to transform the lives of its marginalized population. 

This file photo taken on Jan. 18, 2020 shows a view of the branch venue of Hunan TV Spring Festival Gala 2020 in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

This file photo taken on April 16, 2021 shows Long Xianlan checking a honeybee hive in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

This file photo taken on Feb. 16, 2019 shows a matchmaking event in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)

This file photo taken on Oct. 27, 2020 shows Long Xiulin (1st L) visiting the family of Long Xianlan in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

This file photo taken on Sept. 4, 2019 shows Long Xianlan checking a honeycomb in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

This file photo taken on Sept. 4, 2019 shows Long Xianlan holding a honeycomb in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

This file photo taken on Oct. 25, 2020 shows the family of Long Xianlan posing for a photo in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

This file photo taken on Oct. 27, 2020 shows Long Xiulin (R) talking with villager Shi Basan in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

This file photo taken on Oct. 27, 2020 shows Long Xiulin on a visit to villagers in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

This file photo taken on Oct. 27, 2020 shows Long Xiulin (2nd L) visiting the family of Long Xianlan in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

This file photo taken on Oct. 27, 2020 shows Long Xiulin (L) talking with Mei Yao, a village official, at the villager service center in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

This file photo taken on April 16, 2021 shows the family of Long Xianlan preparing breakfast in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)
Six dogs were poisoned to death in the Ganeshpuri area of Thane district, a police official said on Sunday.

A probe began after Bhiwandi resident Manisha Patil told police that two of her pet dogs began vomiting in the morning of February 21 and died soon after, the official said.

Three others from the area, Kashinath Raote, Dinesh Jadhav and Ravindra Raote, also approached police complaining their pet dogs had died similarly. One stray dog too died on the same day, he said.

The six dogs include two Labradors and one German Shepherd. We believe some unidentified person poisoned them, the Ganeshpuri police station official said.

He said a case under section 428 (mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering any animal useless) of the Indian Penal Code was registered on February 22, though no arrest has been made as yet.
The Mumbai police have arrested three persons involved in vehicle thefts and recovered 10 stolen motorcycles from their possession, an official said on Sunday.

Based on a tip-off, the police recently apprehended the two accused from the western suburb of Borivali, while the third man was nabbed on February 22, he said. The accused, Milind Manohar Sawant (29), Yash Deepak Kothari (24) and Arvind Rajan Gadkari (28), have multiple cases to their names, the official said.

The accused allegedly stole two-wheelers and used fake number plates on them, he said. The police have recovered 10 stolen motorcycles, worth Rs 5.3 lakh, from the accused, who are booked under section 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code, the official said.
Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested one person in connection with the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment Paper Leak case. The accused, identified as Neeraj Yadav, a resident of UPs Ballia has been arrested for allegedly sending the answer key of the question paper to the candidates on WhatsApp.

Now, the police are searching for another accused, a resident of Mathura, who provided Neeraj with the answer key, according to a report by NDTV India.

This comes a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday announced that the UP Police Constable Recruitment Examination-2023 will be cancelled after paper leak reports surfaced. The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government also gave instructions to conduct a re-examination within six months and tasked the STF to investigate the paper leak allegations.

There can be no compromise with the sanctity of examinations. Those who play with the hard work of the youth will not be spared under any circumstances. Strictest action is certain to be taken against such unruly elements, CM Adityanath said in a post on X.

The announcement came after six days of protests by civil service aspirants against the alleged leaking of question papers. Lucknow police on Friday also registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the paper leak case.

Hundreds of candidates who had appeared for the exam had been protesting across the state demanding a reexamination. The aspirants claimed the sanctity of the examination was compromised after a question paper went viral on social media hours before the paper started.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu never fails to wow her fans every time the actress posts photographs or videos of herself on social media. Samantha has an amazing fashion sense. The actress aces in every outfit, whether its a party, a casual day, or a vacation. While in Malaysia, she spent her days relaxing, and her bold bikini look is hard to miss.

The actress released photos from her time in the Datai Langkawi. In the photos, we can see her swimming in the lake while dressed in a bikini. She chose a brown bikini for her day out. It is the ideal summer holiday style and a perfect addition to your vacation wardrobe. The first image shows her standing in a pool in the jungle, gazing at her surroundings while clothed in a brown patterned bikini. In other stills, she is seen smiling at the camera while swimming. In the third photo, she is meditating. A picture also gives a glimpse of the place where she is staying on her vacation in Malaysia.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samantha (@samantharuthprabhuoffl)

Samanthas brown bikini set includes a colour-coordinated bustier and bottoms. The sleeveless bustier has broad shoulder straps, a textured silhouette, a plunging neckline, a twisted design on the fitting bust, an asymmetric hem, and a cropped design that shows off her toned abs, while the bottoms have a low-rise waist, a figure-hugging design, and high-leg cut-outs. Samantha paired her bikini outfit with a delicate necklace containing a beautiful stone pendant. She finished the look with side-parted open hair fashioned with delicate curls, a nude lip colour, and a rosy, radiant complexion.

Earlier, Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared images on Instagram from an event she attended in Malaysia. The photo shows her posing in a gorgeous red saree. The exquisitely embroidered saree was from designer Arpita Mehtas label. The red georgette saree featured sequin embellishments, square-cut mirror adornments, and delicate threadwork. The pre-draped garment features a high waist, figure-sculpting draping, and a pallu that falls from the shoulder in a floor-sweeping train. Samantha paired it with a sleeveless georgette blouse featuring similar embroidery, a plunging neckline, and a backless style to finish the ensemble.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samantha (@samantharuthprabhuoffl)

Samantha matched the saree with minimal jewellery, including a studded choker necklace and matching earrings. Finally, for her glam look, she chose feathery brows, mascara on the lashes, glittering eyeshadow, rouge on the cheeks, and a glossy pink lip colour. She finished off her appearance with side-parted open hair and a lovely, wavy blowout.
Kareena Kapoor is among those actors who have successfully balanced their work and personal lives. However, she admitted that achieving this balance sometimes means making sacrifices, either at work or at home. Recently, she shared that she had to miss her younger son Jehs first concert, speaking of her experience with mom guilt.

Revealing how it was a busy day at her home, Kareena, during a chat with ABP, said, It was my younger one Jehs first ever concert that I missed today because I was shooting for a campaign before this. Saif was doing rehearsals for his film which he is starting for Netflix next week. So he went to Taimurs school fete and then to Jehs concert. It has been very busy, I just called the kids up and checked on them. Its a constant battle, but I love it.

Kareena said that she cant live without work and she and Saif Ali Khan strive to balance their time at home with the kids. Taimur understands this and she believes its important for him to see both his parents working, taking turns to be at home. Being at work or being a working mother is something I cant live without. Taimur understands that. I feel it is a healthy atmosphere for him to see that his mother, as well as his father, go to work, and they take turns at who is probably going to be at home. It will give him a very balanced approach to growing up and knowing how to respect a woman a lot more, she said.

Kareena will be next seen in Rhea Kapoors production, The Crew. The film stars Tabu and Kriti Sanon apart from Kareena in pivotal roles. The film is said to revolve around the troubled airline industry. Directed by Rajesh Krishnan, its set to release on March 29.
Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani had a fairy tale wedding earlier this week. Her wedding pictures have taken all over the internet, and now, adding more to the gallery, the actress has dropped a fresh bundle of unseen moments from their wedding festivities. Calling that night magical, the actress wrote, A dreamy night Thnkyouuuu @falgunipeacock for creating the most magical outfit for a magical night felt like a star shining bright .

Have a look at the photos:

Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnanis wedding ceremony took place on February 21 in Goa. The couple first got married with an Anand Karaj ceremony, honouring Rakuls Sikh roots. It was followed by the Pheras in the evening to commemorate Jackkys Sindhi heritage. Several celebrities, including Shilpa Shetty, her husband Raj Kundra, Varun Dhawan, his wife Natasha Dalal, Ananya Panday, and Aditya Roy Kapur, attended the wedding.

On Friday, Rakul took to her Instagram handle to share her official wedding teaser. The video clip featured several moments from their pre-wedding and wedding celebrations. It began with Rakul walking down the aisle to get married to the man of her dreams. The two shared a warm hug before their jaimala ceremony.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sent a letter to Jackky Bhagnanis parents, Vashu and Pooja, as the actor-producer got married to Rakul Preet Singh. Rakul shared a picture of the letter with which PM Modi congratulated the family and sent wishes to the newlyweds. The years to come are an opportunity for the couple to discover each other while also embarking together on the path of self-recovery, a part of the letter read.

A source had earlier revealed, Rakul and Jacky had initially planned for their wedding to take place in the Middle East. After nearly six months of meticulous planning, everything was pretty much in order. However, following the call from the Indian PM in December urging rich and influential families to choose India as the venue for their big life events, Rakul and Jackky reconsidered their original plans and relocated the wedding to India. Their decision, made in mid-December, necessitated a complete reset, involving the destination, rest, and accommodations. Despite the considerable changes, the couple embraced the overhaul, driven by their love for the country and desire to contribute to its growing economy.
Madhoo, still remembered for her role in the 1992 film Roja, recently spoke about her strained relationship with filmmaker Mani Ratnam after the movies success. She admitted that her attitude at the time prevented her from forming connections in the industry and explained why she initially did not credit Ratnam. Madhoo now recognises Ratnams contributions and regrets not acknowledging him sooner.

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actress was asked about not starring in Mani Ratnam films after Roja and Iruvar. To this, she said, Mani sir might have felt a bond with different artists and I tried to reach out many times. I sent messages. I am very fond of him. At that time, I never considered anyone to be my godfather. I didnt feel Mani sir did me a favour. Mani sir wanted to make Roja, he found his Roja in me. Whats so special about that? This was my attitude.

When asked if she had grown arrogant after the film, she explained that she didnt receive much support in her career and claimed sole responsibility for everything, from makeup to costumes.

It came from a place of pain. There was an element of I. I did it all. I refused to give credit to anybody, she said.

The actor admitted that her attitude may have rubbed some people the wrong way. Mani sir deserves the credit. I should have told him at that time. Now I give him all the credit. He gave me an identity. I didnt make many good bonds, thats why I was not repeated in films.

On the work front, Madhoo was last seen as Menaka in Samantha Ruth Prabhus Shaakuntalam. She also starred in the Tamil web series Sweet Kaaram Coffee.

Filmmaker Mani Ratnams terrorism trilogy  featuring Roja (1992), Bombay (1995), and Dil Se (1998)  are still considered one of his best works to date.
Shahid Kapoor has come a long way in showbiz. With rich content-driven and commercial films, the actor continues to enjoy a massive fan following. He had once made a shocking revelation. The Jab We Met actor shared that he had turned down the 2006 hit film Rang De Basanti and that he regrets it.

For more info: Shahid Kapoor REVEALS Why He Turned Down Aamir Khans Rang De Basanti: They Offered Me The Role Of

Bobby Deols son, Aryaman, may have been away from the limelight, but the young star kid has a massive fan following. The father-son duo set the internet on fire with their recent public appearance in town. Twinning in white, they flashed their million dollar smiles, as the shutterbugs captured them.

For more info: Bobby Deols Son Aryaman Poses With Dad, Fans Spot His Striking Resemblance With Ranbir Kapoor; Watch

Megastar Shah Rukh Khans popularity extends well beyond India, reaching across borders, including catching the attention of WWE superstar John Cena. A recent video of John Cena singing Shah Rukh Khans popular song Bholi Si Surat from the Bollywood classic Dil To Pagal Hai has sparked a frenzy on social media, quickly going viral. The video, that was shared on Instagram by a fan page Team Shah Rukh Khan, features John Cena passionately singing the song. Now King Khan has finally reacted to the same.

For more info: Shah Rukh Khan REACTS To John Cenas Viral Bholi Si Surat Video, Says Sending You My Latest

Two weeks back, the Lok Sabha approved the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, aimed at stopping malpractices like question paper leaks and document tampering in public exams. The bill includes penalties of up to 10 years in jail and fines exceeding Rs 1 crore for those involved in such misconduct, but it does not apply to students, clarified Union minister Jitendra Singh. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has now reacted to it, but she has given it a relationship spin, whereas the bill itself is aimed to curb cheating in public exams.

For more info: Kangana Ranaut Gives Exams Anti-Cheating Bill An Adultery Spin: Sexual Intercourse Should

Arbaaz Khans wife, Shura Khan, seems to get along well with his and Malaika Aroras son, Arhaan Khan. On Sunday night, they were spotted dining out together with Arbaaz. Shura looked stylish in a beige t-shirt and dark blue jeans, while Arbaaz was sharp in a white shirt and blue jeans. Arhaan kept it casual in a beige t-shirt and ice blue jeans. Exiting the restaurant, Shura held Arbaazs hand as they posed with Arhaan. Later, they were photographed in the car, with Arhaan at the wheel, Shura in the passenger seat, and Arbaaz in the back.

For more info: Arbaaz Khan-Malaika Aroras Son Arhaan Khan Poses With Stepmom Shura Khan, Drives Her Home; Watch
Days after days meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over lunch along with seven other Opposition MPs in the Parliament canteen, Ritesh Pandey on Sunday quit Mayawati-led Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Pandey, who was a Lok Sabha MP from Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, joined the BJP in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and other party leaders, including Uttar Pradesh in-charge Baijayant Jay Panda, general secretary Tarun Chugh and Uttar Pradesh unit chief Bhupendra Singh.

BSP MP Ritesh Pandey joins BJP in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak and other BJP leaders.Ritesh Pandey tendered his resignation from BSP earlier today. He was a Lok Sabha MP from Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/zfXDNshwQE  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

Pandey took to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter), to share his resignation letter.

Pandey resigned from the partys primary membership saying that the party did not need him any longer as they neither called him for any meeting for a long time nor the party chief Mayawati spoke to him in a long time.

For a long time, neither am I being called to attend party meetings nor has the party leadership spoken to me. I made numerous efforts to get in touch with and meet you (Mayawati) and the top leadership of the party but it did not yield any result, Pandey said in his letter.

During this time, I continuously met workers and supporters of other parties in my area and was also involved in various works going on in the constituency. Hence, I have come to the conclusion that the party does not need my service and presence, he said.

So, I do not have any other option apart from resigning from the primary membership of the party. The decision to break the relationship with the party is a difficult decision from the emotional point of view, he added. Pandey further urged Mayawati to accept his resignation.

MAYAWATI REACTS

Soon after, BSP chief Mayawati responded to Pandeys claims. Taking to X, she said the BSP was a movement dedicated to the mission of anti-Dalit icon BR Ambedkar. Thats why this partys ideology, functioning and selection of candidates is different from other capitalist parties, she wrote.

3.           ,         -                                  Mayawati (@Mayawati) February 25, 2024

In a swipe at Pandey, she said BSP MPs should introspect if they took proper care of the people of their area. Did you devote enough for fieldwork? she asked.

Is it possible to give tickets to Lok Sabha MPs when they roamed around for their selfish goals and remained a part of negative discussions? The partys interests are paramount, she said, indicating that Pandey might not have gotten a BSP poll ticket if he stayed on.

It was truly an honour to be invited by the Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for lunch today and learn how he used his insights from the 2001 Bhuj Earthquake to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. What an insightful discussion  thank you for having us over! pic.twitter.com/VozzubjZ5i Ritesh Pandey (@mpriteshpandey) February 9, 2024

Pandeys decision came days after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi over lunch, along with seven other Opposition MPs in the Parliament canteen. Sharing the pictures of their meeting on X, Pandey had said, It was truly an honour to be invited by the Prime Minister @narendramodiji for lunch today and learn how he used his insights from the 2001 Bhuj Earthquake to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. What an insightful discussion  thank you for having us over!

(With PTI inputs)
Former Congress leader and now a BJP spokesperson, Jaiveer Shergill, said handing over late Congress leader Ahmed Patels legacy and bastion, Gujarats Bharuch constituency, to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the seat-sharing deal for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls was the revenge of the Prince. He was hinting at the differences between Patel and Rahul Gandhi.

Taking to Twitter, Shergill wrote, Handing over long standing stronghold of Sh Ahmed Patel, who gave his life to Congress Party, to AAP is the revenge of the Prince !

Handing over long standing stronghold of Sh Ahmed Patel, who gave his life to Congress Party, to AAP is the revenge of the Prince ! Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) February 24, 2024

BJPs National Information and Technology Department In-charge, Amit Malviya also took to Twitter and said Congress move was meant to erase Ahmed Patels legacy and humiliate his family.

In the Congress, one dynasty is more equal than the others. Everyone knows of the differences between late Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi. Giving away Bharuch to AAP is Rahul Gandhis attempt to erase his legacy and humiliate the family. Gandhis believe in use and throw, he wrote.

In the Congress, one dynasty is more equal than the others.Everyone knows of the differences between late Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi. Giving away Bharuch to AAP is Rahul Gandhis attempt to erase his legacy and humiliate the family. Gandhis believe in use and throw. https://t.co/nQWDqDneTe  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 24, 2024

Hours after the seat-sharing announcement of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, Mumtaz Patel, the daughter of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel, expressed disappointment over the AAP bagging the Bharuch seat.

Taking to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) to express dissatisfaction, the Congress leader wrote, Deeply apologize to Our district cadre for not being able to secure the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in alliance. I share your disappointment. Together, we will regroup to make Congress. We wont let Ahmed Patels 45 years of Legacy go in vain. #bharuchkibeti

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi had apparently spoken to Mumtazs brother, Faizal, and assured him that Bharuch would be theirs. Reacting to the seat-sharing formula, Faisal Patel said, Hope Rahul Gandhi will re-think his decision.

Later, speaking to the news agency ANI on the matter, Congress leader Mumtaz Patel said, The talks are still on and the final decision is yet to be made. We had hopes that this seat would remain with Congress but when this information came people felt demoralised and sad. We have heard that Rahul Gandhi has also objected to the Bharuch seat being given to AAP. We are hopeful that this seat will remain with Congress. Traditionally, this is a Congress seat. They want an alliance because they want the support of Congress.

In Gujarat, the AAP will contest from Bharuch and Bhavnagar, while the Congress will field its candidates from the remaining 24 seats in the state.

The Bharuch seat has been held by the BJP for seven consecutive terms, establishing it as a pivotal battleground for opposition parties. There were ongoing speculations for months suggesting that either Faisal Patel or Mumtaz Patel, both children of Ahmed Patel, might be nominated by the Congress to contest against the BJPs longstanding dominance.
DHAKA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's largest annual book fair is held in capital Dhaka during the whole February. A Chinese book house in the fair gains popularity as more local people want to know more about China.

The Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, which means "Immortal Twenty First Book Fair" in local language, is welcomed by locals as hundreds of visitors waiting in long queues to enter the book fair.

"I want to know different things about China," a girl called Jaya Afran told Xinhua, adding that she never read Chinese books, so she came to the book house to buy books about China.

Afran said she often watches Chinese cartoons and really like the Chinese culture. "I'm interested in Chinese cartoons, so I'm here to learn more about China."

Rezaul Haque is another one who came to the book house. "We've been introduced to China since childhood, especially when we were in school. We were regular readers of the Bengali version of one Chinese magazine," said Haque.

Haque hoped that there will be a regular exhibition where people can collect Chinese books. "It would be good for those of us who want to know about China, who want to hold China dearly, and love it."

Tausif Zaman, who learnt the Chinese language at the Confucius Institute in Bangladesh's top Dhaka University, has read a book about the Yellow River, which gave him a deep impression.

"The more people read this kind of books, the more people will have better understanding about the Chinese, the Chinese literature and their books," the student said.

"It is very important for the two countries to have culture exchanges so that we can exchange our friendship and our views," Zaman added.

In front of the Chinese book house, various activities on the occasion of the Chinese Lantern Festival which fell on Saturday also attracted a large number of people. Hundreds of Bangladeshis gathered here to experience the colorful culture activities in high spirits.

Noting that the book fair was born out of the Bangladeshis' appreciation of their mother language and their culture, Yao Wen, the Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, said the hot scene of China book house is an example of how Chinese culture is loved by the Bangladeshi people.

"I hope more people can understand and experience Chinese culture here," Yao said. 
The president of the Indian National Lok Dal (INDL) Haryana unit, Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Jhajjar district, a senior party leader said on Sunday.

A former MLA, Rathee was travelling in an SUV car when he was attacked in Jhajjars Bahadurgarh town. According to an ANI report, Haryana INLD leader Abhay Chautala said, He (Nafe Singh Rathee) has died. One of our party workers was with him, he has also died.

Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain said, We received information regarding an incident of firing. CIA and STF teams are working. The accused will be arrested soon

#WATCH | Bahadurgarh: Visuals from the spot where an alleged attack on Haryana INLD chief Nafe Singh Rathee took place.Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain says, We received information regarding an incident of firing. CIA and STF teams are working. The accused will be arrested soon pic.twitter.com/ttDADxuLef  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

Rathee was shot in the neck, back, and shoulder and was brought dead at the hospital.

Dr Manish Sharma at Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital was quoted by ANI as saying, In the evening, four people who had been shot were brought to Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital. Out of them, two had suffered heavy bleeding and were brought dead, still, we tried CPR but they couldnt be saved. Two others are admitted to the ICU with gunshot wounds on the shoulder, thigh, and left side of the chest Former MLA Nafe Singh and another person Jaikishan were brought dead. They were shot in the neck, back, and shoulder. Multiple wounds suggest there were multiple rounds of fire Sudden major vessel damage causes heavy blood loss and eventually, heart attack

#WATCH | Jhajjar: Dr Manish Sharma at Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital says, In the evening, four people who had been shot were brought to Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital. Out of them, two had suffered heavy bleeding and were brought dead, still, we tried CPR but they pic.twitter.com/wDVO5mbbIU ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

INLD leader Abhay Chautala accused the government of failing to provide Rathee with security despite being there threat to his life and demanded the resignation of the chief minister and the home minister, a PTI report said.

Police stated that the investigation into the case was underway.

Politicians React to Nafe Singh Rathees Death

AAP leader Sushil Gupta slammed the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government in Haryana over the fatal attack on Nafe Singh Rathee.

Haryana INLD president Nafe Singh and his associates have been shot dead. No one feels safe here (in Haryana) anymore. Businessmen are shot and then extorted, politicians are being shot dead on roads, bullets are fired at farmers. Will the rule of law prevail in this state, or will the Chief Minister continue to remain occupied with election rallies? said Sushil Gupta.

On the other hand, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij assured immediate action in the matter and said, I have asked the officials to take immediate action in this matter. STF has also swung into actionThe incident is being investigated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday began his monthly address to the nation by talking about the famous drone didi and his governments efforts to empower women.

While addressing the 110th edition of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the prime minister asked the people of the country to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of women in different spheres of life.

After a few days on March 8, we will celebrate Womens Day. This special day is an opportunity to salute the contributions of womens power in the developmental journey of the country. The great poet Bharathiyar Ji has said that the world will prosper only when women get equal opportunities, PM Modi said.

Highlighting Sita Devis revolutionary use of drones in farming and technological advancements and agricultural practices, PM Modi said, Who would have thought till a few years ago that in our country, women living in villages would also fly drones? But today this has become possible. Today, everyone is talking about Drone Didi in every village, Namo Drone Didi, Namo Drone Didi is on everyones lips.

PM Modi also talked about his governments focus on the conservation of wildlife adding that the number of tigers increased under the Modi government.

Due to the efforts of the government in the last few years, the number of tigers in the country has increased. The number of tigers in the Tiger Reserve of Chandrapur, Maharashtra has crossed the figure of 250, he said.

A Bengaluru-based company has developed apps named Bagheera and Garuda. With the Bagheera app, the speed of vehicles and other activities during jungle safaris can be monitored, PM Modi said.

About the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, PM Modi said there is a possibility that the Model Code of Conduct will be enforced in March as it was done during the last polls as well, a reference to the expected announcement of the election schedule sometime next month.

In Mann ki Baat its all about the countrys collective efforts, for the next 3 months Mann ki Baat will not be broadcast. The next episode will be 111 episodes, he said.

Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Sudarshan Setu, the countrys longest cable-stayed bridge of 2.32 km, on the Arabian Sea, connecting Beyt Dwarka island to mainland Okha in Gujarats Devbhumi Dwarka district.

The bridge, which was known as Signature Bridge, has been renamed as Sudarshan Setu or Sudarshan Bridge. Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, which is nearly 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated.

Modi began his day by offering prayers at Lord Sri Krishna temple at Beyt Dwarka.
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange along with hundreds of his supporters was headed towards Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis residence Sagar in Mumbai to stage a demonstration. Jarange has alleged that Fadanvis is neither withdrawing the cases against Maratha activists nor allowing relatives to avail the benefits of Reservation for the Kunabi Community.

While addressing a gathering at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district on Sunday, Jarange alleged that Fadnavis was trying to defame him by roping in people to malign his image, a PTI report said.

Fadnavis has taken a decision without taking (Chief Minister Eknath) Shinde in the loop. Everything is happening at his directions, he is running the state. Does Fadnavis want me to sacrifice myself? I will march to his bungalow. Stop me if you can, Jarange, who has been in the headlines for his hunger strike in demand of reservations for Marathas, was quoted by NDTV as saying.

The Maratha activist warned that he would stage a protest at Sagar bungalow. If I die, place my body in front of his house, he said.

The government is going all-out to defame me. It wants me to die through a hunger strike. It is conspiring to eliminate me by poisoning me with saline. And that is why I have stopped taking IV fluids. Fadnavis is dreaming of eliminating me through an encounter, Jarange-Patil told reporters in the Antarwali-Saraati village, an Indian Express report said.

Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government extended a 10% reservation to Marathas, in the socially and economically backward category in jobs and educational institutes.

Jarange, however, stated that the new law does not align with their demand. We need reservation which we deserve, give reservation under OBC category to those whose proof of being Kunbi has been found. For those who dont have proof, pass a law of Sage Soyare, he said.

The activist had also demanded that all members of the Maratha community be considered Kunbi and given reservations under the OBC Quota, but the state government stated that only people with Nizam-era Kunbi certificates would get the benefits of the reservation.

Fadnavis is trying to create a rift within the Maratha community. Attempts are being made to finish big communities and give more prominence to smaller communities, Jarange was quoted by NDTV as saying.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asked BJP workers to resolve to give the Narendra Modi government a third term at the Centre with more than 400 seats, asserting that the upcoming Lok Sabha polls were about making India a superpower and the worlds third-largest economy.

Addressing about 23,000 booth-level workers of the party at Khajuraho, the Union minister also claimed the Congress means corruption and corruption means Congress.

Opposition INDIA bloc partners Samajwadi Party and Congress have announced a tie-up for the Lok Sabha polls in MP, with the Akhilesh Yadav-led outfit set to contest in Khajuraho, bordering Uttar Pradesh, and support the grand old party in the remaining 28 constituencies in the state.

Shah said the Congress during its 10-year tenure (between 2004 and 2014) had indulged in scams worth Rs 12 lakh crore.

Resolve to form the Modi-led government at Centre again by winning more than 400 seats. The upcoming Lok Sabha polls are for making Bharat a superpower and the worlds third largest economy under Modis leadership, he told his party workers.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won from Khajuraho with a margin of about 4.90 lakh votes.

The Modi government has completed ten years, but the opposition leaders cant level allegations of a single penny on him, Shah said.

Hailing the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya under the Modi government, Shah said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi used to take swipes at him by saying the saffron party claims it will build the temple but will not give people the date of construction.

The temple has been built under the Modi government. The BJP fulfils every commitment made to the public, asserted Shah, considered his partys key strategist.

The top BJP leader said the Congress dragged its feet for years over the Ayodhya temple, but Modi fulfilled the desire of crores of Lord Rams devotees by performing the bhumi pujan of the shrine and then leading its consecration ceremony.

He said that Congress and its allies have always insulted and abused Sanatana Dharma.

Congress and its allies tried to coin the term bhagwa terrorism and they always humiliated Bharatiya culture, he said.

Not only in India, Modi ji has returned recently by inaugurating a grand temple in UAE. Congress people are not tired of humiliating Sanatana Dharma. Giving credit for the partys victory to booth workers, Shah said that the BJP won 27 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats of Madhya Pradesh in 2014 and 28 segments in 2019. He urged them to ensure the BJPs victory on all the seats this time to cross the target of 400 seats in Parliament.

The target of 400 seats cant be possible without the booth workers, he said and praised the party organisation in Madhya Pradesh.

The BJP fulfils its promises, Shah said citing issues like abrogation of Article 370 from Kashmir, one-rank, one pension to retired army men, abolishment of triple talaq, 33 per cent reservation to the women in Lok Sabha polls and completion of various temple corridors.

Listing out achievements of the party, Shah said the BJP regime at the Centre has ensured 5 kg of free ration monthly to more than 80 crore poor people, provided tapped water to 14 crore families, and given Rs 6,000 annual assistance to 11 crore farmers.

The next five years will be the time to lay the foundation of a great Bharat, he said.

Congress let Alia Malia Jamalia from Pakistan enter India and carry out attacks and return but Manmohan Singh (then prime minister) didnt pay heed, he said.

Shah said that Pakistan made a mistake and launched attacks in Uri and Pulwama. Within ten days, the Modi government carried out a surgical strike and entered the homes of terrorists and killed them, he said.

The Union minister said that the Modi government has carried out several welfare works for farmers and made record purchases of wheat and paddy.

We have solved the problems of farmers one by one. Because of such works, Congress is not visible in the political landscape of the country, he said.

Shah said that the Congress government had given Rs 1.99 lakh crore to Madhya Pradesh in ten years while the Modi government gave Rs 7.74 lakh crore in nine years.

Besides, projects worth Rs 5.5 lakh crore were given and BJP tried to transform a BIMARU state into a developed one, he added.

Earlier in the day in Gwalior, Shah asked the BJP workers to strive for polling of 370 additional votes in each booth, compared to the last general polls, to achieve the seat target in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He was speaking to nearly 400 leaders and workers of the booth management committee of Madhya Pradeshs Gwalior-Chambal cluster comprising four Lok Sabha seats  Morena, Bhind, Guna and Gwalior.
Google has been slow with its AI roll out and the episode that transpired this week explains the reasons for its hesitancy. The company was forced to pause its AI image generator tool after its mistakes with historical figures. Many people were unimpressed with the results that Googles Gemini AI image generator offered, which has not only made the company sit up and stop its availability but also admit the mistakes that have been made.

So, how did Googles AI tech get it so wrong, and why did this happen? Googles Prabhakar Raghavan has tried to explain the issue in this blog post and highlighting the worrying concerns that AI still poses for the world.

He mentions that the AI tool was finding it hard to differentiate between a wide range of people, and the AI model became extra cautious to avoid any major lapses and be offensive to anyone. These two things led the model to overcompensate in some cases, and be over-conservative in others, leading to images that were embarrassing and wrong, Raghavan points out.

Googles reasons do make sense but one cannot explain the need for the AI model to confuse its command, rather than use its own mind to deliver the outcome. AI models are being trained using extensive dataset, but even then these tools face a tough time with prompts related to ethnicity and sex, or even historical facts.

For instance, AI cannot mix up the characters of German soldiers from the World War and give them a different ethnicity. Google has understandably decided to keep the AI model in learning mode to get these facts correct in the future.

The company has feared these issues before, and now that it has come to reality, changes are needed before the concerns about AI spread further.
At least 15 civilians were killed and two others injured during a terrorist attack on a Catholic church during Sunday mass in northern Burkina Faso, a senior church official said.

We bring to your attention a terrorist attack which the Catholic community of Essakane village was the victim of today, February 25, while they were gathered for Sunday prayer, the vicar of the Dori diocese, Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, said in a statement sent to AFP. The provisional toll was 15 killed, two wounded, he added.
The Indian Mission in New York on Sunday expressed condolences following the tragic death of a 27-year-old Indian journalist in a fire incident at an apartment building in Harlem.

The fire was sparked by a lithium-ion battery, in which 17 other people were injured at a New York City apartment building. Saddened to learn about the death of 27-year-old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY, the Indian Mission in New York said in a post on X.

Saddened to learn about death of 27 years old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY. @IndiainNewYork is in touch with late Mr. Fazil Khans family & friends.We continue to extend all possible assistance in India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) February 25, 2024

Fazil Khan, a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School, served as a data journalist at The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit newsroom covering inequality and innovation in education, at Teachers College, Columbia University. We learned Saturday that The Hechinger Reports data reporter Fazil Khan died in a fire in the New York City building where he lived. We are devastated by the loss of such a great colleague and wonderful person, and our hearts go out to his family. He will be dearly missed, The Hechinger Report wrote on X.

The Indian officials in New York are in touch with Fazil Khans family and friends. We continue to extend all possible assistance in reparation of his mortal remains to India, the mission added. The Indian mission assured that it is in close contact with Khans family and friends, extending full support in repatriating his mortal remains to India.

When escaping a fire, remember to close the door to prevent smoke & fire from spreading. Chief of Dept. describes what #FDNY firefighters encountered at Fridays fatal 2-alarm at 2 St. Nicholas Pl. FFs reached the 3rd floor where the fire originated & where a door was left open. pic.twitter.com/o0tdcFmKcP FDNY (@FDNY) February 24, 2024

Fridays two-alarm fire started around 2 pm on the third floor of a six-story building in Harlem. According to Joseph Pfeifer, the Fire Departments first deputy commissioner, flames and heavy smoke trapped residents in the hallway above.

Upon arrival, officials found numerous residents on the buildings fire escapes. There were also people trapped, hanging off windows on the fifth floor, Chief of Department John Hodgens said. Three firefighters were lowered by rope from the roof to rescue them. We usually have one of these a year or two. This was three at one fire, Hodgens said. A very heroic action, and all of those people unfortunately are in critical condition, but theyre at the hospital.

(With agency inputs)
The Quad is here to stay, grow and contribute to global prosperity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, noting it has become a substantive platform of the four vibrant democracies seeking to uphold an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific amid global concerns over Chinas rising assertiveness.

Speaking at Delhi-based Raisinas think-tank forum, Jaishankar described the grouping of India, the US, Japan, and Australia as an overhead light, creative, flexible, nimble, and responsive" enterprise, stressing that others cannot have a veto" on its choices. During his address, Jaishankar said there are three clear messages about the Quad. One, the Quad is here to stay. Two, the Quad is here to grow. And three, the Quad is here to contribute."

Quads Focus

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa and US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell also addressed the forum virtually. Despite Chinas belief that the coalition is aimed at containing it, the Quad is largely focused on the Indo-Pacific region. Quad is an overhead light, creative, flexible, nimble, responsive and open-minded enterprise. These are not adjectives we normally associate with bureaucracy. So, even as we assess its achievements, some compliments at least are due to all those who have shepherded it, who have grown it, who have actually made it unfold with such rapidity," he said.

Jaishankar also explained the Quads broad framework. One, it reflects the growth of a multi-polar order. Two, it is a post-alliance and post-Cold War thinking. Three, it is against spheres of influence. Four, it expresses the democratising of global space and a collaborative, not unilateral, approach. And five, it is a statement that in this day and age, others cannot have a veto on our choices," he said. The external affairs minister noted that the Quad is facilitated by the emergence of the Indo-Pacific, adding it is propelled by a change in the global order that requires more" and not less collaboration".

Pressing challenges

The Quad focused on addressing the regions most pressing needs and challenges including in areas of maritime security, infrastructure, connectivity, critical technologies, communications, space cooperation, cyber security, counter-terrorism, and climate action, he said. Jaishankar highlighted two major programmes under the Quad framework Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

Under IPMDA, data is being supplied for countering illicit maritime activities and responding to climate-related and humanitarian events. The IPEF seeks to offer alternative economic engagement mechanisms and it is making steady progress and addressing issues like supply chains, clean economies, sustainability, digital economies amongst others, Jaishankar said. While referring to India-initiated Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, he asserted that there should be no doubt about ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality in the Indo-Pacific.

Sometimes, it has been suggested that somewhere these two concepts have diluted ASEAN centrality. I think anybody who doubts ASEAN centrality, when they look at the map of the Indo-Pacific, clearly missed their geography classes at school," he said. And not just the geography class, I think they have probably passed up on all that has been happening in terms of the East Asia Summit process and how that today is actually a very unique and I would say irreplaceable architecture for this part of the world," he said.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has recently warned against a growing toxic culture in UK politics amid reports of members of Parliament facing security threats over their voting intentions in the House of Commons in connection to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Taking to his official account on X, the British Prime Minister said, In Parliament this week, a dangerous signal was sent that intimidation works. It is toxic for our society and our politics. It is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear in Britain. Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation.

In Parliament this week, a dangerous signal was sent that intimidation works.It is toxic for our society and our politics. It is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear in Britain. Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation. pic.twitter.com/ZY6InZBE3C  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 25, 2024

On Saturday, the 43-year-old British Indian leader issued a statement condemning the hijacking of protests on the streets of the country by extremists to glorify terrorism. The Sunday Times newspaper in one of its report claimed that three unnamed female MPs have been sanctioned additional security after concerns about their safety.

In a statement issued by Sunak, he said, The explosion in prejudice and antisemitism since the Hamas attacks on the 7 October [2023] are as unacceptable as they are un-British. Simply put antisemitism is racism.

With reference to an offensive projection on the Palace of Westminster recently, he added, Legitimate protests hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism, elected representatives verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted and antisemitic tropes beamed onto our own Parliament building.

And in Parliament this week a very dangerous signal was sent that this sort of intimidation works. It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain, he said of the scenes of chaos in the Commons last week over a Gaza ceasefire vote. While he did not make a reference to it specifically, his intervention came soon after the governing Conservatives suspended party MP Lee Anderson after he claimed during an interview that Pakistani-origin London Mayor Sadiq Khan was under the control of Islamists. The Opposition had demanded action over the remarks, which Labour Leader Keir Starmer branded as a racist and Islamophobic outburst.

This isnt just embarrassing for the Conservative Party, it emboldens the worst forces in our politics, said Starmer. The row follows an article by former home secretary Suella Braverman over the weekend that claimed Islamists and extremists were taking charge in all walks of life in Britain, attacked as extreme rhetoric by the Opposition parties. Braverman, sacked from the Cabinet by Sunak last year, was reacting to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle saying that he had selected certain amendments to a motion related to ceasefire in Gaza in a bid to ensure all options were on the table for MPs to vote on and to protect MPs safety.

According to The Sunday Times report, UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has been working with the Home Office, the police and the parliamentary authorities to significantly enhance the safety and security of MPs. As part of the overhaul, the royal and VIP executive committee (RAVEC), which is responsible for the security of the royal family as well as senior politicians including the prime minister and home secretary, has been brought in to help assess the threat to MPs. Many MPs are petrified by the abuse they are facing, a senior security source was quoted as saying.

It is understood that the female MPs requiring additional security have been provided with close protection by private companies, along with chauffeur-driven cars, which are normally provided only to senior members of the Cabinet and the Leader of the Opposition.

(with PTI inputs)
Britains Conservative Party suspended one of its lawmakers on Saturday after he said the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was under the control of Islamists. The decision to sack Lee Anderson comes as pressure had been growing on Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Tories to act following the lawmakers contentious remarks Friday, which have been widely condemned as racist and Islamophobic.

It comes as incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism have spiked across the UK amid increased polarisation since the outbreak of the war in Gaza last October. Khan, the first Muslim to be mayor of London and a member of the opposition Labour Party, is a frequent target of Conservative criticism for his handling of policing in Britains capital, including regular pro-Palestinian marches.

Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Lee Anderson walks at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, December 12, 2023. (Reuters File Photo)

On Wednesday hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside parliament, during a chaotic vote over whether to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the exact language to use. Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, said he broke with the usual parliamentary procedure for the vote because of previous threats of violence some lawmakers had received due to their views on the conflict.

Speaking on Friday to the television channel GB News, Anderson said: I dont actually believe these Islamists have got control of our country. But what I do believe is theyve got control of Khan and theyve got control of London. Hes actually given our capital city to his mates. Khan, who regularly speaks of the importance of fighting antisemitism, misogyny and homophobia, told reporters that he regarded Andersons comments as racist and Islamophobic and that they would pour fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred.

The Conservative Party said it had decided he could no longer represent them in parliament. Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the Chief Whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP, a spokesperson for Simon Hart, the government minister in charge of party discipline, said. Anderson, a former Conservative Party vice chairman, said he understood the decision to suspend him.

I will continue to support the governments efforts to call out extremism in all its forms  be that antisemitism or Islamophobia, he wrote on his Facebook page. A survey conducted from Feb. 16-18 by Savanta showed that 29 percent of Britons believed the Conservatives had a problem with Islamophobia, the most of any major political party.

(With agency inputs)
A lantern show featuring Chinese zodiac animals was held on Saturday in Hongcun Village, east China's Anhui Province, to celebrate the Lantern Festival.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Defying counterattacks by the United States and its allies, Yemens Houthi rebels continue to target global shipping in crucial sea lanes. Recent strikes on commercial vessels, including the MV Torm Thor and the Rubymar, heighten concerns of an environmental disaster and disruptions to global trade routes.

The US and its allies have launched multiple strikes on Houthi targets and redesignated the militia as a terrorist outfit. The latest response came on Saturday when American and British forces carried out a fresh wave of strikes Saturday against 18 targets in Yemen, following weeks of unrelenting attacks on Red Sea shipping. The strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen including weapons storage facilities, attack drones, air defense systems, radars and a helicopter.

U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint Strikes in YemenOn Feb. 24, at approximately 11:50 p.m. (Sanaa Yemen time), U.S. Central Command forces alongside UK Armed Forces, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted strikes pic.twitter.com/hAQ8Ftkihp  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 24, 2024

Read More: US, UK Forces Again Target Houthis in Yemen in Response to Red Sea Attacks

Over 45 Attacks

Released on Saturday, the statement joint statement was co-signed by Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, who gave unspecified support to the new round of strikes, the second this month and fourth since the rebels began their attacks on ships in the region. The Houthis now more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November constitute a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability, and demand an international response, the statement said.

On Sunday, Iran-aligned groups military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said Houthis targeted US-flagged MV Torm Thor owned and operated oil tanker, in the Gulf of Aden. These attacks came as the militants continued to attack shipping lanes in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The group targeted the tanker with a number of appropriate naval missiles, Sarea added in a televised speech. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the USS Mason, a guided missile destroyer, on Saturday shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile launched into the Gulf of Aden from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that was likely targeting the tanker.

Feb. 24 Red Sea UpdateOn Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. (Sanaa time), USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) launched into the Gulf of Aden from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. The missile was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a U.S.-Flagged, pic.twitter.com/9Bm80Y6qKK  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 24, 2024

Environmental disaster

The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have launched exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since November 19 as a protest against Israels military operations in Gaza. On Friday, a cargo ship was abandoned in the Gulf of Aden after an attack left a huge oil slick, in an environmental disaster that could worsen. Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, British-registered and Lebanese-operated cargo ship carrying combustible fertilizer, was damaged in a missile strike claimed by Houthis.

Read More: Attack By Houthis on Cargo Ship Leaves 29 Km-Long Oil Slick, US Warns of Environmental Disaster

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. CENTCOM said the ship is anchored but slowly taking on water and has left an 18-mile oil slick. The ships 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 Houthis started firing on vessels in November. The turmoil from Israels war with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has spilled over to some extent into other parts of the Middle East. Apart from the Houthi attacks on vital shipping lanes, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group has traded fire with Israel along the Israel-Lebanon border and pro-Iran Iraqi militia have attacked bases that host U.S. forces.

The oil tanker industrys longstanding concerns about insufficient ship construction are resurfacing as Houthi attacks on commercial shipping lead to widespread diversions in global petroleum trades, according to Bloomberg. With only two new supertankers set to join the fleet in 2024, the lowest in almost four decades, concerns about capacity shortages are growing. Owners, increasingly avoiding the southern Red Sea. The report said that this increased avoidance is prolonging trade routes, already stretched due to Russias conflict in Ukraine.

(With agency inputs)
US and British forces carried out strikes against more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday. This is the latest round of military action against the Iran-linked outfit that continues to attack shipping in the region.

The United States has previously carried strikes against the Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and say their attacks on shipping are, which have upset global trade and raised shipping rates, are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza.

U.S. Forces, Allies Conduct Joint Strikes in YemenOn Feb. 24, at approximately 11:50 p.m. (Sanaa Yemen time), U.S. Central Command forces alongside UK Armed Forces, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted strikes pic.twitter.com/hAQ8Ftkihp  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 24, 2024

18 Houthi targets

A joint statement from countries that backed strikes, said the military action was against 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen including underground weapons and missile storage facilities, air defense systems, radars and a helicopter. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand supported the strikes.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes were meant to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.

We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm Middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries, Austin said.

Strikes in Sanaa

The main television news outlet run by the Houthi movement said on Saturday that US and UK forces carried out a series of strikes in the capital, Sanaa. Earlier this week the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a UK-owned cargo ship and a drone assault on a U.S. destroyer, and they targeted Israels port and resort city of Eilat with ballistic missiles and drones. The groups strikes are disrupting the vital Suez Canal shortcut that accounts for about 12% of global maritime traffic, forcing a longer, more expensive route around Africa.

So far, 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 US military has said the Rubymar was carrying more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was hit, which could spill into the Red Sea and cause an environmental disaster. The European Union has launched a naval mission to the Red Sea to restore and safeguard freedom of navigation. Last year, the United States launched a parallel coalition, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to safeguard commercial traffic from attacks by the Houthis.

(With agency inputs)
Israeli police used water cannons against anti-government protesters while clashing with them in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, as demonstrators at a nearby rally calling for the return of hostages held in Gaza expressed rare optimism following reported progress in talks on a hostage deal with Hamas.

The clashes resulted in 21 arrests and several injuries Saturday night on Kaplan Street, opposite the Kirya army base, which is the headquarters of Israels defense establishment, The Times of Israel reported. Protesters at adjacent Democracy Square confronted officers who were tasked with preventing the demonstrators from blocking the Ayalon Highway.

BREAKING: TEL AVIV IN CHAOS pic.twitter.com/nV6meBb02X Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) February 24, 2024

This comes as Israels war cabinet has approved sending negotiators to Qatar to continue talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war against Hamas. The talks began in Paris, where the head of Israels overseas intelligence service Mossad and his counterpart at the domestic Shin Bet security service met with mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

National security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a televised interview Saturday evening that the delegation has returned from Paris  there is probably room to move towards an agreement. The negotiators had asked to speak to the cabinet to bring us up to speed on the results of the Paris summit, he added shortly before the meeting.

Israeli media later reported that the meeting had concluded, with the cabinet agreeing to send a delegation to Qatar in the coming days to continue negotiations on a weeks-long truce involving the release of hostages. Pressure has steadily mounted on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government to strike a deal to free the hostages, with thousands gathering in Tel Aviv Saturday at what has come to be known as Hostages Square to demand swifter action.

In his interview Saturday, Hanegbi said Israel wanted the release of all hostages seized in the October 7 attacks, starting with the women. He also indicated that Israel would not accept any deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia for a Palestinian state. Netanyahu said in a statement that Saturdays cabinet meeting would discuss the next steps in the negotiations. He also reaffirmed his aim for troops to go into Rafah in southern Gaza, despite widespread concern about the impact on hundreds of thousands of civilians who have fled there to avoid bombardments.

Israels air, land and sea war against Hamas in retaliation for its deadly October 7 attacks on southern Israel has killed at least 29,606 people, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says. Hamas attacked rural communities and military posts bordering the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 1,160 people dead. A one-week pause in fighting in November saw more than 100 hostages released, including 80 Israelis who were freed in exchange for some 240 Palestinians.

(With agency inputs)
The British Royal Family has been too gracious to Prince Harry, former US President Donald Trump has said, while adding that he would not protect him like incumbent Joe Biden has done.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Express US in Washington, Trump said he was he prepared to wow thousands of conservatives from around America. I wouldnt protect him. He betrayed the Queen. Thats unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me, he said on Saturday.

The former Presidents remarks came a day after the estranged UK Prince had appeared in US court over whether he had lied on his immigration papers about his drug use which he confessed to in his book Spare. Amid a legal battle initiated by the Heritage Foundation in the US federal capital, Prince Harry faces accusations of misleading information on his immigration papers, with support from Bidens Department of Homeland Security.

The Washington think tank pressed in court for the US government to disclose Prince Harrys immigration documents. This follows Dukes admission in his memoir about his experimentation with cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. However, a lawyer representing the Biden administration contested the challenge, arguing that the Princes written admission of drug use does not constitute definitive evidence of its occurrence.

This legal row unfolds against a backdrop of growing Republican discontent over perceived bias in the legal system against Trump. Expressing disapproval of Bidens administration, Trump slammed their handling of the UK Princes immigration affairs, accusing him of betraying Queen Elizabeth II. Trump, known for his staunch support of the late Queen, has labeled his memoir as horrible and expressed surprise at his attendance at King Charless Coronation. Trump, speaking fondly of the late Queen upon her passing in 2022, praised her as a grand and beautiful lady.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the war with Russia, in a rare official statement on military losses sustained during the two-year war.

At a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky said: 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in this war. Not 300,000 or 150,000, or whatever Putin and his lying circle are saying. But each of these losses is a great loss for us.

Zelensky suggested that plans for Kyivs long-awaited counteroffensive last year had been leaked to Russia ahead of time.

Our counteroffensive action plans were on the Kremlins table before the counteroffensive actions began, Zelensky said in a press conference in Kyiv, adding that his military chiefs were preparing several plans for this years battlefield strategy because of information leaks.

Zelensky said his countrys victory depends on Western support and that he was sure the United States would approve a critical package of military aid.

Whether Ukraine will lose, whether it will be very difficult for us and whether there will be a large number of casualties depends on you, on our partners, on the Western world, Zelensky said.

He spoke at a press conference in Kyiv dedicated to the second anniversary of Russias invasion at a time when Ukraine has been weakened by a shortage of ammunition and the blocking of US aid in Congress.

There is hope for Congress, and I am sure that it is going to be positive, otherwise I do not understand the world we will start to live in, Zelensky said.

The aid has been blocked amid resistance from Republicans.

For the first time, Zelensky put a number on Ukraines military losses in two years of brutal fighting with Russia, saying 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in this war.

Not 300,000 or 150,000, or whatever (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his lying circle are saying. But each of these losses is a great loss for us, he added.

Both sides are believed to minimise deaths of troops.

Asked if he would talk to Putin, Zelensky said:

Can you talk to a deaf person? Can you talk to a man who kills his opponents?

Putins main opponent Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison this month.

He sees himself (in power) by 2030, we would like to finish with him sooner, Zelensky added, mocking an upcoming presidential election in Russia that is likely to extend Putins long rule until 2030.
BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Agricultural Development Bank of China, the country's rural policy bank, has unveiled a guideline to step up credit support for China's Green Rural Revival Program, as part of efforts to promote rural revitalization.

The bank said it will target financial demands in key areas of the program, which highlights living condition improvements and the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, while also exploring effective means of providing financial support for the program.

Greater support will be given to improve rural living conditions, protect and conserve the ecological environment, increase the coverage of infrastructure and public services in rural areas, and build digital villages, the lender said.

It further pledged to broaden channels for farmers to help them increase their income, while keeping loan risks under control.

In 2023, the bank had issued loans totaling 488 billion yuan (about 68.67 billion U.S. dollars) to key areas of the Green Rural Revival Program, data showed. 
UPDATE

Feb 24, 2024 4:35 PM CST

A Southern California woman has been found guilty in the deaths of two young brothers who were in a crosswalk when Rebecca Grossman's car struck them in 2020. A jury convicted her of two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, and one count of hit-and-run, the Los Angeles Times reports. At sentencing in April, Grossman could receive a term of 34 years to life in prison. Prosecutors said Grossman was racing former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson, with whom she'd had cocktails, when she hit the boys. Erickson was charged with reckless driving, per the AP, but the count was dropped after he made a public service announcement about safe driving.

Feb 1, 2021 10:49 AM CST

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson has been charged with reckless driving in connection to a hit-and-run in Southern California that killed two boys last year, per the AP. The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said Erickson, 52, has been charged with one misdemeanor count of reckless driving. Investigators tell KABC-TV he was racing with Rebecca Grossman on Sept. 29, moments before she struck and killed 11-year-old Mark Iskander and his 8-year-old brother, Jacob, as they crossed the street in Westlake Village, a suburb 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The boys were crossing the street in a marked crosswalk with their parents. Prosecutors alleged that Grossman continued driving, eventually stopping about a quarter-mile from the crash scene.
Field Ethos bills itself as the "premier lifestyle publication for the unapologetic man," and there are few men less apologetic than its founder, Donald Trump Jr. Writing for Politico , Rosie Gray takes a deep dive into the hunting and outdoors magazine launched in 2021 by former President Trump's oldest son, a project the outlet bills as a further dive into the culture wars and "an extension of his father's political strategy." Gray notes the quarterly print pub and websitefeaturing large, scenic photos of hunting and fishing expeditions, as well as gear reviews, a travel agency, and a shop with merch like travel mugshave received compliments for its style, even from unexpected corners ( Slate has called Field Ethos "strangely captivating"). Gray writes, "The overall aesthetic of the brand is like a rugged, gun-loving version of Kinfolk, the Portland-based cottagecore hipster quarterly."

The brand, targeting men between 25 and 55, tracks with Trump Jr.'s longtime love of the great outdoors, born when he was a boy taking camping trips with his grandfather. He now frames his magazine, co-founded with friends, as a nonpolitical entity he can pick up "when I just need a break from it all," calling it "probably one of the least political things I do." But Gray notes that his father's "campaign trail runs right through" it all, with podcasts featuring MAGA headliners like South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, headlines like "Socialism Sinks Ships," and "anti-woke" diatribes in Trump Jr.'s publisher's notes, including on such topics as immigration and drag queen story hours. "The business strategy of Trump Jr. here looks a lot like the political strategy of his father: Divide the market, identify the loyal base, and appeal directly to it," Gray writes. Her piece in full here. (More Donald Trump Jr. stories.)
Recent acts of femicide and gender-based violence across several African countriesincluding Kenya, Somalia, and Cameroonhave prompted protests and calls for government action. The details are harrowing, and include beheadings, immolation, and mutilation, with the majority of cases involving intimate partners, the New York Times reports. Women's rights advocates in Kenya organized a "Dark Valentine" vigil to honor women lost to femicide31 women died there after being beaten, strangled, or beheaded in January alone.
"Nobody should be out here," says Jim Chilton, 84, after spying a campfire in the distance on his remote Arivaca, Arizona, ranch. His cattle-grazing land is three times bigger than Manhattan, and 5.5 miles of his property run along the US-Mexico border. As Eli Saslow writes in a lengthy piece for the New York Times , Chilton and his wife, Sue, have spent the past few years watching the "situation worsen." Some 150 smuggling trails crisscross their land; they've installed hidden cameras, as well as water fountains they hope will keep dehydrated migrants alive. They've testified before Congress. But "each night, the crisis brought more danger and desperation onto their ranch," which is where an estimated 250 people crossed into the US daily.

With Saslow alongside him, Chilton drove up to the campfire he'd spied and found some 45 people gathered there; they'd crossed through a 3-by-3-foot hole in the border wall. "They were fleeing civil war in Sudan, caste discrimination in India, starvation in rural Guinea, and organized crime in Albania," writes Saslow. With Title 42 having expired in May, most asylum-seekers are no longer automatically turned away but allowed to remain in the US while their cases wind through court. And so rather than continue north into the desert, they waited to be apprehended on Chilton's land so they could apply for asylum. "It took at least two hours for each Border Patrol van to drive onto the Chiltons' ranch and pick up a group of people, who were then usually fingerprinted at a border facility and released," with a court date a year off. (Read the full story.)
On the morning of June 16, 1998, 3-year-old Christina McNeil was found dead in her bed in Bloomington, Illinois. Today, her now 65-year-old father, Barton McNeil, is serving a life sentence after being convicted of her murder. Beyond those two facts, the story of Christina's death is anything but clear cut, as Matthew Bremner details at Esquire . McNeil insists he's innocent, and his cause has been championed by the Illinois Innocence Project. "There was just no evidence against Bart," says one of his attorneys. One defense expert, a former medical examiner, looked over the case files and came to the "stunning conclusion" that Christina wasn't smothered as detectives maintained but may have died of natural, or at least unexplained, causes, writes Bremner. Another defense expert similarly rejected prosecutors' claims the girl had been sexually assaulted.

"Suddenly it seemed possible that the little girl hadn't been murdered or abused, that perhaps she'd died without suffering," writes Bremner. He adds that he took up the story when his own baby suffered an accident (from which the child recovered), and he realized that "losing a child was not the worst thing that could happen to a person: Being unjustly locked up for it was." The expected ending to all this didn't materialize, however: McNeil's bid for a new trial was rejected last year, and he now expects to die in prison. In McNeil's view, his daughter was murdered by an ex-girlfriend of his, Misook Nowlin, and the story details her violent past. Her own daughter says Nowlin not only regularly beat her but admitted to killing Christina. Nowlin denies itfrom prison. She is behind bars after killing her mother-in-law in 2011. Read the full story. (Or check out other longform recaps.)
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in the killing of a nursing student whose body was found on the University of Georgia campus Thursday, and police said he apparently did not know the victim, he acted alone, and there was no further threat to the university community. The suspect, identified as Athens resident Jose Antonio Ibarra, was taken into custody for the death of 22-year-old Laken Hope Riley, reports the AP . The body of the Augusta University College of Nursing student was found near running trails Thursday, launching a highly visible police investigation that centered on an apartment complex just south of there. Video from campus security and other technology led police to Ibarra, who lived in one of the apartments, University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark said.

Clark calls the evidence authorities have gathered in the case "robust," per the Athens Banner-Herald, and they believe it was a "solo act" by Ibarra. He also said the investigation suggests that the suspect and victim didn't know each other. "This was a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual, and bad things happened," Clark said. "They had no relationship. He did not know her at all." Ibarra faces charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another. Clark said Ibarra doesn't have an extensive criminal history and is not a US citizen, but he did not know Ibarra's immigration status. Riley's sister, Lauren Phillips, paid tribute to her Friday in an Instagram post, calling her "the best sister and my built in best friend from the very first second."

The area where Riley was found is near the campus' intramural fields, and only a little farther from a large dorm complex occupied mostly by first-year students. Officials had advised students to travel in groups and avoid the area. Nate Stein, who graduated in December, said he's likely to be "on edge for a little bit." His roommate is a frequent runner, and they often exercise in the area around the lake. "I used to walk there every morning too, and I mean, it just feels like a very safe space," Stein said. "It's on campus so ... it doesn't really feel like it would ever be unsafe at all." (More University of Georgia stories.)
South Carolina residents voted Saturday in a Republican presidential primary, with Nikki Haley counting on her home state to close the gap between her and Donald Trump. The former president, who didn't campaign much in the state, planned to attend an election night watch party in Columbia. Haley, who toured South Carolina by bus, cast her vote Saturday in Kiawah Island with her family. The former governor planned to speak at a watch party in Charleston later, the New York Times reports. Most polls have Trump running 20 percentage points ahead, and early exit polls suggest he'll have a strong showing. Developments include:
CARACAS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela and Turkiye are committed to advancing towards a trade exchange of 3 billion U.S. dollars, the two countries' foreign ministers said here on Saturday.

Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil said that the trade exchange between the two countries reached over 800 million dollars in 2023, and will be increased to 3 billion dollars this year under the instruction of the presidents of the two countries.

"Trade cooperation between Turkiye and Venezuela is growing, and the exchange and import and export of products between the two countries are becoming increasingly important," Gil said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that "Venezuela plays a very important role in Turkiye's plans" in the Latin American region and that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Caracas this year.

Fidan also said Turkish energy companies are interested in participating in exchanges with Venezuela.

"In the coming period, we will advance in these matters," he said. 
"He's not breathing. He's dead. The fighting on the way home was unbearable," David de Jesus Contreras says on video recorded on his home's Ring camera. The "he" in question is his 22-year-old son, Eric, and Contreras has confessed to fatally shooting him after a fight on Nov. 3, 2023, just a few days ahead of his 23rd birthday. As Local News 10 reports, the elder Contreras, 52, is speaking with his wife through the door of their home in Pinecrest, Florida, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and was captured on video. "It's not your fault," he tells his wife. "Please call my brother." Contreras himself called 911; he has been held without bond since November and pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder. He's next due in court on March 11. (More murder stories.)
In the first public revelation of his nation's losses, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that at least 31,000 troops have been killed fighting off the Russian invasion. Tens of thousands of civilians in occupied areas also have died, he said. Ukraine has been secretive about casualties in the two-year-old war, reports CNN , which points out that it can't verify Zelensky's figures. US officials have estimated the death toll at 70,000. The president told a forum in Kyiv that the real number is 31,000, "not 300,000, not 150,000, not whatever Putin and his deceitful circle have been lying about." He added, per the AP , "But nevertheless, each of these losses is a great sacrifice for us."

Ukraine's defense minister said the losses have risen because half of the military aid promised by other countries has arrived late. "If what is allocated does not arrive on time, we lose personnel, we lose territories," Rustem Umerov told the forum. "This is a war where allied forces must provide supplies on time. At the moment, commitment doesn't constitute delivery." With US aid stuck in Congress and the EU coming up short of its ammunition promises, Ukraine is cranking up defense industries. The strategic industries minister said production capacity tripled in 2023 but can't come close to meeting the war's ammunition needs.

An official of a Western nation told the BBC that Russia also is unable to produce all the ammunition it needs for the invasion. Russia has had 500,000 casualties, Zelensky said, including 180,000 troops killed in action, though those numbers also could not be verified. Western estimates have put Russian casualties at more than 200,000, per the Washington Post. Ukraine's last disclosure of its losses was in December 2022, when a Zelensky adviser said that as many as 13,000 troops had been killed. Zelensky said Sunday that he would not provide the number of wounded because it would help in Russia's strategic planning. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
"Rentokil reported a rodent gained entry to the store overnight, triggering a camera sighting," Stockill said in a statement.

The issue is now being discussed with the Ministry for Primary Industries and its unclear when the store could reopen.

Stockill said an update on reopening will be provided when they are able.

NZ Food Safety has said that an investigation into the cause and scale of the problem at the Countdown could take several months.

When it eventually opens, it'll be monitored to ensure food safety.

There must be three consecutive days of no pests to show pest control measures are working, then the store gets the all-clear to reopen.

Woolworths has squashed rumours that staff aren't being forced to take leave while pest eradication continues.

"We have given our Dunedin South team the options of completing work in-store, working in another nearby store or taking annual leave if they would prefer to," a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Rodents spotted at other supermarkets

Other supermarkets around the country have also had a similar headache in recent weeks.

A mouse was also spotted crawling around an uncovered salad in the deli department of Countdown Eastgate two weeks ago.

After that incident emerged, Woolworths New Zealand stores director Jason Stockill told Newshub that Rentokil had identified and sealed possible rodent entry points.

It was later revealed staff hadn't thrown out the deli food after the mouse was spotted, and some of it was sold.

Foodstuffs, the other supermarket behemoth, hasn't been totally rodent-free either.

An Auckland woman told Newshub she saw a mouse scurrying up the aisle at Pak'nSave Lincoln Rd, in Henderson last Tuesday.
But Labour warns the Government's focus on gang wardrobes is "not good policy" and will put more pressure on frontline police.

"The evidence shows it doesn't work to reduce gang activity and intimidation," justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said in a statement.

"We all agree that gang intimidation must stop, but insisting that Police use their resources to chase down people for wearing jackets, bandanas, hats, even jewellery like rings, rather than criminal behaviour, is not the best way to do that."

Labour's Police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said the Government needs to back Police with resourcing, not cut their budget.

"Frontline police are stretched already dealing with criminal behaviour, so we have to look at what is the best use of their time. It certainly isn't being the wardrobe Police," she said.

"It is disappointing that the Government is diverting resources from effective operations such as targeting the financial networks of gangs - hitting them in the pocket where it hurts them most - and ignoring the evidence that their actions will have no significant impact on reducing crime."

Meanwhile, ACT said it welcomed the crackdown on gangs - and the introduction of ACT's policies to do it.

"After five years of Labour cuddling criminals and ignoring victims, it's time for gangs to see consequences for their actions," said ACT justice spokesperson Todd Stephenson.

"ACT believes protecting the safety and property of New Zealanders is the Government's first and most important job. We welcome policies that restore balance to a system that has become too focussed on criminals instead of victims."
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Housing Ministry yesterday affirmed its pivotal role as the funding entity of the Mazaya housing scheme.

With a firm stance, the ministry asserts its policy, affirming that requests to purchase housing units must align with stringent criteria, including the necessity of a separate document eligible for a mortgage.

Since the ministry is the funding entity for Mazaya, it does not accept requests to purchase housing units without a separate document eligible for a mortgage, the ministry explained.

This insight sheds light on the ministrys rigorous approach to ensuring the integrity and viability of the programme.

Clarification was also given on the delivery or purchase of housing units without a separate document.

Accordingly, citizens enrolled in the Mazaya service are contractually tied to financing banks participating in the programme, operating by the banks regulations.

Regarding the Diyar Al Ayoun project, the ministry highlighted its partnership with a real estate development company since 2015 to implement the project, which aims to provide over 3,000 subsidised housing units in multiple stages.

The objective, stated the ministry, is to offer units at government-supported prices, enabling citizens seeking housing financing to avail themselves of this opportunity.

This clarification comes in response to inquiries raised by MP Khalid Buanq during parliamentary sessions.

Moreover, the ministry disclosed its efforts in conducting lectures and workshops with real estate developers to educate them about properties suitable for the Mazaya programme and encourage them to provide ready housing units aligned with the financial services offered by the ministry.

As a result, some real estate developer projects have been approved to provide ready units according to the programmes specified criteria, including the unit price, the ministry stressed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday secured victory over Nikki Haley, his former ambassador to the United Nations, in South Carolina's Republican primary, advancing a step closer to a potential face-off with incumbent Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential election in November.

Despite her aspirations to regain momentum after three losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, Haley -- South Carolina's first female governor from 2011 to 2017 -- got roughly 40 percent of the vote, trailing Trump by approximately 20 percentage points.

As Trump and Haley traverse the primary landscape, vying for the Republican presidential nomination state by state, Trump's firm hold on a significant faction of the party is evident.

However, he remains embroiled in controversies surrounding his efforts to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election results and his alleged role in inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.

Meanwhile, despite growing inner-party pressure to drop out and allow Republicans to unite around Trump, Haley vowed she was "not giving up this fight."

"We're getting around 40 percent of the vote. That's about what we got in New Hampshire, too. I'm an accountant. I know 40 percent is not 50 percent. But I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group," Haley told supporters in her election-night remarks.

"In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak," she said. Her next station is Michigan, and then Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states and one territory will vote to choose candidates to compete in the general elections.

Trump, who has swept all the early states, has contended that the Republican primary election was effectively over. "This was a little sooner than we anticipated," he said in his victory speech in Columbia in South Carolina, adding that he had "never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now."

A Marquette Law School national poll of registered voters conducted from Feb. 5 to 15 showed that Haley could hold a larger lead over Biden than Trump in a hypothetical general election match-up, considering "her strength with Republicans combined with an ability to attract more Democratic and independent voters than does Trump."

But most observers believe Trump's leadership in the party can hardly be shaken, and more discussion has been switched to who Trump's election partner will be. A Morning Consult tracking poll conducted from Jan. 23 to Feb. 4 showed Trump is considerably ahead in every major Super Tuesday state.

A daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley, 52, who portrays herself as a leader from "a new generation" and attacks Trump about his age and records in making America "chaos," has aimed to court independent voters and moderate Republicans.

But that strategy appeared to be ineffective. In the first Republican primary in Iowa, Trump secured over 50 percent of votes, while Haley even placed behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, previously considered a promising right-wing challenger to Trump who later withdrew.

Then, in New Hampshire on Jan. 23, a significant battleground state where the governor Chris Sununu had endorsed Haley, she lost by roughly 9 percentage points.

In the recent Nevada contest, featuring both a state-run primary and a party-run caucus, only the caucus results dictated delegate allocation. Having chosen to participate in the primary, Haley was consequently excluded from the caucus. She suffered a significant setback, losing the primary to the "none of these candidates" option by a considerable 30 percent margin. Trump's name was not on the ballot. The outcome underscored her formidable challenge in securing the nomination.

The odds are against her, even in some of her targeted groups. For instance, according to an ABC News poll, even among college-educated voters, where Haley has experienced the greatest growth of support, she's trailing Trump by about 30 points nationally.

"Trump has established a powerful, identity-based relationship with his most dedicated supporters, and his opponents in the GOP have generally been unwilling to challenge this," Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, told Xinhua.

Haley and her campaign have shown no sign of relenting. Calling the election "a building situation," she said in an NBC interview that she did not necessarily need to win her hometown but had to do better than she did in New Hampshire, which was better than she did in Iowa.

However, with the sizable 20 percent margin in South Carolina, her pathway appears increasingly challenged.

Now, put aside the slim hope that Haley turns the tide; there's just one problem left in Trump's nomination: Will the former president, who is beset with 91 criminal charges across four criminal cases, including the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot in which many view him as an insurrectionist, be disqualified from the ballot?

Not likely, but the final answer primarily lies in an awaited ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in response to a challenge from the western state of Colorado. The Colorado Supreme Court -- all seven of its justices appointed by Democratic governors -- ruled in December that Trump would be kicked off the ballot for engaging in what has been labeled an attempt to overthrow the government on Jan. 6, 2021. Then Trump appealed.

It is unclear when the Supreme Court, with a 6-to-3 conservative majority, will issue the ruling after hearing oral arguments in the appeal on Feb. 8. But the justices across the political spectrum have expressed concern over the possible ripple effect if Colorado's decision is upheld.

Brookings Institution senior fellow Darrell West told Xinhua: "Several justices expressed doubt about the effort to disqualify Trump from the presidential ballot ... They say it sets a precedent of allowing an individual state to outlaw particular candidates."

Formal challenges to Trump's presidential candidacy have been filed in at least 36 states and Colorado and Maine, which will both hold primaries on Super Tuesday, disqualified him from primary ballots, according to the New York Times. Trump appealed in both.

The lawsuits surrounding Trump's mishandling of sensitive government documents and cover-up payments to a porn star during the 2016 presidential campaign have been used as bargaining chips for both sides. Haley said Trump was a source of chaos and "all of this chaos will only lead to more losses for Republicans up and down the ticket." Meanwhile, Trump has long presented himself as a victim of political persecution and a challenger to the justice system, a move resonating with his supporters.

The cases are expected to unfold over the coming months during the general election, while Trump and his team have been trying to delay trials. In its latest development, New York Supreme Criminal Court judge Juan Merchan said last week he planned to begin the hush-money trial on March 25.

"Haley is staying in the race in case something happens in the court cases that shake confidence in him. She is counting on a conviction knocking him out of the race," West told Xinhua.

On the Democratic side, Biden is similarly dominating the field while facing challenges such as his age and health, disputes over his management of the U.S.-Mexico border and declining support among black voters.

The primary elections will be followed by Republican and Democratic conventions in July and August, in which each party will formally choose their presidential candidate. The candidates will participate in three televised debates before the voting day on Nov. 5. 
Two in dock for betel leaf smuggling, tax evasion in Bahrain

Two in dock for betel leaf smuggling, tax evasion in Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Two suspects, both Asian nationals, are in the dock for allegedly smuggling betel leaf into Bahrain and attempting to evade value-added tax.

Set to commence on March 10, the accused face allegations of illegally importing betel leaves (paan) and unauthorised cigarettes while evading value-added tax, selective tax, and customs duties, amounting to BD 148,747.

The Head of the Tax Evasion Crimes Unit at the Financial Crimes and Money Laundering Prosecution said the investigation was prompted by Customs Affairs' suspicions regarding a shipment imported by the defendants under a company's name, originating from an Asian country and bound for Bahrain.

Prohibited betel leaves and unauthorised cigarettes were uncovered during the inspection.

The National Revenue Agency also initiated criminal proceedings against the suspects for failure to pay taxes on the confiscated goods.

Subsequently, the Tax Evasion Crimes Unit conducted an extensive investigation, involving witness testimonies and expert analysis of seized items and import documents.

As a result, both suspects and the associated company were implicated in the alleged offences, leading to their arrest and referral to the High Criminal Court.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A legal battle over medical negligence culminated in a patient winning BD5,500 in compensation from both a doctor and his employer.

The landmark ruling by the Bahrain High Administrative Court accusing the doctor of negligence stated that this resulted in the patient suffering a 15% permanent disability.

Reportedly, the incident occurred at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), where the patient later underwent surgery to address his condition.

Referred to SMC after enduring persistent lower abdominal pain, the plaintiff's hopes for relief were dashed when the attending doctor allegedly failed to conduct a thorough diagnosis.

Instead of addressing the root cause, the doctor prescribed a pain reliever, leaving the patient in agony.

Frustrated and still in pain, the patient sought help elsewhere, only to return to SMC for surgery after the situation worsened.

Tragically, the delay in proper treatment resulted in a permanent disability, robbing the patient of vital time and health.

Fueled by a sense of injustice, the plaintiff took the matter to the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), sparking a rigorous investigation into the alleged medical negligence.

Despite the doctor's attempts to evade accountability by citing the statute of limitations, the court firmly rejected such claims, underscoring the need for accountability in cases of medical error.

Citing the NHRA report from 2022 as evidence, judges ruled that the lawsuit was filed within the three-year timeframe specified by law.

The court, echoing the sentiment of the report, held both the doctor and the hospitals accountable for the damages inflicted upon the plaintiff.

With the weight of evidence firmly against them, the defendants were compelled to compensate the plaintiff for the irreversible harm caused.

The court's verdict awarded BD6,000 in total, recognizing both the tangible and intangible losses suffered by the plaintiff.
Japans space agency (JAXA) is sending a mission to travel to Mars which will survey the Red Planets two moons, Phobos and Deimos. The spacecraft will explore both moons and collect a sample of Phobos and bring it to Earth. This will be a major dedicated mission to Phobos and Deimos. MMX is scheduled to be launched in 2024, and will return to Earth five years later.

Phobos has been photographed in close-up by several spacecraft whose primary mission has been to photograph Mars. The first was Mariner 7 in 1969, followed by Mariner 9 in 1971, Viking 1 in 1977, Phobos 2 in 1989, Mars Global Surveyor in 1998 and 2003, Mars Express in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2019, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2007 and 2008. On 25 August 2005, the Spirit rover, with an excess of energy due to wind blowing dust off of its solar panels, took several short-exposure photographs of the night sky from the surface of Mars, and was able to successfully photograph both Phobos and Deimos.

The Soviet Union undertook the Phobos program with two probes, both launched successfully in July 1988. Phobos 1 was accidentally shut down by an erroneous command from ground control issued in September 1988 and lost while the craft was still en route. Phobos 2 arrived at the Mars system in January 1989 and, after transmitting a small amount of data and imagery but shortly before beginning its detailed examination of Phoboss surface, the probe abruptly ceased transmission due either to failure of the onboard computer or of the radio transmitter, already operating on the backup power. Other Mars missions collected more data, but no dedicated sample return mission has been performed.

The Russian Space Agency launched a sample return mission to Phobos in November 2011, called Fobos-Grunt. It failed in Earth orbit. On 1 July 2020, the Mars orbiter of the Indian Space Research Organisation was able to capture photos of the body from 4,200 km away
 Flash

A radioactive water leak at the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant earlier this month has caused anxiety in Japan and abroad. The leak will also hinder completion of the plant's decommissioning.

Ken Saito, Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry, summoned Tomoaki Kobayakawa, president of the Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, operator of the crippled power utility, to his office on Wednesday and urged the firm to treat the incident as a serious management issue and ensure thorough safety measures.

Furthermore, Saito requested an analysis to identify any common factors contributing to the incident. He also urged the utilization of digital technology to prevent human errors, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

On Feb 7, TEPCO informed the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, that water containing radioactive materials was found to have leaked from a cesium absorption tower at the plant.

TEPCO calculated that the leakage totaled around 5.5 cubic meters of water containing an estimated 0.022 terabecquerel of radioactive substances, according to the IAEA.

The water was assessed to have leaked from a valve left open during cleaning work at the absorption tower. Kobayakawa apologized and said this was an issue that should not have happened.

After his meeting with the minister, Kobayakawa said that TEPCO will consider effective measures with the help of external experts to prevent errors without human intervention.

Several safety incidents have occurred repeatedly at the plant. On Oct 26, TEPCO said two male workers in their 20s and 40s were hospitalized after being exposed to nuclear-contaminated water while cleaning piping at a water filtration facility at the plant.

During the operation, a hose used to transfer nuclear-contaminated water to a tank went loose, which led to approximately 100 milliliters of radioactive water being leaked, The Asahi Shimbun reported.

"At the site of nuclear-contaminated water treatment, various accidents are possible.  Many things are unpredictable," Masashi Goto, a former nuclear power plant engineer, said.

"Therefore, TEPCO should indeed take measures to prevent accidents at the site, and there should be a high level of vigilance. However, technically speaking, this is also very difficult to achieve."

Citing the case of workers who came into contact with liquid containing radioactive materials, Toshihiko Sasaki, a Chiba resident, expressed grave concern about such incidents.

He said people cannot trust TEPCO because the company manipulated information and reported false data.

In handling nuclear-contaminated water, accidents have occurred repeatedly, fully exposing the chaotic and disorderly internal management of TEPCO, a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Japan said on Feb 8.

Ineffective supervision

The accidents also demonstrate the inadequate and ineffective supervision measures by the Japanese government and once again prove the lack of long-term reliability of nuclear water treatment equipment, highlighting the need for international supervision, the spokesperson said.

Moreover, Japan has so far dumped approximately 23,400 cubic meters of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima plant into the ocean since August. The fourth round of discharge is scheduled to commence in late February.

The plant suffered a triple meltdown during an earthquake and ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011.

The Chinese embassy spokesperson stressed that the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima plant into the sea concerns the health of all mankind, the global marine environment and international public interests.

"We once again earnestly urge Japan to take seriously the concerns of neighboring countries and the international community, engage in sincere consultations with relevant stakeholders, fully cooperate in establishing effective international monitoring arrangements with substantive participation from stakeholders, and handle nuclear-contaminated water in a scientific, safe, and transparent manner," the spokesperson said.
To kick off the Year of the Loong, residents in East China's Jiangxi Province have created a 200-meter-long bench lantern to ring in the new year. For some positive "loong vibes," check out this visual spectacle.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service




The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has charged former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) to seek forgiveness and apologize to Igbos over his latest remark on Biafra civil war.





A chieftain of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who described Gowons remark as inflammatory, urged him to move for reconciliation.





Isiguzoro said Gowons latest remark following his visit to President Bola Tinubu, has reopened old wounds and inflicted anguish upon the Igbo community, both at home and in the diaspora.





The factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze said Gowons choice of words and narrative regarding the Biafra war has been insensitive and deeply hurtful to the collective psyche of the Igbo people.





Gowon, who ruled Nigeria between 1966 and 1975, had recalled how he was criticized that he could not prosecute the civil war because he was slow.





Condemning the remark, the factional Secretary-General, challenged Gowon to reflect on his actions and the enduring consequences of the Biafra civil war.





A statement by Isiguzoro reads: In response to the incessant and inflammatory comments made by the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, regarding the experiences of the Biafra war, Ohanaeze Ndigbo issues a resolute and imperative call for reconciliation and healing to be initiated by Gowon himself.





It is with unwavering conviction that we assert that the time has come for Gowon to take responsibility for his role in the tragic events of the past. His repetitive glorification of the suppression of the Biafran struggle does a disservice to national unity and healing.





We remind General Gowon that his continued existence, especially amidst the over 3 million Igbo lives lost during the war, is a divine opportunity for him to seek redemption and offer genuine apologies for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the Igbo people.





It is incumbent upon Gowon to acknowledge the atrocities, confess to any misdeeds, and sincerely apologize to the Igbo community for the role he played in the conflict.





Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasizes that only through sincere reconciliation, rooted in genuine remorse and penitence, can lasting peace and harmonious co-existence be achieved in our nation.





The endurance of the Igbo people, their forgiveness, and their commitment to national development are undeniable, yet the scars of the past persist as long as Gowon chooses to reopen old wounds with his insensitive comments.





It is crucial for General Gowon to rise above personal pride and demonstrate true leadership by making amends for the sins of the past.





As Igbos continue to contribute positively to the development of Nigeria and support the government of President Tinubu, it is incumbent upon Gowon to reciprocate by fostering an environment of healing and reconciliation through his actions and words.





Ohanaeze Ndigbo implores General Yakubu Gowon to seize this rare opportunity to seek forgiveness, offer sincere apologies, and desist from further inflaming the painful memories of the Biafra war.





It is time for Gowon to exhibit humility, righteousness, and empathy towards the victims of the war, thereby paving the way for genuine reconciliation and lasting peace in our beloved nation.
Students attend the Bank of China - University of Yangon Scholarship Awarding Ceremony in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

YANGON, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 100 Myanmar students from the University of Yangon have received scholarships provided by the Bank of China (BOC) Yangon Branch for the 2023-24 academic year.

"Some families are not able to support their children's education. So this scholarship program is really helpful to them," Daw Cho Cho, pro-rector of the University of Yangon, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the scholarship awarding ceremony held in the Myanmar capital on Sunday.

"I am really happy for the students who have the opportunity to continue their education with the scholarship," she said.

Students expressed gratitude and relief at the lowered cost of education with the help of the scholarship.

Khun Linn Htut Moe, a 19-year-old student, said: "I come from Kayin state and study political science at the University of Yangon. The grant is really beneficial to my educational path as I am able to take courses and save on college costs."

May Phyu Sin Aung, a junior student majoring in philosophy, said: "Now I don't need to ask my parents for money to enroll in university."

"I can pay by myself with this scholarship. I am really grateful to BOC for supporting Myanmar students as much as possible, especially during this difficult time," she added.

Khaung Htwe, a 19-year-old student of microbiology, told Xinhua that in addition to university fees, "I can also attend other courses I want to attend. The grant is really convenient for me."

The BOC scholarship program, jointly organized with the China Foundation for Rural Development, aims to improve Myanmar's education sector and strengthen China-Myanmar friendship.

It was set up in 2022, providing scholarships to 100 students from the University of Yangon every year. 

Participants attend the Bank of China - University of Yangon Scholarship Awarding Ceremony in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

Students receive scholarships during the Bank of China - University of Yangon Scholarship Awarding Ceremony in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

Students receive scholarships during the Bank of China - University of Yangon Scholarship Awarding Ceremony in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)




The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Sunday accused former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retired) of being a genocidist.





IPOBs spokesman, Emma Powerful, accused Gowon of leading the second bloodiest genocide after the Israeli Holocaust against Igbos.





Powerful was reacting to Gowons latest comment on the Biafra civil war.





After a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, the former Military Head of State had disclosed how he was accused of being unable to prosecute the Biafra civil war because he was too slow.





Reacting, Powerful declared that the current generation of Igbos would actualize Biafra independence.





A statement by Powerful reads partly: The attention of the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the horrible but true confession of starting the genocidal war against Biafra by the former Military Head of State of Nigeria, Major General Yakubu Gowon.





The genocidist Yakubu Gowon led the second bloodiest genocide after the Israeli Holocaust against Biafrans between 1967 and 1970.





Recently, during a solidarity visit to President Tinubu, the genocidist, Yakubu Gowon, openly confessed to starting the genocidal war that they call a civil war against Ndigbo without shame.





He equally confirmed that he was criticized for starting that war, yet he went ahead to commit the deadly genocide against the Biafra Nation.





As other genocidists in Nigeria, Gowon is gallivanting and glorifying himself for massacring millions of Biafran men, women, and children. His home state is under the occupation of terrorists and bandits today, but that is not his concern. The genocide he masterminded against Biafrans has visited his people. Fulani bandits and terrorists have taken over and renamed some of the villages in the Tiv nation while Gowon is watching helplessly like the slave that he is. God has preserved Gowon to witness the same genocide he perpetrated against Biafrans.





Fortunately, no inch of Biafran land was taken over by the Nigerian State during the bloody civil war. But Yakubu Gowon and his people have already lost some areas of their own land to Fulani conquerors and jihadists. And if care is not taken, the entire Middle Belt will be conquered by the Sokoto Fulani Caliphate. We dont wish that happens because of the innocent people of the Middle Belt even though we despise the unrepentant Genocidist Gowon and his fellow Nigerianists actions against Biafrans.





We commend our eternal leader, Chief Dim, Odumegwu Ojukwu whether dead or alive, and other Biafra heroes and heroines for resisting the bloody genocide against Biafrans led by the genocidist, Gowon. By the special grace of Eze Chukwu Okike Abiama, this generation of Biafrans will finish the struggle and restore Biafra Independence. There is nothing people like war criminal Gen. Yakubu Gowon and company can do about it.




A pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere has begged the Yoruba people not to participate in the protests breaking out from some parts of the country over the current economic hardship.





The Yoruba people are indigenes of the six southwestern states of the country which include Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti and Oyo.





Although, residents of the Yoruba-identified states and others including Kano, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto and Osun states have also staged protests to express their displeasure on the rising cost of living.





However, the chairman of the organisations elders caucus, Reuben Fasoranti, on Sunday while acknowledging the hardship faced by the people said that Nigerians have to be understanding of the current situation.





According to him, the economic measures taken by the Federal Government, though difficult, are aimed at bringing prosperity to the country at large.





The statement read in parts, As a responsible leader, I appeal to every Yoruba man and woman, young and old, and our fellow citizens across the nationalities, to exercise patience and refrain from engaging in protests or actions that may escalate tensions.





The outcry over the hardship, hunger, and price hikes is not unexpected. However, we must come to terms with the realities of our national challenges, which the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is striving to resolve.





While acknowledging the hardships faced by our people, it is important to recognise that these economic measures, although difficult, are part of a larger strategy aimed at restoring economic prosperity and stability to Nigeria.





The governments commitment to implementing these measures is a testament to its dedication to addressing the root causes of our economic challenges, inherited from the ills of the previous years, he added.





He further urged Nigerians to trust in the governments commitment to the welfare of our nation, adding that the Federal Governments policies will benefit all in the long run.





Let us engage in constructive dialogue and contribute positively to the ongoing economic reforms. Join me in appealing for unity and understanding among our people. Together, we can weather this storm and emerge stronger as a nation.





It is important to note that the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira is not undertaken lightly, as we all know the great damage done to our national prosperity through the nefarious activities of the agents of darkness within the oil and financial sectors.





These measures by the Federal Government, though painful in the short term, are designed to create a more sustainable economic environment that will benefit us all in the long run.





It requires collective understanding and resilience from every citizen as we navigate through these challenging times, the Afenifere leader stressed.





The Nigeria Labour Congress declared a two-day nationwide protest slated for February 27 and February 28, 2024.





The NLCs National President, Joe Ajaero, said the protest would begin a week after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government which will expire on February 23.





Ajaero, who spoke during a briefing with journalists in Abuja, said the decision followed an emergency National Executive Council meeting on the state of the economy and matters related to insecurity in the country.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25th, 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said haven experienced what old politics has in store, Nigerian youths cant wait to take back the country from those who consider national leadership as a criminal racket.





Obi said this at an event with the theme: Redefining Our Options and Consolidating our Legacies, organized by Obidient support groups in Abuja, on Sunday.





The event was organized to coincide with the 1st anniversary of the February 25th, 2023 Presidential Elections.





Obi, in this speech titled, Tribute to Hope said, among other things, The nation has heard us. The youth have carried the mantle of changing their destiny and the direction of our country. They cannot wait to take back their country from those who regard national leadership as a criminal racket.





He saluted what he referred to as the abiding faith and solidarity of all those Nigerians who supported the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign and the Labour Party through the campaigns and the elections.





Obi said,  I also salute the patriotism and freedom of choice of those who may not have supported or voted for us.





I salute your courage and tenacity. Together, we made the courageous statement that a new, more prosperous, more united Nigeria is not only possible but also within reach of all Nigerians.





You braved the odds, you defied the pessimism of nay-sayers, you made incredible sacrifices and clung to the stubborn belief that this land is our country and that its future is ours to shape for our common good and the good of posterity, the LP standard bearer said.





Looking back at what happened at the election and the situation in the country today, we were correct in saying that the old ways of politics should give way to a new progressive Nigeria.





In the twelve months since that election, most of the fears we expressed for our nation if we went the way of the old politics have come to haunt us in frightening forms.





We may have lost an election but we have won a moral victory of epic proportions. All the worst fears that we warned might happen have all been playing out.





Our national economy has been driven into perhaps the worst state in all of our national life. The population of those classified as multi-dimensionally poor has climbed astronomically to over 80% of our population.





Similarly, unemployment is galloping, for a predominantly youthful population, this scenario is dire and frighteningly dangerous.





The hunger protests have united our people across ethnicity, language, region, faith, and location. This is another confirmation of our belief that Nigerians are united by the circumstances of their living conditions, not by artificial barriers raised by opportunistic politicians. We are now one people under hunger.





The LP standard bearer went on to say, Just yesterday, I read with sadness, the reports of how a massive crowd besieged the Zonal Office of the Nigerian Customs in Yaba to purchase the discounted 25kg rice offered by the Customs Service.





In the course of the heavy stampede that ensued, some lives were lost. It is heartbreaking to think that despite all the wealth of our nation, Nigerians are losing their lives in their desperate quest to buy food cheaper, in the face of the growing hunger and starvation in the country.





The former Anambra state Governor however noted the patriotism of Nigerians even in the face of daunting challenges.





He said, Wherever I have gone all over Nigeria, North, and South, I have been struck by the reality of poverty, deprivation, and suffering sometimes written boldly on the faces of people. Yet the beauty of our people remains the optimism in their Nigerian identity and the hope they all cherish in the future of our country.





None of the poor people that I have encountered has ever wished they were not Nigerians. On the contrary, the consensus among them is that Nigeria is a good place ruled mostly by bad leaders.





Obi also used the opportunity to pass a message of hope to all Nigerians particularly his supporters.





According to him, Despite our current problems and setbacks as a nation, I am glad to reassure our supporters and compatriots that there is nothing in our dark experiences that has dampened my resolve and optimism in the possibility of the New Nigeria that we all strove so hard a year ago to enthrone.





 And nothing has happened to discourage my resolve or optimism about the goals we fought for. A greater, more compassionate, more prosperous, and more equitable New Nigeria is possible.





The LP flag bearer equally paid glowing tribute to the courage of the Obidient  and reassured them that, there is no looking back in the journey to rescue Nigeria.





He declared, For me, the journey to a better Nigeria has just begun. It is a lifelong journey. On that journey, despair is not an option. Surrender is not a choice. Failure is not even a remote possibility.




Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a lawsuit against Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and the 36 State governors in Nigeria for not providing accounts for the alleged missing N40 trillion federal allocations meant for local governments in the FCT and the states.





The suit followed the damning revelations by former president Muhammadu Buhari who in December 2022 stated that, If the money from the Federation Account is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman but the chairman will sign that he received N100 million.





In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/231/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to direct and compel the governors to publish details of LGA allocations and actual disbursement of the allocations to local governments in their respective states from 1999 to date.





The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo and Kehinde Oyewumi.





The suit held thar, Many years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of federal allocations meant for local governments have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services in several states.





The governors and Mr [Nyesom] Wike have a legal responsibility to promote transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in the states and FCT and to ensure that the allocations are dully and fully disbursed to the local governments.





According to our information, the 36 states in Nigeria and the federal capital territory, Abuja, have collected over N40 trillion federal allocations meant for the 774 local governments areas in the country and FCT.
A homeless man is being sought for allegedly stabbing a convenience store employee in what police describe as an unprovoked attack earlier this month.

Francisco Bonilla, 34, remains at large after the stabbing in Atlantic City on Feb. 3, according to police, who said hes charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses in connection to the attack.

Bonilla is believed to be living in Atlantic City, police said Feb. 16.

He entered a store in the 100 block of North Rhode Island Avenue around 8:18 a.m. and assaulted the employee, according to police. The worker, identified only as being 39, was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City for life-threatening injuries.

An update on the victims condition was not available Sunday.

Anyone with information on the case or who may have seen Bonilla is asked to contact Atlantic City police at 609-347-5766. Police also accept anonymous tips to 847411, beginning messages with ACPD.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
An Atlantic City man already in prison for dealing a large amount of fentanyl from his home pleaded guilty Tuesday to shooting a man in the stomach in 2019 and fleeing the scene on a bicycle, authorities said.

Investigators said they linked 38-year-old Kevin Davis to the shooting using surveillance footage.

Davis pleaded guilty to attempted murder and a weapons offense, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office announced Friday.
For one shining moment, Andy Sachs, Emily Charlton and Miranda Priestly were back together again.

Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep had a mini The Devil Wears Prada reunion at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Saturday.

Netflix, which livestreamed the show, teased the trios appearance as a reason to tune in.

Streep came to the stage to present the award for best male actor in a comedy series wearing  what else  Prada.

Two things, she said. I forgot my glasses. And the envelope.

Blunt, wearing a plunging red gown, came to the rescue with the envelope and Hathaway, clad in a belted blue dress, delivered the glasses, channeling their roles as assistants to intimidating fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly in the film.

Its an age-old question, said Streep, who delivered a master class when she played Priestly. Where does the character end and the actor begin?

Blunt, who played Charlton, one of Priestlys assistants, interrupted.

Well, as weve just seen, Meryl and Miranda Priestly are sort of like twins, said the actor, 41. Right?

I dont think Im anything like Miranda, replied Steep, 74, the three-time Oscar winner who grew up in Bernardsville.

No, no, interjected Hathaway, 41, who grew up in Millburn. That wasnt a question.

This, of course, was a line lifted straight from Priestlys dialogue in the film when talking to Sachs, another of her assistants, played by Oscar winner Hathaway.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006), adapted from Lauren Weisbergers 2003 book The Devil Wears Prada, was scripted by New Jerseys own Aline Brosh McKenna.

During Sachs interview for an assistant job, Priestly comments on her clothes.

You have no style or sense of fashion, she tells the recent college graduate.

Well, um, I think that depends on what you ...

No, no, Priestly says. That wasnt a question. "

After Hathaway invoked the classic line, Streep stared her down on the SAG Awards stage.

Blunt, who was nominated for the SAG award for best female actor in a supporting role for her performance in Oppenheimer, uttered another line from The Devil Wears Prada.

By all means, move at a glacial pace, she told Streep, who hadnt yet introduced the nominees. You know how that thrills me.

The vaunted actor proceeded to pull down her glasses in a Priestleyan fashion to do just that.

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway as Andrea "Andy" Sachs in "The Devil Wears Prada."Twentieth Century Fox

Hathaways choice of blue attire gave a nod to another famous scene from the film in which Priestly dresses down Sachs for her ignorance of fashions influence.

She uses the assistants lumpy blue sweater as an example.

That sweater is not just blue, its not turquoise, its not lapis, its actually cerulean, Priestly tells Sachs (see video below). Youre also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns, and then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent, wasnt it, who showed cerulean military jackets, and then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down to some tragic Casual Corner where you no doubt fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and its sort of comical how you think that youve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry, when in fact youre wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.

The 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards are livestreaming on Netflix, where the show will also be available to watch after its conclusion.

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
They came. They saw. They plunged.

More than 8,000 people gathered on the Jersey Shore on Saturday for the states largest polar plunge as revelers braved frigid late-winter temperatures to take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

Lined up on the sand in front of yellow caution tape, the thousands in attendance  what may be a record  waited as a countdown from NJ 101.5s Big Joe Henry unleashed a flock of plungers at about 1 p.m.

Some dressed for a typical beach day. Others got more creative, including attendees dressed as a stormtrooper from Star Wars, a wrestler, a piece of bacon and a banana.

It was a lot of people, a sea of humanity we say, Jeremy Davis, a spokesman for Special Olympics New Jersey, said Saturday afternoon from Seaside Heights as the event was winding down.

This plunge really provides so many opportunities for our athletes, Davis added. 85% of every dollar raised for Special Olympics New Jersey goes straight to the athletes to provide programming, to provide leadership opportunities, school programs and community programs.

When all is counted, the 31st Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights is expected to raise more than $2.5 million for New Jerseys chapter of the Special Olympics, organizers said.

The total amount of money raised this year could also set a record, they added Saturday afternoon.

More than 8,000 people participated in the 31st Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights on Saturday, February 24, 2024.Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Medi

The Special Olympics holds training and events worldwide for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Some athletes from the organization were on hand Saturday to greet and thank plungers during the event.

I was so excited to jump in the ocean again this year for the fifth time, said Colin Tobin, a 14-year-old Brick participant. I have been plunging since I was 10 years old and it makes me feel good that CAT Crew is in my honor.

Lauren Stoltzfus, 41, of Bayville, described Saturday as a special and memorable day for her family.

This is the second year my nine and six year old kids have participated, Stoltzfus said. What a way to teach them to spread kindness, acceptance of others, and perseverance in their own struggles to jump in the icy Atlantic Ocean.

Plunge participants began checking in as early as 9 a.m., four hours before the plunge began on the main beach between Webster and Dupont avenues. Temperatures hovered between the mid-30s to 40s, what Davis called perfect for the plunge.

He said while a few runners took a quick dip, others lounged in the waves.

The Seaside Heights event is the highest-profile among several cold-weather plunges that take place every winter in New Jersey.

Three events  the Atlantic City Polar Bear Plunge in Atlantic City, the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge in Brigantine, and the Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge in Long Branch  were held on New Years Day.

Lake Hopatcong, the states largest lake, will be the setting for the 14th Leap in the Lake, sponsored by the Lake Hopatcong Elks No. 782, on March 2.

On Saturday, the top fundraiser teams included 2nd Avenue Freeze-Out, Bayshore Shrinky Dinks, NJKofC Polar Penguins, CAT Crew, and Team Wawa. Special Olympics New Jersey officials said among the individual plungers to raise the most funds were Lou Castano, David Coppola and Brian Tobin.

Reflecting on the day, Heather Andersen, president & CEO of Special Olympics New Jersey, said: What a great day to see so many plungers, their family and friends, volunteers, law enforcement, and the community coming out to support our mission. Year after year, this plunge keeps growing and we are truly amazed at the generosity of so many.

More than 8,000 people participated in the 31st Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights on Saturday, February 24, 2024.Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Medi

More than 8,000 people participated in the 31st Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights on Saturday, February 24, 2024.Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Medi

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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
By Scott Richman and Richard T. Smith

As leaders of two historic organizations  the NAACP New Jersey State Conference and ADL New York/New Jersey  we recognize our shared commitment to confronting hatred and injustice. Yet, this year, more than ever, extremist voices from both ends of the political spectrum are trying to drive a wedge between our communities.

Instead of letting them prevail, during this Black History Month, and all year long, we are committed to ensuring solidarity across Black and Jewish communities. Even in the face of rampant disinformation, it is clear that we have more shared experiences and histories binding us together than differences.

Throughout history, both Black and Jewish communities have faced discrimination, persecution, and systemic oppression. Black and Jewish people, including Jews of Color, have endured unimaginable hardships. Yet, amidst adversity, we have also demonstrated resilience, strength and the power of solidarity.

This solidarity has led Jews to stand beside Black leaders striving for equality and justice. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States, led by towering figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin and Rosa Parks, as well as organizations like the NAACP, inspired to action Jewish leaders, such as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, organizations such as ADL, and ordinary college students such as Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner who were murdered trying to ensure that Black voters could register to vote in 1964 Mississippi.

This solidarity continues on  just this past August, 1,500 ADL staff and leaders joined Dr. Kings family for a 60th anniversary commemoration of the historic March on Washington.

Despite significant progress since the 1960s, in recent years, anti-Black and anti-Jewish hate crimes have surged, which underscores the urgent need for collective action. In 2023, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness saw a 72% increase in Suspicious Activity Reports targeting a specific demographic.

Nearly 60 percent of incidents targeted the Jewish community, and almost 10% of incidents targeted the Black community. Nationally, according to the latest available data on hate crimes from the FBI, Black people are the victims of more hate crimes than any other racial or ethnic group, and Jews are the most targeted religious group.

These alarming statistics are a reminder of the persistence of bigotry in our society. From a banner overhanging a freeway in Yonkers last year on Martin Luther King Day by white supremacist and antisemitic groups to the dissemination of dangerous conspiracy theories like the Great Replacement Theory, the rise of extremist ideologies poses a grave threat to our shared values of equality and inclusion.

The New Jersey attack at an anti-racism concert at Trinity Episcopal Parish in Asbury Park and the firebombing of Ner Tamid synagogue in Bloomfield  during the same week in January 2023  are tragic examples of the real-world consequences of hate-fueled violence in our state. These heinous acts not only terrorize individuals and communities but also serve as a chilling reminder of the urgent need to confront and dismantle hate in all its forms.

Increasingly, we have seen abhorrent racist and antisemitic rhetoric  from both the right and the left  infiltrate town council meetings and public discourse in places like Jersey City, Passaic and Teaneck. Just this week, in West Orange, a public comment session included comments about the Holohoax and called Council President Bill Rutherford racist pejoratives.

It is crucial to reject extremist rhetoric that seeks to pit the Black community against the Jewish community or vice versa because all hate intersects. Falling prey to this false rhetoric harms all of us.

This Black History Month, let us reaffirm our commitment to unity, understanding, and cooperation. Let us reject the politics of division and embrace the richness and diversity of our identities. By coming together as allies, we can overcome any obstacle and build a brighter future for future generations.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. As we honor the legacy of Black leaders and trailblazers this February, let us also remember the power of allyship and recognize the shared struggles and humanity that bind us. Together can we build a more just, equitable, and compassionate society for all.

Scott Richman is the regional director of the ADL New York/New Jersey.

Richard T. Smith is president of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference.

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Breaking news: People dont like being told what to do. According to a new poll from Rutgers Universitys Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, more than half of New Jerseyans have no intention of buying an electric vehicle regardless of the governors 2035 mandate. Also, according to Monmouth County Democrats, they have no intention of giving Tammy Murphy the county line regardless of the governors 2024 mandate.

Governor Murphy made headlines last year with his intent to require all new vehicle sales in the state of New Jersey to be electric by the comically short date of 2035. Even though Murphy will be long gone from the governors office by then, managing to switch the state over to electric by 2035 is a fairy tale. Im not convinced he believes it can happen either, but pledging to go electric is a good way to burnish the old progressive bone fides in case one may want to run for higher office someday soon.

Governor Murphy made headlines earlier this year by throwing his considerable political capital behind his wife Tammys Senate run. Congressman Andy Kim was already in the race and people seemed to be pretty happy with him until the governor leaned on all the county bosses to back his better half. Murphy has the backing of party leaders and big-money donors but Kim has enthusiastic grassroots support, thousands of small donors and now the county line in Monmouth.

Party machines force-feeding hand-selected candidates to voters like a foie gras duck apparently isnt as popular as it used to be.

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PHNOM PENH, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won a sweeping victory in the fifth election for the Senate, or the upper house, on Sunday, a party's spokesperson said.

CPP's spokesperson Sok Eysan cited preliminary results as saying that the CPP won the most majority votes in the election.

"The CPP won at least 50 of the 58 Senate seats up for grabs, or more than 80 percent of the total votes," he told Xinhua. 
Corkcicles latest Cruiser release might leave the most loyal Stanley fans with an itch to switch.

Ever since the popular brands Canteens, Cold Cups and Cold Cups XL came out, it was only a matter of time before fans asked for a 40-ounce upgrade  and theyre getting it with the Cruiser.

The Cruiser is a step up from Corkcicles first straw cup, the Cold Cup and its XL counterpart. Its their biggest one yet, holding 40-ounce servings of drinks that the brand says can stay cold for up to 20 hours.

Like the Stanley Quencher, the Corkcicle Cruiser has a handle, a non-slip bottom and a spill-proof lid that you can directly sip from or use with a straw.

But unlike the Quencher, the Cruiser is triple, versus double-insulated, it weighs 1.3 pounds, versus 1.4 pounds, and it costs $40, versus $45.

Plus, despite Stanleys impressive color repertoire, the Corkcicle Cruiser comes in a range of colors  from 90s-inspired color block hues to a Rainbow Unicorn wash and a matte black.

If your water bottle collection is due for a newbie, check out the Corkcicle Cruiser.

Or shop the sale section stacked with collaborations at discount prices:

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Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Dear reader, we need to talk.

Today, Im thrilled to announce Im your new online newspaper editor. Count on me as your direct liaison to our newsroom at NJ Advance Media, which provides content to NJ.com, The Star-Ledger and other affiliated newspapers.

My job is to represent readers interests by hearing what you have to say. Consider me your advocate in our newsroom.

In a recent survey sent to thousands of subscribers, many of you told us your interest in a host of different topics related to news, lifestyle, business and sports. Happy to say, were already having internal discussions about beefing up offerings, especially in areas of consumer advice, food, local travel and commentary.

Were continuing to invest in our award-winning news operations, including newsletters, podcasts, social media and more, most of which is exclusive to our Star-Ledger print and online newspaper subscribers, as well as to our digital subscribers on NJ.com. In addition, NJAM just launched a new free resource for our diverse communities, Mosaic.

We know many of you already read the online newspaper and have been enjoying a slew of offerings available on your laptops, mobile phones and tablets. I encourage you to visit more often.

If you subscribe to the print edition of The Star-Ledger and havent checked out the online newspaper, Im positive youll be pleasantly surprised with all the added content we offer.

The Star-Ledger Online Newspaper, which you can find at enewsSL.nj.com or via the app, provides subscribers with at least 10 exclusive daily pages of additional local and national content not found in the printed newspaper. Bonus content includes the New York Times Book Review, a weekly TV book and occasional special sections.

You can find more puzzles and games at the online newspaper site, as well. And as a Star-Ledger subscriber, you have unlimited access to NJ.com exclusive content, access to previous editions of the newspaper and the ability to share your subscription with up to four family members.

Im especially enthusiastic about collaborating with you on building the online newspapers Update section, which offers news, sports and features that come in after print deadlines for The Star-Ledger.

As this is an election year, Ill be working closely with our politics and opinion desks, beefing up the online newspapers Letters to the Editor and guest commentary. Youll also hear from me on a regular basis, offering tidbits from conversations I have with subscribers, news sources and NJ Advance Media journalists.

So, lets talk. Id love to hear from you about what we could do better, what you already like or just to say hi. My office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. Call me directly at 732-902-4454 or email me at elavin@njadvancemedia.com.

Enrique Lavin is the editor of online newspapers. Find him on LinkedIn or on his Facebook Page.

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Louisiana Inspired

A film sheds light on 11 daring women whose defiant act changed the Episcopal Church

The Philadelphia Eleven depicts the buildup toward the so-called irregular ordination at which four bishops ordained 11 women as priests without the denominations approval.
Faimon Roberts III covers rural communities in Louisiana. His work is supported by a reporting grant from the Microsoft Journalism Initiative and is administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

He can be reached at froberts@theadvocate.com.
CAIRO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Two rounds of talks will be held in Qatar and Egypt respectively to reach an agreement on a truce in the Gaza Strip that is currently under massive Israeli siege and bombardment, Egypt's Al-Qahera News reported on Sunday.

"The Doha and Cairo discussions will be held with the participation of specialists from Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Israel, in addition to a delegation from the Hamas movement, in continuation of what was discussed in the recent Paris meeting," Al-Qahera News quoted an unnamed Egyptian official as saying.

The talks in Doha and Cairo seek to reach an agreement on a truce in Gaza along with exchanging Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages, according to the report.

Israel has been waging a war on Gaza after Gaza-ruling Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 200 as hostages.

Since then, the ongoing Israeli military assaults have killed 29,692 Palestinians and injured 69,879 others, according to the latest data released by Gaza's Health Ministry on Sunday.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States mediated a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas that ended in late November 2023, which included a swap between Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages and more humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. 
by Marwa Yahya

CAIRO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A fresh multibillion-U.S. dollar coastal development deal between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will help to mitigate the North African country's economic struggle and bridge its financing gap, according to Egyptian economists.

The two Arab countries reached a groundbreaking deal on Friday to build a new city on Egypt's northern coast, in a bid to boost tourism, investment, and foreign currency reserves.

Under the deal, the UAE will inject 35 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment into Egypt over the next two months, and the total investment is expected to reach 150 billion dollars throughout the project.

"This is the largest amount of FDI in the history of the country," and the immediate payment will help the country overcome its current hard currency crunch, said Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

The deal enables the two countries to develop Ras Al-Hekma, a 170-square-km area west of Egypt's Mediterranean city of Alexandria, into a new massive urban, business and tourism center, said a presidential statement on Friday.

With a payment of 24 billion dollars, the Abu Dhabi-based sovereign fund ADQ was granted the rights to develop Ras Al-Hekma. ADQ will also convert 11 billion of its deposits into investments in additional projects across Egypt to support its economic growth and development, the ADQ said in a statement.

At the signing ceremony, Madbouly said the deal was the start of several investment agreements that the government was working on to increase foreign currency sources.

"The deal constitutes a breakthrough in Cairo's efforts to lure foreign direct investment and end its worst foreign exchange crisis," Waleed Gaballah, a member of the Egyptian Association for Political Economy, Statistics and Legislation, told Xinhua.

Egypt has been dealing with a severe foreign currency shortage over the past few years due to declined tourism revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising commodity prices and disrupted supply chains following the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, and a recent plunge in the Suez Canal's income amid surging conflict in the Red Sea, the economist said.

Abu Bakr al-Deeb, an advisor to the Cairo-based Arab Center for Research and Studies said the deal is expected to "generate big liquidity into Egypt," a country actively pursuing additional funds to bridge its billions of financing gap.

Egypt has been selling stakes of state-owned assets and entering into new loan programs with foreign finance institutions, among other measures, to bridge its roughly 17 billion dollar financing gap by 2026, a number estimated by the IMF.

Under the deal with UAE, Egypt will also obtain 35 percent of the project's revenues, Madbouly said, expecting the project to attract eight million tourists and create millions of job opportunities during and after its implementation.

Al-Deeb reiterated that the deal is significant because it will encourage other FDI and reduce the pressure on Egypt to obtain dollars.

Egypt's dollar-denominated sovereign bonds jumped 1.4 cents on Friday after the deal was signed to trade at around 68 cents -- its highest level in a year, according to data by Tradeweb, a financial company for trading fixed-income products.

Karim Adel, head of the Cairo-based Al Adl Center for Economic and Strategic Studies, believed Egypt is "an emerging stable market and capable of attracting foreign investments." However, the country has "to stabilize its currency value against the U.S. dollars, to ensure investors when it comes to signing contracts," Adel said.

Greenback price on Egypt's black market has been hit sharply after the deal was announced. One dollar was exchanged on Sunday for 47 pounds instead of 63 on Friday morning. The official exchange rate stands at 30.8 pounds. 
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump walks on stage to speak during an election night watch party at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 24, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA, S.C.Former President Donald Trump has once again racked up a decisive victory over Republican challenger Nikki Haley. This time, he is running a victory lap around the former South Carolina governor in her home state.

The Associated Press called the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election for President Trump shortly after polls closed statewide at 7 p.m. ET.

Theres a spirit that Ive never seen, President Trump told supporters in his victory speech at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia.

The former president said that his campaign is now moving on to focus on defeating President Joe Biden.

Youre fired, Joe. Get out, President Trump said.

Even before the first tallies were released, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung released a statement Saturday declaring an end to the primary.

The primary ends tonight and it is time to turn to the general election so we can defeat Crooked Joe and end his assault on the American people, referring to Democrat President Joe Biden.

For many candidates, suffering a loss on home turf could be considered a coup de gras of political humiliation.

South Carolina GOP Chair Drew McKissick noted that the Palmetto State has long been considered the graveyard of presidential campaigns.

Thats for several reasons. Prior to South Carolinas first-in-the-south primary, there are only a handful of other contests for candidates to try to conquer.

But post-Palmetto, candidates must have sufficient finances and manpower to compete nationwide. Therefore, South Carolina typically represents a candidates last chance to make a good impression on voters and donors before they must run a more complex gauntlet.

Another reason presidential hopefuls often decide to hang it up after losing in South Carolina: Every successful presidential candidate since 1980 had secured a South Carolina primary win en route to the White House victory.

When asked whether he thought Ms. Haley might be able to pull off a surprise win, Mr. McKissick laughed as he told The Epoch Times: I live here in the real world  and I know what Ive been seeing, organization-wise and endorsement-wise.

President Trump had outgunned Ms. Haley on all fronts as far as he could see; Mr. McKissick was unable to cite any good, logical reason for her to continue.

Yet Ms. Haley has repeatedly insisted she will persevere until at least Super Tuesday, March 5, when more than a dozen states will hold presidential-preference contests.

Im running for president because we have a country to save, and Ive been reminded of how important that is every step of the way, Ms. Haley said in a post on X.

As voters headed to the voting booths in South Carolina, fans of Ms. Haley applauded her tenacity even while they acknowledged that she was poised for her fifth straight election loss to President Trump.

Although polls suggested President Trump would beat Ms. Haley by double digits in South Carolina, her supporters argued she should press on to give GOP voters a Trump alternative. Even people who favor President Trumps policies worry about the impact of his numerous legal battles and his sometimes-abrasive style. Some, including Ms. Haley, doubt he can beat President Biden in the general election.

According to the RealClearPolitics (RCP) average of opinion polls, Ms. Haley was beating President Biden by almost 5 percent in a theoretical matchup, while President Trump was ahead of the incumbent by only about 2 percent. Considering that many polls carry a margin of error around 4 percent, Ms. Haleys lead over President Biden is not a comfortable one.

Yet Republican leaders point to the former presidents continued ability to draw huge crowds to rallies, such as the 6,000-seat coliseum in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the night before the primary. More importantly, he seems able to get the voters to head to the polls even with his victory touted as a done deal.

About 208,000 people voted early in this years South Carolina Republican primary, about 75,000 people more than the Democrats had for their entire Feb. 3 contest, Mr. McKissick said. And that was even before a single vote was counted on the in-person voting day, Feb. 24, Mr. McKissick said.

Based on the political landscape, Mr. Cheung accused Ms. Haley of being wildly unrealistic.

Nikki Haleys delusion is clouding her judgment, and she is no longer living in reality.

President Trump ran the table in the four GOP contests held thus far: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

And he won by historically- large margins. Some interpret the results as a resounding mandate from GOP voters who want him to reclaim the White House. His staunchest supporters maintain that President Trump was wrongfully ousted after a corrupt 2020 election. They consider his successor to be an illegitimate president who has subjected his political foe to unfair persecution ever sinceallegations that President Biden and his supporters deny.

With each successive defeat of Ms. Halley, calls for her to withdraw from the race have increased in both volume and frequency.

President Trumps supporters and a chorus of political analysts are dismissing Ms. Haleys continued campaigning as a foolish waste of resources at a time when Republicans war chest is embarrassingly empty. To boot, Republicans resent seeing so many Democrats making big donations to keep Ms. Haleys campaign afloat.

Regardless of what either of the warring factions says, nothing speaks louder than the end result, Mr. McKissick, the GOP chair, said.

Thats the great thing I love about politics: The scoreboard, he told The Epoch Times. You know, people can talk all the stuff; they sell it. But at the end of the day, somebodys gonna be right and somebodys going to be wrong  theres no, you know, participation trophies.

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the location of the watch party. The Epoch Times regrets the error.

From The Epoch Times
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a press conference during the "Ukraine Year 2024" forum in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 25, 2024, marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)

KYIVPresident Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since Russias full-scale invasion two years ago, giving the first official figure for more than a year.

Mr. Zelenskyy told a news conference in Kyiv that he could not disclose the number of wounded because it would help Russian military planning.

Thirty-one thousand Ukrainian troops have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000  [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is lying there  But nevertheless, this is a big loss for us.

Ukraine has not put a number to its military losses since the end of 2022, when presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the invasion on Feb. 24.

Battlefield casualties are a highly sensitive subject in a country trying to reform how it mobilizes civilians into the army to regenerate its forces after last years counteroffensive proved unable to break through Russian lines.

Mr. Zelenskyy told reporters that 180,000 Russians had been killed in the fighting.

Russia does not disclose military losses, which it regards as secret. Both sides regularly describe the others military losses as vast.

The Ukrainian leader also said that tens of thousands of civilians had been killed in the occupied areas of the country during the war. Kyiv says it cannot accurately assess the scale of such losses because it does not have access.
Medicare provides health insurance coverage to nearly 20% of the U.S. population.

It also is an income stream for physicians. Yet reimbursement rates and demanding paperwork may create burdens on practices, especially smaller ones that may struggle to balance the time they spend on administrative tasks versus patient care.

Kaiser Family Foundation studies have found that for physician services, private insurance paid an average of 143% of Medicare rates.

While an overwhelming number of medical practices accept patients with Medicare insurance, 1% of all nonpediatric physicians formally opted-out of the program in 2023, according to the foundation. Psychiatrists accounted for the largest share, at just over 40% of those who left.

As a patient, discovering that your trusted doctor has opted out of Medicare is a disruption. Youll now need to search for another provider within the network or consider additional out-of-pocket costs.

Kelly Blackwell, a certified senior adviser and registered nurse, counsels individuals across the United States  including in Northwest Indiana  on Medicare decisions. She has served as a contributing expert to online Medicare resource sites and says any big change in life is a good time to take stock.

Its a good chance for someone to remember they are a consumer of health care and they are in a position where they can be educated and empowered about their choices moving forward, she said.

Typically, patients will have two choices if their doctors opt out of Medicare: Stay with their provider and pay out of pocket or find a new provider.

Pay out of pocket

When physicians opt out of Medicare, they may enter into private contracts with their patients, Blackwell said. The provider and the patient cannot bill Medicare for reimbursement, so bringing in a financial planner to help you assess how these new costs affect your budget can offer benefits.

As seniors, we spend 10-15% of all of our monthly expenditures on health care, so it would be helpful to figure this out with your financial adviser as a line item, she said. You may have an HSA (health savings account) that you can use as well.

While this option isnt feasible for many patients, some physicians may be willing to lower their rates, especially for an established patient.

If you do self-pay, a lot of times there is a discount that comes with it, Blackwell said. Youll need to talk with an office manager and financial adviser since if youre paying out of pocket, you really need to be a good consumer and consider how much services cost.

Patients also may be notified that their physicians are now non-participating providers. Practitioners who receive payments from Medicare must enroll as a Medicare provider, though they may agree to be a participating provider or a non-participating provider.

Participating providers sign a participation agreement with Medicare and agree to accept Medicares fee schedule amounts as payment in full for any Medicare-covered service.

Most physicians who bill Medicare are participating providers. However, non-participating providers physicians can still accept Medicare patients. Those health-care professionals can choose whether to take Medicares approved amount on a claim-by-claim basis.

While participating providers are paid the full Medicare-allowed amount, non-participating providers can take only 95% of it. However, non-participating physicians can charge patients up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount.

If your doctor becomes a non-participating provider, youll likely have to pay the difference between his fee and the Medicare-approved amount. Keep in mind that you may also have to pay the entire bill during your office visit with you or your provider submitting a claim to Medicare.

Patients can also use a hybrid approach to their care by visiting their current physicians for treatments and heading to urgent care or public health clinics for others. Urgent care facilities and health clinics are more likely to accept Medicare.

However, Blackwell notes that this approach can limit your face-time with the same team of health-care specialists treating you.

Its a strategy, but you may miss out on the benefits of preventive health, which as you age, probably isnt a good strategy, she said.

Find a new physician

The other alternative is to find a new doctor.

If they have a good relationship with their physician, my guess is that the physician would make a recommendation, Blackwell said. If not, ask for a recommendation.

This is a good time to consider what matters most in health care before searching for a new doctor, she says.

Most people begin to have an idea of what matters most as far as ease of referrals, ease of seeing a specialist or being able to get the services they need when they need them, she said. You know what your most pressing health concerns are.

Family and friends can provide insight into other physician qualities you may seek, Blackwell said.

You may want a knowledgable doctor, but one who has a set of soft skills, she said. Its a good time to think about what attributes and qualities are important to you.

Jenifer Groth, deputy commissioner of Communication and Personnel with the Indiana Department of Insurance, says if consumers are enrolled in original Medicare, they can check to see whether a new provider accepts Medicare at medicare.gov.

On the Medicare website, there is a tool to search for physicians and other health-care providers that participate in Medicare, she said.

Barbara Rossi, insurance consultant and senior promise coordinator with Franciscan Health, says community resources also are available to help patients who may find themselves in need of a new doctor or help navigating the Medicare system.

Franciscan Insurance Services is one of those resources that helps patients find policies that meet their needs. In her work with the service, Rossi says she has helped individuals locate doctors approved under their plans.

Its a great service that helps the senior community, she said.

Medicare Advantage

Stephanie Piessens, resource connections supervisor for Northwest Indiana Community Action, says doctors can leave Medicare Advantage Plans at any point. Medicare Advantage Plans, also known as Part C, are a way for Medicare beneficiaries to receive their Part A and Part B coverage through private insurance companies approved by Medicare.

If the client has an HMO, they will 100% have to choose a new doctor, Piessens said. HMOs will only pay toward doctors that are signed up in their network. They can contact the plan and ask for a listing of providers in their area.

Those lists often include ratings submitted by plan members who have seen those doctors and may include information such as wait times, appointment availability and bedside manner.

They can also check that listing to see if the doctor has privileges at the hospital the client prefers, Piessens said.

If individuals have a PPO Advantage plan, they may not need to change doctors, even if their doctors become out of network.

PPO plans have a network of doctors that they prefer to work with, she said. Clients on PPO plans who use in-network doctors have lower co-pays. PPOs will, however, pay toward doctors out of network, just at a lower rate.

Patients on PPO plans may also face higher annual deductibles and co-insurance requirements if they stay with an out-of-network doctor, depending on the Advantage plan.

As you transition to a new physician, Blackwell recommends making sure you have access to all your medical records.

Be aware of your own history so if you go to see someone new, you dont have to start from scratch, she said. Thats true whether your doctor opts out of Medicare or youre moving to a new location.
Since the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin began his vicious genocidal assault on Ukraine two years ago, more than 10,000 civilians have been killed and over 18,500 injured, according to the United Nations human rights office. More than 10 million Ukrainians have fled their homes, and 6.3 million have sought refuge outside the country.

Heat and electricity in much of the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine have been knocked out this winter. Children are attending school in subway bomb shelters while Russian missiles and drones rain down on civilians. Dams have been blown up, and nuclear power plants have come under attack.

This all comes after a generation ago, when the United States, NATO and Russia persuaded Ukraine to give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees that Putin has violated with the most violent methods.

The Council on Foreign Relations observed in 2023: "A year after Russias invasion, Ukraine is suffering a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The outflow of millions of refugees has placed a strain on neighboring countries.  In addition, the war has taken a tremendous toll on Ukraines infrastructure. Russian air strikes have hit health care facilities, residential neighborhoods, and power plants, leaving millions of people without electricity during the winter."

Former President Donald Trump called Putins Ukraine strategy "savvy and genius" in the hours after the invasion began. Reuters reported in December that a declassified U.S. intelligence report revealed 315,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or injured, or nearly 90% of its invasion personnel. "The scale of losses has forced Russia to take extraordinary measures to sustain its ability to fight. Russia declared a partial mobilization of 300,000 personnel in late 2022, and has relaxed standards to allow recruitment of convicts and older civilians," the assessment said.

Is that really the result of a savvy and genius strategy?

The toll on the Ukraine military has been severe. According to Reuters, a Ukrainian civic group said it has confirmed through open sources 24,500 combat and noncombat deaths. But if many of the 15,000 troops listed as missing are also dead, the figure could be much higher, according to a report published in the Ukrainian journal Tyzhden.

Today, Trump is attempting to throw his fellow dictator a lifeline. Ukraine is running out of ammunition and soldiers. Trump is marshaling congressional Republicans to deny aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and to secure the southern border. That is exactly what Putin wants, to let Ukraine wither and starve. He is attempting to outlast the U.S. and NATO, which has not lost a single life in this conflict.

This past week, the U.S. Senate by a 70-29 margin passed a $95 billion supplemental funding bill.

Indiana's two Republican U.S. senators voted on opposite sides. Sen. Mike Braun opposed it, posting on X: In the middle of the night, the Senate will vote to give away $70B of borrowed money to foreign nations  not 1 dollar of it a loan, paid for, or offset with cuts. By paying the worlds bills & ignoring our own $34T debt, we are neglecting our duty to our kids & grandkids.

Sen. Todd Young backed the bill. This legislation provides vital security assistance to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. We cannot abandon these allies and partners as they face existential threats, Young said in a statement. This bill also will help rebuild our defense industrial base, which has significantly diminished in recent years. Restoring our military readiness  from artillery to semiconductors  is critical not to promoting war but to deterring conflict. And the legislation takes steps to interrupt the illicit global drug trade and help disrupt the sale of fentanyl in our communities. Abandoning our allies and partners will empower and embolden authoritarian powers such as China and Russia. Leadership comes with a price, but it also comes with rewards.

The Council on Foreign Relations reported that the Biden administration and Congress have directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial and military support, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research institute.

But congressional Republicans appear to be on a path to do Putins (and Trumps) bidding. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement: Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters. America deserves better than the Senates status quo.

And that is complete BS. House Republicans have refused to consider this Senate aid legislation and a border bill that many liberals despise.

Watching all of this inhumanity and dysfunction with delight is Chinese President Xi Jinping. If the United States abandons its commitment to Ukraine, that will green-light Xis plans to invade Taiwan, and if that happens, American lives will be lost.

If Taiwan were to fall, it would diminish the U.S. Navy's ability to reach the Chinese mainland in a future conflict. China has been trying to push the U.S. out of that range, constructing a series of manmade islands that will be used in a coming war.

There is a term for this type of backstabbing an ally: appeasement.

The West tried that strategy before World War II, and the results were catastrophic.
KHARTOUM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) - Sudan on Saturday denounced a statement by the U.S. State Department accusing the Sudanese authorities of obstructing people's access to humanitarian aid.

In a statement, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said the U.S. allegations against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Government of Sudan relating to humanitarian aid and civilian activities are "false accusations."

It reiterated the Sudanese government's commitment to the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians, signed on May 11, 2023.

The ministry added that the U.S. statement avoided issuing an explicit, clear, and exclusive condemnation of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

On Thursday, the United States condemned the obstruction of humanitarian aid access in Sudan, calling on the SAF and the RSF to immediately allow unhindered humanitarian assistance deliveries to all parts of Sudan.

"The United States is deeply concerned by the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) recent decision to prohibit cross-border humanitarian assistance from Chad and reports that the SAF is obstructing assistance from reaching communities in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)," said the U.S. State Department.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF since April 15, 2023. More than 13,000 people have been killed since the fighting broke out, according to recent estimates released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 
Jaylen McFarland Melissa Clay holds a photo of her son, Jaylen McFarland, right, and a photo of McFarland with his father and grandfather. McFarland and Maxie 

NORTHWEST INDIANA  Despite concerns about violence in the Region, homicide numbers decreased in 2023, according to data provided by local authorities.

Data shows there were 74 homicides in Lake County in 2023. The Lake County coroner's office investigated 70 of these homicides in 2023, a sharp decrease from 100 homicides in 2022. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office investigated the remaining four homicides. Homicides the county decreased by approximately 30% from 2022 to 2023, according to the data from the coroner's office. Porter County's homicides decreased from four in 2022 to two in 2023, data from the Porter County coroner's office shows. The LaPorte County coroner was unable to provide numbers in time for the publication of the story.

Breaking down the numbers

Gary had the highest number of homicides last year, according to data from police, with 52 homicides in 2023. However, this is an 18% decrease from 64 in 2022, Gary police Capt. Samuel Roberts said. They reported 48 homicides in 2021.

Thirty of the 2023 homicides have been charged or closed in connection with these killings. The coroner's office investigated 48 of the Gary homicides; the remaining three cases were investigated by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office in Chicago.

Gary introduced their Real Time Crime Center in November, which police hope will assist in the department's clearance rate, which is the number of reported crimes solved per year. The center is a hub for various technologies used by the department, including body-worn cameras, license plate readers, shot detectors and security cameras. Technicians and officers can connect to the tech and see what is happening in real time.

Hammond had the second highest number of homicides last year, but also reported a significant decrease compared to years prior. They recorded six homicides in 2023 compared to 11 in 2022 and 16 in 2021. Hammond police Chief William Short said they've used new technology to analyze crime patterns, allocate resources more efficiently and respond rapidly to violent crimes.

"Our Blue Net license plate reader system allows real-time tracking of violent offenders throughout our city and allows law enforcement to find and stop them," he said. "The newly deployed Fusus camera registry system enables police to better assess, and rapidly respond to, criminal activity and emergency situations. It also enables investigators to easily gather evidence in case of an incident."

"These combined efforts create a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of violence and promoting safer communities," Short said.

East Chicago came in with the third highest number of homicides in Northwest Indiana. Chief Jose Rivera said their homicide numbers have steadily decreased over the last few years: in 2021 they reported 13 homicides and 11 in 2022, he said. They reported five in 2023.

Rivera said he attributes this to a combination of multiple factors. They adopted a program called Resource Router that is ran through ShotSpotter, the latter technology of which they've used to identify areas where gunfire erupts for 13 years. The data shows where officers are needed the most based on call volume, shots fired and written reports. They began to send officers on duty to the areas that appeared to to be patrolled more frequently.

"Once we started hitting the hotspots, we saw crime just drop," Rivera said.

Rivera said an officer will park in the area and turn his lights on. He said he believes their presence in the area acts as a deterrent.

The creation of the Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force in March has helped increase solvability of homicides in the county, Prosecutor Bernard Carter said. Task force data provided by Supervisory Deputy Prosecutor Timothy Brown shows investigators closed 74% of cases they investigated and increased the rate of homicides solved by approximately 13% compared to the previous year by the former Lake County Metro Homicide Unit. Homicide call outs for the task force were down approximately 18% from the preceding year, which Carter said indicates a reduction in homicides.

"My office is pleased with the results from the first year of the Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force," Carter said. "In expanding and working with partners passionate about the task force, the county was able to see an increased homicide solve rate over years prior and a reduction in the overall number of homicides."

Although the decrease in homicides can be celebrated, each person who makes up the 76 victims in Lake and Porter counties who died last year leave behind many loved ones who are still struggling with their grief. As investigators work to solve the homicides, families work to heal and are left wondering why their loved one's life was taken at the hands of another human.

A mother's grief

For Jaylen McFarland's 21st birthday in January 2023, his mother, Melissa Clay, gave him $2100.

Jaylen, who grew up in Portage, was a sheet metal worker who did construction while he prepared to obtain his commercial driver's license. Clay gave him the money to help him repair his car she had gifted him, a Nissan Altima. Part of the money, she said, was to go toward a necklace Jaylen wanted to purchase with a spot for a picture of his father, LaMontrell, who died by homicide the year prior. Jaylen had been struggling to handle his grief since his father died, she said.

"The $2100 didn't cover everything," Clay said. "But I thought it would really help him get out of that funk."

Two months after Jaylen's 21st birthday on March 26, Clay received a call from an acquaintance. The acquaintance had been at a party where Jaylen had been severely hurt, Clay said. The man guided Clay turn by turn to get to the area where Jaylen allegedly was.

"I'm so sorry, y'all have my condolences," the man said and hung up the phone.

Clay's stomach dropped.

Earlier that night, Jaylen told Clay he was going to a party on the 2300 block of Jackson Street with friends whom he had known for years. She was apprehensive about the party; she knew there would be women, alcohol and other substances. She told Jaylen not to go, but she recognized that he had recently turned 21 and understood his desire to do something purportedly fun, given that he'd been grieving so deeply over the last year.

"I told Jaylen, ain't nothing good is going to come from this party," Clay said. "And who would have thought when he was getting ready for that party he was getting ready for his death."

Gary police said officers and fire personnel were dispatched around 12:01 a.m. to the 3100 block of Chase Street near the area of the party and saw a black Jeep Cherokee fully engulfed in flames. Jaylen and 52-year-old Maxie Rallings were found in the car, dead.

The incident was initially classified as a vehicle crash that caused the car to catch fire, Lake County Homicide Task Force Detective Gary Runde said. The task force didn't find out until a few days later that it was a homicide after the Lake County coroner's office found both of the men with multiple gunshot wounds and ruled their deaths homicides, he said.

These circumstances of the case put investigators a "few days behind," Runde said. They weren't dispatched to the scene and the bodies were badly burnt, which created challenges. However, he said they have two suspects who they think killed Jaylen and Maxie.

"Now we're just at a stand still," Runde said. "We know who did it, but it's about being able to find enough evidence to prove it."

Murders decline, fear about crime rises

Similarly to Northwest Indiana, national homicide numbers have decreased each year since 2020, despite an increased fear in Americans about the rise of crime. AH Datalytics, a company that tracks year-to-date murder rates and analyzes crime data, projects an approximately 12% decrease in homicides between 2022 and 2023, based on preliminary data analysis.

A Gallup poll conducted in October shows 63% of Americans describe the crime problem in the U.S. as either extremely or very serious. According to the poll, this has increased by 9% compared to opinions polled in 2021. In 2000, 60% of people polled believed the crime problem was extremely or very serious, as well as in 2010 and 2016.

More data on violent crime is available through the FBI's Crime Data Explorer. Law enforcement agencies self-report their crime statistics each year to the FBI.

Preventing crime is also community effort, law enforcement professional have said. Community members can play a role in solving and stopping crimes by reporting suspicious incidents to local authorities. If you see something, say something, police said.

Clay has a few ideas about who killed her son and wishes more people would come forward with information. She said she feels like his homicide was planned.

"I feel like Jaylen's was personal," she said. "He didn't deserve this."

BREAKOUT: Anyone with information on the homicides of Jaylen McFarland and Maxie Rallings can call the Lake County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force and ask for Detective Runde.
Peoples Bank has named a new chief financial officer.

Munster-based Finward Bancorp, the parent company of Peoples Bank, named Benjamin Schmitt as senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of the bancorp and the bank.

He's worked for two decades in investment banking and the corporate advisory sector covering community banks. He most recently served as president of Rally Consulting LLC, advising commercial and community banks.

The University of Iowa graduate also worked at Mercer Investment Consulting and Piper Sandler Companies, where he worked for 19 years and ultimately served as manager director.

I am truly excited to join the Finward and Peoples Bank team, and it is an honor to serve as CFO," he said. Peoples Bank clearly has a longstanding history serving its customers and communities well, and I look forward to working with the leadership team and fellow colleagues to continue positioning the company for future financial achievements.

As CFO, he will oversee Peoples Bank's finance, accounting, financial reporting, and shareholder services. He will report to CEO Benjamin Bochnowski.

The appointment of Mr. Schmitt underscores our commitment to excellence and leadership, and we are excited to welcome him to the team, Bochnowski said. His skills, industry experience, proven track record, and deep understanding of the financial landscape will strengthen our leadership team. I look forward to working with Ben to achieve sustained growth and success at Finward Bancorp.

He replaces previous CFO Peymon Torabi, who left for a job with Jackson County Bank in southern Indiana.
The City of Valparaiso has again been named a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community by The League of American Bicyclists, Parks Director Kevin Nuppnau announced. Valparaiso joins 14 other communities Indiana to be earn the designation, renewing the recognition originally awarded in 2019.

We truly are a fit city and one committed to the mission of the League of American Bicyclists of creating safer roads, stronger communities and a Bicycle Friendly America, Mayor Jon Costas said in a news release announcing the recognition. With 23 miles of pathways, 14 off-road trails, plus miles of bike lanes and a BikeShare service, we work to make Valparaiso a safe and encouraging place for bicyclists."

We share a special thanks to the Valparaiso Pathways Committee, City Leadership, Valparaiso Police and Fire, and Valparaiso Community Schools for providing valuable input into the citys growing pathway and bike lane system. This award celebrates the people and places that are building a more Bicycle Friendly America for everyone, he said.

Information about Valpos pathway system and BikeShare program is available at ValpoParks.org through the Programs tab.
Attorney General Todd Rokita soon may be empowered to use the authority of his elected office to try to restrict what Hoosiers of all ages are permitted to view on the internet.

The House Judiciary Committee recently revised Senate Bill 17 to authorize the Indiana attorney general to file a civil action against any adult-oriented website that does not implement or properly use an age-verification method as mandated by the legislation.

The amended proposal, set for action next week by the full House, permits Rokita to seek an injunction against each non-compliant adult-oriented website, a civil penalty of up to $250,000, as well as reimbursement of the attorney general's expenses to investigate and maintain a lawsuit.

Rokita also would gain the power to issue civil investigative demands compelling document production and sworn, in-person testimony when Rokita has "reasonable cause" to believe a website "has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in" a violation of the age-verification mandate.

No one on the committee publicly expressed concern about giving the Republican attorney general these additional, unilateral powers, even though the Indiana Supreme Court publicly reprimanded Rokita last year for, among other things, "using means in representing a client that have no substantial purpose other than to embarrass, delay or burden a third person."

In fact, state Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, the sponsor of the underlying Senate-endorsed legislation, said he supports establishing a specific age-verification enforcement role for the attorney general, on top of the measure already giving any adult Hoosier the opportunity to attempt to cut off access to non-compliant adult-oriented websites.

"It makes sense to do that because the AG is going to have the tools and the expertise to execute this kind of action if need be," Bohacek said. "The attorney general can enforce it or a private citizen can take a cause of action and enforce it as well."

A spokesman for the attorney general's office said Rokita "welcomes the opportunity to take action against adult-oriented websites who would allow pornographic and other harmful materials to be seen and accessed by minors in violation of the law."

Under Bohacek's plan, an adult-oriented website would be preemptively prohibited by the state from publishing its content in Indiana unless it employs an age-verification method intended to prevent individuals younger than 18 years old from accessing the website.

The legislation requires Hoosier adults interested in viewing adult content to submit detailed personal information as part of the age verification process, but includes no obligation that a verification service be based in Indiana or operate at no charge to the website user.

Bohacek said he expects many adult-oriented websites simply will deny access to Indiana users if this proposal becomes law, as they have in other states that enacted similar measures, rather than go to the trouble of setting up an age-verification process.

Though it's still not clear how adult-oriented websites based outside Indiana, or the United States, could be made to comply with the mandate.

In any case, the attorney general's enforcement role practically guarantees the legislation  if enacted into law by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb  will be challenged in federal court as an unlawful infringement on the right of Hoosier adults to access adult content free from government intrusion.

ACLU of Indiana Executive Director Chris Dailey told the panel that while the civil liberties organization supports the underlying goal, the measure as written is patently unconstitutional.

"If the goal here is to prevent children from accessing this material, it's going to be tied up in litigation by the companies you're regulating and will not probably go into enforcement," Dailey said.

"Whereas, if we focus on either increasing awareness of or increasing access to filtering software  which this body is perfectly capable of doing  we'll have a much more constitutionally permissible way to do that and a much more effective way to do that."

Bohacek shrugged off the notion that Hoosier parents, instead of the government, should be responsible for what their children view on the internet.

"I'm a parent. Why do I have to lock the door on somebody that's going to present something to my child that's inappropriate and is illegal. I shouldn't have to do that. Now I can. I can take that initiative, and it's probably a prudent thing to do, and many parents do do that as well. But some of them just don't have the means or the tech-savvy in order to do it," Bohacek said.

Bohacek also suggested device-based internet filters activated by parents easily can be bypassed by children, while insisting those same kids will be hopelessly stymied by an online age-verification process.

"There's always ways to get around things. This is the cleanest, easiest way to do it," Bohacek said.

The measure defines an adult-oriented website as a publicly accessible website where more than one-third of the images and videos on the site depict material Indiana law deems "harmful to minors."

That content must describe or represent, in any form, nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse; which, considered as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in sex of minors; is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to suitable material for minors; and considered as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.

The harmful to minors standard almost certainly would impose an age-verification requirement on obviously pornographic websites.

It's not known whether a similar hurdle would be placed for websites like TikTok, Reddit or X, formerly known as Twitter, that contain millions of sexually explicit images and videos alongside other fare.

The legislation specifically excludes news websites, cloud service providers, internet service providers and internet search engines from the age-verification mandate, even if an image search using those services is capable of obtaining material classified as harmful to minors.

The ACLU representative pointed out the image search exception in particular means a seeming limitless amount of adult content still will remain available to Hoosier children. He also observed that the broad terms of the harmful to minors definition might encourage a politically motivated actor to file nuisance lawsuits against websites that provide illustrated sexual health or similar educational content.

"We know that any number of folks in this state oppose just general sex education, just general information about youth development, certainly general information about sexual orientation and gender identity. Any one of those private citizens could now sue a nonprofit website, a government website, that included any of that material. They may not ultimately prevail, right, but they have enough grounds here to sue under that broad definition and tie up that nonprofit and that website for an extended period of time," Dailey said.

State Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany, was the sole committee member to vote against the proposal. He said he could not support all the broad definitions and unconstitutional provisions included in the measure.

In contrast, state Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, seemed to welcome a lawsuit to finally figure out how far Indiana can go in regulating adult content on the internet.

"I think we'll probably definitely get sued on the bill regardless of how broad or specific we make it. I mean, I think the issue itself will invite litigation. There's been some states that I think have had some success with it, some that have had trouble with it. We've tried our best to mirror the states that have done it right, but definitely no guarantee on that regard," Jeter said.

The proposal ultimately must be endorsed with identical language by a majority of members in the House and the Senate to advance to Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law or vetoed.

Meet the 2024 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Dave Vinzant, D-Hobart State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
Indiana's chief elections officer is encouraging Hoosiers to register to vote, or verify the accuracy of their voter registration record, with just 11 weeks to go until this year's primary elections.

Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales said one of his top priorities is ensuring all eligible Hoosiers are registered to vote, and then show up on Election Day to cast their ballot.

"Voting is and will always be very personal to me and thats why I'm so passionate about encouraging every eligible Hoosier to get registered to vote," Morales said.

"I'm putting a call out to every eligible Hoosier: Now is the time to register to vote! It is fast, easy, and can be done online."

To qualify to vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by the Nov. 5 general election, and an Indiana resident for at least 30 days before the election.

Both registering to vote and verifying a registration can be completed online at IndianaVoters.com using a valid driver's license or state identification card number.

In-person registration also is available at county elections offices with appropriate proof of residency.

April 8 is the deadline to register to vote in the May 7 primary elections.

The races on the ballot this year include president of the United States, one of Indiana's two U.S. senators, nine U.S. House members, the governor and attorney general, all 100 Indiana House members, half of the 50-member state Senate, and a host of county and local officials.

Gallery: Take a virtual tour of Indiana's state parks Brown County State Park Chain O' Lakes State Park Charlestown State Park Clifty Falls State Park Falls of the Ohio State Park Fort Harrison State Park Harmonie State Park Lincoln State Park McCormick's Creek State Park Mounds State Park O'Bannon Woods State Park Ouabache State Park Pokagon State Park Potato Creek State Park Prophetstown State Park Shades State Park Shakamak State Park Spring Mill State Park Summit Lake State Park Tippecanoe River State Park Turkey Run State Park Versailles State Park White River State Park Whitewater Memorial State Park
On Feb. 14, major national elections took place in Indonesia. The results, especially in historic 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% 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 and Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guinea.

In 2018, a Gallup Poll found that an unprecedented 75% of Indonesians believed 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 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.
Food waste and I have a history.

One childhood memory, from the family table in Mumbai, still plays on a loop in my mind: Dont waste your food, my mother would admonish daily. Too many starving children everywhere, my father would chime in.

Decades later, now living in New York City, I still cant toss those leftovers. At least not like some of my friends do, with cool nonchalance, or like restaurants and shops regularly do when theyve prepared too much.

So, I decided to try Too Good To Go, one of several apps that connect eaters with unsold restaurant food. It claims to have 155,000 businesses, like restaurants and markets, that offer surplus meals, often discounted, to about 85 million users worldwide.

The goal is to save money, anxiety and some greenhouse gases. Worldwide, discarded food accounts for 8 to 10 percent of planet-warming emissions. Thats because rotting food produces heat-trapping methane gas.

Heres what I got during my weeklong experiment, all around Manhattan, trying to keep some of those meals out of the bin.

Sunday, Jan. 28

 Two one-quart containers of soup: Chicken and rice and a creamy tomato

 Potato chips

 One focaccia sandwich with mozzarella, tomato and sauteed mushrooms

 One croissant

Total spent: $11
Jump to: Tricky Clues | Todays Theme

SUNDAY PUZZLE  In Will Shortzs print introduction to this grid, he writes: Katie Hale of London is a freelance crossword editor. Her co-constructor, Scott Hogan, is a patent attorney from Midland, Mich. This is their second Sunday collaboration for The Times. This puzzles genesis is owed to Scotts wife, Edith, a podiatrist who came home one day with the joke you see at 120-Across.

The first puzzle that Mr. Hogan and Ms. Hale created together featured phrases made humorous by a missing apostrophe, so we already know they can make anything funny  even podiatrists.
A few short months ago, members of the Screen Actors Guild wore jeans, shorts and T-shirts while carrying picket signs in the last days of a lengthy strike. On Saturday, they were at their red-carpet best as they arrived at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Before the ceremony, which is streaming on Netflix for the first time, Lily Gladstone, Jeremy Allen White, Margot Robbie, Cillian Murphy, Selena Gomez, Ali Wong, Ayo Edebiri and a host of other film and television stars took a moment to pose on the red carpet. The looks ran the gamut, from sober black and white to the wildly colorful. Scroll on to see the full celebrity fashion report.
If there had been any doubt about whether the Republican presidential primary was heading toward an early conclusion, it was put to rest Saturday night by the voters of South Carolina.

Donald J. Trump defeated Nikki Haley by around 20 percentage points, reaching around 60 percent of the vote with nearly all the vote counted.

Its not a staggering landslide. In fact, Mr. Trump slightly underperformed the final polls, thanks to a vigorous turnout for Ms. Haley in Democratic-leaning metropolitan areas. Her strength may even be attributable to voters who intend to back President Biden in the general election, as anyone could vote in the South Carolina primary, regardless of party.

But this isnt just any South Carolina primary: This is Ms. Haleys home state. Even losing candidates have usually managed to win their home states. Ted Cruz and John Kasich did so against Mr. Trump in 2016. John McCain (2000), Howard Dean (2004), John Edwards (2004), Newt Gingrich (2012) and others all pulled off home state wins. For many of these candidates, their home state win was their only win. On Saturday, Ms. Haley didnt come close.
KANDAL, Cambodia, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Senate election for the fifth legislative term kicked off on Sunday, with four political parties taking part in the race, a National Election Committee (NEC) spokesperson said.

"All 33 polling stations were open at 7:00 a.m. (local time) and will be closed at 3:00 p.m.," Dim Sovannarom, a NEC member and spokesperson, told Xinhua.

The four political parties contesting in the election are the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the Funcinpec Party, the Khmer Will Party, and the Nation Power Party, he said.

Former Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, president of the CPP, voted at a polling station in southern Kandal province, as his son, incumbent Prime Minister Hun Manet, cast his ballot in the capital Phnom Penh.

The Senate election, held every six years, is a non-universal election because ordinary citizens do not take part in the electoral process.

Sovannarom said all 125 members of the National Assembly, or the lower house, and 11,622 commune councilors will cast their ballots at the 33 polling stations across the Southeast Asian country.

He added that the Senate, or the upper house, has 62 seats, but the vote will be held for 58 seats only, as two senators will be appointed by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and two others by the National Assembly.

Preliminary results will be announced on Sunday evening, as temporary results will be publicized on March 2, and the official ones with allocation of seats will be on April 2 if there is no complaint filed by any political parties against the results, he said.

Political analysts predicted that the CPP will win a landslide victory because it has possessed the most seats in the National Assembly and the commune councils across the kingdom.

The CPP has currently occupied 120 out of the 125 National Assembly seats and 9,376 out of the 11,622 commune council seats, according to the NEC.

"The CPP will absolutely win at least nearly all the seats in this Senate election because the CPP has already controlled the most majority in the commune councils all over the country," Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told Xinhua.

"One more important thing is that there is a split among the commune councilors from the opposition party, so their votes will be divided," he added.

Thong Mengdavid, a research supervisor at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, agreed that the CPP will remain unbeatable because of its dominant control of the National Assembly and the commune councils.

"The CPP will sweep most of the seats in this election, undoubtedly," he told Xinhua.

Hun Sen, 71, has said that he will take over as the president of the Senate after this election, giving him the role of acting head of state when the king is absent or out of the country.

In the last Senate election in 2018, the CPP won all 58 seats. 
Donald J. Trump lapped Nikki Haley in the Midwest. He beat her in the Northeast. He dominated in the West. And now he has trounced the former two-term governor in her home state of South Carolina.

After nearly six weeks of primary contests in geographically, demographically and ideologically diverse states, even Ms. Haleys most ardent supporters must squint to see the faintest path to the presidential nomination for her in 2024.

The race was called the moment the polls closed, and within minutes an ebullient Mr. Trump took the stage, avoiding a mistake he made in New Hampshire when Ms. Haley spoke first and, even in defeat, gave a rousing speech that had irked him.

Its an early evening, Mr. Trump beamed.

But Ms. Haley, the former United Nations ambassador, is still vowing to plow on, warning her party that sticking with Mr. Trump and the distractions of his four criminal indictments is a pathway to defeat in November.
A 26-year-old man charged with kidnapping and murdering a nursing student at the University of Georgia in Athens will remain in jail after he was denied bond at a hearing on Saturday, the authorities said.

The suspect, Jose Antonio Ibarra, lived in an apartment complex about one mile from a wooded trail where the body of Laken Riley, 22, was found on Thursday afternoon, said Jeffrey Clark, the chief of university police. Ms. Riley, a student at nearby Augusta University and a former student at the University of Georgia, had been reported missing by friends after she did not return from a run.

Mr. Ibarra, a resident of Athens who is not a U.S. citizen, migrated to the United States from Venezuela, the authorities said. He was arrested by the Border Patrol for crossing the border illegally in September 2022 and was released quickly with temporary permission to stay in the country, a federal law enforcement official said Saturday. That release, or parole, was a practice the administration used when officials were overwhelmed with high numbers of crossings. The administration ended that practice about six months later.

It was typical for many Venezuelans to be released with permission to stay temporarily because they could not be repatriated back to their country due to strained diplomatic relations. Some six million Venezuelans have fled their troubled country, the largest population displacement in Latin Americas modern history.
Hostage talks are set to continue in Qatar

An Israeli delegation is expected to arrive in Qatar as soon as today for talks on a new deal for a temporary cease-fire with Hamas and the release of some hostages held in Gaza, according to an Israeli official.

The negotiations follow talks held in Paris on Friday between an Israeli delegation and mediators from the U.S., Qatar and Egypt. In those discussions, Israels delegation agreed to a basic outline for a deal that would involve a six-week truce and the exchange of about 40 hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, officials said.

Israels war cabinet approved the broad terms on Saturday night, an Israeli official said. The goal was to reach a deal before the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, which is expected to begin around March 10.

Hamas representatives did not attend the Paris meeting, and it was not immediately clear how acceptable the outline was to the group. One main sticking point has been Hamass insistence on a complete cessation of hostilities as a condition for any hostage deal, as well as the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
Elections, historically, are decided not only by those who cast votes but also by those who dont. President George W. Bush edged out Al Gore in the 2000 election by 537 ballots in Florida. Yet theres a case to be made that the five million Floridians who were eligible to vote in that election but did not were the ones who really tipped the balance.

And nearly half of Americans regularly join the opt-out club. The political scientists Lyn Ragsdale and Jerrold G. Rusk of Rice University have calculated that from 1920 to 2012, the slice of voters who sat out presidential contests averaged 42 percent. According to the University of Florida Election Lab, 34 percent of citizens who were eligible to vote in 2020 did not. But in any given election, those who stay home or tune out may change: Fully 25 percent of the ballots in 2020 were cast by people who didnt vote in 2016. A nonvoter can transform into a voter at any time  and if most of them break in the same direction, their decision to participate can be decisive.
Jeenah Moon for The New York Times

In a tidy suburban apartment complex on Long Island, a Venezuelan mother of two surveyed her new home and declared herself blessed.

Sury Saray Espine and her family had spent 13 months in a homeless shelter in New York City. Now, in early February, they were moving into a one-bedroom in Central Islip with a galley kitchen and access to a swimming pool.

Best of all, the state would pay their rent for a year, through a resettlement program designed to house 1,250 migrant families at a fraction of the cost of keeping them in New York Citys overflowing shelters.

The familys experience, however, has been an anomaly.
If youre alarmed by the rise of Christian nationalism, the single worst thing you can do is define it too broadly. If you define it too broadly, then youre telling millions of ordinary churchgoing citizens that the importation of their religious values into the public square somehow places them in the same camp or on the same side as actual Christian supremacists, the illiberal authoritarians who want to remake America in their own fundamentalist image.

Enter the new feature-length documentary God and Country, which examines the role of Christian nationalism in American politics. Even before I knew that Rob Reiner (the director of A Few Good Men) was involved in the project, I agreed to be interviewed by the filmmakers for two key reasons: First, I wanted to make sure that I could offer a sensible definition of Christian nationalism, one that didnt cast aspersions on Christians simply for bringing their values into the public square. And second, I wanted to outline exactly why actual Christian nationalism presents a real danger to our Constitution.

To understand what Christian nationalism is, its important to understand what it is not. It is not Christian nationalism if a persons political values are shaped by the individuals Christian faith. In fact, many of Americas most important social movements have been infused with Christian theology and Christian activism. Many of our nations abolitionists thundered their condemnations of slavery from Northern pulpits. The civil rights movement wasnt exclusively Christian by any means, but it was pervasively Christian  Martin Luther King Jr. was, of course, a Baptist minister.

Anyone may disagree with Christian arguments around civil rights, immigration, abortion, religious liberty or any other point of political conflict. Christians disagree with one another on these topics all the time, but it is no more illegitimate or dangerous for a believer to bring her worldview into a public debate than it is for a secular person to bring his own secular moral reasoning into politics. In fact, I have learned from faiths other than my own, and our public square would be impoverished without access to the thoughts and ideas of Americans of faith.
Pablo Picasso was among the few who stood beside Chaim Soutines grave as his corpse was lowered into it. It was Aug. 11, 1943, and Paris was under Nazi occupation. Mr. Soutine  the artist, the genius, the Jew  had died in his hospital bed with his belly cut open after being smuggled into the city in a black-and-white-flagged ambulance to avoid Nazi detection.

Mr. Soutines lover had insisted that he procure the best medical treatment available in France, despite the fact that they had been hiding together in the forests and farmland outside Paris so that he would not be rounded up and sent to an extermination camp. The hearses journey from farmland to hospital cost him precious hours. By the time the doctor performed the surgery, it was already too late.

At birth and death, the world assigned Mr. Soutine a status: He was born as a Jew  in a shtetl outside Minsk in what is now Belarus in 1893  and he died as a Jew. In the 50-year interim he lived only as an artist.

Like many other Ashkenazi Jews, Mr. Soutine left Eastern Europe just after a spate of pogroms that rattled the Russian Empire in the 1910s. After studying painting in Minsk and Vilnius in present-day Lithuania, he joined the school of Jewish painters rankling the French art establishment in Montparnasse. His destitution was well known even in that impoverished milieu, but in the early 1920s an American art collector bought 52 of his paintings, catapulting him from obscurity into the annals of art history.
In the rainforests of western Panama, the plant biologist Jim Dalling stumbled upon some tree ferns with six-foot-long leaves that bent to the ground as they were dying, encircling the plant like a skirt.

I was trying to move these things out of the way and then in the process, I realized these were rooted into the ground, Dr. Dalling said. A professor and forest ecologist at the University of Illinois, he had been searching for a completely unrelated plant.

The ferns leaf remnants were brown and withered  dead, by all appearances (though still attached at their base to the tree ferns trunk). How could lifeless plant matter be endowed with roots? he wondered.

I couldnt really believe what I was seeing, Dr. Dalling said.

Further study revealed that this tree fern, known as Cyathea rojasiana, transforms the inner part of its dead or dying leaves. The remnants of the xylem and phloem  tubules that transport water, sugars and nutrients throughout living leaves  somehow become a root.
When Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv a couple of weeks ago, schoolchildren and their teachers installed in newly built underground classrooms did not hear a thing.

Down in the bowels of Kharkivs cavernous, Soviet-era subway stations, the city administration has built a line of brightly decorated classrooms, where 6- and 7-year-olds are attending primary school for the first time in their lives in this war-stricken city.

The children were fine, said Lyudmyla Demchenko, 47, one of the teachers. You cannot hear the sirens down here.

Ten years after the conflict with Russian-backed separatists broke out and two years into Moscows full-scale invasion, Ukrainians are weary but ever determined to repel the invaders. The war has touched every family  with thousands of civilians dead, close to 200,000 soldiers killed and wounded, and nearly 10 million refugees and displaced in a country of nearly 45 million people. Yet, despite the death, destruction and deprivations, a majority of Ukrainians remain optimistic about the future, and even describe themselves as happy, according to independent polls.
As word of her Dearborn visit spread on social media, some in that largely Arab American city, usually friendly political turf for Democrats, announced plans for a protest. WHITMER NOT WELCOME IN DEARBORN, read one poster circulated by activists, who accused her of supporting genocide.

She called off the speech, a decision that she said recently was probably a mistake.

The episode foreshadowed the electoral turbulence her party faces this year and the difficult role she now occupies as President Bidens chief ambassador to Michigan, a key battleground.
CANBERRA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The biggest review of Australia's higher education system in over a decade has called for a major overhaul of the sector.

Jason Clare, the Minister for Education, on Sunday released the final report from the Australian Universities Accord - a landmark review of tertiary education launched by Clare in 2022.

The report contains 47 recommendations and targets to reform Australian higher education and set the system up for success over the next decade and beyond.

According to the report, 80 percent of the Australian workforce will need a tertiary qualification by 2050, up from 60 percent currently.

In order to meet growing demand for skilled workers, the report called for the government to double the number of university places over the next 25 years to 1.8 million, reduce high fees students pay for some subjects and overhaul the higher education loan program to ease the financial burden on graduates.

It recommended participation targets to increase the number of students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds enrolled in higher education.

Clare said in a statement that the accord would help build a more equitable higher education system.

"The Australian Universities Accord has recommended how to reform higher education over the next decade and beyond," he said.

"It will help us build a better and fairer education system where no one is held back, and no one is left behind."

The review was the largest of tertiary education in Australia since 2008.

It set a target of having 55 percent of 25-34 year olds holding a bachelor's degree by 2050, up from 45 percent currently, and called for medium and long-term targets to raise overall research and development funding.

The report recommended that the government establish a new body, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, to oversee the sector.

Clare said the government is considering the report's findings. 
Amid a number of high-stakes elections to be held around the world this year, the East European nation of Belarus on Sunday offered an alternative to the unpredictability of democracy: a vote for Parliament without a single candidate critical of the countrys despotic leader.

Opposition parties have all been banned  belonging to one is a crime  and the four approved parties taking part in the election have competed only to outdo each other in their displays of unwavering loyalty to the countrys leader, President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for 30 years.

For the government, the election on Sunday  the first since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which neighbors Belarus to the south  is important as an opportunity to show Moscow, its ally, that it has snuffed out all domestic opposition and survived economic and other strains imposed by the war. Russia, which has in the past had doubts about Mr. Lukashenkos durability and reliability, launched its invasion in February 2022 in part from Belarusian territory.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, an exiled opponent of Mr. Lukashenko, said: These so-called elections are nothing more than a circus show. Its not even entertaining.
Nestled in a dense forest, the Ukrainian military base appears abandoned and destroyed, its command center a burned-out husk, a casualty of a Russian missile barrage early in the war.

But that is above ground.
Some 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russias full-scale invasion began two years ago, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, acknowledging for the first time in the war a concrete figure for Ukraines toll.

This is a big loss for us, Mr. Zelensky said at a news conference in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. But he declined to disclose the number of wounded or missing, saying that Russia could use the information to gauge the number of Ukraines active forces.

Mr. Zelenskys tally could not be independently verified. It differs sharply from estimates by U.S. officials, who, this past summer, put the losses much higher, saying that close to 70,000 Ukrainians had been killed and 100,000 to 120,000 had been wounded. Russias military casualties, the officials said, were about twice as high.

By revealing Ukraines losses, Mr. Zelensky said he wanted to counter Russian propaganda and other estimates that have placed Ukrainian casualties at a much higher level. He said Russia had wrongly claimed that Ukraine had lost 60,000 soldiers.
An airman who had set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington in protest of civilian deaths in Gaza died of his injuries on Sunday night, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Air Force, Rose M. Riley, said on Monday.

The airman, Aaron Bushnell, 25, of Whitman, Mass., was a cyberdefense operations specialist with the 531st Intelligence Support Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas and had served on active duty since 2020, the Air Force said in a statement on Monday night.

Mr. Bushnell appeared to have filmed the protest on Sunday and livestreamed it on the social media platform Twitch. The New York Times could not confirm who was behind the account that posted the video, but the footage matched the details of the episode released by the police.

A man dressed in fatigues identifies himself in the video as Mr. Bushnell and calls himself an active-duty Air Force officer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Sunday that progress toward a deal for a temporary cease-fire and the release of some hostages held in Gaza would require Hamas to soften its demands, while asserting that any agreement would delay, but not ultimately prevent, an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah.

Speaking to CBS News on its Face the Nation program, Mr. Netanyahu said in reference to a deal that would bring more hostages home that we want it; I want it. But he reiterated a message he has issued several times recently: That Hamass positions in the negotiations were delusional.

If Hamas goes down from its delusional claims and can bring them down to earth, then well have the progress that we all want, he said of a potential agreement, while declining to discuss details of the negotiations.

Mr. Netanyahus comments came as talks between an Israeli delegation and international mediators in Paris were set to continue in Qatar this week. Hamas representatives were not in Paris, and it was not immediately clear whether they would agree to terms sketched out there.
For an Israeli settlement that has become such a resounding symbol of religious and right-wing politics in the West Bank, Homesh is not much to look at.

Three families live in tarpaulin-covered shelters full of bunk beds for some 50 young men, who study in a yeshiva that is a shabby prefab structure surrounded by abandoned toys, building materials and garbage.

They live part time here amid the ruins and rubbish of a hilltop settlement ripped down in 2005 by the Israeli Army and the police. It is one of four West Bank settlements dismantled when Israel pulled all of its troops and settlements out of Gaza. Israels intention then, pushed by Washington, was to signal that outlying settlements too hard to defend would be consolidated in any future peace deal.

The decision to dismantle them is now being challenged by the more religious and right-wing ministers in the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. They are agitating to settle more land in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and even remove Palestinians from Gaza to resettle there.
1 p.m. Be transported by a homemade space station made of junk

Artworks in the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Sculpture have their own rules of logic: Theres a gravity-defying arch of toilets, totemic stacks of bowling balls and suspended bicycles that resemble the scales of justice. Purifoy, an Alabama native who lived mostly in Los Angeles and Joshua Tree before his death in 2004, was known for his large-scale assemblages made from discarded materials. Visitors can wander among more than 100 installations and sculptures at the artists former 10-acre residence. Purifoys early works, one of which is here, used charred debris gathered from the 1965 Watts rebellion, a series of uprisings in response to the violent arrest of a Black man in Los Angeles. Pieces like Carousel, which looks like a homemade space station made of toasters, skis and computers, make the capacity of Purifoys imagination to create such evocative sculptures from junk seem infinite. Free entry, donations are welcome.
Even as tourism to the Yucatan Peninsula skyrockets, many visitors never travel beyond the so-called Riviera Maya, the heavily developed and wildly crowded coastline between Cancun and Tulum. For travelers drawn to Mexican culture and history, Merida  founded by the Spanish in the 1500s and constructed using the stones from Maya ruins  is an antidote to the coasts wall-to-wall all-inclusive resorts. Beyond colonial architecture and centuries-old traditions, Merida is a young, artsy place best experienced with a free-spirited sensibility. While not a late-night city, it is very safe and comes alive after dark, when there are a few hours of cooler evening air, music calling from seemingly every corner and a general sense that if you wander a few blocks in any direction, youll stumble upon something really special.
LOCAL Offaly store, XL Cloghan Service Station recently celebrated its first year in business and to mark the occasion retailer Martin Grogan hosted a special event for customers to share in the celebrations.

This new community store includes an impressive Plaza style Forecourt, a stand-out Deli offering with a large selection of food to go and in-store diner options, including OReillys fish and chips, a large seated area, truck stop, electrical chargers, off licence, Emo fuel card, free Wifi, state-of-the-art Bewleys Coffee Station and self-service laundry machines.

The family-fun event, which was held on Wednesday, February 14th, featured special guests former Offaly All-Ireland winning hurling captains Martin Hanamy (1994), Hubert Rigney (1998) and Padraig Horan (1981). The GAA community has been very important to Cloghan so when deciding what art to decorate the walls of the shop Martin wanted to honour some heroes of their local community. To this end he commissioned a special piece of artwork from accomplished Canadian artist Alejandra Harrison depicting the All-Ireland winning captains, which was unveiled at the recent celebration.

The three hurling All- Ireland winning Offaly captains are part of Cloghans local club St Rynaghs and were all on hand to witness the unveiling.

Commenting, Martin Grogan said, The GAA is an integral part of Offaly and, in particular, the Cloghan area. To have three All-Ireland winning captains from the one rural club is a remarkable achievement and we wanted to pay homage to the three men and their achievement. Its been a wonderful first year of trading in XL Cloghan and this event is our way to say thank you to the local community and our customers.

XL Cloghan has been a fantastic addition to the local area and is the first ever XL green site location, providing employment to 21 people locally and serving the local area and passing trade faithfully for the last year. XL Cloghans impact on the local community has been immediate and profound, as evidenced by their winning two awards at the annual XL Retailer Awards celebration in 2023.

Paul Bealin, Cash & Carry Sales Director, BWG Foods, congratulated Martin and the team on a great first year as part of the XL family, XL is Irelands fastest growing retail symbol brand and Martin Grogan and his team in XL Cloghan are a terrific example of our innovative retail family. Martin is truly passionate about providing value to his customers and his stores offering is second to none. XL Cloghan Service Station delivers great value, choice, service and exciting consumer promotions to the local community and customers.
NEW DELHI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and seven others injured Sunday in a massive explosion at a firecracker factory in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

The blast took place at Maheva village in Kaushambi district, about 169 km south of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

According to police, the victims were among the around 18 people working in the factory when the blast took place, which was heard several kilometers away.

The blast also triggered a blaze in the factory.

"Today an explosion took place at a firecracker factory here killing seven people, including the owner, and injuring seven others," a police official said. "The blast occurred in the room where chemicals were kept."

Accidental explosions are common at Indian firecracker factories and shops as owners usually ignore safety standards. 
Malcolm Noonan, who is Irelands first nature minister, has said that a dedicated role to protecting Irelands biodiversity is not tokenistic and has made a difference.

Mr Noonan, who was a climate activist for 20 years before becoming a councillor, mayor and TD, said that having a strong civil society is important, as is having idealistic politicians.

Asked whether he wonders if he is on the right side since becoming a minister, he said he sometimes feels he should be out protesting outside Leinster House, rather than being in it.

Malcolm Noonan was first elected to the Dail in the most recent general election, taking the fifth and final seat in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency.

Now the Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, he claims a shift has taken place to restore Irelands biodiversity, after previous poor results.

His first efforts at change saw him involved in planting projects and river clean-ups as a young man.

I can remember being on CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) marches in a local group in Kilkenny when I was 14 or 15 and that was the start of it really, he said.

He became a member of Earthwatch, the precursor to Friends Of The Earth Ireland, and eventually became a director of Friends Of The Earth.

He protested on the streets and outside Leinster House, but was not interested in politics.

Eventually approached by the Green Party to run in the 2004 local elections, and held that council seat until he became a TD in 2020.

He said the council gave him a chance to merge activist principles with practical politics, day-to-day politics.

It is a huge transition and it involved a very steep learning curve when I did get elected in 2004 and I found out that actually this is very different.

I could make certain changes, very slow, incremental changes and I need to work in collaboration with people of different political backgrounds.

You will get, and I did because of certain positions I took on certain matters, you get ostracised, you get pushed to one side and you do feel that sense of isolation at times.

Its quite lonely being the only Green in the village, as I was for 16 years on Kilkenny County Council.

In an interview with PA in his office in Government Buildings, when asked whether he wonders if he chose the right path, he said: I question that all the time.

Were conscious with the issue around Gaza, theres times you feel youd love to be out there with them.

And at times, we feel we cant because were in government, and were the ones that are perceived not to be doing enough.

And thats really difficult, I find that difficult at times.

In his role in the three-party coalition, he said that creating Irelands first minister for nature was significant and a role that should continue in other governments.

Its not tokenistic, because it has been backed up with action. I would hope that its a title that will be held onto for future governments  I think its critically important.

Almost half of Irelands most protected habitats are in ongoing decline, particularly marine, peatland, grassland and woodland habitats, with only 2% improving over a 12-year period.

Over half of native Irish plant species have also declined in range or abundance.

He said the National Parks and Wildlife Service had been bolstered under his tenure and Ireland had taken a strong position on the EU Nature Restoration Law.

Theres often a feeling in activists who are working in the conservation-nature field that it is the poor relation of the whole climate agenda.

The Dail did declare a climate and biodiversity crisis, but the focus has been on the climate side of it both are inextricably linked.

And nature offers us a lot of solutions around climate crisis as well.

Asked how many more national parks Ireland needs, Mr Noonan said: I cant put a figure on the number of national parks, there are certainly areas were looking at that might potentially add to that network.

He also said that the polarised conversation between farmers and climate was starting to level out in Ireland.

He said he doesnt see how a push for biodiversity should result in a clash with farmers, saying there had been a meeting of minds and interest in the Life projects around Donegal and Mayo as well as the Farm Plan Scheme.

Parish halls, community halls are filled with farmers interested in taking part, so I think the critical thing they want is certainty good advice and a steady income stream from their activities.

I think it has to be voluntary.

You cant compel or force farmers to do things they dont want to do.

Primarily theyre running a business and not all of them are full-time farmers. They need to be able to make a living from the land.

Asked about the Green Partys chances in the next elections, he said: Weve always been a party that wants to be in government, regardless of taking a potential hit in a subsequent election.

We have no fear of that.

When asked if Mr Noonan is concerned about losing his seat, he said he is not.

If I get re-elected I get re-elected, and if I dont get re-elected, Ill go back outside the gates  and protest, he joked.
The Irish government will continue with plans to protect and restore nature if a key law is not passed at European Union level, a minister has said.

Irelands junior minister for nature said the challenge is that the vote is taking place at the end of the EU electoral cycle.

The European Parliament is to vote on the EU Nature Restoration law on Tuesday.

The legislation is a key part of the EUs European Green Deal, which seeks to establish the worlds most ambitious climate and biodiversity targets and make the bloc the global point of reference on climate issues.

The plans proposed by the European Commission set binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species, with the aim by 2030 to restore at least 20% of land and sea areas and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

Minister of State with responsibility for nature Malcolm Noonan has acknowledged that some see the EU proposal as limited, but said it wont limit our ambition in Ireland.

He said that even if the law is not passed at EU level, plans will continue in Ireland and work is already underway to create a restoration plan for Ireland, with the aim of bringing it into effect by 2026.

But he said ambitions to restore Irelands nature cannot take place without farmers help.

Ive been talking to MEPs over the last few days just to sound them out on where they are with it, its a big vote next week.

I do hope it passes but the Irish government has been very strong and supportive in relation to the Nature Restoration Law and have shown good leadership in a European context on it.

I would hope that it does (pass) and if it doesnt, weve made a commitment that we will develop our own plan.

A lot of the elements which are underway in a lot of those projects Ive talked about.

We now have Climate Nature Fund 3.15 billion euro theyre working with the Department of Finance on where theyre drafting legislation which will add that mechanism to unlock a capital funding to provide consistent levels of funding into our communities for restoration.

Weve already begun a process, leading off a two-year process of developing a nature restoration plan that would come into effect in 2026.

Thats when the Climate Nature Fund kicks in as well.

So thats going to be a collaborative plan, Minister (for Agriculture Charlie) McConalogue has said that, that will involve widespread public engagement and participation of all relevant stakeholders in the process, and that we would design it in such a way that people have a strong input into it.

Its not going to be levelled upon people.

Farmers across Europe are protesting for many reasons, theres falling prices, rising input costs, climate change impacting on their livelihoods.

Critically important across Europe, I think, politicians need to listen to them and listen to what theyre saying.

They shouldnt have to farm in fear all the time.

They should have some certainty around around their incomes.

And the biggest challenge we see not just in Ireland in farming is succession.

When you have such a dynamic labour market now where there are so many opportunities for young people, could you blame them for not wanting to spend 14-15 hours a day getting soaked out on a farm for a limited return?

And while there are good tech jobs in the city and other opportunities for them?

Weve been consistent as well in talking about the nature restoration, we cant restore nature without active farmers.

They play a really important role, animals grazing on land, all of that is hugely significant.
Proposed changes to the constitution on family and care would diminish the relationship between marriage and family, Catholic bishops have said.

Two referenda will be held on March 8  International Womens Day  proposing to change the Irish constitution.

One, the family amendment, 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.

The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference said while marriage is a recognised public and legal commitment, the term durable relationship is shrouded in uncertainty and is open to wide interpretation.

In a statement, it said: The proposed family amendment to the constitution diminishes the unique importance of the relationship between marriage and family in the eyes of society and State, and is likely to lead to a weakening of the incentive for young people to marry.

The second proposed change, the care amendment, proposes deleting Article 41.2.1 and 41.2.2, which make reference to a womans roles and duties in the home, and replace it with a new article  42B  that acknowledges family carers.

The bishops argued this will have the effect of abolishing all reference to motherhood in the constitution and leave unacknowledged the particular and incalculable societal contribution that mothers in the home have made and continue to make in Ireland.

They said: The role of mothers should continue to be cherished in our constitution.

Expanding on their comments about the first referendum, the bishops said family is acknowledged as where stability, care, love and truth can best be taught and learned by children.

They added: We recognise, of course, that there are families in all our communities which are not founded on marriage.

They form part of the reality of family life, which Pope Francis described as a challenging mosaic made up of many different realities, with all their joys, hopes and problems.

We believe, however, that the commitment of marriage contributes to the common good in a unique way, by bringing stability to the family and to society, and that it consequently deserves the protection of the State, which is currently guaranteed in the constitution of Ireland.

They said the constitution correctly qualifies the family as a moral institution that enjoys inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law.

They added: It does not make sense that such an ambiguous reality would be considered antecedent and superior to all positive law and acquire the same inalienable and imprescriptible rights as those ascribed to the family founded on marriage.

Various commentators have suggested that the term durable relationship risks leading to unforeseen and unintended consequences.

On the care amendment, the bishops questioned what benefit deleting the terms woman and mother would provide Irish society.

The group said: People generally recognise the enormous commitment that women in Ireland have given, and continue to give, in relation to care, love and affection in the home.

The bishops said there is a welcome co-responsibility between women and men for every aspect of domestic life in contemporary society.

They added: We believe that rather than removing the present acknowledgement of the role of women and the place of the home, it would be preferable and consistent with contemporary social values that the State would recognise the provision of care by women and men alike.

They further argued the proposed term strive to support appears to weaken the States constitutional responsibility to materially and legislatively support care.

It said the proposed Article 42B does not actually confer any enforceable rights for carers or for those being cared for.
People perform dragon dance and lion dance during a Lantern Festival parade in New York, the United States, Feb. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

by Xinhua writers Liu Yanan, Yang Shilong

NEW YORK, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- New Yorkers are winding up their Lunar New Year celebrations by staging large-scale parades and gatherings during the weekend.

One such parade was held on Saturday for the first time in Chinatown near Sunset Park in Brooklyn.

Organized by Asian American advocacy group the Asian American Community Empowerment, the parade was designed to celebrate both the Lantern Festival and the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States.

The gathering was attended by quite a few elected officials, including New York State Assembly Minority Leader William A. Barclay and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

"It is nice that we can come here in a bipartisan manner to celebrate the great Asian culture," said Barclay.

Adams noted Brooklyn has one of the largest Chinese communities in the United States and extended his wishes to the community.

Huang Ping, the Chinese Consul General in New York, urged the participants to embrace the future by working together to bring more positive energy into the China-U.S. relationship and build trust to get the relationship back on the right track.

Highlights of the celebrations included traditional dragon and lion dances as well as cultural and artistic performances. Thousands of residents lined up the main roads and took part in the celebrations with some wearing traditional costumes.

On Sunday, Better Chinatown USA, a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the improvement of New York City's Chinatown, is scheduled to stage its annual Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown in Lower Manhattan.

"It's very exciting to be here as the first annual Brooklyn Lantern Festival troupe," said Edmund Durso, an instructor of lion and dragon dances, and the founder of a Chinese martial arts school in Northvale, New Jersey.

Durso told Xinhua that his team has performed at a dozen events celebrating the Year of Dragon and would also appear at the parade in Chinatown in Manhattan on Sunday.

The New York metropolitan area had a Chinese population of over 800,000 in 2019, ranking on the top of major U.S. areas with big Chinese American communities, according to a report by Pew Research Center in April, 2021. 

People perform dragon dance and lion dance during a Lantern Festival parade in New York, the United States, Feb. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
Aston Martin F1 technical director Dan Fallows says pre-season testing showed that the teams efforts to improve on its 2023 design have been fruitful.

While several of its direct rivals opted for a radical overhaul of their design for 2024, Aston privileged an evolutionary approach, refining the car that secured eight podium finishes last year in the skillful hands of Fernando Alonso.

This week in Bahrain, Aston Martin's focus was on validating the effectiveness of their initial car package rather than on pure pace.

Fallows' comments suggest that the Silverstone-based outfit achieved its desired progress, indicating a car with solid foundations for further development.

When we went into this season really looking for a step over the winter, we wanted to make sure we did get an improvement, explained the Aston tech boss.

Even though it's an evolution of last year's car, we wanted it to be a strong improvement as well as a strong evolution. And, we have seen that step, we've seen that benefit. So were very pleased about that.

I think the most important thing for us is where we go from here. We weren't 100% pleased with what we achieved in our in-season development last year. And we wanted to make sure we can compete at the top level in terms of in-season as well.

I think we were mostly keen on making sure we made a step on last year, which we have done. So I think we can certainly tick that box.

Since the end of last season, Alonso has repeatedly pinpointed two crucial aspects of Aston Martins car that required improvement: straight-line speed and downforce in high-speed corners.

Fallows did not specifically address either issue but suggested that significant progress had been achieved in both cases.

"We had some things that we focused on over the winter in terms of making the car good to drive, making the balance good, said the British engineer.

And I think we're reasonably happy with where we are now. We know we've always got things to improve, which is why we go back into the wind tunnel and why we go back to the drawing board to do those things.

But so far, I think we've achieved a lot in three days in testing, done a lot of test items, and we're pretty pleased with the outcome."

Although Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack confirmed that his team had enjoyed a solid three days or running in Bahrain, the Luxembourger steered clear of gauging its position In the pecking order.

We need to look into the next days, get all the full analysis, and it will be over the next days that we get a clearer picture as well, he said.

I think it was quite important for us that we look at ourselves: we have quite a big programme and we cannot influence anyway what others are doing. And now it's about the analysis, and also trying to understand what others did.

"If you go through the full range of track conditions, fuel loads, engine modes, tyres  we had all the five tyre specs here, I think you can cover a range of five seconds. To then discern who's ahead by how much, I think it's really, really tough."

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Despite promising long-run performance, Mercedes admits its needs to unlock more single-lap pace from its new W15 car ahead of next weeks Bahrain Grand Prix.

The majority of the Brackley squads work during this weeks three days of pre-season testing at Sakhir focused on car stability over performance, an approach that confirmed that much of the defects embedded in last years car had been ironed out.

Mercedes efforts yielded encouraging results, with George Russell's third fastest lap time overall  achieved on the C4 soft compound  suggesting strong potential for race pace.

However, trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin acknowledges the need for further development in single-lap pace.

"We're still trying to fine-tune the set-up, there will definitely be more to come," Shovlin said in a Mercedes social media debrief.

"Overall we're happy, we definitely made progress. In terms of pace, the long run probably looks like our strength at the moment.

"There's more work to do on a single lap, but we should be in a position to hopefully put in a good showing when we get back on track."

Read also:

Formula 1s 2022 ground effect regulations ushered in a new era for the sport, and with it, unexpected challenges for Mercedes.

Both Lewis Hamilton and Russell grappled with unpredictable and "vicious" handling, far removed from the team's dominant past. Their cars erratic behavior hampered performance and left the drivers yearning for stability.

Recognizing this crucial need, Mercedes prioritized consistent and compliant handling in the development of its W15 car, and the teams efforts in this area have been very productive, as highlighted by Russell's confident declaration that his car is "no longer a diva.

"It's really encouraging that a lot of the problems that the drivers have been talking about the last 12 and even 24 months with W13 and W14, we seem to have got to grips with," Shovlin added.

"It's much more enjoyable to drive," Hamilton confirmed. "We still also have time to find, but I think Red Bull clearly are out in the distance. But I think it's a good platform to work from this year."

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Wanindu Hasaranga suspended for two matches, fined

Posted by Editor on February 25, 2024 - 9:01 am

Sri Lankas T20I captain Wanindu Hasaranga has been suspended for two international matches after his accumulated demerit points reached five within a 24-month period following his latest breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, for which he received a 50 percent fine and three demerit points.

Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an International Match.

Hasarangas five demerit points convert to two suspension points. As two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first for the player or player support personnel, Hasaranga stands suspended from Sri Lankas first two T20Is against Bangladesh next month.

The incident occurred after the end of the match, when Hasaranga confronted umpire Lyndon Hanibal to criticise him over a decision.

Afghanistan player Rahmanullah Gurbaz has also been penalised. He has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct in the same match.

Rahmanullah was found to have breached article 2.4 of the Code, which relates to Disobeying an Umpires instruction during an International Match.

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Rahmanullahs disciplinary record, for whom it was the second offence in a 24-month period, taking his cumulative demerit points to two.

The sanction was imposed on Rahmanullah for changing the grip of his bat on the field of play despite being repeatedly warned not to do so.

Both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for formal hearings.

On-field umpires Lyndon Hannibal and Raveendra Wimalasiri, third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge and and fourth umpire Ranmore Martinez levelled the charges.

Level 2 breaches carry a penalty of between 50 and 100 per cent of a players match fee and three or four demerit points while Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a players match fee, and one or two demerit points.

(Source: ICC)
NetBet expands its European presence by launching in Denmark's regulated online casino market, offering a wide range of top-tier games in partnership with leading game developers.

In a significant expansion of its European footprint, online casino operator NetBet has officially entered the regulated Danish market. This development comes after the company secured a license from Spillemyndigheden, Denmark's gambling regulator, authorizing NetBet to offer a comprehensive online casino experience.

Launching a Diverse Gaming Portfolio

NetBet.com/dk Goes Live

Now active in Denmark through its dedicated platform, NetBet.com/dk, the operator is set to provide Danish players with an extensive selection of gaming options. The website features diverse slots, casino games, and live casino content, ensuring a rich and varied gaming experience for all players.

Partnerships Enhance Game Offerings

In collaboration with renowned game developers Push Gaming and Pragmatic Play, NetBet's Danish platform boasts an impressive array of popular titles. Push Gaming's contributions include hit slots like Razor Shark, Goat Getter, and Boss Bear, while Pragmatic Play offers fan favorites such as Gates of Olympus, Sugar Rush, and Sweet Bonanza. These partnerships highlight NetBet's commitment to delivering high-quality, engaging content to its players.

A Strategic Move for Growth

Expanding NetBet's European Presence

Claudia Georgevici, PR manager for NetBet Denmark, expressed enthusiasm for the Danish launch, emphasizing its importance in the brand's strategy to extend its presence across licensed European territories. Georgevici highlighted NetBet's extensive experience crafting exciting and rewarding online casino experiences, expressing optimism for the reception among Danish customers.

NetBet's Global Operations

Beyond Denmark, NetBet boasts an active presence in several key international markets, including the UK, Romania, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, and others. This widespread operation underscores NetBet's position as a significant global online casino industry player.

Challenges and Opportunities in Denmark

Navigating Unlicensed Activity

While NetBet joins a growing list of operators approved in Denmark, the country continues to grapple with issues related to unlicensed gambling activities. A recent study shed light on the allure of unlicensed sites, driven by superior bonuses, repayment rates, and game variety. Conversely, the advantages of licensed platformssuch as regulatory oversight, credibility, and language supportremain compelling reasons for players to choose regulated options.

Insights from the Study

Conducted by Spillemyndigheden in partnership with Statistics Denmark, the survey revealed that 2.1% of respondents admitted to knowingly gambling on unlicensed sites within the past year. This figure increases to 3.8% among those engaging with sites unauthorized to operate in Denmark, illustrating the challenges and competitive dynamics within the market.

As NetBet ventures into the Danish online casino scene, its launch represents an expansion of its geographical reach and an opportunity to offer a regulated, high-quality gaming environment amidst the challenges of unlicensed competition.
Steven Garner doesnt like to talk about the day that changed his life and ended another mans. A New Orleans barroom altercation in 1990 escalated to the point where Garner, then 18, and his younger brother Glenn shot and killed another man. The Garners claimed self-defense, but a jury found them guilty of second-degree murder. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole.

When Garner entered the gates at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana, he didnt know what to expect. The maximum security facility has been dubbed Americas Bloodiest Prison and its brutal conditions have made headlines for decades.
Oscar Piastri says he enjoyed a very different kind of test in Bahrain this time around compared to last season thanks to his experience and level of comfort with his McLaren team and Formula 1.

Last year's pre-season testing was a baptism by fire for Piastri. After a year on the sidelines waiting in the wings at Alpine, the young Aussie had his hands full, tasked with the daunting challenge of learning a new team and troubled car.

But twelve months and one remarkable rookie season later, Piastri's 2024 pre-season preparations are a different story altogether.

I think for me, everything is just more relaxed, commented the 22-year-old, quoted by Speedcafe.

Just simple things are different. I know everyone in the team. Little things like I know my seat's comfy," he said. "There's always little things but just those sort of basic comforts are much more natural this year.

Read also:

But Piastris comfort extends beyond familiarity. He has obviously grown as a driver, honed by a successful rookie year.

His interactions with the team and his engineers also reflect this maturity. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella noted a crucial shift in Piastri's communication style, suggesting a driver who is more assertive and collaborative.

The young Australian is no longer simply adapting to the world of F1; he's actively shaping his own experience within it.

Definitely what we have seen much more, if I compare to last year, here in Bahrain, much more, let's say, self-awareness, Stella explained.

You know, like, where the limit of the car is, where the limit in terms of him being a rookie is  sometimes, when you are a rookie, you [have] to explore so many options in terms of driving that sometimes you are not sure like is it me, that I need to drive a different way, or is it the car that needs to behave in a different way?'

I think now he's much more aware, much more rapidly, of I need to adapt in this way in this place, but the car needs to do this for me.'

So this awareness definitely improved. Likewise, the rapidity in which he develops, Stella added.

Day 1, already while he was doing some continuous laps, he made a click in terms of performance.

He kind of took these improvements into the next round. So this happens much, much quicker. That's the main thing that was apparent to me.

Though McLarens the MCL38 is an evolution of its predecessor, Formula 1s stable regulations let Piastri leverage his experience from last year, giving him a head start of sorts this time around.

Going into it with, firstly, a comparison of last year's car to this year's car, but also with a pretty similar overview on what I want to improve and work on from last year, he said.

Instead of trying to learn first a new car, with new tyres, and a very different regulation, that is all stable this year and I can focus on the more specific things of how I drive it  and you know certain things I want to work on from last year.

All those kinds of things mean it's a very different kind of test. There's a lot less new things for me, which is always nice.

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Oregon softball was shut out for the third time in nine games to end its weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Kai Luschar had three of only five hits for the No. 25 Ducks in a 6-0 loss to Nebraska Saturday in Cathedral City, California. It is the third shutout loss this season for Oregon, which was blanked just five times each of the past two seasons.

Nebraska drove in two in the first via a pair of groundouts. Oregon (9-7) had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the inning but Alyssa Daniell hit a fielders choice groundout and Paige Sinicki struck out to end the threat.

A two-out walk by KK Humphreys and single by Luschar went for naught in the second as Hanna Delgado flew out. They each singled in the fourth but were left stranded again as Delgado flew out and the Ducks left 10 runners on base.

Billie Andrews hit a two-run homer in the third to end the day for Morgan Scott (4-3), who allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits in two innings.

Ava Bredwell hit an RBI double in the fifth and Samantha Bland hit a leadoff homer in the sixth for the Cornhuskers (7-5).

Taylour Spencer allowed one run on four hits over 2 1/3 innings and Stevie Hansen allowed one run on one hit and a hit batter and struck out two over 2 2/3 innings for UO.

Oregon returns home to host the Jane Sanders Classic beginning Thursday. The Ducks play Mount St. Marys at 3:30 p.m. and Maryland at 6 p.m.
Perhaps its the adrenaline-fueled focus that a short legislative session provides. Or maybe the motivation prompted by a possible ballot measure backed by public sentiment that Measure 110, the 2020 initiative that decriminalized drug possession, was a mistake.

Or maybe its just the grim reality that more and more Oregonians  1,268 adults and children for the year ending September 2023  are dying from fentanyl overdoses and that our drug crisis is only deepening.

Whatever the impetus, credit Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton; Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend; and House Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis for keeping their nerve amid intense pushback and successfully negotiating a framework for Oregon to responsibly and compassionately address the drug addiction crisis. The proposed changes to House Bill 4002 lay out a health-focused strategy for combining multiple opportunities for treatment with the structure of the criminal justice system  a departure from the all-carrot, no stick approach Oregon currently has. And while lawmakers should be prepared to make additional fixes in the 2025 session and beyond, they should turn the page on our drug decriminalization experiment now and support the new proposal.

As The Oregonian/OregonLives Noelle Crombie reported, the proposal recriminalizes possession of small amounts of street drugs as a new unclassified misdemeanor that carries a potential six months in jail. But it also calls on counties to set up deflection systems in which users are offered multiple opportunities for treatment  including prior to arrest  as an alternative to prosecution and the traditional criminal justice system. The idea is to emphasize a health response aimed at helping a user connect with services rather than a criminal response. The bill also calls for expungement of charges following completion of treatment.

If passed, the bill would, as previously planned, tighten state law to make it easier to prosecute drug dealers. And importantly, the proposal includes direction to the states Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission for developing a youth-specific strategy  a need that has gone ignored for too long.

Certainly, the bill has its weaknesses. Most notably, it would not mandate that counties adopt deflection programs, nor does it lay out how such programs should be structured. While counties have reportedly expressed their support for setting up deflection systems, the actual implementation will depend on the commitment  and competence  of elected officials, law enforcement, county leaders and others to follow through. But such a critical component of this plan should not vary by county lines or be vulnerable to change with each election. The long-term success of this approach will depend on the state and legislators exerting strong oversight over counties implementation, recommending models that show success and laying the foundation for making deflection programs mandatory across the state.

Critics warn that recriminalizing possession could further burden the justice system, which has for years been unable to ensure defense attorneys for those charged with criminal counts, despite $100 million in new money. But the states repeated failures to fix the lack of representation do not justify asking Oregonians to stick with continued failure on this public health and public safety issue. At the same time, counties should keep such practical concerns in mind and focus on providing meaningful outreach and pre-arrest deflection opportunities that limit peoples entry into the criminal justice system to begin with.

If the bill is passed, it wont be an easy transition. Oregon is once again pioneering a different way of doing things. But the bill is a compromise that seeks to honor voters best intentions when they passed Measure 110 while recognizing the urgency needed to more effectively pressure drug users to seek help.

Lieber, Kropf and Rayfield have handed their fellow legislators an opportunity to help build a better way forward. Lawmakers should give them their support.

-The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board

Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email:


There is no good time to write about the worst possible racist slur, but the middle of Black History Month may be the worst time.

As reported Feb. 16 by The Oregonian/OregonLives Shane Dixon Kavanaugh, KGW-TV inadvertently aired a highly offensive and racist photograph on its show The Good Stuff, resulting in harsh criticism from community members and thorough apologies from the stations news director.
In early February of last year, newly installed Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson made a bold announcement: By June 2023, the county would move 300 people living in tents in and near downtown Portland off the streets into apartments.

Dubbed Housing Multnomah Now, the initiative would begin by dramatically reducing visible homelessness in the heart of Oregons largest city, then expand to housing even more people living outdoors in east Multnomah County, she said.
The National Weather Service is warning beachgoers that the Oregon coast is at increased risk for sneaker waves Sunday.

Sneaker waves are a sudden rush of water far above the expected tide. They can catch beachgoers by surprise and drag them out to the ocean, where cold temperatures can be deadly.

Dangerous sneaker waves are possible along the coast Sunday. Beachgoers can be knocked down  dragged into the ocean by these waves resulting in injury or drowning. Stay back from the waves  avoid climbing on rocks, jetties, and logs. pic.twitter.com/Hvf0rLvZWW  NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) February 25, 2024

Forecasters with the National Weather Service remind people at the coast to never turn their backs on the ocean and to avoid rocks, jetties and logs. Adults, children and pets can become pinned by logs that roll over them in sneaker waves.

 Beth Slovic is a deputy editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Photo: (Photo : IVAN COURONNE /Getty Images)

The recent Alabama Supreme Court decision categorizing embryos from in vitro fertilization (IVF) as children, Republican Senate candidates are banding together to present a unified front amid the ensuing chaos.

This collective stance not only emphasizes their commitment to defending IVF rights but also reflects a pivotal moment within the party as it grapples with the complexities of the Alabama ruling.

Defending IVF Rights Amidst Alabama Supreme Court Ruling

While a majority of Republican lawmakers opted for a notable silence on the matter, a surge of statements defending IVF rights emerged from GOP Senate candidates last Friday.

Nevada's Sam Brown, Montana's Tim Sheehy, Pennsylvania's Dave McCormick, and Arizona's Kari Lake articulated their resolute support for IVF, portraying it as a blessing for families seeking to grow and thrive.

This unified stance extends even to candidates such as Michigan's Mike Rogers and Ohio's Matt Dolan, who, despite historically supporting pro-life measures, are now advocating for the protection of IVF rights.

Behind this cohesive front lies strategic guidance from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which discreetly issued a memo to Senate candidates.

The memo advises candidates to express unwavering support for IVF, oppose any potential restrictions, and actively campaign for the expansion of its access.

The NRSC's behind-the-scenes role in shaping the narrative underscores a strategic move within the party to address the aftermath of the Alabama Supreme Court ruling and solidify a consistent message across Republican Senate hopefuls.

Notably, the NRSC's strategic guidance has not escaped the watchful eye of Democratic counterparts.

David Bergstein, spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, criticized the memo, interpreting it as an acknowledgment of the Republican agenda's unpopularity with women's reproductive rights.

The delicate balancing act struck by candidates like Ohio's Bernie Moreno, initially emphasizing pro-life values but later expressing support for initiatives promoting larger families, reflects the intricate dance within the Republican Party as it navigates the intersection of pro-life convictions and IVF advocacy.

Read Also: Cleveland Mother Pleads Guilty After Leaving Toddler Alone for Vacation - Chilling Details Emerge

Fetal Personhood Bills and Broader Concerns

Parallel to these developments, reproductive rights groups are sounding alarms about fetal personhood bills in more than a dozen states.

There is a palpable fear that, if enacted, these bills could lead to potential restrictions on IVF treatments.

The Alabama ruling, which categorizes IVF embryos as children, has ignited concerns about the broader implications of similar legislation.

The surge in fetal personhood bills since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision adds another layer to the ongoing debate over the personhood of embryos and the right to choose.

The unity displayed by Republican Senate candidates in the face of the Alabama Supreme Court ruling showcases a concerted effort to defend IVF rights and navigate the complexities surrounding the issue.

The NRSC's discreet guidance, coupled with Democratic criticism and concerns over fetal personhood bills, underscores the multi-faceted nature of the ongoing debate over reproductive rights within the political landscape.

As the GOP Senate hopefuls stand united amid this chaotic landscape, the intricacies of their positions and the implications of the Alabama ruling continue to shape the narrative around IVF and broader reproductive rights.

Related Article: Texas Woman Suing State Over Abortion Ban Moves Frozen Embryos Amid Fears of IVF Restrictions
Photo: (Photo : Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

The Florida measles outbreak has taken a concerning turn with the confirmation of a seventh case in Broward County.

This time, the virus has infected a child under the age of 5, marking the youngest patient identified in this outbreak and the first case reported outside the confines of Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, near Fort Lauderdale.

Measles Cases Surge Beyond School Boundaries Raises Alarms Over Containment Measures

As the measles outbreak extends its reach beyond the originally affected school-age demographic, concerns regarding the effectiveness of containment strategies intensify.

Health experts, including the renowned Dr. David Kimberlin from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, emphasize the inherent challenges posed by the highly infectious nature of the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscored the gravity of the situation, reporting a tally of at least 35 measles cases across 15 states as of the latest update.

Within this alarming statistic, the Florida outbreak stands out as the most significant in the United States.

The surge in cases is not confined solely to Florida, with a national escalation attributed predominantly to international travel, adding layers of complexity to the ongoing containment efforts.

Criticism Mounts Over Florida's Response Strategies Amid National Concerns

Florida's approach to handling the measles outbreak is drawing criticism, primarily centered around the decisions made by Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the state's Surgeon General.

Ladapo's stance, allowing parents the discretion to determine whether their children should be quarantined, is raising eyebrows among experts who fear this hands-off approach might inadvertently contribute to the continued spread of the highly contagious virus.

The controversy deepens considering the unique characteristics of measles, including its prolonged incubation period.

Unvaccinated individuals facing an alarming 90% chance of infection upon exposure only heighten concerns regarding the decision to defer quarantine judgments to parents.

Adding to the complexity is the notable uptick in vaccine exemptions in Florida. Data from the CDC highlights a concerning trend of increasing vaccine exemptions in recent years.

The November 2022 report reveals a record-breaking 3% of children entering kindergarten were granted exemptions during the 2022-2023 school year, contributing to the current predicament.

Read Also: Cleveland Mother Pleads Guilty After Leaving Toddler Alone for Vacation - Chilling Details Emerge

Drawing Lessons from Ohio - A Different Approach to Containment

A comparative analysis of Ohio's successful containment of a 2022 measles outbreak provides valuable insights into alternative strategies.

Ohio Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts implemented stringent measures, focusing on proactive interventions such as encouraging vaccinations and enforcing quarantines.

The success in Ohio was attributed to unwavering adherence to standard public health guidance, with a particular emphasis on the prompt identification and isolation of patients and transparent communication with the public.

In stark contrast to Florida's approach, Ohio's guidance emphasized proactive measures such as encouraging the MMR vaccine, which provides 97% protection against infection.

Unvaccinated children exposed to the virus were kept out of school, daycare, and other activities for a mandatory 21-day quarantine period, reducing the risk of further transmission.

The Ohio model demonstrated the effectiveness of a proactive public health approach in containing measles outbreaks, achieving control within a remarkably short timeframe.

As the Florida measles outbreak continues to unfold, experts advocate for a reconsideration of containment strategies to curb the surge in cases and protect vulnerable populations.

The Florida measles outbreak, now the largest in the U.S., prompts an urgent evaluation of the state's response strategies.

The surge in cases beyond school boundaries, coupled with rising vaccine exemptions, underscores the need for a comprehensive and proactive approach to contain the highly contagious virus.

Related Article: Biometric Gun Safes Recall: Child-Accessible Flaw Puts Lives at Risk, 120,000 Units Pulled from Shelves
slobo / Getty Images

So, youve bought a new house  congratulations! But do you have everything you need to furnish all of those new rooms, stock your kitchen pantry and shelves, and make it feel like yours?

Read: 7 Household Products To Always Buy in Bulk at Costco

Find: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

If not, you might want to make a shopping list and take a trip to Costco. The warehouse club has more to offer than just discounts on bulk items, though it has those in spades. Its also the go-to place to shop for many new homeowners just like you.

Whether you need a new bed for that guest room or youre ready to upgrade your small kitchen appliances, here are some things you should get at Costco over other stores.

Sink Caddy or Dish Rack

Every kitchen needs a dish rack or sink caddy, and you can get some great quality ones at Costco.

As a homeowner, I need convenience in the kitchen, said David Bakke, Costco superfan and homeowner at DollarSanity. Costco has a combination dish rack/sink caddy for only $90, and thats a bargain. It dries all of your items effectively, its compact in size, and its actually rather aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I absolutely love it and it was worth every penny.

See: 7 Best Kirkland Brand Pantry Products To Pick Up at Costco

Learn: 7 Key Signs Youve Reached Financial Freedom

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

logoff / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Vacuum Cleaner

Get a high-quality, heavy-duty vacuum cleaner that can handle all the nooks and crannies of a new space, said Nathan Jacobs, Costco fan and Senior Researcher at The Money Mongers. Costco offers unbeatable prices compared to other retailers.

For example, this Shark Navigator upright vacuum has 4.5 stars with over 6,400 customer reviews. Its anti-allergen, efficient, and less than $200  a reasonable price for such a machine.

The warehouse club also often has steep sales on household items like vacuum cleaners, meaning you could potentially save even more money.

Story continues

Purchases: Im a Shopping Expert: 9 Items Id Never Put in My Grocery Cart

skynesher / Getty Images

Large Appliances

Unless you buy a home with those shiny new appliances already installed, youre going to need to purchase new ones soon after getting the keys. But if you dont want to go through your life savings to outfit your home, you can always shop at Costco for some great deals.

[Costco] often has killer deals on major appliances, like fridges, washers, dryers, and dishwashers, said Allison Montgomery, Costco shopper, financial expert, and real estate investor at Buy My House. You could be looking at hundreds of dollars saved compared to other stores, especially with their well-reviewed Kirkland Signature brand.

You can also get extended warranties on many of these household appliances, something that can give you peace of mind and save you money if you need a replacement part later.

apomares / Getty Images

Cleaning Supplies

As any new homeowner will tell you, theres virtually no limit to the amount of cleaning supplies youre going to need at your new place. And while you can buy these at other places at reasonable prices, you could save money by buying them in bulk at Costco.

Considering household cleaning products have a long shelf life, this could lead to long-term savings and less hassle later.

New digs often mean new spills and splatters, said Montgomery. Costcos got your back (and kitchen sink) with cleaning essentials in mega-packs. Laundry detergent, dish soap, paper towels, trash bags  you name it, theyve got it in quantities that make your wallet smile. This means serious savings per unit compared to buying smaller sizes elsewhere.

For example, the Fabuloso multi-purpose cleaner costs $12 for 210 fl. oz. This is comparable or cheaper to what youd find at places like Target.

Mr.Wutthiphong Talhom / Shutterstock.com

Sheets

Whether youre looking to change up your own bedding, or you finally have a guest room with an extra bed, chances are you need new sheets. But since bedding is expensive, and you already have other expenses to deal with as a new homeowner, being a little frugal doesnt hurt.

Everything surrounding bedding is incredibly expensive, which is why Im glad I found this gem at Costco, said Bakke. Its the Kirkland brand, and the sheets are softer than you can imagine. You also get an extra pillowcase for each pillow, which is an added convenience. It sells for $60, which is a steal.

Read More: 10 Things You Should Always Buy at Trader Joes

Shutterstock.com

Under-Sink Water Filtration System

With my years of experience as a real estate agent, I always advise my clients purchasing their first home to take full advantage of Costcos low prices on essential household items, said Jim Olenbush, Costco fan and a real estate and design expert at Austin Real Estate.

One such item Olenbush always suggests for new homeowners is an under-sink water filtration system.

The importance of clean, filtered water cannot be overstated. However, specialized under-sink water filters from brands like Culligan, Aquasana, and Watts can run $200 or more. At Costco, you can often find similar systems for under $100, said Olenbush. Ive seen quality under-sink filtration systems for as little as $60 at my local warehouse.

While less expensive options are available at some home improvement stores, Costcos selection often includes better brands and higher-end features like multiple filtration stages and modern faucet finishes, he continued. Youll drink cleaner water for years while saving at least $100 upfront.

Amazon

Mattress

As a new homeowner, check out Costcos online or in-store catalog of mattresses and mattress toppers. They have a wide selection thats sure to meet your needs.

For instance, this Casper Select Memory Foam Full-Size Mattress costs $550 and is medium-firm. It also boasts high-density memory foam for a restful nights sleep.

You can score additional savings in the bed department by purchasing multiple other Costco Direct Items at a time. Depending on how many items you buy, you could save anywhere from $100 to $400.

KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Patio Furniture and Accessories

At Costco, you can buy outdoor dining sets, fire pit sets, chaise lounges, chairs, and more at reasonable prices. Many of these items are designed to last, even against harsher weather conditions, meaning you wont need to purchase them twice.

Got a backyard begging for some love? Costco can help you transform it into your own outdoor oasis, without maxing out your oasis fund, said Montgomery. They often have fantastic deals on patio furniture sets, grills, and other outdoor essentials.

Costco also sometimes has warranties or sales on patio furniture and grills, so check into those for additional cost-savings opportunities.

Discover: 4 Best Cable TV and Internet Options to Better Fit Your Budget

PeopleImages / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Towels and Washcloths

Ready to swap out your old towels for something new? Costco has some high-quality sets that dont cost a ton but still do what theyre meant to.

Im rather picky about my washcloths and towels. I want functionality, usability, and convenience, said Bakke. The ones I found at Costco are from the Charisma brand and they check all of those boxes. They are thick, absorbent, and soft. They also only cost $17.

Organizational Solutions

Organizational tools like storage bins, shelving units, and wall organizers are also home essentials that new homeowners should strongly consider purchasing at Costco, said Olenbush. The key advantage is the deeply discounted prices on premium storage solutions compared to other big box stores. Getting organized is much more affordable thanks to Costcos bulk pricing.

In particular, Olenbush recommended the commercial-grade steel shelving units and racks at Costco.

A 4-tier heavy-duty steel wire shelving unit may cost $120 or more at Lowes or Home Depot, he said. Costco often carries professional quality shelving for half that price or even less. I recently saw an adjustable 4-shelf steel storage rack on sale for only $55 at my local warehouse.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Things New Homeowners Should Always Buy at Costco
Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh was on Friday 23rd February, 2024, honoured by the Trinidad Chapter of Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP), receiving the prestigious International Leadership Award in Trinidad and Tobago.



The award is given to individuals in recognition of their outstanding leadership, blazing the trail in their fields of endeavour for the benefit of humanity.



The event was held at the Cara hotel, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago.



Presenting the award to the Energy Minister, Chairman of SMRP Trinidad chapter, Mr. Kuarlal Rampersad recounted Dr. Prempehs excellent human relations serving diligently at the Ministry of Education and transferring an even stronger energy to the Ministry of Energy where he has been credited for keeping the lights on and the nation moving at a time where many countries have encountered greater difficulties.



In his acceptance speech, Dr. Prempeh said he came to the role of Energy Minister understanding clearly the expectations of the Ghanaian people which is to ensure power stability and the availability of petroleum products and at affordable prices.



The feeling gets much more intense, thinking about the fact that, I have been a recipient of a number of awards from organizations of different persuasions. But then, I remind myself of the many counsels of my father, uncles and in fact, all those who contributed to my upbringing that hard work breaks no bone. I am very much humbled for this honour, he said.



Chief Director at the Ministry of Energy, Mrs. Wilhelmina Asamoah and Director, Legal at the Ministry, Ms. Sarah Fafa Kpodo also received awards at the SMRP event in recognition of their hard work.

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 Atasemanso Police have arrested a woman for dumping her baby girl at an Astro Turf Park at Atasemanso in Kumasi.



According to reports, the woman, identified as Hilda, was said to have left her baby at the place at around 3am on Tuesday unattended to.



The little girl, who was covered with a cloth when she was found, started crying a few minutes after her mother left, drawing the attention of residents, who rescued her.



The discovery of the baby attracted a number of people to the scene, who sent her to the Atasemanso Police Station.



The police then advised that the baby be taken to the hospital, as search for her mother immediately began.



According to reports, a certain man claimed that one Hilda, who lives at Atasemanso, was the mother of the baby.



This man alleged that he saw Hilda, who is a nursing mother, dumping the baby there around 3am on Tuesday.



Unconfirmed reports indicated that the said Hilda has since been arrested and is assisting in investigations.

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 First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bekwai Joseph Osei Owusu (Joewise) has said, there is no time frame allocated for any leader in parliament to resign.



According to the deputy majority leader, anybody who holds a position can resign at his or her own discretion, thus, there is no time allotted to when anybody can resign.



When asked whether it is normal for a leader in parliament to resign, he said, Why not? Anybody who holds a position can or may resignI dont know about any time management, anybody can resign at any time.



Hon. Joewise further said he was disappointed about the resignation of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu after describing him as an extremely hard-working person who should have stayed on for a while.



I am personally disappointed that Kyei decided to stand down, he has been a fantastic leader and he is an extremely hardworking person and I would have wished that he stayed on to the end, he told journalists in Parliament on Thursday Febraury 22.



The Member of Parliament for Suame Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu indicated after announcing his exit that he has served the NPP diligently ever since he entered Parliament.



Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is currently one of the longest-serving lawmakers in Ghana. He entered Parliament on the same day as President Akufo-Addo did on January 7th, 1997.



He tendered his resignation as Majority Leader at a meeting involving the President, the Majority Caucus and the National Officers of the NPP at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.



I have served the Party diligently ever since I entered Parliament on the same day, January 7th 1997, with the President. I believe I have served the Party very well to the best of my ability, and I have no regrets.



There is a difficult battle ahead of us, to which enterprise all of us must commit ourselves. We are at a critical juncture that requires absolute unity and peace within our ranks to successfully prosecute the Breaking the 8 Agenda.



He added In my absence from the Country, certain Issues had been raised to which I have been connected. I do not want to be the eye of the storm. Nothing should be done that would precipitate cataclysmic consequences. That is why I am stressing peace and unity.



For those of my colleagues who are here, let me express my most sincere gratitude to you all for the partnership and assistance that you have provided to propel the agenda of the Party, and latterly, government.



At this stage, I would want to inform Mr. President, the Members of Leadership, herein present, the Leadership of the Party, and all others, that I voluntarily declare my intent to step down as the Majority Leader before you my colleagues here and now, in order to afford the Caucus the opportunity to choose their leader. I thank you Mr. President for the opportunity afforded. Thank you all once again.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
By Thomas Beaumont and Meg Kinnard, The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says its not the end of our story despite Donald Trumps easy primary victory in South Carolina, her home state where the onetime governor had long suggested her competitiveness with the former president would show.

Defying calls from South Carolina Republicans to exit the race, Haley planned to travel Sunday to Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday.

With his win Saturday in the first-in-the South contest, Trump has now swept every primary or caucus on the GOP early-season calendar that awards delegates. His performances have left little maneuvering room for Haley, his former U.N. ambassador.

I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now, Trump said in a victory night celebration in Columbia.

Haley insists she is sticking around even with the growing pressure to abandon her candidacy and let Trump focus entirely on Democratic President Joe Biden, in a 2020 rematch.

In addition to the rally in vote-rich Oakland County, Michigan, northwest of Detroit on Sunday evening, she scheduled a Monday event in Grand Rapids, a western Michigan Republican hub.

Im grateful that today is not the end of our story, Haley told supporters Saturday. Well keep fighting for America and we wont rest until America wins.

Asa Hutchinson, a Trump critic and former Arkansas governor who dropped out of the GOP presidential race after Iowas leadoff caucuses in January, said he thought Haley should stay in. The challenge is that she did everything she could in South Carolina, he said on CNNs State of the Union.

Haley has pledged to keep going through at least the batch of primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday. But its got to accelerate because you run into the delegate wall. And the delegate wall is March 5, Hutchinson said. So shes got to prove herself.

South Carolinas most prominent Republicans stood with Trump, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who endorsed him this past week.

To U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, this has always been a primary in name only and that Trump was never in jeopardy of losing to Haley. Fry said Trump would be the GOP nominee and the latest election results were just further validation of that.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Trump ally, said Trump was on a pathway to being able to clinch the nomination by mid-March. I would say the wind is strongly at his back, Abbott told CNN.

Not all voters in South Carolina want Haley to end her campaign.

Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, right, greeting supporters after speaking at an election night event, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)AP

Irene Sulkowski of Daniel Island said she hoped Haley would soldier on, suggesting the former governor would be a more appealing general election candidate than Trump despite his popularity among the GOP base that powers the primary season.

Theyre not thinking, Who do you want to represent us in the general election? said Sulkowski, an accountant. And they need to have a longer-term view.

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writer James Pollard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
A man was injured Saturday night during an altercation on a Broad Street Line subway train.

The 20-year-old bystander was struck by a bullet during the fight and was rushed to Einstein Medical Center, where he is in stable condition, according to 6abc.

The incident started around 9 oclock Saturday on a train near the 2400 block of North Broad Street in Philadelphias Tioga-Nicetown neighborhood. According to police, a man in his 20s was on the train when he was attacked.

The man, who had a permit to carry, pulled out his gun during the struggle.

When the gun went off, the bullet struck the bystander.

This latest incident comes after multiple shootings on SEPTA platforms in the last few weeks, including a deadly shooting near 34th and Market and a shooting at the 52nd Street Station, the story said.

We need more police presence because you dont see them, Roslyn McGee told abc6 on Sunday. I see SEPTA police on the streets, but not on the buses.
FILE  Then-U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 7, 2017. While in power, Trump derided the leaders of some friendly nations while praising authoritarians such as Putin. As chances rise of a Joe Biden-Trump rematch in the U.S. presidential election race, Americas allies are bracing for a bumpy ride. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)AP
FILE - Houthi fighters march during a rally of support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and against the U.S. strikes on Yemen outside Sanaa on Jan. 22, 2024. (AP Photo, File)
The Samuel de Champlain Bridge is shown lit up in the colours of Ukraine in Montreal, Saturday, February 26, 2022, in a show of support from the government of Canada for the Ukrainian people and all Ukrainian Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Authoritarian countries are leveraging social media to set back progress for women worldwide, a Canadian special envoy says, as Ottawa refreshes its cross-government gender policy. Jacqueline O'Neill, Canada's ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, prepares to appear before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, at the Senate of Canada Building, in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
andresr / iStock.com

Have you had enough of the cold and the snow? The groundhog forecasted an early spring, but the wintry weather seems dragging on. A ski resort can make for an affordable vacation, especially if you travel close to home. But if you cant go another day without sunshine, warm waves, and tropical beverages on a beach somewhere, consider these vacations under $1,000.

Try This: 11 Expensive Vacation Destinations That Will Be Cheaper in 2024

Trending Now: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

Jamaica

Jamaica remains a popular vacation destination. And with all-inclusive resort stays for three nights, including flights, starting at $756 on Kayak, its no wonder people are flocking to this Caribbean Island to escape the cold. Suppose youd rather plan your own meals and experience local cuisine. In that case, you can choose the Jewel Grande Montego Bay for just $659 for three nights (double occupancy, flight included) or the adults-only Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, which received a five-star rating at Kayak, for $839. Prices vary depending on where youre flying from.

Cancun, Mexico

On Expedia, we found plenty of hotels for under $50 a night and even brand names like Wyndham and Marriott for under $100 per night. Kayak boasts flights to Cancun starting at $52, making the Mexico resort community an affordable getaway. Group tours, snorkeling expeditions, and even ziplining run less than $100 per person, so youll have plenty to do. Of course, you can always relax on the beach or lounge poolside. The City Express by Marriott Cancun has a private beach and is a four-minute walk to the Dubai Palace Casino, a tourist-friendly gaming facility.

Miami, Florida

Those looking to stay in the U.S. can find cheap flights to Miami from virtually anywhere. Lunar New Year celebrations take place throughout February and into early March. The Luminosa: A Festival of Light offers stunning artwork and lights on Jungle Island through March 9, 2024, MiamiandBeaches.com reported.

Story continues

You can find mid-range and luxury chain hotels, including the Arlo Wynwood Miami and the Aloft Miami Airport, for less than $200 per night. Consider a weekend getaway to enjoy some of Floridas best white-sand beaches. You can even take a day trip to Key West and enjoy a sunset sail. Best of all, you can experience it all without a passport.

Whether you explore tropical locations or just head south for whats left of the winter, a getaway right now may cost less than you would imagine.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Cheap, Tropical Locations to Travel to this Winter On Less Than $1,000
David Kaufmann Shines in the City of Light Ahead of EPT Paris Main Event Finale

February 25, 2024 David Salituro Live Reporter

David Kaufmann already knows what its like to capture a prestigious PokerStars title.

In 2013, Kaufmann won the WCOOP Main Event to earn nearly $1.5 million. He then finished in 41st place at EPT Barcelona that year. But then came a long hiatus when Kaufmann didnt cash in any poker tournament for more than eight years as he focused on earning a degree in economics.

When Kaufmann finally returned to the live felt within the last few months, it was like he never left. He cashed in the EPT Cyprus Main Event. He finished 44th in the FPS Main Event this week at Le Palais des Congres. And, at the final table of the record-breaking 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Paris Main Event, Kaufmann is the man to beat as six players return to chase the trophy and 1,287,800 top prize.

The 33-year-old German native, who now calls Vienna home, ended the fifth and penultimate day of the Main Event with 24,800,000 and a commanding lead over the final six. Latvian high roller Aleksejs Ponakovs is in second place with 10,050,000, followed by British poker legend Barny Boatman with 9,675,000. At the bottom of the leaderboard are Owen Dodd (2,950,000), Eric Afriat (2,525,000), and Peter Jorgne (2,400,000).

EPT Paris Main Event Final Table Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 David Kaufmann Germany 24,800,000 124 2 Aleksejs Ponakovs Latvia 10,050,000 50 3 Barny Boatman United Kingdom 9,675,000 48 4 Owen Dodd United Kingdom 2,950,000 15 5 Eric Afriat Canada 2,525,000 13 6 Peter Jorgne Sweden 2,400,000 12

Kaufmann may be in a great spot to lift the coveted title, but he admits he hasnt allowed himself to dream about what that moment would be like. Actually, not too much. Ive dreamed of being in a spot like this, to be at a final table like this. But you cant dream, I have to win this tournament, I have to win this tournament. You just have to keep playing. Try to play well, and hopefully, someday, it happens, he said at the conclusion of the day.

It would mean a lot, of course. I would be super happy. Some people care a lot about trophies. Some people dont care much; they just care about the money. Im in the middle.

Kaufmann was helped along the way with two massive hands that propelled him to such a big lead. First, he was involved in a coin flip with Ponakovs for nearly 8,000,000, where his pocket jacks held up against ace-king. Then, in a hand that will live on forever in EPT lore and Ami Barers nightmares, Barer flopped top set of jacks against Kaufmanns set of tens. Kaufmann just called Barers bet of 2,675,000 on the turn as the river brought a third diamond. Barer slowed down and checked, and Kaufmann then moved all in. Barer, with 2,780,000 remaining, tanked for several minutes before mucking.

Its a crazy tournament, Kaufmann said. Its an insane structure. It takes so long. It takes so many days. To be at the final table is insane. I was running so good at the final table. Some miracles happened, like the tens against jacks. Im just happy and be back to give it my best.

Meet the 2024 EPT Paris Main Event Finalists

Kaufmann is looking to go wire-to-wire at the final table and be the last of 1,747 total players, the sixth-largest EPT in history and the largest outside of Barcelona, but hes not the only one for whom a victory would mean a lot. Ponakovs already has $14 million in live earnings and two WSOP bracelets, one of which he won by starring down the legendary Phil Ivey heads-up in 2022, but hell be making his first appearance at an EPT final table.

The 68-year-old Boatman, who has been playing on the EPT since its inception two decades ago, has already locked up his best finish since a fourth-place run at EPT San Remo in 2011 as he chases his first title.

UK pro Dodd wasnt even going to play the event until he was persuaded by a group of friends to enter and has made the final table of his first-ever EPT Main Event. Afriat is a legend on the World Poker Tour, where hes currently tied for second all-time with three titles, but he seldom plays on the European circuit as he tries to bolster his resume with an EPT title.

Peter Jorgne

Then there is Jorgne, the 51-year-old Swedish businessman who now lives in Spain, who has seemingly done the impossible: make it to the final table for the second year in a row. In 2023, when the EPT first came to the French capital, Jorgne finished second to Razvan Belea in a field of 1,606.

This year, in an even bigger field, he has defied all odds to get back on this stage. Jorgne is just the eighth player in EPT history to make it to consecutive final tables of the same event. Four came in the EPT's early days, when field sizes were smaller. Just three have done it since 2010: David Boyaciyan (EPT Prague, 2011-12); Steve ODwyer (EPT London, 2011-12); and Vladislav Naumov (EPT Sochi, 2020-21). None have done it in such massive fields.

Day 5 Action

Day 5 began with 18 players out of a starting field of 1,747. The day started with a bang, as Francesco Delfoco shoved for 1,175,000 on the first hand with seven-three and Hans Erlandsson woke up with aces in the big blind to bust him in 18th place.

Leo Worthington-Leese, a finalist at EPT Monte Carlo last year, came up short of making it to the final table this time as he fell in 17th place to Sindre Hansens full house. Dimitar Danchev was the last remaining EPT champion in the field and was all in with ace-king against Ponakovs ace-three. Danchev flopped trip kings to take a seemingly insurmountable lead in the hand, but Ponakovs made a running flush to bust Danchev in 16th and ensure that a new EPT champion would be crowned.

Kaufmanns ascent to such a commanding lead began when he limped the small blind, Ponakovs raised to 210,000, and Kaufmann three-bet to 650,000. Ponakovs made it 1,090,000, and Kaufmann moved all in for 3,855,000. Ponakovs called with ace-king and was racing against Kaufmanns jacks for the chip lead. Kaufmanns pair held up and he took the chip lead, never surrendering it the rest of the day.

David Kaufmann - Aleksejs Ponakovs

Kaufmann added to his lead when Mathias Siljander bluff-shoved the river with a missed straight draw and Kaufmann called with a rivered full house to eliminate him in 15th, moving his stack past 10,000,000. Ponakovs, who was knocked down to under 400,000 after losing that massive pot to Kaufmann, survived on the river when he rivered a flush to double up.

Erlandsson fell in 14th place, while Ponakovs continued his ascent by eliminating David Tous in 13th. Gonzalo Almeida was involved in a three-way all in where he called for his last 2,000,000 with pocket queens, but both Afriat and Jorgne had kings and split the pot to send the Argentine out in 12th.

Eliot Hudon then moved all in for 2,460,000 with ace-jack and Jorgne called with queens. Jorgne got a dream flop, hitting quads to already leave Hudon drawing dead and heading for the exit in 11th place. Ponakovs eliminated Farid Jattin in 10th place to set up the unofficial final table of nine.

After several hours without a bustout at the final table, Hansen lost a race with ace-queen to Afriats jacks. Left with just 25,000, less than he started the tournament with five days ago, Hansen picked up queens the next hand but Lorenzo Arduini had kings to bust him in ninth place.

Arduini was comfortably in the middle of the pack before losing a big pot with top pair to Kaufmanns turned straight. He then doubled up Barer to leave himself with just 350,000 and, with a few minutes left on the clock before players bagged up for the night, he called all in from the button the next hand with two threes. Kaufmann ended up with a straight and Arduini hit the rail in seventh.

But that wasnt the last knockout of the night. On the last hand, Barer jammed for 4,750,000 with two eights and Kaufmann snapped him off with two aces to bring the field down to the final six.

Final Table payouts

Place Player Country Prize 1 1,287,800 2 804,750 3 574,850 4 442,150 5 340,100 6 261,650 7 Ami Barer Canada 201,250 8 Lorenzo Arduini Italy 154,800

The players return at 12:30 p.m. CET on Sunday, February 25, to play the last 30 minutes of Level 32 with blinds of 100,000-200,000 and a 200,000 big blind ante. Theyve all guaranteed themselves 261,650 for making it this far in such a massive field, but the top prize and gold-laden EPT trophy awaits at the end for one of them.

Eighteen became nine. Nine became six. Now, all thats left is to play down to a winner as PokerNews brings you all the coverage of the EPT Paris final table.

Sharelines Meet the six players to make it to the final day of the EPT Paris Main Event
The 25,000 No-Limit Hold'em concluded play for Day 1 here at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Paris. This single re-entry two-day event is the last 25,000 of the series being held at Le Palais des Congres in the French capital. The field of 31 entries has been whittled down to 13 players coming in to Day 2 and it is Santhosh Suvarna who leads the way in chips.

Suvarna, who fired a bullet before his second and final re-entry, has made the most of his second chance by amassing 616,000. The Indian businessman will be looking to add to his $6,658,585 in live tournament cashes. EPT Paris 50,000 Super High Roller winner Thomas Santerne was chip leader for an extended period during this Day 1 has to settle for second place with a stack of 580,000. In third place is Viacheslav Buldygin who is looking to add to his 25,000 NL Hold'em eight-place finish and 5,300 EPT Main Event cashes, both coming here in Paris.

Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Santosh Suvarna India 616,000 154 2 Thomas Santerne France 580,000 130 3 Viacheslav Buldygin Russian Federation 413,000 103 4 Samuel Ju Germany 276,000 69 5 Chris Brewer United States 253,000 63 6 Sirzat Hissou Germany 245,000 61 7 Daniel Dvoress Canada 195,000 49 8 Sam Greenwood Belgium 182,000 46 9 Steve O'Dwyer Ireland 116,000 29 10 Quan Zhou Hong Kong 98,000 25

Day 1 Action

Thomas Santerne

Play started with 7 players when the tournament commenced at 7p.m local time, but the field quickly grew with more entrants. The prize pool currently stands at 752,640. Artur Martirosian was the first player to find his way to the reentry desk having lost a flip with big slick to Stephen Chidwick. Chidwick himself fired two bullets finding no success this time around.

Adrian Mateos was another player to go through two bullets, as was Alex Kulev who built a stack of just under 200,000 before having to double a short stack before busting. Sam Greenwood also fired two bullets but had better luck and is sitting with a stack of 182,000. EPT Paris 50,000 Super High Roller runner-up Chris Brewer will be in the mix on Day 2. He found a crucial double up against Mateos as he four-bet all in with pocket queens versus the Spaniard's ace-jack offsuit.

Daniel Dvoress will be returning for Day 2 with a stack of 195,000. He will be looking to add another deep run to what has already been a very impressive EPT series with victories in two 25,000 events in the French Capital. Sirzat Hissou is another player who will be in the mix having fired two bullets.

Late registration will remain open until the start of Level 11 where play will resume with blinds of 2,000/5,000 with a 5,000 big blind ante.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage of this event as EPT Paris draws to its conclusion.
David Kaufmann already knows what its like to capture a prestigious PokerStars title.

In 2013, Kaufmann won the WCOOP Main Event to earn nearly $1.5 million. He then finished in 41st place at EPT Barcelona that year. But then came a long hiatus, when Kaufmann didnt cash in any poker tournament for more than eight years as he focused on earning a degree in economics.

When Kaufmann finally returned to the live felt just within the last few months, it was like he never left. He cashed in the EPT Cyprus Main Event. He finished in 44th in the FPS Main Event this week at Le Palais des Congres. And, at the final table of the record-breaking 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Paris Main Event, Kaufmann is the man to beat as six players return tomorrow to chase the trophy and 1,287,800 top prize.

The 33-year-old German native, who now calls Vienna home, ended the fifth and penultimate day of the Main Event with 24,800,000 and a commanding lead over the final six. Latvian high roller Aleksejs Ponakovs is in second place with 10,050,000, followed by British poker legend Barny Boatman with 9,675,000. At the bottom of the leaderboard are Owen Dodd (2,950,000), Eric Afriat (2,525,000), and Peter Jorgne (2,400,000).

Day 5 Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 David Kaufmann Germany 24,800,000 124 2 Aleksejs Ponakovs Latvia 10,050,000 50 3 Barny Boatman United Kingdom 9,675,000 48 4 Owen Dodd United Kingdom 2,950,000 15 5 Eric Afriat Canada 2,525,000 13 6 Peter Jorgne Sweden 2,400,000 12

Kaufmann may be in a great spot to lift the coveted title, but he admits he hasnt allowed himself to dream about what that moment would be like. Actually, not too much. Ive dreamed to be in a spot like this, to be at a final table like this. But you cant dream, I have to win this tournament, I have to win this tournament. You just have to keep playing. Try to play well and hopefully someday it happens, he said at the conclusion of the day.

It would mean a lot, of course. I would be super happy. Some people care a lot about trophies. Some people dont care much, they just care about the money. Im in the middle.

Kaufmann was helped along the way with two massive hands that propelled him to such a big lead. First, he was involved in a coin flip with Ponakovs for nearly 8,000,000 where his pocket jacks held up against ace-king. Then, in a hand that will live on forever in EPT lore and Ami Barers nightmares, Barer flopped top set of jacks against Kaufmanns set of tens. Kaufmann just called Barers bet of 2,675,000 on the turn as the river brought a third diamond. Barer slowed down and checked, and Kaufmann then moved all in. Barer, with 2,780,000 remaining, tanked for several minutes before mucking.

Its a crazy tournament, Kaufmann said. Its an insane structure. It takes so long. It takes so many days. To be at the final table is insane. I was running so good at the final table. Some miracles happened, like the tens against jacks. Im just happy and be back tomorrow to give it my best.

Kaufmann is looking to go wire-to-wire at the final table and be the last of 1,747 total players, the sixth-largest EPT in history and the largest outside of Barcelona, but hes not the only one for whom a victory tomorrow would mean a lot. Ponakovs already has $14 million in live earnings and two WSOP bracelets, one of which he won by starring down the legendary Phil Ivey heads-up in 2022, but hell be making his first appearance at an EPT final table tomorrow. The 68-year-old Boatman, who has been playing on the EPT since its inception two decades ago, has already locked up his best finish since a fourth-place run at EPT San Remo in 2011 as he chases his first title. UK pro Dodd wasnt going to even play the event until he was persuaded by a group of friends to enter and has made the final table of his first-ever EPT Main Event. Afriat is a legend on the World Poker Tour, where hes currently tied for second all-time with three titles, but he seldom plays on the European circuit as he tries to bolster his resume with an EPT title.

Peter Jorgne

Then there is Jorgne, the 51-year-old Swedish businessman who now lives in Spain, who has seemingly done the impossible: make it to the final table for the second year in a row. In 2023, when the EPT first came to the French capital, Jorgne finished second to Razvan Belea in a field of 1,606. This year, in an even bigger field, he has defied all odds to get back on this stage. Jorgne is just the eighth player in EPT history to make it to consecutive final tables of the same event. Four came in the EPT's early days, when field sizes were smaller. Just three have done it since 2010: David Boyaciyan (EPT Prague, 2011-12); Steve ODwyer (EPT London, 2011-12); and Vladislav Naumov (EPT Sochi, 2020-21). None have done it in such massive fields.

Day 5 Action

Day 5 began with 18 players out of a starting field of 1,747. The day started with a bang, as Francesco Delfoco shoved for 1,175,000 on the first hand with seven-three and Hans Erlandsson woke up with aces in the big blind to bust him in 18th place.

Leo Worthington-Leese, a finalist at EPT Monte Carlo last year, came up short of making it to the final table this time as he fell in 17th place to Sindre Hansens full house. Dimitar Danchev was the last remaining EPT champion in the field and was all in with ace-king against Ponakovs ace-three. Danchev flopped trip kings to take a seemingly insurmountable lead in the hand, but Ponakovs made a running flush to bust Danchev in 16th and ensure that a new EPT champion would be crowned.

Kaufmanns ascent to such a commanding lead began when he limped the small blind, Ponakovs raised to 210,000, and Kaufmann three-bet to 650,000. Ponakovs made it 1,090,000 and Kaufmann moved all in for 3,855,000. Ponakovs called with ace-king and was racing against Kaufmanns jacks for the chip lead. Kaufmanns pair held up and he took the chip lead, never surrendering it the rest of the day.

David Kaufmann - Aleksejs Ponakovs

Kaufmann added to his lead when Mathias Siljander bluff-shoved the river with a missed straight draw and Kaufmann called with a rivered full house to eliminate him in 15th, moving his stack past 10,000,000. Ponakovs, who was knocked down to under 400,000 after losing that massive pot to Kaufmann, survived on the river when he rivered a flush to double up.

Erlandsson fell in 14th place, while Ponakovs continued his ascent by eliminating David Tous in 13th. Gonzalo Almeida was involved in a three-way all in where he called for his last 2,000,000 with pocket queens, but both Afriat and Jorgne had kings and split the pot to send the Argentine out in 12th.

Eliot Hudon then moved all in for 2,460,000 with ace-jack and Jorgne called with queens. Jorgne got a dream flop, hitting quads to already leave Hudon drawing dead and heading for the exit in 11th place. Ponakovs eliminated Farid Jattin in 10th place to set up the unofficial final table of nine.

After several hours without a bustout at the final table, Hansen lost a race with ace-queen to Afriats jacks. Left with just 25,000, less than he started the tournament with five days ago, Hansen picked up queens the next hand but Lorenzo Arduini had kings to bust him in ninth place.

Arduini was comfortably in the middle of the pack before losing a big pot with top pair to Kaufmanns turned straight. He then doubled up Barer to leave himself with just 350,000 and, with a few minutes left on the clock before players bagged up for the night, he called all in from the button the next hand with two threes. Kaufmann ended up with a straight and Arduini hit the rail in seventh.

Lorenzo Arduini

But that wasnt the last knockout of the night. On the last hand, Barer jammed for 4,750,000 with two eights and Kaufmann snapped him off with two aces to bring the field down to the final six.

Final Table payouts

Place Player Country Prize 1 1,287,800 2 804,750 3 574,850 4 442,150 5 340,100 6 261,650 7 Ami Barer Canada 201,250 8 Lorenzo Arduini Italy 154,800

The players return tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. to play the last 30 minutes of Level 32 with blinds of 100,000-200,000 and a 200,000 big blind ante. Theyve all guaranteed themselves 261,650 for making it this far in such a massive field, but the top prize and gold-laden EPT trophy awaits at the end for one of them.

Eighteen became nine. Nine became six. Now all thats left is to play down to a winner as PokerNews returns tomorrow to bring you all the coverage of the EPT Paris final table.
SNL took on Republicans in Congress for being terrified of and constantly sucking up to former president Donald Trump.

Video:

The sketch features portrayals of Sens. Jim Risch (ID), Marco Rubio (FL), and South Carolina senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham.

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

Frisch said, Sometimes I do not know what my party is doing. I mean, Ive been pushing for Ukraine funding for the past six months. Its essential to American security. And Trump just killed it with one phone call. The man doesnt care about this country one iota. Sometimes I think hes downright dangerous.

Rubio asked, And you just endorsed him, right?

Frisch replied,  Yeah, big-time, hes great.

The cold open features the senators talking about real things that Trump has done to them, like giving Rubio the Lil Marco nickname and the 2015 doxxing of Lindsey Graham.

It was the interaction between Graham and Tim Scott that resulted in a great exchange:

Scott: What I love about him personally is he doesnt have a racist bone in his body. I like that.

Rubio: Really? Did you see him last night at that speech in South Carolina when he told that crowd that black people like him better now because he has a mugshot?

Scott: Yeah, my man got street cred! You know. But look, underneath it all, hes a good man and I love him, I do.

Graham: Hey, Tim.

Scott: Yeah?

Graham: Whatever he did to you, its not your fault.

Scott: But no, no, he didnt do anything to me. Im fine.

Graham: I mean, are you really? Remember, hes not going to be around forever. Well, he might be, right?

Sometimes I think his ass is going to live a thousand years. But Tim? Honey? Dont let him turn you into somebody else.

Scott: Guys. I am a U.S. Senator. And I will never, ever compromise my integrity for Donald Trump. But I might if he made me vice president, hey!

SNL nailed it. Republicans in Congress continue to enable and stand by Trump because they want the power. Tim Scott is willing to humiliate and debase himself for a chance to be Trumps vice president.

Instead of standing up for their country, Republicans have given in and caved to Trump, because they value partisan power over the good of the country.

Republicans are afraid of Trump, but they are also elevating him., and this hypocrisy was perfectly captured by SNL for the entire nation to see.

<strong>A Special Message From PoliticusUSA</strong>

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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. </em>

<em>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.</em>
Donald Trump has been a keynote speaker at CPAC since 2017, and increasingly since then it has modeled itself in his image. That transformation seems almost complete as during 2024 CPAC, Nazis were welcomed.

Nazis appeared to find a friendly reception at the Conservative Political Action Conference this year.

Throughout the conference, racist extremists, some of whom had secured official CPAC badges, openly mingled with conference attendees and espoused antisemitic conspiracy theories, Ben Goggin reported for NBC News.

They were spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories and finding allies.

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

Indeed, CPAC is confirming years of criticism of Trump and the Republican Party as a racist and neo-Nazi enabling.

In previous years, the Nazis who tried to attend to spread the message of white nationalism that Trump has openly embraced were asked to leave. But those days are over.

Trump has remade CPAC into an openly racist, white nationalist Nazi event in keeping with how he conducted himself as president and continues to behave now.

Not only were there not a lot of Black people at Trumps speech at the Black Conservative Forum, causing Jason Easley to ask, There are black conservatives in the country, so where are they?, but also

It was suggested that Black voters would like Trump because he was hawking sneakers. Trump was overtly racist in his speech, saying Black voters like him because of his indictments, which suggests that Trump believes Black voters relate to an indicted criminal.

Trump says black people love him because he's a criminal. I told you guys, this is what they think of us. pic.twitter.com/1h1dSNz3Xz  Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) February 24, 2024

Trump also said he knows Black people because they worked for him, sounding very much like a Plantation owner saying his slaves are family.

Trump claims he knows Black people because they built his buildings pic.twitter.com/1kvWn85P1Z  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) February 24, 2024

It was Donald Trump who in 1989 led a death penalty charge against five black and Latino boys who were wrongfully convicted of raping a woman in New York City. In 2002, another man admitted the rape.

After one of Trumps arraignments, one of the Central Park Five took out an ad reading: Now, after several decades and an unfortunate and disastrous presidency, we all know exactly who Donald J Trump is  A man who seeks to deny justice in fairness for others while claiming only innocence for himself, he wrote.

In 2018, a man inspired by right wing rhetoric that echoed Trumps fear-mongering about a caravan shot and killed 11 people in the Tree of Life Synagogue. He shouted anti-Semitic hate as he did so.

After this mass shooting, Trump, who was then President, repeated a completely unfounded and anti-Semitic conspiracy that the caravan was funded by George Soros, saying A lot of people say yes when asked by reporters if Soros was funding the caravan.

In 2017, then President Trump defended the white nationalists who protested in Charlottesville saying they included some very fine people. After a car driven by a white nationalist plowed into a group of anti-racism protesters, Trump blamed in part the alt-left, saying, theres blame on both sides.

This, of course, blames anti-racism protesters for objecting to racism, as if this act deserves violence in return.

Trump used to walk these kinds of comments back, saying both the racist, anti-Semitic thing and then also later condemning it, which would earn him points for condemning language and conspiracies that he would return to.

No matter how Trump publicly walked back comments, the white nationalists saw him as their own, and as someone who was mainstreaming their beliefs.1

But now in 2024 as the embattled former president faces 91 felony indictments and has been found liable for both sexual assault and fraud, it appears as though the days of equivocating endorsement of white supremacist neo Nazis are over.

In case anyone has any doubts left, Trumps Project 2025 is readying to infuse the U.S. with anti-democratic Christian nationalism.

Nazis mingling openly with MAGA attendees at CPAC is yet another indication of where Trump plans to take this country should he win office again.

1. Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist

Image: Dan Scavino, Jr social media
It's time for us to reevaluate stan culture.

For those who somehow missed the news, Taylor Swift released her surprise eighth album, folklore, last weekend. Featuring contributions from Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and the National's Aaron Dessner, it marked a notably stark sonic shift for our reigning pop princess, a noted indie fan in spite of what that one line in "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" might've suggested.

But even the extremely short notice of folklore's release didn't keep Taylor Swift's most diehard fans from, well, doing what Swifties do best.

Pitchfork revealed their hotly anticipated review of folklore the following Monday, awarding the album a score of 8.0/10not high enough to merit a "Best New Music" title, but an impressive feat considering the website's complicated history with Swift's music.

Still, the Swifties attacked, doxing the author of the review out of sheer anger that the album didn't receive a perfect 10. In tweets that have since been removed due to violating Twitter's guidelines, Swift's fans shared the reviewer's personal contact informationphone number included.

Cloaked in ambiguous screen names and Twitter avatars of their blonde hero, Taylor Swift's fan base has grown into one of the most ruthless and terrifying of its kind. With each review of folklorewhether it be from Pitchfork, the Guardian, or the New York Timesthe Swifties viciously barraged the publication's Twitter replies if the critique was anything less than perfectly gleaming.



Swifties care about numbers. Their goal, it seems, is for folklore to achieve a score of 90 on Metacritic, a reviews aggregator. Judging from their replies, it seems these fans feel a responsibility to go to extreme lengths for the sake of defending their idol.

But Swifties aren't the only fans to take their celebrity worship too far.

In late 2018, following his rapid engagement and split with Ariana Grande, Pete Davidson shared an Instagram post detailing his mental health issues and history of suicidal thoughts. "I've been getting bullied online and in public by people for 9 months," the comedian wrote, almost certainly referencing Grande's fans. "I've spoken about BPD and being suicidal publicly only in the hopes that it will help bring awareness and help kids like myself who don't want to be on this earth." Widespread concern, namely from Grande herself, resulted in the NYPD conducting a wellness check on Davidson.

Though Davidson was found safe, Grande still asked her fans to be "gentler" with him. His post struck a nerve with rapper Cardi B, who felt the need to spread the message to her own fans in the midst of her tumultuous romance with Migos member Offset.

"You just saw how Pete Davidson was talking about how he doesn't even want to be on this earth because mad people be coming at him every single day," Cardi said, following her performance at Rolling Loud that was interrupted by Offset. "I wouldn't want my baby-father to have that feeling because millions of people be bashing him every day."

As long as we have mega-popular artists like Grande and Cardi, we will have mega-devoted fan bases. But there's a reason why Cardi's fans and the Arianators aren't perceived as being "toxic" as often as, say, fans of Nicki Minaj, BTS, or Swift.



It's a common ordeal for critics to be berated by fans of Minaj, should they dare say anything even remotely negative about the Queen of Rap; I myself received death threats from countless Minaj fans just earlier this year for a negative song review I wrote. The rapper has come under fire for inciting her fans and sicking them at her naysayers. BTS' "ARMY" has been dubbed the world's most powerful fandom, spawning a "toxic" environment that often hides behind anonymous fan accounts.

Swift, on the other hand, hasn't exactly made any public orders for her army to attackbut for someone with a generally positive demeanor who literally made a song called "You Need to Calm Down," Swift's silence regarding her fans' actions seems to allow the hostility to swell further.

It's time for Swift to practice what she preaches and advise her fans to stop attacking critics so mercilessly; other stars in her lane must also follow suit. These fervent fansor "stans," as popularized by the Eminem song about an obsessed fanhave come to feel an overwhelming responsibility to go to bat for their idols.

As Swift's decidedly darker 2017 album Reputation explored, you can't control how people perceive you if they live outside your world. When fans don't realize this, "stan" culture becomes a lifestyle. And when one's lifestyle is threatened, it's in our human nature to attack.
As part of Black Childrens Book Week, local Black authors, like former S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers, spent Saturday at the Center for African American History, Art and Culture helping local youth become interested in Black authors.

In addition to Sellers, attendees had an opportunity to meet various authors.

"The whole idea is for Black children to see themselves represented in books, to see Black characters and Black illustrators, said Tia Allen, protocol chair and assistance led team advisor of the local chapter of Jack and Jill of America.

Sellers talked about his book and a Black history fact, such as the Orangeburg Massacre. The books read were at age-appropriate levels.

Children from kindergarten to 12th grade had an opportunity to listen to the authors' works and participate in a question-and-answer session with the authors about their works.

Amy Neloms, who serves as the program director and lead teen advisor for the local chapter of Jack and Jill of America, said Black Children's Book Week is nationally observed as way for children to learn about African American authors.

"We chose this event because we wanted to expose children to African American authors and get them interested in reading," she said.

Also attending the event was 9-year-old author DeKayla Harrison, who published her first book titled "Me and my Bully." She has another book called "All Colors Matter," which is about a girl who loved her skin but was picked on, then met some who taught her to love her color.

I am glad to be an author and I am very proud of myself," Harrison said.

Another author, Wimberly Yon, was with her daughter Allyson, who drew the illustrations for the book "Allyson and Sam." Yon said the book is about her daughter, who has friend of a different race, but when they are together they are inseparable.

Yon teaches art and drama Fox Creek High School.

I wrote this book for my daughter  who actually illustrated the book  to have something to look forward to and something she can call her own, Yon said.
USC Aiken Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Sandra Jordan was almost speechless Saturday morning as a portrait of herself was unveiled.

I am very honored to have this portrait hung at my favorite university, USC Aiken," she said. Thank you so much."

Many people came together to celebrate the unveiling of Jordan's portrait on the campus during the schools homecoming week.

The portrait was painted by artist Joseph Daily.

Jordan served as the schools fourth chancellor from 2012 until June 30, 2021. She also was the schools first female chancellor.

During Jordans tenure she helped to make USC Aiken what it is today with the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, the S.C. National Guard initiative, the Aiken Scholars Academy among her accomplishments. Liberal arts agreements with overseas partners, the Call Me Mr. program to create a more diverse pipeline of educators and the SRNL emerging leaders program also happened under her watch.

We are all honored and excited to be part of this portrait unveiling," USC Aiken Chancellor Dr. Daniel Heimmermann said.

Carmen Williams, who serves as the school's director of alumni relations, said the unveiling of Jordan's portrait is important, especially during homecoming week.

Its special because Dr. Jordan is coming back and it's a cool opportunity to witness her portrait, she said.

Teresa Haas, who is a friend and also chair of Aiken County Committee on Higher Education, remembers how Jordan focused on the getting an advanced manufacturing program and cyber center and how it helped to make the school what it is today.

Sandra, you left an amazing and lasting legacy on this university and the community, she said. We are so grateful for all that you have done for this institution. Your portrait ensures it will do so forever.
Scottie Scheffler has become the first player in the 50 years of The Players Championship to win back-to-back. This was the hardest. Not only was he dealing with neck pain all week, he started the final round five shots behind. Scheffler closed with a 64. That matches the lowest final round by a winner. He also tied a Players Championship record with a five-shot comeback. U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, British Open champion Brian Harman and Xander Schauffele all finished one shot behind. All of them had their chances over the final three holes to force a playoff. Read moreScheffler goes back-to-back in Players Championship in Sunday thriller at Sawgrass
An accident at one of the Port of Charleston's container yards last month caused more than $500,000 in damages, prompting a federal investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.

The Jan. 4 incident at the North Charleston Terminal on the Cooper River derailed and damaged a mobile rubber-tired gantry crane, creating what the Coast Guard termed a "major marine casualty."

No injuries were reported, according to the NTSB's summary of the accident.

The report said that the towing vessel Royal Engineer was pushing the barge Stevens 1471 past the terminal near the former WestRock paper mill at about 4:20 p.m. Jan. 4. A crane on the vessel made contact with and derailed a gantry crane that was operating at the terminal.

Both the towing vessel and barge are owned by Stevens Towing Co. of Yonges Island.

A spokeswoman for the S.C. State Ports Authority said the accident has not affected operations at its smallest container terminal. The damaged container-handling equipment has been moved to the north end of the property, where it will be repaired.

The SPA said replacement parts have been ordered and a dollar figure to fix it is still being assessed. The maritime agency plans to file a claim against Stevens' insurance carrier, the spokeswoman said.

Safety is our top priority when operating these vessels and we are thankful no one was injured in the Jan. 4 incident," Johnson Stevens, president of the towing company, said in a written statement. "We are cooperating with investigating authorities and are conducting our own internal review.

Rail retreat

Norfolk Southern Corp. is canceling a rail service that links the Port of Charleston to Midwest tranportation hubs in Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville because the route isn't producing enough cargo.
In today's scorching hot stock market, investors may gloss over the favorable qualities of the defense industry.

Defense companies aren't known for their growth. But they benefit from having a reliable buyer in the U.S. government, which provides predictable cash flows that support organic growth, dividend payments, and often, stock repurchases.

Here's why RTX (NYSE: RTX), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), and Honeywell International (NASDAQ: HON) stand out as three defense stocks worth a look.

Image source: Getty Images.

RTX's mix of revenue streams will attract investors

Lee Samaha (RTX): The aerospace and defense industry had a difficult 2023. Defense businesses came under sustained margin pressure as ongoing supply chain issues negatively impacted operations. Meanwhile, the discovery of potential contamination in powder coating used to manufacture turbine discs in RTX's engines used in commercial aerospace (not least the Airbus A320 neo family) will ultimately result in multibillion-dollar hits to earnings and free cash flow (FCF) over the next few years as engines need to be removed and inspected.

Still, there's a value case to be made for the stock. Its aerospace end market remains in growth mode. While the powder coating issue is a disappointment, there's only one other competitor engine on the Airbus A320 neo family, namely the LEAP engine of CFM International (a General Electric joint venture), but that already has a multiyear backlog in place.

Meanwhile, at some point, the supply chain issues dogging the defense industry will abate, creating the possibility for margin headwinds to turn into tailwinds. In addition, there's no shortage of geopolitical tension right now and pressure on NATO countries to ramp up spending or at least replenish equipment used in conflict theaters.

As such, RTX operates in two end markets that are likely to be in growth mode over the near to medium term. RTX and its dividend face challenges, but are worth a look given the two sectors in which the company operates.

Story continues

Lockheed Martin is a stalwart defense contractor that generates robust free cash flow

Scott Levine (Lockheed Martin): Lockheed Martin stock currently provides income investors with a 3% forward-yielding dividend. And with its strong backlog and prodigious free-cash-flow generation, Lockheed Martin seems well suited to continue rewarding shareholders with its generous dividend in the coming years.

Although lower sales and higher costs related to the company's F-35 fighter jet adversely affected the top and bottom lines last quarter, Lockheed Martin recently celebrated an otherwise strong end to 2023. Driven by the strong performance of its space segment, Lockheed Martin recognized a 2.4% year-over-year increase in sales and a 21% year-over-year increase in net earnings. The growth carried over to the cash-flow statement as well, where Lockheed Martin reported 2023 free cash flow of $6.23 billion, representing a 1.6% increase over 2022.

However, for those looking to fortify their portfolios with a leading defense stock like Lockheed Martin, confidence that the future remains bright is equally important. Thanks to the company's robust backlog, this certainly seems to be the case. Lockheed Martin reported a company record $160.6 billion in backlog at the end of 2023 -- an auspicious sign that the company will be able to grow the dividend.

Over the past 10 years, Lockheed Martin has averaged a payout ratio of 54%. And that's not the only indication that the company can sustain the dividend.

LMT Dividend Per Share (Annual) Chart

The company consistently generates strong free cash flow that it can use to fund the dividend.

With geopolitical tensions showing little sign of abating anytime soon, Lockheed Martin's business will remain in high demand, making it a worthy addition to income investors' portfolios.

Honeywell has finally found its footing

Daniel Foelber (Honeywell): Honeywell isn't a pure-play defense stock in the same way that RTX and Lockheed Martin are. But that could work in investors' favor.

Honeywell's largest segment is aerospace, but it makes up just 37.2% of sales. Honeywell's other business units are building technologies, performance materials and technologies, and safety and productivity solutions.

Honeywell's greatest strength is that it operates a high-margin, diversified business where no single segment makes up too great of a share of sales or profit.

Earlier this month, Honeywell reported overall solid 2023 results. But the real standout was its 2024 guidance for adjusted earnings per share of $9.80 to $10.10, which would be up 7% to 10%. Honeywell's 2024 guidance also calls for organic growth of 4% to 6%, which is in line with the company's long-term target for 4% to 7% organic growth.

Free cash flow is forecast to be $5.6 billion to $6 billion in 2024 -- more than enough to fund the company's dividend with cash. For context, Honeywell spent $8.3 billion in 2023 on dividends, stock buybacks, capital expenditures, and mergers and acquisitions. But the dividend payment only cost Honeywell $2.72 billion -- meaning it is expecting this year's FCF to be more than double the dividend obligation.

It's been a bumpy ride for Honeywell investors since the onset of the pandemic. As you can see in the following chart, Honeywell has slowly been building up its profits to return to the pre-pandemic high. Sales are down by quite a bit, but Honeywell has made up for that by improving its margins, which has made the business leaner and more efficient overall.

HON Revenue (TTM) Chart

Despite the good results, Honeywell remains in "prove it" mode. It needs to sustain at least mid-single-digit organic growth and high-single-digit or low-double-digit growth once factoring in strategic mergers and acquisitions and buybacks. It also needs to show meaningful results from monetizing the Industrial Internet of Things and artificial intelligence -- themes that Honeywell has been touting for years with unclear material impacts on the bottom line.

The good news is the stock isn't expensive, sporting just a 23.5 price-to-earnings ratio. It also has a dividend yield of 2.2% as of this writing.

Honeywell is a good choice for investors who want exposure to the defense industry but with the benefit of a diversified industrial conglomerate.

Should you invest $1,000 in RTX right now?

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Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Lee Samaha has positions in Honeywell International. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin and RTX. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Dividend-Paying Defense Stocks Worth a Look was originally published by The Motley Fool
Folks occasionally ask me how they, too, might become a hospital chaplain. Some seem to hope Ill say they need only attend five Monday nights of training in a local church, then they can start making the big bucks.

The five-week program works for many volunteer positions, but for a chaplain career, college and graduate school is required. But wait, theres more, I tell them.

Before they can bring home a chaplain paycheck, they must be accepted into something called Clinical Pastoral Education. CPE is a one-year internship program at a teaching hospital where wanna-be chaplains work 40-hour weeks.

I began CPE in the fall of 1990 at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. The training involved multiple chaplain requests from the emergency room to visit with the victims of violence, accidents and illnesses. Many of the calls related to something medical folk called risk-related behaviors. The most common high-risk behaviors include violence, alcoholism, tobacco use disorder, risky sexual behaviors and eating disorders.

While some patients avoided return visits by making lifestyle changes, others made numerous returns. Such patients were often called Frequent Fliers.

One of our Fliers arrived one hot summer afternoon strapped to a gurney and screaming, Oh, God, it hurts! You gotta get me something for the pain.

Orderlies wheeled the woman into a treatment room where a nurse peppered her with triage questions. Just outside the room, a few staff members erupted into full-blown guffaws and horselaughs.

Hey, I called to a particularly tall, balding nurse. Why are you guys laughing at that lady? That isnt cool. I think she heard you.

The nurse laughed some more, taking my upbraiding in better stride than Id expected.

Were you here last week? he asked.

No. I was on vacation.

Then you wouldnt understand, he said, shaking his head at his uniformed chaplain.
The prospective national anthem singers worked in a dental office, sold mattresses, sang in their church or served in the military. But, they all shared a love for singing  one song in particular. Read moreOh say can you sing? Look who's auditioning for national anthem at RiverDogs
The 34th Annual SC BBQ Shag Festival kicks off on Thursday, March 21, at the recreation park and ball fields in Hemingway. This year the festival runs from March 21-24. The four-day event features music, vendors, BBQ and fun for the whole family. First held in 1987, the event has grown to at Read moreSC BBQ Shag Festival kicks off March 21
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
Former Vice President Mike Pence says he will not be backing Donald Trump in the 2024 election. It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year, Pence said in an interview with Fox News Channel Friday. Pence ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination but dropped his bid before voting began. The decision makes Pence the latest in a series of senior Trump administration officials who have declined to endorse their former boss. While Republican members of Congress and other GOP officials have largely rallied behind Trump, a vocal minority has continued to oppose his bid. When Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Pence was forced to flee as rioters chanted, Hang Mike Pence! Read moreFormer Vice President Mike Pence says he's not endorsing Trump
Often when a presidential candidate gets routed in the South Carolina primary, they drop out and the next day theyre on their way home.

The day after losing badly to former President Donald Trump by a rounded off 60 percent to 40 percent margin, former Gov. Nikki Haley was not on her way back to Kiawah Island; she was on a plane to Michigan.

True to her prior pledge that she would not drop out of the race, Haley told her crowd of supporters in Charleston that her White House run is not coming to an end.

"I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina I would continue to run for president, Haley said in a defiant speech at her Charleston Place victory party the evening of Feb. 24. Im a woman of my word.

But after a shellacking in her home state and trailing Trump by a margin of 61 percent to 39 percent in late returns, and despite her seemingly unflappable confidence, GOP strategists and political observers say Haleys chances in the states that come next and on March 5 during Super Tuesday are about as bad as in South Carolina, if not worse.

She has no realistic path to the nomination at this point, they say.

There is, again, a real enthusiasm, a real engagement with former President Trump thats difficult to break, University of Massachusetts Amherst political scientist Tatishe Nteta told The Post and Courier. Its going to be a very difficult road for her to get to this nomination, at least in 2024.

But Haleys campaign is pressing on, polls and prognostications be damned.

In a Feb. 23 call with reporters, Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney announced the campaign is launching a seven-figure national cable and digital ad buy for the Super Tuesday states and doubled down on Haley's commitment to staying in the race through those contests.

"We know the odds here but we also know the stakes, and we think that a whole lot of Republicans across the country do, too," Ankney said. And we're going to make our case until that door closes."
Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock / Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

Many financial experts preach the importance of living below your means  and some of these experts take it to the extreme.

Learn More: 6 Ways Living Frugally Creates a Richer Life

Find Out: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

For example, even though Elon Musk is the richest person in the world, he still has some habits that are quite frugal.

Heres a look at how Musk, Warren Buffett and more money experts live frugally.

Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/Shutterstock / Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

Elon Musk: Sleeps on a Worn-Out Mattress

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Elon Musks on-and-off partner Grimes said that when she shared a home with the Tesla CEO in Los Angeles, the mattress they slept on had holes in it.

Bro [Musk] wouldnt even get a new mattress, she said.

When Grimes brought up the issue of the holes in the mattress, Musk suggested that she bring the mattress from her home to his place rather than buy a new one.

Read Next: Im a Frugal Shopper: 7 Things I Never Waste Money On

Trending Now: 6 Things Minimalists Never Buy  and You Shouldnt Either

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

iStock.com

Warren Buffett: Lives in the Same House He Bought in 1958

Investing extraordinaire Warren Buffett could afford to live on a grand estate, but instead, he lives in the home he bought in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1958 for $31,500.

Im happy there, he told the BBC. Id move if I thought Id be happier someplace else. How would I improve my life by having 10 houses around the globe? If I wanted to become a superintendent of housing  I could have [that] as a profession, but I dont want to manage 10 houses, and I dont want somebody else doing it for me, and I dont know why the hell Id be happier.

Discover More: Frugal People Love the 6 to 1 Grocery Shopping Method: Heres Why It Works

Tony Rivetti / ABC

Mark Cuban: Doesnt Spoil His Kids

Entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban can afford to buy his kids anything they want  but he doesnt.

Story continues

I tell them: After your health, my No. 1 thing for you all is, I dont want you to be entitled jerks, he told Steve Harvey on an episode of Steve on Watch. Cuban told Harvey that he told his kids, Im not going to write you checks. You dont just get a credit card. You cant just buy whatever you want.

Instead, he wants his children to learn the value of working for their money.

tim.blog

Tim Ferriss: Doesnt Splurge on Expensive Bottles of Wine

Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek and podcast host, deliberately picks and chooses what he spends money on and said he wont spend a lot on wine.

Ive decided that Im happy to spend a lot of money on ethical and excellent food, but Im rarely willing to spend more than $50 on a bottle of wine, he wrote in a blog post on his site. I can easily tell (and feel) the difference between mid-tier and high-quality food, but fancy wine is like pearls before swine for this Long Island boy.

Ingrid Abery/REX / Shutterstock.com

Richard Branson: Doesnt Buy Fancy Art

British business mogul Richard Branson seems like the type of person youd expect to hang expensive, rare art on his walls. The truth is quite the opposite. Heres the type of art youll actually find in his home:

Watercolours at a reasonable price  maybe a painting of the area I happen to live in. So that it has a reason for being there, rather than something that is just a particularly famous artist.

Be Aware: 10 Expenses Most Likely To Drain Your Checking Account Each Month

Alex Wong / Getty Images

Charlie Ergen: Packs a Brown Bag Lunch Every Day

Youd think the chairman of Dish Network and EchoStar would be accustomed to caviar lunches, but thats not the case. Ergens daily lunch includes a brown bag of a meal he packed himself and a Gatorade. He credits his upbringing for his frugal nature.

My mom grew up in the Depression. I dont have a mahogany desk.

Jagadeesh Nv/EPA/Shutterstock / Jagadeesh Nv/EPA/Shutterstock

Azim Premji: Doesnt Like Fancy Cars

Yet another story of a billionaire who skipped owning a luxury vehicle. Azim Premji, the founder of Wipro, drove a Toyota Corolla for years. He only replaced it when his employees urged him to.

I have never had the need or thrill for being wealthy, he said.

Bill Gates: Wears a $10 Watch

The co-founder of Microsoft could have any beautiful Swiss watch he desired, but instead, Bill Gates opts for the simpler fashions. He said he wore a $10 watch during one of POLITICOs Lessons From Leaders inaugural events.

Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point, Gates said.

Try This: 5 Unnecessary Bills You Should Stop Paying in 2024

Juan Carlos Rojas/LaPresse/Shutterstock / Juan Carlos Rojas/LaPresse/Shutterstock

Carlos Slim Helu: Drives Himself Around Town

Carlos Slim Helu is one of the richest men in Latin America, but he doesnt spring for a driver. The controller of America Movil prefers to drive himself around town for his many meetings.

Hes been quoted as saying The biggest things in life are not materials.

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock / Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

John Caudwell: Buys His Clothes Off the Rack

John Caudwell is a British billionaire, but he doesnt pay to have his clothes tailored. He instead prefers to buy them off the rack at British retailer Marks & Spencer.

I dont need Saville Row suits, he told Forbes. I dont need to spend money to bolster my own esteem.

Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Ways Elon Musk, Warren Buffett and Other Money Experts Live Frugally
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DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2024 / In a mere 100 days since its launch,AstraAIhas not only demonstrated its prowess in the cryptocurrency market but has also established itself as a beacon of innovation with the rollout of a suite of groundbreaking AI tools. These tools, including an AI Assistant, AI Search Engine, AI Video Summarizer, AI Image Generation, AI Analysis, and AI Audits for tokens, addresses, and dApps and many other tools, mark AstraAI as the architect of the largest AI ecosystem in the blockchain domain and beyond.This ambitious stride towards building a comprehensive AI infrastructure is further augmented by AstraAI's recent announcement of launching AstraBank later this year. AstraBank is envisioned as a pioneering Fintech Bank, bridging the gap between traditional financial services and the blockchain world. This move is not just an expansion, it's a revolution in how financial services are perceived, accessed, and delivered in the digital age.Mirroring the innovative spirit of tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and META, AstraAI has achieved a market valuation exceeding $35 million within the first 100 days. This valuation is a testament to the platform's robust growth, innovative offerings, and the market's confidence in its vision and capabilities.A pivotal factor in AstraAI's rapid ascent has been its strategic partnerships with industry leaders and backers such as OpenAI, AWS, and Google Cloud. The integration with OpenAI's ChatGPT platform and collaborations with cloud computing behemoths have positioned AstraAI at the forefront of AI and blockchain integration, setting new benchmarks for what is possible within this synergistic landscape.Guided by Founder DinoN, a titan in the realms of trading, tech and blockchain, AstraAI's trajectory is defined by relentless innovation, strategic growth, and a commitment to excellence. Supported by an elite team of executives and engineers, AstraAI's journey is underpinned by a profound expertise, a vibrant community, and a forward-looking ethos. Together, they are not merely navigating the future of AI and blockchain, they are shaping it.DinoN, recognized as one of the most ambitious and visionary CEOs in the tech industry, AstraAI's trajectory is one of relentless innovation and quality delivery. DinoN's leadership, characterized by a proven track record of success, has been instrumental in navigating AstraAI through its exponential growth. His foresight and commitment to excellence have cultivated a culture of innovation that permeates every facet of AstraAI.The expansion of AstraAI's ecosystem into decentralized exchanges (DEX), business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), eSIM services, and more showcases an unstoppable drive for innovation. AstraAI's ecosystem is evolving into a comprehensive suite of services that promises to redefine the blockchain space and beyond, reminiscent of the early, transformative days of today's tech behemoths.With the AI and blockchain industries projected to reach over $10 trillion by 2030, the integration of banking services and various other offerings positions AstraAI with a significant opportunity to become a multi-billion-dollar company in the short term and an undeniable industry giant by the end of the decade. The strategic partnerships with industry leaders further enhance AstraAI's capability to lead the charge in the technological revolution.As AstraAI continues on its path of groundbreaking advancements, it is clear that the platform is not just participating in the blockchain and AI revolution - it is leading it. With a vision that extends beyond the horizon, AstraAI is setting the stage for a new era of technological convergence, where the possibilities are limitless and the future is redefined with every innovation.Dex|Uniswap|Twitter|TelegramMedia DetailsAstraLabs Inc.Dino Ncontact@ chatastra.aiDubaiUnited Arab Emirates http://chatastra.ai Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, or intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing in or trading securities and cryptocurrency.SOURCE: AstraLabs Inc.
The government of Qatar has reversed its earlier position not to host a business meeting with Nigerian businesses on the sideline of President Bola Tinubus visit to the country next month.

The Qatari embassy in Abuja in a Note Verbale dated 23 February to the protocol department of Nigerias foreign affairs ministry, said the Qatar Chamber of Commerce will host the Business and Investment Forum on the margins of President Tinubus visit.

The embassy had earlier said it could not host the side event, leading to criticisms from some Nigerians.

President Tinubu is scheduled to travel to Qatar for a State Visit on 2nd and 3rd March.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the presidency earlier clarified that the business forum is a private sector-led meeting on the sidelines of the presidents visit.

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has also confirmed that the business forum will be held.

We wish to reassure all prospective participants and our business community that the event is being prepared with the highest level of dedication and professionalism, aiming to foster stronger business ties between our two countries, said NACCIMAs President, Dele Oye, in a statement.

He noted that the event is a significant element of the broader context of President Tinubus state visit to Qatar.

The Business and Investment Forum is organised in collaboration with Qatars Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and according to NACCIMA, it is designed to provide an unparalleled platform for Nigerian businesses to engage with their Qatari counterparts.

READ ALSO:

This event aims to explore commercial and investment opportunities across key sectors, including oil & gas, manufacturing, agro-business, construction, real estate, ICT, renewable energy, solid minerals, and the service sector, Mr Oye said.

Mr Oye said his organisation is in close communication with the relevant authorities and stakeholders and intends to provide a comprehensive update and advisory regarding the trip on or before 5 p.m. on Sunday (today).

Please rest assured that no decision to cancel the event has been made at this point, he assured.

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday in Abuja lifted sanctions it imposed on Niger over the unconstitutional takeover of government in that country on July 26, 2023.

The July 2023 military putsch was the fifth successful one in Niger since its independence from France in 1960.

In the July 2023 coup, Nigers presidential guard removed and detained democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

ECOWAS Commissions chairman, Omar Touray, announced the lifting of the sanctions at the end of the Extraordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS member countries.

He said the decision was based on humanitarian considerations, the socio-economic impacts of the sanctions on Nigeriens and the security of the sub-region.

The Authority calls for the immediate release of former President Bazoum and also calls on the transition authorities in Niger to provide an acceptable transition timetable to constitutional order.

The Authority has resolved to lift with immediate effect sanctions imposed on Niger and has lifted the closure of land and air borders between it and ECOWAS member countries.

No-Fly-Zone of all commercial flights to and from Niger is to be lifted. Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger are to be lifted.

Freezing of all service transactions including utility services is to be lifted. 

Freezing of assets of Niger in ECOWAS Central Bank is to be lifted. Freezing of assets of Niger and the states enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks is to be lifted, he said.

Mr Touray said Niger had also been exempted from suspension of all financial assistance and transactions as well as travel ban placed on its officials and their family members.

He explained that humanitarian considerations on the Lenten period and the upcoming holy month of Ramadan contributed to the lifting of the sanctions.

The Authority, he said, also lifted sanctions regarding the recruitment of Malian citizens in statutory and professional positions within ECOWAS.

The Authority has also resolved to lift financial and economic sanctions on the Republic of Guinea.

It instructed the President of the Commission to invite Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Guinea to attend the technical, consultative and security meetings of ECOWAS.

The authority calls on ECOWAS institutions, member states and other regional institutions to implement these decisions, Mr Touray said.

On the withdrawal by Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali from ECOWAS, Mr Touray said the Authority urged the countries to reconsider their decision.

He said this was in view of the benefits that the ECOWAS member states and their citizens enjoy in the community.

The Authority expressed its concern over the socio- economic, political, security and humanitarian impacts of the decision, particularly on the citizens of the three countries and on regional integration process, he said.

The Authority further urges the three member states to resort to dialogue, negotiations and mediation to address their concerns.

The Authority urges the three member states to adhere to the provisions of the 1993 revised treaty on withdrawal from the subregional body.

They should particularly consider the treaty relating to withdrawal, particularly the article that encourages ECOWAS to sustain its rapprochement and overtures towards the member states, Mr Touray said.

He added that the Authority encouraged outreaches with traditional and religious leaders, eminent personalities, civil society and women leaders for the unity and security of the region.

The Authority reiterated the urgent need for ECOWAS to expedite the operations of its standby force to fight against terrorism in the sub-region, including the elements of the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Accra initiative.

In this regard, the Authority instructed the commission to convene the meeting of ministers of finance and defence to propose modalities for financing and equipping counterterrorism efforts.

The Malian coup took place on Aug. 18, 2020; that of Burkina Faso was on Sept. 30 of the same year, while that of Guinea took place on Sept. 5, 2021.

In the Guinean coup, President Alpha Conde was captured and detained by the countrys armed forces.

(NAN)

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No fewer than 52 States and three International Organisations have provided comments and presentations on the legal consequences of Israels policies and practices in Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the states made their presentations during the public hearing at the International Court of Justice, based on the UN General Assemblys request for an advisory opinion.

The hearing, which began on Monday, is expected to close on 26 February.

Filed before the ongoing four-month-old war in Gaza began, the case triggered heated commentary even before the courts president, Judge Nawaf Salam, opened the hearings.

The General Assembly submitted two specific questions to the World Court in its December 2022 request.

The questions are What are the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures?

How do the policies and practices of Israel affect the legal status of the occupation, and what are the legal consequences that arise for all States and the United Nations from this status?

Palestine in its three-hour presentation during the public hearing, accused Israel of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, killings and displacement of Palestinians.

Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki began by saying, I stand before you as 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, half of them children, are besieged and bombed, killed and maimed, starved and displaced, as more than 3.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are subjected to colonization of their territory and the racist violence

He also said successive governments in Israel have left only three choices to Palestinians  displacement, subjugation or death.

Riyad added that the choices are for them to choose ethnic cleansing, apartheid or genocide.

The foreign minister said it is of moral, political and legal imperative to bring an end to Israels impunity.

Our people are here to stayand they will not forsake their rights, the Palestinian foreign minister added during the submission.

South Africa had filed a separate complaint with the ICJ in December 2023 against Israel for genocide in Gaza  for which the court already issued provisional measures.

Vusimuzi Madonsela, the countrys ambassador to the Netherlands, told the court that after decades of apartheid settler colonialism, a just solution for all who legally qualify to live in historical Palestine would need to be negotiated with the assistance of the international community.

Drawing a parallel between the situation in Palestine and the struggle of South Africans against apartheid, an institutionalised regime of discriminatory laws, he said current practices ensure Israeli-Jewish domination.

In this vein, he called for the immediate, unconditional and total withdrawal of Israeli troops from the occupied territories.

The Chilean representative said that Israel neither regards itself nor behaves as a temporary occupant, and its practices amount to annexation.

He also recalled that Chile is home to the largest Palestinian community outside the Middle East and a large Jewish community, the third largest in Latin America.

Sharing borders with both Gazans and Israelis, Egypt challenged Israels use of the right to self-defence.

The argument that a State may exercise self-defence against a territory under its own military occupation and effective control is counter-intuitive, Jasmine Moussa, legal advisor to Egypts Foreign Affairs Ministers Office, said.

He added that Israel committed a war of aggression in 1967 and then continued decades of occupation contrary to international law.

Israel cannot invoke self-defence to maintain a situation created by its own illegal conduct, she continued, underscoring the seriousness of the current situation, including in Rafah.

Diego Colas, director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, said though Israel has the right to defend itself, this right must be exercised in strict compliance with international law, and in particular, international humanitarian law.

He said France has clearly, consistently and repeatedly affirmed this demand as Israeli operations and bombings continue to create thousands of civilian victims in Gaza.

Respect for international law, in particular international humanitarian law, by all stakeholders is the only possible horizon of peace, he said.

Turning to other concerns, Frances representative condemned Israels colonization policy, which has accelerated since 2004, as well as comments promoting the installation of colonies in Gaza and the transfer of the Gazan population out of this territory, which would constitute a very serious violation of international law.

As for reparations, he emphasised that France considers that this obligation extends to all damage done to the Palestinian population by proceeding with restitutions and, failing that, compensation.

Brazils representative insisted on the need to move towards a negotiated two-state solution in one of the most pressing unresolved conflicts on the international agenda since decades.

He underlined that the importance of the questions raised by the General Assembly and the gravity of the situation were indisputable even before October 7.

The tragic events of that date and the disproportionate and indiscriminate military operations that followed, however, show clearly that the mere management of the conflict cannot be considered an option, the delegate said.

The two-state solution, with an economically viable Palestinian State living side by side with Israel, is the only way to bring peace and security to the Israelis and the Palestinians.

The United States said it is in favour of a political settlement within the framework established by the UN.

Richard Visek, the legal advisor to the Department of State, said stakeholders must return to the framework set by the Security Council and the UN General Assembly to resolve the conflict  a two-state solution  and highlighted the ICJs role in preserving this framework to make a negotiated solution a realistic possibility.

According to him, US efforts aim not only to address the current crisis but to advance a political settlement that will lead to a durable peace in the region that includes lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians and a path to Palestinian statehood.

READ ALSO: US vetoes UN resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire

The occupation must come to an end, Vladimir Tarabrin, Russias ambassador to the Netherlands said, advocating for a two-state negotiated solution and pointing to both the persistent denial by Israel to the right of self-determination and the colonisation policy pursued by Israel since 1967.

He said more than 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and Israels settlement activities gained record-breaking speed in 2023, citing the latest report of the UN Secretary-General on the matter.

The report noted that plans for more than 24,700 housing units were advanced, approved or tendered  more than double the figure from the previous year.

This has effectively undermined the prospects of a negotiated solution, he said, adding that Russia hopes the ICJ can contribute to a solution to the conflict by stipulating that both parties are under the obligation to resume peace negotiations.

(NAN)

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In this exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Germanys Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, talks about several issues including why there are fewer Nigerian students in Germany compared to its Western European neighbours.

Mrs Gunther, who has spent a little over two years in Nigeria, also talked about bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany. Both countries enjoy over 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Excerpts:

PT: Compared to your Western European neighbours, there are fewer Nigerian students in Germany. Can you speak about your observations on why Nigerians are not flocking to Germany?

Mrs Gunther: We do not compare ourselves, of course, with the UK or Canada, because as you said, we are completely different as a target country because of the language barrier, which does not necessarily apply to the studies themselves because many go to Germany and study courses in English. But also in your everyday life, of course, you want to be comfortable, and you want to know the language of your host country. So yes, the language barrier is there.

What I see is that the language courses at the Goethe-Institut in Lagos but also online, they are very well booked and can hardly meet the demand for German language courses. They have also extended their exams so that they can be done in Abuja, even though the institute is in Lagos.

I think the demand is very high, and we cannot even meet it. We have 4,000 Nigerian students in Germany, which I think is quite a good number. But of course, we are looking for more, and we would like to have more. So we have to work on two sides, we have to work on the provision of German language course, and we have to make that easily accessible.

Also, as I said earlier, the provision of visa services for those students interested in going to Germany also needs to be accelerated, needs to be made easier.

There are many scholarships offered from Germany. Many Nigerian students, especially postgraduate masters students, go to Germany and we are very happy because those are some of the brightest young people in Nigeria. Actually, we are quite happy and we know we cannot compare to English-speaking countries, of course.

PT: What is the bilateral conversation between Nigeria and Germany on migration, especially with stranded Nigerian migrants in Germany?

Mrs Gunther: It has been a subject matter. During Chancellor Scholzs visit to Nigeria, he talked to President Tinubu about it and the president agreed and said, of course, those who are illegally in Germany will be coming back and will be welcome. They can come back and contribute to the development of the country. So there is no dissent about the fact as such, we have a very good cooperation on that issue.

I must say, this is a minority, there are over 80,000 Nigerians living in Germany, working there with their families, happily sending money back, also contributing to the welfare of their families here. So I would not only see migration as a negative topic.

Most recently, and it was also part of the discussion of the chancellor, we in Germany want to invite people to come to us legally. Migration is not a negative topic.

We need people to come to our country, be it from Nigeria, be it from other countries. So we want to invite them to work in Germany, to live in Germany, to also contribute to our economic development.

However, there are regulations and we are already running seven centres here in Nigeria that prepare Nigerians who want to legally move to Germany, prepare them on the legal conditions, on academic issues, and prepare them with skills to go and work in Germany. So, I think it is a two-way story and we have a very good relationship on that issue.

PT: What are the processes in these centres?

Mrs Gunther: At the moment, we are still in the process of developing these centres and they work closely together with the labour institutions here in Nigeria. The plan is for people to go there for information, present their credentials and then get advice on how to proceed.

We do not want people to come to be disillusioned, and then you know, lost in the process, having spent money. But I also think that the preparation in those centres  there will be no money involved, you know, it is about information, guidance, about helping these people.

It is not about making money, we are not smugglers, you know. You spend money if you go an illegal way to Germany, and then you find out that maybe this is not the right way. But if you go through the legal process, I think there will be very many success stories beyond the 4,000 students in Germany.

We are also aware that the visa procedures are still too long, but there are processes underway to have more digitalisation of the process, and to outsource some of the decision-making because we are just overwhelmed, I must say, by the huge interest of young Nigerians to go and study or work in Germany. So, this goes hand in hand. We are working on it and we want to be supportive.

PT: What group of skilled workers is most important to the German economy?

Mrs Gunther: I think there are no limitations. I think skilled workers and even semi-skilled workers are needed everywhere. But of course, you are right. Most importantly, people are needed in the health sector, in the care industry, for the elderly people. In any other service industry, in hospitality.

I think these are the major sectors, but also, of course, industry, heavy metal production, basically everywhere, but I would say health care and services are at the moment the areas where people are needed the most.

PT: The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is Germanys development agency. Can you speak about the key areas of development that you are focused on?

Mrs Gunther: GIZ is our implementation agency for our development cooperation. Here in Nigeria, the portfolio is a very broad one. But basically, what we can say we want to contribute to economic development, which is a very broad subject. But within that, we always look at developing the youth, skills development, supporting women and other minority groups.

Other areas are agriculture, food security, also skills development in agriculture, and micro-financing for small firms, and companies.

In the youth sector, we support a lot of startups and young tech firms. Wherever the youth wants to develop their skills, where they want to start businesses and in whichever sector, we try to be there. We cannot be all over the country, we cannot be in all 36 states.

Another area for us in our overall cooperation, but also our development cooperation, is climate change and energy subjects. So wherever we can support the development of renewable energy, wherever we can support the replacement, lets say, of generators, by solar equipment, also the development of that industry for young people to start in the renewable energy sector. So this is very important for us also to be supportive in this area.

PT: Of the many projects you are involved in, which are you most proud of?

Mrs Gunther: I think we can always be proud of them in every sector. But as I said, I think our Energy Support Programme is a very big one and it is well known. I also think the Youth Skills Development Programme has lots of beneficiaries, and that is well known. So I think these are the main areas of intervention that probably have the most popularity or are best known.

PT: Would you say there is value for money in all of your interventions in Nigeria?

Mrs Gunther: Absolutely! We do not develop these projects on our own, we always have negotiations and discussions with the government. Especially with the new government, we see that the development of the economy and the creation of jobs, the support for youth education and skills development is key for the years to come because of the demographic factor that we are all aware of. So we support the government in what the government sees as their own goals.

PT: What was your perception of Nigeria before you moved here to work as an Ambassador?

Mrs Gunther: I had been to Nigeria multiple times between 2016 and 2018 because at the time, I was commissioner for humanitarian assistance in Germany, and later I was commissioner for migration and refugees. So in that capacity, I visited Maiduguri in 2016.

I have been to Abuja, negotiating with the government on migration issues and other things. So I knew what I was doing and I knew it was a vibrant country. I was also intrigued because all the topics that I had dealt with before in Germany, exist in Nigeria.

This is where I have expertise. This is where I think I can make a good contribution to our foreign policy. I was ambassador to Kenya, and after Kenya, I thought I wanted to stay in Africa because I love Africa.

So I would not say that my picture of Nigeria has changed too much in the time that I have been living and working here. But it has changed quite a bit in the six years in between because in 2022 when I went to Maiduguri with our minister, we could see what our stabilisation efforts had achieved, how the people were moved back to Ngarannam village that had been rebuilt.

There was a dramatic change and I think I am very proud of our contribution to the stabilisation in the Northeast.

PT: What Nigerian food have you enjoyed the most? How many have you tried?

Mrs Gunther: What I like, what I share is Nigerians love for fish. You hardly ever meet a Nigerian who does not like fish, for most people it is their favourite food. So you get a lot of fish.

Even here, you go to the Mogadishu Barracks, where fish is grilled. Have you been there? Oh, you must; it is fantastic! It is the highlight of Abuja. I also like how spicy Nigerian food is, although not as much as Nigerians do.

Sometimes when I am back in Germany or doing my own cooking, I always want a little more spice and chilli because it does not taste like anything. I have gotten used to it.

PT: What do you think about Nigerian music?

Mrs Gunther: I do not have much exposure to Nigerian music but I know it is very famous and it is played all over the world. It is one of the trademarks of Nigeria internationally. I think I should get more involved with the music.

PT: Nigerian clothing?

Mrs Gunther: I have a lot of dresses made here. The clothes that we normally wear, are not suitable for this kind of temperature and climate. Also the colourfulness, you know, we are always in our business clothes looking like boring grey people and then you see all these colourful people and you want to be like them.

I have a lady who makes lots of dresses for me. I am a regular at Wuse Market to buy fabric. My sister, cousin, and my daughters, whenever I go home, I supply everybody with dresses. When I went home last year for a big birthday party with lots of friends in Germany, she made a wonderful, traditional Nigerian dress for me, and everybody found that fantastic.

PT: At the 10th German-Nigeria business forum, two agreements were signed in what seemed like a quid pro quo arrangement. Give me gas and I invest $500 million in renewable energy. Will that be an accurate representation of the facts?

Mrs Gunther: It is very much correct that many German businesses are interested in getting engaged in Nigeria, in particular, in the renewable energy sector, because this is the way to go. This is where we want to support Nigeria in the implementation of the energy transition plan and part of that is also to help create capacities or awareness capacities for hydrogen production. So I do not think we will import gas from Nigeria to Germany. But how can we use the gas? How can we turn it maybe into hydrogen or LNG?

I think this is a sector where we are very interested in working with Nigeria because I think it is the way to go into the renewables, hydrogen into other greener usage of the existing sources of energy. So this is not a trade-off in that sense.

PT: Speak to me about trade relations.

Mrs Gunther: Germany is an export country, Germany relies heavily on its exports. So the more trading partners we can have in the world, the better for us. Our products are well known worldwide, so we want to export where we can. But also because our product are so well known, we also try to work together with other countries and not only export but also to have production facilities in our partner countries.

For instance, one example, Nivea is a German product and many do not know that. It is a German company called Beiersdorf, they produce all Nivea products. They have a production site in Lagos, state of the art, that could be the same thing in Germany.

Because they can hardly meet the demand, they have already planned a second production site to expand their production and to make use of the regional markets.

It is not that we only export to other countries, jobs are created in those production sites. It is also more sensible to produce here, why should we ship those products from Germany to Nigeria, if we can produce them here?

I think there is still room for improvement when it comes to investment-friendly climate, to legislative environment. The financial sector is also at the moment a little bit in a situation that might not necessarily be investment-friendly. But these are all things that can be overcome, that we work on together and the government is quite aware of that. So, I think the trend is clear to come and produce here and to create jobs and skills.

PT: How favourable is the business climate in Germany for Nigerians?

Mrs Gunther: It is not different for people from other countries. I mean, everybody can decide for themselves how much they like the business climate in Germany. But I think it is very friendly and very many foreign companies operating in Germany. But it is not different for Nigerians.

PT: Does Germanys support for Israel not come off as double standards when you compare it to its position on the Russia-Ukraine war?

Mrs Gunther: I would not say that you can compare the two cases. Russia started a war of aggression against a sovereign state, which is completely unacceptable. It was completely unprovoked. There can be no acceptance and no understanding for Russia terrorising its neighbouring country with the war, killing people there. This is against all international standards and we have to reject that. We support Ukraine in its defence against this war of aggression.

In Gaza, we have to accept the fact that Israel was attacked, also unprovoked, very brutally. People and children were killed, who were just peacefully in their houses or celebrating. This is also completely unacceptable and we have to accept and support Israels right to defend itself against this aggression and terror.

Of course, we support the fight against terrorism all over the world, terrorism is unacceptable and Israel has the right to defend itself against this terror.

PT: Unfortunately in defending itself against the terror of Hamas, innocent women and children are killed every day in Gaza. How would you respond to this?

Mrs Gunther: As I said, Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism and unfortunately, every military confrontation risks to have loss of civilian life of innocent people.

Each country is held by international law to try to prevent civilian loss in any military confrontation. So we are not saying that Israel is targeting the civilians, they are defending themselves and unfortunately, this causes the loss of civilian life, which of course, we urge Israel and everybody does that, to make sure and try to keep that loss as limited as possible in such a war.

PT: Now that the ICJ has ruled and asked Israel to prevent further deaths in Gaza, will Germany as an ally put pressure on Israel to see that it respects the ruling of the court?

Mrs Gunther: I think we have raised and we will continue to raise this question with our Israeli partners at any occasion. There is a very intensive context and German politicians moving back and forth between Israel, and other Arab countries in the region trying to find solutions to the conflict. In each conversation with the Israeli side, we repeat our respect for international humanitarian law, and we urge our partners to also respect international humanitarian law and avoid the killing of civilians. It is not that we are not telling them that this is also our position.

PT: What is Germanys clear position on the allegations against UNRWA, is this a reasonable position to take?

Mrs Gunther: It is a very unfortunate incident. But as I said, we we will continue to support these people. We will work with other organisations. We have increased our support, for instance for International Red Cross by seven million. And our reaction and our future cooperation with UNRWA will certainly depend on the investigations, but we are also in regular contact and discussions about this with our partners because Germany does not act on its own. So we will see what are we doing within the EU.

If we decide to go this way, then we will not do it on our own. We are always in touch with our partners. Germany and the US have been the biggest donors of UNRWA, we will not neglect the needs of the people there, but we will try to find solutions on how we can collectively deal with this situation.

PT: Are you saying that Germany will for now not provide funds to UNRWA but to other organisations who can still attend to the needs of people in Gaza?

Mrs Gunther: Yes. Not just any, but our trusted partners.

PT: Security in Nigeria has been worrisome and Abuja has been in the news. Are you concerned about your security?

Mrs Gunther: I am personally not concerned about my security in Abuja, but of course, we have seen a shift of insecurity that maybe in the past we thought only happened in the Northeast or Northwest or South.

It is a major problem in many parts of the country. We have seen incidents now closer to Abuja, on the outskirts of Abuja, and of course that is of concern, but I would not say that I am personally targeted or that foreigners per se are at at risk.

It is a general situation that probably speaks of the economic problems of people, maybe other issues or grievances they have with each other that unfortunately are resolved through force. I think it is more of a general phenomenon.

PT: It is not a question of being targeted but that of not knowing who the next person might be.

Mrs Gunther: There are so many other cities in the world where you would not walk in the street in the middle of the night or where you do not go to certain areas at certain times of the day. Abuja is not a very dangerous or criminal city. No, its not.

It is safe, you can move around. But even in Berlin, there are areas where I do not go to, especially at night. So unfortunately, it is a phenomenon of big cities and Abuja is growing and it is becoming a big city. These are unfortunately phenomena that we see all over the world.

PT: On that backdrop, what kind of security partnership does Germany have with Nigeria?

Mrs Gunther: Because improvement of the security situation is a priority of the government, it has become a priority of our cooperation. So for the last three years, we have been, in addition to our stabilisation engagement in the North East/West, we have been very much engaged in the police reform project. Because after the EndSARS protests, even the government realised that something needed to be done to put the police forces in a better position to build trustworthy and capable institutions. So police reform is very important. So we have been very engaged, put a lot of money into that one through UNDP.

With the new administration, we have already signed a new MoU with the National Security Adviser who now also explained that the whole security sector reform is a bigger and very important project and the police, of course, definitely is part of that.

We are going with the Nigerian institutions in that direction, and we will continue our support. And beyond that, we also have in the military area, we have a technical advisory group that works on five different projects currently supporting various military installations, institutions in infrastructure, in training and development, to also empower the army, and military forces to do their job. There is quite a heavyweight engagement in the security sector for us, and we think it is important to do that.

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Nigerias anti-drug trafficking agency, NDLEA, said it has arrested a port terminal operator and a dock worker who allegedly aided the shipment of hard drugs from South Africa to Nigeria.

The NDLEA, in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the hard drugs were shipped in two containers from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos.

The two containers also contained assorted arms and ammunition, Mr Babafemi said.

Based on credible intelligence, the Agency had requested a 100 per cent joint examination of two containers marked MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa.

As a result, the exercise was conducted with other stakeholders on 18th and 19th of January, 2024 during which 56.39kg cocaine and 795kg Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis among other illegal items were recovered from the containers.

Mr Babafemi also listed some other recent seizures of hard drugs and the arrest of suspects.

Read the full statement by the NDLEA below.

NDLEA arrests port terminal operator, dock worker over 1,044.29kg Cocaine, Colos

Declares 4 others wanted; nabs vigilante commander, grandpa, others for dealing in illicit drugs; intercepts Cocaine, Ecstasy consignments in canvas shoes, headgear going to UK, Cyprus

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have begun to unmask members of an organized criminal network behind the recent importation of two containers laden with illicit drugs as well as assorted arms and ammunition from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos.

Among those already arrested as members of the syndicate are: a clearing and notify party of the two containers, Falowo Samuel Kayode; a dock worker, Anjorin Idowu and Uzairu Ahmed Iguda who is in charge of the Five Star terminal at the port. Another dock worker at the terminal, Mohammed Muktar Sule (alias organizer) who is equally linked to the syndicate is currently at large.

Based on credible intelligence, the Agency had requested a 100 per cent joint examination of two containers marked MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa. As a result, the exercise was conducted with other stakeholders on 18th and 19th of January, 2024 during which 56.39kg cocaine and 795kg Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis among other illegal items were recovered from the containers.

Following a tasking order by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) to a combined team of specialized units of the agency to unravel those behind the importation of the large consignments of the illicit drugs, ongoing investigations have led to the discovery of more bags of Colorado weighing 192.7kg, a pistol, and rounds of ammunition removed from the container, MSCU 4581770 and hidden in an empty container before the 100 per cent joint examination at the Five Star terminal. As a result, two suspects: Uzairu Ahmed Iguda who is in charge of the terminals container positioning and stacking, and Anjorin Idowu who is a dock worker in the terminal have been arrested. Another suspect, Mohammed Muktar Sule (alias organizer) now at large, is also a dock worker in the terminal.

Investigations reveal that the three suspects conspired with the agent and notify party, Falowo Samuel Kayode to remove the 192.7kg Colorado, pistol and rounds of ammunition from the container to an empty container in the terminal.

The latest seizure brings the total recovered from the two containers to 56.39kg of cocaine and 987.9kg of Colorado with a combined weight of 1,044.29kg. Investigations have also revealed three kingpins believed to be based in South Africa and connected with the importation of the containers. They include Odeyemi Taiwo Emmanuel; Akinyemi Olayinka and Adebayo Adewole Emmanuel who are now on the Agencys wanted list.

In Edo state, NDLEA officers on Tuesday 20th February raided a drug joint under powerline off Etete road, GRA Benin city where they arrested a sales girl, Jessica Destiny, 24, and recovered assorted illicit drugs. A follow-up operation the following day led to the arrest of the owner of the joint, 36-year-old Ibrahim Sani who is the Commander, Arewa Association Vigilantes in the area.

While a consignment of 179kg cannabis was recovered by operatives at Badagry Waterside, Lagos on Wednesday 21st February, a 67-year-old grandpa, Rafiu Ogunro was nabbed on Thursday 22nd February, at Magbon, Ogun state with 57kg cannabis, 2,700 pills of tramadol, and 231 bottles of Codeine syrup, weighing 2.31 litres.

In Borno, a 25-year-old lady, Zara Mele was arrested with quantities of cocaine and heroin at Baga checkpoint on Tuesday 20th Feb, while Usman Shuaibu, 26, and Mohammed Lawan, 22, were also nabbed with quantities of the same class A drug at Meri and Babban Layi

areas of Maiduguri on the same day respectively.

No less than 44,820 pills of opioids being taken to Zamfara State by Tasiu Mohammed, 25, and Abubakar Tanko, 54, were intercepted along Jega-Sokoto road by NDLEA officers in Kebbi state, while a farmer Ali Abdulhamid, 35, was arrested in his farm where he grows tomatoes and some stems of cannabis sativa weighing 73 kilograms at Bakin Kasuwa village, Birnin Yero area of Igabi LGA, Kaduna state.

Two suspects: Shuaibu Ahmed, 38, and Tanimu Abdullahi, 29, travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Kano with 99 blocks of cannabis weighing 37kg were intercepted by NDLEA officers along Kwali-Gwagwalada express road, Abuja on Monday 19th Feb, while one Michael Okefi was arrested at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra state with 483 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in two 50-litre kegs. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner, Osinachi Jasper.

At least 540 grams of cocaine concealed in canvas shoes heading to the UK were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Friday 23rd Feb by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI. Equally, a consignment of tramadol 225mg hidden in ladies headgear going to the UK was also seized the same day at the courier house, while another parcel containing ecstasy concealed in a body cream container meant for Cyprus was also intercepted.

In Kano state, different quantities of opioids and other illicit drugs were recovered from at least 12 young men arrested in parts of Kano between Monday 19th and Friday 23rd February. Some of the suspects include Yusuf Abdullahi,20; Usman Muhd,18; Sadiq Jibrin, 20; Ibrahim Lawan, 25; Ukasha Usaini,19; Sahabi Lamini,15; Isiyaka Mohd, 28; Bashir Ayuba,36; Ahmad Idris,18; Abubakar Sani,29; Bashir Mohd, 21 and Udochukwu Ezekiel, 35.

READ ALSO:NDLEA intercepts large consignment of cannabis concealed in loudspeakers at Lagos airport

In the same vein, Commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy lectures. These include Sensitisation lectures for students of Fatahur Rahman Academy, Gumel, Jigawa state; students of Boys High School, Nawfia, Anambra state; students of Government Senior and Junior College, Victoria Island, Lagos with the Yobe state command paying WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Idrissa and the Emir of Potiskum, Alhaji Umar Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya, among others.

While commending the officers and men of the Tincan, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Kebbi, Borno, and FCT Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters Abuja

Sunday 25th February 2024

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West Africas regional bloc, ECOWAS, on Saturday, said that the exit of three of its members would cost the region a lot including projects worth about $500 million.

The withdrawal of the three-member states could result in the halt or the suspension of all ECOWAS projects and programmes worth more than $500 million, a communique issued at the end of Saturdays extraordinary summit said.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in January announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS over what they described as inhumane and illegal sanctions imposed on them following coups in the countries.

ECOWAS also highlighted other implications the withdrawal could have including socio-economic, political, security and humanitarian impact.

According to ECOWAS, the impact would be felt most by the citizens of the three countries and the regional integration process.

It urged the three member states to reconsider their decision given the benefits that ECOWAS member states and their citizens enjoy in the community.

It further encouraged them to resort to dialogue, negotiations and mediation to address their concerns.

The authority urges the three member states to adhere to the provisions of the 1993 revised treaty relating to withdrawal, particularly article 91.

The authority encourages ECOWAS to sustain its rapprochement and overtures towards the three member states and continues to remain seized of the situation.

On political and security implications, the withdrawal will affect security cooperation in terms of sharing intelligence and participation in regional counterterrorism initiatives, such as the Accra initiative, and the Multinational Joint Task Force.

It also noted that it could lead to diplomatic and political isolation on the international scene, where the countries have obtained bloc support for their candidates and candidature in the contest for international positions within the African Union, the United Nations and similar bodies.

The authority recognizes that the withdrawal will automatically affect the immigration status of the citizens, as they may be required to obtain visas to travel around the region, ECOWAS said, adding that citizens may no longer be able to reside or set up businesses under ECOWAS arrangement and may be subject to diverse national laws.

Additionally, the three countries will cease to use the ECOWAS passport, ECOWAS biometric national identity card and the region-wide ECOWAS brown card vehicle insurance.

Even though the three countries represent only 10 per cent of the regions GDP, their departure will constitute a reduction of the market size of ECOWAS, the bloc noted.

Other areas that would be affected include intra-community trade, regional projects and programmes including the Regional Food Security Reserve which the three countries hold 52 per cent, amongst others.

Reviewing the implications at the institutional level, the authority notes that the withdrawal will not only require the closure of four regional entities in Burkina Faso, two regional bodies in Mali and one regional office in Niger, it will also affect the job security of some 130 ECOWAS staff who are citizens of the three countries.

Currently, 77 staff members are from Burkina Faso, 23 from Mali, and 32 from Niger.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission has also been instructed to invite Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Guinea, to attend the technical and consultative meetings of ECOWAS as well as all security-related meetings.

It also reiterated the urgent need for ECOWAS to expedite the operationalisation of the standby force in its kinetic mode to fight against terrorism in the region including the elements of the Multinational Joint Task Force, and the Accra initiative.

In this regard, the authority instructs its commission as soon as possible to convene the meeting of ministers of finance and defence to propose modalities for financing and equipping counterterrorism forces.

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If youre planning on retiring early, youll likely need to live in a city where your money will last 40 years or more. And unless youre a multimillionaire, youll need to find a city that has low costs across a wide variety of categories, including taxes.

Read Next: Heres the Cost To Retire Comfortably in Every State by Age

Try This: Do This To Earn Guaranteed Growth on Your Retirement Savings (With No Risk to Your Investment)

To help in your quest, GOBankingRates compiled a list of the best and worst cities for an early retirement. The study included the top 50 most populated cities and top 50 cities with the highest 65 and older population, according to the United States Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey. GOBankingRates also considered each citys state taxes on Social Security benefits and/or retirement income.

Based on the data, GOBankingRates found that these 50 cities are among the best and worst for retiring early. Cities are ranked in reverse order, from the worst cities to the best. See if your city made the list  and how that might impact your retirement dreams.

Zinkevych / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Worst Cities for an Early Retirement

Unfortunately for those seeking early retirement, many of the most popular destinations in America, from New York to San Francisco, appear on the worst cities for early retirement list. This ranking has nothing to do with the desirability of these cities but everything to do with how fast theyll drain your bank account.

Heres a look at 25 cities where youll need a much larger-than-average nest egg to survive early retirement.

Find Out: Retirement Planning: How Much the Average Person 65 and Older Spends Monthly

Learn More: How Far a $100,000 Salary Goes in Americas 50 Largest Cities

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

Pola Damonte / Shutterstock.com

Marco Island, Florida

2023 average home value: $1,469,607

Annual mortgage cost: $90,290

Total annual necessities cost: $111,950

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

Story continues

Check Out: How Rare Coins Can Fund Your Early Retirement Dreams

Alex Potemkin / Getty Images

San Francisco

2023 average home value: $1,362,447

Annual mortgage cost: $83,706

Total annual necessities cost: $109,913

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

Seal Beach, California

2023 average home value: $1,389,468

Annual mortgage cost: $85,366

Total annual necessities cost: $107,682

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

San Jose, California

2023 average home value: $1,322,592

Annual mortgage cost: $81,258

Total annual necessities cost: $106,397

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Gary C. Tognoni / Shutterstock.com

Ocean City, New Jersey

2023 average home value: $1,323,569

Annual mortgage cost: $81,318

Total annual necessities cost: $103,700

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Explore More: I Retired Early: Why Real Estate Investing Was the Secret to My Success

steve estvanik / Shutterstock.com

Rancho Mirage, California

2023 average home value: $1,043,912

Annual mortgage cost: $64,136

Total annual necessities cost: $86,711

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

miroslav_1 / Getty Images

Palm Springs, California

2023 average home value: $1,032,019

Annual mortgage cost: $63,405

Total annual necessities cost: $86,045

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Shutterstock.com

Sonoma, California

2023 average home value: $1,005,152

Annual mortgage cost: $61,755

Total annual necessities cost: $85,231

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Dancestrokes / Shutterstock.com

San Diego

2023 average home value: $1,020,738

Annual mortgage cost: $62,712

Total annual necessities cost: $84,981

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Trending Now: These 5 Cities Are Becoming Popular With Baby Boomers: Should You Consider Them for Your Retirement Years?

frankpeters / Getty Images

Los Angeles

2023 average home value: $939,112

Annual mortgage cost: $57,697

Total annual necessities cost: $81,617

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

2023 average home value: $934,651

Annual mortgage cost: $57,423

Total annual necessities cost: $77,975

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

cmart7327 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

New York

2023 average home value: $763,619

Annual mortgage cost: $46,915

Total annual necessities cost: $77,457

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Andrei Stanescu / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Oakland, California

2023 average home value: $849,941

Annual mortgage cost: $52,219

Total annual necessities cost: $76,408

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Be Aware: Housing Market 2024: Avoid Buying a Home in These 4 California Cities

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Seattle, Washington

2023 average home value: $889,339

Annual mortgage cost: $54,639

Total annual necessities cost: $76,215

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

hollywood_DP / Shutterstock.com

Long Beach, California

2023 average home value: $819,454

Annual mortgage cost: $50,346

Total annual necessities cost: $73,689

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Joe Hendrickson / Shutterstock.com

Burr Ridge, Illinois

2023 average home value: $744,951

Annual mortgage cost: $47,612

Total annual necessities cost: $69,846

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Boston, Massachusetts

2023 average home value: $744,846

Annual mortgage cost: $45,762

Total annual necessities cost: $69,332

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Discover More: 10 Worst Places in Illinois for a Couple To Live on Only a Social Security Check

Orhan Cam / Shutterstock.com

Washington

2023 average home value: $715,766

Annual mortgage cost: $43,975

Total annual necessities cost: $67,827

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Naples, Florida

2023 average home value: $698,917

Annual mortgage cost: $42,940

Total annual necessities cost: $64,729

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

Marilyn D. Lambertz / Shutterstock.com

Fountain Hills, Arizona

2023 average home value: $692,723

Annual mortgage cost: $42,560

Total annual necessities cost: $64,303

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Stephen Orsillo / Shutterstock.com

Bonita Springs, Florida

2023 average home value: $641,865

Annual mortgage cost: $39,435

Total annual necessities cost: $62,307

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

Check Out: 5 Places in Florida Where Home Prices Are Still Cheap

Shutterstock.com

Cocoa Beach, Florida

2023 average home value: $655,971

Annual mortgage cost: $40,302

Total annual necessities cost: $61,417

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

iShootPhotosLLC / Getty Images

Palm Desert, California

2023 average home value: $621,636

Annual mortgage cost: $38,192

Total annual necessities cost: $60,447

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

BernieCB / Flickr.com

Estero, Florida

2023 average home value: $601,853

Annual mortgage cost: $36,977

Total annual necessities cost: $60,386

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

cristianl / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Miami

2023 average home value: $575,630

Annual mortgage cost: $35,366

Total annual necessities cost: $59,542

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

Read Next: Why Floridas Retirees Are Fleeing  And Where Theyre Going Instead

vorDa / iStock.com

Best Cities for an Early Retirement

The top 25 cities for early retirement all have one thing in common: low costs. For the most part, these cities also have no taxes on Social Security benefits  except for Wichita, Kansas; Albuquerque, New Mexico and Minneapolis  and several also have no taxes on retirement income.

Heres a look at your best options if youre hoping to jump off the treadmill early and enjoy a long and prosperous early retirement.

Shutterstock.com

Jacksonville, Florida

2023 average home value: $302,867

Annual mortgage cost: $18,608

Total annual necessities cost: $40,288

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

jimkruger / Getty Images

Minneapolis

2023 average home value: $324,141

Annual mortgage cost: $19,915

Total annual necessities cost: $40,071

Taxes on Social Security benefits? Yes

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

DeborahMaxemow / Getty Images

Zephyrhills, Florida

2023 average home value: $297,397

Annual mortgage cost: $18,271

Total annual necessities cost: $40,017

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

Try This: 9 Ways Frugal Retirees Spend Their Social Security Checks

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Tucson, Arizona

2023 average home value: $325,344

Annual mortgage cost: $19,989

Total annual necessities cost: $39,994

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Ken Bosma / Wikimedia Commons

Green Valley, Arizona

2023 average home value: $323,949

Annual mortgage cost: $19,903

Total annual necessities cost: $39,793

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Wirestock / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Chicago

2023 average home value: $284,420

Annual mortgage cost: $17,474

Total annual necessities cost: $39,549

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

JillianCain / Getty Images

Wildwood, Florida

2023 average home value: $289,140

Annual mortgage cost: $17,764

Total annual necessities cost: $38,370

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

Find Out: How a Trump Win in 2024 Could Impact Your Retirement Savings

ivanastar / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Albuquerque, New Mexico

2023 average home value: $311,913

Annual mortgage cost: $19,613

Total annual necessities cost: $38,322

Taxes on Social Security benefits? Yes

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Wildnerdpix / Shutterstock.com

Hot Springs Village, Arkansas

2023 average home value: $287,293

Annual mortgage cost: $17,651

Total annual necessities cost: $38,198

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Art Wager / Getty Images

Houston

2023 average home value: $265,761

Annual mortgage cost: $16,328

Total annual necessities cost: $38,174

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

MidwestWilderness / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Omaha, Nebraska

2023 average home value: $264,117

Annual mortgage cost: $16,227

Total annual necessities cost: $37,702

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Explore More: 3 Ways Upper-Middle-Class Retirees Stay Rich in Retirement

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Philadelphia

2023 average home value: $207,677

Annual mortgage cost: $12,759

Total annual necessities cost: $36,951

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto

San Antonio

2023 average home value: $257,993

Annual mortgage cost: $15,851

Total annual necessities cost: $36,379

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Columbus, Ohio

2023 average home value: $243,089

Annual mortgage cost: $14,935

Total annual necessities cost: $35,201

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

hstiver / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Louisville, Kentucky

2023 average home value: $230,721

Annual mortgage cost: $14,175

Total annual necessities cost: $35,008

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Discover More: 7 Best Cars for Retirees on a Budget

TriggerPhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kansas City, Missouri

2023 average home value: $220,799

Annual mortgage cost: $13,565

Total annual necessities cost: $34,602

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Indianapolis

2023 average home value: $219,547

Annual mortgage cost: $13,489

Total annual necessities cost: $33,850

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Oklahoma City

2023 average home value: $194,392

Annual mortgage cost: $11,943

Total annual necessities cost: $33,327

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

El Paso, Texas

2023 average home value: $209,432

Annual mortgage cost: $12,867

Total annual necessities cost: $33,197

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

Read Next: 10 Ways for Retirees To Cut Back on Expenses in 2024

Davel5957 / Getty Images

Tulsa, Oklahoma

2023 average home value: $192,520

Annual mortgage cost: $11,828

Total annual necessities cost: $32,660

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

sborisov / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Baltimore

2023 average home value: $172,958

Annual mortgage cost: $10,626

Total annual necessities cost: $32,400

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Jon Mattrisch / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Milwaukee

2023 average home value: $182,470

Annual mortgage cost: $11,211

Total annual necessities cost: $32,028

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Wichita, Kansas

2023 average home value: $180,018

Annual mortgage cost: $11,060

Total annual necessities cost: $31,734

Taxes on Social Security benefits? Yes

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Learn More: 9 Things Frugal Retirees Never Waste Money On

Kruck20 / Getty Images

Memphis, Tennessee

2023 average home value: $147,323

Annual mortgage cost: $9,051

Total annual necessities cost: $29,576

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? No

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Detroit

2023 average home value: $64,593

Annual mortgage cost: $3,968

Total annual necessities cost: $27,019

Taxes on Social Security benefits? No

Taxes on retirement income? Yes

Jordan Rosenfeld and John Csiszar contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best and worst cities in the United States for an early retirement by looking at the top 50 most populated cities and top 50 cities with the highest 65 and older population, according to the United States Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey. GOBankingRates analyzed these 100 cities using the following criteria: (1) average 2023 home value using Zillows November 2023 data; (2) an annual mortgage cost using a 20% down payment and a 6.62% 30-year fixed rate mortgage, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; and (3) itemized cost of living index for groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey, which were adjusted to each citys local cost of living, sourced from Sperlings Best Places. Factors (2) and (3) were combined to give; (4) Total annual necessities cost of living, which was the determining factor for the final rankings, with the lower cost of living being best. GOBankingRates also found whether each citys state taxed Social Security benefits and/or retirement income using data from CNBC and each states individual website for supplemental data. All data was collected and is up to date as of Jan. 10, 2024.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Best (and Worst) Cities for an Early Retirement
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday met with private sector leaders to discuss the cost of living crisis in the country and efforts to address the problem.

Those at the meeting include Africas richest man and owner of Dangote industries, Aliko Dangote; industrialist AbdulSamad Rabiu and banker Tony Elumelu.

The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa Abuja, discussed the economy, food security and security of the nation, Mr Dangote told journalists after the meeting.

According to an official transcript of the meeting, Mr Tinubu told his guests that his government was looking for additional efforts that could help poor Nigerians in this difficult period.

Lets look at what were doing right and what were doing wrong to bring life back to the economy. Like I said, many times, the people of this country are only the people whom we have to please. And we are very much concerned from students to mothers and fathers, farmers, the traders and realise that every one of us will have to fetch water from the same well. 



Were looking for additional efforts that might help the downtrodden Nigerians and we will provide that hope and reassurance that economic recovery is on its way. 



We are not saying that we have all the answers. But we will not be blamed for not trying. We assure Nigerians that we will do our best to get our marshall plan in place and fashion out the best economic future for this country, the president said.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Mr Elumelu said Implementing the decisions we arrived at today will help propel our economy.

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has alleged that the government has perfected plans to launch attacks against the two-day nationwide peaceful rallies it scheduled for 27 and 28 February.

NLC President Joe Ajaero made the allegation in a statement he signed and made available to journalists on Sunday in Abuja.

In a swift response, however, the federal government has denied the allegation describing it as speculative.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said by raising the allegation, NLC is feeling guilty in hatching its hidden agenda influenced by partisan considerations.

Mr Onanuga who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the alleged attack, said the planned protest is illegal as it is against a subsisting order of court.

He said the NLC had a hidden agenda because most of the issues raised by labour for embarking on the protest had been addressed by the government.

Mr Ajaero in his statement titled, As the State Prepares to Unleash Violence on us alleged that one of the groups being primed to attack the peaceful rallies is by a nebulous name, Nigeria Civil Society Forum (NCSF).

NCSF is one of the emergency groups put together, funded, promoted and remote-controlled by government to cause violence against our members for electing to peacefully protest against the hunger in the land.

We would want the State to know that the solution to our horrible economic situation and hunger is not by suppressing peaceful dissent or inflicting violence on peacefully protesting citizens, he said.

Mr Ajaero insisted that the NLC and its civil society allies were moving ahead with the protest rallies against economic hardship and insecurity in line with the decision of the National Executive Council.

As citizens, we have a fundamental right to peaceful protest and history bears us witness that our protests are always peaceful except in instances of State-engineered violence.

In light of this, we advise the State to put on its thinking cap and find solutions to the pains it continues to cause the people instead of further dehumanising them, he said.

Mr Onanuga, however, insisted that the issues raised by the labour union had been addressed by the government, including the payment of a wage award of N35,000 monthly for six months.

He said the money had been paid to civil servants up till January 2024 and only that of February is outstanding.

The presidents aide said the federal government had inaugurated a 37-member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage to review and come up with an acceptable and sustainable Minimum Wage for Nigerian Workers.

He said the government had made substantial financial commitments on the provision of CNG Buses and Conversion Kits.

According to Mr Onanuga, the buses will be rolled out very soon to alleviate the transportation challenges being faced by Nigerians.

(NAN)

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The Oyo State Government has shut down an illegal mining factory used by some suspected illegal miners.

Four suspects were arrested during the operation, an official said.

The Governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, ordered the closure of the facility on Saturday, according to a statement by his office.

Mr Makinde said the action was taken to prevent a recurrence of the Bodija explosion incident.

According to the governor, the illegal facility, located at Idi-Ayunre, was visited following a tip-off that it was being used to process illegally mined minerals.

Mr Makinde said those involved have been arrested and will be prosecuted.

The governor also disclosed that the state government is still trying to extradite the Malians indicted in the Bodija explosion, who according to him are on the run.

He added that the difficulty is due to Mali pulling out of ECOWAS, saying that diplomatic efforts will be deployed to ensure the culprits are brought to book.

On the Ido-Ayunre facility, the governor said the suspects have been arrested.

READ ALSO: Nigerian govt moves to curb illegal mining as technical committee meets

I can report that those involved have been arrested and are in custody, and we are working to prosecute them. Our government has also taken over the facility pending the investigations and prosecution.

We were able to apprehend the culprits because the government and citizens worked together in a timely manner to bust their operations.

Please continue to support our efforts to rid our state of illegal activities. If you see something, say something and the authorities will do something. 615 is the toll-free number to call when you notice any security breaches, Mr Makinde said.

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The Ogun State branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has issued a notice of a five-day warning strike.

The notice directed judiciary workers to down tools to press home their demand for the payment of 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance by the Ogun State Government.

According to the notice signed by the states Assistant Secretary of JUSUN, Adeyemo Adekanbi, titled, Non-payment of Forty Percent (40%) Peculiar Allowance To State Judiciary Workers  Notice of Five Days Warning Strike, the strike will commence on Monday, 26 February, and end on Friday, 1 March 2024.

Mr Adekanbi disclosed that the union has made several attempts to negotiate with the state government as well as adopt several means of engagement, but all yielded no results.

We want to formally inform our members that a strike is imminent, beginning from Monday, 26 February. This strike action is taking place to protest the non-payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance to the state judiciary workers by the state government.

We have attempted to negotiate with them, but they refused to budge. This has left us with no other option than to make our voices heard.

READ ALSO: Court strikes out treasonable felony charges against Sowore

Mr Adekanbi noted that judiciary workers in the state have been directed not to come to work from Monday till Friday. He sought their cooperation towards ensuring the payment of the Peculiar Allowance.

I urge you all to join the cause and participate in the strike because your support and solidarity is essential to our success, the notice read.

The Ogun State chapter of JUSUN had earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government on the payment.

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigerias governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike over their failure to account for the alleged missing N40 trillion federal allocations meant for local governments in the states and the FCT.

The suit followed the damning revelations by former president Muhammadu Buhari who in December 2022 stated that If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100m, N50m will be sent to the chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/231/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to direct and compel the governors to publish details of LGA allocations and actual disbursement of the allocations to local governments in their respective states from 1999 to date.

SERAP is also asking the court to compel and direct Mr Wike to publish details of federal allocations meant for the Area Councils in the FCT and the actual disbursement of the allocations to the Area Councils in the FCT from 1999 to date.

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that The Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Freedom of Information Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights impose transparency obligations on the governors and Mr Wike to publish the details of LGA allocations and actual disbursement in their states and the FCT.

SERAP is arguing that State governors and Mr Wike cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to their states and the FCT. The legal obligations to publish the information sought are also imposed by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

According to SERAP, It is in the public interest and the interest of justice to grant this application. Nigerians are entitled to their constitutionally and internationally recognized human right to information.

SERAP is also arguing that Transparency in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments is fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions, and strengthen the rule of law.

SERAP is also arguing that States and the FCT should be guided by transparency and accountability principles and proactively publish information pertaining to their actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: Opacity in the amounts of federal allocations actually disbursed to local governments in the states and FCT has continued to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens.

The constitutional principle of democracy provides a foundation for Nigerians right to know details of spending of public funds. Citizens right to know promotes openness, transparency, and accountability that is in turn crucial for the countrys democratic order.

The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the countrys international obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their governments activities.

Implicit in the freedom of expression is the publics right to know what governments are doing on their behalf, without which truth would languish and peoples participation in government would remain fragmented.

Transparency would ensure that the allocations are not diverted into private pockets, and increase public trust that the money would be used to benefit Nigerians resident in these local government areas.

Many years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of federal allocations meant for local governments have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services in several states.

Granting the reliefs sought would ensure transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations in the states and FCT would also improve the enjoyment by Nigerians of their right to natural wealth and resources.

The governors and Mr Wike have a legal responsibility to promote transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in the states and FCT and to ensure that the allocations are dully and fully disbursed to the local governments.

Despite the countrys enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the culture of impunity of perpetrators.

Combating the corruption epidemic in the spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in the states and FCT would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods, and enhance the ability of the local governments to effectively and efficiently discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

According to our information, the 36 states in Nigeria and the federal capital territory, Abuja, have collected over N40 trillion federal allocations meant for the 774 local governments areas in the country and FCT.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed to states N225.21 billion federal allocations meant for local governments in November 2023 alone. States also collected N258,810,449,711.47 federal allocations meant for local government areas in December 2023.

However, there is opacity in the actual disbursement of federal allocations to the local government areas in the states and FCT. States and the FCT have over the years failed and/or refused to disclose the portion of federal allocations that are disbursed to local governments.

Former president Muhammadu Buhari recently alleged that state governors routinely pocket or divert federal allocations meant for local governments areas in their states.

According to Buhari, If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.

Section 162(6) of Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides that each state shall maintain a State Joint Local Government Account into which all allocations to local government councils from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State shall be paid.

Section 162(5) makes it mandatory that amounts standing to the credit of the councils will be allocated to the States for the benefit of their local government councils.

Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 16(2) further provides that, the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.

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The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operation Base, Ibaka, in Akwa Ibom has arrested two suspects and impounded their wooden boat laden with 5,100 litres of petrol.

The Commanding Officer of the base, Uche Aneke, handed over the suspects, the boat and the petrol to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ibaka on Sunday.

Mr Aneke, a navy captain, said a patrol team of the Navy arrested the suspects on 22 Feb following an intelligence report about suspected smuggling activities in the area.

Patrolling Naval gunboats were deployed to intercept the wooden boat.

In the boat were the two suspected smugglers and 5,100 litres of petrol concealed under bags of yams, cartons of drinks, other beverages and several cartons of floor tiles, all covered with tarpaulin, he said.

Mr Aneke warned individuals and groups involved in the illegal business to desist or prepare to face the wrath of the law.

He also warned criminals to steer clear of Nigerias territorial waters, stressing that security agencies would not condone illegal activities in the countrys coastal areas.

Head of NSCDCs anti-vandalism unit in Akwa Ibom, Micheal Asibor, who took delivery of the suspects and the exhibits assured of diligent prosecution of the incident. (NAN)

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a 67-year-old grandfather on Thursday at Magbon, Ogun, while in possession of 57kg of Indian hemp.

Also found in the suspects possession were 2,700 pills of tramadol and 231 bottles of Codeine syrup.

NDLEAs spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated on Sunday in Abuja that its operatives also raided a drug joint in Benin on Tuesday, arrested a 24-year-old sales girl and recovered assorted illicit drugs.

He added that a follow-up operation on Wednesday led to the arrest of the owner of the joint, a 36-year-old commander of a vigilance group in the area.

He stated also that NDLEA operatives recovered 179kg of Indian hemp in Badagry, Lagos State on Wednesday, while it arrested a 25-year-old lady in Bagga, Borno who had cocaine and heroin in her possession.

READ ALSO:

Mr Babafemi added that a 26-year-old and a 22-year-old male suspect were also nabbed with quantities of cocaine and heroin in the Meri and Babban Layi areas of Maiduguri, respectively.

The agency also impounded about 44,820 pills of illicit psychotropic drugs being taken to Zamfara by a 25-year-old and a 54-year-old on Jegga-Sokoto Road in Kebbi.

NDLEA also arrested a 35-year-old farmer on his farm where he grows tomatoes and Indian hemp at Birnin Yero in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Babafemi stated.

Two suspects were also arrested in a commercial bus as they were travelling from Lagos to Kano with 99 blocks of Indian hemp on them.

The drugs weighed 37kg and were intercepted on Kwali-Gwagwalada Expressway in the FCT on Monday, Feb. 19.

Another suspect was arrested at the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra with 483 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in two 50-litre kegs.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner of the syrup, Mr Babafemi stated.

(NAN)

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The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, John Alake, has described the dichotomy between polytechnic and university certificates as the greatest threat to the survival of polytechnic education.

Mr Alake, who lamented that the Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate is rated as inferior to that of the Bachelor of Science (BSc), said it has adversely affected the enrolment of students into different courses offered by the polytechnics at HND level.

The Rector spoke on Saturday at a media interactive session held at Ado Polytechnic campus to mark his one year in office.

According to him, the polytechnic system is further bedevilled by the fact that the people making policies for them are university graduates, saying: They are the people that set the bar.

The Nigerian Council on Education, which is the highest decision-making body, has refused to allow the two certificates to be at par.

READ ALSO:

The case is made worse by the fact that in some Western countries, you discovered that the HND certificate is irrelevant, it is obsolete. There was a time when I tried to use my HND in Canada and it was certified as an irregular certificate.

Once a student completes OND, he moves straight to the university to acquire a degree. When you ask him why he decided to do so, he says that they dont want to play second fiddle, he said.

Mr Alake, however, noted that despite the perception against HND, it has its own merit, especially in the areas of skill acquisition and vocational studies, which would make holders of the certificate job creators and not job hunters.

Not until we get it right, polytechnic education will be at individuals discretion or conviction. The Federal government has said it will do the needful. We are mounting pressure and we are talking to them.

If there is no synergy between polytechnics and universities, it would lead to backwardness. It will amount to wasting of public funds, Mr Alake added.

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A widow in Anambra State, who recently returned to her community after she was banished for allegedly being a witch, has gotten a new apartment.

The woman, Nneka Uzor, a 54-year-old mother of two, was banished by her three brothers from Umunankwo Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the south-east state on 30 April 2023.

PREMIUM TIMES, last year, reported how the widow was spotted in a video clip being led out of the Umunankwo by the community members who hurled abuses at her while two masquerades flogged her.

The three brothers - Lazarus Uzor, Anozie Uzor and Valentine Okwuosa - were later arrested and arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka.

The arrest and arraignment of the suspects were facilitated by the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in the state, Ify Obinabo, who promised to ensure that the woman was reunited with the community.

This newspaper also reported that Mrs Uzor, the banished widow, returned to the community in January and reconciled with the villagers, following the commissioners intervention and the traditional ruler of the community, Fidelis Nsofor.

New apartment

Mrs Uzor has now gotten a self-contained apartment through the assistance of Advocacy for Alleged Witches, an interventionist group leading campaigns to end witch persecution in Africa.

The Director of the group, Leo Igwe, told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that the group decided to help Mrs Uzor after they learnt that the widow had been staying with a relative after her return to the community.

READ ALSO:

We found out that while she returned to the community, she had no money, no apartment; her business had collapsed. Nothing. She was almost displaced, Mr Igwe said, recalling that the widow also made the request when the group reached out to her.

So, we raised some money and we sent it to her to rent an apartment, he said.

The group director commended PREMIUM TIMES, saying it was the papers report that made them aware of the widows travail.

Joy overflow

Mrs Uzor expressed joy while she shared a video clip of the new apartment with the group director.

You people have met me in my point of need, she said in the three-minute video clip, almost shedding tears of joy.

This is wonderful, the widow exclaimed as she showed the inner part of the apartment.

So, at last, I can boast of saying this is my own.

She asked God to bless members of the group who secured the apartment for her.

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Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State on Sunday during a visit to his hometown of Mafa expressed disappointment over reports of some internally displaced persons threatening to return to Boko Haram-held territories because of hunger.

The governor, who has worked to provide aid and security to the people, expressed dismay at the lack of appreciation for his administrations efforts.

Addressing a gathering of women, some of whom were seen with clothes packed, preparing to leave for the bush in protest over hunger and unmet needs, Governor Zulum highlighted the immense financial and logistical challenges his government faces in providing essential support to the displaced communities.

The money we spend just to provide palliative care is humongous; it is way beyond our capacity, Mr Zulum lamented. Within the last year alone, the Borno State Government has spent a staggering N40 billion on food and non-food items for the displaced communities.

Despite the significant investments and improvements in security, Mr Zulum expressed deep disappointment at the lack of gratitude and understanding among some of the IDPs.

Yesterday I received the news that some people, especially women in Dikwa Local Government Area, are threatening to go to the bush because we are not providing them with food items. I also received the news this morning that some women in Mafa, my home town are also planning to go to the bush, he noted.

It is sad to note that within the last four to five years, we have visited Mafa more than 30 times just to distribute food and non-food items. Before then, we used to bring food and nonfood items to Mafa, at least four times per annum. As the security situation began to improve we began to reduce the number of times we bring food to Mafa because people have started earning their means of livelihood by themselves, he said.

The governor reiterated the challenges faced by his administration amidst the global economic hardships and ongoing security concerns.

The economic hardship we face is not exclusive to Nigeria but a global problem. We are witnessing food crises all over the world due to the crisis in Ukraine and the global economic meltdown, Mr Zulum said.

Highlighting the achievements of his administration in security and agricultural access, Mr Zulum emphasised the need for self-sufficiency and community resilience.

Almost everybody in Mafa local government has access to their agricultural lands  I want to commend the federal government for supporting the Borno State government in resolving the security situation, he stated.

Governor Zulum warned those considering leaving the camps not to do so.

Anyone who is trying to sabotage the administration will be dealt with accordingly. But for those willing to stay or return to the bush, as long as they feel safe there, they have the freedom to make that choice, Mr Zulum emphasized.

It was reported by some Nigerian newspapers days ago that some women in Dikwa town took to the streets threatening to join Boko Haram terrorists where they hope for better means of sustenance.

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Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Jet2 implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 25 shareholders own 49% of the company

Insiders have been selling lately

Every investor in Jet2 plc (LON:JET2) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 66% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Jet2, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Jet2

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Jet2?

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.

Jet2 already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Jet2's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. It would appear that 5.2% of Jet2 shares are controlled by hedge funds. That's interesting, because hedge funds can be quite active and activist. Many look for medium term catalysts that will drive the share price higher. Silver Point Capital, L.P. is currently the largest shareholder, with 5.2% of shares outstanding. Gobi Capital LLC is the second largest shareholder owning 4.9% of common stock, and JP Morgan Asset Management holds about 4.7% of the company stock.

Story continues

A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are 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 Jet2

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 data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Jet2 plc in their own names. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around UK5.5m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 28% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Jet2. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

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. Take risks for example - Jet2 has 2 warning signs (and 1 which is significant) we think you should know about.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The police in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria, say they have arrested a 45-year-old man for allegedly stealing 18 bags of rice in the state.

The suspect, Joseph Nnamani, was said to have stolen the bags of rice after presenting himself as a philanthropist intending to distribute the rice for charity at a church on 14 February.

The police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the 18 bags of rice were valued at about N400,000.

How the suspect allegedly stole the rice

Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, said Mr Nnamani, on 14 February being Valentines Day, went to an unnamed church in Ogui Area of the state from where he phoned the rice seller and requested the 18 bags of rice.

The police spokesperson said the unnamed rice seller, consequently, supplied the 18 bags of rice and unsuspectingly followed Mr Nnamani to a bank to receive his payment through a transfer.

He said in the course of carrying out the payment, the suspect secretly left the bank and went back to the church and made away with the bags of rice to an unknown destination.

The suspect, however, could not run or hide for so long, as the police operatives, upon receiving the report, embarked on an intelligence-driven investigation, which led to his arrest on 20 February 2024, at Emene, Enugu, Mr Ndukwe said.

The police spokesperson said eight of the 18 bags of rice were recovered from the suspect after he had re-packaged and sold the other bags at Oye Emene Market in the state.

He said the suspect will be arraigned as soon as investigations are concluded just as he asked other business owners who may have been defrauded by the suspect to report to the police.

The (Nigerian) citizens, particularly businessmen and women, are hereby advised to always be security conscious and wary of whom and how they transact in such circumstances to avoid falling prey to fraudulent suspects like Nnamani, he stated.

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The Vice-Chancellor of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, in Kogi, Abdulrahman Salawu, says the institution makes use of local hunters to help ensure security around its premises.

Mr Salawu made this known to members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors who were in the state for a Standing Committee Meeting from 23 to 24 February.

He said that the measure had been successful in helping to ward off insecurity at their 400-hectare facility, which was in an area once notorious for crimes.

The VC said that the local hunters know the nooks and crannies of the area and so, can safeguard the area.

He said they were professional in handling their assignment, as they were trained and complemented by a private security firm to keep the facility safe.

No incident at all has been recorded to the glory of God, he said.

Mr Salawu said the university took off from a site inherited from the polytechnic in the state, and the new site, when completed, would house five faculties that had infrastructures that were nearing completion.

He said that the university was also working toward starting the faculty of medicine by the 2025/2026 academic session.

As a prelude, he said that it was also working to begin four programmes, nursing, anatomy, physiology and medical laboratory science, by the 2023/2024 academic session, once necessary regulatory approvals are finalised.

He said that the university had a student population of about 3,000, but had only a 180-bed space hostel facility for now.

Mr Salawu said it was on the verge of flagging off the construction of a 400-bed space facility, to cater for more students.

He said that the school was also working with the private sector to attract more facilities

Members of the NGE team also visited some other facilities executed under the administration of the former governor, Yahaya Bello.

The NGE President, Eze Anaba, urged the current Governor of the state, Usman Ododo, to consolidate on the good work of his predecessor.

Other facilities visited include the Reference Hospital in Okene, Ganaja flyover, GYB Model Secondary School, Adankolo, and Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja.

Mr Anaba said the Reference Hospital in Okene could help the country in the area of medical tourism.

Democracy is about the people and the facilities we have seen, including the network of roads.

I am commending the state government for what my team and I have seen so far.

From a laymans perspective, and what the doctors have told us and what we saw with our eyes; it is hugely impressive.

The MRI machine and other laboratory equipment are very impressive. I have to commend the Kogi Government for making this available.

I would advise the people to put this to test and if this works, they will save Nigeria huge sums of money.

The Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo; and his health counterpart, Adams Abdulazeez, thanked the editors for finding time to inspect the projects.

They encouraged the editors to tell Nigerians exactly what they had seen in Kogi State.

(NAN)

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The acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, and two other officials are enmeshed in a controversy of overstaying in service, after putting in more than eight years in the directorate cadre of the agency.

Their continued stay in office is said to be against the nations newly revised Public Service Rules, 2021, which came into effect in July 2023, and a subsequent directive of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan.

The two other concerned officials are the agencys Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Academics, Noel Saliu, and the Director in charge of the Establishment of Private Universities, Constance Goddy-Nnadi.

While Mr Maiyaki and Ms Goddy-Nnady were appointed substantive directors on 16 October 2014, Mr Saliu was appointed on 4 November 2013.

Revised PSR

On 27 July 2023, the civil service boss, Mrs Yemi-Esan, issued a circular addressed to Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation, and Heads of Extra Ministerial Departments, notifying them of the implementation of the nations revised Public Service Rules, 2021.

The circular, with reference: HCSF/SPSO/268/T3/2/37, is titled: The Revised Public Service Rules (PSR).

Part of the new revised PSR is the tenure policy with reference number 020909, which notes that all government employees who have attained the position of director or its equivalent must retire upon serving for eight years.

A director or its equivalent by whatever nomenclature it is described in MDAs shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight years on the post, the PSR reads in part.

The circular from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation that mandated implementation also reads in part: Following the approval of the revised Public Service Rules (PSR) by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the 27th of September 2021 and the subsequent unveiling during the Public Service Lecture in commemoration of the 2023 Civil Service Week, the PSR has become operational with effect from 27th July, 2023.

The circular, therefore, advised the permanent secretaries and other concerned officials to ensure full compliance with all provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR), 2021.

Policys long history

Upon his appointment as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in June 2009 by the administration of the late President Umaru YarAdua, Stephen Oronsayes first task was the review of the then-existing public service rules and the introduction of eight-year-tenure for directors and permanent secretaries.

PREMIUM TIMES findings revealed that the policy was introduced to address two key issues  stagnation and inefficiency with the Federal workforce.

According to multiple sources, it was observed that civil servants were found to be doctoring their ages in order to stay longer in service and that many officers spent as long as 15 years serving as directors.

The situation led to agitations by many workers who were stagnated as either deputy directors or in other senior positions simply because there was no vacancy. Some of them knew that those holding on to the position of directors were long due for retirement but had doctored their ages. So that was one of the reasons for the policy, a retired director in one of the ministries who does not want to be quoted, told this newspaper.

There was also the problem of inefficiency on the part of the officials because the appointment as directors and permanent secretaries was usually based on politics and connections. So many who got appointed but lacked expertise remained in office for as long as 20 years. The culture hindered efficiency.

However, there are those who still believe that the revised policy conflicts with the mandatory 60 years retirement age for civil servants provided for in the same rules.

Meanwhile, when the policy was introduced, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that between October 2009 and 2010 about 15 permanent secretaries and many directors were retired.

One of those affected by the policy at the time was a Deputy Executive Secretary at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Ignatius Uvah, a professor, who compulsorily retired having spent more than eight years as director.

Mr Uvahs case has been a potent precedent of reference in the argument that both Messrs Maiyaki and Saliu, despite their positions as acting executive secretary and deputy executive secretary, respectively, are caught by the tenure limit provision in the PSR.

While the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan continued with the policy, it remains unclear why it was suspended by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Sources however linked the decision to what they described as recklessness common with Mr Buharis administration.

Maiyaki, others stay on

Meanwhile, seven months after the directive by Mrs Yemi-Esan, the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has refused to ensure compliance with the directive by the NUC officials as the trio has continued to stay in office.

Mr Maiyaki currently supervises the commission since the former Executive Secretary (ES), Abubakar Rasheed, resigned and returned to the classroom.

Though Mr Maiyaki, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, could not be appointed as acting NUCs executive secretary since only the President is empowered to make such an appointment, he has been permitted by the ministry to continue to oversee the administration of the agency.

Mr Maiyaki, who joined the agency in 1993 as Personnel/Administrative Officer I, became a Deputy Director in charge of Special Duties and Protocol, and Chief of Staff to the Executive Secretary in November 2009.

He was appointed a substantive director by the agency in October 2014. He has, therefore, spent nine years and two months in that position.

On his part, Mr Saliu, who joined the service of NUC in June 1990 as a Research Officer II, became the Director in charge of the Inspection and Monitoring Department (DIM) in October 2013. This implies that he has served in this capacity for 10 years and three months.

He was appointed the Deputy Executive Secretary, (Academics), by the former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, a position he still occupies.

Meanwhile, Mrs Goddy-Nnadi joined the agency in March 1993 as a Personnel Officer I. She rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Director in 2009 and Director in 2014. She has, therefore, also spent more than nine years in office as a director.

Murmuring at NUC

Since July 2023 when the directive by the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation had been issued, many young officers working with the agency had looked up to the three senior officials to do the needful.

They believed their retirement, if implemented, would allow relevant officers to be duly promoted and occupy positions meant for their cadres.

One of the officials at the education ministry, NUCs supervising authority, expressed surprise that Mr Maiyaki and his colleagues have refused to retire as mandated by the rules.

So I am surprised these NUC officials are still in office. I didnt even know they had been directors for such a long time, the source, who craved anonymity, said.

Meanwhile, a widely circulated anonymous protest document insisted that Messrs Maiyaki and Saliu, by virtue of the nomenclature of their current positions of acting executive director and deputy executive secretary, respectively, cannot claim to be exempted from the tenure policy.

The unsigned document reads in part: The refusal to implement the tenure policy at NUC is generating a lot of bad blood and acrimony amongst staff. Part of the argument by a certain cabal at NUC is that Mr Maiyaki and Dr Saliu are not affected since they are deputy executive secretaries.

This is completely untrue. First, the revised PSR is clear that it affects directors or its equivalent by whatever nomenclature it is described in MDAs. Second, the first implementation of the policy at NUC led to the retirement of then Deputy Executive Secretary, Prof. I.I. Uvah of blessed memories. Third, there is no other rank defined between Directors and Permanent Secretaries mentioned in the revised PSR, thus Directors or its equivalent by whatever nomenclature it is described in MDAs covers all officers from Directors and between Permanent Secretaries.

The statement added that if the affected officials are in doubt of the interpretation of the new policy, the least he (Mr Maiyaki) could do is to seek clearance from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as to the applicability of the policy to himself, and this he has not done.

Other MDAs comply

Meanwhile, while the education ministry has refused to enforce compliance by officials of NUC, other ministries including those of Finance and Health, immediately directed their personnel to comply with the directive.

A memo addressed to directors and heads of units in the finance ministry, which was dated 3 August 2023, and signed by the Director of Administration, Mariya RufaI, advised concerned staf members of the ministry to comply with the directive by the head of civil service.

The memo reads in part: All Directors (SGL 17) who have spent eight (8) years and above on the post are by this Internal Circular directed to submit their notice of retirement in line with section 020909 of the revised PSR effective from the date stated thereof.

Accordingly, all affected Directors are advised to commence the process of documentation with the Administration Department for compulsory retirement by virtue of the section under reference.

A similar memo, which was dated 4 August 2023, was also issued by the Federal Ministry of Health (now Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare), urging its affected workers to comply.

NUC keeps mum

NUC has refused to comment on the development, even as it ignored a Freedom of Information request letter sent to it by PREMIUM TIMES.

The agencys Public Affairs Director, Haruna Lawal, on many occasions, promised to speak to the leadership of the organisation on the matter before he could make a categorical statement.

When Mr Lawal was first contacted, he said: I am not aware of the development. I dont know when each of them was appointed. But maybe, what I will do is When are you going to publish the report? If itll reach Monday, maybe Ill find out and then call you.

When informed of a letter earlier sent to the agency seeking information on the subject, Mr Lawal requested an acknowledged copy of the letter, promising to revert on Monday, 5 February.

Please kindly share the letter with me and then on Monday, Ill find out from the Chief Executive. If hes not around, Ill ask my colleague who is the Director, Human Resources, to find out so I dont make any mistake.

However, when called on Monday as requested, Mr Lawal said the acting 6.2 executive secretary was briefed and that a proper meeting would hold the following day. He pledged to call our reporter on Tuesday.

Mr Lawal has, however, failed to call back since then and he has also refused to pick the calls made to his phone.

Meanwhile, calls to Mr Maiyaki were not answered and messages sent to his phone were also not replied to as of the time of filing this report.

A message that was delivered to Mr Maiyakis known phone line on WhatsApp was also neither acknowledged nor replied to.

Buck-passing

Meanwhile, both the Federal Ministry of Education, the supervisory authority for NUC, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), the circulars issuer, have engaged in buck-passing over the matter.

When contacted, the immediate-past Director of Press and Public Relations at the education ministry, Ben Goong, said the OHCSF should be contacted for follow-up on the matter.

Mr Goong, who was just transferred from the ministry, said the PSR and its implementation are matters domiciled in the office of the OHCSF.

But the Director of Communications at the OHCSF, Muhammed Ahmed, could not be reached on the phone, and he was not in the office when our reporter checked. He also did not reply to a message sent to him.

However, a top official of the ministry, who asked not want to be named for lacking the authority to speak publicly on the matter, said the ball is in the court of the education ministry.

The source said since the office had sent out a circular directing the permanent secretaries and other concerned authorities to take action, it was not the responsibility of the office to monitor individual officers.

Do you know how many directors or permanent secretaries we have? How could the office be monitoring each officer that is overstaying? That should be the responsibility of the affected MDAs, the source said.

OSGF reacts

When contacted, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, confirmed that Mrs Goddy-Nnadi has overstayed in office having spent about 10 years as a director.

Mr Imohiosen, who said he sent the officials details to the appropriate department for response, reported that since Mrs Goddy-Nnady commenced her career at NUC in March, 1993, as a Personnel Officer I and rose through the ranks to become a director in 2014, she was due for retirement.

From the profile of Director Establishment of Private Universities above, she has overstayed her service going by the PSR, because she is supposed to have retired by now since she became a Director in 2014 (almost 10 years as a Director), the spokesman said.

However, Mr Imohiosen said he could not obtain a categorical response on the position of both Messrs Maiyaki and Saliu who are deputy executive secretaries.

He also directed our reporter to both the education ministry and the office of the head of the civil service of the federation.

When confronted with the fact of a former deputy executive secretary who was affected by the policy, Mr Imohiosen said that was why he referred our reporter to the two government offices for appropriate interpretation.

He said: Your argument sounds logical and I think it will be appropriate for the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to handle this, he said.

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.

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says the decision to lift sanctions on Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso was based on the need to maintain regional unity and security.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said this at the end of the extraordinary session of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that the authority took note of the period of Lent and the approaching month of Ramadan and the impact on citizens, adding that pleas were also received from prominent leaders including retired General Yakubu Gowon.

The authority takes note that the withdrawal will have political, social, socio-economic, financial and institutional implications for the three countries as well as for ECOWAS as a region.

The authority recalls that within the framework of regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime, the three countries benefited from about 100 million US dollars mobilised by UMR within the context of ECOWAS plan of action against terrorism.

Moreover, some funds allocation, about 7.5 million U.S. dollars is being made towards supporting the three countries in acquiring the equipment to help their fight against terrorism.

The withdrawal will affect security cooperation in terms of sharing intelligence and participation in regional counterterrorism initiatives, such as the Accra initiative, and the Multinational Joint Task Force, he said.

Mr Touray added that the withdrawal of the countries from the sub-regional bloc would lead to diplomatic and political isolation on the international scene where the countries have obtained support for their candidates in the contest for international positions.

The authority recognises that the withdrawal will automatically affect the immigration status of the citizens, as they may be required to obtain visas to travel around the region.

Citizens may no longer be able to reside or set up businesses under ECOWAS arrangement and may be subject to diverse national laws.

The three countries will cease to use ECOWAS passports across biometric national identity cards, and the brown card vehicle insurance.

The authority recognises that the three-member states represent 17.4 per cent of the regions 425 million population.

Even though they represent 10% of the regions GDP, their departure will constitute a reduction of the market size of ECOWAS.

He said that the sanctions were lifted to promote trade and benefits derived from several regional projects and programmes including the Regional Food Security Reserve.

The regional support programme for powerful pastoralism in the Sahel, which is being funded by the World Bank to the tune of 215 million US dollars is also a project that benefits the three countries.

The three countries also benefit from the Sahel regional irrigation support programme, which is being funded by the World Bank to the tune of 103 million US dollars.

The three regional food systems resilient support programme in the amount of 230 million, funded by the World Bank is also benefiting the three countries.

West African single identity and regional integration and inclusion project is another programme that the three countries benefit from.

He said that other projects the countries benefit from are the ECOWAS regional electricity market, the West African Power Pool project, which links member states to a regional electricity grid for improved access to electricity.

He said not lifting the sanction would result in the halt or the suspension of all ECOWAS projects and programmes worth more than 500 million US dollars.

Touray said that the projects collectively valued at approximately 321.6 million U.S. dollars.

Reviewing the implications at the institutional level, the authority notes that the withdrawal will not only require the closure of four regional entities in Burkina Faso, two regional bodies in Mali and one regional office in Asia.

It will also affect the job security of some 130 ECOWAS staff who are citizens of the three countries. Currently, 77 staff members are from Burkina Faso, 23 are from Mali, and 32 are from Niger.

(NAN)

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Gunmen have killed a pharmacist in Imo State, south-east Nigeria.

The victim, Henry Ogbuji, was killed on Friday evening by gunmen who abducted his elder brother in the state.

The incident happened in Irete, a community in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.

How it happened

Sources told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday night that Mr Ogbuji got back home from work and was told that the abductors just left with his elder brother, Sunny Ogbuji.

Enraged, the deceased pursued the hoodlums and encountered them at a junction where the abductors shot him in the chest and he died instantly.

The slain pharmacist owned a pharmacy shop in Owerri, the state capital.

Some residents blamed the victim for going after armed hoodlums.

The police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday night.

READ ALSO:

Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said the divisional police officer in charge of Ogbaku in Mbaitoli Local Government Area in the state mobilised some police operatives to the area upon receipt of a distress call.

The police spokesperson said, that on arrival at the scene, the operatives found Mr Ogbuji laying on the ground in a pool of his blood with severe bullet injuries on his chest.

The operatives immediately rushed him to Federal Medical Center, Owerri where he was confirmed dead and thereafter (the corpse) deposited at the morgue for preservation, he said.

He said the police in the state are investigating the incident to track down the killers.

Accordingly, adequate security measures have been emplaced to forestall future occurrences.

Meanwhile, some residents told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday that the abducted victim escaped from the abductors while they were shooting at his brother.

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State Police resurrects

After several unsuccessful attempts in the past to pass bills to create state police, positions may be shifting towards the legislation as federal lawmakers, who were once opponents of the legislation, seem to have had a change of mind.

On Tuesday, lawmakers engaged in a lengthy debate on a constitutional alteration bill, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to remove the police from the exclusive purview of the federal government and transfer it to the concurrent list.

Remarkably, the exercise came a few days after President Bola Tinubu and state governors agreed to set in motion the establishment of the police force to enable the states more powers to tackle the lingering insecurity in the country.

The debate on the bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu and 16 others, was different from what we had two years ago during the last alteration exercise when lawmakers had a standoff with state governors over the bill.

Lawmakers, who had been apprehensive about the potential abuse of state police by governors, made a 180-degree turn by supporting the bill. Except for a few expressing concerns, none of them outrightly opposed the bill.

Let me confess, in the 7th and 8th Assembly, I championed killing this bill. Our reason then was that state governors would use the bill to intimidate and harass political opponents. But with the situation we are in now, we have gone far beyond that. We are now concerned about the primary purpose of government, said Aliyu Madaki, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from Kano State.

He added, As we speak today, Nigeria is on fire everywhere. There is a lack of security, there is a lack of prosperity.

With public opinion shifting towards state police amid the nations lingering insecurity, lawmakers appeared to have fallen in line, with many wanting to be seen on live TV supporting the bill. However, some concerns remain, as expressed by Sada Soli, a member from Katsina State.

Mr Soli raised important issues: abuse by governors, fiscal sustainability of states and social-political instability in some of those states.

About 21 states or so in this country are caught up in the quagmire of socio-political, ethno-religious misunderstanding. Put the case of establishing state police in these 21 states. I can give you examples. How do you create and balance the establishment of state police in the trajectory of the socio-political situation of Plateau State today, Benue State or Taraba State?

Some of the states we are clamouring for the establishment of state police are not economically viable. Policing is capital-intensive. You must address the social and political issues in the state. Today, you and I know the influence of ruling parties in states. There was a time when a governor refused to allow the landing of a plane of a presidential candidate. It could be used as a force of coercion, he said.

However, the arguments raised by Mr Soli are not new or strong enough to derail the momentum of the bill. Nonetheless, its not only Mr Soli that has these concerns.

The bill also enjoyed the protection of Mr Kalu, who presided over the session in the absence of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. Mr Kalu literally suppressed any scrutiny or dissenting views. And at the committee stage, the bill would probably enjoy the protection of the deputy speaker, who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Review.

Kalu saving Tajudeen from constitutional blunder

There is an obvious trend emerging in the House. Speaker Tajudeen has obvious inadequacies in legislative procedure and norms, an area his deputy seems to have an edge.

Mr Tajudeen, the first speaker in 12 years who is not a lawyer, often struggles to guide the House on rules and procedure.

His inadequacy when it comes to legislative procedure and norms was on full display two weeks ago when he allowed a motion seeking to probe the use of allocations to states through the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to pass.

The House, following a motion moved by Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos), mandated its Committees on Special Duties, National Planning and Economic Development, and Inter-Governmental Affairs to look into state spending and the utilisation of the increased allocation from FAAC.

Speaker Tajudeen, who presided on that day, allowed the motion to pass, despite its inconsistency with the Constitution on the separation of powers between the federal government and the states.

He did not allow debate on the motion, despite protests from some lawmakers on the floor of the House. The House was later forced to bring a motion on rescission following a protest by Bob Solomon, a lawmaker from Rivers State.

Following the motion on recession, Mr Ademorin made a futile attempt to justify the motion, but Mr Kalu was able to guide the House during the debate on the impropriety of the motion. Not only that, he was able to interpret the law, notably the constitution, something that Speaker Tajudeen should have done in the first place.

It is important we put some things very clear. The provision of section 90 of the constitution is very clear regarding the responsibility of the State Houses of Assembly. The responsibility of the House of Representatives as stated in section 88 is very clear. And with due respect to section 169 as referred to by Umoh PHD, emphasis must be made to sub-paragraphs two, three, and four, Mr Kalu stated.

He went further, I think that our power stops at the distribution. The emphasis is we determine what the revenue formula should be in this way. We would determine the terms. Our job stops at FAAC; if we have to do more functions, we have the Public Account Committee to look into the disbursement principle. Anything beyond that would be going against the doctrine of separation of power with regard to the levels of government, where the functions of the state House of Assembly should not be usurped by the House of Representatives. It is their duties, he said.

Tuesdays event further highlights the differences between Messrs Tajudeen and his deputy. The former uses speed to conceal his lack of grasp of issues, while the latter is ready to debate issues.

But the effectiveness of Mr Kalu is largely subject to the discretion of the speaker. Its a slippery political terrain that Mr Kalu may wish people were not taking note that he is indeed outshining a so-called master.

Glowing tribute to NaAbba

During the week, precisely on Thursday, the Green Chamber was thrown open to former members of the National Assembly to pay homage to a former Speaker, Ghali NaAbba.

Mr NaAbba became the speaker in 1999 after the disgraceful exit of Salisu Buhari and brought stability to the House.

The chamber was converted to a memorial hall, as former speakers Femi Gbajabiamila and Aminu Masari paid glowing tributes to their departed lawmaker.

Several other principal officers and colleagues of the ex-speaker spoke about him in admiration.

One major highlight of the tribute was when Mr Kalu looked at his speaker and shouted, Your Excellency, I am your deputy, and I want to say you are a good man. I will not wait until we meet in heavenwe have a long way to tell you that you are a good man.

In a world where much reverence is given to the admonition do not speak ill of the dead, Mr NaAbba indeed earned the platitude and the tributes.

Lawmakers halt hike in law school student fees

The lawmakers also deliberated on the proposed hike in the fees paid by students at the Nigerian Law School.

This followed a motion brought by Kingsley Chinda, a PDP lawmaker from Rivers State, who complained that the proposed increment of the fee by 60 per cent, by the Council of Legal Education, is unjustifiable considering the economic hardship facing the nation.

Unless immediate steps are taken to strike a balance between the Councils need to provide quality services and the prospective students abilities to afford an increment, the country will see a high decrease in the number of lawyers in the next call to Bar ceremony, therefore leading to a higher national unemployment rate as those unable to attend law school cannot work as legal practitioners, Ginger Onwusibe, who presented the motion on behalf of Mr Chinda, said.

Consequently, the lower chamber asked the Council to put the plan to increase the fee on hold. It further mandated its Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to explore solutions to the issues and report within 14 days.

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it is aware of plans by state-sponsored persons to attack its rallies scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Should such attacks occur, the NLC said, it would order its members to totally down tools and possibly bring the Nigerian economy to a halt.

 if we are attacked there will be a total shutdown via withdrawal of services by workers. Let no one be deceived, we and other deprived Nigerians cannot easily be intimidated, NLC President Joe Ajaero wrote in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Ajaero named a group which it said: is one of the emergency groups put together, funded, promoted and remote-controlled by government to cause violence against our members for electing to peacefully protest against the hunger in the land.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the NLC scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday to protest the cost of living crisis in the country caused by government policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira.

The workers union accused the government of failing to honour its promises to ensure policies and programmes are put in place for workers to limit the impact of the petrol subsidy removal. While food prices have gone up over 200 per cent since the Bola Tinubu administration came on board, public workers salaries have yet to be increased despite the government setting up committees to work out an increase.

The government has appealed to the labour unions to shelve the strike, saying it is working hard to limit the negative impact of its policies on workers. The police have also cautioned that they would allow peaceful protests but they would not allow such protests to disturb people who are not interested in taking part in it. However, the NLC insisted on the strike.

In his Sunday statement, Mr Ajaero reiterated that the labour congress and its affiliate unions would embark on its protest despite the alleged threat of disruption.

We would want the State to know that the solution to our horrible economic situation and hunger is not by suppressing peaceful dissent or inflicting violence on peacefully protesting citizens as the government did in Minna and other cities where its agents tear-gassed and beat up women before locking them up for raising their voice against hunger. It does not lie in the deployment of State-sponsored terror. The pangs of hunger cannot be cowed by bullets or tear gas, he wrote.

Read Mr Ajaeros full statement below.

AS THE STATE PREPARES TO UNLEASH VIOLENCE ON US

We would want to inform Nigerians that the State has perfected plans to attack our peaceful rallies across the country.

One of the groups being primed to attack our peaceful rallies is by a nebulous name, Nigeria Civil Society Forum (NCSF).

NCSF is one of the emergency groups put together, funded, promoted and remote-controlled by government to cause violence against our members for electing to peacefully protest against the hunger in the land.

We would want the State to know that the solution to our horrible economic situation and hunger is not by suppressing peaceful dissent or inflicting violence on peacefully protesting citizens as the government did in Minna and other cities where its agents tear-gassed and beat up women before locking them up for raising their voice against hunger. It does not lie in the deployment of State-sponsored terror. The pangs of hunger cannot be cowed by bullets or tear gas.

In light of this, we at the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society allies are moving ahead with our protest rallies against economic hardship and insecurity in line with the decision of the National Executive Council.

As citizens, we have a fundamental right to peaceful protest and history bears us witness that our protests are always peaceful except in instances of State-engineered violence.

In light of this, we advise the State to put on its thinking cap and find solutions to the pains it continues to cause the people instead of further dehumanising them.

However, if it is irrevocably set on the path of violence against us and other peace-loving Nigerians, it will be making a costly mistake because if we are attacked there will be a total shutdown via withdrawal of services by workers. Let no one be deceived, we and other deprived Nigerians cannot easily be intimidated.

Lest those in power now who may have forgotten be reminded, we faced a more resourceful and resilient adversary in order to have democracy. All we are saying now is that; let there be food for the people, _let the people live in safety, let the people live a life of dignity devoid of suffocating IMF/World Bank economic policies.

Once again we advise those waiting in the wings to unleash violence on us that this is not about the NLC but about Nigerians who are saying enough is enough, about a people who have resolved not to be further pushed into the pit of misery and hopelessness, while a few live in obscene luxury at our collective expense.

We are by this statement calling the attention of the international human rights body and the governments of the African Union and the United Nations that the right of the people to peacefully protest and demand for freedom from economic slavery and hardship is being threatened by the Nigerian State.

We however remain resolute, determined and prepared to express our pain and grief in a peaceful manner as Nigerians come 27th and 28th of February 2024.

Comrade Joe Ajaero

President

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Sunday said that two of its transmission towers, T377 and T378, along the GombeDamaturu 330kV transmission line were vandalised.

A statement by the TCN General Manager Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, noted that the act, perpetrated by insurgents, resulted in a load loss of approximately 5MW.

She said the vandalisation of the line occurred on 23 February.

At approximately 9:35 p.m. yesterday, the Gombe  Damaturu 330kV transmission line experienced a trip. Following initial checks, TCN engineers from the Bauchi regional office attempted the restoration of the line but it tripped again, prompting the dispatch of TCNs linesmen and security operatives to trace the fault. The team then discovered the two collapsed towers, T377 and T378, Ms Mbah said.

In the interim, she said TCN has arranged to temporarily supply electricity to Damaturu from the Potiskum Transmission Substation.

Meanwhile, she added that arrangements are underway to mobilize contractors that will re-erect the vandalized transmission towers and restring the 330kV line affected by the incident.

TCN condemns this act of sabotage and is again calling on relevant authorities to intensify efforts in the protection of power infrastructures.

We are committed to working diligently to expedite the restoration process and minimize the impact of this unfortunate incident on the power supply to the affected areas, she said.

In recent times, vandalism of the transmission infrastructures and distribution equipment has been a common occurrence.

Earlier in December last year, the TCN said that its Gwagwalada-Kukwaba-Apo 132kV Transmission line 1 had been vandalised between Towers 23 and Tower 25.

Ms Mbah said the vandalisation of the line is suspected to have taken place at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, 10 December.

On 22 December 2023, the TCN said one of its towers around Katsaita village in Yobe State was vandalised.

The company said the vandalisation brought down the 330kV transmission tower which pulled down tower T373 along the same transmission line route.

The TCN had earlier in February said that its tower number 388 along the Jos-Bauchi 132kV Single Circuit transmission line was vandalised.

The company said the vandalisation of the line is suspected to have occurred on the 1st of February, at about 10 p.m.

The company explained that the incident led to a power outage in Yobe and Borno states.

See photos below;

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It is courteous to wish the new Justices credible and successful tenures as Supremes but that wish can only come to fruition in a court that is administered humanely and is not in deficit of public trust. On both counts, Nigerias Supreme Court currently has a lot of work to do.

As Nigerians prepared for the holiday season to end in 2023, the National Assembly in Abuja on 21 December hurriedly undertook and voted for the confirmation of 11 nominees for appointment to the Supreme Court. The installation of the new Justices in this elevated judicial role was delayed as the Supreme Court worked to wind down the appellate season on petitions from the 2023 elections, some of which challenged decisions involving a number of the new nominees to the Supreme Court.

On 26 February, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, will administer oaths on the 11 new Justices of the Supreme Court. This represents the largest single complement of new intake to the bench of the court, beating the previous high watermark of eight justices who took their seats in the court in November 2020. It will also mark the first time in its history that the court will have the full complement of 22 Justices (21 Justices and the Chief Justice) as provided for by Nigerias 1999 Constitution.

This situation will not last long though. If the court is not to suffer depletion in its numbers again, attention will have to be paid to the factors that got it to where it has been, to begin with.

19 months after swearing in the eight new Justices of the Supreme Court in 2020, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad abdicated as CJN, toppled in an unprecedented mutiny against what clearly was an extreme case of judicial maladministration, if not malfeasance. He was the second CJN to be forced out of the office for being blemished, unlike Caesars wife. The avoidable and premature loss of two Chief Justices in less than three years is not just careless; it is a pathology.

But this was not the only reason why the court was run down in both the numbers of its Justices and in its institutional reputation. 10 months after his swearing in as a Justice of the Supreme Court, Samuel Oseji died in September 2021. Six months earlier, Sylvester Ngwuta, one of the senior-most Justices of the Court, had died in March of the same year. 22 months after the passing of Justice Oseji, Chima Nweze, another Justice of the same court, died at the end July 2023. That brought to three the number of Justices of Nigerias Supreme Court who died over a period of 27 months.

It is the case that an overwhelming majority of those who rise to become Justices of the Supreme Court in Nigeria get there north of the average life expectancy for the country. That notwithstanding, it remains the case that a situation in which the country suffers the death of a Justice of the Supreme Court at an average rate of one in every nine months is symptomatic of workplace dysfunction of the most morbid kind. The court must look at how it replaces departing Justices and even more at how it organises and manages both work and wellbeing among them.

At least two successive attempts to appoint Justices, before the latest, were aborted because of low politics unbefitting of both the process and the institution of the Supreme Court. It is to be hoped that the process of judicial elevations to the Supreme Court bench will become more transparent and less prone to base politics of the sort the court has recently endured.

Lets begin with replacement and appointment. Over the next three years, the court is guaranteed to lose at least five of the current complement to natural attrition. Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola will retire in August this year. In September 2026, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Saulawa is due to retire, to be followed in quick succession by Uwani Abba Aji two months later, Helen Ogunwumiju in March 2027 and Jonah Adah three months later.

These appointments to the Supreme Court will be the first since 2020. The only new appointment of any significance affecting the court was the replacement of Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad by the incumbent in 2022. Indeed, no vacancy has been filled in the court since Sidi Bage resigned in March 2019 to become the Emir of Lafia. Since then, in addition to the Justices lost to death, at least seven other Justices have retired from the court. There was no excuse for the delay and dithering that followed those retirements.

At least two successive attempts to appoint Justices, before the latest, were aborted because of low politics unbefitting of both the process and the institution of the Supreme Court. It is to be hoped that the process of judicial elevations to the Supreme Court bench will become more transparent and less prone to base politics of the sort the court has recently endured. That will guarantee that replacements are both timely and fit for purpose.

Next is the health and wellbeing on the court. Anthonia Ochei reported that although retirement and resignation are reasons for which a judicial officer may leave active service, more often than not, justices of the Supreme Court have been forced to leave office as a result of ill health that have most times resulted in death. For most of the past decade, Nigerias Supreme Court has laboured under a crippling burden of case work matched by an equally crippling loss of judicial personnel. These two trends may be related.

The Supreme Court is overwhelmingly a court of last appellate instance. It receives a few cases in its original jurisdiction as the only court empowered to decide disputes between states of the federation or between states and the federation.

Supreme Court Justices insist that they can only be saved by a constitutional amendment limiting the kinds of cases that end up in their dockets. Such an amendment may no doubt help but the Justices are not as helpless as they imply. Better court administration can help. Fuller digitisation of the court and its library could also assist with the speed of judicial conferencing, court administration and decision-making.

The doctrinal position of the court to date is essentially that it has no control over the appeals that can be filed with it. Under the constitution, all persons under a penalty of death are entitled to appeal to the Supreme Court. No one could possibly quarrel with this.

Appeals also go to the Supreme Court in relation to disputes concerning presidential and governorship elections. A majority of voters in Kano and Plateau States will agree with this, surely. These account for only a fraction of the appeals that currently burden the dockets of the Supreme Court, but for an inordinate proportion of judicial stress because they all get priority and must be decided on a short judicial calendar.

Litigants who have appeals on questions of law arising from decisions of the Court of Appeal can also proceed to the Supreme Court, irrespective of how trifling it may be. Last September, retiring senior Justice, Amina Augie, complained about how the court once sat on an appeal from a state in a case involving 12 burnt goats. A case of 12 goats could, nevertheless, raise legal issues of extraordinary significance, although that did not appear to have been the case according to the source of complaint in the courts conference, as the retiring Justice reported. The dockets of the court are overrun by interlocutory appeals.

Supreme Court Justices insist that they can only be saved by a constitutional amendment limiting the kinds of cases that end up in their dockets. Such an amendment may no doubt help but the Justices are not as helpless as they imply. Better court administration can help. Fuller digitisation of the court and its library could also assist with the speed of judicial conferencing, court administration and decision-making. Properly administered judicial clerkships can relieve the Justices of some of the tedium of research and writing. And they can also interpose by doctrine or rules a summary procedure (without the need for or necessity of hearing) for appeals that are clearly without bases or justification, other than attrition or time wasting.

It is courteous to wish the new Justices credible and successful tenures as Supremes but that wish can only come to fruition in a court that is administered humanely and is not in deficit of public trust. On both counts, Nigerias Supreme Court currently has a lot of work to do.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu.

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The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Adegoke Fayoade, on Sunday, charged intending protesters not to violate the rights of others while carrying out their protest for any reason.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had scheduled a nationwide strike for 27 Feb and 28 Feb to protest what they called the hardship currently being faced by Nigerians.

They charged that the hardship was inflicted on Nigerians following the hike in prices of goods and services consequent upon the removal of fuel subsidy and the free fall of the naira.

The TUC pulled out of the scheduled protest on Saturday, however, warning that it might lead to anarchy.

A statement issued in Ikeja by the police spokesperson in Lagos State, Benjamin Hundeyin, quoted Mr Fayoade as warning intending protesters that anyone found infringing on the rights of others would be dealt with lawfully.

The police boss advised against any action capable of grounding commercial activities and obstructing the free flow of traffic in Lagos State.

Mr Fayoade assured residents of Lagos State that necessary security measures had been put in place to protect lives and property, with or without any protest.

He said officers and men had been deployed to ensure the free flow of traffic and ensure a peaceful environment for the conduct of lawful engagements.

Police will live up to the mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental rights of others.

Police enjoin all peace-loving residents of Lagos State to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation.

Adequate security assets have been strategically deployed to ensure the safety and security of all, Mr Fayoade assured in the statement. (NAN)

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Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

A total of 11 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

If you want to know who really controls Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 70% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings?

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.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Story continues

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 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Capital Research and Management Company is currently the largest shareholder, with 18% of shares outstanding. With 12% and 5.7% of the shares outstanding respectively, The Vanguard Group, Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders.

Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 50% of the ownership is controlled by the top 11 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are 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 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. in their own names. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own US$48m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 29% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors.

I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

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.
DALLAS, Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* (NYSE:T) CEO, John Stankey, sent a letter to employees on the resolved network outage that occurred on February 22. In this letter, the Company reiterated its financial guidance provided with its earnings report in January 2024. For the convenience of all interested parties, we are including a link to the letter in this press release.

*About AT&T

We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

 2024 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

SOURCE AT&T
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Longbio Pharma (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Longbio Pharma"), a leading biotech company dedicated to developing innovative protein treatments for allergy, respiratory, dermatology, hematology, ophthalmology, and other autoimmune and rare diseases, proudly announced the release of preliminary Phase II data for LP-003, the new generation anti-IgE antibody, at the 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology annual meeting (AAAAI 2024).

The presentation of the poster titled "A Phase II study of LP-003, a novel high-affinity, long-acting anti-IgE antibody for allergic rhinitis" by Longbio Pharma marked a significant moment during the conference.

Title: A Phase II study of LP-003, a novel high-affinity, long-acting anti-IgE antibody for allergic rhinitis

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06046391

Date and Time: February 25, 2024, at 9:45 am (UTC -5)

Location: Convention Center, Level 2, Hall D

Poster Number: 591

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical study (NCT06046391), 180 adult patients with moderate to severe seasonal AR despite standard therapy in the previous 2 seasons were randomized to receive LP-003 100mg (n=40), LP-003 200 mg (n=80) or placebo (n=60). All patients received concomitant nasal corticosteroids with/without antihistamines as SoC. The primary endpoint was the mean nasal symptom score during the peak pollen period (PPP). Secondary endpoints included mean ocular symptom score, immunogenicity and safety profile etc.

Results: the TNSS (mean nasal symptom score) during PPP was significantly lower in the LP-003 groups (3.172.17 for 100mg group and 3.452.45 for the whole groups) than that in the placebo group (4.252.74), with both P values <0.05.

Meanwhile, LP-003 exhibited a favorable safety profile, with similar incidence of adverse events (AEs) between LP-003 groups and placebo group. The most common AEs (>2% in either group) reported were hyperuricemia, upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis.

Comparing to the first-generation anti-IgE antibody, omalizumab, 100mg LP-003 demonstrate comparable efficacy to 300mg omalizumab in this study. Moreover, subgroup analysis revealed potential superior bioactivity of LP-003 compared to omalizumab using comparable pollen density conditions.

"Anti-IgE therapy has been proven to be effective in AR treatment, however, Omalizumab's dosing regimen has limited its clinical application. This Phase II study shows that 100mg LP-003 significantly improved nasal symptoms (TNSS score) of uncontrolled seasonal allergic rhinitis patients despite SoC treatment. In addition, LP-003's fixed and reduced dose promises to alleviate the cost burden on insurance and patients, enhance drug accessibility, and maximize pharmacoeconomic value," exclaimed by Dr. Sun, Nai-chau, co-founder of Longbio Pharma, also the inventor of omalizumab and co-founder of Tanox Inc. " AAAAI is recognized as the premier global conference in the field of allergic diseases. We are honored to unveiled the exciting Phase II results of LP-003, the first registrational clinical trial of anti-IgE antibody for AR conducted in China."

As Longbio Pharma charts its course forward, the successful Phase II study of LP-003 in allergic rhinitis represents a pivotal milestone in advancing the treatment landscape for allergic diseases. With Phase III clinical trials set to commence around 2024 March, the company is poised to continue its legacy of excellence, forge international partnerships, and shape the future of allergy treatment on a global scale.

About LP-003

LP-003, a novel monoclonal anti-IgE antibody was generated, humanized, and engineered by Dr. Sun, Nai-chau, who is the inventor of Omalizumab, and co-founder of Tanox. Based on the 30+ years R&D experience on IgE target, Dr Sun developed a new generation of anti-IgE antibody (LP-003). Its extensive characterization including: affinity, bioactivity, off-target binding and animal study (Tox and efficacy) was conducted. The current data of Phase I and Phase II shows LP-003 is potentially to become a best-in-class treatment.

Simultaneously, a Phase II study focusing on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is underway (NCT06228560), showcasing Longbio Pharma's commitment to exploring diverse therapeutic avenues. The company expects to start the phase III study of allergic rhinitis at 2024 Q1/2, and will get the topline result for LP-003 Phase III study by the end of 2024.

About Longbio Pharma

LongBio Pharma is a biotech company located in Shanghai/Changshu, China. The company, which was founded in 2018, focuses on autoimmune and rare diseases, serving patients and society.

LongBio Pharma aims to bring our drugs to both domestic and international markets with our partners, especially to bring patients with more affordable and high-quality bio-medicines. Our leading pipeline is a next generation of anti-IgE antibody (LP-003), which is about to start Phase III study in 2024Q1, and prepare for BLA in 2025H1. Another leading pipeline is a bifunctional complement inhibitor (LP-005) , which is in Phase I at present, intending to start Phase II/III in 2024Q2.

For more information, please visit: www.longbio.com or please contact: [email protected].

SOURCE Longbio Pharma
An elated crowd hails a ribbon-cutting in the capital city, celebrating Texas freedom on the city's main social corridor, The Drag.

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At the crossroads of all things Austin, crowds of Scientologists and guests gathered on a clear Saturday afternoon February 24 and gave an ecstatic Texas welcome to the new Ideal Church of Scientology Austin. The ribbon-cutting, the first in a wave of Grand Openings at the start of 2024, embodied the spirit of unabated growth that has become the hallmark of Scientology today.

The Grand Opening celebration for the new Church of Scientology in the Texas capital of Austin.

Austin's magnificent new Church stands directly across the street from the University of Texas, on The Drag, where as many as 70,000 walk the bustling stretch every day. Starting today, the Church's street-level, floor-to-ceiling windows invite passers-by to come in, look, listen and get a taste of Texas Spiritual Freedom.

"You're Texas big and Texas tough," said Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center. "While before that ribbon falls on your new Church of Scientology, this is a moment to remember what was said long ago by one of your famous Texansthat it was the best land he had ever seen, and there was a world of country to settle. Well, so it is again today. Except your 'line of country' is the human spirit, and you settle it by restoring to people the happiness, love, sincerity and kindness with which they were created."

Just a mile from the state capitol building, the new Ideal Church provides Texas-size facilities to expand the Church's humanitarian activity and influence. All of which promises exemplary drug awareness and prevention for Texas youth, human rights education to generations and countless victories for victims of mental health abuse.

Among the officials and dignitaries joining Mr. Miscavige at the opening event was Vice-President of the University Area Partners Association, Mr. Mike McHone, a committed neighborhood leader for the West Campus area. "For those of you who aren't from Austin, this town is a university town. We work to keep our neighborhood at the front of the pack when it comes to, well, everything," Mr. McHone said.

"And today I'll admit a little Longhorns pride in celebrating another big step in keeping our neighborhood the Best of the Best. Hook 'em Horns!" he told the roaring crowd.

"Each and every one of you should take pride in knowing you have helped make our home what it is today. Your members form the backbone of an ongoing community effort. Which is another way of saying, you have shown an inherent understanding of what our residents need with a passion and care to create a thriving, active community.

"While today, with this Grand Opening, we celebrate the return of a major player to this University area. So, what I should really be saying is, 'Welcome back!'"

Mr. Sam Price, who served nearly 25 years with the Austin Health Department and is now a dedicated Texas drug education advocate in Central Texas, recognized the impact of the Church-sponsored drug awareness program, Drug-Free World. "From the outset, our attitude was, 'Let's educate people.' And we got that Truth About Drugs information out to everyone. That means, thanks to your support, thousands who never had a choice to be educated now have the choice to say, 'I'm going to live drug-free!'

"The world would be a better place if more people had the care and commitment that your Church members do. No doubt about it. And thanks to Drug-Free World, you've given this kid from the south of Austin the opportunity of a lifetime. So, I have one final request: keep doing your good work. You'll never know how many lives you've saved."

Ms. Simone Talma Flowers, Executive Director of Interfaith Action of Central Texas, spoke on the international diversity of Austin's religious community. "Bridging division between different faiths is not simply a 'nice to do,' it's essential," she said. "You have been pillars of devotion and dependency. And upon those pillars, we have now built the largest interfaith movement in all of Central Texas."

Remarking on the new Church's spacious Chapel, Ms. Flowers said, "I have to tell you, we are so excited at the prospect of holding our events right herefront and center in Downtown. This Ideal Org will be a shared space where any and all are welcome, a place for services, talks or meetings for reconciliation. So may it continue to shine as a sanctuary for all faiths for all the decades to come!"

The final guest speaker, Mr. Nelson Linder, serves as President of the Austin NAACP. He recalled that, as a child in Georgia in the late 1950s, he walked to school because there were no buses that served his segregated school. "Like many others, my fight for civil rights is now decades long.

"A just society requires sacrifice and commitment," Mr. Linder said. "In fact, a great man once said, 'Injustice is not something in which any man with power should ever trade.' That was Mr. L. Ron Hubbard. To say such in the crucible of the 1960s shows tremendous courage.

"At that time, just a handful were in the middle, trying to broker peace, and yet there he was. Mr. Hubbard's ideas of forwarding the concept of true justice were both visionary and grand.

"And let's face it, they inspired you all to create a movement not only in Texas, but around the world. That's not just a gift for those who are here. It's a gift for those who aren't even born yet. So, on behalf of the Austin NAACP, thank you, Mr. Hubbard, for being a strong voice in the land.

"With this Grand Opening today, we can now say: Yes, Mr. Hubbard, we are turning your dream into reality. And that is most certainly cause to celebrate."

The new Austin Ideal Org provides the city with an introduction to Dianetics and Scientology, beginning with the Public Information Center. Its displays, containing more than 500 films, present the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion and the life and legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Information Center also offers a detailed overview of the renowned Church-sponsored humanitarian programsincluding a worldwide human rights education initiative; far-reaching drug education, prevention and rehabilitation programs; a global network of literacy and learning centers; and the Scientology Volunteer Minister Program, which has become one of the world's largest independent relief forces. The center is open morning to night for visitors to tour at their leisure and return as often as they wish.

The Church's Chapel provides for Scientology congregational gatherings, including Sunday Services, Weddings and Naming Ceremoniesas well as a host of events open to members of all faiths in the name of community collaboration. The new Church further includes multiple seminar rooms and classrooms, in addition to a wing of rooms for Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling).

Ideal Church Organizations (Ideal Orgs) realize the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard's vision for the religion. They not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their ascent to greater states of spiritual awareness and freedom but are also designed to serve as a home for the entire community and a meeting ground for cooperative efforts to uplift citizens of all denominations.

The Grand Opening of the Ideal Church of Scientology Austin is the first of many new Churches set to mark an expansive 2024 for the religion. All told, the Church has opened new Ideal Church Organizations across the United States, including New York City , Harlem , Buffalo , Washington, D.C. , Atlanta , Tampa , Orlando , Miami , Nashville , Cincinnati , Columbus , Detroit , Twin Cities , Kansas City , Dallas , Denver , Salt Lake City , Phoenix , Las Vegas , Portland and Seattle . And in California alone, at Sacramento , San Francisco , Los Gatos , San Jose , Silicon Valley , Ventura , San Fernando Valley , Pasadena , Los Angeles , Inglewood , Orange County and San Diego .

The unprecedented expansion of Scientology is further represented by the opening of new Ideal Organizations in major cities all over the globe, including London , Birmingham and Dublin in the British Isles; throughout Europe in Brussels , Rome , Milan , Padova , Madrid , Berlin , Hamburg , Stuttgart , Copenhagen , Malmo , Amsterdam , Basel and Budapest ; in the Middle East at Tel Aviv ; all along the Pacific Rim at Tokyo , Kaohsiung , Auckland , Sydney , Melbourne and Perth ; in South Africa at Johannesburg and Pretoria ; more in Canada at Quebec and Cambridge ; and in the Latin American capitals of Mexico City and Bogota .

For a complete list of Ideal Churches of Scientology, visit Scientology.org/IdealChurches .

To disseminate Scientology's message still further and answer the overwhelming interest about the religion, the Church launched its own satellite TV channel, Scientology Network, on DIRECTV Channel 320 which also live streams on Scientology.tv, as well as on multiple platforms in 17 languages across 24 time zones.

SOURCE Church of Scientology International
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global nonprofit Operation Smile today announced its partnership with Beast Philanthropy, the philanthropic arm of Mr. Beast that leverages the power of social media platforms to raise funds and leave a lasting impact.

Operation Smile bridges the gap in access to essential surgeries and health care by providing cleft surgery and comprehensive care, medical education and training, and long-term investments in strengthening local health systems and workforces. The Beast Philanthropy team joined Operation Smile in Puebla, Mexico, to experience firsthand the organization's life-changing programs and the impact they have on patients, families and communities. During this surgical program, Beast Philanthropy captured an in-depth video showcasing Operation Smile's transformative work in Puebla to its global audience  including over 22 million subscribers on YouTube alone  connecting the organization to an entirely new generation of donors, medical volunteers, and future leaders.

"I've been so unbelievably impressed with Operation Smile," said Darren Margolias, CEO of Beast Philanthropy. "There is the surgical component and the medical component but there is a human component as well  and that is the thing that has impacted me the most."

Operation Smile focuses on surgical excellence and investing in people and infrastructure to close the distance patients must travel to receive essential care. The video captures the essence of Operation Smile's mission and shines a light on the organization's holistic approach to care, bringing it closer to patients' communities.

"This partnership is a shared commitment to create smiles and drive positive change on a global scale," said Susan Can, Operation Smile's Senior Vice President of Global Marketing. "We express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support from Mr. Beast and Beast Philanthropy in shining a light on our work. Together, we can inspire a new generation to help us make a lasting difference to transform the lives of patients, their communities and entire health systems."

The video can be accessed at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q49kJeG6nr8

About Operation Smile

Operation Smile is a leading global nonprofit bridging the gap in access to essential surgeries and health care, starting with cleft surgery and comprehensive care. We provide medical expertise, training, mentorship, research and care through our dedicated staff and volunteers around the world, working alongside local governments, nonprofits, and health systems, and supported by our generous donors and corporate partners.

For more information about Operation Smile, please visit: https://www.operationsmile.org

About Beast Philanthropy

Beast Philanthropy leverages the persuasive power of social media to effect real-world change. As a 501(c)3 organization, it engages a massive online community to fund and conduct charitable efforts that alleviate hunger, homelessness, and unemployment. Visit www.beastphilanthropy.org/ for more insights into their mission and impact.

For media inquiries please contact [email protected].

SOURCE Operation Smile
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) between February 8, 2019 and August 3, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 25, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased GrafTech securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the GrafTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22210 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 25, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) GrafTech's manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico had for decades chronically contaminated neighboring communities with harmful carcinogenic gasses and particulate matter; (2) GrafTech had signed agreements with local authorities committing itself to improving the environmental performance of its Monterrey facility, but repeatedly failed to honor these commitments; (3) GrafTech had been repeatedly warned over an approximately 30-year period regarding its wanton disregard for the environment and health and well-being of people near its operations in Monterrey, Mexico; (4) GrafTech's operations in Monterrey, Mexico were not in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations; (5) GrafTech had failed to adequately remediate the environmental problems caused by the Monterrey facility following the 2019 administrative proceeding conducted by the Department of Sustainable Development of the State of Nuevo Leon; (6) the government of Apodaca had sought intervention from the State of Nuevo Leon authorities to curtail and prevent the adverse environmental impacts and noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations caused by the Monterrey facility; (7) GrafTech's purported cost leadership was achieved in substantial part by failing to implement appropriate and effective environmental safeguards at its manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico; (8) GrafTech's capital expenditures and/or related operational projects were woefully insufficient to adequately address the harm that GrafTech's operations in Monterrey, Mexico had inflicted on the environment and people within the neighboring communities; (9) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that GrafTech's manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico would be severely disrupted by government action or enforcement; and (10) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that its supplies of pin stock and graphite electrodes would be withdrawn and/or materially diminished, thereby materially harming GrafTech's business, operations, reputation, and financial results. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the GrafTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22210 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
In this article, we take a look at the Best Immigration Lawyers in Each of the 30 Biggest Cities in the US. You can skip our detailed analysis and go directly to Best Immigration Lawyers in Each of the 10 Biggest Cities in the US.

Human movement across borders has been a part of life since the beginning of time. However, there is no doubt that the rate has substantially increased over the years. There are multifarious reasons why people leave their homes and move to a strange land. While some are dictated by the harsh realities of life, such as geopolitical strife and poor economic conditions, others are motivated by a prosperous career and a desire for diverse cultural experiences.

International Immigrant Outlook and Industry Overview

In July 2020, the estimated global international migrant number was recorded at 281 million, constituting 3.5% of the global population. Approximately 48% of this number comprises females, and three out of four international migrants were observed to be in the age bracket of 20-64 years. The migration trend was more pronounced towards Asia and Europe (31% each), followed closely by North America (21%), Africa (9%), Latin America and the Caribbean (5%), and Oceania (3%). By the end of 2022, an astonishing number of refugees reached 35.3 million, with asylum-seekers amounting to 5.4 million.

With such large movements across countries, a significant proportion of immigrants may struggle to comprehend and select the most feasible and legally sound method for migration. This is where the role of immigration consultancies and law firms becomes crucial. They can assist individuals in streamlining the most feasible migration method according to their specific needs, help them understand their status in the migrated country according to its laws, and pave the way for a secure immigration. It is no wonder that the Immigration consulting services market is not only growing (reaching $1.42 billion in 2022) but is also expected to register a CAGR of 5.73% during the period 2023-2029, reaching $2.11 billion by 2029.

Story continues

Is there a Need for an Immigration Lawyer?

Hiring an immigration lawyer is not a requirement, and one can even choose to dispense with it when the immigration case is extremely straightforward. However, in more complicated scenarios, an immigration lawyer can indeed prove very helpful. Immigration law is intricate and contingent upon the immigrant rules and regulations of the country. US immigration lawyers would be the best avenue for aspirant US immigrants who are unable to navigate the winding path to citizenship and residency in the country. Their guidance becomes even more crucial in situations where certain elements complicate matters. For instance, cases involving deportation, prior immigration violations, criminal history, or being out of status in the US are some situations in which the expertise of immigration lawyers would prove beneficial.

US Immigrant Situation

According to recent estimates from the US Census Bureau, the number of immigrants in the US increased by a million, reaching a record high of 46 million. The share of the foreign-born population has surged to nearly 14% after a slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental restrictions. People from all over the world move to this land of opportunity. The data from 2021 showed Mexico in the lead as the origin country for migrants (23.7%), followed by India (6.0%), China (4.7%), the Philippines (4.4%), and El Salvador (3.10%). Immigrants play a vital role in the economic prosperity of the country, contributing substantially, ranging from entrepreneurs to skilled and unskilled workforce, backing the economy.

Compared to the overall US population, immigrants emerge as leaders in entrepreneurship. The data from 2021 revealed that 22.2% of immigrants are entrepreneurs. Notably, 44.8% of the 2023 Fortune 500 list was founded by either immigrants or the children of immigrants. This includes four prominent US tech companies: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Google-- Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST). Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was founded by the son of a Syrian immigrant, Google-- Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) was co-founded by a Russian immigrant, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) was established by a Cuban immigrant, and Costco was brought into being by the son of Canadian immigrants.

Immigrants also constitute a fair share of the workforce, making up 17.10% of the labor force. They fill positions at both skilled and unskilled levels, working in diverse sectors from high-tech positions to agriculture, hospitality, and service jobs. The work visa is, in fact, a popular mode of immigrant entry into the US. Major tech firms such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Google-- Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) have been sponsoring employees through H-1B visas and continue to do so.

Best Immigration Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US

Best Immigration Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US

Methodology

For the article Best Immigration Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US. we started off by shortlisting 30 largest US cities by population. These city ranking are also consistent with our other articles like Best Workplace Injury Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US. Then, taking individual cities, we searched for immigration lawyers by using terms like "immigration lawyers in [City Name]" and assessed them based on their Google reviews and ratings. For each city, we picked lawyers with the highest Google reviews, keeping the rating benchmark above 3.3.

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.

Best Immigration Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US

30. Miller & Miller Law, LLC-- Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 795

While Miller & Miller Law, LLC is primarily a bankruptcy law firm, they also offer immigration services. With more than 30 years of experience, accredited and associated, the firm maintains a highly professional attitude. Clients are quite satisfied with their thorough and prompt handling of affairs.

29. Griffith Immigration Law-- Baltimore, Maryland

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 539

With the slogan 'Immigrants serving Immigrants,' Griffith Immigration Law Firm is dedicated to helping new migrants in the country. With more than 20 years of experience in the field, they provide services ranging from family immigration, deportation defense, business immigration, permanent residency, to citizenship.

28. Legalquest Network, P.C.-- Detroit, Michigan

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 547

Rated among the 10 Best Attorneys in 2018, awarded the Clients Choice in 2018, and a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, this firm boasts over 24 years of experience. Offering a variety of immigration-related services, they have served clients from 115 countries. Clients have given great reviews about their professionalism and the quality of their work.

27. CLF Abogados, PLLC (Lawyers) -- Memphis, Tennessee

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 322

Among the wide range of services offered by this firm, they also handle legal immigration problems. With over 25 years of experience, clients have found them to be very helpful.

26. Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm -- Las Vegas, Nevada

Average Google rating: 4.7

Current Google reviews: 1,777

This personal injury law firm also offers legal immigration services. Highly associated and accredited, the firm is an excellent choice for individuals seeking solutions to their immigration problems.

25. Gonzales, Gonzales & Gonzales-- Portland, Oregon

Average Google rating: 4.7

Current Google reviews: 385

Firmly established with offices in Portland and Seattle, they aim to assist their clients in matters of Work-Based, Family-Based, and Non-Immigrant Visas, as well as deportation and removal proceedings. Additionally, they provide services related to green cards and US citizenship.

24. Law Offices of Ruben Ortiz, PLLC-- El Paso, Texas

Average Google rating: 4.6

Current Google reviews: 641

Established since 1998 and highly accredited, the immigration lawyers in this firm can be instrumental in immigration criminal cases. They have been reviewed as highly professional and helpful by their clients.

23. Law Offices of Johanna M. Herrero -- Boston, Massachusetts

Average Google rating: 4.6

Current Google reviews: 518

The Law Offices of Johanna M. Herrero provide various forms of immigration services, including family-based immigration, immigration law, special immigrant juvenile, naturalization, residency, and asylum law, among others. Awarded with strong associations and accreditation, it is no surprise that they have been able to achieve asylum, naturalization, and residency for their clients.

22. Stump & Associates, P.C. -- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Average Google rating: 4.6

Current Google reviews: 349

With over 40 years of experience, Stump & Associates, P.C. is one of the oldest law firms in Oklahoma. They provide multifarious immigration services, encompassing family-based immigration, marriage-based immigration, employment-based immigration, deportation, immigration difficulties, and waivers of inadmissibility.

21. The Mendoza Law Firm-- Washington DC

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 859

For 14 years, this firm has been helping immigrants with legal aid and is adequately equipped to defend their clients' immigration needs, facilitating the process of obtaining US residency.

20. Abogados de la Comunidad - Community Law Group-- Nashville, Tennessee

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 526

Providing various immigration services, Abogados de la Comunidad-- Community Law Group has competently satisfied their clients.

19. My Rights Immigration Law Firm-- Denver, Colorado

Average Google rating: 4.6

Current Google reviews: 368

An award-winning immigration law firm, they are committed to fighting for their clients in matters such as adjustment of status, DACA, deportation defense, federal litigation, naturalization, and U-visa.

18. Choquette Immigration Law Group-- Seattle, Washington

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 694

Credibly established and working for over 25 years in the field of immigration, Choquette Immigration Law Group helps their clients navigate the processes of fiance visas, family green cards, as well as US citizenship.

17. KPB Immigration Law Firm-- San Francisco, California

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 1,264

Specializing in immigration law, the firm provides services such as business immigration, specialty visas for employees and workers with unique skills, green cards, asylum, family immigration, U-visas, and removal defense, among others. KPB Immigration Law Firm also represents several foreign governments, including Mexico and Colombia.

16. Gresk & Singleton-- Indianapolis, Indiana

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 1,068

With over 40 years of experience, they are one of the earliest and largest immigration firms in the State of Indiana. They specialize in immigration law, criminal defense, and family law.

15. Latorre Law Firm-- Charlotte, North Carolina

Average Google rating: 4.5

Current Google reviews: 797

Since 1996, Latorre Law Firm has been providing various legal services, including immigration law. Highly accredited and associated, customers are very satisfied with their immigration lawyers.

14. Shihab Burke, LLC, Attorneys at Law-- Columbus, Ohio

Average Google rating: 5.0

Current Google reviews: 271

Endowed with high ratings and experienced lawyers, Shihab Burke, LLC, Attorneys at Law, offer a variety of immigration services, including business immigration, work visas, investor visas, green cards, immigration appeals, family immigration, and citizenship.

13. Dunham & Jones, Attorneys at Law, P.C.-- Fort Worth, Texas

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 986

The firm provides various immigration law services, including family-based immigration, green cards, permanent residency, immigration and criminal arrest cases, and more. They are highly awarded and associated.

12. Lena Korial-Yonan, P.A.-- Jacksonville, Florida

Average Google rating: 5.0

Current Google reviews: 325

Lena Korial-Yonan, P.A., is dedicated to helping their clients by providing immigration services in various areas, such as fiance visas, marriages, spousal visas, green cards, family-based petitions, removal of conditional residence, and citizenship.

11. Lincoln-Goldfinch Law -- Austin, Texas

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 1,177

Top-rated and award-winning, this Texas firm offers a range of immigration-related services for their customers. They can provide assistance with family-based immigration, naturalization, asylum and refugees, temporary visas, green cards, citizenship, employers, and deportation, among others.

Click to continue reading and see the Best Immigration Lawyers in Each of the 10 Biggest Cities in the US.

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Disclosure: None. Best Immigration Lawyers in Each of the 30 Biggest Cities in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Moscow, Feb 25 : The body of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has been returned to his mother, his spokesperson has said.

In a post on X, Kira Yarmysh on Saturday said: "Alexei's body was handed over to his mother. Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us."

"Lyudmila Ivanovna (Navalny's mother) is still in Salekhard. The funeral is still pending. We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants and as Alexei deserves. We will inform you as soon as there is news," she added.

Navalny's mother Lyudmila had reportedly been told to agree to a "secret" burial. If she refused, he would be buried at the prison colony where he died, the BBC reported.

Earlier in the day, Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of holding her late husband's body "hostage" and demanded its release without conditions.

Navalny died on February 16 in a Russian prison inside the Arctic Circle.

Seen as Putin's most vociferous critic, Navalny was serving a 19-year jail term for offences widely considered politically motivated.
Lucknow, Feb 25 : The Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign to connect with the beneficiaries, known as 'labharthi', of the public welfare schemes of the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government, begins on Sunday.

Lucknow, Feb 25 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign to connect with the beneficiaries, known as alabharthia, of the public welfare schemes of the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government, begins on Sunday.

BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and state general secretary (organisation) Dharampal Singh will join the campaign by contacting the beneficiaries in Lucknow.

All public representatives and workers, including state ministers, party officials, MPs, MLAs, will contact and paste the sticker of "prosperity of beneficiaries, Modi guarantee" at the beneficiaries' house and hand over leaflets of public welfare schemes of the Modi government.

During the campaign, the beneficiary will be connected with the party by making a missed call on a designated number.

Party's state general secretary Govind Narain Shukla said that a large section of beneficiaries benefited from the schemes of the central and state governments that were strongly associated with the BJP.

The party will knock on the house of every beneficiary and collect the feedback.
Dwarka, Feb 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and attended the groundbreaking ceremony for numerous projects in Gujarat's Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka and Porbandar districts on Sunday.

Commencing his visit with a temple visit, the Prime Minister paid his respects at the revered Shri Beyt Dwarkadhish Mandir this morning, following his arrival in Jamnagar the previous day.

A small island off the coast of Dwarka and accessed via Okha is home to the temple of the same name and is believed to be the abode of Lord Krishna. The Prime Minister offered prayers here before addressing a large assembly of attendees.

A highlight of his visit was the inauguration of the Sudarshan Setu, previously known as the Signature Bridge. This engineering marvel, spanning 2.32 kilometers and including a 900-metre central double-span cable-stayed portion, connects the mainland of Okha with the island of Beyt Dwarka.

Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 979 crore, the bridge features a four-lane road, 27.20 metres in width, with 2.50-metre wide footpaths on either side.

Besides this, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects valued at Rs 48,000 crore across various sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, energy, and transportation.

PM Modi is set to unveil Gujaratas first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot, along with virtual inauguration of four other AIIMS located in Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab), Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), and Kalyani (West Bengal).

On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi was greeted by a wave of supporters during a roadshow in Jamnagar. Enthusiastic crowds, waving saffron flags and chanting patriotic slogans welcomed him.
Dwarka, Feb 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the revered Shri Beyt Dwarkadhish Mandir on Sunday ahead of inaugurating and attending the groundbreaking ceremony for numerous projects in Gujarat's Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka and Porbandar districts on Sunday.

Commencing his visit with a temple visit, the Prime Minister paid his respects at the revered Shri Beyt Dwarkadhish Mandir following his arrival in Jamnagar the previous day.

A small island off the coast of Dwarka and accessed via Okha is home to the temple of the same name and is believed to be the abode of Lord Krishna. The Prime Minister offered prayers here before addressing a large assembly of attendees.

A highlight of his visit was the inauguration of the Sudarshan Setu, previously known as the Signature Bridge. This engineering marvel, spanning 2.32 kilometers and including a 900-metre central double-span cable-stayed portion, connects the mainland of Okha with the island of Beyt Dwarka.

Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 979 crore, the bridge features a four-lane road, 27.20 metres in width, with 2.50-metre wide footpaths on either side.

Besides this, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects valued at Rs 48,000 crore across various sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, energy, and transportation.

PM Modi is set to unveil Gujaratas first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot, along with virtual inauguration of four other AIIMS located in Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab), Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), and Kalyani (West Bengal).

On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi was greeted by a wave of supporters during a roadshow in Jamnagar. Enthusiastic crowds, waving saffron flags and chanting patriotic slogans welcomed him.
Seoul, Feb 25 : South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met this week with the country's business officials in New York and pledged the government's support for their overseas expansion, his Ministry said on Sunday.

Cho held the meeting in New York on Saturday after attending a G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro and before travelling to Washington, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Minister stressed the importance of the government and the private sector working together as a team at a time when there are no boundaries between economic and national security issues, and pledged to spare no assistance to minimise the negative impact of the rapidly changing external environment on South Korean businesses and to help their overseas expansion and exports.

In attendance were officials from companies and institutions, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, LG Electronics, Korean Air, CJ, Bank of Korea and Korea Development Bank.

Cho plans to raise the issues discussed during meetings with US government and Congressional officials during his visit to Washington starting Monday, his Ministry said.
Kiev, Feb 25 : There have been 84 combat clashes between Ukrainian defence forces and Russian forces on the frontline in Ukraine in the past 24 hours, media reported on Sunday.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed it in its update on the operational situation, according to Ukrinform news agency report.

Over the past day, 84 combat engagements took place.

In total, Russian forces carried out nine missile attacks and 77 airstrikes, as well as 119 multiple launch rocket system attacks on the positions of the Defence Forces of Ukraine and populated areas. As a result of Russian attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The Russian forces launched air strikes on Ivanivka of the Kharkiv region; Nadiya of the Luhansk region; Zarichne, Bohdanivka, New York, Dyliivka, Oleksandropil, Novoselivka Persha, Berdychi, Semenivka, Novobakhmutivka, Orlivka, Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Urozhaine, Staromaiorske of the Donetsk region; Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Novodanylivka of the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrinform news agency reported.

More than 120 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions came under the Russians artillery fire.

The situation in the Volyn and Polissia sectors has remained unchanged. There have been no signs of the formation of offensive groups. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus are performing tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine.

In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna sectors, the Russian forces maintain a military presence in the border areas, conducts sabotage activities to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to the threatened areas, and increases the density of minefields along the state border in the Belgorod region, Ukrinform news agency reported.

In the Kupiansk sector, the Russian army did not conduct offensive (assault) actions.

In the Lyman sector, the Ukrainian forces repelled three Russian attacks near Terny, Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut sector, the Ukrainian armed forces repelled 13 Russian army attacks in the vicinity of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka in the Donetsk region.

In the Avdiivka sector, the Ukrainian forces repelled 14 Russian army attacks in the areas of Lastochkyne, Sieverne, Pervomaiske and Nevelske in the Donetsk region, Ukrinform news agency reported.

In the Marinka sector, Ukrainian defence forces are holding back the Russian forces in the area of Novomykhailivka, Donetsk region. The Russian forces attempted to break through the Ukrainian troops' defence 39 times.

In the Novopavlivka sector, the Ukrainian troops repelled one Russian army attack in the area south of Zolota Nyva, Donetsk region.

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the Ukrainian defence forces repelled five Russian army attacks near Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region.

In the Kherson sector, the Ukrainian defence forces are maintaining their positions and repelling the attacks of the occupying Russian armed forces. Despite suffering significant losses, the Russian forces continues to attempt to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions. On Saturday, the Russian army launched two unsuccessful assaults on Ukrainian troops' positions on the left bank of the Dnipro.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian Air Force targeted 13 areas where Russian personnel were concentrated. The Ukrainian forces also intercepted and destroyed two Russian Kh-31 missiles and four reconnaissance drones, Ukrinform news agency reported.

The Ukrainian missile troops destroyed one Russian radar station and two Russian manpower clusters.
Mumbai, Feb 25 : Geeta Batra, an Indian economist, has been named as the new Director at the Independent Evaluation Office of the World Bank's Global Environment Facility (GEF), making her the first-ever woman from a developing country to hold the coveted post.

Batra, 57, is currently the Chief Evaluator & Deputy Director for Evaluation at the GEF's Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), affiliated to the World Bank.

Her name was unanimously recommended for the coveted position at the 66th GEF Council Meeting held in Washington on February 9 and was announced last week.

"My top priorities will be to deliver sound evaluative evidence on the results and performance of the GEF, provide leadership to ensure that the GEF IEO stays at the forefront of environmental evaluation and strengthen the IEO teams and invest in skills," Batra told IANS from Virginia, US.

She will also build partnerships with multilateral and bilateral agencies, foundations and networks, and share knowledge of what works, where and why.

Born in New Delhi, Batra studied at the Villa Theresa High School (1984) in Mumbai, then completed her Economics from the Stella Maris College, Chennai (1984-1987), followed by an MBA in Finance from the NMIMS, Vile Parle (1990) in Mumbai.

After her MBA, she was inspired by one of her professors, Harkant Mankad, to go to the US (August 1990) to pursue a PhD in Economics.

Armed with a doctorate, she worked for a couple of years as Senior Manager, Risk, at American Express, before joining the World Bank's Private Sector Development Department in 1998.

Serving there for seven years till 2005, she implemented competitiveness projects in East Asia and Latin America.

Subsequently, she took over as the Head & Chief Evaluator at the International Finance Corporation, for its advisory services portfolio, before moving to the World Bank's IEG as Chief Evaluator and Manager for country and corporate thematic evaluations.

In 2015, Batra joined the GEF's IEO (established in July 2003) - which assesses the progress and impact of GEF interventions - where she manages a team of evaluation professionals, providing oversight on the design, implementation and quality of evaluations.

Since the Rio Earth Summit (1992), the GEF has been one of the largest players in the environmental sector, providing around $24 billion in grants, plus marshalling an additional $138 billion in co-financing over 5,700 projects in 170 countries till 2020.

Through the GEF's Small Grants Programme (SGP) more than 20,000 grants were given to civil society and community-based organizations totalling over $1 billion.

The GEF is a partnership for international cooperation with 183 countries working together with international institutions, private sector and civil society to address global environmental concerns.

For the past over 23 years, developed and developing countries have provided funds to support activities pertaining to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, chemicals and waste in the context of development projects and programs.

Batra has co-authored books and articles, plus managed over 100 evaluations, and is "interested in development issues with a particular focus on promoting the use of feasible and practical approaches in monitoring and evaluation, to help achieve better outcomes".

She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Prakash and their daughter Roshini.

When she is not working, Batra loves the outdoors, goes hiking in national parks, reads historical biographies, besides tries out different types of mouth-watering cuisines.

However, she confessed with a smile that her all-time favourite foods include India's good old pav-bhaji, pani-puri- puri and chhole-bhature...

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Kiev, Feb 25 : The Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 409,820 Russian armed personnel in Ukraine from February 24, 2022, to February 25, 2024, including 810 Russian armed personnel on Saturday alone, media reported.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this on Sunday in a post on Facebook, according to Ukrinform news agency report.

The Ukrainian armed personnel have also destroyed 6,542 Russian tanks (+8 on Saturday), 12,441 armoured combat vehicles (+16), 9,981 artillery systems (+29), 999 multiple launch rocket systems, 684 air defence systems, 340 aircraft, 325 helicopters, 7,681 unmanned aerial vehicles (+22), 1,907 cruise missiles (+2), 25 warships/cutters, one submarine, 13,011 motor vehicles (+23), and 1,578 special equipment units (+2).

Data on Russian army losses are being updated.

As Ukrinform news agency reported, there were 84 combat engagements on the battlefield in Ukraine as on Sunday.
Kiev, Feb 25 : Canada will provide Ukraine with 169 million Canadian dollars (CAD) (about $130 million) for several reconstruction and development programmes, media reported on Sunday.

According to Ukrinform news agency reported, this was announced by the Office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following his visit to Kiev.

Canada will allocate CAD 75 million (equivalent to more than $57 million) for peace and security assistance, which includes demining, cyber support and intelligence assistance, Ukrinform news agency reported.

Another CAD 15 million (equivalent to $11.5 million) will be allocated to support the completion of the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide in Kiev.

Canada also announced the allocation of funding to the following: $17 million for humanitarian assistance, $30 million for development assistance, almost $14 million for stabilisation assistance, including chemical weapons reduction and countering information warfare, and $15 million for various stabilisation efforts, to support projects ranging from demining, to reducing threats from nuclear or radiological materials and chemical weapons, to countering disinformation, Ukrinform news agency reported

As reported by Ukrinform news agency, during his visit to Kiev on February 24, Trudeau signed a security agreement with Ukraine, pledging more than $3 billion in security and financial assistance this year.
Hyderabad : Y.S. Sharmila, daughter of YS Rajsheker Reddy Ex Chief Minister visited the Suryapet Unveiling statue of YSR in Hyderabad on Wednesday, 16 June, 2021. (Photo:IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Feb 25 : Andhra Pradesh Congress president Y. S. Sharmila Reddy has lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police in Hyderabad against some individuals running a "malicious" campaign against her on social media.

Sharmila stated in her complaint that the accused were posting social media messages with "criminal intent to frighten" her.

She complained that they uploaded some contest on some YouTube channels and other social media platforms to tarnish her image.

Cybercrime police have registered two cases on the basis of the complaint made by Sharmila through her husband Anil Kumar.

Sharmila, the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy stated that after taking over as the president of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), she had been meeting people.

She stated that ever since she started touring districts, some people have been targeting her and her followers.

Sharmila, in her complaint, cited some of the insulting comments made against her and requested police to take action. The Congress leader also named eight persons in her complaint. A couple of them are reportedly based abroad.

Sharmila had earlier slammed YSR Congress Party leaders for making personal comments against her after she joined the Congress party.
Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones warns of America's ticking debt bomb  CBO projections suggest US interest spending is on track to surpass defense and Medicare in 2024

The U.S. federal governments rising debt is alarming to many, with legendary investor Paul Tudor Jones also expressing significant concern.

In a recent interview with CNBC, the billionaire and founder of Tudor Investment Corporation highlighted the looming threat of America's "debt bomb" potentially reaching a critical point.

Don't miss

Jones acknowledged the current strength of the U.S. economy but attributed it to the government's extensive borrowing and spending.

He cautioned about the repercussions of persistent deficit spending, stating, We've got a 6%-7% budget deficit. We're fast-pouring consumption like crazy. It should be going gangbusters because we've got an economy on steroids, and it's unsustainable.

The Commerce Department's advance estimate revealed that real GDP in the U.S. experienced a 3.3% annual growth rate in Q4 of 2023, surpassing the anticipated 2% increase set by economists.

The stock market has witnessed substantial growth, too, with the S&P 500 surging 28% over the past 12 months.

However, Jones warned that the burgeoning debt issue is bound to impact the market sooner or later, stating, It could be this year, it could be next year. Productivity may mask and it might be three or four years from now but clearly, clearly we're on an unsustainable path."

Interest payments to surpass Medicare spending

The U.S. national debt has alarmingly exceeded $34 trillion, leading to significant interest payment obligations.

Story continues

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported a sharp increase in net interest payments on the debt over the years, escalating from $223 billion in fiscal year 2015 to $659 billion in fiscal year 2023.

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

For fiscal year 2024, the CBO projects that the U.S. government will spend $870 billion on net interest payments, surpassing expenditures on national defense ($822 billion) and Medicare ($851 billion). This would make net interest payments the second-largest budget item, trailing only behind Social Security, noted the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB)

The non-partisan think tank emphasized the need for "thoughtful deficit reduction" to mitigate interest costs and warned that without such action, debt will represent a growing threat to our economy, our health care system, and our national security.

In fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30, 2023, the federal government spent $6.13 trillion and collected $4.44 trillion in revenue, resulting in a deficit of $1.7 trillion.

This pattern of deficit spending, where expenditures exceed revenue, has continued into fiscal year 2024. The federal budget deficit has already exceeded $531 billion as of Feb. 2024.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Kiev, Feb 25 : Ukraine's air defence forces destroyed 16 Russian Shahed combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the sky over Ukraine overnight on Sunday, media reported.

According to Ukrinform news agency, this was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram.

"On the night of February 25, 2024, the Russian army attacked with 18 Shahed combat UAVs (from Russia's Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Crimea's Cape Chauda). The Defence Forces' mobile fire groups, anti-aircraft missile units, and Air Force aircraft engaged in an anti-aircraft battle and successfully destroyed 16 Shaheds within the Poltava, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions," the report said.

As reported, air raid sirens went off in several regions of Ukraine on Saturday night as Russia launched attack drones into the country, Ukrinform news agency reported.
Tel Aviv, Feb 25 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that it had nabbed several terror operatives, who attempted to hide among a group of civilians evacuating from combat zones in southern Gaza's Khan Younis area, media reported.

According to the IDF, the operatives were captured by the 7th Armoured Brigade while trying to flee with the civilian population, The Times of Israel reported.

The IDF added on Sunday that the troops killed several more gunmen and located weapons in the area.

In Khan Younis, the IDF said that the Givati Brigade raided several Hamas sites, locating weapons, and an airstrike was carried out against a Hamas cell operating a drone, The Times of Israel reported.

In central Gaza, the IDF added that the Nahal Brigade killed several Hamas gunmen over the past day.

Meanwhile in Gaza City, the IDF has continued a large-scale operation in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The IDF said that Nahal troops captured weapons and destroyed a rocket launching site in the area, The Times of Israel reported.

In the nearby Shati camp, the IDF noted that another Hamas cell operating a drone was targetted in an airstrike.

The Israeli Air Force carried out several more strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, targeting Hamas's air unit and several rockets launchers that would have been used to fire projectiles at Israel, the IDF said.
Seoul, Feb 25 : South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a church service on Sunday, marking the 1919 independence movement against Japanese colonial rule, his office said.

Yoon's visit to Wonchon Baptist Church in Suwon, 30 km south of Seoul, came five days before the nation marks the anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, Yonhap news agency reported.

He is the first sitting President to attend a church service honouring the movement, according to presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung.

"One hundred and five years ago, our patriotic martyrs gathered their convictions and determination for freedom and started the March 1 movement," Yoon was quoted as saying in remarks after the service.

"The South Korean church was on that great journey toward a free and prosperous future.

"As a global pivotal state, we will contribute responsibly to world peace and joint prosperity, and work for a new leap by South Korea," he said.

"The government and I will move close to the people's lives from a humbler position, and carry out state affairs warmly by holding each and every person's hands."
New Delhi, Feb 25 : A key operative of banned SIMI and editor of its magazine 'Islamic Movement' (Urdu version), who allegedly indoctrinated many gullible Muslim youths, has been arrested by Special Cell of Delhi Police from Maharashtra after 22 years.

The alleged terrorist identified as Hanif Sheikh (47), a resident of Jalgaon district in Maharashtra, had 'Haneef Hudai' name printed on the magazine, which was the only lead available with the police, due to which his identity could not be established, a Delhi Police official said on Sunday.

The official said that he was being chased by the police team for the last four years and he has been absconding for more than 22 years in a case of sedition and Unlawful Activities registered in the year 2001 at New Friends Colony police station.

"Hanif was also declared proclaimed offender in said case in the year 2002 by the trial court," said a senior police official.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Alok Kumar said that Hanif was the most notorious and wanted elusive SIMI operative.

"He played a pivotal role in all the infamous events, including attending/arranging meetings of SIMI organisation in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, and Kerala. However, every time the police or other security agencies cracked down on the SIMI organisation, he absconded, vanishing into thin air without leaving any trace of his next move," said the DCP.

Recognising the danger posed by the escape of such a terrorist to societal harmony, a team from the Special Cell was tasked with collecting data/information about the absconding SIMI cadres, their sympathisers, and sleeper cells across states.

"They were also instructed to generate sources and deploy them to gather information in specific areas suspected to harbour SIMI sympathisers. The team extensively visited and collected information from various parts of the country, especially Delhi/NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu," said the DCP.

The DCP further said that the team deployed their informers/sources in those areas and worked tirelessly day and night to develop the information received with the help of informers. They further verified the presence of his associates and made efforts to track them.

Specific information was received that the accused Hanif Sheikh had changed his identity to Mohd. Hanif and was working as a teacher in an Urdu School in Bhusawal, Maharashtra.

"A team was stationed there, and they zeroed in on him. Based on this information, a raiding party was formed, and a trap was laid near Asha Tower, Khadka Road, Bhusawal, Maharashtra. At about 2:50 p.m. on February 22, a suspicious person travelling from Mohmadin Nagar to Khadka road was identified as Hanif. Members of the team began to corner him, but Hanif sensed the presence of the police and attempted to escape. After a scuffle, he was apprehended by the team," said the DCP.

Earlier, on September 27, 2001, SIMI office bearers were addressing a press conference near their Headquarters in Jamia Nagar, Delhi, when the police conducted a raid, resulting in the arrest of many SIMI activists.

"Numerous SIMI cadres fled from the scene, including Hanif, and went into hiding. Incriminating material and provocative literature in the form of SIMI magazines (Islamic Movement), audio/videos on floppy disks, SIMI posters, computers, and photo albums were recovered from the SIMI headquarters," said the DCP.

The DCP further said that Hanif became highly radicalised after coming into contact with SIMI activists.

"After joining the SIMI organisation, he started attending its weekly programmes and radicalising Muslim youths to join the outfit. Impressed by his fervour, Sahid Badar, then President of SIMI, appointed Hanif Sheikh as the Editor of the Urdu edition of the SIMI magazine 'Islamic Movement' in 2001," said the DCP.

As per police, he wrote many provocative articles in the said magazine, falsely highlighting atrocities against Muslims in India.

"Subsequently, he was allotted a room in the SIMI headquarters, Zakir Nagar, Delhi. Hanif had a close association with Safdar Hussain Nagori, Abdus Shubhan Qureshi a.k.a Tauqeer, Noman Badar, Shahnaz Hussain, Saif Nachain, Mohd. Khalid, Danish Riyaz, Abdullah Danish, and other members of SIMI," said the DCP.

He, after absconding from Delhi in 2001, moved to Jalgaon and subsequently to Bhusawal, Maharashtra, continuously changing his locations to evade arrest.

"He started working as an Urdu Teacher in a Nagar Nigam School in Bhusawal, Maharashtra. He has also admitted to having visited many places in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, etc., and motivating many youths to join SIMI," said the DCP.

Since the SIMI organisation was banned, most of the active members splintered off.

"Some continued their terrorist activities independently and remained involved in various blasts and other anti-national activities," said the DCP.

Over time, senior members started new organisations under the name and style of 'Wahadat-e-Islam.' Most members of this organisation have a background/association with SIMI.

"The primary agenda of this organisation is to unite Muslim youth and propagate the theory of radical Islam. Hanif is one of the think tank members of Wahadat-e-Islam and plays an important role in Maharashtra and other adjoining states. He is also involved in collecting money under the guise of donations to support and finance the agenda of the banned organisation SIMI as well as Wahadat-e-Islam," the DCP added.
Will BJP be able to replicate the Nandigram model in Sandeshkhali?. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Feb 25 : As Sandeshkhali, a conglomerate of islands in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, continues to boil over agitation of local women against the sexual harassment of local Trinamool Congress leader, the BJP has gone all out to replicate the Nandigram model in Sandeshkhali.

During the Nandigram movement, the incumbent Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari (then in Trinamool Congress) became an pivot around which the movement shaped and took place, forcing one of the most regimented ruling regime in the history of India -- 34 years of Left Front rule -- first to bend, then to collapse and finally face a dishonorable exit from the state's political landscape.

The BJP now dreams to replicate the same Nandigram-model in Sandeshkhali against the ruling Trinamool Congress.

"Be it Nandigram or Sandeshkhali, the movement is against rulers' boisterous autocracy. The common factors remain the same which are: forceful land grabbing, harassment of women and suppressing the democratic space. These factors have led to spontaneous outburst of mass outrage," (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari explained.

Land grabbing is a common and root issue in both Nandigram and Sandeshkhali, however, with a difference. The tension in Nandigram flickered from an official government notification from the local Haldia Development Authority (HDA) expressing the intention of land acquisition for a petrochemicals hub to be incorporated by Indonesia-based Salim Group.

The notification was enough to flicker the fear of losing farmland among the local people which subsequently led to a spontaneous mass movement against the then ruling Left Front led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

At that point, the Trinamool Congress entered the scene and Mamata Banerjee became the face of the Nandigram movement.

In the case of Nandigram, the land acquisition never actually took place. The then Chief Minister Buddhadeb Battacharjee himself announced the withdrawal of the notification which had ignited the movement.

However, it was too late for him and for his party to regain the peoples' confidence, resulting in collapse of the 'Red Fort' first during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and then the subsequent eviction of 34-year rule of Left Front in the 2011 assembly elections.

In the case of Sandeshkhali, there are cases of unofficial, forceful and illegal grabbing of farmland and illegally converting them into pisciculture farms by forcefully flowing in saline water.

Those infuriating zealots blindfolded by the patronage of the ruling dispensation have resorted to blatant sexual harassment and violence against the local women for almost a decade now.

LoP Suvendu Adhikari said that the secrets of illegal land grabbing and harassment of women would have never come to light had the ED and CAPF personnel not been attacked by a crowd allegedly orchestrated by the absconding Trinamool Congress leader on January 5.

The Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan has gone into hiding since January 5, giving courage to the local people, especially women, to hit the streets and narrating the gory tales of forceful land grabbing and sexual harassment by the ruling government.

The spontaneous mass uprising of the local women at Sandeshkhali has now opened the avenues for BJP to enter the scene at Sandeshkhali, a virtual fortress of Trinamool Congress since last one decade.

Just like the Nandigram movement, Suvendua Adhikari has again emerged as the vanguard in shaping and leading the protest against the incumbent ruling dispensation.

Political observers find another resemblance between the Nandigram and Sandeshkhali movements that is: "what happened" or "what is happening" is nothing but an "orchestrated propaganda against the ruling dispensation jointly led by the opposition and a section of the media."

"History teaches us that fortresses do fall. Nandigram was the key component leading to the collapse of the 34-year regime of Left Front rule in West Bengal. Time will decide whether Sandeshkhali will turn to be the waterloo for Trinamool Congress or not," a city- based political observer said.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : In the backdrop of 2023 being the warmest year on record, with resultant heatwaves, storms and droughts causing havoc, heads of state and more than 5,000 representatives and leaders will gather in Nairobi in Kenya from Monday for the five-day sixth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) to strengthen multilateral effort to address the planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

The Assembly, which usually meets biennially and sees visionaries from the business sector, governments, scientific institutions, and civil society, is the world's top decision-making body on matters related to the environment and includes all 193 UN member states.

Observers told IANS that there are 20 draft resolutions and two decisions on the table, among them a resolution on the metals and minerals issue.

"UNEA-VI will place particular focus on how stronger multilateralism can help us to do this," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen earlier this month.

"It will drive united, inclusive and multilateral action that addresses every strand of the triple planetary crisis as one indivisible challenge."

In the run-up to the UNEA, aptly called "world's parliament on the environment," ministers and partners of the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) launched a Clean Air Flagship effort to provide a platform to boost regional coordination and private sector engagement, data-led policy action, financing, science and advocacy.

UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis will deliver his address at the opening of the high-level segment that will be held on February 29 and March 1.

The segment will consist of an opening plenary with statements by key dignitaries, national statements; three leadership dialogues, a multi-stakeholder dialogue, and a closing plenary meeting during which UNEA will take action on the draft Ministerial declaration as well as the draft resolutions and decisions.

India will be represented by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change's Additional Secretary Naresh Pal Gangwar.

Government leaders plan to use the Assembly to renew calls for progress on the sustainable development goals, a global blueprint for protecting the planet and promoting prosperity. Just 15 per cent of the goals, which come due in 2030, are on track.

"We must find practical ways to advance the human rights to a healthy environment, which is crucial for sustainable development," said Leila Benali, Morocco's energy transition minister and the President of UNEA-VI.

"We know that when we protect the natural world, public health improves. When we focus on sustainable solutions to the climate crisis, our economies get stronger."

Also on the agenda of the Assembly will be ways to tackle the dramatic increase of wasteful and fuel-intensive plastics, which is feeding the climate crisis.

More than 99 per cent of plastic is made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels, the substances responsible for 86 per cent of C02 emissions in the last decade. Plastic pollution reinforces the need for a binding plastics treaty as well as a fossil fuel treaty that can tackle the root cause of both the plastics pollution crisis and the climate crisis through phasing out oil, gas and coal production.

In 2022, the Assembly ended with countries agreeing to launch negotiations on a legally binding global instrument to end plastic pollution.

That was one in a recent string of ambitious international agreements on environment. Last September, countries and businesses inked a landmark pact to prevent pollution from chemicals and waste.

Two months later, at the UN Climate Change Conference, countries vowed for the first time to transition away from the fossil fuels that are superheating the earth and driving climate change.

Researchers find that if no action is taken, annual plastic production will rise 22 per cent between 2024 and 2050, and plastic pollution will jump 62 per cent between 2024 and 2050. By continuing with business as usual, the world would generate enough litter between 2010 and 2050 to cover the entire island of Manhattan with a 3.5-km-tall heap of plastic -- nearly 10 times the height of the Empire State Building.

With a strong UN plastics treaty that incorporates the right mix of nine plastic reduction policies, however, plastic pollution could be virtually eliminated in 2040 -- with the generation of mismanaged waste reduced by 89 per cent to a more manageable 10 million metric ton per year in 2040.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)
Chennai, Feb 25 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the first phase of Vietnam's VinFast group's electric vehicle (EV) plant in Tuticorin.

Chennai, Feb 25 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the first phase of Vietnam's VinFast groupas electric vehicle (EV) plant in Tuticorin.

The Vietnam groupas Indian arm VinFast Auto India Ltd will invest Rs 4,000 crore in the first phase out of the planned Rs 16,000 crore ($2 billion) investment, the state government said.

At the Global Investors Meet held here in January, VinFast Auto Ltd had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government for the investment.

The companyas plant, which is spread across 380 acres, will have a capacity to roll out 1,50,000 vehicles per annum.

With this project, Tamil Nadu apart from being Indiaas Auto Hub, will also be known as India's EV Capital.

Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, who was also present on the occasion, said that over 70% of all electric two wheelers and 40% of all electric four wheelers sold in India, were being manufactured in Tamil Nadu.

After the inauguration of the foundation stone of the EV unit, Stalin distributed compensation for the flood victims of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.

The Chief Minister lashed out at the Centre and said that while the Central government did not provide compensation to the flood victims, the state government was providing support to those affected by floods.

He said that despite the central government putting roadblocks, the state government was achieving its objectives and garnering investments for the state from several sources.

Stalin said that the DMK was a people-centric political party and that its policies and programmes were based out of genuine care for the deprived and downtrodden people of the state.

It may be noted that since Stalin assumed office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in 2021, there has been a sustained move to garner investments in the state.
Dwarka, Feb 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a deep-sea expedition to visit the submerged remains of Dwarka on Sunday and also offered prayers.

Dwarka, an ancient city with deep ties to Lord Krishna, epitomises India's prosperity in the annals of its storied past. The city is a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a symbol of its spirituality.

PM Modi's visit to the underwater site of this city was more than a mere exploration.

During his visit, PM Modi offered prayers and paid tribute to this historical and spiritual landmark. In a gesture of reverence, he presented peacock feathers as an offering, symbolising respect and homage to the deity Krishna, with whom the city is intrinsically linked.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for projects valued at Rs 48,000 crore across various sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, energy, and transportation.

He is set to unveil Gujaratas first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot, along with virtual inaugurations of four other AIIMS located in Mangalagiri, Bathinda, Rae Bareli, and Kalyani.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by enthusiastic crowds, waving saffron flags and chanting patriotic slogans in Jamnagar.
Bengaluru, Feb 25 : Sabbhineni Meghana, who made a 44-ball 53 in Royal Challengers Bangalore's two-run win over UP Warriorz in WPL 2024, revealed captain Smriti Mandhana had asked her to utilise the power-play as much as possible.

Playing for the RCB for the first time, Meghana played some stunning shots while stitching a match-defining 71-run partnership with Richa Ghosh. The fourth-wicket stand between the duo boosted RCB to go from 54/3 to a solid 157/6, which was enough to get their campaign off to a winning start.

"Smriti just told me this is my first time going one down. I was an opening batter all these years. So she was just telling me, like, utilize the power play as much as you can. Get those boundaries like how you bat naturally in the powerplay.

"So even in the role clarity meetings we had, that's what we were discussing, that if there's an early wicket, you walk in and you still use the power play. There's no pressure on you to stay there or whatever. So I was just in my head, that if it's in my range, I just have to go for it," said Meghana in the post-match press conference.

Meghana was dropped on 20 and 22 before reaching her fifty in 40 balls, which enthralled the sell-out crowd at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. "That step out six off Rajeshwari (Gayakwad). That was good. And also the late cut I've played, which I don't usually play.

"It's just that there's no pressure batting with her. We are getting those boundaries, singles, there's no pressure. Like almost eight to ten runs per over easily we were getting. We wanted to continue that as long as possible so that we can get a good total on the board," she added.

Meghana also appreciated the crowd for their support towards RCB playing their first home match of WPL 2024. "It (the fans' support) really got me pumped up. I don't know, like I was in a completely different zone. There's nothing I could hear. It was just me and the ball. Yeah, it's obviously RCB. I have been always a huge RCB fan, me and my sister, from the last ten years, so it was really a nice feeling playing here."

After the stunning batting display from Meghana and Richa, Asha Shobana Joy dismissed Vrinda Dinesh and Tahlia McGrath in the span of three deliveries in the ninth over. She then took out Shweta Sehrawat, Grace Harris and Kiran Navgire in the 17th over to end with figures of 5-22, registering the first five-wicket haul taken by an Indian bowler in the WPL.

Meghana remarked Asha had been a matchwinner throughout and the WPL is now providing her a massive platform to showcase her talent in front of a wide audience. "I have known Asha for the last 15 years. She has been such a great bowler. I think it's a great platform for her to show her potential and she's doing it brilliantly."

"So she's always been a match winner. We play for South Central Railway team as well, so, yeah, even there she used to be like, she's a really good match winner for us and, yeah, I think she's just doing what she's used to do," she concluded.

RCB's next match will be against Gujarat Giants at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.
Washington, Feb 25 : More Russian soldiers have likely died while seizing Donetsk town of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine, than in the entire Soviet-Afghan war, Institute for the Study of War said in its latest report as the Russia-Ukraine war marked its second anniversary.

"Ukrainians are weary and worried that US military assistance will cease, but they continue to fight with determination, ingenuity, and skill. Ukraine's air defence forces are dropping Russian planes from the sky while Ukrainian drone and missile operators sink Russian ships," the assessment said on Saturday.

Ukrainian soldiers are fighting for their positions against Russian "meat assaults" using drones in novel ways as well as the artillery, tanks and traditional weapons of war available to them.

The Ukrainian Air Force will receive its first F-16s in the coming months, and Ukraine's European allies are racing to make good deficiencies in other war material, it added.

The US military assistance remains essential -- only the US has the resources to give Ukraine right now what it most needs. If the US, in the end, withholds that aid, then the situation can become grave indeed, the assessment said.
Putin

Western Europe has broken free of direct Russian oil imports for good in a blow to Vladimir Putin, research by the European energy consultancy Rystad suggests.

Analysts found that the UK and much of Europe have reversed a years-long rise in reliance on Russian oil and gas before the Ukraine conflict, shifting instead to other suppliers such as the US and Canada.

Jorge Leon, Rystads senior vice president for oil markets, said: I think people underestimated how flexible the energy system is.

Just before the war, just the idea of, were going to stop buying oil and gas directly from Russia, would have been crazy. But it has largely happened.

According to Eurostat, in 2020 imports from Russia made up 39pc of the gas used in the European Union, 23pc of oil imports and 46pc of coal imports.

The UK relied on Russia for about 30pc of its diesel, 27pc of its coal and up to 10pc of its gas  which arrived partly on ships as liquid natural gas (LNG) and partly via trans-European pipelines.

On official figures this has now fallen to practically zero.

It is thought that quantities of Russian fossil fuel have still been arriving via refineries in other countries, although Mr Leon  who will be speaking at International Energy Week in London this week  said that the overall amounts are still diminishing.

Mr Leon said the key to breaking Russian dominance had been a surge in supply from other sources which were also outside Opec, the cartel of mainly Middle Eastern countries to control supply and prices.

He said: Non-Opec supplies do not usually grow that much but 2023 was a massive year.

The stars aligned and you had new projects come in from Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Norway, and so on. So that saved us in a sense.

And then you look at the US, growth has continued very, very strongly through 2023.

The economic slump that hit the UK and Europe since 2022 had also played a role, by decreasing overall energy demand.

Mr Leon said: Demand in the OECD [a group of rich developed countries] has actually decreased last year and likely in 2024. So in a sense, we were kind of lucky that our economic growth in 2023 was lower.

Story continues

Cutting off Russian supplies has, however, proven a slow task. Mr Leon warned that some of the apparent decline in trade with Russia could be illusory  because the Kremlin was selling more crude oil to countries like India.

There, it could be processed into products like diesel that could be sold on to the UK and Europe.

He said: Oil that was initially flowing from Russia into Europe is now going to China and India, from where suppliers are shipping to Europe.

The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, which tracks Russian energy exports by value and destination, estimates that Russia has earned 605bn (517bn) from fossil fuel exports since February 2022 when it invaded Ukraine. About 188bn of that money came directly from EU countries.

Ashley Kelty, director of oil and gas research at Panmure Gordon investment bank, said the UK had halted direct imports of oil from Russia but the reality was more complex.

He said: The UK was dependent on Russia for diesel fuel  30pc came from Russia pre sanctions. This has been replaced by Russian diesel refined in India and China, and therefore outside sanctions.

The EU was very reliant on Russian gas  about 40pc of all gas used came from Russia. This has been replaced by US LNG and by demand destruction through two mild winters and the collapse of German industrial demand.

So the reliance on Russia is largely broken but they still remain important to global supply, as China and India buy much of their products now  albeit at large discounts. If they were forced to exclude Russia, then there would be another energy crisis with huge shortfalls in crude and LNG supplies.

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Trump has not yet responded to PM Zelensky's invitation to visit Ukraine: FM. Image Source: IANS News

Kiev, Feb 25 : The Ukrainian authorities have not yet received a response to an invitation to visit Ukraine from former US President Donald Trump or his team, media reported on Sunday.

According to Ukrinform news agency report, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this in an interview with a US media portal.

"There are political signals that come publicly from US presidential candidate Donald Trump. There are public signals coming from the President of Ukraine. We have not heard a response to the invitation from Trump himself or his team. If there is a response, we will consider it," he added.

According to Kuleba, the main thing now is to understand that the key for Ukraine should not even be maintaining bipartisan support, but support at the level of voters, Ukrinform news agency reported.

"Because American politicians follow their voters," the Minister said.

As reported by Ukrinform news agency, in January this year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky invited former US President Donald Trump to visit Kiev after the latter promised to stop the war "very quickly" if he won this year's election.
There is substantial scope for entrepreneurship in tourism sector: Haryana CM. Image Source: IANS News

Gurugram, Feb 25 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said that there is substantial scope for entrepreneurship within the tourism sector of the state.

"There are immense employment opportunities in the hotel business," the Chief Minister said while inaugurating the OYO Accelerator program in Gurugram.

Commending the Aarambh Accelerator program initiated by OYO to foster new entrepreneurs, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that this initiative will effectively promote and support budding entrepreneurs.

He said that it does not take long for any small work to prosper and grow.

He said that the government is continuously making efforts to ensure that the young generation moves forward with zeal and enthusiasm and that employment opportunities continue to be available to the youth.

He said that the government will provide full support to those starting their own business.

"We must progress by exploring new ideas and options. The government's primary objective is to foster young entrepreneurs in partnership with private institutions," he said.

Highlighting Haryana's significant contribution to India's startup ecosystem, the Chief Minister said that the transparent employment opportunities available to youth are based on merit.

OYO Founder Ritesh Aggarwal said that this is an opportune time for startups in Haryana.

He also emphasised to engage Haryana's youth in this endeavour and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for the government's support.
Damascus, Feb 25 : An Israeli airstrike killed three civilians in Homs province in central Syria on Sunday.

According to reports from the Al-Watan newspaper, the attack targeted two civilian vehicles in the Al-Qusayr area of southwestern Homs.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack killed two Hezbollah members, Xinhua news agency reported.

The airstrike is the latest in a series of Israeli attacks in Syria. Israel has recently carried out assassination attempts against individuals involved with Iranian militias.

The Observatory said in a report on Sunday that Israel carried out 16 attacks on Syria since the beginning of 2024.
Bhopal, Feb 25 : India's Paris Olympic quota holders had a field day on the first finals day of the National Rifle/Pistol Selection Trials 3&4, with West Bengal's Mehuli Ghosh and Haryana's Anish Bhanwala claiming gold at the M.P. State Shooting Academy ranges here on Sunday. Army marksman Ganga Singh bucked the trend in the day's final event, winning the men's 50m rifle 3 position (3P) with plenty to spare.

Bhopal, Feb 25 (IANS) Indiaas Paris Olympic quota holders had a field day on the first finals day of the National Rifle/Pistol Selection Trials 3&4, with West Bengalas Mehuli Ghosh and Haryanaas Anish Bhanwala claiming gold at the M.P. State Shooting Academy ranges here on Sunday. Army marksman Ganga Singh bucked the trend in the dayas final event, winning the menas 50m rifle 3 position (3P) with plenty to spare.

The two national rifle and pistol selection trials go on till March 1 with each day having three finals scheduled, barring the last two days which have two each.

Mehuli first winner of the day

Mehuli Ghosh was the first winner of the day and of this round of trials, qualifying for the top eight with a characteristically solid 631.5 in the first 60-shot round. Tamil Naduas R. Narmada Nithin topped with 632.5.

In the final, Mehuli was joint-third behind Punjabas Jasmeen Kaur and local favourite Ashi Chouksey after the first five-shot series. She went down to fourth in the middle and only got back to that position after the 16th single shot with Jasmeen and Ashi still 1-2.

Thereafter she shot 10.7 or above in five of her last eight shots, the 17th being a perfect 10.9, to pip Ashi by 0.1 and finish with 251.6. Jasmeen settled for third with 229.9.

The menas 25m rapid fire pistol (RFP) event just emphatically reinforced Anish Bhanwalaas stature as Indiaas number one RFP shooter as he cantered home with a 32-hits in the six-man 40-shot final. Army marksman Gurmeet was a distance behind with 29 hits while Rajasthanas Bhavesh Shekhwat was third with 22.

Anish had earlier topped qualification over two days with a total of 589 with Gurmeet again way behind in second with 583. Ankur Goel who was the final qualifier was a dozen points behind Anish.

No stopping Ganga Singh

In the final event of the day, the menas 50m rifle 3 positions (3P), Ganga Singh representing the Army Marksmanship Unit, stunned the field with a sumptuous display. His final score of 458.5, was a huge 4.1 ahead of Goldie Gurjar, another local hope who came second best on the day.

Navyas Saurav Gorakh Lagad was third in a final that had all shooters from the Services besides Goldie. Ganga had earlier qualified third with a score of 581
Bhopal, Feb 25 : Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday appealed to the voters in Madhya Pradesh to give all 29 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP in the upcoming general election.

"I appeal to the people of Madhya Pradesh to give all 29 Lok Sabha seats this time to BJP to make PM Modi stronger," the Home Minister said while addressing a public rally in Khajuraho.

He said that those Congress leaders who are feeling suffocated or sidelined are welcome to join the BJP. "Those who are not respected in Congress and want to join the BJP, they should be welcomed," the Home Minister said.

He said that BJP has to increase 370 votes at every booth to register a massive victory in the upcoming elections.

In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 28 out 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh while in 2014, it had won 27 seats in the state. The party has set a target to achieve 370 seats in the upcoming general elections.

The only Lok Sabha seat that the BJP lost was in Chhindwara, the bastion of veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. His son Nakul Nath won Chhindwara despite a massive wave of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Home Minister Amit Shah is on a day-long visit to Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. Before addressing a public rally in Khajuraho, the Lok Sabha constituency being represented by the State BJP President V. D. Sharma, the Home Minister reviewed poll preparation for Parliamentary seats in Gwalior-Chambal region.

After attending the booth committee conference at the Mela Ground in Khajuraho, the Home Minister will reach Bhopal to interact with prominent citizens.
Patna, Feb 25 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate various projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore in Bihar.

He said that PM Modi will visit Bihar on March 2.

"The opposition leaders have always alleged that PM Modi did not give anything to Bihar. I want to inform them that he is going to virtually inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various projects worth Rs 2 lakh crores within the next ten days," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He said that PM Modi will virtually inaugurate projects in health and railway sectors.

"The Prime Minister will then visit the state on March 2. He will hold programmes and rallies in Aurangabad and Begusarai districts. He will also inaugurate various projects in these two districts," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also visit the state separately in coming days ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
Aizawl, Feb 25 : Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, during his maiden visit to Mizoram, will address the ongoing budget session of the state Assembly on February 26, officials said.

An official said that the Vice President, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, would address the state assembly on Monday after attending the 18th convocation of Mizoram University (MZU) at Tanhril on the outskirts of Aizawl.

Dhankhar, who will be the second Vice President after M Venkaiah Naidu to address the state Assembly, will arrive on Monday on a dayas visit to the northeastern state and will return to Delhi after attending the two events.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Chinese Police have started wide-scale, rigorous interrogations of Tibetans arrested for protesting against a dam project, beating some of them so badly that they required medical attention, the media reported.

On February 23, Chinese Police had arrested more than 1,000 Tibetans -- both Buddhist monks and local residents -- of Wangbuding township in Dege County of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province, in central China, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported.

The detainees were "slapped and beaten severely each time they refused to answer important questions", a source told RFA, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"Many had to be taken to the hospital," the source said.

Since February 14, monks and residents had been peacefully protesting the planned construction of the Gangtuo hydropower dam on the Drichu River, known as Jinsha River in Chinese.

The dam will force two major communities to be relocated and submerge several monasteries, including the Wonto Monastery, famous for ancient murals dating back to the 13th century, RFA reported.

"One of the monks from Wonto Monastery was among those who had to be immediately rushed to the hospital because he had been beaten so badly that he could not even speak," the first source said. "He also had many severe bruises on his body."

Many of those arrested were being held in a police station in Upper Wonto while many others were being held in an old prison in Dege County.

The detainees are being held in various other places throughout Dege County as the police do not have a place to detain more than 1,000 individuals in a single location, RFA reported.

"In these detention centrrs, the arrested Tibetans were not given any food, save for some hot water, and many passed out because of the lack of food amid the freezing temperatures," the second source told RFA.
The border area that connects Southern California and the northern portion of the Mexican state of Baja California has a regional gross domestic product of around $250 billion. (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Shifting supply chains boost trade in California-Baja mega-region; Union Pacific opens expanded Phoenix intermodal terminal; Radiant Logistics expands air cargo operations in Texas; and avocado workers in Mexico file labor complaints.

Shifting supply chains boost trade in California-Baja mega-region

Foreign companies looking to diversify their supply chains have increasingly been choosing Mexicos northern and central states in recent years.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the evolving global trade flows has been the so-called Cali-Baja mega-region, the border area connecting Southern California and the northern portion of the Mexican state of Baja California.

This kind of movement and trend started after the pandemic, where the companies started decoupling, fragmenting their supply chains, putting their eggs in different baskets for production, Bertha Martinez-Cisneros, a logistics professional and educator, told FreightWaves. These companies decided to start looking for places around the world. I think that in the case of Mexico, and especially Baja California, its kind of like the stars aligned, because we have a very privileged geography.

Martinez-Cisneros is the coordinator of the bachelors degree program in international logistics at the Center for Technical and Higher Education, a private university in Mexicali, Mexico, in Baja California. In addition to teaching, Martinez-Cisneros has held management positions in international logistics and operations for Acer Inc. and Sony Corp. in Mexico.





Baja California is on the border with the United States, but we also have the coastline along the Pacific, so we can receive shipments directly from vessels from China, Martinez-Cisneros said. We are also very close to Los Angeles and Long Beach, which are the main ports in the U.S., and one of the main ports in the U.S. for receiving raw materials and products from Asia.

Story continues

The Cali-Baja mega-region is the most extensive integrated economic region along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a 2022 study from the University of San Diego. The region comprises the two southernmost counties in California (San Diego and Imperial) and the Mexican cities within Baja California (Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito, San Quintin, Tecate and Tijuana).

In 2020, the Cali-Baja region boasted a regional GDP of around $250 billion and an estimated $70 billion in cross-border trade flows, the study said.

Additionally, the Otay Mesa port of entry connecting Tijuana to San Diego, California, processes nearly 1 million commercial trucks annually. The state of California is currently constructing the Otay Mesa East-Otay II border crossing, which will also be just south of San Diego.

Otay Mesa East-Otay II will develop a new U.S.-Mexico border crossing three miles east of the original Otay Mesa port of entry. It will include 10 lanes, five for passenger vehicles and five for cargo transport. More than $1 billion has already been slated for construction.

Otay Mesa East-Otay II, which began construction in August 2022, is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

Martinez-Cisneros said the trend of companies nearshoring their manufacturing facilities to Mexico has also benefited the region.

Our geography is something that helps a lot in the case of nearshoring because companies see they can just ship goods from China, Singapore, Taiwan, other countries in Asia using ocean vessels, and we can receive the merchandise here in Mexico in Baja California, at facilities such as the Port of Ensenada, Martinez-Cisneros said.

The Port of Ensenada is a commercial seaport and cruise terminal about 90 miles south of San Diego. It handled 462,183 twenty-foot equivalent units, a 6% year-over-year increase compared to 2022, according to Mexican authorities.

In Baja California, we have been receiving companies from the U.S. or from other countries for a long time, Martinez-Cisneros said. In Mexico, Baja California is probably in third place for receiving foreign investment right now.

Martinez-Cisneros said while Mexicali is the capital of Baja California, its the border city of Tijuana that has received the largest investments and foreign factories in the state.

Tijuana is one of the cities that received the most investments, from manufacturing, from warehousing, for logistics service and everything, Martinez-Cisneros said.

Reynosa was the Mexican city with the most commercial real estate demand from firms nearshoring operations in the country in 2022, followed by Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and Monterrey, according to data from Newmark, a New York-based commercial real estate advisory and services firm.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico totaled over $36 billion in 2023, 2% more than 2022, according to data from Mexicos National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

From January through September, FDI investment reached $1.1 billion in Baja California, accounting for 3.6% of the national total, which placed the state in 9th place in attracting FDI across the country.

Mexicos manufacturing sector attracted the most FDI last year at over $18 billion. In Baja California, the manufacturing industry absorbed almost 70% of the FDI in 2023. Additionally, approximately $7 out of every $10 invested in Baja California came from the United States (70.8%), followed by Japan with 15.7%.

The INEGI report said that 956 maquiladora factories currently operate in Baja California, of which 621 are located in Tijuana, followed by Mexicali with 151 maquiladoras and 184 in the city of Tecate. Maquiladoras are mainly located along the border and are defined as a factory in Mexico run by a foreign company and exporting its products to the country of that company.

The commercial occupancy rate in Tijuana is somewhere around 98%. Last year, we received a lot of companies coming from different places around the world, especially Asia, for manufacturing, also looking for places for storage like warehouses, because they are sending assembly of parts or the finished products across the border.

Martinez-Cisneros said there are some obstacles and hurdles that are hampering the regions continued growth, including a shortage of truck drivers and the need for more transportation infrastructure.

What we need as a country is to find a solution for truck drivers; we dont have the operators here in Mexicali, here in Baja California. That is something that is the headache of all of the companies and not only from the transportation companies, but also for the manufacturing companies, Martinez-Cisneros said. Because we have the trucks, we have the containers, we have the boxes, but we dont have the drivers.

Union Pacific opens expanded Phoenix intermodal terminal

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) recently expanded its intermodal terminal in Phoenix, providing customers a rail option between West Coast ports and the Southwest. The terminal opened on Feb. 1.

Union Pacifics new Phoenix Intermodal Terminal is an expansion of our Phoenix yard near downtown to support working and staging intermodal trains, Union Pacific spokesman Mike Jaxien told FreightWaves. It was built to service round-trip international containers moving between Southern California ports and Phoenix, and we have the ability to expand.

Jaxien said the facility sources international shipping containers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, as well as Union Pacifics intermodal container transfer facility in Long Beach.

Duncan & Son Lines, a logistics firm in Buckeye, Arizona, will provide drayage support at the facility. The company focuses on international container drayage from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Our collaboration with Duncan & Son Lines reemphasizes the value of a truck-rail transportation solution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75%, Jaxien said. Union Pacific estimates this new service product could help shippers avoid more than 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, through the movement of tens of thousands of import and export containers each year.

Radiant Logistics expands air cargo operations in Texas

Radiant Logistics recently opened a location in San Antonio that offers U.S.-Mexico freight forwarding services through the companys service-by-air (SBA) network.

The San Antonio operation will use Radiants technology platform, purchasing power and global network to provide domestic, international and U.S.-Mexico cross-border freight forwarding and logistics services, according to a news release.

Mark and Rebecca Sweat will lead Radiants SBA-San Antonio location.

We are very excited to be joining Radiant and the SBA network, Mark Sweat said. With Radiant, we believe we have found a unique opportunity to leverage our own strengths along with the capabilities of the Radiant network to bring additional value to our customers here in South Texas.

Radiant Logistics is a third-party logistics company, providing global transportation and logistics services primarily to customers in the U.S. and Canada.

Avocado workers in Mexico file labor complaints

Workers from the RV Fresh guacamole manufacturing facility in Michoacan, Mexico, filed a labor complaint under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on Wednesday.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said the complaint was filed under the USMCAs rapid response labor mechanism.

The petition alleges violations of workers rights to freely associate and collectively bargain, following a collective bargaining agreement legitimation vote on June 23, which confirmed the MP Union as the representative union at RV Fresh.

According to the petition, officials at RV Fresh have since refused the MP Union and its leadership access to the RV Fresh facility.

RV Fresh officials have also interfered with the selection of union delegates and used intimidation tactics to undermine the unions organizing activities, the petition said.

Any action that undermines workers rights to organize and negotiate collectively is contrary to the core objectives embedded in the USMCA and Mexicos labor laws, Thea Lee, deputy undersecretary of labor for International affairs, said in a news release.

USTR has 30 days to review the claim and determine whether to bring the case to the Mexican government for further review.

More articles by Noi Mahoney

Trump-supporting truckers boycott loads to New York City

Border bridges blocked as former rail workers seek back pay

329 layoffs hit freight-related firms in Texas

The post Borderlands: Shifting supply chains boost trade in California-Baja mega-region appeared first on FreightWaves.
Hyderabad, Feb 25 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha has told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that she will not be able to appear before it in the Delhi excise policy case and requested it to revoke or withdraw the notice.

She wrote to the central agency that it had issued fresh notice by invoking Section 41A CrPC came while not "being aware or conscious of the earlier notice sent under Section 160 CrPC".

A day before she was directed to appear before the agency, Kavitha requested the CBI to keep the notice in abeyance in view of her engagements in the run-up to Parliamentary elections.

"In the light of my pressing onerous engagements coupled with my commitment to the people of my state and taking into consideration the necessity of my personal presence in my state while the parliamentary elections are underway, your good self may consider keeping such notice in abeyance," wrote Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council.

"I may also beseech your good self to consider the entire matter with objective understanding and appreciation regarding my onerous engagements, duties and responsibilities towards the people of my state with whom I am scheduled to attend several one to one personal meetings in the next about 6 weeks or so spread over different districts in the state thereby rendering me practically incapable of appearing before you in person on 26.2.2024," reads the letter by Kavitha, daughter of BRS President and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

The former MP, however, conveyed to the central agency that if it required her to answer any queries or questions or to seek any information from her, she shall be always available to appear through any virtual mode.

"I express my grave dismay and concern that your good self has chosen to send me a Notice under Section 41A of CrPC. when about one year and 3 months back on 2.12.2022, the then Investigating Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, CBI ACB issued me a similar Notice under Section 160 CrPC.

"Since I have absolutely no role to play in any of the accusations, the CBI does not need my assistance any longer in the matter as the case is entirely sub-judice before the court of law. Present notice under Section 41A CrPC. is in complete contrast to the earlier notice under Section 160 CrPC. which was issued to me on 02.12.2022 and which already stands complied with.

"There is absolutely no logic, reason or background forthcoming as to how, why and under what circumstances have you now resorted to Section 41A Cr.P.C," Kavitha asked.

"When the matter is sub-judice before the Hon'ble Supreme Court albeit in respect to the PMLA case arising out of the connected investigation, wherein a definite statement has been made by the learned ASG that I may not be summoned until the hearing, the same would in essence and spirit apply to the present case as well," she added.
Srinagar, Feb 25 : Four terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT were arrested in J&K's Kulgam district and arms and ammunition recovered from their possession, police said on Sunday.

A police official said that the Kulgam police, along with the army and the CRPF, busted a LeT module and arrested the four terrorist associates, identified as Zahoor Ahmad Pandit, Basir Hussain Pandit, Imtiyaz Gull, and Gulzar Ahmad Khar, all residents of Wanpora.

A pistol, two pistol magazines, 20 pistol rounds, four UBGs, 24 INSAS round have been recovered from them.

"Further investigation in the case is going on. More arrests and recoveries are expected in the case," the police official said.
Barcelona, Feb 25 : Global technology brand Honor on Sunday introduced AI-powered Magic6 Pro smartphone along with human-centric intent-based AI and a suite of smart devices with global partners.

During its keynote, the company not only announced the global launch of the Magic6 Pro, but also MagicBook Pro 16, that are equipped with platform-level AI to empower human-centric experiences.

"We are delighted to announce the global launch of the new Honor smartphones and AI PC with industry-leading AI capabilities, while breaking boundaries in human-device interaction," said George Zhao, CEO of Honor Device Co, Ltd.

The company unveiled MagicOS 8.0, the latest version of its Android-based operating system that introduces fully empowered platform-level AI and the industry's first intent-based UI.

Honor has brought on-device AI with open-source LlaMA 2 inside the Magic6 Pro, which can complete functions such as Q&A, text creation, and reading comprehension in an offline environment.

The company debuted an improved 'Falcon Camera System' powered by an AI model trained with a database that is 28 times larger over the previous generation.

The Magic6 Pro includes 'AI Motion Sensing Capture', an advanced AI capture algorithm that effortlessly predicts and captures decisive moments in ultra-high definition, said the company.

In addition to its durability, the Magic6 Pro features an industry-leading 6.8-inch low-power 'LTPO Eye Comfort Display', delivering an exceptional viewing experience.

The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, bringing a 30 per cent improvement in CPU performance and a 25 per cent increase GPU performance to the new devices.

The Magic6 Pro will be available in Black and Epi Green colours, starting at 1,299 euros.

Available in white and midnight black, the MagicBook Pro 16 will be available starting from Q2 2024. The Honor Pad 9 will be priced at 349 euros.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : It has been a milestone decade for the BJP since 2014 with a literal turnaround in the perception of it being an upper-caste party to being most socially representative of all political formations in the country today.

Most parties are busy redeeming their religion and caste pledges, but the BJP is moving ahead on an agenda of inclusivity, focusing on winning over the marginalised sections of the society.

The BJP is clear about its agenda: appeal to the weaker communities by extending welfare schemes and giving due recognition to those historical figures who have been forgotten over the decades.

The party has also strategically brought alive remarkable personalities who were rooted in the hearts of millions of Indians, but somehow were fading away from public memory as a result of certain political prejudices.

The initiative to develop 'Panchteerth', commemorating five significant places connected to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, awarding the Bharat Ratna to Bihar's forgotten former Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, iconic Kisan leader and late PM, Chaudhary Charan Singh, veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani and legendary agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan, PM Modi-led government's aim has been to reach out to all.

PM Modi's repeated visits to places connected to revered figures such as Sant Ravi Das are significant as they connect with the sentiments of a huge population of Dalits.

The naming of Ayodhya airport as the 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham' pays homage to the sage who composed the epic Ramayana.

The BJP is clear in its agenda to make inroads into the marginalised sections and increase its presence among them.

The BJP's rising vote percentage all across the country in elections, from the panchayats and municipal bodies to state assemblies, to the Lok Sabha, is a result of the party's strategy.

It has become a major cause of worry for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's detractors, who have been trying hard to stir up caste feelings in their favour.

Last year, when the BJP won the Assembly elections in three big states, a sizeable percentage of OBCs and SCs/STs voted for the party. The results in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh came as a shock to the Congress and the rest of the opposition but it brought home the reality that the marginalised sections of the society have aligned with PM Modi's BJP.

What appears today as progressive strategy for the BJP has its roots in the plans pursued with the ascendancy of PM Modi on the national stage.

At the core of the strategy are policies focusing on the uplift and development of SCs/STs and OBCs. The best step has been PM Modi taking it upon himself to facilitate a tighter embrace between the BJP and these marginalised sections.

Validating this argument are numbers that show how PM Modi's initiatives are helping maintain the BJP's cross-caste coalition and nation-first ideology.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, around 34 per cent of Dalits voted for the BJP, compared with 24 per cent in 2014. A similar change has also been seen in the OBC vote.

In the 2023 Assembly elections in four states, the constituencies reserved for SCs saw a swing in favour of the BJP.

Of the 98 of these reserved seats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, the BJP won 57 and the Congress got 40. The Bahujan Samaj Party, whose primary base used to be the Dalits, performed miserably with an overall vote share of less than 4 per cent in each state.

The BJP's performance in the Reserved constituencies has seen a gradual rise and can only be termed as remarkable. Currently, 131 Lok Sabha seats are Reserved, of which 84 are for the Scheduled Castes and 47 for the Scheduled Tribes.

The BJP won 77 seats in 2019 elections and 67 in 2014. The Congress could win only 10 constituencies in 2019.

This is significant in view of the usual narrative being floated by the opposition that the BJP is primarily an upper-caste party. They seem to be unable to come to terms with the fact that a sizeable chunk of the BJP voters are now from the backward and marginalised castes.

Since 2014, a plethora of pro-poor schemes have been launched and the biggest beneficiaries have been the Dalits, OBCs and tribals.

The PM has himself said that "the biggest achievement of his government in the last ten years is to bring 25 crore people out of poverty".

The PM Modi government in the past decade has provided a range of schemes to the poorer sections, majority from the Dalit and other backward sections -- free ration, bank accounts, cooking gas, toilets, electricity, housing, water and direct cash transfers.

PM Modi, who himself is an OBC, has brought about a sea change in the BJP's reach among different communities and castes.

The opposition, Rahul Gandhi in particular, while trying to raise the caste pitch, seems to be ignoring the fact that results have repeatedly exhibited the mindset of the masses.

A growing number of people, especially the youth, want to rise above caste, community and religious divides, and PM Modi has touched a responsive chord with them.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)
Barcelona, Feb 25 : Human Mobile Devices (HMD) on Sunday partnered with Mattel, a leading global toy company, to create the Barbie Flip Phone that will arrive this summer.

The device promises to embody the vintage chic of the original girl empowerment brand with a dash of pink and of course, sparkle, said the company.

"We're thrilled to partner with Mattel, a company that shares our commitment to meaningful innovation and societal change," said HMD chief marketing officer, Lars Silberbauer.

Flip phones are beloved for offering a solution for a digital detox in a world where almost four in ten (38 per cent) of 16-24 year-olds worry they spend too much time on their smartphone.

Feature phones are making a comeback with HMD reporting Flip Phone sales alone more than doubled in Europe (2022 vs 2023) and expects further growth in 2024.

"The Barbie x HMD launch promises to be an exciting moment for Barbie fans of all ages, we're excited to flip the switch and unveil it to the world at Mobile World Congress," said Ruth Henriquez, head of consumer products, publishing, and LBE, Mattel EMEA.

The company has also announced early plans for a new development platform called "HMD Fusion."
Amethi, Feb 25 : With Congress MP Rahul Gandhi remaining non-committal on contesting from Amethi Lok Sabha seat, the people in traditional grand-old party's bastion is now rooting for the other Gandhi -- Varun Gandhi.

Ever since Rahul Gandhi lost the election from Amethi in 2019 to BJP's Smriti Irani, he has shown no interest in reclaiming his 'family constituency'.

Rahul is now a Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad in Kerala and if sources are to be believed, Rahul would prefer to seek election from Wayanad again.

If Priyanka Gandhi contests the Lok Sabha elections, she is also likely to choose Rae Bareli over Amethi.

An indication to this effect was already made in a letter that Sonia wrote to the people of her constituency earlier this month in which she said, "I know that you will stand by me and my family in future, just as you have in the past."

Ram Karan Singh -- a veteran Congressman who started his career with late Sanjay Gandhi -- said that Amethi's relationship with the Gandhi family began when Sanjay Gandhi won the seat in 1980.

"Time seems to have come full circle now and there are talks that Varun is likely to contest from Amethi in case Rahul Gandhi does not agree to contest. If that happens, we all will be delighted," said Ram Karan Singh.

When Varun contested the Lok Sabha election in 2014, he had made it a point to reach out to all veteran Congress leaders who had worked with his late father and despite the political differences, they all responded whole-heartedly and welcomed Varun with open arms.

Sources said that the BJP is unlikely to give a ticket to Varun Gandhi who is known to have been highly critical of the party's policies.

"Varun can shift to Amethi while Maneka Gandhi may go back to Pilibhit where she continues to enjoy a strong base. Varun is likely to contest as an independent with the Congress and Samajwadi Party supporting him. Varun enjoys good relations with Akhilesh Yadav," said a source close to Varun Gandhi.

Incidentally, Maneka's constituency Sultanpur has a strong contender from BJP in Rajeshwar Singh, former ED official-turned-politician.

Rajeshwar Singh, who belongs to Sultanpur, is MLA from Sarojini Nagar assembly seat in Lucknow but has been working overtime in Sultanpur. He is said to be in the good books of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Agartala, Feb 25 : Tripura's main opposition party, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), will block the National Highway 8, the state's lifeline, on February 28 in protest against the Central government's "procrastination" in implementing constitutional solutions for the indigenous population, party leaders announced here on Sunday.

The TMP has been demanding 'Greater Tipraland' or a separate state for the tribals and the party supremo and former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman on Saturday threatened to launch for a fast unto death hunger strike soon if the Centre does not accept his party's demands at the earliest.

TMP President Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl on Sunday said that the blockade on the National Highway 8 would start on February 28 and Deb Barman would also likely to start his hunger strike on the same day.

Hrangkhawl, a former militant leader-turned-politician, while talking to the media, emphasised the party's frustration with the Central government's prolonged delay, alleged that the Union government deliberately delaying in addressing the aGreater Tipralanda demand under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, and fulfilling the constitutional rights of the tribals.

Meanwhile, Deb Barman urgently went to New Delhi on Sunday and he is likely to hold meetings with either Central ministers or Home Ministry officials to further discuss the TMPas demands.

Deb Barman, who held a series of meeting with the Central government officials, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Tripura counterpart Manik Saha and senior BJP leaders for the past more than one year to fulfil the TMP's demand, said: "I am ready to die for the cause of the tribals. My only target is to resolve the economic and constitutional problems of the tribals."

In an audio message, he accused the Central government of depriving the tribals of their Constitutional rights.

After the TMP wrested the power in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in April 2021, the party intensified their agitation in support of their aGreater Tipralanda demand, which has been strongly opposing by the ruling BJP, opposition CPI-M led Left Front, Congress and Trinamool Congress and other parties.

The TTAADC, which has a jurisdiction on over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area, and is home to over 12,16,000 people, of which around 84 per cent are tribals, is, in terms of its political significance, second most important constitutional body after the Tripura Assembly.

Political pundits said that both the TMP and the IPFT, to capitalise the tribal vote bank, raise tribal-centric demands like upgradation of the TTAADC as a separate state for the tribals even though they fully aware that such demand would never be fulfilled.

The TMP, in its maiden electoral battle, fielded 42 candidates, including 20 on tribal reserved seats, in the last year's Assembly polls, and bagged 13 seats and 19.69 per cent votes as it highlighted its demand for 'Greater Tipraland State'. After the February 16, 2023, Assembly polls, the TMP became the second single largest party after the BJP and got the main opposition party status in the state.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Feb 25 : Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday hit out at INDIA bloc and referred to them as 'Kauravas', saying all the seven political parties are contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections only to launch their next generations.

Referring to the opposition alliance as 'Kauravas', the Home Minister said that the difference is very clear as on one side are Pandavas, who are fighting to make India a superpower, and the other side are Kauravas, who have always played politics of appeasement.

"The leaders of all these seven parties (INDIA bloc) have nothing to do with the people of the country but their family comes first for them, and they are making all efforts to launch their new generations," the Home Minister said while addressing a gathering prominent citizens, experts and families that have benefited from schemes of the state and Central governments at Bhopal's Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in Bhopal.

He said that the upcoming Lok Sabha election will be between 'pariwarvaad' and the vision and progress of the BJP.

"This upcoming election will not only be to elect a new government but to hand over the country's future in safer hands," the Home Minister said.

He was on a day-long tour to Madhya Pradesh where he visited Gwalior, Khajuraho and Bhopal.

Earlier in the day, addressing BJP workers in Khajuraho, Shah urged them to aim for an increase of 370 additional votes in each booth compared to the last general polls.

"This initiative is part of the party's strategy to secure more than 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," he said.

The Home Minister also pointed out the difference between the 10 years of UPA regime and the years of PM Modi's government.

He also counted a series of scams which unfolded during the UPA government, and claimed not a single scam has been reported in the last 10 years of the PM Modi's government.

During his visit to Gwalior, the Home Minister conducted individual meetings with selected party leaders and activists to assess the ground situation.

During these sessions, strategies were discussed on how to secure victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Home Minister encouraged BJP workers to aim for a significant increase of 10 per cent in the party's vote share during the elections and also highlighted the importance of broadening support and strengthening the party's electoral position.
Mumbai, Feb 25 : The film business has always been attracting talent as well as entrepreneurs from all over India. This is equally true in the regional film industry and in the Hindi film industry.

There are reports that some new entrepreneurs are entering the film business in the production of films and, mainly, film distribution. This is not new. The film industry has always survived on money from outside.

No filmmaker who earns from his hit films ever ploughs his earnings back into future productions. It is either borrowed money, or money from new sources.

Those were the days of independent producers who made films that used to be then distributed by companies operating circuit-wise.

It was an arrangement that worked very well, just like any other business where a distribution firm passed from one generation to another. In the same manner, production companies carried on the business for years, hits or flops notwithstanding. It was normal for every filmmaker to have regular distributors film after film. If a film flopped, the producer compensated for it in the next film. It was a 'bhaichara' (brotherhood) kind of arrangement; sink or swim together.

The circuits boasted of dozens of distribution firms. Even small circuits such as Rajasthan, Central India (CI), and so on, counted many distribution firms. Where are they now, the traditional filmmakers and distributors?

How the film business is conducted changed dramatically when corporate backers of film production entered the scene. Some foreign production companies and a few local corporate houses thought they could do this business as well as the traditional distributors.

Filmmaking budgets went skyrocketing after the arrival of corporate houses. They were not used to thinking small. The filmmakers and the stars adapted instantly to the idea and the actors who charged in lakhs, started demanding and getting crores! The worst was yet to happen. The multiplex chains started deciding the release strategy of films. The traditional distributors, who knew the pulse of the people, were sidelined.

A film that did best by being released across 100-120 screens was suddenly spread to 500 screens and later to as many as 4,000 or more screens. These corporates and the multiplexes thought only in crores. Admission rates in the Rs 5 to Rs 10 range rose to Rs 100-plus to now anything from Rs 300 to Rs 1,600 and even Rs 2,200 per person.

The age-old idiom seems to be playing out: Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs!

The circuit-wise distribution trend changed to simultaneous all-India release of films. Some reputed production houses, which did not want the fate of their films to be in the hands of know-nothing marketing kids of multiplex and corporate houses, decided to hold back.

Yash Raj Films was one of them. They, instead, kept faith in their traditional distributors, giving them the rights to exploit their films on YRF's behalf or through their own offices in major circuits.

Pen, in league with Murudhar Films, is another old-time firm and Rajshri Pictures, which always had its distribution network across India, continues to function independently.

As things stand today, there are about a dozen all-India film distributors. And, to think that once upon a time, there were twice or thrice that number across all circuits.

Even in the new scheme of things, the martyrdom rate has been high. Those who joined the corporate-style new distribution system and closed shop are Eros, NH Studioz, Ashtavinayak, Dar Motion Pictures, Percept Pictures, Foxstar Studios, Mukta Arts and Cinekorn.

There is some good news, though. Some new investors are stepping in. And for the industry that has always survived on outside investments, it is most welcome news.

The Ullu group, which already has its presence in the OTT domain, now plans to enter film production as well as the all-India distribution business. The rank newcomer is Oswal, the knitwear clothing house from Punjab. A group of ex-staffers of Hollywood studios, who did business in India, soon folded up. Some of these ex-staffers have joined hands to launch a film distribution business on a pan-India basis.

The other two are PVR and Cinepolis. Though they are in the film exhibition business, both will acquire films for nationwide release. PVR was already in the business but its distribution activity was limited to the Delhi-UP circuit, which will now be expanded.

In these times, the new filmmakers who know nothing about the industry, especially distribution, and have yet to venture into making a film, end up contacting lone wolves who offer to book a desired number of screens, say 300 to 600, so the film can be released. Charges range anywhere from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for the favour!

The end is usually tragic for the newbie filmmaker. There are no buyers for their films and the exhibitors have scant interest in their films.

Pay Rs 99: Come One, Come All

This time, the cinema chains are not waiting for an occasion like the National Cinema Day, which they observed in the last two years. The footfalls at the cinemas are so scarce that they coined a new occasion, Cinema Lovers' Day on February 23 and 24. On these two days, all tickets were priced at Rs 99 for all shows. This offer, as usual, excluded the reclining- and premium-format sections.

What is different this time is that the days of the offer happened to be Friday and Saturday, when two new films were released: 'Crakk' and 'Article 370'.

Whenever such offers come, the public flocks to the cinemas. Yet, multiplex managements refuse to understand that it is the high admission rates they charge that deter people from coming to the cinemas.

Imagine, if they rationalised the ticket rates permanently, it would be like the good old days.
Kolkata, Feb 25 : Ajit Maiti, a Trinamool Congress leader from the unrest-struck Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, has been rescued by the police after he locked himself in his house for over four hours as he was being chased by a group of local women on Sunday. He was detained by the police after he was persuaded by the cops to come out of the house even as an angry crowd assembled outside his residence.

The allegation of the local women against Maiti is that, like two other arrested Trinamool Congress leaders -- Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar, he was also responsible for the oppression of women for a long time. He has been accused of being involved in illegal grabbing of farmland, converting it into pisciculture farms by flowing in saline water and sexually harassing the local women.

According to police sources, Maiti, for now, was only detained. Later, he might be arrested.

On Sunday, two members of the West Bengal Cabinet, state irrigation minister Partha Bhowmik and the state fire services minister Sujit Basu went to Sandeshkhali to address a public religious function.

After learning that Maiti would also attend the function, the local villagers, mainly women, chased him.

Maiti swiftly ran back to his residence and locked himself in his room.

Even as the police made all attempts to persuade the villagers to move away from the place, the villagers did not relent, and continued assembling on the doorsteps of Maiti's residence.

Eventually, when the people calmed down a little, the police intervened.

The police personnel persuaded Maiti to come out of his room. After he stepped out, he was detained and was taken to the police station.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Travis Perkins is UK7.36 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Travis Perkins' UK7.56 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

Our fair value estimate is 13% lower than Travis Perkins' analyst price target of UK8.42

Does the February share price for Travis Perkins plc (LON:TPK) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. 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 Travis Perkins

The Method

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK156.3m UK162.1m UK148.4m UK140.3m UK135.7m UK133.2m UK132.1m UK132.1m UK132.7m UK133.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Est @ -8.46% Est @ -5.43% Est @ -3.31% Est @ -1.82% Est @ -0.78% Est @ -0.06% Est @ 0.45% Est @ 0.81% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 9.8% UK142 UK134 UK112 UK96.6 UK85.1 UK76.1 UK68.8 UK62.6 UK57.3 UK52.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK888m

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 (1.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.8%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK134m (1 + 1.6%)  (9.8% 1.6%) = UK1.7b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK1.7b ( 1 + 9.8%)10= UK658m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK1.5b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK7.6, 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.

dcf

Important 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 Travis Perkins 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 1.484. 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 Travis Perkins

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Trade Distributors market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 4 years.

Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the British market.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Travis Perkins, there are three important elements you should assess:

Risks: We feel that you should assess the 2 warning signs for Travis Perkins we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for TPK's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the LSE 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.
Kolkata, Feb 25 : West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Sunday announced will flag off its campaign for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls with a mega rally at Brigade Parade Ground here on March 10.

Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee will be the principal speakers at the rally.

Party insiders said that at the rally, the leadership, including both the Banerjees, will mainly highlight the issues of pending central dues to the state government under various central-sponsored schemes with focus on the 100-day job scheme under MGNREGA and the housing scheme under PMAY.

Before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Trinamool organised a similar mega rally at Brigade Parade Ground which was attended by top leaders from the national parties like the Congress as well as the regional parties from other states.

Incidentally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit West Bengal in March only and in all probability he will address a rally somewhere in North 24 Parganas district either on March 6 or on March 7.

He is expected, in this address at the proposed rally, is expected to highlight the recent development at Sandeshkhali in the same district over the protests by local women accusing local Trinamool leaders of sexual harassment and violence against them. Political observers are of the opinion that the Trinamool has deliberately chosen March 10 as the date of their mega rally so that the issues highlighted by the Prime Minister can be also countered there.
Navy, Air Force led by women in the parade: Arjun tank, Nag and BrahMos missiles included in the parade. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 25 : The DRDO on Sunday handed over 23 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOT), across the domains of electronics, laser technology, armaments, life sciences, materials science, combat vehicles, naval systems and aeronautics, to 22 industries, an official statement said.

The Defence Ministry statement said that these include manufacturing of carbon/carbon aircraft brakes for LCA Tejas, 100 m floating infantry foot bridge, 40 mm high-explosive anti-personnel (HEAP) grenade for UBGL, full trailer of 70t tank transporter for MBT Arjun Mk-1A, expendable mobile solar-heated shelter, NMR-supercapacitor, weaponisation of hand-held thermal imager with LRF, and high-pressure water mist fire suppression system.

Secretary, Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, Dr Samir V Kamat, was present at the handover at a DRDO-Industry Meet during the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024 at Pune, it said, adding that the products based on these DRDO technologies will further boost the defence manufacturing sector and self-reliance in defence, it said.

The DRDO handed over SAMAR (System for Advance Manufacturing Assessment and Rating) -- a benchmark to measure the competency of defence manufacturing enterprises -- certificates to nine Industry partners.

Addressing Industry partners, Dr Kamat iterated DRDOas commitment to provide all technology support towards the development of Indian defence industries for realisation of Aatmanirbhar Bharat as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He elaborated that the recent success of DRDO products have not only made the country more self-reliant in defence technology but also provided immense opportunities to the industries in defence manufacturing sector.

He further stressed that the industries are invaluable partners and it is an apt time for an Indian industry to take advantage of the latest initiatives and policies of the Government and make the country a hub of defence manufacturing.
Kolkata, Feb 25 : West Bengal's Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday raised objections with the Election Commission over the list of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers proposed by the state for posting in other states as "Police Observers" during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

According to him, the state government has deliberately chosen the names of those IPS officers who have unbiased images, the reflections of which could be felt both during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.

"It has come to my knowledge, through reliable sources, that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has prepared a list of IPS officers and submitted it to the Election Commission for getting them posted in other states as Police Observers during the time of Lok Sabha Elections," he said.

The Leader of the Opposition noted that in 2019 and 2021, these officers were assigned responsibilities by the EC to carry out election duties after replacing certain officers against whom complaints were filed.

"So, they have acquired much needed experience in the last two important elections. So my request to EC to kindly reject this list presented by Mamata Banerjee because as and when the situation demands, they won't be present in the state in the first place, if the EC feel necessary to assign them any responsibility," he said.

He has also furnished a list of IPS officers starting from the rank of Director General to that of Superintendent of Police, whose names have been proposed by the state government to the EC for assignments as "police observers" in other states.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 25 : A major fire broke out at the Ordnance Factory Badmal (OFBL) in Balangir district of Odisha on Sunday. No casualty, however, was reported.

It took almost two hours for the in-house fire service department of the ordnance factory to completely extinguish the fire.

"Some unserviceable explosive materials which are supposed to be destroyed were kept at the storage. Fire suddenly broke out at the store with a small explosion. Our in-house fire service unit rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. No casualties occurred as the regular staff were not present on the premises as it's a Sunday," said D.C. Patnaik, PRO, OFBL.

Patnaik said the actual reason behind the incident can only be ascertained following an enquiry.

Meanwhile, Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo, the Superintendent of Police, Balangir said that the OFBL authorities have initiated an internal enquiry to find out the reasons behind the incident.
Sanaa, Feb 26 : A man was killed and six members of his family were injured in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz in the latest airstrikes by the US-British forces, a media report said.

Following the Saturday's overnight airstrikes, Yemen's Houthi-controlled Saba news agency on Sunday said "the American-British aggression airstrikes targeted the communications networks in the Shamir area of Maqbanah district, and in Haifan district", both in Taiz province.

It also reported other airstrikes on a farm in the Abs district in the northwestern province of Hajjah, and more than a dozen of airstrikes in the capital Sanaa targeting several well-known military positions.

The US Central Command on Sunday said on social media platform X that its forces and allies on Saturday targeted 18 military positions of the armed Houthi group.

"The targets included Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter," it said.

These strikes are intended to "degrade Houthi capability and disrupt their continued reckless and unlawful attacks" on international commercial and US and British vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, the US Central Command added.

In response, the Houthis issued a televised statement following the US-led coalition airstrikes, in which they claimed responsibility for new missile and drone attacks they launched on Saturday against what the group said "a US oil tanker and navy ships", vowing for more, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Houthis have controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah since the Yemeni civil war erupted in late 2014.
Some writers have a lucky pen. Others a trusty notebook. Erik Larson has his weird monkey lamps. The pair of matching bronze lampseach featuring a Capuchin monkey with a mischievous starelook like props from The Wizard of Oz or a 1940s noir and sit in the office of Larsons Manhattan apartment, on opposite ends of the wood dining table that serves as his writing desk.

These lamps are my favorite thing in here, Larson says over Zoom, patting one of the monkeys. He also has a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man figure and a straw lemur, among other curiosities, that remind him to have fun while working. His daily routine includes eating a Double Stuf Oreo at his desk each morning (Its 60 calories I dont need, but its a ritual) and having drinks when the day wraps. At five oclock, I hit a bell on my desk, turn on my Spotify playlist, and have a cocktaila martini or a Manhattanwith my wife. To me, writing isnt a job. I love it.

The bestselling author of nine thrilling books, Larson has a unique power to animate history and make it accessible. His workswhich have sold more than 10 million copies, according to his publisher, Crown, and have been translated into 35 languagesinclude The Devil in the White City, the Edgar Awardwinning story of the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair and the serial killer H.H. Holmes; The Splendid and the Vile, about Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz; and his sole work of fiction, the standalone audiobook No One Goes Alone, a ghost story about a 1905 expedition to investigate paranormal activity.

Larsons latest, The Demon of Unrest, out in April, concerns the five-month period between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the beginning of the Civil War, and focuses on the back-and-forth push between Union and Confederate forces for control of Fort Sumter near Charleston, S.C., which was fired upon by the Confederates in April 1861, igniting the larger conflict.

Larson was inspired to write the book after reading old documents about the run-up to the war. I went down the rabbit hole and never came out, he says. Ive stated numerous times that Id never write a book about the Civil War. Well, never say never!

A page-turner rich with period detail, The Demon of Unrest aims to capture the ticktock of Americas march toward fratricide, Larson says, as it delves into the lives of key figures including Maj. Robert Anderson, the beleaguered officer who tried to keep Fort Sumter out of Confederate hands; Mary Boykin Chesnut, a Southern socialite; and Edmund Ruffin, a trigger-happy Virginia slaveholder keen on secession. My ideal reader is someone who knows little about the Civil War, Larson adds, and whos coming to the book because theres the promise of a good story.

To tell the story, Larson dug through archives and private communications and visited the Charleston Historical Society, where he examined fliers advertising slave auctions and bank documents that listed Black people as collateral. The most important, vivid, and horrifying thing was going though those records, he recalls. He was struck by the banality of evil that permeated Southern life.

He also visited Fort Sumternow a tourist destination. I thought it was going to be like the Chateau dIf in The Count of Monte Cristo, a scary fortress. But it was nothing like the gloomy experience I was hoping for.

While Larson worked on the book, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capital happenedand it left him unsettled. The past had come to life in an unpleasant way, he says. I realized then that this book is very much a story of the present.

Amanda Cook, Larsons editor, praises the author for his ability to illuminate historys biggest moments. Erik thinks like a novelist even though each sentence is meticulously fact-checked, Cook says. He makes great use of primary source materials overlooked by historians. Hes also just a lot of fun.

Larsons literary agent David Blackwhom Larson calls his forever menschechoes Cooks sentiments. I adore Erik, he says. When I read The Demon of Unrest I was transfixed. Its a kaleidoscopic view of this world and a testament to Eriks talent.

Born in Brooklyn in 1954 and raised on Long Island, Larson was a studious kid with a big smile and a flair for drama. My friends and I used to do chemistry experiments trying to reanimate dead ants, he remembers. I spent half my childhood burning sulfur over a Bunsen burner to create smoke for the backdrop for our cap gun play.

Larson made his first attempt at a novel in junior highit was inspired by Nancy Drew books and featured a sex scene. After earning a journalism degree from Columbia University in 1978, he wrote for newspapers and magazines and kept pushing to do longer pieces. In 1983, he met his future wifea doctor with whom he has three daughterson a blind date, and, after a couple of broken engagements (I was a classic noncommitting male, he admits), got married in 1985.

Since the publication of Larsons first book, The Naked Consumer, in 1992, his wife has been his invaluable first reader who marks up his manuscripts with smiley faces and zzzsfeedback he relies on. My wife is exactly the audience I seek for my books, he says. This isnt for scholars; its for people who want to come to a world new.

Larson, a fan of Alfred Hitchcock and Dashiell Hammett, writes with a cinematic touch that has made him popular in Hollywood. Most of his books are in various stages of film and television development, notes Jason Richman, Larsons agent at United Talent Agency, including No One Goes Alone, which is being made into a movie. Erik puts everything into his work, Richman says. He tells emotional stories set against large backdrops and always takes a human approach.

When Larson isnt writinglately hes been tinkering with a psychological thrillerhe enjoys cooking and checking in on his adult daughters, to whom he sends anxious dad alerts, reminding them to stay safe. The lowest point of dad alerts came after I read about a sea otter attacking a woman and sent a dad alert to avoid otters, he says.

Larsons humor and sense of wonder enliven his books and help him to connect readers to the larger world. I love using real-life material to tell a story, he says, leaning against his table with the matching monkey lamps. I want to sink a person into an era, and suspend their knowledge of what happens next.

Elaine Szewczyks writing has appeared in McSweeneys and other publications. Shes the author of the novel Im with Stupid.

This article has been updates for clarity.
With English as a shared language, there is a natural relationship between the American and British publishing industries. Most of the worlds top publishing companies, be they conglomerates or independent publishers, have operations in each country, typically in New York City and London. Literary traffic travels both ways across the Atlantic.

As English has become the de facto literary lingua franca around the world, American and British publishers seek out the same audiences at home and abroad and often challenge each other for rights. English has also become a global gateway language for translation, and books from U.S. and U.K. publishers are often used as conduits to other languages. For example, a Japanese publisher might use the English translation of a Greek novel as the basis for translation.

Neither the U.S. or U.K. has an overall advantage in this friendly competition. Instead, the industries often have a symbiotic relationship and learn from each other. Consider bookselling: the largest U.S. bookstore chain, Barnes & Noble, is now run by James Daunt, an Englishman who also runs the U.K.s dominant chain, Waterstones, as well as a modest chain of independent stores in London. Daunt has brought U.K. high street bookselling philosophy to middle America, implementing a cleaner design, stricter curation, and multi-buy promotions. In the U.K. independent booksellers have thrived, in part by adopting the aggressive buy-local marketing strategies introduced to them by the American Booksellers Association. And the U.S. has given the U.K. Bookshop.org, the first online bookstore that is a viable competitor to Amazon (another American export).

Readers discover books and authors simultaneously across marketsKathleen Farrar

Strategic collaboration

There has also been a healthy exchange of bestsellers between the two countries. Take Bloomsbury as an example: when the company published Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, launching the series for which it is best known, it sold U.S. rights to Scholastic. Today, the company has established its own fast-growing operation in the U.S. and has a string of hits on both sides of the Atlantic. These include the romantasy novels of American author Sarah J. Maas. At the end of January, the latest Maas novel, House of Flame and Shadow, reached #1 on Amazon in the U.S. and the U.K., as well as in Australia, France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden.

Kathleen Farrar, managing director of group sales and marketing at Bloomsbury in London, says that Maass success did not come overnight and was the result of careful cooperation. It took over 10 years of working closely between the global offices, resulting in a massive worldwide campaign, year after year, with huge growth driven through this coordinated and simultaneous operation, Farrar notes. With rising globalization due to social media we know that readers discover books and authors simultaneously across markets.

Coordination also helped turn Tomi Adeyemis Children of Blood and Bone series into a bestseller in the U.S. and U.K. for Macmillan. There were weekly progress meetings, a shared consumer strategy, and a global digital marketing approach, says Belinda Rasmussen, managing director of Macmillan Childrens Books at Pan Macmillan in the U.K. There are always more opportunities for transatlantic collaboration. Perhaps the days are gone when childrens publishers think something is too American to be published in the U.K. All those years ago, Diary of a Wimpy Kid showed us how that was no longer true. Our commissioning editors have full freedom to buy from whoever they want.

We love doing joint rights acquisitions Bella Pagan

Publishers without borders

There is a growing trend among literary agents, especially those from the bigger agencies, to split up territorial rights as much as possible, but multinational publishers often prefer acquiring world English rights to streamline production and amplify sales. How rights acquisition and sharing is handled varies by company.

At Simon & Schuster, for example, if the U.S. office acquires world English rights, it gives the U.K. office a period of exclusivity to assess the submission. If we pass on a project submitted to us by the U.S. and rights are not snapped up by another U.K. publisher, then we clear a selective number of copies from S&S U.S. for import into the U.K., explains Suzanne Baboneau, managing director of adult publishing at Simon & Schuster UK She adds that when both sides of the Atlantic are excited about a title and theres a risk of being outbid by a competitor, the two offices sometimes bid together. In many instances the U.S. and U.K. offices might share the costs of a rights deal so that we can win world English or, even better, world rights.

Bella Pagan, publisher at Pan Macmillan UKs Tor imprint, says, We love doing joint rights acquisitions, where U.K. and U.S. editors coordinate at the acquisitions stage to buy from the agent, or we might acquire U.S. authors from the Macmillan rights team after a U.S. acquisition. This in no way prevents us from buying books without sister company involvement. But as publishing becomes ever more international, and social media platforms viewed by a global audience, sharing strategy and cover visuals makes so much sense.

Perminder Mann, CEO of Bonnier UK, concurs. There are many instances of titles where rights are sold to a North American publisher, or vice versa, and published simultaneously in the U.K. and U.S., which requires extremely close collaboration across editorial, marketing, and publicity, Mann says. In an age of social media and digital marketing, a simultaneous launch for a book can be incredibly effectivea joint approach and combined effort on both sides of the Atlantic can amplify the reach of a book exponentially.

This kind of collaboration demands that staff in London travel to New York and to international book fairs often to meet with colleagues, Mann adds, calling in-person meetings absolutely necessary to maintaining relationships.

Networking between North American and British publishers is a vital part of the global English-language publishing scene, whether between sister companies or between independent publishers, says Juliet Mabey, publisher at Oneworld. I find working closely with U.S. editors very beneficial, and our email discussions usually include the author and sometimes the authors agent too. I not only share editorial notes with editors across the pond when we are co-editing, but also frequently discuss publicity, marketing plans, and key dates, as well as sharing new endorsements and reviews.



editorial passion, vision, and connection Partnerships always depend on sharededitorial passion, vision, and connection David Shelley 

U.S. publishers active in the rights trade often travel to London for the London Book Fair, while U.K. publishers routinely plan trips to New York City, often in September, in order to seal deals prior to the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.

David Shelley, CEO of Hachette Book Group, understands the need to traverse the Atlantic regularly, having in January been put in charge of the companys U.K. and U.S. operations. Shelley, who now divides his time between New York and London, says, Successful transatlantic publishing partnerships always depend on shared editorial passion, publishing vision, and close connection. Part of the purpose of our management structure is to help forge closer connections to develop and deepen relationships across all departments and make the most of our global presence.

The world has become flat, says Valentina Rice, v-p of sales and marketing at Bloomsbury USA. A success in the U.K. can soon become a success in the U.S. and vice versa.

Neill Denny is the joint editor of BookBrunch. Ed Nawotka is the senior international and bookselling editor at PW.

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The London indie press started with a focus on nonfiction, but in the past decade has published three Booker-winning novels.

Jessica Kingsley's Strategy for LGBTQ Publishing

An editor explains how publishing LGBTQ books poses unique opportunities and challenges when books are published on both sides of the Atlantic.

S&S UK Looks Ahead

After its parent company was sold to private equity, the British subsidiary carries on with confidence.

DK Celebrates 50 Years

The British illustrated reference publisher continues to reinvent itself a half-century onand has used its anniversary milestone as a catalyst for examining new opportunities.

Barbicans American Ambitions

Martin Goodman, publisher of Barbican Press, describes his move from the U.K. to Los Angeles and the challenges of breaking into the U.S. market with transgressive and radical books.

Advice for Americans Working with Brits

A U.S.-based publishing exec for John Murray Press offers five pieces of advice on working with colleagues in the U.K.

For Watkins Media, No Niche Is Too Small

Watkins Medias head of marketing says that its unique titles, which span many categoriesincluding the occult several counterculturesare finding success in the U.S.

Michael O'Mara's Many Roads to the U.S.

Michael O'Mara's U.S. sales and marketing director describes the companys strategies for engaging the U.S. market, which includes mining a niche for books about the royal family.

Footnote Press Finds Meaning in the Margins

The managing director of the publishing startup describes her disruptive agenda and promises a list of "strong, game-changing voices."

This article has been updated to correct errors.
Jesmyn Ward Re-ups with Scribner Two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward has signed a three-book, world English rights deal with her longtime editor, Scribner editorial director Kathryn Belden. Rob McQuilkin of Massie & McQuilkin negotiated the deal. The first book is an essay collection, On Witness and Respair. Scribner said the collection, which will be published in 2025, will highlight Wards most important short nonfiction work, including the title essaya National Magazine Award finalist first published in Vanity Fairabout the loss of her partner in 2020. The essay collection will be followed by two novels, set for publication in 2027 and 2029.

Summit Returns with Buzzworthy Debut

In the first acquisition for the newly relaunched Summit Books, publisher Judy Clain has preempted world English rights to Rob Franklins Great Black Hope. Executive editor Laura Perciasepe will edit. The deal was brokered by Ellen Levine and Audrey Crooks at Trident Media Group. Summit called the book a propulsive, glittering debut novel about race, class, addiction, and love in all its complicated forms, adding that it follows a young Black man caught up in the elite underbelly of East Coast privilege after the mysterious death of his close friend and his arrest for cocaine possession ignite a stunning chain reaction. Publication is planned for 2025.

Cross Sells Historical Romance to Europa

Europa Editions editor-in-chief Michael Reynolds has acquired North American rights to Amanda by H.S. Cross (Grievous). Alice Tasman at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency negotiated the deal. Tasman said the novel is set in 1920s London and tells a love story involving two damaged young people: Marion, who has escaped an abusive husband, and Jamie, who has returned from World War I shell-shocked. Publication is set for fall 2025.

Princeton Takes Time with BBCs Al-Khalili

Ingrid Gnerlich at Princeton University Press has acquired world rights to An Exploration of Time, by BBC host and author Jim Al-Khalili. The deal was handled by Patrick Walsh of PEW Literary Agency. Princeton said the book is the outcome of a major international research project called The Arrow of Time, led by Al-Khalili in collaboration with leading theoretical physicists and philosophers of physics, and will offer readers a cutting-edge understanding of the laws of physics that will forever change the way we think about the passage of time and our place within it. An Exploration of Time will be published in 2025.

Atria Buys Prouts Radical Argument

Jenny Xu at Atria has preempted world rights to Life and Death in the Loop, by Chicago Reader reporter Katie Prout. Atria called the book a radical argument for reevaluating housing and drug policies in America, outlined through the lives of seven unhoused individuals searching for stability and survival in Chicago and through the lens of the authors own family experiences with addiction and economic precarity. Prout was represented by Danielle Bukowski at Sterling Lord Literistic. Atria will publish the book in fall 2026.

Bantam Lands Crumps Fiction Debut

Bantam executive editor Jenny Chen has acquired North American rights to two novels by prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The deal was negotiated by Georgia Bodnar at UTA and Cameron S. Mitchell from the Artistry Collective. Bantam said the as-yet-untitled books are the first in a new crime fiction series featuring Beau Lee Cooper, a Black civil rights attorney who tackles heart-wrenching cases of corruption and injustice while celebrating Black love, joy, and resilience. The publisher added that the books will emphasize the power of blood ties, community bonds in the face of violence, and will offer hope for a better future. A publication date for the series has not yet been announced.
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The entrance to Zorba's Taverna on Stafford Street in Worcester boasts a portrait of former area restauranteurs and the in-laws of Nusa Dimopoulos.

97

Zorba's Taverna closed earlier this month after 11 years of serving longtime customers at 97 Stafford St. The restaurant never got back to regular hours after COVID-19. Its been hard to find help, prices have gone up, former owner Nusa Dimopoulos said. Dimopoulos sold the building to an undisclosed owner, with no plans announced for a reopening. The building that housed Zorba's was built in the 1960s and originally housed a Waldorf cafeteria. After the Waldorf chain folded, it housed various restaurants over the decades, including Beefsteak Charlie's, Papeete, Bickford's and Christo's before Zorba's moved in.

The former Harding Tire building in Worcester is the future site of Kava Bar.

180

A bar serving a nonalcoholic drink known for its relaxing qualities is planned for the location of the former Canal District institution, Harding Tire Co. The License Commission approved a common victualer license for the planned Root Awakening Kava Bar at 180 Harding St. After remaining open for over 90 years as a family business, Harding Tire Co. closed in 2022. Root Awakening Kava Bar opened its first location in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 2022. The bar sells kava, a nonalcoholic beverage made from the piper methectic shrub with origins in the South Pacific.

The Big Y on Mayfield Street in Worcester.

10

Big Y Foods is investigating a string of credit card skimming incidents at several locations across the state, including the Worcester and Southbridge locations. The Springfield-based supermarket company said that an individual used a device on single terminals across 10 of its locations between Dec. 19 and Dec. 21, and at a location in Westfield between Dec. 19 and Jan. 12. A spokesperson for the Worcester Police Department said it's investigating a call regarding a skimming incident on Dec. 19 from the Big Y on Mayfield Street. Locations hit by the thief are Springfield, Chicopee, Northampton, Ware, Milford, Wilbraham and Ludlow.

CMSC Driving School Road Test Examiner Justin Morrison of Shrewsbury.

$250,000

Less than a year into its contract with the state Registry of Motor Vehicles to administer road tests for applicants seeking state Class D drivers licenses, Central Massachusetts Safety Council Driving School, based in West Boylston, claims the agreement was terminated four months short and has asked its attorneys to demand it be reinstated without prejudice. The driving school received notice at the end of last month that its contract would be terminated as of March 1, 2024. The school, which had invested $250,000 to meet the contract specifications, opened testing centers in Worcester, Avon and Framingham, each staffed with four examiners.

Story continues

St. Vincent's Hospital

500

Nurses at St. Vincent Hospital delivered a petition recently to hospital leadership to demand that they fix problems including a severe shortage in staff that nurses claim endanger patients' lives. The hospital called the accusations "unfounded." The nurses union claims St. Vincent dropped from more than 800 nurses to around 500, with more than 250 pending vacancies. St. Vincent is owned by for-profit Tenet Healthcare based in Dallas. Tenet reported a gross profit of $15.9 billion in 2022 with an operating income of $2.5 billion in the same year, according to reports. Tenet also owns MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. by the Numbers
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(Bloomberg) -- The CFA Institute is working to expand its membership network in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia a key focus as the country opens up its financial markets and looks to diversify its investment industry.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The non-profit educational organization for chartered financial analysts aims to double the number of members in the kingdom to about 1,000 over the next three years, while also growing the pool of candidates by 20% a year, said Marg Franklin, its president and chief executive officer.

The country has about 1,800 candidates planning to sit for CFA exams this year.

The push comes as Saudi Arabia reforms its financial system in an effort to advance the banking and insurance industries, evolve its capital markets, and encourage more startups.

Read more: How Saudi Wealth Fund Aims to Build a Post-Oil Future: QuickTake

In doing so, the kingdom seeks to draw local workers into finance professions and lure more foreign investment, part of efforts to diversify its income streams away from oil.

Most of this is really around trajectory and direction, Franklin said at the CFA Institutes Middle East Investment Conference in Riyadh on Sunday.

When you look at the last five years, the ambition is clear, she said. Its a young population and they know the most important levers that will help it to become a more diversified, resilient economy and much bigger global player.

Read More: Saudi Bourse Says Foreigners Missing Out on Peer-Beating Returns

The CFA is considering offering added certifications in Arabic and is exploring ways to incorporate more training on Islamic finance, where its seeing high demand, Franklin said.

Story continues

Theres a unique opportunity in Saudi Arabia as the country aims to draw more women into the workforce in line with its Vision 2030 agenda, Franklin added.

As they are beginning efforts to have a more inclusive workplace with regards to the type of talent and the inclusion of more women, we think theres quite a bit we can do, Franklin said.

Read more: CFA Level I Pass Rate Drops to 35% as Deferrals Hurt Results

Saudi Arabia currently has 520 CFA members, of whom about 12% are female, said Fahad Kordi, a CFA board member and head of investments and structured finance at Banque Saudi Fransi. Thats up from 8% in 2022.

The female membership rate was next to nil before the kingdom undertook key initiatives in 2017 and 2018 to promote womens rights, including allowing females to drive and open businesses without the consent of a male guardian. Khlood A. Aldukheil, now CEO of Erteqa Financial Company, became Saudi Arabias first female CFA member in 2003 and was the only local woman to hold the certification until 2015.

While the CFA declined to give specific pass rates for its exams in the Middle East, about 44% of global candidates were successful in the Level II test in November. Some 35% passed Level I. Both rates are below the historical 10-year average.

The CFA societies of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on professional development in the finance industry.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Michael Thurmond, a Georgia politician and the current CEO of DeKalb County, discussed his newly released book titled James Oglethorpe, Father of Georgia: A Founders Journey from Slave Trader to Abolitionist and held a book signing at the Athens-Clarke County Library on Feb. 25.

The auditorium was flooded with people as Thurmond gave an overview of the book, mainly discussing the history of colonial Georgia and its founder, James Oglethorpe.
Jose Antonio Ibarra was booked into Clarke County Jail on Friday night in connection to the homicide of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley.

Ibarra was charged with seven felony counts  malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping and concealing the death of another. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of hindering a 911 call and failure to appear for a fingerprintable charge.

Diego Jose Ibarra, Jose Antonio Ibarras brother, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was also arrested on Friday night. Diego Ibarra was charged on one misdemeanor count for possession of fraudulent identification and on a felony count for an agency hold by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday admitted that at least 31,000 soldiers have died in the ongoing war with Russia, CNN reported.

IMAGE: File photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) with US President Joe Biden. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

This statement comes one day after marking the second anniversary of Russia's 'full-scale invasion' in 2022.

Zelenskyy, while addressing a press conference, disputed Russian claims of much higher numbers when it comes to Ukrainian casualties.

The Ukrainian president also said "tens of thousands of civilians in occupied parts of the country" have been killed.

Ukraine's battlefield losses are a closely guarded secret, but US officials estimate some 70,000 soldiers have been killed -- and nearly twice that number wounded, as reported by CNN.

Notably, this statement is significant as throughout the conflict, Kyiv has been hesitant to admit how many soldiers have been killed.

Former Ukraine Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in June 2022 that he believed tens of thousands of Ukrainians had been killed since February of that year. But two months later, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, then the head of Ukraine's armed forces, said 9,000 troops had been killed.

Russia, meanwhile, has lost a staggering 87 percent of the active-duty ground troops it had prior to the invasion, CNN reported citing a source familiar with a declassified US intelligence assessment.

The Ukrainian President further said that he has hope for gaining additional military aid from the US.

"I have hope for the US Congress, and I am sure it will be a positive solution," Zelensky said at the press conference on Sunday.

"Otherwise, I don't understand which world we live in -- definitely a different world. That is why we count on the US Congress. They know we need their support through the months ahead, and I met senators and bipartisan representatives."

This comes as US President Joe Biden on Saturday, urged House Speaker Mike Johnson and members of Congress to return from a two-week break and pass much-needed aid for Ukraine.

The speaker, on the other hand, has resisted calls to bring a Senate-passed aid package up for a quick vote -- a move that would almost certainly spark a revolt from some members of his own party. While visiting Ukraine last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also called on House Republicans to pass the aid bill.

Zelenskyy also stated that there is "no alternative" but to win the war against Russia.

He thanked Ukrainians for their 'resilience' throughout the conflict thus far, and suggested a peace summit in Switzerland could take place in the spring.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held the core group meeting of five states on Saturday at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

IMAGE: BJP president J P Nadda during a meeting with the election in-charges and co-incharges of all states ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections, in New Delhi on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

Given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the core group meeting of five states was called at the BJP headquarters.

The meeting was led by BJP president J P Nadda in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and organisation general secretary B L Santosh.

First of all, the meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Core Group was organised. During this meeting, Shah, Nadda and Santosh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brijesh Pathak, UP Organisation Minister Dharampal Singh and others were present.

According to sources, in the meeting, there was a discussion regarding the lost seats. A special strategy was made for the Rae Bareli and Mainpuri seats. There was also a discussion regarding MLC elections.

In the second phase, the West Bengal Core Group meeting was organised. State president Sukanta Majumdar, Suvendu Adhikari and others were present at this meeting.

According to sources, 42 Lok Sabha seats were specifically discussed in the meeting. The vandalism that took place in Sandeshkhali was also specifically discussed with Shah and other core group members who were present in the meeting.

Majumdar said, "PM's proposed rally is scheduled to be held in Arambag district on March 1. His rally on March 2 is proposed in Krishnanagar. He will address both rallies and dedicate several schemes to the public."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 from West Bengal, where the BJP is keeping a close eye on 35 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal.

In the third phase, a meeting of the Telangana Core Group was called. In this meeting, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, D K Aruna, Dr K Lakshan, Bandi Sanjay and Atla Rajendra were present.

The BJP will contest alone for 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. It has four MPs in Telangana. The strategy to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with a majority and review the lost seats were discussed.

In the fourth phase, a meeting of the Chhattisgarh Core Group was called. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo and other leaders were present at this meeting. There was a discussion about new faces in the meeting.

The BJP discussed fielding Schedule Tribes (ST) in four seats. Separate discussions were held on Korba and Bastar (seats the BJP lost in 2019), and discussions were held on new faces in Janjgir, Mahasamund, Raipur, Kanker and Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seats.

The core group meeting may be held again on February 27-28.

In the fifth phase, a meeting of the Rajasthan Core Group was called. The meeting took place at the Delhi BJP headquarters for more than an hour. The meeting was held in the presence of J P Nadda and Amit Shah.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy Chief Ministers Diyakumari and Premchand Bairwa, state in-charge Arun Singh, co-in-charge Vijay Rahatkar, and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, leaders Rajendra Rathod, and Satish Poonia were present in the meeting.

A discussion was held in the meeting regarding all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Candidates can be declared for 7-9 seats in the first list by the party.
The February 27 Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh will witness a high-pitched electoral battle ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, with the Bharatiya Janata Party fielding eight candidates and the Opposition Samajwadi Party three for the 10 seats up for grabs.

Photograph: / Rediff.com IMAGE: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav holds a mace with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he joins the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, in Agra, February 25, 2024. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also seen.

The outcome of the polls to the Rajya Sabha is likely to have an impact in the politically crucial state just ahead of the general elections in the country.

The ruling BJP and the principal opposition SP have the numbers to send seven and three members respectively unopposed to the Rajya Sabha, but with the BJP fielding Sanjay Seth as its eighth candidate, a keen contest is on the cards in one of the seats.

Seth, a local industrialist and former SP leader, joined the BJP in 2019.

He filed his nomination in the presence of deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and other senior party leaders.

Voting for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats will be held on Tuesday and the results will also be announced the same day.

The BJP and the SP are the two largest parties in the 403-member state assembly with 252 MLAs and 108 MLAs respectively.

The Congress, an alliance partner of the SP, has two seats. BJP ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) 13, NISHAD Party six, Rashtriya Lok Dal nine, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party six, Jansatta Dal Loktantrik two and the Bahujan Samaj Party one.

Four seats are currently vacant.

The seven other candidates fielded by the BJP are former Union minister RPN Singh, former MP Chaudhary Tejveer Singh, general secretary of the party's Uttar Pradesh unit Amarpal Maurya, former state minister Sangeeta Balwant (Bind) party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, former MLA Sadhna Singh and former Agra mayor Naveen Jain.

The SP has fielded actor-MP Jaya Bachchan, retired IAS officer Alok Ranjan and Dalit leader Ramji Lal Suman.

To get elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, a candidate needs nearly 37 first preference votes, an official said.

Elaborating further about the Rajya Sabha elections, Returning Officer Brijbhushan Dubey said, "A candidate will need 36.37 first preference votes to register a win. At present, there are 399 MLAs in the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly."

Asked whether the three jailed MLAs will also be able to vote in the Rajya Sabha elections, Dubey told PTI that it would be decided by the court and the political party concerned.

SP MLAs Irfan Solanki and Ramakant Yadav and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party legislator Abbas Ansari are in prison.

Dubey further said that MLAs will enter from gate 7, take ballot papers from room 80 and head to Tilak Hall to cast their votes.

"Polling will be held from 9 am to 4 pm. Counting will commence from 5 pm and results are likely to be announced on Tuesday night," he added.

Exuding confidence in the BJP's performance in the Rajya Sabha elections, Maurya told PTI, "All BJP candidates will register a win in the Rajya Sabha elections."

Chief whip of the Samajwadi Party in the legislative assembly Manoj Pandey said all SP MLAs will be voting for the party's candidates in the Rajya Sabha election.

Asked if one of the SP candidates may eventually fall short by one vote, Pandey said, "How will we fall short? Our people had contested (the 2022 UP Assembly elections) from the SBSP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal. And, basically, they are from the SP."

Although Pandey exuded confidence that MLAs of the SBSP and the RLD will vote for the SP candidates, both parties have joined the BJP-led NDA.

Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) leader Pallavi Patel, an ally of the Samajwadi Party, had earlier said that she would not vote in the Rajya Sabha polls as she did not agree with the SP decision to field Bachchan and Ranjan.

Speaking to PTI on Sunday, she said, "I will be voting in the Rajya Sabha elections. That is my right and my duty. But I have not decided yet who will be the candidate."

On whether the two jailed SP MLAs would be casting their votes, Pandey said, "The party is making efforts to bring them to Lucknow so that they can cast their votes."

"All the three candidates fielded by the party will emerge victorious in the Rajya Sabha elections," former chief secretary of the state and SP candidate Ranjan told PTI.

He added that unlike the Lok Sabha elections or the legislative assembly elections, Rajya Sabha polls are a different ball game altogether.

Congress MLA from Pharenda in Maharajganj district told PTI, "Now, with the Congress and Samajwadi Party forging an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the picture here is also very clear. We will vote for the candidates fielded by the SP. The candidate of the SP will be our candidate. We will vote for the SP candidate, about whom we will be told by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav."

Ramashish Rai UP unit chief of Rashtriya Lok Dal, which recently switched over to the NDA fold said that all the RLD MLAs will vote for the BJP candidates in the ongoing Rajya Sabha elections.
A 47-year-old member of Students' Islamic Movement of India who also allegedly edited a magazine of the banned organisation besides indoctrinating many gullible youths has been arrested by the Delhi police, officials said on Sunday.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo

According to the police, Hanif Sheikh was declared a proclaimed offender in 2002 and has been absconding for the last 22 years.

He was nabbed on February 22 from Bhusawal in Jalgaon district in Maharashtra where he was a teacher in an Urdu school under a different identity, they said.

Deputy commissioner of police (Special Cell) Alok Kumar claimed that Hanif was the most notorious and wanted SIMI terrorist who had played pivotal roles in various activities of the proscribed organisation across the country.

The police said the SIMI magazine that Hanif Sheikh edited had his name printed as Haneef Hudai.

This was the only lead available with the police, making it difficult to trace him, they said.

A case of sedition and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was registered against him in 2001 at New Friends Colony police station in the national capital.

"A local court declared him proclaimed offender in 2002," Kumar said.

"A team from the Special Cell was tasked with collecting data, information and other digital footprints about the absconding SIMI cadre, sympathisers and sleeper cells across states. The team extensively visited and collected information from various parts of the country," he said.

The information collected by the team helped the Delhi police's special cell to zero in on Hanif. Following this, a raiding party was formed which laid a trap, the officer said.

"Around 2.50 pm on February 22, a person travelling from Mohmadin Nagar to Khadka Road was identified as Hanif. As members of the team began to corner him, Hanif attempted to escape but was arrested after a scuffle," the DCP said.

He said Hanif became highly radicalised after coming in contact with SIMI activists and after joining the organisation, he started attending its weekly programmes and radicalising youths. Hanif was later appointed as the editor of the Urdu edition of the SIMI's magazine in 2001, the police officer said.

The DCP added that Hanif was one of the think tank members of Wahadat-e-Islam and played an important role in Maharashtra and other adjoining states.

"He was also involved in collecting money under the guise of donations to support and finance the agenda of SIMI as well as Wahadat-e-Islam."

After fleeing Delhi in 2001, Hanif moved to Jalgaon and subsequently to Bhusawal in Maharashtra from where he was arrested, the police said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange must not test the patience of his government after the latter made wild allegations against deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

IMAGE: File photo of Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, left, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

Shinde also took a swipe at the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar chief Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray while responding to Jarange.

Speaking in Antarwali Sarati earlier in the day, Jarange said Fadnavis was trying to kill him.

Jarange had also said a poisoning attempt was made against him through saline, though he did not elaborate on the claim.

"Those who are protesting again and again against the government must not test our patience. They should not create a law and order problem. I wonder why Jarange's speech looks like the script generally used by Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray," Shinde said.

He was speaking to reporters on the eve of the session of the Maharashtra legislature.

Asked about Jarange's aggressive stand and the use of expletives in his speeches, Shinde said action would be taken as per law.

It is a conspiracy in progress and it would be exposed soon, the CM added.

Earlier, Fadnavis said the state government has a fair idea about the people behind Jarange, adding that details would come out at an appropriate time.

Asked about Jarange's announcement that he would march to Mumbai to protest in front of Fadnavis' bungalow, the deputy CM said it was his official residence and anyone with any kind of work can visit it.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Chesapeake Utilities implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 10 shareholders own 51% of the company

Recent sales by insiders

A look at the shareholders of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE:CPK) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 83% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And institutional investors endured the highest losses after the company's share price fell by 4.9% last week. This set of investors may especially be concerned about the current loss, which adds to a one-year loss of 21% for shareholders. Often called market movers", institutions wield significant power in influencing the price dynamics of any stock. Hence, if weakness in Chesapeake Utilities' share price continues, institutional investors may feel compelled to sell the stock, which might not be ideal for individual investors.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Chesapeake Utilities, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Chesapeake Utilities

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Chesapeake Utilities?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Chesapeake Utilities. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Chesapeake Utilities' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Story continues

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Chesapeake Utilities. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 16% of shares outstanding. With 9.8% and 7.8% of the shares outstanding respectively, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders.

We also observed that the top 10 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Chesapeake Utilities

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. 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.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

We can see that insiders own shares in Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own US$40m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 15% stake in Chesapeake Utilities. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Chesapeake Utilities (of which 1 is a bit unpleasant!) you should know about.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday said he would march to Mumbai and protest outside the residence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who he accused of trying to kill him.

IMAGE: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil during his hunger strike demanding the implementation of the 'Sage Soyare' ordinance, in Jalna, Maharashtra, February 21, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The announcement, made at the end of a speech of more than one hour in Antarwali Sarati in Jalna in which Jarange made several allegations against Fadnavis, took his supporters by surprise.

Asked about Jarange's statements later, Fadnavis just said "I did not hear what he spoke".

"Some people are being lured and pressured to make false allegations against me. Fadnavis is behind these conspiracies. He wants to kill me. I am ready to march to Sagar bungalow (Fadnavis' official residence in Mumbai's Malabar Hill) right away," Jarange said.

The announcement led to chaos at the site, where the activist's supporters had gathered in large numbers.

Even as some of them tried to take away his microphone, Jarange said he would march to Mumbai alone and all he needed was a stick for support.

He said allegations against him were levelled once the Maratha quota bill was passed in the Maharashtra legislature on February 20.

"How come these people realised my so-called mistakes now and began speaking about them," Jarange asked.

He also spoke about the "Brahminical tricks" of Fadnavis even while asserting that his allegations were not against "all Brahmins".

"Fadnavis does not like anyone to be more popular than him. It is because of Fadnavis that police complaints were filed against Maratha activists despite their peaceful protests. The court has allowed us to protest peacefully. Then why were police complaints filed," he told a regional news channel.

"I am not backing down from my demand to include Marathas in the OBC segment and issuing of Kunbi certificates. There was a plan to finish me by poisoning me with saline. This government is trying to demean major communities through political tricks," he alleged.

Hitting back, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane warned Jarange that he would have to cross a "huge wall of party workers" to reach Fadnavis, adding that the quota activist was "now reading from a script".

"He should enter politics but he should not stoop low to make such allegations against Fadnavis," Rane said.

Mumbai BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said Jarange's "true face" was now in the open for all to see.

"The Maharashtra government has given 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community (through a bill passed in the Legislature on February 20). Why is he continuing to protest? Fadnavis was CM for five years and everyone knows him. His image is not going to be affected by Jarange's allegations," Bhatkhalkar said.

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said anyone speaking in this condemnable manner against Fadnavis must be careful.

He said the Eknath Shinde government had given 10 percent quota to the Maratha community and the BJP was always supportive of the move.

On Jarange's plans to march to Mumbai, Shelar said, "Everyone has the right to come to Mumbai. In fact, he is invited to a meeting here. The BJP is, however, capable of facing any political challenge posed by his protest."

Shelar also said it was "suspicious" how promptly opposition parties sought a probe into Jarange's allegations.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling Congress -- the key contenders in the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka -- are grappling with the challenges of finding winning candidates in several constituencies with stakes high for the two national parties.

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge along with party leader being garlanded during a public meeting, in Bidar, Karnataka, February 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The BJP had swept the 2019 general elections, bagging 25 of the total 28 seats in the state, while an independent backed by the party had also emerged victorious.

The Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, which were running a coalition government back then and fought the election together, had come a cropper winning just one seat each.

But the political scene has changed significantly: The Congress scored a thumping victory in the assembly elections in May last year and now appears battle-ready, determined to put up a strong show in the Lok Sabha polls.

It is also a role reversal of sorts for JD-S which joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in September last year and wants to prove that it's still a force to reckon with, particularly in South Karnataka.

The coming poll is also seen as a "litmus test" for state BJP president BY Vijayendra, who has the onerous task of leading the party to retain its supremacy in the Lok Sabha elections.

Both the BJP and the Congress have their share of challenges, with finding winning horses on top of this list.

The BJP is facing resistance against fielding sitting members of Lok Sabha once again in some constituencies while also facing alliance compulsions to accommodate its new partner JD-S, according to party sources.

The Congress, which won 135 out of a total 224 seats in the assembly elections, is keen to field some ministers but they are shying away, admitted a senior ruling party leader.

The BJP, banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma, is aiming to win all 28 seats, while a resurgent Congress is targeting to bag 20 by highlighting that it has walked the talk by implementing five guarantee schemes.

The Congress had initially tasked ministers with identifying potential candidates but the party's state president and deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had said recently that reports received were not satisfactory.

Shivakumar has said that the party has decided to commission one more survey to identify winnable candidates.

A Congress leader said having faced a rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and witnessing the defeat of several top leaders including M Mallikarjun Kharge, Veerappa Moily, and KH Muniyappa, despite being in power in the state in alliance with JD-S, many senior leaders don't want to enter the fray, as the party's prospects at the national level still don't look promising.

The Congress' performance in this election is another key test of sorts for Shivakumar, who has made no secret of his ambition to become Chief Minister, amid speculations of change in guard mid-way of the assembly term.

According to BJP insiders, the party is having some trouble in seats such as Bidar, Bellary, Haveri, Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Koppal, Davangere, Chamarajanagar, Belgaum and Bijapur, where the party either is facing resistance mostly from within against fielding the sitting LS member, or there is lack of clarity as who the candidate should be.

Chamarajanagar MP V Srinivas Prasad and Haveri MP Shivakumar Udasi have already announced retirement from electoral politics after the current term ends.

"However, candidates-related issues may not majorly impact party's prospects in several of these segments as PM Modi is the key and main factor for the BJP's election fight and campaign, along with the Hindutva factor this time with consecration of Ram Lalla idol at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya," a party functionary said.

With winning momentum on our side along with having a strong central leadership, despite any initial troubles, everyone will ultimately fall in line and work for the victory of the candidate decided by the party, whoever it is, old or new," he said.

Ensuring a BJP sweep is also crucial for veteran leader BS Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra to consolidate his position as the party's state President and silence critics who have questioned his selection for the post.

The BJP will also have to make space for its alliance partner JD-S, by ceding some seats to the party in the old Mysuru region (south Karnataka) from where the regional party draws its strength from. Seat-sharing talks are on between both parties.

Though there is no official confirmation, as per information available so far, JD-S may contest in three to four seats. There may be chances of a candidate from the JD-S contesting under the BJP symbol.

For the BJP and JD-S alliance to click, it goes without saying that ground level coordination and understanding among their workers and transfer of votes to each other are essential.
The Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee and a party worker were killed when unidentified assailants sprayed bullets on their SUV in Bahadurgarh near Delhi on Sunday, a senior party leader said.

IMAGE: Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee. Photograph: Courtesy Nafe Singh Rathee on X

Three private gunmen hired by Rathee for security also suffered injuries in the attack.

The attack, which came weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, which alleged a breakdown in law and order in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state.

Haryana home minister Anil Vij said he spoke to officials and ordered them to take immediate action in the matter.

He said the Special Task Force is probing the matter and the culprits will be nabbed soon.

IMAGE: Bullet marks on the SUV in which Rathee was attacked while travelling. Photograph: ANI Photo

INLD leader Abhay Chautala told PTI that Rathee and a party worker accompanying him were shot dead. Three private gunmen, whom Rathee had hired for security, also received injuries, Chautala said, adding, "No police security had been given to him."

Chautala later visited the hospital in Bahadurgarh where the bodies were kept. Speaking to reporters there, he demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

Rathee, aged around 70, was travelling in an SUV when the assailants, who were in a car, attacked him in Bahadurgarh town in Jhajjar district

"A volley of bullets was sprayed at him," Chautala said.

Doctors at the hospital said that Rathee had suffered injuries in neck, stomach, spine and thigh and suffered heavy blood loss.

Rathee was elected MLA from Bahadurgarh twice in 1996 and 2005.

Chautala accused the government of failing to provide Rathee with security despite there being threat to his life, and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and home minister Anil Vij.

"The two-time MLA, who is our state unit chief, was not provided with security. In writing, representations had been made to senior police officers and state home minister that he was facing threats and should be provided with security," he said.

"Rathee had earlier told me that that he was informed by some police personnel that he faces threat. Later, I also spoke to SP Jhajjar over phone and brought this to his notice.... Had he been provided with security, such a situation would not have arisen," Chautala said.

He also said that law and order has broken down in Haryana and today that has been proved yet again.

Jhajjar Superintendent of Police Arpit Jain told reporters that teams of the Crime Investigation Agency and the Special Task Force of the police were looking into the incident.

"Multiple teams are probing. We are probing all angles and we will try to arrest the accused soon," he said.

The opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party also hit out at the Manohar Lal Khattar government over the incident.

Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the BJP has ruined law and order in Haryana.

In a post on X, Kejriwal said the death of INLD leader Nafe Singh in firing in Haryana "is very sad. I express my condolences to his family and supporters."

Kejriwal alleged the BJP has ruined the state's law and order and said the police force which should be deployed to nab goons has been stationed on the Haryana-Punjab border to stop protesting farmers.

Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda while expressing deep grief at Rathee's killing, said, "The news of INLD state president Nafe Singh Rathee being shot dead in Haryana is very sad. This reflects the law and order of the state...Today no one is feeling safe in the state."

Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that Haryana has fallen prey to anarchy.

He said criminals are ruling the roost and law and order has collapsed in Haryana.

Another senior Congress leader, Kumari Selja, alleged that anarchy has increased so much in the state that fearless miscreants fired several rounds of bullets at Rathee.

The BJP has created jungle raj in the state, she alleged.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sushil Gupta said that "rule of law has ended in Haryana and jungle raj prevails".

"No one is safe in Haryana today," he added.
Ahead of the upcoming general elections, Bahujan Samaj Party Lok Sabha MP from Ambedkar Nagar Ritesh Pandey on Sunday resigned from the party's primary membership and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi.

IMAGE: BSP MP Ritesh Pandey speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi, December 18, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

In his resignation letter addressed to BSP president Mayawati, Pandey said he has come to the conclusion that the party does not need his service as neither has he been called for meetings for a long time nor has the party leadership spoken to him.

He shared his resignation letter on X.

"For a long time, neither am I being called to attend party meetings nor has the party leadership spoken to me. I made numerous efforts to get in touch with and meet you (Mayawati) and the top leadership of the party but it did not yield any result," Pandey said in his letter.

"During this time, I continuously met workers and supporters of other parties in my area and was also involved in various works going on in the constituency. Hence, I have come to the conclusion that the party does not need my service and presence," he said.

"So, I do not have any other option apart from resigning from the primary membership of the party. The decision to break the relationship with the party is a difficult decision from the emotional point of view," he added.

Pandey further urged Mayawati to accept his resignation.

Hours later, he joined the BJP in the presence of senior party leaders, including Uttar Pradesh in-charge Baijayant Jay Panda, general secretary Tarun Chugh and Uttar Pradesh unit chief Bhupendra Singh.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was also among those present.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that his monthly Mann Ki Baat broadcast will not be aired for the next three months in line with political ethics in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

IMAGE: People listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', at Jamia Millia Islamia University, in New Delhi, February 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI on X

In the 110th episode of the programme, he said there is a possibility that the Model Code of Conduct will be enforced in March as it was done during the last polls as well, a reference to the expected announcement of the election schedule sometime next month.

The MCC guidelines of the Election Commission ask governments to not use official events or public-funded platforms for something that may be seen to give the ruling party publicity or political advantage.

The prime minister asserted that it is a big success of the programme that it has been kept away even from the shadow of the government during its 110 episodes, asserting that the broadcast has been dedicated to the country's collective strength and achievements.

"It is a programme of the people, for the people and by the people," Modi said.

"However, following political ethics the 'Mann ki Baat' will not be broadcast for the next three months during this period of the Lok Sabha elections," he said.

"When we meet the next time, it will be the 111th episode of the 'Mann Ki Baat'," Modi added, noting the auspiciousness associated with the number. What can be better than this, he said.

The prime minister has frequently expressed confidence in retaining power in the elections.

The programme was deferred before the 2019 general elections as well.

Modi also appealed to first-time voters to cast their votes in record numbers, asserting that the 18th Lok Sabha will be a symbol of their aspirations.

Citizens are eligible to vote after turning 18.

The youth should not only be a part of political activities but also remain aware of debates and discussions during the period, Modi said.

"You should keep in mind that your first vote should be for the country," he said, urging influencers and other prominent personalities to motivate first-time voters.

The Election Commission, he said, has launched a campaign Mera Pehla Vote Desh Ke Liye, urging first-time voters to use their franchise in maximum numbers.

The bigger the participation of the young voters in the electoral process, the more beneficial its consequences will be for the country, the prime minister said.
Police on Sunday arrested Indian Secular Front (ISF) leader Ayesha Bibi from the Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district for her alleged involvement in burning poultry firms of arrested local Trinamool Congress leader Shibaprasad Hazra, an officer said.

IMAGE: Women of Sandeshkhali welcome BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, in North 24 Parganas on February 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Police also detained a few villagers for their alleged involvement in vandalism there, he added.

"We have found her involvement in burning one property during an agitation in Sandeshkhali. She has taken up law and order in her own hands which will not be allowed. We are following the provisions in the law for such involvement," the police officer told PTI.

He, however, did not want to disclose the exact number of villagers detained for vandalism.

Meanwhile, a Trinamool Congress delegation will again visit Sandeshkhali on Sunday and speak to villagers who have been protesting against alleged atrocities by local leaders of the ruling party.

The delegation led by state irrigation minister Partha Bhowmick is expected to reach the restive area in the afternoon, a party leader said.

This will be the fourth visit to Sandeshkhali by the ruling party leaders, amid protests by villagers against alleged land grab and sexual assault on women by local TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his supporters.

State Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose and Irrigation Minister Partha Bhowmick, accompanied by Sandeshkhali MLA Sukumar Mahato, had on Saturday toured the area and spoken to the villagers, listening to their grievances.

"All the issues will be resolved. All the complaints will be addressed. No wrongdoers will be spared. The police are taking stern action. The opposition might try to fish in troubled waters but the people of the area have full faith in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," Bose told reporters after visiting the area a day before.

The police have been patrolling the area to instil confidence among the villagers and maintain the law and order there.

The unrest in Sandeshkhali stems from accusations against Sheikh and his supporters of land grabbing and sexual assault, with the local TMC leader evading authorities since a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5.
Sean Nix, of Brattleboro, puts his ballot into the tabulator at the Brattleboro polling station located at the American Legion during the midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
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.
Vermont schools can now postpone their March school budget votes and rewrite their spending plans after Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law on Thursday aimed at addressing soaring property tax increases, largely driven by rising education spending.

However, its not clear how many school districts will take that step less than two weeks before Town Meeting Day voting. Property taxes are projected to rise an average of $18.5 percent.

Scott McEnaney, chairman of the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union board, said Friday that there are no plans to delay budget votes in the supervisory union districts.

"There has been no change," said Christopher Murphy, chairman of the Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District Board. "We will still be voting on our school budgets on town meeting day. The SVUESD Board has not discussed it, beyond the initial vote to warn the budget."

A call to the SVSU central office staff seeking additional comment was not returned as of press time. Budget information for local districts is posted on the SVSU website. https://www.svsu.org

The boards of the Taconic and Green and the Mettawee districts have voted not to reopen their school budget proposals and instead present the budgets to voters for action on Town Meeting Day.

"Because our original plans for education spending were reasonable, we will not need to delay the vote on our warned budgets for education spending," Randi Lowe, superintendent of the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union said in an op-ed.

The governor warned that the legislation, which also removes a tax cap instituted by legislation passed two years ago aimed at making education more equitable, does not solve the property tax problem.

These changes will only reduce rates if school boards adjust their budgets accordingly and local voters support those changes, the governor wrote to lawmakers. Its also important to note the projected spending increase this year is $243 million, so even if every single school board makes adjustments to their budget, were unlikely to avoid significant property tax increases.

When the Senate passed the bill on Wednesday, senators acknowledged that this is just the first step.

Once we fix this, we still have schools that are spending at an unprecedented rate, increasing spending and its unsustainable," Sen. Ann Cummings, a Democrat, told Senate colleagues. "If school budgets pass there will be some severe consequences for people who cant afford their taxes.

The law includes a $500,000 appropriation for towns to use for printing and warning constituents about these looming school budget votes.

Some schools may move forward and let the voters decide and maybe the vote will be passed or maybe not, said Sen. Jane Kitchel, a Democrat representing Caledonia County. Some districts have gone back and sort of scrubbed their proposed budget.

Scott, a Republican, wrote in a letter to legislators that when he signed the student weighting formula bill in 2022, he called on the legislature to address the cost pressures it added and avoid adding more before the formula took effect.

Had the Legislature worked with me to do so, we would all be in a better place today, he wrote.
(Bloomberg) -- Chinese hedge funds were looking forward to a holiday break from the market turmoil when trouble started brewing last month. One manager had his short-selling orders abruptly rejected by brokers. Another was cut off from the stock market completely. Regulators turned up on trading floors at multiple funds to monitor transactions in person.

Most Read from Bloomberg

As one fund put it, three sessions of chaotic trading felt like a whole year to us.

The scenes, extraordinary even by the standards of a market that has long operated under the Communist Partys shadow, played out in recent weeks in a clampdown thats rewriting the rules of computer-driven trading in China. The countrys once-booming quant industry has become the latest casualty of Beijings campaign to stop a $4 trillion selloff in stocks.

While the measures have helped prop up share prices at least temporarily, they raise bigger questions of how far Xi Jinpings government will go to meet short-term goals at the expense of maintaining some pretense of a free market thats attracted billions of dollars from Wall Street firms in recent years.

For international investors becoming increasingly skittish about China, the sudden trading restrictions give them one more reason to stay away.

China saw a record six months of outflows from the equity market until this month, while foreign direct investment is at a 30-year low following unprecedented crackdowns on the tech and property sectors that have stifled growth. China risks losing out further to countries like India and Japan, which are enjoying a surge in investment.

Read more: Japan Shares Open New Chapter as Nikkei Reclaims Its 1989 Peak

Story continues

These seemingly panic actions by authorities risk undermining all the good work done in the past two decades to give China access to global pools of capital, said Gary Dugan, chief investment officer at Dalma Capital Management Ltd. in Dubai. He said the moves will make even the most battle-hardened investors question whether China is worth the risk.

The new restrictions are sweeping. Quant funds, which rely on computer algorithms to carry out trades, will be scrutinized and new entrants will have to report their strategies to regulators before trading. Beijing will also expand the scope of reporting to offshore investors via a mainland-to-Hong Kong trading link.

Chinas securities watchdog meantime set up a task force to monitor short selling and could issue warnings to firms that profit from the wagers, people familiar have said. It even took the extreme step of halting some major institutional investors from selling more shares than they buy during the first and last 30 minutes of trading, they added.

Quant managers were hit by the biggest Black Swan in quant history, Shanghai-based Semimartingale Private Fund Management LP wrote, recapping the wild market swings in a letter seen by Bloomberg.

The crackdown adds to a series of moves aimed at halting a multiyear plunge in equities, which have been slammed by the housing crisis, weak economic growth and lingering tensions with the US. It also echoes the heavy-handed approach that has been used to clamp down on sectors from internet to education platforms.

The risk premium on Chinese stocks has to go up going forward because some institutions are going to be unwilling to trade this market, said Arthur Budaghyan, emerging markets chief strategist at BCA Research. And this is on top of geopolitical concerns that many foreign investors have had about investing in Chinese stocks.

Read more on the Terminal: Chinese Exodus for Overseas ETFs Thwarted by State Quotas, Halts

In recent weeks, Beijing turned its sights on quant funds, which have used their big data models to outperform the market for much of the last three years.

In an early sign of what was to come, Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Jan. 22 asked authorities to take more forceful measures to stabilize markets as the CSI 300 index hit a five-year-low. Beijing then made a surprise move two weeks later to oust the head of the securities regulator, replacing him with a veteran bureaucrat known as the broker butcher for his past crackdowns.

Concerned that quant funds were exacerbating declines by unloading big blocks of shares or making short bets, Beijing started by banning some funds from placing sell orders while limiting their ability to make short trades. The China Securities Regulatory Commission said it had discovered multiple cases of market manipulation and malicious short selling.

It was so annoying, said Alex Wong, whose Shanghai-based fund was unable to sell borrowed stocks to execute short trades for about two days as small caps tumbled. I truly felt like smashing the keyboard and slamming the door.

These restrictions, along with sudden shifts in the market, combined to throttle the quant funds as China headed into its Lunar New Year break this month.

As a Man Group analyst explained, a popular trade for these funds involves buying small-cap stocks, which are more prone to mispricing and more profitable for computer programs to exploit. To hedge their broad market exposure, the funds would short index futures.

This strategy was upended by a sharp decline in small cap stocks, prompting quant products with heavy exposure to trim holdings. The massive selloff triggered losses in derivatives known as snowballs, causing a quant quake panic and forcing brokerages to dump index futures as well.

All that volatility pushed up hedging costs for so-called market-neutral products, some of which were leveraged to the hilt by as much as 300%. That forced them to unwind positions, fueling a cascading spiral in the market.

Read more: China Has a Quant Quake Because Theres No Citadel: Shuli Ren

As funds stampeded to the exits, authorities upped their ante to tame the rout, making it even worse for the quants. Government-led funds, known as the national team, stepped in to prop up exchange-traded funds, boosting large stocks but leaving small caps behind. The gyrations made the market unpredictable for computer models trained on reading historical data.

A series of external interventions and changes made it hard for quant models to make predictions, or even adapt, Shanghai-based Mingxi Capital, a quant fund that manages more than 1 billion yuan ($139 million), wrote in an article on its Wechat account. The models switched from doing it right to getting it wrong repeatedly.

Weak Returns

The funds took a beating as a result. Top quants managing more than 10 billion yuan lagged the CSI 500 Index by an average 12 percentage points in the two weeks ended Feb. 8, according to industry data cited in a Huatai Securities Co. report.

More extreme measures ensued. One high-frequency trading firms internet access was temporarily suspended, according to a brokerage employee, while others saw their borrowed shares for short bets recalled, according to people familiar.

The crackdown came to a head on Feb. 20, when Chinas two main stock exchanges froze the accounts of a major quant fund for three days. Regulators sought to make an example of Ningbo Lingjun Investment Management Partnership after it dumped a combined 2.57 billion yuan in shares within a minute as trading resumed following the holiday.

Read more: China Stocks Cap Best Winning Run Since 2020 as Rally Extends

For now, the strong-armed measures are working to halt the slide. Chinas main equity index has risen nine straight sessions  the longest string of gains in six years - including every day last week following the quant crackdown.

Longer term, the moves call into question whether quants will want to operate in a country with such arbitrary changes. The sector has surged in recent years, managing some 1.58 trillion yuan in combined assets. While the industry is dominated by domestic funds, international firms like Two Sigma Investments and Winton Group Ltd. have been expanding, along with DE Shaw & Co.

After escaping the fire, dont go back, Li Bei, founder of macro hedge fund Shanghai Banxia Investment Management Center wrote on the companys Wechat account Friday, warning investors not to pile back into Chinas small stocks.

Read more: Bridgewater Says China Stock Selloff Made Valuations Attractive

The changes pave the way for more consolidation, and it will be increasingly hard for smaller players to survive as state participants exert heavier influence.

Quants need consistent market operating rules and regulations that hold through all market conditions, said Dalma Capitals Dugan. That is not the case in China at this point.

In their public comments, some Chinese quant fund managers have signaled their support for the measures, which they say will weed out risky players. They note that the US also limited short-selling during the global financial crisis, as have other countries. Yet the way China implemented the moves  the lack of consistency or transparency by using verbal window guidance to funds  will only deter global investors.

The A-share market is so micro-managed, monitored and controlled by the administrators, said Zhiwu Chen, a finance professor in Hong Kong and a former member of the international advisory board of the CSRC, referring to the domestic market.

Open Market

Chinas securities watchdog said that the measures were targeted at abnormal trading and not to restrict stock selling.

Stock market rises and falls, investors buy and sell, thats the norm. Regulators do not interfere with normal market transactions, the CSRC said in a statement Thursday. The regulators intention isnt to beat quants to death, local media reported, citing a CSRC official.

Still, the trading panic dealt a blow to the image that regulators worked so arduously to craft over three decades, to convince investors that China was committed to a more professional and open market, in line with international standards.

Instead, the list of maligned industries keeps growing. Tech firms like Ant Group Co. have been reined in, while Wall Street banks face growing limits on data, giving them pause after years of expansion in the worlds second-largest economy.

Over the next decade, China needs capital from the rest of the world, said George Boubouras, head of research at K2 Asset Management Ltd. Its basically sent a signal that market transparency and the search for it is not allowed as much.

--With assistance from Zheng Li, Henry Ren, Heng Xie, Amanda Wang, Chongjing Li and Emily Cadman.

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What does the Cambodian Senate presidency mean to a ruler who is already all powerful?

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, left, greets President of the Senate Say Chhum as then-Prime Minister Hun Sen, center, looks on after the opening ceremony of the parliament at the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh on Aug. 21, 2023.

Every politician, especially one whose chokehold over a country lasted nearly four decades, needs some time off. Hun Sen, who handed over the prime ministership of Cambodia to his eldest son last summer, has had his feet up for the past seven months.

Not that hes been idle; hes still president of the ruling party and head of the Kings Privy Council, and has occasionally intervened to publicly chide his son for some mistakes. But after the Senate elections on Feb. 25, hell be coronated as the new Senate president.

The position will make him acting head of state when King Norodom Sihamoni is out of the country, as he often is for health checkups in China. With Cambodia now a Hun family fiefdom, youll have Prime Minister Hun Manet as head of government and Hun Sen as de-facto head of state.

What does it matter, you may ask, since Hun Sen is already all powerful? But the question contains the answer.

Clearly, Hun Sen doesnt think of himself that way or else why would he want the Senate presidency? Indeed, he stated on the day that he resigned as prime minister last July that he would become Senate president, so clearly this had been decided when the ruling party was crossing the Ts on its vast succession plan in 2021 and 2022.

Moreover, its not a risk-free move. It means the current Senate president, Say Chhum, has to retire. This has the added benefit of pensioning off another graying ruling party grandee and one who some think controls a rival faction within the party. Say Chhum had agreed to resign last year, perhaps safe in the knowledge that his familys patronage networks are now in the hands of his son Say Sam Al, the land management minister.

But for those in the party (and there are some) angry that the CPP has become a family-run affair, the Hun duo as heads of government and state wont sit well. Hun Sen stated last July during his resignation speech that by becoming Senate president, I will not intrude into the responsibilities of the new prime minister, but it certainly appears that may to some.

Cambodia's Prime Minister-designate Hun Manet, center, and incoming cabinet members pose for a group photo at the headquarters of the Cambodian Peoples Party in Phnom Penh, Aug. 10, 2023. (Kok Ky/Cambodias Government Cabinet via AFP)

Moreover, it seemingly goes against the spirit of the partys generational succession scheme in which the aging first generation CPP leaders (Hun Sen included) were supposed to retire from frontline politics and give formal powers to the second generation, even if the elders still called the shots behind the scenes. So why not give the Senate presidency to a younger, second generation politician?

Given that the CPP took years to meticulously plot this succession process  so it cannot be that they were stuck in making a decision about who would become Senate president and Hun Sen was the easiest option to fill the void  the only logical conclusion is that Hun Sen wants the Senate presidency because he thinks he needs it. First, it will allow him to travel abroad on state visits or welcome visiting leaders in an official capacity, which he hasnt been able to do since August.

Despite having been the worlds longest-serving head of government, he never gained acceptance as a worlds statesman, certainly not one spoken of with the same reverence as Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore. The Senate presidency might give him another decade or so to attempt to claim such a mantle.

Second, according to some, it gives him official diplomatic immunity, which may come in handy at some point in the future. Third, and while one ordinarily ought to avoid psychoanalyzing politicians, its probable that Hun Sen detests being away from frontline politics and not being able to make public displays of his power, so maybe its the case that he is taking the Senate presidency simply because he can.

Institutional capture

Now 71, he has been a senior politician since the age of 27, and he never seemed the type to enjoy retirement nor to shy away from publicity. Hun Sen is never happier than when delivering a three-hour monologue to a crowd of bussed-in workers. But hes had few opportunities to do so since August, although thats partly because he has wanted to give his son the limelight. As Senate president, he will have a captive audience (in more ways than one) again.

Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, the Senate presidency gives him yet more institutional power to intervene if something was to go wrong with his sons government  or, indeed, if there was ever a putschist attempt against Hun Manet.

Remember that Hun Sen has repeatedly said he would return as prime minister if any major crisis befouled the government; the insinuation being that his vacation from the premiership may be temporary. For the best part of a decade, the Hun family has been on a long march through the institutions, wary that some of its rivals may also be on their own such project.

Today, he has the Kings ear as head of the Supreme Privy Advisory Council. He controls the powerful but unruly (and quick to disgruntlement) business tycoons, the oknha, as president of the newly-formed Cambodian Oknha Association.

Hes also president of some other CPP-linked uncivil society groups. Through constitutional reforms in 2022, he greatly weakened the power of the National Assembly to reprimand ministers or the prime minister, and in 2023 he helped make the loyal but politically weak Khuon Sudary the new president of the lower chamber of parliament. These steps gave even more power to the CPP over personnel choices.

Cambodian People's Party President Hun Sen, left, addresses supporters in Phnom Penh as his son Prime Minister Hun Manet, right, listens during a ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, Jan. 7, 2024. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP)

He has vowed to remain CPP president potentially for life and Hun Manet was made the fifth vice-president in December. He has packed the ranks of deputy prime ministers with loyalists. In fact, his youngest son, Hun Many, was made the eleventh deputy prime minister this month. His family cemented its control over the army.

Hun Manet was previously army chief, a post that went to Hun Sens trusted and infamous bodyguard Mao Sophan last year. Hun Manith, another of his sons and head of military intelligence, was made deputy army chief at the same time.

Whereas the Huns control the army, the Tea clan  the patriarchy of former defense minister Tea Banh, who handed down power to his son Tea Seiha last year  controls the navy.

So, taking over the Senate is another institutional capture for the Hun family, giving added protection to the Hun Manet administration should there be signs of unrest amongst CPP parliamentarians or, if Manet decides at some point to allow an opposition party to compete in elections, from opposition lawmakers.



Given that senators have a six-year term, he may remain president of the upper house until 2030, when he will be 77. But, then again, he has long said his ideal retirement age will be 74. Perhaps he will never step aside.

David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and the Southeast Asia Columnist at the Diplomat. As a journalist, he has covered Southeast Asian politics since 2014. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of RFA.
Some detainees were beaten so badly they required medical attention, sources say.

Tibetan monks and residents in Dege, Sichuan province, appeal to Chinese officials to stop a planned dam construction in these images from Feb. 20-22, 2024.

Chinese police on Saturday began wide-scale, rigorous interrogations of Tibetans arrested for protesting a dam project, beating some of them so badly that they required medical attention, three sources told Radio Free Asia.

On Friday, RFA reported exclusively that police had arrested more than a 1,000 Tibetans  both Buddhist monks and local residents  of Wangbuding township in Dege county of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province, in central China.

The detainees were slapped and beaten severely each time they refused to answer important questions, one source told RFA, speaking on condition of anonymity for personal safety. Many had to be taken to the hospital.

Since Feb. 14, monks and residents had been peacefully protesting the planned construction of the Gangtuo hydropower dam on the Drichu River, known as Jinsha River in Chinese.

The dam will force two major communities to be relocated and submerge several monasteries, including the Wonto Monastery, famous for ancient murals dating back to the 13th century.

One of the monks from Wonto Monastery was among those who had to be immediately rushed to the hospital because he had been beaten so badly that he could not even speak," the first source said. "He also had many severe bruises on his body."

Detainees not given food

Many of those arrested were being held in a police station in Upper Wonto while many others were being held in an old prison in Dege county, sources told RFA.

The detainees are being held in various other places throughout Dege county as the police do not have a place to detain more than 1,000 individuals in a single location.

In these detention centers, the arrested Tibetans were not given any food, save for some hot water, and many passed out because of the lack of food amid the freezing temperatures, the second source told RFA.

On Friday, RFA learned that the arrested Tibetans were told to bring their own bedding and tsampa  a Tibetan staple  which sources said were an indication that the detainees would not be released anytime soon.

China has also imposed COVID 19-like restrictions in Dege county and deployed a large number of police to the areas where Tibetans have been detained, including in Upper Wonto, to bring the situation under control, the sources told RFA.

Each of the police units brought in from outside Dege have been tasked with controlling a community each and for carrying out strict surveillance and suppression of the people there, a third source told RFA.

In the communities of Wonto and Yena, people have been restricted from leaving their homes and the restrictions are so severe that it is similar to what happened during the Covid-19 outbreak when the entire place was under lockdown, said the same source.

Police began arresting the protesters on Thursday, Feb. 22. Citizen videos shared exclusively with RFA showed Chinese officials dressed in black forcibly restraining monks, who can be heard crying out to stop the dam construction.

Reactions

A Canadian foreign ministry spokesperson told RFA the government is closely monitoring the situation in Dege and said the detention of Tibetans was a matter of grave concern.

Canada remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation affecting Tibetans, including restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief, and the protection of linguistic and cultural rights, said Genevieve Tremblay, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada.

We urge Chinese authorities to immediately release all those (Tibetans) detained for exercising their rights to freedom of speech and of assembly, she said.

Citing RFAs report of the mass arrests, leaders of the Tibetan government-in-exile along with representatives of Tibet support groups from more than 42 countries issued a statement on Saturday expressing alarm.

The crackdown on non-violent protests in Dege is beyond condemnation. The Chinese authorities disregard for the rights of Tibetans is unacceptable by any measure, said Penpa Tsering, Sikyong or the President of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The punitive acts demonstrate Chinas prioritization of its ideology and interests over human rights, he said. We call on the Chinese government to release all those detained and to respect the rights and aspirations of the Tibetan people.

Tibetans around the world continued to hold demonstrations in solidarity with the protesters, including in Dharamsala, India, home to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Over the past week, Tibetans have demonstrated in front of Chinese Consulates in New York, Toronto and Zurich.

I want to underscore how rare (it is that) we are able to have a little window into the situation in Tibet given the escalating control of information the Chinese government has imposed on Tibetan areas, Maya Wang, interim China director of Human Rights Watch, told RFA by phone.

People who send information out and videos like this face imprisonment and torture.

Additional reporting by Pelbar and Tashi Wangchuk for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
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.
DUSHANBE -- Exorcism is a key source of income for Sabohiddin Shodiev, a popular cleric in his rural community on the outskirts of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

Shodiev -- not his real name -- says that every week he treats about 15 clients who ask him to expel what they believe is an evil spirit, or jinni, possessing them, or to rid them from "an evil eye."



The 53-year-old cleric has been practicing exorcisms -- which he learned to do from his father -- for more than two decades. Most of Shodiev's clients come from Dushanbe and nearby districts, but some to travel from faraway regions to seek his help.



Shodiev says he doesn't have a set fee for performing the Islamic rite. "It's up to the clients how much to pay."



Three Tajik clerics who spoke to RFE/RL claimed the demand for exorcisms is on the rise in the predominately Muslim country.



There are no official statistics in Tajikistan on exorcisms or the number of people performing the centuries-old practice, which survived decades of religious crackdowns during the atheistic Soviet era and most recently the Tajik government's attempts to restrict exorcisms.



Tajik laws do not ban the procedure. But several men who perform exorcisms have been jailed in recent years on charges of fraud, sexual molestation, or practicing the occult.



Some Tajiks see the ongoing efforts by the secular government as a way to keep a tab on "all things religious." As part of that campaign, Islamic hijabs have been banned in schools and offices, while growing a long or bushy beard is frowned upon for young men.

Exorcisms are practiced among the followers of Islam, Christianity, and some other world religions.



There is a belief among Muslims that an evil spirit or jinni can possess a person but can be driven out of the possessed person's body through an exorcism that includes reciting certain verses from the Koran.



But several Tajik clergymen told RFE/RL that many clerics in the country refrain from performing exorcism because it requires special training.



In the meantime, the spike in demand for exorcisms has led to a rise in the number of self-proclaimed exorcists, and charlatans, according to the clerics and officials. Many of them perform exorcisms and do faith healings.



Some also mix in elements of the occult, which is outlawed in Tajikistan and prohibited within Islam.



Tajikistan's Religious Affairs Committee said, "Muslims believe that the Koran has healing powers, therefore they seek help [from exorcisms] to treat certain mental health issues, but unfortunately there have been cases in which some [self-proclaimed exorcists] tried to take advantage of people's [religious] beliefs."



Exorcism Gone Wrong



Tajik law-enforcement agencies in recent years released what they called footage of self-proclaimed exorcists and faith healers molesting their female clients. The incidents were allegedly recorded by hidden cameras, which police installed after receiving complaints.



In 2021, police in the northern Sughd Province released a video that purportedly shows Alijon Ghaniev, a 50-year-old self-proclaimed exorcist and faith healer, performing an unusual ritual on a female client that ends with sexual intercourse.



According to local media, Ghaniev charged his 21-year-old client the equivalent of $14 for three exorcism and faith healing sessions.

State television showed what it described as Ghaniev's exorcism tools, including several knives, tarot cards, various herbs, and a bunch of dried tree branches. Once in police custody, Nabiev told the TV channel that he regretted his actions "getting out of control under the devil's temptation."



It is not clear if Nabiev's confession was voluntary or was made under pressure.



In a similar case in 2019, a court in Hisor district handed a prison sentence to Juraboi Sochaev, who was accused of sexually harassing his female clients during exorcism rites. Sochaev charged his clients up to $270 for a session, prosecutors said.



A probe is under way in the northern city of Khujand against a self-proclaimed exorcist, Abduvali Nabiev, 68, who was arrested in October on sexual harassment charges.



Police and prosecutors said none of the men has had religious education or medical training but claimed to have special abilities to expel jinni and treat ailments.
Male students who enrolled in Taliban-run religious schools say that sexual and physical abuse has led some to end their pursuit of an education in Afghanistan.

The students, all of whom were aged 10 to 17 and spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on condition of anonymity out of fears of repercussion, described numerous instances in which they and fellow classmates were pressured to engage in sexual acts with teachers and subjected to corporal punishments.

The reported cases took place in western and southwestern Afghanistan at Taliban-run madrasahs, part of the network of religious schools that the extremist group has expanded significantly as part of its drive to foster religious education more in keeping with its hard-line Islamist views.

One 16-year-old student, a resident of Farah Province, described being propositioned by a teacher at the madrasah he attends.

"One day at school a Taliban member who teaches there made an inappropriate offer, but I did not accept it," the boy told Radio Azadi, using inexplicit language to describe sexual abuse, a culturally taboo topic in Afghanistan. "When the lessons were over, he bothered me again."

The boy said he reported the incidents to a "qari," a person who has memorized the Koran and serves as a religious authority at the school, to no avail.

"I told the qari that the teacher was doing bad things to me, and the qari told him not to do these things, that he was a teacher," the boy said. "The teacher admitted doing it, but it had no effect. He has continued to do bad things and made sexual requests to numerous students at the school."

Another student in southwestern Afghanistan, a 17-year-old in the 10th grade, gave a similar account of his experience during his six months studying at a Taliban-run madrasah.

"A Taliban member who teaches at the school proposed having a relationship with me and said some other things that I did not accept," the boy said.

After being refused, the teacher swore and issued threats, the boy said, adding that his fellow students have faced similar treatment.

"He also harassed several of my classmates, and one of them left the school," the boy said. "He told me I should not go to school anymore because the same teacher is harassing me."

The boy said the experience has left him "damaged" and unsure of whom he can confide in. "I can't tell my family," he said.

The Taliban has come under widespread criticism for the severe restrictions it has placed on the daily lives of the Afghans since seizing power in August 2021. In its pursuit to impose its extreme interpretation of Islam, the Taliban has restored many of the draconian rules it was infamous for during its first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.

The ban on the education of girls past the sixth grade, and the erasure of women's role in society stand out among the measures the Taliban has taken. But other steps -- including prohibitions on music and idolatry through art, and pressure against students and teachers -- have affected all walks of life regardless of sex.

Since the Taliban returned to power, many educators have left the country, while female teachers have been left at home without work due to restrictions on women's freedom of movement and their ability to teach males.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has steadily worked to replace secular state schools and informal madrasahs with a system of religious schooling. The system does allow for girl students, including those of university age, but critics say it falls far short of the standards of modern education for girls and boys alike and often promotes extremism.

According to a report on Afghanistan issued by the United Nations in February, the Taliban has established 6,836 madrasahs for males and 380 for females and was expected to finalize a standardized religious curriculum in time for the new school year beginning this month.

The recruitment of madrasah teachers is also in full swing, according to the report, following a decree by the Talibans spiritual leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada to have 100,000 new madrasah teachers in place.

In December, Human Rights Watch gave a stinging assessment of the state of education in general, saying that in addition to the obstacles to the education of girls and women, the Taliban had "also inflicted deep harm on boys' education" in Afghanistan.

"Many boys were previously taught by women teachers; the Taliban has prohibited women from teaching boys, depriving women teachers of their jobs and often leaving boys with unqualified replacement male teachers or sometimes no teachers at all," HRW said. "Parents and students said that corporal punishment, which has long been a problem at Afghan schools, has become increasingly common. The curriculum in many schools appears to be under revision to remove important school subjects and promote discrimination."

The rights watchdog said the circumstances had "led many boys to leave school altogether" and "left boys struggling with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression."

Shortly after the Taliban regained power, the United Nations highlighted the dire situation for children in Afghanistan, including exposure to sexual violence and increased risk of students dropping out of school.

Difficulties in ensuring the protection of children are exacerbated, according to the UN, by the Taliban's refusal to consider people below the age of 18 to be children, as is the international standard, instead using the onset of puberty as the basis for adulthood.

Younger madrasah students in western and southwestern Afghanistan below or at the age of puberty said they were not spared physical abuse and sexual harassment from teachers.

One young man who spoke to Radio Azadi said he recently learned that his young brother was being subjected to sexual abuse at a madrasah in western Afghanistan.

The young man said his brother was being assigned extracurricular "homework by a teacher, or to put it bluntly, he was being asked for sex, [the teacher] fondled his hands and feet and kissed him."

As a result, the young man said he told his brother not to go to school anymore.

Fear of sexual harassment and sexual and physical abuse were cited as a common factor leading boys in western and southwestern Afghanistan to give up their studies.

"Some teachers harass our students and make immoral requests," said one 14-year-old boy who also described common methods of corporal punishment at his madrasah. "They strike our faces or beat our hands and feet under the pretext of disciplining us for not learning our lessons properly."

The boy said many students were studying hard in fear of being taken to a special room for punishment, and that "some even drop out of school."

Another student, aged 10, said his teacher separated him and other students from their class to beat the soles of their feet.

Afterward, he told Radio Azadi, he stopped going to class because he was afraid. And upon hearing about the incidents, his and his classmates' parents "did not allow us to go to school."

The Taliban authorities did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations of abuse at madrasahs it has established. And efforts to speak to individuals aware of the situations at madrasahs in other areas of Afghanistan were met by refusals to comment due to fear of reprisals.

A women's rights activist who asked that her name not be published told Radio Azadi that families have no avenue to lodge complaints about the abuse their children encounter at Taliban-run madrasahs because they, too, would face threats.

The activist said that not only had she been made aware of sexual harassment against both girls and boys at Taliban-run madrasahs, but the curriculum also serves to "increase the level of extremism in the country."

Reducing the risks of both threats, she said, would require greater oversight by the Taliban authorities and ideally, she said, a reduction in the number of madrasahs.

Najib Amini, a civil society activist in western Afghanistan, said that for now, the onus falls on families to be aware.

"Children are subjected to sexual abuse in madrasahs established under the Taliban regime," Amini said. "Families have an important and essential role in this regard. If they do not want their children to be abused in schools, if they want their children to get a basic education...then they should not send their children to madrasahs under the control of the Taliban."

Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by RFE/RLs Radio Azadi
Russian strikes hit the Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka early on February 25. A rail station was turned into ruins. The station was important for evacuating civilians from eastern Ukraine when Russia launched its full-scale invasion two years ago, but became defunct during the war. The strikes also damaged a church and other buildings. One person was wounded according to authorities of the Donetsk region.
(Bloomberg) -- Chinas local governments so far appear reluctant or unable to borrow more despite pressure to stimulate growth, fueling expectations Beijing may pick up their slack and take on more debt.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Regional authorities nationwide plan to issue new bonds totaling 1.08 trillion yuan ($150 billion) for the first quarter, about 13% less than they sold over the same period last year and the lowest since 2021, Bloomberg-compiled data showed. That tally doesnt include several local governments that hadnt disclosed their plans by Friday, including Shanghai, Guangdong and Dalian.

Actual offerings have fallen even more, with new bonds sold by all local governments in the first eight weeks slumping 56% compared to 2023.

The slower planned issuance of local bonds suggests its only more likely that the central government will add more leverage this year to fill in the investment gap, said Ding Shuang, chief economist for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered Plc.

The slowing local bond supply could put pressure on Beijing to take over more borrowing responsibility from provinces after it took the unusual step in October to sell additional sovereign notes with all the proceeds being transferred for local use.

This helps curb local debt risks, but the shift in fiscal power gives local governments less reason to raise funds on their own, and it could reduce their drive to make new policies. Local authorities are typically encouraged to sell bonds early in the year and spend the funds on infrastructure and other projects.

Chinese top leaders in December vowed to appropriately strengthen the proactive fiscal policy, raising expectations for more government spending. Theyre set to reveal specific measures and the size of budget deficit at next months annual session of the National Peoples Congress.

Story continues

Local Debt Constraints

Beijing has sought to diffuse a $9.3 trillion time bomb in hidden local debt by restricting indebted, poorer regions from making new borrowing. These local authorities have instead focused on reducing existing credit risks by using bond quota saved from previous years to swap off-balance-sheet liabilities into government notes.

Domestic media reported last month that the central government has ordered 12 high-risk regions to strictly limit new projects and suspend some that are already in construction. These provincial-level governments include Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Guizhou and Yunnan.

Wealthier areas are under pressure to ramp up infrastructure investment, but they have struggled to find productive projects and some have reduced their bond stockpile to save costs. Last year, Beijing became the first provincial-level government to repay special local bonds ahead of schedule, saving more than 70% of the interest payment on the notes.

Local governments may also have funds left over from last year to tap, further reducing the need for issuing more bonds just yet. Standard Chartereds Ding estimates they have a combined 900 billion yuan in unused proceeds from last years local bond sales.

That said, the local debt supply could pick up in the rest of the year after the NPC publishes the annual quota next month. Local governments can sell bonds ahead of the March meeting using 2.28 trillion yuan of front-loaded special local bond quota.

More projects are also being added into the pipeline. Some regions are looking to use cash raised from special bond sales as equity capital in affordable housing projects, expanding the use of the notes, the 21st Century Business Herald reported this month.

Central Borrowing Expected

Some economists expect the government to announce an expansion of its broad deficit at the NPC session next month, but this may not directly translate to increased spending.

The key is implementation, though, given that the budget was under-implemented in the past few years, Ding said.

As a strong dollar limits how much China can ease its monetary policy without causing more capital flight, fiscal policy has emerged as a key tool Beijing has to stimulate growth amid a historic property slump and stubborn deflation.

After raising 1 trillion yuan from sovereign bonds announced in October for disaster relief and related investments, policymakers are considering another 1 trillion yuan of new issuance to fund projects related to food, energy, supply chains and urbanization, Bloomberg News has reported.

The central government is quite determined to defuse local government debt risks, said Jing Wang, an economist with Nomura International Hong Kong. But there is a decent chance for the central government to issue more bonds and increase transfers to regional governments to address economic woes and local fiscal challenge, he said.

--With assistance from Jing Zhao.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
On the market with James Kilcoyne Auctioneers and Valuers, Ballaghaderreen is a two-storey detached residence on a corner site situated at Market Street, Ballaghaderreen.

The property, guiding for 99,000, is just minutes from the town centre and all local amenities.

The property is derelict and in need of major renovations. It may qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

It comprises of sitting room, kitchen, living room and a number of bedrooms.

The property benefits from mains water, sewer and electricity, which needs reconnection.

It also includes a good quality shed to the rear.

The location of this property cannot be understated, close to the town centre with regular bus services to Sligo, Dublin and Ballina. Ireland West Airport Knock is approximately a 20 minute drive.

While in need of renovation, this property has great potential for any prospective purchaser as a family home within close proximity of all town amenities, said the auctioneer. Viewing highly recommended. For further information contact James Kilcoyne on 094 9860039 or 087 2365294.
Japan will on Monday release January figures for producer prices, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Producer prices are expected to rise 2.4 percent on year, accelerating from 1.6 percent in the previous month.

Singapore will provide January data for industrial production, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 3.0 percent on month and 4.5 percent on year. That follows the 1.7 percent monthly decline and the 2.5 percent annual drop in December.

Finally, the in Thailand are closed on Monday for Makha Bucha Day and will reopen on Tuesday

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
On the set of Sunset Boulevard at Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista, costume designer Renetta Lloyd shares one of the 12 dresses she designed for the musicals lead character, faded film star Norma Desmond.

In the musical Sunset Boulevard, silent film actress Norma Desmond is the self-described greatest star of them all. But in the production now playing at Vistas Moonlight Amphitheatre, its Normas sparkling costumes that are stealing the spotlight.

The characters glamorous Old Hollywood gowns, feathered headdresses, beaded jewelry and turbans are the latest labors of love from 33-year-old Vista designer Renetta Lloyd, whos been designing clothing and costumes since she got her first sewing machine on her 8th birthday.

Back in her grade-school days, Lloyd was sewing fashion lines for her stuffed animals. Today, the married mother of two designs for at least five area theater productions a year, as well as numerous custom orders for Halloween and Comic-Con each year.

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The Vista-raised designer has a degree in behavioral sciences and had hoped to pursue a career in art therapy, but she realized years ago that designing and sewing costumes is the creative outlet she craves.

Its a passion for me, she said. Its something I get excited about and I never want to stop.

Costume designer Renetta Lloyd holds one of the beaded headdresses that she created for Sunset Boulevard at Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Over the years, Lloyd has designed for shows at Palomar College, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Starlight Theatre, Premiere Productions, Cal State San Marcos, Concordia University and Moonlight Youth Theater (formerly Encore Youth Theater). But it is with Moonlight Stage Productions over the past seven years that shes most been able to express herself creatively.

This season at Moonlight, she created Desmonds sparkling 12-piece wardrobe as well as the show-stopping tentacled Ursula sea witch gown that actor Randall Hickman wore in last months Disneys Little Mermaid. Since 2010, she has designed elements for virtually every Moonlight show.

Steven Glaudini, Moonlights producing artistic director, said he thinks Lloyd can do anything.

Ive always thought she was a brilliant young designer, Glaudini said. The first time I really noticed was in 2012 with Sweeney Todd and her initial designs really blew me away. Its her taste and her choice of fabrics. Her detail work is what elevates her above other designers. She has a real sense of style.

Lloyd described 2017 as a full circle year for her because some of her first theatrical inspirations as a child have come around again in new ways.

Lloyd grew up in Vista, where her mom, Roz Lehman, taught her to use a sewing machine in grade school. By third grade, she was designing and sewing original creations on her own machine.

She was bitten by the theater bug at age 12, when she starred in a youth production of Aladdin co-produced by Hickman (of Ursula fame) and Douglas Davis. Ever since, she has continued to perform in and occasionally design costumes for the duos Premiere theater companies.

I have known Renetta since she was 12 years old. She was our go-to character actress. Any role you gave her she would nail. She was gold, Hickman said.

For Aladdin, Lloyd and her mom volunteered to sew costumes for the show. By the time she was 16, Lloyd was being paid for her original costume designs. Her first paid gig was a set of animal-inspired yellow-and-orange suits for a youth production of the ugly duckling-inspired musical Honk.

After graduating early from Vista High School, she studied (and performed and designed costumes) at MiraCosta College before heading off to Concordia University in Irvine, where between psychology classes she also performed and designed.

There she met her husband, Paul, and they moved for a few years to Colorado before resettling in 2009 in Vista, where shes now a full-time mom to daughter Aria, 7, and son Ian, 4.

Costume design has been an ideal way to bring in a little extra money, have a creative outlet and spend time with her mom, who has been a Moonlight costume shop employee for nearly 20 years. Several days a week, they work side by side on projects in Lehmans home sewing studio. Lloyd comes up with the designs and construction, Lehman finishes up with the buttons, seams, hems and hooks.

We have our own way of communicating, Lloyd said. People say its strange watching us work together because we know what the other is thinking and speak in our own shorthand.

Lloyd said she loves a challenge. She learned wiring and circuitry to create an electrified stripper costume for a Gypsy production her brother produced in Stockton. And for Sunset Boulevard she drew inspiration from Oscar-winner Edith Head to create the 1920s-style wardrobe with many secret quick-change elements.

But it was Hickmans eye-popping Ursula costume that required the most imagination. The role is usually played by a woman, so Glaudini hired Lloyd to create a bustle-like caped contraption for a man.

Lloyd engineered the costume to balance the weight on Hickmans hips using a leather weightlifters belt fitted with rotating metal hooks and copper tape. The tentacles were created from dollar-store foam pool noodles, sewn into a cape veined with gooseneck microphone cords.

Hickman and Lloyd both say it was a career highlight to work together so closely on that show.

She can look at something and create it and she can do it all, from the fantasy of Ursula to the art deco of Norma Desmond. Renetta is finally getting the recognition she has so long deserved, Hickman said.

For Sunset Boulevard, which plays through Sept. 2, Glaudini said he asked Lloyd to create a dozen costumes that were luxurious enough that they looked as they belonged to wealthy movie star.

I wanted the audience to feel that 1949 Old Hollywood wealth and Renetta just knocked it out of the park, Glaudini said.

Costume designer Renetta Lloyd, 33, has been designing and selling costumes for theater companies for more than half her life. (Charlie Neuman /San Diego Union-Tribune)

Lloyd said she drew inspiration for her costumes from designs in the original 1950 film Sunset Boulevard and the costume sketches for the 1991 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Besides creating Normas wardrobe, she also designed the Samson and Delilah costumes in a Paramount Studios scene.

Her technique for designing costumes is to create a basic pencil design, then go shopping.

I dont get carried away creating a full-color sketch because sometimes I dont find the fabrics that match up with whats in my head. Instead I just go shopping and let the fabrics speak to me, she said.

For this show, she went to L.A.s garment district, where high-end sequined and satin materials sell for $6 a yard, compared to $30 at local shops. Because actress Valerie Perri appears in almost every scene of the musical, all of Lloyds costumes had to be built for quick changes and clever layering.

Glaudini said he was thrilled with the results.

She found these fabrics that look like a million dollars under the lights, he said. She delivered in spades.

The familys creative gene seems to have passed on to the next generation. Lloyds daughter, Aria, is now making her own costumes and recently made her acting debut  another full circle moment  in the latest Aladdin staging by Hickman and Davis Premiere for Kids.

Lloyd said she may never get around to becoming an art therapist, but shes happily fulfilled as a wife, mom and much-in-demand North County costume designer.

There are still other things I want to do, she said, but there arent enough lives in the world to do everything I want, so Im really happy to just live this life.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
Drone deliveries could ease road traffic and allow for more efficient public services, supporters say - Luke Dray/Getty Images

As the small plane is placed on a catapult-like ramp, its rotors start to whirr, generating a buzz somewhere between an electric razor and a swarm of bees.

An operator in a high-vis jacket checks the coast is clear and presses a big green button. The aircraft shoots up the ramp and into the skies, accelerating to a cruising speed of around 60 miles per hour.

After around 20 minutes it releases a small package containing medical supplies with a parachute attached. The delivery glides calmly to earth, hitting its target, while the aircraft powers back to home base.

This is the scene proposed over a 50-mile stretch of England, to the north and west of Newcastle. A trial of drone-based medical deliveries  a joint venture between the NHS, Silicon Valley drone company Zipline and logistics business Apian  was originally due to begin last September.

As it stands, the skies are quiet. The group is still waiting for approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Apian, the company leading the efforts, has bowed to concerns from local airfields, hobbyist pilots and businesses in limiting the scope of its proposed trials, which are being funded by the NHS.

However, the plan has still generated considerable and vocal opposition. A local racecourse has raised concerns that wealthy patrons will not be able to arrive by helicopter while the trials are on. The Ministry of Defence has weighed in, warning that the trials could affect defensive tests at a nearby RAF base.

Apian has faced opposition over its NHS drone delivery trials - Apian/PA Wire

The row is a potential preview of things to come. Amazon has said it will launch its first delivery services in the UK this year, reviving plans after abandoning tests in Cambridgeshire several years ago. Manna, an Irish start-up, is planning to do the same, while Wing, a subsidiary of Googles parent company Alphabet, has been hiring staff in Britain.

Last week, the CAA said it was preparing for a broader introduction of drone deliveries, relaxing rules that require drones not to fly in the same airspace as other aircraft.

Story continues

Proponents say drones will mean quicker deliveries, lighter road traffic and more efficient public services. Apians proposed trials in Northumbria, for example, are designed to deliver prescriptions from a central hub to more than 30 GP offices and other health facilities in the area, speeding up care.

Yet opponents claim drones are a wasteful, noisy and disruptive wheeze whose advantages are exaggerated.

The General Aviation Alliance, a group that represents airspace users ranging from skydivers to balloonists, called the Northumbria trial expensive and pointless in a submission to the CAA.

Microlight pilots said the drones needed to be fitted with collision avoidance technology, while airfields and local manufacturers claimed the plans would be detrimental to their operations.

Amazon had also generated significant local opposition when it tested drones on the outskirts of Cambridge, with local wildlife campaigners coming out against the trials. Despite a splashy announcement from Jeff Bezos in 2013 and a promotional video from Jeremy Clarkson, commercial deliveries never began.

Amazon said its Prime Air service completed its first trial delivery in 2016 - Amazon

Louisa Smith, Apians chief aviation officer, describes the feedback as welcome and crucial. The company has delayed its trials to the second half of this year to accommodate changes to its plans.

It will now fly only at certain times of day, and has shrunk the area it plans to fly in so as not to prevent pilots from using a popular coastal corridor or to inconvenience small airfields.

Smith says regulations ultimately have to be updated so that drone trials do not disadvantage others. Currently, drones flying beyond an operators line of sight must do so in segregated airspace because protocols around collision avoidance are yet to be worked out.

The CAA changes announced last week are designed partly to address this.

Drones would be required to signpost where they are to other aircraft by adding high-intensity lights pointing upwards and broadcasting electronic beacons. That may only spark new rows: the General Aviation Alliance has said it is on board with changes, but only if the drone industry pays for them and it causes minimal disruption to pilots.

Bobby Healy, whose drone company Manna has delivered more than 100,000 takeaways and coffees in Ireland, says the UK is more challenging.

Its a busier airspace and theres a lot of military there, he says. Mannas quadcopter drones typically fly lower and in more suburban areas than the proposed drones in Northumbria.

Even if these issues are worked out, the benefits of drones have been questioned. Academics at the Universities of Southampton and Bournemouth who studied an NHS drone trial between the Isle of Wight and the mainland claimed that the time savings were exaggerated and that the costs of drone deliveries were 133pc more expensive than using a taxi and hovercraft.

Supporters are not giving up, however. Apian is applying for permission to ferry medical tests between two hospitals in London and ultimately hopes to operate drones across the UK.

Theres definitely a need for this, says Smith. Theres a huge number of use cases that it could benefit.

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.
Carlsbads City Council waded into the national sanctuary state issue Monday evening, voting 4-1 to back the federal governments lawsuit against California.

They also agreed the city should file a legal brief when appropriate in support of the federal action against the states Senate Bill 54, which prohibits local law enforcement officials from investigating arrestees immigration status or reporting that status to federal authorities.

The weighing in on this is purely political, and its divisive, said Councilwoman Cori Schumacher, who voted against the motion.

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However, the other four council members emphasized the need for public safety, and said that law enforcement officers need all the tools they can get.

Our laws are becoming more difficult to enforce, said Mayor Matt Hall. It takes many agencies working together to keep us safe.

A handful of other local jurisdictions have taken a position on the state law, which limits what state and local law enforcement officials from investigating arrestees immigration status or reporting it to federal authorities. Federal officials have said the law pre-empts their authority.

So far three cities  National City, Chula Vista and San Diego  have stepped up to support the state law, while two jurisdictions  Escondido and San Diego County  have voted to oppose it.

More than 70 people spoke at the crowded April 4 meeting where the Escondido City Council agreed to file an amicus brief in support of the federal lawsuit.

The issue has led to heated meetings across the county.

The Carlsbad session was calm and lightly attended, though some of the speakers were passionate.

Almost 20 people addressed the council at a special single-issue meeting held at the citys Faraday Administration Center, and a majority of them supported the states sanctuary law. Councilman Keith Blackburn placed the subject on the agenda, saying the city should take a position on Senate Bill 54 because so many residents have asked about it.

Resident Brian Connor said the federal lawsuit is founded on racism and raw tribalism.

I think its deplorable, Connor said. We have in power now a federal government which is out of control, and I urge you to resist.

Carlsbad has a low crime rate, he said, and immigrants are not a significant factor in the crimes that are committed.

Others urged the council to show compassion, and said the federal government is only adding to the fear and uncertainty already in the community.

Do not make news for intolerance and bigotry, resident Linda Breen told the council. I dont think that is good for our city.

Glenn Bernard, a retired Marine and former teacher, urged the city to support the federal government, and compared sanctuary cities to the South in the Civil War.

I cannot see the difference between a sanctuary state and a secessionist state, Bernard said.

California is one of seven states in the U.S. that have declared themselves sanctuary states, according to the National Center for Immigration Studies.

President Trump has said he intends to block federal public safety funding for cities and states with sanctuary policies, though so far federal judges have prohibited that action.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
Mike Nichols, Solana Beachs longest-serving member of the city council, has unexpectedly resigned his seat with nine months left on his four-year term.

Mayor Ginger Marshall announced at the councils March 14 meeting that Nichols tendered his resignation as of Monday, March 12. She did not offer details other than to say that the remaining four councilmembers will discuss how to fill the vacancy at their next meeting, on March 28.

Neither Nichols nor the city have disclosed the reason for his departure. For two of the councils previous four meetingsFeb. 28 and Jan. 24Nichols participated via telephone from Wilmington, N.C., where he grew up.

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I am saddened to step down after so many years on the council but need to put all my focus and energy toward family at this time, Nichols said in a March 15 message to this newspaper.

Nichols was first elected to the city council in 2006. He won his re-election bid in 2010, then was re-appointed in 2014 after the city canceled that years election for lack of candidates. He served as mayor in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

Nichols hinted at the strains of public service during the councils Dec. 13 ceremony in which he passed the mayors gavel to Marshall. Nichols called his wife Heather to his side as he gave thanks for the opportunity to represent Solana Beach.

And thank you to my wife, because she puts up with a lot of stuff, he said. This is not just a single persons job; this is a familys job. Weve got a little 2-year-old at home, and there are nights when I leave and shes got to do all that work and I feel bad and I come home and Im like, How did it go with the put-down? and I hear all those stories. So thank you, Heather, for all you do to help me to be able to do this.
Deutsche Telekom AG's (ETR:DTE) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period to 0.77 on 15th of April. This takes the annual payment to 3.5% of the current stock price, which is about average for the industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Deutsche Telekom

Deutsche Telekom's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Prior to this announcement, Deutsche Telekom's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 5.2%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 62% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

Deutsche Telekom Has A Solid Track Record

Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. The dividend has gone from an annual total of 0.50 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of 0.77. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 4.4% over that duration. Although we can't deny that the dividend has been remarkably stable in the past, the growth has been pretty muted.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. Deutsche Telekom has impressed us by growing EPS at 21% per year over the past five years. The company's earnings per share has grown rapidly in recent years, and it has a good balance between reinvesting and paying dividends to shareholders, so we think that Deutsche Telekom could prove to be a strong dividend payer.

Deutsche Telekom Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock

Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Deutsche Telekom is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Taking the debate a bit further, we've identified 1 warning sign for Deutsche Telekom that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Dr. Martens fair value estimate is UK1.38

Current share price of UK0.98 suggests Dr. Martens is potentially 29% undervalued

The UK0.98 analyst price target for DOCS is 29% less than our estimate of fair value

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Dr. Martens plc (LON:DOCS) 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. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for Dr. Martens

Is Dr. Martens Fairly Valued?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK46.8m UK103.3m UK108.2m UK112.0m UK115.3m UK118.2m UK120.9m UK123.4m UK125.8m UK128.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Est @ 3.50% Est @ 2.94% Est @ 2.55% Est @ 2.28% Est @ 2.09% Est @ 1.95% Est @ 1.86% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 9.5% UK42.7 UK86.1 UK82.3 UK77.8 UK73.1 UK68.5 UK63.9 UK59.6 UK55.4 UK51.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK661m

Story continues

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. 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 (1.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK128m (1 + 1.6%)  (9.5% 1.6%) = UK1.7b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK1.7b ( 1 + 9.5%)10= UK664m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is UK1.3b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK1.0, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 29% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

Important Assumptions

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 Dr. Martens 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 9.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.441. 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 Dr. Martens

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Luxury market.

Opportunity

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by cash flow.

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Dr. Martens, we've put together three further factors you should look at:

Risks: Be aware that Dr. Martens is showing 5 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those makes us a bit uncomfortable... Future Earnings: How does DOCS'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 British 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.
Editors note: To help honor this extraordinary woman, we invite you to attend the annual Women of Achievement luncheon, which is also an opportunity to hear from prominent speakers, network and celebrate our community. Tickets can be purchased now, online.

At 68, Minnie Graham has lived long enough to experience the sting of segregation.

During a family visit to North Carolina when she was 11, she joined her cousins at a local drug store for hot dogs. Counter service was reserved for white folks, she learned, and a store clerk directed the children to a back window for their snack.

Later on at a movie theater, Minnie and her cousins were escorted to the upper-level seats because the downstairs section with a better view of the screen was off-limits to Black patrons.

I couldnt believe it, she says, looking back. Coming from New York, I didnt have that experience. But for my cousins, it was a way of life.

Its more than coincidence that Minnie Graham was born the year history was made on a city bus in Montgomery, Ala. The same courage and conviction that empowered Rosa Parks in 1955 to refuse to give up her seat for a white passenger has motivated Minnie to dedicate her life as a civil rights leader and activist in Park Hill and neighboring communities.

Minnie Graham in her youth.Staten Island Advance

The struggle continues, she says candidly. Im a child of the 60s. I grew up during the Vietnam War, the sit-ins, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. All of these things impacted me as a child.

In response, she has spent most of her adult life developing initiatives that celebrate and support Staten Islands Black community. As founder and executive director of the Empowerment Zone  my baby  she provides career counseling, computer training, conflict resolution, health education and after-school homework help to residents of the Park Hill Apartments.

Woman of Achievement 2024, Minnie Graham (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

Her passion has touched PS 57, the NAACP and First Central Baptist Church. She also co-founded the Staten Island Black Heritage Family Day and We Are Family Festival, held every September since 2011 in Tappen Park.

Its all about celebrating Black culture on Staten Island, she says. Its about unity. We have it here  just not enough of it.

For all this and more, Minnie Graham has been chosen a 2024 Staten Island Woman of Achievement.

TEEN MOTHER

Minnie GrahamStaten Island Advance

A native of Brooklyn, the former Minnie Delores Britton was born on Aug. 13, 1955 in Crown Heights and raised in East New York, the younger of two girls.

In her senior year at Prospect Heights High School, Minnie learned she was pregnant. A city program for young mothers, along with support from her own mother, made it possible to graduate on time  and as the programs valedictorian.

Her daughter, Tawana Nicole, was born a month later. A second daughter, LeaDanielle, would arrive in 1980.

My mother knew my determination would let me accomplish anything, including a high school diploma, Minnie recalls, grateful for the unconditional love she felt as a teen mother.

Minnie would later go on to earn a bachelors degree in psychology from the College of Staten Island and a masters degree in counseling from Long Island University. She put her degrees to use as a per diem teacher in the public school system.

When her family moved to Park Hill in the 1970s, Minnie found the adjustment difficult.

It was a total shock to me, she says about Park Hill. I came from a private home, and wasnt familiar with public housing. That was not how a community should be.

Former Councilmember Debi Rose, third from left, joins Minnie Graham, second from left, at a street renaming ceremony in Cliftons Park Hill neighborhood in April 2022. Staten Island Advance

CHANGE AGENT

Crowded conditions, safety issues and widespread disregard for the people who lived there made Minnie critical of low-income housing like Park Hill. It wasnt unusual to hear gunfire in the surrounding streets in the 1980s and 1990s, she recalls.

Its too many people on top of each other. These are hard-working people who deserve a better quality of life. They feel powerless, like they cannot initiate any change.

She was concerned about how the situation was affecting her two daughters.

My children were growing up in an environment that told them they did not have any value. But value is not based on an address or ZIP code.

Minnie turned her frustration into motivation. She got involved with the PTA at nearby PS 57, and convinced the district office to appoint the schools first Black assistant principal.

Woman of Achievement 2024, Minnie Graham, at her Empowerment Zone office. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

She started the African-American Parent Council, a forerunner of the Empowerment Zone, to support the families of Park Hill with workshops that helped parents navigate the school system and secure the best outcomes for their children.

Today the Zone is located in a first-floor space at 180 Park Hill Ave. In 2012, the Barack Obama Computer Center opened in an adjacent building at 260 Park Hill Ave., offering 20 computer stations and help with resume writing, career counseling and job searches.

The Empowerment Zone has sponsored a clothes closet with donated items, community cleanups and beautifications, holiday toy giveaways, bilingual services, health fairs and a food pantry. Minnie makes sure the space is decorated for Valentines Day, Thanksgiving and every holiday in between.

She also developed Empower Girls, a program for at-risk girls ages 12 to 16, which teaches life skills, career exploration, financial literacy and civic engagement.

You name it, weve done it at Park Hill, she says with pride. We believe that when you empower the individual, you empower the family, you empower the city, you empower the nation and we all benefit.

Minnie Graham in the Empowerment Zone at Park Hill. Proclamations and awards displayed on the walls attest to its impact in the community. Staten Island Advance

SPEAKS FROM THE HEART

Minnie moved out of the Park Hill Apartments to Stapleton in 2010, but continues her mission as an advocate for the residents of more than 1,000 units and as a promoter of Black culture and heritage.

She doesnt hesitate to speak from the heart against racism and discrimination.

How ignorant it is to base hatred on the color of skin, she says with conviction. No one chooses their parents, their gender, their color  so how can you use color to judge someone as being less than you, or you as being better than them?

"I Love Park Hill," reads the button Woman of Achievement 2024 Minnie Graham pins on. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

Since 1985, she has been an active member of First Central Baptist Church in Stapleton, where she has served as trustee, Sunday School teacher, usher and coordinator of the singles ministry. She credits Bishop Calvin Rice, former pastor now leading a church in Queens, with helping me cultivate my personal relationship with God, and the Rev. Dr. Demetrius Carolina, current pastor, with helping her continue that spiritual journey.

Minnie has been a faithful member of the church, said Bishop Rice. And she has done a lot to keep the African-American community at the forefront. Shes been a pillar in Park Hill and Stapleton.

At a Canvas Institute fundraiser, Minnie is seated with Daisy Olivencia of the Jewish Community Center and former Councilmember Debi Rose. Staten Island Advance

Minnie appreciates other community champions who have guided her and supported her projects, including Marjorie Garvin, a 2013 Woman of Achievement known as Ms. Park Hill; Debi Rose, former city Councilmember, and the Rev. Terry Troia, president and CEO of Project Hospitality.

Minnie is a hard worker for the community, said Marjorie. She is always working to get everybody together  united instead of divided.

Minnie is a tireless advocate who is devoted to Park Hill, said Debi, a 2019 Woman of Achievement, and spends most of her time working to empower others and fighting injustice.

Minnie, second from left, is joined by her daughter, Lea Graham, far left; Adrienne Adams, speaker of the New York City Council, and Rashida Ladner-Seward of Universal Temple of the Arts. Staten Island Advance

I believe her greatest accomplishment and her passion is keeping our history and culture alive and celebrated, Debi added. She has served as the sentinel of Black history and culture, summoning the collective conscience of our community and keeping ever-present the vestiges of our culture. Driven by her indomitable spirit, she motivates others to forge ahead until the goal is accomplished.

Black Heritage Day has galvanized the community, said Rev. Troia, praising Minnies work on the annual gathering at Tappen Park. The event is a source of pride and healing and celebrates the human dignity of a community of people enslaved  with hope for an integrated, welcoming, safe and non-racist Staten Island.

Minnie meets Park Hill resident Tanya Mitchell, who she has been trying to get back into her apartment after a fire. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

THEY ARE MY LIFELINE

As a matriarch, Minnie sees her family as the centerpiece in her life.

My family is extremely important to me, she says. They are the reason I do what I do; they are my lifeline. I draw on the wisdom of all my family members who have gone before me.

Minnie credits her late mother, Ruth, with instilling the value of community service.

She was a woman of strength. Always put your best foot forward  thats the way my mother raised me, and I dont know how to do it any other way, she shares.

Im a proud Black woman -- proud of the strides weve made and of just how far weve come from where we were. I just want to make a difference while Im here.

Woman of Achievement 2024 Minnie Graham is executive director of the Empowerment Zone Inc. in Park Hill. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

SOME OF MINNIES FAVORITES

Favorite book: Dracula, by Bram Stoker.

Favorite song: Treat Her Like A Lady, by The Temptations (1984).

Favorite place to visit on Staten Island: The pier at South Beach. I cry, pray, meditate there. I love the water and the sky.

What three famous people would you invite to a dinner party? Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln.

Any pets? A Maltipoo (Maltese and Poodle mix) named Sasha.

Favorite vacation spot? A tie between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Favorite breakfast food? Soup. I love my soup (she makes her own). French onion. No split pea, tomato or cheddar.

Favorite restaurant? Mighty Crab in the Staten Island Mall.

Ocean or mountains? Ocean.

Councilmember Joseph Borelli and Minnie at the inauguration ceremony for Adrienne Adams, City Council speaker.Family photos

Minnie, left, with Jaden Watson, Borough President Vito Fossella and Sharon Curry, executive director of the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation. Staten Island Advance
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Edelteq Holdings Berhad is RM0.32 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM0.33 suggests Edelteq Holdings Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value

Industry average of 340% suggests Edelteq Holdings Berhad's peers are currently trading at a higher premium to fair value

Does the February share price for Edelteq Holdings Berhad (KLSE:EDELTEQ) 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. One way to achieve this is by employing 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. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Edelteq Holdings Berhad

Crunching The Numbers

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.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM6.01m RM8.45m RM10.9m RM13.3m RM15.5m RM17.4m RM19.1m RM20.6m RM21.9m RM23.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 56.32% Est @ 40.48% Est @ 29.40% Est @ 21.64% Est @ 16.21% Est @ 12.41% Est @ 9.75% Est @ 7.89% Est @ 6.58% Est @ 5.67% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 12% RM5.4 RM6.7 RM7.8 RM8.5 RM8.8 RM8.8 RM8.6 RM8.3 RM7.9 RM7.5

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM78m

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) = RM23m (1 + 3.5%)  (12% 3.5%) = RM285m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM285m ( 1 + 12%)10= RM92m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM171m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.3, 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.

dcf

Important Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Edelteq Holdings 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 1.325. 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.

Moving On:

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. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Edelteq Holdings Berhad, we've compiled three fundamental aspects you should further examine:

Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Edelteq Holdings Berhad (including 1 which is a bit 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 Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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The state government is under growing pressure to reinstate $200,000 worth of funding cut from Victorias youth orchestras, with the opposition labelling the cuts as mean and nasty.

The government funding for Melbourne Youth Orchestras, which has been provided for nearly 60 years, was aimed at students from public schools with inadequate music programs, as well as young people from regional areas and those living with a disability.

Sogol Moradi, a student with Melbourne Youth Orchestras. Credit: Justin McManus

Melbourne Youth Orchestras received funding through a grant process last year, but was unsuccessful in the 2024-25 funding round.

The program has 630 participants per week, aged eight to 25. One of those is 15-year-old Sogol Moradi, who has been playing violin with the program for four years.
Firefighters are scrambling to prepare defences near an out-of-control bushfire in Victorias west after a catastrophic fire danger rating was declared for Wednesday  just the second such warning issued since the Black Summer fires.

Beaufort, Raglan, Elmhurst and Amphitheatre are among the towns on high alert as residents still assess the damage from the blaze that started near Bayindeen, west of Ballarat, on Thursday, which has destroyed at least six houses and burnt through about 20,000 hectares.

CFA chief Jason Heffernan has said Wednesday could bring the worst fire conditions in four years. A State Control Centre spokesperson said it was the first year in which two catastrophic fire rating days had occurred after another was issued on February 13.

Wednesdays catastrophic rating applies only to the Wimmera. An extreme rating is forecast for every other Victorian fire district apart from the north-east and Gippsland zones.
Permanency includes restoration to the biological family, guardianship orders that make the carers rather than the government the legal guardians, and adoption, which establishes a legal familial bond, including for inheritance. All adoption in NSW is open adoption, where the birth parents remain known to the children. Deborra-lee Furness and Hugh Jackman at a film premiere in April last year. The couple decided to separate after 27 years and two children. Credit: Evan Agostini, AP Back in 2020, the former government touted the spike in adoptions as a result of its policy focus on adoption and permanency. However, NSW Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said the former government addressed a backlog of adoption matters from 2016 to 2020, and she was advised that the backlog no longer existed. Washington said the government was committed to reducing the number of children in out-of-home care, but was not continuing the failed Coalition-era permanency taskforce, established to increase the number of adoptions and guardianship orders. She said the taskforce was funded $12 million in 2021 and adoption and guardianship orders then fell by a third.

The government inherited a broken child protection system where vulnerable kids are paying the price, Washington said. But the solutions arent simple. The system was left to spiral out of control for years, so it will take time to turn it around. NSW Minister for Family and Communities Kate Washington. Credit: Peter Stoop Adopt Change chief executive Renee Carter said there might not be a backlog now, but there was a strong argument that the number of children in care who could benefit from adoption would be more than 0.05 per cent. She said the biggest barrier to permanency was the fact the private fostering and adoption agencies were paid for the number of children on their books rather than given incentives to help them leave the child protection system. Carter said the largest cohort of children entering state care are younger than five years old, and most never return home, but instead bounce around the system and end up ageing out into terrible outcomes.

In 2022-23 there were 2175 children taken into care, and 918 young people who aged out of the foster system. Nationally, more than two out of five children in out-of-home care are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows. Indigenous organisations, including NSW peak body AbSec, are strongly opposed to the adoption of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care as part of a history of cultural genocide. AbSec chief executive John Leha called for more investment in Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to prevent children being taken into out-of-home care and work on family restoration. While we acknowledge that some children do need to be removed for safety and wellbeing, it is in the interests of all parties that they remain in the care of kin and community, with the opportunity to return home, Leha said.

Loading A longitudinal study of 1000 First Nations children over 10 years by the University of NSW, published recently in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect, suggests the reunification rate was just 15.2 per cent. AIHW data says 63 per cent of Indigenous children in the care system are with extended family or with Aboriginal carers. A department spokesperson said 17 of the 43 foster agencies in NSW were Aboriginal services, and this was preferred for Indigenous children. Voluntary adoptions The department is also reviewing its arrangements for voluntary local adoptions, where a birth parent chooses to give up a child and an agency makes an introduction to prospective adoptive parents. The spokesperson said the third-party contracts, currently with Anglicare Sydney and Family Spirit, must reflect the changing needs of the NSW adoption sector.
Nobody was interested in buying the sloping, irregularly shaped block backing on to a lane once used by dunny men to service outside loos. Except architect David Langston-Jones.

Langston-Jones transformation of a 155 square metre site on Little Young Street, Redfern, into two identical homes, each with a private zen garden, was one of 126 projects shortlisted in this years NSW Architecture Awards.

David Langston-Jones looks out over his zen garden. Credit: Rhett Wyman

Where others saw garbage bins, a mess of homes, ugly garages and neighbours overlooking the site, Langston-Jones saw increased density.

When the block with an old house came up for sale, he paced the street frontage, measuring 14 metres wide. Thats another two houses, he recalled thinking.
He said the government had met its contractual obligations 100 per cent. The design, the facility was all contractually agreed to from day dot and theres been a number of times when weve looked at concerns that theyve raised and weve modified when weve needed to, Kamper said. But essentially theres been some contractual disputes. Kamper was also asked about a claim by Sydney Fish Market chief executive Greg Dyer in the annual report that the accounting adjustment was the result of inefficiencies or issues in the planning processes conducted by Infrastructure NSW. He said it was generally the case when a company posted a loss that there was an inefficiency. Whether its in-house or out-house or whether its decisions theyve made and theyve lost money in that project, I cant comment on that. Points of contention have included demands by Sydney Fish Market on behalf of their retail tenants for more air-conditioning, a covered area where the trucks are unloaded, more hoists and lifts and measures to address concerns over food code compliance and power supply.

Infrastructure NSW said in a statement it was not responsible for the fit-out of the retail tenancies. This aspect of design is the responsibility of the subtenants, as is typical for most retail developments, the statement said. The budget readjustment is the latest financial write-off in a sea of broken dreams that developers, entrepreneurs, politicians, bureaucrats and assorted individuals have entertained for the waterfront site since the seafood industry was deregulated in 1994. They include stripper cruise operator Joe Elias, an associate of the corrupt former Labor MP Eddie Obeid, who was fortunate enough in 2009 to win the approval of then ports minister Joe Tripodi to develop a marina adjacent to the markets when all the other bidders were dismissed midway through the public tender process. (An audit found no inappropriate processes had been applied.) Every would-be developer or bureaucrat from then on had to negotiate with Elias to gain access to the land.

Tripodi retained an affection for the market. He chose to eat there on Thursday morning after appearing in court on a misconduct in public office charge, for an unrelated matter. Joe Tripodi arrived at the Fish Market for lunch on Thursday with his lawyer, after appearing in court on corruption charges. Credit: Nick Moir Obeid himself eyed the fish market in 2001, in partnership with Nathan Nati Stoliar, a property developer later jailed in the US for fraud. As Kate McClymont documented in He Who Must Be Obeid, the pair convinced dotcom entrepreneur Karl Suleman to hand over a $100,000 deposit for a venture to redevelop the market based on the Singapore model where yachts could moor. Stoliar told Suleman the venture would be you and I, and Moses Obeid on behalf of his father. We will only pay $1 a year rent for ninety-nine years. The venture came to nothing and Sulemans funds proved to be the product of fraud, as a court found three years later that he had been running a Ponzi scheme.

Liberal premiers Barry OFarrell and Mike Baird also dreamed big for the site - in 2023 it was the states sixth most popular tourist attraction. OFarrell created a new agency, UrbanGrowth, to oversee the transformation of the entire Bays precinct, only for the grand vision to falter under his one-time protege Gladys Berejiklian four years down the track. David Pitchford, who was headhunted from the UK to be the founding chief executive of UrbanGrowth, said it was the potential renaissance of the dishevelled waterfront that sold him on the role. I saw the Bays precinct as an absolute piece of gold, Pitchford said. It was 95 hectares of harbourside land, 94 hectares of waterways, 5.6 kilometres of coastline, two kilometres from the CBD and completely derelict. The fish market was the jewel in the crown. One of the most tenacious proponents was realtor Robert Deans, whose 20-year battle to develop the site entangled him with an array of colourful bedfellows, from Elias and Obeid to public servant-cum-private consultant Kym Lennox and entrepreneur Dominic Galati, with whom he dramatically fell out and spent years fighting in court. In late 2016 his car was set on fire, an act he believed was related to the fish market. A judge presiding over the dispute between Deans and Galati noted that perhaps unsurprisingly  there appear to have been any number of people keen to share in the anticipated profits of the proposed development or to earn commissions or fees either in the course of the redevelopment project or after its completion.
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 Peter Hartcher has been effusive in his praise of Paul Keating as a treasurer and highly critical of him as a retired politician (Keating: from a gift to a tragedy, February 24). Keating is the main architect of Australian economic reforms through the 80s and 90s and we are still reaping the benefits of those reforms. He is critical of some aspects of Australian foreign policy, especially towards China and subservience to the US. In many ways, he is right, especially our reliance on the US and our acquiescence to it. With Donald Trumps looming return to the US presidency, the world order is quite uncertain. Also, in our present economic climate, the country is crying out for genuine tax reforms, we need a visionary and bold leader like Keating who can carry out such tasks without fear of any backlash. I wish Keating a very happy 80th birthday and hope he continues to offer his frank opinions for a long time to come. Bipin Johri, Epping Illustration by Jim Pavlidis Credit: Hartcher claims Keating has demanded Australia appease Beijing, withdraw from AUKUS and break with the US. But Keating discerns that Hartchers so-called threat from China has been created not by China but by Washington for its own geostrategic ends. Keating knows the real limits to Americas concern for Australias security. Hartcher appears unaware that the much-vaunted ANZUS treaty offers no assurance to Australia that America would provide armed assistance if we were attacked. Today, for Australia to look after itself is a complex challenge, more so now than any time since the last world war. Mike Gilligan, Bowral Hartcher encapsulates the impact of Keatings time as treasurer and PM succinctly and with accuracy. What Keating does not understand is that once one leaves political office, the involvement and the career is finished. Other people have taken on the responsibility and make all the decisions, and no matter how much Keating may believe he is right on any issue, when he no longer has the public support through political office, his thoughts and opinions are meaningless unless backed up with political power. Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie

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Perhaps Hartcher should read what ANU professor Hugh White has to say about AUKUS and the defence of Australia generally. AUKUS will be a white elephant. By the time we get these subs, they will be redundant. Smart missiles would be a better use of the money. And why dont we just take the NZ approach and accept that we probably wont be invaded, so why not spend the money on education and health. Tom Meakin, Port Macquarie Hartchers eulogy to Keatings political career is remarkable in its focus on his positive economic achievements. A few other things could also be listed, such as the widening gap between the incomes of rich and poor and the deterioration in Australias institutional life now that previously mixed sectors such as banking and aged care have become completely privatised. John Croker, Woonona Keating in power was my all-time favourite politician who made parliamentary sessions required listening with his blistering turn of phrase. His putdowns of opposition members is the stuff of legend and all this while dragging the country into a modern functioning economy. I have to agree that more recent statements from the great man have been unfortunate but at least in my mind he has earned the right to make them. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne I dont agree with Hartchers conclusions but it was good to recount the great deeds of Labor governments past. In half a century, the Whitlam and Hawke/Keating governments gave us the social and economic reforms that make Australia the envy of the modern world. Over the same period and with considerably more time in power, the Liberals gave us a new tax. Happy birthday, PK. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn Trumps alleged strengths are true weaknesses In part, a countrys electoral system moulds the culture of the country (Why Americas historic weakness strengthens Trump, February 24 ). The US system is structured to create deadlock in the House and Congress. People want change and if they dont get it, they want an autocrat. Countries with an autocrat want democracy. Trump has read this well and as long as the rest of the government indulges in political blockage, he will appeal to a big chunk of the voters. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea

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Few would disagree with Nick Bryant that Trumps character and many alleged felonies should disqualify him from high office. How does tolerance of violence, a willingness to curtail civil liberties and an opponents civil liberties, and a tendency to be tyrannical make Trump a strong man? These are not strengths but damaging weaknesses. Even the most egregious of former presidential candidates like Richard Nixon were nothing like as overbearing and blatant as Trump is in these baleful respects. Americas weakness is that the Republican hierarchy sees him as the best bet to beat Joe Biden. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne Illustration by Simon Letch Credit: Of course, many Americans support a strong leader, particularly when it involves the security of the US. However, Trump supporters are different. Its not his strength they admire, (he has none), but his obvious dislike, even hatred, of everything they despise: people who arent of their own race, immigrants, those who arent heterosexual, those who have considerable achievements (the elites) and those who arent Christian. Trumps failings are disregarded because they look back to an America that ran roughshod over the rights of others and they aspire for its return. Rodney Crute, Hunters Hill Nikki Haley describes her contest against Donald Trump as a David and Goliath battle ( David taking on Goliath: Haleys last chance to bring Trump down, February 24). As far as we know, Goliath relied only on his height and strength to intimidate his rivals. Trump, however, plays dirty, trotting out the usual insults and character assassinations, a sign of weakness rather than strength. Not so much a Goliath, more a Gross Liar. Joan Brown, Orange Bryant provides an excellent historical and sociological analysis of Americas fascination with the strong leader syndrome: the powerful, aggressive leader with dictatorial and autocratic tendencies. Trumps fascination with Vladimir Putin continues to fit hand in glove with this US craving for the strong guy. Fortunately, Australia would seem to have very different norms when it comes to leadership and popularity. This probably explains why in the US, John Wayne remains the most popular cultural idol while in Australia, we have Dame Edna Everage. Warren Marks, Hill Top Co-ed deniers living in past As an old girl (1964 leaver) of an Anglican girls school, I have no right to tell my alma maters head or council how to run the school (Newington old boys escalate fight to keep girls out, February 24). However, as an educator of more than 30 years in independent co-education, I feel I can offer my experiences and professional suggestions. Do we know the age or credentials of the dissenters? Judy Wotton, The Hill

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I see the old boys are still at it, trying to drag their school back into the antediluvian ages. My son left Newington with a Premiers Award. and after a brief flirtation towards becoming Rumpole of the Bailey. diverted to become a teacher. A short stint at Newington followed by 12 rich and fulfilling years at Barker College convinced him never again to teach at a single-sex school. Life is co-ed. Get with the program! Patricia Tod, Enmore Protest puncturing The holes drilled into councils waterfront trees have the hallmarks of a political protest (Tree vandal strikes in Mosman, February 24). Over a year ago, the council changed the words used to describe the tree trimming in permits for view maintenance. Now tree canopies that have been trimmed annually for decades must be allowed to reach their full potential. Last year was a gold rush year for council approved contractors who maintained prices but barely touched trees. Now the views and work disappear along with dependent property values, council rates, state land taxes and services. But Mosmans mayor and councillors show no empathy to voters watching their views and property values evaporate. For some voters, direct action now is far better than waiting for the next election. Peter Egan, Mosman Gaza wide open As I read Mick Ryans opinion piece (Two years on, Ukraines courage shames the West, February 24), I could not help but think he could have replaced the word Ukraine with Gaza. He talks of thousands of Russian missiles, drones and ballistic rockets have been launched at civilian infrastructure such as power plants, shopping malls, schools and hospitals, not unlike what Israel is doing in Gaza. The only difference is the Palestinian people do not have an army with tanks and weapons supplied by the West to defend themselves as the Ukrainian military do. Joe Collins, Mosman Illustration: Badiucao Credit:

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Brave and essential Distressing content indeed: I was very moved by Rosie Waterlands article (Losing Lisa, Good Weekend, February 24). I have practiced as a regional paediatrician for 35 years and frequently witness intergenerational trauma of the profile your writer experienced. Her observation that hurt people hurt people is generous and courageous. This is an eloquent and brilliant piece of writing that displays great bravery, and the ability to rewrite the intergenerational narrative requires remarkable insight and generosity of spirit. I would recommend that everyone reads her story and that of her sister. If I do eventually write a memoir of my professional experiences as a rural doctor, I will title the textbook I got to meet a hero every day; Waterland and her sisters would fit in well. David McDonald, Port Macquarie Let sense prevail Im guessing your correspondent has never had to drive over an hour across the city or spend an hour and a half on public transport to get to their workplace as I do (Letters, February 24). If they did, theyd know the absolute relief of spending some workdays working from home, doing exactly what you would do in the office, only without the draining commute. Labors proposed industrial relations legislation may be a bridge too far to the left for you, but for so many, especially those in outer Sydney suburbs, its a win for common sense, no matter what a workers or an employers political affiliation is. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown Your small business advocating letter writer is being disingenuous. If the work of any business can be done from home, then it can be, and if the work cannot be done from home, then it cant. Simple. Why do you need to distinguish between types of employers? Howard Clark, Ryde Georges genius Best rock film ever: Concert for George (Postscript, February 24). A genuinely diverse presentation of rock music along the spectrum of individual, band and orchestra to showcase the creative talent of the underrated Beatle following his death in 2001. Brilliant musicians, multiple drummers in mesmerising unison, elite guitarists and other accompanists such as Billy Preston, session guru of keyboards. As ever, the doyen of percussionists, Ray Cooper, offers his other worldly, uninhibited contribution. The concert closes with a non-George, non-rock, old school farewell, Ill See You in My Dreams, perfectly delivered in sound, vision and celebration. See you, George. Brian Jones, Leura

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Natasha Lechner uttered her final words moments after Amazonian tree frog poison was dabbed onto patches of scorched flesh on her chest and wrist in a healing ritual in northern NSW.

Its not good, Lechner said before she fell unconscious.

Natasha Lechner, 39, was remembered as a gentle, bright and kind woman.

She never woke up.

An inquest on Friday found Lechner, 39, died from an acute cardiac event triggered by the toxin, known as kambo, which a friend applied during the ritual at her Mullumbimby home in March 2019.
The grim search continued on Monday, when police divers scoured two dams on the farm at Hazleton Road in Bungonia, about 33 kilometres south of Goulburn. Divers left the property shortly after 1pm but a search continued on the 70-hectare property, with a team of officers using rakes to search for evidence in grass and bushes. Hudson said on Monday that Lamarre-Condon had allegedly made a partial confession last Tuesday to an acquaintance about involvement in the killing of two people, but that this evidence was not reported to police immediately. After hiring a white Toyota HiAce van from Sydney airport on Monday night, police believe that on Wednesday Lamarre-Condon drove to Bungonia with a female friend in the van, potentially transporting the couples bodies. On the same day, Baird and Davies bloodied clothes were found in a skip bin in Cronulla.

Police allege the pair bought an angle grinder and a new padlock at Bunnings in Goulburn on Wednesday evening before travelling to the Bungonia property, which police believe Lamarre-Condon was familiar with because of a prior relationship. The owner of the property said they had no knowledge of Lamarre-Condon and were co-operating with the police search. Beau Lamarre-Condon, Jesse Baird, Luke Davies and the Paddington home where police allege the double murder took place. Credit: Instagram/Sydney Morning Herald The woman who travelled with Lamarre-Condon is co-operating with police. She has told them she was not aware of his alleged crimes, what he was doing on the property, or that there may have been two bodies in the back of the van. There is no suggestion the woman is involved in any wrongdoing. After he used the angle grinder to cut the lock on the gate to the property, police believe Lamarre-Condon left the female friend at the gate while he went into the property for about half an hour. The new padlock was then used to lock the gate after he returned.

The two then drove back to Sydney, police said. A Google maps view of the search area off Hazelton Road at Bungonia. Credit: Google maps At 11pm that evening, weights were purchased from a department store by the accused and it is believed that the accused returned to that property, Hudson said. At 4.30am on Thursday, Lamarre-Condon was seen leaving the Bungonia area again, Hudson said. He then travelled to the city again before driving the van to an acquaintance in Newcastle on Thursday, where he asked for a hose to clean the vehicle.

The van was later dumped at a family home in Grays Point, before Lamarre-Condon turned himself in at Bondi police station. The focus of Mondays search was a property called Cella Farm, where the two dams are located. Hudson said police were concerned the bodies may have been moved from the Bungonia address and disposed of at a different location during a gap in the timeline. It is our number one priority at this moment to try and locate Jesse and Luke to give the family some solace and be able to come to terms with whats occurred, Hudson said.

Loading Lamarre-Condons former relationship with Baird is a key part of the investigation into the deaths, which NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb described as an alleged crime of passion. Hudson said police are investigating earlier incidents involving Lamarre-Condon at the Paddington home, including a time he allegedly entered the property to access Bairds phone. We believe that he had utilised a key to enter those premises. We believe that he took possession of Jesses phone and deleted contacts and messages out of that phone before leaving the premises, Hudson said. Lamarre-Condons gun was signed out of Miranda police station on Friday, February 16, for the purposes of his work on a user pays police operation.
Studying Australias democracy and legal system will become mandatory in NSW schools under a revised curriculum designed to bolster knowledge of democratic systems which will start as early as kindergarten.

The overhauled history and human society and its environment syllabuses released for consultation on Monday will mandate that students learn about key events in federation, the significance of parliamentary democracy, the Constitution, voting, and the development of constitutional law.

Students can currently complete their schooling without learning the basics of Australias democratic system. Credit:

Under the current curriculum, school students can graduate without learning anything about Australias democratic system unless they elect to study commerce in years 9 and 10.

The shakeup comes as fewer people believe democracy is the best system for governing a country, with an Australian National University study finding one in seven Australian adults think that we should get rid of elections and parliaments and have experts make decisions on behalf of the people.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt is 27.66 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of 25.80 suggests DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt is potentially trading close to its fair value

The average premium for DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt's competitorsis currently 34%

How far off is DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt AG (ETR:DEF) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing 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. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt

Crunching The Numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. 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.

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 (, Millions) 10.7m 10.6m 10.6m 10.6m 10.6m 10.6m 10.7m 10.7m 10.8m 10.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -1.31% Est @ -0.75% Est @ -0.36% Est @ -0.08% Est @ 0.11% Est @ 0.25% Est @ 0.34% Est @ 0.41% Est @ 0.45% Est @ 0.48% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 8.4% 9.9 9.1 8.3 7.7 7.1 6.6 6.1 5.6 5.2 4.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 70m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.4%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 11m (1 + 0.6%)  (8.4% 0.6%) = 139m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 139m ( 1 + 8.4%)10= 62m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 133m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 25.8, the company appears about fair value at a 6.7% discount to where the stock price trades currently. 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.

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 DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt 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 8.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.697. 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 DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Weakness

Interest payments on debt are not well covered.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Real Estate market.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the German market.

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Looking Ahead:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and 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. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt, there are three fundamental aspects you should look at:

Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with DEFAMA Deutsche Fachmarkt (including 2 which are a bit unpleasant) . Future Earnings: How does DEF'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 German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The NSW Police have priors in admitting errors or saying sorry. The force took a long time to attempt some sort of conciliation after the notorious Saturday night in 1978, when members attacked a group calling for the decriminalisation of homosexual acts in a night street parade. The brutal police response brought national attention and helped to make the parade an annual Sydney event. Twenty years after the first Mardi Gras, the police joined the parade and marched.

For its part, NSW Police has done little to assuage matters, blatantly failing to properly respond to the trenchant criticisms uncovered by the recent Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQI hate crimes.

The intersection of crime and societal change is a risky conflation but there is little doubt that for many in Sydney, the horrific case has stoked deeply held feelings of distrust and fear within the gay community towards police due to a long history of victimisation.

The sickening alleged killing of two beautiful and much-loved young men on the eve of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has once again focused attention on the NSW Police attitude to the LGBTQ community.

We should say at this point that the Herald also recognises and regrets wholeheartedly the part we played in that 1978 night. The following Monday, the Herald published the names of the 53 people arrested by police. In 2016, we acknowledged and apologised to the 78ers for the hurt and suffering that reporting caused.

Loading

But the NSW Police marching in Mardi Gras parades has always sat awkwardly against their policing role. Tension between the two roles erupted in 2013, when multiple acts of violence undercut any growing goodwill and led to the establishment of the 2014 Mardi Gras Police Accord. But they have continued to both march and swarm. Organisers tore up the accord in December and the inherent harassment of decency and drug checks have prompted calls for several years now for police not to march.

The long-awaited report from a Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes in NSW made 19 recommendations, including fresh inquests into the deaths of several men. But while Justice John Sackar noted shameful homophobia, transphobia and prejudice was alive and well within the NSW Police, he stopped short of formally recommending an apology to the LGBTQ community, but urged the organisation to consider the value of sincerely and unequivocally acknowledging the shortcomings of the past.

Two months and four days later, as Sydney reeled from the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon with his Glock service pistol, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb apologised for the historic wrongs. But she blunted the contrition, giving her apology statement only to the Sunday Telegraph before posting it on the NSW Police website at 10.02am on Sunday. Her clumsy attempt at media manipulation is both crass and insensitive; further, her statement caused needless pain to Sydneys LGBTQ community by failing to give specific responses to how police would respond to the reports criticisms and recommendations.
Perth mother Nicole Jameson was in shock when she found out her teenage son was being impersonated online  not by a stranger, but by people he knew.

Boys at his school had created fake accounts under her sons name and were posting inappropriate and degrading content and comments online, usually aimed at girls from other schools, in a form of catfishing.

Jameson is speaking out to warn parents of social media trends running rampant through WA schools. Credit: Cameron Myles/ iStock/ Supplied

Jameson, who is a digital strategist and social media expert, has a profound understanding of how it all works and said it didnt take her long to work out who the fake accounts belonged to.

By issuing a strict warning, she was able to get the behaviour to stop, but said it was not an isolated case and that other parents with less knowledge may not even know where to start to help their child.
Other sites in Victoria have also been flagged. Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton recently hinted at the possibility of a small modular reactor on the Surf Coast at Anglesea, on the site of Alcoas former mine and power station. Loading Its zero emissions, you can put it into an existing brownfield site, so when the coal-fired generation comes to an end, you can put the nuclear modular reactors into that facility, Dutton said in September. The argument for nuclear is that plugging into existing infrastructure would be significantly cheaper and would reduce the need for thousands of kilometres of new transmission lines needed to connect wind and solar energy dotted across the grid. OBrien has previously pointed to a September 2022 study for the US Department of Energy that found using the infrastructure of an existing coal plant could reduce a nuclear plants capital costs by up to 35 per cent. He suggested Australia should look to the US state of Wyoming, which is planning to replace its coal-fired generators with nuclear by about 2030.

But any move towards nuclear power in Victoria would likely encounter strong resistance from communities worried about safety, waste disposal and the cost. Voices of the Valley president Wendy Farmer said nuclear power would face major opposition from communities worried about the risks. The former coalmine pit in Anglesea. Credit: Eddie Jim Farmer said residents in the Latrobe Valley had already suffered the consequences of the Hazelwood mine fire in 2014, which burned for 45 days and caused health concerns for those living amid the smoke. Although Australia mines and exports uranium, which is used to produce nuclear power, both Victorian and national laws ban the domestic operation of nuclear power generation.

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Liz Pattison said her council had not consulted the community about nuclear power, but she doubted whether Anglesea would accept a reactor in the region, especially so close to the ocean. I would be surprised if there would be any enthusiasm for a reactor, she said. An artists impression of the small modular reactor being proposed by Westinghouse. Credit: Business Wire Deputy Mayor Mike Bodsworth, who represents the Anglesea ward, said residents were excited by the potential for renewable power generation at the former Alcoa site. But nobody I know has ever mentioned nuclear, he said. Knowing the general preferences of the local population, I doubt it would be supported.

The Coalition has been talking up the potential to use small-scale modular reactors to generate power, and argue this, along with gas, will be a key part of Australias future energy mix to provide so-called base-load generation along with variable renewables. In May last year, US company Westinghouse released plans for a small modular reactor. Reuters reported Westinghouse planned to begin building the reactor by 2030. Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio has slammed the suggestion of using nuclear energy. Credit: Chris Hopkins But many experts say this approach would be prohibitively expensive in Australia, particularly if forced to compete against lower-cost renewable wind and solar generators now being installed at a rapid rate across the country. The CSIROs best guess is that in 2030 the capital cost of a small modular reactor will be $15,844 per kilowatt of electricity generated, compared to $1078 for solar and $1989 for wind.

That suggests replacing Victorias three remaining coal-fired plants, which combined to produce up to 4730 megawatts of electricity, with nuclear would involve a capital cost of about $74.9 billion, before even considering the ongoing running, maintenance and waste disposal costs. Opposition energy spokesman Ted OBrien. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The Coalition would also need to get the numbers in state parliament to repeal existing state and federal laws, including Victorias Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Act of 1983, which bans the construction and operation of nuclear facilities in Victoria. Victorian Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio said nuclear energy was toxic, risky, will take years to develop and [is] the most expensive form of energy there is. Not only are the sites of our former coal plants privately owned, but there is currently no regulatory framework for approving a nuclear power plant in Australia, there are no nuclear waste storage sites in Australia, and no modular nuclear reactors have made it past the trial phase, she said.
Ambitious people certainly describes Liao. Build Club may be a modest physical space of around 100 square metres for now, but she wants to build it into something globally significant. Theres a million things we would like to do but in the immediate term we want to build up our brand, which is really more of a movement, so that its known globally, she says. There are some really smart, ambitious AI founders in Australia tinkering on nights and weekends and we wanted to give them all a space they could go. Annie Liao We want to scale this up to be a global community and keep the hub in Sydney. When I was in San Francisco last year no one knew really who our venture capital firms were, to be honest. I want to help bridge that gap. Liao was born in New Zealand and raised in Canberra. Her somewhat strict upbringing led her down a traditional corporate pathway, she says, including four years at Westpac when she was 18 followed by a stint as a strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group.

In March 2023, she joined as an investor with the Sydney-based Aura Ventures, an Asia-focused growth equity fund. Loading What drew me to that was working with these amazing superstar technology founders every day. I thought itd be one of the most amazing things to do in the world and it was, she says. But on the weekends, me and my friends would to want to work on our side hustles, and we would just do that randomly at Starbucks. There wasnt a proper place for us to do that. There are some really smart, ambitious AI founders in Australia tinkering on nights and weekends  and we wanted to give them all a space they could go.

Leaving Aura was a tough decision for Liao, but the pull of working with some of her best friends while building Australias future tech companies was too great to ignore. Build Club is self-funded to date and received the physical campus space as a gift from the Stone & Chalk fintech hub. Liao is also launching a crowdfunding campaign to help raise capital for the club. Were at this really crazy moment with AI right now, new categories being created and industries are being disrupted, she says. Im a big believer in what AI will do for people, so I had to go all-in with it. Build Club in March will welcome 10 full-time AI engineers who will partner with start-up mentors to help build out their companies. The engineers will also benefit from a tour of San Francisco, thanks to a partnership with partners including Nvidia and AWS.

Australia is running behind in the AI rat race, as Liao puts it, but shes bullish on the nations potential. She says Australia has no shortage of the technical talent required to produce globally significant AI start-ups, even if the US will still command the majority of market share through the likes of OpenAI, Google and Microsoft. Loading Startup industry veteran Julia French has mentored Liao for the past five years, and is equally bullish about both Australias AI potential and what Liao is building in Sydney. Its been amazing to see the impact of what shes built so far, but I know we can do so much more for our founders at the grassroots level in Australia, French says. Build Club can be a global brand and I think the best place in the world for anyone building in AI. Build Club resident Graham Herdman has recently returned from the AI Engineer Summit in San Francisco, and says hes now dedicating the next 12 months building his AI start-up.
Thailands Mae Klong Railway Market is one to watch out for. Quite literally.

A timeworn train passes through the 100-metre-long market eight times a day, almost bumping stalls along the way. Sellers swiftly rearrange their shops and remove shade structures on both sides of the track to make way for the oncoming locomotive. No wonder locals refer to the traditional market as Siang Tai (life-risking). Its chaotic and surreal, but so is the mission to Mae Klong.

Mae Khlong market existed before the railway was built 100 years ago, Credit: Getty

The railroad market is 80 kilometres southwest of Bangkok, and it takes an hour and a half via car to reach Samut Songkhram provinces bizarre attraction. So why is the market in the thick of traffic? It existed before the railroads construction more than 100 years ago, giving new meaning to the old phrase keep calm and carry on as merchants opted to stay put rather than relocate.

I am travelling solo, so joining a guided tour to visit the market makes sense economically. A full-day tour costs less than $50 and includes a guide and transportation via car to Ban Ka Long, one hour from the capital and the closest train station to Mae Klong Railway Market. It also includes visiting Thailands famous floating market, Damnoen Saduak, a 25-minute drive away from the railway market. The Thais really like to do things on the move, it seems.
Harare: An Australian tourist has gone missing in Zimbabwes Victoria Falls National Park, home to one of the worlds natural wonders, the countrys parks spokesman said.

Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo said that the tourist went missing in the vast rainforest on Friday.

We have a fully-fledged team that includes the police looking for the tourist. We have deployed sniffer dogs, drones and trackers on the ground, said Farawo. He said the tourist was 67 years old but did not share further details.

The Australian has been missing in the Victoria Falls National Park since Friday. Credit: istock

Such incidents are rare in Victoria Falls, a destination that attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe for its majestic water curtain that tumbles down more than 108 metres from the mighty Zambezi River to a gorge below, sending up a mist visible from kilometres away.
Australian father Scott Ellis has not seen his children, Mera and Telina, since they were taken from his home in Queensland almost five years ago. Christmases and birthdays hurt the most. Another silent birthday for me, he said. I would never have dreamt that anything like this could have ever happened to me. Gold Coast father Daniel Whites two-year-old daughter Yui was registered as abducted by the Australian embassy last year. The 34-year-old said after four years together in Australia, he and his partner Mayumi Terakado had dreamt of a family holiday to Japan to meet Yuis grandparents, see temples in Kyoto and visit Universal Studios in Osaka. Scott Ellis with his children Mera and Telina. Then it went south. Terakado said she needed to stay to spend more time with her parents.

At the time, people at work were joking with me, She aint gonna come back, he said. But when I looked at my family, I wouldnt dream of such a scenario. Now I cant believe that Ive fallen into the trap. Im just heartbroken. White said he was kicked out of the house. Terakado said she left White and stayed in Japan because he was unfaithful. White says he believed they were no longer together when he slept with someone else. He has had no contact with his daughter since October. Ive handled things wrong ... but I cant imagine living my life without my daughter. Because now that Im a dad, my sole purpose for breathing fresh air is to provide everything I can for my daughter, White said. White says he has been cut off from all contact with his daughter after his fiancee never returned from a holiday to Japan. Credit: Jamila Toderas Ive been stripped of being able to do that, and Ive been in some dark places where Ive honestly considered if its worth being here.

Terakado said: He could meet her and FaceTime her, but he just got angry because he cant get what he wants. White says he cant contact his daughter because his numbers have been blocked. He needs to talk to a Japanese lawyer, Terakado said. Loading But the Japanese legal system, which allows lawyers to receive commission from child-support payments, rarely enforces custody rulings or visitation requirements, propping up a multimillion-dollar single-parent support industry that is lobbying hard against the Japanese governments proposed changes while leaving parents like White in a desperate state. The Australian government and opposition have escalated their criticism of Tokyo after this masthead and 60 Minutes revealed last year that dozens of Australian children have been abducted as Japanese police routinely ignored Interpol missing persons notices to locate the children.

New documents released under freedom of information laws reveal plans for a broader strategy to tackle child abduction after Tokyo objected to the Australian governments use of the term abduction, causing a rare public dispute between the close diplomatic partners. Department of Foreign Affairs ministerial briefing documents ahead of a meeting with Japanese officials put it bluntly: What we want: co-operation on child abduction and custody issues. Japanese Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maki Kobayashi defended Tokyos handling of the cases. There are various opinions, both internal and domestically and internationally, regarding their custody system, she said. We are meeting our international obligations.

But abducted children have also accused the Japanese government of destroying their relationship with both their parents. Anthony Soma always stood out in his high school class of 300 in Kyoto. He was the only child with a foreign parent. Gaijin they called him, a person from the outside, after he was taken from the US to Japan when he was six. Soma was told by his mother that his father was insane. Then he found him on Facebook. After meeting him in the US last year he confronted his Japanese mother, who told Soma never to come home and cut off all contact with him. Anthony Soma says child abduction is tearing families apart in Japan. Credit: Christopher Jue Soma, 24, said he was speaking out because he believed that the lives of thousands of children abducted in Japan had been damaged.

My relationship with my mother is broken, Soma said. I dont want to be on my fathers side. I dont want to be on my mothers side. I just want to have my point of view as a child to hear both sides. Loading Soma is one of hundreds of children abducted in Japan each year as divorce rates skyrocket. Abductions have become so widespread that companies are being warned by law firms that the threat of abduction needs to be factored into their due diligence. We are now living in a world where companies need to prepare for the kidnapping of employees biological children, said the Victim Mothers of Parental Child Abduction advocacy group. The proposed changes to Japans custody laws will be implemented over two years if the Japanese parliament passes them in March.

The laws will be retrospective, allowing parents who do not have sole custody now to apply for joint custody. They will also make parental abduction illegal for the first time. However, some families worry that they are running out of time and that conservative Japanese judges and understaffed police will be reluctant to enforce the new laws. Yoshie, who asked to be referred to by her first name because abductions are politically and legally sensitive in Japan, counted each of the 1355 days she got to spend with her grandchildren. The 67-year-old and her husband, Hideo, rented an apartment near the rural Japanese town where her grandchildren lived after her sons relationship with his wife broke down. They have been blocked from seeing them for the past four years after a court ordered that they had infringed the moral rights of the mother who abducted them by living in the same town. Grandparents Hideo and Yoshie say they have been unable to see their grandchildren in four years. Credit: Christopher Jue We used to play together and go to the zoo or the park. It was the happiest time of our lives, Yoshie said. I dont want them to forget me. I will never forget them.

Yumi, a mother from Tokyo who also asked to be identified by her first name only, knows the intergenerational trauma the laws have caused. Loading Yumi was taken away from her father when she was a toddler. Then her daughter was abducted by her husband when she was three years old. She has not spent time with her daughter in more than seven years. Every day she is getting older, maybe one day I will be able to show her: Im always thinking about you, she said, holding a photo of her child as her eyes well up. Yumi and Suzuki are both members of the mothers advocacy group. They say the sole custody system is treating them like criminals.
London: More than 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said while warning the toll would rapidly rise unless promised military aid made it to the front line soon.

It is the first time that Kyiv has confirmed the number of its losses since the end of 2022, when Zelenskys office said 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky answers media questions during his press conference in Kyiv. Credit: AP

But the Ukrainian leader, whospent the second anniversary of the war pleading with Western leaders to redouble their military aid efforts, said he would not disclose the number of troops wounded or missing. He also said that tens of thousands of civilians had been killed in occupied areas of Ukraine, but exact figures would not be available until the war was over.

Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv that revealing the number of wounded would help Russian military planning, and he again noted that half of all Western aid for Ukraine had been delayed, costing lives and territory.
Volodymyr Zelensky promised victory against Russia as Ukraine marked the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion on Saturday.

Speaking on the tarmac of Kyivs Hostomel airport, where Ukrainian soldiers fought off Russian paratroopers in the opening days of the war, the Ukrainian president pledged that his forces would overturn recent battlefield defeats.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) on Saturday in Kyiv with (from left) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. Credit: AP

We will win, he said at a ceremony attended by four Western leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Two years ago we met hostile fire here, Zelensky said in an earlier video, with the wreckages of Ukrainian aircraft still visible behind him. Two years later we are welcoming our friends.
Getty Images

Claim:

In January 2024, Vladimir Putin said Russia has the largest economy in Europe.

Rating:

Rating: Correct Attribution

Context:

Although Putin did state that the Russian economy had surpassed Germany's and was the largest in Europe, he was referring to Purchasing Power Parity, not nominal GDP.

On Feb. 15, 2024, X (formerly Twitter) user @jacksonhinklle wrote that "Russia is now the LARGEST economy in Europe." The tweet received more than 2.8 million views and 54,000 likes, as of this writing.

(@jacksonhinklle)

The post was based on a statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and some news outlets ran headlines in mid-January 2024 such as "'We are the largest economy in Europe, despite pressure from every side': Russian President Putin" and "Russia has become Europe's largest economy, despite sanctions led by US and EU, says Putin."

Putin did make that claim, but the post on X and the headlines neglect to include key context surrounding his actual quote.

According to TASS, the Russian state news agency, Putin met with a group of entrepreneurs Jan. 11 in Khabarovsk  a remote city in southeastern Russia, near the Chinese border  and stated (emphasis ours):

It seems that we are being strangled and pressured from every side, but still, we are the largest economy in Europe. We left Germany behind and climbed to fifth in the world [in terms of GDP at purchasing power parity]: China, the US, India, Japan and Russia. We are number one in Europe.  We have left all of Europe behind in terms of purchasing power parity but as for the per capita indicator, we need to work harder. There is still work to be done.

Purchasing Power Parity, or GDP PPP, is essentially a way of comparing prices for goods at different locations. It is different from nominal gross domestic product  the value of all commodities and services generated by a nation in a specific timeframe  and is used to account for the discrepancies in exchange rates between countries.

Story continues

In terms of nominal GDP, Germany led Europe with $4,429.838 trillion in 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund. Russia ranked fifth, with $1,862.470 trillion.

But, as of 2022, Germany's GDP PPP stood at $5.32 trillion and Russia's was $5.33 trillion, according to World Bank data. Therefore, Putin was correct in saying that Russia has surpassed Germany in terms of GDP PPP.

On Feb. 8, the Russian leader had a sit-down interview with political commentator Tucker Carlson in which he reiterated the claim:

Russia was the first economy in Europe last year, despite all the sanctions and restrictions. Is it normal from your point of view: sanctions, restrictions, impossibility of payments in dollars, being cut off from SWIFT services, sanctions against our ships carrying oil, sanctions against airplanes, sanctions in everything, everywhere. The largest number of sanctions in the world which are applied, are applied against Russia. And we have become Europe's first economy during this time.

Again, this statement is in reference to GDP PPP, not nominal GDP.

Because Putin publicly stated on more than one occasion that Russia has the largest economy in Europe, we rate this claim as "True."

Sources:

'GDP of European Countries 2022'. Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/685925/gdp-of-european-countries/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024.

'Https://Twitter.Com/Jacksonhinklle/Status/1758325070785642694'. X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/jacksonhinklle/status/1758325070785642694. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024.

'Russia Becomes Europe's First Economy despite "pressure from All Sides," Putin Says'. TASS, https://tass.com/economy/1730891. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024.

'Vladimir Putin Arrived in Khabarovsk'. President of Russia, 10 Jan. 2024, http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/73249.

'"We Are the Largest Economy in Europe, despite Pressure from Every Side": Russian President Putin'. The Economic Times, 12 Jan. 2024. The Economic Times - The Times of India, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/we-are-the-largest-economy-in-europe-despite-pressure-from-every-side-russian-president-putin/articleshow/106759531.cms?from=mdr.

'What Is Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), and How Is It Calculated?' Investopedia, https://www.investopedia.com/updates/purchasing-power-parity-ppp/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024.

'World Bank Open Data'. World Bank Open Data, https://data.worldbank.org. Accessed 21 Feb. 2024.
Macron hosts leaders to bolster Europe support for Ukraine



Paris, Feb 25 (AFP) Feb 25, 2024



French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday hosts European leaders for a conference aimed at strengthening Western support for Ukraine amid growing concern that backing for Kyiv is waning two years into its fight against Russia.

The meeting at the Elysee Palace will be a chance for participants to "reaffirm their unity as well as their determination to defeat the war of aggression waged by Russia in Ukraine", the French presidency said Sunday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda will be among some 20 European heads of state and government present at the conference, which will be opened by a video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Other states will be represented at ministerial level, with Foreign Secretary David Cameron travelling to Paris for Britain.

The United States and Canada will be represented by senior diplomats but almost all the participants are from Europe with no sign of Chinese or Indian representation.

There will also be no representatives of EU members Hungary and Slovakia, whose governments are seen as more sympathetic to Russia, for what the Elysee says are "reasons of agenda".

According to the French presidency, the meeting will seek to "examine all means to support Ukraine effectively".

Western officials acknowledge that Russia risks gaining the upper hand in the conflict in 2024 as Ukraine runs out of weapons and ammunition.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said on Sunday that half of Western military aid pledged to Kyiv is delivered late, lamenting that "commitment does not constitute delivery."

A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, said the meeting needed to contradict any "impression that things are falling apart" after Ukraine's setbacks on the battlefield.

"We want to send a clear message to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that he will not prevail in Ukraine," said the official. Even if new aid announcements are not planned, participants will examine ways to "do things better and more decisively."

For Macron, who even before the Russian invasion was preaching the need for Europe to find strategic autonomy in security matters, the conference is a vital chance to show Europe can stand more alone.

There are growing doubts about the viability of long-term American backing for Ukraine as a new aid package struggles to find legislative approval and Donald Trump eyes a return to the presidency in elections later this year.
CORRECTED: Macron hosts leaders to bolster Europe support for Ukraine



Paris, Feb 25 (AFP) Feb 25, 2024



French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday hosts European leaders for a conference aimed at strengthening Western support for Ukraine amid growing concern that backing for Kyiv is waning two years into its fight against Russia.

The meeting at the Elysee Palace will be a chance for participants to "reaffirm their unity as well as their determination to defeat the war of aggression waged by Russia in Ukraine", the French presidency said Sunday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda will be among some 20 European heads of state and government present at the conference, which will be opened by a video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Other states will be represented at ministerial level, with Foreign Secretary David Cameron travelling to Paris for Britain.

The United States and Canada will be represented by senior diplomats but almost all the participants are from Europe with no sign of Chinese or Indian representation.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose government is seen as more sympathetic to Russia, will also attend.

According to the French presidency, the meeting will seek to "examine all means to support Ukraine effectively".

Western officials acknowledge that Russia risks gaining the upper hand in the conflict in 2024 as Ukraine runs out of weapons and ammunition.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said on Sunday that half of Western military aid pledged to Kyiv is delivered late, lamenting that "commitment does not constitute delivery."

A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, said the meeting needed to contradict any "impression that things are falling apart" after Ukraine's setbacks on the battlefield.

"We want to send a clear message to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that he will not prevail in Ukraine," said the official. Even if new aid announcements are not planned, participants will examine ways to "do things better and more decisively."

For Macron, who even before the Russian invasion was preaching the need for Europe to find strategic autonomy in security matters, the conference is a vital chance to show Europe can stand more alone.

There are growing doubts about the viability of long-term American backing for Ukraine as a new aid package struggles to find legislative approval and Donald Trump eyes a return to the presidency in elections later this year.
Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad's (KLSE:FPI) periodic dividend will be increasing on the 30th of April to MYR0.23, with investors receiving 9.5% more than last year's MYR0.21. This takes the dividend yield to 6.9%, which shareholders will be pleased with.

See our latest analysis for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad

Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. The last dividend was quite easily covered by Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad's earnings. This indicates that a lot of the earnings are being reinvested into the business, with the aim of fueling growth.

If the trend of the last few years continues, EPS will grow by 25.4% over the next 12 months. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 47%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

Dividend Volatility

The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was MYR0.06, compared to the most recent full-year payment of MYR0.21. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 13% a year over that time. Despite the rapid growth in the dividend over the past number of years, we have seen the payments go down the past as well, so that makes us cautious.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad has impressed us by growing EPS at 25% per year over the past five years. The company's earnings per share has grown rapidly in recent years, and it has a good balance between reinvesting and paying dividends to shareholders, so we think that Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad could prove to be a strong dividend payer.

Story continues

We Really Like Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad's Dividend

Overall, we think this could be an attractive income stock, and it is only getting better by paying a higher dividend this year. The company is easily earning enough to cover its dividend payments and it is great to see that these earnings are being translated into cash flow. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A group of analysts at AJ Bell said the bumper profits could come despite IAG being dogged by labour unrest and geopolitical uncertainty, while the UKs gradual slide into recession may not have helped sentiment either, given how sensitive airline travel (passengers and cargo) can be to the economic cycle.
In a letter to Housing Secretary Michael Gove, the London mayor said that two years on from the invasion of Ukraine, ministers should urgently act to seize property which has been bought by Putins cronies, so we can use the proceeds of this for the benefit of those in need.
Navalny should never have been in prison. His crime was standing up to an autocratic and now dictatorial Putin, who has a long history of bumping off his opponents.
He added: Just like I was able to become stronger after such a terrible event, if we as a community choose to seize this opportunity with two hands to make change correctly, we can show that there is no power stronger than the one of a strong united community.
Hours later, Mr Kaine saw a flash alert and described the moment, writing on LinkedIn: At 21.47 hours the air raid sirens sounded across the capital, closely followed by an internal flash alert to inform us that 16 Shahed drones were in the air on a trajectory to hit targets in Kyiv.
Two of them - believed also to be aged about 17 - were able to get out of the lake and were taken to hospital after being assessed by paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service, police said.
He added: I could see the boy a little bit, but all I can see was the top of the girls head. I saw the father was just beside himself.
GR Engineering Services Limited's (ASX:GNG) investors are due to receive a payment of A$0.09 per share on 25th of March. This makes the dividend yield 8.3%, which will augment investor returns quite nicely.

Check out our latest analysis for GR Engineering Services

GR Engineering Services' Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Based on the last payment, the company wasn't making enough to cover what it was paying to shareholders. Without profits and cash flows increasing, it would be difficult for the company to continue paying the dividend at this level.

Over the next year, EPS could expand by 31.3% if the company continues along the path it has been on recently. If recent patterns in the dividend continue, the payout ratio in 12 months could be 92% which is a bit high but can definitely be sustainable.

Dividend Volatility

The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. Since 2014, the dividend has gone from A$0.04 total annually to A$0.19. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 17% over that duration. GR Engineering Services has grown distributions at a rapid rate despite cutting the dividend at least once in the past. Companies that cut once often cut again, so we would be cautious about buying this stock solely for the dividend income.

Dividend Growth Could Be Constrained

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. We are encouraged to see that GR Engineering Services has grown earnings per share at 31% per year over the past five years. Although earnings per share is up nicely GR Engineering Services is paying out 107% of its earnings as dividends, which we feel is borderline unsustainable without extenuating circumstances.

Story continues

The Dividend Could Prove To Be Unreliable

Overall, we don't think this company makes a great dividend stock, even though the dividend wasn't cut this year. In general, the distributions are a little bit higher than we would like, but we can't ignore the fact the quickly growing earnings gives this stock great potential in the future. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. Just as an example, we've come across 2 warning signs for GR Engineering Services you should be aware of, and 1 of them shouldn't be ignored. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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It used to be that you could visit Machu Picchu more than once on the same ticket  entering the Incan ruins at daybreak and then circling back around to see the afternoon sun cast its light on different facets of the jagged landscape and its 500-year-old relics. You could also come without a guide, following your curiosity or a stray alpaca around the expansive grounds. But no matter how you went, lots of planning was required  typically through third parties who controlled the ticketing systems and imposed on it a web of opaque rules and regulations.

The ability to visit without a guide and enter multiple times are both long gone  ditched years ago in an effort to curb excessive foot traffic and bad behavior.

But now theres good news. As Perus tourism industry attempts to recover after an extended post-pandemic lull, the country is trying to make the process of visiting the site easier and more transparent. A state-run ticketing website is in the works for all Machu Picchu visits, and the Peruvian government is also increasing the number of daily visitors allowed entry into the Inca citadel. Officials say the plan is slated to roll out by April. In addition, new circuits introduced in 2021 split the site into four separate walking paths to help prevent overcrowding.

The changes come at a delicate time. While neighboring countries such as Colombia and Brazil are setting new tourism records, Peru remains stuck at 60% of its pre-pandemic international visitation levels. And while Machu Picchu is a main tourism driver to the country, it may not be in the heritage sites best interest to substantially increase the number of visitors. Before the global shutdown, it saw some 1.5 million annual tourists; about 950,000 visited in 2023.

Complicating the recovery have been several protests throughout the Cusco region over the last year. A one-week strike in January shut down public transportation to Machu Picchu for more than a week, leaving tourists stranded.

The strike  which concerned the new Machu Picchu ticketing system  was quickly resolved and transit has since been restored. But coming after a series of more widespread, politically motivated protests last year, it fueled perceptions of continued disruption, forcing operators in the area to reassure their guests that the current situation would be stable during their trips. The issues last year were far more serious and widespread than the current situation in Machu Picchu, which is very local and contained, says Fernando Rodriguez, general manager for Peru at Intrepid Travel.

Despite the shaky publicity, Machu Picchu is poised to have a big year. Bookings for the upcoming tourist season, which stretches from April to October, are far outpacing last years figures. Intrepid Travel noted a 55% increase in bookings made in February from the same period in 2023, while luxury operator Jacada Travels bookings from December through early February were up 100% year-on-year. And if the protests gave potential visitors pause last year, that seems to blowing over: Cusco-based Alpaca Expeditions has noted that only 5% of its prospective guests are voiced concern over protests when gauging whether to book a trip.

More likely to impact visitors will be the increased numbers of daily visitors allowed at Machu Picchu. The system rolling out in April will raise the maximum number of tickets to 5,600 on certain dates during high season, up from 4,044. That increase, confirmed by Perus tourism board in an emailed statement without further comment, runs contrary to Unesco recommendations, which call for a limit of 2,244 visitors per day in order to best preserve the site.

Given all the rule changes  and the potential for larger crowds  planning a trip to Machu Picchu this year will look substantially different than it has before. Heres what you need to know to ensure a smooth trip.

Map out your journey

The first thing to figure out for any trip is timing  and with Machu Picchu it can be an especially important consideration. Here, the dry season runs from May to October, with June through August being the most popular. (Think: American summer vacations.) While its hard to skip crowds entirely, shoulder months such as April or November could be your best bets if youre trying to avoid a big rush. You may get a bit of rain, but with that can come uncrowded footpaths and the possibility of rainbows.

If you can outsource all the planning, do. Relying on your luxury hotel or a tour operator is the best way to take the stress out of handling the many pieces of the puzzle including tickets and guides. Should disruptions occur along the way, licensed providers are best positioned to find alternative, safe routes to and from Machu Picchu.

As for where to stay: It used to be that the best hotels for a visit to Machu Picchu were in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the site. Now there are many decadent options throughout the Sacred Valley  the mountainous area between Cusco and Machu Picchu  which offer access to a wide array of glacial hiking trails, cultural experiences and Incan ruins. (We loved Explora Sacred Valley.)

Figure out how you prefer to get around. After flying into Cusco, its easy enough to have your hotel arrange a car transfer. But some hotels, like the riverside Tambo del Inka, part of the Luxury Collection, have an on-site train station, making it possible to nix the winding drive for a scenic ride on PeruRails Sacred Valley train route.

Regardless, leave time to acclimate to the altitude  which varies across the region but is typically around 9,000 feet. That extra time will double as a buffer for any travel hiccups  a practice that will bring added peace of mind when your entire trip is built around an activity you cant reschedule.

Note that if youre opting to DIY your trip, you should buy Machu Picchu tickets before booking anything else. And seats on PeruRail or Inca Rail should be booked at least a month out, especially if youre intent on a luxurious ride on Belmonds Hiram Bingham train, which includes gourmet meal service and live Peruvian music.

Know the Machu Picchu circuits

Buying tickets to Machu Picchu now requires opting in to a particular circuit something you may miss if youre not reading the fine print. (Until the new ticketing website launches in April, this is done via the Tuboleto.cultura.pe website; to avoid glitches, navigate in Spanish by choosing tarifa general from the first drop down list. The rest is intuitive.)

Confusingly, Circuits 1 and 2 are sold as one single option. (Also confusing: both are called Llaqta de Machupicchu.) Theyre the most popular choice  these trails climb along Machu Picchus upper platforms and lead to the most iconic panoramic views. Circuit 3 takes visitors to the lower ruins of Machu Picchu, ideal for those with mobility issues. Other circuits are reserved for those doing more ambitious hiking tours, like trekking the Inka Trail.

If someone tries to steer you toward skipping the online portal and getting a next-day ticket purchase instead, run the other way. While 1,000 of these last-minute tickets are sold daily at the cultural center in Aguas Calientes, its a risky proposition that has led to long lines and disappointment for many travelers.

And be aware: All these updates may be short-lived. The impact of tourism growth on Machu Picchu has been a pressing issue dating as far back as 1999, when Unesco first expressed concern that excess visitation could increase the risk of landslides and endanger the entire destination. Master plans to sustainably manage the site have come and gone, with a new one currently in the works. Unesco declined to comment on the new ticket caps, but a spokesperson said that it expects Peru to comply with the aforementioned recommendation to reduce visitation by December  setting up a potential showdown later this year.
Genesis Young joined Affinia Healthcare as assistant vice president of health center operations at the North Florissant, Pagedale, and Ferguson locations. The center added Jocelyn Hawthorne as assistant vice President of health center operations at the Biddle, Lemp, South Broadway and BJC Behavioral Health locations.

The Board of Directors of Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis elected board Chair Michelle Mufson.

United States Arbitration & Mediation elected neutral Kim L. Kirn as president of the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Attorney-Mediators.

Hilliker Corporation welcomed broker Powell Kalish.

Midland States Bancorp appointed President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey G. Ludwig to the Federal Advisory Council of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board.

The St. Louis Arc promoted Katharine Rug to vice president of Residential and Medical Services.

Lutheran Family and Childrens Services appointed Michelle Meier as Chief Program Officer.

Alton Steel appointed Alton native Chris Ervin as CEO.

Armstrong Teasdale added Corporate Services Partner Craig W. Spenner to the firms Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice.

Health and wellness marketing agency Werremeyer Creative promoted Steve Hartman to chief creative officer.

The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust named Jeff Bradley as program director.
When Cynthia Akins-Owens learned last April that her landlord of 12 years was hiking her $1,200 monthly rent by $464 on her Tampa, Fla., apartment, she knew she couldnt afford it.

I was afraid I would have to stay with a relative and lose my independence, said Akins-Owens, 75.

Then the former school bus attendant heard about New Life Village, an intergenerational community in Tampa that offers affordable housing to older adults. In exchange, they help support families trying to create a permanent home for children impacted by foster care or other trauma.

Amid a severe nationwide affordable housing shortage, some older adults are finding that intergenerational, intentional communities like New Life Village offer cheaper and stable housing along with a sense of purpose and belonging.

Akins-Owens is now settled in a spacious two-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom townhouse with a patio. Her front porch provides daily interaction with neighbors and children, and her Social Security check covers the $985 rent.

I can see myself growing old here, she says.

Jan Mutchler, director of the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, summarizes the appeal:

Its one thing to say, Im going to move to a suburb because I can afford it. But youre only finding an affordable place, she says. Its another to have to leave your neighborhood and community but move to a place that is intentionally set up to be supportive.

Interest in creative affordable housing models

Westend61 via Getty Images

Intentional, intergenerational communities focus on a common goal, such as helping to support foster or adoptive parents or injured veterans or young adults with disabilities such as autism. The housing model is gaining ground. Communities with a focus on foster care kids exist in Massachusetts, Oregon (three locations, with others under discussion), Illinois, and Florida. One is planned for Boston.

Genesis, in Washington, D.C., is an apartment building that houses young mothers who have aged out of foster care and low-income seniors who help them out. In New Orleans, Bastion supports injured veterans and their families who live alongside military and civilian volunteers.

Story continues

Other older adults are opting for co-housing, where residents own their home along with common property such as a clubhouse; they usually share some meals and activities. According to The Cohousing Association of America, there are 180 co-housing communities of mixed ages in the US; more than 30 are for seniors only.

The communities are springing up to meet a growing need.

Older adults face increasing challenges securing housing that is affordable, meets their physical needs and is well-connected to community supports and services, says Jennifer Molinsky, project director at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS).

According to the Harvard centers Americas Rental Housing 2024 report, in 2022, 28% of renter households with lower incomes were headed by someone age 65 or older.

A rent.com study found that the U.S. median monthly rent increased from $1,614 in March, 2020, to $2,038 in July, 2023, a 26% leap in three years. As of December 2023, it was down to $1,967. While rents are now decreasing, they are still higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Less cash, more caring with intentional communities

Maskot via Getty Images

Vickie Miles, 62, worries about housing costs. Two years ago, she had to sell the Columbia, Md., townhouse where she had raised four children when she needed a wheelchair. In her current one-bedroom Columbia apartment, she pays $1,650 a month; her Social Security disability check covers $1,533.

I have thought about leaving the county because I draw down from my savings every month and I cant sustain this, she says. But I want to stay here.

She has her eye on Patuxent Commons, an intergenerational community in Columbia. Slated to break ground this summer, there will be neurodiverse young adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities, and individuals, older adults and families.

Of the 76 rental units, 25 percent will be reserved for people with disabilities. Ten percent of all units will be market rate. Depending on their income, seniors at Patuxent Commons are projected to pay $1,293 or $1,658 for one bedroom and $1,547 or $1,785 for two. (The median rent for Columbia, Maryland, is $1,738 for a one bedroom and $2,000 for two.)

Its a unique concept, says executive director Melissa Rosenberg of the Autism Society of Maryland. We isolate our seniors, people with disabilities and those who need affordable housing. This model brings them together.

Miles agrees.

It appeals to me to live with young people who have autism as well as others, she says. I feel like I have a lot to give.

Plans are underway to replicate the model in Columbus, Ohio, and Chapel Hill, N.C.

Housing that is affordable and welcoming

Charles Durrett, 68, an architect and co-founder of the US co-housing movement, has designed 61 co-housing communities in the US and Canada. Living in Nevada City Cohousing in California, he saves money by buying items such as laundry detergent in bulk with other residents, cooking communally when he wants and reducing energy costs because of shared walls with neighbors.

Along with landscaping costs, residents divvy up some other bills: Thirty-four houses share a $235 monthly total tab for internet access versus $95 a month each house would have had to pay if they didnt share.

Durrett estimates that he saves at least $1,700 a month by living communally and believes co-housing can save one-third or more than a single family house.

But money is far from the only reason Durrett has lived in two co-housing communities in California, as well as in Denmark where the co-housing model was born. He has seen residents turn into family, spending time together and helping one another out.

Last year, Durretts 80-year-old neighbor returned from the hospital 25 pounds lighter than he needed to be. Residents made him two meals a day for the next six months.

New Life Village resident Ruthie Neal, 84, has become devoted to a couple and their three sibling sons adopted from the foster care system.

Until last May, Neal was living in a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment that cost $2,100 a month. A $1,000 rent increase sent her scrambling for more affordable housing. Had she stayed in her old apartment, she would have been left with just $1,200 a month for everything else.

That would have been no life, says Neal, who is a widow.

Today she calls home a two bedroom, two and a half bathroom townhouse. Her appliances were just updated and she has her own porch and patio. The price tag? $998 a month.

I am so relieved, says Neal. I dont know where else I could have found a place like this for this kind of money. Now I dont have to struggle financially.

And then theres the kid factor. All the children in the neighborhood know who Miss Ruthie is, she says. I talk to them, I play with them. They trust me and I love them. This place is beautiful!
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  A Chesterfield man was killed in an afternoon crash Saturday while heading north on I-270 and attempting to change lanes, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Guy Porter, 65, was in a northbound lane of the four-lane highway just south of Dougherty Ferry Road, authorities said, when he changed lanes into the front end of a Freightliner truck at 12:24 p.m.

The rear of Porters Kia Soul hit the truck, sending his car into the center median where it overturned, according to the crash report. Porter was rushed to Mercy Hospital St. Louis, and he was pronounced dead at 12:49 p.m.

The driver of the truck, Alan Helfer, 59, of Columbia, Illinois, was not injured. Both drivers were wearing seat belts.
Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

ST. LOUIS  Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sometimes struggles with accuracy.

Take his Friday morning social media post about oral arguments that were about to begin in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court was poised to hear Baileys appeal of U.S. District Court Judge Brian Wimes ruling last year declaring Missouris Second Amendment Preservation Act unconstitutional.

We will continue to lead the way in defense of the 2A, Bailey wrote on X, referring to the Second Amendment.

T-30 minutes until oral arguments in defense of Missouris Second Amendment Preservation Act at the Eighth Circuit



We will continue to lead the way in defense of the 2A.



Joe Biden doesnt get to pick and choose which parts of the Constitution are legitimate  Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) February 23, 2024

A few minutes later, Baileys top lieutenant contradicted him.

This is not a Second Amendment case, Missouri Solicitor General Joshua Divine told the panel of judges hearing the appeal. Divine tried to argue that the case was more about states rights.

Nothing about the Second Amendment Preservation Act has ever really been about protecting Missourians gun rights. Republicans passed the law in 2021. It seeks to nullify federal gun laws in Missouri, and it punishes state law enforcement officials if they work with their federal partners to enforce those laws.

In a case brought by the federal government against Missouri, Wimes ruled what most legal scholars already knew: State lawmakers cant simply declare federal law unconstitutional. That is a violation of the U.S. Constitutions Supremacy Clause.

While purporting to protect citizens, Wimes wrote, SAPA exposes citizens to greater harm by interfering with the federal governments ability to enforce lawfully enacted firearms regulations designed by Congress for the purpose of protecting citizens within the limits of the constitution.

During oral arguments on Friday, Divine went so far as to say that the part of the law many Republicans like his boss, Bailey, talk most about  the part that declares federal gun laws unconstitutional  is mostly drivel.

Its our position that this provision really doesnt do anything, Divine said. Its toothless.

Its as though Divine was admitting what the federal judge already ruled: The emperor has no clothes.

Thats been the tragedy of this legislation from the beginning. The bill got its start in 2013, when there was still one elected Republican in Missouri  Rep. Jay Barnes of Jefferson City  who would call out the political charade.

Our constitution is not a Chinese buffet, Barnes said while casting the lone Republican vote against that bill in 2013.

Barnes, a lawyer, was pointing out the obvious: Missouri  or any other state  cant unilaterally declare federal laws unconstitutional. The Supremacy Clause wont allow it. The courts wont allow it. So why bother?

The bill passed that year because Republicans  and some Democrats  were too afraid of the gun lobby to vote against something they assumed would never become law anyway. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed the bill, and the Legislature failed to override the veto.

The bill would come back every year, but it never gained traction again until Joe Biden became president. It was an exercise in political theater.

Ironically, Barnes is partly to blame for how Bailey got his job. Barnes led the impeachment effort of former Gov. Eric Greitens, a fellow Republican who resigned in disgrace. Mike Parson became the governor. He hired Bailey in his office and then elevated him when Eric Schmitt left the attorney generals office to become a U.S. senator.

Baileys minions are now in federal court contradicting his social media posts in an effort to defend a law that is more a statement of secession than a defense of gun rights. And in a head-scratching strategy, Divine told the judges that a state legislature could, for example, declare the sky is purple, but that wouldnt make the bill unconstitutional. It was as though Divine was arguing that words dont matter.

His counterpart, Jeff Sandberg of the U.S. Department of Justice, said the opposite. The words in the bill matter, Sandberg told the appeals court judges. Thats because the law is already limiting the ability of state authorities to work with federal law enforcement. And that makes Missouri less safe.

Were here because state law enforcement officials are currently implementing a statute that makes it harder for us to go after violent criminals, Sandberg argued.

The decision before the judges is a simple one. Missouri can follow the U.S. Constitution, or it can create its own magical kingdom with a purple sky.
ST. LOUIS  A statewide grant program for Missouri students to buy school supplies has been plagued with canceled orders, price gouging and a lack of inventory, parents say.

The Close the Gap grants promised a small percentage of public school students up to $1,500 each from $24 million in federal COVID relief for Missouri. The funds were assigned to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in last years budget to distribute to lower-income families for tutoring, computers, summer camps or other academic resources.

Last month, about 21,000 students gained access to the grants through an online marketplace with hundreds of vendors from contractor Primary Class Inc. of New York. Only $1 million in purchases went through in the first month, as parents complained of delays and technical glitches on the companys platform, called Odyssey.

Why didnt you work these bugs out before you started telling people about the program? said Rosalind Bland, whose daughter is a student at Gateway STEM High School in St. Louis. Nobody is getting anything, and they keep giving everybody the runaround.

Bland said she has been trying for weeks to buy a computer for her daughter through the marketplace, where she was awarded an account of $1,100. The only vendor she recognized out of nearly 200 companies, Amazon, has canceled several orders and told Bland it no longer participates in the grant program. Other vendors shes tried through Odyssey are sold out of computers.

The education department is aware of the problems, according to spokeswoman Mallory McGowin, who said Amazons absence is temporary.

Some orders were canceled due to vendor inventory challenges; those issues are being rectified and DESE is monitoring the situation, McGowin said.

The CEO of Odyssey, which billed the state $450,000 for its services, did not respond to questions about the complaints.

In a statement, Joe Connor said, We continue to work in lockstep with the State, local vendors, and engaged parents to ensure that the program enables all eligible students to access the resources that will best enable them to succeed.

The top 10 payouts have all gone to out-of-state companies, according to public records obtained by the Post-Dispatch, including:

Top-seller ORourke Sales Co., an appliance and electronics distributor in Iowa, has received $355,978 through the Missouri grants. Bland, the St. Louis parent, said the company has sold out of computers.

SuperHiTech of Iowa specializes in used computers and has received more than $174,000.

Sprattronics, a science playroom and day camp in South Carolina, sells toys through the Odyssey platform for a total of about $73,000 in Missouri. The company sells a Mars Rover Lego set for $155 that retails for $99.99 on the Lego site. Another set that sells for $319.95 through Lego is $489 from Sprattronics.

The RexTech computer company in Idaho has tallied more than $30,000 in grant sales. All items in the companys Odyssey marketplace are now sold out.

Impact Learners, which has received more than $19,000 in grant funds, was set up to sell school supplies for similar state-sponsored grants in Arizona and Idaho.

Other approved vendors that have yet to receive any grant funds include Beast Mode Divaz, a dance company in Florissant that was registered with the Missouri Secretary of State on Jan. 11.

Adam Bloch of Rolla said his three kids qualified for grants of $1,030 each but he was underwhelmed with the choices in the marketplace, where he hoped to buy computers. Some laptops selling for $500 from mainstream retailers were priced at $800 on the Odyssey platform, Bloch said.

I dont feel comfortable buying from a company thats not reputable, he said. Most of the companies that are selling electronics dont really have an internet presence at all.

Bloch ordered three computers from Amazon through Odyssey, but the transactions were all canceled. He bought one computer directly from Dell and has been waiting nearly a month to get reimbursed by Odyssey.

The Close the Gap funds are scheduled to expire in June. McGowin, the state education spokeswoman, said the program will continue if unused funds are included in the departments fiscal 2025 budget.

Missouri is the third state to use the Odyssey platform to distribute micro-grants. Complaints about the company were first reported in Iowa and Idaho, where Odyssey paid back $180,000 to the state for ineligible purchases like TVs and sporting goods.

Bloch said hes not optimistic about ever getting computers through the grant program.

Im not going to complain about free money, but I am going to complain about getting my kids hopes up, he said.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  An Illinois lawmaker is gaining momentum in his latest attempt to implement digital identification cards and drivers licenses, now with the support of Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

Rep. Kam Buckners, D-Chicago, latest bill, House Bill 4592, would allow the Secretary of State to issue a mobile ID or mobile drivers license (mDL) to Illinois residents. Buckner introduced the bill Jan. 31, but it remains in the gatekeeping House Rules Committee.

While Buckner has been seeking to implement a version of the measure since 2019, this is the first time it also includes both digital IDs and drivers licenses.

And, crucially, it is the first time the the Secretary of State's office has backed the initiative. This is important because one of the office's primary responsibilities is issuing licenses to Illinois drivers.

Buckner said that this legislation would continue to help the Secretary of States office modernize the services it offers to Illinois residents.

I know change is hard and change is different, but it is important that we have to start making sure we're (technologically) advanced in a way that puts us on par with our counterparts around the country, Buckner said.

Illinois would join 12 other states already offering mobile licenses if Buckners bill passes, including Iowa, Missouri and Maryland. At least 18 other states are currently working toward implementing this program as well.

I am excited about this technology, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told Lee Enterprises in an interview. Our smartphones have become a convenient place to store movie tickets, boarding passes (and) credit cards, so the time is right for Illinoisans to introduce the option of carrying a digital version of their drivers license."

"I would tell you that I dont view this as a standalone," he continued. "I think its a companion, not a replacement, but I think its more secure.

If the legislation passes and is signed into law, Illinois residents would have the option to receive the digital copy of their ID or driver's license. The legislation makes it clear that the digital version is not a replacement for the physical copy, and also requires the state to abide by standards of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

The association is a nonprofit organization that develops model programs in motor vehicle administration, law enforcement and highway safety and represents various United States and Canadian officials who administer and enforce motor vehicle laws.

Giannoulias said that his office will begin working out the technology, the vendor and the more specific details of how the process would work in Illinois if the bill is passed and signed into law. If the bill does pass, Giannoulias office will issue a request for proposals.

Michael McCaskill, AAMVA identity management director, said the timeline for implementing digital IDs can range from three months to over a year, depending on the circumstances in each state. Since Illinois is still early on in the process, Giannoulias office said it would take about a year to have them ready.

McCaskill said costs for the process and for digital IDs vary for states as well. Giannoulias office said that if there were to be a cost for digital IDs, it would be nominal.

Giannoulias goal with Illinois program is to have the mobile licenses available in an app, but those plans are still fluid as well.

States that have the program are still required to issue the mobile licenses in addition to the physical copy for identity presentation purposes. Those who opt for the digital version would still have to carry their physical copy with them in certain instances, like driving or traveling to states that have not implemented the program yet. This requirement is due to standards set into place that make physical IDs the basis for those identity and authentication purposes.

There should not be an issue where a person only has a digital credential because every state has a law that says you must carry your physical credential on you  at all times, McCaskill said. So in general, a person should not be without their physical credential. If they have an mDL, and they walk into an establishment where they need to prove identity and that establishment cant accept the mDL and doesnt, they use their physical card just like they would any other time.

McCaskill said AAMVA has a working group to create and build these standards for states that have started issuing or are in the process of getting mDLs issued to residents. States then go on to adopt these requirements and set those standards within their own jurisdiction as they begin that implementation process.

In Maryland, for instance, airports allow people to use their mobile license to board flights. People in these settings are able to show only their most relevant information on their mobile licenses to authorities rather than showing all their information on their physical ID.

For example, if an individual were to go through a TSA checkpoint or try to get into a bar, they can choose to present only the information needed like a name and date of birth rather than everything else listed on their ID, such as a home address. From there, the authorities checking that information will go through its electronic verification process to confirm that information.

Chrissy Nizer, motor vehicle administration administrator for the Maryland Department of Transportation, said this privacy component with the mobile licenses is a huge benefit to people because they are able to limit whatever information they dont need to be sharing in these types of situations.

One of the nice things about mDL is its always in your control," Nizer said. "You have to initiate the action and indicate that you are comfortable sharing your data in the case with TSA, but with whoever youre interacting with."

Maryland was among the first states to offer the digital product through Apple Wallet. And its the first state to offer it to residents through Google Wallet. The state's department of transportation has been providing access to the Apple version since 2022 and to the Android version since last year.

Nizers office said that Maryland has a total of 204,710 active customers enrolled in its Maryland Mobile DL/ID program as of Wednesday. Her office also reports that there has been a total of 223,902 downloads on mobile phones and smart watches. There are 4.3 million licensed drivers in the state, meaning about 5% participate in the program.

While states like Maryland have seen a lot of success with their programs, McCaskill said that one of the biggest challenges for AAMVA and these states during this process is educating state officials and residents about what mobile driver's licenses are and the privacy components that come with them.

McCaskill said the AAMVA has assisted states in the creation of that education, whether it be presentations or documents, and supported these states in their efforts to implement mobile driver's license solutions and update relying parties on these changes. The organization attends conferences around the globe to educate these parties as well.

McCaskill said the challenge is that it's "a brand new topic.

This is something thats not been done ever on the globe," McCaskill said. "As you can imagine, anything thats brand new can take a lot of education for people to trust it.

If Illinois joins these states in issuing this technology, Giannoulias said businesses and driver's services facilities can expect his office to offer that education in addition to other necessary tools that would help with the transition  such as technology, tutorials and counseling.

Giannoulias said his office wouldnt be pursuing this if it werent about the security and efficiency factors. For him, the move to issue mobile licenses represents a growing trend across the country that allows and uses more fraud-resistant technology in everyday life.

This is the future," Giannoulias said. "Its all part of the modernization of the office. This is a companion to the drivers license, and we want people to know that we will only do this with security in mind, the safety of our roads and the safety of data at the forefront.
ST. LOUIS  Police on Tuesday identified the man struck by a car and killed early Sunday in the city's Hamilton Heights neighborhood.

Dwayne Blakley, 60, was sitting in the street near the intersection of Page Boulevard and Hodiamont Avenue about 3:20 a.m., police said. He was not in the crosswalk, police said.

Surveillance video showed Blakley was hit by an eastbound car, police said. Officers do not know why he was sitting in the road.

The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.

Blakely lived in the 1000 block of Hornsby Avenue in the city's Baden neighborhood, police said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Hundreds of mourners attended a funeral mass Saturday for a Kansas City-area DJ who was killed when she was shot during a celebration of the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory.

Lisa Lopez-Galvan was one of about two dozen people who were shot when gunfire erupted Feb. 14 outside the citys Union Station. She was remembered during the 90-minute service as a loving wife and mother whose smile could light up a room and who saw each day as a chance for excitement and laughter.

With her casket near the front of the Redemptorist Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. mourners  some wearing Chiefs jerseys  also heard a mariachi band play and sing.

Along with her husband and young adult son, the 43-year-old had joined an estimated crowd of 1 million people for the parade and rally. As the festivities ended, a dispute over what authorities described as the belief that people in one group were staring at people in another group led to gunfire.

Lopez-Galvan, a music lover who played at weddings, quinceaneras and an American Legion bar and grill, was caught in the middle of it. Everyone else survived.

Two men are charged in her death, and two juveniles face gun charges. Her family responded to the charges this week with a statement expressing thanks to police and prosecutors.

Though it does not bring back our beloved Lisa, it is comforting, the statement began.

Players and celebrities alike have reached out to her family. Pop superstar Taylor Swift, who is frequently in the stands during Chiefs games because she is dating tight end Travis Kelce, donated $100,000 to Lopez-Galvan's family.

And because she was wearing a Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker jersey at the celebration, he responded to requests on social media seeking help in obtaining a similar jersey  possibly so the mother of two could be laid to rest in it.

While the family is mourning their loss and grappling with their numerous injuries, I will continue to pray for their healing and the repose of Lisas soul, Butker said in a statement.

Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez worked with Lopez-Galvan for about a year at a local staffing firm but had known her since childhood. They remembered her as an extrovert and a staunch Catholic who was devoted to her family, passionate about connecting job seekers with employment and ready to help anyone.

And, they said, working part time playing music allowed her to share her passion as one of the areas few Latina DJs.

This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community, the radio station KKFI-FM, where she was the co-host of a program called Taste of Tejano, said in a statement.

Izurieta and Ramirez said Lopez-Galvans Kansas City roots run deep. Her father founded the citys first mariachi group, Mariachi Mexico, in the 1980s, they said, and the family is well known and active in the Latino community. Her brother, Beto Lopez, is CEO of the Guadalupe Centers, which provides community services and runs charter schools for the Latino community.

Lopez-Galvan and her two children went to Bishop Miege, a Catholic high school in a suburb on the Kansas side, and she worked for years as a clerk in a police department there.

This is another example of a real loving, real human whose life was taken tragically with a senseless act, Beto Lopez said in an interview last week on ABCs Good Morning America.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  A Kansas man has pleaded guilty to smashing into a Kansas City, Missouri, patrol car last year and killing an officer, his K-9 partner and a pedestrian.

Jerron Lightfoot of Tonganoxie, Kansas, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and admitted speeding through a red light before the crash, according to the Kansas City Star. Officer James Muhlbauer, 42, Jesse Eckes, 52, and Champ the dog were all killed.

Lightfoot told the judge that he got lost that night last February while he was driving back toward Kansas.

Prosecutors have said Lightfoot was traveling at least 85 mph just before the collision.

As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 10 years in prison, though Assistant Prosecutor Lauren Whiston said she anticipated that Lightfoot's lawyers would ask for a much more lenient sentence when the 20-year-old returns to court in April.

Muhlbauer, who was married and a father, was a 20-year veteran of the force. Champ had been a K-9 with the force for a year.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves attended Friday's plea hearing along with several uniformed police officers, but she didn't comment on the case
I struggled with what I wanted to write for this years final column of Black History Month, mainly because of the assault on anything relating to our history today. The efforts to rewrite, much less totally obliterate and minimize, Black life is so disturbing that it impinges on the celebration of Black lives from the past  especially for anyone who lived during the times of the Civil Rights battles.

But then I remembered an inspiring article in the AARP magazine from November 2023 entitled Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Area. That in turn reminded me that our heroes and visionaries like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X could not have accomplished what they did without support from many other people, not just their loyal spouses.

One of the people highlighted in this article was Willie Pearl Mackey King, a member of the executive staff of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and specifically an assistant/secretary for Dr. King during the time he was jailed in the Birmingham City Jail.

Mrs. King (no relation to Dr. King) is one of three people responsible for securing, collating, and disseminating the 15-page, single-spaced letter, simply called Letter From Birmingham Jail. Many accounts claim that this letter influenced then-President Kennedy to draft a proposal that would eventually become the 1964 Civil Rights Act, enacted by his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson. It is arguably one of the most important documents of the era.

I confess that Id never read the letter until last year. I was three months sof age 13 when the letter was written in April 1963, just a self-absorbed eighth-grader.

By then my grandparents had relocated from the omnipresent segregation of Tennessee to the more veiled segregation of St. Louis, allowing me to repress the events Id witnessed in their town when I was much younger  being unable to sit at the Woolworths counter, or being forced to get off the sidewalk if a white person approached, for instance.

Multiple assassinations and bombings happened later that year, but I was still just a sheltered kid, comforted by the fact that this was happening down South, not here in St. Louis. There was no Black History being taught, as we were Black at the time when this history was being made.

The content of this letter is remarkable, possibly even inspired as it detailed why Dr. King was willing to fight for integration in a state where he didnt live. Aimed as a rebuttal to eight ministers who wrote an op-ed decrying him as an outsider, while urging the locals not to follow him, it spoke about the need for peaceful protesting as guaranteed in the First Amendment. One of the more famous quotes from the letter was, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

But what was even more astonishing about this letter is the fact that Dr. King had to smuggle it out piecemeal because his jailers would not give him pen or paper to write with, allegedly saying This isnt a library as they denied his request.

According to Mrs. King, Dr. King wrote on the edges of newspapers, used sandwich bags, paper towels, and even toilet paper, writings which were then secreted out by his attorney over his eight-day incarceration. Mrs. King, her boss, Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, and the attorney Clarence Jones assembled these scraps, and put them in a coherent form which Mrs. King then typed.

Once completed, Mrs. King supplied it to everyone who wanted a copy. She advised that it was eventually in such demand, she could barely mimeograph enough.

As a person who has begged many a receptionist or hospital waiting room nurse for a few sheets of computer paper to write on, I cannot fathom how anyone could maintain their train of thought while writing snippets on whatever paper became available, a few days at a time. Even more, it is amazing that Mrs. King and the others could assemble these scraps of paper coherently into 15 pages of wisdom.

Ever the dedicated citizen, after her work with the SCLC ended, Mrs. King, now in her 80s, worked 32 years at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, followed by six more years as a contractor for the Office Of Compliance in the District. She continues to lecture about her experiences today. Mrs. King is the kind of unsung hero without whom the Dr. Kings of history could not have achieved what they did.
Missouri voters need to wake up to our GOP legislators who will never pass sensible gun laws. State Sen. Bill Eigel, who is running for governor, tweeted: One good guy with a gun could have stopped the evil criminals who opened fire on the crowd immediately. There were over 800 police on the scene (and I hope Sen. Eigel would consider them the good guys), and they were not able to stop the gunman until one person was dead and 22 were wounded. Does he want Missouri to turn into the wild west?

When you buy a car, you register it. To obtain a drivers license, you must be at least 16 years old, pass a written test and a driving test. Those seem like reasonable laws to have on the books, and we all follow them.

People are dying and we cant even pass reasonable gun laws. Last year the Missouri House GOP rejected all gun limits supported by the Democrats. They included efforts to bar teenagers from carrying semiautomatic weapons in public. This just seems unbelievable to me.

Sensible gun laws will not stop all the killing, but it will make it easier to keep guns out of the wrong hands. As a law-abiding Citizen, if you thought you could save one life by agreeing to sensible gun laws, wouldnt you do it?

Lynn Reinheimer

Oakville
February 25, 2024: North Korea has been building ballistic missiles since 1984. At first the North Korean missiles were primitive SCUDs, which were based on the ballistic missiles Germany designed and used towards the end of World War II. Russia captured a lot of that technology and Germans who designed, developed, and built these missiles. That was the beginning of the Russian ballistic missile program and in the 1980s Russia sold some of that technology to North Korea. By the time the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, North Korea was producing primitive ballistic missiles. With the end of the Soviet Union there was also an economic crisis that cost a lot of Russian ballistic missile designers, developers, and production workers out of work. North Korea saw an opportunity and hired a lot of these Russian experts to upgrade their ballistic missiles. These Russians were also able to broker illegal sales of Russian missiles to North Korea and help with the smuggling effort needed to get them out of Russia and into North Korea.

This was initially difficult because Russia and North Korea then shared only a small border on the Pacific Coast with only a few small roads. North Korea welcomed a subsequent Russian offer to extend the Russian railroad into North Korea via this 17 kilometer-wide border. When Russia began buying North Korean ballistic missiles in 2023, this is how they were shipped out of North Korea to Russian areas near the Ukrainian border. North Korea made a lot of money from these missiles and was willing to accept Russian food shipments in lieu of cash for the missiles. North Korea had been increasingly short of food and in 2023 some rural North Koreans starved to death. Russia pays from three to ten million dollars per missile. This is a bargain for Russia and a very profitable one for North Korea. The demand for North Korean cruise and ballistic missiles has led to North Korea factories producing missile components or assembling those components into completed missiles to hire more workers and operate at two eight hour shifts a day, every day. This put lots of unemployed, or underused North Koreans to work. The Russian demand for missiles will only last as long as the Ukraine War does so the North Koreans are making the most of it.

The first shipments came from stockpiled North Korea missiles. These were old and many had degraded somewhat after years in storage. North Korea fixed obvious signs of aging and made the missiles attractive, even though the oldest ones would often fail when used. The North Koreans knew this because they had, for years, been launching elderly missiles into the waters between North Korea and Japan. These missiles usually had no explosives material in their warheads, but South Korea began to send recovery ships, and sometimes armed escorts, just in case, to recover fragments of the missiles from the ocean floor for examination. South Korea found out quite a bit about the quality and reliability from these examinations and observations of missile launches.

Until late 2022 North Koreans paid little attention to their countrys ballistic missile program. Then North Koreans became aware that North Korea had launched $70 million worth of ballistic missiles on a single day in 2022. News of this came slowly to the North Korean people, as news critical of their government usually does. Chinese living on the border with North Korea have more access to accurate information about what the North Korean government is doing. That news eventually gets across the border into North Korea and then slowly spreads throughout the country.

News of the value of the missiles launched in one day reached the North Korean population at a time when most North Koreans were not getting enough to eat or enough wood, coal, or natural gas to keep them warm in winter. The hungry North Koreans were becoming more aware that the cause of their situation was waste and corruption in North Korea. This missile cost number, $70 million, was the value of what North Korea imports from China each month. This includes food shipments which prevent mass starvation in many parts of the country. In an uncharacteristic move, North Korean state-controlled media released news that the numerous missile launches were necessary and successful in discouraging America and South Korea from attacking North Korea. This was an often-used explanation of obviously large military expenditures that appeared to serve no rational purpose.

There was a similar reaction in the capital Pyongyang when the recent completion of the Taesongsan Ice Cream Factory. The government said ice cream production would begin in a year and this facility was built by leader Kim Jong Un to demonstrate his love for the people. People in the area where this facility was built complained that what good was an ice cream factory when they were no longer getting as much food as they used to receive. Apparently, this means that government fairy tales delivered as news are no longer acceptable to most North Koreans and the people were speaking out as never before with their observations and complaints.

This situation changed in 2023 when Russian came seeking to buy ballistic missiles from North Korea. Russia uses those missiles against targets in Ukraine. Russia also builds missiles, but the Ukrainians are able to intercept most of the Russian missiles and Russia needs a lot more missiles to overcome this and do some serious damage to Ukraine. About 80 percent of the missiles Russia fires at Ukrainian targets are intercepted.

In late 2023 and early 2024 Russia fired dozens of North Korean missiles at Ukrainian targets. These attacks did some damage and killed 14 Ukrainians and wounded about 70. The Ukrainians collected fragments of the missiles, which was their standard procedure, to determine what kind of missiles they were and who made them. Most of the North Korean missiles had ranges up to 600 kilometers and warheads containing a ton or half ton of explosives.

Meanwhile North Korea continues to spend about half a billion dollars a year building more missiles. On average, each new missile costs about $4 million each. North Korea continues to test a few of the new missiles and a lot more elderly missiles that will soon reach the age where they cannot be safely launched. Better to get rid of them by firing them into the waters off Japan. That frightens and annoys the Japanese while also disposing of North Korean missiles that are too old to be useful anymore. When Russia orders more missiles, North Korea sells them the older ones first and as they run out of elderly ones, they provide the Russians with new ones. The Russian purchases of missiles will only continue as long as Russian needs a lot of missiles to use against Ukraine. That might not be much longer because Russia is running out of money to buy missiles and soldiers to fight in Ukraine.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, CSL fair value estimate is AU$362

Current share price of AU$285 suggests CSL is potentially 21% undervalued

The US$302 analyst price target for CSL is 17% less than our estimate of fair value

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for CSL

Is CSL Fairly Valued?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate 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, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$2.18b US$3.00b US$3.69b US$4.18b US$4.63b US$4.96b US$5.25b US$5.49b US$5.70b US$5.89b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x7 Analyst x7 Analyst x6 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 7.18% Est @ 5.67% Est @ 4.62% Est @ 3.88% Est @ 3.37% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.1% US$2.1k US$2.7k US$3.1k US$3.3k US$3.4k US$3.5k US$3.5k US$3.4k US$3.3k US$3.2k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$31b

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.1%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$5.9b (1 + 2.2%)  (6.1% 2.2%) = US$151b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$151b ( 1 + 6.1%)10= US$83b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$115b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$285, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 21% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

Important Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at CSL 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 6.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.865. 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 CSL

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Biotechs market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

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. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For CSL, we've compiled three essential factors you should further examine:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for CSL that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does CSL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
February 25, 2024: The American military plans to rapidly deploy myriads of small cheap satellites, similar to Space Xs (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) Starlink system, to deal with the possibility of Russia and China detonating nuclear EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) weapons in orbit to destroy essential satellite networks. The US economy and military have become very dependent on satellite networks for GPS navigation, data transmission, communications, and surveillance.

Such low earth orbit nuclear detonations with yields of several hundred kilotons to several megatons produce much stronger EMP effects on the ground than in orbit, and would destroy all electric production, transmission, and electronic devices on the ground for a radius of several hundred to a thousand miles below the detonations. That would destroy civilization and kill scores of millions in the affected areas. The potential for such orbital EMP attacks has been terrifying for more than thirty years. While EMP attacks on satellite networks alone would take place mostly over oceans because most of the earths surface is ocean, the thousand mile lines of sight of their effects would spread over land to some extent, and those detonated over land would destroy civilization there. Basically, such attacks on satellite networks would necessarily destroy most civilization on the planet. It would be suicidal for any nation attempting such an attack on America as they would be obliterated by the massive genocidal American retaliatory attacks, as American strategic nuclear forces are EMP-proof. The doctrine of mutual assured destruction still works.

Hours after these rumors of Russian and Chinese orbital actions appeared, the United States began a planned deployment of an orbital missile tracking system prototype. This effort was called PWSA for Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture and is similar to several different efforts to flood orbital space with networks consisting of thousands of satellites, especially with the ability to quickly send up sufficient additional satellites to replace those lost to hostile action, most likely by Russia or China. All this assumes that the US would not be obliterated by such EMP attacks.

The proposed American military network is one SpaceX, and its competitors will deploy in the future. Starlinks internet satellite network already has over 5,000 satellites in orbit. Accidental losses have been minimal but eventually thousands will be lost annually because SpaceXs Starlink satellites are designed with a service life of at least five years. At this point the satellites are supposed to move into a lower orbit that will soon degrade, and the satellite will fall into the atmosphere and burn up. This is now a standard feature with new satellites, to avoid crowding orbital space with derelict satellites that no longer function. This is important because American firm SpaceX is the first of many companies worldwide to put a large number of small communications satellites into orbit. Within a decade there are to be over 100,000 of these satellites in orbit.

Ultimately, SpaceX wants to have 30,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. This would provide the entire planet with low-cost, high-speed Internet access via a multiple-satellite ISP (Internet Service Provider) system. Users will need a small ground station consisting of a small satellite dish and a special modem, costing $600 with service costing $90 a month. In large quantities these stations cost about $100 each. Some nations will not allow their citizens to access Starlink while others seek to regulate what portions of the Internet users can access. This has been the experience of major competitors like ViaSat and HughesNet. When all the Starlink satellites are in orbit, Starlink will be the planets major provider of satellite Internet service. Starlink needs about ten million monthly fee paying customers to be profitable. SpaceX turned profitable in early 2023.

The original gen1 Starlink system was designed to expand to over 40,000 satellites if demand by paying customers was large enough to justify and pay for it. Starlink gen2 is designed to provide so much more customer bandwidth (data transmission) that far fewer Starlink satellites will be needed. That could be up to 90 percent less than gen1. Gen2 is designed to operate more efficiently over countries that outlaw Starlink as an ISP. Nearly half the Internet users on the planet live in countries that heavily censor Internet use. Starlink makes it much more difficult to censor Internet users. Originally designed to provide affordable high-speed Internet use to those in remote areas, Starlink discovered it had gained a lot of new customer interest because of its experience in Ukraine.

The gen2 satellites are described as nearly ten times more capable than the gen1 (original) Starlink satellites. Gen2 are designed to work with gen1 satellites and gradually replace them. Gen1 birds are designed to last for about seven years before they are deorbited and burn up reentering the atmosphere. The true capabilities of gen2 wont be known until some of them are in orbit. Gen1 satellites proved more effective than expected but the list of suggested improvements indicated that a larger gen2 satellite would be the way to go. Eventually this will mean fewer Starlink satellites in orbit but there will still be thousands of them.

The main function of Starlink is to provide cheaper, more powerful, and globally available access to the Internet or any other communications network that can pay for the use of the Starlink network. That includes military users that are friendly to Starlink and not considered a threat. The threat nations include China, Russia and several smaller countries like Iran, North Korea and Cuba that are hostile to Internet access they cannot control. China estimates that Starlink is able to increase the speed and throughput of military communications over a hundred times what it is now.

Starlink is not the only multiple-satellite ISP system. There are similar efforts underway in several countries, including Russia and China. These efforts have fallen far behind Starlink in terms of numbers and capabilities. Starlink is unique in that it was the first to enter service and quickly proved it could do what it was designed to do. That included quickly adapting to the needs of military users. This was demonstrated in Ukraine where Starlink was activated over Ukraine days after Russia invaded in February 2022. The first of thousands of free user kits were delivered in less than a week. By early 2023 there were over 100,000 user kits in Ukraine, most of them serving as small, local ISPs by adding an inexpensive router. As long as the Ukraine War continues, SpaceX and the U.S. government will pay for the service in Ukraine.

In 2022 SpaceX announced a new subsidiary called Starshield with enhanced versions of Starlink technology on larger earth-imaging satellites with sensors to provide whatever sensing capabilities a national security customer wants. This includes photos, real-time video, and all manner of data which presently only U.S. military-grade satellite sensors can collect. Potential users include the NSA, CIA, and equivalent agencies of American allies.

While Starlink has achieved market dominance in space-based communications for personal and commercial users, that largely consists of high-speed Internet datalinks and inexpensive ground links that can be stationary or moving in a vehicle or ship. Starshield plans to do that same with classified data government agencies collect. Starshield satellites are designed to accept many types of capabilities provided by user-supplied modules designed for compatibility with the Starshield interface. Starshield data and control links use much more robust encryption. Starshield will use larger SpaceX SLVs (satellite launch vehicles) to put new Starshield satellites in orbit. Currently Russia is actively seeking ways to disrupt Starlink service. These attacks are nothing new, because government and military users of space-based communications systems have long worked on improving security.

Starshield is organized to take business away from commercial firms like Blacksky and Maxtar that already have billions of dollars in government contracts to provide persistent imaging, including real-time video, of specific areas on earth. The United States provides these specialized imaging services to Ukraine and that provides satellite data on Russian forces superior to what the Russians can provide to their own troops.

Ukrainians were impressed by the potential for Starlink and rapidly came up with new uses, some of them military. This gave Starlink a realistic test under very adverse conditions. So far this has been a success even though Russia, apparently with some help from China, is still seeking ways to shut down or disrupt Starlink.

Another advantage of Starlink is the rapidity of upgrades or modifications to deal with problems, including Russian efforts to jam or disrupt performance in Ukraine. Not only were the Russians unable to disable Starlink, but they found its encrypted signals far superior to communications Russian troops had to use in Ukraine. Worse for the Russians was the Ukrainian ability to rapidly integrate Starlink with Ukrainian communications and fire control systems.

Before Gen2 satellites were ready, SpaceX pointed out that it could put additional Starlink satellites into orbit faster and more cheaply than Russia or anyone else could destroy them. This capability was part of the Starlink design that not only allowed satellite and user software to be quickly updated, but new Starlink satellites often had new features added to improve performance and that included more resistance to hacking and jamming. Complaints that Starlink satellites would become so numerous that they would be a hazard for other satellites are unproven and even less likely once the gen2 satellites are operating. Starlink operates in LEO (low earth orbit) between 300 and 600 kilometers from earth, where there is already a lot of space junk too small to quickly fall back into the atmosphere and burn up. Any plans to destroy a lot of Starlink satellites would make the situation worse without shutting down Starlink services. If left alone the gen1 and gen2 Starlink satellites are designed to burn themselves up in the atmosphere when no longer operational.

China sees Starlink as a serious threat to its current government Internet censorship and control over the population, as well as the political reliability of its military. Thats no speculation because its already happening, often live on TV, in Ukraine. China has not yet come up with a workable plan to disrupt or destroy Starlink and considers Starlink a major obstacle to China eventually becoming the most powerful military force on the planet. That was supposed to happen before 2050. With Starlink it may take longer.

Starshield also aims to provide users with a dominant position in space-based sensing. Starshield is meant to be cheaper and more responsive than any existing competitor in providing a wider array of earth sensing capabilities. SpaceX has not revealed the schedule for lifting Starshield satellites into orbit, and some may already be there testing the services Starshield will provide. Starshield activities will be less public than Starlink, which is how intelligence agencies like it.
Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS):

What: At Mobile World Congress 2024, Keysight will highlight how to expand wireless communications reach with non-terrestrial networks (NTN), achieve extreme next-generation connectivity, and pioneer 6G research with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Keysight enables innovators to push the boundaries, with an end-to-end wireless portfolio that enables advanced use cases, reduces risk, and speeds time to market. When: February 26-29, 2024 Where: Hall 5, Keysight booth #5E12 Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain

Keysight will present the following demonstrations in wireless innovation:

Accelerating 5G

5G Advanced NTNs with Qualcomm Technologies : Providing a glimpse into Release18 5G-Advanced mobility featuring complex low-Earth-orbit, high-velocity Doppler test scenarios with multiple satellites. This joint demo covers video calls with the support of satellite handovers (NTN-NTN) to ensure service continuity and seamless integration with terrestrial networks using a 5G mobile test platform from Qualcomm Technologies.

: Providing a glimpse into Release18 5G-Advanced mobility featuring complex low-Earth-orbit, high-velocity Doppler test scenarios with multiple satellites. This joint demo covers video calls with the support of satellite handovers (NTN-NTN) to ensure service continuity and seamless integration with terrestrial networks using a 5G mobile test platform from Qualcomm Technologies. NTN Sky-to-Lab Emulation: The Keysight sky-to-lab solution is the most advanced solution spanning simulation, emulation, and testing for NTN systems and devices. The demo showcases the Keysight end-to-end NTN solution portfolio, spanning R&D and acceptance workflows for New Radio (NR) and Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT NTN) and will feature three use cases showing how to build reliable 5G NTNs, Long Term Evolution NTN unmodified direct-to-cell handsets, and operator acceptance.

Wi-Fi 7 and Extended Reality (XR)

Boosting performance: Current Wi-Fi networks are being stretched, and it is crucial to test new stations and access points to validate radio frequency (RF) performance, scheduling choices, and optimization. The Keysight UXM Wireless Connectivity Test Platform supports both Wi-Fi 7 and 5G. Keysights Eggplant automation software will also be showcased, which uses ML and automation intelligence with a synthetic human, achieving fully robotic and repeatable test automation of new Wi-Fi and 5G XR devices.

Open RAN AI / ML & Security

Performance, energy and securing the network: As the deployment of Open RAN networks increases, new challenges and opportunities emerge. Keysight will showcase three demos that address this head on highlighting how to maximize network performance with AI/ML, reduce energy consumption, secure the network and increase its resilience.

6G Innovation

Enabling 6G FR3 channel emulation: Keysights new AI-assisted radio channel emulation solutions accelerate the development and evaluation of complex 6G technologies. This demo shows how to address accurate modeling needs in 6G system simulations, digital twins, and real-time RF channel emulation.

Keysights new AI-assisted radio channel emulation solutions accelerate the development and evaluation of complex 6G technologies. This demo shows how to address accurate modeling needs in 6G system simulations, digital twins, and real-time RF channel emulation. Enabling 6G AI neural receiver designs: This demo is part of the latest research from the European Horizon project, CENTRIC. A neural receiver provided by NVIDIA is validated in an Open RAN testbed using data generated from Keysight PathWave SystemVue. Learn how Keysight solutions enable the design of a neural receiver using AI for 6G networks and how data can serve as a digital twin of a channel to compare simulation results with a real-world system.

This demo is part of the latest research from the European Horizon project, CENTRIC. A neural receiver provided by NVIDIA is validated in an Open RAN testbed using data generated from Keysight PathWave SystemVue. Learn how Keysight solutions enable the design of a neural receiver using AI for 6G networks and how data can serve as a digital twin of a channel to compare simulation results with a real-world system. AI / ML & sensing in 6G: Keysight will showcase how to use its Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software in technology research. This demo integrates AI / ML signal processing models and verifies the performance of the algorithms with a real hardware connection in an over-the-air (OTA) system.

In addition, join Giampaolo Tardioli, GM and VP at Keysight for a panel discussion on prioritizing purpose driven networks.

Keysight will be addressing critical questions on how technologies such as 5G, AI and cloud can mitigate the carbon footprint of the industry and enable more energy-efficient infrastructure. Logistics: Date: Wednesday, February 28 Time: 14:45  15:45 CET Location: MWC, Stage B, Hall 6



About Keysight Technologies

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, were delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product lifecycle. Were a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240212332815/en/

Keysight Media Contacts

Paul Erwin

Americas

+1 248 430 9075

[email protected]

Fusako Dohi

Asia

+81 42 660-2162

[email protected]

Jenny Gallacher

Europe

+44 (0) 7800 737 982

[email protected]

Source: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
- New category challenges industry standards in soft tissue robotic-assisted surgery and has the potential to expand access to minimally invasive care

- De Novo premarket review pathway establishes initial indication for adults undergoing colectomy procedures and lays the foundation for expansion into other abdominal procedures

LINCOLN, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Virtual Incision Corporation announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing authorization of the MIRA Surgical System (MIRA), the worlds first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery (miniRAS) device, for use in adults undergoing colectomy procedures. The device was submitted via the FDAs De Novo Classification process, a rigorous pathway designed to classify novel medical devices with no current legally marketed predicate. FDA authorization was based in part on findings from the companys U.S. Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study. The announcement was made by Virtual Incisions president and chief executive officer, John Murphy, at the SAGES 5th Annual Next Big Thing Innovation Weekend in Houston.

Today marks a turning point in surgical robotics as we have hit a significant milestone in making miniaturized robotic surgery a reality, said John Murphy. For more than a decade, our team has been dedicated to our core mission of making every operating room robot-ready. Im incredibly proud to see our efforts come to fruition. We extend our gratitude to the FDA for its thoughtful review of MIRAs technology and our clinical evidence. Whether as a complement to the existing mainframes or as a stand-alone platform, miniaturization has the potential to accelerate the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery.

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), a type of surgery that involves smaller incisions, has transformed the surgical care landscape and patient outcomes through decreased pain, reduced complications, and shorter recovery time.1 The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery has further expanded the use and effectiveness of MIS for complex procedures, offering surgeons more precision and control than what is possible with conventional techniques. Despite its advantages, roughly 90 percent of U.S. operating rooms (ORs) are still without access to the technology,2 most often due to complex logistics such as dedicated operating room space, specially trained staff, added steps during setup and turnover, and a substantial cost for the equipment. The in-a-tray form factor of miniRAS has the potential to overcome these challenges and could impact millions of U.S. patients each year.

MIRAs innovative tray-to-table design could offer healthcare facilities the advantages of robotic surgery without requiring them to organize the OR around the device, a current challenge of existing mainframe surgical robots. MIRAs compact, approximately two-pound (less than one kg) framework is portable and designed to minimize setup time, which could enable any OR to be robot ready within minutes.

Colectomy is one of the most complex multi-quadrant abdominal procedures with nearly 50 percent still being performed as open surgery.3 Data from our IDE clinical study demonstrated that MIRA can successfully be used to mobilize the colon in a minimally invasive way,4 said Piet Hinoul M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of Virtual Incision. Starting with a difficult multi-quadrant procedure like a colectomy presents an exciting opportunity for us to address a high unmet need before we expand into other indications. Were thankful to the investigators and patients who participated in our IDE clinical study that propelled us to marketing authorization.

Virtual Incision will begin commercialization of MIRA through its First Access Program in centers to be selected across the United States. The company will ramp up MIRAs production and expand to additional sites over time.

MIRAs broader commercialization and expansion of its roadmap for future indications includes gynecology, general surgery, urology and other soft tissue and solid organ surgery. Studies of MIRA in gynecological procedures are planned in 2024. Additionally, a new iteration of the technology tailored to general surgery is in design and expected to be used in a first-in-human study outside the U.S. later this year.

About Virtual Incision

Virtual Incision is on a mission to simplify robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), so more patients and their surgeons can access its benefits every day. Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, and holding over two hundred patents and patent applications, the company developed MIRA, the first-of-its-kind miniature RAS system. Virtual Incisions goal is to make every operating room RAS-ready. For more information, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

About the MIRA Surgical System

MIRA is the worlds first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. Its small, sleek form factor is designed to offer the benefits of RAS during colectomy procedures without the logistical inefficiencies of traditional mainframe robotics. The easily accessible device weighs approximately two pounds (less than one kg) and offers internal triangulation with shoulders, arms, and infinite wrist roll inside of the body. It can be used in any operating room  a dedicated mainframe room is unnecessary. With its drape- and dock-free design and portability, MIRA is quick to set up, clean up, and move between cases. Its conveniently accessible design positions it to be used as a standalone system or a complementary tool for facilities that already own a mainframe. With MIRA, every operating room is RAS-ready.

Important Safety Information

The MIRA Surgical System is intended for prescription use only. Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if surgery with a MIRA Surgical System is right for them. For important safety information, indications for use, risks, and warnings, please refer to www.virtualincision.com/safety-information.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, statements regarding our plans, beliefs, expectations, assumptions, and other statements that are not necessarily historical facts. You are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements. This communication also contains market data related to our business and industry which includes projections that are based on several assumptions we believe are reasonable and most significant to the projections as of the date of this communication. If any of our assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may significantly differ from our projections based on these assumptions.

_____

References

Reza MM, Blasco JA, Andradas E, Cantero R, Mayol J. Systematic review of laparoscopic versus open surgery for colorectal cancer. Br J Surg. 2006 Aug;93(8):921-8. Hazan, A., Perse, J., Coover, P. June 2022. State of the Robotics Surgery Market. Goldman Sachs. Sheetz KH, Norton EC, Dimick JB, Regenbogen SE. Perioperative Outcomes and Trends in the Use of Robotic Colectomy for Medicare Beneficiaries From 2010 Through 2016. JAMA Surg. 2020 Jan 1;155(1):41-49. Virtual Incision data on file

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240224929002/en/

Shay Smith

Health+Commerce

[email protected]

(707) 971-9779

Source: Virtual Incision Corporation
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yintai Gold Co., Ltd (000975.CN) ("Yintai") and Osino Resources Corp. (TSX:OSI.V) (NSX:OSN) (FSE:RSR1) ("Osino") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a binding arrangement agreement (the "Yintai Arrangement Agreement"), pursuant to which Yintai will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Osino (each, an "Osino Common Share") by way of a plan of arrangement (the "Yintai Arrangement"), for cash consideration of C$1.90 for each Osino Common Share, valuing Osino at approximately C$368 million. At closing of the Yintai Arrangement, Osinos portfolio will consist only of gold related assets located in Namibia, primarily the Twin Hills Gold Project in central Namibia as well as exploration projects Ondundu and Eureka.

Prior to entering into the Yintai Arrangement Agreement, Osino terminated its arrangement agreement with Dundee Precious Metals Inc. ("DPM"), dated December 17, 2023 (the "DPM Arrangement Agreement"), in accordance with its terms.

Transaction Highlights

Significant premium of approximately 32% to the implied value of the consideration pursuant to the DPM Arrangement Agreement1

All-cash offer, providing value certainty and immediate liquidity to Osino shareholders

Highly credible and capable counterparty in Yintai US$5.6 billion market capitalization as a publicly traded company on the Shenzhen stock exchange Track record of successful M&A including the US$600 million acquisition of Canadian-listed Eldorado Gold Corporations White Mountain (Jilin Banmiaozi) and Tanjianshan (Qinghai Dachaidan) Mines and Eastern Dragon (Heihe Yintai) Development Project in 2016 Significant support from its major shareholder, Shandong Gold  with its own strong track record of international M&A

Immediate cash infusion for Osino of US$10 million for operations and working capital needs and the reimbursement in full of the termination fee paid to DPM

Chinese outbound investment approvals to be obtained in parallel with Namibian competition approval

Leverages Yintai's strong balance sheet and access to capital to fast-track development of Twin Hills

As referenced in its press release on February 19, 2024, Osino received a binding proposal from Yintai to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Osino Common Shares and notified DPM that this offer constituted a "Superior Proposal" in accordance with the terms of the DPM Arrangement Agreement. DPM notified Osino that it will not propose to amend the terms of the DPM Arrangement Agreement in light of the Yintai proposal and, as a result, Osino terminated the DPM Arrangement Agreement in accordance with its terms and entered into the Yintai Arrangement Agreement.

Based on the closing price of the DPM common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of February 16, 2024, the Superior Proposal represents a premium of approximately 32% to the implied value of the consideration offered pursuant to the DPM Arrangement Agreement and approximately 68% premium to the unaffected share price of the last trading day prior to announcement of the DPM Arrangement Agreement.

Yintai has also provided Osino with a loan comprising of approximately (i) US$10 million facility provided concurrently with the execution of the arrangement agreement to enable the continued, fast-tracked development of the Twin Hills gold project and to fund other liquidity needs of Osino and (ii) an amount equal to the termination fee paid by Osino following the termination of the DPM Arrangement Agreement (the Yintai Facility).

Heye Daun, President and CEO of Osino, stated:Whilst we were appreciative of the previous offer from DPM, the all-cash offer from Yintai represents a significant premium to the DPM offer price, thus is clearly a superior proposal, and is an excellent outcome for Osinos shareholders. Yintai is experienced, well-financed, and has a highly credible track record of gold mining in China, with the technical skills and financial resources to progress the project through construction and into production. We look forward to working with Yintai to continue to fast-track the development of the project and close this transaction.

Xingong Ou, President of Yintai, stated:Twin Hills represents a unique opportunity to add a high-quality gold development asset to our portfolio in a stable and mining friendly jurisdiction. The project provides the foundation for our future production profile with production targeted for 2026, as well as significant exploration upside. We are excited to leverage the excellent work done by the Osino team in discovering and progressing Twin Hills to this point and we look forward to working with the existing Osino team to grow their Namibian activities and to implement the construction of the project. We are impressed with the responsible mining approach which the Osino team has built, and we intend to continue and to grow that approach.

Osino Board of Directors and Special Committee Recommendations

After consultation with its financial and legal advisors, and on the unanimous recommendation of the special committee of independent directors (the Special Committee), the Osino Board unanimously determined that the Transaction is fair to Osino shareholders and is in the best interests of Osino and approved the Yintai Arrangement Agreement. Accordingly, the Osino Board and the Special Committee recommend that Osino shareholders vote IN FAVOUR of the Transaction.

The Osino Board and the Special Committee received fairness opinions from each of BMO Capital Markets and Eight Capital, which state that as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the Consideration to be received by Osino shareholders, pursuant to the Transaction, is fair from a financial point of view to the Osino shareholders. Eight Capital was retained on a fixed-fee basis.

Transaction Conditions and Timing

The proposed transaction will be completed pursuant to a court approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The transaction will be subject to the approval of Osino security holders, being: (i) 66 2/3% of the votes cast by shareholders, (ii) 66 2/3% of the votes cast by holders of incentive securities and warrants voting as a single class with shareholders; and (iii) a simple majority of shareholders excluding votes held by related parties under Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, at a special meeting of Osino securityholders.

The Yintai Arrangement Agreement provides for, among other things customary board support and non-solicitation covenants, with a "fiduciary out" that would allow Osino to accept a superior proposal, subject to a "right to match period" in favour of Yintai. The Yintai Arrangement Agreement also provides for a termination fee of US$9.55 million, payable by Osino to Yintai in certain specified circumstances along with the repayment or conversion of the loan. The Yintai Arrangement Agreement also includes a reverse termination fee in the amount of US$9.55 million, payable by Yintai to Osino in certain other specified circumstances.

Pursuant to the Yintai Arrangement Agreement, all outstanding Osino stock options, restricted share units, deferred share units and warrants which remain outstanding at the effective time of the Transaction, will be deemed to be exercised or settled, for their in-the-money value net of withholding taxes, as applicable, under the arrangement for Osino Shares, which will be exchanged for the Consideration.

Directors and officers of Osino have entered into voting support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their common shares in favour of the Yintai Arrangement.

Subject to certain conditions, including the parties obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in H1 2024, subject to timing of the approvals under the Namibia Competition Act. Upon closing of the transaction, the Osino Shares are expected to be concurrently delisted.

Securityholder Meeting

As a result of Osinos termination of the DPM Arrangement Agreement, the special meeting of Osino securityholders previously scheduled for March 1, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. (Vancouver Time) at which securityholders were to consider the transactions contemplated by the DPM Arrangement Agreement will not proceed on that date and has been cancelled.

Osino expects to hold a new special meeting of securityholders as of a record date of March 15, 2024 on April 29, 2024, where securityholders will be asked to approve the transactions contemplated by the Yintai Arrangement Agreement.

Full details of the Yintai Arrangement will be included in a management information circular of Osino that is expected to be mailed to Osino's shareholders by early April, 2024.

Shareholders who have questions regarding the Yintai Arrangement should contact Osino's strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent Laurel Hill Advisory Group at +1 (416) 637-4661, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Advisors and Counsel

BMO Capital Markets and Treadstone Resource Partners are acting as financial advisors to Osino and its Board of Directors and Eight Capital is acting as financial advisor to the special committee of the Board. Stikeman Elliott LLP and King & Wood Mallesons are acting as Osinos legal advisors.

Canaccord Genuity is acting as financial advisor to Yintai. DeHeng Law Offices and McCarthy Tetrault LLP are acting as Yintais legal advisors.

About Osino Resources Corp.Osino is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on the fast-tracked development of our wholly owned, Twin Hills Gold Project in central Namibia. Since its grassroots discovery by Osino in August 2019, Osino has completed more than 250,000m of drilling and has completed a suite of specialist technical studies culminating in the recently published Twin Hills Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") dated effective June 12, 2023. The DFS describes a technically simple and economically robust open-pit gold operation with a 13-year mine life and average annual gold production of over 162,000oz per annum.

Osino has a commanding ground position of over 8,000km2 located within Namibia's prospective Damara sedimentary mineral belt, mostly in proximity to and along strike of the producing Navachab and Otjikoto Gold Mines. Osino is actively exploring a range of gold prospects and targets along the belt by utilizing a portfolio approach geared towards discovery, targeting gold mineralization that fits the broad orogenic gold model.

Our projects are favourably located in central and northern Namibia and are within easy reach from Namibia's capital city, Windhoek. By virtue of its location, the Twin Hills project benefits significantly from Namibia's well-established infrastructure with paved highways, railway, power and water in close proximity. Namibia is mining-friendly and lauded as one of the continent's most politically and socially stable jurisdictions.

Qualified Persons Statement

David Underwood, BSc. (Hons) is Vice President Exploration of Osino and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No.400323/11) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Further details are available on Osino's website at https://osinoresources.com and under Osino's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Yintai Gold Co., Ltd.

Yintai is a mining company publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of US$5.6 billion as of February 23, 2024, as well as in excess of US$570 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023. Yintai conducts businesses in the mining and exploration of precious and non-ferrous metal.

Yintai owns 5 mining operations in China, including the Yulong lead, zinc and silver mine, the Heihe Yintai gold mine, the Jilin Banmiaozi gold mine, the Qinghai Dachaidan gold mine and the Mangshi Huasheng gold mine. In 2023, Yintai produced 225.4 Koz of gold, 6.2 Moz of silver, 9.5 Kt of lead and 16.5 Kt of zinc. The major ~29% shareholder of Yintai is Shandong Gold, the operator of multiple gold mines internationally including the ~7Moz Namdini Gold Project under construction in Ghana.

On Behalf of Osinos Board of Directors Heye Daun, President and CEO

Contact InformationOsino Resources Corp.Yaron Conforti+1-604-687-2038[email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements and information with respect to statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Yintai and Osino with respect to future business activities and operating performance; the timing of mailing of the management information circular of Osino, the timing of the special meeting of securityholders and the timing of the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Yintai Arrangement Agreement. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although Osino has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in Osino's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on Osino's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Osino does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

1 Based on the closing price of the DPM common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of February 16, 2024, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Superior Proposal.

Source: Osino Resources Corp.
Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2024) - "Coffee With Q Show," a renowned podcast platform, has recently featured a comprehensive masterclass on Texas family violence law, presented by Dallas domestic violence lawyer, John Helms. This insightful session, conducted by host Rene Perras of Legal Subject Matter Experts on Coffee With Q, is designed to educate and assist victims of family violence, providing them with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the legal system effectively.





Coffee With Q Podcast Show



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8568/199136_b04fbbd5c4099ba0_001full.jpg

Key Highlights of the Masterclass:

Expert Guidance: Led by John Helms, a seasoned Dallas family violence defense attorney, the masterclass offers an in-depth look into the complexities of Texas family violence law.

Victim Support: The session is tailored to support victims of family violence, offering practical advice and legal strategies to protect their rights and seek justice.

Accessibility: The 30-minute video is available on YouTube, making it easily accessible to a wide audience. Additionally, the audio version of the masterclass can be found on major podcast platforms.

Comprehensive Coverage: The masterclass covers various aspects of family violence law, including legal definitions, protective orders, and the court process, ensuring a thorough understanding of the subject matter.

About "Coffee With Q Show / Podcast":

"Coffee With Q" is a popular podcast platform developed by tech entrepreneur Qamar Zaman, featuring interviews with experts across various fields. The platform aims to bring subject matter experts to demonstrate knowledge by sharing their expertise to get their expertise amplified through storytelling. The platform aims to provide valuable insights and information to its listeners, covering topics ranging from legal, business, health, finance, and technology and beyond.

About Host Rene Perras:

Rene Perras is the host of Legal Subject Matter Expertson the "Coffee With Q" podcast, where he facilitates discussions with experts in the legal field.

About Dallas Family Violence Defense Lawyer John Helms:

John Helms is a highly respected Dallas criminal defense attorney with extensive experience in handling complex legal cases. His expertise in family violence law makes him a sought-after legal advisor and speaker.

For more information:

Visit www.coffeewithq.org to watch the masterclass and learn more about the "Coffee With Q" podcast.

Watch full Masterclass here: https://www.coffeewithq.org/dallas-family-violence-defense-lawyer-interview/

Media Contact

Rene Perras

561-758-5373

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/199136
Written By Jake Smiths

In a landmark decision on Friday afternoon, Germanys parliament has officially passed the much-anticipated Cannabis Act, marking a historic shift in the countrys approach to cannabis. This reform, set to take effect in April, not only paves the way for the legalization of recreational cannabis but also introduces significant changes to the medical cannabis landscape. Among the companies poised to lead in this new era, InterCure, a global cannabis powerhouse, stands out for its strategic positioning and innovative approach.

The Cannabis Act represents a tripartite reform that impacts homegrown cannabis, social clubs for recreational use, and, most crucially, medical cannabis. For the medical sector, the reform is groundbreaking. By removing medical cannabis from the narcotics act, Germany is significantly easing and cheapening the prescription process, a move that is expected to expand the market exponentially.

As such, medical cannabis players are positioned to significantly benefit from this shift, assuming they can capitalize on the opportunity. One example of such us, InterCure, the leading medical cannabis company outside North America which known for its operational excellence. The seems s uniquely positioned to capitalize on this legislative shift with its subsidiary, Canndoc, being Israels largest licensed cannabis producer and a pioneer in GMP-certified pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis products.

The German Reform: A Closer Look

The reforms implications for medical cannabis are profound. By deregulating medical cannabis, Germany is not only increasing accessibility for patients but also fostering a more open and research-friendly environment. This is expected to lead to innovations in medical cannabis treatments and a broader acceptance within the medical community.

For companies like InterCure, this reform opens up a vast new market. Germanys move to make medical cannabis more accessible and affordable is likely to increase demand significantly. Doctors will have a simpler process for prescribing cannabis, and patients will find it easier to access the treatments they need. This is a significant step forward in patient care and aligns with InterCures mission to provide high-quality, accessible cannabis treatments.

InterCure: Strategically Poised for Germanys Cannabis Revolution

In the wake of Germanys landmark cannabis reform, InterCure emerges as a strategic frontrunner, poised to capitalize on the burgeoning market with its solid financial foundation and strategic global partnerships. The companys impressive financial performance, underscored by record revenues and robust growth in the first half of 2023, signals its readiness to meet and fuel the anticipated surge in demand within Germanys newly liberalized landscape.

Intercures strategic alliance in Germany, Israel, Australia, and the UK with TYSON 2.0, a premium cannabis brand co-founded by the legendary Mike Tyson, exemplifies InterCures innovative approach to market penetration and lays the groundwork for moving quickly in the newly liberated German market. Other players are also taking steps in Germany. For example, back in May, Village Farms announced the launch of cannabis products in Germany, while Tilray, the largest player in terms of market cap, has been trying to penetrate the german markets via Aphria which it acquired.

The Economic and Social Implications

The economic implications of Germanys cannabis reform are significant. The legal cannabis market in Germany is expected to see substantial growth, with estimates suggesting it could reach billions of euros in the coming years. This growth will not only benefit companies like InterCure but also contribute to the German economy through taxes and job creation.

Socially, the reform represents a shift towards a more progressive stance on cannabis. By legalizing recreational use and easing access to medical cannabis, Germany is acknowledging the plants potential benefits and reducing the stigma associated with its use. This is a positive development for patients who rely on cannabis for medical reasons and for the broader society, which stands to benefit from a more open and informed approach to cannabis.

Looking Ahead

As Germany embarks on this new chapter in its cannabis policy, the world is watching. The success of this reform could serve as a model for other countries considering similar legislation. For InterCure, the German market represents just the beginning. With its eye on expansion and a commitment to quality and innovation, InterCure is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of medical cannabis in Germany and beyond.

In conclusion, Germanys cannabis reform is more than just a change in law; its a step towards a future where medical cannabis is recognized and utilized for its therapeutic potential. Companies like InterCure, with their expertise, quality products, and strategic partnerships, are at the forefront of this movement, ready to lead the industry into a new era. As Germany prepares for the implementation of this historic reform, the possibilities for patients, healthcare providers, and the cannabis industry are vast and promising.

Please note: The content is not intended to serve as medical, legal, financial or investment advice and is for informational purposes only. Please refer to full disclaimers and disclosures.

The post Germanys Historic Cannabis Reform: A New Era for Medical Cannabis Innovators appeared first on TheVentureCation.com.
The Age of DePIN and the Rise of Solana: Sollong Shapes a New Era in the Decentralized World



DePIN, short for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network, emerged as a notable trend in 2023. The core promise of DePIN is to bring the principles of blockchain applicationscommunity ownership, public verifiability, and aligned incentivesinto the realm of physical and infrastructural worlds. This has significant implications for physical devices, the data economy, and decentralized governance, marking a pivotal moment for the adoption of "web3" in the "real world."

Exploring the latest trends in Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) and blockchain technology, the combination of Solana and Sollong not only signifies the beginning of a technological revolution but also highlights the profound strength and unique advantages of both entities. Specifically, Solana's Wall Street background and the Stanford technical prowess of the Sollong project team provide a solid foundation and a forward-looking perspective for this revolution.



Solana: Wall Street's Trust Meets Blockchain Innovation



As a high-performance blockchain platform, Solana has garnered attention not only for its technological advantages but also for its deep Wall Street connections, which have earned the platform unique market trust and extensive support. This background is reflected not only in capital support and resource integration but also in Solana's ability to attract professionals and institutional investors from the traditional finance sector to participate in the innovation and application of blockchain technology. Strong cross-industry collaboration and resource sharing have accelerated Solana's development in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, enabling it to provide low-cost, efficient solutions that meet the demands of high transaction volumes.



Sollong: Leading Innovation with Stanford's Technological Expertise



The proponents of the Sollong project, with their technical background and research achievements at Stanford, have infused the project with innovative spirit and scientific precision. This team possesses not only cutting-edge blockchain technology expertise but also the ability to transform complex theories into practical solutions. Through the use of Physical Proof of Work (PoPW), Token Incentivized Physical Infrastructure Networks (TIPIN), and EdgeFi networks, Sollong demonstrates how blockchain technology can be applied to the deployment and management of physical infrastructures, achieving true decentralization. This model not only provides a modular foundation for the construction of Web 3.0 but also represents a successful real-world application of the DePIN concept.



Future Outlook: Wall Street's Strategy and Stanford's Innovation Move in Parallel



As Solana and the Sollong project continue their deep dive into the blockchain sector, the strategic acumen of Wall Street and the technological prowess of Stanford behind them will further drive innovation and growth in this field. From Solana's capital advantages and market trust to Sollong's technological innovations and practical applications, both entities collectively provide a strong impetus and a broad vision for the future development of blockchain technology. In the upcoming cryptocurrency market bull run, Solana and Sollong are expected to lead a new wave of growth with their unique advantages and profound backgrounds, delivering greater value and superior experiences to users, and together forging a new era for blockchain technology and decentralized finance.

Contact Info:

Name: Liam johnson

Email: Send Email

Organization: SOLLONG

Website: https://sollong.xyz



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: 89122446

If there are any deficiencies, problems, or concerns regarding the information presented in this press release that require attention or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we encourage you to notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our diligent team is committed to promptly addressing your concerns within 8 hours and taking necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or facilitate the removal process. Providing accurate and trustworthy information is of utmost importance.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Longbio Pharma ( Suzhou ) Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Longbio Pharma"), a leading biotech company dedicated to developing innovative protein treatments for allergy, respiratory, dermatology, hematology, ophthalmology, and other autoimmune and rare diseases, proudly announced the release of preliminary Phase II data for LP-003, the new generation anti-IgE antibody, at the 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology annual meeting (AAAAI 2024).

The presentation of the poster titled "A Phase II study of LP-003, a novel high-affinity, long-acting anti-IgE antibody for allergic rhinitis" by Longbio Pharma marked a significant moment during the conference.

Title: A Phase II study of LP-003, a novel high-affinity, long-acting anti-IgE antibody for allergic rhinitis

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06046391

Date and Time: February 25, 2024 , at 9:45 am (UTC -5)

Location: Convention Center , Level 2, Hall D

Poster Number: 591

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical study (NCT06046391), 180 adult patients with moderate to severe seasonal AR despite standard therapy in the previous 2 seasons were randomized to receive LP-003 100mg (n=40), LP-003 200 mg (n=80) or placebo (n=60). All patients received concomitant nasal corticosteroids with/without antihistamines as SoC. The primary endpoint was the mean nasal symptom score during the peak pollen period (PPP). Secondary endpoints included mean ocular symptom score, immunogenicity and safety profile etc.

Results: the TNSS (mean nasal symptom score) during PPP was significantly lower in the LP-003 groups (3.172.17 for 100mg group and 3.452.45 for the whole groups) than that in the placebo group (4.252.74), with both P values

Meanwhile, LP-003 exhibited a favorable safety profile, with similar incidence of adverse events (AEs) between LP-003 groups and placebo group. The most common AEs (>2% in either group) reported were hyperuricemia, upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis.

Comparing to the first-generation anti-IgE antibody, omalizumab, 100mg LP-003 demonstrate comparable efficacy to 300mg omalizumab in this study. Moreover, subgroup analysis revealed potential superior bioactivity of LP-003 compared to omalizumab using comparable pollen density conditions.

"Anti-IgE therapy has been proven to be effective in AR treatment, however, Omalizumab's dosing regimen has limited its clinical application. This Phase II study shows that 100mg LP-003 significantly improved nasal symptoms (TNSS score) of uncontrolled seasonal allergic rhinitis patients despite SoC treatment. In addition, LP-003's fixed and reduced dose promises to alleviate the cost burden on insurance and patients, enhance drug accessibility, and maximize pharmacoeconomic value," exclaimed by Dr. Sun , Nai-chau, co-founder of Longbio Pharma, also the inventor of omalizumab and co-founder of Tanox Inc. " AAAAI is recognized as the premier global conference in the field of allergic diseases. We are honored to unveiled the exciting Phase II results of LP-003, the first registrational clinical trial of anti-IgE antibody for AR conducted in China ."

As Longbio Pharma charts its course forward, the successful Phase II study of LP-003 in allergic rhinitis represents a pivotal milestone in advancing the treatment landscape for allergic diseases. With Phase III clinical trials set to commence around 2024 March, the company is poised to continue its legacy of excellence, forge international partnerships, and shape the future of allergy treatment on a global scale.

About LP-003

LP-003, a novel monoclonal anti-IgE antibody was generated, humanized, and engineered by Dr. Sun , Nai-chau, who is the inventor of Omalizumab, and co-founder of Tanox. Based on the 30+ years R&D experience on IgE target, Dr Sun developed a new generation of anti-IgE antibody (LP-003). Its extensive characterization including: affinity, bioactivity, off-target binding and animal study (Tox and efficacy) was conducted. The current data of Phase I and Phase II shows LP-003 is potentially to become a best-in-class treatment.

Simultaneously, a Phase II study focusing on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is underway (NCT06228560), showcasing Longbio Pharma's commitment to exploring diverse therapeutic avenues. The company expects to start the phase III study of allergic rhinitis at 2024 Q1/2, and will get the topline result for LP-003 Phase III study by the end of 2024.

About Longbio Pharma

LongBio Pharma is a biotech company located in Shanghai / Changshu, China . The company, which was founded in 2018, focuses on autoimmune and rare diseases, serving patients and society.

LongBio Pharma aims to bring our drugs to both domestic and international markets with our partners, especially to bring patients with more affordable and high-quality bio-medicines. Our leading pipeline is a next generation of anti-IgE antibody (LP-003), which is about to start Phase III study in 2024Q1, and prepare for BLA in 2025H1. Another leading pipeline is a bifunctional complement inhibitor (LP-005) , which is in Phase I at present, intending to start Phase II/III in 2024Q2.

For more information, please visit: www.longbio.com or please contact: [email protected].

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/groundbreaking-phase-ii-data-of-lp-003-unveiled-by-longbio-pharma-at-aaaai2024-302070450.html

SOURCE Longbio Pharma
An elated crowd hails a ribbon-cutting in the capital city, celebrating Texas freedom on the city's main social corridor, The Drag.

AUSTIN, Texas , Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At the crossroads of all things Austin , crowds of Scientologists and guests gathered on a clear Saturday afternoon February 24 and gave an ecstatic Texas welcome to the new Ideal Church of Scientology Austin. The ribbon-cutting, the first in a wave of Grand Openings at the start of 2024, embodied the spirit of unabated growth that has become the hallmark of Scientology today.

Austin's magnificent new Church stands directly across the street from the University of Texas, on The Drag, where as many as 70,000 walk the bustling stretch every day. Starting today, the Church's street-level, floor-to-ceiling windows invite passers-by to come in, look, listen and get a taste of Texas Spiritual Freedom.

"You're Texas big and Texas tough," said Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center . "While before that ribbon falls on your new Church of Scientology, this is a moment to remember what was said long ago by one of your famous Texansthat it was the best land he had ever seen, and there was a world of country to settle. Well, so it is again today. Except your 'line of country' is the human spirit, and you settle it by restoring to people the happiness, love, sincerity and kindness with which they were created."

Just a mile from the state capitol building, the new Ideal Church provides Texas -size facilities to expand the Church's humanitarian activity and influence. All of which promises exemplary drug awareness and prevention for Texas youth, human rights education to generations and countless victories for victims of mental health abuse.

Among the officials and dignitaries joining Mr. Miscavige at the opening event was Vice-President of the University Area Partners Association, Mr. Mike McHone, a committed neighborhood leader for the West Campus area. "For those of you who aren't from Austin , this town is a university town. We work to keep our neighborhood at the front of the pack when it comes to, well, everything," Mr. McHone said.

"And today I'll admit a little Longhorns pride in celebrating another big step in keeping our neighborhood the Best of the Best. Hook 'em Horns!" he told the roaring crowd.

"Each and every one of you should take pride in knowing you have helped make our home what it is today. Your members form the backbone of an ongoing community effort. Which is another way of saying, you have shown an inherent understanding of what our residents need with a passion and care to create a thriving, active community.

"While today, with this Grand Opening, we celebrate the return of a major player to this University area. So, what I should really be saying is, 'Welcome back!'"

Mr. Sam Price, who served nearly 25 years with the Austin Health Department and is now a dedicated Texas drug education advocate in Central Texas , recognized the impact of the Church-sponsored drug awareness program, Drug-Free World. "From the outset, our attitude was, 'Let's educate people.' And we got that Truth About Drugs information out to everyone. That means, thanks to your support, thousands who never had a choice to be educated now have the choice to say, 'I'm going to live drug-free!'

"The world would be a better place if more people had the care and commitment that your Church members do. No doubt about it. And thanks to Drug-Free World, you've given this kid from the south of Austin the opportunity of a lifetime. So, I have one final request: keep doing your good work. You'll never know how many lives you've saved."

Ms. Simone Talma Flowers, Executive Director of Interfaith Action of Central Texas , spoke on the international diversity of Austin's religious community. "Bridging division between different faiths is not simply a 'nice to do,' it's essential," she said. "You have been pillars of devotion and dependency. And upon those pillars, we have now built the largest interfaith movement in all of Central Texas ."

Remarking on the new Church's spacious Chapel, Ms. Flowers said, "I have to tell you, we are so excited at the prospect of holding our events right herefront and center in Downtown. This Ideal Org will be a shared space where any and all are welcome, a place for services, talks or meetings for reconciliation. So may it continue to shine as a sanctuary for all faiths for all the decades to come!"

The final guest speaker, Mr. Nelson Linder, serves as President of the Austin NAACP. He recalled that, as a child in Georgia in the late 1950s, he walked to school because there were no buses that served his segregated school. "Like many others, my fight for civil rights is now decades long.

"A just society requires sacrifice and commitment," Mr. Linder said. "In fact, a great man once said, 'Injustice is not something in which any man with power should ever trade.' That was Mr. L. Ron Hubbard. To say such in the crucible of the 1960s shows tremendous courage.

"At that time, just a handful were in the middle, trying to broker peace, and yet there he was. Mr. Hubbard's ideas of forwarding the concept of true justice were both visionary and grand.

"And let's face it, they inspired you all to create a movement not only in Texas , but around the world. That's not just a gift for those who are here. It's a gift for those who aren't even born yet. So, on behalf of the Austin NAACP, thank you, Mr. Hubbard, for being a strong voice in the land.

"With this Grand Opening today, we can now say: Yes, Mr. Hubbard, we are turning your dream into reality. And that is most certainly cause to celebrate."

The new Austin Ideal Org provides the city with an introduction to Dianetics and Scientology, beginning with the Public Information Center. Its displays, containing more than 500 films, present the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion and the life and legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Information Center also offers a detailed overview of the renowned Church-sponsored humanitarian programsincluding a worldwide human rights education initiative; far-reaching drug education, prevention and rehabilitation programs; a global network of literacy and learning centers; and the Scientology Volunteer Minister Program, which has become one of the world's largest independent relief forces. The center is open morning to night for visitors to tour at their leisure and return as often as they wish.

The Church's Chapel provides for Scientology congregational gatherings, including Sunday Services, Weddings and Naming Ceremoniesas well as a host of events open to members of all faiths in the name of community collaboration. The new Church further includes multiple seminar rooms and classrooms, in addition to a wing of rooms for Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling).

Ideal Church Organizations (Ideal Orgs) realize the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard's vision for the religion. They not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their ascent to greater states of spiritual awareness and freedom but are also designed to serve as a home for the entire community and a meeting ground for cooperative efforts to uplift citizens of all denominations.

The Grand Opening of the Ideal Church of Scientology Austin is the first of many new Churches set to mark an expansive 2024 for the religion. All told, the Church has opened new Ideal Church Organizations across the United States , including New York City , Harlem , Buffalo , Washington, D.C . , Atlanta , Tampa , Orlando , Miami , Nashville , Cincinnati , Columbus , Detroit , Twin Cities , Kansas City , Dallas , Denver , Salt Lake City , Phoenix , Las Vegas , Portland and Seattle . And in California alone, at Sacramento , San Francisco , Los Gatos , San Jose , Silicon Valley , Ventura , San Fernando Valley , Pasadena , Los Angeles , Inglewood , Orange County and San Diego .

The unprecedented expansion of Scientology is further represented by the opening of new Ideal Organizations in major cities all over the globe, including London , Birmingham and Dublin in the British Isles; throughout Europe in Brussels , Rome , Milan , Padova , Madrid , Berlin , Hamburg , Stuttgart , Copenhagen , Malmo , Amsterdam , Basel and Budapest ; in the Middle East at Tel Aviv ; all along the Pacific Rim at Tokyo , Kaohsiung , Auckland , Sydney , Melbourne and Perth ; in South Africa at Johannesburg and Pretoria ; more in Canada at Quebec and Cambridge ; and in the Latin American capitals of Mexico City and Bogota .

For a complete list of Ideal Churches of Scientology, visit Scientology.org/IdealChurches .

To disseminate Scientology's message still further and answer the overwhelming interest about the religion, the Church launched its own satellite TV channel, Scientology Network, on DIRECTV Channel 320 which also live streams on Scientology.tv, as well as on multiple platforms in 17 languages across 24 time zones.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-scientology-star-rises-in-texass-all-star-capital-of-austin-302070447.html

SOURCE Church of Scientology International
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. , Feb. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global nonprofit Operation Smile today announced its partnership with Beast Philanthropy, the philanthropic arm of Mr. Beast that leverages the power of social media platforms to raise funds and leave a lasting impact.

Operation Smile bridges the gap in access to essential surgeries and health care by providing cleft surgery and comprehensive care, medical education and training, and long-term investments in strengthening local health systems and workforces. The Beast Philanthropy team joined Operation Smile in Puebla, Mexico , to experience firsthand the organization's life-changing programs and the impact they have on patients, families and communities. During this surgical program, Beast Philanthropy captured an in-depth video showcasing Operation Smile's transformative work in Puebla to its global audience  including over 22 million subscribers on YouTube alone  connecting the organization to an entirely new generation of donors, medical volunteers, and future leaders.

"I've been so unbelievably impressed with Operation Smile," said Darren Margolias , CEO of Beast Philanthropy. "There is the surgical component and the medical component but there is a human component as well  and that is the thing that has impacted me the most."

Operation Smile focuses on surgical excellence and investing in people and infrastructure to close the distance patients must travel to receive essential care. The video captures the essence of Operation Smile's mission and shines a light on the organization's holistic approach to care, bringing it closer to patients' communities.

"This partnership is a shared commitment to create smiles and drive positive change on a global scale," said Susan Can , Operation Smile's Senior Vice President of Global Marketing. "We express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support from Mr. Beast and Beast Philanthropy in shining a light on our work. Together, we can inspire a new generation to help us make a lasting difference to transform the lives of patients, their communities and entire health systems."

The video can be accessed at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q49kJeG6nr8

About Operation Smile

Operation Smile is a leading global nonprofit bridging the gap in access to essential surgeries and health care, starting with cleft surgery and comprehensive care. We provide medical expertise, training, mentorship, research and care through our dedicated staff and volunteers around the world, working alongside local governments, nonprofits, and health systems, and supported by our generous donors and corporate partners.

For more information about Operation Smile, please visit: https://www.operationsmile.org

About Beast Philanthropy

Beast Philanthropy leverages the persuasive power of social media to effect real-world change. As a 501(c)3 organization, it engages a massive online community to fund and conduct charitable efforts that alleviate hunger, homelessness, and unemployment. Visit www.beastphilanthropy.org/ for more insights into their mission and impact.

For media inquiries please contact [email protected].

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/operation-smile-and-beast-philanthropy-spotlight-global-need-for-access-to-surgical-care-302070434.html

SOURCE Operation Smile
The S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite Index, and Dow Jones Industrial Average are all at or near record territory. Investors have a renewed sense of optimism as the economy appears to be on solid footing, and market watchers still expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in 2024.

For those who have been watching stocks climb higher from the sidelines, you might be inclined to learn more about ways that you can start putting your money to work. It might be disheartening knowing that you missed the market's rally -- but don't be discouraged. It's still a great time to be a new investor in 2024.

In fact, you can even beat the stock market experts. History says there's one ridiculously easy way to do it.

First things first

It's worth first pointing out that individuals need to make it a top priority to take care of their personal finances before even thinking about investing for the long haul. This means paying off all high-interest debt, like credit cards or personal loans.

Moreover, you should set aside enough cash to cover a few months' worth of expenses as an emergency fund. The exact dollar amount will vary depending on your situation. But this provides invaluable peace of mind should anything negative happen.

Once these things are handled, investors can then turn their attention to the stock market.

Image source: Getty Images.

The best path

It might come as a huge shock, but according to S&P Global's latest scorecard of U.S. equity funds, an eye-popping 90% of domestic funds over the past decade lost to the S&P Composite 1500 (a broad market index whose performance mostly tracks the S&P 500). If you stick to large-cap funds and compare them to the S&P 500, more than 85% underperform. In essence, people pay these professionals to underperform. It's crazy, but that's how the investment management industry works.

There are a few reasons for this. A big one is high fees that eat away at any outperformance. Some advisors may try to time the market or chase hot trends to attract or retain customers. Some overdiversify, diluting their best ideas with mediocre ones and creating a portfolio that basically hugs the benchmark. And finally, some are simply looking to preserve wealth rather than grow it. That might make sense for some investors, but you can do better, with minimal effort (and expense).

Story continues

For a new investor, then, the best course of action to beat the stock market experts is simply to buy an index fund. Warren Buffett, widely regarded as the greatest investor ever, even recommends that this is what most people should do.

There are lots of low-cost options available, like the Fidelity 500 Index Fund, Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund, or the Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares. They provide investors with exposure to 500 of the largest and most profitable businesses in the U.S. This is essentially a bet on the ongoing growth and innovation of the American economy, which has historically been a very lucrative decision.

If investors want to supercharge their returns, dollar-cost averaging, or adding more capital on a monthly or quarterly basis, can work wonders for your portfolio. An initial $1,000 investment, in addition to $50 monthly inflows, can result in an ending balance of $12,667 over a decade, assuming the 10% historical gain of the S&P 500. That's an extremely positive result that would put you well ahead of the pros in the industry.

But what about investing at a time when the market is hitting new records? Again, go back to the idea that time in the market beats timing the market. According to analysis by Nick Maggiulli of Ritholtz Wealth Management and the blog Of Dollars and Data, even if you put money in stocks at record highs, the outcome over the next 10 years would be about in line with historical averages.

Investing at market highs might feel like the wrong move. But if you maintain a long-term time horizon and have patience, you should do remarkably well. And your returns will even beat most professional money managers out there.

Where to invest $1,000 right now

When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has nearly tripled the market.*

They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of February 20, 2024

Neil Patel and his clients have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

New Investor in 2024? History Says There's 1 Ridiculously Easy Way to Beat the Stock Market Experts. was originally published by The Motley Fool
MOJAVE, Calif. , Feb 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratolaunch announces the completion of a second captive carry flight with the first powered Talon-A hypersonic vehicle, TA-1. The flight was the thirteenth for the company's launch platform Roc and the second in which the aircraft carried a Talon vehicle with live propellant aboard. It was also the first time TA-1 operated within the Vandenberg Western Range as part of a buildup approach for Talon-A's first powered flight.

The flight lasted a total of 4 hours and 29 minutes, supporting the company's near-term goal of completing a powered flight with the Talon-A vehicle, TA-1. A primary objective was to evaluate Talon-A's propulsion system and the flight environments while carrying live propellant. A second objective was to verify Roc and TA-1's telemetry systems in tandem with range communication assets, which together provides the situational awareness needed to ensure all systems are ready for powered flight during the release sequence.

"We collected valuable data during our first captive carry of TA-1 in December 2023 , particularly regarding propellant management of TA-1's feed system" said Dr. Zachary Krevor, Chief Executive Officer and President for Stratolaunch. "Our goal with this flight was to continue our risk reduction approach for TA-1's first powered flight and be steadfast on our commitment of delivering maximum value to our customers when the first powered flight occurs."

"Initial results of today's flight look positive for each vehicle's health and performance, and we will complete a comprehensive review of the test data to determine our next steps toward powered flight," said Dr. Krevor.

Concurrent to TA-1 testing, Stratolaunch is progressing on the manufacturing of the TA-2 and TA-3 vehicles, the first fully reusable vehicles in that Talon-A product line. Pending full data results of the TA-1 first powered flight, TA-2 is anticipated to take flight later in 2024 signaling the United States return to reusable hypersonic flight test. The company is also working on modifications to its additional launch platform, the Spirit of Mojave , a modified Boeing 747-400.

About Stratolaunch

Stratolaunch's mission is to advance high-speed technology through innovative design, manufacturing, and operation of world-class aerospace vehicles. For the latest news and information, visit www.stratolaunch.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stratolaunch-completes-2nd-captive-carry-flight-with-ta-1-test-vehicle-302070394.html

SOURCE Stratolaunch
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden await the arrival of Jordan's King Abdullah, Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein, at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden has joked to aides that the key to a long and lasting marriage is "good sex," according to a new book about first lady Jill Biden that casts a spotlight on their 47-year romance.

"American Woman - The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden," was authored by New York Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers and comes out this week.

The part about sex takes up only a few paragraphs in the 276-page book but has already generated headlines.

Rogers writes that Biden opted against running for president in 2004, a decision punctuated to aides when Jill Biden entered the room wearing a halter top with the word "NO" scrawled on her stomach.

Joe Biden, now 81, told a group of supporters that year that he had little interest in running for president. "I'd rather be at home making love to my wife while my children are asleep," he said.

The comment drew a shrug from a spokesperson at the time who said then-Senator Biden was "frankly totally in love with his wife," Rogers writes.

"Joe may have tamped down on his public bedroom declarations (in) winning the presidency, but he has joked to aides that 'good sex' is the key to a lasting and happy marriage, much to his wife's chagrin," according to Rogers.

The book describes the anguish Joe Biden experienced when his first wife, Neilia, died in a 1972 car crash along with their daughter Naomi.

He and Jill married in 1977, but it took five proposals from Biden to get Jill to agree.

"I've been as patient as I know how to be, but this has got my Irish up. Either you decide to marry me or that's it - I'm out. I'm not asking again," Biden said on the fifth try, Rogers writes.

(Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Don Durfee and Bill Berkrot)
The cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line 'Norwegian Dawn" (L) departs the Royal Naval Dockyard July 16, 2013 near the port of Hamilton, Bermuda. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File Photo

By Villen Anganan

PORT LOUIS (Reuters) -Mauritius stopped a ship belonging to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings from docking at its ports due to what it said was a health risk and took samples from about 15 passengers who were in isolation on board, its port authority said on Sunday.

The Norwegian Dawn had been scheduled to dock in Port Louis on Sunday, but since it had not gone to Reunion Island, it arrived in Port Louis a day earlier, the Mauritius Ports Authority said in a statement.

"The decision not to allow the cruise ship access to the quay was taken in order to avoid any health risks," the authority said.

"The health and safety of passengers as well as that of the country as a whole are of the utmost to the authorities," it added, without giving any details about the nature of the health risk.

A spokesperson for the U.S.-headquartered Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement that during the ship's trip to South Africa on Feb. 13, some passengers had experienced mild symptoms of a stomach-related illness.

Once in Port Louis, the ship's management worked with Mauritian authorities to make sure precautions were in place and all on board were okay, the spokesperson said.

The port authority said its test results would be known in 48 hours.

Officials at Mauritius' health ministry were not immediately reachable for comment.

The ship has 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew members. Of these, about 2,000 passengers would have disembarked in Port Louis after completing their cruise while another 2,279 new passengers had been expected to board the ship, the port authority said.

"Passengers who were due to board the 'Norwegian Dawn' and begin their cruise from Mauritius today will not be able to do so due to potential health risks," it said.

Those who were disembarking or joining the cruise will now do so on Feb. 27, the Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said.

Tourism is one of the major drivers of Mauritius' economy.

(Reporting by Villen Anganan; Writing by George Obulutsa, Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine expects to receive $11.8 billion in economic support this year from the United States, its prime minister said on Sunday.

Kyiv faces a $37-billion budget gap in 2024 as it fends off a two-year-old Russian invasion and is relying on Western partners for critical aid.

Denys Shmyhal said during a televised conference in Kyiv that he was hopeful that U.S. lawmakers would approve long-awaited economic and military assistance.

Ukraine also expects to receive 18 billion euros from the EU's Ukraine Facility approved earlier this year.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Bernadette Baum)
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Andrew Zemek, 36, left, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott, 42, were killed Friday when their AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed during a routine training flight. (Mississippi National Guard)

The Mississippi National Guard paid tribute to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Andrew Zemek, 36, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott, 42, who were killed when their AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed during a routine training flight.

The crash occurred Friday about 2 p.m. near Booneville, Miss., the Guard said. Booneville is located in the northeast corner of the state near the Alabama-Tennessee state line.

Today is a devastating day for the Mississippi National Guard as we mourn the loss of two of our brave brothers in arms, Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, the adjutant general of Mississippi, said in a statement Saturday. This accident serves as a constant reminder of the selfless service, sacrifice and commitment that our brave service men and women face while performing in the line of duty.

On Monday, officials in Booneville held a procession in honor of the Guardsmen. The ceremony began at a hospital in Booneville, near where the helicopter crashed. It continued south along Highway 45 to Pearl, where autopsies will be conducted.

These two Guardsmen embodied the very best of our nation  bound by honor and committed to service, President Joe Biden said in a written statement over the weekend. We will continue to keep our solemn promise to care for their families, just as they were faithful to our nation.

Zemek was in Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment serving as an AH-64 Delta Apache Standardization Instructor Pilot in Tupelo. Abbott was in Delta Company of the 2nd Battalion, 151st Lakota Medical Evacuation unit serving as a maintenance test pilot.

Zemek, a native of Oxford, Miss., is survived by his wife of three years and their four children. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters; the Army Achievement Medal; the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters; and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.

Abbott, a combat veteran who served in Iraq, is a native of Fulton, Miss. He is survived by his wife of 18 years and their three children. His awards include the Air Medal with Valor and numeral 2; Army Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters; the Combat Action Badge; and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.

The accident is under investigation.

Our paramount concern at this time is to ensure proper casualty assistance is available to support the surviving family members through this difficult time, Boyles said. Our hearts are truly broken at the loss of these two members of our family.

The latest crash comes after five Marines died in a helicopter crash more than two weeks ago outside of San Diego. The Marines were killed Feb. 6 when their CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter went down at Pine Valley, Calif. The crew were on a night flight between Creech Air Force Base near Las Vegas and Miramar. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Contributing: The Associated Press
U.S. Coast Guard and Fiji Navy personnel stand in front of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane while moored in Suva, Fiji, Feb. 19, 2024. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)

ABOARD THE CUTTER HARRIET LANE (Tribune News Service)  It was a hot, humid and cloudy day in the South Pacific as the U.S. Coast Guards Cutter Harriet Lane pulled into port in Apia, Samoa, earlier this month.

It was the second stop for the 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter  known as 270s  in its new role as the Coast Guards Indo-Pacific Support Cutter devoted to operations in Oceania.

The nearly 40-year-old ship arrived in Hawaii in December after undergoing over a years worth of renovations at a Baltimore shipyard. In January it set sail for its first Pacific deployment, heading south into the high seas where members of its crew boarded fishing vessels to look for signs of illegal fishing.

It had made a quick stop in American Samoa before heading west into Samoan waters, where Lanes crew picked up and worked with Samoan law enforcement officials aboard as ship riders for several days, allowing the Samoans to use Lanes resources and its crew to board fishing vessels within their own jurisdiction through an agreement with the U.S. government.

In Apia, the Lane was supposed to drop off the Samoan ship riders, resupply and send members of its crew shore-side for a series of community service projects and outreach with other Samoan officials.

But as the ship moored at the pier, powerful swells and surf in the harbor raised alarm bells for officers and crew aboard. A storm system was passing through and it could be felt in the seas. The ropes tying the ship to the pier let out audible sounds of strain as the water churned.

Nearby in the port a capsized Chinese fishing vessel offered a vivid visual of what could happen to those who gamble on the oceans power.

U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Nicole Tesoniero, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane commanding officer, watches a fishery boarding take place with U.S. Coast Guard members and Fijian shipriders from the Republic Fiji Navy, Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Immigration, and Fiji Revenue and Customs Services in the Fiji Exclusive Economic Zone in the South Pacific Ocean, Feb. 15, 2024. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)

Cmdr. Nicole Tesoniero, Lanes captain, ultimately decided the risk was too high to stay in the port.

The ship riders got off and the Lanes cooks and other crews hastily brought on food supplies from the pier to restock the kitchen. Then Tesoniero met with officials with the U.S embassy and explained the potential danger  while making new plans on the fly. Lane left as the strain on the ropes reached its peak.

The ship returned to the sea, but stayed nearby. The next day, a handful of crew members left the Lane aboard an over the horizon boat  a small inflatable boat the ship uses for interdictions and boardings  to return to Apia for a day of classroom exercises with Samoan law enforcement. That night, Lane set sail bound for Suva, Fiji, for a port call there to wait out the stormy weather before picking up Fijian ship riders and resuming operations.

Tesoniero said that its all part of a process of trial and error as the Lane and its crew undertake a mission they never have before. The Lane and the rest of the Coast Guards 270s have a long history in the Caribbean and Latin America doing Drug War missions for which they were designed, along with search-and-rescue operations. Theres a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw on whenever a challenge comes along.

But Tesoniero said that in the Pacific were now at the point of everything we do, were the first 270 to ever do it. Its the first 270 to ever cross the international dateline at 40 years old.

As the Lane traverses the Pacific, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan is also making a series of visits to Pacific Island countries, meeting top officials. The Coast Guard is playing an increasingly key role in Americas Pacific strategy as the U.S. competes with China for influence.

Sustained presence

Tesoniero runs the ship with both a sense of authority and a sense of humor, walking a fine line between being both a commander and shipmate as she leads a relatively small crew. A fully staffed 270 would have a crew of just over 100, but low recruitment and retention mean Lane relies on a revolving door of crew members and Coasties on temporary duty assignments to keep it running.

Over the course of her military career, Tesoniero has navigated both storms at sea on ships as well as the nuances of the halls of political power. She both taught at the Coast Guard Academy and did a stint on the staff of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley at the Pentagon.

Now its her job to lead Lane and its crew on a mission that top officials in Washington hope will breathe new life into Americas Pacific engagement strategy. The Coast Guard has been working to increase its Pacific operations, with a major focus on outreach to Pacific Island nations as well as efforts to clamp down on illegal fishing.

Overfishing has become a hot topic, particularly in Oceania, where fishing vessels from around the world descend on the Pacifics  Tuna Belt as fish stocks elsewhere see unprecedented depletion.

Some of the companies operating these vessels have been accused of flouting environmental regulations and underreporting their catches. By some estimates, as many as one in five fish sold in supermarkets may have been caught illegally. In 2020 the Coast Guard declared illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing  which maritime agencies call IUU  had surpassed high-seas piracy as the top global maritime security threat.

Along with the environmental effects, overfishing has had economic and social consequences  at times sparking tension as fishermen from different countries compete for fish stocks. Around the world, fishermen struggling to bring in enough fish have at times turned to piracy, drug smuggling and other criminal enterprises as coastal areas suffer from the fallout.

The Coast Guard has increased its Pacific footprint significantly, replacing old vessels and expanding operations. In 2021 the Coast Guard held a historic triple commissioning ceremony when it brought three new fast-response cutters  the Myrtle Hazard, Oliver Henry and Frederick Hatch  to Santa Rita, Guam.

Then-Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz, now retired, flew from Washington, D.C., to Guam to preside over the occasion, telling attendees, These FRCs are so capable that we bring expeditionary capability to the region that we havent had before.

The FRCs are relatively small and nimble vessels that aim to replace the Coast Guards previous Island Class patrol boats. Fast and maneuverable, theyre able to visit small Pacific island ports that larger vessels wouldnt fit into.

Capt. Jennifer Conklin, a Hawaii-based officer in charge of the Coast Guards Operation Blue Pacific  which Lane is in the region to support  said that the FRCs were kind of a game changer, they were just much more capable than our old patrol boats ... we were really able to maximize that capability.

But the small vessels are also limited in both how far and how long they can operate. While they can island hop, they struggle with sustained operations on the high seas, and a high operation tempo has strained the vessels. Some are in need of serious maintenance soon.

What the Harriet Lane brings is that sustained presence that we really want, Conklin said.

After the Cold War, the U.S. significantly scaled down both its diplomatic and military presence in Oceania to focus on interests elsewhere. But the Coast Guard has remained important, rescuing mariners in distress and doing patrols.

Many Pacific island nations lack navies or coast guards of their own to defend their waters and conduct search-and-rescue missions, and look to countries like the U.S. to help. Fiji, one of the few that does, has only six navy vessels to patrol its vast maritime territory and regularly looks to the U.S. for help.

Lt. Channing Meyer, who worked under Conklin on Operation Blue Pacific and is assigned to the Lane for the deployment, said, Weve always had a presence here as much as we can because the Coast Guard as an agency more closely resembles the needs for Oceania countries than lets say the Navy, Army, Air Force. Were worried about search and rescue, were worried about marine and environmental response like oil spills, and mass rescue operations.

Lanes first Pacific deployment will ultimately see it traverse Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, with port calls along the way, before it finally returns to Hawaii in April. It is expected to return to sea again this summer.

If I were a lieutenant, this would be my first choice for an assignment, Conklin said.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet and crew conduct an inaugural patrol for Operation Blue Pacific, which encompasses supporting efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Oceania, Feb. 16, 2024. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)

A stopgap

While the Lane is the latest Coast Guard cutter assigned to the Pacific, its also the services oldest in the region. The aging 270s werent meant for Pacific operations, and several crew members said that while the upgrades in Baltimore have made it possible for the Lane to make the voyage, the Pacifics vast distances push the platform to its limits.

One crew member said, So much was done on it and you still worry something is going to (expletive) explode.

But other crew members say they feel a deep connection to the ship. One crew member that works in the engineering section said, Ive put a lot of work into her, so I kind of have to.

The Coast Guard also has two Legend-class National Security Cutters based in Hawaii. Theyre among the services largest and most advanced cutters, equipped with drones and advanced sensors. They have been deploying in the Western Pacific and up near Alaska, where they have operated in disputed waters standing off with Russian and Chinese forces and supporting the U.S. Navy.

But Tesoniero said that the smaller Lane is better suited for the relationship-building effort the Coast Guard seeks in Oceania and argued that in the region, in a lot of senses, I think there there probably is something that comes with seeing a ship thats a little bit more weathered and looks the part of being 40 years old instead of something with sleek outlines.

Still, she said that ultimately the Lane is a stop gap  until the service can send a newer, better medium-size ship to the Pacific.

Its great that a 40-year-old ship can do it, (but) I think thats 100 % on the backs of the crew, because of their desire to keep the ship in the condition that it is, Tesoniero said.

The Coasties that operate the cutters are also facing challenges as demand grows in the Pacific. While Coast Guard brass said in early 2023 said they hoped to triple Pacific deployments in coming years, by December 2023 top commanders announced that low recruitment and retention meant they would have to close several stations and take several cutters off line due to a lack of personnel. That puts more work on those that remain.

The officers and crew work hard to keep up morale on the Lane. Tesoniero hosts regular trivia nights and other crew members host varied activities from karaoke and bingo to Dungeons & Dragons. They also have occasional ice cream socials, though one crew member commented after the Apia port call was cancelled that if you havent noticed yet, whenever something bad happens, we get ice cream.

As China makes inroads in the Pacific, U.S. officials have been trying to hastily reinvest in the region. Officials said they hope to see the Lane host a range of experts on board as it travels the region, to include civilians from other agencies to meet requests from Pacific island countries.

I think thats where we have the advantages, you know, a willingness to dialogue and gain perspective on what the ask is, and then try and bring that to the table the best we can, Tesoniero said. From an organizational standpoint, we need to just throw everything we have into saying Harriet Lane is unique to this region, shes going to fill out this mission, (and) were going to equip it with the right people and the resources to make that happen.

We have to find what our niche down here is, and I do think its being able to work with these small countries that American society as a whole may be a little bit more ignorant towards, and just share that, look, its not just a big blue space on the map,  Tesoniero said.

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The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Reliance poses for a photo in front of approximately $52 million in illicit narcotics on the cutters flight deck in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 13, 2024. Reliance returned to its homeport in Pensacola, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Two Coast Guard cutter crews returned to their Florida homeports during the weekend after two months at sea rounding up drug traffickers.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Thetis returned to its homeport in Key West on Friday following a 62-day patrol in the Central Caribbean Sea, and USCGC Reliance returned Saturday to Pensacola following 57 days at sea in the Eastern Pacific.

Thetis, a 270-foot Famous-class cutter with a crew of 100, worked in support of the Joint Interagency Task Force-South to deter illegal narcotics trafficking in the Central Caribbean. Accompanied by a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron and support from the USS Farragut, Thetis detained two traffickers and interdicted approximately 2,646 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $34.8 million, according to a Coast Guard news release.

The cases we encountered on this patrol emphasize the importance of collaboration across departments and agencies in deterring the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States, Thetis Master Chief Petty Officer AJ Gibson said.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Coy, a damage controlman assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Thetis, passes bales of illicit drugs interdicted by the units law enforcement team, Jan. 30, 2024, in the Central Caribbean Sea. (Jordan Russell/U.S. Coast Guard) U.S. Coast Guard members assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Thetis and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron execute in-flight refueling evolutions, Jan. 31, 2024, in the Central Caribbean Sea. (Jordan Russell/U.S. Coast Guard)

Reliance, also part of Joint Interagency Task Force-South, stopped two drug-trafficking ventures, detaining six suspected traffickers and preventing nearly 4,000 pounds of cocaine and 5,400 pounds of marijuana, worth more than $57 million, from entering the United States, according to a Coast Guard news release. The drugs were seized in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

I am incredibly proud of the tenacity, persistence, and talent of this Reliance crew, said Cmdr. Brian Chapman, Reliances commanding officer. The crew trained hard for this mission and proved their readiness.

Reliance, a 210-foot, medium endurance cutter with a crew of 71, conducted an at-sea case transfer with the Ecuadorian Navy, and it made port calls in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama. The cutter crossed into the Southern Hemisphere, prompting a time-honored equatorial crossing tradition for the Reliance crew. Reliance also conducted aviation training with the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile and sailed with Coast Guard Cutter Diligence to commemorate the cutters 60th anniversaries this summer.
Historical artifacts are seen displayed at the Spotsylvania County Museum in Virginia. The artifacts had been donated by a local Chancellorsville group to the former USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser. But after the Navy vessel was renamed the USS Robert Smalls last year, the artifacts were moved to their new home at the Spotsylvania museum. (Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  Civil War and other artifacts once displayed on a U.S. Navy warship originally named in honor of the Battle at Chancellorsville are set to be added to the collection at Spotsylvania Countys museum.

The U.S. Navy recently approved the transfer of the artifacts from the warship to Spotsylvania, according to a news release from the county.

The artifacts include a cavalry saddle, an 1860 cavalry saber, excavated battle artifacts, a framed map of Chancellorsville, a print of the battle, a book covering the strategy of the battle along with items connected to the battleship.

The warship  commissioned in 1989 and first deployed in March 1991 to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm  is now called the USS Robert Smalls. Smalls was born into slavery in South Carolina and eventually became a skilled sailor and statesman.

The ship was renamed in 2023 as part of the congressionally mandated Naming Commission, which outlined several military assets across all branches of service that required renaming due to confederate ties, according to a February 2023 Navy statement.

The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser was originally named to honor the Battle of Chancellorsville, a stunning victory by the Confederate Army. The battle came with heavy costs as more than 1,000 soldiers died, including Confederate General Stonewall Jackson who suffered fatal friendly fire wounds.

A group called Friends of the USS Chancellorsville collected the artifacts that were donated to the Navy and displayed on the warship.

The Ticonderoga-class guided missile-cruiser then-named USS Chancellorsville transits Makham Bay, Thailand, on May 1, 2011. At right, a U.S. sailor prepares to hoist the American flag aboard the ship while in Yokosuka, Japan, on Aug. 31, 2015. The ship was renamed the the USS Robert Smalls in 2023. (U.S. Navy)

Following the renaming of the ship, the county requested the artifacts be transferred to Spotsylvania so they could be displayed in the museum, which is located off State Route 3 adjacent to preserved land from the first day of fighting at the Battle of Chancellorsville, according to the county.

Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors member Drew Mullins said in the county statement that we are grateful the artifacts have found a fitting home at the museum, where they can be shared with our community and visitors for years to come.

The Courtland District supervisor added that the museum is the perfect location and will serve to honor not only the ship itself and the crew who served our country while working on board, but also recognizes history while giving us the opportunity to learn from the lessons of our nations past.

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A U.S. airman assigned to the 409th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron participates in a mass casualty training exercise at Air Base 201, Niger, Nov. 28, 2023. The U.S. has paused its counterterrorism operations and began removing some forces from Niger after the July coup but continues to maintain its base presence and drone operations in the country. (Rose Gudex/U.S. Air Force)

NIAMEY, Niger  U.S. officials are waging urgent diplomatic efforts in West Africa, searching during public tours and private meetings for ways to partner with military governments in a region where violence wrought by Islamic extremists is soaring and Russias influence is expanding.

But the officials have struggled at times to articulate what that partnership would look like, especially since the types of assistance the U.S. government can legally provide has been curtailed after the ousting of democratically elected governments by soldiers in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, according to interviews with a dozen current and former U.S. officials, analysts and activists.

The stakes are especially high in Niger, where the United States has deployed more than 1,000 soldiers and operates a drone base that officials say is vital for surveillance of extremist groups in the Sahel region, which runs across Africa just below the Sahara Desert.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee, the State Departments top official for African affairs, said she did not mince words when she traveled to Niamey, Nigers capital, in December to negotiate with Nigers prime minister and other cabinet members. Phee said that she urged Nigers junta to rebuild its relations with other countries, particularly with the regional bloc of West African states known as the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, which is seen as an ally in efforts to restore democracy in the region. And she stressed that U.S. assistance would remain suspended until Niger sets a timeline for restoring democracy.

We made the choice as stark and clear as we could, Phee recalled.

But in the two months since that meeting, Niger has largely moved in the opposite direction. The government has yet to announce a timeline for holding elections and continues to detain the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum under house arrest.

Niger exited ECOWAS last month after nearly 50 years along with Mali and Burkina Faso, and they created their own Alliance of Sahel States, deepening the rift in West Africa between the three military-led nations and those with democratically elected presidents. On Sunday, an official with ECOWAS announced that sanctions against Niger had been lifted, marking a softening of the blocs position as it pushes for the three nations to rescind their decision.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to make gains in the region. Phees visit to Niger came just after Russias deputy defense minister, Yunus-bek Yevkurov, signed new security agreements with the junta. In Burkina Faso, more than 100 Russian soldiers with Africa Corps  headed by Yevkurov and described by Russian officials as the successor group to the Wagner mercenary group  have arrived in the past two months. In Mali, analysts estimate that more than 1,000 Russian soldiers, initially with Wagner and now with the Africa Corps, are fighting alongside Malian forces against separatists and Islamic extremists.

During a trip last month that included stops in Ivory Coast and Nigeria, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the State Department was intensely focused on challenges to security in the region, in the Sahel. He warned regional countries of the consequences of deepening ties with Russia, noting that those that worked with Wagner have seen problems get manifestly worse and worse and worse.

Gen. Michael E. Langley, who heads U.S. military operations in Africa, said in an interview that it would be up to policymakers to determine how much of a Russian presence in Niger could be countenanced before the United States adjusts its troop presence.

While the United States is pushing to continue its operations in Niger, Langley said the Defense Department is also exploring its options for new security agreements with other West African countries, including Ghana, Togo, Benin and the Ivory Coast. He noted they are starting to see violence in the Sahel metastasize over their borders. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the United States was holding preliminary talks about positioning American reconnaissance drones at airfields in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Benin.

The air base in northern Niger, which was built six years ago for $110 million, has been vital for monitoring extremist groups connected to al-Qaida and the Islamic State, which have increasingly made Africa, rather than the Middle East, their main theater, Langley said. Since the Niger coup in July, activity at the base has been limited to surveillance for protection of U.S. forces.

Langley warned that if the United States closed the drone base, the move would be impactful in Niger and the region, and for the United States broader counterterrorism strategy. If we cant see, we cant sense, he said. If we lose our footprint in the Sahel, that will degrade our ability to do active watching and warning, including for homeland defense.

J. Peter Pham, a former U.S. special envoy for the Sahel region, said the United States is hamstrung in negotiations with African countries, especially those run by military juntas, because it cannot offer as much as Russia in security support, including weapons and personnel on the ground.

It is sort of like the doctor that diagnoses you with the disease but then refuses to write the prescription, said Pham. If we are not willing to write the script or give the drug, then we cant really complain about the patient who goes to someone else who does dispense a remedy, however noxious.

When soldiers in Mali ousted their president in 2020, the first in the recent spate of coups in the Sahel, the U.S. State Department immediately froze security assistance. But Pham said he remained in close communication with Malis military leaders, including meeting monthly with interim president Assimi Goita.

Pham, who left his post in 2021 and has not been replaced, said the relationship between the United States and Mali deteriorated in part because of a State Department decision in 2021 to block the sale of a transponder for an unarmed transport plane sought by the Malian government. This effectively killed the purchase, Pham said, leading Mali to look at aircraft offered by Russia. Later that year, Pham noted, Wagner soldiers arrived in the country, and Malian officials became increasingly isolationist, asking the French military  which for years been running counterterrorism operations in Mali  to leave in 2022 and the United Nations to close its mission last year.

The United States then shifted its diplomatic focus to Burkina Faso, which experienced two coups in 2022 but was seen then as more amenable than Mali to setting a timeline for restoring democracy and less interested in working with Russia. A delegation from the White House, Pentagon and State Department that visited Burkina Faso in October warned President Ibrahim Traore that working with Wagner would constitute a red line.

Senior officials at the State Department and Pentagon were pushing as recently as last summer for a nonlethal security assistance package for Burkina Fasos military, arguing that the threat posed by the Islamist insurgency required action despite concerns about human rights violations by its military and allied militia forces. But such plans appeared to stall following the Niger coup.

Then, last month, a contingent of 100 members of Russias Africa Corps deployed to Burkina Faso to ensure the safety of the countrys leader, Ibrahim Traore, and the Burkinabe people from terrorist attacks, with another 200 military personnel from Russia to arrive soon, according to the group. Traore said last month in an interview with journalist Alain Foka that Russians were providing training and equipment but were not yet fighting on the ground, although they would if necessary.

Without naming the United States, Traore criticized countries that claim to be friends of Burkina Faso but say they cannot sell lethal weapons. Where is the friendship? he asked. With Russia, he added, there are no restrictions on arms sales, and it sells Burkinabe soldiers whatever we want.

In Niger, some residents said the benefits of the American military presence has never been clear, while they can see that the Russians have helped Mali take back territory from rebels. We want the Russians to come, said Maria Saley, an activist in Niamey. We are waiting for them, waiting for them eagerly.

Until the coup, Niger had been the bright spot in the region, with democratic rule and effective military cooperation with France and the United States.

A few weeks before Nigers military leaders took power, Langley was at a conference in National Harbor, just outside D.C., with the U.S.-trained Nigerien Gen. Moussa Barmou. At that time, Langley recalled, Barmou was espousing his commitment to democracy and civilian governance and counterterrorism.

But on July 26, Barmou was among the coup leaders. It was very much a surprise to me that this happened, Langley said
KENT COUNTY - A 452 MW solar complex in Kent County, about 95 miles east of Lubbock, is ready for business as Clearway Energy Group announced the project's completion last week.

The complex sits on approximately 5,000 acres with more than 1.1 million solar panels that are forecast to generate enough electricity for an estimated 190,000 homes each year, according to a news release.

Clearway Energy Group announced this month the completion of its 452 MW Texas Solar Nova complex in Kent County, in the Texas rolling plains.

The $660 million project will also contribute to the local tax base with an estimated $5.4 million in property taxes and wages in the first year.

"The Texas Solar Nova complex is delivering new renewable power to the ERCOT grid, thanks to the ongoing dedication of our partners," said Valerie Wooley, Senior Vice President of Origination at Clearway.

Clearways Texas Solar Nova offtake agreements will support Verizon in achieving its target to source the equivalent of fifty percent of its total annual electricity consumption with renewable energy by 2025 and the company's goal of net-zero emissions by 2035.

Clearway has been an outstanding partner to Verizon as we continue to work to meet our goals around climate protection, said Jim Gowen, SVP, Global Supply Chain & Sourcing, and Chief Sustainability Officer at Verizon. Through these purchase agreements with Clearway, we are proud to continue to accelerate the greening of the U.S. electrical grid.

The project will also support the decarbonization goals of SFK and Toyota Boshoku America through Renewable Energy Certificate purchases.

Clearway Energy Group announced this month the completion of its 452 MW Texas Solar Nova complex in Kent County, in the Texas rolling plains.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Kent County's 1.1 million solar panel complex officially completed
A Ukrainian tank is transported in Izium, Ukraine, in December. (Wojciech Grzedzinski for The Washington Post)

SASTAMALA, Finland  The race to stave off disaster in Ukraines war against Russia is unfolding in the battle-scarred fields and forests of Eastern Europe and, in a small way, a quiet wooded area of southwest Finland.

There, on the floor of an artillery factory, a mechanical arm lifts a mass of molten metal from the flames of a forging press. The red-hot steel cylinder will be cooled and packed with explosives before reaching its destination: bolstering NATO stockpiles or, perhaps, being fired down the barrel of a Ukrainian howitzer.

Workers at this plant, which now operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, have increased their output of 155mm shells fourfold since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The scramble here reflects an effort intensifying across the continent, as European nations seek to accelerate the production of weapons needed to sustain Ukraines battle against Kremlin forces and to harden their own defenses against what the continents leaders now see as a heightened Russian threat.

In Washington, the outlook for President Bidens $61 billion aid package looks bleak, as Republicans continue to stall aid from the United States, Ukraines largest single military backer to date. Meanwhile, Kyiv is running short on key items, like artillery shells and air defense missiles, that it needs to hold Russian forces at bay.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to Western leaders in Germany last week, made an urgent appeal for fresh weapons and ammunition, a growing scarcity of which U.S. and Ukrainian officials cited as the chief factor in Kyivs decision to cede the city of Avdiivka to Russian forces, a major battlefield setback.

European nations, two years after President Vladimir Putins invasion, are struggling to expand defense manufacturing fast enough to meet Ukraines immediate needs. European Union officials now acknowledge that member states will be able to provide Ukraine only half of the blocs earlier target of 1 million 155mm rounds by this spring. On the front lines, Ukrainian troops say they are severely outgunned by Russian artillery forces.

While governments and industry leaders agree that Europes struggle is rooted in decades of disinvestment following the Cold War, the continent also faces a host of systemic constraints  including fractured defense manufacturing, smaller-scale markets and legal barriers to collective production  that it must overcome to help Ukraine survive and, should America turn inward, fend for itself.

James Black, a defense and security researcher at Rand Europe, said the continent had reconfigured its defense industries in recent decades, as regional militaries pursued smaller-scale missions beyond Europe and the prospect of renewed state-on-state conflict seemed remote.

Europe is now racing to relearn how to mobilize industry onto a wartime footing. But you cannot simply flip a switch, Black said, noting the months or years required to build production lines, hire and train workers, and obtain key materials. That time lag only plays into Russias favor.

Europes challenges are different from those faced by the United States, which has launched its own push to expand stagnated manufacturing capacity but has the advantage of a far larger market, a bigger budget, and government ownership of some production facilities.

In Russia, the Kremlin has managed to defy Western sanctions as it redirects economic resources toward its defense industry. Moscow has turned to North Korea and Iran for help bolstering its stocks of ammunition and drones.

Last month, the leaders of Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia and the Czech Republic called for greater joint procurement and immediate arms donations to Ukraine while the continent undergoes the onerous process of rebuilding its defense industry prowess.

What is urgent today is to provide the ammunition and weapon systems, including howitzers, tanks, UAVs and air defence, that Ukraine so urgently needs on the ground. Now, they wrote in a joint letter last month, using an acronym for drone aircraft.

Manufacturing manager Rony Lappalainen at the Nammo Lapua plant. Finland has set a goal of doubling its artillery shell production by 2027. Its defense minister said most or all of the increased output could go to Ukraine. (Juho Kuva for The Washington Post)

Outgunned on the front line

The needs are immediate for Kyiv, which after an unsuccessful 2023 counteroffensive is attempting to hold off Russias much larger military while it refits its exhausted forces. With a 600-mile front line largely frozen in place since late 2022, artillery has emerged as the conflicts most crucial capability.

Ukrainian officials have said they require a minimum of nearly 200,000 shells a month, but Europes collective output remains only around 50,000 a month, according to a recent Estonian analysis - only some of which now go to Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces on the front line are already rationing ammunition, forcing commanders to make tough choices. I think its clear that they are worried about running out, said a senior NATO official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to brief the news media.

The gap is made all the more consequential by Bidens inability to secure passage of a massive tranche of additional U.S. aid to Ukraine, which congressional Republicans have blocked for months. While White House officials have voiced confidence that Congress will eventually relent, they have presented no alternatives to securing the funds necessary to arm Ukraine.

Kyivs needs are not limited to artillery. Western officials acknowledge the potential for mounting civilian losses if its supply of air defense interceptors lapses in coming months, with no sign that Russia is running short of the missiles and drones it launches at Ukrainian cities.

Camille Grand, who served as NATOs assistant secretary general for defense investment in 2016-2022, said that European leaders, despite their strong statements of support, had failed to shake their countries out of peacetime mode.

Weve ended up in a situation where production is far from anything resembling a war economy, said Grand, who is now a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. The reality doesnt match the words.

A second NATO official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly about sensitive issues, described Europes challenge as a crisis many years in the making, in part because member states have not been eager to pay for spare capacity in defense supply chains, which would have allowed factories to quickly increase production.

The official compared it to having snowplows in a country where it rarely snows: Nobody wants to invest in snowplows under clear skies. Then along comes a blizzard and you have to order one  full price  from under the snow.

For many allies, the question of ammunition production was deeply unsexy, the official continued. Now it is at the top of everyones minds.

Machined 155mm artillery shells at the Nammo Lapua plant in Finland, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ( Juho Kuva for The Washington Post)

A difficult ramp to production

Across the continent, officials have touted their steps toward reversing the long decline. Last month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg heralded a deal for $1.2 billion in 155mm shells, a victory for the alliance as more member states make good on long-overdue increases in military spending.

In Germany, defense giant Rheinmetall is building new artillery production facilities, while France is working with its defense firms to reduce manufacturing times for the Caesar howitzer system and Mistral air defense missiles.

Eastern flank nations, the most vulnerable to Russias reach, are making especially dramatic investments. Estonia and Latvia are banding together to purchase German air defense equipment, while Polands new government is scrambling to find European sources for its massive military scale-up.

According to the European Defense Agency, E.U. nations have continued to put more money toward new defense gear in recent years, collectively spending some $52 billion in 2022, the most recent year for which data was available.

Andre Denk, the agencys deputy chief executive, said European nations production capacity for 155mm shells had increased by 40 percent since the start of the Ukraine war; output is expected to reach an annual 1.4 million shells by the end of 2024. That buildup, though, will require sustained investment - and finalized contracts - from European governments.

You cannot buy artillery shells in Carrefour Express, he said, referring to a European conve

nience store chain. What we hear from industry is also that they need a certain predictability for their production capacity. Industry officials in Europe say defense firms have already invested in expanding production, sometimes using their own money, amid the double challenge of assisting Ukraine and filling European arsenals. But they complain that governments have been slow to sign contracts or match their promises with actual funds.

The Aerospace Security and Defense Industries Association of Europe, which includes major firms like Patria, Saab and Rheinmetall, said that governments must take on greater risk sharing if further expansion is to occur. What is required is investment, firm orders and better and longer-term visibility of future needs, the group said in a statement.

Lt. Gen. Michael Claesson, chief of defense staff of Swedens armed forces, cited the structural changes that have occurred since the Cold War, when defense industries operated under more direct state control. Today, while defense firms want to take part in the effort to assist Ukraine, many must also answer to shareholders.

They say: We can do that, but show us the money, Claesson said in a recent interview. And that whole setting is somewhat unstable right now. 

Kusti Salm, a senior defense official from Estonia, rejected the idea that there are big barriers to ammunition production in Europe. If there is sufficient demand, the market will figure it out, he argued. What has been missing, he said, is political will.

Its doable; its affordable; its not a herculean task, he said.

Hindrances to competitiveness

Europe must overcome the effects of a deeply fragmented defense industry that, in a reflection of the continents history, is composed in large part of national firms with deep relationships with their respective governments.

European officials acknowledge the arrangement has impaired competitiveness and resulted in the kind of duplication now on display in Ukraine, where local forces have had to manage a bewildering array of systems donated by Western allies. For example: European nations operate 17 types of main battle tanks, compared with the single U.S. version: the M1 Abrams.

A study for the European Parliament estimated that more coordinated defense investment could save European nations up to $80 billion a year.

Another challenge for the European ramp-up is breaking down information barriers. Officials say that concerns about overreach by the authorities in Brussels and reluctance to share sensitive national security information, including about production, between E.U. and NATO states has hindered efficiency and faster delivery of arms.

The challenges have also intensified a debate over whether European nations should limit their arms purchases to regional firms or should be permitted to source them abroad for the sake of speed or value.

Everyone wants the domestic market to benefit, the second NATO official said. We cant be too parochial about it. If the best deal is South Korea, we should buy South Korean.

Putin is watching

At the Nammo factory near the town of Sastamala, workers take lunch at a tidy in-house cafeteria, tucked away in an industrial park among picturesque lakes. The modest facility stands to grow substantially if the company can secure approximately $20 million that it has requested in special ammunition funding from the E.U.

With this war started by Putin, it has turned out that old-fashioned artillery is very modern again, said Mikko Myllykangas, a former artillery officer who now serves as senior vice president of Nammo Lapua, the companys Finnish unit.

Finland, which shares an 800-mile border with Russia, spent decades hardening its defenses following the 1939-1940 Winter War with its eastern neighbor. Concerned about angering Moscow, it remained outside NATO, but that spirit of self-reliance paid off.

Today, it is a member of the alliance and boasts Western Europes largest artillery force, Finnish officials say. The country also requires military service for all males and has long-established partnerships with the private sector to stockpile key necessities in the case of disaster or attack.

We havent trusted Russia for the last 100 years, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said in a recent interview. We know what the Ukrainians are going through.

Finland has set a goal of doubling its artillery shell production by 2027. Hakkanen declined to give exact numbers but said most or all of the increased output could go to Ukraine.

Underlying the questions of cooperation and process remains another central question: Will European governments allocate sufficient money to revive military manufacturing?

Unlike in Russia, where Putin is widely expected to win a fifth term in March elections, European governments must navigate public opinion and consider competing priorities as they allocate scarce public funds.

All the autocratic countries are now watching what the West can do with their defense industry capacity, Hakkanen said.

Despite widespread support for Ukraine, military spending is unpopular in many European countries. And though the urgency of collective defense has energized European leaders, whether they can sustain it over time remains unknown.

Thats the curse of our continent, I guess, with differing minds, Claesson said. Michael Birnbaum in Washington contributed to this report.
United Nations logo (WikiMedia Commons)

More than two dozen U.N. rights experts on Friday urged countries to halt the export to Israel of arms that would be used in Gaza, saying such transfers of weapons and ammunition could violate international humanitarian law.

In a statement, the experts - who are part of the special procedures, a body of independent experts in the U.N. Human Rights Council - said the need for an arms embargo on Israel is heightened by the International Court of Justices [preliminary] ruling on 26 January 2024 that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and the continuing serious harm to civilians since then.

Francesca Albanese, U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory and one of the signatories to the statement, said on social media that sending weapons to Israel that may be used in Gaza may amount to complicity in atrocity crimes.

Israel has rejected the allegations of genocide brought by South Africa at the ICJ, while the Biden administration dismissed the filing as meritless.

The ICJ on Jan. 26 ordered Israel to prevent the possibility of genocide, allow more aid into Gaza and penalize officials and soldiers for comments that amount to incitement - and gave the country a month to submit a report outlining how it is implementing these orders.

The United States is facing increasing scrutiny over its provision of arms to Israel. On Friday, four Senate Democrats - Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich (both N.M.) - urged the Biden administration to ensure that future U.S. military aid to Israel does not make an already catastrophic situation even worse.

In a letter addressed to President Biden, the senators expressed their concerns in light of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israels promised attack on Rafah, the southern city nearly 1.5 million refugees are now crammed into.

The U.N. Human Rights Office issued a report Friday called for accountability and an end to entrenched impunity for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by all sides in Israel, Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The document, which covers the year until Oct. 31, 2023, includes reports of unlawful killings, hostage-taking, collective punishment, sexual assault and torture.

The shocking attacks by Palestinian armed groups on 7-8 October and the ensuing massive military response by Israel causing unprecedented destruction and suffering of civilians in Gaza have led to an appalling humanitarian crisis, the report said.

The means and methods of warfare chosen by Israel have led to massive suffering of Palestinians, including through the killing of civilians on a broad scale, extensive repeated displacement, destruction of homes, and the denial of sufficient food and other essentials of life. Clear violations of international humanitarian law, including possible war crimes, have been committed by all parties.
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Dec. 2, 2023. (Said Khatib, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Israel has stopped renewing visas and work permits for scores of aid workers who provide vital support for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks.

Faris Arouri, director of the Association of International Development Agencies, an umbrella group, said those barred include country directors and emergency response teams, as well as senior management and other expatriates working in the West Bank or coordinating matters inside Gaza.

AIDAs members include Oxfam, Action Against Hunger, Amnesty International, Care International and Catholic Relief Services.

Until now, Israels Welfare Ministry has played the key role in recommendations for such visas. But it doesnt feel equipped to do the requisite background checks and urged the Prime Ministers Office to designate a different agency, according to Gil Horev, a ministry spokesman.

The Prime Ministers office said it had asked the National Security Council to figure out the best way to proceed, which may take some time.

Its creating a huge bottleneck for organizations, Arouri said. More than 60% of expatriate humanitarian workers have had their visas expire in the past few weeks because, as of Oct. 7, the Israeli authorities stopped issuing work visas.

Israel has long accused some nongovernmental organizations of having a hostile political agenda. After the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas operatives, in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 kidnapped, Israel said it found evidence that United Nations workers in Gaza were Hamas activists who took part in the assault.

Israel has been attacking Hamas in Gaza for nearly five months, killing almost 30,000 there, according to the enclaves Hamas-run health ministry. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union.

Talks are now underway for a pause in fighting and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli media reported that talks in Paris involving representatives from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar as well as Israel made progress on Friday.

Meantime, conditions on the ground in Gaza are increasingly desperate. And in the West Bank, workers have been barred from entering Israel, leading to increased distress and greater need there as well.

Gerald Steinberg, a retired Israeli political scientist who founded NGOMonitor, a group that seeks to expose nonprofits that work against Israel, said that some of the organizations in question are anti-Israel, and that the time has come not to automatically renew their presence.

October 7 changed the rules, and Israel is not just going to give out those visas, he said. Many of these groups have been propagandists of Palestinian victimhood and Israeli aggression.

Three aid workers for major international organizations said their work permits havent been renewed recently. As a result theyve had to choose whether to leave Israel or stay in the country without working.

A letter on behalf of the aid groups, dated Feb. 20 and sent to Israels Attorney General, said that, As of October 2023, the Ministry of Welfare suddenly and unilaterally stopped exercising its part of the procedure.

The letter said the need for aid was urgent and added that three general managers of international organizations were recently refused access to Israel.

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National Security Adviser speaks at a briefing at the White House on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)

Officials negotiating Gaza cease-fire talks have tentatively agreed to the basic contours of a deal, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday, adding that the United States hopes a final agreement can be reached in the coming days.

Sullivan, speaking on CNNs State of the Union, declined to give specifics but urged negotiators to move swiftly on any deal, which could see ramped-up aid to Gaza and the release of some hostages still held by Hamas.

We hope that in the coming days, we can drive to a point where there is actually a firm and final agreement on this issue, he said. So we are telling everyone, including the Israeli government, that it is our firm position that every effort be exercised to get to this agreement, and then we can move forward from there.

Sullivans remarks came after a round of talks was held in Paris on Friday, when officials from Israel, Egypt, the United States and Qatar, which acts as an intermediary for Hamas, met to discuss a new framework for a deal. Negotiations had stalled over the past few weeks after Israeli forces pressed further into Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hamass cease-fire demands delusional.

But on Saturday, Netanyahu said he was convening his war cabinet to deliberate the new framework, after which they would decide whether to move forward with negotiations. It was unclear Sunday whether the government approved new talks, but reports in Israeli media, citing unnamed officials, said the cabinet responded positively to the proposal.

The next step, according to Sullivan, will include discussions by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas. That work is underway, he said.

On CBSs Face the Nation, Netanyahu said Israel wants a deal to free the hostages and hopes Hamas will abandon its crazy demands, which included, among other things, a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and negotiations for a permanent end to the war.

He also said that Israel plans to attack Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that is overflowing with displaced civilians, even if a cease-fire agreement is reached. The United States has warned Israel against a full-scale military operation there without a credible plan to evacuate and protect civilians.

We cant leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it; obviously, we have to do it, Netanyahu said. If we have a deal, itll be delayed somewhat. But itll happen. If we dont have a deal, well do it anyway. It has to be done.

He said he would again convene the war cabinet early this week to approve operational plans for action in Rafah, including the evacuation of the civilian population to an area north of Rafah.

Heres what else to know

The Israel Defense Forces said it concluded combat operations in Gazas Nasser Hospital. Israeli forces said that they were targeting Hamas militants, and that they detained about 200 people. Earlier this month, Gazas Health Ministry said Israels days-long raid inside the hospital collapsed medical services and swept up scores of people, including patients and doctors, in mass arrests.

The United States and Britain carried out fresh strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday night, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement, marking the largest military action against the militant group in weeks. The strikes are the latest effort to stop Houthi attacks against commercial ships transiting the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, actions the group has said are in response to Israels military operations in Gaza.

The last time the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees was able to deliver food aid to northern Gaza was Jan. 23, the head of the organization, Philippe Lazzarini, said on social media Sunday. He warned of looming famine and called the crisis a man made disaster, also saying, Our calls to send food aid have been denied.

At least 29,692 people have been killed in Gaza and 69,879 injured since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamass Oct. 7 attack and says 240 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operation in Gaza.

Masih reported from Seoul, Sands from London and Alfaro and Foster-Frau from Washington. Shayna Jacobs in Washington also contributed to this report.
The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, welcome the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, to Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. The Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds will conduct a joint training exchange at El Centro, Feb. 22-March 1, to trade best practices and develop team interoperability in preparation for the 2024 show season. (Crayton Agnew/U.S. Navy)

The Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds are together again.

The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Blue Angels, and the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, AKA the Thunderbirds, are conducting an annual joint training exchange for the fifth consecutive year at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif. Joint training exercises began Thursday and will continue through Friday, March 1, a Blue Angels news release said.

Weve been eagerly looking forward to our annual joint training session with the Thunderbirds, Cmdr. Alex Armatas, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels, said in the release. This marks the fifth consecutive year that we have had the privilege of engaging in collaborative training with the Thunderbirds, allowing us to exchange knowledge and skills. Our Air Force counterparts truly grasp the level of commitment and effort required to execute flight demonstrations nationwide.

The Blue Angels take flight during winter training at Naval Air Facility El Centro. (U.S. Navy Blue Angels/Facebook)

Both teams are in the middle of their winter training cycles. The Blue Angels completed their seventh week of training at El Centro, according to a Saturday post on its Facebook page, and will take to the skies March 9 for its first show of 2024, the El Centro Air Show.

The Air Force Thunderbirds conduct winter training at Naval Air Facility El Centro. (Air Force Thunderbirds/Facebook)

The Thunderbirds are in their last phase of winter training, according to a Saturday post on their Facebook page. The teams first air show of 2024 will be the Luke Days Air Show, March 23-24 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

During joint training, flights with similar profiles to the air show routine will be conducted, and no public performances will be made, the news release said. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds last performed together at the Point Mugu Air Show in Point Mugu, Calif., in March 2023.

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, welcome the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds to Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Crayton Agnew/U.S. Navy)

The Blue Angels mission is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstrations and community outreach. This year is the teams 78th show season, with 64 scheduled flight demonstrations at 32 locations across the U.S. Visit www.blueangels.navy.mil for more information.

The Thunderbirds mission is to recruit, retain and inspire past, present and future airmen while showcasing the pride, precision and professionalism of Americas airmen. The Thunderbirds 71st year representing the Air Force will include 54 scheduled flight demonstrations at 29 locations across the United States and Canada. Visit airforce.com/thunderbirds for more information.

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, welcome the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds to Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Crayton Agnew/U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, welcome the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds to Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Crayton Agnew/U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, welcome the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds to Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Crayton Agnew/U.S. Navy)

The Navy Blue Angels conduct winter training at Naval Air Facility El Centro. (U.S. Navy Blue Angels/Facebook)

The Air Force Thunderbirds conduct winter training at Naval Air Facility El Centro. (Air Force Thunderbirds/Facebook)
For 78 years, World War II veteran Sam Meyer has been selling hats at the eternal Meyer the Hatter shop. (Meyer the Hatter/Facebook)

NEW ORLEANS (Tribune News Service)  This week, in a ceremony at the National World War II Museum, Samuel Meyer will receive the French Legion of Honor for his long-ago service in World War II. Its the highest award bestowed by France, to be given to the 99-year-old lifetime New Orleanian for his service in World War II.

New Orleans may not have been aware of his military history, but, in a way, everyone knows Sam. For 78 years, hes been selling hats at the eternal Meyer the Hatter shop.

Sams been in the hat business in downtown New Orleans since Truman was president. Back then, everybody wore a hat. Now, hats arent a fashion must, theyre a fashion statement. Stetsons, Meyer said, used to cost $5; now theyre $200 and more.

Now, theyre for the classes, not the masses, he said.

Meyer the Hatter, at 120 St. Charles Ave., is old-school, but its not some sleepy throwback. Its a bustling business where sales people and Meyer family members  get this  indulge questions, offer advice and otherwise cater to the steady stream of tourists and regulars.

On a recent afternoon, not one, but two UPS trucks pulled up to the store, unloading stacks of square, lightweight boxes filled with style and cachet. The cartons will carry Meyer the Hatters Stetsons, fedoras and pork-pie hats to customers far and wide.

But Meyer the Hatter isnt just a store; its a destination, a real New Orleans institution. People who dont even wear hats come in for a visit, Sam said. The date the place opened, 1894, is inscribed in the terrazzo out front.

The walls behind the counter are a checkerboard of photos, showing the movie stars and musicians whove walked out wearing a Meyer hat.

Sam said Fats Domino bought his chapeaus there  likewise Dr. John, the Neville Brothers and James Taylor. The British rocker Elvis Costello bought a couple of homburgs last month when he played the Orpheum. His photo is signed: To Meyer, the only good place for a lid. Costello wears his homburgs backward, Sam noted.

A lifetime of memories

At his age, Sam said hes forgetting every damn thing. But the truth is, he remembers plenty.

Sam said his grandfather, also named Sam, started working in a downtown mens store and hat shop when he was just 14, delivering hats on foot, sometimes great distances from the shop. The son of German immigrants, the teen worked 12-hour days for a $1.50 a week. One dollar and fifty cents a week! Sam repeated with disdain.

Eventually granddad struck out on his own, opening Meyers Hat Box, a tiny, cramped shop, not far from the current location. It was the source of countless straw boaters, and the beginning of a five-generation legacy.

In time, Sams father Andrew took over grandpas business, eventually buying the building where the shop is now.

Andrew apparently had a good head for numbers. Sam said his father spent his days buried in the books at a desk in the back, and his off hours playing bridge and analyzing the stock market. He analyzed it correctly, as it turned out. Andrew Meyer made a small fortune buying oil-related stocks.

He wasnt a terribly attentive dad, though. Sam said that as a kid, he used to cut school and bicycle around town, day after day, and nobody even noticed. He attended Fortier High School, not far from the familys Robert Street home. Soon after his school days came to an end, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and the world changed. In 1943, at age 18, he was in the Army.

(Meyer the Hatter/Facebook)

Making sure the guns fired

Sam is a great storyteller. As he recounted episodes from the distant past, he peppered his recollections with choice vulgarities, like splashes of Tabasco.

After some training, he found himself with something like 8,000 other GIs, sloshing through 50-foot waves aboard the Mauretania ocean liner heading to Europe.

Sams son Paul said that his dad is always telling stories about it, his experiences in England, France, Belgium and Germany.

Sam was an aircraft armorer, responsible for loading P-38 fighter planes with bullets, bombs and anything that fired. He was chosen for the Legion of Honor because making sure the guns fired and the bombs fell helped liberate France from the Nazis.

To this day, Sams memory is alive with the challenges of the task.

If you filled the machine gun trays with too much ammo, the guns would jam in combat, but if you cut back, the pilot could run out when he needed it most. You had to tighten the wing nuts on a 500-pound bomb just so, not too little, not too much. If someone came along behind you and tightened the nuts too much, guess what? The bomb wouldnt drop.

Sam would like to forget the time the feet of the pilot of the plane he worked on were frostbitten when the temperature dropped to 40 below zero at high altitude  something no one had counted on.

Post-war hat boom

Back from the war, Sam and his brother William partnered with their dad in the family hat trade, which boomed. Marriage and kids followed. Later, divorce and a second marriage.

His second wife, Marcelle, is from Nice, though the couple met in New Orleans in the late 1950s. They keep an apartment in France, and Sam said that over the years hes revisited the country where he served in World War II, 40 times. Hell celebrate his 100th birthday in August. Asked the secret of longevity, Sam said simply, having a French wife.

She can cook for 12 people, Sam gushed. I love that little lady, shes so cute. She is my angel.

Marcelle is two years younger than Sam and just as active. Like Sam, she puts in two or three days each week at the shop. The couple sells hats alongside his sons, Michael and Paul, and grown grandsons, Cedric and Christopher.

Asked whats its like to work with his father and his family, Michael Meyer laughingly said that generally speaking, its fun. Somedays you get sunny weather, some days you get storms. You know; lets be truthful here.

With its glazed wooden cabinets, display racks and billowing hat steamer, Meyer the Hatter couldnt be much more picturesque. Visitors crane their necks to take in the variety of headwear, which includes the flamboyantly colored wide-brimmed fedoras favored by second-liners, the green bowlers for St. Patrick Day parades, and the classy cream-colored straw hats that make a statement at Jazz Fest. Visitors come to realize theyve found themselves in a cultural touchstone.

Sitting in the back, where his father once sat, looking out into the bustling shop, Sam said hes blessed with this business, going like it is, even though he wishes somebody would straighten up the back room a little.

There are three hats right over there, waiting to be boxed up for Houston. There are always hats waiting to be boxed up. Theres just never enough time.

Laurent Bili, ambassador of France to the United States, will bestow the rank of Chevalier (Knight) of the National Order of the Legion of Honor upon Sam Meyer at the World War II Museums US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 27).

(c)2024 The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

Visit at www.nola.com

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Azerbaijan on Sunday said that Armenia opened fire at its military positions in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Region.

A statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that the Armenian military opened fire on positions near the exclave's Heydarabad settlement at 9:40 p.m. (1740GMT) on Saturday. The statement gave no further information.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions, including Kalbajar.

Azerbaijan liberated most of the region during the war in the fall of 2020, which ended with a Russian-brokered peace agreement, opening the door to normalization.

Baku initiated an anti-terrorism operation in Karabakh last September to establish constitutional order, after which illegal separatist forces in the region surrendered.

However, tensions on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border reignited when Baku said one of its soldiers was injured due to shots fired by Armenian forces toward the country's southwestern Zangilan district on Feb.12.

The following day, Azerbaijan said it carried out a "revenge operation" in response, destroying the combat post from where its servicemen were fired upon. Armenia said four of its servicemen were killed as a result.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Lockheed Martin implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

A total of 8 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership

Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 75% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Lockheed Martin, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Lockheed Martin

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Lockheed Martin?

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.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Lockheed Martin. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Lockheed Martin's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Lockheed Martin is not owned by hedge funds. State Street Global Advisors, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 15% of shares outstanding. Lockheed Martin Corporation, ESOP is the second largest shareholder owning 11% of common stock, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. holds about 9.1% of the company stock.

Story continues

We also observed that the top 8 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent.

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 Lockheed Martin

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our information suggests that Lockheed Martin Corporation insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$49m worth of shares (at current prices). It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 14% stake in Lockheed Martin. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Lockheed Martin .

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.
The woman said that she doesn't know how her husband contracted HIV and said that she was shocked when she was told by a third party

A judge has granted a Protection Order under the Domestic Violence Act to a woman after she told a court that her husband has concealed his HIV status from her.

At the Family Law Court, the district court judge has told the woman that she needs to report her husbands "deception" over his HIV status to the Gardai.

The judge said to the woman "the deception here is that he knew that he had HIV and he continued to have, I assume, relations with you as normal without telling you?

In response the woman replied yes.

The district court judge told the woman: "I am nearly certain that this is a criminal offence in terms of the issues. He was diagnosed with HIV and he didn't tell you.

The woman said that after finding out about her husbands HIV status she has taken a HIV test and is awaiting the results.

The woman provided a written statement to the court grounding her Protection Order application which was made on an ex parte basis where her husband was not present.

After reading her written statement the judge said: "You are frightened that if he comes back to the house that he will give you HIV if you havent got it already?

The woman replied yes.

The woman said that she doesn't know how her husband contracted HIV and said that she was shocked when she was told by a third party of his condition.

The woman told the judge that her husband hasnt said how long he has had HIV.

The judge said that he was "happy to grant the order on that basis but I think you are at risk and he may believe that he can continue as is.

The judge confirmed that Gardai will serve the contents of the Protection Order on the man. If the man breaches the Protection Order, he can be arrested without warrant on foot of a complaint by the woman and be brought before a court.

The Protection Order is to remain in place pending a hearing for a Safety Order where the man can contest the Safety Order application in court.

A number of accused men have appeared in criminal courts here and overseas charged with causing serious harm by knowingly and recklessly infecting sexual partners with HIV.

Most cases of HIV are caused by having sex with a person who has HIV without using a condom.

While there is no cure for HIV, there are very effective treatments that enable most people with the virus to live a long and healthy life.
Some of the dogs the family sold on had been micro-chipped in Ireland

Members of a family linked to Ireland have been jailed for running a puppy operation in the UK.

The McDonagh clan operated a fraudulent scheme which falsely advertised puppies on social media and used dozens of fake emails, addresses, names, and staged photos to show the puppies relaxing at home.

In reality, the dogs were imported from Eastern European puppy farms where they had been bred.

The scam was uncovered thanks to a detailed investigation by the RSPCA and the true scale of the illegal puppy operation was uncovered. The McDonaghs are believed to have pocketed around 350,000.

A judge at Swansea Crown Court said that the fraud had been sophisticated and carefully planned.

Rescued dog (RSPCA)

The McDonaghs produced advertisements for their dogs and marketed them on sites including Pets4Homes and Gumtree.

One said: 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.

Patrick McDonagh Jnr

Another stated: 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.

"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.

However, the McDonagh family were found to be involved in the breeding, cross-border transportation, and sale of puppies on a large scale.

The adverts were worded to make it appear that the dogs were from home-bred litters when in reality the men were trading puppies and dogs like commodities with no care for their health or welfare, according to evidence.

Rescued dog (RSPCA)

Veterinary records acquired by the RSPCA demonstrated the ill-health and frequent breeding of a number of dogs.

Some of the puppies sold were found to have microchips from here, Poland, Hungary, Belgium and the Czech Republic.

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, over 500,000 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 350,000.

Eddie McDonagh

The court heard 20 victims of the scam had given statements to the RSPCA and between them they had paid the McDonaghs more than 35,000 for what they believed were socialised and healthy pups from a family home.

A number of those puppies were subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia, some with campylobacter, giardia, and with various other welfare issues while two puppies were diagnosed with parvovirus.

John McDonagh

The prosecutor said many of the purchasers had been left with large vets bills. Purchasers 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 and were sentenced to a combined total of 16 years in prison.
Further call for public enquiry on second anniversary of disgraced surgeons release

A Louth man, who says he was asked by gardai to write a letter of apology to his abuser Dr Michael Shine, says he will never rest until there is a full public enquiry into the widespread sexual abuse.

Patrick was just 22 when he says he was abused by the disgraced surgeon in his private rooms in Fair Street, but he says when he complained to gardai, he was told there wasnt sufficient evidence, and he should write a letter of apology to Shine.

On the second anniversary of the release of Shine from prison, Patrick is joining local advocacy group Dignity 4 Patients in calling for an official apology, proper redress and further prosecutions.

When I was abused, I told my family and friends, and even went to a solicitor to seek advice and was told to forget about it and get on with my life, that it was my word against Michael Shine.

I was told Michael Shine was a very powerful man and no one would believe me, recalls Patrick, now in his 50s. It became a joke amongst my friends, teasing me about it, but it wasnt funny at all".

Patrick says he tried to put it behind him and left the country but returned in 2003 when his mother got ill.

It was then he decided to report the sexual abuse to gardai.

According to Patrick what happened thereafter has traumatised him even further to this day.

"When I finally made a formal complaint, I was delighted because it seemed like I was being listened to, and justice would be done for what happened me, says Patrick. But I soon realised that wouldnt be the case, as I was told there wasnt enough evidence, and Michael Shine was very upset at the allegation.

At that stage, Patrick was asked to write a letter of apology to his abuser for making the claim.

I refused to say I was sorry - he should have been apologising to me for what he did - but I did retract my allegation, as I didnt want to get into trouble, he explains. I wrote as regards my complaint against Dr Shine, who is denying he ever treated me in his private practise, I have no alternative but to withdraw the complaint against Dr Shine.

Years later he again reported the abuse to the Gardai and his file was sent to the DPP in 2017, 14 years after his initial complaint was made.

What Shine did to me was shocking, but what happened afterwards has nearly been worse, says Patrick.

Shine was jailed for four years in 2019 for groping seven boys in his care over a period of three decades and was released from prison on February 23rd 2022 after serving three years.

Over 200 adult survivors of Michael Shines sexual abuse have had some financial redress paid by insurers for the Medical Missionaries of Mary.

He should never have seen daylight again, and he got away with it for years, says Patrick angrily. Still, I was delighted that justice was done and he did go to jail, but justice still needs to be done on how it was all handled and how he got away with it for so long.

Dignity4Patients is a patient support and advocacy organisation which works with people who have suffered sexual abuse or inappropriate sexual behaviour whilst a patient in a medical or therapeutic setting.

CEO of Dignity for Patients Adrienne Reilly.

CEO Adrienne Reilly says they have provided help to over 350 Shine victims and this is not an unusual or radical ask in circumstances like this.

On the second anniversary of the release of Michael Shine, we expected another trial would have proceeded and he would have been back in prison serving further sentences for the horrific crimes he subjected hundreds of children. Instead, he walks easy and free while our victims remain tortured, says Adrienne. Since I started in Autumn 2021, at least one new victim a month has approached our services for support.

In 2021, the Court of Appeal blocked a further trial of Shine (90) on charges of indecently assaulting and sexual abuse of another group of complainants.

That ruling cited a range of factors, including Shines age, health and an administrative error by the Office of the DPP.

Expressing her view forcefully that Shine was Irelands Jimmy Saville Adrienne likened it to another recent scandal.

As in the recent post masters scandal in the UK and the North of Ireland, when some of these men reported the sexual abuse they were subjected to as children, they were also told they were the only one." she said. They were not believed. They now need acknowledgement and access to effective justice. They want and deserve a public inquiry.

If you have been affected by this article, Dignity4Patients will treat you with the respect and dignity that you deserve.

Helpline: 041  9843730 SMS Text: 086  1654111 Email: support@dignity4patients.org

HELPLINE HOURS Days: Monday  Thursday Hours: 10am  4pm Out of Hours: 1800 778 888

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Manager says some venue ads were false

Thousands of fans of controversial stripper group The Pleasure Boys were left sorely disappointed after their manager poured cold water on rumours that they were due to perform in Co Louth over the weekend.

Hysteria surrounding the act continues, with more than 1,000 women contacting the groups manager to ask for details of their next event  desperate to bag tickets to the in-demand shows.

Manager John Woodward said he had no bookings currently north or south of the border and reports of any upcoming Irish events are misinformed.

He also confirmed rumours of a performance in Dundalk last night were not true.

No, that is false (about Dundalk), said Woodward. There have been a few advertisements that we were playing certain venues, but theyre not true.

Weve got non-stop inquiries and about 1,000 women now want to come and see the event themselves. Some are travelling over the water to Liverpool to see us in April.

Fifty women from Northern Ireland have got together and booked their tickets and the ferry to Liverpool for The Pleasure Boys next big event, it was revealed.

However, the now-infamous antics of the troupe and some of the female audience members last weekend at Belfasts Devenish Complex has left a sour taste in some peoples mouths, including the partners and wives of the performers.

The manager said some of the partners of the troupe were angered after seeing the footage online.

After last weekends raunchy performance, the UK Pleasure Boys revealed that they will now ban mobile phones and filming for all of their upcoming shows, after their Belfast event caused widespread controversy.

Explicit pictures and videos from the groups XXL Tour date set social media ablaze, as clips showed large numbers of female patrons mimicking sexual acts with the fully-nude erotic dancers on stage.

John Woodward, who is also director of The Pleasure Boys  who describe themselves as a naked Magic Mike tribute act  said it was necessary to bring in measures that ensure similar scenes dont go viral again.

Videoing  people are able to do that, he said. But I think its something we need to look into now because of how much this has gotten out on social media.

Its usually one or two videos shared between friends, but what happened here is that establishments are sharing these videos, and theres ladies in there that didnt want to be filmed.

If I was going to an event, I wouldnt particularly like to be blasted all over social media. Especially if I was a lady who laid down on the stage for instance, with the guys hovering over her.

Of course youre not going to want that, youre not going to want your friends or your family to see that.

This is why were also now starting to introduce a ban on mobile phones filming the show itself, because then, at least whatever happens at the event  not that its going to happen again  its not going to go viral and these people are not going to be seen on all social media.

UK Pleasure Boys

He claimed up to 60 women stormed the stage during last weekends event, something that has never happened before.

However, he did admit: The boys admittedly were not in the right for doing some of the moves that they did, but they didnt want to just walk off the stage and ruin their whole performance.

He also said he had sympathy for those women who were filmed and have since been lambasted online for their actions.

Weve all got to learn from this. Nobody got hurt at the end of the day, but weve got to try and protect people who come to the show. Theyre coming for a good time, not to be famous.

Woodward confirmed that the act is planning to come back for several dates and details will be announced in the coming days.

The former dancer said: We are going to appear in quite a few areas in Northern Ireland and southern Ireland.

I do find that Ireland in general, with the rules you have going on there, is a good 15 years behind where we are here in terms of what you accept. Over here, our show is absolutely nothing.
Our man Eugene hunts down pints for under a fiver...

Take a look at some of the bargain pubs in Dublin which are managing to sell pints for under a fiver.

One pub in Dorset Street in the city centre appears to have a record price for the capital of 4.50 for a pint of Guinness, with another in the southern suburbs of Inchicore for just 10 cent dearer at 4.60 at certain times of the day.

The tasty prices are less than half of what some hostelries in the tourist trap of Temple Bar are charging, with our expose last week on the Merchants Arch becoming the first pub in the country to sell pints for over 10 making international headlines.

The cheapest pint of Guinness in the city we found was 4.50 in the Auld Triangle in Dorset Street, where co-owner Declan Hallissey said that while hes proud to have such a low figure, he may have to put it up due to rising costs.

Were definitely the cheapest in Dublin, he says.

We have a small pub with just one person behind the bar. We dont do food. On other drinks like spirits, wed be more in line, but we keep the price of the pint down for the plain person.

Eugene with Martin Tipper in Clearys in Inchicore

Theres a lot of gouging going on though with the Temple Bar stuff and I saw the Sunday World article last weekend. They might have dearer rates there, but its a bit over the top.

Declan says that while many locals pop in for a pint, he gets a lot of passing trade as the pub opens at 10.30am on weekdays when others in the area dont open until 4pm or 5pm.

People do like the cheap pint here and we try to take care of the ordinary person, he says.

Theres a lot of tourists staying in nearby hotels and B&Bs and they pop in too, as well as people visiting and working in the nearby Temple Street and Mater hospitals. Its a major thoroughfare as well.

However, he says he may have to review his prices  pints of lagers such as Heineken and Carlsberg are 5.40, as are ciders such as Bulmers and Orchard Thieves.

The Guinness is probably going to have to creep up towards the fiver, he says. We do have lagers below the fiver too; Tuborg is 4.40. We have Beamish at 4.20, our cheapest stout.

Asked for his advice to other publicans, he replies: Look after the plain people and give them the pint at the price they want.

The Auld Tirangle

Clearys, in Inchicore, almost matches in the price of a pint of Guinness at 4.60 before 5pm (it rises to 5 after that time), and boasts other attractive options.

We have Harp on sale here for 3.50 a pint on Mondays up until 5pm, which I dont think can be beaten by any other regular bar in the country for a pint of lager, insists Clearys barman James.

The pub charges 4.80 for a pint of Carlsberg before 5pm (5.50 for it and most other lagers after that time). Tuborg and Carling are 4.80 all day in the bar, which has cabaret five nights a week, including popular karaoke king James Brown.

I think the Licensed Vintners Association have a lot to answer for, he argues.

A bar should be like a hotel  you have a three-star, a four-star and a five-star. If youre a three-star you can only charge around 4 or under a fiver for a pint, if youre a four-star you can charge around 5 or 6 and if youre a five-star you can charge up to a tenner.

Most places are over 5 for a pint now and if youre getting a pint for a fiver or less, youre doing well.

He has some sympathy for pubs in Temple Bar. You look at the amount of staff they have, insurance and rates, as well as live music every day, he maintains.

Eugene Masterson in The Auld Tirangle

The Merchants Arch you wrote about said he spent 1 million on an extension, and that has to be paid for.

 Pub customer Martin Tipper believes the prices of pints have gone through the roof.

Clearys is reasonable and grand if you get in about 3pm or 4pm and its on the cheaper side. Half the people here are on the dole or some sort of social so theyre happy with the prices here, he says.

Eugene Masterson on the prowl for bargain pints

The River Bar on Dublins Burgh Quay has promotional prices for its Latin Fever nightclub downstairs on Fridays and Saturdays.

Its free admission We sell pints of Tuborg on those nights for 4, as well as bottles of Sol and Desperados too, says barman Paul.

The nearby OReillys bar on Tara Street is selling most of its pints for 5, as is Mooneys bar on Lower Abbey Street, with Dis and Dat on Dame Court also charging a fiver for all pints from Monday to Wednesday.

Helen Moriarty

Pints of Guinness in the Clonliffe House in Ballybough are still at 5.

We reported last week on how the Swords Old Borough branch of Wetherspoons is selling pints of Fosters for 2.90, with its sister city centre branches the Silver Penny on Abbey Street and Keavans Port on Camden Street at 3.95.

Helens Bar in Kilmackillogue Co. Kerry famously claims to have the cheapest pints in Ireland.

A pint of Guinness their costs 4.40 while a Heineken will set you back 4.70.

Pat Crotty is CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the organisation which represents publicans across the country outside the Dublin region.

 Its important to note that while prices in high-traffic tourist areas like Temple Bar might attract attention, pubs across the rest of the country offer much lower prices, he says.

These establishments are integral to their communities, providing not just a place to enjoy a pint but a space for social connection, celebration and support within the community.

Do you know any pub selling a pint of Guinness under 4.40, email news@sundayworld.com

CLEARYS INCHICORE GUINNESS.....................4.60 CARLSBERG..................4.80 HARP..............................3.50 TUBORG.........................4.80 CARLING........................4.80 THE AULD TRIANGLE DORSET STREET GUINNESS......................4.50 CARLSBERG..................5.40 HEINEKEN......................5.40 BULMERS.......................5.40 ORCHARD THIEVES......5.40 TUBORG.........................4.40 BEAMISH........................4.20

CLONLIFFE HOUSE GUINNESS..........................5 WETHERSPOONS ABBEY STREET FOSTERS........................3.95 OLD BOROUGH FOSTERS........................2.95 HELENS BAR KILMACKILLOGUE, CO KERRY GUINNESS.....................4.40 HEINEKEN.....................4.70
The Sunday World had to fight to bring news of the agreement into the public domain

Sharon Corr and her husband Gavin Bonnar pictured at the Jameson reception to launch the Hot Press Yearbook Picture: Brian McEvoy.

Sharon (left) with Jim, Caroline and Andrea of the Corrs

Irish music star Sharon Corr has reached a financial settlement with her husband after their marriage break-up.

However, the Sunday World has had to fight to bring news of the agreement into the public domain.

Corr, a member of family supergroup The Corrs, split from her husband Gavin Bonnar in 2019 after 18 years of marriage. The couple, who have two children, have now finally agreed the terms of their separation.

As part of this, a hearing was held last month at the Equity Court in Belfast. Among other matters, the Equity Court deals with the financial arrangements put in place when a couple spilt up.

A Sunday World reporter linked in remotely using the Sightlink system to last months hearing in Belfast. However, shortly before the case began, the reporters access was cut.

When the access was restored a short time later, the hearing involving Ms Corr and Mr Bonnar had ended.

Sharon (left) with Jim, Caroline and Andrea of the Corrs

When the reporter enquired why the remote access link had been cut off, he was told by a court clerk it was their understanding the media was not allowed to report on such cases.

However, this is wrong and there are no such restrictions in place.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) later admitted the reporters access to the hearing should not have been cut off. The Sunday World asked for a transcript or recording of last months Corr/Bonnar hearing but was told none existed.

However, the NICTS did provide details on the outcome of the hearing.

A spokesperson said the judge was informed by the couples legal representatives that a settlement had been reached between the parties.

The couple have not spoken publicly about their break-up.

But in an interview with the Sunday World in 2021 Ms Corr described writing the title track of her latest album, The Fool and The Scorpion, while in floods of tears after what she said was a traumatic personal event in her life.

Mr Bonnar is now in a relationship with Telma Ortiz, a sister of the Queen of Spain.
Brave Katja has been the victim of cruel online abuse during her time on Dancing With The Stars

TELLY star Katja Mia says shes proud of her curves and declares shes going to fight back against trolls and haters who criticise her shape.

Brave Katja has been the victim of cruel online abuse during her time on Dancing With The Stars, with judge Loraine Barry letting loose against bullies who have been targeting the Six OClock Show presenter.

Dubliner Katja (27) admits she got really emotional about people body shaming.

Then to go on and have Lorraine Barry say those amazing words on live television, she reflects, it made me get it out of my head, saying that.

OK, I deserve to be here. Just because Im not a size eight or a size 10 and I cant be flung around the room easily.

Katja Mia with Brian Dowling

Katja Mia in action on DWTS

.

Im like I still deserve to be here. I was a bit more positive about the experience because I think going into it I maybe doubted myself a little bit, just because of my body dysmorphia, or body image issues.

I was like I dont think I look like a dancer, you know what I mean?

So, I think that was the turning point for me, in a positive way, and after that right get out of your head, youre more than able and yeah  I just threw myself into the rest of the competition.

Katja points out that her body is the same size as that of an average Irish woman.

The hate on social media was very much centred on me being one of the few curvier women that have been featured on Dancing With The Stars, says Katja, who was born in Burundi.

I think there is a perception that if youre in your twenties youve no excuse to be over an average size. I dont know.

I think a lot of the negativity was coming from that perspective and saying that oh, she cant dance and she cant be lifted up in the air with the size she is or whatever.

I just think its down to people not being exposed to curvier women, especially curvier women on television.

Everyone in my family has big hips, big bums, thats just kind of what our body shapes are.

When youre over in a country like Burundi that curvature is celebrated, but stepping into western media I grew up where size zero was still a thing.

She adds: I think people are still warped in their heads  you have to look a certain way, you have to look really skinny. I think that was where peoples hate was coming from.

Then I was getting messages on Instagram about what I looked like and I shouldnt be able to be lifted and dance or whatever.

Katja admits she finally had enough of the abuse a few weeks ago and decided to take action.

I think one day I got a long message about that and I just decided you know what, Im going to expose this person, because its not OK to send an essay to someone, she says.

So, after that I exposed the person.

I had so many positive messages. I was almost doing this for myself  Im defending myself here, this person is crazy for thinking that.

But then I realised that so many other women feel the same way and have been subjected to that kind of hate before, and that its so not OK.

Because they see my efforts and they see that Ive gone out there every week, and Im trying and Im working five, six days a week, and they said look thats actually not right.

I was always trying to laugh it off and brush it off or whatever, but what got me emotional was that people really saw how ignorant and nasty that comment was.

So, week on week I have been getting so much support, coming from women that look like me, too.

There are many of us in Ireland, I feel like the average size is a 14/16. So many of them were just cheering me on and its just been so, so nice. I have them to thank for keeping me going.

Katja, who will perform an American Smooth on tonights Dancing With The Stars with her dance partner Ervinas Merfeldas, also takes solace in having support from her boyfriend Darragh Curran  who is also known as the Guinness Guru  and her family.

He [Darragh] is just a regular lad from Ashbourne, she explains.

He loves it all and he is so supportive.

He comes to every show with my mam, theyre always sitting together. So he is cheering me on.
Welfare advocates are pleading with the government to back down from its crackdown on beneficiaries.

Social Development Minister Louise Upston has ordered the Ministry of Social Development to use the full force of sanctions to ensure those on the jobseeker benefit were actively looking for work.

Upston says remaining on the benefit has become the rational choice for some people because of a lack of consequences.

But a young beneficiary says the government has no understanding of the hardships they face.

Twenty-year-old Harema briefly experienced homelessness in 2023. He is now on the jobseeker benefit, and is working with programmes which help him and other young people into stable homes and work.

Harema said the government bringing the hammer down on people like him was out of touch.

"These guys don't have the problem of living in a stigmatised area where gang mentality is present, where poverty is normal, where drugs and alcohol was an everyday thing.

"These are the sorts of spaces that really affect young people and their ability to want to go and do something. Everything's so hard for them."

Harema considered himself one of the lucky ones - just because he had a phone.

He said there were others on the street who had no means to get to interviews or training.

"It's easy for someone to say, 'just turn up, just turn up and go through a job interview process so that you can keep your benefit'," Harema said, "but this young person has no idea, doesn't have a CV, doesn't have means of transport, doesn't have a whare, doesn't have a house. But we're gonna demand of you these things or risk you losing your benefit."

Beneficiary advocate Kay Brereton said that would leave them with a difficult choice.

"Probably it either makes them homeless or makes them foodless, because the benefit isn't enough for people to keep themselves housed and fed anyway.

"So you take half of that away and they've got to make a choice between food and housing," she said.

Brereton said it would do nothing to get them back into work, like the government hoped it would.

"A lot of people are on the benefit because of trauma. In fact, trauma is what gets us onto a benefit, something terrible has happened in our lives. Punishing people for being in a precarious position is not improving their position. It's just kicking them while they're down."

'I'm yet to meet one young person that just wants to be on the benefit'

Youth development organisation Kick Back director said the popular claim that young people liked to bludgeon off of social services was a myth.

"I have been serving young people who have needed access to welfare for over a decade now, and I'm yet to meet one young person that just wants to be on the benefit," he said.

But these people on Queen Street said the government's announcement was a welcome change to what they called a serious problem.

"Great. Awesome. I think that, if you're on that benefit, you're on the air to look for a job, not to sit at home doing nothing," one woman said.

"Yeah, that's what you gotta do," a man said, "You have to maintain things and you have to monitor them, otherwise things get out of hand and people try and get away with as much as they can."

"I'm sure it would be a good thing," another woman said, "you do hear on the radio from time to time about job seekers who don't really want a job, but they have to go for an interview and they need to turn it down at any rate. So they just continue on their welfare and they don't really want to change."

Social Development Minister Louise Upston said if beneficiaries failed to meet the requirements, their payments would be cut or suspended after warnings.

Getting off benefits, but not into employment

Meanwhile, an expert in business studies says chasing tax evaders, rather than targeting beneficiaries, would offer a better return on investment for the government.

Associate Professor Lisa Marriott, from the Victoria University Business School, has spent years studying the treatment of beneficiaries.

She told Checkpoint she could not see any good reason why sanctions would be applied to one part of the population only, "particularly when that group comprises those who have the least to start with".

She said while research did show that sanctions will probably get a relatively small number of people off benefits, it doesn't achieve the goal of getting people into paid employment.

"As a society, that's what we want - we want people to gain new skills, we want people to have higher earnings, improve their self-esteem, and those are all the benefits you get from being employed."

She said this was seen when similar moves were introduced in the UK more than a decade ago, with people getting off benefits, but not necessarily into paid employment, or being forced into low-paying jobs which left them financially worse off in the long term.

-RNZ.
Heavy rain is on the way for parts of the North Island, with residents told to expect up to 40mm per hour in some areas.

MetService says water could run off and pool on the hard, dry ground, meaning a chance of flooding in some places.

The forecaster has issued a heavy rain watch for Northland - south of Dargaville, and Auckland - excluding Great Barrier Island.

The heavy rain watch will be in force from 12pm Sunday until 10am Monday, and possible downpours and intensities of 20-35 mm per hour could be expected, MetService says.

The amount of rain could approach warning criteria in some places, especially in the west.

The culprit was a "very moist air mass" affecting the north of the North Island, the forecaster says.

This rain band has been moving northwards across the North Island overnight and is expected to slow down and fracture today.



Rain has now arrived in Auckland, and there is a risk of heavy rain in localised spots across the region this afternoon and evening. Not looking so pic.twitter.com/R61YteZF9H  MetService (@MetService) February 24, 2024

Bay of Plenty are next in the firing line, with a "shallow low" expected to form to the west and downpours expected. A heavy rain watch will be in place there from 9am Monday to 12am Tuesday.

Rain would be heaviest inland and, like in Auckland and Northland, the amount could approach warning criteria, MetService says.

Up to 40mm of rain per hour could be expected.

"Further heavy rain is possible on Tuesday and the period of this watch may be extended," MetService says in a statement.

How many dry days has your region had this summer?



Most of the country experienced at least a month's worth of dry days this summer.



Areas shaded in red experienced over 50.



Tasman/Nelson/Marlborough had the highest number of dry days (65 days, over 2 month's worth) pic.twitter.com/4yNZaRllEO  NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) February 24, 2024

Locals are urged to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case the situation changed.

On Saturday, orange weather warnings were in place on the West Coast as rain pummelled the South Island, but those had since been lifted.

The rain comes after at least a month's worth of dry days for much of the country over summer.

It was particularly dry in the North Island - Whanganui had the most dry days of anywhere in New Zealand, with 64.1.

Auckland had 53.8 dry days and Bay of Plenty had 59.6.

"While this is welcome rain after such a dry February, these peak intensities coupled with hard, dry ground can cause water to run off and pool, meaning there is a chance of surface flooding in localised areas," says a MetService spokesperson.

Tuesday ,February 27 2024

On Tuesday, a broad trough moves onto New Zealand. Within this trough, a low is expected to move close to or over the North Island, bringing rain to much of the Island with heavy falls possible in some places.

There is low confidence that a heavy rainfall warning will be needed in eastern Bay of Plenty.



Wednesday, February 28 2024

The trough moves away to the east on Wednesday and a ridge moves on to the South Island. The low just east of the North Island is expected to move away to the southeast.



There is minimal risk of severe weather over New Zealand.



Thursday, February 29 2024

On Thursday, the high should move to cover most of the country. There is minimal risk of severe weather over New Zealand.



Friday, March 1 2024

During Friday, a front may approach the south of the South Island. This may bring some rain and strong winds to southern New Zealand, but currently it appears unlikely that there will be any warnings needed.

RNZ
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Emico Holdings Berhad fair value estimate is RM0.35

With RM0.33 share price, Emico Holdings Berhad appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

Peers of Emico Holdings Berhad are currently trading on average at a 131% premium

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Emico Holdings Berhad (KLSE:EMICO) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Emico Holdings Berhad

The Method

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. 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.

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:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM3.50m RM3.76m RM4.00m RM4.22m RM4.43m RM4.63m RM4.82m RM5.02m RM5.21m RM5.41m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 9.31% Est @ 7.58% Est @ 6.37% Est @ 5.52% Est @ 4.92% Est @ 4.51% Est @ 4.22% Est @ 4.01% Est @ 3.87% Est @ 3.77% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 12% RM3.1 RM3.0 RM2.8 RM2.6 RM2.5 RM2.3 RM2.1 RM2.0 RM1.8 RM1.7

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM24m

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. 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) = RM5.4m (1 + 3.5%)  (12% 3.5%) = RM63m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM63m ( 1 + 12%)10= RM20m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM43m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.3, the company appears about fair value at a 4.6% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

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 Emico Holdings 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 1.398. 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 Emico Holdings Berhad

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Opportunity

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine EMICO's earnings prospects.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for EMICO.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Emico Holdings Berhad, we've compiled three pertinent elements you should look at:

Risks: Be aware that Emico Holdings Berhad is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those makes us a bit uncomfortable... Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.


MetService has issued a severe weather watch with a risk of localised heavy rain and downpours for some northern parts of the North Island

"A very moist air mass affects the north of the North Island, with a shallow low expected to develop to the west of the island on Monday," says a MetService spokesperson.

Watches are in place for localised heavy rain.

A heavy rain watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty.

This is valid for 15 hours from 9am Monday, February 26, to 12am Tuesday, February 27.

Expect periods of rain, locally heavy at times, with possible downpours. Accumulations may approach warning criteria in some places, especially inland, says the weather organisation.

"Peak intensities may be 20 to 35 mm per hour. Further heavy rain is possible on Tuesday and the period of this watch may be extended.

"A heavy rain watch is also in place for Northland south of Dargaville, Auckland excluding Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula.

"This is valid for 14 hours from 8pm Sunday, February 25, to 10am Monday February 26."
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On the surface, Green Beer Sunday is a celebration to kick off the start of the St. Patricks Day season with green-colored Miller Lite and a two-block parade. But for many of its attendees it represents something more.

Its where three generations of a family came Sunday afternoon to see their kids watch the parade in excitement, just like they have for decades.

Weve been coming here our whole lives, said Jess Wood, while watching her daughter dig candy out of her uncles neon orange beanie that became the holder for treats she collected during the parade.

Its even more fun now watching the kids have fun, said Wood.

Pat Cavrey holds his orange beanie open so his niece can store the candies that she collected during the 2024 Green Beer Sunday parade (Melissa Newcomb|mnewcomb@syracuse.com).Melissa Newcomb

For others like Brandon Mullin and Sarah Monnat, it marks the beginning of a relationship. The couple met at Green Beer Sunday two years ago when their friend groups both connected.

Now its a tradition for us. My girlfriend loves to come here, said Mullin.

Sunday afternoon, bagpipers started the green beer parade at the intersection of Tompkins Street and Milton Avenue, where Tipperary Hills famous upside down stop light hangs. Children Irish dancing and different businesses throwing candy followed them down the hill to Colemans.

The tanker truck that symbolically holds the bars green beer ended the parade and attendees followed behind it.

Once it arrived in front of Colemans, syracuse.com journalist Charlie Miller -- this years grand marshal -- poured the first ceremonial green beer and held it up to a cheering crowd.

Green Beer Sunday brought thousands of attendees together at Colemans Irish Pub for a day of celebrating and live music. With the temperature in the mid 40s and the sun shining, the weather was great compared to what it could be at the end of February in Syracuse.

The warmer weather is especially important at Green Beer Sunday because people may have to wait in line for hours to get into Colemans. The line was so long around 1 p.m. that hundreds of people were lined up for blocks all the way down upside down stop light.

This Sunday is a great way to break the winter up and roll into spring, said Emily Shields, who has been attending for years.

While we may still be weeks away from spring, this Green Beer Sunday gave Central New Yorkers the opportunity to get some sunshine, socialization and lots of green beer.

Contact reporter Melissa Newcomb anytime at 315-679-1068, or @melissarnewcomb on Twitter.
How about some good news, for a change? Here are a couple of recent Central New York developments worth celebrating:

Syracusan heading to space

Syracuse native Jeanette Epps, 53, is scheduled to fly next month to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket. It will be the culmination of a dream that began when Epps was nine years old, growing up with her twin sister, Janet, on West Kennedy Street.

Achieving her dream to be an astronaut took a lot of hard work  academically, physically and, most of all, psychologically. Epps had to find the resilience and mental toughness to overcome the disappointment of being removed from a 2018 mission with no explanation from NASA. She would have been the first Black woman on the Space Station.

Epps kept her head up, practicing what she tells young people who want to follow her path: Dont be so focused on the end goal that it ruins the successes along the way. You get there through hard work at every step  and also through the grace of others.

Epps is quick to cite the support of her parents, Luberta and Henry Epps; the mom of a Corcoran High School classmate who often drove her to an internship in the suburbs; and the undergraduate education she and Janet received at Le Moyne College. These institutions and individuals should be proud of their roles in encouraging Epps to soar.

We hope every child growing up in Syracuse takes to heart this message from their barrier-breaking hometown astronaut: Youre not limited to that little world that you live in now.

The skys not even the limit for Jeanette Epps. Godspeed to her and the other members of SpaceX Crew-8.

Sheriff tightens body camera policy

We commend Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley for closing holes in the departments policies and training surrounding the use of body-worn and dashboard cameras.

Those holes became apparent after a deputy fatally shot two teens fleeing in a stolen car in DeWitt. The deputy did not activate his body camera, so the only video evidence came from a doorbell camera 200 feet away. Technology that would have activated body and dashboard cameras as soon as an officer drew his gun had been returned unopened by the previous sheriff, Eugene Conway.

Under Shelleys new policy, deputies are expected to turn on their body cameras while in their patrol vehicles and shortly before they arrive at a dispatch location. This replaces vague language in the previous policy instructing deputies to turn on the camera upon engaging in a law-enforcement related activity.

Dash cams also will turn on automatically more often, such as when a patrol vehicle stops abruptly or reaches a certain speed.

As we said before, body camera video protects both officers and civilians from false claims. The public now expects there to be video whenever an interaction between law enforcement and a civilian goes bad. Not having it fuels distrust in the police.

The departments new policy on body and dashboard cameras looks good on paper. The technology upgrades that make recording video automatic are a welcome addition. Well reserve judgment until it has been put to the test. For now, were pleased to see Shelley responded to a clear failure of the previous body cam policy by enacting a tougher one, setting a higher standard for his deputies and department.

New path to homeownership

Kudos to Home HeadQuarters, the nonprofit housing organization based in Syracuse, for coming up with a novel way to finance home mortgages in neighborhoods being overlooked by traditional lenders.

The agency has made more than 200 loans to home buyers over the past three years, totaling $22.4 million. More than 60% of borrowers are African American, a demographic significantly underrepresented among homeowners in Onondaga County.

State officials point out that banks with billions in assets are making relatively few home loans in the city of Syracuse  and even fewer to borrowers of color.

Home HeadQuarters CEO Kerry Quaglias approach is not to bash the banks, but to make deals with them to buy the agencys mortgages. The banks get Community Reinvestment Act credit for lending to minority and moderate-income borrowers. Home HeadQuarters gains access to the capital to make more loans. And people previously locked out of the housing market are able to purchase homes, grow personal wealth and stabilize neighborhoods.

Other housing agencies around the country are taking note  and making plans to replicate this ingenious strategy.

As for big banks and mortgage companies that dont lend to minority borrowers  a modern version of redlining  youre not off the hook. You can do better in underserved neighborhoods and communities.

About Syracuse.com editorials

Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our mission statement. Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte and Marie Morelli.

To respond to this editorial: Submit a letter or commentary to letters@syracuse.com. Read our submission guidelines.

If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion lead, at mmorelli@syracuse.com
Mi Technovation Berhad (KLSE:MI) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: RM356.0m (down 8.6% from FY 2022).

Net income: RM55.2m (down 20% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 16% (down from 18% in FY 2022). The decrease in margin was driven by lower revenue.

EPS: RM0.062 (down from RM0.077 in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Mi Technovation Berhad Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 23% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 15% growth forecast for the Semiconductor industry in Malaysia.

Performance of the Malaysian Semiconductor industry.

The company's shares are up 4.1% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Mi Technovation Berhad that you should be aware of.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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.
pragyaal BANNED

Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: pune Posts: 17 Thanked: 64 Times Infractions: 0/1 (5)

Re: Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 unveiled

I decided to preserve the custom paint job on my limited edition bike, and after some research, I chose Garware Paint Protection Film . ProDetail Studio Pune, who got in touch with me through Garware, unfortunately, did not live up to the expectations.

Here's why I'm sharing this:

1 Third-Party Applicators: ProDetail Studio Pune doesn't have their own PPF applicators. They hire third-party applicators who claimed to have their own shop and informed that they could have done same job directly at a much lower rate.

2 Uneven Cutting and Application: The PPF film they applied is unevenly cut and not consistently applied end to end, leaving the finish looking subpar.

3 Paint Damage: While cutting the PPF film, they even managed to scratch the body paint at one place, which is unacceptable.

4 Uneven Film Cuts: The film cuts are very uneven, compromising the overall look of the protection.

5 Incomplete Wrapping: Some panels were not wrapped end to end, indicating either a lack of attention to detail or an attempt to save time and material.

6 Rushed Job: They completed the PPF application in just a few hours. Reputable applicators usually recommend leaving the bike overnight for 7Air Bubbles: After the application, there were numerous air bubbles. Their attempt to fix this by poking holes with a syringe only made matters worse, leaving scratches and making it look unprofessional.



I have attached images for your reference, so you can see the poor quality of work done by them.

Moreover, I paid a hefty sum of 15,000 for this disappointing job. Shockingly, the third-party applicator informed me that he could have done the job at a much lower price. This leaves me questioning the value for money and quality of service at ProDetail Studio Pune.



To add to the frustration, I attempted to contact reputed applicators to inquire if these defects could be fixed or if the PPF could be safely removed. Sadly, I was informed that in removing this film, the decals and logos will get peeled off. According to Royal Enfield, these decals are not currently available, so I might have to endure this substandard job for a few months or possibly even a year.



My advice to fellow bike enthusiasts: Invest a bit more and choose reputed applicators. I've had a better experience with 3M on my Ecosport, and it's worth every penny. Let's ensure our prized possessions receive the care and precision they deserve!



























Mod note: Post edited. Do not use emoji from any outside source.

Smiley usage is restricted to two per post on Team-BHP.

Please do NOT use more than 2 smileys in a post. I recently got PPF (Paint Protection Film) applied to my beloved Royal Enfield Limited Edition Shotgun 650 at PRO Detail - Car & Bike Detailing - Pune , and I must say, I am utterly disappointed with their craftsmanship. I feel it's my responsibility to share my experience so that others don't have to go through what I did.I decided to preserve the custom paint job on my limited edition bike, and after some research, I chose Garware Paint Protection Film . ProDetail Studio Pune, who got in touch with me through Garware, unfortunately, did not live up to the expectations.Here's why I'm sharing this:: ProDetail Studio Pune doesn't have their own PPF applicators. They hire third-party applicators who claimed to have their own shop and informed that they could have done same job directly at a much lower rate.: The PPF film they applied is unevenly cut and not consistently applied end to end, leaving the finish looking subpar.While cutting the PPF film, they even managed to scratch the body paint at one place, which is unacceptable.Uneven Film Cuts: The film cuts are very uneven, compromising the overall look of the protection.: Some panels were not wrapped end to end, indicating either a lack of attention to detail or an attempt to save time and material.: They completed the PPF application in just a few hours. Reputable applicators usually recommend leaving the bike overnight forAfter the application, there were numerous air bubbles. Their attempt to fix this by poking holes with a syringe only made matters worse, leaving scratches and making it look unprofessional.I have attached images for your reference, so you can see the poor quality of work done by them.Moreover, I paid a hefty sum of 15,000 for this disappointing job. Shockingly, the third-party applicator informed me that he could have done the job at a much lower price. This leaves me questioning the value for money and quality of service at ProDetail Studio Pune.To add to the frustration, I attempted to contact reputed applicators to inquire if these defects could be fixed or if the PPF could be safely removed. Sadly, I was informed that in removing this film, the decals and logos will get peeled off. According to Royal Enfield, these decals are not currently available, so I might have to endure this substandard job for a few months or possibly even a year.My advice to fellow bike enthusiasts: Invest a bit more and choose reputed applicators. I've had a better experience with 3M on my Ecosport, and it's worth every penny. Let's ensure our prized possessions receive the care and precision they deserve! Last edited by Rudra Sen : 2nd February 2024 at 17:26 .
A hot potato: Collecting personal biometric data through facial recognition or other methods for advertising purposes has long been controversial. However, most people don't expect a vending machine to gather this type of personally identifying information (PII). Surprisingly, someone discovered an M&M machine on a Canadian university campus doing just that without students' knowledge nor consent.

The University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, began removing its vending machines after discovering facial recognition technology on one of them. The machine's operators and manufacturers deny collecting or selling biometric data, but a prior case in the country gives students reason for alarm.

Student and Redditor "SquidKid47" posted a photo of an error message on one of the college's M&M machines showing that a program called "Invenda.Vending.FacialRecognition.App.exe" had crashed. A subsequent investigation by a campus newspaper sparked outrage among students, prompting the school to order the campus's vending machines' removal.

Vending machine manufacturer Invenda advertises analytic services that provide operators with data on purchasing habits based on estimated age and gender, indicating that the machines have biometric recognition systems. The university outlet suggests the company could send customer data to M&M's parent company, Mars.

Believing the vending machines host small cameras, students began covering them with items like chewing gum and Post-it notes while demanding their removal. The school's administration hasn't offered a clear timeline regarding the removal and replacement of the machines.

Adaria, the machine's operator, claimed it only has motion sensors to activate it (wake it up) when it detects a person. Invenda and Adaria said that the machines don't take, store, or transmit any photos or videos of customers. However, Invendia admits it locally processes "digital image maps" from a camera.

According to a GDPR-compliant process, Invenda's general advertising claims to only record anonymized data. Still, another company in Canada was caught using similar technology to break privacy regulations on a massive scale.

An official investigation by privacy officials in 2020 found that, in 2017 and 2018, Cadillac Fairview used cameras hidden in kiosks to collect the images of over five million shoppers in malls across Canada without their knowledge or consent. While there is no direct connection between Cadillac Fairview and Invenda, recalling the incident sparked debate among Waterloo's students on whether to take Invenda or Adaria at their word.
It looks like City of London Investment Group Plc (LON:CLIG) is about to go ex-dividend in the next three days. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. It is important to be aware of the ex-dividend date because any trade on the stock needs to have been settled on or before the record date. Meaning, you will need to purchase City of London Investment Group's shares before the 29th of February to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 28th of March.

The company's next dividend payment will be UK0.11 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed UK0.33 to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that City of London Investment Group has a trailing yield of 9.6% on the current share price of UK3.45. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. That's why we should always check whether the dividend payments appear sustainable, and if the company is growing.

See our latest analysis for City of London Investment Group

Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. Last year City of London Investment Group paid out 109% of its profits as dividends to shareholders, suggesting the dividend is not well covered by earnings.

Generally, the higher a company's payout ratio, the more the dividend is at risk of being reduced.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with shrinking earnings are tricky from a dividend perspective. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. With that in mind, we're discomforted by City of London Investment Group's 5.2% per annum decline in earnings in the past five years. Ultimately, when earnings per share decline, the size of the pie from which dividends can be paid, shrinks.

Story continues

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. City of London Investment Group has delivered 3.2% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. That's intriguing, but the combination of growing dividends despite declining earnings can typically only be achieved by paying out a larger percentage of profits. City of London Investment Group is already paying out 109% of its profits, and with shrinking earnings we think it's unlikely that this dividend will grow quickly in the future.

The Bottom Line

From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid City of London Investment Group? Not only are earnings per share shrinking, but City of London Investment Group is paying out a disconcertingly high percentage of its profit as dividends. Generally we think dividend investors should avoid businesses in this situation, as high payout ratios and declining earnings can lead to the dividend being cut. City of London Investment Group doesn't appear to have a lot going for it, and we're not inclined to take a risk on owning it for the dividend.

Having said that, if you're looking at this stock without much concern for the dividend, you should still be familiar of the risks involved with City of London Investment Group. For example, we've found 1 warning sign for City of London Investment Group that we recommend you consider before investing in the business.

A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full list of high-yield dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Show me the money: A massive funding round in an AI startup signaled a surge in investor interest in humanoid robots in the wake of the ChatGPT frenzy. The company aims to spearhead a new wave of capable manufacturing robots with backing from Big Tech that could alleviate labor shortages and workplace safety issues.

Figure AI develops human-like robots powered by artificial intelligence. It raised around $675 million in a recent funding round, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Nvidia investing heavily. Bloomberg sources note that the massive capital injection boosted the startup's value to roughly $2 billion pre-money.

The cash infusion comes from a who's-who list of Big Tech firms and investors, including Amazon, Nvidia, Microsoft, Intel's venture capital division, and Explore Investments  a venture firm owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Explore committed the highest figure, $100 million, while Microsoft and Amazon put in $95 million and $50 million, respectively. Nvidia matched Amazon's $50 million. Intel forked over $25 million, and OpenAI chipped in an additional $5 million.

Other backers include prominent Asian electronics firms like LG Innotek and Samsung. Parkway Venture Capital and Align Ventures also contributed to the massive money pool. The investors will wire the money and formalize agreements on Monday, although the numbers could change a bit as they iron out the details. The investment interest comes after Figure announced a partnership with BMW last month to deploy humanoid robots in manufacturing roles at the automaker's facilities.

Figure AI burst onto the scene last March with its Figure 01 robot, billed as a general-purpose humanoid robotic assistant suitable for various applications from factory work to household help. The robot moves and interacts like a human, thanks to its integrated AI software. The company sees the bot relieving human workers of dangerous, repetitive, and tedious tasks, enabling them to focus on jobs requiring intuition and talent. It could also alleviate widespread labor shortages in manufacturing while improving workplace safety.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Figure sought $500 million in capital with Microsoft and OpenAI as lead investors. The recent commitments from other high-profile backers enabled Figure to increase its funding target. The additional investment underscores rising enthusiasm for robotics startups incorporating AI, especially on the heels of ChatGPT's viral adoption.

Figure AI is not alone in pushing humanoid robot assistants. Just last month, OpenAI-backed robotics firm 1X Technologies raised $100 million. Vancouver's Sanctuary AI is also working on a humanoid robot dubbed Phoenix. Even Tesla CEO Elon Musk touted his Optimus project as one of his most important initiatives currently in development.

The red-hot interest makes sense, given that recent AI industry breakthroughs allow for more advanced functionality in robotics applications. So far, Figure has shown off demos of the robot "dynamic walking" and making coffee (above). The startup could push its capabilities even further with its newfound war chest.
Telecom giant AT&T suffered a significant setback on Thursday when a widespread network outage swept across the United States, disrupting essential services for countless customers.

Users reported difficulties making calls, sending texts, and accessing the internet, causing frustration and inconvenience.

The outage, which lasted about 11 hours, affected AT&T customers across the country. Many users took to social media to air their grievances, with reports from various regions detailing the scope of the disruption.

AT&T quickly acknowledged the problem, attributing it to an incorrect procedure used during network expansion and ruling out the possibility of a cyberattack.

AT&T to Reimburse Customers Affected by Outage In response to the disruption, AT&T announced plans to reimburse affected customers through billing credits. As reported by Reuters, these credits are intended to cover the average cost of a full day of wireless service, recognizing the inconvenience subscribers experienced during the outage. "We recognize the frustration this outage has caused and know we let many of our customers down," the company said in a statement. "We're also taking steps to prevent this from happening again in the future." The company apologized for the disruption and assured customers that steps would be taken to avoid similar incidents in the future. Estimates suggest that the recent outage affected around 290 million people across the United States using AT&T 5G network. Despite the disruption, AT&T reported that service had been fully restored to all affected customers by late afternoon on Thursday. One AT&T subscriber posted on X early Saturday that she had already been refunded $52.50 due to the outage. "I contacted them online and just asked for a credit for the outage, within minutes they gave me a $52.50 credit toward my next bill," the user said. Read Also: AT&T Nationwide Outage: Service Restored After 11 Hours of Disruptions; Federal Agencies Seek Answers Investigations Underway The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are actively investigating the outage. While the definitive cause is still being investigated, regulators are working closely with AT&T to identify the source of the problem and ensure preventive measures are implemented. This incident is similar to a previous outage experienced by T-Mobile that resulted in a $19.5 million settlement with regulators. Furthermore, nearly 4 million AT&T customers have experienced "throttling" in 2014, resulting in a lawsuit. Affected users were able to claim their share of AT&T's previous $60 million settlement agreement with the US Federal Trade Commission, which expired in May 2023. Impact of the Outage The recent outage posed life-threatening risks by limiting users' access to emergency services, potentially delaying critical assistance. "If you were in an area where Wi-Fi was unavailable, and/or if unfamiliar with how to hop onto Wi-Fi, [the outage was] very troubling," Syracuse University Professor Lee McKnight told Tech Times in an interview. With the increased reliance on mobile communication, prolonged outages become dangerous, especially when combined with an inability to contact emergency services. This highlights the urgent need for users to be prepared for such situations and the importance of alternative communication methods and emergency protocols to reduce risks during future outages. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: AT&T's Recent Cell Phone Service Outage Was Scary - But It Could Get Worse

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Microsoft reportedly tried to sell its Bing search engine to Apple as recent as 2018, revealed recently unsealed court filings that were shared as part of the U.S. Justice Departments antitrust case against Google, reported CNBC.

Google, which is facing an anti-trust trial in a U.S. court for having an overwhelming monopoly in the search engine market, in its court filings, argued that it does have competition in the search industry.

According to documents made public on Friday, Google claimed that Microsoft approached Apple on at least six different occasions: 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020, to get the Cupertino giant to use Bing as the default search engine on its Safari browser for the iPhone.

However, each time, Apple turned down the offer, citing issues with Bings ability to compete with Google in quality and capabilities, suggesting that there is indeed competition, the search giant said.

In each instance, Apple took a hard look at the relative quality of Bing versus Google and concluded that Google was the superior default choice for its Safari users. That is competition, Google wrote in the filing.

In addition, the search giant wrote that when Microsoft reached out to Apple in 2018, highlighting advantages in Bings quality, the companys goal was to either sell Bing to Apple or establish a Bing-related joint venture. However, Apple ultimately decided against any kind of deal.

Microsoft search quality, their investment in search, everything was not significant at all. And so everything was lower. So the search quality itself wasnt as good. They werent investing at any level comparable to Google or to what Microsoft could invest in. And their advertising organization and how they monetize was not very good either, said Eddy Cue, Apples Senior Vice President of services, according to the filing.

Apparently, the discussion between Apple and Microsoft never went beyond the early stages. Currently, Apple uses Google as the default search engine for its Safari browser. In 2021, Google reportedly paid $18 billion to Apple to remain the default search engine on iPhone devices.
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

Device to produce hydrogen and oxygen on the moon unveiled Planned to launch this winter

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

"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

They intensify the search for Javier Marquez, a 20-year-old young man who disappeared on March 2 in Logrono

Ayuso distances herself from her partner's case and delves into her criticism of the Prosecutor's Office and Moncloa for their "Chavista methods"

Laura Escanes makes a mess by promoting the company Children's walkers: outdoor walks for a maximum of 7 and with harnesses

Pascal Praud and you - Fine for not picking up dog droppings: 537 euros, "it's not enough", says a dog owner

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

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

The Japanese Cabinet of Ministers refrained from commenting on the results of the elections in Russia

 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Argentine President President Javier Milei met Donald Trump during a US conservative conference and said he hopes hell return to the White House, then delivered a professorial lecture on economics to a crowd more attuned to election-campaign rhetoric.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Milei, a libertarian who won the presidency in November, crossed paths with Trump backstage on Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington, where he greeted him with a shout of President! in a video from Trump aide Dan Scavino.

You were a very great president and I hope you will be again, Milei  who met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken a day earlier  told Trump as they smiled and laughed.

The former US president gave Milei a shoutout during a speech attacking President Joe Biden and defending his track record in office.

President of Argentina, whos gotten a lot of publicity, hes a great gentleman, Trump told the audience. You know, hes MAGA, hes MAGA  Make Argentina Great Again  he said, I am MAGA and then I realized hes one of the few can really do it well, Make Argentina Great Again.

Read more: Milei Hosts Blinken in Argentina Before Trip to Trump Event

Milei chose a different tone in his speech, delivering an hourlong lecture on why neoclassical economics and post-Marxism are flawed.

Between bouts of hushed applause, Milei brought up Lockes theory of appropriation, Hayeks market as a discovery procedure and added swipes to irritate Keynesians.

He closed with a simpler message, reiterating how he sees himself as a lion.

Fight for your freedom, Milei concluded, speaking in Spanish. Every day we awaken more lions, The message of freedom not only brought us to the presidency of Argentina, but were also awakening the whole world.

Story continues

Read More: Argentine Economy Shrank More Than Expected as Milei Took Office

The 53-year-old presidents visit to a conference that has become a magnet for pro-Trump Republicans risks straining Mileis relations with the Biden administration.

In response to a question about the timing, Mileis spokesman Manuel Adorni told reporters last week there is no possibility for anything to tarnish our relationship with the United States.

While Mileis libertarian bent puts him more in line with a traditional Republican Party camp, he cant afford to alienate the current Democratic administration: Argentina is counting on US support at the International Monetary Fund for its $44 billion program. The government is exploring the possibility of asking for a new IMF program, Economy Minister Luis Caputo said Wednesday.

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Eight states have automatically enrolled hundreds of thousands of workers in retirement savings accounts, all but compelling them to deduct money from their paychecks to spend in their golden years.

Retirement researchers applaud the new automated savings programs that have sprung up from California to Maine since 2017. By one analysis, from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the state initiatives have enrolled more than 800,000 workers, who have collectively saved more than $1 billion since 2017. Employees are free to opt out of the plans, but most choose to stay in.

Its the most exciting thing weve seen happen in this space in a long time, said Jean-Pierre Aubry, associate director of state and local research at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. It has the potential to really change the game.

State governments have labored for years to find ways to increase the rate of retirement savings by their citizens. Retirees who cannot fund their retirement put a massive strain on social services. Pew estimates the tab at $334 billion in increased state spending over 20 years, if savings rates don't increase.

But not everyone likes the idea of state governments diverting money from workers paychecks, even for their own good. Opponents say workers would be better off saving for retirement on their own.

Fewer than half of working-age Americans have retirement accounts

Anyone, in theory, can save for retirement. Roughly half of American workers have access to 401(k) plans at work, which allow pre-tax contributions to retirement accounts. Others are free to open individual retirement accounts, which offer similar perks.

But millions of Americans do neither. Fewer than half of working-age Americans have retirement accounts, Census data shows.

Much of the problem lies outside the corporate universe of 401(k) plans, which often encourage saving by enrolling employees automatically and matching some of their contributions.

Story continues

At companies with fewer than 10 employees, 78% of staffers lack access to a retirement plan, according to AARP research. Three-quarters of employees without high school degrees have no access to a retirement plan at work. As a result, those workers seldom save for retirement.

Youre 15 times more likely to save for retirement if you have the option to save at work through payroll deduction, said Kim Olson, a senior officer at the Pew Charitable Trusts. If you have to do this on your own, the chances are very low that youll follow through.

Automated savings programs, or auto-IRAs, began with a 2017 pilot for OregonSaves, according to Pew. Illinois Secure Choice launched in 2018, CalSavers in 2019. Connecticut and Maryland added programs in 2022, Colorado and Virginia in 2023, and Maine in 2024.

Fifteen states have enacted 'auto-IRA' programs

Fifteen states in all have enacted auto-IRA programs as of January 2024, according to a tracker maintained by Georgetown University. The initiatives are in various stages of rollout, and only eight states have active programs, Olson said.

Heres how automated savings plans typically work:

State lawmakers pass legislation that requires employers without retirement plans to join a new state program.

Once the program begins, employees are automatically enrolled, often at a default contribution rate: 5% of your gross income in Oregon.

The state plan is typically a Roth IRA, a variation on the traditional IRA: Your salary is taxed before it goes in, but not when you withdraw your contributions.

Employers facilitate the program and set up payroll deductions. The state contracts with a private company to administer the program. A state governing board oversees it.

The state IRA is portable: Workers may take it from job to job.

Any worker who doesnt want to participate can opt out at any time.

If the programs prosper and propagate, advocates say, they could vastly expand the population of Americans with retirement savings.

"It's 2024 now, and we see $1.2 billion in these accounts," Olson said. "And I think we went from $500 million to $1 billion in about a year here, at the end. The exponential growth, I think, is going to be quite high, especially as we start to add new programs."

The 401(k) and IRA emerged in the 1970s and took hold as tools for American workers to build retirement savings, with tax subsidies as an incentive.

Over the decades, however, the quest for universal retirement savings has hit a wall. From 1989 to 2022, the share of workers participating in employer-sponsored retirement plans has barely budged, rising from 51% to 53%, according to Boston College researchers.

Upper-income workers are much more likely to save for retirement than their less affluent peers.

Auto-IRAs could introduce millions of Americans to retirement savings

Upper-income Americans are much more likely to save for retirement than their less affluent peers. At the lowest income levels, only about 13% of households held retirement accounts in 2022, according to the federal Survey of Consumer Finances. At the highest income tier, more than 90% of households held retirement accounts.

Automated plans could introduce millions of lower-income Americans to retirement savings, advocates say.

Researchers who studied the Illinois program found that participants tend to be part-time workers, primarily female, younger and unmarried, with high school educations, working jobs that pay by the hour.

Anyone can opt out of an auto-IRA. Yet about 70% of people stay, Olson said. And they save.

The programs work, proponents say, precisely because they enroll workers automatically.

Its all about inertia, Olson said. If theres any kind of friction, where we say, Youve got to sign this form and make a decision in order to save, people are very unlikely to do it.

One reason for the popularity of the auto-IRA is that the accounts double as emergency savings. Savers generally may withdraw money theyve contributed to a Roth IRA without taxes or penalties.

Should I let the state government raid my paycheck?

Yet some workers have greeted the new programs warily, venting on social media about the dangers of allowing a state government to raid your paycheck.

I can't wait to see the mismanagement of funds for this savings program, one Reddit user opined in a conversation thread about Oregons program.

I certainly wouldnt let the state of California manage my money, another Reddit user wrote on a thread about the California initiative.

Critics of automated savings say employees would be better off opening their own IRA accounts. Advocates say they would love to see hourly wage employees open IRAs. Few do.

The option has always been there, Aubry said. Have people done it? No. Thats why you need this program.

More: What if the government abolished your 401(k)? Economists say accounts aren't worth it

Proponents say automated savings programs help employees and their employers alike, often small businesses whose owners lack the bandwidth to start a 401(k) plan on their own.

We met with literally dozens of small businesses and talked to them about what worked for them and why, said David John, a senior strategic policy advisor at the AARP Public Policy Institute who was involved in developing the plans.

The main reason small business owners didnt offer 401(k) plans was that it was complex, and it was expensive, John said.

By participating in state retirement plans, John said, small businesses gain a competitive advantage they lacked before.

You can recruit better people, and you can keep those people, he said, because you have a retirement plan.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saving for retirement is all but required in some states: How it works
Japan to spend extra $660 mn in quake relief



Tokyo, Feb 25 (AFP) Feb 25, 2024



Japan will spend an additional $660 million rebuilding areas ravaged by a devastating New Year's Day earthquake, its prime minister said, taking the total amount of quake relief to $1.7 billion.

The magnitude-7.5 earthquake and its aftershocks devastated parts of the Ishikawa region on the Sea of Japan coast, toppling buildings, ripping up roads and sparking a major fire.

So far 241 people were confirmed to have been killed by the disaster, with more than 10,000 people taking refuge at shelters and hotels, and water still cut off in some parts of Ishikawa.

The new financial aid was announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday as he visited the quake-hit areas to assess the situation.

"The living conditions at temporary shelters are improving, but I will bear in mind that the reality remains tough as ever", Kishida told reporters at the hardest-hit city of Wajima.

The inspection "renewed the government's determination to work toward providing more support", he said.

Kishida said the additional spending of around 100 billion yen ($660 million) from the current fiscal year's reserve funds -- used for disaster relief and other contingencies -- is set to be approved by his Cabinet in the coming days.

This will mark the third allocation of the emergency funds to efforts to recover from the New Year's Day quake, with the amount now expected to total over 260 billion yen ($1.7 billion).

The latest funds are designed in part to finance a subsidy system that seeks to help young and child-rearing families rebuild their destroyed homes, Kishida said.

The prime minister added efforts would be sped up to construct prefabricated temporary housing, while vowing more support for Wajima's traditional artifact industry known for exquisite lacquerware.

Damage from the quake in Ishikawa and two neighbouring regions is likely to cost between 1.1 trillion yen ($7.4 billion) and 2.6 trillion yen ($17.6 billion), according to a government estimate as of last month.

But even the top estimate is much less than the 16.9 trillion yen damage caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

That disaster left around 18,500 people dead or missing and triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima atomic plant, the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry addresses members of the House and Senate on opening day of a legislative special session focusing on crime, Monday, February 19, 2024, in the House Chamber at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La.
When Phyllis Hall, of Catahoula, asked Curious Louisiana if it's true that Duke Ellington and his orchestra once played in a swanky nightclub in Bunkie called the Blue Moon, I immediately remembered my long-ago interview with Sonny Harris.

Surely, he would have loved recounting the tale about how a sold out crowd packed the place to hear the jazz legend.

Yes, Bunkie, that small central Louisiana city with the funny name  that's where Harris' parents, Vines and Marye Harris, opened the Blue Moon in 1937 which played host not only to big-name orchestras but also local dance bands.

Harris probably told the story lots of times before his death at 100 in 2021. He was in high school during the Blue Moon's heyday, and he remembered it all. He also had scrapbooks filled with photos, show tickets and other memorabilia collected from the nightclub's concerts through the years.
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Review Eating outMelbourne Have a hot date with a hotpot at this solo dining sanctuary in the city Theres only one restaurant like this in Melbourne, and its only for solos. Dani Valent nabs a cubicle. Dani Valent February 20, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

As featured in the Melbourne March hit list. See all stories .

1 / 6 A row of individual booths inside WeLive2.0 (right) and its wish wall (left). Wayne Taylor 2 / 6 Japanese sukiyaki hotpot set. Wayne Taylor 3 / 6 Ruffles of sashimi presented in a ramekin. Wayne Taylor 4 / 6 Wagyu lollipop with beetroot glaze. Wayne Taylor 5 / 6 Cold tantan udon set. Wayne Taylor 6 / 6 The walls between cubicles are retractable, so you can also sit as a pair. Wayne Taylor Previous Slide Next Slide Asian$$$ For some people, eating alone is a joyous adventure. They love sitting in a corner nook, soaking up the buzz, slurping spaghetti and sangiovese. Or perhaps they are a bar percher, paging through a book with one hand and elegantly chopsticking dumplings with the other. But for many of us, eating alone is tricky and triggering, a conspicuously asocial experience. What if there was a restaurant that understood all this? WeLive 2.0 is set up especially for solo diners. Its surprising and solicitous: Alone doesnt mean lonely is their sweet motto.

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Theres nowhere else like this. Slip through a discrete doorway, up a staircase, through a curtained entryway and youll find yourself in a unique restaurant, with 34 timber dining cubicles, set up in rows. In front of each guest, theres a gas burner for DIY hotpot and a roller blind thats raised by your server to deliver food and drinks. Servers lift the blinds to deliver dishes to solo diners. Wayne Taylor The food draws on all kinds of influences. Theres finesse and creativity from head chef Jason Chow (ex-Grossi Florentino and Society) and development chef Leonardo Zhang, who previously led the kitchen at excellent Auterra Wine Bar. Owner Charlie Chen grew up near Shanghai but he often spent his holidays in Japan, where his uncle ran a ramen shop. He came to Australia as a student and worked as a chef at regional fine-diner Brae and classic French restaurant Philippe. All these experiences feed into WeLive, but theres another key motivator. Chen often felt like eating hotpot in Melbourne but he didnt always have a friend to eat it with: sadly, most restaurants wouldnt cater for him as a singleton. WeLive 2.0 is his welcoming retort.

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Japanese sukiyaki hotpot set. Wayne Taylor The QR-code menu is sprawling but hotpots are the centrepiece. Theres sweet and sour tomato soup, subtle Japanese sukiyaki broth, light and lemony tom yum, and slow-cooked lip-smacking chicken soup. You can order wagyu, seafood and vegetables to cook in your chosen base. There are also gorgeous snacks. Smoked Dutch cream potato is hidden under vanilla yoghurt foam. Wagyu lollipop is decorated with beetroot glaze. Nori crackers, snow peas and saltbush are arranged like a crunchy sculpture. Alone doesnt mean lonely is the restaurants sweet motto. Solo diners dont usually get to try others food, so WeLive 2.0 rewards repeat visits, not least so you can marvel anew at the well-provisioned bathrooms. (Lets just say that if you have an undies crisis, you can solve it here.)

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Other delights include kimono rental ($20), so you can take swish selfies in situ, and a wish wall where you might announce your deepest desires in pen and ink. You could actually come here with another person because the walls between the cubicles are retractable, but I love it solo. It feels serene, cosy and meditative, a place to revel in each moment. The low-down Vibe: Quirky solo sanctuary Cost: Lunch set: $18.80-$38; Soup bases: $9.80-$14.80; Dinner sets: $58.80-$108.80 Solo dining surging in popularity as Melbourne chefs and diners relish the solitude (and special perks)

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From Roman-style pizza by the slice to raspberry pistachio donuts, this is what you can expect from Snack Shoppes new menu of house-baked pastries and sandwiches.

1 / 12 Focaccia sandwiches at Self Raised Snack Shoppe, Bexley North. Dion Georgopoulos 2 / 12 3 / 12 Raspberry and pistacio-filled donut at Self Raised Snack Shoppe. Dion Georgopoulos 4 / 12 Snack Shoppe has opened at Bexley North, around the corner from My Mothers Cousin. Dion Georgopoulos 5 / 12 The range of burgers and sandwiches (like the fish fillet, pictured) are exclusive to the Bexley North location. Dion Georgopoulos 6 / 12 Snack Shoppe is a smaller version of Self Raised Bread Shoppe in Carlton. Dion Georgopoulos 7 / 12 All of the pastries are made fresh at Self Raised Bread Shoppe in Carlton each morning. Dion Georgopoulos 8 / 12 The team behind Self Raised are bringing city-quality bakeshops to the burbs. Dion Georgopoulos 9 / 12 An orange blossom pastry. Dion Georgopoulos 10 / 12 Dion Georgopoulos 11 / 12 Dion Georgopoulos 12 / 12 Dion Georgopoulos Previous Slide Next Slide

It has been one year since Self Raised Bread Shoppe opened in Carlton, but the queues for their house-baked focaccia, strawberry sheet cakes and hoagie sandwiches remain as long as ever.

The demand for nostalgic cafe-bakery hybrids has taken over Sydney, but it is especially strong in the south, where such venues are harder to find. Enter Self Raised Snack Shoppe in Bexley North: the second bakery offering from local hospitality young guns Sal Senan, Amani Rachid and Huss Rachid.

Snack Shoppe opened on Saturday, February 24, just around the corner from the teams popular pizza parlour, My Mothers Cousin. Its a walk-up window serving an exclusive range of new pastries and sandwiches, made fresh in the Carlton kitchen and brought over each morning.
PrathanChorruangsak / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The taboo of sharing salaries may be changing. For most American professionals, talking about how much money you make is still quite taboo. Experts often encourage salary transparency as a means of employee empowerment and ensuring fair wages. And, of course, under the Under the National Labor Relations Act, employees have the explicit right to talk with their coworkers about their salaries.

Check Out: Grant Cardone  Heres How To Become Rich If Youre Earning an Average Salary

Read Next: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

However, new data reveals that workers are very reluctant to actually discuss pay details with their colleagues.

According to a LinkedIn survey, only 16% of participants said they share their salary information with coworkers. The vast majority prefer to keep their pay private, even from trusted colleagues. This illustrates how the cultural norm of avoiding conversations about money persists in most workplaces.

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

Signs of Changing Attitudes

On the other hand, some evidence indicates that perceptions are slowly shifting. Millennials have been seen as more willing to be open about salaries, and a few high-profile companies like Whole Foods have encouraged pay transparency.

Theres also the fact that the provision of public salary ranges attached to some jobs in California is protected by law, which could normalize these conversations. The LinkedIn data itself showed generational differences. Gen Z respondents were the most likely to share their salary with coworkers (at 22%), compared to just 12% of baby boomers. This suggests that, over time, attitudes on the subject may continue to change.

Learn More: 6 Ways To Build Wealth in Less Than Five Years

Why Many Still Keep Their Pay a Secret

Currently, however, there are still barriers holding many back from being totally open about their earnings. What drives this reluctance?

Story continues

For one, money remains an intensely personal and private matter for many people. Even those comfortable talking about pay with family or friends may balk at telling colleagues. Some simply feel its no ones business but their own.

Workplace competition can also discourage transparency. Employees may want to leverage pay secrecy to their advantage in negotiations and promotions. There can be a sense that sharing too much could compromise ones career progress.

Additionally, discussions about money often provoke discomfort and awkwardness. No one wants to be seen as bragging or complaining about their salary. This makes frank conversations with coworkers hard for some.

The Benefits of Salary Transparency

However, there are good reasons to consider opening up. First, by sharing pay information, employees can discover and address potential wage discrimination. This may be especially important for women and members of minority groups, per Lora Korpar, writing for LinkedIn News.

Salary transparency allows people to ensure theyre being paid fairly relative to colleagues. These conversations also strip away the mystery around compensation at many companies. Employees gain a clearer sense of pay standards and structures when salaries arent secret.

This empowers them to better negotiate fair pay and raises for themselves. So while it may feel daunting, having candid discussions about salary can be incredibly useful for professionals seeking equal treatment and rewards for their work.

The Future of Pay Transparency

This trend may accelerate as younger generations, who are more open about money, take on leadership roles. But for now, cultural barriers around pay transparency clearly remain strong. Workers have to weigh significant pros and cons around sharing those sensitive figures on the job before making a decision on the matter.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Is It OK To Discuss Your Salary With Coworkers?
The son of a respected former police officer is the new leader of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang less than two years after he left a rival club and persuaded a judge he had reformed his life.

Bikie enforcer Mark Balsillie was recently appointed national president of the Finks, which could reignite tensions with the Mongols gang, where he served as national sergeant-at-arms until he was asked to leave in 2022.

Mark Balsillie, the new national president of the Finks. Credit: Instagram

Balsillie was also a former member of the Comancheros before he defected to the Mongols, who sent him to Russia to patch over members between the two gangs.

In 2017, the 39-year-old survived a murder attempt when he was shot seven times in the arms, leg and stomach by a former Comanchero associate who fled to Turkey after the attack.
This week, Scott Morrison will take his seat in the House of Representatives for the last time. There has been so much criticism of his prime ministership, recently revisited on the ABCs Nemesis, that his achievements have been obscured in the avalanche of negatives.

There is no denying the serious errors of judgment. I will never understand the secret ministries, for instance. Yet, we should never forget that every prime ministership is a balance sheet of achievements and mistakes.

Illustration by Simon Letch Credit:

In the long perspective of history, the legacies matter most, while the ephemera fade from memory. For Morrison, as for other former PMs, those legacies ultimately will define him.

AUKUS, our most important strategic initiative since ANZUS, was both conceived and delivered by Morrison; it simply would not have happened without him. He succeeded, where other Liberal leaders had failed, in navigating the tricky politics of the coalition to commit Australia to net-zero emissions by 2050. He steered Australia through COVID, the greatest civil emergency in our history; although there were missteps along the way, on his watch Australia achieved virtually the best public health outcomes in the world.
Anger over youth vaping has triggered concerns in parliament about government policies that are meant to stamp out the sale of illegal nicotine, in a new sign of frustration with a federal government pledge to quash the black market.

Coalition MPs are warning about the skyrocketing sale of vapes to children and the rapid spread of illicit tobacco and vape stores in their local communities, despite federal Health Minister Mark Butlers plans to restrict vaping to people with a doctors prescription.

Vape shops have proliferated despite the state and federal governments crackdown on the importation and sale of vaping products. Credit: Edwina Pickles

The moves intensify a debate about whether Labor will succeed with its vow to ban the importation of single-use vapes when some tobacco store owners claim the new plan will only encourage the black-market trade in illegal vapes and tobacco.

Liberal National Party backbencher Phillip Thompson said the federal changes were not doing enough to stop the spread of illegal vape stores in his Queensland community and prevent the products being sold to children.
The news

Years after it was first floated, the multibillion-dollar expansion of Brisbanes passenger train network to the Sunshine Coast has finally had a construction funding commitment from the state  but it will still need more.

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick and Labor government colleagues have pledged an initial $2.75 billion  based on long-awaited business case estimates  for a 19-kilometre link from the existing line at Beerwah to Caloundra.

An artists impression of one of the stations along the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line. Credit: The Department of Transport and Main Roads

However, to be finished ahead of the 2032 Games, the federal government would need to lift its current $1.6 billion commitment to match the states funding for what is now proposed to be a three-stage project, Dick said.
In a zero-sum game, Americas defeat in Afghanistan has resulted in Chinas gain.

Beijing has moved expediently to embed itself with the Taliban as an erstwhile terrorist group that the US fought unsuccessfully for two decades, and while the US and its allies focused on countering Chinas Indo-Pacific ambitions, Beijing has been working quietly and methodically on the other plank of its global strategy: to strengthen its influence in West Asia.

Chinas President Xi Jinping. Credit: Reuters

West Asia  stretching from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean  was once under the sway of US-led regional alliances. During the Cold War, the US was a central player in shaping the regional order. Along with Israel, the oil-rich, pro-Western monarchical Iran and Saudi Arabia formed the pillars of American influence in the region. Although Afghanistan maintained a foreign policy of neutrality, it was well-disposed towards the US, and Washington expected Irans monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah, to act as its regional gendarme and keep an eye on Afghanistan.

Yet, this is no longer the case and today China stands tall in the region. Its alliance with the revolutionary Islamic regime in Iran and its burgeoning ties with the ultra-extremist Taliban in Afghanistan have availed Beijing of a strong leverage to boost its geopolitical and geostrategic influence across the region.
Italian police are investigating whether an elderly woman was murdered via a serving of spaghetti from a relative set to inherit 500,000 ($826,000) from her.

Maria Basso, 80, died shortly after being taken to a restaurant in Sicily by her great niece, Paola Pepe. The younger woman has been accused of altering her will and masterminding a plot to kill her.

Maria Basso had saved over $800,000 during her work with Italys foreign ministry, which included postings to Australia. Credit: www.today.it

During the meal, Basso ate a pasta dish despite being on a strict diet of only pureed or finely chopped food because she was otherwise at risk of choking.

The spaghetti became lodged in the 80-year-olds airways, causing her death two days later.
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Qantas Airways Limited (ASX:QAN) shareholders are probably feeling a little disappointed, since its shares fell 8.9% to AU$5.30 in the week after its latest half-yearly results. Qantas Airways reported AU$11b in revenue, roughly in line with analyst forecasts, although statutory earnings per share (EPS) of AU$0.52 beat expectations, being 4.5% higher than what the analysts expected. Following the result, the analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. So we collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimates to see what could be in store for next year.

View our latest analysis for Qantas Airways

Taking into account the latest results, the current consensus from Qantas Airways' 15 analysts is for revenues of AU$22.0b in 2024. This would reflect a reasonable 4.6% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are forecast to descend 15% to AU$0.82 in the same period. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of AU$21.5b and earnings per share (EPS) of AU$0.84 in 2024. So it looks like there's been no major change in sentiment following the latest results, although the analysts have made a small increase to to revenue forecasts.

It may not be a surprise to see thatthe analysts have reconfirmed their price target of AU$7.05, implying that the uplift in revenue is not expected to greatly contribute to Qantas Airways's valuation in the near term. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. There are some variant perceptions on Qantas Airways, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at AU$9.30 and the most bearish at AU$5.60 per share. As you can see, analysts are not all in agreement on the stock's future, but the range of estimates is still reasonably narrow, which could suggest that the outcome is not totally unpredictable.

Story continues

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. The analysts are definitely expecting Qantas Airways' growth to accelerate, with the forecast 9.3% annualised growth to the end of 2024 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 0.3% per annum over the past five years. Other similar companies in the industry (with analyst coverage) are also forecast to grow their revenue at 9.3% per year. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Qantas Airways is expected to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that there's been no major change in sentiment, with the analysts reconfirming that the business is performing in line with their previous earnings per share estimates. There was also an upgrade to revenue estimates, although as we saw earlier, forecast growth is only expected to be about the same as the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at AU$7.05, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have estimates - from multiple Qantas Airways analysts - going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

That said, it's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Qantas Airways (at least 1 which is concerning) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Coop sector instrumental in shaping a resilient economy





NEW DELHI,

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi outlined the role of the cooperative sector in shaping the economy of the country while launching multiple key initiatives in the sector at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on Saturday. Today, Bharat Mandapam is becoming a witness to another major accomplishment in the Amrit Yatra of Viksit Bharat. We are going ahead in realising this resolution of Sahakar se Samridhi taken by the country. In strengthening the foundation of agriculture and farming, the power of cooperation plays a very big role, PM Modi said while addressing a gathering at Bharat Mandapam.

The cooperative sector is instrumental in shaping a resilient economy and propelling the development of rural areas. Sahkarita is not just a system, but also a feeling and a spirit! he added. It can transform a simple subsistence system into a huge industrial capacity! This is a proven way of rejuvenating the countrys economy, especially the rural and agricultural economy, the Prime Minister said. Modernisation of Indias agricultural systems is equally important for a developed India, he said. Cooperation is transforming the fisheries sector too. Today, over 25,000 cooperative units are working in the fisheries sector. Our Governments target is to establish 2 lakh Sahkari Samitis in the next 5 years. And a big part of this would belong to the fisheries sector, he said.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the pilot project of Worlds Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector, which is being done in 11 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) of 11 States. During the occasion, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for an additional 500 PACS across the country for the construction of godowns and other agri infrastructure under this initiative. Speaking on occasion, Union Minister for Cooperation and Home, Amit Shah thanked the Prime Minister for facilitating investments to strengthen PACS. The event was also attended by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda.
Its not an issue Narayan Singh Kushwaha on 27 pc OBC reservation





Staff Reporter

State Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Minister, Narayan Singh Kushwaha, who is also the State President of BJPs Backward Class Morcha has made a significant statement in regards with 27 per cent OBC reservation, on Saturday. When media questioned him about OBC reservation during his visit to the city, Kushwaha said it is not an issue. It may be noted that the issue of 27 per cent OBC reservation is currently pending in the court and the demand for it has gained attention across Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, Kushwahas not considering the 27 per cent OBC reservation as an issue has raised various questions.

The BJPs State President of Backward Class Morcha, Narayan Singh Kushwaha visited Jabalpur to participate in many programmes, on Saturday. When media persons asked him about the 27 OBC reservation being entangled in the judicial process, the minister immediately dismissed it as a non-issue. Regarding the pension of disabled persons, the Minister of Social Justice stated that the process is underway and will be increased soon. When asked the differently-abled students are staging a sit-in protest in Jabalpur regarding facilities, the Disability Welfare Minister said that India is a free country and everyone has the right to express their opinions.

In regard to the pension of disabled person, Minister Kushwaha said that everything is moving ahead according to the process. It has been only a month and a half since I became the minister and I have initiated the process. Soon, in the upcoming financial year, the pension of all disabled persons will be increased. He said whether it is the social security pension for the elderly or providing relief to all differently-abled persons, the government is working for everyone, taking everyone along.
Staff Reporter

After a wait of 5 years, finally, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMC&H) got approval for 500-bed independent facility in its premises. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari performed bhoomipujan for the project, on Saturday. IGGMC&H had prepared first proposal in 2019 during the regime of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis but it had some deficiencies which were removed later. When Mahavikas Aaghadi took over, the issue remained pending. When Shinde-Fadnavis government came to power in 2022, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pushed for the proposal which was sent again by the IGGMC&H administration in September 2022. The proposal was finally sanctioned recently which will add the healthcare facilities to IGGMC&H in a big way. The new building will replace the paying wards which are being demolished.

On Saturday, the bhoomipujan was performed at the hands of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. MLC Pravin Datke, MLA Vikas Kumbhare, ex-Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, Director of Medical Education and Research, Dr Dileep Mhaisekar, and ex-MLA Dr Milind Mane also were present. Dr Ravi Chavan, supported by Dr Vipin Itankar, has been pushing for the project since long. There are some British era buildings in the premises of IGGMC&H. Seeking assistance from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), the hospital administration had conducted a structural audit of the same. As per the audit by VNIT, Ward numbers 7, 8, 3, 4 of Medicine and Paediatrics were found under the Damage Class 4 category, and were not in use since.

Meanwhile Ward numbers 10, 11, 12 of the TB department also were in a bad condition. As the administration stopped using all these wards, the capacity of Paediatrics, Medicine and TB came down drastically. Majority part of the premises has been in Damage Class 4 category. If functioning of those wards was to stop, it would cause inconvenience to patients visiting the hospital. Also, if the standard guidelines of National Medical Commission (NMC) are taken into account then number of beds at the hospital are very less for 200 students. As per the proposal, the new building will be of 11 floors needing Rs 145.54 crore cost for construction. It will house departments including Medicine, Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Skin, Paediatrics and TB. It will also have min operation theatre (OT), emergency OT, blood bank, 30-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 30-bed Medical ICU, 20-bed Neonatal ICU, Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit, 30-bed geriatric ward and other departments. The proposal has given due importance to Department of Skin and Psychiatry, too, which will have one unit each initially. Gadkari has asked the administration to attach the hospital with the Metro station to facilitate easy access to the visiting patients. This will also help resolve parking issue, he added.
City researchers solution for cleft-lipped babies Develop bottle to aid in feeding, get patent





Staff Reporter

Young ones with cleft palate often find it difficult to consume food as the deformity leads to milk entering into the lungs, resulting into aspiration. In patients with cleft palate, the mouth cannot be closed off from the nose and little or no suction can be created. Also, food enters the nasal passage, causing nasal regurgitation. A cleft lip can be surgically closed few weeks after birth, while the palate can be closed only after nine months. Meanwhile, the baby suffers from choking, fatigue and subsequently, malnourishment. But, a joint research by Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) and Government Dental College and Hospital (GDCH) gave birth to a feeding bottle with the help of which the consumption of food will become easier for the little one with the above deformity. Few years back, Dr Abhay Datarkar, Dean of Government Dental College and Hospital, approached VNIT to provide some support to newborn babies with cleft palate. He collaborated with Dr Rashmi Uddanwadiker, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, VNIT.

A cleft lip or cleft palate occurs when midline tissues of the mouth do not fuse together during the development of a fetus. Researchers started working on this product with an objective of designing an affordable feeding bottle or add-ons for an existing bottle that allows adjustable flow control. Secondly, they aimed to reduce the dependence of flow rate of milk on intra-oral negative pressure. It is to ensure that the patient with the most severe cleft deformity consumes fluid at the optimum flow rate without causing fatigue. VNIT developed feeding bottle for cleft palate babies by employing multi-hole restrictive orifices for flow control.
(Bloomberg) -- Qatar plans to expand exports of liquefied natural gas amid rising demand and a pause on growth projects in the US, a key rival supplier.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The nation, which vies with the US and Australia as the biggest shipper of the fuel, will develop a new 16 million tons a year project before the end of this decade, lifting annual production capacity to 142 million tons by 2030, the countrys Energy Minister Saad Al-Kaabi said Sunday.

The expansion opens the way for the Middle Eastern country to secure a dominant long-term role in global exports. It has already signed a succession of deals to sell supply from its current expansion to 126 million tons, including a 27-year pact with China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. and with European companies such as Eni SpA, TotalEnergies SE and Shell Plc. Demand for LNG is forecast to rise more than 50% by 2040, driven by rising consumption in Asia, according to Shell.

The expansion follows the discovery of 250 trillion cubic feet of new gas deposits in the North Field, taking overall reserves to about 2,000 trillion, Al-Kaabi said. The country is still appraising new wells in the field and will produce more if there are additional gas finds, he said.

Qatar hasnt yet decided if it will bring in partners for the new project, Al-Kaabi said.

US Pause

The US imposed a temporary halt on new LNG export licenses in January while it studies the impact of higher shipments on climate change, the economy and national security. A pause on approvals could last as long as 14 months, according to White House energy adviser Amos Hochstein.

Story continues

The American pause comes as producers and other advocates insist natural gas is a lower-emissions alternative to coal or oil and can complement rising adoption of renewable sources. Al-Kaabi expects a global shortage of gas despite new projects.

The only thing that would stop us announcing more projects is if we dont believe there is a market for gas, he said.

Most of that demand is likely to come from Asia, with Europe also continuing to use gas for a long time even though the pace of growth will be slower, Al-Kaabi said.

(Updates with context from the third paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Heads and tails of human nature





BY DR S J ACHARYA

AT THE fag end of the busy hospital day, an elderly person entered my chamber with folded hands accompanied by a young man. I asked him to make himself comfortable and looked at him. Hesitant to sit, face red with a sorrowful smile, he kept few currencies on my table saying Doctor, here is your balance payment. The story became clear soon. This gentleman, a farmer from a distant village, had come to me twelve years back with his ten-year-old ailing son. The child had some kidney problems. He was admitted to my hospital for about two weeks. The child got cured. Upon discharge, this gentleman could not pay my hospital bill. I had told him not to worry; as my greatest satisfaction was that the child was cured. Now the boy had grown up, a young man of twenty-two years. And after all these years his father came back to pay my hospital bill!

The gentleman said, Saheb, in last twelve years I could not sleep properly thinking that I have to pay back your fees. I am a small farmer and I stay very far. Now my son has grown up, he has started a daily-needs shop in our village, so now I have come to pay back your fees. I was really ashamed to face you so I waited for hours outside your chamber till you became free. I was moved by the simplicity of the person. I could not recollect the incident. However, I thanked him and wished him good health and his son a bright future. This reminded me of another incident when a person from a very well to do household, a builder by occupation, came in a posh car with his ailing octogenarian mother. After few days of good care and medications she got cured. On discharge the gentleman gave me a cheque saying that he did not have cash and drove back. The cheque bounced, the bank note stated that the account was closed a year back!

I was bewildered! On one hand a very poor farmer from a distant village had come back to pay my fees after twelve long years and on the other, was a rich man who had ditched the physician who had cured his mother. These two real life situations are two sides of the same coin. A person is not good or bad; its the circumstances in which he or she has grown up. The farmer may not have passed money or property to his son but imparted far more important ones  honesty and politeness. About the other man, the less said the better.
Jabalpur Railway Station to be redeveloped on basis of Rani Kamlapati Station, Bhopal: DRM





Staff Reporter

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will virtually lay foundation stone for redevelopment and renovation of 554 railway stations and 1,500 road over bridge and underpass throughout the country, on February 26. Redevelopment of Jabalpur Railway Station will be carried out on the basis of Rani Kamlapati Station, Bhopal while two new rail lines will be laid with the budget of Rs 460 crores, informed by Vivek Sheel, Divisional Rail Manager Jabalpur while addressing a press conference, on Saturday. DRM Jabalpur, Vivek Sheel informed that PM, Narendra Modi already laid foundation stone for renovation works of 11 railway stations in Jabalpur Rail Division under Amrit Bharat Station Yojana on August 6, 2023 include Katni Junction with Rs 30 crore, Katni Mudwara Rs 22 crore, Katni South Rs 20.6 crore, Damoh Rs 25 crore, Gadarwara Rs 23 crore, Shridham Rs 21.5 crore, Maihar Rs 21.4 crore, Kareli Rs 20 crore, Sihora Road Rs 19 crore, Rewa Rs 17.5 crore and Sagar station is being renovated with Rs 17.5 crore. Besides this, PM Modi will lay foundation stone of four more stations on February 26 include Narsinghpur, Piparia, Beohari and Bargavan while two ROBs and one LHS will also be constructed with the budget of Rs 173 crore.
NHRC team visits Sandeshkhali for second day; Suvendu likens situation to Nandigram





KOLKATA,

AN NHRC team visited trouble-torn Sandeshkhali for the second consecutive day on Saturday to investigate into allegations of land-grabbing by some TMC leaders. A CPI(M) delegation led by Minakshi Mukhopadhyay also visited the strife-hit region in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal even as an uneasy calm prevailed with police patrolling the area. Mukhopadhyay, along with party leader Palash Das, visited various households and spoke to the locals. ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar also made a visit to the area. Meanwhile, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari likened the situation in Sandeshkhali to Nandigram, where a movement against forcible land acquisition by the then Left Front government in 2007-08 catapulted the TMC to power in 2011. The situation in Sandeshkhali is like Nandigram... People have brought serious allegations of land-grabbing, vote-looting, sexual harassment and murder of democracy in the area, he told reporters in Kolkata.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC are still in force in certain parts of Sandeshkhali. The region has been rocked by protests over alleged land-grabbing and sexual harassment of women by local TMC leaders, including Sheikh Shajahan and his brother Sirajuddin Sheikh. Trouble started brewing in the area when a team of ED officials that conducted a raid on Shajahans house on January 5 was attacked by a mob allegedly affiliated to the local TMC leadership. The area also saw visits by members of the National Human Rights Commission, national ST and SC commissions and the National Commission for Women. The Director General of Police also visited the area twice in an effort to instill confidence among the villagers.
NEW DELHI,

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the worlds largest grain storage plan in the co-operative sector, entailing an investment of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore, with the inauguration of 11 godowns in primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) in as many States. Under the programme, 700 lakh tonne of storage capacity will be created over the next five years in the co-operative sector by constructing thousands of godowns and warehouses, Modi said at an event here. He also laid the foundation for creating godowns and other agri infrastructure in 500 more PACS. Today we have launched the worlds largest storage scheme for our farmers. Under this, thousands of warehouses and godowns will be constructed across the country, he said after inaugurating 11 godowns set up by 11 PACS across 11 States. He rued that farmers were forced to bear huge losses due to lack of storage infrastructure in the country. Previous Governments never paid due attention to this problem. But today through PACS, this problem is being addressed. Under the worlds largest food grain storage programme, 700 lakh tonne storage capacity will be created in the next five years. On this initiative more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore will be spent, the Prime Minister said.

With the creation of the huge storage facilities, Modi said farmers would be able to store their produce in the godowns/warehouses, get institutional credit against it, and sell their items when market prices are remunerative. He also asked co-operative organisations to work towards reducing imports of food items, including edible oils and pulses, and also fertilisers. Modi also emphasised on the importance of bringing transparency in the election system in co-operatives, saying this would encourage more participation of people in the co-operative movement. The Prime Minister talked about various initiatives taken by the Government in the last 10 years for the growth of the co-operative sector as part of its vision of Sahakar se Samridhi, and specifically highlighted the creation of a specific Ministry for the co-operative sector. Through a separate Ministry, efforts are being made to strengthen co-operatives in the country, he said. Modi also said the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act has been amended and PACS are being computerised. The Prime Minister also inaugurated a project for computerisation of 18,000 PACS across the country. Referring to farmer producer organisations (FPOs), Modi said small farmers are becoming entrepreneurs and even exporting their produce.

We had set a target of establishing 10,000 FPOs. We have already set up 8,000 FPOs. Their success is being discussed at the global level now. Fishery and animal husbandry sectors are also benefiting from the co-operatives, he said. In the next five years, the target is to set up 2 lakh PACS and the maximum will be in the fishery and allied farm sectors. The Prime Minister also called upon the co-operative sector to help reduce Indias import bill on food and fuel products. To make India self-reliant, he suggested that co-operatives should make a list of items that India imports and plan an action to produce or manufacture them locally. He said co-operative organisations can help reduce import of edible oils, fertilisers and crude oil. Our fuel import has to be reduced. In ethanol, we are working in a big way. Ethanol production has increased significantly, Modi said. Earlier, Co-operation Minister Amit Shah said the worlds largest grain storage scheme would help create capacities for storing 100 per cent of Indias grain production.

The scheme aims to seamlessly integrate PACS godowns with the food grain supply chain, with a collaborative effort of NABARD and spearheaded by the National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC). The initiative is being implemented through the convergence of various existing schemes like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), etc. To enable PACS participating in the project avail subsidies and interest subvention benefits for undertaking infrastructure development. Shah said the computerisation of 30,000 more PACS would be completed soon before the forthcoming general elections. This is part of the Governments efforts to realise the vision of Sahakar se Samridhi for rejuvenating the co-operative sector and empowering small and marginal farmers. The project for computerisation of 65,000 PACS has been approved with a financial outlay of more than Rs 2,500 crore. This initiative involves transitioning all functional PACS onto a unified Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) based national software, ensuring seamless integration and connectivity.
Suraj Eye Institutes inauguration today





Staff Reporter

Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister and Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister will inaugurate Suraj Eye Institute at MIHAN on Sunday at 11 am at plot number 6, opposite Indian Institute of Management (IIM). This is the first institute dedicated to the eye being opened at MIHAN. The institute will be dedicated to the nation. Dr Francis Hiddema, former Chief Executive Officer of The Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Netherlands; Rajendra Purohit, Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Nagpur Kendra and Dr Girish Rao, President of Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Netralaya, Chennai will be guests of honour. Dr Roger Hitchings, Professor Emeritus of Glaucoma, Moorfields Eye Hospital, University of London (UK) and Dr Johannes R Vingerling, Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology at Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands will be virtual guests of honour. Dr Vinay Nangia, Chairman, Suraj Eye Institute; Vinod Nangia, Dr S Bhaskaran, Sushil Chhabra, Dr Sarang Lambat, Dr Prabhat Nangia, Dr Nivea Surana, Dr Ravi Daberao have appealed to attend the ceremony.

There is a significant need for a Center of Excellence in Ophthalmology in Nagpur and Central India. The Suraj Eye Institute has acquired 4 acres of land in MIHAN. We aim to accelerate the prevention and control of blindness activities in Central India, especially for Nagpur and districts of Vidarbha where we are already established and working for the last many years. The infrastructure of the institute is designed so that 50 per cent of the eye hospital is devoted to charity patients. There is a special charity consultation area and a charity ward, he said. Adding further, Dr Nangia said, The diagnostic areas are shared and the operating rooms are common. For every part of the eye such as cornea, glaucoma, retina, etc, there is a special training and fellowship to spearhead the high-quality practice and eye health delivery. The institute will be a major centre for training postgraduates and fellows in different subspecialties in Central India. The Foundation of the structure has been made so that the institute can rise up to 7 floors and achieve a total built-up area of more than 250,000 sq. feet, explained Dr Nangia.

Dr Nangia who was trained at Harvard in 1992-1993 with a vision to set up a state-of-the-art eye hospital, with special emphasis on community eye care, as such a facility was lacking in Central India and patients would have to travel to Mumbai for their treatment. In essence, we needed to develop a 'Center of Excellence' in this part of the country. It was also important to have a larger infrastructure if we were to serve the rural communities in a bigger way. As our life expectancy grows, the number of blind and visually impaired are increasing and our clinical services are unable to keep pace with it, explained Dr Vinay Nangia. Dr Nangia said, This is an appeal to join us on this mission for the next many years. I request you to donate to our non-profit foundation - Om Drishti Trust. The Suraj Eye Institute is part of the Om Drishti Trust.
Twist in emotionally hurt minors tale





Staff Reporter

Three minor girls went missing from their residence in Rana Pratap Nagar following an episode of scolding by their mother. The case, initially treated as kidnapping, took an unexpected turn when the runaway minors were located in Wardha. The incident took place on Wednesday morning when a 13-year-old and a 7-year-old girl decided to leave home after being reprimanded by their mother. Their chosen destination was their grandmothers residence in Khamla. Accompanying them was their 8-year-old cousin. The trio made their way to the railway station with the intention of traveling by a train to an unknown destination. Concerned relatives, unable to locate the girls, initiated a search and finally registered a kidnapping case at Rana Pratap Nagar Police Station.

CCTV footage analysis pointed the investigators towards the railway station. Later, it was confirmed that the trio had boarded a Wardha-bound train. In a fortunate turn of events, a passenger grew suspicious upon spotting the girls in the train. He informed the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Wardha. The GRP swung into action and deboarded the girls from the train. Further inquiries revealed that they were resident of Rana Pratap Nagar area in Nagpur. The GRP communicated the information to Rana Pratap Nagar Police, who brought the trio back to Nagpur. Now, the three minors are under the care of Shraddhanand Anathalaya.
CHENNAI,

THE voters have a right to know about the feasibility of fulfilling poll assurances made by political parties, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday and made it clear that the matter is, however, sub judice. Political parties have a right to make promises in their election manifestos and the electorate has a right to know if these are genuine and how these programmes could be funded, he said, adding the entire matter forms part of an ongoing case and the matter was sub judice.

At a press conference here, Rajiv Kumar, answering questions, said the Election Commission has prepared a proforma to make parties to make a disclosure on their election promises. However, this aspect also relates to the pending court matter. He said enforcement agencies have been directed to stay vigilant and prevent distribution of cash and freebies. National Payments Corporation of India too has been tasked to monitor online transactions. To a question on fake news, he said, today fake news is running as you mentioned that election dates have been announced, This fake news has, however, been countered within half an hour and it was made amply clear that it was fake.
Youth brutally killed in Bhilai





Staff Reporter

BHILAI,

IN a brutal killing, some unidentified assailants killed a youth brutally by smashing head with stones near 32-Bungalow area in Bhilai. As per the sources, in this brutal killing the police are suspecting involvement of persons of close acquaintance as the crime scene is at considerable distance from the victims residential area. Police sources informed that the deceased has been identified as Sheikh Shahrukh (27), son of Sheikh Samir, a resident of Harnabandha, Durg. The police said that at about 11 am on Saturday, after information a Bhilai Nagar police team rushed to the spot and recovered the body of a youth that was found lying in bushes with serious head injuries and blood-soaked marks at the spot that located near 32-Bungalow area in Bhilai.

The police team also recovered some blood stained stones from the spot, confirming it to be the crime scene. As a part of investigation, police have collected all evidences and recording statements of all concerned to track down the culprits behind the heinous offence. In the matter police have registered the offence against unidentified accused under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code for brutal killing.

Rajkumar Dhritlahare, Station House Officer, Bhilai Nagar Police Station informed that with inspecting crime scene minutely the police are investigating into heinous offence from all possible angles and also verifying alibis of all concerned. The victim Sheikh Shahrukh was missing since yesterday evening and later the family members learnt about his body at the area in Bhilai. He asserted that police are working on certain inputs and the culprits behind brutal killing will soon be behind bars.
Key Insights

Quaker Chemical's estimated fair value is US$165 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Quaker Chemical is estimated to be 21% overvalued based on current share price of US$199

Analyst price target for KWR is US$227, which is 38% above our fair value estimate

Does the February share price for Quaker Chemical Corporation (NYSE:KWR) 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. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. 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 Quaker Chemical

Is Quaker Chemical Fairly Valued?

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$166.6m US$191.6m US$177.8m US$170.0m US$166.0m US$164.4m US$164.4m US$165.6m US$167.5m US$170.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ -7.21% Est @ -4.36% Est @ -2.37% Est @ -0.97% Est @ 0.01% Est @ 0.69% Est @ 1.17% Est @ 1.51% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% US$155 US$167 US$144 US$129 US$117 US$108 US$101 US$95.1 US$89.7 US$85.0

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$1.2b

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.3%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$170m (1 + 2.3%)  (7.2% 2.3%) = US$3.6b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$3.6b ( 1 + 7.2%)10= US$1.8b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$3.0b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$199, the company appears slightly overvalued 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.

dcf

Important 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 Quaker Chemical as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.063. 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 Quaker Chemical

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Chemicals market.

Expensive based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by earnings.

Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the American market.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. 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. Why is the intrinsic value lower than the current share price? For Quaker Chemical, there are three essential aspects you should explore:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Quaker Chemical that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does KWR's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors purchased a new stake in Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 3,237 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $210,000.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Security National Bank of Sioux City Iowa IA increased its stake in Occidental Petroleum by 597.4% during the 3rd quarter. Security National Bank of Sioux City Iowa IA now owns 25,108 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $1,629,000 after purchasing an additional 21,508 shares in the last quarter. Allstate Corp acquired a new position in Occidental Petroleum during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $211,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its position in Occidental Petroleum by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 176,735 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $11,467,000 after acquiring an additional 7,268 shares during the last quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Occidental Petroleum by 21.2% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 10,064 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $653,000 after acquiring an additional 1,760 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tacita Capital Inc boosted its position in Occidental Petroleum by 53.3% during the 3rd quarter. Tacita Capital Inc now owns 1,395 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $91,000 after acquiring an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. 77.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Occidental Petroleum from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Wolfe Research downgraded Occidental Petroleum from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Raymond James reduced their price target on Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Mizuho cut shares of Occidental Petroleum from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $63.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Occidental Petroleum from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $68.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $70.06.

Insider Transactions at Occidental Petroleum

In related news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc purchased 1,743,124 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $60.26 per share, with a total value of $105,040,652.24. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 243,715,804 shares in the company, valued at $14,686,314,349.04. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Over the last 90 days, insiders bought 8,720,708 shares of company stock valued at $505,766,000. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Occidental Petroleum Trading Down 0.8 %

OXY stock opened at $60.02 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $58.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $61.07. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a one year low of $55.12 and a one year high of $67.67. The stock has a market cap of $52.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.64.

Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.74 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.74. Occidental Petroleum had a return on equity of 20.63% and a net margin of 16.24%. The company had revenue of $7.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.93 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.61 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 3.88 EPS for the current year.

Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.47%. This is an increase from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. Occidental Petroleums dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.41%.

About Occidental Petroleum

(Free Report)

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing.

Further Reading

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Meeder Advisory Services Inc. reduced its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 21,763 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 773 shares during the period. Meeder Advisory Services Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $2,108,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC now owns 21,419 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,074,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado boosted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 9.8% during the 2nd quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,415,759 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $154,346,000 after acquiring an additional 126,547 shares in the last quarter. Rockland Trust Co. boosted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 91,868 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $8,897,000 after acquiring an additional 1,343 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. boosted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 373,375 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $36,161,000 after acquiring an additional 5,058 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Riverview Capital Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 2nd quarter worth about $210,000. 73.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Raymond James upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. TheStreet upgraded Abbott Laboratories from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Citigroup increased their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $128.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $120.00.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

Shares of ABT stock traded up $0.44 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $119.46. The stock had a trading volume of 4,261,515 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,534,939. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $112.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $104.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Abbott Laboratories has a one year low of $89.67 and a one year high of $120.15. The firm has a market cap of $207.28 billion, a PE ratio of 36.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.75.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.19. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.65% and a net margin of 14.27%. The business had revenue of $10.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.03 EPS. Abbott Laboratoriess quarterly revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.61 EPS for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced 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 1.84%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is presently 67.48%.

Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories

In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total value of $1,620,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,022,916. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total transaction of $4,781,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,315,537.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total value of $1,620,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,022,916. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Abbott Laboratories 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.

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Shares of Bacanora Lithium Plc (LON:BCN  Get Free Report) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 67 ($0.84) and traded as low as GBX 67 ($0.84). Bacanora Lithium shares last traded at GBX 67 ($0.84), with a volume of 238,939 shares.

Bacanora Lithium Price Performance

The firm has a fifty day moving average of GBX 67 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 67. The company has a market capitalization of 259.38 million and a P/E ratio of 8.70. The company has a current ratio of 36.64, a quick ratio of 36.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.44.

About Bacanora Lithium

(Get Free Report)

Bacanora Lithium Plc, a development stage mining company, engages in the identification, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The company primarily explores for battery grade lithium carbonates. Its flagship project is the Sonora lithium project, which consists of 10 mining concessions covering approximately 100,000 hectares located in the northeast of Sonora State in Mexico.

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Free Report) by 4.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,439 shares of the oilfield services companys stock after buying an additional 289 shares during the quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in Halliburton were worth $301,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital World Investors raised its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 47.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 114,407,642 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $3,774,308,000 after purchasing an additional 36,640,866 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Halliburton in the 4th quarter valued at about $457,245,000. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main raised its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 123.0% in the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 15,936,342 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $627,088,000 after purchasing an additional 8,791,319 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 65.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 17,217,776 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $677,520,000 after purchasing an additional 6,815,373 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 140.4% in the 1st quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 3,737,112 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $118,242,000 after purchasing an additional 2,182,602 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.09% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

HAL has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Halliburton from $44.00 to $48.00 in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Halliburton in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Halliburton from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Halliburton from $55.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Halliburton from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Two equities research 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. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $48.63.

Halliburton Stock Down 0.3 %

NYSE:HAL opened at $35.21 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $31.34 billion, a PE ratio of 12.02, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 2.01. Halliburton has a twelve month low of $27.84 and a twelve month high of $43.85. The company has a current ratio of 2.06, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The companys 50 day moving average is $35.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.01.

Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The oilfield services company reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.06. The business 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 firm earned $0.72 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Halliburton will post 3.43 EPS for the current year.

Halliburton Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be issued a $0.17 dividend. This is an increase from Halliburtons previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 5th. Halliburtons dividend payout ratio is 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.

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX  Free Report) by 11.5% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 5,901 shares of the natural resource companys stock after purchasing an additional 610 shares during the quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $220,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Retirement Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 97.1% in the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 670 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Finally, ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. 77.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Freeport-McMoRan Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of Freeport-McMoRan stock opened at $38.96 on Friday. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 1 year low of $32.83 and a 1 year high of $44.70. The firm has a market cap of $55.88 billion, a PE ratio of 30.68 and a beta of 2.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $40.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.42 and a quick ratio of 1.38.

Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend

Freeport-McMoRan ( NYSE:FCX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The natural resource company reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.85 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a return on equity of 8.41% and a net margin of 8.09%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.52 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.51 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 12th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.54%. Freeport-McMoRans payout ratio is 23.62%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on FCX. Raymond James increased their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Eight Capital set a $55.00 price target on Freeport-McMoRan and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. UBS Group lowered their price target on Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $41.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Freeport-McMoRan from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $44.95.

View Our Latest Analysis on FCX

About Freeport-McMoRan

(Free Report)

Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile.

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors raised its holdings in Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (NYSE:GSBD  Free Report) by 47.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 18,592 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 6,002 shares during the period. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in Goldman Sachs BDC were worth $271,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd increased its position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC by 1.8% during the second quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 39,634 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $549,000 after purchasing an additional 719 shares in the last quarter. Kraematon Investment Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC by 0.8% during the second quarter. Kraematon Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 111,039 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,539,000 after purchasing an additional 837 shares in the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC by 6.4% during the second quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 15,225 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $211,000 after purchasing an additional 919 shares in the last quarter. CFO4Life Group LLC increased its position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC by 9.6% during the third quarter. CFO4Life Group LLC now owns 11,091 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $161,000 after purchasing an additional 973 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lido Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Goldman Sachs BDC by 5.8% during the first quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 18,216 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $249,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. 28.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Goldman Sachs BDC Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:GSBD opened at $15.43 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $15.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $14.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.26 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.49. Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. has a 12 month low of $12.75 and a 12 month high of $16.52.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Goldman Sachs BDC from $14.50 to $15.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. StockNews.com raised Goldman Sachs BDC from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, TheStreet raised Goldman Sachs BDC from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Monday, December 18th.

View Our Latest Stock Report on GSBD

About Goldman Sachs BDC

(Free Report)

Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc is a business development company specializing in middle market and mezzanine investment in private companies. It seeks to make capital appreciation through direct originations of secured debt, senior secured debt, junior secured debt, including first lien, first lien/last-out unitranche and second lien debt, unsecured debt, including mezzanine debt and, to a lesser extent, investments in equities.

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Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board trimmed its position in BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA  Free Report) by 83.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 6,439 shares of the auto parts companys stock after selling 32,475 shares during the period. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Boards holdings in BorgWarner were worth $260,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BWA. Column Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of BorgWarner by 149.5% in the 2nd quarter. Column Capital Advisors LLC now owns 549 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 329 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in BorgWarner in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of BorgWarner by 72.2% during the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 816 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 342 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank grew its stake in shares of BorgWarner by 86.0% in the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 941 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 435 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of BorgWarner in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $51,000. 92.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at BorgWarner

In other news, CAO Tonit M. Calaway sold 35,603 shares of BorgWarner stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.15, for a total value of $1,144,636.45. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 83,348 shares in the company, valued at $2,679,638.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CAO Tonit M. Calaway sold 35,603 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.15, for a total value of $1,144,636.45. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 83,348 shares in the company, valued at $2,679,638.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Frederic Lissalde sold 225,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.08, for a total transaction of $7,020,972.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 455,227 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,148,455.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.45% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on BorgWarner from $38.00 to $34.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on BorgWarner from $59.00 to $52.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 25th. TheStreet downgraded BorgWarner from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Robert W. Baird cut shares of BorgWarner from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $45.00 to $39.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, BNP Paribas downgraded shares of BorgWarner from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $43.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $44.12.

Read Our Latest Analysis on BWA

BorgWarner Stock Performance

BWA opened at $30.41 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $33.55 and a 200-day moving average of $36.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.65. BorgWarner Inc. has a 52-week low of $29.51 and a 52-week high of $51.14. The company has a market cap of $6.99 billion, a PE ratio of 11.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.32.

BorgWarner (NYSE:BWA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The auto parts company reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.93 by ($0.03). BorgWarner had a net margin of 3.94% and a return on equity of 14.69%. The company had revenue of $3.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.62 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.26 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that BorgWarner Inc. will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BorgWarner Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. BorgWarners dividend payout ratio is 16.48%.

About BorgWarner

(Free Report)

BorgWarner Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides solutions for combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicles worldwide. It offers turbochargers, eBoosters, eTurbos, timing systems, emissions systems, thermal systems, gasoline ignition technology, smart remote actuators, powertrain sensors, cabin heaters, battery modules and systems, battery heaters, and battery charging.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BWA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA  Free Report).

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While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL).

Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

Check out our latest analysis for Royal Caribbean Cruises

How To Calculate Return On Equity?

Return on equity can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Royal Caribbean Cruises is:

35% = US$1.7b  US$4.9b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

The 'return' is the yearly profit. Another way to think of that is that for every $1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn $0.35 in profit.

Does Royal Caribbean Cruises Have A Good ROE?

Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. As you can see in the graphic below, Royal Caribbean Cruises has a higher ROE than the average (17%) in the Hospitality industry.

roe

That's clearly a positive. With that said, a high ROE doesn't always indicate high profitability. A higher proportion of debt in a company's capital structure may also result in a high ROE, where the high debt levels could be a huge risk . You can see the 2 risks we have identified for Royal Caribbean Cruises by visiting our risks dashboard for free on our platform here.

The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity

Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Story continues

Royal Caribbean Cruises' Debt And Its 35% ROE

It seems that Royal Caribbean Cruises uses a huge volume of debt to fund the business, since it has an extremely high debt to equity ratio of 4.30. So although the company has an impressive ROE, the company might not have been able to achieve this without the significant use of debt.

Conclusion

Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. In our books, the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE.

But ROE is just one piece of a bigger puzzle, since high quality businesses often trade on high multiples of earnings. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

Of course Royal Caribbean Cruises may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have high ROE and low debt.

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.
Buffalo Coal Corp. (CVE:BUF  Get Free Report) shares crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$0.01 and traded as low as C$0.01. Buffalo Coal shares last traded at C$0.01, with a volume of 26,000 shares trading hands.

Buffalo Coal Stock Up 100.0 %

The firm has a market capitalization of C$7.37 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.33 and a beta of 0.58. The companys 50 day moving average price is C$0.01 and its 200 day moving average price is C$0.01.

About Buffalo Coal

(Get Free Report)

Buffalo Coal Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a coal mining company in South Africa. It primarily focuses on the Aviemore anthracite mine covering an area of approximately 5,513 hectares and Magdalena mine covering an area of approximately 1,844 hectares located in the Kwa-Zulu, Natal Province of South Africa.

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C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. lowered its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI World ETF (NYSEARCA:URTH  Free Report) by 87.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 363 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,485 shares during the quarter. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd.s holdings in iShares MSCI World ETF were worth $44,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI World ETF by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. now owns 2,960 shares of the companys stock valued at $369,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Securities LLC raised its position in iShares MSCI World ETF by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. Two Sigma Securities LLC now owns 3,135 shares of the companys stock valued at $390,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Arlington Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI World ETF by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Arlington Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,038 shares of the companys stock worth $485,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI World ETF by 128.3% during the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 210 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nwam LLC increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI World ETF by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Nwam LLC now owns 2,010 shares of the companys stock worth $250,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI World ETF Stock Up 0.1 %

NYSEARCA:URTH opened at $140.33 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.14 and a beta of 0.96. iShares MSCI World ETF has a twelve month low of $109.48 and a twelve month high of $140.73. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $134.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.32.

iShares MSCI World ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI World index, a market-cap-weighted index of stocks that cover 85% of the developed worlds market capitalization. URTH was launched on Jan 10, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Cadence Bank cut its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 7,204 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 370 shares during the period. Cadence Banks holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $294,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in WFC. Defender Capital LLC. bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the first quarter worth approximately $246,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 1st quarter valued at $124,000. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 1st quarter valued at $222,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 273,936 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,274,000 after purchasing an additional 770 shares during the period. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 24.5% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 9,630 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $467,000 after purchasing an additional 1,895 shares during the period. 72.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wells Fargo & Company Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of WFC opened at $53.86 on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1-year low of $35.25 and a 1-year high of $54.02. The company has a 50-day moving average of $49.46 and a 200 day moving average of $44.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $192.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.17, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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). Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 12.40%. The business had revenue of $20.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.30 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 2nd will be issued a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 1st. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.60%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 29.05%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently commented on WFC. Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $51.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and issued a $51.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, January 8th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $51.43.

View Our Latest Report on Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 28.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,636 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,341 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $985,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in PM. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter worth about $753,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. 79.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. UBS Group downgraded Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and cut their price target for the stock from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Societe Generale upgraded Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 price target for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $95.00 price target for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $105.40.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,703,629.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Philip Morris International Trading Up 0.4 %

PM stock opened at $91.56 on Friday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12-month low of $87.23 and a 12-month high of $101.92. The stock has a market cap of $142.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.24, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.63. The businesss 50-day moving average is $92.56 and its 200 day moving average is $92.93.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.39 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st were issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.68%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 20th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 103.59%.

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.

See Also

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).

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Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:TCAF  Free Report) by 76.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 49,036 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 21,287 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC owned about 1.09% of T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF worth $1,217,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of TCAF. Financial Connections Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF during the third quarter worth about $74,000. Cora Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF by 25.3% during the third quarter. Cora Capital Advisors LLC now owns 417,351 shares of the companys stock worth $10,354,000 after purchasing an additional 84,156 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF during the third quarter worth about $4,183,000. MTM Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF during the third quarter worth about $3,178,000. Finally, Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF during the third quarter worth about $226,000.

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T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF Stock Performance

TCAF opened at $29.55 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $28.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is $26.47. T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF has a one year low of $23.95 and a one year high of $29.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.98 million and a P/E ratio of 25.79.

About T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF

The T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF (TCAF) is an exchange-traded fund. The funds investment portfolio concentrates primarily on large cap equity. TCAF is an actively managed fund that pursues higher quality stocks of US large-cap companies that are perceived to have above average potential for capital growth.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TCAF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:TCAF  Free Report).

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Wayfair (NYSE:W  Get Free Report) and Beyond (NYSE:BYON  Get Free Report) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Wayfair and Beyond, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Wayfair 0 10 15 1 2.65 Beyond 0 2 3 0 2.60

Wayfair currently has a consensus price target of $74.68, indicating a potential upside of 42.08%. Beyond has a consensus price target of $35.40, indicating a potential upside of 20.78%. Given Wayfairs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Wayfair is more favorable than Beyond.

Volatility and Risk

Valuation & Earnings

Wayfair has a beta of 3.32, suggesting that its stock price is 232% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Beyond has a beta of 3.68, suggesting that its stock price is 268% more volatile than the S&P 500.

This table compares Wayfair and Beyonds revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Wayfair $12.00 billion 0.52 -$1.33 billion ($6.52) -8.06 Beyond $1.56 billion 0.85 -$35.24 million ($6.80) -4.31

Beyond has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Wayfair. Wayfair is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Beyond, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

89.7% of Wayfair shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 71.4% of Beyond shares are held by institutional investors. 26.8% of Wayfair shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.3% of Beyond shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Wayfair and Beyonds net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Wayfair -6.15% N/A -22.60% Beyond -19.72% -15.32% -10.73%

Summary

Wayfair beats Beyond on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Wayfair

(Get Free Report)

Wayfair Inc. engages in the e-commerce business in the United States and internationally. The company provides approximately fourty million products for the home sector under various brands. It offers online selections of furniture, decor, housewares, and home improvement products through its sites, including Wayfair, Joss & Main, AllModern, Birch Lane, Perigold, and Wayfair Professional. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

About Beyond

(Get Free Report)

Beyond, Inc. operates as an online retailer of furniture and home furnishings products in the United States and Canada. The company offers furniture, bedding and bath, patio and outdoor, area rugs, tabletop and cookware, decor, storage and organization, small appliances, home improvement, and other products under the Bed Bath & Beyond and Bed Bath & Beyond Canada brand names. The company provides its products and services through its internet websites comprising bedbathandbeyond.com, bedbathandbeyond.ca, and overstockgovernment.com. It also offers businesses advertising products or services on its website; Marketplace, a service that allows its partners to sell their products through third party sites; products to international customers using third party logistics providers; and Supplier Oasis, a single integration point through its partners can manage their products, inventory, and sales channels, as well as obtain multi-channel fulfillment services through its distribution network. The company was formerly known as Overstock.com, Inc. and changed its name to Beyond, Inc. in November 2023. Beyond, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Midvale, Utah.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund purchased 269,743 shares of the airlines stock, valued at approximately $7,302,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Comerica Bank bought a new position in Southwest Airlines in the second quarter worth approximately $34,644,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Southwest Airlines by 2.0% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,482,011 shares of the airlines stock worth $451,167,000 after buying an additional 244,723 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Southwest Airlines by 0.8% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,077,158 shares of the airlines stock worth $83,299,000 after buying an additional 23,715 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its stake in Southwest Airlines by 24.8% in the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 823,779 shares of the airlines stock worth $22,506,000 after buying an additional 163,544 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its stake in Southwest Airlines by 73.6% in the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 149,581 shares of the airlines stock worth $4,049,000 after buying an additional 63,428 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.22% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently commented on LUV. Evercore ISI reissued an inline rating and issued a $35.00 price objective on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Southwest Airlines from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $28.00 to $42.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. BNP Paribas lowered shares of Southwest Airlines from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $20.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Southwest Airlines from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, January 28th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $30.93.

Southwest Airlines Trading Down 1.3 %

Shares of Southwest Airlines stock opened at $33.78 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $28.53. The company has a market cap of $20.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.14. Southwest Airlines Co. has a fifty-two week low of $21.91 and a fifty-two week high of $39.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.14.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The airline reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.25. The business had revenue of $6.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.75 billion. Southwest Airlines had a net margin of 1.91% and a return on equity of 9.40%. The companys revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.38) earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 1.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be paid a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 5th. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio is presently 96.00%.

About Southwest Airlines

(Free Report)

Southwest Airlines Co operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC cut its stake in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) by 22.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 302,770 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 88,419 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLCs holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $20,861,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its position in Dell Technologies by 45.0% during the third quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,216,861 shares of the technology companys stock worth $221,605,000 after buying an additional 998,298 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. increased its position in Dell Technologies by 61.7% during the third quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 106,778 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,357,000 after buying an additional 40,750 shares during the last quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. increased its position in Dell Technologies by 154.8% during the third quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 79,068 shares of the technology companys stock worth $5,447,000 after buying an additional 48,036 shares during the last quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 105.5% in the third quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC now owns 35,389 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,438,000 after purchasing an additional 18,164 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Versor Investments LP acquired a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the third quarter valued at about $2,089,000. 38.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In other 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 shares were sold at an average price of $79.43, for a total value of $18,992,666.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 293,812 shares in the company, valued at $23,337,487.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 48.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Dell Technologies Stock Up 2.9 %

Shares of DELL opened at $90.35 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $64.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.90. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 12 month low of $35.96 and a 12 month high of $92.68. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $80.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $72.02.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The technology company reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.42. The firm had revenue of $22.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.01 billion. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 2.92% and a negative return on equity of 150.29%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.01 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 5.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 23rd were paid a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.64%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 22nd. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.88%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on DELL shares. TD Cowen raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $58.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $78.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $82.47.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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TD Cowen reaffirmed their market perform rating on shares of Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS  Free Report) in a report published on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $33.00 price objective on the stock.

Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on BROS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Dutch Bros from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the company from $30.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Wedbush upped their price target on Dutch Bros from $35.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Stifel Nicolaus raised Dutch Bros from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $32.00 to $35.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Dutch Bros from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Dutch Bros presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $33.88.

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Dutch Bros Price Performance

Insider Activity

BROS opened at $28.70 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a current ratio of 1.83. Dutch Bros has a 52-week low of $22.67 and a 52-week high of $35.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.08 billion, a PE ratio of 956.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 2.41. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $28.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $27.69.

In other news, major shareholder Dm Individual Aggregator, Llc sold 156,183 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.38, for a total transaction of $4,744,839.54. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,425,003 shares of the companys stock, valued at $43,291,591.14. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Dutch Bros news, major shareholder Dm Individual Aggregator, Llc sold 156,183 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.38, for a total value of $4,744,839.54. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,425,003 shares of the companys stock, valued at $43,291,591.14. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Tsg7 A. Management Llc sold 1,293,926 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.34, for a total value of $37,963,788.84. 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 ninety days. 49.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Versor Investments LP bought a new position in Dutch Bros in the third quarter valued at about $481,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in Dutch Bros in the third quarter worth about $5,275,000. EFG Asset Management North America Corp. increased its position in Dutch Bros by 15.0% in 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 in the last quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC increased its position in Dutch Bros by 31.5% in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp increased its position in Dutch Bros by 17.2% in 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 in 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.

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Morse Asset Management Inc cut its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 3.0% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,034 shares of the companys stock after selling 338 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company comprises 1.9% of Morse Asset Management Incs holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Morse Asset Management Incs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $5,927,000 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. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $107,000. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.6% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 2,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $589,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $210,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 9.9% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 53,052 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,193,000 after purchasing an additional 4,774 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barometer Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $561,000. 81.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. TheStreet downgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $535.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $663.33.

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock traded down $0.10 on Friday, hitting $769.54. 2,394,805 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,727,949. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $309.20 and a one year high of $794.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $731.19 billion, a PE ratio of 132.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firms 50-day moving average price is $654.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $601.97.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.30 by $0.19. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 51.22%. The company had revenue of $9.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.95 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.09 EPS. The firms revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.68%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 89.66%.

Insider Activity

In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 14,388 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $630.28, for a total value of $9,068,468.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 99,754,422 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $62,873,217,098.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders sold 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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ORLANDO, Fla.  SpaceX is geared to send up the 12th launch from the Space Coast but held off a Saturday window to push to Sunday.

A Falcon 9 rocket is now set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40 carrying 24 of the companys Starlink satellites during a four-hour window from 4:34-8:34 p.m.

Space Launch Delta 45s weather squadron forecasts better than 95% chance for good conditions Sunday.

The first-stage booster for the mission is flying for the 13th time and will attempt a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic.

All but one of the launches so far in 2024 have come from SpaceX with United Launch Alliances debut mission for its Vulcan Centaur being the lone other launch.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company could fly as many as 150 Falcon-class launches across its three pads in Florida and California in 2024.

The next launch from Kennedy Space Center wont be until early Friday, though, as SpaceX prepares for its next human spaceflight, the Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station.

The four members of Crew-8 are set to arrive to KSC on Sunday afternoon ahead of a target 12:04 a.m. launch on March 1.
Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its position in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:EWY  Free Report) by 112,392.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 365,599 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 365,274 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. owned 0.63% of iShares MSCI South Korea ETF worth $21,548,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in EWY. Focused Wealth Management Inc acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $47,000. Advisors Preferred LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $51,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI South Korea ETF by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,014 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 507 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Stock Performance

Shares of EWY opened at $65.16 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $62.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $61.45. The company has a market capitalization of $3.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.39 and a beta of 1.05. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF has a fifty-two week low of $54.49 and a fifty-two week high of $67.95.

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF Profile

iShares MSCI South Korea Capped ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Market Division of the Korean Exchange.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:EWY  Free Report).

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Continental Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:CTTAY  Get Free Report) and Atmus Filtration Technologies (NYSE:ATMU  Get Free Report) are both auto/tires/trucks companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation and earnings.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Continental Aktiengesellschaft and Atmus Filtration Technologies revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Continental Aktiengesellschaft $41.53 billion 0.39 $70.17 million $0.61 13.15 Atmus Filtration Technologies $1.63 billion 1.17 $171.30 million N/A N/A

Atmus Filtration Technologies has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Continental Aktiengesellschaft.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Continental Aktiengesellschaft 2.84% 8.26% 3.04% Atmus Filtration Technologies 10.52% 135.12% 18.72%

Analyst Ratings

This table compares Continental Aktiengesellschaft and Atmus Filtration Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Continental Aktiengesellschaft and Atmus Filtration Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Continental Aktiengesellschaft 0 1 4 0 2.80 Atmus Filtration Technologies 0 1 5 0 2.83

Atmus Filtration Technologies has a consensus price target of $27.00, suggesting a potential upside of 18.37%. Given Atmus Filtration Technologies stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Atmus Filtration Technologies is more favorable than Continental Aktiengesellschaft.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

20.7% of Atmus Filtration Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Atmus Filtration Technologies beats Continental Aktiengesellschaft on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Continental Aktiengesellschaft

(Get Free Report)

Continental Aktiengesellschaft, a technology company, offers intelligent solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation worldwide. It operates through four sectors: Automotive, Tires, ContiTech, and Contract Manufacturing. The company offers safety, brake, chassis, motion, and motion control systems; solutions for assisted and automated driving; and audio and camera solutions for the vehicle interior, as well as intelligent information and communication technology solutions. It also provides tires for cars, trucks, buses, two-wheel and specialist vehicles, bicycles, and motor vehicles, as well as digital tire monitoring and management systems; and engages in retail of tires. In addition, the company develops and manufactures cross-material, environmentally friendly, and intelligent products and systems for automotive, railway engineering, mining, agriculture, and other industries, as well as provides contract manufacturing services. The company was formerly known as Continental-Caoutchouc- und Gutta-Percha Compagnie. Continental Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in Hanover, Germany.

About Atmus Filtration Technologies

(Get Free Report)

Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells filtration products under the Fleetguard brand name in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, Africa, and internationally. It offers fuel filters, lube filters, air filters, crankcase ventilation, hydraulic filters, and coolants, as well as fuel additives. The company's products are used in on-highway and off-highway commercial vehicles; and agriculture, construction, mining, and power generation vehicles and equipment. It serves original equipment manufacturers, dealers/distributors, and end-users. The company was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Cummins Inc.

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Galp Energia, SGPS (OTCMKTS:GLPEY  Get Free Report) and ARC Resources (OTCMKTS:AETUF  Get Free Report) are both large-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings and dividends.

Dividends

Galp Energia, SGPS pays an annual dividend of $0.19 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. ARC Resources pays an annual dividend of $0.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. ARC Resources pays out 25.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Galp Energia, SGPS and ARC Resources top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Galp Energia, SGPS $29.70 billion 0.38 $1.55 billion N/A N/A ARC Resources $4.19 billion 2.39 $1.18 billion $1.94 8.63

Analyst Recommendations

Galp Energia, SGPS has higher revenue and earnings than ARC Resources.

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Galp Energia, SGPS and ARC Resources, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Galp Energia, SGPS 0 4 0 0 2.00 ARC Resources 0 0 2 0 3.00

ARC Resources has a consensus target price of $19.94, indicating a potential upside of 19.03%. Given ARC Resources stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe ARC Resources is more favorable than Galp Energia, SGPS.

Risk & Volatility

Galp Energia, SGPS has a beta of 0.65, meaning that its stock price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ARC Resources has a beta of 1.14, meaning that its stock price is 14% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Galp Energia, SGPS and ARC Resources net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Galp Energia, SGPS 5.99% 27.49% 9.25% ARC Resources 28.19% 22.43% 13.62%

Summary

ARC Resources beats Galp Energia, SGPS on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Galp Energia, SGPS

(Get Free Report)

Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A. operates as an integrated energy operator in Portugal and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Upstream, Industrial & Midstream, Commercial, and Renewables and New Business. The Upstream segment engages in the exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons primarily in Brazil, Mozambique, and Angola. The Industrial & Midstream segment owns refineries in Portugal, as well as is involved in activities related to energy management of oil products, gas, and electricity. This segment also provides storage and transportation infrastructure for oil and gas products, as well as engages in the sale of electricity to the grid in Portugal and Spain. The Commercial segment is involved in the areas of retail to final business-to-business and business to consumer customers of oil, gas, and electricity. The Renewables and New Business segment is involved in the development of solar and wind power generation projects in Portugal and Spain. In addition, it produces biodiesel, biofuel, and green hydrogen; and operates service stations. Further, the company engages in the reinsurance business. The company was formerly known as Galp Petroleos e Gas de Portugal, SGPS, S.A. and changed its name to Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A. in September 2000. Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.

About ARC Resources

(Get Free Report)

ARC Resources Ltd. engages in the acquiring and developing crude oil, natural gas, condensate, and natural gas liquids in Canada. It primarily holds interests in the Montney basin located in Alberta and northeast British Columbia. ARC Resources Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is based in Calgary, Canada.

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Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Hexcel (NYSE:HXL  Free Report) from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have $66.00 price objective on the aerospace companys stock, down from their prior price objective of $70.00.

Several other analysts also recently commented on HXL. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Hexcel from a sell rating to a neutral rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $57.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Northcoast Research began coverage on shares of Hexcel in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. They set a buy rating and a $80.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $81.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Truist Financial upgraded shares of Hexcel from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $62.00 to $96.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Vertical Research upgraded shares of Hexcel from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $72.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $77.46.

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Hexcel Stock Performance

HXL stock opened at $73.73 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 2.74 and a quick ratio of 1.68. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $71.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $69.11. Hexcel has a fifty-two week low of $58.81 and a fifty-two week high of $79.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.22 billion, a PE ratio of 59.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.22.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The aerospace company reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $457.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $474.01 million. Hexcel had a net margin of 5.91% and a return on equity of 9.31%. The businesss revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.40 EPS. Analysts forecast that Hexcel will post 2.25 EPS for the current year.

Hexcel Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were issued a $0.15 dividend. This is a positive change from Hexcels previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. Hexcels payout ratio is presently 48.39%.

Insider Activity

In other 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 transaction of $62,294.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at $243,337.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related 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 sale, the insider now owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at approximately $243,337.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total transaction of $322,335.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 50,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,608,074.73. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.39% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hexcel

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of Hexcel by 838.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,810,199 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $400,780,000 after acquiring an additional 6,084,592 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Hexcel during the 4th quarter valued at $56,738,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in Hexcel by 143.6% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,466,380 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $108,146,000 after acquiring an additional 864,405 shares during the last quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Hexcel by 93.0% in the 4th quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 1,503,055 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $110,850,000 after acquiring an additional 724,280 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Hexcel by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,420,295 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $500,755,000 after purchasing an additional 475,375 shares in the last quarter. 94.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Hexcel

(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.

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Citigroup reaffirmed their sell rating on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group (LON:IHG  Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports.

Several other brokerages have also recently commented on IHG. Berenberg Bank cut shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price objective for the company from GBX 6,500 ($81.84) to GBX 6,000 ($75.55) in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 6,400 ($80.58) price objective on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 6,215 ($78.25).

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InterContinental Hotels Group Stock Performance

InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend

IHG stock opened at GBX 8,752 ($110.20) on Thursday. InterContinental Hotels Group has a one year low of GBX 5,086 ($64.04) and a one year high of GBX 8,764 ($110.35). The stock has a market capitalization of 14.46 billion, a PE ratio of 3,114.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 7,436.40 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 6,567.34.

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 4th will be given a dividend of $1.04 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a yield of 1.04%. This is a boost from InterContinental Hotels Groups previous dividend of $0.48. InterContinental Hotels Groups payout ratio is presently 4,092.53%.

About InterContinental Hotels Group

(Get Free Report)

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China. The company operates hotels under the Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, EVEN, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, avid, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites brand names.

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MariaDB (NYSE:MRDB  Get Free Report) is one of 440 publicly-traded companies in the Prepackaged software industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare MariaDB to similar companies based on the strength of its dividends, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, risk, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares MariaDB and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets MariaDB -88.89% N/A -116.62% MariaDB Competitors -67.80% -137.13% -8.96%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for MariaDB and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score MariaDB 0 0 0 0 N/A MariaDB Competitors 2136 14367 29075 738 2.61

Valuation & Earnings

As a group, Prepackaged software companies have a potential upside of 4.52%. Given MariaDBs competitors higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe MariaDB has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

This table compares MariaDB and its competitors revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio MariaDB $53.11 million -$51.86 million -0.49 MariaDB Competitors $2.23 billion $265.98 million 6.44

MariaDBs competitors have higher revenue and earnings than MariaDB. MariaDB is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Risk and Volatility

MariaDB has a beta of 0.1, indicating that its share price is 90% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, MariaDBs competitors have a beta of 0.39, indicating that their average share price is 61% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

24.2% of MariaDB shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 53.0% of shares of all Prepackaged software companies are held by institutional investors. 26.1% of MariaDB shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 19.2% of shares of all Prepackaged software companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

MariaDB competitors beat MariaDB on 7 of the 9 factors compared.

About MariaDB

(Get Free Report)

MariaDB plc operates as a cloud database company in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers database solutions, including MariaDB Enterprise Server, a premium version of community server; MariaDB Xpand, a distributed structured query language (SQL) database for transactional workloads; MariaDB ColumnStore for data warehousing; MariaDB MaxScale for availability and load balancing; and MariaDB SkySQL, a database-as-a-service for its products on public clouds. The company also provides consulting, training, remote database administration, and engineering architecture services. It serves financial services, government, technology, retail, telecommunications, and transportation industries. The company is headquartered in Redwood City, California.

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Cadence Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW  Free Report) by 65.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,500 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 6,500 shares during the period. Cadence Banks holdings in Medical Properties Trust were worth $90,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Riverview Trust Co lifted its position in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 313.8% in the 3rd quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 9,128 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 6,922 shares in the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its position in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 1,247.4% in the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 4,608 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 4,266 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Gratus Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Medical Properties Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $59,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.46% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MPW has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Medical Properties Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $8.00 to $5.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a sell rating and a $2.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $8.00 to $5.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Medical Properties Trust currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $7.62.

Medical Properties Trust Stock Up 4.1 %

NYSE MPW opened at $3.84 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 3.52 and a current ratio of 2.26. The companys fifty day moving average is $3.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.00. Medical Properties Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $2.92 and a 52-week high of $11.00.

About Medical Properties Trust

(Free Report)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 441 facilities and approximately 44,000 licensed beds as of September 30, 2023.

Further Reading

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Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its stake in Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH  Free Report) by 11.3% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 171,109 shares of the medical research companys stock after acquiring an additional 17,436 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P.s holdings in Laboratory Co. of America were worth $34,402,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Provence Wealth Management Group bought a new stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America during the second quarter valued at $29,000. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America in the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America in the 2nd quarter worth about $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.37% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Laboratory Co. of America

In other Laboratory Co. of America news, CFO Glenn A. Eisenberg sold 34,504 shares of Laboratory Co. of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.97, for a total transaction of $7,451,828.88. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 23,595 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,095,812.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Laboratory Co. of America news, CFO Glenn A. Eisenberg sold 34,504 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.97, for a total value of $7,451,828.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 23,595 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,095,812.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jonathan P. Divincenzo sold 500 shares of Laboratory Co. of America stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.49, for a total value of $107,745.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,401 shares in the company, valued at $732,881.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 35,500 shares of company stock valued at $7,670,756 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on LH shares. Evercore ISI started coverage on Laboratory Co. of America in a research note on Friday, February 9th. They set an in-line rating and a $240.00 target price for the company. TheStreet downgraded shares of Laboratory Co. of America from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $222.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $257.00 to $230.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $259.00 to $261.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Laboratory Co. of America has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $241.86.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Laboratory Co. of America

Laboratory Co. of America Price Performance

Shares of NYSE LH opened at $219.16 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.17. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $223.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $213.61. The stock has a market cap of $18.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.93, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.04. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a fifty-two week low of $174.20 and a fifty-two week high of $234.09.

Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The medical research company reported $3.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.29 by $0.01. Laboratory Co. of America had a return on equity of 13.99% and a net margin of 3.24%. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $4.14 earnings per share. Laboratory Co. of Americas quarterly revenue was down 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 14.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Laboratory Co. of America Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 27th will be issued a $0.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 26th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.31%. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 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.

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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).

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Federated Hermes Inc. increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 100.4% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 244,816 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 122,622 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc.s holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $22,264,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of NVO. Roundview Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 18,803 shares of the companys stock worth $2,088,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 45.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,035,879 shares of the companys stock worth $559,235,000 after purchasing an additional 1,571,747 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 739,585 shares of the companys stock worth $82,131,000 after purchasing an additional 6,903 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 19,466 shares of the companys stock worth $2,136,000 after purchasing an additional 2,194 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 17.5% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 107,175 shares of the companys stock worth $11,913,000 after purchasing an additional 15,996 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 6.41% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on NVO shares. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $140.00 price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Two 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 MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $121.25.

Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Down 0.9 %

Novo Nordisk A/S stock opened at $123.45 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $110.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $91.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $553.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.64, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.41. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 52-week low of $67.66 and a 52-week high of $124.86.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $9.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.14 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 36.03% and a return on equity of 90.36%. Sell-side analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $0.664 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is an increase from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. Novo Nordisk A/Ss payout ratio is 22.92%.

Novo Nordisk A/S 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.

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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).

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Numerai GP LLC trimmed its position in shares of Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT  Free Report) by 27.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,096,592 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 421,464 shares during the period. Nordic American Tankers makes up approximately 1.5% of Numerai GP LLCs holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Numerai GP LLCs holdings in Nordic American Tankers were worth $4,518,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Franklin Resources Inc. bought a new position in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 42.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Nordic American Tankers Trading Down 2.2 %

Nordic American Tankers stock traded down $0.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $4.02. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,314,801 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,729,613. The company has a 50 day moving average of $4.32 and a 200-day moving average of $4.21. The stock has a market cap of $839.38 million, a PE ratio of 7.18 and a beta of -0.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 1.81. Nordic American Tankers Limited has a one year low of $3.26 and a one year high of $4.83.

Nordic American Tankers Cuts Dividend

Nordic American Tankers ( NYSE:NAT Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 29th. The shipping company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.03). Nordic American Tankers had a return on equity of 21.50% and a net margin of 42.78%. The firm had revenue of $48.04 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $53.04 million. On average, research analysts anticipate that Nordic American Tankers Limited will post 0.53 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 20th were paid a dividend of $0.06 per share. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 19th. Nordic American Tankerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.86%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, TheStreet downgraded Nordic American Tankers from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Nordic American Tankers

Nordic American Tankers Profile

(Free Report)

Nordic American Tankers Limited, a tanker company, acquires and charters double-hull tankers in Bermuda and internationally. It operates a fleet of 19 Suezmax crude oil tankers. The company was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT  Free Report).

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American poet Robert Frost wrote nothing gold can stay.

Don Heeringa helped turn Trendway into gold by making it unique among its competitors. Like Haworth and Herman Miller, Trendway initiated a profit-sharing plan. But unlike its neighbors, Trendway served small to medium-sized companies and offered high levels of service, low prices and quick delivery, a strategy management guru Peter Drucker called hit em where they aint.

Trendway in Holland, recently acquired by Fellowes, will close in July.

According to Heeringa: In the early 1980s, Herman Miller and Haworth had three-month lead times. So, we redesigned the factory and cut our lead time to three weeks.

That wasnt their only innovation.

We were going to out nice our competitors when it came to vendor relationships," he said. One time, at one of their annual vendor days, Don noticed Trendways guests were quiet. Later, he found out why. One of Trendways competitors had previously invited them to a similar event, wined and dined them, and then told them they had to cut costs. Trendway didnt have that kind of muscle, so it chose a relational approach.

More: Steve VanderVeen: Trendway's rise as an office furniture company

In 1983, Don became president of Trendway. That year, Trendway opened its first showroom in Chicagos Merchandise Mart and hired independent sales agents across the country. One of those sales reps helped Trendway acquire a federal government contract.

It happened this way: We had a sales rep in Virginia. He moved his family to DC so he could visit contacts at the National Institute of Health every week. He got to know the people who worked there and knew his way around. Through him, Trendway got its foot in the door. Government contracts eventually became 20 percent of Trendways sales.

In 1986, George Heeringa retired from Hart and Cooley. He died in 1991.

In 1995, Don bought out his brother and became the sole owner of Trendway. By 1998, Trendways sales were $75 million. Don also returned to his pre-Trendway employer, Holland Hitch, to serve on its board of directors.

Story continues

In 2001, Trendway began sponsoring a Cruise-In Benefit Car Show. Its genesis was a question: How can we help an employee whose husband, an independent truck driver, had been injured in a fire?

Ken Harper, then a new employee from rival Howard Miller, organized the show, which netted $8,000. Given its success, the Trendway community decided to do a show the following year. That year, the proceeds of the show went to a young girl suffering from bulimia. When she saw all the participants, she asked, Are all those people here for me?

Another year, the show provided $40,000 to a young man suffering from paralysis. One year, the show attracted 550 cars. Seventeen years in, the Cruise-In Benefit Car Show raised $350,000.

Steve VanderVeen

Trendway also shared the wealth in other ways. In 2006, Heeringa converted Trendway to a 25% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) and allocated shares based on compensation and years of service.

In 2008, amid a major office furniture industry recession, Herman Miller shut down its Trendway-like SQA (Simple. Quick. Affordable.) division and laid off division manager Bill Bundy. When Heeringa heard Bundy was unemployed, he called him and asked him to lunch. At first, Bundy declined  but Heeringa persisted, and eventually persuaded Bundy to replace him as Trendways president.

Bundy served as Trendways president for nine years. Says Heeringa, whose own leadership style involved walking the plant floor every day, Bill has the unique personality to conduct both customer visits with company presidents and employee visits with saw operators with a great deal of authenticity.

People followed Don, Bill says, because of his integrity and commitment to employees.

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In 2014, Junior Achievement West Michigan named Heeringa to its Business Hall of Fame.

In 2016, the U.S. General Services Administration named Trendway Contractor of the Year.

In 2018, the National Veteran Business Development Council named Trendway the 2018 Veteran Business of the Year.

When Fellowes Brands, a fourth-generation private company, bought Trendway in 2019, Heeringa shared the wealth with his employees.

But this month, Fellowes announced it would close Trendway in July.

Information for this story comes from Robert Swierengas "Holland, Michigan," G.W. Haworths Competing with the Wind, The Joint Archives of Holland, Crain's Grand Rapids and conversations with Don and Jodi Heeringa and Bill Bundy.

 Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. You may reach him at skvveen@gmail.com. His book, "The Holland Area's First Entrepreneurs," is available at Readers World.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: Trendway shared the wealth until closure
Numerai GP LLC trimmed its holdings in First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN  Free Report) by 64.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 258,792 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 471,509 shares during the quarter. Numerai GP LLCs holdings in First Horizon were worth $2,852,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of FHN. HoldCo Asset Management LP bought a new stake in First Horizon in the 2nd quarter worth about $62,869,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in First Horizon in the 4th quarter worth about $133,345,000. North Reef Capital Management LP increased its holdings in First Horizon by 137.9% in the 3rd quarter. North Reef Capital Management LP now owns 8,900,000 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $98,078,000 after buying an additional 5,158,750 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management grew its stake in shares of First Horizon by 807.7% during the 3rd quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 5,487,209 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $60,469,000 after purchasing an additional 4,882,709 shares during the period. Finally, Scout Investments Inc. bought a new stake in shares of First Horizon during the 2nd quarter valued at about $59,327,000. 76.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on FHN shares. Citigroup started coverage on First Horizon in a research note on Friday, December 1st. They set a buy rating and a $14.00 price target for the company. UBS Group raised First Horizon from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $15.50 to $16.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. StockNews.com cut First Horizon from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Raymond James raised First Horizon from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $13.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $16.00 price objective on shares of First Horizon in a research report on Friday, January 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $14.35.

First Horizon Price Performance

NYSE FHN traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $14.06. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,322,967 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,859,441. The company has a market capitalization of $7.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.19, a PEG ratio of 4.07 and a beta of 0.95. First Horizon Co. has a 1 year low of $8.99 and a 1 year high of $24.87. The firms 50-day moving average price is $14.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $12.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13.

First Horizon (NYSE:FHN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $784.20 million. First Horizon had a return on equity of 9.94% and a net margin of 17.80%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.51 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that First Horizon Co. will post 1.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

First Horizon Announces Dividend

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 issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.27%. First Horizons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.22%.

First Horizon declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, January 23rd that authorizes the company to buyback $650.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to reacquire up to 7.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

First Horizon Profile

(Free Report)

First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments.

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Numerai GP LLC lowered its stake in shares of Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE:TNK  Free Report) by 34.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 80,585 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 42,019 shares during the period. Teekay Tankers accounts for approximately 1.1% of Numerai GP LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Numerai GP LLC owned 0.24% of Teekay Tankers worth $3,355,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in TNK. Moran Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Teekay Tankers by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,580 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $252,000 after buying an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its stake in Teekay Tankers by 41.9% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,019 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 301 shares during the last quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. boosted its stake in Teekay Tankers by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 17,429 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $666,000 after buying an additional 414 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming boosted its stake in Teekay Tankers by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 8,423 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $322,000 after buying an additional 444 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American International Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Teekay Tankers by 4.4% in the 2nd quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 11,516 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $440,000 after purchasing an additional 481 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 48.68% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on TNK. Bank of America upgraded Teekay Tankers from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $56.00 to $72.00 in a report on Friday, January 19th. Evercore ISI cut their price objective on Teekay Tankers from $77.00 to $73.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and issued a $70.00 price objective on shares of Teekay Tankers in a report on Thursday.

Teekay Tankers Stock Performance

Shares of TNK traded down $0.75 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $54.03. The stock had a trading volume of 786,587 shares, compared to its average volume of 535,157. The company has a market cap of $1.84 billion, a PE ratio of 3.64, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of -0.24. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $56.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $48.82. The company has a quick ratio of 3.18, a current ratio of 3.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. Teekay Tankers Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $35.00 and a fifty-two week high of $64.42.

Teekay Tankers Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.85%. Teekay Tankerss payout ratio is 6.73%.

Teekay Tankers Company Profile

(Free Report)

Teekay Tankers Ltd. provides marine transportation services to oil industries in Bermuda and internationally. The company offers voyage and time charter services; and offshore ship-to-ship transfer services of commodities primarily crude oil and refined oil products, as well as liquid gases and various other products.

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O Neil Global Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (NYSE:EDU  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 15,326 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $897,000. New Oriental Education & Technology Group makes up 0.8% of O Neil Global Advisors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest holding.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EDU. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in New Oriental Education & Technology Group by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 64,329,110 shares of the companys stock worth $73,977,000 after buying an additional 1,492,990 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in New Oriental Education & Technology Group by 130.8% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 37,490,100 shares of the companys stock worth $43,114,000 after buying an additional 21,246,644 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in New Oriental Education & Technology Group by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 9,078,131 shares of the companys stock worth $10,441,000 after buying an additional 932,613 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its position in shares of New Oriental Education & Technology Group by 92.7% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,631,500 shares of the companys stock worth $388,274,000 after purchasing an additional 3,189,254 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP raised its position in shares of New Oriental Education & Technology Group by 48.9% during the 1st quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 6,201,032 shares of the companys stock worth $7,131,000 after purchasing an additional 2,035,926 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.51% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on EDU. StockNews.com cut New Oriental Education & Technology Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on New Oriental Education & Technology Group in a research report on Friday, November 24th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on New Oriental Education & Technology Group in a research report on Tuesday, November 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $81.00 price target on the stock.

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Trading Up 1.8 %

EDU traded up $1.66 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $91.61. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,633,173 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,809,210. New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $33.98 and a fifty-two week high of $93.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.55 billion, a PE ratio of 50.34 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.68 and a 200 day simple moving average of $68.67.

New Oriental Education & Technology Group (NYSE:EDU  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.26 by ($0.23). New Oriental Education & Technology Group had a net margin of 8.54% and a return on equity of 7.97%. The firm had revenue of $869.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $814.01 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.01 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 36.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. will post 2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Profile

(Free Report)

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc provides private educational services under the New Oriental brand in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through four segments: Educational Services and Test Preparation Courses; Online Education and Other Services; Overseas Study Consulting Services; and Educational Materials and Distribution.

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O Neil Global Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm bought 718 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $235,000.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Molina Healthcare by 5.7% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 1,651 shares of the companys stock worth $551,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its stake in Molina Healthcare by 496.1% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 11,534 shares of the companys stock worth $3,848,000 after acquiring an additional 9,599 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in Molina Healthcare in the 1st quarter worth about $422,000. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in Molina Healthcare by 10.1% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 1,296 shares of the companys stock worth $432,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackay Shields LLC acquired a new position in Molina Healthcare in the 1st quarter worth about $2,814,000. 98.11% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Molina Healthcare Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE MOH traded up $2.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $406.77. 226,814 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 389,908. 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 stock has a market cap of $23.76 billion, a PE ratio of 21.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.45. The companys fifty day moving average is $373.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $351.46. Molina Healthcare, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $256.19 and a fifty-two week high of $407.85.

Insider Buying and Selling at Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare ( NYSE:MOH Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results 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. The firm had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.35 billion. Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 32.34% and a net margin of 3.20%. The companys revenue was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.10 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Molina Healthcare, Inc. will post 23.6 earnings per share for the current year.

In other Molina Healthcare news, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $401.05, for a total value of $401,050.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,494,567.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Molina Healthcare news, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $401.05, for a total value of $401,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 11,207 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,494,567.35. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $386.56, for a total value of $5,798,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 36,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,121,423.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 17,046 shares of company stock valued at $6,592,447 in the last 90 days. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on MOH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Molina Healthcare from $367.00 to $392.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on Molina Healthcare from $374.00 to $406.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Molina Healthcare from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and upped their target price for the stock from $367.00 to $420.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. UBS Group upped their target price on Molina Healthcare from $350.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Molina Healthcare from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $380.80.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MOH

Molina Healthcare Company Profile

(Free Report)

Molina Healthcare, Inc provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. It operates in four segments, Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company served in across 19 states. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California.

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ  Free Report) (TSE:CNQ) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 400,589 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after purchasing an additional 6,901 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLCs holdings in Canadian Natural Resources were worth $25,906,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in Canadian Natural Resources by 130.6% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 158,407 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $10,292,000 after acquiring an additional 89,700 shares in the last quarter. Old West Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Canadian Natural Resources by 117.1% in the 3rd quarter. Old West Investment Management LLC now owns 79,247 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $5,125,000 after acquiring an additional 42,744 shares in the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp raised its holdings in Canadian Natural Resources by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 1,657,945 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $107,519,000 after acquiring an additional 14,911 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Canadian Natural Resources by 92.9% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 69,616 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $4,501,000 after acquiring an additional 33,518 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barometer Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Canadian Natural Resources by 867.8% in the 3rd quarter. Barometer Capital Management Inc. now owns 177,100 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $11,453,000 after acquiring an additional 158,800 shares in the last quarter. 73.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

CNQ has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Canadian Natural Resources from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Canadian Natural Resources from $101.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $94.00.

Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance

Shares of CNQ opened at $65.32 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $63.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $63.98. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 12-month low of $48.81 and a 12-month high of $68.74. The stock has a market cap of $70.09 billion, a PE ratio of 13.69 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Canadian Natural Resources Profile

(Free Report)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lessened its holdings in HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ  Free Report) by 16.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,245,832 shares of the computer makers stock after selling 240,262 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLCs holdings in HP were worth $32,018,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. California Public Employees Retirement System boosted its holdings in HP by 3.9% in the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 2,966,113 shares of the computer makers stock worth $76,229,000 after acquiring an additional 112,427 shares in the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in HP by 23.6% during the 3rd quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 21,204 shares of the computer makers stock worth $545,000 after acquiring an additional 4,054 shares during the period. Wealthfront Advisers LLC lifted its position in HP by 8.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 62,575 shares of the computer makers stock worth $1,608,000 after acquiring an additional 5,064 shares during the period. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. lifted its position in HP by 111.9% during the 2nd quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 12,103 shares of the computer makers stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 6,391 shares during the period. Finally, Rheos Capital Works Inc. acquired a new position in HP during the third quarter valued at $3,855,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.04% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other HP news, CEO Enrique Lores sold 38,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.75, for a total value of $1,130,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 888,911 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,445,102.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other HP news, CEO Enrique Lores sold 38,000 shares of HP stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.75, for a total transaction of $1,130,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 888,911 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,445,102.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Alex Cho sold 45,758 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.24, for a total transaction of $1,337,963.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,003 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $643,367.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

HP Price Performance

HP Dividend Announcement

Shares of HPQ stock opened at $29.27 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $29.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.73. HP Inc. has a 1-year low of $25.22 and a 1-year high of $33.90. The company has a market cap of $29.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.90, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.04.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be issued a $0.2756 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 12th. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.77%. HPs dividend payout ratio is presently 33.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

HPQ has been the subject of a number of research reports. Edward Jones upgraded shares of HP from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 7th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of HP from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $33.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Monday, December 11th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of HP from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. HSBC upgraded shares of HP from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $30.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of HP from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the company from $31.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $32.30.

Get Our Latest Analysis on HPQ

About HP

(Free Report)

HP Inc provides products, technologies, software, solutions, and services to individual consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses, and large enterprises, including customers in the government, health, and education sectors worldwide. It operates through Personal Systems and Printing segments. The Personal Systems segment offers commercial personal computers (PCs), consumer PCs, workstations, thin clients, commercial tablets and mobility devices, retail point-of-sale systems, displays and other related accessories, software, support, and services for the commercial and consumer markets.

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OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp boosted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 92.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 103,192 shares of the medical research companys stock after acquiring an additional 49,478 shares during the quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corps holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $7,149,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 43,556 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $5,127,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,487 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,033,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Geller Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 6.5% during the 1st quarter. Geller Advisors LLC now owns 1,965 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $231,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,392 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $635,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ellevest Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 6,179 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $583,000 after acquiring an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.25% of the companys stock.

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Edwards Lifesciences Stock Up 0.1 %

Edwards Lifesciences stock opened at $87.74 on Friday. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 1-year low of $60.57 and a 1-year high of $94.87. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $78.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $73.79. The company has a current ratio of 3.38, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The company has a market capitalization of $52.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.15, a P/E/G ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 1.04.

Insider Activity at Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences ( NYSE:EW Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.50 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.64 EPS. Edwards Lifesciencess revenue was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other Edwards Lifesciences news, SVP Robert W.A. Sellers sold 12,210 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.00, for a total value of $1,062,270.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,087 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,138,569. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, VP Daveen Chopra sold 8,200 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 22,750 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,973,335. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Robert W.A. Sellers sold 12,210 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.00, for a total transaction of $1,062,270.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 13,087 shares in the company, valued at $1,138,569. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 183,089 shares of company stock worth $14,396,688. 1.29% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EW has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised Edwards Lifesciences from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $94.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Wolfe Research cut shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $57.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $80.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup lowered shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $87.38.

Get Our Latest Research Report on EW

Edwards Lifesciences 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.

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Shares of Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:PORBF  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $11.05 and last traded at $11.05, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.05.

Pola Orbis Stock Performance

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $12.68.

About Pola Orbis

(Get Free Report)

Pola Orbis Holdings Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells cosmetics and related products in Japan and internationally. It operates through Beauty Care and Real Estate segments. The Beauty Care segment offers cosmetics; skincare products; health foods; and fashion products, such as women's underwear, women's apparel, and jewelry under the POLA, ORBIS, Jurlique, H2O PLUS, THREE, DECENCIA, Amplitude, ITRIM, FIVEISM  THREE, and FUJIMI brand names.

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WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC  Free Report)  Equities research analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q1 2024 earnings estimates for WEC Energy Group in a report released on Thursday, February 22nd. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the utilities provider will post earnings per share of $1.76 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.77. The consensus estimate for WEC Energy Groups current full-year earnings is $4.88 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for WEC Energy Groups Q3 2024 earnings at $1.07 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $1.09 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $2.10 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $0.85 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.90 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.39 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $5.24 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $5.61 EPS.

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Several other research firms have also issued reports on WEC. StockNews.com lowered shares of WEC Energy Group from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, January 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of WEC Energy Group from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and cut their price target for the stock from $90.00 to $84.00 in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $88.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 18th. KeyCorp boosted their price objective 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. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $79.00 to $75.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $86.17.

WEC Energy Group Price Performance

NYSE WEC opened at $78.86 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $81.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $82.51. 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 has a 12-month low of $75.13 and a 12-month high of $99.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.41.

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, topping the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.02. WEC Energy Group had a net margin of 14.98% and a return on equity of 12.17%. The business had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.80 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 13.3% on a year-over-year basis.

WEC Energy Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.835 per share. 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. This represents a $3.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.24%. WEC Energy Groups payout ratio is currently 79.15%.

Insider Activity at WEC Energy Group

In related news, Director Ulice Payne, Jr. sold 600 shares of the businesss 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 directly owns 20,933 shares in the company, valued at $1,747,068.18. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 3.0% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 7,008,729 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $616,906,000 after purchasing an additional 203,181 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG increased its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 3.0% during the third quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 5,495,925 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $442,697,000 after purchasing an additional 158,652 shares in the last quarter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd increased its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 17.0% during the second quarter. Magellan Asset Management Ltd now owns 5,316,833 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $469,157,000 after purchasing an additional 772,372 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 3.4% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,295,729 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $346,021,000 after purchasing an additional 142,412 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 3.8% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,216,264 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $339,620,000 after purchasing an additional 155,437 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the companys stock.

About WEC Energy Group

(Get 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.

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Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO  Free Report) had its price target raised by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from GBX 7,000 ($88.14) to GBX 7,040 ($88.64) in a research report released on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on RIO. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 6,100 ($76.81) to GBX 5,900 ($74.29) and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 6,200 ($78.07) price objective on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a report on Monday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rio Tinto Group presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 6,262.86 ($78.86).

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Rio Tinto Group

Rio Tinto Group Price Performance

Rio Tinto Group Increases Dividend

Shares of LON RIO opened at GBX 5,197 ($65.44) on Thursday. Rio Tinto Group has a twelve month low of GBX 4,509.50 ($56.78) and a twelve month high of GBX 6,232 ($78.47). The firm has a market cap of 64.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,064.96, a PEG ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 5,529.26 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 5,277.15. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 25.47.

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be paid a dividend of GBX 203.77 ($2.57) per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This is a positive change from Rio Tinto Groups previous dividend of $137.67. This represents a yield of 3.9%. Rio Tinto Groups payout ratio is currently 6,987.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rio Tinto Group

In other Rio Tinto Group news, insider Jakob Stausholm sold 3,868 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 5,557 ($69.97), for a total transaction of 214,944.76 ($270,643.11). Company insiders own 14.69% of the companys stock.

Rio Tinto Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities.

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How our income taxes are calculated is a mystery to the vast number of Americans who never learned to read the tax codes or decipher tax terminology from any class in school. Start, for example, with the terms tax rate and tax burden.

While tax rate is focused on the percentage an individual or business is taxed, it can vary greatly based on income. Tax burden measures the total amount of taxes, including state and local taxes. Unfortunately, this isnt universal across the country, either, and the difference in tax burden is significant when it comes to the richest and poorest 20% in each state.

Related Reading: Billionaires vs. the Middle Class: Who Pays More in Taxes?

Check Out: One Smart Way To Grow Your Retirement Savings in 2024

To find the difference in tax burdens across the United States, GOBankingRates analyzed state, federal and local data to find the tax burden on the rich and the poor for single filers and married joint filers in every state using data from the U.S. Census Consumer Expenditure Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

This study used an in-house income tax calculator to find the effective and marginal tax rate on the average income for both demographics in each state, which are reflected for both single people and for those who are married and filing jointly.

This study also calculated the annual expenditures of each state and was multiplied by each states average combined sales tax to figure total dollars spent on sales tax for every state. The combined total spent on federal and state income tax was added to the total spent on sales tax and then divided by average income. Its important to note that property tax was not included due to inconsistent data.

The richest 20% always will have the larger tax burden; however, even with the higher tax burden, these individuals still will have considerably more money than the poorest 20%. This means every dollar paid toward taxes is much more of a burden for the poorest 20%. For example, if a states tax burden for those filing single is 27.50%, this does not mean the richest 20% pays 27.50% more than the poorest 20%. This number reflects that they pay 27.50% more of their own income than the poorest 20%.

Story continues

Heres a closer look at the tax burden for the rich and poor in every state, shown alphabetically.

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Alabama

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $213,012 Total taxes paid : $69,320 Tax burden : 32.54%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,401 Total taxes paid : $1,252 Tax burden : 10.98%



Difference of tax burden: 21.56%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $213,012 Total taxes paid : $57,825 Tax burden : 27.15%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,401 Total taxes paid : $968 Tax burden : 8.49%



Difference of tax burden: 18.65%

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Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

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Alaska

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $254,899 Total taxes paid : $75,761 Tax burden : 29.72%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $20,172 Total taxes paid : $2,175 Tax burden : 10.78%



Difference of tax burden: 18.94%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $254,899 Total taxes paid : $60,828 Tax burden : 23.86%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $20,172 Total taxes paid : $1,543 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 16.21%

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Arizona

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $254,650 Total taxes paid : $81,675 Tax burden : 32.07%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,732 Total taxes paid : $1,640 Tax burden : 9.80%



Difference of tax burden: 22.27%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $254,650 Total taxes paid : $66,422 Tax burden : 26.08%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,732 Total taxes paid : $1,280 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 18.43%

shuttersv / Shutterstock.com

Arkansas

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $196,563 Total taxes paid : $61,695 Tax burden : 31.39%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,225 Total taxes paid : $1,135 Tax burden : 10.11%



Difference of tax burden: 21.28%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $196,563 Total taxes paid : $52,049 Tax burden : 26.48%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,225 Total taxes paid : $1,040 Tax burden : 9.27%



Difference of tax burden: 17.21%

Zillow

California

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $346,847 Total taxes paid : $143,534 Tax burden : 41.38%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $18,110 Total taxes paid : $1,969 Tax burden : 10.87%



Difference of tax burden: 30.51%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $346,847 Total taxes paid : $114,725 Tax burden : 33.08%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $18,110 Total taxes paid : $1,462 Tax burden : 8.08%



Difference of tax burden: 25.00%

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Colorado

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $293,864 Total taxes paid : $104,701 Tax burden : 35.63%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $20,359 Total taxes paid : $2,495 Tax burden : 12.25%



Difference of tax burden: 23.38%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $293,864 Total taxes paid : $84,871 Tax burden : 28.88%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $20,359 Total taxes paid : $1,557 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 21.23%

benedek / Getty Images

Connecticut

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $340,731 Total taxes paid :$132,929 Tax burden : 39.01%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $17,449 Total taxes paid : $2,367 Tax burden : 13.57%



Difference of tax burden: 25.45%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $340,731 Total taxes paid : $106,537 Tax burden : 31.27%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $17,449 Total taxes paid : $1,858 Tax burden : 10.65%



Difference of tax burden: 20.62%

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Delaware

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $252,376 Total taxes paid : $90,111 Tax burden : 35.71%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $19,510 Total taxes paid : $2,620 Tax burden :13.43%



Difference of tax burden: 22.28%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $252,376 Total taxes paid : $75,240 Tax burden : 29.81%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $19,510 Total taxes paid : $1,898 Tax burden : 9.73%



Difference of tax burden: 20.08%

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Florida

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $261,209 Total taxes paid : $78,453 Tax burden : 30.03%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,293 Total taxes paid : $1,314 Tax burden : 8.59%



Difference of tax burden: 21.44%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $261,209 Total taxes paid : $62,825 Tax burden : 24.05%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,293 Total taxes paid : $1,170 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 16.40%

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Georgia

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $253,577 Total taxes paid : $89,295 Tax burden : 35.21%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,412 Total taxes paid : $1,738 Tax burden : 11.28%



Difference of tax burden: 23.93%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $253,577 Total taxes paid : $74,347 Tax burden : 29.32%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,412 Total taxes paid : $1,435 Tax burden : 9.31%



Difference of tax burden: 20.01%

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Hawaii

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $297,132 Total taxes paid : $120,595 Tax burden : 40.59%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $18,975 Total taxes paid : $2,807 Tax burden : 14.79%



Difference of tax burden: 25.79%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $297,132 Total taxes paid : $96,852 Tax burden : 32.60%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $18,975 Total taxes paid : $1,946 Tax burden : 10.26%



Difference of tax burden: 22.34%

Idaho

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $229,521 Total taxes paid : $77,914 Tax burden : 33.95%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $18,560 Total taxes paid : $2,164 Tax burden : 11.66%



Difference of tax burden: 22.29%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $229,521 Total taxes paid : $64,501 Tax burden : 28.10%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $18,560 Total taxes paid : $1,420 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 20.45%

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Illinois

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $275,167 Total taxes paid : $98,026 Tax burden : 35.62%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,343 Total taxes paid : $2,083 Tax burden : 13.57%



Difference of tax burden: 22.05%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $275,167 Total taxes paid : $80,863 Tax burden : 29.39%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,343 Total taxes paid : $1,933 Tax burden : 12.60%



Difference of tax burden: 16.79%

Save Money: Top 7 Countries With Zero Income Tax

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Indiana

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $218,385 Total taxes paid : $67,869 Tax burden : 31.08%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,202 Total taxes paid : $1,777 Tax burden : 11.69%



Difference of tax burden: 19.39%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $218,385 Total taxes paid : $56,151 Tax burden : 25.71%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,202 Total taxes paid : $1,642 Tax burden : 10.80%



Difference of tax burden: 7.97%

benkrut / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Iowa

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $226,830 Total taxes paid : $77,434 Tax burden : 34.14%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,973 Total taxes paid : $2,404 Tax burden : 14.16%



Difference of tax burden: 19.98%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $226,830 Total taxes paid : $64,525 Tax burden : 28.45%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,973 Total taxes paid : $2,066 Tax burden : 12.17%



Difference of tax burden: 16.27%

Kansas

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $232,612 Total taxes paid : $79,233 Tax burden : 34.06%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,724 Total taxes paid : $1,769 Tax burden : 11.25%



Difference of tax burden: 22.81%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $232,612 Total taxes paid : $65,662 Tax burden : 28.23%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,724 Total taxes paid : $1,442 Tax burden : 9.17%



Difference of tax burden: 19.06%

Kentucky

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $212,554 Total taxes paid : $68,118 Tax burden : 32.05%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,942 Total taxes paid : $1,326 Tax burden : 11.11%



Difference of tax burden: 20.94%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $212,554 Total taxes paid : $56,859 Tax burden : 26.75%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,942 Total taxes paid : $1,202 Tax burden : 10.06%



Difference of tax burden: 9.62%

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Louisiana

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $205,286 Total taxes paid : $63,939 Tax burden : 31.15%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $10,691 Total taxes paid : $1,016 Tax burden : 9.50%



Difference of tax burden: 21.65%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $205,286 Total taxes paid : $52,950 Tax burden : 25.79%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $10,691 Total taxes paid : $1,016 Tax burden : 9.50%



Difference of tax burden: 16.29%

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Maine

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $231,939 Total taxes paid : $81,492 Tax burden : 35.14%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,968 Total taxes paid : $1,556 Tax burden : 9.75%



Difference of tax burden: 25.39%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $231,939 Total taxes paid : $67,233 Tax burden : 28.99%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,968 Total taxes paid : $1,222 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 21.34%

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Maryland

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $308,921 Total taxes paid : $114,812 Tax burden : 37.17%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $19,444 Total taxes paid : $2,804 Tax burden : 14.42%



Difference of tax burden: 22.74%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $308,921 Total taxes paid : $93,232 Tax burden : 30.18%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $19,444 Total taxes paid : $2,128 Tax burden : 10.95%



Difference of tax burden: 19.23%

Massachusetts

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $351,952 Total taxes paid : $134,752 Tax burden : 38.29%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,996 Total taxes paid : $2,465 Tax burden : 14.50%



Difference of tax burden: 23.79%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $351,952 Total taxes paid : $109,142 Tax burden : 31.01%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,996 Total taxes paid : $2,150 Tax burden : 12.65%



Difference of tax burden: 18.36%

Michigan

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $230,959 Total taxes paid : $75,791 Tax burden : 32.82%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $14,784 Total taxes paid : $1,853 Tax burden : 12.53%



Difference of tax burden: 20.28%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $230,959 Total taxes paid : $63,066 Tax burden : 27.31%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $14,784 Total taxes paid : $1,759 Tax burden : 11.90%



Difference of tax burden: 15.41%

Minnesota

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $270,174 Total taxes paid : $102,387 Tax burden : 37.90%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $18,980 Total taxes paid : $2,241 Tax burden : 11.81%



Difference of tax burden: 26.09%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $270,174 Total taxes paid : $82,230 Tax burden : 30.44%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $18,980 Total taxes paid : $1,452 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 22.79%

Mississippi

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $184,924 Total taxes paid : $57,236 Tax burden : 30.95%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $10,171 Total taxes paid : $778 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 23.30%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $184,924 Total taxes paid : $47,867 Tax burden : 25.88%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $10,171 Total taxes paid : $778 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 18.23%

Missouri

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $222,783 Total taxes paid : $72,906 Tax burden : 32.73%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $14,324 Total taxes paid : $1,143 Tax burden : 7.98%



Difference of tax burden: 24.74%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $222,783 Total taxes paid : $60,150 Tax burden : 27.00%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $14,324 Total taxes paid : $1,096 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 19.35%

Montana

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $228,532 Total taxes paid : $79,409 Tax burden : 34.75%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,384 Total taxes paid : $1,528 Tax burden : 9.93%



Difference of tax burden: 19.05%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $228,532 Total taxes paid : $66,504 Tax burden : 29.10%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,384 Total taxes paid : $1,227 Tax burden : 7.98%



Difference of tax burden: 21.13%

Nebraska

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $234,995 Total taxes paid : $81,701 Tax burden : 34.77%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,346 Total taxes paid : $1,758 Tax burden : 10.75%



Difference of tax burden: 24.01%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $234,995 Total taxes paid : $67,175 Tax burden : 28.59%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% :$16,346 Total taxes paid : $1,264 Tax burden : 7.73%



Difference of tax burden: 20.85%

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Nevada

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $247,917 Total taxes paid : $72,784 Tax burden : 29.36%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,162 Total taxes paid : $1,468 Tax burden : 9.08%



Difference of tax burden: 20.28%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $247,917 Total taxes paid : $58,618 Tax burden : 23.64%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,162 Total taxes paid : $1,236 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 15.99%

New Hampshire

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $288,945 Total taxes paid : $90,282 Tax burden : 31.25%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $21,841 Total taxes paid : $2,470 Tax burden : 11.31%



Difference of tax burden: 19.94%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $288,945 Total taxes paid : $71,603 Tax burden : 24.78%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $21,841 Total taxes paid : $1,671 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 17.13%

New Jersey

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $344,854 Total taxes paid : $133,968 Tax burden : 38.85%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $19,682 Total taxes paid : $2,364 Tax burden : 12.01%



Difference of tax burden: 26.83%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $344,854 Total taxes paid : $107,223 Tax burden : 31.09%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $19,682 Total taxes paid : $1,781 Tax burden : 9.05%



Difference of tax burden: 22.04%

New Mexico

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $209,081 Total taxes paid : $66,587 Tax burden : 31.85%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,775 Total taxes paid : $901 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 24.20%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $209,081 Total taxes paid : $54,993 Tax burden : 26.30%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,775 Total taxes paid : $901 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 18.65%

New York

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $326,428 Total taxes paid :$125,682 Tax burden : 38.50%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $13,591 Total taxes paid : $1,263 Tax burden : 9.30%



Difference of tax burden: 29.21%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $326,428 Total taxes paid : $100,949 Tax burden : 30.93%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $13,591 Total taxes paid : $1,040 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 23.28%

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North Carolina

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $241,821 Total taxes paid : $81,163 Tax burden : 33.56%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,096 Total taxes paid : $1,391 Tax burden : 9.21%



Difference of tax burden: 24.35%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $241,821 Total taxes paid : $66,964 Tax burden : 27.69%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,096 Total taxes paid : $1,155 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 20.04%

North Dakota

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $245,836 Total taxes paid : $76,615 Tax burden : 31.17%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,049 Total taxes paid : $1,472 Tax burden : 9.17%



Difference of tax burden: 21.99%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $245,836 Total taxes paid : $61,868 Tax burden : 25.17%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,049 Total taxes paid : $1,228 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 17.52%

Ohio

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $226,591 Total taxes paid : $71,578 Tax burden : 31.59%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $14,195 Total taxes paid : $1,120 Tax burden : 7.89%



Difference of tax burden: 23.70%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $226,591 Total taxes paid : $59,202 Tax burden : 26.13%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $14,195 Total taxes paid : $1,086 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 18.48%

Oklahoma

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $210,114 Total taxes paid : $67,200 Tax burden : 31.98%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $13,082 Total taxes paid : $1,137 Tax burden : 8.69%



Difference of tax burden: 23.29%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $210,114 Total taxes paid : $55,842 Tax burden : 26.58%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $13,082 Total taxes paid : $1,002 Tax burden : 7.66%



Difference of tax burden: 18.92%

Oregon

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $258,823 Total taxes paid : $101,078 Tax burden : 39.05%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,482 Total taxes paid : $2,453 Tax burden : 14.88%



Difference of tax burden: 24.17%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $258,823 Total taxes paid : $83,732 Tax burden : 32.35%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $16,482 Total taxes paid : $1,860 Tax burden : 11.28%



Difference of tax burden: 21.07%

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Pennsylvania

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $255,764 Total taxes paid : $83,982 Tax burden : 32.84%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,303 Total taxes paid : $1,786 Tax burden : 11.67%



Difference of tax burden: 21.17%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $255,764 Total taxes paid : $68,953 Tax burden : 26.96%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,303 Total taxes paid : $1,640 Tax burden : 10.72%



Difference of tax burden: 16.24%

Rhode Island

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $266,185 Total taxes paid : $93,316 Tax burden : 35.06%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,526 Total taxes paid : $1,563 Tax burden : 10.06%



Difference of tax burden: 24.99%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $266,185 Total taxes paid : $76,538 Tax burden : 28.75%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,526 Total taxes paid : $1,188 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 21.10%

South Carolina

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $226,183 Total taxes paid : $78,126 Tax burden : 34.54%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $13,906 Total taxes paid : $1,391 Tax burden : 10.00%



Difference of tax burden: 24.54%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $226,183 Total taxes paid : $65,783 Tax burden : 29.08%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $13,906 Total taxes paid : $1,385 Tax burden : 9.96%



Difference of tax burden: 19.12%

South Dakota

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $220,281 Total taxes paid : $61,741 Tax burden : 28.03%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,826 Total taxes paid : $1,408 Tax burden : 8.90%



Difference of tax burden: 19.13%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : Total taxes paid : Tax burden :

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : Total taxes paid : Tax burden :



Difference of tax burden: 7.35%

Tennessee

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $226,707 Total taxes paid : $64,289 Tax burden : 28.36%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $14,667 Total taxes paid : $1,204 Tax burden : 8.21%



Difference of tax burden: 20.15%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $226,707 Total taxes paid : $51,905 Tax burden : 22.90%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $14,667 Total taxes paid : $1,122 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 15.25%

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Texas

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $261,583 Total taxes paid : $78,612 Tax burden : 30.05%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,762 Total taxes paid : $1,397 Tax burden : 8.86%



Difference of tax burden: 21.19%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $261,583 Total taxes paid : $62,943 Tax burden : 24.06%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,762 Total taxes paid : $1,206 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 16.41%

Utah

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $267,902 Total taxes paid : $94,260 Tax burden : 35.18%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $23,988 Total taxes paid : $3,972 Tax burden : 16.56%



Difference of tax burden: 18.63%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $267,902 Total taxes paid : $77,856 Tax burden : 29.06%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $23,988 Total taxes paid : $2,918 Tax burden : 12.16%



Difference of tax burden: 16.90%

Vermont

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $233,602 Total taxes paid : $82,052 Tax burden : 35.12%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $17,704 Total taxes paid : $2,115 Tax burden : 11.95%



Difference of tax burden: 23.18%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $233,602 Total taxes paid : $66,856 Tax burden : 28.62%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $17,704 Total taxes paid : $1,510 Tax burden : 8.53%



Difference of tax burden: 20.09%

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Virginia

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $302,515 Total taxes paid : $112,747 Tax burden : 37.27%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $17,905 Total taxes paid : $2,140 Tax burden : 11.95%



Difference of tax burden: 25.32%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $302,515 Total taxes paid : $92,115 Tax burden : 30.45%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $17,905 Total taxes paid : $1,408 Tax burden : 7.86%



Difference of tax burden: 22.59%

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Washington

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $321,645 Total taxes paid : $104,229 Tax burden : 32.40%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $19,816 Total taxes paid : $2,113 Tax burden : 10.66%



Difference of tax burden: 21.74%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $321,645 Total taxes paid : $81,953 Tax burden : 25.48%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $19,816 Total taxes paid : $1,516 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 21.74%

West Virginia

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $191,795 Total taxes paid : $62,121 Tax burden : 32.39%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,286 Total taxes paid : $1,215 Tax burden : 10.76%



Difference of tax burden: 14.25%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $191,795 Total taxes paid : $52,730 Tax burden : 27.49%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $11,286 Total taxes paid : $1,215 Tax burden : 10.76%



Difference of tax burden: 16.73%

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Wisconsin

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $229,656 Total taxes paid : $76,621 Tax burden : 33.36%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $17,032 Total taxes paid : $1,772 Tax burden : 10.41%



Difference of tax burden: 22.96%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $229,656 Total taxes paid : $63,314 Tax burden : 27.57%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $17,032 Total taxes paid : $1,303 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 19.92%

Wyoming

Single filing for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $214,972 Total taxes paid : $59,636 Tax burden : 27.74%

Single filing for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,900 Total taxes paid : $1,421 Tax burden : 8.94%



Difference of tax burden: 18.80%

Married filing jointly for richest 20% Average annual income of richest 20% : $214,972 Total taxes paid : $48,260 Tax burden : 22.45%

Married filing jointly for poorest 20% Average annual income of poorest 20% : $15,900 Total taxes paid : $1,216 Tax burden : 7.65%



Difference of tax burden: 14.80%

Alexandria Bova contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed state, federal, and local data to find the tax burden on the rich and the poor for single filers and married joint filers in every state. GOBankingRates sourced the [1] average income of the poorest 20% (bottom quintile) and [2] average income of the richest 20% (top quintile) in every state as sourced from the US Census Consumer Expenditure Survey for income by quintiles, the [3] overall cost of living index for each state as sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, the [4] national average overall expenditure cost for the poorest 20% (bottom quintile), the [5] national average overall expenditure cost for the richest 20% (top quintile) as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey by Quintiles, the [6] 2023 federal income tax brackets and rates, [7] 2023 state income tax brackets and rates, the [8] 2023 state and local tax rates all three tax-related data was sourced from TaxFoundation. GOBankingRates used in-house calculations to find marginal tax rates, effective tax rates, and total tax paid for federal income tax, state income tax, FICA tax, and local sales tax rates. The overall cost of living index and the average expenditure cost for each quintile was used to calculated the average expenditure cost for the richest and poorest quintiles within each state and using the state and local tax rates the taxes paid for each state and quintile can be found. To find the tax burden, GOBankingRates combined the total spent on federal income tax, state income tax, and state and local sales taxes divided by the average income. These figures were then compared between each states richest and poorest to find the difference in tax burdens between the richest 20% and poorest 20% in every state. Property tax was not included due to lack of consistent data for home value between the richest and poorest residents. The standard deduction was used when calculating income tax rates. If the standard deduction was greater than the average income no tax was taken from that income. All data was collected and is up to date as of Feb. 12, 2024.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Tax Burden on the Rich and Poor in Every State
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL  Free Report)  Equities researchers at William Blair raised their Q1 2024 earnings estimates for shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, February 21st. William Blair analyst S. Zackfia now anticipates that the company will post earnings of $1.33 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $1.19. The consensus estimate for Royal Caribbean Cruises current full-year earnings is $10.03 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Royal Caribbean Cruises Q2 2024 earnings at $2.17 EPS and Q4 2024 earnings at $1.78 EPS.

Get Royal Caribbean Cruises alerts:

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on the stock. TheStreet raised shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Tuesday, December 5th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $148.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $170.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday. Tigress Financial upped their price objective on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $139.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $127.00 price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given 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 $128.64.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Price Performance

NYSE RCL opened at $121.91 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $31.29 billion, a PE ratio of 19.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 2.54. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 52 week low of $59.37 and a 52 week high of $133.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.03. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $122.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $106.71.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.13 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $3.33 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.36 billion. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a net margin of 12.22% and a return on equity of 45.55%. The companys revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.12) earnings per share.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 0.7% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,533,566 shares of the companys stock valued at $141,303,000 after acquiring an additional 10,095 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 52.7% during the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 169,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,535,000 after purchasing an additional 58,481 shares during the period. Chai Trust Co. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises during the second quarter valued at approximately $15,561,000. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 476.1% during the third quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. now owns 470,816 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,381,000 after purchasing an additional 389,095 shares during the period. Finally, Mane Global Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises during the second quarter valued at approximately $24,204,000. 75.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Harri U. Kulovaara sold 24,707 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.90, for a total value of $2,641,178.30. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 33,650 shares in the company, valued at $3,597,185. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Michael W. Bayley sold 11,753 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.01, for a total value of $1,363,465.53. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 166,537 shares in the company, valued at $19,319,957.37. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Harri U. Kulovaara sold 24,707 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.90, for a total transaction of $2,641,178.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 33,650 shares in the company, valued at $3,597,185. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 636,460 shares of company stock worth $76,557,183. Insiders own 8.70% of the companys stock.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Company Profile

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide. The company operates cruises under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises brands, which comprise a range of itineraries. As of February 13, 2023, it operated 64 ships. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL  Free Report) had its price objective boosted by Stifel Nicolaus from $170.00 to $174.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock.

RCL has been the subject of several other research reports. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $127.00 price objective on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $141.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 19th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $100.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Susquehanna increased their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $120.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $148.00 to $154.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Royal Caribbean Cruises presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $128.64.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Trading Down 0.5 %

RCL opened at $121.91 on Thursday. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a twelve month low of $59.37 and a twelve month high of $133.77. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $122.90 and a 200 day simple moving average of $106.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 2.54.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.13 by $0.12. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a net margin of 12.22% and a return on equity of 45.55%. The business had revenue of $3.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.36 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted ($1.12) earnings per share. Royal Caribbean Cruisess revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Royal Caribbean Cruises will post 10.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Royal Caribbean Cruises

In related news, CEO Michael W. Bayley sold 11,753 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.01, for a total value of $1,363,465.53. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 166,537 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,319,957.37. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Royal Caribbean Cruises news, Director Arne Alexander Wilhelmsen sold 284,766 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.73, for a total transaction of $34,664,565.18. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 19,167,507 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,333,260,627.11. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael W. Bayley sold 11,753 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.01, for a total transaction of $1,363,465.53. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 166,537 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,319,957.37. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 636,460 shares of company stock worth $76,557,183 in the last quarter. 8.70% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Royal Caribbean Cruises

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Optimist Retirement Group LLC acquired a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $202,000. O Dell Group LLC acquired a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 16.0% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 110,651 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,328,000 after purchasing an additional 15,273 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 2,575 shares of the companys stock worth $333,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the period. Finally, Dagco Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.64% of the companys stock.

About Royal Caribbean Cruises

(Get Free Report)

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide. The company operates cruises under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises brands, which comprise a range of itineraries. As of February 13, 2023, it operated 64 ships. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

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Shares of Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust plc (LON:SLS  Get Free Report) crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 732 ($9.22) and traded as high as GBX 744 ($9.37). Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust shares last traded at GBX 732 ($9.22), with a volume of 84,315 shares changing hands.

Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.92, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stock has a market capitalization of 715.41 million and a P/E ratio of 3.37. The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 732 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 732.

About Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust

(Get Free Report)

Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by Standard Life Investments Limited. The fund is managed by Standard Life Investments (Corporate Funds) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD  Free Report) (TSE:ABX) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning.

GOLD has been the subject of several other reports. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded shares of Barrick Gold from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Monday, January 8th. Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of Barrick Gold from $24.00 to $23.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 15th. CIBC reduced their price target on shares of Barrick Gold from $27.00 to $23.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Barrick Gold from $17.00 to $15.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of Barrick Gold from $26.00 to $24.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $21.71.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on GOLD

Barrick Gold Price Performance

NYSE GOLD opened at $14.74 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 3.16, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.14. The company has a market cap of $25.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.58. Barrick Gold has a 1 year low of $13.76 and a 1 year high of $20.75.

Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD  Get Free Report) (TSE:ABX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The gold and copper producer reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $3.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.13 billion. Barrick Gold had a net margin of 11.16% and a return on equity of 4.64%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.13 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Barrick Gold will post 0.92 EPS for the current year.

Barrick Gold Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a $0.074 dividend. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.01%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Barrick Golds dividend payout ratio is 55.56%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Barrick Gold

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in GOLD. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Barrick Gold by 35.0% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 63,551,991 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $925,121,000 after purchasing an additional 16,485,756 shares during the last quarter. Snider Financial Group bought a new position in Barrick Gold during the 1st quarter valued at about $185,000. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in Barrick Gold by 9.7% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 80,933,517 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $1,464,070,000 after purchasing an additional 7,150,142 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in Barrick Gold by 16.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 45,479,229 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $821,790,000 after purchasing an additional 6,417,244 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ruffer LLP lifted its holdings in Barrick Gold by 198.3% during the 4th quarter. Ruffer LLP now owns 9,606,218 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $173,727,000 after purchasing an additional 6,385,566 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.20% of the companys stock.

About Barrick Gold

(Get Free Report)

Barrick Gold Corporation is a sector-leading gold and copper producer. Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GOLD and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ABX.



In January 2019 Barrick merged with Randgold Resources and in July that year it combined its gold mines in Nevada, USA, with those of Newmont Corporation in a joint venture, Nevada Gold Mines, which is majority-owned and operated by Barrick.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. trimmed its stake in Taseko Mines Limited (NYSE:TGB  Free Report) by 0.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,248,813 shares of the companys stock after selling 50,970 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. owned about 2.16% of Taseko Mines worth $7,821,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Credit Suisse AG raised its stake in shares of Taseko Mines by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 1,334,070 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,641,000 after acquiring an additional 6,368 shares during the period. Mariner LLC raised its stake in shares of Taseko Mines by 41.6% in the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 22,743 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 6,677 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Taseko Mines by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 510,545 shares of the companys stock worth $750,000 after buying an additional 7,249 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its stake in Taseko Mines by 14.9% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 77,196 shares of the companys stock worth $176,000 after buying an additional 10,000 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in Taseko Mines by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 416,137 shares of the companys stock worth $599,000 after buying an additional 10,264 shares during the period. 16.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Taseko Mines Price Performance

Shares of TGB opened at $1.50 on Friday. Taseko Mines Limited has a fifty-two week low of $1.05 and a fifty-two week high of $1.84. The firms 50 day moving average price is $1.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.32. The company has a market cap of $435 million, a P/E ratio of 25.00 and a beta of 1.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64.

Taseko Mines Profile

Taseko Mines Limited, a mining company, acquires, develops, and operates mineral properties. It explores for copper, molybdenum, gold, niobium, and silver deposits. The company holds 75% interest in the Gibraltar mine located in British Columbia. It also holds 100% interest in Yellowhead copper project, the Aley niobium project, and the New Prosperity gold and copper project located in British Columbia; and the Florence copper project located in Arizona.

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Mendel Money Management grew its holdings in shares of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY  Free Report) by 31.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 846 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Mendel Money Managements holdings in Teledyne Technologies were worth $346,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of TDY. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 93.4% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 4,068 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $1,923,000 after purchasing an additional 1,965 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in Teledyne Technologies by 4.0% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,911 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $903,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in Teledyne Technologies by 40.1% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 796 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $376,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its holdings in Teledyne Technologies by 62.5% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 1,370 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $648,000 after acquiring an additional 527 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its holdings in Teledyne Technologies by 1,272.5% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,400 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $662,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298 shares during the period. 87.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Teledyne Technologies Stock Up 0.4 %

NYSE TDY traded up $1.93 during trading on Friday, reaching $432.87. 125,011 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 191,645. Teledyne Technologies Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $364.98 and a fifty-two week high of $448.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.43 billion, a PE ratio of 23.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $432.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $412.44.

Insider Activity

Teledyne Technologies ( NYSE:TDY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $5.44 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.04 by $0.40. Teledyne Technologies had a return on equity of 10.81% and a net margin of 15.72%. The firm had revenue of $1.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.46 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $4.94 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Teledyne Technologies Incorporated will post 20.55 EPS for the current year.

In other news, VP Cynthia Y. Belak sold 5,389 shares of Teledyne Technologies stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $409.52, for a total transaction of $2,206,903.28. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 4,991 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,043,914.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, Vice Chairman Jason Vanwees sold 3,700 shares of Teledyne Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $420.29, for a total transaction of $1,555,073.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 50,008 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,017,862.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Cynthia Y. Belak sold 5,389 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $409.52, for a total value of $2,206,903.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 4,991 shares in the company, valued at $2,043,914.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 74,206 shares of company stock worth $30,707,174 in the last three months. 2.14% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TDY has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on Teledyne Technologies from $522.00 to $510.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. StockNews.com raised Teledyne Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $515.67.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Teledyne Technologies

Teledyne Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. The company's Instrumentation segment offers monitoring and control instruments for marine, environmental, industrial, and other applications, as well as electronic test and measurement equipment; and power and communications connectivity devices for distributed instrumentation systems and sensor networks.

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Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the four ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given 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 $50.38.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on TX. TheStreet raised shares of Ternium from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. Bank of America raised Ternium from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $47.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 20th.

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Ternium Trading Down 0.3 %

Ternium stock opened at $39.84 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $7.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.58, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.69. Ternium has a fifty-two week low of $35.22 and a fifty-two week high of $45.81. The firms fifty day moving average price is $40.01 and its 200-day moving average price is $39.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 1.94 and a current ratio of 3.16.

Ternium (NYSE:TX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The basic materials company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.79. The firm had revenue of $4.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.94 billion. Ternium had a net margin of 3.84% and a return on equity of 10.84%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 39.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.20 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Ternium will post 7.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ternium Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 3rd will be given a dividend of $2.20 per share. This is a positive change from Terniums previous Semi-Annual dividend of $1.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 2nd. Terniums dividend payout ratio is presently 127.91%.

Institutional Trading of Ternium

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its position in Ternium by 42.6% during the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 131,260 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $5,237,000 after buying an additional 39,200 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its position in Ternium by 11.6% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 142,325 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $5,679,000 after buying an additional 14,811 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its position in Ternium by 67.4% during the second quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 12,148 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $482,000 after buying an additional 4,893 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Ternium by 48.7% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 966,286 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $38,555,000 after purchasing an additional 316,432 shares during the period. Finally, Ninety One North America Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Ternium by 43.4% during the third quarter. Ninety One North America Inc. now owns 762,792 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $30,435,000 after purchasing an additional 231,034 shares during the period. 12.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ternium Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Ternium SA, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, processes, and sells various steel products in Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, the United States, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. It operates through two segments, Steel and Mining.

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Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. lessened its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Free Report) by 2.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,052 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 452 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $1,280,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Penserra Capital Management LLC increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,715 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $129,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,857 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $415,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 10,490 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $744,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. CI Investments Inc. increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 5,473 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $388,000 after buying an additional 153 shares during the period. Finally, Toroso Investments LLC increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 4,293 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $308,000 after buying an additional 159 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.81% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at The Hartford Financial Services Group

In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Robert W. Paiano sold 14,528 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.97, for a total transaction of $1,365,196.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 46,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,397,044.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Robert W. Paiano sold 14,528 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.97, for a total transaction of $1,365,196.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 46,792 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,397,044.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Allison G. Niderno sold 1,332 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.74, for a total transaction of $119,533.68. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 630 shares in the company, valued at $56,536.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 353,578 shares of company stock valued at $29,434,234 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $77.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $94.00 to $91.00 in a report on Monday, January 8th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Finally, Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $90.60.

Get Our Latest Research Report on HIG

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Up 1.4 %

NYSE HIG opened at $95.88 on Friday. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a one year low of $64.25 and a one year high of $96.10. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $85.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $77.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.84 billion, a PE ratio of 12.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.87.

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The insurance provider reported $3.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.62. The firm had revenue of $6.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.84 billion. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 10.21% and a return on equity of 19.82%. The Hartford Financial Services Groups revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.31 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 9.99 earnings per share for the current year.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.47 per share. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 1st. The Hartford Financial Services Groups payout ratio is 23.53%.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

Further Reading

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Covestor Ltd trimmed its stake in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 13.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 775 shares of the companys stock after selling 118 shares during the period. Covestor Ltds holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $113,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Garrett Wealth Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Garrett Wealth Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,419 shares of the companys stock valued at $645,000 after purchasing an additional 260 shares during the period. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 7.1% in the second quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 28,061 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,258,000 after acquiring an additional 1,855 shares during the period. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 14.6% during the third quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC now owns 94,424 shares of the companys stock worth $13,772,000 after acquiring an additional 12,016 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 16,003,260 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,298,184,000 after acquiring an additional 131,339 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in Procter & Gamble by 26.9% in the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 10,823,380 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,642,339,000 after purchasing an additional 2,293,824 shares during the last quarter. 63.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Procter & Gamble alerts:

Procter & Gamble Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of PG opened at $161.03 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $152.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $151.04. The Procter & Gamble Company has a twelve month low of $136.10 and a twelve month high of $161.74. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $378.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.97, a PEG ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.45.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.70 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.48 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 34.04% and a net margin of 17.60%. The companys revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.59 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed 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 of this dividend was Thursday, January 18th. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.34%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is presently 62.98%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $169.00 to $162.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $162.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Barclays lifted their target price on Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Procter & Gamble from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $156.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $167.50.

Get Our Latest Report on Procter & Gamble

Insider Activity at Procter & Gamble

In other news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 6,575 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total value of $1,009,065.25. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 5,620 shares in the company, valued at $862,501.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 6,575 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total value of $1,009,065.25. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 5,620 shares in the company, valued at $862,501.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 in the company, valued at approximately $151,788. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In 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.

See Also

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.
A Texas man pleaded guilty to insider trading after he overheard his wife's work calls for BP. SOPA Images/Getty Images

A Houston man pleaded guilty to insider trading after he made $1.76 million.

He listened to his wife's calls about BP's plan to buy TravelCenters of America.

His wife moved out of their shared home and initiated divorce proceedings, court documents say.

A Houston man pleaded guilty to insider trading after he made $1.76 million in illegal profits from listening in on his wife's work calls as they worked from home.

Tyler Loudon, 42, admitted to buying thousands of shares in TravelCenters of America ahead of its $1.3 billion acquisition by the oil and gas company BP in February 2023, US Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced.

The Securities and Exchange Commission alleged in a separate civil complaint that Loudon, who was married to a BP executive, overheard conversations about the planned takeover.

The SEC said the couple typically worked 20 feet away from each other at home and often overheard each other's work-related conversations.

The regulator said Loudon purchased 46,450 shares of TravelCenters stock without his wife's knowledge before the deal was announced.

After the announcement, the share price rose nearly 71%, and Loudon sold all that he had bought at a profit, the SEC said.

The SEC charged Tyler Loudon with insider trading. It alleged that he "took advantage of his remote working conditions and his wife's trust to profit from information he knew was confidential."

After learning that BP was scrutinizing who had prior knowledge of the deal, Loudon confessed to his wife what he had done. He told her he did it because he didn't want her to work long hours anymore, the SEC complaint said.

It added that Loudon's wife, a BP mergers and acquisitions manager, told her bosses about Loudon's revelation and was subsequently fired, despite there being no evidence of wrongdoing on her part.

She then moved out of their shared home and initiated divorce proceedings a few months later, ignoring a handwritten note from Loudon in which he apologized for violating her trust, the complaint said.

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The SEC noted that Loudon hadn't denied the allegations and had agreed to a partial judgment subject to court approval.

It would prohibit him from taking certain senior company roles and require him to pay a penalty.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital.' It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. We can see that Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) does use debt in its business. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. In the worst case scenario, a company can go bankrupt if it cannot pay its creditors. However, a more usual (but still expensive) situation is where a company must dilute shareholders at a cheap share price simply to get debt under control. Of course, the upside of debt is that it often represents cheap capital, especially when it replaces dilution in a company with the ability to reinvest at high rates of return. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.

Check out our latest analysis for Occidental Petroleum

What Is Occidental Petroleum's Net Debt?

As you can see below, Occidental Petroleum had US$19.0b of debt, at December 2023, which is about the same as the year before. You can click the chart for greater detail. On the flip side, it has US$1.43b in cash leading to net debt of about US$17.6b.

A Look At Occidental Petroleum's Liabilities

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Occidental Petroleum had liabilities of US$9.15b due within 12 months and liabilities of US$34.5b due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of US$1.43b as well as receivables valued at US$3.27b due within 12 months. So its liabilities total US$39.0b more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

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This is a mountain of leverage even relative to its gargantuan market capitalization of US$52.8b. Should its lenders demand that it shore up the balance sheet, shareholders would likely face severe dilution.

In order to size up a company's debt relative to its earnings, we calculate its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) divided by its interest expense (its interest cover). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses.

Occidental Petroleum has net debt of just 1.3 times EBITDA, indicating that it is certainly not a reckless borrower. And it boasts interest cover of 7.4 times, which is more than adequate. In fact Occidental Petroleum's saving grace is its low debt levels, because its EBIT has tanked 56% in the last twelve months. Falling earnings (if the trend continues) could eventually make even modest debt quite risky. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Occidental Petroleum's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

But our final consideration is also important, because a company cannot pay debt with paper profits; it needs cold hard cash. So the logical step is to look at the proportion of that EBIT that is matched by actual free cash flow. Over the last three years, Occidental Petroleum actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT. That sort of strong cash conversion gets us as excited as the crowd when the beat drops at a Daft Punk concert.

Our View

Occidental Petroleum's EBIT growth rate and level of total liabilities definitely weigh on it, in our esteem. But the good news is it seems to be able to convert EBIT to free cash flow with ease. We think that Occidental Petroleum's debt does make it a bit risky, after considering the aforementioned data points together. Not all risk is bad, as it can boost share price returns if it pays off, but this debt risk is worth keeping in mind. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. Be aware that Occidental Petroleum is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about...

Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today.

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.
Nandan was venue for a French film fest from 16-24 February. The West Bengal government along with Alliance Francaise du Bengale and celebrated the 1st edition of the French Film Festival this year.

This festival was a manifestation of the cultural bridge that represented connections among French, Indian, and Bengali cinemas over the years.

This festival screened 42 movies that included 28 full-length films and was segregated into 5 parts so that cinephiles could enjoy. These 5 sections include: Contemporary films, young audience, French new wave, Indian classics at Cannes and special screenings.

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The opening of the festival was graced by actor Anil Kapoor, director Anurag Kashyap, actor-director-musician Anjan Dutt, actor Rituparna Sengupta and actor Saswata Chatterjee on 16 February.

Anil Kapoor reminisced about his early days of vigour and joy in Kolkata, expressing his affection and longing for the city where he began his acting journey through the film, Kahan se Guzar Gaya, released in 1980. He also said how a photograph sent by Mr Nicolas Facino, the director of Alliance Francaise du Bengale brought back memories of his first time shooting a movie. He also praised the work of director and cinematographer Nemai Ghosh.

Didier Talpain, the consul general of France in Kolkata along with Nicolas Facino, expressed their admiration for Kolkata as the cultural capital of India that stands as a bridge between cultures of foreign lands and also as a beacon of creativity and innovation in the realm of cinema.

A special focus was given to some award-winning movies, such as The Three Musketeers: Milady, and The Three Musketeers: DArtagnan directed by M. Bourboulon and also Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom directed by Guillaume Canet.

Movies like Aguntak by Satyajit Ray, Antarjal Yatra by Goutam Ghosh, Padatik by Mrinal Sen, Uttoran by Sandip Ray, Tahader Kotha by Buddhadeb Dasgupta, and Padma Nadir Majhi by Goutam Ghosh, which had previously been screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Finally, on the last day, the closing ceremony featured the blockbuster film La Tresse directed by Laetitia Colombani.
The stage is all set for the upcoming official visit of chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Purulia on Tuesday as the SP and DM of Purulia district inspected the last-minute preparations and held meetings on the security measures undertaken.

Rajat Nanda, district magistrate of Purulia and Abhijit Banerjee, superintendent of Purulia inspected the venue of the CMs official visit at Battery Ground in Shimulia at the outskirts of Purulia town and also inspected the helipad which has been set up near the venue.

Former state minister Shantiram Mahato was also present during the inspection and meeting.

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After her official programme the CM will fly to Bankura for her official programme and then to Jhargram as part of her Junglemahal district tour before leaving for Kolkata. The programme is scheduled to start at noon.

Sources said that the chief minister will inaugurate Rs 3,000 crore projects under the Pathashree projects. She will also hand over government facilities to over sixty people on the stage.

Though the details of her entire programme are yet to be finalised by Nabanna so far, the district administration has held an emergency meeting with all the departments of the district for the upcoming official tour of CM Mamata Banerjee.

The upcoming visit of the chief minister is very crucial as she is coming to these Junglemahal districts on official tour after a year and just few months before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Trinamul Congress has fared poorly in the Junglemahal districts in Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and even also in the 2021 Assembly polls.

The party supporters are now waiting for the CMs arrival in these districts and what message she will give to the voters to motivate party supporters before the general elections and are also likely to announce a host of new projects, including some major industrial projects, party sources said.

At Raghunathpur in Purulia, the CM has announced to set up her dream project  Jungle Sundari industrial township project, which she feels will act as a game changer in the socio-economic scenario of the most backward district of the state.

In search of jobs, every year several thousands of youth migrate to other states as labourers. The CM wants to provide them with jobs in their home districts.

She has also announced plans to set up a film city in Purulia like Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad which will further boost the film tourism sector in the state.

In the tourism sector also several projects have been undertaken and Ayodhya Hills of Purulia has already become a top tourism destination. A tourism circuit is also being planned in the coming days and adventure tourism projects will also be set up.
Hill based political party leader Ajoy Edwards has proposed a three-point formula for achieving constitutional justice for the Gorkhas ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

Hamro Party president Ajoy Edwards has claimed the appointment of a 2nd States Reorganisation Commission (SRC-II) as an institutional mechanism to look into and accommodate different evolving political aspirations based on empirical facts, including the aspirations of the Gorkhas.

The recommendation of the first States Reorganisation Commission (SRC-I) under the chairmanship of retired SC judge Fazal Ali had led to the creation of 14 new states and 6 UTs in 1956, Mr Edwards added.

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Secondly, according to Mr Edwards, political representation for the Gorkhas in the Parliament and the state legislatures in line with their growing population and in the light of the 84th Constitutional Amendment Act 2002 that has frozen all the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats till 2026. Additionally, consideration of past decisions such as the exchange between Mal and Chopra to rectify historical injustices.

An interim form of regional autonomy modelled along Article 244A, which has provisions for an autonomous state having the power to make laws in all items enumerated in the state list and the concurrent list. The funds for this body will be appropriated directly from the consolidated fund of India (CFI) on the recommendation of the finance commission, Hamro Party president Mr Edwards said, adding, To avoid civil unrest between the tribes and the non-tribes this article further needs to be supplemented with the inclusion of all the left out communities in the list of STs. This body will serve as an interim constitutional structure till statehood is achieved.
Senior Trinamul Congress leaders and state cabinet ministers, Sujit Bose and Partha Bhaumik, reached Sandeshkhali today to address ongoing issues and also interact with the villagers by appealing to them to restore peace.

Sujit Bose stated, There have been some issues and we are here to know them first-hand. We will talk to the local people.Responding to questions about Sheikh Shahjahan, he emphasized, Our party does not impose anything on anyone. We dont condone injustice. Weve already addressed 150 complaints. Investigations have been conducted near the incident sites.

Meanwhile, DYFI West Bengal state secretary Minakshi Mukherjee today was prevented while she was on a toto and travelling to villages at Sandeshkhali. Later, she demanded that land grabbed from villagers in Sandeshkhali be returned immediately. Mukherjee, who reached river-bounded Sandeshkhali using a detour to avoid detection by the administration, was stopped by the police and taken to Sandeshkhali ferry ghat on the banks of river Kalagachi.

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We want the administration to immediately take steps to give back agricultural land of the villagers, which were grabbed by TMC leaders Shahjahan, Shibu Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar and were turned into water bodies for fish farming, she said. She claimed that people want the arrest and prosecution of Sheikh, Hazra, Sardar and also some police personnel, who allegedly did not pay heed to complaints against these TMC leaders by the affected villagers.

I have been told that I cannot move around since prohibitory orders under Section 144 are in force in the area, Mukherjee told reporters at Sandeshkhali. She said that while ruling party leaders were being allowed to move around, opposition leaders were being stopped from interacting with the affected villagers, while refusing to leave the area.

Bose and Bhowmick visited Sandeshkhali on Saturday and went around some villages. I have come here as the states irrigation minister and not as a political leader, Bhowmick said, reacting to Mukherjees charge.

Sandeshkhalis legislator Sukumar Mahato said, There is no resentment towards our party. Some outsiders are creating unrest. TMC workers in our area are raising funds to return it to the poor people. Other parties are causing unrest in Sandeshkhali.

The MLA added, No allegations against Sheikh Shahjahan have been made, and no wrongdoing has occurred.
The Damodar Valley Corporation has set vertical and horizontal generation growth by 2030 and has now stepped forward for its third attempt at initiating coal mining in Bengal.

Its earlier two attempts were at Birbhum and Bankura.

The DVC currently has an installed generation capacity of 6,901 MW, which by 2030 is scheduled to scale up to 16,000 MW, which would lead to 144 million tonnes of coal consumption annually.

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According to a thumb rule prescribed by the Central Electricity Authority, for every 1,000 MW generation, a thermal power plant require 9,000 tonnes of coal per day. Coal India claimed about assured 100 per cent supply to DVC plants, the DVC top officials complained about at least 4 per cent loss of coal annually due to undesired stone and earth presence mixture.

For its power units in the pipeline, like the 1320 MW Raghunathpur (Phase-II), Purulia, 800 MW Durgapur and 1600 Koderma in Jharkhand, all likely to assume generation by 2028-29, DVC has been heavily depending either on linkage coal, under power ministrys Shakti B (i) scheme or new allocations. The scheduled time frame for linkage for those plants would expire by 2034, the ministry sources said.

Chairman of DVC, S Suresh Kumar, accompanied by member (technical), M Raghu Ram and Niladri Roy, director (technical), Eastern Coalfields Limited inspected Babuisole. The DVC chairman said, The area has become a non-Coal India land after the ECL abandoned mining activities. Weve made an extensive inspection of the area today and now we need to place a proposal to the coal ministry for consideration and allocation. We need to accumulate geological data of the proposed site and also estimate the exact volume of coal reserve there, besides, the depth of the possible working seams.

Raghu Ram said, What we are told by ECL that the area has around 100 million tonnes of reserve. The area isnt virgin as the ECL used to run its Ghanashyam colliery, which was abandoned due to consecutive operating loss per tonne of production 15 years back.

Earlier, in 2022, the DVC had to pull out of the proposed Khagra-Joydev captive coal block project in Dubrajpur, Birbhum. Despite chief minister Mamata Banerjees assurance of settling the land premium (compensation) issue, the Eastern India power major had vacated 4,100 acres of greenfield Birbhum venture as 3500 acres remained yet to be acquired at a time when a per acre revised land premium, worth Rs 35 lakh was formulated. The Centres deadline for the project ended on 9 August, 2022. The DVC was awarded the coal block for captive mining for two thermal power units of 500 MW each from the Mejia plant  the largest thermal power utility in Eastern India in 2015. The DVC had created a MDO (mine developer and operator), a special purpose vehicle when it could hardly possess 600 acres of hassle free state government land.

The DVC on 16 February inked a Rs 588cr agreement with Rural Electrification Corporation, a Maharatna CPSU for term loan and also aiming to strengthen development of tubed coalmine.
These days it's easy to simply buy an index fund, and your returns should (roughly) match the market. But in our experience, buying the right stocks can give your wealth a significant boost. For example, the Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) share price is 80% higher than it was five years ago, which is more than the market average. Zooming in, the stock is up a respectable 12% in the last year.

Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

Check out our latest analysis for Illinois Tool Works

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During five years of share price growth, Illinois Tool Works achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 5.3% per year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 12% per year, over the same period. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

It's probably worth noting we've seen significant insider buying in the last quarter, which we consider a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. This free interactive report on Illinois Tool Works' earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Illinois Tool Works' TSR for the last 5 years was 103%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

Illinois Tool Works shareholders are up 14% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 15% over five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Illinois Tool Works .

Illinois Tool Works is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
In a thrust to the governments green energy goals, the Adani Group and Uber may soon announce a joint venture (JV) to help the global ride-hailing major expand its fleet that runs on alternative and renewable energy, sources said on Saturday.

With this, Ubers fleet in the country is likely to grow to 200,000 vehicles in the short term, people close to the development told IANS.

According to sources, the Adani Group is likely to explore partnerships with major Indian vehicle manufacturers to further build the fleet in the key sunrise sector.

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This JV will also provide employment opportunities to several thousands of people directly and indirectly, according to people close to the matter.

On Saturday morning, Adani Group Founder and Chairman Gautam Adani met Ubers global CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and discussed future collaborations, as the country doubles down on green and sustainable energy.

Absolutely captivating chat with @dkhos, CEO of @Uber. His vision for Ubers expansion in India is truly inspiring, especially his commitment to uplifting Indian drivers and their dignity, Gautam Adani posted on X.

Excited for future collaborations with Dara and his team, Gautam Adani added.

Replying to Gautam Adani, Khosrowshahi said the company is committed to scale up its operations in the country.

An absolutely terrific conversation with @gautam_adani over a delicious breakfast about Indias phenomenal growth and rising entrepreneurship, Khosrowshahi posted on X.

Uber came to India in 2013 and completed over 3 billion trips in the next 10 years. Today, Uber is available across 125 cities.

According to the company, it has helped over 800,000 Indians earn a sustainable income by getting in the drivers seat.

The significant collaboration comes at a time when India is implementing the worlds largest renewable energy expansion programme, envisaging a five-fold increase in the overall renewable energy production capacity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target to install 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030.

India is also uniquely poised to emerge as a prominent global leader in the production of green hydrogen, not just based on its abundant renewable energy resources and the benefits of one of the worlds lowest costs of regeneration, but also because of its R&D ecosystem and the framework designed for R&D in cross-cutting sectors of hydrogen production, transport, electrolyse manufacturing, support infrastructure, fuel cell EVs, storage and utilisation.

The government is also expanding and strengthening the EV ecosystem by supporting manufacturing and charging infrastructure. The focus on boosting EV charging stations will drive sales of both vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Additionally, government initiatives like the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme further incentivise EV adoption.

The clean energy industry hailed the governments latest push towards green growth with a new scheme of bio-manufacturing and bio-foundry, announced during the Interim Budget presented earlier this month, which will foster sustainable mobility.

The government said that such steps will provide environment-friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable polymers, bio-plastics, bio-pharmaceuticals and bio-agri inputs.

This scheme will also help transform todays consumptive manufacturing paradigm to the one based on regenerative principles, said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
At a meeting of the MCD on Monday, BJP councilor from Krishna Nagar Sandeep Kapoor will bring a private resolution against the high fees being levied by the civic body on shop boards during, the Delhi BJP said.

Highlighting the problem arising from stray animals, Opposition leader in the MCD Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh will raise the issue of a mans death in Khanpur after being attacked by a stray cow, demanding action against concerned officials and compensation for the grieved family.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor, on Sunday, accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led MCD of consistently harassing citys traders while raising the issue of the menace of stray animals on the city roads that is troubling the citizens.

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He said before coming to power in the municipal corporation, AAP leaders had issued a ten-point guarantee card, assuring relief to Delhis citizens and traders, but a year later it is evident that instead of relief, the municipal corporation is oppressing traders, he claimed.

The Delhi BJP leader further alleged that in the year 2021-22, AAP leader and partys municipal in-charge Durgesh Pathak had given reassuring assurances to Delhis traders on various issues, including sanitation fees, but after coming to power, citys traders are troubled by thousands of notices.

The Delhi BJP also pointed out that Delhiites are dismayed by the failure of the civic body in taking action against the menace of stray dogs and monkeys, and mentioned about the tragic death of a man three days ago, who was mauled to death by a stray cow.

Kapoor said of late, in the name of increasing municipal revenue, the MCD is distributing notices for sanitation fees, shop boards charges and trade licenses fee in every market of Delhi causing distress to the traders.
The Delhi Police have arrested a member of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) who was on the run for the last 22 years.

The man, identified as Hanif, also known by aliases like Hanif Sheikh and Hanif Hudai, had been a fugitive for over two decades. He was implicated and declared a Proclaimed Offender (PO) in a case filed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sedition charges in the year 2001 in New Friends Colony in the national capital. A trial court declared him a PO in 2002.

The police said on Sunday that the banned outfit member was also the editor of a magazine and allegedly indoctrinated many gullible youths belonging to the Muslim community in the past 25 years.

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Hanif played an important role within SIMI, including organising and participating in meetings in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, and Kerala. Police and other law enforcement agencies made several attempts to apprehend him but he dodged them each time and made good his escape.

On February 22, a team of the Delhi Police Special Cell received crucial inputs on the absconding SIMI members whereabouts. The police learnt that he had been working undercover as an Urdu teacher in a school located in Bhusawal, Maharashtra. Subsequently, a police team was deployed in the area, leading to his eventual arrest.

When the Delhi Police team zeroed in on Hanif near Asha Tower, Khadka Road, Bhusawal on February 22, he attempted to flee but was subdued following a scuffle with the police. Subsequently, he was arrested and charged under relevant sections of the law pertaining to his previous case.

Hanif, 47, resided in Datta Nagar, Khadka Road, Bhusawal, Jalgaon district, Maharashtra.

The Southern Range Special Cell team of the Delhi Police collaborated with law enforcement agencies across various states, including NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, to locate and apprehend Hanif after his 22-year evasion.

In 2001, the police conducted a raid on SIMI headquarters in Jamia Nagar, Delhi, and arrested many of its members while they were attending a press conference organised by the outfit. However, Hanif and several others managed to escape.

Police seized incriminating materials such as literature, audio and video clips, posters, and photo albums from the SIMI headquarters.

Police said they are currently verifying Hanifs involvement in nefarious activities and will take him to various places during the investigation to ascertain his role in different activities. Further interrogation of the accused is underway.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asserted that the INDIA alliance would win all the seven parliamentary seats in Delhi in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The statement from Kejriwal came a day after the AAP and Congress announced their seat-sharing arrangement for national capital and other states for the general elections.

In his first reaction to the alliance between the two parties in a post on X, he wrote, INDIA alliance will win all the seven seats in Delhi.

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In an apparent reference to the works done by his government, the chief minister said, We work for the development and progress of Delhiites.

Attacking the BJP, Kejriwal said, BJP people are busy in ruining Delhi, they are busy in making Delhiites unhappy.

Of the seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi, the AAP will contest in New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, and East Delhi seats, while Congress in Chandni Chowk, North East, and North West seats as per the parties.

It may be mentioned that both parties have been holding parleys since the formation of the INDIA bloc to take on the BJP in the general elections.

Earlier, Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely exuded confidence that the INDIA alliance will sweep all the seven parliamentary seats.

He also said the Congress and AAP workers will spare no effort to win all the seven seats in Delhi.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress and AAP drew a blank.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has asked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to implement Ayushman Bharat health scheme in the city at the earliest.

Saxena, upon requests and representations by several disadvantaged groups, that they were not able to avail the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat health scheme of the Centre, because of its non-implementation in Delhi, has recalled the file in this regard invoking Rule 19(5) of Transactions of Business Rules and asked the Chief Minister to implement the scheme at the earliest for the benefit of poorest of the poor, the LG office said on Sunday.

The LG while disposing the file outlined that the government, despite having given in principle approval for implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme way back in 2018 and having announced it even in its budget in 2020, had inexplicably stalled it for merely political reasons, in the process depriving lakhs of poor migrants in the city of health services, under AB-PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana), it said.

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He also outlined the fact that the waiting list for issue of ration card to deserving beneficiaries has applicants waiting since 2018, and in the absence of such document, poor sick patients suffering from serious ailments could not avail of health benefits under other available schemes, it added.

The LG also brought to the fore the state of public health and government hospitals in Delhi, wherein recent observations by the High Court in an ongoing matter and the affidavits submitted by the GNCTD, obviously point towards a glaring gap, his office said.

Saxena stressed in his note that successive Health Ministers since 2018, Satyendra Jain, Manish Sisodia and Saurabh Bhardwaj on as many as six occasions stalled the file on flimsy political pretext, despite the fact that their aim of credit seeking had been addressed right in the beginning, with the Government of India clarifying that Ayushman Bharat could be suffixed with any name that the GNCTD wanted, it added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the ruling dispensation at the Centre of creating hurdles in the way of implementing the water bill settlement scheme in favour of the households issued inflated and faulty bills.

Addressing AAP workers protesting against the BJP over its non-cooperation in the settlement of the water bills at the party office here on Sunday, Kejriwal accused the BJP of stopping officers from implementing the one-time settlement scheme using intimidatory tactics.

He assured Delhiites that the faulty water bills would be waived off within 15 days if the INDIA bloc wins all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi. If you choose the INDIA bloc this time, Delhi will have its own defence armour and nobody can trouble the people then. No LG will then be able to harm the people of Delhi since well have a strong representation in the Parliament, he said.

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Pointing out that he has hardly seen any of the elected seven representatives raising the real concerns of Delhi in the Parliament, the chief minister said, Once you give these seven seats to us, I promise you that the erroneously inflated water bills will be waived off within 15 days of the Lok Sabha Elections.

Kejriwal told the people of Delhi that they do not have to pay these faulty bills. You can tear and burn these bills right in front of BJP officials, Im standing with you, the Delhi CM assured.

He accused the BJP of trying to hinder construction of schools and hospitals in Delhi as they did not want the poor children belonging to the underprivileged section to get quality education. When the BJP was in power at the MCD they tried to bulldoz Mohalla clinics, but the AAP did not deter from building 100 more such clinics.

Speaking on the occasion, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned the BJP about the logic behind stopping the scheme being brought by an elected chief minister, who has been chosen by the people of Delhi.
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur announced on Sunday the establishment of a regional facilitation office of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Chandigarh. The objective is to promote ease of doing business for filmmakers in the region.

Making this announcement at the closing ceremony of the Chitra Bharati Film Festival in Chandigarh today, Thakur highlighted that filmmakers in the region will now have access to facilities for screening their films and submitting cuts/modifications without the need to travel to Delhi or Mumbai for CBFC certification. This move, he emphasized, will further bolster the Punjabi film industry, according to a press release.

Thakur also emphasized Indias growing prominence as a content hub and a preferred destination for both shooting and post-production for international films. He stated, Today, India is being viewed as a content hub and we are becoming the preferred country for both shooting and post-production for international films. Parallely our own content is getting a lot of praise across the world.

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Highlighting the diversity and richness of Indian cinema, Thakur mentioned that over half of the 2500 films made worldwide each year are produced in India. He emphasized the global appeal of Indian cinema, spanning feature films, documentaries, short films, and serials. Thakur expressed confidence in the potential of films originating from the Punjab region and underscored the governments decision to establish a CBFC facilitation office in Chandigarh to streamline the certification process and expedite film completion.

The Minister also touched upon the governments initiative to enhance accessibility for differently-abled film enthusiasts by making cinemas more accommodating. Soliciting feedback from stakeholders, the government aims to formulate guidelines ensuring that individuals with hearing and visual impairments have equal opportunities to enjoy films.

Thakur reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modis commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens, including those with disabilities. He highlighted the governments efforts to release versions of films tailored for the differently-abled.

Addressing the issue of piracy, Thakur emphasized recent amendments to the Cinematograph Act aimed at combating film piracy. He announced the appointment of special nodal officers at all CBFC centers to combat piracy, with instructions to swiftly address complaints and remove pirated content from digital platforms within 48 hours. Thakur underscored piracy as a significant threat not only to the film industry but also to global creativity and innovation.

Reports indicate that the film industry suffers an annual loss of Rs 20,000 crore due to piracy.

Congratulating the organizers of the Chitra Bharati Film Festival, Thakur commended their efforts to promote young talent and inspire meaningful films reflecting Indias rich cultural heritage. He expressed anticipation for these films to feature prominently in leading film festivals worldwide in the near future. (ANI)
Hollywood actor Pedro Pascal was honoured with the award for male actor in a drama series at the recently held 30th edition of the annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

He was feted for his role in the post-apocalyptic zombie series The Last of Us.

However, as he took the stage to give his acceptance speech, he wasnt exactly sober, reports Variety.

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The actor admitted he thought he could get drunk, likely because he didnt think he would win the SAG Award after Kieran Culkin won the same category for his work in Succession at the Golden Globes and Emmy Awards earlier this year.

This is wrong for so many reasons, Pascal told the audience.

Im a little drunk. I thought I could get drunk. Im making a fool of myself but thank you so much for this! Ive been in the union since 1999 so this is an incredible f****** honour. To the nominees, all of you, I cant remember any of your names right now.

As per Variety, the actor held back tears as he expressed his gratitude to his family, as he immediately brought his drunken acceptance speech to an end by saying: Im going to have a panic attack and Im going to leave.

This years other SAG Award nominees for male actor in a drama series were Culkin, Brian Cox, Billy Crudup and Matthew Macfadyen. Whether hes won or not, Pascal has been creating one viral awards show moment after the next this season.

He memorably joked at the 2023 Emmy Awards while wearing an arm sling that the recent shoulder injury was because Keiran Culkan beat the shit out of me.
Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Agra. Addressing a huge gathering, Yadav expressed his gratitude towards Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi and participants of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

I want to express my gratitude and thanks to Rahul Gandhi ji, Smt. Priyanka Gandhi ji and all the workers and public who are going on Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. I am happy that Rahul Gandhi ji, who has started the shop of love, is now in Agra. Agra is a city of love, so collect love from here and keep spreading it throughout your journey, said the SP chief.

The SP boss cornered the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over the issue of paper leaks and questioned the latters intention to provide employment.

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There is no recruitment exam of UP government in which paper is not leaked. This government deliberately leaks the paper because its intention is not to provide employment, the former UP chief minister said.

He called on people to uproot the BJP government to save the democracy and the constitution of the country.

Today the challenge is to save democracy and the Constitution. Therefore remove BJP, save the country and end the crisis, Yadav said.

Yadavs decision to join Rahul Gandhis yatra came after his Samajwadi Party and the Congress announced a seat sharing pact for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

As per the agreement, the Congress party will contest on 17 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, including stronghold Amethi and Raebareli. The SP and other smaller constituents of the Oppositions INDIA alliance will contest the remaining 63 seats.

The former CM was previously invited to attend the yatra, which entered UP on January 16, on at least two occassions but he denied. The Samajwadi Party had said that he will join the Yatra only after a seat-sharing alliance is finalised.
BSP MP Ritesh Pandey from Ambedkar Nagar Lok Sabha seat of Uttar Pradesh resigned from the primary membership of the party on Sunday.

A few hours after his resignation, he joined the BJP in presence of UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Choudhary.

After announcing his resignation, Pandey made many serious allegations against the BSP.

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He was among the nine MPs who had lunch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House during the Budget session of Parliament.

In his letter to BSP chief Mayawati, Pandey wrote the party provided him the opportunity to represent in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and the Lok Sabha, adding that the party also gave him the opportunity to work as the leader of the parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha.

Making serious allegations against the party, the MP said, For a long time, I have neither been called to party meetings nor been communicated with at the leadership level. I have made numerous attempts to contact you

(Mayawati) and to meet top officials, but it did not yield any result. During this period, I continued to meet party workers and supporters in my area and elsewhere and remained engaged in area work.

In such a situation, I have come to the conclusion that the party no longer needs my service and presence, hence I have no option but to resign from the primary membership of the party. This decision to break ties with the party is an emotionally difficult decision, he said in his letter shared on X.

Pandey requested that his resignation be accepted with immediate effect.

In the last assembly elections in 2022, Riteshs father, former MP Rakesh Pandey, had left the BSP and joined the SP. He was also elected MLA from Jalalpur on SP ticket. After this incident, the BSP chief was annoyed with Ritesh Pandey. He was removed from the post of parliamentary party leader of the party. The result was that he distanced himself from party programmes.

Meanwhile, Mayawati has reacted to Ritesh Pandeys decision to leave the party. Without taking names, she wrote on social media that, Have you met the criteria of BSP? Have you paid attention to your Lok Sabha constituency? Did you devote all your time to the field? Did you properly follow the instructions given by the party from time to time? 

She added, In such a situation, is it possible to give tickets to most of the Lok Sabha MPs, especially when they are seen wandering here and there in their interests and are in negative news? It is unfair for the media to publicise this as a weakness of the party despite knowing all this. The interest of the BSP is paramount.
Ford Motor Co. is in the midst of a complex recall of a recall, reinspecting more than a quarter-million vehicles after the company discovered sloppy work and false billing by dealership technicians during the required replacement of dangerous Takata air bags.

Some customers whose repair records mistakenly reflect fixes never made are at risk from the devices, which can explode without warning and spray shrapnel on vehicle occupants. Others, drivers of certain Ranger pickups, may have incorrectly installed air bags that may not deploy in a crash, putting passengers at risk.

A Free Press investigation reviewed internal company documents, dealership memos, federal regulatory filings and court papers, showing that Ford fined some dealerships whose repair techs billed the automaker for replacing Takata air bags despite installing the devices incorrectly or not doing the work at all. A federal whistleblower complaint alleges Ford invited trouble by easing repair rules to allow low-skill techs to process the repairs quickly  a charge the automaker adamantly denies.

Drivers left dealerships thinking their air bags were safe. Still, without a reinspection, they and their front-seat passengers have remained at risk of gruesome injury and even death every time they are on the road  illustrated by the case of a Texas woman who lost her left eye in a low-speed accident in 2020. Sara Mae Morgan settled a lawsuit with Ford in 2022 and the dealership in 2023. She described to the Free Press a variety of life-altering injuries from the accident in a Mustang whose owners had taken the car in for air bag replacement.

Sara Mae Morgan, before and after a 2020 accident that involved a defective passenger air bag in a Ford Mustang.

Part of the problem is that no one  not the drivers, Ford, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  knows exactly which vehicles werent repaired correctly. Among the challenges is that Ford must track down current owners of vehicles as old as 2004 models and reinspect them.

"I can't sleep at night when I think of this," the whistleblower told the Free Press. "It makes me physically ill.

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Ford told the Free Press it is committed to finding and repairing the vehicles in question and characterized the problem as isolated.

Most of the vehicles  nearly 232,000  are Ranger pickups, for which Ford issued a formal recall in 2023 because of the potential for incorrect passenger-side air bag installation. In this instance, Takata air bags were replaced, but those installed improperly may not deploy in a crash, leaving passengers at risk.

Ford distributed an image to its dealer network showing the right and wrong way to install an airbag in the 2004-06 Ford Ranger pickup, which was recalled in 2023 because replacement airbags had been may have been installed improperly.

Another 41,600 Ford vehicles of various models where we believe there could be issues with repairs must be reinspected, Ford spokesman T.R. Reid told the Free Press. In those instances, Fords records show that air bag replacement was completed, but by technicians found to have cut corners on some recall work.

The whistleblower contends the numbers are much higher, based on information from dealers.

The problem was serious enough that Ford fined certain dealerships thousands of dollars after making the discovery. Ford will not reveal how many dealers were fined or how much, but Reid said the penalties were substantial enough to get their attention and make clear that the behavior wasnt acceptable.

Punishment for bad behavior

A Ford document reviewed by the Free Press warned dealers of fines of $10,000 per violation, and dealers told the Free Press that some dealership fines reached six figures. One dealer, whom the Free Press is not naming to avoid compromising his relationship with Ford, called it a money grab intended to offset a slice of Fords massive recall costs.

Fords reinspection program for the nearly 42,000 vehicles, which is not listed as a formal safety recall, runs through March 2027, according to documents filed with federal safety regulators. Reid told the Free Press in early February about 11% of that work is done. He said only about 1.5% of the reinspections turned up Takata replacement problems.

In 2021 and 2022, Ford notified its dealers that technicians weren't completing Field Service Action repairs as billed to the company. In this company slide, Ford says "When the dealer inspected 608 previously claimed repairs for this tech, they found 407 repairs were not completed."

Ford sold millions of the models from which the 41,600 was drawn, including Fusions, Edges, Mustangs and more. Reid said the company has found no reason to inspect a larger sampling of those models, even though he said during interviews and via email the 1.5% error rate may be close to normal for any repair.

'A ticking time bomb'

Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said more vehicles should be reinspected.

I think Ford needs to go back and do a full audit to make sure no one has received a fake Takata repair, that they dont miss anything, Brooks said. They need to find every vehicle that hasnt received the correct fix. Theyre the ones ultimately responsible. These are consumers who presented their vehicles for repair and they werent repaired.

After years of exposure, the failure rate of the air bags goes through the roof and becomes incredibly dangerous, Brooks said. If someone gets an incorrect repair, theyre going to be at risk. Theres no question. You literally have a ticking time bomb that can explode at any moment.

This is an image of the passenger air bag in a Ford Mustang that hadn't been repaired and later detonated, destroying the left eye and damaging the right eye of the passenger riding in 2020.

Most consumers know about Takata air bag recalls. But this issue is more insidious because consumers think theyve taken care of the dangerous problem. Their vehicle repair records indicate the problem is fixed. But in reality, the danger worsens with every passing day as the air bags age.

Risk of injury for at least 4,000 drivers

The repair failures are tied to the largest automotive recall in U.S. history, that of 67 million Takata air bag inflators, whose metal canisters degrade with age, heat and humidity and can, without warning, become bombs. Takata air bag explosions in the U.S. have killed 26 people and injured hundreds with sharp metal fragments to the face, neck and chest since the late 1990s.

The risk of death and deformity increases with time in the millions of vehicles still needing repair.

Ford was among 19 automakers required to recall vehicles using Takata air bags. In Fords case, that was nearly 4.4 million air bag inflators in an estimated 3.95 million vehicles, Ford spokeswoman Maria Buczkowski said.

In the reinspection programs, based on numbers Ford provided, about 60 of the reexamined vehicles have been found so far with flawed air bag replacements. If the 1.5% error rate holds for the 270,000 designated for reinspection, about 4,000 would be found with air bag flaws that were supposed to have been fixed.

The number is small, but each of those 4,000 vehicles holds the potential for devastating consequences  if incorrectly installed replacement air bags don't deploy or if unreplaced Takata devices explode.

She lost an eye

In June 2020, Morgan climbed into the passenger seat of a 2007 Ford Mustang, clipped her seat belt and settled in to ride with her boyfriend to her job as a waitress at Smithhart's Texas Grill, south of Houston. According to the lawsuit she filed and later settled, a minor fender bender at less than 14 mph triggered an air bag explosion that discharged shrapnel into her face.

Her left eyeball is gone. Her right eye is damaged. She has hearing loss and tinnitus.

It shouldnt have happened  the boyfriends family took the Mustang to a dealership in October 2018 to replace the defective Takata air bags. But the vehicles repair records, obtained by the Free Press, showed only the driver-side air bag was fixed.

"Now I have to see a counselor that helps me with my mental health, or PTSD, from the accident, Morgan told the Free Press. It's kind of gut-wrenching. I'm just trying to find a way to cope.

"It's like a feeling of grief, the way I feel when I look back. Just pain, honestly. And I'll have flashbacks."

Morgan, now 23, of Pearland, Texas, said she lost count of her surgeries after a dozen. She takes medicine to sleep. She takes medicine for migraines. She takes medicine for depression now. She finds it difficult to be in public. She doesn't go underwater anymore, worried about protecting her eye socket.

"It was an air bag, Morgan said, pausing. That's what's supposed to protect you when you get in an accident. And it can seriously, drastically change your life in a matter of seconds."

Ford launches internal audit to crack down on wrongdoing

After finding evidence of shoddy recall work, Ford in 2020 required specific dealers to audit certain safety repairs. Ford says the audit, called the Dealer Incomplete Recall Repair Process, was triggered when it discovered some technicians failed to complete door latch recall work for which they billed the automaker.

The audit also directed the dealers to review work on air bags and seat belt components, a company document shows. The audit focused on techs whose work was flagged; the company wont say how many workers were involved.

Ford made presentations region by region around the country in 2021 and 2022, explaining to dealerships the importance of repairing defective air bags properly. A company review indicated that repairs had been done improperly or not at all.

As a result of the audit, Ford wrote to its roughly 3,000 Lincoln and Ford dealers on March 28, 2022, saying the company determined that vehicles claimed by dealers as repaired under the Takata air bag safety recalls may not have actually had the repairs.

Ford Motor Company issued a letter dated March 29, 2022, reminding its dealers of a quality inspection program for air bags previously listed as potentially defective.

That letter told dealers to inspect vehicles in the shop and ensure air bags are installed correctly. The reinspection was classified as a quality inspection program, which differs from a formal recall. An NHTSA representative said the quality inspection program is an audit to ensure recall repairs, and it and other service programs were conducted as instructed. While there is no reporting requirement, Ford regularly updates the agency on the progress of such programs during meetings.

The program includes 2004-11 Ranger pickups. In spring 2023, 2004-06 Rangers were formally recalled for air bag reinspection. Enough mistakes were found in Rangers during work that followed the March 2022 memo to prompt last year's recall.

Beyond the Ranger, Fords 2022 memo said vehicles to be reinspected included select 2007-10 Ford Edges; 2006-12 Ford Fusions; 2005-06 Ford GTs; 2005-14 Ford Mustangs; 2007-10 Lincoln MKXs; 2006-12 Lincoln Zephyr/MKZs; and 2006-11 Mercury Milans.

Letters went to affected vehicle owners in April 2022 saying, A Ford Motor Company quality audit found that it is possible that the dealership technician who serviced your vehicle did not complete some of the repairs that the dealership submitted claims for.

Thayne Hansen, Ford director of service engineering operations for the international markets group, referred to the rechecks as the recall of a recall in an interview with the Free Press.

Whistleblower allegations challenge Ford's good faith

A whistleblower complaint that outlines safety concerns, initially filed with federal safety regulators in 2019 and obtained by the Free Press, argues that the danger evolved, in part, from Fords decision to change training requirements for technicians.

Ford, which denies changing standards, and the whistleblower offer differing narratives of what happened:

The whistleblower  whom the Free Press is not naming because of the persons concern about damaging their business relationship with Ford  alleges that in 2019, Ford moved to allow workers without adequate training to complete air bag repairs.

A follow-up letter in July 2022 to top NHTSA officials from the whistleblowers lawyer said, Ford Motor Company intentionally caused bad actors and egregious actions by turning away from their own published policies.

Takata air bags were so common that, after their danger was discovered, they couldnt be replaced quickly. NHTSA set a schedule that is still being completed, with 7.1 million of 67 million air bag inflators originally recalled still to be replaced, according to the NHTSA website.

By late 2018  around the same period that the Ford Mustang that later injured Morgan was taken to the shop for air bag repair  Ford came under pressure from federal safety regulators to speed up its Takata repairs. Dealerships were already buried with recall and warranty work, with Ford second among automakers in recalls in 2017-18.

The Free Press obtained a November 2018 document from Ford to its dealers notifying them that a new Service Dispatch Flexibility program will replace the current Technician Competency Performance Exemption program.

Use the program to dispatch repair work to experienced/qualified Technicians that may not yet be certified, the document said.

Ford sent a memo to its dealers on Nov. 18, 2018, on technician competency standards after Dec. 31, 2018, in an effort to "minimize warranty claim rejections." It includes permission to use technicians who may not be certified, which a whistleblower complaint alleges wasa shift in Ford procedure for such repairs.

To catch up on Takata replacements, the whistleblower complaint argues, Ford eased its standards for who could do recall repairs, permitting Quick Lane workers who usually did routine work such as oil changes, tire rotation or brake pad replacement to now replace air bags.

That, the whistleblower contends, invited the sloppy work.

A July 1, 2019, memo from Ford to its dealers introduced "new initiatives and program changes" to meet service volumes. The letter mentions NHTSA completion requirements, and noted that Takata air bag recall repairs would continue to "maintain a large presence in dealership service departments."

'Guidelines are vague'

Ford argues that, contrary to the whistleblowers assertion, the company did not change standards for who could replace Takata air bags. Reid and Buczkowski said the 2019 policy changes involved warranty work, which they separate from recall repairs.

Reid said in an email that the technical requirements for performing recall service work have not changed from 2018 and forward.

Dealers interviewed by the Free Press saw it differently.

Policy guidelines are vague enough that its not at all uncommon for the same vehicle to go into two different stores (dealerships) and one says its a warranty repair and the other store doesnt. Its a function of interpretation, one longtime dealer told the Free Press, asking that the dealership name be withheld to avoid backlash from corporate headquarters.

Fords office of general counsel is over-the-top conservative. Im guessing that somebody in warranty writes those recall instructions and sends them on to the office of general counsel and then anything that could possibly paint Ford into a corner gets taken out, the dealer said.

Three dealers in different parts of the U.S. told the Free Press that Ford technicians see doing warranty repair and recall or tech service bulletin work as all the same.

A Field Service Action is an overarching term that encompasses all that stuff, one dealer said. "Ford is the customer. Ford determines how much they get paid for it. And the techs dont always agree with the process.

In all stores (dealerships) Ive ever seen, technicians do the work, whatever it is; customer pay, insurance or warranty. If you asked a technician if a recall is warranty work, hed say yes. Thats nine out of 10 techs. For both, Ford determines how long it takes, Ford tells them how to do it and Ford says what parts to use.

The dealer, who echoed the whistleblower, said, Techs fix things that need fixing. A recall is a warranty and a technical service bulletin is warranty. The door latch recall  all of a sudden Ford reduced reimbursement rates  Techs were upset, so they were shortcutting the job. I never thought they would do that in reference to Takata.  But there are obviously some seriously disgruntled techs out there.

Ford cut rates to its repair techs in years leading up to the air bag repair backlog, which angered many techs and sparked an online change.org petition in November 2019 that collected 3,950 Ford tech signatures.

Next time your car is at a dealer for days, and you wonder why, it's because the few of us that remain cannot handle all of the work, Ford dealership technician William Stox told the Free Press. Cuts in our labor times, combined with warranty becoming 60-70% of our workload, have driven tech shortages that are occurring.  It's immoral, unethical.

Ford: 'It's not that hard'

Ford says technical certification isnt necessary for air bag repairs  and that any changes came under pressure from NHTSA to accept some added risk.

Federal regulators urged automakers to be creative, to go find ways to do things, said Hansen, Ford's director of service engineering operations. Under the guidance of the monitor from NHTSA, we were being encouraged  I will say encouraged would be a mild word  we were being encouraged to go and look at new ways  in regards to getting more repairs done.

Reid said, In order to get more customers in for assessments and necessary repairs more quickly, it required everybody, manufacturers and NHTSA, to think differently. And thats what we did.

The dealership employees who ordinarily did routine tasks would be working off illustrated, step-by-step instructions.

In 2019, we reminded (dealers) that recall repairs, directed repairs, could be done by any of their technicians, Reid told the Free Press. Recall repairs are structured, broken down in a way that make them relatively simple to do.

Because theyre not diagnosing a problem, theyre looking to make sure its installed correctly, Reid said. That can be shown with descriptions and graphics so they can identify whether its done right.

This 2005 Ford Ranger is part of what a Ford engineer terms a "recall of a recall" of more than a quarter million vehicles.

The primary reason that Ford reminded the dealers of the protocol in 2019, Reid said, is because they were starting to get backlogged on recall repairs generally.

Ford reiterated to dealers that any technician had the ability to do that, Buczkowski said of air bag replacements. These are actually not as complicated repairs as I think youre being told by the dealers.

Yet, regarding the 2004-06 Ranger pickups recalled last year, repair techs didnt follow the repair procedures that we had sent to them, Buczkowski said. They didnt properly follow instructions.

Hansen said the fixes involve simply replacing the inflator or entire air bag, if necessary, not servicing the air bag itself or the system that controls it.

If a person can follow directions, anyone can do it, he said. Its not hard.

'Anytime I deal with an air bag, I take it very seriously'

Others say replacement of air bags, which they describe as deceptively complex electrical and chemical packets, requires expertise.

Stephen Ridella, then-director of vehicle crashworthiness research at NHTSA, cautioned in 2015 about the difficulty of Takata replacements. Ridella said during a webinar, "these inflator parts are complex and unique ... only someone with specialized training should replace these parts."

Michael Crossen is an automotive service excellence master certified technician at Consumer Reports and former master certified automotive technician at Mercedes-Benz.

The drivers air bag is not terribly difficult to replace, provided you follow safety precautions, Crossen told the Free Press. The passenger air bag is definitely more difficult to replace. Most master technicians could replace the drivers air bag in five to 10 minutes. A passenger air bag could take hours. You may have to remove pieces of the dashboard or the whole dashboard cover.

Any time I deal with an air bag, I take it very seriously. Air bags are maybe second only to seat belts in terms of crash safety. You need to make sure you dont rush, Crossen said. If I were a customer, I would like to think the technician working on an important safety system in my vehicle has more experience than just oil changes.

What happens when an air bag deploys is complex. Sensors in vehicles detect collisions, and those sensors send an electric signal to the canister that contains a colorless salt known as sodium azide, and the electric signal detonates a small amount of an igniter compound, Joseph Merola, a chemistry professor and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Virginia Tech, wrote in Scientific American in 1999. The heat from this ignition starts the decomposition of the sodium azide, which is poisonous, and the generation of nitrogen gas to fill the air bag in seconds.

Crossen told the Free Press in mid-February, "When a dashboard air bag goes off, you usually have to replace the dashboard because it tears it apart. When an air bag goes off, it's a violent event."

Brooks, with the Center for Auto Safety, said other automakers, including Toyota and Honda, have gone to extremes to ensure that they not only have achieved the highest recall repair rates possible but have told the owners of vehicles in some instances that they need to park the vehicles and not drive them until the air bags are replaced.

Toyota, Honda issue new safety recalls

Toyota issued a do-not-drive warning in January for 50,000 2003-05 vehicles, Brooks noted. They know how dangerous this is. This isnt one of those safety defects where theres a one in 10,000 chance. Once those inflator chemicals are exposed, youre looking at significant rates of failure. Thats why its so urgent to get these fixes done properly."

In May 2019, Honda recalled 19,000 vehicles after identifying a problem similar to Fords. The company told NHTSA, A nationwide audit on the workmanship of vehicles repaired by service technicians no longer employed by Acura or Honda dealerships prior to May 2018 found that passenger frontal air bag inflators may have been incorrectly installed at certain dealerships. NHTSAs safety bulletin at the time stated that air bag replacement should be performed only by "skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training ..."

A service technician from Hoover, Alabama, posting on an internal Ford site in 2023, criticized the use of Quick Lane techs for repair work because air bag replacement requires more than any trained monkey can perform. And a senior master technician from Great Bend, Kansas, noted that Ford is allowing dealership managers to determine capability  but then face punishment later if theres a problem. The Free Press reviewed the comments.

NHTSA told the Free Press via email that regulators are working with the automaker to bring the safety issue into compliance through the 2022 quality inspection program. The agency said it does not acknowledge or discuss whistleblower complaints publicly or the potential status of an investigation. The whistleblower said they last had contact with regulators in 2022.

Ford jumps to the front in air bag replacement rates

After telling dealers to be creative and use more personnel to handle Takata recall work, Ford's air bag replacements sped up significantly. The company attributed the surge in repairs to parts availability.

A whistleblower asserts that required Takata air bag replacements by Ford gained traction only after Ford turned off competency and integrity cross-checks and pushed dealers to use unqualified support staff to perform complex safety repairs. "We implored to NHTSA, repeatedly, that these lowering of standards would make the Ford reports to NHTSA worthless, that the repair network was now compromised and that repairs could not be done properly and was ripe for systemic fraud," the whistleblower told the Free Press.

But problems emerged, leading to the March 2020 announcement of an audit program examining allegations of suspicious repairs performed by certain technicians.

Reid told the Free Press the audits first looked at door latch recall repairs, but turned up other issues that led to reexamining Takata air bag replacements and seat belt components.

That audit  called the Dealer Incomplete Recall Repair Process  turned up enough flawed repairs that the company launched its ongoing five-year reinspection program.

Ford wont disclose the full results, but the Free Press reviewed a document that showed one dealer who, as part of the audit, inspected 137 vehicles and discovered 61 incomplete air bag repairs.

Ford showed a video to its dealers in 2021 and 2022 as part of a campaign to get dealers to crack down on "incomplete" air bag recall repairs that risk injury or death. This screenshot says that one dealer inspected 137 vehicles repairs and found 61 were done improperly or not all.

The larger audit was focused on technicians whose work had come under scrutiny.

Ford noted that, In one outcome of that auditing, we learned that 98.5% of the Takata air bag replacements by those technicians were done correctly in the first place.

Ford customers get tangled in bigger recall crisis backlog

The Takata recall and the reinspection program added work for an automaker swamped in recent years with billions of dollars in recall and warranty work, which not only causes a backlog at dealerships but because of Fords cap on reimbursement brings in less money than regular mechanic work.

Ford has issued far more recalls than its competitors. Some dealers warn customers to expect a monthslong wait for repair, with some even suggesting they go to a non-Ford shop, customers from different parts of the country told the Free Press.

Certified technicians already were angry with the Ford mothership by the dawn of 2019 over 2017 limits on reimbursement for recall repairs. The whistleblower told the Free Press that wrongdoing related to these Takata repairs could have easily been predicted and prevented.

This April 2022 on an internal Ford community forum exchange explains that Ford is not rejecting recall reimbursement claims if a technician is uncertified. Prior to 2019, Ford required certain training for key repairs. In 2019, company policy was revised to remove cross-check policies that confirmed worker training and identity.

In March 2023, Ford sent a letter to dealers urging them  as it did in 2019  "to be creative in their approach to completing Takata air bag recall repairs." Ford referred dealers to examples of creative approaches, called the "non-traditional repair approaches" section in the dealer bulletin.

That may not be typically how they organized and handled service in their shops, Reid said. I suspect because dealers typically had the work done by their service technicians. They also were building, generally speaking, a backlog of warranty repairs that they couldnt get through their shops because of capacity.  Ultimately, the delivery of service is up to the dealers. They know the people in the shop and they know their capabilities.

'No checks and balances' between Ford, dealerships

As the reinspection program continues, owners of the affected vehicles may be driving with an explosive device that can malfunction at any time.

Two Ford dealers told the Free Press many vehicle owners are numb to recall notices, they arrive so often from automakers now, and certainly the Takata warnings have faded to a dull hum after all these years.

Sara Mae Morgan reached a confidential settlement with Ford in 2022 and the dealership in February 2023, with the help of Houston trial lawyer Rob Ammons, who has done significant work involving air bags.

It was Ammons' client, Air Force Lt. Stephanie Erdman, who testified before Congress in 2014 after being blinded in one eye from air bag shrapnel while driving a 2002 Honda Civic. Today, Erdman is featured on the Ford website urging consumers to get their air bags fixed.

"We thought we succeeded in fixing this problem, but now we're learning there's no checks and balances between Ford and the dealerships," Ammons told the Free Press. "The longer theyre (air bags) in the car, the more likely they are to have an uncontrolled deployment. This isnt like a great wine that gets better with age."

He emphasized in mid-February, "Unless we get all of these air bags out of these vehicles and replaced with safer ones, we're going to see more of these ruptures and catastrophic injuries."

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on X at @phoebesaid

This story has been revised from its original posting to add detail about the 2023 recall of 2004-06 Ranger pickups.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Flawed Takata air bag repairs put thousands of Ford drivers at risk
Haryana Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) president Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Jhajjar on Sunday evening. Jaikishan, one of Rathees associates who were travelling with him was also killed in the attack, while two others are critically injured.

Rathee and his associates were reportedly travelling in an SUV when the gunmen, also in a car, open fire and fled the scene.

All the four men, including the INLD Haryana chief, were rushed to the nearby Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital where doctors declared two of them brought dead.

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Dr Manish Sharma, Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital, said that Rathee and Jaikishan were shot in the neck, back and shoulder. The two other associates, who are admitted to the ICU, were had gunshot wounds on the shoulder, thigh, and left side of the chest.

In the evening, four people who had been shot were brought to Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital. Out of them, two had suffered heavy bleeding and were brought dead, still, we tried CPR but they couldnt be saved. Former MLA Nafe Singh and another person Jaikishan were brought dead. They were shot in the neck, back, and shoulder. Multiple wounds suggest there were multiple rounds of fire Sudden major vessel damage causes heavy blood loss and eventually, heart attack, the doctor said.

Reacting to the incident, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said that he has ordered the officials to take immediate action and investigate the incident.

I have asked the officials to take immediate action in this matter. STF has also swung into actionThe incident is being investigated, Vij said.

Meanwhile, INLD general secretary Abhay Singh Chautala claimed that Rathee had recently demanded security but was not given the same. He held the Manoharlal Khattar-led BJP government equally guilty in his assassination.

Indian National Lok Dal Party state president and former MLA Nafe Singh ji is no more. The entire INLD family is shocked by the cowardly attack on him, Nafe Singh ji was not only a part of our party but also a part of our family, he was like my brother. Nafe Singh ji had recently demanded security for the CM, Home Minister, DGP and Commissioner, fearing an attack on him. At that time the government played politics and did not provide security. Is the government not equally guilty in this? he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday gave a clarion call to BJP workers to strive for a resounding victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, aiming to secure over 400 seats to ensure the re-election of Narendra Modi for a third term. Shah emphasised that under Modis able leadership India would transform into a world power and attain the status of Mahaan Bharat in the next five years.

Addressing a huge gathering of BJP booth-level workers at Khajuraho in the lesser-developed Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, Shah claimed, The BJP is a party, which does what it says and fulfils what it promises.

Under PM Modis leadership, India has witnessed a decade of development, the welfare of 60 crore poor, a terrorism-free environment, 33 per cent reservation for women, the abolition of Section 370 in Kashmir, the annulment of Triple Talaq and fulfilment of numerous other promises, Shah asserted.

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Highlighting the Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya, Shah launched a scathing attack on the Congress. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi used to mock me in 2019 over our (the BJPs) promise of constructing the Ram Temple, Shah said, citing the days when he was the BJP president.

Congress ne apne shaasan me Ram Mandir ko latka, atka aur bhatka rakha tha, Shah commented.

The Congress and its leaders continuously abuse Sanatan Dharma and the Indian culture, he averred. But Modi ji fulfilled the dreams of crores of Sanatan Dharma followers by conducting the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on 22 January this year, the Home Minister stated.

The Congress and corruption are synonymous. During its 10-year rule in the country (from 2004-2014), the Congress indulged in scams and corruption running into more than Rs 12 lakh crore, Shah alleged.

On the contrary, no one can point a finger towards PM Modi regarding any financial irregularity of even a single penny during the BJPs 10-year rule (from 2014 till date), Shah claimed.

PM Modi has ensured a transparent and honest government in the country, the Union Home Minister stated.

He claimed that the country is safe and secure under the BJP government. During the Congress regime, Aaliya, Maaliya and Jamaaliya came from Pakistan and attacked India and ran away but the then PM Manmohan Singh did not utter a single word, Shah charged.

But PM Modi carried out a surgical strike and hit Pakistan inside its home, Shah said.

The Home Minister said that the BJP government is dedicated to the welfare of the poor, backward, tribals and farmers.

We have given 150 per cent MSP to farmers, health cover to crores of poor, gas connections to women and houses to the backward classes, Shah stated.

Citing the example of Madhya Pradesh, Shah claimed that the Union Congress government gave only Rs 1.99 lakh crore in 10 years for the states development whereas PM Modi has given Rs 7.44 lakh crore in just nine years.

In the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, MP gave 27 out of 29 seats to the BJP. In 2019, the state gave 28 out of 29 seats, and this year, MP must give all 29 seats to the BJP so that the party achieves its 400+ target nationally and Narendra Modi gets re-elected as the PM for the third time, Shah asserted.

The BJP wins only due to the hard work of its workers. I call upon each booth-level worker to become Narendra Modi in these Lok Sabha polls and take a resolution to ensure the BJPs thumping win on more than 400 seats in the country, Shah said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, BJP Khajuraho Lok Sabha member and MP state unit chief V D Sharma and other leaders were present with a large gathering of BJP workers.
Taking his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to Rajasthan from Agra on Sunday evening, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that injustice was being done to all people in the country barring a few business tycoons.

Injustice is being done to people in social and economic services, farmers and women, daily workers, Gandhi told a rally at Mania village in Dholpur district after receiving a warm welcome by senior Congress leaders.

Only 2-3 per cent of big businessmen in society close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi government are getting all profits and privileges discarding common citizens, said Gandhi in his short speech.

In her brief speech, Priyanka Gandh Vadra, Congress General Secretary, expressed confidence over the success of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh.

This Yatra has a clear message to public that they should unite and fight against Injustice faced by them, women, labourers, unemployed youth, and farmers like of Punjab and Haryana, who are again protesting for the MSP of crops, Priyanka reminded.

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The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which started from Manipur, entered Rajasthan from Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening and was joined by former CM Ashok Gehlot, PCC President Govind Singh Dotasara, AICC General Secretary and the state in-charge Randhawa and local MLAs.

After a brief break, the Yatra will resume on March 2 to enter Madhya Pradesh and then Maharashtra via Gujarat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dived into the Arabian Sea and prayed at the site of the submerged city of Dwarka. Sharing the pictures of his visit on social media, Modi said that he felt connected to the ancient era of spritual grandeur.

To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all, Modi wrote on X.

The ancient city of Dwarka is linked with Bhagwan Shri Krishna and was a hub of grandeur and prosperity during the Dwapara Yug.

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According to an official statement shared by news agency ANI, For PM Modi, this was not just a journey through the waters but a passage through time, evoking the citys glorious past and its association with one of the most revered Gods of Hinduism.

To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all. pic.twitter.com/yUO9DJnYWo  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 25, 2024

The prime minister paid homage to Dwarka, a city that continues to captivate imaginations with its rich cultural and spiritual legacy.

Modi also offered peacock feathers as tribute during underwater visit to the immersed Dwarka city.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Rajkot, Gujarat on Sunday.

People showered flower petals on the PM who greeted and waved to the supporters as he walked to the venue.

Amid the chants of Modi, Modi a large number of people lined up on both sides of the road.

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Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought blessings from Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati ji Maharaj at Shankaracharya Math Shardapeeth in Dwarka, Gujarat.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spent 20 minutes alone with Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati.

PM Modi offered prayers at Gujarats famous Lord Krisha templeDwarkadish on Sunday morning.

Situated at the cusp of the Gomti River and the Arabian Sea in Gujarat, the majestic Dwarkadhish Temple is an important Hindu pilgrimage site for Vaishnavites, especially the devotees of Lord Krishna, Dwarkadhish Temple is one of the Char Dham.

The temples prime deity is Lord Krishna, who is called Dwarkadhish, or King of Dwarka.

The PM was later gifted an idol of Lord Krishna by the priests of the temple.

Earlier in the day, the PM inaugurated Sudarshan Setu, the countrys longest cable-stayed bridge spanning around 2.32 km, connecting the Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka in Gujarat.

Delighted to inaugurate Sudarshan Setu today  a bridge that connects lands and people. It stands vibrantly as a testament to our commitment to development and progress, the PM said in a post on X.

The bridge, previously known as the Signature Bridge, has been renamed Sudarshan Setu or Sudarshan Bridge.

Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, approximately 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated.

Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 979 crore, the bridge features a four-lane road, 27.20 metres in width, with 2.50-metre wide footpaths on either side.

Sudarshan Setu is Indias longest cable-stayed bridge, linking the Okha mainland and the Beyt Dwarka island in Gujarat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the newly-constructed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in different states of the country, including Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Mangalgiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab), and Kalyani (West Bengal).

Virtually joining the inauguration ceremony of Rae Bareli, he said he had promised AIIMS to Rae Bareli and today the guarantee was being fulfilled.

The prime minister lashed out at the Congress Party for dynastic politics. They only did politics in Rae Bareli, while the work was done by Modi, he stated.

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The AIIMS facilities were inaugurated in Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Mangalgiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab), and Kalyani (West Bengal). Addressing the event, he said, I had laid the foundation stone for AIIMS in Rae Bareli five years ago, and today, it has been inaugurated. Your servant fulfilled the guarantee.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was present at the inaugural ceremony of AIIMS Rae Bareli, said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has witnessed revolutionary changes in the last 10 years, adding that today, every citizen in the new India is guaranteed security and excellent healthcare services.

CM Yogi emphasised that the new India has the capability to implement major development projects. Additionally, he highlighted the commitment of the double-engine government to provide employment to every youth and respect the aspirations of the common citizen.

He further stated that with the inauguration of AIIMS Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh has joined the league of leading states in the country having two AIIMS. The first AIIMS was started in Gorakhpur, and today, Rae Bareli is witnessing its inauguration. Last year, 100 students took admission in MBBS course at AIIMS Rae Bareli, he remarked.

In 2017, when the double-engine government came to power in the state, healthcare services were a significant challenge. There was an outbreak of diseases like encephalitis, malaria, kala-azar, and dengue in the state. The health services were in a poor state. From 1947 to 2017, only 12 medical colleges were operational across the state. Today, there are 65 government and private medical colleges running in the state. Additionally, 15 medical colleges are under construction. Facilities like dialysis and telemedicine are now available in all 75 districts of the state, Yogi added.

Union Minister Smriti Irani stated that Rae Bareli AIIMS is the most significant example of the difference between the naamdaar (privileged) and the kaamgaar (worker). She mentioned that from Independence until 2013, the country had 380 medical colleges, but today there are 706 medical colleges, which are operational in the country, with extensive work done in this regard between between 2014 and 2024, she pointed out.

She said what could not be achieved in thirty years in Amethi was accomplished by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in three months. She pointed out that within three months of the Lok Sabha election results in 2019, Amethi got a medical college. This became possible because of Chief Minister Yogi. Today, Amethi has a dialysis center, trauma center, and blood bank, and people do not have to go elsewhere for treatment.

Union Minister SP Singh Baghel, Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Health Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, Minister of State for Horticulture and Agriculture Marketing with independent charge Dinesh Pratap Singh, public representatives of Rae Bareli and Amethi and a large number of BJP workers and common people were present at the programme.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said those behind the paper leak in the police recruitment examination will be taught a befitting lesson as a notable deterrent for such elements.

The warning came after the announcement of the scrapping of the exam by the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday.

Speaking here during a programme to distribute appointment letters to the candidates selected for about 1,800 posts in various departments through fair and transparent means, Yogi described playing with the future of the youth by unscrupulous elements as a national sin.

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We have always believed that if the recruitment process is not transparent, it amounts to playing with the future of the talented youth, forcing them to migrate. Doing injustice to the youth is a national sin. Therefore, we adopted a zero tolerance policy against such elements from day one, dealing with such elements in the strictest and harshest manner whenever such a situation arose, he said.

The CM said that these deceitful individuals were using technology to carry out their nefarious designs, reiterating governments resolve to foil all such attempts.

Congratulating the youth selected in different departments for joining the services of the state, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision is also the mission of the double engine government. The government is working with full commitment to ensure that every youth gets his rights in a fair and transparent manner. As a result in the last 7 years, more than 6 lakh youth have been provided jobs in the government departments of the state in a fair and transparent manner, he asserted.

Mentioning investment proposals of Rs 40 lakh crore received during the UP Global Investors Summit 2023 and the launch of projects worth Rs 10.24 lakh crore during the Ground Breaking Ceremony 2024, CM Yogi said that the projects launched during GBC@4.0 will provide employment to 34 lakh youths on its completion. Earlier, these youths used to go to Maharashtra, Delhi, Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu in search of jobs and employment, but today they do not need to go anywhere as they are getting jobs in their own district and their own state, he remarked.

CM Yogi appealed to the newly-selected candidates to fulfill their responsibilities honestly and focus on the development of the state and the country, contributing to the realisation of the concept of developed India while demonstrating sensitivity towards the poor and the underprivileged. You reach your office on time and complete the tasks on priority. Do not leave any file pending. Often due to procrastination, a pile of work accumulates, derailing the work and exposing those responsible to disciplinary action, he pointed out.

He added: You have reached this milestone with the love and blessings of your parents, teachers, friends and well-wishers. But, this should not be considered a destination. Its time for you to put in your best efforts. Your hard work and good performance in the first 10 years of your job will also decide the roadmap for the future of your department.

On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, AK Sharma, Minister of State Dr. Dayashankar Mishra Dayalu, Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, Dinesh Khatik, Ramkesh Nishad, Additional Chief Secretary Energy Mahesh Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Appointment and Personnel Devesh Chaturvedi and other officials of the state were present. Senior administrative officers and newly selected youth were present.

Appointment letters have been handed over to 1782 selected candidates by Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission and Electricity Service Commission through fair and transparent means. It includes 852 posts in Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, 141 for Dentist (Medical Department), 391 for Ayurveda Medical Officer (AYUSH Department), 14 for Review Officer Hindi/Urdu (Uttar Pradesh Secretariat), 14 for Assistant Prosecution Officer (Uttar Pradesh Secretariat), 42 for Assistant Prosecution Officers (Home Department), 123 for Junior Engineer (Housing Department), 210 for Junior Engineer (Irrigation Department) and 9 posts for Inspector (Government Office Inspectorate, Prayagraj).
In a shocking incident, a rape victim in Rajasthans Behror-Kotputali area was stabbed multiple times and shot at by the accused, who was recently released on bail. The incident reportedly took place outside the Pragpura police station on Saturday evening.

According to the reports, the accused indentified as Rajendra Yadav along with one other associate, stopped the victim, who was going on a scooty with his brother.

The accused first attacked the victims brother with an iron road and then turned towards the victim and stabbed her multiple times. He also shot at her and fled the area thinking she was dead.

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The victim was rushed to the local hospital in a critical condition and was referred to Jaipurs SMS hospital where doctors have removed the bullet. Her condition is said to be serious.

The victims family has alleged that ever since the accused got out on the bail, he has been pressurising her to settle the dispute. However, when she refused, he threatened to kill her.

She reportedly informed the police and sought to lodge an FIR against him. However, the family alleged, the police didnt register the FIR.

Meanwhile, Rajendra Yadav, who is the main accused, has been arrested by the police, while efforts are on to arrest his associate.

Rajesh Meena, Pragpura police station incharge, informed The Statesman that they are currently following the trails of the other accused and will provide more details after that.

The incident has raised questions on the law and order situation in Rajasthan. Women safety was also among the key promises of the ruling BJP government before the state assembly elections last year.
Even as the Congress leaders in Kerala are alleging that it was because of the secret deals between BJP and CPI-M that the Central agencies are not properly probing the charges against the ruling party leaders including the alleged monthly pay-off charge involving Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans daughter Veena Vijayan, it has now come to light that the probe by the Registrar of Companies (ROC) against Veena Vijayans company was hidden from the public for three years.

Though the Registrar of Companies (ROC) initiated a probe under Section 206 of the Companies Act on 29.1.2021 in respect of certain transactions between Exalogic Solutions and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), it was hidden from the public.

It may be noted that the ROC started the enquiry based on the information received from the Enforcement Directorate regarding the transactions between CMRL and Veena Vijayans company.

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The Karnataka High Court verdict in the petition filed by Veena says: Proceedings under Section 206 of the Act, therefore, was sought to be initiated against the petitioner. It did not spring from air but it was due to the information received from the Enforcement Directorate regarding the transactions between CMRL and the petitioner.

From this, it is very much clear that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was aware of the transactions between the company owned by Chief Minister Vijayans daughter Veena Vijayan (Veena T), Exalogic Solutions and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) in January 2021 itself, but the ED has not made any serious probe into it.

The Karnataka High Court in its order in Veenas petition also quotes the arguments put forth by the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) in the court, wherein the ASG says: It is not a case where Rs 1.70 crore is the subject matter of investigation as is contended by the learned senior counsel for the petitioner but it is Rs Rs.135 crore transaction between CMRL and the Company of the petitioner and others and those funds have been handed over to the accounts of several political entities. In this connection, a question also arose why the Central agencies do not initiate a probe against these transactions till Shone George approached the Kerala High Court, seeking a probe by SFIO against these alleged illegal transactions.

It was only after Shone George approached the Kerala High Court that the Centre government ordered an SFIO probe into the allegations levelled against the firm Exalogic Solutions and CMRL in January this year.

The present revelation also give credentials to the Congress allegation that SNC Lavlin case, in which CM Vijayan is also a party, is being adjourned for more than 30 times because of the nexus between the BJP and the CPI-M. The Congress is alleging that the probe by the ED in Karuvannur Bank scam is moving towards a settlement  as the probe is now going on a snails pace.

The contents in the order of the Karnataka High court puts BJP in Kerala in a difficult situation. It shows that the Registrar of Companies (ROC) started an enquiry Section 206 of the Companies Act on 29.1.2021 in respect of certain transactions between Exalogic Solutions and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). The probe began before the 2021 Assembly polls and the BJP has all the sources to know about the probe.

From day one, the Congress has been alleging that the BJP and the Central government are protecting Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI-M. In this connection, it may be noted that the Congress has succeeded in creating a narrative that the BJP and the Central government are protecting Pinarayi Vijayan and other CPIM leaders, who are facing serious corruption charges.

It has been reported that a large number of BJP workers and sympathisers are sore over this alleged unholy nexus between BJP and CPI-M in compromising cases, including gold smuggling and SNC Lavlin. They are asking how such a compromise has been entered into by the party leadership, without considering the sentiments of the BJP workers.

The New Delhi bench of the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board (ITISB) found that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans daughter Veena had allegedly received Rs 1.72 crore from CMRL. The ITISB bench had stated that Rs 1.72 crore was allegedly paid by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions for consultancy services that were never provided. The IT Department had termed it as an illegal transaction in the guise of monthly instalments paid over for three years 2017-20.
The Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that the voters will again reject what it called as the immoral and unholy alliance of two tired and defeated youths who have been rejected by the public in every election.

State BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said here on Sunday that the result of the alliance of the SP and Congress would be zero. After the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, both these parties will blame each other for their defeat like SP-BSP did after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.After the elections, SP and Congress will say that each others votes were not transferred, that is why we lost the elections, he added.

He said victory is not achieved merely by forming an alliance. The public is very intelligent and will give a befitting reply to these parties. The public has a direct connect with Narendra Modi and BJP will achieve unprecedented victory in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections.

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The state BJP president said it was good that Samajwadi Party and Congress had formed the alliance otherwise they would have regretted that they had lost the elections because they had not formed an alliance.

Stating that BJPs victory in the Lok Sabha elections and the defeat of the SP-Congress alliance is certain, he said the only objective of the SP-Congress alliance, which is talking about saving democracy and the Constitution, is to achieve power by any means to serve its own interests.

The crown prince of Congress is roaming around opening the shop of love, but first he should tell what he has to say about the Muzaffarnagar riots in the government of his alliance partner SP chief. Has Congress Crown Prince forgotten his own statements on the Muzaffarnagar riots and many other riots and hooliganism that took place during the SP rule?

He said the SP giving 17 seats to a party with two MLAs and one MP and the countrys oldest party Congress being content with 17 seats is the result of their lost confidence. He said that it was the result of the plight of Congress in the state that Sonia Gandhi fled before the elections.
(Bloomberg) -- Verdane has raised 1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) for a new fund to invest in companies working to digitalize and decarbonize the European economy.

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The growth investment firm drew commitments from the likes of private and public pension funds, university endowments and insurance companies for the Edda III fund, according to a statement.

We only invest in companies that pass our 2040 test, Bjarne Kveim Lie, Verdanes co-founder and managing partner, said in an interview. That is those we believe are positioned to succeed in a more sustainable economy.

Investors were also drawn to the Edda III fund by the weighted revenue growth of 22% across the firms portfolio last year, Lie said. Verdane typically invests 20 million to about 150 million in companies through stake purchases.

There are more exciting growth and growth buyout companies in Europe now than ever before, Lie said. Its not the glory days of 2020, its difficult sometimes as buyers to meet sellers at the mid-point, but we do still see a lot of opportunities to buy into companies at attractive prices.

The latest fund takes the amount raised by Verdane to 2.2 billion in the past six months.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra reached the city of Taj Mahal, Agra, where Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav joined it.

The yatra, spearheaded by the Congress leader and sister Priyanka, literally turned into an SP an affair in the city of love with the presence of Akhilesh Yadav.

The brother-sister duo enthusiastically welcomed Akhilesh reminiscent of the 2017 UP assembly polls when similar scenes were witnessed when both parties had a pre-poll alliance.

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Extending a warm welcome to Akhilesh for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, Today is a very happy day when we all are united to fight for our country, for our democracy and to save our Constitution, she said.

On this occasion, Akhilesh Yadav poetically aimed the BJP. He said Agra is a city of love. The message of love should go from here to the entire country.

Akhilesh gave a slogan to remove BJP Save the Constitution, Save the country.

He called the BJP paper-leak party whose leaders work to spread hatred in the country.

The youth do not have employment. They are forced to burn their degrees. They bring black laws for the farmers. Now, BJPs departure is certain and the INDIA coalition government will be formed, the SP predicted.

Akhilesh Yadav was scheduled to join the yatra in Rae Bareli on February 20, but he gave it a miss owing to the delay in the agreement over the pre-poll alliance in the state with the Congress.

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which reached Agra via Aligarh, will now enter Rajasthan.
While the importance of a broad-based and strong peace movement with continuity in its functioning is widely realized, what exists in the name of peace movements is much more limited and fragmented. Instead of having continuity this fragmented movement tends to be active only at the time of emergencies. However, it is not realized that it can be effective in tackling even emergency situations only if strength and a broad base are being built all the time.

The peace movement should be as much concerned with reducing violence in the daily life of people as it should be with reducing the possibilities of wars and relentless arms race. In fact it is only by checking violence in everyday life that the peace movement can acquire the much broader base and continuity that it needs for being much more effective than it presently is. Violence in daily life brings death, serious injury and other tragic consequences on a massive scale and with continuity. According to WHO data, the number of children in the 2-17 age group who have suffered physical, sexual, and emotional violence and neglect in the past one year is staggering  it is one billion or almost one-half of the total number of children in this age-group. According to UN Women, in the age-group above 15, as many as 736 million women and girls, or 30 per cent of the total, have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in life. Less than 40 per cent of women who experience violence seek help of any kind. At least 200 million women in 31 countries have undergone female genital mutilation.

According to the World Report on Violence and Health (WRVH), studies from Australia, Canada, Israel, South Africa, and the USA show that 40-70 per cent of female murder victims were killed by their husbands or boyfriends, frequently in the context of an ongoing abusive relationship. This report also tells us that each year hundreds of thousands of women and girls throughout the world are bought and sold into prostitution or sexual slavery. There were 458,000 homicides worldwide in 2021, 52 per hour.

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The highest rate of homicides was recorded in the Americas  15 per 100,000 compared to 2.3 in Asia. According to the latest available data, 176,000 youth in the age-group 15-29 die in homicides in a year, the vast majority being males dying at the hands of males. In this age-group, homicides are the third leading cause of death. Further, as the WRVH tells us, Studies of non-fatal violence reveal that for every youth homicide there are around 20-40 victims of non-fatal youth violence receiving hospital treatment. According to the WRVH, among adolescent males in secondary schools, the percentage reporting involvement in physical fighting in the past year ranged from 22 per cent in Sweden and 44 per cent in the USA to 76 per cent in Jerusalem, Israel. A survey in the Netherlands revealed that 21 per cent of secondary school students admitted to possessing a weapon. A national survey of students in grades 9-12 in the USA found that 17 per cent had carried a weapon in the previous 30 days, 7 per cent in school premises.

In a survey of 40 developing countries in schools nearly 42 per cent of boys and nearly 37 per cent of girls were involved in bullying. In a year over 700,000 people die in suicides. However the number of suicide attempts is many times higher, and these attempts also result frequently in very serious injuries and disabilities (in several countries even in imprisonment). In the USA there are over 1.2 million suicide attempts compared to 48,000 suicides, or the number of suicide attempts is over 24 times higher than self-inflicted deaths.

The WRVH report says regarding the ratio of fatal to nonfatal suicides  in young people under 25 years the ratio may reach 1:100-200. There are a very large number of other cases of self-harm of various kinds. Suicides are much more common in men than in women. There is a tragic increase of incidents involving violence and neglect of elderly people. One out of six persons in the age-group over 60 are likely to suffer from this. At places, the situation in nursing homes has been found to be worse. Violence in the workplace is much higher than is generally realized.

The WRVH informs us that in the USA, official statistics have placed homicide as the second single leading cause of death in the workplace  after road traffic injuries  for men, and the first for women Research in UK has found that 53 per cent of employees have suffered bullying at work and 78 per cent have witnessed such behaviour. In Sweden repeated acts of workplace violence and harassment have been a factor in 10-15 per cent of suicides.

Looking only or mainly at violence-related mortality does not convey a complete sense of the enormous tragedy of violence in daily life. As the WRVH says, In all parts of the world, deaths represent only the tip of the iceberg as far as violence is concerned. Violence data is often based mainly on police records. However, according to the WRVH, a survey in South Africa revealed that 50 to 80 per cent victims of violence who received medical treatment for violence-related injury did not report the incident to the police.

In another survey in the USA, 46 per cent of victims who sought emergency treatment did not make a report to the police. A single act of violence causes distress not just to the victim but to many persons, for example to the near and dear ones of the victim. Clearly there should be a great sense of urgency to make the best possible efforts to reduce and minimize this enormous and continuing tragedy.

War has always been a source of immense human distress. What is more important to point out is that its capacity to cause distress and destruction has been increasing in very dangerous ways. The WRVH report has provided the following information on deaths caused by war and conflict during the last five centuries:

16th century  1.6 million

17th century  6.1 million

18th century  7.0 million

19th century  19.4 million

20th century  109.7 million

Of course population has also been increasing but the almost six fold increase from the 19th to the 20th century is deeply disturbing. This figure indicates that over a million perished per year on an average during the 20th century in wars and conflicts. What is more, this figure may not include all of the mortality caused by many indirect impacts of wars and conflicts.

(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril and A Day in 2071.)
Aiming to create awareness among the citizens, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is to launch a pilot project for screening and detection of rare diseases among children.

According to the deputy mayor of the KMC, Atin Ghosh, the civic body would impart training to its medical officers and ASHA workers on rare diseases. To reach out to the citizens, particularly women at ward level, around 700 ASHA workers would be roped in and given a set of questionnaires. Based on the questionnaire, the ASHA workers visiting the urban primary health centres during pregnancy or even for availing immunization facility for children would collect the information that would be submitted and screened for finding out the rare diseases. The results would further be utilized for the formation of public healthcare systems and solutions of the rare diseases.

The initiative has been taken by the KMC, with the concerted efforts of a group of individuals associated with Organization For Rare Diseases India, working on the subject. As informed by Mr Ghosh who is also the MMiC for health department of the KMC, the organization had held two different camps in the city. At one camp, 11 children were found to have rare diseases. In the other camp in which 300 people were screened, 35 children were found to have the diseases.

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According to Dr Dipanjana Dutta, who is also a part of the initiative, there is a general lack of awareness among the citizens. According to the genetic counsellor, women should be screened right from pregnancy by monitoring the weight of the foetus to detect the possibilities of the disease.

We have decided to launch the screening programme in a pilot project in 10 wards covering the 16 boroughs of KMC, informed the deputy mayor. However, the exact wards are yet to be decided by the KMC, he added.

A walk by the children affected by the rare disease is to be organised tomorrow near Maidan Tent.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday announced the death of a soldier killed in battle in south Gaza, raising the death toll of Israels ground invasion into the Palestinian enclave to 239 since late October, media reported.

He was named as Staff Sergeant Narya Belete, 21, of the Givati Brigades reconnaissance unit, from Shavei Shomron in the West Bank, The Times of Israel reported.

In addition, an officer and two soldiers in the Givati Brigade were seriously injured in the battle in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, the Israeli military said.

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A picture is worth a thousand words; how many words is a video worth? Perhaps you cant weigh their worth in words, but two videos will go down in Indias political history as speaking a million or more words. One showed us what we didnt want to see; the other what we didnt want to believe.

The first was a 2001 clip that showed BJP boss Bangaru Laxman taking a cash bribe from a purported arms dealer. Neither was the amount large, nor did it show anything that we didnt know. Those of us who vote, dont vote or press NOTA these days know that many politicians take money for themselves or for their parties, but we were willing to condone the sin if there was no quid pro quo.

It was one thing to know the evil was there within us; it was another to see that evil in person. Seeing the act on camera was like Dr Jekyll seeing Mr Hyde in a mirror. The sight of the president of the ruling national party, which had been claiming to be a party with a difference, getting his palm openly greased with a measly sum in return for granting an arms deal shocked our middle-class sensibilities. We had thought that men at that level were beyond reproach or carried a higher price; the video told us they could be bought cheap. Anyway, Bangaru paid the high price.

Anil Masih, returning officer

We continued to believe that politicians may be corrupt, but the system that elects them isnt. Now another video has come out, shattering the myth and making us shudder. It didnt catch any politician with palms open or pants down; it caught a petty electoral officer in such a blatant act of rigging as to give company to Charles King in the hall of electoral ill-fame. King, if you dont know, was elected president of Liberia in 1928 by a majority of 60,000, though the country had only 15,000 voters. Graham Greene recorded this in his 1935 travel account Journey Without Maps.

Anil Masih of Chandigarh is a much smaller man, but his crime qualified him for a place next to King. This nominated member of the town council was asked to conduct the mayoral poll, but he was caught in a video marking the ballots on his own. The video went viral two weeks ago, shocking the moral, ethical, political and judicial conscience of India.

If the Bangaru video showed what most of us knew was happening, the Masih video showed us what we thought wasnt happening. Therein lies a paradox. The players on our electoral stage carry little credibility, but the directors of the play have always carried a high degree of credibility. Despite all the charges of booth-capturing, ballot box-stuffing and scientific rigging, Indian elections have enjoyed a high degree of credibility. We may have elected scoundrels at times, but the process by which scoundrels were elected has been beyond reproach.

It is this trust that a petty factotum has shaken to our deep anguish. And it was this anguish that made the majesty of the Supreme Court to intervene in what otherwise would have been dismissed in a corner of a newspaper column about a mayor poll in a distant town.

The BJP prides itself as an election-winning machine. Two years ago its national leaders went to campaign in Hyderabads town polls, saying they took even municipal polls seriously. Very good, gentlemen, thats the way parties should conduct themselves. But some of your flunkeys are taking your words too seriously and too literally, and trying every trick in the book and outside it to ensure victory. Restrain them gentlemen, before more Masihs besmirch the good name of India, and turn it into a Liberia.

prasannan@theweek.in
Till last year, I used to be a lit fest junkie. Now, I am done! I outgrew the circus and decided to spare myself the tedium of being reduced to a performing flea. But am I glad I accepted the invitation to the recent Colombo Literature Fest, where I ran into Anita Nair at breakfast. And forgot all about string hoppers. We were sharing a panel the same evening. The topic was provocative: The Empire Strikes Back. I asked if she had prepped for it; I hadnt! She reassured me it would be a cakewalkall we had to do is respond to questions posed by the moderator. Well, the panel turned out to be unwieldy and directionless, but later, on the lawns of the majestic Galle Face Hotel, Anita and I had our first proper chat. And I sincerely hope, a long-term friendship was forged that balmy night, when we talked about our work and discovered we had a common crushactor Mammootty! I breathlessly asked Anita if she had met the actor, and she had. And when she promised to send him Malayalam translations of her books, Mammootty replied, No. I dont want translations. I want to read you. Ufffff. Such a loaded response. We both blushed like schoolgirls and gushed some more. It was not yet 10pm, and Anita announced she was calling it a night. I stared in utter disbelief. I was instantly fascinated by her daily regimen, which begins at 4.30am and includes daily practice (carnatic music) and so much else, efficiently packed into a writing schedule, and mentoring via Anitas Attic, while prodigiously writing her award-winning books. You must tell me what you think of Gowda, she said casually, about Borei Gowda, the cop-character she has meticulously crafted for her immensely popular trilogy of crime thrillers. Is Gowda like Mammootty? I enquired mischievously. Yes, replied Anita. Oh ho I am in love with Gowda, already!

Anita Nair | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

I have started on the trilogy after Anita generously sent the books. Her plotting is impeccable, but it is her knowledge and understanding of police procedurals that blew me away. Combine that, with her penetrating psychological insights into human behaviour along with her descriptive powers of the landscapes where the action takes place, and the reader immediately recognises an original voice in a crowded field. To merely call these three books crime thrillers is to take a lot away from Anitas masterful control over language and structure.

Anitas personality and poise ensure public attention and it is tempting to describe her using the same words publishers use for blurbstempestuous and exotic. She speaks with a certain quiet certitude, which often throws unwary interviewers. A Republic Day baby (her birthday falls on January 26), Anita, at 58, cuts an arresting figure, and exudes a no-nonsense air, which belies her vulnerable charm.

She frequently makes her own early morning chai, before the household awakes (her grownup son lives on his own), and she has quiet, contemplative me time, to write, think, make notes, sing, dream. Its a writers life all the way.

I am looking forward to my personal discovery of Anitas complex and intriguing world, which explores gender, class, sub-cultures, inequalities, discrimination, corruption and rot, expertly decoding what it means to be a woman who writes in contemporary India and addresses multiple social dilemmas as seen through her very specific, sharply focused lens. Gowda, her charismatic, taciturn, blunt cop, sounds like a delicious blend of Anita herself, with dollops of Mammootty thrown in for garnish.

It is time for Eating Wasps and celebrating Anita some more, methinks!
The Quad is a statement that others cannot have a "veto" on its choices the four-nation coalition is here to stay, grow and contribute to global prosperity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, amid mounting global concerns over China's rising assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

In an address at a think-tank forum, he described the grouping of India, the US, Japan and Australia as an "overhead light, creative, flexible, nimble and responsive" enterprise, noting it has become a substantive platform of the four vibrant democracies seeking to uphold an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Jaishankar said there are three clear messages about the Quad.

"One, the Quad is here to stay. Two, the Quad is here to grow. And three, the Quad is here to contribute."

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa and US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell also addressed the forum virtually.

The Quad is largely focused on the Indo-Pacific and China believes the coalition is aimed at containing it.

Delving into the success of Quad, Jaishankar said all four governments have behaved differently from how they normally do.

"Quad is an overhead light, creative, flexible, nimble, responsive and open-minded enterprise. These are not adjectives we normally associate with the bureaucracy.

"So, even as we assess its achievements, some compliments at least are due to all those who have shepherded it, who have grown it, who have actually made it unfold with such rapidity," he said.

Jaishankar also explained the Quad's broad framework.

"One, it reflects the growth of a multi-polar order. Two, it is a post-alliance and post-cold war thinking. Three, it is against spheres of influence. Four, it expresses the democratising of global space and a collaborative, not unilateral, approach. And five, it is a statement that in this day and age, others cannot have a veto on our choices," he said.

The external affairs minister noted that the Quad is facilitated by the emergence of the Indo Pacific, adding it is propelled by a change in the global order that requires "more" and "not less collaboration".

The Quad focused on addressing the region's most pressing needs and challenges including in areas of maritime security, infrastructure, connectivity, critical technologies, communications, space cooperation, cyber security, counter-terrorism, and climate action, he said.

Jaishankar highlighted two major programmes under the Quad framework --Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

Under IPMDA, data is being supplied for countering illicit maritime activities and responding to climate-related and humanitarian events.

The IPEF seeks to offer alternative economic engagement mechanisms and it is making steady progress and addressing issues like supply chains, clean economies, sustainability, digital economies amongst others, Jaishankar said.

While referring to India-initiated Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, he asserted that there should be no doubt about ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality in the Indo-Pacific .

"Sometimes, it has been suggested that somewhere these two concepts have diluted ASEAN centrality. I think anybody who doubts ASEAN centrality, when they look at the map of the Indo-Pacific, clearly missed their geography classes at school," he said.

"And not just the geography class, I think they have probably passed up on all that has been happening in terms of the East Asia Summit process and how that today is actually a very unique and I would say irreplaceable architecture for this part of the world," he said.

In her comments, Australia foreign minister Wong said Quad stands for a region that is free from intimidation and coercion", where competition is managed responsibly and disputes are settled in accordance with international law.

Japanese foreign minister Kamikawa said the world is facing deep divisions and it is necessary to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

"For this reason, Japan with its allies and like-minded countries is working to further develop a free and open indo-Pacific based on the rule of law," she said.

"Quad is one of the most important initiatives to this end, has steadily implemented initiatives in maritime critical and emerging technologies, cyber and counter-terrorism, initiatives must continue to move forward," she added.

US deputy secretary of state Campbell said the Indo-Pacific remains the world's most dynamic and rapidly evolving region and that the strength of the Quad is its ability to harness the capabilities and resources of the four nations together to deliver concrete outcomes that benefit all.

"I want to emphasise the defining feature of our partnership -- the Quad stands for an affirmative vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific in which we collectively build the capacity of our allies and partners," he said.

"Quad not about forcing the region to choose between strategic competitors, it is about preserving and creating options so that communities, institutions and countries can make decisions to benefit their people," he said.
Viettel High Tech

DeepSigs AI-Native Software on VHTs Open RAN Distributed Unit Delivers Uplink Throughput Gain

HANOI, Vietnam & BARCELONA, Spain, February 25, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viettel High Technology Industries Corporation (VHT), the pioneer of development, manufacturing and commercialization of telco solutions, and DeepSig, experts in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for wireless communications, announce the industry's first live AI/ML-based neural receiver in a 5G Open virtualized radio access network (vRAN), in Hanoi. For the first time, AI/ML applied physical layer signal processing is deployed on 5G ORAN equipment manufactured by VHT in Viettels network.

The ongoing collaboration features the integration of DeepSigs OmniPHY-5G neural receiver software into VHTs Distributed Unit (DU) based on Intel Xeon processors and Intel FlexRAN reference software to improve 5G user throughput and resource utilization in an Open vRAN deployment. The DeepSig software operates channel estimation and equalization with AI/ML-based algorithms which enhance the Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) of the physical shared uplink channel (PUSCH). And VHT's DU ORAN equipment system is controlling many cells with large user capacity and high load in the trial network. The resulting improvement in 5G RAN capacity and hardware efficiency enables mobile network operators to deliver higher user quality of experience without additional hardware.

Nguyen Vu Ha, CEO of VHT shared, "VHT is confident that the collaboration with DeepSig is a pioneer in deploying AI/ML into ORAN standard device systems supporting 5G. DeepSig always quickly changes and responds best to VHT's equipment and systems, contributing to improving performance and capacity, especially Uplink decoding processing. The contribution of equipment systems and real data sources from deployment on Viettel network is proud to be a prerequisite for optimal AI/ML operation."

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"Our close partnership with VHT is proving how DeepSigs AI software improves user throughput in real-world conditions. VHTs urban 5G trial network is an ideal environment for the integrated 5G neural receiver to validate increased radio performance. VHTs adoption of AI/ML technology in their 5G Open vRAN portfolio shows true innovation leadership," said Jim Shea, CEO DeepSig. "We are proud to achieve this important industry milestone with VHT and more to come."

"This deployment illustrates how a fully virtualized RAN makes it possible to quickly implement new innovations that bring real benefits to operators," said Cristina Rodriguez, vice president and general manager, Wireless Access Networking Division at Intel. "In addition, DeepSig and Viettel High Tech accomplished this on a live 5G network using general purpose Intel Xeon processors, without requiring dedicated AI hardware. Its an extraordinary credit to the innovation of both companies."

About Viettel High Tech:

Viettel High Tech is the key Research, Design, Development and Production unit of Viettel Group specialized in Telco, Defense and Enterprise sectors, who has successfully internalized a complete process from researching, designing to manufacturing and selling cutting edge technology solutions. Viettel is recognized as a modern, intellectual abundant technology company whose brand is recognized across the globe.

About DeepSig, Inc:

DeepSig is a pioneer in AI-native wireless communications. Its transformative technology pushes the boundaries of wireless performance, spectrum visibility and network capabilities. Drawing on a unique blend of artificial intelligence, deep learning and wireless systems expertise, DeepSigs AI/ML powered software unlocks unprecedented gains in capacity, efficiency and security for specialized communications networks and 5G Open RAN and lays the foundation for AI-native 6G. For more information, visit https://www.deepsig.ai.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222968417/en/

Contacts

Marketingvht@viettel.vn



Media@deepsig.ai
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra in Agra on Sunday, days after the two parties finalised the seat-sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha elections.

The two leaders waved at the crowd gathered in the historic city where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who helped finalise the deal between the two parties, was also present.

In his address, Yadav lashed out at the Narendra Modi government, saying the BJP has not given the backward classes, Dalits and minority communities the respect they deserve.

"Today, farmers are standing against the government. The government is scared of the power of farmers. In the coming time, the BJP will be removed and the INDIA coalition government will give respect to farmers, he said.

As per the seat-sharing deal, the SP will contest on 62 seats in Uttar Pradesh and the Congress on 17.

Yadav had earlier said said he would join Gandhi's Nyay Yatra only if its seat-sharing proposal was accepted. The SP chief had not joined the yatra in Raebareli on Tuesday.
A female assistant professor has been fined Rs 5 lakh by the Allahabad High Court for making a frivolous complaint against three senior colleagues who asked her to perform her duties carefully.



An Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics had filed a complaint against the Head Of the Department (HOD), the Dean, and the faculty of the Commerce Department after she received a poor work appraisal. The evaluation considered her work less satisfactory, her conduct rude and her behaviour not good.

The lady then went on to file complaints at different levels including an FIR under the IT Act. She also approached the Womens Advisory Board alleging that her Facebook account had been hacked and her photographs downloaded besides her receiving anonymous e-mails. She also approached the Vice Chancellor and the Committee for Complaints Against Sexual Harassment. The provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 were also used in the complaints.

However, detailed inquiries revealed that her social media accounts were never hacked, the e-mails seem to have come from someone close to her.

The court had been approached by one of the aggrieved parties to squash the complaints. While pronouncing its decision to do the same, the court observed that the complainant was in the habit of making complaints and that it was unbelievable that all three of her seniors could have a personal grudge against her.

The court noted the reputation and public image of the applicant and his colleagues, who are Professors and people with high morals and reputation, had been tarnished. They had to run from pillar to post...from police station to Court to save themselves. Evidently, this was false and frivolous case filed against the applicant only to wreak personal vengeance. Such kind of vexatious proceedings should not be allowed to continue and if anybody engages in doing so, such activities have to curbed down. This is a perfect case where exemplary cost should be imposed

The order further reads,  she will not even think twice before using the S.C./S.T. Act as a weapon to enmesh them in criminal cases. If such kind of activities are not nipped in the bud, it will set a precedent where other members of the S.C. or the S.T. community will open start insubordination and the Head of Department will not be in a position to do anything, and when warned or admonished, cases under the S.C./S.T. will be foisted against them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the Nehru-Gandhi family and said the "shahi parivar" (royal family) of Congress just did politics in Raebareli but only Modi has done development work.

The prime minister inaugurated AIIMS Raebareli through virtual medium in a function organised here. Union Minister Smriti Irani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present on this occasion.

Modi said, "I had guaranteed AIIMS to Raebareli in UP. The royal family of Congress only did politics in Raebareli. The work was done by Modi."

He said, "I had laid the foundation stone of Raebareli AIIMS eight years ago and inaugurated it today."

Irani, who is the BJP MP from Amethi, took a jibe at the Nehru-Gandhi family on this occasion and said, "What is the difference between a 'naamdar' and a 'kaamdar'? Raebareli AIIMS is a perfect example of that."

Hitting out at former Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Irani said, "I am the representative of the Lok Sabha constituency where for years a 'naamdar' took the public's votes but he did not serve the people."

She said, "Amethi is a witness to the fact that 30 years ago, while promising to build a medical college in Amethi, the 'naamdars' took the land and built a guest house for themselves but did not build a medical college for the youth of Amethi.

"In the history of India, 380 medical colleges were built as long as the Congress was in power. But in the last 10 years, the Narendra Modi government built 706 medical colleges. Narendra Modi is the first prime minister in the history of the nation who has brought 25 crore citizens out of poverty and put them on the path of development," she said.

The Union minister further said, "Being a BJP worker, I am saying from this platform that what had happened in Amethi in 2019 will definitely happen in Raebareli this time. The public wanted development.

"Lotus has blossomed in Amethi this time. Even Raebareli is saying that NDA will cross 400," she added.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Irani had defeated Rahul Gandhi from Amethi which is considered a Congress stronghold.

Congress won the only Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh from Raebareli, from where Sonia Gandhi was the party candidate.

On this occasion, Adityanath said under the leadership of Modi, revolutionary changes are being seen in every area of the country. Security has been guaranteed to every citizen, he said.

It is also guaranteed that every citizen gets better health facilities. UP is the first state which will have two AIIMS, one each in Raebareli and Gorakhpur, he said.

Sonia Gandhi has shifted to Rajya Sabha, having filed nomination papers and got elected uncontested from Rajasthan. She has refused to contest the Lok Sabha election from Raebareli this year.
In a shocking incident in Haryana, a schoolboy was reportedly shot and injured for questioning a group of men who harassed his mother and sister. The incident took place in Palwal district on Thursday night, reports said.



The boy, a student of class 10, was engaged in the cow dung cake business with the women of his family when the incident took place. As they were heading home at night, eight or nine bike-borne men started harassing the two women, the police were quoted as saying by India Today. The gang had three motorbikes and they followed the family, forcing the boy to stand up against them.

Irked by the teenager's resistance to their advancements, one of the bikers pulled out a gun and fired. However, the boy shielded himself using both his hands and took a bullet in his arm, the India Today report added.

A case was registered against eight people in connection with the incident after the boy was admitted to a hospital. He has managed to identify one of the men involved in the incident, the Haryana police was quoted as saying.
Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee was killed after unidentified gunmen ambushed his SUV at Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district on Sunday evening.

A party worker, who was travelling with Rathee, also lost his life in the attack, while two others suffered serious injuries.

The attack that came ahead of the Lok Sabha elections has triggered a political storm, with the opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party targeting the Manohar Lal Khattar government over the law and order situation.

The miscreants came in a car and fired indiscriminately at Rathees vehicle near the railway crossing at Bahadurgarh, reports said. The injured have been shifted to the Brahm Shakti Sanjivani hospital for treatment.

#WATCH | Bahadurgarh: Visuals from the spot where an alleged attack on Haryana INLD chief Nafe Singh Rathee took place.



Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain says, "We received information regarding an incident of firing. CIA and STF teams are working. The accused will be arrested soon..." pic.twitter.com/ttDADxuLef  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

Former MLA Nafe Singh and another person Jaikishan were brought dead. They were shot in the neck, back, and shoulder. Multiple wounds suggest there were multiple rounds of fire. Sudden major vessel damage causes heavy blood loss and, eventually, a heart attack, said Dr Manish Sharma at the BSS hospital.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident.

INLD leader Abhay Chautala alleged that the government had failed to provide security to Rathee, though there had been a threat to his life.

"The two-time MLA, who is our state unit chief, was not provided with security. In writing, representations had been made to senior police officers and the state home minister that he was facing threats and should be provided with security," he told news agency PTI.

Chautala also demanded the resignation of the chief minister and the home minister.

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the incident reflected the law and order situation in the state.

"The news of INLD State President Shri Nafe Singh Rathi being shot dead in Haryana is very sad. This reflects the law and order of the state. This incident made it clear that law and order has become bankrupt. Today no one is feeling safe in the state, he wrote on X.
Former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha who was summoned by the CBI in the Delhi Excise Policy case under a CrPC section meant for 'suspects', on Sunday asked the agency to keep the notice in abeyance, citing upcoming parliamentary polls.

The BRS MLC was asked to appear before the CBI on Monday, under Section 41A CrPC, under which a notice is issued to a person against whom a "reasonable suspicion" exists that the person had committed a cognisable offence.

In a letter to the CBI, she said, There is absolutely no logic, reason or background forthcoming as to how, why and under what circumstances have you now resorted to Section 41A CrPC."

Kavitha said that if required, with prior intimation she would appear through virtual mode, to answer any queries. She pointed out that about 15 months ago, the then Investigating Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, CBI ACB issued her a notice under Section 160 CrPC -- which pertains to summoning a witness.

In her letter to the CBI, she asked the agency to revoke or withdraw the subject notice sent under Section 41A of CrPC. In the light of my pressing onerous engagements coupled with my commitment to the people of my state and taking into consideration the necessity of my personal presence in my state while the parliamentary elections are underway, your good-self may consider keeping such notice in abeyance, Kavitha said.

Further, she said she is scheduled to attend several one-to-one personal meetings in the next six weeks or so, spread over various districts in the state, thereby rendering her practically incapable of appearing before the CBI in person on February 26. Since she has absolutely no role to play in any of the accusations, the CBI does not need her assistance any longer in the matter as the case is entirely subjudice before the court of law, she claimed.

The present notice under Section 41A CrPC is in complete contrast to the earlier notice under Section 160 CrPC, which was issued to her in December 2022 and which already stands complied with, she said. The CBI had earlier recorded her statement in December 2022 at her residence in Hyderabad in connection with the case.

The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that one of the accused in the case, Vijay Nair, received kickbacks of at least Rs 100 crore from a group called South Group (controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy) on behalf of leaders of the AAP.

The CBI, which has so far filed three charge sheets against a number of accused including former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, has alleged that kickbacks of around Rs 90-100 crore were paid in advance to some politicians of the ruling AAP in Delhi and other public servants by some persons in the liquor business from south India through co-accused Nair, Abhishek Boinpally and Dinesh Arora.

The agency has alleged that these kickbacks are found to have been returned to them subsequently out of the profit margins of wholesalers holding L-1 licenses through different modes, like issuance of excess credit notes, bank transfers, and outstanding amounts left in accounts of the companies controlled by some conspirators from the "South lobby".

The CBI has alleged a cartel was formed among three components of the policy -- liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers -- by violating provisions and against the spirit of the policy. All the conspirators allegedly played active roles in achieving the illegal objectives of this criminal conspiracy. It resulted in huge losses to the exchequer and undue pecuniary benefits to the public servants and other accused involved in the conspiracy, the CBI has alleged.
Kota is in the news for the wrong reasons yet again. The Rajasthan Police on Saturday arrested a government school teacher in the district for allegedly thrashing a Class 1 student and dislocating her arm bone.

The accused teacher was identified as Mohammed Sattar of Kota's Khedarasulpur government senior secondary school. The incident that led to his arrest took place on Saturday. Sattar is accused of physically assaulting the girl and pulling her by the arm in the process. The sheer force exerted on her by the teacher caused dislocation of the bone, the police told the press.

Mohammed Sattar was arrested on Saturday evening after the five-year-old girl's father approached the local police station with a complaint. The case has been registered at the Kaithun police station of the district. The accused teacher will be produced before a court on Sunday, Circle Officer (Kota Rural) Gagendra Singh was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The teacher has been booked under the Indian Penal Code and SC/ST Act.
West Bengal police on Sunday stopped and arrested an independent fact-finding team who were en route to visit Sandeshkhali. The committee comprising former justices were arrested after they staged a protest against police for stopping them from visiting victims in Sandeshkhali.

The six-member independent fact-finding committee, led by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court L. Narasimha Reddy, was stopped by police as they were proceeding to trouble-torn Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district to probe alleged incidents of atrocities on women. Citing Section 144 CrPC was in force in parts of Sandeshkhali and it would not be prudent to allow them access to the area even in groups of four-five, senior police officers stopped their convoy at the Bhojerhat area, which is around 52km from the riverine area, on Basanti Highway.

The committee led by Narasimha Reddy include former IPS officer Raj Pal Singh, former National Commission for Women member Charu Wali Khanna, advocates O.P. Vyas and Bhavna Bajaj, and senior journalist Sanjeev Nayak.

The committee sat on the wayside vowing to proceed to the area as high drama followed.

"This is completely illegal. We have told the police personnel as law-abiding citizens we will not break rules. No curfew has been imposed in Sandeshkhali. So we can go in two groups. At least two of our women members should be allowed to visit the females who had bore the brunt of atrocities of musclemen enjoying political patronage and impunity from police action in all these days till the media unravelled the shocking truth", Reddy said.

Claiming they were given a copy of the section 144 order as they set off for the journey, he said "The administration cannot stop civil society members of the country to interact with victims of human rights violation. What they (administration) are scared to hide?

Saikat Ghosh, Deputy Police Commissioner, Bhangar Division told presspersons, "We were requesting them to not cross from here but they were trying to break the police barricade unlawfully. So, we had to arrest them under preventive sections. If there is information of a 'breach of peace', police can arrest them under preventive sections, ANI reported.

The group comprising former judges, bureaucrats and journalist was slated to visit Sandeshkhali on February 25 to also probe alleged incidents of Trinamool Congress leaders grabbing residents' land to convert into Bheris (fish farm). They are scheduled to visit Majherpara, Natun para, Patra para and Naskarpara Ras temple under the jurisdiction of Sandeshkhali police station limits. The committee is slated to submit a report to the constitutional authorities.

A few days back, a fact-finding team of BJP consisting of Union minister Annapurna Devi, Pratima Bhowmik, MP Sunita Duggal, Kavita Patidar, Sangeeta Yadav and Rajya Sabha member and former director general of police of Uttar Pradesh Brij Lal was stopped by police from entering Sandeshkhali.

On Saturday, a TMC delegation consisting of two West Bengal ministers Partha Bhowmik and Sujit Basu visited different parts of the riverine area, interacted with locals and promised their grievances will be addressed expeditiously. They had also promised all the guilty involved in alleged atrocities would be brought to book and the ruling party has 'zero tolerance' for wrongdoings of a section of local leaders.

-with PTI inputs.
The Congress party on Sunday slammed the BJP-led Union government and demanded that it should show real commitment to Andhra Pradesh by granting the state special category status.



Congress secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh committed to give Andhra Pradesh special status for five years. In the last week, the Prime Minister has inaugurated an AIIMS at Mangalgiri and an IIT at Tirupati. Both of these institutions were commitments made by the Manmohan Singh Government in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Of course, Mr. Modi is now claiming credit.

Ramesh said the BJP government should demonstrate real commitment to Andhra Pradesh by strengthening its financial position. Real commitment to Andhra Pradesh would be demonstrated if the Prime Minister were to give the state Special Category Status, to strengthen its financial position, as committed to by Dr. Manmohan Singh on the floor of the Rajya Sabha on February 20th, 2014. Dr Manmohan Singh had committed to this Special Status for a period of five years, and then BJP front-bencher M. Venkaiah Naidu had got up and declared - [W]hy only five years? BJP government will give for 10 years. Both Mr. Naidu and Mr. Modi have a lot to answer for.

The Congress leaders comments as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to dedicate AIIMS, Mangalgiri on Sunday.
Amid tight security, Belarusians took part in the voting that held on Saturday. The local elections are set to pave way for the authoritarian leader President Alexander Lukashenko to rule the nation, while the opposition called the polls a "senseless farce".

Lukashenko had ruled Belarus for nearly 30 years. Not quite in favour of the West, he accuses it of trying to use the vote to undermine his government and destablise the nation.

The majority of the candidates belong to the four officially registered parties: Belaya Rus, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Party of Labor and Justice, supporting Lukashenko.

After casting his vote in the parliamentary and local elections. Lukashenko said that he will run for the presidential election again in 2025. "Tell them (the exiled opposition) that I'll run...No one, no responsible president would abandon his people who followed him into battle...We're still a year away from the presidential election. A lot of things can change," he was quoted by Belarusian state news agency BelTA.

While opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged the voters to boycott the elections. Tsikhanouskaya is in exile, presently in Lithuania, after challenging Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election.

She has called the whole election exercise a "farce" and alleged that only those that the regime favours are allowed to contest.

Meanwhile, this is the first election held in Belarus since 2020. Lukashenko rose to power enjoying sixth term in office. The results paved way for mass demonstrations in the nation as well.

More than 35,000 people were arrested and hundreds were taken into police custody. Even media and nongovernmental organisations were shut as well.

Belarus, which enjoys the political support of Russia, has relied on subsidies to survive the protests. Lukashenkoallowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

However, the opposition has alleged that the balloting that began on Tuesday was manipulated with the ballot boxes unprotected for five days. While, the officials said over 40% of the country's voters cast ballots during the five days of early voting.

Reportedly, soldiers, teachers and students were forced to participate in the early voting.

Speaking on Tuesday, Lukashenko said that the West were trying to seize the nation's power by force. He directed the police to beef up security across Belarus.

After the vote, Belarus is set to form a new state body the 1,200-seat All-Belarus Popular Assembly that will include top officials, local legislators, union members, pro-government activists and others, reported The Associated Press. The body will have the power to appoint election officials and judges as well.

Belarus for the first time also refused to invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the election. OSCE has been observing the Belarus elections for decades.

Since 1995, not a single election in Belarus has been recognized as free and fair by the OSCE.

According to OSCE, the decision deprived the country of a "comprehensive assessment by an international body".
Big businesses keep backing away from "ESG" and "DEI" as the political heat around these buzzwords mount in an election year.

Companies are reducing their involvement in a high-profile climate group; talking less about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns on earnings calls; and paring back new hires devoted to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in workplaces.

The latest retrenchment came last week when financial giants JPMorgan Chase (JPM), State Street (STT), and Pimco all pulled out of Climate Action 100+, a coalition formed in 2017 to encourage companies to reduce their emissions.

BlackRock (BLK), the world's largest money manager, also ended its US involvement with the group.

The main entrance to JPMorgan Chase's headquarters in Manhattan. (Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images) (Erik McGregor via Getty Images)

A JPMorgan asset management spokesperson explained the decision partly as a result of the firm's "development of its own climate risk engagement framework over the past couple of years," adding that "we believe that climate change continues to present material economic risks and opportunities to our clients."

The asset managers "are delivering what their clients want," wrote Doug Holtz-Eakin, the president of the American Action Forum, in a recent column.

The moves followed a wave of political pressure on the climate coalition, with House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) even issuing a subpoena.

In a statement, Jordan called the withdrawals "big wins for freedom and the American economy, and we hope more financial institutions follow suit in abandoning collusive ESG actions."

The GOP is applying pressure on other fronts, as well. Former President Trump has promised to banish ESG "forever," while a top Trump ally has called DEI "bigotry." Republican-led states are also aggressively pushing companies to revisit their DEI policies and suggesting they could be illegal.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) at the US Capitol in January. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Bill Clark via Getty Images)

A shift on multiple fronts

Companies are shying away from ESG and DEI in other ways. One has to do with what they discuss on their quarterly earnings calls with analysts.

Story continues

A recent analysis from FactSet found that mentions of ESG on S&P 500 earnings calls were set to reach new lows this year compared to earlier in the decade. Direct mentions of DEI were even less frequent.

Mentions are dramatically down from recent high-water marks, including a 2021 that saw over 100 mentions of ESG each quarter.

Another change from companies is that they have slowed their hiring of people with DEI attached to their titles.

A 2023 report from LinkedIn found a surge between 2019 and 2022 in C-suites hiring for DEI-related titles like chief diversity and inclusion officer. The growth was largely seen as a response to the global protests against racism and police brutality following the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

But the study also found that the tide has more recently ebbed, with these roles experiencing a 4.5% decline in 2023.

Another recent look at the subject from employment data provider Live Data Technologies found that chief diversity officers were more vulnerable to layoffs and experienced higher turnover in recent years.

PwC offices in London, England. (Jack Taylor/Getty Images) (Jack Taylor via Getty Images)

The downward pressure on DEI in offices and boardrooms has further increased in recent months following a Supreme Court ruling last June that schools can't explicitly consider race in the admissions process.

In just one example, giant accounting firm PwC pulled back on some of its diversity targets in the US given the legal uncertainty following the high court's decision.

"The momentum fueling DEI slowed," added a recent report from consulting firm Paradigm.

A political fight that may only increase

The step back by corporate America comes as political fighting over these topics is expected to increase.

A new poll released Thursday from left-leaning group Unlocking America's Future found that American voters are largely unfamiliar with terminology like "ESG" but responded very positively to terms like "responsible companies" (78% favorability) and "sustainable business practices" (73%).

The takeaway, says Kyle Herrig of the group, is that anti-ESG forces "have misread the American people with their attacks." He added that pro-ESG forces should use the new data to go on the offensive against the ongoing Republican efforts on the other side.

But companies may not be in a rush to follow, with evidence growing that there's a benefit for businesses that can effectively sidestep the term while still keeping a focus on larger trends.

BlackRock is perhaps a good example.

CEO Larry Fink had been the unwitting face of ESG in recent years after a series of his annual letters to investors often discussed the concept. But that has shifted to the point where he now refuses to say the term at all and says it has become "weaponized."

Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock, speaks at a roundtable discussion about "Financing the New Climate Economy" at the COP28 Climate Conference in December in Dubai. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (Sean Gallup via Getty Images)

But he recently orchestrated a $12.5 billion dollar deal to buy private equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners. He explained the move to his investors partly as a way to tap into clean energy trends. "If we are going to decarbonize the world ... capital and infrastructure is going to be very necessary," he said.

But he also noted that the deal would be a way to work with state and global governments keen on traditional energy sources.

The effort appears to have already paid off with Fink recently finding himself courted by a former fierce critic in Texas who is now seeking to shore up the state's electrical grid.

According to a Bloomberg account of a recent gathering in Houston, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called Fink the "king of Wall Street" after years of criticizing him.

"We need more dispatchable power as soon as we can get it," he told the CEO.

Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

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Pakistan's military has dismissed reports that Iran has killed a commander from the Jaish al-Adl terrorist organisation within Pakistani territory. This comes as Iranian media reported that Iranian security forces killed Esmaeil Shahbakhsh, a ringleader of the Jail al-Adl terrorist group, inside Pakistan near the border province of Irans Sistan-Baluchestan.

This comes a month after both countries carried out airstrikes on each other's territories.



However, the military sources on Saturday snubbed these reports, adding that these claims were aimed at mitigating the embarrassment arising from the recent Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar.



"Social media and some foreign media are spreading false propaganda that Iranian forces have killed a commander of Jaishul Adl on Pakistani soil. No such incident happened on Pakistani soil," a military source was quoted by Karachi-based newspaper Dawn.



According to the sources, a false narrative was created by portraying the recent killing, which happened due to cross-firing between smuggler groups, as a counter-terrorism operation.



Shahbakhsh was reportedly involved in recent terrorist activities in southeastern Iran, according to Tehran Times. Pakistani and Iranian foreign ministers had, meanwhile, spoken over the phone late Friday evening, which was claimed by some diplomatic sources as unscheduled, Dawn added.



Pakistan claimed that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian contacted Islamabad to congratulate it on recent elections and expressed desire desire to strengthen bilateral ties. The Iranian side had, meanwhile, claimed that the two sides reviewed the progress made on the understanding reached at the time of the restoration of bilateral ties.



Meanwhile, Express Tribune quoted another source which pointed fingers at Indian media, stating their involvement in "promoting this fabricated narrative." The unnamed source alleged that the "motive behind such actions may be linked to geopolitical tensions and a desire to create a misleading impression about the effectiveness of anti-terrorism efforts in the region."



This comes in the backdrop of the recent tensions which saw Iran firing missiles at targets inside Pakistan allegedly to destroy two "important headquarters" of Jaish al-Adl. The strike killed two children and injured three others.



Pakistan retaliated after two days, targeting hideouts of the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front. Following this, the two countries had mutually agreed to expand security cooperation and de-escalate tensions.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday said that 31,000 soldiers have been killed since the Russias invasion so far.

31,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000, not whatever Putin and his deceitful circle have been lying about. But nevertheless, each of these losses is a great sacrifice for us," Zelenskyy said at the Ukraine Year 2024 forum in Kyiv.

However the leader said he wont disclose how many troops were wounded in the war.

He also said there is a clear plan for new Ukrainian offensive. Ukraine needs to better prepare its reserve forces, he added.

It is the first time that Kyiv has confirmed the number of its losses since February 24, 2022.

Defence Minister Rustem Umerov earlier on Sunday said his country is "losing territory" because 50 per cent of the weapons promised by the West fail to reach Kyiv on the required time.

We have a plan. We are working to the plan. We are doing everything possible and impossible. But without timely supply [of western arms] its hard for us, said Umerov.

The country faces a $37-billion budget gap in 2024 as it strongly depends on the West partners for aid. However, the nation expects to get $11.8 billion in economic support this year from the US, said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Former US president Donald Trump was projected to win the crucial South Carolina primary against Indian-American rival Nikki Haley, thereby inching closer to GOP Presidential nominations.

The win came as a big boost to Trump as South Carolina was Haley's home state, where she was a two-term governor. This also gives the former President four straight wins in the Republican presidential primaries -- Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.



Just after 9 p.m. ET (IST 7:30 am) Trump was holding a 20-point edge over Haley. Trump was leading 59.7% to 39.7% with about half of the expected vote tallied, according to Edison.



"Wow," that was sooner than we anticipated. We had an even bigger win than we anticipated," Trump told his supporters at the South Carolina fairgrounds almost immediately after the race was called. "On November 5th, were going to get up here and say, Joe youre fired! Youre fired! Get out!" Trump said, adding that he has never seen the Republican party so unified as it is right now.



He did not mention Haley once in about 30 minutes of remarks. Trump also now looks to win all 29 of the state's at-large delegates, and expectations are that he could reach the necessary 1,215 delegates to clinch by mid-March, all the criminal charges doing nothing to slow him down.



So far, Haley has won 17 delegates and Trump has won 92. However, Haley remains defiant, stating that she will campaign through at least "Super Tuesday" on March 5, when Republicans in 15 states and one U.S. territory will cast ballots. "We need to beat Joe Biden in November," she told supporters in Charleston, South Carolina, after Saturday's election was called in Trump's favor. "I don't believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden."

She argued that her vote share, while less than 50%, showed a large number of Republicans were still uneasy about Trump.



Haley came to South Carolina needing to "close the gap" against Trump. "I need to show that I'm stronger in South Carolina than in New Hampshire", she said during the campaign. However, her arguments that Trump cannot stop Biden fell flat. But, 82% of South Carolina GOP voters said in exit polls that Trump was likely to beat Biden this fall, compared to 59% who said the same about Haley. Nearly two-thirds of voters also said Trump would be fit to serve as president even if he is convicted of a crime.
Vanquished Indian-American Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley has vowed to continue to fight Donald Trump in his bid to retake the White House, saying the American voters should have the right to a real choice, not a "Soviet-style election" with only one candidate.

Trump secured a resounding win over Haley in her home state on Saturday in South Carolina in the Republican primary, enabling the 77-year-old former US president to move closer to clinching a third presidential nomination from his party in 2024.

Refusing to give up, Haley, 52, a two-time former governor of South Carolina vowed to take the fight to the Super Tuesday states on March 5 when Republican primaries are scheduled to be held in 21 US states.

"I'm a woman of my word. I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Trump and Biden," Haley, a two-time former governor of South Carolina told her supporters.

In the next 10 days, 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate. And I have a duty to give them that choice," she posted on X.

Haley congratulated Trump on his victory but pointed to her performance as proof that Republican voters want an alternative.

"I'm an accountant. I know 40 per cent is not 50 per cent. But I also know 40 per cent is not some tiny group, Haley said.

"There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative," she said.

Haley also said she did not believe that Trump would be able to beat incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in a general election in November 2024.

"What I saw today was South Carolina's frustration with the state of our nation, she noted. She said the United States cannot stand four more years of Biden's failures nor Trump's lack of focus.

Haley thanked South Carolina voters for showing up and remarked she was heading to Michigan on Sunday, intending to campaign for Super Tuesday on March 5.

If elected, Haley would be the first-ever woman and first-ever Indian-American president of the United States.

Haley was born Nimarata Nikki Randhawa in South Carolina to immigrant Sikh parents from Amritsar, Punjab.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Showers early, then partly cloudy for the afternoon. High 49F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
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.

(AP)
Florida is on the verge of passing one of the nations most restrictive bans on minors use of social media after the state Senate passed a bill Thursday that would keep children under the age of 16 off popular platforms regardless of parental approval.

The measure now goes back to the state House, where the speaker has made the issue his top priority during the legislative session that ends March 8. Still, critics have pointed to similar efforts in other states that have been blocked by courts.

The bill targets any social media site that tracks user activity, allows children to upload material and interact with others, and uses addictive features designed to cause excessive or compulsive use. Supporters point to rising suicide rates among children, cyberbullying and predators using social media to prey on kids.

Were talking about businesses that are using addictive features to engage in mass manipulation of our children to cause them harm, said the bills sponsor, Republican state Sen. Erin Grall.

Other states have considered similar legislation, but most have not proposed a total ban. In Arkansas, a federal judge blocked enforcement of a law in August that required parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.

Supporters in Florida hope that if the bill becomes law, it would withstand legal challenges because it would ban social media formats based on addictive features such as notification alerts and autoplay videos, rather than the content on their sites.

But opponents say it blatantly violates the First Amendment and that it should left to parents, not the government, to monitor childrens social media use.

This isnt 1850. While parents show up at school board meetings to ban books, their kids are on their iPads looking at really bad stuff, said Democratic state Sen. Jason Pizzo.

He sarcastically said lawmakers have other options if they want to parent other peoples children.

Lets have a bill that encourages engaging with your children, cooking dinner, sitting at a table together, making eye contact, calling grandma to see if shes OK once in a while. he said.

The state Senate passed the bill on a 23-14 vote, with a mix of Democrats and Republicans on both sides of the issue. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has expressed some skepticism of the legislation as currently written.

DeSantis said he understood that the platforms could be harmful to teenagers, but that parents need to play a role in monitoring use.

We cant say that 100% of the uses are bad because theyre not, DeSantis said at an Orlando-area news conference. I dont think its there yet, but I hope we can get there in a way that answers parents concerns.

Some parents also have mixed feelings.

Angela Perry, a mother from central Florida, said she understands the rationale behind bill, and that she and her husband didnt let their daughter onto any major platforms until she turned 15. But she believes it should be up to every parent to make that decision based on the maturity of their children.

Whatever happened to parental rights? Perry said. You are already selecting books my child can read at school. That is fine to a certain extent. But now you are also moving into their private life as well. Its becoming intrusive.

The Florida bill would require social media companies to close any accounts it believes to be used by minors and to cancel accounts at the request of a minor or parents. Any information pertaining to the account must be deleted.

(AP)
The mother of Russias top opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Thursday that 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 allowed her to see her sons body in the city morgue. She said she reaffirmed the demand to give Navalnys body to her and protested what she described as authorities trying to force her to agree to a secret burial.

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.

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. Yarmysh didnt specify what those were.

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.

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 Putin to release her sons remains so that she could bury him with dignity.

In the video released Thursday, 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 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 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 Navalny. Police removed the flowers at night, but more keep appearing.

Earlier Thursday, 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.

A British-Russian citizen, 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.

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 criticizing 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 hospitalized 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.

Navalnys 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.

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.

(AP)
The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been handed over to his mother, a top aide to Navalny said Saturday on his social media account.

Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, made the announcement on his Telegram account and thanked everyone who had called on Russian authorities to return Navalnys body to his mother.

Earlier Saturday, Yulia Navalnaya, Navalnys widow, accused President Vladimir Putin of mocking Christianity by trying to force his mother to agree to a secret funeral after his death in an Arctic penal colony.

Thank you very much. Thanks to everyone who wrote and recorded video messages. You all did what you needed to do. Thank you. Alexei Navalnys body has been given to his mother, Zhdanov wrote.

Navalny, 47, Russias most well-known opposition politician, unexpectedly died on Feb. 16 in an Arctic penal colony and his family have been fighting for more than a week to have his body returned to them. Prominent Russians released videos calling on authorities to release the body and Western nations have hit Russia with more sanctions as punishment for Navalnys death as well as for the second anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine.

Navalnys mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, is still in Salekhard, Navalnys press secretary Kira Yarmysh said on X, formerly Twitter. Lyudmila Navalnaya has been in the Arctic region for more than a week, demanding that Russian authorities return the body of her son to her.

The funeral is still pending, Yarmysh tweeted, questioning whether authorities will allow it to go ahead as the family wants and as Alexei deserves.

Earlier Saturday, Navalnys widow said in a video that Navalnys mother was being literally tortured by authorities who had threatened to bury Navalny in the Arctic prison. They, she said, suggested to his mother that she did not have much time to make a decision because the body is decomposing, Navalnaya said.

Give us the body of my husband, Navalnaya said earlier Saturday. You tortured him alive, and now you keep torturing him dead. You mock the remains of the dead.

Navalny, 47, Russias most well-known opposition politician, unexpectedly died on Feb. 16 in the penal colony, prompting hundreds of Russians across the country to stream to impromptu memorials with flowers and candles.

Authorities have detained scores of people as they seek to suppress any major outpouring of sympathy for Putins fiercest foe before the presidential election he is almost certain to win. Russians on social media say officials dont want to return Navalnys body to his family, because they fear a public show of support for him.

Navalnaya accused Putin, an Orthodox Christian, of killing Navalny.

No true Christian could ever do what Putin is now doing with the body of Alexei, she said, asking, What will you do with his corpse? How low will you sink to mock the man you murdered?

Saturday marked nine days since the opposition leaders death, a day when Orthodox Christians hold a memorial service.

People across Russia came out to mark the occasion and honor Navalnys memory by gathering at Orthodox churches, leaving flowers at public monuments or holding one-person protests.

Muscovites lined up outside the citys Christ the Savior Cathedral to pay their respects, according to photos and videos published by independent Russian news outlet SOTAvision. The video also shows Russian police stationed nearby and officers stopping several people for an ID check.

As of early Saturday afternoon, at least 27 people had been detained in nine Russian cities for showing support for Navalny, according to the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests.

They included Sergei Karabatov, 64, who laid flowers at a Moscow monument to victims of political repression, along with a handwritten note saying Dont think this is the end. Also arrested was Aida Nuriyeva, from the city of Ufa near the Ural Mountains, who stood in a street with a sign saying Putin is Navalnys murderer! I demand that the body be returned!

Putin is often pictured at church, dunking himself in ice water to celebrate the Epiphany and visiting holy sites in Russia. He has promoted what he has called traditional values without which, he once said, society degrades.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected allegations that Putin was involved in Navalnys death, calling them absolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state.

Musician Nadya Tolokonnikova, who became widely known after spending nearly two years in prison for taking part in a 2012 protest with her band Pussy Riot inside Moscows Christ the Savior Cathedral, was one of many prominent Russians who released a video in which she accused Putin of hypocrisy and asked him to release Navalnys body.

We were imprisoned for allegedly trampling on traditional values. But no one tramples on traditional Russian values more than you, Putin, your officials and your priests who pray for all the murder that you do, year after year, day after day, said Tolokonnikova, who lives abroad. Putin, have a conscience, give his mother the body of her son.

Lyudmila Navalnaya said Thursday that investigators allowed her to see her sons body in the morgue in the Arctic city of Salekhard. She had filed a lawsuit at a court in Salekhard contesting officials refusal to release the body. A closed-door hearing had been scheduled for March 4.

Yarmysh, Navalnys spokesman, said that Lyudmila Navalnaya was shown a medical certificate stating that her son died of natural causes.

(AP)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Western leaders to Kyiv Saturday to mark the second anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion, as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and weaponry and foreign aid hangs in the balance.

Zelenskyy posted a video from the Hostomel airfield together with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Two years ago, here, we met enemy landing forces with fire; two years later, we meet our friends and our partners here, Zelenskyy said at the airport just outside of Kyiv, which Russian paratroopers unsuccessfully tried to seize in the first days of the war.

The Western leaders arrived shortly after a Russian drone attack struck a residential building in the southern city of Odesa, killing at least one person. Three women also sustained severe burns in the attack Friday evening, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper wrote on his social media account. Rescue services combed through the rubble looking for survivors.

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven leading economies, announced that the G7 will meet virtually on Saturday with Zelenskyy and would adopt a joint statement on Ukraine.

More than ever we stand firmly by Ukraine. Financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country is finally free, von der Leyen said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

On the front line in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian soldiers pleaded for ammunition.

When the enemy comes in, a lot of our guys die.  We are sitting here with nothing, said Volodymyr, 27, a senior officer in an artillery battery.

In order to protect our infantry  we need a high number of shells, which we do not have now, said Oleksandr, 45, a commander of an artillery unit. The two officers only gave their first names, citing security concerns.

Around 100 people gathered outside St. Sophias Cathedral in central Kyiv Saturday, calling for the release of Azov Brigade members who were taken captive by Russia after defending the southern city of Mariupol.

Olena Petrivna, the mother of a member who was taken captive by Russian forces questioned why Russia invaded Ukraine, saying before the war people lived our own lives, not bothering anyone, raising our children.

The Russians, she said, tried to conquer Ukraine to teach them what to say and what language to speak but, she added, We dont need them. We have one destiny  victory. We must win.

In a message on the wars second anniversary, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraines armed forces, thanked Ukrainian soldiers for their sacrifices and Western allies for their support, saying, Every projectile, every tank, every armored vehicle is, first of all, saving the life of a Ukrainian soldier.

Earlier this month, Zelenskyy fired top military commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi and replaced him with Syrskyi, marking the most significant shakeup of top brass since the full-scale invasion.

Authorities also pointed to successes, including the downing of a Russian early warning and control aircraft Friday.

If confirmed, it would mark the loss of the second such aircraft in just over a month. The Ukrainian military says Russia uses the aircraft to direct missile attacks.

The war has also come to Russia. Drones hit a steel plant in the Lipetsk region in southern Russia Saturday, causing a large fire, regional Gov. Igor Artamonov said, adding there are no casualties. Independent Russian media said the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant is the largest steel plant in Russia. Videos shared on Russian social media showed several fires burning at the plant, and an explosion could be heard.

Independent Russian news outlet Mediazona said Saturday that around 75,000 Russian men died in 2022 and 2023 fighting in the war.

A joint investigation published by Mediazona and Meduza, another independent Russian news site, indicates that the rate of Russias losses in Ukraine is not slowing and that Moscow is losing around 120 men a day. Based on a statistical analysis of the recorded deaths of soldiers compared with a Russian inheritance database, the journalists said around 83,000 soldiers are likely to have died in the two years of fighting.

According to Mediazona and Meduzas analysis, regular Russian troops sustained the heaviest losses in the first months of the war. But, after prisoners were offered their freedom in exchange for fighting and after President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization, those groups started to sustain more casualties, particularly in the early months of 2023.

Solidarity demonstrations with Ukraine were held across Europe, including in London, Berlin and Stockholm.

In Belgrade, hundreds marched through the city center carrying Ukrainian flags. Though it has condemned the invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has not joined Western sanctions against Russia and maintains friendly relations with Moscow.

A somber mood hangs over Ukraine as the war against Russia enters its third year and Kyivs troops face mounting challenges on the front line amid dwindling ammunition supplies and personnel challenges. Its troops recently withdrew from the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka, handing Moscow one of its biggest victories.

Russia still controls roughly a quarter of the country after Ukraine failed to make any major breakthroughs with its summertime counteroffensive. Meanwhile, millions of Ukrainians continue to live in precarious circumstances in the crossfire of battles, and many others face constant struggles under Russian occupation. Most are waiting for a Ukrainian liberation that hasnt come.

Olena Zelenska, the presidents wife, said Saturday that more than 2 million Ukrainian children have left the country since the war began and that at least 528 have been killed. The war started by Russia deliberately targets children, she said.

Britain has pledged an additional 8.5 million pounds ($10.8 million) of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, bolstering efforts to provide medical care, food and basic services to residents as the nation marks the second anniversary of Russias invasion.

About 14.6 million people, or 40% of Ukraines population, need assistance, with many left homeless or without adequate access to food, water and electricity, Britains Foreign Office said in announcing the aid.

In the U.S. Congress, Republicans have stalled $60 billion in military aid for Kyiv, desperately needed in the short term. The EU recently approved a 50 billion-euro (about $54 billion) aid package for Ukraine meant to support Ukraines economy, despite resistance from Hungary.

President Joe Biden tied the loss of the defensive stronghold of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region after months of grueling battles to the stalled U.S. aid. Fears have since spiked that Ukrainian forces will face similar difficulties across other parts of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line as they come under mounting pressure from Russian assaults.

Despite a heavy crackdown on dissent, some Russians marked the anniversary by laying flowers at Moscow monuments or holding anti-war signs in the streets.

According to OVD-Info, a Russian rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid, at least five people were arrested in Moscow on Saturday while holding signs saying No to war or attending a weekly demonstration calling for the return of mobilized Russian soldiers from Ukraine.

Police also detained a young woman who brought flowers in Ukraines national colors, blue and yellow, to a Moscow monument to victims of political repression, OVD-Info reported.

(AP)
You may be aware of the challenges taking place over the funding of the Moss Free Clinic. The clinic is running out of the money collected by a capital campaign managed by Mary Washington Hospital Foundation in 2004. It is also being hit with extra charges that former ally Mary Washington Health Care (MWHC) was paying for the facility built specifically for the clinic. This all threatens the future viability of the clinic and its mission to provide health care services to vulnerable people.

This was first reported by Adele Uphaus in the online news site Fredericksburg Advance and further in last Sundays Free Lance-Star by Cathy Dyson. The clinic has been in existence for just over 30 years and was started when Fredericksburg Medical Society responded to a state Senate resolution noting the plight of the medically underserved.

I have been medical director there since I tried to retire in 2010 and am concerned for both the patients and the staff. How we will get funds to continue the medical, dental, mental health and pharmacy services that we provide to the medically indigent, and how this whole rather acrimonious business will turn out.

Though Im on the Moss board I tend to be more medical, rather than a banker, businessman, or lawyer. Im not sure Im the person to discuss the rights and wrongs of what MWHC is doing and why, and risk stirring the hornets nest further.

What this whole business brings into focus is, how do people who cant afford it get the health care they need?

Who should pay?

Some seem to believe it is just too bad if you are poor and get sick. Perhaps these people have brought it on themselves  have smoked, drunk and eaten themselves into ill-health  and they will just have to muddle through as best they can with their own devices.

If you dont believe this, then whose responsibility is it to provide care? Is it the organizations providing healthcare to our community? That would mean MWHC and HCA Health care that owns Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center are the main players. Or perhaps the community as a whole, though some doctors and other providers in the community volunteer (which the patients are very grateful for).

Or does it go beyond just local? Is it the responsibility of society as a whole? Or, as in so many other countries, should healthcare be an entitlement paid for out of taxes?

Maybe I have a prejudice, being British and growing up with, and a proponent of, the National Health Service  which is of course a government run system that provides universal care, that is paid for out of taxes.

This is the norm for industrialized countries. The U.S. is an outlier, being almost the only one which doesnt provide universal coverage.

I have often wondered why American philosophy doesnt allow universal or nationalize healthcare.

When I have questions about American culture, I bring them to my learned buddies in the coffee Klatsch  this group of old farts I have mentioned before, who get together regularly and discuss the meaning of life  or equivalently heady topics.

Its all to do with stubborn individualism and a philosophy of self-reliance, they told me. Programs of public good are often seen as welfare, as handouts. ... handouts to people who are just too lazy to do for themselves.

Also, when I was over in London, I asked the same question of Dr. Janet Rebstein  a friend of my sister, a native New Yorker, but now a Professor of Psychology at the University of Exeter.

Her take on the topic was, Americans are strong believers in individual effort and consequent individual reward. And Each individual is ultimately responsible for his or her own fate, so, the concept of treating people medically as a collective right got identified as a socialist gesture, rather than a part of what each individual pays for, as in social security.

An expensive privilege

Healthcare seems to be seen as a privilege rather than a right in the U.S.  though grade-school education, defense, law-enforcement, rescue services, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, parks, any number of government agencies and a whole civic infrastructure of roads, buildings, bridges etc., do seem to be considered a legitimate, righteous use of taxes.

We need a reincarnation of Aneurin Bevin, a Welshman and a bit of a firebrand, who was Minister of health at the time of the formation of the NHS and who said, illness is neither an indulgence for which people have to pay, nor an offence for which they should be penalized. Rather, it is a misfortune the cost of which should be shared by the community.

It doesnt help, of course, that healthcare is so expensive in the U.S.  costing $12,531 a person in 2020, compared with $2,638 per capita expenditure as an average for the 55 other countries, according to the Bloomberg Index  which of course also pushes up the cost of health insurance, so premiums have gone from $13,770 to $22,463 for family coverage from 2010 to 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey.

Moss Clinic has served 16,000 patients, dispensed more than 880,000 prescriptions and provided $325 million worth of healthcare. What will happen to all the needy recipients of this care if we dont find the funds to keep going?

Its a troubling question. As is, who is going to provide those funds?
Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped from New York Citys Central Park Zoo and became one of the citys most beloved celebrities as he flew around Manhattan, has died, zoo officials announced Friday.

A little over one year after he was freed from his cage at the zoo in a criminal act that has yet to be solved, Flaco appears to have collided with an Upper West Side building, the zoo said in a statement.

The vandal who damaged Flacos exhibit jeopardized the safety of the bird and is ultimately responsible for his death, the statement said. We are still hopeful that the NYPD which is investigating the vandalism will ultimately make an arrest.

Staff from the Wild Bird Fund, a wildlife rehabilitation center, responded to the scene and declared Flaco dead shortly after the collision. He was taken to the Bronx Zoo for a necropsy.

We hoped only to see Flaco hooting wildly from the top of our local water tower, never in the clinic, the World Bird Fund wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Flacos time in the sky began on Feb. 2, 2023, when someone breached a waist-high fence and slipped into the Central Park Zoo. Once inside, they cut a hole through a steel mesh cage, freeing the owl that had arrived at the zoo as a fledgling 13 years earlier.

Since the zoo suspended efforts to re-capture Flaco in February 2023, there has been no public information about the crime.

Until now, Flaco had defied the odds, thriving in the urban jungle despite a lifetime in captivity. He became one of the citys most beloved characters. By day he lounged in Manhattans courtyards and parks or perches on fire escapes. He spent his nights hooting atop water towers and preying on the citys abundant rats.

He was known for turning up unexpectedly at New Yorkers windows and was tracked around the Big Apple by bird watchers. His death prompted an outpouring of grief on social media Friday night.

One of Flacos most dedicated observers, David Barrett, suggested a temporary memorial at the birds favorite oak tree in Central Park.

There, fellow birders could lay flowers, leave a note, or just be with others who loved Flaco, Barrett wrote in a post on X for the account Manhattan Bird Alert, which documented the birds whereabouts.

(AP)
The United States and European Union on Friday heaped hundreds of new sanctions on Russia in connection with the second anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine and in retaliation for the death of noted Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny last week in an Arctic penal colony.

The U.S. government imposed roughly 600 new sanctions on Russia and its war machine in the largest single round of penalties since Russias invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

The EU, for its part, added sanctions on several foreign companies over allegations that they have exported dual-use goods to Russia that could be used in its war against Ukraine. The 27-nation bloc also targeted scores of Russian officials, including members of the judiciary, local politicians and people it said were responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children.

President Joe Biden said the sanctions come in response to Russian President Vladimir Putins brutal war of conquest and to Navalnys death, adding that we in the United States are going to continue to ensure that Putin pays a price for his aggression abroad and repression at home.

But while previous sanctions have increased costs for Russias ability to fight in Ukraine, they appear to have done little so far to deter Putin and it was unclear that the latest big round would significantly alter that.

In specific response to Navalnys death, the State Department targeted three Russian officials the U.S. says are connected to his death, including the deputy director of Russias Federal Penitentiary Service, who was promoted by Putin to the rank of colonel general on Monday, three days after Navalny died.

The sanctions bar the officials from traveling to the U.S. and block access to U.S.-owned property. But they appear largely symbolic given that the officials are unlikely to travel to or have assets or family in the West.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said to expect more action later related to Navalnys death, adding that today this just a start.

The Biden administration is levying additional sanctions as House Republicans are blocking billions of dollars in additional aid to Ukraine. The war is becoming entangled in U.S. election-year politics, with former President Donald Trump voicing skepticism about the benefits of the NATO alliance and saying that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to countries that, in his view, are not pulling their weight in the alliance.

Biden on Friday called on Congress to pass Ukraine aid, which has stalled since House Speaker Mike Johnson blocked votes on aid passed by the Senate for Ukraine and other countries.

Russia is taking Ukraine territory for the first time in many months, Biden said. But here in America, the speaker gave the house a two week vacation. They have to come back and get this done, because failure to support Ukraine in this critical moment will never be forgotten in history.

Biden spoke later Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron about Russias recent actions and the need to support Ukraine. A White House readout said they also discussed developments in the Middle East.

Many of the new U.S. sanctions announced Friday target Russian firms that contribute to the Kremlins war effort  like drone and industrial chemical manufacturers and machine tool importers  as well as financial institutions, such as the state-owned operator of Russias Mir National Payment System.

The U.S. also will impose visa restrictions on Russian authorities it says are involved in the kidnapping and confinement of Ukrainian children. In addition, 26 third-country people and firms from across China, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, and Liechtenstein are listed for sanctions, for assisting Russia in evading existing financial penalties.

The Russian foreign ministry called the EU sanctions illegal and said they undermine the international legal prerogatives of the UN Security Council. In response, the ministry is banning some EU citizens from entering the country because they have provided military assistance to Ukraine. It did not immediately address the U.S. sanctions.

Overall, since the start of the war, the U.S. Treasury and State departments have targeted more than 4,000 officials, oligarchs, firms, banks and others under Russia-related sanctions authorities. The EU asset freezes and travel bans constitute its 13th package of measures imposed by the bloc against people and organizations it suspects of undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Today, we are further tightening the restrictive measures against Russias military and defense sector, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. We remain united in our determination to dent Russias war machine and help Ukraine win its legitimate fight for self-defense.

In all, 106 more officials and 88 entities  often companies, banks, government agencies or other organizations  have been added to the blocs sanctions list, bringing the tally of those targeted to more than 2,000 people and entities, including Putin and his associates.

Companies making electronic components, which the EU believes could have military as well as civilian uses, were among 27 entities accused of directly supporting Russias military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine, a statement said.

Those companies  some of them based in India, Sri Lanka, China, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Turkey  face tougher export restrictions.

Some of the measures are aimed at depriving Russia of parts for pilotless drones, which are seen by military experts as key to the war.

A $60 per barrel price cap has also been imposed on Russian oil by Group of Seven allies, intended to reduce Russias revenues from fossil fuels.

Critics of the sanctions, price cap and other measures meant to stop Russias invasion say they are not working fast enough.

Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that primarily sanctioning Russias defense industry and failing to cut meaningfully into Russias energy revenues will not be enough to halt the war.

One way or another, they will have to eventually address Russias oil revenues and have to consider an oil embargo, Snegovaya said. The oil price cap has effectively stopped working.

Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, in previewing the new sanctions, told reporters that the U.S. and its allies will not lower the price cap; rather what well be doing is taking actions that will increase the cost of Russias production of oil.

The Treasury Department says the current cap is working, with an agency analysis finding that Kremlin oil tax revenue was more than 40 percent lower in the first nine months of 2023 because of it.

Adeyemo added that sanctions alone are not enough to carry Ukraine to victory.

We owe the Ukrainian people who have held on for so long the support and resources they desperately need to defend their homeland and prove Putin wrong once and for all time.

(AP)
Ukraines foreign minister on Friday told skeptics who believe Ukraine cant win the war with Russia that they will be proven wrong: Ukraine will win the war.

Dmytro Kuleba, speaking at the United Nations on the eve of the second anniversary of Russias invasion, urged the worlds nations to stand behind Ukraine. If they do, he said, victory will come sooner rather than later.

Russias U.N. Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, countered by repeating Moscows claim that it didnt start the conflict. He blamed the West for fomenting it, accused Ukraine of being a tool of Western geopolitical ambitions, and vowed that Russias special military operation wont end until its goals are achieved.

Those goals  stated on Feb. 24, 2022, the day Russian troops crossed the border  include the de-militarization of Ukraine and ensuring its neutral status.

The U.N. General Assembly and the Security Council are marking the anniversary with ministerial meetings as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleads for more U.S. military aid and Russian forces make new gains in eastern Ukraine.

The General Assembly has become the most important U.N. body dealing with Ukraine because the Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, is paralyzed by Russias veto power. Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, unlike Security Council resolutions, but they serve as a barometer of world opinion.

Addressing the 193-member assembly, Kuleba recalled that over 140 nations supported resolutions backing Ukraine and calling for Russian forces to withdraw. But, he said, Moscows aim is to destroy Ukraine and theyre quite outspoken about it.

He said countries now saying Ukraine should negotiate with Russia and end the war are either ill-informed or didnt follow events after 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and backed an armed rebellion in eastern Ukraine. The two countries, he said, held approximately 200 rounds of negotiations and made 20 cease-fire agreements.

All of these peace efforts ended two years ago, when Russia tore apart the Minsk process and launched its full-scale invasion, Kuleba said. Why would anyone suggest today that following the same logic will bring us to a different result?

Zelenskyys 10-point peace plan is the only serious peace proposal on the table, Kuleba said, calling on other countries to add their diplomatic weight to it. The plan calls for expelling Russian forces, establishing a special tribunal to prosecute alleged Russian war crimes and building a European-Atlantic security architecture with guarantees for Ukraine.

When Russia invaded, diplomats and experts didnt believe Ukraine would survive. Speaking to reporters, Kuleba said he wanted to make one point clear.

Today, the same people do not believe that Ukraine can win this war, he said. They turned wrong once, and they will turn wrong again. Ukraine survived the invasion. Ukraine will win the war. And if we act collectively and jointly this will happen  sooner rather than later.

Nebenzia slammed Zelenskyys plan.

It is nothing other than an ultimatum to Russia and an attempt to lure as many countries as possible into endless meetings on this utopian project at any price possible, he said.

At the General Assembly, where representatives of 64 countries are scheduled to speak, there was strong support for Ukraine.

Britains Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he recognized that there is a sense of fatigue with the war and a compromise might seem attractive, but he said Russian President Vladimir Putin isnt seeking compromise.

Rather, this is a neo-imperialist bully who believes might is right, he said. If Putin were to eke out some kind of win, the rest of the world would suffer, too. What starts in Ukraine would not end there.

Polands Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told the assembly, Only our resolve can deter the neo-imperial delusions that may arise in any part of the world.

We need to stay the course until Mr. Putin understands that the days of European imperialism are gone for good, he said.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said at Ukraines request his government will organize a high-level peace conference by the summer. He invited all nations to attend and work to find common ground for peace based on the U.N. Charter, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Neither the assembly nor the council took any action to mark the anniversary. But before the council meeting, Kuleba read a statement from more than 50 countries, while surrounded by their ministers and ambassadors, condemning Russias aggression, its flagrant violation of international law, and its attacks on civilians and the infrastructure they need to survive, which may constitute war crimes.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres briefed the council, saying Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine violated the U.N. Charter and international law and, two years later, the war in Ukraine remains an open wound at the heart of Europe.

He called the invasion a dangerous precedent, stressing that newly independent countries in Africa didnt change borders established by colonial powers with the stroke of a pen because they knew it would open a Pandoras box.

The U.N. chief said the path to peace is respect for the U.N. Charters underlying principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning that the war is deepening geopolitical divides.

The danger of the conflict escalating and expanding is very real, he said.

Chinas U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun, whose country is a Russian ally, said Beijing respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and all other countries, and urged stepped-up peace efforts. He also stressed that the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be respected, and criticized NATOs eastward expansion  which Moscow has strongly opposed.

Germanys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told the Security Council, Putin is making clear every day, every hour  that he does not want to negotiate peace. He wants to complete his conquest.

And U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that through all of Russias lies, Putin has tried to rewrite history, to justify the unjustifiable, to break the will of the Ukrainian people, and to break the will of the international community.

We cannot let that happen, she said.

(AP)
President Joe Biden told the nations governors on Friday that hes exploring what executive actions he can take to curb migration across the southern border after a bipartisan deal collapsed in Congress this month. He seemed to express frustration at the legal limits of his authority to act unilaterally.

Biden hosted members of the National Governors Association in the East Room, where he implored them to urge their representatives in Congress to resurrect the bipartisan proposal that collapsed within 48 hours. He also sharply criticized Republicans for backing away from the agreement after former President Donald Trump lobbied in opposition to the deal.

Over time, our laws and our resources havent kept up with our immigration system and its broken, Biden told the governors, lamenting that petty politics intervened to kill the deal.

Later, during a private question-and-answer session with the governors, he indicated he was looking at what his options are for doing something by executive order.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, the Republican chair of the association, told reporters later that Biden didnt specify what actions he is considering, but he said the president noted that he was confronting the limits of what he can do without Congress.

He did say that he has been working with his attorneys, trying to understand what executive action would be upheld in the courts and would be constitutional, and that he seemed a little frustrated that he was not getting answers from attorneys that he felt he could take the kind of actions that he wanted to, Cox said.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Democratic vice-chair of the governors group, said governors got a general sense that theyre looking into whatever they can do on the executive side. Again, keeping our expectations realistic, thats going to be more limited than a congressional solution.

Polis said Biden cited federal courts overruling some of Trumps immigration actions, and a desire to avoid a similar fate with any action he took.

And so there was a frustration that that would occur under under his leadership as well, under any president, absent a change in the law, Polis said. A lot of the steps we need to take simply arent legal under current law.

Cox added that Biden mentioned declaring an emergency at the border, which in theory could unlock additional federal funds that would be needed to execute any new border crackdowns.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on private conversations.

Among the actions under consideration by Biden is invoking authorities 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.

Trump, 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 on travelers from Muslim-majority nations. Biden rescinded that ban on his first day in office through executive order.

But as White House officials contemplate various unilateral options, they have faced resistance from Justice Department lawyers, who have been hesitant on greenlighting any executive actions on immigration that would promptly be blocked in court, according to two people familiar with the deliberations. DOJ declined to comment.

For instance, Trump used the 212(f) authority to issue a directive that said migrants who arrive between ports of entry at the southern border would be rendered ineligible to seek asylum. But that was halted in the lower courts and the Supreme Court, with a 5-4 ruling, didnt revive Trumps proposed ban. Still, any similar challenge now could be different since one of the justices who ruled against Trump in the case, the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was replaced by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a reliable conservative vote.

Currently, its unclear how Biden would use that presidential authority to deter the migrants arriving at the southern border, and people familiar with the discussions have cautioned that it has not been finalized and that Biden has not signed off on any directive. The White House could also ultimately choose not to take any executive action at all.

No decisions have been made on this, Jean-Pierre said Friday.

Cox noted that as hes pressed Biden to act unilaterally, ultimately, more comprehensive solutions will depend on Congress.

Theres some disagreement on how much the president can do and cant do and I pushed back on the president on that, he said. But we I think theres also general consensus that the Congress does have to do something.

He said if Congress cant back the comprehensive deal, then perhaps pieces of it, like boosting money for border patrol agents and asylum officers, could be tacked on to coming spending bills.

(AP)
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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Chen Tzion, an IDF soldier in the Kafir Brigade, was deployed to Kibbutz Beeri on October 7th to battle the Hamas terrorists.

The sights he saw there were so harrowing that a few days later, he lost his sight  in what turned out to be a psychological response to the horrors he witnessed.

In an interview with Ynet, he said: At first I saw blurry and then suddenly boom, just black. I didnt understand what was happening to me until I thought about what I saw in Beeri. I was very psychologically stressed and apparently, it affected me.

I went from doctor to doctor  each one thought that maybe something had happened, that something damaged my eyes. I underwent testing but everything was normal and then I saw the divisions psychiatrist.

The psychiatrist hypothesized that the blindness was a psychological mechanism activated due to mental stress. Chen was sent home to get used to the new reality. I always knew in my heart that my sight would return, he said. And indeed, five days, his sight returned. It was fun to see again, it felt like being reborn.

When my vision returned I told the mental health officer that theres no such thing as leaving in the middle of a war. I wasnt released and I couldnt fathom my friends fighting in Gaza and Im sitting around outside.

In the end, Chen entered Gaza with his friends. When I entered Gaza, I only thought about one thing  the war. Theres always this fear that it will return but I also saw harrowing scenes in Gaza but Im seeing perfectly and fighting well.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The New York Times lashed out in fury at Israel after one of its photographers were accused of being embedded with Hamas and having foreknowledge of the October 7 attack.

The photographer, Yousef Masoud, was recently given a Polk award for his work, following which the Israeli Consulate in New York sent a letter to the Polk Committee accusing the photojournalist of having deep ties with Hamas, along with another Times photographer, Samar Abu Elouf.

The letter said that Masoud had public connections to Hamas and well-documented foreknowledge of the terror groups plans for invasion, mortally compromise the integrity of his reporting.

Stung by the accusation, the Times went on the attack, calling Masouds ties to Hamas a fabrication and provably false.

From the Times response: The false accusations against Mr. Masoud can be traced back to the reckless posting by the advocacy group Honest Reporting that insinuated  without any evidence  that Mr. Masoud, a freelance photographer who has done work for The New York Times, may have had prior knowledge of the Oct. 7 attack.

The basis for Honest Reportings claim is a fabrication: that Mr. Masoud began shooting pictures at 5:30 a.m. when the attack began an hour later. Wrong. Mr. Masoud, we know from the photographic evidence, began shooting photographs after 6:30 a.m.  from his homes rooftop with the fighting visible in the distance  when the noise of combat awoke him.

Let me be clear again: the accusation that anyone associated with The Times had advance knowledge of the attack or was embedded with Hamas terrorists at any time is simply false. Mr. Masoud was not even working for The Times on October 7. But even if that were not so, there is no credible evidence that Mr. Masoud was somehow complicit in the attack.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF on Sunday morning announced the death of another IDF soldier killed in Gaza on Shabbos, raising the death toll of the ground war in Gaza to 239.

The soldier was identified as Staff Sgt. Narya Belete, HYd, 21, of Shavei Shomron.

Belete, zl, who served in the Givati Brigade, was killed in battle in southern Gaza.

The IDF also announced that an officer and two Givati soldiers were seriously injured in the same battle.

Around midday on Sunday, the IDF announced the death of another Givati soldier, Staff Sgt. Ido Eli Zrihen, Hyd 20, of Jerusalem, who was killed in the same battle. His death raises the death toll of the ground war in Gaza to 240.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Ex-prime minister Ehud Bark on Sunday called for left-wing Israeli protesters to besiege the Knesset in order to force Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to resign.

Speaking in an interview with Army Radio, Barak, who has been plotting for years to overthrow Netanyahu, said: We need 30,000 citizens to surround the Knesset in tents for 3 weeks, day and night, to besiege it.

When the State is shut down  Netanyahu will realize that his time is up and theres no trust in him.

Barak, who once said that he will lead protests against the government until there are bodies floating in the Yarkon, also claimed that Netanyahu is placing his personal interests over the lives of the hostages in Gaza.

Netanyahu places more significance on appearing strong than reaching a hostage deal, he said. Hes willing to risk the hostages lives.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The IDF announced on Sunday that Sgt. Oz Daniel, Hyd, a 19-year IDF soldier who has been missing since October 7th, has been declared a fallen soldier whose body is being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.

Daniel, zl, who served on the Gaza border was killed as he battled Hamas terrorists on October 7th. His body was abducted to Gaza.

In recent days, the IDFs Chief Rabbi determined his death based on new information that came to light along with physical findings.

Oz, Hyd, left behind his parents and twin sister. His levaya will take place at the military cemetery in his hometown of Kfar Saba.

Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar, stated: I am forced to announce with great sorrow that a few minutes ago I left the home of the Daniel family where the bitter news of Ozs murder was conveyed to them by the IDF authorities. 141 days have passed since October 7th and we all wished for good news which unfortunately did not come. Oz was an amazing kid, always with the guitar and captivating smile. I wish to express our condolences on behalf of the residents of Kfar Saba.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told CBS News on Sunday that Israel will soon launch a military operation in Rafah and end the war in Gaza in several weeks.

Speaking to Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation, Netanyahu said: Hamas is a terrorist organization that- once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion, not months, weeks away from completion. And that is- weve already destroyed 18 of the 24 Hamas terrorist battalions. So we- we have and four of them are concentrated in the Rafah. We cant leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it, obviously, we have to do it. But understand, too, that Ive asked the army to submit to me a double plan, first to evacuate to enable the evacuation of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and, obviously, second, to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions. That gets us a real, real distance towards the completion of our victory, and that- were not going to give it up. If we have a deal, itll be delayed somewhat. But itll happen. If we dont have a deal, well do it anyway. It has to be done. Because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. Not months away, weeks away once we begin the operation.

Responding to a question about the civilian population in Rafah, the prime minister said: Were on the same page with the U.S. on this, because thats how we do it. The reason you have that population in Rafah is because we actually cleared them away from the other places, the zones, combat zones that we had, thats why theyre there. So now theres room for them to go north of Rafah, to the places that weve already finished fighting in.

Referring to a possible hostage deal, Netanyahu said: Im not sure the exact duration, but I can tell you that were all working on it. We want it, I want it. Because we want to liberate the remaining hostages, weve already brought half of them back. And I appreciate the effort, the combined effort of Israel, the United States, to bring back the remaining hostages. I cant tell you if well have it. But if Hamas goes down from its delusional claims and goes down- can bring them down to earth, then well have the progress that we all want.

But Hamas started out with just crazy demands. And, you know, its- its too soon to say if theyre- if theyve abandoned them, but if they do abandon them and get into what you call the ballpark, theyre not even in the city. Theyre in another planet. But if they come down to a- a reasonable situation, then yes, well have a hostage deal.

Brennan then confronted Netanyahu, saying: There is growing distrust of you personally, sir, you know this, in the U.S. Congress and within the Biden White House. When your closest ally is telling you things like this, and telling you that you need to reconsider a strategy, isnt it worth considering?

Netanyahu responded: I think that the U.S. is- agrees with us on the goal of destroying Hamas. And on the goal of releasing the hostages. The decisions of how to do that are left with us, and with me and the elected cabinet of Israel. And were doing that. A lot of things that the U- that we were told by the best of friends initially, turned out not to be true. They said you cant enter the- the ground war without having enormous complications. They said you cannot fight, you cant enter Gaza City, you cant go into the tunnels, it will be a terrible bloodbath. All of that turned out to be not true. Our soldiers are in the tunnel network. We dont have to take apart hundreds of kilometers of tunnels, we are taking apart the missile production factories that are underground, the command and control headquarters, the computers that are there, the money that is there, the weapons that are there, and the ammos that- that is there. Were doing that methodically. So were- were doing the war- you cant substitute for the Israeli military command. And were doing it very responsibly. The- John Spencer, whos the head of urban warfare at West Point, says that no other army has gone to the lengths that Israels army has gone to clear civilians out of harms way, even though Hamas is doing everything to keep them in harms way.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The IDF confirmed it has completed a targeted operation at Nasser Hospital in southern Gazas Khan Younis, resulting in the detention of approximately 200 individuals suspected of terrorism-related activities. The operation, described as precise and limited, aimed to disrupt the activities of terror groups without impacting the hospitals operations or jeopardizing the safety of patients and medical staff.

During the raid, IDF forces uncovered boxes of medication labeled with the names of Israeli hostages, alongside weapons identified as belonging to Hamas operatives. The IDF reported that many of those detained were linked to terror groups, participated in the October 7 attacks, and were connected to the holding of hostages by Hamas.

Testimonies from released captives and interrogated suspects indicated that Israeli hostages had previously been held at the hospital site. The operation involved units from the 98th Division, the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit, and the Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza (COGAT), focusing on minimizing disruption to hospital services.

In response to a power outage during the operation, IDF troops supplied a replacement generator to ensure the continuity of critical hospital functions, which remained operational through an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The IDF also facilitated the delivery of a fuel tank to power the generator, alongside coordinating the entry of professionals to address the electricity issue.

Efforts were made to support the hospital further by delivering food, water, medical supplies, and infant formula, ensuring the well-being of patients during the operation. Additionally, at the hospital staffs request and with the international communitys cooperation, several critically ill patients were relocated to other medical facilities.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
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Esther and Shloimie always seem so happy together.

But in reality, their marriage is crumbling.

Esther and Shloimie care for each other and believe in their marriage, but constant conflict chips away at the strong foundation theyve tried to build.

It will get better with time.

(Not necessarily. Neglected issues often get worse.)

Everyone wants instant satisfaction these days.

(Actually, they are willing to invest time and effort  but they need guidance.)

Why dont they seek professional help?

(The impossible dilemma: go into debt while paying for therapy, or live with the problem.)

It takes courage to reach out for help.

It takes determination to refine ones character.

It takes humility to learn new ways of interacting with family.

But the biggest challenge is figuring out where to start  and how to pay for it

As a popular chassan teacher in Yerushalayim, Rabbi Meir Sommer saw these problems up close, and in this breach, on his own, he started BLev Echad.

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'Let down': Peter West waited over a year for probate approval

The sorry saga of thousands of bereaved families waiting up to a year for the probate office to approve vital documents needed to deal with their late loved one's affairs is growing more shameful by the day.

Grieving families already wait up to an hour to speak on the phone to a civil servant and must wait 16 weeks before asking for an update on an application.

Now documents seen by The Mail on Sunday show the extent of the meltdown at HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) as it tries to get a grip on the enormous backlog of probate applications. These suggest the system is no longer fit for purpose.

A dossier submitted by law firms and trade bodies to the Justice Committee reveals:

Fourteen weeks is the average wait for a probate application to be approved  double the length of time in 2023;

Applications made on paper rather than the alternative, online  take up to 23 weeks to be granted;

More than one in four probate applications are not issued on the first attempt as HMCTS demands more information from the applicant  which can result in weeks of further delays;

The Ministry of Justice admits that it 'has not always been able to secure sufficiently well trained staff to make sure that more complex applications would be dealt with in a timely manner';

In extreme cases, applicants are being pushed into debt as they wait more than two years for probate to be approved and are forced to pay for tax and legal expenses out of their own pocket before receiving probate.

In evidence submitted to the Justice Committee, retired solicitor Anthony Tahourdin said probate delays meant, in one case, the sale of an investment portfolio worth 1.8 million could not go through.

By the time the probate was granted and the investments were sold, their value had plummeted by 300,000.

Delays mean many suffer financial hardship as they are forced to cover essential costs needed to put their loved one to rest.

Emily Deane, of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, says: 'Beneficiaries have had to pay for funerals, debts and other expenses out of their own pocket and they are unable to reimburse themselves until the grant of probate has been issued. We have heard that some beneficiaries have been forced to take out loans to pay for inheritance tax, and of house sales falling through.'

If the deceased's assets are worth more than 325,000, their estate is liable for inheritance tax, which needs to be paid within six months of their death. After this point, interest is charged at 2.5 percentage points above the Bank of England's base rate, which is currently at 5.25 per cent.

Reduced phonelines

In a bid to tackle the backlog, HMCTS has temporarily reduced the service on its phoneline from 9-5pm to 9-1pm, which it says will free up staff to help process applications faster during a busy period.

The decision comes after the Justice Committee launched an investigation into probate delays last November, with a consultation expected in the next few weeks.

Bob O'Neill, chair of the Justice Committee, says: 'Reducing the phoneline opening times will make it even harder for bereaved people to get advice or find out what is happening to their application and risks making what is often an upsetting process even harder.'

An automated message on the helpline now says that 'due to high demand it's taking longer than usual to process applications' and directs users online.

Jade Gani of Circle Law: 'We're already seeing property sales fall through and the delays are having tax implications as the value of a property has changed'

HMCTS also suggests that applicants use its webchat service, which says 'all our advisers are busy. Try again in a few minutes'.

25 hours on the phone

Dozens of Mail on Sunday readers have written to us to voice their frustration over year-long waits for their probate to be granted.

Peter West, 79, a retired consultant engineer, says he has spent around 25 hours in total trying to get through to staff for updates about his application.

Peter has been trying to apply for probate for his brother-in-law Graham's affairs since December 2022. Graham's estate was worth 530,000, when he passed away, including a property valued at 440,000 and 70,000 in savings.

But delays at HMCTS mean that Peter has had to reduce the asking price of the property to 410,000. Meanwhile, the prospective buyer's mortgage offer has expired twice.

Peter has also missed out on around 8,000 in interest from Graham's savings.

'The probate office is a total shambles,' says Peter. 'Every time I ring up, I can't get through to anyone who can help and I can't understand why no one will ring me back. I feel totally let down by the service.'

Jade Gani, of probate and estate planning specialist Circle Law, says the situation is only going to get worse as applicants make more mistakes on forms and cannot chase HMCTS for updates.

'It's going to be harder to get through to staff during the short window that the phoneline is open. Lots of calls are going to go unanswered, which is going to lead to even longer delays,' she says.

'We're already seeing property sales fall through and the delays are having tax implications as the value of a property has changed,' she adds.

You can apply for probate online or via post but paper-based applications are likely to take longer to be processed. There is no fee to apply for probate if an estate is worth less than 5,000.

Above this threshold, it costs 273 to make an application.

An HMCTS spokesman says: 'People should continue submitting applications in the usual way and can make calls to us in the morning or all day on our webchat, Monday to Friday. They can also track the progress of applications on GOV.UK at any time.'

Peter West's probate application was approved last week.
Investment house Seven Investment Management is a success story. Over the past 22 years, it has built a business that manages 20 billion of assets on behalf of individuals, families and charities.

The company, which badges itself 7IM, knows a thing or two about investing. Every week, one of its experts opines pithily on a particular aspect  anything from the merits of portfolio diversification through to surviving bear markets. Like mini-Easter eggs, I devour them.

Its recent missive on dividends caught my eye, reminding me of the pulling power dividends have in persuading investors to put money into particular companies.

Looking up: The pulling power of dividends can persuade investors to put money into particular companies

It said: 'Dividends are a strong driver for shareholders to invest in a company. When a company offers a dividend, it's making a statement: "Business is booming, and while we've reinvested some of our earnings into the business, we're also rewarding our shareholders by giving some of their investment back." '

These words came rushing back into my mind a few days ago when investment trust Alliance announced its final quarterly dividend for 2023, a payment of 6.34p per share.

It meant that last year, the 3.4 billion stock market-listed fund paid shareholders dividends totalling 25.2p, an increase of five per cent on the year before.

More impressively, it extended the trust's record of growing its annual dividend to 57 years. Only trusts City of London and Bankers, both managed by Janus Henderson, have consistently grown their dividends over such a long period of time.

Although 'booming' is not a word I would necessarily use to describe Alliance, there is no doubt that this 135-year-old trust ticks many boxes for investors.

Its assets are invested worldwide, the annual running costs are low (0.62 per cent) and, unusually for an investment trust, it draws upon a team of fund managers to generate returns for shareholders.

Pulling the strings is investment house Willis Towers Watson (WTW) which parcels out the trust's assets to some of the world's leading managers to run.

Currently, they are in the hands of ten fund groups (the likes of Dalton, GQG, Jupiter and Vulcan) which all add something different in terms of investment expertise.

Each runs a portfolio of no more than 20 stocks, apart from GQG which also runs a parcel of emerging markets assets. WTW oversees the managers and occasionally replaces some if they are not delivering the goods  or better ones are found.

The result is a 200-strong portfolio with nearly 60 per cent of the trust's assets in the United States. More importantly, the process works. Over the past three and five years, it has delivered overall returns of 39 and 73 per cent, respectively. Only one trust among its global peer group  Brunner  has a better record.

Last year's dividend of 25.2p compares to a current share price of 11.72. Although the annual income is modest in percentage terms  a tad over 2 per cent  it is in growth mode.

Seven Investment Management says investors should be aware that companies sometimes don't get their dividend policy right  overpaying shareholders when they should be investing more in their business.

Yet this cautionary advice doesn't apply to Alliance. It is a prudently managed business which has plenty of income  more than a year's worth  tucked away in reserve if things cut up rough.

It's the kind of investment that should lie at the core of a well-balanced Isa or DIY pension portfolio.

Evil. Only word for fiend who tried to target my late mum

Good memories: Jeff with his mum

I would love to find the fiend who recently cloned my mother's personal details so as to take out a current account with Santander in her name  and presumably then go on a short-term spending spree.

I won't tell you what I would really like to do to them if I discovered who they were. But maybe a stretch in HMP Wakefield would allow them to see the error of their ways.

Although their application, thankfully, caught the attention of the bank's fraud operations team and was rejected (thank you, Santander), the actions of this financial criminal will stick in my craw for a while.

Not only did they despicably target a vulnerable 88-year-old, but Mum (or Helen of Troy as I call her) died late last month after a long battle with cancer. Her funeral will take place this week.

Mum had died by the time Santander wrote informing her of the attempted fraud, so she was spared the distress its letter would inevitably have caused. But it raised my blood pressure into dangerous territory.

Financial crime may be non-violent, but it is still evil and needs to be stamped on from a great height.

My thriving hometown... but still the banks shut

My hometown of Wokingham in Berkshire remains in quite good nick despite the continued cost-of-living crisis. It is in growth mode as new developments pop up everywhere.

Even retirement home specialist McCarthy Stone seems to like it, judging by the fact that it has just built its second complex in the town (Oakingham Place)  a five-minute walk from its longer-established Queen's Gate (no, I don't have an eye on one of them quite yet).

Yet, like many towns up and down the country, the banks seem disinterested in supporting Wokingham with branches that residents and small businesses can use to do their banking.

Disinterest: Lloyds' branch in Wokingham looks set to be the latest to close in the town

Since I rocked up in the town in early 2020, Barclays, Santander and NatWest have all shut their branches.

This leaves building society Nationwide (of course), HSBC and Lloyds clinging on  while the Post Office provides banking services at the back of a rather tired looking WH Smith.

But it now looks as if Lloyds will be next to go. The council has just approved a new development for the land that Lloyds and retail neighbour Robert Dyas sit on. It will embrace 60 flats, three new shops and a public square.

The proposals have already attracted criticism because of no social housing being incorporated into the project.

One councillor says Wokingham is turning into 'a town for only the rich'  an understandable view given that prices for a two-bedroom flat start from 300,000.

Maybe, Lloyds will occupy one of the new development's three shops  if it does, I will eat the brown hat I loved, but my late mother despised.

The more likely outcome is that the bank will desert the town. As local Steve Ross  a 68-year-old retired electronics engineer  told me, if things carry on as they are, it won't be long before Wokingham is eligible for a banking hub (a shared bank branch).

One final observation on bank branches. Seven days ago, I was in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, after participating in a rather muddy running event.

Given the town centre has seen better days, I was rather surprised to see three banks on its high street, occupying consecutive buildings  Lloyds, Barclays, and NatWest. Illogical in a world where banks are shelving branches? Yes, although I'm not knocking it.
Gordon Banham was 18 when his father, a coalman, passed away. With a poorly mother and two younger brothers to look after, Banham junior took over the family business, delivering coal to homes around Norfolk.

By 2001, Banham had spent nearly two decades shifting, selling and mining the black stuff so he was ideally suited to join Hargreaves Services, then a coal company through and through.

Banham still runs the business but it has been transformed from pitch black to a lively shade of green. The road has been rough at times but Hargreaves shares have risen 28 per cent to 5.14 since Midas tipped them two years ago and prospects are promising.

Green drive: Hargreaves is beginning to use trucks powered by gas

Banham recently unveiled a sixfold increase in the interim dividend to 18p and promised to deliver a total payment of 36p for the year to May, putting the stock on a yield of 7 per cent.

The group is also expected to increase shareholder returns substantially over the next three years.

Hargreaves operates three divisions, each of which can claim its own environmental credentials. Hargreaves Land takes old mine sites and converts them into areas for housebuilding, light industry and renewable power, from wind farms to battery storage.

Hargreaves Services moves earth for big infrastructure projects and has just ordered the UK's first electric digger, due to come on stream early next year.

The division also transports council waste to biomass sites and is starting to use gas-powered trucks, instead of diesel vehicles. Hargreaves' third arm is a Germany-based joint venture which trades commodities and recycles steel dust by converting it to pig iron.

This division had a tough time in the first half of Hargreaves' financial year, suffering from lower commodity prices and a glut of Russian pig iron.

Europe has now imposed an embargo on Russian stock, and steel dust prices have increased so a solid turnaround is expected.

The German business has also built up strong financial reserves so, even though results were down, it transmitted twice as much cash to Hargreaves than in the past and is forecast to continue in a similar vein.

The division is also likely to be sold over the next few years, which should raise at least 40 million, money that will be returned to shareholders as a special dividend or through a share buyback scheme (which reduces the amount of shares in issue and tends to increase dividend payments).

Banham intends to sell much of Hargreaves Land over time as well  the housing plots to builders and the renewable acreage to pension funds in search of solid rental income from wind, solar and battery farms. As sales are completed, more cash will come investors' way.

Within the next few years, therefore, Hargreaves will generate most of its profits from the services business, which has dozens of top customers and a robust order book.

The group will also retain several thousand acres of forest land, fertilised by sewage from Scottish Water and Northumbrian Water. Trees are being planted and will be turned into timber as they mature.

Midas verdict: Hargreaves Services has been good to shareholders over the past two years but further gains are on the cards. Banham is determined to generate serious cash returns for investors, through special and regular dividends, backed by organic growth and steady sales of non-core divisions. The strategy is supported by veteran investor Christopher Mills, Hargreaves' largest shareholder, with 28 per cent of the stock. For investors in search of income, the shares should prove rewarding at 5.14.

Traded on: AIM Ticker: HSP Contact: hsgplc.co.uk or 0191 373 4485
Causing a stir: The shake-up is a bid by the Financial Conduct Authority to make London a more attractive place to float companies

Even dedicated City folk could be forgiven for tuning out if the subject of regulation arises. But proposed changes to the listings regime are, if not riveting, then causing a stir.

The shake-up is a bid by the Financial Conduct Authority to make London a more attractive place to float companies after defections and snubs from firms opting for New York over the City.

Some of the changes, which will come into force later this year if approved, have already caught the eye of Quantum, a British candidate for a London float.

The cyber security group has cited possible amendments such as only needing to float 10 per cent of shares (instead of the usual 25 per cent) as 'especially beneficial' for a quickly growing business.

'We firmly believe London is still one of the world's most prestigious exchanges, and the right place for us,' co-founder Peter Malmstrom told Whispers. Three cheers for a bit of patriotism.

Traditional AGM's making a comeback?

Annual meetings are not what they used to be.

Gone are the tea and biscuits and a chance for ordinary shareholders to buttonhole the chief executive now gatherings are moving online. Or are they?

New research from meetings specialist Lumi shows in-person meetings went up last year, to 15 per cent of the total compared with 12 per cent in 2022.

True, most are now 'hybrid', but that choice has seen attendance levels almost double 2022's, which is good news.

Clearly old habits die hard.

Rio Tinto looking again at Jadar project

Word on the street is Rio Tinto may finally be making headway with its Serbian lithium mining project Jadar.

Industry insiders say they think the huge project could be back on  more than two years after the authorities revoked Rio's licences to continue development, which dealt a hefty blow to the miner's plan to muscle into the race for metals like lithium required to go green.

Rio's leader Jakob Stausholm met Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic at Davos to discuss reviving Jadar.

Stausholm described the talks as 'robust' while Vucic said they were 'difficult'.

Theories abound. One is that Serbia is warming to the idea because of the crash in the price of lithium  meaning few other miners would be lining up to take it off Rio's hands.

Oil and gas bods await Horse Hill ruling

Oil and gas bods are nervously awaiting a High Court ruling on an obscure legal battle that could have huge ramifications for fossil fuel drilling in the UK.

The Supreme Court is reviewing an appeal by Surrey resident Sarah Finch against the county council, which she argues failed to take into account pollution generated by oil and gas extracted from a site called Horse Hill.

If successful, it would spell a big change for any project needing environmental impact assessment.

A historic legal victory for a case argued along similar grounds in Norway has given campaigners a lift, even though it has no bearing on English law.

Contributor: Patrick Tooher
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

A.T. writes: I have received an unsolicited email from a company called Hoffman Chase.

It claims to be offering high-return investments in cognac, but while it only appears to have opened for business in January, some of its favourable reviews on Trustpilot must be fake as they refer to investments made months ago.

Tony Hetherington replies: Well spotted! Trustpilot had already deleted some reviews for Hoffman Chase, but more remained. They included one from 'Michael Peters' who claimed to have invested last August: 'My collection has already increased in value after only a few months.'

And 'Christie Reynolds' told Trustpilot she invested last May, saying: 'I am pretty new in this market, but I am sure they just gained a very loyal customer.'

Bizarre: Hoffman Chase says investors could lose everything

I highlighted these to Trustpilot, and they have now disappeared. Trustpilot told me: 'In the case of Hoffman Chase Ltd, since the beginning of the year, our fraud detection software identified and removed 43 fake reviews.'

The cognac company was given a warning and told to clean up its act, but this did not work.

Trustpilot said: 'We have further evidence to suggest Hoffman Chase Ltd has continued to procure fake reviews.' Another dozen have now been deleted. Trustpilot has posted a consumer warning on its page about the company, and demanded that Hoffman Chase remove the fake reviews.

The bogus write-ups are just the beginning of the questions though. Hoffman Chase tells investors that their cognac is safe because it is stored in the London Wine Tunnels where it is fully insured.

There is no such company as the London Wine Tunnels, but there is a genuine storage company called simply The Wine Tunnels, with facilities in Kent and Wiltshire. Could this be it?

Definitely not, according to its director Sarah Labat.

She told me: 'We can 100 per cent confirm Hoffman Chase are not a client of ours. We have never spoken or had any contact with them, and they are not a company we have previously heard of in the wine and spirits UK market.'

And if investors' cognac is safely stored and insured, how does this explain the curious statement Hoffman Chase displays on a separate website at cognacinvestment.com?

It warns no one should invest 'unless you are prepared for the possibility of losing all invested funds'. What could go so badly wrong investors would lose every penny?

I put this question and others to Hoffman Chase's sole director. She is Thea Hoffman, from Brighton, and I asked where she acquired her expertise in cognac investment as the only background I found showed she worked for a local estate agent.

I also asked about the fake reviews, some of which are copied word for word from elsewhere. Until she took over and changed its name, her company was called Apex Gallery and was owned by art dealer Ryan Marsh. The Hoffman Chase website selling cognac did not even exist.

Hoffman replied: 'This is extremely confusing. I will review your points and respond back shortly.' But she failed to answer any questions about her cognac, its storage, insurance, or her knowledge of the business.

Bizarrely, her only response has been to blame unknown people who she says have chosen to place fake reviews on Trustpilot. She told me: 'It certainly seems some have not been genuinely left. We have reported numerous unrecognised reviews ourselves and as you can see, they have been removed.'

Its website boasts: 'At Hoffman and Chase, transparency is the bedrock of our philosophy.' But only until someone asks awkward questions, it seems. This cognac scheme leaves a very sour taste.

WE'RE WATCHING YOU Two weeks ago I reported that cannabis investment company Orange River Capital had failed to pay a promised dividend to investors who had bought preference shares. The shares have been marketed since 2022, with a fixed dividend of 15 per cent, but they give investors no say in the running of the company, controlled by its sole director Lee Farbrace. I warned two years ago the share offer document was riddled with falsehoods. Farbrace has filed no accounts since those for 2021, which is an offence. Investors have been told their money was used to buy a minority stake in Greengrow Capital, a South African company said to operate a medicinal cannabis plantation. Missing money: Cannabis investment company Orange River Capital has failed to pay a promised dividend to investors Now, in a statement to his investors, Farbrace has blamed his partners in South Africa for his own failure to pay investors, saying they put too much effort into research. He told shareholders: 'The undesired effect of seeking scientific breakthrough above profitability is that Greengrow has not commercially produced revenue to meet a distribution to Orange River Capital, and therefore ORC is unable to pay its 2023 dividend.' No accounts have been issued for Greengrow. Farbrace's solution is to ask investors for more money. He is offering the same fixed dividend preference shares to raise a fresh US$1.2 million to support new management in South Africa, he claims. He emphasises ORC owns 49 per cent of Greengrow, but with no accounts for either, it is impossible to answer the question: 49 per cent of what?

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Stroll through any major UK city and check out what everyone's wearing  you may feel you've been transported back to the 90s.

That's when Hollywood stars were Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt; Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders were on TV in AbFab; and we were listening to Madonna and the Spice Girls.

And what were we wearing? Slip dresses, cargo trousers, slingback heels and combat boots which are all now back in fashion. Those clothes in your wardrobe you've thought little of for the past three decades  now called vintage 90s wear  could actually make you some money as fashion fans devour them in charity shops and online.

Stars and stripes: Clockwise from left, Italian brand Moschino is loved for its bold colours; the 'Diana' Dior handbag; and a pair of floral Dr Martens are all from the 90s

Susie Nelson, of vintage boutique Modes & More in Westminster, says: 'Gen Z and Millennials can't remember the 90s but this resurgence in fashion from the decade means they can incorporate these past styles into their contemporary wardrobe.'

And this longing for 90s designer fashion from Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier to Armani and Yves Saint Laurent could boost your bank account by several hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, experts say.

Elena Jackson, of Ewbank's Auctions, says: 'Look at what real people are wearing on city streets. There are rainbows of savvy fashionistas sporting their own perceptions of what is in vogue in places like London, Bristol and Manchester.'

For a free valuation of 90s gear, try auction houses such as Lawrences Auctioneers in Somerset and Buckinghamshire-based Bourne End Auction Rooms.

Cash in your old clothes

If you still need some inspiration to start rootling around in your wardrobe, four months ago a red Yves Saint Laurent mac sold at Ewbank's Auctions, in Surrey, for 485 after an estimate of 150.

The Italian brand synonymous with the 90s is Moschino, much loved for its funky designs and bold colours. Now, a 1992 duvet jacket with patchwork colours and patterns is going for 715 on online marketplace Etsy. The design is much like the quilted fast fashion coats now sported by Gen Z, so a vintage original will make a tidy sum online.

Chic: Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders

But if bold colours were never your style, Moschino's tamer tailored pieces also prove popular. A black double-breasted jacket sells for 1,033 on e-commerce site 1stDibs  not a bad return on an old blazer you've forgotten about.

Also on 1stDibs is a Jean Paul Gaultier wraparound cashmere coat, at 1,938. An Yves Saint Laurent black short jacket sells for 545 online at London-based vintage clothing store Circa Vintage.

Vintage pieces from Armani will also be a hit with younger dressers. An early 90s woven crepe jacket with a ruched waist is going for 175; a pair of brown pointed Armani kitten heels for 96; and a black Moschino slip dress for 155 on online marketplace Etsy.

Well-heeled shoes fly

Young fashionistas also have shoes high on their wanted list.

Chanel has always been synonymous with understated chic but its leather combat boots from the 1992-93 Autumn/Winter collection are right on trend  and a knee-high pair sold for 2,200 in Kerry Taylor Auctions in Bermondsey.

Staple 90s footwear Dr Martens is still trendy but vintage Docs are hot property. A pair of 90s floral boots are one of the better designs you could find tucked away, according to Lynnette Hecker, who runs Lovely's Vintage Emporium, based in Bath.

Some boots with floral prints go for more than 100 on reselling websites such as Depop and Vinted as young fashionistas race to find a pair that has a history. Not a bad return when a pair of Docs cost 45 in the 90s, according to independent shoe shop A.G. Meek.

Most 90s pairs of Doc Martens prove popular on reselling websites, so if there's an old pair you've forgotten about, it's worth digging them out. And don't forget, says Lynnette, all shoes will fetch a higher price if in their original box.

Handbags are hot

Handbags are some of the most lucrative 90s pieces you could find tucked away, according to Ms Jackson. She says: 'I can't express this enough. Use them and love them but look after handbags  keep all the receipts and original boxes. Plus, handbags fit everyone, so size is not a restricting factor for keeping them as with clothing.'

Princess Diana with her Dior handbag at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London in 1996

One of the most sought after is the dinky black quilted Lady Dior Lambskin handbag by Christian Dior. Made popular by Princess Diana, it also comes in hot pink and red. While Dior still sells the bag for around 5,000, pre-loved bags in pristine condition hold their value well. One sold last October at Ewbank's Auctions for 1,560, including fees  hundreds more than its estimate. Online sites such as bella-ling.com sell them for around 2,950.

Even high-street bags from trendy brands like Kookai, Accessorize and GAP will sell for 30 to 40 on sites like Depop.

High-street favourites

Upmarket high-street brands such as Red or Dead, Evisu or Morgan are regulars on second-hand clothing sites like Vinted or Depop.

A North Face Nuptse 1996 jacket is the perfect retro-inspired puffer

Ms Hecker says: 'High-street items have held their value as much as high fashion. It's all about quality as they will always sell even if they're more than 20 years old.'

She believes a puffer jacket from high-street label The North Face is a hidden gem. That's because the brand now runs a line  Nuptse 1996  inspired by the retro jacket. One of these new puffer jackets sells for 315 but any vintage The North Face coat could pocket you 200.

St Michael is collectable!

If you were around in the 90s (and earlier) you might remember Marks & Spencer's old brand St Michael as staid and rather old-fashioned but it is being snaffled up by Gen Z.

St Michael clothes are back in fashion as their popularity with Gen Z has risen

While selling these items won't net you big bucks, Emily London, a vintage fashion expert who runs a self-titled website, believes they will appreciate in value with their continued popularity.

St Michael clothes have the production year on the clothing label so it is easy to spot if you have a 90s vintage. Emily also cites Wallis to rise in value. She says: 'The quality of 90s Wallis coats is hard to beat. Oversize tailoring, languid silhouettes and subtle finishing details makes items easy to wear with modern pieces.'

How to really clean up...

Clothes are made to be worn so some wear and tear is natural. But to optimise their value, ensure they are laundered  invest in a steamer for as little as 25 from Argos and check all seams and buttons.
A court-appointed psychologist who fixated on whether the nickname Sleepy Melo meant a father was a gang member unfit to parent his children turned in a child custody recommendation so flawed that a magistrate barred the psychologist in November from ever working again for his judicial district covering six counties in northeast Colorado.

The father in that case struggled for about five months to get his two sons and daughter  then ages 12, 9 and 10  returned to his home in Sterling after the psychologist warned he posed an imminent, violent threat. Based on the psychologists warning, the mother was allowed to move the children to live with her in California, even though she had abandoned them for four years, was now living with a felon and had been involved with her family in California in a recent violent hostage situation.

When the father, Steve Ramirez, finally had his day in court, he persuaded the magistrate to order the children returned to his care in Colorado. The magistrate found the psychologist, Shannon McShane, had improperly impugned a loving, caring and protective father through an investigation the magistrate described as lopsided and marred by bias, innuendo and false statements.

The magistrate then reported McShane on Nov. 18 to the Colorado State Court Administrators Office for violating professional court practice standards.

Instead of taking prompt action, state court administrative officials allowed McShane to continue making disputed court-appointed child custody recommendations in up to 20 cases in other Colorado judicial districts for four more months before finally barring her from doing such work.

McShane is just the latest parenting evaluator to stir controversy, as critics contend state court officials and licensing regulators have moved slowly to address bias and shoddy work in the industry, an ongoing investigative series by The Gazette has found. Criticism grew so pronounced that state lawmakers two years ago passed legislation requiring new domestic-violence training for parenting evaluators, whose custody recommendations can hold tremendous influence with judges, while costing parents tens of thousands of dollars, per case.

While state judicial officials delayed taking action against McShane, she continued causing controversy, including saying another father was worse than murderers she claimed to have counseled. In that case, she pushed to reverse restrictions on an Aurora mothers parenting time a judge had imposed after ruling the mother could only see the children while supervised.

The judge had found the supervision necessary, because the mother had bitten her 3-year-old sons hand, dislocated his shoulder, punched her 6-year-old son, and threatened her ex-husband with a meat cleaver, records show. The judge also noted in his ruling that a doorbell video caught the mother punching her ex-husband and hurling large rocks at him when he had done nothing to provoke such an attack.

The state court administrators office did not remove McShane from the statewide eligibility rosters for parenting evaluators and child and family investigators until March 21. And officials in that office, who declined requests for comment, only acted after receiving a new complaint from a lawyer in an Arapahoe County custody case alleging that McShane had falsified her credentials, exhibited extreme bias, impersonated state regulators  as well as U.S. embassy employees in Tanzania  and submitted perjurious documents to the court.

On July 20, McShane surrendered her state licenses required to work in Colorado as a psychologist and an addiction counselor. She worked as a psychologist candidate at the Colorado Department of Corrections from January 2018 to February 2021, with a final annual salary there of $84,468. She also worked as a psychologist at the state hospital in Pueblo for the criminally insane from January 2018 to June 2023, with a final annual salary there of $97,224.

Records show officials at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies began investigating McShane for complaints they received on Feb. 1 and March 31 from separate parents who encountered McShane during her custody evaluations. The licensing boards for those professions suspended her licenses on June 9.

The licensing suspension notice states that an investigation found that McShane had submitted fraudulent documents to obtain her state licenses, had omitted information regarding past professional discipline from her application to become licensed, and had engaged in substandard care and practiced outside the scope of her training or expertise.

One parent alleged to the regulators that McShane appeared to have faked receiving a doctoral degree from the University of Hertfordshire in England and was telling people that she has a license to lie. Colorado law requires a doctorate to practice psychology in Colorado.

The second parent alleged to the regulators that McShane had provided a deficient parenting evaluation in that parents custody case.

McShane, in an email to The Gazette, claimed she attended the university under a former legal name and was unwilling to disclose that in order to protect people.

I negotiated with DORA as was my right, to bring this to a close, she said.

In addition, authorities in Texas in 2018 revoked McShanes real estate license and fined her $42,000 for pocketing rental money from properties she was managing instead of forwarding the rent on to property owners. She said the Texas real estate license revocation occurred because state officials there had not alerted her that she was under investigation, and she did not have a chance to respond.

McShane in her email defended her court-appointed work and said the custody evaluation process is an adversarial one, and there are winners and losers. People seem to forget that aspect.

In recent years, parenting evaluators in Colorado have faced sanctions for everything from failing to disclose conflicts of interest to questioning whether a woman was an unfit mother because she might have complained to co-workers about the penis size of her husband she was divorcing.

Five months ago, a lawsuit seeking class-action status for up to 60 parents alleged Mark Kilmer, another Boulder parenting evaluator appointed by his own estimate to about 650 custody cases, favored abusive parents. Kilmer continued doing court-appointed parenting evaluations even after the state court administrators office barred him from accepting new court appointments, records show.

Parents say state judicial officials never told them or the judges overseeing custody cases that they had stricken Kilmer from statewide eligibility rosters for court appointments, allowing him to continue working on custody cases judges already had appointed him to evaluate.

Kilmer, who pleaded guilty to a domestic assault charge and a misdemeanor domestic assault charge in 2007, was removed from the statewide rosters in February after he publicly stated he disbelieves 90% of the allegations of abuse he hears while doing parenting evaluations.

McShane has sold her house in Monument and appears to have moved to Texas, where she obtained a psychology license on March 17. In an email to the listserv for Colorado parental evaluators, McShane said she plans to continue making court-appointed custody recommendations in Texas.

While Colorado regulators and the state judicial system in Colorado moved slowly despite the sanction and report from 13th Judicial District Magistrate Matt Bradley, a father in Aurora struggled to get McShane kicked off his divorce case in Arapahoe County District Court. Records show McShane claimed in emails and in statements that Chad Kullhem was an unfit father who was worse than a murderer whom she said she treated who put his enemies through a woodchipper.

Olivia Larson, the lawyer representing Kullhem, said nobody ever told her or her client that a magistrate elsewhere had barred McShane from making custody recommendations in another judicial district.

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It would have been nice to know, Larson said, adding that families in about 20 custody cases that McShane had been working on now will have to pay for new court-appointed parenting evaluators, who often charge parents more than $15,000 per case.

Families are having to start the whole process over again, which is really a devastating thing, Larson said. There is a lot of trauma, and I think its because many of the parents do lose a lot of faith in the system. One parent said to me they feel like theyre on a treadmill and just cant get off.

McShane said in one email to the lawyers on Kullhems case that, despite the mother having a history of violence, it was the father who gave her the willies more than the murderers, predators and violent sex offenders she claimed she had counseled while working for the state Corrections Department. She added that she could not get away from the father fast enough.

The father only succeeded in getting McShane removed from his case after the lawyers in his custody case jointly filed a motion to do so because of alleged fraud and alleged falsification of her credentials. His ex-wife did not return messages seeking comment.

It really, truly feels like nobody wanted to believe or cared, Kullhem said of his struggles to get state regulators and court administration officials to take seriously his allegations that McShane was a dangerous con artist, unfit to recommend who should and should not parent a child.

I felt so incredibly devastated. She was saying things like, Im a protected court official, and things like that. All you can do is imagine youre screwed, and that its over, and you feel like its for no reason.

Kullhem said that while McShane was interviewing him for her parental evaluation, she told him she usually asks for much more money than the court had ordered him to pay her. He believes she was fishing to see if he would pay her more than the $7,500 amount the judge already had set as the amount he was supposed to pay.

I was like, Oh yeah, and then there was awkward silence, he recalled, pointing out that payments beyond what a judge has ordered arent allowed. McShane, in an interview, denied ever telling a parent she usually charges more than the amount set by a judge. She also denied ever receiving additional payments from parents beyond what a court had ordered.

McShane still has not repaid the $7,500 Kullhem paid for her parenting evaluation in his case, despite a judge on May 11 ordering her to repay the money and ordering that the lawyers not use her report in the custody case.

Kullhem said that after he filed his anonymous complaint with state regulators, McShane reached out to him pretending to be an investigator with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies to identify him and to try to persuade him to drop his complaint. Then she filed a status report with the judge overseeing his custody dispute, alleging he had targeted her for retaliation because of displeasure over her parenting evaluation.

McShane submitted to state regulators purported transcripts from the University of Hertfordshire in England, but university officials later confirmed she had not graduated from there and pointed out that the letter grades on the transcripts could not have come from the university, since teachers there do not issue letter grades, Kullhem said. An email sent to the lawyers on the custody case from an official purporting to be with the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania and stating the university was protecting McShanes identity due to regional diplomatic security issues also was fake, according to court filings.

The father said the parenting evaluation McShane submitted in his case was like a complete fantasy with talks to people that never existed and conversations with my kids that never happened.

It was just a complete lie, the whole report, he said, adding that he remains concerned about McShanes interactions with his two children, now ages 4 and 7.

Its not just the horrible report and experience that she did to me, Kullhem said. She also got to spend private time with my kids, and I dont know what she said or what she did to them, but for like weeks after she talked to them, they werent right. They were very disturbed.

Ramirez, the Sterling father who struggled to get his parenting rights restored, said his children also were weird after talking to McShane. He said McShane unfairly targeted him, which he said he was able to reveal during a hearing in November before the magistrate on his case in the 13th Judicial District. He said it took a 3-inch binder of evidence he and his lawyer compiled to dispute McShanes allegations.

McShane visited Ramirez home one Sunday in June 2022 after her court appointment to make custody recommendations in the case. Within a week of that visit, a judge ordered the children removed from their fathers care and ordered the children relocated to live with their mother in California even before McShane had written up her report. The judge acted after McShane requested an emergency hearing and after McShane reported during that hearing that the children were in imminent danger from what she described as a thuggish, brutalizing father.

Ramirez said McShane during her investigation asked him for additional money beyond the $2,000 the magistrate already had ordered him to pay for her report, saying she needed the money to adequately assess the mother. He said he refused her entreaties for additional money. McShane denied ever seeking additional money from parents beyond what a judge had ordered paid.

The mother of the children and her lawyer did not return messages seeking comment.

Five months after the removal of the children from their fathers care, Magistrate Bradley held a hearing to determine the validity of McShanes allegations that the father posed a peril to the children.

By then, McShane had submitted a 38-page report recommending that the magistrate give full custody to the mother. She further recommended that the magistrate restrict Ramirez to only seeing the children initially one weekend a month, which would require him to travel from Colorado to California. She said the magistrate should further initially disallow overnight stays with the children for the father and should only allow the father to see the children while under supervision.

After holding a hearing, the magistrate excoriated McShanes report and testimony as unbalanced and suffering from extreme confirmation bias.

Unfortunately, the court finds that Dr. McShanes investigation was so lopsided as to give the court severe concerns about its reliability, the magistrate wrote in his ruling. Over and over, Dr. McShane appears to have given every benefit of the doubt to facts that support mother while making every inference against the father. The court finds the report and investigation to be so lacking as to be nearly worthless.

The magistrate found that McShane had probed extensively whether the father was a gang member, when he was not. She had gone as far as to report that the father would allow one of his sons to only wear school clothes that she suspected were the fathers gang colors. In reality, photos showed the child attending school in all sorts of different-colored clothing, and teachers gave glowing reports about the children's performance in school, the magistrate noted.

In contrast, McShane did not investigate the mothers current husband who, at least one point in his life, actually had been affiliated with a gang and might still have gang ties, according to Bradleys ruling. In addition, the mothers son from another relationship had been kidnapped in California recently in what the magistrate said was a situation that suggested a high likelihood of gang involvement. The magistrate wrote that he disbelieved McShanes portrayal of the Colorado father as a violent abuser, writing that her report deviated from the weight of the evidence.

McShane incorrectly reported that the fathers home was dark and insufficient for the children because it only had two bedrooms, when evidence showed the home was not dark and the mothers apartment also only had two bedrooms, the magistrate wrote in the ruling. McShane said the father routinely locked the children in a single room and only allowed them to emerge to eat meals, but the magistrate said neighbors of the father showed that was not true when they testified their children often played with Ramirez children, who had no fear of their father.

Ramirez said McShanes accusations were stressful, and that he spent $20,000 on legal fees fighting to get his children returned to him. He said his new wife feared child-protective workers might also remove their 2-year-old daughter, based on McShanes biased report. The new wife wondered whether she would have to temporarily move out of the home with their daughter, because McShane warned her against letting Ramirez raise their daughter.

In my head, I was never going to see my kids again; at least, not in the sense to how life was before, you know, Ramirez said. I take my kids fishing, you know. We ride bikes. We have a normal, quiet life, and because of that lady that walked into our life, I was not going to be a dad anymore.
Russia has spent almost 2 billion building a 'dark fleet' of tankers that skirt sanctions to ship banned oil around the world, according to a top official.

The scale of the sanctions-swerving, which experts say involves up to 1,800 vessels whose ownership is opaque, is revealed on the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine that sparked international curbs on Russian trade.

But western sanctions  including a $60 cap on a barrel of Russian oil  have been criticised for being ineffective and failing to stop the flow of cash fuelling Russia's war machine.

'Dark fleet': The scale of the sanctions-swerving, which experts say involves up to 1,800 vessels whose ownership is opaque, is revealed

The price cap  well below the market rate of $80 a barrel  was designed to limit the Kremlin's huge revenues from oil exports without causing another spike in global energy costs. But Russia is still exporting as much oil now as it was two years ago.

It has got round the sanctions by creating a parallel shipping structure that transports Russian oil using complex routes.

The shadow fleet is believed to have a large number of vessels older than 15 years  the age at which mainstream oil companies would typically retire them due to wear and tear.

'They would otherwise have gone for scrap,' said Mike Salthouse, of marine insurer NorthStandard.

The size of this parallel fleet has 'grown significantly', added Olga Dimitrescu of the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).

'But that comes at a significant cost to Russia,' which she put at nearly 2 billion. That's $2.25 billion that's spent by the Putin regime on tankers not tanks,' she added.

Experts say the price cap hasn't worked because it has incentivised black market trading in Russian oil.

Former spy Christopher Steele thinks secondary sanctions have to be considered because countries like China and Turkey import cheap Russian oil, refine it and export it at 'a great profit' to the UK, he told ITV's Peston programme.

Labour MP and anti-corruption campaigner Dame Margaret Hodge has urged a tougher approach on sanctions following the suspicious death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison.

In a letter to Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, she pointed out that the UK's maritime insurance industry underwrites a third of all Russian oil that was moved by sea cargo between the implementation of sanctions and November 2023.

'Shockingly, some of this oil was sold at prices above the price cap, in clear violation of sanctions,' she said.

Cameron last week unveiled a fresh round of sanctions targeting oil traders and energy projects.
BMO Capital Markets set a C$10.00 price target on Centerra Gold (TSE:CG  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Raymond James boosted their target price on Centerra Gold from C$11.00 to C$12.00 in a research report on Friday, January 12th. CIBC dropped their price target on Centerra Gold from C$11.00 to C$9.50 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Desjardins dropped their price target on Centerra Gold from C$12.00 to C$11.75 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on Centerra Gold from C$10.00 to C$9.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. Finally, National Bank Financial restated an outperform spec overweight rating on shares of Centerra Gold in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of C$9.96.

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Centerra Gold Stock Down 1.1 %

Centerra Gold Dividend Announcement

Shares of Centerra Gold stock opened at C$6.88 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is C$7.36 and its 200-day moving average is C$7.43. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.48 billion, a PE ratio of -7.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a quick ratio of 3.24, a current ratio of 3.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Centerra Gold has a 12-month low of C$6.07 and a 12-month high of C$10.28.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 12th. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.07%. Centerra Golds dividend payout ratio is presently -28.57%.

About Centerra Gold

(Get Free Report)

Centerra Gold Inc, a gold mining company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of gold and copper properties in North America, Turkey, and internationally. The company explores for gold, copper, and molybdenum deposits. Its flagship projects include the 100% owned Mount Milligan gold-copper mine located in British Columbia, Canada; and the Oksut Gold Mine located in Turkey.

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Stock analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Friday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the technology companys stock.

WidePoint Stock Up 0.2 %

NYSEAMERICAN:WYY opened at $2.85 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $25.16 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.14 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $1.86. WidePoint has a 1-year low of $1.60 and a 1-year high of $3.49.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On WidePoint

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in WYY. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of WidePoint in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. UBS Group AG purchased a new stake in WidePoint during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Citadel Advisors LLC increased its stake in WidePoint by 121.1% during the 3rd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 13,577 shares of the technology companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 7,437 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in WidePoint during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in WidePoint by 27.5% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 43,483 shares of the technology companys stock worth $79,000 after buying an additional 9,377 shares during the period. 10.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

WidePoint Company Profile

WidePoint Corporation provides technology management as a service (TMaaS) to the government and business enterprises in North America and Europe. The company offers TMaaS solutions through a secure federal government certified proprietary portal and secure enterprise portal that provides ability to manage, analyze, and protect communications assets, as well as deploy identity management solutions that provide secured virtual and physical access to restricted environments.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Thursday morning.

Separately, TheStreet raised shares of Delta Air Lines from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $55.54.

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Delta Air Lines Stock Performance

Shares of DAL opened at $41.72 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $26.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.83, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The businesss 50 day moving average is $40.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.56. Delta Air Lines has a 52-week low of $30.60 and a 52-week high of $49.81.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The transportation company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $14.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.55 billion. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 7.94% and a return on equity of 46.35%. The firms revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. Analysts forecast that Delta Air Lines will post 6.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Delta Air Lines Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be given a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.96%. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.59%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 71,840 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.20, for a total value of $2,816,128.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 428,768 shares in the company, valued at $16,807,705.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.89% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Delta Air Lines

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 68,234,306 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,700,032,000 after acquiring an additional 1,267,578 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors boosted its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 26,563,427 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,262,825,000 after purchasing an additional 995,107 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in Delta Air Lines by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 22,150,815 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,053,050,000 after purchasing an additional 498,172 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors raised its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 8.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 20,936,699 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $842,283,000 after buying an additional 1,689,053 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 2.5% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,493,033 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $640,323,000 after acquiring an additional 324,229 shares during the period. 71.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Delta Air Lines

(Get Free Report)

Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo.

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Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new stake in Huntsman Co. (NYSE:HUN  Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor bought 118,412 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $2,889,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in 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 last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Huntsman in the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,780,000. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. boosted 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 buying an additional 772,430 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted 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 buying an additional 486,885 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP purchased a new position in shares of Huntsman in the 4th quarter worth approximately $11,043,000. 83.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Huntsman Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of HUN stock opened at $26.13 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $24.51 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $24.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.88 and a quick ratio of 1.14. Huntsman Co. has a 1 year low of $22.14 and a 1 year high of $30.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.30 and a beta of 1.13.

Huntsman Increases Dividend

Huntsman ( NYSE:HUN Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported ($0.21) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.14) by ($0.07). Huntsman had a net margin of 1.65% and a return on equity of 1.88%. The business had revenue of $1.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.33 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.04 EPS. The companys revenue was down 15.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Huntsman Co. will post 0.88 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This is a boost from Huntsmans previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.83%. Huntsmans payout ratio is presently 179.25%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on HUN shares. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Huntsman from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Huntsman from $25.00 to $22.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $28.00 target price on shares of Huntsman in a research note on Monday, December 11th. UBS Group cut their target price on Huntsman from $25.00 to $24.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on Huntsman from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $26.40.

View Our Latest Research Report on Huntsman

Huntsman Company Profile

(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.

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Mariner LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IMTM  Free Report) by 9.4% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 261,277 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 22,488 shares during the period. Mariner LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF were worth $8,225,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Element Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF by 60.9% in the 2nd quarter. Element Wealth LLC now owns 1,118 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 423 shares during the last quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF by 5.8% in the 2nd quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 7,827 shares of the companys stock worth $260,000 after buying an additional 426 shares during the last quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 12,377 shares of the companys stock worth $390,000 after buying an additional 466 shares during the last quarter. MorganRosel Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. MorganRosel Wealth Management LLC now owns 49,572 shares of the companys stock worth $1,646,000 after buying an additional 624 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 16,391 shares of the companys stock worth $528,000 after buying an additional 705 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF Stock Performance

iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF stock opened at $37.25 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $34.99 and its 200-day moving average is $33.24. iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF has a 1 year low of $29.99 and a 1 year high of $37.32. The company has a market cap of $1.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.82 and a beta of 0.78.

About iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI Intl Momentum Factor ETF (IMTM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI World ex USA Momentum index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap stocks from developed countries, ex-US. The momentum-selected stocks are weighted by market cap and momentum. IMTM was launched on Jan 13, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Dolly Varden Silver Co. (CVE:DV  Get Free Report) fell 1.4% on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$0.68 and last traded at C$0.69. 46,143 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 279,501 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.70.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Raymond James lifted their price objective on Dolly Varden Silver from C$1.00 to C$1.10 in a research note on Friday, January 12th.

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Dolly Varden Silver Trading Down 1.4 %

The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$0.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$0.75. The company has a market cap of C$186.35 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.90 and a beta of 1.44.

Dolly Varden Silver (CVE:DV  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, November 27th. The company reported C($0.05) EPS for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Dolly Varden Silver Co. will post 0.0100319 EPS for the current year.

Dolly Varden Silver Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dolly Varden Silver Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper deposits. It holds 100% interests in the Kitsault Valley project, which comprises the Dolly Varden property and the Homestake Ridge property covering an area of 163 square kilometers located in Golden Triangle of British Columbia, Canada; and the Big Bulk property located in Canada.

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Eagle Asset Management Inc. reduced its position in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK  Free Report) by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 110,236 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 5,001 shares during the period. Eagle Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $9,729,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of DUK. CKW Financial Group acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,000. 63.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DUK opened at $92.73 on Friday. Duke Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $83.06 and a twelve month high of $100.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The company has a market capitalization of $71.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.48. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $95.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $92.33.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

Duke Energy ( NYSE:DUK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.02). Duke Energy had a net margin of 9.78% and a return on equity of 8.93%. The firm had revenue of $7.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.11 earnings per share. Duke Energys revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.97 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th will be paid a dividend of $1.025 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $4.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.42%. Duke Energys payout ratio is currently 115.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Louis E. Renjel sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.57, for a total transaction of $277,710.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,213 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,315,697.41. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DUK has been the topic of several recent research reports. Bank of America lowered Duke Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $105.00 to $96.00 in a research report on Monday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Duke Energy from $101.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Evercore ISI raised Duke Energy from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $90.00 to $108.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com raised Duke Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Duke Energy from $103.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $100.00.

View Our Latest Stock Report on DUK

Duke Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind sources, renewables, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity.

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Eagle Asset Management Inc. lessened its stake in shares of CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA  Free Report) by 13.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 251,631 shares of the companys stock after selling 40,242 shares during the period. Eagle Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.22% of CAVA Group worth $7,707,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Glassman Wealth Services bought a new position in CAVA Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in CAVA Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in CAVA Group by 190.0% during the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 870 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in CAVA Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in CAVA Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Institutional investors own 61.83% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

CAVA has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on CAVA Group from $54.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Argus assumed coverage on CAVA Group in a research note on Monday, January 29th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Wedbush upgraded CAVA Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the stock from $35.00 to $48.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. TD Cowen assumed coverage on CAVA Group in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $46.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on CAVA Group from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $48.60.

CAVA Group Trading Up 2.0 %

NYSE CAVA opened at $51.00 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $46.55 and its 200 day moving average is $39.77. CAVA Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $29.05 and a fifty-two week high of $58.10.

CAVA Group Company Profile

(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.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its position in YPF Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:YPF  Free Report) by 6.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 883,850 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 50,173 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. owned 0.22% of YPF Sociedad Anonima worth $10,827,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in YPF Sociedad Anonima by 260.4% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 313,202 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $1,513,000 after acquiring an additional 226,287 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its stake in YPF Sociedad Anonima by 31.0% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 55,621 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $269,000 after acquiring an additional 13,170 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its stake in YPF Sociedad Anonima by 40.1% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 46,841 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $240,000 after acquiring an additional 13,400 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in YPF Sociedad Anonima by 359.9% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 79,111 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $382,000 after acquiring an additional 61,911 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Markets Corp acquired a new position in YPF Sociedad Anonima in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,543,000. 10.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

YPF has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group upgraded YPF Sociedad Anonima from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $18.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded YPF Sociedad Anonima from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $8.50 to $16.00 in a research report on Monday, December 4th. StockNews.com downgraded YPF Sociedad Anonima from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Citigroup upgraded YPF Sociedad Anonima from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $20.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded YPF Sociedad Anonima from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $8.50 to $17.10 in a research report on Monday, November 27th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, YPF Sociedad Anonima has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $18.92.

YPF Sociedad Anonima Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:YPF opened at $18.04 on Friday. YPF Sociedad Anonima has a 12 month low of $8.73 and a 12 month high of $18.82. The stock has a market cap of $7.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.97 and a beta of 1.89. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $16.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $14.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.63.

YPF Sociedad Anonima Company Profile

(Free Report)

YPF Sociedad Anonima, an energy company, engages in the oil and gas upstream and downstream activities in Argentina. Its upstream operations include the exploration, exploitation, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. The company's downstream operations include the refining, marketing, and distribution of oil and petroleum products, as well as petroleum derivatives, such as petrochemicals, hydrocarbons, non-fossil fuels, biofuels, and related components; and production of hydrocarbons electric power.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lessened its position in shares of Primo Water Co. (NYSE:PRMW  Free Report) by 9.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 743,200 shares of the companys stock after selling 79,700 shares during the quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Primo Water were worth $10,264,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Primo Water by 24.7% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,600,023 shares of the companys stock worth $145,580,000 after purchasing an additional 2,296,515 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in Primo Water by 9.8% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 11,581,085 shares of the companys stock worth $165,030,000 after purchasing an additional 1,031,066 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Primo Water by 4.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,977,201 shares of the companys stock worth $137,764,000 after purchasing an additional 470,410 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Primo Water by 3.2% during the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 8,885,512 shares of the companys stock worth $111,424,000 after purchasing an additional 278,524 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Primo Water by 3.3% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 5,466,541 shares of the companys stock worth $83,911,000 after purchasing an additional 176,290 shares during the last quarter. 83.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on PRMW. StockNews.com cut Primo Water from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, February 18th. CIBC raised Primo Water from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the stock from $17.50 to $20.00 in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. TD Securities dropped their price target on Primo Water from $26.00 to $23.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Primo Water from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, TheStreet raised Primo Water from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $19.50.

Primo Water Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PRMW opened at $15.75 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $2.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. Primo Water Co. has a 52 week low of $12.27 and a 52 week high of $15.94. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $14.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.58.

Primo Water Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. This is an increase from Primo Waters previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Primo Waters payout ratio is currently 21.48%.

Primo Water Profile

(Free Report)

Primo Water Corporation provides pure-play water solutions for residential and commercial customers. It offers bottled water, water dispensers, purified bottled water, self-service refill drinking water, premium spring, mineral water, sparkling and flavored water, filtration equipment, and coffee. The company offers its products under the Primo, Alhambra, Crystal Rock, Mountain Valley, Deep Rock, Hinckley Springs, Crystal Springs, Kentwood Springs, Mount Olympus, Pureflo, Sierra Springs, Sparkletts, and Renu brands in the United States; Canadian Springs, Labrador Source, and Amazon Springs brands in Canada; and Decantae, Eden, Eden Springs, Chateaud'eau, and Mey Eden brands in Europe and Israel.

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Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND  Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.07, Briefing.com reports. Floor & Decor had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.61%. The firm had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.01 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.64 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .0% on a year-over-year basis. Floor & Decor updated its FY24 guidance to $1.75 to $2.05 EPS and its FY 2024 guidance to 1.750-2.050 EPS.

Floor & Decor Stock Up 3.2 %

FND opened at $117.11 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. Floor & Decor has a 1-year low of $76.30 and a 1-year high of $117.89. The company has a market capitalization of $12.48 billion, a PE ratio of 51.59, a PEG ratio of 5.03 and a beta of 1.83. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $108.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $97.62.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on FND shares. Stifel Nicolaus cut shares of Floor & Decor from a buy rating to a hold rating and increased their price target for the company from $95.00 to $115.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Floor & Decor from $110.00 to $112.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Friday. Sanford C. Bernstein cut shares of Floor & Decor from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and increased their price target for the company from $100.00 to $115.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Floor & Decor from $66.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group increased their price objective on shares of Floor & Decor from $95.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $101.83.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP David Victor Christopherson sold 19,634 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.50, for a total transaction of $2,248,093.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,552 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,185,204. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Floor & Decor

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FND. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Floor & Decor during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Stephens Inc. AR grew its stake in Floor & Decor by 72.5% during the first quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 545 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in Floor & Decor during the first quarter valued at $57,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. purchased a new position in Floor & Decor during the second quarter valued at $58,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its stake in Floor & Decor by 168.4% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 730 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 458 shares in the last quarter.

About Floor & Decor

(Get Free Report)

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools.

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Natixis Advisors L.P. lessened its stake in The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB  Free Report) by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,013,248 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 61,072 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P.s holdings in Williams Companies were worth $34,136,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new position in Williams Companies in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Missouri Trust & Investment Co increased its position in shares of Williams Companies by 300.0% during the second quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 800 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the period. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Williams Companies in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Steward Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Williams Companies in the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, HWG Holdings LP acquired a new stake in Williams Companies during the third quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors own 85.76% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on WMB shares. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Williams Companies from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Williams Companies has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $37.00.

Williams Companies Price Performance

NYSE:WMB opened at $34.94 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57. The firm has a market cap of $42.51 billion, a PE ratio of 13.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.57 and a beta of 1.04. The Williams Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $27.80 and a 12 month high of $37.45. The companys 50-day moving average price is $34.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.80.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.01. Williams Companies had a net margin of 29.22% and a return on equity of 16.20%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.53 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that The Williams Companies, Inc. will post 1.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Williams Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a $0.475 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.44%. This is a positive change from Williams Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Williams Companiess payout ratio is currently 68.32%.

Williams Companies Profile

(Free Report)

The Williams Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company primarily in the United States. It operates through Transmission & Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, West, and Gas & NGL Marketing Services segments. The Transmission & Gulf of Mexico segment comprises Transco and Northwest natural gas pipelines; and natural gas gathering and processing, and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region, as well as various petrochemical and feedstock pipelines.

Further Reading

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Natixis Advisors L.P. grew its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 7.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 282,792 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 20,540 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P.s holdings in EOG Resources were worth $35,847,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Covestor Ltd grew its position in EOG Resources by 7.2% during the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,215 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $154,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the period. Waycross Partners LLC purchased a new position in EOG Resources in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $963,000. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in EOG Resources during the third quarter worth $683,000. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 9.0% in the third quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 83,218 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $10,549,000 after purchasing an additional 6,862 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Personal CFO Solutions LLC grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 7.9% in the third quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 4,393 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $557,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. 89.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on EOG. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of EOG Resources from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $150.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Truist Financial increased their target price on EOG Resources from $165.00 to $169.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 6th. TD Securities cut their price target on EOG Resources from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered EOG Resources from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $156.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, Mizuho cut their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $150.00 to $138.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Ten 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 companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $142.60.

EOG Resources Stock Down 3.9 %

Shares of NYSE EOG opened at $111.86 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $65.23 billion, a PE ratio of 8.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a quick ratio of 2.10, a current ratio of 2.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $115.89 and a 200-day moving average of $122.97. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 52-week low of $98.52 and a 52-week high of $136.79.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The energy exploration company reported $3.07 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.14 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $6.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.18 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 31.40% and a return on equity of 25.77%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.30 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 12.04 EPS for the current year.

EOG Resources Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 16th will be paid a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 15th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.25%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.98%.

About EOG Resources

(Free Report)

EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company.

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 776 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $251,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Cambridge Trust Co. lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 82.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 91 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 69.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE GS opened at $391.05 on Friday. 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, Inc. has a 52 week low of $289.36 and a 52 week high of $396.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $127.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.14, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.43. The stocks fifty day moving average is $383.21 and its 200 day moving average is $346.93.

The Goldman Sachs Group Announces Dividend

The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $1.86. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 7.82% and a net margin of 7.85%. The company had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.80 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.32 earnings per share. The Goldman Sachs Groups revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 48.20%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on GS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted 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. UBS Group upped their price objective 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. Barclays upped their price objective 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. Morgan Stanley upgraded The Goldman Sachs Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $333.00 to $449.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $440.00 price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $409.93.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on GS

Insider Buying and Selling at The Goldman Sachs Group

In other news, CAO Sheara J. Fredman sold 4,300 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 11,463 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,357,659.45. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, insider Kathryn H. Ruemmler sold 7,277 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $379.81, for a total transaction of $2,763,877.37. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,469,144.81. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Sheara J. Fredman sold 4,300 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 11,463 shares in the company, valued at $4,357,659.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 14,734 shares of company stock worth $5,529,824 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

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.

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John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (NYSEARCA:JHMB  Get Free Report) was up 0.6% on Friday . The company traded as high as $21.48 and last traded at $21.48. Approximately 1 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 100% from the average daily volume of 5,700 shares. The stock had previously closed at $21.35.

John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF Stock Performance

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $21.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $21.18.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JHMB. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $461,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. bought a new position in shares of John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $67,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its position in shares of John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF by 43.9% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 1,943,493 shares of the companys stock worth $42,347,000 after purchasing an additional 593,356 shares during the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF during the 4th quarter worth $307,000. Finally, Fidelity D & D Bancorp Inc. raised its stake in John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF by 12.3% during the 4th quarter. Fidelity D & D Bancorp Inc. now owns 124,875 shares of the companys stock worth $2,721,000 after buying an additional 13,635 shares during the period.

John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF Company Profile

The John Hancock Mortgage Backed Securities ETF (JHMB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg U.S. MBS index. The fund is actively managed and primarily invests in investment grade mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government and private entities with no specific limit to maturity.

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Awakn Life Sciences Corp. (OTCMKTS:AWKNF  Get Free Report) was up 10% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $0.11 and last traded at $0.11. Approximately 6,150 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average daily volume of 27,178 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.10.

Awakn Life Sciences Trading Up 10.0 %

The company has a fifty day moving average price of $0.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $0.14.

About Awakn Life Sciences

(Get Free Report)

Awakn Life Sciences Corp., a biotechnology company, engages in the researching, developing, operations, and delivering of psychedelic therapeutics to treat addiction and other mental health conditions in the United Kingdom and Europe. The company has a collaboration agreement with the University of Exeter for exploring the use of ketamine-assisted therapy to treat Severe AUD.

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The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC (LON:ESCT  Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 13.4% on Friday . The company traded as low as GBX 161.50 ($2.03) and last traded at GBX 163 ($2.05). 321,924 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 35% from the average session volume of 492,660 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 188.15 ($2.37).

The European Smaller Companies Trust Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.73. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 159.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 152.47. The stock has a market capitalization of 652.52 million, a P/E ratio of 626.92 and a beta of 1.29.

The European Smaller Companies Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

TR European Growth Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Henderson Investment Funds Limited. It is co-managed by Henderson Global Investors Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Europe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its position in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Free Report) by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,446 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trusts holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $526,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MS. RVW Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley in the third quarter worth $27,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc lifted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 77.3% in the third quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 328 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley in the third quarter worth $28,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 810.8% in the third quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 337 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, West Branch Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley in the second quarter worth $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.09% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Raja Akram sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.56, for a total value of $584,920.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 97,634 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,158,297.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, Chairman James P. Gorman sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.93, for a total transaction of $4,396,500.00. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 400,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,172,000. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Raja Akram sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.56, for a total transaction of $584,920.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 97,634 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,158,297.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 208,155 shares of company stock worth $18,149,314. 0.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Morgan Stanley from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. HSBC downgraded shares of Morgan Stanley from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $96.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $106.00 to $107.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $85.00 price target on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Morgan Stanley presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $94.56.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MS

Morgan Stanley Stock Performance

MS stock opened at $86.55 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $142.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.74, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.44. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $88.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $83.62. Morgan Stanley has a one year low of $69.42 and a one year high of $99.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.70, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.13 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $12.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.77 billion. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 9.49% and a return on equity of 10.33%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.31 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will post 6.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 31st were given a $0.85 dividend. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.93%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 30th. Morgan Stanleys payout ratio is currently 65.76%.

Morgan Stanley Company Profile

(Free Report)

Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments.

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LPL Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY  Free Report) by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 209,986 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 12,310 shares during the quarter. LPL Financial LLC owned 0.10% of Hershey worth $42,014,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Institutional & Family Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Hershey during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. acquired a new position in Hershey during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Costello Asset Management INC acquired a new position in Hershey during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its stake in Hershey by 121.3% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 135 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in Hershey during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.47% of the companys stock.

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Hershey Price Performance

Hershey stock opened at $193.83 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.42, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.36. The Hershey Company has a 52-week low of $178.82 and a 52-week high of $276.88. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $190.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $196.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.97.

Hershey Increases Dividend

Hershey ( NYSE:HSY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.95 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $2.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.72 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 51.79% and a net margin of 16.67%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.02 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that The Hershey Company will post 9.59 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th will be issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.83%. This is a boost from Hersheys previous quarterly dividend of $1.19. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 16th. Hersheys dividend payout ratio is presently 60.55%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 453 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.54, for a total transaction of $89,938.62. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 1,862 shares of the companys stock, valued at $369,681.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.07, for a total transaction of $273,105.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 31,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,701,704.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 453 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.54, for a total value of $89,938.62. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 1,862 shares in the company, valued at $369,681.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 5,518 shares of company stock worth $1,042,669. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho reduced their price target on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Citigroup assumed coverage on Hershey in a report on Thursday, February 1st. They set a neutral rating and a $213.00 price target on the stock. Piper Sandler cut Hershey from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $240.00 to $200.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Hershey from $185.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Hershey from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $228.33.

Check Out Our Latest Report on HSY

Hershey Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. It offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels.

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Donald Trump is doubling down on comparing his criminal indictments to the circumstances of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. Navalny died in a remote arctic prison after being jailed by Russias autocratic leader Vladimir Putin. Trump held a town hall with Fox News on Tuesday in which he suggested he also could become a political prisoner. Trump bemoaned Navalnys death, which President Joe Biden and other Western leaders have blamed on Putin. Trump then pivoted to himself, repeating his assertions that the prosecutions against him are driven by politics despite no evidence that Biden or the White House ordered them.
Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its position in shares of Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE:ELAN  Free Report) by 0.6% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 2,051,833 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 11,846 shares during the quarter. Federated Hermes Inc.s holdings in Elanco Animal Health were worth $23,063,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of ELAN. Glassman Wealth Services lifted its position in Elanco Animal Health by 444.0% during the second quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 2,644 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 2,158 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management acquired a new position in Elanco Animal Health during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its stake in Elanco Animal Health by 104.1% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 5,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 2,654 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Elanco Animal Health by 57.0% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,690 shares of the companys stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 977 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main acquired a new position in Elanco Animal Health during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $70,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.29% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on ELAN. Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of Elanco Animal Health from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Elanco Animal Health in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $17.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Elanco Animal Health from $10.00 to $12.50 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Elanco Animal Health from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $16.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of Elanco Animal Health from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $13.00 to $20.00 in a research note on Friday, January 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Elanco Animal Health presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $15.64.

Elanco Animal Health Trading Up 1.4 %

ELAN stock opened at $16.37 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a current ratio of 2.82. The firms fifty day moving average is $15.22 and its 200 day moving average is $12.62. Elanco Animal Health Incorporated has a one year low of $7.88 and a one year high of $16.56.

About Elanco Animal Health

(Free Report)

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated, an animal health company, innovates, develops, manufactures, and markets products for pets and farm animals. It offers pet health disease prevention products, such as parasiticide and vaccine products that protect pets from worms, fleas, and ticks under the Seresto, Advantage, Advantix, and Advocate brands; pet health therapeutics for pain, osteoarthritis, ear infections, cardiovascular, and dermatology indications in canines and felines under the Galliprant and Claro brands; vaccines, antibiotics, parasiticides, and other products for use in poultry and aquaculture production, as well as nutritional health products, including enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics; and a range of vaccines, antibiotics, implants, parasiticides, and other products used in ruminant and swine production under the Rumensin and Baytril brands.

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O Neil Global Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 41,858 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $7,699,000. Arista Networks accounts for 7.0% of O Neil Global Advisors Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest position.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Cambridge Trust Co. grew its position in shares of Arista Networks by 70.1% in the third quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 50,255 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $9,243,000 after purchasing an additional 20,704 shares during the period. Rheos Capital Works Inc. boosted its holdings in Arista Networks by 28.6% in the third quarter. Rheos Capital Works Inc. now owns 67,500 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $12,415,000 after acquiring an additional 15,000 shares during the last quarter. Inspire Investing LLC boosted its holdings in Arista Networks by 450.9% in the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 33,646 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $6,189,000 after acquiring an additional 27,539 shares during the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ boosted its holdings in Arista Networks by 7.8% in the third quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 58,791 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $10,814,000 after acquiring an additional 4,237 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Impax Asset Management Group plc boosted its holdings in Arista Networks by 36.7% in the second quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 6,680 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,083,000 after acquiring an additional 1,795 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.13% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ANET has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays lifted their target price on Arista Networks from $272.00 to $311.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Arista Networks in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. KeyCorp lifted their target price on Arista Networks from $232.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Melius upgraded Arista Networks from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and set a $320.00 price objective on shares of Arista Networks in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $271.38.

Insider Activity at Arista Networks

In related news, Director Yvonne Wassenaar sold 186 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.23, for a total value of $43,566.78. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 2,864 shares of the companys stock, valued at $670,834.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, Director Yvonne Wassenaar sold 186 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.23, for a total transaction of $43,566.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,864 shares of the companys stock, valued at $670,834.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jayshree Ullal sold 21,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.00, for a total value of $4,662,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,719,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $381,618,000. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 185,277 shares of company stock valued at $44,686,439 over the last three months. 18.99% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Arista Networks Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ANET traded down $1.10 during trading on Friday, hitting $267.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,788,609 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,987,539. The company has a market capitalization of $83.68 billion, a PE ratio of 40.74, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.13. Arista Networks, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $131.68 and a fifty-two week high of $292.66. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $254.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $217.41.

Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 12th. The technology company reported $2.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.38. The firm had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.53 billion. Arista Networks had a return on equity of 31.44% and a net margin of 35.62%. Arista Networkss quarterly revenue was up 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.25 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Arista Networks, Inc. will post 6.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Arista Networks Company Profile

(Free Report)

Arista Networks, Inc develops, markets, and sells cloud networking solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The company's cloud networking solutions consist of extensible operating systems, a set of network applications, as well as gigabit Ethernet switching and routing platforms.

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O ROURKE & COMPANY Inc decreased its holdings in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 14.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 16,337 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,705 shares during the quarter. O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs holdings in Bank of America were worth $447,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Buckingham Strategic Partners raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 23.7% in the 2nd quarter. Buckingham Strategic Partners now owns 54,963 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,577,000 after buying an additional 10,535 shares in the last quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC increased its position in shares of Bank of America by 104,312.4% during the 2nd quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC now owns 194,207 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,572,000 after purchasing an additional 194,021 shares in the last quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Bank of America by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 55,348 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,515,000 after purchasing an additional 4,187 shares in the last quarter. Eastern Bank increased its position in shares of Bank of America by 354.5% during the 3rd quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 119,713 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,278,000 after purchasing an additional 93,375 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of America during the 2nd quarter worth about $6,317,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.06% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Bank of America news, major shareholder Of America Corp /De/ Bank acquired 5,398 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $10.56 per share, for a total transaction of $57,002.88. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 5,398 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,002.88. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Bank of America Stock Performance

BAC stock traded up $0.31 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $33.92. 30,586,039 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 36,943,764. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $33.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $30.26. Bank of America Co. has a one year low of $24.96 and a one year high of $35.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $267.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.39.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.01. Bank of America had a net margin of 15.42% and a return on equity of 11.38%. The firm had revenue of $22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.85 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Bank of America Co. will post 3.14 EPS for the current year.

Bank of America Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.83%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Bank of America from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $32.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Odeon Capital Group lowered shares of Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $33.90 price objective on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Bank of America from $39.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of Bank of America from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and raised their target price for the company from $29.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Bank of America from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $35.53.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Bank of America

About Bank of America

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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O Dell Group LLC trimmed its position in Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (NYSEARCA:XCEM  Free Report) by 4.8% 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 21,189 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,063 shares during the quarter. O Dell Group LLC owned approximately 0.21% of Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF worth $581,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of XCEM. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF during the first quarter worth $613,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC bought a new stake in shares of Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF in the first quarter valued at about $378,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF by 43.6% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 41,146 shares of the companys stock worth $1,259,000 after purchasing an additional 12,501 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF in the first quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada acquired a new stake in shares of Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $5,074,000.

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Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA XCEM traded down $0.12 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $30.39. 127,247 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 235,899. The company has a market cap of $303.90 million, a P/E ratio of 9.95 and a beta of 0.91. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $29.77 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $28.60. Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF has a twelve month low of $25.40 and a twelve month high of $30.55.

About Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF

The Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (XCEM) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index that provides broad equity exposure to emerging markets excluding China. XCEM was launched on Sep 2, 2015 and is managed by Columbia.

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Jacobi Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA  Free Report) by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,902 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 370 shares during the quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLCs holdings in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF were worth $710,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Snowden Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 5.0% in the second quarter. Snowden Capital Advisors LLC now owns 7,431 shares of the companys stock valued at $628,000 after purchasing an additional 356 shares in the last quarter. Searcy Financial Services Inc. ADV increased its stake in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 0.3% in the third quarter. Searcy Financial Services Inc. ADV now owns 135,576 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,819,000 after acquiring an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Lincoln National Corp bought a new position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $304,000. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 23,592 shares of the companys stock worth $1,883,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the period. Finally, Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its holdings in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 37.2% in the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 27,793 shares of the companys stock worth $2,218,000 after buying an additional 7,538 shares during the period.

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Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA PPA opened at $96.68 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $92.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $86.72. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF has a fifty-two week low of $76.34 and a fifty-two week high of $96.80. The company has a market capitalization of $2.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.91 and a beta of 0.98.

Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Company Profile

PowerShares Aerospace & Defense Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the SPADE Defense Index (the Index). The Index is designed to identify a group of companies involved in the development, manufacturing, operations and support of the United States defense, homeland security and aerospace operations.

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Cadence Bank increased its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Free Report) by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,372 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 305 shares during the quarter. Cadence Banks holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $505,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Avalon Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 191.1% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 294 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. First Manhattan Co. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 697.9% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 375 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 328 shares during the last quarter. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 83.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF stock opened at $97.34 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $98.27 and its 200 day moving average price is $96.12. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a one year low of $91.58 and a one year high of $100.98.

About iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lowered its holdings in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 87.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 61,189 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 427,745 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $7,195,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.2% in the second quarter. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,928 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $850,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Lee Financial Co grew its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Lee Financial Co now owns 20,454 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,194,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Traynor Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,346 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Money Concepts Capital Corp grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 3,119 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $367,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Defined Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Defined Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,051 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $476,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.53% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Exxon Mobil

In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total value of $252,000.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 30,189 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,169,845. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total value of $252,000.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 30,189 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,169,845. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of the 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 owns 13,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,352,780. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 2,091,400 shares of company stock worth $217,616,420. 0.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Exxon Mobil Stock Down 0.9 %

XOM stock opened at $103.84 on Friday. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 12 month low of $95.77 and a 12 month high of $120.70. The firm has a market cap of $411.51 billion, a PE ratio of 11.68, a P/E/G ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.97. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $101.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $106.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.09.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $84.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.03 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 18.51%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.40 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

The company 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 $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.66%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.74%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on XOM shares. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $116.00 to $119.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Mizuho lowered shares of Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $117.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $133.00 to $132.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $127.53.

Read Our Latest Report on Exxon Mobil

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.

Further Reading

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Meritage Group LP raised its holdings in Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM  Free Report) by 35.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 6,517 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,690 shares during the quarter. Meritage Group LPs holdings in Newmont were worth $241,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of NEM. Blair William & Co. IL grew its position in Newmont by 14.8% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 42,511 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $3,378,000 after buying an additional 5,484 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in shares of Newmont by 19.3% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 66,212 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $5,219,000 after purchasing an additional 10,692 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in shares of Newmont by 46.9% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 27,905 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,217,000 after purchasing an additional 8,915 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in Newmont by 7.2% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 595,641 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $47,324,000 after purchasing an additional 39,765 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its holdings in Newmont by 25.8% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,354 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $108,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.53% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Newmont

In other news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total value of $226,930.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 54,251 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,238,396.26. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.07% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on NEM. UBS Group lowered their target price on Newmont from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Newmont from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 15th. TD Securities reduced their target price on shares of Newmont from $40.00 to $36.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Newmont from $45.00 to $40.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Macquarie assumed coverage on shares of Newmont in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. They issued an outperform rating and a $45.00 price objective for the company. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $53.62.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Newmont

Newmont Price Performance

NYSE NEM traded up $0.39 during trading on Friday, reaching $31.28. The companys stock had a trading volume of 21,714,397 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,422,011. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.86 billion, a PE ratio of -13.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.72. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $36.59 and a 200 day moving average of $37.85. Newmont Co. has a one year low of $30.17 and a one year high of $52.76.

Newmont (NYSE:NEM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The basic materials company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.01). Newmont had a negative net margin of 20.95% and a positive return on equity of 6.21%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.44 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.44 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Newmont Co. will post 2.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Newmont Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 5th will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 4th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.20%. Newmonts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -67.23%.

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.

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OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp cut its stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Free Report) (TSE:CM) by 54.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 500,700 shares of the banks stock after selling 610,000 shares during the period. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp owned approximately 0.05% of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce worth $19,417,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 277.9% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,126 shares of the banks stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 828 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 77.8% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,600 shares of the banks stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the period. CWM LLC increased its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 72.8% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,004 shares of the banks stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 844 shares during the period. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the 1st quarter worth approximately $295,000. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 351.7% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 2,728 shares of the banks stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 2,124 shares during the period. 43.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in a research report on Thursday. They set a buy rating on the stock. National Bank Financial upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Bank of America upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, December 18th. StockNews.com upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $63.00.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CM opened at $46.95 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $46.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.75. The stock has a market cap of $43.75 billion, a PE ratio of 12.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a one year low of $34.35 and a one year high of $48.92.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Get Free Report) (TSE:CM) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The bank reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.03. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 13.55% and a net margin of 8.99%. The firm had revenue of $5.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.08 EPS. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces quarterly revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 4.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 28th were paid a dividend of $0.6623 per share. This represents a $2.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.64%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 27th. This is a positive change from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio is currently 67.54%.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile

(Free Report)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC reduced its holdings in Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Free Report) by 43.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 889,819 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 677,689 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.12% of Weyerhaeuser worth $27,282,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its holdings in shares of Weyerhaeuser by 18.3% in the 3rd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 425,848 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $13,057,000 after acquiring an additional 65,808 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Weyerhaeuser by 21.7% in the 3rd quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 9,910 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $304,000 after acquiring an additional 1,767 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Weyerhaeuser by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 61,774,884 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,070,076,000 after buying an additional 1,385,408 shares in the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lifted its holdings in Weyerhaeuser by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 153,565 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,146,000 after buying an additional 790 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in Weyerhaeuser during the 2nd quarter worth $24,916,000. 79.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity at Weyerhaeuser

In related news, CEO Devin W. Stockfish sold 29,008 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.54, for a total value of $1,001,936.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 711,070 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,560,357.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Weyerhaeuser news, CFO David M. Wold sold 924 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.84, for a total transaction of $30,344.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 60,655 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,991,910.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Devin W. Stockfish sold 29,008 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.54, for a total value of $1,001,936.32. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 711,070 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,560,357.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 39,278 shares of company stock worth $1,355,847 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Weyerhaeuser Stock Performance

Shares of Weyerhaeuser stock opened at $33.38 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $33.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.03 and a beta of 1.43. Weyerhaeuser has a 52 week low of $27.65 and a 52 week high of $35.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 2.22 and a current ratio of 2.94.

Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.82 billion. Weyerhaeuser had a net margin of 10.93% and a return on equity of 7.36%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.24 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Weyerhaeuser will post 1.03 EPS for the current year.

Weyerhaeuser Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.40%. This is a boost from Weyerhaeusers previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. Weyerhaeusers dividend payout ratio is currently 66.09%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WY has been the topic of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $39.00 price objective on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a report on Monday, January 29th. StockNews.com downgraded Weyerhaeuser from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Raymond James downgraded Weyerhaeuser from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a report on Monday, November 27th. Three investment 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, Weyerhaeuser currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $37.80.

Read Our Latest Report on WY

About Weyerhaeuser

(Free Report)

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards.

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O ROURKE & COMPANY Inc lessened its stake in Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO  Free Report) by 0.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,298 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 174 shares during the period. Apollo Global Management comprises about 1.7% of O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs holdings in Apollo Global Management were worth $2,361,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in APO. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Apollo Global Management by 87.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 37,374,072 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,316,818,000 after purchasing an additional 17,476,830 shares in the last quarter. Mariner LLC bought a new stake in shares of Apollo Global Management during the 1st quarter valued at about $353,603,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Apollo Global Management during the 4th quarter valued at about $332,126,000. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Apollo Global Management by 91.1% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,032,420 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $497,930,000 after purchasing an additional 3,829,740 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of Apollo Global Management during the 1st quarter valued at about $217,878,000. Institutional investors own 60.86% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Apollo Global Management

In related news, insider James C. Zelter sold 150,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.16, for a total transaction of $16,374,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,454,588 shares of the companys stock, valued at $158,782,826.08. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Apollo Global Management news, insider James C. Zelter sold 150,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.16, for a total transaction of $16,374,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,454,588 shares of the companys stock, valued at $158,782,826.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Whitney Chatterjee sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.10, for a total value of $1,333,200.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 123,901 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,765,401.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 246,000 shares of company stock valued at $25,593,960. 8.70% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. TD Cowen started coverage on Apollo Global Management in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. They set an outperform rating and a $115.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Apollo Global Management from $94.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Apollo Global Management from $110.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Citigroup increased their price target on Apollo Global Management from $111.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Apollo Global Management from $103.00 to $98.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $104.55.

Read Our Latest Report on APO

Apollo Global Management Stock Performance

Shares of APO traded up $0.10 on Friday, reaching $111.61. 2,606,328 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,649,869. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The stock has a market cap of $63.34 billion, a PE ratio of 13.27, a PEG ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.63. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $99.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $91.61. Apollo Global Management, Inc. has a 52-week low of $55.16 and a 52-week high of $115.03.

Apollo Global Management Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 29th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 16th. Apollo Global Managements payout ratio is 20.45%.

Apollo Global Management Profile

(Free Report)

Apollo Global Management, Inc is a private equity firm specializing in investments in credit, private equity and real estate markets. The firm's private equity investments include traditional buyouts, recapitalization, distressed buyouts and debt investments in real estate, corporate partner buyouts, distressed asset, corporate carve-outs, middle market, growth capital, turnaround, bridge, corporate restructuring, special situation, acquisition, and industry consolidation transactions.

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Cadence Bank increased its holdings in Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR  Free Report) by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,227 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 228 shares during the quarter. Cadence Banks holdings in Entergy were worth $391,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of Entergy by 64.4% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,562,369 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $422,019,000 after buying an additional 1,787,977 shares in the last quarter. Zimmer Partners LP boosted its stake in Entergy by 16,815.8% during the 2nd quarter. Zimmer Partners LP now owns 1,319,436 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $128,473,000 after purchasing an additional 1,311,636 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Entergy by 8.1% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,122,596 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,415,313,000 after purchasing an additional 908,932 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Entergy by 64.5% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,944,167 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $209,465,000 after purchasing an additional 762,393 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in Entergy by 86.0% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,633,335 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $183,750,000 after purchasing an additional 754,971 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.52% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on ETR. Royal Bank of Canada cut shares of Entergy from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a $117.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of Entergy from $113.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. UBS Group raised shares of Entergy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $103.00 to $118.00 in a research report on Monday, November 6th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Entergy from $99.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Entergy from $117.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $110.82.

Insider Activity at Entergy

In related news, EVP Marcus V. Brown sold 38,417 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.53, for a total value of $3,900,478.01. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,380 shares of the companys stock, valued at $952,351.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Entergy Stock Up 1.0 %

ETR stock opened at $102.50 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $100.65 and its 200 day moving average price is $97.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.57. Entergy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $87.10 and a fifty-two week high of $111.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.24, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.71.

Entergy (NYSE:ETR  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.52. Entergy had a net margin of 19.41% and a return on equity of 10.54%. The firm had revenue of $2.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.51 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Entergy Co. will post 7.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Entergy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 8th. Entergys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.76%.

Entergy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Utility and Entergy Wholesale Commodities. The Utility segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans; and distributes natural gas.

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Oaktree Fund Advisors LLC raised its stake in Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE  Free Report) by 10.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 872,357 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 84,042 shares during the period. Vale accounts for 11.7% of Oaktree Fund Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its biggest holding. Oaktree Fund Advisors LLCs holdings in Vale were worth $11,690,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Vale by 18.7% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 72,165,728 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,138,775,000 after purchasing an additional 11,393,498 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in Vale by 57.8% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 22,763,893 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $359,214,000 after purchasing an additional 8,334,786 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in Vale by 21.1% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 17,752,878 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $237,889,000 after purchasing an additional 3,092,376 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Vale by 3.4% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 13,799,196 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $217,752,000 after purchasing an additional 452,290 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Vale by 52.3% during the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 13,783,862 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $184,978,000 after purchasing an additional 4,733,169 shares during the last quarter. 16.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have weighed in on VALE. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Vale from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $12.20 to $19.50 in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Vale from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $19.00 target price on shares of Vale in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Vale from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their target price for the company from $18.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Vale from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $20.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $16.98.

Vale Price Performance

VALE stock opened at $13.47 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.70. Vale S.A. has a one year low of $12.22 and a one year high of $17.49. The stock has a market cap of $60.39 billion, a PE ratio of 7.36 and a beta of 1.00. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $14.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.00.

Vale (NYSE:VALE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The basic materials company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by ($0.48). Vale had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 19.10%. The company had revenue of $13.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.95 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.82 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Vale S.A. will post 2.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vale Profile

(Free Report)

Vale SA, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells iron ore and iron ore pellets for use as raw materials in steelmaking in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through Iron Solutions and Energy Transition Materials segments. The Iron Solutions segment produces and extracts iron ore and pellets, manganese, and other ferrous products; and provides related logistic services.

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McGowan Group Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG  Free Report) by 2.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,951 shares of the energy companys stock after buying an additional 287 shares during the quarter. McGowan Group Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $1,817,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its position in Cheniere Energy by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 46,378 shares of the energy companys stock worth $7,066,000 after acquiring an additional 729 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. boosted its stake in Cheniere Energy by 54.4% during the 3rd quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 22,267 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $3,695,000 after purchasing an additional 7,845 shares during the period. Choate Investment Advisors acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $295,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its position in Cheniere Energy by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 557,350 shares of the energy companys stock worth $92,498,000 after buying an additional 26,406 shares during the period. Finally, SCP Investment LP boosted its position in shares of Cheniere Energy by 111.1% in the third quarter. SCP Investment LP now owns 3,800 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $631,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the period. 85.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LNG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy from $187.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $192.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Cheniere Energy from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $198.70.

Cheniere Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE LNG traded up $0.05 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $157.73. 4,181,694 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,930,943. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $135.30 and a twelve month high of $183.46. The firms fifty day moving average price is $164.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.59, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.63. The firm has a market cap of $37.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.89, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.96.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The energy company reported $5.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.70 by $3.06. The firm had revenue of $4.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.37 billion. Cheniere Energy had a return on equity of 69.52% and a net margin of 48.45%. The businesss revenue was down 46.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $15.78 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 9.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 6th were issued a dividend of $0.435 per share. This represents a $1.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 5th. Cheniere Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 4.30%.

About Cheniere Energy

(Free Report)

Cheniere Energy, Inc, an energy infrastructure company, primarily engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) related businesses in the United States. It owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company also owns Creole Trail pipeline, a 94-mile pipeline interconnecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with various interstate pipelines; and operates Corpus Christi pipeline, a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with various interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines.

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Epoch Investment Partners Inc. lowered its stake in Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO  Free Report) by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 331,170 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 2,459 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc.s holdings in Rio Tinto Group were worth $21,076,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in RIO. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in Rio Tinto Group by 58.9% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 12,899,694 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,037,135,000 after acquiring an additional 4,783,488 shares in the last quarter. Cowa LLC purchased a new position in Rio Tinto Group in the first quarter worth about $26,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in Rio Tinto Group by 26.9% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,475,787 shares of the mining companys stock worth $440,253,000 after acquiring an additional 1,161,737 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its position in Rio Tinto Group by 8.0% in the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,207,412 shares of the mining companys stock worth $587,801,000 after acquiring an additional 683,010 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in Rio Tinto Group by 227.8% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 972,900 shares of the mining companys stock worth $62,110,000 after acquiring an additional 676,100 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.03% of the companys stock.

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Rio Tinto Group Trading Up 0.4 %

Rio Tinto Group stock opened at $65.98 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $70.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $66.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Rio Tinto Group has a fifty-two week low of $58.27 and a fifty-two week high of $75.30.

Rio Tinto Group Increases Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a dividend of $2.58 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This is an increase from Rio Tinto Groups previous semi-annual dividend of $1.77.

Several brokerages have issued reports on RIO. BNP Paribas upgraded Rio Tinto Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. Liberum Capital upgraded Rio Tinto Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. StockNews.com lowered Rio Tinto Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Rio Tinto Group in a research report on Friday, January 12th. They set a buy rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.00.

Read Our Latest Report on RIO

Rio Tinto Group Profile

(Free Report)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities.

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Meeder Advisory Services Inc. trimmed its position in General Electric (NYSE:GE  Free Report) by 16.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 14,737 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 2,970 shares during the period. Meeder Advisory Services Inc.s holdings in General Electric were worth $1,629,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. boosted its stake in shares of General Electric by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 4,412 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $485,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. boosted its position in General Electric by 2.8% during the second quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 3,261 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $358,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. King Wealth raised its position in shares of General Electric by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. King Wealth now owns 2,988 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of General Electric by 43.4% in the 3rd quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 317 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. Finally, Nicolet Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of General Electric by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,765 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $410,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.83% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at General Electric

In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total value of $3,195,107.85. Following the transaction, 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 filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total value of $3,195,107.85. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,153,863.08. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total transaction of $1,843,615.55. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,339 shares in the company, valued at $6,552,351.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.67% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on GE. StockNews.com upgraded General Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of General Electric from $124.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. TheStreet raised shares of General Electric from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, 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. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $132.00.

Get Our Latest Analysis on GE

General Electric Stock Up 1.1 %

Shares of GE stock traded up $1.66 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $153.33. The company had a trading volume of 5,639,422 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,069,517. The company has a market cap of $166.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $133.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $120.79. General Electric has a 12 month low of $81.65 and a 12 month high of $153.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 0.85.

General Electric (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.13. General Electric had a net margin of 13.95% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The company had revenue of $19.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.27 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.24 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that General Electric will post 4.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

General Electric Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 28th were issued a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.21%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 27th. General Electrics dividend payout ratio is presently 3.82%.

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.

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Mendel Money Management lessened its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 12,070 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 144 shares during the quarter. Mendel Money Managements holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $1,750,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of JPM. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P boosted its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 81.1% in the 1st quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 222,422 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,321,000 after purchasing an additional 99,636 shares during the period. BCK Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,455,000. LSV Asset Management boosted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 35.6% in the first quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 37,300 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,085,000 after acquiring an additional 9,800 shares during the period. Wsfs Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 70.8% during the first quarter. Wsfs Capital Management LLC now owns 4,221 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $575,000 after acquiring an additional 1,749 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 1,451.4% in the 1st quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,770 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $514,000 after acquiring an additional 3,527 shares during the period. 68.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance

NYSE JPM traded up $0.92 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $183.99. The stock had a trading volume of 7,105,833 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,787,549. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $172.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $156.87. The company has a market cap of $529.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.14. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 52-week low of $123.11 and a 52-week high of $185.20. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Dividend Announcement

JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.73 by ($0.69). JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.70% and a return on equity of 17.80%. The firm had revenue of $38.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $39.73 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.57 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 4th were issued a $1.05 dividend. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.89%.

Insider Transactions at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 131,962 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,113,920. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Marianne Lake sold 32,243 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total transaction of $5,158,880.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 131,962 shares in the company, valued at $21,113,920. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO James Dimon sold 821,778 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total value of $150,163,493.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 595,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $108,782,092.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 877,626 shares of company stock valued at $159,500,516 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $140.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $232.00 to $238.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Barclays upped their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $186.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $177.00 to $188.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $179.11.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on JPMorgan Chase & Co.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(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.

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Meeder Advisory Services Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 60,117 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 9,160 shares during the period. Meeder Advisory Services Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,994,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Pfizer by 89,592.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,257,000,000 after purchasing an additional 160,963,976 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Pfizer during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,150,472,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Pfizer by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 95,772,746 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,161,261,000 after purchasing an additional 9,393,992 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its position in Pfizer by 10.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 79,499,361 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,073,547,000 after purchasing an additional 7,419,929 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Pfizer during the 1st quarter worth approximately $311,238,000. 68.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Pfizer Stock Performance

PFE traded up $0.21 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $27.76. 33,182,554 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 42,036,648. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $30.83. Pfizer Inc. has a 12 month low of $25.76 and a 12 month high of $42.22. The stock has a market cap of $156.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 77.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 2.38 and a quick ratio of 2.05.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.19) by $0.29. Pfizer had a return on equity of 10.61% and a net margin of 3.62%. The firm had revenue of $14.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.37 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.14 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 41.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.22 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This is an increase from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 25th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.05%. Pfizers payout ratio is 466.67%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on PFE. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $39.00 to $37.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, TD Cowen downgraded shares of Pfizer from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $32.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $36.88.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Pfizer

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Scott Gottlieb bought 3,000 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $26.47 per share, with a total value of $79,410.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 9,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $238,230. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

About Pfizer

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Operose Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 407.0% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 4,568 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 3,667 shares during the quarter. Operose Advisors LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $537,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Exxon Mobil during the first quarter valued at $27,000. IMA Wealth Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 720.0% during the 2nd quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 369 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 324 shares during the period. FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. raised its position in Exxon Mobil by 222.5% in the 1st quarter. Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. now owns 574 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares during the period. Finally, DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in Exxon Mobil in the third quarter worth about $49,000. 58.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

Shares of XOM stock opened at $103.84 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $411.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.68, a PEG ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.97. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 52-week low of $95.77 and a 52-week high of $120.70. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The companys 50 day moving average is $101.42 and its 200 day moving average is $106.14.

Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement

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, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $84.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.03 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 18.51% and a net margin of 10.45%. The businesss revenue was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.40 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.66%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 13th. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is 42.74%.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $1,231,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 220,678 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,652,596.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related 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 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of the firms 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 sale, the director now directly owns 13,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,352,780. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 2,091,400 shares of company stock worth $217,616,420. Corporate insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on XOM shares. UBS Group cut their target price on Exxon Mobil from $133.00 to $132.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Erste Group Bank reiterated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $116.00 to $119.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, TD Cowen raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $115.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $127.53.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Exxon Mobil

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.

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O ROURKE & COMPANY Inc increased its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Free Report) by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 21,492 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 276 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. comprises approximately 2.3% of O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest position. O ROURKE & COMPANY Incs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $3,117,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 126,243,947 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $18,360,920,000 after buying an additional 2,384,901 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 105,652.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 98,000,567 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,141,876,000 after buying an additional 97,907,897 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 15.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 59,049,256 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,918,506,000 after buying an additional 8,088,433 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 53,367,497 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,740,212,000 after buying an additional 1,057,041 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 49,417,639 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,166,546,000 after buying an additional 606,382 shares in the last quarter. 68.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Up 0.5 %

JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock traded up $0.92 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $183.99. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,105,833 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,787,549. The company has a 50 day moving average of $172.55 and a 200-day moving average of $156.87. The stock has a market cap of $529.96 billion, a PE ratio of 11.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 0.91. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a one year low of $123.11 and a one year high of $185.20.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Announces Dividend

JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.73 by ($0.69). The business had revenue of $38.57 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $39.73 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.70% and a return on equity of 17.80%. The businesss revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.57 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.87 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 4th were given a dividend of $1.05 per share. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s payout ratio is 25.89%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $191.00 to $221.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $232.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Bank of America boosted their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $177.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised 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 report on Tuesday, January 9th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $179.11.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Insider Transactions at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In other news, CEO James Dimon sold 821,778 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total transaction of $150,163,493.94. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 595,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $108,782,092.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 6,030 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total transaction of $1,101,861.90. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 59,456 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,864,394.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO James Dimon sold 821,778 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total value of $150,163,493.94. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 595,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $108,782,092.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 877,626 shares of company stock valued at $159,500,516. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company 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.

See Also

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Right now actress, fashionista and future director Bella inspires our peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .



Cowtown Robot Care Coming Soon

KC hospitals say AI has potential to cut costs, but regulation lacking At Kansas City hospitals, AI is already writing patient notes, managing bed flow and reading scans. But even doctors don't always know it.

JoCo Talks Healing

Overland Park mother hosts women's circle to help others process Chiefs rally shooting Daniella Silver wasn't at the Chiefs rally shooting, but that doesn't mean she wasn't didn't suffer from second hand trauma. Now, she's helping other women process and heal.

Show-Me Twitter Politics

These Missouri senators helped get an Olathe man death threats. They need to apologize | Opinion State Sens. Rick Brattin, Denny Hoskins and Nick Schroer falsely ID'd Denton Loudermill as the Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooter. From Toriano Porter:

Progressives Celebrate Taxes

Statehouse scraps: Five takeaways from flat tax flop. Ignore turnaround talk. Read the dang column. - Kansas Reflector Here are five takeaways from the failed veto override of Kansas Republicans' flat tax proposal. Gov. Laura Kelly prevailed handily.

Local Sound Documented

'Kansas City Dreamin'': A film about how Kansas City contributed to the Jazz Era Local filmmaker is honoring Kansas City by paying homage to the jazz legends that shaped American Music.

Diva Shares Fashion Inspiration

Bella Thorne Stuns in Sexy Sheer Gown & Thong Bodysuit During Milan Fashion Week Bella Thorne showed up for the Diesel show at Milan Fashion Week rocking a seriously sheer dress that showed off her backside.

Vlad Suggests Next Prez

Putin jokes Biden should've thanked him for endorsement over Trump after 'SOB' comment Russian President Vladimir Putin cracked a joke on Thursday in response to a reporter's request for comment on U.S. President Joe Biden calling him a "crazy SOB."

MAGA Backlash?!?

Black leaders, DNC blast Trump for 'racist' comments Black leaders are condemning former President Trump's recent comments about Black voters as "racist." Speaking at the Black Conservative Federation (BCF) annual gala in South Carolina on Friday, Trump said his legal woes have earned him the support of Black voters around the country. "I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing," Trump told...

Voters Prefer Former Prez

South Carolina primary results: Trump wins, defeating Haley in her home state Donald Trump and Nikki Haley faced off in South Carolina Saturday.

MAGA Warns Of Judgement

Trump calls himself a 'proud political dissident' in CPAC speech Former President Donald Trump cast November's presidential election as "judgment day" and declared himself a "political dissident" during a speech before conservative activists outside of Washington.

Meet The New Boss?!?

Gov. Gavin Newsom: Alabama embryo decision is part of 'a war on women' California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday said that the Alabama Supreme Court's decision that embryos are people is part of "a war on women."

Peace At Gunpoint Debated

Gaza ceasefire talks underway in Paris as air strikes continue Gaza truce talks were underway in Paris on Friday, in what appears to be the most serious push for weeks to halt the fighting in the battered Palestinian enclave and see Israeli and foreign hostages released.

Super Power Profits Amid War

As Ukraine's economy burns, Russia clings to a semblance of prosperity Kyiv could require $500bn to get the country back on its feet. But Moscow has so little debt that even sanctions have not done much damage ... yet

White House Gets Nasty

Joe Biden joke about sex with Jill Biden raises eyebrows Biden said the key to his 47-year marriage is "good sex," prompting some critics on X to respond: "No way this is true."

Cash For New Tech

NMotion invests $100K in AI storytelling startup's next chapter; KC founder flexes momentum A $100,000 investment by a leading regional accelerator is expected to expand the capabilities and reach of a Kansas City AI storytelling startup - establishing Overland Park-based Storytailor as a well-known brand for children worldwide, founder JQ Sirls said.

Booze Against Bullets

'I hope there's change': Family owned brewery contributing portion of sales to KC Strong Fund Alma Mader Brewing is one of many small businesses in Kansas City, hoping to make a difference.

Advocacy For Access

Fundraiser held in Kansas City helping visually impaired, blind A fundraiser at J. Reiger and Company Friday night is helping raise money for Alphapointe

Brewing Better Days

KC Sipps: Free coffee February, a "new" Mexican restaurant, and daiquiris to benefit KC Pet Project Food Editor Sarah Sipple shares timely restaurant news and events for Kansas City.

Another Convenient Location For Carbs

Kansas City bagel chain opens another location Friday. This time, there's a drive-thru On the menu: New York-style bagels, with 12 flavors of cream cheeses, lox, salmon, smoked turkey, tavern ham and lean corned beef.

Kansas City Expanding BBQ

Q39 opening new barbecue restaurant in October Popular Kansas City barbecue restaurant Q39 is planning to open its third location in Lawrence, Kansas, this fall.

Katie's Weekend Call

Saturday starts cold, but warms up significantly Saturday will have high temperatures around 61 degrees; high temperatures for the next few days will approach record-levels.

Polo G - Sorrys & Ferraris is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
As always, we'll clarify terms:



Gun Violence Archive, a data collection and research group, defines mass shootings as an incident in which at least four people are injured or killed, excluding the shooter.

USA Today and most major news organizations both conservative and progressive also use this definition.

And so . . .

Less than two weeks after a fatal mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl Rally garnered global headlines, this morning an urban core spate of gunfire also claimed a life and caused critical injuries. Moreover, after gunfire injured a half dozen earlier this year at Crown Center . . . Mass shooting incidents seem to be trending in KC Proper for 2024.



Even worse . . .

Kansas City is quickly catching up to last year's deadly pace . . .



Referencing the KC Daily Homicide Analysis: This is the 18th KCMO homicide so far in 2024 compared to 21 at this time last year. Since the early Winter warmup we've seen a pronounced spike in local murders which indicates that bad weather might be the only thing REALLY impacting the local quotient of violence despite anti-crime efforts costing MILLIONS touted by elected officials.



Here is an update and more reporting . . .



Homicide 4700 blk of Independence Ave



This morning around 2:30 AM officers were dispatched to the 4700 block of Independence Avenue on a sound of shots. While en route they received several calls regarding shots in the area.



Upon arrival, officers learned that multiple victims were transported to area hospitals by private conveyance. Two victims had non life threatening injuries, and another had life threatening injuries from apparent gun shot wounds. The fourth victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital.



The preliminary investigation revealed that a dispute happened between several individuals in a nearby parking lot before the shooting occurred.



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 . . .

Indep/Van Brunt scene of city's latest fatal shooting | Northeast News Independence Avenue remains closed this morning between Van Brint Blvd. and Elmwood as police investigate the city's latest homicide. Sunday morning at approximately 2:30 am, officers responded to the 4700...

KCPD: Overnight dispute leads to gunfire with 3 wounded, 1 dead An overnight dispute ended with gunfire and four people taken to the hospital, one of whom died.

Dispute leads to 4 people shot, 1 killed in Kansas City overnight Four people shot and one killed after a dispute between several at 4700 Independence Avenue near KCFD Fire Station and O'Reilly Auto Parts.

One killed, one seriously hurt in shooting that escalated from argument Four people were wounded by gunfire at Independence Ave. and Lawn Ave. in the early hours of Sunday.

Kansas City leaders visit White House to address gun violence A group of Jackson County legislators and Missouri lawmakers traveled to the nation's capital to continue discussions of gun violence.

Developing . . .
Russian invaders once again executed a group of Ukrainian defenders who intended to surrender as prisoners of war.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, reported this via Telegram, Ukrinform saw.

According to his data, another war crime was committed, presumably, on Saturday, February 24, in the Bakhmut district of Donetsk region.

"On the video that we were able to watch we saw that the Ukrainian soldiers were surrendering: they held their hands up and showed they were unarmed, posing no threat. The Russians were supposed to take them captive, but instead they mercilessly shot them dead," the ombudsman noted.

Read also: Lubinets calls for creation of international coalition on return of civilian hostages

According to Lubinets, it is currently unknown how many Ukrainian soldiers or officers were executed  likely at least seven. It has already been established to which unit the perpetrators belong.

The ombudsman intends to file formal letters with the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross with a request to record and publicly admit that the Russian military is killing Ukrainian prisoners of war.

"For the Russian army, the Geneva Conventions, rules and customs of war mean nothing. They act in line with their unspoken conventions, rules and customs  cruelty, insidiousness, and lawlessness. Such murders of prisoners of war are not isolated cases. Perpetrators must be prosecuted," he emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on February 18, reports emerged of the execution by Russian invaders of eight captured Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk region: six  near Avdiivka and two  near the village of Vesele, Bakhmut district. The previous six fighters had been seriously wounded and awaiting evacuation.
RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Feb, 2024) Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Pakistan while conducting 32 operations across the country managed to recover over 1215 kg drugs and arrested 36 accused during last week, said an ANF Headquarters spokesman.

He informed that ANF in a successful operation also busted a drug dealer group and arrested eight accused.

He said that the raids were conducted simultaneously in three major cities of the country and the gang members were rounded up.

The gang members were involved in selling CBD oil-laced vapes through online platforms, he added.

Eight people were arrested targeting the inter-provincial drug dealer group involved in the distribution of vapes.

During the operation, vapes filled with hashish oil, CBD oil, THC oil and cigarette rolls made from hemp plant were recovered.

Apart from this, marijuana oil, opium and other illegal materials including marijuana were also seized.

The accused were involved in illegal activities under the guise of selling natural products and medicines.

E-commerce platforms were being used to supply drugs, the spokesman informed.

The accused used to import prohibited items from foreign countries through cargo companies.

ANF strives to enforce government regulations and standard operating procedures for online businesses, he said.

The spokesman urged the parents to discourage teen vape use.

He also asked the citizens to keep a close eye on their children's use of online shopping platforms and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies immediately.

/395
(@FahadShabbir)

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Feb, 2024) American and British forces carried out a fresh wave of strikes Saturday against 18 Huthi targets in Yemen, a joint statement said, following weeks of unrelenting attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed rebels.

The strikes "specifically targeted 18 Huthi targets across eight locations in Yemen associated with Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter," said the joint statement.

The statement was co-signed by Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, who gave unspecified "support" to the new round of strikes, the second this month and fourth since the rebels began their attacks on ships in the region.

"The Huthis' now more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November constitute a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability, and demand an international response," the statement said.

Saturday's operation comes after several merchant vessels were struck this week in the region, including the fertilizer-filled Rubymar, whose crew had to abandon ship after it was hit Sunday and began taking on water.

Apart from the joint operations with Britain, the United States has also carried out repeated unilateral strikes against Huthi positions and weaponry in Yemen, claiming self-defense, and has downed air and sea-borne drones in the Red Sea.

"The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways," Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said in a separate statement after the strikes.

"We will continue to make clear to the Huthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage, and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries."

The Huthis say they are targeting Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.

Following previous US and UK strikes, the Huthis declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.
President joins almsgivers at Vat Phou temple festival

President Thongloun Sisoulith and his wife Naly Sisoulith joined a large crowd of people giving alms and making donations to monks at Vat Phou temple on February 24, marking the last day of the three-day annual festival to celebrate the world heritage site temple complex in Champassak province.

President Thongloun Sisoulith (left), senior officials and Buddhist devotees give alms to monks. --Photo Lao News Agency Provincial Governor Dr Vilayvong Bouddakham and other senior officials from central and local state departments joined the merit making event, the Lao News Agency reported.

The annual festival and almsgiving are rituals that have been practised for generations and are beloved by the Lao people as part of their strong cultural traditions.

The festival also marked the start of the Visit Laos Year 2024 programme in the southern province following the national launch of the tourism promotion campaign a few months ago in Vientiane.

The festive event featured numerous colourful activities including a show about the origins of the temple complex, a concert, parades by local residents, an exhibition of local products, almsgiving, and a candlelight procession, Deputy Director of the Champassak provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Mr Soulin Phetthany, told the Vientiane Times.

Visitors to the ancient temple site, which is spread over a large area and was listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2001, can learn about the history of these fascinating stone structures.

The ruins of Vat Phou temple can be found in rural Champassak district and are more than 1,000 years old. The festival is held to revere the temple ruins and allow people to marvel at the origins of this impressive structure and the ancient culture it represents.

Tourists can enter the site from 8am to 5pm every day to worship at Buddha images and take pictures of the many stone structures and panoramic views.

With the provinces Visit Laos Year programme now underway, visitors to Champassak can expect more events throughout the year, allowing enjoyment of the areas many natural and historical attractions.

Well-known natural wonders include the Khonphapheng, Tad Fan and Tad Yeuang waterfalls, while activities on offer range from adventurous treks and ziplining to rest and recuperation in the lap of nature. By Times Reporters

(Latest Update February 26, 2024)
The urgency of providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs to stop Russian military advances was again underscored Sunday both in Europe and the United States. At the same time, calls for stopping the human suffering and efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict were also brought to the forefront. Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports.
Polls opened Sunday in Belarus' tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections that are set to cement the steely rule of the country's authoritarian leader, despite calls for a boycott from the opposition, which dismissed the balloting as a "senseless farce."

President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for nearly 30 years, accuses the West of trying to use the vote to undermine his government and "destabilize" the nation of 9.5 million people.

Most candidates belong to the four officially registered parties: Belaya Rus, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Party of Labor and Justice. Those parties all support Lukashenko's policies. About a dozen other parties were denied registration last year.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile in neighboring Lithuania after challenging Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, urged voters to boycott the elections.

"There are no people on the ballot who would offer real changes because the regime only has allowed puppets convenient for it to take part," Tsikhanouskaya said in a video statement. "We are calling to boycott this senseless farce, to ignore this election without choice."

Sunday's balloting is the first election in Belarus since the contentious 2020 vote that handed Lukashenko his sixth term in office and triggered an unprecedented wave of mass demonstrations.

Protests swept the country for months, bringing hundreds of thousands into the streets. More than 35,000 people were arrested. Thousands were beaten in police custody, and hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were shut down and outlawed.

Lukashenko has relied on subsidies and political support from his main ally, Russia, to survive the protests. He allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

The election takes place amid a relentless crackdown on dissent. Over 1,400 political prisoners remain behind bars, including leaders of opposition parties and renowned human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.

The opposition says the early balloting that began Tuesday offers fertile ground for the vote to be manipulated, with ballot boxes unprotected for five days. Election officials said Sunday that over 40% of the country's voters cast ballots during the five days of early voting. Turnout stood at 43.64% by 9 a.m. on Sunday, an hour after polls formally opened, according to the Belarusian Central Election Commission.

The Viasna Human Rights Center said students, soldiers, teachers and other civil servants were forced to participate in early voting.

"Authorities are using all available means to ensure the result they need  from airing TV propaganda to forcing voters to cast ballots early," said Viasna representative Pavel Sapelka. "Detentions, arrests and searches are taking place during the vote."

Speaking during Tuesday's meeting with top Belarusian law enforcement officials, Lukashenko alleged without offering evidence that Western countries were pondering plans to stage a coup in the country or to try to seize power by force. He ordered police to beef up armed patrols across Belarus, declaring that "it's the most important element of ensuring law and order."

After the vote, Belarus is set to form a new state body  the 1,200-seat All-Belarus Popular Assembly that will include top officials, local legislators, union members, pro-government activists and others. It will have broad powers, including the authority to consider constitutional amendments and to appoint election officials and judges.

Lukashenko was believed a few years ago to be considering whether to lead the new body after stepping down, but his calculus has apparently changed, and now few observers expect him to step down after his current term ends next year.

For the first time, curtains were removed from voting booths at polling stations, and voters were banned from taking pictures of their ballots. During the 2020 election, activists encouraged voters to photograph their ballots in a bid to prevent authorities from manipulating the vote in Lukashenko's favor.

Belarusian state TV aired footage of Interior Ministry drills in which police detained a purported offender who was photographing his ballot and others who created an artificial queue outside a polling station.

Belarus for the first time also refused to invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the election. Belarus is a member of the OSCE, a top trans-Atlantic security and rights group, and its monitors have been the only international observers at Belarusian elections for decades.

Since 1995, not a single election in Belarus has been recognized as free and fair by the OSCE.

The OSCE said the decision not to allow the agency's monitors deprived the country of a "comprehensive assessment by an international body."

"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," it said in a statement.

Observers noted that authorities have not even tried to pretend that the vote is democratic.

The election offers the government an opportunity to run a "systems test after massive protests and a serious shock of the last presidential election and see whether it works," said Artyom Shraibman, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. "The parliament will be sterile after the opposition and all alternative voices were barred from campaigning. It's important for authorities to erase any memory of the protests."
Early every morning, just as she reaches her workplace at a labor union in Buenos Aires, Angeles Celerier heads to the chapel and prays to Saint Cajetan, Saint Teresa and Eva Peron.

Peron  unlike the others  has not been canonized by the Vatican, but this doesn't matter to Celerier.

"For me, she is the saint of the people," the 56-year-old Argentine said.

Many union members think of Evita as their patron or gaze at her photos with nostalgia, feeling that she and her husband, three-time President Juan Domingo Peron, brought prosperity to their country through an equality and social justice-driven movement that was named after him in the 1940s: Peronism.

That movement is currently the biggest opposition force in Argentina. And some political observers attribute the recent vote to elect President Javier Milei as a means to defeat Peronism and its previous hold on the presidency.

"For us, she is the spiritual reservoir of the people," said Julio Piumato, human rights director at the largest union in Argentina. He signed a 2019 document requesting Evita's beatification.

"No other figure has a deeper significance," Piumato said. "The humble sectors are synthesized in Evita."

According to the union leader, between 1946 and 1952, when Evita died of cancer at age 33 and Peron concluded his first term, the couple dignified the working class and prioritized social justice.

"Saints show us paths to reach Christ and intercede before God for us," reads the beatification request delivered to the archbishop. "In our homeland, one generation after another continues to be converted by the humanist and Christian message of the standard bearer of the humble."

Aside from a 1996 movie starring Madonna or Andrew Lloyd Weber's 1978 musical, many foreigners know relatively little about this former first lady who died 71 years ago.

But in Argentina, Evita is a constant presence. Her face is printed on 100-peso bills, decorates a mural on a key government building, and greets guests from an altar placed in a restaurant called Saint Evita.

"I carry her image in my wallet, and I have it at home in a small picture frame with a candle," Celerier said. "I ask her for protection."

How a first lady turned into a champion of the poor

The secret behind the fascination that she awakens might be hidden in her name.

Long before becoming first lady, she called herself Maria Eva, a girl who left the town of Los Toldos to try her luck as an actress in Buenos Aires. As a modest film star she was known as Eva Duarte and afterwards became Eva Peron, the president's wife. Then came Evita.

"Evita is the one who is close to the people," said Santiago Regolo, a researcher at Museum Evita. "People began to call her that, and that construction is linked to the political and social work that distinguished her from the women who preceded her and take her as an example to this day."

Evita was the one who paid visits to elders and single mothers. The one who handed out toys for children and bread for families. The one who promoted paid vacations for workers who had never been able to afford a break and gave a final push to achieve the women's right to vote in 1947.

She has also inspired some feminists  who carry her photo along with their green scarves during protests  as well as a political organization that asks for social transformation using her image as a logo.

"Having Evita on our flag represents being with those in the lower classes and trying to vindicate her name over time," said Ivan Tchorek, from the Evita Movement, which has 155,000 members nationwide and was created after an economic crisis in 2001.

She's relevant as ever, Tchorek said, because Peronism is. Thousands of workers like him recently led a general strike against the right-wing Milei, who defeated Peronist candidate Sergio Massa last November. Soon after, Milei issued a decree that would revoke or modify hundreds of existing laws in order to limit the power of unions and deregulate an economy that has traditionally featured heavy state intervention.

Even as a union standard-bearer in polarized times, Evita and her memory have the ability to transcend politics. "Certain issues are linked to matters of a sentimental, sacralized nature," Regolo said. "She is seen as a companion, a sister, a mother for the humble."

At her home in an impoverished neighborhood outside Buenos Aires, 71-year-old Rita Cantero says she almost met Evita. When her mother asked the first lady for help, she was pregnant with her.

"My mother used to say that Evita was very supportive, that people really liked her for the service she provided."

Aware of the challenges of being a single mother, Rafaela Escobar attended a public event held by Evita in a plaza near her home. After being able to approach her and confide in her distress, Evita hugged her and said: "Don't worry, I will help."

Three weeks later, Escobar received a cradle and clothes for her unborn child.

Cantero says her mother never met Evita again, but she sent her letters and the first lady replied with envelopes carrying money.

"For us she is like a saint," Cantero said. "Many judged her because she was a woman, but she was an honest, hard-working girl. She fought for our nation and was the force of Peron."

Evita's mixed legacy and the fight over her embalmed body

Peron died two decades after Evita, in 1974, but his name continues to spark both admiration and hatred, yearning and blame.

His critics  among them legislator Fernando Iglesias, who has published several books contending Peronism ruined the country  claim that Peron was an authoritarian leader and his movement's social assistance disguised corruption and patronage while generating too much dependence on the government.

Critics address Eva too. Her foundation pressed donors for resources, some say. She was careerist and a hypocrite, others assert. On the one hand, she claimed to defend the poor and on the other, she dressed in Dior.

"Would she be the saint of the lazy?" a user tweeted when the union requested her beatification. "Patron of criminals," someone else wrote.

Erasing her from history was once a command. After a coup overthrew Peron in 1955, it was forbidden to say her name, display her image or keep her gifts. The military removed her embalmed body from a union's headquarters, where it was initially kept, and sent it to Europe.

The body came back after 14 years, and when the military took over again in the 1970s, it was given to her family under one condition: She would be buried 8 meters underground, sealed in a marble crypt so that no one would ever see her again.

"Evita is the best thing that could have happened to this country," said Carolina Castro, 22, holding back tears next to Evita's grave in Recoleta Cemetery, where Argentines and foreigners alike honor her with flowers, letters and rosaries.

According to Castro's mother, 56-year-old Andrea Vellesi, Evita is a sensitive topic because their family is going through a difficult time. "I have never been in such anguish," Vellesi said about economic measures that Milei recently decreed and that she claims hurt her business.

Victor Biscia, 36, says that he doesn't keep photos of Evita at home, but he does have images of the late President Nestor Kirchner and his wife and successor Cristina Fernandez, another Peronist couple that prompts devotion and resentment among Argentines.

"They were key to achieving rights that are being curtailed by the current government," said Biscia, who thinks of Fernandez as a sort of 21st century Evita.

"She reflects a lot of what we are as Argentines," says Gimena Villagra, 27, standing next to Evita's tomb. "I don't think there's anyone for whom she doesn't mean something."
Steam rose as hundreds of naked men tussled over a bag of wooden talismans, performing a dramatic end to a thousand-year-old ritual in Japan that took place for the last time.

Their passionate chants of "Jasso, joyasa" (meaning "Evil, be gone") echoed through a cedar forest in northern Japan's Iwate region, where the secluded Kokuseki Temple has decided to end the popular annual rite.

Organizing the event, which draws hundreds of participants and thousands of tourists every year, has become a heavy burden for the aging local faithful, who find it hard to keep up with the rigors of the ritual.

The "Sominsai" festival, regarded as one of the strangest festivals in Japan, is the latest tradition impacted by the country's aging population crisis that has hit rural communities hard.

"It is very difficult to organize a festival of this scale," said Daigo Fujinami, a resident monk of the temple that opened in 729.

"You can see what happened today  so many people are here and it's all exciting. But behind the scenes, there are many rituals and so much work that have to be done," he said.

"I cannot be blind to the difficult reality."

Aging population

More than 1 in 10 people in Japan are 80 years old or older, and almost a third of its population is older than 65, according to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023.

The aging of Japan's population has forced the closure of countless schools, shops and services, particularly in small or rural communities.

Kokuseki Temple's Sominsai festival used to take place from the seventh day of Lunar New Year to the following morning.

But during the Covid pandemic, it was scaled down to prayer ceremonies and smaller rituals.

The final festival was a shortened version, ending around 11 p.m., but it drew the biggest crowd in recent memory, local residents said.

As the sun set, men in white loincloths came to the mountain temple, bathed in a creek and marched around temple's ground.

They clenched their fists against the chill of a winter breeze, all the while chanting "Jasso, joyasa."

Some held small cameras to record their experience, while dozens of television crews followed the men through the temple's stone steps and dirt pathways.

As the festival reached its climax, hundreds of men packed inside the wooden temple shouting, chanting and aggressively jostling over a bag of talismans.

Changing norms

Toshiaki Kikuchi, a local resident who claimed the talismans and who helped organize the festival for years, said he hoped the ritual would return in the future.

"Even under a different format, I hope to maintain this tradition," he said. "There are many things that you can appreciate only if you take part."

Many participants and visitors voiced both sadness and understanding about the festival's ending.

"This is the last of this great festival that has lasted 1,000 years. I really wanted to participate in this festival," Yasuo Nishimura, 49, a caregiver from Osaka, told AFP.

Other temples across Japan continue to host similar festivals where men wear loincloths and bathe in freezing water or fight over talismans.

Some festivals are adjusting their rules in line with changing demographics and social norms so that they can continue to exist  such as letting women take part in previously male-only ceremonies.

Starting next year, Kokuseki Temple will replace the festival with prayer ceremonies and other ways to continue its spiritual practices.

"Japan is facing a falling birthrate, aging population, and lack of young people to continue various things," Nishimura said. "Perhaps it is difficult to continue the same way as in the past."
Nine people were killed in a road crash in South Africa on Sunday after attending an election rally by President Cyril Ramaphosa and his ruling African National Congress party.

The ANC supporters were traveling on a bus back to their home province of Mpumalanga the morning after Saturday's rally in the eastern city of Durban, the ANC said in a statement. The bus left the road and overturned, police said.

Emergency services said 17 people were hurt in the crash near the small town of Paulpietersburg, around 360 kilometers (223 miles) north of Durban.

The ANC said that some of the injured were in critical condition. Provincial ANC officials were traveling to the crash scene and to the hospitals where the injured had been taken, the party said.

The ANC officially launched its election manifesto at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday in front of tens of thousands of supporters.

The May 29 national election could be the biggest threat yet to the ANC's 30 years in government in South Africa, with opinion polls predicting the party could lose its majority for the first time since it came to power in 1994 following the end of apartheid.
A court in Cyprus on Saturday ordered two men to remain in police custody for six days on suspicion of people smuggling. The men were identified as the drivers of two boats that brought 146 Syrian refugees and one Lebanese migrant to the east Mediterranean island nation.

Police said the suspects are Lebanese nationals aged 19 and 21.

According to police, the refugees said during questioning that they departed from the Lebanese city of Tripoli on Thursday, February 22 and each paid $2,500 for a place aboard the boats.

One boat carried 30 people, including 6 women and 11 minors. Aboard the second boat were 117 people, including 8 women and 17 minors. Police spotted both vessels Saturday afternoon off Cape Greco on the island's southeastern tip.

All the migrants were escorted ashore and later taken to a migrant reception center just outside the capital Nicosia.

The president of Cyprus said earlier this month that the European Union won't serve its own best interests if it doesn't consider designating some parts of Syria as safe zones so refugees and migrants can return there.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus is working with like-minded EU member nations to start a discussion about that goal to help alleviate the pressure that Mediterranean countries receiving the most refugees and migrants are under.

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou told the state broadcaster Saturday that Cypriot authorities have reached out to Europol to help patrol the Lebanese coastline to prevent migrant departures.

Although 37% fewer migrants reached Cyprus last year compared to the year before, official figures show migrant arrivals by boat from Syria and Lebanon increased 355%  4,259 in 2023 compared to 937 in 2022.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said Monday the Israeli military presented presented the War Cabinet with a plan for evacuating the population from areas of fighting in the Gaza Strip, and with the upcoming operational plan.

The statement followed a pledge by Netanyahu to push ahead with plans for a ground invasion in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where more than half of Gazas population has sought shelter from the war.

Mondays statement did not give any details about where the Palestinians would be able to go.

Rafah is located along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Areas to the north have been devastated by four months of war, and Egypt has said it will not open its borders.

The United Nations has expressed concern about any plan to move the civilian population in Gaza and about Israeli plans to launch an offensive in the area populated by people already in need of humanitarian aid.

"What is clear is that people need to be protected, but we also do not want to see any forced displacement - forced mass displacement - of people, which is by definition against their will," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said earlier this month. "We would not support in any way forced displacement, which goes against international law."

Netanyahu told the CBS news show Face the Nation in an interview broadcast Sunday that once Israeli forces begin a Rafah operation, Israel would be weeks away from victory in Gaza.

Netanyahu said it was not clear whether a cease-fire and hostage deal would materialize from new talks in Qatar, saying Hamas needed to "come down to a reasonable situation."

He said if Israel has a deal for a cease-fire, a Rafah invasion will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway.

The United States has been Israels chief ally in the war against Hamas, but White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBCs Meet the Press that Netanyahu has not informed Washington of its plans for a Rafah attack and any evacuation of Palestinians.

Watch related report by Arash Arabasadi:

We're talking about more than a million people who have been pushed into this small space in Gaza because of military operations elsewhere, Sullivan said. And so, we've been clear that we do not believe that an operation  a major military operation  should proceed in Rafah, unless there is a clear and executable plan to protect those civilians, to get them to safety and to feed, clothe and house them. And we have not seen a plan like that.

Israel agreed late Saturday to send negotiators to Qatar for further talks. Hamas said it has not been involved in the latest discussions developed by the United States, Egypt and Qatar but the reported plan appears to largely match the demands it had made for the first phase of a halt in the war.

A senior Egyptian official said Saturday that the draft cease-fire deal includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages, from among about 100 living hostages held by Hamas, in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, minors and older people, being freed by Israel.

In addition, there would be a six-week pause in the fighting that would include allowing hundreds of trucks filled with food and humanitarian aid to enter Gaza every day, including for the northern half of the besieged territory. During the temporary halt in fighting, there would be further negotiations for the release of more hostages and a permanent cease-fire.

"Representatives of Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar met in Paris and came to an understanding among the four of them about what the basic contours of a hostage deal for temporary cease-fire would look like," Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union show.

Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel killed 1,200 people according to Israeli tallies and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. Israels counteroffensive has killed nearly 30,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, with Israel saying it has killed 12,000 Hamas fighters. Most of those killed have been women and children.

About 100 hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The Israeli military says it believes about 30 hostages held by Hamas have subsequently died or been killed in Gaza.

Aside from any halt in fighting or an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, the fate of Gaza after the war remains uncertain. Netanyahu called last week for continued Israeli control of the territory along the Mediterranean Sea and remains opposed to the creation of an independent Palestinian state to rule Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Sullivan told Fox News the U.S. has not moved an inch off its support for the creation of a Palestinian state.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The death toll from a dramatic fire that left two residential buildings charred in the Spanish city of Valencia rose to 10 Saturday after authorities announced they had located the remains of what they believed was the last missing person.

Forensic police found the 10th victim inside the scorched building, national government delegate in Valencia Pilar Bernabe told journalists. Police will proceed with DNA testing to confirm the identities of all the victims, she said.

While there were no other missing persons reported, Bernabe stressed that police and firefighters would continue the "complex" work of combing through the building debris in search of any other possible victim.

It was not immediately known how many people were in the two buildings when the fire broke out, but the complex had some 140 apartments.

The blaze that appeared to begin in one home Thursday afternoon engulfed the rest of the 14-story apartment block in less than an hour, raising questions about whether construction materials used on the facade may have contributed to the fire spreading so furiously.

Neighbors described seeing the rapid evolution of the flames, with residents stuck on balconies and children screaming. Those left homeless from the fire, including many Ukrainian refugees who lived in the large residential complex, were initially given refuge in city hotels but were expected to be moved to other accommodation over the weekend.

Experts suggested that a type of cladding might have made the blaze spread faster. However, Valencia Mayor Maria Jose Catala said the fires cause was still unknown and that it was too early to comment on whether some materials used in the construction of the modern complex might have worsened it.
Polish farmers on Sunday blocked a major highway into Germany in the latest such protest against EU regulations and taxes.



Farmers across Europe have been protesting for weeks over what they say are excessively restrictive environmental rules, competition from cheap imports from outside the European Union and low incomes.



On Sunday, farmers from Poland blocked the A2 motorway near Slubice, in the east on the border with Germany.



"The blockade began at 1:00 pm (1200 GMT). Both sides of the A2 motorway have been stopped," Ewa Murmylo, a spokeswoman for local police, told AFP.



Initially the farmers had been planning a 25-day blockade but reduced it following talks with local representatives, businesses and transporters.



They have decided "to unblock the road probably tomorrow," Monday, said Dariusz Wrobel, one of the Polish farmer organizers.



"This will depend on things that we can't predict," he told AFP. "We need to start taking ourselves seriously".



On Monday, EU agriculture ministers are due to meet in Brussels.



They are to discuss new European Commission proposals aiming to change regulations at the heart of the discontent, for example reducing the number of checks on produce.



Polish farmers say they are targeting the European Union's so-called Green Deal on energy, transportation and taxation, which is an element of the 27-nation's bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.



They say they have been especially hit by increased taxes and other rules.



The farmers have also blocked crossing points at Poland's border with non-EU member Ukraine border to denounce what they say is unfair competition from their war-torn neighbor's cheaper produce.



On Friday, Polish officials snubbed a delegation led by Ukraine's prime minister seeking to resolve tensions caused by weeks-long Polish farmer protests at the shared border.



Polish authorities said they had never agreed to a border meeting over the demonstrations, which Ukraine says threaten its exports and are holding up deliveries of crucial weapons for its war against Russia, now entering its third year.
Protesters rallied around the world on Saturday in support of Ukraine on the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion, urging greater Western backing as fears mount about Kyiv's ability to fend off an emboldened Russia.

Crowds gathered in Berlin, London, Paris and other cities, waving the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag and demanding that Russian President Vladimir Putin put an end to the war.

When Putin sent his forces into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it brought conflict back to Europe for the first time in decades, a geopolitical earthquake that sent shockwaves across the world.

With concerns growing about waning support from Ukraine's allies as Moscow makes battlefield gains, there were calls at a protest at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate for accelerated arms deliveries.

Addressing thousands of supporters, some waving banners that read "arm Ukraine now," Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner decried Putin's "brutal war of aggression."

"He wants to wipe out Ukraine, he wants to wipe out the identities of Ukrainians," he told the crowd, which organizers estimated at 10,000-strong while police gave a figure of 5,000.

"But we won't let that happen."

He called on Berlin to deliver long-range Taurus missiles long sought by Kyiv, a demand the German government has so far refused for fears they could also strike inside Russia.

Valeria Zhylenko, a 32-year-old Ukrainian at the rally, recognized it was "more difficult now to support only Ukraine" due to other crises happening around the world.

But she added: "I want to remind the world that we are still here, we are resisting... we still need this support."

In London, thousands of protesters marched to Trafalgar Square, waving banners that read "world support Ukraine," and "Russia is a terrorist state."

"Every single day people are dying, and the West is not supplying enough... weaponry, unfortunately," said Tania Zubashenko, a 54-year-old Ukrainian.

"They promise, but sometimes it's only words. We need real actions."

'We cannot remain on the sidelines'

Protests took place across France, with several thousand joining a march in central Paris, with shouts of "Putin murderer" and "Russia out of Ukraine" ringing out from the crowd.

In the city of Rouen, Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol told a crowd of several hundred that "Ukraine is defending its sovereignty but also its values and ideals, which are those of Europe.

"Europe is at war  we cannot remain on the sidelines of this battle."

More than 1,000 protesters gathered in Warsaw  the capital of Poland, Ukraine's neighbor and a key ally  in front of the Russian embassy, waving Ukrainian flags.

The demonstrators put up crosses with the names of victims of Russia's war, as well as models of buildings destroyed in Russian bombings.

Demonstrations took place in numerous other cities across Europe, including Dublin, Athens, Stockholm and Milan.

At the Stockholm rally, Maryana Kostiv, a 22-year-old Ukrainian from Lviv, told AFP that she hoped for Ukraine to "win the war."

"Everything will end, and all the Ukrainians can go back to Ukraine and start to live their normal lives again. That's all that I hope for," she told AFP.

Europeans increasingly concerned

Despite the show of support across the continent Saturday, Europeans are becoming increasingly worried about Ukraine's faltering efforts to fend off Moscow.

According to a survey released last week, only 10% of Europeans believe Ukraine can defeat Russia on the battlefield.

The survey conducted last month across 12 EU countries showed that on average 20% of those asked believed Russia could win, and 37% thought the conflict would end in a compromise settlement.
Serbia on Sunday sent a protest note after Croatias foreign minister described Serbias populist President Aleksandar Vucic as a Russian satellite in the Balkans.

It was the latest spat between the two neighbors that have been at odds for most of the time since the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman told N1 television Saturday that Vucic must decide which side he is on, Russia or the European Union, because it is impossible and uncomfortable sitting on two chairs at the same time.

He shouldnt have a big dilemma, Grlic Radman said, adding that Vucic can remain Moscows ally but malign Russian influence that could undermine the stability of the Western Balkans will not be allowed.

Vucic and other Serbian officials reacted with anger.

The Croatian minister not only brutally interferes in the internal affairs of Serbia, but as usual he lies and insults the Serbian people and threatens its citizens, Vucic said on Instagram.

Grlic Radman is right about one thing, maybe I am someones satellite ... but I have never been anyones servant, which cannot be said for Grlic Radman."

In its protest note, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said that it expects that in the future Croatian officials "will refrain from statements that represent interference in the internal affairs of Serbia and will lead a policy of reconciliation and good-neighborly relations between the two states.

Vucic's government has maintained close ties with Moscow despite its aggression against Ukraine, and the Serbian autocratic leader has often boasted about his close personal relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Serbias formal bid to join the European Union.

Serbia has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia, a traditional Slavic ally, while allowing Moscow propaganda outlets such as RT and Sputnik to spread their narrative throughout the Balkans. EU officials have repeatedly said that Serbia must align its policies with the bloc if it really wants to join and warned of the increasing Russian influence in the war-torn region.

Croatia, which is an EU and NATO member, and Serbia have been involved in a series of spats between their officials in recent years. The two countries have lately also been involved in a mini arms race that analysts believe could further escalate the tensions in the region.
An 84-year-old Austrian man who traveled to Afghanistan last year and was arrested there was released by the country's Taliban rulers, the Austrian government said Sunday.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry in a statement identified the man as Herbert Fritz and said he arrived in Doha, Qatar from Afghanistan on Sunday afternoon. If necessary, he will be given medical treatment before continuing on to Austria, it said.

A spokeswoman for the Austrian Foreign Ministry told the Associated Press that the man had been held in a prison in Kabul.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer thanked the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his team for their "strong support in releasing one of our citizens from prison in Afghanistan."

"It is only due to our trusted collaboration that this Austrian citizen will be able to return home to his daughter and grandchildren," Nehammer said.

Qatar's Foreign Affairs ministry released a statement on X expressing gratitude to the "caretaker government in Afghanistan" for releasing the Austrian.

"The State of Qatar has proven, regionally and globally, that it is a trusted international partner in various important issues, and it spares no effort in harnessing its energy and ability in the areas of mediation, preventive diplomacy, and settling disputes through peaceful means ... ," it said.

Austrian newspaper Der Standard reported last year that an Austrian man had been arrested in Afghanistan and that he was a veteran far-right extremist and co-founder of a minor far-right party that was banned in 1988, the National Democratic Party.

It said he had been in custody for a few weeks, since shortly after a far-right magazine published an article he wrote titled "Vacation with the Taliban" in which he gave a positive view of life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. According to the report, he was accused of spying and Austrian neo-Nazis made his case public via Telegram channels.

The Taliban have barred women from most areas of public life and stopped girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade as part of harsh measures they imposed after taking control of the country in 2021, despite initially promising more moderate rule. The Taliban seized Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.

According to Der Standard, the Austrian has been a keen traveler to dangerous locations, visiting Afghanistan in the 1980s and, a few years ago, visiting Kurds fighting against the Islamic State group in northern Syria.

Austrian officials said Fritz arrived in Afghanistan last May but did not say where in the country he was detained.
Aid organizations fear a new humanitarian crisis in the restive eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the armed rebel group M23 is in the midst of a new advance that threatens to cut off a major city and leave millions of people struggling for food and medical help.

Eastern Congo has been beset by conflict for years, with M23 among more than 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in the mineral-rich area near the border with Rwanda. Some have been accused of carrying out mass killings.

There's been an upsurge in fighting in recent weeks between M23 rebels and Congo army forces, and it comes as the United Nations plans to withdraw peacekeepers from the region by the end of the year.

Tensions are also rising between Congo and Rwanda, with them blaming each other for supporting various armed groups. Congo accuses Rwanda of backing M23.

This weekend, the U.S. State Department condemned what it called the "worsening violence." A group of aid agencies has estimated that 1 million people have already been displaced by fighting in the last three months.

Who are M23?

The March 23 Movement, or M23, is a rebel military group mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis that broke away from the Congolese army just over a decade ago. They staged a large offensive in 2012 and took over the provincial capital of Goma near the border with Rwanda, the same city they are threatening again.

The conflict has regional complications, with neighboring Rwanda also accused by the U.S. and U.N. experts of giving military aid to M23. Rwanda denies that but effectively admitted on Monday that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo. Rwanda said that is to safeguard its own security because of what it claims is a buildup of Congo army forces near the border. Rwanda has rejected calls from the U.S. to withdraw.

There are also ties to the Rwandan genocide of 30 years ago, with M23 and Rwanda saying separately that they are fighting a threat from a Congolese rebel group that is connected to the Congo army and partly made up of ethnic Hutus who were perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.

Congo-Rwanda tensions

Relations between Congo and its eastern neighbor have been fraught for decades. Hundreds of thousands of Rwandan Hutu refugees had fled to Congo, then Zaire, in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Among them were soldiers and militiamen responsible for the slaughter of 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Two years after the genocide, Rwanda and Uganda invaded eastern Congo to try and root out what remained of those genocide perpetrators, which led to the toppling of then Congo President Mobutu Sese Seko.

Tensions between Congo and Rwanda escalated in 2021 with the resurgence of M23 attacks on Congolese soldiers after nearly a decade of relative inactivity due to a 2013 peace deal. The presence of so many armed groups is believed to be connected to illegal mining, with eastern Congo rich in gold and other minerals.

What's happened in recent weeks?

M23 launched new attacks late last year and has ramped them up in recent weeks. The group is now threatening to take the key town of Sake, about 27 kilometersmwest of Goma. That could cause food and aid supplies to be cut off from Goma, which had a population of around 600,000 a few years ago, but now holds more than 2 million people, according to aid agencies, as people flee violence in surrounding towns and villages.

The advance of rebels on Sake "poses an imminent threat to the entire aid system" in eastern Congo, the Norwegian Refugee Council said. It said 135,000 people were displaced in just five days in early February.

The violence has also sparked protests from the capital, Kinshasa, to Goma, with angry demonstrators saying the international community is not doing enough to push back against M23 and not taking a hard enough stance against Rwanda.

What's at stake?

The new fighting could lead to an escalation of regional tensions and involve more countries. As the U.N. winds down its 25-year peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo, a multi-national force under the southern African regional bloc is set to step in. That force will include soldiers from regional power South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania. They will help the Congo army forces, but it might put them in direct conflict with Rwanda.

There's also the humanitarian cost. The International NGO Forum in Congo, a group of non-governmental organizations working in the region, said the escalation in fighting has involved artillery attacks on civilian settlements, causing a heavy toll and forcing many health and aid workers to withdraw.

Eastern Congo already had one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with nearly 6 million people previously displaced because of conflict, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency.

There are concerns a new disaster could largely go unnoticed because of the attention on the war in Gaza and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Ukraine's victory in the war against invading Russian forces depends on support from the West, adding that he felt "positive" about the prospect of long-range missiles being supplied to Kyiv by its allies and partners.

Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy also said he was certain that the U.S. Congress would approve a major new batch of military and financial assistance but noted that Ukraine needed that decision to be made within a month.

Zelenskyy was asked by VOA about the possibility of Ukraine receiving an invitation to NATO at a planned NATO summit in Washington in July.

As I understand, all [NATO] partners support Ukraine in providing such an invitation. And everyone agrees that in the future, Ukraine will be in NATO. ... This decision [to extend an invitation] depends on the U.S. and Germany. This is a fact, he said.

The U.S. and Germany are the top countries donating military and economic aid to Ukraine. Both countries have voiced support for Ukraine joining NATO, but officials have said now is not the time.

Earlier in February, at a meeting of the NATO defense ministers in Brussels, U.S. ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said she does not expect the alliance to issue a membership invitation to Ukraine at the summit in July.

I do not expect the alliance to issue an invitation at this juncture, Smith said on February 13. I do anticipate that the allies will be able to signal that the alliance continues to move closer to Ukraine and that we are taking concrete steps to serve as a bridge between where we are now and that full-fledged membership.

On Sunday, Zelenskyy also was by VOA if there were risks to international security if Ukraine was not given an invitation this summer to join the 31-nation bloc.

What are the risks? I can't say. I don't see any risks in inviting Ukraine to NATO. ... I think the risks are related to the inadequacy (unpredictability) of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's reaction. I believe this step, the invitation, does not contain any risks, he said.

Peace summit



Zelenskyy expressed hope that a peace summit being planned by Switzerland will address Kyiv's vision for ending the two-year war with Russia and that the outline of that peace plan would be presented to Russia.

"I hope it will take place this spring. We must not lose this diplomatic initiative," he told reporters. "We will offer a platform on which he [Putin] can agree that he lost this war and that it was a mistake. A big mistake.

So far, the Kremlin has not reacted to Zelenskyys comments but in the past, it has called Kyiv's peace plan absurd, because it excluded Russia and said there is no current basis for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, has floated the possibility that Ukraine and its foreign partners could invite Russia to the future summit to discuss an end to Moscow's invasion on Kyiv's terms.

Zelenskyys peace formula calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity and a total withdrawal of Russian troops.

Zelenskyy disclosed for the first time that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed during the invasion. Not 300,000, not 150,000 ... Nevertheless, this is a big loss for us."

He warned that Russia will prepare counteroffensive operations in early summer, or at the end of May if it can, and that Ukraine had to be ready.

Zelenskyy said his country is approaching a turning point.

A year of elections, defocusing, everything at once, challenges from outside, from within. ... I believe the format of how the war ends will depend on this year," he said. "Now is the most difficult moment for our unity, and if we all fall apart, from the outside and God forbid inside, then this will be the weakest moment. It hasn't happened yet.

Watch related report by Veronica Balderas Iglesias:

Ukraine setback on the battlefield

After initial successes in pushing back the Russian army, Ukraine has suffered setbacks on eastern battlefields, and it lost the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka.

Ukrainian generals are complaining of shortages of arms and soldiers.

"At the moment, commitment does not constitute delivery," Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Sunday during a Ukraine. Year 2024 forum in Kyiv, dedicated to the second anniversary of Russia's invasion.

Umerov said that each delayed aid shipment meant Ukrainian troop losses, and underscored Russias military might and air superiority.

We look to the enemy: their economy is almost $2 trillion; they use up to 15% official and nonofficial budget (funds) for the war, which constitutes over $100 billion annually. So basically, whenever a commitment doesnt come on time, we lose people, we lose territory, Umerov said.

The Biden administration is seeking about $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, but it is stalled in the Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives.

In a televised interview Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed confidence that Ukraine can win this war if it has the tools that it needs, urging the U.S. House of Representatives to step up and pass that bill. He was referring to the Ukraine aid package that was passed by a massive bipartisan vote in the Senate.

Sullivan said it is up to House Speaker Mike Johnson to overcome political divisions in his caucus and put the vote on the floor.

European leaders meet in Paris

France announced Sunday that some 20 European leaders will gather in Paris Monday to send Putin a message of European resolve on Ukraine and counter the Kremlin's narrative that Russia is bound to win a war now entering its third year, France said.

"We want to send Putin a very clear message, that he won't win in Ukraine," a presidential adviser told reporters in a briefing.

The adviser, however, said the working meeting will not be an occasion to announce new weapon deliveries to Ukraine but more to brainstorm ways to be more efficient on the ground, as well as increase coordination between allies and Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited his European counterparts to the Elysee Palace for a working meeting announced at short notice after, what his advisers say, was an escalation in Russian aggression over the past few weeks.

The United States will be represented by Jim OBrien, U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, and Canada by Defense Minister Bill Blair.

Eastern Europe Bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Israel's war cabinet agreed Saturday to send negotiators to Qatar to continue talks toward a cease-fire and the return of about 130 hostages held in Gaza, officials and local media said.

The Israeli delegates returned Saturday from the peace talks in Paris where they met on Friday with Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators who had helped put together the November cease-fire during which scores of Hamas' captives were freed in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The war cabinet met on Saturday to hear an update on the negotiations, national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said.

"There is probably room to move towards an agreement," Hanegbi told N12 News television in an interview, without elaborating, AFP reported.

Israel wants the release of all of the hostages taken in the October 7 attacks, starting with the women, but Hanegbi added: "Such agreement does not mean the end of the war."

He also indicated that Israel would not accept any deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia for a Palestinian state.

Media reports indicated Palestinian representatives who have seen the plan have rejected it. Parts of the plan also run counter to what Washington has envisioned for the region, which is a two-state solution involving an independent Palestinian state.

Thousands of people held a vigil for the hostages on Saturday in Tel Aviv, a short distance from an anti-government protest where police reported five arrests for disorderly conduct.

Hamas has previously said that it will free the remaining 130 hostages if Israel releases thousands of jailed Palestinians and calls off the Gaza offensive, which medical officials in the enclave say has killed nearly 30,000 people.

The Israeli military said Saturday the death of an infantry major in combat brings its military losses in the Gaza fighting to 239. Israel says it has killed about 12,000 Hamas fighters, effectively halving the faction's Gaza garrisons.

Hamas says those figures as overblown.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Saturday's war cabinet meeting would address "next steps in the negotiations" and reaffirmed his intention of sending troops into Rafah in southern Gaza, despite widespread concern about the impact of an Israeli attack on the hundreds of thousands of civilians who have fled there to avoid bombardments.

Washington has urged its ally not to attack Rafah, warning that such an offensive will cause vast civilian casualties.

At least six airstrikes targeted the city Saturday evening according to an AFP reporter in Rafah.

Israeli forces have launched more than 70 strikes since Friday on locations in Gaza, including Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said Saturday at least 92 people were killed in the strikes in the last 24 hours. Some 69,737 people have been injured since the conflict began on October 7, according to a statement.

This week, the World Food Program said its teams reported "unprecedented levels of desperation," while the United Nations warned that 2.2 million people were on the brink of famine.

On Friday, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said a 2-month-old baby died of malnutrition outside the city of Jabalia in northern Gaza.

The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, has warned that the alarming lack of food and surging malnutrition and disease could lead to an explosion in child deaths in Gaza.

On February 19, UNICEF estimated that one in six children younger than two in Gaza was acutely malnourished.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France- Presse and Reuters.
Ukraines military said Sunday Russia has lost 409,820 troops in Ukraine in its two-year war on Ukraine.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted Russias loss in a report on Facebook.

In addition, the report also said Russia had lost 819 of its troops in the previous day.

Russia has not commented.

Ukraines air force said Sunday its forces downed 16 out of 18 Russian drones aimed at several Ukrainian oblasts.

On Saturday, the second anniversary of Russias invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked those who have supported Ukraine. Because of their cooperation, he said, millions in Ukraine and in neighboring countries around Russia can feel that their homeland will not become Putins backyard.

Zelenskyy used his nightly video address to cite Russian imperial ambitions and revanchism and struck an optimistic note that Russia will be defeated because when the world's leading democracies are truly determined, this determination overcomes all challenges.

We must ensure Russia loses, he said, then the entire global community of nations  and international law as such  will prevail.

Ukrainians commemorated the day by laying flowers to honor their dead, weeping and hoping for victory despite the mounting number of war dead and a Russian offensive that shows no sign of letting up.

G7 pledges support

Leaders of the Group of Seven major democracies marked the second anniversary by pledging to support Ukraine for as long as needed in its war against Russia.

In a statement, the G7 denounced the support of China and Iran for Russia's war on Ukraine and called on Iran to stop helping Russia's military. They also expressed concern about the transfer by Chinese businesses of weapons components and military equipment to Moscow.

Earlier, Western leaders such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the Ukrainian capital to mark the gruesome anniversary in a show of support.

Meloni and Trudeau signed a 10-year defense pact with Ukraine's president and Meloni told the Ukrainian people they "are not alone" in the fight. Trudeau said, "we will stand with Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes."

Trudeau pledged about $2.25 billion in financial and military support for Ukraine this year.
Industry under pressure as prices fall 80%

Zimbabwe set March deadline in November

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe wants miners to come forward by the end of March with plans to produce battery-grade lithium, despite a sharp fall in global prices for the mineral, a senior government official said on Friday.

Africa's top lithium producer Zimbabwe in November gave miners the March deadline to submit plans for the local production of battery-grade lithium, used in electric vehicles and clean energy storage, as it hopes to benefit from a global shift from polluting fuels.

The Chinese miners that dominate Zimbabwe's lithium sector produce concentrates that are shipped to China for further processing.

With global supply of the metal outpacing demand from the battery market over the last year, prices have fallen by more than 80%. In response, many firms have started to cut jobs and curtail output.

In January, the world's top lithium miner Albemarle announced plans to lay off workers and halt expansion. Another U.S. miner, Piedmont Lithium said it had laid off 27% of its workforce.

Although some lithium producers in Zimbabwe are reportedly to be struggling for viability at the current price levels, Deputy Mines Minister Polite Kambamura told Reuters the government still wanted miners to put forward firm plans for building processing capacity.

"As government, we are not going backwards on beneficiation. We would like to urge all lithium players to come forward to the ministry with their beneficiation plans," Kambamura said.

"We did not say by March they should have set up these plants, we said they should come up with plans," he added.

One of the miners, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, has said it would explore local production battery-grade lithium "only when the construction and economic conditions are right".

Huayou says Zimbabwe lacks resources needed to produce battery-grade lithium, including reliable renewable energy, natural gas and sulphuric acid.

Zimbabwe's hard-rock lithium reserves, some of the world's biggest, have attracted over $1 billion of investment, Chengxin Lithium Group, Yahua Group, and Canmax Technologies.

Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Editing by Nelson Banya and Barbara Lewis
Photo: Netflix

Even outside of her role in Swarm, Billie Eilish has a cult following. At the 2024 SAG Awards, Eilish was asked to sign a fans face. Before you alert the authorities, we should note that said fan was fellow presenter Melissa McCarthy. The pair have met several times before, and McCarthy also noted that Eilishs mother was her first improv teacher. Guess who she was pregnant with? It was you, McCarthy blurted nervously. Before they presented the award in the Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series category, McCarthy pulled out a Sharpie and asked for a signature. Eilish initially declined to ruin her beautiful dress. Her face, however? Not a problem. Watch McCarthy face the consequences below.

Here's Billie Eilish signing Melissa McCarthy's forehead at the #SAGAwards. pic.twitter.com/yeDZpga8cI  Netflix (@netflix) February 25, 2024
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

You are the champions, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher told the crowd at the unions most glamorous meeting of the year. During her nearly four-minute speech at the SAG Awards, Drescher criticized AI, reflected on the importance of women who can lead and still rock a red lip, and reminded everyone that we all hold in our hearts the gentle whisper of true love. But the majority of her remarks were devoted to praising the members who participated in the longest strike in SAG-AFTRAs history. Your collective dignity and perseverance to stand up and say we deserve better because we are better resulted in a historic billion-dollar deal, she told the room. Your solidarity ignited workers around the world, triggering what forever will be remembered as the hot labor summer.

Throughout the night, several nominees and presenters also took time to acknowledge the impact of the Hollywood strikes. While opening the ceremony, Idris Elba took a moment to honor and appreciate everyone who stood up for SAG-AFTRA. In her acceptance speech, Lily Gladstone noted that its been a hard year and expressed her pride in having gotten here in solidarity with all of our other unions. Sorry, AMPTP, but it looks like the post-strike solidarity is going strong.
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

This year marked the first time the SAG Awards were streamed live on Netflix, and unlike previous experiments (ahem, Love Is Blind), this broadcast generally went off without a hitch. But just how different did the awards show feel over on its new streaming home?

Throughout the night, there were plenty of references to the streamer, most of which were from the ceremonys unofficial but de facto host Idris Elba. He kicked things off by joking, Personally, I cant wait to get home and have Netflix recommend this show to me, based on all the other stuff I watch myself in, before shouting out the fact that not being on television meant they were able to swear. That perk was one that plenty of presenters and winners took advantage of throughout the night. Most notable, perhaps, was an admittedly drunk Pedro Pascal, who said, This is an incredible fucking honor  were on Netflix. SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher also gave their new home a shout-out during her speech, noting that it meant her parents could watch in their South Florida condo, and Elba even circled back later, joking about Ted Sarandos giving him a stand-up special.

But how was the Netflix synergy? Its standard for any awards show to pad out the ceremony with presenters to promote some show airing on the host network, and this year was no different. For the most part, the show leaned on exciting cast reunions for its presenter lineup, but it managed to sneak in its fair share of plugs  like Sofia Vergara shouting out her new Netflix show Griselda while presenting alongside the Modern Family cast. My new show Griselda is already number one in 90 countries, she said. Elba is a company man as well, between the Luther movie and his 2019 series Turn Up Charlie, where he famously played a DJ. And naturally, Netflix turned to its reliable employee Tan France, of Queer Eye, Next in Fashion, and the Selling Sunset reunions, for preshow coverage and post-win interviews.

Perhaps the biggest sign that we werent on broadcast anymore was the shows lack of commercials. Despite Elba noting that streaming means no interruptions, the show did insert some breaks to maintain the type of pacing were used to. But instead of cartoon bears shilling toilet paper, the breaks were largely spent with France, who interviewed a few of the shows winners backstage. Giddy off of their wins, those brief chats were far more entertaining than the rushed red-carpet coverage that kicked off the show. And perhaps best of all, being on Netflix means the ceremony is especially easy to catch up on if you missed it  at least for the next 28 days.
Linda Wenhold was blown away by the Patriot Academys classes, which tap into a growing fear among some evangelical Christians that their faith and its rightful place at the center of American culture and government were under siege.
In the new testament of modern-day Australia, I envisage a new proverb: regulatory capture goeth before the fall.

This week, Woolworths boss Brad Banducci fell. Last year, Qantas boss Alan Joyce fell. What tripped them? Excellent lobbyists whose success blinded their masters to what the public would bear. Both secured advantages for their companies by playing the political game. Both masters tumbled when the public cottoned on that those advantages were at Mr and Ms Citizens expense.

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci walks out of his interview with ABC TVs Four Corners.

Alan Joyce is long gone, having flown the company and the country before he was forced to face a Senate inquiry. Banducci this week announced his retirement after losing his cool at a journalist in an interview with the ABCs Four Corners.

Banducci presented to the TV interview in the uniform of a Woolworths cashier, complete with name tag Brad, staged in front of shelves full of no doubt heavily discounted wares. The optics were great; shame about the output. In the course of the interview, it was put to Brad that Rod Sims, the former chair of Australias competition regulator the ACCC, has said we have one of the most concentrated supermarket industries in the world. Banducci became agitated, suggesting that Sims knowledge was out of date. When the journalist challenged that statement, he demanded his outburst be edited out, storming off when the journalist demurred.
A man who was shot when he allegedly broke into a home in Perths southern suburbs on Sunday morning claims he was drunk and accidentally stumbled into the wrong house.

Angus Glen Templeman was shot in the upper thigh by the Stake Hill homeowner, who found him in his six-year-old granddaughters bedroom, naked, about 3.20am on Sunday.

Details of how the incident unfolded were outlined in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday. Templeman was due to appear in person after being released from Royal Perth Hospital, but was turned away by court staff because he still had a drip in his arm.

Instead, the hearing was conducted from the back of a police car on Monday afternoon as the 27-year-old was being returned to the watch house.
Patients in NSW have access to 169 fewer fully bulk-billing GP clinics than 12 months ago, as more doctors in Sydneys middle-income suburbs charge gap fees.

The biggest year-on-year changes were in several suburban Sydney electorates  Cook, Barton, Bennelong, Macarthur, Mitchell, Bradfield and Reid  where more than 20 per cent of clinics stopped bulk-billing all their patients, according to data that offers a fresh snapshot of rising out-of-pocket costs that working people face to see a GP.

A patient is bulk-billed when Medicare rebates cover the full cost of a doctors visit, with no gap fees.

In Cook, which takes in the Sutherland Shire, 55 per cent of GP clinics said they bulk-billed all of their patients at the start of last year. By the end of the year, the figure was less than 8 per cent.
Given the pandemonium surrounding Taylor Swifts over-the-top celebrity in the last year, it was probably inevitable that the star would be drawn into the American presidential race.

The contretemps that resulted was greeted with ridicule by most sober-minded people. But it is still an insight into the air of both absurdity and menace that still hangs over the country as the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency looms.

Taylor Swift has turned her back previously on US presidential contender Donald Trump.

Like most cultural figures in America, Swift is appalled by Donald Trump. She endorsed Joe Biden in 2020. She accused Trump of stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism and vowed to help vote him out of office. This campaign, however, shes been silent; she has, after all, been amidst a world tour that, just in 2023, grossed more than a record $1.5 billion in ticket sales.

However, when her new boyfriend  an American football player named Travis Kelce  ended up in the Super Bowl, a certain segment of the American right-wing echosphere went nuts with a conspiracy theory: That the CIA was behind an effort to hand Kelces team the Super Bowl championship, at which time American Sweetheart Swift and her over-muscled beau would use the opportunity to endorse Biden over Trump.
Farmers are planning to protest at next months meeting of Mayo County Council as part of an ongoing campaign to highlight various issues.

Mayo IFA county chair Jarlath Walsh said the environmental and production schemes are not rewarding farmers enough and they will continue to apply pressure to have their plight recognised.

We will be taking some form of action at the March meeting of Mayo County Council, he added.

Mr Walsh, a dairy farmer from Knock, insisted the current farm schemes are unworkable and they are being implemented without the necessary consultation.

We need a change of approach and we need the Government to collaborate more with the farming organisations and the IFA in designing the schemes, he added.

There are a total of 5,723 farmers signed up to ACRES schemes, most of whom have been paid or are due to be paid a flat payment of 4,000, with 2,837 of those on the Co-operation Project (CP).

Mr Walsh said when the administrators are finished assessing the schemes the payments will be rounded up or down.

It is the Co-Operation payment that has been held up the most."

He said over 60 farmers drove tractors during the protest in Castlebar on February 1 and another similar demonstration will likely happen soon.

It showed that farmers have it up to the teeth with the way the schemes are being administered, the late payments, the cheap food policy and the environment side is not adequate so we are being left short, he added.
In the heart of the stunning Erris locality lies Belmullet, a picturesque town known for its captivating landscapes and warm community spirit. Recently, Belmullet stepped into the spotlight with the American premiere of Kevin Siegert's documentary series, A Proper Pint, featuring the iconic McDonnell's Bar.

On February 10, 2024, the American premiere of McDonnell's Bar and Undertakers was showcased at The Irish Cultural Centre and McClelland Library in Phoenix, Arizona. The event was a spectacular celebration of Belmullet's cultural richness, shining a spotlight not only on the town but specifically on the renowned McDonnell's Bar.

The pub is an institution in the Erris capital and attracts a diverse clientele, from locals to visitors. Indeed, a holiday in Erris is not complete without a visit to McDonnell's Pub.

Mairead Melody Carr, Manager of Mayo North Tourism, praised the documentary for capturing Belmullet's essence, stating: "The documentary beautifully captures Belmullet's essence, showcasing its vibrant culture and picturesque landscapes. This exposure is invaluable for attracting visitors and enhancing the tourism experience in North Mayo."

Belmullet recently found itself in the limelight when Hollywood star Dominic Cooper, of Mamma Mia fame, took the stage at McDonnell's Bar, singing karaoke while filming Cry From the Sea in Erris, with production taking place and filming at Ballyglass Lighthouse.

Adding to the excitement, Belmullet 200, a local organisation commemorating 200 years since Belmullet's establishment as a planned town, hopes to host an Irish premiere and Q&A for A Proper Pint - McDonnell's Pub and Undertakers on Saturday, May 4th, in Belmullet. This event will coincide with the annual Mayo Day festivities, which will take place in Belmullet this year over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

Earlier in the week, Kevin Siegert, the filmmaker behind the documentary, took to social media to emphasise his excitement at unveiling the beauty of Belmullet. He shared the trailer link and pledged the screening proceeds to support both the cultural center in Phoenix and Turas Siar on the Mullet Peninsula. Turas Siar, located on the edge of the Atlantic, provides a valuable local history service and education centred around the Irish language. Kevin's decision to provide support for it further highlights his commitment to local communities in supporting and preserving the cultural fabric of the region.

As A Proper Pint unfolds, it becomes a celebration of Belmullet's spirit. Join the community for the Irish premiere on Mayo Day and toast its rich cultural heritage. Further details about Mayo Day will be published in upcoming editions.
More than 100 schoolchildren and 90 adults were trained in life-saving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) last year by a voluntary group in East Mayo.

Kilbeagh Community First Responders work alongside the National Ambulance Service and help people who have suffered cardiac arrests, strokes, chest pains and choking emergencies.

Chairperson Paul Burke said the schoolchildren who have learned the skills are fifth and sixth-class pupils at St Attractas NS in Charlestown, Scoil Iosa in Carracastle, Cloonlyon NS, Tavneena NS and Tavrane NS.

We do a special course for them called Hands For Life and hopefully in May we will go back into the schools again, he said. We encourage them to go home and tell their mums and dads and if their parents do not know how to do it they can do one of our courses.

Kilbeagh CFR was established five years ago and responders administer life-saving CPR in various situations.

As soon as you make that call, then we are alerted at the same time as an ambulance is dispatched, Mr Burke said. We get to the scene first and care for the patient until the ambulance arrives.

Mr Burke said they have 20 responders in the locality who are alerted when a person needs assistance and they have to get there within 10 minutes. He said most cardiac arrests occur in the home and community and early intervention is vitally important as the chances of survival reduce by 10% every minute.

I am now an instructor with the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) and what I am trying to do in the local community is to make people aware of how to do CPR and how to use a defibrillator, he added.

Mr Burke said the group is offering free IHF Heart Saver courses and the next course is on February 28 with further courses being rolled out in the subsequent weeks.

Mr Burke said there are 12 public access defibrillators in the area and for further information or to sign up for a course people can call 087-3878408.
The Parish Priest was making a few visits shortly after his arrival in his new parish. He landed in to Mrs Kelly and while she had a cake just out of the oven, she had nothing to put on the bread. She found a jar of honey with very little left in it. In an effort to cover as much bread as possible, she spread the honey very thinly.

Viewing the slice of bread and its light coating, the priest said: I see, Mrs Kelly, you keep a bee!

There are many signs of the arrival of spring. Snowdrops, morning birdsong, the stretch in the evening, but for me the first real sign of spring comes when I hear that first bee. It is a sound that stops me in my tracks and imparts a surge of anticipation for the year ahead.

Precious

If I was to give one piece of advice about the natural world to a child, it would be to learn about the bees. In the same way that the sun is responsible for much the is good and bountiful in nature, so is the bee.

I am not quite sure if they are sacred but bees are definitely precious. As the famous biologist E.O. Wilson said: If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.

Let me say at the start, I am not a bee expert, I am a bee respecter. I heard a few years ago that an acre of lawn cannot support even one bee. It was my wake-up call with regard to bees. Since that time, my lawn is a lot smaller and I now have a lot more buzzing in my rewilded areas.

Roisin and two-year-old Esme Ferguson, from Kilmaine, at the new exhibition, The Murmur of Bees, at the National Museum of Ireland Country Life at Turlough Park, Castlebar. Picture: Jason Clarke

Survivors

It seems ancient civilisations knew a lot more about bees than we do today. They may not have fully understood the science but they knew the value of bees and their contribution to regeneration, growth and survival. Bees are even reputed to have a supernatural aspect which was known and respected by the ancients.

Studies of the similarity of the DNA in wasps and bees suggest that the first bees appeared about 130 million years ago and probably very shortly after the first flowers evolved in the Cretaceous Period. Dave Goulson in an article written for Scientific America under the heading, The Beguiling History of Bees (2014), takes us right back to the beginning.

Bees first appeared perhaps 130 million years ago, and by 80 million years ago some had evolved a social lifestyle, for the earliest fossil is of a social stingless bee. Some 65 million years after the first bees appeared (and, coincidentally, 65 million years before the present), the earth went through a catastrophic change. Almost all large forms of life on earth then died out very swiftly, the dinosaurs among them. Amazingly, representatives of many of the smaller groups of organisms survived somehow. So far as the sparse fossil record reveals, the main insect groups  bees, ants, grasshoppers, beetles and so on  seem to have recovered swiftly, although it is likely that countless individual insect species became extinct. The flowering plants also survived, presumably as dormant seeds.

A Taste for Honey

Bees were not domesticated, they were more harnessed. Once early man got the taste of honey, he was anxious to harness the bee so that he might have this wholesome treat at his disposal in such a way as not to have to risk life and limb every time he needed a smear of sweetness for his slice. Galway Beekeepers Association website give us some insight in this regard.

Collecting honey from wild bee colonies is one of the most ancient human activities and is still practiced by aboriginal societies in parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. Some of the earliest evidence of gathering honey from wild colonies is from rock paintings, dating to around 13,000 BC. Gathering honey from wild bee colonies is usually done by subduing the bees with smoke and breaking open the tree or rocks where the colony is located, often resulting in the physical destruction of the nest location.

At some point, humans began to attempt to domesticate wild bees in artificial hives made from hollow logs, wooden boxes, pottery vessels, and woven straw baskets. Honeybees were kept in Egypt from antiquity. Inscriptions detailing the production of honey are found on the tomb of Pabasa from the 26th Dynasty (c. 650 BC), depicting pouring honey in jars and cylindrical hives. Sealed pots of honey were found in the grave goods of Pharaohs such as Tutankhamun.

Known unknowns

Apart from hybrid honey bees, Ireland hosts almost 100 species of wild native bees, many of which are found in our Ox Mountain region. But how much do we really know about bees and their complex and sophisticated lives?

When it comes to bees we mostly know about their tasty honey and we know of their ability to pollinate our flowers and crops. However, there are over 20,000 species of bees known today and all of them have a vast diversity of size, appearance, lifecycle and nesting habits. Most modern-day experts agree that to study bees is akin to studying the wider universe.

American Stephen Buchmann in his book, What a Bee Knows: Exploring the Thoughts, Memories and Personalities of Bees, draws from his own research and dozens of other studies to paint an amazing picture of bee behaviour and psychology. He suggests that bees can demonstrate sophisticated emotions resembling optimism, frustration, playfulness and fear, traits more commonly associated with mammals. Experiments have shown bees can experience PTSD-like symptoms, recognise different human faces, process long-term memories while sleeping, and maybe even dream. And all these traits emanate from a brain the size of a poppy seed!

Tell the Bees

Buchmanns theory reminds us of the old tradition of talking to the bees; telling them our troubles or informing them of major events. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the royal beekeeper was dispatched to inform the bees of her passing. Traditionally, it was the respectful and dutiful thing to do.

I could go on about bees and the wider unknown galaxy that surrounds them, and I will at a later date. I know the bees are with me on this; I feel their encouragement as I write. So, for now, be assured they are to be respected.

Beekeeping isnt for everyone but I would urge all readers to develop a healthy respect for the bee. Without them, there is no telling where we will end up. Start by reducing the size of your lawn and just see how they respond to your generosity. This summer the sound of their industry will lift your heart.

The vital role played by bees in supporting biodiversity is being marked with a new exhibition at the National Museum of Country Life in Castlebar that runs for the next 12 months. Check it out.
James Cox

Here, we have a look at the topics that will dominate political discourse in the coming week.

RTE crisis

The RTE scandal is showing no signs of dying down, and it will continue to be a big talking point.

The resignation of RTE board chairwoman Siun Ni Raghallaigh came after more revelations about huge payouts for high-ranking staff.

Media Minister Catherine Martin failed to express confidence in Ms Ni Raghallaigh live on Primetime, prompting a resignation letter in the early hours of the morning.

Ms Martin has faced huge criticism from Opposition parties since, with the Labour Party saying her position is "untenable".

She has been firmly supported by Coalition colleagues such as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.

However, that is unlikely to be the end of the discussion. Sinn Fein has called on Ms Martin to answer questions on the RTE crisis in the Dail this week.

Referendums

On Friday, March 8th, Irish citizens will be asked to vote in two referendums to change the Constitution to provide for a wider concept of family and womens role in society.

The proposals, called the family amendment and the care amendment, would make changes to the text of Article 41 in the Constitution.

The Government, and most of the Opposition, are backing a yes vote from both amendments.

Aontu is the only party backing a no-no vote. However, some Independent TDs, and senators, are doing the same.

Some critics have also said the referendum will not help the position of carers, so this will be a topic in the Dail.

Click here for a comprehensive guide on what we will be voting on.

Abroad

In the US, Donald Trump convincingly won the Republican primary in South Carolina, in another blow to his last party rival Nikki Haley.

Ms Haley, who served as the state's governor, has vowed to continue her campaign but realistically there looks to be no path for her to win the party's nomination.

The other big political story is US president Joe Biden's proposed foreign aid bill.

It would see $14 billion go to Israel as part of a $95 billion foreign aid bill. This has led to fierce criticism within his own party.

It was passed in a bipartisan Senate vote and will now go to the Republican-led House.

There is plenty of political turmoil in the UK as well.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle is facing continued pressure to step down as UK House of Commons speaker after almost 70 MPs called for him to go.

The controversy is over his handling of a debate on a Gaza ceasefire that desceneded into chaos in the Commons.

Meanwhile, prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party faces more controversy.

It comes after senior Tory politician Lee Anderson had the Conservative whip suspended following his widely criticised claim that London mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by Islamists.
The official launch of Anne Walsh-Donnelly's new book, He Used To Be Me, will be held in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Saturday, March 2nd, at 2.30pm. The book has been described as an impressive debut, highly original, written in vivid, memorable prose.

Published by New Island Books, He Used To Be Me tells the story of Matt, a Mayo man who wanders the streets of Castlebar in search of the claw marks of the caga (jackdaws) who have spoken to him since he was a boy. In extraordinary prose, Anne Walsh Donnelly imagines Matts inner life, from the loss of his twin brother as a child, through the care-free days of early manhood, to the aftermath of a horse-riding accident that would leave him in care for another 30 years.

Praising the book, renowned author Dermot Bolger says: Every town has marginalised figures, roaming the streets for so long as to be barely noticed. Anne Walsh-Donnellys sublime achievement is to reclaim one such mans past by allowing him space to articulate his story in a unique and fragmented manner.

Mayo writer and poet Alice Kinsella says:  He Used To Be Me is an exquisite piece of art. The writing is crisp and poetic. Its a story of heartache and magic, and the inner workings of a mind on the edge. This is a man who is so original and yet recognisable, the person who rarely makes it into literature, yet lives on the fringes of many communities. An intense burst of a life that will carry you not just along but within it.

Anne is looking forward to the launch of her new novel.

I wanted to have the official launch of He Used To Be Me in the Linenhall in Castlebar because this is very much a Mayo book. The fictional character Matt came roaring into my life during the collaborate writing and visual art Benchmark project in the Linenhall in 2019. I am looking forward to reading extracts from the book at the launch and giving the audience a glimpse of Matts life.

Anne Walsh-Donnelly lives in Castlebar and writes prose, poetry and plays. Her published poetry collections include Odd as F*ck and The Woman With An Owl Tattoo. Poetry Ireland, in conjunction with Mayo Arts Office, appointed her as Poet Laureate for the town of Belmullet in 2021. Her play, My Dead Husbands Hereford Bull, was performed in the Linenhall in 2022.

He Used To Be Me is now available in all good bookshops and will also be on sale at the launch. It can also be ordered online from the New Island website.
WASHINGTON  With election season already underway, some state election officials are expressing frustration that Congress has yet to allocate federal money they have come to rely on to help cover the costs of securing their systems from attacks, updating equipment and training staff.

Election officials face a long list of challenges this year, including potential cyberattacks waged by foreign governments, criminal ransomware gangs attacking computer systems and the persistence of election misinformation that has led to harassment of election officials and undermined public confidence.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said it was demoralizing and disappointing that the federal government hasnt committed to investing in this year's presidential election.

We are managing federal elections that are the foundation of who has power at the federal level and trying to manage a lot of different competing risks and challenges that have only escalated in recent years, said Benson, a Democrat. It makes us feel like were on our own.

Since the 2016 election and the federal governments decision to add the nations voting systems to its list of critical infrastructure, Congress has sent $995 million to states for election administration and security needs.

In Colorado, the money has been used to develop a system for voters to track their ballots and pay for training for election officials. Florida officials designated the money for increasing security of the states voter registration system. Elsewhere, federal money has been used to replace voting machines and add cybersecurity staff.

Most of that was allocated ahead of the 2020 election, as states rushed to boost cybersecurity defenses, and has been exhausted. A separate $400 million was required to be spent on pandemic-related election costs in 2020.

The last chunk of election-related funding was $75 million approved by Congress in December 2022. State allocations ranged from $5.8 million for California to $1 million for Nevada.

Los Angeles elections alone costs $75 million, said Kathy Boockvar, the former chief elections official in Pennsylvania. I dont think election officials have had expectations of $400 million. People have hoped for $75 million, and its unclear whether even that will come.

PARTISAN BUDGET DISPUTES

Federal budget negotiations have been mired in partisan disputes, with agencies mostly operating on spending levels approved for 2023. Congress has been able to approve only temporary funding plans, which cover a few months at a time. The next deadline is March 1, when the most recent temporary funding plan expires for some departments and a week later for others. The government faces a potential shutdown if new funding is not approved.

Even if a deal is reached, there's no guarantee of new money for elections. House Republicans last year listed election security grants as wasteful spending and did not allocate money for it in their spending proposal. Instead, they have been focused on legislation that would ban private organizations from providing money to election offices.

Americans deserve to have confidence in our elections, which means elections should be free from undue private influence, U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican who chairs the Committee on House Administration, said at a recent hearing.

A $75 million Senate proposal for election security is being negotiated as part of the final spending package.

Administering free and fair elections is year-round work that takes planning and resources, and election officials on the front lines of our democracy need a steady stream of funding so that they can do things like replace aging equipment, strengthen cybersecurity, and keep pace with new technology, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said in a statement.

TOUGH DECISIONS

In North Carolina, state election officials have had to make some tough decisions as the needs have outpaced state and federal funding.

North Carolinas State Board of Elections has reduced its cybersecurity staff by one employee and has been forced to cut back in other areas to meet some of the needs for election security, said Karen Brinson Bell, the agencys executive director. A team of six employees that had been handling election data has been reduced to just one full-time position, with another person helping part-time. Some eliminated positions were funded by federal grants that are no longer available.

Every effort weve put forward for cybersecurity has come through federal funding, and without that continuous funding and no new funding through the (North Carolina) legislature, its hard to sustain a strong cyber posture, Brinson Bell said.

During its recent meeting, the National Association of Secretaries of State passed a resolution calling on Congress to provide sufficient money to help officials address cybersecurity threats.

West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, a Republican, said he does not support federal money for elections because typically, it comes with strings attached.

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, also a Republican, said he would welcome federal assistance for cybersecurity needs if there was flexibility on how states spent it.

I dont necessarily mind a partnership there with some funding, as long as states are the ones that have the ability to spend those dollars  because what happens in Mississippi may be a little bit different than Minnesota or Maine or California, Watson said.

SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS

Kim Wyman, the former secretary of state in Washington, said federal officials should heed the lessons of the 2000 election -- when some election offices were well-funded and others less so. She said the Help America Vote Act of 2002, approved by Congress in the aftermath of the ballot confusion in Florida, leveled the playing field with $3.2 billion in federal money going to the states. A similar investment is needed now, she said.

Wisconsin election officials have used previous federal money to provide grants to local election offices that have helped them boost their technology support and training. They also have been able to buy new voting equipment and mail ballot envelopes, said Meagan Wolfe, the nonpartisan administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

New Mexico has used federal money to help cover the costs of its election security program. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, said election officials need predictability.

When we create programs, we want to be able to sustain those programs, not just for a year or for two years. We want to sustain them for the long term, she said.

In Minnesota, the state has used federal money to create grants for local election officials for voting system upgrades, including electronic pollbooks and tabulators. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said he was concerned about the lack of federal funding and the message that sends about the nations priorities.

Nobody I know is looking for Congress to fund state elections, said Simon, a Democrat. What we are looking for  for election security and other purposes -- is for them to be a partner in helping us to fill some gaps.

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

MORE COVERAGE OF 2024 ELECTIONS AND POLITICS
READING, Pa.  The Reading Police Department said it continues to investigate a deadly shooting that happened around midnight.

Police said it happened in the 1200 block of Windsor Street.

Officials have identified the victim as Wilfredo Soto-Rosario.

Officers could be seen on Windsor Street into the afternoon.

A large area had been taped off, including a portion of the sidewalk

Police were taking pictures inside the taped off area.

"We need the public's help and we do believe that there are people out there that have information in regard to this homicide," said Adams. "So we would ask them to please contact Crime Alert Berks County or the Reading Police Department with any information that they may have about this incident," said Adams.

Police said there is no suspect information at this time.

The District Attorney said he cannot comment at this point on what the motive could be.
WHITEHALL TWP., Pa.  A major fundraiser where local music students are putting on piano performances is taking place this weekend at Lehigh Valley Mall.

A soundtrack for Saturday shopping, courtesy of some of the best young musicians in the Lehigh Valley.

It's called Playathon, and it's the largest fundraiser for the Lehigh Valley Association of Professional Music Educators.

"It's a fundraiser to support our scholarships, to support our trips to the Philadelphia Orchestra," said Kristin Fosbenner, the Association's President.

When fast fingers meet mall foot traffic, musicians admit they can get a little lost. The acoustics in a mall are much different than a studio or a house.

"Here, you're playing and you can barely hear yourself," said Adrian Lee, a high school freshman. "So you don't know if you're playing the right dynamics, loud or soft."

"I've always seen videos of people playing in malls and stuff, and I just love to play for the world and just share my talent," said Lindsay Detwiler, a freshman at Moravian University.

Money donated this weekend will be used for college scholarships and also to send children to summer music camps.

Sometimes (the money) covers the whole week-long camp and the child will come back, and they're like a new person," said music teacher Susan Kuntz. 'It's just changed their whole outlook on life."

The 42nd annual Playathon continues Sunday at the Lehigh Valley Mall from noon until 5 P-M.
N. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa.  Pennsylvania State Police are seeking a man who they say broke into and stole from a convenience store in Lehigh County.

According to police, the incident occurred at Binny Mart in North Whitehall Township around midnight between Thursday, Feb. 22, and Friday, Feb. 23. The man smashed the store's glass door and removed items before fleeing west toward the nearby Villa Lentini restaurant on foot, police said.

According to police, the suspect is a white man who was wearing all black and carrying a black bookbag.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police-Bethlehem a (610) 861-2026.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  Demolition of Bethlehem's Walnut Street Garage remains on hold, one day after the demolition took a dangerous change.

Part of the structure collapsed and a large beam hit a building across the street.

It was a jarring sound, witnesses calling it a mini earthquake as part of the Walnut Street Garage came crashing down.

No construction was going on Saturday at the site, as residents came by to inspect the damage.

"My friend used to live in that condo, he has since moved to another place in Bethlehem but it's a beautiful condo." said Anthony Kovacs, who says his father owns four units in the same building. "It's just a shame a beam has fallen on it. It could have been really dangerous."

The company assigned to the job, Vollers, said in a statement, it's "believed that a support beam failed to fall in a controlled fashion."

Vollers called the damage to the adjacent building's roof "minor."

"The steel could have pierced through the ceiling. Imagine if someone was in that room. They could have been seriously hurt." said resident Taras Kohut.

The Bethlehem Historic District Association is calling for a full accounting of what went wrong. The city says that, after the accident, there are now vibration monitors on the site 24 hours a day.

People we spoke with are expecting a full report from the city.

"If they're closer to the buildings. they should do it more manually and not just with a crane," Kohut said.

"They just need to do much more safety training. That's first and foremost. You can't have accidents like that happening. Somebody could have been killed," said Kovacs.

A statement from the Bethlehem Parking Authority says demolition will remain paused until engineers and other professionals evaluate demolition methods to ensure the "safest approach for the remaining removal of the structure."

There's no time frame for when crews will resume demolition.
Agnico Eagle Mines (TSE:AEM  Free Report) (NYSE:AEM) had its price target lowered by TD Securities to C$62.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. National Bank Financial restated an outperform overweight rating on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Cormark cut their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$97.00 to C$90.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$91.00 to C$94.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, National Bankshares increased their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$84.00 to C$85.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$83.00.

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Agnico Eagle Mines Price Performance

Agnico Eagle Mines Cuts Dividend

AEM opened at C$67.00 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$67.96 and a 200-day moving average of C$66.78. The firm has a market capitalization of C$33.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.57, a PEG ratio of 22.97 and a beta of 1.04. Agnico Eagle Mines has a 12-month low of C$59.36 and a 12-month high of C$82.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.32.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a $0.537 dividend. This represents a $2.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.21%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Agnico Eagle Miness dividend payout ratio is currently 40.34%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Senior Officer Christopher Charles Norman Vollmershausen sold 3,125 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$68.98, for a total value of C$215,562.50. In related news, Senior Officer Christopher Charles Norman Vollmershausen sold 3,125 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$68.98, for a total value of C$215,562.50. Also, Senior Officer Dominique Girard sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$74.27, for a total transaction of C$371,350.00. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 85,504 shares of company stock valued at $6,219,142. 0.11% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Agnico Eagle Mines Company Profile

(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.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of AutoNation (NYSE:AN  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Wednesday.

AN has been the topic of several other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on AutoNation from $144.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on AutoNation in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. They issued an outperform rating and a $185.00 price objective on the stock. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of AutoNation in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised AutoNation from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $145.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AutoNation has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $175.13.

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AutoNation Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of AN stock opened at $140.93 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $5.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.22, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.21. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $144.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $143.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a current ratio of 0.77. AutoNation has a fifty-two week low of $120.26 and a fifty-two week high of $182.08.

AutoNation (NYSE:AN  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $5.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.85 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $6.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.67 billion. AutoNation had a return on equity of 48.76% and a net margin of 3.79%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $6.37 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that AutoNation will post 19.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other AutoNation news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 77,284 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.58, for a total value of $11,019,152.72. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,659,161 shares in the company, valued at approximately $664,303,175.38. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 380,497 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.12, for a total value of $54,456,730.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,278,664 shares in the company, valued at approximately $612,362,391.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Edward S. Lampert sold 77,284 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.58, for a total value of $11,019,152.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 4,659,161 shares of the companys stock, valued at $664,303,175.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 497,661 shares of company stock worth $71,540,522 in the last ninety days. 0.69% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AutoNation

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in AutoNation by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,820,370 shares of the companys stock worth $480,012,000 after buying an additional 123,772 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in AutoNation by 29.0% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,505,122 shares of the companys stock worth $149,880,000 after buying an additional 338,288 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in AutoNation by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,186,479 shares of the companys stock worth $159,415,000 after buying an additional 70,224 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in AutoNation by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,154,274 shares of the companys stock worth $117,586,000 after buying an additional 32,750 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in AutoNation by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 908,463 shares of the companys stock worth $90,466,000 after buying an additional 36,620 shares during the period. 97.22% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About AutoNation

(Get Free Report)

AutoNation, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Domestic, Import, and Premium Luxury. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and parts and services, such as automotive repair and maintenance, and wholesale parts and collision services.

Further Reading

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Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS  Free Report) (TSE:BNS) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, MarketBeat reports. The firm issued a hold rating on the banks stock.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. StockNews.com raised Bank of Nova Scotia from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Bank of Nova Scotia from $73.00 to $68.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bank of Nova Scotia presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $69.00.

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Bank of Nova Scotia Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:BNS opened at $47.59 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $57.78 billion, a PE ratio of 11.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $47.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.62. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 12-month low of $39.79 and a 12-month high of $53.11.

Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS  Get Free Report) (TSE:BNS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 28th. The bank reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by ($0.28). The business had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.98 billion. Bank of Nova Scotia had a return on equity of 11.87% and a net margin of 10.47%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.55 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Bank of Nova Scotia will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of Nova Scotia Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 3rd were given a $0.7773 dividend. This represents a $3.11 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 2nd. Bank of Nova Scotias dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 72.73%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of Nova Scotia

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BNS. Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Bank of Nova Scotia in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $42,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia by 135.6% during the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 919 shares of the banks stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 529 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its stake in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia by 71.6% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 858 shares of the banks stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 358 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $67,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 43.18% of the companys stock.

About Bank of Nova Scotia

(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.

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors grew its holdings in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Free Report) by 5.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,301 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the period. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $376,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. GSB Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 23.9% in the third quarter. GSB Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,404 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,699,000 after purchasing an additional 2,005 shares during the last quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. raised its position in Travelers Companies by 61.7% during the third quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 18,770 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,065,000 after acquiring an additional 7,165 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp raised its position in Travelers Companies by 0.9% during the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,431,825 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $560,451,000 after acquiring an additional 29,989 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its position in Travelers Companies by 5.7% during the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 874,458 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $142,808,000 after acquiring an additional 47,189 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp raised its position in Travelers Companies by 8.2% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 185,152 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $30,237,000 after acquiring an additional 13,972 shares in the last quarter. 81.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on TRV shares. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $204.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $205.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $215.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $220.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $201.38.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 270 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.00, for a total value of $48,060.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 255,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,421,684. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 38,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.55, for a total value of $8,076,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 14,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,147,865.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 270 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred 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 owns 255,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,421,684. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 110,045 shares of company stock worth $23,391,963 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Travelers Companies Trading Down 0.6 %

TRV stock opened at $220.96 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 0.34. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $203.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $180.44. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $157.33 and a 52 week high of $223.88. The company has a market capitalization of $50.63 billion, a PE ratio of 17.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.58.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 19th. The insurance provider reported $7.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.10 by $1.91. The firm 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 businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.40 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid 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 1.81%. 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.

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Northwest Natural Holding (NYSE:NWN  Free Report) by 46.6% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,114 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 2,895 shares during the quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in Northwest Natural were worth $348,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in NWN. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Northwest Natural by 8.2% during the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,581 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $289,000 after buying an additional 422 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of Northwest Natural by 80.0% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 234,887 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $12,149,000 after buying an additional 104,423 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Northwest Natural by 20.5% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 6,526 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $338,000 after buying an additional 1,108 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of Northwest Natural by 1.5% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 464,297 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $24,014,000 after buying an additional 7,071 shares during the period. Finally, US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in shares of Northwest Natural by 2.0% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 11,286 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $584,000 after buying an additional 219 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.88% of the companys stock.

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Northwest Natural Trading Down 9.8 %

NYSE NWN opened at $35.85 on Friday. Northwest Natural Holding has a 52-week low of $34.95 and a 52-week high of $49.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.79, a P/E/G ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.58. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $37.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.42.

Northwest Natural Dividend Announcement

Northwest Natural ( NYSE:NWN Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 23rd. The utilities provider reported $1.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.31 by ($0.10). Northwest Natural had a net margin of 7.98% and a return on equity of 7.96%. The company had revenue of $355.71 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $368.78 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.36 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Northwest Natural Holding will post 2.3 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 31st were issued a $0.488 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 30th. This represents a $1.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.44%. Northwest Naturals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 75.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on shares of Northwest Natural in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. They set a neutral rating and a $39.00 price target for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Northwest Natural currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $45.20.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Northwest Natural

Northwest Natural Company Profile

(Free Report)

Northwest Natural Holding Company, through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The company operates Mist gas storage facility contracted to other utilities and third-party marketers; offers natural gas asset management services; and operates an appliance retail center.

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Mendel Money Management lifted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 3.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,536 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the quarter. Mendel Money Managements holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $397,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BDX. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 4,900.0% during the 2nd quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 100 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.72% of the companys stock.

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Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BDX traded up $2.58 on Friday, hitting $246.20. The companys stock had a trading volume of 992,662 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,564,688. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12 month low of $228.62 and a 12 month high of $287.32. The company has a market capitalization of $71.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 58.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.43. The stocks 50-day moving average is $239.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $251.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.08.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

Becton, Dickinson and Company ( NYSE:BDX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.39 by $0.29. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 13.57% and a net margin of 6.44%. The company had revenue of $4.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.73 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.98 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.94 EPS for the current year.

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 paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.54%. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 90.05%.

Insider Activity at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 2,156 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.47, for a total transaction of $514,141.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 4,120 shares of the companys stock, valued at $982,496.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on BDX. Raymond James upped their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $269.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $310.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Barclays increased their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $301.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, TheStreet lowered Becton, Dickinson and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $279.17.

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Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Builders FirstSource (NYSE:BLDR  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

BLDR has been the subject of several other research reports. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on shares of Builders FirstSource in a research report on Friday, January 19th. They set an outperform rating and a $220.00 price target for the company. Wedbush raised their target price on shares of Builders FirstSource from $175.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th. B. Riley raised shares of Builders FirstSource from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $128.00 to $177.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Builders FirstSource from $175.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Builders FirstSource from $184.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Builders FirstSource has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $178.60.

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Read Our Latest Report on Builders FirstSource

Builders FirstSource Trading Up 0.2 %

Insider Buying and Selling at Builders FirstSource

Shares of BLDR opened at $188.67 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.74 and a beta of 2.04. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $172.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $145.56. Builders FirstSource has a twelve month low of $78.24 and a twelve month high of $194.69.

In other news, insider Michael Alan Farmer sold 3,318 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.64, for a total transaction of $483,233.52. Following the sale, the insider now owns 60,660 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,834,522.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Builders FirstSource

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of Builders FirstSource by 13.3% in the third quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 52,312 shares of the companys stock worth $6,512,000 after buying an additional 6,155 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Builders FirstSource in the second quarter worth approximately $1,387,000. Candriam S.C.A. purchased a new position in shares of Builders FirstSource in the second quarter worth approximately $1,243,000. Forsta AP Fonden boosted its holdings in shares of Builders FirstSource by 37.3% in the third quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 71,400 shares of the companys stock worth $8,889,000 after buying an additional 19,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Transform Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Builders FirstSource in the third quarter worth approximately $4,459,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.73% of the companys stock.

Builders FirstSource Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Builders FirstSource, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and supplies building materials, manufactured components, and construction services to professional homebuilders, sub-contractors, remodelers, and consumers in the United States. It offers lumber and lumber sheet goods comprising dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products that are used in on-site house framing; manufactured products, such as wood floor and roof trusses, steel roof trusses, wall panels, stairs, and engineered wood products; and windows, and interior and exterior door units, as well as interior trims and custom products comprising intricate mouldings, stair parts, and columns under the Synboard brand name.

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C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new position in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (NYSE:FOUR  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 640 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,000.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Regal Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Shift4 Payments in the third quarter worth about $976,000. Truist Financial Corp purchased a new position in Shift4 Payments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,388,000. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Shift4 Payments by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 189,867 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,513,000 after purchasing an additional 13,822 shares during the period. Boston Partners purchased a new position in Shift4 Payments during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,424,000. Finally, Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Shift4 Payments during the 3rd quarter valued at about $683,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.82% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Shift4 Payments from $76.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Shift4 Payments from $60.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Piper Sandler restated an overweight rating and set a $85.00 price target on shares of Shift4 Payments in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Benchmark assumed coverage on Shift4 Payments in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. They set a buy rating and a $95.00 price target on the stock. Finally, DA Davidson boosted their price target on Shift4 Payments from $80.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Shift4 Payments presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $81.86.

Insider Transactions at Shift4 Payments

In other news, Director Sarah Goldsmith-Grover sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.04, for a total value of $65,040.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,717 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $501,913.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 32.14% of the companys stock.

Shift4 Payments Stock Performance

Shares of FOUR opened at $75.01 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 3.31, a current ratio of 3.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.23. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $74.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $63.17. Shift4 Payments, Inc. has a 52 week low of $42.91 and a 52 week high of $79.20. The stock has a market cap of $6.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 1.59.

About Shift4 Payments

(Free Report)

Shift4 Payments, Inc (NYSE FOUR) provides integrated payment processing and technology solutions in the United States. Its payments platform provides omni-channel card acceptance and processing solutions, including end-to-end payment processing for various payment types; merchant acquiring; proprietary omni-channel gateway; complementary software integrations; integrated and mobile point-of-sale (POS) solutions; security and risk management solutions; and reporting and analytical tools, as well as tokenization, risk management/underwriting, payment device and chargeback management, fraud prevention, and gift card solutions.

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C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. grew its stake in shares of QuantumScape Co. (NYSE:QS  Free Report) by 37.3% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 6,754 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,835 shares during the period. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd.s holdings in QuantumScape were worth $45,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of QuantumScape by 10.3% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 778,770 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,569,000 after acquiring an additional 72,570 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its holdings in shares of QuantumScape by 78.5% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 11,310 shares of the companys stock valued at $226,000 after acquiring an additional 4,975 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of QuantumScape by 14.4% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 65,502 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,309,000 after acquiring an additional 8,253 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its holdings in shares of QuantumScape by 18.7% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 20,611 shares of the companys stock valued at $412,000 after acquiring an additional 3,253 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. grew its holdings in shares of QuantumScape by 10.4% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 88,582 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,771,000 after acquiring an additional 8,342 shares in the last quarter. 27.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently issued reports on QS. Truist Financial upped their target price on QuantumScape from $7.00 to $8.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. HSBC began coverage on QuantumScape in a research note on Monday, December 4th. They issued a reduce rating and a $4.70 price objective on the stock. William Blair began coverage on QuantumScape in a research note on Monday, December 18th. They issued a market perform rating on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on QuantumScape from $5.00 to $8.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $6.71.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other QuantumScape news, CFO Kevin Hettrich sold 34,607 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.54, for a total transaction of $226,329.78. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 554,553 shares in the company, valued at $3,626,776.62. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Jeffrey B. Straubel sold 138,618 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.93, for a total value of $960,622.74. Following the transaction, the director now owns 292,644 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,028,022.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Kevin Hettrich sold 34,607 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.54, for a total transaction of $226,329.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 554,553 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,626,776.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 656,104 shares of company stock worth $4,878,863 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 10.18% of the companys stock.

QuantumScape Stock Performance

NYSE:QS opened at $6.04 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $7.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $6.72. QuantumScape Co. has a 1 year low of $4.99 and a 1 year high of $13.86. 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 (NYSE:QS  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported ($0.23) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.19) by ($0.04). During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.25) earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that QuantumScape Co. will post -0.96 earnings per share for the current year.

About QuantumScape

(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.

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Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Free Report) by 23.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 111,307 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after purchasing an additional 21,046 shares during the quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLCs holdings in Ford Motor were worth $1,382,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. AlphaCore Capital LLC increased its stake in Ford Motor by 9.4% during the third quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 72,430 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $900,000 after acquiring an additional 6,210 shares during the last quarter. Syntax Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Ford Motor by 12.5% during the 3rd quarter. Syntax Advisors LLC now owns 20,032 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $249,000 after purchasing an additional 2,220 shares during the last quarter. Algert Global LLC purchased a new stake in Ford Motor during the 3rd quarter valued at $190,000. Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in Ford Motor by 3.8% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 38,108,825 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $473,312,000 after buying an additional 1,392,408 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mariner LLC boosted its stake in Ford Motor by 4.4% during the third quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 4,607,078 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $57,220,000 after buying an additional 194,812 shares during the period. 52.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, insider John Douglas Field bought 182,000 shares of Ford Motor stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $11.05 per share, for a total transaction of $2,011,100.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 720,176 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,957,944.80. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock.

Ford Motor Stock Performance

Shares of Ford Motor stock opened at $12.14 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $11.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.64. The firm has a market cap of $48.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.24, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.62. Ford Motor has a 12 month low of $9.63 and a 12 month high of $15.42.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.17. Ford Motor had a net margin of 2.47% and a return on equity of 18.95%. The business had revenue of $43.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $43.06 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.51 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Ford Motor will post 1.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ford Motor Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a yield of 4.7%. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

F has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $12.00 target price on shares of Ford Motor in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. BNP Paribas downgraded shares of Ford Motor from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $12.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Barclays upped their target price on Ford Motor from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Ford Motor in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. They set a sell rating and a $10.00 price target for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Ford Motor from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Ford Motor presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $13.81.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on F

Ford Motor Profile

(Free Report)

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.

Further Reading

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Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. lifted its position in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) by 97.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,008 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 9,900 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $1,379,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in Dell Technologies by 17.7% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 14,076 shares of the technology companys stock worth $706,000 after acquiring an additional 2,117 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. bought a new position in Dell Technologies during the first quarter worth $304,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Dell Technologies during the first quarter worth $568,000. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in Dell Technologies by 2.0% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 254,266 shares of the technology companys stock worth $12,762,000 after acquiring an additional 4,949 shares during the period. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its position in Dell Technologies by 5.2% during the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 6,090 shares of the technology companys stock worth $306,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the period. 38.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Dell Technologies Stock Up 2.9 %

Shares of NYSE DELL opened at $90.35 on Friday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $80.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.02. The company has a market cap of $64.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.90. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 12-month low of $35.96 and a 12-month high of $92.68.

Dell Technologies Announces Dividend

Dell Technologies ( NYSE:DELL Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The technology company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.46 by $0.42. The business had revenue of $22.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.01 billion. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 2.92% and a negative return on equity of 150.29%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.01 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 5.66 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 23rd were given a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, January 22nd. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.64%. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Iv (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 239,112 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.43, for a total transaction of $18,992,666.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 293,812 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,337,487.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 48.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on DELL. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. TD Cowen boosted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $58.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $80.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $78.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $82.47.

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Dell Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in Duolingo, Inc. (NYSE:DUOL  Free Report) by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 58,730 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,105 shares during the quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Duolingo were worth $9,742,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in DUOL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Duolingo by 112.9% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 59,291 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,640,000 after acquiring an additional 31,446 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in Duolingo by 40.7% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 9,201 shares of the companys stock valued at $876,000 after acquiring an additional 2,661 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Duolingo by 95.6% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 822,978 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,275,000 after acquiring an additional 402,222 shares in the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC raised its holdings in Duolingo by 73.8% in the first quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 216,817 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,621,000 after acquiring an additional 92,031 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in Duolingo in the first quarter valued at approximately $342,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.93% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Duolingo

In other news, General Counsel Stephen C. Chen sold 2,000 shares of Duolingo stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.00, for a total transaction of $380,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 35,033 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,656,270. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, General Counsel Stephen C. Chen sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.00, for a total value of $380,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 35,033 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,656,270. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Matthew Skaruppa sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.93, for a total transaction of $1,703,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 50,974 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,853,893.82. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 154,000 shares of company stock valued at $31,990,740 in the last 90 days. 19.85% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Duolingo Stock Up 0.1 %

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Shares of NYSE DUOL opened at $177.13 on Friday. Duolingo, Inc. has a one year low of $86.36 and a one year high of $245.87. The companys fifty day moving average is $202.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $182.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 3.49 and a current ratio of 3.49.

A number of research firms have weighed in on DUOL. Piper Sandler reissued an overweight rating and set a $217.00 price objective on shares of Duolingo in a report on Monday, November 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Duolingo from a neutral rating to a sell rating and set a $160.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Friday, January 19th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC raised their price objective on shares of Duolingo from $160.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $176.78.

View Our Latest Stock Report on DUOL

Duolingo Profile

(Free Report)

Duolingo, Inc operates as a mobile learning platform in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers courses in 40 different languages, including Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese through its Duolingo app. It also provides a digital language proficiency assessment exam.

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Element Solutions (NYSE:ESI  Free Report) had its price objective lowered by Mizuho from $27.00 to $26.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the company. UBS Group raised their price objective on Element Solutions from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. TheStreet downgraded Element Solutions from a b rating to a c rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $24.75.

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Read Our Latest Report on ESI

Element Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of ESI stock opened at $23.39 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $5.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.82 and a beta of 1.31. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $20.83. Element Solutions has a 12-month low of $17.08 and a 12-month high of $24.14. The company has a current ratio of 3.24, a quick ratio of 2.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82.

Element Solutions (NYSE:ESI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 20th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.32. Element Solutions had a return on equity of 13.51% and a net margin of 5.06%. The firm had revenue of $573.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $590.43 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.29 EPS. Element Solutionss quarterly revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Element Solutions will post 1.48 EPS for the current year.

Element Solutions Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.37%. Element Solutionss dividend payout ratio is currently 65.31%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Benjamin Gliklich sold 61,667 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.20, for a total value of $1,430,674.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 704,395 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,341,964. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Michael Goralski sold 1,169 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.20, for a total transaction of $27,120.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 146,297 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,394,090.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Benjamin Gliklich sold 61,667 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.20, for a total transaction of $1,430,674.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 704,395 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,341,964. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 97,203 shares of company stock worth $2,255,110. 7.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. American Trust acquired a new position in shares of Element Solutions during the 4th quarter valued at about $204,000. Eventide Asset Management LLC increased its position in Element Solutions by 14.4% during the 4th quarter. Eventide Asset Management LLC now owns 782,325 shares of the companys stock worth $18,103,000 after purchasing an additional 98,545 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in Element Solutions by 10.4% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,217,370 shares of the companys stock worth $28,171,000 after purchasing an additional 114,947 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its position in Element Solutions by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 406,840 shares of the companys stock worth $9,414,000 after purchasing an additional 2,558 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in Element Solutions by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 224,255 shares of the companys stock worth $5,189,000 after purchasing an additional 13,668 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.05% of the companys stock.

Element Solutions Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Element Solutions Inc operates as a specialty chemicals company in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Electronics, and Industrial & Specialty. The Electronics segment researches, formulates, and sells specialty chemicals and materials for various types of electronics hardware products.

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Cadence Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR  Free Report) by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,227 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the quarter. Cadence Banks holdings in Entergy were worth $391,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ETR. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Entergy by 157.1% during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 270 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its position in Entergy by 108.8% during the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 307 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in Entergy during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Entergy during the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new position in Entergy during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors own 86.52% of the companys stock.

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Entergy Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE ETR opened at $102.50 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $21.68 billion, a PE ratio of 9.24, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.71. The business has a fifty day moving average of $100.65 and a two-hundred day moving average of $97.98. Entergy Co. has a 52-week low of $87.10 and a 52-week high of $111.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.57.

Entergy Dividend Announcement

Entergy ( NYSE:ETR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.52. The company had revenue of $2.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.27 billion. Entergy had a return on equity of 10.54% and a net margin of 19.41%. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.51 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Entergy Co. will post 7.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.41%. Entergys payout ratio is presently 40.76%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Entergy

In related news, EVP Marcus V. Brown sold 38,417 shares of Entergy stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.53, for a total value of $3,900,478.01. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,380 shares of the companys stock, valued at $952,351.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have commented on ETR. Guggenheim increased their price target on Entergy from $99.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. Mizuho lowered their price target on Entergy from $113.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 3rd. Bank of America upgraded Entergy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $94.00 to $110.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Barclays increased their price target on Entergy from $99.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Entergy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $103.00 to $118.00 in a report on Monday, November 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $110.82.

Get Our Latest Research Report on ETR

Entergy Profile

(Free Report)

Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Utility and Entergy Wholesale Commodities. The Utility segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans; and distributes natural gas.

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Epoch Investment Partners Inc. boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 195.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 66,067 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 43,723 shares during the quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc.s holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $15,216,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 3.7% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,666 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,024,000 after buying an additional 348 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 4.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 9,070 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,899,000 after purchasing an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 54.7% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,859 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $599,000 after purchasing an additional 1,011 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 9.9% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,407 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $504,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 70.7% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 746 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $156,000 after purchasing an additional 309 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on ITW shares. Citigroup increased their target price on 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 raised their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $238.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Illinois Tool Works from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and cut their price target for the stock from $277.00 to $240.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Bank of America downgraded Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and cut their price target for the stock from $260.00 to $235.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $215.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $239.33.

Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works

In other news, Chairman Ernest Scott Santi sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.44, for a total value of $12,722,000.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 221,015 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $56,235,056.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Chairman Ernest Scott Santi sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.44, for a total value of $12,722,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 221,015 shares in the company, valued at approximately $56,235,056.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,827 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on 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 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 have sold 152,304 shares of company stock valued at $38,860,831 in the last three months. 0.88% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Illinois Tool Works Trading Up 0.6 %

Illinois Tool Works stock opened at $260.13 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.33. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $257.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $244.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $77.73 billion, a PE ratio of 26.71, a PEG ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52 week low of $217.06 and a 52 week high of $267.12.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.42 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.01. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 96.60% and a net margin of 18.36%. The business had revenue of $3.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.34 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.40 per share. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is 57.49%.

Illinois Tool Works Company 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.

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Fiducian Group Ltd (ASX:FID  Get Free Report) insider Samir (Sam) Hallab acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 19th. The shares were bought at an average cost of A$6.69 ($4.37) per share, with a total value of A$33,450.00 ($21,862.75).

Fiducian Group Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 2.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.11.

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Fiducian Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a Interim dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 10th. Investors of record on Sunday, March 10th will be issued a $0.182 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. This is a positive change from Fiducian Groups previous Interim dividend of $0.12. This represents a dividend yield of 2.8%. Fiducian Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 83.72%.

About Fiducian Group

Fiducian Group Ltd, through its subsidiaries, provides financial services in Australia. It operates through Funds Management, Financial Planning, Corporate Services, and Platform Administration segments. The company provides investor directed portfolio and separately managed accounts services; and acts as the trustee of fiducial superannuation services.

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Oaktree Fund Advisors LLC lifted its position in Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX  Free Report) by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 294,808 shares of the natural resource companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,700 shares during the quarter. Freeport-McMoRan comprises approximately 11.0% of Oaktree Fund Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. Oaktree Fund Advisors LLCs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $10,993,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. KB Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Retirement Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 97.1% during the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 670 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares during the last quarter. BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. 77.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on FCX. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $41.00 to $48.50 in a report on Monday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Eight Capital set a $55.00 target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $55.00 target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Thursday, January 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Freeport-McMoRan presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $44.95.

Freeport-McMoRan Stock Performance

FCX opened at $38.96 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 2.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a market cap of $55.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.68 and a beta of 2.06. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 52-week low of $32.83 and a 52-week high of $44.70. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $40.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $38.36.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The natural resource company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.85 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 8.41%. The companys revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.52 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Freeport-McMoRan Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 12th were given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 11th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.62%.

About Freeport-McMoRan

(Free Report)

Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile.

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Knife River (NYSE:KNF  Get Free Report) is one of 29 publicly-traded companies in the Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Knife River to related companies based on the strength of its dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, profitability, earnings and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Knife River and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Knife River 0 0 5 0 3.00 Knife River Competitors 230 1068 1435 13 2.45

Knife River presently has a consensus target price of $72.20, suggesting a potential downside of 0.18%. As a group, Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies have a potential upside of 20.28%. Given Knife Rivers competitors higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Knife River has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Earnings & Valuation

67.1% of Knife River shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 50.1% of shares of all Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies are held by institutional investors. 7.0% of shares of all Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This table compares Knife River and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Knife River $2.83 billion $182.90 million -0.14 Knife River Competitors $2.39 billion $448.93 million 8.00

Knife River has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its competitors. Knife River is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares Knife River and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Knife River 6.46% 15.98% 7.14% Knife River Competitors 22.02% -21.00% 4.58%

About Knife River

(Get Free Report)

Knife River Corporation provides aggregates-based construction materials and contracting services in the United States. It operates through six segments: Pacific, Northwest, Mountain, North Central, South, and Energy Services. The company mines, processes, and sells construction aggregates, including crushed stone and sand, and gravel; and produces and sells asphalt and ready-mix concrete, as well as provides contracting services to support the aggregate-based product lines, including heavy-civil construction, asphalt and concrete paving, and site development and grading. It serves federal, state, and municipal governments for various projects, such as highways, bridges, airports, schools, public buildings, and other public-infrastructure projects. The company was founded in 1917 and is based in Bismarck, North Dakota.

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Masonite International Co. (NYSE:DOOR  Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Hold by the nine research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $116.89.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on DOOR shares. Wedbush restated a neutral rating and set a $133.00 target price on shares of Masonite International in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Masonite International from $122.00 to $105.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 13th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Masonite International from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a $133.00 target price (up previously from $115.00) on shares of Masonite International in a report on Monday, February 12th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Masonite International in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. They issued a hold rating for the company.

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Masonite International Stock Performance

Shares of DOOR opened at $130.00 on Friday. Masonite International has a 12-month low of $76.87 and a 12-month high of $130.80. The stock has a market cap of $2.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.67, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a current ratio of 2.97, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The company has a 50-day moving average of $97.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $93.96.

Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.36 by ($0.05). Masonite International had a net margin of 4.18% and a return on equity of 20.39%. The company had revenue of $660.58 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $659.87 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.72 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Masonite International will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Masonite International

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in Masonite International by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 19,890 shares of the companys stock worth $1,769,000 after buying an additional 1,081 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Masonite International by 38.3% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,038 shares of the companys stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 842 shares during the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Masonite International in the 1st quarter valued at about $235,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Masonite International by 55.5% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 13,007 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,157,000 after acquiring an additional 4,641 shares during the period. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 1.2% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 23,924 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,128,000 after purchasing an additional 272 shares during the last quarter.

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.

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Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. increased its holdings in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM  Free Report) by 129.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,043 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 7,370 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $1,630,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 93.2% in the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 8,968 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,121,000 after buying an additional 4,325 shares during the period. Syntax Advisors LLC grew its position in Yum! Brands by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. Syntax Advisors LLC now owns 3,895 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $487,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Yum! Brands by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC now owns 44,725 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $5,588,000 after purchasing an additional 656 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in Yum! Brands by 3.9% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,278,341 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $409,596,000 after purchasing an additional 124,080 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Yum! Brands by 1.6% during the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 97,053 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $12,126,000 after purchasing an additional 1,496 shares during the period. 80.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Yum! Brands

In other Yum! Brands news, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of Yum! Brands stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total value of $1,285,799.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 18,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,419,025.43. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Yum! Brands news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,756 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.21, for a total transaction of $485,312.76. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 57,325 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,406,963.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total value of $1,285,799.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,419,025.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 17,467 shares of company stock valued at $2,264,717 in the last quarter. 0.31% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Yum! Brands Price Performance

NYSE:YUM opened at $138.32 on Friday. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a 1-year low of $115.53 and a 1-year high of $143.24. The company has a market capitalization of $38.91 billion, a PE ratio of 24.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.09. The firms 50-day moving average price is $130.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $127.57.

Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The restaurant operator reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.13). Yum! Brands had a net margin of 22.57% and a negative return on equity of 17.76%. The business had revenue of $2.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.31 earnings per share. Yum! Brandss revenue for the quarter was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Yum! Brands Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 20th. This is an increase from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.94%. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.94%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

YUM has been the topic of several analyst reports. Oppenheimer raised shares of Yum! Brands from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $154.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Yum! Brands from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $150.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Yum! Brands from $145.00 to $141.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on Yum! Brands from $146.00 to $144.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Yum! Brands has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $144.75.

Read Our Latest Research Report on YUM

About Yum! Brands

(Free Report)

Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through four segments: the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division. It operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products.

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Mendel Money Management reduced its holdings in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 14,472 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 485 shares during the quarter. Mendel Money Managements holdings in Pfizer were worth $480,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in PFE. Front Street Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Front Street Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,168 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $268,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Graves Light Lenhart Wealth Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Graves Light Lenhart Wealth Inc. now owns 19,863 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $729,000 after purchasing an additional 281 shares in the last quarter. V Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. V Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 31,001 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,137,000 after purchasing an additional 282 shares in the last quarter. Infrastructure Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. Infrastructure Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,751 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $211,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Castleview Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 12,207 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $498,000 after purchasing an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. 68.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Pfizer Stock Up 0.8 %

NYSE PFE traded up $0.21 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $27.76. The companys stock had a trading volume of 33,182,554 shares, compared to its average volume of 42,036,648. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $28.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $30.83. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $25.76 and a twelve month high of $42.22. The company has a current ratio of 2.38, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $156.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 77.11, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.62.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.19) by $0.29. Pfizer had a net margin of 3.62% and a return on equity of 10.61%. The business had revenue of $14.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.14 EPS. Pfizers revenue was down 41.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.22 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.05%. This is an increase from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 25th. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 466.67%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on PFE shares. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $45.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, TD Cowen lowered shares of Pfizer from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $32.00 price target for the company. in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Pfizer has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.88.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Pfizer

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $26.47 per share, with a total value of $79,410.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 9,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $238,230. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

About Pfizer

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

Further Reading

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MQS Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 51.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,012 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,742 shares during the period. Bristol-Myers Squibb accounts for approximately 0.5% of MQS Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest position. MQS Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $813,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mendel Money Management lifted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 38.9% in the third quarter. Mendel Money Management now owns 8,830 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $513,000 after purchasing an additional 2,475 shares during the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 16.2% in the third quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 111,872 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $6,493,000 after purchasing an additional 15,569 shares during the last quarter. Operose Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 56.5% in the third quarter. Operose Advisors LLC now owns 1,696 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $98,000 after purchasing an additional 612 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 26.5% in the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 18,493 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,073,000 after purchasing an additional 3,873 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cadence Bank lifted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.0% in the third quarter. Cadence Bank now owns 119,816 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $6,954,000 after purchasing an additional 1,234 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.98% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

BMY has been the topic of several research reports. Bank of America lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $81.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Daiwa Capital Markets downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the company from $68.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $58.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $61.17.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE:BMY traded up $0.33 on Friday, hitting $51.66. The stock had a trading volume of 11,052,457 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,700,528. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The stock has a market cap of $104.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.38, a PEG ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $50.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.93. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $47.58 and a 1-year high of $71.22.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 firm had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.82 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Investors of record on Friday, January 5th were issued a $0.60 dividend. 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. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.65%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.18%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner bought 3,071 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 79,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,878,702.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner bought 2,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was bought at an average price of $49.78 per share, with a total value of $99,560.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 82,672 shares in the company, valued at $4,115,412.16. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner bought 3,071 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $48.86 per share, with a total value of $150,049.06. Following the acquisition, 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 currently owned by insiders.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 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 for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Downtown Colorado Springs with Prospect Lake in the foreground and Garden of the Gods in the background.
O Neil Global Advisors Inc. decreased its position in Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP  Free Report) (TSE:SHOP) by 60.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 4,773 shares of the software makers stock after selling 7,447 shares during the period. O Neil Global Advisors Inc.s holdings in Shopify were worth $260,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of SHOP. Norges Bank bought a new position in Shopify in the 4th quarter worth about $414,365,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its position in Shopify by 78.4% in the 3rd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 4,809,633 shares of the software makers stock worth $262,462,000 after purchasing an additional 2,113,773 shares during the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP bought a new position in Shopify in the 2nd quarter worth about $129,735,000. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in Shopify by 44.1% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 4,601,132 shares of the software makers stock worth $297,233,000 after purchasing an additional 1,407,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Shopify by 6,194.5% in the 3rd quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,095,361 shares of the software makers stock worth $66,363,000 after purchasing an additional 1,077,959 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 60.28% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on SHOP shares. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $100.00 price objective on shares of Shopify in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Shopify from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. BNP Paribas cut shares of Shopify from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Shopify from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, JMP Securities reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Shopify in a report on Monday, December 18th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twenty-one have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Shopify presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $76.16.

Shopify Stock Up 1.6 %

SHOP stock traded up $1.21 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $76.24. The company had a trading volume of 10,235,565 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,689,859. Shopify Inc. has a 1 year low of $39.02 and a 1 year high of $91.57. The company has a current ratio of 6.99, a quick ratio of 6.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. The company has a market capitalization of $97.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 847.21 and a beta of 2.27. The company has a 50 day moving average of $79.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $67.08.

Shopify Profile

(Free Report)

Shopify Inc, a commerce company, provides a commerce platform and services in Canada, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, China, and Latin America. The company's platform enables merchants to displays, manages, markets, and sells its products through various sales channels, including web and mobile storefronts, physical retail locations, pop-up shops, social media storefronts, native mobile apps, buy buttons, and marketplaces; and enables to manage products and inventory, process orders and payments, fulfill and ship orders, new buyers and build customer relationships, source products, leverage analytics and reporting, manage cash, payments and transactions, and access financing.

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OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp grew its stake in Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA  Free Report) by 8.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,119 shares of the specialty retailers stock after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corps holdings in Murphy USA were worth $1,749,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Murphy USA by 213.6% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 6,789 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $1,358,000 after acquiring an additional 4,624 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P. acquired a new stake in Murphy USA during the first quarter worth about $2,016,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Murphy USA during the first quarter worth about $593,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its stake in Murphy USA by 7.5% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 8,407 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $1,681,000 after acquiring an additional 588 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Murphy USA by 1.4% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,670,297 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $533,953,000 after acquiring an additional 35,610 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.95% of the companys stock.

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Murphy USA Trading Up 1.6 %

Murphy USA stock opened at $413.46 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $372.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $355.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.60 billion, a PE ratio of 16.21 and a beta of 0.74. Murphy USA Inc. has a 12-month low of $231.65 and a 12-month high of $414.15.

Murphy USA Increases Dividend

Murphy USA ( NYSE:MUSA Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The specialty retailer reported $7.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.79 by $1.21. The business had revenue of $5.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.32 billion. Murphy USA had a net margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 70.92%. The businesss revenue was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $5.21 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Murphy USA Inc. will post 25.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 23rd. This is a boost from Murphy USAs previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.41%. Murphy USAs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on MUSA. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and set a $425.00 price objective on shares of Murphy USA in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Murphy USA from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $375.00 to $425.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Murphy USA from $395.00 to $440.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Murphy USA from $382.00 to $408.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Murphy USA currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $395.60.

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Murphy USA Profile

(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.

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OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp bought a new position in shares of Polaris Inc. (NYSE:PII  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 5,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $552,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of PII. D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its stake in shares of Polaris by 13.6% during the first quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 2,510 shares of the companys stock worth $264,000 after buying an additional 301 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Polaris by 0.4% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 152,648 shares of the companys stock worth $16,077,000 after purchasing an additional 572 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in Polaris by 10.5% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 20,905 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,202,000 after buying an additional 1,993 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Polaris by 0.3% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,803,771 shares of the companys stock valued at $505,933,000 after buying an additional 13,281 shares during the period. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its holdings in Polaris by 8.9% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 33,033 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,575,000 after buying an additional 2,692 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.36% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

PII has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Polaris from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. TheStreet downgraded shares of Polaris from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Polaris from $100.00 to $96.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. DA Davidson decreased their target price on shares of Polaris from $90.00 to $77.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their target price on shares of Polaris from $115.00 to $105.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Polaris has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $102.11.

Polaris Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of PII stock opened at $92.57 on Friday. Polaris Inc. has a 52-week low of $82.00 and a 52-week high of $138.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 1.39. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $91.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.58. The company has a market capitalization of $5.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.64 and a beta of 1.60.

Polaris (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.67 by ($0.69). The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.25 billion. Polaris had a return on equity of 40.98% and a net margin of 5.63%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.46 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Polaris Inc. will post 7.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Polaris Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. This is a boost from Polariss previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.85%. Polariss dividend payout ratio is currently 29.89%.

Polaris Company Profile

(Free Report)

Polaris Inc designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets powersports vehicles in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Off-Road, On-Road, and Marine. The company offers off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; and moto-roadsters, quadricycles, and boats.

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Operose Advisors LLC bought a new stake in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 1,197 shares of the medical equipment providers stock, valued at approximately $263,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. First Hawaiian Bank lifted its stake in STERIS by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 12,490 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $2,741,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Fortune Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of STERIS by 0.7% in the third quarter. Fortune Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,022 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $1,541,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Advisor OS LLC boosted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 3.8% during the second quarter. Advisor OS LLC now owns 1,372 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Greenleaf Trust grew its position in STERIS by 2.8% during the third quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 1,888 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $414,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its stake in STERIS by 14.2% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 425 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $93,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.91% of the companys stock.

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STERIS Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of STE stock opened at $235.85 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $23.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.30 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.43. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $222.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $218.52. STERIS plc has a twelve month low of $173.21 and a twelve month high of $254.00.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

STERIS ( NYSE:STE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.22 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.17 by $0.05. STERIS had a net margin of 10.48% and a return on equity of 13.67%. The company had revenue of $1.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.35 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.02 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that STERIS plc will post 8.67 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.88%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. STERISs dividend payout ratio is currently 36.43%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

STE has been the subject of a number of research reports. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and set a $250.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a research note on Friday, February 9th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $265.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. TheStreet upgraded STERIS from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on STERIS in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. They issued an overweight rating and a $253.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of STERIS from $225.00 to $215.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, STERIS currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $239.60.

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STERIS Company Profile

(Free Report)

STERIS plc provides infection prevention products and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies, Life Sciences, and Dental. The Healthcare segment offers cleaning chemistries and sterility assurance products; automated endoscope reprocessing system and tracking products; endoscopy accessories, washers, sterilizers, and other pieces of capital equipment for the operation of a sterile processing department; and equipment used directly in the operating room, including surgical tables, lights, and connectivity solutions, as well as equipment management services.

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Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 95.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,800 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 4,796 shares during the quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trusts holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $400,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pegasus Partners Ltd. lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 34.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pegasus Partners Ltd. now owns 7,091 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $290,000 after buying an additional 1,807 shares in the last quarter. North Reef Capital Management LP increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 40.2% during the 3rd quarter. North Reef Capital Management LP now owns 2,300,000 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $93,978,000 after purchasing an additional 660,000 shares during the period. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 6.4% during the 3rd quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 13,953 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $570,000 after purchasing an additional 842 shares during the period. West Michigan Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 3rd quarter valued at about $126,000. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 27.8% during the 3rd quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 12,513 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $511,000 after purchasing an additional 2,721 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WFC opened at $53.86 on Friday. 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 has a 12 month low of $35.25 and a 12 month high of $54.02. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $49.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $44.66. The stock has a market cap of $192.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.17, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.18.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last announced 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). Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 12.40%. The business had revenue of $20.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.30 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.67 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.60%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is 29.05%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on WFC shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating and set a $51.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Odeon Capital Group downgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $48.80 target price on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Robert W. Baird reissued a neutral rating and set a $55.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $51.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $51.43.

Read Our Latest Report on Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Royal Bank of Canada restated their outperform rating on shares of Southern (NYSE:SO  Free Report) in a research note released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $80.00 price objective on the utilities providers stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on SO. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Southern from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Scotiabank cut shares of Southern from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a $78.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Southern from $76.00 to $73.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Southern from $75.00 to $72.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday, December 8th. They set a buy rating and a $82.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Southern has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.46.

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Southern Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SO opened at $67.69 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $73.85 billion, a PE ratio of 18.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.22 and a beta of 0.50. Southern has a 12 month low of $61.56 and a 12 month high of $75.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $69.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $68.70.

Southern (NYSE:SO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The utilities provider reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.05. Southern had a net margin of 15.79% and a return on equity of 11.40%. The business had revenue of $6.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.90 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.26 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Southern will post 4.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 16th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.14%. Southerns payout ratio is currently 77.14%.

Insider Transactions at Southern

In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.99, for a total value of $359,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 101,284 shares in the company, valued at $7,291,435.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.99, for a total value of $359,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 101,284 shares in the company, valued at $7,291,435.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 899 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $60,286.94. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 22,502 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,508,984.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 25,998 shares of company stock valued at $1,817,613. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Southern

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SO. Prudential PLC increased its stake in Southern by 23.4% during the first quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 19,438 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,409,000 after purchasing an additional 3,689 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its stake in Southern by 33.5% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,727 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $126,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in Southern by 63.0% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,902 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $138,000 after purchasing an additional 735 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in Southern by 0.4% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 49,925 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,621,000 after purchasing an additional 221 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in Southern by 35.8% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 907,132 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $65,776,000 after purchasing an additional 239,325 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.85% of the companys stock.

Southern Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of PEDEVCO (NYSE:PED  Free Report) in a research note released on Wednesday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

PEDEVCO Stock Performance

PED stock opened at $0.73 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $0.74. The company has a market capitalization of $63.69 million, a PE ratio of 24.34 and a beta of 0.54. PEDEVCO has a 1-year low of $0.61 and a 1-year high of $1.19.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, President John Douglas Schick sold 41,667 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $0.66, for a total transaction of $27,500.22. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 838,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at $553,608. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other PEDEVCO news, VP Moore Clark sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $0.66, for a total value of $29,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 555,334 shares in the company, valued at $366,520.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, President John Douglas Schick sold 41,667 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $0.66, for a total value of $27,500.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 838,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $553,608. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 319,300 shares of company stock valued at $206,411 over the last quarter. 71.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PEDEVCO

About PEDEVCO

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in PEDEVCO stock. Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in PEDEVCO Corp. ( NYSE:PED Free Report ) by 38.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 56,342 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 15,770 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp owned about 0.06% of PEDEVCO worth $43,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.05% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

PEDEVCO Corp., an oil and gas company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and production of oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. PEDEVCO Corp. is a subsidiary of SK Energy LLC.

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Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund reduced its stake in shares of Valmont Industries, Inc. (NYSE:VMI  Free Report) by 33.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,824 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 5,540 shares during the quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund owned about 0.05% of Valmont Industries worth $2,600,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Valmont Industries by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,113,347 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $615,090,000 after purchasing an additional 20,399 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Valmont Industries by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,067,641 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $555,409,000 after purchasing an additional 71,967 shares in the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its stake in Valmont Industries by 22.6% in the 3rd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 797,247 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $191,507,000 after purchasing an additional 146,798 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Valmont Industries by 13.7% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 727,266 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $211,671,000 after purchasing an additional 87,720 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp increased its stake in Valmont Industries by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 628,741 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $201,119,000 after purchasing an additional 11,847 shares in the last quarter. 84.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on VMI shares. StockNews.com raised Valmont Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Valmont Industries from $264.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, DA Davidson raised Valmont Industries from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $230.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $278.00.

Valmont Industries Trading Down 0.0 %

NYSE:VMI opened at $219.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 2.47 and a quick ratio of 1.54. Valmont Industries, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $188.63 and a fifty-two week high of $335.60. The stocks 50-day moving average is $229.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $229.38. The stock has a market cap of $4.58 billion, a PE ratio of 32.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.05.

Valmont Industries (NYSE:VMI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The industrial products company reported $3.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.08 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $1,000.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.04 billion. Valmont Industries had a return on equity of 20.69% and a net margin of 3.44%. The firms revenue was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.46 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Valmont Industries, Inc. will post 15.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valmont Industries Company Profile

(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.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Xerox (NYSE:XRX  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Wednesday morning.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Xerox from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Xerox from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th.

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Xerox Price Performance

Shares of XRX stock opened at $18.48 on Wednesday. Xerox has a fifty-two week low of $12.06 and a fifty-two week high of $19.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -92.40 and a beta of 1.59. 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 stocks 50-day simple moving average is $17.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $15.88.

Xerox (NYSE:XRX  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The information technology services provider reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.52 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $1.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.79 billion. Xerox had a net margin of 0.01% and a return on equity of 9.41%. Xeroxs quarterly revenue was down 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.89 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Xerox will post 2.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Xerox Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.41%. Xeroxs payout ratio is -500.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in XRX. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Xerox by 15.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,540,136 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $239,318,000 after buying an additional 2,033,262 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Xerox by 10.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 15,791,263 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $247,765,000 after buying an additional 1,464,851 shares during the period. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xerox during the 4th quarter worth approximately $17,470,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Xerox by 81.3% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,889,370 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $28,378,000 after buying an additional 847,204 shares during the period. Finally, Intrinsic Edge Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xerox during the 4th quarter worth approximately $14,832,000. 83.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Xerox Company Profile

(Get 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.

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, also the Chinese Lantern Festival of the Year of the Dragon, replied to a letter from students of the U.S. Iowa state's Muscatine High School who visited China in late January and sent them New Year cards in return.

In the letter, Xi extended holiday wishes to the teachers and students of the school, and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study.

Xi noted that the students' letter featured beautifully written Chinese characters as well as vividly hand-painted Chinese dragon, also known as the "loong," the Great Wall and pandas.

The Chinese president said he felt happy for the students as they visited several Chinese cities, where they saw pandas, tasted Chinese delicacies, experienced Chinese culture, and had a lot of fun.

Learning that the U.S. students have made many Chinese friends during the trip, and invited those friends to visit their hometown in the United States, Xi said he found their friendship very touching.

Citing a Chinese saying that reads "seeing is believing," Xi said the warm and friendly American people he met during his first visit to the United States in 1985 have given him an indelible impression.

Likewise, it is believed that through this exchange visit, the students can gain a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of China and the Chinese people, Xi said.

The Chinese president encouraged the Muscatine High School students to revisit China and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study, where they can get first-hand experience of a real China in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner, foster genuine friendship with Chinese youths and learn from each other so that they can jointly contribute to a stronger friendship between the people of the two countries.

Noting that the Chinese Lantern Festival has long been an important moment for the Chinese people to express their hope for a better life, Xi extended his best holiday wishes to the teachers and students of the school.

During his trip to the United States in November 2023, Xi announced a program to invite 50,000 American youths in the next five years to China for exchanges and study.

Sarah Lande, a friend of Xi in the U.S. state of Iowa, wrote a letter recently to Xi, in which she expressed the hope that Muscatine High School students can join the program.

With Xi's support, more than 20 Muscatine High School students paid an exchange visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Hebei Province, among other places in China from Jan. 24 to 30, becoming the first group of American students to visit China under the program.

One of their gifts to Xi upon their arrival in Beijing was a school flag written with Chinese characters "Grandpa Xi, Here We Are."

After the visit, the students wrote a letter to the Chinese president, sharing with him their joy during their China trip and thanking him for the invitation.

(Source: Xinhua)
Kathryn Palermo, RN, DNP, is a faculty fellow with the Centennial Institute of Colorado Christian University. She holds a degree in practical theology, a BS in biology, a BS in nursing, a masters degree in nursing leadership and management, and a doctorate of nursing practice. She has practiced in health care for 15 years and is a certified med-surg registered nurse. The majority of her nursing career was spent at the bedside in the acute care setting. The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the views of Colorado Christian University or the Centennial Institute.
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.
New pavilion opens in Glyn Ceiriog with funds seized from criminals

A new meeting point for the local community has officially opened in Glyn Ceiriog thanks to money regained from criminals.

The new pavilion, at Y Ddol playing fields on Llanarmon Road, aims to increase youth provision in the area and benefit the wider community.

It was made possible by the Your Community, Your Choice fund, an initiative that supports grass-roots projects by using money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act along with contributions from the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.

The pavilion was declared open on February 18 in a ceremony performed by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, Councillor Sarah Davies, Chair, Cyngor Cymuned Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog Community Council and members of the local community.its

To help bring the project to life the Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog Community Council undertook a consultation with residents asking how the council could improve the area.

The result was clear that there was a lack of youth provision in the village.

This led to Wrexham County Borough Councils Youth Services team consulting with the children and young people regarding their needs and aspirations.

The children and young people said they were keen to see a new facility built for them to meet and for the benefit of the wider community.

In addition, Clwb Rygbi Bro Gwernant which attracts children and young people from Glyn Ceiriog and surrounding areas as well as from Llangollen to play rugby expressed an interest in the project to provide shelter for attendees watching the matches. T

he pavilion is a result of all these conversations and aims to provide a focal point for the village for the future.

Councillor Sarah Davies, Chair, Cyngor Cymuned Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog Community Council, said: The idea began in May 2019 and it has taken the dedication of our Clerk Jean Davies and Councillors many hours of work and planning, to bring to fruition.

In the first instance we would like to thank PCSOs Martin Griffiths and Gareth Jones for brining to the Councils attention the funding available from the PACT fund.

We would also like to thank everyone who has kindly donated time and money to this project, such as Clwb Rygbi Bro Gwernant, Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) Youth Service, Chirk Lodge Freemasons, Meibion Ceiriog, Dan Roberts, Tegid Davies and Einion Davies but our biggest thanks must go to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and the PACT funding, without whose generous donation, our project would have taken a lot longer to complete.

The Community Council met recently with the Chair of Clwb Rygbi Bro Gwernant, Einion Davies, and two members of WCBC Youth Workers team, led by Julie Davies, to inspect the finished building and they were very excited by what they saw and the opportunities this pavilion will provide.

Last year the council officially opened the bike track and that together with the pavilion increases facilities available to our children and young people.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: I was delighted to join the local community in Glyn Ceiriog and to officially open their new pavilion.

This is a project suggested and developed by the local community and is a great example of residents coming together for the benefit of their local area.

I hope it will provide a welcoming venue for young people, rugby players and supporters and the rest of the community for many years to come.

PACT Chairman Ashley Rogers stated: Your Community, Your Choice is having a positive impact on organisations and communities right across North Wales and the development of this new pavilion in Glyn Ceiriog is a great example of this in action.

I hope it will make a real difference to local people and provide them with a great base for activities and events locally.

I am delighted we have been able to support them in their project.

North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop added: Your Community, Your Choice is an excellent example of how we can turn money made from criminal activity into a positive outcome for organisations and neighbourhoods across North Wales.

Developments like this offer a place for young people to meet and promote positive activities, thereby reducing incidents of ASB and other potential negative behaviours.

To learn more about PACT visit www.pactnorthwales.co.uk and to learn more about the work of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, visit www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk

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A jury has awarded $21.3 million in damages after finding an ex-husband corruptly manipulated his Routt County divorce proceedings to gain full custody of his children by falsely alleging his ex-wifes new fiance sexually abused one of the children.

The mother of the three children said in court filings that her ex-husband, Steven Herron, concocted and cultivated a false narrative for law enforcement officers, medical professionals, child-protective staffers and, ultimately, the judge overseeing the divorce, to destroy her relationship with her children and gain parenting time.

I lost my family, Cynthia Hayek of Steamboat Springs testified during the trial. I lost  I had a great relationship with my kids. I lost that. Its gone. I dont think Im ever going to get it back. Ive lost respect for a system that I thought would help and protect me.

Hayeks successful lawsuit against the father is the latest controversy to hit Colorados family court system. Investigative reports by The Gazette during the past two years revealed a heavy reliance by judges overseeing divorce cases on sometimes incompetent, biased and even corrupt court-appointed parental evaluators to guide custody decisions.

Initial restrictions imposed by a judge on the mothers parenting time in the Routt County custody dispute hinged in part on the recommendations of a controversial parenting evaluator, Mark Kilmer, who has since been barred by state court administrators from continuing to accept court appointments to make custody recommendations.

Despite controversies over Kilmers work in other cases, the Routt County judge who awarded full custody to Herron continued to say during a hearing last year that Kilmer did a solid job on the Routt County case.

Herron and Hayek divorced in 2016 and initially shared equal parenting time. Their custody arrangement would change dramatically after the ex-husband raised allegations of child sex abuse in September 2019, the same month that his ex-wife secured a $10.5 million settlement after she sued him, alleging she was owed money from the sale of a fracking company.

An oil and gas geologist, she successfully contended she was owed some of the roughly $90 million in profits her ex netted from the sale because she was entitled to participate in that transaction.

After that settlement, her ex, Herron, engaged in extensive doctor shopping as he pushed his allegations that his ex-wifes new fiance had engaged in sexual abuse, according to the lawsuit filed by the mother. The lawsuit claimed Herron provided false information to law-enforcement officers, child-protective staffers and medical professionals.

The mothers lawsuit alleged that abrasions on the buttocks of one of her twin boys that Herron claimed was evidence of sexual abuse likely came from the childs long bike-riding session while wearing shorts and no underwear. The lawsuit further claimed that Herron continually told the child that the child had been sexually abused, eventually persuading the child, 8 at the time, to falsely believe such abuse occurred.

Prosecutors filed criminal charges of child abuse against the fiance. Child-protective staff in Routt County found that the fiance sexually abused one of the children and physically abused another and further found that the mother had emotionally abused all the children, including an older daughter.

But a judge eventually dismissed a felony criminal charge, and prosecutors subsequently dropped a misdemeanor criminal charge. State human services officials also overturned the findings of abuse by child-protective staffers against the mother and her fiance and reflected for reporting purposes in a state child abuse tracking database that the abuse allegations were "reversed and overturned."

The ex-husband continued to unsuccessfully push Routt County District Attorney Matt Karzen to prosecute his ex-wifes fiance, promising a campaign contribution if Karzen secured a felony conviction, according to an email from Karzen submitted as evidence during the defamation trial.

Despite the prosecutor dropping the criminal charge, Routt County District Court Judge Mary Hoak, the judge overseeing the divorce and ongoing custody dispute, on January 29, 2021, still barred Hayek, the mother of the children, from having any contact or parenting time with her twin boys, then 8, and the daughter, then 14.

The judge granted the father full custody after she found that the mother was emotionally damaging the children by disputing the allegations that her fiance had shoved items up one of the boys anus and supplied pornography to the children.

The judge said during one hearing that she couldnt assure the children would be safe  even if their visits with their mother were supervised  because the mother was pursuing her belief for vindication.

Ms. Hayek needs to do the work, the judge said when she announced she was barring all contact between the mother and her three children. She needs to let go of this other narrative that she has, let herself go and engage in therapy with the therapist that she has whos ready to do it.

The judge also allowed the father to relocate himself, his new wife and the children from Steamboat Springs to Hawaii, brushing aside concerns raised by Hayeks lawyer during one hearing that barring the mother from having any contact with her children, even by phone, may violate the mothers constitutional right to parent her children.

Its the laws of the state of Colorado you got a beef with, not me, the judge said during the hearing.

It didnt matter that another judge had dismissed a felony charge of child abuse prosecutors had filed against the fiance, Kenneth Hamp, due to a lack of probable cause. She still barred the mother from having any contact with her children even after Karzen, the district attorney in Routt County, dismissed in June 2020 the criminal misdemeanor charge of child abuse that remained pending against Hamp.

Nor did it matter that the mother of the children in August 2021 reached a settlement with the Colorado Department of Human Services. That settlement required the state agency to overturn November 2019 findings from Routt Countys child protective staffer Camilla Haight, who found the mother had emotionally abused the children and her fiance had sexually abused one of the children.

For those of us in the system, cases settle for a lot of reasons, the divorce judge said during a hearing in February 2023, during which Hayeks lawyer highlighted the DHS settlement that required the agency to overturn the original findings of abuse. Hoak at that hearing declined to lift her prohibition barring any contact between the children and the mother.

The mother and fiance, undaunted, filed civil lawsuits against her ex-husband, accusing him of multiple instances of defamation and of manipulating child-protective staffers and law-enforcement officers into initially believing his assertions her fiance was sexually abusing her son. The mother also has appealed Hoaks rulings barring her from having any contact with her children, so far unsuccessfully.

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Now, a Routt County jury, following a five-week trial, has sided with the mother and her fiance, finding that a gross injustice occurred when the mother lost all contact with her children. The jury returned its verdict in November, the day before Thanksgiving, awarding $21.3 million in damages to Hayek and her fiance.

Herron, the father, testified during the trial that the children and their mother have no relationship anymore. Ive never said their mother is alive or dead, he testified, according to a transcript of the hearing.

The jury awarded to Hamp, the fiance, $3.7 million in economic and non-economic damages and $10 million in punitive damages; and awarded to Hayek, the mother of the children, $3.6 million in economic and non-economic damages and $4 million in punitive damages.

The jury found Herron, the father, liable for $20.3 million of the damage award for multiple claims of defamation, conspiracy, outrageous conduct, abuse of process and malicious prosecution. The jury found Herrons new wife, Christine, now separated from Herron, liable for $1 million in damages for a conspiracy claim.

Hayek and the Herrons declined comment. In court documents, Steven Herrons lawyers have said he plans to appeal the damage award. They also filed motions with the trial judge seeking to reduce the jurys findings on damages.

Investigative reports by The Gazette in the past two years revealed judges relying on inaccurate and biased reports by evaluators, putting children at serious risk by giving custody to abusive parents. The newspaper found instances where evaluators have shown apparent prejudice against one parent  usually mothers  questioning their credibility without proof and making assumptions about parenting without firsthand investigation.

Colorados network of custody evaluators has historically had little practical oversight, accountability, or opportunity for public scrutiny. Reports they submit to the court generally remain sealed, and the Department of Regulatory Agencies rarely chooses to investigate complaints made against evaluators professional licenses.

In one divorce reported on by The Gazette, an evaluator questioned whether a woman had complained about her ex-husbands penis size, which the evaluator contended would put in doubt the womans ability to parent. The newspaper reported on how another evaluator fixated on whether a father in a custody case was a member of a violent gang because he had the nickname Sleepy Melo when it was the mother who was living with a convicted felon.

That evaluator went on to threaten another father as an unfit parent, warning in emails to lawyers on the custody dispute that he was worse than a murderer she claimed to have counseled who had put his victims through a woodchipper. State court administrators only barred that evaluator from accepting court appointments after the father convinced them the evaluator had lied about having a doctoral degree in psychology to obtain a license to practice psychology in Colorado.

Controversies over the parenting evaluation industry have grown so pronounced that state lawmakers last year created a task force to craft new domestic violence training requirements for judges handling divorce cases. In 2021, state lawmakers required evaluators to undergo new domestic violence training.

The Routt County judge in the Hayek and Herron divorce relied in part on the custody recommendations from a controversial parenting evaluator, Kilmer. The judge appointed Kilmer to issue a custody recommendation in August 2020 for the ongoing custody dispute.

Two years later, the state court administrators office would go on to bar Kilmer from continuing to do court-appointed parenting evaluations after allegations of bias surfaced from other parents following an investigative report on Kilmer from ProPublica.

Last year, a group of mothers filed a class-action lawsuit against Kilmer, who himself pleaded guilty of a misdemeanor assault charge and a misdemeanor harassment charge in 2007, after his then-wife said he pushed her to the bathroom floor, according to police reports. The charges were dismissed after Kilmer successfully completed domestic violence training.

A judge dismissed the class-action lawsuit against Kilmer, ruling that evaluators have immunity, protecting them from litigation.

Hoak, the judge who presided over the divorce in Routt County, said during a 2020 court hearing that Kilmers parenting evaluation of Hayek and Herron helped persuade her to keep in place restrictions she initially had imposed on the mothers parenting time.

Hoak noted in her ruling that Kilmer had reported to the judge that the mother needs to improve her awareness of and expression of compassion, empathy, or sympathy; the suffering that (her twins) especially have endured. She added she agreed with Kilmers finding that any movement toward unsupervised parenting time for the mother must be done with the utmost discretion, discipline and adherence to parenting time schedules that includes a professional team approach.

The judge said during a March 2023 hearing that she still believes Kilmers work on the case was solid, despite Kilmers work in other cases prompting the state court administrators office to find him unfit to work as a parental evaluator and bar him from doing such work in custody disputes.

I have no evidence that this  that his parental responsibilities evaluation was flawed, the judge said during the hearing. No one has brought that to me, and very frankly, it made sense in many ways. She added, You know, just because someone is suspended for work they did in one case, doesnt mean they always did bad work.

Routt County Chief District Court Judge Michael OHara explicitly refused to allow Herron to introduce Kilmers report in the civil litigation brought by the mother and her fiance, noting the controversy over Kilmer and prohibition against him doing any more court-appointed custody reports.

Christopher Decker, the lawyer hired by Hayek to represent her fiance, said Hayek spent significant amounts of money on the divorce proceeding and the lawsuit against her ex-husband.

I asked her, I said, Cindy, why are you spending literally many millions of dollars on this? Decker recalled. And she was like, I want the system to get this right. I want a jury to see what Steve Herron did, not to retaliate, but to expose it.

He said Hayek and Hamp still plan to get married. The two met when she and the children frequented the Truffle Pig restaurant in Steamboat Springs, when he was the general manager of the restaurant, which is located on the ground floor of the building where her penthouse residence is located. The lawyer said the couple are holding off on the marriage until Hayeks daughter can walk her down the aisle.
Two sentenced for role in Llangollen drugs conspiracy

Two further men were sentenced at Mold Crown Court today yesterday for their roles in a multi-kilo drugs conspiracy which led to Llangollen being overrun with Class A and B drugs and associated disorder, violence, and anti-social behaviour said police.

Nine people have already been sentenced to a total of 57 years as part of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit Investigation.

Stephen Chadwick, 37 of New Fort Way, Bootle was jailed for 8 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B.

David Oliver, 36 of Jesse Hartley Way, Liverpool was jailed for 7 years and 6 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

The latest sentencing has brought the total to 72 years and 6 months.

Police said, In the first trial which took place in December 2023, seven men and two women were jailed after pleading guilty to being involved in a plot to supply Class A and B drugs from a wholesaler in Liverpool to a distributor in Oswestry for onward supply into Llangollen and surrounding areas. Over a 20-month period between 24 July 2021 and 29 March 2023, the group distributed and sold several Kilos of Class A and B drugs across North Wales, Merseyside, and West Mercia.

Detective Inspector Adam Cooke from the NWROCUs Operational Taskforce Team said:

These are the last to be sentenced as part of Operation Arch  an investigation into a multi-kilo county drug line between Liverpool and North Wales.

County lines drug dealing destroys lives and communities, and we remain relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and to bring down serious and organised criminal groups.

Id like to thank our colleagues in North Wales and Merseyside Police for their assistance in this investigation. We hope this significant sentence shows that the NWROCU, working with partners, will continue to crack down on criminals making huge amounts of money by selling drugs in our region.

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Welsh Government criticised for cutting funding to Wales Police Schools Programme

A North Wales Member of the Senedd has hit out at the Welsh Government for withdrawing funding for the Wales Police Schools Programme.

The School Beat Cymru scheme sees officers deliver lessons in schools on safety, substance abuse, safeguarding and behaviour.

But earlier this month the Welsh Government announced that it would be axing its contribution to the programme.

According to the BBC Local Democracy Reporting scheme the decision would result in an annual saving of 2m from April and allow it to prioritise frontline services.

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin has pledged to keep funding the scheme within the region until July.

However beyond that there is is uncertainty about the continuation of the scheme in the region.

North Wales MS and Shadow Minister for Social Justice, Mark Isherwood, has hit out at the Welsh Government for withdrawing funding.

Speaking in a Debate on The Police Settlement 2024-25 during a meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood noted that funding for the four Welsh police forces is delivered through a three-way arrangement involving the Home Office, the Welsh Government and Council Tax.

He added that the Council Tax Police Precept will rise by 4.69% in North Wales, 6.2% in Dyfed Powys, 6.7% in Gwent and 8.69% in South Wales.

He said:SchoolBeat delivers a nationally-reviewed bilingual curriculum of teacher-developed lessons for ages 5  16.

They engage with all schools, including mainstream education, independent schools in Wales, schools supporting additional learning needs and alternative provision including pupil referral units and education other than at school.

It has an agreed policy of the four Police Forces of Wales for responding to reports of incidents in schools and supporting and advising schools in a safeguarding capacity  basically early intervention and prevention.

However, it was confirmed to me in Written Questions that the Welsh Government will be withdrawing its match funding for the Wales Police Schools Programme, which includes the SchoolBeat thereby removing a key early intervention and prevention programme and thereby stoking up costs for Statutory Services, including those the Welsh Government is responsible for.

This is therefore another shortsighted decision by the Welsh Government, cutting a programme that is designed to prevent, rather than cure, saving the Public Purse further down the line.

Unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, Wales has a heavily populated cross border area, with almost half the population in Wales living within 25 miles of the border with England, and 90% within 50 miles.

Given these operational and population realities, the Welsh Government must explain why it is devoting so much time and resource to devolution of Policing to Wales, when it is cutting key budgets elsewhere  especially when both the UK Conservative Government and the most senior Welsh Labour MP in Westminster, Shadow Welsh Secretary Jo Stephens, have rejected fresh calls for the Welsh Government to be given control of policing and adult criminal justice.

Speaking earlier this month a Welsh Government spokesperson said the decision to remove funding for the scheme had been taken in light of the NHS and other frontline services facing the toughest financial pressures in recent history.

They said: We have had to take very difficult decisions about the Welsh Governments commitments and priorities, with a focus on protecting front-line services and saving lives.

In spite of the challenging budget, we have continued to protect our front-line substance misuse funding at 67m.

That includes increased ring-fenced allocations for children and young people to 6.25m.

As a result, we have decided to end the Welsh Governments contribution to the Wales Police Schools Programme, which currently comes from the substance misuse budget.

They added: The landscape around wellbeing for learners on a range of important issues has changed significantly since the introduction of the programme; particularly with the introduction of the new curriculum.

We have worked, and are continuing to work, closely with the police on the impact of the funding changes.

(Top pic  trial of OpenAI api image interpretation of article)

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The Socialist Equality Party (UK) held a series of public meetings this month on the subject: How can the genocide in Gaza be stopped? The meetings provoked intense discussions on Gaza and the broader question of building a socialist leadership in the working class.

London

Around 30 workers and students attended the meeting in London, where the report was delivered by Socialist Equality Party (UK) Assistant National Secretary Tom Scripps.

A lively discussion followed, with continuous questions and contributions from the floor. Many expressed their thanks at hearing such frank political criticisms levelled against the perspective of the ceasefire marches and the Stop the War Coalition, which they had found increasingly frustrating.

Tom Scripps speaking at the London meeting, February 14, 2024

Most asked what the alternative was and several questioned why more people were not prepared to take action. Scripps argued for the necessity of a campaign oriented to the working class and mobilising its immense social force against the genocide. For this, a new political leadership was required.

Jeremy Corbyn quickly became a focus, with most participants expressing sympathy for his political opinions but agreeing that he had not taken up a fight against the Labour right-wing as he should, particularly over the antisemitism witch-hunt that prepared the way for the slander and criminalisation of the Gaza protests.

Scripps explained that Corbyns political actions, and the false presentation of Corbyn by various pseudo-left tendencies as the embodiment of left-wing sentiment, were behind much of the sense of paralysis referred to in the meeting. What was touted to workers and young people as the way forward in a struggle for socialist politics proved to be a total capitulation to British capitalism and imperialism. The same was true of forces like Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain.

The answer was to take up a fight for genuine socialism based on the Trotskyist principles derived from a centurys experience of struggle against Stalinism, bourgeois nationalism, social democracy and petty-bourgeois radicalism. Such a programme could win the support of the millions being radicalised by economic crisis, the return of fascism and the descent into new and bloodier wars.

With many calling for various forms of direct action to stop Israels war, or the supply of British support to Israel, Scripps made clear that the SEP was in full solidarity with all those taking a stand against the genocide and facing state repression. But he stressed that, to be successful, all action had to be rooted in a common political perspective aimed at mobilising the international working class and advancing the solution of a free and equal Arab-Jewish Palestine as part of a United Socialist States of the Middle East.

Leading anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn, the brother of Jeremy Corbyn, was denied entry to the meeting because of his attacks against health workers and collaboration with far-right anti-vax and Holocaust deniers. One of his associates made threatening remarks to SEP stewards.

Riza commented after the meeting, It was a very interesting, thought-provoking talk by Tom. I learned a lot; it made me think a lot. It is a large international struggle we are dealing with here, and Palestine is part of it. We need to understand that struggle and sustain it in a robust manner. That means we need theory and history.

Riza

The international struggle and revolution being talked about encompasses not just the rights of Palestinians and the liberation of Palestinians, but the rights and liberation of workers, the oppressed, hungry people, the elderly, all over the world, including this country, including Jews in Palestine as well, their rights have to be upheld.

The mainstream left around the world tend to be too complicit and silent and not strong enough in voicing their concerns, beliefs, and overcoming this propaganda, this slander about antisemitism and racism; they need to stand up stronger, given precedents like Trotsky in the past, to really push forward the socialist agenda and socialist struggle.

The establishment have too much power. Their opponents need to be more revolutionary and speak out more. Im disappointed with Corbyn and the likes of Corbyn in Greece, Spain, etc., for not being vocal enough, not strong enough, and being too much a part of the establishment.

Pati said the meeting had been a very nice introduction, but I also liked the fact that people were very involved in the discussion. I am very involved in the Gaza issue, so I wanted to know more about how you can organise.

Pati

The report had been very academically grounded and addressed a lot of questions about political involvement and how you need to have a clear understanding of the way youre fighting injustice and oppression. One point that was very good was that solidarity goes beyond borders.

John said A lot of interesting opinions were expressed. People got a lot of insight into what the root causes of the problems not just in Palestine but generally, globally are and how theyre linked to socialism.

An audience member speaking at the London meeting

Sheffield

An extensive discussion took place around how the Socialist Equality Party conceives of the development of Marxist culture under conditions where the mass media has control of information and the narrative, and what had been achieved by the socialist movement since the emergence of Marxism in the 1840s.

Socialist Equality Party National Secretary Chris Marsden reviewed extensively the origins of the Trotskyist movement and the false attempt to equate socialism with Stalinism. He explained that the growth of the Stalinist bureaucracy in the former USSR rested in the isolation of the first workers state and the failure of the revolution to extend to the more advanced capitalist countries.

The Russian Revolution would not have been possible outside of the high level of culture brought into the working class by the Marxist movement. He explained how Stalinism through the Moscow trials attempted to exterminate that culture by murdering its representatives and that the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist movement is the sole representative of the perspective of socialist internationalism for which Trotsky fought.

Our conception is not a gradual building up of an alternative socialist culture. The most important element of culture is intellectual culture. This is identified today based on a political opposition to capitalism, opposition to imperialism, exploitation and oppression. Millions of people are animated by very real concerns about what is happening in world.

Protest is vital, but it has to have a perspective. People are looking for leadership and if you want to fight it must be on a socialist programme.

A question was also asked about George Gallaways candidacy in the upcoming Rochdale by-election and what we thought about his intervention. Galloway may win it, as Labour have abandoned their own candidate, but nothing good will come of it. Galloway is not building a political party for the working class. His politics is nationalist and right-wing, as is his orientation. His past attraction to Stalinism was most rooted in the politics of the Popular Front and his support for left/right unite politics and he admires [Donald] Trump and [Nigel] Farage.

Manchester

An attendee at the Manchester meeting raised the importance of workers taking industrial action to stop weapons and other war materials reaching Israel. After Marsden raised that the Trades Union Congress and its main affiliated unions had prevented such action in Britain, the questioner said she understood that what was required was workers getting together themselves independently of the union leaders and not waiting on the bureaucracy.

Chris Marsden speaking at the Manchester meeting

Audience member Chris said, The meeting went beyond slogans and demands, and provided an analysis of the political character of those leading the most visible stop the war' protests, separating the genuine immediate necessities of stopping the genocide from the political dead ends that uncritically following these figures and organisations would bring for Palestinians and for the working class as a whole.

Inverness

Several people attended from the regular Highland Palestine demonstration outside Inverness Town House opposing the genocide in Gaza as well as IYSSE supporters in the area.

One attendee asked about the trade unions and whether they had offered any support. Speaker Steve James replied that some trade union leaders had made statements calling for a ceasefire, but these were not matched by the slightest effort to mobilise their members.

Their statements were a smokescreen, while the trade union apparatus continued to work with the warmongers.

One attendee suggested that national culture would somehow make it impossible for workers to unify against the Gaza genocide and the broader threat of war. SEP members pointed to the powerful objective trends undermining a nationalist outlook in every single country. They cited the globalisation of production and communication, the shared experiences of workers everywhere, workers' capacity to communicate globally and instantaneously, the huge expansion of the working class as making it potentially the most powerful social force on the plant.

But objective trends on their own were not enough. A conscious international perspective and leadership was necessary to bring workers together in the struggle to abolish capitalism and the nation state system and replace it with socialism.

After the meeting a former postal worker said he had been a Corbyn supporter but agreed with the analysis presented in the report of Corbyn's role. He was disgusted at the role played by the Communication Workers Union leadership in the recent national strike and agreed to further discussion with the SEP.
This report was delivered by Socialist Equality Party National Secretary Chris Marsden at a public meeting in Sheffield on February 21, 2024. The meeting was the last in a series with others held in London, Manchester and Inverness.

What is now taking place in Gaza is a crime of unimaginable brutality. Millions have mobilised day after day, week on week since October 7 to stop it.

Yet today the news is filled with reports of the desperate plight of more than a million Palestinians trapped in Rafah, subjected daily to bombardments and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacks, starving to death even as the World Food Program suspends all aid convoys due to a breakdown in civil orderby which is meant desperate people trying to access food from the just 15 missions allowed in by Israel out of a planned 77.

Chris Marsden speaking at the meeting in Manchester, February 12, 2024

Now Israel has set a date for a full-scale ground invasion, the most provocative possible, the beginning of Ramadan on March 10.

Yet with working people around the world fearing a crime beside which even Israels previous vile crimes will pale, and amid warnings that the entire Middle East will erupt, all opponents of genocide are offered as a counterforce are variously formulated resolutions in the United Nations Security Council, and here in parliament tonight urging Israel to call a ceasefire.

Some of these calls are for an immediate ceasefire, like Algerias which yesterday was blocked again by the US and abstained on again by the UKfor the third time!

The Biden administration has even felt obliged to formulate its own face-saving alternative which is not yet scheduled to be voted on. It calls for a temporary ceasefire and only as soon as practicable, married to a polite appeal for Israel not to proceed with the planned offensive against Rafah by the IDF, a military force funded and armed by Washington!

In parliament now, as we are meeting, a second Scottish National Party motion for an immediate ceasefire, and a threatened second rebellion by Labour MPs backing it, has prompted Keir Starmer and his fellow war criminals to propose an alternative. Labour says an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza should happen, but conditional on Hamas agreeing to lay down its weapons, i.e., surrender and await imprisonment and death, and return the hostages it took on October 7 because Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence.

The truth is that Labours position is in line with the US position in providing Israel with both an excuse and a veto on a ceasefire.

The Tories have responded with their own amendment that could have been drafted by Netanyahu, calling for negotiations to agree an immediate humanitarian pause that explicitly supports Israels right to self-defence and condemns the slaughter, abuse and gender-based violence of October 7. Support for moves towards a permanent sustainable ceasefire are predicated on the release of all hostages and the removal of Hamas from power with the formation of a new Palestinian government.

Under parliamentary procedure, the Tories as the government should have spiked Labours amendment. But the Speaker has ruled that both the SNPs motion and Labours amendment can be voted on in a clear effort to block a clear call for an immediate ceasefire and save Starmer from a rebellion.

[These remarks were made as events unfolded and before parliament was plunged into chaos over the Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyles manoeuvre hatched in consultation with Starmer ended in chaos, which is detailed here.]

The essential fact is that no matter which way the voting goes tonight, Israel will proceed with its planned mass slaughter and ethnic cleansing campaign.

What does this all mean for opponents of the genocide of the Palestinians?

There has been nothing comparable to the global eruption of outrage and opposition against Israels genocidal assault since 2003s global opposition to the planned US led-invasion and the lockstep support of Tony Blairs Labour government that manufactured many of the lies on which it was based.

The Iraq invasion began on March 19 and Baghdad fell 22 days later, on April 9, with Bush grotesquely declaring an end to major combat operations on May Day. The US inspired bloodletting, of course continued. But the failure of mass protests to stop a war that the US based on a strategy it described as shock and awe, or what Nazi Germany called Blitzkrieg, led to the collapse of the mass anti-war movement that was offered no perspective to go forward.

Many of the same essential problems face defenders of the Palestinians today. There has been no collapse of the protests against Gaza, and there wont be. But it is still urgent that a policy is adopted and the type of mass movement needed to stop the genocide is built.

This means seriously addressing the political problems of the protests so far, above all the political perspective and leading bodies organising these protests.

That is not something people initially concern themselves with. Thousands of Palestinians were being murdered and Gaza reduced to rubble. And long established, high profile bodies were in a position to call for demonstrations to which masses of people responded.

The programme of the Stop the War Coalition

But whereas those who took to the streets were animated by deeply felt outrage, the responsibility of a self-professed leadership, especially one called the Stop the War Coalition (STWC), was to advance a programme on which this declared aim is to be realised.

No such perspective has ever been advanced, either by Stop the War, its allies such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, or their various international counterparts.

That is what will be discussed tonight to explain the key issue raised by the title of our meeting, How can the genocide in Gaza be stopped?

The central demand of the protest marches here in the UK and elsewhere has been the call for a ceasefire. This demand is directed towards Rishi Sunaks Conservative government, and no one believes it would adopt such a policy without being forced to do so.

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

Stop the War said this would be accomplished through sheer force of numbers and by politically centring efforts on persuading the Labour Party and the trade unions to in turn persuade the UK government to join a worldwide alliance of like-minded governments supporting a negotiated end to the conflict. The aim then would be to isolate Washington and convince the Biden administration it was making what Stop the War described as a strategic blunder threatening its own interests in its unswerving support for Israel.

This is my best attempt to summarise the political stupidities offered as the means of ending the war in Gaza.

Most people would see the leader of the Stop the War as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and he is both its figurehead and the living embodiment of everything that is wrong with it. But the key political leaders of the movement are various representatives of the pseudo-left group Counterfire, a right-wing split from the Socialist Workers Party, and Andrew Murray, a public schoolboy and Stalin admirer of the Communist Party of Britain, who also functioned as an adviser to Corbyn when he was still leader of the Labour Party.

This is how Stop the Wars convenor Lindsey German of Counterfire argued for its line at the very beginning, on October 16. She admitted:

The mass movement in solidarity with the Palestinians has never been more broad-based, but never has it been so abandoned by political figures, especially left Labour MPs

Lindsey German speaking at the London demonstration, December 9, 2023

The main task of the anti-Gaza demonstrations, she insisted, was to inject steel into the spines of these creatures, because their capitulation to Starmer makes it harder for the young students to demonstrate, harder for those who want their voice to be heard With then Home Secretary Suella Braverman wanting to criminalise the Gaza demonstrations, German added, It is much harder to face down these threats without those in elected positions speaking out.

German then made an appeal to their self-interest, arguing, This absence of Labour MPs is probably also counterproductive electorally, as its hard to see why those being politicised over the Palestine question should look to Labour, given its approach to the question being indistinguishable from a right-wing Tory government.

On October 23, German also admitted that on the demonstrations, The trade union bloc was quite small and none from the big general unions were taking part. This reluctance is no doubt in part due to closeness to the Labour leadership and the coming election, but also in part a continuation of retreats on foreign policy that we have seen at recent TUC [Trades Union Congress] congresses.

German argued that bodies on the streets and mass pressure would eventually force Labour, the trade unions and all those in power to change course, writing on October 30 that Labour MPs are now worried that the Muslim votes that Labour took for granted will no longer go to them but to other parties or to abstention The demonstrations have prompted even a few Labour MPs to speak at demos and the movement has got increased support for ceasefire from politicians.

German titled her piece, The growing mass opposition to Israel is crucial in forcing change. Change for her means changing the minds of a few capitalist politicians.

This was what Stop the War offered up to the 800,000 who marched in London on November 11, demanding a ceasefire in the biggest protest in the UK since the 2003 march against the Iraq Warto people who hated the warmonger Starmer and party of NATO and Zionism.

On November 15, Stop the Wars perspective was finally put to the test when the first UK vote was held on Israels genocidal assault on the Scottish National Partys (SNP) ceasefire amendment to the Kings Speech.

Starmer did not budge an inch, whipping his MPs to oppose and the motion met with a resounding No. Close to three quarters (142) of Labour MPs followed Starmers order to abstain and only 56 voted for a ceasefire. In the votes aftermath, eight members of Labours frontbench resigned. As we noted, More revolting still was the refusal of a single nominally left MP to break from the party, after weeks of near blanket refusal to even criticise Starmer by name for his criminal collusion with genocide.

This includes Corbyn, who with just one single exception I have found, has never mentioned Starmer by name and has not specifically criticised the line of the Labour Party during the past months. He instead conducts himself as some form of pacifist missionary, persuading Sunak and Starmer, and through them Biden and Netanyahu to beat their swords onto ploughshares.

In Jacobin on November 9 this centred on his call for an immediate ceasefire, followed by an urgent investigation by the International Criminal Court, a body that neither Israel nor the US recognise. Corbyn even suggested that The UK government has the authority and responsibility to call for this investigation.

His public comment on the parliamentary vote was made in a November 21 article for Jacobin, where he declared, History will judge those who had the opportunity to stop this massacre but chose to cheer on war instead. Until history gets it act together, however, nothing can be expected from Corbyn. He concluded, there has to be a plan, that begins with an immediate cease-fire to stop the further loss of life. And it ends with freedom and dignity for all Palestinians and Israelis, living in joy, friendship, and peace.

Amen.

On December 2, Stop the War met to discuss the supposedly tremendous success of their campaign. There Murray responded to growing dissatisfaction with what he summarised as marches from A to B that dont achieve anything, insisting they had in fact secured the biggest rebellion against the Starmer leadership, proving we are on the right route.

The task was to continue putting pressure on the Labour Party by threatening to refuse to vote for its MPs at the next general election!

Andrew Murray speaking at the Stop the War Coalition rally in London, February 25, 2023

Murray was arguing in opposition to what he had identified as the possibility of opposition to imperialist war becoming the focus of a revolutionary movement of the working class. In a November 17 Morning Star article, he insisted Never Underestimate People Power. He wrote:

Lets bring Lenin in here. In his celebrated Left-Wing Communism he devoted a passage to anticipating what might precipitate a revolutionary situation in Britain, the mightiest capitalist state in the world as of 1920. This is what he [Lenin as quoted by Murray] wrote: It is possible that the breach will be forced, the ice broken, by a parliamentary crisis, or by a crisis arising from colonial and imperialist contradictions, which are hopelessly entangled and are becoming increasingly painful and acute.

From this Murray concluded, Any sort of plausible alternative able to capture the boiling disgust with the government-opposition synchronised support for slaughter would make an instant impact.

Stop the War boost Corbyn and reject break with the Labour bureaucracy

This is the reason for his call for a protest vote, and endless fawning on Corbyn and company, as an alternative to building an actual revolutionary opposition to Labour.

Corbyn, when he spoke, maintained silence on Starmers Labour Party. After boasting of the 125 MPs who voted for a ceasefire, he simply noted that Large numbers of others didnt.

When asked whether such politicians will ever be forced to listen, Corbyn replied, Yes theyll be forced to listen because had we called that vote a week earlier we wouldnt have got the 125 that we did, voting for a permanent ceasefire. Wed have got much less.

Attention then moved to boosting the United Nations and its institutions and the calls by some member states for a ceasefirein the Security Council, then the General Assembly. All that has ever resulted from this to this day was the November 24 operational pause in Gaza to facilitate a prisoner exchange, accurately described by the WSWS as providing time for Israel to reload its weapons for the next stage in its ethnic cleansing of the enclave.

We explained, In the mouths of everyone from President Macron in France to the despotic rulers of various Arab regimes, calls for a ceasefire are a transparent cover for their active collusion with Israel in its efforts to ethnically cleanse Gaza, to be followed by the West Bank and Israel itself.

The next institution advanced as the saviour of the Palestinians was the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, with the case taken out by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide that had its provisional hearing on January 11 and 12. There was a devastating indictment presented against Israel which was followed by millions. Corbyn sat in the courtroom.

On January 13, Corbyn wrote in Jacobin of how the hearing will go down in history as a momentous display of international solidarity from a people who know what its like to endure and dismantleapartheid South Africa is determined not only to be on the right side of history, but to change the course of it

Everyone was told to wait eagerly for the provisional ruling of the ICJ on South Africas request for provisional measures to safeguard the Palestinians, including a demand for a ceasefire. When this came on January 26, the ICJ found that some of the acts committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the [genocide] Convention. But whereas it called for Israel to take measures to protect civilians from harm, it only called for a report to be issued in a months time on whether it had done so. There was no call for a ceasefire.

Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the London rally, February 3, 2024

Israel proceeded with its murderous rampage, with its fascist security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir writing on X: Hague-schmague. This stand was supported, naturally and predictably, by Washington and London, leaving Lindsey German to offer the hope that complicity with Israel will will cause huge problems for western imperialism over the longer term.

Stop the War and related tendencies never pose the need for workers to break free of the Labour Party and the trade union apparatus on which it depends. Holding up Corbynism as an anti-war tendency plays the essential role of maintaining the prospect of forcing Labour to make a U turn on Gaza.

This is Corbyns rolethe receptacle of lost hopes and the prophet of compromise and avoidance of conflict. He is the last line of defence of the bureaucracy and a key figure in protecting British imperialism from facing a challenge from below that would break out of the stranglehold of the Labour Party and the trade union bureaucracy.

Corbyns defenders have taken to calling him the best prime minister we never had. Excuse me, but he was the most ineffective Labour leader that we did have.

He was popularly elected Labour leader in 2015 mainly because of his anti-war and anti-imperialist record, especially regarding the 2003 Iraq War and his defence of the Palestinians. But with millions of workers backing him and hundreds of thousands joining the party to defeat a right-wing plan to depose him in 2016, he instead presided over an extended rout, ending with his replacement in 2020 by Starmer.

And of all the issues of principle on which he bowed to the right, most grotesque was when, after quitting as chair of the STWC on becoming Labour leader, he abandoned his opposition to NATO and the nuclear deterrent, committed to NATO military spending targets and gave a free vote to Labour MPs on military action against Syria.

As we have also stressed, the witch-hunt of anti-Zionist protesters opposing the Gaza genocide as antisemites was prefigured by the vile campaign against Corbyn and his supporters in the Labour Party. But it was Corbyn who facilitated this witch-hunt by refusing to oppose it and even presiding over the expulsion of some of his closest allies.

To sum up, Corbyn, who embodies the political failure of the Labour left and of national reformism, is still held up as a leader so that Stop the War and others can claim that a viable left reformist and pacifist alternative can still emerge from within the Labour Party under the impact of People Power. This, they insist is what workers want or is the most they will accept.

Counterfire, the Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party, and the rest are not seeking some tactical means of propagandising for genuine socialism by reaching out to those who have illusions in Corbyn. They act as opponents of socialism. Boosting Corbyn is a mechanism for opposing the growth of revolutionary politics in the working class.

Pro-capitalist and anti-revolutionary foreign policy of the pseudo-left

Lindsey German gave a revealing February 2 interview to the New Left Review on what she sees as emerging from the global opposition to the genocide in Gaza. And it is not a break with Labour and a turn to socialism.

She is asked whether the mass protests could open up the space for an electoral challenge to Starmers Labour? She replies that there will be protest campaigns, but It still looks like Labour will win a clear majority.

One of the big problems, she argues is that the major trade unions remain tied to Labour. And despite the strike wave thats taken place over the last two years, the unions havent made significant gains in terms of their membership or influence. They are still relatively weak formations. So theyll be keen to strike deals with Starmer once he gets into power, and reluctant to support autonomous political initiatives.

This is a lie. The trade unions have not made advances despite the strike wave, but because they betrayed it. Nevertheless, she concludes this means that the larger unions will do everything they can to try to preserve a Labour government, even if its policieson everything from austerity to the Middle Eastare merely an echo of the Tories.

Not once does German suggest that workers either can or must oppose this bureaucracy and break from it. She does not want a movement to emerge that threatens Counterfires opportunist relations with the Labour left and the trade union bureaucracy and the comfortable lifestyle that comes with it. The message is, Complain and protest all you want, but only to pressure the bureaucracy into hopefully reining in British and US imperialism.

These are the social and political considerations dictating what can be described as the foreign policy of the pseudo-left, which is both capitalist to its core and based on an explicit repudiation of the possibility of its revolutionary overthrow. What Stop the War want is for British imperialism to take its distance from US imperialism and therefore be less militaristic and less nationalist. Its perspective for realising this goal is to urge alliances with supposedly similarly less militaristic global powers, above all with China and the Global South.

It was Counterfires John Rees who on February 6, described the war on Gaza as A strategic blunder to hasten US decline. He writes that Israels deploying a state-of-the-art military against a largely unarmed, at best poorly armed, population means that military defeat in any conventional sense was never a likely outcome for Israel.

John Rees speaking at the anti-war demonstration in Whitehall, London, November 25, 2023

However, he offers as a consolation, Military defeat and political victory define many liberation struggles. As proof he cites the fact that The Vietnamese lost three million souls compared to 55,000 US casualties before the war ended.

Today, with Israel and the US haemorrhaging global support, which he says is a fact crystallised by the now ongoing International Court of Justice (ICJ) investigation of Israel on charges of genocide, then the Palestinians may finally be on the verge of justice.

The isolation of the US and its ally Britain is part of a trend in which power has been ebbing from the US Its military is the best-equipped in the world. Its force projection capacities are unmatched. But its military superiority is no longer accompanied, as it was for most of the 20th century, by overwhelming economic predominance. Its economy may still be the largest but it faces a sustained challenge from China and is set to fall behind its rival by the mid-21st century. Economies in Asia, notably India, and Latin America are now independent centres of capital accumulation not so directly dependent on links with the US

Meanwhile, the real challenger to US global power, China, is now growing faster militarily than it is economically.

There you have it. Millions may die for years to come at the hands of the best equipped military in the world, but sometime by the mid-21st century, 25 years or so from now, China and other now independent centres of capital accumulation will supplant the US as global hegemon. In the meantime, protests must be mounted to give the US pause for thought and oppose what Stop the War describes on its X/Twitter account as Britains addiction to foreign wars, to secure a foreign policy based on peace that will hopefully prevent the world from being blown to bits.

As we explained, The main problem with all such scenarios is that they assume the US will respond to such a challenge to its global hegemony by rolling over and accepting its natural demotion. Reality proves the opposite the US response to an economic challenge from China that it cannot overcome by economic means alone drives its turn to a military solution.

The Biden administrations plan is for the genocide in Gaza to be followed by military action against Iran and its allies, in what Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant has described as a multi-front war across seven theatres: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], Iraq, Yemen and Iran. The US is behind this drive, which it calculates will consolidate its grip over the oil-rich Middle East and strengthen its hand in an ongoing conflict with both China and Russia.

For a revolutionary socialist anti-war movement

Everything Stop the War does serves to politically disarm the working class to the political realities they face. These are:

1. The US and Britain have seized on Israels assault on Gaza to put into effect longstanding military objectives targeting Syria, Lebanon and most of all Iran, aimed at total imperialist domination over the resources of the Middle East. They have taken the first steps in launching such a campaign with the bombing of Yemen, Iraq and Syria, while Israel targets Hezbollah in Lebanon, as they continue to assemble a massive naval and military presence in the Mediterranean.

2. The war on Gaza is one theatre of an expanding global conflict, with NATO waging a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, while the AUKUS military alliance is spearheading a military build-up against China. That is Washingtons real response to the threatened loss of its global domination.

3. There is no basis for opposing the genocide in Gaza outside of a political struggle against the governments and nominal opposition parties such as Labour backing Israel, and the trade union bureaucracies that have done nothing to defend the Palestinians. Neither the Tory government nor Labour will change course over issues impacting on the fundamental interests of British imperialism.

4. Waging this struggle demands the systematic exposure of the role of the left Labour MPs and trade union windbags. Because it is they who prevent the formation of a genuine anti-war movement through their suppression of every struggle by workers against the ruling class, as they did throughout last years strike wave and will attempt to do so going forward.

In our polemic against Corbyn and Stop the War, we cited Trotsky, writing in 1927, on The Struggle for Peace and the Anglo-Russian Committee where he painted a devastating picture of the service provided by the official left for British imperialism.

I will cite it again here:

The left criticizes the government within such limits as do not interfere with its role as exploiter and robber. The left gives expression to the dissatisfaction of the masses within these limits, so as to restrain them from revolutionary action. In case the dissatisfaction of the masses breaks through to the outside, the left seeks to dominate the movement in order to strangle it. Were the left not to criticize, not to expose, not to attack the bourgeoisie, it would be unable to serve it in its own way. If it is admitted that the left is a ballast, then it is admitted that it is the useful, appropriate, necessary, succouring ballast without which the ship of British imperialism would long ago have gone down.

[Trotsky's Writings on Britain: Volume 2, p. 210, New Park Publications 1974]

How do we go forward? By basing ourselves on political realities, rather than illusions and lies.

Ending mass murder and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and opposing the expanding war waged by the NATO imperialist powers and their proxies in the Middle East and Ukraine, ultimately targeting China, demand the development of a global movement of the working class against the capitalist class and its repressive state apparatus.

Delay only strengthens the enemy, as the state is fine-tuned to repress political and social opposition while the economy is put on a war footing through the destruction of wages, ramped up exploitation and the decimation of essential services.

None of this is easy, but we do not live in a time of easy solutions.

Once the millions who have taken part week after week in mass protests in defence of the Palestinians turn consciously and systematically to the factories and workplaces impacted by all these attacks, then a powerful force can be brought onto the arena of struggle with the power to defeat imperialism once and for all.

The fight must be for working class action, including strikes and boycotts of arms companies, docks and airports, and to prevent the shipment of any items to Israel with a military use. The demand must be raised for a political general strike, linking the struggle against war to the defeat of the savage austerity imposed by governments internationally to pay for it, and against the destruction of basic democratic rights by a ruling class determined to crush all opposition to its crimes.

This is not a national struggle. The working class is an international class, with shared interest in facing a common imperialist enemy. It is its international character that makes the working class the revolutionary class capable of overthrowing capitalism and the division of the world into antagonistic nation states that is the root cause of war, and establishing socialism on a world scale.

The development of a mass socialist anti-war movement on these foundations requires new organisations, a new perspective and the building of a political leadership, the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world party of socialist revolution and its British section, the Socialist Equality Party.
As a teenager, Barbra Streisand dreamt of being an actress while sitting on her bed in Brooklyn with a pint of coffee ice cream and a movie magazine. During those days, after school she would make a break for New Yorks Astor Theatre, which showed black-and-white international movies. Another time, she ducked into a showing of Guys and Dolls at the Loews Kings Theatre in her neighborhood.

Everything was so beautiful up on that screen, Streisand said in opening her acceptance speech upon receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award during Saturdays Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles. That make-believe world was much more pleasant than anything I was experiencing. I didnt like reality. I wanted to be in the movies, even though I knew I didnt look like the other women on the screen. My mother said, you better learn to type, but I didnt listen. Somehow, some way, thank you God, it all came true.

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Thats a bit of an understatement. Streisand has gone on to become a Hollywood legend with a diversified career and decades of contributions to the culture through singing, acting, writing, producing, directing and building a foundation that supports a variety of causes from politics and the environment to womens health and gun control. Streisand credited two brilliant men on her first film, 1968s Funny Girl, the director William Wyler, and his cinematographer, Harry Stradling Sr., for having no issues with a young woman who had opinions. I could suggest ideas for a scene to Willie and to try various lighting effects with Harry, and they never ever put me down. Looking back, they were really ahead of their time, and that was fantastic, Streisand continued. And it set the tone for my whole career actually.

For a legend like Streisand, one presenter was not enough, so she was feted by two with Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper. Following their remarks, the 81-year-old walked to center stage to an emotional and lengthy standing ovation inside L.As Shrine Auditorium, which hosted the ceremony that streamed live on Netflix. Cameras panned to multiple actors, including Anne Hathaway and Hannah Waddingham, who had tears in their eyes.

Its really a privilege to be part of this profession, Streisand continued. For a couple of hours, people can sit in a theater and escape their own troubles. What an idea  moving pictures on a screen.

Streisand then said that she cant help but think back to those who built the industry, men like Szmuel Gelbfisz, who became Samuel Goldwyn; Lazar Meir, who became Louis B. Mayer; and the four Eichelbaum brothers, who became Warner Bros. They were all fleeing the prejudice they faced in Eastern Europe simply because of their religion, she said, nodding to the current fraught times amid a rise in antisemitism. They were dreamers too, like all of us here tonight. And now I dream of a world where such prejudice is a thing of the past.

Recently, Streisand said, she and her husband, James Brolin (who attended Saturdays ceremony), saw a wonderful French film with some friends. Its called Une Belle Course, which means a beautiful ride,' she said, referring to Christian Carions 2022 film starring Line Renaud, Dany Boon and Alice Isaaz. The film follows an elderly woman who hires a grumpy taxi driver to take her to a nursing home but along the way, they revisit special places in the womans past in Paris. By the end of the film, all of us were in tears because it was so moving and insightful about how you can make a profound connection with someone simply by telling the truth. It reminded me all over again of how much I love film and why we all strive to make the best movies we can.

Streisand then left the stage after hugs with Aniston and Cooper. Earlier in their remarks, the pair praised Streisands many talents and how she has been a groundbreaker at nearly every stage. Barbra, thats all you have to say, Aniston said in opening her tribute. And you know right away; that face, that voice, that talent. It is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and how lucky that it is in our lifetime.

Aniston called it particularly poetic that SAG-AFTRA honored Streisand at the Shrine Auditorium, the same theater where Streisand performed her first major concert in 1963 on this very stage right. Music was always playing in my house growing up, and I remember so vividly the first time I heard that voice. I mean that voice, this feeling just washed over my entire body. My eyes just welled up with tears. From that moment on, I was madly in love with Barbra, and it was clear that her talent did not end there, Aniston said. Then she found out Streisand could act as well after seeing her debut in Funny Girl. Who could watch her in the role of Fanny Brice and not be memorized by that performance?

Aniston credited Streisand for becoming the first woman to write, produce, direct and star in a major studio film in Yentl. Barbra did not just pave the way for us women. She bulldozed a clearing for us. Magnificent talent aside, Barbra created the Streisand Foundation, giving tens of millions of dollars in grants to more than 800 organizations supporting womens health, civil rights, environmental issues and gun control, continued Aniston, who said that while shes never had the pleasure of working with Streisand, she has spent cherished time with her over the years. One of those moments included getting to kiss her at midnight one New Years Eve. Telling the truth, Aniston said. Barbra, I love you.

Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper speak onstage during the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Aniston then welcomed Bradley Cooper to the stage. The actor and filmmaker  who remade the Streisand starrer A Star Is Born  praised Streisand for not compromising her creative vision. For example, Barbra never liked the ending of the 1973 film The Way We Were. She knew that there were scenes that she and Robert Redford had shot that werent used, that wouldve made the film better, but it had been 50 years, Cooper detailed. Barbra decided to let bygones be bygones? No. She lobbied the studio to recut the ending of the film to add those extra scenes, and just last year released it along with the re-release of the original.

To that, he said, Barbra, you stop at nothing and your pursuit of realizing your brilliant visions. We are so pleased to be here tonight to see you honored for your remarkable and truly unprecedented career.

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New Japan Pro-Wrestling superstar and current president of the promotion Hiroshi Tanahashi says the company has to work on developing and bringing in more stars to grow.

Speaking with ITRWrestling.com, Tanahashi was asked about the companys growth now that two of its biggest stars, Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, are reportedly set to leave the company. Tanahashi said that the company has to keep growing stars, and hopes that those stars become household names.

This is a star driven business, and we need to make new stars, said Tanahashi. That goes beyond success in the ring as well- mainstream awareness and name value is the key to success. I want more of our wrestlers becoming household names.

Tanahashi took over as president of NJPW beginning in December, when he replaced Takami Ohbari in the role. Ospreay, who was formally wrestling with NJPW, is now officially a member of All Elite Wrestling, while Okada also reportedly signed with AEW earlier this month, although no official announcement has been made.

Read More: New Japan Pro-Wrestling The New Beginning In Sapporo 2024 Results: Three New Champions

The post Hiroshi Tanahashi: This Is A Star-Driven Business, We Need To Make New Ones appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Mark Johnson is a veteran producer who won a best picture Oscar in 1989 for Rain Man, one of many collaborations with director Barry Levinson (the pair earned a second best picture nom in 1992 for Bugsy). Just over three decades later, Johnson earned his third Oscar nomination for Focus Features The Holdovers, his second film with director Alexander Payne following 2017s Downsizing.

Set in 1970 over Christmas break at a tony New England boarding school, The Holdovers stars Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti as history teacher Paul Hunnam, who must look after the angsty Angus (newcomer Dominic Sessa) as he cannot travel home to be with family for the holiday. Added to the lonely trio is Oscar nominee DaVine Joy Randolphs Mary Lamb, the schools grieving cook who recently lost her son in Vietnam.

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I honestly dont think Ive ever had anything have the same reverberations as this, says Johnson, who adds that hell hear from five or six people at the end of a weekend who have recently watched  and loved  the film. Here, he looks back on production and explains why the project, which was sold to distributor Focus Features a year before its release, was worth the wait.

When did you join this project?

Alexander and I have known each other for a while, and he asked me if I would produce Downsizing, which I did. He and I are very proud of it, but I dont think he wants to repeat that experience. He was not crazy about visual effects and things like that. But we get along very well and work very seamlessly together. Neither one of us is very mercurial, and things somehow happened to get taken care of. I fooled him enough that he said, Why dont you come produce this one? He showed me The Holdovers script well over a year before we actually started shooting it. And one of the hallmarks of his pre-production [process] is the amount of time he spends on the script. And its never quite done, and so on.

Do you remember the big changes in the script between when you first read it and when shooting began?

One of the characters that really benefited the most from this time was probably Mary, who became more and more important to the movie. Im sort of an anxious producer. Id get a draft and say, This is a great, lets go make it. And hed say, No, were gonna work on it a little bit more. Theres a scene that Ive always loved in All That Jazz, when Joe Gideon [the Bob Fosse-inspired protagonist played by Roy Scheider] is cutting together a movie and one of his beleaguered producers says, Oh my God, the studios yelling at me. And Gideon says, Yeah, but let me show you another cut. And he shows it to him, the producer looks at it and basically says, Goddammit, it is better. The process works, but its as frustrating as can be.

There are three stages in filmmaking for Alexander that are really sacred. One is the the development stage  how long it takes to get a script right. The other is having enough shooting days; there are people who could shoot his movies in less time than he, but he needs that time to work for him. And then thirdly, editing. He takes longer than most directors. But the proof is in the pudding. Hes right on all three.

Focus Features bought the film in 2022, over a year before the film was released. Did that offer Alexander more time to tinker with it?

There are very few filmmakers who wouldnt continue to edit their films up until release. There are famous stories of people cutting negatives in the old days the day before the movie was released. But yes, it allowed him to screen it, to show it to some family friends and [make changes]. It may be just something like the tone of the snow is too low, we need to bring it up or whatever. And of course, at one point you lock the movie. And in theory, its locked. But you can always change it up until when you have to release it. We did make some changes when everybody thought we were done.

Speaking of the snow: I imagine filming a movie set during a New England winter could be a producers nightmare.

Exactly. We could have shot it in August, and it would have cost us a fortune to put snow in it  and Im not sure it ever would have looked real.

Ive read that people have told you they recognized their own boarding school, that they went to the fictional Barton Academy. But it was actually several schools Frankenstein-ed into one location for the film. Has that been common practice in your producing career?

The second film I produced was The Natural, and theres a very simple scene where Glenn Closes character is looking out a window, and Robert Redford is walking down the sidewalk. Well, we shot Glenn at the window in Buffalo, New York. Six months later, we shot Robert on the sidewalk in Venice, California. Its the fun trickery you can do in film.

Barton Academy doesnt exist. There were six, or maybe seven, different schools. At one point were going to shoot a lot at one particular school, at Groten School, and then for a variety of reasons [the administrators] decided against it. It was during COVID, so a bunch of strangers in the school probably didnt appeal to them.

This was obviously a reunion for Payne and Paul Giamatti, having worked together on Sideways. While DaVine Joy Randolph is not exactly a newcomer, this feels like her breakout role. And of course, theres Dominic Sessa, who had never been in a film before. What has it been like to see DaVine and Dominic get this attention for their performances?

When we started shooting, we were doing scenes in the dormitory while we were at Dominics actual school. He stayed there, and he slept in his dorm. Why go somewhere else, right? Hes remarkable. Hes so good in the film, and Im not sure he knows it  it certainly hasnt gone to his head. Honestly, going into it, we knew how good his screen test was, but was he going to be able to do it over a 45-day shooting schedule? Was he going to be able to do it with 75 people and a camera looking down his tonsils? He stood up and did it, and he was quite remarkable.

Alexander introduced me to DaVine and reminded me that Id seen her in Dolomite Is My Name. Shes known mostly for comedy. She really invented Mary; that accent that she came up with in the film was really hers. We didnt know what she would sound like. The three of them are so very much like the characters they play. None of them had a partner or anybody who came and visited. They were there and came to work and did what was required of them. And its just wonderful to watch them become a family on film and behind the scenes.

When you were making this, did you have any idea that you might be adding to the canon of Christmas films? Because this feels like the sort of movie people will return to each year.

Your hope is that everybody sees it. But no, it never even occurred to me. When youre making something, you just want it to be good. You want it to be entertaining. Years ago when were doing Rain Man, some crew member turned to me in the middle of a shot and said, You know, this movie is gonna win an Oscar. I remember thinking, I cant even begin to think about that. Im worried that its in focus.

Interview edited for length and clar

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For Europes most peculiar storytelling, look no further than the ex-Soviet republic of Estonia  and more specifically to the kooky otherworldly tales of director Rainer Sarnet.

The few Estonian productions that reach Western audiences are often historical war dramas, most recently the Oscar-nominated Tangerines (2013) or the Oscar-shortlisted Truth and Justice (2019). But those straightforward epics occupy a space far from what interests Sarnet.

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My mother asked me once, Why dont you make calm and normal films? And every time before I start filming, I think, Now I will make a normal film. But so far I havent succeeded, Sarnet told IndieWire with a chuckle during a recent video interview.

Wherever theres mysticism, thats where hell go. Thats how he came across the concepts that inspired his latest brainchild, The Invisible Fight, which premiered at last years Locarno Film Festival and is now out in U.S. theaters. Its a kung fu comedy set in the 1970s about an orthodox monk fighting to the tune of Black Sabbath. You know, normal arthouse fare.

Sarnet, 54, first started studying Orthodox Christianity and its culture when preparing to direct a film adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevskys The Idiot over a decade ago. I was listening to many orthodox songs, and I was googling something about orthodoxy almost every evening, he recalled. One of the texts he discovered was the book Not of This World, which included the stories of two orthodox monks in Russia who died young.

The Invisible Fight courtesy Kino Lorber

Obsessed with the subject and already interested in making a movie about orthodoxy, Sarnet visited Pechory Monastery, where those monks in the tome had lived. While there, he realized that most monks have an absurd sense of humor. Thats when he decided that, rather than make a traditional drama, he would approach it as an outrageous comedy.

I visited that monastery in Russia four times, he said. I also visited different monasteries in Athens, Greece and Serbia. It was like orthodox tourism for me. [Laughs.]

Through the research process, Sarnet underwent a spiritual awakening and decided to convert to orthodoxy. I did things I have never done before because I wasnt a kung fu fan at all, and I didnt used go to church, he said. It was a life-changing moment.

From his deep dive, the director gleaned that many monks were hippies prior to becoming religious men. They saw life in the monastery as their personal rebellion against materialism. For Sarnet, the fact that these monks wore black, had long hair, and resided above catacombs covered in human skulls seemed inherently rock-and-roll. Black Sabbath, he thought, was the right music for this topic since their lyrics deal with hell and demons.

I asked my spiritual father at the monastery, Is it OK to use Black Sabbath in such context? And he said, Of course, Ozzy [Osbourne] is a believer, Sarnet said.

The inclusion of kung fu fighting surfaced partially from factual events. Father Rafael (played in the film by actor Ursel Tilk), one of the main voices in Not of This World, served in the Soviet army on the border between the USSR and China. One day, the military camp was attacked by Chinese bandits, and all the soldiers were killed except for him.

The Invisible Fight courtesy Kino Lorber

Sarnet injected his own whimsy, imagining that perhaps those criminals could have known kung fu. For the director, The Invisible Fight is an amalgam of the many things not allowed while growing up in Estonia under Soviet rule, namely pop culture and religion. Like Rafael says in my film, Everything cool is banned in the Soviet Union.

This is not the first time Sarnet has baffled and delighted viewers with his one-of-a-kind visions. His 2017 black-and-white folk horror November, Estonias Oscar entry in the Best International Feature Film category that year, earned positive reviews from bewildered American critics discovering his work without preconceptions.

November is all-caps CRAZY in the best, funniest, most exhilarating way possible. A mere description cannot, I recognize, do its out-there-ness true justice, wrote Nick Schager for The Daily Beast when Oscilloscope Laboratories released it stateside in early 2018.

Adapted from Estonian writer Andrus Kivirahks 2000 novel Old Barny or November, the striking dark fable centers on impoverished 19th-century peasants interacting and bargaining with a bevy of supernatural entities, including the hilarious and perplexing kratts: sentient beings built from wooden pieces and farm equipment and powered by a human soul.

Its a very funny book, and it points out that the basic value in Estonian fairytales is greed. Theres a fox stealing milk, and the peasants are cheating the Devil, Sarnet said about the source material. There are very contradictory things in it. It takes place in a very pragmatic world, but then there are also ghosts, werewolves, and magic.

The Invisible Fight courtesy Kino Lorber

Considering the visual intricacy of his worlds, it makes sense that Sarnet started out working for a year at an animation studio before attending film school. That love of drawing kickstarts every project. When Im writing a script, I draw pictures, he said.

For The Invisible Fight, Sarnet visualized what he wanted the kung fu technique to look like on screen after studying at least 20 classic films in the subgenre, mainly those from the 1970s. Of those titles, his favorite was 1979s Dance of the Drunken Mantis. However, the moves on that feature proved too difficult to replicate, pushing Sarnet to hire a professional fight choreographer to handle the action scenes.

Born in Taiwan but based in Los Angeles, seasoned stunt coordinator Eddie Tsai only had a week before production once he arrived in Estonia to create what Sarnet describes as orthodox kung fu, implementing religious gestures and poses into the fighting moves.

Watching The Invisible Fight, its evident why Sarnet thinks of director Quentin Tarantino as the king of contemporary cinema. Among the Estonian storytellers other influences is Rainer Werner Fassbinder, particularly for the melodramatic acting in The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Then there are David Lynch and Jim Jarmusch, whom, along with Tarantino, Sarnet sees as directors whove retained their idiosyncrasy despite being close to the limelight.

Their work is like if the Hollywood industry and auteur cinema had a dialogue, he said. Theyre keeping their own voice, but theyre using the impact that Hollywood has.

Away from the deceiving glitz of the U.S. film industry, Sarnet has developed a niche but mighty following in his homeland without compromising any of his cinemas attributes some may deem strange  like his heroes. I sing with my own voice, he said. I have a small audience in Estonia, but because they support me, I feel like someone needs these kinds of films.

Despite what his offbeat body of work so far may suggest, Sarnet doesnt see himself as a genre filmmaker, but rather an auteur whose perspective uncovers our weirdness.

The truth about humans is that we are all bizarre in our hearts and souls, but we try to hide it, he said. Whats really going inside us is not normal at all.

The Invisible Fight is now playing in New York and Los Angeles via Kino Lorber.

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Ottessa Moshfegh may have been channeling Hitchcock for her screenplay for William Oldroyds Eileen, but star Marin Ireland turned to a much different filmmaker for creative inspiration on the 1960s-set noir. The film was co-written by Luke Goebel.

Ireland, nominated for Best Supporting Performance for Eileen opposite Anne Hathaway, who was also nominated, came by IndieWires spot at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards red carpet to talk the 2023 Neon release. In the film, Ireland plays the mother of a teenager whos been arrested for his fathers murder, and shes hiding a secret.

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I had read the book years earlier, and I was like, what are we doing? Where did this come from? Ireland said of her first meeting with Moshfegh. She told me about this documentary she had watched called Lost for Life about teens who were convicted as adults, who were serving life sentences, and that was huge for me. I also rewatched the documentary The Act of Killing. We talked a lot about Tarkovsky. I watched a lot of Tarkovsky moments. It was a long process for me of being like, how in gods name? It was a lot of talking to Will [Oldroyd] about it. We had rehearsals for like a month before that, and Will included me in all of that, so that we felt ready, ready, ready, ready. It was one of the most terrifying things Ive had to do. It involved a lot of prep work and thinking about this kind of moment of vomiting up the most disgusting thing.

Eagle-eyed fans of Marin Ireland may have noticed her most recently on TVs Feud: Capote vs. the Swans as Katharine Graham, the head of the Washington Post at the time, during the Gus Van Sant-directed third episode that reimagines a Maysles Brothers black-and-white documentary about Truman Capotes famous Black and White Ball.

Im the guest of honor of the Black and White Ball who doesnt really maybe want to be there, Ireland said. Shes being a little bit used by Truman and she knows it, at least according to her memoir. For the styling, she said, It was like giant bouffant wig and a Zac Posen recreation of this iconic gown and a whole other vibe. So that was glam, but [for] a woman who doesnt really like to do that.

Check out the blue carpet interview with Marin Ireland below.

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Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Wondering where to watch and stream Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 8 online? We have covered all the details right here. Set in Meiji-era Japan, this series follows the story of Shizuma Orikasa, a former samurai who becomes a rickshaw driver. His life takes a drastic turn when he intervenes in an assassination attempt while searching for his missing fiancee, Sumie Kanomata. This courageous act leads him to join the newly formed police department, where he discovers himself embroiled in a conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the government.

Heres where you will be able to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 8 online.

Is Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 8 streaming online?

Yes, you will be able to watch and stream Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 8 on Crunchyroll.

The voice cast of Meiji Gekken: 1874 includes Yuichi Nakamura as Shizuma Origasa, Satoshi Mikami as Kyoshiro Shuragami, Tomoyo Kurosawa as Sumie Kanomata/Hinazuru, Lynn as Senri Kuroki, Kazuhiro Yamaji as Buhei Hiramatsu, Katsuhisa Hoki as Toshiyoshi Kawaji, Kazuyuki Okitsu as Goro Fujita, Miyuki Sato as Koume, Mie Sonozaki as Koto Nakazawa, Daisuke Kasuya as Junpei Midorikawa, and more.

How to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 8 and stream online

As Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 is available to watch via Crunchyroll, you will be able to watch its episodes by signing up.

Crunchyroll provides three subscription options for users to choose from:

Fan Subscription Plan: Priced at $7.99 per month, this plan grants access to the entire library without any ads.

Mega Fan Subscription Plan: Available for $9.99 per month, this plan offers ad-free streaming, simultaneous viewing on four devices, offline viewing, and additional benefits.

Ultimate Fan Subscription Plan: This premium plan is priced at $14.99 per month and provides enhanced features and exclusive content.

The official synopsis for Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 reads:

A former samurai, a yakuza bodyguard, a devious spy, and a geisha assassin try to find their place in the rapidly evolving Meiji era while escaping the sins of their pasts.

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The post Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 8 Streaming: How to Watch & Stream Online appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Former First Lady Melania Trump had a lot of battles to fight behind the scenes during her husband's run as President of the United States.

According to a new book, Melania and her stepdaughter, Ivanka Trump, fought over her office space due to her decision at the time to remain in New York for the sake of her son, Barron, to complete his schooling.

The author of the book, Katie Rogers, a White House reporter for the New York Times, claims that Melania's absence left her position vacant and Ivanka eager to fill it.

Ivanka Trump Was Eager To Revamp Melania Trump's Office Space On The East Wing

MEGA

Following her husband, Donald Trump's win in 2016, Melania shocked many when she revealed her plan to remain in New York to allow a then 10-year-old Barron to complete his school year.

According to Roger's new book (via the Daily Mail), this move by Melania reportedly led to Ivanka's hopes of giving the office space on the East Wing a makeover, one that would be "geared to serving the entire First Family, not just the First Lady."

On getting wind of her stepdaughter's plan, Melania stepped in and stopped it, and shortly after, Ivanka revealed she would be taking on the position of an unpaid adviser in her father's West Wing.

However, that was only the beginning of Melania's four-year "internal power struggle" "with her stepdaughter," whom she dubbed "The Princess."

Within the White House compound, the two women's paths rarely intersected. They were also hardly ever pictured or seen together and never hosted joint projects or events.

Melania Trump Had Concerns About Her Husband's Kids Partaking In 'White House Operations'

MEGA

According to the news outlet, Rogers' book revealed that Melania had reservations about Trump's other children, Eric and Don Jr. The Slovenia-born former model "did not think that it was appropriate for Trump's children to be enmeshed in White House operations."

Unfortunately, this was another battle she lost as Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, ended up serving as advisers in the West Wing. Eric and Don Jr. also served as key surrogates for their father during his 2016 campaign trail and provided advice to the Trump team.

Melania allegedly proceeded to share her feelings through her clothing, particularly her controversial jacket that had the bold question, "I really don't care. Do U?" written on it.

MEGA

Melania donned the jacket in June 2018 when she boarded an Air Force plane to visit the Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter in McAllen, Texas, which housed immigrant children who had been separated from their parents during border crossings.

Melania, who immigrated to the U.S. and obtained citizenship in 2006, was instrumental in pressuring Trump to sign an executive order ending the administration's practice of severing families at the border.

Rogers notes in her book, "In large part, the bullheaded Donald had been cowed into action because Melania had been adamant that wrenching children away from their parents was wrong."

Melania Trump's Controversial Jacket Was A Message To Ivanka Trump

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Rogers, in her book, claims Stephanie Grisham, a top aide to Melania, revealed that after they returned from their trip to the Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter, Trump pulled the both of them into the Oval Office, where he "yelled at them, and then decided that the official explanation for the jacket would be that Melania was speaking directly to the media."

Melania went along with Trump's plan and told ABC News in an interview that the message on the jacket was "for the people and for the left-wing media who are criticizing me."

"I want to show them that I don't care. You could criticize whatever you want to say, but it will not stop me to do what I feel is right," she claimed at the time.

"It's obvious I didn't wear the jacket for the children," Melania said. "I wore the jacket to go on the plane and off the plane. After the visit, I put it back on because I see how [the] media got obsessed about it."

However, other Trump administration officials claimed that this message was directed to "the Trumps - specifically, the president's eldest daughter, Ivanka."

Have The Two Women Become Friends?

MEGA

Roger's book states that Melania and Ivanka, during their years in the White House, "were locked in a quiet competition for press coverage."

The mother of one also wished to express her displeasure of Trump's kids getting involved in White House affairs.

Since Trump's exit from the Oval Office, Melania and Ivanka now seem to be on good terms. The former first daughter notably extended her condolences to Melania following the news of her mother, Amalija Knavs' death. She was also present for Knavs' funeral ceremony.

Rogers' book, "American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden," will be released on Tuesday.
Meredith Marks, known as one of the OGs on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, is making moves and shaking up her representation by signing with CAA.

Meredith is known to many for her glitz and glamor lifestyle. But theres a lot more to her. Shes a business mogul and entrepreneur with a keen eye for luxury and design.

A successful housewife and businesswoman

Photo by: Jenny Kim/Bravo

Meredith is the brain behind the award-winning jewelry line Meredith Marks, which features in her trendy Park City, Utah boutique. That was the scene of one shocking RHOSLC moment, in which a clutch was allegedly stolen. Not only that, but Monica Garcia was at the scene of the supposed crime.

Beyond her business ventures, Meredith has her podcast Hanging By A Thread, co-hosted by husband Seth Marks. The couple gets candid about their journey and the secrets to saving their marriage. Back in RHOSLC Season 1, audiences watched the pair struggle. Now, they seem stronger than ever.

Meredith is also a staunch supporter of equality; in particular rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

Before the Real Housewives

Before becoming a household name, Meredith laid her roots in Chicago. She has a Bachelors degree in Communications from Loyola University Chicago and further academic pursuits that led her to Northwestern University for her Juris Doctor and Master of Management degrees.

Since joining RHOSLC in its debut season in 2020, Meredith has become a staple on the show. Her venture into reality TV was driven by a desire to inspire others and further grow her jewelry business, which boasts a clientele of stars. Shes consistent in delivering memorable moments, and becoming a Bravolebrity everybodys talking about. Just dont believe the ruhmers and nastiness.

TELL US  DO YOU THINK MEREDITH IS GOING TO GO BEYOND ALL THE WORK SHES DOING NOW? WHY WOULD SHE WANT CAA REPRESENTATION NOW?

The post Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citys Meredith Marks Signs With CAA appeared first on Reality Tea.
The Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee has bestowed the green blazer on John Forbes, who was named Grand Marshal for the 200th St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday at Benedictine Military School.

Forbes will serve as the main ambassador for a multitude of events over the coming weeks, leading up to the parade, March 16. He's certainly no stranger to Savannah's biggest Irish heritage celebrating. He has been involved in the parade in some capacity from spectator to committee member since childhood. He even served as general chairman back in 2007.

200th St. Patrick's Day parade: Savannah unveils historic marker to commemorate 200th parade anniversary

2024 Grand Marshal for Savannah's St. Patrick's Day parade, John Forbes (left) poses with his father, Jim Forbes, and son, Conor Forbes during the Grand Marshal announcement on Sunday at Benedictine Military School.

Though the atmosphere inside the Benedictine gym was subdued, there was a jovial air as Forbes accepted handshakes and hugs from various committee members. The temperate and sunny Sunday morning had all the makings of a momentous occasion, which it certainly was for Forbes and not necessarily because this year marks the 200th anniversary.

"My father was Grand Marshal in 1998," he said of his dad, who is also named John but goes by Jim. Tears welled slightly in Forbes's eyes as he said, "He's someone who I've tried to model my life after and to be able to do this while he's still with us is a dream come true."

Forbes said that his fourth-generation grandparents were from County Cork in Ireland. He was born in Marietta, Georgia, but grew up in Savannah, where his parents were originally from. He attended Saint James Catholic School and then graduated high school from Benedictine in 1986. Members of his family have attended St. Vincent's Academy and other catholic school institutions in the area, so the honor connects to his familial and religious roots.

See highlights from 2023: Photos from the annual Savannah Saint Patrick's Day Parade

2023's Grand Marshal: Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee elects George Schwarz as grand marshal

Members of the Savannah Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee take turns congratulating John Forbes as the newly crowned Grand Marshal for the 200th anniversary of the parade.

He is most looking forward to the Celtic Cross Mass on Sunday,March 10. "It is where we honor the past, present and future of the Irish in Savannah," he said. "The Irish societies go to mass at the [St. John the Baptist] Cathedral and then processed to the park for a small ceremony."

Forbes said he's excited for fulfilling the role as Grand Marshal. "General Chairman Tim Mahoney will be giving me my list of functions that I will be attending, so he's my boss for the next few weeks," Forbes joked. "I'm very fortunate that Tim is the general chairman; we've known each other since we were children."

Before he headed out to the reception with his fellow committee members, Forbes took a promotional tone, "We're finally out of COVID and everybody wants to have fun, so why not come to a beautiful place? We normally have beautiful weather in March. It's gonna be a great day. It's gonna be a great few weeks of festivities leading up to the parade."

Forbes is the president and co-owner (along with his father) of Colonial Couriers, a company his grandmother founded in 1982.

Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: John Forbes to serve as 2024 Savannah St. Patrick's Parade grand marshal
When ShAgun arrives on our screens next week, it will do so weighted with expectations as heavy as a samurai in full armour. A sprawling historical drama set in feudal Japans tumultuous Sengoku period, the series epic scope and promise of adventure have already drawn comparisons to HBOs mammoth hit Game of Thrones.

The story centres on the coming together of two ambitious men from very different worlds, along with a mysterious female samurai. John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) is an English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan. Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) is a shrewd and powerful daimyo  a feudal lord subordinate to the ruling shogun  who seeks advantage over his political rivals. Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai) is an enigmatic and skilled fighter with dishonourable family ties.

ShAgun comes with impeccable pedigree. The new FX/Disney+ series, which was created by Top Gun: Maverick writer Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, is adapted from James Clavells novel of the same name  a runaway bestseller when it was published in 1975. The book was then adapted into a hit 1980s miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune and Yoko Shimada. While the story is fictional, many of the characters are based on real-life figures drawn from Japanese history.

Indeed, Clavell once revealed that his hugely successful novel had been inspired by a single line he read in his daughters textbook: In 1600, an Englishman went to Japan and became a samurai. Heres the true story of how a sailor named William Adams became the first westerner to reach that storied rank.

William Adams was born in Kent in 1564. In later life, he recalled his childhood in a letter, writing: I am a Kentish-man, borne in a Towne called Gillingham, two English miles from Rochester, one mile from Chatham, where the Kings ships lye

This proximity to Britains shipyards would have a defining influence on Adams. At the age of 12, his father died and he was apprenticed to a master shipbuilder in Limehouse. He spent the next dozen years learning shipbuilding, navigation and astronomy before joining the Royal Navy at the age of 24.

That year, 1588, he was the master of a supply ship for the British Navy as they fought the Spanish Armada under the command of Sir Francis Drake. After the Spaniards were defeated, Adams married, had two children, and soon took a job as a ships pilot with trading merchants the Barbary Company.

In 1598, at the age of 34, Adams led an expedition that hoped to reach the East Indies (now Indonesia) by sailing through the Strait of Magellan in Chile. The voyage was beset by sickness and poor weather, but eventually in 1600, after 19 months at sea, Adamss ship laid anchor off the island of KyAshA, Japan. It was the first European ship ever to reach the country.

Adams and the other survivors (numbering just 23 of the 100 sailors who left England) were summoned to Asaka to meet Tokugawa Ieyasu, a powerful local lord who had designs on ruling Japan as shogun  the military governor who controlled the country. When Ieyasu interrogated Adams, he realised he could put the newcomers extensive knowledge of shipbuilding to good use. Instead of executing Adams and his crew as pirates, he instead made the Englishman one of his trusted confidants. Adams continued in this role after Ieyasu became shogun in 1603, and helped Ieyasu build Japans first Western-style sailing ship the following year.

Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne and Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko in Shogun' (Katie Yu/FX)

Although Ieyasu had honoured Adams, at first the sailor asked to be allowed to return to his family in England. When this request was denied, Adams accepted his fate and permanently settled in Japan. The shogun presented Adams with two swords representing the authority of a samurai, and decreed that William Adams the pilot was dead and that Miura Anjin, a samurai, was born in his place. Ieyasu said that by this action he freed Adams to serve the shogunate permanently, while effectively making his wife in England a widow.

As a ruler, Ieyasu was keen to learn from different cultures, and instructed Adams to write to other countries to encourage their traders to visit Japan. He allowed Adams to open the first East India Company trading post in the city of Hirado in 1613, and the Englishman received substantial revenues as well as his own estate. He married a local woman, had two children, and began to travel outside of Japan and resume some of his expeditions. However, after Ieyasu died in 1616, his successor Tokugawa Hidetada pursued an increasingly isolationist path for Japan. Adams found his influence declining, and after falling ill, he died in Hirado in 1620.

Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Shogun' (Kurt Iswarienko/FX)

In James Clavells ShAgun, the character of John Blackthorne is heavily influenced by the life of William Adams, while Lord Yoshi Toranaga stands in for Tokugawa Ieyasu.

However, while Clavell did deeply research Japanese history and the Sengoku period in which the story is set, the plot itself is a fantasy.

While ShAgun may not be strictly historically accurate, the cast of the new adaptation have pointed out theres still much to learn from the story. It is not only rich with detail about life in feudal Japan, but also deals with timeless themes around the struggle for power and the difficulty of bringing peace out of conflict.

Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado in Shogun (Katie Yu/FX)

Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays Lord Yoshi Toranaga, explained at a recent press event for ShAgun that this resonance is exactly why hes excited to tell this story now. When I received this role, [I thought about] the meaning of making this show for now, he said.

The model of Toranaga is based on the real shogun, Ieyasu, who created the peaceful era after the war period for about 260 years, he explained. Thats why he became a hero, for then and especially for now. Sanada believes audiences will be keen to see the kind of hero on screen who seeks to bring about peace and rule with wisdom. People are waiting to know the story about him, he said. That was the biggest motivation at the beginning for me.

So while ShAgun shouldnt be relied on as a history lesson, it does promise to shine a light on a fascinating period of Japans past when a heroic ruler succeeded in forging stability out of chaos  with the help of a sailor from Kent.

ShAgun is on FX in the US and on Disney+ in the UK from 27 February.
Saturday Night Live writers imagined what some Republicans are saying behind Donald Trumps back in a crisp cold open this weekend.

Set at a Washington, D.C., party celebrating Trumps South Carolina primary win, the sketch starts with GOP Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Jim Risch (Idaho) anxiously griping about the former president.

Raising his drink to Trump and his 21-point victory, Rubio (played by Marcello Hernandez) said, I guess Trump owns the Republican Party now.

With a sigh, Risch (played by Mikey Day) told his colleague he was baffled by the GOPs unwavering support for the businessman and his erratic behavior.

Citing Trumps torpedoing of Ukraine funding, the Idaho senator said, The man doesnt care about this country one iota. Sometimes I think hes downright dangerous.

And you just endorsed him, right? Rubio asked.

Yeah! Big time. Big time, Risch grinned, before making sure everyone within earshot could hear him say, Hes great ... He is incredible!

Also burned by the all but inevitable Republican presidential candidate, Rubio explained what its like to be stuck with his Trump-assigned nickname, Little Marco.

Ive never been able to shake it, said Rubio. People still yell at me in airports. He kind of made my life hell.

Folding like Risch, Rubio reminded his co-worker he had also endorsed the reputation-sullied New York businessman.

When South Carolina Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham sat down, they were similarly spineless.

What I love about him personally is he doesnt have a racist bone in his body, Devon Walker said as Scott.

Even Rubio had trouble agreeing with that, asking everyone if they heard Trump claim, Black people like him better now because he has a mugshot.

Yeah, my man got street cred! Scott cheered.

Id never compromise my integrity for Donald Trump, he went on. But I might if he made me vice president!

Last week at a Fox News town hall event, Trump revealed that Scott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard were all on his shortlist for VP.

Related...
Credit: NBC/SNL

Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update went after former President Donald Trumps wild campaign rhetoric, as well as the Alabama Supreme Court ruling this week that frozen embryos created through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are human beings.

Co-anchor Colin Jost began by quipping that, after Trump won the South Carolina primary earlier in the night, he is now undefeated everywhere except court.

More from Rolling Stone

Of the former presidents recent hyperbolic comments, Jost joked that they reminded him of somebody: the comic book supervillain Bane.

Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che! pic.twitter.com/1VYas8UO1I  Saturday Night Live  SNL (@nbcsnl) February 25, 2024

A Frozen Embryo From Alabama stops by the Update desk to talk the state's recent Supreme Court ruling pic.twitter.com/YldkdiONdm  Saturday Night Live  SNL (@nbcsnl) February 25, 2024

Jost then interviewed a frozen embryo from Alabama (Marcello Hernandez), who explained that he really doesnt feel like a person.

Im living at negative 200 degrees in liquid nitrogen freezing my non-existent nipples off. I dont got a brain, I dont got a heartIm like Tom Sandoval, he joked.

Best of Rolling Stone
More than 2,000 people have served in the U.S. Senate since it was established in 1789. But just 12 have been Black -- and only three have been Black women, none of whom have ever served together.

That could soon change. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Prince George County, Maryland, Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) are all running for open Senate seats and hope to serve there alongside one another.

"It's about what we bring, what we bring as Black women, that has never been part of the consistent policy debate in the United States Senate, and it's time," Lee told ABC News in a segment that aired Sunday on "This Week."

In 2017, future Vice President Kamala Harris became just the second Black woman to serve in the Senate, 24 years after the first, Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, was sworn in.

Last year, following Sen. Dianne Feinstein's death, California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler, a prominent Democratic advocate and former labor organizer, to serve the remainder of Feinstein's term.

Lee, who has represented Oakland, California, in the U.S. House since 1998, is running in a very competitive primary for the seat currently held by Butler.

"I have been in the House for many years. But it's time for me to go to the Senate to be one of 100 because I truly believe that the perspective that I bring, the lens that I bring, is lacking in the United States Senate," she said.

MORE: Who is Laphonza Butler, replacing late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein

PHOTO: ABC News' Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott speaks with U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks at her campaign headquarters in Maryland. (Julia Cherner/ABC News)

PHOTO: In this April 7, 1998, file photo, Barbara Lee is photographed at her campaign headquarters while the vote was being counting for the congressional race. She was elected as U.S. Representative for California's 13th congressional district. (Oakland Tribune /MediaNews Group via Getty Images, FILE)

Lee recalled a conversation with Moseley Braun about the importance of representing all views and experiences in the Senate.

"[Moseley Braun] mentioned certain diseases that are unique to African Americans and people of color, lupus for example, no one would bring these issues up unless you understand them from your background and perspective," Lee said. "What happens with representation is that not only new ideas, new experiences and new solutions come to the table -- but you help strengthen the entire country because we want everyone to be able to participate in this democracy."

Lee began her political career working for Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign. She credits Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, with convincing her to register to vote.

"I didn't believe that the Democrats or Republicans were understanding the needs and the aspirations of myself as a young single mom. And she said, 'Look, we need your voice. We need you on the inside ... we need you to come help shake things up,'" Lee recalled. "I saw how she had to deal with the power structure and how oftentimes everyone was against her. But she stayed the course and she was bold."

MORE: California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee to announce Senate run by end of month

Primary polls show Lee trailing her fellow Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter and Republican Steve Garvey ahead of the state's primary on March 5, with only the top two candidates advancing to the general election in the fall.

Asked about the challenges Black women encounter in running for office, Lee said they are frequently systemic.

"When you look at fundraising, for example, we have got to get to public financing of campaigns, we've got to overturn [the Supreme Court ruling in] Citizens United and get the 'dark money' out of campaigns. Because it's not a level playing field, when you look at the wealth gap, for example, in the Black community," Lee said. "The system oftentimes, and that's one thing Shirley Chisholm reminded me of, it's not built and made for the participation of certain people who have been shut out for so long. But as Dr. Maya Angelou said, 'And still we rise,' and so we have within us the desire and the passion, and the commitment to overcome these obstacles."

"And that's what you've seen historically, with Black women, overcoming these obstacles and fighting for our democracy," Lee said.

PHOTO: ABC News' Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott sits down with Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., in Washington about her Senate campaign. (Julia Cherner/ABC News)

Lee is perhaps best known as the sole member of Congress to vote against the military authorization for the invasion of Afghanistan, three days after the September 11th attacks. She said at the time that she wanted the country to avoid becoming entangled in a larger cycle of bloodshed.

"I was called a traitor. People were calling my telephone, leaving gun shots on voicemail, it was terrible. I had to have security and the death threats and the threats to my personal safety and my family was overwhelming. However, sometimes when you're in public life, if you're a public servant, you know the risks," Lee said. "You have to be able to withstand the political pressure, and that's why I want to be in the Senate, because there are gonna be some hard debates and some hard fights in the Senate in the next few years. And in fact, I don't back down when I know that that's the right position, even if it goes against my party."

In Maryland, Alsobrooks is running for the seat held by retiring Sen. Ben Cardin.

"I recognize the power of the federal government, the infrastructure dollars, the health care access that we've been working to build here, and I realized how important it is to have individuals in those positions who are fighting hard for the people they represent and who understand them," Alsobrooks told ABC News.

She is up against Rep. David Trone, D-Md., a wealthy, self-financed candidate in the May 14 primary, but has the endorsement of half of Marylands congressional delegation.

If she wins the primary, she could go head-to-head with popular former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in the general election, who just announced he was entering the race.

PHOTO: Angela Alsobrooks speaks during a campaign event for her run for the U.S. Senate at Monument City Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland, on Oct. 23, 2023. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE)

Like Lee, Alsobrooks described some of her strengths in terms of her personal background.

"I was the first woman elected as prosecutor here, I was the first woman to be elected as county executive -- and what that has meant is that I have brought to bear solutions that are very different, they are based not only on my professional experience but lived experience," Alsobrooks said. "I think it's important to have people representing you who live like you, who can think like the people they represent and who understand and share the cares and concerns of the people they represent."

Alsobrooks has been very close with Vice President Harris ever since they connected in 2010, she said.

"It has been a really wonderful relationship that we have developed," she said of Harris. "She's been in many of the spaces before me, if you think about it, as the first-ever [Black woman] district attorney elected in San Francisco, one of the youngest, the same experience that I've had here."

Asked what lessons she's taken away from Harris, Alsobrooks said, "It is not as important that you're the first at something, it is that you create the kind of record and create the kind of roadway so that others can be successful too."

"You are not truly successful until you've made someone else successful," she said.

Blunt Rochester serves alongside Lee in the House. In 2017, she became the first woman and Black person to represent the state of Delaware in Congress.

PHOTO: In this Jan. 3, 2017, file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. administers the House oath of office to Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Zach Gibson/AP, FILE)

"I had never run for anything in my life," Blunt Rochester told ABC News about her decision to launch that original campaign. "I was over 50 when I decided to run, and I had just been widowed and I said, 'You know what, I'm still alive, I can still serve and I decided to run for office and in a six week primary, you know, beat five guys.'"

Blunt Rochester is favored to win November's election. If elected, she would become the first woman and person of color to represent Delaware in the Senate.

"I think about the little girls, I think about those women who have been widowed or who are over 50," she said. "For me to be able to represent and bring those lived experiences, the professional experiences, the policy issues. I mean, we know that Black women die from childbirth more than their white counterparts [and] have 43% more student loan debt than our white counterparts."

"I don't really think about the history so much because, you know, my intention is to make a difference and to have an impact on people's lives," Blunt Rochester added, "and should there be a history making moment, that's great."

The Delaware congresswoman shares a close relationship with President Joe Biden. She endorsed him the day he launched his White House bid in 2019 and serves as a national co-chair of his reelection campaign.

"When my dad unexpectedly passed away from leukemia, President Biden called when we were all taking care of dad during hospice ... He and the first lady came to the visitation at the church for 45 minutes and spent time with us," Blunt Rochester reflected. "I was holding it all together ... But there was something about him, looking at my face, and saying, 'It's going to be OK, kid,' and that just made me lose it. I just fell into his arms crying."

PHOTO: ABC News' Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott interviews Senatorial candidate Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., in Washington. (Julia Cherner/ABC News)

If just two of these candidates win, they could make even more history, as the Senate has never had multiple Black women serve at the same time.

"I'm very proud of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, I'm very proud of Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. They are just really dynamic women. They're warm, they're purposeful and so it's been an honor to run in the same year," Alsobrooks said.

Lee said she's spoken to both Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester about the history they could make serving together.

"We say 'one is not enough' -- all of us need to be elected to the United States Senate," she said.

Blunt Rochester said working alongside women who share some of her lived experiences "is always a good thing, particularly when times are hard."

"You think about Shirley Chisholm in this moment, where she said, 'If they don't give you a seat at the table, you bring a folding chair,'" Blunt Rochester said. "Well, maybe we'll have many folding chairs."

3 Black women aim for historic Senate wins in 2024: 'My intention is to make a difference' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Donald Trump wants to escalate a US trade war. Did it work the first time?

John Hoge has run a family-owned sporting goods business in Long Island, New York, for decades, selling kayaks and paddle boards imported mainly from China.

In 2019, Hoge said, the company faced an emergency. Then-President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on the vast majority of the company's products, said Hoge, co-owner of Sea Eagle Boats.

"We had shipments that were already on the water waiting to get in port that suddenly were 25% more expensive," Hoge told ABC News, saying the added cost forced him to raise prices. "It was jarring."

Even after receiving an exemption from the tariffs, his company shifted most of its supply chain out of China as a precaution, Hoge said. Either way, Hoge added, the business has never sourced products from the U.S.

"This is not an industry that had a substantial U.S. presence and fired everyone. It never existed here," Hoge said, noting that domestic manufacturing for these products would bring added costs and higher prices.

"If you want to involve the American middle class in the outdoors, you need products that the American middle class can afford," Hoge said.

MORE: What are Trump's plans for the economy in a potential 2nd term?

On the campaign trail, Trump has vowed to escalate the trade war initiated during his first term. However, studies have shown that his trade policies fell short of promises made to rejuvenate U.S. manufacturing and spur job growth. In some cases, analysts told ABC News, the policies harmed U.S. producers while raising prices for consumers.

A heightened trade war over a long period could expand certain areas of U.S. manufacturing, some analysts said. But, they added, the move would come at significant cost for consumers already worn out by inflation.

"The tariffs raised costs for American businesses and raised some prices for American consumers," Inu Manak, a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, told ABC News. "And there's quite a bit more Trump could do."

In response to ABC News' request for comment, the Trump campaign defended the tariffs, adding that the U.S. economy will benefit from Trumps plans to address immigration in a potential second term.

President Trump's plan to close the border and deport illegals is America's only hope for economic survival, and his return to maximizing domestic oil and gas production will create an economic boom and bring inflation to zero, as it did in his first term, Karoline Leavitt, the campaigns national press secretary, told ABC News in a statement.

Stephen Moore, who previously served as an economic adviser to Trump and says he has helped shape Trump's 2024 agenda, previously told ABC News that escalating tariffs would hinder foreign producers and make domestic industries more competitive.

In turn, the policy would create jobs and boost manufacturing in the U.S., Moore said.

"Trump wants jobs here in America," Moore added. "He wants things made in America."

During his tenure, Trump placed tariffs on aluminum and steel from a host of countries, including Mexico, Canada and the European Union.

Meanwhile, he taxed hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods from China, raising import costs for everything from shoes to BMX bikes to computer chips.

In all, the U.S. levied tariffs on thousands of products valued at approximately $380 billion in 2018 and 2019, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Tax Foundation.

PHOTO: In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, China's president, shake hands during a news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE)

Trump's tariffs decreased U.S. employment by 166,000 jobs, the group found, citing increased import costs for U.S. employers.

A nonpartisan working paper released by a global team of researchers last month focused on the consequences wrought for the Midwest. The study found little effect on jobs in the region in industries directly affected by the tariffs, while noting a slight decline in employment as a result of retaliatory tariffs placed on U.S. goods.

When asked about the trade war's objectives of job creation and rejuvenated manufacturing, Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said, "There's no evidence that it achieved these goals."

On the other hand, the tariffs hiked prices for some U.S. goods, since many U.S. importers passed the elevated costs along to consumers, Lovely said.

Tariffs placed on washing machines in 2018, for instance, raised the price of these appliances by 12%, according to a working paper from researchers at the University of Chicago and the Chicago Federal Reserve.

To be sure, the measures have succeeded in reducing the share of U.S. imports that come from China, though the trend has coincided with an increase in share from Mexico and Vietnam, which some analysts attribute to the use of those countries as a pass-through for Chinese goods.

President Joe Biden, for his part, has kept many of the tariffs in place.

Ken Fritz, who works at North Carolina-based manufacturer Marsh Cabinets, said he welcomes further tariffs as a means of protecting U.S. cabinet producers against low-cost Chinese alternatives.

He criticized Chinese firms for flooding the market with cheap cabinets, saying those companies have found ways to circumvent tariffs imposed in 2019. American importers may suffer under tariffs, Fritz acknowledged; but he said observers shouldn't overlook U.S. manufacturers that face unfair competition from abroad.

MORE: The housing market is cooling again. Here's why.

"What about the manufacturers that have to close their doors, that lose thousands of jobs?" Fritz said. "The climate needs to continue to be pro-American-made products."

Trump has recently vowed to expand the trade war if he takes office next year, promising to impose tariffs on most imported goods. Speaking with Fox Business in August, Trump said the tax on imported items could ultimately stand at 10%.

Earlier this month, when asked by Fox News' Maria Bartiromo whether he would consider implementing a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, Trump said: "No, I would say maybe it's going to be more than that."

Eswar Prasad, a professor of trade policy at Cornell University, said such a policy would dramatically impact the U.S. economy, sending prices skyward while helping some domestic industries and hurting others.

"Imposing a 60% tariff would turn a fence into essentially an impenetrable barrier," Prasad told ABC News. "It would shut the U.S. out of the global trading system."

"There could be some benefits in terms of employment growth in the U.S.," He added. "But overall, history shows restricting trade can end up having negative consequences that far outweigh positive ones in terms of employment growth in domestic industries."

Donald Trump wants to escalate a US trade war. Did it work the first time? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Ground turkey is a versatile and nutritious ingredient that can be used to create a wide variety of delicious meals. It has a lean profile and mild flavor, which makes it a great alternative to ground beef in many recipes. Whether you're looking to lighten up classic dishes or explore new culinary horizons, ground turkey offers countless possibilities in the kitchen. This protein can be used effortlessly in different cuisines and recipes, from hearty chili and comforting meatballs to flavorful tacos and juicy burgers. Its neutral taste lets it absorb the flavors of herbs, spices, and sauces, making it an ideal base for dishes with bold and complex flavor profiles.

One of the key benefits of cooking with ground turkey is its comparatively low-fat content. Ground turkey is also rich in protein, essential nutrients like vitamins B6 and B12, and minerals such as zinc and selenium. These characteristics make ground turkey a useful ingredient to have on hand -- as long as you know how to cook it. To that end, we've compiled a list of some of our favorite ground turkey recipes for you to try on busy weeknights and leisurely weekends alike.

Read more: 14 Popular Chain Grocery Stores For Meat, Ranked Worst To Best

Cheesy Spaghetti Squash And Ground Turkey Bake

Spaghetti squash and ground turkey - Michelle McGlinn/Tasting Table

If you're looking to cut back on calories and carbs without foregoing flavor, substitute ground turkey for beef. The same is true for switching out regular spaghetti with spaghetti squash. This recipe combines these two tasty ingredients for an excellent, light meal.

The filling for this recipe is super easy to make. Just cook the turkey with onion, garlic, tomato, spinach, heavy cream, and various seasonings, and plop the mixture into your prepared spaghetti squash. Top with parmesan for that lovely cheesy effect, and bake everything together.

Recipe: Cheesy Spaghetti Squash and Ground Turkey Bake

Ground Turkey-Stuffed Eggplant

Turkey stuffed eggplant - Jennine Rye/Tasting Table

Get your protein and vegetables all in one place with this ground turkey-stuffed eggplant. The turkey will soak up all the herby, creamy flavors without overwhelming the eggplant.

Moreover, between the turkey, homemade bechamel, and roasted eggplant, each bite of this dish is like savoring a fine Greek moussaka. Serve with a simple side salad for extra veggies and color. We think it's the perfect recipe to prepare in the summer when eggplants are abundant.

Recipe: Ground Turkey-Stuffed Eggplant

Ground Turkey Flatbread With Cranberry Chutney

Flatbread with turkey and cranberry - Jessica Morone/Tasting Table

It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving for you to be able to savor the delightful combination of turkey and cranberry. You can dig in any time of year with this ground turkey flatbread with cranberry chutney.

If you have plenty of time on your hands, you can make the flatbread yourself, or you can buy a good quality one at the bakery. But for best results, be sure to make your own chutney, as a cranberry sauce from the store might end up being too sweet. The vinegar curbs the sweetness and creates a perfectly balanced topping.

Recipe: Ground Turkey Flatbread with Cranberry Chutney

Turkey Burger Lettuce Wraps

Turkey burgers on plate - Chanel Murphy-Lowe/Tasting Table

Turkey burgers don't have to exist only as a sad substitute for beef burgers. They can be delicious in their own right, as in the case of this tasty and nutritious turkey burger lettuce wrap.

And don't let the lettuce wrap fool you, either. The ground turkey is so flavorful and interesting, thanks to the liquid smoke, so you won't need the added heft of a burger bun anyway. The panko breadcrumbs mixed into the ground turkey should be more than enough to satisfy any carb craving. Or, if you're looking to go gluten-free, you can leave them out or use gluten-free panko instead.

Recipe: Turkey Burger Lettuce Wraps

Turkey Taquitos With Cranberry Chipotle Salsa

Taquitos on a plate - Tess Le Moing/Tasting Table

A classic taquito can always be counted on as a filling meal. But beef and chicken are not the only proteins that can deliver. Ground turkey can be just as good, especially when combined with a spicy cranberry chipotle sauce that turns a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on its head.

We recommend serving the cranberry salsa in a small saucer and then dipping the prepared taquitos in it. This is also a helpful solution if you have guests who aren't fans of spicy ingredients.

Recipe: Turkey Taquitos with Cranberry Chipotle Salsa

Sweet And Savory Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

Turkey meatloaf muffins - Leah Maroney/Tasting Table

For moments when a muffin won't suffice, there's this sweet and savory turkey meatloaf muffin recipe. It comes packed with all the flavor and protein of ground turkey and is super easy to make. Just mix all the ingredients in one bowl, bake the batter in a muffin tin, and in a short time, you've got yourself a wholesome dinner idea.

That said, you can eat these muffins as an entire meal rather than just a snack by pairing them with a side. The muffins go well with mashed potatoes and gravy, a simple salad, or steamed broccoli.

Recipe: Sweet and Savory Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

Easy Breakfast Turkey Sausage

Turkey sausages on plate - Michelle McGlinn/Tasting Table

Bacon and pork sausages make for great breakfast sides, but it's nice to change up the routine occasionally. For the days when you want to try something new, make these breakfast turkey sausages. If your first thought is that the turkey will likely turn dry in sausage form, put those worries out of your mind. The inclusion of mayonnaise will keep the meat nice and moist.

As for the rest of your breakfast, feel free to proceed as usual. Serve this turkey sausage with your favorite style of eggs, along with some tomatoes, baked beans, toast, and whatever else strikes your fancy.

Recipe: Easy Breakfast Turkey Sausage

Actually Juicy Turkey Burger

Turkey burgers on board - Michelle McGlinn/Tasting Table

As nice as turkey burgers can be, they're not known to be particularly juicy -- that honor is reserved for their beefy counterpart. That isn't the case with this turkey burger recipe, which bolsters the moisture with condiments like mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce. It also includes a surprising touch of goat's milk, which gives the meat mixture the extra fat that is naturally present in beef.

It's also important not to overcook the patty. Otherwise, you risk drying out the meat. As for flavor, a good dose of herbs, like thyme and allspice, can help beef up this non-beef patty.

Recipe: Actually Juicy Turkey Burger

Turkey Cottage Pie

Turkey cottage pie on a plate - Jennine Rye/Tasting Table

A cottage pie is a layered dish often made with ground beef and potatoes. A shepherd's pie is one example, which uses lamb instead of beef. Apparently, there is no specific name for the same dish made with turkey, so we'll call this version a turkey cottage pie.

Although this dish may be leaner than the traditional cottage pie because of the turkey, there are many filling elements. Copious amounts of butter, milk, potatoes, and cheese should easily fill you up and satisfy your meaty cravings.

Recipe: Turkey Cottage Pie

Rich Turkey Tomato Bolognese

Pot of turkey bolognese - Jennine Rye/Tasting Table

Bolognese sauce is usually made with ground beef, but there's no reason the recipe can't also utilize any other type of ground meat, including turkey. Aside from the turkey swap, this recipe remains largely unchanged. It still includes the best elements of a Bolognese that contribute to its tastiness and heartiness, including herbs like dried thyme and bay leaves, as well as a hearty pour of whole milk.

Recipe: Rich Turkey Tomato Bolognese

White Turkey Chili

Turkey chili in a bowl - Jess Case/Tasting Table

If you've been cutting back on red meat but are having a chili craving, try this white turkey chili to get the best of both worlds. The fun part of this recipe, aside from the protein switcheroo, is the flexibility to add different ingredients and play with the recipe.

While strictly following the instructions will get you a fine bowl of chili, you can also add your favorite vegetables for an extra dose of fiber. Peppers, squash, and zucchini would all make excellent choices.

Recipe: White Turkey Chili

Thanksgiving-Style Turkey Meatballs

Turkey meatballs - Michelle McGlinn/Tasting Table

Whether you're looking for an easy variation on a laborious Thanksgiving dinner or just a regular turkey recipe for a Tuesday night, these Thanksgiving-style turkey meatballs will fit your needs. Between the gravy, sage, and heavy cream, the dish has flavor and heartiness to spare.

And because of all the creaminess, you'll need something starchy to go with these meatballs. Try some mashed potatoes for the sake of tradition, and serve them with some cranberry sauce on the side for a nice, balanced tang.

Recipe: Thanksgiving-Style Turkey Meatballs

Smoky Turkey Chili

Bowl of turkey chili - Molly Madigan Pisula/Tasting Table

Smokiness is a key element of many cuisines, and this smoky turkey chili is not to be outdone in that department. It calls for smoked paprika to impart complex notes and evoke meaty undertones, which in turn helps amp up the flavor of the turkey.

To make this dish even smokier, you can also add chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. The recipe also calls for a surprising element, cinnamon, to help bring out the flavor of the smoked paprika and add a hint of sweetness.

Recipe: Smoky Turkey Chili

Herbaceous Thai Turkey Burgers

Turkey burger with cole slaw - Ksenia Prints/Tasting Table

This Thai burger recipe shines not only because of the spices and flavors that go into the patty but also because of the accompaniments that join it on the bun. The meat mixture will be instantly brightened by the addition of lemongrass and ginger, carrot slaw, sriracha mayo, and a Thai basil garnish.

And don't worry if you can't find any Thai basil in your grocery store. The licorice-like flavor profile of Italian basil can add a fresh element, while cilantro can take care of the citrusy notes you may be missing.

Recipe: Herbaceous Thai Turkey Burgers

Turkey And Butternut Squash Chili

Bowl of chili - Alexander Roberts/Food Republic

You may have heard of the practice of adding cinnamon, chocolate, maple syrup, or even brown sugar to chili for extra sweetness. This recipe accomplishes this task by including butternut squash, a naturally sugary gourd, which also adds a new texture to the dish.

On the other hand, if you're not a fan of sweet chili, you can balance the sugars out by amping up the spiciness. Feel free to add finely diced jalapeno peppers or some dried cayenne. Be sure to taste the chili to ensure you've reached the desired heat level.

Recipe: Turkey and Butternut Squash Chili

Ultimate Turkey Meatloaf

Turkey meatloaf on plate - Jessica Morone/Tasting Table

Meatloaf has a reputation for being a bit bland and basic, but neither of those attributes can be applied to this turkey meatloaf recipe. Not only does it swap out the beef for turkey, but it also includes a long list of fun and unexpected ingredients, like crushed potato chips, which add saltiness and crunchiness to the loaf.

Use any flavor of chips you'd like for this recipe. The plain kind is already exciting enough as it is, but if you want to play with flavors, sour cream and onion or barbecue with work nicely with the rest of the ingredients.

Recipe: Ultimate Turkey Meatloaf

Hearty Turkey Chili

Bowl of chili and rice - Catherine Brookes/Tasting Table

You might think that calling a turkey chili "hearty" might be an exercise in duplicity, as turkey is widely known for being lighter than other meats. But the tomatoes, kidney beans, and a host of spices have conspired here to create a deep, layered flavor without the need for beef.

You ought to treat this chili like you would any other. Pair it with sour cream and top it with fresh cilantro, both of which can help balance out the complexity and heaviness.

Recipe: Hearty Turkey Chili

Turkey Enchilada Skillet

Enchilada filling in a pot - Jessica Case/Tasting Table

This deconstructed enchilada recipe is exactly what you need when you're in the mood for enchiladas but can't stand the thought of cooking a laborious meal. With this recipe, all you have to do is toss cooked ground turkey, onions, jalapeno, peppers, black beans, diced chiles, corn, and enchilada sauce into a pan with the proper seasoning, and you're more than halfway there.

For the finishing touch, instead of toiling away on enchilada wraps, just stir in some tortilla chips and cheese. Serve this enchilada casserole with the usual trappings, like cilantro and avocado slices.

Recipe: Turkey Enchilada Skillet

Southwest Turkey-Stuffed Baked Pepper

Stuffed peppers - Ksenia Prints/Tasting Table

One of the beautiful things about stuffing meat and rice into a vegetable -- like a zucchini, eggplant, or, as in this case, a pepper -- is that you get a complete meal with every bite. The assembly instructions are relatively straightforward and easy for kitchen novices.

Just be sure to drizzle some oil on your peppers and season them thoroughly with salt and pepper before you add the filling. Or you might end up with too sharp a contrast between the warm and rich flavors of the turkey mixture and a bland and boring outer shell.

Recipe: Southwest Turkey-Stuffed Baked Pepper

Turkey Bolognese Bianco

Pasta with turkey bolognese - Taylor Murray/Tasting Table

Switch up your meat sauce repertoire with this light, tomato-free Bolognese bianco. In fact, the "bianco" title means that, unlike regular Bolognese, this sauce contains no nightshades. It's perfect for those with sensitive stomachs or folks who don't like the acidity of a standard sauce.

Instead, the acidic component comes from a splash of white wine, while butter and parmesan cheese work together to create a creamy texture. Serve this sauce with rigatoni or your preferred pasta shape.

Recipe: Turkey Bolognese Bianco

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
On March 8, the Museum of Modern Art will open Crafting Modernity: Design in Latin America, 19401980, the first major museum exhibition in the United States focusing on mid-20th-century Latin American design. Organized by guest curator Ana Elena Mallet, a Mexico Citybased art historian, and Amanda Forment, MoMAs curatorial assistant in the department of architecture and design, the show will highlight six countriesArgentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuelabringing together more than 100 objects to demonstrate how the industry can serve as a lens to examine wide-reaching political, social, and cultural issues in these regions. To get a better look at the subtleties of design happening in Latin America, and to celebrate the momentous exhibition, Robb Report brought Mallet together in conversation with Agnes Studio, a young, Guatemala Citybased office founded in 2017 by Estefania de Ros and Gustavo Quintana-KennedyMallet has had her eye on them for the past several years.

Looking to reclaim their countrys rich creative heritage, the duo spent two years researching pre-Columbian craftsmanship to inform their furniture from a perspective that asks what a modern Guatemalan home would look like if the country had escaped colonization. The studios first solo show, Amuletos, is currently on view at Mexico Citys Ago Projects gallery through April 10. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

More from Robb Report

Ana Elena Mallet [AEM]: Latin America is a very broad, complex region. Every country has its nuances, and thats what were trying to show in the exhibition. Weve been taught a narrative of design in which modernity is seen through Europe and the United States, but in Latin America, the idea of modernity was very different. Were taking the opportunity to look at design, especially [residential] design, and reflect on the ways that it exposes cultural and political narratives in the region. I think this exhibition is giving Latin America a voice, giving it an opportunity to tell its own story. There arent many books telling this shared historythe passed-on knowledge, the nuances, the narrativesand thats very important. Thats part of why Im very interested in [Agness] work. You have such an understanding of tradition, materials, and history in a local and regional context.

Art historian Ana Elena Mallet in Mexico City.

Estefania de Ros [EDR]: Thank you. I really admire your work, especially your work about Clara Porset and Lina Bo Bardi. As a woman and a designer, its inspiring to hear these stories and its a great example that youre telling the story of Latin American design when not a lot of [institutions] have.

AEM: Theres this idea of richness in craft in Guatemala and also this idea of exterior or foreign influences. Looking at people like Antoine de Saint-Exupery or Alexander Calder, there are all these artists and designers that passed through Guatemala and lived and worked in Guatemala, and I see thats happening again. How do you feel about that, and how do you see that developing?

Gustavo Quintana-Kennedy [GQK]: In the 1960s there was this blooming art scene in Centro Civico [a group of avant-garde and modernist architects and artists designed and decorated the civic buildings in the area], but 36 years of civil war broke out, and by the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, the design scene here was almost nonexistent as an industry, or something that was considered importantit wasnt. But, from 2010 through now, it has slowly been reviving, and a lot of that is through the younger generations, people who are contemporary to us and interested in discovering traditional crafts, methods, and materials. That seed of appreciating what we have here has led to a small revival, but part of the driving force of that has been these outside influencesnot only what we know has historically happened here, but also the information you get from books and the internet, and I guess that has sparked a little bit of creativity and interest and led to this new wave of things happening here.

EDR: I think also one of the main focuses is that a lot of the traditional techniques have been lost. If you go to any small community, there are not that many people doing these specific crafts anymore.

GQK: In 2016, we did a show, Simbiotica, that connected contemporary designers and artists with traditional Guatemalan artisans. The idea was that they could learn from each other and create something in the process. The wool we used for the Lana chair comes from the highlands, and we found out that most of the weavers were migrating to the United States to work in construction and farm fields. There were maybe two or three families left doing it, and very few people were interested in continuing a craft that historically has always been a part of our heritage.

Every house in Guatemala used to have at least one rug made out of this wool. Now, many young designers and entrepreneurs have helped revive the interest in craft, and the communities are starting to embrace it again as an important part of their culture and economy. Its been interesting to watch how this movement has helped some of these industries avoid going extinct.

An early advocate for the inclusion of furniture and other design objects in Mexico City museums, Mallet guest curated the forthcoming exhibition on Latin American design at MoMA.

AEM: Part of what I was interested in talking about in the last section of the exhibition was these national industries: For us in Latin America, craft is an industry. It gives a lot of jobs, creates a tradition, and is also good for the economy. Something that Amanda and I talked about when traveling was, at the end, when this dream of industrialization died in the 80s when neoliberalism started to rise in the region, craft resisted. What I find really interesting is when we talk about craft as resistance and craft as a modus operandi for Latin American designers even today. In the last 10 to 15 years, Ive noticed that designers are rethinking [the use of] traditional [design methods], not with cultural appropriation, but with respect. With Agnes, you talk about having a dialogue and creating long-term relationships with the communities, asking questions to really understand how they live and work and how they want to work. Guatemala is a small country, but the craft industry there is super powerful.

EDR: Craft not only produces beautiful objects, but theres a communal environment created around it. Craft is about working together, using your hands. I work with girls that embroider together, which provides a space for communities to form, and that can be very empowering for women.

GQK: This is part of what people are asking for now in terms of ethics when it comes to sourcing. People are more aware of what they are purchasing and want to know the story behind it. And not only the story of the object but the story of both partiesthe designers and the craft communities. I think the way we work resonates with a lot more people now.

Five Names to Know

Daniel Orozco Studio: Big Lamp

Daniel Orozco Studio: Big Lamp

As part of Tulum-based designer Daniel Orozcos dedication to sustainability and working with raw materials, his newest collection, Forms of Stone, utilizes rocks of all colors. One piece, the totemic Big Lamp, combines marble and stone in the base, while a textured palm-fiber shade brings softness to the form.

Pedro Franco: Icones Chairs

Pedro Franco: Icones Chairs

Despite its eye-catching shape (in fact, there are six versions), the Icones chair was designed to create a counterpoint to the Instagrammable phenomenon, according to its creator, Pedro Franco, who says hes embodying an aesthetic where design is communication. Each of the chairs multiple profiles, cut into black sheet metal, is a maximalist delight.

Ries Estudio: Pasto Chair

Ries Estudio: Pasto Chair

Pasto, the most recent collection from Buenos Airesbased Ries Estudio, is a conceptual and material research project the team has pursued since 2021. Working in Argentinas Pampas region, the designers harvest and dry the native grasses, sort them by length, and then meticulously assemble the forms piece by piece to create a series of functional sculptures used as molds and cast in aluminum.

Giorgio Bonaguro: Sertao Table

Giorgio Bonaguro: Sertao Table

Designed for furniture brand Morfosi by Giorgio Bonaguro, who splits his time between Brazil and Italy, the Sertao table is a tribute to northeastern Brazil and its heritage of leather craftsmanship. The marble top sits on a conical wooden base covered with various cuts of hand-sewn leather that create uniquely irregular patterns.

Comite de Proyectos: Vilma Display Cabinet

Comite de Proyectos: Vilma Display Cabinet

Part of a furniture trio dubbed the Sentinels, the Vilma display cabinet by Mexico City design studio Comite de Proyectos is a limited-edition piece inspired by the ancient belief in a symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. Carved by hand from solid huanacaxtle wood, the Vilmas intricate, sawtooth-edged cabinet sits on a rattan base woven at a family-owned workshop in Mexico City.

Best of Robb Report

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Click here to read the full article.
This is a story about Mary Wiley, a mother and veteran. She was in the best shape of her life, and at the height of her career as an army officer. She was also 10 weeks pregnant, a fact that only a few of the hundreds of other soldiers, mostly men, in her unit knew about. On a typical day, she was working out, until she wasntshe had passed out. At the age of 28, Wiley was in cardiac arrest.

Other soldiers jumped in to help her, and found an AED, but it was out of batteries. They continued CPR on Mary for 13 minutes, until emergency services arrived. She was in Fairbanks, Alaska, but had to be life-flighted to a larger hospital in Anchorage, where she awoke to her mom and dad waiting for her. She felt perfectly fine, and miraculously, her unborn son was also perfectly fine.

Despite doctors speculating through the years, there was no diagnosis or real cause. She needed an Automated Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), which would monitor her for additional cardiac arrest events and administer shock from within to help her heart function again. Its had to do its job four to five times in the years since her first event.

Her pregnancy progressed as planned, though it was high risk from then on, and said her delivery was a controlled event with lots of help ready nearby. She even went on to have another successful pregnancy, and became a stay-at-home mom to her kids, now 7 and 4, in North Carolina.

These are the lessons shes learned along her path, that she hopes other mamas pay attention to.

Your job is not your identity

When she had to medically retire from the Army, she was heartbroken. After all, shed led teams of men who had never seen a woman in the role she was in, and could outrun and physically keep up with the best of them. Being physically in shape was my thing  it allowed me some legitimacy, she says. Otherwise it would be like, Oh yeah  SHE. So, changing paths from Ret. 1st Lieutenant to stay-at-home mom was tough, as she saw that as her identity.

Then she learned, No, [the job] was not my identity, it was the leader that you are. And you can be that in the military or in other places. In a not-so-coincidental moment, she was offered a supplementary job in her first post-stay-at-home mom role to teach CPR, though the hiring employer knew nothing of her past. She took it.

Things have come full circle. She now works in national security for the federal government.

Things arent always in your control

A week after the event, Wiley was back in the gym trying to work out again  until her doctor kicked her out. She didnt want anyone to think shed failed.

Wiley calls herself a Type-A person. I did this, this, and this, so thats not going to happen. Wellll, it does, she jokes. She wants pregnant mamas, and all parents, to run through scenarios in their head but to be able to say, I got this, if something beyond their control might happen.

Instead, she gives herself daily reminders  Did you do the best you could? Yes! You did. The things that happen are not a result of you failing, its just how did you pivot.

Ask what you get to not what you lost

Wiley was no longer allowed to run. Or do CrossFit Games. She had to edit her exercise habits down to weight training with lots of rest time, and an increased focus on nutrition instead. She found herself grieving what she lost. These things I used to focus on, Im like Its gone. Its gone. Its gone, she says.

A few months later, she was able to start flipping the narrative to what she GETS to do. I GET to dress my daughter in absolutely wacky outfits. I GET to take 15 minutes of self care.

Learning about heart health IS self-care

Speaking of self-care, its not all bubble baths and nature walks. Wiley says that listening to your own body, and monitoring for weird symptoms or feeling off is a must. You can also learn exactly what to do in the event of a heart attack.

She is collaborating with the American Heart Associations Go Red for Women in February, which is heart health month, to spread awareness that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, and also the leading cause for new moms. Shes pushing others to learn Hands-Only CPR (hint: perform this type of CPR while singing Stayin Alive or Crazy in Love, and youll have the right timing) if they get the chance.

Finally, she wants moms everywhere to give themselves a dang break and take care of themselves. Their hearts, lives, and families depend on it.
Authorities around the world have made drug busts in some pretty wild places, finding priceless cargo where one would never think to look. Police in the U.K. just set a record for the biggest Class A drug bust by weight in the country's history, seizing a total of 5.7 tons of cocaine estimated to be worth upwards of $570 million. The illicit packages weren't being shipped on their own, though; they were discovered in cargo boxes filled with bananas.

The National Crime Agency told the BBC that the drugs were en route to Hamburg in Germany. Authorities were called in to search the cargo in the port of Southampton before the ship set sail. They found dozens of boxes of unripe bananas with packs of cocaine buried among the fruit.

"This is a massive financial hit for a crime group and that will seriously disrupt them," the NCA's drug threat lead told the BBC. "We've seen high levels of seizures across Europe [in recent years] but we are in a cocaine market where production continues to increase in South America."

Related: Cocaine Worth $75K Found Near Mysterious Shipwreck

As for the packages' final destination, the NCA's director Chris Farrimond believed that the drugs would have ended up back in the U.K. anyway even if the cargo had made it safely to Germany.

"While the destination for the consignment was continental Europe in this case, I have no doubt that a significant proportion would have ended up back here in the U.K., being peddled by U.K. criminal gangs," he said. "Working closely with U.K. partners like Border Force, we are determined to do all we can to protect the U.K. public."

It's probably safe to say the precious cargo wasn't a great source of potassium.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.

Amy Schumer has revealed she's been diagnosed with Cushing syndrome. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Good+Foundation)

Amy Schumer is opening up about being diagnosed with Cushing syndrome, a disorder in which the body produces too much of the hormone cortisol.

On Friday, the "I Feel Pretty" actress, 42, revealed she was going through major medical scans while doing on-camera press for her Hulu show, "Life & Beth."

"I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up," Schumer said in Jessica Yellin's "News Not Noise" newsletter. "So finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I'm healthy was the greatest news imaginable."

The news comes after the "Trainwreck" star recently clapped back at comments about her appearance and "puffy" face on Instagram, as she opened up about having endometriosis.

"Thank you so much for everyone's input about my face! And you're right it is puffier than normal right now. I have endometriosis, an autoimmune disease that every woman should read about," the comedian wrote in her post.

"I also believe a woman doesn't need any excuse for her physical appearance and owes no explanation. But I wanted to take the opportunity to advocate for self-love and acceptance of the skin you're in."

Endometriosis is a health condition that affects 1 in 10 women in Canada. The tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, called the endometrium, grows on the outside of the uterus instead, where it doesn't belong. This can cause pain, especially during menstruation, and can lead to other health issues.

From face puffiness to pelvic pain, symptoms of endometriosis vary between individuals.

Yahoo Canada recently spoke to two Canadian women about their less common endometriosis symptoms and an endometriosis specialist on what treatment looks like.

What are the common symptoms of endometriosis?

According to the Endometriosis Network Canada, some common symptoms of endometriosis include:

Pelvic pain that can be constant and debilitating

Bowel issues, including diarrhea, constipation and nausea

Bladder pain

Infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss

Fatigue

Katie Luciani, the executive director at the Endometriosis Network Canada said it's important to note symptoms can be highly variable, meaning some people can experience a little pain, while others might have recurring symptoms that affect their everyday life.

"It is such an individual disease," added Luciani.

What are some less common side effects of endometriosis?

Genevieve Wojdyga, a 36-year-old living in Calgary, said she is well-accustomed to debilitating pelvic pain but also experiences less common symptoms which made her endometriosis diagnosis take years longer than she'd like.

In Canada, the average delay to diagnose is 5.4 years, but it can take as long as 20 years. This long wait to be diagnosed can lead to difficulties accessing treatment (surgical care in Canada can take up to 21 months), and it can impact Canadians' ability to work and live.

"I was experiencing ... fainting spells from pain levels and ocular migraines that would occasionally cause temporary blindness in one eye," said Wojdyga. She added that she also experienced loss of gallbladder, a flareup which affected the left side of her body, as well as weight gain and loss.

She added while there is information out there that shows how endometriosis can physically affect people, she doesn't think there's enough emphasis on how it correlates with someone's mental health.

"It is exhausting and it can feel bleak dealing with debilitating and excruciating pain."

Genevieve Wojdyga said she was dealing with endometriosis-related symptoms for years before she received her diagnosis. (Image provided by Genevieve Wojdyga)

Leah Myers is another Calgarian who experienced endometriosis-related symptoms for years before being diagnosed. The 33-year-old said she had extreme period pain, but also bouts of dizziness, brain fog and fatigue.

"It really affected my life," said Myers. "And I think when you talk about fatigue, people don't really understand, like they think about being a little tired. But with extreme fatigue, you can't drive. You can't do basic daily functions."

Myers said she continued to be perplexed by her symptoms even after receiving her diagnosis, but after she received treatment, or surgery, for her endometriosis in 2022, her brain fog disappeared. "It's like your brain is putting on a pair of glasses," she said.

According to the Canadian Association Medical Journal, other endometriosis symptoms that are less specific but are frequently reported by patients include abdominal pain and bloating, abnormal uterine bleeding, low back pain and fatigue.

Luciani said it's important to recognize the challenge of identifying endometriosis symptoms, and that there are often many comorbidities that coincide with the disease.

Barriers to treatment in Canada

Leah Myers, 33, has suffered from endometriosis-related symptoms like brain fog, dizziness and extreme fatigue. After Myers got surgery for endometriosis, she said it was like her brain was putting on a pair of glasses. (Image provided by Leah Myers)

After receiving a diagnosis, another barrier to care is access to laparoscopic excision surgery in Canada, which is one of the most effective treatments for endometriosis. Receiving surgical care can take up to 21 months.

Last October, Ontario NDP called on the provincial government to create a strategy to increase funding, education and awareness around endometriosis, which pushes people to seek care outside of the country due to long waitlists.

Myers was one of many women who chose to have her surgery outside of Canada. When she was told it would be over two years before she could receive treatment for her stage 4 endometriosis diagnosis, she went to the Bucharest Endometriosis Centre in Romania.

Luciani said removing barriers to care starts with education and diagnosis. Because so many women go to their general practitioners first and are sometimes left invalidated, all health-care providers should be educated on what endometriosis symptoms look like and the treatment paths.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
WARNING: This article contains mentions of death, bodily harm, and murder. Please proceed with caution.

Hi, my name is Angelica, and a fun fact about me is that I activate like the Winter Soldier if I hear the words "unsolved mystery" said anywhere in the same vicinity as me. It really doesn't matter what the topic is  from historical mysteries, to true crime cold cases, to things we may never understand about space, I am locked in, ready to listen, and will probably end up in a Wikipedia rabbit hole about it later. All that being said, I have also become, like, a living, breathing list of fun (and not-so-fun) facts about all kinds of mysteries.

Lifetime Television

Whether I discovered them through podcast episodes, Twitter threads, Discovery Channel shows from the 2000s, or BuzzFeed readers like you, I decided to share 13 unsolved mysteries I simply cannot get out of my mind. Without further ado, here they are:

Note: The following stories are all summaries, please feel free to check out the corresponding links at the end of each mystery if you'd like to do a deeper dive!

1.The vanishing of Mary, Fannie, and Jessie Stuart. On December 10, 1978, Mary Stuart and her two daughters, Fannie and Jessie, left their home in Honeydew, California, for a day of errands  specifically, grocery shopping, to get their TV repaired, and the optometrist. The three did not make it home that night, so one of Mary's friends reported them missing. Police checked with local optometrists and TV repair places, asking if they'd seen the Stuart girls, but none had. Almost a month later, their car was found on an old logging road just a few miles from their home. Detectives found their bags of groceries and a now-repaired TV inside and noticed the car's gas line was broken. There was no sign of the family, nor were there indications of foul play.

The prime suspect in the case was Byron McGray Stuart  Mary's husband and the girls' father. He had a history of violence and aggression, but police did not have enough evidence to tie the case to him. While it was reopened in 2009, the case remains unsolved, and Mary, Fannie, and Jessie have never been found. You can read more about it here. David Wall / Getty Images

2.The Great Kentucky Meat Shower, or the "Kentucky Shower of Flesh." On the third of March in 1876, large chunks of fresh meat  most of which were about 5x5 cm  rained down from the sky in Olympia Springs, Kentucky, "like large snowflakes." It was not actually raining, though  in fact, the sky was crystal clear, minus the chunks of flesh falling from it. Two local men tasted the strange meat and believed it was either venison or mutton. Later, two histologists analyzed the meat and determined it (or at least, the pieces they had access to) was made up of lung tissue, muscular tissue, and cartilage.

What exactly happened in Kentucky that day remains a mystery, though there have been several hypotheses. One of which is that the "meat" was actually nostoc, which is a gelatinous bacteria also known as "witch's butter" or "star-slubber" that swells and floats when it rains. As previously stated, it was a perfectly clear day when the meat rained down, so most aren't too convinced about the supposed explanation. Other theories range from it being projectile vulture vomit or alien flesh from a UFO explosion in space. You can read more about it here. Parth Rasse / Getty Images/iStockphoto

3.The Tunguska Mystery. At a little after 7 in the morning on June 30, 1908, residents near the Podkamennaya Tunguska river in rural Romania reported seeing a smoking fireball in the sky, an incredibly bright flash of light, a loud boom, and felt themselves being blown into the air. Some reported going unconscious and that their homes were destroyed. Trees in the area were flattened and burned. According to Scientific American, other parts of the world experienced huge silver clouds, spectacularly colored sunsets, and bright skies even in the dead of night.

Expeditions did not make it to the region until 1927 due to a variety of factors, including the area being difficult to get to, WWI, and the Russian Revolution. When they finally did, they did not find the source of the explosion. There was no impact site, no bolide, nothing. Just the destruction it left behind. Today, most scientists believe it was an asteroid or comet gunning for Earth that was vaporized in the mid-air explosion, explaining the lack of evidence found in the area. Later expeditions found microscopic particles that were definitely from somewhere in space, though scientists couldn't determine what exactly they'd come from. Others, however, believe perhaps there's a more paranormal explanation for the blast, like aliens. You can read more about the Tunguska Event here. Photo 12 / Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Universal History Archive / Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

4.The mysterious green children of Woolpit. The legend is that two children with green skin reportedly appeared in the village of Woolpit in Suffolk, England, around 1150. The brother and sister duo spoke in an unknown language and refused to eat anything but raw fava beans. They were taken to the home of a man named Richard de Calne, who, over time, slowly got them to consume other foods and learn to speak English. Eventually, their skin lost its green color. When asked where they came from, they claimed to be from "the land of St. Martin," where the sun doesn't rise.

They didn't know how they got to Woolpit but recalled that "on a certain day, when we were feeding our father's flocks in the fields, we heard a great sound, such as we are now accustomed to hear at St. Edmund's, when the bells are chiming; and whilst listening to the sound in admiration, we became on a sudden, as it were, entranced, and found ourselves among you in the fields where you were reaping." The children were then baptized, and the boy died shortly after due to an unknown illness. The girl stayed with Richard. You can read more about them here. Andrew Howe / Getty Images

5.The "Lost Girls" of Panama. In April of 2014, two Dutch women  Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon  were hiking the "El Pianista" trail near Boquete, Panama. They were in the region to volunteer at a local school and learn Spanish. They were informed that their assistance wasn't needed for another week, so they decided to explore the area in the meantime. Unfortunately, neither Kris nor Lisanne ever returned from that hike. Search parties were sent out but came back empty-handed. Two months later, Lisanne's left foot  which had been detached at the ankle  was found in her hiking boot. Kris's pelvis was also discovered, split in two. Later, locals found Lisanne's backpack, which held their bras, phones, $87 in cash, and a Canon Powershot camera. The camera had dozens of strange photos on it, most of which were taken at night, dated a week after the women initially disappeared.

Not much is known about what happened to Lisanne and Kris. According to police, the duo asked an innkeeper for directions before their hike and later that day asked for assistance returning to town. It was the last time they were seen. You can read more about them here. Rodrigo Arangua / AFP via Getty Images

6.The whereabouts of Byron Preiss's treasure. In 1982, Bryson Preiss published The Secret (treasure hunt), a fantasy book about "the Fair People," which were creatures like dragons, fairies, goblins, and the like who fled the "Old World" for the human world and brought heaps of treasure with them. In the book, Byron invites readers to find the 12 lost treasures of the Fair People, which he actually hid across North America. Through a series of 12 paintings, verses, and riddles, Byron and his team hint at the locations of 12 ceramic casques containing keys. Upon the discovery and redemption of a key, the winners get their cut of $10,000 worth of jewels (in 1982 dollars  which, today, would be worth about $31,960.31).

Since its publication, only three of the twelve treasures have been found  one in Chicago in 1984, one in Cleveland in 2004, and one in Boston in 2019. According to the clues, the others are believed to be buried in New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Roanoke, Charleston, St. Augustine, and Montreal. You can learn more about the treasure hunt (and find the book for yourself) here. Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

7.The disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit. Jodi was a morning news anchor at KIMT-TV  a news station in Mason City, Iowa. On the morning of June 27, 1995, Jodi didn't show up to work. A producer called her, and, frazzled, she said she'd overslept and would be in ASAP. The producer called again later, but she didn't pick up the phone or show up to work that day. So, they called the police for a welfare check. They found a bottle of hairspray, a pair of red shoes, and a blow dryer next to Jodi's red Mazda Miata. There were signs of a struggle at the scene, including a bent car key and handprints on the car.

In an unexpected twist, private investigator Steve Ridge later revealed that the red Mazda wasn't even Jodi's car. She'd planned to buy it but hadn't actually paid for it prior to her disappearance. Jodi's mother purchased the car after her death. Neither Jodi nor a suspect was ever found, and to this day, we still do not know what exactly happened that morning. With Jodi being well-known to the public, though, her case quickly became the topic of many rumors. One particularly popular one revolves around a budding romance of Jodi's prior to her disappearance. The relationship was allegedly very new  so much so that her friends and family didn't know about it yet. While Ridge doesn't believe the man she was seeing was involved in her disappearance, he did think it was possible that a frequent viewer or admirer found out about him (or simply that she was dating) and grew jealous, potentially giving them a motive for an abduction. You can read more about her case here and here. Steve Kagan / Getty Images

8.The Taos "hum." In Taos, New Mexico, some residents report hearing an inexplicable low-frequency humming noise, which they describe as sounding like a swarm of bees or the humming of a truck. The noise, which has been reported since 1993, is usually heard when the surrounding atmosphere is quiet and still. Hearing an unexplainable noise like this isn't a unique occurrence  it's been the complaint of residents in several cities across the globe. How Taos differs, however, is that nobody has figured out where the sound is coming from.

In the '90s, an engineering professor at the University of New Mexico did a study and found that only 2% of Taos residents heard the hum. They set up equipment in their homes, hoping to record vibrational, electromagnetic, and auditory data, but they found nothing. The Air Force's local laboratory did their own research and also came up empty. Possible explanations for the humming noise vary, ranging from the psychological to the paranormal. Everything from mass tinnitus, to underground UFO bases, to government mind control experiments have been thrown around. Some particularly spiritual residents feel as though the hum is pulling them in, making them feel ~one~ with the land and nearby Sangre de Cristo mountains. Others believe that because such a small portion of the population hears it, it's meant to drive them out of the town. The less spiritual believe that the sound is simply people looking for something where there is nothing, their minds filling the space because they are expecting to hear something. You can read more about the hum here. Mona Makela Photography / Getty Images

9.The Rectangle Galaxy. If you've ever seen an image of a galaxy in space, odds are you've seen something that either looks like a disk or some kind of blob. Well, astronomers from Australia's Swinburne University of Technology discovered a galaxy that doesn't quite fit the mold of what we're used to seeing. That galaxy is LEDA 074886, or the "emerald-cut galaxy." Scientists aren't yet sure what precisely made this rectangular (or diamond-shaped, depending on how you look at it) galaxy look the way it does, but leading theories are around two disk galaxies colliding, or some gravitational-tidal interaction. According to Dr. Alister Graham at the university, "Its one of those things that just makes you smile because it shouldnt exist, or rather you dont expect it to exist."

You can read more about it here and see it for yourself here. Heritage Images / Getty Images

10.The disappearance of Tiffany Sessions. On February 9, 1989, 20-year-old Tiffany left her home in Gainesville, Florida, at 6 p.m. to take a walk. She was never seen or heard from again. Thirty-five years later, neither Tiffany nor her remains have been found.

It's suspected that Paul Rowles  a convicted rapist and murderer  may be responsible. In 2013, a detective received a box of Paul's personal belongings, including a black notebook. In it were references to Linda Frida and Elizabeth Foster  two women whose murders he was linked to. The notebook also had a page with the date "2/9/89" and the number 2 written on both sides, which some believe ties him to Tiffany's case, as that was the day she went missing, and the number two could imply she was his second victim. Unfortunately, detectives didn't link Paul to the case until after his death in 2013. You can read more about her case here. Erdark / Getty Images

11.The mystery of the Phaistos Disc. In 1908, the disc was discovered inside the Minoan Palace of Phaistos in Crete, Greece. On it are various pictograms featuring images of everything from people and plants to a bell and a cat's head. The images are arranged into 61 total "groups," separated by lines drawn between the images. Many assume these groups are intended to represent words. The disc has long been a particularly fascinating mystery, as no one has been able to decipher what it says, let alone what its purpose was. Loads of theories have been floated, ranging from it being a prayer to a curse.

According to Discovery UK, it's additionally been theorized to be all of the following things: a board game, a prayer to the Minoan earth goddess Aphaia, a nursery rhyme, a magical spell, a poem, a hymn, a healing ritual, and a list of religious centers. You can read more about it here. Dea / De Agostini via Getty Images

12.The disappearance of Branson Perry. In April of 2001, 20-year-old Branson was at his home in Skidmore, Missouri, with a family friend. Branson's dad had been in the hospital, so the two were getting the house ready for his return. Branson went to the shed near his family's home to put a pair of jumper cables back...and simply never returned. He left all his belongings  including his car  behind.

One officer on the case suspects Branson's disappearance may have been a drug-related kidnapping. In 2012, his stepfather purchased him a burial plot. While his name is on the headstone, the plot remains empty. You can read more about his case here. Machine Headz / Getty Images/iStockphoto

13.And finally, the perplexing Yonaguni Monument. Located off the coast of the Ryukyu Islands in Japan is a series of rectangular rock formations that make up these strange, pyramid-like structures 25 meters underwater. It's about 50 meters by 20 meters in total and kind of looks like giant, carved steps. At first glance, it certainly seems man-made, so it makes sense that people have dubbed it "Japan's Atlantis." According to scientists, the "monument" is estimated to be over 10,000 years old.

Now it's your turn! Is there an unsolved mystery  be it a murder, disappearance, historical event, or scientific anomaly  that you can't stop thinking about? If so, tell us about it in the comments below or via this anonymous form.

Note: Submissions have been edited for length, clarity, and to include the most up to date information on each case.

If you enjoyed these unsolved mysteries, you can read more of them here, here, and here. If you'd like to hear ~personal~ unsolved mysteries experienced by BuzzFeed readers like you, you can find a whole bunch of them here.
When Jesus was young, another boy bumped into him in the village street. Jesus cursed him  You shall go no further on your way  and the boy dropped dead. His parents complained about Jesus to Joseph and Mary: Teach him to bless, and not to curse; for he slayeth our children. This was a slight exaggeration  previously Jesus had merely crippled another child  but the plea didnt work. Jesus cursed them too, and they were struck blind.

This is not the meek and mild Jesus of the modern Church, but the Jesus of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, one of the so-called Apocrypha. Here, Catherine Nixey starts her enthralling new book, Heresy, exploring the diverse religious landscape of the early Roman empire, in which what ended up as orthodox Christianity was only one merchant in a bafflingly crowded market.

In the first three centuries AD, there were almost innumerable different types of Christians. There were those who denied the virgin birth, the divinity of Christ and the Resurrection. Others thought that the Holy Spirit was female, or that Gods mother was responsible for the Creation. Some worshipped Jesus alongside Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle and the rest, while another group worshipped him in the form of a snake. Exhaustingly, one secret sect elevated sex to an act of devotion: go round the track twice with 365 women in view of the congregation, and you could announce I am Christ. Nor was the child-killer of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas alone. There were other bad Jesuses, such as the one who sold one of his disciples into slavery, or that substituted another victim in the Crucifixion and looked on laughing as the man died.

There were so many different sects, all claiming to be Christians, that modern scholars now tend to refer not to early Christianity, but Christianities. The sources for these other Christianities are mainly obscure and difficult, and fall into three broad categories.

First, the pagans, such as Celsus, Porphyry and the emperor Julian, who wrote works attacking Christianity; mostly these survive only as fragments, quoted in rebuttal by Christian writers. The orthodox Christians, such as Irenaeus, Tertullian and Eusebius, expended much energy in denouncing other Christians they judged to be heretics; obviously they couldnt be more biased.

Catherine Nixey, author of Heresy

And then there are the heretics themselves, including the texts discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt, amounting to some 40 surviving Gospels that at some point were labelled Apocryphal as orthodoxy fortified its boundaries. Nixey handles all this diffuse and refractory material with aplomb, and good sense.

These versions of Christianity were not just competing against each other. The new pagan cults of Mithras and Jupiter Dolichenus were spreading across the empire from the east. Paganism was not short of divine miracle-workers. Apollonius of Tyana healed the sick, and raised the dead. Once even an emperor joined in: in Alexandria, Vespasian was said to have made a lame man walk, and a blind man see.

So why did Christianity win, and why that specific brand? Scholars have long gone off the idea that Christianity fulfilled peoples emotional or spiritual needs as paganism did not, and its appeal to the poor and downtrodden didnt turn it into a state religion. In truth, it might be down to a series of lucky historical accidents.

Apart from Nero scapegoating Christians for the great fire of Rome in AD 64, all pagan persecutions were bottom-up until the second half of the third century AD: as Tertullian put it, If there is famine, if there is plague, the cry is at once: The Christians to the lion. The Roman authorities would intervene.

But then came the barbarian invasions, civil wars and short-lived emperors of the third century crisis. Something had gone wrong with the entire empire, and so with the pax deorum, Romes deal with the traditional gods: we do right by you, you do right by us. Two emperors decided it must be the Christians, and ordered empire-wide persecution. Instead, the fate of both men gave Christianity a shot in the arm: Decius was the first emperor to be killed in battle by the barbarians (AD 251); Valerian the only emperor to be captured alive by them (AD 260). And then, before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (AD 312), Constantine saw a vision in the sky: a fiery cross, and the words In this sign conquer.

In itself, this wasnt all that unusual. The emperor Aurelian had seen a vision of Sol Invictus before the Battle of Emesa (AD 272), and previously Constantine himself had had a vision of Apollo. What was unusual, as Nixey ably points out, was the longevity of Constantine (died AD 337), and his sons (Constantius II, died AD 361). Half a century of imperial patronage and coercion would entrench the particular type of Christianity favoured by Constantine and his family.

Only hindsight, then, makes the triumph of that orthodox Christianity inevitable. With style, wit and impressive scholarship, Nixey shows how, had history tilted slightly, it all could have been so very different. Heresy illuminates a forgotten world  and its an absolute pleasure to read.

Heresy is published by Picador at 25. To order your copy for 19.99, call 0844 871 1514 or visit Telegraph Books

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Don Arnold/TAS24

Try not to read too much into this, Taylor Swift fans. Oh, its too late? Cool, cool, cool.

On February 24, Swift performed two surprise mashups for the Eras Tour crowd in Sydney. At one point during every concert, the 34-year-old pop star rotates through her extensive catalog for songs that didnt make the set listand her recent choices were bound to cause a stir among fans. Before performing a mix of New Years Day (from Reputation) and Peace (Folklore) at the piano, Swift took to guitar for a mashup of two breakup bangers: Youre Not Sorry from Fearless and Shouldve Said No from her 2006 debut album.

Considering Shouldve Said No is a song about breaking up with a cheater, many fans were quick to tie the second performance to recent fan theories that Swifts ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn was unfaithful during their six-year relationship. At this point, if you are Joe Alwyn, with the rumors that are going around about you, I would go into hiding, one TikTok user said in a video about the Sydney performance.

I think shes preparing us for the tea thats about to spill with TTPD release, another fan commented on the TikTok, to which the video creator replied, Absolutely.

Joe Alwyn has been the main target of Swift-related fan theories since the pop star announced her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, which drops in April. There are many reasons fans suspect the album will detail the demise of their love storymost of which you can read about here and here.

Tortured Poets

Taylor Swifts Emotional Speech About *Tortured Poets* Has Added Fuel to All Those Joe Alwyn Fan Theories

Swift spoke with fans before performing Youre Losing Me for the first time ever.

This latest fan-fueled theory actually started gaining traction after Swift performed a different mashup during one of her surprise sets in Melbourne. Earlier this month she combined Getaway Car from Reputation, August from Folklore, and The Other Side of the Door from Fearless (Taylors Version).

So Getaway Car is from the perspective of the cheater, August is from the perspective of the other woman, and The Other Side of the Door is from the perspective of the woman who was cheated on, one fan noted, while others quickly recalled previous fan accusations that Alwyn was acting shady with a costar amid his split from Swift.

Ive gotta be honest, I think my fellow Swifties are reaching with this one. Isnt the whole point of a mashup to combine songs with similar themes? Although it feels safe to assume that Swifts split from Alwyn was less amicable than sources originally told the press in April 2023, none of these tracks have ever been tied to the actor.

Of course, the timing of Shouldve Said No x Youre Not Sorry was bound to add fuel to the fire, but there is another reasonable explanation: Swift simply couldnt resist a bit. You know we love your accents, but I have a very specific word that is my favorite," Swift told the Australian crowd ahead of the performance, per fan-recorded videos. And that word is the word no. It is the most glorious sound.

And yes, she sang the lyric exactly the way you think. You can sing it the American way if you want, she told fans. Or you can just be yourselves. And you can say, You Shouldve Said Naur.

I mean, how could Taylor Swift leave Australia without seizing that moment? Shes only human.

Celebrity Rumors

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn: A Complete Breakup Timeline

Shell never walk Cornelia Street again.

Originally Appeared on Glamour
It's the end of a long era in the sugar cane-growing region of South Texas. For much of the 1800s, the Lone Star State was the second-leading sugar producer in the United States. After a period of growth, Texas produced 998,000 tons of cane sugar in 1980. But times have changed. Between 2023 and 2024, the state produced roughly 44,000 tons. Now the final sugar cane grower, Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc. will end operations after the current crop is processed. In a press release, the company cited a lack of dependable water supply as the reason for closing. Currently, more than 500 people are employed in sugar growing and milling, both full-time and seasonally in the Rio Grande Valley, and the industry is a major economic driver in the area.

Water shortages are blamed on a treaty dispute with Mexico. Water for irrigation comes from the Rio Grande River, which runs along the Mexico-U.S. border. The river is a major source of hydroelectric power for Mexico, which operates dams and reservoirs to store water needed for Mexican crops as well. Under the terms of the 1944 Treaty, Mexico is obligated to share water with the U.S. in cycles of five years. It has often used rainwater runoff to meet downstream regions' needs. Yet with more frequent droughts and less rainfall each year, the Mexican government is under pressure from its own farmers to preserve reservoir water.

Read more: 30 Types Of Cake, Explained

Long Legacy Of Sugar In Texas

sugar cane in field - Anom Harya/Shutterstock

Sugar cane was introduced to Texas in the early 1800s, decades before the territory achieved statehood in 1845. The city of Sugar Land, near Houston, Texas, owes its name to the industry. Imperial Sugar was founded there in 1842, and although it no longer refines sugar in Texas, the corporate headquarters remains. Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers operated for over 50 years in South Texas, but growers have had problems with the water supply for the last 30 years. Farmers currently receive just 5% of their scheduled water allotment, and sugar cane is a water-intensive crop.

The remaining sugar cane growing areas of the United States  Louisiana and Florida  provide millions of tons of refined sugar, much more than Texas supplied historically. The U.S. also imports sugar from Mexico, although the water shortages hurt sugar crops there as well. Only about 45% of sugar produced in the US comes from cane, with the remainder coming from sugar beets.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
My visit to Uzbekistan began with a near fatality  mine. I had just clambered up and down the steps of a 20-storey-high giant mirror. The entire structure clanked and creaked with every step and buzzed with the noise of welders, none of them wearing safety equipment, all attempting some kind of lofty repair, ciggies dangling from lips, hardened by desert life in a former Soviet republic.

That a piece of the Sun Heliocomplex, one of the USSRs most surreal scientific sights, had fallen off and nearly lamped me seemed oddly in keeping with the experience. It was the views from the top which felt incongruous  a syrupy panorama of Mount Kyzyl Zura and the auburn Uzbek peaks meandering away in the distance towards the border with Kyrgyzstan. And were those eagles swooping in the cloudless sky?

More than 10,000 small mirrors cover the curved surface of the Physics of the Sun Institute - Alamy Stock Photo

Dating from the early 1980s, the once-secret complex was a Soviet brainchild that was intended to harness the awesome power of the sun to heat up alloys for scientific research. The giant mirror reflects light from a few dozen smaller mirrors arrayed up a parallel hillside, focusing great heat onto chunks of metal. Its location, 20 miles north-east of Tashkent in the golden foothills above the small town of Parkent, was selected because it is one of the sunniest places on earth  an ideal choice for the worlds biggest solar furnace.

For me, it was an ideal place to start my exploration of the timewarp Communist remnants in and around Uzbekistans capital, now being promoted as part of the Tashkent Modernism programme (tashkentmodernism.uz)  a strange, dystopian lens through which to glimpse the surreal former might of the USSR.

Independence Square is now the central square of Tashkent - Getty

The grinning, exuberant head of the project  his head topped, like so many others, with a traditional Uzbek doppa cap  handed me a piece of Russian space rocket made there and led me outside, where a kettle was placed next to a mini version of the giant furnace, the suns heat making it sing as the water boiled. Inside the main building, extravagant artworks vied with nerdy explanatory posters. Round the back, a careless Chernobyl-esque decay  fuelled by the stupidity of bureaucracy coupled with the cash running out  seemed to have set in, with bits and pieces strewn all around and nary a safety hat as we climbed.

My tour now finished, I headed back to Tashkent  passing donkeys pulling carts and roadside fruit vendors pulling faces as they flogged a rainbow of exotic produce. Soon enough, we were in the citys main square, towered over by the Hotel Uzbekistan. I reflected on the irony of these concrete hotels being so in vogue with the Western cognoscenti when theyve fallen so out of favour in their homelands. How modern hipster hoteliers luxuriate in bare concrete interiors, and how the insides of these mid-century relics are always conversely dripping in scuffed chintz.

Sellers flog their wares at Chorsu Bazaar - Alamy Stock Photo

The bar at the top of the hotel lay completely empty; a deserted countertop standing ready to dispense vodka martinis to nobody. It was like a scene from JG Ballards book High Rise. Through the window, the modernist core of New Tashkent was laid out, like a model on a 1950s Soviet planners desk in Moscow. From the window, you could see all the way to the enormous crouching blue dome of the National Circus, built in 1976 as an otherworldly example of so-called Soviet cosmic architecture.

I took the metro, which also emerged during this era, from the wild Cosmonauts Station, its blue and grey walls plastered with homages to astronauts. My eyes were drawn to the relief of Valentina Tereshkova  the first woman in space. The train clanked a few stops and I emerged at the Panorama Cinema. A small exhibition about Uzbek film-making sat in the foyer, with full-scale model people and cars and posters. On the main stage, I turned to see a rake of red seating laid out ready to watch a 1970s movie.

Tashkent's metro is an underground masterpiece - Getty

Outside the State Museum of Arts I saw something which brought it all home: a drum-shaped tower  a dead ringer for the Rotunda in Birmingham, a city I once called home. In many ways, there are similarities between these two cities, both so comprehensively rebuilt in the 1960s. But, unlike its British counterpart, there is something cheering about Tashkent, where  instead of knocking it all down and starting again  this weird and wonderful cityscape is valued for what it is. As the number of millennial mid-century devotees explodes, perhaps more places should take note, and promote these most bizarre of design destinations for the surreal, splendid relics they truly are.

Essentials

Christopher Beanland was a guest of Tashkent Modernism.

Tours of the Sun Heliocomplex cost from 10,000 Uzbekistani Som (63p) for one hour, and can be booked at imssolar.uz.

Sapiens (00 998 71 203 33 35) is Tashkents trendiest hotel, with a dark palette in its small but perfectly formed rooms and a bar, club and restaurant on the roof. Doubles from 47 per night.

Uzbekistan Airlines flies from London to Tashkent from 268 return.

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Whether you're in Texas, Pennsylvania, or California, you pretty much know what you're going to see on the menu of Costco's beloved food court. Once you start visiting Costco food courts in other countries, however, you'll find a wide variety of items unavailable in the U.S. Warehouses in Canada, for example, offer chicken wings and poutine, while Japanese Costcos serve an unexpected Middle Eastern dish: falafel salad. One country even offers a pescatarian version of the in-house eatery's delicious Chicken Bake.

Appropriately named the Seafood Bake, this unique dish features imitation crab, shrimp, and clams tossed in a creamy sauce and stuffed inside dough that's baked until golden brown. The handheld can only be found at Costco food courts in Taiwan, meaning that cardholders living outside of the country may have to travel a great distance to sink their teeth into one. Based on its reviews, though, the Seafood Bake might be worth the trip. Several Costco fans online have rated the sea-based menu item a 10 out of 10 or above, with TikTok user @madebytessalin awarding it the beyond-perfect score of 12 out of 10. "The sauce was so creamy like a clam chowder, and there [were] huge chunks of seafood. So good," the TikToker said, also noting that it had a crispy, cheesy crust.

Read more: 20 Frozen Foods Costco Shoppers Swear By

What Else You'll Find At Costco Food Courts In Taiwan

Person pulling apart Costco Seafood Bake - wonnafamily / TikTok

The food court offerings at Taiwan's 14 warehouses may very well put Costco's U.S. menu to shame, and the country's exclusive Seafood Bake is just one example. When TikTok user @waynedang visited a Taiwanese Costco in February 2024, they found seafood pizza, clam chowder, and even buckets of fried chicken on the menu, while a Reddit user spotted a tartar fish steak sandwich in the fall of 2023. According to another Reddit post, espresso beverages like Americanos and lattes are also available and can be ordered either hot or iced for members who may need a post-shopping pick-me-up.

Those intrigued by the Seafood Bake may be excited to learn that Costco food courts in Taiwan also offer a Bulgogi Bake, which @waynedang spoke highly of during their visit. "The bulgogi itself is so tender, so soft, with a hint of sweetness," they raved.

Unlike the Seafood Bake, the Bulgogi Bake isn't exclusive to Taiwan; it has also been spotted at Costco warehouses in Korea and Japan. Those who don't have any trips to these countries scheduled in the near future can try making their own versions of the Seafood or Bulgogi Bakes at home  you can even make a copycat Costco Chicken Bake in your air fryer.

Read the original article on Mashed.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  Polls will close at 7pm Eastern in todays South Carolina GOP primary.

A big win is expected for former President Trump over his only remaining serious rival, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Haley, born and raised in the state, was twice elected governor here.

If Trump wins  any another outcome would be a colossal shock  he will have swept to victory in all four of the first primary contests.

Here are five things to watch.

The margin of Trumps near-certain victory

Trump is leading by 31 points in the polling average maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

If the actual results are similar  or more favorable for Trump  it will be implausible for Haley to argue she poses a credible threat to the former president.

Trump won the Iowa caucuses by 30 points and the New Hampshire primary by 10 points. In the third state to vote, Nevada, a dispute led to a caucus and a primary being held separately. Trump was effectively unopposed in the caucus, while a none of the above line in the primary attracted more votes than Haley.

It is of course possible that Haley makes the race tighter than the polls say. There could be a display of home-state loyalty for her. Moderate and liberal-leaning South Carolinians who did not vote in the Palmetto States Democratic primary earlier this month might lend her their backing to thwart Trump.

Still, Haley would need to outperform the polls by a big margin if she is to make the battle for the nomination competitive.

A rough benchmark would be if Haley were to whittle Trumps advantage down below 15 points.

How hard will Team Trump push to get Haley to quit?

Assuming the polls arent wrong by an absurdly large margin, Haley is about to go down to defeat in her home state.

Trump allies are pushing hard for Haley to get out of the race already. Those calls will grow louder if the result is broadly as expected this evening.

At Trumps final rally before the primary in Rock Hill, S.C., on Friday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told The Hill that Haley needed to exit because she was being humiliated, while Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said that the continuing attacks on Trump from Haley needed to end.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), speaking from the stage, declared the Republican primary is over and Donald Trump is our nominee.

Scott, Mace and Greene have all endorsed Trump. But if the former president wins by around 30 points tonight, the broader GOP could ratchet up the pressure on Haley to quit.

Will Haley accede and bow out?

The official line from the Haley campaign is that she in the race until at least Super Tuesday, March 5.

In a conference call with reporters on Friday morning, Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney said the candidate had booked a seven-figure ad buy across the Super Tuesday states.

We know that this is an uphill battle, Ankney acknowledged. We know that the road is difficult, we know that the math is challenging. But this has never just been about who can win a Republican primary. This battle is about who can win in November.

Underlining the no-surrender mentality, Haley is slated to be in Michigan on Sunday. The Wolverine State will hold primaries for both major parties on Tuesday.

Haleys campaign does not appear to be hurting for money, having reported a $16.5 million haul in January.

But candidates hardly ever telegraph that they are dropping out until it happens. And Haley has at times said she needs to show continued momentum, implying she has to do better here than in New Hampshire, where she captured 43 percent of the vote.

Tonight, it is worth watching whether Haley ramps up her attacks on Trump even further or begins to dial them back. If she chooses the latter path, it could be a sign that she is preparing to bring her campaign to an end.

Is Tim Scott moving up in the Trump veepstakes?

Trump raised some eyebrows at his Friday rally with his emphatic praise of Scott.

The South Carolina senator had pursued his own quest for the nomination this cycle, but he failed to gain traction and withdrew in November, long before anyone actually voted. Scott endorsed Trump in January.

On Friday, Trump pronounced Scott the greatest surrogate Ive ever seen. Alluding to Scotts abandoned campaign, Trump added that he is a much better representative of me than he is a representative for himself.

Its easy to see why Scott could appeal to Trump as a running mate. A well-liked senator who never excoriated the former president even while running against him, he is also unlikely to overshadow Trump on the campaign trail.

As the sole Black GOP senator, he could perhaps boost Trumps standing with African American voters.

The list of contenders to be Trumps running mate is long.

But it will be interesting to see how prominent Scott is in media appearances tonight and tomorrow morning. If Scott seems to be accorded a leading role by the campaign, it could auger well for his chances in the veepstakes.

Does Trump carry every district?

The race for delegates will soon become moot if Trump keeps rolling up victories.

Still, the former president would no doubt like a clean sweep of the 50 delegates at stake here.

Assuming, again, that there is not a seismic upset, Trump will claim 29 of those delegates by winning the state overall.

The remaining 21 delegates will be awarded to whichever candidate carries each of the states seven congressional districts. Each district win earns three delegates.

State experts think Haleys best chance of notching a district-level win is in the 1st district on the southern coast, anchored in and around Charleston. If Haley were to carry the 2nd or 6th districts, it would signal an unexpectedly good night for her.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken started the new year with a sensible, and productive, visit to Africa. In late January, he traveled to Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Angola. The purpose is to pursue long-term strategic ties with African nations, with emphasis on partnership and economic development.

For many years, China has devoted sustained attention to that continent. When the Sino-Soviet split occurred in the late 1950s, Beijing made the strategic decision to focus on poor non-white nations. Prominence of China today in Africa is in part a legacy of the fundamental split more than a half-century ago between the two principal communist powers during the Cold War.

Arthur Cyr

In Cabo Verde, emphasis was on the fact that the nation has completed two Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts, and is beginning a third. These involve U.S. grants for promising economic development projects. The nation has also been declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization.

In Ivory Coast, emphasis was on new regional security efforts. The nation borders three others that have suffered recent coups  Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali. Likewise, the visit to Nigeria involved security. Last July, the military in bordering Niger ousted the elected civilian leadership.

Angola is the scene of a major new agreement on private investment, which the Biden administration is treating as a priority. The Lobito Corridor rail project is financed by African and European in addition to U.S. investment sources. The large-scale construction project is expected to be profitable, and provide a positive counterweight to some of Chinas Belt-and-Road projects, which have suffered from shoddy construction, harsh loan terms for recipient nations, and commercial losses.

During the later phase of the Cold War, the U.S. government supported Angola rebels fighting a government supported by the Soviet Union and Cuba.

Historically, Americans have been absent-minded about Africa. Past presidents generally focused on other parts of the world, with notable exceptions. Senator John F. Kennedy (D-MA) was chairman of the African Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, attentive to that responsibility, and carried concern about Africa into the Oval Office.

President Jimmy Carter in office and afterward steadfastly worked with Africa projects. The Carter Center has devoted sustained emphasis to public health and related problems of that continent. One dramatic result is the virtual eradication of guinea worm, a devastating, agonizing disease. Carter effectively leveraged his centers efforts into World Bank work targeting the disease.

Former President Bill Clinton achieved rockstar status in Africa, a popular stop in his travels on behalf of the Clinton Foundation. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama devoted at least periodic attention to the continent while in office, reflecting the changing times.

President John F. Kennedy deserves credit for establishing the Peace Corps, a concept promoted by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Senator Hubert Humphrey (D-MN). The Peace Corps is remarkably durable, today involving selfless volunteers ranging widely in age.

Related, enormous growth in private philanthropy means there are unprecedented opportunities to raise living standards across Africa. Basic safety and security, however, sometimes is challenging.

Terrorists generate ongoing death, destruction and headlines, but have yet to demonstrate appeal to the average person in Africa  or elsewhere on the globe. By contrast, private economic development and investment, along with representative government, is slowly growing.

The world is moving in our direction.

Learn: Former First Lady Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt talks with President John F. Kennedy: jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/jfkwha-014.

 Arthur I. Cyr is author of After the Cold War  American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia (NYU Press and Palgrave/Macmillan). Contact acyr@carthage.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Arthur Cyr: Secretary of state makes time for Africa
GHENT, WV (WVNS)  The Mountain State is a wild and wonderful place, but how biodiverse is West Virginia?

What plants in West Virginia are endangered or threatened?

West Virginia is home to a wide array of wildlife, animals, plants, and fungi. You will also find an abundance of different species of amphibians and reptiles, mammals, fish, birds, plants and fungi, and much more. So lets explore this wonderful state and learn about the natural gifts it provides.

Mammals

Currently, there are 74 species found right here in the Mountain State, according to WVDNR. Some are more familiar than others, such as white-tailed deer or a black bear. Others, such as the northern flying squirrel only show themselves at night. Out of the 74 species that reside here, 67 are native and seven are non-native. Mammals that went extinct in the state are the bison, mountain lion, and gray wolf. Beavers, fishers, and otters were reintroduced into the ecosystem in the 1930s and 1985, and the fisher was reintroduced in 1969. Elk were brought back into the state into southwestern West Virginia in 2016. A population of wild boar exists in Boone, Logan, Raleigh and Wyoming counties today.

Aquatic Life

The Mountain State is also home to a wide array of aquatic animals such as fish. Fishing in the West Virginia is very popular and people love to identify what they caught. One such fish is the Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout come in various colors such as brown and black to olive and blue green and have brassy to purple iridescent stripe lengthwise down both sides of their body, giving them that rainbow sheen. Although Rainbow Trout were brought into the state, they are native to Pacific Northwest and American Pacific side, with a rather extensive range from both regions. Another noticeable fish in the state is the Blue Catfish. These fish are silvery-blue in color and have a straight, comb-like anal fin. This fish is also a native of the Ohio River, in which restocking of this fish have probably helped fishing areas within the West Virginia portions of the Ohio River according to WVDNR.

The Culture of Appalachia: Why do we speak the way we do?

Birds

This state is home to an extensive amount of birds, such as Swainsons Warblers. These Birds reach their northernmost breeding grounds in the Cumberland Mountains. Olive-sided Flycatchers and Nashville Warblers usually reside in the Allegheny Mountains location for nesting. With over 12 million acres of forests, the Mountain State is extremely important to different species of birds, says WVDNR.

Amphibians and Reptiles

The Division of Natural Resources says the Mountain State is home to 15 species of frogs and toads. Frogs and toads are amphibians in the order Anura. They are differentiated by their skin. Frogs usually have smooth skin, while toads have warty skin and spend more time on land. Both lay their eggs in the water. The three toad species here include the Eastern spadefoot, Eastern American toad, and Fowlers toad. The Mountain State also has 34 species of salamanders. Salamanders are amphibians in the order Caudata. Their skin must remain moist and are long-bodied, low to the ground, lack claws, have tails, no scales. These animals also lay eggs as well. The Cheat Mountain salamander and the West Virginia spring salamander are two main species in the state, says the WVDNR.

Trees and Shrubs

According to the WVDNR, Northern Hardwood Forests, which are made up of trees that lose their leaves and other shrubs and herbs usually grow together at more northern latitudes. Other trees of this species include the American Beech, Red Maple, and Yellow Birch. They mainly reside in the Allegheny Mountains, in the western half of the Monongahela National Forest. Upland Hemlock Hardwood Forests according to the WVDNR, are mixed evergreen forests that lose their leaves and are mixed with the eastern hemlock species. They are also most common in the Allegheny and Cumberland Mountains. The Pawpaw is another species in the Mountain State that has a trunk that grows 9 to 36 feet tall and bears fruit described as a pulpy berry, which has a sweet smell, and edible when the fruit turns brown, says WVDNR. Another species of shrub is Greenbriers. These can be recognized as climbing vines with woody stems, and contains spines or prickles, with leaf stems that contain a pair of coiling tendrils that support the vine. This shrub also bears fruit, according to WVDNR.

Exotic Species, Endangered Species, and Elk Restoration

In late December 2016, with the release of 24 elk secured from the Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area (LBL) in western Kentucky, for the first time in 140 years, wild elk roamed the mountains of West Virginia, according to WVDNR. When it comes to exotic and invasive species in the Mountain State, the WVNDR says most of the species of plants and animals do not create problems for the native species within the state. However, some species are invasive and will compete with newer species, with the newer species sometimes losing the battle. West Virginia is also a permanent home to 22 federally endangered species, 17 of which are animals and four are plants. Seven are federally threatened species, five of which are animals and two are plants, says WVDNR. The species in our state are always being protected and conserved.

Top West Virginia stargazing spots in 2024

For the Mountain State, we want to achieve a healthy environment for the Appalachians landscape. Everyday, people of this wild and wonderful state strive to make our environment and conservation stronger. We want to share this vision with generations to come. Solutions and resolutions are always being made to make the land greater.

If you want to discover more biodiversity in the Mountain State, please visit the WVDNR website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Free dental care

The High Point University Workman School of Dental Medicine will provide free dental care to adults facing financial hardship on Feb. 27 in memory of Dr. Sanford Cates. He served as one of the new dental schools first faculty members before his death on Aug. 15, 2023, at age 70.

Adults who are at least 18 years old are eligible to receive free dental care at HPU Health  Randleman Dental at 107 W. Naomi St. in Randleman. Cates was a longtime Randleman resident and served the community as a dentist.

HPU dental school faculty and staff members will provide adults with free oral exams, head-and-neck exams and limited same-day care. Individuals are encouraged to register ahead of time. They can register by visiting the following link: https://www.highpoint.edu/free-dental-care/.

Job fairs

GuilfordWorks and local educational partners will host the Healthcare Career Pathways Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Barber Park Event Center, 1502 Barber Park Drive in Greensboro.

The fair features more than 300 available positions from 20-plus different healthcare employers scheduled to attend. In addition, representatives from educational institutions such as ECPI University, UNCG and GTCC will provide training information for various healthcare career pathways.

A list of employers scheduled to attend and registration information are available online at GuilfordWorks.org.

Also, High Point Parks & Recreation will host a summer job hiring event for multiple seasonal positions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 2 at the Roy B. Culler, Jr. Senior Center, 921 Eastchester Drive, Suite 1230 in High Point.

Seasonal job opportunities include lifeguards and pool staff, summer camp staff and seasonal park attendants. Lifeguard positions are open to applicants ages 15 and older, while other positions require candidates to be at least 16 or 18 years of age. Lifeguard training will be provided at no cost by High Point Parks & Recreation for qualified applicants.

Interviews will be conducted onsite for qualified individuals; participants are encouraged to visit www.highpointnc.gov/prjobs to complete an online application in advance and find out more about the jobs in the Parks & Recreation Department.

RCC offering hybrid classes

Rockingham Community College is offering courses in the fall that can accommodate students who may have tight work or home life schedules.

These Hybrid-Flexible courses  known as HyFlex  enable students to choose from three attendance options: Attend in person, attend online via livestream or watch recordings of the class online at another time, but by a specified deadline.

Students do not have to stick with one option, but can vary their manner of attendance based on their availability.

The recordings are accessible to all students no matter how they attend class, which enables any of them to log in and review classes to reinforce their learning.

All students, regardless of how they attend class, will experience the same quality of instruction, learning activities and assessments.

For fall classes, registration for current students begins on April 8, and registration opens for new students on April 10. Summer term registration is already open for everyone.

For information, visit www.rockinghamcc.edu/admissions-aid/apply/ or call 336-342-4261, Ext. 2333.

Grief and

meditation workshop

AuthoraCare Collectives Grief Support and Counseling Center will hold the workshop, Meditation & Coping with Grief, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. March 19 at AuthoraCare Collective, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington.

Jennifer Moore, a bereavement counselor, is the speaker. Participants will learn about meditation and its benefits and practice a 20-to-30-minute guided meditation. Those who want to sit on the floor are encouraged to bring a mat, cushion or blanket. Chairs also will be available for anyone who prefers. There will be an opportunity to share personal experiences; sharing is not required.

Registration is required; deadline is March 12. To register, call 336-621-5565 or email griefsupport@authoracare.org.

Crypto conference

Carolina Crypto Connections is hosting a Crypto Clarity Conference & Networking event, where industry experts and enthusiasts come together to explore the world of cryptocurrency.

The event, set for 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 2 at 111 Bain St. in Greensboro, will offer a panel discussion, keynote speech and interactive workshop about the crypto space.

Lunch will be provided and is included in the $99 registration cost. To register, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Events for caregivers

Well-Spring Solutions is offering a two-part workshop for family caregivers on person-centered care.

Engage, Create, Move & Connect at Home will be offered from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 5 at The Memory Care Center, 2701 Henry St. in Greensboro.

The series focus includes: Cognitive engagement, creative expression, health and nutrition and feeling connected. Presenters will introduce these critical areas and share ideas for activities to successfully reinforce them at home with loved ones who have dementia. Participants may attend one or both dates.

Also, a Family Caregiver Winter Retreat is set for 10:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. March 7 at Temple Emanuel Social Hall, 1129 Jefferson Road in Greensboro and a caregiver support group meeting is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at The Memory Care Center.

To register for these events, visit www.well-springsolutions.org, email jkolada@well-spring.org or call 336-545-4245. Let the nonprofit know several days in advance if respite care is needed during these events.

Call for artists

The Downtown Greenway has announced that a new public artwork is being commissioned for the western branch section of the project.

The Market + Branch Commission will be prominently located on the Western Branch section of the Downtown Greenway. The site for the sculpture is adjacent to the trail as it travels along an abandoned railroad line and crosses West Market Street, a main entryway into downtown Greensboro for vehicular traffic. The highly visible site provides an excellent opportunity to transform this well-travelled route into downtown. The addition of a dynamic public artwork will serve as a visual welcome to visitors enroute to our citys center, as well as to the users of the Downtown Greenway.

The proposed Market + Branch Public Art Project has been selected for funding by a local nonprofit, The Cemala Foundation. Additional funding was provided by Mary Katherine and Durant Bell.

For information, visit https://downtowngreenway.org/call-for-artists-market-branch/.

Public input sought

Interested in helping to ensure the Greensboros design standards for property in its three historic districts are as clear and user-friendly as possible?

Attend a community meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. March 7 at Greensboro Colleges Lea Center, 815 W. Market St. Email StandardsUpdate@greensboro-nc.gov if you plan to attend. Unable to attend in person? Join the meeting via Zoom at tinyurl.com/4c35bhfe.

The purpose of the Historic District Standards is to protect the special character of Greensboros historic neighborhoods: College Hill, Dunleath and Fisher Park. Current standards have served that purpose well over the years, but planning department historic preservation staff say it is time for a review.

City staff also will ensure its standards conform with the U.S. Secretary of the Interiors Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, the countrys official preservation standards.

Learn more at www.greensboro-nc.gov/StandardsUpdate.

History posters

High Point University history students recently presented public history posters to Mendenhall Homeplace, a museum in Jamestown, to detail their research about the growth and influence of Quakers in 17th century England through their settlement in North Carolina.

Amanda Allen, assistant professor of history, was proud of the work students in her Reformation of Europe class compiled for the museum, which represents the legacy of Quaker settlers who actively opposed slavery, promoted education and labored to create a life of peaceful simplicity. Students research included the Quakers theology, political influence and social impact both in Europe and America.

Ben Thomas, a junior history and religion major, said he knew little about the lives of the Quakers and their influence on the local area before this research project.

As someone born and raised here, it was very fascinating to learn and engage in such an opportunity that highlighted the history of my state, said Thomas. Many people pass by Mendenhall Homeplace daily, but very few truly know about the history of the site and its impact on the early local community. This project opened the opportunity for hands-on research at a local site with artifacts and primary source evidence for us to base our research. This kind of experience is integral to the education of aspiring historians and helps us hone our abilities as we continue to work in the historical field.

Youth academy

The Guilford County Sheriffs Office Youth Academy, designed for ages 14 to 17, is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 20-28. The application deadline is May 31.

Activities include physical fitness, a K-9 demo, traffic stops, SERT team, drug awareness, firearms simulator and more.

For information, contact Sgt. A. Almonor at 336-641-5313 or aalmono@guilfordcountync.gov.

HPU professor performs as Bartolo

Scott MacLeod, associate professor of music at High Point University, will sing the role of Bartolo in Piedmont Operas presentation of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts comedy, The Marriage of Figaro, at the High Point Theatre on 8 p.m. March 22 and 2 p.m. March 24. This is the first main-stage opera the professional opera company has produced in High Point.

MacLeod performed on stage with iconic Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli during a Valentines Day concert in Raleigh. He sang with a chorus that included HPU faculty, students and alumni.

The Piedmont Opera has partnered with Open Door Ministries for the performances of The Marriage of Figaro. Open Door Ministries is a nonprofit dedicated to helping people regain their lives through emergency assistance and supportive services, which include operating a homeless shelter, serving daily meals, distributing food and acquiring jobs.

This comic opera is being marketed as a modern-day wedding, and attendees are being asked to bring gifts on the wedding couples registry. The gifts are actually items needed by Open Door Ministries. For the gift list, visit tinyurl.com/49ar8mur. Tickets range from $20-$98. The production is in Italian, with English subtitles projected above the stage. A free pre-opera discussion is available 45 minutes before each curtain.

In addition, Piedmont Operas Student Night will introduce students to opera at 7:30 p.m. March 20 at the High Point Theatre. Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for chaperones. For tickets, visit PiedmontOpera.org or call 336-725-7101.

Education concerts

The Greensboro Symphony Orchestras 46th annual Series of Education Concerts is scheduled to take place March 19-22 at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. This tradition promises to entertain and educate more than 20,000 third, fourth and seventh-grade students from Guilford, Rockingham and Randolph counties in an immersive musical experience.

This years program features a diverse lineup of musical styles, including NC hip-hop artist Joshua Rowsey, film music and compositions by modern and diverse composers such as Kevin Day, Molly Joyce and Armando Bayolo, among others. Audiences will also be treated to orchestral classicsall performed by orchestra musicians.

Grimsley High School Senior Declan Oberlies will showcase his talent on a unicycle alongside the GSO.

For information, visit https://greensborosymphony.org/education/elementary-school/.

HPHA receives grant

The Housing Authority of the City of High Point has been awarded a $229,783 grant for its Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

The funds will allow the HPHA to continue its efforts to assist HPHAs program participants in gaining access to education, job training and employment.

FSS participants sign a five-year contract that requires the head of the household to obtain employment and no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term. As the familys income rises, a portion of that increased income is deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account. If the family successfully completes its FSS contract, the family receives the escrow funds that it can use for any purpose, including buying a home, transitioning to private market housing, paying educational expenses, starting a business or paying off debts.

Participants sign a five-year contract that requires the head of the household to obtain employment and no longer receive welfare assistance at the end of the five-year term.

Save-A-Casing

The Greensboro Police Department is introducing a new voluntary program called Save-A-Casing, which encourages gun owners to keep two shell casings from each of their legally-owned firearms.

The casings will be entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network for continuous comparison against other evidentiary casings and known test-fire casings. The process will help establish continued use/activity of the lost/stolen firearm and ultimately provide critical investigative information at the local, state and national levels.

Interested residents can stop by any police substation to pick up an information envelope to keep two casings per firearm in a secure location in their residence. Information to list on the envelope includes: Owners name, address, firearm type, serial number and purchase information. The resident will then secure the casings within the envelope, and store the envelope in their home. In the event a firearm is lost or stolen, the resident can call to file a report and notify law enforcement that they have a Save-A-Casing envelope to submit.

Participation in the program is completely voluntary. Save-A-Casing information and envelopes will be available for residents to pick up between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week at any police substation in Greensboro:

Patrol District 1 Station & Police Records, 100 Police Plaza

Patrol District 2 Station, 2305 Soabar St.

Patrol District 3 Station, 300 S. Swing Road

Patrol District 4 Station & Criminal Investigations Division, 1106 Maple St.
In this week's "It's Debatable" segment, Rick Rosen and Charles Moster debate the question: Should the International Court of Justice dismiss South Africas claim that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza? Rosen retired as a professor from the Texas Tech University School of Law and is a retired U.S. Army colonel. Moster is founder of the Moster Law Firm based in Lubbock with seven offices including Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

Rick Rosen

Rosen - 1

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists broke a ceasefire, invaded Israel, and committed the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The European Commission President later noted: There was no limit to the blood Hamas terrorists wanted to spill. They went home by home. They burned people alive. They mutilated children and even babies. Why? Because they were Jews. Because they were living in the State of Israel. And Hamas explicit goal is to eradicate Jewish life from the Holy Land. At the same time, Hamas indiscriminately targeted Israeli communities with 3,000 rockets. Consistent with its charter calling for Israels destruction, Hamas officials vowed to launch similar attacks again and again.

To prevent future pogroms, Israel declared war on Hamas and attacked Hamas in Gaza. Within days, thousands of Hamas supporters accused Israel of genocide, and in December, Hamas ally South Africa filed proceedings with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention. It sought a provisional order directing Israel to suspend its military operations. As Ruth Wisse of the Tivah Fund stated: South Africa  accused Israel of committing genocide for defending itself against the explicitly genocidal attacks of Hamas. The ICJ declined to issue the provisional order, but it refused to dismiss the case.

To violate the Genocide Convention, a party must intend to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. South Africa must prove by evidence that is fully conclusive that Israel intends to commit genocide and that its combat operations constitute genocide.

First, there is no evidence Israel intends to commit genocide. South Africa relied on several angry statements made by Israeli officials immediately after October 7most from outside the military chain of command. Ignored are statements by those conducting the war, particularly orders given to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) that its attacks be solely directed at military targets. IDF soldiers disobeying these orders are subject to criminal prosecution and imprisonment, unlike the mobs who grotesquely cheered Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians.

Second, the IDF has followed these orders. Combat in an urban environment is extraordinarily challenging, and in Gaza made more difficult by Hamas use of hospitals, mosques, schools, and civilian homes for its combat operations, including command centers and weapons-storage. These facilities thereby become legitimate military targets. Provided the IDF takes precautions to protect civilians, such as warning them to leave these areas, and ensures attacks do not cause incidental harm to civilians excessive to the anticipated military advantage, Israel may attack these facilities, sometimes making civilian casualties unavoidable.

The death of innocent Gazans should enrage all people, but these deaths are the direct result of the way in which Hamas fights this war. And because of the IDFs care in conducting its military operations, the ratio of civilians to Hamas combatants killedalbeit tragicis remarkably small: of the 27,000 killed to date, 10,000 are Hamas combatantsa ratio of 1.5 to 2 civilians for every Hamas terrorist killed. This ratio is markedly lower than the international average of 9 civilians to every one combatant. Moreover, given that Gaza has a population of 2.1 million, the total number of deaths belie any Israeli intent or conduct constituting genocide.

Third, Hamas has hundreds of miles of tunnels under the Gaza Strip. One should wonderparticularly those fervently supporting Hamaswhy Hamas did not place Gazas vulnerable populations (i.e., women and children) in the tunnels to protect them from air strikes and artillery fire. The answer is clear: Hamas recognized an Israeli response to its atrocities would result in civilian casualties; indeed, it counted on civilian deaths to serve its strategic objective of causing international outrage and forcing a ceasefire so that it could reconstitute and attack Israel again. The ICJ should not fall into this trap that Hamas has set.

Moster

Moster - 1

This may be the most difficult debate argument for me to make in my many years of writing this column. For starters, I was revolted by the unprovoked attacks by Hamas on innocent Israelis, many of them women, celebrating at a music festival. As a Jewish American with over 60 family members murdered in the Holocaust, my visceral reaction to this hellish act was indescribable. If I stood in the role of the Lord God of the Old Testament, we would be debating the extent of Biblical justice akin to the falling walls of Jericho.

Well  it is a good thing I do not serve in that celestial role. I am but a lawyer and a fairly old one at that. My practice as an advocate spans almost 40 years and I hail back to my first job in the Reagan Administration.

As lawyers  which Rick knows well as an esteemed professor - we are trained to respect the rule of law notwithstanding the volatility or malicious nature of the claims involved. We must be procedure bound to ensure that the rule of law, albeit international, applies to all.

Ricks commentary races ahead of any trial or even presentation of the evidence to exculpate Israel before the first witness is ever called.

As much as I am motivated like Rick to rush to judgment, we must remember that we are a law-abiding country  or at least should be. That said, we must comply with the International Court Rules of Procedure and Evidence and consider the extensive legal brief filed by the Republic of South Africa. Admittedly, much the single-space minute font 84 pages reads like a grotesque playbook for Hamas. As expected, it is skewed, one-sided, and impossible to read (at least for me) in the absence of blood pressure medicine and Tums.

However, the critical issue which dictated the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to deny Israels motion to kick out the proceedings deals with the singular procedural issues as to whether the tribunal had jurisdiction hear this dispute. Like it or not, both Israel and South Africa are parties to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and subject to the jurisdiction of the IC. Specifically, and crucially, Article IX provides that Disputes between Contracting Parties, relating to the interpretation, application or fulfillmentincluding those relating to the responsibility of a state for genocideshall be submitted to the International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to the dispute.

Therefore, the only issue to be decided at this juncture before the ICJ is whether it has jurisdiction to consider the allegations of genocide proffered by the Republic of South African against Israel. This is an entirely proper legal request under the ICJ Rules of Evidence and Procedure. Accordingly, on Jan. 26, the ICJ denied Israels request for dismissal of the South African petition. It had every legal right to do so.

As much as I distrust the ICJ, particularly in light of the allegations against the UN for its Hamas complicity, it has the jurisdiction to conduct proceedings which Israel agreed to. If there are allegations of bias which may be likely in this case, Israel can raise the issues at the proceeding and upon appeal as set forth in the rules of procedure.

Of course, it could also withdraw from the UN and the jurisdiction of the ICJ, but at what price to other countries?

In life and jurisprudence, you cant have your cake and eat it, too. You either play by the rules or remove yourself from the protections of international law.

Rick raises great points as to why Israel should not be held liable for alleged genocidal acts, but he is incorrect in litigating those issues now before a trial has even been set and without the presentation of evidence.

The ICJ was correct in its ruling that it had jurisdiction to consider the case brought by the Republic of South Africa against Israel and its rejection of Israels request that the case be dismissed.

Rosen - 2

I agree with Charles argument that the ICJ had the legal right to deny Israels request to dismiss South Africas application. The issue is whether it should have done so when there was no evidence that Israel has acted with genocidal intent or committed genocidal acts. The only answer is that the ICJ should have dismissed the case.

Hamas started this war. Hamas intended genocidethe destruction of Israel and its people. Its Covenant explicitly says so. Israel had a choice: it could do nothing or it could exercise its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter by eliminating Hamas genocidal threat. Rather than waiting for its people to be destroyed, it chose the latter. In responding, Israel might have simply indiscriminately bombed Gaza and, as journalist Ami Horowitz noted, turned Gaza into glass in a day. Instead, Israel employed ground troops to root out Hamas, risking its soldiers lives to minimize Gazan civilian casualties.

When the IDF entered the Gaza Strip it encountered an enemy deeply embedded in and below Gazas civilian population centers. John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Points Modern Warfare Institute, stated: No military in modern history has faced over 30,000 urban defenders in more than seven cities using human shields and hiding in hundreds of miles of underground networks purposely built under civilian sites, while holding hundreds of hostages. Professor Spencer found that Israel has implemented more measures to prevent civilian casualties than any other military in history.

While minimizing the impact of Hamas horrendous Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the ICJ completely ignored both Israels lawful right of self-defense and the combat environment in which it operates. By refusing to dismiss the application, the ICJ has lent tacit support to Hamas use of Gazas civilians to shield its military assets and operations. Indeed, the ICJ gave Hamas a moral victory, and for the moment, its approbation of Hamas purposeful endangerment of Gazas civilians.

Moster - 2

I agree with every point Rick has made about the barbaric acts committed by Hamas. However, the legal issue we are debating is whether the ICJ should have dismissed the action brought by the Republic of South Africa against Israel. Unfortunately, the factual arguments on the merits were not dispositive to the proper determination of the ICJ not to dismiss the action.

Although that sounds outrageous to probably all of our readers, the legal issue before the ICJ was simply whether the court had jurisdiction to consider and adjudicate the dispute. Given that both Israel and the Republic of South Africa are members of the UN and signatories to Article IX of the Genocide Convention, they are required to submit all disputes to the ICJ once filed. As much as we find the legal claims of South Africa reprehensible, it was allowed to do so under international law and Israel is bound to participate as long as it remains a member of the UN.

This concept is the bedrock of legal practice well known to lawyers in the U.S and abroad.

In Texas state courts, there is a basis to kick out or dismiss a case once it is filed if a cause of action has no basis in law if the allegations, taken as true, together with inferences reasonably drawn from them do not entitle the claimant to the relief sought. That is a very difficult test to meet. In such a situation, the facts or defenses alleged by the non-claimant, the defendant, have no bearing on whether a dismissal is granted. The focus is entirely on whether the plaintiffs allegations taken as true would support the claim asserted. In such a situation, the court would never consider the facts presented by the defendant  in our debate  allegations made by Israel. Therefore, the allegations posited by the Republic of South Africa would be taken as true for purposes of applying the applicable standard and would withstand dismissal  unfortunately.

To make matters worse for Rick, I was unable to find a procedure for seeking dismissal under the ICJ rules based on the insufficiency of the claims alleged. Therefore, the only legal issue before the ICJ was whether it had the jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute between members states and it clearly did. Hence, it correctly denied the motion by Israel to dismiss the action.

Rick is attempting to predicate dismissal based on horrific evidence which (in my view) indisputably established the bestial acts of Hamas and the right of Israel to defend itself. Such evidence is irrelevant to dismissal under ICJ rules. I wish that was not the case!

As I stated previously, you either abide by the rules or remove yourself from the province of international law. Israel can declare that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of the ICJ in the identical fashion of Putin and other rogue actors in recent history. Such a decision would be contrary to everything Israel stands for and I am hopeful that it will allow the process to move forward with the presentation of evidence and the incredible merits of its case.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: It's Debatable: Should court dismiss claim of Israel genocide in Gaza?
Despite knowing they would likely be relegated to support roles due to the color of their skin, a father and son chose to make the military their lifelong career. Determined to succeed, they became Americas first Black generals.

In 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black person to achieve the rank of brigadier general in the US Army.

His son, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., followed in his footsteps by joining the military and later commanding the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Twenty years after his father made history, Davis Jr. became the first Black brigadier general in the Air Force in 1960.

Davis Sr. and Jr. were both extremely influential figures in the effort to increase opportunities for African Americans in the military, said J. Todd Moye, a history professor at the University of North Texas who directed the National Park Services Tuskegee Airmen Oral History Project in the early 2000s.

Black people have held roles in the US military since the Revolutionary War, even as they have endured racism and discrimination for centuries. During the Civil War, Black soldiers served in segregated units and were later shut out of leadership opportunities during World War I and in World War II, when less than 10% of veterans were non-White, CNN previously reported.

Davis Sr. was born in Washington, DC, less than 20 years after the ratification of the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery.

After participating in his high schools cadet program, Davis Sr. joined the military during the Spanish-American war, serving in the DCs National Guard with the 8th US Volunteer Infantry regiment before enlisting in the Army in 1899, according to the Armys Center of Military History.

He was assigned to the all-Black 9th Cavalry, one of the four regiments that became known as the Buffalo Soldiers, and he served in the Philippines and at the US-Mexico border. Like many Black service members, Davis Sr. did not serve on the front lines during World War I and instead worked as a supply officer.

A 1925 study by the Army War College falsely concluded that Black people lacked the intelligence, ambition and courage to serve in prominent positions within the US military and should not be placed over White officers or soldiers. This policy and the ideology behind it prevented many Black soldiers from advancing through the militarys ranks, including Davis Sr., who was continuously assigned to serve as professor of military science and tactics despite his strong preference for duty with troops.

He got bounced around from post to post, and to ROTC leadership roles on campuses around the country, mainly because the Army felt like an African American just could not lead White soldiers, Moye said. They thought that White soldiers and lower-level White officers just could not be expected to take orders from a Black man. So, there were very few opportunities for him.

Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. (1877 - 1970) watches a Signal Corps crew in action, France, August 1944. - Interim Archives/Getty Images

He was collectively shunned for 4 years at West Point

Davis Jr. grew up watching his fathers courage to fight for his ambitions in the face of discrimination. It became something that he himself would mirror time and time again through his adult life.

Davis Jr. put his dream of becoming a pilot aside and chose to become a military officer by attending West Point. Securing a nomination was complicated. Rep. Oscar S. De Priest of Illinois, the first African American elected to Congress in the 20th century, was willing to nominate him but could only select a candidate from among his constituents. So, Davis Jr. moved alone to Chicago for nearly two years to secure the nomination and his spot at West Point.

In 1932, he received orders to report to West Point and four years of shunning began. He roomed alone, ate by himself in the cadet mess hall and no one spoke to him except on official business. This treatment was usually a punishment that cadets carried out against those who violated the honor code but in his 1990 autobiography, Davis Jr. wrote that he was silenced solely because cadets did not want Blacks at West Point.

Their only purpose was to freeze me out. What they did not realize was that I was stubborn enough to put up with their treatment to reach the goal I had come to attain, he added.

When he graduated in the top 12% of his class in 1936, Davis Jr. was the fourth Black cadet to graduate from West Point and the first one to do so in nearly 47 years.

But with no opportunities for Black officers to fly, Davis Jr. joined an infantry regiment. Like his father, he later became a professor of military science and tactics at what was then called the Tuskegee Institute.

Doug Melville, Davis Jr.s great-nephew who recounts the Davises journey and legacy in his book Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor Americas First Black Generals, said the father and son spent four years traveling together to Black colleges and training young men looking to join the Army.

They were telling them: One day your time will come, keep your chin up, look straight ahead and be ready, he said. Ultimately those are the men that Ben Jr. recruited to become the Tuskegee Airmen.

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. stands next to a P-51C Mustang By Request airplane, which he flew during World War II as part of the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group when unit was based in Italy in 1944. - Chanute Air Museum/Black Privilege Publishing/Simon & Schuster

WWII drove social change and a breakthrough for Black soldiers

The opportunity they had been preparing for came in the early 1940s as it became clear that the US would be entering World War II and Black workers threatened to march on Washington, protesting job discrimination and segregation in the military.

On October 25, 1940, Davis Sr. was temporarily promoted to brigadier general by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Months later, Roosevelt signed an executive order creating the Committee on Fair Employment Practice to prevent discrimination in defense and government jobs.

Moye said the overall changes in the military, including Davis Sr.s promotion, were significant because until that point, the Armys position had been to deny Black Americans opportunities to advance, much like the rest of society at the time.

American schools are segregated, American churches are segregated, all of these other institutions in America are segregated (and) the Army shouldnt be expected to be out in front of all of those other institutions, Moye said, referring to how the armed forces viewed their role in the nations desegregation movement.

So, (the Army) provided no opportunities for African Americans to lead troops, it provided no opportunities before 1940 for African Americans to fly airplanes, there were no African Americans in the Marine Corps, Moye added.

In 1942, Davis Jr. graduated in the first class of pilots in a newly-created unit of Black military aviators at Alabamas Tuskegee Army Airfield  a unit now known as the Tuskegee Airmen. That August, he assumed command of the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first unit of Tuskegee Airmen, which engaged in combat in North Africa and Sicily.

Although the Tuskegee Airmen were aware they were breaking racial barriers and making history, Moye, who has met and interviewed many airmen over the years, said their motivations varied.

A lot of them say I just wanted to be a pilot and, you know, the other stuff was sort of extracurricular to me, but a lot of them wanted to do it because they wanted to break barriers, Moye said. They wanted to prove that African Americans could do everything that White Americans could do.

Following the success of the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII, Davis Jr. joined the US Air Force upon its split from the Army.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued an executive order creating the Presidents Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, leading Davis Jr. to become directly involved with integration efforts in the US Air Force, Melville said.

While his father retired from the military before the start of the Korean War, Davis Jr. served during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In 1960, he became the first Black brigadier general in the US Air Force.

He retired a decade later.

Davis Sr. was the first African American general in the United States Army. Davis Jr. later became the first African American general in the United States Air Force. He received his medal for a bomber-escort mission. - Archive Photos/Getty Images

The fight for equality went on

While the generals broke barriers and successfully fought for the advancement of Black Americans, change and increased opportunities have been slow to take hold in the military and beyond, scholars and historians told CNN.

Black men are currently overrepresented in the US military when compared to the civilian labor force, but they remain underrepresented in officer ranks, CNN reported in 2020.

LeTrice Donaldson, an assistant professor of history at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi whose research has focused on African Americans in the military, said the lack of combat experience remains a challenge for the advancement of Black service members.

In order to move up and become a general you need a certain level of combat experience and African Americans are almost always shuffled into transport or support staff divisions, and that is going to limit your ability to be promoted, Donaldson said.

After retiring from the military, Davis Jr., like other Tuskegee Airmen, sought to continue flying as a commercial pilot but the career he expected to have never materialized. Melville said he applied for jobs at multiple airlines but never received an offer, despite his accomplishments.

Still, he found a way to stay involved in aviation. In the 1970s, Davis Jr. was named director of civil aviation security for the Department of Transportation, where he led the implementation of measures to counter aerial hijackings and oversaw the training of agents of what now is known as the Federal Air Marshal Service.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton promoted Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., to the rank of four star general, describing him during the ceremony as a hero in war, a leader in peace, a pioneer for freedom, opportunity and basic human dignity.

Our armed forces today are a model for America and for the world of how people of different backgrounds working together for the common good can perform at a far more outstanding level than they ever could have divided, Clinton said. Perhaps no one is more responsible for that achievement than the person we honor today.

Throughout their lives, the Davises were devoted to their families and never sought the spotlight. Melville recalled Davis Jr.s kindness and how he never wanted to share his past or photos with him and that he didnt have military regalia in his house.

Years after Davis Jr.s passing, Melville began researching his familys history  details that had never been shared with him. He wrote in his book that, at his core, Davis Jr. had a deep desire to overcome discrimination and be known as a general in an equal way to all others, without qualifiers.

Our family went beyond what they needed to do in order to invest in a country that really wasnt investing in them but they still believed it was the best country in the world, and still believed that positivity and sunlight will shine for our people and that we will earn our place as Americans, Melville said.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was met with boos from the audience during former President Trumps victory speech in South Carolina on Saturday night.

The senator, a longtime Trump ally, was met with the hostile reception after Trump introduced him on stage following his easy victory over rival Nikki Haley in the GOP presidential primary.

Trump, in introducing the senator, said he calls Graham when hes in trouble on the left.

He doesnt do too much television, Trump joked. He happens to be a little bit further left than some of the people on this stage. But I always say when Im in trouble on the left, I call up Lindsey Graham, and he straightens it out.

Graham then took to the mic, at which point he was booed loudly during his brief remarks.

This is the most qualified man to be president [of the] United States, Graham said. And let it be said that South Carolina created the biggest political comeback in American history.

With his South Carolina victory confirmed, Trump has now beaten Haley three times in a row.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
About 30 people gathered to watch the results of the Republican presidential primary Saturday at the Greenville County Republican Party headquarters on Wade Hampton Boulevard.

After the Associated Press called the race within minutes after the polls closed at 7 p.m., voters erupted into cheers for the former president. As of 10:28 p.m. Saturday, Trump had 60% or 406,122 votes, and Haley had 39.3% or 266,213 votes.

"This is the shortest watch party ever, joked Yvonne Julian, chairwoman of GCGOP.

Most voters cast a vote for former President Donald Trump. Issues brought up during the night were immigration, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the economy.

As former governor and presidential hopeful Haley gave her speech in Charleston, Greenville folks viewed from a large television screen at the GOP headquarters. They heckled as they watched on a television screen and blared Haley's words. Viewers were in high spirits.

Yvonne Julian, Greenville County Republican Party chair, left, talks with Gregory Peck, 73, executive committeeman for Tubbs Mountain precinct, right, as they watch Donald Trump speak on the television during a watch party at the party headquarters in Greenville, S.C., on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

"Does anyone want to cheer for Nimarata?" Harrison Musselwhite, 58, said, referring to Haley's birth name. People booed in response. "I didn't think so."

Musselwhite is the chairman of the Greenville County GOP Legislative Committee and chairman of the South Carolina Liberty Coalition.

Out of the candidates, Greenville County Republican Party 4th Vice President Griffin Callahan considered businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Trump. Never Nikki, though, he says.

"I really just think that South Carolina voters see through her," Callahan says. His concerns about the war in both Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas concern him. He does not think Haley, former U.N. ambassador, can address them.

Musselwhite echoes these concerns, saying that he believes Trump will end the war in Ukraine on "day one." He also believes President Joe Biden was not elected, but "installed," repeating the theory that the 2020 election was stolen.

"Joe Biden was installed in the White House, just like a toilet, and he's been flushing America down that toilet ever since. And we're sick of it," Musselwhite said.

From left, Roman Bisser, 29, Harriet Morrow, 59, Cat Callahan, 60, and Griffin Callahan, 26, watch the Republican presidential primary election results during a watch party at the Greenville County Republican Party headquarters in Greenville, S.C., on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Julian said people look forward to Greenville GOP's parties as a way to come together after working hard. Many in the GOP party knocked on doors or phone banked for the former president, which Julian clarifies is something that would be done for "any candidate."

"It's just a way to engage people and then to reward our people who work so hard. We typically only hang out with each other like a lot of business meetings. So we look for, you know, any kind of chance to celebrate, and this is a big victory," Julian said.

Savannah Moss covers Greenville County politics. Reach her at smoss@gannett.com or follow her on 'X' @savmoss.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville County GOP holds watch party as they celebrate Trump's win
The US and Britain have struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea.

American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites across multiple locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, according to US officials.

The UKs ministry of defence said the Royal Airforce had launched the wave of strikes to degrade Houthi drones and missile launchers.

It comes after a UK-owned cargo ship was set on fire off the southern coast of Yemen after being struck in a missile attack on Thursday.

It is the fourth time that the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since 12 January.

The US has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.

Key points

UK and US launch strikes against Houthis after surge in attacks on shipping

Strikes get support from wider Western coalition

Yemen's Houthis target fuel tanker Torm Thor in Gulf of Aden

08:09 , Katy Clifton

Thanks for following our live updates, we are pausing our coverage for the morning.

Strikes 'necessary and proportionate', says Pentagon

08:00 , Namita Singh

In a statement, the Pentagon said that Saturdays necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen associated with Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defence systems, radars, and a helicopter.

These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, naval vessels, and the lives of innocent mariners in one of the worlds most critical waterways.

The statement said that the Houthis now more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November constitute a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability, and demand an international response.

How have Houthi strikes affected cargo movement

07:15 , Namita Singh

Earlier this week the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a UK-owned cargo ship and a drone assault on an American destroyer, and they targeted Israels port and resort city of Eilat with ballistic missiles and drones.

The groups strikes are disrupting the vital Suez Canal trade shortcut that accounts for about 12 per cent of global maritime traffic, and forcing firms to take a longer, more expensive route around Africa.

A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft is prepared to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets, 24 February 2024 (Reuters)

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 18 February and its crew evacuated.

Strikes meant to disrupt and degrade capabilities of Houthi militia'

06:30 , Namita Singh

US defense secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes were meant to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.

We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm Middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries, Mr Austin added.

A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft is prepared to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets, 24 February 2024 (Reuters)

How were the targets identified?

05:45 , Namita Singh

Intelligence analysis had successfully identified several very long-range drones, used by the Houthis for both reconnaissance and attack missions, at a former surface-to-air missile battery site several miles north east of Sanaa, the Ministry of Defence said of yesterdays strikes.

Our aircraft used Paveway IV precision guided bombs against the drones and their launchers, notwithstanding the Houthis use of the old missile battery revetments to try to protect the drones.

It added: In planning the strikes, as is normal practice with such RAF operations, the greatest possible care was taken to minimise any risk of civilian casualties.

Houthi attacks on vessels threatened global economy, say Western allies

05:00 , Namita Singh

A joint statement from Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and the US said the Houthis had staged more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November, which threatened the global economy, as well as regional security and stability.

Our coalition of like-minded countries remains committed to protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels, the statement said.

A handout picture released by the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) on 24 February 2024 shows a Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 having Paveway IV weapons loaded by Weapon Technicians at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, in preparation for a strike on military targets in Yemen, on 22 February 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)

Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but we will once again reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats.

The statement said yesterdays strikes targeted 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen associated with Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defence systems, radars and a helicopter.

Yemen's Houthis target fuel tanker Torm Thor in Gulf of Aden

04:15 , Namita Singh

Yemens Houthis targeted MV Torm Thor, a US-flagged, owned, and operated oil tanker, in the Gulf of Aden, the Iran-aligned groups military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said on Sunday, as the militants continue to attack shipping lanes in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The group targeted the tanker with a number of appropriate naval missiles, Mr Sarea added in a televised speech.

The US Central Command (Centcom) said the USS Mason, a guided missile destroyer, on Saturday shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile launched into the Gulf of Aden from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that was likely targeting the tanker.

Neither the USS Mason nor MV Torm Thor were damaged and there were no injuries, Centcom added in a statement.

The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have launched exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since 19 November as a protest against Israels military operations in Gaza.

The US and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and redesignated the militia as a terrorist group.

The turmoil from Israels war with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has spilled over to some extent into other parts of the Middle East. Apart from the Houthi attacks on vital shipping lanes, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group has traded fire with Israel along the Israel-Lebanon border and pro-Iran Iraqi militia have attacked bases that host US forces.

Strikes get support from wider Western coalition

03:30 , Namita Singh

The strikes have support from a wider coalition of countries including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

In a statement, the US, UK and other allies said the necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen that also included underground storage facilities, radar and a helicopter.

Both prime minister Rishi Sunak and president Joe Biden have repeatedly said that attacks on the key global shipping route will not be tolerated.

Our duty to protect lives at sea

03:15 , Namita Singh

Issuing a statement on the strikes against the Houthis, defence secretary Grant Shapps said: It is our duty to protect lives at sea and preserve freedom of navigation.

That is why the Royal Air Force engages in a fourth round of precision strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen.

A handout picture released by the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) on 24 February 2024 shows RAF Typhoon FGR4 and RAF Voyager taking off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, to strike military targets in Yemen on 24 February 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Shapps said it came after severe Houthi attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including against the British-owned MV Islander and the MV Rubymar, which forced the crew to abandon ship.

Houthis attack US owned oil tanker

03:00 , Alexander Butler

Yemens Iran-aligned Houthis targeted MV Torm Thor, a U.S.-flagged, owned, and operated oil tanker, in the Gulf of Aden, the groups military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech.

The Houthis say they have been attacking shipping lanes in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza War. It comes after the US and UK launched airstrikes on 18 Houthi targets across Yemen.

UK and US launch strikes against Houthis after surge in attacks on shipping

02:51 , Namita Singh

The UK and US have launched another round of missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen after a surge in attacks around the Red Sea by the Iran-backed group.

American and British fighter jets hit sites in eight locations, according to US officials.

The action was intended to degrade Houthi capabilities used to threaten global trade, naval vessels and the lives of innocent mariners along one of the worlds most critical waterways, a joint statement said.

Intelligence analysis had successfully identified several very long-range drones, used by the Houthis for both reconnaissance and attack missions, at one site several miles north east of Sanaa, the Ministry of Defence said.

Precision-guided bombs were used against the drones and their launchers, according to the MoD.

This is the fourth time that a joint operation has been launched against the rebel group since 12 January, though the action appears to have done little to deter Houthi attacks.

Pictured: Smoke billows in Sanaa, Yemen following US and UK airstrikes

02:30 , Alexander Butler

Smokes rise from a Houthi position following US and UK strikes in Sana'a, Yemen (EPA)

Pictured: American aircraft launchung from US aircarrier

01:30 , Alexander Butler

An American aircraft launching from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on Saturday (AP)

Who are Yemens Houthis and why are they attacking ships in the Red Sea?

00:30 , Alexander Butler

Who are Yemens Houthis and why are they attacking ships in the Red Sea?

Watch: US and UK strike Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation for Red Sea attacks

Saturday 24 February 2024 23:45 , Alexander Butler

Saturday 24 February 2024 23:30 , Alexander Butler

The UK ministry of defence said the Royal Airforce had launched a wave of strikes to degrade Houthi drones and missile launchers.

On X, UK defence minister Grant Shapps said Royal Airforce typhoons had conducted a fourth wave of strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen.

Tonight, @RoyalAirForce Typhoons conducted a fourth wave of strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen: pic.twitter.com/nBx0Tgk2vN  Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) February 24, 2024

US and UK hit more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen

Saturday 24 February 2024 22:35 , Alexander Butler

The US and Britain have struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea.

American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites across multiple locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, according to US officials.

This is the fourth time that the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since 12 January.

UK-owned ship set on fire off the coast of Yemen in suspected Houthi attack

Welcome to our live blog

Saturday 24 February 2024 22:34 , Alexander Butler

The US and Britain have struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea.

American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites across multiple locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, according to US officials.

We will be bringing you updates on the operation.
Watch CNNs coverage of Donald Trumps involvement in key House Republican primaries on Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju at 11 a.m. ET.

Speaker Mike Johnson and his top lieutenants had a mission last week when they made a trek to Mar-a-Lago: Secure a Donald Trump endorsement for an incumbent House Republican over an insurgent primary rival boosted by Rep. Matt Gaetz.

According to multiple GOP sources, Johnson lobbied Trump to back Republican Rep. Mike Bost against his MAGA-aligned primary foe, Darren Bailey, in the southern Illinois district  a sign of how the new speaker is leveraging his relationship with the former president as internal GOP primary battles threaten to reshape the makeup of Congress.

Other Republicans also personally urged Trump to support Bost  including Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, who heads the House GOPs campaign arm and was present for the Mar-a-Lago meeting with Trump, and Rep. Max Miller, a freshman from Ohio and ex-Trump aide. The former president announced his endorsement of Bost just one day after the brief visit from Johnson and Hudson, who were in Florida for an annual House GOP leadership retreat.

As Republicans made the pitch on why they believed Bost  a loyal Trump supporter, committee chairman and five-term incumbent  deserved the backing of the former president, some hoped another message would effectively be delivered to Gaetz: That the House GOP would not be remade in his mold, a sign of the lingering bad blood more than four months after the Florida Republican led the unprecedented charge to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speakership.

Seeing as how President Trump endorsed Mike Bost, Matt always finds himself on the wrong side of history, Miller told CNN. He wants more chaos. He has mommy and daddy issues to work out.

Darren Bailey talks to reporters in Springfield, Illinois, in 2022. - Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Getty Images

Rep. Mike Bost arrives to the US Capitol in June 2023. - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images

Gaetz took a swipe at Miller, and said in an interview there was a reason why he just stumped for Bailey in Herrin, Illinois and is maneuvering to oust his GOP colleague from Congress.

Look, Im on a mission to change Congress, and I cant do it with the people who are currently here, Gaetz told CNN. Ive come to that conclusion. So I need new people. I need better people. I need better options in a lot of these Republican primaries. And Ill be traveling the country to try to get more people elected.

The party-wide push to protect Bost  which GOP sources say also included a Johnson-hosted fundraiser for Bost in his district in December  is not fueled by concerns over losing the ruby-red seat if a far-right candidate emerges victorious in the Republican primary. Instead, the calculation is more centered around the fact that Bost, a member of the center-right Main Street Caucus, is viewed as a leadership ally who tends to support the partys agenda, according to lawmakers familiar with internal GOP dynamics  a far cry from the Gaetz wing of the party that is frequently at war with party leaders over tactics.

Since taking the speakers gavel in October, Johnson has traveled to nearly two dozen states, including to help other GOP incumbents, as he works to grow the majority this November, according to Johnsons political team.

Yet Republican leaders could also sell a Bost endorsement to Trump because hes seen as a loyal supporter of the former president  a sign of his enduring grip on the House GOP and partys base.

In an interview, Bost made clear he sees a different reason why Gaetz is targeting him: A personal vendetta.

Amid the battle over the speakership last fall, Gaetz started screaming from the middle of the room at McCarthy, according to Bost, who was part of a group that then yelled at Gaetz and told him to sit down. Bost later lunged at him in the room, according to multiple witnesses.

As Matt does, he wants to be the center of attention, and thats why he does the things like hes doing right now to me, Bost said in an interview.

Bost added: Hes not liked in my district. Matter of fact, it may gain me votes by him coming there.

Gaetz insisted that his campaign against Bost  the third time he has targeted a sitting Republican while serving in Congress  isnt personal, pointing instead to Bosts past support for aiding Ukraine and calling him a member who is bought and paid for by the lobbyists and the special interests.

I dont fight those things out with my fists in some sort of strange brawl, Gaetz said. I fight with my words, and thats what I will be doing in Illinois.

But behind the scenes, Bost has taken steps to make clear where his loyalty lies. Bost and his wife used to send prayer cards from his constituents to the then-president, which Trump once brought up to Bost during a flight on Air Force One and thanked him for doing, according to a member who was on the plane.

Trump looms over other key primaries

The maneuvering to win Trumps support underscores the GOP reality: No one can sway congressional primaries like the former president. Indeed, Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, the Senate GOPs campaign chairman, laid the groundwork for months to get Trump to back the Republican leaderships preferred candidate in the crucial US Senate race in Montana, effectively nudging out hard-right Rep. Matt Rosendale whom party bosses feared could have cost them the seat.

And in House and Senate GOP primaries across the country, loyalty to Trump is still a dominant issue as candidates court conservative voters  despite his political vulnerabilities with many general election voters as well as his 91 criminal charges across four indictments.

The battle for Trumps stamp of approval has played prominently in the primary fight to represent Ohios 9th Congressional District, a Democratic seat that Republicans view as a clear pickup opportunity. After the GOP leaderships candidate, Craig Riedel, was caught on tape criticizing Trump, multiple Republicans pulled their endorsement, including Miller and House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik.

Rep. Max Miller is seen outside a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the US Capitol on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. - Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

Party leaders then scrambled to recruit a new candidate who was seen as both sufficiently pro-Trump and a viable general election candidate. Ultimately, they settled on Derek Merrin, whom they believe fits that bill, and Johnson endorsed Merrin last month.

While Trump has not gotten involved in the Ohio primary race, some of his allies have. Gaetz, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio have all endorsed Republican JR Majewski, a controversial candidate who handily lost in 2022 against the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, and whom many Republicans fear would cost them the race again.

Trump has roiled previous primary races that have had implications for the GOPs so-called governing wing. Last cycle, Trump endorsed Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois, a House Freedom Caucus hardliner who was challenging fellow incumbent Rep. Rodney Davis, a Main Street Caucus member, after the states maps were redrawn.

Miller ultimately won the race, knocking out Davis, who was viewed as a leadership ally and pragmatic member of the conference. And now, Miller is inserting herself into another incumbent primary race in Illinois: She also is backing Bailey over Bost, her House GOP colleague. (Bost endorsed Davis instead of Miller in the 2022 race.)

In her endorsement, Miller cited Baileys MAGA credentials and her close personal relationship with the candidate. But this time, Miller and Gaetz are on the opposite side of Trump in the race.

Theres a big difference between Mike and me. I was not 100% loyal to Donald Trump. And it cost me, Davis told CNN. But thats not going to happen to Mike. He now has the Trump endorsement, which is basically a nail in the coffin to Darren Bailey.

Baileys campaign downplayed the Trump endorsement, arguing its just an example of the former president seeking to boost GOP incumbents and noting that Trump offered praise for Bailey in his official statement backing Bost.

Darren Bailey proudly stands with President Trump despite disagreeing with him on this endorsement, a campaign spokesman said. We look forward to working with President Trump to champion working families, secure our borders, defend our freedoms, and put America First  no compromises, no apologies.

House GOP anger at Gaetz

Gaetz told CNN that he chose to get involved in the Bost race now because the March primary is early on the calendar, noting he is weighing targeting other GOP incumbents as well.

You may see me pop up around the country more and more, Gaetz said. And as we get to other states that are later in the primary cycle, I may be endorsing in some of those as well.

But Gaetz has already gained many enemies within the House GOP after leading the ouster of McCarthy from the speakership, something his legions of critics believe was based simply on a personal beef, which Gaetz denies. And now his efforts to take out his colleague in his primary is only adding fuel to the fire.

I dont like it, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Florida Republican said of Gaetz campaigning against Bost. You know its a colleague campaigning against another colleague. And that to me is not a very smart move. Now we are going to have to fight to keep the majority. And in the House, the majority is not everything, its the only thing. And maybe some people still dont understand that.

Added Rep. Don Bacon, a swing district Nebraska Republican: I try to be careful about criticizing our own members but we should support incumbents. And the norm, since Ive been here, you dont get involved in someone elses primary. It should be the norm because it creates long-term divisions in the conference.

Bost said the feud is really sad.

I came into politics under the old Reagan rule  the 11th Commandment of no badmouthing Republicans, Bost said. But theres a whole pile of them now.

But Gaetz shrugged off the criticism.

I would say Republicans need to start acting like Republicans again, Gaetz said. And then theyd have nothing to fear.

CNNs Sam Fossum, Morgan Rimmer and Christine Park contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
As we head into the week, let's take a look at the news from this past week.

Mayor Jon Mitchell is submitting a proposal to the City Council that would establish a mechanism to recall city elected officers, fulfilling a promise he made last year. The proposal establishes a high standard the public would have to meet in order to recall an elected officer.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren met with healthcare advocates in Wareham to support efforts to ensure access to reproductive health for all. The Massachusetts Democrat was at Health Imperatives in Wareham to hear from local leaders and discuss strategies for improving care in vulnerable communities.

Keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and player of the week voting at https://www.southcoasttoday.com/sports.

Here are the most-read stories of the week on https://www.southcoasttoday.com:

The building at 38 Bethel St., site of the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, was recently purchased for $1,975,000.

The building at 38 Bethel St., the site of the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, was recently purchased for $1,975,000.

Franklin Hospitality Corp., a corporation controlled by Lafrance Hospitality, bought the property from New Bedford Inc., according to property transfer records.

Sean Lafrance, Lafrance Hospitality director of facilities, said no changes are envisioned in the building's present use. The property abuts the building at 89 N. Water St., which the company purchased within the last year.

Making purchases: Lafrance Hospitality buys building on Bethel Street in New Bedford

The New Bedford Police Dept. seized a record $1,295,274 from two drug traffickers in 2022, the largest seizure of drug money in the departments history. But whether it's $1,295,274 or $250, the rules are the same for how illegal drug money can be seized and used.

The New Bedford Police Dept. seized a record $1,295,274 from two drug traffickers in 2022, the largest seizure of drug money in the departments history.

But whether it's $1,295,274 or $250, the rules are the same for how illegal drug money can be seized and used. In many of the cases, as long as there's a conviction, and as long as there's evidence tied to the money, it's usually forfeited by agreement through the defense attorney and prosecutor.

The law says up to 10% can be used for drug rehabilitation, drug education and other anti-drug or neighborhood crime watch programs that further law enforcement purposes.

Let's find out: What happens with drug money seized in Massachusetts

Since 1993, the Mass. Education Reform Law has required public school students in the state to pass the standardized MCAS test to graduate high school. In the years since, there's been no shortage of complaints and pushback from educators and the public about the test's high-stakes nature.

While local officials' opinions hold no weight over whether or not the bill moves forward, New Bedford City Council and School Committee members decided to take a pronounced public stance in support of its passage recently, when they voted to officially declare their position on Thrive Act by resolution earlier this month.

The two public bodies' resolutions put them in line with local educators and parents who've expressed concerns with the MCAS graduation requirement over recent months, and throughout the years.

It's official: New Bedford stands against MCAS as a graduation requirement. Here's why.

Tony Sapienza, President of the New Bedford Economic Development Council, speaks at a ceremony held at the downtown New Bedford Public Library where New Bedford Creative announced the release of eighty-two grant awards totaling $509,200.

Community leaders from across a wide cross-section of interests that represent the private, nonprofit and higher education sectors of the economy have been working together to focus on ways to address the regional housing shortage in the New Bedford area.

The report, "Housing for All: Forward-Looking Strategies for a Growing New Bedford, recommends a series of immediate- and near-term action items in concert with the housing plan.

NBEDC Board of Directors President Anthony Sapienza said, "Its clear from the numbers that there are not enough rental properties available in the suburban towns that would be attractive to live in, and they encourage the whole region to get involved in building more affordable rental housing tailored to the needs of the communities."

Take a closer look: There's a regional housing shortage in the SouthCoast.

A man walks past the iconic sea urchin sculpture in front of the Federal building in downtown New Bedford.

The downtown Hastings Keith Federal Building with its distinctive sea urchin sculpture out front may be transitioning out of federal use.

Mayor Jon Mitchell says that's a bad idea. Located at 53 North Sixth St., it was built in 1974 and was named after Hastings Keith, a Republican congressman for Massachusetts from 1959-1973.

Mitchell said New Bedford needs a primary federal building for many reasons, including the Port's status as the highest grossing commercial fishing port in the nation, with the fishing industry among the most tightly regulated by the federal government.

Mayor Mitchell: opposed to losing city's downtown federal building. Here's why.

All of these stories can be found in their entirety at SouthCoastToday.com.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Top stories of the week drug money, housing, and MCAS
LOUISIANA (KLFY)  In Louisiana sits one the United States oldest indigenous cultural and historical sites, but years on from its discovery scientists still debate what it was used for.

Located in West Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana, sits a prehistoric earthwork known as Poverty Point. The earthworks of Poverty Point consist of six C-shaped ridges that extend to the edge of the Macon Ridge and several mounds outside and inside the C-shaped ridges. This style of earthwork has yet to be found anywhere else and is unique to Poverty Point.

These fictional characters are from Louisiana

Archeologist have determined through radio carbon dating that construction of the site began as far back as 1700 BCE and continued to about 1100 BCE. For perspective, around this same time the last woolly mammoth died and the species became extinct, the Bronze Age started in China and Egypt began using yeast in bread. The site was built by the Poverty Point culture, a group of prehistoric indigenous people who inhabited the lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf coast.

The people of Poverty Point were hunter-fisher-gathers rather than agriculturalist. They are one of the few examples of complex hunter-gatherer societies that constructed large-scale monuments. The vast majority of prehistoric sites, like Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt, were constructed by agricultural societies. Because of this, archeologist struggle to determine what the function of Poverty Point could have been used for.

LiDAR map of Poverty Point. Image courtesy of the Poverty Point Station Archaeology Program, University of Louisiana at Monroe

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One of the main questions regarding the site is whether or not Poverty Point was used for a settlement or only for periodic events. Postholes have been found, along with hearths and ovens on the tops of the ridges, indicating there may have been buildings at one time. Others believe that regular residence there would have produced more postholes than what currently exist. Discussion on the sites use as a trading center has been considered, as well as having religious purposes due to some believing the ridges and aisles of the site have astronomical significance.

Poverty Point is featured in the Netflix series, Ancient Apocalypse (2022), which follows British writer Graham Hancock as he travels to different archeological sites around the global in search of lost civilizations. In episode six of the series, he travels to the United States with one of his stops being Poverty Point. Graham points out that the site could have astronomical significance, and be evidence of knowledge handed down from a lost, more advanced ancient civilization.

Aside from any conspiracies and disagreements among archeologist, there is one thing that they can all agree upon, which is the sites historical significant and the quest to continue researching it. Since Poverty Points discovery in the 1830s, much of the site as been excavated and preserved. In 2014 the site gained international recognition by becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site, cementing its historical importance and joining a list of some of the worlds most prestigious archeological sites. This designation made Poverty Point Louisianas first and only World Heritage Site and the 22nd in the United States.

Today, Poverty Point National Monument is open for visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, with exception for certain holidays. For more information of Poverty Point and how to visit, you can access the official website here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
Three South Carolina residents, including a teenager, were killed Friday in what the Berkeley County Coroners Office called a double murder-suicide.

Tracy McEvoy, 43, and her son William Allen McEvoy, 15, were killed, Coroner Darnell Hartwell said Sunday in a news release. Their bodies were found at a Goose Creek home along with the body of 43-year-old Nicholas Hegwein, who Hartwell identified as the suspect, according to the release.

Shooting was the cause of death for all three, Hartwell said. All three were Goose Creek residents, according to the release.

No other injuries were reported.

At around 9:45 p.m. Friday, the Goose Creek Police Department received a call about a man with a gun at a Water Oak Drive home, WCBD reported. Thats near the Naval Weapons Station at Joint Base Charleston, about 20 miles north of Charleston.

Police said the caller told them that the man was intoxicated and holding hostages at gunpoint, WCSC reported.

Police said officers surrounded the home. Hostage negotiators were called to the scene, but they werent able to make contact with anyone inside, according to WCBD. Police said officers found the three bodies when they entered the home, WCIV reported.

At about 11:15 p.m., the coroners office was called to the scene, according to the release.

There was no word if any or all three lived at the Water Oak Drive home, and it was unclear how Hegwein knew the mother or her son.

Information about what led up to the shooting and a motive for the gunfire, was not available.

The double murder-suicide continues to be investigated by the coroners office and police department.

On Nov. 26, 2023, Hegwein was arrested on a second-degree domestic violence charge, Berkeley County court records show. Although a $10,000 bond was set and posted on Nov. 27, 2023, the charge ultimately was dismissed and Hegwein was not indicted, according to court records.

Information about that prior incident, and why the charge was dismissed on Dec. 27, 2023, was not available.
Rishi Sunak and Lord Cameron have been accused of taking a back seat in efforts to free a British citizen whom MPs fear will be the next dissident to be killed in a Russian prison.

More than a dozen MPs, including seven former ministers, have written to the Foreign Secretary warning that it would be shameful if the UK fails to spearhead efforts to secure the release of Vladimir Kara-Murza.

The intervention comes after Mr Kara-Murza, who was poisoned twice in attempted assassinations before being jailed, used a court appearance in Russia last week to warn that a death squad within the FSB, the successor to the KGB, was seeking to physically eliminate political opponents of the Putin regime.

Following the death of Alexei Navalny, Mr Kara-Murza, who was born in Moscow and moved to the UK as a teenager when his mother married a Yorkshireman, is one of Russias most prominent political prisoners. The 42-year-old father of three is serving a 25-year sentence  the longest handed to an opposition figure since the Soviet era  for treason.

The Cambridge graduate who went to public school in Harrow, has infuriated the Kremlin with a campaign  together with Bill Browder  to introduce sanctions in the name of Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer who died investigating state corruption.

Last July, when judges rejected Mr Kara-Muzas appeal against his 25-year sentence, Mr Sunak tweeted: This is desperate and unfounded... He should be released immediately. The United Kingdom stands with him and his family.

Chances of survival are slim

In a letter organised by Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and signed by ex-ministers including Sir John Whittingdale and Sir Robert Buckland, MPs said: The recent terrible news about the killing of Alexei Navalny has increased our concern that a similar fate awaits Vladimir Kara-Murza. The chances of surviving his prison sentence are very slim. We are calling on you to do whatever is possible to have him released.

David Lammy, Labours shadow foreign secretary, said: The Government must provide answers on what it is doing to secure Vladimir Kara-Murzas release and bring him home before it is too late.

Mr Browder, a long-term friend of Mr Kara-Murza, said he held meetings with foreign ministers at the Munich Security Conference last weekend to discuss the case.

Everybody knew who Vladimir was, they supported the idea of a prisoner swap. They agreed to try and get a deal in which Vladimir could be freed. The only country that has a strict policy against that is the United Kingdom.

The MPs expressed concern about remarks by Leo Docherty, the Europe minister, last week, which stated that the UK would not countenance a prisoner swap.

The letter  also signed by Dame Margaret Hodge, Sir Liam Fox and Bob Seely  stated: We urge you to take the strongest action possible to free Mr Kara-Murza, a courageous voice [who] deserves the governments support.

Mr Docherty has said Britain has called for his release. We will continue to do that at every opportunity.

On Saturday night a Foreign Office spokesman said: The politically motivated conviction of Vladimir Kara-Murza is deplorable. We reiterate the Prime Ministers call on Russia to release Mr Kara-Murza immediately and unconditionally.

We regularly raise his case with the Russian authorities and will continue to do so at every available opportunity. We have sanctioned 11 individuals in response to his sentencing and appeal as well as two individuals involved in his poisoning. Our staff are providing tailored support to Mr Kara-Murzas family as they continue to highlight this gross injustice.

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.
GREENSBORO  A Superior Court judge is moving up the deadline for when the police department will have to release footage of a domestic incident that occurred over the holidays at the residence of City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba and was captured by officer-worn cameras.

Judge Allen Baddour said in an email Wednesday the department will have to provide that video to the News & Record, which went to court requesting it, within two weeks. Baddour initially gave the department three weeks.

That timeline started Monday, when Baddour heard arguments from attorneys for the News & Record and the city. News & Record attorney Mike Tadych argued the footage should be released to provide transparency because the incident involved a public official.

Attorneys for the city obtained a limited release of the footage to City Council but opposed allowing access to the newspaper. Among other points, they argued that action would set a bad precedent and potentially open up residents to unwanted publicity.

Baddour, ultimately, granted its release to the News & Record but with some edits, including the blurring of some images to protect the identity of a minor and certain details about Jaiyeobas home.

Since the domestic incident occurred, the fallout has called into question the departments handling of the situation, whether Jaiyeoba was given preferential treatment and if a cover up was involved as Amiel Rossabi, an attorney for the police union, has claimed. Rossabi  who is representing five officers involved in the incident  contends the case was handled differently because it involved the city manager.

The footage from that Dec. 28 night is expected to shed light on what happened.

Police were dispatched to an apparent altercation between Jaiyeoba and his two daughters, ages 19 and 25. No charges were filed and all three were listed as having minor injuries. Jaiyeoba was seen wearing an arm sling in public after the incident.

The police investigation into the matter has since closed.

Police generated a report in the departments digital system but blocked access to the public and employees inside the department. Chief Deputy City Attorney Tony Baker explained in court on Monday the city has taken similar action for sensitive cases, such as those related to drugs and sexual abuse or involving public figures.

Although the department acknowledged Jaiyeoba called Police Chief John Thompson the night of the incident, officials maintain he didnt ask for special treatment.

Both Jaiyeoba and the City Council have categorized the situation as a private family matter. Council members have shown their support for Jaiyeoba, including after they viewed the footage from the scene.
Namibians from all walks of life came together to mourn the death of their president

A huge crowd has attended the state funeral of Namibian President Hage Geingob following his death at the age of 82 from cancer.

Mr Geingob was interred in a mausoleum at Heroes' Acre on the outskirts of the capital, Windhoek, as mourners paid tribute to a man they hailed as a nation-builder and a pan-African hero.

His widow, Monica Geingos, wept as his casket was lowered into his grave.

Mr Geingob's funeral marked the culmination of three weeks of mourning.

Mr Geingob died in hospital on 4 February, with his deputy, Nangolo Mbumba, sworn in as his successor soon afterwards.

His death led to a surge in patriotism, with Namibians from across the political divide coming together to mourn.

Thousands of people - many carrying the Namibian flag and draped in the national colours - lined the streets as his casket was driven through Windhoek on Friday and Saturday.

His body lay in state at Independence Stadium, before being taken on Sunday, in a gun-mounted carriage, to Heroes' Acre.

Huge screens were put up so that the public could see his funeral.

The military gave Mr Geingob a 21-gun salute while K-8 fighter jets flew past.

This was the first time Namibia had buried a president since its independence from South Africa, then under white-minority rule, in 1990.

Described as the chief mourner, Mr Mbumba said Mr Geingob was unwavering in his commitment to the nation.

"Your impact on us has been profound, your footprint on this nation is immense. You leave our country in better shape," he said.

Mr Geingob's two predecessors, Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba, attended his burial, along with almost 20 heads of state and government.

Hage Geingob served as Namibia's president from 2015 until his death on 4 February

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was among the dignitaries who spoke at Mr Geingob's memorial on Saturday.

The privately owned Namibian newspaper quoted him as saying that Germany should apologise for the atrocities it committed in Namibia during colonial rule.

"I believe it is high time to tender an apology to Namibia. My only regret is that Geingob will not be there to close the process he started," Mr Steinmeier was quoted as saying.

Namibia was under German colonial rule from 1884 till World War One. In 2021, Germany acknowledged committing genocide there.

German colonisers massacred more than 70,000 Herero and Nama people between 1904 and 1908, in what historians consider to be the 20th Century's first genocide.

Mr Geingob was first elected president of Namibia in 2015, and had been involved in talks with Germany to secure reparations.

He was due to step down later this year, following the end of his two terms.

You may also be interested in:
Volodymyr Zelensky addressed a group of Ukrainian soldiers, telling them that they had defended freedom by repelling Russian forces - BENOIT DOPPAGNE/Avalon

Volodymyr Zelensky promised victory against Russia as Ukraine marked the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion on Saturday.

Speaking on the tarmac of Kyivs Hostomel airport, where Ukrainian soldiers fought off Russian paratroopers in the opening days of the war, the Ukrainian president pledged that his forces would overturn recent battlefield defeats.

We will win, he said at a ceremony attended by four Western leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, and Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister.

Two years ago we met hostile fire here, he said in an earlier video, with the wreckages of Ukrainian aircraft still visible behind him. Two years later we are welcoming our friends.

Mr Zelensky and his allies addressed a group of Ukrainian soldiers, telling them that they had defended freedom by repelling Russian forces.

Mr Zelensky (centre) with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during a joint meeting in Kyiv - Shutterstock

Irpin residents attend a memorial ceremony under a destroyed bridge on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images

Your courage stood in Putins way. You didnt run and you didnt flinch. A small force of Ukrainian heroes held off the invader, fighting until their last bullet and their last breath, Ms von der Leyen said.

But whereas a year ago Ukraine and its backers were celebrating battlefield successes, they are now on the back foot after the failure of a much-hyped summer counter-offensive.

Russias forces have been taking ground from Ukraines military which has complained that they have nearly run out of ammunition as Western supplies slow.

In a video message, Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, said that Ukraine was on course to join the alliance but he also described news of Russian advances as extremely serious.

As we prepare you for that day, Nato will continue to stand with Ukraine, he said.

Boris Johnson visited Kyiv on Saturday to meet Volodymyr Zelensky.

The former prime minister renewed his call for Ukraines allies to send it more weapons.

They need artillery shells and long range artillery of all kinds, he said. It is ridiculous to argue that giving them weapons is provocative or an escalation.

Russias troops, he added, are firing 10 times as many shells in some places.

How can we look these soldiers in the eye and say we are doing enough?

Last week Russian soldiers claimed the Kremlins first battlefield victory since May with the capture of the town of Avdiivka, although analysts described this as a Pyrrhic victory because 17,000 Russian soldiers had been killed during the takeover of the destroyed town.

Relatives of the Azovstal defenders and other Ukrainian prisoners of war hold banners at a rally in Kyiv calling for authorities to return their relatives from Russian captivity - Reuters/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

In an unusually downbeat assessment of the battlefield, the British Ministry of Defence said that the Kremlin had suffered massive losses but had now been able to replenish its army.

Russian forces in Ukraine are now larger in number than at the start of the war. It is now able to maintain attacks along the front line and pursue a strategy of attrition, it said.

Analysts have said that while Europe has struggled to ramp up its arms production and US domestic politics has slowed the flow of weapons from Washington, Russia has boosted its own munitions production and made deals with North Korea and Iran that have swelled its arms depots.

In capitals across Europe, thousands of people marched against Russian aggression.

04:59 PM GMT

That's all for today. Thanks for following the Telegraph's live blog.

Well be back tomorrow with the latest updates on the war.

04:55 PM GMT

Two years on, Ukraine is seeking the least worst option

In the summer of 2022, I spent several days ringing acquaintances in Ukraine, writes Roland Oliphant and Ben Butcher.

The six-month anniversary of the full-scale invasion was approaching  a milestone few had imagined it would reach when the tanks first rolled in  and I wanted a sense of how they saw the war.

It was not an easy time. Kyiv had been saved, but Mariupol and Severodonetsk lost despite heroic last stands.

Read the full piece here.

04:54 PM GMT

German Foreign Minister visits Odesa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited the Ukrainian port of Odesa on Saturday on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, crossing from Moldova with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.

Baerbock said walking into Ukraine with Kuleba was like a next step to European integration and into the European Union, according to an AFP reporter travelling with the German minister.

04:19 PM GMT

Watch: Russia 'accidentally shoots down own spy plane'

Russian forces have accidentally shot down their own 275 million spy plane over occupied Ukraine, pro-Kremlin military bloggers have said, writes James Kilner.

Vladimir Romanov said that the Beriev A-50 Soviet-built plane crashed near the Sea of Azov after it was hit by a missile fired from Mariupol, the Ukrainian city that Russian forces captured in 2022.

The enemy has nothing to do with it again. The launches were from the Mariupol area, he told his 140,000 followers. After being hit by an air defence missile (not fired by the enemy), the A-50 broke into two parts.

Read the full piece here.

03:59 PM GMT

'Ukraine will join Nato', says Jens Stoltenberg

It is no longer a question of if, but of when Ukraine will join Nato, the alliances chief has said.

Mr Stoltenberg made the remarks by video link at a ceremony attended by Western leaders in Kyiv to mark the anniversary of the Russian invasion.

The Nato chief said: President Putin started this war because he wanted to close Natos door, and deny Ukraine the right to choose its own path. But he has achieved the exact opposite: Ukraine is now closer to Nato than ever before.

He added: Ukraine will join Nato. It is not a question of if, but of when. As we prepare you for that day, Nato will continue to stand with Ukraine. For your security, and for ours.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled overnight to Kyiv by train along with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

03:46 PM GMT

Canada will provide 1.7 billion in aid for Ukraine this year

Canada said on Saturday it would provide 3.02 billion Canadian dollars (1.7 billion) in financial and military support for Ukraine this year as the two countries signed a security agreement.

We will stand with Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was visiting Kyiv on the second anniversary of the war, said in a statement announcing the funding.

Kyiv also signed a bilateral security deal with Italy on Saturday, Zelensky said, following similar deals struck with Britain, France, Germany and Denmark in recent weeks.

The 10-year agreement between Ottawa and Kyiv outlines key, long-term security commitments for Canada to continue supporting Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, protects its people, and rebuilds its economy for the future, Trudeaus office said.

02:39 PM GMT

Alexei Navalny's wife accuses Putin of 'satanism'

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, accused President Vladimir Putin of satanism on Saturday for not allowing the body to be returned to his family.

Navalnys mother Lyudmila has said authorities are threatening to bury him on the grounds of the Arctic prison colony where he died earlier this month if she did not agree to a secret funeral.

You tortured him alive, now you torture him while he is dead, Yulia Navalnaya, who has vowed to continue her husbands work, said in a new video, published Saturday.

Russian authorities have said only that an investigation is ongoing and have previously criticised accusations from Navalnya as unfounded and vulgar.

01:50 PM GMT

Poland: Protestors dump dung outside home of Russian ambassador

Protestors said they dumped two tons of dung outside the home of the Russian ambassador to Poland on Saturday, as they marked the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Activists put a bloodied Russian flag with the letter Z on the pile of manure and stuck a sign into it that said Russia = shit! We dont want you in EU! Get out!, pictures of the protest in Konstancin-Jeziorna, seen by Reuters, showed. The town near Warsaw is where the ambassador lives.

Elsewhere in Warsaw at 6 a.m. local time other protestors played the sound of sirens, gunfire and explosions outside a building housing Russian diplomats.

We wanted a clear signal to the Polish authorities and the European Union. Its high time to expel Russian diplomats from our country, said Dominik, a protestor quoted in a statement.

01:32 PM GMT

The King's statement on the anniversary of the Russian invasion

The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year. Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely. Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression. I have felt this personally in the many meetings I have had with Ukrainians since the start of the war, from President Zelenskyy and Mrs Zelenska, to new army recruits training here in the United Kingdom. I continue to be greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine at this time of such great suffering and need. My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers.

01:28 PM GMT

Russia 'unlikely' to join peace talks in Switzerland

Russia is unlikely to take part at the outset of a high-level Ukraine peace conference which neutral Switzerland plans to host in the coming months, Swiss President Viola Amherd was quoted as saying by a newspaper on Saturday.

Amherds interview with the Neue Zuercher Zeitung daily was published a few hours after Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told the United Nations that Bern aimed to hold the conference by this summer after the idea was floated in January.

Russia, which began its invasion of Ukraine two years ago, last month called the peace conference plan pointless and indicated it was doomed to fail without Moscows participation.

When asked whether Switzerland had since received any more positive signals from Russia, Amherd told the newspaper: Right now, it looks as though Russia will not take part in a first round of the conference.

01:11 PM GMT

Rishi Sunak reaffirms Britains support for Ukraine

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday reaffirmed the UKs support for Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion.

Mr Sunak said Britain was prepared to do whatever it takes to aid Ukraine in the war effort, pledging almost 250m towards producing artillery shells.

It comes as the UK recently announced more sanctions against Russia.

12:46 PM GMT

Russia is making gains while you are on holiday, Biden berates Congress

Joe Biden on Friday warned Congress that Russian forces were making gains while they were on holiday after the politicians refused to back his $60 billion (42 billion) military aid package for Ukraine, writes Joe Barnes, Brussels Correspondent.

The US president also said that Vladimir Putin would continue on his path of destruction unless he does not pay the price, as the White House unveiled its largest-ever package of sanctions on Moscow in response to the war.

At the same time, David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, warned the Russian president would be back for more if Western governments let war fatigue set in and allowed Moscows military to succeed in Ukraine.

Read the full piece here.

12:26 PM GMT

'We will win', says Zelensky on invasion anniversary

President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Saturday that Ukraine would defeat Russia as the war entered a third year.

We have been fighting for this for 730 days of our lives. We will win on the greatest day of our lives, Zelensky told an open-air anniversary event in Kyiv.

Any normal person wants the war to end. But none of us will allow Ukraine to end, Zelensky said, stressing that the war must end on our terms, with a just peace.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion - Filippo Attili/Italian Government Press/ Shutterstock

He spoke alongside the Canadian, Italian and Belgian prime ministers and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen who came to Kyiv to mark two years since Russias invasion.

Zelensky hugged the leaders and handed medals to soldiers at a ceremony at Kyivs Gostomel airport, targeted by Russia in the first days of its invasion.

Two years ago, we met the enemy landing force here with fire; two years later, we meet our friends and partners here, the president said.

11:56 AM GMT

Pictured: Invasion Anniversary

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky pictured during a Joint meeting in Kyiv - Benoit Doppagne/Avalon

The prime ministers of Canada and Italy and the EU president and prime minster, pictured alongside Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv - Shutterstock

US Senator Chuck Schumer, Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi pay tribute to fallen Ukrainian service members - Ukrainian Armed Forces/Reuters

11:27 AM GMT

Western leaders descend on Kyiv to mark war anniversary

Western leaders descended on Kyiv Saturday to mark the second anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled overnight to Kyiv by train along with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo pictured during a joint meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine - Shutterstock

They arrived shortly after a Russian drone attack struck a residential building in the southern city of Odesa, killing at least one person. Three women also sustained severe burns in the attack Friday evening on a residential building, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on his social media account. Rescue services are still combing rubble looking for survivors.

The foreign leaders are in Ukraine to express solidarity as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and weaponry and Western aid hangs in the balance.

More than ever we stand firmly by Ukraine. Financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country is finally free, Ms von der Leyen said after she arrived in Kyiv.

11:07 AM GMT

How Ukraines new super fun F-16s will help hold back Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky could hardly contain his excitement and broke into a wide grin as he lowered himself into the cockpit of the F-16 jet fighter, writes Joe Barnes, Brussels Correspondent, and Susie Coen, US correspondent.

His visit to a Danish air base in August was the culmination of a globe-trotting publicity campaign that finally convinced the West to send Kyiv dozens of the advanced warplanes.

The jets have been the subject of feverish debate in defence circles, with some holding them up as potential war-winners. This year, the first of them will arrive in Ukraine.

Read the full piece here.

10:46 AM GMT

Giorgia Meloni arrives in Kyiv

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Kyiv Saturday to preside over a G7 virtual meeting on Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russias invasion, the government announced in Rome.

The meeting, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also to attend, would discuss new sanctions against Russia.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) arriving by train in Kyiv, Ukraine - Shutterstock/Filippo Attili

Meloni flew to Poland, which adjoins Ukraine, and then took the train to Kyiv.

According to Italian news agency AGI, Meloni and Zelensky will open the meeting at 1600 GMT at the Saint Sophia cathedral in downtown Kyiv.

10:34 AM GMT

Lord Cameron warns allies in UN against fatigue over Russias war in Ukraine

Lord David Cameron warned allies in the United Nations against fatigue and compromise over Russias war in Ukraine as he urged countries including the US to keep up support for Kyiv.

The UK Foreign Secretary said the world must recognise the cost of giving up in a speech in New York on the eve of the second anniversary of Moscows invasion.

European countries are struggling to find enough stock to send to Kyiv, and US help worth 60 billion dollars (47 billon) is stalled over political differences in Washington.

Speaking at the UN general assembly on Friday, Lord Cameron said: Two years on, I recognise some want a rethink. There is a sense of fatigue. There are other problems.

10:01 AM GMT

Russia will seek 'revenge' for Western sanctions

Russias ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, a leading hawk on the Ukraine offensive, said Saturday Moscow will seek revenge for massive Western sanctions.

A day earlier, the US unveiled fresh sanctions on the eve of the second anniversary of Moscows Ukraine campaign and after the death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The latest sanctions cover 500 targets, including the Mir credit card system, set up by Russia to avoid reliance on US-based networks, and key businesses.

The reason (behind the sanctions) is clear: the worse it is for Russian citizens, the better it is for the Western world, Medvedev said on social media.

09:25 AM GMT

Ukraine attacks Russian steel plant

Ukraine attacked a steel plant belonging to Russias Novolipetsk RAO with drones overnight in a joint operation by the GUR military intelligence agency and SBU security service, a Ukrainian source said on Saturday.

The source told Reuters the attack had caused a major fire at the plant and staff had been evacuated.

Raw materials from this enterprise are used to manufacture Russian missiles, artillery, drones. Therefore, it is a legitimate goal for Ukraine, the source said, without specifying the location of the plant.

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.
Protesters light flares during a rally against alleged fraud in the Feb. 14 presidential election, outside the General Election Commissions office in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. According to quick counts from selected polling stations, the winner of the presidential contest is Prabowo Subianto. | Dita Alangkara, Associated Press

On Feb. 14, major national elections took place in Indonesia. The results, especially in 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% 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.

Related

In 2018, a Gallup poll found that an unprecedented 75% of Indonesians believed 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 developing 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 is the author of After the Cold War. Contact acyr@carthage.edu
A few months ago, I wrote a column suggesting that Biden step aside for a candidate who is not struggling with the age issue. I argued that the Democratic Party had no shortage of governors, members of Congress and others who qualify for the job, but Biden was simply unable to see anyone else capable of doing his job. The issue of Bidens age has not abated with more and more observers now calling for an alternative. As late as it is in the 2024 campaign cycle, that may be easier said than done.

Besides, the Cheeseburger King of Mar-a-Lago is hardly the youthful alternative. Looks like we will literally have the Battle of the Ages in 2024.

While I wished Biden would have stepped aside, we are left in the here and now. And recent polls have not been kind to Biden, although a poll on any given day is subject to change thereafter. Just remember how far off the experts were in 2022 when they expected Democrats to suffer that November as the party in the White House usually does in the off year. If we have learned anything from Trump these last seven years of suffering from his outrageous and outlandish behavior, it is that it can get even worse tomorrow when compared to what he said or did yesterday. With so much time left between now and November, there is plenty of time for Trump to dig himself a political grave from which there is no recovery.

That thought came to mind last week when Trump betrayed hundreds of thousands of Americans who suffered and died for their country and the nations of Europe in World War II. He attacked the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) a, collective security organization founded by the U.S. and its allies who emerged victorious after WW II. He said he would let Russia do whatever the hell they want to NATO members who havent paid their dues, again showing his ignorance. There are no dues, but guidelines that stipulate members spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense each year, and most NATO allies are spending more on defense since 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea.

The Soviet Union may have collapsed in 1989, but Putin has crafted a dictatorship every bit as threatening to Europe today as the Soviet Union was in the Cold War era. And now Trump genuflects before his favorite dictator and grants Putin a passageway to invade the rest of Europe.

Last week, Putin made his first move since Trump gave him a free pass to Europe. Putin added Estonias Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, to Russias criminal wanted list. It was the first time a foreign leader had been placed on the list. Her crime was the removal of statues from the days of Soviet occupation in Estonia. I still remember an Estonian history teacher on our tour of Tallinn, its capital, emphasizing her countrys disdain for a Russia that imprisoned Estonia behind the Iron Curtain for over 40 years. And now, with a wink and a nod, Trump and Putin are revisiting history and rebuilding the Iron Curtain.

It seems like only yesterday that America stood tall for the Ukrainian people as they were invaded by Putins army. That was then, but now you can forget Ukraine under a new Trump Administration. He has already worked his Rasputin-like ways on Republicans in Congress who object to funding the Ukrainian war effort. If elected, Trump would hollow out U.S. support for Ukraine overnight and nations like Poland which is struggling to throw off the yoke of autocracy and re-establish the rule of law would be next on Putins list. No telling who falls after that, but Putin would respect no boundaries with an ally in Donald Trump.

Russias war on Ukraine brings back memories of the Nazis marching into Czechoslovakia and Poland in 1939.

As an avid reader always on the lookout for new tales of intrigue and valor from WW II to bring to Readers Corner, I am amazed at how many books are released to this day that uncover stories of The Greatest Generation, now mostly gone, who gave it their all so the nations that now form NATO could be free of totalitarian rule. In many cases, the memories are quite personal, as with an uncle of mine who served and survived under General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge where 9,000 Americans lost their lives in what Churchill called the greatest American battle of the war. Another uncle landed on Utah Beach as part of the Normandy invasion.

Not long ago, our family visited Normandys hallowed ground with over 9,000 graves of Americans killed in Normandy, a small number compared to the 400,000 lives lost in World War II. Normandy is our greatest reminder of the enormity of the sacrifice of American soldiers who came to the rescue of Europe.

It is mind-boggling to hear a presidential candidate utter words that not only threaten the security of free nations today but dishonor the memory of those who fought to secure those freedoms. If elected, Trump has given every indication he will stand aside as the European Union is decimated by a Russian thug who Trump praises for his brutal leadership.

It is even more discouraging to hear the cheers from the crowd as Trump attacked NATO and bowed to Putin once again. Over the last seven years, Trump used his sway with MAGA to weave a new cultural trait of narcissism and conceit into the social fabric of American life. We see it in the news everyday as more and more Americans show little regard for their neighbors and especially for anyone that doesnt look exactly like MAGA men and women. Trump teaches his followers to focus solely on self with no consideration of others whether they be across town or across the globe. Those MAGA rallies are training grounds for a new America devoid of any empathy or sympathy for others. It is the era of Me and Only Me.

Do you get my drift? Yes, I wish we had younger, more vibrant candidates on both the Democrat and Republican tickets, but that is not the choice before us today. It is the incumbent Biden who has managed to bring the economy in tow, reassert Americas leadership abroad and bring jobs back from foreign shores to America. Is it a perfect record? Has it ever been for an American president? There is a ringing in my ears, warning about perfect being the enemy of the good. And in this case, we must never forget the enemy of the rule of law is Donald Trump.

As for the Republican ticket, I regret Nikki Haley cant gain some ground on Trump. If any convictions come Trumps way, it just might convince Republicans that Trump cannot win in November. Ill take a Haley/Biden contest rather than Trump any day.

It is my fervent hope that the Republican Party someday fields candidates like Nikki Haley who can win primaries and emerge as the successful nominee for President of the United States. Then Republicans and some Independents can consider returning home to a party that is center-right on the political spectrum. As for MAGA voters, I hope for some conversions, but if that is not possible then let them vent as a splinter party as we see in Europe, splitting the vote in favor of democracy and consigned to irrelevance in the overall scheme of things.

And regarding where this column started. Its time to turn the age issue on its head and recognize Bidens years for the length of service to his country it represents and acknowledge his expertise that far outweighs the other old guy who knew how to fire people on The Apprentice and then destroyed Americas reputation for global leadership.

Bob Kustra served as president of Boise State University from 2003 to 2018. He is host of Readers Corner on Boise State Public Radio and is a regular columnist for the Idaho Statesman. He served two terms as Illinois lieutenant governor and 10 years as a state legislator.
LOS ANGELES (KTLA)  For a while, they looked to be the future of shopping.

Grocery stores, home improvement stores and retail chains were all making room for those blinking green lanes of sweeping, modern shopping convenience (or so they said)  the self-checkouts where you become cashier and bagger.

If youve ever visited Target on a Sunday evening and have seen the snaking lane of self-checkout customers weaving into the store, you know.

But you may be seeing fewer of them in major retailers nowadays, and you can blame retail crime across the country.

Gaston County teen says he was forced to remove his pants during school search

On social media, one user recently posted a picture of the Walmart in West Hills, California with the self-checkout lanes roped off. The post said all Walmarts have removed self-checkouts due to theft.

Nexstars KTLA reached out to Walmart to find out if the self-checkout lanes were indeed a thing of the past. Are they removing all of them in California? Which stores have had them removed (or simply closed, temporarily or otherwise)

A Walmart spokesperson said they needed to research the issue.

They later replied, saying, Were always looking at ways to innovate and improve our stores. We have nothing to announce related to self-checkout removals at this time.

When pressed for specifics, the retailer offered none.

Ill refer you to the previous statement. Thats the only comment we have.

Its the not-so-secret secret: retail chains are doing away with these lanes, and many do not want to talk about it.

In December, SFGATE.com reported that Target quietly removed self-checkouts in San Francisco, calling it a trend in defensive retailing that may soon spread across the city.

Other reports say Target, when it does allow self-checkout, is only doing so for customers with ten items or less. No more big carts full of items.

Other chains, including Costco, have been dealing with the issue, saying that shrink, or the measure by which chains track retail theft, has increased in part due to the rollout of self-checkout.

Target and Costco did not respond to questions regarding the issue.

Now, California crime trends may be proving too costly.

LAPD data from 2023 shows retail theft up 16% in the city of Los Angeles. Many of those crimes involve flash mob-style attacks on retailers.

How to pick a cheap wine that actually tastes good, according to sommeliers

Reported shoplifting incidents rose in the Bay Area, and shoplifting is trending up in Los Angeles and other urban areas.

But its not just California, according to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, retailers reported a $112 billion in losses in 2022 to theft.

For those who are sticking with self-checkout, The Associated Press says Kroger is one of the companies now using artificial intelligence which can tell when a shopper fails to scan an item. If the customer fails to resolve the issue, they get the dreaded red light at the self-checkout and a call for customer service help.

Love them or hate them. That may be where self-checkout evolves next.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
City Hall suggested 4,000 homes could be built with the proceeds from selling Kremlin-linked property in the capital

Sadiq Khan has called for a further clamp-down on property owned by Russians linked to Vladimir Putin.

In a letter to the Housing Secretary Michael Gove, the London mayor wrote ministers should "urgently act" to sell property of "Putin's cronies" and use the proceeds to help those in need.

City Hall suggested 4,000 homes could be built with the proceeds from selling Kremlin-linked property in the capital.

The government said it has sanctioned 1,700 people and entities.

Mr Khan's intervention comes a day after the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

He called on ministers to "urgently act to seize property which has been bought by Putin's cronies, so we can use the proceeds of this for the benefit of those in need".

In 2022, 1.1bn of property was identified as being bought by Russians accused of corruption or with links to the Kremlin

According to new analysis by City Hall, if the 1.1bn of property identified by Transparency International in 2022 as being bought by Russians accused of corruption or with links to the Kremlin could be sold, it would provide sufficient funding for over 4,000 low-cost homes.

"This could include providing affordable accommodation for some of those Ukrainians who have made London their home after fleeing Ukraine following Putin's invasion," the mayor said.

Acknowledging the government has established a register of overseas entities who buy or sell property in the UK, Mr Khan said he remained concerned financial trusts can still be used to mask property ownership.

A spokesperson for the government said it had introduced the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy.

"We want to do all we can to ensure those with links to Putin's regime cannot benefit from the UK property market, which is why we are taking action to clean up the sector," the spokesperson said.

"This includes a consultation on increasing the transparency of property-owning trusts, shining a light on who truly owns our property. We are considering all responses and will respond as soon as possible."

Mr Khan also told Mr Gove he was "alarmed to see the government's announcement on the closure of the Ukraine Family Scheme", arguing that "Ukrainians still going through unimaginable horror in their home country should be able to join family members already taking sanctuary in the UK".

However, earlier this week the Home Office clarified: "Ukrainian nationals who would have qualified under the Ukraine family scheme will still be able to apply to Homes for Ukraine.

"Family members who are settled here can also still continue to sponsor a family member to come to the UK under Homes for Ukraine."

On Saturday hundreds of people marched in London to mark the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
CARY, N.C. (WNCN)  For the ninth year, one local organization is remembering a tragedy by doing some good.

Boxes of cereal, snacks, and food are all going to families in need.

On a sunny, but cold Saturday, dozens of people packaged food for the Ninth Annual Interfaith Food Drive, sponsored by The Lighthouse Project.

They do it each year to remember a young man, his wife, and her sister, who were shot and killed in 2015.

There were three young Muslim college students Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Razan Abu-Salha, who were murdered in their home in Chapel Hill, said Nadia Khan, the Executive Director of The Lighthouse Project.

The students neighbor, Craig Hicks, was sentenced to life in prison for their murders.

We consider it a hate crime because they were murdered for basically who they were. They were visibly Muslim, said Khan. We want to create positivity after such a tragedy.

All of the food collected goes to the food bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Since the event began, the group has collected 373,000 meals to give to the community.

Organizers told CBS 17 they cant imagine any other way to honor their memory.

They were known for their service in the community. They would go out and feed the homeless, said Khan. Were honored to create such a positive impact in our community. We want people to know this is important to us. We do it every year, rain or shine, cold or warm. Its a great event to bring the community together.

Their goal this year is to surpass donating 400,000 meals.

 Click here for more heartwarming news across the Carolinas

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Continuing his march to the Republican presidential nomination, former President Donald Trump won the South Carolina GOP presidential primary, comfortably beating former SC Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state.

The Associated Press called the race at 7:00 p.m.

Not even two minutes later, Trump took to the stage with to his signature walk-on song God Bless the U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood.

Wow, that was really something, Trump said. It was a little sooner than we anticipated, and an even bigger win than we anticipated.

On Nov. 5, were going to say to Joe Biden, youre fired! Youre fired, Joe. Get out!, Trump added.

Trump was joined on stage by his children, including Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. He was also flanked by Gov. Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and U.S. Senator Tim Scott.

When the call was announced at the Haley party in downtown Charleston, supporters were still trickling into the room. As the former president spoke, the music continued to play and those in the room chanted Nikki! Nikki! Nikki!

This is the first time Haley, who was elected twice as governor and three times as a state representative from Lexington County, lost an election in South Carolina.

The margin of Trumps victory appears to be smaller than what polls ahead of Saturdays election projected. Some of polls had Trump winning by 30 to 35 points.

But as results come in the margin appear closer to a 20-point spread.

I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for President. Im a woman of my word. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

In her remarks, Haley said she would travel to Michigan Sunday and continue the Super Tuesday states.

As she spoke, Haley projected she would received about 40% of the vote.

Im an accountant. I know 40% is not 50%. But I also know 40% is not some tiny group, Haley said. There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative.

But Haley faces questions whether donors will continue to support her campaign, as ultimately having the money come in will be key to keeping her effort going.

Nikki Haley has been raising money significantly better than her standing and her poll numbers would indicate, said Dave Wilson, a longtime GOP strategist in South Carolina. There are a lot of Republicans who are still out there right now that do not want Donald Trump in office again. Those are the people who are looking past the poll numbers to invest in a known quality of a candidate in Nikki Haley who they see as their opportunity to bring an end to Donald Trumps run for president, or at least challenge it.

Haleys campaign has said it has resources to continue and boasted raising $16.5 million in January. She has events planned going forward including a swing in Michigan, which holds its primary Tuesday, and events leading up to Super Tuesday on March 5 when 15 states and American Somoa hold nominating contests.

Haleys campaign Friday announced a seven-figure cable and digital advertising buy ahead of Super Tuesday.

Our fundraising continues to grow, said Haley Campaign Manager Betsy Ankney. We are fully confident that we will have the resources to compete moving forward.

Trump remains in the drivers seat for GOP nomination

Winning the S.C. GOP primary is key to any presidential campaign. Since 1980 the winner of South Carolinas nominating contest has gone on to win the GOP nomination every time except for 2012.

Trump has now won the first four early contests as he has remained the front-runner in the GOP race since announcing his reelection run in November 2022.

The former presidents margin of victory Saturday is expected to be much larger than his 2016 performance when he won the First in the South primary with 32.5% of the vote. Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who was backed by Haley, came in second with 22.5% of the vote.

With such a clear contrast between the results we saw in Trumps four years and Bidens term, theres no debate on why so many people would take Trump back, said Mark Knoop, a veteran political consultant in South Carolina.

Going into Saturdays primary, Trump held a tight grip on the states GOP. He had the support of all but one statewide elected official who was reelected in 2022, including Gov. Henry McMaster, and Attorney General Alan Wilson. He also had the support of U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a former presidential candidate who dropped out of the race in November, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, and McMaster, the first statewide elected official in the country to endorse Trump in 2016.

Voters clearly care what they think, and they overwhelmingly chose President Trump, Knoop said.

Trump had the backing of all but one Republican member of the S.C. congressional delegation, and most of the GOP members of the State House of Representatives. Many rallied around Trump after his win in the New Hampshire primary and polling indicated a large lead in South Carolina.

In a state where many districts are safe seats in the general election, backing Trump in the presidential primary is more beneficial for Republican lawmakers who potentially face tough primary elections in June.

The consolidation of support among many of the GOP members of the State House of Representatives, highlighted Haleys previous sour relationships with lawmakers.

At one Trump campaign news conference, state Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, even said Haley only had five friends at the State House at any given time.

Nikki Haley is not the right candidate to be president of the United States, Taylor said in January. Nikki is always about Nikki. Nikki changes. Nikki isnt that same person that I ran with in 2010, the one that was supported by conservatives that shot to the front of the crowd. She squandered six years of being governor in this state.

When those attacks came, Haley remained defiant against the political establishment that rallied against her.

You got the political class from the Bill Taylors of the world to everybody else, Haley said in an interview last month. Think about it, Why are they doing that? Is it because I forced them to have to show their votes on the record instead of hiding behind voice votes? Or is it because I made them disclose their income for taxpayers to see or is Bill Taylor mad because I vetoed half a billion dollars worth of pet projects that I didnt think taxpayers should be paying for. So theyre mad because I didnt buddy with them. I was serving the people of South Carolina. I served (them) well. My job wasnt to please the political elite. My job was always to please the South Carolinians that I was serving.

Trump led in the polls early on

Trumps lead in the polls from early in 2023 to Saturdays primary also meant his campaign did not have to spend heavily on television advertising. Trump only went on air in South Carolina roughly a week-and-a-half before the primary. Haley and aligned groups began advertising in South Carolina television markets on Jan. 24.

Trump has brand and name ID. That is one thing money cannot buy, or at least it didnt have to be bought this time, Wilson said. He doesnt have to spend a lot of money to get people to show up.

Haleys campaign has argued she has a better chance of winning a general election race against Biden than Trump does, and she performs better than Trump in general election polls against the current president.

This battle is about who can win in November, defeat the Democrats and finally get our country back on track, Haley Campaign Manager Betsy Ankney said. And the reality is no matter what all caps rants Trump goes on on Twitter about the polls, he will not defeat Joe Biden in November and he will drag the entire Republican ticket down with him.

Haley echoed the remarks Saturday evening.

I dont believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day, Trump drives people away, including with his comments just yesterday, Haley said.

However, polling indicates that Trump can beat Biden in the electoral college, according to a Decision Desk HQ analysis. And the electoral college is what ultimately decides who wins the White House.

In 2023, Trump made a handful of appearances in South Carolina. In the final weeks leading up to the primary, he held rallies in Conway, North Charleston and Rock Hill. He participated in a Fox News Town Hall in Greenville, held a fundraiser in the Upstate and spoke at the Black Conservative Federation gala in Columbia.

The number of his events were dwarfed by Haley who held numerous more stops on a statewide bus tour, retail stops and rallies in the month before Saturdays primary.

But crowd sizes at Trumps events were much larger than Haleys events.

Still she stayed at events to take pictures with anyone who wanted one and was often the last person to leave.

Trump was expected to run up the score among voters who believe in America first, evangelical voters, and those who strongly identify with the party, said Scott Huffmon, director of the Winthrop University Poll. Also Trump was expected to have strong support in the Upstate including Greenville County and in Horry County, where the GOP county party apparatus has been taken over by the Make America Great Again movement.

The Lexington County GOP also endorsed Trump ahead of the primary.

Trump consistently led in polls of GOP voters in South Carolina and his grip on the party only strengthened as court appearances and rulings made headlines. The latest was a New York judge ordering Trump to pay a $355 million fine and bar him from working in real estate in the state for three years only solidified his standing with the Republican base.

President Trump is an earned media machine that no campaign ad dollars could overcome, Knoop said.

Leading up to the primary, Haley said she was only trying to close the gap between her and Trump.

She had help from outside groups encouraging Democratic and independent voters to participate in the Republican primary if they did not vote in the Feb. 3 Democratic primary.

Robert Schwartz, a co-founder of Primary Pivot, a super PAC which encouraged Democratic voters to crossover the Republican primary, said Haley matching her performance in New Hampshire seemed out of reach in South Carolina because of the voter mix in the state.

I think approaching 40% is a respectable outcome. And I think the only goal for us is that she survives, Schwartz said.

Even as Haley performed better than what polling predicted the outcome would, she still came up short of a victory in a head-to-head contest.

Beating expectations doesnt count, Knoop said. Nikki Haley got her chance at a heads-up race and she couldnt win a contest.

Reporter Javon Harris contributed from Columbia, S.C.
After weeks of fretting over Joe Bidens age, our national attention span has shifted to Donald Trump and his legal/financial woes.

With that pivot, the national stress level has ratcheted up yet another notch.

Political commentators twist the stress knob. The election is only nine months away, and we think, Only nine months? Nine more months? How much more can the country handle before it explodes?

Unanswered questions carry over from one election cycle to another with new what-ifs added.

For example, we heard a lot prior to the 2020 election about a mysterious Department of Justice policy that prohibited prosecutors from bringing charges against a political candidate in an unspecified period of time before an election.

The source of the policy turned out to be memoranda that encouraged prosecutors to contact the Public Integrity Section of the DOJ for guidance regarding the timing of charges or overt investigative steps near the time of a primary or general election.

It would have been more helpful if the policy had stated clearly what near the time meant? Did it mean 60 days before an election? Ninety days? How about after Labor Day? No one seemed to know.

What if charges were brought 180 days before the election, and the trial was underway in September? Should the trial be put on hold once it enters the exclusion zone?

What if the trial is over and the nominee has been convicted but the verdict has been appealed and the appeals process carries into the exclusion zone?

More fundamentally, does the DOJ policy carry the weight of law? Or is it simply an internal policy?

Is the policy still in place? If so, has it been fine-tuned?

While were on the subject, do states have policies similar to that of the DOJ? What if Georgia law does not have an exclusion zone and Trump is convicted in, say, October?

What if he is given a prison sentence? Do we know whether a felon can serve as president?

The answer appears to be yes.

The New York Times reports:

The Constitution sets very few eligibility requirements for presidents. They must be at least 35 years old, be natural born citizens and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. There are no limitations based on character or criminal record. While some states prohibit felons from running for state and local office, these laws do not apply to federal offices.

In fact, Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs ran his presidential campaign in 1920 from prison. He was never a serious contender, and he lost badly.

Donald Trump is, of course, a very serious contender and the frontrunner, if the polls are to be believed.

I find comfort by telling myself that some really smart legal scholars must surely know the answers to all my questions.

I also remind myself that we have been here before  in my lifetime. The institutions of our democracy have been tested severely, and they have held.

Those of us who are of a certain age remember 1968. On the last day of March, President Lyndon Johnson announced that he was not going to run for reelection. Five days later Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and riots broke out in more than 100 cities across the country. On June 5, Robert Kennedy, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination, was murdered.

At the Democratic convention in August, demonstrators protesting the Vietnam War clashed with more than 10,000 Chicago police officers.

It was one of the low points in our nations history, and there was more trouble ahead: Watergate. But through it all, the institutions of our democracy  bloodied and sullied  survived.

Donald Trump and his supporters filed 62 lawsuits challenging election results from the 2020 election. The courts ruled against him 61 times. Thanks chiefly to the judicial system, the institutions of our democracy held.

Exactly three years after the assault on our nations capital on Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,200 people had been charged, 718 had pleaded guilty, and 460 had been imprisoned for their roles in the attack on our democracy.

Once again, the institutions of our democracy held.

I have to remind myself of this every day.
The U.S. military called the damage to the U.K.-owned vessel carrying over 40,000 tons of fertilizer struck by Iran-backed Houthi rebels an environmental disaster.

Houthis attacked the cargo ship operated by Rubymar Monday night, causing significant damage to the vessel which prompted an 18-mile oil slick, according to the U.S. military.

The ships cargo, over 41,000 tons of fertilizer could spill into the Red Sea and worsen this environmental disaster, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday night in a statement.

The Houthis have unleashed drone strikes and launched missiles on cargo ships in the Red Sea consistently in recent months. The campaign started in November as their way of pressuring Israel to halt its war against the militant group Hamas in Gaza.

The Rubymar ship is currently anchored, but it is slowly taking on water, according to CENTCOM.

The Belize-flagged bulk carrier would soon be towed to Djibouti or Aden in Yemen, the ships operator told The New York Times. The rest of the cargo will be transferred to Bulgaria.

When the ship was hit on Monday, the crew issued a distress signal and abandoned the vessel, per CENTCOM. The 24-member crew was taken to Djibouti on a ship operated by a French shipping company, the head of Blue Fleet Group, ships operator, Roy Khoury told the Times.

Since the Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea, a bloc of countries  including the U.S. and the U.K.  have used their militaries in the region to retaliate while intercepting incoming drones and missiles.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The US and Britain have struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea.

American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites across multiple locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, according to US officials.

This is the fourth time that the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since 12 January.

But the US has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.

The US fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea.

The US and Britain have struck up to 18 Houthi targets across Yemen (Getty)

President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the US will not tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping.

The Houthi has launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since 19 November, and the pace has picked up in recent days.

Weve certainly seen in the past 48, 72 hours an increase in attacks from the Houthis, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said in a briefing on Thursday. And she acknowledged that the Houthis have not been deterred.

We never said weve wiped off the map all of their capabilities, she told reporters. We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal. They are very capable. They have sophisticated weapons, and thats because they continue to get them from Iran.

There have been at least 32 US strikes in Yemen over the past month and a half. A few were conducted with allied involvement.

The Houthi has launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea since 19 November (AP)

Earlier on Saturday, the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden, US Central Command said, adding that the missile was probably targeting MV Torm Thor, a US-flagged, owned, and operated chemical and oil tanker.

The US attacks on the Houthis have targeted more than 120 launchers, more than 10 surface-to-air-missiles, 40 storage and support building, 15 drone storage buildings, more than 20 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles, several underground storage areas and a few other facilities.

The rebels supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced this past week an escalation in sea operations conducted by his forces as part of what they describe as a pressure campaign to end Israels war on Hamas.

But while the group says the attacks are aimed at stopping that war, the Houthis targets have grown more random, endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments travelling from Asia and the Middle East onwards to Europe.
Vladimir Putin could target the UK with another novichok-style poisoning attempt, Britains defence secretary has warned.

Grant Shapps compared the threat Mr Putin poses to that of Nazi Germanys Adolf Hitler.

Mr Shapps, along with a number of Western leaders, blamed the Kremlin for the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony on 16 February.

Vladimir Putin could murder again on UK soil, Britains defence secretary has warned in a series of fiery comments (Reuters)

Mr Shapps told The Sun: Putin has Navalnys blood on his hands. Navalny should never have been in prison. His crime was standing up to an autocratic and now dictatorial Putin, who has a long history of bumping off his opponents.

He does it at home and abroad. And the world must not waver or bend to that kind of squalid leadership. We know what happens when you do  you end up with the mess of the last century.

Grant Shapps compared the threat posed by Russian President to that of Nazi Germanys Adolf Hitler (Sputnik)

Navalny, 47, was given life-saving treatment in Germany in 2020 after he was poisoned with novichok  the same deadly nerve agent that had been used by Putins GRU spy agency to target the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, 72, and his daughter Yulia, 39, in Salisbury in 2018.

Although the Skripals survived, British citizen Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after coming into contact with the military-grade nerve agent from a discarded perfume bottle.

Branding Putin a despotic leader who had lost any semblance of legitimacy, the defence secretary warned of another novichok-style killing on the streets of Britain.

Sergei Skripal talks to his lawyer from behind bars in 2006 (AP)

He said: Look what happened in Salisbury. Weve seen what Putin is capable of.

His behaviour makes him a pariah. He thinks the more he does it the stronger he gets. But in the eyes of the world it makes him more desperate and weaker.

Asked if the UK could be hit by another novichok attack, he replied: We are always tracking and trying to prevent those things. But do I think he has intent? You have seen that. So, yes.

He added: Because its so far outside of the parameters of civilisation, its sometimes hard for the Brits to believe. But its Putins modus operandi. His approach if he doesnt like someone is, dont vote them out, just bump them off.

Yulia Skripal, who was poisoned in Salisbury along with her father, Russian spy Sergei Skripal (Reuters)

Mr Shapps described the Russian president as right up there among the most serious threats to world peace since Hitler.

Putin has denied any involvement in novichok attacks in the UK.

The defence secretarys warning comes after Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Dawn Sturgess was poisoned in Amesbury (PA)

On 24 February 2022, Putin shocked the world by launching a brutal all-out invasion of Ukraine, sending troops, tanks and warplanes in their masses across Russias border under the cover of darkness.

While the Kremlin is reported to have believed its special military operation would bring the capital Kyiv under Russias grip in just 10 days, the extraordinary show of defiance by Ukrainians to fight for their countrys existence has instead seen the war now enter its third year.

The CPS issued European Arrest Warrants for Russian nationals Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov in connection with the Salisbury poisonings (PA)

Over the course of 24 months, battle lines have shifted dramatically as Volodymyr Zelenskys troops pushed Russian invaders back hundreds of miles to enter into a grinding war of attrition centred in battle-hardened Donbas, where both armies are paying for small tactical and symbolic gains with thousands of lives.

Yet while the fighting hotspots have become more centralised, albeit along a 600-mile front line, the fate of Ukraine is increasingly at the mercy of geopolitical developments.

Seeking to justify his lengthy war, and his moves to transform Russias economy into a vast war machine, Putin is increasingly casting the conflict as an existential battle against the West.
In February 2011, NASA astronaut Michael Barratt soared skyward on space shuttle Discovery's 39th and final flight on a 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Fast-forward 13 years. Now, Barratt is the pilot of NASA's SpaceX Crew-8, a quartet of astronauts who will launch early Friday morning from Kennedy Space Center for a half-year adventure aboard the ISS.

Barratt recalled the "bittersweet" feeling of flying the successful STS-133 mission aboard Discovery  then having to "turn her over to her caretakers and kind of put her to bed forever."

"Two more flights, and our shuttle program was done. Most of us were hoping that there would be an overlap  not a big gap. But we did have a gap. And when we came down here to watch Discovery be ported away from here, Kennedy Space Center was very quiet. It was so empty," Barratt told the media Sunday afternoon.

But Barratt and other NASA officials said now-vibrant KSC "has come back with a vengeance" amid Cape Canaveral's unprecedented launch cadence and aerospace activity. Following suit, Crew-8's post-midnight mission is scheduled for 12:04 a.m. Friday from pad 39A as the Cape's 13th orbital launch of the year.

After stage separation, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's first-stage booster will target landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station  triggering sonic booms in Brevard County. Targeted docking time at the ISS is about 7 a.m. Saturday.

The four astronauts of NASA SpaceX Craw 8: Alexander Grebenkin, Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps arrive at Kennedy Space Center for their launch next week to the International Space Station Craig Bailey/FLORIDA kTODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

NASAs SpaceX Crew-8 is comprised of NASA astronauts Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick and mission specialist Jeanette Epps. They are joined by Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, a mission specialist.

Crew-8 addressed more than 30 photographers and reporters Sunday after flying aboard a white-and-blue NASA Gulfstream Aerospace G-V jet from Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to the KSC Launch and Landing Facility.

The other three are flying their first missions. Barratt has logged 212 days in space, flying aboard a Soyuz spacecraft during Expedition 19 in 2009 and STS-133 in 2011.

Crew-8 marks NASA's eighth astronaut-crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the ISS. The quartet will fly aboard SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour capsule, which previously flew Demo Mission-2, Crew-2, Crew-6, and Axiom Mission 1. That April 2022 Ax-1 mission was the first commercial astronaut mission to visit the orbiting outpost.

SpaceX teams mate the Crew-8 Dragon to its Falcon 9 rocket in the hangar at pad 39A in Florida pic.twitter.com/TVqEtnEXha  SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 25, 2024

Dana Hutcherson, NASA Commercial Crew Program deputy program manager, dubbed Endeavour "our fleet leader."

"It will be the first time we're flying a capsule for the fifth time. And we're super excited about that," Hutcherson said.

"The crew will stay on the space station for about six months, performing critical research and science experiments that will not only benefit us here on Earth, but we'll look to use that effort to explore beyond low-Earth orbit," she said.

The four astronauts of NASA SpaceX Crew 8: Alexander Grebenkin, Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps arrived at Kennedy Space Center for their launch Friday to the International Space Station Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK (Credit: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY)

Dominick joined NASA's 2017 astronaut candidate class. During the past seven years, he said, "it's been absolutely incredible to watch spaceflight explode here at the Cape" with so many new rockets.

"Who would have thought five or six years ago that the competition for launch, or the constraint to launch, would be a launch pad, right? We delayed our launch a few days because there's stiff competition to get out there to 39A," Dominick told reporters.

"It's not a rocket constraint. It's a pad constraint," he said.

For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY . Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts excited for Friday morning launch
As if we needed further proof, we have it anyway.

State Republicans are not merely indifferent to public education in North Carolina.

They are contemptuous of it and will not rest, it appears, until they have kicked, stomped, scratched, starved and neglected it into submission.

Witness the lengths to which theyll go to avoid funding K-12 public schools in the state to the levels they deserve.

And so, here they were again last week  back in the state Supreme Court  fighting for the right of the legislature to refuse a judges order to adequately fund schools.

The matter already had been settled by the same court in 2022, but in a rare and troubling move, the court is ignoring its own precedent and rehearing the case  popularly known as the Leandro case  after a Republican majority was elected to the bench.

Arguments began in the case on Thursday, and a decision wont come for months.

But the outcome seems all but assured.

The courtroom arguments were more than likely an empty ritual, a formality that at least had the trappings of a fair hearing.

The GOP-controlled legislature's argument boils down to this simple message to the courts: You're not the boss of us. The legislature, they say  and the legislature alone  has funding authority in North Carolina.

And thus, a judges order that the state follow a $677.8 million funding plan to address the schools needs is invalid.

To be clear, GOP lawmakers are not fighting crime, hunger or drug abuse. They are fighting education.

If it were ever implemented, the Leandro funding plan would channel that money (which this state can easily afford) toward pre-kindergarten programs, services and programs for students with disabilities, and teacher pay. The plans aims are perfectly reasonable: adequate resources and well-qualified teachers and principals at every school.

Yet, as protesters outside the Raleigh courtroom were chanting Give the children their money! GOP leaders were saying the courts cant make them do whats right, so they wont.

The 1994 lawsuit that prompted this battle is more than 30 years old now.

This means more than 30 years of stonewalling by lawmakers to avoid giving students and teachers the tools they need to succeed.

More than 30 years of shameful levels of school funding that rank North Carolina 46th in the nation.

And more than 30 years of lawmakers siphoning more and more public money away from public schools and toward private schools.

The latest example is their most naked and brazen move: a law that increases vouchers for private school tuition and makes anyone, regardless of income level, eligible to apply.

N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore have the nerve to cite the expanded voucher program (they call them Opportunity Scholarships) as one way of improving public schools.

Berger and Moore also argue that the Leandro plan should apply only to Hoke and four other counties that sued (Halifax, Cumberland, Vance and Robeson) despite the obvious evidence of statewide shortages and deficiencies.

To underscore that reality, Melanie Dubis, an attorney for the plaintiff school boards, cited the state of schools in one of the lawmakers backyards as an example.

Dubis noted: "There are 114 classrooms in Hoke County that are not staffed with a qualified, certified teacher. By comparison, in Speaker Moores county, Cleveland County, there are 115 classrooms that are not staffed by certified teachers."

Small wonder as Gov. Roy Cooper visited Greensboro last week for a for the dedication of statues honoring former N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Frye and his wife Shirley, took time to point out the states continuing neglect of its schools.

The governor has proclaimed 2024 The Year of Public Schools in North Carolina, as if the GOP cares.

All of this leaves us with two faint glimmers of hope: that the court rebuffs partisan pressure and rules for the greater good. Or that voters of both parties will recognize how essential strong public schools are to us all and begin to erase the gerrymandered GOP majorities in the legislature.

Turn the bums out. Thatll teach them.

Then we can return to the business of teaching our kids.
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Parliament will elect Hungarys new head of state on Monday, ruling Fideszs group leader said on Facebook.

Presidential candidates must be backed by one-fifth of MPs to be eligible, Mate Kocsis said after a meeting of the house committee on Friday.



He noted that unlike in 2022, the opposition parties are not nominating a joint candidate this time round.



Opposition LMP has recommended legal expert Peter Hack, while Mi Hazank has proposed economist Magdolna Csath for the post, but neither group has the number of lawmakers needed to officially nominate their candidate, Kocsis said.



Meanwhile, the other opposition parties have indicated that they will not take part in electing the president, he added.



Orban: Sulyok's Nomination for President Down to His Experience, Standing



Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said the ruling parties chose to nominate Tamas Sulyok, the current head of the Constitutional Court, for head of state based on his experience in constitutional and legal matters as well as his knowledge of the international stage and political institutions.



It was these qualities and his professional standing that made Sulyok stand out as the most qualified candidate for the job, Orban said.



He said the nomination was preceded by long consultations and negotiations, also within Fideszs leadership. Orban said Hungary was a strong country, even though theres trouble now because the previous president resigned.



Our heart still bleeds, especially because the resignation happened over a matter in which there had been a sharp contrast between public opinion and the presidents decision, he added.



But the clouds silver lining was that when examining potential candidates, the ruling parties found many Hungarians who were qualified to hold the office of president, which strengthens ones faith in ones own country and nation.



Orban said it would be the new head of state who would have to restore unity and balance, expressing hope that Sulyok would make it clear in his first national address that there can be no pardon for child abuse or related crimes.



I hope he will also call on us to make the legislative amendments and decisions needed to prevent such things from happening again, Orban said, adding that he had already made some of these decisions and ordered a full-scale screening and inspection.



People who pose a threat to children cant be allowed to work in schools, kindergartens or childrens homes, he said.



Orban said it was impossible for a case like the one concerning the director of the Bicske orphanage who had been convicted of child abuse to happen and not be followed by a public outcry but rather a cover-up.



He said the government will bring order to this area, vowing to personally monitor the process and bring it to an end by making the right decisions.



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New Delhi: In life, not everyone experiences the warmth and security of a nurturing childhood. For some, early years are filled with adversity and challenges that could easily derail their path to success.

In today's success story we will be talking about Jyothi Reddy, who defy the odds and emerge stronger from their turbulent beginnings. Despite facing significant hurdles, Jyothi Reddy persevered, ultimately rising to the helm of a billion-dollar software company as its CEO.

Early Life and Childhood

Jyothi's early years were filled with hardship. Born into a family of five children, she was the second child and her family struggled financially. When she was just eight years old, her father, a daily wage laborer made the difficult decision to send her to an orphanage, hoping it would provide her with a better life. Despite this separation from her family, Jyothi continued her education at a government school while living at the orphanage. (Also Read: Zomato Delivery Agent's Dance On 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya' Amuses Netizens: WATCH)

Married at a young age

At the age of 16, Jyothi found herself in an arranged marriage with a man ten years her senior, who worked as a farmer. By the time she turned 18, she had become a mother to two daughters. Struggling both mentally and financially, Jyothi took on the grueling task of working in farms to make ends meet, earning a mere Rs 5 as her daily wage. She endured this challenging work under the scorching sun of Telangana for five years, from 1985 to 1990. (Also Read: Impact Of Rs 2,000 Notes Withdrawal: Currency-In-Circulation Growth Dips To 3.7% In Feb)

Slight Improvement in Life

Afterwards, Jyothi's situation saw a slight improvement when she benefited from a central government program that helped her pursue a career in teaching. However, the income from her teaching job wasn't sufficient, so she took on additional work as a tailor during the night to ensure her financial stability.

Education and Degree

Despite encountering societal prejudices and facing criticism from her family, Jyothi persevered and earned a BA degree from Dr BR Ambedkar Open University in 1994, followed by a PG degree from Kakatiya University in 1997. These qualifications enabled her to secure a job with a slightly higher salary. However, even with this increase, the monthly income of Rs 398 was still inadequate to meet her needs.

Relocated to US

The next significant chapter in Jyothi's life unfolded when a relative from the US visited and encouraged her to pursue opportunities abroad. Taking this advice to heart, Jyothi enrolled in computer courses and made the decision to relocate to the US for employment, although she had to leave her daughters behind in India.

Life In US

She had to start from scratch in the US by doing menial jobs like working at a petrol pump, babysitting, and so on. Shen then went on to work as a recruitment professional. In 2021, with savings of $40,000 she established her own business, Key Software Solutions, an IT company based in Phoenix, Arizona, US. She became the CEO of the company which grew gradually to earn $15 million and eventually into a billion-dollar company in 2017. She is the epitome of perseverance and to be optimistic even in darkness.

Difficulty abroad

Upon arriving in the US, Jyothi began her journey from the bottom, taking on various low-paying jobs such as working at a petrol pump and babysitting. Eventually, she transitioned into a role as a recruitment professional.

By 2021, she had managed to save $40,000, which she used to establish her own IT company called Key Software Solutions in Phoenix, Arizona. Starting as the CEO of the company, Jyothi's business gradually grew, reaching a revenue of $15 million by 2017 and eventually transforming into a billion-dollar enterprise.

Through hard work, dedication, and unwavering optimism, Jyothi not only overcame adversity but also soared to unprecedented heights of success.
ICSI 2023: The CS Professional December 2023 results have been officially declared by The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) on their website, icsi.edu. Students who have eagerly awaited their results can now access them by using their roll number and registration number on the official website. The ICSI has thoughtfully provided a subject-wise break-up of marks, allowing students to review their performance in detail.

ICSI Professional December Result 2023: Direct Link

ICSI Professional Result December 2023: Steps To Download

- Visit the official website of ICSI, icsi.edu

- On the homepage, click on CS Professional December 2023 result link

- Login using roll number and registration number

- CS Professional exam result will be displayed on the screen

- Download the CS Executive exam scorecard and take a print out.

The result-cum-mark cards will include crucial details such as the candidates name, roll number, total marks, result status, and paper-wise scores. According to ICSI rules, students must secure a minimum of 40% marks in each subject and a 50% aggregate in all subjects combined to qualify for the CS Professional exam. For those aspiring to take the CS Professional June 2024 exam, the good news is that the registration process will commence tomorrow. Interested candidates can register for the exam on the official website, icsi.edu. The upcoming CS Professional exam is scheduled to take place from June 1 to June 10.

This announcement signifies a crucial moment for students as it not only marks the culmination of their efforts in the December 2023 exams but also opens the gateway for new aspirants to register for the next round in June 2024. The transparency provided by ICSI in releasing detailed results allows students to analyze their strengths and weaknesses, aiding in better preparation for future exams and eventual eligibility for coveted company secretary positions.
People with higher exposure to traffic-related air pollution are more likely to have high amounts of amyloid plaques in their brains associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a study.

The study, published in the online issue of Neurology, does not prove that air pollution causes more amyloid plaques in the brain. It only shows an association.

Researchers from the Emory University in Georgia, US, examined the brain tissue of 224 people who agreed to donate their brains at death to advance research on dementia. The people had died at an average age of 76.

They looked at the traffic-related air pollution exposure based on the people's home address in the Atlanta area at the time of death.

The average level of exposure in the year before death was 1.32 micrograms per cubic metre and 1.35 micrograms per cubic metre in the three years before death.

Researchers then compared pollution exposures to measures of the signs of Alzheimer's disease in the brain: amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

They found that people with higher exposures to air pollution one and three years before death were more likely to have higher levels of amyloid plaques in their brains.

People with 1 micrograms per cubic metre higher PM 2.5 exposure in the year before death were nearly twice as likely to have higher levels of plaques, while those with higher exposure in the three years before death were 87 per cent more likely to have higher levels of plaques.

"These results add to the evidence that fine particulate matter from traffic-related air pollution affects the amount of amyloid plaque in the brain," said Anke Huels, from Emory University.

"More research is needed to investigate the mechanisms behind this link."

Further, the researchers also looked at whether having the main gene variant associated with Alzheimer's disease, APOE e4, had any effect on the relationship between air pollution and signs of Alzheimer's in the brain.

They found that the strongest relationship between air pollution and signs of Alzheimer's were among those without the gene variant.

"This suggests that environmental factors such as air pollution could be a contributing factor to Alzheimer's in patients in which the disease cannot be explained by genetics," Huels said.
In a veiled attack at UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed apprehension about their perceived neglect of Rae Bareli's welfare during the inauguration of AIIMS Rae Bareli, stating, "Aapke sewak ne guarantee poori ki."

PM Modi launched scathing attack at 'Shahi Parivar' (Gandhi family) as he inaugurated five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab) and Kalyani (West Bengal).

Addressing a public event in Rajkot, PM Modi Said, "The 'Shahi Parivar' of Congress party only did politics in Rae Bareli, but I built AIIMS there. Five years ago I laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Rae Bareli and today I dedicated the AIIMS to the nation. 'Aapke sewak ne guarantee poori ki' (your servant fulfilled the guarantee."

He further said that today we are seeing a glimpse in Rajkot of what the level of health facilities will be like in developed India. "For 50 years of independence, there was only one AIIMS in the country, and that too in Delhi. In the seven decades of independence, only seven AIIMS were approved, but they too were never completed," he added.

The Prime Minister highlighted the unforgettable moment when today he went down to the depths of the sea to offer prayers at the submerged 'ancient city of Dwarka'.

"Today was my fortune that I went deep into the sea and got an opportunity to do darshan of the submerged 'ancient city of Dwarka. As I descended to the submerged city a sense of grandeur of divinity engulfed me. I offered my prayers and I offered peacock feathers which I had carried with me. This was a fulfilment of the desire that was there for years. Since the time I heard about the submerged city of Dwarka, I always wanted to go and have Darshan", the Prime Minister said, overwhelmed with the divine experience.
$11 aspirins

The Feb. 18 "People's Pharmacy column item "Hospital aspirin costs $11 a pill," was pretty simply explained in my opinion. While no one in his or her right mind would like paying $11 for one baby aspirin, there are many additional considerations.

When you enter a hospital emergency room, and I hope you never need to, just look around at all the extremely high-technology medical devices and highly skilled doctors and nurses there to administer life-saving care. Wrapped up in that $11 aspirin is the hospital property, the hospital facility itself, the support staff, the doctors, nurses, professional assistants ... all the life-saving devices, accessories and supplies. All there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. No matter if you're there or not!

I could go on, but you're intelligent enough to realize where I'm going. It's not just the single baby aspirin that determines the $11.

Just so you know, I'm not in the medical profession, but I have had my life saved in the emergency room many years ago in another city and state while on a business trip.

Jim Turnage

Greensboro

What's the goal?

The photograph on the front page of the Feb. 19 News & Record caught my attention. It showed a group of people  women, men, and children tightly packed into a small space apparently waiting for something. The caption read, "Palestinian crowds struggle to buy bread from a bakery Sunday in Rafah, Gaza Strip."

The headline above the photograph states: "Israel vows to 'Finish the job' " with the subtitle, "Official threatens invasion of Rafah if hostages not freed."

A question immediately came to my mind: What is the "job" the Netanyahu government hopes to finish?

Denise Baker

Greensboro

The rest of the story

Regarding the editorial "Books vs. bullets" (Feb. 18):

Cute opinion peace. Parents love guns more than kids.

Really?

Perhaps a discussion about the concealed-carry the father or mother carries to protect the family from car jackings, muggings, home invasions, other violence and worse might be appropriate.

Joey Harding

Greensboro

Not from here

Did you know that three of six Republican candidates for Congress from the 6th District don't even live in the Sixth District? Bo Hines lives in Salisbury (8th District), Addison McDowell lives in Raleigh (3rd District), and Christian Castelli lives in Southern Pines (9th District).

So a vote for Hines, McDowell or Castelli is a vote to leave the 6th District without a resident serving in the U.S. House of Representatives  and it is a vote to give the 3rd (Raleigh), 8th (Salisbury) and 9th (Southern Pines) two members in Congress.

Let's not do that.

Reid Phillips

Greensboro

Who lost Ukraine?

There is an old saying that history repeats itself.

Lets take for example, the slogan Who lost China?

At the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, the nationalists retreated to Formosa (now Taiwan), and the communists took over China. Republican politicians here then used the slogan as a rallying cry to defeat Democrats and win elections.

Although I hope not, history is about to repeat itself.

The nationalists in Ukraine, headed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are running out of ammunition to fight the Russian aggression, and unless they are given more help, a Russian dictator will take over Ukraine, as Communists did in China.

There is a bill in the House now that passed the Senate, which could help Ukraine nationalists, but many Senators dont want to give President Biden something to brag about.

If the bill isnt passed and Ukraine is lost to the Russian dictator, there is one saving grace: The Democrats could then use the slogan, Who lost Ukraine?", which will help them, in the future, to win elections.

Harvey Herman

Greensboro

A proven record

"I 100% support Britt Moore for House District 62.

As a commercial Real Estate practitioner and business owner in High Point I have had the wonderful opportunity of working with Britt Moore on numerous occasions and as a resident of Oak Ridge for almost 10 years I know for a fact he would be a huge asset for District 62 as this area continues to rapidly grow and expand.

Britt is extremely personable and has a proven track record of both listening to and understanding the needs of the constituents he serves and then uses his knowledge to implement and fight for the policies that represent those who have entrusted him.

I am excited to see what he can do for our district!!"

Mark Lindsay

Oak Ridge

The latest excuse

I read in the paper today that Mike Johnson has come up with a new rationale for not providing aid to Ukraine. He couldnt use the border issue since the Senate passed a bipartisan bill which included changes Republicans wanted. Apparently he had to come up with another rationale for not providing aid. The new rationale is that theyre not going win the war so no need to fund them to defend their democracy and freedom from Russian invasion.

If Johnson recalls the appeasement by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of England to the Nazis prior to World War II to avoid war we know that didnt work. Everyone knows that giving in to bullies encourages them. Johnson and Republicans in Congress seem to be looking for a rationale simply because they dont have the fortitude to defy Trump. Trump's directives encourage a tyrannical dictatorship to subjugate the Ukrainian people.

It a sad day for America when elected officials who are supposed to pledge their allegiance to America now do so to Trump and by extension to Russia, which is the antithesis of what our country stands for.

Jose Alvarez

Greensboro
New Delhi: Shortly after the announcement of seat-sharing between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday, a dispute erupted over the Bharuch seat in Gujarat. The family and supporters of the late veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel raised objections to the decision made by the party's high command. Initially, Ahmed Patel's son, Faisal Ahmed Patel, expressed dissatisfaction. However, he reportedly reconsidered his stance following a conversation with Rahul Gandhi, who assured him about securing the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat.

Ahmed Patel's daughter, Mumtaz Patel, also expressed her disappointment amid rumors of the Congress giving the Bharuch seat to AAP. She hoped that the party would retain the veteran leader's seat. However, after the Congress officially announced its decision to allocate the seat to AAP, Mumtaz expressed her dismay, stating that she would not let her father's legacy go in vain.

"Deeply apologize to our district cadre for not being able to secure the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in alliance. I share your disappointment. Together, we will regroup to make INC stronger. We won't let Ahmed Patel's 45 years of Legacy go in vain," she said, in a post on X.

BJP Attack Congress Amid INDIA Alliance Seat Share

Meanwhile BJP leaders launched a veiled attack on Congress for disrepspecting its vetran leader to feed the nepotism. Taking an aim at the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, former Congress leader and now BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said- this is "Prince's revenge"

Shergill taunted that the seat-sharing deal for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would involve the legacy of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel and handing over his bastion Gujarat's Bharuch constituency to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a "princely act". "Revenge".

Handing over long standing stronghold of Sh Ahmed Patel, who gave his life to Congress Party, to AAP is the revenge of the Prince !  Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) February 24, 2024

He was referring to the old differences between Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi. Shergill wrote on Twitter, "Handing over long standing stronghold of Sh Ahmed Patel, who gave his life to Congress Party, to AAP is the revenge of the "Prince"!"

'Gandhi Family Believes In Use And Throw': Amit Malviya

BJP's National Information and Technology Department (IT Cell) in-charge Amit Malviya also made a similar post on X. Responding to Mumtaz Patel, he wrote that Congress's move is to erase the legacy of Ahmed Patel and insult his family.

In the Congress, one dynasty is more equal than the others.



Everyone knows of the differences between late Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi.



Giving away Bharuch to AAP is Rahul Gandhis attempt to erase his legacy and humiliate the family.



Gandhis believe in use and throw. https://t.co/nQWDqDneTe  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 24, 2024

"In the Congress, one dynasty is more equal than the others. Everyone knows of the differences between late Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi. Giving away Bharuch to AAP is Rahul Gandhis attempt to erase his legacy and humiliate the family. Gandhis believe in use and throw," Malaviya wrote on Twitter.

Rahul Gandhi's Relationship with Congress Troubleshooter Ahmed Patel

Ahmed Patel, a seasoned political advisor to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, held various significant roles within the party hierarchy. Notably, he served as the president of Gujarat Congress and Youth Congress, as well as joint general secretary and treasurer of Congress.

With a political career spanning as a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Bharuch and a five-time Rajya Sabha member, Ahmed Patel earned the moniker of Congress's troubleshooter and was esteemed for his proximity to Indira Gandhi.

However, amidst these accolades, questions arise about the truth behind Rahul Gandhi's apparent differences with Ahmed Patel. Was there truly a rift between them, to the extent that Rahul Gandhi avoided Ahmed Patel altogether?

Rahul Gandhi's Approach And Ahmed Patel's Role

Upon assuming leadership of the Congress from Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi adopted a strategy that favored promoting younger members within the party ranks. Consequently, Ahmed Patel found himself sidelined for a considerable period. Rahul's decision to relegate Patel to a mere member status within the new working committee of Congress reflected this approach. Nevertheless, due to Patel's enduring closeness to Sonia Gandhi and his influence among party workers, Rahul Gandhi eventually entrusted him with the responsibility of Congress Treasurer. This position, however, appeared to distance Patel from active involvement in electoral politics.

Contrasting Dynamics And Political Significance

In contrast, Ahmed Patel, as the sole Muslim MP from Gujarat, achieved the remarkable feat of being elected to the Rajya Sabha five times, underscoring his political stature within the Congress. Despite speculation about his purportedly softer stance towards BJP leader Narendra Modi, who hailed from Gujarat, Patel retained significance within the Manmohan Singh government. Opposition leaders suggested that Rahul Gandhi's intermittent marginalization of Patel could be attributed to these multifaceted reasons, reflecting the complex interplay of dynamics within the Congress party.

Speculations Of Ahmed Patel's Children Getting the Bharuch Seat Put To An End

Speculation had been circulating in Gujarat for several months suggesting that the Congress might nominate one of Ahmed Patel's children, Faizal Patel or Mumtaz Patel, to challenge the longstanding dominance of the BJP in the upcoming elections. However, there were occasional discussions regarding Faizal Patel's perceived proximity to BJP leaders, casting doubts on his candidacy. Concurrently, Mumtaz Patel, a prominent Congress leader, had been actively preparing to contest the elections in Bharuch for a considerable period. Besides her consistent engagement in Bharuch politics, she had also been associated with the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra alongside the Congress high command.

Seat Sharing Deal Between AAP And Congress In Gujarat

According to the compromise reached by the AAP and the Congress, in Gujarat of the 26 parliamentary seats the Congress will contest 24 seats, while the remaining 2--Bharuch and Bhavyanagar are in the AAP's kitty. The party's MLA and tribal leader Chaitar Vasava will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Bharuch seat.

Ahmed Patel had won the Bharuch seat in 1977, 1980 and 1984 but since 1989 the BJP has dominated the seat winning it multiple times. Incumbent MP Mansukhbhai Vasava has held the seat 1998.
New Delhi: The Haryana unit president of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Nafe Singh Rathee, was tragically killed in Jhajjar district on Sunday. Rathee, a former MLA, was traveling in an SUV in Bahadurgarh town when unidentified assailants in a car ambushed him.

#WATCH | Bahadurgarh: Visuals from the spot where an alleged attack on Haryana INLD chief Nafe Singh Rathee took place.



Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain says, "We received information regarding an incident of firing. CIA and STF teams are working. The accused will be arrested soon..." pic.twitter.com/ttDADxuLef  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

INLD leader Abhay Chautala informed PTI about Rathee's fatal shooting in Jhajjar district. He criticized the government for its failure to provide Rathee with adequate security despite known threats to his life, and urged the chief minister and the home minister to resign.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Manish Sharma from Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital said that they received four individuals in the evening who had been shot. Rathee and another individual were brought in already deceased. Despite the medical team's efforts to administer CPR, they had already succumbed to severe bleeding.

"In the evening, four people who had been shot were brought to Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital. Out of them, two had suffered heavy bleeding and were brought dead, still, we tried CPR but they couldn't be saved," said Dr Sharma

"Former MLA Nafe Singh and another individual, Jaikishan, were among those brought in already deceased. They had sustained gunshot wounds to the neck, back, and shoulder. The presence of multiple wounds indicates multiple rounds of gunfire. Sudden damage to major blood vessels resulted in significant blood loss, ultimately leading to cardiac arrest," Dr Sharma added.

#WATCH | Jhajjar: Dr Manish Sharma at Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital says, "In the evening, four people who had been shot were brought to Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital. Out of them, two had suffered heavy bleeding and were brought dead, still, we tried CPR but they pic.twitter.com/wDVO5mbbIU  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

The police has initiated a probe into the matter and more details are awaited.
New Delhi: Despite securing alliances with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress still grapples with challenges. With the general election looming just months away, the party is racing against time to finalize seat-sharing agreements in Bengal and Maharashtra, while the INDIA bloc gears up to confront the BJP's formidable election machinery.

Crisis In Bengal

The situation in Bengal presents a formidable challenge for the Congress. Efforts to engage the Trinamool Congress in seat-sharing discussions have hit roadblocks. Despite negotiations led by veteran leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Congress and Trinamool Congress have failed to find common ground. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has expressed reluctance to concede more than two seats, significantly less than the approximately ten seats sought by the Congress.

Problems In Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, the seat-sharing plan within the INDIA bloc, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena, and the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP, remains undisclosed. Talks between these parties are reaching their final stages, with Rahul Gandhi engaging in discussions with Balasaheb Uddhav Thackeray to address existing deadlocks. The Congress aims to contest three of Mumbai's six Lok Sabha seats, whereas Thackeray's aspirations include securing 18 Lok Sabha seats across the state, including four in Mumbai. A prolonged discussion between the two leaders aimed to find a resolution to the impasse.

Congress' Kerala Challenge

In Kerala, there are 20 Lok Sabha seats and the Congress-led UDF had won 19 of the 20 seats. Now, since there is a Left government for second successive term, the Left led LDF and UDF are yet to reach a consensus on seat sharing as part of the INDIA alliance. There are reports that LDF may again go solo in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and if reports are to be believed, LDF wants Rahul Gandhi to vacate the Wayanad seat as well.
Abdul Malik, the main suspect in the Haldwani violence, appeared in front of the sessions court on Saturday night and was sent to police custody till March 6. The Nainital Police had sought his 10-day custody after nabbing him from Delhi. The Uttarakhand Police arrested the accused in connection with the violence that took place on February 8 in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani.

According to Uttarakhand Police Headquarters (PHQ) Spokesperson Nilesh Anand Bharne, the State Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar has announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for the Uttarakhand Police team that detained Abdul Malik. He also said that the Nainital police were continuously searching for Malik after the violence broke out during an anti-encroachment drive in Haldwani. 74 people have been arrested in the matter so far.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation in this locality has issued a recovery notice amounting to Rs 2.44 crore against Malik. He was instructed to remit the specified amount to compensate for the damage inflicted on government property during the clash.

The police reported that the Banbhoolpura police station was set ablaze by the mob, followed by stone-throwing incidents and vehicle arson. In response to this, the administration authorised a shoot-at-sight directive in the affected area. During the unrest, a total of four individuals lost their lives, while 250 police officers sustained injuries.
India today got its longest cable-stayed bridge Sudarshan Setu connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka island. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the bridge this morning and dedicated it to the public. Before the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi performed pooja and darshan at Beyt Dwarka temple this morning. PM Modi then visited Dwarkadhish Temple. Later in the aftenoon, PM Modi dedicated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 4,150 crore in Dwarka. At around 3:30 PM, the Prime Minister will visit AIIMS Rajkot.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Sudarshan Setu, countrys longest cable-stayed bridge of around 2.32 km, connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka. pic.twitter.com/4OpY0ekCDH  ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

At around 4:30 PM, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 48,100 crore at Race Course Ground, Rajkot. There are a total of 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat and the BJP had won all of them in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Now, with the flurry of development projects, the BJP is again wooing voters to repeat its previous election's performance.

The Sudarshan Setu, which would be inaugurated by PM @narendramodi in a short while! pic.twitter.com/zF5RbvaYoN  PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 25, 2024

Sudarshan Setu- Key Features

The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation, Sudarshan Setu connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka island built at a cost of around Rs 980 crores. It is the longest Cable-stayed bridge in the country around 2.32 Km.

Sudarshan Setu boasts a unique design, featuring a footpath adorned with verses from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and images of Bhagwan Krishna on both sides. It also has solar panels installed on the upper portions of the footpath, generating one megawatt of electricity. This bridge will ease transportation and significantly reduce the time of devotees travelling between Dwarka and Beyt-Dwarka. Before the bridge's construction, pilgrims had to rely on boat transport to reach Beyt Dwarka. This iconic bridge will also serve as a major tourist attraction of Devbhumi Dwarka.

Pipeline, Rail Project

Prime Minister Modi will dedicate a pipeline project at Vadinar involving replacement of existing offshore lines, abandoning the existing Pipeline End Manifold (PLEM), and relocating the entire system (pipelines, the PLEMs and the interconnecting loop line) at a nearby new location. Prime Minister Modi will dedicate Rajkot-Okha, Rajkot-Jetalsar-Somnath and Jetalsar-Wansjaliya Rail Electrification projects to the nation.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for widening of Dhoraji-Jamkandorna-Kalavad section of NH-927D; Regional Science Center at Jamnagar; Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) system installation at Sikka Thermal Power Station, Jamnagar among others.

PM Modi In Rajkot

At the public function in Rajkot, PM Modi will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 48,100 crore, encompassing important sectors like health, road, rail, energy, petroleum & natural gas, tourism among others. In a significant step towards strengthening tertiary health care in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Rajkot (Gujarat), Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh). PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation more than 200 Health Care Infrastructure Projects worth more than Rs 11,500 crore across 23 States /UTs.

Healthcare Boost For Region

Prime Minister Modi will dedicate the Medical College of JIPMER at Karaikal, Puducherry and 300 bedded Satellite Centre of Post Graduate Institute of Medical and Educational Research (PGIMER) in Sangrur, Punjab, among others. He will inaugurate 90 bedded Multi Specialty Consulting Unit of JIPMER at Yanam, Puducherry; the National Centre for Aging in Chennai; new Government Medical College in Purnea, Bihar; 2 field units of ICMR namely, National Institute of Virology Kerala Unit, at Alappuzha, Kerala and National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT): New Composite TB Research Facility, Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, among others. Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of various health projects including 100 bedded Satellite Centre of PGIMER at Ferozpur, Punjab; the new Medical College building in RML Hospital, Delhi; Critical Care Block in RIMS, Imphal; Nursing Colleges at Koderma and Dumka in Jharkhand, among others.

In addition to these, under the National Health Mission and Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), PM Modi will also inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of 115 projects. These include 78 projects under PM-ABHIM (50 units of Critical Care Blocks, 15 units of Integrated Public health Labs, 13 units of Block Public Health Units); 30 units of various projects like Community Health Centre, Primary Health Care Center, Model Hospital, Transit Hostel etc. under National Health Mission among others.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the National Institute of Naturopathy named Nisarg Gram at Pune. It comprises Naturopathy Medical College along with 250 bedded hospital with a Multi-disciplinary Research and Extension Centre. Further, he will also inaugurate the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy at Jhajjar, Haryana. It will have apex level Yoga and Naturopathy Research facilities

During the event, he will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation 21 projects of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), worth around Rs. 2280 crores. Projects being dedicated to nation include 2 medical colleges and hospitals at Patna (Bihar) and Alwar (Rajasthan); 8 hospitals at Korba (Chhattisgarh), Udaipur (Rajasthan), Adityapur (Jharkhand), Phulwari Sharif (Bihar), Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu), Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and Raigarh & Bhilai in Chhattisgarh; and 3 dispensaries at Neemrana, Abu Road, and Bhilwara in Rajasthan. ESI dispensaries at 8 locations will also be inaugurated at Alwar, Behror & Sitapura in Rajasthan, Selaqui (Uttarakhand), Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Koratty & Navaikulam in Kerala and Pydibhimavaram (Andhra Pradesh).

Energy Infra

In a step to boost the production of renewable energy in the region, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of various renewable energy projects including the 300 MW Bhuj-II Solar power project; Grid Connected 600 MW Solar PV Power project; Khavda Solar Power Project; 200 MW Dayapur-II Wind Energy Project among others.

Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the New Mundra- Panipat pipeline project worth over Rs 9,000 crore. The 1,194 km long Mundra- Panipat Pipeline with an installed capacity of 8.4 MMTPA was commissioned to transport crude oil from Mundra on the Gujarat coast to Indian Oil's refinery at Panipat in Haryana.

Strengthening the road and rail infrastructure in the region, PM Modi will dedicate doubling of the Surendranagar- Rajkot Rail line; four laning of Bhavnagar- Talaja (Package-I) of old NH-8E; Pipli-Bhavnagar (Package-I) of NH-751. He will also lay the foundation stone of six laning with paved shoulder of Samakhiyali to Santalpur section of NH-27, among others.
PM Modi on Sunday dived into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Gujarat to offer worship to the submerged city of Shri Krishnas Dwarka. PM shared his pictures of performing underwater pooja in scuba gear on the social media platform, X. In the shared photos, he can be seen diving into the waters to offer prayers at a site rich in historical and spiritual importance.

The pictures of the Prime Minister quickly gained widespread attention on social media. PM Modi paid his respects to the ancient city by presenting peacock feathers, a symbolic homage to Lord Krishna. Sharing the experience, the PM wrote, "To pray in the city of Dwarka, which is immersed in the waters, was a very divine experience. I felt connected to an ancient era of spiritual grandeur and timeless devotion. May Bhagwan Shri Krishna bless us all."

Dwarka is the city known for its links with Hindu deity Lord Krishna. It is believed that the city that once had a thriving cultural and spiritual legacy got sunk in the seabed after Lord Krishnas era on earth.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister inaugurated 'Sudarshan Setu,' the nation's longest cable-stayed bridge spanning 2.32 km over the Arabian Sea, connecting Beyt Dwarka island to the mainland in Okha, situated in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district. He also laid the foundation for numerous development initiatives valued at over Rs 4150 crore in the city.
New Delhi: While addressing the 110th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', a woman from Odisha's Kalahandi district has caught the attention of none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself for her significant contribution to rural entrepreneurship. The PM applauded the woman, Jayanti Mahapatra, for an innovative initiative called the 'GOAT BANK'.

Read on further to go through the success story of the couple and how they successfully climbed new heights and made a mark in the annals of rural entrepreneurship. (Also Read: Zomato Delivery Agent's Dance On 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya' Amuses Netizens: WATCH)

Success Story Of Jayanti Mahapatra And Biren Sahu

A decade ago, Jayanti Mahapatra and her husband Biren Sahu, both management professionals, returned to Sahu's native village of Salebhata in Kalahandi after a hiatus from their careers in Bengaluru. (Also Read: 6 Fresh IPOs Coming This Week: Check Details Of Offerings Opening For Subscription Next Week)

Witnessing firsthand the economic disparities and the issue of migration plaguing their community, they embarked on a mission to make a difference.

Now Empowering Villages Through Goat Farming

Today, Mahapatra and Sahu are empowering not just Salebhata but 40 neighboring villages by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities through goat rearing under their start-up venture, Manikstu Agro. Central to their initiative is the concept of a 'goat bank', aimed at promoting goat breeding through community farming.

Inspiration

Reflecting on their journey, Mahapatra shared with The New Indian Express website, "My husband and I were always passionate about farming and had visited a lot of high-tech farms, agro companies, dairies, poultries, and other agri-ventures. We wondered if something similar could not be done in Odisha. This is why we started Manikstu in Kalahandi."

Making A Difference

Manikstu, derived from the meaning 'blessing in the lap of Goddess Manikeshwari,' was officially registered in 2015. Presently, close to 1,000 farmers from 40 villages are associated with Manikstu, benefiting from the sustainable goat-rearing practices introduced by Mahapatra and Sahu.

Goat Bank Scheme

Under the 'GOAT BANK' scheme, farmers return 50 percent of the new goats to the goat bank once they deliver. Additionally, the initiative boasts a team of 40 veterinarians, 27 of whom are local women and youth.

They provide essential services such as regular check-ups, deworming, and vaccination to the goat farmers associated with Manikstu. As per the, The Indian Express report, currently, the Manikstu farm at Salebhata is home to 500 goats.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday made its first arrest in the UP Police Constable Recruitment Exam Paper leak case. Neeraj Yadav, the individual arrested in the case, is said to be a resident of UPs Ballia. He distributed the exam paper to candidates using WhatsApp. The Yogi Adityanath government in the state has already cancelled the exam saying that a re-exam will be held after six months. Yadav is said to be a former Merchant Navy personnel who also attempted to clear the UP police exam but failed.

The search is underway for the alleged mastermind from Mathutra, a teacher who sent the answer key to Neeraj. According to reports, Neeraj Yadav has been engaged in facilitating paper leaks and aiding cheating in exams for an extended period. He is said to have amassed a huge sum of money by these activities.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to X to inform about the directives for exam cancellation. He also said that those trying to play with the future of youth won't be spared. Yogi further said that injustice done to youth is a national sin. "We have decided that we will adopt the policy of zero tolerance towards those who play with the lives and future of the youth and will deal with those elements strictly and harshly..." he added claiming that the government's action will set example for everyone.

The CMs statement came after the officials initially denied the leak status; they maintained that the question paper shared on WhatsApp was fake. For the last few days, thousands of examinees who participated in the test have been protesting, urging the cancellation of the exam. Leaders from the Samajwadi Party and Congress had also called for the cancellation of the examination.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi slammed the state government, characterising the government's decision to annul the police recruitment exam as a victory of the candidates. He further added that this leak has exposed the Bhartiya Janta Partys intricate deception; he termed it as BJPs elaborate hoax, adding that the government doesn't want to give jobs.

The BJP government is taking unemployed youths for a ride in the name of jobs, but the people can now see through this design, Yadav added.

Yesterday, Congresss Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was present with Party MP Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, also took a shot at the BJP for its careless and corrupt administration. Vadra said that while Congress had proposed a foolproof plan to stop paper leaks, the BJP has failed miserably in this and is playing with the future of the youth.
In the run-up to the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cleared its strategy on how it wants to move forward from north to south. The party held the core group meetings of five states - Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Telangana - yesterday where it discussed strategy for 175 Parliamentary seats and also decided to announce the first list of 100 candidates including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During the meeting, Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and BJP's organization general secretary BL Santosh, P Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, and Brijesh Pathak were present. The BJP-led NDA is aiming to win over 400 Lok Sabha seats this time with the saffron party hoping to bag 370 seats on its own.

Focus On UP, Lost Seats

The BJP has identified at least 160 Parliamentary seats that it lost in 2019 and has a strong chance of winning those seats. During the meeting, the party also discussed the seats it lost in Uttar Pradesh. The party has prepared a special strategy for the Rae Bareli and Mainpuri seats. There was also a discussion regarding MLC elections. The 80 seats of the Uttar Pradesh is key to boosting the saffron party's tally and with the inauguration of the Ram Temple, the BJP is looking to clean sweep the polls this year. Of the 18 seats that the BJP lost in 2019, it finalized candidates for 14 of them in the meeting. These seats are Ghazipur, Ghosi, Nagina, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha, Shrawasti, Ambedkar Nagar, Lalganj, Jaunpur, Mainpuri, Muradabad, Sambhal and Raebareli. The BJP state leadership has already submitted a list of candidates for these seats to party leadership.

'Way To Bengal'

For West Bengal, the BJP discussed all the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the presence of State President Sukanta Majumdar, Suvendu Adhikari and other leaders. The BJP is keeping a close eye on 35 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. The vandalism that took place in Sandesh Khali was also specifically discussed with Home Minister Amit Shah and other core group members who were present in the meeting. The party also plans to woo the Bengal voters with PM Modi's rally. PM Modi is likely to address a rally in Arambag district on March 1 and in Krishnanagar on March 2.

Cementing Foot In Southern State

During the third meeting, the Telangana Core Group convened a meeting attended by key figures such as Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, D.K. Aruna, Dr K. Lakshan, Bandi Sanjay, and Atla Rajendra. The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to independently contest 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, where it currently holds four MPs. The meeting focused on strategizing to secure a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and reviewing the seats that were lost in previous elections.

Chhattisgarh -Maintaining Winning Run

The BJP has returned to power in Chhattisgarh and is looking to maintain its winning run in the Parliamentary polls as well. During the fourth gathering, the Chhattisgarh Core Group convened a meeting attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo and other prominent leaders. The focus of the meeting centred on deliberations on introducing new faces to the political landscape. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) specifically explored the possibility of fielding candidates from the Schedule Tribes (ST) in four seats. Additionally, in-depth discussions were conducted regarding the Korba and Bastar seats, which the BJP had lost in the 2019 elections. Further considerations were given to potential new candidates for the Janjgir, Mahasamund, Raipur, Kanker, and Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seats.

'Run For Rajasthan'

In the fifth phase, a meeting of the Rajasthan Core Group was called. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy Chief Ministers Diyakumari and Premchand Bairwa, state in-charge Arun Singh, co-in-charge Vijay Rahatkar, and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, leaders Rajendra Rathod, and Satish Poonia were present in the meeting. A discussion was held in the meeting regarding all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Candidates can be declared for 7-9 seats in the first list by the party.
New Delhi: Prominent figures in the technology industry including Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com and Nvidia, are making investments in the startup Figure AI. This startup specializes in the development of human-like robots, as per Bloomberg News report.

According to the report, Figure AI, supported by OpenAI and Microsoft along with other investors, is in the process of raising approximately $675 million in a funding round. This funding round values the company at around $2 billion before the investment. (Also Read: Google Announces Shutdown Of Google Pay In US; Find Out The Reason Here)

Bezos had committed $100 million through his company Explore Investments LLC, while Microsoft is contributing $95 million. Nvidia and an Amazon-related fund are each offering $50 million in investment, as per report. (Also Read: Former Google Employee Makes Shocking Allegations, Says 'Did Not Get Promotion Due To Skin Colour')

Investments in startups focused on artificial intelligence have surged following the release of OpenAI's widely popular chatbot ChatGPT in November 2022. Investors see potential in these startups, betting that they could surpass larger competitors in the field.

According to the report, OpenAI, which had previously considered acquiring Figure is now investing $5 million in the startup. Backers include Intel's venture capital arm, LG Innotek, Samsung's investment group, as well as venture firms Parkway Venture Capital and Align Ventures.

Other investors in the startup include ARK Venture Fund, Aliya Capital Partners, and Tamarack, as mentioned in the report. When approached for comment, Amazon, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Intel chose not to respond, while Figure AI and other mentioned entities did not immediately reply to requests for comment from Reuters.

Figure, a company located in Sunnyvale, California, raised $70 million from investors in its first external funding round. This company specializes in creating humanoid robots with broad capabilities, suitable for diverse environments such as warehouses and retail settings. The investment was spearheaded by Parkway Venture Capital. (With Input From Reuters )
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Quick Stats Location: Tumon Region: West Central Difficulty: Easy Length: 3 Hours Gain: 40 feet up and down Sight: Beach & Pond Cool Stuff: Tons of shells and coral on the beach, mushroom-shaped rock formations, Sharks Hole snorkeling, and a secret pond

Tips: Fully exposed so bring sunscreen! Definitely a swimming hike so bring a swimsuit! And remember, its a loooong walk to the pond, so bring a snack and water!

Directions: From the Big Navy Base in Santa Rita, drive North on Marine Corps Drive for about an hour. You will pass Polaris Point, Agana, Route 6 & 7, the GPO, Home Depot & the airport, Tumon, and K-Mart. Immediately after passing the road for Micronesia Mall (Route 16), you will see a small sign for Two Lovers Point (Puntan Dos Amantes) on your left. Turn down that road.

Turn left at the stop sign. You will see a stone marker for the entrance of Two Lovers Point on your left, but do not turn here; keep going straight. You will drive through some twists and turns, down a hill with a view of a giant parabolic antenna, and end up at Tanguissen Beach.

You may carefully (watch for potholes!) park here at this beach park, or turn right at the small dirt road and off-road it until you must park in the grass to avoid driving through private property. If you start at the actual beach park (where most of the parking is) you will see everything shown here. If you start after off-roading, you will begin at the mushroom-shaped rock formations and shave at least 30 minutes off your hike.

Walk down the trail to the beach and start the beach walk in a Northern direction (to the right).

To Begin (from Tanguissen Beach parking):

This beautiful hike shows you the crystal blue waters that everyone imagines when they think of a tropical island paradise.

The first lagoon, looking back from whence we came:

You walk through an interesting human-made rock pile in a thicket of trees at the beginning of this trail.

Some old pipes from WWII

Lagoon 2:

Youll find the most amazing shells and pure white coral. You can touch, but please leave them there where they belong.

Youll pass some hidden, little, natural-living homes with meadows for yards and the sparkling ocean for views.

You will come upon some huge, natural rock formations in the shape of giant mushrooms with beautiful greenery resting atop.

Walk AROUND this little outcropping into the ocean. We tried to climb through the coral: no bueno!

Lagoon 3:

At the far end of lagoon 3:

Be sure to take a break and have some fresh coconut meat & water. Be careful if you use a machete!

Lagoon 4:

On this easy, flat beach walk you will walk through 3 large lagoons, you may see some divers in the various bays, the last being most popular for the Sharks Hole in the middle, clear white sand easily seen through the translucent water, forming a circle where the coral was destroyed from missile fire.

Make sure to use this map to find the Lost Pond without getting lost in the jungle. We sure got lost and had hundreds of scratches and mosquito bites to show for it.

The Lost Pond, in all its green algae glory:
New Delhi: A former Google employee, Shaun Maguire, recently took to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to claim that he was denied a promotion at the tech giant because of his race and gender.

Allegations Of Discrimination

According to reports from the New York Post, Maguire, who worked at Google's Mountain View headquarters from 2016 to 2019, made these allegations following an incident referred to as the "Gemini fiasco." He stated that his denial of promotion was due to being a white man. (Also Read: Google Pay Introduces Paytm's Soundbox Rival 'SoundPod' In India: Check Key Features)

Public Poll And Response

Prompted by a poll on December 16, 2023, Maguire decided to make his allegations public. A significant majority, 91 percent, of voters supported his decision to share his story. (Also Read: 6 Fresh IPOs Coming This Week: Check Details Of Offerings Opening For Subscription Next Week)

Should I go public with the story about the time I was told I cant be promoted for being a white man?  Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) December 16, 2023

Elon Musk, owner of the platform, responded to Maguire's claims, noting that such instances of discrimination appeared to be widespread in recent years.

This is incredibly widespread in recent years  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2023

Revelation Goes Viral

Over a month after the poll, Maguire revealed his experiences publicly. His posts quickly gained traction on social media, garnering over 10.3 million views on X.

In his posts, Maguire criticized Google, describing the company as "an absolute trash can dumpster fire." He mentioned that Google denied the allegations and expressed disappointment that the company had not reached out to hear his side of the story.

Calls For Change

Despite his posts' attention, Maguire stated that he did not seek compensation but rather urged Google to address the issues, especially as it continues to lead in AI technology.

Google is denying this happened but nobody from the company has reached out to me for my side of the story



Honestly, pathetic



I dont want any compensation



I just want you to fix these problems, especially if youre going to lead in AI https://t.co/0I7bmWmPIu  Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) February 24, 2024

He shared a quote attributed to a Google official who allegedly told him, "I can't promote you right now because I have a quota. My hands are tied." This quote, according to Maguire, exemplified the discrimination he faced.

FYI this was just my teaser story not even close to the worst of it https://t.co/MGCh5qZLYC  Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) February 23, 2024

Reactions

Elon Musk echoed Maguire's sentiments, stating that he had heard similar stories numerous times before. Maguire mentioned that several former Google colleagues reached out to him with similar experiences and evidence. His posts have sparked reactions from other former Google employees on X.
New Delhi: Google Pay, a mobile payment service created by Google for in-app transactions is undergoing a major change. Google recently announced that the standalone version of the Google Pay app in the United States will be discontinued, as stated in a blog post dated February 22, 2024.

Starting from June 4, 2024, users in the US won't be able to access the standalone Google Pay app anymore. However, Google assures users that they can still enjoy many of the app's beloved features and payment options through Google Wallet. (Also Read: GenAI Emerges As Top Cybersecurity Threat For This Year, Says Report)

Based on the official report, Google Pay is utilized by millions of individuals across more than 180 nations. Google asserts that it remains the main platform where people securely store their payment cards for tap-and-pay transactions in stores. The users can store various digital items such as transit cards, driver's licenses, state IDs, and more on Google Pay. (Also Read: Google Pay Introduces Paytm's Soundbox Rival 'SoundPod' In India: Check Key Features)

Nevertheless, users in India and Singapore can be reassured as the service will remain unchanged in these areas. The company explained in its blog post that the decision was made to enhance user experience, leading to the discontinuation of the standalone Google Pay app in the US while keeping services intact in India and Singapore.

"To simplify the app experience, the US version of the standalone Google Pay app will no longer be available for use starting June 4, 2024. You can continue to access the most popular features  tapping to pay in stores and managing payment methods  right from Google Wallet, which is used five times more than the Google Pay app in the US," stated the post.

Changes to peer-to-peer payments

According to the update, starting from June 4, 2024, users will no longer have the ability to send, request, or receive money through the US version of the Google Pay app. However, until that date users can still utilize the app to view and transfer their Google Pay balance to their bank accounts.

Even after June 4, 2024, users will be able to view and transfer their funds to their bank accounts through the Google Pay website. For more detailed information, the complete post regarding Google Pay can be found on the official Google Blog.
New Delhi: Human Mobile Devices (HMD) on Sunday partnered with Mattel, a leading global toy company, to create the Barbie Flip Phone that will arrive this summer. The device promises to embody the vintage chic of the original girl empowerment brand with a dash of pink and of course, sparkle, said the company.

Were thrilled to partner with Mattel, a company that shares our commitment to meaningful innovation and societal change, said HMD chief marketing officer, Lars Silberbauer. Flip phones are beloved for offering a solution for a digital detox in a world where almost four in ten (38 per cent) of 16-24 year-olds worry they spend too much time on their smartphone. (Also Read: Bezos And Nvidia Team Up With OpenAI To Invest In Humanoid Robot Startup: Report)

Feature phones are making a comeback with HMD reporting Flip Phone sales alone more than doubled in Europe (2022 vs 2023) and expects further growth in 2024. (Also Read: MWC 2024: What To Expect From Google, One Plus, Samsung And More At Bercelona)

"The Barbie x HMD launch promises to be an exciting moment for Barbie fans of all ages, we're excited to flip the switch and unveil it to the world at Mobile World Congress, said Ruth Henriquez, head of consumer products, publishing, and LBE, Mattel EMEA.

The company has also announced early plans for a new development platform called HMD Fusion.
Within 40 days of carrying out a targeted missile attack on terrorist groups inside Pakistan, Iran yesterday once again carried out a surgical strike on its neighbour. Iran's state-run media claimed that the country's forces killed senior Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) militant group commander Ismail Shahbakhsh and other terrorists by entering the Pakistan territory. Iran's forces, in an armed clash, attacked a militant group, one month after the two countries conducted air strikes on each other.

Iran has accused Pakistan of inaction against terrorist groups alleging that these groups carry out terror attacks inside Tehran's territory.

Who Are Jaish al-Adl?

Jaish al-Adl is a Pakistan-based terror group formed in 2012. It has been designated as a 'terrorist' organization by Iran. It is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Iran shares around 900 km of border with Pakistan and is suffering from terrorism just like India due to Pakistan.

Over time, Jaish al-Adl has carried out multiple attacks targeting Iranian security forces. In December, the group claimed responsibility for an assault on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 11 police personnel.

January 16 Missile Attack

Tensions between Iran and Pakistan escalated following mutual missile strikes targeting alleged "terror units." Iran conducted missile and drone strikes in Pakistan on the night of January 16, targeting two significant headquarters of Jaish al-Adl. Pakistan claimed that the strikes led to the unfortunate death of two children and the injury of three girls. In response, Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from Iran on January 17 and declared that the Iranian envoy, who was visiting Pakistan at the time, would not be allowed to return as a protest against what Islamabad deemed a 'blatant breach' of its sovereignty.

The situation further intensified on January 18, when Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes inside Iran. Islamabad stated that the strikes targeted hideouts used by "terrorist militant organizations," specifically mentioning the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).

Failed Peace Attempt

After both the countries hit each other, they mutually agreed to expand security cooperation. They agreed on the return of ambassadors of both countries to their respective posts and also decided to mutually work for the 'de-escalation' of tensions. Both Iran and Pakistan stated that they can resolve 'misunderstandings' fairly quickly. The two countries also agreed to fight terrorism in their respective areas and allay each other's concerns, he added. However, yesterday's surgical strike again shows that those were mere rhetoric and Iran doesn't trust Pakistan on terrorism.
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Wondering where to take beautiful pictures that capture the essence of your visit to Guam? We think Guam is photogenic from every angle but here are a few #InstaGuam spots around the island that our visitors love.

Two Lovers Point

Two Lovers Point, or Puntan Dos Amantes, is without a doubt one of Guams most iconic sites. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors are drawn to the towering cliff that is the site of one of Guams most renowned and romantic legends. The site features tiered lookout points that offer a dramatic view of the Philippine Sea and breathtaking Tumon Bay. From the top, it is a 400-foot drop to the crashing waves below. Visitors can walk the plunging face of the cliff on walkways that hug and hang over the jagged rock. There are also telescopes for long range views of the ocean and Guams western coastline.

Fort Soledad

No visit to southern Guam would be complete without stopping at Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, or Fort Soledad. It is the last fort standing of four that were built around Umatac Bay in 1810 and it is named for Our Lady of Solitude. Fort Soledad provides a superior view of the village, the picturesque bay and coastline, and the southern mountain range. Fort Soledad is one of the most visited places in southern Guam and is an icon of the islands Spanish-era history. You can explore many of the villages historical sites on a walking tour of Umatac.

Cetti Bay Overlook

One of the most well-known scenic points and popular stops along the southern route is the Cetti Bay Overlook. Poised high above the surrounding foothills and Cetti Bay, the overlook provides a perfect island backdrop for vacation selfies and family photos. Cocos Island, which lies off the coast of Merizo village, can be seen in the distance. Because of its cultural and historical significance, Cetti is on the Guam and National Registers of Historic Places. Its also a great spot for sampling fresh coconut from the stand at the entrance to the overlook.

Ypao Beach

With vibrant reef systems, fascinating marine life, and warm temperatures year-round, Guam offers some of the best snorkeling in the world in easy to access spots that are just a few feet from the sand. Ypao Beach in Tumon is one of Guams snorkeling paradise spots and offers a myriad of colorful tropical fish and coral heads to be observed and explored beneath its clear turquoise waters. Ypao Beach is part of a free public park that features open grassy areas, picnic tables, lifeguards and facilities  a great spot for a family outing. Cap your day with an epic sunset on the beach photo with Two Lovers Point in the distance.

Street Murals

In recent years, large-scale wall murals and vibrant art depicting local culture have popped up on the walls of businesses around the island. These colorful scenes have been painted by Guam and international artists as part of the Guam Art Exhibit in collaboration with a global network of artists and organizers as part of a traveling mural festival. Some of the murals feature indigenous birds such as the beloved Koko (Guam Rail) and Mariana Kingfisher, as well as dreamy, thought-provoking murals of Chamorro people that were painted by some of the worlds renowned mural artists. In the southern village of Inarajan, San Jose Avenue is known for the Hotnu Bakery and the paintings by local artist Judy Flores that adorn the houses along this historical street. Throughout the island, you can find village murals and bus stops painted by the local community that feature Guam cultural scenes and elements.
Pilita Clark is an associate editor and business columnist at the FT where she writes on corporate life and climate change. Formerly the FTs environment correspondent, her writing has won awards in the US and Asia and in 2019 she was named Environment Journalist of the Year for the third year in a row at the British Press Awards.
If you confess with your mouth the Lord is Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

A pastor visited a friend of mine whos been in church all his life. He calls himself a Christian but confessed that he often felt empty and hopeless.

As they talked, it became evident to him that my friend may very well have looked like a Christian on the outside but had never asked the Lord to come and live in his heart.

Have you ever said the Sinners Prayer? he asked.

You know, I dont think I ever have, he answered.

He then took my friend for a walk along the Romans Road. The Romans Road is a trail of verses in the book of Romans commonly used to lay out the plan of salvation. Afterwards, they said the Sinners Prayer together. And as the popular television Chef Emeril would say, Bam! He was saved!

Jesus once explained to a prominent Jewish leader named Nicodemus the same thing that the pastor explained to my friend. I tell you the truth, he told Nicodemus one night, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. (John 3:3)

There are a lot of folks  just like my friend  who have been going to church for years but have never had a born-again experience. In fact, that truth is borne out in some research I ran across.

Pew Research reported in 2019 that 65% of American adults described themselves as Christians. That number was down 12% over the past decade. They also said that those who identify as atheist, agnostics, or nothing in particular now stands at 26%. It was up 17%!

Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) It just cant get any plainer, can it?

Have you ever thought about the meaning of the parable Jesus once told about the wheat and tares? It seems the enemy came one night and sowed tares (weeds) in the farmers field where wheat was also planted. When everything came up, you couldnt tell the difference. They look the same on the outside, but only the wheat has the kernel inside.

How about you? Do you have the real thing inside? Maybe youve grown up in church and can walk the walk and talk the talk as good as the next guy. But when you lay your head down on the pillow at night, do you feel empty inside? Have you ever asked Jesus to come live in your heart?

If you dont know, let me invite you to make sure. The Bible says, The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) In other words, it doesnt matter how good you are. But if you dont have Jesus in your heart, you havent got a chance.

Pray this prayer with me:

Jesus, I know Im a sinner and realize that theres nothing I can do in exchange for my own salvation. I feel your call on my life, know that you died on the Cross to save me from my own sin, and rose from the dead three days later so that I, too, may walk in the newness of life. Come into my heart, Lord, and work the miracle in my life that Ive seen you work in the lives of so many others. Save me now dear Lord. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer and really meant it, the Word of God says that youre saved. You can go to bed tonight with the assurance that your name is written in the Book Life! Relax.

You will soon see that tomorrow really is a new day.
Vodafone Romania has picked Samsung Electronics to deploy its fully virtualised RAN software (vRAN) and radio solutions to roll out Open RAN in Romania.

The rollout will cover 20 cities in the country.

Samsung said it will provide its vRAN solutions supporting multi-RAT, automation solutions and Open RAN-compliant triple-band radios as well as 5G Massive MIMO radios.

Samsungs software-based vRAN solution supports multiple generations of network technologies in a single platformincluding 2Gwhich is an important spectrum for Internet of Small Things (IoST), machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and voice communications for roaming services in Europe.

Samsung Electronics president and head of networks business Woojune Kim said the network solutions will propel Vodafone Romanias transformation journey.

Vodafone Group chief network officer Alberto Ripepi said businesses, factories, and healthcare leveraging generative AI will need the rollout as they will require intelligence-based networks to support them.

This announcement follows Samsungs pilot project with Vodafone last year in Romania.

The companies completed the first 4G calls over shared commercial Open RAN in Romanias rural areas.

Since switching on the UKs first 5G Open RAN site in 2022, Vodafone and Samsung have been validating Open RAN technology in a brownfield, urban environment.

Making continuous progress in Europe, back in August 2023, the companies announced their Open RAN rollout in the UK, a key stage in Vodafones plan to equip 30% of all its European sites with Open RAN by 2030.

Vodafone Romania has also partnered with Orange Romania to conduct a pilot to test 4G calls over a shared network based on Open RAN backed by Dell, Samsung, and Wind River, Fierce Wireless reported.

In other parts of Europe, Vodafone has also trialed 5G open RAN in Italy with Nokia.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 22 February 2024.
Q: A friend mentioned that Senior Services has an annual art show. I am interested in attending this event. Where can I get more information?

Answer: One day each year, Senior Services is transformed into an art gallery where visitors are free to view and purchase one-of-a-kind art, talk with their favorite artists, and provide nutritious meals for older adults in Forsyth County. This year the 14th annual Senior Services Art Show and Sale Benefiting Meals-on-Wheels will be held Saturday, March 2, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 2895 Shorefair Drive. This event gives the community a unique opportunity to purchase original artwork by local artists while helping provide nutritious meals to local seniors who have difficulty leaving home and preparing meals for themselves during the day.

More than 50 of the most talented and sought after artists in our area will participate. Their work will offer shoppers a wide variety of art, representing practically every medium and aesthetic, including oils, acrylics, pastels, pottery, baskets, wood carvings and jewelry. The show remains popular because participants can find and purchase beautiful artwork and they enjoy knowing that the artists donate a portion of sales to support the Senior Services Meals-on-Wheels program. Corporate sponsors and individual patrons also contribute funds to support this spectacular event and the Meals-on-Wheels cause each year.

People planning to attend are advised to arrive early in order to have the largest selection of art. There will be something that suits every taste and every budget. All of the art is original and locally created. Coming just to browse and take in the art is encouragedthough you may find it hard to walk away without buying something, whether you are shopping for artwork for your own home or as a gift for someone else.

The art show and sale will take place on Saturday, March 2 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 2895 Shorefair Drive. The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit seniorservicesinc.org or call 336-725-0907.

Q: I have trouble leaving my home, but I want to vote in the primary election; how can I vote?

Answer: Citizens of the United States are privileged to be able to elect leaders whose mandate is to work for the good of all. 2024 is an exceptionally important election year for our country, as we will choose who will be our president, fill 468 seats in the US Congress, and elect 13 governors. There are many local and state elections this year that are also important because these leaders will play important roles in creating legislation that will impact all of us.

It is important that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to cast a ballot. People who have challenges with mobility or transportation often find it difficult to vote in person. They can still make their voices heard by submitting a mail-in absentee ballot for the North Carolina primary or general elections. Registered voters can request an absentee ballot with an official North Carolina Ballot Request form which can be found online by visitingncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail (Instructions for requests online and on paper are listed under the Absentee-By-Mail Voting topic in this link.)

The deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot for the Primary Election is Feb. 27. Note that the completed ballot must reach your county election board by Primary Election Day, March 5, not just be postmarked by that date as in the past.

General voter information:

To vote in this years North Carolina primary election taking place on March 5th, you must have been registered by Feb, 9. (The exception to that is same day registration during in-person early voting.)

When voting this year, please know that in North Carolina you will now have to present a Photo ID. If you are voting by mail, you must include a photocopy of your Photo ID when returning your completed ballot. There are limited exceptions to the Photo ID requirement. Photocopies can be made at local libraries and some pharmacies.

In-person early voting began on Feb. 15 and ends March 2, 2024.

Important North Carolina Links:

North Carolina Board of Elections: ncsbe.gov/

Registering to Vote in North Carolina: ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register

Whos Running for Office?: ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists#current

Early Voting Locations (by county): https://vt.ncsbe.gov/OSSite/

Your Sample Ballot (search for your name in the voter database then click on your name to open a webpage that includes your sample ballot): https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/

Acceptable photo IDs: ncvoter.org/voter-id/
In a different world  if shipping were more efficient and reliable  The Chocolate Season might be a cupcake shop, and the second iteration of Erika Jensen's career journey.

Instead, Jensen eventually set her sights on making artisan chocolate.

A couple of decades later, it appears to be the right choice. She opened her first chocolate shop in Iowa in 2007 and after moving to Lincoln a decade later to be closer to family, introduced The Chocolate Season here right around the time the world was shutting down.

The business survived the pandemic. A spoonful of sugar  mixed with some cocoa  is a good remedy for the daily grind.

Her recipe is so much more complex. One look behind her Williamsburg shop's glass counters and you'll see carefully placed pieces of different shapes, sizes and colors  from assorted barks, toffees and caramels  each of them a visual work of art, and a taste bud-awakening sensation.

Maybe that's the magic of chocolate. It has the power to make a bad day better and turn a good day into something special.

It's taken time  lots of time  and failures (plenty of those, too) for chocolate to become Jensen's love language.

She had been burned by corporate America and was in need of a change after her boss took the credit for a successful public relations campaign she had run.

"She needed to explore something that really made her happy," said Brad Jensen, her husband.

She quit that job in the midst of the cupcake craze, when shops were popping up everywhere, and Jensen  a pretty good baker  thought she might try her hand at it.

So she researched it. And she found that getting the cupcakes anywhere through the mail was a crapshoot. She tried some of the most well-known cupcake businesses to see how they shipped their wares.

"It was like 60 bucks to ship them back in the (early) 2000s," she said. "I thought they would arrive in perfect condition. They did not."

And besides, she figured by the time she got up to speed  and built a name for herself  in the baking world, "the cupcake boom would be over."

She was at a crossroads. She knew she wanted to make food and  just as important  be her own boss.

"I was like, 'What could I make that's creative that has a hole in the market right now?'" she said. "I wanted to make something that's shippable. Chocolates are something you can't possibly break in the mail, right?"

It was settled. Sort of. She then had to learn how to make fine chocolate. What she quickly found is that it's much harder than you'd think.

There's a lot of science involved. And even more precision. It's not just melting chocolate into a mold and adding other ingredients. This is a skill that requires both creativity and a scientific knowledge of how various cocoas will react to heat.

"People think you just melt chocolate, but there's so much more to it than that," Brad Jensen said. "There's so much science behind it. I get so excited about the amazing things she does. She has a talent that she has developed."

Tempering chocolate is a skill that only comes with feel and experience, and 1 or 2 degrees can make a difference between something special and something that finds its way into the trash can.

"With chocolate you can't just read about it," she said. "You have to touch it. You have to feel it. You have to see it. When I'm tempering, I can feel when I'm a degree away because the chocolate changes against my spoon."

Originally, she was a self-taught chocolatier who did all of her learning through Google before deciding that it might be smart to take a culinary class or two.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate with a degree in journalism enrolled in the culinary program at Metro Community College.

"I learned a lot of things there," she said. "I loved it."

She also attended seminars and gravitated toward some of the best chocolatiers in the country. One in particular, Michael Klug, the head chocolatier at L.A. Burdick Chocolates in Walpole, New Hampshire, took a liking to her.

"He told me I wasn't bad," she said. "Then he asked me when I was going to Europe because you won't really understand chocolate until you go there."

The trouble was the Jensens were broke. She wasn't working, and Brad, a commercial photographer, was keeping the newlyweds afloat, but a trip to Europe was not in the budget.

"We didn't have any money, but that was the natural response," he said. "I knew she needed to get to Europe so I supported it completely."

She found the means  or the credit card  to make it so. A week in Switzerland with Brad and another week in France with a friend and she understood. Chocolate was one of life's simple pleasures and the people in the Old World took the time to embrace those simple pleasures.

That trip changed her forever by providing a new outlook on life.

"In America, we are all about the hustle and bustle," she said. "We don't have enough. It's a rat race, keeping up the Joneses."

Meanwhile, many European countries shut down at 2 p.m. during the workweek, while a coffee is enjoyed.

"They'll have a really good baguette with a chocolate," she said. "They take that break for 15 minutes or 30 minutes or an hour. And then go back to work and they're super productive because they have that mental recharge time."

It's the difference between eating and enjoying, really having an experience. And that's what The Chocolate Season, 3855 Village Lane, is attempting to provide in Lincoln, Erika Jensen said.

"We're trying to combine the views of Midwestern approachability with European indulgence and extravagance," she said. "Not everybody can fly to Europe, but you deserve to feel special.

"And that's hard in today's day and age."

Top Journal Star photos for February 2024
The Lincoln Police Department this year will begin tracking the amount of fentanyl seized in the city, data the department has not collected in the past.

That change is by necessity, as grant funding from the federal government that goes to the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force  the primary unit to combat drugs for LPD  now requires collecting fentanyl statistics.

Gathering such data is expected to be difficult but will provide better insight into how much fentanyl is actually on the streets of Lincoln, police officials say.

Former captain of the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and new LPD Assistant Chief Ryan Dale said police face hurdles when trying to differentiate drugs like cocaine and fentanyl when they are mixed together.

"Say we seize five pounds of cocaine, and we send it to the lab. They could test it, and one part of it might not have fentanyl in it, but another part might test positive for fentanyl because it's not an even mixture," Dale said. "Where if it was pharmaceutical grade where it's evenly mixed, then you could probably differentiate this percentage is fentanyl, and this percentage is cocaine."

The Drug Enforcement Administration says fentanyl, typically mixed with other drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine, continues to be the most dangerous drug impacting Midwestern states.

Fatal accidental overdoses increased 13.7% in Lincoln between 2022 and 2023, according to data provided by the Lincoln Police Department.

"Fentanyl, being the most deadliest drug threat that we have seen in our country, is just exacerbating the drug problem overall," said DEA Omaha Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Mike Casale.

The DEA has also seen a continued climb in meth seizures, with 700 pounds of meth being confiscated in Nebraska in 2022 and 1,100 pounds last year.

Interstate 80 provides an easy avenue for drugs to be trafficked, Casale said, and Lincoln's proximity to I-80 and other drug routes, like Interstate 29 in Iowa, makes it a convenient location for drug traffickers.

Dale said that "99.9% (of drugs) are being imported to Lincoln," as opposed to being manufactured here.

He said LPD has been working with other agencies outside of Nebraska to identify and crack down on criminal organizations that are shipping drugs to Lincoln.

LPD provides agencies in states such as California and Arizona with tips on where drugs may be stored and who is shipping the drugs. Local agencies then build their own cases and seize the drugs before they are delivered.

In addition to being mixed with meth and cocaine, fentanyl can also be found in pill form, and LPD has seen an increase in the number of pills seized.

Dale said the average fentanyl pill is believed to cost 13 cents. The low price, paired with the fact that other drugs do not provide the same level of high to the user, has led to an increase in demand for the pills.

According to the CDC, fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

Counterfeit pills are also being found in Lincoln  pills disguised as prescription medications but in actuality are another, cheaper substance.

The combination of drugs becoming more accessible and harder to distinguish what's actually in the mixtures has posed a challenge for law enforcement agencies locally and nationally, officials said.

"We have to continue to engage with our communities to help raise awareness and education," Casale said.

Top Journal Star photos for February 2024
The League of Nebraska Municipalities wants to demolish the small, dilapidated building at 14th and L streets along with its nearby offices and replace them with a new, modern two-story office building.

But heres the thing about that yellow brick building at 401 S. 14th St. that dates back to the 1950s: the history it represents goes back more than a century.

A group called The Lincoln Womans Club built it, long after theyd organized in the 1890s.

The group grew out of a large number of existing clubs whose members decided they should come together in one group, said Ed Zimmer, retired historic preservation planner for the city.

A small group of esteemed women spearheaded its creation, including Phebe Elliott  the first woman ever elected to the Lincoln Board of Education during the same era and for whom Elliott Elementary is named.

It began with a few hundred members and grew to more than 1,000 in the 1920s and 1930s, Zimmer said.

They were interested in self education and womens and childrens welfare issues. They led a boycott of milk and eggs when they thought the price was too high, and following World War I, they were the organizing group behind Memorial Drive near Antelope Park.

At the time, Zimmer said, the street ran north and south of South Street and every tree had a plaque honoring the name of the fallen soldiers and nurses, with a giant plaque by Auld Pavilion.

Theres a statue of a pioneer woman at 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard commissioned by the club in 1935, said Lynn Rex, executive director of the League of Nebraska Municipalities who has done her fair share of research on the group.

At some point, the club got a historic landmark designation for the building on 14th Street, but in the ensuing years used it less and it fell into disrepair.

By 2008, members had begun renting it out for events, and by 2011 they put it up for sale. The group appears to no longer be in existence.

The League of Municipalities had rented parking space from the club for years, and the organization bought the building in 2014 for $825,000.

The plans for the new office building on the northeast corner of the block bounded by 13th, 14th K and L streets required the League of Municipalities go through a number of steps, including asking the Historic Preservation Commission to remove the historic landmark designation so the building could be demolished.

The commission expressed some concern about demolishing a Lincoln landmark but acknowledged repairing it wasnt feasible  after a structural engineer looked at the place and members heard testimony by Bob Ripley, the retired administrator of the Nebraska State Capitol, about its poor condition even before the league bought it.

Rex said the pipes burst after the organization bought it, and she knew the damage couldn't be repaired. A new building will have, among other things, an expanded training room to accommodate leaders from across the state who gather there.

The Historic Preservation Commission approved the demolition, with the caveat that the league commemorates the importance of The Womans Club in its new building.

Rex was already on it: She told the commission shed found 30th and 50th anniversary photos of the group through History Nebraska and a yearbook from 1932-33, articles of incorporation, its constitution and bylaws.

If all goes as planned, work will begin in April and the new building will be finished by the summer of 2025.

Zimmer will help prepare a history of the Lincoln Woman's Club, and Rex said the League plans to have a room dedicated to the club's history and significance.

Its been a really great story about how women have played such an important role in the city of Lincoln, she said.

The club was a place for women to gather and organize, a way to speak out at a time when women didnt have another voice, Zimmer said.

It was a place active, interested women gathered together and bettered their community when there were far fewer ways for them to do that, he said. Its a step in the development of our society as well.

A title that packs a punch

As long as were talking about women, heres something I learned about the League of Women Voters.

I was reminded of its importance in the 1970s when I wrote about Jan Gauger  the first woman elected county commissioner in the state in 1972. The League is where she and many other women got involved at a time when they were just beginning to break into the male-dominated world of politics.

But it goes back much farther than that.

In 1920, the year after Nebraska became the 14th state to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, the Nebraska Woman Suffrage Association reorganized as the Nebraska League of Women Voters.

History Nebraska said it signaled a new era in Nebraskas political life.

Many of the women involved in The Womans Club were also involved with the League of Women Voters.

Zimmer, the go-to source for Lincoln and Nebraskas history, put it another way: the name says to the world that the group is not simply made up of women, but women voters.

Its quiet, but theres a real statement in the name, Zimmer said. Its also a statement that says were not going away. Getting the vote was an essential step but were not done.

A financially responsible city

A nonpartisan nonprofit that analyzes cities' accounting practices ranks Lincoln as one of the top five most financially responsible cities in the U.S.

Called Truth in Accounting, the organization ranks each city based on its taxpayer burden or taxpayer surplus. A taxpayer burden is the amount of money each taxpayer would have to contribute if the city were to pay all of its debt, and the taxpayer surplus is the amount left over after all the citys bills are paid, divided by the estimated number of taxpayers.

Truth in Accounting divided cities into sinkhole cities and sunshine cities.

Lincoln ranked fourth of the top five sunshine cities, primarily because of the $62 million in COVID funds the city received and because tax revenues increased. Lincoln also benefited because its fiscal year ends Aug. 31, rather than June 30, when many cities' fiscal years end. By August, markets had begun performing well, resulting in higher pension investment values.

The group gave Lincoln an overall grade of B, compared to Omaha's D. The other sunshine cities: Washington, D.C., Irvine, California, Plano, Texas and Oklahoma City.

Lincoln buildings that have made history Lincoln Army Air Field Regimental Chapel Woods Brothers Building College View Public Library Antelope Grocery Burr block Federal Trust Building First National Bank Building First State Bank of Bethany Gold and Co. store building Governor's Mansion Hayward School Hotel Capital-YMCA building Lincoln Liberty building Masonic Temple Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant Nebraska State Historical Society building Nebraska Telephone Co. building Nebraska Wesleyan Old Main Palisade and Regent apartments Rose Kirkwood Brothel President and Ambassador apartments Old University Library Quinn Chapel Rock Island Depot St. Charles Apartments Scottish Rite Temple Sheldon Museum of Art State Arsenal State Capitol Stuart Building Temple of Congregation B'Nai Jeshuran Terminal Building Terrace Houses Tifereth Israel Synagogue U.S. Post Office Veith Building YWCA building
Local youths have less than a month to apply for paid internships through the American Job Centers Summer Employment Program.

This summer, the internships are open to those ages 16 to 24 who are looking to develop real-world skills while giving back to the community. Participants will be paid $15 per hour for eight weeks, but the contract can be extended if needed. Applications are due online by March 23 at 5 p.m.

The American Job Center is sponsoring the summer internship program with the Mayors Youth Employment Program, Lancaster County Youth Employment Program and the Lincoln Manufacturing Youth Employment Program.

Calvin Doerr spent last summer as a Parks and Recreation intern through the program. This year, he accepted a job at the American Job Center assisting with youth outreach and support services.

Im a huge advocate for this program, not only because I did it, but its a huge opportunity for career advancement, Doerr said. All the job sites are really accommodating for anyone who may be experiencing some barriers to employment.

Doerr said participants will work with their supervisors to determine the number of hours a week that works best for each youth. On Wednesdays, youths from each partnering program will attend a two-hour paid meeting.

We have influential members of the community come talk about job skills. Sometimes well talk about resume-building and then sometimes well get out of the office space a little bit and do more fun activities in the community, Doerr said.

Here is a look at the openings:

Lancaster County Youth Employment Program

* Clerk of the District Court: Interns will be responsible for organizing and maintaining records, assisting customers and government agencies, requesting copies and completing data entry.

* Records Management: Interns will be responsible for preparing documents for scanning, operating image-capture software, and performing regular preventative maintenance on image-capture equipment.

* Property Management: Interns will be responsible for assisting maintenance workers with building repairs (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, lawn care, and general maintenance), at the direction of facility managers.

* County Engineering: Interns will be responsible for maintaining files of correspondence and other materials, operating common office equipment, opening and distributing mail, answering the telephone and greeting the public.

* Emergency Management: Interns will be responsible for working alongside emergency management personnel on projects as needed. Some project examples are as follows: participating in exercises and drills related to emergency management, inspecting equipment and inventory and developing public awareness materials and programs. Additionally, interns may be asked to aid in further improving the emergency management website and social media pages.

* Election Commissioner: Interns will be primarily responsible for reviewing petition signatures for acceptance but could transition into other roles in the election process.

* County Clerk: Interns will be responsible for scanning and organizing documents, data entry, customer service and other office duties.

To apply for positions and for more information, visit lancaster.ne.gov. Completion of internships includes a $200 bonus.

Mayors Youth Employment Program

* City Clerk: Interns will assist with daily operations including data entry, filing and record-keeping.

* Finance: Interns will help gather information regarding audits and grants.

* Parks and Recreation: Interns will be assigned to recreation center day camps to work with children and plan activities.

* Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Communications: Interns will create social media content.

* LTU Watershed: Interns will assist with dry- and wet-weather water monitoring. This includes maintaining equipment, collecting and processing water samples, and data entry.

* Information Services: Interns will shadow developers and project managers working on high-impact City and Lancaster County software projects to build design and critical thinking skills or help by working with staff to test products and provide feedback to development teams.

* Lincoln City Libraries: Interns will assist the public information specialist with filming and photographing library events and programs, brainstorming and crafting social media content, and a range of other marketing initiatives.

* Lincoln Water System: Interns will assist with dry- and wet-weather monitoring. This includes, but is not limited to, maintaining remote monitoring equipment, collecting and processing water samples, and data entry/analysis.

To apply for positions and for more information, visit lincoln.ne.gov. Completion of the internship includes a $200 bonus.

Doerr said the Lincoln Manufacturing Council has at least one confirmed position available. In addition to the hourly wage, those who complete the training will receive a $250 supportive service payment. For more information, visit lincolnmanufacturingcouncil.org.

Top Journal Star photos for February 2024
Callaway, population 531 as of the 2013 census, is 65 miles northwest of Kearney on Nebraska 40. The town is known for a Kite Flight event each Labor Day weekend and for an annual Pioneer Picnic.

Callaways motto is the "Heart of the Seven Valleys." "Seven Valleys" refers to the Seven Valleys that surround Callaway: James, Turner, Brown, Rye, Sand, (South) Loup and Wood Valley.

The town was settled after the Civil War and named after S.R. Callaway, second vice president and general manager of the Union Pacific Railroad when the Wood River grade was made from Kearney to the Callaway town site.
Oppenheimer continued to streamroll through Hollywoods awards season on Saturday, winning the top prize, for outstanding cast, along with awards for Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr., at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

As the Academy Awards draw closer, Christopher Nolans blockbuster biopic  already a winner at the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs  increasingly looked like the run-away favorite. The SAG Awards, one of the most-telling Oscar predictors, will only add to the momentum for Oppenheimer, the lead Academy Awards nominee with 13 nods.

The SAG Awards dont always signify Oscar success. Two of the last five winners from the guild (The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Black Panther) lost at the Academy Awards. But in the past two years, all five of the top SAG prizes  best ensemble and the four acting winners  corresponded with the eventual Oscar winners, including the ensembles for Everything Everywhere All at Once and CODA.

That could mean the SAGs offered an Oscar preview in two of the closest contests: best actor and best actress.

The nights most thrilling win went to Lily Gladstone for female actor in a leading role in Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon. No category has been more hotly contested, with analysts evenly split between Gladstone and Emma Stone for Poor Things.

But Gladstone won Saturday and the crowd erupted. Stone, too, stood and vigorously applauded.

More is riding on Gladstone than perhaps any other Oscar contender this year. Her win would be a first for Native Americans.

Murphy and Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers) also are seen as in a neck-and-neck contest. But Murphy has now won at the SAGs, the BAFTAs and Globes, suggesting he has the clear edge heading into the Academy Awards.

Robert Downey Jr. and DaVine Joy Randolph each won for their supporting performances, likewise solidifying their status as Oscar favorites.

Downey Jr., accepting his first SAG Award for a movie role for his performance in Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer, grinned as he accepted the trophy.

Why me? Why now? Why do things seem to be going my way? Downey Jr. said. Unlike my fellow nominees, I will never grow tired from the sound of my own voice.

Both Downey Jr.  who triumphed again over Ryan Gosling (Barbie)  and Randolph emerged as Academy Awards front-runners. Their wins Saturday should make them shoo-ins.

Randolphs performance in Alexander Paynes The Holdovers has been a breakthrough role for the 37-year-old actor. Now, she appears poised to win the Academy Award.

To every actor out there still waiting in the wings for their chance, let me tell you: Your life can change in a day, Randolph said. Its not a question of if but when. Keep going.

The 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, streaming for the first time live on Netflix, got underway with Oscar momentum up for grabs for lead nominees Oppenheimer and Barbie. The ceremony kicked off at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

Personally, I cant wait to get home and have Netflix recommend this show to me based on all the other stuff that I watch myself in, joked Idris Elba, kicking off the show.

After more than two decades airing on TNT and TBS to dwindling viewership, Netflix acquired telecast rights to the SAG Awards in early 2023. That meant some different rules, including no ads and permitted bad language. Elba, who kicked off the show on stage, suggested a delicate dance.

Dont say anything you wouldnt say in front of Oprah, said Elba, who promptly added an expletive.

This years SAG Awards follows a grueling monthslong strike in which the SAG-AFTRA union fought a bitter battle over a number of issues. Much of the work stoppage was prompted over changes in the film and TV industry brought on by streaming and a sea change led by Netflix.

Your solidarity ignited workers around the world, triggering what forever will be remember as the hot labor summer, said Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA. This was a seminal moment in our unions history.

It didnt take long for the nights hosts to nab an award of their own. Ali Wong, who sported one of the most eye-catching looks on the red carpet, won best female actor in a TV movie or limited series for the Netflix series Beef. Later, her co-star Steven Yeun also won.

The Bear likewise continued its awards run, winning best comedy series, and awards for Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri.

The new streaming platform was sure to put even more of a spotlight on one of the most closely-watched predictors of the Academy Awards. Oscar voting wraps Tuesday. The lack of ad breaks meant some notable tweaks. Many winners were interviewed backstage  sometimes charmingly, sometimes awkwardly  by red-carpet co-host Tan France.

Pedro Pascal, looking very surprised, won best male actor in a drama series for The Last of Us.

Barbra Streisand accepted a lifetime achievement award, presented by Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper.

I remember dreaming of being an actress as a teenager sitting in my bed in Brooklyn with a pint of coffee ice cream and a movie magazine, said Streisand, who recalled being transfixed by my first crush, Marlon Brando. She also took a moment to celebrate the Jewish pioneers of Hollywood.

Two awards for stunt ensemble were announced during the red carpet. Those went to the stunt performers of Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One, in the film category, and for The Last of Us in television.

The best movies of 2024 so far The best movies of 2024 so far #5. The Settlers #4. Inshallah a Boy #3. Pictures of Ghosts #2. Totem #1. Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
BURLINGTON  A shoe store in Downtown Burlington is temporarily closed after a fire that started in an upstairs apartment and prompted an evacuation of the area.

Itzins Shoes, 436 N. Pine St., sustained smoke and water damage Friday afternoon after a two-alarm fire that broke out in the unoccupied apartment above the store.

Store owner David Schmalfeldt said he lost a significant amount of inventory, and the business likely will remain closed for several days for cleanup.

Schmalfeldt, however, said he is grateful that nobody was hurt and that firefighters got the blaze under control before it spread.

It couldve been worse, he said. All of this stuff can be replaced.

Investigators were working Saturday to pinpoint the cause of the fire.

The Burlington Fire Department said a back porch of the upstairs apartment was in flames when crews arrived about 2:30 p.m. in the heart of the citys downtown shopping district.

Emergency workers ordered an evacuation of all businesses and residences in the 400 block of North Pine Street while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

The two-alarm call brought help from fire departments as far away as Elkhorn and Delavan. Other responding departments included Rochester, Wheatland, Lyons, Bloomfield, Genoa City, Lake Geneva, Kansasville and Tichigan.

Officials said a dog was rescued from the building.

Itzins Shoes employees gathered Saturday to survey the damage and begin the cleanup, with help from the stores insurance company.

A sign on the front door said the store might reopen Monday, but Schmalfeldt said it will almost certainly take longer.

The business issued a statement alerting customers to the incident and expressing gratitude to the firefighters.

Thank you to all fire departments and police officers who came to our need, the statement said. Without their quick response, it could have been a lot worse for Burlingtons beautiful downtown.

Photos: Burlington cheers the return of the city's Memorial Day parade LeRoy Stoehr and Ples Ivy grand marshals of Burlington Memorial Day parade 2023 Parade organizer Mike Olson of VFW Post 2823 at start of Burlington Memorial Day parade Miss Racine Margret Hinze rides atop a car during the Burlington Memorial Day parade Elizabeth Ross waves flag for revived Burlington Memorial Day parade Ellie and Tommy Lesser brother and sister watch parade from their wagon Nina Palmersheim with her two kids watch Burlington's Memorial Day parade Military color guard marches in formation for Burlington Memorial Day parade Crowd lines the street on Kane Street in Burlington for Memorial Day parade Performer walks on stilts during Burlington's Memorial Day parade Kyle Bartelson rides a tractor in the Burlington Memorial Day parade Veteran Joe Terhardt falls in line with fellow veterans to march in Memorial Day parade Special Olympics group rides float in Burlington's Memorial Day parade Sisters Kim and Pam Travis march and hand out flags in Burlington Memorial Day parade Brother and sister Henley and Wally Hefty wave flags for Burlington Memorial Day parade Military members march in Burlington Memorial Day parade Burlington Area Car Club member waves flags during Memorial Day parade UW marching band unit performs during Burlington Memorial Day parade Juggler entertains the crowd while marching in the Burlington Memorial Day parade Bob Wright with his basset hound Bertha Sue at Burlington Memorial Day parade Boy Scout Troop 336 marches in Burlington Memorial Day parade Stunt performer rides motorized miniature wagon in Burlington Memorial Day parade Spectators watch a horse unit pass during the Burlington Memorial Day parade
RACINE  An ordinance was passed in the citys 2024 budget to replace lead service lines. Since then, the city has been taking steps to advance the replacement of these lines out of private residences.

Lead in drinking water can have harmful effects such as behavior and learning problems and slowed growth in children, cardiovascular and kidney issues in adults and premature birth in pregnant women, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA says there is no safe amount of exposure to lead in drinking water.

In his 2024 budget address in November, Mayor Cory Mason said there are about 12,000 homes in the city with lead pipes. With the passed ordinance, the replacement of these pipes would come at no cost to the homeowners.

In 2016, the city received grant funding to replace lead service lines for private properties and has replaced about 200 private lines per year since.

In December, Racine received a $2.3 million grant and a $969,000 loan from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2024 Safe Drinking Water Loan program to replace the lines.

With the additional funding, the city will be able to replace about 370 private lead service lines in 2024, according to a statement.

The city is on track to replace all lead service lines in 20-30 years, but that timeline could be shortened depending on whether it receives more state or federal funding, the statement said.

The city said homes included in the lead service line replacement program will receive notification and education about the program.

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 2021: COVID-19
One hundred percent of the hybrid striped bass production for Texas lakes was done from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments Dundee Fish Hatchery shown here, located in Electra, using a process known as cold banking.
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

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KEARNEY  Dont become landlocked.

Thats the long-held strategy of the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners, which has been proactive in its efforts to accommodate the growth of county services as population growth creates the demand for more space.

The simple truth: Its hard to impossible to accommodate future growth without having land or room for the added services.

Buffalo County residents saw several weeks ago the countys desire to be proactive in land acquisition when the County Board voted to purchase the Western Inn-Midtown motel at 1401 Second Ave. The Western Inn property sits across an alley and is directly west of the courthouse.

Board Chairman Ivan Klein of Gibbon said the countys purchase is considered strategic in nature. There are no immediate plans for the property other than to demolish the motel and The Lodge restaurant that shares the motels address.

Klein said that acquiring the motel tract will likely prove valuable in the future because the countys services will likely expand and need that space. If its not the county that eventually gobbles up the property, it could become one of the county-supported state services housed in Kearney.

Those services include the University of Nebraska Extension Service offices at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Buffalo County Court, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Health and Human Services and state Probation Service offices.

The Probation Services provides rehabilitation classes and monitoring aimed at helping adults and juveniles succeed as they work their way through the court and corrections systems.

The Probation Services had been housed in two separate locations, but that changed about a year ago when the county purchased the Black Hills Energy offices at 610 Central Ave. in south Kearney and converted the space into classrooms and offices for adult and juvenile Probation Services. The 21,000-square-foot building also houses two large conference rooms and 7,000 square feet of warehouse and garage space.

Steve Gaasch, Buffalo Countys facilities manager, said acquiring the Black Hills Energy building was a win-win scenario for the state and county. The state won because probationary classes now can be provided in the same building, although adults and juveniles are separated and never encounter each other for the classes.

Purchasing and converting the Black Hills Energy building was a win for the county, Gaasch said, because the property is so close to the courthouse and the price for the property dropped after several years on the market. Buying the Black Hills property and converting it into classrooms, offices and conference rooms saved Buffalo County a considerable amount of money, Gaasch said.

The county renamed the Black Hills property the 610 Building because its address is at 610 Central Ave.

We were pretty sure that we were going to put probation there, Gaasch said. There also were thoughts about relocating the countys work-release program to the 610 Building, but the program remains at the Buffalo County Jail, which is well-suited for that purpose.

The 610 Building was a nice purchase for the county because we got the building for a lot less than it would cost to build something new, Gaasch said.

We try to be progressive when property comes available, said County Board Chair Ivan Klein.

The state constantly comes up with stuff were required to do, Klein added. He said the county also owns the vacant lot across Central Avenue east of the courthouse. That tract is south of Turners Body Shop at 1517 Central Ave.

The county also acquired the former RYDE building at 321 Central Ave., and is using it for a city-county impound lot and mechanical space for the sheriffs department.

Were prepared for the future, Gaasch said.

PHOTOS: Fog in Kearney area Highway 30 Kearney to Grand Island Visibility was limited during a drive from Kearney to Grand Island on Highway 30 from around 3 to 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18. Antelope Sculpture in the fog The Mark Lundeen antelope sculpture on the University of Nebraska at Kearney stands out against the dense fog Friday evening. Fog Powerlines can be faintly seen among the fog on Friday, Jan. 26 off Highway 30. Fog A bare pair of trees poke through the fog along Highway 30. Fog A foggy bluff off Maple Road and Highway 30. Fog A pedestrian makes their way across 22nd Street in downtown Kearney through the fog. Fog Maple Road off Highway 30 on Friday, Jan. 26. Fog The Kearney Public Library is located at 2020 First Ave. Fog It was foggy on Friday. Fog in the Kearney area Scenes from the fog in the Kearney area.
Centrisys/CNP in Kenosha, a manufacturer of decanter centrifuges and advanced biosolids treatment technologies, was recognized with a Forward Award at the Ovation Awards ceremony hosted by the Kenosha Area Business Alliance earlier this month.

The Forward Award is part of the annual Ovation Awards, which celebrates businesses and individuals that have made significant contributions to the economic and community development of Kenosha.

Madhavi Batchu, chief operating officer of Centrisys/CNP, said it was an honor to receive the reward, which he said recognized their teams commitment to driving advancements within their industries and developing an empowering culture for their employees.

Weve been based in Kenosha, Wisconsin for 25 years and KABA has been a big part of our success. We are extremely grateful for our communitys support of nurturing innovation and its commitment to manufacturing excellence, Batchu said.

The Forward Award recognizes organizations that engage in their community and have been influential in bolstering the local economy.

This recognition follows Centrisys/CNP announcement of the companys major expansion last August, which is set to introduce a 70,000-square-foot space to enhance service, manufacturing and fabrication capabilities.

In addition to its economic contributions, Centrisys/CNP has recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art Engineering Innovation Lab. The lab is designed to be a nucleus of innovation, expediting project delivery and nurturing the next generation of engineering professionals.

We will continue to invest in technology and our workforce and continue to work toward being exemplary examples of leading innovation and community involvement, Batchu said. With our new Engineering Innovation Lab in full operation and the upcoming facility expansion, we are well positioned to further the positive impact we make on customers and the Kenosha region.

For more information about Centrisys/CNPs achievements, community involvement, and future endeavors, please visit www.centrisys-cnp.com.
WGTD (91.1 FM) is owned and operated as a public service of Gateway Technical College and is an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio.

For an updated schedule, go online to wgtd.org. WGTD 91.1-FMs Morning Show airs 8:10 to 9 a.m. weekdays.

Monday, Feb. 26: The show talks about Alzheimers Disease with two staff members from the Kenosha County Aging and Disability Resource Center- Paula Clark, programs supervisor, and Susan Johnson, dementia care specialist.

Tuesday, Febr. 27: Dr. James Ripley, director of instrumental activities at Carthage, talks about the special concert Wednesday night that commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Carthage band. The schools wind orchestra will be collaborating with the Gaudete Brass Ensemble in a program that will feature music played on the very first band concert at the school 150 years agoand on some of the pieces, historic instruments from the period will be utilized.

Wednesday, Feb. 28: The show previews the next play to be performed at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside ..... Henrik Ibsens When We Dead Awaken. Were also hoping to preview the next offering of the Milwaukee Opera Theater- an innovative cabaret titled I Wanna Fly, featuring vocalist Lynette Knapp Ryan and pianist David Bonofiglio.

Thursday, Feb. 29: Lucas Peters, author of Grand European Trips: 40 Unforgettable Trips by Road, Rail, Sea, and more.

Friday, March 1: For Womens History Month ..... Part One: Zane E. Asher, author of Where the Children Take Us; How one family achieved the unimaginable. Part Two: Sam Maggs, author of Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors and Trailblazers Who Changed History.
The complete shrouding of our sun by the moon has mesmerized humanity for millennia  a moment in time when skies darken and stillness creeps in.

It's spellbinding not only for the lucky ones in the path of total darkness, but also those on the fringes of the moon's shadow getting a partial glimpse.

The cosmic curtain is about to rise again on the greatest show on Earth: a total solar eclipse that will dazzle tens of millions as it races across North America.

Day will turn into night as the moon perfectly positions itself between Earth and the sun on April 8, temporarily blocking the sunlight. The eclipse will begin in the Pacific, cross into Mexico and then cut through Texas on a northeasterly path through 15 states before heading out over Canada and the North Atlantic.

Totality will last up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds  enough time for the wonder of it all to soak in, weather permitting.

The sight of a total solar eclipse is stunning because the most beautiful celestial object  the suns corona  is hidden from us all our lives except for the precious moments of totality, eclipse mapmaker Michael Zeiler said in an email.

Even scientists like NASAs Kelly Korreck find themselves in awe.

There might have been tears of joy the first time," she said. To actually experience it was just really a powerful, moving experience.

While full solar eclipses happen every year or two or three, theyre often in remote locations like the Arctic or Antarctica, the southern tip of South America or the Pacific.

The last time totality crisscrossed the U.S. was in 2017, with totality lasting 2 minutes. After April, it wont happen again until 2045, but get set for six full minutes of totality.

The selection was curated by AP photo editor Patrick Sison in New York. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Total solar eclipses through the decades
The brutally cold and dreary month of January is now behind us. February 2nd, being Ground Hog Day was cloudy, hence, the Groundhog did not see his (or her) shadow which bodes well for the prospect of an early spring. Since 1887 the center of attention on Ground Hog Day has been Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but ever since the movie Ground Hog Day was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois, in 1993, Woodstock has become a second venue for the celebration of Ground Hog Day. In 2024 Woodstock was again jam-packed with people celebrating Ground Hog Day.

February, the shortest month of the year, is also a month of holidays with Ground Hog Day leading the parade. When I was growing up during the 1940s and 1950s, two days in February were celebrated at Lake Genevas Central School: February 12, Lincolns Birthday, and February 22, Washingtons Birthday. In 1971, those two significant dates were telescoped to become a new, three-day holiday, Presidents Day. The primary day of celebration in February was Valentines Day on February 14. During the 1940s and 1950s I and most of my male friends gave Valentines cards to girls that we were smitten with hoping that the girls in turn would give us Valentines cards.

The month of February has an additional semi-holiday once every four years: Leap Year Day on February 29. I always felt sorry for those of my friends who had been born on February 29 since they could only celebrate the date of their birth once in every four years.

By March 1, adult males in Lake Geneva had begun to place bets on which day the ice on the lake would go out. During the 1940s and 1950s International Womens Day on March 8, which was first celebrated in 1910, was rarely celebrated here. March 15, the Ides of March, was noted in World History classes at the High School as the date that the Roman emperor Julius Caesar had been assassinated. Adult male resident looked forward to March 17, St. Patricks Day, when green beer would flow from taverns spigots and corned beef and cabbage would be on the taverns menus.

Easter Week began on Palm Sunday and continued through Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to Easter, which was a highlight of the year in most of Lake Genevas churches. Children colored Easter eggs during the days before Easter and were delighted by the candy Easter eggs that their parents gave them on Easter.

April Fools Day on April 1 was a day of pain for adults who dreaded the approach of April 15 when they had to pay their Income Tax. May 1, May Day, was a festive day. In many countries around the world it was celebrated as International Workers Day. It was also celebrated by children dancing around the May pole. During McCarthyism in the 1950s, the city of Burlington transformed May Day into an anti-communist holiday. On the second Sunday in May, which was Mothers Day, children would honor their mothers. Fathers had to wait until the third Sunday in June before they were honored.

The first major holiday of the year occurred on the fourth Monday in May, Memorial Day had begun as the day on which people decorated the graves of Civil War veterans. It was originally known as Decoration Day. Memorial Day parades were held in the northern states. The Memorial Day parade in Lake Geneva began in Maple Park and ended at the lakes shore where young girls placed flowers on the cenotaph in honor of deceased veterans. The American Legion firing squad fired three volleys and a wreath was placed on the lake which memorialized deceased sailors.

Memorial Day was a major holiday in Lake Geneva because it heralded the beginning of summer. Children knew that school would soon be over. Some young people had to endure two weeks of Vacation Bible School after school was over, which was sponsored by the Baptist, Congregational, and Methodist churches.

By mid-June many people from Chicago had begun arriving in Lake Geneva from Chicago on the train. By the 4th of July, the glorious summer had transformed Lake Geneva from merely a small, ordinary midwestern town into one of the nations premier resorts which it would continue to be until Labor Day, after which it would once again resume its role as an ordinary small town.
SANAA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said on Sunday it attacked a U.S. oil tanker and U.S. navy ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea on Saturday with missiles and drones, while the U.S. military responded with airstrikes.

The attacks were in support of the Palestinians and a response to the U.S.-British "aggression" against Yemen, said Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea.

He said the rebels targeted the U.S. oil tanker Torm Thor in the Gulf of Aden and several U.S. warships in the Red Sea with "appropriate naval missiles" and "unmanned aerial vehicles."

The U.S. Central Command said on social media X, formerly Twitter, that it intercepted a Houthi missile firing at the Torm Thor on Saturday.

The Houthis have stepped up their attacks on international shipping since mid-November last year to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who have been facing intense Israeli attacks. 
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MT. PLEASANT  When Donald Trumps picture appeared on screen Saturday (Sunday in Manila), his supporters at an election-night watch party in South Carolina burst into cheers  convinced that his victory in yet another state primary had cemented his status as the definitive Republican presidential nominee.

Holding slices of pizza and glasses of wine, those gathered at an upscale apartment complex outside Charleston hugged and congratulated each other, with the 77-year-old former president projected to win just moments after polls closed.

Im thrilled! Amber Sparks told AFP.

Because its definitive, and at this point we can move on we can move forward. We dont have to sit on the fence and wonder what if and ride between two candidates  now its definitive, the 55-year-old legal assistant said.

Elsewhere, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley vowed to fight on after an emphatic primary defeat to Trump in her home state, underlining the steep climb she faces to capture the Republican presidential nomination.

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I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run Im a woman of my word. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, she said.

Meanwhile, Haley lashed out at rival Trump for making what she called disgusting comments about Black Americans.

Trump suggested that Black voters favor him because they can relate to his troubles with the law.

Its disgusting. But thats what happens when he goes off the teleprompter. Thats the chaos that comes with Donald Trump, Haley said at a polling station in her home state.

Thats the offensiveness thats going to happen every day between now and the general election, which is why I continue to say Donald Trump cannot win a general election, she added.

Trump made the comments Friday evening in a speech to Black conservatives.

The 77-year-old, who faces four criminal indictments, including on charges of conspiracy and vote rigging, suggested that Black people like me because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against.

He also claimed that Black voters appreciate his police photo, taken at a Georgia jail, more than anybody else.

It was already over for her, Tom Robertson, 61, told AFP.

Trump will rule the world if he gets back in there and hell help us out.

Another attendee, Jordan Bryngelson, said Haley did a good job with the UN  when she was an ambassador under Trump  but that its just not her time.

Sparks had reservations about the controversy Trump perennially courts with his remarks, but I do love his policies, she said.

You know, youre gonna be policy-driven or youre gonna be personality-driven. But for me, its really going to come down to policy.

For another Republican, who wished to remain anonymous, voting for Trump also meant voting for their Christian values.

Meanwhile, in a shift from tit-for-tat tariffs and strong-arm tactics to tech restrictions and investment curbs, US policy towards China has become more targeted under President Joe Biden  though still hardline.

Despite differences between Democrats and Republicans, analysts expect Washingtons approach to Beijing will only become tougher, whether Biden or former president Trump wins another White House term.

I think the direction of pressure in Washington is absolutely in one direction, which is more hawkishness, said Joshua Meltzer, senior fellow at Brookings Institution.

Already, Biden has largely maintained Trump-era tariffs, rolled out export control restrictions to curtail Beijings ability to buy and make certain high-end chips, and unveiled an order to curb outbound investments to China.

Officials are also seeking to boost self-reliance in key areas including clean energy supply chains, while further action on data flows is expected.

Meltzer told AFP: There is currently congressional pressure to do more.

With citizen concerns over trade, business and manufacturing cutting across party lines, the preferred degree of toughness on China tends to be a policy rather than partisan divide, said Jamieson Greer, partner at law firm King & Spalding.

Greer, formerly US Trade Representative chief of staff during the Trump administration, believes there are two camps in Washington.

One views China as an existential threat to the economy, national security or both, therefore justifying strong and broad protection measures.

The other is cautious about overestimating the China threat, and concerned with imposing tough trade and economic measures.

But both groups assume risks associated with China  a shift that became prominent nearly a decade ago.

It became big during the 2016 presidential election cycle, when candidate Donald Trump was very, very vocal about trade issues and China in particular, Greer said.

Trump gave voice to something many people agreed with on both sides of the aisle but were unwilling to say aloud, he added.

But experts agree that a second Biden or Trump administration would diverge on policies.

The Biden administration does not expect to reach a deal with China, where theyre going to make these major reforms and changes, Meltzer said.

Its really about, how do you adjust to the reality of China? How do you bring allies along?

There is a notion of derisking from a security perspective as well, he added.

But the Trump administration favored using US leverage to broker a deal changing Chinas behavior, Meltzer said, referring to the Phase One trade agreement culminating from a truce in the escalating tariffs war.

Should Trump be elected, some expect to see higher tariffs targeting China, given his proposal of more than 60 percent levies on Chinese goods.

The move could draw Chinese retaliation, stalling trade between the worlds top two economies.

I think wed see a lot more return to tariffs, I think wed also see a lot less cooperation with allies, Meltzer said. The US would be more isolated on some of these issues.

Biden has shown willingness to maintain existing measures on China while being narrow and focused in future moves, and this is unlikely to change, Greer added.

A second Biden administration could also seek cooperation with China on issues like climate and have more room to engage  given reduced pressure to appear tough on Beijing to deflect criticism from Trump, analysts believe.

Ongoing efforts to maintain a US lead in tech will probably continue, no matter who wins the election.

But a Trump administration could show less support for onshoring advanced semiconductor manufacturing via initiatives like the CHIPS Act, or for major investments in onshoring electric vehicle and other critical mineral supply chains, said Paul Triolo, associate partner for China at Albright Stonebridge Group.

But he added: It is likely that regardless of who wins in November, the US administration would continue to implement existing technology controls, and expand controls into other technology sectors.

These include biotechnology, electric and smart vehicles.

Last month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned that Chinese-made EVs bring security risks, given the vast amounts of data collected.

Washington would also likely tighten restrictions on transfers of certain types of data to companies and organizations in China, Triolo said. AFP
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Several groups gathered to commemorate the 38th EDSA People Power Anniversary with a wreath-laying ceremony at the People Power Monument yesterday.

The historic monument is just a few meters away from the military camp where thousands once converged to call for the return of democracy in the country.

Family members, friends, and supporters of democracy icons and martial law victims were among those who attended the event organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Ian Alfonso, supervising researcher of the NHCPs Research, Publication and Heraldry Division, said the celebration will be held year after year to remind everyone of its significance, regardless of whether it is declared a holiday or not.

Remembering is not just about wreath-laying and flag-raising. It is about living it every day. What is the spirit of EDSA? What were its fruits? What have we gained from it? Those are probably the things we should always highlight and emphasize, he said.

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Among those who attended the wreath-laying ceremony was lawyer Chel Diokno, son of the late statesman and Martial Law victim Jose Diokno.

The theme of this protest is to reject Marcoss charter change moves, which is a move to remain (in) power which is basically what happened 38 years ago, said economist Rosario Guzman, 58, who told Agence France Presse that she had also taken part in the 1986 uprising.

No to Cha-Cha (charter change), read a protest banner displayed behind a mock black coffin marked Freedom and Democracy.

According to the Philippine National Police, a few hundred people joined Sundays march, a far cry from the crowd that paralyzed the capitals main avenue over four days in February 1986 until the military withdrew its support for the elder Marcos.

At the 38th anniversary march, 21-year-old demonstrator Giu de Sagun said he felt like he was watching history repeat itself.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said among the factors that led to the diminished number of participants is how the last [Duterte] administration tried to lessen the importance of the EDSA celebrations.

Francis Aquino Dee, the grandson of the late President Corazon Aquino and the late Senator Benigno Ninoy Aquino Jr. lamented the event was not declared a holiday like in previous years.

In a statement, the Office of the President maintained its respect for the commemoration of the event in 1986 but since February 25 falls on a Sunday, there is a minimal socio-economic impact in declaring such a day as a special non-working holiday since it coincides with the rest day for most workers/laborers.

A multimedia musical event by the Buhay ang Edsa Campaign Network called, The EDSA Story  A Peoples Victory, A Nations Glory was held at the Club Filipino in San Juan City to commemorate the non-violent uprising.

The late President Corazon Aquino was sworn in in 1986 in a simple ceremony at the establishment. Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will deploy more than 8,000 police personnel in the National Capital Region and Cebu on the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
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President Marcos urged the public to study history as the country marked the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

The President, in a vlog uploaded yesterday, gave the statement in response to the letter of a certain Erica who noted that people, especially in the Philippines, have distorted ideas of politics.

Your interest in history is very, very important because we have much to learn from history, the President said.

The history that has been made a long, long time ago and the history that is being made now, all of these are important, he added.

Acknowledging the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation, Mr. Marcos said the public should be more discerning.

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My grandmother taught me that you can read anything and its up to you to decide which parts are good and which parts are wrong. Thats what you can do. Thats what history can guide us with because we have experienced this before, the President said.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) says local government units (LGUs) may send Filipino workers abroad under sisterhood agreements like those forged with several cities in South Korea.

In a legal opinion issued by Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, the DOJ clarified that while the LGUs may be the primary actor when it comes to sisterhood agreements, it is still the national government agencies mainly responsible for the protection and promotion of the welfare of the workers covered under the sisterhood accord.

In particular, with respect to the deployment of Filipino workers for employment abroad, it is the DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) which has jurisdiction over the same pursuant to RA 8042 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995), as amended by RA 10022 (the law amending the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995), the DOJ stressed.

The DMW is the primary agency of the government mandated by law to protect and promote the welfare of overseas Filipino workers after it absorbed all the functions and powers of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the DOJ said.

The legal opinion was issued on behalf of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla after it was sought by Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Senior Undersecretary Elaine Musukat.

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Masukat sought the opinion as she expressed concerns over the sisterhood agreements between South Korean cities and Philippine LGUs because the scheme includes the deployment to South Korea of seasonal workers in the fields of agriculture and fisheries.

The DOJ was told that several problems have surfaced involving the deployed Filipino workers, such as non-payment or reduction of their agreed wages; bad working conditions; maltreatment; physical and verbal abuse by their employers which in some cases led to the workers death.

It was also learned that there have been news as well of illegal recruitment and some recruiters asking for collaterals for these workers to be deployed abroad.

Vasquez said Section 35 of Republic Act (RA) No. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991 (LGC), grants LGUs the authority to enter into joint ventures with peoples and non-governmental organizations to engage in the delivery of certain basic services including livelihood projects.

The law makes no distinction whether the organization is local or foreign. The sisterhood programs or agreements for the deployment of workers entered into by LGUs is akin to the delivery of livelihood projects contemplated in Section 35 of the LGC. Therefore, it is within the authority of LGUs to enter into such agreements, the DOJ official explained.

He also said that Section 23 of the LGC authorizes LGUs to negotiate with local and foreign assistance agencies to secure financial grants or donations in kind, without necessity of securing clearance or approval from any department, agency, or office of the national government or from a higher local government unit.

The employment of seasonal workers under the sisterhood agreement may qualify as part of financial grants or aid extended by their foreign partner. In this case, residents of LGUs are offered employment and remuneration in South Korean cities and companies in exchange for assisting or complementing the South Korean labor workforce, he added.
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HONOR Philippines PR Manager Pao Oga, Home Credit Head of Partner Marketing Anvey Factora, HONOR Philippines Brand Manager Joepy Libo-on, GTM Manager Steven Yan, Country Manager Sean Yuan, Vice President Stephen Cheng, National Training Head Jaynard Lamarca, and PR Supervisor Denis Santos

After the successful launch of the worlds thinnest foldable phone HONOR Magic V2 in the Philippines, more and more has locked in their pre-orders because of the whopping freebies worth P28,000 consisting of the HONOR Watch GS 3 and Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 HIFI Speaker!

Get it until March 1, 2024 at any HONOR Experience and Partner Stores or online via Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop!

Being the leading global provider of smart devices, we, at HONOR, really take pride in this revolutionary product. HONOR Magic V2 is the worlds thinnest foldable phone to date redefining all benchmarks in this category. And how can you resist the pre-order freebies? If I were you, Ill get it as soon as I can, said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng.

During the much-anticipated launch of the HONOR Magic V2, a customized tasting menu was prepared for all the guests correlated to each hero spec of HONORs newest smartphone. The cherry on top, without a doubt, is the surprise performance of Kyla. The Queen of R&B belted some of her hit songs On the Wings of Love, If the Feeling is Gone, and Hanggang Ngayon.

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The HONOR X8b with Massive Storage and revolutionary Magic Capsule was also introduced for only Php 12,999! This impressive budget phone is now available at any HONOR Experience and Partner Stores or shop online via Shopee (https://bit.ly/Shop_X8b_PR), Lazada (https://bit.ly/Laz_X8b_PR) and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/TikTok_X8b_PR)!

The Thinnest of them All

For the first time, HONOR has utilized titanium alloy in the hinge cover, an aerospace-grade material and a pioneering innovation in the hinge design of foldable smartphone industry. Titanium possesses the ideal balance between weight and strength, being lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel. It is a material that embodies the trifecta of ultra-lightness, ultra-toughness, and ultra-corrosion-resistance.

HONOR took advantage of the additional internal space and fitted a 5000mAh Silicon-carbon Battery within the HONOR Magic V2. Embedding a 5000mAh battery into such a slim and lightweight body is a testament to HONORs unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological innovation and engineering excellence, choosing the correct albeit challenging path to success.

On top of being the worlds thinnest and lightest foldable phone, the HONOR Magic V2 can also withstand more than 400,000 folds. Its exceptional properties pave the way for worry-free usage, even if the device is folded 100 times a day, ensuring a lifespan of up to ten years.

Secure your pre-order freebies now!

Only until March 1, 2024, you can get a FREE HONOR Watch GS 3 and Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 HIFI Speaker worth P28,000 in total when you pre-order HONOR Magic V2, priced at P79,999 only! Head on now to your nearest HONOR Experience and Partner Stores or shop online via Shopee (https://bit.ly/Shop_V2_PR), Lazada (https://bit.ly/Laz_V2_PR), and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/TikTok_V2_PR)!



The HONOR Magic V2 can also be purchased through Home Credit, offering 0% interest for as little as Php 1,719 per month for up to 18 months.

To learn more about the full specs of HONOR Magic V2, check out: https://bit.ly/Web_V2_PR. For more exciting announcements, head on to HONOR Philippines social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok Shop: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONORs complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.
Eight members of the Boko Haram terrorist group were killed on Saturday by Cameroonian defense forces during an operation in the Far North of the country, local security sources reported.

Soldiers from the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) ambushed a commando from the Boko Haram group in the early hours of the morning of February 24 in Igawa, a locality located in the Cameroonian department of Mayo-Sava, on the border with Nigeria.

This operation made it possible to seize 2 rifles belonging to the terrorists, the security sources were quoted by the media as saying.

Since 2014, the Far North region of Cameroon has been plagued by attacks perpetrated by the Boko Haram group, which also rages in the border regions of Nigeria.
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has arrested a gang of three foreigners for possessing and trafficking illicit drugs, seizing over 16 kg of narcotics, the country's Anti-Drug Department (ADP) said in a news release on Sunday.

The trio, males aged between 21 and 31, were apprehended Wednesday night in raids on two locations in the capital Phnom Penh after an investigation for several months.

"A total of 16.49 kg of ecstasy, ketamine and nimetazepam were confiscated from the trio's possession during the crackdowns," the ADP said, adding that another 5.6 kg of unknown substance was also seized from them.

The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.

According to the ADP, Cambodia nabbed 19,940 drug-related suspects, including 499 foreigners, in 2023, with 2.97 tonnes of narcotics seized.

The seized drugs included heroin, ecstasy, ketamine, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and cathinone. 
Sri Lanka scraps long-term visa extensions

Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have been using the policy to live on the island. Photo: Shutterstock

Sri Lanka said Sunday it had ended long-term tourist visa extensions for thousands of Russians and Ukrainians using the policy to live on the island since Moscow's attack on Ukraine.



"The government is not granting further visa extensions," Commissioner-General of Immigration Harsha Ilukpitiya told AFP, giving a March 7 deadline for departure.



"The flight situation has now normalised and they have no difficulty in getting back."



Just over 288,000 Russians and nearly 20,000 Ukrainians have visited Sri Lanka in the past two years, according to official figures.



It is not clear how many stayed longer than the usual 30-day tourist visa.



But thousands of Russians and smaller numbers of Ukrainians are believed to have settled in Sri Lanka, some to avoid potential draft into the army.



Some who stayed have started restaurants and set up nightclubs.



The government decision coincided with a furious social media backlash against a Russian-run nightclub which had organised a "whites-only" party in the southern coastal resort town of Unawatuna.



Sri Lanka sought to boost tourism by granting 30-day visas on arrival, as the country desperately needed foreign exchange as it recovers from its worst economic crisis since mid-2022.



The country defaulted on its US$46 billion foreign debt in April 2022 and months of street protests led to the resignation of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa three months later.



An IMF bailout of US$2.9 billion has helped stabilise the economy and end shortages of essentials such as food, fuel and medicines.
Polish farmers block key road into Germany

Polish farmers say they are targeting the European Union's so-called Green Deal on energy, transportation and taxation. Photo: AP

Polish farmers on Sunday blocked a major highway into Germany in the latest such protest against EU regulations and taxes.



Farmers across Europe have been protesting for weeks over what they say are excessively restrictive environmental rules, competition from cheap imports from outside the European Union and low incomes.



On Sunday, farmers from Poland blocked the A2 motorway near Slubice, in the east on the border with Germany.



"The blockade began at 1:00 pm (1200 GMT). Both sides of the A2 motorway have been stopped," said Ewa Murmylo, a spokeswoman for local police.



Initially the farmers had been planning a 25-day blockade but reduced it following talks with local representatives, businesses and transporters.



They have decided "to unblock the road probably tomorrow," said Dariusz Wrobel, one of the Polish farmer organisers.



"This will depend on things that we can't predict," he said. "We need to start taking ourselves seriously."



On Monday, EU agriculture ministers are due to meet in Brussels.



They are to discuss new European Commission proposals aiming to change regulations at the heart of the discontent, for example reducing the number of checks on produce.



Polish farmers say they are targeting the European Union's so-called Green Deal on energy, transportation and taxation, which is an element of the 27-nation's bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.



They say they have been especially hit by increased taxes and other rules.



The farmers have also blocked crossing points at Poland's border with non-EU member Ukraine border to denounce what they say is unfair competition from their war-torn neighbour's cheaper produce.



On Friday, Polish officials snubbed a delegation led by Ukraine's prime minister seeking to resolve tensions caused by weeks-long Polish farmer protests at the shared border.



Polish authorities said they had never agreed to a border meeting over the demonstrations, which Ukraine says threaten its exports and are holding up deliveries of crucial weapons for its war against Russia, now entering its third year. (AFP)
Global icon Priyanka Chopra has expressed her excitement about joining the Oscar-nominated documentary 'To Kill a Tiger' as an executive producer alongside Dev Patel, Mindy Kaling, and others. Taking to her Instagram handle, she wrote in a post, "I'm so proud to join the incredible team of the Academy Award nominated documentary @tokillatigerdoc , and to announce that @netflix has acquired the global distribution rights to this powerful feature directed by @nishappics . When I first watched this film in 2022, I was immediately captivated by its poignant narrative, depicting a father's valiant struggle within the judicial system to secure justice for his daughter. This project serves as a testament to the boundless love and unyielding determination of a devoted father for his cherished daughter." She continued talking about the project, saying, "This hard hitting piece of art also really hits home on so many levels, but personally, I was born in the state of Jharkhand (where the survivor and her father are from), and as the daughter of a father that was my forever champion...I was moved to pieces. I cannot wait for audiences around the world to discover this moving story." https://www.instagram.com/p/C3v7vU0tcB7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== As per the reports in Deadline, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas is joining the award-winning feature documentary as an executive producer. The news comes as Netflix inks a deal to launch the film globally on its platform soon. "Priyanka has stood as an unwavering advocate for the film since debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022," a release noted, "captivated by its poignant narrative depicting a father's valiant struggle within the judicial system to secure justice for his daughter." 'To Kill a Tiger', directed by Nisha Pahuja, has won two dozen prizes throughout the world, including Best Documentary at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Amplify Voices Award at TIFF, and Best Feature Documentary at the Canadian Screen prizes. The Directors Guild of Canada recognised Pahuja with the 2023 Excellence in Documentary Award. Despite not having any distribution in the United States, it made the Oscar documentary shortlist and was nominated; the Netflix arrangement will ultimately alter that. According to Deadline, Pahuja spent eight years working on the film, which centers on Ranjit, a poor farmer whose 13-year-old daughter Kiran became the victim of a brutal sexual assault. Pressured by his village to drop charges against the three young men accused of the attack, Ranjit and his wife Jiganti refused. The film takes place in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand (where Priyanka Chopra Jonas was born). To Kill a Tiger, a release comments, "serves as a testament to the boundless love and unyielding determination of a devoted father for his cherished daughter." Along with Chopra, Patel, and Kaling, fellow executive producers are Dr. Atul Gawande, the surgeon and bestselling author, Canadian poet Rupi Kaur, writer-producer Andy Cohen (Beijing Spring), Anita Lee, Andrew Dragoumis, Shivani Rawat, Mona Sinha (Equality Now), Mala Gaonkar (Surgo Foundation), Regina Scully, Anita Bhatia, Niraj Bhatia, Deepa Mehta and others. Aoart from this, Priyanka Chopra will be seen in 'Heads of State', alongside John Cena and Idris Elba. She will also be seen in Farhan Akhtar's next directorial 'Jee Le Zaraa' alongside Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt. (ANI)
'Oppenheimer' star Cillian Murphy has all the reasons to celebrate as he took home the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, reported People. The other nominees in the category included Bradley Cooper for 'Maestro', Colman Domingo for 'Rustin', Paul Giamatti for 'The Holdovers', Cillian Murphy for 'Oppenheimer' and Jeffrey Wright for 'American Fiction'. "Oh my goodness," Murphy began in his speech. "This is extremely, extremely special to me, because it comes from you guys." "Okay, my Oppenheimer crew, my Oppenheimer family. Just an FYI on that exquisite moniker 'Oppenhomies,'" he added. "That was actually invented by the great Olivia Thirlby. So, Olivia, I think you should immediately trademark that and start merching the s--- out of it because someone else will. Seriously, they were the greatest group of actors I've ever had the pleasure of working with." "I have never felt so looked after or cared for by a group of actors every day. Looking at your names on the call sheet, just made me brave guys. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you," he added. He also gave a special shout-out to his fellow nominees, saying, "I am just bursting with admiration and respect for you all." "Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, as always such a debt of gratitude to you. To my wife, Yvonne and my boys, Malachy and Aran, I adore you." He concluded, "Twenty-eight years ago when I was trying to become an actor, I was a failed musician and I felt extremely like an interloper. But now looking out and all of you guys here today, I know that I'm part of something truly wonderful. So thank you so much." According to People, 'Oppenheimer' has produced several award-winning performances, including Murphy's, 47, as the titular lead. The Irish actor plays J Robert Oppenheimer, inventor of the atomic bomb used in World War II. His portrayal of Oppenheimer's moral dilemmas earned him critical acclaim, and he took home wins at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs. He also nabbed a nod at the Critics Choice Awards and is nominated for Best Actor at next month's Oscars. While talking to People, Robert Downey Jr said of his 'Oppenheimer' costar, "I have never witnessed a greater sacrifice by a lead actor in my career." Downey, who plays Atomic Energy Commission chairman Lewis Strauss in the film, said he was impressed by Murphy's "commitment" to the massive undertaking of leading Christopher Nolan's three-hour epic. "He knew it was going to be a behemoth ask when Chris called him. But I think he also had the humility that is required to survive playing a role like this," said Downey. With four SAG nods, Nolan's masterpiece is tied with 'Barbie' for the most by a picture this year. Robert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt received nominations for their supporting parts, while the ensemble is vying for best-cast performance. Other candidates included Cooper, 49, who received his fourth SAG Award nomination for his depiction of conductor Leonard Bernstein in Maestro. The biopic chronicles Bernstein's turbulent marriage to Felicia Montealegre, portrayed by Carey Mulligan. During this year's awards season, Cooper has picked up several nominations for his performance. Cooper, who also co-wrote and directed the film, was nominated for the best actor category at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards, Oscars and BAFTAs. 'Maestro' has a total of two nominations at this year's ceremony, the other nominee being Mulligan for leading actress. Domingo, 54, receives his first individual nod at this year's ceremony for his role in the biographical drama 'Rustin'. Domingo embodies the eponymous Bayard Rustin, a civil rights activist who worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. to organize the March on Washington. The 56-year-old Giamatti of 'The Holdovers' co-stars in the poignant comedy-drama directed by writer-director Alexander Payne (Election) with Dominic Sessa and fellow nominee Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Giamatti has garnered praise for his portrayal as severe boarding school instructor Paul Hunham. He has been nominated for an Oscar and BAFTA, won a Critics' Choice award, and won a third Golden Globe. In his Globes acceptance speech in January, Giamatti said, "Teachers are good people. Gotta respect them. They do a good thing. It's a tough job, so this is for teachers as well. Thanks, guys. Thank you." He previously won three acting awards at the SAG Awards in 2006, 2009 and 2012 for Cinderella Man, John Adams and Too Big to Fail, respectively. Wright, 58, plays writer Thelonius "Monk" Ellison in 'American Fiction'. Ellison is a disgruntled novelist who produces a stereotypically Black book out of spite, only to have it turn as his best-selling book. The comedy, which is based on Percival Everett's 2001 book Erasure, follows Monk as he deals with the book's effects on his family and profession. Wright last got a SAG Award nomination for solo performance in 2004, for the film Angels in America. It has been 20 years since then. Throughout awards season, he received several nods for his well praised role as Monk, including for the Oscar and Golden Globes. 'American Fiction' has three nominations, with Sterling K. Brown recognized for his supporting role and the film's ensemble for outstanding cast, reported People. (ANI)
Actors Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon's recently released romantic comedy film 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya' received positive responses from the audiences. Written and directed by first-time filmmakers Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah, 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya' features Shahid as a man who falls in love and decides to marry a robot, named Sifra (Kriti). Apart from Shahid and Kriti, the film also starred veteran actors Dharmendra and Dimple Kapadia. Talking to ANI, Director Amit Joshi shared his experience of working with the 'Sholay' actor in his debut directorial film. He said, "Dharam ji is a legend. I learnt a lot from him, he is so dedicated. He always used to come on the set 1 hour early. He is such a great artist, he gave so much respect to the first time director and also asked me how to do the scenes and he himself even improvised on the set." Sharing his experience of working with Dimple Kapadia, Amit told ANI, "She is very prepared, she asked me about the scenes a day before and we used to go through everything so that when we reach the set, both of us are completely ready." "With the blessings of legends like them a film performs good and the environment on the sets remains positive. Their presence itself makes that moment very memorable. I had a wonderful experience and I learned a lot," he added. As per Maddock Films, in 15 days, the film has minted Rs 124.63 crore Worldwide Gross. On Sunday, Amit also dropped a special BTS video from the sets of 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya' that featured some fun filled moments of Dharmendra along with the other cast of the film. Taking to X, Amit wrote, "This is how Dharam ji, our very own lucky charm, did all the jaadu tona with his acting brilliance on the sets of TBMAUJ and showered everyone with love!" https://twitter.com/itsmeamitjoshi/status/1761707724533084238 Earlier, during a press conference of the film in New Delhi, Kriti shared her experience of working with the veteran stars in the film. Talking about Dharmendra, the 'Mimi' actor said, "He is just too loving, he is so warm. The way he meets you, he places hand on your head. If someday he feels good in his costume, then he takes his pictures and send it to his sons (Bobby and Sunny Deol) and then his sons send him voice notes telling 'Papa you're looking good'. So, I just feel that he is a family man. He's got so much warmth and so much zest for life. Like when he is acting, he is really sharp, and he is just superb. He makes us laugh so much and his improvisation is always bang on! Sometimes we forget our lines, and we are like, "Oh no, we can't make him do another take." He is lovely, and it's a pleasure to work with him." She also recalled her experience working with Dimple Kapadia."Dimple ma'am is the coolest. Her personality, I remember the first time I met her at the airport, and just the way she was carrying herself--unke chashme, kuch paanch colors the unke chashme mein (There were like five different colours in her spectacles). Just the aura she brings everywhere, even on the screen. She is a very sure actor, and just anything she says is so convincing. You learn a lot when you are working with actors like them," she added. 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya' is produced by Maddock Films. (ANI)
Delhi Police has arrested three accused and apprehended a juvenile in connection with a knife stabbing case at the IP Extension area. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DSP) East, Apoorva Gupta said, "The three accused persons are identified as Sumit Kumar, Harsh Kumar and Himanshu, with the recovery of the looted mobile phone and laptop bag of the deceased. One Child in Conflict with Law (CCL) was also apprehended. The knife used in the offence has been recovered as well. Further investigation is in progress." According to the police, on the intervening night of February 23-24, a PCR call was received at PS Madhu Vihar, in which the caller stated that he along with his friend Narender went to DDA Park in front of CNG Gas Station, IP Extension, to have some liquor. Four unknown persons came near them and stabbed Narender multiple times and took away his laptop bag and mobile phone. The injured person was taken to LBS hospital where the doctor declared him brought dead. A case under Section 302/397/394/392/34 IPC was registered and an investigation was taken up. "I, along with other senior officers, reached the spot. The injured person had 10-15 wounds and he died because of excessive bleeding. An FIR under sections 302, 394, and 397 of IPC has been registered and the investigation is underway. We are investigating it from both angles, generally, this kind of robbery doesn't have multiple injuries. By not taking the witness at face value we are collecting circumstantial evidence to corroborate," DCP Apoorva Gupta added. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal President, Sukanta Majumdar, has said that everyone should raise their voices against the Sandeshkhali incident, and he is also not protesting as a party leader but as a teacher and a father. "I am not doing this movement as the leader of a political party, it is secondary. But being a teacher and a father, I feel that if I don't speak out now, my children will question me in the future. Everyone should raise their voices against this," Majumdar told ANI. "I was stopped twice. There was a rift with the police as well. I also got hospitalized. We are ready to be arrested any number of times but we will not let such an incident happen to the women of Bengal. We will put pressure on Mamata Banerjee to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan," he added. The BJP leader further said that the TMC is trying to avoid Shahjahan because such people run the entire vote machinery of the party. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) State Ministers Sujit Bose and Partha Bhowmik interacted with the locals of Sandeshkhali on Saturday. After interacting with the villagers, West Bengal Irrigation Minister Partha Bhowmick said that not a single woman has raised the issue of assault. Partha Bhowmick said, "We have interacted with the locals today. We will try to resolve the problems. There are cases of land grabbing. The land will be given back to those from whom it was snatched. The DM has also set up camps in several districts. No woman has raised the issue of assault. This is fake and it has been established today. Those who are bad have no place in TMC. We will again visit here." TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that the issue of land grabbing and non-payment is real but the news regarding the atrocities against women is fake. A large number of women in Sandeshkhali have accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of "land-grab and sexually assaulting" them under coercion. Shahjahan continues to evade arrest, with both state police and central agencies unable to trace him. (ANI)
West Bengal Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has said that West Bengal police will not arrest Trinamool Congress absconding leader Sheikh Shahjahan because he controls votes. The BJP leader also pointed out that section 144 imposed by the state government is only to prevent BJP leaders. "Strictest action should be taken. Sheikh Shahjahan should get capital punishment. The CBI and NIA investigations should happen. They should take appropriate action as soon as possible. The people of Sandeshkhali and the entire West Bengal are waiting for it. This section 144 is imposed only to prevent BJP leaders, MLAs and MPs. It is illegal. It is politically motivated. The state government is using section 144 to hide the situation inside," Adhikari said. "Under PM Modi's government, ED and other investigative agencies have the freedom to work; hence, the incident of Sandeshkhali is in front of the entire country," he added. He also pointed out that state police will not arrest TMC's absconding leader Sheikh Shahjahan because he controls votes. "Mamata Banerjee's police will not arrest Sheikh Shahjahan because he controls the votes. If he is arrested, then TMC will lose the Basirhat seat. The hearing is on March 6 on CJI's bench. We hope that the case will go to CBI and Shahjahan will be in jail within 24 hours," he added. Suvendu further alleged that Sheikh Shahjahan, who joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2013, before that, was the leader of the CPI (M), who did bribe collection, was a land mafia and sent 20 per cent to Kolkata through Jyotipriya Mallick and Narayan Goswami, who are prominent leaders of the North 24 Paraganas. Adhikari also said that there is a situation of presidential rule in West Bengal, but he is not demanding the same. "BJP has not imposed President's rule anywhere in the last 10 years except Jammu and Kashmir. The objective of our party is to change power by making the public aware. There is a situation of the president's rule in Bengal but as a BJP leader, I am not demanding it," he said. (ANI)
Following the darshan at the temple, PM Modi will inaugurate the Sudarshan Bridge.

The bridge, which was known as 'Signature Bridge', has been renamed as 'Sudarshan Setu' or Sudarshan Bridge. Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, which is nearly 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated.

'Sudarshan Setu' is India's longest cable-stayed bridge, which will connect the Okha mainland and the Beyt Dwarka island in Gujarat.

Ahead of the inauguration of his 'dream project', the Okha-Beyt Dwarka Signature Bridge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it will be a momentous occasion for Gujarat's developmental journey.

In a social media post on X on Saturday, PM Modi said, "Tomorrow is a special day for Gujarat's growth trajectory. Among the several projects being inaugurated is the Sudarshan Setu, connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka. This is a stunning project which will enhance connectivity."

The bridge, spanning 2.5 kilometres, holds immense significance for both residents and pilgrims visiting the revered Dwarkadhish Temple.

Initiated by the Centre in 2017 with a groundbreaking ceremony, the bridge aims to simplify access for devotees commuting between Okha and Bet Dwarka. Before its construction, pilgrims had to rely on boat transport to reach the Dwarkadhish Temple in Beyt, Dwarka.

The 2.5 km bridge is being built for Rs 978 crore.

The Signature Bridge boasts a unique design, featuring a footpath adorned with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna on both sides. It also holds the distinction of being India's longest cable-stayed bridge, with solar panels installed on the upper portions of the footpath, generating one megawatt of electricity. (ANI)
The event also called Manjuvirattu took place in the Araliparai village in Sivaganga district on Saturday.

Earlier, a Jallikattu event was held at Kulathur village in Tamil Nadu's Pudukkottai district.

According to the organisers, 700 bulls and 350 tamers participated in the event.

Police personnel were deployed in the village for security. In the first round of the event, 15 people were injured.

In Tamil Nadu, the year's first Jallikattu was held at Thatchankurichi village in Pudukkottai district on January 6. The bull-taming sport began at Avaniyapuram in Madurai district on January 15, followed by the event held at Palamedu in Madurai district on January 16.

Pointing out the risk of injury, both to the participants and the bull, the animal rights organisations called for a ban on the sport. However, the Supreme Court, in May 2023, upheld the Tamil Nadu government's law allowing the bull-taming sport Jallikattu in the state.

The Tamil Nadu government had defended the event of Jallikattu, telling the apex court that sporting events can also be cultural events and there is no cruelty on the bulls.

Jallikattu is an age-old event celebrated mostly in Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal celebrations.

In Jallikattu, a bull is released into a crowd of people, and participants in the event try to grab the large hump on the bull's back, attempting to bring the bull to a stop.

The history of Jallikattu dates back to 400-100 BC, when the Ayars, an ethnic group in India, played it.

The name is coined from two words: Jalli (silver and gold coins) and Kattu (tied). (ANI)
SANAA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A man was killed and six members of his family were injured in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz in Saturday's overnight airstrikes by the U.S.-British forces, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported on Sunday.

Following the airstrikes, Yemen's Houthi-controlled Saba news agency said "the American-British aggression airstrikes targeted the communications networks in the Shamir area of Maqbanah district, and in Haifan district," both in Taiz province.

It also reported other airstrikes on a farm in the Abs district in the northwestern province of Hajjah, and more than a dozen of airstrikes in the capital Sanaa targeting several well-known military positions.

The U.S. Central Command on Sunday said on social media platform X that its forces and allies on Saturday targeted 18 military positions of the armed Houthi group. "The targets included Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter," it said.

These strikes are intended to "degrade Houthi capability and disrupt their continued reckless and unlawful attacks" on international commercial and U.S. and British vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, the U.S. Central Command added.

In response, the Houthis issued a televised statement following the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, in which they claimed responsibility for new missile and drone attacks they launched on Saturday against what the group said "a U.S. oil tanker and U.S. navy ships," vowing for more.

The Houthis have controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah since the Yemeni civil war erupted in late 2014. 
West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday, hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating that "she is a cruel lady." He also alleged that the West Bengal CM lodged 42 cases against him. "Stop calling Mamata Banerjee 'Didi'; she has now become an 'aunty'... I defeated her in Nandigram during the assembly elections. She lodged 42 cases against me. She is a cruel lady," said BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari at Jawaharlal Nehru University while addressing a panel discussion on political violence in Bengal at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Earlier, West Bengal Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, had stated that West Bengal police would not arrest absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan because he "controls votes." "Mamata Banerjee's police will not arrest Sheikh Shahjahan because he controls the votes. If he is arrested, then TMC will lose the Basirhat seat. The hearing is on March 6 on CJI's bench. We hope that the case will go to CBI, and Shahjahan will be in jail within 24 hours," he said. The BJP leader also pointed out that section 144 imposed by the state government is only to prevent BJP leaders. "Strictest action should be taken. Sheikh Shahjahan should get capital punishment. The CBI and NIA investigations should happen. They should take appropriate action as soon as possible. The people of Sandeshkhali and the entire West Bengal are waiting for it. Section 144 is imposed only to prevent BJP leaders, MLAs, and MPs. It is illegal. It is politically motivated. The state government is using section 144 to hide the situation inside," Adhikari said. "Under PM Modi-led government, ED and other investigative agencies have the freedom to work; hence, the incident of Sandeshkhali is in front of the entire country," he added. Suvendu further alleged that Sheikh Shahjahan, who joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2013, was previously the leader of the CPI (M), involved in bribe collection, was a land mafia, and sent 20 per cent to Kolkata through Jyotipriya Mallick and Narayan Goswami, prominent leaders of North 24 Paraganas. Adhikari also stated that there is a situation of presidential rule in West Bengal, but he is not demanding the same. "BJP has not imposed President's rule anywhere in the last 10 years except Jammu and Kashmir. The objective of our party is to change power by making the public aware. There is a situation of the president's rule in Bengal, but as a BJP leader, I am not demanding it," he added. (ANI)
The mission was crucial given it was conducted at short notice on February 23, the Indian Air Force said on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1761571787446313139

"An IAF Dornier aircraft was activated at short notice to airlift a team of doctors of Army Hospital (R&R), to retrieve a liver from Pune to Delhi during the night on 23 February," it said.

The subsequent transplant surgery helped save the life of the veteran, the IAF added.

Army Hospital (Research And Referral), also known as Army Hospital (R&R) is the apex flagship medical care centre in the Delhi Cantonment area for the armed forces where the personnel associated with the armed forces and their family members get treatment. (ANI)
After a major crackdown on the drug nexus in Pune, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, visited the Pune Police Commissioner's office on Saturday and felicitated the crime branch and anti-narcotics team involved in the operation. He also announced a reward of Rs25 lakh to the Pune police team that busted the racket. The Pune police recently seized approximately 1,800 kilograms of mephedrone, valued at Rs 3,600 crore in the international market, after raids at various locations. During the visit, Deputy CM and Home Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, addressed the police officials and praised the work being done by the Pune Police to control the drug menace in the city. "I want to congratulate the Pune Police for taking major action against drugs in the city. I feel this is the biggest crackdown on drugs in recent times. Approximately 3,600 crores worth of MD drugs were recovered and seized by the Pune police during this crackdown," Fadnavis said. "We have been working to make Maharashtra drug-free for the last few months, and at the national level, under the leadership of Home Minister Amit Shah, a drug-free campaign to make India drug-free is also going on," he added. Fadnavis further said, "We have a zero-tolerance policy against drugs because it destroys youth and can do more damage than a missile or bomb. What happened in Pune is an eye-opener. Just imagine if this much drug that was recovered had reached the end-user. How could it have damaged youth." Praising the Pune Police Commissioner for the major crackdown and announcing a Rs 25 lakh award for the Pune police, he said, "This was a major action led by Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. I would like to appreciate all the team members who were involved in this action, but we can't stop here. We have to go ahead and find every linkage, be it small or big, and track down all the routes and people involved in it." (ANI)
Abdul Malik, the prime suspect in the Haldwani violence, was presented before the Sessions Court in Haldwani. The Nainital police, who apprehended Malik in Delhi, appealed to the court for custody, arguing that a 10-day interrogation period was essential. The accused was presented before the Haldwani court on Saturday night. Accepting police's request, the court has placed Abdul Malik in police custody until March 6. The case is scheduled for further proceedings following this period. On Saturday, Uttarakhand police arrested the key accused in the violence, that took place in Banbhulpura, Haldwani, on February 8. State Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar had announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for the Uttarakhand Police team that arrested Abdul Malik from Delhi, spokesperson IG Nilesh Bharne said. The arrested accused, Abdul Malik, will soon be produced in court, said the police. Uttarakhand Police Headquarters (PHQ) Spokesperson Nilesh Anand Bharne said, "The Nainital police were in a constant search for the mastermind of the Haldwani violence. The mastermind, Abdul Malik, today has been arrested in Dehli." On Wednesday, the police said that a total of 74 people had been arrested in the case. The authorities had said that the violence had broken out during an anti-encroachment drive in Haldwani. Stone-pelting incidents, torching of vehicles, and a mob surrounding the local police station were witnessed during the violence. To contain the situation, the administration had to issue a shoot-at-sight order in the area. The Municipal Corporation here issued a recovery notice of Rs 2.44 crore against Abdul Malik, a key accused in the violence at Haldwani, asking him to deposit the money to cover damage caused to government property during the clash. In the violence, four people were killed and 250 policemen were injured. According to the police, the mob burned down Banbhulpura police station. A curfew was imposed in the entire town for two days. (ANI)
Assam's few Congress MLAs are in touch with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), claimed its leader Rafiqul Islam, adding that the Assam Congress is now in a broken state. AIUDF MLA and party General Secretary Rafiqul Islam told ANI that many Congress leaders joined the BJP, many others may go to the BJP, and a few others are in touch with the AIUDF also. He appealed to the Congress MLAs to not join the BJP if they wanted to work for the people of the state. "6-7 of its (Congress) MLAs have already gone to the BJP. Many other Congress MLAs are now thinking of quitting the party. Even the Assam Chief Minister said that, when needed, we will take them. We appeal to the Congress MLAs to not go to the BJP. If you go to BJP, then you will be washed in the washing machine, and you will have no work. If you want to fight for the people, to work for the people of Assam, then come to our party, the AIUDF," Rafiqul Islam said. He further claimed that a few Congress MLAs are now in touch with the AIUDF. On the other hand, talking about the INDIA parties, the AIUDF MLA said that, the people of the country want to get rid of the BJP. "Our future is not safe in the hands of the BJP. Indian democracy and economy are also not safe in the hands of the BJP. For this reason, people are now searching for an alternative. Congress has now become weak everywhere. If the regional parties come out with strength, then the BJP will face defeat. The Congress should give their support to the regional parties, and they should give honour to the regional parties. Where the Congress is weak, it should give away the maximum number of seats to the regional forces. Where the Congress is strong, they can fight there with a strong position. If the strong candidate of the INDI alliance wins, then we will be happy," Rafiqul Islam said. He further said that his party will contest in three seats in Assam, and in the other 11 seats, the AIUDF's supporters will vote against the BJP. "Our supporters can't go with the BJP. Our party will contest in three out of 14 seats in Assam in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, and we are doing hard work to win all three seats. If there is a strong candidate who will fight against the BJP in other 11 seats and win, then we will be happy. Our supporters are against the BJP, and our supporters votes can't go to the BJP," Rafiqul Islam said. (ANI)
According to officials, police personnel went on to search after receiving information about the Naxalites gathering.

The encounter took place in a forest area in Koyalibeda during an anti-naxal operation.

"A joint team of police and Border Security Force (BSF) security forces have gunned down three naxals in an encounter that took place in insurgency-hit Kanker district of Chhattisgarh," Kanker SP Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

"The team has recovered two weapons," said the SP, adding the slain Naxals are yet to be identified.

"The encounter took place at Koylibeda area in the district," the SP added.

Earlier, a Naxal was killed in an encounter with the District Reserve Guards (DRG) in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday.

According to Chhattisgarh police, the Naxal was killed during an exchange of fire that broke out between DRG jawans and the outlaws in the Burkalanka jungle area.

Notably, two men were killed in Chhattisgarh's Sukma village allegedly by Naxals who suspected them of being police informers, police had said. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at the Congress on Sunday, saying that during its tenure, the budget for infrastructure was looted through scams, and he said that Congress used power to conceal these scams. While addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Dwarka, PM Modi said that Congress's intention to provide facilities to the common people was "maligned.". "Those who ruled the country for a long time did not have the willpower. Their intention to provide facilities to the common people was maligned. All of Congress' power was used to make only one family prosperous. How would they have remembered to do something for the country? All of their power was used in thinking about how to make the government last for 5 years, and how to hide the scams," the PM said. The remark by PM Modi was made after he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 4150 crore in Gujarat's Dwarka on Sunday. He further said that the Congress could make India only the 11th largest economy in the 10 years before 2014 as they used their full strength to hide their corruption. "They used their full strength to hide their corruption. That's why they could make India only the 11th largest economy in the world in their 10 years. The budget, which used to be for infrastructure, was looted through scams. Congress did the 2G scam, a Commonwealth scam, a helicopter scam, and a submarine scam. Congress has only betrayed every need of the country," the PM added. Coming down heavily on the opposition, the PM said that they are witnessing the formation of the New India, which idea was 'ridiculed' by them. "When I gave the guarantee of the making of the New India, the opposition, which is fond of abusing me, ridiculed that. Today, everyone is watching the formation of the New India in front of their eyes," he added. The PM inaugurated Sudarshan Setu, which is the country's longest cable-stayed bridge, spanning around 2.32 km, connecting the Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka in Gujarat, on Sunday morning and said that the bridge is an "engineering marvel." "When I was the CM, the locals used to speak to me about a bridge. The Congress government never paid attention to this. The construction of the Sudarshan Setu was written in my fate by Lord Krishna... The electricity for the lights on the Sudarshan Bridge will come from the Solar panels installed on the bridge. Sudarshan Setu is not just a facility, it is also an engineering marvel. Students of structural engineering should come and study the Sudarshan Setu. It is India's longest cable bridge," PM Modi asserted. The bridge, previously known as the 'Signature Bridge', has been renamed 'Sudarshan Setu' or Sudarshan Bridge. Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, approximately 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated. 'Sudarshan Setu' is India's longest cable-stayed bridge, linking the Okha mainland and the Beyt Dwarka island in Gujarat. The PM also said that the moments he spent in the deep sea performing the Pooja of Lord Krishna will stay with him forever. "Today, I experienced those moments with will stay with me forever... I went deep in the sea and did 'Darshan' of the ancient Dwarka city. Archaeologists have written a lot about the Dwarka city hidden underwater. In our scriptures also, it is said about Dwarka that it was a city with beautiful gates and tall buildings, as tall as the top of the world. Lord Krishna himself constructed this city... When I went deep in the sea, I experienced the divinity... I bowed down in front of Dwarkadhish. I took a peacock feather with me and placed it at Lord Krishna's feet. I had always been curious to go there and touch the remains of the ancient Dwarka city. I am full of emotions today... A decades-old dream was completed today..." the PM said. PM Modi also dived into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Gujarat to perform an underwater puja in the remains of the ancient submerged city of Lord Krishna's Dwarka. In the photos shared by the PM on his X handle, he can be seen in scuba gear and descending into the azure waters to offer prayers at the site steeped in historical and spiritual significance. PM Modi also paid homage to the ancient city, making an offering of peacock feathers--a symbolic tribute to Lord Krishna who founded the ancient city. "I thank Ahir Mother for their blessings. A video went viral a few days ago that 37,000 Ahir women did garba together...People me how was this happening in sync. I told them that 37,000 women doing Garba is nothing, the bigger fact is that there is at least a total of 25,000 kg of gold is there on all of them combined... I bow down in front of Dwarka Dham, the workplace of Lord Krishna... Everything here happens with the will of Lord Krishna only..." the PM added. (ANI)
Congratulating the newly selected candidates, the Chief Minister said, "I welcome them to serve the nation."

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yogi Adityanath said that the double engine government's vision is the same as PM Modi's vision.

"Within the last six years, the youth of the state have got more than 6 lakh government jobs," he added.

"At the groundbreaking ceremony direct employment was provided to 34 lakh youth," said CM Yogi.

Uttar Pradesh CM also assured stringent action against those involved in the police paper leak case.

"Action will be taken under zero tolerance policy against all those who play with the lives of the youth. An investigation will be done in a way that it becomes an example for the others," said CM Yogi.

Earlier, UP CM Yogi announced on Saturday the cancellation of the police recruitment examination due to the question paper leak. Following the announcement, candidates across the state celebrated the decision.

Those who had been demanding the cancellation expressed their happiness and gratitude towards CM Yogi for prioritizing the interests of the youth by taking this decisive action.

As soon as the announcement was made, students took to social media to express their appreciation. Numerous hashtags supporting CM Yogi gained momentum, with #YogiWithYouth emerging as the top trend.

Through this hashtag, students justified CM Yogi's decision and lauded the government for prioritizing the interests of the youth. Additionally, CM Yogi's post regarding the exam cancellation quickly gained traction, reaching over 10 lakh views by 6 pm.

It is noteworthy that on Saturday, CM Yogi, demonstrating his zero-tolerance policy in cases like question paper leaks, not only cancelled the examinations but also reprimanded the officials involved in the recruitment process and issued instructions to conduct the examinations with complete transparency within 6 months. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday inaugurated a public screening of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio program "Mann Ki Baat" at Harshil enclave in Dehradun on Sunday. After listening to the 110th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Chief Minister Dhami said that once again the Prime Minister has touched the hearts of the countrymen with his powerful thoughts. He said that the Prime Minister has kept different types of topics in Mann Ki Baat. To encourage the young voters who have completed 18 years of age, the Prime Minister has said "My first vote is for the country". Certainly, this will encourage new voters, he said. "Today we all become a part of such a program, the name of which is 'Mann Ki Baat' but in a true sense, it is the talk of the people, the talk of the pride of the country, the praise of Maa Bharati and the honour of India," CM Dhami said. The Chief Minister said that all the topics included by the Prime Minister in this program became a powerful medium of public awareness and had a very positive impact on the citizens. He said that many personalities, tourist places etc. of our Uttarakhand also got a place in Mann Ki Baat from time to time, as a result of which people from all over the world got acquainted with our folk music and our folk culture. He said that the Prime Minister has won the trust of the people through the Mann Ki Baat programme. He said that trust is something that does not come automatically, it has to be earned Modi ji has earned the trust of the people and the result of that trust is that the government led by him is continuously doing better work in every field. The Chief Minister said that all-round and inclusive development has taken place under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Today, food security has been ensured to 80 crore people in the country, disabled people have been empowered, about 50 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened, about four crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, tap water has been provided to about nine crore houses. Apart from giving six thousand rupees every year to the farmers in the form of Kisan Samman Nidhi, the benefit of a crop insurance scheme is also being given to them. Apart from this, for women empowerment, about 12 crore Izzat Ghars were built in rural areas and more than 10 crore Ujjwala connections were given. To provide maximum employment opportunities to the youth, a campaign of one million recruitments was started by organizing a job fair and we fought epidemics like Corona boldly along with providing free vaccines to the people, the vaccine was also made available to many countries. The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, on one hand, the grand temple of Lord Ram was inaugurated, on the other hand, many other projects including Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Mahakal Lok in Ujjain were completed. He said that with the enactment of the law on Triple Talaq and the abolition of Article 370, the cases of Triple Talaq have reduced significantly. Apart from this, a new education policy was also implemented. The Chief Minister said that under the guidance of the Prime Minister, while on the one hand, Uttarakhand implemented the country's toughest anti-copying law, on the other hand, we passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill to give equal rights to all. The Chief Minister said that through the Mann Ki Baat program, we all came to know that this country is full of so many special talents and how innumerable people are continuously engaged in making this country great at their respective levels. Due to this we all get a chance to learn and understand something new. He appealed to the people that all of you should imbibe the success mantras mentioned by the Prime Minister in the program "Mann Ki Baat" in your life. (ANI)
Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allying with Congress, a party against whom he raised corruption charges and vowed to never form an alliance with them. Calling Kejriwal the "biggest liar", Thakur said that those who had taken a 'Sankalp' that they won't ally with Congress are now walking with them. "Those who had taken a 'Sankalp' that they won't come into politics and join hands with Congress are now walking with them. This is how Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is, the biggest liar among politicians," Anurag Thakur told reporters on Sunday. He further said, "Many of his party leaders are in jail, so now he has decided to form an alliance with another corrupt party." This comes as both parties on Saturday closed their seat-sharing negotiations for Delhi Lok Sabha seats on a 4:3 formula. As part of the agreement reached between the ruling party in Delhi and the grand old party, Congress will contest 3 of the 7 Lok Sabha seats in the national capital while the AAP will field candidates in the remaining 4 constituencies. "The people of Delhi defeated the 15-year-old Sheila Dixit government and gave a mandate to Arvind Kejriwal. He was not given a mandate to compromise with Congress. But we all knew that this would happen one day. And today, it is out in the open. I welcome this alliance because this gives the people of Delhi an opportunity to open their eyes and see that there is no difference between AAP and Congress," said Arvind Kejriwal. Notably, the partners in the INDIA bloc, Congress and the AAP, announced a seat-sharing pact for Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Goa. At a joint press conference of top leaders of the two parties in the national capital on Saturday, Congress general secretary and MP Mukul Wasnik said his party will contest from Chandni Chowk, North East and North West seats in the Lok Sabha elections. "As you are all aware, Delhi Lok Sabha has 7 seats. AAP will contest 4 seats--New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and East Delhi--while Congress will contest 3--Chandni Chowk, North East and North West," Wasnik said. In neighbouring Gujarat, the Congress will contest 24 of 26 Lok Sabha seats, leaving the remaining two seats Bharuch and Bhavnagar for the AAP. "Of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, the Congress will contest on 24 while the AAP will field candidates for Bharuch and Bhavnagar," the Congress leader said. In Haryana, the Congress will contest 8 of the 9 Lok Sabha seats while the AAP will contest the lone seat of Kurukshetra. "Of the 10 LS seats in Haryana, the Congress will fight on 9 and the AAP will contest one seat-- Kurukshetra," Wasnik said. He added that the two parties also reached a consensus on the grand old party contesting the prized Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat."After a long discussion on Chandigarh, the two parties decided that the Congress candidate will contest the seat," he added. As part of the seat-sharing deal, the Congress will contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa as AAP failed to register its win in Goa. "It was further decided that Congress will contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa," he said. The AAP and the Congress have decided to go for a 'friendly fight' in Punjab, given the latter is in the opposition in the state. (ANI)
Rescuers conduct search work after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River near the Niklah village of Giza Governorate, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2024. Three people were killed and four others hospitalized after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River on Sunday morning near the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt's Health Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and four others hospitalized after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River on Sunday morning near the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt's Health Ministry said in a statement.

Egypt's state-run Ahram Online news website reported that the ferry was carrying at least 10 workers before it capsized near the Niklah village of Giza governorate.

According to the Health Ministry statement, three of the four hospitalized workers, who suffered from asphyxia, have been discharged while one was still receiving treatment.

The ministry said it had sent 10 ambulances to the scene of the accident until the search for missing persons were over. 

Rescuers conduct search work after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River near the Niklah village of Giza Governorate, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2024. Three people were killed and four others hospitalized after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River on Sunday morning near the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt's Health Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Rescuers conduct search work after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River near the Niklah village of Giza Governorate, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2024. Three people were killed and four others hospitalized after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River on Sunday morning near the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt's Health Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Rescuers conduct search work after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River near the Niklah village of Giza Governorate, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2024. Three people were killed and four others hospitalized after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River on Sunday morning near the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt's Health Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A man waits as rescuers conduct search work for missing persons after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River near the Niklah village of Giza Governorate, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2024. Three people were killed and four others hospitalized after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River on Sunday morning near the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt's Health Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Rescuers conduct search work after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River near the Niklah village of Giza Governorate, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2024. Three people were killed and four others hospitalized after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River on Sunday morning near the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt's Health Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

People transfer the body of a victim into an ambulance after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River in Niklah village of Giza Governorate, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2024. Three people were killed and four others hospitalized after a ferryboat capsized in the Nile River on Sunday morning near the Egyptian capital Cairo, Egypt's Health Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were present at the inauguration of AIIMS Rajkot.

"Gift of new AIIMS to Gujarat! Prime Minister @NarendraModi dedicated AIIMS, Rajkot to the nation!" Mansukh Mandaviya posted on X.

The PM is also set to inaugurate five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot (Gujarat), Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal), and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh) later in the day.

He will inaugurate a medical college of JIPMER at Karaikal, Puducherry, and a 300-bed satellite center of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical and Educational Research (PGIMER) in Sangrur, Punjab, among many other health projects spread across the country, the statement said.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated the 'Sudarshan Setu' connecting the Okha mainland and the Beyt Dwarka island, built at a cost of around Rs 980 crore.

The 2.32 km-long cable-stayed bridge is the longest of its kind in the country, the PMO said in a statement.

Sudarshan Setu boasts a unique design, featuring a footpath adorned with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna on both sides, it said.

It also has solar panels installed on the upper portions of the footpath, generating one megawatt of electricity, the statement said.

Before the construction of the bridge, pilgrims had to rely on boat transport to reach Beyt Dwarka.

PM Modi kicked off his two-day Gujarat visit with a roaring roadshow in Jamnagar on Saturday. (ANI)
Haryana INLD leader Abhay Chautala said, "He (Nafe Singh Rathee) has died. One of our party workers was with him, he has also died."

The miscreants came in a car and fired indiscriminately killing Nafe Singh and party worker at Bahadurgarh, tehsil in the Jhajjar district of Haryana.

Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain said, "We received information regarding an incident of firing. CIA and STF teams are working. The accused will be arrested soon..."

More details are awaited in this case.

https://x.com/BhupinderShooda/status/1761744032823124296?s=20

Meanwhile, Bhupinder S Hooda, former Haryana Chief Minister said in a post in hindi on X, "The news of INLD State President Shri Nafe Singh Rathi being shot dead in Haryana is very sad. This reflects the law and order of the state. This incident made it clear that law and order has become bankrupt. Today no one is feeling safe in the state.

His post added: "My tribute to the departed soul and deep condolences to the family. I pray to God to give strength to the family members to bear this loss. I wish for the speedy recovery of the security personnel injured in the attack".(ANI)
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday announced that it will observe 'Quit WTO Day' on February 26 and demanded that Centre should put pressure on the developed countries to keep agriculture out of the WTO in 13th Ministerial Conference of World Trade Organisation scheduled on 26-29 February at Abu Dhabi. "As part of the ongoing struggle the farmers across India will observe 26 February 2024 as Quit WTO Day and put tractors on the National-State Highways from 12 pm to 4 pm without obstruction to traffic. India's food security and price support programmes are subjects of repeated disputes at WTO. The major agricultural exporting countries, has proposed a 50 percent cut in the global level of WTO members' entitlements to support agriculture by the end of 2034," an official statement released by Samyukta Kisan Morcha read. Urging the BJP-led Centre, the farmer body said, "Government of India must firmly defend the rights of the country to protect its farmers and ensure national food security". "No international institutions or agreements can be allowed to come in the way of these. Government of India must rally support from other less developed countries to collectively fight for a permanent solution to these issues, so that developing countries are not only allowed to maintain their existing programmes but are allowed to strengthen them to support their farmers and people at large," it added. The WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) will take place from 26 to 29 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Ministers from across the world will attend to review the functioning of the multilateral trading system and to take action on the future work of the WTO. The Conference will be chaired by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade. SKM claimed that India's National food security system-including the system of MSP and public procurement, and the distribution of grain through the National Food Security Act - has been a subject of recurrent disputes at the WTO. "Developed and major exporting countries have made proposals for further cuts in levels of public support to agriculture.There are also proposals that emerging economies like India should eliminate 'trade-distorting' support that exceeds de minimis thresholds. Such proposals must be firmly rejected by India and other less-developed countries. India must also firmly oppose proposals to increase market access to exporters through reduction of tariffs as is being demanded by some developed countries," it said. Amid a deadlock in talks between farmers and the central government, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda appealed to the citizens to maintain peace and has invited suggestions. "We should try to maintain peace in the country. We have always conversed and held talks in order to find a solution and will continue to do so. We welcome all the suggestions, too. I hope we will discuss the issue further. The Government of India is dedicated to the development of the agriculture sector," Munda said. The protesting farmers, whose demands include a legal guarantee for minimum support price, had earlier rejected the government's offer after the fourth round of talks. The Centre however expressed readiness for the fifth round of talks with the farmers while urging them to find a solution through 'dialogue'. (ANI)
AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar trained guns at the Bhartiya Janata party for not approving the 'one-time settlement' scheme brought by the Delhi government to address the problem of inflated water bills in the national capital, accusing them of playing "negative politics." She stated that the BJP consistently engages in adverse political strategies throughout the country, whether it is related to issues like Mohalla clinics or the CCTV matter, which led to our Chief Minister personally demonstrating at the L-G house. "In Delhi, BJP has constantly played negative politics. Be it Mohalla clinics where the supply of medicines had been stopped, salaries of doctors were put on hold, or the demolition of 10 Mohalla clinics; or be it CCTV issue, or be it the issue of water bills. Now the Delhi government has brought a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme. Water bills of nearly 95 per cent of people will be waived because another scheme of the Delhi government allows water bill waiver on water bills up to 20,000 ltr of water consumption. This will also increase the revenue of the Delhi Jal Board..," said Kakkar. She accused BJP of obstructing the proposed 'one-time settlement' scheme which is aimed at correcting inflated water bills in order to end the woes of people. "We don't understand why is the BJP opposing this scheme? We will keep protesting unless this OTS scheme is passed," said the AAP leader. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of barring officers from implementing the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) scheme by threatening them with suspension. Kejriwal claimed that a scheme aimed at rectifying the inflated bills has been brought up by the Delhi government, however, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, is creating hindrance and not letting the AAP implement it. Addressing a gathering in the national capital on Sunday, the AAP national convenor said, "The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has already cleared this settlement scheme. It is now pending clearance by the Cabinet. However, the BJP has asked the Delhi L-G to stop this scheme. The officers are being barred and threatened with suspension. They are crying. When Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi called the officers to ask why they were not bringing the Bill (for clearance by the Cabinet), they said they were threatened with suspension if the Bill was brought to the Cabinet for clearance. Not content with putting Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in jail, they are now bent on filing false cases against my offices through the ED and CBI," the CM said at the gathering on Sunday. 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, according to a statement from the CMO. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that after the repeal of the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act 1935 the Muslim women of the state will get relief from "torture and exploitation", adding that the act will also help to end child marriage. The State Cabinet on Friday approved the Assam Repealing Ordinance, 2024, for repealing the British-era Marriage and Divorce Act specific to Muslims. Addressing the media in Nagaon, CM Sarma said that his government will launch another drive against child marriage in the state after the Lok Sabha election. "The torture, and exploitation that has been going on against Muslim mothers for so long will be ended with this bill. The Prime Minister ended triple talaq. But in Assam only because of this act, a Kazi would not have been faulted if he had registered the marriage of a below 18-year-old girl and he had gotten bail from the court. Now to give talaq will not be easy after the repeal of this act and there will no no registration of marriage below 18 years old girl," Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Talking about child marriage, the Assam Chief Minister said that, many people were arrested who did child marriage and some of them got imprisonment of 10-15 years. "After the Lok Sabha election, one more drive against child marriage will be conducted in Assam. I will completely end the issue before 2026," the Assam Chief Minister said. On the other hand, talking about the Congress party, the Assam Chief Minister said that, only a few people (MLAs) will remain at the Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati. "There is no guarantee that who will quit the party (Congress). There is no guarantee that the Assam Congress President will be in the Congress party. Some Congress MLAs like Rakibul Hussain, Rekibuddin Ahmed, Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Nurul Huda, and Rashid will not come to the BJP, but for others, there is no guarantee. We will win 11 out of 14 seats in Assam in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. We will comfortably win in these seats," the Assam Chief Minister said. On Sunday, the Assam Chief Minister dedicated projects worth Rs 200 crore to the people of Nagaon and Barhampur as part of the Day Dedicate to Development initiative including the renovation of Indoor Stadium at Nurul Amin Stadium, Assam Gaurav Path, Water supply projects under Jal Jeevan Mission, 100MW Solar Power Plant, Swahid Thogisut Stadium. These critical infrastructure additions will go a long way in improving people's lives in these areas and be key drivers towards a Viksit Assam. The Assam Chief Minister also inaugurated the Pranab Baruah Kalakshetra in Nagaon and exuded confidence that it will act as a centre of cultural reinvigoration for the people. (ANI)
The fishermen are protesting against the continued arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy, the confiscation of their boats and the maximum punishment given to the fishermen by the Sri Lankan court.

Earlier in the month, the Sri Lankan Navy released the 18 fishermen arrested from Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram for allegedly crossing the border.

The fishermen were apprehended while they were fishing near Delft Island in Palk Bay Sea on February 8.

Earlier on February 6, twelve fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 13, were released and reached Chennai airport.

The recurring arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy have become a source of concern, not only for the Central government but also for the authorities in Tamil Nadu.

On February 5, in a move aimed at drawing attention to their longstanding grievances, Rameswaram fishermen held a symbolic strike and outlined a series of demands to address the challenges they face.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed concerns about the increase in attacks on members of the state's fishing community in the region and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest.

In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Stalin stated, "I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the alarming increase in incidents of apprehension of Tamil fishermen and their boats by the Sri Lankan authorities. This issue severely impacts the right to livelihood of these fishermen, as the communities have utilised these fishing waters for generations." (ANI)
This comes after PM Modi inaugurated five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab) and Kalyani (West Bengal), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he has completed the guarantee given to the people of Rae Bareli.

"It's one of the landmark happenings that has taken place... We will all work for that as it is a dream of our Prime Minister, and he is really transforming this nation. This is one milestone in that effort," West Bengal Governor on Sunday.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 48,100 crore, in Rajkot.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation more than 200 Health Care Infrastructure Projects worth more than Rs 11,500 crore across 23 States /UTs.

The Prime Minister dedicated the Medical College of JIPMER at Karaikal, Puducherry and the 300-bed Satellite Centre of Post Graduate Institute of Medical and Educational Research (PGIMER) in Sangrur, Punjab, among others.

In addition to these, under the National Health Mission and Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the Prime Minister also inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of 115 projects. (ANI)
In a veiled attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, after attending the inauguration of AIIMS Bathinda, on Sunday said that "seasoned politicians" should resist the temptation of injecting their own "political frustration" in these type of occasions. This comes after Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal raised the issue of protesting farmers after the virtual inauguration of AIIMS Bathinda by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "In this function that I attended virtually, I heard one particular person made a highly political speech. I don't think an occasion like the dedication of a medical facility..... They take an oath and they are totally committed to human life and they're apolitical...Look, the government of the Prime Minister is dealing with those problems in a manner no government has done before," Puri told ANI. He further said that the event was not the right time and platform to raise other demands and called it "unfortunate." "The MSP has gone up several times with more coverage and more benefits to the farmers and what the farmers are being paid every three months (under PM Kisan Samman Yojana). The reference to politics in today's programme was unfortunate. I thought seasoned politicians should resist the temptation of injecting their own political frustration into occasions like this," he added. This comes after PM Modi inaugurated five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab) and Kalyani (West Bengal), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he has completed the guarantee given to the people of Rae Bareli. During the last round of talks, which ended past midnight on February 18, the panel of three Union ministers made an offer to buy five crops --moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize and cotton--from farmers at MSP for five years through central agencies. However, the protesting farmers turned down the demand and returned to their protest sites. The SAD and BJP became alliance partners in 1996, but the controversy over the Centre's now-repealed agriculture laws led to the SAD one of the BJP's oldest allies breaking away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2020. (ANI)
Three separate attacks targeted the Pakistani security forces in Balochistan's Kech, Panjgoor, and Bolan districts, following which two Baloch 'pro-independence' groups, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and the United Baloch Army (UBA), claimed responsibility for the attacks, according to The Balochistan Post. The groups claimed responsibility for the attacks in Kech and Bolan, respectively. However, the attackers in Panjgoor remained unidentified. The BLF said that its fighters ambushed a convoy of Pakistani forces that was carrying rations for their main camp in Kolwah, Kech, on February 21, adding that it seized the rations and destroyed the surveillance drone camera of the forces. The group accused the Pakistani forces of being 'defeated' and 'humiliated' and said that they were afraid to transport their supplies and equipment in their vehicles. The group alleged that the forces had intimidated local transporters into doing this job for them, as reported by Balochistan Post. The group warned the local transporters to stop aiding the forces and said that it was constantly monitoring their movements and could strike at any time. Meanwhile, the BLF spokesperson also claimed another attack on the Pakistani forces in Hironk, Kech, on February 22. The group stated that its fighters attacked a security checkpoint of the forces and inflicted heavy damage and casualties, according to the Balochistan Post. They further reiterated their aim of driving the Pakistani forces out of Balochistan and achieving independence for their region. In a separate attack in the Mach area of Bolan, the UBA claimed responsibility for blowing up a natural gas pipeline. Additionally, they said that its fighters detonated explosives on a 6-inch pipeline in the Bolan River, cutting off the gas supply. The group further accused the Pakistani state of exploiting the resources of Balochistan and said that anyone who facilitated the forces in this activity would face consequences, the Balochistan Post reported. Apart from the two regions, in Panjgoor, unidentified assailants raided the Pakistani forces' camp and escaped. According to local sources, loud explosions and gunfire were heard from the camp. The local sources further said that the forces suffered significant losses in the attack, but the officials have not confirmed or denied the incident, according to the Balochistan Post. In a separate incident in Nushki, a bomb exploded in the house of a police officer named Nasir, injuring two women in the house. However, the police have not yet identified the perpetrators or the motive behind the attack. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], February 25 (ANI/WAM): The UAE has underscored the need for intensifying international joint efforts to end the humanitarian crisis of the brotherly Palestinian people and achieve an immediate ceasefire to avoid further loss of innocent life, secure the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid, and help prevent the spillover of the conflict that threatens regional security and stability. The statement was delivered by the UAE delegation led by Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office, participating in the extraordinary session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM) held by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Republic of Turkiye to discuss joint efforts to confront "the Israeli occupying authority's disinformation and hostilities against journalists and media outlets in the occupied Palestinian territory." The ICIM is attended by information ministers and ministers responsible for communication in the OIC Member States. Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed underscored that since the beginning of the crisis, the UAE has intensified all diplomatic and humanitarian efforts aimed at halting escalation, restoring peace, and preserving civilian lives, with a primary focus on safeguarding civilians, preserving facilities, and securing humanitarian corridors for the delivery of urgent relief and medical aid. In this regard, Sheikh Abdulla highlighted the UAE's firm efforts and endeavors through its non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council (UNSC), which successfully led to the Security Council adopting Resolutions 2712 and 2720 (of 2023), which demanded that tangible steps be taken to increase the necessary humanitarian aid flow to Palestinians, and safeguard the lives of UN employees and humanitarian workers on the ground in the Strip. Sheikh Abdulla reaffirmed the UAE's strong condemnation of any forced displacement of the brotherly Palestinian people, and all practices that violate the resolutions of international legitimacy and international and humanitarian law. The UAE has been steadfast in its stance on calling for paving the path to achieving a just peace that guarantees security and stability for the region, which necessarily requires strong collaboration of key players in the international community to end all forms of extremism, tensions and violence, and to construct a viable political horizon to ensure a return to negotiations to achieve a comprehensive and just peace based on the "two-state solution" with an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. Sheikh Abdulla stressed that the UAE, under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, spares no effort to deliver urgent humanitarian and relief aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip through the "Gallant Knight 3" humanitarian operation, which aimed at mitigating the severity of the humanitarian conditions of the people of Gaza and alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable groups. This initiative has been launched in collaboration with several UAE institutions specializing in humanitarian and relief operations, and in close cooperation with all international humanitarian organisations for the purpose of delivering relief aid to the people in the Gaza Strip. Sheikh Abdulla added that the UAE had operated an air bridge to transport relief and medical aid to the Gaza Strip as part of "Operation Gallant Knight 3", under which UAE has managed to dispatch 185 cargo flights, 476 trucks and 2 cargo ships to deliver over 20,000 tonnes of essential supplies, mainly food, water and medical supplies. He stated that the UAE's humanitarian and relief aid included the establishment of six desalination plants, capable of producing 1.2 million gallons per day, directly benefiting Gaza residents, as well as setting up a fully-equipped field hospital in the southern Gaza Strip supervised by an Emirati medical team. The hospital has treated over 4,755 urgent cases to date as part of the UAE's efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian brothers and support the ailing health sector in the Gaza Strip. The UAE has also set sail for a fully integrated floating hospital in Al Arish, Egypt, to provide necessary medical support to the Palestinian people. Sheikh Abdulla confirmed that as an extension of the UAE's continued efforts to offer relief assistance to the Palestinian people, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the provision of medical treatment at UAE hospitals for 1,000 children from the Gaza Strip and provided them with medical treatment prior to their safe return home. Separately, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has also directed that another 1,000 cancer patients of all ages from the Gaza Strip be flown to the UAE to receive treatment and all necessary healthcare in UAE hospitals. Sheikh Abdulla concluded his speech by reiterating the UAE's ongoing commitment to providing crucial humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza, and its dedication to alleviating their suffering in line with the country's commitment to supporting brotherly peoples during times of crisis and the values that underpin the UAE leadership and community. (ANI/WAM)
SANAA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Warplanes of the U.S.-led coalition struck the Yemeni capital Sanaa late Saturday, the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported.

"The American-British aggression aircraft again launched a series of raids on the capital," the TV reported.

Meanwhile, local witnesses told Xinhua that at least four missiles hit the Al-Siyanah Military Camp, north of Sanaa's downtown, causing big explosions and fire. Ambulances rushed to the scene.

Residents also said the warplanes struck a military camp in the southern part of the capital and another camp on a mountain east of Sanaa.

U.S. media, citing anonymous U.S. officials, reported that the United States and Britain hit more than a dozen Houthi targets in response to a recent surge in rebel attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. One of the attacks last week set fire to Rubymar, a British cargo vessel, and forced the crew to abandon the ship.

The officials said American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites in this fourth joint strike against the Houthis since Jan. 12.

The Houthis have launched at least six attacks on U.S. and British cargo ships in the Red Sea this week.

The Houthis have stepped up their attacks on international shipping since mid-November last year to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who have been facing 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. 
The residents of Karachi have been becoming victims of outlaws, with 26 people, murdered by street criminals since the beginning of 2024, as reported by The News International. Despite several policies initiated by the Sindh police department, the numbers have been rising. Out of 26 people murdered by street criminals, a minor girl was also included. However, observers and survivors asserted that the Karachi people have been failing in controlling street crime, with bandits roaming freely around the city, despite the presence of police officials on the streets, according to The News International. Every day, the law and order situation in the city has been deteriorating with every passing day. Reportedly, on Friday, a 2-year-old girl was shot dead in front of her father on their doorstep in Korangi. The survivors of these crimes and their families have been failing to protect the residents of the city and have demanded that incompetent officers, especially the relevant SHOs, be sacked, as reported by The News International. In the past two days, three people were killed and several injured during muggings. In another incident, Sohrab Hussain, 50, was killed near Iqbal Market in Orangi Town, Sector 11. He was a passer-by who was shot dead by the suspects. Moreover, two brothers were shot when they resisted a mugging attempt near the Banaras Bridge in Peerabad. Abdul Moiz, 20, was killed and his brother Abdul Mannan, 16, was seriously injured. They were riding a motorcycle when a couple of motorcyclists tried to rob them and fired indiscriminately at their resistance, resulting in serious injuries to both brothers, according to The News International. According to the observers, Sindh in general and Karachi in particular have been facing the ever-increasing menace of street crime over the past few years, resulting in a sharp increase in crimes of various dimensions. However, the former governments claimed to improve the law-and-order situation but have been faced with the ground realities, with a large number of people having fallen prey to various criminals. The recently elected government is yet to assume control of the province, but it has vowed to restore the past glory of the city by combating the menace of lawlessness, as reported by The News International. Notably, Karachi has witnessed an unprecedented upsurge in street crime, especially the snatching of phones, cars and motorbikes. Observers believed that the insufficient police strength, compounded with political interference in the police department, has resulted in a sharp increase in street crime. According to them, the government needs to induct some 50,000 officials based on merit in order to overcome the increasing policing challenges, The News International reported. (ANI)
Three youngsters from the Tibetan community in Austria staged a protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Vienna on Saturday over the human rights violations perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party in Tibet. They urged the international community to unite and openly support the Tibetan Government-in-exile in their ongoing struggle to protect the human rights of Tibetans in Tibet. Adopting a novel protest, the young Tibetans used a projector and played videos of the forceful displacement of Tibetans by the Chinese in Tibet on the walls of the Chinese Embassy in Vienna. They also projected words highlighting the human rights violations of China and the cultural genocide carried out by China to erase the Tibetan identity. The young Tibetans, associated with VTAG, Europe, also raised slogans against the large-scale environmental degradation happening in Tibet in the guise of huge projects that are unsustainable for the region. During the protest, the young Tibetans also raised slogans in German to create awareness among the people in Austria that what is happening to Tibetans in Tibet is a deliberate extinction of a community, an identity. According to young Tibetans, these projects including huge defence establishments, and large dams would displace a large number of Tibetans from their native homeland. One of the main objectives behind such projects is to forcefully relocate Tibetans and erase their identity. The protesters stressed that the systematic disregard for the fundamental rights of Tibetans by the Chinese government reflects a blatant violation of international human rights law. Protesters said that China, obligated to respect and adhere to mechanisms safeguarding people's rights, has been persecuting human rights defenders, forcibly resettling Tibetans, engaging in forced labour, fostering workplace discrimination, curtailing religious freedom and language rights, assimilating Tibetan children in boarding schools, and perpetrating cultural genocide. (ANI)
The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been handed over to his mother more than a week after he died, CNN reported, citing Navalny's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh's statement. In a post shared on social media, Yarmysh stated, "Alexey's body was handed over to his mother. Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us." She stated that Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, is still in Salekhard, the Arctic town where her son's body was being held. On February 16, Alexei Navalny died while he was behind bars in a nearby penal colony. According to the Russian Press Service, Navalny "felt unwell after a walk" and "almost immediately" lost consciousness, CNN reported. Yarmysh stated that plans regarding the funeral of Navalny have not been made yet. She added, "We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants and as Alexey deserves. We will inform you as soon as there is news." Navalny's family and colleagues have blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for his death. The death of Alexei Navalny comes ahead of presidential election set to be held in Russia in March. Alexei Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, accused Putin of ordering that the body be held to hide cause of Navalny's death and out of fear that large crowds will attend his funeral. The allegations have been denied by Kremlin, according to CNN report. For past several days, Navalny's family has requested Russian authorities to release his body. Alexei Navalny's mother Lyudmila Navalnaya travelled to Salekhard to recover the body shortly after her son's death. However, her request was repeatedly rebuffed by Russian authorities. Meanwhile, Alexei Navalny's wife and daughter met US President Joe Biden in San Francisco on February 22. During the meeting with Yulia Navalnaya and Dasha Navalnaya, Biden expressed his "heartfelt condolences" following the death of Russian leader in prison. He expressed his admiration for Alexei Navalny's extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption. "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," the statement read. Joe Biden also emphasised that Alexei Navalny's legacy will carry on through people across Russia and around the world mourning his loss and fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights. The statement released by White House reads, "He affirmed that his Administration will announce major new sanctions against Russia tomorrow in response to Aleksey's death, Russia's repression and aggression, and its brutal and illegal war in Ukraine." (ANI)
Thailand Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara will begin his four-day official visit to India today. He will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday. During his visit, Thailand's Deputy PM, who also serves as Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, will participate in the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting at Hyderabad House in Delhi on Tuesday, according to a media advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara is scheduled to meet Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday. On February 28, he will depart from India after concluding his four-day official visit. Notably, the 9th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting was held in Bangkok on August 17, 2022, according to MEA. From August 16-18, 2022, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Bangkok to co-chair the 9th Meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Commission (JCM) with Thailand's then-Deputy PM Don Pramudwinai. Notably, diplomatic relations between India and Thailand were established in 1947. The bilateral ties between India and Thailand are rooted in history, age-old social and culturalinteractions and extensive people-to-people contacts, according to MEA. In 2022, India and Thailand celebrated the 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. On February 8, the Thailand delegation, led by Senator Pikulkeaw Krairiksh, called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at Parliament House. During the meeting, Birla presented the delegation with mementos and a copy of the Constitution of India. The Thailand parliamentary delegation visited the Indian Parliament and stressed that Thailand would like to invest in some projects, hoping that India might be interested. Krairiksh also appreciated the hospitality received in India. Speaking to ANI, Pikulkeaw Krairiksh said, "We appreciate hospitality here." She further hoped that both countries could continue with their connectivity between the Indian and Thai parliaments. "I hope that we can continue with our connectivity here between the Thai and Indian parliaments. We like to invest also; we have projects of the trilateral road in the north and Ranong port that we have been talking about for so long, so I think that India might be interested," she said. On February 6, Thailand's delegation also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the national capital. He appreciated the 'warm sentiments' towards the India-Thailand relationship and affirmed his commitment to strengthening bonds of culture, connectivity, and trade. "Glad to meet Thai Senate delegation led by Senator Pikulkeaw Krairiksh in New Delhi today. Appreciate their warm sentiments towards India-Thailand relationship and aspiration to grow it further. As civilizational partners, committed to strengthen bonds of culture, connectivity, trade and beyond," Jaishankar said in a post on X. (ANI)
The Baloch American Congress (BAC), an international body that advocates for Baloch rights on the international stage thanked British MP John McDonnell for his support towards the 'freedom struggle' of Baloch activists against Pakistan. McDonnell is from the Labour Party and is an MP from Hayes and Harlington. Taking to X, the BAC stated, "We are grateful to @johnmcdonnellMP for his unwavering support in the fight against oppression in Balochistan. His voice in the UK Parliament is a ray of hope for the Baloch people. Thank you for standing with us!" https://twitter.com/bacongress/status/1761389406617817338?s=08 Prominent Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch also expressed her gratitude to the UK parliamentarian for supporting their fight against Pakistan's atrocities. "Thank you, @johnmcdonnellMP, for organizing the Zoom Rally on Human Rights Violations in Balochistan. I hope that political and human rights activists globally, including John McDonnell, will consistently amplify their voices against the severe human rights violations in Balochistan. #StopBalochGenocide," she posted on X. https://twitter.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1761088256165458303 Previously, in a virtual session hosted by John McDonnell discussions were held on atrocities faced by the people of Balochistan. The one-hour-long discourse garnered participation from over 500 individuals worldwide, including prominent Baloch rights activists like Mahrang Baloch, Sabiha Baloch, and Jamal Baloch. During the online session, McDonnell emphasised the continuity of his commitment, saying, "From my perspective as a British MP, it is a continuous campaign where we work together." Addressing the pressing issue of human rights abuses perpetrated by the Pakistani administration, McDonnell outlined a three-pronged approach. He asserted, "First, we need to do everything we can to expose the human rights abuses that are taking place and to use every available platform for it. As a member of the British Parliament, I will consistently utilize that platform to bring attention to human rights abuses." McDonnell also highlighted the imperative need to ensure the protection of campaigners, addressing the alarming trend of activists being abducted and threatened by Pakistan. Furthermore, he emphasised the global community's role in mobilizing international opinion to exert pressure on Pakistani authorities, advocating for basic civil liberties and human rights in Balochistan. Expressing support for the cause, McDonnell underscored the leverage the UK government holds through aid and trade agreements with Pakistan. "Pakistan receives substantial aid, not only from the UK but also from other countries. It's crucial to use that aid to ensure Pakistan respects basic human rights and civil liberties in Balochistan," he said. McDonnell acknowledged concerns about the resistance of the Pakistani government to international intervention, emphasizing a moral responsibility to collaborate with campaigners. "Working with all the campaigners, we can establish conditions in trade deals that align with our objectives," McDonnell added. Commending the resilience of protestors standing against Pakistani atrocities, McDonnell concluded that such acts contribute to securing civil liberties and basic human rights for the people of Balochistan. (ANI)
The Uyghur community in The Hague, Netherlands, held a demonstration against the atrocities being committed in East Turkistan by China. The illegal occupation and atrocities under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are instigating anger among the Uyghur people living abroad. In a social media post on X, prominent Uyghur activist and victim of the Uyghur genocide, Abdurehim Gheni Uyghur stated, "Today is 24 February 2024. We are protesting against Chinese New Year celebrations in front of The Hague government building to defend the UNIVERSAL VALUES." https://twitter.com/abdurehimgheni/status/1761397664950730872?s=46&t=nbusnwoIYo9hUrDuoWfhwQ Another Uyghur activist, Abdur Rahman Mouhamad intervened in the Chinese New Year celebration at Hague City Hall by raising signs and chanting slogans. He also chanted, "East Turkestan has never been a part of China," at the celebration. https://twitter.com/abdulrahman_uyg/status/1761414305688224249?s=46&t=nbusnwoIYo9hUrDuoWfhwQ The atrocities inflicted by China upon its occupied territories of Tibet and East Turkistan have now started gathering international attention. Previously, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) an international Uyghur rights advocacy organisation along with several other social and human rights organisations held a parliamentary breakfast in Berlin. The parliamentary breakfast was organised to raise awareness of the grave human rights situation of the affected communities, according to WUC. Organised at the German Bundestag (German parliament), the event was held to raise awareness over the human rights atrocities inflicted on Uyghurs, Tibetans, and other ethnic communities. The session was attended by several members of German parliamentarians, civil and social leaders, journalists, and human rights activists. Furthermore, the event was headed by German parliamentarians like Derya Turk-Nachbaur, Boris Mijatovic, Gyde Jensen, Peter Heidt, and Michael Brand. The event was also attended by the President of the World Uyghur Congress, Dolkun Isa, who thanked the organisers for the event. "Today, we were received by the Uyghur, Tibet, and Hong Kong Friendship Group jointly in the German Bundestag to give our post-UPR analysis. I thank @derya_tn, @GydeJ, @borismijatovic, MdB Michael Brand, and @PeterHeidtFDP for organising this breakfast event. I also thank @FrankSchwabe, and @theliberalfrank for their contribution as well," Isa stated. On the sidelines of the breakfast session, Dolkun Isa held talks with the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, and expressed his gratitude for ensuring the Uyghur rights are at the forefront of any bilateral relations with China. (ANI)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday admitted that at least 31,000 soldiers have died in the ongoing war with Russia, CNN reported. This statement comes one day after marking the second anniversary of Russia's 'full-scale invasion' in 2022. Zelenskyy, while addressing a press conference, disputed Russian claims of much higher numbers when it comes to Ukrainian casualties. The Ukrainian president also said "tens of thousands of civilians in occupied parts of the country" have been killed. Ukraine's battlefield losses are a closely guarded secret, but US officials estimate some 70,000 soldiers have been killed -- and nearly twice that number wounded, as reported by CNN. Notably, this statement is significant as throughout the conflict, Kyiv has been hesitant to admit how many soldiers have been killed. Former Ukraine Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in June 2022 that he believed tens of thousands of Ukrainians had been killed since February of that year. But two months later, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, then the head of Ukraine's armed forces, said 9,000 troops had been killed. Russia, meanwhile, has lost a staggering 87 per cent of the active-duty ground troops it had prior to the invasion, CNN reported citing a source familiar with a declassified US intelligence assessment. The Ukrainian President further said that he has hope for gaining additional military aid from the US. "I have hope for the US Congress, and I am sure it will be a positive solution," Zelensky said at the press conference on Sunday. "Otherwise, I don't understand which world we live in -- definitely a different world. That is why we count on the US Congress. They know we need their support through the months ahead, and I met senators and bipartisan representatives. This comes as US President Joe Biden on Saturday, urged House Speaker Mike Johnson and members of Congress to return from a two-week break and pass much-needed aid for Ukraine. The speaker on the other hand, has resisted calls to bring a Senate-passed aid package up for a quick vote -- a move that would almost certainly spark a revolt from some members of his own party. While visiting Ukraine last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also called on House Republicans to pass the aid bill. Zelenskyy also stated that there is "no alternative" but to win the war against Russia. He thanked Ukrainians for their 'resilience' throughout the conflict thus far, and suggested a peace summit in Switzerland could take place in the spring. (ANI)
During the discussions, the Foreign Secretary highlighted India's active engagement at the United Nations.

Moreover, he also highlighted India's work in championing the interests of the Global South.

"Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra welcomed Permanent Representatives of different nations to the UN on their visit to India. Discussions covered strengthening multilateral efforts to meet contemporary global challenges. FS highlighted India's active engagement at the UN and India's work in championing the interests of the Global South," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1761782400500351089?s=20

India's deepening engagement with the United Nations is based on its steadfast commitment to multilateralism and dialogue as the keys to achieving shared goals and addressing common challenges faced by the global community, including those related to peacebuilding and peacekeeping, sustainable development, poverty eradication, and climate change, amongst others.

India strongly believes that the United Nations and the norms of international relations that it has fostered remain the most efficacious means for tackling today's global challenges, the MEA said in a statement. (ANI)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Police are investigating a Saturday night shooting at a Bellevue park that left one person injured.

According to Metro Nashville dispatch, the shooting was called in shortly after 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 from the 600 block of McPherson Drive.

Dispatch told News 2 that one person was transported to the hospital after the shooting, but there was no word on the victims condition at the time.

Police investigating after man tells officers hes been shot in South Nashville

The Metro Nashville Police Department said the victim reported he was sitting in his parked vehicle with his friends at the park along McPherson Drive when a dark SUV  occupied by three males wearing ski masks  pulled up next to him and opened fire on the vehicle.

Authorities said the victim was hit once, leaving him with non-life-threatening injuries, but none of the other people in the vehicle were hurt.

No additional details have been released about this incident.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
MAURY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A motorist was flown from Maury County to Nashville after being seriously injured in a Friday night crash.

The Maury County Fire Department said units responded to a report of a crash with entrapment along Hampshire Pike around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23.

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When crews arrived at the scene, they said they found the driver heavily trapped inside the vehicle, so they put their tools to work  including the jaws of life  to remove the patient.

(Courtesy: Maury County Fire Department)

(Courtesy: Maury County Fire Department)

(Courtesy: Maury County Fire Department)

Meanwhile, rescue personnel reportedly set up a landing zone for Vanderbilt LifeFlight at Station 25. The Hampshire Volunteer Fire Department posted video of the helicopter taking off.

Family says drivers consequences arent enough after Lawrenceburg pediatrician hit while riding bike

According to officials, one person was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical condition. There is no word on the patients current status.

The Maury County Fire Department said Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is investigating the crash. News 2 reached out to THP for more information, but we have yet to hear back.

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 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.
TEHRAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Sunday strongly condemned Saturday's attacks by the U.S. and British warplanes against the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

He made the remarks in a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website, describing the large-scale military attacks launched late Saturday as "arbitrary, and in violation of the recognized international rules and regulations as well as Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Kanaani said the United States and Britain once again proved that they were "supporters of Israel's war crimes" in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and "prioritize commitment to Israel's security and illegitimate objectives over the international peace and security."

Kanaani added that with such attacks, the United States and Britain sought to "intensify the tension and crisis in the region, widen the scopes of the war and instability, divert public opinion away from the Israeli war crimes and provide Israel with the opportunity to continue its war crimes."

Such kind of "arbitrary and aggressive" military operations would fail to lead to anything, but the intensification of insecurity and instability in the region, Kanaani said.

Local witnesses and residents said in the attacks last night, at least four missiles hit the Al-Siyanah Military Camp, north of Sanaa's downtown, causing big explosions and fire, and the warplanes struck a military camp in the southern part of the capital and another camp on a mountain east of Sanaa.

U.S. media, citing anonymous U.S. officials, reported that the United States and Britain hit more than a dozen Houthi targets in response to a recent surge in the group's attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The officials said the American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites in this fourth joint strike against the Houthis since Jan. 12.

The Houthis said their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians and aimed at forcing Israel and its allies to stop the deadly conflict in Gaza. 
Capt. Lee Sumpter, a 19-year veteran of the Forest Hill Police Department, has been named its interim leader after the city fired Eddie Burns, according to a news release from the city.

The city plans to conduct a search to find its next permanent police chief, according to the news release.

Burns was fired Feb. 17 by City Manager Venus Wehle, a source familiar with the decision told the Star-Telegram. His tenure overseeing the police department was characterized by a series of resignations, difficulties recruiting new officers, and complaints of sexual and racial harassment, according to city records and multiple former officers.

The decision was not discussed with the full city council prior to Burns termination, the source said. City leadership was informed of the firing in an email.

The decision to separate Burns from the city came after multiple recent matters with Burns which established that separation was best for all parties, Wehle wrote in the citys news release.

Burns is aware of these matters and the City prefers to keep that between the City and Burns for the present, according to the release.

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The firing initially came without an announcement from the city and the news release was only sent after several attempts to get comments from leadership.

Burns told the Star-Telegram in a text message Thursday that he plans to meet with an attorney before sharing any comment.

Burns, who was hired as the police chief in July 2021, received three letters of reprimand in 2023, one of which he attempted to appeal, according to personnel files obtained by the Star-Telegram.

The reprimands written by Wehle said that Burns responded to an email from a city council member without permission from Wehle, hired an attorney to represent the department without the city councils permission, and met with an officer who was on leave and had filed a complaint against the city.

The former chief had filed an appeal to have the reprimand regarding his meeting with the officer removed from his file. He wrote that he met with the officer to discuss her options for time off and that they did not discuss her complaint against the department.

Former officers told the Star-Telegram that the problems in the department, some of which predated Burns but didnt improve under his leadership, gave the department a reputation as a place officers didnt want to work, but they didnt attribute the issues or the reputation solely to his leadership.

From January 2022 to November 2023, 10 officers quit the department while Forest Hill police were only able to add three new officers, according to city records. The city said on Feb. 8 that it has not hired any new officers since that report, with the number employed remaining at 18.

Burns termination reduces that number to 17.

The departments toxic work culture, complaints of harassment, outdated equipment, low pay and a lack of special duty assignments were listed as some of the reasons officers decided to quit the force in resignation letters from January 2022 to November 2023.

Wehle said in 2023 that the department was working to make changes to attract new officers including upgrading equipment, reevaluating departmental policies and offering new training opportunities for officers. Some former officers told the Star-Telegram those changes would do little to change the culture in the department they said had made it an unsuitable place to work.

Recruitment problems

The Forest Hill Police Department has been unable to hire any new officers beyond three employed prior to a November 2023 open records request, despite efforts by the city council to make employment with the department more attractive.

The U.S. Department of Justice last year awarded the city with a grant to hire three police officers for a three-year term, including the cost of some benefits, according to the DOJs website. Forest Hill received a total of $375,000 in a grant from the COPS Hiring Program.

The city was notified of the grant award by Sept. 20, 2023, according to the DOJ website.

In addition to the grant, the city council made provisions to make it easier for potential officers to apply by removing the requirement for candidates to take a civil service exam, a move Burns opposed when the council was considering it.

With a population of 13,701 in 2022 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Forest Hill has about 1.2 officers for every 1,000 residents. According to statistics from the FBI, the national average number of police officers per 1,000 residents in a city was 2.4 in 2019, the latest year data was available.

Because of staffing issues, Wehle said in a previous interview that she decided the department would stop providing school resource officers in August of last year. That meant there was no resource officer at David K. Sellars Elementary when a shooting happened on the campus Oct. 11, 2023.

Yolanda Gibbs, a 56-year-old cafeteria worker who was remembered as a friendly person who always tried to make the schools cafeteria a cheerful environment, was shot and killed in the parking lot that morning before doors opened to students. Police said Gibbs was killed by a man she had been dating, 58-year-old Anthony Harris, who was found dead in Fort Worth two days after the shooting. Harris death was ruled an accident from fentanyl toxicity, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office.

Burns background and reprimands

Burns was hired in July 2021 after the last police chief resigned from the department.

According to his personnel file, Burns initially applied to be the citys fire chief but was hired to command its police department.

For five years, from 2006-2011, Burns was the Dallas Fire-Rescue chief, a term the Dallas Morning News in 2011 described as rocky. Under his leadership, Dallas Fire-Rescue was the subject of allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation, all of which have been alleged during his tenure as the chief of Forest Hill police. During his time with the fire department, the Dallas Morning News reported Burns was named the Worst Boss in America by eBossWatch.com.

He resigned after Dallas city leadership found out he owned a stake in a bar in Arlington and another in south Dallas, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The end of his term as police chief comes after the three letters of reprimand he received between March and October.

In a reprimand on Oct. 26, Burns was criticized for replying to an email form a council member sent directly to him. He copied Wehle in his response. The city manager cited the city charter and an ordinance that prohibited that communication.

The city charter says, in part, that the City Council or its members shall deal with city officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the City Manager solely through the City Manager.





Because city ordinances require that the city manager appoint the chief of police, Wehle said in the reprimand that Burns was not allowed to be contacted by any elected official and must direct any communication between himself and the mayor or city council through Wehle.

A meeting the former chief had with an officer whose name was redacted from the file sent to the Star-Telegram also resulted in a reprimand. Burns contested the reprimand, issued March 10, 2023, after he met with an officer who had lodged complaints against the department including a charge of discrimination submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The reprimand is not specific about the type of discrimination alleged.

A Freedom of Information Act request submitted by the Star-Telegram for records relating to EEOC complaints against the city or police department was denied.

Wehle charged that Burns actions in the meeting, including allowing the officer to record a portion of the exchange, evidence an extraordinary lack of good judgment and thus evidence incompetence in the performance of the general duties of a department head.

Burns wrote in his rebuttal to the reprimand that orders not to speak to employees who had made complaints came after he met with the officer and that he tried several times to contact Wehle and the director of the citys human resources department before the meeting but that nobody picked up or returned his calls.

Burns wrote that he told the HR director after the meeting that the officer was going on unpaid leave and wanted to know if there was anything Burns could do for her. He told her about the FMLA decision and that she would be able to cash in on vacation and sick leave and allowed her to record a portion of the meeting to maintain transparency, he said.

Burns was also criticized in a June 13, 2023, reprimand for hiring an attorney relating to the complaints filed with the EEOC. Wehle wrote in the reprimand that Burns hired the attorney without approval of the council but that the invoices were sent to the city.

Wehle wrote that Burns hired a firm regarding legal issues pertaining to a Forest Hill Police Department employee and issues related to ADA and fitness. Burns was notified in a city directive that Forest Hill already had a legal defense team and that the police chief does not have the authority to hire an attorney to represent the city or the police department.
CHICAGO  Two people were hospitalized on Saturday afternoon after they were injured in a drive-by shooting on the citys West Side.

According to Chicago police, the shooting unfolded just before 4 p.m. in the 2800 block of West Polk Street, in Garfield Park.

COPA investigators respond to officer-involved shooting in Dolton

Officers say a 65-year-old woman and a 67-year-old man were walking along a sidewalk in the area when a vehicle pulled up and someone inside opened fire.

Both victims were hit by the gunfire. Police say the woman suffered a gunshot wound to her arm and the man was shot in the left leg.

Both victims drove themselves to the hospital and police say they were listed in good condition.

Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and authorities say an investigation is underway.

Officers did not provide a description of the vehicle or individual involved.

Investigation underway after man found dead along Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip for police at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that killed two people.

Banks County fire officials said on Wednesday at 10:46 p.m., crews received reports of a fire at a home on Neal Road. Firefighters were told that people may have still been inside the house.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

When crews arrived, they saw large flames coming from the house.

While searching the home, firefighters found two people. Officials confirmed that they died during the fire.

Both victims are believed to be in their late sixties. Their identities have not been released.

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No other injuries were reported in the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Utah Ukrainian Association hosted a Believe in Ukraine rally at the Utah State Capitol Saturday on the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The association posted on social media to inform Utahns of the event, saying, It will not only be an event of support, but also an expression of solidarity and shared faith in the future of Ukraine.

READ NEXT: Utah Medicaid to provide up to 30-day supply of medication at no cost amid cyber outage

At least 100 people gathered at the Capitol for the two-hour rally, showing their support for Ukraine with flags, banners, posters and signs. More than 200 had expressed interest in the event online.

The future we believe in is one of Ukrainian victory and liberation, the event page on social media says. Stand together with us as we illuminate hope and show our solidarity with the brave Ukrainian people.

Residents in Utah show their support for Ukraine at a rally on Feb. 24, 2024. The Utah Ukrainian Association hosted the event at the Utah State Capitol on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan)

Residents in Utah show their support for Ukraine at a rally on Feb. 24, 2024. The Utah Ukrainian Association hosted the event at the Utah State Capitol on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan)

Residents in Utah show their support for Ukraine at a rally on Feb. 24, 2024. The Utah Ukrainian Association hosted the event at the Utah State Capitol on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan)

Residents in Utah show their support for Ukraine at a rally on Feb. 24, 2024. The Utah Ukrainian Association hosted the event at the Utah State Capitol on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan)

Residents in Utah show their support for Ukraine at a rally on Feb. 24, 2024. The Utah Ukrainian Association hosted the event at the Utah State Capitol on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan)

Were here for the second anniversary of Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine, and were also here to gather support for our congressional leaders to pass the Ukraine aid package, rally participant Basil Newmerzhycky told ABC4.com.

According to the event page for the rally, Believe in Ukraine declares itself to be a worldwide campaign that focuses on resilience and unity.

We have these gatherings in every major city in the United States today, Newmerzhycky said.

Newmerzhycky told ABC4.com that the rally was geared toward the Ukrainian community in Utah, but also their friends and the American public in general.

According to Newmerzhycky, some of the speakers at Saturdays event had recently come to the United States from Ukraine, and several speakers detailed their own firsthand accounts of their experiences with the war.

You dont have to be Ukrainian or pro-Ukraine to support Ukraine, Newmerzhycky said. You just have to be human.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Firework show closing out 2024 Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco hosts the largest Chinese New Year celebrations outside of Asia every year, and 2024, the Year of the Dragon, is no different.

Interestingly, the dragon is the only mythical creature listed in the Chinese Zodiac.

Starting at 6 p.m. and parading through downtown San Francisco, thousands flock to see the iconic colors, decorations, and floats.

This year's grand marshal is actress and comedienne Nora Lum, professionally known as Awkwafina.

But for those who can't make their way to San Francisco, no worries. KTVU has you covered!

Browse below to see all the exuberant displays and performances from the parade.

RELATED COVERAGE: Year of the Dragon: Watch Chinese New Year parade live tonight

And for some behind-the-scenes pictures:
Police are investigating a second fatal Saturday shooting after they found a 28-year-old man shot at a southeast Raleigh Dollar General, according to police and other reports.

Police responded to a reported shooting at 1:11 p.m. in the 5400 block of Rock Quarry Road and found Steven Andrea Jones II with a single gunshot wound, according to a news release. Jones later died at the hospital. ABC11, The News & Observers news partner, reported the man walked into the Dollar General after being shot nearby. The store is an a small shopping strip surrounded by other businesses.

About eight hours earlier, police found another man with multiple gunshot wounds.

Police found Jose Ignacio Marquez-Diaz, 23, in the 3300 block of Quail Hollow Drive at 4:43 a.m. Thats in north Raleigh near Interstate 440.

No one has been charged in the shootings, which were about 9 miles apart. Police didnt immediately respond to questions about whether the two killings are connected and for additional information.

Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to visit Crimestoppers at www.p3tips.com/89 for anonymous reporting options or to call 919-996-1193.

Virginia Bridges covers criminal justice in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer. Her work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The N&O maintains full editorial control of its journalism.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Three men were shot at a restaurant on Clevelands east side late Saturday afternoon, the Cleveland Division of Police confirmed.

Police were called to the 12300 block of St. Clair Avenue around 4:50 p.m. for reports of a shooting at Omars Seafood & Grille.

Upon arrival, police found a man being held on the ground outside of the restaurant by a bystander, according to a report. The man on the ground was identified as the shooter, police stated in the report.

SEE moment man is catapulted from car during chase, and what happens next

The altercation reportedly started with the suspect arrived at the restaurant asking for a refund for food purchased the day prior. He first spoke with son of the owner, who said he would not offer a refund, telling him to leave. The owner came out and told the man he could get new food, but no refund. The man was once again told to leave, and the owner guided the man out to the lobby before roughing him up near the door.

According to store film footage, the suspect was then seen hitting the owner. Thats when the owners sons came out to the lobby and they reportedly began to beat up the man. This led the man to eventually shoot the owner and his sons, police said.

The three victims, ages 23-52, were taken to the hospital after all appeared to be shot in the abdomen (and elsewhere), police reported.

The victims conditions have not been released. The man suspected of shooting the other three was also taken to the hospital for his injuries and was apprehended at the scene. The gun was also found at the scene, police said.

16-year-old arrested in deadly shooting: Akron PD

As of Sunday evening, police have still not announced any charges in connection with this altercation.

An investigation is ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says 31,000 soldiers defending the country from Russia's invasion have been killed, in what is the country's first official figure for military casualties in more than two years of fighting.

"I don't want to mention the number of wounded," Zelensky said at a press conference on Sunday.

US and Russian officials had previously said between 100,000 and 300,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the conflict, figures which Zelensky dismissed as "nonsense."

Zelensky meanwhile put Russian losses at 180,000 dead and 500,000 wounded.

This is the first time that one of the warring parties has put out its own official casualty figures. The veracity of this cannot be officially verified.

The Russian casualty figures cited by Zelensky are significantly higher than the daily updated toll by the Ukrainian armed forces, which on Sunday put the total number of Russian losses at 409,820 - dead and wounded.

Zelensky declined to comment on the casualties among the Ukrainian population and said such figures are not currently known.

Exact casualties among military personnel have so far been kept strictly secret by both sides. US estimates from mid-2023 put the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed at around 70,000 and the number of Russian soldiers killed at 120,000.

In mid-February, the US Department of Defence estimated the number of Russian soldiers killed or wounded at 315,000.

Ukrainian prosecutors meanwhile say they have recorded more than 120,000 instances of war crimes committed by Russian troops since the February 2022 invasion.

"There is no crime that the Russians have not committed during this war," Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin told journalists at the Ukraine 2024 forum in Kiev, noting that investigations had already led to 80 convictions in Ukrainian courts.

Ukraine is aiming for tribunals modelled on the Nuremberg trials held after World War II at which Nazi war criminals were tried. Kostin cited the example of crimes committed in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which fell to Russian forces in May 2022.

Russian forces have regularly been accused of executing unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Ukraine says the situation on the battlefield is being impacted by the late arrival of half of military aid from Western allies.

"Fifty percent of what has been promised does not arrive on time," Defence Minister Rustem Umerov told journalists in Kiev, as Ukraine enters its third year of fending off a Russian invasion with Western support.

According to Umerov, Kiev's defence campaign continues to be hampered by the lack of air superiority. Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training on Western F-16 fighter jets, which are due to arrive in Ukraine in the first half of the year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during 'Ukraine. Year 2024' conference, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa
The Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest of an elderly man who allegedly struck a pedestrian with his car and kept driving on Saturday night.

According to LAPD officials, the silver Nissan Cube involved in the collision was traveling eastbound on Van Nuys Boulevard near Remick Avenue in Pacoima around 10 p.m. when it struck a man walking in the roadway on Van Nuys.

The driver of the Nissan continued eastbound, failing to stop, identify themselves or render aid as required by law, LAPD said in a release.

Video shows brazen thieves stealing car from quiet street in Hollywood Hills

Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The decedent was identified as a 29-year-old Hispanic man. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Just hours after the crash, authorities arrested Arturo Sepulveda Carrera, 70, of Van Nuys.

Carrera was booked into the Van Nuys Jail on a charge of felony hit-and-run. His bail was set at $50,000.

Drivers are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services and remain at the scene to identify themselves, LAPD said. The public is also reminded that as pedestrians, they should obey the rules of the road and walk on designated walking areas, such as sidewalks and crosswalks.

Authorities investigating deadly overnight Compton shooting

Anyone with more information regarding the deadly hit-and-run is asked to contact the LAPDs Valley Traffic Division Detective Otrosina at 818-644-8036.

During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-527-3247.

Anonymous tipsters can submit information by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visiting the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
ABUJA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday lifted drastic sanctions earlier placed on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to pressure military juntas in those countries to return to constitutional order.

Sanctions on three countries would be lifted immediately, Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, said in a statement after an extraordinary summit in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.

Touray announced the immediate lifting of sanctions on three countries following an extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government held Saturday in Abuja, Nigeria.

"The Authority has resolved to lift, with immediate effect, sanctions imposed on Niger and has lifted the closure of land and air borders between it and ECOWAS member countries. The no-fly-zone of all commercial flights to and from Niger is to be lifted. Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger are to be lifted," read the statement.

ECOWAS, headquartered in Abuja, imposed the sanctions after the military took power in the three countries.

Furthermore, the regional bloc declared the resumption of all service transactions, including utilities, within ECOWAS countries and Niger. Additionally, asset freezes on Niger in the ECOWAS Central Bank and ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development have been lifted.

ECOWAS has removed the travel ban imposed on members of Niger's military junta and their families, citing humanitarian considerations during Lent and the approaching month of Ramadan.

Additionally, the regional bloc lifted sanctions on the election of Mali citizens to ECOWAS positions and removed economic sanctions on Guinea.

On Jan. 28, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger jointly declared an intention to withdraw from ECOWAS in response to the sanctions, sparking concerns among the international community.

Stating it was yet to receive any direct notification from the three member states about their intention to withdraw from the community, the ECOWAS Commission said the countries remained integral members of the regional bloc.

ECOWAS was founded in 1975 to promote economic integration in industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, and social and cultural matters. 
Even though Gov. Greg Abbott openly admitted he knows very little about in-vitro fertilization (IVF), he signaled he is eager for his state of Texas to put its pro-life stamp on the issue after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that IVF embryos are extrauterine children and should be treated as people under the law.

Abbott on Sunday appeared on CNNs State of the Union where host Dana Bash asked if he agreed with the Alabama ruling that embryos are human beings under the law and whether families in Texas should be concerned that IVF would be restricted.

After saying he agreed with former President Donald Trumps recent statement supporting IVF access, Abbott admitted he knows little about the process. You raise fact questions that are complex that I simply dont know the answer to, he said. Let me give you a couple of examples. And that is, I have no idea mathematically the number of frozen embryos. Is it one, 10, 100, 1,000? Things like that matter. What I dont know is, families who may have frozen embryos, what happens if they were done so that a mother could have a pregnancy, but after those embryos were frozen, the mother passes away? What happens if, after the embryos are frozen, the mother and the husband, they get a divorce?

These are very complex issues, where Im not sure everybody has really thought about what all the potential problems are, he continued. And, as a result, no one really knows what the potential answers are.

No one really knows what the potential answers are.



.@GregAbbott_TX reacts to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos are human beings in an interview with @DanaBashCNN. pic.twitter.com/nmI4McL8mO  State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) February 25, 2024

When Bash asked whether Texas would pass legislation to deal with this question and keep IVF legal, Abbott responded, I have no doubt that Texas will be among the states that will be addressing this issue when we can bring together all the different fact scenarios about what could happen.

He added, As you know, Texas is a pro-life state. And we want to do everything possible that we can to maintain Texas being a pro-life state. But, at the very same time, I think Texans agree with what President Trump said. And that is, we as a state want to ensure that we promote life, we bring more life into the world, and we empower parents to be able to have more children.

Abbott claimed that he is not sure everybody has really thought about what all the potential problems are with IVF, but fertility doctors and their patients have handled the decisions regarding IVF treatments privately  and without federal intervention  for decades.

IVF has existed since the 1970s, and legal restrictions on embryo use is not even a new debate. In the early 2000s when conservatives like then-Sen. Sam Brownback, a Republican, called for restrictions on the number of embryos that fertility clinics could produce and a requirement that all embryos created by hopeful parents must be implanted. At the same time, Kentucky legislators proposed limiting in vitro fertilization to only one egg per attempt. Often more than one egg is used to increase the chances of success. That year, another Republican, then-Sen. Rick Santorum, said he supported limiting IVF because clinics create a lot more human life than would ever be needed for implantation.

Since Trumps statement  and with encouragement from a memo by the GOPs Senate campaign arm  some Republicans have publicly declared support for IVF. But it remains to be seen whether that support extends to allowing families alone to decide what do to with their un-implanted embryos. In a post-Roe America, the potential Republican threat to IVF seems particularly dangerous.

More from Rolling Stone

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) echoed former President Trump on the recent ruling on embryos from the Alabama Supreme Court earlier this month, arguing that they should work to make it easier for people to have children.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are people earlier this month, marking the first time a court has ever given rights and protections that early after conception. Trump called on Alabama to protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments in the wake of the ruling Friday.

Abbott echoed Trumps remarks on CNNs State of the Union, saying that he does not want to make it harder for people to have children.

Theres some uncertainty lingering from this, but candidly, lets go to President Trump, because President Trump put out a statement on this that I think a lot of people agree with and that is a goal that we all kind of want to achieve. And that is we want to make it easier for people to be able to have babies  not make it harder, he said.

And the IVF process is a way of giving life to even more babies. And so what I think the goal is, is to make sure that we can find a pathway to ensure that parents who otherwise may not have the opportunity to have a child will be able to have access to the IVF process and become parents and give life to babies, he added.

When asked if Texas will pass legislation dealing with IVF access, Abbott said his state will likely address the issue.

I have no doubt that Texas will be among the states that will be addressing this issue when we can bring together all the different facts or scenarios about what can happen, he said. But also  Texas is a pro-life state, and we want to do everything possible that we can to maintain Texas being a pro-life state.

But at the very same time, I think Texans agree with what President Trump said, and that is we as a state want to ensure that we promote life, we bring more life into the world and we empower parents to be able to have more children, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Abolishing inheritance tax would increase Britains workforce by 300,000 because it would encourage people not to retire early, economists backed by Liz Truss have argued.

Analysis by the Growth Commission claimed the number of people in work would increase by 1.1 per cent if the tax was removed.

The commissions economists argued that people choose to stop work earlier because the top tranche of their savings will be taxed when they die, but may not do so if the tax was scrapped.

Meanwhile, a second Tory-linked group, the Adam Smith Institute, headed by Nadhim Zahawi, the former Conservative chairman, also published a call to axe the tax.

The institute produced a paper, shared with The Telegraph, that found the number of inheritance tax forms that must be filled out has increased five-fold since the 1990s.

The calls for the abolition of inheritance tax, an issue on which The Telegraph has campaigned, comes with the Budget, to be delivered by Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, little more than a week away.

Sources at Number 10 and Number 11 have indicated that an inheritance tax cut will not be considered despite the Government weighing up the move for months.

Tory strategists concluded that a reduction in inheritance tax could be perceived by some voters as a sign that the party was trying to help its supporters in what may be its final months in office.

Inheritance tax is paid on death if an individuals estate is worth more than 325,000, though special rules increase that amount if a family home is passed to family members.

Around four per cent of estates are hit by the tax, although polling suggests many more voters do not like it and regard it as double taxation.

The Growth Commission, a group of economists endorsed by Ms Truss after she was forced out of Number 10, has claimed axing it would increase GDP per capita  which has been falling for most quarters in the last two years  by 1.4 per cent by 2044 and concluded that some 4,300 of the richest taxpayers could remain in the UK as a result.

Douglas McWilliams, the co-chairman of the commission, said: Before we ran the analysis, I was not convinced that abolishing inheritance tax was a good idea. But the research is pretty persuasive, showing that the tax has bad effects on savings, which leads to an exodus of high taxpayers and encourages early retirement.

With an ageing population, and with so many other countries with low or zero rates of inheritance tax, keeping this tax for purely ideological reasons looks to be a luxury the UK cannot afford. Its not even as if the very rich actually pay the tax  they either go abroad or tie up their assets in trusts.

The ASI paper found that inheritance tax accounts for a smaller proportion of overall tax take than three decades ago, dropping from 1.7 per cent then to 0.89 per cent now.

The statistic was used to argue that there would be less of an impact to the Treasurys finances if the tax were scrapped now than there would have been in the 1990s.

The ASI also noted that death duties were abolished in Australia, Canada and much of East Asia and the Pacific in the 1990s. Austria, Portugal, Sweden and Norway have abolished inheritance taxes and death duties since 2003.

Mr Zahawi said: Conservatives have long understood that the continued existence of inheritance tax is fundamentally antithetical to our instincts.

The Government has the opportunity in the spring Budget to demonstrate our Conservative values, that we understand that individuals know best what to do with their own money and that we are on the side of family-run businesses. One of the most effective ways to do so would be to abolish the immoral death tax.

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 South Korean city of Gimpo held a laser light show and performance across the river from North Korea on Saturday night to celebrate the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

GIMPO, South Korea, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- On a snowy Saturday night, the South Korean city of Gimpo held a laser light show and performance for two audiences: local residents and -- perhaps -- their North Korean neighbors across a narrow river.

The event celebrated the first full moon of the Lunar New Year at Aegibong Peace Ecopark, an exhibition hall and observatory on the Jogang River that offers an unparalleled view of small North Korean villages, farms and military posts less than a mile away.

"We would like to send a message of peace to North Korea," Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo told UPI before the show began. "When the lights go up, we hope they can see it."

As darkness fell Saturday, an enormous LED full moon installation and laser lights illuminated the night sky -- the first time such a display has been held in a border area, according to organizers.

The program also included music, dance and the ceremonial decoration of a tree with messages of hope and peace.

A girl holds a message of peace at a ceremony Saturday night at Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

The good wishes come at a time when inter-Korean relations are at their lowest point in years, however, amid a steady stream of weapons tests from the North and a hardened military stance from the South.

Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un proclaimed South Korea the "principal enemy" and publicly rejected a longstanding official policy goal of peaceful reunification. Pyongyang's rubber-stamp parliament also ditched its laws on economic cooperation with the South earlier this month.

The laser light show was the first of its kind in a border area with North Korea, where villages and military posts are located less than a mile away across the Jogang River. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

Gimpo, a satellite city west of Seoul, opened Aegibong Peace Ecopark in 2021, replacing an observatory that had been left abandoned for several years.

The site is one of several areas along the DMZ designated for "peace tourism," a project that began during a period of inter-Korean rapprochement in 2019 but has faced hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising hostilities.

A small North Korean village as seen from the observatory at Aegibong Peace Ecopark on Saturday. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

Aegibong has welcomed around 250,000 visitors since its reopening, according to Gimpo officials, and has hosted other nighttime events such as a Christmas tree lighting in December.

Saturday's festivities were also meant to send a reassuring message to South Korean and international visitors, the mayor said.

A singer performs under a snowfall at a ceremony at Aegibong Peace Ecopark on Saturday. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

"People might imagine that this place is dangerous because it's located close to North Korea," Kim said. "But actually it is peaceful and safe for everyone."

Along with the positive vibes, the signs of a country still technically at war with North Korea are unmistakable. Barbed wire fences and military checkpoints line the roads leading up to the park, which remains home to a regiment of South Korean marines.

A visitor looks through binoculars at North Korea, located less than a mile away from the observatory at Aegibong. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

"We will constantly send peaceful messages to North Korea," Kim said. "But we also would like to say we have enough power to be dangerous."
CHICAGO  One day after a Cook County judge invalidated the Bring Chicago Home referendum, advocates are reminding residents that it will remain on the ballot. But the votes wont be counted unless the ruling is appealed, and that is what advocates are banking on.

Canvassers with the 25th Ward Independent Political Organization and the Chicago chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America went knocking door to door in Pilsen on Saturday to inform residents that they can still vote for the referendum question on the March primary ballot.

We need to tax the rich in order to house the poor and working class across the entire city, Elena Gormley. from the Chicago chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, said.

VOTE: Tom Skillings most memorable moments

On Friday, a Cook County judge ruled the real estate transfer tax question is invalid, siding with the real estate and development groups who sued.

It is estimated that the tax could have generated $100 million in revenue.

The controversial measure would have raised a one-time tax hike on property sales valued at more than $1 million but lowered it on properties under that amount.

We know that the reason theyre doing this is if they left it up to the voters of the City of Chicago, that they would not win, volunteer Diego Morales said.

Alderman Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) said he does not believe that taxing high-end property transactions will solve the issue.

Bring home Chicago was not about having a collaborative effort to help end homelessness, this was simply creating a new money train for nonprofit agencies, even though we see the statistics say the exact opposite, Lopez said.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Lopez argues that homelessness has worsened in Chicago, despite the city already allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to combat it.

Yet nobody asked how that money got spent, how effective were we and what our partners do, Lopez said. If that is what we can expect out of the Bring Chicago Home money, then nothing is going to change.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden (49th Ward) believes there needs to be a dedicated revenue to provide permanent affordable housing.

The alderwoman is displeased by the judges decision and vowed to appeal.

Police search for driver after man injured in hit-and-run crash in Portage Park

These are the same companies raising your rents and deconverting your condos, displacing you and your family from our neighborhoods. These are the same companies leaving storefronts empty in our neighborhoods for a tax break while the communities remain starved for development. Their interests are clear  profits over people, Hadden said in a statement.

With early voting underway, a spokesperson for the Chicago Board of Elections said the question will remain on the ballot, but votes will not be tallied unless its overturned by a states appeals court.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
China has stepped up its diplomatic and military pressure against Taiwan, alarming U.S. officials and allies in the region that Beijing is looking to take back the island by force.

If projections of a Chinese military invasion to retake Taiwan are accurate, the U.S. can utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology that will indicate to forces in the region that China isnt engaging in yet another provocative military exercise but is launching the invasion so many predict.

According to experts, AI and machine learning (ML) can help the U.S. and its allies in the region improve the speed and efficiency of war plan development, intelligence assessments and targeting effectiveness.

An MV-22 Osprey from the "Ugly Angels" of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 flies by the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea Feb. 11, 2023.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, who serves as senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital AI and ML can help U.S. intelligence experts process the immense amount of surveillance data covering China and the Western Pacific Ocean the U.S. is ingesting.

"This data needs to be rapidly processed, evaluated and disseminated, and AI and ML can make that a more agile and efficient process. This, in turn, can give the U.S. military and policymakers decision-making advantages," Montgomery added.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Decision-makers can easily misinterpret the intentions of hostile forces, mistaking training exercises as an actual prelude to military action. New technology can prevent the possibility that miscalculation will lead to an unnecessary armed confrontation.

"When we are left in a spot where we can no longer derive enemy intentions  would-be enemy intentions  from their disposition in the field, we must go deeper, and that requires data, compute, talent.  What are those indications and warnings?" Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet who was recently nominated to lead U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told a conference hosted by the Defense Innovation Unit, as reported by Breaking Defense.

Paparo said the erosion of strategic, operational and tactical warnings is a real concern.

"It presents a challenge to the joint force in our ability to go deeper, to find those indications and warnings that will enable us to be postured to support our allies and partners, and  if so  called by the commander in chief and answer to the readiness to defend Taiwan should the PRC decide to settle matters by the use of force," Paparo was quoted as saying in a Breaking Defense article.

EXCLUSIVE: ISRAEL CREATES AI PLATFORM TO MONITOR THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA

The growing fear among policymakers in Washington is that China is preparing to invade Taiwan and reunify it with the mainland by force, reversing decades of democratic self-rule. China ramped up its military activities in the Taiwan Strait following Congresswoman Nancy Pelosis controversial visit to Taiwan in August 2022. China sent 727 aircraft in and toward Taiwans airspace in 2022 and sent 850 planes in the first half of 2023, according to the Stimson Center.

SPEAKER JOHNSON LAUNCHES BIPARTISAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TASK FORCE

Some in Beijing perceived the former House speaker's visit as the U.S. moving away from its long-held recognition of the "One-China" policy that has undergirded the approach to Taiwan since 1979. Several military officials have warned recently that China plans on invading Taiwan in the coming years.

"Taiwan is clearly one of their ambitions, and I think the threat is manifest during this decade, in fact, in the next six years," Adm. Philip Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in 2021.

Its not just policymakers and observers of the region saying China will attack Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping is on record and been candid about his ambitions toward Taiwan ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China.

In his 2023 New Years address, Xi said reunification with Taiwan was inevitable and that the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be achieved by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. As far back as 2012, Xi said "achieving rejuvenation is the dream of the Chinese people."

And a resolution adopted by the CCP Central Committee in November 2021 stated, "Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing Chinas complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Party."

A recent war game conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies predicted a U.S. victory over China, with staggering deaths and casualties, including "dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft and tens of thousands of service members," for the U.S. and its allies.

Other war games conducted by the Department of Defense, the House Select Committee on China and various other think tanks resulted in similar conclusions.





Original article source: AI technology could help US, allies monitor China's Taiwan invasion intentions
Margaret Boyce was days away from her first appointment for IVF when Alabama made its ruling

When Alabama's Supreme Court defined frozen embryos as children, the shock and confusion was immediate. Major hospitals pulled fertility services and would-be parents scrambled for clarity on what would happen next.

The debate over reproductive rights in America has long been driven, in part, by opposition to abortion from Christian groups - but this ruling has divided that movement and ignited debate about the role of theology in US lawmaking.

Short presentational grey line

Margaret Boyce is soft-spoken, a private person, and certainly not - in her words - a "crier".

She had been taking fertility drugs for 10 months and was days away from her first appointment for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) when the justices of Alabama's top court upended her life.

Their ruling, which prompted many fertility clinics to pause their work, has left her turning to the Bible daily for comfort.

The 32-year-old and her husband have a young boy but, second time round, she is experiencing unexplained infertility. Building a family has always been the dream.

"I'm one of three. I feel like it's the greatest gift to give your child a sibling," she said.

"The journey to becoming parents is different for every single couple - mentally, emotionally and financially," she added, welling up.

"This ruling has added more unnecessary anxiety to something that is already so hard."

For a devout Christian like Margaret, the ruling - given its consequences for what she sees clearly as a process to create life - is even more difficult to comprehend.

"God," she said, "tells you to go forth and be fruitful and multiply."

IVF is a difficult and lengthy treatment, involving the fertilisation of a woman's eggs with sperm in a lab to create a microscopic embryo. The fertilised embryo is then transferred into a woman's uterus, where it may create a pregnancy - but a successful outcome is not guaranteed.

Embryos are often frozen or eventually destroyed as part of IVF, which accounts for around 2% of US pregnancies.

The Alabama court ruled that an existing law - wrongful death of a minor - covers not just foetuses in the womb, but embryos held in a lab or storage facility too.

It did not explicitly restrict or ban IVF, but it has still created deep uncertainty for clinics and medical workers who handle embryos and fear prosecution. In recent days the office of the state's attorney general said he had "no intention" of pursuing criminal charges against IVF clinics - but one clinic told the BBC this statement lacked detail and did not quell their fears.

Short presentational grey line

While the majority of the justices rooted their ruling in law, Chief Justice Tom Parker also had a higher authority in mind, repeatedly invoking scripture in explaining his decision.

The people of Alabama, he wrote in a concurring opinion, had adopted a "theologically-based view of the sanctity of life" in their state constitution.

Delving into religious sources from classic Christian theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas and also a modern conservative Christian manifesto, he concluded that "even before birth, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory".

Some anti-abortion groups celebrated the explicit use of scripture in Justice Parker's opinion to justify what for them was a momentous decision.

Tony Perkins, president of evangelical activist group the Family Research Council, described it as "a beautiful defence of life".

But the chief justice's theocratic justification has left Margaret puzzled. She doesn't believe in abortion but she also struggles to see a frozen embryo as a living person. For her, life begins with a heartbeat.

"Nobody understands more that an embryo is not a child," she said, before taking a pause, "than the person yearning for that embryo to be a child."

US courts do sometimes make decisions that seem to be based on religious premises, said Meredith Render, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law.

But, she added, "rarely do you see it as explicitly stated" as in the chief justice's opinion.

The ruling was however "not an outlier" for a conservative court in a red state, said Kelly Baden, the vice president for public policy at the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks abortion legislation across the US.

"We do see that many elected officials and judges alike are often coming at this debate from a highly religious lens," she said.

While the Alabama state Supreme Court is not appointed by the US president, more than 200 judges were appointed by Donald Trump to federal courts during his four-year term, winning him lasting support from American evangelicals.

During his presidency he was able to nominate three new justices to the nine-member Supreme Court - all of whom sided with the majority in striking down the 1973 Roe v Wade decision that had guaranteed a federal right to abortion.

Since that decision in 2022 re-opened a national battle over reproductive rights, courts in Missouri have quoted Biblical teachings to justify restricting abortion rights and a Trump-appointed judge in Texas who previously worked for a Christian legal organisation tried to impose a nationwide ban on Mifepristone, a commonly used abortion pill.

While many Republican politicians comfortably agree with such rulings, restrictions on abortion imposed by conservative courts have proved a potent campaign issue for Democrats in recent elections, including the 2022 midterms.

Donald Trump has said he supports the availability of IVF treatment, calling on Alabama to find "an immediate solution"

The Alabama decision, made by Republican judges and affecting fertility treatments widely supported by the US public, went one step further, prompting immediate fear of a political backlash in a presidential election year.

Any sign of IVF being endangered could worsen the anger that's already cost Republicans since the fall of Roe v Wade, especially among suburban women and those who are uncomfortable with abortion bans.

Donald Trump himself, the clear frontrunner in the Republican nomination race, came out strongly in support of IVF, calling on Alabama lawmakers to preserve access to the treatment. His last remaining rival Nikki Haley at first appeared to support the ruling, but then backtracked.

"It's a win philosophically for the pro-life movement because it carries on the pro-life recognition of unborn life," said Eric Johnston, president of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition.

"But you get into a very difficult situation, where you have this medical procedure that's accepted by most people, and then how do you deal with it? That's the dilemma.

"I agree with the opinion overall - I think it's well written opinion from the legal side and from the medical side," he added.

"But I think the pro-life community in general supports IVF, and I've known and worked with many people who have had children via IVF. And at the same time, they think abortion is wrong. This issue is so different from abortion, but it has to do with life."

What next for fertility patients in Alabama and beyond?

For patients in the deep-south state, the last week has been one of panicked phone calls to clinics, emails to local lawmakers and a rush by some to try and transfer frozen embryos out of the state.

Rodney Miller, 46, and his wife Mary Leah, 41, spent a decade trying to have children, before IVF allowed them to give birth to a set of twins 18 months ago, who were adopted as frozen embryos.

He said he "thanks the Lord for the advances in science and medicine" that made that possible.

Rodney Miller warned the ruling could mean fewer children are born

The couple are now going through the process again, and waiting to see if two embryos transplanted this week will develop into a pregnancy.

"This is not a win [for the Christian right]," says Rodney, who works for Carrywell, an organisation that supports families through infertility.

"It's the classic case of you won the battle but lost the war. Fewer children will be born because of this unless things change.

"How did we become a state where if you want to terminate a pregnancy, you have to leave the state and if you want to initiate a pregnancy, via IVF you [also] have to leave the state?"

Whether the ruling in Alabama influences decisions elsewhere is an open question.

Foetal personhood bills, which enshrine the idea that life begins at conception, have been introduced in more than a dozen states. But these bills, while pushing the idea that a foetus or embryo is a person, don't explicitly relate that to the context of IVF, said Kelly Baden of the Guttmacher Institute.

The Alabama ruling - with its implications that go far beyond abortion access - does not therefore constitute a trend, she said.

Alabama family lawyer Ashleigh Meyer Dunham, who has used IVF herself, has been working with a large number of cases affected by the ruling. She said she was "terrified" that fertility patients in other states could eventually be affected.

Ashleigh Meyer Dunham is worried that more states might make similar rulings

"I think the biggest concerns are that people elsewhere forget about us and they think, 'Oh they're just the conservative state, and they're all country bumpkins. Don't worry it will never happen here.'

"And the next thing you know, it is happening in other states that are ultra-conservative."

Because the Alabama ruling involves an interpretation of state, not federal law, it is unlikely to reach the US Supreme Court. Currently a bill is going through the state house in Alabama, introduced by Democrats, which would aim to effectively pause the ruling and allow treatments to resume as before.

Republicans are expected to propose their own bill. If they do, they have to find a way to balance a divided religious constituency, with some celebrating the court's ruling and others disturbed by its potential implications for IVF.

Margaret is praying that lawmakers find a solution.

"I'm not very outspoken, I keep myself to myself. But if any of my friends or family heard that I was sending emails to every single representative and senator, I think they would be shocked."

She takes a breath.

"But this has got me fired up. It is all I can think about now."

Alex Lederman contributed reporting from Alabama. Additional research from Kayla Epstein in New York.
Khalfani Hardwick, the son of Alabama Circuit Court Judge Johnny Hardwick, was jailed Sunday on charges of first-degree assault and domestic violence in connection with the shooting of his father. Photo courtesy Montgomery County, Ala., Sheriff's Office

Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A judge in Montgomery, Ala., is in critical condition Sunday after suffering a gunshot wound allegedly inflicted by his own son during a domestic dispute, authorities said.

Johnny Hardwick, the presiding judge for Alabama's 15th Circuit Court in Montgomery, was allegedly shot and assaulted by his son, Khalfani Hardwick, 36, on Saturday in the wake of an argument, Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham said in a statement to media outlets.

Deputies responding to a domestic disturbance call at the judge's residence discovered he had been "assaulted, shot, and seriously injured by his son," the sheriff said.

Khalfani Hardwick fled the scene and abandoned his vehicle but was taken into custody shortly afterward along a highway, Cunningham added.

By Sunday morning, Khalfani Hardwick appeared on the inmate roster of the Montgomery County jail, facing charges of domestic violence, first degree assault, and illegally possessing a pistol. Bond is listed at $15,000.

In 2014, Khalfani Hardwick pleaded guilty to second-degree assault after shooting family friend Clayton Riley in the head. He served no prison time.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed issued a statement expressing dismay over Johnny Hardwick's shooting, noting that the judge "has honorably served our community on the Circuit Court for decades, helping spearhead numerous reforms to make the court system more equitable and fair."

In particular, Reed said, Hardwick "worked to eliminate bond requirements for more non-violent offenses," while also serving the community as an advocate for youth as the one of the founders of 100 Black Men of Greater Montgomery.

"We are praying for his recovery," the mayor said.

Johnny Hardwick has served in federal, state and Montgomery city positions and was appointed to the circuit court in 2001.

Last August, he was named president of the Alabama Association of Circuit Court Judges.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDHN)  An Alabama judge is in the hospital after being seriously injured in a domestic shooting. His son is facing charges in the incident.

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Department tells ABCs WAKA that deputies responded to a 911 call from Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwicks home around 1 p.m. on Saturday.

When they arrived deputies said that Judge Hardwick had been assaulted, shot and seriously injured by his son, Khalfani A. Hardwick. Deputies immediately searched the area and located the suspects abandoned vehicle on Trotman Road in Montgomery. A short time later, deputies say they located the suspect on U.S. Highway 231, and he was taken into custody without incident.

Judge Hardwick was taken to a hospital with injuries that were described as serious.

Tamika and I are saddened by the news that Judge Johnny Hardwick has been shot. He has honorably served our community on the Circuit Court for decades, helping spearhead numerous reforms to make the court system more equitable and fair. Most recently, he worked to eliminate bond requirements for more non-violent offenses. Away from the bench, he was a champion for the areas youth, one of the founders of 100 Black Men of Greater Montgomery. We are praying for his recovery. Mayor of Montgomery Steven Reed

Khalfani A. Hardwick has been charged with Domestic Violence in the First Degree and with Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm. He is currently being held at the Montgomery County Detention Facility without bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
A pizza place with several locations in Allegheny County is holding a fundraising event on Sunday to help a local high school student recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder.

A portion of all sales Sunday at the Franks Pizza & Chicken restaurants in Shaler and Millvale will go to the parents of Shaler High School student Deven Wilson, who was recently diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder that put him in the Childrens Hospital ICU. All funds will go toward his medical care, treatments and medical bills.

Franks Pizza & Chicken is open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., and orders can be made online. The restaurant does ask that anyone considering placing a large order call the restaurant in advance.

In addition to the fundraiser at the Shaler and Millvale locations on Sunday, Franks Pizza & Chicken is placing donation boxes until Tuesday at all four of its locations.

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JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and scores of others injured after a bus they were riding in overturned Saturday near Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, authorities said Sunday.

The passengers were travelling from the province's Moses Mabhida stadium, where the ruling African National Congress (ANC) launched its manifesto for upcoming elections.

"Police and various emergency services are at the scene of the bus accident on the R33 between Vryheid and Paulpietersburg in KwaZulu-Natal Province," the police in a statement. "According to a preliminary report, the bus was coming from the Moses Mabhinda stadium when it overturned. Eight people have so far been confirmed dead and scores injured. Those that are injured have been taken to various hospitals in the area for medical care."

The ANC said those involved in the accident were its members from Mpumalanga Province.

"There are reports of several fatalities and a number of comrades in critical condition. It is a true tragedy that there are such a loss of lives after such a memorable day. Their selflessness and commitment to building a better future for generations to come will forever be remembered," the ANC said in a statement.

The police said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. 
After opening up about recent medical issues, Amy Schumer has revealed that she's been diagnosed with exogenous Cushing syndrome, a hormonal disorder caused by high levels of cortisol in the body.

The 42-year-old comedian shared the news in Jessica Yellins "News Not Noise" newsletter released Feb. 23, saying that the syndrome was brought on by getting steroid injections in high doses.

"While I was doing press on camera for my Hulu show, I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up, Schumer said, after noting that she felt reborn by knowing her diagnosis.

Schumer said learning that her type of Cushing syndrome will just work itself out, and being told she was healthy, was the greatest news imaginable.

After previously addressing the online criticism about her puffier face following her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Schumer said she was grateful for the internet calling out her changed appearance because thats how I realized something was wrong.

The internet is undefeated, as they say, she quipped.

Here's what to know about Cushing syndrome and Schumer's health.

What is Cushing syndrome?

Mayo Clinic describes Cushing syndrome as a condition that occurs when the body produces too much cortisol over a long period of time, or from taking glucocorticoid medicines.

There are two types of Cushing syndrome: exogenous and endogenous.

Exogenous Cushing syndrome is brought on by taking glucocorticoid medicines, which are typically used to treat inflammatory diseases and pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is the version Schumer was diagnosed with.

Those who have endogenous Cushing syndrome have increased cortisol, which could have been a result of problems with the pituitary or adrenal glands, per the Mayo Clinic.

If not treated, Cushing syndrome can lead to osteoporosis, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, infections and loss of muscle mass.

What are the symptoms of Cushing syndrome?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the following are common symptoms of Cushing syndrome for both men and women:

Weight gain in the trunk of the body, accompanied by thin arms and legs

Weight gain in the face, sometimes called "moon face"

A fatty lump between the shoulders, sometimes called a "buffalo hump"

Pink or purple stretch marks on the stomach, hips, thighs, breasts and underarms

Thin, frail skin that bruises easily

Slow wound healing

Acne

Women may experience a condition called hirsutism, which manifests as "thick, dark hair on the face and body," as well as irregular periods or periods that stop.

Men could experience lower sex drive, reduced fertility and problems getting an erection.

Is Cushing syndrome fatal and what are the treatments?

Cushing syndrome is treatable.

The goal of treatment is to lower cortisol in the body, according to Mayo Clinic, which can involve lowering the use of glucocorticoid medicine, surgery, radiation therapy and medicine.

Some medications used for treatment include ketoconazole, osilodrostat (Isturisa), mitotane (Lysodren), levoketoconazole (Recorlev), and metyrapone (Metopirone), mifepristone (Korlym, Mifeprex) and Pasireotide (Signifor).

However, side effects for these medications could include tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches, high blood pressure, low potassium and swelling, per Mayo Clinic.

More serious side effects include brain and nervous system side effects, as well as liver damage.

What else has Amy Schumer said about her health?

In the February 15 Instagram post, the Life & Beth star reminded followers that she's been diagnosed with endometriosis, which the Mayo Clinic describes as an often painful condition in which tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.

In September 2021, Schumer revealed that she had her uterus and appendix removed due to endometriosis.

The actor has also previously discussed her experience with hyperemesis gravidarum during her first pregnancy with her son, Gene, as well as her difficult delivery because of complications caused by endometriosis.

In the News Not Noise newsletter, Schumer said she hopes to be an advocate for women's health.

The shaming and criticism of our ever-changing bodies is something I have dealt with and witnessed for a long time, she said. I want so much for women to love themselves and be relentless when fighting for their own health in a system that usually doesnt believe them.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
FLEMINGTON, New Jersey  Rep. Andy Kim won his third straight county convention on Sunday, beating his top rival, first lady Tammy Murphy, in his bid for the Democratic nomination for the Senate.

But Kims victory came after the Hunterdon County convention was briefly thrown into disarray when the county chair  a Murphy ally  proposed changing the endorsement rules. It would have allowed candidates with 30 percent of the vote to share the so-called county line, the valuable primary ballot positioning that party-endorsed candidates receive.

The proposal was met with cursing and screams from the convention delegates and beaten down in a hand vote. But if the rule change went through, it would have meant that Kim would have had to share the line with Murphy in the county  likely putting them on equal footing, visually, with primary voters.

Kims victory here means he wins the county line, placing him in the same ballot column as other party-endorsed candidates  a unique and hugely important feature of New Jerseys primary system. Each county party in the state differs in how the line is awarded  some have conventions where local Democrats like precinct leaders vote on who they want to support. In other large Democratic strongholds, the support of a local party boss is enough to get the valuable ballot positioning  in those parts of the state, Murphy enjoys a strong advantage over Kim.



Kim won the Hunterdon contest 120 votes to Murphys 64, or 62 percent to 33 percent. He and Murphy are the frontrunners in the race to replace indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, who has not said whether he is seeking reelection.

Hunterdon County is New Jerseys fourth smallest county by population, and Democrats have not held a single countywide elected office here since 1982. But it is the third consecutive Democratic county convention win for Kim. And unlike the state's first two Democratic conventions in Burlington and Monmouth, both of which Kim won handily, Hunterdon has a unique qualifier: It is the first county that neither Kim nor Murphy have any natural political roots. In that way, Hunterdon may offer a preview at how Democratic voters who dont have a clear connection to Kim or Murphy may react to their candidacies.

Kim represents most of Burlington County, where he grew up, and around a third of Monmouth County. Murphy has lived in Monmouth County for well over two decades.

When asked if Kim had momentum in the race, Murphy said: No, he does not.  he oversees 35 percent of Monmouth County [in Congress], that makes sense. Burlington, thats his county. She declined to address Hunterdon.

Hunterdon Democratic County Chair Arlene Quinones Perez told convention delegates that she wanted to make the balloting changes Sunday because of a letter sent by Kim and two other Senate candidates, Patricia Campos-Medina and Lawrence Hamm, calling for an office block primary setup in all 19 of New Jerseys 21 counties that do not currently use it.

Kim, however, was not in favor of the change on Sunday. And surrendering the line in Hunterdon County would have put him at a statewide disadvantage since Murphy would presumably still have the prominent ballot positioning in other key Democratic strongholds in the state where she has support.

Murphy told reporters that she was unaware of the convention proposal until Perez announced it from the convention floor.

I thought it actually might have made sense, but I had no vote in it, Murphy told reporters. She did not directly answer whether she would support a similar measure in counties that she is expected to win, such as Middlesex.

I'm not going to dictate how different county parties function  I think that's not right. But again, if there are good ideas  then I'm all in, she said.

Kim also heavily criticized the manner by which the rule change was proposed by county leaders.

They decided that it's good to have something sprung upon a convention at the last possible second without any ability to discuss or deliberate, Kim said. You saw the reaction from people. They don't like that.

He added: I made it very clear what I want, which is every single county to be able to do the office block.

Hunterdon County does not represent a large prize in the broader Democratic primary contest: There are just over 30,000 registered Democrats here, representing 1.2 percent of all Democrats in the state. By comparison, Burlington and Monmouth counties each represent about 5.6 percent of all Democrats in the state.

Sue Altman, who is running unopposed for the Democratic ticket in New Jerseys 7th Congressional District, also received the county endorsement unanimously by voice vote. She is running to unseat Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., who flipped the district red in 2022 in a narrow win over Democrat Tom Malinowski. The race is considered among the most competitive in 2024.
With every week that passes, more and more people in this country are discovering that it is permissible to exhibit hatred towards Jews. Too often they are getting away with it.

Two weeks ago in a British court Judge Tan Ikram found three women guilty of an offence under the Terrorism Act. The women had attended a pro-Palestinian march with symbols that appeared to celebrate the method by which some Hamas terrorists on October 7 entered Israel to kill and rape as many Jews as they could find. But the Judge did not feel that a conviction of this kind deserved a prison sentence.

A mitigating factor, the Judge said, was that emotions were running very high on the issue. It seems from this judgement that it is ok to commit offences in Britain against Jews if you are feeling emotional.

It emerged soon after that Judge Ikram had liked a post on social media that described Israelis as terrorists. This rightly raises questions around judicial impartiality.

Our judicial system is not the only profession through which the poison appears to be spreading. Earlier this month, Dr Dimitrios Psaroudakis  who had said that Hammersmith would be better if it was Jew free  was found not to be racist but instead to be comfortable with discriminatory language by the General Medical Councils independent tribunal.

So, a man who wanted to rid an area of London of Jewish people was deemed not to be racist. When you hear something like this as a British Jew it is hard to absorb at first. It seems both impossible and yet ever more likely since the October 7 pogrom.

Of course, it is very hard to imagine the tribunal coming to a similar conclusion if the racism had been directed at members of the black or Muslim community.

It appears clear to me that people in positions of power in Britain feel increasingly able to treat Jews very differently when it comes to prejudice and discrimination.

To add salt to this particular wound, Dr Psaroudakis was suspended for a pitiful three months and will be back at work soon. Those who have paid attention to his particular case may well feel emboldened by the signal that when it comes to racism against Jews, the normal rules do not apply.

In other cases, it is intimidation that begins on the streets that is infecting our institutions. Last week, journalist Dan Hodges disclosed that an MP had weighed up his own physical safety when deciding how to vote on the Gaza motion in Parliament.

That this was a serious consideration for an MP tells us that something is now very broken in our society when it comes to anti-Jewish racism. It means that the mob is getting a grip on our democratic process.

This is no exaggeration. It is not an isolated incident. In announcing his decision to stand down as an MP last month, Justice Minister Mike Freer said that he had chosen to do so because of the death threats and intimidation he had faced due to his pro-Israel views.

Mr Freer is not Jewish himself but has voiced strong support for the Jewish community and his constituency of Finchley and Golders Green has a large Jewish population. Things had got so bad for this MP that he wore a stab vest when attending constituency events.

Such is the experience of a democratically elected and honourable man who had spoken up for Jews and the Jewish State.

The poison continues to spread through other institutions too. Jewish schools require security. Synagogues have to be protected. Jewish students feel unsafe on university campuses.

The question of course is what is the antidote? How do we stop this toxicity from spreading further? I believe that the current government is committed to the fight against antisemitism. But more work is needed and fast.

This must become a major government priority right across Whitehall with a heavyweight task force empowered to stop the rot.

It is not just the safety of the Jewish community that is at stake. Nothing less than the British values of tolerance, respect and fairness are now at risk.

Danny Cohen was the director of BBC Television

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Donald Trump (left) and Javier Milari (right) met behind the scenes at the Conservative Political Action Conference (Handout)

Argentine President Javier Milei and former US president Donald Trump made calls to "make Argentina great again", as the right-wing firebrands met at a conservative conference on Saturday.

Known for their distinctive hair, spicy oratory and rejection of traditional political norms, the two men met behind the scenes at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, which they addressed separately.

And both were keen to repurpose Trump's electoral sales pitch -- "Make America great again" -- for the South American country.

"Make Argentina great again," Trump said as they posed for photos backstage, while Milei rasped his famous Spanish-language slogan: "Long live freedom, damn it!"

Despite myriad legal woes, Trump is gearing up for a probable rematch with President Joe Biden in November's elections, having lost to the Democrat in 2020.

And he was very much on home turf at CPAC, where he is wildly popular.

During his speech, Trump said Milei "has achieved a lot, he is a great gentleman, he is MAGA," noting that the acronym for his famous tagline works with either country's name.

Elected last year on a wave of anger over decades of economic crisis, right-winger Milei has embarked on massive economic deregulation by presidential decree.

He also has devalued the peso and cut state subsidies.

Milei too invoked "MAGA" in a speech.

"We are not going to give up on making Argentina great again," he said, during an address in which he warned that the world "is in danger" due to socialism.

He ended with a plea: "Do not give up your freedom, fight for your freedom because if you do not fight for freedom it will lead you to misery."

bur-leg/dhw
Sasabe, Arizona  Migrants from all corners of the globe come here to cross into the U.S. through breaches or gaps in the border wall, which covers miles of a rugged landscape featuring steep hillsides, dirt roads, cows, cacti and desert shrubs.

While the towering Trump-era wall is by far the most visible man-made object, if visitors venture far enough into this section of the U.S. southern border, they will also see construction crews fixing parts of the wall damaged by erosion or smugglers, clothes, blankets and other belongings abandoned by migrants and water stations maintained by volunteers hoping to prevent tragedies in the unforgiving desert.

The nearest U.S. community, Sasabe, is a hamlet with 51 residents, according to the Census Bureau. It has an official port of entry to facilitate legal travel from and to Mexico, several modest residences, a post office and a store that sells burritos, cowboy hats and souvenirs, including t-shirts that pose a question many newcomers may ask themselves: "Where the hell is Sasabe?"

Nestled between the Tohono O'odham Nation Reservation and a highway that connects Tucson with Nogales, Mexico, this area in southern Arizona is one of the most remote stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border. For the past months, it has also been the busiest region for Border Patrol apprehensions of migrants entering the U.S. unlawfully.

Undeterred by miles of border wall, violent Mexican cartels and a treacherous terrain with extreme temperatures, migrants have been crossing into the Tucson sector of Arizona by the hundreds, and sometimes by the thousands, each day  often with the help of smugglers.

During the first four months of fiscal year 2024, Border Patrol recorded more than 250,000 migrant apprehensions in the Tucson sector, the most of any region patrolled by the agency, according to federal government statistics. While illegal crossings into Texas are down from last year, they have remained high in the Tucson and San Diego sectors, which have been recording 60% of all migrant apprehensions.

Map of the Southwest land border, showing number of migrant apprehensions from October 2023 to January 2024.

There are two types of migrants crossing into the Tucson sector illegally: those surrendering themselves to Border Patrol agents, sometimes with the intention of seeking U.S. asylum, and those hoping to enter the country surreptitiously, without being apprehended.

Due to the area's remoteness, the first group often has to wait and walk for hours after entering the U.S. before reaching Border Patrol agents. In those cases, the work of American volunteers can be a lifeline.

On a recent day, volunteers provided basic medical attention to a migrant from Ecuador who said she had been grazed by a bullet before crossing into the U.S. that morning. Maria said armed men she believes were cartel members shot at the vehicle that was transporting her and other migrants to the U.S. border.

"I was bleeding a lot," Maria said in Spanish, adding that she was so scared at the moment, that she did not feel any pain. "The terrible pain came later."

In addition to medical attention, Maria received water and food at a migrant camp that American volunteers have set up more than a dozen miles east of Sasabe. The encampment includes tents for migrants to rest, a makeshift kitchen where volunteers cook ramen soup, and a pantry with water, peanut butter, refried beans, canned sausages, tuna and other foods. The site also has blankets, since the temperatures drop sharply at night and in the early morning hours.

Volunteers said the camp is designed to be a barebones respite center for tired migrants awaiting Border Patrol agents. But they said some migrants have had to spend the night there.

Oftentimes, migrants just want to see a friendly face, volunteers said.

"They fall into your arms and cry and hug you. They go, 'thank God, we're in America. We're safe now,'" said Gail Kocourek, a volunteer with Tucson Samaritans, one of the U.S.-based groups assisting migrants near Sasabe.

While all of the migrants who were at the camp with Maria hailed from Latin America, others from more far-flung countries also cross into the U.S. in this area. Kocourek said she has recently met migrants from Afghanistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea, Liberia, the Palestinian territories and Senegal.

Critics have argued groups helping migrants are facilitating illegal immigration by offering free services to those who entered the country without authorization. Kocourek rejected that accusation.

"We're not facilitating. We're just helping people stay alive," she added.

Erin Waters, a spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection, said the agency had "redirected manpower" in southern Arizona to process the increasing number of migrants seeking to turn themselves into U.S. officials.

"Callous smugglers continue to push large groups of vulnerable migrants across the border during winter snow and rain conditions, through some of the most isolated locations along the southern border without proper clothing, supplies, or shelter," Waters said. "Once aware of an entry, the Border Patrol prioritizes the humanitarian response to the migrants abandoned in the cold."

Maria said she journeyed to the U.S. due to deteriorating economic and security conditions in Ecuador, which has experienced a surge in violence attributed to drug trafficking cartels. She said she also wanted to reunite with her husband and children in Wisconsin. She said she has not seen them in five years.

"Being without my family makes me feel very sad," Maria said, before breaking down in tears.

After a few hours at the camp, Maria and the other migrants there were picked up by Border Patrol agents. They were transported in vans to a nearby processing facility, where Border Patrol screens migrants for security concerns before deciding whether to deport them, transfer them to another agency or release them with a court notice. It's unclear how Maria was processed.

Amanda Arden and Sarah Welch contributed reporting.

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In 1895, the men of Ashland had several options to purchase a suit of clothes, but none of them was a chain store. The clothiers at that time were the Freer Brothers, Jacob Cahn, and the New York Store.

The New York Store was at 33 W. Main St., the building that currently houses Masterminds. It was run by Samuel Miller, who had immigrated from Hungary as a teenager in 1881.

By 1895, he had been in Ashland for several years and built up a large, promising clothing business. In a special edition of the Ashland Gazette he was described as a hustler. The Gazette praised his business model, saying he was constantly after the almighty dollar, and his quality merchandise, low prices, and good service made him successful.

More: Ashland Memories: Once home to five drug stores, city had no shortage of options

Pictured is the New York Clothing Store as shown in a photo in the Ashland Gazette in 1895.

Sam Miller married Nathan Strausss sister, Bettye. He continued in business at the same location until around 1919, selling mens clothing, hats, boots, and shoes.

Shortly after the turn of the century, another clothing store opened under the direction of Jacob Roth. He faced a series of challenges, but with grit and determination he remained in business for nearly two decades.

Roth was only a few years older than Miller, and also born in Hungary. He came to the United States in 1888, and arrived in Ashland about 1905.

Strangers must get acquainted

In 1906, Roth and his brother opened a clothing store on Main Street, opposite the opera house. They invited Ashland residents to check out their wares, saying we are strangers in your midst and must get acquainted.

Pictured is Masterminds in 2018, which was the New York Clothing Store in 1895.

This location was 16 E. Main St., the building presently owned by the city, which recently underwent an exterior renovation.

The Roth Brothers store flourished for two years, and Jacob continued at the same location after his brothers retirement. He modernized the store and added plate glass to the front in 1908.

In 1910, Jacob Roth married Sam Millers cousin, Ida Wrubel.

In 1911, Roth hit a roadblock and had to sell out his stock. His former storefront was remodeled and turned into an F.M. Kirby five-and-ten-cent store. A year later, the F.M. Kirby chain merged with its rival, F.W. Woolworths.

Sarah Hootman Kearns

But dont count Roth out just yet. Jacob Roth soon opened a new clothing store in the Potter block, on the south side of Main Street. This store was at 27 W. Main, which is now home to Studio Rise.

Early in 1914, Jacob Roths elderly father, Moritz, who still lived in Hungary, wrote a letter to his son. He described some of the dangers that loomed over Europe as war broke out. Luckily, Moritz was able to come to America with his daughter in 1915. He lived in Ashland briefly, before settling in the Hungarian Jewish community in Cleveland, where he died in 1918.

In 1917, Jacob Roth hit another bump in his business road. His inventory was damaged in a fire at the store, possibly started by a carelessly tossed cigar. Roth held a fire sale to dispose of damaged inventory, and then carried on for several more years.

In late 1922, Roth received an eviction notice when the buildings owner decided to lease it out to the J.C. Penney store. Roth fought for more time, even filing a petition with the court, but ultimately he had to be out early in 1923.

I havent found any evidence he reopened after that time, although he may have worked as a salesman in another clothing store before his death in 1948.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Memories: Clothing stores abound on Main Street in late 1800s
(Bloomberg) -- Australia will study proposals aimed at increasing the number of adults with university or vocational qualifications, including creating a A$10 billion ($6.6 billion) fund for education infrastructure.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A government-convened panel, including Macquarie Group Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Shemara Wikramanayake, recommended that by 2050 the percentage of the nations working age population with tertiary education  such as bachelor degrees or job-related diplomas  should rise to at least 80% from the current level of 60%.

We need to plan for the jobs of the future, and that means giving people the skills and knowledge that they need, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Nine Network television Sunday.

Among the 47 proposed reforms is the panels recommendation that a Higher Education Future Fund be created to invest in infrastructure and student housing. The fund should include contributions from universities and the government with the aim of reaching A$10 billion in assets, according to a report published Sunday.

Improvements will support a higher eduction sector that had enrollments from more than 450,000 fee-paying international students in 2022, and counts as Australias fourth-largest export sector, the report said.

Read more: Universities Race to Recapture Lucrative International Students

Albaneses government will study the panels findings, Education Minister Jason Clare said Sunday in a statement.

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Austrian far-right extremist Herbert Fitz (2nd-L) with officials on the tarmac at Doha international airport following his release from detention in Afghanistan (KARIM JAAFAR)

An Austrian far-right extremist who visited Afghanistan reportedly to prove it was a safe country was released on Sunday after nine months in detention there.

Herbert Fritz, 84, who according to Austrian media has close links to the far-right extremist scene, arrived in the Qatari capital Doha after being freed by Taliban authorities.

Fritz was arrested in May after defying Austria's long-standing warning against travel to Afghanistan, which in 2021 returned to the rule of the Taliban who imposed a strict interpretation of Islam.

"I think it was bad luck but I want to visit again," he told reporters on arrival in Doha, when asked about his ordeal.

"There were some nice people but there were some foolish people also, I'm sorry," Fritz added, describing his captors.

Austrian authorities thanked Qatar, the gas-rich Gulf emirate, for aiding Fritz's release and said he may receive medical care in Doha before flying home.

The Taliban government's interior and foreign ministries did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Austrian newspaper Der Standard, one of Fritz's passions was visiting "dangerous" places, including Afghanistan in the 1980s and eastern Ukraine in recent years.

Trying to prove that Taliban-ruled Afghanistan is safe, he travelled there last year and published an article titled "Vacations with the Taliban" via a far-right media outlet.

He was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of espionage, Der Standard said. Such travel reports might have been a bid to portray Afghanistan as a safe country to return Afghan refugees to, the newspaper added.

In the past, according to Austrian media, Fritz has met Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan -- currently jailed in Turkey.

He also reportedly visited fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG), the main component of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the de facto army of the Kurdish semi-autonomous administration in Syria's northeast.

Turkey views the YPG as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- a group designated by Ankara and many of its Western allies as a terrorist organisation.

burs-kym-th/it
Yehor Oliinyk, 20, has been fighting wearing a prosthetic leg for over a year. The soldier lost his leg in the first year of the full-scale invasion.

Source: rehabilitation centre Nezlamni (Unbreakable)

"One can only envy his positive attitude and sense of humour," the rehabilitation centre Nezlamni (Unbreakable) described Yehor.

Yehor joined the army as soon as he came of age. A few weeks later, the full-scale invasion began.

Oliinyk was injured by a land mine in Donetsk Oblast in September 2022, and at the end of the same year, he was able to walk independently on a prosthesis and later came back to the front.

The soldier is currently defending Ukraine; he performs combat missions and takes part in assaults.

"It all started for me on 24 February two years ago at the training ground. The battalion commander rushed to us and said: 'War! Quickly get in the vehicles!'

We left for [the town of] Brovary [Kyiv Oblast]. I could not believe that war had started for a long time until I saw the Russians, and we started shooting," the defender says.

Yehor added that the war has taught him to value life "as it passes very quickly and goes by unnoticed".

"I realised that I shouldn't quarrel with my parents and friends because we may not have the chance to see each other and settle things," he says.

Yehor describes his life with prosthetics with a smile: "Before the injury, I was very agile, and now I am a bit slow, but it's okay. Firstly, I dont get cold. Secondly, it saves socks. And if my foot gets wet, it's no big deal. It does not freeze  another advantage."

Background: Earlier, we reported that a Ukrainian soldier who had lost his right leg in the war received multiple severe injuries to the left lower body and had two strokes but managed to stand up on his left leg for the first time in 14 months.

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If you were wondering when brands will finally stop trying to cash in on the Barbie craze, the answer is, somehow, not yet. HMD (or Human Mobile Devices), which has been making Nokia phones for the past few years, announced for MWC that its partnered with Mattel to release an official Barbie Flip Phone this summer. Itll be pink, obviously, with a dash of sparkle.

Aesthetically, it sounds a lot like the original hot pink Motorola Razr of the aughts. But while that phone eventually got rebooted as a smartphone for the era of modern foldables, the Barbie phone is keeping things pretty basic. Itll be a feature phone, not a smartphone, with HMD marketing it as an accessory geared toward style, nostalgia and a much-needed digital detox. HMD hasnt revealed much else about it yet, like pricing or actual photos, but the company says it plans to unveil the Barbie Flip Phone at MWC, so we'll likely see more of it as the week unfolds.

Most people may not be ready to ditch their smartphones entirely just yet, but if youre looking for a burner, this is probably one of the cutest you could get.

A Barbie is pictured lying on a picnic table with a plastic dog in front of her and a pink flip phone lying open on its side (HMD)

Catch up on all of the news from MWC 2024 right here!
Residents in El Paso  the sixth-largest metro area in Texas  are still waiting for an H-E-B store in their city. Photo illustration by Monte Bach/Staff; photo by Denis Tangney Jr./Getty Images Customers line up early Wednesday outside a new H-E-B store in Katy before a grand opening event. Shoppers in El Paso, the states sixth-largest metro area, wonder why the San Antonio grocer isnt bringing its stores to their area. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Customers celebrate as they enter a new H-E-B store Wednesday in Katy. Shoppers in El Paso, the states sixth-largest metro area, wonder why the San Antonio grocer keeps passing them over. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The November 2022 groundbreaking for a new H-E-B store in Fort Worth. It began pushing its namesake stores into North Texas earlier that year but still has none in El Paso. Handout | H-E-B Will Jones checks out after shopping with his wife during a grand opening event Wednesday at a new H-E-B store in Katy. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Customers line up early for the grand opening of a new H-E-B store in Manvel in late October. The company moved back into the top five on Forbes magazines new list of the largest private companies. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A leadership team from H-E-B cuts a ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of a new store Wednesday in Katy. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The line of checkout lanes near the main entrance of an H-E-B store in Buffalo Heights in Houston are seen in this 2019 file photo. H-E-B does not operate any stores in El Paso. Michael Wyke/Contributor file photo Scott McClelland, H-E-Bs former president of food and drug, speaks during the 2017 groundbreaking ceremony for a new store in Houston. He retired in 2022. Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle file photo

H-E-B has stores in towns as small as Carthage and Crockett, a pair of East Texas locales with fewer than 15,000 residents  combined.

So why hasnt the San Antonio-based grocer expanded to El Paso, the states sixth-largest metro area?

Were very confused, said Bonny Tallmon, an El Paso resident who started a Facebook page called Bring HEB to El Paso in 2013.

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The company has been growing rapidly elsewhere. It operates more than 430 stores in Texas and Mexico, primarily in South and Central Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and south of the border in the northeastern states of Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.

But even as it continues pushing into the Dallas-Fort Worth area  where new stores open to customers who line up early to get in  and expanding its footprint around San Antonio, it appears to be bypassing El Paso. That doesnt seem likely to change anytime soon.

While (we) dont have any immediate expansion plans for El Paso, were always looking for opportunities to serve more Texans and communities across the state, a spokesperson for H-E-B said.

The company declined to make an executive available to discuss why its been bypassing El Paso, which has a population of about 675,000 and another 200,000 or so residents in the surrounding area. But retail experts and economists say the reasons include the citys far-flung location, its residents incomes and slow population growth.

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Per capita incomes in El Paso and Las Cruces, a nearby city in New Mexico, are lower than those in Texas and the U.S. as a whole, and population growth in those cities is moderate or slowing, said Tom Fullerton, a professor of economics at the University of Texas at El Paso.

But incomes are rising, he said. Per capita incomes in El Paso and Las Cruces are forecast to surpass $45,000 this year for the first time, while per capita income nationwide is predicted to be $71,100, according to a report by Fullerton and a colleague.

Whole Foods, Walmart

That apparently caught the attention of Whole Foods Market, which opened a store in El Paso in 2016.

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To me, that was a sign that at least one company was aware that incomes are growing in El Paso, so they just didnt want to cede the market to Sprouts, Fullerton said, referring to Sprouts Farmers Market, which is also a minor contender in the city. In terms of Walmart, I think they recognize, Hey, this is an area where we can capture market share really quickly because of the socioeconomic background of the city. 

Walmart is the dominant grocer, claiming 57.5% of the market with its Walmart, Walmart Neighborhood Markets and Sams Club stores, according to industry publication Chain Store Guide.

Albertsons is a distant second with 9.8%, followed by Costco Wholesale at 6.3%, Target at 4.6%, Family Dollar at 3% and Dollar General at 2.8%. El Super, Vista Markets, Sprouts and Whole Foods each have less than 3% market share.

Walmart is the 600-pound gorilla, Fullerton said.

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Geography could play a role, too. El Paso is fairly isolated, making it more expensive for grocers to transport goods and restock shelves. Its not near any of the major markets where H-E-B has stores, manufacturing facilities for products and warehouses for keeping goods.

Its a little bit different than, say, going from from the Metroplex down to Waco and down to Austin, where you can increase your market footprint incrementally, Fullerton said. Coming out to El Paso and/or Las Cruces, were pretty isolated from just about all the other major metro markets that you care to contemplate.

Cutting the corner

Some El Pasoans theorize thats why the company hasnt expanded to the city. But they also joke that H-E-B has simply forgotten theyre part of the state.

Many were flabbergasted when a user on a Reddit forum posted a photo in 2020 of an H-E-B Original Cola can with a Texas logo omitting the far western corner of the state, where El Paso is located, the El Paso Times reported. An H-E-B spokesperson said the cans design had been adjusted differently depending on the packaging.

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The lack of H-E-B stores in the area has shocked residents like Marie Martinez, who moved to El Paso from San Antonio two years ago.

It was a huge surprise, she said. I dont know if I wouldve changed my mind (about moving).

Martinez said she misses the variety of products and freshly made items at H-E-B. She said she also appreciates how the company treats employees. She worked for H-E-Bs construction division years ago and met her ex-husband through the company. Many of her relatives have worked there, too, driving trucks and preparing products in the bakery department.

When she visits San Antonio, she said, she stocks up on El Milagro corn tortillas and Chef Paul Prudhommes Magic Salmon Seasoning from H-E-B to carry west to El Paso. And she has a colleague who stocks up on gluten-free dough and keeps it in his freezer, she said.

The products I have gotten used to with H-E-B, they dont have here, Martinez said.

Driving the decision

When considering where to expand, retailers top criterion is, obviously, putting stores in an area where they can make money, said Phil Lempert, editor of Supermarket Guru.

That means finding a location with plenty of parking, reasonable rental rates or affordable costs of land acquisition and development, and easy access that is within reasonable driving distance for customers and employees. The typical supermarket employs from 300 to 400 people, so the area has to have a large enough workforce to draw on, he said.

Retailers also study demographics and geography when making location decisions. They usually cluster stores, since its more expensive and time-consuming to transport products to a single location that requires daily deliveries.

They also examine the mix of potential customers. For example, if Walmart operates stores in an area with cost-conscious shoppers, H-E-B may not open a location there because it will have to fight the big national retailer on price just to get patrons in the door.

If that type of customer where those Walmarts are wouldnt go into an H-E-B, it would take too much money and too much time to convince them to go into an H-E-B, Lempert said. Thats where you see the price wars coming in. Thats where you see all these promotions. Theres a lot of times where stores have done that in the past and theyve failed because they just couldnt move (the customers) to their kind of store.

The companys distribution model is another factor, said Bobby Gibbs, a Dallas-based partner at consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

Some opt to self-distribute, which means they build distribution centers, hire workers for them and manage the logistics involved in getting products from factories to stores. Others use third-party wholesalers such as C&S Wholesale Grocers LLC, UNFI and Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc., or a mix of both options.

Youre more likely to have your wholesale partners already in the market if youre entering somewhere new, Gibbs said.

Local tastes

Big regional grocers such as H-E-B, St. Louis-based Schnucks and Des Moines-based Hy-Vee typically have more ties to the community and local products than national retailers, Lempert said. They tend to support more local charities and school programs, work with local growers and producers, and tailor their stores to the surrounding area.

Those players have to be more careful about understanding how theyre viewed in markets they want to expand to, Wyman said.

Depending on how far the market is from where they operate today, they have good brand perception (or) they may have no brand perception, he said. They want to make sure that they are able to drive good customer perception.

H-E-B in particular is known for being deliberate about expansion. The company will buy parcels of land and sit on them for years, in some cases eventually building stores, as in the case of its move into the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Tallmon, the woman who started the El Paso Facebook page, is holding out hope that H-E-B will expand to her city eventually. She recalls her first encounter with the company: She and her husband were in San Antonio for medical appointments and walked into the store at Wurzbach Road and Interstate 10.

We were just blown over, Tallmon said. The displays, the shelving, the variety was great. We were in awe of the produce.

Now, the closest H-E-B to where she lives is in Midland  about 4 hours away by car.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko said he would run for president again in 2025, Belarusian state news agency BelTA reported on Sunday.

Lukashenko made his comments after voting in parliamentary and local council elections, denounced by the United States as a sham. The ex-Soviet state's top election official dismissed the criticism and told Washington to look after its own affairs.

BelTA said Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, told journalists: "Tell them (the exiled opposition) that I'll run. No one, no responsible president would abandon his people who followed him into battle."

Lukashenko, 69, is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies and allowed the Kremlin to use his country's territory to launch its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"We're still a year away from the presidential election. A lot of things can change," he said in response to a follow-up question, BelTA reported.

"Naturally, I and all of us, society, will react to the changes that will take place in our society and the situation in which we will approach the elections in a year's time," Lukashenko said.

The U.S. State Department condemned what it called the "sham" elections Belarus in on Sunday.

"The elections were held in a climate of fear under which no electoral processes could be called democratic," department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

The chairman of Belarus' Central Election Commission, in comments quoted by BelTA, said it was not up to the United States to comment on the election.

"We don't denounce their elections. We make no statements, even if they had over there a lot of questions for all to see, even in their last presidential election," Igor Karpenko was quoted as saying.

"They work according to the principle that we are bigger and can therefore tell everyone what to do. I think we can manage quite nicely conducting elections in our own country," Karpenko said.

Election commission officials said voter turnout stood at just below 73% by mid-evening.

Lukashenko's re-election to a sixth term in 2020 sparked unprecedented protests by opponents alleging mass vote-rigging. Putin offered support to Lukashenko and the demonstrations died out after mass roundups and detentions of protesters by police.

Lukashenko told reporters the role of parliament would be bolstered in his country.

"People are beginning to understand that in Belarus, for example, a president is not a tsar or a god. It is very hard work," BelTA quoted him as saying. "Parliament's role will be expanded, every month, every year."

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Ron Popeski and Bill Berkrot)
Belgium's Lennert Van Eetvelt produced a dramatic summit finish on Jebel Hafeet to claim the final stage and overall victory in the UAE Tour on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Lotto rider powered clear around two kilometres from the line to take the 161km seventh stage by 22 seconds from Pello Bilbao and Ben O'Connor.

With a 10sec time bonus Van Eetvelt shot to the top of the overall standings, two seconds ahead of Australia's O'Connor, with Bilbao completing the podium.

O'Connor's compatriot, UAE Team Emirates' Jay Vine began the day in the lead but his hopes bit the dust in the closing climb.

"I was expecting a difficult stage," Van Eetvelt said, adding that he had been able to stay on the wheels of the leaders.

"Then when we began the climb I told myself I had to give my all.

"I couldn't be happier," beamed the rider who was adding this to a race win in Mallorca last month.

Van Eetvelt only turned professional last year, making his Grand Tour debut in the Vuelta a Espana where he came in 32nd overall.

gk/fbx/nr/bsp
From the Dispatch Weekly on The Dispatch

Hello and happy Sunday. This weekend marked the second anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The pre-dawn attacks on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Kramatorsk, Dnipro, and the Hostomel airport hit at about 10 p.m. ET or so, and I remember having trouble sleeping, fearing for the innocent Ukrainians who seemed likely to be under Russian control within days.

Two years ago, I was worried about the fate of one country. Today, Im still worried about Ukraine. But while the Ukranians have paid a devastating price for Russias aggression, the war has taken its toll here, too, exposing a not-insignificant portion of the rights isolationism at best, and pro-Russian sympathies at worst. The erosion of support for the Ukrainian cause is just one symptom of a larger problem we face, but its painfully illustrative. A friendly nation that we promised to protect in 1994 is facing an existential threat from a murderous dictator, a majority of Americans view the war as important to U.S. interests, and backing Kyiv upholds American ideals of democracy and freedom. And yet, our Congress is so dysfunctional that one faction of one party has gummed up the works.

Think back to the early days of the war. The Russians had underestimated the resolve of the Ukrainians and the competence of their president, Volodymyr Zelensky. And Moscow was overconfident about its own capabilities, too: They never took the airport or gained air superiority, and their trucks and tanks got bogged down in the mud. I remember sitting down with our kids and showing them Red Dawnthe good, original one with Patrick Swayzeand then just days later seeing photos of damaged and abandoned Russian tanks with Wolverines spray-painted on the sides. There is nothing joyful about war, but admit itwe were all a little giddy when we saw Ukrainian farmers towing tanks behind their tractors. (They even made a stamp!)

Contrast that with the sentiments we see today. Bennett Murray, a freelance journalist whos based in Belgrade and has written a few pieces for us (and joined us on Dispatch Live yesterday), spent some time on the front lines recently and wrote about what he saw. The soldiers he talked to were loyal and committed, but frustrated. Pessimism abounded:

I dont know why people think in America that their lives will become better if they stop aiding Ukraine, said Zhenya, estimating that the typical American taxpayer would probably contribute roughly the equivalent of two beers per month to the war effort should aid resume. But then the reasons why you drink beer would not be as happy, he added, speculating what would happen if aid dries up for good. American soldiers might die in some other wars because of that, because this is like a domino effect.

But whats clear to a Ukrainian soldier on the front linesthat theres a real chance that America could find itself forced into war we dont want because were unwilling to help Ukraine, which is doing all the heavy lifting and taking on all the casualtiesis lost on a good number right-wing pundits and House Republicans, as well as a smallerbut vocalcontingent of Senate Republicans.

There is plenty of room to debate how much aid we should be providing, and what form it should take. (And its worth considering whether Ukraine could have been more successful more quickly if the Biden administration hadnt dragged its feet on supplying some weapons out of fear of escalation.) But once upon a time, America did the big, hard things. We helped our allies repel Nazi Germany, we helped rebuild Europe and Japan after World War II. We won the Cold War.

This time around, were not being asked to do the big, hard thing. Despite what you might hear from Tucker Carlson or Elon Musk, Ukrainians arent asking us to sacrifice our sons and daughters and loved ones. They just want our weaponsand, as weve noted here at The Dispatch, the United States is using the money allocated to Ukraine to restore our own stockpiles with new and better weapons while they take on our gently used Humvees and Bradleys.

And were not taking sides in a conflict between two countries of little strategic importance. Ukraines opponent isnt some Third World banana republic. Its Russia. I grew up during the Cold War. We didnt actually do duck-and-cover drills in school like some places did, but I occasionally gazed skyward and wondered what it would be like to know a nuclear weapon was headed our way. We cheered when President Ronald Reagan went to Berlin and said, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. And we cheered again when the Germans, whod gotten a little tired of waiting, did it for him.

And now we have Republicans and conservatives who arent merely shrugging their shoulders at Russian aggression, but carrying water for Vladimir Putin. Most recently, Tucker Carlson traveled to Moscow for a sitdown with Putin during which he largely let the Russian president spew propaganda for two hours (see more below). A bipartisan group of senators spent months crafting a bill that would have provided border security funding as well as support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwana key demand of House Republicansand then Speaker Mike Johnson called that bill dead on arrival before the text of the bill was even released. Now, Johnson is sitting on a bill that passed the Senate and would allocate $95 billion for Ukraine and Israel.

Its frustrating. Im not sure theres a betteror at least more diplomaticway to put it. Its bad enough when our polarization and fraught politics cause problems here in the United States. But when our problems affect our allies, who are fighting for their own survival against a shared enemy, it feels a lot worse.

Well continue our coverage of the war in the coming weeks. Thanks for reading.

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I dont know whether you are old enough to remember two particular incidents from the late 1980s that are best described as an intersection of retail and politics. But while I did not have Flashbacks to Boris Yeltsin and George H.W. Bush grocery shopping on my 2024 bingo card, here we are. Tucker Carlsons recent trip to a Russian supermarket reminded me of both those forays, in different ways. Back in 1989, Yeltsin made an impromptu visit to a Houston-area supermarket and was so stunned by the abundanceand so enamored with frozen pudding popsthat it helped change his mind about communism. A few years later, Bush 41 got slammed as out-of-touch in the press for describing a barcode scanner as amazing, though most stories neglected to report that Bush was being shown a new kind of scanner with updated technologies. Anyhow  Tucker did his best impression of both of them, only in some Stranger Things-esque Upside Down where he was disingenuously credulous about the offerings at a Russian supermarket and weirdly amazed by coin-operated shopping carts. Scott offered some thoughts in this weeks edition of Capitolism (), where he invoked another relic of the 1980sPhil Hartmans Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer character from Saturday Night Live. Carlson misunderstands Western grocery store technology; misunderstands Americans comparative food abundance (in historical and global terms); misunderstands exchange rates; and misunderstands what groceries actually cost out here in Real America, even at the places he hates, he writes. His unfrozen caveman-like amazement and commentary are modern American populismheavy on elite condemnation, comically light on substance, and dripping with ulterior motivesat its finest.

Conservatives whove spent time in the media industryor reading and watching what the media puts outaccept as a truism that mainstream media outlets have a liberal bias. (I could document numerous examples, but I dont want to keep you all day.) Its no exaggeration to say that rebutting the worldview of outlets like the New York Times is why right-wing infotainment exists to begin with, Nick wrote in Thursdays Boiling Frogs (). So its been kind of amusing to watch liberals grow outraged with mainstream coverage of Joe Bidens run for reelection, the Hur report, and general concerns about his age. Nick is sympathetic, but only to a point. I think the lefts Big Cope is a backlash to the fact that they really, truly might lose an election to Donald Trump. Its unthinkable.  I share their exasperation, he writes. Its much nicer to think that the media could end up costing Biden the election than to face the unbearable fact that American decadence has reached such a point of civic corruption that half the electorate is okay with rolling the dice on Trump again. It really is a Big Cope. Kevin, for his part, was a little less sympathetic in Wanderland (): Bidens age and his mental fitness for the office are a problem not because the New York Times and its corporate associates have issued a command but because Joe Biden currently is the president of the United States of America and, as such, is frequently in view of the public, which can plainly see that he is a diminished man who is rapidly declining from what waslets face itnot exactly an Olympian height of intellect to begin with.

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And heres the best of the rest.

The Senate map in the 2024 election does not favor Democrats: Joe Manchin isnt seeking reelection, they have to fend off challenges in the red states of Ohio and Montana, and a few swing states are up for grabs. John took a look at how things might shake out.

Chris Stirewalt marked George Washingtons birthday this week by arguing the best thing our first president might have done was to willingly step aside after two terms. Chris piece also lauded LBJ and Richard Nixon for putting the country ahead of their own ambitions nearly a half-century ago. Now if only a few other peoplehint, hintwould listen.

Not all the criminal cases against Donald Trump are equally damning. And, as Sarah and Michael note in this weeks Collision : Even the strongest of the criminal cases against Trump is starting to look a little shaky.  Trumps defense has always been that the [classified] documents belonged to him and that he was allowed to keep them.  But as special counsel Robert Hur laid out in his report on Joe Bidens retention of classified material, Biden himself made a nearly identical argument.

The Biden administration is cooking up a proposal to keep Hezbollah and Israel from engaging in a full-scale war, and Richard Goldberg is unimpressed. No one should be confused by an election year ploy to buy a few months of quiet on Israels northern border, he writes. A major war is comingits only a question of when.

And, the podcasts: Sarah and David had a very illuminating conversation on Advisory Opinions about the Alabama Supreme Courts ruling on fertilized embryos and the possible fallout for the future of IVF treatment. On the Dispatch Podcast, Jamie interviewed Rep. Dan Crenshaw, who claimed hes not that worried about a potential Trump second term. And Jonah welcomed CNNs Jake Tapper to The Remnant to discuss Tappers new show, United States of Scandal.

Read more at The Dispatch

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If you've ever attended an opening, charity function or other event held at a local restaurant, chances are there are people working behind the scenes who aren't directly related to the food and dining side of things bringing everything together.

Krystal Yoseph is one of those people in Oklahoma City.

"It's list management. It's media relations. It's, sometimes, the influencer thing. If I'm working a soft open, I'm bussing tables, I'm greeting people, I'm a hostess. If it's like if we've got to get a proclamation from the mayor, I'm reaching out to that office," Yoseph said. "Whatever the thing is, that's going to make it stand out."

Owner of Konjo Concepts, Yoseph operates boutique PR and concierge services for clients in the metro area (and beyond when needed), and having cut her teeth working in the restaurant industry, she loves getting to continue working with them in her current role.

"I consider myself a restaurant adjacent person enough to where like I'll always do whatever I can to support restaurants, and that's anything from working with 84 Hospitality Group now to when Chef Gordon Ramsay decides to open up a restaurant in Oklahoma City and they give me a call to help out with that concept," Yoseph said.

How did Krystal Yoseph land in public relations?

"It feels like magic looking back, but obviously it was intentional and it was incremental and I've been moving towards all this all along," Yoseph said.

Despite having a degree in public relations from the University of Oklahoma, she did not immediately find herself in the career field.

Krystal Yoseph, owner of Konjo Concepts, operates boutique PR and concierge services for clients in the metro area.

Having worked in the service industry during college, she moved to the nation's capital and took a job with the National Restaurant Association  initially working in accounts receivable.

"They very quickly realized, 'You're not a finance person,'" she said. "I was like, 'Yeah, I'd kind of like to get into comms.' They didn't have a position open. I transitioned into corporate restaurant sales for the association, but while I was there, I got a look at restaurant lobbying and government affairs department and what that looked like."

Through her time at the restaurant association, Yoseph learned more about the restaurant industry from the corporate perspective and even made contacts within the Oklahoma Restaurant Association. She transitioned to sales and marketing focused on local restaurants for a high-end, luxury magazine in D.C. before eventually landing in public relations.

"Finally got my big break, if you will, in PR  I worked for an agency called now called TAAPR  it was an amazing woman named Aba [Kwawu]," Yoseph said. "I just wanted her insight. Just her being a Black woman, she has this amazing PR firm. It truly didn't dawn on me at that time that getting a job with her could ever even be a possibility, because by then I'm five, six years removed from college."

From D.C. to OKC: Coming home and creating a brand

Yoseph really believes she grew during her time in D.C., watching as technology and the growth of social media use blossomed around her. Being in a major city and watching those advances happen prepared her for handling the growth of the food scene back home in Oklahoma City, as well.

Courted by friends, family and the growth and change in her hometown, Yoseph returned working for a local public relations firm before going into business for herself with Konjo Concepts.

She's built that brand and recently added a second offering, Konjo Concierge, an arm designed to connect people to experiences in the city. Whether helping lifelong locals change up their routines or giving transplants experiences that help them acclimate to their new city, Yoseph hopes to continue growing Konjo Concierge through excellent service to her community.

Krystal Yoseph has expanded her brand to include Konjo Concierge, an arm designed to connect people to experiences in the city.

"That will be my legacy and my love letter to Oklahoma City. Being from here, I know Oklahoma City before it was, the top five, the top 10, the top 20, that best place to live and all that, so I've been along the journey and even, you know, in the last five to 10 years, the contributions that I feel so lucky to have been able to offer up in my own way, I want to definitely continue that," she said.

"Concierge is where I really see the footprint expanding for the Konjo brand. PR will always be a big part of it, getting to work with media and dabbling with influencers and just kind of anticipating the landscape as things change is really fun."

'That lineage has already been set'

Yoseph said Kwawu's investment in her as a young Black woman all those years ago inspires her to be an example for others like her with aspirations of working in public relations or owning businesses.

Krystal Yoseph wants to be an inspiration to young Black women who hope to work in public relations or own businesses.

"I've been so lucky to start my own PR firm. I just hired an assistant, she's a young Black woman  was that on purpose or not? It doesn't matter, but it's happening  and so I'm able to see kind of forwards and backwards right now, and I think that's really cool," she said.

"I think it's pretty magical and being able to step into rooms where a lot of times my whole life I've been the only Black person in a room, I take that very seriously, but also because that experience that I had in D.C. if I'm on the list or if I'm invited to the meeting, I don't I don't sit in the corner like, 'Oh, my gosh, I'm the only Black person here.'"

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Krystal Yoseph uses PR skillset to advance local brands, restaurants
Editors note: This story is part of Deseret Magazines January/February double issue addressing political polarization.

Generations of civic dialogue have relied on a simple paradigm to describe the spectrum of ideological belief: conservatives on the right, liberals on the left and moderates in the middle.

This model is increasingly obsolete. Fixing our politics will require a new model with new language for identifying and understanding the forces at work in our system.

To make sense of the disorder consuming the countrys politics, we propose adding a new axis to the models that Americans use to assess would-be leaders. In addition to the traditional measures of left and right, voters should evaluate whether candidates approach their work as builders or performers.

Related

Like the old left-right diagram, the line between builders and performers is a continuum. Builders are characterized by a commitment to solving problems and bringing disparate people and viewpoints together. They tend to be data-driven, adapt their views in the face of new information, prioritize effective governance and recognize the necessity of choosing between less than perfect alternatives in the spirit of progress toward outcomes preferable to the status quo. They make good faith efforts to understand others points of view and, even when they disagree, they recognize others acting in good faith. Builders can be found across the political spectrum.

Performers tend to simplify and amplify conflict. Barbara F. Walter has referred to this group as conflict entrepreneurs. They excel in garnering media attention for profit and boosting their own profiles, but they exploit division and undermine institutions for temporary gain.

Performers are not newcomers to public life. They have always been with us. However, shifts in media and technology have enabled them to weaponize synthetic outrage and made performers increasingly ascendant in American politics. This willingness to empower performers is devastating a once-vaunted political system. From government shutdowns to eroding trust in institutions, performers undermine the architecture that has supported our democracy for centuries.

Our argument is not to persuade anyone to change their views about what they already believe constitutes good public policy, whether that be conservative, liberal or somewhere in between. Rather, we seek to add to the existing lenses through which we evaluate elected officials and other actors in the political sphere. We should begin to identify and support those that exhibit characteristics of builders while still honoring our deeply held policy views.

In a time of political rigidity, embracing this new paradigm wont be easy. We should offer ourselves and others a bit of grace as we pivot. But the moment demands a different approach. Throughout our history, the heroes who have helped lead the country out of periods of darkness were builders, not performers. We need to identify and empower a new generation of builders if we hope to repeat that process of collective renewal and redemption again today.

Tomicah Tillemann is the chief policy officer for Haun Ventures and a board member of the Truman Center. Luke Johnson has worked in energy, environment and natural resource policy for the George W. Bush administration and for Republican members of the U.S. House and Senate.

This story appears in the January/February 2024 issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin would turn out to be the major beneficiary if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) does not bring a bill funding Ukraine to the floor.

CNN anchor Dana Bash asked Sullivan on State of the Union on Sunday whether he agreed with the White House accusing Johnson of siding with Putin over not bringing a Ukraine aid bill to the House floor. Sullivan suggested that Putin would benefit as a result.

The reality is that Putin gains every day that Ukraine does not get the resources it needs and Ukraine suffers. And there is a strong bipartisan majority in the House standing ready to pass this bill if it comes to the floor, and that decision rests on the shoulders of one person and history is watching whether Speaker Johnson will put that bill on the floor, Sullivan said.

If he does, it will pass, will get Ukraine what it needs for Ukraine to succeed. If he doesnt, then we will not be able to give Ukraine the tools required for it to stand up to Russia and Putin will be the major beneficiary of that, he added.

The White House has criticized House Republicans for their reluctance to take up a bill approving aid for Ukraine despite bipartisan support in the Senate. The Senate had unveiled a bipartisan border deal earlier this month that included funding for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies, but Johnson declared it dead on arrival.

The Senate later passed a bill that also included funding for Ukraine and Israel, but Johnson rejected the deal because it lacked border provisions. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has pleaded with Johnson to pass Ukraine aid and do the right thing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Palestinian men work to repair cars damaged, like the building behind them, in a February settler rampage in the West Bank village of Huwara, March 15, 2023. (Samar Hazboun/The New York Times)

JERUSALEM  The Biden administrations reversal of Trump-era policy on settlements in the occupied West Bank reflects not just its rising frustration with Israel, but the political bind the president finds himself in, just days before the Democratic primary in Michigan, where a large Arab American population is urging voters to register their anger by voting uncommitted.

During a trip to Argentina on Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called any new settlements inconsistent with international law, a break with policy set under the Trump administration and a return to the decadeslong U.S. position.

The Biden administration is increasingly fed up with the Israeli governments conduct in the war in the Gaza Strip and beyond, with officials speaking out more publicly on contentious issues, said Nimrod Novik, a fellow at the Israel Policy Forum think tank. As an example, he cited a U.S. decision to slap financial sanctions on four Israelis  three of them settlers  accused of attacking Palestinians in the West Bank at a time when settler violence against Palestinians has increased.

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Yet, Novik called Blinkens remarks too little, too late, adding that the administrations moves in practice, are disjointed. The message is there, but its a tactical statement where the overall strategy is unclear.

The United States has long been Israels most important international ally. Since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 left 1,200 dead in Israel, mostly civilians, Washington has consistently backed Israels blistering campaign in Gaza. The Biden administration has also shielded Israel from international censure by blocking cease-fire resolutions at the U.N. Security Council, even as the death toll in Gaza nears 30,000, according to health officials in the enclave.

That stance has increasingly left President Joe Biden in a no-win situation. His recent moves to press the Israeli government to wind down the war in Gaza and enter negotiations toward a Palestinian state have angered some ardent supporters of Israel in the United States. Yet they have come nowhere close to placating Israels fiercest critics on the political left and the Arab American community.

Shortly after Oct. 7, Arab Americans and progressive voters were largely standing back as even Jewish Republicans were praising Bidens pro-Israel response.

Those same Jewish Republicans are now castigating the president. The Republican Jewish Coalition, which had backed the administration after Oct. 7, called the new settlement policy yet another lowlight to its campaign of undermining Israel.

The group ticked off other policies the administration has aimed at reining in the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks, including sanctions against West Bank settlers who commit acts of violence and pressuring the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize a Palestinian state.

The communities at issue, located west of the West Bank security barrier, are not preventing peace, said Matt Brooks, the groups longtime CEO. Palestinian terrorism is.

But those steps fall far short of what young progressive voters and Arab Americans are demanding: an immediate cease-fire in the war in Gaza and a halt to U.S. military aid to Israel. Those calls are only getting louder as Netanyahu shows no sign of relenting.

Bidens sanctions on settler violence and the declaration that settlements are illegal would be inadequate at any time in recent years given how deep Israels apartheid has become entrenched, said Yousef Munayyer, a Palestinian American who heads the Palestine-Israel program at the Arab Center in Washington. But now hes backing a genocide in Gaza. This is like showing up to a five-alarm fire with a cup of water while giving fuel to the arsonist.

In fact, the political imperatives for the Israeli prime minister and for the U.S. president are opposite. Biden needs the war to end so he can reassemble the coalition that got him elected in 2020. But Netanyahu wants it to continue until the complete rout of Hamas, to stave off his own political reckoning from an angry electorate  and potentially help his ally, Donald Trump, return to power.

Blinkens declaration appears to have been triggered by an announcement by Bezalel Smotrich, a senior Israeli minister, that a planning committee would soon discuss moving ahead with over 3,000 new housing units in the settlements. Most would be in Maale Adumim, where three Palestinian gunmen killed one Israeli and wounded several others Thursday.

Smotrich called the new units an appropriate Zionist response to the attack.

Biden administration officials have repeatedly condemned settlement expansion in the West Bank  where roughly 500,000 Israelis now live among some 2.7 million Palestinians  as an obstacle to the long-standing U.S. goal of a two-state solution. In recent weeks, Netanyahu has repeatedly said he worked for years to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, which he has long said would endanger Israels security.

Palestinians hope the West Bank will be an integral part of their future independent state, but Israeli settlements have slowly taken over sizable chunks of the territory. Palestinian officials called Blinkens declaration long overdue and not nearly enough.

Reversing an illegal act by the previous administration has been overdue for 3 1/2 years, Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to Britain, said in a phone call Saturday. For the love of God, I dont understand why Blinken and President Biden sat on their hands on this issue  and many others  for all this time.

Still, Blinkens declaration was better late than never, Zomlot said, adding that Palestinians expected real actions against Israels occupation of the West Bank rather than baby steps.

But that expectation might be frustrated, at least in the short term, analysts said. Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. diplomat, said the Biden administration was unlikely to follow up Blinkens declaration with serious costs and consequences. Alongside regional mediators, U.S. officials have been trying to cinch a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, making a sustained public war with Netanyahu unpalatable for Biden, he said in an email.

Although Biden entered office pledging to reverse some of his predecessors policies on Israel, many remain intact. A separate Jerusalem consulate that effectively served as the U.S. liaison to the Palestinians was never formally reopened after it was closed by the Trump administration; the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington is still closed; and most financial aid to the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, is frozen under legislation signed by Trump.

During the first year and a half of Bidens tenure, U.S. officials defended their cautious approach as an attempt to avoid rocking the fragile, fractious coalition of left, right and center that had temporarily toppled Netanyahu. But that government collapsed in mid-2022, leading to the fifth Israeli elections in four years.

After Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022 at the helm of a far-right coalition stacked with nationalists and settler leaders, settlement expansion exploded. A total of 12,349 housing units in settlements advanced through various stages of the bureaucratic planning process in 2023, compared with the 4,427 units recorded the previous year, according to the Israeli organization Peace Now.

But until the Hamas-led attack Oct. 7 prompted Israels four-month military offensive in Gaza, the Biden administration avoided clashing head-on with Israel over contentious issues regarding the Palestinians, preferring to focus on other regional goals, like normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials instead expended their political capital elsewhere, focusing on rivals like Iran and later on normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, said Natan Sachs, who directs the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.

Its a significant step, given the Trump administrations approach, said Sachs, referring to Blinkens remarks, though less groundbreaking than the administrations sanctions on violent settlers.

The latter was unprecedented and a real signal of new policy, he said. The latest declaration is a symptom of the administration needing to reengage.

c.2024 The New York Times Company
Months out from Novembers high-stakes election, the White House and the Biden campaign are going public with growing frustration about how the president is being portrayed in the media.

Bidens camp is taking swings at press coverage of the incumbent as his reelection bid fends off persistent concerns about whether the 81-year-old is fit for another four years in the Oval Office.

Democrats have been sensitive to media coverage of former President Trump compared with that of their own candidates dating back to the 2016 campaign, when critics argued the press overhyped the controversy around then-Democratic candidate Hillary Clintons private email server while giving Trump significant, unfiltered airtime.

Now, some Biden allies see a similar pattern playing out in which reporters fixate on the presidents periodic verbal slips and questions about his age while his likely November opponent faces dozens of felonies and suggests he would undermine international alliances and crackdown on immigrants and abortion access.

The presidents personal attorney this week penned an op-ed criticizing coverage of a special counsel report that commented on Bidens recall, and The New York Timess publisher said in a recent interview that the White House is extremely upset about reporting on Bidens age.

The more this campaign and the more this White House takes the gloves off and gets aggressive, the better off they are, said Democratic strategist Jon Reinish.

There have been many instances on many tough issues where theyve been behind the ball and have not been nearly as sharp, nearly as persuasive or nearly as aggressive as they could have been.

In the face of poor approval numbers and worries about whether Biden could serve another term, more direct pushback from the presidents camp against coverage and critiques could help build up a sense of Bidens strength, Reinish said, adding that he hopes its not too late to make the moves.

Special counsel Robert Hur released a lengthy report earlier this month that concluded Biden would not face any charges for his handling of classified documents from his time as vice president and senator. The report also made clear the distinctions between Bidens case and that of Trump, who is facing charges in Florida for his retention of and refusal to return classified materials upon leaving the White House in 2021.

But, much to the White Houses chagrin, a significant amount of coverage was devoted to passages that called into question Bidens ability to remember when his son died or when he served as vice president. Several media outlets also directly quoted Hurs executive summary, which said Biden willfully retained classified documents  a point the White House took issue with, as Hur also determined there wasnt enough evidence to bring any charges against the president.

Ian Sams, spokesperson for the White House counsels office, wrote to the president of the White House Correspondents Association  which has no control over outlets coverage  criticizing reporting on the special counsels findings.

Your jobs are not easy. But they are important, Sams wrote in a Feb. 13 letter. When significant errors occur in coverage, such as essentially misstating the findings and conclusions of a federal investigation of the sitting President, it is critical that they be addressed.

Kelly ODonnell, president of the White House Correspondents Association and a correspondent at NBC News, called Samss letter misdirected and labeled the use of internal channels to disseminate the letter inappropriate.

In a Feb. 12 statement, TJ Ducklo, a senior adviser for the Biden campaign, knocked the media for gratuitous and sensationalist attacks on the Presidents age after Trump suggested hed let Russia invade NATO allies who hadnt contributed enough to defense spending. Americans deserve a press corps who cover his candidacy, his comments, and his policy positions with the seriousness and ferocity this moment requires, Ducklo said.

The gripes with the press have continued beyond the Hur report, though.

The campaign sent out a press release criticizing The New York Times for quibbling over Bidens statements about the economy, and several Democrats rolled their eyes at a Times headline on Bidens efforts to forgive student loan debt that described the president as beleaguered, only for it to be changed hours later.

Beleaguered Biden wins second term, luckily saved by greatest job market in history and the happenstance of the strongest economic legislative record in 70 years, which by the way was in no way related to that job market. But how long can the lucky streak last? Jesse Lee, a former Biden White House adviser, wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

After the Hur reports scathing assessment that the incumbent was a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory, Biden went before reporters in a fiery press conference to defend his age and recall.

Im well-meaning, and Im an elderly man, and I know what the hell Im doing, Biden said.

But Biden during the press conference also mistakenly referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as the president of Mexico, a slip-up that drew scrutiny as he sharply criticized the report.

I think the president overestimates his ability to handle the press at times, said Todd Belt, director of George Washington Universitys graduate political management program.

Biden has appeared before the press less frequently than his predecessor, according to research from the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Biden has averaged 11 news conferences per year, while Trump averaged 22. Before him, President Obama averaged 20 per year.

But Bidens administration has worked to build a press relationship in stark contrast to Trumps, which was characterized by confrontation and attacks against the fake news media, Belt said  and the incumbents camp has likely shied away from aggressive criticism of White House coverage for that reason, hoping to avoid comparisons.

They want to be able to say: Biden is normal government, Trump is chaos, Belt said.

But the president and his allies may now be seeing the stakes as too high to sit back, with Trump on track to score the Republican nomination and set the 2024 race up for a Trump-Biden rematch.

No president likes to be criticized or reported on or have any negatives written about them, said Leonard Steinhorn, a professor of public communication at American University.

Steinhorn noted that Trump and his camp were trying to paint Biden as too old back in 2020  but that Trump, who at 77 is his rivals junior by just a few years, is now as old as Biden was during the last cycle. Trump has faced scrutiny for some of his own recent gaffes, including when he mixed up former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and his GOP primary rival, Nikki Haley.

Biden has also been open about his speech impediment and has long made gaffes that may be more a product of his stutter than of his age. Trumps speech, by comparison, may appear more fluid, Steinhorn said, disadvantaging Biden in an arena where optics tell a story, regardless of any words we communicate or what the White House wants us to believe.

Every president has to deal with it, but that doesnt mean that the president should be silent and suck it up if they feel that they have been unfairly maligned or criticized.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden implored governors to press their federal representatives to revive the bipartisan border deal that collapsed in Congress.

Republicans are rejecting his plea.

The sales pitch was made, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said the next day at the National Governors Associations winter conference. Im not sure any minds were changed.

Biden told a bipartisan group of governors at the White House on Friday that hes exploring what executive actions he can take to curb crossings at the southern border but that hes running into potential legal roadblocks.

He also pressed governors to pressure their congressional delegations to resurrect the border bill that a bipartisan group of senators spent months negotiating only for it to implode within 48 hours of its release. And he criticized Republicans for tanking the deal amid opposition to it from former President Donald Trump.



Democratic governors quickly heeded Bidens call.

I hope that Republicans join Democrats in taking the border security seriously and saying let's secure the border and control the flow of immigration, rather than have the chaos that we have now, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, whose state has been grappling with an influx of migrants to Denver, said in a brief interview at the NGA meeting.

There's an opportunity to call on Congress to take action, he said.

But Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, who was among the dozen-plus Republican governors who visited the border crossing at Eagle Pass, Texas, earlier this month to criticize Bidens handling of immigration issues, reiterated his argument that the border could be controlled through executive action.

I was very disappointed in the meeting with Biden and administration officials at the White House, Gianforte told reporters on Saturday. There are many things that President Biden could do to secure the border and hes refusing to act.

Gianforte said he presented Biden with a copy of the 10-point border security plan that Republicans first submitted to his administration over two years ago. It called, among other things, to end catch and release.

Biden, Gianforte said, never responded to the initial letter. On Friday he said he would read it, Gianforte said, noting that he would take Biden at his word.

He added: Joe Biden needs to do his job.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, piled on in a Fox News Sunday interview, calling on Biden to reinstate the remain in Mexico policy, a Trump-era program that requires asylum seekers to stay in that country while awaiting a hearing.

Really, we heard just a few excuses, Stitt said.

Biden did not specify to governors what executive actions he was looking to take, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican who chairs the National Governors Association. Cox told reporters that the president was working with his attorneys, trying to understand what executive action would be upheld in the courts and would be constitutional.

The president, Cox said, seemed a little frustrated that he was not getting answers from attorneys that he felt he could take the kind of actions that he wanted to.

POLITICO previously reported that ideas the Biden administration is discussing include using a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act to bar migrants from seeking asylum in between U.S. ports of entry and tying that directive to a certain number of illegal crossings.

Cox said there is more that the president can do on the border to enforce the laws already on the books.

Despite pushing for the president to take executive action on the border, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he wouldnt support Bidens proposal to restrict migrants ability to seek asylum after illegally crossing the border.

No. Because if he were to grant asylum after migrants crossed the border illegally, that would be authorizing illegal immigration and that would cause chaos, Abbott said during an interview on CNNs State of the Union. He went on to echo Coxs call for Biden to better enforce existing immigration laws.

Meanwhile, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, cast doubt in a brief interview at NGA that Biden would be able to reduce the timeline for asylum cases to months instead of years  as he hopes to do by granting asylum officers new authority  without adding more immigration judges.



Even as Republican governors publicly fell back on partisan calls for Biden to take executive action to ease the border crisis, Andy Beshear, the Democratic governor of Kentucky, insisted to reporters that behind the White Houses closed doors there were both Democrats and Republicans that want a solution and that dont think that Congress can simply sit on the sidelines.

Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, said if he was running as a Republican in a state where federal lawmakers wouldnt vote for the border bill, I would be nervous, because were going to beat the hell out of them for not doing this, because these are the fixes  and they dont deny these are the fixes.

Walz, at a roundtable hosted by the Democratic Governors Association, recounted how he had asked Republican governors at the White House meeting who would support the bill and what parts of it they disagreed with.

There was no answer, he said.

Still, Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper expressed hope that the legislation could still pass.

Weve seen a lot of big legislation over the decades sometimes spring back to life, Cooper told reporters. If Republican and Democratic governors got together and said this legislation is important for our national security and for people living in our states, it would be a powerful thing.

Zach Montellaro and Kelly Garrity contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden has not been briefed on Israel's plan for military operations in Rafah, but believes civilian life must be protected, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

"We do not believe that an operation, a major military operation, should proceed in Rafah unless there is a clear and executable plan to protect those civilians, to get them to safety and to feed, clothe and house them," Sullivan said.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales talks with the family of Andres Salinas, 22, after Jimmy Cuong Duc Tran, 22, was convicted of capital murder in Salinas' death. Gonzales, who took office in January 2019, was elected on a reform platform. He says the DA's office should avoid prosecuting and jailing people for low-level, non-violent crimes so it can concentrate on putting dangerous criminals behind bars. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales and his top deputy kept up a five-year, private correspondence with a progressive Austin lawyer over criminal justice reforms. Hundreds of their emails and texts recently became public. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer Christian Henricksen, first assistant Bexar County district attorney, has communicated extensively via email and text with Jessica Brand, a former public defender and founder of the Austin-based Wren Collective, whose stated goal is to "dramatically decrease the legal systems footprint in this country." Kaylee Greenlee Beal

For five years, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales and his top deputy kept up a wide-ranging, private conversation with an Austin-based legal reform group over how to advance a controversial agenda to keep people accused of low-level, nonviolent crimes out of court and out of jail.

In text and email exchanges that only recently became public, Gonzales, First Assistant DA Christian Henricksen and Jessica Brand, a Harvard-educated former public defender, explored ways to reduce bail and avoid formal prosecution of people arrested for trespassing, vandalism, car burglaries, marijuana possession and similar offenses.

A review of more than 400 pages of personal emails obtained under the states public records laws, along with a smaller volume of text messages, shows that Brand sent Gonzales and Henricksen lengthy proposals for overhauling probation, doubling down on drug treatment and anti-violence efforts, and pushing alternatives to traditional policing, prosecution and incarceration.

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READ MORE: Bexar County DA Joe Gonzales defends ties to Austin group that wants to 'shrink' prison population

Brand urged the DA to revamp and reenergize a unit that reviews old cases for wrongful convictions and prosecutorial misconduct.

She recruited Gonzales to join other DAs in filing a friend-of-the-court brief opposing the execution of a Killeen man convicted for his role in the 1999 murders of two youth pastors.

After Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that outlawed abortions and issued a directive restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth, Brand helped write public statements for Gonzales opposing the governor's actions.

Brand, founder of the Wren Collective, a progressive consulting firm whose stated goal is to "dramatically decrease the legal systems footprint in this country" and reduce incarceration, also offered the DA advice on dealing with the media, sometimes drafting news releases and talking points and offering to call reporters on his behalf.

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It's unclear how much Brand's advice influenced Gonzales, a Democrat who ran for office on a reform platform and was already inclined to do much of what she proposed. But the relationship, which was first disclosed by KSAT last month, has become a potential political liability for Gonzales, now 13 months into his second term.

Jessica Brand, a Harvard-educated former public defender, is founder of the Austin-based Wren Collective, a reform group whose stated mission is to "dramatically decrease the legal systems footprint in this country." Courtesy of The Wren Collective

Prosecutors, defense attorneys and others expressed concern about a few communications that appear to show Brand offering legal advice on high-profile cases. Gonzales, Henricksen and Brand say the discussions were solely about public messaging, never about prosecutorial decisions, and that any details they shared about specific cases were already public.

'That's a problem'

Gonzales critics say it was inappropriate for him to grant so much access to an outside advocate without disclosing it and without a formal contract spelling out the scope of her services. Brand and Gonzales say she advised the DA at no charge, so no contract was necessary.

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The Wren Collective was offering their messaging services. They crafted messages, and they helped with press, and yet no money was exchanged, said Meredith Chacon, a San Antonio defense attorney and former prosecutor who unsuccessfully ran against Gonzales for DA in 2022. Typically, those types of services are reported as in-kind political contributions. Why werent they?

It's a matter of interpretation whether in-kind services of the kind Brand provided constitute a gift or contribution that an elected official legally must report. Henricksen said they don't.

Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody, a former corporate executive who represents Precinct 3 on the North Side, told Gonzales during a Commissioners Court meeting that the mere appearance of impropriety could be damaging, even if no laws were broken.

If the public believes that decisions are being made outside of Bexar County, then thats a problem, Moody said. Thats a problem for our county, thats a problem for your office. And we need to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

Henricksen, Gonzales and Brand say their communications were entirely appropriate and meant to help the DA's office make sound policy decisions. Henricksen said the office receives policy proposals from numerous outside groups and that it never adopts them wholesale.

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"Wren isnt the only group that has sent us stuff," he said in an interview. "We took all recommendations, looked them over and saw if there was stuff we could pull that we liked. We used them as ideas. There were some things we liked, there were some things we didnt like."

Brand said her advice was based on extensive research "into what actually keeps communities safe.

"The research on cash bail, for example, is overwhelmingly clear that basing pre-trial release decisions on (a defendant's) risk and dangerousness rather than the size of a persons bank account keeps people safer, and that the reliance on wealth has failed communities across the country," she said in a statement.

"For every recommendation Wren makes, we study local and national data, laws and epidemiological research, and then we provide elected officials with these findings so they can make informed decisions about safety."

Then-Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, left, speaks with District Attorney Joe Gonzales in 2022. Wolff said the DA's extensive communications with the Wren Collective, an Austin-based criminal justice reform group, are "nothing to be ashamed of." Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

'Political ramifications'

Nevertheless, the communications have become a political and practical headache for Gonzales.

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There's always going to be political ramifications, said former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who worked with Gonzales on criminal justice reforms. The right wing wants to put everyone in jail. He just needs to articulate that the policies they created had to do with nonviolent crimes.

He may have a hard time clarifying that and getting that across to the public, but there's nothing to be ashamed of, Wolff said, adding that as county judge he regularly received policy advice from criminal justice reform groups. I dont see anything wrong with it.

The emails and texts could prove to be a headache in ongoing legal cases. Since the relationship with the Wren Collective became public, the DAs courtroom adversaries have been trying to use it to their clients advantage.

The defense lawyer for a former San Antonio police officer accused of aggravated assault in the 2022 shooting of teenager Erik Cantu has subpoenaed all communications about the case between Brand and the DAs office, contending that they might reveal inappropriate information-sharing or other conduct prejudicial to the defendant.

It's likely other attorneys will follow suit.

If you are a criminal defense lawyer, and you have reason to believe that the DAs office talked about your case, you want to know what they said, said Charles Silva, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Theyre just doing their job.

'Culture of integrity'

An early goal for Brand was to help Gonzales, who took office in January 2019, revamp the district attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit.

The unit, created in 2015 under then-DA Nicholas Nico LaHood, reviews claims of wrongful convictions to make sure they were based on solid evidence and testimony.

In March 2019, Brand, then at the Justice Collaborative, a Washington, D.C.-based group that provides media, legal and policy advice to visionary leaders and organizations, shared with Henricksen a memo recommending changes in the unit.

It was written by Burke Butler, a Yale Law School graduate and former public defender who is now executive director of the Austin-based Texas Defender Service, which represents death row inmates and seeks to end capital punishment.

In the 2019 memo, Butler noted that some of the policies she suggested were already in place at the DA's office.

She wrote that in order to prevent conflicts of interest, a prosecutor or investigator involved in the original prosecution of a case should play no role in its subsequent review. She also suggested that the Conviction Integrity Unit conduct regular training for the DA's staff in how to prevent wrongful convictions.

Butler wrote that "in order to promote a culture of integrity," the unit should be "proactive as well as reactive" and try to identify and change practices or procedures "that have contributed to wrongful convictions."

In a separate email in March 2019, Brand sent Gonzales and Henricksen a 14-page proposal to overhaul the DAs approach to low-level crimes. She said the office's existing "diversion" programs, which seek to steer nonviolent defendants away from trial and into probation, treatment and community service, were inadequate.

The programs "do not target the populations most in need of those services, the document stated. Instead, the District Attorneys office filed charges in nearly 30,000 misdemeanor cases last year, over two-thirds of which did not involve any allegation of violence or pose any threat to the physical safety of others.

As an alternative, the document suggested a formal policy not to prosecute low-level crimes such as trespassing, theft, public urination, graffiti, gambling, prostitution and burglary of vehicles when the damage or loss was less than $750.

Although the proposal said prosecutors should retain discretion over whether to file charges in particular cases, it urged that they dismiss charges for most individuals charged with their first offense.

People accused of more serious crimes  or with a recent criminal history  should be diverted to a specialty court or to treatment programs tailored to address the root causes of crime, the policy stated. Upon successful completion of the programs, defendants would have their cases dismissed.

Another recommended option for such defendants: deferred adjudication, a form of probation in which the accused pleads guilty or no contest and agrees to court-imposed conditions such as community service and treatment. If the person lives up to those terms, the charge is dismissed.

Brand recommended this approach for crimes including burglary, assault, robbery, abandoning or endangering a child and a second-offense DWI, provided the defendants met certain criteria.

Early in his first term, Gonzales did adopt policies against prosecuting some nonviolent offenses  but not to the extent urged by the Wren Collective.

READ MORE: Homeless people with a clean record no longer will be thrown into jail for trespassing

In April 2019, for instance, Gonzales announced that prosecutors would avoid charging homeless people with criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor that involves entering a home or property without permission. Gonzales made the change after two people charged with the offense died in the Bexar County Jail. They'd been unable to post cash bail of less than $500. One suffered from mental illness, the other from chronic medical problems.

'Not responsible'

Under Gonzales' new policy, the office no longer prosecuted criminal trespassing if the offense didn't happen at a residence, if there were no other charges arising from the incident, and if the suspect appeared to be homeless, had no history of violence and was not on probation.

Gonzales also worked with law enforcement to revitalize a so-called cite-and-release program that authorizes police to ticket rather than arrest individuals accused of low-level crimes such as theft, possession of a few ounces of marijuana or driving with an invalid license.

In May 2019, Gonzales went further, announcing that his office would no longer prosecute people for possessing very small quantities of pot (less than 1 ounce) or controlled substances such as opiates or methamphetamine (less than 0.25 grams).

Gonzales said his aim was to focus prosecutors' time and energy on sexual assaults, homicides, domestic violence and other serious crimes.

Spending our resources arresting, prosecuting and then testing small amounts of drugs  often so small that retesting is impossible  is not responsible when there are sexual assaults and violent crimes that need our attention, Gonzales wrote at the time.

But the political climate in Texas turned against such programs, and last year a new state law, House Bill 17, exposed district attorneys to the risk of removal from office if they ruled out prosecution of whole categories of crimes. Gonzales changed course, saying his office again would prosecute minor drug offenses, evaluating each case on its merits.

'Kept my promise'

Another priority for the Wren Collective: reform of Bexar County's cash bail system.

Critics of the system contend that cash bail discriminates against poor defendants, many of whom must await trial in jail while defendants with means can buy their release. In a 10-page recommendation sent in March 2019, Brand suggested to Gonzales and Henricksen a tiered assessment tool to determine bail conditions for defendants.

Money bail is just one of the tools a prosecutor can request, beginning with a pretrial services check-in and, in more serious situations, release on GPS or electronic monitoring, the recommended policy states. Bail should be viewed as a way to "ensure return to court but not to hold people in jail," Brand wrote.

The proposal said prosecutors should always suggest to judges the least restrictive bond requirements as a starting point.

For example, under the proposal individuals accused of misdemeanors and state jail felonies  a category that includes negligent homicide, forgery, identity theft and credit card fraud  would be released on a personal recognizance bond with no cash payment if they met certain criteria.

Prosecutors could seek tighter conditions of release if there was clear and convincing evidence the defendant would fail to show up in court or would be a danger to the public or the victim.

Early in his first term, Gonzales instructed prosecutors to propose cash-free, personal recognizance bonds more often, and in May 2019 he announced a formal policy similar but not identical to the one proposed by the Wren Collective.

I told you when I ran that bail reform would be a priority if elected  and I've kept my promise to you in taking this first step, Gonzales wrote in the San Antonio Express-News. Our prosecutors will be asking judges to release people who are charged with misdemeanors and state jail felonies unless they have reason to believe the person is a danger to the community or an actual flight risk.

Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales was elected on a platform of criminal justice reform. At times, political pressure or laws passed by the Texas Legislature have forced him to modify his policies. Kaylee Greenlee Beal

'Abhorrent'

In December 2020, Brand turned to another high-profile issue: the death penalty.

On Dec. 1, 2020, she asked Gonzales and several other DAs to sign a friend-of-the-court brief opposing the execution of Brandon Bernard, a Killeen man convicted for his role in the murders of two youth pastors who were in town for a church revival.

Bernard, then 18, and four teenage accomplices robbed and kidnapped Todd and Stacie Bagley in 1999 before forcing them into the trunk of their car. One of the teens shot the couple in the head. Bernard set the car on fire. A jury sentenced him to death in 2000.

His lawyers appealed the sentence, contending that prosecutors had concealed information that argued for leniency. Over the years, Bernard's cause drew support from a former prosecutor on the case, prominent lawyers and two U.S. senators, Richard Durbin of Illinois and Cory Booker of New Jersey.

In the friend-of-the-court brief, Brand and other Wren Collective attorneys asserted that prosecutors had buried evidence that Bernard, although a participant in the murders, was not the leader or a decision-maker in the gang that carried them out. Prosecutors had said he belonged to the 212 PIRU Bloods gang and thus posed a future risk to society, one of the criteria juries consider when deciding whether to impose the death penalty. Defense lawyers contended the prosecution withheld evidence showing that Bernard was a low-level gang member.

Allowing a death sentence to stand in a case where the government has cheated is abhorrent, the brief stated. It makes our system seem lawless and a persons life valueless. It makes a mockery of all those who take an oath to protect the public, to uphold the law, and to see that justice is done.

Hi, Jessica, Gonzales responded to Brand after she emailed him to seek his support. Yes, Im willing to sign on to this brief. Good luck!

The brief was filed Dec. 9, 2020, a day before Bernard was to be executed.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court each declined to issue a stay of execution, and Bernard was put to death by lethal injection the next day.

'Happy to do it'

Several times in his exchanges with Brand, Gonzales expressed an interest in taking a stand on hot-button issues such as abortion and transgender health care.

In February 2022, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a directive, backed by a nonbinding legal opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which characterized surgical and medication treatments for transgender children as child abuse. Gonzales added his signature to a statement of opposition that Brand had shared with him.

We want to assure our residents with transgender children that they are safe to continue seeking the care their children need, said the statement, which was signed by four other Texas DAs: John Creuzot of Dallas County, Jose Garza of Travis County, Mark Gonzales of Nueces County and Brian Middleton of Fort Bend County. We will not allow the Governor and Attorney General to disregard Texan childrens lives in order to score political points.

In April 2022, Gonzales, Henricksen and Brand discussed drafting a statement in support of abortion rights as well as gender-affirming care for transgender children.

The discussions started after Brand forwarded a campaign flyer from Garza that described how the Travis County DA was focusing his efforts on violent crime rather than abortions or transgender care. The year before, Abbott had signed a law that prohibited abortions as early as six weeks after conception, before some patients know they are pregnant.

We know that public safety also means standing up to injustice wherever we find it, Garza wrote. Thats why, last week, I joined four District Attorneys across the state to condemn efforts to criminalize abortion and to pledge not (to) prosecute personal healthcare decisions.

RELATED: Abortion rights activists press Bexar County for protection

This is a very good email, Brand wrote Henricksen and Gonzales, referring to the Garza campaign flier.

This is good, Henricksen replied.

I really like this, I would like to draft a similar letter for our office, Gonzales said. Jess, do you want to try your hand at putting something together, if not we can have our community outreach person or one of us do something like this.

Happy to do it, Brand said.

It is not clear if Gonzales ever released a statement. But a couple of weeks later, he published an opinion piece in the Express-News asserting that Abbotts directive on transgender care was unlawful.

I will also continue to act as a safeguard for our citizens when there is a government overreach, as justice is not served by simply achieving a desired outcome, Gonzales wrote. Until then, I will continue to see that justice is done and the rule of law is upheld.

'Alive and well'

In June 2022, Brand sent Gonzales a list of talking points regarding an attempt to recall from office San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, a progressive Democrat who faced a storm of opposition over criminal justice reforms similar to those Gonzales had championed.

While Boudin's supporters lauded his efforts to find alternatives to incarceration, critics maintained that his policies made the city less safe. During his two and a half years in office, Boudin eliminated cash bail, helped divert defendants to treatment instead of trial and pursued criminal charges against nine police officers.

As the recall election approached, Brand emailed Gonzales with talking points for each of two scenarios: One assumed Boudin won the recall election, the other that he lost.

READ MORE: 5 things new DA Chesa Boudin wants to change immediately about San Francisco

If Boudin prevailed, Brand suggested that Gonzales declare that "the criminal justice reform movement is alive and well."

If Boudin lost, Brand said Gonzales should assert that the recall effort was "not about criminal justice reform" but about undoing the election that put Boudin in office in the first place.

"This is the Republican playbook  steal elections because you cannot win at the ballot box," Brand wrote in one of the talking points. "A handful of very wealthy donors poured millions of dollars into this recall  over seven million  a recall they started organizing the day after they lost the election. They did this because they know criminal justice reform is popular, and they cannot win a normal election anymore."
JERUSALEM  Reports the Biden administration and a small group of Middle East states will soon begin pushing a new peace initiative with the aim of creating a Palestinian state have drawn pushback from the Israeli government, which declared this week it will not accept "international diktats."

Regional experts also say such efforts are doomed to fail as they have in the past.

Last week, the Israeli government, including more moderate members of what is considered to be the most right-wing cabinet Israel ever, unanimously declared its opposition to any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, saying such a move would only reward terrorism and prevent a future peace settlement.

"If a settlement is to be reached, it will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions," a statement issued by the government said.

ISRAELI SECURITY EXPERTS SAY BIDENS PALESTINIAN STATE PUSH IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT

Benjamin Netanyahu, President Biden and Mahmoud Abbas

An Israeli media report over the weekend suggested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had, however, presented his security cabinet members with a discussion paper about Gaza, stating clearly that Israel plans to maintain security control over all land west of Jordan, including Gaza and other parts of the territories where Palestinians hope to establish an independent state.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Israel has been battling the Iranian-backed terror group Hamas in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 when thousands of its terrorists crossed the border, murdering 1,200 people and taking some 240 people hostage. Even as Israeli troops gear up for what could be the final phase of the war, Netanyahu and his defense chief Yoav Gallant remain reluctant to discuss any broader future arrangements for the war-torn enclave.

Prof. Efraim Inbar, President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, told Fox News Digital efforts by the U.S. administration to find a solution to the decades-old intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict were nothing new and, as in the past, efforts to bring about a Palestinian state, particularly under the current conditions, were unlikely to succeed.

"What the Americans want, a revitalized Palestinian Authority, is nothing new.  We saw a similar attempt during the Bush era," Inbar said. "I think the question we should be asking is why would a Palestinian state look any different to the Palestinian entities we've seen so far?"

Palestinian Hamas terrorists during a military show in the Bani Suheila district July 20, 2017, in Gaza City, Gaza.

Inbar said any future Palestinian state would need to be ready to "make some real compromises," including recognizing the Zionist movement, accepting Israel as a Jewish state and Jerusalem as its capital and relinquishing some of its territorial dreams.

A Palestinian state would also have to exclude terror entities like Hamas, who Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh recently referred to as being "part of the Palestinian people" and "a partner in any future political entity."

"These attempts are noble, but they did not succeed in the past, and I do not see that the current Palestinian leadership is ready to change the situation," said Inbar.

ISRAELI PARLIAMENT BACKS NETANYAHU, REJECTS PUSH FOR 'UNILATERAL' RECOGNITION OF PALESTINIAN STATE

Palestinians march during the funeral of Palestinian terrorists killed in clashes the previous day in the Israeli military operation in Jenin in the occupied West Bank July 5, 2023.

Even Fatah, the Palestinian political faction led by the current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, "are not the nicest of neighbors," he said, noting that, in the past few months "dozens" of members of the Authoritys official security forces have carried out terror attacks against Israelis and that after 30 years of PA rule, the population had been indoctrinated to "hate Jews and Israel."

"Im not optimistic about what a Palestinian state would look like at this stage," Inbar said. He added the Palestinian people had also given up hope with their own leadership due to corruption and that any future Palestinian state would most likely carry the same political culture as others in the Arab world, namely dictatorships and tribalism.

Bassem Eid, a Palestinian human rights activist and political analyst, also expressed doubts about the success of a future Palestinian state based on past attempts to create a self-governing entity.

"In my opinion, those leaders who are calling for a Palestinian state have forgotten one important thing  that a state must be built before it is recognized," he said.

Eid said there is no suitable infrastructure for a Palestinian state  no real economy and a society where the majority of the population still lived in refugee camps.

"What kind of state would that be?" he wondered. "I dont think that is the kind of state the Palestinians are hoping for."

"My conclusion is that the Palestinians are not really qualified for a state," he said, describing how the last attempt to create a Palestinian state was when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon disengaged from Gaza.

"He wanted to give the Palestinians Gaza so they could start building their own state, but look at what they did there. They turned Gaza from Singapore into ISIS," he said. "I dont think that calling for a Palestinian state right now is a legitimate demand."

BIDEN ADMIN CONTINUES PUSH FOR TWO-STATE SOLUTION AS CRITICS WARN: 'EFFORTS REPEATEDLY FAIL'

Members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, parade in Gaza City June 7, 2021.

Eid said he believed Hamas Oct. 7 attack "set the Israeli-Palestinian conflict backward 50 years" and that instead of calling for the creation of a Palestinian state, there should be international efforts to "build bridges to bring the Israelis and Palestinians together" after the trauma.

He also said the focus now should move away from the Palestinian Authority, and from Hamas, who are both "specialists in destroying states," and should be put instead on local Palestinian tribes.

"Lets call the tribes and give them a chance to rule," said Eid. "I believe they will succeed in ruling the Palestinians much better than Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. At least let them try for the next five years, then probably a charismatic Palestinian leader will emerge, we can hold elections and then negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians can start."

Khaled Hassan, a political risk and intelligence analyst with over 13 years of experience working in the Middle East, also said that prospects for the creation of a Palestinian state under the current conditions were dim.

"The establishment of a state requires tremendous efforts and international support, including a unified nationalist movement, similar to the Zionist Movement in the early 20th century," he told Fox News Digital.

"A Palestinian state would, most importantly, need Palestinian unity and Israeli recognition," he said, adding that any discussion over who might lead this potential state would "most likely spark a civil war among Palestinians" and that "Israel was highly unlikely to recognize a Palestinian state."

"A Palestinian state cant be imposed on Israel," Hassan said. "Arab states have for decades recognized a Palestinian state, but this has led to little to nothing in reality. Although, if there was American and British unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, that could result in unprecedented political, and legal, repercussions for Israel."

Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shake hands prior to a meeting at the Muqata, the presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"It might not lead to a Palestinian state coming to life, but it would greatly diminish Israels standing within the international community," he said.

If such a state did successfully emerge, Hassan added, the Palestinians would grapple with finding suitable leadership.

IRAN SETS MIDEAST ON FIRE AS CRITICS SAY BIDEN POLICIES FAILED: 'FURTHER RECKLESSNESS'

"Hamas is demanding not only to be part of a future state, but to lead it," he said. He said the creation of a state as a result of the Oct. 7 terror attacks would be "an explicit recognition of Hamas as a resistance movement whose attacks led to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

"For Palestinians, the legitimacy of a political leader is largely based on their involvement in anti-Israel terror, so any Palestinian leaders who condemn terrorism are perceived as traitors and agents of Israel."

He noted that previous U.S. attempts to install a more moderate Palestinian leader, one that rejected terrorism, had "been met with staggering frustration."

"Public statements by the late Egyptian presidents Sadat and Mubarak, as well as U.S. President Bill Clinton have illustrated this," said Hassan, recalling the widespread condemnation and boycott of Egypt due to its peace treaty with Israel.

Yahya Sinwar, center, the elected leader of Hamas, appears during a ceremony for fighters killed by Israeli air strikes at Yarmouk football stadium May 24, 2021, in Gaza City, Gaza.

"Sadat described Arabs, including Palestinians, who boycotted Egypt over the talks as reckless children and teenagers who should not be entrusted with the fate of Egyptians, Arabs and Palestinians," he said. "His words still ring true 40 years later as the world watches what the recklessness of Palestinian leaders have brought upon their people and upon millions of Israelis who did not want this war."

While the challenges to creating a Palestinian state appear insurmountable, Omer Zanany, head of the joint unit for peace and security at the Mitvim Institute and the Berl Katznelson Center in Israel, said Israelis under the current government were also likely to thwart the efforts.

He said Israel faces two choices  continuing the war in Gaza at the risk of the conflict escalating to other fronts or seizing what might be a "historic opportunity to end the war, bring home the hostages and defeat Hamas by entering into negotiations for a two-state solution."

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Zanany, who heads a joint Israeli-Palestinian task force exploring the options, said there needed to be a gradual process that would bring enduring security for both Israelis and Palestinians. Such a process, he said, would put "hope" on the political horizon that would help to bring about crucial changes in both societies.

"If we know theres something that we can change, we have to begin with a process," he said."I am not talking about having peace tomorrow but about getting into a new track. And I think thats exactly what Biden, Secretary of State Blinken and the Saudis are saying."





Original article source: Biden's vision for a Palestinian state doomed, experts say: 'An explicit recognition of Hamas'
The U.S. House unleashing its awesome power of impeachment is a major historic event now reduced to a sort of political hissy fit.

There are better, easier ways to oust a high-ranking federal official who falls from favor in Washington. Congressional leaders can diplomatically send word to that White House that someone is a political liability, and, pretty soon, the scorned federal officer will decide to spend more time with his family, or be named ambassador to Coventry, or just find a cushy job in the private sector.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) leading guests past the Speaker of the House office and into Statuary Hall and the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday, Feb 13, 2024 prior to the House Republicans narrowly securing a historic vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, rallying GOP members after a first failed effort.

But ever since Richard Nixon had to flee from a richly deserved impeachment resolution, the solemn process of removing important federal officers has become a partisan get-even device. The current Republican-run House has made it something like a political 911 call.

Worse, both parties have loaded and cocked an elephant gun to hunt mouse, knowing they couldnt bag their prey.

Not to spoil the ending, but Alejandro Mayorkas isnt going anywhere. The secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will keep his job, despite the House vote to impeach him this month. Even if the impeachment resolution had passed by a large bipartisan majority, there is no possibility of 67 senators voting for it.

The resolution passed 214-213 in the House, with all the Democrats and three Republicans opposing it. A similar resolution had failed in the House a week earlier in a humiliating setback for Speaker Mike Johnson and his party. This time, they had to rush one member to the Capitol from his hospital bed to get the one-vote margin in the floor vote.

All of which indicates that while there is a nationwide groundswell of public rage against the Biden administration over illegal immigration, Mayorkas doesnt make a handy fall guy. In fact, one House Republican, French Hill of Arkansas, spoke the quiet part out loud when he said the Department of Homeland Security secretary will pay this public relations price for hundreds of thousands of migrants straining welfare services in major cities.

So thats what its come to  instead of punishing corrupt or subversive federal officers, impeachment now hinges on whether the public is angry enough.

OK, nobodys saying the border is secure or that immigration isnt a mess. So, the opposition party should make daily speeches about it, go on Sunday political talk shows, and blame Biden, stage news events at the border, make ads exploiting the crisis and promise to clean up the mess next year.

Maybe Mayorkas has done a lousy job. Thats for Biden to decide. If he wants to seek re-election with Mayorkas in the Cabinet, Congress shouldnt interfere.

The Constitution is purposely vague, providing, The president, vice president and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Maybe it should also say incompetency or somebody we dont like, but it doesnt.

Not even the most rabid Republican accuses Mayorkas of treason or bribery  and he hasnt been convicted of any high crimes and misdemeanors, whatever those are.

But former President Donald Trump hasnt been convicted of anything either, yet he got whacked twice when Democrats controlled the House. Everyone knew the Senate would fall short of 67 votes to convict him each time.

Aside from Mayorkas, theres now a move afoot in the House to impeach Biden. The same math makes it meaningless in the Senate.

Impeachment has always been frankly political.

Andrew Johnson, a thoroughly unlikable fellow who defied Congress right after the Civil War, survived in the Senate. A little more than a century later, Nixons resignation cheated the hangman in the face of guaranteed removal. Bill Clinton probably deserved the boot, but the Senate decided his lying and obstruction was more humorous than damaging to the country.

Trump gave them plenty to work with, but there was never any chance that either of his two impeachment cases would get a two-thirds Senate roll call.

About a half-century ago, Michigan Congressman Gerald Ford proposed impeaching Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. Ford said impeachment is a political act, and high crimes and misdemeanors are anything Congress decides they are.

Lawyers, historians and politicians quibble over constitutional fine points. But serious business of impeachment shouldnt be devalued as just an election-year public relations price.

Bill Cotterell

Bill Cotterell is a retired Capitol reporter for United Press International and the Tallahassee Democrat. He writes a weekly column for The News Service of Florida and City & State Florida. He can be reached at bcotterell@govexec.com.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Bill Cotterell: Impeachment about politics, public relations
Maury County has had its share of naval heroes.

The highest ranking one to date is four-star Admiral William Banks Caperton, a Naval Academy graduate of 1875, whose career spanned five decades. Maury County also lays a claim to the first female admiral, Fran McKee, who was promoted to Rear Admiral (lower half) in 1976, and was the first of two women selected to attend the Naval War College.

But we can also claim a current admiral, Stephen Barnett. Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Barnett is one of just 15 African American admirals out of the 270 admirals currently in the U.S. Navy.

Barnett was raised in Maury County before he moved to Kentucky. He returned to his native state to attend Tennessee State University, after which he was inducted into Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1991. He became a P-3 pilot, taking part in various surveillance and anti-submarine operations from both land and carrier-based locations.

While commanding officer of VP-47 based in Hawaii, he oversaw simultaneous deployments to Japan and Iraq, executing more than 250 missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His squadron completed more than 950 sorties.

His staff-level commands increased in size and responsibility before being assigned to command of Naval Base Coronado, California; chief of staff to Commander, Navy Region Southeast; and Commander, Navy Installations Command.

He received his first star (Rear Admiral, Lower Half) and assumed the duties of commander of Navy Region Northwest in 2020. That placed him in command of every naval installation from Alaska to the Midwest. In 2021, he became commander of Navy Region Southwest, which included all naval installations in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

In 2022, he became commander, Navy Region Hawaii, where he oversees a budget in the tens of billions of dollars, a fleet concentration of dozens of warships and more than 25,000 sailors and 10,000 civilian employees working in more than 60 commands. His command is the peace-time front line in the Pacific.

He was nominated for his second star in February of 2023 and was confirmed by the Senate in December of that year.

Stellar military career aside, Admiral Barnett is one of the finest men I have had the privilege of speaking to. Introspective and brilliant, he cares deeply for the people under his command, his country, his family, and Tennessee.

He is the beau ideal of a leader.

To learn more about Admiral Barnett, listen to my podcast, Historys Hook at www.frontporchradiotn.com/history or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Tom Price is director of the Maury County Archives.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Maury Countys latest Navy Admiral exemplifies values of leadership
According to Bloomberg, the dispute over the EU's failure to deliver one million artillery shells to Ukraine on time has become evidence of a deeper split between Western and Eastern Europe.

Source: European Pravda, citing Bloomberg's article based on interviews with European officials on condition of anonymity

Details: European diplomats interviewed by the agency believe that if Russia does win the war in Ukraine, "Western Europe will not be forgiven" and will no longer be trusted, and the entire project of European integration may be at risk.

One of the reasons is the categorical position of several Western European countries on finding sources of artillery shells for Ukraine. France is actively insisting that the relevant investments should remain only within the EU, which has already slowed down the supply of shells.

Additionally, Cyprus and Greece are opposed to purchasing shells from Turkiye for geopolitical reasons. For Eastern European states, this shows that "the West doesn't seem to get the urgency," one Bloomberg source said.

One European official said that if Russia were to win, his country would no longer buy weapons from France and would instead develop defence partnerships with the US, the UK and Ukraine because they are more reliable allies.

Eastern European states also have claims against Germany. Although nominally one of the largest donors of military and financial aid to Ukraine, the German government's position on the supply of long-range Taurus missiles is causing irritation in capitals east of Berlin.

Eastern Europe's distrust of Western Europe is also evident in the search for a new NATO secretary general. Although most members support the candidacy of Mark Rutte, his lack of communication with Eastern European states has prompted the nomination of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

Background: Support for Ukraine among Europeans remains broad, but almost two years after the full-scale invasion, only 10% believe Ukraine can defeat Russia.

Read also: Overhauling Western military support for Ukraine: imperative of EU plan for Ukraine's victory

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Less than two weeks after a $320 million proposal to expand Bluegrass Station by 2,000 acres went public, the director of the airport and business park announced that the project is now closed.

Stephen Collins, director of Bluegrass Station for Kentuckys Department of Military Affairs, announced that the state would no longer pursue the project in a letter posted to the projects website Friday.

Several landowners affected by the proposed expansion were taken aback at the lack of communication on the expansion, which included the potential for eminent domain, that was included in both Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears budget proposal as well as the GOP-led House budget proposal. A group of property owners in the Bourbon County area formed a nonprofit group to fight the expansion, which included space for a brand new runway as well as hangars and other military-industrial operations.

Bluegrass Station is a facility run by the states Department of Military Affairs that serves several private clients including military contractor giant Lockheed Martin. The $320 million-plus expansion proposal was slated to be funded by at least $55 million in state bond funds as well as a public-private partnership contract.

The expansion would have allowed Lockheed Martin, Bluegrass Stations largest employer, to fix airplanes. It would have also allowed private aircraft to land at the airport, according to military officials. Lockheed Martin currently fixes helicopters at the site.

An aerial shot of the Southern Bourbon County farm owned by the family of Rebecca Rigney. Rigney says her farm is situated on land that would be acquired in a proposed expansion of Bluegrass Station.

Despite funding on the project being in his initial budget proposal, Beshear announced that he was against it given the project has never met the threshold of required local support.

Collins, in a letter, referenced pushback directed at elected and community members that should have been directed at me as the driving force behind it.

I want to apologize to the elected and community members who have endured unmentionable attacks on themselves and their families which should have been directed at me as the driving agent for feasibility information, Collins wrote. As public servants we are accountable for our actions and can take some solace in the fact the attacks associated with those actions can be viewed as a punishment for patriotism and confidence in the military service members who ensure our way of life.

Collins added that Bluegrass Station will continue to provide support to its tenants.

An entry gate at Bluegrass Station is photographed on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.
(Bloomberg) -- Jair Bolsonaro led supporters at a rally in the heart of Brazils biggest city on Sunday in an attempted show of force against political opponents and the countrys Supreme Court as the former president faces a litany of legal troubles.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A total of 750,000 supporters dressed in the green and yellow colors of the Brazilian flag occupied Sao Paulos Paulista Avenue according to the government of Sao Paulo. Dozens of conservative congressmen and governors also attended, demonstrating Bolsonaros continued grip on the Brazilian right.

Bolsonaro had largely remained on the political sidelines since his October, 2022, election loss. This month he urged supporters to take to the streets after the supreme court ordered him to surrender his passport as part of a criminal probe into the Jan. 8, 2023 insurrection attempt that sought to overturn his defeat. Federal police targeted dozens of his closest allies, alleging that a criminal organization tried to plot a coup detat, with the support of military personnel.

Read More: Bolsonaro Targeted as Police Ensnares Alleged Coup Plotters

More than speech, [we want] a photo of all of you because you are the most important people of this event, to show to Brazil and to the world our unity, our concerns, what we want, Bolsonaro said in a video uploaded two weeks ago inviting his supporters.

On Sunday, the former president arrived at Paulista Avenue 30 minutes before the beginning of the rally. He was accompanied by politicians including the governors of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, and Goias, Ronaldo Caiado, who have been touted by the right wing as potential candidates for the 2026 presidential election.

Bolsonaro said he seeks pacification and criticized the abuse by some, though he didnt mention the supreme court. He reiterated his denial of an attempted coup.

What is coup? Its tanks in the street, its weapon, conspiracy, Bolsonaro told the crowd. None of this was done in Brazil.

Sundays mobilization was the first major conservative rally since Bolsonaro left office at the end of 2022. The former presidents decision to then leave Brazil for Florida, along with a crackdown on participants in the Jan. 8 riots, dampened the rabid enthusiasm that once animated his movement. Supporters failed to replicate the massive rallies they once staged even after Bolsonaro returned home in March.

But Bolsonaros calls emboldened supporters to return to the streets, said Bia Kicis, a member of congress and close ally of the former president.

Now, he made it very clear, put his face and showed: Lets go to the street, Kicis said in a phone interview before the rally.

Jose Guimaraes, leader of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas government in the lower house, downplayed the number of attendees.

It was nothing extraordinary, it was within what we anticipated, he said in an interview, adding that Bolsonaro was trying to build a narrative to legitimize the coup attempt.

Bolsonaro is barred from seeking or holding public office until at least 2030 for making false claims about Brazils voting system, making him ineligible for the next presidential elections. He remains the most potent right-wing figure in the country, and stands to play a major role in determining the future of that movement.

Read More: Bolsonaros Shadow Looms Over a Revamp of the Brazilian Right

Still, more than a dozen federal investigations into possible crimes ranging from the illegal sale of luxury jewelry he received as president to the falsification of vaccine records have forced even his closest allies to consider the possibility that he will face arrest.

In January, police raided the home of Bolsonaros son, Carlos, a Rio de Janeiro city councilman and long-time adviser to his father, as part of an investigation into the misuse of Brazils spy agency.

(Updates number people in the demonstration in the second paragraph. A previous version corrected the date of Bolsonaros return to the country.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Former UK PM Boris Johnson believes that Donald Trump's return to the White House is not to be feared.

Source: Boris Johnson in an interview with European Pravda

Quote: "I am not as pessimistic as some people about this. I don't think any President of the United States of America can allow Putin to win in Ukraine. I just don't see how it's possible," Johnson said.

He stressed that Trump was the first US president to provide Ukraine with serious weapons  Javelins MANPADS, which proved to be very important in the battle for Kyiv.

Johnson also recalled that Trump had carried out the largest expulsion of Russian diplomats.

"60 Russian diplomats he expelled, way more than we'd been expecting. So what I'm saying is: American domestic politics are complicated. In the run-up to the election, there will be lots of people saying all sorts of things.

But when it comes to it, fundamentally the interests of the United States of America are in supporting Ukraine, in supporting democracy, in preventing aggression. That's for all sorts of reasons. But I think that the interests of Donald Trump are in not being seen to be defeated by Putin," Johnson said.

Watch the full interview with Johnson on the European Pravda YouTube channel.

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PITMAN  A team of outside assessors is here on Monday to take one last, close look at how the borough police force does its job.

For the first time in its history, which dates to 1876, the department is asking outside experts to evaluate how it does its job. Civilians also are getting an opportunity to register opinions.

The prize is a stamp of approval from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. The final, on-site assessment will be done by its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. The full commission also decides the outcome.

More: Temporary safety fixes at Route 47 intersection to stay for a while; heres where and why

More: Where are South Jersey's top athletes going to college?

Police Chief Daniel McAteer said Thursday the goal is ensuring the department is meeting the professions best practices and to have the community see it.

It has not been easy because, as a small agency providing full services to our community, we could not afford to hire an outside private company to complete the process and we did it all inside the PPD, McAteer said.

Pitman Borough police Officer Dominique Khoury receives her department's 2022 Officer of the Year from Chief Daniel McAteer at a meeting of the Borough Council on Monday night. Background: Mayor Michael Razze. PHOTO: August 14, 2023.

Pitman has 18 full-time officers, including its chief, along with two part-time, Class II officers and a full-time civilian office administrator.

McAteer said Sgt. Andrew Carson has managed the accreditation review.

Boro workers, community can weigh in on police

Borough employees and the general public can submit comments by calling (856) 589-3501, extension 7139 between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Monday. Callers are limited to 5 minutes and comments must focus on the departments ability to meet commission standards.

Written comments should be emailed to the Accreditation Program at hdelgado@njsacop.org or mailed to the N.J. State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.

If granted, accreditation would be good for three years. Pitman would have to file annual compliance reports. The benefits of commission approval include as a defense on lawsuits.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: N.J. police chiefs team decides if Pitman measures up
Brazil's former president Bolsonaro calls for a protest as police investigate him and his cabinet for allegedly plotting a coup after the 2022 election, in Sao Paulo

Brazil's former president Bolsonaro calls for a protest as police investigate him and his cabinet for allegedly plotting a coup after the 2022 election, in Sao Paulo

By Leonardo Benassatto, Lais Morais and Ricardo Brito

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered thousands of supporters on Sao Paulo's iconic Paulista Avenue on Sunday to demonstrate political strength amid investigations that many believe could land him in jail.

The far-right former president, who called the rally after being targeted by a police raid earlier this month investigating an alleged coup attempt, spoke for about 20 minutes to defend himself while reminiscing about his 2019-2022 term.

He refrained from attacking old foes and the Supreme Court. Allies expressed concern before the event that any remarks against Brazilian authorities or institutions could get him into even hotter water.

Bolsonaro had his passport confiscated and was accused of editing a draft decree to overturn election results, pressuring military chiefs to join a coup attempt and plotting to jail a Supreme Court justice after his electoral loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2022.

Supporters of Bolsonaro, a populist often likened to former U.S. President Donald Trump, invaded and ransacked Brazil's presidential palace, Supreme Court and Congress calling for a military coup on Jan. 8, 2023, a week after Lula took office.

Bolsonaro on Sunday denied the accusations and said he was being "persecuted," adding that the draft decree was based on the constitution. He also called for amnesty for people who took part in the Jan. 8 riot.

"A coup is putting tanks on the streets, weapons, conspiracy. That did not happen in Brazil," Bolsonaro said. "What I want is pacification. To erase the past and find a way for us to live in peace."

ISRAELI FLAGS

The far-right leader gave his speech on top of a truck surrounded by supporters dressed in green and yellow, many of whom also carried Israeli flags.

Lula is in the middle of a diplomatic spat with Israel over comments in which he likened Israel's war in Gaza to the Nazi genocide during World War Two.

Bolsonaro, who said last week that the leftist president's remarks were "criminal," also unfurled an Israeli flag.

Allies expect Sunday's demonstration to show that Bolsonaro, who is barred from running for office until 2030 for spreading election falsehoods and faces several other criminal probes, still holds political strength in deeply polarized Brazil.

"He is not dead, he is competitive and there can be no injustice," said Congressman Marco Feliciano, a member of Bolsonaro's Liberal Party, adding Brazil would "turn into chaos" if the former president were to be arrested.

Dozens of lawmakers and some state governors attended the rally, including Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, who served as Bolsonaro's infrastructure minister and is seen as a potential successor in Brazil's right-wing politics.

"He wants to try to show his strength to the Supreme Court and remain politically viable, even if he gets arrested," a source close to Bolsonaro said, comparing him to Lula, who spent 580 days in prison in 2018-2019 on corruption charges before having his sentence annulled.

(Reporting by Lais Morais, Leonardo Benassatto and Carla Carniel in Sao Paulo, Ricardo Brito in Brasilia; writing by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Diane Craft)
Catholic clerics from Mexico reportedly helped arrange a truce between two warring cartels, which painted the state of Guerrero in Mexico's south red with blood.

The Associated Press reported that the development was the latest in a string of attempts made by Catholic bishops and priests to get cartels to talk to each other in the hope of reducing turf battles across the country. The implicit assumption was that the cartels would divide up the territories where they charge extortion fees and traffic drugs without having to kill people.

According to the Rev. Jose Filiberto Velazquez, a Catholic priest who had knowledge of the negotiations but did not participate in them, said that the talks involved the leaders of the notoriously violent Familia Michoacana and the Tlacos Gang, also known as the Cartel of the Mountain.

"The armed conflict that existed in the area where the attacks have occurred has ceased," he said, but also acknowledged that the agreement "hangs by a thread" and depended on the will of the gang leaders.

The priest was referring to an area deep in the mountains where earlier this week a grisly video was posted on social media showing cartel gunmen shooting, kicking, and burning the corpses of about 15 of their enemies who local media identified as gunmen of the La Familia cartel.

Bishops Brokering Deals

Last week, Chilpancingo-Chilapa Bishop Jose de Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez and three other bishops in Guerrero state talked with cartel bosses in a bid to negotiate a peace accord in a different area.

The prelate said at the time that those talks failed because the drug gangs refused to stop fighting over territory in the state, which shut down transportation in at least two cities and led to dozens of killings in recent months.

"They asked for a truce, but with conditions," Gonzalez Hernandez said of the talks, held a few weeks earlier, referring to dividing up territories. "But these conditions were not agreeable to one of the participants."

Read Also: Mexico: 2 Killed in Drug Deal Gone Wrong at Beach Resort

Government Inaction to Curb Cartels

Meanwhile, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also said last week that he approved of such talks, while critics said that they illustrated the extent of the government's inability to confront and dismantle the cartels, which left ordinary Mexicans to work out their own separate peace deals with the gangs.

"Priests and pastors and members of all the churches have participated, helped in pacifying the country," he said a day after the existence of the negotiations. "I think it is very good."

However, he added that he would not approve of "any agreement that meant granting impunity, privileges or licenses to steal."

A parish priest from a town in Michoacan state that has become cartel territory said that Lopez Obrador's recognition of church intervention was a sign that the government was not reliable in curbing the cartels.

"It is an implicit recognition that they can't provide safe conditions," the priest said on the condition of anonymity for security purposes."Undoubtedly, we have to talk to certain people, above all when it comes to people's safety, but that doesn't mean we agree with it."

Many average Mexicans have quietly agreed to pay protection payments to drug cartels for fear of being attacked or having their homes or businesses burned. The church has also suffered at the hands of cartels - as priests have also been killed - but some gang leaders talk with their church counterparts.

Related Article: Thousands March for Democracy in Mexico, Challenging Ruling Party Ahead of Elections
Followers of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rally to express their support for him in Sao Paulo., Brazil, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. Bolsonaro and some of his former top aides are under investigation into allegations they plotted a coup to remove his successor, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

SAO PAULO (AP)  Supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro staged a huge rally jamming a main avenue in Brazil's biggest city Sunday to defend him against legal challenges that could put him in jail.

The far-right leader said in a speech that he seeks "pacification to erase the past, taking a more conciliatory tone than when he was in office.

Bolsonaro is seeking to show his base is resilient as he is being investigated by federal police over his alleged role in the Jan. 8, 2023, attacks on government buildings by his supporters over his election loss. He wants the dozens of people still in jail for those incidents to get pardons.

Bolsonaro is also accused of illegally receiving jewels from Saudi Arabia during his presidency.

His supporters filled blocks of the city's Paulista Avenue. Independent observers from a research group at the University of Sao Paulo estimated 185,000 people joined in. Brazil's military police put the crowd size even bigger.

Many of the participants complained Bolsonaro is being persecuted by Brazil's Supreme Court and claimed President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva unfairly won his narrow victory in the 2022 election.

Some also carried Israeli flags as a show of defiance to the current president, who has received widespread criticism at home for comparing Israel's military offensive in Gaza to the Holocaust.

What I seek is pacification, it is erasing the past, Bolsonaro said in a speech as he held an Israeli flag himself. It is to seek a way for us to live in peace and stop being so jumpy. Amnesty for those poor people who are jailed in Brasilia. We ask all 513 congressmen, 81 senators for a bill of amnesty so justice can be made in Brazil.

Bolsonaro denied that he and his supporters attempted a coup when rioters assaulted government buildings a year ago.

"What is a coup? It is tanks on the streets, weapons, conspiracy. None of that happened in Brazil," he said.

Bolsonaro is barred from running for office until 2030 due to two convictions of abuse of power, but he remains active in Brazilian politics as the main adversary for left-of-center Lula. As this year's mayoral elections loom, candidates have split between the two leaders.

Some of Bolsonaro's allies aiming to unseat Lula in the 2026 elections also attended, including influential governors Tarcisio de Freitas of Sao Paulo state and Romeu Zema of Minas Gerais state. But other key politicians and business executives who aligned with him during his 2019-2022 presidency did not show up.

Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, predicted the pro-Bolsonaro event would not help the former president's legal situation.

The fact that Bolsonaro doesn't yield any power now reduces what he can do. Beforehand, we feared he could use the force of the armed forces. Now that is ruled out, Melo said. This new reality does not favor him with unpredictability and drama.

The event showed, though, that Bolsonaro's message still resonates with many Brazilians, some of whom evidently favor any coup attempt that would put him in charge. One man paraded wearing a military hat and shouted: Brazil, nation, hail our forces. The armed forces didnt sleep!

Federal police investigations also include military generals among those who are alleged to have plotted a pro-Bolsonaro coup with the riots in the capital city of Brasilia last year.

Other Bolsonaro supporters believe Brazil faces the risk of radicalism under Lula, who also governed for two terms in 2003-2010.

It is a country that was taken over by a communist party, hairstylist Simone da Silva Sampaio said, in a reference to the presidents Workers Party. Were living terrible days in this place, where we are silenced. We dont have the right to speak about the truth that happens here.

Workers' Party chairwoman Gleisi Hoffmann was one of the few high profile adversaries of the former president to make comments about the pro-Bolsonaro event in Sao Paulo.

When he speaks about amnesty for those sentenced for the riots of Jan. 8, Bolsonaro aims at his own impunity. He cannot defend interests that are not his own, Hoffman said on her social media channels. We should not have any complacency with coup mongers, starting from their boss.

___

Savarese reported from New York.
The City of Fort Worth, a beloved Texas city sometimes known as Cowtown or Where the West Begins, has a storied past that has helped shape the history of the state. However, the name behind the city was a legend in its own right. Gen. William Jenkins Worth was a distinguished officer and war hero who fought for the Texas and the nation.

Worth was born in the small community of Hudson, New York, in 1794. His parents were devout Quakers, and his father made a comfortable living as a merchant ship captain. When the War of 1812 erupted, the younger Worth enlisted in the army. Though Quakers are typically pacifists, Worth nevertheless decided for a life of adventure and service to the country in the army.

Ken Bridges

Worth earned a commission as a first lieutenant in March 1813 and was immediately assigned to serve as an aide to Gen. Winfield Scott. Scott became an important mentor and close friend as the two spent years together serving the nation. Worth fought in a number of fierce battles against the British as American forces pushed into British territory in Canada. At the Battle of Lundys Lane in July 1814, he and Scott were both wounded in what was the bloodiest battle of the war. Worths leg injury almost proved fatal, and he never fully regained use of the leg.

However, Worth was still determined to serve in the army. So impressed with his bravery and determination, he was named Commandant of Cadets at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in 1816 as a major. As commandant, Worth instilled the lessons of duty and honor into the aspiring young officers. He taught the importance of never excusing a dishonorable act in another officer and the necessity of integrity in all matters, to keep ones word no matter what. His essays on honor are still required reading for West Point cadets.

In 1838, he was promoted to colonel and given command of an infantry regiment. He fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida as tribes and settlers clashed. He was promoted to brigadier general afterward.

After Texas was admitted in 1845, Mexico threatened war with the United States over its former possession. Worth was assigned to patrol the border with Gen. Zachary Taylor when war erupted in mid-1846. He negotiated the surrender of the Mexican city of Matamoros in September and pushed his forces steadily southward toward the capital. After another year of heavy fighting, Worth and his men swept aside the last defenses of Mexico City with the victory at Chapultepec. Worth himself was commended for his bravery in this battle. When Mexico City was captured, Worth personally replaced the Mexican flag with the American flag at the Capitol building.

After the end of the Mexican War, Worth was given command of the armys Department of Texas in 1848. He realized that fighting between settlers and frontier tribes would continue and devised a system of protecting the Texas frontier. This plan materialized in a string of forts acting as a barrier between tribal lands and the farms and towns settlers of Central and North Texas. Though ten forts were planned between Eagle Pass on the Rio Grande and the Trinity River, only seven were built, including Fort Graham, Fort Duncan, and Fort Lincoln.

In the spring of 1849, as Worths career continued to ascend, San Antonio was struck by a deadly cholera epidemic. Worth contracted the disease and died at the age of 55. Gen. William Harney then ordered that the last fort, near the Trinity River, be named in honor of Worth as Fort Worth. The City of Fort Worth would be incorporated in 1874.

Worth was later buried in a tomb at what is now Worth Square in New York City, where a street is also named for him. Several other cities and counties were later named for him. Lake Worth, a small Texas suburb nestled next to Fort Worth, is also named for the famed general and is a thriving community of around 5,000 residents.

Worths most famous namesake, Fort Worth, is now the fifth largest city in Texas with more than 920,000 residents.

Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Bridges: Gen. William Jenkins Worth fought for Texas, nation
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on Western nations to take more decisive action in seizing frozen Russian assets, as reported in his Sunday Times column on February 25, according to Reuters.

We must be bolder in striking at the Russian military economy... And we must be bolder in confiscating hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets, the British prime minister said.

Read also: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to arrive in Kyiv in surprise visit

Sunak also emphasized that Ukraine continues to need more long-range weapons, drones, ammunition, and other assistance.

Additionally, the Prime Minister of Great Britain called on the United States to continue providing financial and military support to Ukraine.

Read also: UK, Ukraine sign 10-year security deal

We should never underestimate what America has done for Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security. I urge them to continue this support, and I am confident they will do so, Sunak noted.

It was previously reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for transferring frozen Russian assets abroad to Ukraine, amounting to about $300 billion.

The U.S. Senate Committee approved a bill to help confiscate Russian assets and transfer them to Ukraine for infrastructure restoration on Jan. 24.

The EU Council approved a resolution allowing the use of proceeds from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine on Feb. 12, 2024. This decision enables the Council to adopt a decision on a possible financial contribution to the EU budget, collected from this net income, to support Ukraine and its reconstruction at a later stage.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The holidaymaker passed away before the plane, which was operated by Chilean airline LATAM, landed (Getty Images)

A man believed to be a British tourist has died while on a flight to Chile with his wife.

The 59-year-old and his partner were travelling from the Falkland Islands to the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas on Saturday when the tragedy unfolded.

The holidaymaker passed away before the plane, which was operated by Chilean airline LATAM, landed.

He and his wife had been set to take a second flight to the countrys capital Santiago de Chile.

Chilean police from a homicide unit met the aircraft when it arrived at Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport.

Diego Diaz, Deputy Commissioner of the specialist unit based in Punta Arenas, told local press: "On Saturday, on the instructions of local prosecutors, detectives from the Punta Arenas Homicide Brigade went to Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport after a British tourist aged 59 died inside a plane while it was travelling from the Falkland Islands to Punta Arenas before his connecting flight to Santiago."

Confirming officers had discovered nothing to suggest his death had been the result of a crime, Diaz added: "The man's wife was interviewed and said he had several underlying health issues."

A post-mortem due to take place on Sunday or Monday is expected to confirm he died of natural causes.

The whereabouts of the unnamed man's wife on Sunday was not immediately clear.

It comes after a passenger died on board a Jet2 plane last month, forcing the flight to divert.

The man was said to have been found dead inside the toilet on 2 January after fellow travellers noticed the door had been locked for a while and alerted staff.

The flight, which was supposed to be travelling from Tenerife to Manchester, was forced to land in Cork in Ireland instead.

One passenger told the Mirror all those on board were very upset by the devastating incident.
Kate McCann says she woke up at 4am in her bathroom with no idea how she got there - TS/GoffPhotos.com

Kate McCann, the political journalist and broadcaster, has revealed she had her drink spiked during a night out with friends and woke up on her bathroom floor hours later.

The 35-year-old political editor of Times Radio said she was targeted in a London bar by a group of men so brazen they did not care who saw them do it.

Miss McCann said she had drunk a small amount when a colleague warned her that someone had tampered with the glass.

She told Times Radio: Even though Id only had a sip, it became clear about 20 minutes or so later that I started to feel quite strange.

I felt very hot, just didnt feel right. I went to the loo and I couldnt focus. I couldnt sit straight, I couldnt stand straight and I couldnt really see.

Miss McCann explained she managed to get a cab home but said she did not remember the journey.

She said: I suspect I wasnt awake for it. And I dont remember getting into the house. I woke up at 4 oclock in the morning on the floor in my bathroom.

She went on: Its a totally different and really horrid feeling which you know isnt just alcohol. Like being out of your body.

Latest spiking figures

Details of the incident emerged as figures from the National Police Chiefs Council revealed that there were 6,732 spiking incidents reported to forces in the year to May 2023.

But it is thought police figures are an underestimate with a 2022 YouGov poll reporting that 10 per cent of women and five per cent of men believed they had been victims of spiking.

Laura Farris, the minister for victims and safeguarding, also described the reported figures as the tip of the iceberg.

She said: Spiking is now part of an MPs weekly casework. People, often the parents of victims, increasingly write to say this is an issue. It happens often.

We need to make sure the person isnt just seen as somebody whos got too drunk and is deposited onto the street, but as somebody who has been a victim of crime.

While some cases involve drugs such as gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) and sedatives such as ketamine and benzodiazepine, most incidents involve spiking with alcohol, which makes it harder to detect afterwards.

In December, the Government announced that it would amend the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 to include a reference to spiking, but Labour has pledged to introduce a standalone offence if elected.

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BROWN DEER, Wis. - A Milwaukee man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a 2022 Brown Deer shooting.

Donta Davis, 47, was found guilty at trial in December 2023 of first-degree reckless injury and possession of a firearm by a felon.

In addition to prison time, court records show Davis was sentenced to 10 years of extended supervision.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

Case details

Brown Deer police officers were called to the shooting near Brown Deer and Green Bay roads about midday on Nov. 8, 2022. At the scene, prosecutors said officers found a 50-year-old man who had a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

While at the hospital, officers spoke with the shooting victim. A criminal complaint states he said he was riding his motorcycle and was stopped at a red light on Green Bay Road at Schroeder Drive  just north of Brown Deer Road  when a tow truck driver began honking at him.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android

The shooting victim told police he and the tow truck driver exchanged words, according to the complaint. When the light turned green, the shooting victim continued down Green Bay Road until reaching Brown Deer Road. The tow truck driver followed.

The complaint states, at Green Bay and Brown Deer roads, the tow truck driver  later identified Davis  got out of his tow truck and approached the man on the motorcycle. He pushed the motorcyclist and then punched him, prosecutors said, before stepping back and shooting the victim "through the stomach" from about four feet away.

Brown Deer Police Department

The victim took photos of the tow truck as it drove away, per the complaint, that included a license number.

At the scene of the shooting, officers spotted a bullet fragment near where the motorcyclist was seated after the shooting. The complaint states officers also found a spent Winchester brand 9mm bullet casing nearby.

The tow truck was later found and stopped near 50th and Wabash in Brown Deer. Prosecutors said police found two people in the truck  Davis and his 6-year-old son. In the center console, the complaint states officers found a gun loaded with Winchester 9mm cartridges.
Jeryne Peterson, mayor of Buckeye Lake, faces a recall election on Tuesday, when village voters will decide whether to remove her from office.

BUCKEYE LAKE  Recent mayors of Buckeye Lake did not return for a second term in office. Most didnt even try. Voters chose five different mayors in the last five elections.

Jeryne Peterson, the current mayor elected in a five-way race in 2021, may not even finish one term.

Buckeye Lake voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide if Peterson should be removed from office. Recall petition organizers collected 265 signatures from Buckeye Lake residents. The mayor received 133 votes, or 30% of the total, in the last election.

Voting in the recall election will be from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hebron New Life Church, 925 W. Main St., Hebron. Early voting ended Friday.

Licking County Board of Elections Director Brian Mead reported late Friday that 88 people voted early in the recall election: 54 at the Board of Elections office and 34 by mail.

Peterson endured a chaotic year in 2023, with complaints and resignations from village employees, unanimous censure and no-confidence votes from village council, a fight with the village solicitor and a lawsuit alleging discrimination, filed by a local hotel against the village, mayor and police officials.

Employees and council members have described a mayor who avoids communication, exhibits unprofessional and unpredictable behavior, makes rash decisions and is prone to take retaliatory actions against those who question her choices.

Village Council President Linda Goodman, who would become mayor if Peterson is removed, said she expects about 300 voters will cast ballots. She said most residents have a strong opinion one way or the other. She said the village is divided on many issues.

Its a nice place to live, Goodman said. Its a small village going through some growing pains. Theres the old way of thinking and new development and the new way of thinking. Theres people who want no change and those who embrace change.

A campaign to recall Mayor Jeryne Peterson

Adam James, a recall petition circulator, said some residents said they would vote to recall the mayor but declined to sign the petition because they feared Peterson would retaliate against them.

Buckeye Lake resident Shelly Myers told the mayor at a recent village council meeting, Maybe the council and yourself would get along better if you stopped acting in your best interest and acted by your campaign rhetoric  use good sense and morals.

Theres a reason 200-plus residents signed a petition to remove you. You have let your pride cloud your vision for far too long.

The mayor sought to stop the recall election, but the Ohio Supreme Court denied her request Wednesday. Peterson alleged that petition organizers missed the filing deadline and that the village council clerk did not certify the signatures.

The village will bear the cost of the election, but Goodman said council could not ignore a citizen-initiated effort to change its leader.

Mark Ochsenbein, a Buckeye Lake resident, said he doesnt have a strong opinion about the mayor but opposes the spending on the recall.

I think that our council has wasted a ton of money, Ochsenbein said. Why are they spending our money on something like this? The village can barely get its streets clean, and theyre spending money on a special election.

We are not a wealthy village. The battle is between council and the mayor. I look at it as a control issue in a very, very small village with a very, very small budget.

Ochsenbein said he does not believe the recall effort is a citizen-initiated petition.

They can say that, but they are connected with council, Ochsenbein said.

The mayor wrote about her campaign to keep her job in a recent email response to The Advocate:

The campaign has been a fantastic experience," Peterson said. "Its always great to interact with my fellow villagers. It has been gratifying and humbling to have received the outpouring of support weve received.Quite frankly, what Im hearing most is that people are annoyed by (the recall). Many have said that they feel that there is a group of people trying to undo the last election. That this is a burdensome, needless expense for the village and distraction from the important issues facing our community.

Mayor has found herself involved in many controversies

A July report by human resources firm Training Marbles, after a village employee complained, cost the village $9,984, but could not be avoided, Goodman said.

"Whenever an employee makes a formal complaint, we are obligated to follow up and investigate," Goodman said.

The report revealed two additional confrontations with employees and said the mayor sometimes asks employees to slide documents under her door so she doesnt have to interact with them.

It is clear from the majority of interviews that employees were uncomfortable speaking to me about the mayor for fear of retaliation, said Julia Baxter, business partner and trainer with Training Marbles.

A week after the censure vote, council unanimously approved a no-confidence vote in the mayor after she tried to fire Solicitor Brad Nicodemus and hire a new solicitor without council approval.

The mayor has tried to fire Nicodemus multiple times. One resulted in confusion over who represented the village in court, minutes before a trial, causing the dismissal of the case and charges dropped against a theft suspect.

More recently, the mayor came under additional fire for communications with a Union Township man suing the village and accused of harassing village employees.

Peterson said she did not encourage or advise the man in his lawsuit against the village and would not speculate on the merits of his case, stemming from a speeding ticket.

Resident alleges Peterson violated campaign finance rules

The mayor may have violated election rules by staging fundraisers and accepting campaign donations without having a campaign committee.

Village resident Casey Clark said she plans to file a complaint Monday with the Ohio Elections Commission.

Peterson has advertised fundraisers at Pizza Cottage and The Mill Dam Corner Grill, stating, "Make checks payable to: Peterson for Mayor."

James said, "All candidates under state law are required to register a committee and a treasurer prior to receiving any campaign donations and contributions."

Peterson said she does have a committee: the same one as when she ran for mayor.

"As with my first race, all financial reports required by the Board of Elections will be timely filed," Peterson said.

Mead, however, alleged that Peterson closed her campaign committee Dec. 6, 2021, after the 2021 campaign.

She should reopen it if she is collecting funds," Mead said. If raising money to influence an election, they should open a campaign committee. If somebody sends us a complaint, we will investigate it, and if it needs to be sent to the Ohio Elections Commission, we will.

Mead said raising funds for a campaign without a committee is a violation but probably not something that will warrant a fine.

Is it a violation of election law, yes, but the election law strives for transparency," Mead said. "I dont think this is a major violation. The main point is to try to get her to be transparent.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-973-4539

Twitter: @kmallett1958

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Buckeye Lake voters to decide political fate of mayor in recall vote
Russias strategic goals for 2024 remain the same as before, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told the Kyiv Independent at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

He said that Russias goal is still to destroy Ukrainian statehood and reach the administrative border of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts to keep what they already have," but that they "have been unable to do (so) by military means."

In 2022-2023, they failed to do so, and in 2024 they will not be able to do so either, Budanov said.

The "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum discussed achieving Ukraines goals in the war, developing its defense and security forces, implementing Ukraines peace formula, ensuring economic growth and integration into world markets, security guarantees, the status of its military-industrial complex, and protecting the lives of Ukrainians.

Addressing concerns that Russia may have Iranian missiles, Budanov told reporters that Moscow currently has none and is unlikely to do so in the future.

He noted that the confidence of Russias leaders has been shaken due to recent attacks on Russian territory. He also expressed the belief that Ukraine will destroy the Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea to Russia.



However, Budanov noted that Russia has adapted to Ukraines current systems and changing tactics. He claimed this can only be overcome by significant volumes of long-range weapons from the West.

When asked if Kyiv has a backup plan if the U.S. fails to deliver the $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, Budanov said Ukraine doesnt need a plan B.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on Feb. 20. that the U.S. can start delivering defense aid to Ukraine "pretty quickly" once Congress passes a foreign aid bill allocating $60 billion to Kyiv.

Delays in U.S. aid have already had an impact on the ground in Ukraine. The loss of Avdiivka, a Donetsk Oblast city that has faced Russian attacks since 2014, was linked to shortages in artillery shells and other supplies provided by the West.

When asked how many Ukrainian soldiers were captured in Avdiivka, Budanov said that the number is small and not thousands or hundreds.

Read also: Kamyshin: Ukraines capabilities for 2024 are 6 times higher than 2023

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Russian-controlled Moldovan region of Transnistria will not appeal to join Russia, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told reporters at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

Concerns arose after the Institute for the Study of War issued a warning on Feb. 22 that Transnistria was possibly planning to organize a referendum on its annexation to Russia at an announced Transnistrian Congress of Deputies planned for Feb. 28.

No one is going to join the Russian Federation on the 28th, Budanov said, adding that there would be no problems for Ukraine which borders Transnistria.

Ukraines military intelligence (HUR) also wrote on its website on Feb. 25 that the rumor shows signs of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region.

Transnistria is internationally recognized as part of Moldova. The region declared independence in 1991 following the 1991 Soviet coup d'etat attempt. A cease-fire agreement between Moldova and Transnistria established a Russian military presence in the region.

There have been heightened tensions between Moldova and Transnistria since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine when there were fears that armed conflict could erupt in Moldova.

Vadim Krasnoselsky, the Russian proxy leader in Transnistria, called for increased military drills and heightened readiness on Jan. 22 in what he claimed was a response to alleged provocations from Moldova.

Kyiv said it would "firmly respond" to any attempts to involve Transnistria in Russia's war against Ukraine and destabilize the situation in Moldova, the Foreign Ministry said on Feb. 20.

Read also: Moldovas security chief says Russia spent $55 million on destabilization campaign

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In the race for the Texas House 87th District Seat, Cindi Bulla wants to stand out for her advocacy for the Texas Panhandle during her time as a real estate broker in her race.

Bulla said she grew up in Plainview as the daughter of a farm equipment salesman but left home at 16 years old to journey out on her own. She has lived in Amarillo since the early 1980s. When she arrived in Amarillo, she worked in the banking industry, which made her familiar with the real estate business, which led to her opening her real estate firm in 2006. Bulla has served as the state chairperson of the Realtors Association in 2020 and as the national vice president in 2023.

She said that she is immensely proud of her advocacy to have real estate designated an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic and her work with former congressperson Mac Thornberry and his work to help local farmers and their water sources.

Cindi Bulla, candidate for Texas House District 87, speaks about her experience at the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum in downtown Amarillo.

With the Texas Legislature in a constant battle over education vouchers over the last four special legislative sessions, Bulla said that she does not support universal school vouchers or a voucher program with no accountability. She said she supports school choice, with a system that allows parents to send their children to their choice of schools in the district.

I have a very critical interest in making sure that we have robust public schools in every geographic region of Texas, including the many rural schools in the Panhandle, Bulla said. I would always push back on someone saying that my taxes should not pay for public schools because I have no children in the school system. Public schools are in the best interest of Texas, period. I can relate to that argument if we are funding private schools. Even a private school students well-being depends on Texas public schools doing an excellent job. The public school system touches every piece of Texas.

More: Beyea running for District 87 House seat to speak for education, rural issues

She said that while she sees issues in the public schools, labeling all public schools as indoctrination centers is wrong, and issues should be addressed at the Texas Education Association.

Teaching students to critically think about everything they do as they learn all the basics of history, math, science and language objectively is so essential for our states future, Bulla said. Our public school system is the backbone of our states education; when Texans see something broken, they fix it rather than abandon it. Local control and oversight are important.

Bulla says that while she is a conservative Christian, she does not agree with state tax dollars funding religious private schools.

Our founders established some separation between the church and state; this wasn't to protect the state but the church, she said. I am not opposed to children and teachers respecting their own religious beliefs in these public spaces, but writing public tax dollar checks to private institutions is a slope that is dangerous to all religions. I see this as a threat to all who practice their own religion. Public tax dollars should not be supporting the private religious schools.

Her top priority in representing the district is to advocate for better control of the border and the influx of migrants coming into the state illegally.

More: House District 86, 87 candidates discuss border, education at candidates forum

This is a threat to our health care, public school, private nonprofits and to our personal safety, Bulla said. It is egregious what has happened at the border, and we need to be able to control access to our borders. Texas taxpayers have been on the hook for millions to billions of dollars trying to do their part to secure the border. Closing the border and immigration reform have been conflated with both issues that need to be addressed, but they are not one in the same. Too often, we have seen our legislature tie one issue to another, which hurts the solution to another.

She said that this was the case with the Texas Legislature fighting on school vouchers with school funding being held up by this issue.

This is why I am running; we have to be more transparent and honest with the taxpayer, she said. We have to trust them to understand the nuances of these legislative battles. A voucher disagreement should not be construed as one is working against the governor.

Bulla said she faced pushback because her organization supported one Democrat who supported an agenda that was good for all Texans. She said the support was about furthering a conservative proposal not supported by a specific political party. Emphasizing that her organization has staunchly supported conservatives during her time, Bulla said this is being used as a dishonest attack.

The top issue facing the Texas Panhandle for Bulla is making sure there is a preservation of the water table that is greatly needed by the farmers, ranchers, industry and cities for their lifeline.

We have short-term issues that we are trying to address very responsibly by trying to preserve our water table, she said. We have local control water districts, where we can at a local level self-impose preservation standards to sustain our water supply. In the long range, we have great scientific developments that can make desalination practicable and affordable to increase the available water further. We have an abundance of briny water that could sustain the water need for the area.

Bulla said that while we are not there, scientific development is moving rapidly and must be encouraged to provide food, fuel and fiber to the state and nation.

There is a small window where the aquifer may not sustain us until desalination is available, so it's in the state's best interest to do what they can to fill that gap and bring this technology as soon as possible, Bulla said. Our water is so important to our economy, and we must make the best use of our resources.

Citing her personal expertise based on her lifetime of experience, Bulla emphasized that she has a history of advocating local state and national positions that affect real estate and other businesses in the region.

I have worked with all groups to find a common interest to bring parties together to achieve positive results on public policy, she said. If you look up broker, it means someone that brings disparate interests together. So, a tremendous amount of my expertise has been in finding ways to unite groups. We have so many industries in the area, and we need someone who can have these difficult conversations to do what is best for all of us."

When asked if she was concerned about all the endorsements and money that her opponent, Caroline Fairly, has received from politicians that her father has given money to or endorsed, Bulla said that it would be prudent for those who endorsed to state their reasoning for voters to have a better understanding of those endorsements. "I urge people to vote in their best interests, she said.

People have seen my work ethic and my work in action. We do not need someone with no experience representing a region that is so important to the state, she said. "I have been working for over 15 years on policy and for the area to prepare me for this moment. The future of our district is so important that we need someone who knows the region and will serve its interests best.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Cindi Bulla cites her experience, expertise in District 87 race
Tommy Lee - the 61-year-old drummer and keyboardist of the heavy metal band Motley Crue - recently revealed that he underwent hand surgery for carpal tunnel and Dupuytren's contracture on his hand.

He shared an Instagram post of the procedure and condition of his affected hand before, during, and after the surgery.

"Well kids, it's show n' tell time ...[I] hope this doesn't wreck your lunch," the caption read. "[O]nly 3 weeks ago, I underwent a hand surgery by @drcohenhandsurgeon."

Lee's doctor told him about the two "debilitating issues" that he had on his right hand.

Read Also: K-Pop Composer Lee Ho-yang Found Dead

He also told fans and drummers that the condition can be sorted if detected early.

"I can have my life back and my money makers," he added. "And for you drummers and musicians out there, I can say it's possible to fix!"

The final clip of his Instagram post featured him twirling his drumsticks to indicate that he has since recovered.

Motley Crue's next show is scheduled for May 24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The band is also on the lineups of several music festivals this summer, including Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Related Article: Amy Schumer Opens Up About Cushing Syndrome Diagnosis, Explains Her 'Puffier' Face
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) defended former President Trump on Sunday against allegations of racism after Trump said Black voters are more likely to back him because of his criminal indictments.

Trump said Friday during an event in South Carolina that Black voters are more likely to support him after his criminal indictments because they too have been hurt so badly and discriminated against. The NAACP, Black leaders and the Biden campaign have called the comments racist.

Donalds told Kristen Welker on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that the point is only part of what the former president was saying.

This is political persecution from the Department of Justice and from radical [district attorneys] throughout our country, he said of the former presidents four criminal indictments, despite their not being evidence Trump is being targeted for purely political reasons. This is something similar that Black people have to deal with [in] the justice system themselves.

The congressman, who is Black, shot back at the Biden campaign for calling out Trumps comments as racist, saying that the campaign is trying to play politics.

He also brushed off the context of the comments themselves, saying Trump was really just enjoying himself on the eve of his South Carolina primary victory.

Trumps four criminal indictments resulted in a total of 91 charges against the former president. The charges include allegations that Trump mishandled classified information after leaving office, attempted to cover up a hush money payment made to a porn star and illegally attempted to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state of Georgia and on the federal level.

Trump is expected to have his first criminal trial in the hush money case on March 25. He has also been found liable of defamation and fraud in two civil cases out of New York, which resulted in millions of dollars of penalties.

Donalds, a major Trump surrogate, is believed to be among the finalists to be Trumps vice presidential candidate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said Sunday he would not vote for government funding if the border is not secured.

Donalds pushed back on NBCs Kristen Welker over questions on whether he was willing to shut down the government over border security. When asked if he was willing to shut down the government, he instead pivoted to claiming President Biden is willing to shut [it] down over border security, despite Biden never indicating he was willing to have the government shut down when funding runs out.

Welker continued to press Donalds on the topic, but the Florida Republican maintained that he is willing to support funding the government as long as the border is secure.

Im willing to fund the government as long as our border is secure. The first job of the government is to secure the border. Any business that provides a service, if they dont give you the service, do you give them money? he said. The answer is no. Kristen, you dont even do that.

The government has a responsibility. Our cities are overrun. Our schools are overrun. Our shelters are overrun. And Joe Biden allows the disaster to continue, he added.

When asked if he would vote to shut down the government if he did not see a border security plan in the package, Donalds said he will not be voting for any funding if the border is not secured.

Congress is slated to return to Washington this week ahead of a couple of crucial funding deadlines. They have until March 1 to fund a handful of agencies and until March 8 for the rest as they scramble to reach a deal on government spending.

The Senate had unveiled a bipartisan border security deal earlier this month that included funding for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declared it dead on arrival.

Donalds had criticized the discussions surrounding a bipartisan deal on the border last month and appeared to call for stricter provisions on the border.

This is why we dont listen to the Senate Republicans, Donalds said in an interview with Fox News at the time. What they did in the Senate is once again some ham-handed deal that would help the Democrats save face [and] give Republican leadership an ability to say that they did something.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Cal Poly student died Friday night after suffering an apparent brain aneurysm shortly after having dinner with her family, the university announced in a news release on Saturday.

Sofia Padoan, a third-year nutrition major from Walnut Creek, had returned to her residence after the meal when she collapsed, according to the release.

She was rushed to the hospital emergency room, where she died.

Padoan was the president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and a member of the Italian Cultural Association, Spanish Club and Nutrition Club. She was also pursuing a minor in Italian.

The university is in touch with Sofias family, and our hearts go out to them and Sofias friends as they grieve their loss, President Jeffrey Armstrong and Vice President for Student Affairs Keith B. Humphrey said in the universitys announcement.

They reminded students and faculty that counselors are available for anyone who needs them.

Students can reach out to Counseling Services (Building 27) by calling 805-756-2511 or call the Crisis Line at 805-756-2511.

Assistance and support services are also available by contacting the Dean of Students Office at 805-756-0327 or deanofstudents@calpoly.edu.

It is never easy to share news like this, and we know that processing this loss can be difficult for members of our community, the university added. Please know that we care about your well-being and strongly encourage you to utilize the resources below if you need additional support.
Is it $38 billion or $73 billion? Just how much of a budget gap does California actually have?

The Legislative Analysts Office last week threw yet another wrench into Gov. Gavin Newsoms push for a rosier fiscal picture when it updated its projected budget deficit to $73 billion, based on weak revenue collections.

This is the latest in a series of dueling budget estimates the governors administration and the LAO have put forward since December.

The LAO in late 2023 projected the state would see a $68 billion spending shortfall. Newsom and his Department of Finance in January suggested it was closer to $38 billion. An LAO analysis of the governors budget said the administration had actually filled a potential gap of $58 billion, meaning the two estimates were about $10 billion apart.

Then, on Tuesday, the LAO issued the $73 billion projection.

That is not entirely strange  the Department of Finance and the LAO have previously had different takes on the budget. The LAO in late 2022 also estimated a slightly larger spending gap than the governors administration eventually projected in January 2023.

What has been different is Newsoms insistence that it was wrong for journalists and observers to take the LAOs bigger estimate as gospel, setting up a continuing comparison between the two.

We have a difference of opinion in the short run, versus the long run, Newsom said in January, adding, We just are a little less pessimistic than they are about next year.

So where does a budget gap thats $15 billion bigger leave California leaders? Newsom will not release his revised spending plan until May. But H.D. Palmer, a Department of Finance spokesman, on Tuesday renewed the governors January push for the Legislature to adjust the previous budget before the deadline to pass a new one in June.

Heres what all this means for the next few months of budget negotiations.

LAO vs. Newsom

One of the biggest differences between Newsoms projections and LAOs estimates is whether $15 billion in proposed cuts to school and community college funding is an automatic change or a policy choice that doesnt necessarily have to be made.

Newsoms office considers that spending reduction to be baseline, while the LAO considers it a policy choice for lawmakers and the governor to make while crafting the 2024-25 budget.

We take this approach in order to provide the Legislature visibility into the full scope of the administrations choices, the LAO said in its Jan. 13 overview of the governors proposed budget.

Palmer emphasized the state still has some revenue runway left.

From now through April, more than $51 billion in income and corporate tax receipts are forecast to come in, Palmer said in a statement on Tuesday. No one can say today with certainty how those numbers may change the budget estimate of a $38 billion shortfall.

Chris Hoene, executive director of the California Budget and Policy Center, said leaders will possibly need to plan for more belt-tightening, based on current conditions.

I think the challenge for them from a governance perspective is that I think many people had hoped that Januarys projections would actually improve by May because 2023 was, relatively speaking, a good year for the stock market, he said. And right now, this early this year, the arrows are pointing in the other direction, which means they potentially have a bigger budget problem to solve than they thought even a month ago.

Possible spending solutions

Palmer said the Legislature should move on early action budget measures needed for $8 billion in solutions to help close this gap.

That means Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, would need to open up the 2023-24 budget and make adjustments to the existing plan.

Conversations about early action are already underway, said Cynthia Moreno, a Rivas spokeswoman, in a statement. The speaker is very concerned about the deficit and does not want short-term fixes for long-term problems.

The Legislature will likely take at least some of this action during the next month. Thats because one of the solutions would involve increasing the managed care organization tax by $1.5 billion to help fund a Medi-Cal expansion for undocumented immigrants. The federal government must authorize increases to the MCO tax, which health insurers pay.

First, the Legislature needs to approve the increase, which has to go to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by April 1, Palmer said. Lawmakers leave for spring recess on March 21, so they will probably vote on the proposal before they head out of town, he said.

Assembly Budget Committee Chair Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, said lawmakers are doing the hard work of considering all of the different alternatives and solutions we have.

When asked whether the LAOs update changes anything, he said, not in a profound way.

Weve understood that this is a moment of uncertainty from the beginning and that things could change quickly, Gabriel said. And thats something weve been prepared for.

As for the LAO, the group identified several one-time or temporary spending cuts that could be made to address the budget shortfall from fiscal year 2023-24 through 2025-26.

That includes $542 million from the health and home care workforce package from the Department of Health Care Access and Information; $1.9 billion in the states share of school construction projects; $1.3 billion in the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program; $1.2 billion in broadband infrastructure; $1 billion in the Clean Energy Reliability Investment Plan; and $1.7 billion in transit and rail funding.

Although Newsom has been staunchly opposed to raising taxes, Hoene suggested it may be time to consider some revenue solutions to prevent cutting services to the bone.

Its not unprecedented to do so, he said. In prior recessions, state leaders have temporarily suspended tax breaks, kind of imposed tax changes that produce revenues on a temporary basis to help get through these periods.
State Sen. Susan Rubio has a powerful position in Sacramento. As chair of the Insurance Committee, the Baldwin Park Democrat can help pass or kill any legislation affecting that industry.

Due to a law meant to prevent corruption, Rubio can't accept campaign donations from insurance lobbyists  or any other lobbyists  as she raises money for her 2026 reelection to the Legislature. State law forbids California lobbyists from donating to the campaigns of state lawmakers.

But there are no such restrictions on lobbyists donating to campaigns for federal office, even when the candidate is a state lawmaker. So as Rubio runs for Congress this year, she can take donations for her federal campaign from lobbyists who may seek to influence her votes in Sacramento.

And she is.

Rubio has received nearly $43,300 in contributions from registered state lobbyists in her campaign to replace retiring Rep. Grace F. Napolitano in Californias 31st Congressional District. It's a sliver of her overall fundraising as of Feb. 14, but the most lobbyist money of any California lawmaker who is running for federal office. Many of those who donated to Rubio's congressional campaign represent companies that lobby bills that are heard before committees she sits on as a state legislator, including the Insurance Committee and those that oversee policy related to healthcare, alcohol regulations as well as energy and utilities.

Eight state legislators are running for Congress this year. Six have received lobbyist donations, in amounts that vary widely, adding up to $96,090.

The donations are legal and make up a small portion of the candidates' overall fundraising. Still, some watchdogs say they should be prohibited because of the risk that lobbyists' money could shape lawmakers' decisions in the work they are doing at the state level.

It doesnt mean theyll vote in their favor, but the possibility that could happen exists, said Sean McMorris, a program manager at the government watchdog group Common Cause.

His organization was part of the coalition that 50 years ago introduced California's Political Reform Act, the law that bans lobbyist donations to state lawmakers.

Bob Stern, co-author of the law, said the state prohibition was put in place because legislators were receiving huge amounts from people who were lobbying them, and we thought there should be a disconnect between lobbying and campaign contributions.

In practice, Stern said, the prohibitions effects were limited, since the companies hiring lobbyists could still give directly to candidates, as can affiliated political action committees. But there was symbolism to the separation, he said.

Rubio's campaign manager, Giovanni Ruiz, said that all contributions she had received from individuals were "solely based on mutually respectful relationships," and that she has opposed issues that donors lobbied for in the past.

Ruiz also noted that Rubio was being massively outspent by her opponent Gil Cisneros, who has put $4 million of his own money into his campaign.

Read more: Your guide to Californias Congressional District 31 race: San Gabriel Valley

Silicon Valley congressional candidate Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) received $21,650 from lobbyists, making up 2% of his fundraising. He joined the late-breaking race to replace retiring Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Menlo Park)



in early December, just months before the March primary.

State Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine), who is running to replace Rep. Katie Porter in an Orange County seat, received about $16,500 in lobbyist donations, accounting for 1% of total fundraising since he launched his campaign at the beginning of 2023 .

Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), who is vying to replace Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), received $4,000, and her opponent state Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) received $6,500 from lobbyists. Those totals account for less than 1% of each of their fundraising.

Portantino and Friedman have both been running for the Los Angeles-area



congressional seat for more than a year.

Central Valley congressional candidate state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) received about $4,000 from lobbyists  a sum that accounted for 6.1% of her fundraising since she launched her campaign in August 2023.

Hurtado told The Times that lawmakers should be able to receive those donations but acknowledged that "money has the ability to corrupt people, its plain and simple."

Since August, Hurtado has raised less than $100,000; she said she is in debt from putting her own money into the race. The only money she doesn't accept is from the cannabis industry, she told The Times.

Friedman went further, saying she sees the potential issues and would support a law that prevents federal campaigns from accepting money from state lobbyists.

Read more: Your guide to California's Congressional District 30 race: The battle for Schiff's seat

Friedman noted that her campaign was turning down all corporate PAC money and described that as a far more salient issue in races such as hers. She characterized the lobbyist contributions she and her colleagues had received as small compared with the "avalanche of money out there from clients of the lobbyists.

Portantino, Low and Min did not respond to requests for comment.

Two state legislators running for Congress have not received any lobbyist donations: Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), who is also running for Napolitanos San Gabriel Valley seat and launched his campaign last summer , and Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), who is running for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthys vacant Bakersfield seat. Fong launched his campaign in December.

Because of the limited disclosures required by the state, lobbyists are not required to publicly report which lawmakers they have attempted to influence on various bills, making it difficult to draw direct lines between their lobbying efforts and their donations. But campaign finance and lobbying records show that several of the candidates have received donations from lobbyists who work with companies seeking to influence policy in the areas in which they have power, based on committee positions.

Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) is one of several state lawmakers running for Congress. (Robert Gourley / Los Angeles Times)

Sacramento lobbyist Mandy Lee gave $3,300, the maximum allowable donation, to Rubio. Her firm represents the American Property Casualty Insurance Assn., a major trade group for home, auto and business insurers. The association lobbied on bills heard in the Rubio-chaired Senate Insurance Committee. Lee also donated $500 to Min.

Rubio's spokesperson noted that the senator's relationship with Lee long predated her election to the Legislature.

Rubio also received $2,000 from lobbyist Paul Gladfelty, whose firm represents the Travelers insurance company.

"It is not uncommon for state lobbyists to make personal contributions to congressional candidates we know and believe in, which state law allows. Prior to the Senator running for Legislative office, I had the opportunity to establish a personal friendship," Gladfelty said by text message, adding that his friendship with Rubio "exists regardless of her committee assignments."

Read more: California is losing clout in the U.S. Capitol

Lobbyists Soyla Fernandez and Kirk Kimmelshue, owners of Fernandez Jensen Kimmelshue Government Affairs, both donated to the campaigns of Min and Rubio. Their firms client list includes the Regional Water Authority and Northern California Water Assn., which both lobbied on bills that were heard in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water that Min chairs.

Their firm also represents Southern California Edison, which routinely lobbies on bills in the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee that Min and Rubio both sit on; the Anheuser-Busch beer company, which lobbies the committee that regulates alcohol, of which Rubio is a member; and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which lobbies the health committee that Rubio sits on.

Lobbyist RJ Cervantes, whose clients include trade associations for cryptocurrency and electronic payment companies, gave $3,300 to Low, who serves as co-chair of the Legislative Technology & Innovation Caucus, a group of lawmakers who want to foster a tech-friendly climate in California.

Cervantes, Kimmelshue, Fernandez and Lee did not respond to requests for comment.

Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Law School and former president of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission, sees the situation as less clear-cut than Common Cause's McMorris does. She said she doesn't think it is unethical for state lawmakers to accept lobbyist donations to their congressional campaigns, since there is a very real opening in the law that allows them.

Its up to the voters to determine if this is something that bothers them, Levinson said. My guess is that for most voters, its pretty far down on the list.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The mother of the 10-year-old boy who was arrested for public urination is suing the city of Senatobia, Mississippi, and the officers who were involved in the distressing incident, their attorney announced on Wednesday.

On behalf of her son Quantavious, Latonya Eason filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi on Wednesday, Feb. 21. The filing lays out the events that led Easons child to be put behind bars last August.

While she was running errands at a local office building, Quantavious told his sister that he had to use the bathroom and could not wait. He noticed a sign indicating no public restrooms, so he urinated in the parking lot.

Attorney Carlos Moore (left) is representing Latonya Eason (right) in her case against the city of Senatobia, Mississippi, after her 10-year-old son Quantavious Eason (center) was arrested for public urination last August. (Photo: X/@Esquiremoore)

Without his mothers permission, he decided to discreetly relieve himself by opening his mothers car door and using the restroom behind the door so as to not expose himself, the familys attorneys say in their filing to the court.

According to the complaint, a Senatobia Police officer saw what he was doing, notified Eason, and reprimanded them but let them go. However, shortly after, former Sentatobia police officer Zachary Jenkins arrived with four colleagues at the scene. Jenkins  who is listed as a defendant in the document  notified Eason that Quantavious would be taken into custody.

Quantavious was placed in the back of a patrol car, transported to jail, and charged with being a child in need of services, per the filing. He was held for about an hour inside a cell. Eason and her son are represented by attorney Carlos Moore, who has been vocal about the treatment of his client, saying that he would not have been arrested if he was white.

This lawsuit is not merely a pursuit of justice for Q.E. and the Eason family; it is a call for accountability and systemic change within law enforcement practices, Moore said in a statement. We firmly believe that every individual, regardless of age, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect by those sworn to protect and serve.

In December, Eason declined to sign her sons three-month probation agreement, which required him to do check-ins and complete a two-page assignment. The case against Quantavious, which made national headlines, was dismissed earlier this month.

The incident has left Quantavious with physical and emotional trauma, including suffering from PTSD and shock, the family says. Moore said he hopes the lawsuit will lead to a reexamination of the training and policies at the police department.

By holding the City of Senatobia, Chief Richard Chandler, Officer Zachary Jenkins, and others accountable for their actions, we aim to send a clear message that such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, Moore added. It is our firm belief that law enforcement agencies must prioritize the protection of citizens rights and well-being, especially when dealing with vulnerable populations such as children.

A Call for Accountability: Mother of Mississippi 10-Year-Old Who Was Arrested for Public Urination Files Lawsuit Against City, Officers
Guest Opinion. Cherokees are one people, and all Cherokee Nation citizens deserve equal treatment under our laws and the laws of the United States. That firm commitment to equality is clear in the Cherokee Nation Constitution, our tribal statutes, and the Executive Order on Equality that I first put forward in 2020 and expanded this year. All of these are firmly rooted in Cherokee values.

As a tribal nation, we have made great strides in fully including our citizens of Freedmen descent. In doing so, we are living up to our ideals as a nation and our treaty commitments to the United States. Since the McGirt decision finally recognized tribal and federal jurisdiction, Cherokee Nation has been empowered to enforce our laws and protect citizens across our reservation.

Unfortunately, federal law continues to deny equal rights to all Cherokees. The Major Crimes Act of 1885 has been interpreted in a way that discriminates against our Freedmen citizens, requiring them to have Indian blood to access federal courts. That interpretation goes against our values and ignores the principle that tribal sovereignty is based on citizenship, not race.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

Thats why Cherokee Nation is seeking amendments to the outdated Major Crimes Act. We are calling on Congress and the courts to undo the historical injustices faced by our Freedmen citizens in the federal justice system.

It is unacceptable that Cherokees of Freedmen descent can be dragged into state court, with their status as Cherokee Nation citizens completely disregarded. In the 21st century, we should have moved beyond the discredited notion of "separate but equal." Since the historic 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, we have known that "separate but equal" is inherently unequal. We believe in a Cherokee Nation as our ancestors envisioned, where every citizen is truly treated equally.

Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

To be clear, Cherokee Nation law and jurisdiction, including criminal law, applies equally to all citizens, including those of Freedmen decent. But federal law and jurisdiction has a unique role in Indian Country law and justice. And, state law and jurisdiction is excluded. Yet, the federal government excludes Cherokee citizens of Freedmen descendant from that unique aspect of federal law. It is unacceptable.

Cherokee Nation and the U.S. government are also bound by the 1866 Treaty, which granted Freedmen "all the rights of native Cherokees." Federal court rulings in 2017 and decisions by the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court have affirmed that Freedmen descendants are full Cherokee citizens under the law.

Our exercise of tribal sovereignty is rooted in recognizing all those who descend from the Cherokee portion of the Dawes rolls, including Freedmen descendants, as full tribal citizens. It is not just about legalities; it is about upholding the wishes of our ancestors and ensuring that every citizen, regardless of their background, enjoys equal protections in voting, running for office and services laid out in the Cherokee Nation Constitution.

We will not rest until the United States catches up with the spirit of equality and justice that defines the Cherokee Nation. We stand united against injustice, advocating for the fulfillment of promises made by our ancestors.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
In the latest violence to rock a college campus, an 18-year-old student was found dead in his dorm room at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, and a 21-year-old student was arrested on suspicion of murder after being found hiding in a barn.

The victim was identified as Josiah Malachi Kilman, a freshman wrestler from Montana; no cause of death was immediately provided.

Joe and Jessica Kilman received the news this morning that their beloved son Josiah has left this earthly world and has gone to be with the Lord our Father in Heaven, a family friend said in a GoFundMe.

There are no words strong enough to mend the broken hearts of this family right now. We are all truly in shock at the abrupt and unexpected loss of Josiah and we are asking for an abundance of prayers for them as they grapple with this devastating tragedy.

Based on surveillance video, officials obtained a warrant for Charles Escalera while the campus of the Christian schoolwhich has 12,000 studentswas placed on lockdown.

Escalera was reportedly nabbed after a local farmer called police to report a suspicious person in his barn.

We have lost a student and our hearts are broken, Campbellsville President Joseph Hopkins said in a statement. John D. Bertram, the county attorney for Taylor County, told The New York Times that he was not aware of any history between Kilman and Escalera, although the latter reportedly wrestled for the school in 2021 and 2022.

Kilmans family was heading to Kentucky to pick up their sons body.

As the family prepares for the next steps in this process we ask that you find it in your hearts to help our family raise some funds to aid with the financial burdens of losing such a beautiful young man, the GoFundMe organizer wrote.

The cost of transporting Josiah from Kentucky back to his home state of Montana alone will be over $10,000. That doesnt include the burial expenses and travel expenses to pick up their sons belongings from the college dorm.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Volodymyr Zelensky, centre, is joined in Kyiv by, left to right, Justin Trudeau, Georgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen and Alexander De Croo (Reuters)

Volodymyr Zelensky has promised victory and vowed that Russia cannot break our dreams as world leaders gathered in Kyiv on Saturday for the second anniversary of Moscows invasion.

Speaking from the destroyed remains of Hostomel airport, the site of one of the first battles near the capital, the Ukrainian president promised that the war would end in victory for his country.

Accompanying him on the airfield were Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, as well as the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Each leader pledged unending support for Ukraines battle against Russia, which Mr Trudeau said was not just a fight for Ukraines freedom and sovereignty but our democracy.

Mr Zelensky said: Any normal person wants this war to end but none of us will allow our Ukraine to end. Thats why when it comes to ending the war we always add on our terms.

We fight for this. And we will prevail. You can burn the plane but you cannot destroy the dream, he added in front of the scorched carcasses of aircraft.

Speaking to The Independent, Andriy Yermak, the head of Mr Zelenskys office and his right-hand man, urged the world to help Ukraine in this mission.

Please give us the weapons, the ammunition we need, he said in an impassioned plea. You were with us from the beginning, you helped us to stay put and defend.

Now it is time to help us win this for all.

President Zelensky meets military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov at Hostomel on Saturday (Reuters)

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven leading economies, announced that the G7 will meet virtually on Saturday with Mr Zelensky and would adopt a joint statement on Ukraine.

On the tarmac of Hostomel, Ms Meloni vowed her countrys support, saying here the Ukrainians defended what they love and in so doing they also defended us. Ms Von der Leyen reassured Kyiv that Europe will continue to stand by their side for as long as it takes.

With more financial support, more ammunition, more training for your troops, more air defences and more investments, she added.

Two years ago the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion, sparking the bloodiest war in Europe in generations. After a string of stunning wins, in recent months Ukraine has struggled to hold a punishing 1000km (620 miles) frontline amid crippling shortages of ammunition and a lack of air power.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed, Russia still controls roughly a quarter of the country and nearly 10 million Ukrainians are displaced. Many also live in occupied territory waiting for liberation or for their loved ones, who are being held captive by Russia, to return home.

In the centre of the Ukrainian capital on Saturday a thousand people, families of prisoners of war, gathered demanding the immediate return of their loved ones.

Just last week Kyiv announced that it was forced to withdraw from the eastern town of Avdiivka, where Ukrainian forces had been locked in a gruelling battle with Russian soldiers for over four months.

Angry and exhausted, soldiers told The Independent they blamed the retreat on superior Russian air power and a rationing of artillery which saw Russian forces fire five times as many shells at them each day. Commanders said in the final days Russia carpet bombed Avdiivka with as many as 500 aerial munitions while they had nothing to fire back with.

Protests in Sophia Square in Kyiv by families of prisoners held by Russia (Bel Trew)

Part of the problem has been a comparatively sluggish response from Europe, which has struggled to source enough weapons and ammunition to send to Kyiv. Complicating matters are domestic squabbles in US congress over a $60bn military package. The stalling of the aid has sparked concerns of growing US isolationism in the lead up to US presidential elections in November. In Kyiv, several British politicians, including former prime minister Boris Johnson and cross-party delegations of MPs visited the capital for the anniversary. They said it was time for a paradigm shift and Europe to step up to defend ourselves.

Mr Johnson, who had a brief meeting with ally and friend Mr Zelensky, said the UK and its allies need to do more and faster.

He warned Russia and the worlds autocracies are ganging up and it was time for the democracies to defend themselves.

He told The Independent: One of the things we should consider is whether its time for Nato to give a percentage of our allocated budget for Ukraines defence.

I believe now is the time.

Its time for the democracies of the world to defend themselves

Boris Johnson

Alicia Kearns, conservative MP and chair of the foreign affairs committee, warned the threat of Mr Putin had largely been forgotten in the US.

Europe had to step up to defend ourselves, she said, proposing a formal alliance between UK, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine to spearhead support in the war.

I feel very ashamed by what happened to Avdiivka. That was our failure, she said, adding that there had been a woefully belated European wake-up call about Ukraine. We must act now because thousands of lives are being lost and autocrats on the march are being rewarded and seeing those rewards.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood told The Independent that he feared there remained a myth in the UK that this was a Ukrainian war not a European one.

If we dont defeat Russia, if we dont help Ukraine, the cost in the longer term will be huge in comparison. That penny hasnt dropped. Putin will not stop here, he wants to expand his influence.

Lets help Ukraine finish the job.

The UK has pledged to invest 245m in producing artillery shells for Ukraine and 8.5m in humanitarian funding as the conflict enters its third year.

Joining a chorus of support from world leaders, Rishi Sunak said on Saturday that tyranny will never triumph and London would back Kyiv until they prevail.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who hopes to enter Number 10 after the general election this year, said Britain would always support Ukraine no matter who is in power in this country and added that Mr Putins cowardice and barbarity will not continue .
Press Release

February 24, 2024 Tolentino wants universities, gov't, and industry to work together for agriculture development MANILA -- Brushing aside the old paradigm of development through Private-Public Partnership (PPP), Sen. Francis "Tol" Tolentino on Saturday said he wants the newest paradigm of development that involves universities, government, and industry to develop agriculture in the country. Tolentino said the approach of involving the three institutions, termed a triple helix, which he said works effectively in the agricultural development in the Netherlands and Germany, is the trend that could connect the new generation in the agriculture industry. At present, the average age of Filipino farmers is 55 to 59 years old, which shows the lack of participation of the younger generation in the country's agricultural production. Tolentino said the direct involvement of universities with fisheries and agriculture courses could heighten youth participation in agriculture and fisheries development like soil analysis and related research. "The students from the universities could undertake soil analysis, for example, and apply innovations which could pave the way to close the gap for them to take on careers in agriculture and fisheries," he said. Tolentino said the application should be on a case-to-case basis, like in Central Luzon, where agriculture dominates, or fisheries in areas like Aklan and Zamboanga Peninsula. Agriculture Undersecretary for Planning Asis Perez surmised that the younger generation shuns agriculture production because of low income and increased poverty incidence in the sector and the availability of options like employment in factories and overseas work. Perez said times had changed, wherein before, a family with two hectares of agricultural land could live decently, which has been gone, and farming has become unlucrative. He said the agriculture department's thrust is the so-called value chain approach, which is not focused only on increasing production but also on incomes in all stages of the value chain. "That is, better prices of farm products for the farmers and reasonable prices for the consumers," Perez explained. He said the value chain approach is focused on the producers and the interests of all actors, including processors, traders, and other actors in the agriculture industry.
Robin Nou sorts freshly-made donuts at Robin's Snowflake Donuts on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Emilia Slaughter, left, is helped by Brandon Nou as she picks out donuts at Robin's Snowflake Donuts on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Robin Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Ube donuts are on display for sale at Robin's Snowflake Donuts on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Robin Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Robin Nou, left, welcomes customers to her shop at Robin's Snowflake Donuts on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Donuts and Kolaches are displayed at Robin's Snowflake Donuts on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Robin Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Customers line up to purchase donuts at Robin's Snowflake Donuts on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Robin Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Brandon Nou helps customers in his moms shop at Robin's Snowflake Donuts on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Robin Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Novelty donuts are sorted at Robin's Snowflake Donuts on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Robin Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Brandon Nou, right, helps customers in his moms shop, Robin's Snowflake Donuts, on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 in Spring. Robin Nous donut shop is one of several small businesses in the area to have been affected by online trolls and bad reviews. But instead of hurting her business, the area's foodie community rallied around her, and she sold out shortly after the posts. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

In eight years, Spring small business owner Robin Nou has built her family-run doughnut shop into a local household name with near-perfect reviews.

Robins Snowflake Donuts was among Yelps top five restaurants in Texas in 2022. When Nou woke up in early February to unfavorable posts about her shop in a popular Facebook group, she worried that was in jeopardy. Nou, who said the commenter had never visited her shop and made false statements about fake reviews, sent a rare response refuting the posters claims.

Instead of receiving backlash, her response went viral as the local foodie community rallied around the shop. Lines wrapped around the door, and it sold out of its signature doughnuts, kolaches and boudin egg rolls for several days in a row.

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I couldnt believe it. We were so slammed, Nou said. Customers from over the years, some who have moved to different states and havent been here in years, were going in and lifting us up. What was meant to be something that made us devastated turned out to be something that was a blessing.

Social media reviews are recipe for success

In the age of massively popular food influencers and Facebook foodie groups, viral reviews can make or break local businesses.

More often than not, however, it serves as an equalizer for mom-and-pop shops without a hefty marketing budget, Woodlands Area Foodies founder Albert Nurick said. Nurick started food blogging in Austin and founded the Facebook group in 2014 after moving to the area, expecting a few hundred people to join.

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The group has since grown to nearly 45,000 members, and the local industry feels its impact, Nurick said.

To me, its a real opportunity to help a little mom and pop get started, Nurick said. The foodie group gives them a real ability to really reach out and get known in the community without investing $50,000 in advertising.

In January, a disgruntled customer took to the 141,000-member I Love Conroe group to complain about longtime Conroe restaurant Burger Fresh & Mores credit card charge. Hundreds came to the restaurants defense as owner James Canada addressed the misunderstanding, which was met with a public apology from the commenter.

The restaurant has been open since food bloggings inception in 1997. When Canada bought it in 2018, he swapped its frozen patties for fresh ones, fixed up its menu and expanded and renovated its dining area into a 1950s diner theme. Most importantly, they started posting on social media daily, Canada said.

Once we started a heavy social media campaign, it started really bringing people in, Canada said. Every time somebody puts something about us on social media, I respond to them. We get a lot of good rapport with our customers and tremendous word of mouth.

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Online food fights in The Woodlands

Sometimes, rival Facebook groups spring up after disputes between members.

The Woodlands has at least three separate foodie groups, including one specified as Woodlands Area Foodies Without Albert, a direct dig at Nurick.

Nurick said animosity emerged in his group when people self-promoted on his page. Some members were called out when they didnt take safety precautions when visiting restaurants during COVID, Nurick said.

Local foodie and restaurateur Anthony Compofelice, who helps run the rival Woodlands Area Foodies group, said social media can be beneficial to the industry. I cant tell you how many people have helped me with my own restaurants.

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But, he said, theres no governing authority beyond Facebook admins, so theres no way of knowing if certain restaurants are given preferential treatment or even paying influencers for promotion.

Its gone from this critically-acclaimed, well-written, well-respected longform review to, 'Can I get a good picture with myself in it, and will somebody pay me? ' Compofelice said. Theres no checks and balances.

Nurick said he does not accept payments in exchange for exposure.

All of that stuff is blatantly untrue, Nurick said. The last thing I want to do is to remove somebody from our group  but of the 100%, that 1% are the ones that are causing the problems.

ALSO SEE: Woodlands couple behind 6 restaurants gains early acclaim for new Charm Thai Kitchen and Bar

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Facebook groups require small business owners to be more vigilant. But when done right, even bad reviews can turn into something that connects restaurants more deeply with the community, Nou, Canada and Compofelice said.

Just be open and honest, Canada said. If it was a mistake, admit it and talk about correcting it. But if youre not to blame, say that too. Make something good out of it.

Nou said many restaurant owners, including herself, welcome genuine complaints. Still, she recommends that customers speak with owners and staff during their visit before turning to social media.
CHICAGO - A search is underway for a 31-year-old man who was reported missing on Thursday.

Alfonso Flores was last seen leaving his home at 12:30 p.m., according to Chicago police.

He hasn't spoken to any of his family members since his disappearance, which they say is unusual.

Flores is described as being 5-foot-7 with black hair, brown eyes and a tattoo on his right forearm.

He was wearing a dark gray jacket, blue jeans and dark gray shoes when he was reported missing, police say.

Anyone with more information on his whereabouts is urged to contact CPD's Area Five Detectives at 312-746-6554.
Bishop Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, has been a strong supporter of Black Lives Matter - JULIAN SIMMONDS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

The Church of England has told all of its parishes to draw up race action plans after a pro-Black Lives Matter (BLM) bishop urged it to embrace being woke.

The General Synod, the Churchs legislative body, passed a motion on Sunday which said it should encourage parishes and deaneries to develop local action plans to address issues of racial injustice.

The Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, said the Church needed to further embed racial justice and should not be afraid of being called woke.

Those who are frightened by the authenticity of this movement want to scare us into thinking that being woke is a sin created by people on the Left, she said.

Bishop Hudson-Wilkin led prayers at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018 and has been an outspoken supporter of BLM.

She called on the Church to expand the number of bishops, cathedral deans and other senior churchmen who are from ethnic minorities.

Pernicious sin

The Very Rev Rogers Govender MBE, the Dean of Manchester, told Synod that the Churchs failure to do so before now was a pernicious sin.

No members stood up to make speeches opposing the motion as it passed by 364 votes in favour to zero against, with two abstentions.

The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, spoke animatedly as he said the Church has not been good enough on diversity and inclusion, that racism and discrimination rupture our body and asked, May the Lord have mercy upon us.

The Rt Rev Martin Gorick, the Bishop of Dudley, said every Anglican who becomes a parish representative in his Diocese of Worcester now has to undertake compulsory unconscious bias training.

Bishop Hudson-Wilkin said in response that every other diocese should follow suit.

The training was axed across government and the civil service in December 2020 because there was no evidence that it improved equality.

The Rev Rachel Webbley, team rector in Whitstable, Kent, told Synod she was a recovering racist and said she was shocked by just how much white resistance there is to feeling discomfort about racial injustice.

Daniel Matovu, a lay member of Synod, added that he had been forced to bear a cross throughout his life because of the colour of my skin.

You white folks have no idea, particularly those of you who are white male, heterosexual and not disabled, he said. Youve only been given small sticks to carry, with which to beat the rest of us.

David Hermitt, another lay member, said the Church needed to become more anti-racist to reverse its falling membership figures because young people are more radical than we are.

Politics of grievance

However Dr Rakib Ehsan, the author of Beyond Grievance: What the Left Gets Wrong About Ethnic Minorities, told The Telegraph: It appears that no sphere of British life is free of divisive identitarian thinking  including the Church of England.

Abandoning traditional Christian values in favour of the unholy trinity of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the established Church of the land risks alienating conservative ethnic minorities who have little time for the politics of grievance and victimhood.

The Churchs most recent data shows 4.1 per cent of clergy are from an ethnic minority background, compared to the 18.3 per cent that make up the total population in England and Wales.

The Church does not regularly collect data on the diversity of congregations but in 2014, when the most recent audit was conducted, seven per cent of churchgoers were found to come from ethnic minorities.

Bishop Hudson-Wilkins motion also called on dioceses to prioritise the collection, monitoring and measuring of relevant data and asked for a review and strengthening of the role of the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns to be considered.

The committee advises the Archbishops of Canterbury and York on race and advocates for positive action to increase the inclusion and representation of BAME people across the Church.

Structural change

The bishop was born in Jamaica and became the first black female Church of England bishop when she was appointed to the see of Dover in 2019.

In June 2020, she addressed BLM protestors outside Canterbury Cathedral and called for structural change in all walks of life in response to the death of George Floyd.

She also said that month that the Church discriminated against black clergy and was still stuck in a mindset that black people couldnt possibly lead, or can only minister to black people.

In April 2021, she condemned as deeply disturbing a Government-backed review of race in Britain that found this country should be regarded as a model for other white-majority countries on race relations.

In February 2020, the Church issued an apology for racism as the Archbishop of Canterbury said there was no doubt that it was deeply institutionally racist.

Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, the director of Dont Divide Us, said: Black people, like anyone else, need the same justice as their fellow citizens, not a special racial kind  youd think a religion that preaches were all equal in Gods eyes would get this.

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 yet another scandal involving Justice Clarence Thomas, he recently hired a new law clerk set to begin in the upcoming term who has been accused of being a racist.

Crystal Clanton, a 2022 graduate from the Antonin Scalia Law School, was the subject of a 2017 feature by The New Yorker which revealed that while she was working as a field director at Turning Point USA in 2015, she allegedly sent a text message to a fellow employee reading, I hate black people. Like f**k them all . . . I hate blacks. End of story. And while at the time of the feature being written she claimed to "have no recollection of these messages," telling the publication in a statement that "they do not reflect what I believe or who I am and the same was true when I was a teenager," it makes her a worrisome choice none the less.

As The New York Times points out, Clanton has maintained a close relationship with Justice Thomas and his wife, Virginia Thomas  who once served on the advisory board of Turning Point USA  and Thomas maintains that the allegations against his new clerk are "unfounded." But the racist text message previously mentioned is not the only allegation she's tied to. According to Mediaite, who reported on her in 2018, she allegedly also shared a Snapchat photo during her time at TPUSA of a man who appears to be Arab with a caption she wrote that reads, Just thinking about ways to do another 9/11.
Clark County deputies are asking the public for help after two suspects entered Club Pilates in Hazel Dell and stole several wallets from gym members on Feb. 18.

Three suspects allegedly used the stolen credit cards later that same day.

If you have any information police ask that you email Deputy Nohrenberg at Amanda.nohrenberg@clark.wa.gov

 Can you ID Me?  On 2/18/2024, at least two suspects entered Club Pilates in Hazel Dell and stole several wallets... Posted by Clark County Sheriff's Office, Washington State on Sunday, February 25, 2024








Davaadorj Duuji looks at a pile of his animals killed by the

Davaadorj Duuji looks at a pile of his animals killed by the "dzud" in Darkhad Valley, Khovsgol province, Mongolia.

For nomads eking out a living by herding animals on Mongolias vast steppes, the deadliest winters used to come only once a decade, freezing the grasslands into solid ice or coating everything with so much snow that livestock died of cold or hunger en masse.

Now the frigid dzud winters come every other year, if not annually. Its a tragic knock-on effect of the climate change rapidly drying and desertifying the nation throughout the other seasons.

Last year was particularly brutal, killing livestock by the hundreds of thousands and stranding herding families, who make up at least a third of Mongolias 3.3 million people, without access to food, animal feed or medicine.

This year is even worse.

Traversing the almost boundless expanse of a sparsely populated nation more than twice the size of Texas has become impossible in all but a fraction of its territory. Over 90% of the country is now at high risk, the United Nations office in Mongolia warned earlier this month. When a dzud settled over Mongolia in 2018 and killed 700,000 heads of livestock, it was a record death toll. So far this year upward of 2 million livestock animals have died, according to official statistics, though some aid workers estimate that the number could be as much as five times higher. And this is just the beginning: The die-off isnt expected to peak until sometime in the next two months.

For herders whose entire wealth consists of sheep, goats and horses, as well as the meat and dairy that those animals can produce, the winter spells financial ruin  and the potential end of a traditional lifestyle passed down over thousands of generations.

The herders were saying that they feel [like] vomiting when the snow comes, Temuujin Munkhbat, an aid worker for the Mongolia affiliate of the British charity Save the Children, told HuffPost after he returned from delivering food, medicine and vitamins to nomadic families. It is a traumatic experience.

A Mongolian herder rides his horse along the frozen landscape on March 8, 2010, in Bayantsogt, Tuv province, Mongolia. Most of Mongolia is suffering from a dzud, and this has left insufficient grazing feed for livestock.

A Mongolian herder rides his horse along the frozen landscape on March 8, 2010, in Bayantsogt, Tuv province, Mongolia. Most of Mongolia is suffering from a dzud, and this has left insufficient grazing feed for livestock.

Just this month, the nonprofit delivered hay to 810 herder families whose animals were starving, provided cash distributions each worth $147 to nearly 1,000 households, and carried out psychological first-aid training sessions for teachers in the rural dormitories where nomads send their children. The U.S. Agency for International Development, meanwhile, said this month that it was sending $200,000 in aid to Mongolia to help with the dzud.

Its a drop in the bucket. On Wednesday, UNICEF warned that more than 150,000 Mongols, including 62,500 children, were affected by the dzud, unable to maintain easy access to basic necessities or go to school or the doctor. State authorities have staged rescues of nearly 1,500 people. At least one child has died.

Despite contributing a fraction of 1% to global emissions, Mongolias temperatures have surged twice as fast as the global average, resulting in increased drought and greater temperature extremes in each season. There are five types of dzuds, with two taking place at the same time right now  a white dzud where snow cakes the ground, and an iron dzud where rapid thawing and refreezing turns grasslands into solid ice. The effect, however, is the same: The grass on which herders depend to feed their animals dies or becomes impossible for hungry livestock to reach.

Coupled with overgrazing  a symptom of the shift nearly three decades ago from strictly regulated communist herding collectives to a cowboy capitalist model that generates more wealth with more animals  a literal tragedy of the commons is playing out on what once seemed like endless green steppes.

The brutality of this latest season heralds fresh internal upheaval in Mongolia at a politically sensitive moment, just months ahead of a historic national election.

The formerly Soviet-aligned country, landlocked between Russia and China, emerged in the early 1990s as a vibrant, if inchoate, democracy. Its no Taiwan or Japan, but its improving. Last year Mongolia rose seven ranks on the Economist Intelligence Units annually compiled Democracy Index, surpassing U.S. neighbors like the Dominican Republic and NATO allies like Romania and Bulgaria on the list of countries scored by electoral pluralism, function of government, civil liberties, and political participation and culture. It shares the second-tier category of flawed democracy with the U.S. itself.

A new election law passed in 2023 increased the size of the parliament to 126 seats from 76, setting off a fierce competition between the ruling Mongolian Peoples Party  the successor to the old communist party that singularly ruled for much of the 20th century  and a handful of reformist parties that blame the incumbents for widespread graft and underdevelopment.

Critics say the Peoples Party government did too little to prepare for this years extreme weather and then cynically used relief efforts to campaign for reelection, seizing what some saw as an unfair advantage over the opposition.

A 17-year-old Mongolian herder, Sukhbaatar, sits with niece Altantsetseg inside their

A 17-year-old Mongolian herder, Sukhbaatar, sits with niece Altantsetseg inside their "ger," a traditional nomadic home sometimes called a "yurt" in English.

But the party has long maintained a popularity with its base among the rural and urban poor with routine cash handouts.

Its unlikely that the current government will face any immediate electoral backlash for the latest disaster, said Bolor Lkhaajav, a U.S.-based analyst who tracks her native Mongolia. In a decentralized country with limited transportation, emergency response tends to fall on local provinces, she said. The election isnt until June 28.

Whats happening is local governments are struggling to manage the dzud, and theyre now reaching out to the central government asking for help, she said. The government is trying to do something. But maybe they should have done more in the fall, if they knew this was coming. They should have prepared a little more robustly.

As HuffPost reported from Mongolia in December, the effects of climate change and a haphazard transition to capitalism are triggering a massive internal migration of herders from the countryside to the smoggy, traffic-clogged capital of Ulaanbaatar.

Upward of 30% of people in Mongolia live below the national poverty line, compared with about 12% in the U.S. and 13% in China. A better contrast may come with Brazil, where poverty rates shot up to just under 30% in 2021 with the contraction of key welfare policies.

Like Brazil, Mongolia is rich in natural resources. But unlike South Americas largest economy, Mongolia lacks a coastline or major navigable waterways, and every overland shipping route to send goods out of the country runs through Russia or China.

Mongolia has over the past few years forged deeper ties with the United States, Japan and France as the government in Ulaanbaatar looks for partners beyond the authoritarian giants that surround its borders and dominate its economy.

Its not just about making friends with other democracies. Mongolia is rich in the minerals and metals needed to transition away from fossil fuels. Western countries are seeking new options for those resources as relations with Russia and China  two major sources of key commodities  deteriorate.

The herders were saying that they feel [like] vomiting when the snow comes.Temuujin Munkhbat, Save the Children Mongolia

Last summer, Moscow helped foment a coup in the West African nation of Niger, where France has for decades mined a large portion of the uranium used to fuel its nuclear reactors. By autumn, the French state-owned nuclear giant Orano announced a deal worth nearly $2 billion to mine uranium and lithium, the key ingredient in electric car batteries, in Mongolia.

The U.S. began worrying about Chinas near-monopoly over the rare earth metals required for magnets and batteries as far back as 2010, when Beijing briefly cut off exports to Japan in retaliation for a nationalist squabble over competing claims to an archipelago of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Amid growing trade restrictions on both sides of the Pacific, the U.S. in June signed an agreement with Mongolia to develop rare earths production in the country and help find a way to get the metals to market without relying on the only overland shipping routes through China and Russia.

Last year, in what is among the biggest mining projects in Mongolia, the Anglo-Australian behemoth Rio Tinto finally opened one of the worlds largest copper mines in the southern Gobi Desert.

China and Russia retain powerful leverage over Mongolia. Beijings 2016 decision to punish Ulaanbaatar for hosting the Dalai Lama, Tibets exiled spiritual leader, by closing its borders exacted a heavy economic toll on Mongolia. China, whose own Inner Mongolia region is home to more ethnic Mongols than Mongolia itself, is Ulaanbaatars largest and fastest-growing export market. But Beijing  as part of a broader campaign to assimilate some distinct ethnic minorities into the Mandarin-speaking Han majority  has recently placed controversial restrictions on use of the Mongolian language, banned books on early Mongol history, and appeared to pressure Ulaanbaatar to arrest and deport native dissidents who challenged the cultural crackdown.

Coal-addicted Mongolia in 2023 became more dependent than ever on Moscow for motor oil and natural gas, a relationship thats likely to deepen with new pipelines under construction.

Since the war in Ukraine began, Russian President Vladimir Putin has downplayed Kyivs claim to a distinct national identity, instead promoting a revanchist vision of Moscow reasserting its historical imperial sphere of influence. Mongolia, ruled until the early 1900s by the Qing dynasty, first gained independence with the help of Russias czarist and then Soviet governments, which saw value in a buffer state between Moscows Siberian territories and China. A satellite of the Soviet Union, Mongolia remained closely tied to Russia, with generations of Ulaanbaatars elites studying in Moscows universities. A giant monument commemorating the Mongols who fought with the Soviet Union in World War II offers the most prized ridge-top views of Ulaanbaatar.

Despite maintaining traditional text on some official buildings and signs, Mongols today primarily write and read their own language in the Slavic Cyrillic alphabet.

Against that political backdrop, Mongolia is now grappling with the harsh reality that changes in weather patterns that date back centuries are making it impossible for nomads to continue the ancient way of life that sustained their families for millennia.

We are seeing extreme climate conditions more frequently these days, Bayan-Altai Luvsandorj, the head of Save the Children Mongolia, told HuffPost over email. We therefore need to take a hard look [at] the traditional way we have been living off the land here in Mongolia.

Related...
The water cycle that shuttles Earths most vital resource around in an unending, life-giving loop is in trouble. Climate change has disrupted that cycles delicate balance, upsetting how water circulates between the ground, oceans and atmosphere.

The events of 2023 show how significant these disruptions have become. From extreme precipitation and flooding to drought and contaminated water supplies, almost every part of the U.S. faced some consequence of climate change and the shifting availability of water.

The water cycle controls every aspect of Earths climate system, which means that as the climate changes, so too does nearly every step of waters movement on the planet. In some places, the availability of water is becoming increasingly scarce, while in others, climate change is intensifying rainfall, floods and other extreme weather events.

As the planet continues to warm, this cycle is expected to be increasingly stretched, warped and broken.

The water cycle  a staple of elementary school science classes  describes the constant movement of water in all its phases (solid, liquid and gas) on the ground, inside the ground and up in the air. Powered by the sun and fueled by changes in temperature, the water cycle forms the invisible link between Earths glaciers, snowpack, oceans, lakes, rivers, plants, trees, clouds and rain.

Labelled Illustration of water cycle (Julia Dufosse for NBC News)

Liquid water flows across the land as runoff, with a portion seeping deep underground, where its stored as groundwater. Some water will flow into streams, rivers and other bodies of water. And in some parts of the world, water is also stored in its frozen form, as is the case with glaciers or snowpack. Water on the ground or in bodies of water turns back into water vapor through a process known as evaporation. Some water is also taken up by plants before evaporating into the atmosphere, a process known as transpiration.

Water vapor eventually condenses into clouds. Precipitation falls in the form of rain or snow, transporting water from the atmosphere back over land and starting the cycle over again.

Human activities have an enormous influence over the water cycle because water is needed for drinking, agriculture, industrial activities, electricity and more. Each of these uses affects the availability and supply of water, but climate change can add additional stress on the movement of water between land, the oceans and the atmosphere.

Below, we walk through these crucial steps  precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, runoff and storage  to illustrate how climate change is already changing our environment in ways that are affecting millions of people across the U.S.

Photo of flooding in Vermont overlaid with

In 2023, extreme precipitation, likely supercharged by climate change, hammered nearly every corner of the United States.

For every degree of warming in Fahrenheit, the atmosphere can hold about 3%-4% more moisture. Global temperatures in 2023 were 2.43 degrees higher than they were in preindustrial times, meaning todays storms can deliver a stronger punch.

In Vermont, intense rainfall in July caused flash flooding that nearly breached a dam in Montpelier and left the streets flooded. In September, New York City saw a similar story play out, as 7 inches of rain fell in 24 hours in some locations, submerging cars and city buses and shuttering rail travel.

The consequences of storms are intensified in cities like New York, where storm drains and subway tunnels are in disrepair or were simply built for a more gentle climate.

Climate change is also changing the behavior of hurricanes to produce more extreme rainfall. Hurricanes today are more likely to intensify rapidly, meaning they quickly pick up wind speed because they feed on warming waters near the shore. And when these storms make landfall, climate change is increasing the probability that hurricanes will stall and dump incredible amounts of rain as they plod across the landscape.

When Hurricane Idalia approached the Florida shoreline in late August, its wind speeds rose by 55 mph in just 24 hours and it strengthened from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm. The storm dropped more than 13 inches of rain on Holly Hill, South Carolina, which was the location hit hardest by rainfall.

Photo of low sandbars in Mississippi River overlaid with illustration of

Hotter temperatures are increasing evaporation and transpiration in some areas, making drought more likely and stressing plants, which was evident during a summer of extreme heat in 2023.

Climate change makes droughts more frequent, more severe and longer-lasting.

Persistent drought dropped water levels in the Mississippi River to historic lows in 2023, which allowed saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico to push upstream and contaminate urban drinking water supplies.

Photo of tractor plowing farm overlaid with illustration of

Meanwhile, drought in Hawaii exacerbated wildfire risk by drying out vegetation and making the nonnative grasses on Maui a ticking time bomb, in the words of one researcher. A catastrophic wildfire, whipped up by hurricane-strength winds, tore through the historic town of Lahaina in August 2023, killing 101 people.

In the Midwest and South, drought hung over the region from spring to fall, making it the most costly natural disaster in 2023  at $14.5 billion.

Photo of melting glacier overlaid with illustration of water runoff (Julia Dufosse for NBC News / Getty Images)

Climate change is shifting the pattern and timing of runoff, particularly in mountainous parts of the U.S., which can cause rivers to run at extreme highs  and lows.

In Alaska, where temperatures have warmed about twice the rate of the global average, a dam of glacial ice burst, allowing a massive pulse of floodwater to flow downstream, where it ripped out trees and flooded neighborhoods near Juneau.

The event would not have happened if not for climate change and glacial retreat, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Warm spring and summer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest hastened that regions melt-out, leaving the water supply short in fall and straining the regions capacity to generate hydropower.

An irrigation sprinkler in Kansas overlaid with illustration of water storage (Julia Dufosse for NBC News / AP)

Water supply is dwindling in Western states, on the Great Plains and in some parts of the Midwest.

Years of overuse  in part because of rising temperatures and drought  are leading farmers to consume unsustainable amounts of stored groundwater and pushing some aquifers to the brink.

California was hammered with extreme rainfall in 2023, as more than a dozen atmospheric-river storms battered the state. The storms, likely intensified by climate change, relieved a drought and blanketed the state in 2 to 3 times as much snow as usual.

But all that precipitation made only a dent in the states overall groundwater deficit after seasons of drought, and groundwater levels remained lower than they were after a previous, four-year drought ended in 2016, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

Last year, several states reached an agreement over cuts to their use of the Colorado River, where reservoirs were holding just 43% of what they could store at years end, even after a heavy snow year.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A chance of rain late Monday into early Tuesday should yield to sunny skies Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters say, before another storm rolls in Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

After several days of sun, L.A. County is expected to see mostly cloudy skies and light rain this week, according to forecasters.

Theres a chance of rain late Monday into early Tuesday, but the shower should only bring a quarter of an inch or less, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

It should be quite a bit weaker than most of the storms weve had recently. No significant impacts are expected with it, Wofford said.

Temperatures are expected to range from the high 50s to the high 60s throughout much of the week, according to the weather service.

The region is expected to see some sunny skies on Wednesday and Thursday before a stronger storm system rolls in on Friday, with temperatures dropping into the 50s over the weekend. Saturday is expected to remain mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of rain across the Los Angeles County area.

Wofford said the Santa Monica Mountains, Hollywood Hills and hillsides in Palos Verdes will be the most vulnerable to landslides, but the risk wont be as great as it was earlier this month, when monster storms pummeled the region.

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.
House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) went after Republicans Saturday, branding the GOP with a new nickname: Groupies of Putin.

Clyburn, who announced he would step down from leadership in 2024, argued Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and his other GOP colleagues have only been doing the business of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the behest of the former president.

I think the American people are beginning to see that Johnson is a part of what I call Groupies of Putin, Clyburn said Saturday on MSNBCs The Weekend. Thats what GOP stands for now, Groupies of Putin.

The American people will see through that, he added. And we Democrats are going to do what we can to make sure that its front and center.

His comments come as Johnson has refused to bring a Senate-passed foreign aid bill to the House floor that would provide an additional $60 billion to Ukraine, as it hits two years since Russia launched its full-blown invasion. House Republicans have argued that any foreign aid spending bill must be paired with funds to secure the U.S.-Mexico border  an argument former President Trump has openly supported.

[In] the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters, Johnson said in a statement. America deserves better than the Senates status quo.

Senate Republicans blocked the first attempt at a bipartisan package, that included foreign aid and border security provisions, earlier this month. This prompted Senate Democrats to unveil the separate funding bill that would provide assistance to Ukraine and Israel, in its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas, which currently sits in limbo.

Another bipartisan effort was made in the House last week, but the bill has yet to be moved.

During a visit to Ukraine this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) made a new plea to the Speaker to take action, as tensions between the U.S. and Russia have heat up  most notably in the wake of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

President Biden cast blame on Putin for Navalnys passing and announced over 500 new sanctions aimed at Russia Friday.

If Putin does not pay the price for his death and destruction, he will keep going, Biden said in a statement.

The House is also contending with another potential government shutdown on March 2, if a budget isnt passed. Clyburn said he doesnt expect a government shutdown, but said pressure is on Johnson to accept a plan that has support from both sides.

I cannot get into the head of our Speaker, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Leaders in the Northwest Charlotte Community joined Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill as she addressed chief issues in the school system.

Dr. Hill shared the State of our School with the Northwest Corridor Council of Elders during a breakfast meeting at West Charlotte High School on Saturday.

CMS works to shift atmosphere at troubled school

A leader in the organization shared why the Northwest Corridor of Charlotte needed to have that meeting with Dr. Hill.

We want to see how our Title 1 schools can be lifted, so were no longer in that Title 1 status, so that we can see our children in the northwest corridor have the opportunity for a great education, said Pastor Cornelius Atkinson, President of the Northwest Corridor Council of Elders.

Dr. Hill addressed issues like school safety, mental health, and how students can achieve the best academic outcomes.

(WATCH: CMS implements enhanced training, methods to address high suspension rates)
The University of Waterloo is expected to remove smart vending machines from its campus.

A student discovered an error code that suggested the machines used facial-recognition technology.

Adaria Vending Services said the technology didn't take or store customers' photos.

A university in Canada is expected to remove a series of vending machines from campus after a student discovered an indication they used facial-recognition technology.

The smart vending machines at the University of Waterloo first gained attention this month when the Reddit user SquidKid47 shared a photo. The photo purportedly showed an M&M-brand vending machine with an error code reading, "Invenda.Vending. FacialRecognition.App.exe  Application error."

The post drew speculation from some users and caught the attention of a University of Waterloo student whom the tech-news website Ars Technica identified as River Stanley, a writer for the local student publication MathNews. Stanley investigated the smart vending machines, discovering that they're provided by Adaria Vending Services and manufactured by Invenda Group. The Canadian publication CTV News reported that Mars, the owner of M&M's, owned the vending machines.

In response to the student publication's report, the director of technology services for Adaria Vending Services told MathNews that "an individual person cannot be identified using the technology in the machines."

"What's most important to understand is that the machines do not take or store any photos or images, and an individual person cannot be identified using the technology in the machines," the statement said. "The technology acts as a motion sensor that detects faces, so the machine knows when to activate the purchasing interface  never taking or storing images of customers."

The statement said that the machines are "fully GDPR compliant," referring to the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation. The regulation is part of the EU's privacy legislation that determines how corporations can collect citizens' data.

"At the University of Waterloo, Adaria manages last mile fulfillment services  we handle restocking and logistics for the snack vending machines," the statement said. "Adaria does not collect any data about its users and does not have any access to identify users of these M&M vending machines."

Invenda Group told MathNews that the technology did not store information on "permanent memory mediums" and that the machines were GDPR compliant.

"It does not engage in storage, communication, or transmission of any imagery or personally identifiable information," Invenda Group's statement said. "The software conducts local processing of digital image maps derived from the USB optical sensor in real-time, without storing such data on permanent memory mediums or transmitting it over the Internet to the Cloud."

MathNews reported that Invenda Group's FAQ list said that "only the final data, namely presence of a person, estimated age and estimated gender, is collected without any association with an individual."

A representative from the University of Waterloo said the vending machines would be removed. peterspiro/Getty Images

The University of Waterloo told CTV News that the school intended to remove the machines from campus.

"The university has asked that these machines be removed from campus as soon as possible. In the meantime, we've asked that the software be disabled," Rebecca Elming, a representative for the University of Waterloo, told the outlet.

Representatives for the University of Waterloo, Invenda Group, Adaria Vending Services, and Mars did not respond to Business Insider's requests for comment, sent over the weekend ahead of publication.

Facial-recognition technology on college campuses has caused tension for students and staff members, with examples popping up globally. In May 2018, a school in China began monitoring students in classrooms with facial-recognition technology that scanned every 30 seconds. Two years later, a woman on TikTok claimed she failed a test after a test-proctoring artificial-intelligence system accused her of cheating.

Tensions heightened in March 2020 when students at dozens of US universities protested facial recognition on college campuses, The Guardian reported.

"Education should be a safe place, but this technology hurts the most vulnerable people in society," a student at DePaul University told the outlet.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Exterior of Lakewood Church on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Houston Karen Warren/Staff photographer

The 7-year-old boy shot in Lakewood Church on Feb. 11 has been taken off of a ventilator and is "breathing well," but he may need another brain surgery, according to an update from his paternal grandmother Saturday.

Gennesse Moreno allegedly brought her son, Samuel, with her when she opened fire in the church, injuring a 47-year-old man before she was fatally shot by off-duty law enforcement agents, officials have said. Samuel was shot in the head amid the crossfire, leaving him "clinging to life" at Texas Children's Hospital, according to Walli Carranza, his grandmother.

The boy has undergone five brain surgeries since the shooting, including two during a 24 hour-span. A Feb. 14 post from Carranza said the child "has lost a major part of what makes us who we are," since a portion of his frontal lobe had to be removed.

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He was in cardiac arrest multiple times and no one can determine whether he has significant brain activity because his scalp tissue is too friable to allow the attachment of EEG wires, she wrote in the update.

Samuel was not enrolled in public school, and he has also faced developmental and physical disabilities since his premature birth in 2016, according to court records filed by Carranza. Law enforcement and Child Protective Services are investigating.

Carranza said in court records that he was tube-fed and nonverbal when he was around 5 years old. She claimed Moreno and her mother had intentionally kept him away from his father and family.

The boy's grandmother has been advocating for additional gun safety laws on her Facebook page since the shooting, and she has been critical of authorities she says failed to remove him from his mother's custody.

"What is certain is that she was both severely mentally ill and allowed to not only buy an assault weapon but allowed by her mother to keep these weapons in their home with a curious little boy in the house," she wrote in the Facebook post.

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Carranza told the New York Times the last time she saw Samuel before the shooting had been in October, around the same time he stopped attending school. She called him a frail, curly-headed child who struggled to make friends.
Common sense gun laws can coexist while protecting Americans Second Amendment right to bear arms, but South Carolina House Bill 3594 removes the common sense protections afforded by the states current gun legislation.

There are means by which to accomplish simultaneous community safety and the protection of the very important constitutional right afforded by the Second Amendment. House Bill 3594 isnt it.

Tyler D. Bailey

In a state that has felt firsthand the tremendous impact of gun violence on many levels, but specifically after the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston, it is astonishing to me that our state legislature would welcome an opportunity for more unfettered gun violence to take place.

South Carolina House Bill 3594 proposes to allow South Carolinians 18 years and older to carry concealed handguns openly without a license or any gun safety training. The proposed legislation also dismantles South Carolinas system of responsible gun ownership currently provided through criminal history checks and the confirmation of statutory eligibility.

Current S.C. law requires a concealed weapons permit to carry a handgun across South Carolina which mandates permit seekers to undergo 8 hours of gun safety and firing training. This new legislation would make these requirements optional.

Local law enforcement staunchly object to the bill emphasizing the unintended consequences of creating barriers to determine and differentiate if a person is unlawfully carrying a weapon-placing officers and citizens in avoidable danger and making communities less safe overall.

With nationwide and local headlines routinely filled with reports of gun violence and mass shootings, it is no surprise that research shows most Americans support stricter gun laws, as evidenced by a 2023 Gallup Poll that found that 87% of Americans believed that gun laws were not strict enough or at a minimum should remain the same.

Gun violence is considered to be one of the major threats to public health and safety in communities across our state. For instance, the City of Columbia alone seized approximately 808 guns in 2023, an 18% increase in seizures over the last five years. While the city has been dedicated to working to reduce incidents of gun violence, our state legislatures proposed deregulation of handguns will increase gun ownership and the widespread proliferation of unregulated guns within our communities.

I am supportive of protecting our constitutional rights and Im a card-carrying concealed weapons permit holder myself. However, I am more importantly a father and husband and want my family to be safe everywhere  school, work, church, the playground, grocery store, etc. I do not want them to fear that someone who is not properly trained to have a gun might negligently, recklessly, or intentionally cause them harm.

It seems like common sense to require that individuals who desire to exercise their right to bear arms simply be trained to protect not only others but themselves. What is the harm in that? Many of the same individuals who would argue against the need for a permit to carry a gun, can often be found arguing that you should have an ID in order to vote. Why is there a double standard concerning which constitutional rights should be backed by identification requirements?

I will continue to support smart gun laws and gun safety to ensure we have safe communities free from senseless gun violence  and I hope that other lawmakers and leaders will join me in this necessary fight. For members of the S.C. General Assembly a first step in joining the fight for common sense gun legislation is voting down House Bill 3594 for the moral reasons that demand they do so.

Tyler D. Bailey is an at-large member of the Columbia City Council.
It's hard for some Californians  maybe many  to wrap their heads around the idea that the homelessness we see on our streets has any connection to slavery.

We are California, after all, supposedly a "free" state. We like to think of ourselves as far away in both ideology and from the brutality that built the South  although slavery was common during our Gold Rush era, ensnaring not only Black people, but also Latinos and Indigenous communities.

But researchers at the respected UC San Francisco Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative have no doubts that the historical trafficking of 12 million Black people to American shores is directly tied to the Black poverty and pain on our West Coast streets today.

"The overrepresentation of Black people in the homeless population arises from 400 years of anti-Black racism entrenched in the structures, institutions, ideologies, and social norms of American life, starting with slavery," the researchers said in a study released recently.

Read more: Column: California finally has a reparations plan. Why is it half-baked and disorganized?

That's a fierce bit of truth-telling that may shock those who haven't been paying attention to discussions about reparations  the need to make right the wrongs of systemic racism and compensate Black people for the lasting harms of slavery. But for those who followed California's reparations task force and for most Black Americans, the findings are hardly groundbreaking.

Slavery turned into Jim Crow laws and lynchings in the South. To escape, Black people fled to the North and, yes, the West. Yet, upon their arrival, redlining and a refusal to invest in Black communities led to generations of state-enforced poverty and a lack of housing that builds wealth and stability.

Poverty became an excuse for surveillance and criminalization  including violent over-policing, child protective services breaking apart families and the mass incarceration of Black men. And here we are, with Black Americans in such an economically and socially precarious situation that a single misfortune can end in homelessness.

"This didnt just happen by accident and it didnt just happen because there were a few bad people. This was organized," said Margot Kushel, head of the Benioff initiative and one of the authors of the study, which recommends that reparations in the form of cash payments are needed to combat homelessness in the Black community.

"This is the strongest case for reparations, right?" she said. "That feels like a conversation that, if we are being honest, we need to have."

It's certainly the case being made by California's Legislative Black Caucus. Last week, the members gathered in Sacramento for a news conference to formally announce 14 bills they plan to introduce and back this year, in hopes of turning the recommendations of Californias reparations task force into actionable laws and policies.

"This is a massive undertaking, so you can expect a package year after year until our work is done," explained Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. "Some will be systemic in nature. Some will require direct investments in people or communities. All will require the support of the Legislature and the governor."

One of the initial bills calls for a formal apology from the state, another demands compensation for land seized in racist acts of eminent domain like Bruce's Beach, and another would ban involuntary servitude, namely in prisons where inmates are often forced to do work for pennies an hour.

All draw a direct line between the dire conditions currently faced by millions of Black Californians  including homelessness and housing insecurity  and the baggage of decades of discrimination. The members of the Legislative Black Caucus were clearly tired and unmoved by the many excuses that have been given for why reparations can't become a reality.

"Our state needs to address those harms," Wilson said matter-of-factly.

America's wealth was built by the forced labor of trafficked African people and their descendants, who were all bought and sold as commodities," said Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa). "America's government at all levels allowed or participated in exploiting, abusing, terrorizing and murdering people of African descent so that mostly white Americans [could] profit from their enslavement.

This Legislature allowed slave owners to bring their enslaved property so long as they arrived here before 1850, said Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), scoffing at the frequent pushback that reparations aren't owed because California wasn't a slave state. Then the California State Supreme Court said slave owners are OK, as long as they only stay temporarily. That's not freedom.

But it was perhaps Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Perris) who best summed up the case for reparations  the same case made by Kushel and born out by her team's research.

We have to understand that the era of the colorblind society is a failure," he said. "If you can't see us, you can't serve us.

The fantasy that race doesn't matter, embedded into law via Proposition 209, is one reason why California has been spinning its wheels on homelessness. It likely will continue to do so  spending billions of tax dollars  until lawmakers and the governor start addressing the causes and policy decisions affecting those most likely to end up on the street.

While Black people make up about 7% of California's population, they represent 26% of those without permanent homes, according to data pulled from the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness . This will come as no surprise to anyone who has taken a stroll through Skid Row.

Yes, we need more housing. And yes, we need more services.

But what of the roughly 75% of those Black unhoused Californians who are men, many of whom came directly out of a long stay in county jail or a stint in prison? They were released with maybe a couple hundreds bucks from the state and few if any options other than a quick slide into homelessness.

It's a demographic Kushel points out should be easier to help because we know who they are and where they are before they become unhoused. We just choose not to do it.

What of the 80% of the Black people living on our streets who simply lost their housing? They were hit with an illness, for example, or a job loss, discrimination from landlords unwilling to rent to those with poor credit or complicated histories. Half are over the age of 50, facing their senior years without shelter.

And what of the fact that most of the Black people living without homes came from extreme poverty? Those who had a place of their own, their name on a lease before losing shelter, made about $1,200 a month. Those who were living off the grace of others were earning only about $960 a month.

Not all Black people are poor, of course. Far from it. But because of the lasting harms of slavery and discriminatory housing policies, poverty is still disproportionately predictable among Black people  and not just in California.

The median white family had $184,000 in wealth in 2019 compared with just $23,000 for the comparable Black family, according to the study. And, throughout the pandemic, the racial wealth gap has actually increased, for a difference that now tops $240,000.

Unsurprisingly, home ownership numbers are just as bleak. Census data from 2023 found 75% of white households owned their homes. Just 45% of Black households owned theirs  up just 3% from 1960, when it was legal to discriminate against Black homebuyers in California.

While many elected officials have been wringing their hands about the nexus of addiction, poverty and homelessness, it's worth noting that Black people were statistically less likely to report abusing hard drugs than other demographics, despite the stereotypes and the criminalization.

That so many Black people were forced into homelessness without the extra push from substance abuse struck Kushel as another example of just how precarious Black existence can be. "It takes less to tip them into homelessness," she said.

Read more: San Francisco set to apologize to Black residents for 'systemic racism'

To counter this, the UCSF researchers are proposing cash payments as one possible solution.

Kara Young Ponder, the study's lead author, said most homeless Black Californians told the researchers that ongoing payments of less than $500 a month (similar to a guaranteed income) or a one-time, lump-sum payment of $5,000 or $10,000 could get them into housing. The latter is about what's necessary for the deposit and first month's rent on an apartment.

But beyond the simple need for money shared by all homeless people, Young Ponder said that Black people also reported facing anti-Black bias within the system of homeless services  less help in every area from housing coordinators to medical providers.

"They are still being treated differently than people of other races," Young Ponder said, making the cash payments a critical way of "circumventing" discrimination.

In the context of reparations, the idea of cash payments has been controversial  to put it mildly. A poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and and co-sponsored by The Times found that California voters oppose such payments by a 2-to-1 margin for Black people whose ancestors were enslaved.

It has a steep uphill climb, at least from the publics point of view, said Mark DiCamillo, director of the poll, said after it was released in August.

With a state budget deficit that could soon hit $73 billion, there are financial constraints, too.

Wilson acknowledged this is one reason why she and other Black lawmakers decided to forgo asking for cash payments now. But the bigger reason, she said, was the lack of public knowledge about why reparations are even necessary and fears that a bill asking for the most unpopular form of it would fail, dealing a blow to what is fast becoming a national movement.

There's a lot of misinformation out there, Weber said. I am a Californian born and raised. And I thought all these issues happened in the South, I had no idea of the things that California had done.

But members of the Legislative Black Caucus have not ruled out a bill asking for cash payments in the future. That California's laws and policies have systemically oppressed Black people economically is undeniable, they say  and they are right.

Kushel, Young Ponder and their fellow researchers at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative are only the latest to prove that Black people have been purposefully excluded from wealth and stability, and that reparations may be needed to fix the hardship that has caused. The only question is when Californians are going to start believing it.

America's original sin is the genocide and enslavement of human beings, said Jones-Sawyer. America's second greatest sin is watching it happen, and pretending that it never did.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
America needs nurses  and some schools are implementing accelerated programs to train them.

To shorten the process, these programs cut training time from up to four years down to one.

"I really do think this is a win-win for students and local hospitals and facilities," said Elizabeth Mann, assistant clinical professor at the University of New England, in an interview with Fox News. She's based in Maine.

LESS THAN HALF OF NURSES ARE FULLY ENGAGED AT WORK, WHILE MANY ARE UNENGAGED,' NEW REPORT REVEALS

Prospective students must have a previous bachelor's degree and need to complete eight prerequisite courses.

This is dramatically shorter than the typical two- to four-year nursing program.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A student participates in training to become a nurse at the University of New England.

"I think the ability to get a second degree in something like a bachelor's in nursing is very appealing to many people," UNE Nursing School's interim director Donna Hyde told Fox News.

"They don't have to have a health care background. We will get them there."

NURSING SHORTAGE HITTING RURAL AMERICA HARDEST

The new fast-track nursing program at the University of New England is slated to begin in May.

The goal is to help students get into the workforce sooner, but theyll have to put in some serious training as well, experts say.

The states most in need of nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan and Georgia, according to the National Center of Health Workforce Analysis.

"There's nothing cut back. They do the same amount of clinical hours, so we allow time for that," said Hyde.

"Their schedule may have to be a little more flexible to include consideration of weekends."

There's a projected shortage of over 78,000 registered nurses next year, according to the National Center of Health Workforce Analysis.

NURSING PROGRAMS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP AMID A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF NURSES

The states most in need of nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan and Georgia.

"As different states are looking at their own options to increase their nursing workforce, this is one of those options," Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, the Oregon-based president of the American Nurses Association, told Fox News.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The shortened 12-month program not only appeals to students, but will also benefit local health care facilities, Mann said.

Hyde noted that she speaks to many of the nurse administrators at local health care partners, and "they obviously see the need for more nurses sooner rather than later."

Nursing students train in a simulation lab to prepare for the workforce. The shortened 12-month program appeals to students and also benefits local health care facilities, experts say.

Some have expressed doubt that students can be ready in just a year, Mann pointed out.

"They may interpret it as [offering] a lesser quality [of training] or that we are pushing students through, and I do want to emphasize that is truly not the case," she said.

Up to 40 students are expected to start the program in May at the University of New England.

To combat the nursing shortage, some schools are implementing accelerated programs to train new nurses.

Once students complete the program, they will have to pass a national exam  just like a traditional four-year student  to officially become a nurse.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health .





Original article source: To combat nursing shortage, universities create accelerated 12-month training programs: 'A win-win'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu attends the funeral for First Sergeant Major Gal Meir Eisenkot (aged 25) in the Herzliya cemetery on December 8, 2023 in Herzliya, Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said the 25-year-old major, son of the cabinet minister and former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, died on Thursday in Gaza. Over two months have passed since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that sparked a retaliatory ground and air campaign by Israel in Gaza. Credit - Alexi J. Rosenfeld-Getty Images

The war between Israel and Hamas is approaching a key moment of decision. Will the powerful Israel Defense Forces (IDF) smash their way into calamitously crowded Rafah? After destroying many thousands of homes elsewhere in the strip, Rafah would be the IDFs final target. Thats where Hamas leaders are believed to be hiding in their vast network of tunnels, probably with more than 130 hostages kidnapped from Israel on October 7 as part of a terrorist attack that killed around 1,200 people.

Or perhaps Hamas will end this war by freeing all the hostages? That could be part of a deal in which the Islamic radical groups leaders would be allowed to leave for exile, probably in some Arab countrywhich is what the PLOs Yasser Arafat chose to do, departing Lebanon after the IDF invaded that country in 1982.

President Joe Biden has pointedly told Israel that Rafahwhere the usual population of 400,000 Palestinians has swelled by an additional million who fled there to escape Israeli bombings and fightingshould not be the next battleground, unless Israel can carry out a detailed plan to evacuate the civilians.

The result, so far, is a game of chicken. Who will blink first?

More from TIME

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahubut also retired General Benny Gantz, his political rival who joined an emergency war cabinet after October 7have declared that the IDF has to go into Rafah: to finish the job of destroying Hamass governing power, to kill or capture the groups leaders, and to rescue as many hostages as possible. Gantz even suggested a deadline of March 10.

Yet so far, the refugees in their tents have not been leaving: not going back to damaged or destroyed homes, and certainly not being allowed by neighboring Egypt to cross the border into the Sinai peninsula. Those displaced Palestinians understandably tell aid workers and reporters that there is no place safe in the Gaza strip. Many say they are entrusting their fate to God.

What pressure might compel Hamas to give up? The leaders who planned and executed the October 7 attack that humiliated Israelexposing that its expensive border fence was easily penetrated, and then IDF troops didnt show up for hoursmust have known that Israel would react with a big and brutal invasion of Gaza. But Hamas probably did not expect that its very existence would be imperiled, in a war that would last for months.

A child standing inside a damaged building, stares at the Al-Faruq mosque, levelled by Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on a foggy day on February 25, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. MOHAMMED ABED-AFP/ Getty Images

In past mini-wars along that frontier, there would be a few Israelis killed or kidnapped, then bombing and shelling by Israel would kill hundreds of Palestinians, and then some kind of deal mediated by the U.S. and Egypt would end the fightinguntil next time.

The murders, rapes, wholesale destruction, and kidnappings suffered by Israel were so severe this time that Netanyahu decided to go for broke. He vowed that no one was going to stop the IDF from destroying Hamas.

The Palestinians say around 30,000 of their people have been killed in Gaza, and while the number comes from Hamas and is thus unreliable, the toll of death and destruction has obviously been extremely high. That is why a majority of countriesas is obvious from votes in the United Nations condemn Israels war tactics. The IDF blames Hamas for hiding among civilians, and insists it is doing a lot to minimize non-combatant casualties.

Though not as horribly in the number of deaths, the war has also been costly for Israel. As of Wednesday, 576 IDF soldiers died in combat in Gaza. Around 200,000 Israelis have left their homes near the Gaza strip or near the northern border with Lebanon, both considered to be war zones since October. Most were accustomed to living in affluent comfort and are putting heavy political pressure on Netanyahu to finish this war, so they can return home.

The families of the Israeli hostages are also putting pressure on Netanyahu and his war cabinet. They want the prime minister to make a dealany dealto get their loved ones out of Hamas captivity, which they say has been brutal, and a new report by Israeli activists contains evidence of sexual assaults and mutilation of bodies by the terrorists who attacked on October 7. The families are having nightmares that the torture is continuing.

Israeli officials are expressing gratitude to the U.S. for vetoing a U.N. Security Council resolution this week that would have demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gazawhich Israel says would be equivalent to letting Hamas win the war. And Israel is grateful that the U.S. openly disagrees with criticsnotably South Africas lawsuit against Israel in the International Court of Justicethat claim the Israelis are committing genocide against the Palestinians.

Netanyahu must be wondering, however, how much longer President Biden will be willing to be so pro-Israeldefying global public opinion, and that of many in his Democratic Party who believe the death and destruction in Gaza have been excessive. No one forgets that Israel is dependent on the U.S. for weapons, ammunition, and diplomatic support.

A rift is growing between the U.S. government and Israel, specifically Netanyahu, after literally decades of a prickly relationship between him and Biden. The American president once recalled inscribing a photo of himself and the Israeli leader, using his nickname: Bibi, I love you but I don't agree with a damn thing you had to say.

They have had several long phone conversations this month, and Biden put forward a historically large ask: that Netanyahu agree to declare that the best solution for the long Israeli-Palestinian conflict is for the two peoples to have two states, side by side, living in peace.

On this issue, the Israeli leader used to say, Yes, but, pointing to his attempts over the years to negotiate with Arafat and his successor, Mahmoud Abbas. But the answer has become a firmer no. Netanyahu claims that the two-state solutionthe key to the Oslo Accords, signed by Israeli and Palestinians leaders in 1993 on the White House lawnwould endanger Israel, and the prime minister says the massacres and kidnappings of October 7 prove his point.

Netanyahu and many other Israelis contend that moving toward Palestinian statehood now would be a bizarre reward for the aggression by Hamas. But the fact is that Hamas does not seek a two-state solution. The groups Islamic radical leaders vow to eliminate the State of Israel, repeatedly claiming that Jews are colonialist strangers in the Holy Landdespite thousands of years of Jewish presence dating back to Abraham, the birth of monotheism, the kingdoms of David and Solomon, and the preachings of a Jew from Nazareth named Jesus.

Biden and the administrations Middle East expertswho until October 7 were working to foster a more moderate, pro-America region to include friendly relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia see the Gaza war as an opportunity to get back onto the peace train. They believe it is time to push aside the rejectionists led by Hamas and nurture a new Palestinian leadership that would be willing to live in peace alongside Israel.

Skeptics point to a reputable opinion poll, and many indications in Arabic-speaking media, that a large majority of Palestinians are proud of the October 7 attack. They are happy that Israels military and intelligence were humiliated. Yet Bidenand other optimists who believe that a positive future can emerge from a tragic, hate-filled presenthope that Saudi money, cooperation from other Arab nations in reconstructing Gaza, and abject humiliation for Hamas can combine to create a more cooperative environment.

Netanyahu refuses to consider, in detail, any new structure for Israel and the territories it captured in 1967. Oddly echoing the river to the sea phrase chanted by anti-Israel protesters around the worldwhere they call for a free Palestine to replace the Jewish statethe prime minister declares that complete control over security from the Jordan to the Mediterranean must be in Israels hands. His countrys occupation of Gaza ended in 2005, when the IDF and thousands of Jewish settlers departed; but the results included round after round of warfare. He claims that if the Israeli occupation of most of the West Bank were to end, then that territory would also become a hotbed of hostility.

In response, Biden recently said that a state of Palestine is necessary but could be demilitarized, as Netanyahu set out as a minimum demand. One thing the White House is not willing to declare publicly is Bidens opinionconfirmed by many Americans with whom he has spokenthat Netanyahu himself is one of the roadblocks making Israeli-Palestinian peace so difficult to achieve.

The man who is Israels longest serving prime minister is proud of the disagreements that he has had with Biden. Standing firm is popular among right-wing voters, who generally dont trust Arabs and want to keep the West Bank forever.

At a news conference in December, Netanyahu boasted that he had put the brakes on a flawed Oslo peace process and blocked establishment of a Palestinian state. Obviously referring to the U.S., the Israeli leader declared: Among friends, its important not to foster illusions.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
This column appears every other week in Fosters Daily Democrat and the Tuskegee News. This week, Guy Trammell, an African American man from Tuskegee, Alabama, and Amy Miller, a white woman from South Berwick, Maine, write about the importance of voting.

By Amy Miller

I am worried about who is going to go out to vote. Everyone is feeling disenfranchised about everything and none of the candidates seems wildly popular.

But lets think again. We live in a place where we can still speak the truth, even if not everyone does.

We live in a country where, so far, no one has told me what I can and cant write.

We have an imperfect country, but certainly a country with ideals and values worth saving. So whatever you may think of the choices of candidates, take a moment to realize that someone will win and that winning candidate will make a difference in the years head, if not decades or longer.

Four years ago, South Berwick residents worked with their friends in the majority Black city of Tuskegee, Ala., to put out a book on voting. It was one of the most important projects undertaken by residents of South Berwick and of our sister city.

One hundred people in each community were asked if it was important to vote and if they faced obstacles to voting. A few things became clear:

Almost everyone except the most cynical felt it was a privilege AND an obligation to vote since its one of the ways, although not the only way, we can effect change.

Guy Trammell Jr. and Amy Miller

While almost none of the people in South Berwick had faced barriers to voting other than weather or childcare - or knew of any other white person who had faced obstacles - many of the Tuskegee people interviewed talked about obstacles they or their loved ones had experienced, often violent obstacles.

That people are willing to fight for that right means they think it matters. It also means that we, as eligible voters, have an obligation to them to actually vote. And lest we forget, women also spent centuries demanding and fighting to be enfranchised.

As my favorite talk show host said, with an added word bleeped out, The work of making this world resemble one you prefer to live in is a lunchpail job day in and day out where thousands of committed, anonymous smart and dedicated people bang on closed doors .. and grind away on issues until they get a positive result.

Getting out the vote means oodles of people calling potential voters, knocking on doors, writing letters and badgering friends. If you arent excited enough by a candidate to get out and vote, or to work to get others to vote, just remember: not voting is a vote against democracy.

And if you want to hear from people who cherish the vote, you can see the interviews or an 8-minute video by searching Youtube for Together We Vote and Tuskegee.

You can also order the Together We Vote book with all 200 interviews for $20 at colorusconnected@gmail.com.

So go at it, folks. And remember, vote on Nov. 5.

By Guy Trammell Jr.

Following World War II, Dabney Montgomery of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group returned to his home in Selma, and attempted to register to vote. The registrar said he needed three white men to vouch for him. He returned with the requirement met, and was told he couldnt register because he didnt own property.

As he walked away, he witnessed a white soldier pass him and ask to be registered. The same registrar had the white soldier sign a form and pronounced him a registered voter. (Voting is a right, not a privilege!)

When my older brother, known as Trap (for Trammell), grew his afro, my mother assumed he did so to cushion the beatings he received from Southern law enforcement officers. He and others working in the Black Liberation Movement were breaking the law by distributing literature to teach southern Black people how to vote. (Voting is important!)

Where is power? Where is the ability to create real change?

The people living in Alabamas Black Belt have been primarily Black since the time of forced African labor during the plantation era. And even though the area has the richest soil for excellent agriculture production, it is an impoverished region. This is compounded by high infant and maternal mortality and skyrocketing health disparities.

With Alabamas tremendous space technology, incredible automobile industry, and advanced medical practice campuses, how have the problems in the Black Belt been addressed? Ok, lets see  hmm its hospitals have been closed; businesses have moved away, increasing unemployment; and economic and industrial development is taking place outside the Black Belt region.

So lets seewe have the resources and the ability to transform the region, but we are missing something. We are missing the will to do it.

This is exactly why we must vote. We have an excellent opportunity to affect change by sending a second African American to Congress who can represent the Black Belt region. In an unprecedented and historic ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has made a Congressional seat available that can speak to the needs of Black people in the Black Belt. We could not have imagined this in the 1960s.

But now we must vote - and encourage others to vote!

In a general election, possibly 60% of voters will actually vote. But this is a primary election, where only 20% usually vote. For there to be any hope of making a change on Tuesday, March 5, more voters must vote.

Other southern states are watching Alabama for hope that they also can make progress. It is our time to make a difference, and this can encourage others.

And by the way, Dabney Montgomery became Dr. Martin L. King Jr.s bodyguard for the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. He fought in WWII and for civil rights. So what will you do?

You can order the Together We Vote book with all 200 interviews for $20 at colorusconnected@gmail.com.

Amy and Guy can be reached at colorusconnected@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: Not voting is a vote against democracy. What will you do?
In just six months, more than 100,000 homes have enrolled in a program to create whats being called Canadas largest residential virtual power plant.

VPPs are networks of households and businesses that donate juice from small energy-producing or storage devices (think rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles, thermostats) to help support the power grid. Meanwhile, enrollees are paid for their contributions.

The Save on Energy Perks Program is a joint initiative between EnergyHub, a distributed energy resource management systems provider, and Ontarios Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

EnergyHub and IESO said that the power from these 100,000 homes can help deliver peak demand reduction of up to 90 megawatts  roughly the equivalent of taking the city of Kingston, Ontario (population of 132,485) off of the grid during peak times, according to Renewable Energy World.

The scale and speed of enrollment proves that electricity providers and customers can partner on initiatives that provide mutual benefit, said Erika Diamond, senior vice president of customer solutions at EnergyHub, per the publication.

Extreme weather and heavier demand for electricity are making it harder for utility companies in Canada to deliver reliable energy service, Renewable Energy World reported. Of course, this challenge is not unique to Canada.

Meanwhile, VPPs can help improve grid reliability and affordability, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, which also asserts that they can play an important role in decarbonization, electrification, and health and equity.

For instance, VPPs help address health impacts from power plant pollution by decreasing reliance on natural gas-fired peaker plants, which disproportionately impact the health of people of color and low-income communities, according to RMI.

Ontario is not the only place jumping onto the potential of VPPs. In 2022, solar company Sunrun launched the United States first VPP, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In Puerto Rico, thousands of households have signed up for a VPP program that could eventually turn into the largest VPP network in North America. And in August 2023, German company sonnen announced what it called Europes largest VPP, with a capacity of 250 megawatts.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
TomTex, the company behind the innovative biomaterial made out of shrimp shells, has secured $4.15 million in funding.

According to JustStyle, the fundraising for the Brooklyn-based startup has come from many key investors, including Happiness Capital, SOSV, Parley for the Oceans, and MIH Capital. These funds will be used to hire more workers and increase production.

Because leather in the fashion industry has been tied to the meat industry, which raises questions of animal cruelty and large-scale waste, companies have been searching for alternatives, such as vegan leather, cactus leather, and even fish leather made from the giant pirarucu in the Amazon.

However, these leathers still use plastic in the production of their materials, meaning they could take decades to decompose.

Just last year, TomTex, founded by textile researcher and designer Uyen Tran, discovered how to make leather from shrimp shells, mushroom waste, and other biomaterials, including coffee grounds. Because there is no plastic found in its products, TomTex plans to make clothing that is developed in collaboration with nature and 100% naturally biodegradable.

The new funding allows TomTex to increase the production of its shrimp shell materials, rolling out production for commercial orders. This marks an important milestone in 100% biodegradable material that uses less energy, decreases waste, and decreases plastic pollution.

TomTexs material allows the company to mimic fabrics like leather, pleather, suede, latex, and vinyl so they can be used in the production of many materials, from furniture to automobiles to clothing.

Investing in TomTex means investing in a scalable platform that has the potential to revolutionize industries while making a positive impact on our environment, said general partner at Happiness Capital Eric Ng, one of the investors.

As a major player in the global shrimp industry, Vietnam witnesses a massive waste of shrimp shells, aligning perfectly with TomTexs philosophy: Waste is the new luxury. Now is the time for TomTex to scale, said Tien Nguyen, a general partner at Earth Venture Capital. We are committed to this critical stage of the company, driven by a strong belief in the future of sustainable fashion.

We are fascinated by how nature recycles all its materials and we work in collaboration with our organic materials to develop textiles that contribute to circularity, reads TomTexs website. Its the only way forward.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Pork Chopped

In the future, the roasted pork shoulder or the slices of seasoned country ham you eat may well come from gene-hacked pigs.

At least that's what the scientists at animal genetics outfit Genus hope will come to fruition, New Scientist reports, as they work on perfecting CRISPR-edited pigs designed to withstand the disease porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which has caused billions in losses for pig farmers.

"I think by and large the farmers are quite excited to have it, because this is a fairly devastating disease," Genus' Global Director of Regulatory and External Affairs Clint Nesbitt told the magazine.

Welfare Check

Genus is now awaiting for approval from the Food and Drug Administration, per New Scientist. If given the green light, the pigs would enter the history books as the first ever gene-edited domestic animal for mass meat consumption.

Once approved, Genus would be selling sperm from the gene-edited pigs that carry the modified genes. Subsequent breeding, it says, will yield porkers that will be totally immune to PRRS.

PRRS is a viral disease that harms the reproduction process and pigs' respiratory system. It first emerged in late 1980s and has impacted pigs all over the world except for Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.

Farmers have tried to keep the disease in check with antibiotics, vaccines, isolating pigs, and cleaning and disinfecting pig breeding facilities. But industrial pig farms are often crowded and unhappy places that smell heavily of acrid feces, and hence they are breeding grounds for all sorts of diseases.

In the face of all that, genetics modification is a tempting solution. But animal welfare advocates say gene-edited farm animals will only cement the stranglehold that industrial farms have on the public and may even make the conditions worse for the animals.

"Keeping animals crowded together, and in stressful conditions, provides an ideal environment for pathogens to spread and evolve," anti-factory farm group Compassion in World Farming's research manager Catherine Jadav told New Scientist. "If PRRS-resistant pigs are used to perpetuate the current highly intensive model of pig farming, then other diseases will continue to develop  bringing disease after disease that requires new gene-edited animals."

More on gene-edited pigs: Gene-hacked Pig Liver Successfully Filters Blood of Human Patient
Ever since Lexington's District 47 Rep. Bryant Clark had been coming to the Mississippi State Capitol as a child and later as a lawmaker, symbols of the old Confederacy had loomed on flag poles, hallway corners and the very ceiling of the building.

Clark, whose father Robert was the first Black state legislator elected in the 20th century, told the Clarion Ledger some of those symbols went unnoticed to him and several others until this year.

Other vestiges were also placed by the state nearly 100 years ago in Washington, D.C.s Statuary Hall, displaying Confederate figures Jefferson Davis and James Z. George. The Kentucky-born Davis, a former U.S. Senator representing Mississippi, was most famous as the President of the Confederate States of America. George was a Confederate politician and military officer and the namesake of Mississippi's George County.

Now, Clark and several other legislators have filed bills to either replace a painting of two generals raising a Confederate battle flag with the states current flag of a magnolia flower or remove it entirely. Other bills filed by State Senators Derrick Simmons and David Blount, both Democrats serving Greenville and Jackson respectively, would aim to replace the two statues in Washington, D.C.

I've been here 21 years and quite honestly, I had never seen that until Sen. Bradford Blackmon had brought it to my attention, Clark said. All citizens have embraced the (new) flag, and I think it would be the ideal symbol to replace the Confederate picture with the Mississippi flag.

A painting of two confederate generals sits in the ceiling of the Mississippi State Capitol. Several Democratic lawmakers have filed bills to remove the painting, as well as confederate figures in Washington D.C.

Another legacy lawmaker, Blackmon, D-Lexington, who replaced his mother Barbara Blackmon this year in the Senate, said he filed a bill to replace the painting in the Capitols rotunda ceiling, which also displays other religious and historical images. He too had never noticed the painting.That bill, SB 2217, would direct the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to remove the painting and create a commission consisting of governor appointments, the director of the MDAH, a member of the Mississippi Arts Commission and several lawmakers, to decide what should replace it.Coming off a few years removed from taking down the state flag with the battle emblem inside of it, there's a lot more representations of Mississippi that can go up there, and that's what led me to draft a bill, said Blackmon.

Blount and Simmons both said they would vote for Blackmons bill, but they are heavily focused on lobbying to create a commission of their own to replace Davis and George with more modern representations of Mississippi.

See Shad White and Lynn Fitch feud Mississippi AG Lynn Fitch sues Auditor Shad White related to Brett Favre, welfare scandal

There are a number of changes that need to be made in Mississippi, Blount said. Its a problem.

Senate President Pro Tem. Dean Kirby, R- Pearl, who chairs the Rules Committee where both Senate bills were sent, told the Clarion Ledger he has spoken with Blackmon, and he will consider bringing his bill forward.

Its definitely something I will discuss with my committee, Kirby said.

Since Kirby took over the Rules Committee in 2020, no bills regarding the removal of Confederate paintings or statues or the establishing of commissions to discuss them have made it out of his committee.

According to MDAH records, when the current State Capitol was built in the early 1900s, the original ceiling did not include depictions of the confederate battle flag. The building was later renovated and restored in the 1980s, a project that cost the state $19 million, according to MDAH records.

In 2021, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, signed legislation to replace the states former flag, which also depicted the stars and bars of the Army of Northern Virginia battle flag flown during the Civil War, with one showing a magnolia flower.

The traditional Confederate battle flag never flew over Mississippi as a state flag during the Civil War. Mississippi's flag in that era featured a magnolia tree as its dominant symbol.

Mississippi State Capitol dome, exterior, with state flag in focus, in Jackson, photographed Thursday, July 13, 2023.

Over in the in the Mississippi House of Representatives, Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, told the Clarion Ledger he is sponsoring a bill to replace the two statues as well, but instead of creating a commission to oversee the replacement, he is asking the legislature to approve placing famous civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer and Hiram Revels, the first Black man in the United States Senate.

Those two Confederate leaders, I don't think are appropriate representations of the state of Mississippi, and I think we ought to have some statues of people who represent how we move forward, Johnson said.

However, these pieces of legislation may be falling on deaf ears.

Johnson said he had spoken with first year House Speaker Jason White, R-West, about his bill and that White responded positively toward the idea.

Friday morning, Whites Communications Officer Taylor Spillman said he had no such meeting. White declined to comment on whether he would support removing the painting in the rotunda or replacing Davis and George in Washington D.C.

"We are focusing on education and Medicaid right now," Spillman said.

Johnson bill, House Concurrent Resolution 12, was sent to the Rules Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Fred Shanks, R-Brandon.

When asked to speak on the bills introduced by Johnson and Clark, who also serves as his vice chair, Shanks declined to comment.

Sen. Walter Michel, R-Ridgeland, who vice chairs the Senate Rules Committee, said he would not vote to replace the paintings in the Capitol building.

I'm not interested in moving that, Michel said. I like it, it looks good. It's a beautiful painting up on top of the ceiling of the rotunda so I'm not interested in moving that bill.

Read other legislative pushes Senate, House GOP leadership pushing Medicaid bills that could help 210,000 in MS

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Confederate symbols removal pushed by MS Democrats
Elizabeth Sander is a Hearst Fellow for the Houston Chronicle covering suburban education, local politics and breaking news. She can be reached at elizabeth.sander@houstonchronicle.com.

Elizabeth spent the first year of her fellowship at the San Antonio Express-News, covering education and breaking news. She is a graduate of Columbia University's School of Journalism and Tufts University.

Find her previous work in The New York Times, San Antonio Express-News, Observer Media and Horse Illustrated.
DOLTON, Ill.  One person is in custody on Saturday night after a shooting involving Chicago police in Dolton.

Officers say they were conducting a follow-up investigation in the 15200 block of South Meadow Lane around 5:45 p.m. when they spotted a wanted offender. Police say an exchange of gunfire then broke out between officers and the offender.

According to police, nobody was struck by gunfire during the shootout. The offender was then taken into custody and police say a gun was recovered.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Police have not provided details on why officers were investigating in the area but a source told WGN-TV that the suspect may be connected to the fatal shooting of a security guard on Friday.

A resident in the area who spoke with WGN-TV described the moments he heard the exchange of gunfire.

The man said he was headed to work around 7:15 p.m. when he suddenly heard 15 to 20 shots.

I came up the block, it was Dolton police in a gunfight with somebody coming around the corner. As they came around the corner they were shooting back and forth at each other. And I tried to put my truck in reverse, but there was a car behind me, only thing I could do was lay on my front seat, the resident, who asked not to be identified, said.

VOTE: Tom Skillings most memorable moments

Officers say an investigation by the Investigative Response Team is now underway and the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days.

Investigators with Chicagos Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) are also conducting a comprehensive use of force investigation.

COPA notified the public about its investigation in a social media post on Saturday evening and asked anyone with information to contact the COPA office at 312-746-3609 or visit ChicagoCOPA.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
FILE - Socialist Party leader Pedro Nuno Santos, left, and Luis Montenegro, leader of the Social Democratic Party, greet each other before an election TV debate in Lisbon, Portugal, Feb. 19, 2024. The center-left Socialist Party and center-right Social Democratic Party have alternated in power for decades. But they are unsure of how much support they might need from smaller rival parties to form a government after the March 10 vote. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)

LISBON, Portugal (AP)  The official two-week campaign period before Portugals early general election began on Sunday, with the countrys two moderate mainstream parties once again expected to collect the most votes but with the expected rise of a populist party potentially adding momentum to Europes drift to the right.

The center-left Socialist Party and center-right Social Democratic Party have alternated in power for decades. But they are unsure of how much support they might need from smaller rival parties for the parliamentary votes needed to form a government after the March 10 vote.

Corruption scandals have cast a shadow over the ballot. They have also fed public disenchantment with the countrys political class as Portugal prepares to celebrate 50 years of democracy, following the Carnation Revolution that toppled a rightist dictatorship on April 25, 1974.

The election is being held after a Socialist government collapsed last November following a corruption investigation. That case brought a police search of Prime Minister Antonio Costas official residence and the arrest of his chief of staff. Costa hasn't been accused of any crime.

Also in recent weeks, a Lisbon court decided that a former Socialist prime minister should stand trial for corruption. Prosecutors allege that Jose Socrates, prime minister between 2005-2011, pocketed around 34 million euros ($36.7 million) during his time in power from graft, fraud and money laundering.

The Social Democratic Party has also been tainted by corruption allegations.

During the recent weeks of unofficial campaigning, a graft investigation in Portugals Madeira Islands triggered the resignation of two prominent Social Democrat officials. The scandal erupted on the same day the Social Democratic Party unveiled an anti-corruption billboard in Lisbon that said, It cant go on like this.

A housing crisis, persistent levels of low pay and unreliable public health services are other areas where the records of the two main parties are at issue.

Hot-button topics that have driven political debate and encouraged populist parties elsewhere in Europe, such as climate change, migration and religious differences, have largely been absent in Portugals campaign.

A five-year-old populist and nationalist party called Chega! (in English, Enough!) has made the fight against corruption one of its political banners. Portugal needs cleaning out, one of its billboards declares.

The party's leader, 41-year-old lawyer Andre Ventura, has been riding in third place in opinion polls and could become a kingmaker if his political influence grows. His party got just 1.3% of votes in a 2019 election, but jumped to 7.3% in 2022. It could collect more than double that this time, polls suggest, if a protest vote materializes.

A key question is whether the Social Democrats will end up needing the votes of Chega! to make up a parliamentary majority after eight years in opposition.

The Socialist Party could, as in the past, forge parliamentary alliances with the Portuguese Communist Party or Left Bloc party to take power.

Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos, his partys candidate for prime minister, is a lawmaker and a former minister for housing and infrastructure. Santos, 46, quit the previous government under a cloud over his handling of bailed-out flag carrier TAP Air Portugal and a dispute over the site of a new Lisbon airport.

Luis Montenegro, the 51-year-old Social Democrat leader aiming to become prime minister, has been a lawmaker for more than 20 years. He heads the Democratic Alliance, a grouping with two smaller right-of-center parties formed for the election.
Ukraine can still win the war against Russia, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said a day after the two-year anniversary of Russias invasion  but first, Congress needs to act.

Of course Ukraine can win. Of course Ukraine has already succeeded militarily in one of the most profound objectives it had, which was to keep the country from falling into Russian hands, Sullivan said during an interview on NBCs Meet the Press broadcast Sunday.

But Ukraine can only do so if it has the tools that it needs. And that is why the United States needs to deliver the aid package that passed on a massive bipartisan vote in the Senate  the House needs to step up and pass that, Sullivan added.

The Senate advanced a package earlier this month that would have delivered about $60 billion to Ukraine, which recently had to pull its forces back from the key city of Avdiivka. But the House broke for a two-week recess without passing the aid package.



We are looking at some setbacks, including in recent days, because Ukraine didn't have enough ammunition to defend the town of Avdiivka in the East. But at the end of the day, Ukraine still has the capacity if we provide them the tools and resources they need to be able to prevail in this war, Sullivan said.

[It] is up to us, the United States and our allies and partners, to deliver on our commitments, Sullivan added.
COVID-19 fundamentally changed how we work. It sent most of us home during the pandemic, only to discover that after it, many people prefer to work remotely. And that has been hard on the restaurant business, says one family.

The Knudsons have owned the Italian restaurant Casa Mia for more than 40 years at Eighth Avenue and Plum Street in downtown Olympia.

They previously had a plan to redevelop their property, but that vision was slowed by the pandemic then made it more urgent as state workers did not return to the office.

Theyre not coming back, says Bob Knudson.

His son, Evan Knudson, put a finer point on things in a letter to the city. The family also operates a restaurant on Martin Way, just west of College Street.

Fortunately for the Martin Way location, business has not only gotten back to pre-pandemic levels but has recently started to exceed the numbers from 2019, he writes. Contrast this with our Plum Street location, where sales are down approximately 35% since 2019 and were doubtful that well ever be able to recover to anywhere near the levels we once had.

Like his father, Evan says working remotely isnt helping.

By far the biggest negative factor that business owners and property developers on Plum Street are faced with is the movement away from in-person offices, he writes. Employees were forced to work remotely and as the pandemic subsided, they collectively decided that they didnt want to return to the office.

As a result, the Knudsons, working with Olympia-based Thomas Architecture Studios, a firm known for its mixed-use designs throughout downtown, has proposed a text amendment to Olympia city code that would allow drive-through businesses in mixed-use multifamily developments with ground floor commercial space.

Its only proposed for a section of Plum Street, between Union Avenue and Fifth Avenue.

The idea of a drive-thru in an apartment building might sound puzzling, but Bob Knudson says the combination is already at work at a Starbucks on Mill Plain Boulevard in Vancouver, Washington.

Drive-through uses are more valuable than storefront retail, so by allowing them as part of larger multi-family developments, it would encourage developers to invest in Plum Street, Evan writes. More residential development would lead to better future business viability.

Will state workers ever come back?

Bob Knudson believes the collection of buildings opposite his restaurant known as Town Square are largely vacant. A check of the state Department of Enterprise Services, the state agency that manages state property, shows there are a number of state office leases still in effect at Town Square, although it wasnt clear if workers were there or at home.

Kidder Mathews commercial real estate broker Evan Parker said its clear the state has consolidated and vacated space since the pandemic.

He has a 48,000-square-foot listing on Quince Street, near Plum Street and Union Avenue, that was once occupied by state workers. Using a conservative estimate of around three parking spaces per 1,000 square feet, he thinks the building was once home to about 140 workers. Now its not.

I think they have a valid concern, said Parker about the Knudsons.

The state Office of Financial Management shared this data: Of roughly 27,000 state workers who have what OFM called a duty station in Thurston County, more than 15,000 of them telework at least one day per week.

The data, too, shed light on further consolidation: The state set a goal of reducing leased office space by at least 20% for leases expiring in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

Our next goal is to reduce leased office space by at least 30% for leases expiring in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the OFM information reads.

The Knudsons arent the only downtown restaurant owners to notice this change. It prompted the owners of Three Magnets Brewing Co. to end food service in early 2023.

While evening and weekend business has been slowly bouncing back, weekday lunch and happy hour are virtually non-existent without state workers commuting into the area five days a week, the owners announced in a social media post, and that was a very important part of our revenue stream our entire business plan was built around.

How is the Casa Mia proposal proceeding?

The text amendment was approved by the Olympia Planning Commission 5-2 and by the citys land use and environment committee 2-1, according to city information and an update from Bob Knudson. It is now set to come before Olympia City Council in March.

The Olympia Planning Commission has sent a letter to council summarizing the debate.

There were two dissenting commissioners who felt, even with the amendments, that the recommended language did not address their concerns regarding health and safety of the proposal, the letter says.

One commissioner maintained safety impacts to people walking and biking outweighed the benefits of the code amendments. The second dissenting commissioner was concerned for the health of residents living above a drive-through with the added vehicle traffic and engine idling.

While design of entries, exits, and ventilation could help mitigate some of the concerns raised, it was the opinion of the dissenting commissioners that these efforts would not be sufficient, and that the negative externalities of the drive-throughs would outweigh the benefits of additional housing for the Plum St. area and the city of Olympia.

The planning commission also tweaked the geography of the proposal, wanting it to apply on Plum Street between Union Avenue and Eighth Avenue, although it apparently went back to the original area following the land use committee vote, according to Bob Knudson.

So, if the council approves the text amendment next month, what do the Knudsons do?

They could move forward with redevelopment of their property on Eighth Avenue, with or without a Casa Mia. But he added, The restaurant is not going anywhere, anytime soon.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. Photo by Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump painted a bleak picture Saturday of what would happen to the United States should voters reelect Joe Biden to the Oval Office in November.

The front-runner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, who made similar predictions ahead of the 2020 presidential election, told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference  known as CPAC  just outside Washington, D.C., that only he could provide America a better outcome.

Trump spoke as voters in South Carolina went to the polls there in the states presidential primary, which Trump is expected to win over his last major challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, though Haley has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday.

Theyll soon have us losing World War III. We wont even be in World War III, well be losing World War III with weapons the likes of which nobody has ever seen before, Trump told attendees at the conference, an annual gathering of conservatives. These are the stakes of this election. Our country is being destroyed. And the only thing standing between you and its obliteration is me. Its true.

Trump didnt discuss any bills he would attempt to pass if sent back to the White House or executive actions hed pursue, though he did say he would seek to enact the largest deportation in the history of our country and drill for more fossil fuels.

The first and most urgent action when we win will be the sealing of the border, stopping the invasion, drill baby drill, send Joe Bidens illegal aliens back home, Trump said. Well do all of those things and were gonna have to do them fast because no country can sustain whats happening in our country.

Trump rebuked the prosecutors that have brought civil and criminal cases against him since he lost the last presidential election.

That includes a case tied to the role Trump played inciting his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as lawmakers inside counted Electoral College votes to certify Biden as the winner of the presidential election. Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the start of his trial in federal district court in the District of Columbia on charges he tried to subvert the election, as he pursues his claims of presidential immunity.

We have to break out of the nightmare that were in, Trump said. And we have it in the grasp to make America richer and safer and stronger and prouder and more beautiful than ever before.

Border security

Trump continued his campaign theme of disparaging undocumented immigrants traveling to the United States, saying that they are destroying the country.

We have a border problem thats 20 times worse than what we had in 2016, Trump said. And well solve that one too. But its gonna have to be very strong action and its gonna have to happen fast before our country is just totally overwhelmed.

The Pew Research Center reported that the U.S. Border Patrol had 250,000 encounters with migrants crossing the Southern border in December 2023, the highest monthly total on record. Pew noted the numbers of encounters slowed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Maca Casado, director of Hispanic Media for Biden-Harris 2024, said in a written statement that Trump has consistently demonized Latinos for his political gain.

Just days ago, we learned about Donald Trumps plan to deploy combat soldiers to build mass detention camps and round up immigrants like cattle  and he thinks he can make a play for the Latino vote at CPAC of all places? she said.

Trump claimed that if he were still president, the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel wouldnt have happened and that Russia would have never invaded Ukraine, starting off the war thats lasted two years.

The attack on Israel would have never happened. Remember, Iran was broke. They were broke, Trump said. Ukraine would have never happened. I talked to (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin a lot and got along with him well.

Looking to general election

Trump also sought to rally his base during the speech, saying that the general election in November is crucial for him and his supporters.

For hardworking Americans, November 5 will be our new liberation day; but for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and sensors and imposters, who have commandeered our government, it will be their judgment day, Trump said.

When we win, the curtain closes on their corrupt reign and the sun rises on a bright new future for America, he added. Thats what we have to have. I believe its our last chance.

Trump mentioned the South Carolina Republican primary toward the end of his nearly 90-minute speech, saying that if he lost, he was going to blame the organizers of CPAC for having him give a speech the same day as voters were heading to the polls. He also called out a CPAC host, Mercedes Schlapp, who was director of strategic communications in the White House during the Trump administration.

So, now Im going to the place Im supposed to be, Im going to South Carolina, Trump said. Im supposed to be there.

And if I do poorly, Im gonna blame, Im gonna blame Mercedes. Forget about that. Im gonna blame Mercedes, Trump said. Because I am supposed to be there and Im not there. And if I do poorly, Im blaming everybody in this audience. But I think were going to do okay. And I just want to thank everybody.

Biden-Harris 2024 Rapid Response Director Ammar Moussa said in a written statement on Trumps CPAC speech that during Trumps four years in office America lost more jobs than any president in modern history, women in more than 20 states have lost the freedom to make their own health care decisions because Trump overturned Roe, and the MAGA wing of the Republican Party lost their damn minds putting Trumps quest for power over our democracy.

America already had the opportunity to choose if they wanted another four years of hell with Donald Trumps chaos, division, and crazy  they said no  and will again in November.

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The post In CPAC speech, Trump predicts losing World War III if he is not elected appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump painted a bleak picture Saturday of what would happen to the United States should voters reelect Joe Biden to the Oval Office in November.

The front-runner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, who made similar predictions ahead of the 2020 presidential election, told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference  known as CPAC  just outside Washington, D.C., that only he could provide America a better outcome.

Trump spoke as voters in South Carolina went to the polls there in the states presidential primary, which Trump is expected to win over his last major challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, though Haley has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday.

Theyll soon have us losing World War III. We wont even be in World War III, well be losing World War III with weapons the likes of which nobody has ever seen before, Trump told attendees at the conference, an annual gathering of conservatives. These are the stakes of this election. Our country is being destroyed. And the only thing standing between you and its obliteration is me. Its true.

Trump didnt discuss any bills he would attempt to pass if sent back to the White House or executive actions hed pursue, though he did say he would seek to enact the largest deportation in the history of our country and drill for more fossil fuels.

The first and most urgent action when we win will be the sealing of the border, stopping the invasion, drill baby drill, send Joe Bidens illegal aliens back home, Trump said. Well do all of those things and were gonna have to do them fast because no country can sustain whats happening in our country.

Trump rebuked the prosecutors that have brought civil and criminal cases against him since he lost the last presidential election.

That includes a case tied to the role Trump played inciting his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as lawmakers inside counted Electoral College votes to certify Biden as the winner of the presidential election. Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the start of his trial in federal district court in the District of Columbia on charges he tried to subvert the election, as he pursues his claims of presidential immunity.

We have to break out of the nightmare that were in, Trump said. And we have it in the grasp to make America richer and safer and stronger and prouder and more beautiful than ever before.

Border security

Trump continued his campaign theme of disparaging undocumented immigrants traveling to the United States, saying that they are destroying the country.

We have a border problem thats 20 times worse than what we had in 2016, Trump said. And well solve that one too. But its gonna have to be very strong action and its gonna have to happen fast before our country is just totally overwhelmed.

The Pew Research Center reported that the U.S. Border Patrol had 250,000 encounters with migrants crossing the Southern border in December 2023, the highest monthly total on record. Pew noted the numbers of encounters slowed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Maca Casado, director of Hispanic Media for Biden-Harris 2024, said in a written statement that Trump has consistently demonized Latinos for his political gain.

Just days ago, we learned about Donald Trumps plan to deploy combat soldiers to build mass detention camps and round up immigrants like cattle  and he thinks he can make a play for the Latino vote at CPAC of all places? she said.

Trump claimed that if he were still president, the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel wouldnt have happened and that Russia would have never invaded Ukraine, starting off the war thats lasted two years.

The attack on Israel would have never happened. Remember, Iran was broke. They were broke, Trump said. Ukraine would have never happened. I talked to (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin a lot and got along with him well.

Looking to general election

Trump also sought to rally his base during the speech, saying that the general election in November is crucial for him and his supporters.

For hardworking Americans, November 5 will be our new liberation day; but for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters, who have commandeered our government, it will be their judgment day, Trump said.

When we win, the curtain closes on their corrupt reign and the sun rises on a bright new future for America, he added. Thats what we have to have. I believe its our last chance.

Trump mentioned the South Carolina Republican primary toward the end of his nearly 90-minute speech, saying that if he lost, he was going to blame the organizers of CPAC for having him give a speech the same day as voters were heading to the polls. He also called out a CPAC host, Mercedes Schlapp, who was director of strategic communications in the White House during the Trump administration.

So now Im going to the place Im supposed to be, Im going to South Carolina, Trump said. Im supposed to be there.

And if I do poorly, Im gonna blame, Im gonna blame Mercedes. Forget about that. Im gonna blame Mercedes, Trump said. Because I am supposed to be there and Im not there. And if I do poorly, Im blaming everybody in this audience. But I think were going to do okay. And I just want to thank everybody.

Biden-Harris 2024 Rapid Response Director Ammar Moussa said in a written statement on Trumps CPAC speech that during Trumps four years in office America lost more jobs than any president in modern history, women in more than 20 states have lost the freedom to make their own health care decisions because Trump overturned Roe, and the MAGA wing of the Republican Party lost their damn minds putting Trumps quest for power over our democracy.

America already had the opportunity to choose if they wanted another four years of hell with Donald Trumps chaos, division, and crazy  they said no  and will again in November.

The post In CPAC speech, Trump predicts losing World War III if he is not elected appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. Attendees descended upon the hotel outside of Washington D.C., to participate in the four-day annual conference and hear from conservative speakers from around the world who range from journalists, U.S. lawmakers, international leaders and businessmen. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump painted a bleak picture Saturday of what would happen to the United States should voters reelect Joe Biden to the Oval Office in November.

The front-runner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, who made similar predictions ahead of the 2020 presidential election, told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference  known as CPAC  just outside Washington, D.C., that only he could provide America a better outcome.

Trump spoke as voters in South Carolina went to the polls there in the states presidential primary, which Trump is expected to win over his last major challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, though Haley has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday.

Theyll soon have us losing World War III. We wont even be in World War III, well be losing World War III with weapons the likes of which nobody has ever seen before, Trump told attendees at the conference, an annual gathering of conservatives. These are the stakes of this election. Our country is being destroyed. And the only thing standing between you and its obliteration is me. Its true.

Trump didnt discuss any bills he would attempt to pass if sent back to the White House or executive actions hed pursue, though he did say he would seek to enact the largest deportation in the history of our country and drill for more fossil fuels.

The first and most urgent action when we win will be the sealing of the border, stopping the invasion, drill baby drill, send Joe Bidens illegal aliens back home, Trump said. Well do all of those things and were gonna have to do them fast because no country can sustain whats happening in our country.

Trump rebuked the prosecutors that have brought civil and criminal cases against him since he lost the last presidential election.

That includes a case tied to the role Trump played inciting his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as lawmakers inside counted Electoral College votes to certify Biden as the winner of the presidential election. Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the start of his trial in federal district court in the District of Columbia on charges he tried to subvert the election, as he pursues his claims of presidential immunity.

We have to break out of the nightmare that were in, Trump said. And we have it in the grasp to make America richer and safer and stronger and prouder and more beautiful than ever before.

Border security

Trump continued his campaign theme of disparaging undocumented immigrants traveling to the United States, saying that they are destroying the country.

We have a border problem thats 20 times worse than what we had in 2016, Trump said. And well solve that one, too. But its gonna have to be very strong action and its gonna have to happen fast before our country is just totally overwhelmed.

The Pew Research Center reported that the U.S. Border Patrol had 250,000 encounters with migrants crossing the Southern border in December 2023, the highest monthly total on record. Pew noted the numbers of encounters slowed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Maca Casado, director of Hispanic Media for Biden-Harris 2024, said in a written statement that Trump has consistently demonized Latinos for his political gain.

Just days ago, we learned about Donald Trumps plan to deploy combat soldiers to build mass detention camps and round up immigrants like cattle  and he thinks he can make a play for the Latino vote at CPAC of all places? she said.

Trump claimed that if he were still president, the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel wouldnt have happened and that Russia would have never invaded Ukraine, starting off the war thats lasted two years.

The attack on Israel would have never happened. Remember, Iran was broke. They were broke, Trump said. Ukraine would have never happened. I talked to (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin a lot and got along with him well.

Looking to general election

Trump also sought to rally his base during the speech, saying that the general election in November is crucial for him and his supporters.

For hardworking Americans, November 5 will be our new liberation day; but for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and sensors and imposters, who have commandeered our government, it will be their judgment day, Trump said.

When we win, the curtain closes on their corrupt reign and the sun rises on a bright new future for America, he added. Thats what we have to have. I believe its our last chance.

Trump mentioned the South Carolina Republican primary toward the end of his nearly 90-minute speech, saying that if he lost, he was going to blame the organizers of CPAC for having him give a speech the same day as voters were heading to the polls. He also called out a CPAC host, Mercedes Schlapp, who was director of strategic communications in the White House during the Trump administration.

So now Im going to the place Im supposed to be, Im going to South Carolina, Trump said. Im supposed to be there.

And if I do poorly, Im gonna blame, Im gonna blame Mercedes. Forget about that. Im gonna blame Mercedes, Trump said. Because I am supposed to be there and Im not there. And if I do poorly, Im blaming everybody in this audience. But I think were going to do okay. And I just want to thank everybody.

Biden-Harris 2024 Rapid Response Director Ammar Moussa said in a written statement on Trumps CPAC speech that during Trumps four years in office America lost more jobs than any president in modern history, women in more than 20 states have lost the freedom to make their own health care decisions because Trump overturned Roe, and the MAGA wing of the Republican Party lost their damn minds putting Trumps quest for power over our democracy.

America already had the opportunity to choose if they wanted another four years of hell with Donald Trumps chaos, division, and crazy  they said no  and will again in November.

The post In CPAC speech, Trump predicts losing World War III if he is not elected appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump painted a bleak picture Saturday of what would happen to the United States should voters reelect Joe Biden to the Oval Office in November.

The front-runner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, who made similar predictions ahead of the 2020 presidential election, told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference  known as CPAC  just outside Washington, D.C., that only he could provide America a better outcome.

Trump spoke as voters in South Carolina went to the polls there in the states presidential primary, which Trump won over his last major challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, though Haley has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday.

Theyll soon have us losing World War III. We wont even be in World War III, well be losing World War III with weapons the likes of which nobody has ever seen before, Trump told attendees at the conference, an annual gathering of conservatives. These are the stakes of this election. Our country is being destroyed. And the only thing standing between you and its obliteration is me. Its true.

Trump didnt discuss any bills he would attempt to pass if sent back to the White House or executive actions hed pursue, though he did say he would seek to enact the largest deportation in the history of our country and drill for more fossil fuels.

The first and most urgent action when we win will be the sealing of the border, stopping the invasion, drill baby drill, send Joe Bidens illegal aliens back home, Trump said. Well do all of those things and were gonna have to do them fast because no country can sustain whats happening in our country.

Trump rebuked the prosecutors that have brought civil and criminal cases against him since he lost the last presidential election.

That includes a case tied to the role Trump played inciting his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as lawmakers inside counted Electoral College votes to certify Biden as the winner of the presidential election. Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the start of his trial in federal district court in the District of Columbia on charges he tried to subvert the election, as he pursues his claims of presidential immunity.

We have to break out of the nightmare that were in, Trump said. And we have it in the grasp to make America richer and safer and stronger and prouder and more beautiful than ever before.

Border security

Trump continued his campaign theme of disparaging undocumented immigrants traveling to the United States, saying that they are destroying the country.

We have a border problem thats 20 times worse than what we had in 2016, Trump said. And well solve that one too. But its gonna have to be very strong action and its gonna have to happen fast before our country is just totally overwhelmed.

The Pew Research Center reported that the U.S. Border Patrol had 250,000 encounters with migrants crossing the Southern border in December 2023, the highest monthly total on record. Pew noted the numbers of encounters slowed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Maca Casado, director of Hispanic Media for Biden-Harris 2024, said in a written statement that Trump has consistently demonized Latinos for his political gain.

Just days ago, we learned about Donald Trumps plan to deploy combat soldiers to build mass detention camps and round up immigrants like cattle  and he thinks he can make a play for the Latino vote at CPAC of all places? she said.

Trump claimed that if he were still president, the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel wouldnt have happened and that Russia would have never invaded Ukraine, starting off the war thats lasted two years.

The attack on Israel would have never happened. Remember, Iran was broke. They were broke, Trump said. Ukraine would have never happened. I talked to (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin a lot and got along with him well.

Looking to general election

Trump also sought to rally his base during the speech, saying that the general election in November is crucial for him and his supporters.

For hardworking Americans, November 5 will be our new liberation day; but for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and sensors and imposters, who have commandeered our government, it will be their judgment day, Trump said.

When we win, the curtain closes on their corrupt reign and the sun rises on a bright new future for America, he added. Thats what we have to have. I believe its our last chance.

Trump mentioned the South Carolina Republican primary toward the end of his nearly 90-minute speech, saying that if he lost, he was going to blame the organizers of CPAC for having him give a speech the same day as voters were heading to the polls. He also called out a CPAC host, Mercedes Schlapp, who was director of strategic communications in the White House during the Trump administration.

So now Im going to the place Im supposed to be, Im going to South Carolina, Trump said. Im supposed to be there.

And if I do poorly, Im gonna blame, Im gonna blame Mercedes. Forget about that. Im gonna blame Mercedes, Trump said. Because I am supposed to be there and Im not there. And if I do poorly, Im blaming everybody in this audience. But I think were going to do okay. And I just want to thank everybody.

Biden-Harris 2024 Rapid Response Director Ammar Moussa said in a written statement on Trumps CPAC speech that during Trumps four years in office America lost more jobs than any president in modern history, women in more than 20 states have lost the freedom to make their own health care decisions because Trump overturned Roe, and the MAGA wing of the Republican Party lost their damn minds putting Trumps quest for power over our democracy.

America already had the opportunity to choose if they wanted another four years of hell with Donald Trumps chaos, division, and crazy  they said no  and will again in November.

The post In CPAC speech, Trump predicts losing World War III if he is not elected appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Elizabeth Debicki accepted a Screen Actors Guild award for The Crown barefoot after her win took her by surprise.

The 33-year-old, who played Diana, Princess of Wales in the series, won the prize for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series at the Los Angeles ceremony at the weekend.

However, after climbing on to the stage to accept the award, Debicki admitted that her floor-length backless Armani gown was not accompanied by any footwear.

Truly, I was not expecting this, she said. People say that and I really am not. I dont really know what to say, so Im just going to wing it. I dont have any shoes on, she said.

The stars of The Devil Wears Prada: Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway reunite - George Pimentel/Shutterstock for SAG

Margot Robbie arriving at the event - Jordan Strauss

The Australian actress later explained to celebrity news outlet Extra TV that she had not been prepared to take to the stage.

I did have my shoes on but they werent fully on, she said. I didnt do a check on myself because I didnt expect to win an award. So, I didnt fully put my shoes on.

When I got to the stage they were flopping all over the place so I kicked them off.

Oppenheimer is a winner again

Oppenheimer continued its awards season success, with Irish star Cillian Murphy picking up the best actor prize, and the film winning for best cast in a motion picture.

Cillian Murphy won best actor for Oppenheimer - Matt Sayles/Shutterstock for SAG

The film also won best cast in a motion picture - Chris Pizzello

The event, held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, followed the longest strike in Sag-Aftra history.

It is thought to serve as a key indicator for the Academy Awards next month.

Lily Gladstone was named best actress for her role as Mollie Burkhart in Martin Scorseses Killers Of The Flower Moon, while DaVine Joy Randolph picked up the prize for best supporting actress for her role as Mary Lamb in The Holdovers.

Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Hannah Waddingham and Idris Elba kicked off the SAG Awards ceremony, each performing in the traditional I am an actor segment, telling the audience a personal story from when they were making it into the industry

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 Texas father was shot and killed in front of his family during an overnight home invasion, Houston police told news outlets.

The deadly break-in happened at a home on Houstons southwest side at about 3 a.m. Feb. 25, police told KPRC.

Investigators say multiple people made their way into the house while the man was home with his wife and children, KTRK reported.

The man told his wife to stay hidden in their bedroom and, as he stood up, an intruder in the hallway opened fire, police told the station. His wife and children were not hurt but witnessed their father be shot to death, according to officials.

Officials told KHOU that the children were small kids.

Police said there were three intruders, believed to be male, all wearing ski masks, KHOU reported.

Police dont have a description of the suspects or a suspect vehicle, but its early on in the investigation, Detective David Higgs told KPRC.

Officials have not said why the intruders targeted the home.

Man accidentally shoots, kills mom when he grabs gun to investigate noise, TX cops say

14-year-old home alone fatally shoots man seen pulling on door handles, Texas cops say

Man asleep in truck after fight with girlfriend fatally shoots accused thief: TX cops
Items visible from the front door of an unlicensed group home, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Houston. Marie D. De Jesus/Staff photographer One of the rooms in a permitted boarding home in southwest Houston called the Willing Workers Club, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Houston. Cities and counties currently do not have any criminal recourse against boarding homes that are being operated without a permit. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Residents in a Sugar Land neighborhood say they've complained to the homeowners association for years about an unpermitted group home, where nine people with "obvious signs of neglect" were found Friday morning.

Five people in the home were hospitalized for additional care, according to a previous report.

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Neighbors of a group home off New Village Lane in Sugar Land claimed to have seen "suspicious activity," with heavy traffic around the property, according to a KPRC Channel 2 report. This comes after Fort Bend County Sheriff's deputies discovered nine people requesting help from inside the group home on Feb. 23, according to a release by the sheriff's office.

The operator of the group home, Samatha Morris, 51, was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail in connection with a charge of operating a boarding house without a permit.

Justin McClure, who was one of the residents of the group home, told KPRC reporters many of the residents inside the home struggle with mental illness or are recovering from drug addiction.

Im just mentally disabled. Im staying here. Im staying here for almost two months now, and I know when we get taken good care of over here, its just, managers over there. One of them took a little break for a day and just came over here. McClure told the local Houston station.

According to state law, a group home is defined both as a facility that furnishes, in one or more buildings, lodging to three or more persons with disabilities or elderly persons who are unrelated to the owner of the establishment by blood or marriage. The homes offer basic services, such as meals and money management, but do not administer 24-hour care often provided by state-licensed assisted living facilities.

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As of Feb. 16, there were more than 230 group homes that were active in the Houston area, and more than 140 awaiting an annual inspection, according to a list from the Houston Permitting Center.

Group homes operating without oversight aren't new to the Houston area. In 2021, police fined dozens of boarding home operators who failed to get proper permits, including one man who racked up more than 70 arrest warrants at municipal court with about $74,000 in fees.

Boarding homes are not regulated by the state of Texas, so oversight falls to cities and counties. State law allows local governments to establish their own rules but does not require it.

The Houston City Council first adopted boarding home regulations in 2013. The council tightened the ordinance in 2018 after several fatal fires at unregulated homes.

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Obtaining a boarding home permit in Houston also requires a background check for operators and employees. Criminal convictions within the last five years of the application can be grounds for denial. The ordinance lists several crimes  including drug distribution, theft and various types of assault  that can disqualify an operator.

Fort Bend County officials deny permits to people with a criminal history as well.
In the wake of Reesa Teesa's viral videos about her ex-husband (left), experts are sharing signs that you're in a relationship with a pathological liar.

Dont be left asking: Who TF did I marry?

That was the question on Reesa Teesas mind after her husbands lies unfolded after she said I Do.

The Georgia womans shocking story of deceit captivated millions of viewers on TikTok earlier this week,

Reesas now-ex-spouse, named Legion, promised luxe vacations, forged documents and claimed to have a cushy corporate job when he was actually a temporary forklift driver.

The wild story left many viewers fearing that they may also be married to a pathological liar, prompting therapists to share the tell-tale signs to look out for.

Pathological lying is often a symptom of antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder, psychotherapist Marni Feuerman told HuffPost. A pathological liar uses lying to get what they want in a self-absorbed, manipulative and cunning manner.

Pathological liars are not to be confused with compulsive or habitual liars, who are not as sophisticated.'

Teesa believes her ex was a pathological liar. reesamteesa/Tiktok

So how can you spot a pathological liar to keep yourself from getting painfully stuck in their web of lies?

1. It feels too good to be true, it probably is

Signs you may be dealing with a compulsive liar may emerge slowly in your awareness because in the beginning, the person may confabulate good, exciting things to draw you into their orbit. They love bomb you, psychologist Debra Campbell told HuffPost.

Theres a part of you that wants it to be true; youre dazzled for a while, she continued. Then gradually little inconsistencies emerge, maybe over nothing things where you find yourself puzzled.

Titled Who TF did I marry? the multi-part TikTok saga has hooked millions of viewers. reesamteesa/Tiktok

2. You find it near impossible to verify supposed facts theyve given about their life

A pathological liar may dodge questions about their past, or give vague details that cant be confirmed.

They may also claim to no longer speak to their family, which is a little suspect, Kathryn Smerling, a psychotherapist, told HuffPost.

In their stories, they may also change details when bringing them back up again  their narrative is inconsistent, the expert added.

Experts reveal the tell tale signs of a pathological liar so romantics dont get suck in their web of fibs. ryanking999  stock.adobe.com

3. They get defensive when you point out an inconsistency

They turn the tables by shifting blame onto the individual questioning them, attributing fault and casting doubt on your judgment, marriage and family therapist Sheri Meyers told HuffPost.

This manipulation can induce a sense of gaslighting, leaving you questioning the validity of your reality and conclusions. Pathological lying can be part of an abusive relationship pattern.

4. They dismiss your feelings

In addition to defensiveness, dismissiveness is a tell-tale sign.

The experts say that if you express hurt after youve caught a pathological liar concocting a fiction, theyll disregard your feelings.

Once you discern a regular pattern of lying behavior in a partner, youre bound to feel continual pain, stress, and insecurity, Feuermann said.

5. Trust your gut.

Our body sends us danger and safety signals all the time and it usually starts in our stomach. Are you getting more gastro issues than normal? marriage and family therapist Erin Pash told the outlet.

Our empathy centers cant work when someone is lying and that shows up as nausea, indigestion and other just uncomfortable feelings in our stomachs that could be telling you a lot if you just pay attention.

Experts say that being incapable of telling the truth is a red flag in a relationship. bnenin  stock.adobe.com

Feuerman said truth is a basic requirement for a healthy relationship  the ultimate red flag, then, is someone who is a chronic liar.

She added: If your partner is incapable of telling the truth  be it due to pathology or habit  its time to move on.
(NEXSTAR)  In just a few weeks, most of the U.S. will lose an hour of sleep when the clocks jump ahead an hour (or you reset them manually) to mark the start of daylight saving time.

The sun will rise later, but well also see later sunsets  a pleasant change if youve been driving home from work in the dark for the last few months.

If some lawmakers have their way, it could be the last time we have to adjust our clocks by an hour. So what would happen if we stopped changing the clocks twice a year?

Daylight hours

One of the most obvious changes wed see if we locked the clocks would, of course, be the amount of daylight we experience.

Lets use Chicago as an example. When daylight saving time begins in March, sunrise will shift from 6:12 a.m. to 7:10 a.m., and the sun will set at 6:52 p.m. instead of 5:51 p.m. Through the spring and summer months, the city will see sunrises as early as 5:15 a.m. and sunsets as late as 8:30 p.m.

Daylight saving time: Why are we still changing the clocks?

If we elected to stay on permanent standard time (the time we observe during the winter months), Chicagoans would have an early wake-up come summertime, with the sun rising as early as 4:15 a.m. Theyd also find relatively early sunsets, with the latest happening around 7:30 p.m.

If March is the last time we change the clocks (meaning we stay on daylight saving time permanently), come winter, the sun would rise well after 8 a.m. in Chicago. But, the sun would never set before 5 p.m., a potentially more favorable option compared to sun setting close to 4 p.m. at times during winter.

What happened last time

As nice as it may sound, permanent daylight saving time hasnt always gone well in the U.S. When we tried the practice in the 1970s, it was initially well-received. But, when winter came, parents grew concerned as their children went off to school in the dark. (Remember, sunrises in Chicago wouldnt happen until 8 a.m. or later under year-round daylight saving time.) After scrutiny, we went back to observing standard time for four months per year, as we do now.

The biannual practice of changing the clocks hasnt always been well-received either. In the 1910s, when the U.S. first observed it as a wartime measure, farmers were quick to point out the negatives. Since they largely operated based on the sun, not the clock, they found themselves waiting longer into the day for dew to evaporate off crops, or for the cows to be ready for milking after daylight saving time began. Farmers are credited with fighting back against the practice, which was later overhauled by Congress.

Daylight saving time: Why attempts to make the practice permanent failed

While were decades out from both experiences, the arguments still hold true. Winters would be darker if we stick on daylight saving time year-round, and those who rely on the sun for certain aspects of their jobs could be impacted by ending (or not ending) the practice.

Health consequences

If we stopped changing the clocks twice a year, regardless of if we do it in March or November, there could be some health benefits.

Dr. Seema Khosla, medical director for the North Dakota Center for Sleep, previously explained to Nexstar that changing the clock puts us out of alignment with our natural circadian rhythm.

You know, all of a sudden, were changing our time by an hour right? she explains. Its darker more in the morning and its later in the evening and that kind of disrupts our  bodys natural circadian cycle.

Are you storing your ketchup the wrong way?

Research has found that there are more reported car crashes on the Monday after daylight saving time, when we lose an hour of sleep. Specifically, a 2020 study found the risk of a fatal traffic accident rose by 6% in the U.S. after the clocks spring forward. Studies have also shown a small increase in heart attacks after the start of daylight saving time in March, followed by a small decrease in November when the clocks change again.

It isnt all negative, though. The extra hour of daylight we experience in the evenings during winter can be beneficial, especially for those dealing with seasonal affective disorder, according to Dr. Beth Verdone of Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in New York.

Which is better? Permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time?

It depends on who you ask.

Multiple lawmakers, both on the state and federal level, argue that permanent daylight saving time would increase time in the sun, cut crime, improve the economy, and benefit our mental health.

Are married couples happier than singles? Heres what the research says

Health experts say permanent standard time is the better option, citing the health consequences mentioned above.

So will it happen?

Regardless of which side of the clock you stand on, we likely wont be ditching the practice anytime soon.

Many states have introduced or passed legislation to observe daylight saving time permanently. However, under current federal law, states can only independently decide to observe standard time year-round, as Hawaii and most of Arizona have.

In order for any of those states to observe daylight saving time all year, Congress needs to take action. There were multiple bills introduced last year to do just that, but all three have stalled in committees despite bipartisan support.

So for now, be prepared to set your clock ahead an hour when daylight saving time begins on March 10 and set it back on November 3.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was arrested in California for shooting and killing another man in D.C.

MPD said that officers responded to the 900 block of Shepherd St. NW just after 2:40 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 12 after gunshots were heard there.

Officers found 32-year-old Jeremy Dewayne Johnson of Southeast D.C., who had been shot.

MPD said that he died there.

DC police: Man sets himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy

On Saturday, officials with the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office in California arrested 37-year-old Kyle Britton of Southeast, D.C., in Millbrae, California.

Officials arrested him on a warrant from the D.C. Superior Court that charged him with second-degree murder while armed.

MPD said that Britton would be extradited and returned to D.C. to face charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man whom police said set himself on fire outside of the Israeli Embassy in Northwest D.C. on Sunday died as the result of his injuries.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said that at about 1 p.m., officers were dispatched to the embassy on International Drive to help the United States Secret Service (USSS). The man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after responders put out the fire.

MPD said the man, 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell of San Antonio, Texas, died at the hospital.

The Washington Post reported that officials shared a video online that Bushnell seemed to post. In the video, Bushnell identified himself as a member of the U.S. armed forces. The Post reported that he shouted Free Palestine as he burned.

According to The Posts report, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed that an active duty airman was involved in the incident.

Metro police: Teen in serious condition after being shot at Anacostia Station

MPDs Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians were initially requested to investigate a suspicious car that may be connected to the man, but the car was cleared with no hazardous materials found.

The Embassy of Israel in D.C. provided DC News Now with a statement saying:

On Sunday, 2/25, at around 1 PM, a man set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The man is unknown. No Embassy staff were injured and are safe. Statement from the Embassy of Israel

MPD was working with the USSS and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to investigate the incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Clay County seniors have a unique opportunity to secure a 2-year college scholarship valued at $8,000, thanks to Superintendent Broskies collaboration with Florida Prepaid.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

With the deadline fast approaching, eligible seniors are encouraged to submit their entries by Friday, February 23, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. to the county office located at 900 Walnut Street, Green Cove Springs, Florida.

The scholarship winners will be announced by the end of March.

For official rules and detailed information about the scholarship criteria, interested students can access the links provided. Any inquiries regarding the entry packets can be directed to Terri Dennis, Coordinator of Communications, at terri.dennis@myoneclay.net.

This initiative underscores the districts commitment to supporting students in their pursuit of higher education, offering them a valuable opportunity to alleviate the financial burden of college expenses.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

[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.
Nikki Haley is aiming to remind Trump that he has not fully captured the Republican party just yet.

Nikki Haley is aiming to remind Trump that he has not fully captured the Republican party just yet. Illustration: Marcus Peabody/Getty Images

Losing South Carolina is almost always a bad omen for presidential hopefuls and defeat in a candidates home state is viewed as irrevocable. But as the last Republican standing between Donald Trump and the Republican party nomination, Nikki Haley thrilled supporters on Saturday by deftly capitalizing on her small but consistent show of support from voters desperate for an alternative.

Trump was declared the winner within one minute of polls closing in the Palmetto State, an unsurprising but nevertheless stinging rebuke for Haley at the hands of the voters who twice elected her governor.

Related: Trump defeats Haley: South Carolina 2024 primary results in full

That is really something, Trump told supporters in Columbia, the states capital. This was a little sooner than we anticipated.

It was Haleys fourth consecutive loss this primary season. With the odds  and history  weighted heavily against her, she refused to bow out. Addressing supporters at a primary night party in Charleston, Haley conceded to Trump, but said it was clear from the vote that a significant share  perhaps as much as 40%  of Republicans were not looking to crown the king.

I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run, Haley said. Im a woman of my word.

The chandeliered ballroom erupted in applause and chants of Nikki!

These voters voices, and donations, are fuelling her long-shot bid, giving it life beyond South Carolina, a winner-take-all state. Her support will translate into little more than a handful of delegates at most, but it could achieve something else: reminding Trump that he has not fully captured the Republican party just yet.

Haley, a former accountant, said she knew the math on Saturday did not add up to a victory. But, like the Republicans Cassandra, she warned: I dont believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden.

With most of the results tallied on Saturday night, Haley had captured just under 40% of the vote. I know 40% is not 50%, but I also know that 40% is not some tiny group.

The risk for Republicans is that some of those voters, like Kathy Aven, say they will not support Trump in November.

Even if she drops out, Im voting for Nikki, said Aven, moments after Haley addressed her supporters on Saturday night. If all I have is Biden or Trump, Im voting for Nikki.

According to exit polls, 78% of Haley voters in South Carolina said they would be dissatisfied if Trump was the nominee; 82% said he would be unfit for the presidency if convicted of a felony; and just 4% believe he is physically and mentally fit to be president. She performed best among independent voters, those with an advanced degree, and those who believed Biden was legitimately elected president in 2020.

But as she continues to exasperate Trump and his allies, Haleys own dilemma was laid bare in South Carolina. The Tea Party governor, who was once a rising star in Republican politics, is now an avatar of the anti-Trump resistance for her refusal to kiss the ring.

And yet among those voters in the state who still like Haley, many love Trump more.

He is the best president in my lifetime, said John, who declined to provide his last name, after casting his ballot for Trump at the main branch of the Charleston county public library.

I was a big Nikki fan. I still am, actually. I thought she was a wonderful governor of South Carolina, he continued. But I have the template for a guy that served four years as my president, and I know how I felt under Trump. I love Nikki as a governor. I love Trump as my president.

In her speech on Saturday, Haley vowed to continue telling hard truths until she is faced with her own hard truth about the path forward. Standing before voters in the state that raised her, Haley proved that she is not done fighting and is scheduled to visit the critical state of Michigan in the coming days.

Amid her losing streak, that perseverance will remain memorable.

Hours earlier, Haley accompanied her mother, a naturalized US citizen born in India, to the polls to cast a vote for her daughter who would be the first female president of the United States.

I am grateful that today is not the end of our story, Haley said.
The News

Russian President Vladimir Putin will roll over Ukraine in the coming months if the U.S. Congress does not quickly pass more assistance to support Kyivs war effort, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. told Semafor following his trip to Ukraine.

If we pull the rug out from under them, thats going to be on us, not on the Ukrainians, Bennet said in an interview on Sunday. And it will be the most shameful thing that well have done, I think, in my lifetime.

Bennet was part of a congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that traveled to Lviv, Ukraine, late last week for the grim two-year anniversary of Russias war. The group met with Ukrainian military leaders and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who told the senators that his country can win the war if the U.S. approves more assistance, Bennet said. He declined to specify how Zelenskyy defined victory.

He felt very strongly that if we continued our support and therefore the world continued its support, that Ukraine could actually win this war and that the war could end on terms that were noble from the Ukrainian peoples perspective, Bennet said.

Know More

Ukrainian officials also told the lawmakers that they wouldnt have had to withdraw troops from Avdiivka if there werent uncertainty over U.S. assistance, echoing comments made by Biden administration officials. Bennet warned that the stalled aid package is not only causing Ukrainian soldiers to ration ammunition now, but is also making it more difficult for military leaders to cement war plans for the coming year.

The Colorado Democrat also blamed Putin directly for the recent death of jailed Russian opposition Alexei Navalny, saying his killing was meant to send a message to Western nations.

You would have to be completed deluded to think that his assassination of Navalny is not a complete fuck you  if youll excuse the expression  to the West because of our dithering on getting this aid done, Bennet said.

He thinks that hes winning, not on the Ukrainian battlefield, but I think he thinks hes winning on the divisions in our domestic politics, Bennet said, blaming a deeply counterproductive strain of isolationism in the Republican Party for hindering Ukraine assistance.

Morgans view

Supporters of Ukraine aid are trying to increase the pressure on the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to take up the foreign aid package recently passed in a bipartisan vote by the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson has pumped the brakes on the measure, which includes $60 billion in Ukraine assistance.

Bennet told me that he planned to spend Sunday calling House lawmakers to get their sense of how this can move forward. Schumer indicated on CNN that he would brief Johnson on the trip and called on the speaker to follow their lead and visit Ukraine.

We all understand the difficult political dynamics the speaker is in. We all understand that. But none of this can be an excuse for not delivering here, Bennet said.

The path forward for U.S. assistance is deeply uncertain. A growing number of House Republicans oppose more U.S. funding for Ukraine, though its widely believed that a foreign aid bill would pass if it were put on the floor for a vote.

Those pushing for aid argue that if Russia were able to overrun Ukraine, Putin would be emboldened to threaten NATO members, which would thereby draw the U.S. into a direct conflict with Russia. Opponents, meanwhile, argue that the U.S. should be spending more resources to solve domestic issues (like border security) or focusing more on threats from China.

Further complicating matters is doubt about Ukraines ability to claw back more territory. As the Ukraine war enters its third year, Zelenskyys optimistic view of the path forward is not widely shared. Some Western officials and analysts believe that the best case scenario for Ukraine would be to hold the line this year, the New York Times reported.

The likely scenario is that this remains a slog in both directions and that neither side makes a breakthrough, Michael OHanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told me last week.

While success is a relative term at this point, OHanlon said Ukraine, supported by U.S. military aid, could make some small territorial gains and create a sense of momentum that facilitates a favorable peace process.

During an appearance at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, who has opposed more U.S. aid to Ukraine, argued that theres no clear end point to the war and that the U.S. cant produce enough munitions to support wars in Europe and the Middle East and potentially a contingency in East Asia.

The View From the white house

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan insisted Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press that of course Ukraine can win the war. Sullivan also said on ABC that Johnson indicated to him that he would like to get the funding for Ukraine and that hes trying to figure out a way to do it.

Notable

Schumer tried to assure a Ukrainian drone commander stationed in eastern Ukraine on a phone call last week, the Washington Post reported.
Several Democrats took to social media Saturday night to poke fun at former President Donald Trump following his victory in the South Carolina Republican primary election, with some even encouraging his last major GOP rival to stay in the race.

The primary was called for the former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner just moments after polls closed Saturday night. Trump celebrated saying he looked forward to telling President Biden in November: "Joe, youre fired."

In a statement following the news of Trump's victory over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Biden insisted that "Every day, Americans are reminded of the threat Donald Trump poses to our future as Americans grapple with the damage he left behind."

Biden specifically took aim at Trump over the issue of abortion, saying the former president is "ripping away a fundamental constitutional right women had in this country for 50 years."

TRUMP WINS SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY AGAINST HALEY IN HER HOME STATE, MOVES CLOSER TO CLINCHING GOP NOMINATION

In a statement following the news of Trump's victory over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, President Biden insisted that "Every day, Americans are reminded of the threat Donald Trump poses to our future as Americans grapple with the damage he left behind."

"We are still rebuilding the economy after Trump lost millions of good-paying jobs and sold out working families to give himself and his wealthy friends handouts," Biden added. "And Trump is promising to once again use the presidency for his own revenge and retribution after January 6 stained our collective consciousness."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Reacting to the news of Trump's win, Victor Shi, the youngest elected delegate for Joe Biden in 2020, wrote on X, "Would love if mainstream media also stated pointing out the fact that President Biden won South Carolina by more than 97% of the vote and that almost 60% of Nikki Haley voters said in exit polls that theyd vote against Trump today."

"Trump is weak and he will lose," Shi added.

In a follow-up post, Shi insisted that Trump "hasnt even surpassed 60% of the vote today" and that "he's in a weak position."

"The Republican Party is in disarray. Democrats are united behind President Biden," Shi said.

Democratic political strategist Adam Parkhomenko also weighed in following Trump's victory, writing in a post to X, "Things are not going well at the Trump event in South Carolina."

Parkhomenko's post included a clip of Trump welcoming South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham to the stage as he gave his victory remarks. In the clip, Graham could be seen walking to the mic as the crowd of Trump supporters booed the senator.

Josh Marshall  the founder and editor-in-chief of Talking Points Memo, a liberal political news and opinion website  penned an article titled "Face It: This is a Weak Showing for Trump in South Carolina."

In the article, Marshall wrote, "Im not going to speculate what it means for the general election. But this is a lot of persistent opposition for a candidate who has always been running as a de facto incumbent."

TRUMP 'REALLY NOT THINKING ABOUT' HALEY AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA VICTORY, SAYS HE'S FOCUSED ON BEATING BIDEN

"Even if you set that de facto incumbency aside, its quite a lot for a candidate who is, whatever technicalities you want to get caught up in, the presumptive nominee. 40% of Republican primary voters are still showing up to say they dont want Trump even when they know theyre definitely going to get him," he added.

Former President Donald Trump gestures to supporters during an election night watch party at the State Fairgrounds on February 24, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Others are looking to Haley to stay in the race to compete with Trump.

During an appearance on CNN, Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said he believes Haley should stay in the race against Trump.

"I believe Nikki Haley should stay in the race," Clyburn told CNN's Jake Tapper.

Clyburn's comments came after California Gov. Gavin Newsom told MSNBC Saturday during an interview that will air Sunday that he believes Haley is one of the Democratic Party's "better surrogates" for making the case against Trump.

"I don't know why Democrats would want her out of the race," Newsom told the outlet. "She's one of our better surrogates. I mean, she's defining the opposition to Trump credibly, effectively."

"She's making points I'm applauding every single day," he added.

Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during her primary election night gathering at The Charleston Place on February 24, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Despite many Republican calls for Haley to drop out of the race, the former UN ambassador said Saturday night that she isn't going anywhere. Haley had pledged to stay in the race even if she lost the Palmetto State, and she said she's sticking with that.

"Im a woman of my word. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden," she told supporters gathered at a watch party in Charleston.

Fox News projected Saturday shortly after polls closed that Trump will win the state's GOP primary. Trump has three times as many delegates as Haley; he will win up to 50 more tonight.

But Haley intends to keep the race going through Super Tuesday. "Were headed to Michigan tomorrow. And were headed to the Super Tuesday states throughout all of next week," she said.





Original article source: Democrats react to Trump GOP primary victory in South Carolina: 'He's in a weak position'
18 January 2024, Baden-Wurttemberg, Stuttgart: A circle is made around February 29 on a calendar page with a red pen. The year 2024 is a leap year and has 366 days. (Photo by Bernd Weibrod/picture alliance via Getty Images)

We are closing in on arguably the most special day of 2024.

Holidays such as Halloween and the Fourth of July may lead to more excitement. Days hosting major events such as Super Bowl Sunday or Drinksgiving may draw more people out to social events. Religious holidays may result in more time spent with family.

But theres no day as singular as Feb. 29, or Leap Day, because it is the only day that you dont get every year. The world gets just one every four years. That means if you live to see 100, you are getting only 25 Leap Days at most.

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Why is there a Leap Day?

The Earths rotation around the sun is around 365.25 days, or 365.2422 to be even more precise.

The normal year has 365 days to best mimic that rotation. But if you add up four rotations around the sun, youd end up with 1461 days  not the 1460 youd get from four 365-day years. Therefore, a Leap Day is added to the calendar every four years to keep the calendar correctly aligned.

Texas A&M professor Kevin Krisciunas told the Texas A&M Foundation in 2020 that Leap Day dates back to the Ancient Romans and Julius Caesar. Caesar with the help of astronomers reinvented the calendar, including a Leap Day every four years.

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But it was updated again in the late 1500s after it was discovered Caesars calculations werent perfect, Krisciunas said. Pope Gregory XIII called for changes to the calendar, now called the Gregorian calendar, including the Century Rule.

In years that end in 00 and the first two numbers arent divisible by 4, there will not be a Leap Day. That means 2100 will not have a Leap Day.

Why is Feb. 29 Leap Day?

When Caesar made the change to the calendar, he didnt create a Feb. 29. Instead, Feb. 24 lasted 48 hours long, according to TIME Magazine. It was called Bisextile Day. At the time, February was the last month in the calendar, which is why the Leap Day was tacked on during the month.

Implementing the Gregorian calendar took decades. Feb. 29 didnt become the official Leap Day date in English Law until the Calendar (New Style) Act in the 1750s, which TIME Magazine said kick-started the international recognition of the day as Leap Day.

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Are there places that dont celebrate Leap Day on Feb. 29?

Yes. Countries that use the Iranian calendar use a different system to calculate Leap Day.

What major events have happened on Leap Day?

Arrest warrants were put out for the first three women accused of witchcraft in Salem, Mass., in 1692.

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The Jay Treaty, an agreement between the United States and the United Kingdon, took effect in 1796.

Hattie McDaniel won the Oscar for Supporting Actress in a Movie for her performance in Gone with the Wind at the 12th Academy Awards in 1940. She was the first African-American to win an Oscar.

The Siege of Sarajevo ended after three years and 10 months in 1996.

Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was removed from office in 2004 by a coup.

President Joe Biden won the South Carolina Primary four years ago, a moment considered to be a turning point for his campaign.

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MORE YOU KNOW: Why Houston has so many potholes, explained

What happens when you are born on Leap Day?

Leap Day babies are called Leaplings. They celebrate their birthdays in non-Leap Years on Feb. 28 or March 1.

Leaplings wont have to worry about that this year.

Are there any traditions or myths associated with Leap Day?

There arent any notable myths or characters celebrated on Leap Day in the United States  unless you count Leap Day William, a character created for the Leap Day episode of the Emmy-winning sitcom 30 Rock who emerges from the Mariana Trench to trade in childrens tears for candy every four years. But there are plenty of fun and interesting traditions from around the globe.

Two friends in France in 1980 created the La Bougie du Sapeur, a satirical newspaper that runs only on Leap Day. Conde Nast Traveler reports it distributed over 2 million copies in 2020.

Bachelors Day is an Irish tradition for Leap Day in which women propose to men instead of the traditional other way around. The concept is a key element to the plot of the 2010 movie Leap Year starring two-time Golden Globe winner Amy Adams and Matthew Goode.

But Ireland isnt the only place where gender norms for proposals are flipped on Leap Day. Similar traditions occur in Finland, England and Scotland.
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Sarasota County Sheriffs Office is searching for a man who entered a bank and demanded money from a teller Saturday morning.

Deputies responded to the Fifth Third Bank, located at 6265 Tuttle Avenue along University Parkway after the robbery occurred around 10:52 a.m.

Coast Guard, deputies search for missing paddleboarder last seen off of Dunedin

The man allegedly left the bank and ran northbound towards University Parkway after taking an undisclosed amount of money.

No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriffs offices Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900 or Crime Stoppers at 941-366-8477.

This remains an ongoing investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
SOUTH HAVEN TOWNSHIP, MICH. (WOOD)  The Van Buren County Sheriffs Office says a woman who was previously reported as missing from South Haven Township has been found safe

On Saturday, the sheriffs office said family and friends told investigators they were worried about 42-year-old Stacey Marie Brugh because she had not been in touch with them for days.

The sheriffs office released a statement Sunday morning that Brugh had been found safe and is not in any danger. She is reported to be doing well.

The Van Buren County Sheriffs Office thanks the public for their assistance in the search.

.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Mayor Eric Adams put us on a solid footing so that we have a better future outlook for New Yorkers, said Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom following the mayors decision to rollback planned budget cuts to city agencies and programs. There will be less money to go towards migrant services. The Deputy Mayor explains why less money is needed in her sit down on PIX on Politics.

Watch the video player for the full interview.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Harrisburg has been the capital of Pennsylvania since 1812 and would be the third city to serve as the Commonwealths capital (Lancaster and Philadelphia).

But like how Harrisburg hasnt always been the state capital it also wasnt named Harrisburg either.

Harrisburg got its name from John Harris Jr. who founded the city in 1791 but the city wasnt named Harrisburg.

Did you know: This Pennsylvania city was the first United States Capital

According to Dauphin County, Harrisburg was called Louisburg before being changed to the current name.

Louis XVI engraving 1868 (Getty Images)

So where did Louisburg come from, well it was named after French King (Dauphin) Louis XVI.

King Louis, according to Chateau De Versailles, would face immense pressure as the leader of France because his reign took place during the French Revolution.

The king did aid America during the American Revolution and is honored by a county named in his honor, Dauphin County, in which present-day Harrisburg is located.

Although the name of the area was known as Louisburg, this name had a short run and would be changed in 1791.

King Louis XVI was given the throne by his grandfather, Louis XV, and the kingdom that was given to the new king was already weakened and divided.

Chateau De Versailles states that Louis XVI would meet his demise in 1793 via a guillotine and was the final king to live in the Palace of Versailles.

Versailles and west of Paris from sky (Getty Images)

Swan posing in the lake in front of Chateau de Versailles. (Getty Images)

Although no king lives in the Palace of Versailles, there is a Versailles, Pennsylvania in Allegheny County. The only difference between the French name and the Pennsylvania name is the pronunciation.

The French pronounce Versailles as Ver-Sigh while the Pennsylvania township of Versailles is Ver-Sails.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
From casting ballots outside to passionate voters inside, some people at the South Carolina Republican primary Saturday noted it had been the busiest they ever saw.

Before the race was called at 7:01 p.m. in former President Donald Trumps favor, voters were not shy about who they voted for and why.

Cindy Rainey, a retired teacher and her husband, Harry, from Cottontown, said they came out to vote against Trump.

We voted for Nikki Haley. Shes a better candidate. Shes younger, shes sane. So, those things together, thats pretty much it, Cindy said.

Cindy said they also came to their Columbia precinct to vote against one of the ballot questions, specifically about declaring your party affiliation.

We see that as a precursor to try to make closed primaries, Cindy said. I like open primaries.

Nancy Pope, a retired educator, said she had previously voted for Democrats, but she voted for Haley this time.

I didnt see a need to vote in the Democratic primary because I figured that was a wasted vote for me, Pope said. I decided to vote in this primary so I could hopefully have an impact of keeping someone Im vehemently against off the national ballot, referring to Trump.

Pope said if President Joe Biden cant win, she is better equipped to deal with Haley than Trump.

Weve dealt with Nikki, Pope said. So I can handle Nikki but if, if Biden doesnt win, I feel like I can handle Nikki better than I can handle four more years of that.

Travis Alexander, Richland County supervisor of elections, said some areas had lines with waits as long as 45 minutes to an hour. There was a poll worker mishap where about 120 votes were cast using emergency slots, but this was corrected after.

Any of the states 3.1 million registered voters who did not participate in the is eligible to cast a ballot in the GOP primary. Only 131,472 people voted in the non competitive primary won by Biden.

About 757,000, people voted in the GOP primary, a 23% turnout.

In Richland County, 58% of voters supported Haley while 41% picked Trump (18,959 to 13,605). Lexington County voters picked Trump by the same margin (58%-41%), with 27,459 ballots cast for the GOP front-runner to 19,452 for the former governor.

Confusion over poll locations in Lexington County

Andy Cress, who has been a poll worker since 2021, said it was the busiest hed ever seen it. Until about 1 p.m. there had been a line outside the door of the Lexington Two Adult Education Center on Hook Road.

At another polling place, the Turner Memorial AME Church in West Columbia, there was a steady stream of voters. Around 2:30 a group of five seniors and a service dog stepped off of a bus from the Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community. It was the second bus from the West Columbia facility that day.

Normally the residents walk to their polling place at a nearby community center, The State was told, but due to consolidation that polling place was closed for the primary.

One voter said he was on his way to his third polling place, after finding his first shut and going to the wrong location on his second try.

If that dont work, Im not going to vote, he said getting into his car.

Cress said the confusion was normal during primaries. In the recent Democratic primary, a clerical error meant that incorrect information was posted to the state elections website.

For his part, Cress said that he had posted notices on the closed polling locations and he believed that people got where they needed to go. And as a poll worker, he feels grateful to be a part of the process. We enjoy doing it, Cress said. We run into people we havent seen in a long time.

John Michael Castalano, a spokesperson for the state election commission, said voting was steady all day. He heard that there had been some longer lines in Richland County, but overall the day went smoothly as far as wait times were concerned.

He also said he was told by county election directors and supervisors that some voters had been passionate, but nothing rose to a level of harassment or interfering with the election.

Booth brought outside to injured voter in Columbia

At Satchel Ford Elementary school, shortly after noon, the line to vote stretched down a hallway still hung with red Valentines Day hearts.

The morning started slow at the school in the leafy upper middle class suburb of Columbia, but the pace of voting has picked up throughout the day. Its been very busy, said one poll worker. But the line moved smoothly, with voters only waiting about 15 minutes. Not bad at all, one voter could be heard to say.

Outside, polling officials brought a booth to Desere Segal and Joshua Scharff, who were sitting on a bench, so they could vote outside. Scharff is recovering from a shattered pelvis and was unable to stand in the line.Scharff and Segal are transplants to Forest Acres. Scharff is from Maryland and Segal is originally from South Africa, but moved to the U.S. in 1981. Both are in their late 60s and are avid Trump voters. They said taxes and rising costs for necessities like gas and groceries are among their reasons for voting Trump.

They also cited the rumors of a Haley extra-marital affair and her husbands business dealings as negatives in the former governor. Asked how they felt that many of those same charges were leveled against Trump, Segal was quick to clarify those scandals were all political.

Hes got everyone against him, Scharff said.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) avoided questions Sunday about whether she backs a protest vote launched by progressives to select uncommitted in the states upcoming Democratic primary instead of backing President Biden due to his response to the Israel-Hamas war.

Dingell said in a CBS Face the Nation interview with Margaret Brennan on Sunday that the war in Gaza is a critical issue that is especially important for Michigan because of its large Arab American population.

President Biden did not meet with Arab American community leaders when he visited Michigan early this month. Top surrogate Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) met with some leaders in the state this week.

I do believe that he is going to do that at some point down the road, Dingell said. This community is pretty angry right now.

Hes sent many of his team out, they develop relationships, theyre connected with people from both sides. Ive heard that theyve got ongoing conversations, she added. And thats got to continue.

The Michigan electorate has become a prominent voice of criticism against Bidens Gaza policy because of the states Arab American population. Political analysts have warned that losing the powerful voting bloc over Gaza policy could mean losing the whole state in the general election.

Arab American community leaders have said they feel betrayed by Biden because he is not pushing the Israeli government hard enough against the war in Gaza.

Its a competitive state, and the Arab American issue is one thats got to be taken seriously, Dingell told The Hill earlier this month. We have to talk to them, and were gonna. Those issues are very serious ones.

Dingell said Sunday that shes glad the issue can be important to the national political discussion now because of the states early primary.

I want to be talking about this issue now in February, because it will matter in November and not on October 15, which has happened too many times in previous presidential elections that issues that matter in November arent talked [about] early, she said.

This is a very important issue here, she said. Theres gonna be other issues too. The states going to be purple from now until November.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Bob Moores life was celebrated with 2 of the things he loved most: oatmeal and Dixieland.

Longtime friends and family  often both  gathered Saturday morning at the Bobs Red Mill Whole Grain Store in Milwaukie to honor the life and legacy of the companys founder who passed away on Feb. 10 at age 94.

Employee-owner Cassidy Stockton of Bobs Red Mill talks about Bob Moore during the celebration of his life, February 24, 2024 (KOIN)

Cassidy Stockton, one of the employee-owners who worked with Bob for about 20 years, said everyone gathered Saturday to celebrate how much of an impact he had on us as employee-owners and our community.

The store was packed early with people who felt like they knew him.

Today people seem to have a lot of smiles and there is a lot of joy around remembering a man who made a big impact on them, Stockton told KOIN 6 News. We do have a live Dixieland band, his favorite and we have a free oatmeal bar, his favorite. The man ate oatmeal every day. 

She said Bob Moore changed my life trajectory. To see how he impacted the community and all of the different people, he would come in everyday and have lunch. He would meet people all the time here, so its neat to see old faces from the company and new faces from the community and sharing their stories about what a difference he made in their lives.

A Dixieland band plays at Bobs Red Mill during the celebration of Bob Moores life, February 24, 2024 (KOIN)

What set him apart, she said, was his common touch.

He knew our kids names, our dogs names. He was a very personable man. You just felt like you were close with him and thats unusual with a CEO.

Moore took his love of healthy foods and milling whole grains to found his company in 1978. It quickly grew from just serving the Portland region to being a global food brand with more than 200 products in more than 70 countries.

Moore was easy to recognize, as he regularly wore a red vest, cap, a beard and a bolo tie  just like the image on millions of packages of milled whole grain products from oatmeal to flour.

A figurine of Bob Moore inside Bobs Red Mill in Milwaukie, February 24, 2024 (KOIN)

Influential figures who have impacted Black history in Oregon, part 4

Bobs legacy will live on forever in all of us who had the opportunity to work with him and is infused into the Bobs Red Mill brand, Bobs Red Mill CEO Trey Winthrop said in a statement. He did everything in his power to leave us on a strong path forward. All of us feel responsible and motivated to preserve his old-world approach to unprocessed foods; his commitment to pure, high-quality ingredients; and his generosity to employee owners and educational organizations focused on nutritional health.

He is survived by his three sons, Ken, Bob, Jr., and David; daughters-in-law Dora, Barbara, Ashleigh and Terry; 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Hasty KSD board eliminated public

The Kennewick School District board is walking dangerously close to the same line that led to the recall of three directors at the Richland School District.

The meeting on Tuesday morning, where board members passed resolutions opposing two bills in the legislature, was called on a short timeline. They did not listen to the constituents who could attend. Only one person spoke in support; 10 or 12 spoke out strongly against it. Rather than having an honest, timely discussion of this issue with locals, they seem to be moved by outside forces, namely the Washington Policy Center, a conservative, anti-public school think tank. After public comment, Mr. Connor expressed vehement opposition. Ms. Gledhill expressed reservations on the timing of the resolution, not the substance of it.

This meeting was a sham. Short of an emergency, school boards and city councils cannot bring up a new topic and then vote on it at the same meeting. First reading, public input, second reading, public input, discussion and a vote. Thats how it works. The KSD board short-circuited that process.

The lack of open discussion leaves citizens wondering on what basis members made their decisions and suggests that their minds were made up before the meeting started. It was all theater. And the students will suffer the consequences.

Richard Reuther, Kennewick

Richland, please explain yourself

Why would the city of Richland turn off the power (to an account) that has auto bill pay? Why would they turn off the power of an 87-year-old woman in the middle of winter, (Feb 13, 2024) with an outstanding bill of $163? On Dec 28, 2023, I signed my mother up for online bill pay with the City of Richland. (She has carpal tunnel and can no longer write checks.)

I provided the city with her checking account information as well as all the necessary information required on the website. The bill cycle ended on Dec. 26, with a scheduled pay date two weeks later. Apparently, after signing up for auto-pay, the first bill is not automatically paid. Who knew? That was not clear on the website.

On Feb. 13 her power was shut off. I logged onto the website to discover that her bill was automatically scheduled to be paid on Feb. 15 just two days later.

In addition to shutting off her power, she is being charged $50 to reconnect. She has been a customer for 70 years. I simply dont understand how this can happen.

Vickie Bigelow, Richland

Woman of Year: Its a joy to serve

Last Monday evening, I was honored to be recognized as Kennewick Woman of the Year. It was very unexpected, but Im especially honored to have our community recognize my work at B5 and the people our organization walks alongside every day. For 15 years, B5 has been working to equip newcomer refugee families to overcome the language and cultural barriers that might keep them from thriving here, while also learning from the richness of their cultures. Its been our joy to serve them with the dignity and respect that others have tried to strip from their lives.

We Americans are privileged to live in a country and a community that offers refuge to people from all over the world who are fleeing war and persecution. With the many conflicts continuing to happen throughout the world, the opportunity to be a place of refuge for those whose lives have been uprooted due to no fault of their own is greater than ever. I invite you to check out our website to see how you might get involved (thiveatb5.org), and I look forward to the day when someone who has been welcomed into our community through the help of B5 will be honored as the Kennewick Woman or Man of the Year.

Theresa Roosendall, Kennewick

Trump and Biden didnt do the same thing

A recent letter to the editor misconstrued the facts about Trump and Biens handling of classified documents.

According to NBC News: The National Archives contacted Trump officials soon after he left office in 2021 to inform them that the agency believed some documents were missing .... Trump sent 15 boxes to archives. Later it was found Trump had more documents  and turned over several, including 38 classified. The FBI learned Trump had not fully complied with a subpoena and with a search warrant for Mar-a-Largo, found over 100 documents marked secret and top secret in storage room and in Trumps office.

In Bidens case, National Archives was unaware of missing documents.. White House counsels office notified the Archives on the day records were found, and officials there collected them the following day. Perhaps them and us might refer to respect and care for and of our country.

Dorothy Rawson, Pasco

Congress: Get funding to Ukraine

The people in Ukraine are fighting and dying to keep their country free from Russian aggression. In fact, they are fighting our fight and spilling their blood on our behalf. The situation is urgent for both Ukraine and Israel. They desperately need the support of democracies across the globe, and theyre earning it with their blood, determination and treasure. And youre taking a two-week vacation? Congresswoman Rogers, Congressman Newhouse, I have but one polite request of you: Get yourself back to Washington, D.C., and get to work. If it takes new leadership in the House  again  so be it. You know the right thing to do. Just do it.

Kirk Williamson, Kennewick

Help Ukraine stop Russian attacks

I have a stake in Ukraines fight to end Russias appetite for empire-building. I dont want my son-in-laws battalion sent into a European battle zone.

We must quickly send far more ammunition and arms to Ukraine if we are to effectively delay our troops being sent into active battle. Trumps recent instruction to reject a bill with vital aid to Ukraine further makes clear his support for dictator Putin.

When Republicans knowingly did Trumps insane bidding during COVID, it cost perhaps hundreds of thousands of American lives unnecessarily. He doesnt care about our lives, only himself. We must reject the appeasers who would support a path that lets Russia crush our eastern European allies one at a time.

Appeasers under the banner of America First (quite literally, not figuratively) couldnt keep us out of WWII. Republicans are naively and tragically covering Trumps bet that he can keep America out of war by withdrawing from NATO.

Our battle against Russia is now being waged with Ukrainian blood. The arms weve sent kept Russia out of Kiev. America comes first only when we stand with allies. Russia must be forced out of every corner of Ukraine. Slava Ukraine

Ivar Husa, Richland

Black expression important to us all

In the Tri-Cities, Ive been given a profusion of rooms and fields to augment my black authenticity, sharing my candidness and black experiences with the community through workshops, short readings, a column in Tumbleweird and stories in Taylored Living Magazine Company.

Detailing the significance of black history, black hair, black style, and so forth. In other words, elaborating on the things that black individuals have done to impact and better shape the community. In order for us to feel acknowledged and heard. But most of all with the writing workshops, Ive taught others how to write in a way that makes people feel as though theyre flying or walking on the moon as they imagine, daydream and have flashbacks about the characters.

With their pen and paper, vocalizing uncensored and unfiltered perspectives among the actuality of what the reality has become. Bringing a different world to light, offering a safety net and comfortable nest that is filled with the presence of being unapologetically you. In ways that others have never even been able to fathom or figure.

Anyla McDonald, Walla Walla
Former President Donald Trump has won the South Carolina Republican Primary, beating out former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Trump already has wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. His win in South Carolina on Saturday was no surprise to his supporters when he took the stage shortly after his victory.

ALSO READ: Election 2024: Trump wins South Carolina primary, AP projects

Wow, that was really something, Trump said. An even bigger win than we anticipated.

The crowd erupted with applause as Trump promised a victory on Super Tuesday, which is set for March 5th.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Tim Scott both took the stage, in support of Trump.

Haley said she wont be dropping out of the race despite the Trumps win.

(WATCH BELOW: Judge overturns citys denial of northwest Charlotte landfill)
People pray during a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the spanish speaking service. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A woman prays during a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the spanish speaking service. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People pray during a special service hosted by Lakewood Church on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Houston, a week after a deadly shooting took place just before the spanish speaking service. (Raquel Nataliccio/Houston Chronicle) Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Three days after a 7-year-old boy was shot in the head at Houstons Lakewood Church, his grandmother reported that surgeons had removed parts of the frontal lobe of his brain and of his skull. The boy, Samuel, had lost a major part of what makes us who we are, Walli Carranza wrote in a Feb. 14 Facebook post. Carranza blamed the tragedy on the very same legislators who claim to be pro-life (and) believe that unbridled gun rights matter and the right to life does not! Insanity!

Carranzas son is Samuels father and the ex-husband of the boys mother, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36. Authorities say Moreno entered the megachurch with Samuel just before its weekly Spanish-language service was to begin on Feb. 11. Moreno began firing an AR-style rifle, officials said, and law enforcement officers working security at the church returned fire, killing Moreno. Authorities have not disclosed who fired the shots that wounded Samuel and a 57-year-old man who was shot in the leg and was treated and released from a hospital.

Samuels grievous wounds, the pain endured by his grandmother and other loved ones, and the trauma experienced by everyone present when bullets began flying at Lakewood might have been prevented. Genesse Moreno should not have had access to the weapon she fired that afternoon.

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Gun safety advocates say the Lakewood shooting is vivid evidence of the need for a red flag law, authorizing courts to prevent people deemed a threat to public safety from possessing certain firearms. In the wake of the tragedy, local leaders renewed their calls for such a law. Twenty-one states have passed red flag laws, and research shows they can be an effective tool in preventing gun violence.

In Texas, though, bills that would authorize red flag laws routinely end up in the legislative slush pile. A bill introduced last year by Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, didnt even get a committee hearing; similar measures introduced by other legislators all died. This is hardly surprising in a state whose leaders seem determined to remove any barriers to gun ownership  even eliminating the need for a license and training to publicly carry a handgun.

Republican legislators beholden to primary voters, who are more likely to focus on single issues such as gun rights or abortion, believe that they cannot give an inch on gun policy, said Liz Hanks, the Texas chapter leader of Moms Demand Action, a gun safety advocacy group. They make the slippery slope argument every time. She referred to the nonsensical assertion that any new firearm regulation will lead to government officials storming homes to clear out gun closets and snatching rifles from pickup truck gun racks.

Moreno had a lengthy history of mental health issues and, according to public records, was arrested at least six times between 2005 and 2022 on charges including unlawful carrying of a weapon, assault, theft and marijuana possession. Even so, current Texas laws probably permitted Moreno to purchase the two rifles she carried that day, experts told the Chronicles John Wayne Ferguson.

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I think this particular incident is a great example of how a red flag law could and should work, because the family was so involved and had reached out to different agencies, including law enforcement and child safety officials, Hanks said. There were people here seeing these warning signs and taking action on the warning signs, but there is no process, no tool in the state of Texas, that could help them ensure that she did not have access to weapons.

Johnson agreed: You had neighbors talking about threats and fear of her, she said. Any of those people could have filed that petition with a court, gone through a hearing, and presented clear and convincing evidence that Morenos access to firearms should be restricted. Johnson said her bill was drawn narrowly; restrictions would apply only to people with extreme mental health problems and would have to be renewed after a year. Her bill included a provision making a false accusation in such a hearing a misdemeanor.

All of this the sky is falling, people are coming to take your guns, talk, the fear-mongering about a nonexistent problem, is keeping us from addressing a real and existing crisis, the epidemic of gun violence, Johnson said.

Still, she sees some hopeful signs. Johnson noted that two Republicans, Sam Harless of Spring and Justin Holland of Rockwall, joined Democrats in a 2023 House committee vote to advance a bill that would have raised the age from 18 to 21 to purchase certain firearms. The session ended before the bill reached the floor, she said.

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That is progress, Johnson said. People have to be committed to small steps on progress. Now, you would hope that as you go into (the next session) in January of 25, the fact that you have had some bipartisan support should allow for broader discussion.

MORE ON LAKEWOOD: Church holds its first services since the deadly shooting

Local leaders, forbidden by the state from passing their own gun regulations, are doing what they can. In 2022, Harris County officials started a pilot project, the Violence Interruption Program, that provides counseling and other services to gun violence survivors. A key goal of the program is to prevent survivors from retaliating  breaking the bloody cycle of retribution after retribution.

Its a laudable effort, but its not enough. Johnson, Hanks and other supporters of reasonable gun regulations believe the tide will turn when a critical mass of Texans  led by parents of children murdered in school shootings, members of churches where congregants have been mowed down by gunfire and thousands of others affected by gun violence  bring the same single-minded focus to their voting choices as do those who reflexively oppose such measures.

Their refusal to submit to a sense of despair is commendable, even inspiring. More sensible Texans should join their efforts to stop another preventable tragedy such as Lakewood.
The News

COLUMBIA, S.C.  Donald Trump decisively won the South Carolina primary on Saturday, defeating his sole opponent Nikki Haley in her home state and barreling onward towards a likely nomination.

Trump came out to declare victory at his election night watch party four minutes after the polls closed, determined to speak before Haley after she came out before him in New Hampshire.

I just want to say that I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now, Trump said in a brief speech while flanked on stage by a number of South Carolina officials. Its an early evening and its a fantastic evening.

Haley vowed to stay in the race, pointing to early returns showing her getting 40% of the vote, and arguing it showed significant dissatisfaction with the partys march to a third Trump nomination. She told her supporters she was running to remind us what it means to be American and that she would not abandon them to a Soviet-style election with only one candidate.

There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative, she said. I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for President. Im a woman of my word.

The Associated Press and multiple networks called the race for Trump immediately after polls closed in the state. The Trump win was expected, with the former president averaging 61.6% support compared to Haleys 34%, according to the Five Thirty Eight average. Still, its a blow to Haley, who has vowed to keep running through Super Tuesday regardless of tonights results. She has argued that Trump is unfit for office, claiming he is in mental decline, beset by chaos and legal difficulties, and is siding with a dictator who kills his political opponents in Vladimir Putin.

South Carolina will vote on Saturday, Haley said at a state of the race speech earlier in the week. But on Sunday, Ill still be running for president. Im not going anywhere.

While Haley has made clear she plans to stay in the race despite Saturdays loss, her path forward to winning the nomination has grown increasingly murky. The former South Carolina governor has addressed the criticism from members of her own party who have urged her to drop out, but has yet to clearly define what, exactly, she sees as her road to winning. In the weeks leading up to South Carolina, she even stopped repeating a comment about having to perform better in her home state than she did in New Hampshire.

Her own campaign, while echoing Haleys defiance, has admitted the uphill battle she faces: During a press call this week, Haleys campaign manager Betsy Ankney discussed Haley being better in a general election matchup against President Joe Biden while also conceding that they are aware of the math.

We know that math is challenging, but this has never just been about who can win a GOP primary. This battle is about who can win in November, Ankney said.

Trumps win also comes despite far fewer appearances in the state leading up to the primary. The former president has instead relied on a unique strategy to woo Republican voters to his side: By appearing as much as possible in courtrooms to fight his various indictments. His legal issues successfully have become one with his campaign, and have helped solidify his standing as the clear frontrunner in the Republican primary.

Although the primary continues, Trumps team has long sought to convince Republicans that, for all intents and purposes, its already finished. In a memo sent out on February 20, Trumps senior advisors Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles declared that Haleys campaign ends Saturday, February 24th and went on to detail how Trump will officially  and easily  become the Republican nominee before March Madness tips off next month.

The true State of Nikki Haleys campaign? LaCivita and Wiles wrote. Broken down, out of ideas, out of gas, and completely outperformed by every measure, by Donald Trump.

Theres more practical concerns behind the push to declare the race over. Trump has called for remaking the RNC in his image by installing handpicked allies, including his daughter-in-law, at the top, a process thats difficult to carry out while Haley is still ostensibly competing. In his speech on Saturday, he also suggested Kellyanne Conway could be tapped for a role. Henry Barbour, a prominent Mississippi delegate, recently proposed RNC resolutions demanding Trump secure a majority of delegates before being declared the presumptive nominee and prohibiting the party from paying his legal bills, which have run into the tens of millions of dollars.

Notable

Semafors David Weigel recently followed Haley on her South Carolina push: Nothing was moving the dial against Trump, but he was not winning 100% of the vote and that was enough rationale to continue.

Both Trump and Biden began shifting into general election mode months ago, I reported last October. That dynamic has ramped up this year, as its become increasingly evident that Trump is likely to face Biden once again.
CHARLESTON, S.C.  Donald Trump may have won the South Carolina Republican primary, but Nikki Haleys better-than-expected performance here exposed glaring weaknesses in the 2024 GOP front-runners campaign that could hobble his chances against Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump beat Haley by 20 points  an embarrassing loss for the former South Carolina governor, to be sure. However, she won about 40% of the vote cast on Saturday, a significant margin that, when averaged with her similar performance in New Hampshire, underscored that a high number of Republican primary voters simply dont like Trump.

Those voters might prove to be decisive to Haley on Super Tuesday, when states like Vermont and Utah  believed to have more moderate GOP bases  head to the polls, possibly awarding her a much-needed victory and delegates. Haley so far has yet to outright win any of the GOP nominating contests.

Haley signaled on election night, though, that her campaign may have an expiration date, only committing, for now, to stay in the race through Super Tuesday, when 15 states and one territory cast ballots. Many of the states voting March 5 dole out delegates on a winner-takes-all basis  meaning theres no prize for Haley earning even a significant portion of votes below 50%.

Haley and her allies argue her vote share says something about how Republicans view Trump and how the party will fare in November.

Forty percent is not some tiny group. There are a huge number of voters in our Republican primary who want an alternative, Haley told supporters at her election night party at a hotel in Charleston Saturday, confirming that she wouldnt be dropping out after her fourth major loss.

Trump is running with many of the benefits of an incumbent but without unified support behind him. By comparison, Biden won 96% of the vote cast in the South Carolina Democratic primary earlier this month against Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, Bidens only intraparty challenger. But Biden could face headwinds in Michigan next month, where there is a campaign to get voters to write in uncommitted as a protest against his Israel policy.

If a Democrat front-runner was facing this level of voter dissent, you wouldnt be able to escape coverage of disunity problems and concerns about the standard bearer, Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House, wrote in a post on X on Sunday.

The big question, however, is whether the voters who spurned Trump in the GOP primary will stay home in November, or hold their nose and vote for him because they cant bring themselves to vote for Biden. Haley has argued that both men are too old to carry out the duties of the presidency, and she has been harshly critical of Bidens administration and policies.

Some Haley supporters seem to be genuinely struggling with how they plan to vote in November.

Im not going to not vote. Not voting doesnt make sense. So Im going to look very carefully into who the vice president nominee is going to be. What else can we do? laughed Ola Louisa Watson, a 76-year-old retiree, who came to see Haley speak at an event in Georgetown.

Neither Trump nor Biden are people at this point I want to be our leaders. So Ive got to look at the next tier down, she added.

Other Haley supporters say they definitely cant see themselves voting for Trump and want to her to stay in the race as long as possible. Patricia Murphy, a Republican voter from Pennsylvania who attended Haleys election night party on Saturday in Charleston, said she believed Trump ought to go to jail. Hope he chokes on a sandwich, she added.

Anti-Trump sentiment may not hurt his campaign in reliably red state like South Carolina in November, but if even a small percentage of Republicans choose to abstain in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, Trump could be in trouble.

The former presidents appeal is strongest with white, working-class, and evangelical voters without a college degree, a trend picked up by exit polls of GOP voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Haley, meanwhile, attracts educated voters from wealthier suburban areas of the country. The two camps are also divided on the results of the 2020 presidential election: A majority of Trump supporters say Biden wasnt legitimately elected, while most Haley supporters correctly say he was.

If Trump wants another term in the White House, hell need to convince the non-MAGA wing of the Republican Party  moderates and independents  to stick with him despite facing 91 criminal charges in various jurisdictions and court-induced fines totaling more than $400 million. A conviction could harm that effort, as can any daily Trump outburst.

On Saturday, Trump said that Black voters like him because of his criminal indictments, which Haley and Democrats quickly slammed as a racist trope. He then followed that up by delivering a wild speech to a conservative conference in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, predicting Judgment Day on Nov. 5 for what he called liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government.

Haley made the opposite case while campaigning in South Carolina over the weekend.

If youre running for president, youre supposed to be bringing people in, she said at an event in Beaufort. Its a story of addition. You dont push people out of your club.

Related...
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has warned other countries that no negotiation formats should be imposed on Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy at the press conference on 25 February

Quote: "We do not want any negotiation format to be imposed on us. It is very important that the initiative comes from Ukraine

I really do not want [to see] that, after elections in different countries of the world take place  and this is a whole year of various elections  some non-democratic or very democratic countries impose their own initiatives that contradict the interests of the country which is at war today."

Details: Commenting on the statement by Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, that the representatives of Russia might theoretically be invited to the second "peace summit", Zelenskyy compared this procedure with Ukraine's grain initiative.

He said that at the first "peace summit" which is to be held in the spring "the plan will be developed, and then the countries will technically deal with each crisis this war has caused" without the participation of Russia.

Zelenskyy recalled that the grain deal was agreed on without Russias participation, and then the plan was handed over to the Russian side. When Russia quit the initiative, Ukraine organised the grain corridor without its participation.

Quote: "It is the same with the summit. When the countries prepare a relevant document, it will be a just one, but it does not mean Russia accepts it. Nobody can guarantee Russia will accept it. We do not know who will represent Russia but this document will be handed over to the Russian side by the negotiators anyway, like it was with the Grain Initiative format.

And we will be ready for the second summit and for corresponding diplomatic steps towards just peace and the end of the war. This is our initiative, and we want more countries of the world to join us. We must move forward."

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Chilli Heatwave contains soya, whereas Tangy Cheese does not, and therefore there is insufficient warning on the packaging of the risk of allergic reactions

Doritos has issued an allergy alert and product recall after accidentally putting Chilli Heatwave crisps into Tangy Cheese packets.

Around 885 packs of incorrectly labelled crisps were sold in Tesco and Poundland stores because of a manufacturing error that saw the wrong seasoning applied, Doritos said. The company, owned by PepsiCo, apologised for the mix-up.

It said Chilli Heatwave contains soya, whereas Tangy Cheese does not, and therefore there is an insufficient warning of the risk of allergic reactions on the packaging.

Affected items were shipped to one Tesco distribution centre and one Poundland distribution centre, The Telegraph understands.

Quality and safety of paramount importance

PepsiCo said: We are recalling a small number of Doritos Tangy Cheese 180g packs sold in Tesco and 5x30g multipacks sold in Poundland.

Some of the packets may contain Chilli Heatwave seasoning rather than Tangy Cheese, meaning the product is incorrectly labelled and may pose a risk to people with an allergy to soya. No other Doritos products and no other retailers are in scope for this recall.

The quality and safety of our products is of paramount importance to us and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. We are working with the Food Standards Agency and allergen groups to inform consumers.

The product recall said Tangy Cheese packs do have a note that they may contain soya, but it is not listed as an ingredient, meaning the warning is not prominent or strong enough. Affected items have a best before date of June 1, and customers can ring a customer care phone number to get a refund.

The Food Standards Agency said: Doritos is recalling the above product from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.

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COLUMBIA, S.C.  A prominent Republican National Committee member is proposing two resolutions that would put some distance between the national party and former President Donald Trump  at least for a little bit longer.

The first resolution from Henry Barbour  a longtime member from Mississippi  would prohibit the national party from coordinating with Trump or fundraising with his campaign until he wins enough delegates to be the partys presumptive nominee.

US-POLITICS-CONSERVATIVES (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)

The draft resolution, in part, states: The Republican National Committee and its leadership will stay neutral throughout the Presidential primary and not take on additional staff from any of the active Presidential campaigns until a nominee is clearly determined by reaching 1,215 delegates.

Follow live coverage from the campaign trail here.

Although Trump has won all of the Republican Partys primaries and caucuses so far, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has insisted that she plans to stay in the race awhile longer.

Trump has already proposed that his current campaign co-manager, Chris LaCivita, take the reins of the RNC as its chief operating officer. This proposed resolution, if passed by the RNCs 168-member body, would slow down the process of Trumps team effectively taking over the RNC.

Unlike the Biden campaign and the DNC, the Trump campaign and the RNC have yet to launch a joint fundraising committee, which allows the two entities to better coordinate and advance mutual financial interests.

The Trump campaign released a statement Saturday expressing its disapproval of Barbour's measure.

The primary is over and it is the RNCs sole responsibility to defeat Joe Biden and win back the White House," LaCivita said. "Efforts to delay that assist Joe Biden in the destruction of our nation. Republicans cannot stand on the sidelines and allow this to happen.

Late last month, another RNC member had floated a resolution to declare Trump the partys presumptive nominee. After some controversy  and Trump himself weighing in on social media that the RNC should not adopt it  the member withdrew it.

Barbour is also proposing a second resolution that would bar the RNC from paying Trumps legal bills. If passed, it would declare: The Republican National Committee will not pay the legal bills of any of our candidates for any federal or state office, but will focus our spending on efforts directly related to the 2024 election cycle.

Before a campaign rally for Trump on Friday, LaCivita also committed that the RNC would not pay for Trumps legal-related expenses when the campaign and the RNC merge their efforts.

No, LaCivita responded repeatedly when asked about the potential use of funds.

We brought forth these two resolutions to make sure there is a serious discussion about protecting the primary process while there are still two candidates competing and preventing the RNC from paying the legal bills of any political candidate unrelated to the election cycle, Barbour said in a statement to NBC News on Saturday.

The RNCs members will convene in Houston on March 7 and 8 and could potentially vote on the pair of resolutions at that time.

It is also unclear when, or if, Ronna McDaniel will resign from her post as chairwoman. In early February, Trump called for her to be replaced by Michael Whatley, a RNC member from North Carolina, but it is up to McDaniel to resign  or for the RNC members to remove her from her position.

Whatley traveled with Trump aboard his plane from South Carolina to Washington, D.C., for the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, according to a source familiar with his travels.

The RNC members could also vote on new party leadership in Houston.

But theres a further potential complication facing Trump allies to take over the RNC: If McDaniel resigns, Trump-endorsed Whatley could face a challenge by current RNC co-chair Drew McKissick for the partys top spot.

When asked repeatedly by NBC News in an interview on Saturday whether he would rule out his own bid for the chairmanship, McKissick declined to explicitly take such an effort off the table, though he acknowledged that whoever the Republican Partys presidential nominee will be has a big say in the matter.

Im with the team when it comes to this, McKissick said. This is all about putting together whos going to be in the best slot to do whatever we need to do to win, and the nominee has a big say in that.

McKissick has already reached out to other RNC members to gauge their interest in supporting him for the RNC chair position. One year ago, McKissick handily bested Whatley  who also had Trumps endorsement then  in the RNC vote to serve as the partys co-chair.

McKissick declined to say whether hed endorse Whatleys bid for RNC chair, instead calling the North Carolina Republican a good friend and embracing Trumps role in ultimately determining RNC leadership.

When you get to putting together a team for a presidential campaign and the RNC, after youve got a nominee, things merge. After youve got a presumptive nominee, things begin to merge, McKissick said. So that comes down to leadership.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A school bus drops off a young passenger in Silver Spring, Maryland. Many states, including Maryland, allow automated camera systems to catch drivers illegally passing stopped school buses and endangering children, but there are still legal kinks to be worked out. (Photo by Tim Henderson | Stateline)

In December, a mom on Long Island, New York, watched her young daughter get onto a school bus, then had to jump out of the way when a car came speeding past on the shoulder. That same month in Minnesota, a child leaving his school bus had to run to avoid being hit by a truck.

Drivers nationwide continue to barrel illegally past stopped school buses, endangering children and caregivers  and sometimes worse. But some states have found it hard to enforce relatively new laws allowing on-board bus camera systems that record the violations.

Recent deaths during school bus stops include those of a parent and student in separate Texas crashes last year and of a high school student in Pennsylvania in 2022. They highlight continued careless driving around school buses despite flashing stop signs and obvious camera lenses. The recklessness may be part of a pattern of more aggressive driving noted by authorities that has caused more traffic deaths despite fewer miles driven overall since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A survey of school bus drivers last year, conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, estimated 242,000 vehicles illegally passed school buses in a single day. That was up from the 232,000 estimate for 2019. That year, seven states passed laws to allow automatic camera surveillance to catch suspected violators.

Almost half of states have such laws now. Massachusetts and Oregon considered, but didnt pass, similar legislation last year. A school bus camera program in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was held up last year amid debates in the state legislature over the size of fines and their impact on low-income communities.

But there are several reasons why enforcement might not have been as effective as intended.

Some safety authorities object to new camera laws that reduced fines and excluded license points and other more punitive actions allowed when the same violations are caught in person by law enforcement. Legislatures may have softened school bus penalties to gain consensus among skeptical lawmakers, authorities say.

Some states also are struggling with the limitations of cameras when it comes to enforcing laws requiring evidence police officers can see in person but cameras might not catch. The cameras might not show school bus markings mentioned in the law or whether students are actively getting on or off buses. Another technical issue: School bus cameras have flagged cars on different streets or in lanes separated by medians, where theyre not legally required to stop.

How it works

Typically, the automatic cameras are engaged when a bus driver turns on a flashing stop sign, triggering a computer program that detects violations and sends them to reviewers to check before mailing a violation notice. But the cameras cant capture everything.

On New Yorks Long Island, a state appeals court threw out a $250 ticket in November, saying evidence from bus cameras isnt enough to prove a violation. Judges on the court said the camera did not establish that the school bus had correct markings or that it was actively picking up or dropping off passengers at the time of the ticket. That decision could endanger $25 million in annual fines from one county alone if other tickets are struck down.

In Pittsburgh, a district court judge told Stateline he dismisses most cases based on school bus cameras for insufficient evidence from the cameras.

Judge James Motznik said he also objects to the way Pennsylvanias law, like most state laws allowing automatic camera evidence to identify bus-passing violations, undermines a traffic law thats more punitive. The camera violations are issued as civil complaints with a lower fine and no loss of license points as required by the original traffic law against passing a stopped school bus.

It was sold as a deterrent to enhance public safety, Motznik said. But its actually less of a deterrent. If a police officer witnessed this, thered be a $500 fine, a license suspension, points toward losing your license. A camera sees the same thing, its $300 and goodbye.

State legislatures sometimes have used less-punitive fines, without license points or suspensions, as a bargaining chip to reach agreement on camera enforcement such as school bus cameras, said Russ Martin, senior director of policy and government relations for the Governors Highway Safety Association.

The thought was like, We can make this more accepted by the public. Martin said. But theres another side to it. In some ways the points are more important than the fines for the worst violators  it means you cant just pay your way out.

Pennsylvanias law on school bus cameras was updated last year partly to allow a lower-cost way for motorists to contest tickets, using a state hearing officer in a free process instead of a court that requires filing fees, said Jennifer Kuntch, a spokesperson for the state transportation department. Pittsburgh schools recorded more than 9,000 violations since the bus camera program began in July, the district announced last month.

On Long Island, the appeals court decision against the red-light camera evidence endangers not only Suffolk Countys program, which receives the $25 million in fine revenue a year, but also nearby Nassau County, where a class-action lawsuit is underway on behalf of 132,000 drivers with similar fines.

The appeals court ruling was vexing for local governments, said Paul Sabatino, an attorney and former Suffolk County legislative counsel. Cameras are a necessary part of enforcing the law against passing stopped school buses, he said.

You cant allow people to endanger children like that, and you cant call out the National Guard to watch every school bus at every stop, Sabatino said.

Many school districts use contractors such as Virginia-based BusPatrol, which claims 90% of the market for school bus cameras, with some competition from others such as RedSpeed USA and American Bus Video. The companies may include school bus stop-arm cameras within a package of other automated traffic enforcement.

Justin Meyers, president of BusPatrol, said the company already has addressed evidence questions in New York state by adding to its evidence packets the school bus markings and maps showing the bus is on an established route. Suffolk County is the companys biggest customer, and BusPatrol has made a $40 million investment in equipping school buses there, Meyers said in an interview. It also operates in Pittsburgh.

The company uses computer algorithms and artificial intelligence to detect violations, which are then screened for accuracy by a BusPatrol employee before going to local law enforcement for a final decision on whether to issue a violation notice, Meyers said.

Few statistics available

There are few statistics on the extent of deaths and injuries from passing stopped school buses. Pennsylvania reviewed crash records at Statelines request and said 12 such crashes occurred in 2022 and 13 in 2021, with one death in each year  one a student, one a parent  and 23 injuries across both years. Those figures include a crash that killed a 16-year-old high school student in November 2022 as she was trying to board a school bus in York County.

Across the country, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found 53 fatalities, half of them school-age children, between 2000 and 2021 in accidents involving illegal passing of a school bus, according to an analysis requested by Stateline.

In Minnesota, school districts can apply for state funds to install school bus cameras. The Edina school district sought money last year after an alarming increase in bus-passing violations reported by bus drivers, along with two injuries to students, according to a press account in the local Sun Current newspaper. The district won $105,000 for cameras, a cost of about $4,000 per bus, and in January reported drivers had been ticketed for 70% of passing violations noticed by bus drivers, up from 5% without cameras.

In one of the Texas fatalities last year, a woman helping her child onto a bus in Upshur County was killed by a vehicle passing the bus, Sgt. Adam Albritton, a spokesperson for the state Department of Public Safety, told Stateline. The crash was reported, a driver was charged with manslaughter, and police are reviewing footage from a video camera on the bus for evidence, Albritton said.

Texas was an early adopter of video cameras to catch school bus passing violations, commissioning a 2008 study on such cameras. The state did not include school bus cameras in its ban on automated traffic enforcement in 2019. Not all school districts participate, but Austin, Dallas and San Antonio are among those that do.

This story was produced by Stateline which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

The post Drivers keep passing stopped school buses, despite use of cameras to catch them appeared first on Daily Montanan.
An e-bike battery sparked a deadly blaze in Harlem that killed one man, injured 17 and required daring rope rescues of several building residents, Fire Department officials and sources said Saturday.

The blaze Friday was the latest in a long list of deadly e-bike battery conflagrations that have plagued the city in the post-pandemic era. Eighteen people died in e-bike battery fires in 2023  and those deaths are one factor behind a push by Mayor Adams for a new city agency to regulate the food and package delivery business.

Residents of the six-story, 31-unit apartment building at 2 St. Nicholas Place that erupted in flames reported that e-bikes were a normal sight in the building, which they said was home to a number of deliveristas. Six of their bikes were still chained outside the building on Saturday.

The fire burst out Friday in a third-floor apartment  but a Fire Department source said that was just one place where e-bikes were found. There were e-bikes in the building in other apartments, the source said.

Firefighters dousing the blaze found three tenants unconscious on the upper floors. The man dead in the blaze was identified by friends as Fazil Khan, 27, a Columbia Journalism School graduate, who died at a hospital after he was rescued from the building.

Khan came to New York from Delhi, India to study at Columbia, said a longtime friend who laid flowers on the building steps Saturday and gave her name as Tomo.

He was an amazing person. He was a good friend, the stunned 27-year-old woman said. He was young, full of life.

Khan worked for the Hechinger Report, a website focused on education issues. In a statement, the Hechinger Report said he was a great colleague and wonderful person, and our hearts go out to his family.

Five tenants remained in critical condition on Saturday, officials said.

When the fire broke out about 2:15 p.m. Friday, the tenant in the apartment believed to be the fires origin left the door open as they escaped. That let the fire blow wildly into the buildings third-floor hallway and block the stairwell for tenants on the upper floors, Fire Department sources said.

Frightened for their lives, residents scrambled to windows and fire escapes. Before firefighters arrived, a building resident clung desperately to a ledge as another man reached down in a futile effort to save him.

The clinging man lost his grip and fell to the ground below in a scene caught on video. He survived the fall, and remained hospitalized Saturday with extensive injuries, officials said.

Smoke. Smoke was everywhere. You couldnt go anywhere, said a building tenant who gave his name as Dusan, 35.

You couldnt go through the stairs  so if somebody wanted to go through the stairs, hes gonna probably not make it out, said Dusan.

He said his neighbors were screaming and panicking.

It was not necessary, said Dusan. This time youve got to be calm. Really calm. I know its hard, but you cant panic.

FDNY officials said they arrived at the building 3 1/2 minutes after receiving the 911 call, but the fire was already raging and heavy smoke had filled the building.

Firefighters found residents  including Khan  trapped on the buildings third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors. As they fought the blaze, firefighters performed three daring rescues aided by ropes hung from the buildings roof.

Starting from the roof, a firefighter is tied to a rope and lowered down to residents at the windows below. The firefighter on the rope then grabs hold of the tenant and lowers them down to safety. A fire chief said Friday that the procedure is used once or twice a year, but was used three times in Friday blaze.

By Saturday, a vacate order had been placed on the property as the extent of the buildings damage was assessed. Tenants burned out of their homes returned in hope of retrieving items left behind, and told stories of how they escaped with their lives.

Fifth-floor resident Akil Jones was cooking when he heard the smoke alarms going off. He immediately alerted his 85-year-old father Emmett, who was taking a nap, but by then it was too late.

I went down the hallway to wake him up, Jones, 34, said. When I turned back around, the whole hallway was black. We just grabbed whatever we could and we went out the fire escape then outside.

When they reached the fire escape, which was off Emmetts bedroom, they were met by dozens of neighbors escaping the same way.

I seen one lady kick their window out, Akil said. Everybody was just struggling to come down.

Akil and his dad returned to the building Saturday to retrieve his fathers blood pressure medication.

I just have what I have on me: my phones, my keys, and this guy, Akil said, pointing to his elderly father, who was grateful his son was home when the fire broke out.

Luckily he was there because it might be a different story, Emmett said of his son.

Even before the Fire Department pronounced the likely cause of the blaze, residents who knew of the dangers posed by poorly-built lithium-ion e-bike batteries had their suspicions.

A battery exploded, said Dusan, who lived on the fourth floor. It was probably some cheap one. I dont think its safe. I cannot blame (the deliveristas) because they do their jobs, but its not safe because those batteries dont belong inside apartments.

If its the batteries, they need to be gone from every apartment in New York City, he said.

Fridays fatal blaze took place just across the street from another fire tragedy  the infamous 2018 Motherless Brooklyn fire that killed FDNY Firefighter Michael Davidson.

Davidson, 37, was trapped inside the cluttered basement of the Harlem movie set at 773 St. Nicholas Ave. when he was overcome by toxic smoke and ran out of air.

The building where the fire occurred has been torn down.
By Diego Ore

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Every spring, the streets of Mexico's capital are painted purple with the flowering of thousands of jacaranda trees. Their spectacular colors not only attract the eyes of residents and tourists, but also birds, bees and butterflies that find food and shelter in them.

But this year something changed.

Some jacarandas began blooming in early January, when they normally awaken in spring. The early onset bloom has set off alarm bells among residents and scientists in Mexico City, where the trees have become an iconic, photogenic mainstay of city streets.

Local scientists have begun investigating how widespread the early-bloom phenomenon is, but they point to climate change as the first culprit.

"We've always seen the jacaranda beginning to bloom towards the end of March, in spring, when we see the flowers change to violet," said Constantino Gonzalez, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

"They are starting to flower in January, February, which is winter, when it is not yet their time," said the biologist of 48 years.

Gonzalez explained that in order to draw a correlation between climate change and the early flowering of jacarandas his team needs a representative sample and compare blooms year to year. To do this, he has started to lead a group of young people who are collecting data throughout the city and using satellite imagery.

He noted rising temperatures caused winter in the Mexican capital to end early this year, in mid-January, instead of late March when it is supposed to end.

ADAPTATION

Enthralled by the Japanese cherry trees that cover Washington, D.C. in pink and white every spring, Mexican President Pascual Ortiz (1930-1932) set out to replicate the same landscape in his nation's capital.

But Tatsugoro Matsumoto, a Japanese landscape architect who settled in Mexico in the late 19th century, told him they would not survive the city's temperate climate for long, so he advocated for jacarandas, a tropical tree he had learnt about during a brief stay in Peru.

Since then, the tree has become a staple for Mexico City's nine million inhabitants.

In January alarm spread when users on social networks started to publish photos of flowering jacarandas and began to wonder about the effects of climate change.

"Like never before (...) people have started to say 'this is serious, it's real' and it's no longer just a polar bear floating adrift'," said Cristina Ayala, biologist and doctor in Sustainability Sciences.

"It is very good that people are beginning to become aware of what climate change is going to bring to us as urbanites," she added.

Although they are not native to Mexico, for Ayala, jacarandas fulfill an important function for the city. They attract more hummingbirds and bees than many native trees, so a change in flowering could lead to a decrease in these populations.

"One would like the jacarandas to bloom all year round, they brighten the city," said Alex Estrada, a resident of the Mexican capital, while observing a tree that was beginning to turn purple. "But something is not right here: jacarandas in winter?" he wondered.

(Reporting by Diego Ore; Writing by Sarah Kinosian; Editing by Ana Isabel Martinez and Sandra Maler)
The timeline of the eclipse across northern Ohio.

Portage County is getting ready for what for most will be a once-in-a-lifetime event  the April 8 total solar eclipse.

About 3:14 p.m. April 8, this area of Northeast Ohio could have some of the best views as the moon passes between the sun and earth, blocking out the sun's light for several minutes.

It's an event that hasn't been seen in Portage County since 1806, and one that won't be seen again until 2099.

Throngs of people are expected to descend on Northeast Ohio to catch glimpse of the rare celestial event. Here are some of the activities planned in communities and by organizations throughout the county.

No room at the inns

Most hotel rooms in Portage County are booked on April 8 and the days leading up to it, said Ryan Shackelford, director of the Portage County Emergency Management Agency.

Those looking to visit have been encouraged to explore camping options, including state parks.

"We want people to arrive early and stay late," Shackelford said.

Many schools closed

With school dismissal around the time of the eclipse and traffic gridlock predicted, many schools are closed the day of the eclipse.

Kent State will be cancelling in-person classes on April 8 at all KSU campuses and locations, the provost's office announced. Online or remote-format classes may continue, the university stated in a press release, but instructors may elect to change or cancel their class so students don't miss the eclipse. Instructors of in-person classes may chose a remote option or a plan that doesn't conflict with the eclipse. Students should check with their professors for details.

KSU is posting information online about the eclipse and viewing opportunities in the area.

Plan to be safe

Local and statewide safety officials are encouraging people to be aware of their surroundings and potential traffic issues the day of the eclipse. It's best not to count on the internet, because connectivity could be an issue.

The state EMA advises those traveling to know their route in advance.

"Do not pull off the side of a roadway to view the eclipse," the state EMA advises. "Do not park on privately owned land unless arrangements have been made with the owner of the property. Paper travel maps are a great item to have."

Shackelford said safety officials are hosting a tabletop exercise Sunday to plan for potential emergencies during the eclipse.

Kent activities include 5K, laser show

Community partners, including the city of Kent, Main Street Kent, the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, Destination Kent CVB, the Kent Free Library, Kent State University, Kent Parks & Recreation, the Kent State University Hotel & Conference Center, and local business owners have been organizing the Kent Total Eclipse 2024 event, which will run April 5-8. Family-friendly events will include interactive NASA Citizen Science projects, educational talks, eclipse inspired art displays, science workshops, a laser light show, live music, planetarium shows and a 5K run.

Activities include:

A 30-minute laser light show will run 8 to 8:30 p.m. April 7 at Hometown Bank Plaza, 142 N. Water St. The free event also will include food trucks and beverages in the DORA district.

Runners can participate in a non-competitive fun run/walk on April 6. The event begins and ends at North Water Brewing Co., 101 Crain Ave., and will go through the Portage Hike & Bike Trail. Participants will receive a race bib, commemorative beer glass, beer or non-alcoholic beverage, MSK 5K/Eclipse T-shirt, and a pair of eclipse glasses. Registration is $30. Those wishing to participate must register by March 22 to receive a T-shirt. Check-in will be 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. on the North Water Brewing Co. patio, depending on your start time.

At 6:30 p.m. April 6, The Dark Side of the Moon, a Pink Floyd cover band, will perform at the Kent Stage.

Festivities will include a community unveiling of a permanent public art mural in Heritage Park.

The Kent Free Library has several activities planned, including representatives from the Akron Zoo coming to the library, a glow-in-the-dark story walk and a visit from Luna, from the PBS show "Let's Go Luna."

Several eclipse viewing areas which will include downtown, the KSU campus and some of Kent's city park.

Kent State University will open its planetarium to the public for three shows on the day of the eclipse.

Limited road closures in downtown Kent will be in place April 7-8. For more information and schedule of events, visit https://www.kenteclipse2024.com. Event details will be updated as they are made available.

Contact the Main Street Kent office at 330-677-8000 with questions.

Total Eclipse in the Park

Turn around, bright eyes.

Streetsboro is turning its eclipse watch party into a celebration at Pierce Streetsboro Library, city parks and the new community center.

Streetsboro will host an eclipse watch party titled "Total Eclipse in the Park."

Greg Mytinger, director of Streetsboro Parks and Recreation, said the celebration will run 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at City Park, 8970 Kirby Lane. The event will include food trucks, a live DJ, children's crafts and live remote broadcasts from 88.9FM WSTB. There will be free viewing glasses, and the first 250 people will receive free grab bags with eclipse goodies, glasses and a limited edition eclipse souvenir treat.

Mytinger said the event has been in the planning stages for months. Parks and Recreation, he said, got a grant from the Great Lakes Science Center to offset the cost of eclipse glasses.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime event," he said. "We thought it would be fun to throw a party in the park."

Members of the Friends of Streetsboro Parks have been trained as community eclipse ambassadors, and have undergone training in eclipse education, basic astronomy and eclipse viewing safety.

A souvenir Total Eclipse in the Park T-shirt will pay homage to Streetsboro and features a retro rocket with bright, space-themed colors of the sun, moon and Earth. Prices start at $27 and are available online.

Other events are set for the days leading up to the eclipse, including:

Why Eclipses Occur and Archeoastronomy," an hourlong presentation featuring Ron Kalinoski of the Astronomy Club of Akron at 7 p.m. April 2 at the new Community Center, 8970 Kirby Lane, Streetsboro. Admission is free, but people are encouraged to register on the city's website.

The Streetsboro Library will host an "Eclipse Edition Pop-Up Book Club" from 4 to 5 p.m. April 3 at the library. The book club will discuss the horror master's classic "Dolores Claiborne" by Stephen King.

Streetsboro Library also will host Teen Galaxy Crafts Day from 3 to 4:30 p.m. April 5. The event, open to youths between the ages of 13 and18, will include galaxy-themed crafts to celebrate the total solar eclipse.

Streetsboro Library will host Jewelry Making: Solar System Bracelet from 2 to 4 p.m. April 6. The drop-in program will allow people of all ages to make a solar system bracelet to celebrate the eclipse, while supplies last.

Streetsboro Parks and Recreation will host Total Eclipse in the Park Kids Crafts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 8 at City Park. The program will feature kids crafts and educational activities leading to the afternoon eclipse. Registration required at the Parks and Recreation website.

Library watch parties

Jon Harris, director of the Portage County District Library, said watch parties are being hosted at all branches in the district, including Streetsboro. In addition to craft activities, outdoor watch parties are planned, with viewing glasses available at the library starting in March until supplies run out. Some outdoor events, he said, might be moved inside in the event of poor weather.

"April does not always have the best weather for a clear sky," he said.

Details on the events can be found on the library's events page.

Amy Young, director of Reed Memorial Library, said a watch party is planned for the grassy lot at Clinton and East Main Street that once housed Ravenna High School. The party will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. and will incude glow sticks for children, eclipse glasses for all, and "eclipse themed music."

On March 6, the library will host an educational program on eclipses, in partnership with the Astronomy Club of Akron. The event is limited to the first 100 people, and each attendee will receive a pair of solar eclipse viewing glasses to keep.

From March 30 to April 7, all ages can drop in at the library is open and make a solar eclipse viewer with provided supplies. The participants are encouraged to bring the viewer back for the April 8 watch party.

From 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 3, adults and teens can make a painting to celebrate the solar eclipse. The event is limited to the first ten participants.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage County to roll out activities for the solar eclipse
Anthony Graves (center), after his release in 2010, hugged Michael Rueter. Graves had just been released after serving serving 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. The last time he'd seen Rueter, Rueter had been 15 years old. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle ) Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle

I survived 18 years in prison  16 of those years in solitary confinement and 12 years on death row  for a crime I did not commit. It was all because a district attorney cared more about seeing me convicted than seeking the truth.

My journey to hell and back began in August 1992. I was a few weeks shy of my 27th birthday when the police knocked on my door in Brenham, my hometown, and arrested me for a gruesome murder.

I had an alibi witness, no connection to the crime, no motive and I maintained my innocence from the start. The person who actually committed the crime fingered me as his accomplice before recanting his lie  but the district attorney didnt care about innocence or guilt. He just wanted to find some way to convict me. His zealousness was matched only by his reckless disregard for the truth. He built a case against me despite my innocence, and I was convicted and sentenced to death.

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Because of a district attorney, my death was scheduled twice. Because of a district attorney, as Ive written before, I will forever be known not only as Anthony Graves, grandfather, father and son, but as United States Death Row Exoneree 138.

As our communitys top elected prosecutor, the district attorney wields immense power. They decide whether we will be charged with crimes and which crimes to charge. Their recommendations to judges also influence whether we will be separated from our families and held in jail while we wait for our day in court. For too long, Texans have allowed district attorneys to hold onto power by making us fear each other and locking more and more of us up. Did you know that 2 in 3 people held in Texas county jails have not been convicted?

Voters in Harris County like me will begin the process of choosing our next district attorney during the March 5 primary election and the Nov. 4 general election. Incumbent Kim Ogg faces candidate Sean Teare in the Democratic primary. The winner will take on Republican Dan Simons, who is running unopposed, in the fall.

Since my exoneration, Ive become an advocate for criminal justice reform to prevent similar abuses of power. Heres what a DA can do to make our communities stronger and safer.



We need a district attorney committed to ending the damage that mass incarceration has done to communities, keeping families together and restoring stability to individuals. You shouldnt be locked up  lose your job and be kept from your family  because you smoked a joint or missed a court date for a minor offense.

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To prevent wrongful convictions, the district attorney must ensure their offices conviction integrity unit is well-resourced, staffed by seasoned attorneys and that it is truly independent. It should report directly to the district attorney.

The district attorney must be committed to reducing the harm of our wasteful and ineffective drug laws. They should advocate for statewide regulation of marijuana the way alcohol is regulated and do everything in their power to ensure those struggling with addiction in Harris County have access to treatment  instead of prison.

Our next district attorney must also be committed to reducing wealth-based incarceration. With few exceptions, our current system allows those with money to go free before trial, while those who cant make bail remain locked up. Money bail results in incarceration that wastes millions of taxpayer dollars, increases the risk of reoffending and erodes the right to fair treatment. Our next elected district attorney has the power to recommend who will have to pay bail and they can also influence state and local laws.

CHRONICLE INVESTIGATION: Thousands of Houstonians are sent to jail with no legal basis under DA Ogg

The stakes in this next election could not be higher. I recently partnered with the ACLU of Texas to empower the public with information they need to vote in the upcoming Harris County district attorney elections. We asked all of the candidates about their positions on these issues. Now, we want to share their answers with you. Visit aclutx.org/da to learn more about your candidates for Harris County district attorney and their commitment to improving our justice system.

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Mairi McAllan said she hoped her example would send a 'strong signal' to women about having a family while holding a top job

Scotland's economy secretary Mairi McAllan is pregnant and will take maternity leave this summer, it has been confirmed.

It will be the second time a serving Scottish cabinet secretary has taken maternity leave after Kate Forbes's pregnancy in 2022.

Arrangements to cover Ms McAllan's ministerial responsibilities will be set out by the first minister.

The Scottish government said she will resume her duties on her return.

A spokesperson added she notified Humza Yousaf of her pregnancy at the beginning of the year.

Ms McAllan, 31, was previously transport secretary - a brief that was taken over by Fiona Hyslop in a reshuffle earlier in February after Michael Matheson resigned.

Ms McAllan took over the economy brief from Neil Gray, who was appointed health secretary. She is currently the wellbeing economy, net zero and energy secretary.

Ms McAllan said she was "laser-focused" on delivering her portfolio priorities.

"My husband Iain and I are delighted that we are expecting our first child in the summer, and very much look forward to welcoming this new addition to our family," she said.

"I will spend the coming months setting the groundwork for all I believe needs to be done pursuant to this. That way, work can continue in my absence and I can seamlessly pick back up on my return.

"I hope my example will send a strong signal to all women and girls - and to Scotland more generally - that starting a family should never be a barrier to holding senior positions within any organisation and that, as a nation, we are stronger when our politics and government reflect our society."

Mr Yousaf offered his congratulations to Ms McAllan on the "fantastic news".

He said: "I am pleased Mairi has agreed to remain cabinet secretary for wellbeing economy, net zero and energy while on leave, and take up her duties again upon her return after spending some treasured time with the exciting new addition to her family."

Ms McAllan told the Sunday Mail newspaper that her baby is due at the end of July.
TWO RIVERS  The search for Elijah Vue, the 3-year-old boy first reported missing Feb. 20, continued overnight Saturday and into Sunday.

Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinnert said in the latest update from police at 12:05 p.m. Sunday: "Our search efforts continued throughout last night and will continue today on our city rivers. Thank you to the Door County/Sturgeon Bay Dive Team and the Green Bay Dive Team for further assisting last night with the efforts already in place by Wings of Hope and NorthStar.

"We have also resumed our neighborhood canvass and continue to follow up on all leads and tips."

Meinnert shared on Saturday that at least one fake video was circulating on social media that claimed to show the recovery of a minor child by police.

Beware of scams seeking your money and personal information, but also those now looking to take advantage of this unfortunate incident, the chief said.

The Two Rivers Police Department is your source for facts regarding this case, he continued, and we will continue to update the community as we are able and as timely as we can.

As local residents continue to coordinate in the search for Elijah, Meinnert asked that they respect others private property and be cautious when conducting those searches.

Elijah, a 3-year-old boy from Two Rivers, is missing Feb. 20. The Two Rivers Police Department has asked the public for help with finding him.

Magee Elementary School in Two Rivers was assisting with giving a growing law enforcement effort  which also includes Manitowoc Police Department, Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office, Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office and the FBI  additional space for operations.

On Saturday, Meinnert said advanced searches of rivers and other waters were under way with a variety of boats, drones and dogs in the area. Police were being assisted in the efforts by Wings of Hope and NorthStar.

Meinnert said local residents may also see extensive teams of officers and agents out on foot speaking with people door to door.

The police department has set up accounts to accept monetary donations to go toward search efforts or a reward. Anyone interested in donating is advised to call the police department during regular business hours at 920-793-1191. This includes anyone wishing to provide food.

Anyone with information about Elijahs whereabouts or the case is advised to call the tipline at 844-267-6648, submit information via the app P3 or call Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers at 920-683-4466. Callers with information leading to the location of Elijah, or arrest of anyone involved in or responsible for his disappearance could become eligible to receive a reward of up to $1,000 through Crime Stoppers.

Meinnert concluded Saturdays update stating, Locating Elijah and reuniting him with his family continues to be our top priority.

What we know: Here's what we know about the search for 3-year-old Elijah Vue in Two Rivers

Elijah Vue has been missing since Feb. 20.

News of the disappearance of a 3-year-old boy in Two Rivers first came Feb. 20. Police said Elijah was last seen at 8 a.m. that day and his caretaker reported him missing to local law enforcement at 10:59 a.m. An Amber Alert, which is an emergency child abduction alert, was issued later Feb. 20 and remains active. A Child is Missing and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were also contacted by the Two Rivers Police.

Elijah Vue has dark brown hair and brown eyes and is about 3 feet tall.

Elijah, a 3-year-old boy from Two Rivers, is missing Feb. 20. The Two Rivers Police Department has asked the public for help with finding him.

Police describe Elijah as being of Hmong and white ethnicity with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He's about 3 feet tall and has a birthmark on his left knee. He was last seen wearing gray pants, a dark-colored long-sleeved shirt and a pair of red-and-green dinosaur slip-on shoes. He may also be carrying a red-and-white plaid blanket.

Search for Elijah Vue has included several agencies and searches by air, water and of landfills.

Search efforts have included using K9 units from the Manitowoc Police Department, the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office and the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office, an air search from the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and boats and UTVs from the Two Rivers Fire Department and the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office. Landfills used by garbage collections in Manitowoc County have also been searched. The FBI has also been assisting with the search.

Manitowoc Police Officer Nick Place and K-9 dog Riley search along Bellevue Place near 43rd Street in Two Rivers in search of a missing 3-year-old, Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in Two Rives, Wis.

The public has been assisting in the search for Elijah Vue with police offering tips of where to look.

Elijah, a 3-year-old boy from Two Rivers, is missing Feb. 20. The Two Rivers Police Department has asked the public for help with finding him.

Police have asked for continued assistance from the public in the search for Elijah. They shared the following guidelines for those helping in the search:

Check anywhere a small child could hide, climb or fall.

Check your own property for items that don't belong to you which could include anything from Elijah such as the red-and-white plaid blanket or dinosaur printed shoes.

Check your surveillance systems from Feb. 12-20. Look for anyone matching Elijah's description in the surveillance footage.

Search public land for the same items or anything relevant to the investigation.

Do not touch anything you find, but contact the tip line (1-844-267-6648) or Two Rivers police (920-686-7200) right away.

Hundreds of Two Rivers residents and people from neighboring communities have turned out to help search for Elijah, and several Facebook pages have been created to organize the grassroots efforts. One community member created a Google map where people with a Google account can mark areas they have already searched.

2 charged in connection with the case: Mother of missing 3-year-old Two Rivers boy charged with child neglect. She wasnt in town when he disappeared.

Elijah Vue's mother, Two Rivers man charged with child neglect

Elijah's mother, Katrina Baur, 31, of Wisconsin Dells was charged with party-to-a-crime child neglect Feb. 23 in Manitowoc County Circuit Court. Jesse Vang, 39, of Two Rivers was charged with child neglect.

In a statement to the court, Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said Baur had sent Elijah to stay with Vang for disciplinary purposes. Baur wasn't in Two Rivers when Elijah disappeared.

A $15,000 cash bond was set for Baur, while a $20,000 cash bond was set for Vang. Initial appearance hearings for both are scheduled for Feb. 26.

Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Elijah Vue still missing in Two Rivers, search for 3-year-old continues
Its nice that Elk Groves effort to block an affordable housing project in its Old Town neighborhood is at an end, even if the solution is for the city to spend lots of public funds to build it somewhere else.

And its nice that California Attorney General Rob Bonta may not need to sue the suburban city south of Sacramento anymore for blocking a needed project.

But did anybody win here?

Opinion

In public, Elk Grove officials are still acting as if they did nothing wrong by initially rejecting the Oak Rose Apartments, a move that resulted in Bonta suing them and Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly criticizing them.

On Friday, city officials broke ground on a new affordable housing project that will provide 236 units on eight acres of land on 8310 Poppy Ridge Road. Thats the right move for the city and region.

But Elk Grove hasnt built nearly enough affordable housing overall, and thats essentially why they were sued by Bonta.

The city has demonstrated how hard it is to build housing in town for people who cant afford a mortgage, compared to what it takes to build homes for those who can afford the states outrageous costs.

California is in a housing deficit because of NIMBY behavior, perfectly exhibited here in Elk Grove. Local control, which Elk Grove demanded it retain is what has gotten California into a housing shortage, a crisis of affordability and it has fed the explosion of homelessness in California.

Bonta had to sue Elk Grove, he should sue more California cities as well because affordable housing is killed at the local level  just as Elk Grove tried to kill it.

The city rejected the Oak Rose affordable housing project in July of 2022. The ill-fated decision quickly created a slew of legal problems. The project was proposed for a perfectly workable location in the heart of Old Town Elk Grove. However aggressive resistance from inside and outside Elk Grove City Hall stalled the project for more than a year.

Now, according to a city press release, Elk Grove will provide the project a $5 million grant using funds designated to support affordable housing. The city will have to purchase the Old Town property at its appraised value, transfer ownership of the new property at no cost to the Oak Rose developer, reimburse the developer $850,000, pay damages of $860,000 and also the developers legal fees for another $600,000. Under the agreement, the city has until June 30 to approve the new site for the Oak Rose apartments. If, for whatever reason, that doesnt happen, Elk Grove will have to pay the developer another $2.2 million.

What a day for the city of Elk Grove, said Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen at a press conference announcing the agreement.

What a day? A day for what? Shelling out millions in taxpayer dollars to move an affordable housing complex to the edge of town so that you dont get sued for even more millions?

Look it up: The new site they had to hand over for free to the Oak Rose developer is mere blocks from the city limits, 8484 Elk Grove-Florin Rd., while the old site, 9252 Elk Grove Blvd., was a barely stones throw away from multi-million dollar housing developments. And remember: The new site the city is touting as a win isnt even formally approved yet by the Elk Grove City Council. This isnt over yet.

The result is that Elk Grove officials were successful in pushing this complex to the very edge of city limits while claiming it was a boon to the project and its eventual residents: Closer to grocery stores, transportation lines and all those important items necessary for residents to thrive, Singh-Allen said, conveniently omitting that the location in Old Town had valuable amenities as well.

City officials decided theyd rather continue pandering to locals who wrongly fear the poor (or rather, the stereotypes associated with them) living too near them.

The Bees Editorial Board visited Elk Grove last year and walked the contentious site in Old Town with the mayor and city officials. The city shared how it refused to buy the very land when it was on the market because of the asking price but they nonetheless had plans to turn the the land and a nearby abandoned pharmacy into a city library. The few affordable housing complexes they did show us were on the outer edges of town, much as the Oak Rose project will be if formally approved by the council.

So while city officials are patting themselves on the back today, theyre staying busy missing the point our board made to them that day and Ill make here again: Poor people deserve to live in the heart of Elk Grove, too.

Its as simple as that.

Elk Grove officials could have spared themselves a few million by simply refusing to economically redline their city.

Maybe it wasnt the proximity to bus routes and a supermarket that the city was worried about, but rather the original locations proximity to certain assets the city prizes more highly than ending the regions homelessness crisis.

Dont let Elk Grove fool you with a chirpy press conference: They lost, and the people of Elk Grove lost, too. Their city could have been a shining example of how to build affordable housing.

The whole ordeal, and the council caving to public pressure against a perfectly suitable site, suggests that Elk Grove is not on the right path, and that state intervention can  at times  serve a very necessary purpose.
Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Anne Hathaway speak onstage during the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

"Devil Wears Prada" actors Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Anne Hathaway reunited at the SAG Awards.

The trio rehashed lines from the movie and teased Streep over being like her cutthroat character.

"I don't think I'm anything like Miranda," Streep sheepishly retorted.

Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Anne Hathaway came together at Saturday's Screen Actor Guild Awards to honor the 18th anniversary of the 2006 film, "The Devil Wears Prada."

Streep, who started onstage alone, began her speech with a regrettable error  she forgot her glasses and envelope.

Blunt and Hathaway then walked out, holding just what Streep needed: Large, black, square-framed glasses and an awards envelope.

Hathaway wore a blue  perhaps Cerulean  Versace dress, and Blunt walked out in a bright, red custom Louis Vuitton gown.

The trio embraced onstage before Streep went into a monologue, asking: "It's an age-old question, 'Where does the character end and the actor begin?'"



"Well, as we've just seen, Meryl and Miranda Priestly, they're sort of like twins," Blunt said, referencing Streep's character in the movie  a suspected caricature of Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour. Streep portrays Wintour as a cutthroat fashionista.

"I don't think I'm anything like Miranda," Streep sheepishly retorted.

Hathaway interjected: "No, that wasn't a question."

And as Streep struggled to tear open the envelope with the winner's name, Blunt referenced another iconic line from the film.

"By all means, move at a glacial pace," Blunt said. "You know how that thrills me."

The trio announced the winner of the award for male actor in a comedy series, which Jeremy Allen White took home for "The Bear.".

"The Devil Wears Prada" stars Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, a young co-assistant to Streep's character at the fictional Runway magazine, who faces off with Blunt's character for the attention of the often cruel Streep.

The story will soon play in London's West End starting in October as a musical starring Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly.

The 30th annual SAG Awards streamed live on Netflix for the first time. Other winners included Pedro Pascal for "The Last of Us," Ali Wong for "Beef," and Ayo Edebiri for "The Bear."

In a post-win interview with host Tan France, Edebiri, who won for female actor in a comedy series, was asked what icons like Streep and Oprah may have thought of her speech.

"I think they just think, 'I hope she's OK,'" Edebiri said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
After decades of complacency, reality is starting to dawn. The world is not drawing inexorably closer, autocracies are not turning to democracy and liberalism, and geopolitical competition is growing more dangerous.

The countries of Europe face multiple threats to their security. Russia continues to wage its war against Ukraine and could feasibly attack other countries in future. The Kremlin, Beijing and others work to undermine our security and stability at home too, stealing industrial and military secrets, launching cyber attacks and conducting so-called hybrid warfare.

Iran  which one day will achieve its aim to acquire nuclear weapons  uses its proxies to attack Western interests and undermine global trade routes. Al-Qaeda is regrouping under the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Islamists continue to operate freely across the continent, with terrorists plotting attacks, extremists spreading their radical ideology and hatred, and organisations connected to the likes of the Muslim Brotherhood given public money and the legitimacy of engagement with politicians, public bodies and the media. Among the millions of people streaming into Europe from North Africa and the Middle East are radicals and extremists  some of whom will inevitably attack and murder civilians.

From within Europe and without, powerful forces want to destroy our security, our prosperity, and our way of life. And even now, as the complacency fades, our readiness falls far too short. The migration crisis continues. Islamism is appeased, not confronted. And with China, short-term commercial interests trump long-term security risks.

Even as Donald Trump questions the future of Nato and Republicans in America withhold support for Ukraine, demanding Europe pays more for its own security, the debate about European defence capabilities resembles a hangover from another time. European capitals seem oblivious to the point that if Trump wins the next election, it is entirely likely that he will force Ukraine to cede territory and come to terms with Russia.

Some Republicans even speculate that he will give ninety days notice of his intention to tear up the Nato treaty. If this were to happen, it is likely it would be a characteristically aggressive negotiating stance designed to force the Europeans to increase their contribution to the alliance. Even still, such a move would embolden Vladimir Putin, shatter trust among the allies, and leave the Europeans under no illusions that in future they may well be on their own.

And the truth is that they might very well find themselves alone. This ought to be the most urgent fact in the politics of every country in Europe. Instead, the debate, to the extent that there is one, focuses on countries hitting the target to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence  a target Nato governments agreed they would reach 10 years ago  and which candidate should be appointed the next Nato general secretary. Mark Rutte, the new favourite, is a formidable politician who handled Trump well as the Dutch Prime Minister, but it will not take Republicans long to realise that the wealthy Netherlands spends only 1.7 per cent of GDP on defence.

It is true that defence spending in Europe is increasing. Poland, for example, is up to 3.9 per cent of GDP. Other countries threatened by Russia  Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania  have all increased their spending significantly. But Europe as a whole still spends below 2 per cent, and key countries still lag behind. Germany has made commitments for future spending, but last year spent only 1.57 per cent of GDP on defence. France is not yet hitting the target, and while Britain does, it still spends less than it once did.

The question is no longer whether Europe can hit its 2 per cent target, but whether European countries have the capabilities they need to defend themselves and their interests  and what level of spending, and what kind of spending, will deliver that.

The likes of Italy and Spain spend around 60 per cent of their defence budgets on personnel, for example, whereas America spends around 28 per cent  less than it spends on major equipment and related research and development. Last year Nato countries combined spent $1.26 trillion on defence, but $860 billion of that was American spending  only $375 billion came from Europe.

Realistically, if Europe is going to take responsibility for its own security, its countries will need to spend sums more like 3 per cent of their combined GDP. And while all Nato countries now hit the target to spend 20 per cent of defence budgets on equipment, they will still need to invest more heavily in research and development and military technologies. To do this, and to coordinate capabilities, new agreements will need to be struck.

Given the severity of the threats we face, and the conviction that Europe will no longer be able to freeload  regardless of the identity of the next president  Britain ought to take a leading role in convening European leaders and begin this work now.

Together with France, Europes other leading military power, and working with key countries like Germany and Poland, the Government should call a security summit long before the US election.

Increased defence spending  especially when it goes on technology and research and development  can spill over into commercial and industrial success, as experienced in America and countries like Israel and Estonia. But there is little point pretending that bigger defence budgets will not mean tough choices. If they do reach 3 per cent of GDP, international aid spending for example will quickly look like an indulgence we cannot afford.

This is the reality of the world in which we live now. Eighteen per cent of Ukrainian territory is occupied by Russia, and 6.4 million Ukrainians are refugees. And while this phase of the war began two years ago, hostilities really began a decade ago when Putin invaded Crimea. History has always taught us that aggressors exploit weakness, and peace can only be won through strength. Whether the enemy is Russia, China or Iran, whether the threat is from terrorists at home or armies abroad, we must show we are stronger and more resolved than them.

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.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Kyiv on 24 February 2024. Photo: Ukrainian President's Office

During her visit to Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Commission will submit the negotiating framework for the official start of accession talks by mid-March 2024.

Source: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda

Note: This news has been corrected since publication. The original version of this news item incorrectly stated von der Leyen mentioned legislative screening, whereas it was supposed to be the negotiating framework. We apologise to our readers.

Details: Ursula von der Leyen noted that the technical processes preceding the start of the accession negotiations are underway.

"For our part, we, the Commission, will submit the negotiating framework [on EU accession] in mid-March," von der Leyen stressed. It should be noted that the European Commission's proposal must be approved by EU member states.

She pointed out that the EU had launched a screening process and that much work still needed to be done.

"I encourage you  and I know you are doing it  to keep delivering on the Commission's recommendations," Von der Leyen stated.

Background:

Earlier, von der Leyen stated that the framework for negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU would not be ready for the European elections to be held in early June.

In January, the European Commission commenced work on a draft negotiating framework for Ukraine, a document that defines the principles and procedures for negotiating EU accession.

Earlier, there were hopes that the negotiating framework would be ready sooner and would be approved at an intergovernmental conference to be convened after the March summit of EU leaders. The convening of the intergovernmental conference is the actual start of accession negotiations.

The March EU summit is expected to assess Ukraine's recent steps to start accession negotiations. They include approval of the law on lobbying.

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On February 27, 2024, I will be requesting the County Commission to conduct a study to determine how best to structure county government for the long-term future as our county continues to grow in population. The last time such an analysis was conducted in Collier County was 1988. Obviously, much has changed since then. Though the Commission may ultimately decide to do nothing to change how we are structured, I believe it is important, and a valuable exercise, to re-evaluate our governmental structure to make sure we have the most efficient and effective form of governance for the future.

Burt Saunders

In Florida all non-charter counties (like Collier County) are divided into five commission districts. There are three basic types of county government structure in Florida:

(1) At-large districts (40 counties), in which each district has a resident commissioner, with all five commissioners elected in countywide elections. In this structure, each commission district is represented by an individual who lives in the district (just like our current system), but all citizens can cast votes for all five commissioners. This structure ensures that each commissioner must consider not only the impacts of decisions on the commissioners district, but also the countywide impacts of those decisions.

(2) Single member districts (20 counties), in which each district has a resident commissioner who is elected on a district basis, not countywide. Since 1988 this has been the model used by Collier County. Prior to 1988, Collier County commissioners were elected in countywide elections.

(3) A mixed district (seven counties) consisting of a combination of five single members (elected on a district-by-district basis) and two at-large commissioners (elected on a countywide basis). Proponents of the mixed system claim that it allows two commissioners to bring a countywide perspective on matters brought before the commission while also allowing the five district-based commissioners to advocate for their specific areas of the county.

To change the structure of county government, a countywide referendum is required. Only the County Commission is empowered to call such a referendum. Once a study is conducted, the County Commission could schedule such a referendum in the general election in November 2024. The deadline to schedule such a referendum is August 20, 2024, at which time ballot language must be presented to the supervisor of elections.

For much of Collier Countys history, the county operated under the five-member district system with commissioners elected in countywide elections. On December 1, 1987, the Collier County Commission adopted a resolution calling for a referendum election to be held on March 8, 1988, to submit the following question to the electors of Collier County: Shall the five members of the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, be elected to office from single-member districts by electors residing in each of those districts only? By a vote of 14,521 in favor (Yes) to a 13,745 vote against (No), the single-member county commission district referendum passed. Obviously, Collier County has dramatically changed since the 1988 vote with a county population approaching 500,000 and over 256,000 registered voters in the county.

I believe it is time to re-evaluate the structure of county government and to let our citizens determine what is the best type of county governance for the future. Section 124.011(10), Florida Statutes, allows Collier County to return to countywide elections or adopt the seven-member system with two members elected in countywide elections and five members elected in district-wide elections. This can only be considered by the voters in a countywide referendum called for by the County Commission.

There are many good reasons to select each of the three systems. For example, there is an argument that at-large systems can have an adverse impact by making it more difficult for minority residents to elect a minority representative to the commission. Though that is certainly a valid and important consideration, many other factors should also be addressed as well in evaluating what is best for all Collier County residents.

My request on February 27 is for the County Commission to create a study committee to evaluate the pros and cons of the three governance systems. This committee could be formed very quickly, with each commissioner appointing the members, or this could be assigned to an existing committee, such as the Productivity Committee, for a thorough and timely review. This committee would evaluate the basic types of county governance and the pros and cons of each for consideration by the Commission. In addition, public forums could be scheduled to give citizens the opportunity to hear about the pros and cons of each system.

I want to hear from citizens their thoughts on this proposal.

Burt Saunders is vice chairman and District 3 Collier County commissioner.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Re-evaluate our governmental structure in Collier County
Kyle Kazan is a former Los Angeles Police Department officer who once had to arrest a man he pulled up next to at a red light who had a marijuana plant sticking out of his convertible with the top down.

"We stopped at the red light, and he had a giant plant in the back seat of his car," Kazan told Fox News Digital. "And then, when I looked at him, people are laughing. I mean it was so ridiculous. And then he saluted me."

Now Kazan's one of the biggest legal pot growers in the country, the co-founder and CEO of Glass House Brands, which he says produces more than 600,000 pounds of weed a year and expects to break the million mark soon.

The company owns 6 million square feet of greenhouse space, he said, but is using less than half of that.

FEDERAL JUDGE GREEN LIGHTS NEW YORK MARIJUANA LICENSING DESPITE DISASTER LEGAL CANNABIS MARKET ROLLOUT

Glass House Brands co-founder and CEO Kyle Kazan speaks via Zoom about the fairness of his sprawling legal marijuana business with thousands of nonviolent pot deals behind bars around the U.S.

After breaking into the legal pot business with some shady partners, including an associate of the infamous LA mogul Suge Knight, Kazan said he cleaned things up, attracted legitimate investors and cultivated a California powerhouse.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

But there's a darker side of the legalized pot business, says the man who has delivered public speeches while wearing a shirt declaring, "No one should be in prison for a plant."

Thousands of people are serving felony prison sentences for nonviolent marijuana dealing that pale in comparison to the scale of his operation.

BOXING LEGEND MIKE TYSON CALLS OUT BIDEN, WANTS CELEMENCY FOR ALL FEDERAL MARIJUANA OFFENDERS

"Justice, then, certainly isn't blind now, is it?" Kazan said.

According to Kazan's estimate, there are between 2,700 and 3,000 people imprisoned on marijuana distribution charges in federal prisons. There are thousands more in state prisons. The Last Prisoner Project, a Colorado-based nonprofit, estimates that in 2018 there were 32,000 inmates around the country on cannabis-related charges.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE PASSENGERS BROUGHT BAGS OF WEED ON SHIP IN TRANSATLANTIC DRUG TRAFFICKING SCHEME: AUTHORITIES

That's just wrong, Kazan argued, especially when none of those people moved anywhere near as much weight as his company.

He takes the issue seriously and has even flown across the country to speak on behalf of nonviolent marijuana dealers facing decades in prison.

"I flew down to the federal courthouse in Augusta, (Georgia), at the request of a guy named Jose Valero Jr. in 2022, because he reached out to me on social media and said, 'I'm taking a plea. I'm going to get sentenced,'" Kazan told Fox News Digital.

CALIFORNIA WOMAN WHO GOT HIGH AND STABBED BOYFRIEND 108 TIMES WILL NOT TO GO PRISON, JUDGE RULES

Valero was facing three charges related to eight pounds of pot, Kazan said. That's about as much as he might sweep off the floor in one of his greenhouses and throw out on a given day, he said.

"That's what I point out, like the judge, the defendant, everybody could own  legally  my stock with a Charles Schwab account, right now, from the courthouse," he said. "And you're sentencing this young man?"

Weldon Angelos, Bella Thorne, Kyle Kazan and Supa Peach pose before participating in a panel during the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center March 19, 2022, in Austin, Texas.

He is calling for clemency for nonviolent dealers as well as reasonable regulations for the marijuana industry. And he has slammed politicians in both parties, especially President Biden, over the number of pot dealers still incarcerated today.

"Mr. Biden, unfortunately, has not wavered in his commitment to keeping people in prison, unless you're a famous WNBA player sitting in Mr. Putin's prison. And I'm happy she's home, and I'm happy that he went to bat for her," he said, wagging a pen in front of a camera.

"But you don't have to trade away a merchant of death when you have this, and you just need 3,000 signatures to end it."

LAWYER FOR CALIFORNIA WOMAN AVOIDING JAIL IN MARIJUANA STABBING STANDS BY 'PSYCHOTIC' DEFENSE: 'NOT A CON JOB'

He said marijuana users should be treated like alcohol users  allowed to partake legally but limited to reasonable, safe behavior.

"San Francisco and the craziness in our state has made a mockery of my argument because they're saying, 'Oh, you just want people splayed out in the streets, and you want needles in parks where kids play," he said. "No, I don't. I also don't want people out there running around with a beer, drinking in public. There needs to be some laws around this, but you can do this in a sane, rational way."

Kazan also weighed in on a recent high-profile case involving a woman who fell into a "marijuana-induced psychosis" after smoking a high-potency strain of boutique pot, then fatally stabbed her boyfriend and plunged the knife into her own neck multiple times before police arrived.

He compared the high THC content she consumed to Jack Daniel's whiskey having more alcohol than a beer.

"It's a lot less potent, but when you drink enough of it, you're going to get to the same place," he said.

He said he disagreed with the outcome of her trial, in which she was acquitted.

"It needs to be some personal responsibility," he said. "When I read that story, I shook my head. If you make a choice to obliterate yourself with alcohol or whatever, I think you should still bear the consequences of your actions."





Original article source: Ex-cop turned legal pot farmer claims hes bigger dealer than anyone sitting in prison
A former Cheraw police officer was charged with a sex crime, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said.

McBee resident Justin Brian McKenzie, 40, was arrested and charged Thursday with felony sexual extortion and misconduct in office, SLED said in a news release. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a law that makes sexual extortion a crime in August 2023.

McKenzie was previously an officer with the Cheraw Police Department, and Chief Julius Riley requested that SLED lead an investigation, according to the release. Cheraw is in Chesterfield County near the North Carolina state line.

The crimes were committed between Feb. 2-7, according to arrest warrants.

While hiding his identity, McKenzie sent text messages to the victim threatening to publish private, sexually explicit pictures of the victim on social media, arrest warrants show.

In fear of having the pictures posted online, the victim was compelled to create and provide McKenzie with additional sexually explicit photographs and videos, the arrest warrants said.

McKenzie was charged after SLED investigators received statements from the victim and saw the text messages as well as electronic communication records, according to the arrest warrants.

McKenzie was booked at the Chesterfield County Detention Center, SLED said. Bond was set at $10,000 on the combined charges and posted Thursday, Chesterfield County court records show.

The case will be prosecuted by the 4th Circuit Solicitors Office, according to the release.

If convicted on the felony sexual extortion charge (first offense), McKenzie faces a maximum punishment of five years in prison, according to South Carolina law. A conviction on the misconduct in office charge could mean a maximum punishment of one year behind bars and a $1,000 fine, South Carolina law says.
A California Department of Food and Agriculture technician performs a culture swab on a rooster to test for avian influenza. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

An "apocalyptic" mass mortality event that has left thousands of sea lions and elephant seals dead on the beaches of South America is raising alarms among some California sea mammal experts who fear similar scenes could play out along California's Pacific Coast and other continents as the H5N1 bird flu continues its march across the globe.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has become notorious for its devastating affects on wild and domestic bird populations over the last four years, but only recently has it inflicted so many deaths in a mammal population.

Up until now, the ability of the virus to jump from mammal to mammal has been limited, but the scale of infections and deaths in South America has raised troubling questions about whether something has changed.

Read more: In a remote corner of California, roaming dog packs leave a trail of blood and terror

While it remains unclear whether this particular strain of H5N1 has improved its ability to pass easily between mammals, such a development would have potentially devastating consquences for endangered and non-endangered species alike.

The disease "presents an existential threat to the worlds biodiversity," wrote Chris Walzer, executive director of health for the Wildlife Conservation Society in a January statement, noting that the scene of dead elephant seals could "only be described as apocalyptic."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the H5N1 viruses circulating in birds "are believed to pose a low risk to the general public in the United States; however, people who have job-related or recreational exposures to infected birds may be at higher risk of infection and should take appropriate precautions outlined in CDC guidance."

The World Health Organization has also deemed the risk of human-to-human transmission to be low, and notes that candidate vaccines have been developed for pandemic preparedness.

Yet the speed with which the virus has destroyed once-thriving animal populations is breathtaking, said Marcela Uhart, a wildlife veterinarian with UC Davis' One Health institute, who is based in Argentina.

In October, the mortality rate for newborn elephant seal pups reached 96% on one beach in Argentina  astronomically higher than the 0.8% mortality rate observed there in 2022.

"Ten days and it's done. There's nothing left alive," Uhart said.

Die-offs have also been observed in South American dolphins and fur seals. And the virus is practically knocking on Antarctica's front door, where more than 100 million birds, including colony-living penguins, and marine mammals congregate.

"There's climate change and habitat destruction," which are taking their toll on the planet's wildlife species, said Rebecca Duerr, an avian veterinarian with International Bird Rescue in Long Beach. "And then this. It's grim."

In California, some experts say they worry about the vulnerability of sea lions and sea otters.

"California has been spared some of the huge die-off events being seen somewhere else in the world. But we still have species that are very vulnerable to it. We're not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination," Duerr said.

Sea lion pups congregate at a rookery at Boomer Beach, next to Point La Jolla, in San Diego, in August 2020. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Colony nesting of seabirds and breeding of marine mammals occurs all along the California Coast, the Channel Islands and Farallon Islands. They are seasonally populated by such species as terns, sea lions and sea otters, among others.

"There's a whole lot of concern still for what will happen in the bigger picture over time," she said. "This summer is breeding season, the time that other areas of the world have seen huge die-offs at breeding colonies."

The effects wouldn't be limited to just the infected animals either, Duerr said. These animals are critical within wider ecosystems. Guano produced from breeding bird colonies provides nutrients for marine invertebrates and fish, for instance.

And if sea otters were to suffer such losses, that would endanger the health of California's vast kelp forests, which would be left prey to sea urchins, said Christine Johnson, professor of epidemiology and ecosystem health at UC Davis.

And although Southern and Northern hemisphere populations of marine mammals don't have much, if any contact, Johnson said the world is changing so quickly, we can't really be sure about anything.

"The distribution of marine species is largely dictated on where their food goes, which itself is dictated by ocean trends and warming," Johnson said. "Are there species that are now overlapping that hadn't been before, based on climate or other factors?"

She said forces such as climate change and habitat destruction could have played a role in the virus' geographical expansion, as well as its initial and sustained grasp on wildlife.

"There's increasing evidence that pandemics that come from wildlife, in particular, are increasing in frequency," Johnson said. "There's not a lot of segregation or separation between wild animals and their pathogens" and domestic animals and people.

Read more: California mountain lion population is thousands fewer than previously estimated

Until recently, highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, was considered strictly a poultry disease. It would flare up here and there  primarily in Asia  and get stomped out quickly by killing all the birds on an infected farm.

But in 2002, the virus jumped to wild birds, and in 2005, it had spread to Eastern Europe, where seven people were infected after de-feathering wild swans. Four of the people died. Nine years later, the disease reached North America  presumably via Alaska, where birds from around the world migrate and feast during the summer. And although it died down for a bit in Canada and the U.S.  flaring up occasionally in Asia, Europe and Africa  it came back with a vengeance in 2021.

Since that time, not only have hundreds of millions of domestic birds been culled, but countless numbers of wild birds and animals have contracted the virus.

Julianna Lenoch, the national coordinator of wildlife services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said that while scientists are waiting for genetic information from South America, there is no "evidence that is of high concern yet in the United States, but I think watching mammal spillover and potential mammalian spread is something the global community is looking for."

The agency routinely samples wild birds, and only samples mammals in which there is suspicion.

"We pick them up from state agencies or wildlife rehabilitation facilities or from someone who has an indication of suspicion ... so, what we have is probably an undercount," she said.

But so far, the situation in North America is different from the "craziness" being seen in South America.

In the United States and Canada, the only mammals that have gotten the disease  such as foxes, skunks, coyotes and bears  are those known to scavenge on dead birds. There is no indication there is any mammal-to-mammal passage.

Sea otters relax in the Morro Bay marina. Some marine mammal experts worry that the furry mammals may be vulnerable to the spreading H5N1 bird flu. (Marc Martin / Los Angeles Times)

But North American animals may also share a defense that South American wildlife does not.

Because the virus has had a presence in North America since 2014, most of the continent's wildlife has "some sort of base immunity to influenza," said Deborah Fauquier, a veterinary medical officer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "They have some antibodies. Maybe not the perfect ones ... but they've seen the virus before."

"In South America ... those populations were basically naive, and had not seen high path (influenza) before. ... So they just don't have that type of immunity that we have in our seals as well as our birds," she said.

So, whether the massive marine mammal die-offs are the result of a novel exposure to the disease, or because the virus has acquired the ability to move between mammals, remains unclear.

Read more: Bay Area birdwatchers mourn the failed rescue of 'Tuffy,' the kidnapped baby hawk

In either case, however, it does not bode well for wildlife in the last remaining areas of the world where the disease has not been detected: Antarctica and Oceania  the region that includes Australia, New Zealand and the surrounding islands.

Uhart said she was setting out in late February to sample animals in Antarctica  hitching a ride on a cruise ship. Before tourists are allowed off the boat for a landing, she said, she'll go out and do surveillance and make sure everything looks normal; she'll also collect samples.

"We've seen it enough," she said. "I know really well what it looks like."

Johnson said the nations of the world need to be on heightened surveillance as the virus continues its scourge.

Just as in the case of the coronavirus that caused COVID-19, this flu strain is constantly evolving and changing  with new variants appearing all the time. Yet, fatigue is setting in among many governments across the world that have been battling the virus for three or four years now.

"Nobody wants to think about or talk about another pandemic," she said. But keeping a handle on its whereabouts and changes is critical for conservation, the ecosystem and human health.

"I think countries need to start preparing for the response efforts that's needed for ... big biosafety concerns," she said. "It does have a high mortality rate in people and we're talking about a lot of virus on the landscape."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee discusses her Houston mayoral campaign with media, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 at This is Soul Food in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Robert Slater, the longshot candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the upcoming March primary, said he will suspend his campaign Sunday and endorse the incumbent congresswoman.

Slater, a Houston chef and businessman, faced long odds in the Democratic primary dominated by Jackson Lee, who has represented Texas' 18th Congressional District since 1995, and former City Councilmember Amanda Edwards. Jackson Lee led Edwards by a 43% to 38% margin among likely voters in a recently published University of Houston poll, while Slater garnered just 3% support.

"I don't have the benefit of having 28 years of an incumbency and name ID," he told potential voters in a video posted to social media Saturday.

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Slater had centered his campaign on equal access to education and health care and criminal justice reform. His campaign website says he hopes to advocate and be a leader for Black youth in Houston.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a plane crash in southern Ohio that killed three people Saturday.

A Piper PA-32 airplane crashed near Jackson, Ohio, Saturday, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The crash occurred approximately around 12:35 p.m. local time, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP). The plane went down in a field, around a quarter-mile away from James A. Rhodes Airport.

The crash claimed the lives of three victims: Daniel Baker, 44, Zebulon Logan, 45, and Dan Baker, 75, the state highway patrol said in the press release.

They were the only ones on board, according to FAAs statement to The Hill.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA are investigating the incident. The NTSB will be in charge of the probe and will provide updates, per FAAs statement to The Hill.

The NTSB said a representative will be on scene by Sunday morning.

Their investigations involve three areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment, according to the board.

Details on where the plane was heading or where it took off from are currently unknown.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Claim:

Only 6,800 American soldiers died in battle throughout the eight years of the Revolutionary War.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

There isn't enough evidence for historians to say precisely how many Americans died on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War, but 6,800, the number cited in a study published in 1974, is the most carefully calculated and widely used estimate today.

Over the roughly eight years of the American Revolutionary War, during which the colonies broke from Great Britain and formed the United States, many thousands perished on both the British and American sides. However, the actual number of battlefield deaths may come as a shock, given that more than 25,000 American soldiers are estimated to have died in total throughout the war.

On Feb. 1, 2024, a post on Reddit claiming that "only 6,800 Americans were killed in action over the course of the entire 8 years of the Revolutionary War" gained traction, with more than 19,000 upvotes and 1,300 comments.

This claim, which has circulated for many years, is true, based on the most thorough research available. According to the 1974 book "The Toll of Independence" by historian Howard H. Peckham, approximately 6,824 American battle deaths occurred between 1775 and 1783. These killings took place across 1,331 military engagements and 215 naval engagements.

(Image via "Toll of Independence" by Howard H. Peckham  K: Killed, W: Wounded, C: Captured, M: Missing, D: Deserted)

The research for this book  which contains what is widely regarded as the most accurate accounting of the war's death toll, according to the History channel and other sources  spans data from all 13 colonies. An excerpt from the introduction explaining the research process behind the above numbers is as follows:

Each of the original thirteen states has made an effort, with varying success, to collect and preserve its records of the Revolutionary War. Such records may be in the form of archives in public depositories, private manuscripts in historical societies, publications by the state or by a historical society, or carefully researched monographs on battles or regiments, or biographies. With a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., we were enabled to orchestrate a vast search of eastern state archives and libraries and the National Archives. To each state we assigned a graduate student in history recommended by a university there, and we asked the student to confine his or her investigation to engagements and attendant casualties in that state.

"The Toll of Independence" estimates that 25,324 "deaths in service" occurred throughout the Revolutionary War, so readers may be wondering: If it wasn't on the battlefield, how did those additional 18,500 deaths occur?

Mary Koik, director of communications at the American Battlefield Trust, wrote via email: "The number of those who succumbed to disease  and especially those who died in horrible conditions aboard prison ships  is also notable."

In an age of relatively primitive scientific and medical knowledge, the highest numbers of those who died fell victim to the rampant diseases and deadly infections that spread through military camps and prisons; approximately 10,000 American service members died "in camp" and an additional 8,500 died while prisoners of the British forces.

The American Battlefield Trust expands on the deaths of prisoners of war as follows:

More Patriots' lives were lost aboard British prison ships anchored along New York's East River than in battle  between 8,000 - 12,000 died while prisoners of war versus the approximate 6,800 killed in battle. Lost souls included not only American soldiers and sailors, but citizens who opposed the British Crown. Overcrowded in the dark lower decks of the ships, prisoners roasted in sizzling temperatures, drank brackish water supplied through the sides of the ship, starved, and quarreled with vermin, lice, impending madness, dehydration, and contagious disease. It is estimated at that least 6 lives were lost each day on a single prison ship.

Engraving depicting the HMS Jersey, a Royal Navy ship used as a prison vessel during the American Revolutionary War. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

There are also sources that claim only 4,435 American soldiers were killed in battle. Both the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have long cited this lower number, but it is now generally considered to be inaccurate. We reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs for information about how it was calculated and have not received a response. This story will be updated as necessary.

Peckham addressed the lower number in his research, saying:

For decades the Department of Defense has given out the figures 4,435 killed and 6,188 wounded in the Revolution, and these have been cited in The World Almanac repeatedly. The source for that total is the records of the Adjutant General's office as prepared at the Armed Forces Information School with the warning that the "total number undoubtedly is much larger." The killed figure was likely made up of 4,044 from the army and 184 from the navy and marines. Our totals  are much higher.

Although even 6,800 may seem to low a number for total combat deaths in the war, it's worth noting that the entire U.S. population was only 2.5 million in 1776, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"The armies were smaller than those of more modern conflicts and the population of the new nation was far smaller, so contemplating the scale/percentages is informative compared to solely the raw number," Koik wrote.

In addition to the Americans killed during the war, approximately 24,000 British soldiers (according to what the American Battlefield Trust calls "unreliable imperial data") died from all causes. About 1,200 Hessian soldiers  professional German troops hired by the British  were killed in battle, around 6,400 died from disease and another 5,500 deserted and settled in America afterward, according to the Trust.

Sources:

'American Revolution Facts'. American Battlefield Trust, 30 Mar. 2017, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/american-revolution-faqs.

America's Wars. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Nov. 2023, https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf.

Bureau, US Census. 'Fun Facts: From Counties Named Liberty to $368.6M Worth of Fireworks Sold'. Census.Gov, https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/07/july-fourth-celebrating-243-years-of-independence.html. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.

'Haunting Encounters With Revolutionary Ghouls'. American Battlefield Trust, 20 Oct. 2020, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/head-tilting-history/haunting-encounters-revolutionary-ghouls.

'How Many Died in the Revolutionary War?' HISTORY, 12 Sept. 2023, https://www.history.com/news/revolutionary-war-deaths.

'Patriots Or Terrorists?' AMERICAN HERITAGE, https://www.americanheritage.com/patriots-or-terrorists. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024.

Peckham, Howard Henry. The Toll of Independence : Engagements & Battle Casualties of the American Revolution. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1974. Internet Archive, http://archive.org/details/tollofindependen0000peck.

'United States: War Fatalities1775-2024'. Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009819/total-us-military-fatalities-in-american-wars-1775-present/. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024.
The Conservative Political Action Conference has been the venue for some of former President Donald Trumps most dishonest speeches  lengthy, lie-filled addresses in which he has regaled friendly crowds with many of his favorite false claims.

He stuck to tradition in his CPAC speech on Saturday, repeating more than a dozen previously debunked statements. (He also made some dubious new claims well look into.) Heres a fact check of 12 of his remarks.

Trump and the invasion of Iraq

Trump repeated his years-old claim that he had warned the US not to launch an invasion of Iraq.

He said: Remember I used to say a long time ago, Dont go into Iraq. Dont do it! But I was only a civilian, so I didnt get that much press. I said, Dont go into Iraq, but if youre going to do it, keep the oil. Do you remember I used to say that all the time? Keep the oil. Dont do it, but keep the oil.

Facts First: Trumps claim that he warned the US not to invade Iraq is false; the claim was debunked eight years ago. In reality, Trump did not publicly express opposition to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq before it occurred. In his 2000 book, The America We Deserve, Trump argued a military strike on Iraq might be necessary; when radio host Howard Stern asked Trump in September 2002 whether he is for invading Iraq, Trump responded, Yeah, I guess so. I wish the first time it was done correctly; and Trump did not express a firm opinion about the looming war in a Fox interview in January 2003, saying that either you attack or dont attack and that then-President George W. Bush has either got to do something or not do something, perhaps.

Trump began criticizing the war in 2003, after the invasion, and also said that year that American troops should not be withdrawn from Iraq. He emerged as an explicit opponent of the war in 2004. You can read more here about his shifting positions.

A CNN search in 2019 turned up no examples of Trump saying anything before the war about keeping Iraqs oil. Trumps White House did not respond at the time to our request to provide any such evidence.

Trump and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline

Claiming that he was tough on Russia during his presidency, Trump brought up the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project from Russia to Germany and claimed, as he has repeatedly before, that I ended Nord Stream and that I stopped it, it was over.

Facts First: Trumps claim is false. He did not end Nord Stream or render it over. While he did approve sanctions on companies working on the project, that move came nearly three years into his presidency, when the pipeline was already around 90% complete  and the state-owned Russian gas company behind the project said shortly after the sanctions that it would complete the pipeline itself. The company announced in December 2020 that construction was resuming. And with days left in Trumps term in January 2021, Germany announced that it had renewed permission for construction in its waters.

The pipeline never began operations; Germany ended up halting the project as Russia was about to invade Ukraine in early 2022. The pipeline was damaged later that year in what has been described as a likely act of sabotage.

The 2020 election

Trump returned to his frequent lies about the 2020 election, saying it was a rigged election and that in 2020, they cheated like dogs.

Facts First: These Trump claims are false. The election wasnt rigged and Trumps opponents didnt cheat. Joe Biden won fair and square. There was a tiny amount of voter fraud that was nowhere near widespread enough to have changed the outcome in any state, let alone to have reversed Bidens 306-232 victory in the Electoral College.

Biden and Trumps indictments

Trump said of Biden: He indicted me. He also decried supposed Stalinist show trials carried out at the Joe Biden orders.

Facts First: This claim is not supported by any evidence. Grand juries made up of ordinary citizens  in New York, Georgia, Florida and Washington, DC  approved the indictments in each of Trumps criminal cases. There is no basis for the claim that Biden ordered Trump to be criminally charged or face civil trials.

Trumps two federal indictments were brought by a special counsel, Jack Smith. Smith was appointed in November 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland, a Biden appointee, but that is not proof that Biden was involved in the prosecution effort, much less that Biden personally ordered the indictments; Garland has said he would resign if Biden ever asked him to take action against Trump but was sure that would never happen. And there is no sign that Biden has had any role in bringing charges against Trump in Manhattan or Fulton County, Georgia; those prosecutions have been led by elected local district attorneys.

Trumps indictments vs. Al Capones indictments

Repeating one of his regular campaign claims, Trump said, Ive been indicted more than Alphonse Capone, even though Capone was a notoriously vicious gangster.

Facts First: Trumps claim is false. Trump has been indicted four times. Capone was indicted at least six times, as A. Brad Schwartz, the co-author of a book on Capone, told CNN.

Also, Schwartz noted: This isnt a race, of course, but it may be worth noting that Capone is also way ahead in individual counts (the 1931 Prohibition indictment alone added up to five thousand conspiracy charges). Trump faces 91 total counts over his two federal indictments and two local indictments.

You can read more about Capones indictments here.

Trump and Minneapolis

Reviving a claim he began making in 2020, Trump said that he deployed the National Guard to Minneapolis in 2020  over the opposition of the states Democratic governor  during the unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Ill tell you what: If I didnt bring in the National Guard  cause the governor didnt want to do it, theyd never want to do it  I wish I didnt wait six days  but if I didnt bring in the National Guard, wouldnt even have a city there. That city was going down, Trump said.

Facts First: This is false  and a complete reversal of reality. Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, not Trump, was the one who deployed the Minnesota National Guard during the 2020 unrest; Walz first activated the Guard more than seven hours before Trump publicly threatened to deploy the Guard himself. Walzs office told CNN in 2020 that the governor activated the Guard in response to requests from officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul  cities also run by Democrats.

Trump and the border wall

Touting the wall construction on the border with Mexico during his presidency, Trump said, We built 571 miles of border wall.

Facts First: Trumps 571 miles claim is false, an even greater exaggeration than the inaccurate 561 miles and over 500 miles claims he has made in the past. An official report by US Customs and Border Protection, written two days after Trump left office and subsequently obtained by CNNs Priscilla Alvarez, said the total number built under Trump was 458 miles (including both wall built where no barriers had existed before and wall built to replace previous barriers). Trump has sometimes put the figure, more correctly, at nearly 500 miles.

Trump and the word caravans

Speaking about immigration, Trump referred to migrant caravans  then repeated his common campaign claim that he had personally coined the phrase caravans: That was another name I came up with. I come up with good names.

Facts First: Trump did not come up with the word caravan, either in general or to describe groups of migrants traveling together toward the US border during his presidency.

Trump first publicly used a variation of the word as president in a tweet on April 1, 2018 (he wrote, in a tweet about immigration, caravans coming). But the word had been used by various others in the same context in the days and weeks prior, including in a BuzzFeed News feature article, two days prior to Trumps tweet, that was headlined, A Huge Caravan Of Central Americans Is Headed For The US, And No One In Mexico Dares To Stop Them.

Merriam-Webster says the word caravan came to English in the late 16th century, from the Italian caravana, which itself came from the Persian karvan.

Trump and ISIS

Trump claimed, as he has on numerous previous occasions, that although he was told it would take four years to defeat the ISIS terror group, I knocked it out in four weeks.

Facts First: Trumps claim of having defeated ISIS in four weeks isnt true; the ISIS caliphate was declared fully liberated more than two years into Trumps presidency, in 2019. Even if Trump was starting the clock at the time of his visit to Iraq in late December 2018, as he suggested later in the speech, the liberation was proclaimed more than two and a half months later. In addition, Trump gave himself far too much credit for the defeat of the caliphate, as he has before, when he said, I knocked it out with no caveats or credit to anyone else: Kurdish forces did much of the ground fighting, and there was major progress against the caliphate under President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016.

IHS Markit, an information company that studied the changing size of the caliphate, reported two days before Trumps 2017 inauguration that the caliphate shrunk by 23% in 2016 after shrinking by 14% in 2015. The Islamic State suffered unprecedented territorial losses in 2016, including key areas vital for the groups governance project, an analyst there said in a statement at the time.

Electric cars

Trump deployed his familiar criticism of Biden on environmental policy, saying, All- electric cars. The all-electric mandate. Everybody has to have an electric car.

Facts First: Trumps claim is false. Biden has not mandated that everybody has to have an electric car, though his administration has made an aggressive push to try to get automakers and consumers to move toward electric vehicles.

The Biden administration has proposed ambitious new tailpipe emissions regulations for automakers, offered tax credits to people who buy certain electric vehicles, invested in new electric vehicle charging stations and ordered federal entities to purchase electric vehicles, among other policies promoting the adoption of these vehicles. But there is no Biden requirement that everybody has to drive an electric vehicle.

Depending on how automakers were to respond, the Environmental Protection Agencys proposed new tailpipe rules could, if adopted, require electric vehicles to make up two-thirds of new cars sold in the US by 2032.

The trade deficit

Returning to his criticism of US trade agreements with various countries, Trump said, And then you wonder why we have a $2 trillion deficit. If you look at it now, its gotten to a level that nobody can even believe; its so bad under Biden.

Facts First: Trumps $2 trillion claim is false, a massive exaggeration. The US has never had a $2 trillion annual trade deficit and does not have one under Biden. The overall deficit, which includes trade in both goods and services, was about $773 billion in 2023, down from a record high of about $951 billion in 2022.

Chinas oil purchases from Iran

Trump repeated a story about China and Iran that has become a staple of his campaign speeches. He claimed that, as president, he had threatened that he would cut off all US business with China if China bought even one barrel of oil from Iran.

He continued: And President Xi  I told him this  said, All right, well, we wont do it. We wont do it. They didnt buy. By the way, theyre buying billions and billion worth of oil right now. But China didnt buy.

Facts First: Trumps claim that China didnt buy oil from Iran is false. Chinas oil imports from Iran did briefly plummet under Trump in 2019, the year the Trump administration made a concerted effort to deter such purchases, but they never stopped  and then they rose sharply again while Trump was still president. The claim is untrue because Chinese crude imports from Iran havent stopped at all, Matt Smith, lead oil analyst for the Americas at Kpler, a market intelligence firm, said in November.

Chinas official statistics recorded no purchases of Iranian crude in Trumps last partial month in office, January 2021, and also none in most of Bidens first year in office. But that doesnt mean Chinas imports actually ceased; industry experts say it is widely known that China has used a variety of tactics to mask its continued imports from Iran. Smith said Iranian crude is often listed in Chinese data as being from Malaysia; ships may travel from Iran with their transponders switched off and then turn them on when they are near Malaysia, Smith said, or transfer the Iranian oil to other ships.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said in a November email: China significantly reduced its imports from Iran from around 800,000 barrels per day in 2018 to 100,000 in late 2019. But by the time Trump left office, they were back to upwards to 600(000)-700,000 barrels.

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Most die-hard sneakerheads wouldn't think twice about waiting hours in line to be the first to score the Air Jordan 4 BRED Reimagineds  which retail for $200, but can resell for double that on the collectors market.

Some write computer code to snap up pairs of limited edition Jordans and other coveted Nikes as soon as they go on sale online.

And then there are those suspected of going to even greater lengths to get exclusive kicks.

Los Angeles police are investigating a theft ring that allegedly swiped millions of dollars worth of shoes in an elaborate scheme that stretched from a cavernous Nike warehouse in Memphis, Tenn., to a swanky Hollywood apartment building.

So far, only one person has been charged in connection with the case, a 37-year-old Tennessee man who police say operated around L.A.  allegedly with the help of a Nike employee from back East. The suspected insider has not been charged, and court records suggest others involved have also avoided arrest and prosecution. The case has roiled the L.A. sneaker world, where collectors have been left wondering whether local retailers had knowledge of the thefts.

Los Angeles authorities announced the seizure of a large cache of stolen Nike gear at a news conference late last month, but a search warrant affidavit filed by LAPD detectives and reviewed by The Times offers new details into the operations of the theft ring, which remains under investigation.

Since June 2023, the ring has been responsible for swiping more than $2 million in Nike products, according to the search warrant, written by LAPD Commercial Crimes Division Det. Marc Sternin, detailed to the department's cargo theft task force. Sternin's warrant, made public last month in Los Angeles County Superior Court, said the sneaker heists remain "ongoing and pervasive."

Under the scheme, detectives say the suspects exploited loopholes in Nike's distribution system, starting at the source: a main hub in southeast Memphis, the origin of products shipped nationwide by the sportswear giant. The thieves printed fake shipping labels and paid off employees at UPS and Nike to deliberately misdirect or redirect cartons of shoes to locations across L.A., according to detectives.

On Jan. 10, Nike employees in Memphis discovered 10 cartons of shoes in the back of a U.S. Postal Service truck  each with an original shipping label that had been covered by a pre-addressed mailing label for the private carrier UPS. The next day, Nike intercepted another eight of these over-labeled cartons, which contained shoes unavailable for sale or resale within their worldwide supply chain, Sternin wrote.

Read more: A rare pair of custom Spike Lee Air Jordans surfaced in a donation bin. Now they're on auction

The sneaker economy has exploded in recent years, taking off amid the pandemic's online shopping boom. Resellers generated $10.6 billion worth of sales globally in 2022 alone, according to Market Decipher, a market-research firm. Competition for buying hard-to-find styles can be fierce. Savvier operators create software bots that can quickly buy up shoes the moment they show up on a retailer's site. Like the stock market, prices sometimes rise and fall based on real-life events  such as the death of a celebrity designer or star athlete. Access to exclusive or "pre-released" models such as those in the outgoing cartons seized by Nike can be as lucrative as insider trading.

In the theft ring, detectives say, members would intercept packages with swapped labels, snatching them up somewhere along the supply chain of docks, highways and warehouses. Sometimes they would hijack packages by swapping addresses with the shipping companies after they had left Nike's warehouse, according to Sternin's affidavit.

Sternin said officials from Nike, which had been investigating the thefts internally, contacted the LAPD. Several emails seeking comment from Nike went unreturned.

A Memphis police sergeant working with that departments cargo theft task force told Sternin that he had been working the case since last June, when he first became aware of numerous unidentified co-conspirators working at Nikes Memphis location.

The ring has also recruited UPS employees in Tennessee and California and possibly elsewhere within UPS and Nike supply chain network, according to Sternin.

When police began investigating, a trail of footprints allegedly led back to Roy Lee Harvey of Memphis. Despite coming from the distribution center in Tennessee, the address of origin on one shipment of diverted shoes was listed as 6390 De Longpre Ave. in Los Angeles, which according to Sternin is the headquarters of RHJ Global Kicks, a company registered to Harvey in May 2020.

The same shipment was also addressed to Harvey  at a second-story unit in an apartment complex at Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue, the detective wrote.

A check of law enforcement databases determined that Harvey had a previous association with another unit on the same floor; police surmised that he may have used a familiar address or had the listed units current tenant in on his scheme  a common tactic among cargo thieves, Sternin wrote.

After obtaining search warrants for Harvey's email, iCloud data and cellphone records, investigators said they determined he had exchanged 1,101 calls and text messages over a roughly six-month period with a phone number associated with a Nike employee in Memphis.

The Nike employee, Sternin wrote, had access to areas where unreleased shoes were stored and who was working on the days the mislabeled shipments were discovered.

Read more: Dominic Choi picked as interim LAPD chief to replace departing Moore

LAPD Chief Michel Moore told the Police Commission last month that investigators performing surveillance on the Hollywood Boulevard address had seen Harvey pick up dozens of UPS packages there. Moore said that Harvey had in the past been seen delivering boxes to Project Blitz, a popular shoe reseller with a large online following and a high-profile clientele that includes celebrities such as Drake and Beyonce.

Records show that after his arrest on Jan. 27, Harvey posted bond. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful, and no defense attorney was listed on the court docket as of Friday morning. Beyond his arrest, little about his background is publicly known; a Memphis TV station reported recently that a review of his criminal record in surrounding Shelby County only turned up a few traffic tickets, which were dismissed.

The Los Angeles County district attorneys office has filed 27 felony counts of receiving stolen property against Harvey.

Moore said some of the stolen shoes were recovered during a raid of a warehouse in Hawthorne, also on Jan. 27, where police found around $5 million worth of Nike products  so much that it took two 53-foot semi trailers to haul away. A separate search warrant was executed in Hollywood. The seized items were said to include "stolen Nike shoes, clothing, accessories and unique prototypes."

The warehouse belongs to Project Blitz, according to Moore. Company owner Andre Ljustina does not face any charges, and his name is not mentioned in the LAPD search warrant authored by Sternin. He did not respond to emails or phone calls for a number listed for him in public databases. The companys website has been down since the raid.

The LAPD case has been parsed in the online sneakerhead community, with questions raised about how much local sneaker dealers knew or should have known  about where their merchandise was coming from. Some commenters have dismissed the case as police overreach. Others pointed out that most major resellers have relationships with shoe company officials, or plugs, who occasionally offer them first dibs on a new release.

In one video posted on YouTube, a commentator compared Project Blitz's inventory to "a virtual sneaker museum and linked to an undated interview in which Ljustina was asked how the company managed to procure rare shoes that were seemingly unavailable elsewhere. "Well, because we're friends and family, he responded.

Among some local resellers, the sneaker bust was met with surprise and sympathy for Project Blitz.

Frank Garriola, a manager and head buyer at CoolKicks, a streetwear boutique on Los Angeles Melrose Avenue, said the case had drawn strong interest because of Ljustina's prominence in the sneaker world. While major resellers take steps to ensure they're not dealing in stolen or fake gear, he said, it is unrealistic to expect them to account for where all of the sneakers they buy come from.

"Everybody buys sneakers from people like that," Garriola said referring to brokers who appear to have inside connections to shoe companies. "And we don't know if it's stolen when we get it here."

Read more: Countless hours of LAPD body camera videos go unwatched. Could AI be the answer?

Based on his experience, Sternin wrote in his affadavit, a pair of unreleased Nike shoes can fetch as much as six times their original value on the clandestine sneaker market.

StockX and other online marketplaces such as eBay and Poshmark have promised to crack down on stolen merchandise that is listed on their websites. Even still, some suspects peddling stolen goods have adjusted, turning to platforms that don't have as much risk, such as smaller peer-to-peer apps and exchanges. Others have turned to the old school method of selling sneakers from the trunk of their car.

Garriola said it isn't unheard of for the most coveted shoes to resell for up to $2,000, depending on how limited it is and the timing. He cited the deaths of fashion designers Virgil Abloh and Chris Spanto Printup, which prompted sales of shoe models they influenced to skyrocket on resale websites. The unpredictability of the market, he said, has led to increased pressure to keep up with customer demand.

"It's just like every release is sold out, you can't really get what you want anymore," Garriola said. "You really got to know what you're doing in order to make money."

Read more: See-through pants. 'Knockoff' jerseys. New MLB uniforms trigger complaints, except from Dodgers

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A aGoFundMe has been launched for Sloan Mattingly, the seven-year-old who died after falling in a collapsed sand hole last week, to support her family after her tragic death.

Sally Krouse launched the fundraiser to support Sloans family members, Jason, Therese and nine-year-old brother Maddox. As of Sunday afternoon, donors had raised more than $130,000, just shy of the $150,000 goal.

Dont tell us youre sorry for our lossdont do that to us, Sloans mother said in a statement posted to the GoFundMe. 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.

Jason Mattingly posted a photo on Facebook of a beam of light shining on the beach after Sloans passing.

This beam of light was photographed the day after the tragedy, he wrote. I truly appreciate whoever took it and let us know our baby is in heaven.

Sloans uncle, Chris Sloan, told local outlet KFOR about the young girls personality.

She was always happy, he said. She was really fun to be around. She had a lot of energy and just totally innocent, and thats what hurts the most in all this.

Sloan and her family were on vacation in Florida from Fort Wayne, Indiana when tragedy struck on 20 February. Sloan and Maddox were digging a hole at Lauderdale-by-the-Seas beach when the sand collapsed, opening into a five-foot hole. Maddox was buried up to his chest, while his younger sister was completely submerged.

Sloan Mattingly died last week after becoming trapped in a collapsed sand hole (Screengrab/CBS News Miami)

Rescuers arrived in minutes as bystanders attempted to dig the children out.

Sandra King, spokesperson for the Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue Department, said last week rescue crews used shovels to dig out the sand and boards to stabilize the hole, but the Sloan had no pulse and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

As of Thursday, Maddox was still in the hospital recovering, WLWT reports.

On Friday, community members of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea held a memorial for Sloan, CBS News reports.

Collapsed sand holes have proven deadly for beachgoers in the past.

Two years ago, an 18-year-old died after he and his 17-year-old sister were trapped in a sand collapse at a beach in Ocean County, New Jersey. His sister was rescued by the police.
Rishi Sunak's measures to help the farming industry have been given a mixed response in Devon.

The Prime Minister's announcement of a package of measures to help the agricultural sector has had a mixed reaction from farmers in Devon.

Rishi Sunak was the first Prime Minister since Gordon Brown to speak at the National Farmers Union conference.

He said 220m would be put into new food-productivity schemes, farm technology and automation to "reduce reliance on overseas workers".

One Devon farmer said there was "nothing new" in Mr Sunak's speech.

Oliver Lee sells his milk directly to customers

Oliver Lee, founder of How Now Dairy at Ugborough, said: "There's nothing new there, we've always had the opportunity to apply for these grants and sustainable farming incentive payments.

"It's a great bit of lip service, it's excellent to be in the news and have farming front and centre but there's nothing new that's going to make any drastic changes."

Mr Lee has a herd of predominantly Ayrshire cows and delivers milk directly to people in the area using electric cars and compostable packaging.

Rishi Sunak was the first Prime Minister since Gordon Brown to address the NFU conference.

He said the government needed to do more to "level-up" contracts in the poultry and dairy sectors with farmers making "miniscule margins".

He said: "I don't think the government has done enough to support farmers and to allow businesses to grow and to change."

Mr Lee said he did not take any government subsidies or apply for any farming grants as he wanted to prove a farming business could be successful independently.

He said: "The government needs to help farmers be less reliant on the government and create their own sustainable businesses both financially and environmentally."

Niall Tewson, a dairy farmer near Ipplepen, broadly welcomed the Prime Minister's speech.

Niall Tewson, owner of South Devon Dairy at Ipplepen, was more welcoming of Mr Sunak's speech.

He said: "There are a few trigger words that stand out for me - championing the countryside, back British and food security."

Mr Tewson has set up a roadside milk vending machine to sell his product directly to the public and believes more grant funding for new technology would help him and other farmers.

He said: "The one thing I really cottoned on to was the grant funding allowed for this financial year which is 427m.

"Coming out of Brexit we've lost a huge amount of labour in the farming industry so allowing us to go into robotics will help with the labour shortage in this country."

Follow BBC Devon on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
Ukraine will reach its goal of producing 1 million drones per year, Digital Transformations Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

High-ranking Ukrainian officials met to discuss Ukraines future at the Ukraine. Year 2024 forum on Feb. 25, one day after the second anniversary of Russias full-scale war.

The forum discussed achieving Ukraines goals in the war, developing its defense and security forces, implementing Ukraines peace formula, ensuring economic growth and integration into world markets, security guarantees, the status of its military-industrial complex, and protecting the lives of Ukrainians.

At the end of last year, President (Volodymyr) Zelensky announced a plan that more than a million drones would be produced this year. Now the entire government team is working on this, and active contracting took place in January and February. Hundreds of thousands of drones have already been contracted, and this is the goal will be completed," Fedorov said.

Fedorov also promised more reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters, kamikaze drones, sea drones, and electronic warfare systems in 2024.

Over 90% of the drones currently being used on the front line in Ukraine are Ukrainian-made, he added.

Drones have been a key tool in Ukraine's defense against Russia's war. In his nightly address on Jan. 29, Zelensky noted that one of Ukraine's top priorities for 2024 is the production of drones.

Zelensky also signed a decree on Feb. 6 creating a separate branch of Ukraine's Armed Forces dedicated to drones. The Unmanned Systems Forces will reportedly focus specifically on improving Ukraine's work with drones, creating special drone-specific units, ramping up training, systemizing their use, increasing production, and pushing innovation.

Among those in attendance at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum will be Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces Vadym Sukharevskyi, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, and Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Read also: How has Crimea changed after 10 years of Russian occupation?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
As a formerly incarcerated individual who successfully navigated the justice system, I understand firsthand the importance of restoring voting rights to citizens returning to public life.

Restoring voting rights to Kansans with felonies isnt just about second chances. Its about acknowledging our fundamental humanity and our stake in shaping the society we seek to reenter successfully. Denying the right to vote to those with felonies  whether through textual disenfranchisement as in other states such as Florida, or through other barriers such as misinformation  further perpetuates a cycle of disenfranchisement, hindering our reintegration into civil society.

Meanwhile, allowing people with former felonies to participate in the democratic process actually makes us safer. And by doing so, we not only recognize the capacity for rehabilitation in all of us, but also foster a more inclusive and representative democracy.

We should be sincere in our belief in second chances.

Its been 15 years since I was released from prison. After paying my debt to society, being able to exercise my right to vote was part of a long process of returning and integrating into the community in a positive capacity. Connecting with others who are in similar situations, with help from the ACLU of Kansas on this critical issue, has helped me understand that I am far from alone in my experience with the transformative power of second chances.

Many of us with felony records who have served our time have a far deeper understanding of the shortcomings and limitations of current policies in addressing the needs of our communities. We know firsthand the chain of events that can lead to crime, such as lack of economic opportunity, access to mental health services or substance use treatment, and the cycle of violence and trauma. The real-life experiences of ordinary Kansans transcend the partisan and political squabbling that dominates lawmakers decisions, from what gets criminalized, to how the sentencing grid looks, and to which communities get the resources they need.

Our voices should be actively and enthusiastically included in the democratic process.

Its time to recognize that the principles of justice and equality that our society purports to hold demand full restoration of rights, including the right to vote, and the active inclusion of those reentering society.

I urge people with felony convictions who are eligible to vote to seize this opportunity and make their voices heard at the ballot box. (Be aware that in both Kansas and Missouri, you must re-register after completing your sentence and any parole or probation.)

By raising awareness and shedding light on the issues that concern us directly, those of us who have paid our debts to society can inspire more individuals to participate in the democratic process and advocate for the changes we believe in  and build a Kansas that better serves us all.

Latanya Goodloe is executive director of Ladies That Lean  Living Excellently After Negativity, a Kansas City 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers incarceration prevention and society reentry support for women in the metropolitan area.
NAVARRE, Fla.  A massive great white shark washed up on a Florida Panhandle beach over the weekend, according to local fire rescue officials.

Navarre Beach Fire and Rescue officials said crews helped pull in the deceased great white shark on Friday. The shark was estimated to be about 13-15 feet long. Photos posted by the agency show the giant great white on the sand.

Fire rescue initially indicated the shark was a pregnant female. However, local media reported a necropsy was performed over the weekend and found that the shark was not pregnant.

MASSIVE SHARK FOUND DEAD ON RHODE ISLAND BEACH COULD HELP SCIENTISTS BETTER UNDERSTAND SPECIES

Wildlife officials told the South Santa Rosa News that based on the development of the female great white, she was unlikely to become pregnant for a few years. Wildlife officials estimate the shark weighed about 1,500 pounds and was about to be 30 years old.

Navarre is located in the Florida Panhandle between Pensacola Beach and Destin. Earlier this month, FOX 10 reported that anglers caught another large great white shark and released it on Navarre Beach. Officials said the released shark had a scar on its back, and the dead female shark did not have the same markings.

Nonprofit American Oceans reports great white sharks are a vulnerable and threatened species due to overfishing and human activities.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, great white sharks are prohibited from harvesting in Florida state waters.





Original article source: Female great white shark found dead on Florida Panhandle beach
A lot of AI companies have faced a couple of lawsuits after being accused of using licensed data to train their AI models. It appears that Google will not be making the same mistake by licensing social networking site content to train its AI.

Google Turns to Reddit

Using the right kind of content to train an AI model largely contributes to how it eventually responds to prompts. There are a lot of sources full of data that can provide AI developers with what they need, and that includes Reddit. With that said, Google strikes a deal with the platform.

Of course, Google will abide by Reddit's protocols regarding its API. To gain access, the search engine giant will have to cover the costs, which are reportedly around $60 million per year, which allows Google to "better understand" content from Reddit, as per Engadget.

In the statement about its expanded partnership with Reddit, Google Vice President Rajan Patel says that "Google will now have efficient and structured access to fresher information, as well as enhanced signals," all of which will be used in the most "accurate and relevant ways."

In case you don't know, a lot of people opt for Reddit when they need information on certain matters, as well as advice from a vast number of users online. Google recognizes this culture, even pointing it out in the blog post.

"[W]e've seen that people increasingly use Google to search for helpful content on Reddit to find product recommendations, travel advice and much more. We know people find this information useful, so we're developing ways to make it even easier to access across Google products."

Reddit will also be benefitting from the partnership, other than the compensation for its data, of course. The social site will integrate new AI-powered capabilities using Vertex AI, which will enhance its search and other functions in the platform.

Read Also: Google's Gemini Generates Racially Inaccurate Historical Depictions

Acquiring Training Data the Right Way

Many AI companies don't disclose where they get their training data from, which just fuels the doubt that others already have, accusing them of using licensed content without permission from its creators to train AI models.

Both Microsoft and OpenAI have been at the receiving end of lawsuits for this issue. The New York Times, specifically, sued both companies for using millions of their copyrighted work to train chatbots, particularly ChatGPT, back in December 2023.

In the filing, NYT claims that the tech companies should be held responsible for "billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages" for unlawfully copying valuable works from the publication.

OpenAI spokesperson Lindsey Held said that the company was "surprised and disappointed" by the turn of events and that they were "moving forward constructively" as they settled matters with the news organization.

Many other news outlets have resorted to measures that blocked OpenAI's web crawlers, even before the lawsuit. The companies include CNN, Reuters, and ABC News. These are just a few examples compared to many creators who also claimed that their works were used by the AI company without consent.

Related: Google Introduces Open-Source AI Models Gemma 2B, 7B for Smaller Tasks
Fight leads to shooting in central Fresno, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A fight involving several people at a central Fresno convenience store early Saturday led to a man being shot, Fresno police say.

Officers were dispatched just before 2 a.m. to the Circle K at Palm and Olive Avenues for a report of a ShotSpotter alert.

They say they arrived to find a man who had been shot.

The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Investigators say they learned the victim was involved in a fight with several other men when one of them pulled out a handgun and shot the victim. The suspect then fled the area on foot.

No arrests have been made yet, but Fresno police are actively working the case.

The department asks if anyone has information that would help find those involved, to please call 559-621-7000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
(SOUTHERN COLORADO)  A couple of different seasons are likely to impact Colorado over the next several days. These impacts come at a very unique time with Meteorological Spring now less than a week away. The first day of Spring, as meteorologists measure it, starts March 1.

With the arrival of Spring, temperatures for this time of year should generally be in the upper 40s and lower 50s across most of the Eastern Plains. However, Colorado doesnt typically like to play by the rules so to speak.

Highs across the area are expected to vary widely from the lower 30s on into the middle 70s depending on your elevation. One of the main reasons we will see these abnormally warm temperatures is due to strong winds rolling through from the west.

As winds out of the west descend from our mountains, they compress and warm. That warm, sinking air reaches the lower elevations and continues pushing further east. The Arkansas River Valley has even lower elevation and will therefore warm even more.

Winds on Sunday and Monday are expected to be quite breezy. Sunstained winds will be roughly 20 to 30 mph each day, whereas winds may gust up to 50+ mph.

Where is all of the wind coming from? Well, we have a couple of different energy sources that will bring this dynamic weather to the area:

Location 1 : a spinning low-pressure system off of the west coast

Location 2: an incoming trough from the pacific northwest

These two sources of energy will meet right over the Rocky Mountains in the coming days. Their expected approach will start to trigger high winds, high fire danger, warm temperatures and eventually snow.

With the warm temperatures, dry conditions and very windy weather on the way, fire danger will significantly increase for your Sunday and Monday.

Red flag warnings are in effect for the good majority of the area this Sunday. Burning of any kind is not advised and can lead to rapid fire spread and growth. You may also notice the winter storm watches now active for much of our higher terrain out west. A strong cold front is expected to move in Tuesday bringing snow chances with it.

Currently, models are hinting at a widespread chance for snow across the area Tuesday. With that being said, lower elevations may not see quite as much this time around. It appears that the high country will likely see the higher totals.

Patterns and data will certainly shift over the coming days so be sure to check back in with the FOX21 Storm Team for future updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
The US governments top humanitarian aid official will travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan this week in an effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza that is veering into catastrophe.

US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power will meet with Israeli, Palestinian Authority and Jordanian government officials, as well as international humanitarian aid organizations, to discuss the urgent need for expanded access to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian and commercial supplies to civilians in Gaza, according to a USAID spokesperson.

Power will underscore the importance of protecting civilians and aid workers in accordance with international humanitarian law, the spokesperson said.

Power is the latest Biden administration to travel to the region to emphasize the US strong concerns over the deepening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn strip. The trip  her second since the October 7 Hamas attacks  also comes amid concerns about an Israeli military campaign in Rafah, which international aid organizations warn could deal a death blow to a humanitarian response that is already on its knees.

US officials, including President Joe Biden, have consistently called on the Israeli government to reduce the number of civilian casualties and increase the amount of aid entering Gaza. US officials have also warned against an offensive in Rafah, where more than a million displaced people have fled, without a plan to protect civilians.

Although the Biden administration has become increasingly critical of the toll of the Israeli offensive, it remains at odds with the international humanitarian community and nations like Jordan by vetoing calls for an immediate ceasefire. Instead, US officials say any temporary ceasefire must be coupled with the release of the hostages held by Hamas, or else it will not lead to a durable peace.

Power has faced protests internally at USAID and externally over the Biden administrations position on Gaza. Ongoing outrage over the administrations continued support for the Israeli military offensive threatens to be a political problem for Biden in an election year. Earlier this month, Power and a group of administration officials met with members of the Arab American and Muslim community in Michigan to discuss the conflict.

The USAID spokesperson said Powers trip reaffirms the United States commitment to supporting the humanitarian response to the crisis in Gaza, accelerating life-saving assistance, and promoting lasting peace, security and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

The spokesperson declined to give specific details about Powers meetings on the trip or if she plans to meet with any officials from UNRWA  the UNs main humanitarian agency operating in Gaza  which has a headquarters in Jordan. The US and a number of other countries suspended funding to the embattled UN agency after allegations emerged UNRWA staffers were involved in the October 7 attack. Congress has moved to bar any future US funding to UNRWA.

According to the United Nations, 75% of the population of Gaza has been displaced by the ongoing conflict and more than two million people are now at imminent risk of famine.

Christopher Lockyear, secretary general of Doctors Without Borders, warned last week there is no health system to speak of left in Gaza.

The top officials from 19 international humanitarian organization and UN agencies jointly called for an immediate ceasefire last week, stating no amount of humanitarian response will make up for the months of deprivation that families in Gaza have endured.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
If youve a penchant for history, culture or food, or have any sort of local offbeat intel, you may very well have fantasized about opening up a little walking tour operation, whether as a full-time business or as a side gig.

Ahead, these city-trotters share how they made pounding the pavement work.

Gabriel Schoenberg, Graff Tours

Schoenberg began his graffiti tours back in 2013. Graff Tours

Schoenbergs uncle was a tour guide for many years, and the entrepreneur worked for him in college to make extra money. I saw a graffiti art tour in Buenos Aires and thought it was amazing so I adapted it to NYC, he said of the origins of his Bushwick business in 2013.

Now, the Greenpoint resident nets a few thousand a month through Graff Tours, his sole gig. In addition to tours, his company offers graffiti art classes and does live painting events. Being a good tour guide is about your passion for the topic, so only guide in a field you love, said Schoenberg, who recommends reading up on your area of interest to become even more of a subject-matter expert.

Seth Kamil, Big Onion Walking Tours

Seth Kamil and his business partner started the tours after receiving their P.h.Ds and continue to only hire graduate students and recent, underemployed Ph.D.s. Eric Yagoda

Founded in 1991, Kamil, based in South Slope, has been at the helm of this NYC business for 33 years. The company was born out of accident and economic necessity, when two Columbia University American history Ph.D. students  Kamil and his co-founder Ed ODonnell  needed to make money.

The pair committed to only hire graduate students and recent, underemployed Ph.D.s, which is still the core of our business model, said Kamil.

ODonnell left the company, but Kamil runs Big Onion full time to this day.

To succeed in this industry, Kamil stressed being original.

Read books, articles  but dont take the tours that other guides are leading to try and build your knowledge base, he said.

Alana Hoye Barnaba, Ahoy New York Food Tours

Alana Hoye Barnaba leading walking food tours of of Chinatown and Little Italy. Ahoy NY Tours & Tasting

Originally from Gloversville, NY, Hoye Barnaba moved to NYC, where she was often visited by loved ones on the weekend, so shed spend time showing them around.

I realized that I had a knack for sharing my city and started to volunteer for Big Apple Greeter, she said of the free organization that connects visitors with residents willing to share their knowledge of the city.

Ultimately, she decided to pursue her sightseeing license to become an official tour guide and spent time developing what is today the operators signature tour  a food walking tour of Chinatown and Little Italy.

In 2010, Hoye Barnaba made it her full-time job.

Along with finding your niche, Hoye Barnaba said organization is key. Secondly, if you intend to hire, have proper training materials and teach consistency to your staff so that your product is the same quality no matter who is giving the tour, she said.

Hoye Barnaba hopes to become a $1 million tour company in 2024. We were just shy of it last year, she said.

Todd Lefkovic, Foods of NY Tours

Todd Lefkovic declares that the best way to explore the city is on foot. Foods of NY Tours

Based in Greenwich Village, Lefkovic (on the right) originally hails from Cranford, NJ. As a young boy, he became fascinated with NYC, watching the local news and reading the newspaper. Then in the summer of 1977, aged 15, he began making forays into the city to explore.

Lefkovic still fondly recollects exploring 42nd Street for the first time. There were a lot of peep show shops, XXX theaters, prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers and derelicts on the street. Coming from Cranford  a quiet and clean suburban town  this was the best thing ever to experience!

Lefkovic continued to bring friends, family and girlfriends into the city to explore. All of it was done by hoofing it, never taking a taxi or riding the subway. The only real way to explore is on foot, Lefkovic avowed.

His official business started in 1998 and became his full-time gig a year later. They currently run food tours five days a week. While the pandemic dented his business  in 2019 gross revenue was $3 million; its now $1.1 million  thats still no paltry sum.

To build up your business, venture to parts lesser known, the touring guru advised. Create your own food tour in an area that is not overrun by other food tours, said Lefkovic.

Stephen Oddo, Walks Tours

Stephen Oddos Walks Tours span 24 different cities. Walks Tours

While Oddo is based in Boston, his company operates tours in NYC along with 24 other cities in North America and Europe.

The idea for his company began in 2008, when Oddo was living in Rome and working as a tour guide at the Vatican and Colosseum.

I wanted to show people new ways to experience these familiar monuments, with an emphasis on quality guides, smaller groups and unique itineraries, he said.

In 2014, Walks expanded to NYC with small group walking tours of the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and 9/11 memorial tours. In 2022, Walks became the official tour operator of Grand Central Terminal.

Last year, Oddo also served as a mentor for the Alliance for Downtown New Yorks Walking Tour Incubator Grant Program, which gives money to entrepreneurs starting walking tours in lower Manhattan.

While most of the Walks guides work part time, Oddo also hires many of them to write for its travel blogs and create social media content. Their local knowledge is incredibly valuable, said Oddo, sharing that tour guides around the world tend to make between $40 to $80 per hour.

Oddos top tips for aspiring amblers? Make sure to collect and publish good customer reviews to build trust with future clients.

Producing quality social media videos on platforms like Instagram and TikTok can be highly valuable, he said. And, especially in New York, youll need to find creative ways to reach potential clients that already have a lot of choices when it comes to experiences.
CHARLESTON, S.C.  Former President Trump won an emphatic victory in the South Carolina primary Saturday, vanquishing rival Nikki Haley in her home state.

The race was called for Trump within moments of polls closing at 7 p.m. EST. With 83 percent of returns in just before 10 p.m., the GOP front-runners margin of victory stood at 21 points.

The Michigan primary is next up Tuesday  and then March 5 brings Super Tuesday, when more than a dozen states vote.

Here are the main takeaways from the Palmetto State primary.

Trumps landslide puts him on a glide path to nomination

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Make no mistake, Trump will be the 2024 Republican nominee, barring some utter cataclysm.

The former president is 4-for-4 in primary contests so far. Here, in South Carolina, he hammered Haley in the state where she twice won election as governor.

At Trumps victory speech in Columbia, the degree to which the states GOP establishment had rowed in behind him was clear. Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) both spoke briefly on his behalf, as did Gov. Henry McMaster (R).

Haley spoke to a smaller crowd in Charleston, alone on the stage.

She continues to press the case that Trump is unelectable in November. But there is no real reason to believe her argument will gain traction with GOP voters elsewhere when it has failed to do so here.

Thats not necessarily a failing of the former governors, but simply reflects that the GOP base remains enamored of Trump.

In every state so far, the former presidents margin of victory has been in double digits.

The battle for the nomination is all over, bar the shouting.

Haley isnt quitting

Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaking at an election night event, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

A few weeks ago, there were real questions as to whether Haley would pull out of the race before the South Carolina primary.

Then Trump allies predicted a heavy defeat here would bring the end.

It didnt.

Haleys speech in the Palmetto State amounted to an adamant declaration that she will battle on, until at least Super Tuesday.

She earned one of the biggest cheers of the night when she noted her previous promises to keep going and added, Im a woman of my word.

Her rationale is that she is not going to give up this fight when so many Americans are unenthused about a match-up between President Biden and Trump.

Haley, ratcheting up her rhetoric, suggested such a bilious race would mean that America will come apart.

The former governor had her best fundraising month so far in January, so she has the resources to keep going. And, she has her ardent supporters too  albeit not enough of them to really loosen Trumps grip on the nomination.

One supporter here, Nell Parker, told The Hill that Haley should stay in as long as she has the money to keep the lights on.

The GOP is now the MAGA Party

Signs are seen before former President Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference

Signs are seen before former President Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

It isnt just Trumps margin of victory that shows his dominance of the party.

Its that most Republican voters in South Carolina share his entire worldview.

The Associate Presss VoteCast voter survey showed, at least in its early results, that around 6 in 10 GOP voters in the Palmetto State oppose continued U.S. aid to Ukraine. That was bad news for Haley, and striking in a state with a strong military tradition.

Around 7 in 10 GOP voters in the state accept Trumps argument that the various investigations into his conduct are attempts to undermine him, according to the survey.

Given those numbers, its no surprise that around 6 in 10 Republicans here consider themselves to be supporters of the MAGA movement.

The GOP, for good or ill, is Trumps party now.

Trumps rhetoric still raises red flags for the general election

Former President Trump speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference

Former President Trump speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

The questions about Trumps electability in November wont go away despite the margins he racks up in Republican primaries.

Thats not only because of the 91 criminal charges he faces. Its also because of his propensity to inflame.

He displayed that tendency once again on the eve of the primary here, when he addressed the annual gala of the Black Conservative Federation on Friday.

Trump said Black Americans had embraced his mug shot and  very clumsily  sought to suggest Black voters would see common ground regarding his indictments.

I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing, Trump said. And a lot of people said thats why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against. Its been pretty amazing, but possibly, maybe, theres something there.

The following morning, Haley blasted those comments after casting her ballot in Kiawah Island, S.C.

Its disgusting, but this is what happens when Donald Trump goes off the teleprompter. Thats the chaos that comes with Donald Trump. Thats the offensiveness that will come every day until the general election, she predicted.

Of course one more controversy wont peel away supporters who have stuck with Trump now. But his rhetoric  often uncouth, at best  hampers his chances of winning over persuadable voters.

As Democrats often note, Trump lost the popular vote in both 2016 and 2020.

Haleys attacks could hinder Trump beyond the GOP base

Haleys attacks arent hindering Trump in his march to the GOP nomination, but they could resonate with moderates and help Democrats make their case in November against the former president.

In her speech Saturday, Haley objected to Trumps use of the term vermin to describe his political opponents.

In the days leading up to the primary, she said Trump could not win a general election, accused him of having sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent comments about NATO, characterized him as a narcissist and mocked him for never having served in uniform.

Trump allies want Haley out of the race in part because of the damage she could cause with those kinds of comments. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) made this argument directly when she spoke with The Hill at Trumps Friday rally in Rock Hill, S.C.

The former president, however, has killed the threat of Haley winning more votes than him.

But Haleys words, perfect material for Democratic attack ads, could still hurt him leading up to November.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Flaco, the famous Central Park Zoo owl who went missing after a vandal tampered with the birds exhibit more than a year ago, died Friday, zoo officials said.

The owl struck a building in Manhattans Upper West Side, not far from Central Park, the zoo said in a statement shared by the World Conservation Society, which operates it.

People in the building contacted the World Bird Fund, and members of the rehabilitation center picked up the unresponsive bird around 7 p.m., the zoo said.

Flaco was declared dead shortly after and transferred to the Bronx Zoo for a necropsy.

The owl went missing from its exhibit at the zoo in Central Park on the evening of Feb. 2, 2023.

Someone cut through steel mesh at Flacos habitat, allowing the majestic bird to go on a tour of the city, Central Park Zoo said at the time.

The owl had come to the zoo as a fledgling 13 years earlier. Some expressed concern about his ability to survive in the big city, but Flaco feasted on abundant prey, the zoo said.

We observed him successfully hunting, catching and consuming prey, Central Park Zoo said in a statement released 10 days after he went missing. We have seen a rapid improvement in his flight skills and ability to confidently maneuver around the park.

People did not expect him to survive, Jacqueline Emery, a birder who documented the owls daily movements told The Associated Press earlier this month. New Yorkers especially connect to him because of his resilience.

Flaco was adept enough at surviving in the city that he evaded authorities, first on Fifth Avenue next to the park the night he flew off, then multiple other times after.

The owl became a frequent and famous flyer around Manhattan in the year after the breach, with the zoo saying in a statement at the time, There are a lot of eyes on Flaco.

No one has claimed responsibility for cutting into the habitat.

Whoever damaged the exhibit is ultimately responsible for his death, the zoo said in its Friday statement.

We are still hopeful that the NYPD, which is investigating the vandalism, will ultimately make an arrest, it said.

A New York Police Department spokesperson said he was unfamiliar with the status of the case but said officials would respond after looking into it.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Click here to view the video

A bout of heavy rain that soaked Nova Scotia on Saturday aided mild temperatures in melting the prolific snowbanks that still surround communities across the province.

A rapid temperature drop behind the departing system will lead to a flash freeze across much of Nova Scotia. Any wet surfaces like steps, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, and roads will quickly become icy into Saturday night.

Use extreme caution if you have to go outsideeven if its just to take out the trash or grab the paper.

DONT MISS: Earth just experienced its hottest 12 months in recorded history

flash freeze warning

A system moving across Atlantic Canada to start the weekend brought widespread heavy rain to Nova Scotia through much of Saturday. We saw rainfall totals of 20-40 mm across the province, with higher totals around the Halifax area.

The combination of runoff from heavy rain and towering snowbanks throughout the province led to plenty of standing water on roads, sidewalks, and parking lots during the day Saturday.

Temperatures began to plummet behind the departing system late Saturday afternoon, and many communities will bottom-out around minus 10 degrees by Sunday morning.

MUST SEE: Atlantic hurricane alley sees ominous mid-July heat in February

atlantic canada sunday morning

A sudden lurch from rain to a hard freeze will lead to a flash freeze across much of Nova Scotia through the overnight hours Saturday into Sunday.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a flash freeze warning for much of the province.

Flash freeze warnings are issued when a rapid drop in temperature is expected, that can cause water from rain or melted snow on streets and sidewalks to quickly freeze, ECCC said in its warning.

Expect a crust of ice to develop on wet surfaces like steps, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots and roads. Take extra care heading outside over the next 24-48 hours. These conditions are primed for folks to slip on unseen ice. Black ice is very likely on untreated side roads.

Temperatures will remain around or below freezing through Sunday and into Monday, which could keep icy surfaces slick for an extended period of time.

Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on your forecast across Atlantic Canada.

Flash freeze ongoing across the Maritimes, get the icy scoop here

Click here to view the video
Two Florida children have contracted measles after the state's top health official defied federal guidance to contain an outbreak at an elementary school.

Six children at Manatee Bay Elementary School, in Weston near Fort Lauderdale, caught the disease over a week ago. New state health data show two more cases in Broward County, of a child younger than 5 and another between ages 5 and 9.

The newly reported infections bring the total to eight, just days after Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo contradicted federal and medical professional guidance to contain the spread of the highly contagious and preventable disease that's resurging globally and in the U.S. Florida is one of 11 states that have seen cases this year.

It's unclear if Florida's two new cases are connected to the school outbreak. Broward County Public Schools havent identified new cases since Tuesday, when there were six, district spokesperson John Sullivan said.

The state Department of Health said there was no additional information at this time.

Measles outbreak in Florida grows: What to know about virus flare-ups across the US

In a letter Tuesday, Ladapo said Manatee Bay parents and guardians could decide whether to send their children back to school, a statement that conflicted with federal and medical professional recommendations that children from the school should remain at home to prevent the spread of measles. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that unvaccinated children exposed to measles be isolated for three weeks. Ladapo appeared to agree with this assessment before he concluded that childrens attendance was up to parents or guardians because of the high immunity rate and the burden of healthy children missing school, but he said the state's recommendation could change.

Health experts are concerned by his lax attitude.

This is a state surgeon general saying that he is not going to enforce any of the tenets of public health in the name of freedom, said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, which has worked to contain a recent measles outbreak among children in the Pennsylvania city. He wants freedom at the expense of putting children in harms way.

The only freedom Ladapo is upholding is the "freedom to harm," Offit said.

Department of Health Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo leads a discussion with doctors and researchers while talking about the Cancer Connect Collaborative, an initiative spearheaded by Casey DeSantis to improve cancer research and treatment Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped Ladapo to be surgeon general in 2021, in part because of his vocal opposition COVID-19 vaccine mandates and school closures. Last month, Ladapo said the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines pose health risks, defying federal approvals and scientific consensus.

With the measles outbreak, Ladapo again stands apart. Experts say that isolation and vaccination are the best way to stop the spread.

This is a vaccine-preventable disease, Dr. Thresia Gambon, president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told USA TODAY. There are very strict guidelines as to what to do in an outbreak in order to contain it quickly.

Gambons organization, which represents pediatricians in the state, supports CDCs recommendation that children at the school should have been told to isolate.

Measles map: See where measles cases are being reported across the US

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo talks about a "cluster" of measles cases at a Broward County elementary school.

Measles can come with serious risk. About 1 in 5 children who become ill end up in the hospital, the CDC said. And 1 in 1,000 can develop encephalitis, or brain swelling that can have neurological effects. Between one and three children in a thousand will die.

A full-dose regimen of the vaccine is about 98% effective against measles. About 90% of unvaccinated people who come in contact with the virus will get it. Measles can be transmitted without physical contact. A person can catch it from droplets lingering in the air or on surfaces.

At Manatee Bay Elementary, 33 of the school's 1,067 students dont have the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, said Sullivan, of Broward County Schools. That means about 97% have been given some percentage of their measles vaccine. Sullivan declined to say whether the six students who contracted measles had previously been vaccinated, citing privacy concerns.

Less than 92% of Broward County kindergartners had been immunized as of 2022, in line with state figures. This is below national averages, which have shown declines in recent years, and the U.S. goal of 95% coverage with the measles vaccine.

In the meantime, parents at Manatee Bay have pulled their children out of school. On Tuesday, 219 students did not attend class in person, Sullivan said. By Friday, some had returned and 159 students remained at home.

In January, the CDC warned health providers they needed to do more to detect a potential measles spread in their communities amid a global rise in cases. The lack of large U.S. outbreaks so far signals there is still good immunization against measles through vaccines, said Dr. William Moss, executive director of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's International Vaccine Access Center.

But outbreaks could worsen in the right circumstances, Moss said, if enough unvaccinated children are exposed to the virus and they spread measles into a community.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida measles outbreak: Cases spread as state defies CDC guidance
Donald Trumps advisers are urging him to stay focused on voters frustrations with Joe Biden and stop complaining about his legal troubles after his crushing Republican primary win over Nikki Haley in South Carolina.

Mr Trump decisively defeated his last serious GOP rival by a 20-point margin in her home state, where she was elected governor twice before joining the former presidents cabinet.

Ms Haley has vowed to keep fighting, but Mr Trump may have notched up an unassailable lead by Super Tuesday on March 5, by which point another 21 states and territories will have cast their ballots.

I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now, the 77-year-old told supporters at a victory party in Columbia, the state capital.

Trump aides said the Republican frontrunner was furious that Ms Haley gave a premature speech in New Hampshire that allowed her to frame the night as a success, before the full extent of her defeat was clear.

Determined to thwart a repeat, Mr Trump stormed on to the stage mere moments after the polls closed on Saturday to define the narrative of the night.

Its an early evening, he said, beaming to the adoring audience and declining to mention Ms Haley by name.

Instead, he focused on the presidential election, telling the crowd: Were going to be up here on November 5 and were going to look at Joe Biden... and were going to say Joe, youre fired.

Mr Trump was encouraged to stick to a script after a free-wheeling performance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland earlier in the day.

During his more than 90-minute speech to the Republican grassroots, he went on lengthy tangents, railing against his four criminal cases, which he dubbed Stalinist show trials.

Hours later in South Carolina, Mr Trumps team of veteran political operatives appeared to have convinced the former president to follow the teleprompter and stay focused on Novembers election.

Senior Trump aides said they intended to pivot after Saturday nights primary and attack Mr Biden more than Ms Haley.

Nikki Haley meets supporters during the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election in Charleston - BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS

Karoline Leavitt, the campaigns national press secretary, suggested the GOP contest was over. I think Nikki Haley already should have dropped out by now, she said.

Andrew Boucher, chair of the Charleston Republican Party, said there had been demonstrable success in driving Republican voters focus to the presidential race.

What [Saturdays] turnout tells me is that they are mission focused to make sure we win in November, he said.

They are fired up. Theyre angry with Joe Biden. Thats a motivated electorate on the Right side of the aisle and I think theyll pay off big time in November.

A senior Trump aide told The Telegraph the team was totally focused on November following South Carolina.

The aide pointedly noted that Mr Trump did not mention Nikki by name in his victory speech on Saturday.

Despite a string of consecutive wins in the Republican primaries, the results have exposed Mr Trumps vulnerabilities among the general electorate.

He has struggled with university-educated and independent voters. In South Carolina, a little more than a third of independents backed Mr Trump while 53 per cent backed Ms Haley.

Fifth of Republicans wont vote Trump

Meanwhile, more than a fifth of Republican primary voters said they would not vote for Mr Trump in November, according to APs VoteCast.

Consequently, Mr Trumps team has urged him to focus on Mr Bidens weak points in the polls  immigration and the economy  rather than discussing his own legal jeopardies.

Susie Wiles, the main architect of Mr Trumps 2024 bid, is said to be ruthlessly focused on policy issues to maximise his appeal and has attempted to curb his discussion of his criminal cases where possible.

However, one adviser conceded there were limitations to the teams ability to rein in Mr Trump. We are not going to totally be able to move away from what is going on in his personal life, they told NBC News.

Its going to be happening every day. He is a fighter and will talk about it. Everyone understands that.

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.
Alex Chalk says that lower level foreign offenders will be spared jail and instead given 'conditional cautions' - JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP

Foreign shoplifters, thieves and drug dealers are to be deported rather than prosecuted as part of radical plans by the Justice Secretary to free up prison spaces.

Alex Chalk told The Telegraph that lower level foreign offenders will be spared jail and instead given conditional cautions under which they will be expelled and banned from returning to Britain.

Chris Philp, the policing minister, has been put in charge of delivering the deportation scheme which aims to reduce the 3,300 foreign prisoners on remand who have been charged but not yet convicted.

They represent nearly a third of the 10,441 foreign offenders in jails in England and Wales, out of the total 88,000 prisoners.

However, the plans could be frustrated by criminals who mount legal challenges against their deportation.

Mr Chalk revealed he has opened negotiations with Poland and Romania to deport dangerous prisoners to serve their sentences in their home countries.

He is also fast-tracking the expulsion of foreign offenders nearing the end of their sentences and restarting the use of police cells for criminals.

Proposal in the public interest

Ministers have been warned that prison places could run out within weeks as courts ramp up cases and prosecutions are set to increase following the uplift of 20,000 police officers.

As of Friday there were just over 1,000 spaces available out of 89,041.

Outlining in detail his plans for the first time, the Justice Secretary said removing foreign prisoners instead of prosecuting them was in the public interest.

There is a power that exists in certain lower-level cases, that in place of prosecution, the Home Office deports someone, he said.

Now there are some cases where its absolutely right that you are going to want to go through the criminal justice process to ensure that that person is properly punished.

But there will be other cases where actually its in the public interest to simply get them out of the country.

As the power to issue conditional cautions already exists, its extension to foreign prisoners is unlikely to require new legislation.

Speaking to The Telegraph during a visit to HMP Liverpool, where a multi-million pound refurbishment programme will free up more than 350 extra cells, Mr Chalk said his first, second and third priority was to increase prison capacity.

Alex Chalk (right) on a visit to HMP Liverpool where an overhaul is underway to free up more cells - Paul Cooper

Ill always do whatever it takes to keep the British people safe, said Mr Chalk.

I will focus absolutely on supply, that is my overwhelming priority. I will always make sure that there are sufficient places to give effect to an order of the court to incarcerate people and to ensure that the British people are kept safe with dangerous people behind bars.

Mr Chalk admitted that his intense frustration at the cost to taxpayers of housing foreign prisoners - 47,000 a year for every inmate - had driven his plans.

He has already struck a deal with Albania to transfer 200 of its most dangerous criminals, who are serving four years or more, to see out the rest of their sentences in their home country.

Albanians account for 13 per cent of all foreign criminals in UK jails, the largest proportion, with 1,323 currently incarcerated.

The first deported under the scheme was a serious drug smuggler jailed for 17 years, Mr Chalk revealed.

Now the Justice Secretary is turning his attention to Poland, which is the second-highest with nine per cent, and Romania, at seven per cent, where he is seeking to establish similar prisoner transfer agreements. He has already written to his Polish counterpart.

Early removal scheme

The expansion of an early removal scheme is also expected to have a significant impact on overcrowding.

Foreign prisoners can now be deported 18 months before the end of their sentences, a year earlier than the six months in the previous policy.

Officials are working to create new blocks in existing jails and refurbish Victorian jails, such as HMP Liverpool - PAUL COOPER

Criminals are freed early from jail as soon as they are deported, but banned from ever returning to the UK.

However, significant numbers fight deportation, pleading breach of their human rights or that they are victims of modern slavery.

Some dont want to leave a British prison or Britain because they will say that theyve got a child here, or whatever it is, said Mr Chalk.

On the orders of Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, resources have been surged into a new fast-track system for hearing appeals.

It has been set up under new immigration laws which bar offenders from introducing new evidence or claims at the last minute to delay their deportation flights.

However, Mr Chalk pledged to avoid any expansion of the early release of prisoners - beyond the present emergency scheme - where governors can free prisoners up to 18 days before their scheduled release date.

This has now been activated for an undefined period because of the crisis, according to documents leaked at the weekend.

He has also authorised Operation Safeguard, where police cells are used for the overflow of newly convicted prisoners to avoid having to transport them at great cost and inconvenience around the country.

It was suspended at the end of last year, but the crisis is such that it will now be activated.

Mega prisons delayed

Mr Chalk outlined the plans as he admitted the MoJs new building programme to create six world class mega prisons, with space for nearly 10,000 prisoners, was a year behind schedule because of sclerosis or blockages in the planning system.

The MoJ is spending 400 million on 800 rapid deployment pop-up cells in prisons.

Officials are working to create new blocks in existing jails and refurbish Victorian jails such as those in Liverpool and Birmingham to bring hundreds more cells into use.

The Justice Secretary said: Prisons as well as prisoners can be redeemed.

He is facing a race against the courts to ensure prison spaces do not run out before a major sentencing reform this summer.

The legislation would mean hundreds of criminals facing up to one year in prison will be spared jail and instead have their sentences suspended.

Mr Chalk hinted that reforms to the planning system to make it easier to build major infrastructure at pace would have his backing.

I dont want to tread on the toes of Michael Gove [the Levelling Up Secretary] on these things, he said.

All I can tell you is that from my point of view, it is completely unacceptable for us to be in a position where we cannot roll out essential infrastructure like this because of sclerosis in the planning system.

I think there is a solution within the existing system. It just means building a pipeline. But of course, if there are other ways we can do it, then we at the MoJ will be all ears.

In the absence of such an overhaul, his current solution is 30 million funding for a team of civil servants to identify sites years and years in advance and get planning permission further ahead of development.

The Justice Secretary said the overcrowding crisis stemmed from two principled decisions by ministers in the Covid pandemic - the first to spurn the early release of 16,000 prisoners, recommended in contingency plans by MoJ officials, and the second not to abandon jury trials, one of the most fundamental freedoms of freeborn Britons.

While other places such as France and California released thousands of prisoners, Mr Chalk said: Releasing 16,000 people would have been a mistake because it would have prioritised the protection of the prisoner rather than protection of the public.

Now, however, he said there is a price you pay for principle.

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.
Reddit is including the possible moderator revolt among the "risk factors" in the social media's operations, according to the company's S-1 filing.

The social media platform admitted to relying upon most of the community operations to "volunteer moderators" and that their action or inaction can result in "disruptions" in Reddit's communities.

Reddit Suffers Forum 'Blackouts' Over Policy Changes

It can be remembered that Reddit was hit with platform-wide "blackouts" last June after major subreddits went private in protest to the social media changing its policies for third-party APIs.

Reddit offered several incentives to forum administrators and moderators to open the subreddits again, but many reportedly declined.

Many of the subreddits that went to protest have millions of members, in which several had gone private for weeks.

The warning was released ahead of Reddit's planned IPO opening, allowing potential shareholders to have a glimpse of the platform's business perspective.

Also Read: Reddit Sets Up Moderator Rewards Program, Mods Are Still Unhappy

Reddit Prepares for IPO Opening

Reddit has been preparing for its initial public offering for quite some time as it opens its stocks to the public in March.

This includes allowing its most loyal users to have the opportunity to own stocks in the platform and other special privileges.

Along with the S-1 filing, the social media company announced several steps to make its platform more profitable, including the collaboration with an AI company for content on Reddit.

The $60 million deal involves the company licensing content on its community boards, including discussions and posts, to be used as datasets to train AI models.

Reddit has not revealed the name of the AI company it is currently in talks with.

The platform is also developing its in-house APIs to replace the third-party extensions moderators have used for their subreddits.

It is worth noting that Reddit's new APIs will be part of its subscription plan, unlike the previous APIs that can be obtained for free.

Related Article: Reddit to License Content with AI Company for $60 Million
The city of Forest Park is launching a warrant amnesty program aimed at helping out those with delinquent traffic tickets and misdemeanor violations.

Amnesty will be offered to those with open warrants and/or citations from 2021 to the present who want to resolve their legal matters.

Anyone interested in the program is asked to visit the Forest Park Municipal Court in person on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays during normal work hours.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Those who can not pay the citations will be allowed to pay the failure-to-appear fees and sign up for a new court date.

The program does not apply to outstanding probation warrants, according to the city.

Navigating the judicial system can become a challenge, especially when facing outstanding legal issues or even the possibility of arrest, said Forest Park Court Administrator Dorothy Roper-Jackson. By offering this community-based program, the court is looking to work with those who simply want to get back on track and have their municipal cases resolved. Individuals may even qualify to have their fines reduced, so it is imperative that people take advantage of the program.

Acceptable forms of payment include cash, money order, cashier checks and credit/debit cards.

TRENDING STORIES:

For more information about the program, contact the Forest Park Municipal Court at (404) 366-4720 or email Nacori Chambers, Court Clerk, at nchambers@forestparkga.gov.

The program runs through June 31.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Former NATO commander James Stavridis said any additional sanctions on Russia from President Biden should be aimed at Russian President Vladimir Putin personally.

These sanctions need to target Putin personally, they need to go after his personal wealth, his ability and his friends and his family to travel in the world, Stavridis said Sunday, in an interview on The Cats Roundtable with host John Catsimatidis.

He needs to be indicted in an international criminal court, he added. We need to personalize these sanctions.

His comments come after Biden announced that the U.S. would impose over 500 new sanctions aimed at Russia Friday as Ukraine marks two years since Russia invaded. The announcement also follows the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

If Putin does not pay the price for his death and destruction, he will keep going, Biden said in a statement. And the costs to the United Statesalong with our NATO Allies and partners in Europe and around the worldwill rise.

Stavridis agreed with Biden that the Kremlin was involved with Navalnys death, and argued that it should serve as a wake-up call for the U.S. to move additional Ukraine aid through Congress.

Thats a personal tragedy because Alexei Navalny was a man of immense integrity and honor, a believer in democracy and liberty, he said of the Putin critics death. But, its also an indication to the West, of how confident, how strong Vladimir Putin feels he is.

The U.S.  amid Congressional turmoil  has not provided Ukraine with significant military aid since December.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) visited Ukraine Friday with a congressional delegation and pressed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to pass a national security spending package that would provide $60 billion to the country in its war against Russia. Saturday marks two years since Russia began its full-blown invasion into Ukraine.

When we return to Washington, we will make clear to Speaker Johnson  and others in Congress who are obstructing military and economic support  exactly what is at stake here in Ukraine and for the rest of Europe and the free world, Schumer said. We will keep working to ensure Congress steps up, does the right thing, and delivers help for our friends and allies.

For his part, Johnson has pushed back against the Senates package, signaling that he wont bring it to the House floor unless it includes border security measures that House Republicans want. A bipartisan bill that included both was blocked by Senate Republicans earlier this month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Super Bowl-winning cornerback Richard Sherman was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Washington early Saturday morning, according to multiple reports citing Washington State Patrol.

The Seattle Times reported that a judge in King County, Washington had found probable cause that [the] former Seahawk was driving under the influence.

California now has a new temporary lake

He was stopped just after 2 a.m. on Interstate 405 in the city of Renton for going 79 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone, the Seattle Times said.

Sherman reportedly told troopers he had two margaritas, the Times reported. He refused a breathalyzer but agreed to do some voluntary tests, according to [police]Troopers said they observed signs he was under the influence and arrested him.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman is seen during the NFL football Super Bowl 54 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami Gardens, Fla., in this Feb. 2, 2020, photo. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Additional reporting by ESPN confirmed that one of the responding officers noticed the odor of intoxicants' from Shermans breath and that he had bloodshot and watery eyes.'

He is expected to have a court hearing on Monday, ESPN said.

Police release photo of man allegedly involved in deadly Koreatown bus fight

Sherman, a Compton native and graduate of Manuel Dominguez High School, was previously arrested for DUI and four other misdemeanor charges in July 2021.

He eventually pleaded guilty to two of the misdemeanors while also being sentenced for first-degree negligent driving, second-degree criminal trespass and speeding in a roadway construction zone.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The owner of a beauty store in Fountain Valley is speaking out after another attempted burglary targeted his business.

Anthony DeFalco, who owns Anthonys Salon, says his business has been burglarized four or five times, and hes tired of dealing with the fallout.

To those punks out there that are breaking into businesses, get a job, DeFalco said. Please stop.

DeFalco took measures into his own hands after the last time his store was hit by thieves. He says the previous theft happened roughly six months ago, and that the suspects made off with roughly $18,000 worth of merchandise.

Because of the incident, DeFalco invested in a high-tech security system to help thwart future attempts, and that decision paid off.

The latest burglary attempt happened around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Security footage shows two suspects attempting to break a window with a pipe, and then later, using his feet.

When both attempts failed, one of the burglars tried to put his hand through the glass but couldnt because the store has a specific type of riot glass that will shatter, but stay in one piece.

We spent over $4,000 on that, DeFalco said about his security system. We are still paying that.

The store owner says that the damage from the break-in attempt cost him roughly $850. DeFalco is growing frustrated with the frequency of the burglaries.

Its happened so many times, and we provided the police [security footage], DeFalco said. They seem very helpful, but they havent been able to catch anybody.

DeFalco adds that the Fountain Valley Police Department has been very helpful and acknowledges how difficult it is to catch the burglars.

But, as a small business owner, he is hopeful that something can be done by law enforcement to limit the amount of times his store, and others in the area are being targeted.

DeFalco admits that he is angry with how many times he has to deal with burglaries, and is hopeful that the suspects in these smash-and-grab incidents will be caught.

I dont want harm for anybody, he said. But I do want them to be stopped.

Several businesses in the shopping complex were affected during the recent burglary attempt.

DeFalco says thieves have targeted his own brand of high-end products, particularly Moroccan oil. He adds the impact of these burglaries could be devastating.

Some smaller businesses, when hit like this, would be enough to put them under, DeFalco said. And that breaks my heart for them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Jonathan Howard already had about 90 rescue animals at his Hilliard wildlife sanctuary, including deer, raccoons, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, squirrels, nutria, flying squirrels, emus, mini mules, sugar gliders and a rabbit-like animal called a Patagonian cavy.

But late last year SaveAFox, a Minnesota nonprofit that rescues captive-born foxes from fur farms, appealed for other licensed sanctuaries to help out with new arrivals.

So Howard added 40  and counting  of their foxes to his Nassau County menagerie of animals that, for one reason or another, cannot be returned to the wild. It's called the Ark Wildlife Care and Sanctuary.

"That is what our facility was founded for, wildlife that needs a permanent home," Howard said.

Established in 2014, the Ark is run by volunteers led by Howard, a retired air traffic controller who spends most of his time working with the animals. The sanctuary provides housing, care and medical needs for all its animals under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captive wildlife permits.

Howard was a licensed wildlife rehabilitator but no longer accepts injured animals that need rehabilitation. Last year he did not renew his rehabilitation permit because of changes in how the commission works with wildlife rehabilitators.

As soon as the foxes were Florida-bound, Howard and his volunteers began building 11 new enclosures. Three of them he called "massive"  one is about 4,000 square feet, another 3,800 square feet and another 1,800 feet square. The eight smaller enclosures are designated for family units, he said.

The spacious new digs are a dramatic improvement from the foxes' former fur farm quarters.

"They were raised in pens that were approximately 3 feet wide by 6-to-8 feet long and only a few feet tall," he said. "They lived their entire life on wire elevated off the ground."

Now "they can dig and play and jump and climb."

A trio of rescued foxes hangs out on top of an elevated shelter Thursday inside one of the enclosures built for the rescued animals at The Ark Wildlife Care and Sanctuary in Hilliard. The Nassau County sanctuary has taken about 40 foxes since December from SaveAFox in Minnesota. They were captive-born red foxes in fur farms and bred for genetic variations giving them a wide range of fur colors. Jonathan and Mendy Howard operate the nonprofit and have built extensive enclosures for the animals, with at least 10 more foxes heading their way.

"They were very timid when first touching the ground," Howard said. " They were all shy and didn't really understand what was happening. Once they were here for a day or two, they began to play and bounce around."

Apart from some skin issues, they arrived in "relatively healthy" condition, he said. "They have large feet from walking with their toes splayed so not to fall through the wire when they were young."

SaveAFox was "ecstatic" when Howard agreed to help, founder Mikayla Raines said.

"The Ark reached out to us after seeing our campaign online to rescue this huge number of foxes from a fur farm," she said. "Without other rescues, zoos and wildlife centers working with us, there is no way any of this would be possible."

The public can help as well, by asking other local wildlife rescues, educational facilities and zoos to adopt SaveAFox rescues, she said.

What are fur farms?

At fur farms, animals are bred and raised commercially for their pelts, which are used in the fashion industry. Such operations are illegal in at least 15 countries, but not in Florida or most other U.S. states, although California in 2023 banned the sale and manufacturing of new animal fur products.

About 40 rescued foxes taken in by a Hilliard wildlife sanctuary were raised in these small wire crates elevated off the ground. Now they are experiencing grass and have lots of room to play.

About 100 million animals are raised and then killed for their fur, usually by gassing or electrocution, according to the Fur Free Alliance, an international coalition of more than 50 animal protection organizations. They include mink, foxes, raccoon dogs, rabbits and chinchillas, according to the alliance.

The number of fox fur farms in the U.S. is uncertain since there are "no reporting agencies," according to SaveAFox. But the group estimated there are about 150 active fur farms nationwide, with about 100 of them breeding minks and 50 breeding foxes. An online source, all-creatures.org, said there are about 56 fox fur farms in 10 states.

About 85% of fur available for purchase comes from "animals living in the fur industry with the fox being one of the most commonly used," according to SaveAFox.

The Ark Wildlife Care and Sanctuary in Hilliard has taken in 40 foxes and counting that were saved from a fur farm by SaveAFox in Minnesota. They are all red foxes but have been bred for genetic variations giving them a wide range of fur colors.

"Most of the fur farm foxes at SaveAFox are given to us because they are orphaned, have imperfect coats, [or are] sick or injured and therefore a liability or of no value to a fur farmer," according to a statement by Raines on the website.

The Minnesota sanctuary also takes in foxes surrendered by owners who did not understand "how extremely difficult they are to care for" as pets or were seized by authorities after being kept illegally, according to the statement. "You can still help bring an end to the fur industry simply by not buying fur."

What's the future for the new Ark foxes?

Since they were born in captivity, the foxes cannot be released into the wild because they don't have the skills to survive. But the average life span of a captive fox is 10 to 12 years, so the Ark is seeking public support for their care.

"Our estimated cost for just food and water for a healthy fox for 10 years is $3,800," Howard said. "We are still a 100% volunteer operation without one paid or compensated employee. Our hopes are to be able to hire one part-time employee to assist."

One of the rescued foxes at The Ark Wildlife Care and Sanctuary in Hilliard takes a closer look at a visitor from inside its enclosure Thursday. The Nassau County sanctuary has taken in about 40 foxes since December from SaveAFox in Minnesota. They were destined to be killed for their pelts at a fur farm.

A donor to finance that position "would be making a huge impact to these animals and our operation," he said. "An employee would allow our outreach and education program to grow and allow more time for interaction with the individual animals."

Donations are also welcome to help care for the other animals at the Ark, most of which were surrendered by owners "based on word of mouth and our reputation for care and housing," he said. The existing residents include blind deer, three-legged deer, blind raccoons and amputee raccoons.

Howard is in it for the long haul, having seen the results.

"To see the joy these animals get from playing and responding to us is priceless," he said. "To be able to provide a home to deer born without eyes who would not live more than a week or two in the wild is like nothing else."

bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109

HOW TO HELP

The Ark Wildlife Care and Sanctuary: To donate, volunteer or get more information, contact founder Jonathan Howard at 781 Carlee Lane, Hilliard, FL 32046; (904) 424-6543; or thearkwildlifecare@gmail.com or go to thearkwildlifecareandsanctuary.com. But don't be confused by the website calling itself Otter Space Wildlife. That is the Ark's official new name  what the nonprofit does business as with the state  to "alleviate the confusion of how many Ark Wildlife facilities there are," Howard said. But the Ark name will "continue for the time being."

SaveAFox: To donate or get more information, email SaveAFox@yahoo.com or go to saveafox.org.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Nassau County wildlife sanctuary takes in foxes rescued from fur farm
Repeated allegations against Depardieu have become a culture-war front line in France (Ammar Abd Rabbo)

A set designer has filed a complaint against French screen legend Gerard Depardieu for an alleged sexual assault during a 2021 film shoot, her lawyer told AFP Sunday.

Depardieu, 75, has been charged with rape in another case and has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by more than a dozen women. He denies the allegations.

The complainant's lawyer Carine Durrieu-Diebolt confirmed that she had forwarded this new complaint to the Paris public prosecutor's office on Friday, alleging sexual assault, harassment and abuse.

The Paris public prosecutor's office was unable to confirm that the complaint had been lodged, and Depardieu's lawyers did not comment.

Amelie, 53, told online newspaper Mediapart that Depardieu made several vulgar remarks on September 10, 2021 then later "brutally grabbed her" and "kneaded her waist and stomach up to her breasts".

The incidents were interrupted by a bodyguard on the film set of "Les volets verts" in Paris, the report said.

According to Mediapart, another woman accused Depardieu of twice touching "her breasts and buttocks" on the same set in August 2021.

Repeated allegations against Depardieu have become a culture-war front line in France, dividing the world of cinema and pitting feminist groups against the actor's defenders.

gd/spb/imm
On this "Face the Nation" broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, Democat of MichiganU.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican of Pennsylvania, and Jared Golden, Democrat of Maine

Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S.

Fiona Hill, former White House Russia expert



Click here to browse full transcripts of "Face the Nation."

MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington.

And this week on Face the Nation: Donald Trump trounces Nikki Haley in South Carolina, and an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The former president played for the cameras and the conservatives at a Washington gathering before polls closed yesterday, sharpening his latest campaign line, in which he likened himself to the late Alexei Navalny.

(Begin VT)

DONALD TRUMP (Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate): I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president, but as a proud political dissident. I am a dissident.

(End VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Far-fetched as that comparison may be, consider this: his attempt to say that black voters were flocking to him because they related to the criminal charges against him.

(Begin VT)

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: The mug shot. We have all seen the mug shot. And you know who embraced it more than anybody else? The black population. It's incredible.

(End VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: The Biden campaign called the remarks insulting, moronic and racist.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley cited the comments as another reason why she's staying in the race.

(Begin VT)

NIKKI HALEY (R-Presidential Candidate): I don't believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day, Trump drives people away.

(End VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Our Robert Costa will be here with political analysis and news about Nikki Haley's next steps.

Then, on to the international challenges sparking political turmoil here at home. Will backlash over President Biden's support of Israel's war in Gaza hurt him in Tuesday's Michigan primary? We will talk to a key Democrat, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.

And as year three of Russia's war in Ukraine begins, we will look at a new push in the House for a vote on critical foreign aid to arm the Ukrainians.

We will cover it all just ahead on Face the Nation.

Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.

Yesterday's South Carolina Republican primary turned out as expected, with a big win for Donald Trump. Last night, in Charleston, former Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley put her best spin on the result.

(Begin VT)

NIKKI HALEY: I'm going to count it. I know 40 percent is not 50 percent.

(LAUGHTER)

NIKKI HALEY: But I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group.

(End VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: As for the former president, his Friday night remarks at the Black Conservative Federation gala in Columbia, South Carolina, continued to overshadow his victory.

(Begin VT)

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Black conservatives understand better than most that some of the greatest evils in our nation's history have come from corrupt systems that try to target and subjugate others to deny them their freedom and to deny them their rights.

You understand that. I think that's why the black people are so much on my side now, because they see what's happening to me happens to them. These lights are so bright in my eyes that I can't see too many people out there. But I can only see the black ones. I can't see any white ones, you see?

(LAUGHTER)

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: That's how far I have come.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

(End VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We begin with CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa, who joins us from Charleston.

Bob, this was an open primary in South Carolina, but just 3 percent of voters were black. Do Donald Trump's remarks about black Americans give the party any pause here?

ROBERT COSTA: It's giving Nikki Haley a road ahead at this point, Margaret.

She and her campaign believe there are many traditional Republicans across the country who are fed up, not only with former President Trump's legal problems, but his incendiary comments on race. And they believe that they - - that could ostracize key voters across the country come November. That's why she's staying in right now, going to Michigan this week for that primary, staying in through Super Tuesday.

But there is real worry that, as Trump takes over the party and the Republican National Committee, there's no reckoning about how he's handling issues like race and immigration.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How long can Nikki Haley stay in the race?

ROBERT COSTA: As long as there's money.

I have been talking to donors over the past 12 hours, and they say they're going to keep pouring money into her campaign and into her super PAC. But, at the same time, they know that Super Tuesday come early March, that's going to be a real crossroads for her.

Going past Super Tuesday going to be very difficult in terms of organization and fund-raising, and she has told reporters in recent days that she's not thinking beyond that at this point.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Day to day.

All right, Robert Costa, thank you.

We turn now to the crisis in the Middle East and the war between Israel and Hamas.

Joining us from Tel Aviv is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Welcome back to Face the Nation, sir.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU (Israeli Prime Minister): Thank you. Good to be with you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Prime Minister, the U.S. is working on a hostage deal that President Biden has said would bring with it at least six weeks of calm.

The intelligence chiefs met on Friday. Are we close to a deal?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Well, I'm not sure the exact duration, but I can tell you that we're all working on it. We want it. I want it, because we want to liberate the remaining hostages.

We've already brought half of them back. And I appreciate the effort, the combined effort of Israel, the United States, to bring back the remaining hostages. I can't tell you if we'll have it. But if Hamas goes down from its delusional claims and goes down  can bring them down to earth, then we'll have the progress that we all want.

MARGARET BRENNAN: What specifically is holding up the deal at this point?

Reportedly, this would have 30 to 40 hostages, women, elderly, wounded, released in exchange for a few hundred Palestinian prisoners being released.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Hamas started out with just crazy demands.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: And it's  it's too soon to say if they're  if they've abandoned them.

But if they  they do abandon them and get into what you call the  the ballpark  they're not even in the city. They're on another planet. But if they come down to a reasonable situation, then, yes, we'll have a hostage deal. I hope so.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There are at least six U.S. citizens among those being held by Hamas. For you, is the return of living hostages necessary and essential for you to declare victory in this war?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I have set three war goals. The first is to release the hostages. The second is to destroy Hamas. And the third is to ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.

And, obviously, the three are intertwined. They  they're achieved basically by our very effective and often heroic military operation and also by tough negotiations. We're combining the two. And I hope it  it yields a result.

But understand that, unless we have total victory, we can't have peace. We can't leave Hamas in place. We can't leave a quarter of Hamas battalions in Rafah and say, well, that's  that's fine.

MARGARET BRENNAN: On the issue of the hostages, as you know, time is of the essence here.

So, if this deal happens, and there are six weeks of calm that go with it, does that provide an opening to end this war? Or will you still go into Southern Gaza, into Rafah regardless?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Yes, well, victory is within reach. And you can't have victory until you eliminate Hamas.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How within reach?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Hamas is a terrorist organization that  yes.

Once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion, not months, weeks away from completion. And that is  we've already destroyed 18 of the 24 Hamas terrorist battalions. So, we  we have a  and four of them are concentrated in the Rafah.

We can't leave the last Hamas stronghold un  without taking care of it. Obviously, we have to do it. But understand too that I have asked the army to submit to me a double plan, first to evacuate, to enable the evacuation of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and, obviously, second, to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions.

That gets us a real, real distance towards the completion of our victory. And that  we're not going to give it up. If we have a deal, it'll be delayed somewhat. But it'll happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway. It has to be done, because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach, not months away, weeks away, once we begin the operation.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the White House says they need to see a credible and executable plan to protect civilians and the 1.4 million people who are sheltering in Southern Gaza.

This morning, the White House says they still have not seen such a plan, and no major military operation should proceed without it. Have you approved the plans that you've said you've asked for?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Actually, I'm  Margaret, I'm going from here to a meeting with the general staff, where they're going to show me this dual plan

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  a plan to evacuate and a plan to dismantle those remaining battalions.

So, yes, we  by the way, we agree on this. I mean, we don't have to be prodded. It's  we're on the same page with the U.S. on this, because that's how we do it. The reason you have that population in Rafah is because we actually cleared them away from the other places, the zones, combat zones that we had. That's why they're there.

So now there's room for them to go north of Rafah to the places that we've already finished fighting in.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That's where you're going to move

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: And that's basically what we're going to do.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That's the plan?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: To move 1.4 million people into Northern Gaza? Can you guarantee that the IDF will not push

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I didn't say Northern Gaza. I said

MARGARET BRENNAN:  will not  sorry. Go ahead.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I said north of Rafah.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I said north of Rafah. In the northern part of the Gaza Strip, we still have fighting going on.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: But we  we are  that is important.

It's important to understand, moving civilians out of an area that is going to be a combat zone is not a bad thing. It's a good thing.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: And that's what Israel is going to do.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Un  understood.

But the IDF, can you guarantee that they won't push Palestinians out of Gaza and into Egypt? As you know, Egyptian officials have said, if you do that, you are putting at risk 46 years of peace.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Look, I  I think that the Egyptians know very well that that's not our purpose. And that won't be the result. And we're coordinating.

We're talking to the Egyptians all the time. So that's not  I don't think that's an issue. The peace between Israel and Egypt has served the interests of both countries, and will continue to serve the interests of both countries. I don't think it's in  in any danger.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You said that victory is within reach.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But U.S. Intel says the IDF has only destroyed 30 percent of Hamas leadership, and that the amount of  of tunnels that Hamas uses have really only been tiny in terms of what has been destroyed by the IDF.

There is growing distrust

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Well

MARGARET BRENNAN:  of you personally, sir  you know this  in the U.S. Congress and within the Biden White House.

When your closest ally is telling you things like this and telling you that you need to reconsider a strategy, isn't it worth considering?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Look, I  I think that the U.S. is  agrees with us on the goal of destroying Hamas

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  and on the goal of releasing the hostages.

The decisions of how to do that are left with us and with me and the elected Cabinet of Israel. And we're doing that. A lot of things that the U  that we were told by the best of friends initially turned out not to be true.

They said you can't enter the  the ground war without having enormous complications. They said you cannot fight  you can't enter Gaza City. You can't go into the tunnels. It will be a terrible bloodbath. All of that turned out to be not true.

Our soldiers are in the tunnel network. We don't have to take apart hundreds of kilometers of tunnels. We are taking apart the missile production factories that are underground, the command-and-control headquarters, the computers that are there, the money that is there, the weapons that are there, and the ammos that  that is there.

We're doing that methodically. So, we're  we're doing the war  you can't substitute for the Israeli military command. And we're doing it very responsibly. The  John Spencer, who's the head of urban warfare at West Point

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  says that no other army has gone to the lengths that Israel's army has gone to clear civilians out of harm's way, even though Hamas

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  is doing everything to keep them in harm's way.

We respect our American friends.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, but the former head of Central Command was on this program just a few weeks ago and said, basically, you have not articulated any specific endgame here.

So  but, putting that aside, I want to come back to a few different things you said.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: No, well, wait a minute. Margaret, Margaret, hold on. You  you lob these  these grenades at me, and you keep on moving.

Well, first of all, you say, there's no confidence in me. Well, the Israeli public has confidence in me. Last week, Knesset voted overwhelmingly

MARGARET BRENNAN: There were massive protests throughout Israel yesterday.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Of course we have protests. We  we have protests. Israel is a democracy. We've had protests for 30 years.

But the Israeli people are united as never before. Last week, they voted 99-9 in the Knesset for my proposal that says that the way  that we have to do two things. We have to win the war, have total victory, but also not have an international dictate of a Palestinian state on  shoved down our throats that would endanger Israel.

The people are overwhelmingly united on this. When is the last time we had 99 votes in the Knesset?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I will tell you, 30 years ago.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: So, the people are united. The policy is right. The people support it. And I intend to take it to completion, because that's what we have. We can't compromise with total victory, because I will tell you, we can't win the peace if we don't win the war.

(CROSSTALK)

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: And we will win this war.

MARGARET BRENNAN: One of the members of the Knesset, the former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he asked the Americans about what you just said about a unilateral declaration of recognition of a Palestinian state, and he said: "You invented a threat that doesn't exist. There is not one official in the world that suggested unilateral recognition of the Palestinians."

So, putting that aside, I want to

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Yes, actually, the foreign secretary of Britain just spoke about it.

There have been many

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, this was the U.S.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I hope that's true.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: We've heard  we've heard a lot of briefings coming from  from the U.S. to that effect. So, I hope it's true.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: And, if it's true, then  then that will reinforce the decision made by the government  by the people of Israel, through their elected representative.

And, by the way, if people try to foist it on us, it will be a terrible mistake

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  because it would be seen as a reward for terror, after the most atrocious attack

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: So, the people of Israel are not going to buy it.

And  and if you want peace, you shouldn't go that route. Peace will be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties down the line. I don't think the Palestinians are ready for it. But when they are, that's the way it will be achieved, not by international fiat.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to come back to something you said where you were raising questions about U.S. intelligence and advice to you from the Biden administration, where you said it was wrong.

You also said there was no bloodbath.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I didn't say it was wrong. I said  I said some good friends gave us advice. It turned out to be that we performed a lot better than they anticipated.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: And, by the way, we performed a lot better than we anticipated.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, on the no bloodbath, Doctors Without Borders went to the U.N. this week and said the civilian toll in Gaza is so high, they came up with a new term: wounded child, no surviving family.

Save the Children says there are over 1,000 children who have lost a limb over these past days, since the beginning of the October 7 war. What Hamas has done is horrific, but President Biden has said your actions, sir, are over the top.

Aren't you concerned that Israel is creating more terrorists than it is killing?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I  I think that any civilian casualty is a tragedy. And I don't say that halfheartedly. I lost a brother in war. I myself was wounded while releasing hostages from a kidnapped  from a hijacked plane.

I have lost friends in battle. I  I know what it means to lose friends and what it means to lose family members. So, I  we don't have an argument there. But this war has been forced upon us by a cynical enemy that not only targets our civilians, has raped, beheaded, burnt babies alive, killed children in front of their parents and parents in front of their children.

This enemy not only targets civilians, but hides behind civilians, Palestinian civilians.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: So, they're committing a double war crime.

I have to come back and say that, in terms of the  the way this battle is fought, there is no parallel to the difficulty that we face. And John Spencer, the head of urban warfare at West Point, says that no other army has faced such a task. He  he gives one comparison.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, that's not the question I asked, though.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: He gives Mosul as a comparison.

Well, it is, but it  that's the answer. You can't say, oh, you  you give immunity to the terrorists because they're hiding amongst civilians and forcing civilians not to leave. So, what do you do? You say, OK, we'll give you immunity? Hamas survives, will live to fight another  to commit another massacre and another massacre?

What would America do?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: What would America do, Margaret

(CROSSTALK)

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  if you faced the equivalent of 20 9/11s

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  50,000 Americans slaughtered in one day, 10,000 Americans, including mothers and children held hostage? Would you not be doing what Israel is doing?

You'd be doing a hell of a lot more. And all Americans that I talk to, nearly all, say that. So Israel has gone to extraordinary lengths, calling up people

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  civilians, Palestinians in Gaza, telling them, leave your home

(CROSSTALK)

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  sending pamphlets. We have done that effort. Hamas tries to keep them at gunpoint.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: We'll clear them out of harm's way, we'll complete the job, and achieve total victory, which is necessary to give

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:  a secure future for Israel, a better future for Gaza, a better future for the Middle East, and a setback for the Iran terror axis.

That's in all our interests. It's in America's interest too.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Prime Minister, I'm told we are out of time.

Face the Nation will be back in one minute. We hope you'll stay with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: President Biden's refusal to call for a cease-fire in Gaza has been a source of considerable controversy in Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday. The state has a significant Arab and Muslim population. A good number are Democrats.

Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell joins us now from Southfield, Michigan. Welcome back to Face the Nation.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL (D-Michigan): Good morning, Margaret. Good to be with you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman, I know there is this protest effort underway to vote uncommitted among some Democrats to voice upset with the president. Will this damage him in a significant way?

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: So I want to say to you, I know many of this community. I have lived in Dearborn for many years with my husband, and there are two campaigns.

One is an abandon Biden campaign, but the other, the major campaign that has made over 100,000 calls  we'll see how many people vote on Tuesday  are trying to make sure the president hears them.

They have so many family in Gaza. I cannot tell you how many people I know who have lost grandparents, some parents, aunts and uncles and cousins, families who have lost 20 or 40 members. I  the case work that I'm doing, the people  I don't sleep at night, when you talk to them about how they don't have food, how they don't have any access to health care.

They're drinking saltwater, and almost out of saltwater, which isn't healthy. The sanitary conditions on the ground, there's  I mean, one woman, the aunt of somebody, goes to the bathroom once a day. There  a month ago, there was one toilet for every 220 people, one shower for every 15,000 people.

It's a nightmare. And they're scared for their families and they're worried. But I also  when we get a cease-fire  they need this cease- fire  then we sit down and  and  and talk.

And there are a lot of things that Donald Trump have done who are pretty  which are pretty horrific. And when you go back and review them, we're going to have to remind people of what he said.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I understand, and the nuance of what you are saying there, that this is not political, this is personal for a lot of people.

On  on that note, we just heard from the Israeli prime minister that he is going into Southern Gaza whether President Biden likes it or not. You said you're working to help some of your constituents without family. Do you think the United States is doing enough to get Americans or families of Americans out of harm's way?

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: So, I'm going to first say that none of us know what's going on in all of these negotiations.

We know that Bill Burns was over in  the director of the CIA was in Paris. I know members of the National Security Council have been there. And I know that the president has directly told the prime minister that he is very concerned and he needs to be very careful.

People need to understand that  what is going on in Rafah right now. The population of Gaza is approximately 2.2 million people; 1.5 million of them have been forced into Rafah. We've already lost somewhere  you know, we can argue about the numbers. Nobody denies that 12,000 children have already died.

You just heard the  the  during that interview that the Doctors Without Borders have talked about 1,000 children who have lost limbs, the number of children that don't have families. It would be outrageous for further innocent civilians to be killed. I know that the White House is working very closely with a number of other countries to make it clear that we cannot continue this loss of life.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Does the

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: And I  I continue to talk to the White House every day, tell them how important it is. And they assure me that the president is very engaged in delivering very direct messages.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But he has not rhetorically called for a cease-fire.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: They  he has, in private conversations, say he is working towards a temporary cease-fire.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: You know, I know we need a cease-fire.

A temporary cease-fire

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL:  if you get the six week cease-fire, then hopefully leads to  we also need the

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL:  that  we need the hostages to be returned.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: There are people hurting on both sides.

I think that that's

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. I want to talk to you more. I just have to take a commercial break.

So, let  stick with me, if you would, Congresswoman. We'll be back with more.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We will be right back with a lot more Face the Nation, including the latest push for Ukraine aid.

Stay with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to FACE THE NATION.

We continue our conversation now with Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.

Congresswoman, you have been very clear the humanitarian side of this conflict. In terms of the political impact, was it a mistake for President Biden, when he went to Michigan, not to meet with any members from this particular community?

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: Look, I do believe that he is going to need to do that at some point down the road. This community is pretty angry right now.

Look, I get protested. I had a town hall meeting this week and a number of people  and I think I've been one of the people that has been the most empathetic and has been working this issue really hard. I think he sent his team out. What  when he sent many of his team out, they developed relationships or connected with people that from both sides I've heard that they've got ongoing conversations. And that's got to continue.

I mean this is really  look, Michigan's a purple state.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I know (ph).

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: I want to make that clear. It's been a purple state as long as I've been doing presidential elections. This is a very important issue here, but there are going to be other issues too. This state's going to be purple from now until November.

And I'll tell you one more thing because I am the person that fought 30 years to have a state like Michigan as one of the early primaries. I want to be talking about this issue now, in February, because it will matter in November and not on October 15th, which has happened too many times in previously presidential elections that issues that matter in November aren't talked early.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

Is the concern about reproductive health care access enough to cancel out these negative headwinds?

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: Look, we  Michigan had an unprecedented turnout two years ago when the issue was on the ballot. I'm going to tell - I'm going to be blunt. You know me, I am. We've got to get young people, we've got to get women, and we've got to go into union halls. And it's great that we've got the union presidents and the union organizations endorsing, but we've got to go in those union halls and draw the comparison, remind people about what Donald Trump did and didn't do, he talked, didn't deliver, and about what Joe Biden has delivered on.

Women turning out is going to be absolutely critical. And they thought that when they voted on this on the ballot last year they were safe and now we've seen what the Alabama court has done in terms of IVF.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: Now the Republicans are scared to death and all running out and saying they support IVF.

You know what, they've never been someone who's tried to get pregnant. They've never had to live through all of this. And I think a lot of women are going to be very emotional about their women's health decisions should be made between them, their doctor, their faith and their family, and the federal government's got no business in it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman Dingell, thank you.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL: Or state government.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you for being direct, as you said.

We're going to leave that conversation there and pick up another one with Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrat Jared Golden, two congressmen who have proposed an alternative to the foreign aid bill that passed the Senate and was declared by the speaker of the House to be dead on arrival.

Do you have any confidence that there's a way to get Republican leadership to move on this?

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK (R-Pennsylvania): I do. We have a bipartisan bill. It's the only one in the House. And as of Friday, we have filed with the clerk, expedited consideration. Normally any kind of discharge like that would take 30 days to even be considered right (ph), but we figured out a way with the parliamentarian to expedite that to a seven-day period.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Just to be clear, this is to go around the speaker of the House, who has refused to put a bill on the floor, or forcing him to consider this?

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Well, it's - it's - it's just a way to get  a mechanism to get a bill to the floor.

And just to be clear about what we're trying to accomplish here, this is time sensitive, it's existential. I just got back from Ukraine. Avdiivka fell in the past seven days. We lost Laken Riley in the past seven days, and in the past seven days 200 families had to bury their kids because of fentanyl. So, what our bill does is it combines border security with this foreign aid, both existential, and we are forcing this bill to the floor to make sure that everybody acts because as President Zelenskyy said, they have weeks and not months to - to get reinforcements on the front lines.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you are trying to create an alternative to the bill that's about $60 billion. Yours is about 49 or so billion.

Congressman Golden, here, one of the things that's not in this bill, though, is humanitarian aid for Israel and for Ukraine. That's a non- starter for a lot of Democrats. And you have a Remain in Mexico border security policy here that forces migrants to wait outside the U.S. while their asylum claim is processed.

How are you going to get fellow Democrats to get on board with this?

REPRESENTATIVE JARED GOLDEN (D-Maine): Well, I think the - the most important thing to remember here is that the votes are there to support Ukraine and our other allies, Israel, Taiwan, and I think that the votes are there on border security as well.

You know, the Senate started with a bill. They had to boil it down to whatever it could get, 60 votes. The House needs to go through a very similar process. Brian and I are actually talking about having a more open debate on the House floors. Amendments should be in order. We need to find a way to get a deal that gets us to 218. I think a deal like that has to grow out of the middle and is unlikely to begin with a one-party solution.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, are you saying within that then, if your bill is up for consideration, amendments like adding in things like humanitarian aid are possible?

REPRESENTATIVE JARED GOLDEN: Potentially, yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

REPRESENTATIVE JARED GOLDEN: Although I think that we also have to set priorities. And so, at the end of the day, what are the most important crises that we have to deal with in the here and now in the very short term? And I would say that that would be securing our border and also helping avoid battlefield catastrophes in Ukraine.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Fitzpatrick, in choosing to go this route, it is defying the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who has said that, you know, he  I mean he said the initial Senate bill was dead on arrival here. But then he is also seemingly speaking to the Democratic leader in the House.

Are you concerned that you might be undercutting the opportunity to get that bigger package ultimately passed, or is it indeed so dead on arrival you need this backup plan?

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: I don't think we're short-circuiting anything. We are adding a pressure point to make sure this gets done because we cannot afford to wait here. And, you know, if the Senate bill were to make it to the floor, it would have, you know, a lot of Republican votes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You would vote for it?

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: I would.

If our bill gets to the floor, it will also have a lot of votes. I mean Jared can  can reflect the Democrat caucus perspective, but we think, you know, super, you know, super majority, I think two-thirds of the House would support this. It is open to amendments. So, our bare-bones language was just a vehicle to get to the floor, but what we're trying to do is to make sure that we do not waste another day because these are  I mean Ukraine is in dire straits right now, and that's what I wanted to do. That's why we're doing this. This is actually to complement all of the other conversations going on in a potential compromise that might ensue.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, does the Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries support what you're doing?

REPRESENTATIVE JARED GOLDEN: You know, they currently are pushing for the Senate bill. Obviously, they have a discharge petition. What I would say is that discharge petition doesn't have any Republican support. What we have now is a bill with a discharge petition that is led by a Republican.

MARGARET BRENNAN: This is just a procedural way to bypass leadership to get a vote?

REPRESENTATIVE JARED GOLDEN: Correct. That's right.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But you're not concerned, to borrow your phrase, that you're short-circuiting the bigger package?

REPRESENTATIVE JARED GOLDEN: My concern is, what is it going to take to get a bill to the floor, that can enable the House of Representatives to take actions on two, key priorities. One, how do we get our own border under control, two, how do we support our allies in their existential fights in Ukraine and in Israel?

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we're also up against the deadline of this potential partial government shutdown March 1st. What is the timeline for what you're trying to do and isn't the priority number one keeping the lights on?

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Absolutely, and maybe we hitch a ride on the CR with this, right? I mean, hopefully, we can -

MARGARET BRENNAN: Something this big, you think?

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Yes, this is not very big. This is - I mean this is -

MARGARET BRENNAN: $50 billion.

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: This is a paired down - well, it's military aid, which, by the way, 80 percent of which gets spent inside the United States. That's a big misnomer that's being perpetuated. You either believe that what we're doing for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan is an act of charity or you believe it's an act of global security. We believe it's an act of global security. That's an investment. Eighty percent of that money gets spent inside the United States, modernizing our own military in a way that we weren't prepared to do before.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Patrick McHenry was with my colleague here on CBS just the other day and he said, "You can either die as speaker and worry about them taking you out or live every day as your last." He's trying to prod the speaker of the House to be more decisive. Is your action a sign that you also think Speaker Johnson needs to be more decisive?

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: I think Mike's in a tough political spot right now and needs all the help he can get from all of his allies in the House. So, this is a mechanism 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Because he could be ousted?

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: That's always a risk. I mean any time you have a one person motion to vacate, which, by the way, is never going to happen ever again. We're not going to buy that line ever again because you see what  how it's manifested on the floor this cycle. It's basically created gridlock. We will never, ever agree to that ever again. But we've got to get through this cycle. We have time sensitive existential challenges right now. Ukraine is weeks away from giving up significant ground and we cannot allow Russia to win.

So, what we are doing is adding an additional pressure point to get a bill to the floor that has bipartisan support in the House. My conversations with my Senate colleagues, any bill that comes out of the House with bipartisan support in all likelihood will emerge out of the Senate.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Even though this would not be what the Senate has already approved? This 

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: We're going to open it up to amendments.

MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: We're - our  our vehicle is bare bones. It's going to be opened up to amendments. And let the House work its will.

REPRESENTATIVE JARED GOLDEN: I think it's important to point out that the Senate would likely take up something that passes the House with a bipartisan vote.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. We will watch this important move, and we'll talk more about Ukraine ahead in the program.

We'll be right back.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Saturday marked two years since Russia launched a full- scale invasion of Ukraine. And we are joined now by the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.

Good to have you back with us.

OKSANA MARKAROVA, (Ukrainian Ambassador to The United States): Good morning, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: It is a solemn weekend I know. Your president just acknowledged 31,000 Ukrainians have died in this fight. He also said that the Congress knows that your country is running out of funding and weaponry.

Where are we right now? How close are we to having battlefield setbacks in a significant way?

OKSANA MARKAROVA: Thank you. Yes, two years of full-fledged war, ten years of war, 31,000 just defenders. We don't even know how many civilians actually are dead until we liberate everything.

And we see on the battlefield that this war is still very winnable if we have supply of weapons and support, but also it's - it's the war that, unfortunately, can be lost if the support is not there and we run out. So, we really need it yesterday, and I'm very glad that there have been very active discussions all this time and I really hope that the House will come back this week and that we will see real solutions and we will see decisions taken.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

Well, you just heard from the two congressmen that they are now forcing consideration as soon as March the 7th for this aid to Ukraine. Your president said today, we need support within a month.

OKSANA MARKAROVA: Absolutely. And that support could be there within a month. Like, we hear -

MARGARET BRENNAN: Is military support enough?

OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, we need all the support. We need military support. We need budget support. We need humanitarian support because we need to sustain the effort on the battlefield but elsewhere. We need to care for people. We need to teach people. We need to create bomb shelters in order to protect. It's all very much interrelated.

But what we also heard, and we know that we do have strong bipartisan support. We have the votes as the two colleagues just said here. And also we know publicly from Speaker Johnson that he understands the - the need to win for all of us. It's - it's a global security play. And we heard the concerns. You know, of course, some concerns are not related to us, that - that he voiced and some about the transparency and accountability and we have provided a lot of information. So hopefully with the constant dialog between the two parties, between the White House and Congress, we will see the decisions because, as we said for a number of times, we need it yesterday.

MARGARET BRENNAN: The White House says that Russia had its first battlefield victory in a year within the past week in this eastern town in Ukraine because there aren't enough weapons and ammunition being provided. And  and Jake Sullivan pointed to Congress as the reason why. Is it that simple?

OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, the war has always been about weapons, you know. We always had enough motivated Ukrainians to defend our homes and we always needed more weapons at any given time. But, of course, now the situation is critical.

And I wouldn't call it a victory because we defended Avdiivka for ten years. And Russians simply destroyed it. They did not take it over. They - they destroyed the whole town, like they've done to so many. And they already have lost almost 400,000 people in Ukraine trying to invade us.

So, you know, we went in this war, we liberated 50 percent, we cleared the Black Sea. It's a critical, pivotal point now in which, if we receive the support and weapons, we can liberate more. And we cannot only liberate us, we can defend the free world because it's not just about Ukraine, it's about Russia together with Iran and North Korea, who are supplying missiles, and all democracies together can we defend ourselves. And I really want to answer that question, yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. It is becoming an election year issue with the former president, Donald Trump, arguing against support for NATO essentially. And he has a history with your president. And, obviously, that first impeachment hearing where he  that infamous phone call with President Zelenskyy.

Are you looking at - at that really dictating what's possible right now? A presidential campaign is impacting what you are saying is the future of democracy in Europe.

OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, any - any president of the United States, or any candidate of the president, is the president of this great country that is based on the values for which we are fighting on the battlefield. It's, as I said a number of times, the issue of support in Ukraine, freedom, democracy, the issue of standing together with a democratic ally is not a partisan issue. It's strongly bipartisan issue. And I'm sure it will be bipartisan.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

OKSANA MARKAROVA: And I think the only competition there could be how to do it faster, how to win faster, how to show that democracies can stand their ground.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I met this week three children from Ukraine who had been kidnapped by Russia as part of this state sponsored program. It was very hard to hear what these children have been through. But your government says there are at least 30,000 other kids that you know of who were also taken.

How is it possible that there is no coordinated international effort right now to bring these children home?

OKSANA MARKAROVA: This is not only a war crime and a tragedy, but something that is a blank in the international law. Russians actually claim they have hundreds of thousands of our children.

MARGARET BRENNAN: They said 700,000.

OKSANA MARKAROVA: They said 700,000. So, it can be as bad as that. And, literally, you know, it's - it's one of the first times after World War II and Nazis when they simply abduct children, put them up for speedy adoption, torture them, indoctrinate them, put them through these reeducation camps. That's why we have created this Bring Kids Back UA initiative and that's why we're so glad that so many countries, and I'm so glad that U.S. has joined it so we can actually formulate the mechanism of how to deal with it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

OKSANA MARKAROVA: And this is horrible. You know, Putin should be in prison until the rest of his life, at least for this crime.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Just another thing that U.S. funding is used for.

Ambassador, thank you.

OKSANA MARKAROVA: Thank you very much.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be back in a moment.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We're back with former White House Russia expert Fiona Hill.

Welcome back.

FIONA HILL (Former National Security Council Senior Director, European And Russian Affairs): Thanks, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yesterday the body of opposition leader Alexei Navalny was handed over to his mother after she had asked for more than a week to have him released, his corps released. Why do you think Vladimir Putin changed his mind and let it happen?

FIONA HILL: I think he actually realized he'd gone far too far. He was starting to get protests, even from Russian orthodox priests. I mean Putin prides himself on being this great religious leader, of extolling Christian values. So there were Russian orthodox priests saying that Putin was worse than Pontius Pilot in the Bible for denying another mother and the family the body. All kinds of celebrities.

And, of course, there was quite a bit of revoltsion (ph), you know, about this as well because Navalny's mother, a very brave woman, actually went on to YouTube, which can still be seen inside of Russia as well, and basically pointing out that Putin, or the Kremlin, or the prison authorities were all acting against the law by not handing over the body they were violating, and even their own norms and terms. And I think that really got a reaction because people will look at the mother, you know, for who she is, the actual mother of someone who has died, not a political person until that moment. And I think it was really escalating out of -out of control in terms of the message that the Kremlin was trying to enforce. It was making it a very big deal.

The question now will be about the funeral because, of course, what she said very openly was they were blackmailing her to have a secret funeral. So, not to have the traditional Russian public viewing of the body and then basically a commemoration of the graveside. So, it's going to be a question now about what they allow to happen next.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And whether he created a martyr, (INAUDIBLE).

FIONA HILL: He did. He has created a martyr. Absolutely right.

MARGARET BRENNAN: This past week, though, we  we saw not only the victory in eastern Ukraine, you saw the death - death of Alexei Navalny. You saw Russia take another American prisoner because she donated $50 to a Ukraine charity.

FIONA HILL: Yes. That's right.

MARGARET BRENNAN: He seems very emboldened right now.

FIONA HILL: He is. And, I mean, that's - you know, really fits into the whole theme of your discussions this morning. Putin thinks that he's winning because we've blinked, because we don't seem to have the courage, either politically or morally right now, to stand up and support Ukraine in fending - in fending him off, in fending Russia off.

He's also basically a month away from his re-anointment, I can't really call it an election, as the president of Russia. And Putin's basically saying, you're going have me until 2036 because he can have two more six year terms. And I'm so much in control of this situation that I can do literally whatever I like. He's trying to intimidate everyone and to basically remove any sense of hope whatsoever.

And, you know, these targeting of, you know, young woman who has given $50. I mean that's actually fairly ridiculous. But the whole message of it is to say, I mean business. Any kind of dissent, no matter how minor, will be punished with the full weight of the state behind it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we're in the middle of an election in this country. You worked for Donald Trump when he was in office. He has continued to call himself a political dissident. He actually compared himself to Alexei Navalny.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS: It's a lot of - a lot of (INAUDIBLE).

DONALD TRUMP (R), FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT AND 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is a form of Navalny. It is a form of communism or fascism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARGARET BRENNAN: He's talking about legal cases against him. He's talking about Russia quite a lot on the campaign trail again. What's going on?

FIONA HILL: Well, there's a couple of things. I mean, first of all, former President Trump has made it very clear that he admires Vladimir Putin. I mean he continues, you know, to really extol him, despite all of the evidence, you know, to - to the contrary, you know, from what his views should - should be here, that Putin is an evolved enemy at this particular point of the United States. I mean he's openly declared war on the United States. He's taking American citizens hostage. It's not just the young woman who was recently taken, who's a dual citizen, but it's also Evan Gershkovich from "The Wall Street Journal," it's also Paul Whelan, the - the former Marine who was taken years ago. President Trump actually ought to have a sense of responsibility about American citizens. And, instead, you know, what he's doing in the most brazen and frankly shameful fashion is trying to suggest that the United States is like Putin's Russia.

I mean since when have we been assassinating our opposition candidates in this country. Since when have presidents of the United States been wanting to sort of take out political opponents through poisoning or through imprisoning them in, you know, basically the equivalent of arctic penal colonies.

So, what President Trump is doing is degrading the United States. I just don't understand how people don't call him out for this.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we hear from Trump supporters at rallies, though, questions about aid to Ukraine. Is what he is talking  is he planting seeds that last, even if Joe Biden wins the election?

FIONA HILL: Of course he is. And he's also, frankly, parroting the kind of propaganda that we've been having coming out of Russia for more than a decade now.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Uh-huh.

FIONA HILL: I mean since Russia first made moves against Ukraine, which goes back a considerable period of time, to cut offs of their gas back in 2006, for example, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, President Putin and the Kremlin have been a full-on propaganda of it basically against Ukraine.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

FIONA HILL: And, frankly, President Trump is starting to repeat some of the same things that the - the Russians have been saying too.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Fiona Hill, it's always great to talk to you. We hope to have you back again soon.

We'll be right back.

FIONA HILL: Thanks.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Before we go today, we want to wish our friend and colleague, Bob Schieffer, a very happy 87th birthday.

Thank you all for watching. Thank you, Bob. We'll see you all next week for FACE THE NATION, I'm Margaret Brennan.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

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Programs for Ukraine funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are at risk while Congress delays the approval of additional security assistance for Ukraine, agency chief Samantha Power told reporters in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 24.

An aid package worth $61 billion has been tied up in Congress for months due to obstruction from Republican legislators.

Power told Voice of America that the funding delay threatens USAID projects aimed at integrating Ukraine's railways into the European rail network and protecting Ukrainian farmers, among other humanitarian programs.

"I would say that all of our programs are at risk," she said.

Power said that USAID has provided assistance to 32% of farmers in Ukraine, helping them continue their work amid constant Russian attacks. She said this was a long-term investment that served the interests of both the U.S. and Ukraine, leading to "less direct budget support" in the future.

"There are many parts of the world that are starving," Power said.

"But Ukrainian farmers have continued to work, they are ready to overcome the problems with unexploded ordnance, to rebuild their farm or their small business after the destruction. And we want to make sure that they continue to have access to low-interest loans, to resources."

Power also mentioned USAID programs that address Ukraine's most vulnerable populations, including people who lost their homes in Russian strikes and those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brought on by the war.

"The idea that we won't be able to support them in their hour of greatest need is a very dark thought indeed," she said.

USAID has provided $9.88 billion in development and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to the agency.

Read also: Generation of Fire: Young Ukrainians forced to survive first, plan for future later

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Gov. Gavin Newsoms supporters Sunday unveiled a television ad protesting travel bans that have made it tough for women in states restricting abortion to leave their home state for the procedure.

The ad, funded by a Super PAC that backs the governor, shows an upset, pleading young woman handcuffed to the side of a hospital bed. The voiceover says Trump Republicans want to make it a crime for women to travel to states where they could legally obtain an abortion.

Dont let them hold Tennessee women hostage, the voiceover says.

The ad, which is to run in Tennessee, reportedly cost six figures. The Super PAC, the Campaign for Democracy Group, had about $6 million on hand at the end of last year. Tennessee lawmakers are considering making it a crime for minors to get abortions without parental permission.

The conditions are much more pernicious than they even appear. These guys are not just restricting the rights, self-determination to bear a child for a young woman. But theyre also determining their fate as it relates to their future in life by saying they cant even travel, he told NBC News Meet the Press, which aired Sunday.

Newsom was in Washington for meetings with White House officials, President Joe Biden and the nations governors,.

Democrats see preserving abortion rights not only as an important policy but a significant political talking point, and Newsom has been aggressively promoting those views across the country.

What I want is to see us assert ourselves on this issue. Its a war on women, he said. He did not criticize Biden, saying the president should continue to do what hes doing. Hes speaking with clarity, moral clarity, forcefully.

Newsom cited states where a travel ban is being proposed or is in place. He discussed the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos created by in vitro fertilization are children, sparking fear that someone who damages the embryos could face criminal penalties.

The A.G. himself of Alabama wants to criminalize travel not just for children, but for adults seeking reproductive care. Thats how serious this moment is. And we need to be even more aggressive, I would argue. And thats what this ad represents, Newsom said.

The governor said the Alabama decision was part of a Republican war on women more broadly defined, including, as we know, contraceptives.

Democrats see their strong, historic support for abortion rights as a major 2024 campaign asset. Newsom has been a strong supporter of President Joe Biden, and cited strong differences between the two parties on the issue.

Former President Donald Trump, who is expected to face off with Biden in November, has said privately hes considering backing a 16-week federal ban on abortions that would include exceptions.

Newsom scoffed: These people arent serious.

Other Republicans will push for a tougher ban, the governor said, and Trump would sign such a national ban.

You want to understand the contours of this debate that we will be having over the next nine months, he said.

Newsom in 2024

Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker asked Newsom if he has ruled out a run for president this November. Hes been asked that repeatedly and has maintained he would not.

Youve gotta be kidding, he told Welker. I am here celebrating the extraordinary accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration, making the case that we need to make to lift up the issues, lift up the record, drive contrast with the Republican nominee to beat Trump.

Welker pressed, asking if he had gotten any calls encouraging him to run.

Its all idle chatter. You know what? Thats a sideshow. I think what Democrats need to do is worry less, do more, continue to overperform as we have, continue to win, make the case, he said.

So, asked Welker, is Newsom ruling out a run?

Its not even an interesting conversation. And, by the way, I think its a damning conversation, frankly, the other side wants us to have, he said.

Many conservatives have been convinced hell run. Newsom, once again, was dismissive of the speculation.

At the end of the day, not only has this train left the station, but we get to enjoy a record of accomplishment as we make the case in a re-election, the likes of which we couldnt even have dreamt of even as a Democrat last century, he said.
Sen. Tolentino: Bring back focus on Agricultural High Schools

MANILA -- Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino urged on Saturday to bring back the focus on agricultural schools to incorporate youth in optimizing the agricultural, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors.

In his regular DZRH show, Senator Tolentino spoke with Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Asis Perez to underscore the importance of refocusing on agricultural high schools in the Philippines.

Sen. Tol remarked: "Sa education sector, ang isang dapat mabigyan ng pansin dito ay ang agricultural high schools kasi noong araw, napakaraming agricultural high schools."

"Kung mababalik ang focus sa agricultural high schools, para pagdating ng kolehiyo, talagang interesadong-interesado na ang ating kabataan na mag-aral ng agrikultura," the senator added.

Tolentino likewise stressed the need to include knowledge institutions in the public-private partnerships which will transform into the triple helix model of innovation.

"Ang nakikita kong missing link ay ang partisipasyon ng mga unibersidad-- mga knowledge institutions. Sa fisheries, agricultural schools, maging research, dapat kasama na ang lahat ng mga estudyante. Kung hindi, magkakaroon ng disconnect," Sen. Tol said.

Usec. Perez affirmed Sen. Tol's suggestion saying, "Hindi lang po agriculture kundi pati fisheries at aquaculture dahil iyon ang source ng ating ulam. Ito po iyong ipu-pursue natin."
Inside the ballroom at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, Oppenheimer was front and center literally and figuratively, snagging the nights top prize along with trophies for Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr.

Ahead of this years Academy Awards, Christopher Nolans summer blockbuster increasingly looks like the run-away favorite. It was outshined on Saturdays awards only by reflections on the longest SAG-AFTRA strike in history last year and subsequent deal reached that ended it in November.

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland gave the room a kind of pep talk before Saturday's show began, accompanied by a montage of actors speaking from the picket lines over the summer, prompting the room to erupt in cheers of support.

We did achieve, I think, really important advances on paying actors fairly for working on streaming, Crabtree-Ireland said of the show being shown live on Netflix. Were really one of the only shows out there thats delivering a union message and talking about how workers can support each other. So, Im proud that Netflix is having us on their platform.

That speech, however, wasn't part of Netflix's livestream.

There was indeed a general sense of solidarity and gratitude toward their union from many in attendance, though some had less optimistic perspectives.

Im seeing a lot of people who are super grateful to be able to get back to work. But Im also seeing the industry shrink a little bit and Im starting to see jobs go away, filmmaker and actor Mark Duplass said before the show. Its not an easy time. Im not gonna sugarcoat it.

But most of the night was characterized by levity and camaraderie. The ballroom seemed energized by a presenter bit involving Billie Eilish signing Melissa McCarthy's face (at the comedian's request) before handing an award to The Bear star Ayo Edebiri .

The inside of any Hollywood awards show is a strange, starry place. Actors are typically seated at tables with their producers, directors and co-stars from the nominated film or series.

People are encouraged to remain seated, apart from designated periods throughout the show, when the room breaks out into a frenzy as celebrities rush to find friends or fellow stars they profess to be fans of, trying to get in conversations before the three-minute window closes. (Netflix's broadcast had no commercial breaks, but did build in time for impromptu schmoozing.)

Early in the night, Anne Hathaway and Emma Stone found their way to one another and were soon joined by Carey Mulligan, who ran to an empty seat between the pair and embraced Stone. (Hathaway  along with Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt  combined for an early highlight of the show, gathering onstage for a highly anticipated reunion of The Devil Wears Prada castmates.)

At a nearby table, director Alexander Payne poured a glass of Champagne for The Holdovers star Dominic Sessa, who turned 21 in October, while American Fiction actor Jon Ortiz was temporarily stuck outside the show after picking up two drinks for his table.

Miss! exclaimed Brendan Fraser across a sea of people as he sought the attention of a waiter before giving her cash pulled from his pocket. This is for you.

While many of the main award categories heading into the Oscars seem to be all but a sure thing, a few are still up in the air, one of them being best actress.

Although Stone has collected several accolades this season, Lily Gladstone took home the best film performance by a female actor award for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon.

As Gladstone rushed back to her table following her emotional speech, she was embraced by her co-stars as they wiped away tears. Not long after, The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki, who won an award earlier in the night, rushed to Gladstone asking for a photo. (AP)
Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is demanding answers from the White House following the tragic killing of a 22-year-old nursing student, Laken Hope Riley, on the campus of the University of Georgia.

The letter came as 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, was charged as the suspect in the murder of the 22-year-old nursing student on the UGA campus.

Three ICE & DHS sources told Fox News that Ibarra is a Venezuelan national who crossed illegally into El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 and was released into the U.S. via parole.

Kemp addressed a letter to President Biden on Saturday morning, seeking clarification and demanding the White House secure the southern border.

"Frankly, Mr. President, your continued silence in response to these reasonable requests is outrageous," Kemp wrote in the letter, which was posted on X. "The American people deserve to know who is illegally entering our country due to your administration's failures, and what risks and challenges every state must now face."

GOP LAWMAKERS SLAM BIDEN ADMIN IN REACTION TO COLLEGE MURDER SUSPECT'S IMMIGRATION STATUS: CLOSE THE BORDER!'

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

In the letter, Kemp sought information on Ibarra's current immigration status and why the administration had allegedly underscored the urgency of sharing the suspect's immigration status promptly.

"Why was my administration not made aware of the asylum claims and subsequent release of an illegal resident who presented fraudulent identification?" Kemp asked. "What is the current immigration status of Jose Antonio Ibarra and why has this information not been relayed to my administration?"

"What additional information does your administration possess regarding these individuals and the circumstances surrounding their entry into the country?" Kemp asked.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a press conference at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2024.

Kemp emphasized how his administration was forced to rely on unofficial sources and leaks to media outlets for information on Ibarra  rather than ICE & DHS officials.

He asserted that answers to Ibarra's immigration status must be provided publicly as soon as possible to ensure that state and local officials have the necessary information to safeguard communities.

"While media reports surrounding this case have relied on sources and leaks from your own federal agencies, the answers to these basic questions must be provided publicly as soon as possible to ensure state and local officials have the information we need in order to keep our communities safe," Kemp said.

President Biden

Kemp demanded that the federal government must secure the border before Riley's fate is "replicated across the country."

"These tragedies are not unique to Georgia. While we will continue to support Texas with National Guard resources as we have since 2019, federal action to secure the border is the only way to wholistically [sic] address this ongoing crisis and ensure Laken Riley's horrible fate is not replicated across the country," Kemp said. "However, if you continue to refuse to exercise your authority as president, your administration must provide the information necessary for Georgia and other states to protect our citizens."

The White House insisted on Friday that House Republicans stand in the way of a solution to what Biden has called a "broken" immigration system.

"For the past several months, we worked with Republican senators and also Democrats in the Senate to try to come up with a fair and tough piece of legislation that would deal with border security," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at the daily White House press briefing.

Jose Ibarra, who was originally taken into custody on Friday by the UGA Police Department in connection with Riley's death, is now not believed to have had a connection to the victim.

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA POLICE QUESTIONING PERSON OF INTEREST IN LAKEN RILEY HOMICIDE

Jean-Pierre noted that a bipartisan deal reached last month had been endorsed by the Border Patrol union before Johnson declared it "dead on arrival."

"Speaker Johnson has gotten in the way of this," she added. "We did our job. The Senate did their job in a bipartisan way.

Ibarra was taken into custody by UGA police Friday and has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another, UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said during a news briefing Friday evening.

Riley, an Augusta University nursing student, was found dead Thursday after previously attending UGA before entering a nursing program at the University of Augusta's Athens campus.

BROTHER OF UGA MURDER SUSPECT CHARGED WITH GREEN CARD FRAUD

According to an incident report obtained by Fox News Digital, multiple officers began searching for Riley near the Intramural Fields around 12:07 p.m. At 12:38, a UGA police officer spotted her on the ground.

"I called out to Riley, and I did not get a response," the officer wrote.

She had visible injuries, and police could not locate a pulse. They began CPR anyway. A sergeant arrived with a defibrillator minutes later and unsuccessfully attempted to revive the victim.

Autopsy results remained pending Friday, but authorities said they were investigating her death as a homicide. Clark said it appeared as though she had been killed by blunt-force trauma.

Kemp's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News' Michael Ruiz, Chris Pandolfo and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.





Original article source: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp demands answers from Biden on Laken Riley suspected killer's immigration status
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visits the former headquarters of the regional administration of Mykolaiv Oblast during her two-day visit to Ukraine. On March 29, 2022, the building was hit by Russian missiles and almost completely destroyed. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Germany is to provide an additional 100 million ($108 million) in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to support the water supply, hospitals and housing, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday while on a visit to the country.

"Putin's terror is continuing here every day," Baerbock said in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv in reference to the Russian president.

"But the people here in Ukraine are clear: No day, no attack will be able to destroy their struggle for survival," she said.

Germany intended to promote aid for reconstruction alongside providing military assistance for defence, she said. The German government is to hold an international reconstruction conference in support of Ukraine in Berlin in June.

Mykolaiv, the capital of the region of the same name, lies around 130 kilometres to the east of Odessa and 65 kilometres from the Black Sea. Its port is Ukraine's third largest, and the city is home to a university for shipbuilding.

Baerbock viewed the former regional administrative headquarters in the company of Mykolaiv Governor Vitalii Kim and Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych.

A Russian missile, believed to have been aimed at Kim, struck the building, killing 37 and injuring more than 30, at the end of March 2022, a month after the Russian invasion began. It has been left there as a memorial.

The port is out of action. In a recent report, the authorities said that more than 1,300 residential blocks and more than 1,000 private homes had been destroyed or damaged by Russian action.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visits the former headquarters of the regional administration of Mykolaiv Oblast during her two-day visit to Ukraine. On March 29, 2022, the building was hit by Russian missiles and almost completely destroyed. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, walks past destroyed Russian tanks during her visit to the former headquarters of the regional administration of Mykolaiv oblast. On March 29, 2022, the building was hit by Russian missiles and almost completely destroyed. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The IG Metall logo hangs above the stage at the regular IG Metall trade union conference. Germany's metals industry trade union IG Metall said it supports the planned factory expansion of electric car manufacturer Tesla near Berlin and is calling for dialogue in the face of citizens' concerns. Daniel Karmann/dpa

Germany's metals industry trade union IG Metall said it supports the planned factory expansion of electric car manufacturer Tesla near Berlin and is calling for dialogue in the face of citizens' concerns.

Following a clear "no" vote in a public consultation in the municipality of Grunheide in Brandenburg, the union appealed to the company to address the concerns. Tesla wants to expand production and also extend the site to include a goods station and logistics areas.

Around two thirds of Grunheide residents voted against the expansion of the site in the survey.

"In principle, IG Metall supports the expansion of the plant, which will create thousands of jobs in the automotive industry," Dirk Schulze, IG Metall district manager for Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony, told dpa.

"It is important that Tesla seeks dialogue with citizens and responds to people's concerns and objections. However, an expansion with an almost doubling of industrial jobs would be a benefit for the state of Brandenburg and for Berlin, and therefore also for a larger basin area," he said.

The car manufacturer wants to build a goods station, warehouses and a company day-care centre on a neighbouring area of around 170 hectares.

Tesla wants to expand production on the existing site and double the planned 500,000 cars per year to 1 million. Conservationists and local residents criticize the fact that more than 100 hectares of forest are to be cleared for the expansion.

The municipal council in Grunheide still has to approve the development plan. Several local councillors have announced that they will honour the citizens' vote.

IG Metall once again campaigned in favour of good and secure jobs with collective agreements.

"The opinion from the local area was quite clear, with over 60% denying the planned expansion," Schulze said.

"We think this is also an expression of the fact that Tesla unfortunately does not present itself as a model employer in the region."

The union accused the company of "poor treatment of employees" and of being "closed-minded towards the population." Tesla has rejected the accusations. Prior to the consultation, the car manufacturer informed the residents of the region during an information tour.

Tesla is sticking to its expansion plans, despite the residents' rejection, but wants to go forward in a spirit of cooperation.

According to the company, it wants to coordinate further steps with all those involved on the basis of the feedback received in recent weeks. The logistical optimization of the plant is a great benefit for the community.

The aim is to shift a lot of lorry traffic to rail and expand the infrastructure around the factory.

The relationship between the car manufacturer and IG Metall is considered tense. Following a production stop due to the Houthi rebel attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, the union wanted to obtain more time in court for the planned second Tesla works council election.

The Labour Court in Frankfurt-an-der-Oder near the Polish border granted an application by IG Metall for a temporary injunction to stop the election and referred to procedural errors by the election committee.
The IG Metall logo hangs above the stage at the regular IG Metall trade union conference. Germany's metals industry trade union IG Metall said it supports the planned factory expansion of electric car manufacturer Tesla near Berlin and is calling for dialogue in the face of citizens' concerns. Daniel Karmann/dpa

Germany's metals industry trade union IG Metall said it supports the planned factory expansion of electric car manufacturer Tesla near Berlin and is calling for dialogue in the face of citizens' concerns.

Following a clear "no" vote in a public consultation in the municipality of Grunheide in Brandenburg, the union appealed to the company to address the concerns. Tesla wants to expand production and also extend the site to include a goods station and logistics areas.

Around two thirds of Grunheide residents voted against the expansion of the site in the survey.

"In principle, IG Metall supports the expansion of the plant, which will create thousands of jobs in the automotive industry," Dirk Schulze, IG Metall district manager for Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony, told dpa.

"It is important that Tesla seeks dialogue with citizens and responds to people's concerns and objections. However, an expansion with an almost doubling of industrial jobs would be a benefit for the state of Brandenburg and for Berlin, and therefore also for a larger basin area," he said.

The car manufacturer wants to build a goods station, warehouses and a company day-care centre on a neighbouring area of around 170 hectares.

Tesla wants to expand production on the existing site and double the planned 500,000 cars per year to 1 million. Conservationists and local residents criticize the fact that more than 100 hectares of forest are to be cleared for the expansion.

The municipal council in Grunheide still has to approve the development plan. Several local councillors have announced that they will honour the citizens' vote.

IG Metall once again campaigned in favour of good and secure jobs with collective agreements.
Community members gathered at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center Feb. 23 to have the talk about healthy and safe police encounters in Knoxville, especially those involving Black people.

The discussion was led by a nine-person panel comprised of two people who have been subjected to excessive force during arrests, a former Knoxville Police Department deputy chief, a defense attorney, community organizers and leaders, and two Knox News journalists with experience in public safety journalism.

What is excessive amount of police? Tiffaney Kyle, a mother of four, asked the panel. My house was surrounded with 10 police cars for my one son, who was 20 at the time, who had a violation, not a violent offense or anything like that.

Solutions and tactics discussed during the two-hour forum included better de-escalation and cultural competency training for officers, alternative response teams for non-violent calls, holding institutions accountable, pushing to change and enforce internal policies and filing complaints with the Police Advisory and Review Committee, commonly called PARC.

I have made the calls. I have complained. I've been through PARC, Kyle said about filing complaints. So, what do you do when you make these calls, make these emails and theres still no response?

One path forward is continuing to sound the alarm as a community by consistently attending city meetings, filing complaints and having an organized political strategy, police reform activist Nzinga Amani suggested.

Show them ways (how) people are supporting you, so they know that if they mess with you, they mess with all of us, Amani said.

We have to come together as a group and we can insist on certain policies, former Knoxville Police Department deputy chief Nate Allen added. You got to say something.

Even though she is a quiet person, and speaking out and filing complaints can be a scary, Kyle told Knox News that sharing experiences was her biggest takeaway of the night.

If we see injustice (by) the police or even an elected representative, we need to stand up and say something, and these events help promote that, she said. It's not just a safe space  it's a brave space. Theres gonna be hard questions, theres going to be hard discussions, but we have to be brave enough to enter in those spaces.

Laura Humphrey, who attended the forum, strongly feels theres a need for alternative response teams and oversight committees to hold officers and law enforcement departments accountable.

It is a competitiveness that is put out there between citizens and the police. So, to have that third party helps to level that off, that you have an advocate there, she told Knox News.

Humphrey has a political science background and often focuses on policies. But she values Kyle and others who share their experiences.

I'm not a person of color, you know, but I can now identify the relationship (with officers) whereas maybe I could not identify before. So, that's how Important it is to speak about it, she said. Stories, to me, is absolutely the best way to make those relationships happen and to bring us back to the human element.

Community members arrive for "the talk" at the Beck Center. The two-hour forum included tactics and suggestions to improve interactions with law enforcement officers in Knoxville.

What should you know about police encounters

Allen, a retired police chief with over 35 years of experience, offered his firsthand knowledge of what should be expected of officers, how to hold them accountable and ways to avoid conflict.

My message to you is that we have to work it from the inside out. We only have one system, Allen said. It's my job now to teach people the system and how to work the system.

The goal is for everyone to go home safe, Allen said. Officers should approach people calmly and de-escalate if conflict or tensions begin to rise. He suggests people comply during the initial encounter. And if theres wrongdoing on the part of police, take notes, record them and file a complaint.

You deal with it when the situation on the street is over with because the police officer always wins the encounter on the street," Allen said. "(You) can win the encounter when (you) go to the courtroom or when you go to complain.

Some community members, including Amani, pushed back on the idea of working within the system, particularly when internal department policies are not enforced when wrongdoing is proven.

We actually need tangible power in the system, Amani said. We need new systems to take care of our people and systems that are outside law enforcement and outside of mass incarceration, he said while advocating for community-based policing and mental health teams for non-violent calls.

Andre Canty of Cities United, an organization that aims end community violence and nurture healthy communities, advised knowing your rights such as freedom of speech, the right to protest, illegal search and seizures and the right to remain silent.

He also suggested becoming familiar with state rights, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Know Your Rights Camp, an organization that helps people navigate situations with law enforcement.

The discussion on policing at Beck was led by a nine-person panel comprised of people who have been subjected to excessive force during arrests, a former Knoxville Police Department deputy chief, a defense attorney, community organizers and leaders, and two Knox News journalists with experience in public safety journalism. Beck director Renee Kesler moderated the event.

What are Tennessees laws on police misconduct?

Tennessee doesnt have a lot of laws pertaining to policing, according to defense attorney Dillon Zinser.

The 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution delegates policing powers to the state. But in the state of Tennessee, at least, there's not really many laws that govern police conduct. There's plenty of laws that give police broad immunity powers, he explained.

People can sue police departments if a Constitutional amendment has been violated. But because of few state laws, this leaves misconduct cases to be handled internally. KPD and the Knoxville Sheriffs office each have their own internal policies.

As far as how the law defines police interactions, it reinforces whatever the police say the interaction is, and that's a sad truth, Zinser said.

Zinser has worked on over a thousand criminal cases and mostly represents court-appointed clients. The increased use of body and police cruiser camera footage over the past five years has helped his clients in court.

Policy dictates that body cams should turned on during any interaction, and cruiser cams should start recording when the blue lights are activated, Zinser said. But a few community members noted that not all officers follow the policy and its not being enforced even after complaints are made.

Panel member Nahshon Bain-Greenidge suffered injuries to his head, face and hand when deputies arrested him last year. All charges against him were dropped by prosecutors, but some sheriff deputies muted their body cams during his arrest, he said.

There should be some sort of recourse for that as well, because what is the point of the body cams if they could just mute themselves? Bain-Greenidge said. Allen suggested pushing for financial penalties when an officer fails to follow camera policy.

How to file a complaint against police officers

If you think you have been unjustly treated by law enforcement or witnessed or have knowledge of police misconduct, a complaint can be filed with KPDs Office of Professional Standards (OPS) at 865-215-7361 or the Police Advisory and Review Committee at 865-215-3869.

PARC is independent of KPD and is a civilian oversight committee that reviews KPD complaints, discipline process, policies and procedures and closed OPS cases.

I'm a firm believer that the people who are policed should define police procedures, PARC director Jered Croom said. Make a formal complaint so I can put my teeth into it so that I can use the weight of this office to move the momentum towards equity and justice.

Complaints to PARC can be made via phone, online a knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/police_advisory_review_committee_parc, in person, or written to Croom at P.O. Box 1631, Knoxville, TN 37901. Complaints can be made anonymously, too.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Community members discuss policing, accountability in Knoxville
Burnt-out homes on the Be'eri kibbutz just 2.5 miles from the border with the Gaza Strip. At least 94 people died there. Sprayed signs on the walls showed the homes had been cleared of terrorists, survivors and bodies. - SIMON TOWNSLEY

Kibbutzim in southern Israel have been forced to close their doors to visitors after busloads of souvenir-hunting tourists turned the sites of the Oct 7 attacks into a safari.

Hundreds of people now arrive daily for war tours of the devastated communities to take selfies with the burnt-out homes and blood-stained walls left after the Hamas atrocities, in which 1,200 people died.

Some tourists even enter abandoned homes without permission and steal souvenirs such as spent bullet casings.

The trend has prompted at least three kibbutzim, normally welcoming and open communities that anyone can visit, to close their doors to sightseers.

Its so shameful, said Avi Dabush, from Kibbutz Nirim, one of those that has imposed new restrictions. Now the kibbutz started to have guards at the entrance with only invited visitors coming for a specific purpose like friends and family allowed to enter.

An Israeli soldier in the ruins of the Kfar Aza kibbutz, one of the Oct 7 target communities that has banned the macabre tourist excursions - SALWAN GEORGES/THE WASHINGTON POST VIA GETTY IMAGES

The kibbutzim in general are trying to stop this phenomenon of people just wanting to see the ruins. The question of coming [to see the ruins] nowadays is a big question.

The tours have posed a huge dilemma for the largely liberal communities who live near the border with Gaza.

Most want the world to understand the horrors of Oct 7, which was the most deadly day for Jews since the Holocaust.

But the bullet-speckled walls and forensics inscriptions to mark where dead bodies were found tell a story that many for now, are trying to forget while they focus on bringing home kidnapped friends and relatives still in Gaza.

We are still grieving, and every week we are hearing about more hostages in Gaza considered to be dead, said Mr Dabush. We have hostages there still and we are in such a deep state of worry for our people.

Many kibbutz dwellers, like Mr Dabush, have been displaced within Israel and are unable to return home.

I understand people want to see and share but it must be organised with the communities, with their permission, and it must support those communities with their needs of coming back, raising money, raising awareness for the hostages, he added.

A happy family photograph from a home on the Be'eri kibbutz contrasts with the ruin of the same home after the Oct 7 massacre - SIMON TOWNSLEY

This week, one tour was advertised as costing 550 shekels (120) per person, with 400 donated to a barbecue for soldiers and 150 for transport costs. None of it was to aid the tens of thousands of displaced Israelis from the south.

For many Israelis, the commercialisation of a pain that still feels fresh is in poor taste, especially as the Gaza war continues to take the lives of hundreds of soldiers and thousands of Palestinians.

Its disgusting, absolutely disgusting that people are charging money and going on these tours, said Nurit Rosenbaum, an Israeli whose husband served in the military for over 20 years. Its inappropriate beyond words and is an insult to everyone.

Zohar Shpik from Kfar Aza, another of the shuttered kibbutzim, agreed it was very upsetting and its for this reason we decided to stop the visits for now.

Another resident from Kfar Aza said that having people enter their homes and taking war souvenirs and selfies has been a traumatic experience.

Seeing people coming by buses and paying to be there doesnt make you feel comfortable, said Inbar Rosenfeld. The safari began too early and people didnt give us the chance to be there alone. Everyone needs to see it but on the other hand, its our home and our privacy.

An abandoned car is surrounded by the possessions, including a baby stroller, of residents caught in the massacre at Kfar Aza kibbutz - ALEXI J ROSENFELD/GETTY IMAGES

However, he said, he understands peoples need to visit: I think everyone must see and feel what happened there. More than that, I think the kibbutz should stay the same with all the burnt cars, bullets and the rest.

One Israeli tourist, who asked not to be named, made the visit this month from Tel Aviv along with his two sisters. Though he has no personal connection to the massacre, he wanted to see the sites for himself.

They each paid 399 shekels plus 49 for admin. An unspecified portion went to the families of the kibbutz.

I needed to see it with my own eyes, he said. To see it first hand is something different.

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Fearing that Democrats hold a crucial edge in ballots cast before Election Day, national Republicans are working to convince their voters to take advantage of mail and early voting this year. John McCosh/Georgia Recorder

Fearing that Democrats hold a crucial edge in ballots cast before Election Day, national Republicans are working to convince their voters to take advantage of mail and early voting this year.

We cant play catch up. We cant start from behind. We cant let Dems get a big head start and think were going to win it all on Election Day, Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel said in November on a conference call aimed at promoting the groups Bank Your Vote initiative to encourage early and mail voting. Things happen on Election Day.

But the partys army of lawyers is, more quietly, sending a very different message. The RNC is fighting in courtrooms and legal filings in key election battlegrounds across the country to make it harder to cast a mail ballot and to have it counted.

On Feb. 20, attorneys for the RNC were in a federal courtroom in Philadelphia, in a bid to require that Pennsylvania throw out mail ballots with missing or incorrect dates.

Eleven days earlier, they filed a lawsuit challenging several provisions of Arizonas newly adopted election rules, including a rule allowing voters who have not shown proof of citizenship to cast a mail ballot.

And that same day, they asked a court in Georgia to uphold a state law that imposes stricter rules on mail voting.

Separately, in recent months the RNC has asked courts to let it join the defense of laws in Ohio, Wisconsin, and North Carolina that similarly impose tighter rules on mail voting (judges in the latter two states denied the requests, while the Ohio motion was approved).

The party also has sued to block a New York law that lets people vote by mail without an excuse (the states Supreme Court this month dismissed the complaint). And it has formally weighed in against proposed changes to Nevadas election rules, including one that makes it easier for election officials to prevent volunteer observers from disrupting the counting of mail ballots.

In January, the RNC went further than ever, filing a lawsuit in Mississippi that it has said aims to obtain a nationwide ban on mail ballots that arrive after Election Day. RNC lawyers stated plainly in their complaint that Republicans interests are at stake because mail voting tends to favor Democrats.

States with close races targeted

Though its received relatively little attention, the RNCs legal onslaught could have a major impact on the 2024 elections.

Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Nevada are all set to be among the closest states in this years presidential race, while Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada host pivotal U.S. Senate contests. New York, meanwhile, is home to several swing congressional districts that could determine control of the U.S. House.

And the legal effort against mail voting has been matched by a legislative one. Thirteen states, including Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, and Ohio, have passed 16 bills to restrict mail voting since the start of 2023, according to a database run by the Voting Rights Lab.

It all amounts to a multi-pronged effort to suppress voting by mail, voting advocates say  one that could threaten access to the ballot this fall, especially for Democrats, who are now more likely than Republicans to use mail voting. At its core are legal arguments aimed at convincing judges to interpret the law in ways that are explicitly adverse to voters.

The push sits uneasily alongside an RNC campaign to convince GOP voters to embrace mail and early voting. But its right in keeping with former President Donald Trumps years-long, evidence-free campaign against voting by mail.

In courtrooms and state legislatures across the country, Republicans are doing everything in their power to restrict mail-in voting, said Marc Elias, a prominent Democratic election lawyer, in a statement. The RNCs legal strategy is clear. The Republican Party no longer seeks to earn the support of a majority of the American electorate. Instead, they are launching a legal assault on our democracy.

A spokesman for the RNC did not respond to a request for comment.

A muddled message on mail voting

In 2020, many states loosened rules on mail voting in response to COVID-19. That years election saw record high turnout despite the pandemic, with nearly half of all voters casting a mail ballot  a huge increase from around 22% in 2016.

Even with COVID-19 tamed, many states have kept their more liberal mail voting rules in place, or, like New York, have passed new laws expanding access to mail ballots.

While leading Democrats have embraced mail voting, Trump has repeatedly denounced it, falsely claiming it opens the door to massive fraud.

MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, Trump tweeted in June 2020, adding that the result would be a RIGGED election.

Its true that several of the extremely rare instances of proven voter fraud have involved mail voting. But theres no evidence of systematic mail voter fraud of the kind that Trump has claimed threatens the integrity of a presidential election.

A voter fraud database run by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, lists 279 cases of fraudulent use of absentee ballots, going back to 1988  since which time hundreds of millions of mail ballots have been cast.

Meanwhile, GOP lawyers have gone to the mat to try to put the mail voting genie back in the bottle.

Weve watched Democrats systematically try to codify those post-COVID changes that they made, and weve been in the courts trying to keep those pre-COVID protections in place for our elections, RNC chair Ronna McDaniel explained in October. Theres been a battle waged.

Its not surprising, then, that Democrats have in recent elections used mail voting at significantly higher rates than Republicans. So pronounced is the split that in 2020, President Joe Biden won the mail vote in 14 out of 15 states analyzed by 538.com, while Trump likewise won the Election Day vote in 14 out of 15.

Thats led the GOP to fret that it now often goes into Election Day already trailing by a significant margin. In response, the RNC last year launched the Bank Your Vote initiative to encourage Republicans to vote early or by mail.

The effort includes websites in all 50 states, and even an ad recorded by Trump  albeit without much visible enthusiasm.

Sign up and commit to voting early, Trump says. We must defeat the far left at their own game.

But Trump has continued to muddy that message.

You know, we have these elections that last for 62 days, Trump declared last month in his victory speech after the Iowa caucuses. And if you need some more time, take as much time as you want. And so many bad things happen. We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections.

RNC court filings

The RNCs legal assault on mail voting suggests a similar view. In several court filings, RNC lawyers have suggested that tight safeguards are needed to ensure mail voting doesnt allow for fraudulent votes.

Ohios law that restricts who can return a mail ballot on behalf of a voter should be upheld, the RNC argued in one typical filing, because it guards against an increased risk of voter fraud and other irregularities.

The Republican bid to restrict mail voting is part of a larger effort by the party since 2020 to devote more resources to election integrity  tighter election rules that prioritize anti-fraud measures over access. It includes a year-round election integrity legal department, which has said it worked with over 90 law firms and participated in nearly 100 lawsuits during the 2022 cycle.

So far this cycle, the RNC has paid over $4 million to two top Republican law firms, Consovoy McCarthy and Wiley Rein, according to FEC records. Thomas McCarthy, a co-founder of Consovoy McCarthy, is listed on RNC motions in the Mississippi, Georgia and Wisconsin cases, among others.

The focus on election integrity comes as McDaniel, the RNC chair, is reported to be stepping down at the end of the month. Trumps choice to replace her, North Carolina GOP chair Michael Whatley, has stressed the importance of tight voting rules for Republican success, States Newsroom has reported.

Chipping away at mail votes

The most far-reaching of the RNCs cases is the lawsuit it filed with other Republicans in January against a Mississippi law that allows mail ballots that arrive up to five days after an election to be counted, as long as theyre postmarked by Election Day.

Federal law sets Election Day as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the suit argues, so by extending the election past that day, Mississippi is violating federal law.

The RNC has said the goal is to obtain a ruling from a judge that bars post-Election-Day ballots from being counted not just in Mississippi but nationwide. The 5th Circuit, which contains Mississippi, is known as perhaps the most conservative judicial circuit in the country.

Election law experts have said its unlikely, but not impossible, that a court could accept the RNCs argument.

If the case were to reach the Supreme Court, at least one justice appears friendly. In 2020, when the court upheld Wisconsins ban on late-arriving ballots, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that states have the right to set election deadlines to avoid the chaos and suspicions of impropriety that can ensue when thousands of absentee ballots flow in after election day and potentially flip the results of an election.

Mississippi is one of 18 states  including key battlegrounds like Ohio, Nevada, Virginia, Texas, and New York  plus the District of Columbia, that count ballots that arrive after Election Day. (North Carolina last year passed a law that restricts mail voting in several ways, including by banning ballots that arrive after Election Day. Its that law that the RNC sought unsuccessfully to help defend from a court challenge by Democrats, which is ongoing.)

The number of votes at issue could be significant. In 2020, the U.S. Postal Service said it processed nearly 190,000 ballots in the two days after the election. Most of those, it said, were in states that allow late-arriving ballots.

The Mississippi lawsuit makes clear that, despite the Bank Your Vote campaign, Republicans want to curtail mail voting because they think it gives Democrats an edge.

Because voting by mail is starkly polarized by party, [allowing late-arriving ballots] directly harms Plaintiffs, the RNCs lawyers wrote in the complaint. For example, according to the MIT Election Lab, 46% of Democratic voters in the 2022 General Election mailed in their ballots, compared to only 27% of Republicans. That means the late-arriving mail-in ballots that are counted for five additional days disproportionately break for Democrats.

Pennsylvania case also crucial

The Pennsylvania case is another that could reverberate. In November 2022, the state Supreme Court ruled  in response to a suit filed by the RNC and other Republicans  that over 10,000 mail ballots on which the voter had neglected to write the date on the outer envelope, or had written an incorrect date, must be rejected.

The states NAACP chapter filed its own suit in federal court in response. The RNC quickly intervened, arguing that the state Supreme Courts ruling should be upheld. A district court ruled for the NAACP in November, finding that the Civil Rights Act bars states from rejecting votes based on immaterial paperwork errors. The RNC appealed, arguing for a narrower interpretation of the landmark civil rights law, setting up the Feb. 20 hearing.

In a sign that the case could have an impact beyond Pennsylvania, 17 Republican-led states last month submitted an amicus brief in support of the RNCs position.

The other cases may not have the same reach as those two. But together, they broadly aim to tighten the rules around mail voting to a degree that could significantly chip away at mail votes.

RNC lawyers have marshaled a range of arguments in these cases.

They have claimed, unsuccessfully, that New Yorks law expanding access to mail voting violates the states constitution, which bans no-excuse mail voting. Theyve said Georgias new deadline to apply for a mail ballot of seven days before Election Day doesnt violate the federal law barring deadlines of fewer than 11 days, because the federal government lacks the authority to regulate these deadlines.

No mail voting rule appears too small to escape the notice of RNC lawyers. This months lawsuit against Arizona targets a new rule that lets voters who registered without proof of citizenship  and therefore, under Arizona law, can vote in federal elections only  receive a mail ballot, arguing that state law bars these voters from voting by mail.

And theyve submitted comments to a Nevada commission, criticizing a proposed rule there that gives election officials more power to ensure the counting process for mail ballots isnt disrupted. The new powers could let election officials infringe on the publics right to witness the counting, the groups lawyers assert.

Meanwhile, supporters of mail voting say Republican fears about an influx of Democratic mail votes may be misplaced.

Americans have used mail ballots for over a hundred years because they provide a safe and convenient way to ensure the right to vote, said Barbara Smith Warner, the executive director of the National Vote at Home Institute, which advocates for mail voting. Research has demonstrated time and time again that voting at home increases voter participation and turnout for all, with no partisan advantage for any side.

Attacks on mail ballots are red herrings to distract from their true intent  making it harder for citizens to vote, and sowing distrust in our elections, Smith Warner said.

The post GOP backs voting by mail, yet turns to courts to restrict it in battleground states appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children is putting Republicans in a bind, forcing them to distance themselves from some of the decisions sweeping consequences.

Three fertility clinics in Alabama, including the states largest health system, have paused in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments in the wake of the shock ruling.

It has put GOP politicians who oppose abortion rights but back IVF in a complicated position, forcing them to awkwardly explain why they may disagree with a ruling even as some of them say they believe embryos are babies.

And it all comes as the GOP has largely been playing defense on the political field since the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision, which led a number of states to impose severe restrictions on access to an abortion.

Republicans have repeatedly been on the losing side of elections with abortion on the ballot ever since. President Bidens campaign is expected to make abortion a central part of its messaging this fall, an approach likely to be copied by Senate and House candidates around the country.

GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley reflected the awkward position for Republicans on Wednesday when she told NBC she supported the decision and thought that frozen embryos made using IVF are babies.

A few hours later, Haley seemed to walk back her initial comment.

I didnt say that I agreed with the Alabama ruling, Haley told CNN, but she added she still believes an embryo is an unborn baby.

On Thursday Haley told CNN she believed the court ruled correctly under state law, but Alabama needs to go back and look at the law.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is being talked about as a potential running mate for former President Trump, evaded the question.

Well, I havent studied the issue, Scott told reporters Thursday in South Carolina before taking a jab at Haley.

Im gonna let Nikki Haley continue to go back and forth on that, Scott told reporters.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland on Thursday, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said he thinks an embryo is a child, but he also seemed confused as to what the decision even was.

We need more kids, he said. We need people to have an opportunity to have kids.

Veteran GOP strategist and former Republican National Committee spokesperson Doug Heye said hard-line conservatives found themselves in a box, just like after the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked.

If people havent gone through [IVF], they dont understand it. Most United States Senators havent, and if youre a Republican one  Tuberville is obviously a good example  they just shoot from the hip with their answers, and that gets them in trouble, Heye said.

In an attempt to wrest control of the narrative, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) on Friday told candidates to express their support for IVF, oppose restrictions on the treatment and campaign on expanding access to it.

It is imperative that our candidates align with the publics overwhelming support for IVF and fertility treatments, the NRSC said, calling the ruling fodder for Democrats hoping to manipulate the abortion issue for electoral gain.

After the statement, several GOP candidates and congressional Republicans issued public statements in favor of IVF.

IVF is extremely important for helping countless families experience the joy of parenthood. I oppose restrictions, said Kari Lake, a Trump-endorsed Republican running for Senate in Arizona.

Dave McCormick, a GOP Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that IVF is a ray of hope for millions of Americans seeking the blessing of children, adding he opposes any effort to restrict it.

Bernie Moreno, a Trump-backed candidate in Ohio, said as recently as Thursday that he thinks life begins at conception. On Friday, he said that IVF aligns with his pro-life views but stopped short of saying the Alabama decision was wrong or opposing efforts to restrict IVF.

My goal is to promote a culture of life. IVF is a vital tool for families that struggle with infertility. Im in favor of anything that promotes people having more babies & strong families, Moreno wrote on X.

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), who previously co-sponsored a fetal personhood House bill that said life begins at conception, said on X that he would oppose efforts to restrict IVF. IVF is a valuable and important tool for many Arizona families, Schweikert wrote.

Many Republican candidates, including former President Trump and Haley, have tried to walk a tightrope on abortion and convince voters they support a moderate position that imposes some restrictions but wont completely ban the procedure.

Trump on Friday voiced support for preserving access to IVF treatments.

Under my leadership, the Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving, healthy American families. We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder! That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every State in America, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

Today, I am calling on the Alabama Legislature to act quickly to find an immediate solution to preserve the availability of IVF in Alabama, he added.

Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) in January introduced legislation to provide a federal right to IVF. No Republicans have signed on to the Senate version.

The House bill initially had one GOP co-sponsor, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.). After publication of this story, a spokesman for Rep. Paulina Luna said she was added as a co-sponsor to the House IVF protection bill without her permission, and intends to remove her name as soon as possible.

Eric Johnston, president of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition and author of several of the states anti-abortion bills, said the state high court decision highlights the need for more regulation on IVF in Alabama.

I think IVF has a place in medicine. I think its a good thing. It helps couples who cant have children otherwise, he said.

This story was updated at 10:32 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Russian forces attacked Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with cruise missiles and drones on Feb. 25, injuring at least four people, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

The victims included two men aged 41 and 49, and two women aged 20 and 60. According to Lysak, the individuals are all currently being hospitalized.

The attack damaged 10 private homes buildings and several cars in the residential area of the city. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov reported that at least two people were injured there.

Lysak said air defense downed three cruise missiles and three Russian drones over the city. He later added that two drones were shot down over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

At around 11 p.m. local time, Ukraines Air Force reported the threat of a ballistic missile attack on the Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, and Sumy oblasts.

Kharkiv authorities also reported explosions in the city at around 11 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers, 180,000 Russians killed in war, says Zelensky

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Russian forces attacked the village of Tiahynka in Kherson Oblast, killing two people, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin on Feb. 25.

A 44-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman were killed by Russian shelling in the courtyard of their home, Prokudin wrote on Telegram.

Over the past day, Russian attacks across Kherson Oblast targeted a number of settlements, damaging two apartment buildings and seven residential houses, Prokudin reported earlier in the day.

An educational institution, administrative buildings, and a critical infrastructure object were hit in Kherson, the governor added.

Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other regional settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River 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.

Read also: Russian attacks in Donetsk, Kherson oblasts kill 2, injure 21

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Park Han-sol

Visitors going to the upcoming 60th edition of the Venice Biennale, the worlds longest-running and most prestigious survey of contemporary art, will get a chance to go on a scent odyssey to Korea inside a cylindrical steel building that houses the Korean Pavilion.

Odorama Cities, co-curated by Jacob Fabricius and Lee Seol-hui, is anchored in renowned artist Koo Jeong-as pieces that emit or visually reimagine aromas representing various scent memories associated with Korea  from the fragrant smell of apple blossoms in North Korea during the 1920s to the fishy odor of the Han River in the 1980s.

Koo has garnered acclaim for presenting site-specific works that reimagine architectural spaces, evoking subjective memories through intangible elements like scent, sound, and temperature.

For the project, the artist and exhibition team amassed a repository of over 600 memories from a diverse array of individuals during June to September of last year. This inclusive gathering encompassed ethnic Koreans worldwide, Korean adoptees, North Korean defectors, and foreigners who have journeyed to the country.

The team then collaborated with a local fragrance label, Nonfiction, to turn the private stories they gathered into 17 distinct smells, which will permeate the pavilion throughout the Biennale.

Koo and the two curators noted how they wanted to create a personalized and poetic portrait of Korea that transcends geographical boundaries through these olfactory elements during a press conference at the ARKO Art Center in central Seoul, Wednesday.

Scent is a very powerful (form of) expression. Its not visible with the eyes and its not something you listen to, said Fabricius, the director of Art Hub Copenhagen who is also the first foreign curator appointed to lead the Korean Pavilion. But its something that you cant avoid, because you cant avoid breathing the air that surrounds us.

During the Biennale, the different aromas are set to interact with Koos physical installations inside the building  a lifesize bronze sculpture that functions as a gigantic scent diffuser, an infinity symbol engraved on the floor and two floating wooden pieces in the shape of a Mobius strip.

According to the Danish curator, the pavilions emphasis on scent, which travels without being constrained by boundaries or borders and freely encounters strangers anywhere, aligns with the theme of the Venice Biennales flagship International Art Exhibition, Foreigners Everywhere.

The Venice Biennale will return to Italys floating city on April 20 and run through Nov. 24. As in previous editions, this years biennial is twofold: the main International Art Exhibition, curated by Brazilian artistic director Adriano Pedrosa, and 90 national pavilion shows organized by their respective home countries.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Saturday that he thinks there will be a correction of the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are people, which has caused health centers across the state to pause in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Were for keeping these clinics open. You know, there will be a correction of the Alabama ruling by the state legislature in Alabama, the Governor has come out, Graham said in an interview with Fox News. But, we want to keep these clinics open.

The Alabama Supreme Court decision is the first time a court has given rights and protections to an embryo so early after conception. The ruling found that embryos and fertilized eggs are children under the Alabama Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, even if they have yet to be implanted in a uterus.

Experts say the new standard may make IVF much more expensive and inaccessible but it does not make it illegal.

Graham, like many Republicans in recent days, has come out in support of IVF and fertility treatments. During the interview, he said IVF clinics enhance the joy of having a child.

While only limited to the state of Alabama, the ruling has potential to become far-reaching and may open the door to more battles over reproductive rights nearly two years after Roe v. Wade  which guaranteed a federal right to abortion  was overturned.

The South Carolina senator criticized Democrats who have said the ruling is linked to abortion rights. He said the reason they bring up abortion is because they cant talk about anything else.

If they cant scare the hell out of you about us, theyre going to lose, he said, referencing the voter turnout numbers in 2022 after Roe was overturned.

He continued, arguing that this is not going to be a referendum over a fertility clinic.

Graham said Republicans are gonna support birth control and the GOP is going to keep these fertility clinics open.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) urged its candidates to voice support for IVF after the ruling. The NRSC also pushed GOP candidates to support the fertility treatment and reject efforts to restrict IVF because the decision allows Democrats to manipulate the abortion issue for electoral gain.

Former President Trump, whom Graham said gave a very good answer, voiced his support Friday for preserving access IVF treatments. He that vowed under his leadership, the GOP would make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) lauded his fellow Palmetto State senator, Tim Scott, claiming he would be a great running mate for President Trump in November because theres some chemistry there.

Theres some chemistry there. Ive been around them both, Graham said Saturday in an interview with Fox News. He likes him. Tim really is leaning into helping President Trump become president.

Scott, who suspended his own White House bid in November, formally endorsed Trump last month and has been a staple on the campaign trail supporting the former president ever since. Many Haley allies questioned the decision, as Trumps only remaining rival was the one to put the senator in his current role.

Graham argued Saturday that Scott is the right choice because he is ready to be president, which he called the most important thing for the vice president.

In a town hall event in Greenville, S.C., this week, Trump confirmed a set of names for his shortlist for vice president candidates.

The list included Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), South Dakota Gov. Kristie Neom (R) and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who served in Congress as a Democrat but has since shifted to more conservative views.

Trump said all of the candidates were solid.

I hope hell pick him. I know hes got a lot of good choices, President Trump, but you couldnt do any better than Tim Scott, Graham told Fox News. Hes solid in every way from a conservative point of view.

I think hed help grow the Party and hes genuinely a nice man, he continued. So, the country would be in good hands if Tim Scott were the vice president.

After endorsing Trump, Scott signaled that he was open to serving beside Trump.

The former president lavished praise on the South Carolina senator Friday, saying the senator is a much better representative for me than he is for himself.

Hes the greatest surrogate Ive ever seen, Trump said during a rally in Rock Hill, S.C.

This guy went from modest, high-quality man, introducing his mother  whos incredible, by the way.  Hes a much better representative for me than he is a representative for himself, Trump continued. And its true. And thats a great compliment. And you know why? Because hes a high-quality person. He doesnt like talking about himself.

His comments came just a day before Palmetto State voters took to the polls in South Carolinas GOP primary.

Graham noted that he will see both Trump and Scott Saturday evening, as the former president faces off against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the states primary.

Trump is currently leading Haley by 30 points  63.8 percent to 33.1 percent  in South Carolina, according to the polling index from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Leaders from the Greater Lafayette community gathered Thursday to discuss growth and future plans.

The event was hosted by the Greater Lafayette Commerce and moderated by Purdue University President Mung Chiang and included Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter and Tippecanoe County Commissioners President Tom Murtaugh.

The goal of the event was to highlight the Greater Lafayette communitys willingness to work together to ensure that the greater goal of achieving sustainable growth is something that each individual community could experience together.

You hear a lot about government collaboration, and we really do work together in so many ways. Whether it is economic development, law enforcement and even little things that most people dont know about like joint purchasing boards, Roswarski said.

Purdue President Mung Chiang speaks during the 2024 Quarterly Development Series: State of the Cities and County, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds in Lafayette, Ind.

But we as a community in general, when you look at the business community, when you look at education, we all work together here and all support each other in ways that allow us, the elected officials to also be able to work together at a higher level.

Chiang commented on Purdue University's appreciation of Greater Lafayettes unique partnership among the three municipalities and how their partnership makes this county one of the nations most attractive and competitive regions to invest in.

The town-gown relationship that we enjoy here is something very special. Ive heard horror stories of universities and their neighborhoods not getting along, pretty much everywhere else, Chiang said.

This (relationship) is something very special that we treasure tremendously. And I personally over the past year and a month into this new year, have enjoyed working with all of you. Weve been winning. Weve been winning a lot right here in our home here in Greater Lafayette.

Each of the community leaders reaffirmed Chiangs statement about the Greater Lafayette community, noting that it is the collective goal of the three municipalities to make the county as attractive to investors and people as possible, in order to continue growing as a community and as an economic force in Indiana.

It is a reality from what Mung said, even in a larger scale. As a community or as a state, youre either growing or youre regressing. There is no just staying the same and treading water, Roswarski said.

That doesnt exist in a global economy, with the speed of development and the speed of AI.

Purdue President Mung Chiang, West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter, Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and President of the Tippecanoe County Commissioners Tom Murtaugh sit in on a panel during the 2024 Quarterly Development Series: State of the Cities and County, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds in Lafayette, Ind.

To address this growing interest in the Greater Lafayette community, Chiang highlighted the community's need to address the housing crisis of the area, the need for updated transportation, and improved access to health care and childcare.

Before addressing the countys housing crisis, Murtaugh elaborated on the countys need to invest first and foremost in the regions infrastructure. There are portions of the county that could be a prime location to develop new housing, but before that can happen, the county needs to invest in basic infrastructure for said area.

The Yeager Road expansion project that just wrapped up this year and that was a partnership with West Lafayette, but that project opened up a significant amount of acreage for residential development, he said.

President of the Tippecanoe County Commissioners Tom Murtaugh speaks during the 2024 Quarterly Development Series: State of the Cities and County, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds in Lafayette, Ind.

That was very very important for housing that is certainly a struggle that we have as a growing community.

Roswarski and Easter emphasized Murtaughs point of the need for smart planning as they elaborated on infrastructure projects scheduled in the upcoming years in Lafayette and West Lafayette.

Lafayette is in the process of investing over $40 million into new city infrastructure in regions of the city that it plans to develop for housing and commercial use in the near future. Roswarski expects to have around 4,000 acres of land primed for development.

In West Lafayette, Easter shared that the city is currently conducting a housing study of the region, in response to the growing desire for housing in the city from both prospective residents and Purdue University students.

Leadership in West Lafayette wants to ensure that they know what type of housing would be best to develop in order to optimize the limited space within the city. As well as develop childcare services to address the growing population of young professionals.

We really have to find that balance of providing enough services within our community, Easter said.

West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter and Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski sit in on a panel during the 2024 Quarterly Development Series: State of the Cities and County, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds in Lafayette, Ind.

Easter also noted that the City of West Lafayette will focus on developing its downtown area over the next few years.

We do not have a lot of land in the City of West Lafayette, so the land that we do have we need to use wisely, Easter said.

As we look at our downtown area or lack of downtown area, we have a beautiful downtown in West Lafayette. We have this awesome active Chauncey Hill area and in between the two, we have an area that is not pedestrian scale or pedestrian friendly.

So, focusing between the river and River Road, and redeveloping those areas for housing, for restaurants and retail opportunities, more office spaces and really specifically for housing that does not necessarily service students. But housing that will service the rest of our population.

Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at Npadilla@jconline.com and follow him on X at 1NoePadilla.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Greater Lafayette leaders discuss the sustainable growth of the region
A growing number of major Oklahoma school districts are publicly lining up behind Edmond Public Schools in that districts lawsuit against state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the state Board of Education.

The battle is over who should choose the books in school libraries -- state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and the State Department of Education? Or local school districts with elected school boards?

State school Superintendent Ryan Walters looks over material at the February meeting of the Oklahoma state school board, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024.

The latest district to side with Edmond was one of the states largest districts  Oklahoma City Public Schools. On Saturday night, OKCPS Superintendent Sean McDaniel issued a statement of support, following similar actions by superintendents of the Deer Creek Public Schools and the Mid-Del Public Schools.

OKCPS supports the right of Edmond Public Schools or any other school district to challenge actions that they believe do not serve the best interests of their students and community, McDaniel said. Districts have school board members, who are elected by their constituents, to establish the policies that best fit the needs of their respective community. Communities deserve to have local issues addressed at the local level.

Asked to comment Sunday about other districts supporting Edmond, Walters issued the following statement:

"Edmond Public Schools has determined, once again, that parents don't matter," he said. "They've forgotten their responsibility is to our kids, not the radical teachers' unions. This is a school district that's declared itself better than parents. Other school districts should be careful and not follow EPS's path because if this rule is overturned, then 'Flamer,' 'Gender Queer' and many other books go right back on the shelves."

The Edmond district sued Walters, the agency and state board last Tuesday after the OSDE threatened to diminish the districts accreditation in a dispute over the presence of two books in the libraries of the districts three high schools. As McDaniel did, Edmond district officials have cast the issue as one of local control, saying its elected board of education, not Walters or the governor-appointed state Board of Education, should have the final say about what books are in its libraries.

The district asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court to decide and the court has set a March 5 hearing before a court referee. That hearing is to determine if the court will grant an emergency request by the Edmond district for a stay of proceedings. The hearing won't affect the merits of the case. It's unclear when the court might make a decision.

The court has told Walters, the OSDE and the state board to respond to the district's application for a stay of proceedings before the board by March 1. It also gave the three defendants until March 15 to respond to the district's application for the Supreme Court to assume original jurisdiction in the case and the district's request for declaratory and injunctive relief.

Walters says his election gives him authority over school libraries

Walters said Thursday the fact he was elected to his office in a statewide election essentially gives him authority to force districts to bend to his will over the issue. Hes also, on multiple occasions, accused the Edmond district of supporting an effort to keep pornography in schools. Edmond Superintendent Angela Grunewald has forcefully denied that claim.

Other districts that have displeased Walters since he took office in January 2023, including Tulsa Public Schools and Western Heights Public Schools, have had their accreditation threatened and been subjected to punitive measures.

After effectively forcing the resignation of Tulsa Superintendent Deborah Gist in August, for several months, Walters has required new district Superintendent Ebony Johnson and officials from Tulsa  the states largest brick-and-mortar school district  to travel to Oklahoma City monthly to make detailed presentations to the state board. All that time hes held the potential of diminished accreditation over their heads, warning them, Do not test me. Leaders of other districts, seeing how Walters has treated Tulsa, have mostly chosen to remain silent publicly, so as to not draw Walters ire.

Thus, its unusual to see multiple districts take a public stand against the state superintendent.

After Edmond district files lawsuit, others offer messages of support of local-control principle

Edmond chose to challenge Walters after it received a letter last month signed by OSDEs general counsel, Bryan Cleveland. His letter said two books, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, had been reviewed by the agencys Library Media Advisory Committee and deemed unfit for a school library. Cleveland's letter said nothing about the two books Walters mentioned in his comment for this story.

The only publicly identified member of that committee is Chaya Raichik, an out-of-state woman behind the conservative Libs of TikTok social media account. OSDE officials have steadfastly refused to reveal the names of other board members.

One day after the Edmond district filed the lawsuit seeking to prevent Walters and the state board from taking action on its accreditation and questioning the legality of the boards rulemaking procedures, its neighbor, Deer Creek Public Schools, issued a public statement of support.

Every public school district in our state has a duly elected board of education, chosen by the patrons of their respective communities, to represent the interests and values of those they serve, Deer Creek Superintendent Jason Perez said. This level of local control is a right belonging to public school parents in Oklahoma and should not be undermined by any agency at the state level.

We stand with Edmond Public Schools and encourage other boards, superintendents, teachers, parents and students to support their efforts. Our communities deserve local control and our school districts need the first opportunity to address issues as they arise.

On Friday, Mid-Del Public Schools  which serves Del City and Midwest City in eastern Oklahoma County  followed suit with a statement from Superintendent Rick Cobb.

This is a battle that should matter to every school district and every individual who cares about public education, Cobb said. This is a battle against overreach by the state. This is a battle for local control. Every public school in our state has an elected board of education that is chosen by the voters in their communities. They serve conscientiously to represent the interests and values of their patrons. This representation is foundational to our education system and is a cornerstone of our society.

In Mid-Del, we have policies and procedures in place that cover the instructional materials and challenges to them by patrons. We take this responsibility seriously. We also believe that keeping our patrons trust is our job, not the State Department of Educations.

Cobb already has tangled with Walters and is one of the few district superintendents who has publicly criticized him. During a state Board of Education meeting on Jan. 25, Cobb lectured Walters about accusations Walters made during a state Senate budget hearing, during which Walters alleged the district misspent more than $500,000 of federal funds on lawn care that is expressly prohibited in federal rules and regulations.

Cobb said under federal guidance, the use of those funds included 20 separate categories listing what was allowable. He said Mid-Del spent the money under one of those categories that allowed the district to do so for other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services  and continuing to employ existing staff.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: School districts are supporting Edmond in lawsuit against Ryan Walters
Nikki Haley was all smiles as she graciously accepted defeat in the South Carolina primary on Saturday night and refused to back down from the plate.

She congratulated Donald Trump on his projected win, but said she will not drop out of the race because she has a duty to keep fighting.

I want to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory and I want to thank the people of South Carolina for using the power of your voice. No matter the results, I love the people of our state, she said in her concession speech, noting that she feels blessed even despite her loss.

She went on to explain what she feels is at stake in the upcoming election, saying she couldnt be more worried about America. It seems like our country is falling apart. But heres the thing: America will come apart if we make the wrong choices. This has never been about me or my political future. We need to beat Joe Biden in November. I dont believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden. Nearly every day, Trump drives people away, she said.

I said that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue running for president. Im a woman of my word, she said to applause. In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate, Haley said.

Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.  Today is not the end of our story. Were headed to Michigan tomorrow, she said.

Haley had previously vowed to stay in the race until at least Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states and one territory will hold primaries for the 2024 presidential election.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Nikki Haley on Saturday lost the Republican primary in her home state of South Carolina to Donald Trump, a not unexpected but still embarrassing blow to the former governor in her effort to be seen as a viable alternative to the former president.

The Associated Press called the race within moments of polls closing. Hours later, with more than 90% of the vote counted, Trump had 60% and Haley had 39%.

Haley had been trailing far behind Trump in polls of the state for months, and set expectations appropriately, giving a speech last week in which she said shed stay in the race regardless of the outcome in South Carolina, and telling NPR that shed at least stick it out through Super Tuesday, on March 5.

Right now, the furthest weve thought is we certainly are going to go past South Carolina, go into Michigan and go into Super Tuesday states, she said. I havent actually sat down and thought about what comes after that.

Haley reiterated that commitment in a speech Saturday. Today is not the end of our story, she said.

There was some minimal degree of suspense heading into Saturday. South Carolina is an open primary, and there was speculation about the extent to which Democrats in the state would be willing to lend Haley a hand. Preliminary exit poll results, however, suggested that few Democrats had crossed over to vote for either candidate.

Saturdays results affirm again a reality that has loomed over much of 2024: that the general election will almost certainly be a rematch of 2020, between a former president who sought to stay in office even after he was defeated and the current president who defeated him. No presidential candidate has lost their home state and gone on to win the nomination in the modern era.

Underscoring that historic rematch, Trump spent Saturday not in South Carolina but at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, where he labeled the January 6 rioters who aided his coup attempt as hostages, and issued apocalyptic warnings to his political enemies.

For hard-working Americans, Nov. 5 will be our new Liberation Day, Trump said. But for the liars, and cheaters, and fraudsters, and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government, it will be their Judgment Day. If he Biden serves another term, he warned, America would face obliteration. He did not mention Haley.

In a primary election straw poll of CPAC attendees, Trump received 94 percent of the vote. Haley received 5.

With polls looking similarly grim for Haley in Michigan, its becoming increasingly hard for the press to ignore the reality that her candidacy will need an assist beyond what voters are willing to deliver: a criminal conviction for Trump, a ruling from the Supreme Court disqualifying him, or some kind of health emergency that prevents him from continuing to the nomination, leaving Haley as the one who is available. If any of those things should come to pass, theres no guarantee shed be the nominee  but being the one still running might put her near the front of the line.
GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley pressed former President Trump once again to agree to a debate, as she cast her ballot in her home states primary.

I think its great for the Republican Party to have this competition, she said in an interview clip in South Carolina, highlighted by Mediaite. The only thing thats lacking in this, is Donald Trump getting on a debate stage. He should get on a debate stage.

Her comments came just before Trump was projected to handily win the Palmetto States GOP primary, according to an exit poll conducted by The Hills partner Decision Desk HQ.

Despite her lack of wins this election cycle, the former South Carolina governor has vowed to stay in the race until Super Tuesday. Before the polls closed Saturday, Haley pledged to continue on.

South Carolina will vote on Saturday, but on Sunday I will still be running for president, she said earlier this week.

Trump has not attended any Republican primary debates  whether sanctioned by the Republican National Committee (RNC) or unsanctioned  citing his overwhelming lead in the polls.

Haley has continuously pressed the former president to agree to debate, once calling on him to bring it and show her what you got.

During a town hall with Fox Newss Laura Ingraham earlier this week, Trump said he only sees it as an obligation to attend general election debates. The former president, who is gearing up for a rematch against President Biden, added hed be willing to do as many as necessary after winning the nomination.

Haley predicted Friday that even if Trump wins the RNCs nomination, he will not win beat Biden.

Donald Trump will not win the general election, Haley said on CNNs The Lead during an interview with anchor Jake Tapper. You can have him win any primary you want  he will not win a general election.

We will have a female president of the United States; it will either be me or it will be [Vice President] Harris, she added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Half of the weapons and munitions supplied by Ukraines partners do not arrive in Ukraine on time, Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has said.

Source: Umierov during the Ukraine.Year 2024 conference

Details: "Allocation [of aid] does not necessarily mean delivery. Fifty percent [of military aid] does not arrive on time," Umierov said.

He added that these delays mean losses of personnel and territory for Ukraine.

"Allies are supposed to deliver aid on time during this war We have a plan. Were working to execute the plan. Were doing everything possible  and impossible. But we struggle without timely supplies," the Ukrainian defence minister said.

Umierov stressed that never before in human history has a country been able to resist for so long without air superiority. Not only that: Ukraine has driven the Russians out of the north and the Black Sea even without air superiority.

Umierov also urged people to pay attention to the mathematics of war: "Were looking at our enemy, their economy is worth about [US$]2 trillion and theyre spending up to 15% of their budget on the war effort  that's over US$150 billion."

Background:

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was optimistic about a possible supply of long-range weaponry, specifically ATACMS missiles, after recent talks with Ukraines Western partners.

The Ukrainian president also reiterated that Ukraine has told the US that it needs to approve its aid package for Ukraine next month, and the US Congress is well aware of that.

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Ukraine will continue to strike at Russian targets in temporarily occupied Crimea, HUR head Kyrylo Budanov hinted in a Telegram post on Feb. 25.

"New surprises await the enemies, and I would not recommend civilians to use the so-called Crimean bridge," Budanov said.

The intelligence officer reminded that Russia's war against Ukraine began not two, but ten years ago, starting with the occupation of Crimea.

Read also: Satellite photos show Russian occupiers are sinking ferries to protect Crimean bridge

"However, neither the Ukrainian state nor the Ukrainians agreed to recognize the aggressor's right to the Crimean land, he added.



And the resistance of the local Ukrainian population against the occupiers did not subside for a moment, despite the repressions."

He noted that for both defensive and offensive operations, Ukraine must control the Black Sea and be present in Crimea.

According to him, Russia lost a quarter of its ships and was forced to withdraw its fleet to the Caucasus coast and redeploy its aviation, as Crimea's airfields and military facilities are constantly under Ukrainian fire.

Read also: Russian Colonel sentenced to six years for failure to protect Crimean Bridge

He also thanked the Crimean residents who monitor the operational situation on the peninsula and pass on information to Ukraine.

"We promised that in 2023 Ukrainian special forces would be in Crimea, and we have fulfilled this promise," Budanov summarized.

What is known about the SBU attacks on the Crimean bridge

On Oct. 8, 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine attacked the Crimean Bridge for the first time  after a truck explosion, two half-sections of the road part of the bridge collapsed, and the railroad tracks were also damaged.

On Oct. 12, 2022, the Kremlin regime accused Kyrylo Budanov of organizing the sabotage. For its part, the HUR denied these statements, calling them "nonsense."

On May 5, 2023, the Russian Federation announced that it had completely restored the destroyed part of the bridge. On July 8, 2023, then-Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar confirmed that Ukraine was behind the explosion on the bridge.

On July 17, 2023, the SBU attacked the Crimean Bridge again, using Sea Baby drones. Deputy Prime Minister of the aggressor country, Russia, Marat Khusnullin, admitted that one span of the road part of the Crimean bridge could not be restored.

Read also: Behind the scenes: How Ukraine's SBU executed the Crimean Bridge attack

After Ukraine's successful attacks, the Russian occupiers additionally surrounded the Crimean bridge with "special anti-sabotage barriers" that can allegedly protect the structure from surface and underwater drones.

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
By Lee Yeon-woo

Investors are amassing funds to jump into the local stock market ahead of the government's unveiling of the much-anticipated Corporate Value-up program, which is designed to tackle the decades-long Korea discount, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association, Sunday.

The total funds entrusted by investors to brokerage firm accounts for stock trading reached 53.63 trillion won ($40.2 billion) as of Thursday. This marks an increase of approximately 3 trillion won compared to a month ago, according to the association.

In addition, investors borrowed 18.38 trillion won from securities firms for stock investments as of Thursday, indicating a rise from 17.8 trillion won at the end of January. Notably, the amount surged to 9.85 trillion won in the benchmark KOSPI market, marking its highest level in over four months since last October.

Such movements indicate heightened anticipation among investors as the government is set to announce the program details on Monday, after a month of consideration.

In January, the government declared the adoption of this policy, aimed at enhancing the value of domestic corporations to address their undervaluation in stock markets, often referred to as the Korea discount.

If the content aligns with market expectations, there is a chance that the recent market rally, focused on stocks with low price-to-book ratios (PBR), will continue to expand. A PBR below 1 suggests that the firm's stock price is undervalued.

There are 534 stocks with a PBR of less than 1 in the KOSPI and 575 in the secondary Kosdaq market, as of Friday.

Already, foreign and institutional investors have swiftly increased their holdings of "undervalued" stocks, such as Hyundai Motor, with each purchasing 583.6 billion won and 538.8 billion won worth in February.

Additionally, on Friday, the final trading day preceding the government's announcement, financial stocks reached a consecutive 52-week high on the KOSPI.

"As the program benchmarks Japan's highly specific policies for enhancing corporate value, the possibility of it being unrealistic is greatly reduced," SK Securities analyst Kang Jae-hyun said. "It is anticipated that this policy will serve as a catalyst for more companies to take action for value enhancement in the medium to long term."

However, some market observers caution that a correction phase may follow the announcement, given the sharp rise beforehand.

"Considering the substantial surge already seen in related stocks, unless the content of the program exceeds investors' expectations to an astonishing degree, it is likely that the low PBR stocks will undergo a period of profit-taking due to overheating in the short term," Daishin Securities analyst Lee Kyoung-min said.

Lee predicts that the KOSPI will undergo a transition from low PBR stocks to export-oriented and growth stocks after February, suggesting its target level at 2,750.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KFOR)  A bill to create a new hemp task force has moved one step closer to passing into law at the State Capitol. The Oklahoma Industrial Hemp Task Force, outlined in Senate Bill 1422, would be made up of seven members. It would provide lawmakers and the Governor with information on the impacts of hemp production and processing of industrial hemp in the state.

Senator Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, introduced the bill. He said hemp can be used in concrete, batteries, and can even be used to generate electricity, which could lead to a booming industry in the state.

its a very substantial product that we can grow, said Pederson. We dont have to go mine it somewhere and industrial hemp has a lot of uses. Hopefully this task force will kind of carve out a niche that separates it from marijuana.

The task force would be made up of seven members; one appointed by the Governor, one appointed by the Pro Tem, one appointed by the House Speaker, two from university agriculture programs, one from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and one from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

The members have until December 24, 2026 to present a report to lawmakers on if industrial hemp would be a successful program for the state as well as what regulations the industry should follow.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Hendersonville police responded to the sound of gunshots at 80 Brittany Estates Circle at 7:09 a.m. Feb. 23, 2024. Officers determined off-duty sheriffs deputy Joshua Rankin fired at a person who was standing beside a parked patrol car. Rankin was fired, arrested and charged by the N.C. SBI with a felony.

The mother and father of a 25-year-old man who was shot Feb. 23 by an off-duty and now-fired Henderson County Sheriff's Office deputy are furious and demanding answers as to why de-escalation tactics were not used before their son  who they say has obvious disabilities  was shot.

Hendersonville police identified the shooter in a news statement as Joshua Rankin, 24, who was an off-duty sheriff's deputy. Rankin lives with his wife in the Brittany Place Apartments off U.S. 64 East in Hendersonville where the shooting occurred.

Police say Rankin shot two rounds at Matthew Browning using his personal firearm, hitting Browning in his right arm as he stood by Rankin's parked patrol car just before sunrise. Browning also lives at the apartments with his mother, Mandy Moll, and other family members. His father, Zachary Browning, lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Moll, who is divorced from Zachary Browning, told the Citizen Times on Feb. 24 that her son is on the low-functioning end of the autism spectrum and is verbal but uses very repetitive speech. She said she left at about 6:30 a.m. to take her younger daughter to school and shortly after, her husband called to tell her to quickly come back home.

"(Rankin) was standing on his third-floor balcony and he was shooting at my son," Moll said she was told by eyewitnesses.

"He didn't even approach (Matthew) so he didn't know what kind of mental state he was actually in. If you would have approached him you would have automatically been like, 'Oh, wait a minute, there's something wrong here.' But it just seemed like he just saw my son next to his car and he just went ahead and fired shots."

Moll said her son sometimes has "outbursts" or "episodes" in which he bangs his head on objects.

Police investigate the scene at Brittany Place Apartment Homes in Hendersonville, February 23, 2024, after an off-duty Henderson County Sheriffs deputy shot a 25-year-old man with his personal firearm.

She said her son was taken to Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, treated for non-life-threatening injuries and returned home to Brittany Place the same day.

Moll said Rankin lives on the third floor of the building across from hers, but his patrol car was parked next to her building, so she said that it appeared he was shooting across the parking lot.

Hendersonville city spokesperson Allison Justus referred questions about the shots to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which has taken over the case. Messages left with the SBI on Feb. 24 were not immediately returned.

Hendersonville police responded to the 911 calls of gunshots at 80 Brittany Estates Circle at 7:09 a.m. Feb. 23, and determined an off-duty sheriffs deputy fired at a person who was standing beside a parked patrol car, according to previous Times-News reporting.

Following the shooting, Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin announced on Facebook that Rankin had been fired from the sheriff's office.

Later in the day, the SBI charged Rankin with felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury, according to a Feb. 23 news statement from the city of Hendersonville.

More: SBI: Henderson County sheriff deputy arrested, charged with felony in off-duty shooting

Matthew Browning, seen here in a photo provided by his family, was shot in the arm Feb. 23 outside his home in Hendersonville by off-duty and now-fired Henderson County Sheriff's Office deputy Joshua Rankin, who has been charged by the N.C. SBI with felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury.

The Hendersonville Police Department served the warrant and took Rankin into custody. He was released on a $20,000 bond. His first court appearance is Feb. 26 in Henderson County, according to an online N.C. Courts database.

Messages left on Feb. 23 and 24 on a phone number attached to Rankin's name were not returned.

"What scares me the most is it's not just my son, but at that time other children in the complex were walking to the bus stop," Moll said. "So (Rankin) clearly wasn't thinking about what his actions would actually do."

911 recordings show Rankin called after firing

The 911 recordings from the morning of the shooting, obtained by the Citizen Times and Hendersonville Times-News on Feb. 24, show that six people called in to report shots fired. The first caller said they heard two gunshots and people yelling loudly in the parking lot of Brittany Place Apartments.

A second caller said they heard two gunshots and two people "talking loudly" and "yelling 'Step away from the car.'"

More: Update: Henderson County sheriff deputy involved in shooting has been fired

A third 911 caller said: "I have an individual attempting to break into my patrol car."

The 911 operator asked for the address. The caller, whose name was redacted from the recordings, said "80 Brittany Estates Circle."

The operator asked if the call was also involving gunshots.

The caller said: "Yes, ma'am. I have just fired shots."

The operator asked, "You fired shots?"

He answered, "Yes, ma'am."

The operator later asked if anyone was injured and the caller said "no." She then asked the caller if they had a suspect, to which they replied, "No, he ran off."

A fourth 911 caller was answered by the Hendersonville Police Department. The caller said "I was calling to report someone trying to break into my husband's patrol car, but I believe my husband is actually on the pone with you guys right now." Later the caller said, "My husband is Deputy Joshua Rankin with Henderson County."

An off-duty Henderson County Sheriff's Office deputy shot a 25-year-old man with his personal firearm at Brittany Place Apartment Homes in Hendersonville in the early morning hours of Feb. 23. The deputy, Joshua Rankin, has been fired.

Parents call for justice

Zachary Browning told the Citizen Times on Feb. 24 he thought it unbelievable that a law enforcement officer would have shot at someone from a balcony or would not have called for help before shooting.

"He didn't say anything. He didn't walk down there to try to talk to somebody, didn't call his cop buddies or nothing. He just pulls out and starts blasting," Browning said of Rankin.

According to his personnel file obtained by the Hendersonville Times-News and the Asheville Citizen Times, Rankin had been a patrol deputy with the sheriff's office for only eight months. He started working for the Henderson County Sheriff's Office in July 2021 as a detention officer trainee and was transferred to patrol deputy in June 2023. On his separation date of Feb. 23, his salary was $24.39 per hour.

Hendersonville shooting: Asheville mother says her arrest as son died in fatal shooting was 'inhumane'

"This dude was aiming to kill. If he'd have been a couple inches to the left or right, that would've been a lung shot," Browning said of Rankin shooting at his son. "I don't think people realize, on your body, I mean even a quarter of an inch can mean a vital organ getting hit."

Zachary Browning said he is glad that Rankin has been charged with a felony, but believes he should be charged with attempted murder and with reckless discharge of a firearm.

"What he did was reprehensible. It's just staggering to me the lack of thought involved in that," Browning said. "I don't want him to ever be able to own a weapon again. I don't want him to ever work in law enforcement again."

Moll said she is happy that charges were brought but said she finds it scary that Rankin is out of jail on bond. As of the afternoon of Feb. 24, she said she was in the process of trying to secure court-ordered protection for her son. She said while Matthew is physically OK, he is "agitated more than usual" after the traumatic event.

"What's scary about it, you don't just open fire in a residential area and especially not understanding the situation," Moll said of Rankin. "I just really want to make sure that he cannot handle a firearm ever again."

More: Fletcher man's death after being tasered, punched, restrained by police not a crime: DA

More: Partial bodycam footage of Henderson County deputy fatal foster dog shooting released

More: Henderson County woman sues sheriff's office, deputies for civil rights violations

Karen Chavez is the Executive Editor of the Asheville Citizen Times and Hendersonville Times-News, both part of the USA TODAY Network. Tips, comments, questions? Call 828-236-8980, email, KChavez@CitizenTimes.com or follow on Twitter @KarenChavezACT.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Fired Henderson deputy shot from 3rd floor, victim's parents say
Once a mainstay of homes, businesses, and phone booths everywhere, the phone book has (mostly) gone the way of the dodo.

Spokeo examined historical documents, news reports, and other sources to chronicle the American phone books fascinating history.

Before search engines, GPS, and social media, people used phone books for phone numbers and addresses of local people and businesses. One of the earliest forms of data collection and public access, phone companies published the booksWhite Pages for residential and Yellow Pages for businessby city or district, including all phone company customers. Users had to pay a fee to remain unlisted.

 Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts 

Ushering in the demise of the phone book are the internet and mobile phones. With phone books being bulky and updated just once yearly, the regularly updated internet proved far more accurate and reliable. Meanwhile, a 2004 law stipulated that cell phone numbers may not be included in phone directories. That left just landlines in the directories, which quickly rendered them largely obsolete as more than 7 in 10 adults were wireless-only by the end of 2022, according to National Center for Health Statistics survey data. Most phone companies stopped dropping the directories on doorsteps in the 2010s, although White Pages and Yellow Pages are available online.

Keep reading to learn more about the history of American phone books and where you can still access them today.

American Telephone Exchange with Operators posing for a photograph.

George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images

1878: First phone directory printed in Connecticut

Telegraph manager George Coy of New Haven, Connecticut, developed an exchangethe system that allows people to call each otherwithin a year of attending Alexander Graham Bells demonstration of a new invention called the telephone. The worlds first telephone exchange took place on Jan. 28, 1878.

Three weeks later, Coy published a list of New Havens 50 phone subscribers (names of people and businesses only, as phone numbers didnt yet exist): the first-ever phone directory. The list swelled to more than 400 names by November of that year, necessitating a booklet with phone usage instructions, essays on phone technology, and advertisements.

Switchboard operators pose for a photo.

Kirn Vintage Stock/Corbis via Getty Images

1879: The arrival of telephone numbers

A Christmastime measles outbreak in Lowell, Massachusetts, led to the invention of telephone numbers.

At the time, telephone subscribers had to ask an exchange operator, who had memorized the names of local subscribers, to physically connect the callers line to that of the person being reached. In 1880, two of the four-person operator staff in Lowell contracted measles, leaving telephone company owners in a panic that they would lose business. Dr. Moses Greeley Parker, a company stockholder, suggested using a directory of numbers to identify customers rather than names, and the phone number was born.

A woman makes a telephone call, while her companion points out the number in a directory.

Sasha/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

1883: The Yellow Pages are invented

The business listings directory got its iconic look by accident in 1883 when a Cheyenne, Wyoming, printer ran out of white paper and made do with yellow paper instead. The look stuck; in 1886, Reuben H. Donnelley created what became known as the Yellow Pages for commercial listings.

The localized business directory organized companies by category and also sold ad space. The directories were distributed as standalone volumes as well as companion sections to residential directories (delineated with white pages).

Black rotary dial cradle telephone on telephone number directory book.

H. Armstrong Roberts/Classicstock // Getty Images

1919: Rotary phones are introduced

As telephone use became widespread, call volume threatened to overwhelm the operators facilitating connections. In 1919, AT&T introduced phones with numbers on rotary dials that allowed phone owners to dial each other directly. Over the next several decades, rotary phones gradually phased out manual operations, which led to a reduction in operator jobsan industry dominated by women.

The last city to convert to automated dialing was Avalon, California, in 1978.

Telephone operator looking up address.

Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

1934: Communications Act requires public access to phone directories

The Communications Act of 1934 created the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the telephone, telegraph, and radio industries (and, later, newer technologies such as television and mobile phones). Language included in this act completely changed phone book distribution.

Before the acts passage, telephone companies only printed and published the names and phone numbers of their subscribers. With the new law stipulating that this information be publicly available, competing phone books were published and delivered to peoples doorsteps.

Hand dialing number on a rotary telephone.

Harold M. Lambert // Getty Images

1962: All-digit dialing begins in California

Early phone numbers consisted of a two-letter abbreviated exchange name plus five digits, like Murray Hill 5-9975, Lucy and Ricky Ricardos phone number on I Love Lucy. As phone lines became more popularbetween 1942 and 1962, the number of phones in the U.S. grew 230% to 76 milliontelephone companies realized they would run out of phone numbers.

| Check out more lists and rankings from across Tennessee 

All-number calling was rolled out to replace exchanges with digits and allow for more phone number combinations. To the surprise of phone companies, customers fought creeping numeralism in an attempt to save their beloved exchange prefixes.

In California, where the conversion started, protesters formed the Anti-Digit Dialing League, which sued Pacific Telephone and won a temporary stoppage of the conversion. The California Public Utilities Commission rescinded its stoppage order in 1964, allowing progress to continue.

A stack of books next to a CD-ROM.

Kichigin // Shutterstock

1993: Phone directory becomes available on CD

Before the internet made research easy, databases moved from paper to CD-ROMs. PhoneDisc put the entire countrys phone books onto a set of five CD-ROMs and made it searchable. This eliminated the need to call directory assistance to get a phone number from another city or state and made tracking down phone numbers much faster.

Hand holding phone with White Pages directory open.

URAIWONS // Shutterstock

1996: Telecommunications Act reaffirms public access to directories

Although technology propelled the telecom industry forward, old regulations remained in place for decades until President Bill Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the first major overhaul of the 1934 legislation.

The law was designed to promote more competition and innovation across the communications industry by removing barriers to entry and allowing companies to provide service in any market, which meant regional telephone companies were now allowed to offer long-distance service. But to do so, those companies had to comply with a 14-point checklist laid out in the act. This included an anti-discrimination stipulation for White Pages listings, in that they had to be comparable, no matter which carrier the consumer used.

Homepage of yellowpages.com.

Sharaf Maksumov // Shutterstock

1996: Yellow Pages gets a website

Before the internet, people turned to the Yellow Pages to find a business. But with the directory coming out just once a year, information became quickly outdated as the year went on.

When yellowpages.com went live, local businesses could update information in real-time so customers could always find the correct number to call.

People using cell phones in coffee shop.

REBECCA HALLAS /Fairfax Media via Getty Images

2004: Congress bans wireless telephone directory

Unless you paid to be unlisted, landline numbers were automatically added to phone books. When companies tried to do the same with cell phone numbers, Congress passed an amendment to the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent a mobile phone book.

This was a departure from previous legislation that prioritized free access to information. Privacy protection was one of the main drivers of this ban, as mobile phone users had gone years with no directory and expected mobile numbers to be private. At the time, mobile service was usually charged by the call or minute; the bill aimed to prevent users from receiving unwanted calls and inflated phone bills.

A large pile of San Francisco phone books.

Justin Sullivan // Getty Images

2009: Movement to stop phone book delivery gains steam

Thanks to the 1984 breakup of AT&T, consumers started receiving piles of phone booksupwards of 10 per address in Californiafrom regional companies that all wanted their directories to be the most popular. People quickly tired of receiving so many phone books, particularly when mobile phones were becoming the phone of choicein Ohio alone, about 3 in 5 phone numbers in use were cell phones, according to The Plain Dealer.

Over the next few years, many cities and states enacted legislation to stop the automatic delivery of phone books.

Yellow Pages are still available in their physical form. Some businesses see the physical directory as a viable advertising tool to target those who dont use the internet and who may still rely on print directoriesbetween 20% to 30% of people, according to Thryv, a phone book distributor.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Story editing by Nicole Caldwell and Elena Cox. Copy editing by Paris Close.

This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Aidan Kearney, of Holden, is a blogger known as "Turtleboy."

Holdens Aidan Kearney, the blogger known as Turtleboy, was released from jail Friday, the same day two new indictments were unsealed against him, court records show.

Kearney, who has been held in jail since late December, was released on personal recognizance, court records show, after a hearing in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham.

Kearney is facing criminal prosecution in Norfolk County over allegations he intimidated witnesses during his Turtleboy Daily News blog coverage and protests regarding the controversial murder prosecution of Karen Read.

He had his bail revoked in December after prosecutors allege he intimidated and assaulted a woman hed dated who they said was to act as a witness against him in a grand jury investigation.

His bail hearing following that revocation Friday also served as an arraignment on two new charges against him in Norfolk Superior Court  one count of witness intimidation, and one count of disclosing the contents of a wiretap.

The indictments, which multiple media outlets reported Friday were related to the allegations regarding Kearneys ex-girlfriend, were handed up Thursday by a Norfolk County Grand Jury, court records show.

According to Boston.com, special prosecutor Robert Novack Friday alleged Kearney threatened to destroy the ex-girlfriend, recorded a conversation without her permission, and published an altered version of the recording online.

Novack requested $10,000 cash bail and that Kearney stay away from alleged victims, but Superior Court Judge Debra Squires-Lee ordered him released on personal recognizance, and did not add additional conditions, Boston.com reported.

According to Boston.com, Kearneys lawyer, Timothy Bradl, denied the allegations and argued that restrictions would limit Kearneys First Amendment rights to cover Reads case.

Kearney walked out of the courthouse to a hail of cheers from supporters, television reports show.

Im going to keep obeying the law, and Im going to keep reporting diligently on the Karen Read case until we have justice, Kearney told reporters, according to video posted by WCVB.

Read is slated to go on trial March 12 in Norfolk Superior Court on a second-degree murder charge tied to allegations she struck and killed her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, with her SUV after a night of drinking in Canton.

Kearney has blogged extensively about her case, arguing evidence points to a massive coverup orchestrated after OKeefe was allegedly beaten and attacked by a dog inside the home of another police officer.

He has accused people inside the home of being part of the coverup and traveled to their homes to host protests, preceding the original witness intimidation charges he faces.

Kearney was first to report that federal authorities were looking into the Karen Read case, an unusual step in state murder cases.

Norfolk County prosecutors allege in recent court documents that Kearney was fed information about the federal probe and the case by Read and her lawyers, and that her lawyers unethically and improperly cited to his reporting on that information when making claims prosecutors allege to be false in her defense.

The prosecution asked that, given what they allege to be professional misconduct by her lawyers, Read agree to waive any future motions regarding receiving poor legal advice should she decide to keep her lawyers for trial.

Prosecutors wrote in their memo that reports raising questions about the case  including theories that a dog attack was involved  were investigated and ruled out.

They wrote that lab testing showed no canine DNA associated with the swabs taken from the victims clothing in the area of the victims injuries.

They also said multiple independent forensic examiners will certify that a Google search that has been taken as evidence of a coverup was not performed as early as timestamps suggested.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Holdens Aidan Kearney, Turtleboy, released from jail
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Housing Opportunity Management Enterprises (HOME) celebrated its 86th anniversary last weekend.

Since its founding as the public housing authority for the City of El Paso in 1938, HOME has been a steadfast provider of affordable housing to low-income families, veterans, seniors and individuals with disabilities, according to a news release sent by HOME.

In 2023, HOME broke ground on two major projects:

Ruben Salazar Apartments in South El Paso:

In August, the rehabilitation of the Salazar Apartments went underway.

Salazar is one of HOMEs largest properties, boasting 286 units and has remained vacant for approximately three years.

Its significance is deeply ingrained in the heart of the South El Paso community, as it pays tribute to the renowned El Paso artist, Ruben Salazar.

The property holds immense cultural value, with several murals adorning its walls, hand-painted by previous residents.

In a commitment to preserve the spirit of Salazar, HOME envisions the revival of these murals in collaboration with other talented local artists.

The apartment complex suffered damage in a fire in October 2023. Three apartment buildings were damaged in the fire with one of them collapsing. A mural of the Virgin Mary survived intact.

Kinship Commons community in Clint

In December, HOME began construction of its newest affordable housing community, Kinship Commons  its first in Clint.

Kinship Commons will consist of 44 units, representing an $8 million investment to help provide affordable, vibrant and sustainable communities throughout El Paso County.

In 2024, HOME looks forward to the opening of the all-new Nuestra Senora community, located near Downtown at 415 Montana Ave, according to the press release.

HOME says that Nuestra Senora will help revitalize the area and provide housing to 80 families. The community will also showcase a mosaic of our Lady of Guadalupe created by a local artist.

Fire slows down apartment renovation; mural left intact

We are honored to celebrate 86 years of providing affordable housing to the residents of El Paso. Our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents remains steadfast, and we are dedicated to ensuring they have access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing, said Gerald Cichon, CEO of HOME.

Since 2020, HOME has not only witnessed the inauguration of Patriot Place, a new 110-unit community in Northeast El Paso which gives priority to veterans, the rehabilitation and re-opening of the iconic Blue Flame building as an 18-story mixed-use property with 120 apartments and office space representing a $52 million investment in Downtown, read the press release. HOME also achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first and largest housing authority in the United States to successfully complete the conversion and revitalization of 100 percent of its properties through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. This transformation, amounting to an investment of approximately $2 billion, was achieved with no financial burden on local taxpayers.

For more information about Housing Opportunity Management Enterprise (HOME) visit www.ephome.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Voters in South Carolinas fastest growing county cast more ballots than anywhere else in the state besides Greenville County, according to unofficial results from Saturdays GOP primary contest.

State Election Commission data shows 71,858 ballots were cast in Horry County, trailing only Greenville Countys 94,953.

Overall, former president Donald Trump sailed past his one-time U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, taking 59.7% of the vote to her 39.5%.

Half of South Carolinas 46 counties saw turnout of at least 20%, with McCormick, Oconee and Pickens all topping 30%.

Horry Countys total turnout of 28% nearly equaled figures from 2016, the last time Republicans had a competitive presidential primary in the state.

Statewide turnout was 23.3%, with 756,922 ballots cast.

Georgetown Countys turnout for this years primary was virtually identical to Horry, although far fewer ballots were cast: 13,345.

Heres a look at turnout from other counties across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee:

Darlington County, 19.1% total voter turnout, 7,655 ballots cast

Dillon County, 14.6% total voter turnout, 2,398 ballots cast

Florence County, 18.5% total voter turnout, 14,796 ballots cast

Marion County, 12.7% total voter turnout, 2,473 ballots cast

Marlboro County, 11.5% total voter turnout, 1,716 ballots cast

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Homes are seen on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in the southwest Portland, Ore., suburb of Beaverton. The so-called urban growth boundary, established by a 1973 law that placed boundaries around cities to prevent urban sprawl and preserve nature and farmland, is seen in the background along SW Tile Flat Road. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A severe lack of affordable housing has prompted Oregon lawmakers to consider chipping away at a 1970s law that made the state a national leader in leveraging land use policy to prevent suburban sprawl and conserve nature and agriculture.

The so-called urban growth boundary, a sacred cow of Oregons liberal politics, helped to cement the state's green reputation and has been extremely influential in its development, said Megan Horst, an urban planning professor at Portland State University.

I can't overstate it, she said of the half-century-old law. All that farmland would likely be a sea of strip malls and subdivisions, as they are pretty much anywhere else in the country.

But interconnected homelessness and housing crises have forced exceptions to be considered by lawmakers, including Democrats who have historically defended the landmark policy.

The sole bill introduced by Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek during this year's short legislative session is a sweeping housing package aiming to jumpstart home construction by tweaking the 1973 law, which essentially drew a circle around cities to protect farmland, forests and nature from urban encroachment.

Lawmakers have just two weeks to approve the bill before the session ends March 10.

As the longest serving speaker of the Oregon House, from 2013 to 2022, Kotek became known for her progressive agenda. But as governor, she has sought to ease restrictions for developers in a bid to advance her housing production goals.

Working to win support for the package has put her in the unusual position of having to lobby not Republicans  who largely back it  but members of her own party, many of whom voted against a similar measure last year. Kotek said she spent the seven months between legislative sessions speaking with lawmakers, housing developers and conservation groups to find a middle ground.

We had some proposals last year that didn't work for everyone, but we didn't walk away. We sat down and worked on it, she said while testifying in support of the bill, describing herself as its chief architect and chief cheerleader."

I also know that the process means there might be amendments," she added. "But what we can't see happen is that this Legislature leaves at the end of their session without this bill.

On the ground, the anti-sprawl policy can look dramatic. At times, blocks of dense apartment complexes abruptly end and give way to thick forest or rolling fields. One side of a road can be lined with homes, while the other side features open space as far as the eye can see.

The 42-page package would, among many other things, grant a one-time exemption to the decades-old rule by allowing cities to acquire new land for the purpose of building housing. It would require 30% of new units in expansion areas to be affordable.

Currently, cities must forecast population growth over 20 years before requesting to change an urban growth boundary for new homes, businesses or industrial or public facilities. If they show the area inside their boundary won't accommodate projected needs, and identify outside land meeting a complex set of criteria, they can apply to expand.

Cities of more than 2,500 residents seeking to add more than 50 acres (20 hectares) must submit an application to a state agency for approval.

Ninety-five percent of such adjustments were approved between 2016 and 2023, according to the Department of Land Conservation & Development, the agency tasked with approvals. But many cities and developers say the rigorous evaluation and analysis requirements can be long and difficult to navigate.

While land supply is not a barrier for all cities, it is critical for some, and the current ... process is time-consuming, cost-prohibitive, and litigious, Ariel Nelson, a lobbyist for the League of Oregon Cities, which has a neutral stance on the bill, said in written testimony.

To speed up the process, the bill before lawmakers would ease certain regulations and waive the 20-year population forecast if conditions are met. But the proposal still includes a number of restrictions largely stemming from Democrats' requests.

In order to be eligible, cities must prove they lack land as well as affordable housing. They would need to outline the history of their growth boundary in the previous 20 years and assess how much land inside the current boundary has been developed. They would also have to show that a certain percentage of households are severely cost burdened, meaning they spend more than half of their income on housing.

In most cases, cities wouldn't be able to add high-value farm or forest land.

Additionally, cities would only be able to add relatively small areas of land: cities with populations less than 25,000, for example, could only add a maximum of 50 net residential acres (20 hectares), which is less than one-tenth of a square mile (0.3 square kilometers). A net residential acre refers to the amount of land used to build homes, excluding streets and utilities.

The one-time exemption to urban growth boundary rules would expire in 2033.

State Sen. Deb Patterson, a member of the Environmental Caucus and the Senate's housing committee, said these guardrails made her feel comfortable supporting the bill. She was one of the Democratic lawmakers whose no vote killed last year's proposal.

While it's not in any way shape or form a perfect bill, so much work has been done to make this a much better bill that I do believe I will be a yes vote," she said.

One of her Republican colleagues on the Senate's housing committee, Sen. Dick Anderson, also supports the bill but said the boundary expansion rules were restrictive almost to the point of not being of use.

You should not be envisioning a Las Vegas or Phoenix style expansion, with houses galore and subdivision after subdivision," he said.

Anderson thinks other parts of the bill would be more useful in his coastal district, specifically a measure allowing cities to swap land currently within their boundaries, which is harder to be develop because of steep terrain or other topographical issues, with an equivalent amount of land just outside that is more suitable for residential use.

Other factors also have to be addressed in order to fully tackle the crisis, such as rising construction supply costs, a labor shortage and increasing corporate ownership of housing, housing experts say.

Lawmakers have tackled the land use law in the past, including to spur industrial growth. Most recently, they approved a measure last year allowing the governor to designate up to eight sites for expansion to make room for semiconductor factories.
Participants of the action in Prague on the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine raised yellow and blue flags

Thousands of people came to Prague's Old Town Square to support Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression, reported Czech outlet Ceske Noviny on Feb. 24.

Read also: Number of Ukrainians who consider US, Poland friendly countries decreases amid latest developments

Protesters chanted slogans such as "Russia is a terrorist state," "Glory to Ukraine  Glory to Heroes!" and "Long live the Czech Republic." They also held banners calling for more weapons for Ukraine and stopping the Russian dictator.

At the Munich Security Conference held on Feb. 16-18, Czech President Petr Pavel said that the Czech government had managed to find about 800,000 155 and 122 caliber shells for Ukraine. Pavel promised to deliver them to Ukraine within a few weeks if the money could be found quickly.

REUTERS/David W Cerny

A representative of the Ukrainian security forces confirmed Pavel's information to NV about the availability of the shells, which would help cover the immediate needs of the Ukrainian military. The number of shells exceeds what the EU managed to supply to Ukraine all last year.

Read also: Nearly 200 civilians killed in Russian attacks in Kyiv, marking second anniversary of full-scale invasion

According to the source, these shells are planned to be delivered from South Korea and South Africa, and the cost of such a contract is approximately $2 billion.

REUTERS/David W Cerny

REUTERS/David W Cerny

REUTERS/David W Cerny

REUTERS/David W Cerny

REUTERS/David W Cerny

REUTERS/David W Cerny

REUTERS/David W Cerny

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A little more than a year ago, mourners were shocked when Los Angeles Auxillary Bishop David OConnell was found murdered in his Hacienda Heights home.

On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered for a memorial mass at the San Gabriel Mission Church. The Catholic Priest was beloved by the community as OConnell served as the L.A. Archdioceses for 45 years.

Pope Francis named OConnell as the Auxillary Bishop in L.A. in July of 2015. Brian Nunes was named as Auxillary Bishop following OConnells death and has fond memories of his predecessor.

He was a man of peace, he was down to earth, and just so willing to take time to listen to people, Nunes said. He was just very good about showing them that they were important, that he cared for them, that God loved them.

Hundreds gathered for a memorial mass to honor Los Angeles Auxillary Bishop David OConnell at the San Gabriel Mission Church on Feb. 24, 2024. (KTLA)

Hundreds gathered for a memorial mass to honor Los Angeles Auxillary Bishop David OConnell at the San Gabriel Mission Church on Feb. 24, 2024. (KTLA)

Authorities are investigating after Bishop David OConnell was found shot and killed in Hacienda Heights on Feb. 18, 2023. (Victor Aleman/Angelus News)

Hundreds gathered for a memorial mass to honor Los Angeles Auxillary Bishop David OConnell at the San Gabriel Mission Church on Feb. 24, 2024. (KTLA)

Hundreds gathered for a memorial mass to honor Los Angeles Auxillary Bishop David OConnell at the San Gabriel Mission Church on Feb. 24, 2024. (KTLA)

Bishop David OConnell was found shot to death on Feb. 18, 2023, inside his Hacienda Heights home. (Facebook)

A picture with a prayer hangs on the mailbox as a makeshift memorial grows for Bishop David OConnell, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in front of his home in Hacienda Heights, Calif., an unincorporated community about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles. Bishop OConnell was shot and killed Saturday inside his home. Carlos Medina, the husband of OConnells housekeeper was arrested Monday. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)

Hundreds gathered for a memorial mass to honor Los Angeles Auxillary Bishop David OConnell at the San Gabriel Mission Church on Feb. 24, 2024. (KTLA)

Bishop David OConnell, auxiliary bishop for the San Gabriel Pastoral Region, visits the damaged San Gabriel Mission church the afternoon of Saturday, July 11, 2020. He also prayed with grieving parishioners. (Victor Aleman/Angelus News)

Authorities search the home of Carlos Medina, the man suspected of killing Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell. Feb. 20, 2023.

Authorities search the home of Carlos Medina, the man suspected of killing Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell. Feb. 20, 2023.

Authorities search the home of Carlos Medina, the man suspected of killing Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell. Feb. 20, 2023.

Bishop David OConnell (center) and Archbishop Jose H. Gomez greet people during the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe procession in Los Angeles in 2019. (Victor Aleman/Angelus News)

Archbishop David OConnell (Facebook)

Bishop Dave OConnell speaks at the Archdiocesan Eucharistic Congress Aug. 13, 2022. (Victor Aleman/Angelus News)

Janice Hahn, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, with Bishop David OConnell. (Janice Hahn)

Bishop David OConnell, of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, attends a news conference at the Fall General Assembly meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on Nov. 17, 2021, in Baltimore. (Julio Cortez/Associated Press)

The 69-year-old was shot at his home in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue on Feb. 18, 2023. Just two days later, a SWAT team arrested Carlos Medina, the husband of OConnells housekeeper, at their home in Torrance.

Detectives first linked Medina to the crime after finding surveillance video that showed his SUV in the driveway of OConnells home at the time of the killing.

Several people who knew Medina told investigators that he had been acting strange and irrationally in the days following the murder, adding that Medina was making comments about OConnell owing him money.

Medina pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) leading democracies strongly condemned arms transactions between North Korea and Russia on Saturday, as they marked the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The G7 leaders issued a joint statement, stressing that the transactions between Pyongyang and Moscow are in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). The G7 countries are the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan.

"We strongly condemn North Korea's exports and Russia's procurement of North Korea's ballistic missiles in direct violation of relevant UNSCRs and call upon them to immediately cease such activities," they said in the statement.

The U.S. government has revealed that the North provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles, some of which were fired at Ukrainian targets on Dec. 30, 2023, Jan. 2 and Jan. 6.

Moreover, the State Department revealed Friday that the North has shipped over 10,000 containers of munitions or munition-related materials to Russia since September 2023.

In the statement, the G7 leaders also expressed their concern about transfers to Russia from businesses in China of dual-use materials and components for weapons and equipment for military production.

They also welcomed the expansion of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine to include South Korea, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Launched in January last year, the platform coordinates the support for the immediate financing needs of Ukraine and future economic recovery and reconstruction needs.

Highlighting their steadfast support for Ukraine, the G7 leaders said, "As Ukraine enters the third year of this relentless war, its government and its people can count on the G7's support for as long as it takes." (Yonhap)
A farewell ceremony was held in Kyiv, ob Feb. 25, for the Hero of Ukraine, dissident, and former MP Stepan Khmara.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced this, calling him a great Ukrainian and an unwavering patriot.

Anna Sergiets/Suspilne

The farewell ceremony began at the Kyiv Conservatory. Subsequently, individuals had the opportunity to bid farewell at Independence Square, where more than 500 people assembled, according to public broadcaster Suspilne.

Read also: People vs. Dictators. How dissidents can destroy regimes

Stepan Khmara was sung farewell to at the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on Askolds Grave and buried at the Baikove Cemetery.

Anna Sergiets/Suspilne

His relatives, friends, and colleagues attended the farewell in downtown Kyiv, Hromadske Radio reported. Additionally, former MP Ivan Zaets, known for his advocacy for Ukraines independence in the 20th century, attended the ceremony.

Stepan Khmara passed away on Feb. 21 at the age of 86.

He was a fighter for Ukraines independence and one of the leaders of the anti-communist resistance movement of the 1970s-1980s.

Read also: A telling sign: How Ukrainians are treating Stepan Bandera

In 1980, the KGB arrested the dissident for his political and human rights activities, charging him under the article of anti-Soviet propaganda. Khmara was sentenced to seven years in strict regime camps and five years of exile. He served his sentence in political prisoner camps in the Urals.

Anna Sergiets/Suspilne

Released in 1987, Khmara returned to Ukraine and became one of the leaders of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union and later a co-author of the Ukrainian Constitution.

Read also: What is Rashism and how it is aimed to remake Ukraine according to the Kremlin's ideas?  opinion

He was a member of the first, second, and fourth convocations of the Parliament. In 2006, Khmara was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday confirmed that the Venezuelan national charged in connection with the murder of 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and had previously been arrested in New York City.

Fox News had previously reported that 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, charged with the murder of Riley on the University of Georgia campus, had crossed into the U.S. illegally near El Paso in September 2022 and was paroled into the U.S.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, ICE confirmed he had been encountered by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Sept. 8, 2022, after entering near El Paso and was "paroled and released for further processing."

ICE also confirmed that Ibarra had been arrested by the New York Police Department a year later, on Sept. 14, 2023, and "charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation."

GEORGIA STUDENT MURDER SUSPECT CONFIRMED TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

Jose Ibarra, who was originally taken into custody on Friday by the UGA Police Department in connection with Laken Riley's death, is now not believed to have had a connection to the victim.

When ICE learns that what it believes to be a removable illegal immigrant has been arrested on criminal charges, the agency will normally lodge a detainer  a request asking local law enforcement to keep the suspect in custody until they can be transferred to ICE and put into deportation proceedings.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

BROTHER OF UGA MURDER SUSPECT CHARGED WITH GREEN CARD FRAUD

Laken Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia, was found dead near a lake on campus on Feb. 22, 2024.

In this case, however, ICE's statement says Ibarra was released before a detainer could be issued. NYC is also a "sanctuary city," which generally restricts law enforcement from complying with ICE detainers.

In its statement, ICE said that its Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Atlanta "encountered Ibarra pursuant to his arrest by the University of Georgia Police Department and being charged with murder and other crimes. ERO Atlanta lodged a detainer."

LAKEN RILEY CASE: GEORGIA AUTHORITIES IDENTIFY MURDER SUSPECT IN CUSTODY IN NURSING STUDENT'S SLAYING

Layling Franco walks outside a migrant shelter in Queens, New York City, on Feb. 24, 2024. Franco is the wife of Jose Antonio Ibarra, who was arrested in Georgia on suspicion of killing 22-year-old university student Laken Riley.

Layling Franco, 23, of Venezuela, the wife of Ibarra, told the New York Post that she and her 5-year-old son were in the El Paso facility for five days before they made the journey to New York.

"We got married so we could join our asylum cases," she told the Post. "He was the person I thought I could see through. Weve known each other our entire lives."

Franco, who is not accused of any wrongdoing regarding the case, said Ibarra was a calm person and that he left New York because he wanted to get a better job in Georgia.

"He wasnt aggressive, none of that," she told the outlet. "We had problems as a couple, but our problems werent physical. We wouldnt punch, but wed raise our voices."

She told the Post that she's seeing news of the crime "everywhere."

"I want to talk to [Jose]," she said. "I have a lot of faith that this wasnt him, that there was a misunderstanding somewhere. But if he did, he has to pay for what he did, truly."

LAKEN RILEY MURDER SUSPECT JOSE IBARRA LIVED WITHIN 5-MINUTE WALK OF UGA CRIME SCENE

Riley, an Augusta University nursing student, was found dead Thursday after previously attending UGA before entering a nursing program at Augusta's Athens campus, where she made the dean's list.

Police have charged Ibarra with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another, authorities said on Friday.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Ibarra appeared in court on Saturday morning, when Clarke County Magistrate Judge Donarell Green denied his bond "for today." Two translators were present. Ibarra nodded when spoken to.

Ibarras brother, Diego, was charged Friday with possessing a fraudulent green card and is being held in state custody. The federal arrest affidavit for Diego Ibarra says that in September 2023, Athens-Clarke County Police charged him with drunken driving and driving without a license. He was later arrested for shoplifting and later skipped court.



Fox News' Michael Ruiz, Bill Melugin and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.





Original article source: ICE confirms Georgia student murder suspect entered US illegally, was previously arrested in NYC
This image provided by the Idaho Department of Correction shows Thomas Eugene Creech on Jan. 9, 2009. Idaho's longest-serving death row inmate, Creech, is scheduled to be executed at the end of the month. He was already serving time after being convicted of killing two people in Valley County in 1974 when he was sentenced to die for beating a fellow inmate to death with a sock full of batteries in 1981. (Idaho Department of Correction via AP)

BOISE, Idaho (AP)  For nearly 50 years, Idaho's prison staffers have been serving Thomas Eugene Creech three meals a day, checking on him during rounds and taking him to medical appointments.

This Wednesday, some of Idaho's prison staffers will be asked to kill him. Barring any last-minute stay, the 73-year-old, one of the nation's longest-serving death row inmates, will be executed by lethal injection for killing a fellow prisoner with a battery-filled sock in 1981.

Creech's killing of David Jensen, a young, disabled man who was serving time for car theft, was his last in a broad path of destruction that saw Creech convicted of five murders in three states. He is also suspected of at least a half-dozen others.

But now, decades later, Creech is mostly known inside the walls of the Idaho Maximum Security Institution as just Tom, a generally well-behaved old-timer with a penchant for poetry. His unsuccessful bid for clemency even found support from a former warden at the penitentiary, prison staffers who recounted how he wrote them poems of support or condolence and the judge who sentenced Creech to death.

Some of our correctional officers have grown up with Tom Creech, Idaho Department of Correction Director Josh Tewalt said Friday. Our warden has a long-standing relationship with him. ... There's a familiarity and a rapport that has been built over time.

Creech's attorneys have filed a flurry of last-minute appeals in four different courts in recent months trying to halt the execution, which would be Idaho's first in 12 years. They have argued Idaho's refusal to say where its execution drug was obtained violates his rights and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday rejected an argument that Creech should not be executed because he was sentenced by a judge rather than a jury. His attorneys vowed to keep fighting to save him from execution and said Creech had become a friend over the last 25 years.

Ultimately, it will be impossible for the state to execute the Tom Creech of 1974, said Deborah A. Czuba, the Federal Defender Services of Idaho attorney who leads the capital defense unit. He died inside Tom a long time ago, replaced by a harmless, remorseful and compassionate man who evolved into a valued, respected and beloved member of the prison community in which he has lived and been punished for 50 years.

Its not clear how many people Creech, an Ohio native, killed before he was imprisoned in Idaho in 1974. At one point he claimed to have killed as many as 50 people, but many of the confessions were made under the influence of now discredited truth serum drugs and filled with outlandish tales of occult-driven human sacrifice and contract killings for a powerful motorcycle gang.

Official estimates vary, but authorities tend to focus on 11 deaths.

In 1973, Creech was tried for the murder of 70-year-old Paul Schrader, a retiree who was stabbed to death in the Tucson, Arizona, motel where Creech was living. Creech used Schrader's credit cards and vehicle to leave Tucson for Portland, Oregon. A jury acquitted him, but authorities say they have no doubt he was responsible.

The next year, Creech was committed to Oregon State Hospital for a few months. He earned a weekend pass and traveled to Sacramento, California, where he killed Vivian Grant Robinson at her home. Creech then used Robinson's phone to let the hospital know he would return a day late. That crime went unsolved until Creech later confessed while in custody in Idaho; he wasn't convicted until 1980.

After he was released from the Oregon State Hospital, Creech got a job at a church in Portland doing maintenance work. He had living quarters at the church, and it was there he shot and killed 22-year-old William Joseph Dean in 1974. Authorities believe he then fatally shot Sandra Jane Ramsamooj at the Salem grocery store where she worked.

Creech was finally arrested in November 1974. He and a girlfriend were hitchhiking in Idaho when they were picked up by two painters, Thomas Arnold and John Bradford. Creech shot both men to death and the girlfriend cooperated with authorities.

While in custody, Creech confessed to a number of other killings. Some appeared to be fabricated, but he provided information that led police to the bodies of Gordon Lee Stanton and Charles Thomas Miller near Las Vegas, and of Rick Stewart McKenzie, 22, near Baggs, Wyoming.

Creech initially was sentenced to death for killing the painters. But after the U.S. Supreme Court barred automatic death sentences in 1976, his sentence was converted to life in prison.

That changed after he killed Jensen, who was serving time for car theft. Jensen's life hadn't been easy: He suffered a nearly fatal gun injury as a teen that left him with serious disabilities including partial paralysis.

Jensens relatives opposed Creech's bid for clemency. They described Jensen as a gentle soul and a prankster who loved hunting and spending time outdoors, who was the peanut butter to his sister's jelly. His daughter, who was 4 when he was killed, spoke of how she never got to know him, and how unfair it was that Creech is still around when her father isn't.

Creech's supporters, meanwhile, say decades spent in a prison cell have left him changed. One death row prison staffer told the parole board last month that while she cannot begin to understand the suffering Creech dealt to others, he is now a person who makes positive contributions to his community. His execution date will be difficult for everyone at the prison, she said, especially those who have known him for years.

I dont want to be dismissive of what he did and the countless people who were impacted by that in real significant ways," said Tewalt, the corrections director. At the same time, you also cant be dismissive of the effect its going to have on people who have established a relationship with him. On Thursday, Toms not going to be there. You know hes not coming back to that unit  thats real. It would be really difficult to not feel some sort of emotion about that.
Home invaders who authorities say held a family at gunpoint in an early morning raid appear to have targeted the wrong house, California sheriffs officials said.

At least three men broke into a home in Gerber around 4 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, the Tehama County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

They woke the family of seven, including children, sleeping inside, then beat, bound and held the adults at gunpoint, deputies said. They demanded money from the family.

After leaving the home, the assailants broke into a home next door and robbed the person found sleeping inside at gunpoint, deputies said.

An investigation suggests the second home was the actual target of the intruders, who entered the first home by mistake, detectives said.

Officials have not identified any suspects as of Feb. 25, and the investigation is ongoing.

Detectives ask anyone with information to call 530-736-5500 or email Repperson@tehamaso.org.

Gerber is about 125 miles north of Sacramento.

Arrest made in slaying of model found stuffed in refrigerator, California police say

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
CHICAGO  An investigation is underway after a man was found dead along the shoreline of Lake Michigan on Saturday morning.

According to Chicago police officers were called to the scene just after 11 a.m. following reports that a man had been discovered unresponsive along the shoreline in the 6000 block of South Lake Shore Drive.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Officers say the man was later pronounced dead on the scene.

Authorities say the incident has been classified as a death investigation.

Authorities have not yet identified or provided a description of the man, and it is currently unclear what led to his death.

VOTE: Tom Skillings most memorable moments

Anyone with information that could help authorities in their investigation is asked to contact CPD Area One detectives at 312-747-8380.

Those with information that could help authorities in their search can also leave a tip for police at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Frustration over immigration mounts after what looked like a deal gets the rug pulled out from under it.

Iowa state lawmakers move forward with plans to expand help for new mothers.

Republicans also advance Gov. Kim Reynolds agenda for more tax cuts  to the disdain of Democrats.

Host Jim Niedelman gets to that with Scott County Democratic Party Chair Kay Pence and Iowa Republican Party Central Committee member Michelle Crawford.

The way the tax code is scheduled now, its somewhat progressive, Pence said. Then when its no longer progressive, it benefits the wealthy so much more. And we did see what happened with Kansas.

Both the House and the Senate have put triggers into this bill for assurance that these funds have to be there before these tax cuts can be implemented, Crawford said.

Click on the video to hear more of what our panelists have to say.

Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you. Its a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as Jim Niedelman brings you up to speed on whats happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR), refuted claims of Iran transferring long-range missiles to Russia, asserting that such information does not align with reality.

They (Iranian missiles) are not there. All this does not correspond to reality, said Budanov at the Ukraine.2024 forum on Feb. 25.

He also noted that the missiles supplied to Russia by North Korea have not been extensively employed by the occupying forces.

While a few North Korean missiles were utilized, he stated, assertions of widespread use do not hold true.

Read also: Tehran sends hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia

North Korean and Iranian missiles in Russias conflict with Ukraine: What we know

In early January, John Kirby, a representative of the US National Security Council, alleged that Russia had launched strikes on Ukraine using North Korean ballistic missiles on Dec. 30, 2023, as well as on Jan. 2 and 6, 2024.

Read also: No indication Iran supplied Russia with ballistic missiles, US says

Russia again deployed several North Korean missiles against Ukraine on Jan. 6, according to the White House.

South Koreas representative to the UN, Hwang Joon-kook, said that North Korea is using Ukraine as a testing ground for ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin stated on Jan. 11 that the Prosecutor Generals Office had received the first evidence of the Russian army using missiles from North Korea.North Korea dismissed US accusations of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the conflict against Ukraine as baseless.

On Feb. 22, Ukraines SBU Security Service documented instances of Russian air attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure using North Korean weaponry. According to the investigation, the occupiers launched over 20 North Korean munitions at Ukraine.

On Nov. 21, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington believes Iran is readying to supply Russia with short-range ballistic missiles.

Despite official denials, Iran reportedly supplies drones, materials, and technologies to Russia for its conflict with Ukraine, while receiving cyber weapons, Western arms, and equipment captured on the battlefield in return.

A Feb. 21 Reuters report based on six sources indicated Iran sent around 400 ballistic missiles to Russia. The shipments reportedly commenced in January 2024 following negotiations between Tehran and Moscow.

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
By Dan Williams and Nidal al-Mughrabi

JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen clashed throughout the Gaza Strip over the weekend, as mediators picked up the pace of talks on a possible ceasefire to free hostages held by Hamas and bring a measure of Ramadan respite to the battered enclave.

Prospects for securing any truce looked uncertain, however, with Israel saying it was, in parallel, planning to expand its sweep to destroy Hamas, while the Islamist faction stood firm on its demand for a permanent end to the nearly five-month-old war.

Residents said Israeli forces shelled several areas of the enclave as tanks rolled into Beit Lahiya and soldiers and gunmen waged running battles in the Zeitoun sector of Gaza City - both in the north, which had been conquered early in the offensive.

At least 86 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday, medics said on Sunday. Israel's military said two soldiers died in fighting in south Gaza and that its forces killed or captured Palestinian gunmen in Zeitoun and elsewhere.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his war cabinet for a briefing late on Saturday by intelligence chiefs who returned from a meeting with Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators in Paris about a possible second Gaza ceasefire.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN's "State of the Union" that negotiators for the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Israel "came to an understanding" on the basic contours of a hostage deal during talks in Paris.

The deal is still under negotiation, said Sullivan, who added there will have to be indirect discussions by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas.

Netanyahu told CBS' "Face the Nation" it was not clear yet whether a hostage deal would materialize from the talks, declining to discuss specifics but saying Hamas needed to make more reasonable demands.

"They're in another planet. But if they come down to a reasonable situation, then yes we'll have a hostage deal. I hope so," he said.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Netanyahu's comments cast doubt over Israel's willingness to secure a deal.

"Netanyahu's comments show he is not concerned about reaching an agreement," Abu Zuhri told Reuters, accusing the Israeli leader of wanting "to pursue negotiation under bombardment and the bloodshed (of Palestinians)".

DOHA TALKS THIS WEEK

Egyptian security sources said there would be more talks this week in Doha, with mediators shuttling between Hamas and Israeli delegates, and a follow-up round in Cairo. There was no immediate confirmation of that from Israel, Hamas or Qatar.

The first pause in fighting, in November, saw the release of around half of the 253 people Hamas seized during an Oct. 7 cross-border killing spree that sparked the war. In that deal, Israel freed three times the number of Palestinians from its security prisons and admitted more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israeli media, citing unnamed officials, reported there was a framework for the return of around a third of the 130 remaining hostages over a six-week truce covering the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. There was no formal confirmation from either side.

Palestinian officials said Hamas was insisting on Israel calling off the offensive and withdrawing forces under any deal. Israel signalled intent to move into one of the last towns where Hamas, which is sworn to its destruction, has intact forces.

"We are working to achieve another framework for the release of our abductees, as well as the completion of the elimination of the Hamas battalions in Rafah," Netanyahu said on Facebook, referring to the town in the far south of Gaza near the border with Egypt.

This week, he added, the Israeli security cabinet would approve military plans for Rafah - including the evacuation of more than a million displaced Palestinian civilians who have been sheltering there, and whose fate worries world powers.

Those plans were presented by the military late on Sunday to Netanyahu's small-forum war cabinet. The war cabinet also approved a plan to facilitate more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, Netanyahu's office said.

Almost 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, Gaza medical officials say. The Hamas raid of Oct. 7 killed 1,200 people in Israel, which has also lost 241 soldiers in Gaza ground fighting that followed, according to official tallies.

(Additional reporting by Nafisa Eltahir; and Valerie Insinna, Susan Heavey and Steve Holland in Washington; Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Alex Richardson, Andrea Ricci and Diane Craft)
Russia has been generating new forces at a rate roughly equivalent to its current casualties, but it is unclear whether it will be able to sustain offensive operations in the same way at a higher operational level with even greater losses.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Analysts note that despite the fact that Russia has seized the initiative on the battlefield, the Russian army suffers from many of the same weaknesses that Ukraine has learned to exploit. And the combined economic power of Ukraine's allies is many times greater than Russia's.

The report adds that Putin remains a mortal threat to both NATO and Ukraine.

For months, the Kremlin has been creating the conditions for hybrid warfare operations in the Baltic States and Finland and is currently conducting such operations against Moldova.

Experts point out that Putin's goals remain the destruction of NATO as an effective alliance, the severing of ties between the United States and Europe, and the construction of a new world order in which Russia's voice and power will dominate.

The interests of the US, Europe and American allies in Asia and around the world are inextricably linked to helping Ukraine defeat Russia.

According to Russian media estimates, more than 75,000 Russian servicemen have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russian media analysed data from Russian agencies that recorded the deaths of its citizens. As a result, they indicated that from February 2022 to December 2023, between 66,000 and 88,000 Russian servicemen died in the war.

Russian media outlets Medusa and Mediazone extrapolated the current monthly death toll of Russian military personnel in Ukraine to January and February 2024 and estimated that approximately 83,000 Russian servicemen have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion.

They noted that the number of Russian military deaths in Ukraine began to rise steadily after the start of localised Russian offensives in eastern Ukraine in October 2023 and added that since mid-2023, the majority of those killed have been Russian volunteers.

According to US intelligence estimates, as of December 2023, the Russian forces had lost 315,000 people since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The review notes that the Medusa and Mediazone estimates are consistent with the US estimate, based on the standard ratio of wounded to killed for Russian troops in Ukraine  three to one.

The analysts add that Russian troops are currently sustaining offensive operations in Ukraine despite these heavy losses by "relying on crypto-mobilisation".

"Russia is generating new forces roughly at a rate equivalent to current Russian losses, which allows Russian forces to consistently reinforce attacking units and regularly conduct operational-level rotations," citing analysed data.

It is noted: "It is unclear if Russia would be able to sustain offensive operations in the same way at a higher operational tempo that would generate even greater losses, however."

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 24 February:

Ukraine continues to defend against Russian aggression and the Kremlins attempt to destroy Ukrainian statehood and identity despite growing difficulties two years after the start of Russias full-scale invasion.

Ukraines European and Canadian partners commemorated the second anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion by committing additional aid to Ukraine and discussing Ukraines integration into the European Union (EU).

Russian opposition media estimated that upwards of 75,000 Russian personnel have died in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to highlight Russian Central Grouping of Forces Commander Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev and Russias seizure of Avdiivka.

Mordvichev highlighted Russian technological and tactical adaptations in the Russian seizure of Avdiivka in a likely effort to address persistent criticisms of Russian forces in Ukraine.

Senior Russian military officials likely are attempting to deflect responsibility for high-profile apparent Russian war crimes away from themselves and onto mid- and low-level Russian commanders.

A recent Russian opinion poll indicates that Russian sentiments about the war in Ukraine have largely remained unchanged in recent months but notably suggests that another mobilisation wave would be widely unpopular.

Ukrainian special services conducted a drone strike on one of Russias largest metallurgical plants on the night of 23-24 February.

Ukrainian reporting indicated that the A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft shot down on 23 February temporarily halted Russian aviation operations elsewhere in the theatre.

Russian information space actors continued responding to the 23 February A-50 shootdown and largely denied that Ukraine is responsible for the downing of any recent Russian aircraft.

Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Bakhmut and Avdiivka and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid continued positional engagements along the entire line of contact on 24 February.

Indian authorities have asked Russian authorities for the "early discharge" of Indian citizens fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

The Russian government continues efforts to support infrastructure and logistics development in occupied Ukraine, likely to support the Russian defence industrial base (DIB) and solidify Russian control over occupied areas.

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The situation in Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion remains "grave, but it is far from hopeless," the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Feb. 24 report.

Ukraine on Feb. 24 entered its third year of Russia's all-out war facing ammunition shortages and uncertainties over U.S. military aid, as well as persistent resolve to keep fighting Russian aggression.

ISW analysts said that Russia has made recent gains, but at a steep cost.

"Russian forces have regained the initiative across the theater and are attacking and making gains," the ISW said.

"Those gains thus far are very limited and extremely costly. More Russian soldiers have likely died to seize Avdiivka than died in the entire Soviet-Afghan war."

The ISW also noted Ukraine's recent successes, specifically the downing of Russian A-50 aircraft and strikes against the Black Sea Fleet. Analysts pointed out that Ukrainian forces will gain another advantage when they receive their first F-16 fighter jets this year.

According to the ISW, the biggest threat to Ukraine at this juncture is not Russian military superiority, but the withdrawal of U.S. aid. Delays in funding may have already contributed to Ukraine's battlefield losses.

"If the United States, in the end, withholds that aid, then the situation can become very grave indeed," analysts said.

The ISW said that Russia is not invincible, and that it is a mistake to assume Ukraine cannot secure victory. The Russian military has "many flaws" and Ukrainian forces have proven their ability to exploit those flaws.

"Ukraine has not lost and there is no reason for Ukraine to lose," the ISW said.

"Russians are adapting for a long war effort in Ukraine, but they are not the Red Army hordes wrapped in the triumphant banners of World War II victories that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his propagandists pretend them to be."

Read also: After 2 years of Russias full-scale war, Ukraine keeps fighting

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Kim Hyun-bin

North Korean media outlets are no longer mentioning Cuba whatsoever since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between South Korea and the Caribbean nation on Feb. 14.

Speculation is rising that Pyongyang is not happy with the unexpected move by Cuba, which has long been considered a close ally of North Korea. The forging of diplomatic relations with South Korea, a country labeled as its "number one hostile state," leaves no ambiguity regarding the North's stance.

The Rodong Sinmun, a newspaper widely regarded as the voice of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, last featured news related to Cuba on Feb. 15, a day after the announcement of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Havana.

Previously, the Rodong Sinmun routinely covered various aspects of North Korea's relationship with Cuba, including events at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba, expressions of solidarity from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, speeches by Cuban ambassadors at the United Nations and tributes to Cuban hero Jose Marti.

However, since the announcement of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba, there has been a notable absence of any mention of Cuba in the newspaper.

"Although economic cooperation between Cuba and North Korea might have been limited, the mutual reliance and cooperation between the two socialist countries were substantial. From this perspective, I believe North Korea would have been considerably shaken," said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies.

Furthermore, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), another key state media outlet in North Korea, has not reported on any developments. This absence of coverage extends to significant events, such as the celebration of the 82nd birthday of Kim Jong-il, which was celebrated at its diplomatic missions in 26 countries along with visits by various dignitaries on Feb. 23 and 24, where once again, Cuba was notably absent from the reports.

It is unprecedented for the KCNA to exclude Cuba, especially in reports about major events like Kim Jong-il's birthday, considered the paramount national holiday in North Korea. In the past, events related to Cuba were prominently featured, with highlights on participants and speeches.

"Looking back at history, in the 1990s, when diplomatic relations were established between South Korea and China, and between South Korea and Russia, North Korea found itself somewhat isolated. Despite initial reluctance, diplomatic ties were eventually acknowledged by North Korea," Yang said.

"Reflecting on this, the recent establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba may be seen as a situation North Korea has no choice but to accept. It could potentially serve as an opportunity for North Korea to strengthen its cooperation with China and Russia."
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.  Officials with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Jacksonville hosted the 5th annual Ivory Tillman Black History Month Speech Competition commemorating the late Ivory Tillman Saturday.

NAACP Jacksonville Second Vice President Theresa Cook said that the competition is a great way for scholars to delve deep into the rich history African Americans have given to the United States.

Well, every year we put together this great speech competition as a way for our scholars to delve deep into the rich and profound history that African Americans have given into the United States, Cook said.

Honoring Black History Month with the Hearne Fine Art Gallery

NAACP Jacksonville officials said that Ivory Tillman was a prominent civil rights activist and leader in the NAACP Jacksonville branch.

The event celebrates and honors the rich history and contributions of the Black community in Jacksonville.

This event showcased kindergarten through 12th grade and their public speaking skills and knowledge of Black history.

This event not only celebrates the achievements of the Black community but also empowers and inspires the next generation of leaders, NAACP Jacksonville President Barry Jefferson said.

CALS gearing up for Black History Month events

The event was held at the Jacksonville Middle School on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 2 p.m. Students who participated were competing for cash prizes sponsored by businesses in the community.

The NAACP was founded in 1909 to help with the ongoing violence against Black people around the country. NAACP Jacksonville is one of 2,200 branches across the nation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged Sunday that of course there are concerns about possible Russian interference in the 2024 presidential election.

This is not about politics, Sullivan told NBC News Meet the Press. This is about national security. It is about a foreign country, a foreign adversary, seeking to manipulate the politics and democracy of the United States of America.

He also said the Biden administration is going to be vigilant about preventing interference in elections, and that it will engage the Congress on a bipartisan basis, because this should be above and beyond politics.

His remarks come as top U.S. national security and intelligence officials warn that despite Russias war with Ukraine, the country will still try to interfere in U.S. elections.

In October, the U.S. released an intelligence analysis to countries around the world alleging that Russia was using spies, state-run media and social media to affect elections worldwide, not just in the U.S.

Russia is not the only country attempting to sow mayhem, an analysis by Microsoft found last year. Threat actors in Iran and China are also using artificial intelligence to try to coordinate cyberattacks, according to the company.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Tharp House, once owned by the slave owner John Tharp, is one of the sites being considered for preservation - Sukimac Photography

Jamaica may seek reparations from Britain to fund its heritage sector, The Telegraph can reveal.

The Caribbean nation, which was under British rule until 1962, is considering plans to persuade the UK Government and major museums to fund exhibitions focused on colonialism.

Reparation payments of around 500,000, sought for the centuries of slavery suffered, would go to conserving ports, hospitals and courthouses tied to imperial rule.

The plans come after The Telegraph revealed that Edmund Bartlett, the Jamaican minister for tourism, hopes to preserve Georgian sites, including the homes of slave owners, as potential centres of dark tourism.

He told The Telegraph: We are interested in what is called dark tourism. 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, has a story that you need to connect with, because a little piece [of the British] is really here, a piece of your history, your past.

It is hoped to preserve Georgian sites, including the homes of slave owners such as Tharp House - Sukimac Photography

In September, The Telegraph revealed that Caribbean Community nations were poised to formally seek payment from British institutions including the Church of England and the Royal family.

Jonathan Greenland, the director of National Museum Jamaica, told The Telegraph: There is a debate around reparations, but this is how reparations should be paid.

The Government, or museums, could pay into a fund which supports museums and heritage sites in Jamaica. It is not just Jamaican history, it is British history.

British-born Mr Greenland, who has worked in Jamaica for 19 years, is currently working on a project to create a museum in Port Royal, the one-time capital and den of piracy.

A museum could soon be created in Port Royal, the one-time capital and den of piracy - Atlantide Phototravel

He has suggested that the former British naval base, home to a decaying naval hospital, could receive state backing from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport or direct funding from relevant institutions such as the National Maritime Museum.

The Old Naval Cemetery could also benefit from funding, as well as the Morant Bay courthouse, which was central to a 1865 rebellion brutally put down by the British governor.

Mr Greenland said these projects would educate Jamaicans and visiting UK tourists about British rule, adding: We go to all sorts of lengths to preserve our history in the UK, incredible stuff English Heritage, the National Trust, amazing things. Then our history abroad, a little less so.

The UK is the leading force in the development of museums and heritage  it could be our new export in a sense. That expertise and interest and ability to develop sustainable museums could be marketed all around the world.

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 U.S. State Department has recently issued travel advisory warning updates in the Carribean Islands and Mexico.

Recent updates for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Mexico may hinder vacation plans due to surges in crime and safety.

Travel: Should I mask for my flight? What to know about COVID and traveling.

Here's what you need to know about U.S. State Department travel advisories:

What are the 4 levels of travel advisory?

Here are the four levels of travel advisory, according to the U.S. State Department:

Travel Advisory Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions

This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.

Travel Advisory Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution

Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Departments of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory.

Travel Advisory Level 3 - Reconsider Travel

Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory.

Travel Advisory Level 4  Do Not Travel

This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory.

Countries with Level 4 "Do not travel" advisory warning

Countries with Level 3 "Reconsider travel" advisory warning

Jamaica travel advisory 2024

The beachfront Princess Grand Jamaica will open in April 2024.

The Jamaica travel advisory was updated to Level 3 for crime and medical services, according to the State Department.

Is Jamaica safe?

Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents and violent crimes are common, according to the State Department. Such possibilities include armed robberies, home invasions, homicides and sexual assaults. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.

The State Department does not pay medical bills and strongly encourages obtaining travelers insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, before traveling to Jamaica.

The website states U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas and U.S. health insurance is not accpeted by most doctors and hospitals. U.S. citizens encountering medical emergencies could potentially see bills in the tens of thousands of dollars, with air ambulance service to the United States in the range of $30,000 to $50,000.

Jamaica murders reach 65 in January

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica has seen 65 murders since the the start of 2024. Killings are reportedly down from the 81 reported over the same timer period in 2023.

Jamaica Travel Advisory for US challenged by Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness recently questioned the alignment of the recent U.S. travel advisory with Jamaicas significant strides in reducing crime rates.

According to Holness, Jamaica is at the lowest level of crime in more than 22 years.

Though the rates of crime are declining, sadly, the perception has not moved in the same positive direction, Holness said. Many Jamaicans feel the level of crime is still high, despite them not being a victim of crime themselves.

"In the view of the recent US Travel Advisory, it is clear that, based upon all the statistics that Ive given you and the direction in which were heading, that the advisory is at variance with the statistics as improvements are evident.

Travel advisory tips for Jamaica trips

According to the State Department, consider these things when traveling to Jamaica:

Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition. This includes stray rounds, shells or empty casings . The penalties for carrying firearms and/or ammunition, even inadvertently, are severe, and can include lengthy prison sentences.

Avoid walking or driving at night.

Avoid public buses.

Avoid secluded places or situations.

Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.

Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

Review the Country Security Report for Jamaica.

Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Travelers Checklist.

Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

Cheap flights: The destinations that could see a drop in airfare prices this year

Bahamas travel advisory 2024

Beautiful beach in Ten Bay, Eleuthera island, Bahamas.

The Bahamas travel advisory was updated to Level 2 to exercise increased caution due to crime and water safety, according to the State Department.

Is Nassau or Freeport safe in the Bahamas?

Most crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands, according to the State Department. Violent crime occurs in tourist and non-tourist areas, including armed robberies, burglaries and sexual assaults.

Travelers should use extreme caution south of Shirley Street in the "Over the Hill" area, as gang violence has resulted in a strong homicide rate.

Acitvities using recreational watercrafts maTour are often not regulated consistently. Watercraft operators may not be safety certified and some watercrafts may be poorly maintained.

Due to such safety concerns, U.S. government personnel are not allowed to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.

Bahamas resort employees arrested after Kentucky women claim drugs, sexual assualt, rape

According to USA Today reporter Natalie Neysa Alund, two Kentucky women on a Carnival cruise said they were drugged and raped while at a Bahamas Resort.

The attacks occurred shortly after noon Sunday while the women visited a beach in Central Grand Bahama, according to a preliminary report.

The two mothers  who identified themselves as Amber Shearer and Dongayla Dobson to Chris Cuomo on News Nation  said they were "relaxing on a Grand Bahama beach" when a resort employee allegedly gave them drinks spiked with a cocktail of drugs including benzodiazepines.

On Thursday, USA Today spoke with Nicholas Gerson  the Miami-based attorney representing Kentucky women.

"They were given drinks - a coconut and pineapple drink  spiked with a series of drug and narcotics," Gerson said. "They became inebriated and were both taken away and raped."

Travel advisory tips for Bahamas trips

According to the State Department, consider these things when traveling to the Bahamas:

Do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.

Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Follow the Department of State on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Review the Country Security Report for The Bahamas.

Prepare a contingency plan for emergency and medical situations. Review the Travelers Checklist.

Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

Super Bowl 2024 travel: Las Vegas hotel prices skyrocket for big game

Mexico travel advisory 2024

Isla Mujeres offers a low-key Cancun vacation.

Violent crime is widespread and common in Mexico, according to the State Department. Crimes such as carjacking, homicide, kidnapping and robbery are prevalent.

Is Cancun safe in Mexico?

The Quintana Roo state  where Cancun is located  is under a Level 2 travel advisory, warning travelers to exercise increased caution due to crime.

According to the State Department, criminal activity and violence may occur at any time in any location, including in popular tourist spots. Maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations.

Travel advisory tips for Mexico trips

According to the State Department, consider these things when traveling to Mexcio:

If you decide to travel to Mexico:

Keep traveling companions and family back home informed of your travel plans. If separating from your travel group, send a friend your GPS location. If taking a taxi alone, take a photo of the taxi number and/or license plate and text it to a friend.

Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. In many states, police presence and emergency services are extremely limited outside the state capital or major cities.

Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos.

Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.

Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook and Twitter.

Review the Country Security Report for Mexico.

Mariners planning travel to Mexico should check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts, which include instructions on reporting suspicious activities and attacks to Mexican naval authorities.

Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Travelers Checklist.

Visit the CDC page for the latest travel health information related to your travel.

Hotel travel: Parking fees are out of control. Here's how to fight them.

Travel safety tips for high-risk areas

The State Department recommends three websites for information on travel safety tips:

USA Today reporter Natalie Neysa Alund contributed to this report. Chris Sims is a digital producer for Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Travel advisory 2024: What to know on trips to Jamaica, Bahamas, Mexico
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) reiterated Sunday that House Democrats are willing to find common ground with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on legislation, including ways to keep the government funded past the March 2 deadline.

My view from the very beginning of this Congress is that, as House Democrats, we are ready, were willing, were able, to find bipartisan common ground on any issue, at anytime, anyplace, in order to make life better, for the American people, to address issues related to the economy, public safety, national security, Jeffries said in an interview on The Cats Roundtable on WABC 770 AM with host John Catsimatidis that aired Sunday.

And we should always be willing to do that, and so, Mike Johnson and I speak regularly, try to figure out, Where are those places of commonality? he added.

The lawmakers comments come as the House and Senate are currently locked in a battle over foreign aid to Ukraine. The Senate passed a national security spending package that features $60 billion dollars in aid for Ukraine last week, but Johnson has pushed back against the bipartisan measure, signaling that he wont bring it to the House floor because it doesnt have border security measures included.

[In] the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters, Johnson said in a statement. America deserves better than the Senates status quo.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) visited Ukraine Friday with a congressional delegation and also pressed Johnson to pass the bill.

The House unveiled their own legislation last week that would combine aid for Ukraine and border provisions that Republicans want. As Russias invasion of Ukraine hits two years, a bipartisan group of lawmakers have urged their colleagues to back the bill.

Congress is also dealing with the prospect of another government shutdown. Johnson on Friday said he would move a set of spending bills  as as single package  forward next week, ahead of the deadline, according to sources familiar.

Shutdown drama has divided Congress in the past, but Jeffries noted that while the two parties may not always agree, they should be able to work together professionally.

We also recognize that there will be times that we may disagree  However, I think weve made the decision to agree to disagree without being disagreeable with each other, he said.

In Washington, we need less chaos, and more common sense, Jeffries added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Days ago, when the United States cast the only vote in the U.N. Security Council against a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, it was yet another move by President Biden to serve as the main enabler for Israels ongoing mass murder of Palestinian people. Since early October, nearly 30,000 have been killed by U.S. weaponry and, increasingly, by hunger and disease. The cruelty and magnitude of the slaughter are repugnant to anyone who isnt somehow numb to the human agony.

Such numbing is widespread in the U.S. Some factors include ethnocentric, racial and religious biases against Arabs and Muslims. The steep pro-Israel tilt of news media runs parallel to the slant of U.S. government officials, with language that routinely conveys much lower regard for Palestinian lives than Israeli lives.

And while the credibility of the Israeli government has tumbled, the brawny arms of the Israel lobby  notably AIPAC and Democratic Majority for Israel  still exert enormous leverage over the vast majority of Congress. Few legislators are willing to vote against the massive military aid that makes the carnage in Gaza possible.

A chilling example is Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland. On the night of Feb. 12, he took to the Senate floor and condemned Israel in no uncertain terms. Kids in Gaza are now dying from the deliberate withholding of food, he said. In addition to the horror of that news, one other thing is true. That is a war crime. It is a textbook war crime. And that makes those who orchestrate it war criminals.

Watching video from Van Hollens impassioned speech, you might assume that he would vote against sending $14 billion in further military aid to those war criminals. But hours later, he did just the opposite. As journalist Ryan Grim noted, the senators speech pulsed with moral clarity  until it petered out into a stumbling rationale for his forthcoming yes vote.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Only three senators in the Democratic caucus  Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders, both of Vermont  voted no. Sanders delivered a powerful speech calling for decency instead of further moral collapse from the top of the U.S. government.

While the Senate deliberated, the White House again made clear that it wasnt serious about getting in the way of Israels planned assault on the city of Rafah. Thats where most of Gazas 2.2 million surviving residents have taken unsafe refuge from the Orwellian-named Israel Defense Forces.

An exchange at a White House news conference underscored that Biden is determined to keep enabling Israels continuous war crimes in Gaza:

Reporter: Has the president ever threatened to strip military assistance from Israel if they move ahead with a Rafah operation that does not take into consequence what happens with civilians? National Security Council spokesman John Kirby: Were going to continue to support Israel. They have a right to defend themselves against Hamas and were going to continue to make sure they have the tools and the capabilities to do that.

Later, Politico summed it up: The Biden administration is not planning to punish Israel if it launches a military campaign in Rafah without ensuring civilian safety. Citing interviews with three U.S. officials, the article reported that no reprimand plans are in the works, meaning Israeli forces could enter the city and harm civilians without facing American consequences.

Biden continues to serve as an accomplice while mouthing platitudes of concern about the lives of civilians in Gaza. Month after month, he has done all he can to supply the Israeli military to the max.

Under an apt headline  Biden Is Mad at Netanyahu? Spare Me.  Jack Mirkinson of The Nation wrote in mid-February:

In the real world, Biden and his legislative partners have continued to arm Israel; the Democratic leadership in the Senate actually brought people in on Super Bowl Sunday to take a vote on a bill that would, along with rearming Ukraine, send Israel another $14.1 billion for what is euphemistically dubbed "security assistance.

Ever since October, protests and activism in many parts of the country have challenged U.S. support for Israels military assault on Gaza. However, boosted by revulsion at the atrocities that Hamas committed against Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, the usual rationales for supporting Israels violence against Palestinians have been hard at work.

In this election year, an additional factor looms large. The prospect of Donald Trump returning to power is all too real. And with Biden set to be the Democratic nominee, many individuals and groups are careful to avoid saying anything that might sound overly critical of the president they want to see re-elected.

Instead of candor, the routine choices have been euphemisms and silence. Morally and politically, thats a big mistake.

The electoral base that Biden will need to win this year's election is heavily against his support for Israels war on Gaza. Polling shows that young people in particular are overwhelmingly opposed. Most have seen through the thin veneer of his weak pleas for Israel to not kill so many civilians.

No amount of evasions, silence or doubletalk can make Bidens policies morally acceptable. But while the administration combines its PR hand-wringing with an endless flow of arms and military supplies, Biden apologists must resort to evasion and verbal gymnastics to defend the indefensible.

A better course of action would be actual candor about current realities: Bidens moral collapse is enabling the Israeli government to continue, with impunity, its large-scale massacre of Palestinian people. In the process, Biden is increasing the chances that the Republican Party, led by fascistic Donald Trump, will gain control of the White House in January.
(Bloomberg) -- John Thune, the second-ranking Republican in the US Senate, has endorsed former President Donald Trump in his bid for the White House.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A spokesperson for Thune on Sunday confirmed the senator will throw his support behind Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. Thune, of South Dakota, spoke by phone with Trump after his win over Nikki Haley in the South Carolina primary.

Fox News first reported the endorsement.

The endorsement is the latest indication that establishment GOP members are falling in line behind Trump as he seeks a second term in the White House and a re-match against President Joe Biden in November.

Thune had previously resisted joining Trumps allies and has questioned the GOP front-runners strength as a general-election candidate. He had originally backed Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina as the Republican candidate.

Thune, the minority whip, is widely seen as a potential successor to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell whenever that job opens up. His endorsement of Trump comes after two other leading candidates to replace McConnell, Senators John Cornyn of Texas and John Barrasso of Wyoming, recently signed on.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A murder investigation into the death of a 16-year-old has resulted in an arrest, following work by law enforcement and assistance from the community.

The incident dates back to December 29, 2023, when the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office responded to reports of a shooting in the 10200 block of Old St. Augustine Road.

READ: Youre not supposed to be burying a 16-year-old: Family seeks answers, closure in teens death

Upon arrival, JSO discovered 16-year-old Derek M. Pitts with a gunshot wound in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Despite efforts by personnel from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Pitts succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital.

The Homicide and Crime Scene Units of the JSO promptly launched investigations into the incident. With the help of several tips received from First Coast Crime Stoppers, detectives were able to identify 19-year-old Colton G. Moore as a suspect.

Moore, who was already in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility on unrelated charges, was arrested on Friday, February 23, 2024, for the Murder and the shooting death of Derek M. Pitts.

The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office expressed gratitude to the community for their cooperation and assistance throughout the investigation.

Murder Investigation Leads to Arrest



On December 29, 2023, shortly after 11:30 p.m. the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to the 10200 block of Old St. Augustine Road in reference to an individual shot. Upon arrival, the 16-year-old victim, Derek M. Pitts was located on pic.twitter.com/KkOnwXyA1u  Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) February 24, 2024

[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.
Ukraine's capabilities for 2024 are six times higher than they were in 2023, Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin said at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 25.

Kamyshin added that Ukraine's defense industry also produced three times more in 2023 than it did in 2022.

High-ranking Ukrainian officials met to discuss Ukraines future at the Ukraine. Year 2024 forum on Feb. 25, one day after the second anniversary of Russias full-scale war.

The forum discussed achieving Ukraines goals in the war, developing its defense and security forces, implementing Ukraines peace formula, ensuring economic growth and integration into world markets, security guarantees, the status of its military-industrial complex, and protecting the lives of Ukrainians.

"Back in the Soviet Union, we had a strong defense industry, but it was neglected for decades later," Kamyshin told a Kyiv Independent reporter at the forum. "For instance, in 2021, we produced zero ammunition. In 2022, we started producing that (ammunition), but 2023 became the year where the defense industry started running on a large scale and started making an impact on the front line."

"The first year, we lived in a paradigm of courage. The second year  in a paradigm of irony. In the third year, it is important for us to focus on efficiency. And we are carefully counting everything we produce," Kamyshin said.

According to Kamyshin, Ukraine's defense industry is comprised of 500 enterprises dedicated to designing, repairing, manufacturing, and maintaining all required equipment. Around 100 of the enterprises are state-owned, 400 are private, and about 300,000 people are engaged in the work, he said.

"No matter how much we increase production in Ukraine, the needs of our frontline are greater than those of the U.S. and EU combined," he said.

Kamyshin also noted that Ukraine is stepping up its production of ammunition, and that ground drones will be in greater circulation in 2024.

"Last year we saw drones in the air and at sea. This year will be the year when we see them on the ground. This will be the year when you will hear more about ground robotic systems," he said.

Among those in attendance at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum will be Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces Vadym Sukharevskyi, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, and Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Read also: Fedorov: Ukraine to produce 1 million drones per year

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake dug into the Senates failed bipartisan border deal, calling it a complete joke and criticizing one of its lead negotiators, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).

The Senates proposed border security package, which failed earlier this month amid GOP opposition, was brought up Sunday during a conversation with Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures anchor Maria Bartiromo, who argued the package was not securing the border.

Well, that was a complete joke  that bill, I mean  by Kyrsten Sinema, [an] Arizona Senator, who should know better, but she doesnt spend enough time in Arizona understanding whats happening, Lake responded.

Lake, who narrowly lost the Arizona gubernatorial race in 2022 to Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), is running for Senate against Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). It is unclear if Sinema will launch a last-minute bid for the upper chamber, as she has remained largely mum on her plans.

The Hill reached out to Sinemas office for comment.

The Senates border deal followed months of negotiations led by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Sinema, who became an independent in 2022. The deal was part of a larger emergency foreign aid package that included additional aid for Ukraine and Israels war efforts, along with Indo-Pacific security, after Senate Republicans insisted any aid to Ukraine must be linked with border security reform.

Republicans backed by former President Trump torpedoed the package, which included significant concessions from Democrats on border security.

That bill sent, what? Ninety billion, $95 billion overseas to kill people, but spent zero building a border wall, which would actually keep people from coming across the border. It spent zero to really enforce detaining and deporting these people. They want these people to come in, Lake said Sunday. Thats the problem with so much of Washington, D.C. They want people to come pouring in. They want the cheap labor.

Lake on Sunday used the issue to advocate for former President Trumps reelection, claiming it is hard for Republicans to take significant action at the border with President Biden in the White House.

We have to rally behind him [Trump], stop this sideshow that Nikki Haley is trying, and really focus on President Trump, his incredible policies, Lake told Bartiromo. He will shut this nonsense down on day one. Im honored to have his endorsement. He knows I want to go to the U.S. Senate to help him make sure that we can keep America safe and also build that border wall and stop this invasion.

Her remarks come one day after she spoke at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, where she reinforced her support of Trump.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Medical school graduates refuse to attend internships; some professors side with striking trainee doctors

By Jun Ji-hye

Walkouts staged by trainee doctors in protest at the governments plan to increase the number of medical students are showing signs of spreading to all doctor groups, including medical school graduates and professors.

This is adding to the woes of patients and their families who are suffering from postponed or rescheduled surgeries and other medical procedures, after thousands of interns and resident doctors across the country walked off the job on Feb. 19 in opposition to the governments decision.

Joining the collective action, recent graduates from various medical schools vowed to refuse to commence their internships, while many fellows, or doctors completing specialized training after completing a residency, are expected to refuse to renew their contracts with their respective hospitals.

Some professors are also signaling their potential participation in the collective action.

The government has been seeking to raise the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 from the current 3,058 starting next year, in order to address a shortage of doctors and to improve public access to medical services. On the other hand, doctors and medical school students raised concerns that expanding the number could adversely affect the quality of the education and training that would-be doctors receive.

According to sources in medical circles, Sunday, a considerable number of medical school graduates expressed their intention to abandon their internships at teaching hospitals nationwide.

At Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju, 101 graduates were due to commence their internships, but 86 of them informed hospital authorities of their intention not to attend the program as of Friday.

At Chosun University Hospital located in the same region, all 32 new interns made a similar move, which was followed by 19 out of 22 at Jeju National University Hospital and 37 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital.

These refusals dashed hopes that the new interns could fill the medical service vacuum left by the striking trainee doctors.

The aforementioned fellows, for their part, are seriously considering refusing to renew their contracts as they have suffered from a seriously increasing workload while filling the vacuum left by trainee doctors who handed in their resignations to their respective hospitals.

Doctors in fellowship programs, in general, renew their contracts every year at the end of February. But, sources said, many of them do not want to renew their contracts this time amid growing uncertainty as they don't know how long the trainee doctors strike will last.

At Chosun University Hospital, 12 out of 14 fellow doctors have already expressed their intention to leave the hospital.

In March, 30 percent of doctors at major hospitals will disappear, said Kim Seong-geun, vice president of the Seoul branch of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), the nations largest coalition of doctors.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare also expressed concerns, in what appears to be an attempt to appease the doctoral fellows.

We are well aware of the increased work burden faced by fellow doctors, Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said during a media briefing. I ask them, once again, to stand by patients.

Professors, who rank highest among medical professionals and would be the last group to participate in collective action, said that they will do their best to resolve the medical service vacuum by continuing to treat patients, but some of them are signaling their will to side with the trainee doctors if they are punished by the government.

In a statement, an association of professors of medical schools across the country said, Both doctors and the government should make efforts to promptly resolve this emergency situation.

In their separate statement, however, a committee of professors belonging to the Yonsei University College of Medicine said, If the government unfairly punishes our pupils, we, as teachers, will never sit back and watch.

Such comments came as the government has been sticking to its hard-line stance, warning of stern repercussions for doctors participating in collective action, including the possibility of license suspensions.

The government also vowed to seek arrest warrants and carry out investigations into those who refuse to comply with the governments order to return to work or those who organize collective action.
LANSING, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are investigating the death of a resident at the Lansing Correctional Facility.

According to the KDOC, 51-year-old Eric Avila was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday. Life-saving measures were attempted, but Avila was pronounced deceased.

His cause of death is pending the result of an independent autopsy.

Wichita teen left critically injured in likely self-inflicted accidental shooting

The KDOC says per protocol, when a resident dies in their custody, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the KBI.

Avila was serving a 249-month sentence for convictions of kidnapping and second-degree murder in Sedgwick County.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
A Campbellsville University student has been arrested in connection with the death of a fellow student in Kentucky, officials say.

The student, Josiah Malachi Kilman, 18, was found unresponsive in his room on campus early Saturday and later pronounced dead at a hospital, the university said in a statement. An official cause of death for Kilman has not been determined, according to the university.

On Saturday evening, police announced they arrested Charles E. Escalera, 21. On X, the university described Escalera as a student at the school.

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, at approximately 5:15 PM Green County Sheriffs Office and Kentucky State Police received a call of a suspicious male inside a barn located on the Green County, Taylor County line, police said in an updated news release.

Escalera was taken into custody by Kentucky State Police without incident. Escalera has been arrested and the arrest warrant will be served for Murder. He will be lodged in the Taylor County Detention Center, according to the news release.

Charles E. Escalera, 21, was taken into custody by police on Saturday evening. - Taylor County Detention Center

CNN has reached out to determine if Escalera has been assigned an attorney.

The university issued an all-clear for the campus, saying, Charles Escalera has been arrested by police. As a result, the University is lifting the lockdown directive.

In a Sunday news release, Campbellsville University president Joseph Hopkins described Kilman as a beloved member of our community.

He was a bright light, and a person of incredible hope, he said.

Hopkins said Kilman was from Montana and was a member of the university wrestling team.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Josiahs family, friends, and to all who had the privilege of knowing him, the president said. We stand together in prayer, offering our love and support during this time of mourning.

CNN has reached out to Campbellsville police and the Kentucky State Medical Examiners Office for comment.

Campbellsville is about 85 miles southeast of Louisville.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Former President Donald Trump continued his winning streak in the GOP presidential primary Saturday, notching a victory in South Carolina thanks again to his dominance among core Republican voters.

Trump followed a similar path to victory to the ones he took in Iowa and New Hampshire earlier this year, earning majorities from nearly every key group in the South Carolina GOPs primary electorate, according to NBC News exit poll results. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, meanwhile, struggled to garner support beyond the moderates and independents in her home state.

Here are four key sets of numbers that help explain Trumps decisive win over Haley in South Carolina:

1. Trumps dominance among the GOP base

Self-described Republicans made up a sizable majority of the South Carolina primary electorate on Saturday (68%), and Trump once again carried these voters by an overwhelming margin, winning 70% to Haleys 30%.

Trump also garnered majority support across traditional Republican voting blocs: 84% of very conservative voters, 71% of white evangelicals, 65% of military veterans and 86% of the Republican primary voters who say they are part of the MAGA movement.

2. Haleys smaller coalition

Haley did have some success among the more moderate voters and non-Republicans who showed up to vote in the South Carolina GOP primary, but they made up much smaller shares of the electorate.

The former South Carolina governor overwhelmingly won voters who identify as moderate or liberal, winning 74% to Trumps 25%, but they only made up one-fifth of the primary vote. Haley also carried independents, who accounted for just 22% of the electorate, though she won them by 25 points, a smaller margin than Trump won with Republicans.

Haley managed to win 82% of voters who believe President Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election, but they only made up a third of the electorate.

Haley only narrowly won a group where she might have had more of an opening: college graduates. She won 54% of them, besting Trump by 9 points.

Haleys two main messages in the closing days of the race  electability and respect for the military  also did not appear to resonate. Just 17% of primary voters believe Trump is not likely to defeat Biden in November. Trump also overwhelmingly won the 17% of voters who have served in the military, even as Haley argued that Trump has disrespected service members, including her husband.

3. Voters top issues favored Trump

A majority of South Carolina GOP primary participants said immigration and the economy were the two issues that were most determinative to their vote. And those voters largely favored Trump.

Among the 36% of voters who said immigration was their top issue, Trump won 80%, while Haley won just 20%. And among the 33% of voters who said the economy was their top issue, Trump won 62% to Haleys 38%.

Haley bested Trump among voters who said foreign policy and abortion were their top issues, but those voters made up just one-fifth of the primary electorate.

4. Voters made up their minds before Haleys rise

Trumps commanding win also came as the vast majority of voters who turned out Saturday said that they made up their minds on which candidate to support even before the first primary contests took place last month  and well before the primary became a two-person race between Trump and Haley.

A whopping 77% said they decided whom to support before January, and roughly 3 in 4 of those voters supported Trump. Just 7% decided who they would vote for in January, 7% decided earlier in February, and 9% made their decisions in the last week.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
FILE - A Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco sits in a tree in New York's Central Park, Feb. 6, 2023. Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped from New York Citys Central Park Zoo and became one of the citys most beloved celebrities as he flew around Manhattan, has died, zoo officials announced Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  New York Citys celebrity owl Flaco died from a traumatic impact, zoologists confirmed a day after he reportedly flew into a building, with further testing planned to determine if the Eurasian eagle-owl may have been sick.

What happened in Flaco's final hours is top of mind for his fans across the city, who cheered him on as he defied the odds by fending for himself despite a life in captivity. Police are still seeking to arrest whoever let him out of his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo a year ago.

Flaco had been in good physical shape, the necropsy found, succeeding in catching prey even though he had no experience hunting because he came to the zoo as a fledgling 13 years earlier. According to the necropsy report released Saturday, the owl weighed 1.89 kilograms (4.1 pounds), just 2% less than when he was last measured at the zoo.

Flaco was found dead Friday on a sidewalk after apparently hitting a building on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

The main impact appears to have been to the body, as there was substantial hemorrhage under the sternum and in the back of the body cavity around the liver, the report said.

The Central Park Zoo put the blame squarely on the person who cut open Flacos enclosure. But theyre investigating illness as a possible factor, and plan to release an update in around two weeks.

This will include microscopic examination of tissue samples; toxicology tests to evaluate potential exposures to rodenticides or other toxins; and testing for infectious diseases such as West Nile Virus and Avian Influenza, the zoo's statement said.

Eulogies from his admirers poured in over the weekend. So did speculation about which of the many urban threats to wildlife may have contributed to his death.

Flaco fans who listened for his nightly hooting in on the Upper West Side reported hed gone quiet in the days before his death, and theorized that he may have been ill.
In the days since a gunman killed two Burnsville police officers and a firefighter, people have been asking White Bear Lake officer Ryan Sheak how hes doing.

A year ago, a man shot Sheak when he and other White Bear Lake officers went to arrest the man on a felony warrant. After undergoing surgery, Sheak returned to work about six months later, though hes still recovering from his injuries.

Sheak said hes been telling the people whove been checking on him: Im just so thankful and grateful to be where I am because obviously, as weve seen this week, it could have went a different direction for me.

As he and other first responders grieve the lives lost of Burnsville officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth, theyre also reflecting on the dangers of their work.

Assaults on law enforcement in Minnesota have been climbing in recent years  they were up 152 percent last year compared to 2019.

On average, 388 officers were assaulted each year in the decade up to 2019. There have been an average of 1,041 assaults per year between 2020 and 2023, according to a Pioneer Press analysis of Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension data from local law enforcement agencies.

Most of the assaults resulted in minor or no injuries, but some officers paid the ultimate price. Since January 2023, nine first responders have been fatally shot in the region and 16 have been wounded by gunfire.

Policing across this country to protect a free society isnt getting any easier, Burnsville police officer Mark Hetherington, whos been in law enforcement for 27 years, told a crowd at a vigil in Burnsville on Tuesday. We need everyone to be on board to keep us safe, to keep our schools safe, to keep our people safe. We have to unite. The rhetoric sometimes is unnecessary.

Various reasons cited for increase

People in the field cited various reasons why they believe attacks on officers have increased  worsening tensions, particularly since the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis officer in 2020; an increase in violent crime, now on the decline, that affects community members and also officers; more guns in the hands of people who shouldnt have them because theyre felons or mentally ill; and a sense that there arent serious consequences for crime, leading to people feeling emboldened.

Todd Axtell, who was St. Paul police chief until 2022, said he sees animosity toward law enforcement increase when body camera or cellphone videos of ugly incidents between police and the public whip through social media like wildfire.

People forget theres a person behind that badge, Axtell said. Police officers do what every one of us, whether were a police chief, politician, journalist, resident or reformer, not only asked them to do, but also need them to do. History has taught us that awful things happen when we only see the bad in people. Weve seen entirely too many awful things lately.

Sheak, who has been a White Bear Lake officer for seven years, said everything changed after the 2020 civil unrest. Previously, there was a lot more respect and understanding regarding our profession, he said. Now, he said they encounter more people who are uncooperative and disrespectful, and law enforcement is villainized with a broad brush.

He said conversations between law enforcement and people who dont understand the profession could help.

If any people want to talk to me, theyll see Im just a normal human being; Im a husband, Im a father, I give back to my community, he said.

Justin Nix, associate professor of criminology at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, has studied fatal and non-fatal firearm assaults against officers across the country. He and other researchers found a three-week spike in firearm assaults on police after Floyd was killed, after which the trend in firearms assaults dropped to levels only slightly above that which were predicted by pre-Floyd data, according to their paper published in the journal Criminology.

Since the popularization of the war on cops narrative after the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., no research has found evidence that this killing led to a significant increase in violence against police, they wrote in their paper.  (I)t remains possible that other high-profile police killings might lead to a concentrated increase in the more general phenomenon of retaliatory violence.'

Nix said last year that there has been a slow uptick nationally in the number of firearm assaults on officers since 2018, which closely mirrors changes in community violence that weve seen in the last few years, where there have been more homicides and more shootings than five to 10 years ago.

Shootings during domestic incidents

The Burnsville first responders were killed Feb. 18 after police received a report about a domestic incident, according to the BCA. Officers responded to a 911 call about 1:50 a.m. regarding an alleged sexual assault, a BCA agent wrote in an application for a search warrant.

Three of 12 incidents of shootings of first responders in the region since January 2023 happened when they were responding to domestic disturbances  the Burnsville incident, during which a sergeant was also shot and injured; a St. Paul shooting in December when an officer was wounded in the leg; and the April killing of Pope County sheriffs Deputy Josh Owen, 44, during which another deputy and an officer were shot and wounded.

Thirty percent of all assaults on officers in Minnesota since 2021 happened when they were responding to a disturbance call, which includes reports of family quarrels, people with a firearm and other calls for service, according to BCA data.

Although people have long said domestic disturbances are the deadliest for officers, Nix and other researchers found in analyzing national 2016 data that domestic incidents were considerably less likely to result in officers being assaulted or injured/killed.

We cant be sure why the numbers look this way, Nix wrote in a summary. It could be that domestics are in fact far less dangerous than non-domestics. Or, it could be that officers have been trained and socialized to take extra precautions on these calls, which offsets any increased danger.

In Burnsville, officers who responded to the home in the 12600 block of 33rd Avenue South spoke with Shannon Gooden, 38, who wouldnt leave the residence but said he was unarmed. He said he had children inside. BCA officials previously said there were seven children, ages 2 to 15, in the home.

Officers went inside and negotiated with Gooden for about 3 hours, trying to get him to surrender peacefully, but he opened fire at 5:26 a.m. on the officers inside the home without warning, according to the BCA.

Gooden continued firing after the officers retreated outside, and he shot Finseth as the firefighter/paramedic tried to aid the officers. Gooden shot more than 100 rifle rounds at law enforcement and first responders, the BCA said. Burnsville police Sgt. Adam Medlicott was shot and injured, and is now recovering.

White Bear Lake officers recovery

The next most common situation in which officers are assaulted  in 21 percent of cases in Minnesota since 2021  are attempting other arrests, which the BCA said includes carrying out arrest and search warrants. That was the case in one fatal shooting in the region and nine officers injured in shootings since January 2023.

On Jan. 24, 2023, Sheak and other officers went to arrest Daniel Loren Holmgren Jr., 34, on a felony warrant in his White Bear Lake apartment.

After a few minutes of negotiations with him, when he was kind of barricaded in the bedroom, he opened the door and fired at us and I took the rounds, Sheak recalled.

Sheak was wearing a bullet-resistant vest, but unfortunately, all the rounds I took were right below the vest, he said. Holmgren was using a handgun, though rifle fire can penetrate officers vests.

Holmgren shot Sheak two or three times in the abdomen and pelvic area  all the shots traveled through his body, exiting on the other side. One round went through his lower back and shattered his sacrum bone  that injury has been the most difficult part of his recovery. The bullet missed Sheaks spinal cord by about 4 millimeters, he said.

My legs gave out and then I just went into training mode and survival mode, Sheak said. His fellow officers dragged him out and to an ambulance. He never lost consciousness. I was going to call my wife and I didnt know if this was going to be a good-bye phone call, but he said after officers looked him over, he realized he would be for the most part OK.

Sheak called his wife from the ambulance and spoke to her briefly, telling her: I love you. Get to the hospital and drive safe.

Holmgren pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer and received a 19-year sentence.

Sheak returned to work at White Bear Lake in late July, now a full-time detective. Its been very therapeutic and healing, both mentally and spiritually, being back with my second family, he said of being back to work in the city where he grew up.

Sheaks wife had some apprehension about him returning to police work, he said.

Im sure thats always going to be present for her and the kids, he said. These unfortunate reminders like what happened this week hits that reset button and we start all over again with concerns and its just a stark reality of what could have happened to me.

Sheak still has lower back pain and stiffness, and goes to physical therapy regularly for his back injury.

His scars arent only physical  he started going to therapy to work through what happened, and hes also leaned on his faith and support from his peers and family. He recommends therapy for all first responders.

We see things and endure things on a daily basis that we compartmentalize and store away and its not healthy, and we need to find a way to release that, he said.

Sheak was a board member of the Front Line Foundation before he was injured and he still continues in his role. The foundation announced Monday that it is providing $60,000 to the families of the three first responders killed in Burnsville.

Past shootings of law enforcement

Minnesota data shows 7 percent of assaults on officers since 2021 happened during traffic stops or pursuits.

Three officers killed last year in western Wisconsin were on traffic stops. A man shot Cameron officer Hunter Scheel, 23, and Chetek officer Emily Breidenbach, 32, during a traffic stop in Barron County in April. St. Croix County sheriffs Deputy Kaitie Leising, 29, was fatally shot when she responded to a report of a suspected drunken driver in May.

Fargo, N.D., officers were responding to a traffic crash in July when a man ambushed them, fatally shooting officer Jake Wallin, 23, and seriously wounding two other officers and a passerby.

Around the country, 47 officers were shot and killed in the line of duty last year, compared to 63 officers in 2022, according to preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. From 2010 through the end of 2020, an average of 53 officers were shot and killed each year, the organization said.

In Minnesota, before Pope County Deputy Owens killing last year, the last time an officer was fatally shot was 2021 when Red Lake Nation officer Ryan Bialke, 37, was slain. The next most recent cases of homicide by gunfire were Aitkin County sheriffs investigator Steven Sandberg, 60, in 2015 and Mendota Heights officer Scott Patrick, 47, in 2014.

Of 3,464 law enforcement officers assaulted in Minnesota since 2021, 92 percent had no injuries or ones that were apparently minor, BCA data show. About 3 percent  98 officers  had a major injury, possible internal injury, apparent broken bones or severe laceration.

Terrible memories of 1994 St. Paul killings

The killings in Burnsville brought back terrible memories of Aug. 26, 1994, when St. Paul officers Ron Ryan Jr., Tim Jones and K-9 Laser were fatally shot. In total, there were 210 officers assaulted in Minnesota that year (Minneapolis police figures werent included).

The shock, the fear, the sadness  all of those memories  boiled back up, not just for me, but for all members of law enforcement who were impacted by the death of Ron and Tim on that day, Axtell said of what happened last Sunday. I know were all feeling those same emotions when we hear of these heroes in Burnsville that lost their lives protecting their community.

Officer and firefighter wellness is always important, and departments having mental health professionals available is essential in times like this, Axtell said.

A look at historic data shows there were also a high number of assaults on officers in Minnesota in 1978, when 560 cases were reported. In 1970, when officer James Sackett Sr., 27, was fatally shot in St. Paul, there were 409 assaults on officers documented throughout Minnesota.

Related Articles
King Charles III of the United Kingdom has delivered a strong message of support for Ukraine in a statement marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion.

Source: European Pravda, citing the message

Details: "The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year," King Charles III stated.

He stressed that the people of Ukraine continue to show heroism despite enormous hardships and pain.

"Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression. I have felt this personally in the many meetings I have had with Ukrainians since the start of the war, from President Zelenskyy and Mrs Zelenska, to new army recruits training here in the United Kingdom," the king stressed.

Charles hailed the enduring support to Ukraine from the United Kingdom and its allies.

"I continue to be greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine at this time of such great suffering and need. My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers," the monarch concluded.

This unexpectedly direct message appears to be a call for further international assistance to Ukraine, the BBC noted, adding that it is unusual for the king to speak so unequivocally about a global conflict, and his remarks reflect the strength of his feelings.

In the early stages of the full-scale invasion, Charles III made a surprise visit to meet with Ukrainian refugees who had fled to Romania.

He also visited the Ukrainian community in Scotland, and during a state visit to France last year, the King told the Senate that it was important for Ukraine to win against the "horrible" Russian invasion so that "our cherished freedoms would prevail".

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King Charles on Saturday praised Ukraines "determination and strength" in the face of Russias "indiscernible aggression" while marking two years since the country was invaded.

"The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods, enters a third, tragic, year," the monarch wrote in an official statement.

He added, "Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely. Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression."

The king said he had "felt this personally" in meetings hes had with Ukrainians since the war started, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Oleksandra Zelenska and Ukrainian army recruits training in the United Kingdom.

KING CHARLES III'S CANCER ANNOUNCEMENT LEAVES PUBLIC WITH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: JUST RIP OFF THE BAND-AID

King Charles III invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Buckingham Palace last year.

He continued, "I continue to be greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine at this time of such great suffering and need. My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

The kings unusually strong statement comes after the U.K. hit Russia with more sanctions following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The U.S. has also levied more sanctions on the country.

KING CHARLES REDUCED TO TEARS BY CANCER SUPPORT MESSAGES

The British Embassy in Washington, D.C., was lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag Saturday evening to mark two years since the start of the war.

The British Embassy in Washington, D.C. also lit up its building in the colors of the Ukrainian flag in a show of support on Saturday night.

Charles hosted Zelenskyy a year ago at Buckingham Palace when the Ukrainian president made a surprise visit to the U.K., nearly one year since the war started.

"We've all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long, I can't tell you," the king said at the time.

In March of last year, Prince William made a surprise visit to see British and Polish troops stationed on Polands border with Ukraine.

"Im here because I want to personally thank the Polish and British troops working in close and crucial partnership," the Prince of Wales said at the time." I also want to pay tribute to the inspiring humanity of the Polish people. You have opened your hearts as much as your homes," he added, of the Polish peoples willingness to accept Ukrainian refugees.





Original article source: King Charles praises Ukraines determination, denounces Russias indescribable aggression 2 years into war
King Charles III issued a statement in support of Ukraine to mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, saying Ukraine is facing "indescribable aggression."

"The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year," King Charles said on Feb. 24.

Feb. 24 marked two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, unleashing the biggest war in Europe since World War II.

An estimated 10,582 civilians in Ukraine have been killed and 19,875 others have been injured in the past two years, according to UN estimates. However, casualties are likely much higher as it is not possible to calculate those killed and injured in parts of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces.

At least 528 children have been killed and 1,230 injured since the start of the full-scale war, according to the Prosecutor General's Office. The Ukrainian government has also identified over 19,000 children who were kidnapped by Russia.

"Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely. Theirs is true valor, in the face of indescribable aggression. I have felt this personally in the many meetings I have had with Ukrainians since the start of the war, from President Zelensky and Mrs. Zelenska, to new army recruits training here in the United Kingdom."

King Charles has expressed solidarity with Ukraine amid Russian aggression since the onset of the full-scale war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not receive an invitation to the king's coronation ceremony in May 2023. In March 2023, King Charles issued a statement at the German parliament denouncing Russia's "war of aggression of Ukraine."

King Charles also visited Ukrainian troops training in the U.K. in February 2023.

Read also: Opinion: In the past 2 years of war, we have all died a little

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The narrative about 'Ukraine fatigue' is not based on evidence, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the Kyiv Independent at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

He said that Ukraine's allies are not fatigued in their support of Ukraine and that this narrative is wrongly amplified by members of the media.

"The panel I participated in Munich was called "Ukraine Fatigue," Kuleba stated. "But no one talked about Ukraine fatigue, except for Nancy Pelosi, who said: 'Why is this the title of the panel if there is no fatigue? Why are you imposing this narrative?' This is the main thing. This is a story that, unfortunately, experts and the media play along with...The Ukraine fatigue narrative is not evidence-based."

Kuleba also emphasized that European countries have demonstrated an absolute understanding of the decisions that need to be made in order to support Ukraine. The U.S., the Foreign Minister said, is not yet able to provide concrete information about future aid.

"The Europeans should be praised, they demonstrate an absolute understanding that we need to speed up and make concrete decisions...America is a separate story. The situation is complicated, and everyone says that everything will be fine, but no one says when."

Read also: Zelensky: 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in Russias war

High-ranking Ukrainian officials met to discuss Ukraines future at the Ukraine. Year 2024 forum on Feb. 25, one day after the second anniversary of Russias full-scale war.

Just one week before, Ukraine's allies met with top political leadership at the Munich Security Conference. Numerous European countries announced further aid packages around the time of the conference.

The United States, however, continues to drag its feet on a foreign aid bill that would allocate more than $60 billion in financial and military assistance to Kyiv.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to put the bill to a vote in the U.S. House, instead declaring recess until the end of February.

Delays in U.S. aid have already had an impact on the ground in Ukraine. The loss of Avdiivka, a Donetsk Oblast city that has faced Russian attacks since 2014, was linked to shortages in artillery shells and other supplies provided by the West.

Read also: Opinion: As an American in Avdiivka, what is Congress doing?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met this week with Korean business officials in New York and pledged the government's support for their overseas expansion, his ministry said Sunday.

Cho held the meeting in New York on Saturday after attending a Group of 20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro and before traveling to Washington.

The minister stressed the importance of the government and the private sector working together as a team at a time when there are no boundaries between economic and national security issues, and pledged to spare no assistance to minimize the negative impact of the rapidly changing external environment on Korean businesses and to help their overseas expansion and exports.

In attendance were officials from companies and institutions, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, LG Electronics, Korean Air, CJ, Bank of Korea and Korea Development Bank.

Cho plans to raise the issues discussed during meetings with U.S. government and congressional officials during his visit to Washington starting Monday, his ministry said. (Yonhap)
LOS ANGELES - Eleven candidates are hoping to unseat current LA County District Attorney George Gascon.

Gascon, who was elected in 2020, is up for reelection and several prosecutors, including his own employees, are looking to take his job.

His challengers include local prosecutors Jonathan Hatami and Eric Siddall and former federal prosecutors Jeff Chemerinsky and Nathan Hochman. The other candidates are David S. Milton, Debra Archuleta, Maria Ramirez, Dan Kapelovitz, Lloyd "Bobcat" Masson, John McKinney and Craig J. Mitchell.

In the March 5 Primary, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will move on to the November General Election.

Experts believe Gascon will survive the primary but are less optimistic about his chances in November.

RELATED:

Since taking office, Gascon has faced backlash for his sweeping policy changes and soft approach on crime. Under Gascon, the county has seen a drastic increase in crime including follow-home robberies, smash-and-grab robberies, homelessness and homicide.

After being in office for less than a year, Gascon faced a recall -- however, despite strong support, the recall attempt failed. A second recall attempt also failed.

A recent USC Dornsife/ Price Center for Urban Politics and Policy poll, released before the DA debate in early February, had Gascon in the lead with 15%. Hatami trailed behind with just 8%. Meanwhile, 64% of voters are still undecided.

RELATED:

What his challengers say:

John McKinney

Deputy DA John McKinney said he is running because LA needs a change in leadership and direction.

"We're at a crossroads now where we have a district attorney who refuses to follow the law, apply the law, he has removed public safety as a legitimate concern of the district attorney, he has ignored victims and all of this has resulted in rise in crime in the form of record number of homicides, in recent memory, thefts are out of control. The people are having to make lifestyle changes, for example, people won't leave the house with their everyday jewelry on. It's just chaos on our streets and chaos in the district attorney's office," McKinney told FOX 11 News in 2023 after announcing his candidacy.

McKinney was hired as a prosecutor by then-LA District Attorney Gil Garcetti in 1998. He has served under four district attorneys, including Garcetti, Steve Cooley, Jackie Lacey, and Gascon.

Jonathan Hatami

Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami has been an outspoken critic of Gascon, particularly on his policies regarding special enhancements.

Hatami, who serves on the Complex Child Abuse unit, says he is running to protect the safety of all children. He has prosecuted over 80 felony jury trials including the high-profile cases of Gabriel Fernandez and Anthony Avalos.

"I'm going to fight for the safety of everyone's children. We have a major increase in crime here in Los Angeles, especially gun violence. We have an increase in crime in public transportation, people are afraid to use public transportation," Hatami said.

He was hired as a Deputy District Attorney in LA in 2006. In both 2016 and 2019 he was named prosecutor of the year.

Nathan Hochman

Former US Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman said under Gascon, Los Angeles is evolving into a dystopia' where lawlessness reigns supreme.

"I, like millions of Angelenos who love this place and do not want to move away from it, are prepared to fight for it. And we are disgusted and disappointed with the pro-criminal blanket policies that our current DA George Gascon has enacted," Hochman told FOX 11.

He said Gascon's policies are moving "from the county of Angels to a dystopian, Gotham-esque sort of existence where lawlessness is reigning supreme."

He called Gascon's policies dangerous and said he is playing politics with peoples lives'. He believes the DA's role is to enforce the law, not create them.

Hochman served as an Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California. From 2007 to 2009, he served as an Assistant Attorney General of the United States overseeing the Department of Justices Tax Division.

Eric Siddall

Deputy DA Eric Siddall is a violent crimes prosecutor. He is also a board member of Justice for Murdered Children and served as vice president of the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys.

He says with crime in LA, specifically smash-and-grab robberies, the prosecutor's office has a policy of catch and release. So those originally arrested for the crime are soon released. He also said the county has a backlog of 13,000 unfilled felony cases--about one month of crime in LA.

"People are not facing consequences, people are not being held accountable, and they are also not being held in custody, so they can recommit these smash-and-grabs," Siddall said during an interview with FOX 11.

"I'm running for DA because I want to make sure that our public spaces, the place where our diversity is most heightened, are safe for all people. And I want to make sure that people can feel they can walk through the streets of Los Angeles without being harassed by the homeless, and I want to make sure that our criminal justice system treats the homeless in a humane fashion, does not criminalize them, but gives them a path of leaving that scenario."

Jeff Chemerinsky

Jeff Chemerinsky is a former federal prosecutor and served as chief of the Violent and Organized Crime Unit for the Attorney General's Office for the Central District of California. He oversaw all violent crime prosecutions and convicted the head of the MS-13 street gang and the head of the East Coast Crips gang. Chemerinsky said he has never lost a case.

He is now running for LA District Attorney because he says LA needs new leadership and accountability from the DA's Office.

"The reality right now is that the people of Los Angeles have lost confidence in the district attorney. They've lost confidence in him both to provide public safety and to provide criminal justice reform. And I want to provide a vision that offers the voters of Los Angeles County both of those because I think they are both incredibly important," Chemerinsky told FOX 11 when he announced his campaign run.

Chemerinsky says he strongly believes in criminal justice reform because mass incarceration does not work. He said Gascon is failing to take gun crimes seriously, and if elected as DA he would aggressively pursue gun crimes from day one.

Chemerinsky has received multiple awards for his service, including the U.S. Department of Justice's Director's Award.

Maria Rameriz

Deputy DA Maria Rameriz spent 33 years in public service, including as Director of Specialized Prosecutions and became the first Latina promoted to Head Deputy.

As Director of Specialized Prosecutions she oversaw operations for seven divisions: Major Crimes, Hardcore Gang, Sex Crimes, Family Violence, Crimes Against Peace Officers, Target and Juvenile.

She said the one thing that separates her from all the other candidates is her managerial experience. She has worked her way up the ranks in the DA's office by working her way up from a trial attorney to supervisor, then to senior management.

"I have an idea of what it takes to fix the issues we are having right now," Rameriz said on FOX 11.

She, like many of the other candidates, say it is time for change in the DA's office.

"What we need is a strong leader, a strong district attorney who is going to do the job that they are supposed to do and that is enforce the laws and apply them fairly and equally and do something about the safety in our communities. And that's something that I'm passionate about," Rameriz added.

Her top issue are homelessness and mental health and plans to collaborate with other departments in addressing the issue.
Its not unusual for college students to jog along the dirt trails that weave around Lake Herrick and various intramural fields on the south part of the University of Georgias campus in Athens.

Thats what Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, set out to do on Thursday morning, as she did many mornings, but Riley didnt come home this time.

Her roommate contacted campus police to report her missing, and within half an hour, authorities found Riley dead in a wooded area behind the lake with "visible injuries."

That morning, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezeula living in an apartment building that sits on the edge of the park where Riley was running, allegedly murdered the aspiring nurse in what UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark described as a "crime of opportunity."

GEORGIA MURDER SUSPECT CONFIRMED TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

Ibarra is now facing charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Riley died of blunt force trauma, Clark said during a Friday evening press conference announcing Ibarras quick arrest.

Jose Ibarra, who was taken into custody on Friday by the UGA Police Department in connection with Riley's death.

The scenic loop Riley ran that morning is easily accessible from behind Ibarras apartment complex. It is a five-minute walk from Ibarras door to the approximate scene where Riley was found dead.

LAKEN RILEY MURDER SUSPECT'S BROTHER FIRED FROM UGA AFTER PRESENTING FAKE PASSPORT

An exterior view of Jose Antonio Ibarras apartment in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Ibarra has been charged with the murder of Laken Riley after she was found dead along a walking trail on campus.

An Athens local named Dominic who spoke with Fox News Digital said hes been walking the same loop in Oconee Forest Park, a 60-acre natural area, since he was 14. Dominic is 51 now, with an old dog who doesnt enjoy walking as much as his owner does.

The part of the trail where Riley was located near a retention pond has always seemed "eerie" to him. There are no visible security cameras or blue lights in the area.

An Athens local walks his dog around a Lake Herrick pedestrian loop, part of which he described as "eerie."

"Its great if youre on a bike, going fast, but if youre walking, unless you have a big German Shepherd with you  I wouldnt want my mom and sister walking here alone."

The reason that specific part of the trail creeps him out, Dominic said, is because of the railroad tracks and apartment buildings that border the area. There are no fences separating the UGA-owned park from the buildings.

GEORGIA NURSING STUDENT FOUND DEAD ON UGA CAMPUS IDENTIFIED AS LAKEN RILEY

UGA said in a Friday news release "there is no higher priority for [the] campus than the safety and security of all who live and work here."

"We have put in place comprehensive measures to protect our students, faculty, staff, and guests  including $16 million invested over the last eight years to hire more police officers, install more security cameras, enhance lighting, establish a nightly rideshare program, and create a UGASafe app," the school said. "But we are committed to doing even more. Earlier this week, we approved an additional phase of lighting improvements and security camera installations, and we will continue to evaluate our safety programs for further enhancements. This is an ongoing and exhaustive effort."

The university recently cut down "overgrown" cattails in that specific part of the trail to give pedestrians better visibility  to make it feel safer, Dominic said. Another regular walker, Cheri Smithson, also noted the recently mowed cattails.

The trail was abnormally quiet on a sunny Saturday morning after Rileys death. Usually, the trail is so busy on nice-weather weekends that pedestrians wearing headphones can be seen bumping into each other, Dominic said. The off-leash dog owners and on-leash dog owners argue with one another.

Not this Saturday. Only regulars showed; Smithson left a bouquet of yellow ranunculuses at the scene where Riley was found.

"Everybody  they'll say, that's the spot where your head's on a swivel. It's a scary spot," Smithson said.

BROTHER OF UGA MURDER SUSPECT CHARGED WITH GREEN CARD FRAUD

Cheri Smithson leaves flowers for Laken Riley along Lake Herrick on the University of Georgias campus in Athens, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Rileys slaying has left the UGA community "reeling," said Michelle, the mother of a female student.

"Its unsettling to me to think there are people in pockets around the country that are unstable and could commit crimes," she told Fox News Digital.

Michelle, a UGA alum, said shes told her daughter countless times to be careful when she walks alone, to only go running with her lab, to be aware of her surroundings when drinking at night with friends.

"It shakes people to their core because it makes people realize theres a dirty underbelly we dont see," she said. "My heart breaks. Ive been praying for [Rileys] mom every time she comes to mind."

Laken Riley poses for a photo posted to Facebook.

Riley's family posted a statement on Saturday, describing the 22-year-old as "an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person."

"Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life. She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way," the statement shared with WXIA read, in part. "During this most difficult time, we ask that you respect our privacy, and provide us the time and space necessary to grieve our daughters life that was tragically cut short."

Ibarras neighbors told Fox News Digital that police swarmed the parking lot of their complex on Thursday and Friday. Authorities sat Ibarra in a lawn chair outside his apartment  where he lived with his older brother, Diego Ibarra, and two others  and questioned him. They took Jose into custody first and then his brother, who has been charged with green card fraud.

"I just got a weird vibe from him," one neighbor said of Jose.

LAKEN RILEY CASE: GEORGIA AUTHORITIES IDENTIFY MURDER SUSPECT IN CUSTODY IN NURSING STUDENT'S SLAYING

An exterior view of Jose Antonio Ibarras apartment in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Another female neighbor said shed spoken to him once or twice in passing and never thought anything unusual about him.

A Clarke County magistrate judge on Saturday morning denied Ibarras bond "for today" because the magistrate court does not have the authority to set bonds for certain felonies.

Jose Antonio Ibarras public defender and translator arrive at the Athens-Clarke County Jail in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Ibarra wore a red jumpsuit and shackles in court, and he nodded when translators spoke to him. His public defender said Ibarra understands the charges filed against him.

The 26-year-old suspect illegally crossed into the United States through El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 and was released into the U.S. via parole, three ICE and DHS, sources told Fox News.

Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.





Original article source: Laken Riley murder suspect Jose Ibarra lived within 5-minute walk of UGA crime scene
LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH)  The family of a Fairfield County man who went missing six months ago is offering a large cash reward for information that could lead to his return home.

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers said the parents of 44-year-old Michael Messmore, of Lancaster, are offering $10,000 for any tips that could help find their son. Messmore was last seen on Aug. 21, 2023, after he left parents home that night and never returned.

Michael Messmore, of Lancaster, missing since Aug. 21, 2023. (Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office)

A missing persons report for Messmore was filed on Aug. 24. Since his disappearance his cellphone has either been turned off or no longer charged.

Crime Stoppers is promoting the reward for any information leading to Messmores whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to call the Fairfield County Sheriffs Office at 740-652-7900, Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org and e-mail your tip.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Ukraine's Armed Forces have withdrawn to the western outskirts of Lastochkyne on the Avdiivka front, where fighting for the settlement continues.

Source: Dmytro Lykhovii, spokesman for the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from Lykhovii: "Ukrainian Armed Forces units have withdrawn to the western outskirts of Lastochkyne on the Avdiivka front, where they took up prepared defensive positions."

Details: Lykhovii stressed that intense fighting continues, the Russians are constantly using guided aerial bombs, artillery and FPV drones to attack the positions of Ukrainian soldiers.

Background: Earlier, analysts reported that Russian troops had occupied the village of Lastochkyne, west of Avdiivka.

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The 35-day legislative session is halfway over, and momentum is building on the key issues legislative leaders said would be their focus: housing and homelessness and Oregons drug crisis.

Lawmakers have until March 10 to pass policy bills and budget adjustments. Hearings on major legislation including rolling back the state's drug decriminalization law and bolstering housing production are expected this week.

The Oregon Senate last week passed legislation criminalizing drug use on public transportation. The bill now awaits a vote from the Oregon House. And on Friday, an amendment outlining a new agreement between Republicans and Democrats on penalties for drug possession was made public.

The nonprofit DEvNW is building a 24-home, single-family affordable housing subdivision on MacLeay Road, partially funded by $650,000 in HOME grants. It's the kind of housing Gov. Tina Kotek is hoping to incentivise under her priority bill, House Bill 1537, which is expected to be voted on next week.

Gov. Tina Kotek's reduced housing ask in Ways and Means

Speaker Dan Rayfield told reporters on Thursday he expected bills around housing and homelessness to be moved out of the Ways and Means committee sometime this week, voted out of the committee and onto the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 1537 is Gov. Tina Koteks priority housing bill which she announced ahead of the legislative session.

The proposal would create a Housing Accountability and Production Office to support the production of new housing and allow for one-time expansion of cities urban growth boundaries.

Hundreds submitted testimony on the bill earlier this month.

Lawmakers moved the bill out of committee, but not without amending the number of acres cities could add to growth boundaries and cutting Koteks $500 million budget request to $350 million.

The proposal sent to Ways and Means would allow cities with more than 25,000 people to bring up to 100 acres into their urban growth boundaries if 30% of the development would go toward affordable housing and other requirements are met. Cities with populations under 25,000 would be able to bring up to 50 acres into their urban growth boundaries.

Kotek, through her spokesperson, said she had anticipated amendments to the bill, but hoped for deeper investments toward moderate-income financing and infrastructure programs.

She hopes to see at least $200 million more than the legislature proposed dedicated to the bill, Elisabeth Shepard, Kotek's press secretary, said in an email.

Kotek set a goal of building 36,000 housing units a year for the next 10 years to overcome Oregons housing crisis.

Addie Smith speaks at a Feb. 7 public hearing on proposals to deal with Oregon's drug addiction crisis. Lawmakers will hold another public hearing Monday evening on a 137-page amendment to HB 4002.

Agreement on policy around Oregon's addiction crisis

Action stalled the last two weeks on proposals to bring back penalties for drug possession as Democrats and Republicans negotiated.

Lawmakers held a public hearing Feb. 7 on House Bill 4002, the proposal supported by Democrats leading the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response and Republicans' proposal, House Bill 4036, which would make changes to a key aspect of Measure 110, which voters passed three years ago.

Lawmakers now plan to host an additional public hearing this week on the 137-page amendment published Friday afternoon.

The now-revised bill would penalize drug possession as an entirely new misdemeanor with penalties of up to 180 days if diversion or deflection options fail.

The bill says "law enforcement agencies in this state are encouraged to, in lieu of citation or arrest, or after citation or arrest but before referral to the district attorney, refer a person to a deflection program. District attorneys are encouraged to divert for assessment, treatment and other services, instead of conviction."

Under the amendment, the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission would be required to establish a statewide system to track data around deflection program outcomes.

Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, said lawmakers started the session with two overarching questions regarding the state's worsening addiction crisis: What are the immediate actions legislators can take to build out the state's treatment infrastructure and how do lawmakers continue with the long-term plan for the treatment infrastructure needed to make sure those in crisis get help.

"No one person has all the answers and that's why we tried to engage as many people as possible and I feel good about the package that we're putting together," Kropf said.

Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, speaks Feb. 7 during a public hearing at the Oregon Legislature.

The amended proposal maintains investments in treatment while also giving law enforcement the tools they need, he said.

Diversion would still be possible in counties that opt-in.

As of Friday, 10 to 14 counties said they would partner with the state to create deflection programs in their communities, Kropf said. The programs are meant to offer those stopped for possession the opportunity to avoid the criminal process altogether and instead connect with treatment.

After successful completion of a deflection program, a law enforcement agency and district attorney would be required to seal all records within 60 days of receiving verification of completion.

Records would be expunged after two years from the date of a citation without any other prosecutorial action. Successful completion of probation leading to the dismissal of charges also would require expungement 90 days after the dismissal.

Records of individuals convicted of unlawful possession would be sealed three years after conviction.

"We're trying to create as many pathways and as many offramps towards treatment," Kropf said.

Other aspects of the bill remain unchanged including extending welfare holds from 48 hours to 72 hours, conducting a study specifically targeting barriers to youth's access to opioid use disorder treatment, and penalizing those dealing drugs within 500 feet of a treatment facility, shelter or public park.

Organizations who opposed the earlier version of the bill again expressed frustration and opposition as the amendment was released.

The ACLU of Oregon penned a letter to Kropf, Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Portland, Kotek and other leaders saying changes to HB 4002 were functionally similar to the regressive policies pushed by the group Fix and Improve Ballot Measure 110.

They also claimed stakeholders, including lawyers and civil rights advocates, were shut out of HB 4002 conversations.

Oregons legislative leadership is digging a deep, unconscionable, and costly trench of human suffering by recriminalizing Oregonians experiencing drug addiction, Sandy Chung, executive director of the ACLU of Oregon, said in a statement.

House Republican leader Rep. Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, said House Republicans have stood strong alongside law enforcement and district attorneys to resolve the Measure 110 crisis and would be reviewing revisions to ensure their goals were being met.

Part of that solution absolutely must include recriminalizing drugs," said Helfrich.

Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, also has proposed a separate amendment to the bill which similarly creates a new drug misdemeanor. In a statement outlining his own 145 page proposal, Mannix said his plan takes necessary steps to "clean up our streets and get addicts help."

Oregon is in crisis because of the failure of Measure 110. We need to put partisanship aside and focus on an Oregon solution  one based in policy, not politics," Mannix said.

A public hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Lawmakers revise proposal for drug penalties, Gov. Kotek housing bill
Fishermen recover a body from the river Nile in Monsha'et El Kanater, after a ferry boat carrying labourers sunk leaving at least three people dead. Search and rescue efforts are under way for missing people in the accident, Egyptian media reported. The small boat was carrying eight to 10 workers when it sank, state-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported online. Mahmoud Elkhwas/dpa

A ferry boat carrying labourers on Sunday sank in the river Nile near Cairo, leaving at least three dead, the Egyptian Health Ministry said.

Four others were injured when the boat sank off Giza, a twin city of Cairo, the ministry added in a statement.

Search and rescue efforts are under way for missing people in the accident, Egyptian media reported. The small boat was carrying eight to 10 workers when it sank, state-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported online.

The cause of the accident is not clear yet. However privately owned news website Cairo24 quoted a witness as saying that there were 13 people aboard the boat, although its capacity was only four.

The overcrowding resulted in the boat capsizing, according to the witness. Transport accidents are not uncommon in Egypt, the Arab worlds most populous country, with around 105 million people. They are often blamed on a lack of safety standards.

Villagers watch as fishermen recover a body from the river Nile in Monsha'et El Kanater, after a ferry boat carrying labourers sunk leaving at least three people dead. Search and rescue efforts are under way for missing people in the accident, Egyptian media reported. The small boat was carrying eight to 10 workers when it sank, state-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported online. Mahmoud Elkhwas/dpa

Villagers watch as fishermen search for bodies and survivor in the river Nile in Monsha'et El Kanater, after a ferry boat carrying labourers sunk leaving at least three people dead. Search and rescue efforts are under way for missing people in the accident, Egyptian media reported. The small boat was carrying eight to 10 workers when it sank, state-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported online. Mahmoud Elkhwas/dpa

Fishermen search for survivors in the river Nile in Monsha'et El Kanater, after a ferry boat carrying labourers sunk leaving at least three people dead. Search and rescue efforts are under way for missing people in the accident, Egyptian media reported. The small boat was carrying eight to 10 workers when it sank, state-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported online. Mahmoud Elkhwas/dpa

Villagers gather off the shore of the river Nile in Monsha'et El Kanater, after a ferry boat carrying labourers sunk leaving at least three people dead. Search and rescue efforts are under way for missing people in the accident, Egyptian media reported. The small boat was carrying eight to 10 workers when it sank, state-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported online. Mahmoud Elkhwas/dpa
Oliver Dowden said Mr Anderson would have kept his job if he had apologised - BBC

Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, has said he agrees more broadly with Lee Anderson over concerns about the threat of violence towards politicians.

Mr Anderson, a former Conservative Party deputy chairman, was stripped of the Tory whip on Saturday after he claimed that Islamists had got control of Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor.

The Ashfield MP had been responding to a Telegraph article by Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, in which she wrote that the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge of the country.

Her comments came after Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, sparked anger over a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza by allowing a vote on a Labour amendment, leading to some accusing him of giving in to extremists.

Speaking on GB News on Friday, Mr Anderson said: I dont actually believe that these Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is that theyve got control of Khan, theyve got control of London.

Hes actually given our capital city away to his mates If you let Labour in through the back door, expect more of this, expect our cities to be taken over by these lunatics.

The comments led to widespread condemnation, with Labour accusing Mr Anderson of appalling racism and Islamophobia.

Lee Anderson said: I dont actually believe that these Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is that theyve got control of Khan - Tayfun Salci/Avalon

Mr Dowden said it was appropriate for the whip to have been removed from Mr Anderson, but that he was more broadly voicing concerns about threats of violence towards politicians.

He told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg: I think what Lee Anderson was more broadly expressing in his interviews, and others have done, is a deep concern  which by the way I also share  about the way in which politics has been conducted and what has happened over the past week.

I never thought in my lifetime as a politician, I would see a situation where what was happening in the House of Commons was influenced by the threat of violence, and that has caused huge anger and frustration, its deeply un-British and its right that we should call it out.

Mr Dowden added: I dont believe that Lee Anderson was intending to be Islamophobic but nonetheless, I understand the concern, perhaps particularly when its in relation to the Mayor of London, how those words had caused offence.

That is precisely why he was given the chance to apologise  and when he failed to do so, action was taken.

He said Mr Anderson would have been able to keep the whip and stay in the Conservative Party if he had apologised.

Meanwhile, Labour also called for Liz Truss to have the whip removed this weekend, after the former prime minister appeared alongside Steve Bannon in the US and he called Tommy Robinson, the far-Right activist, a hero.

Mr Bannon, former White House chief strategist under Donald Trump, took part in an interview alongside Ms Truss at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.

Liz Truss should have called out Steve Bannons comments, said Oliver Dowden - Michael Brochstein/Shutterstock

Mr Dowden said that Ms Truss should have called out Mr Bannons comments, and that he would have done so in her position.

What I would say is that when the cameras are on you and youve got a big debate going on, you sometimes dont catch every single word that someone says  but thats for Liz to explain why she didnt call it out at that time, he said. I certainly would have called it out had I been in that situation and heard it properly.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, accused Rishi Sunak of harbouring extremists in his party following both Mr Andersons comments and Ms Trusss media appearance.

He told the Observer: Its right that Lee Anderson has lost the whip after this appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst. But what does it say about the Prime Ministers judgement that he made Lee Anderson deputy chairman of his party?

Whether it is Liz Truss staying silent on Tommy Robinson or Suella Bravermans extreme rhetoric, Rishi Sunaks weakness means Tory MPs can act with impunity.

Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip and take on the extremists in his party. The Tories may be getting more and more desperate as the election approaches, but Rishi Sunak has a responsibility to stop this slide into ever more toxic rhetoric.

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 Arizona Senate will consider a bill that could put Arizona patients at risk for complications from filler and Botox injections, Senate Bill 1269, which would allow dental hygienists to administer neurotoxins and dermal fillers for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes.

The medical procedures that dental hygienists want to perform use FDA-regulated devices, which, if misused, could cause complications, possibly leading to visual impairment, blindness or stroke.

These should only be performed by a physician or appropriately trained non-physician personnel under a trained physicians direct, on-site supervision. This legislation jeopardizes patient safety.

With the growing demand for facial fillers and neuromodulators, providing patients with properly trained and supervised medical personnel is a safeguard Arizona should have for its citizenry.

Neil Fernandes, Chandler

Don't buy the Kroger merger spin

Despite the growing opposition to the Kroger-Albertsons merger, Kroger continues to vigorously defend the merger, saying that it is great for employees and consumers.

Surely they are not pushing so hard to benefit us all. They obviously stand to gain a lot by merging.

The more they try to spin it, the more we are against it. This merger needs to be blocked.

Rusty Duplessis, Casa Grande

Blame parents before social media

It is amusing to me how much politicians and parents blame technology companies for their children becoming addicted to, and adversely impacted by, social media usage and content.

Nowadays, it is easier to blame others rather than take responsibility.

Why do I say this? Observational learning is one of the most powerful ways children learn. And what are our children observing?

They are seeing adults looking at their phones when driving, walking, going to the bathroom, dining (including when with their partners and/or family), and even when walking with their children. They are learning that watching videos or texting is the most important thing in an adults life and must not be disturbed.

If we want our children to be less dependent on social media for their happiness, a good first step is for parents to model interaction with significant others rather than looking at what is on their cellphones. (Parents might also set limits on phone usage, but Im doubtful the majority of parents are willing to do this).

Mark Loeser, Mesa

Rule change won't kill research

Doug Hockstads recent column inveighs against a proposed federal rule change that would grant greater flexibility in re-licensing of patents from federally sponsored research when the price of a product based on it is excessive.

He predicts the loss of $4.7 billion in economic output and more than $172 million in tax revenues over the next decade as government operatives trample out the last spark of innovation at Arizona universities.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The proposal has stringent guidelines of what inventions are even subject to consideration.

And its reasonable to consider whether the public benefit from making products of a taxpayer-funded invention available to and usable by the intended end-users  on whose behalf the initial funding was granted  should weigh against the profits of private individuals and corporations. (Nowhere in the rule do I see it applying to patents from privately funded research.)

Thanks, Doug, for bringing this to our attention. This rule reform is indeed an important issue. Ill be contacting the White House to support its rapid adoption.

Robert Altizer, Phoenix

Measles case is a wake-up call

The report of measles in public spaces in Maricopa Country (Traveler with measles visited public spots in Phoenix and Chandler. Were you exposed? Feb. 13) is a reminder that infectious diseases are a present threat, whether we think about them or not.

This highly contagious disease stays airborne more than two hours after an infected person leaves the area, and vaccination is the only way to protect children and families from its spread.

Measles vaccination rates still havent bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in low- and middle-income countries with limited access to essential health services. We need continued funding support from Congress to fight measles and other infectious diseases because childrens lives are at risk.

I ask Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema to protect foreign assistance in this years appropriations process and support the highest possible levels of funding for global vaccines programs for next year.

Cynthia Levin, St. Louis, Mo.

Whats on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor online or via email at opinions@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Botox bill is seriously unsafe for Arizona patients
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Feb. 16.

Considering the slight memory lapses that President Joe Biden had recently, it should be noted that all people experience forgetfulness occasionally. Donald Trump got Nikki Haley confused with Nancy Pelosi and said he was running against Barack Obama at least twice.

Memory aside, Bidens judgment can be put up any day against that of Trump. Biden got a bipartisan infrastructure law passed two years ago; wiped out a lot of student debt; gave people financial supplements during the pandemic; helped restore NATO; has done more for solar energy than any president; and the employment rate is the lowest in history. The list goes on and on.

Now let's look at Trump's judgment. He gave the very richest people in the country a huge tax cut, including corporations; nearly broke up NATO (and still threatens it); sides with world autocrats and dictators while demonizing good leaders; and incurred one of the largest national debts in his one term than almost all other presidents.

In his rallies, he rants to the American people about the retribution he has planned after losing the last election (which he continues to lie about); also, that he's going to be a dictator and remove most federal employees. Let's not forget about inciting an insurrection. That list goes on and on, too.

So, which kind of judgment do Americans want? The choice is obvious to me  the sooner Trump is out of the spotlight, the better for the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Terri Quint, Ponte Vedra

Abolish the Electoral College

In response to a Feb. 11 letter in support of the Electoral College, I submit that it is an anachronism that should be abolished. The United States is, as a practical matter, the only democratic republic in the world to still utilize such an undemocratic and slanted system. In our highly polarized political climate, its existence realistically means that the presidency is decided only by a tiny number of votes concentrated in a handful of swing states.

The Electoral College provides for the distinct possibility of invalidating the will of most voters, as was seen in the presidential elections of 2000 and 2016. In these contests, the winner lost the popular vote but won the tally of electors. As it currently functions, if you are a Republican and live in large blue state, such as California or New York, your vote is essentially meaningless.

Conversely, if you're a Democrat and live in a red state like Texas or (now) Florida, your vote also won't count. Why should it matter where one lives to determine if their vote will have an impact? America is a materially different nation than it was when the 12th Amendment was passed. It now has a fluid, mobile population and it's past time we recognize this fact.

Voters should have the assurance that their voices will be heard, regardless of where they reside.

Philip May, Jacksonville

Better approach to border security

Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses the audience backed by members of the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard during a Feb. 1 news conference at Cecil Commerce Center on Jacksonville's Westside. There he announced plans to deploy members of the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard to the borders of Texas and other areas to help slow down the tide of individuals entering the United States illegally.

As Gov. Ron DeSantis deploys Florida National Guard and other troops to the Texas border, perhaps we should look at the complex issue of immigration and what we could do to improve living conditions abroad. By mitigating the factors that compel people to migrate, we could prevent some of the massive challenges we are facing at our borders.

One of the ways we are currently doing this is through our foreign health aid. The U.S. Agency for International Development is the organization that handles more than half of our foreign assistance. It has taken many positive steps to improve health services and enhance the quality of life abroad.

However, we must prioritize the expansion of frontline primary care, particularly for nutrition and tuberculosis, two of the worlds most pressing health challenges. There is also the need to integrate HIV/AIDS care with other health services, which will streamline treatment and maximize the impact of our aid dollars.

To achieve these critical improvements, we must increase transparency and accountability in how those funds are administered. Throughout his tenure, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has been a champion of these principles. I urge the senator to extend his commitment to global health by bolstering frontline care in our nutrition and tuberculosis programs.

Brandon Dwight, Jacksonville

Keep funding for Brain Bus

Over 827,000 Floridians serve as unpaid caregivers for residents with Alzheimers and other dementia. We must ensure all impacted have access to support through services like the Alzheimers Association Brain Bus.

For 10 years I have lived as a full-time caregiver. My mother passed away in 2019 from frontal lobe dementia and months later it was clear my father was walking a similar path with Alzheimers. These diseases affected my parents very differently.

Upon my fathers diagnosis, I thought at least this is the evil I know. I was unbelievably naive. His diagnosis brought me a new, separate education, and I continue to lean on Alzheimers Association and services like the Brain Bus for support.

Brain Bus is funded in partnership with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas. It consists of two mobile units traveling the state, reaching Floridians where they live, work and play. Staff provide information on early detection, diagnosis, brain health, risk reduction, advances in research, caregiving tips and local resources. Services are free and no appointment is needed.

I am asking state Rep. Kiyan Michael and Sen. Clay Yarborough to maintain $491,614 in funding for our Brain Bus.

Lindsay Amerault, Jacksonville

Post office wasting time

I recently received another piece of junk mail, a flyer for an oil change. That (sad to say) is hardly unusual. What was unusual was that the item was slightly mutilated and came to me in a cellophane wrapper from the post office. The accompanying note apologized in a lengthy paragraph (English and Spanish) for having caused the damage and explaining that stuff like that happens given the volume of mail it handles daily.

Does the U.S. Post Office have statistics on how many man hours it expends daily apologizing for damage to obviously unsolicited, single-page flyers addressed to Current Resident? I am going to write to my congressperson suggesting a change to the regulations that will allow such practices to cease and allow destruction of this so-called mail.

William Nussbaum, Jacksonville

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida Times-Union letters: Biden vs. Trump a matter of judgment
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will leave for Brazil this week to attend a Group of 20 (G20) meeting of finance chiefs and central bankers to discuss global economic and financial issues, the finance ministry said Sunday.

Choi will head to Brazil on Monday to attend the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Choi will hold separate talks with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and finance ministers of other countries, the ministry said. (Yonhap)
Palestinians flee after an Israeli strike on a residential building in Rafah in the Gaza Strip on Feb. 19. (Hatem Ali / Associated Press)

To the editor: It broke my heart to read the article by Dr. Irfan Galaria, a Virginia surgeon who recently volunteered in the Gaza Strip.

I was struck by what he said about people who died quickly in bombings being the lucky ones. The children and others in Gaza who have lost limbs or endured other injuries will suffer the rest of their lives. They are the ones who must go through life after the war.

In addition to the children's physical and psychological scars, how many years of their education will they lose? How long will they have to live in tents? How many years will it take to rebuild their homes, streets, sewers, water lines, schools, hospitals, mosques and churches?

Yes, it was horrible what Hamas did to the Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, but slaughtering the Gaza population in response is not only inhuman  it is genocidal.

George J. Mouro, Rancho Mirage

..

To the editor: Galaria's use of the word "annihilation" led me to reflect on our history.

The United States has Dec. 7, 1941, a day that "will live in infamy." Israel has Oct. 7, 2023.

The U.S. ultimately responded by dropping atomic bombs on Japanese civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing more than 200,000 people, including women and children. Enemy surrender came afterward.

How can any American denounce Israel's response to an equivalent sneak attack, when it has resulted in a fraction of the casualties, and with no radioactive fallout?

War is hell. In the U.S., we used to blame the carnage on the attack that started it, not on the response that ended it.

Rick Goldfarb, Sherman Oaks

..

To the editor: There is no doubt that what Galaria experienced was a living hell. No innocents should have to suffer in war.

For many years, Israel has been under rocket attack by Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel and will continue to strike until it is destroyed. The issues are very complicated, and even more so since the Oct. 7 attack.

War is hell. The Israeli military has shown evidence of tunnels used by Hamas underneath Gaza hospitals. Evidently, Hamas figured that the Israelis would never endanger innocent people. Unfortunately, in order to defeat Hamas, Israel has had to do things that may appear to be inhuman.

It is time for the world to demand that Hamas surrender for the sake of the people of Gaza. The people can then establish a real government that will work toward peace with Israel and use its resources productively instead of focusing on terror.

Bob Shaw, Burbank

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Boris Johnson, former UKs Prime Minister, considers Putins positions in Crimea weak and the perspective of the liberation of Crimea by Ukraine quite real if the West continues supplying it with necessary armament.

Source: Johnson in an interview for European Pravda

Quote: "Before, everybody thought Putin will never let Crimea go. You know, this is not worth it. Instead everybody thought: lets try to help Ukraine recapture the land bridge. But now I think people say to themselves: first of all, its possible! Its possible to take Crimea back!"

Johnson added that "Putin is very vulnerable in Crimea".

"If you look at the infrastructure, the logistics, theres a big opportunity for the Armed Forces of Ukraine there. So I think theres been a change in the way people think about Crimea," he explained.

Johnson stressed that when Ukraine has more long-range projectiles, more HIMARS, ATACMS, Storm Shadow missiles and everything else Ukraines Armed Forces need, "then Crimea will have very interesting perspectives".

Johnson arrived in Kyiv on the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Watch full interview with Johnson at the Youtube-channel of European Pravda.

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As a child growing up in the projects  Kansas Citys T.B. Watkins Homes  life was tough for Jordan Harrison.

He struggled with a learning disability that hindered his academic progress. He faced continuous attacks from bullies who made fun of him for being biracial or for the way he spoke.

Through all his difficulties, his family says, he emerged as the person who was always there with a smile and a kind word for anyone going through a rough time.

He impacted people with his smile, says his mother, Stacey Chastain. Those things make me cry but it fills my heart to know that he brought people who felt unseen or not valuable so much love.

Harrison, who worked in food service management for years, died Feb. 2 from a possible drug overdose. He was 33.

His family says that in recent months Harrison was determined to turn his life around and was in a sober living facility in Arkansas for several months. He came back to Kansas City to help a friend in need, and his mother believes being back in this environment before completing treatment caused a possible relapse.

The investigation into the cause of Harrisons death is still ongoing.

Harrison was born in Tulsa and moved to Kansas City in 1998 with his mother and five siblings. Being raised in a tough neighborhood where he didnt fit in made him a target. His mother saw how he worked to rise above the verbal and physical attacks.

Jordan struggled throughout school and had to endure a lot of pain in his life, she says.

Her son also dealt with physical abuse from one of Chastains ex-partners, a fact she did not learn about until Harrison confided to her years later. She thinks these traumas contributed to her sons lifelong struggle with drug addiction.

She says Harrison battled with issues of alcohol when he was younger, but a series of surgeries to correct a hernia led him to become dependent on pain medications.

Chastain and her children hope that those with loved ones struggling with addiction will continue to believe in them and their recovery. She prays that something will be done about the national epidemic of fatal overdoses from opioids.

Jordan Harrison, left, with his younger brother Zack Young.

Harrisons younger brother, Zack Young, 29, says that Harrison stayed with him before he entered rehab and the two bonded while his older brother was detoxing.

My brother was trying hard to better his life, says Young, who works as a personal trainer in Lenexa. When he was detoxing, he said he wouldnt wish that upon his worst enemy.

With Youngs oldest brother in prison since 2007, Harrison was the only brother he had left. Though hurt by the circumstances of his brothers death, Young finds comfort in remembering the days of laughter and positivity his brother brought into every conversation.

I will always remember the joy in his eyes, the way he was always animated and entertaining no matter what it was he was doing, he says.

Harrison was working at a Taco Bell in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and was in a management training program. He had aspirations of one day owning a fast-food franchise.

Though Harrison did not have any children, his sister Chelsea Young, 31, says that he raised her two children as if they were his own. She says she and Harrison called themselves the the middle twin flames, born in the middle of Chastains six children.

He was the best uncle, says his sister, who works as a project administrator for an electrical contractor. Jordan was always there for my babies, and they loved him.

She remembers her older brother being the one who came up with family traditions like their Christmas pajama parties and had a dream of his family living together in a mansion. She thinks that family was one of Harrisons motivations to push himself in life.

Even though Jordan went through a lot of trauma he managed to love everyone, and it didnt matter who you were or where you came from or what you did. He always just wanted to help people, she says.

Jordan Harrison with his mother, Stacey Chastain, and siblings Zack Young, Chelsea Young, River Young and Tiffani Harrison, along with his niece and nephew.

Chastain remembers trips out with her son where he would stop random people to compliment them. His mother believes her son had a gift for seeing the pain in people and knowing just what they needed to get through their tough times.

I used to get embarrassed when we would go out because he would talk to everybody, I mean complete strangers, says Chastain. He told me once that you never know what someone is going through and maybe that compliment or smile is what gets them through the day.

Many people who knew Harrison shared messages of condolences.

Ive been blessed to know Jordan since I was 3 years old and he has always shown up for me and treated my son like he was his own.

Man, this drug stuff is getting out of hand. Whoever ever knew Jordan Blake Harrison just absolutely knows Jordan was the person who brought fun and brightness everywhere.

You were always such a happy beautiful ball of light everywhere you went and always will be.

You stayed true to yourself, and kept a smile on your face no matter what.

River Young, the youngest of Chastains children, believes that faith allows them to find solace and know he is at peace.

My mother raised us to be very strong and my mother has an unwavering faith, says Young, 26. It feels like it should be more difficult, but theres just this supernatural strength that surpasses all understanding.

Chastain was scheduled to have a celebration of life ceremony Feb. 24 in Harrisons memory.

I have never gone through losing a child before, says Chastain. But I am comforted knowing that even though he went through all these hardships he was able to bring joy to so many people still.

Other Remembrances

Patrick Bettis, retired welder and father, died Jan. 18. He was 76.

Patrick Bettis

Patrick Bettis, retired welder and father, died Jan. 18. He was 76.

Bettis was born on April 16, 1947, to Patrick and Leola Bettis in Mobile, Alabama, and was the oldest of the couples seven children.

The family moved to Kansas City, Kansas, and Bettis graduated from Sumner High School in 1965. Bettis went on to join the United States Army as a tank gunner stationed in Germany.

He then worked for years as a welder and retired from Colgate-Palmolive. In his free time, Bettis enjoyed reading, fishing, horseback riding and spending time with family.

He is remembered by his children, Tynisha Bettis, Kenneth Gregory, Patrick Bettis III and Lester Jackson; siblings, Roderick Bettis, Patricia Brandon, Benay Bettis, Benita Davidson, Carolyn Smith and Phyllis Moore; along with a host of nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Evelyn Shelton, former medical worker and mother, died Feb. 13. She was 97.

Evelyn Shelton

Evelyn Shelton, former medical worker and mother, died Feb. 13. She was 97.

Shelton was born Oct. 27, 1926, in Lebanon, Illinois. She graduated from Lebanon Community High School in 1946 and later moved to Kansas City.

She worked at St. Joseph Medical Center for years before retiring from Armco Steel Corp. in 1981. After an earlier marriage, she married Thomas Shelton in 1996.

Shelton will be remembered as a woman of strong faith who enjoyed being with her family.

She is remembered by her children, Yvonne Deboe, Kenneth Deboe and Jeffrey Walker; along with a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jae Cancel sits at the window inside a Tallahassee, Fla., transgender safe house. The safe house was launched in December 2022 by local nonprofit Capital Tea, a group that focuses on transgender outreach. Experts say safe houses are essential to combating disparities as transgender people disproportionately suffer homelessness and other barriers. Nada Hassanein/Stateline

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Quandarius Chanel Johnson twirled a gold-colored crown that glinted with light streaming in from a nearby window.

Its a symbol to remind her of her strength. After all, Im a Leo, Johnson said.

She keeps the crown hanging on her bedpost. Johnson, a Black transgender woman, lives in a safe house not far from the Florida Capitol, where lawmakers in recent years have placed new restrictions on transgender people, as have legislators in other Republican-dominated states. Last spring, for example, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law prohibiting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, and another barring transgender people from using the restroom that matches their gender identity.

Tucked in a quiet neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Floridas capital city, the four-bedroom, 1,600-square-foot house with a brick archway and shrub-lined walkway is just 5 miles from the capitol building. But it offers a sanctuary  albeit a limited one  from the transgender debates roiling the Florida Legislature.

Janel Diaz, right, the founder of the transgender outreach group Capital Tea, shares a meal with residents of the organizations safe house for transgender women in Tallahassee, Fla. Nada Hassanein/Stateline

Launched by Capital Tea, a local transgender outreach nonprofit, it opened in December 2022 and has five resident beds plus another bed for emergency stays. The money to run it comes from foundations and nonprofits concerned about violence against LGBTQ+ people, said director Janel Diaz.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming adults are more likely to be homeless, with many of them kicked out of their homes by disapproving relatives, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. About 1 in 5 transgender people have experienced homelessness at some point, the National Center for Transgender Equality reports, and Black people make up a disproportionate number of them.

When I came out to my family, I was kicked out of my house, too, said Diaz, who is transgender. Then 18, she lived on the streets for a year. To some people that might seem not a lot. But for me, it seemed like an eternity.

Residents can stay for up to a year at Capital Teas safe house, which is reserved for transgender women. This summer, Diaz said, the group plans to open a house for transgender men. She hopes to grow the program beyond Florida and create a model program for other states and cities.

I want it to be to where it is not just Tallahassee-based, Diaz said. I want Capital Tea to be the Underground Railroad of trans housing.

Efforts elsewhere

In Memphis, Tennessee, where gender-affirming health care for youth is now illegal under state law, My Sistahs House offers a shelter for transgender women. Tennessee, like Florida, is GOP-dominated, but similar homes exist in Democratic-controlled states.

A ministry group runs the R&R Space in Michigan; a group of Republican lawmakers in that state last month discussed banning transgender health care for everyone.

Other examples include a transitional housing program run by the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts, and one run by the TransLatin Coalition in Los Angeles.

The issue of housing resonates throughout transgender communities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a series of reports last month on transgender women, HIV disparities and housing. Among 1,566 transgender women, 31% reported being homeless for between a month and a year. In addition, more than half of transgender women who reported being evicted or denied housing due to their gender identity also reported being homeless for that amount of time.

Elle Lett, a University of Washington School of Public Health statistician-epidemiologist, who is a Black and trans woman, has researched the issue.

Trans people are subjected to interpersonal and structural discrimination that often leaves them unhoused, without social supports, and these things are exacerbated by other intersecting systems of oppression like racism and ableism, said Lett, who is also a medical school student at the University of Pennsylvania. They have a lot working against them.

Public health experts note that housing and well-being are closely linked. Christopher AhnAllen, director of inpatient psychology at Brigham & Womens Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, said places such as the Capital Tea home create spaces of love and joy and wellness that are essential to contrast the hostility and hate that may exist in other spaces.

At home in Tallahassee

The house in Tallahassee is decked out with contemporary-style furniture  velvet gray sofas, pink candles and tall lamps that glow different colors. Heavy incense wafts through the air. A rec room closet has a stack of board games and donations of clothes and toiletries.

Johnson, who has HIV, receives health care from a local clinic for low-income HIV patients. But she doesnt know how she will pay for her upcoming medical transition.

On a recent afternoon, she had more pressing concerns on her mind. Johnson and her housemate Jae Cancel had just finished tidying for incoming residents, and Diaz announced that she was making a run to McDonalds.

Filet-o-Fish? Diaz called out to Cancel.

Yes! Love you!

Cancel, 20, has been homeless since they were 15. Cancels mother kicked them out multiple times, shuffling the then-teen to their fathers house, where they said they were beaten. Stateline agreed to use a pseudonym for this story and withheld Cancels full name for their safety.

In the summer of 2022, before connecting with Capital Tea, Cancel got off the streets and was doing yard work for a homeowner in exchange for a room in an RV. The situation quickly deteriorated, however, and Cancel didnt feel safe with the homeowner.

Jae Cancel, a 20-year-old resident of a safe house for transgender women in Tallahassee, Fla., writes in their notebook on a recent afternoon. Nada Hassanein/Stateline

After Capital Tea saw Cancels social media posts about the housing situation, Diaz and her team got them a hotel room before taking them to the local homeless shelter, where they shared a room with other homeless transgender youth until the Capital Tea house became ready at the end of the year.

It was the life raft thrown when you least expect it, Cancel said.

Cancel shared a room and single bathroom with other trans residents at the homeless shelter, and was followed around the premises several times.

Here [at the Capital Tea house], I know that Im not going to be judged when I turn this corner, and Im not going to be talked about, Cancel said. Im able to really sit in silence and stillness.

Johnson was 18 when she started wearing lashes and getting her hair done. But her family in rural Georgia rejected her transgender identity.

At 19, she moved to Tallahassee to get away. At 22, her mother died while Johnson was living with a roommate who didnt accept her identity and was toxic, Johnson said.

It had me in a low place, she said, her chin trembling, adding that living with her previous roommate felt like I was still being robbed of who I was as a person.

She met and befriended Diaz through local drag shows.

I need to get out of this situation, Johnson said she told Diaz. She [Diaz] was like, Can you hold on, and I got you? I did what I needed to do to maintain.

One day, Johnson got a phone call.

Ive got a surprise for you, Diaz told her. She picked Johnson up and brought her to the house. This is going to be where youll be staying.

Johnson said she sees herself and her housemates as a sisterhood.

She didnt know me from a can of paint, but she knew I was connected to her in some type of way, she said about having Diaz as a mentor and second mom. Shes been one person that has literally been in my corner.

Johnson said she is relieved to have shelter.

You cant box something that was never meant to fit in, she said.

This story was published earlier by Stateline, a partner of the nonprofit States Newsroom network, which includes the Florida Phoenix.

The post It was the life raft: Transgender people find a safe haven in Floridas capital city appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) joined Donald Trump on stage at the former presidents South Carolina primary victory party on Saturday and faced an unfriendly welcome from the crowd.

Trump called the South Carolina senator on stage during his speech after easily winning the states Republican presidential primary, marking his latest victory against opponent Nikki Haley.

I always say, when Im in trouble on the left, I call up Lindsey Graham and he straightens it out so fast, Trump told the crowd.

The audience immediately started booing upon hearing Grahams name and continued to do so as Trump tried to defend him.

I love him, hes a good man, Trump said, inviting Graham to the stage.

Wow Lindsey Graham is being booed relentlessly at the Trump victory speech in South Carolina pic.twitter.com/IhAUEmQhfe  Acyn (@Acyn) February 25, 2024

Graham has been a staunch ally of Trump during his presidency, though the two have had a rocky relationship.

During Trumps 2016 campaign, Graham called him a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot; he also briefly turned against Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Still, Graham maintained his overall loyalty to Trump by endorsing him for the 2024 White House bid, defending him in the face of two indictments and dismissing anti-immigrant remarks he made in December.

Related...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  Donald Trump won South Carolinas Republican primary on Saturday, easily beating former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in her home state and further consolidating his path to a third straight GOP nomination.

Trump has now swept every contest that counted for Republican delegates, adding to previous wins in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The former presidents latest victory will likely increase pressure on Haley, who was Trumps former representative to the U.N. and SC governor from 2011 to 2017, to leave the race.

A 2020 general rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden is becoming increasingly inevitable. Haley has vowed to stay in the race through at least the batch of primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday, but was unable to dent Trumps momentum in her home state despite holding far more campaign events and arguing that the indictments against Trump will hamstring him against Biden.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner as polls closed statewide at 7 p.m. That race call was based on an analysis of AP VoteCast, a comprehensive survey of Republican South Carolina primary voters. The survey confirmed the findings of pre-Election Day polls showing Trump far outpacing Haley statewide.

I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now, Trump declared, taking the stage for his victory speech mere moments after polls closed. He added, You can celebrate for about 15 minutes, but then we have to get back to work.

South Carolinas first-in-the-South primary has historically been a reliable bellwether for Republicans. In all but one primary since 1980, the Republican winner in South Carolina has gone on to be the partys nominee. The lone exception was Newt Gingrich in 2012.

Many Trump-backing South Carolinians, even some who previously supported Haley during her time as governor, werent willing to give her a home-state bump.

Shes done some good things, Davis Paul, 36, said about Haley as he waited for Trump at a recent rally in Conway. But I just dont think shes ready to tackle a candidate like Trump. I dont think many people can.

At Haley headquarters on Saturday night, her supporters waved her signs in front of a large projection screen showing Trumps speech, blocking it from view. That, of course, didnt make the defeat any less crushing.

Haley insisted in recent days that she would head straight to Michigan for its Tuesday primary, the last major contest before Super Tuesday. Still, she faces questions about where she might be able to win a contest or be competitive.

Trump and Biden are already behaving like they expect to face off in November.

Trump and his allies argue Biden has made the U.S. weaker and point to the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and Russias decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump has also repeatedly attacked Biden over high inflation earlier in the presidents term and his handling of record-high migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.

MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS

South Carolina Election News

Trump has questioned  often in harshly personal terms  whether the 81-year-old Biden is too old to serve a second term. Bidens team in turn has highlighted the 77-year-old Trumps own flubs on the campaign trail.

Biden has stepped up his recent fundraising trips around the country and increasingly attacked Trump directly. Hes called Trump and his Make America Great Again movement dire threats to the nations founding principles, and the presidents reelection campaign has lately focused most of its attention on Trump suggesting hed use the first day of a second presidency as a dictator and that hed tell Russia to attack NATO allies who fail to keep up with defense spending obligations mandated by the alliance.

Haley also criticized Trump on his NATO comments and also for questioning why her husband wasnt on the campaign trail with her  even as former first lady Melania Trump hasnt appeared with him. Maj. Michael Haley is deployed in the Horn of Africa on a mission with the South Carolina Army National Guard.

But South Carolinas Republican voters line up with Trump on having lukewarm feelings about NATO and continued U.S. support for Ukraine, according to AP VoteCast data from Saturdays primary. About 6 in 10 oppose continuing aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Only about a third described Americas participation in NATO as very good, with more saying its only somewhat good.

Haley has raised copious amounts of campaign money and is scheduled to begin a cross-country campaign swing on Sunday in Michigan ahead of Super Tuesday on March 5, when many delegate-rich states hold primaries.

But its unclear how she can stop Trump from clinching enough delegates to become the partys presumptive nominee for the third time.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., complimented Haley while speaking to reporters at Trumps election night party in Columbia but suggested it was time for her to drop out.

I think the sooner she does, the better for her, the better for the party, Graham said. Later, the senator was greeted with boos after Trump called him to the stage to address those gathered.

Trumps political strength has endured despite facing 91 criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, the discovery of classified documents in his Florida residence and allegations that he secretly arranged payoffs to a porn actress.

The former presidents first criminal trial is set to begin on March 25 in New York, where he faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in the closing weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Biden won South Carolinas Democratic primary earlier this month and faces only one remaining challenger, Dean Phillips. The Minnesota Democratic congressman has continued to campaign in Michigan ahead of the Democratic primary there, despite having little chance of actually beating Biden.

Though Biden is expected to cruise to his partys renomination, he faces criticism from some Democrats for providing military backing to Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Some in his party support a ceasefire as the death toll in Israels war has reached 30,000 people, two-thirds of them women and children.

The war could hurt the presidents general election chances in swing states like Michigan, which is home to a large Arab American population.

QUEEN CITY NEWS IS YOUR LOCAL ELECTION HEADQUARTERS

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Akron educator George C. Miller had a simple philosophy in teaching:

You try to achieve one small success with a child and you build from there to the next small success.

Miller did a lot of building in Akron. In fact, theres a building that bears his name: Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts.

George C. Miller (1921-1983) was a groundbreaking educator in Akron Public Schools.

He made history as the first Black principal in Akron Public Schools while touching countless lives as a teacher, counselor, director and mentor  not to mention husband and father.

He left a legacy for sure, said daughter Marilyn Miller Paulk of Akron. He was an inspiration to a lot of people.

Im just proud that he was our father, said daughter Carol Miller of Akron. He showed us a lot of love and what familys about.

George Charles Miller, the son of George and Nellie Miller, was born Feb. 23, 1921, at 366 N. Howard St. in the home of his grandparents Charles and Ella Miller. He grew up with his sisters Daisy Mae and Lottie Mae, attended Bryan School and Jennings Junior High School, and graduated in 1938 from North High School, where he studied Latin for four years.

He briefly attended the University of Akron, worked for a short time as a porter and landed a job at Goodyear Aircraft. Then Uncle Sam came calling.

Miller was drafted into the U.S. Army in November 1942, trained at Camp Rucker, Alabama, and served in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II.

Afterward, he came home and worked at Firestone. With the aid of the G.I. Bill, Miller returned to UA, where he studied education and became a founding member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

I really wasnt prepared for anything but going to college, he told the Beacon Journal years later.

In 1948, he married secretary Dorris Williams, a graduate of Garfield High School and Hammel Business College.

Education career in Akron

After Miller earned a bachelor of science degree in 1951, the Akron Board of Education hired him to teach at Robinson School. It wasnt about the money.

It was only $2,400 a year and I had been making maybe $3,600 in Firestone production, he said.

Miller enriched the lives of students. He believed that all children had the ability to learn. It was just up to teachers to find a way to reach them. One small success led to the next small success.

Dorris and George C. Miller take a portrait with their daughters Marilyn, left, and Carol in the early 1960s in Akron.

Miller and his wife welcomed daughters Marilyn and Carol in the 1950s. The family moved from Lovers Lane to Rhodes Avenue to Packard Avenue, moving twice as highway construction and urban renewal took their homes.

He was very family oriented, Paulk recalled. We would take family drives on Sundays and go visit relatives. He always thought that was important.

George and Dorris Miller took their daughters to the theater, opera and symphony, allowing them to experience the finer things in life.

They wanted to introduce us to culture, she said.

Miller sent Marilyn and Carol to Our Lady of the Elms because he didnt want anyone in the public school system  administrators, teachers or students  to treat his daughters differently because their father was an educator.

He wanted to make sure that we were our own people and that we didnt get ahead because of him and we werent hurt because of him, Paulk said.

Lessons continued at home. Miller made sure that his girls did the best they could in school.

He would go over our homework with us and anything we didnt understand, hed tutor us on that, Carol Miller said.

Principal at Lane School

George C. Miller earned his masters degree in education at UA and worked as a counselor at Goodrich and Thornton junior highs before being named principal at Lane School in 1962, the first African American to hold the title in the Akron district.

When we had days off at the Catholic schools, he would take me with him to work, Carol recalled.

She would sit in the principals office with the secretary or join the kids in the cafeteria for movies at lunch. Her father was busy achieving one small success at a time.

I used to think he spent more time with the other kids than us, Carol said. But now I see what he was doing. He was community involved.

Miller was active with the Akron Community Service Center and Urban League for over 30 years, providing free tutoring and helping students achieve breakthroughs in learning. Director Vernon Odom once called Miller the greatest teacher thats ever been in the Akron school system.

He could handle many subjects from English to history to calculus to Latin.

Paulk remembers how her father tutored adults for free at their home on Rhodes Avenue. Some people needed individual assistance and Miller was happy to provide a private setting. Over the years, he helped applicants prepare for the firefighter and police exams in Akron.

I see people all the time, Black and white, who say: Your dad helped me pass that,  she said.

The former South High School at 1055 East Ave. in Akron became Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Miller transferred to Findley School to serve as principal in 1966. Three years later, the district named him director of a career skills center at South High School on East Avenue.

The program, financed with a federal grant, taught auto service, engine repair, commercial painting, welding and other trades. More than 200 juniors and seniors enrolled in the first year at South.

In 1972, Miller was promoted to director of supplemental services for Akron Public Schools, which made him responsible for planning and administering programs involving $5 million in federal and state aid. The district provided extra resources, books and attention to disadvantaged children. As a consequence, reading and math skills jumped in schools.

The funds do make a difference, Miller told the Beacon Journal in 1973. We have a lot of average children. With that extra help, they can be above average.

Akron lost a dedicated educator in 1983 when Miller retired after 32 years with the school district. Two months later, he passed away after a brief illness. He was 62.

I never saw so many cars at a funeral, Paulk said.

Teachers, administrators, students and others paid their respects to a man who had made such a difference. One small success at a time.

Origin of Miller South

His UA fraternity set up a memorial scholarship in Millers name and urged Akron Public Schools to establish a lasting tribute.

After South High School closed in 1980, the district turned the building at 1055 East Ave. into the South Education Center, a community school for adult and preschool programs.

In 1991, the Akron Board of Education dedicated the building as the George C. Miller South Education Center and welcomed his proud family at the ceremony.

Oh, I was so touched, Carol Miller said. That was his baby.

Dancers perform a routine at Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Akron.

Within two years, the school transformed into Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts. It opened in 1993 with 279 students in fourth through eighth grade. The program allowed youths to develop their talents in visual art, dance, theater, singing and instrumental music.

The Akron educator was further memorialized in the 1990s with the naming of Millerview, an allotment of new homes at Lane and Howe streets.

I get a little sentimental, I do, Carol Miller said. As a girl, you look up to your father and hes always there. Hes the main one wholl love you the best. That holds true.

Over the decades, she and her sister have followed their fathers footsteps in different ways. Carol tutored kids and worked from 1988 to 2005 at Akron Summit Community Action as a computer program in Head Start.

My father was a firm believer in education  something I tried to instill into my son and my grandson, she said.

Marilyn Miller Paulk, a Beacon Journal reporter from 1986 to 2017, plans to write a book about her father. She wants todays generation to know more about the Miller in Miller South.

When she was growing up, her dad often tried to talk her into a teaching career, but she always resisted. No way. That wasnt for her.

Later in life, she ended up teaching at the University of Akron and Kent State, then became a substitute and mentor for students in sixth and seventh grades.

I ended up teaching anyway, she said. So it went full circle. And I enjoyed it. It was like, He was right. 

One small success at a time.

Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com

Local history: Akron educator Abbie Willacy gave students a Head Start

Local history: Remembering the Rev. Stanley E. Lynton, a respected Akron leader

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: George C. Miller was first Black principal in Akron schools
(Bloomberg) -- Londons Heathrow airport said a decision on adding a third runway has not been taken, denying a report by the Sunday Times that the plans had been shelved.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The speculation in todays Sunday Times is wrong, and Heathrow recognises neither the plans nor actions described, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement Sunday.

The newspaper wrote that Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Thomas Woldbye wanted to scrap the expansion and had begun the process of disbanding a team focused on the project, citing sources it didnt identify.

The airport, which saw passenger numbers rise about 29% to 79.2 million last year, will review proposals including extending the use of buses to deliver travelers to aircraft and other measures to boost existing runway efficiency, according to the report.

Heathrow Airport is looking at how we can optimize the current airport to achieve short-term growth within our current infrastructure. Longer term, were reviewing our plans to make sure the airport has the capacity the UK economy needs, while boosting the resilience of our operations for our customers and meeting our sustainability commitments, the statement said.

The longstanding push to develop an additional runway at Heathrow has been snarled by legal challenges by groups including local residents and environmental campaigners, as well as by the impact of the pandemic. Heathrow last week reported its first annual profit since 2019.

Read more: Heathrow to Decide on Third Runway After Return to Profit

Heathrow is focusing on short-term measures to expand as well as studying longer term projects such as the new runway, Woldbye said Wednesday in an interview.

Abu Dhabis Mubadala Investment Co. is considering buying into Heathrow and would join Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund and Qatar Investment Authority as major shareholders, people familiar with the matter said last week.

(Updates with Heathrow denial)

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Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has said that he plans to run in the upcoming Presidential election in Belarus, which is scheduled to take place in 2025, he said on Feb. 25.

"I will go to the elections. Tell the opposition that I will (participate in elections). And the more difficult the situation is, the more they stir up our society, the more they strain you, me, and all of our society, the sooner I will go to these elections, the Belarusian dictator boasted.

Don't worry, we will do what is right for Belarus, he said, with not a single hint of irony.

Read also: Lukashenko admits Russian troops invaded Ukraine through Belarus in 2022

In addition, according to Lukashenko, "in the whole world there are no such open, fair elections as in Belarus."

The upcoming elections will be the seventh for the Belarusian dictator, who has lots of experience with winning elections. Lukashenko has been President since 1994.

In early January 2024, the Belarusian dictator signed amendments to the Law on the President, which, among other things, defined guarantees for him and his family, including after the termination of his powers. In particular, he is now guaranteed immunity, lifetime protection, and the right to state real estate after his resignation.

Read also: Belarusian dictator Lukashenko mulled fleeing to Poland at start of full-scale war, journalist says

On Aug. 9, 2020, Belarus held its sixth presidential election, which from the first days of the campaign was accompanied by mass protests against Lukashenko.

After massive election fraud, protests and strikes broke out across the country, which were brutally suppressed by security forces. At least eight people were killed during the protests.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Korea-based company sanctioned by the United States over its alleged connection to Russia is currently under investigation by authorities here, a foreign ministry official said Sunday.

Daesung International Trading, a company located in Korea's southeastern city of Gimhae, was one of 93 entities added to an "entity list" for export restrictions by the Bureau of Industry and Security under the U.S. Commerce Department on Friday.

"Regarding the company, we shared information with the U.S. in advance, and our relevant authorities are also currently conducting an investigation," the official said, noting the government plans to continue to work closely with Washington and other key nations in implementing sanctions against Russia.

According to a Korean government official, the head of Daesung International Trading is a Pakistani national.

Korea's trade ministry said it and the country's customs agency are looking into the company's alleged law violations, such as the Foreign Trade Act. After the probe, the government plans to punish and sanction it if any breach of law is found.

The U.S. sanctions were announced on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and in the wake of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. (Yonhap)
Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus' self-proclaimed president, has announced his intention to run in the 2025 presidential election.

Source: BelTA

Quote: "Ill run [for president  ed.], I will, I will. Tell them [the opposition  ed.] that I will run!

And the more difficult the situation becomes, the more they will attempt to agitate our society and you in particular (for me, believe me, this is critical  no responsible president will abandon his people who have followed him into battle); the more they will strain you, me, and society, the sooner I will run in these elections. Do not worry; we will do what is necessary for Belarus."

Details: In response to a clarifying question on whether these words can be interpreted as a direct statement and whether a new electoral cycle has already begun, the head of state emphasised: "I have already said a lot about the fact that this is the electoral cycle and that we will be riled up before the presidential election, and that it will be the pinnacle of everything. This is the cycle. As for official or not, what you ask is what you get. I responded to the question I was asked. If you need me to specify, I will state unequivocally and sincerely: Theres nothing new to say yet."

For reference: In 2020, Lukashenko went to his sixth term as head of Belarus.

The Belarusian opposition has called for a boycott of the vote to elect parliamentarians and local councils in Belarus on Sunday 25 February, which will take place without the presence of international observers.

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Attendees during the event gathered around taking photos of the new 'Lynching in America' historical marker now at Sarasota's Unitarian Universalist Church. It's a reminder of the harsh reality of violence against African Americans.

Three Kuumba drummers ushered more than 300 people on Saturday from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota with their West-African instruments to a new marker that memorializes six known Sarasota-Manatee County lynchings.

Since 2018, community leaders have been working to get a physical commemoration of Sarasota-Manatees historical lynching victims. The marker was initially discussed to be placed in the historically Black neighborhood of Newtown, but some residents were hesitant to support having a daily reminder of the harsh reality of violence that many African Americans have faced.

Proposed lynching memorial push back: Proposed lynching memorial leaves some in Sarasota seething: Let us heal, let us forget and forgive

From 1882 to 1968, 4,743 lynchings occurred across the U.S., according to the NAACP. In Manatee and Sarasota County, the legacy of lynching  where a mob kills someone for an alleged offense without a legal trial  and racial injustice has left an unforgettable impact on the Black community. Almost six years in the making, the community remembrance marker sits just off Fruitville Road behind the church.

Sarasota & Manatee Community Remembrance Project honoring the victims of racial violence with a new historical marker site at Sarasota's Unitarian Universalist Church Saturday afternoon, Feb. 24, 2024. A physical commemoration of Sarasota-Manatee's six documented victims of lynching had been discussed since 2018, though many in the historically Black neighborhood of Newtown initially pushed back against having a reminder of the harsh reality of violence against African Americans.

It honors the lives of six Black men: Henry Thomas, who was lynched by a white mob near Parrish on March 8, 1903; a man referred to as Mr. Rudy, who was lynched following a dispute with an employer about wages on March 6, 1910; two brothers, Sam and Wade Ellis, who were lynched on March 7, 1910 after interfering with Rudys lynching; Willie English, who was lynched on July 2, 1912 after a white woman alleged he spoke to her in a insulting way; and James Franklin was shot and killed on April 4, 1934 by a white man with the assistance of two law enforcement officers who were supposed to be taking him to a physician for a wellness exam.

More: We must remember the names, lives of lynching victims

The creation of the marker was a joint effort led by the Boxser Diversity Initiative and included support from Manasota ASALH, Newtown Alive and the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition. The Sarasota and Manatee Community Remembrance Project worked in collaboration with the Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative to create the marker.

Sarasota's Unitarian Universalist Church was packed Saturday morning for the Sarasota & Manatee Community Remembrance Project honoring the victims of racial violence with a new historical marker.

Caryl Sheffield, chair of the historical marker dedication committee, said that while the unveiling of the marker may seem like a solemn occasion, it was a celebration that honored the six men and countless others who were unjustly killed.

Given the climate of assault on the lives, culture and history of African-Americans in the state of Florida, this is a momentous occasion, a serious yet joyous and uplifting occasion, an opportunity for all of us to show that we care about the lives of African Americans, Sheffield said. This is not a funeral. It is not a memorial service. It is a celebration of survival.

Hundreds attended the Sarasota & Manatee Community Remembrance Project honoring the victims of racial violence with a new historical marker site at Sarasota's Unitarian Universalist Church Saturday afternoon, Feb. 24, 2024.

Sheffields own grandfather, Caeser Sheffield, was lynched in Lake Park, Georgia in 1915 after he was accused of stealing meat from a smokehouse. He was jailed, and in the middle of the night, he was taken by a mob and led to a field by the railroad tracks where he was shot in the back and left for dead.

Its a history that many members of the Black community know all too well. JoAnn Ford, a Sarasota resident of 20 years, attended the marker unveiling and said that after several of her family members were lynched, her family fled from Georgia to Ohio during the Great Migration, where 6 million Black people fled the South from racial violence during the 1910s to the 1970s.

Attendees gathered around for the new historical marker unveiling at Sarasota's Unitarian Universalist Church Saturday afternoon, Feb. 24, 2024.

Ford was pleased with the diversity of people who attended.

Theres a peace for me, Ford said following the unveiling of the marker. Were finally acknowledging it, even though we carry it all time, just recognizing that this happened and not acting as if it didnt.

During the dedication Dr. James Stewart, of Sarasota, gave the libation ceremony, a ritual of pouring a water/liquid as an offering to a spirit, deity, or soul of the deceased victims of racial violence. Sarasota & Manatee Community Remembrance Project honored the victims of racial violence with a new historical marker site at Sarasota's Unitarian Universalist Church Saturday afternoon, Feb. 24, 2024.

Prior to the unveiling of the marker, James Stewart, the former president of the national and Manasota branch of ASALH  an organization that promotes and preserves Black history and culture  performed a libation ritual which called on the ancestors of the Black community to visit. The ritual is performed by pouring a liquid into the ground to summon and honor the spirits of the ancestors and request their approval during the commemoration of the lynching victims who were honored.

We hereby declare that the sacrifices of those commemorated today will never be forgotten, Stewart said after pouring a libation for each man lynched. We assembled here and pledged to do everything in our power to create a world devoid of racialized violence and to confront racial hatred and bigotry in all its distasteful forms.

Contributing: Samantha Gholar, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Lynching marker honors 6 victims who were killed in Sarasota-Manatee County
SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX/NEXSTAR)  Its tax season in the U.S., leaving many Americans to try and sort through the mess of W-2s and 1099s.

Making sure you report every bit of your income to the IRS can be a daunting task. Thankfully, the IRS has a handy list of income you need to report from taxable alimony to selling illegal drugs.

Thats right. Among the list of income the IRS asks you to report when you file your taxes is any income you receive from illegal activities.

Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8z, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity, the IRS website reads.

Long Island contractor accused of stealing over $30K from clients: police

The IRS also asks taxpayers to report any stolen propertys full market value as income in the year they stole it, unless, of course, they return the stolen goods to their rightful owner. Bribes should also be included in your reportable income. The only time monetary gains are not required to be included in your taxable income is when its exempted by law, which famously does not include illegally earned money.

The Al Capone Rule

The guideline is sometimes referred to as the Al Capone rule, Mark Steber, Chief Tax Information Officer at Jackson Hewitt, previously told Nexstar.

He made it famous a long time ago, Steber explains. Al Capone, and many others since then, many drug dealers, went to jail because all income is taxable unless it is specifically excluded under the law.

Notably, the FBI convicted notorious crime boss and mobster Al Capone on tax evasion crimes for not paying taxes on his illegally obtained riches. Calpone ran a bootlegging crime syndicate during the height of the Prohibition Era of the 1920s. According to an account of Al Capones trial from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Capones syndicate was grossing an estimated $105 million a year, but no income tax return had ever been filed in his name.

Police search for accused taxi driver slasher in Queens: NYPD

Two years earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled against another bootlegger, Manley Sullivan, who failed to file a return showing the profits from his illegal schemes. While U.S. Courts and prosecutors were unable to bring down Calpones empire on allegations of murder and bootlegging, they were able to topple it for not properly reporting his income.

The IRS seems to have a knack for craving the drama in your life, the Kaysville Police Department in Utah wrote on social media when sharing the revelation. Its as if theyve set up shop with popcorn and a front-row seat, eagerly waiting for taxpayers to drop bombshells of financial intrigue.

Wont I get in trouble for reporting the income?

If you do report your income from illegal activity, you arent necessarily turning yourself over to federal authorities.

As Steber explained, tax experts helping you to file your taxes are there to ensure you file your return in compliance with the law. They arent required to tell the federal authorities about [the] activity. Because the income falls under the other income category, the IRS cant exactly tell where the money is coming from, either.

Another item reported on line 8z on Schedule 1 for Form 1040? The fair market value of a free tour from a travel agency.

So why report it at all?

As Steber explained, some taxpayers will report questionable information just so they can hedge their bets in case they do get caught.

Its also possible the income youre reporting, though legal in your state, is illegal at the federal level.

Steber pointed to those who earn money working with cannabis in states where it has been legalized. As he explains, youre able to report your net income from the cost of the product and deduct the cost of the good sold, but not the expenses, like transporting the cannabis.

Under federal rules, you can deduct on your tax return, even though its illegal to have, you know, cannabis salesyou can have the income on your tax return, and you can report the net of cost income and not being in violation of tax rule, he said. But you cant step over the line and start deducting your expenses for security guards and money [and] transportation.

Ultimately, if youre unsure about your taxes or how to report your additional income, Steber recommended speaking with a tax professional and, potentially, a tax attorney.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  Defender Adilson Malanda scored his first career goal and Kristijan Kahlina made it stand up as Charlotte FC blanked New York City FC 1-0 in a season opener on Saturday night, making manager Dean Smith a winner in his debut with the club.

Siege mentality: New Charlotte FC HC Dean Smith voicing ambitions

Malanda needed just eight minutes to find the net and give Charlotte the lead for good. Malanda did not score and had one assist in 29 starts with the club last season. He had an assist in six appearances  all starts  in 2022.

Kahlina totaled three saves to earn the clean sheet for Charlotte. Matt Freese saved five shots in his first full season for New York City.

Charlotte, in its third season in the league, parted ways with Christian Lattanzio after two seasons and turned to Smith, an Englishman with Premier League experience.

Charlotte improves to 4-0-1 all-time against NYCFC.

Charlotte FC debuts new Carolina-themed primary kit for 2024 season

NYCFC newcomer Jovan Mijatovic, a Serbian youth international striker, made his debut in the 62nd minute, replacing Julian Fernandez. Austrian midfielder Hannes Wolf started in his debut with the club.

Midfielder Junior Urso started in his debut for Charlotte. Iuri Tavares, a 22-year-old midfielder from the clubs NEXT Pro team Crown Legacy FC also started in his debut.

New York City travels to play St. Louis City on March 2. Charlotte hits the road to play the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 2.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A Texas man accidentally shot and killed his mother when he heard a noise at night and went to investigate, San Antonio police told news outlets.

Officers responded to a call about a shooting at a home on the citys south side at 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, the department told WOAI.

A man heard a noise coming from the backyard and went to get his gun before checking it out, police told KSAT. But when he grabbed the weapon, it fired, sending a round through a wall and hitting his mother in the chest while she was in her bedroom, police told the station.

First responders attempted life-saving measures but the woman, who was around 80 years old, died at the scene, police told WOAI.

Officials have not publicly identified the woman or her son, who investigators say is in his 60s, KENS reported.

An investigation is underway and police have not said whether or not the man will face charges, according to the outlet.

7-year-old getting ball from under truck is run over and killed, Louisiana cops say

Deputy transporting inmate is killed in crash with big rig, Texas officials say

Toddler shoots self in eye with unsecured gun and her dad is charged, MI officials say

14-year-old home alone fatally shoots man seen pulling on door handles, Texas cops say
A military service member who set himself on fire Sunday in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., has died, a U.S. Air Force spokesperson told HuffPost Monday.

Officials did not disclose the mans identity, but the individual introduced himself as 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell in a livestream of his own self-immolation. His friends and family have reportedly been notified of his death.

The U.S. Air Force confirmed that Bushnell was an active-duty airman.

Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department said they responded on Sunday afternoon to assist the U.S. Secret Service after an individual set themselves on fire in front of an embassy in the block. Members of the Secret Services uniformed division extinguished the man outside the embassy before D.C. Fire and EMS transported him to a local hospital.

D.C. Fire at the time told HuffPost that the man was in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Independent journalist Talia Jane first reported on Sunday night that Bushnell died of his injuries.

The Israeli Embassy told HuffPost that Bushnell was unknown to the institution and that there were no injuries among embassy staff.

A screengrab of footage recorded by Bushnell, an active-duty U.S. airman who died after self-immolating outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Feb. 25. In the livestream, Bushnell said that he was protesting U.S. support for Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

A screengrab of footage recorded by Bushnell, an active-duty U.S. airman who died after self-immolating outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Feb. 25. In the livestream, Bushnell said that he was protesting U.S. support for Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

In the video, which was reportedly streamed from Bushnells phone on Twitch, the service member said that his decision was in protest of Israels offensive in Gaza and the U.S.s support for the monthslong violence. The video was obtained by Jane, who said that Bushnells loved ones consented to her sharing the disturbing footage online with the actual self-immolation censored.

I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force, and I will no longer be complicit in genocide, Bushnell can be heard saying in the video as he walks down a street while wearing his military fatigues.

I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest. But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, its not extreme at all, he continued. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.

I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force, and I will no longer be complicit in genocide.Aaron Bushnell, 25

After arriving at what appears to be the Israeli Embassys driveway, Bushnell sets down his phone to continue recording as he walks toward the embassys gate. The airman then dumps liquid on himself and throws the bottle while someone outside the cameras view says, Hey sir, can I help you?

Bushnell then ignites himself, repeatedly yelling Free Palestine while he burns.

Mens voices can be heard outside the cameras view repeatedly shouting for Bushnell, who is engulfed in flames, to get on the ground. The airman is burning for nearly one minute, after which he collapses, before anyone approaches him to help.

One officer in a white shirt is then seen running to Bushnell with a fire extinguisher, while another officer who appears to be Secret Service stays stationary with his gun drawn on the burning airman.

I dont need guns, I need fire extinguishers, the officer extinguishing the fire shouts. Another officer then arrives to help extinguish Bushnell.

The Atlanta Community Press Collective, which also obtained Bushnells footage on Sunday, said on Sunday that prior to carrying out the self-immolation, the airman reached out to the collective and multiple other outlets to request the footage is preserved and reported upon.

An infographic showing where Bushnell's self-immolation took place.

An infographic showing where Bushnell's self-immolation took place.

Bushnells death appears to be the second instance of self-immolation in protest of the military offensive in Gaza, after an individual set themselves on fire in December outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta.

On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and resulted in roughly 250 hostages, about half of whom were released during a temporary cease-fire last year. Israels ongoing retaliation in Gaza has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians  mostly women and children  and displaced more than a million civilians while blocking life-saving aid.

The U.S. has provided unconditional financial, military and diplomatic support for Israels offensive, drawing massive backlash from a growing number of Americans, other nations and human rights agencies like the United Nations. Israel is currently facing accusations from South Africa that its offensive amounts to genocide against Palestinians.

In just a few minutes, Aaron Bushnell exhibited more courage than every member of the U.S. administration, Ashish Prashar, a pro-Palestinian human rights activist, said in a statement on Monday.

Make no mistake that Bushnells death is on President Bidens hands, he continued. As the commander of the armed forces, as the sponsor of a genocide, as someone who has ignored every peaceful form of protest, Biden is responsible.

Neither the White House nor the Pentagon immediately responded to HuffPosts request for comment. President Joe Biden has yet to publicly address Bushnells self-immolation.

The morning before he self-immolated, a Facebook post was made on an account appearing to belong to Bushnell, where he spoke out against the U.S. supporting Israel.

Many of us like to ask ourselves, What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide? Bushnell wrote.

The answer is, youre doing it. Right now.

Marita Vlachou contributed reporting.

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Related...
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man who was out on bond for car burglary is back behind bars after he was arrested Saturday for his connection to recent vehicle break-ins, Nashville officials said.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said 21-year-old Juma Ismail was arrested on Jan. 21, adding that he and two others were charged in relation to a car burglary where shots were fired after the victim confronted them.

RELATED: 3 vehicle burglary suspects arrested after trying to break into cars in West Nashville

Juma Ismail (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Authorities reported Ismail was out free on a $9,000 bond for that incident when he was arrested again just after midnight on Saturday, Feb. 24.

Detectives said a tip about a stolen laptop led them to a home in the 1600 block of 25th Avenue North, but while they were there, they saw a Dodge Durango parked in the driveway leave the area.

An investigation revealed the stolen laptop was in the Dodge, officials said. The Dodge later returned to the residence, where the driver reportedly exited the vehicle and entered the home.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

According to police, detectives conducted a knock and talk and found the stolen laptop in a bedroom.

(Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

After receiving an search warrant for the residence and vehicle, investigators said they recovered a stolen Kentucky license plate, 10 grams of methamphetamine and two stolen rewards cards that were inside the Dodge.

Besides the stolen plates and drugs, authorities said a shotgun was recovered from the home, adding that the firearm had been inside a vehicle that was reported stolen in November 2023 from an apartment complex on Elliot Avenue.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

During an interview, officials said Ismail admitted that he was driving the Dodge. He was charged with two counts of theft of property and drug possession.

The 21-year-old is now jailed on a $12,000 bond. MNPD said an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  A speeding driver is accused of killing a 72-year-old woman after crashing into her car on a Queens street on Christmas Eve, police said Sunday.

Paul Lee, 20, was driving a blue BMW when he struck a white Lexus SUV being driven by Toliza Hong near Peck Avenue and Utopia Parkway in Fresh Meadows at around 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2023, according to the NYPD. The Lexus overturned after the crash and Hong was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The Queens woman died two days later, police said.

Impaired driver fatally struck man who fell out of wheelchair on LI road: SCPD

Lee was also injured in the crash.

Lee, a Delaware resident, was arrested Saturday and charged with criminally negligent homicide, reckless driving, and exceeding the speed limit, authorities said. His arraignment was pending Sunday.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the New York City area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
A Russian drone hit a truck in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing a man, the regional governor, Serhii Lysak, said on Feb. 25.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dropped explosives directly on the truck, killing a 57-year-old, Lysak wrote on Facebook.

Buildings and other trucks were also damaged in the attack.

Russia launched a wave of drones overnight on Feb. 25. Drones were destroyed over Poltava, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

Ukraines air defense shot down 16 out of 18 drone and two Kh-31P anti-radar missiles.

Lysak reported earlier in the day that an outbuilding was also destroyed in Nikopol.

Drone attacks are an almost daily occurrence in Ukraine, affecting various regions across the country.

Ukraine will reach its goal of producing 1 million drones per year, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

Drones have been a key tool in Ukraine's defense against Russia's war. In his nightly address on Jan. 29, Zelensky noted that one of Ukraine's top priorities for 2024 is the production of drones.

Read also: 6 drones shot down over Russian targets, defense ministry claims

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A 28-year-old Georgia man is dead after a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in southern Anne Arundel County, according to police.

Anne Arundel County Police said in a news release that Justin Christopher Dabolish, of Brookhaven, Georgia, died at the scene of the crash at about 12:30 p.m. on Muddy Creek Road in Harwood. He had been the passenger in a car driven by a 27-year-old woman who was hospitalized with serious injuries.

The Chester woman had been driving a 2001 Honda Civic that investigators believe crossed the yellow line near Mill Swamp Road before being struck by a Ford pickup truck carrying a trailer, according to police. She was in critical but stable condition, police said Saturday evening.

The driver of the Ford, a 28-year-old Annapolis man, and his passenger, a 37-year-old man, were taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center with minor injuries, police said.
Lawmakers who fail to win nomination choose to leave party

By Nam Hyun-woo

Concerns are mounting within the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) that it could potentially lose its majority in the National Assembly or face a significant defeat at the hands of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in the upcoming April 10 general elections. This apprehension stems from the escalating factional infighting within the DPK over candidate nominations.

Until just a few months ago, the DPK exuded confidence in its prospects for victory in the general elections. This confidence was bolstered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's faltering job approval ratings and the internal conflicts plaguing the PPP. However, as the ruling party forged ahead with candidate nominations, the DPK found itself embroiled in a bitter factional feud over the nomination process. This rift, notably between factions aligned with Chairman Lee Jae-myung and those who are not, has thrown the party's electoral strategy into disarray.

DPK members who are not aligned with the chairman, which includes quite a number of incumbent lawmakers and high-profile figures under the former Moon Jae-in administration, are protesting the nomination process, which they claim was biased and in favor of Lee. Some of them are even preparing to leave the party.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Rep. Kim Young-joo was the first to announce her departure from the DPK, saying she felt "humiliated" by the DPK's performance assessment, which said she ranked at the bottom 20 percent among the party's lawmakers.

"I'm neither pro-Lee nor anti-Lee, but the party branded me as an anti-Lee faction member and created the assessment to cut me off from the candidacy," the four-term lawmaker said, Feb. 19.

Rep. Sul Hoon, a five-term lawmaker and a critic of Lee, said Friday he would make a decision soon on whether to remain in the party, after being told that he ranked in the bottom 10 percent. He said he was placed at the bottom because I tried to protect the DPK, not the chairman.

Another lawmaker who was sidelined from the DPKs candidate nomination, Rep. Lee Soo-jin, left the party on Thursday. There are indications that close aides to the chairman are manipulating (the candidate nomination process) through an unidentified survey, she wrote on her Facebook, adding she is suffering from critical text messages from extreme fans of the chairman.

Rep. Noh Woong-rae, a four-term lawmaker who was eliminated from the candidate selection process due to an ongoing trial over bribery allegations, has been staging a sit-in protest at the Assembly since Thursday. He wrote on Facebook Sunday that the DPK is losing its commitment to democratic processes.

The DPK leadership has excluded some anti-Lee lawmakers from the preferred candidate list based on the survey cited by Rep. Lee Soo-jin. That survey was conducted by Research DNA, a company that conducted polls when the current DPK chairman was the mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in 2013. Due to this reason, anti-Lee lawmakers are voicing suspicions about the transparency of the partys candidate nomination process, claiming the survey results were manipulated.

The controversy prompted DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo to insist that the chairman remove the pollster from the candidate nomination process. Subsequently, the DPK made the decision to remove the pollster from the process on Sunday.

Another conflict involves close aides to the former president, who are also said to be part of an anti-Lee faction. Of them, Moon's former chief of staff Lim Jong-seok is now at loggerheads with the DPK leadership, as he insists on running in Seouls Jung-Sungdong A constituency despite opposition from the partys candidate recommendation committee.

Lim is a two-term lawmaker from the constituency, but the committee reportedly is considering former Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee for the constituency. Despite Jeon's assertion of being close to both Lee and Moon, Lim and other members of the pro-Moon faction perceive Lim's exclusion as an unjust suppression of their faction.

The DPKs support rating is dropping, and the primary responsibility goes to the current party leadership, DPK Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol said during a radio interview with broadcaster SBS, Friday. So the leadership should come up with an appropriate course of action.

DPK Rep. Song Kap-seok wrote on Facebook, "The belief that it will be tough for the DPK to lose in the (upcoming) 22nd general elections is now weakening."

Song mentioned the 2012 general elections, when the DPKs predecessor, the Democratic United Party, took 127 out of 300 seats in the Assembly, allowing the PPPs predecessor, the Saenuri Party, to secure 152 seats. Back then, then-President Lee Myung-baks job approval ratings were below 30 percent, but the Democratic United Party conceded the majority following internal conflicts over candidate nominations.

According to the lawmaker, the current situation is similar to 2012  Yoon's approval ratings remain under 40 percent, but the DPK's support rate is not inching up. In a poll by Gallup Korea, released on Friday, the DPK even conceded its lead, as 37 percent of respondents supported the PPP, while 35 percent favored the DPK. The poll surveyed 1,003 voters from Feb. 20 to 22 and further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commissions website.
Tyler Loudons wife worked at BP when he committed insider trading, the SEC complaint said (Getty Images)

Remote workers should be sure to invest in some headphones and private workspaces after a Texas man pleaded guilty to insider trading after listening to his wifes work calls.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Tyler Loudon of Houston with insider trading last week, alleging he made $1.76m in illegal profits, according to the complaint. The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to insider trading, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas, agreeing to forfeit his profits.

His sentencing is scheduled for May  he faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Officials with the SEC wrote that last year, Loudon learned from his wifes work calls that the company she worked for, BP, would be acquiring TravelCenters of America (TA), a truck stop and travel centre in Ohio. The complaint says Loudon purchased several TA stocks and sold them just after the acquisition was announced.

The couple sometimes worked within 20 feet of each other, the complaint said, allowing Loudon to hear his wifes work calls. His wife also admitted to discussing aspects of the merger with her husband  however, Loudon knew, or was severely reckless in not knowing the information was confidential, according to the complaint.

Loudons wife wasnt aware of his actions until he confessed to her in April 2023, the SEC said in the complaint. She then reported the incident to BP. After reviewing her correspondence and finding no evidence she participated in or knew about his alleged activity, BP nonetheless terminated her employment, the complaint read.

They are now in the middle of divorce proceedings, per the complaint.

As Loudon was brokering a plea deal, a federal jury convicted a medical device company executive of insider trading.

Doron Tavlin was the vice president for business development at Mazor Robotics Minneapolis office in 2018 when he engaged in insider trading, prosecutors say, earning a profit of $500,000 for himself and another person. His accomplice, Afshin Farahan, pleaded guilty to an insider trading charge in 2022.

When contacted regarding the termination of Loudons wife, BP told The Independent they typically do not comment on personnel matters.
MARION, Ohio (WCMH)  A man is hospitalized after being run over by a monster truck during an event at the Marion County Fairgrounds Saturday night.

At approximately 8 p.m., Marion County Sheriffs deputies responded to a call that a man, 56, was injured by a monster truck while he was working as part of the safety staff for Monster Truck Wars at the fairgrounds coliseum.

Three killed in Jackson County plane crash

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The man was taken to Marion General Hospital and then later flown to Grant Medical Center. His condition is not known at this time.

The accident remains under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
US Secret Service vehicles block access to a street leading to the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC aftera man reportedly set himself on fire (AFP via Getty Images)

A man set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in northwest Washington, DC, officials with the Districts fire department told The Independent.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, officials say. The man was extinguished by members of the uniformed division of the US Secret Service, a public information officer told The Independent.

Officials also requested the Metropolitan Police Departments Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) because of a suspicious vehicle that may be connected to the individual, according to a statement from the department. However, officials cleared the suspicious vehicle and found no hazardous materials, officials later said.

The man has since been transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The Independent has contacted the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC for comment.

This incident appears to be the second instance of self-immolation outside an Israeli embassy in recent months. A protester set themselves on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, the Associated Press reported in December. Authorities identified a Palestinian flag on the scene, according to the AP.

In recent years, two US climate activists have also died after setting themselves on fire in an act of protest.

In 2018, lawyer David Buckel set himself on fire in Brooklyn, New Yorks Prospect Park. He died of his injuries.

Just before his death, he emailed several news outlets explaining his intentions.

Most humans on the planet now breathe air made unhealthy by fossil fuels, and many die early deaths as a result  my early death by fossil fuel reflects what we are doing to ourselves, Mr Buckel wrote, The Independent previously reported.

Then, on Earth Day in 2022, climate activist Wynn Alan Bruce set himself on fire in front of the US Supreme Court. He died of his injuries a day later.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
The Florida measles outbreak is expanding. On Friday, health officials in Broward County confirmed a seventh case of the virus, a child under age 5.

The patient is the youngest so far to be infected in the outbreak, and the first to be identified outside of Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, near Fort Lauderdale.

Its unknown what connection the youngest measles case has to the school, but the spread beyond school-age kids was expected.

Cases are not going to stay contained just to that one school, not when a virus is this infectious, said Dr. David Kimberlin, co-director of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of Friday there have been at least 35 measles cases in 15 states in 2024  most related to international travel. In January, there were nine measles cases in Pennsylvania, eight of them in Philadelphia. (If there are no more cases reported there as of early next week, the Philadelphia outbreak will be declared over.) Late Friday, Michigans health department announced that it, too, had identified a measles case  its first since 2019.

Floridas outbreak is the largest in the U.S. right now. And what Floridas health officials are doing  or not doing  is drawing fire from experts who study the way diseases spread.

Florida Gov. DeSantis Announces New Opioid Recovery Program in Rockledge, US - 03 Aug 2022 (Paul Hennessy / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via AP file)

Measles is so contagious and has such a long incubation period that the decision of the states Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo to let parents decide whether to quarantine their children or let them keep going to school could allow cases to spread, experts warn.

Measles is the most infectious pathogen in humans that we know of, said Kimberlin. Its like a heat-seeking missile. It will find the people who are not immune, and theyre going to get sick.

Unvaccinated people have a 90% chance of becoming infected if exposed.

Epidemiology 101 is identify and isolate, said Katelyn Jetelina, who tracks illnesses for a website called Your Local Epidemiologist. This is especially true for outbreaks of measles, she said, because of how incredibly contagious the virus is and the fact that people who are infected can spread it for up to three weeks.

In a letter sent to parents at the elementary school on Tuesday, Ladapo wrote, Due to the high immunity rate in the community, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school, DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.

The letter said that parents should watch for symptoms of measles  high fever, rash, red, watery eyes  but did not encourage vaccination.

How Ohio got measles quickly under control

When Columbus, Ohio, Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts was confronted with a surging measles outbreak in 2022, parents in the state also got a letter, with a very different message.

Eighty-five children, mostly unvaccinated toddlers, became infected with measles in central Ohio. Nearly half, 42%, had to be hospitalized.

When the Ohio outbreak began, Roberts advised that unvaccinated children who had been exposed to measles receive one dose of the mumps-measles-rubella (MMR) vaccine as a form of post-exposure prophylaxis, she said.

The 21-day quarantine was reduced to just 72 hours for kids who got the shot.

Infectious disease experts told Roberts it could take six months or more to get it under control. She and her team did it in three.

By February, we were able to declare the outbreak over, Roberts said.

Roberts attributes that success to sticking with standard public health guidance: identify and isolate patients  and tell the public what to do.

We were very clear with what we needed to do to try to control this outbreak, Roberts said.

Ohios guidance included:

Encouraging the MMR vaccine, which offers 97% protection against infection.

Keeping unvaccinated kids whod been exposed to the virus out of school, daycare and other activities for 21 days.

The letter from Columbus public health officials strongly suggested that families comply with the suggested quarantine.

We did not leave it up to the parents, Roberts said. It was not an order, but the way that we wrote the letter, people probably felt like they didnt have a choice.

Since the 2022 outbreak, Ohio has reported only one measles case in 2023 and at least one so far in 2024.

An estimated 1 in 5 measles patients is hospitalized, according to the CDC. And one to three out of 1,000 patients will die.

In Florida, dozens of students at the elementary school are vulnerable, and some may have siblings too young to be fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, vaccine exemptions in Florida have been ticking up in recent years, according to CDC data.

During a school board meeting on Wednesday, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Peter Licata said 33 of the 1,067 Manatee Bay Elementary students are unvaccinated.

Maria Caballero, whose daughter attends Manatee Bay, told NBC News earlier this week that she is keeping the girl out of school for now. She has twin baby boys who were born prematurely and arent yet old enough for the first dose of the MMR vaccine, which is given starting at age 1.

Even though my 10-year-old is fully vaccinated, I am just concerned she will get the virus and bring it home, said Caballero.

The Florida outbreak comes at a time when the number of national vaccine exemptions has reached an all-time high. A November CDC report found that 3% of children entering kindergarten during the 2022-2023 school year were granted a vaccine exemption from their state. This is the highest exemption rate ever reported in the U.S.

More and more people are questioning vaccines and why people need vaccines, said Kimberlin, the University of Alabama doctor. Theyre gonna find out pretty soon.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Its one oclock and Friday prayers are under way  as the faithful face Mecca to worship their God.

Its something that Muslims do the world over, in line with the teachings of the Qur'an, Islams holy book.

Londonderry is no different, except that in Northern Irelands second city there are no mosques or minarets.

Instead, the growing number of Muslims in this traditionally Christian city worship Allah in an industrial estate, in between a bowling alley and a pub.

Gatherings like this would have once been unheard of in Derry.

But the city is rapidly changing and about 1,000 followers of Islam now call it home, coming from the likes of Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, Iran and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

There are doctors, students, refugees and asylum-seekers, and one  Sadou Diallo, from Guinea - even plays professional football for Derry City.

The former Manchester City player moved from west Africa to England at the age of seven and went on to play for Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining the Candystripes two and a half years ago.

The 24 year old is the only Muslim Derry City player and often uses the Brandywell dressing room for private prayer, as well as talking to teammates about his faith in Islam.

'It's a way of living'

"Obviously, Derry is quite small compared to Manchester or Birmingham," he said.

"It was quite a shock at the start but I've had no problems whatsoever. People just accept you for who you are.

"It's my life being a Muslim. It's the most important thing to me.

"It's like a direction for life in terms of everything: discipline, how to talk to people, things like that.

"It's more than just religion. It's a way of living."

Dr Heba Ali and husband Ahmet Marzouk, from Egypt, are both consultants in Altnagelvin Hospital and live in Derry with their two children, Mohamed and Jana.

They moved to to Derry from London more than five years ago and "fell in love" with the city.

"I like the people," said Heba.

"When I came here five and a half years ago, it wasn't very diverse.

"I think I was the only lady doctor wearing the head scarf or hijab in the hospital.

"I felt very welcome from my patients and my colleagues.

"People in the street would smile at me and this wasn't the case in London."

Their children go to grammar schools in Derry.

"They are just part of the community now," said Heba.

"They blended very well and they consider this home.

"Although London is more diverse, I felt more welcome here.

"I think this is a very good city in everything: safe, nice people, friendly, good education. What more do you want?"

Dr Sameh Hassan is chairman of the North West Islamic Association

Dr Sameh Hassan, from Egypt, works as an engineer in Seagate and is chairman of the North West Islamic Association, where he leads Friday prayers.

He moved to Derry from York almost 15 years ago and now describes himself as "almost like a native".

He has noticed a definite change in the city's demographics.

"The place has not been as diverse in the past, which has been changing over the last years, I think," he said.

"But overall, our experience was very good."

He said Derry's Muslim community continues to thrive with support of the locals, especially in the last four or five years.

"We had a very open attitude towards the community," Dr Hassan said.

"We open our doors to the community. We do lots of outreach activities.

"We welcome community groups, youth groups to our centre.

"We try to build as much bridges with the local community as we can. It gives people in the city a chance to meet Muslims, perhaps for the first time."

Refugee Adnan Khamis fled the civil war in Syria

More than 120 people regularly attend Friday prayers in the association's office.

For Adnan Khamis, the move to Derry was a matter of life and death, as he and his family fled the civil war in his native Syria.

They have now found peace in a place which has endured conflict in the past.

"We escaped in 2013, due to the war situation that appears in our country," said the 22 year old who is studying to be a civil engineer.

"I have been welcomed very well since we came here in 2017," he said.

"I have seen a lot of lovely people, friendly people, welcoming us all over the place.

"People have supported me to keep going.

"Also, I'm Muslim but I didn't experience any issues at all with that.

"We have a lot of love in our religion. We aren't so different from Christianity - there are a lot of similarities."

Aqib Javed moved to Derry from the disputed Kashmir region between Pakistan and India

Aqib Javed is a 30-year-old Pakistani from the disputed Kashmir region.

He is doing a postgraduate computer science degree at Magee and lives on the fringe of the Bogside.

He says he has learnt a lot since moving to the city.

"The computer science department in Derry is one of the best in the world," he said.

"The work they're doing is at the same level as Oxford, so that is the reason that brings me here.

"Initially, it was a cultural shock. You're far away from the family, you're far away from the culture and everything.

"But the thing I find here, even knowing that there is not a good reputation of Northern Ireland, the people of Derry are very hospitable, especially in the initial days when you are struggling to find accommodation."

He said there were some similarities between Kashmir and Northern Ireland.

"It's a line on the land but people on both sides, they share the same families, they share the same festivals, they share the same cultures."
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Merika Coleman spent 20 years in the Alabama House and one year in the Senate, representing Birmingham. She says that experience gives her an edge over the other Democratic candidates running in District 2.

Alabamas District 1 and 2 Primary: an overview

I am the person in this race that is ready to serve in Congress on day one, Coleman said.

Coleman is an attorney and college professor, and as she says a champion of the underserved.

Google my name and youll see the issues Ive fought for these 21 years, Coleman said. Ive been a fighter. Im the fighter you deserve. And Ill take that fight to Washington D.C.

Coleman says shell focus on voting rights, abortion rights, housing, gun violence, and making sure District 2 gets its fair share of funding.

I want to make sure that I go to Washington D.C. and bring that money home, she said. Bring the bacon home! Bring those projects home to Congressional District 2 so she gets the resources she deserves.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Scotland Yards firearms unit is experiencing a recruitment crisis after just six officers applied to join, The Telegraph can reveal.

Becoming an armed officer has traditionally been seen as one of the most desirable and prestigious roles in policing, with between 150 and 250 hopefuls applying every time the posts were advertised.

Competition for places has meant the Metropolitan Police was able to choose only the very best candidates, with successful officers joining the elite unit after making it through a rigorous selection process.

However The Telegraph understands that plummeting morale has resulted in a collapse in interest among officers wanting to carry firearms.

Sources said that the Mets most recent recruitment drive for its Specialist Firearms Command MO19 saw just six applications, the lowest number on record.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the recruitment process was ongoing.

The Metropolitan Police has around 2,500 Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs), who patrol the capital 24 hours a day keeping the public safe from armed criminals and terrorists.

They are all volunteers and they do not receive any extra pay for carrying out the dangerous role.

But between April and December last year more than 250 AFOs left the unit  representing one in ten of the overall number.

Without new applicants coming forward to fill those vacancies, there is mounting concern that MO19 could struggle to meet its commitments.

Acute resourcing crisis

The Telegraph understands that the recruitment problem has become so acute that the Met has invited applications from officers who are still in their probation, although they would have to be fully qualified before they were able to join.

The growing resourcing crisis comes in the wake of the decision to charge a firearms officer with murder following the shooting of unarmed black man, Chris Kaba, in September 2022.

The officer is due to go on trial in September and faces the prospect of being jailed for life if convicted.

So far he has only been identified as NX121 in order to ensure his safety, but on Friday his anonymity is due to be lifted during a hearing at the Old Bailey.

Last year after he was charged hundreds of his colleagues handed in their weapons in protest, resulting in the Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, putting the army on standby.

There is also anger within the ranks over protracted disciplinary investigations that follow armed incidents even if the officer is cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

Last year it was revealed that a Met firearms officer was to face a gross misconduct charge eight years after shooting dead an armed gangster who was trying to spring two prisoners from Wood Green Crown Court.

The officer, known only as W80, had been told he would not face criminal charges over the 2015 incident, but could still be sacked following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

A firearms source said: It is no surprise that officers are not applying to join armed policing. They look at what is going on and they quite rightly ask themselves Is it worth it?

Not only do they face great danger in confronting armed criminals and terrorists but they could also end up being charged with murder and being sent down for life.

Alternatively they could spend years suspended from their job dealing with a disciplinary issue simply for doing the job they signed up for.

Dropping standards

Another source added: My concern is that if the morale within MO19 is not addressed as a matter of urgency, selection standards will drop and ultimately if they cannot get enough decent volunteers, they are paving the way to making the carrying of firearms a compulsory requirement.

Detective Chief Superintendent Charmain Brenyah, from the Mets Specialist Firearms Command, said: Firearms officers play a vital role in ensuring that the public and unarmed colleagues are protected from the most severe and very real threats faced on a daily basis.

Taking on the additional responsibilities of being a firearms officer is voluntary in this country due to the very real additional risks the role entails.

We know many firearms officers are concerned about how the role could impact them and their families and we are pleased the Home Office is carrying out a review into police accountability.

Accountability will always be crucial, however, it must be an accountability system that officers, and the public, can see fairly takes into consideration and gives appropriate legal protection to the unique role we ask armed officers to undertake.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum greets supporters during an event

Mexico's presidential frontrunner says she is being flooded with hate-filled messages after her phone number was published on social media.

Claudia Sheinbaum is the governing party's candidate in June's election.

One of the president's sons has also had his private number leaked online, and said it put his family in danger.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador blamed political opponents, but days earlier he publicly revealed a journalist's phone number.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Sheinbaum said she was being deluged with hate calls and messages.

"What they want to do is obvious, once again their attacks are as crude as they are harmless," she said.

The former mayor of Mexico City faces Xochitl Galvez, from the opposition coalition, and Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the Citizens' Movement party in the June poll.

Mr Lopez Obrador is not able to seek re-election because Mexican presidents are limited to a single six-year term.

Ms Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old trained scientist, is a close ally of the leftist president and is currently leading the polls. She officially entered the race last week by submitting her registration papers.

Jose Ramon Lopez Beltran, the president's eldest son, has also had his phone number leaked. He described the publication of his number as "vengeance".

Mr Lopez Obrador described the leak of his son's phone number as "shameful".

The privacy violation for Claudia Sheinbaum comes days after the president himself publicly read out the phone number of a New York Times journalist, who was investigating alleged links to drug cartels among Mr Lopez Obrador's associates.

The president hit back at criticism of his decision to reveal the journalist's phone number, denying that he had breached data protection regulations.

The New York Times described the incident as "a troubling and unacceptable tactic from a world leader at a time when threats against journalists are on the rise".
In January 2024, the trade volume between Azerbaijan and Turkiye reached 475.52 million, showing an increase of 18.4% compared to January of the previous year, Azernews reports citing the State Customs Committee.

During the same month, Azerbaijan imported goods worth 170.48 million from Turkey and exported goods worth 305.38 million to Turkiye. This represents a decrease of 6.8% in imports and an increase of 39% in exports compared to the corresponding period last year.

Turkiye holds the position of being Azerbaijan's second-largest trading partner.

Note that the import of a number of products from Azerbaijan was exempted from customs duty for 10 years. Thus, Turkiye will import wine, mulberry, quince, iron and steel products, and packaging materials from Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan will import copper wire, washing machines, monitors, video recorders, car spare parts, and aluminum from Turkiye without customs duty.
Conflicts of interest, dubious standards taint integrity of nominations

The backlash by disgruntled politicians against a selection committee is a common occurrence preceding nearly every election, and the April 10 National Assembly elections are no different. As with any competition, there are winners and losers, leaving those who didn't make the cut feeling dissatisfied.

The issue arises from the decades-old tradition of nominating candidates based on criteria that have been characterized as vague and unjust, posing a significant threat to democracy. The repercussions of these candidate selections, particularly within the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), are so severe that analysts suggest it's only a matter of time before the party experiences further setbacks, potentially leading to a division.

The list of the so-called bottom 20 percent lawmakers has caused a stir. The DPK selection committee evaluated the performance of its current lawmakers over the past four years, identifying individuals deemed to have delivered substandard performances. Those on this list face bleak prospects of becoming candidates for the DPK, as they risk having 20 to 30 percent of their total votes in the internal competition deducted as a consequence.

Rep. Sul Hoon, who was included on the list, was outraged. He alleged that the selection committee is using the evaluation as a tool to eliminate lawmakers who were critical of DPK leader Lee Jae-myung. He described this as political retaliation and called on the chairman to resign, asserting that Lee is unfit to lead the party due to his legal troubles. Before Rep. Sul, numerous other lawmakers from the bottom 20 percent accused Lee of exercising his influence behind the selections, claiming they were victimized because they had criticized him. Lee Su-jin, a former judge turned lawmaker, exited the party amidst this turmoil. Some lawmakers appealed to the committee, urging its members to reconsider the evaluations, only to hear that their requests were ignored.

Lee Nak-yon, the former prime minister who founded a minor party, predicted on a MBC radio talk show, Friday, that an exodus of lawmakers from the DPK would be inevitable. He said Lees greed will pay the price. We will see how it turns out, he said.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) is also grappling with the repercussions of the nominations as selections are still in progress. Insiders suggest that a proxy conflict is unfolding between Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok and Lee Chul-gyu, two prominent members of the selection committee.

Rep. Jang is a confidant of PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon, while Rep. Lee enjoys a strong relationship with President Yoon Suk Yeol, being recognized as someone who has the president's trust and attention. The two were pitted against each other, and tensions erupted recently during the selection committee's review of candidates for the PPP's representative in Busan's Sasang electoral district. The seat has been vacant since last year when current lawmaker Rep. Chang Je-won declared he would not seek reelection. Rep. Chang, previously viewed as a close confidant of the president, recommended an associate identified only by the surname Kim as his successor.

Rep. Lee reportedly supported Kim, but Rep. Jang opposed and tried to give another candidate a chance to run in the election. The two lawmakers clashed. After arguments, the PPPs selection committee decided to let the two compete to become the party's candidate. This also triggered speculation that Reps. Lee and Jang were backing the candidates in a proxy war on behalf of the president and the PPP leader.

In addition to internal conflicts and power struggles, another significant issue undermining the transparency of the selection process is a conflict of interest. Rep. Lee, for instance, represents an electoral district in Gangwon Province. Last week, despite being chosen by the ruling party's selection committee as a candidate for the PPP, he opted to participate in the competition alongside other PPP candidates to alleviate any potential concerns about the fairness of the selection process. The crux of the problem lies in the fact that he serves as a judge on the selection committee, while simultaneously being a contestant vying for selection. This situation, where a contestant also holds a position as a judge in the candidate selection process, appears inherently contradictory.

The self-serving manipulation of internal selections by party leaders represents a critical issue that erodes democracy. These leaders view the selection process merely as a tool to advance their own political agendas and ambitions, rather than as a mechanism to genuinely serve democratic principles.

Presidential hopefuls are tempted to dominate the selections and nominate candidates who are close to them or pledge allegiance to them. Chosen candidates not only represent their parties in the elections but are also given the rights to cast their votes to elect their party leaders and presidential candidates. The misuse of selections by ambitious politicians brings into question the principle of representation. Instead of prioritizing the interests of their constituencies, these lawmakers appear to prioritize the agendas of their party leaders, undermining the fundamental role of lawmakers, which is to represent and serve the needs of their constituents, not merely those of their party leaders.

All told, political leaders -- Yoon, Han, and Lee alike -- cannot deflect criticism for having attempted to use the selection process as a tool to strengthen their influence in the party. They should focus more on securing fairness and transparency in the candidate selection. Candidate selection should not be a stage for hegemonic competition. Voters are closely watching all the processes, and any selfish and undue practice involved in nominating candidates will lead to consequences.
(Bloomberg) -- Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors son decried the publication of his phone number on social media as an act of vengeance after the president publicly released a reporters contact information.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Jose Ramon Lopez Beltran, the son of the Mexican president known as AMLO, said his own phone number was leaked and that he has received threats, according to a post Saturday on X.

It came after AMLO disclosed the phone number of a reporter for the New York Times, which published an article on a preliminary US probe into alleged ties between the presidents allies and narco gangs.

Ruling Morena party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum said on X Saturday evening that her phone number had also been leaked and she had received non-stop calls and hate messages. She posted one of the messages, describing it as crude and harmless, and said she would change her phone number.

AMLO has defended his decision to share the reporters phone number because he said the article was slanderous and the request for comment on deadline was an ultimatum.

Read more: AMLO Says He Doesnt Regret Sharing NYT Reporters Number

The move has drawn criticism from media rights advocates who say it was irresponsible. Mexico is considered one of the worlds most dangerous countries for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Transparency watchdog INAI said in a statement it would investigate the presidents decision to share the reporters number as a possible violation of a law that protects data in the hands of government officials.

(Updates with comments from presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum in fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
I was initially reluctant to weigh in on Indiana Senate Bill 202, but the testimony by fellow professors and administrators almost perfectly illustrates the lack of viewpoint diversity the bill targets.

Indeed, from what Ive seen, not a single professor or administrator who testified on this bill admitted a lack of ideological diversity in higher education. That is troubling, and at best reveals an unhealthy institutional blind spot. There are other perspectives.

I begin by noting that among my early columns was a criticism of tenure. My view hasnt changed. But as a lifelong conservative, I deeply value the principles and results of a classical education. Our universities must be places where students are challenged by difficult and potentially controversial ideas, not provided safe spaces for inquiry and learning.

Michael Hicks

However, in my three decades in higher education, Ive seen that ideal slowly erode from view. Today, American public universities are among the least ideologically diverse institutions in the world. Indiana is no exception. I am certain there is more ideological diversity in a typical infantry platoon than would be found at any public university.

That is a real problem that should concern taxpayers and their representatives. More importantly, it should alarm those of us whove committed a life to nurturing free inquiry and debate.

Indianas SB202 tries to address the lack of ideological diversity at state universities in three ways. One is to challenge tenure and create ideological evaluation of faculty. The second is to force universities to report their spending on some institutional programming. The third is to modestly alter the oversight structure of universities. Let me address each.

First, it is a plain, well-documented fact that faculty are overwhelmingly progressive. Many disciplines have fewer than one in 20 professors who self-identify as anything other than progressive or extremely progressive. Yet, classrooms remain the one place on campus with a thriving marketplace of ideas. The best evidence for this is simply that the most ideologically unbalanced disciplines are losing students at record rates. English, writing, gender and ethnic studies, history, sociology and anthropology face historic enrollment declines.

More ideologically balanced majors, such as engineering, health professions, law, business, and economics continue to thrive. Now, none of these disciplines have even a quarter of professors who are conservative. However, that makes them ideologically balanced within the monolith of deeply progressive orthodoxy that modern American universities have become.

Let me be clear what I mean about ideology. I teach Karl Marx to first-year students; that isnt indoctrination. Likewise, a biology professor should ignore public opinion on evolution or photosynthesis. Our research and teaching should pursue and reflect truth, no matter the distress it causes. Neither am I referring to party affiliation, or support for a particular candidate. My reference to ideological imbalance refers to the creation of an artificial close-mindedness that stifles debate, isolates important perspectives and diminishes the richness of a college education.

Eliminating tenure or policing classroom speech will do nothing to balance the ideological composition of campus, and could worsen it. That is because the problem lies within the institutional structure of modern universities, not the classroom.

To address this, SB 202 requires universities to report spending on diversity, equity and inclusion programming  an area that is especially susceptible to ideological narrowness. It also asks the Commission on Higher Education to survey students to determine their experience with a culture of free speech. These questions are too narrow. If universities were to conduct an honest audit, they would find that they spend far more on ideological programming by administrators than they do researching policy issues that confront Hoosiers every day.

The spending on this ideological programming includes salaries for large staffs, hefty travel and honorarium to outside speakers, as well as spending on campus activities and programming that are so ideologically conforming that it nurtures an intolerant and illiberal climate.

One clear example comes from a colleague who attended a brainstorming session on how to convince more faculty to live near the university. He suggested that highlighting the many high-quality local schools would be helpful in attracting new faculty. Most normal folks view this is self-evident. Yet, this professor was scolded by a senior university administrator, who said that the university would not discuss that because concern about school quality is white privilege.

This is an example of how progressive orthodoxy inhibits debate. A campus climate like this should outrage taxpayers, legislators and most especially my fellow professors. That particular white privilege claim is a puerile hypothesis easily dismantled by empirical evidence. But, empirically dubious and even racist assertions should be confronted with data and argument, not shut down because of ideology. If this is happening to senior professors, one can only shudder to imagine what it is like to be a first-year student in this university.

This unhealthy stifling of debate is symbolic of much broader problems that are injurious to a climate of free expression and inquiry. It is anti-intellectual, counter to the principles upon which our Republic was founded and inconsistent with the mission of a public university. Yet, this mindset is pervasive on public university campuses, here in Indiana and elsewhere. Taxpayers and their representatives have every reason to be concerned. Faculty members and administrators who think scrutiny of this problem will disappear are foolishly naive.

If you think my example is cherry picked, I invite you to visit the website of any public university in Indiana. Read through their diversity, equity and inclusion programming, review their freshman readers or peruse the many racial or gender-based scholarships they offer. Make your own judgments about their ideological balance.

Thirdly, SB 202 seeks to allow the legislature to appoint two members of the governing bodies of every Indiana university. Because the stifling intellectual climate on campuses has thrived under the current oversight structure, it is time for change.

Finally, I do not support SB 202 as written. Though it identifies a weighty problem, it offers the wrong solution. The problem is not tenure or the ideological composition of faculty. The problem is that from the moment a student considers attending a Hoosier university, to long after they graduate, they are immersed by a singular world view. Within this there is no counterpoint, no nuance and little debate. That environment is counterproductive to nurturing diversity of all typesracial, gender, religious and other viewpoints. Until it is dismantled, with public dollars redirected to more balanced programming, nothing will change. That will be disastrous for our universities, and rightfully summons even more legislation.

Michael Hicks is the George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Economics and the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Hicks: SB202 offers the wrong solutions to a real problem
Michelangelos monumental Epifania is a supreme example of his draughtsmanship and, at more than two metres high, it is also one of the largest Renaissance works on paper. Now the 1550s depiction of the Virgin Mary, Christ Child and St John the Baptist will be seen for the first time at the British Museum in a repaired and revived state after undergoing conservation so painstaking that it lasted six years.

Tears in the fragile paper have been mended, while discoloured areas have been tended, enabling details of the masters original vision in black chalk and charcoal to be seen with new clarity.

Sarah Vowles, the British Museums curator of Italian and French prints and drawings, told The Telegraph: Some of the chalk lines are so much crisper than they were before. You can get a sense of the power and the drama of the way that Michelangelo draws these lines. Details of some of the figures - the Christ Childs toes, for example - are much more visible now than they were before. This is one of our most incredible drawings.

The drawing was made of 26 sheets that had been glued together. It is a cartoon, a term derived from the Italian for a large piece of paper - cartone - meaning that it was drawn to the scale of a planned painting, although this one was apparently unexecuted.

The Epifania prior to conservation - The Trustees of the British Museum

While fragmentary losses have been filled, the drawing has been separated from its backing, a dark and fragile 19th-century pine panel that was cracking and beginning to discolour the original 16th-century paper.

Its removal has revealed previously concealed edges of the drawing and nail holes, showing that it would have been attached to stretchers like a painting.

Ms Vowles said: We are now displaying it with those edges exposed, so people can get a real sense of the material history of the drawing.

She added that an old adhesive on the back of the drawing had discoloured very badly: [Conservators] carefully took that off, which really helped to give the original paper that little bit of a freshening.

The conservation involved using fragments of rigid gels impregnated with minute volumes of water. Their moisture softened the backing, but not the drawing paper, allowing conservators to lift it with tweezers without disturbing the cartoon paper.

Michelangelos only complete surviving cartoon will now take pride of place in a forthcoming landmark exhibition at the British Museum, which shared details with The Telegraph on Saturday ahead of the official announcement and tickets going on sale on Monday.

Measuring more than two metres in height, the Epifania is Michelangelos only complete surviving cartoon - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

Titled Michelangelo: the last decades, it will focus on the achievements of his late career which saw him still working shortly before his death in 1564, aged 88. It will explore his art, faith and friendships.

Ms Vowles, the shows lead curator, said: Its the first time that were looking at the last 30 years of his life. Its emphasising the point that his creativity remains dynamic. Its introducing people to this less familiar period.

She added that the popular image of Michelangelo focuses on the famous works of his youth - including the statue of David and the Sistine Chapel ceiling: Everyones heard of him, but I feel that people have a very particular idea of who he is. This [will be] a celebration of late creativity. The UK hasnt had a focussed exhibition of this kind.

The British Museum boasts one of the worlds greatest collections of Michelangelos works, but it has also secured loans from the Royal Collection, the Ashmolean Museum, the Vatican and Casa Buonarroti, the artists home in Florence, among others.

Some of the British Museums own drawings will be seen for the first time in decades, Ms Vowles said: Drawings are very delicate so, as an overall rule, we dont show them for more than 12 months every 10 years, one year out of every decade cumulatively.

The exhibits include preparatory drawings for his iconic masterpiece, The Last Judgment, which reflect his fascination with the human form.

Epifania was found in Michelangelos studio at the time of his death. In the exhibition, it will be reunited for the first time since the 16th century with a painting created from it by Ascanio Condivi, Michelangelos assistant. It is being loaned by the Casa Buonarroti.

Ms Vowles said: The intensity of Michelangelos faith strengthened as he aged. On show will be one of the most moving examples of his personal exploration of faith: a group of drawings of the Crucifixion, made during the last ten years of his life. They witness an elderly artist turning to the act of drawing as a means of spiritual meditation.

The exhibition will paint a portrait of Michelangelo, the man, bringing together his poems, letters and artistic designs.

Ms Vowles said that there is an image of him as an isolated, tormented genius, which isnt really the case. Instead, he will emerge as affectionate and warm - but with a prickly side.

Michelangelo: the last decades is at the British Museum from May 2 to July 28. Tickets go on sale on Monday.

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(Bloomberg) -- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed concern that President Joe Biden risks losing support among the states Arab and Muslim Americans because of his support for Israel in the war against Hamas in Gaza.

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The risk is coming into focus with the Michigan primaries, where Bidens detractors are urging Democrats to protest by sitting out the vote or casting uncommitted ballots on Tuesday. Democrats have told the presidents team theyre worried his pro-Israel stance will alienate voters in a state he won narrowly in 2020 thats home to a large Arab-American population.

Im not sure what were going to see on Tuesday, to tell you the truth, Whitmer, a Democrat, told CNNs State of the Union. I know that weve got this primary and we will see differences of opinion. Im just not sure what to expect.

Biden trails Republican frontrunner Donald Trump 47% to 42% in Michigan in a hypothetical 2024 rematch, according to a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll in January.

Michigans Arab American community is pretty angry right now, Representative Debbie Dingell said on CBSs Face the Nation. She said she knows some families who has lost 20 or 40 members in the Gaza fighting.

Top administration officials met Arab and Muslim community leaders in Michigan this month as Biden faces a backlash over Israels assault, which has left 29,000 people dead, most of them Palestinian civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Biden should come out and meet with community members himself, Dingell said. I do believe that he is going to need to do that at some point down the road, she said.

Dingells previous congressional district included Dearborn, a city near Detroit with a large number of residents with Middle Eastern ancestry. That city is now represented by Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat whos the first Palestinian American woman elected to Congress.

Read more: Netanyahu Says Hell Soon Have Plan to Move Rafah Civilians

Whitmer urged voters to recall Trumps executive actions as president to block travel to the US by citizens of several countries with a Muslim majority.

I just want to make the case, though, that its important not to lose sight of the fact that any vote thats not cast for Joe Biden supports a second Trump term, she said.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have confronted Biden in almost every city he has visited since war broke out after Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Biden has stepped up criticism of the extent of Israels military campaign, calling the response over the top. But the US last week blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution backing a cease-fire in Gaza as it pursues efforts to shield civilians in any Israeli assault on Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge.

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Military expert predicts that Ukraine army may continue to lose some land in Donetsk Oblast

Andriy Kramarov, a military expert and reserve officer of the Armed Forces explained what is happening in the Avdiivka sector, where analytical portal DeepState reported that Russian troops captured the village of Lastochkyne, in an interview with Radio NV on Feb. 25.

Kramarov said that the operation to withdraw troops from Avdiivka is continuing, because the Ukrainian army needs time to create basic defensive lines.

Read also: Tavria grouping warns of mopping-up operations as Russian forces secure grip on seized Avdiivka

This means that we will gradually withdraw there, or perhaps even further. We will see, Kramarov added.

This is a question for the command of those units that areon our first line of operational and tactical rear, which now have to quickly prepare defensive lines.

Read also: Ukrainians holding new defensive lines near Avdiivka after repelling five Russian assaults  commander

Kramarov assumes that, gradually, Ukraine will withdraw from more small villages. This means that command, having assessed the terrain, heights, possibilities for further advancement, and logistical routes, will build a new line of defense, one that will be stable and harder for the enemy to dbreak through.

That is why I personally see the withdrawal from Lastochkyne as one stage, a continuation of the overall withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka, Kramarov concluded.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Russian steel plant damaged by a possible drone attack on Feb. 24 is "a military enterprise" that contributes directly to Moscow's arsenal, Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence, said in a television broadcast.

A fire erupted at the main plant of Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) in Lipetsk, Russia on Feb. 24. Military intelligence sources reportedly told Ukrainian media that the plant was targeted in a joint operation carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).

Yusov neither confirmed nor denied the involvement of the SBU or HUR in his comments on the attack.

"We will not confirm or deny it. But there was a Russian production facility that is directly involved in the military-industrial complex, directing steel to the production of guns, armor and missile weapons that kill Ukrainians," Yusov said.

Located approximately 400 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border, the plant accounts for 80% of NLMK's steel output and contributes 18% to Russia's total steel production.

Yusov called the plant "a military enterprise."

"(W)e can confirm the fact that yes, this company will be out of commission for a long time," he said.

Ukraine's military intelligence has publicly claimed responsibility for sabotage attacks within Russian territory on previous occasions.

Read also: After 2 years of Russias full-scale war, Ukraine keeps fighting

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The year-long miners' strike from March 1984 to 1985 changed the face of Welsh industry and many of its closest-knit working communities.

Wales' largest employment sector was in a desperate battle to save itself from being wiped out.

Three people whose lives were bound up with the action share their stories of the year the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the UK government under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher went to war.

Dr Kim Howells, pictured at Rhondda Heritage Park, became an MP in the years after the strike ended

Kim Howells calls 1984 to 1985 "the most intense year I've ever lived through. Anyone who was deeply involved in it will always be scarred by it."

As a union officer, he was very aware of recent history in the 1970s, when the NUM had led victorious strikes and brought the country to a standstill at times.

But there was a vital difference. Then there had been widespread union support for strike action.

This time, less than half the membership had voted in favour, and with closures and job losses previously happening in the British steel industry, it also raised questions over how much coal would be needed.

Kim Howells addressing a strike meeting

"That was a big problem for us because we began to realise that we were losing our markets everywhere," Kim said.

"A lot of the pits in south Wales were producing good quality coking coal that went to the steel industry in the foundries and those steelworks and foundries were closing all over Britain."

Although miners had voted nationally against strike action, Kim and others held a meeting and decided to picket every mine in south Wales.

"The majority of pits stopped work, [as men] wouldn't cross the picket line, even though there were only two [pickets] there," he said. South Wales became and remained the most solid area of the strike.

As the months wore on and hardship deepened, he recalls the community spirit that pulled people together to get through.

"It was a summer when lots and lots of people, including me, learnt how to grow vegetables. There were rallies constantly. People were marching in the streets. There were lots and lots of things organised for the kids of miners' families."

He said the whole community, not just those affected by mining, pulled together "in so many ways".

"I can only describe it as a kind of discovery of love for each other," he said. "It was an amazing period - a realisation that we all depend on each other and we all helped each other."

Ron Stoate, Penallta colliery NUM lodge vice chair

Penallta miner Ron Stoate: "You've got to stand up for what you think is right"

Ron Stoate was a 34-year-old miner in the Rhymney valley colliery of Penallta, Caerphilly county, when the strike broke out.

He called it the biggest learning curve of his life, and it forever changed how he saw institutions such as the judiciary and the police, leaving him "bitter and twisted", he said.

"I had a wife and two children to look after. I used to go to Nantgarw cutting to get a car full of waste coke for fuel, which we shared with everyone back home," he said.

As part of the picket action, "me and my brothers were arrested 10 times, me four times, them three each".

Ron described road blocks being set up by the police to try to prevent pickets from reaching mines, as well as what he saw as biased actions by officers.

"You had the police who were actively going, and I can say this from experience because it happened to a man in our pit, actively going to people's houses to ask them 'do they want to go to work?'.

"So they weren't just policing the strike, they were actively trying to break the strike."

Ron was at Orgreave coking plant in South Yorkshire, in June 1984, with more than people were 100 detained.

Thousands of police and striking miners clashed violently in one of the darkest days of the strike, with the police accused of using excessive force.

Clashing police and miners at Orgreave

"The police took us there [in an escort]. Bear in mind that before that, the police were stopping us from going to places, and turning us back.

"You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out what happened there. They took you there to deliberately do what they done. And when I go there, you could see ranks and ranks of police with short shields and long shields.

"And then to your left, police with dogs on long leads and to your right police on horses, and we was there in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans."

Despite everything, Ron says he has "no regrets at all", adding: "I wouldn't want to do it again, but I would.

"You've got to stand up for what you think is right haven't you?"

Christine Powell, treasurer of miners' support group

Christine Powell, from Seven Sisters, Neath Port Talbot, was on her way to her teaching job in March 1984 when she drove past Blaenant colliery, where her husband Stuart was expecting to start his afternoon shift later that day.

It looked different to normal.

She said: "There were two cars in the park and a few chaps by the door of the pithead baths. So as soon as I got into work, I rang him and said 'you may as well stay in bed, as you've been picketed out'. Didn't have a clue that it would be 51 weeks later that he would go back to work."

She quickly got involved in helping form a support group locally, which joined forces with others nearby to become the Neath, Dulais and Swansea Valleys District Miners' Support Group.

Acting as treasurer, she spent a large part of meetings receiving donations of money, which initially went into a bank account.

But as the summer wore on, the government was seeking to sequester funds from mining groups. She and Hywel Francis, the historian and political activist who later became Aberavon MP, raced to the bank to remove 5,000 before it could be frozen.

"Over the next few weeks we tried not to use cheques etc. I accumulated 35,000 under the spare bed with my dog sleeping on the bed for security."

She tried not to worry about having that amount of cash in the house on the basis "if you got past Butch, you deserved to have the money".

She also helped with food parcel distribution. Speaking from Onllwyn welfare hall, she remembers the work that went into feeding families who often had no income by this time.

"We knew roughly on a Sunday night how much food we'd need to put out that week. Kay [Bowen] would order it. And it all came here. This was the hub of the operation. Then, on Wednesday morning, some of the food parcels would be made up, and in others we transported the food required to the nine sub centres we had.

"Basically any vehicle would do. There is a picture over there of how many loaves of bread and pints of milk you can get into a Mini Metro."

Onllwyn was also the place where a historic meeting between two seemingly very different groups of people first occurred: the local miners and members of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) group, which travelled down from London to offer financial and practical support to the striking men and their families.

This story was told in the award-winning film Pride, which documented the links forged between the two and saw those mining families repay the gay community with support during the HIV and Aids crisis of the 1980s and 1990s.

"They were major contributors, major contributors," Christine said.

"I remember in a short period of time 15,000 coming in. That's how we were able to purchase the van. But it kept coming in afterwards."

She was a protester at the Conservative Party conference held in Porthcawl, south Wales, when Margaret Thatcher was famously egged by a protester outside.

She said: "I can feel it happening now, the knot that starts in my stomach starts to rise and the anger is still there. Because when you're fighting hard for something and people who should be supporting you are undermining you, it's very hard to deal with that, very hard."

She thinks, overall "society lost", with the defeat of the miners and the disintegration of communities.

"Personally, as me as Christine Powell I learned a lot... and I think a lot of us did. So if you want to look at it from that respect, no we didn't lose.

"We didn't save the coal industry. But as individuals, we all grew."
CHICAGO - The search for a missing 17-year-old in the North Austin neighborhood has spanned over a week. Now, Chicago police are asking for the public's help in finding her.

Lyric Jones was last seen Feb. 15 leaving her home in the 5100 block of W St. Paul Avenue.

She's described as being 5-foot-4 with brown eyes and black hair.

Police say she was wearing a green sweater and blue jeans at the time she disappeared.

Anyone with more information is urged to contact Chicago PD at 312-746-6554.
The flags of Russia and Transnistria fly in Tiraspol - Sergei Gapon/AFP

Pro-Russia rebels in a separatist part of Moldova are preparing to ask Vladimir Putin to annex their region amid warnings that an emboldened Kremlin is trying to destabilise Europe.

Gennady Chorba, a politician in Transnistria, which borders Ukraine, has said the rebel government will submit its request to the Kremlin on Wednesday during a special congress that last met in 2006.

This will be voiced to Russia on behalf of citizens living on the left bank of the Dniester River, Mr Chorba was quoted as saying last week.

His statement came a few days after Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, said the rights of pro-Russian separatists in Transnistria must be respected.

Western analysts believe the development is part of Moscows hybrid warfare campaign to destabilise Europe.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War said Putin was trying to ramp up tension in Transnistria to create an imminent political crisis in Moldova, a former Soviet state that wants to join the EU.

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic military march in Tiraspol last year - Peter Dench/Getty Images

Russia keeps roughly 2,000 soldiers in Transnistria, and in 2022 there were concerns that the Kremlin could use it to open a second front after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Concrete machine gun posts facing Transnistria dot Ukraines western border.

However, Ukrainian officials are sceptical that Putin wants to formally annex Transnistria, a sentiment backed by analysts in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital.

One source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the Kremlin viewed the region and two other pro-Russia rebel states in Georgia as useful tools in its hybrid warfare against Europe, which has included funnelling migrants into the EU and spreading misinformation.

Somebody may have ordered this to provoke tensions, to provoke reactions, and its worked, he said.

Alexandru Flenchea, a former Moldovan deputy prime minister and an ex-chief negotiator on Transnistria, said the statement may have been ordered by local businessmen who effectively run Transnistria as their fiefdom because they want to derail EU customs integration with Moldova.

This is a provocation to test reactions in Chisinau, test reactions in Kyiv and also in Moscow, he said. The Moldovan government said that there was no indication that this was going to happen, but the public reaction... there was a lot of panic.

Alexandru Flenchea, a former Moldovan deputy prime minister, said the statement may have been ordered by powerful businessmen in Transnistria

Western capitals said they were monitoring the situation around Transnistria, which has a population of roughly 400,000, especially as leaked plans have shown that the Kremlin views Moldova as a European weak point.

Transnistria runs its own affairs after breaking away from Moldova following a war in the 1990s, but it remains economically connected to Moldova.

Russia sponsors Transnistria by supplying free gas and paying pensions, and controls its security services. Russian is spoken in Tiraspol, the Transnistrian capital, where the wide streets, war memorials and statues are reminiscent of a Russian regional city.

The Chisinau-based analyst described Transnistria as a useful finger in the pie for Russia, saying: It enables the Kremlin to undermine authority, spread misinformation and disinformation in Europe.

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A new monument at Riverside Cemetery memorializes two robbers who held up City National Bank in Wichita Falls and killed the cashier.

This week marks the 128th anniversary of the event which has become the citys most notorious tale from its Old West days.

This marker placed by Friends of Riverside Cemetery memorializes two robbers who were lynched after they robbed City National Bank in Wichita Falls and killed cashier Frank Dorsey.

Elmer Kid Lewis and Foster Crawford were hands at the Burk Burnett ranch when they decided to rob the bank, which at that time was located on the corner of Seventh Street and Ohio Avenue.

Rumor had spread the bank kept up to $500,000 in cash on hand and was prime pickings for a holdup. To guard against that, bank president Joseph A. Kemp summoned a contingent of 10 Texas Rangers led by Capt. Bill McDonald. After days passed and nothing happened, the Rangers packed up and headed back to Fort Worth on Feb. 25, 1896. Lewis and Crawford, fortified by liquor, were at the train station to wave goodbye.

Foster Crawford and Elmer "Kid" Lewis posed on a nearby porch after being lynched in downtown Wichita Falls on Feb.26, 1896.

Then the two men entered the bank. Crawford smacked teller P.P. Langford on the head, Lewis shot cashier Frank Dorsey and fired a shot at Dr. O.J. Kendall, whose life was saved when the bullet struck a syringe in his vest pocket. Lewis shot Langford in the buttocks as he fled, but the teller managed to crawl out and sound the alarm. Crawford scooped up $410 in loot and engaged in a brief shootout with deputy Frank Hardesty as the bandits fled. Angry citizens were soon in hot pursuit.

The telephone pole in this undated photo marks the spot where bank robbers Elmer Lewis and Foster Crawford were lynched in 1896. They had robbed City National Bank, seen at the right, and shot and killed cashier Frank Dorsey.

Meanwhile, the Rangers got word of the robbery by telegraph at Bellevue and caught the next train back to Wichita Falls. Those lawmen and a crowd motivated by outrage and the promise of a reward offered by Kemp, surrounded the bandits near the Red River. Capt. McDonald negotiated their surrender in exchange for promising their safety from the crowd. The two men were tucked into the jail that was located then on the northeast corner of the present courthouse grounds, where residents, including school children, came through the night to gawk at them.

Cashier Dorsey died from his wounds and his funeral the next day raised the ire of an already-incensed citizenry.

This artist's rendering of the lynching of bank robbers Foster Crawford and Elmer Lewis appeared in the Dallas News the following the incident in 1896.

Sensing a lynching was in the making, Capt. McDonald and his Rangers caught a train out of town. Although they were present for neither the robbery nor the subsequent lynching, the men were paid $800 from the reward money.

Rather than curious schoolchildren, irate townspeople arrived at the jail that night to batter down the door and hustle the robbers to Seventh and Ohio where a bonfire lit the night around the bank building.

Crawford asked for whiskey from his old boss, Burk Burnett, and then passed out. Men tossed ropes over the arm of a newfangled telephone pole, put nooses around the necks of the robbers, and strung them up.

They swung until dawn and then were posed on a porch for a final photograph. Lewis father wired authorities requesting a casket for his son, but later refused to pay for it. Nobody requested a casket for Crawford, so he was put into the crate Lewis casket had been shipped in.

The men were buried in a single grave in a portion of Riverside Cemetery that was then reserved for paupers. A mystery woman placed flowers at the site for many years.

A wooden marker was the first of several placed at the gravesite until a small stone marker was placed in 1958.

The new monument, erected in December by Friends of Riverside Cemetery, reads in part, Whether right or wrong, no mercy was shown as the vengeance of this community was quickly delivered for the horrendous crime they committed.

Four men were indicted for their roles in the lynching, including Deputy Hardesty, who was accused of not guarding the mens cell vigorously after his pocket watch had defelcted a bullet fired by Crawford. The indicted mens trials were moved to other towns, but no records exist that they ever took place.

Rhea Howard, longtime publisher of the Times Record News, left a handwritten note identifying all the men involved in stringing up the killers. That note resides today in the Wichita County Archives.

A Texas historical marker recognizing the robbery and lynching was placed on the City National Bank after it was moved to Eighth Street, although it was not the site of the event and is no longer a bank.

The actual site of the lynching has no marker, is no longer a bank, but instead is near Gidgets Sandwich Shop.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: New monument at Riverside Cemetery memorializes infamous bank robbers
By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Electronics will debut its Galaxy Ring, which is a wearable device, at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) tech show in Barcelona, targeting the health care management market, which is based on AI technology, the company said Sunday.

At the exhibition, which runs from Monday to Thursday, Samsung also plans to showcase innovative technology for the AI era by allowing visitors to experience various key AI features of Galaxy mobile devices.

The Galaxy Ring was first unveiled with a teaser image at the Galaxy Unpacked event held in the U.S. in January.

Samsung said that users will be able to comfortably wear the device even during sleep, and measure detailed health data by wearing the ring. The company added that this new wearable device is scheduled to be released within this year.

The product is expected to be released in nine sizes and in three colors including black, gold and silver.

At the MWC event, Samsung will also introduce intelligent health functions to be released in the future for the first time. Through new health functions such as My Vitality Score, which provides personalized health guides to users based on various data such as sleep and heart rate, and Booster Cards, which encourage users to set health-related goals, Samsung plans to provide an optimal customized health experience for users.

Samsung is showing its focus on products for intelligent health care management with integrated AI technology as a future growth engine. The company has also been releasing additional health care market products, including the recent unveiling of its smart band product, the Galaxy Fit 3.

"We are already planning the next steps for Galaxy AI beyond smartphones  optimizing it for various categories of devices across various services," Roh Tae-moon, president and head of mobile experience business at Samsung, wrote on the company's newsroom website, Feb. 21.

"In the near future, select Galaxy wearables will use AI to enhance digital health and unlock a whole new era of expanded, intelligent health experiences. Samsung will keep enriching and expanding Galaxy AI experiences across categories through collaborations with more industry-leading AI partners, the president added.
As places of worship from all faiths are stepping up their LGBTQ+ acceptance, extremists in the United States are increasingly targeting them.

Between June 2022 and January 2024, at least 66 incidents occurred across the country in which a religious institution was targeted for its perceived support of LGBTQ+ people, according to a new report from GLAAD and the Anti-Defamation League.



The institutions targeted were from all faith traditions, including churches, synagogues, mosques, gurdwaras, and Buddhist temples. The incidents included arson, property theft and destruction, and/or threatening letters, emails, and phone calls, and were typically perpetuated over acts or events such as flying of rainbow banners, Pride Month services, and LGBTQ+ youth groups being offered.

Some of the incidents were high-profile cases, like that of Aimenn D. Penny, 20, who pleaded guilty in October to firebombing an Ohio church that was hosting drag events. Penny admitted to attacking the Community Church of Chesterland on March 25 of last year using homemade Molotov cocktails, citing anger at two upcoming drag events hosted by the church and its support of the LGBTQ+ community. He explicitly said that he aimed to intimidate the church into canceling the events.

Other instances cited in the report included one in October in which a person drove their car through a Pride exhibit in front of the United Christian Church in Renton, Wash. In another incident, last April, someone set fire to a Pride flag outside a Buddhist temple in Pasadena, Calif. During Pride Month, the First Baptist Church in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood reported finding graffiti on its steeple that stated all queer people "should die."



"Now that religious communities are faithfully coming to the conclusion that the LGBTQ community should be safe from violence and welcomed into faith communities, anti-LGBTQ activists are turning to violence and intimidation on those faith communities, Ross Murray, GLAAD Media Institute vice president and an ordained deacon, said in a statement. Faith leaders cannot back down or allow their voices to be silenced by a radical fringe, but must continue to stand for the safety and welcome of LGBTQ people.
More Russian soldiers have likely died seizing Avdiivka than in the entire Soviet-Afghan war, ISW says

Russian forces seized the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka earlier this month but paid a heavy price.

The ISW said the number of Russian fatalities likely exceeds those killed in the Soviet-Afghan war.

Russia has often used costly "human wave" tactics to achieve its military objectives in Ukraine.

More Russian soldiers are likely to have died seizing the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka than in the 10-year Soviet-Afghan war, the think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.

Russian forces began their brutal campaign to seize the town in eastern Ukraine in October and finally succeeded earlier this month.

However, the victory came at a high cost  Ukrainian military officials estimate that up to 47,000 Russians were killed or injured in the battle, along with scores of tanks and fighting vehicles.

By comparison, up to 25,000 Soviet soldiers are believed to have been killed during the entire Soviet-Afghan war.

While Russia is known to downplay its losses, a high-profile military blogger recently said that Russia had lost 16,000 soldiers and 300 armored vehicles in the battle for Avdiivka. He was found dead a few days later, with reports suggesting he died by suicide.

War analysts and Ukrainian commanders noted that Russia's tactics to take Avdiivka often involved "human wave" assaults, in which Ukrainian positions were overwhelmed with large numbers of Russian soldiers on foot.

Many of these soldiers, who were often ill-equipped or poorly trained, died in high numbers.

Russia used similar tactics to capture the city of Bakhmut, Moscow's other major victory in the war, which also led to huge losses.

Before the Russian takeover of Avdiivka, George Barros, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told Business Insider that any Russian victory would be costly and hollow.

"Bakhmut was like that too. It was a tactical victory  I'd argue operational failure  contributing to the continued Russian strategic failure," Barros said. "Avdiivka so far, they've not even yet achieved tactical victory, and it's unclear that they necessarily will. But even if they do at this price point, I would characterize it as an operational failure."

Assessing the progress of the war as it begins its third year, the ISW said: "The situation today is grave, but it is far from hopeless."

It noted that while Russians have regained the initiative, their gains have been "very limited and extremely costly."

"Ukraine has not lost and there is no reason for Ukraine to lose. Russians are adapting for a long war effort in Ukraine, but they are not the Red Army hordes wrapped in the triumphant banners of World War II victories that Putin and his propagandists pretend them to be," the think tank said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
On the night of 24-25 February in Poland, Ukrainian grain exports suffered the most extensive damage since the beginning of the farmer protests, with the attackers damaging 160 tonnes of Ukrainian grain.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine

Quote: "A new act of vandalism occurred on the night of 24-25 February, when Ukrainian agricultural products from eight gondola cars were scattered at the Kotomierz station. The cargo was in transit to the port of Gdansk, from which it was shipped to other countries around the world."

Details: Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure, stated that this is the fourth case of vandalism at Polish railway stations, as well as the fourth case of impunity and irresponsibility by Polish "farmers".

"The Ukrainian side carefully fulfils its obligations and, pursuant to agreements with the Polish government, does not export certain agricultural products to Poland. This is confirmed at the official level  no grain, maize, or rapeseeds remain there," Kubrakov said.

According to Polish media, the maize was carried in wagons. Local officials and police officers responded quickly to the scene. Currently, no information about the culprits or the motivations behind their actions is provided.

Before that, Ukrainian grain was spilled from trucks and railway cars near the Polish-Ukrainian border.

The first such case occured on 11 February, when Polish farmers protesting near the Ukrainian border spilled some grain from three Ukrainian lorries near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint. Polish Agriculture Minister Czesaw Siekierski then apologised to Ukraine for the grain-spilling incident.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A motorcyclist is dead after hitting a curb in the central Las Vegas valley early Sunday morning.

Around 5:20 a.m., police responded to a crash in the area of North Maryland Parkway south of East Bonanza Road.

Evidence at the scene and witness statements showed that a black 2010 Yamaha R1 was traveling at a high rate of speed as it approached a curve in the roadway. Police said that the motorcyclist failed to follow the curve and hit a curb.

The 20-year-old man was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The death marks the 30th traffic-related fatality in LVMPDs jurisdiction for 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  Mt. Juliet authorities said they took four people into custody Friday afternoon for shoplifting. Not only were all four suspects from outside the city, but one of them was wanted in three Middle Tennessee counties.

(Source: Mt. Juliet Police Department)

Just before 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, the Mt. Juliet Police Department posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that officers apprehended two people while responding to a shoplifting in progress at Dicks Sporting Goods.

Authorities said they arrested a 27-year-old Cheatham County man  who already had warrants out of Cheatham, Williamson, and Montgomery counties  and a 40-year-old Clarksville woman for shoplifting.

Majority of suspects arrested in Mt. Juliet come from Nashville, police say

Then, at 4:45 p.m., officials announced two more arrests, saying that Mt. Juliets Guardian Shield program had notified officers earlier in the afternoon about a license plate of a known suspect vehicle in many Middle TN shoplifting incidents.

Police said they intercepted the car in Providence Marketplace and took two suspects  confirmed as the shoplifters  into custody.

According to law enforcement, a 31-year-old Nashville woman was in possession of crack cocaine, un-prescribed pills, and marijuana, while a 24-year-old Nashville woman was in possession of crack cocaine packaged for resale, as well as un-prescribed pills.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Various suspected stolen merchandise was recovered from the car, and they have been identified in 3 felony shopliftings in the Providence area and are linked to many others across Middle TN, the department wrote in its social media post, which included a video of officers searching a vehicle in the shopping center parking lot.

No additional details have been released about either incident, including the identities of the four people arrested or the specific charges they face.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Capelle.r via Getty Images

Unless youre unthinkably rich or lucky enough to have someone in your life who handles your household chores, youre probably doing your laundry at least a few times a month. Youd think that would mean you know exactly what to do to ensure youre getting your clothes as clean as possible  and maybe even saving some time, energy and money while youre doing it.

Unfortunately, we have some bad news for you: Youre probably doing your laundry all wrong. Or, at least, we  Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the co-hosts of HuffPosts Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast  discovered we are when we recently chatted with Patric Richardson, aka The Laundry Evangelist.

Not only did Richardson reveal that the only washing machine cycle we ever need to use (and he means ever) is the express cycle and that dryer sheets are our enemy, but he also informed us that were probably using our laundry detergent wrong too. More specifically: Were using way too much.

I think you only need about two tablespoons of detergent [for a load], so a bottle of laundry detergent might last you a year because you only need a couple of tablespoons for your clothes to come out clean, Richardson, the host of HGTVs Laundry Guy, told us.

He likened using too much laundry detergent to using too much salt when youre cooking.

When youre cooking and the recipe says a half tablespoon of salt, and you put it in, its delicious, Richardson said. But if youre like, I love salt, and you put in a whole cup, its ruined, its not better. So thats how to think about detergent: A little bit is really good, because it does what its supposed to do. If you add a whole lot more, you actually ruin it.

Theres also a scientific explanation for why using too much detergent can mean youre actually ending up with less clean clothes.

The dirt and germs come off the clothes and go into the water, Richardson, the author of the bestselling Laundry Love, explained. They get trapped in the surfactant [compounds in detergent that lift dirt and stains from clothes] and then, when the rinse comes, the surfactant goes down the drain. If you use too much detergent, it cant rinse out, so the surfactant actually resettles back in your clothes, and all of the dirt resettles back into your clothes with it. So more detergent means your clothes are actually dirty.

This is why Richardson advises we shouldnt use detergent pods.

I dont like pods because I dont like that you cant control the amount, he said. You dont need a pods worth of detergent [to do a load of laundry].

Richardson also gave us tips for zapping static electricity using aluminum foil, told us how to avoid pit stains using vinegar, and much more.

After youve had a listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts, subscribe to Am I Doing It Wrong? so you dont miss a single episode, including our investigations of the ins and outs of tipping, how to score the best deals on airline tickets, how to apologize or vanquish your credit card debt, how to find love online or overcome anxiety, online shopping, tips for taking care of your teeth, pooping like a pro, secrets to booking and staying in a hotel, how to deal with an angry person, and more.

Need some help with something youve been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com, and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode.

Related...
Akron was recently heralded as one of the best cities for retirees because it's both affordable and livable, something Akronites already knew. A transplant myself, I frequently extoll Akron's friendly people, many parks with trails and, yes, affordable and beautiful housing stock.

Holly Christensen

Akron's low cost of living also allows me to do something else I treasure  get away. Many a February, I head to warmer climes to elevate my vitamin D levels and shift my perspective. Getting out of the forest, as it were, reminds me that trees are just trees and not to sweat the small stuff.

But this year I didn't leave the Midwest. Instead, I went to its de facto capital: Chicago.

I chose Chicago because of a French woman I long have loved. Like so many great women throughout history, Camille Claudel, who died in 1943, was all but erased from history. Fortunately, the 1988 release of the eponymous French film starring Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu launched her canonical restitution.

I saw the film 34 years ago just before traveling to France where I studied in a program that required students to visit five museums. What piffle. France offers a feast for museum lovers, and I visited dozens. But the art at the Musee Rodin so moved me, I visited it, and it alone, twice.

A prolific and talented sculptor, Auguste Rodin is perhaps best known in the U.S. for The Thinker, a larger-than-life-size bronze of a naked man, seated with an elbow on one knee, his chin on the back of that arm's hand. The Musee Rodin, located in what was Rodin's Paris home, has 20 Claudel sculptures permanently displayed in one room.

Twenty-four years her senior, Rodin was first Claudel's teacher, then her lover and artistic collaborator. With their sculptures in close proximity, it's impossible not to compare their talents, and even though it's like contrasting the work of demigods, I found Claudel's to be slightly superior.

The recent Camille Claudel exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago provided the chance to see 58 of Claudel's pieces. (The exhibit closed on Feb. 19 and will reopen at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles in April). Unlike most museums worldwide, the AIC is open Mondays (as is Chicago's Field Museum and Museum of Science + Industry), which is great. Airline tickets typically cost less on Saturdays and Tuesdays than on Fridays and Mondays. Two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines were $372.

Photo of young Claudel behind her bust titled "Giganti" at the Art Institute of Chicago.

My companion and I arrived at Midway Airport Saturday morning, bought three-day Chicago Transit Authority passes for $15 each and took an Orange Line train to a station a block from our hotel. Cheap and easy. But the best tip is next.

CitizenM hotel chain provides a luxury hotel experience at an affordable price and, boy, do they deliver. I found them on Expedia.com when booking a room in Washington D.C. and was so impressed, I stay at CitizenM hotels whenever possible. Each room is only as wide as the king-sized bed nestled against the wall opposite the door, but because they are so efficiently laid out, the rooms never feel cramped. Located in the heart of downtown on Michigan Avenue and Wacker, I could see the Chicago River from the wall-to-wall window above the bed.

The off-season price for our room was $291 for three nights, which included all taxes and fees. Breakfast is not included, but the spread they lay out is decadent and well worth the $19 per person. In the evening, the same "canteen" has a full bar and serves a small selection of dinner options. Two 16-ounce local beers cost us $11.

After checking into our room, we walked to an Asian Lunar New Year festival at the Navy Pier and on our way back to CitizenM, stocked up on snacks at a Whole Foods that is larger than the one in Akron.

The TV in CitizenM rooms is over the die-for-it comfortable bed (after my first stay in D.C., I bought the same mattress for my home). Propped up on lush pillows (CitizenM ought to sell them to guests), we streamed the 1988 Claudel biopic. The movie holds up to the test of time and it prepared us for the exhibit.

More than 30 years after first comparing her sculptures to Rodin's, I again found Claudel the superior artist, hairsplitting though that is. (I wonder if she observed autopsies as the musculature of her figures is so accurate.) We spent two full days wandering the AIC, also enjoying other temporary exhibits  drawings by Picasso and a retrospective of South African photographer David Greenblatt  as well as AIC's tremendous permanent collection from ancient to modern periods.

And any visit to the AIC must include viewing the 68 historically accurate miniature rooms, think dollhouses on steroids, meticulously constructed during the Great Depression. The 1:12 scale project, managed and funded by heiress Narcissa Niblack Thorne, provided much-needed employment for out-of-work artisans.

Yes, we have top-notch cultural institutions in Northeast Ohio and I've visited them all many times. But only when traveling and unplugging from the chores of home life can most of us indulge in spending entire days at museums.

Now where to next? Hmm. New York City has two CitizenM locations and MOMA is also open on Mondays

Contact Holly Christensen at whoopsiepiggle@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Chicago getaway cheap and entertaining | Holly Christensen
(NEXSTAR)  No one appears to be doing any scientific research on the subject, but theres reason to believe that many Americans are severely irritated by the beeping noises coming from their own microwaves.

A quick Google search reveals dozens of Reddit forums filled with commenters griping about these very noises, with plenty admitting to hovering near their microwaves during the cooking process so they can pop the door open before the timer has a chance to ding.

My Facebook keeps chirping. How do I get it to stop?

But why do people find these alerts so irritating? Is it the abruptness? The volume level? The tonal quality of the beep itself?

Yes, yes and yes, according to commenters.

Its like [an] annoying fly that just wont leave you alone only this one sounds like a spike driving through your ear, one user wrote in a Reddit thread posted over a decade ago.

The hostile and aggressive beep, another complained about in a more recent forum. I am not taking no [expletive deleted] from a microwave.

Mircowave

The good news for these folks  if they havent already thrown their microwaves out a window, having been slighted by an inanimate appliance for the last time  is that most models allow users to silence or lower the volume of the beeps.

In many cases, the steps for disabling the alerts can be found in the microwaves operational manuals, but some brands post the instructions to their official websites. Panasonic, for instance, has an online resource for consumers hoping to turn the beeping noises on and off, complete with a dropdown menu for each model.

Sometimes the steps may be intuitive, as is the case with GE models that feature a Sound Level pad which can be used to control the volume of the beeps or silence them entirely. Other times, the steps for muting the beeps are somewhat murkier. Certain microwaves made by the Whirlpool Corporation (which include the Maytag, Amana and KitchenAid brands) may have a Settings button that brings up sound options, while other Whirlpool models might require users to hold down unrelated buttons (the 2 or the 3, for instance) to disable some of the noises. Many Frigidaire models can also be silenced by holding the Start button for several seconds, according to the brands support page.

Since theres no single solution that works to silence all microwaves (or even microwaves among the same brand), its usually in the owners best interest to consult the user manual. And in the event that the user manual has been lost or discarded, many manufacturers offer up online access the instructions for specific models, allowing owners to disable the dings. Failing that, there are hundreds of available YouTube tutorials from self-proclaimed appliance experts who are more than willing to walk viewers through the processes.

Which foods should never go in the garbage disposal?

It should be noted, however, that some models just cant be muted. Companies including Panasonic, Electrolux and Whirlpool  among others  plainly state this on their brands websites, with the latter even warning that most audible signals cannot be turned off.

But that doesnt mean all hope is lost, especially if the owner of a noisy microwave is open to unconventional, warranty-voiding, and perhaps dangerous means.

My roommate disassembled our microwave and took the beeper out, one Reddit user revealed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
By Nyasha Nyaungwa

WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Namibia's late president Hage Geingob, who died in hospital on Feb. 4, weeks after being diagnosed with cancer, was buried at the Heroes Acre on Sunday with thousands of mourners, including 25 heads of state and former presidents in attendance.

The burial was on the outskirts of Windhoek following 20 days of mourning.

Soldiers gave Geingob a 21-gun salute while K-8 fighter jets flew past.

Geingob, 82, Namibia's two-time prime minister and third president since its independence from minority-ruled South Africa in 1990, has been in charge of the sparsely populated and mostly arid southern African nation since 2015.

He was serving his final year in office.

A veteran of the country's independence struggle, Geingob lived in exile for 27 years, spending time in Botswana, Zambia and the U.S. before returning to Namibia in 1989.

He held several senior positions in government and in his party, South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO), including chairing the body that drafted Namibia's constitution, considered a model of good governance and the rule of law.

As Namibia's first prime minister, Geingob is credited for introducing modern management approaches to the running of the government.

"Your impact on us has been profound, your footprint on this nation is immense," said Nangolo Mbumba, interim president at the funeral. "You leave our country in better shape ... You have left us with an economic roadmap towards prosperity," he added.

Namibia is considered a middle-income country with abundant diamonds, uranium and lithium reserves needed for electric car batteries.

Recently, the country has made efforts to attract foreign investment in the global green economy by becoming the first African country to agree to supply the European Union with green hydrogen and minerals needed for clean energy.

Namibia, a former German colony, is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in November.

(Reporting by Nyasha Nyaungwa; editing by Kopano Gumbi and David Evans)
Strengthened partnership with Arm expected to boost foundry business

By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Electronics is poised to introduce cutting-edge technology for Compute Express Link (CXL) DRAM in March, aiming to enhance data processing speed and reinforce its position as a front-runner in the AI memory chip market.

The chip giant also aims to bolster the competitiveness of its foundry business by enhancing cooperation with chip design company Arm, which is seeing increased AI chip demand, according to the company and industry officials, Sunday.

These developments come at a time when Samsung Electronics faces stiff competition from its domestic rival SK hynix, which has established dominance in the AI memory chip sector, particularly with its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. Additionally, in the foundry business, TSMC, the world's largest foundry company, is experiencing a surge in orders for semiconductor manufacturing in the AI era, further solidifying its position. Concurrently, Samsung's U.S. rival Intel is intensifying its efforts in the foundry business, posing additional challenges for Samsung.

To enhance its competence in the AI memory chip sector, Samsung plans to present its technology and vision for CXL DRAM, known as the next-generation technology of HBM, at the MemCon 2024 global semiconductor conference to be held in Silicon Valley next month.

At this two-day event, which takes place on March 26 and 27, Han Jin-man, executive vice president of Samsung, will give an opening speech. In addition, Choi Jin-hyeok, executive vice president of the company, will share Samsung's CXL technology and vision in a keynote speech on the topic of "Leading HBM and CXL Innovations in the AI Era For High Memory Bandwidth & High Capacity Fulfillment."

CXL is a next-generation technology standard that efficiently connects different devices in applications requiring high-performance computations, such as AI, machine learning and big data. With the exponential growth in data volume requiring processing across devices and the expanding role of data center servers, there is a growing need for a greater number and variety of devices to collaborate on single tasks. CXL technology is anticipated to efficiently address this challenge by facilitating seamless communication and collaboration among diverse devices.

With the anticipated launch of CXL DRAM products starting this year, Choi's speech at MemCon 2024 is poised to make a significant impact in the semiconductor industry. Market research firm Yole Group forecasts the global CXL market to grow substantially, reaching approximately $15 billion by 2028.

Samsung currently holds a solid leadership in the CXL market, which is still in its infancy. The company was the first in the industry to introduce CXL DRAM in 2021, and is expected to launch CXL 2.0 DRAM in the second quarter of this year.

"Recently, what I've been feeling is that AI is at the center of all companies, and what I've noticed recently is that memory semiconductors will play a more leading role in the AI era," Han told reporters during the Consumer Electronics Show in January. He added that he expects the growth of AI semiconductors to spread, not only to the currently growing HBM, but also to CXL.

In the foundry business, Samsung recently announced that it is expanding cooperation with the global chip design company Arm.

As part of this collaboration, Samsung will optimize Arm's system-on-chip (SoC) design assets for its latest gate-all-around (GAA) process technology to enhance technical competitiveness.

GAA technology stands as a next-generation semiconductor core innovation that addresses the challenges of transistor performance decline stemming from process miniaturization. It promises to elevate data processing speed and power efficiency. Notably, Samsung achieved a pioneering feat by introducing GAA to a 3-nanometer process in 2022, marking a significant advancement in semiconductor technology.

"As we continue into the generative AI era, we are excited to extend our partnership with Arm to deliver the next generation Cortex-X CPU, enabling our mutual customers to create innovative products," Kye Jong-wook, head of foundry design platform development at Samsung, said.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said the White House has yet to define [its] mission in Ukraine as lawmakers struggle to agree on more support for the country.

House Republicans have held up aid for Ukraine by tying additional funding to stricter border security provisions. Mace said on Fox News Sunday that she wants the United States to focus on border security before doling out more aid to Ukraine, which just marked its two-year anniversary of fighting Russia.

The one thing that you did not hear Jake Sullivan or Joe Biden say today or really ever is defining our mission in Ukraine. They have yet to define that mission. They have yet to set the strategy. And they have yet to articulate how [we are] going to get out of this situation when every dollar we have is given to their country, and it is or is not successful. How do we get out of this? she said Sunday.

And you havent heard that defined to the American people. You certainly havent heard that defined to Congress. If we had the answer, wed be talking about it, and perhaps thered be more support for it, Mace added.

Senate negotiators unveiled a bipartisan border security deal earlier this month that included aid for Israel, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific allies, but the effort failed after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declared it dead on arrival in the House.

The Senate later passed a bill that would authorize funding for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies, but Johnson also rejected that legislation due to the lack of border security provisions. The White House and Democratic leadership have called on Johnson to bring Ukraine aid to the floor, pointing to the bipartisan support it had in the Senate.

Mace in her Sunday interview continued to emphasize the need for border security before passing any aid for Ukraine.

But the last thing I want to say is that this administration is putting the borders of other nations first rather than our own. Before anything else happens with Ukraine and U.S. funding for Ukraine, I want to know  what we are doing about invasion and our national security at our southern border. That should be the No. 1 priority of Joe Biden and this administration, full stop, she said.

When reached for comment, the White House pointed The Hill to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivans remarks on NBCs Meet the Press. He said that he, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have briefed Johnson and other members of Congress on the administrations strategy for Ukraine.

So Ive personally gone up and briefed the Speaker and other members. Secretary Austin, Secretary Blinken, our intelligence community have all gone up. Weve laid out, in writing, how we look at the strategy for Ukraine to prevail and for Russia to fail in this, he said.

Weve gotten good feedback from the House on that. I dont think the question, at this point, is about the strategy. And I dont think the question is about whether there is an overwhelming bipartisan vote in the House waiting to happen, he added, saying that the question is now about politics.

Updated 3:19 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One East Nashville staple is doing its part to keep Nashvilles rich history food scene alive.

Traveling back in time just got a whole lot easier thanks to The Pharmacy in East Nashville.

It took me back, said Daniel Frazier. It took me back to sitting in that little dark room. So many happy memories!

Frazier is quick to pay respect to past city restaurants while now serving as the manager of The Pharmacy: Bringing people together to enjoy great food in a fun atmosphere.

Nashville real-estate entrepreneur Tony Giarratana eyes affordable housing project

The series is simple: serving burgers inspired by Music City classics.

Pharmacy burgers (Photo: WKRN)

Pharmacy beer garden (Photo: WKRN)

The Pharmacy (Photo: WKRN)

Arnolds is known for its meatloaf and its sad theyre not around regularly, said Frazier. So were happy to serve this up.

Frazier said this was their spin on Arnolds classic, now in burger form.

In this series, theyve had burgers inspired by Rotiers, King Soloman Gyros and Gold Rush. Februarys featured item is the Polynesian burger, honoring Smyrnas now closed Omni Hut.

Theres been great food in the city for a long time, said Frazier. Its not just the past few years with these new restaurants popping up.

However, its not just about food. The series is also partnering with a local non-profit.

Get to know American Idol judges

Were hoping to make the city aware of the changes that are going on in the town, the history that is at risk, said Brian Mansfiled, vice president of Historic Nashville.

Historic Nashville is the non-profit benefitting from the series.

We want to tell the story of buildings that people pay not know about but pass by everyday without realizing the stories that went on there, said Mansfield.

Even Mansfield has a few favorites from the past.

I nearly missed the birth of my second son for a Rotiers burger, said Mansfield.

Through this partnership, $5 from every T-shirt sold will be donated to Historic Nashville, all while bringing attention to their cause.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

What the pharmacy is doing here is a way of telling the stories of Nashville through food, said Mansfield. We tell stories to Nashville through buildings.

The Pharmacy has long been an East Nashville staple, but nowadays guest can find the burger joint downtown and as soon as you arrive to town.

We literally just got off the plane and this is our first stop, said Frazier. So we were like, Well, if people are doing that, then maybe we should throw one in the airport.'

The Burger Time Machine will run through March, with one final burger inspired by a Music City staple. Starting on March 1, The Pharmacy will roll out the Chipotle BBQ Burger honoring 3 Crow Bar.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
BROCKTON  Brockton was thrust into the national spotlight after four Brockton School Committee members set off a firestorm by requesting National Guard soldiers be deployed in the highs school. School Committee member Tony Rodrigues appeared on the FOX Business channel to discuss the situation.

An East Bridgewater woman who lost everything in a house fire described the dramatic rescue by strangers. A GoFundMe has been setup to help Spano recover.

U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch toured Brockton's embattled Good Sam amid a "widening investigation" into the financial crisis engulfing the hospital's owner. Steward Health Care plans to leave the Massachusetts market, according to Lynch and confirmed by the company.

The gift of family was the only thing on Richard Pezzillo and Michael DeGrandpre's wish list and one teacher from Middleboro made their dreams come true through surrogacy.

In case you missed it, here are five stories of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area.

Should National Guard be deployed at Brockton High to 'prevent a potential tragedy'?

Four members of the Brockton School Committee have asked Mayor Robert Sullivan to consider contacting Governor Maura Healey to ask her to temporarily send National Guard soldiers to Brockton High School "to prevent a potential tragedy." he committee members  Joyce Asack, Tony Rodrigues, Claudio Gomes and Ana Oliver  sent a letter to Sullivan formally requesting that he ask Healey to deploy Massachusetts National Guard soldiers to the 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."

Should National Guard be deployed: Should National Guard be deployed at Brockton High to 'prevent a potential tragedy'?

School board not backing down: Brockton school board members not backing down from controversial National Guard request

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.

Brockton School Committee members, from left, Joyce Asack, Claudio Gomes, Ana Oliver and Tony Rodrigues, hold a press conference 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.

Middleboro teacher gives RI couple 'magical' gift by becoming surrogate mom

The gift of family was the only thing on Richard Pezzillo and Michael DeGrandpre's wish list this holiday season, and one Randolph teacher from Middleboro made their dreams come true through surrogacy. It's been five months since the couple brought their baby, Charlie DeGrandpre Pezzillo, to their Warwick, Rhode Island home, and it's been the most life-changing experience and a great accomplishment for the same-sex couple. "Rachel gave us the biggest gift of the holiday season. It takes a special person to do something like this for someone else, especially a stranger," Richard said.

Middleboro teacher gives magical gift: Middleboro teacher gives RI couple 'magical' gift by becoming surrogate mom

Michael Charles DeGrandpre and Richard Alan Pezzillo Jr. hold their newborn son Charles Vincent DeGrandpre Pezzillo in their Warwick, Rhode Island, home on Dec. 22, 2023. Their baby came into the world thanks to a surrogate mom, Rockland teacher Rachel Mack of Middleboro.

East Bridgewater woman who lost everything in fire describes dramatic rescue by strangers

Tina Veronesi Spano was sitting at her kitchen table having coffee with her friend John when she heard banging on her walls. She didn't know it, but two men were trying to alert her that her house was on fire. When she went to see what the banging was, she couldnt see anybody outside of her home on Old Bedford Road. But by the time she got back to her kitchen "fists were smashing through the kitchen window, she said. The two men dragged Spano and John out of the house. Spano said everything she owned was destroyed in the fire. I lost all of my jewelry, my pictures, my life, she said. A GoFundMe has been setup to help Spano recover.

East Bridgewater woman loses everything: East Bridgewater woman who lost everything in fire describes dramatic rescue by strangers

Tina Veronesi Spano of East Bridgewater lost her beloved rescue cats, Puppy, bottom left, and Puttie. Spano was rescued by strangers when her home on Old Bedford Road went up in flames on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, but both cats perished in the fire. Spano lost everything she owns.

'Shotgun marriage' could solve financial crisis endangering Good Sam, Morton, Saint Anne's

Steward Health Care plans to leave the Massachusetts market, according to U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch and confirmed by the company. Who might take over the for-profit company's hospitals remains a mystery. Lynch toured overburdened Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton on Wednesday. He said he wanted to visit stable facilities like Tufts Medical Center, Boston Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital to gauge how they differ from Steward's operations. "Before we have any shotgun marriage between hospitals, I'd like to figure out in private exactly where those other hospitals stand in terms of their ability to step in, in some capacity," Lynch said at a press conference.

'Shotgun marriage': 'Shotgun marriage' could solve financial crisis endangering Good Sam, Morton, Saint Anne's

U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Democrat representing the 8th District, including Brockton, speaks to the media after touring Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. On the right is State Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton. The hospital's owner, Steward Health Care, which owns eight other hospitals in Massachusetts, including Morton in Taunton and Saint Anne's in Fall River, is in an ongoing financial crisis.

What's that scaffolding on Brockton City Hall? Inside look at $12 million makeover

You've read headlines for years about the millions of federal dollars coming to Brockton. Those projects are now either underway or nearly done. Brockton's most visible sign of American Rescue Plan Act money has to be the scaffolding that in recent weeks has gone up all over city hall. The staging is prep for workers to plug gaps in the walls and re-roof the entire building. "We're going to bring this building back to the glory that it is," said Dan Pallotta, the city's point-person for all its ARPA projects.

Scaffolding on Brockton CIty Hall: What's that scaffolding on Brockton City Hall? Inside look at $12 million makeover

Look at the makeover: A closer look at Brockton City Hall's 12 million makeover

Scaffolding can be seen on Brockton City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in preparation for a $12.4 million renovation of the massive 19th-century showpiece using American Rescue Plan Act money.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories: Brockton school violence,:Good Sam
Alexei Navalny's death in a Russian prison camp is a sign of President Vladimir Putins weakness, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday.

What Ive been struck by is the commentary in the United States that the death of Alexei Navalny is some great show of strength by Vladimir Putin when in fact the very idea that he had to lock this guy up, try to muzzle and silence him, and now he's trying to suppress and silence anyone who wants to come out and mourn him  that's a sign of weakness, not a sign of strength, Sullivan said during an interview on CNNs State of the Union.

Navalny, Putins longtime political opponent, died in a penal colony earlier this month. He was 47. While the prison service said he collapsed during a walk, the U.S. says that Putin was responsible.

Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalnys death. What has happened to Navalny is more proof of Putins brutality, President Joe Biden said shortly after the news broke. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has been fighting off Russias invasion for two years, said its obvious that Putin killed him.

Russian authorities handed Navalnys body over to his mother and wife on Saturday, according to a spokesperson for Navalny.



Alexeis body was handed over to his mother, Kira Yarmysh, Navalnys spokeswoman, said on X. Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us.

The funeral is still pending, Yarmysh said. We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants and as Alexei deserves, she added.

Navalnys mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, previously said that authorities attempted to make her agree to a private funeral, or else risk having her son buried in the penal colony where he was imprisoned.

When asked whether Russia should allow for a public funeral for the opposition leader, Sullivan said the decision should be up to Navalnys mother.

I think the president believes that any mother deserves the funeral for their child that they would like. That should be a basic human thing, not a question of policy, Sullivan said.
Israel will carry out an invasion of the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, regardless of whether or not it reaches a hostage exchange agreement with Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.

Netanyahu made the statement during a Sunday morning appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation" with host Margaret Brennan. He stated that Israel was still engaged in hostage negotiations, but added that the Jewish state was committed to rooting out Hamas with as little harm to civilians as possible.

"If we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway," Netanyahu said of the Rafah operation.

He went on to say that any Israeli operation in Rafah would signal that Israel is just "weeks away" from total victory in the war against Hamas.

ISRAELI SECURITY EXPERTS SAY BIDENS PALESTINIAN STATE PUSH IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT

The new timing is a far cry from statements Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have made in recent weeks. Netanyahu had previously predicted that the war would last "many more months."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

BIDEN TO GO TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO FORCE TEMPORARY CEASE-FIRE ON ISRAEL, HALT RAFAH OFFENSIVE

The U.S. has insisted that Israel implement a plan to protect civilians in the event of a Rafah invasion. Brennan said Netanyahu told her that he was meeting "with the General Staff to discuss the dual plan of how to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah & how to lay siege to Hamas battalions there," she said.

Israel will carry out an invasion of Rafah whether or not it reaches a hostage exchange agreement with Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.

The Israeli government also released its post-war plan for Gaza on Friday, a deal that was immediately rejected by Palestinian officials.

Under the plan, Israel would seek open-ended control over security and civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu's government has flatly rejected calls for a two-state solution, which President Biden's administration continues to push for.

Netanyahu's government has flatly rejected calls for a two-state solution, which President Biden's administration continues to support.

The Israeli Parliament backed Netanyahu's rejection of any "unilateral" recognition of a Palestinian state last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source:Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah regardless of potential cease-fire with Hamas: 'It will happen'
Kevin Wang and Annie Marquelings son Liam was 8 months old when he broke out in hives all over his body after eating a few bits of a scrambled egg. An allergy test revealed Liam was allergic to eggs, as well as peanuts and tree nuts, and for the next year, the entire family avoided foods that could trigger a dangerous reaction.

We had to pay special attention to every single item that we brought to the house because it could potentially be a life-threatening allergen for him, Wang said. Theres multiple times where weve had to reach out and take a cookie before he takes a bite because we were unsure of the contents.

Then, two years ago, Wang and Marqueling, who live in Palo Alto, California, found out about a clinical trial for a decades-old drug called omalizumab. The injectable drug was approved in 2003 under the name Xolair for allergic asthma and later expanded to include chronic hives, but now there was evidence it could also protect against severe allergic reactions to food.

They enrolled Liam in the trial.

Liam with his parents, Annie and Kevin, on his 5th birthday. (Courtesy Annie Marqueling)

The results were published Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine. In order to participate in the clinical trial, patients had to be allergic to peanuts along with two other foods. After four months, many of the participants were able to tolerate small amounts of the foods they were allergic to, meaning an accidental exposure was no longer a life-threatening event.

Senior study author Dr. Sharon Chinthrajah, an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at and acting director of the Sean Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University, noted that Xolair is not a cure, and patients still need to avoid the foods they are allergic to. But it is a tremendous layer of safety, she said.

This therapy offers injections and offers an umbrella, a safety protection, to go out and live your lives normally to not be as afraid of accidental exposures and everyday living, Chinthrajah said.

Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration expanded the approval for Xolair for certain kids and adults with food allergies, based on the results of the clinical trial.

The very same day the FDA approved the drug, we were writing prescriptions for our food allergy patients, Chinthrajah said.

A badly needed safety net

Just over 6% of people in the U.S., including 6% of kids, have a food allergy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 40% of kids who have food allergies have a reaction to more than one food, according to a study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Until now, only one medication, called Palforzia, has been available to protect against acute allergic reactions to food, and the drug only works for peanuts. In addition to peanuts, Xolair works for other common food allergies, including eggs, milk and wheat.

In the clinical trial, funded largely by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Chinthrajah and her team recruited 180 people across 10 hospitals in the U.S. who were allergic to peanuts and at least two of the following foods: cashews, milk, eggs, walnuts, wheat or hazelnuts. The participants ranged in age from 1 to 55 years  about 40% were younger than 6 and most were younger than 18  and 118 of them received a monthly or biweekly dose of Xolair. The rest got a placebo. The first 60 people to finish the initial stage of the trial  59 of whom were younger than 18  were extended for another 24 weeks.

By the end of the initial four-month period, about 80% of people who got the drug were able to eat small amounts of one of the foods they were allergic to without triggering their normal reaction. About two-thirds were able to tolerate two to three peanuts, which is much larger than an average accidental exposure, Chinthrajah said.

Nearly 70% could eat small amounts of two of their three allergic foods without a reaction. Nearly half could tolerate small amounts of all three.

One of the biggest things for kids and even adults living with food allergies is fear of accidental exposure, said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, the founding director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. This gives peace of mind at least for those small amounts that they may come into contact with.

When a person with a food allergy eats that food  or sometimes even comes into contact with it  their immune system releases a flood of antibodies called IgE. These antibodies attach themselves to certain cells, triggering a systemwide reaction. Xolair is an antibody drug that acts as a sponge, binding to IgE antibodies and preventing them from latching onto these cells.

The drugs ability to do this is finite, however, Gupta said. For that reason, the drug is meant to prevent reactions to small accidental exposures to allergic foods rather than allowing a person to indulge in them.

Marqueling and Wang dont know whether Liam, now 5, got the actual drug or the placebo during the clinical trial.

Now, however, he can tolerate small amounts of peanuts and tree nuts, so they believe it was the real thing.

The trial has changed their experience as parents.

We have this extra layer of comfort knowing that he is protected in these accidental exposures that mom and dad cant always be around for, Wang said.

Expanding access

Xolair isnt meant for everyone with food allergies. It only works for people whose food allergies are Type I, meaning the person always produces IgE antibodies when they are exposed to the food they are allergic to, and it isnt always effective  20% of the people in the study were not able to tolerate even small amounts of their trigger foods even when taking the medication.

All experts stressed that people taking the drug should still be cautious.

I think it will help mitigate fear and anxiety, but definitely still avoid the allergen and carry an EpiPen, said Dr. Asal Gharib Naderi, an allergist and immunologist at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California who wasnt involved with the trial.

In rare instances, people can go into anaphylactic shock after taking Xolair, but Gharib Naderi said this typically happens when people are starting on the drug, usually within the first three doses. These early doses are given in a doctors office, where the patient can be monitored for a reaction. Later doses can be taken at home.

In the U.S., Xolair is made by drugmakers Genentech and Novartis. A spokesperson for Genentech said the estimated monthly list price for the drug is around $2,900 for children and $5,000 for adults. The actual out-of-pocket cost to patients is typically lower, the spokesperson said, based on insurance and other financial assistance programs.

While Xolair could previously be prescribed off-label for food allergies, insurance companies rarely cover off-label uses. With the FDAs expanded approval, doctors hope insurance companies will be more likely to cover it for food allergies.

I dont want a drug like this to increase the disparities we already see in food allergies, Gupta said. There are quite a few more treatments on the heels of Xolair, and we need to make sure those are accessible.

Its currently unclear how long someone would need to be on Xolair for food allergies, but that is the subject of additional research.

This could potentially be a lifelong therapy, Chinthrajah said.

CORRECTION (Feb. 26, 2024, 3:54 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated what the drug Xolair was initially approved for in 2003. It was approved only for asthma, not asthma and chronic hives.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) called out Alabama for its recent ruling that frozen embryos and fertilized eggs should be considered people under law, arguing it will only add what he called a war on women.

This is a serious threat, Newsom said in a preview clip shared Saturday by NBCs Meet the Press, referring to the Alabama decision.

I worry about the United States Supreme Court, that again, set the tone and tenor for the debate were having today, Newsom said in a clip posted Saturday from NBCs Meet the Press, referring to the overturn of Roe. v. Wade in 2022, which upended the federal right to abortion. And again, its not just a war on travel. Its not just a war on reproductive healthcare. Its also a war on women more broadly defined, including as we know, contraceptives.

The California governor also echoed comments he made Friday, when he claimed Republicans abortion stance would give rapists more rights than families.

Apparently, what the Republican party is saying  is the rapists have more rights to bring those babies to birth, than families that are trying desperately to have the privilege you and I have had as fathers and parents, Newsom said Friday in an interview on CNNs The Lead with anchor Jake Tapper.

His criticism of the GOP comes after Alabamas court found Monday that the states Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location.

The decision caused some health facilities in the state to immediately pause in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.

Former President Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also came out against the ruling this week. The former president, who is the current GOP front-runner in the race for the White House, called on the states lawmakers to protect IVF. Graham, in an interview Saturday on Fox News, predicted the ruling would be corrected.

But, Newsom said they these people arent serious. Instead, in the interview, the governor said both supported a national 16-week abortion ban  and thus are part of the war.

He will sign a national ban, Newsom said of Trump. You want to understand the contours of this debate that we will be having over the next nine months, ironically, nine months between now and November and the consequences of Democratic Party not succeeding in Bidens reelection?

Just consider the fact that he said that part out loud, he added, in the interview that will air Sunday in full.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, is launching a series of new advertisements in Republican states targeting Republican efforts to criminalize having an abortion and a war on travel for reproductive care.

The first advertisement by Campaign for Democracy, Newsoms political action committee (Pac), will air this week in Tennessee, where lawmakers are considering legislation that would make it illegal for anyone who helps a minor obtain an abortion without permission from their parents. Anyone found guilty of the offense could face between three and 15 years in prison.

Newsoms ad opens with a young woman handcuffed to a hospital bed as she cries out for help. Trump Republicans want to criminalize young women who travel to receive the reproductive care they need, a voiceover says. Dont let them hold Tennessee women hostage.

Newsom unveiled the ad on NBC Newss Meet the Press on Sunday. The Pac plans to air them in other states such as Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma that are considering similar measures.

I worry about the United States supreme court that, again, set the tone and tenor for the debate were having today. And again, its not just a war on travel. Its not just a war on reproductive healthcare. Its also a war on women more broadly defined, including as we know, contraceptives, Newsom said.

Trump has reportedly expressed private support for an abortion ban after 16 weeks of pregnancy, according to the New York Times. Know what I like about 16? Trump told one of these people, who was given anonymity to describe a private conversation. Its even. Its four months, he has said, according to the times.

Newsom was skeptical Trump would stick to 16 weeks. He supports a national ban. And if youre Lindsey Graham and others, theyre going to bring that down well below 16. He will sign a national ban, he said on Meet the Press.

Republicans this week have been scrambling to articulate a position on IVF after a ruling from the Alabama supreme court said that frozen embryos are children. At least three clinics in the state have stopped providing IVF services.

Trump on Friday said he supported IVF and urged Alabama Republicans to act quickly to find an immediate solution to preserve it. The National Republican Senate Committee, the campaign arm of senate Republicans, has also urged GOP candidates to support IVF.

The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, a Republican who leads a state where abortion is essentially banned and has implemented some of the nations harshest anti-abortion laws, also treaded carefully when he was asked on Sunday how Texas would respond to the Alabama ruling.

President Trump put out a statement on this and I think that is a goal that we all kind of want to achieve. That is, we want to make it easier for people to have babies, not make it harder, he said during an appearance on CNNs State of the Union. The IVF process is a way of giving life to even more babies.

Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican who is an ally of Trump, said on Sunday he could support a bill with national protections for IVF.

Like any type of bill that gets drafted on Capitol Hill, I want to see the devil in the details. But, yes, I could  I feel I could broadly support that. Because, like I said, IVF is something that is so critical to a lot of couples. It helps them breed great families. Our country needs that, he said on Meet the Press.
As primary season ramps up ahead of whats sure to be a polarizing general election in November, California Governor Gavin Newsoms national push has migrated to an ad campaign touting the need for reproductive rights.

His Campaign for Democracy launched the red-state focused campaign Sunday morning with Hostage, an advertisement airing in Tennessee that depicts a young woman handcuffed to a hospital bed with a sexual assault evidence collection kit on a table beside her.

The ad tells viewers to go to RightToTravel.org, a website run by Campaign for Democracy that asks users to sign a pledge to urge lawmakers to vote no on legislation persecuting women that travel out of state to avoid abortion bans. Such laws have been proposed in Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma, according to the site.

FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a Clean California event in San Francisco, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. California becomes one of the first states to provide free health care to all low-income adults regardless of their immigration status starting Monday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Tennessees abortion ban has no exceptions if you have been raped. No exceptions if youre the victim of incest, Newsom said in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter. Now, Republicans in Tennessee are trying to punish young women that travel to receive care.

Campaign for Democracy said in a news release that the six-figure ad campaign will launch in Tennessee before expanding to other states.

Newsoms out-of-state venture comes after hes taken somewhat of a national spotlight ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election. Californias governor isnt a candidate himself, but hes been fierce on the campaign trail in support of President Joe Biden.

Last November, Newsom took on then-GOP candidate Ron Desantis on the debate stage. The debate, hosted on Fox News, led to questions of Newsoms own national aspirations. So far, hes denied all insinuations that hes gearing up for a potential last-second 2024 run.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The French ambassador to Korea visited the production line of Renault Korea in Busan last week as it prepares to unveil a new hybrid model this year, the company said Sunday.

Ambassador Philippe Bertoux visited the production line in the southeastern port city Friday, according to Renault Korea, the Korean unit of the France-based Renault Group.

The visit came ahead of the company's plan to launch a new hybrid SUV in the second half of 2024 under the Aurora project.

The ambassador said the visit has heightened his expectations for the project, emphasizing the key role that the company plays in bridging Korea and France. (Yonhap)
New York Jets owner and billionaire businessman Woody Johnson stood in support behind former President Trump in South Carolina on Saturday night after Trump was quickly projected the winner of the states primary.

Johnson, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom during the Trump administration, was on stage alongside his wife Suzanne behind Trump as the former president delivered a speech after his quick victory in the Palmetto State primary on Saturday.

Johnson, a member of the founding family of Johnson & Johnson, has previously expressed support for the former president during the 2024 campaign.

"Americans remember how good it was or how much better it was on the border, and inflation, and gas prices, and grocery prices, all that, during the Trump administration, and they want to get back there," Johnson told News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo earlier this month.

JETS OWNER WOODY JOHNSON TAKES SHOT AT ZACH WILSON, PUTS OFFENSE ON NOTICE: WE'VE GOT TO PRODUCE THIS YEAR

Former US Presidential hopeful and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump (C) gestures at an "Election Night Watch Party" in Columbia, South Carolina

"So I think the most important thing is getting the former president back in the White House, which looks like its happening."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson's representatives but did not immediately receive a response.

WATCH: TRUMP RALLYGOERS REVEAL WHOM THEY WANT AS VICE PRESIDENT

Trump delivers victory speech in South Carolina

Trump's rapidly-called victory on Saturday over former U.N. ambassador and former two-term South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state moves the former president another step closer to clinching the 2024 GOP nomination.

"It's an early evening and a fantastic evening," Trump told a crowd of supporters gathered at the South Carolina state fairgrounds in Columbia, the state capitol, just minutes after polls closed and he was declared the victor.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson looks on before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on October 2, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"Celebrate for 15 minutes, but then we have to get back to work," he added, referencing next week's Michigan primary, and Super Tuesday the following week.

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report





Original article source: NFL team owner appears on stage with Trump during South Carolina victory speech
Nicholas Dimbleby, who has died aged 77 of Motor Neurone Disease (MND), was once described in the Daily Telegraph as the sculpture wing of the Dimbleby dynasty.

The youngest of the three sons of the celebrated BBC broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, Nicholas chose not to follow in his fathers footsteps, admitting that he found performing in public nerve-wracking, leaving his older brothers, David and Jonathan, to maintain the family tradition.

But he found recognition in his own right, winning acclaim for figurative bronzes such as his statue of James McNeill Whistler, sketchbook in hand, that stands on Cheyne Walk by Battersea Bridge, his Jimmy Hill at Coventry City FC, and his portrayal in bronze of a youthful Captain James Cook in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire.

Dimbleby's statue of James McNeil Whistler on Cheyne Walk, London - Alamy

On his website Nicholas Dimbleby wrote: William Blake wrote of the human form divine ... It has always been my aim to recreate in clay and bronze some of that divine essence... At best there is my Pygmalion moment when the work almost comes alive. This does not depend on some ideal form or a slavish copying of the model, but rather the sculptors ability to conjure energy from the grey mud. Whatever the demands of my brief, this is my underlying task.

It was the life that he breathed into his creations  and their emotional truth  that struck reviewers. His Leaving, the war memorial unveiled at the front of Cranleigh School in 2015, was described in The Good Schools Guide as the most moving war memorial ever seen in a school. His last work, a life-size figure of Samuel Taylor Coleridge unveiled in 2022 outside the parish church in Ottery St Mary, Devon, captured a youthful poet as if he was on a country walk, notebook and pen in hand.

But a few months after the unveiling, Nicholas Dimbleby experienced the first symptoms of MND, and towards the end of last year BBC Radio 4 broadcast The Bright Side of Life, a two-part series of conversations recorded at Nicholass home, in which he talked to his brother Jonathan about living with MND, discussed whether there is an afterlife and whether there should be a right to die, and reflected on the consolation he found in creativity.

Last Christmas, before his diagnosis, wrote the Telegraphs reviewer Charlotte Runcie, Nicholas cooked the lunch for 17 Dimblebys and was right in the heart of the boisterous conversation. But by February he was falling over in the street, his muscles flickering under his skin like a lightbulb about to cut out. By May his voice was deserting him. In the summer, he could no longer eat without choking... I listened in floods of tears, and you probably will, too. But youll never forget it.

On January 25 Jonathan Dimbleby gave an interview to the Daily Express, which has joined the campaign to legalise assisted dying. Nicholas, he said has not an ounce of self-pity but wants readers to know what it is really like. So, writing on a pad he said I cant speak, I cant taste, I am fed through a tube into my stomach, I cant control my bowels, the drugs make it impossible for me to read, I choke, and some days every breath is a terrible effort. If my saying this assists the cause of Dignity In Dying, I am glad to be of use.

The Dimbleby family, 1953: Nicholas and his younger sister Sally are holding the pony - Popperfoto/ Getty Images

Nicholas Dimbleby was born on August 8 1946, the third of four children of Richard Dimbleby and his wife Dilys, nee Thomas. The Dimbleby children, David, Jonathan, Nicholas and his younger sister Sally, were close as children growing up on a small farm in the Sussex countryside, and they remained close as adults, often holidaying together and enjoying huge gatherings of the extended family. Despite the much-publicised split between David and his first wife Josceline, the cookery writer, Nicholas and his family remained close to both.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Nicholas recalled that his love of art started as a young boy because, being mildly dyslexic (he was later diagnosed with acute astigmatism), one of the things he really enjoyed was making things with his hands. At Cranleigh School, the art room was his refuge and he decided to train as a sculptor. His father died of cancer in 1965 when he was 19 and a student at Edinburgh College of Art, bursting, as Nicholas put it,  the bubble of my luxury life.

He continued his studies at Goldsmiths College, London, where he met his wife Kay, a trainee music teacher. They married in 1971 and remained in London while Nicholas worked as an assistant to the abstract sculptor William Pye. Then, craving a quieter life, they moved to France where to help make ends meet they bred rabbits and chickens, grew their own food and did work to the house they were living in as rent.

After a year they returned to Britain and set up home in Devon, where he and brother Jonathan bought a run-down manor house in Clyst Hydon, Nicholas buying out his brothers share when the family newspaper business, set up by their great-grandfather in 1870, was sold. There they brought up their four children as Nicholass reputation as a sculptor grew.

He ranged widely in his work, developing a niche in sporting heroes, his subjects including the likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Steve Redgrave. Life casts he did of his own children as they grew led to private commissions including making a foot cast of the one-year-old Lady Louise Windsor for her parents, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie. He also did several pieces for the King when he was Prince of Wales.

Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent having a life cast of their hands and arms made in plaster by Nicholas Dimbleby

Memorials include one to his father, Richard, which was unveiled at Westminster Abbey in 1990 by the broadcasters widow, and a memorial sculpture commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians to honour doctors who died during the Covid pandemic, unveiled by Professor Sir Christopher Whitty in 2022. He also developed a line in playful, whimsical firebacks.

Big public commissions are few and far between, Dimbleby said in 2004. ... A lot of the time its wondering where the next job is coming from... You can be poor very often because youre always uncertain where the next work is coming from. But... I look around and see the rest of the world and think Im so lucky. Its a great privilege, and great fun.

He had no regrets about not joining his brothers in the broadcasting business: I think Ive found what I am good at. I fear Id have been the one left reading the local news and that might have made for bitterness!

MND disease was not the first health crisis Dimblebys family had to face. In 1990 his youngest daughter Grace was diagnosed with leukaemia and had to undergo a course of chemotherapy. Kay Dimbleby gave up her teaching job to care for her and established a new career designing textiles and hand-crafted quilts, working alongside her husband in his studio.

Kay survives him with their two sons and two daughters.

Nicholas Dimbleby, born August 8 1946, died February 10 2024



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(Bloomberg) -- Even a home-state advantage couldnt give Nikki Haley her first win of the Republican presidential primaries, as South Carolina voters overwhelmingly chose Donald Trump.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Early results showed Trump easily winning the states primary Saturday, as he pushes toward a general-election rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden.

Former South Carolina Governor Haley has vowed to remain in the race through Super Tuesday on March 5, to give moderate Republicans and independents time to coalesce around her increasingly long-shot candidacy. Many big Republican donors, loathe to see Trump return to the White House, have stood by her and poured millions into her campaign.

Nearly every day, Trump drives people away, Haley told supporters Saturday night. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

But she has so far failed to persuade Republican primary voters, even those in South Carolina who know her best.

Trump has now triumphed in all contests held to-date, trouncing rivals by wide margins in states with wildly different electorates. Haley, his last remaining serious challenger for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has failed to convince rank-and-file Republicans to abandon him, despite his mounting legal problems and her skills on the trail.

She is a very talented campaigner and very energetic, said James Hodges, the former Democratic governor of South Carolina and president of McGuireWoods Consulting LLC. The question is whether the audience is open to someone other than Trump.

Defined by Trump

Trump early on succeeded in negatively defining his Republican opponents, including Haley. He painted her as an establishment politician, even though she ran South Carolina as a reformer who shook up the legislature. He cast himself  a former president who lived in Washington for four years  as an outsider. His lock on blue-collar GOP voters who distrust institutions left Haley to appeal to wealthier, college-educated Republicans.

Nearly every demographic group in South Carolinas Republican primary preferred Trump over Haley, according to exit poll AP VoteCast. He won women and men of all age groups, suburban, urban and rural residents, and both White and non-White voters. One of Haleys few advantages over Trump was among non-White voters with college degrees, according to the survey.

In his victory speech Saturday night, Trump barely mentioned Haley. Instead, he quickly turned his attention to the general election.

Were going to look at Joe Biden right in the eye, Trump said at his watch party in Columbia, South Carolina. Hes destroying our country, and were going to say, Joe, youre fired. Get out.

At this point, political observers say Haley remains in the race in part to ensure that she becomes the alternative to Trump if he has to drop out due to his legal challenges, or some unforeseen health scare. Trump, 77, faces four criminal court cases and 91 felony charges, some tied to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden.

Haley also may be positioning herself for another White House bid in 2028, analysts say. Having served nearly two years as the US ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, she has the resume, and at 52, shes a generation younger than both of the current front-runners for the job.

If Biden wins, she can say, I told you so  I was the better candidate, said Robert Oldendick, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Carolina.

The next major spate of voting takes place on March 5, a night when 15 states and one US territory award a huge number of delegates. Trump and his team expect to earn enough support to lock up the Republican nomination no later than mid-March.

Campaigns Next Stage

Besting his Republican rivals so early in the primary season will let Trump focus on the general election rematch against Biden. This would be one of the longest general-election campaigns in history between two nominees about whom a majority of Americans say theyre unenthusiastic.

And the general election poses challenges for Trump. Despite his hold on Republican primary voters, it remains unclear if he can win independents or white suburban women, who have turned away from the GOP in recent years. Trumps campaign aims to make up this deficit by appealing to Hispanic and Black voters, who traditionally have backed Democrats.

Read More: Trump Advances 2024 Bid Besting Haley in Her Home State

His campaign will soon staff up for the general election, expanding beyond the former presidents inner circle of trusted loyalists. He is also trying to install allies at the Republican National Committee, essentially fusing the campaign and party into one operation. Both moves will shake up Trumpworld, which has operated in 2024 with little back-biting and ruthless efficiency.

Read More: Trumps Insults and Rants Mask a Ruthlessly Efficient Campaign

Biden himself will have to handle a myriad of challenges, from foreign policy crises with Israel, Russia and Iran to the state of the economy and concerns about his fitness for a second term at 81 years old.

Haley, meanwhile, may have little more than a week to convince Republican voters shes the best candidate to beat Biden, before Trump wins enough delegates to lock up the nomination.

We know that the road is difficult, Haleys campaign manager Betsy Ankney told reporters on Friday. We know that the math is challenging, but this has never just been about who can win a Republican primary. This battle is about who can win in November, defeat the Democrats and finally get our country back on track.

--With assistance from Laura Davison, Gregory Korte and Hadriana Lowenkron.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  Nikki Haley isn't giving up.

Despite a dismal primary performance in her own home state of South Carolina, the former U.N. ambassador is making good on her promise to stay in the GOP presidential primary race and is placing her bets on next month's Super Tuesday contests when 15 states  or just over a third of all delegates  are up for grabs.

"America will come apart if we make the wrong choices. This has never been about me or my political future. We need to beat Joe Biden in November. I dont believe Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden," Haley told a crowd of supporters gathered at her election night watch party in Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday.

TRUMP WINS SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY AGAINST HALEY IN HER HOME STATE, MOVES CLOSER TO CLINCHING GOP NOMINATION

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump.

"I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for President. Im a woman of my word. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden," she said, arguing voters in Michigan and the Super Tuesday states deserved to have a choice as they head to the polls over the next 10 days.

Haley now heads to Michigan, where GOP primary voters will have their say next Tuesday, but with less than a third of the state's 55 delegates at stake. The rest will be determined at 13 congressional district meetings scheduled to be held on March 2.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

What little polling has been done suggests Trump could hold a strong lead in the state, but regardless of that outcome, Haley's campaign appears set to make Super Tuesday the final stand against Trump's juggernaut status in the Republican Party.

WATCH: TOP REPUBLICANS SHOWERED WITH BOOS FROM TRUMP VICTORY CROWD, PROMPTING JOKES FROM FORMER PRESIDENT

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump gestures to supporters during an election night watch party at the State Fairgrounds on February 24, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina.

On that day, March 5, voters in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia will all head to the polls to decide between Trump and Haley.

In a press call with reporters on Friday, Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney announced a seven-figure ad buy across the Super Tuesday states, the strongest sign ahead of the South Carolina primary that Haley would follow through with plans to stay in the race regardless of Saturday's outcome.

In his South Carolina victory speech, Trump also said he would continue fighting to win over voters in Michigan and the Super Tuesday states.

WATCH: TRUMP RALLYGOERS REVEAL WHOM THEY WANT AS VICE PRESIDENT

Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, during an election night watch party in Charleston, South Carolina, US, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

"It's an early evening and a fantastic evening," Trump told a crowd of supporters gathered at the South Carolina state fairgrounds in Columbia, the state capitol, just minutes after polls closed and he was declared the victor.

"Celebrate for 15 minutes, but then we have to get back to work," he added.

When it comes to the delegates needed for either candidate to clinch the Republican nomination for president, Haley faces an extremely steep climb to make the race competitive.

Trump, who entered the South Carolina primary with 63 delegates to Haley's 17, could likely reach the 1,215 delegates needed to clinch the nomination by late March  at the earliest  given the number of delegates up for grabs in the states set to vote between now and then, as well as how those delegates are awarded.

Fox News' Remy Numa and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.





Original article source: Nikki Haley bets it all on Super Tuesday after dismal primary night down south
CHARLESTON, S.C.  Her chances of securing the 2024 Republican presidential nomination are vanishing fast. But Nikki Haley isnt giving up  at least not yet.

After suffering defeats against former President Donald Trump in Iowa, New Hampshire and the U.S. Virgin Islands and losing to none of the above in the Nevada primary, the former South Carolina governor was banking on the results of her home state primary to turn the race around.

It wasnt even close. Projections now show Haley losing South Carolina and most, if not all, of its delegates will likely go to Trump. For most politicians, a loss of this magnitude in their home state would end their campaign. No major-party nominee since 1972 has lost their home state.

Addressing a crowd of supporters chanting "Nikki" on Saturday night, the former U.N. ambassador conceded the election to her former boss, who was leading her by around 20 percentage points when she took the stage.

"America will come apart if we make the wrong choices. This has never been about me or my political future," Haley told a cheering crowd. "I am a woman of my word. I'm not giving up this fight."

Haley has pledged to remain in the GOP presidential race until at least Super Tuesday, when 15 states and one territory will vote on March 5. More than half of the delegates needed to win the GOP nomination will have been awarded after that day.

Trump has an overwhelming lead in nearly all of the upcoming contests, and without the victory in South Carolina or a dramatic event that changes the course of the competition, Haley will not have the momentum she needs to pull off an upset anywhere else.

So why stay in the race against those odds?

Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Haley said. South Carolina has spoken. Were the fourth state to do so. In the next ten days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate. And I have a duty to give them that choice.

Shaping the future of the Republican Party

Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley campaigns on Feb. 21, 2024, in Beaufort, S.C.

Haleys candidacy is as much about shaping the future of the Republican Party as it is about standing up to Trump. As the ex-presidents sole remaining GOP competitor, Haley has argued over the last week that she owes it to voters to stay in the race.

She has accused Trump of rejecting traditional conservative principles and making divisive comments that shrink the GOPs voting base rather than expand it. Where the ex-president added to the national debt and complimented Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Haley has said the GOP should stand for fiscal responsibility and promote democracy.

Not only that, Trump is distracted by his legal troubles, and he is so obsessed with his own demons from the past, he cant focus on delivering the future Americans deserve, Haley said Tuesday.

In stump speeches across states that hold their contests early, Haley has also insisted that shes better equipped than Trump to beat President Joe Biden in the November general election. Shes pointed to polling, including a recent survey conducted by the Marquette Law School, that shows her up by double digits against Biden. A RealClearPolitics average of national polls shows Haley leading Biden by 5 points. Trump is up by 2 points over Biden in that same survey.

This battle is about who can win in November, defeat the Democrats, and finally get our country back on track, Haleys campaign manager, Betsy Ankney, told reporters on Friday. She argued that Trumps rhetoric and four criminal indictments could dissuade key voting blocs, such as suburban women, from backing Republicans up and down the ballot in November.

Trump has shown that he lost those demographics, which is why we have lost in many elections since he was elected in 2016. And so, were going to fight to bring more people into the party so that we can once again win elections, Ankney said.

Pressing for younger political leaders

Haley, 52, has billed herself as a next-generation leader, drawing a sharp contrast with Trump, 77, and Biden, 81.

Highlighting concerns about both of their ages during her Tuesday speech, Haley called Trump and Biden two old men who are getting older.

Age concerns have plagued the 2024 elections, particularly on the Democratic side, with many Americans expressing concern about the octogenarian commander-in-chiefs mental acuity.

Haley had demanded competency tests for both men. If he's elected again, Trump would be in his 80s, too, by the end of a second term.

Feb 24, 2024; Kiawah Island, SC, USA; Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley spoke with the press after voting in Saturdays GOP primary Saturday in Kiawah Island. Megan Smith-USA TODAY

Haley told reporters on Saturday as she voted at her local polling place on Kiawah Island that she hopes Republican voters across the country will recognize that there is another choice before them.

We can leave the drama and the chaos, we can lead the incompetence, and we can go to something that is normal. And thats what people want, especially the younger generation. They just want to know what normal feels like, Haley said.

Anti-Trump donations pouring in

When Trump warned after the New Hampshire primary that anyone who donated to Haley would be permanently barred from the MAGA camp, she received an influx of cash. Haley raised $2 million in the 48 hours after the threat, her campaign said. Federal paperwork the campaign filed this week showed Haley outraising Trump in January.

The money has kept her campaign afloat.

Haley had $13 million in the bank at the end of last month. Trump had a much larger war chest, his campaign filing showed. But his campaign had to tap into it in January to get the former president through the first several contests. He had $30 million left at the end of last month.

Its unclear what either of the campaigns finances look like now. Haleys campaign manager declined to say Friday, in response to a question from USA TODAY, how much the candidate had raised in February and how much cash she had left.

Our grassroots digital and mail programs are continuing to grow by the day. And so we are fully confident that we will have the resources to compete moving forward, Ankney said.

Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers a speech in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, on Feb. 23, 2024, the night before the states GOP primary.

Haleys campaign said earlier in the week, however, that Trumps attack on Haleys husband, who is deployed with the U.S. military overseas, helped the candidate raise $1 million in the 48-hour period that followed the South Carolina rally where he made the remark. It said she raised another $5 million from major donors during a fundraising swing this month, but she also spent an additional $2 million in South Carolina on ads.

Haleys campaign said Friday that it was advertising in Michigan and announced a seven-figure national ad buy.

The two days after the South Carolina primary will be a critical time period for Haleys fundraising efforts, based on her previous fundraising cadence.

As long as she has the resources to run a robust campaign that allows her to communicate with voters in every state that shes made a priority, shes going to continue to do that, Rob Godfrey, a senior aide to Haley during her time as governor, said.

Looking to beat Trump with delegates

In order to secure the GOP nomination, a candidate must win 1,215 delegates. Trump currently has 63, and Haley has 17.

There are 50 delegates up for grabs in the Palmetto State. Whoever wins statewide on Saturday will receive 29. Three delegates will go to the popular vote winner in each of the states seven congressional districts for a total of 21 additional delegates.

If Trump wins by a large margin in the state, he could leave South Carolina with all 50 in his column.

Trump could lock up the nomination in mid-March, after more than half of the partys delegates have been allotted. His campaign projects he will become the presumptive nominee no later than March 19.

Haleys future political ambitions

Some political strategists and pundits have pondered whether Haley has an ulterior motive for sticking it out against Trump. Namely, they question whether she is setting herself up for a future presidential bid.

If the party ever turns away from Trump, she can say that she was the voice against him, Ryan Williams, the national press secretary for Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign, said with a heavy dose of skepticism. I dont think thats gonna happen.

Feb 20, 2024; Greenville, SC, USA; Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers a speech to press and supporters in Greenville, S.C Haley said she would not be dropping out of the presidential race ahead of the South Carolina primary. Mandatory Credit: Megan Smith-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-751502 (Via OlyDrop)

Others have wondered whether Haley plans to launch a third-party bid.

The centrist group No Labels floated putting Haley on a potential bipartisan unity ticket, and Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, who is challenging Biden in the Democratic primary, said he was open to being Haleys running mate if she ran as an independent.

Haley hasnt ruled out the idea, but she also hasnt endorsed it. Haleys campaign manager said Friday that the former U.N. ambassador was focused on winning the Republican nomination.

If Haley is pushing forward because of long-term political ambitions, shes kept it close to her chest.

People say Im trying to set up a future presidential run. How does that even work? Haley she said with a laugh on Tuesday. If I was running for a bogus reason, I would have dropped out a long time ago.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is Nikki Haley still running? Despite SC loss, she is fighting on
Heres something I cant wrap my head around: Republicans have a sure thing in Nikki Haley. Yet they cant move past Donald Trump.

So far, each primary state has chosen the former president over the former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. By a lot. South Carolina, Haleys home state, proved no different Saturday.

Haley preempted calls for her to step aside last week by giving a speech in which she said she would stay in the race at least through Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states and the U.S. territory of American Samoa vote. My state of Michigan votes this Tuesday.

But Haley is likely to keep losing.

Why?

Haley keeps trouncing Biden in polls

A recent poll from Marquette Law School found that in a general election matchup against President Joe Biden, Haley would blow him out of the water by 16 points (58-42%).

Compare that with Trumps 2-point lead over Biden (51-49%).

President Joe Biden prepares to deliver remarks on canceling student debt at Culver City Julian Dixon Library on February 21, 2024 in Culver City, California.

Multiple surveys have shown the same thing. Haleys strong numbers also give more credence to a third-party run, should she decide to go that route.

As the Marquette poll states: Haley holds Republican support against Biden as well as Trump does, while attracting a substantial (crossover) vote from Democrats. Independents support Haley by a substantial margin. Her strength with Republicans combined with an ability to attract more Democratic and independent voters than does Trump accounts for her stronger overall support against Biden than Trumps.

Third party alternative: Biden's toast. Trump's unhinged. How about a third-party ticket led by Nikki Haley?

Pulling in support from independents and even moderate Democrats will be key to winning the presidential election. Oddly, the MAGA arm of the GOP seems to think that this crossover appeal should be eschewed, and these voters treat Haley  a true conservative  like a Democratic plant.

Democrats are the ones who should be petrified at the thought of Biden facing Haley. While Trump maintains a tight hold on the Republican base, thats not true of independent voters and moderate Republicans who will refuse to vote for Trump in November.

Biden is such a weak candidate. As much as Democrats want to pretend his age and mental capacity arent issues, its obvious they are. Biden cant even go to fundraisers without detailed notes to get through these events, which should be easy for him after spending his life in politics.

Biden's fading memory: Special counsel says Biden is 'elderly man with a poor memory.' And he's the Democrats' guy?

Haley raises money for the future. Trump pays past legal bills.

Plenty of voters would like to see Haley continue her campaign, which is why her fundraising numbers remain strong. In January, the Haley campaign brought in $16.5 million in contributions  the strongest month yet. Even after losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, she has been able to pull in more donations. She even raised more than Trump in January.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

Trumps continued attacks on her also seem to help. Her campaign reported that after Trump this month mocked her husbands absence (hes serving overseas with the South Carolina National Guard), she raised $1 million in two days.

Meanwhile, Trumps humongous legal bills keep piling up as he faces four criminal trials and separate sizable civil judgments. Lara Trump, Trumps daughter-in-law, had the audacity last week to indicate the Republican Party should help him pay those mounting bills.

Trump is a liability to the party and to the country. As Haley likes to say, chaos follows him. Biden is a liability, too. Haley has said that she has concerns about both men serving as president again, but shes even more worried about a second Biden term.

I share those fears.

As she told NPR last week, the country needs to start "bringing normalcy back to America and that's why I think we need to have a new generational leader that focuses on the solutions of the future instead of all the issues of the past.

Why cant more Republicans get on board?

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Haley does better than Trump versus Biden. But GOP voters won't listen
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley spoke to her supporters Saturday evening after losing to Former President Donald Trump in the South Carolina primary.

Within a minute of the polls closing in South Carolina at 7 p.m. EST, The Associated Press and The New York Times projected that Trump would defeat Haley in the primary election.

ALSO READ: Donald Trump promises Super Tuesday win after dominant SC primary

Haley spoke to her supporters just after 8 p.m. and said will not be dropping out of the race.

40% is not some tiny group, Haley said. There are huge number of voters in our republican primary they want an alternative...I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for President. Im a woman of my word.

Nikki Haley is staying in the race.



"I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for President. Im a woman of my word."  Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) February 25, 2024

Nikki Haley spoke on President Joe Biden and Trump.

One of them calls his fellow Americans fascists. The other calls his fellow Americans vermin, she said. They arent fighting for our countrys future. Theyre demanding we fight each other.

Haley also congratulated Trump on his win. She added that she will be heading to the states in the Super Tuesday election.

(WATCH BELOW: House candidate Mark Harris speaks to Ch. 9 for first time since ballot fraud scandal: Part 2)
In the frenzied final days before the March 5 party primaries, we expect candidates, staffers and political surrogates to get a little nutty. We know ads and online posts will get a little nasty.

We didnt anticipate that it would all spill over to elected and hired leaders official duties.

And yet, there were Tarrant County commissioners, on a petty party line vote Tuesday, pulling a small amount of money out of a program that helps voters get a ride to the polls. And there were two Denton ISD administrators, blatantly violating laws against electioneering by encouraging teachers to go vote in the Republican primary  and offering notes on who to support.

The Commissioners Court decided, 3-2, to cancel the countys $10,000 contribution to a Trinity Metro program that picks up voters with transportation issues and takes them to the polls. Its been in place for years, with no known issues or controversy.

County Judge Tim OHare, a Southlake Republican, voiced a philosophical objection and worries about whether the county can spend such money without violating federal law. GOP Commissioner Manny Ramirez, from northwest Tarrant County, said he was concerned that the program only covers certain areas.

If these are the real concerns  more on that in a moment  perhaps theres a way to address them, through private funding and a larger program. As it stands, its a small service for a few people. But for those voters, be they disabled or without reliable transportation, its a powerful contribution to their dignity to be able to go and cast a ballot like anyone else.

The number of rides varies, not surprisingly, based on the type of election. For the November 2020 presidential vote, 5,658 people were helped, according to Trinity Metro, the largest number in the last few major election cycles. Trinity Metro still plans to provide rides on Election Day, which is March 5.

As for the cost, OHare is consistent in seeking to curtail spending. But were talking about $10,000; the county spends nearly $900 million a year. Lets not pretend a great blow has been struck here for smaller-government conservatism.

County Republican Chairman Bo French may have revealed the real reason any of this even became an issue. On Monday, he wrote on X that he had discovered that the county wanted to use taxpayer dollars to bus Democrats to the polls.

BREAKING: The deep state in Tarrant Co. is alive and well. I discovered today the county has a scheme to use taxpayer dollars to bus Democrats to the polls. Outrageous! I oppose this attempt to interfere in our elections. @MannyRamirez_TX @CommGaryFickes @TimothyOHare  Bo French (@Bo_French_TX) February 20, 2024

If he just noticed the program, around since 2019, hes not as politically observant as a county party leader should be. French also asserted that the deep state was behind the program  which was printed in advance on the agenda for the commissioners meeting. Fine sleuthing, Mr. Chairman.

He may be right that more Democrats take advantage of the program, based on the areas served. But its a real stretch to call it a concerted effort to serve one party or the other. No one tracks party affiliation or votes cast by those who get a ride. Its revealing, perhaps, that French thinks a county program might work that way.

Finally, theres a bit of inconsistency at work. Arent Republicans the party of in-person voting? Many of the voters who get a ride might otherwise use mail-in ballots, which the GOPs national leader, Donald Trump, rails against every chance he gets.

PAXTON SUES DENTON SCHOOLS OVER ELECTION MESSAGE

Of course, no list of political shenanigans would be complete without Attorney General Ken Paxton getting involved.

According to Paxtons office, the principal of Alexander Elementary School in Denton ISD, used her school email address to urge staffers to vote in the Republican primary. She ensured that their classes would be covered if they wanted to vote on school time. And if the message wasnt clear enough, it quoted Diboll ISD Superintendent Brian Bowman: If Texas educators do not come together and vote on the candidate that will support public schools, we are in trouble.

NEW: A school official was caught pressuring employees to specifically participate in the Republican primary and vote for certain candidates. This is both improper electioneering and a misuse of official information. https://t.co/d3qoaLpaJC  Brian Phillips (@RealBPhil) February 23, 2024

A second Denton principal, at Borman Elementary School, made it clear that employees should go cast a ballot for candidates who oppose vouchers.

The AG filed a suit alleging electioneering, the use of taxpayer-funded resources to campaign. Denton ISD must investigate, and barring some extraordinary circumstance, both employees should be fired.

These kinds of incidents reflect the over-dramatization increasingly overtaking elections, with hard-core voters in each party convinced that the world will end if the other wins. Its used to justify bad behavior, violating rules and taking petty swipes over something like a small busing program.

Meanwhile, most voters scratch their heads, refusing to obsess over school vouchers and whether a few people get a free ride to the polls. More politicians should look to serve them and their concerns, not the ever-narrowing bases that see every election as a pitched battlefield.

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Anna Firth: I was always taught to stand up to bullies, not to give in, and never, ever to let myself be intimidated - John Keeble/Getty Images

In 2021, Sir David Amess was stabbed to death by an Islamist extremist who targeted him because of the way hed voted in the Commons on the war in Syria.

I was elected as Sir Davids successor two years ago this month, and not a day goes by when I dont think of how he was brutally murdered simply for doing his job.

Mike Freer, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, recently announced that he was stepping down, fed up and frightened because of Islamist extremists regularly targeting him and his loved ones.

His office was firebombed. Chillingly, Mike narrowly missed falling victim to Sir Davids killer, who went looking for him first.

A lot of lovely sentiments have been expressed about both of these events, but has enough actually been done to tackle the fact that many, many Islamist fundamentalists with bad intentions live and walk among us? No, it hasnt.

We seem afraid. Afraid to be seen as racist or Islamophobic, even when we simply seek to save lives by speaking the truth. On Wednesday, in the House of Commons, the scale of this problem became crystal clear.

If people at home felt bemused and upset by what happened, then they werent alone. I, too, could not believe what I was seeing.

I was made aware that the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, had met the Speaker to urge him to allow a vote on the Labour amendment to the SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Sir Keir apparently did this so that Labour MPs could safely vote in a way that wouldnt upset their constituents and would allegedly spare them and their families from being threatened and intimidated.

How he went about urging the Speaker is unknown. But the circumstances were extraordinary enough to prompt a letter from the Clerk of the House, Tom Goldsmith, to the Speaker pointing out that long-established conventions are not being followed in this case.

At best this was a subversion of democracy that undermined the integrity of Parliament. At worst it was naked appeasement and a deliberate act of bowing to the mob, who were protesting loudly outside and projecting anti-Semitic slogans onto Big Ben. I would like to see a law passed immediately to ban any unauthorised projections onto the buildings of Parliament.

But how has this mob, which includes Islamists and far-Left activists, become so powerful that its actions made MPs afraid to vote with their consciences? Why was the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, so willing to compromise himself and his reputation like this?

The events of Wednesday have certainly changed how I feel about doing my job as an MP. My office overlooks Whitehall, and on Wednesday I could hear and see the protesters as they marched and grew in number and volume.

Id spoken in the SNPs ceasefire debate and had stated my opinion that we cannot possibly vote for a ceasefire and leave the remaining Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas. Seeing the baying mob outside made me feel wary of leaving the safety of my office.

Protesters beamed the slogan from the river to the sea onto Parliaments Elizabeth Tower - @BellaWallerstei

Id also come up against such attempted intimidation in my constituency. Shortly after the Hamas attacks of Oct 7, I went to my local synagogue to express my sympathies to the Southend Jewish community and to ask if I could do anything to help. I was welcomed warmly, and my offer of help was appreciated.

I also have a mosque in my constituency, so a few weeks later I reached out to see if I could do anything to support them, especially in terms of organising humanitarian help for the innocent people of Gaza.

I was invited inside and offered a seat before being surrounded by a number of men and one woman. She immediately started shouting, jabbing her finger in my face and demanding to know how many babies had to die to satisfy my blood lust. My aide, who was with me, suggested that we leave.

A few days later, there was an anti-war in the Middle East march in Southend, with dolls covered in fake blood scattered on the pavement under people holding placards saying Anna Firth kills babies.

I was horrified. A police officer stood by and watched, but did nothing. When I saw Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Police Commissioner, a week later in the Commons, he agreed that this was intimidation and explained that the police do have powers to intervene and stop people inciting violence like this. So why didnt they?

If this is happening in a fairly centre-Right southern city like Southend, I can only imagine what some of my other parliamentary colleagues must be going through.

Even though I disagree with what Sir Keir and Sir Lindsay did, I understand the Speakers wish to try to protect MPs from threats and violence and I have accepted Sir Lindsays apology. But protecting MPs is a job for the police.

I was always taught to stand up to bullies, not to give in, and never, ever to let myself be intimidated. Its hard, though, when the threat is real and nobody wants to admit where its coming from. If you cant name it, you cant protect yourself from it.

I agree with my friend and colleague Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, who described Wednesday as a dark day in our democracy. I also support his call to stop Islamist extremists from intimidating MPs.

James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, is spot on when he says that the only thing MPs should fear is the ballot box. As we saw with my predecessor Sir David, its only a short hop from violent rhetoric to deadly action.

Anna Firth is the Conservative MP for Southend West

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Hyundai Engineering & Construction said Sunday it has been tapped as the preferred bidder for a nuclear plant project in Bulgaria with a goal of starting power generation by 2035.

The designation, approved by the Bulgarian parliament, came as Hyundai aims to build two nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 2,200 megawatts, in Kozloduy, located around 200 kilometers north of Sofia.

The final winner for the project worth $14 billion is anticipated to be announced in April following negotiations with Kozloduy NPP New Builds PLC.

The Kozloduy plant, operational since 1969, is responsible for a third of Bulgaria's power generation. Currently, four reactors have been retired, with two others in operation.

Hyundai plans to add two additional reactors, with the goal of starting power generation by 2035.

It marked the first time for Hyundai to be designated as a preferred bidder in a major overseas nuclear plant project since 2009, when its consortium secured the contract for constructing four nuclear reactors in Barakah, located 270 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi.

Hyundai also recently inked an agreement with U.S.-based Holtec International to develop a small modular reactor. (Yonhap)
Former President Donald Trump, in an lengthy and falsehood-riddled speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, spent some of his parting words chastising California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Trump, speaking at the annual gathering of conservatives Saturday, said that he wished Newsom, a Democrat, was running for president against him in 2024: A lot of people think Gavin Newsom is going to run. In a certain way, I hope so, Trump said. I hope so. Because hes destroyed California.

Newsom has repeatedly said he is not running for president in November.

Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, used his hour-and-a-half-long speech to espouse embellished anecdotes, blame others and his own inexperience for shortcomings during his presidency, and paint an evidence-lacking dark picture if President Joe Biden were re-elected. To applause from the supportive crowd, Trump mocked Bidens age and mental capacity, criticized the media and claimed he would be a form of savior if elected in November.

Our country is run by people that are destroying it, Trump said as part of his closing, Were not going to let it happen again.

Before heading to South Carolina to see himself win the states primary election, Trump ranted about Californias policies on immigrants rights, water and elections. Here are some of his claims that were based in fact, and others that were not.

California rights for undocumented immigrants

Trump said Newsom enticed undocumented immigrants by offering pensions, health care, education and even a mansion.

When you have an idiot like Gavin Newsom saying, if you come up, were going to give you pension funds. Youre going to have pensions, youre going to  well give you a mansion. Do you ever see the things that hes promising? Free health care? Free education? Who the hell wouldnt? Trump said. He joked, I may move there myself, actually.

Newsom has not promised mansions for immigrants arriving in the U.S. unlawfully.

Undocumented workers can apply for disability insurance and paid family leave in California  but they do not get Social Security retirement benefits, even if they pay federal taxes. Newsom vetoed a bill last fall that aimed to open Californias Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants to undocumented people who are blind, disabled or over 65. CAPI currently offers a monthly benefit only to lawful permanent residents, refugees and asylum seekers.

As of this year, individuals regardless of their immigration status between the ages of 26 and 49 are allowed to qualify for Medi-Cal, Californias iteration of the federal Medicaid that serves low-income people. (That means all undocumented immigrants are eligible now.)

California has measures to help undocumented students, most of whom come from low-income backgrounds, receive financial aid and in-state tuition. The California counterpart to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for undocumented students is the California Dream Act Application: People without Social Security numbers cannot complete the FAFSA form.

California drought and water

Trump claimed unnamed California congressmen once told him there was no drought, which is historically false.

They have so much water, Trump claimed. I said to some of our great congressmen that asked me to help them with a problem up in that area, up north in California. I said, I see you have a drought. They said, no, we dont have a drought. We have so much water you dont know what to do. But they send it out to the Pacific. Were not going to let them get away with that any longer.

Due to an unusually wet winter last year, California became drought-free for the first time since 2020. No one has lived in a drought area in California since November 2023.

There have been significant recent droughts in California, including from 2012 to 2016.

California indeed flushes a significant amount of water to the Pacific Ocean, something which angers many farmers and bipartisan lawmakers  particularly people in the Central Valley, Californias massive agricultural belt.

Last year, after atmospheric rivers offered much-needed water, almost 95% that had been added to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta flowed out to the Pacific, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The Delta supports the states farming industry and provides drinking water for about 27 million Californians.

Rules on flushing to protect endangered fish there have long angered those who rely on the Deltas water supply. The Trump administration in 2019 controversially said that increased water deliveries to farms and municipalities through the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project connected to the Delta would not threaten fish. Litigation blocked these plans, saying the review failed to account for several environmental factors.

California elections

Trump insinuated that rampant voter fraud prevented him and other Republicans from winning in California. The rhetoric tapped into his false claims that Bidens 2020 presidential victory was rigged.

How many people from California know people that got 6, 7, 8 ballots? Our elections are so corrupt, Trump said. I think wed do very well. I think I would do very well in California, actually.

California sends a mail ballot to every registered voter. In a rare instance that more than one ballot is sent to an individual, as pointed out in an Associated Press fact-check from the 2022 election, counties have procedures to prevent duplicates from being counted.

An overwhelming portion of the states voters are Democratic: Almost 47%, according to a Jan. 5 report from Californias Secretary of States Office. About 24% are Republicans; 22% are registered as no party preference and 7% with the four other state-qualified parties.

The last time a Republican won a statewide race in California was in 2006.

I always hear Republicans cant win California, you cant win, Trump said. I will tell you, if God came down and God was the vote-checker, I believe we would win in California.
A number of road closures have been announced along the new Nottingham 10K route that will finish in the grounds of a famous city attraction.

Participants of all abilities and ages will be heading to the city on 10 March for the charity event.

Starting in Old Market Square, the route will now take runners to the north of the city, before finishing at Nottingham Castle.

A number of roads will be closed as runners make their way around the city.

Organisers say the finish will be the first sporting event to be held at the castle.

After the start in Old Market Square, runners will head north of the city centre, travelling along Mansfield Road before reaching Nottingham Girls' High School.

Once there, the route will take participants along Forest Road East and on to Church Rock Cemetery before travelling back towards the city centre.

Runners will reach the Motorpoint Arena before heading along Canal Street towards the finish line.

Looping around The Park estate, noted for its Victorian architecture, participants will then reach the finish line inside the castle grounds.

Road closures will begin at 06:00 around Nottingham Castle including Castle Place, Castle Road and Lenton Road.

The following major roads will be closed from 08:00:

A60 Huntingdon Street northbound

A60 London Road

A6005 Castle Boulevard

A6008 Lower Parliament Street

Mansfield Road

A number of other streets in the centre and northern part of the city will also close from the same time.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
People visit a dragon lantern decoration with energy-saving LED lights ahead of the lunar new year at the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen temple in Jenjarom, some 50 kilometres southwest of Kuala Lumpur on January 26, 2024. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP) (Photo by MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)

NEW YORK - The Year of the Dragon is here and the annual NYC Lunar New Year Parade is back in Chinatown.

The parade will begin around 1 p.m. on Mott and Canal Streets, before making its way towards Grand Street.

Tons of festival booths will line the route of the parade.

Although it's still winter, the Lunar New Year is known as the spring festival, celebrating a season of planting and harvests, new beginnings, and fresh starts.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 21: People participate in the 2023 Lunar New Year Parade on January 21, 2023 in the Queens Borough of New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

People all around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, marking the holiday with rich cultural traditions that originate as far back as 3.500 years ago in China.

At the parade, elders typically give out red envelopes that include money as a symbol of good fortune.

NYC Lunar New Year Parade Route

NYC Road closures

The annual Lunar New Year Celebration is here.

The route will start on Mott and Canal head to Chatham Square to East Broadway towards the Manhattan Bridge, completing on Eldridge and Forsyth Streets towards Grand Street next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

Formation:

Mott Street between Broome Street and Canal Street

Hester Street between Bowery and Mulberry Street

Route:

Mott Street between Canal Street and Chatham Square

East Broadway between Chatham Square and Forsyth Street

Eldridge Street between East Broadway and Hester Street

Hester Street between Eldridge Street and Forsyth Street

Forsyth Street between Hester Street and Grand Street

Chatham Square between Mott Street and East Broadway

Dispersal:

Forsyth Street between Grand Street and Delancy Street

Broome Street between Forsyth Street and Eldridge Street

The parade is Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

2024 is the year of the wood dragon

Every Lunar New Year holds a special meaning based on an animal from the Chinese zodiac and an accompanying element (wood, fire, earth, water, metal).

The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 different animals, which include the rat, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, ox, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

This year, 2024, is the year of the wood dragon.

Wood dragon meaning

The year of the wood dragon is believed to bring good luck, especially for those looking to focus more on their careers.

Wood dragons are intelligent, and attractive and are universally liked, according to Chinesenewyear.net.

They usually have a good sense of timing and strike success fairly easily.

Lunar New Year traditions

Nearly two billion people around the globe celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Chunjie  the "Lunar New Year" or "Spring Festival" when translated to English.

In China, many families deep clean their homes the day before Lunar New Year begins.

This is usually done to rid homes of bad luck.

Food, trinkets and paper offerings are also extended to ancestors or deities, including whole chickens, fruit, tea, sculptures, incense and candles.

Other celebration rituals include hanging lucky scroll messages, setting off firecrackers or fireworks, eating long noodles and dumplings with symbolic meanings and exchanging cash gifts.

FOX News Digital contributed to this report.
The NYPD has released surveillance images of more suspects wanted for a bloody brawl and stabbing outside a Times Square migrant shelter as additional details on the clash emerged in court.

A half dozen people have already been arrested for last weeks melee on 42nd St. near Eighth Ave. that left a 17-year-old boy stabbed in the back. More than a dozen others involved in the brawl are still being sought by police.

The clash occurred steps from the Candler Building, a vacant office tower-turned-migrant shelter. Police have so far arrested Michael Colome, 22, of Queens, and five teenage boys in connection with the 5:30 p.m. Thursday attack.

Colome was charged with gang assault, assault and weapons possession. He was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday and remains held on Rikers Island on $100,000 bond.

He was arrested with three 16-year-old boys and two 14-year-old boys, who are facing the same charges.

Prosecutors described the attack as a 23-on-one assault on the teen that was part of an ongoing violent dispute between two rival groups.

One of the combatants pulled out a knife and chased about a dozen others down Eighth Ave., witnesses told the Daily News. Cops patrolling the area on foot saw the commotion and ran after the person with the knife.

Colome and others covered their faces with masks and charged at the teen when they saw an opportunity, according to prosecutors. The group chased the teen down twice and he was stabbed during the first of those confrontations, prosecutors said.

For his part, Colome wielded a broomstick during the second confrontation, beating the teen so badly the stick broke in half, prosecutors said. He also repeatedly punched the teen during the lopsided match-up, according to a criminal complaint.

The teen victim, who is believed to be a migrant, was punched and kicked before being stabbed in the lower back by his attackers. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. The attackers ran off into the Times Square subway station.

The teen suffered a punctured and collapsed lung, prosecutors said.

Colome, who has no criminal record, came to the U.S. about three years ago, prosecutors said. His immigration status was not immediately known.

Over the weekend, the NYPD released surveillance footage of multiple suspects still on the loose and asked the publics help identifying them and tracking them down.

Anyone with information on the latest suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Police released several other photos from the attack Saturday.

The Times Square migrant shelter became the backdrop of a contentious caught-on-video attack on NYPD officers that drew national media coverage in January. The incident, along with photos of one of the migrants later flipping off news cameras outside of court, sparked a political firestorm.

Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg drew sharp criticism after prosecutors did not initially seek bail for the suspects first charged in the assault.

Seven of the 11 asylum seekers suspected of being involved in that attack have since been indicted on a range of charges carrying significant prison time. Body camera footage contradicts the police narrative of what sparked the incident.
There are 28,000 Ukrainian citizens in Russian captivity, Ukraines Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets told reporters at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

The captives are spread across Russia and the occupied territories, according to Lubinets. Many are religious figures, journalists, NGO workers, and representatives from local governments, he said.

Some of them go a long time without any criminal investigations from the Russian side, he added.

Ukraine has managed to return 3,135 citizens, including 147 civilians. Around 90% of Ukrainian prisoners of war are tortured every day, Lubinets said.

Speaking about the return of stolen children, Lubinets said that he believes partner countries, like Qatar, are more effective than international organizations. Currently, 70 countries have joined Canadas International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which was officially launched on Feb. 2.

If we return one Ukrainian child every day, it will take us 55 years. Do we have that kind of time? No, we don't, he said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 17, 2023, over the deportation of Ukrainian children. The 123 member states of the ICC are required to arrest Putin if he steps foot on their territory.

Regarding military prisoners, Lubinets explained that several organizations are focussing on the return of different units. However, added that his task is to bring back all captured people rather than focusing on specific units.

Ukrainians have directed attention towards the Azovstal soldiers in Mariupol that were captured in May 2022. While some have returned, many remain in captivity.

We see that it's the hardest task to return the defenders of Mariupol. But we will do everything to return all of them, Lubinets said.

Lubinets appealed to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Feb. 20 to investigate the killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war at the Zenit strongpoint in Avdiivka.



The city fell into Russian control on Feb. 17 after months of resisting Russias intensified offensive against the town.

Read also: Ombudsman: 11 more Ukrainian children illegally held by Russia return home

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian troops killed at least seven Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered as prisoners of war (POW) near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 24, Ukraines Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported.

"In the video footage that we managed to obtain, it is evident that Ukrainian soldiers were surrendering as prisoners of war: Their hands were raised in the air, indicating they were unarmed and posed no threat," Lubinets wrote on Telegram on Feb. 25.

"Russian troops were supposed to take them as prisoners, but instead ruthlessly executed them."

Although the exact number of Ukrainians executed by Russians is unknown, it is believed to be at least seven, the ombudsman said, adding that they were the servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Lubinets also reported that they had already established the military unit of Russian troops who were behind the execution. Killing of POWs violates the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime.

"This incident must be documented as yet another violation of international humanitarian law by Russia," Lubinets wrote.

"I will immediately send official letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, urging them to document and publicly acknowledge that Russian military personnel are killing Ukrainian prisoners of war."

Reports of Ukrainian prisoners of war being tortured or killed while in Russian custody have surfaced since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Last week, Ukraine's military said Russian troops killed two Ukrainian prisoners of war in Donetsk Oblast. Ukraine's 110th Brigade reported on Feb. 19 that the Russian military promised to evacuate wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Avdiivka but instead shot and killed five of the Ukrainian troops.

On Feb. 18, three Ukrainian POWs were also killed by Russian troops near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to the Prosecutor General's Office.

"For the Russian army, the Geneva Conventions, rules, and customs of war mean nothing. They act according to their own unspoken 'conventions,' 'rules,' and 'customs'  cruelty, treachery, and vileness," Lubenets wrote.

At the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25, Lubinets said that there are currently 28,000 Ukrainian citizens in Russian captivity.

According to him, the captives are spread across Russia and the occupied territories, according to Lubinets. Many are religious figures, journalists, NGO workers, and representatives from local governments.

Ukraine has managed to return 3,135 citizens, including 147 civilians. Around 90% of Ukrainian prisoners of war are tortured every day, Lubinets said.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv asks UN, Red Cross to investigate execution of Ukrainian POWs in Avdiivka

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
YORK, Pa. (WHTM)  An incident that occurred around 11:20 a.m. on Saturday in York left one person dead.

The coroner was dispatched to the WellSpan York Hospital where they confirmed a 35-year-old male had died.

One dead after Monday morning shooting in York, Pa. State Police investigate

The incident occurred around the 600 block of W. College Avenue where the man was found with serious injuries, states the coroner.

The man was sent to the hospital where he received life-saving measures before succumbing to his injuries. The coroner states that the man was involved in a physical altercation.

York City Police are investigating the incident. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Nearly 20 years ago, Ryan Sharp woke up to news reports of a Grandview police chase and a serious crash on the other side of the state line.

Two teenage girls had been struck by a cruiser traveling at 81 mph following a lengthy pursuit that ended at 119th Street and Nall Avenue in Leawood. The front-seat passenger, a 16-year-old, nearly died after suffering severe injuries, including a shattered pelvis and ruptured internal organs.

I knew immediately that our chase policy was going to change, said Sharp, now the captain overseeing patrol for the Grandview Police Department.

He was right. The 2004 crash led to a major shift in the way Grandview, a community of 25,000, handles police chases today.

After the wreck, Johnson County prosecutors took the rare step of filing misdemeanor charges against the two Grandview police officers  Brian Blessing and Doug Blodgett  involved in the pursuit. A $3 million civil settlement also followed.

The two officers, driving separate squad cars, had been dispatched to help Belton police with a car that had been reported stolen. The chase started when a car matching the description, spotted by Blodgett, fled a traffic stop with its headlights off.

Officers continued to chase because they believed a woman inside the car mightve been abducted, according to a police affidavit filed in Jackson County Circuit Court.

The crash kickstarted a conversation among area policing leaders about bringing pursuit policies into closer alignment, though agencies continue to employ various practices around the Kansas City metro. Many agencies allow officers to chase at high-speed for any infraction, no matter how minor.

For its part, Grandview did change its policy. Officers are directed to only pursue offenders believed to have committed a violent felony crime. Thats a restriction recommended by many national law enforcement experts concerned with the risk police chases pose to public safety.

Theres definitely a lot more that goes into even the initiation of a pursuit and definitely a lot more continual reevaluation during the pursuit of if its worth it to keep going, Sharp said. Back in the day, you would chase until the wheels fell off.

In 2004, a Grandview police officer engaged in a pursuit hit this car in Leawood at 81 mph, severely injuring a 16-year-old in the passenger-side seat. Johnson County prosecutors charged the two officers involved in the chase with misdemeanor reckless driving.

Sharp stressed that he does not believe other agencies with looser policies are incorrect. But, overall, he says the current policy in Grandview has been beneficial from a public safety standpoint where pursuits are concerned.

I think for the safety aspects to the public, I mean, if youre not chasing cars, then youre not pushing them into intersections  that people arent expecting a car to be flying through. So its certainly safer.

Police chase policies across the metro

Many policing experts advocate for policies that limit police pursuits to situations where a suspect is believed to have committed a violent felony and the offender poses an imminent threat to public safety.

In many cases, police pursuits end in serious wrecks, sometimes injuring the suspects, innocent bystanders or the police officers themselves.

As part of a monthslong investigation of police chases across the Kansas City area, The Star examined the policies of 77 metro police agencies on both sides of the state line. Twenty-one departments were identified as having a chase policy in which police officers only pursue those suspected of committing violent felony crimes.

In the Kansas City metro, police departments at the other end of the spectrum continue to allow for pursuits in most circumstances.

Twenty-eight  including Independence, Gladstone and Raytown  have broad parameters, allowing officers to chase for almost any offense, that many policing experts say often create public safety risks that outweigh the benefits of an arrest.

Grandview, with a department of 55 sworn officers, is among those with a stricter policy that advises officers to chase only in situations where a suspect is wanted for a violent felony offense.

Under Grandviews current pursuit policy, officers are instructed to chase suspects who have committed or attempted to commit a violent felony such as murder, sexual assault, arson, kidnapping or a terrorist act. Still, officers are advised not to pursue when the danger to the officer or the public outweighs the need to apprehend the violator.

Pursuits of traffic violators, including those suspected of driving under the influence, are explicitly prohibited. The policy also advises officers and supervisors of a responsibility to closely monitor progress and weigh the need to apprehend against the potential danger created by the pursuit.

John Hamilton, a professor emeritus at Park University in Parkville and a retired Kansas City police major who oversaw patrol in the Northland until 2003, said the policy Grandview employs is a restrictive one similar to Kansas Citys.

Specifically, Hamilton said, the policy has similar safeguards restricting pursuits to more serious offenses, continued evaluation and supervision of pursuits and a clear direction for commanders to have officers call off chases when appropriate.

Grandview Police Department pursuit policy by Ian Cummings on Scribd

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Hamilton said many officers on patrol, especially earlier in their careers, become emotionally invested when someone flees and they start a chase. Among the benefits Hamilton cited in Grandviews policy is the presence of a supervisor to ask questions in real time  the potential risks, rewards  and make a decision on whether to pursue.

As these things go, the emotion starts to grow. Theres a lot of things going on at the same time. And you know, when judgments are made by emotion, most of the time rationality goes out the back door, Hamilton said.  And so its very difficult sometimes for an officer who starts these things to say, Hey, forget this noise, and shut everything down.

Five years, 35 pursuits

Of Grandviews 35 pursuits over the past five years, 25 were initiated based on a suspected felony offense, including cases of armed carjackings, aggravated domestic assaults and a sighting of a person believed to have been wanted in a homicide.

Twelve ended with some type of crash, ranging from a suspect vehicle striking a curb to a police vehicle being struck by a fleeing driver.

Six began as misdemeanor traffic offenses.

In all, eight pursuits were found to have violated department policy. Police records reviewed by The Star cited one case in which an officer was disciplined.

In one, which was determined to be a violation of department policy, an officer attempted to pull over a Jeep Grand Cherokee in February 2021 for unspecified misdemeanor traffic violations.

The officer chased the Jeep on Interstate 49, reaching approximately 85 miles per hour, and self-terminated the pursuit after exiting the highway on 163rd Street. But the officer continued to follow the driver, from a distance, until the vehicle stopped again in a merge lane for Missouri Highway 58.

The officer pulled up and turned the lights and sirens on and the fleeing driver took off, again, onto Highway 58. The driver struck a bystander vehicle and took off and the Grandview officer called off the pursuit. The driver was later arrested.

In assessing the officers conduct, a police sergeant wrote that the officer should never have pursued the vehicle in the first place and violated department policy by pursuing someone who did not commit a qualifying offense.

Another four pursuits were categorized as Other, such as a case where officers chased a vehicle seen leaving a known narcotics location. That chase ended inside of one minute after the suspect crashed into a parked car; a supervisor for the officers determined the departments pursuit policy was not followed.

No bystanders or police officers were reported injured in cases reviewed by The Star. Minor injuries were recorded for two suspects.

Other departments change policy

While police chases of any length are far fewer than they were in Grandview 20 years ago, Sharp says there are possibly some drawbacks.

He says drivers appear emboldened to simply run from police to avoid penalties. And many police view that as a consequence where criminals may be escaping justice  at least temporarily.

Its kind of a double-edged sword that way, he said.

Grandview police Capt. Ryan Sharp, commander of the departments patrol division, is seen in a portrait on Nov. 7.

The Police Executive Research Forum, or PERF, a nonprofit that researches police practices and offers policy recommendations, advises in its most recent guidance for law enforcement agencies published this year that pursuits only occur when two criteria are met: A violent crime has been committed and the suspect poses an imminent threat to commit another violent crime.

Absent those conditions, police should seek an alternative way to meet the goal of arresting the suspect, the advisory group says.

Other police departments have adopted more stringent rules for officers in the wake of bad wrecks.

In June 2021, a Lone Jack police officer spotted a speeding red pickup truck on a stretch of U.S. Highway 50. The officer chased the truck, in Friday afternoon traffic, and ran the plate to find the truck was stolen.

The chase continued at a high speed, as the suspect weaved through traffic and went into a grassy median along the divided highway. He ultimately went into the opposite lanes of traffic and crashed head-on with another vehicle.

Patsy Arnold, 73, of Smithville, was killed in the crash. Her husband, Bob Arnold, a retired Kansas City police detective, has criticized the way police handled that chase. The fleeing suspect, a 33-year-old man, is charged in Jackson County with felony murder in her death.

Bob Arnold of Smithville lost his wife of 50 years, Pat Arnold, June 4, 2021, in a major highway crash in Lees Summit that happened as police were in pursuit of another vehicle that crossed the roadway into oncoming traffic and stuck her SUV. Arnold, a retired Kansas City police detective said the chase was unnecessary and dangerous.

At the time of the crash, the Lone Jack Police Department was operating under a pursuit policy that had been in place since 2005. It advised officers to beware of traffic and weather conditions, and drive with regard for the safety of others. But the policy broadly allowed for an officer to pursue if one reasonably believed a fleeing suspect would present a danger to human life or cause serious injury.

Since the crash, the Lone Jack Police Department has instituted a far stricter pursuit policy. The change came after the small town paid out a settlement to the Arnold family of $441,000, which amounted to the maximum civil award allowable under Missouri law.

Officers in Lone Jack are now instructed to only initiate pursuits for violent felonies under current policy.

Lone Jack Police Chief Tim Cosner, who took the helm after the 2021 crash, declined to be interviewed about why the departments policy changed.

Officer from 2004 crash works for Independence

The two Grandview officers involved in the 2004 chase stopped working as police officers in the period immediately after the crash  a condition Johnson County prosecutors at the time sought by bringing misdemeanor reckless driving charges.

Blessing, whose cruiser struck the teenagers in Leawood, went through a diversion agreement and Blodgett, in the lead cruiser following the stolen car, was found guilty through a plea agreement. Blodgett was sentenced to six months of probation and 50 hours of community service.

Blodgett was later hired by the Jackson County Sheriffs Office and then as an officer for Independence police, where he continues to work.

Adam Dustman, Independence police chief, speaks about his departments pursuit policies on Oct. 24.

The Independence Police Department has by far the most police chases and crashes of any agency in the Kansas City area, The Stars investigation found.

During an interview with The Star, Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman said Blodgetts history was taken into consideration when he applied for his job and was hired.

That officers had a long-standing career in law enforcement. And you know, none of us are perfect. Obviously, we make mistakes. We try to improve where we make mistakes. We learn from them and we rectify those mistakes the best we can, Dustman said.

He is still employed with the Independence, Missouri, Police Department and hes doing a good job.

How we reported this

After two innocent bystanders were killed in a police chase in March in Independence, Star reporters began looking into law enforcement pursuits in the Kansas City area. Over the next nine months, the reporters filed more than 140 public records requests with more than 60 local law enforcement agencies across the metro. They gathered police pursuit policies and documents recording chases, crashes and injuries over a period of five years.

Reporters also obtained investigative case files from serious and fatal wrecks, including dashboard camera recordings. They reviewed court documents from lawsuits and legal settlements. In all, the team examined more than 4,500 pages of documents, allowing them to identify patterns in police pursuits and practices in the metro.

They also spoke with more than 60 people, including innocent bystanders who were injured in police chases, families of victims killed in pursuits, police officials, attorneys and academics who have been studying the topic for decades. They interviewed a person in prison serving a sentence for killing four people in a crash during a police chase in 2018.

The project is published in a series of eight stories, with videos of interviews and crashes, as well as infographics showing the scope of police pursuits in the metro.

Credits

Katie Moore, Glenn E. Rice and Bill Lukitsch | Reporters

Emily Curiel and Nick Wagner | Visuals

Monty Davis | Video Editing

Neil Nakahodo | Illustrations & Design

David Newcomb | Development & Design
Campers utilize Oak Flat Campground in the Tonto National Forest on June 9, 2023, in Miami, Ariz. Oak Flat in central Arizona is the subject of a tug of war between people in the historic mining town of Superior who want a huge copper mine developed there for its economic benefits and Native American groups that say the land is sacred and should be protected | Matt York, Associated Press

Nonprofit attorney Luke Goodrich presents an uninformed, zero-sum argument in his piece, claiming we either destroy the environment and Native sacred sites like Oak Flat for a copper mine or protect them.

Its not really that black and white, especially when it comes to climate and the minerals needed for clean energy.

For domestic mining projects, it is essential to understand and address the concerns of local communities and tribal nations like the San Carlos Apache.

To Resolution Coppers credit, the company has had hundreds of discussions with communities and tribal nations since 2008, which have led to significant changes to the project  changes that include maintaining public access to the campground as well as the recreational and climbing trails at Oak Flat, and placing Apache Leap under permanent protection.

Further, the Resolution Copper project will directly employ about 1,500 workers, including high-paying union jobs, and studies have shown it can produce up to $61 billion in economic value for Arizona. This is a game-changer for towns like Superior, where the Democratic mayor has openly expressed her support for the project.

Resolution Copper has local support, will bring significant economic benefits and is essential for the energy transition.

Lyndsey Wright, manager of Womens Mining Coalition

Reno, Nevada
Editors Note: W. James Antle III is executive editor of the Washington Examiner magazine and author of Devouring Freedom: Can Government Ever Be Stopped? The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

It is the end of the road for Nikki Haley. The former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations has been the last major GOP primary candidate standing against former President Donald Trump, but her defeat in her home state Saturday night makes clear who the Republicans 2024 presidential choice is.

W. James Antle III - Courtesy W. James Antle III

Haley had steadfastly maintained that she wouldnt budge if South Carolina Republicans opted for Trump over her. She is still raising money at a prodigious pace and buying advertising space in states that will vote in early March.

But Haley has won nowhere, including a Nevada primary she lost by 30 points to none of these candidates. Trump, who didnt compete in that contest, won Nevadas separate caucuses, which actually awarded delegates. She is not favored to win anywhere in the foreseeable future. Polling in Michigan and many of the Super Tuesday states suggests the results will get increasingly worse for Haley from here.

Republicans do have a history of rewarding past runners-up with the nomination in the future. This held true for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney. And Trumps unprecedented legal situation may require Republicans to have a backup plan.

But a protracted primary fight with Trump wont set Haley up well for an attempt at securing the GOP nomination in 2028, or even as an in case of emergency, break glass option later this year.

Reagan and the others preceded their nominations by finishing second in genuinely competitive primary contests, which the 2024 race is not. At her current pace, Haley will not go to the 2024 Republican National Convention with many delegates. And given the deep commitment so many delegates have to Trump, Haley stretching out a long negative primary does not make her a likely Trump emergency replacement.

In the coming days, Haley will hear from many Republicans who dont want the Republican primary to end any time soon. But past primaries have gone on longer because other candidates have kept winning; Haley has no wins on the horizon. Even 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, whose famous scream was filled with erroneous predictions of victory, won his home state.

If Haley keeps going, she is likely to lose by progressively bigger margins as the race simultaneously shifts to multiple states and media markets. She may also be blamed for delaying the partys consolidation around and joint fundraising with Trump while Democrats are sparing President Joe Biden from an even semi-competitive primary.

It has been difficult for Republicans to run against Trump this year without being perceived as running against the GOP base. That is the position in which Haley now finds herself. If she plans to help Trump win in November or have a personal comeback in the future, she should heed her home states voters and pull the plug.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Park Jae-hyuk

Hyosung Group has begun procedures for the chairmans youngest brother to take control of several of the groups affiliates, so that the owner family can avoid any additional internal conflicts, according to industry officials, Sunday.

The conglomerate decided to set up another holding company that will oversee six affiliates, including the industrial materials manufacturing and IT services providing units, it said Friday.

Hyosung Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang, the youngest brother of Chairman Cho Hyun-joon, will lead the new holding firm and its subsidiaries, which are expected to post a combined 7 trillion won ($5.3 billion) in annual revenue. The vice chairman has managed the groups industrial materials business since he joined the group in 2000.

Once the new holding firm is launched in July, its board of directors will be independent of Hyosung Corp., the existing holding company of the group.

The chairman will continue to lead Hyosung Corp., which will supervise the groups key subsidiaries, including the fiber manufacturing and construction arms. Their combined annual revenue is estimated at 19 trillion won.

Hyosung explained that its planned spin-off is intended for responsible management and to agilely respond to the rapidly changing business environment.

The new holding firm will look for R&D-oriented new businesses and M&A opportunities for the groups expansion, the business group said in a press release. In addition, it will promptly respond to requests from the global clients and the market, prioritizing its employees for the world-class corporate culture.

However, Hyosungs latest decision is widely interpreted as an attempt to prevent its chairman from facing another sibling feud over control of the group.

He has had disputes with his other younger brother, former Hyosung Vice President Cho Hyun-moon, who sued the chairman and other executives in 2014 for alleged embezzlements. Following a series of legal battles, the former vice president has been kept away from participating in the groups management.

While the former vice president does not have any stake in Hyosung Corp., the chairman and the vice chairman hold 21.94 percent and 21.42 percent stakes in the groups holding firm respectively. Their 88-year-old father, Honorary Chairman Cho Suk-rae, owns a 10.14 percent stake.

When the honorary chairman inherited the control of Hyosung in the 1980s from his father, late founder Cho Hong-je, the control of the tire manufacturing unit, Hankook Tire, went to the founders second-oldest son, Cho Yang-rae, who is currently the honorary chairman of Hankook & Company.

Industry officials therefore speculate that Hyosungs new holding company may also leave the business group to guarantee the vice chairmans independent management.
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It takes no time to bend the knee, Tyrion Lannister tells Jon Snow in the seventh season of Game of Thrones, urging him to pledge your sword to Queen Daenerys Targaryen.

And why would I do that? Snow thunders back.

Speaking in Greenville, South Carolina, Tuesday, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley sounded a similar tone, insisting she plans to stay in the Republican primary battle even if former President Donald Trump continues to dominate the race. I feel no need to kiss the ring, Haley said. And I have no fear of Trumps retribution. Im not looking for anything from him. My own political future is of zero concern.

Haleys increasingly sharp criticism of the former president stands out in a party whose leaders are, for the most part, eager to show the MAGA universe that they are true Trump believers, whatever they may say in private.

Yet yesterdays results in her home states primary might affect Haleys stance. (After all, Jon Snow changed his mind about bending the knee in Game of Thrones, on HBO, which like CNN is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery). Trump won the South Carolina primary by a wide margin and is poised to continue racking up delegates in the March contests in what looks like an unstoppable march to the nomination.

The immediate delegate math and the polls may not be on Haleys side, wrote Geoff Duncan, a Republican who served as Georgias lieutenant governor, but believe it or not, many other numbers are.  During the fourth quarter of 2023, Haley out-raised Trump, $24 million to $19 million. The number was more than double the amount she raised in the third quarter. In January 2024, as the rest of the GOP field winnowed, Haleys fundraising again bested Trumps, $9.8 million to $8.8 million.

Bill Bramhall/Tribune Content Agency

There is only one viable exit ramp from the Trump-Biden sequel, and that is Haley. During the 2016 South Carolina primary, there were still six serious candidates in the GOP race. There is no reason for Haley to stop now. Even if the Trump fever doesnt break in time for 2024, theres always 2028, and time for GOP voters to wake up to what might have been, and still might be.

W. James Antle III argued that if Haley keeps going, she is likely to lose by progressively bigger margins as the race simultaneously shifts to multiple states and media markets. She may also be blamed for delaying the partys consolidation around and joint fundraising with Trump while Democrats are sparing President Joe Biden from an even semi-competitive primary.

If she plans to help Trump win in November or have a personal comeback in the future, she should heed her home states voters and pull the plug.

Looking longer term, Kara Alaimo observed, The first woman to be elected president of the United States is very likely to be someone just like her. Women who try to lead bump up against many ridiculous and unfair stereotypes, but a big one is that were not strong. Women simply do not fit the archetype of a leader in a country that stakes its superpower status on its military might, Secretary General of the Council of Women World Leaders Laura Liswood points out. Men are presumed to be strong until they show otherwise. Women must prove they have strength.

One thing that would help Haley overcome this challenge is the fact that she is perceived as a foreign policy hawk. That could give her or another conservative woman an easier time winning votes than a woman who is more progressive. Weve seen this play out in Europe, where most women leaders are conservative, noted Alaimo.

Haleys name was not among the six people Trump confirmed are on his shortlist for the vice presidential nomination. They are: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

Julian Zelizer wrote that the list should be taken with a massive grain of salt, given Trumps penchant for misdirection. If the names are in fact representative, however, they could suggest that Trump is aiming to appeal to various constituencies such as Black and Latino voters that Democrats have counted on for decades and trying to win over independents who have been lukewarm about his candidacy the new list includes women, an Indian American and Black Americans.

Ukraine War: Year three

Jack Ohman/Tribune Content Agency

When Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, many people predicted the war would last no more than a few weeks, with Russian President Vladimir Putins forces emerging victorious. Who has the edge as the war grinds into its third year? Im not sure that either side is winning, said retired US General David Petraeus, in a conversation with CNNs Peter Bergen. The Russians obviously have been achieving incremental gains, and the Russians do have the initiative right now, having just forced the Ukrainians to withdraw from Avdiivka in the southeast.

There are several other areas in which the Russians are attacking in the east and south and using massive quantities of artillery that generally destroy whatever it is that theyre trying to seize and then using human wave attacks that are extraordinarily costly in terms of casualties, yet they seem to be able to sustain that.

US officials have estimated that 315,000 Russians have been killed or wounded, which Petraeus characterized as just staggering losses.

If the US can get this $60 billion package through and Ukraine makes fundamental decisions about how to increase its force generation  and that is a critical issue  and can continue to make progress with the development of both maritime and air drones, Ukraine, I think, can not only sustain its position but, in certain cases, make progress. But thats a lot of assumptions. Thats a lot of ifs that all have to come together, observed Petraeus.

The biggest if may rest with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has bent the knee to Trump. On Presidents Day, Johnson shared a thumbs-up photo with the former president, an opponent of Ukraine aid. The visit with Trump came days after the House broke for vacation without acting on a Senate bill that includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine.

It seems like House Republicans, who long chafed under leadership that tried to channel their rabble-rousing energy into establishmentarian goals, are now realizing that having a speaker who avoids confrontation with his majoritys various factions can have its own problems, wrote Patrick T. Brown. Take the standoff over aid to Ukraine, for example  unwilling to risk support from either those favoring additional money and those seeking to scale down US involvement, Johnson let the bill sit while the House went on a two-week recess.

The stalemate in Washington is eye opening for leaders in Europe, wrote David A. Andelman. For many, it is clear democracies must begin considering in concrete terms how to defend themselves without the American nuclear and security umbrella under which they have thrived for more than a half century.

The death of Alexey Navalny in a remote prison camp above the Arctic Circle may seem to suggest that there is no future for the Russian opposition, wrote Emily Parker. But that is not necessarily true. Navalny provided a glimpse of what Russia could be. He accomplished what had once seemed impossible. Navalny skillfully used the internet to undermine the widespread apathy that prevented people from challenging authority. People realized that they were not alone, and that collective action could get results.

Russian authorities have taken into custody a 33-year-old US-Russian dual citizen, Ksenia Karelina, who as Frida Ghitis wrote, works as an esthetician in Los Angeles as she pursues her passion as a ballerina. She was arrested after donating $51.80 to Razom, a US charity that backs Ukraine, and was in Russia to visit her 90-year-old grandmother, parents and sister, according to her employer. Karelina could be sentenced to decades in prison.

Perhaps Putin is feeling more insecure and becoming more tyrannical toward the Russian people, toward visitors and even toward those who have left the country, Ghitis observed.

What started as an authoritarian leader who was eroding democratic norms looks to be morphing into a totalitarian dictator of the most dangerous kind  the frightened kind.

For more:

Sasha Vasilyuk: I grew up in Russia and Ukraine. Heres what I say, when people ask where Im from

Fareed Zakaria: Conflict is the new normal

Alabama ruling on embryos

According to Alabamas Chief Justice Tom Parker, the people of his state have adopted the view that 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 concurred in the state Supreme Courts February 16 ruling that frozen embryos are protected by the law as people, a finding that sent a chill through the IVF industry and rippled across the nation.

The irony in the Alabama courts decision is that more Americans who want to be parents will be unable to achieve that dream, wrote Mary Ziegler. The ruling is extraordinary not only in declaring personhood before birth but also in applying the idea to embryos that havent been implanted in the uterus. But the ruling is not just bizarre; its consequences may be profound.

If an embryo is a person, it can no longer be destroyed, donated for research or potentially even stored. Some abortion opponents argue that if embryos are persons, each one that is created must be implanted  and that would make even storing embryos for future use impermissible. If any of that comes to pass  and in Alabama, it likely will  that will transform how in vitro fertilization (IVF) works, and will mean a lower rate of success for Americans who already struggle to start a family.

Rebecca Mathews, an Alabama resident whose two children were conceived through IVF, took issue with the courts ruling and with the chief justices invocation of religion to explain his decision. Noting that she is a Christian, Mathews wrote, Instead of protecting life, the decision to equate frozen embryos with a living, breathing baby could end the practice of IVF and prevent millions of wanted and loved children from ever being created. In its zeal to uphold Christianity, the Alabama Supreme Court may have ended the dream of a family for millions of people who want nothing more than the chance to bring a baby into the world.

AT&T outage

For much of Thursday, AT&Ts wireless network suffered a nationwide outage. Fears that it resulted from a cyberattack were eventually dismissed by the company, which attributed the outage to an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network. But the incident highlighted how dependent Americans are on mobile access and why protecting network infrastructure is so crucial, wrote Bob Kolasky, a former Department of Homeland Security official who now works in the private sector.

Communications, such as those provided by AT&T, are one of the lifeline functions designated by the US federal government as essential to national security, economic competitiveness and community well-being. Without these functions, which include transportation, water and energy, critical systems start to fail, and an incident in one industry can become systemic across the whole ecosystem, Kolasky noted.

There needs to be transparent communications between government and corporate stakeholders about threats and vulnerabilities and anything that looks anomalous. There also needs to be proactive communications to the public about what is learned.

For more on technology:

Timothy Karr: Big tech companies are saying the right thing about fighting deepfakes. But will they?

A form of Navalny

When Trump finally got around to commenting on the death of Alexey Navalny, he put it in the context of his own legal woes, including his four indictments and a variety of civil cases. Citing the $355 million judgment imposed by a New York judge, Trump said it is a form of Navalny. Trump also said, We are turning into a Communist country in many ways.

But not all government action is proving harmful to Trump. The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved a merger between a blank check company and Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of Truth Social. If shareholders bless the move and the stock price holds up, Trumps stake in the company could be worth $4 billion.

If nothing else, wrote David Zurawik, the position Trump now finds himself in with Truth Social should remind media and political analysts to be careful about counting the former president out. Remember all the analyses that catalogued his loss of media reach after he was suspended by Twitter, Facebook and Instagram following the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection?

But today, Trump is as omnipresent on mainstream and social media as ever  and, in some ways, his Truth Social platform is part of a right-wing messaging machine larger than the one we saw in 2016 or 2020 in its ability to promote his presidential campaign, malign his opponents and pollute the media ecosystem with disinformation and lies. Beyond his followers, his Truth Social posts still multiply exponentially across the media landscape as they are reported on and analyzed.

For more:

Dean Obeidallah: Trump is going to have to sell a lot of sneakers to pay his judgments

Nick Anderson/Tribune Content Agency

Biden impeachment implodes

House Republicans are trying to find a way to sustain their impeachment investigation of President Joe Biden after the key witness has been indicted for making false statements to the FBI and creating false records.

As Dennis Aftergut wrote, Alexander Smirnovs testimony has been the heart of House Oversight Committee Republicans stumbling investigation into impeaching President Biden.  The Smirnov episode is Exhibit A in what happens when politicians grinding partisan axes make serious public charges without evidence against elected officials. That shameless behavior erodes citizens precious trust in government.

Prosecutors learn early that, in white-collar crimes, youd better have indisputable documents or witnesses whose testimony is thoroughly corroborated before seeking an indictment. Otherwise, you can get seriously burned in the backfire.

Dana Summer/Tribune Content Agency

The moon and Mars

Clay Jones

On Thursday, a commercial lander named Odysseus became the first US-made spacecraft in more than 52 years to land on the moon. Apollo 17, the last of its breed, put two astronauts on the moon in December 1972. They logged 19 miles on the lunar surface in an electric vehicle before returning to Earth.

NASA has ambitious plans to put humans back on the moon within three years. But it is also thinking far beyond the moon  the space agency put out a call for applications from people willing to live for a year in a 3D-printed habitat designed to mimic the future residence of astronauts on the surface of Mars.

One of the main goals of these missions is to study individual and crew dynamics, and to see how they perform under stress, wrote astronaut Leroy Chiao. Space may seem like a quiet and placid environment, but performing a busy schedule of experiments in close confines can indeed be stressful. And understanding how a crew reacts to the challenges of a deep space mission is the point of this exercise, to a large degree

One thing that kept us going on the ISS during long missions was that we were in frequent contact with friends and family on the ground. When I was there, even before live internet access was available on board, we would still get email synchronizations about three times during a 24-hour period.

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AND

Taylor Tomlinson

AFTER MIDNIGHT, airing Monday, January 22, 2024, with host Taylor Tomlinson. - Sonja Flemming/CBS

Taylor is a Millennial and, as Gene Seymour wrote, shes staking a claim on being a leading spokesperson for her generation. But shes not the Taylor youre probably thinking of.

Taylor Tomlinson is having what pop culture mavens would deem a moment, or Moment. She brings a radiant combination of empathy and raunch to audiences in desperate need of both, carrying the tradition of dirty comics who defined their own generations (from Lenny Bruce to George Carlin to Richard Pryor) and establishing on her own terms how another young, blonde female Taylor, being vulnerable and going blue, can revolutionize comedy.

In addition to Have It All, the third of her Netflix stand-up specials recorded at the end of a nationwide tour, she has debuted as host of CBSs After Midnight, or, as its officially titled, @fter midnight, which replaces the way-past-prime time slot that once belonged to The Late Late Show with James Corden, Seymour noted.

Its a smart show about dumb stuff on the Internet, and Tomlinson is right for it. Shes quick on her feet, knows her way around stuff like TikTok, and seems impervious to embarrassment from any quadrant of the digital universe. Why? Because her whole career up to this point has been about telling you all the bad stuff about her life before trolls or other pests get to it.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley reached a decision point after her loss in Januarys New Hampshire Republican primary. She could travel the path of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the Democratic presidential candidate who congenially yielded to the eventual party nominee in 2020. Or she could follow the road of Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Democratic presidential candidate who dogged the party nominee for months in 2016, bruising her, draining her resources and damaging, fatefully, her standing with the party base. Which would Haley choose?

She had waffled in New Hampshire, offering a convoluted message in a race in which Donald Trump, and Trumpism, are the paramount issue. Her recent, sharp attacks on Trump, and her vow to stay in the race even after her 20-point defeat by Trump in the South Carolina primary Saturday, suggest that she has achieved greater clarity. For now, shes opted to take the less hospitable road  more Bernie 16 than 20.

That could be very bad news for Trump.

Read more: Opinion: Why doesnt South Carolina love Nikki Haley?

In 2020, Joe Biden won about 87% of Sanders supporters in November, according to estimates by Vanderbilt University political scientist John Sides and two colleagues. In 2016, by contrast, only about 79% of Sanders supporters voted for Hillary Clinton in the general election. Worse, Sanders received a much larger share of votes in 2016  more than 4 in 10  than he did in 2020. So Clintons November shortfall was even more significant.

We found in 2016 that Sanders supporters had a less favorable view of Clinton as the campaign went on, Sides told me.

Read more: Opinion: Why Trumps Christian base will bet on him even if he goes wobbly on abortion

Every race involving Trump is sui generis. (White nationalist demagogues under multiple federal and state indictments are tough on standard political models.) But its not hard to imagine that a miniature version of Bernie-mentum may be taking hold in the 2024 GOP presidential race. Haley is giving anti-Trump Republicans, many of them women, a place to go. The question is whether she will also give enough of them a place to stay  even after Trump is the partys official nominee.

Shes not going to win the nomination. But shes going to pull in over 20% in most of the primaries that shes involved in, said Mike Madrid, a former political director of the California Republican Party who is an anti-Trump activist. If a sizable minority of those GOP voters refuse to support Trump in the general election, his path to victory is all but impossible. Hes got a very hard ceiling, Madrid said. If Haley can move that ceiling three or four points downward, thats devastating.

Read more: Column: Nikki Haley's slavery gaffe is a rare misstep from a good politician

Is that Haleys goal? Its hard to tell. Haley shuns the Never Trump label and casts herself only as a truth teller who has no fear of Trumps retribution and no desire to kiss the ring. Squeezed between the mutually loathing camps of MAGA and Never Trump, however, she has found a path of her own. She is joined there by a consistent minority of the primary electorate, a community of exiles that translates into political leverage that no Trump supplicant can muster. Its still possible that Haley could endorse Trump. But she would gain nothing, and lose much, by capitulating.

She may be the first Republican politician of this era to realize that, with Trump in this arena, she has no future, Madrid said. If Trump wins, the next nominee is either going to be Trump himself or his son or his daughter. Hes putting his daughter-in-law in charge of the Republican National Committee .

The longer Haley stays in, the more she becomes a rallying point for Republicans who do not wish to be ruled by a degenerate cult. And the more Republicans grow accustomed to opposing Trump, the more precarious his situation becomes. A wave of Democratic voters might be needed to swamp Trump. But only a trickle of Republicans, withholding their support, can achieve a similar result.

Trump has grown more authoritarian and vindictive, but he has not crushed the resistance  even within the GOP. Donors have ignored his threats and continued to fund Haley without genuine hope of victory. In Washington recently, while Haley was losing her home-state primary, pro-democracy conservatives gathered for the Principles First Summit, featuring a range of Never Trump luminaries. Last year, the conference drew about 400 attendees. This year, more than 700 registered. Former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney has given pro-democracy conservatives a backbone. Now Haley is giving them an electoral voice.

Faced with Haleys intransigence, a Trump campaign official told Semafors David Weigel that MAGAs march to victory would not be diverted by Haleys delusion. It would indeed be delusional for Haley to believe she can seize the Republican nomination for president. If the goal, however, is to destroy Donald Trump, and repel the political pathologies that he embodies, Haley appears to be on the right road.

Francis Wilkinson is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. @fdwilkinson

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.
Idaho losing out on Snake River dams

Any effort by any Idahoans to prevent restoration of the lower Snake River (via dam removal) is misguided, misinformed and visionless. Those four dams provide two things for some Idahoans: electricity and shipping from the Port of Lewiston, both of which can be replaced.

No Idahoans get irrigation water out of the lower Snake and the dams provide no flood control. Meanwhile, for most Idahoans, Americans at large, and especially Native Americans, the losses caused by those dams far outweigh the gains: gone are the social, cultural, economic and biological gifts of what was once among the most productive salmon, steelhead and lamprey runs on the planet. The system, including the POL, is funded, including subsidies, by us.

In essence, we have funded our own impoverishment, moreover, with no good reason. Because were picking up the tab, we should put our money to good use. Why not fund replacement of the services the dams provide so that we can have it both ways. Idahoans, please ask yourselves; What is my vision of Idaho for future generations? Does it include the health, wealth, beauty, resilience, sustainability, productivity and richness of a restored Columbia-Snake River/ocean ecosystem, or is it something much, much less?

David Cannamela, Boise

Liberty is at risk every day in Idaho

It is unfortunate that legislators have forgotten they are employees of the citizens who elected them and also pay their salaries and expenses. Instead, they have totally disregarded the will of the majority of the citizenship. As a result, we have one party that puts forth bills that restrict our voting rights, diminish the rights of women and discriminate against all non-white people. S

Some proposed bills are quite ridiculous and many turn out to be unconstitutional, which costs the taxpayers millions of dollars to defend and then lose. These supposed God-fearing Christians are hypocrites as they certainly do not follow the teachings of the Bible and work tirelessly to direct our way of life according to their personal/party agendas. In this State, we already feel the pain of one partys dictatorship.

The final insult comes in seeing Putins Puppet legislators and party leadership at the national level refusing to acknowledge his barbaric behavior and indirectly support/condone his war fanaticism by not providing needed support to Ukraine and other allies. It is disgraceful and one must remember living under a dictatorship results in loss of many freedoms for everyone except some chosen few.

Stephen Brown, Meridian

Not-so-good old days

Ah, the good old days. When men were men and women were completely dependent on them. It is not coincidental that so many institutions economically supporting women are being attacked: Libraries, schools, health care and child care for example. Good old days when women couldnt even get an education, credit card, get a loan or buy a home without the permission of a father, husband, brother or other male controller. When we could not leave an abusive home, get a divorce, make financial decisions or have any power. No wonder the GOP wants to control us again. Those were their good old days.

Sheila Robbins, Boise

Crapo should defend child tax credit

The House recently passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act by an overwhelming bipartisan vote that will expand the Child Tax Credit for low-income families, and now it must pass the Senate. Some senators, like Crapo, want to scale back the CTC provisions. This is unacceptable and could jeopardize the bills chances of becoming law.

Estimates are families making less than $60,000 could see their CTC increase an average of $900 per year. This will make it easier for millions of parents to pay the rent and put food on the table. The expansion doesnt increase unemployment, does not add to the deficit and does not give benefits to undocumented immigrants, despite false claims to the contrary.

The bill is not perfect, but its a good start. Some senators think this modest expansion is too generous. They want to cut back the CTC provisions in the bill, while leaving the tax breaks for corporations untouched.

Time is of the essence. I strongly urge Sen. Crapo to bring the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act to the floor and get it passed so Idaho families can get some much-needed help and relief  now.

Dawn Pierce, Boise

Labrador shouldnt partner with hate group

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador has decided to hire the Christian Nationalist Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) to defend the state in the U.S. Supreme Court from a Biden administration court challenge against Idahos abortion ban. ADF is an ideologically based extremist group, designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its support of discriminating against LGBTQ people and lying about homosexuality to advance its Christian nationalist agenda  all under the guise of religious liberty. By partnering with this discredited hate group, he destroys the credibility of his office and the state of Idaho.

Cay Marquart, Boise

Mask ban would be senseless

In the current session of the Idaho Legislature, numerous bills, flexing their power and control to promote divisiveness, ignorance, false science, undermining our public education and their Christian agenda have been introduced. The most current is HB493, which prohibits any state entities from requiring persons to wear a face covering for the purpose of slowing the spread of a contagion or infectious disease. The Idaho Constitution defines defending life and securing safety as inalienable rights of its citizens and that the government of the people is instituted to enact laws for their protection and benefit. The fact that contagions (germs) cause diseases, some deadly, was established in the 19th Century. As the result of massive legitimate scientific research, medical practitioners have worn masks to protect patients from the spread of respiratory germs for over a century. Enacting mandates to implement scientifically proven methods to slow the spread of a respiratory virus responsible for a worldwide pandemic definitely falls in the category of protection. Further, no one has a right to expose me to a germ that is killing over 3000 people a day in the United States, nor do I have the right to expose another person.

End of story.

Sharon Curtis, Moscow
(PORTLAND TRIBUNE)  Clackamas County commissioners decision to terminate an agreement to help provide social services in North Clackamas has attracted the attention of state legislators who are hopeful that school district and county officials are now working toward a solution.

State Rep. Janelle Bynum said that she called County Board Chair Tootie Smith and wasnt able to talk with Smith about the Wichita Center, which provides an array of services like a food bank and clothes closet to vulnerable residents in the community.

On Feb. 19, Smith emailed Bynum the parks districts frequently asked questions fact sheet on Wichita. Smiths email introduced the fact sheet by writing, I think there is a lot of misunderstanding, some of which is being repeated by members of the community.

OHA aims to rebuild trust after withholding alcohol tax report

In a follow-up interview with Pamplin Media Group, Bynum said she believes commissioners, not the school board members and over 100 citizens who have signed a petition against the termination, have a fundamental misunderstanding. Bynum, the chair of the House Committee on Economic Development who is currently running for Congress, said that its debatable as to whether Wichita is outside of the core parks and recreation mission, as the FAQs stated.

Regardless of whether the center is within the parks districts purview, Bynum sees commissioners as missing the point. Bynum said that county commissioners shouldnt be doing anything to destabilize services for residents experiencing family instability like homelessness, job loss or medical emergencies.

Read more at PortlandTribune.com

The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Fifteen years after it was launched, and at a cost of $106 million, Oregons new unemployment computer system is scheduled to start taking jobless claims early next month.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, helped the state get $80 million from the federal government in 2009 for the modernization of the computer system. He's been critical of how the state dragged its feet for more than a decade despite having the money for the work.

Eleven years after Oregon got the money and the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the state was still in the planning stages. The antiquated system was overwhelmed when hundreds of thousands of Oregonians were shuffled into the unemployment system as businesses shut down.

Oregon's unemployment system was hopelessly behind as the state's unemployment rate hit a record high of 14.2% in April 2020. Payments were delayed for weeks, months or years.

"No one should have to wait months for benefits like so many jobless workers did during the pandemic, Wyden said.

Some Oregonians had to get legal help to get their claims paid more than a year later, some spent thousands of dollars challenging the state as it tried to take back their unemployment payments, some were hopelessly stuck in limbo waiting for unemployment.

"While it would have been better to upgrade the systems before COVID hit, the state now has vital lessons learned from the pandemic that can be incorporated into its modernization efforts, putting OED in a better position for any future economic downturn," Wyden said in a statement.

Unemployment Insurance Division Director Lindsi Leahy says the new computer system  which the state has been testing for a year  is flexible, adaptable and more user-friendly for people making claims.

But it still wont be a perfect cure if an event similar to the pandemic occurs.

There are a lot of programs and situations that people can be in," Oregon Employment Department Director David Gerstenfeld said. "Its not always a simple 'Follow these three steps and it will work for everybody.' But the new system will be much more understandable."

Gerstenfeld said 40 additional staff have been hired to help during the transition, something managers learned from other states doing modernizations.

15-year timeline for Oregon to launch its unemployment system

The Oregon Employment Department was created in 1993. That state launched an unemployment computer system based on the COBOL programming language, which dated to the 1960s.

2009: The U.S. Department of Labor, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, gives Oregon $85 million to replace its current unemployment system.

August 2012: The office of Secretary of State Kate Brown releases an audit that finds numerous problems in the unemployment benefit computer system. The audit recommended security of the system should be improved.

October 2014: A security breach resulted in hackers accessing confidential records for more than 850,000 people.

2014: Oregon launches Cover Oregon, a healthcare marketplace that the state shut down after spending $240 million. In the wake of that, Oregon set up stage gates, requiring similar projects  such as the unemployment modernization  to go through extensive checks.

2015: Six years after receiving federal funds, the states employment department begins the modernization of the unemployment computer system by evaluating what other states had done and mapping out a process for Oregon to modernize its computers.

December 2015: The Oregon Secretary of States office releases another critical audit of the Employment Department. These computer programs are inflexible, poorly documented and difficult to maintain," the audit said. "Considering these factors, employment should take steps to replace them with more robust and maintainable computer code.

"There was a fair amount of preparation work that was going on, and part of it was the agency wanting to make sure that it wasnt essentially having the issues other states did when they modernized their unemployment insurance system," Gerstenfeld said.

Other states, such as Massachusetts, went millions of dollars over budget with their early modernization efforts and had major problems or fixes that still need.

2019: The Oregon Legislature creates a Paid Family Medical Leave program, to be administered by the Employment Department. It is intended to pay people to take care of a child, provide care for a family member who has a serious health condition or for a safe leave related to domestic violence, sexual assault or harassment.

March 14, 2020: Thirty-six cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Oregon as virus began taking hold in the Pacific Northwest. The state's unemployment rate was 3.7% and there were 4,269 unemployment claims that week.

March 23, 2020: Gov. Kate Brown issues a stay home executive order that required businesses that couldnt offer to-go services to close.

March 29, 2020: The federal government increased weekly unemployment payments by $600, eliminated the wait week, extended the weeks of benefits and gave unemployment to people who were self-employed.

The Oregon Department of Employment's computer system was unable to add those components immediately. Retired department staff to be brought back to add in coding for the additional programs.

April 4, 2020: A record 100 new COVID-19 cases were reported, and 62,788 initial unemployment claims were filed during this week.

May 14, 2020: The average wait time to talk with a department employee by phone was 216 minutes, up from less than five minutes in March prior to the pandemic.

May 30, 2020: Oregon lawmakers grill Oregon Employment Department director Kay Erickson about the failures of the department in getting people their benefits.

May 31, 2020: Erickson resigns under pressure. Brown names Gerstenfeld, who had been the director of the Paid Family Medical Leave program, as acting director.

July 2020: The Employment Department opens new call centers in Salem and Wilsonville to handle the influx in claims. The one in Wilsonville had nearly 500 employees.

September 2020: The state selects FAST Enterprises as the vendor for the Employment Department's modernization project.

December 2020: After a challenge by a competing vendor, FAST Enterprises was again chosen as to carry out the modernization.

By the end of 2020: 580,000 people in Oregon received nearly $7.5 billion in unemployment.

September 2021: The federal programs that expanded and extended benefits programs ran out of funding.

July 2022: The Secretary of States office releases an audit finding the Employment Department's published resources were not updated timely, and information could be confusing, conflicting and difficult to navigate.

September 2022: The Employment Department launches Frances Online for employers and part of Paid Leave Oregon. The system is named after former U.S. Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins.

January 2023: Employers and employees started paying into Paid Leave Oregon.

June 2023: Gov. Tina Kotek names Gerstenfeld as department director, and he is confirmed by the state legislature after being the acting director for more than three years.

Sept. 3, 2023: Paid Leave Oregon launches. Oregonians can receive 12 weeks of paid leave, if they qualify.

Feb. 1, 2024: About 44,000 people receive unemployment benefits and the unemployment rate is 3.7%.

February 28, 2024: At 5 p.m., the 40-year-old unemployment computer system will shut down, and the information from it will migrate to the new computer system. Neither claimants or employers will be able to file or check on information until the new system goes live.

March 4, 2024: The new unemployment system is scheduled to launch at 8 a.m. for claimants at frances.oregon.gov. Oregonians will be able to create a profile and make a weekly claim in the system that was initiated in 2009.

In addition to the original $85 million from the federal government, $20 million came from Paid Leave Oregon, grants from the Trade Adjustment Act, the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program and some flexible state funds.

Bill Poehler covers Marion and Polk County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon launching new unemployment computer system after delays
Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

Marty Hudson sees a 10-acre space under Interstate 4 as a key part of downtown Orlandos future.

The city of Orlando urban project manager said The Canopy, a proposed community park on the land under the interstate, represents a unique opportunity for the city. The property mostly has sat dormant, with city-owned parking spaces under it having closed in 2017 to make room for the I-4 Ultimate road construction.

Read: SpaceX plans to launch Falcon 9 rocket Sunday; When to look up

The roughly $30 million project will include up to 500 parking spaces, walking trails, bike paths, space for public gatherings and interactive art installations.

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.




GREEN BAY  About 100 community members gathered Saturday in support of former Green Bay School District Superintendent Claude Tiller, calling on the School Board to reinstate him.

Tiller resigned a week ago amid a School Board investigation into his comments on an Atlanta radio show earlier in February.

The leaders of three cultural nonprofits  Robin Scott of We All Rise: African American Resource Center, Amanda Garcia of Casa ALBA Melanie, and Said Hassan of COMSA  led a panel discussion on what went wrong with the School Board's process leading to Tiller's resignation and what reinstating him would do for the community.

The three nonprofits created a community action group, United Front for Social Change, to demand the School Board apologize and give Tiller his position back, saying his resignation was forced. The group wants to work with the board to bring Tiller back to the district.

A representative from Tiller's team told the Press-Gazette that he is open to the conversation of reconsidering his resignation.

Adrienne Berry, the host of the Atlanta talk radio show, was also part of the panel.

All Green Bay School Board members were invited to the community gathering along with the Green Bay School District's Deputy Superintendent Vicki Bayer. Only board member Andrew Becker attended. His seat is up for reelection April 2.

Tiller's comments didn't warrant resignation, advocates say

Tiller's comments did not warrant his resignation, according to Scott.

"Now that we have been able to see the video, I feel like everybody from our communities, we're trying to figure out where, why and what this led to," Scott said.

Tiller appeared on Berry's Feb. 6 radio show "REALationship Talk," and in their 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.

A Facebook Live video of the interview, obtained Wednesday by the Press-Gazette, is separate from the radio station's officially recorded interview. The Facebook Live video includes both on-air comments and conversations between Tiller and Berry during commercial breaks.

More: Radio show interview of former Green Bay School District Superintendent Claude Tiller released

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.

Everything happened too fast, Tiller was not given due process, and the community failed him, Scott said. From the date the community learned Tiller was under investigation to his resignation, it was five days.

Claude Tiller Jr., the superintendent of the Green Bay School District

Garcia said the district and School Board have set a very dangerous precedent with how Tiller's comments were handled, moving quickly before the video of his interview was released.

"We believe this is important because it's not just about one person of color," Garcia said. "There are so many professionals in this area, and this could happen to any one of us."

Hassan said this isn't just about Tiller but is about future generations as well.

"It's about more than us," he said. "It's bigger than us. It's our kids and generations to come. If we don't say anything about it, it's going to remain the same."

Atlanta radio host Dr. Adrienne says Tiller's comments were taken out of context

Berry, the host of the radio show Tiller was on, is a psychotherapist in Atlanta and has worked 27 years in education. She said his comments were taken out of context and they did not merit a resignation.

"If Dr. Tiller had been a white man, he would not be gone," Berry said.

She also said that just because he resigned, it doesn't mean it was not forced.

"I think that what happens is, people become uncomfortable when we start to have conversations about race, and so the immediate response is, 'We have to get rid of somebody,'" she said. "If you listen to the entire video, and things are not taken out of context, you can see the passion he has for this entire community."

When the board hired Tiller, it was saying change is needed, Berry said.

"You have to support him and give him what he needed to be successful," she said.

United Front for Social Change calling on community for support

The United Front for Social Change is calling on its allies, Scott said.

"That is what today is also about," she said. "It is for our white young people, our white elders .... to come to the front lines and to go with us to the board and lead the conversation."

"We need y'all to come out, and we need y'all to speak up," she continued.

A Change.org petition to reinstate Tiller has over 600 virtual signatures after only two days. Comments from community members on the petition echo many of the group's sentiments.

"This went too fast. Dr. Tiller was railroaded out on a witch hunt," James Rogers commented on the petition. "Dr. Tiller IS the change Green Bay School District needs. Listen to the families voices unified in support of Dr. Tiller. It is not too late for this School Board to apologize and do the right thing."

Jolanda Sallmann commented that: "Dr. Tiller has done remarkable work in Green Bay. His comments about needing teachers to represent the demographics of the students is accurate."

Board member Andrew Becker doesn't answer whether he will work to reinstate Tiller

Becker was the only board member who attended Saturday's gathering, despite all of them being invited. He said he was there to listen, but a community member asked if he supports them.

"I believe I do," he said. "I believe that I try to be an ally, and I believe there's a lot I don't know about how to be a good ally yet, but I believe that I do my best with everything."

He did not answer whether he will work to reinstate Tiller.

Board members have been largely quiet about Tiller's resignation and the investigation. No board members answered the Press-Gazette's questions about whether Tiller was granted a restorative justice opportunity for the "wicked witch" comment or whether his comments merited a resignation.

After the board voted to accept Tiller's resignation Feb. 17, most board members, including President Laura McCoy, quickly left the board room. Hassan said it was disrespectful that they didn't stay to talk with the over 50 community members there.

"I was considering they would at least have the courtesy to talk to me, but that was not the case," he said. "The question is, how can these people who are elected by the community represent us?"

Becker did stay behind to talk with community members at the Feb. 17 meeting.

School Board to meet Monday, discuss interim superintendent to temporarily replace Tiller.

The School Board is meeting in closed session Monday to discuss the contract and hiring of an interim superintendent. The interim leader is likely to be Deputy Superintendent Vicki Bayer.

She has been filing in for Tiller since he was placed on administrative leave Feb. 13. Bayer also served as the interim superintendent after the unexpected mid-year retirement of former Superintendent Stephen Murley in 2022. He was the superintendent before Tiller.

But for Scott and the United Front for Social Change, there is no need for Monday's meeting.

"We've already been given our superintendent," Scott said. "We want you to give him back."

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 Wausau Daily Herald: Community members call on Green Bay School Board to reinstate Claude Tiller
An individual kit for Ukrainian soldiers to be purchased as part of the campaign. Photo: LRT

The Radarom! fundraising campaign in Lithuania has raised 8.288 million to purchase Lithuanian-made equipment for Ukrainian soldiers.

Source: Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The fundraising campaign lasted for four weeks and was organised by LRT together with Blue/Yellow, Laisves TV, Stiprus kartu and journalist Rita Miliute.

The total amount raised by the campaign was announced after a charity concert on Saturday evening (24 February), the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The funds donated by the Lithuanian citizens, businesses and organisations will be used to purchase and deliver 1,115 kits for Ukrainian soldiers.

The kits, each worth 7,500 and consisting of a night vision monocular, a laser sight, and an individual anti-drone system, will help Ukrainian troops be better protected in their fight against Russian occupying forces.

The equipment to be supplied is manufactured in Lithuania by Brolis Semiconductors and NT Service firms.

This is the second such initiative by Radarom! Last year, on the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the campaign raised more than 14 million to purchase 17 tactical surveillance radars to help Ukraine monitor its airspace, as well as other equipment.

On 2 February, Lithuania handed over a batch of military aid to Ukraine, including remote detonation systems and ammunition for anti-tank grenade launchers, followed by a batch of winter military equipment and clothing.

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A woman in Texas is working to get her son back from Child Protective Services after officers reportedly took him without a court order.

Joslyn Sanders told Fox 4 News that her 2-year-old son, Josiah, was taken into the custody of CPS last December right after she took him to the hospital.

Sanders said she took Josiah to a childrens hospital in Dallas after he developed a rash on his foot that started to swell. She believed the rash formed due to a reaction from a new laundry detergent she used.

Joslyn Sanders is fighting to get her 2-year-old son, Josiah, back from Child Protective Services after he was reportedly taken without a court order. (Photo: Instagram/@parisskyy_)

A doctor recommended she give Josiah a medicine called clindamycin, but she told Fox 4 News she wasnt comfortable with administering that antibiotic since it is reserved for more severe infections.

She left the hospital against medical advice and decided to take Josiah to a pediatrician.

Despite medical records from that hospital visit stating there was no indication of child abuse or negligence, CPS officers and police came to Sanders apartment in the Dallas suburb of Corinth the day after the visit and took Josiah.

CPS told Sanders that they were responding to a report from the hospital that stated Josiah was malnourished.

However, Corinth Police Chief Jerry Garner told Fox 4 News that police officers didnt see any signs of malnourishment.

They did not observe anything that would indicate the child was in imminent danger. They observed the child would eat, and drink. They saw a rash, but they did not see an emergency, Garner said. They did not see anything obvious to indicate the child was malnourished.

A court affidavit filed by a CPS worker and obtained by Fox 4 News painted a slightly different picture.

The child had a skin infection and a nutritional deficiency. Mother Joslyn Sanders provided no explanation about the child being malnourished, the affidavit stated. The doctor said the child is at severe risk of becoming septic due to serious infection.

According to Sanders, Josiah was already receiving treatment for feeding difficulties through his nutrition therapist and was being given an alternate antibiotic from his primary care provider.

While Sanders said she never received a court order, a CPS spokeswoman said the agency had permission from a judge to take Josiah.

I think being instructed to take the child into custody without a court order, without a directive from a judge would be unusual, Garner said.

Sanders has a court hearing this week to argue her case. She launched a GoFundMe fundraiser with a goal of $25,000 to cover fees for the legal battle ahead to get CPS to remand custody of Josiah to her. Nearly $5,000 in donations have been sent so far.

Josiah was scheduled to be sent from Dallas Childrens Hospital to a foster home on Feb. 20, Fox 4 reported.

I find myself in a situation I never imagined Id be in  fighting to bring my son back home after an unjust and illegal removal by Denton County Child Protective Services (CPS). This action was not only devastating but also completely unwarranted, Sanders wrote on the GoFundMe page. Despite my efforts to provide a loving and safe environment for my child, we were torn apart by a system that failed to understand our situation.

Sanders is popular on Instagram where shes amassed nearly 415,000 followers on her page. Some of her most recent posts showcase her recovery and rehabilitation process after she suffered paralysis from the waist down when she was in high school, according to Fox 4 News. Her father told the outlet he witnessed her overcome big odds by giving birth to Josiah naturally.

Paralyzed Mom Devastated After Son Taken By Child Protective Services Even Though Hospital Records Show No Signs of Child Abuse or Negligence
The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died unexpectedly in prison nine days ago, was handed to his mother on Saturday in the Arctic city of Salekhard, his spokeswoman said, though it was unclear what will happen next to the body.

Navalny's family and supporters have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having him killed, an accusation that the Kremlin has rejected. He survived a poisoning attempt in 2020 and years of harsh treatment in prison, including long spells in solitary confinement.

Navalny's team said on X on Thursday that his death certificate says he died of natural causes.

In a video recorded before the release of the body, Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya accused "demonic" Putin of "torturing" the corpse of a political opponent.

Navalny's allies urged supporters "not to relax" and his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, wrote on X there was no certainty that Russian authorities would let relatives hold a funeral "the way the family wants and the way Alexei deserves."

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies, in a statement pledging support for Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiyy on the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine, urged Russia to fully clarify the circumstances around Navalny's death and to free "all unjustly detained prisoners".

"We will hold those culpable for Navalny's death accountable, including by continuing to impose restrictive measures in response to human rights violations and abuses in Russia and taking other actions," the G7 added.

In her six-minute video published on YouTube, Navalnaya said she would continue the fight against Putin's regime, questioned the president's faith, and accused him of holding her husband's body "hostage".

On Friday Navalny's mother Lyudmila said Russian investigators were refusing to release his body from a morgue in Salekhard until she agreed to lay him to rest without a public funeral.

She said an official had told her that she should agree to their demands, as Navalny's body was already decomposing.

On Saturday, Navalny aides said the authorities had threatened to bury him in the remote prison colony where he died unless his family agreed to their conditions.

Since returning to the Russian presidency in 2012, Putin has positioned himself as a defender of traditional, conservative values against what he portrays as corrosive Western liberalism.

He has also trumpeted his closeness to Russia's Orthodox Church, regularly appearing at services around religious festivals, and speaking of his personal faith.

Navalnaya said her husband had been a devout Christian who attended church and fasted for Lent even while in prison. She said his political activism had been inspired by Christian values. (Reuters)
France's Eiffel Tower that had been closed for six days by a strike will reopen Sunday after the monument's management announced a deal had been struck with unions.



The stoppage since Monday at one of the world's best-known tourist sites was the second within two months in protest at what unions say was insufficient investment.

The tower's operator SETE said it had reached agreement with the unions on Saturday "under which the parties will regularly monitor the company's business model, investment in works and revenue through a body that will meet every six months".

With an aim to balance its books by 2025, both sides also agreed to see an investment of some 380 million up to 2031 toward works and maintenance of the tower, the statement said.

The unions have accused city hall of charging the Eiffel Tower's operator of a leasing fee that is too high, sapping funds for necessary maintenance work.

On Thursday, SETE promised new measures to address these concerns, including hiking the price of tickets by 20 percent.

A ticket now costs 29.40 euros ($31) for an adult to take the lift to the summit, while those who climb up partway by stairs pay a little less.

SETE has since received a recapitalisation of 60 million, which unions say is insufficient given that major maintenance work is needed, including a fresh paint job.

(with AFP)



Read more on RFI English



Read also:

Rusting Eiffel Tower in worrying state of repair, reports warn

Paris Olympics medals to include metal from Eiffel Tower

How Gustave Eiffels Statue of Liberty contribution cemented France-US relations
(NEXSTAR)  The U.S.s national parks saw yet another year of increased visitation, despite severe weather at many of them, continuing a trend that started during the pandemic.

The National Park Service released 2023 visitation figures for the 400 sites that track visitors on Thursday. Across them, 325.5 million recreation visits were recorded last year. Thats up 13 million over 2022 but about 2 million shy of 2019s total.

Almost two dozen parks (the broad term to describe all NPS sites, even if they arent a park) broke visitation records  that includes some you may have yet to visit.

Why do some national parks charge an entrance fee?

From Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Park in Hawaii to Congaree National Park in South Carolina, parks are attracting more visitors each year to learn about our shared history, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a news release. Our national parks tell our shared American story. Im glad visitors are finding hidden gems, exploring in the off-season and finding new ways to have a great time in our national parks.

Those that broke previous visitation records include Joshua Tree and Dry Tortugas, both national parks, as well as these 18 sites:

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Park Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Memorial Congaree National Park Keweenaw National Historic Park Minidoka National Historic Site Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Mojave National Preserve Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Lincoln Memorial New River Gorge National Park & Preserve Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Longfellow House Washingtons Headquarters National Historic Site Nez Perce National Historic Park John Muir National Historic Site Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park Ninety Six National Historic Site

While more than 70 sites received over 1 million visits in 2023, there is, of course, only one that had the most visits: Blue Ridge Parkway.

More than 16.7 million recreation visits were reported at the park, which features a series of forested lands connected by a 469-mile stretch of roadway traipsing through the Appalachian Highlands of Virginia into North Carolinas western tip. Thats roughly 1 million more visits than Blue Ridge Parkway saw in 2022, and almost 2 million more visits than the next site, the Golden Gate National Recreational Area.

Blue Ridge Parkway may not be the first national park that comes to your mind when you envision them, but it has consistently been among the most frequented for the last two decades. The site saw its most visits in 2002 with more than 21 million guests. Since then, 2014 is the only year visitation has dipped below 14 million for the parkway. Between 2011 and 2023, Blue Ridge Parkway was the most visited eight times  the Golden Gate National Recreation Area topped the list during the five other years.

Man whose foot was found in Yellowstone pool left poems, $447 in cash in car: investigators

Unsurprisingly, Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited national park on record, according to NPS data. And if that isnt enough, the park is the longest road planned as a single unit in the U.S., according to NPS.

If you follow the parkway to its southernmost end it will bring you to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the third-most visited national park in 2023.

Great Smoky Mountains is the only site with national park in its title that landed among the 10 most-visited NPS sites in 2023. That full list is:

Blue Ridge Parkway: 16.7 million visits Golden Gate National Recreational Area: 14.9 million visits Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 13.3 million visits Gateway National Recreational Area: 8.7 million visits Gulf Islands National Seashore: 8.3 million visits Lincoln Memorial: 8.1 million visits George Washington Memorial Parkway: 7.4 million visits Natchez Trace Parkway: 6.8 million visits Lake Mead National Recreational Area: 5.8 million visits Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: 5.2 million visits

When ranked based on the park unit type, the NPS reports 28% of its total visits were to true national parks, while 16% were to national recreation areas. You can view the NPSs full data here, but its worth noting that the data is preliminary.

The agency said that it saw more visits in the spring and fall than in years past, and that the recent trend in recreation visits suggests a return to more typical visitation patterns post-pandemic.

Hoping to check out a new national park (or parkway, or recreational area, or seashore, or some other site type) this year? There are five days left this year in which the NPS will waive entrance fees at sites that would otherwise have one.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(NEXSTAR)  The U.S.s national parks saw yet another year of increased visitation, despite severe weather at many of them, continuing a trend that started during the pandemic.

The National Park Service released 2023 visitation figures for the 400 sites that track visitors on Thursday. Across them, 325.5 million recreation visits were recorded last year. Thats up 13 million over 2022 but about 2 million shy of 2019s total.

Almost two dozen parks (the broad term to describe all NPS sites, even if they arent a park) broke visitation records  that includes some you may have yet to visit.

Why do some national parks charge an entrance fee?

From Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Park in Hawaii to Congaree National Park in South Carolina, parks are attracting more visitors each year to learn about our shared history, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a news release. Our national parks tell our shared American story. Im glad visitors are finding hidden gems, exploring in the off-season and finding new ways to have a great time in our national parks.

Those that broke previous visitation records include Joshua Tree and Dry Tortugas, both national parks, as well as these 18 sites:

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Park Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Memorial Congaree National Park Keweenaw National Historic Park Minidoka National Historic Site Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Mojave National Preserve Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Lincoln Memorial New River Gorge National Park & Preserve Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Longfellow House Washingtons Headquarters National Historic Site Nez Perce National Historic Park John Muir National Historic Site Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park Ninety Six National Historic Site

While more than 70 sites received over 1 million visits in 2023, there is, of course, only one that had the most visits: Blue Ridge Parkway.

More than 16.7 million recreation visits were reported at the park, which features a series of forested lands connected by a 469-mile stretch of roadway traipsing through the Appalachian Highlands of Virginia into North Carolinas western tip. Thats roughly 1 million more visits than Blue Ridge Parkway saw in 2022, and almost 2 million more visits than the next site, the Golden Gate National Recreational Area.

Blue Ridge Parkway may not be the first national park that comes to your mind when you envision them, but it has consistently been among the most frequented for the last two decades. The site saw its most visits in 2002 with more than 21 million guests. Since then, 2014 is the only year visitation has dipped below 14 million for the parkway. Between 2011 and 2023, Blue Ridge Parkway was the most visited eight times  the Golden Gate National Recreation Area topped the list during the five other years.

Man whose foot was found in Yellowstone pool left poems, $447 in cash in car: investigators

Unsurprisingly, Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited national park on record, according to NPS data. And if that isnt enough, the park is the longest road planned as a single unit in the U.S., according to NPS.

If you follow the parkway to its southernmost end it will bring you to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the third-most visited national park in 2023.

Great Smoky Mountains is the only site with national park in its title that landed among the 10 most-visited NPS sites in 2023. That full list is:

Blue Ridge Parkway: 16.7 million visits Golden Gate National Recreational Area: 14.9 million visits Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 13.3 million visits Gateway National Recreational Area: 8.7 million visits Gulf Islands National Seashore: 8.3 million visits Lincoln Memorial: 8.1 million visits George Washington Memorial Parkway: 7.4 million visits Natchez Trace Parkway: 6.8 million visits Lake Mead National Recreational Area: 5.8 million visits Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: 5.2 million visits

When ranked based on the park unit type, the NPS reports 28% of its total visits were to true national parks, while 16% were to national recreation areas. You can view the NPSs full data here, but its worth noting that the data is preliminary.

The agency said that it saw more visits in the spring and fall than in years past, and that the recent trend in recreation visits suggests a return to more typical visitation patterns post-pandemic.

Hoping to check out a new national park (or parkway, or recreational area, or seashore, or some other site type) this year? There are five days left this year in which the NPS will waive entrance fees at sites that would otherwise have one.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Parts of the Midwest are at risk of experiencing severe weather this week, with the possibility of scattered thunderstorms and some tornadoes starting Tuesday, forecasters said Sunday.

Parts of the Ozarks into the mid Mississippi Valley and southwestern Great Lakes could experience scattered strong to severe thunderstorms, along with wind damage, hail and possible tornadoes starting late Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a Sunday discussion. This weather could stretch into Tuesday night, forecasters added.

Some of the cities that could be impacted by this weather include Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Fort Wayne, Ind., the Weather Service predicted.

The weather is expected to follow a cross-country storm making its way through the West on Sunday, FOX Weather reported. The storm is expected to bring heavy mountain snow and potential blizzard conditions before moving east to the Midwest by Tuesday, FOX Weather added.

Our nations midsection is going to be on tap to deal with the severe weather as this cross-country storm works its way eastward, FOX Weather meteorologist Kendall Smith said Sunday.

FOX Weather estimated more than 48 million people fall under this risk of severe weather.

The Weather Channels lead meteorologist, Linda Lam, on Sunday noted the details and specific risks of the storm are expected to change in the coming days.

FOX Weather reported the severe weather threat was downgraded from earlier in the weekend, when forecasters initially predicted the threat to stretch into Wednesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG)  A Tennessee pastor was rushed to the hospital after reportedly being shot in the face while trying to stop an alleged car theft Sunday morning.

Police in Memphis say they were called to a shooting outside New Zionfield Baptist Church Sunday shortly after 9 a.m. local time. A man was found and taken to an area hospital in critical condition.

A member of the church identified the man as Clemmie Livingston, Jr., a 70-year-old pastor at New Zionfield Baptist. Livingston was reportedly shot while attempting to stop two men from stealing the car of a Sunday school teacher.

9 arrested after $50K in Nike shoes stolen from boxcar

Livingston was scheduled to preach during service on Sunday, his 17-year-old grandson, Kavion Woodin, told Nexstars WREG. The sermon titled Another Chance, something he says his grandfather often extended to others.

Somebody tried to take one of the church members cars, and my granddaddy stepped up, said Woodin. He feared no evil. He came out the church to protect a car because he feared no evil.

Woodin says his grandfather was shot in the mouth.

He was a man of giving, willingness, kindness, compassion, and he was a man that never did wrong towards nobody, Woodin said, adding that his family is pleading with the community to bring an end to senseless gun violence.

Honestly, Im sick and tired of losing people to gun violence and cars. Ive lost seven friends due to gun violence. Ive lost two friends to cars, and Im nothing but 17, said Wooden. Its time to stop the violence. Its time to stop the robbing, stop the killing. Its time to put the guns down.

Police said Livingston is in stable condition at this time, and theyre searching for two suspects who were wearing hoodies at the time of the shooting. The suspects fled the scene in a silver 2019 Chevrolet Corvette, according to authorities.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
(NEXSTAR)  How the IRS treats such payment apps as Venmo or Cash App has been anything but straightforward in recent years, and some taxpayers may be wondering what they need to declare in 2024.

For most people, how they use the app will be the determining factor.

In short, if you received business income through an app then report it to the IRS, but taxpayers shouldnt expect a 1099-K if a friend reimbursed them for dinner or even $2,000 for a Taylor Swift ticket last summer, tax attorney Adam Brewer, of AB Tax Law, told Nexstar.

For the many small business owners and side hustlers who use payment apps as part of their livelihood, however, the answer is a bit more complicated.

Why you may owe taxes this year, according to a tax expert

Some payment app users were bracing for the IRS to roll out new rules mandating that sales of goods or services over $600 would have to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service using Form 1099-K.

Then, in late 2023, the IRS announced that the $600 rule would be delayed, leaving the old threshold of at least 200 transactions worth more than $20,000 when taxpayers file in 2024. The IRS said the move was made to reduce confusion.

At the state level, reporting thresholds can be substantially lower, according to Venmo:

Maryland (MD):  $600

Massachusetts (MA):  $600

Vermont (VT):  $600

Virginia (VA):  $600

Illinois (IL): > $1,000 and four-plus separate transactions

For tax year 2024, the IRS will transition to a threshold of $5,000 with the $600 limit going into effect the following year, meaning that business transactions that surpass $600 will trigger the 1099-K form, which Venmo, Paypal, Cash App and others will create.

Unfortunately, paying taxes on payment app business income isnt tied solely to the 1099-K form.

If you receive business income through Venmo or Cash App then you always have a requirement to report that income whether you receive a Form 1099-K or not, Brewer said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahan during a trial.

Montanans have always been serious about governing themselves in the way they see fit. While we have a representative governmentthat is, one in which we elect officials to represent, lead and act on our behalf in governingMontanans have never ceded complete control over our lives, liberty and property to the political branches of the state government. We citizens retain the final say.

To that end, the first two sections of Article II of our Constitution make clear that:

All political power is vested in and derived from the people. All government of right originates with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole. Article II, section 1; and that

The people have the exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent state. They may alter or abolish the constitution and form of government whenever they deem it necessary. Article II, section 2.

For these reasons, we reserved unto ourselves the power of direct law-making. This power is not to be confused with other rights in Article II. Rather, we kept or held back this power when our Constitution was written. It is ours to exercise when we want to make laws ourselves, repeal laws that the legislature has made, or amend our Constitution.

To implement this power of direct law-making we adopted, among other provisions, Article III Sections 4 and 5: The former provides that The people may enact laws by initiative on all matters except appropriations of money and local or special laws. The latter provides that: The people may approve or reject by referendum any act of the legislature except an appropriation of money.

Each of these sections contains some straight-forward requirements about the number of electors that must sign a citizen initiative or referendum petition to place the proposal on the ballot, and a requirement as to the number of legislative districts that must be represented by the signers. Article XIV, Sections 2 and 9 contain similar provisions empowering us with the ability to call a constitutional convention and to amend our Constitution.

But the citizens initiative and referendum process is not favored by the Legislative and the Executive branches. These political branches want their representative power of law making to be exclusive. They dont like the idea of direct lawmaking by us, because ours is a power over which they have virtually no control.

Indeed, the last two sessions of the legislature and the governor enacted laws to make the citizens initiative and referendum process too cumbersome, complicated and expensive for us to use. Theyve saddled the exercise of our retained power with infringements such as, for example, committee reviews, thumbs up or down recommendations, substantive legal by review the Attorney General, determination of whether the proposal will harm business interests, and a $3,700 fee just to file a petition.

Thankfully, a diverse group of concerned Montanans filed suit to claw back our retained power from this legislative/executive power-grab. And, on Feb. 5, Helena District Judge Mike Menahan entered his order for partial summary judgment in favor of these citizen plaintiffs.

Among other things the court ruled that the provision permitting the Attorney General to substantively review proposed ballot issues is unconstitutional. Menahan followed Montana jurisprudential law that reposes in Montanas courts the exclusive power to determine whether a proposed ballot issue is substantively constitutional or not.

The court also ruled that the $3,700 filing fee is unconstitutionalupholding the obvious: The Constitution itself does not grant the legislature or executive the power to charge us a fee for exercising our power of direct law-making that we retained when the Constitution was written.

We won this battle; but this fight is far from over.

The post The people win a big one appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Ukrainian flags were on display during a rally commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine-Russia war, at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Two years ago, I was in Southern California when I got the news that Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It was my daughters 5th birthday and on the docket were a visit to the zoo, cake with cousins and a long-awaited trip to Disneyland the next day. While physically I was with my children, my mind was at home in Kyiv, Ukraine  with my parents.

There, the panic had begun within hours of Vladimir Putins announcement of a special military operation. People were scrambling to find transportation to evacuate, highways westward jammed with traffic. Horror stories spread quickly and nobody knew what would happen next. I wrote about evacuating my family from Ukraine for Deseret in March of 2022.

The past two years became a process of learning how to live with grief and uncertainty, and how to inhabit two realities at once: one of my life stateside  safe, quiet, predictable  and one in which missiles and shrapnel are destroying homes every day, killing soldiers and children, while the end of the war in my homeland seems to grow increasingly distant.

More than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in the war, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and about 70,000 soldiers have been killed, according to U.S. officials. Since February of 2022, more than 6 million people have left the country and nearly 3.67 million are internally displaced. And its estimated that 83,000 Russian soldiers died in the war, according to new data from two independent Russian media outlets.

Today, two years since the invasion and 10 years since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the war has stalled due to the shortage of artillery ammunition, with Ukraine recently losing Avdiivka last week, an industrial city in the Donetsk region.

And while the path forward as the war drags on is uncertain, Ukrainians themselves have never been more sure of who they are.

Despite the recent disappointments on the battlefield, the unity and sense of national identity that were forged at the expense of tragedy and lives have not waned. A recent study from the Ministry of Culture asked 3,200 Ukrainians from several regions to rank their Ukrainian consciousness  how Ukrainian they felt  regardless of where they were born (most identified as Ukrainian citizens). The study found in two years of the war people self-identify more strongly as Ukrainians, and cited deepened interest in the countrys history and culture. The common cultural heritage fueled the emotional resolve to resist the occupants, the study said.

Related

I, too, have grown closer to my Ukrainian culture and language since the invasion by reading poetry, learning new vocabulary and discovering Ukrainian music. In the face of the looming threat of losing my native culture, clinging to it feels urgent and necessary.

This week, as the world marked the second anniversary of the invasion, Ukrainians on Feb. 21 celebrated International Mother Language Day, a UNESCO holiday that found particular resonance with Ukrainians this year. In honor of the occasion, I had a chance to speak about my efforts to return to my native Ukrainian language with students at Odesa National University in a virtual event  which had to be rescheduled due to a prolonged air raid.

Growing up in the 1990s in Kyiv, I spoke Russian at home with my family, even though Ukrainian was the dominant language at my school and in more formal settings. Making an intentional effort to speak Ukrainian has felt like tapping into the part of my Ukrainian identity thats often been overshadowed by my American one, since I have lived in the U.S. for over 20 years. As I listened to the Ukrainian language and literature professors from Odesa National University, I was struck by their earnest commitment to the language that, unlike me, they use and teach every day. For them too, Ukrainian was no longer just a language of communication, but a way of fighting this war.

One professor spoke about the disagreements in 1917 over whether Russian or Ukrainian should be the language of Orthodox church services and how language separatism led to a religious one. Literature expert Tetyana Shevchenko spoke about drawing strength in times of despair from the poetry of Taras Shevchenko (no relation), a national bard of Ukraine who spent half of his life in serfdom under the Russian empire. She read a few lines from his poem about casting out an adversary from the Ukrainian land.

I trust his words, and I know this is exactly how its going to be, she said. Sometimes, when I feel lost, I start reading Shevchenko; his words help me believe in the freedom that I know will come.

Philologist Larysa Shevchuk invited the students to raise their future children speaking Ukrainian. Were in the existential battle for the survival of our nation and our language, she said. The idea that language is the symbol of Ukrainian defiance and the means all Ukrainians can employ to fight the war resonated with me.

The celebration of my daughters birthday  she turned 7 this year and the day of the full-scale invasion will always remain mutual reminders of one another, and polar opposites in the feelings they stir up. My daughters brightness helps me sustain hope that a peaceful future will come to Ukraine. But I also know the costs we will pay to get there.
The NYPD has released surveillance images of more suspects wanted for a bloody brawl and stabbing outside a Times Square migrant shelter as additional details on the clash emerged in court.

A half dozen people have already been arrested for last weeks melee on 42nd Street near Eighth Avenue. that left a 17-year-old boy stabbed in the back. More than a dozen others involved in the brawl are still being sought by police.

The clash occurred steps from the Candler Building, a vacant office tower-turned-migrant shelter. Police have so far arrested Michael Colome, 22, of Queens, and five teenage boys in connection with the 5:30 p.m. Thursday attack.

Colome was charged with gang assault, assault and weapons possession. He was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday and remains held on Rikers Island on $100,000 bond.

He was arrested with three 16-year-old boys and two 14-year-old boys, who are facing the same charges.

Prosecutors described the attack as a 23-on-one assault on the teen that was part of an ongoing violent dispute between two rival groups.

One of the combatants pulled out a knife and chased about a dozen others down Eighth Ave., witnesses told the New York Daily News. Cops patrolling the area on foot saw the commotion and ran after the person with the knife.

Colome and others covered their faces with masks and charged at the teen when they saw an opportunity, according to prosecutors. The group chased the teen down twice and he was stabbed during the first of those confrontations, prosecutors said.

For his part, Colome wielded a broomstick during the second confrontation, beating the teen so badly the stick broke in half, prosecutors said. He also repeatedly punched the teen during the lopsided match-up, according to a criminal complaint.

The teen victim, who is believed to be a migrant, was punched and kicked before being stabbed in the lower back by his attackers. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. The attackers ran off into the Times Square subway station.

The teen suffered a punctured and collapsed lung, prosecutors said.

Colome, who has no criminal record, came to the U.S. about three years ago, prosecutors said. His immigration status was not immediately known.

Over the weekend, the NYPD released surveillance footage of multiple suspects still on the loose and asked the publics help identifying them and tracking them down.

Anyone with information on the latest suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Police released several other photos from the attack Saturday.

The Times Square migrant shelter became the backdrop of a contentious caught-on-video attack on NYPD officers that drew national media coverage in January. The incident, along with photos of one of the migrants later flipping off news cameras outside of court, sparked a political firestorm.

Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg drew sharp criticism after prosecutors did not initially seek bail for the suspects first charged in the assault.

Seven of the 11 asylum seekers suspected of being involved in that attack have since been indicted on a range of charges carrying significant prison time. Body camera footage contradicts the police narrative of what sparked the incident.

_____
BRIGHTON  Cassy Kemmerling, 33, has always been fascinated with true crime.

The Howell native decided to start a podcast using that curiosity to raise awareness about Michigans unsolved cases.

Cold Cases with Cassy is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon. Kemmerling launched the podcast last October.

Her first episode was about Kimberly Louiselle, a 16-year-old who disappeared in March 1982. Her body was found a month later in the Island Lake Recreation Area in Green Oak Township. Police last September used DNA evidence to identify the suspect in the murder, Charles David Shaw  according to Hometown Life.

Shaw was also identified in February 2023 as the suspect in the 1983 murder of Christina Castiglione, a 19-year-old from Redford. Shaw died in November 1983 of asphyxiation, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Office.

Brighton resident Cassy Kemmerling has launched a true crime podcast focused on Michigan cold cases.

Kemmerling conducted research on Louiselle's case before it was solved and was encouraged by Michigan State Police Det./Sgt. Larry Rothman to continue with an episode.

Kemmerling most recently released an episode about Mary Alice Ellicott, a 29-year-old murdered in 1981 after she was last seen at the Polar Bear Bar in Saline, according to The Adrian Daily Telegram.

The research has been challenging, Kemmerling said. She visits libraries and the internet, and reaches out to those involved.

You lose every opportunity you dont try to take, Kemmerling said. I try my best to reach out to as many people as I can. Its a lot of work, but I do enjoy the work.

Kemmerling is currently looking into the cold cases of Ruth Anne Postif and Paige Renkoski. Postif, a 17-year-old from Dearborn, disappeared in October 1973, according to the Detroit Free Press. She was found dead on a county road northeast of Ypsilanti.

Renkoski, 30, disappeared in May 1990 and was last seen talking to a man on the shoulder of westbound I-96 east of the Fowlerville exit, according to the Lansing State Journal.

Kemmerling thanked law enforcement for their work on cold cases, noting these types of cases are difficult for the victims family, friends and community.

Its a lot to think about and its sad to know these families dont have answers, Kemmerling said.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

Kemmerling, who lives in Brighton, has received support from her family. Her father, William Kotynski, is retired from the Michigan State Police. Her sister, Stephanie Sredzinski, assists with interviews. Kemmerling has also received positive reviews from listeners of the initial episodes.

"Im proud of where I am, Kemmerling said.

Kemmerling has partnered with the Livingston County Animal Shelter, concluding episodes with a special shoutout for animals to find homes.

Cold Cases with Cassy can be found on Instagram: @cold_cases_with_cassy.

 Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: New podcast raises awareness about Michigan's cold cases
The U.S. and Britain struck 18 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that set fire to a cargo vessel.

According to U.S. officials, American and British fighter jets hit sites in eight locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and air defense systems. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to provide early details of an ongoing military operation.

This is the fourth time that the U.S. and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since Jan. 12. But the U.S. has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.

The U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea, officials said.

The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways, said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks.

The Houthis denounced the US-British aggression and vowed to keep up its military operation in response. The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that they will confront the US-British escalation with more qualitative military operations against all hostile targets in the Red and Arabian Seas in defense of our country, our people and our nation, it said in a statement.

The U.S., U.K., and other allies said in a statement the necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across 8 locations in Yemen that also included underground storage facilities, radar and a helicopter.

U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said RAF Typhoon jets engaged in precision strikes aimed at degrading Houthi drones and launchers. Shapps said it came after severe Houthi attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including against the British-owned MV Islander and the MV Rubymar, which forced the crew to abandon ship. Its the fourth time Britain has joined in the U.S.-led strikes.

The strikes have support from the wider coalition, which includes Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the U.S. wont tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping. But the counterattacks havent appeared to diminish the Houthis campaign against shipping in the region, which the militants say is over Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but we will once again reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats, said the Saturday statement.

The Houthis have launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19, and the pace has picked up in recent days.

Weve certainly seen in the past 48, 72 hours an increase in attacks from the Houthis, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a briefing Thursday. And she acknowledged that the Houthis have not been deterred.

We never said weve wiped off the map all of their capabilities, she told reporters. We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal. They are very capable. They have sophisticated weapons, and thats because they continue to get them from Iran.

There have been at least 32 U.S. strikes in Yemen over the past month and a half; a few were conducted with allied involvement. In addition, U.S. warships have taken out dozens of incoming missiles, rockets and drones targeting commercial and other Navy vessels.

Earlier Saturday, the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden, U.S. Central Command said, adding that the missile was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a U.S.-Flagged, owned, and operated chemical and oil tanker.

The U.S. attacks on the Houthis have targeted more than 120 launchers, more than 10 surface-to-air-missiles, 40 storage and support building, 15 drone storage building, more than 20 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles, several underground storage areas and a few other facilities.

The rebels supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced this past week an escalation in sea operations conducted by his forces as part of what they describe as a pressure campaign to end Israels war on Hamas.

But while the group says the attacks are aimed at stopping that war, the Houthis' targets have grown more random, endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments traveling from Asia and the Middle East onward to Europe.

During normal operations, about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time. While the Houthi attacks have only actually struck a small number of vessels, the persistent targeting and near misses that have been shot down by the U.S. and allies have prompted shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea.

Instead, they have sent them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope  a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage. The threats also have led the U.S. and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel between the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

In Thursdays attack in the Gulf of Aden, the Houthis fired two missiles at a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander, according to Central Command said. A European naval force in the region said the attack sparked a fire and wounded a sailor on board the vessel, though the ship continued on its way.

Central Command launched attacks on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Friday, destroying seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that the military said were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.

Central Command also said Saturday that a Houthi attack on a Belize-flagged ship on Feb. 18 caused an 18-mile (29-kilometer) oil slick and the. military warned of the danger of a spill from the vessels cargo of fertilizer. The Rubymar, a British-registered, Lebanese-operated cargo vessel, was attacked while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The missile attack forced the crew to abandon the vessel, which had been on its way to Bulgaria after leaving Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates. It was transporting more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer, according to a Central Command statement.

The Associated Press, relying on satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the stricken vessel, reported Tuesday that the vessel was leaking oil in the Red Sea.

Yemens internationally recognized government on Saturday called for other countries and maritime-protection organizations to quickly address the oil slick and avert a significant environmental disaster. (AP)
47-year-old Nickolaos Henke of Merritt Island has been arrested after he ran from a traffic stop and, during the foot chase with deputies, fired a handgun, according to the Brevard County Sheriffs Office.

According to a news release, the pursuit began around 9:15 a.m. on Saturday when deputies responded to a call for a suspicious truck near State Road 528 and North Banana River Drive in Merritt Island.

Deputies said they arrived on the scene and started to look over the truck, which was unoccupied. While the deputies returned to their patrol vehicle to look up the license plate information, Hanke got into the car and started to drive away.

The deputies said they did a traffic stop and asked Henke for his identification, and he provided a false name.

Read: Police: Man arrested after firing at officers through front door

According to the release, while deputies were investigating the false name, Henke ran away and jumped into the Banana River to escape the deputies.

Deputies said after Henke swam a short distance, he returned to the shore and ran into the woods where he had a tent.

Deputies said they continued to chase Henke and told him to stop, and they heard Henke callback, I have a gun, and then heard a gunshot.

Read: Troopers search for driver after man dies in crash on Florida Turnpike

Henke then ran out of the woods towards State Road 528 and was arrested, deputies said.

During the arrest, two deputies received minor injuries, and they both have been treated and were released from a local hospital.

According to the release, it was later learned that Henke provided a false name because there was an active warrant for his arrest for a Failure to Appear for Driving Under the Influence.

Read: The need has never been greater for this Howey-in-the-Hills cat sanctuary

Henke is being charged with aggravated assault against law enforcement with a firearm, driving while license suspended with knowledge, resisting arrest without violence, improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon, and providing a false name.

The sheriffs office said Henke is being held at the Brevard County Detention Center on a $32,000 bond.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH)  A woman is in critical condition after allegedly being stabbed by her son Saturday afternoon in Newark.

According to Newark police, the stabbing took place at a home on the 300 block of Woods Avenue at approximately 4:42 p.m.

Three killed in Jackson County plane crash

Police said the 24-year-old son of the victim fled from the house but was arrested about half a mile away near Hoover Street and Mt. Vernon Road.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The victim, 49, was flown by helicopter to a Columbus hospital.

Newark detectives will present their case to the Licking County Prosecutors Office for the charge of attempted murder.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Newark police at 740-670-7215.

NBC4 is not naming the suspect because he has not been formally charged and to protect the identity of the victim.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Polands foreign minister on Sunday doubled down on his push for the United States to support Ukraine, claiming he would tell House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) the fate of the war-torn nation and credibility of the United States are at stake.

Asked on CNNs Fareed Zakaria GPS what he would say to Johnson if he had the chance to talk to him, Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski said, I would say as a former Speaker to a current Speaker, I would say, Mr. Speaker, it is the fate of Ukraine, it is the tortured people of Ukraine that beg you, but it is also the credibility of your country that is at stake.

The president of the United States in wartime went to Kyiv on his historic visit, planted the standard of the United States in downtown Kyiv, saying, You are an ally, we will do whatever it takes, and for however long it takes to help you,' Sikorski continued. The word of the United States has been spoken. It needs to be followed up with action, with deliveries.

Johnson is facing mounting pressure to pass a stalled foreign aid package that includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraines fight against Russia. The Senate passed the $95 billion emergency defense spending bill earlier this month, nearly four months after President Biden sent his request to Congress to fund Kyiv.

The legislation, however, faces an uncertain path in the House, where Johnson has indicated he would not put it up for a vote, as it lacks border security measures demanded by House GOP members.

Aid for the Eastern European nation has been left in limbo for nearly a year amid increasing division among lawmakers; Congress has not passed a bill with funding for Ukraine since the end of 2022, when a Democratic majority passed its fourth package for the nation.

Sikorski on Sunday underscored the stakes of Ukraines continued fight against Russia and claimed Ukrainians are now in defense mode after victories over Russia cost its forces material and additional men.

I was in Kyiv in December and I talked to my Ukrainian counterparts all the time. Around Avdiivka, they were outgunned in artillery 8-to-1, he said Sunday. So theyre doing close-quarter combat, which is why people are dying in greater numbers than they should be, because of the shortage of arms, and the shortage of arms is because the supplemental hasnt yet passed.

Poland, a border nation of Ukraine, has remained a steadfast supporter of the countrys fight against Russia in the nearly two years since Moscow launched its invasion.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Office of the Polish President has issued a statement regarding whether Ukraine withdrew an invitation for Polish President Andrzej Duda to visit Ukraine on 24 February, the anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion.

Source: Polish Secretary of State Magorzata Paprocka in an interview with Radio Zet, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The prime ministers of Canada, Belgium and Italy, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, visited Kyiv on 24 February, but Polands president did not come.

"The president maintains constant contact with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit on the anniversary [of the full-scale Russian invasion] did not take place. Thats a fact. [The Polish] president was not in Kyiv, as opposed to Ms von der Leyen and other European leaders," Paprocka said.

When asked whether it was true that Ukraine had withdrawn Dudas invitation, Paprocka said she did not know anything about the matter.

"What matters is that the questions of agriculture on the EU level are supranational questions, they arent just Polish questions. Of course its particularly acute in our country, but these rules have to be implemented from Brussels perspective," Paprocka added.

Background:

On the second anniversary of the full-scale war, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Polands support for Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression will remain unchanged.

Recently, relations between Ukraine and Poland have been further complicated due to the escalation of protests by Polish farmers opposing the planned extension of preferential trade arrangements between the EU and Ukraine and calling for additional restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports.

Over the past week, the first incidents of Ukrainian grain cargo being spilled and the first cases of railway blockades have occurred. A scandal arose over a pro-Putin poster displayed by one of the farmers, for which he now faces up to five years in prison.

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A former Polk County Fire and Rescue battalion chief was demoted to a captain and reinstated with two years of probation over timecards he submitted for his crew of first responders on a disaster recovery response, county records show.

In the records released on Tuesday to The Ledger, they show former Battalion Chief Charlie True was demoted to a captain position in the agency and will earn less than a battalion chief. Further, he will have to avoid any disciplinary issues for the next two years as part of a performance improvement probation.

Many county residents who knew of Trues situation had taken to Facebook to drum up support for him getting his job back.

The personnel matter also prompted County Commission Chairman Bill Braswell to seek support from his colleagues on the board to go around the county manager for an outside contract for an audit of the fire and rescue agency. Braswell told the commissioners at last months regular meeting that for years hes been inundated with emails about problems with the agencys management.

Commissioner George Lindsey was the only one who did not support the audit. Lindsey told a reporter by text on Friday that he did not agree with the board chairman soliciting a consultant and the lack of a process for gaining proposals for the contractors work.

Commissioners are policy makers .... manager is the administrator of policy, Lindsey said. Soliciting RFP is an administrative function. Having a consultant answer to the chairman circumvents the manager.

At first, True was dismissed. But the firefighters union filed a grievance to get True his job back and to get the wages they felt were owed to all 10 firefighters who were deployed to Levy County in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia in late August.

The case is closed, said Jon Hall, vice president of the International Association of Firefighters Union Local 3531 in Winter Haven by phone on Friday. He added that True could be watched more closely for any disciplinary issues and any potential pay raises would be retroactive and unpaid until the probation is lifted.

He would not disclose publicly why True accepted the countys offer.

The issues for True started over a Levy County deployment for disaster recovery for 10 days last year on the day after the Aug. 30 landfall of Idalia in Florida's Big Bend area.

Right before four county fire and rescue trucks left Polk County with True and five other firefighters onboard, he was told his crew was to work only 12-hour shifts for the 10 days they were deployed.

But when they arrived, the crews assisted in the hurricane cleanup during 24-hour shifts from a base camp similar to the setup at most Polk County fire stations, which are equipped with sleeping quarters and kitchens to accommodate county fire rescue personnel on their normal 24 shifts.

The firefighters were deployed with Polk County Sheriffs Office deputies, and many of them drove separately in their patrol cars in a convoy of that agencys support vehicles. The Sheriffs Office deputies normally work in 12-hour shifts.

My understanding is they all, for the most part, if they had their own vehicle, they brought their own vehicle, Hall said.

Where our guys brought the trucks that were needed ... so you know you couldn't hop in the fire truck and go and get something at home because you forgot something, he said. You know that that fire truck had to stay there so that it was available if it was needed.

That was essentially the whole premise of our argument for getting those guys paid, Hall said. And they have been paid since then.

County documents show that the complaint leading to Trues investigation into wrongdoing was filed by Assistant Fire Chief Ben Cassista on Oct. 25, and the next day Deputy County Manager Joe Halman ordered an administrative investigation into the allegations.

The complaint was also against the leader of the second crew that was led by Battalion Chief Evan Towns and included three other men and women. Nothing was ever put in writing about how the teams were to be deployed, nor was there a policy in place for such deployments.

According to Hall, Towns was not disciplined because the agency could not determine who would have told him to follow a 12-hour shift on the second crews deployment on Sept. 8.

So there were some differences and essentially that's why they said, hey, we can't do anything to this guy because nobody told him, Hall said.

A report by professional standards was later produced. It said Cassista testified that Halman had called him prior to the deployment and told him to tell True the shifts were to be 12 hours. He then relayed the message verbally via a phone call to True.

Further, when the PCFR crew met at the Sheriffs Office Special Operations Command, Fire Chief Hezedean Smith and Assistant Chief Rick Parnell also gave True the message the crews were to work 12-hour days.

Historically, the PCFR agency had only assigned three fire and rescue personnel to go on hurricane relief missions, but Cassista said the first crew went with six to accommodate 12-hour shifts with two three-man teams.

In the report, Parnell told investigators that he had told True ... if circumstances required any of the members needed to provide additional support of services outside of their assigned 12-hour shift, they were to document the time and actions and they would be compensated for their time.

He said this was because they realized there was a possibility of unforeseen events that would require members to work additional hours. He said it was not intended to give them a "green light to work whatever schedule they wanted.

Several of the crew members were also interviewed by professional standards investigators and most said they knew the shifts were to be 12 hours among two groups, but once they got to Levy County, they all pitched in as needed.

True told the investigators that he had asked if the Idalia deployment would be the same as the Hurricane Ian deployment that involved 24-hour shifts for the crews, and Parnell told True to document hours worked and they would be paid.

Because of the areas the fire and rescue crews had to cover in support of the sheriffs deputies, it became impossible to support the law enforcement agency as originally planned because some men went in fire or rescue vehicles with deputies on emergency calls across Levy County while other deputies needed their attention at the base camp, True said.

The original two-crew deployment plan broke down because of this. And despite sending photos of his crew's work back to Polk County, he said he had not explained to his commanders the reality on the ground.

Activity logs included in the investigative report showed the crews worked from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m.

The union has moved on in regard to the True personnel matter, Hall said. Next things on the fire and rescue agency's plate will be spring contract negotiations and the agency audit. The union leaders and some rank-and-file members are expected to be giving statements to the auditors with Tallahassee-based law firm Allen, Norton and Blue.

Paul Nutcher can be reached at PNutcher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk Fire battalion chief was demoted to captain. Records show details
(NewsNation)  Struggling to focus on a single thought or task? Finding yourself constantly distracted by social media? You may have what is known as popcorn brain.

Coined by researcher David Levy in 2011, the term popcorn brain refers to a persons attention quickly jumping from thought to thought like the kernels popping in popcorn.

A 2003 study by the University of California Irvine found the average attention span was two minutes and 30 seconds. In 2012, the average attention span dropped to 75 seconds. Now, the attention span for most people is about 47 seconds, according to UC Irvine.

AI for parents: Tech offers help, but parents are not robots

Over time, this constant demand for attention and the rapid switching between tasks can lead to a feeling of mental restlessness or the brain bouncing around as it struggles to maintain focus on any one task for an extended period, Psychologist Dannielle Haig told Glamour UK.

Social media is a major contributing factor to the declining attention span, according to Dr. Kamil Atta, a psychiatrist at Plainview Hospital in New York.

The experience is extremely addictive, more addictive than any other activity because you have these small amounts of dopamine being stimulated on a very frequent basis, and to stop the pattern is extremely difficult, Atta told Fox 4.

Mental health experts suggest reducing social media time rather than trying to quit cold turkey. Experts also suggest participating in screen-free activities and focusing on one thing at a time rather than trying to multitask.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Middletons comprehensive vision

Sacramento Bee endorses a rising star for the state Assembly, (sacbee.com, Feb. 12)

Homelessness is a heartbreaking issue that affects so many in Assembly District 7. I have met Porsche Middleton and heard her speak passionately about her real-life experiences and comprehensive vision to address this crisis. We need a leader like Middleton who sees homelessness as a multi-faceted issue and plans to address it through community engagement and real actions.

Middletons involvement in local housing initiatives and true empathy for those who struggle in our community are two of the reasons why I support her.

Teresa Garcia

Folsom

Progressive fiscal management

Sacramento Bee endorses a rising star for the state Assembly, (sacbee.com, Feb. 12)

The Sacramento Bee nails it in endorsing Porsche Middleton for Assembly District 7. Her candidacy offers a refreshing take on fiscal responsibility, paired with a commitment to innovation that AD 7 desperately needs. Unlike Josh Hoover, whose focus on budget critique overlooks the potential for growth through investment, and YK Chalamcherla, whose general fiscal accountability measures fall short of innovative solutions, Middleton presents a balanced, strategic vision.

Her advocacy for protecting essential services, along with her push for strategic investments to drive economic growth, showcases a comprehensive understanding of how fiscal policy can be leveraged for community benefit. This balance of responsibility and innovation is why Middleton stands out as the candidate of choice for thoughtful, progressive fiscal management.

Cheryl Davis

Folsom

Opinion

Public safety laws

Sacramento city council race becomes a political bellwether, (sacbee.com, Feb. 10)

The old Sacramento Bee warehouse in my neighborhood turned into a massive encampment last year. We experienced physical assault, death threats, needles, loose dogs charging at us and use of hard drugs in our yard.

A dispatcher told me to contact my city council member, Katie Valenzuela, who said that was a wildly inappropriate recommendation and cited the Department of Community Response. Ive filed multiple 311 tickets, but DCR never stopped the drug use. I finally talked to police leadership who helped clear the drugs. Im grateful for their help.

My block has a recovery home with some of the nicest people youd ever meet. After months of asking, I cant help but think the encampment was cleared after I saw the coroners van show up.

Wanting public safety laws enforced shouldnt be controversial. And, for what its worth, that area is now lined with campaign signs for Phil Pluckebaum.

Kevin Flanagan

Sacramento

Lifeblood of service

Return to office: State workers say looming mandate would cost more than money, (sacbee.com, Feb. 12)

Out of tens of thousands of state workers affected, its no surprise that the 500 responses to The Bees return-to-office survey found employees arent sold on the benefits. Some, only having to return for two days a week, said that mandate would make them unhappy. One responder noted shes a much happier employee when she doesnt have to, you know, actually show up for work.

Some are worried about maintaining a diverse workforce, along with recruiting issues. Respondents raised concerns about gas costs (why arent workers taking the bus?), along with dozens of other real-world considerations. One concluded: There are no positives.

Virtual platforms like Zoom dont lend themselves to team building, collaboration or even effective communication. Some employee classifications and tasks can be addressed through virtual meetings, but the lifeblood of service to the taxpayers is best served by employees grouped and focused on shared objectives.

Bill Motmans

Sacramento

Class warfare

California lawmaker bill to address retail theft, Prop. 47, (sacbee.com, Feb. 15)

Ive told those circulating petitions on increasing penalties on retail theft that I wont sign them because I object to anything that will only add and increase legal penalties upon the poorest people struggling to survive rather than penalize criminal retail theft chains.

Should an unhoused person who steals a blanket or food from a store face years in prison as if they committed a violent crime? It appears the wealthy few are seeking to impose harsh punishments on struggling Americans during our tough economic times. We are still living in a state of class warfare.

Michelle Kunert

Sacramento

Looking the other way

Donald Trump stands by remarks about not defending NATO members after backlash, (sacbee.com, Feb. 15)

MAGAs candidate for president is good buddies with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who exiles, disqualifies or kills political opponents like Alexei Navalny. The Republican Party sure has fallen from its stridently anti-communist days, hasnt it?

Authoritarian rulers dont care whether their fellow national rulers are liberal or conservative or religious or agnostic. The bond that holds them together is that they all wield absolute power in their respective political realms. No one else knows how much fun that is for the person in charge except others in the same boat.

Authoritarians comprise a very special fraternity today, just like the kings and queens of Europe during the Middle Ages. Those folks intermarried with each others families and supported one another no matter how tyrannically some ruled their countries.

Kimball Shinkosey

Woods Cross, Utah
Virginia Beach police have charged a man in connection to shots fired in a parking garage at the Town Center of Virginia Beach shopping area.

According to police, emergency services began receiving calls just after 4 p.m. Saturday for reports of shots fired in the 4600 block of Columbus Street. At the scene, police say officers found several spent shell casings at the entrance of one of the parking garages at the shopping center. After clearing each level, police say officers found the suspect, 30-year-old Eric Oliver, of Portsmouth.

A spokesperson for the department said officers also found a Glock 23, .40 Caliber Pistol, equipped with an extended magazine with Oliver. There were no injuries reported.

Oliver is charged with two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling, use of firearm in commission of a felon, violent felon in possession of a firearm, discharge of a firearm within city limits, two counts of destruction of property, reckless handling of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public, shooting across a roadway and public intoxication.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
Polish Agriculture Minister Czesaw Siekierski on a meeting with Polish farmers in the village of Zosin. Photo: Polish Agriculture Ministry on Twitter (X)

On 24 February, posters with pro-Putin slogans appeared again at a protest rally of Polish farmers in the border village of Zosin, in the Lublin Voivodeship, which the organisers deny.

Source: European Pravda; RMF FM.

Controversial posters first appeared during the visit of Polish Agriculture Minister Czesaw Siekierski.

Minister @CzSiekierski wraz z sekretarzem stanu @StefanKrajewski przyjechali dzis do protestujacych w #Zosin rolnikow.

Czesaw Siekierski : Rozmawiamy z Unia Europejska  i z rolnikami. Rozmawiamy z Ukraina  na szczeblu ministerialnym i w grupach roboczych.

Szczegoy pic.twitter.com/a4NmX6wEIp  Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi (@MRiRW_GOV_PL) February 24, 2024

The text on them is the same as a loud poster from the protest in Gorzyczki, Silesian Voivodeship, which read: "Putin, put things right with Ukraine, Brussels and our rulers."

Wiesaw Gryn, a representative of the Polish farmers' association Oszukana Wies (Deceived Village), which organises farmers' protests, told RMF FM that he was not involved in putting up controversial posters.

"There are guys who come [to the protests], I dont know from which organisations, with the intention of harming the farming community. It's not one of ours. Some guys come and want to be seen," Gryn assured, adding that farmers quickly tore down the provocative posters.

It was reported that a farmer who posted a poster with the slogan "Putin, put things right with Ukraine, Brussels and our rulers" during a protest on Tuesday has been formally charged. He faces up to five years in prison.

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A woman whose body was found in a basement in Indiana in 1992 has now been identified.

Tabetha Ann Murlin was identified through DNA, officials said at a news conference streamed by WPTA.

She has been Mary Jane Doe to us for these years, and now we are able to attach her name and her family, Allen County Coroner Dr. Jon Brandenberger said.

On May 15, 1992, a construction worker discovered Murlins decomposed body wrapped in a blanket in 8 to 12 inches of water in a Fort Wayne basement, officials said.

Murlin was about 23 years old and 26 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, WPTA reported. An autopsy was done but showed no cause of death or manner of death, Brandenberger said.

She was buried a week after she was found, without a known identity.

Her body was exhumed in 2017, and DNA testing was done, officials said.

In January, IGGnite DNA co-ounder Lisa Needler told the Allen County Coroners Office she had an update on Murlins case. Needler found several of Murlins biological family members, including her father, mother and two aunts, according to WPTA.

One of the aunts had a marriage license for Murlin and her husband, Jerry Murlin, WPTA reported.

Detectives met with Jerry Murlin and said he has been cooperative and is not considered a suspect. He last saw her in 1989 when the two separated and he moved in with his parents, according to the Indy Star.

The man identified as Murlins father, Robert Bowers, said he last saw Murlin in 1988 leaving for Tennessee with her boyfriend, the Indy Star reported.

Anyone with information about Murlins disappearance is asked to call the Fort Wayne Police Department Detective Bureau at 260-427-1201 or Crime Stoppers at 260-436-7867.

Mother of missing 3-year-old took him to man for disciplinary reasons, officials say

Boy Scout leader found teens remains 54 years ago, OR cops say. Now shes identified

Remains found in desert identified 47 years later. Cops need help finding mans family
Following the death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, another political prisoner is trying to keep the hope of change alive - even from behind bars.

"Freedom costs dearly," the opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza once wrote to me from a Russian prison cell.

He was quoting his political mentor, Boris Nemtsov, who was murdered in 2015 in Moscow - right beside the Kremlin.

Now Russian President Vladimir Putin's biggest rival, Alexei Navalny, is dead.

The price of political opposition has never been higher in modern Russia or the goal of change so remote.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Such is the fear of reprisal that Navalny's death did not spark mass, angry protests. Several hundred people were detained just for laying flowers in his memory.

But Mr Kara-Murza refuses to abandon either his fight or his hope.

This week he urged opposition supporters to "work even harder" to achieve what Navalny and Nemtsov had fought for: the chance to live in a free country.

He made his own choice, long ago. "The price of speaking out is high," the activist wrote to me, soon after his arrest in 2022.

"But the price of silence is unacceptable."

Strong men

Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza has been sentenced to 25 years for treason

Alexei Navalny, who was 47, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, 42, are very different men.

Navalny was a social-media phenomenon, a charismatic speaker with some of the egotism of a natural-born leader.

Mr Kara-Murza is a softly spoken intellectual - more back-room lobbyist than crowd-gatherer.

He's not a household name in Russia even now.

But both men shared the same drive and a conviction that Putin's Russia was not eternal and political freedom was possible.

Whilst Navalny produced video exposes of corruption at the highest level of power, Mr Kara-Murza lobbied Western governments for sanctions to target officials' assets and cash stashed abroad.

Both have paid dearly.

In 2015, five years before Navalny was attacked with a nerve agent, Mr Kara-Murza collapsed and fell into a coma.

Two years later, it happened again. Tests in the US confirmed he had been poisoned.

But he never stopped speaking his mind, which included denouncing Mr Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Last year, Mr Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years for treason - although the charge sheet listed nothing but peaceful opposition activity.

Return to Russia

When Alexei Navalny chose to fly back to Russia in 2021 after an attempt to kill him, some thought him foolhardy.

Opposition figures who've chosen exile over imprisonment argue that sacrifice with no prospect of change is futile.

Navalny thought differently.

"If your beliefs are worth something, you have to be prepared to stand up for them. And if necessary, make some sacrifices," he wrote shortly before he died on 16 February.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, like Navalny, has a wife and children. He also has residency in the US and a British passport. But he never hesitated about returning to Russia.

"I didn't think I had the right to continue my political activity, to call other people to action, if I was sitting safely somewhere else," Mr Kara-Murza wrote to me in 2022, already in prison.

For both men, it was an act of conscience.

Now one is dead and the other is locked up far from his family who've only been allowed one phone call in six months.

"I didn't speak to him myself because I didn't want to take time away from the kids," Evgenia Kara-Murza described that call.

The activist's wife allowed the three children five minutes each.

"I was standing there with a timer," she said.

Strong women

This week, Navalny's widow recorded a video statement urging his allies not to give up.

"I want to live in a free Russia, I want to build a free Russia," said Yulia Navalnaya, vowing to continue her husband's work.

Evgenia Kara-Murza was stunned by her bravery. "She's doing her absolute best to go through hell with her head held high and she is amazing."

But Mr Kara-Murza's wife has taken on a demanding role of her own.

Since his arrest in April 2022, she's been travelling the world, lobbying Western officials to help her husband and other political prisoners, and denouncing Russia's war on Ukraine.

The invasion is more proof, as she puts it, of Putin's "murderous regime".

When we spoke, Evgenia was about to fly back to the US to see their children. She was then heading for London to call on UK ministers to step-up their efforts for Vladimir, a joint British-Russian citizen.

"I want them to be more forceful in trying to get him out, and demanding proper medical attention," she said.

"But making one government care about its citizen is hard these days."

Prison persecution

Mr Kara-Murza's persecution has continued in prison, as it did for Navalny.

The activist has been held in solitary confinement for months and allowed no personal belongings, even photographs of his children.

In January, he was moved to a new prison with tougher conditions, deprived even of his books.

His health, damaged by the poisoning, is deteriorating. Pressure for Mr Kara-Murza's release has intensified since Navalny's death.

"The nerve damage is spreading to his right side now. It's a serious condition that could lead to paralysis," Evgenia Kara-Murza told me.

This week, she got a rare sighting of her husband on video link from prison to a Moscow court. He was trying to get the Investigative Committee to open a criminal case into his poisoning.

Mr Kara-Murza was in a black uniform that hung loose on his frame, a radical change from the Tweed jackets that were once his trademark.

But his resolve seemed firmer than ever as he urged Russians not to slump into despair.

"We don't have that right," he addressed the few supporters and reporters allowed into court, and he insisted that Russia would be free.

"No-one can stop the future."

What future?

Alexei Navalny's death triggered vigils in a number of countries, with many participants accusing President Putin of killing his biggest rival in Russia

Evgenia Kara-Murza watched that video clip from court "a thousand times".

"I think he's doing the right thing - and a great thing," she told me.

"People feel heartbroken and demoralised and those uplifting words from people who've refused to give in to pressure and intimidation are truly important."

"I'm very proud of Vladimir for staying true to himself, despite this hell."

Evgenia shares her husband's faith in the future, as well as his strength. Even now, with so many activists in prison or exile.

"What's crucially important is remaining a human being and trying to do whatever you can," she argues.

"Not giving up."

She points to the end of the USSR and the mass protests then that have always inspired her husband.

"There was nothing - until an opportunity for massive collective action appeared in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Then people went out on the streets," she says.

"We need to do everything possible to be ready for the moment when the regime shows cracks."

"For when we get that chance."
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Donald Trump said: 'I wouldnt protect him. He betrayed the Queen' - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Donald Trump has said Prince Harry will be on his own if he wins a second term this year as the former president criticised him for an unforgivable betrayal of Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr Trump said that Joe Bidens administration had been too gracious to the Duke of Sussex since he moved to America in 2020.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington DC on Saturday, Mr Trump told the Express: I wouldnt protect him. He betrayed the Queen. Thats unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.

On Mr Bidens approach to the Sussexes, he added: I think they have been too gracious to him after what he has done.

Prince Harrys immigration status has become the subject of legal dispute by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, which argues he cannot legally have entered the US because he admitted to taking illegal drugs in his memoir, Spare.

In his memoir Prince Harry wrote that he had taken cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his youth - Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Taking illegal drugs has previously precluded some foreign citizens, including Nigella Lawson, from travelling to the US.

The think tank argued in court on Friday that the US government should reveal Prince Harrys immigration form, showing whether he declared he had taken the drugs to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In his memoir, the Duke wrote that he had taken cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his youth.

He said that while cocaine didnt do anything for me, marijuana really did help me.

After taking psychedelic mushrooms, he said he had believed a bathroom bin had grown a head and was staring at him.

A lawyer for the Biden administration, disputing the challenge, told the court in Washington that the Princes admission of taking the drugs in his book was not proof it had taken place.

The administration said his account could have been embellished to sell books, adding saying something in a book doesnt necessarily make it true.

The Heritage Foundation has accused the US government of covering up the records, which it says are of immense public interest, to protect Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, who is a US citizen.

Mr Trump has previously expressed strong support for the late Queen and has been critical of the Duke and Duchess.

He has described Prince Harrys memoir as horrible and said he was surprised that the pair were invited to King Charless Coronation last year.

In response to the late Queens death in 2022, Mr Trump said: What a grand and beautiful lady she was. There was nobody like her!

Speaking in a television interview earlier this month, Prince Harry said he had not yet applied for US citizenship.

The thought has crossed my mind but is not a high priority right now, he said.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
ATLANTA - To mark the second anniversary of the Ukraine War, a couple hundred pro-Ukrainian demonstrators gathered at Centennial Olympic Park on Saturday.

They were trying to raise awareness and support for Ukraine as billions of dollars in aid remains tied up in congress.

Feb. 24 was a somber day for Ukrainians in Atlanta, especially for those who had to flee their home country, leaving their possessions behind, after Russia invaded in 2022.

"My house, my job, my car, we lost everything," said Katarina Galatskya, who fled the war in March 2022.

Yeva Muchak, 11, moved to Georgia from Ukraine before the war.

She says it's heartbreaking thinking of kids still in danger there near the frontlines.

"Kids my age are dying, and their parents are dying, and becoming orphans just because Putin wants more of our land," she said.

A more than $60 billion aid package to Ukraine and Israel was stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Some Republican lawmakers in the House have been skeptical about whether the U.S. should continue to be involved.

Russia has recently made advances after Ukrainian soldiers, running low on ammunition, had to evacuate Avdiivka.

Anna Letkeman, from the Georgia Chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, spoke to FOX 5 Atlanta.

She said she shudders to think of what would happen if Ukraine didn't get that aid.

"I am scared to imagine what would happen because it is so necessary to help save lives  I believe the United States will make the right decision and be on the right side of history," Letkeman said.

Mike Smith told FOX 5 Atlanta he has friends who still live in Ukraine. He came out Saturday to show his support.

He believes if the U.S. doesn't help Ukraine now, the conflict could expand.

"Sooner or later it's going to be NATO lives, Putin's not going to stop with Ukraine, and after that that's World War III," Smith said.

The demonstrators urged people to contact their congressional representatives and tell them to pass the aid package.
Prominent Alabama judge shot, seriously wounded in alleged domestic incident; son taken into custody

A prominent Alabama judge was seriously injured on Saturday when a domestic incident devolved into a shooting at his home, and the judge's adult son was taken into custody, authorities said.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick, who serves as the presiding judge over Alabama's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, "was involved in a domestic incident with his son and suffered serious injuries from a gunshot wound," Montgomery Assistant Police Chief Wesley Richerson told The New York Post.

Deputies responded at approximately 1 p.m. to the residence, and the judge's son, Khalfani Ahmed Hardwick, 36, was taken into custody within the hour, WSFA reported.

"I am just asking that we continue to pray for the judge," Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham said, according to Just The News.

TRUMP BREAKS SILENCE ON ALABAMA SUPREME COURT IVF RULING: 'FIND AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION'

As of Sunday, the younger Hardwick remained held on charges of first degree domestic violence in the form of assault, and felony "pistol certain person forbidden," according to Montgomery County online jail records.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The judge's son was previously charged with attempted murder in 2017, the Montgomery Advertiser reported. After initially skipping out on trial in 2016, the younger Hardwick agreed to plead guilty to shooting another man, Clayton Riley, in the back of the head in 2014. His charge was then downgraded to second degree assault, WFSA reported.

Khalfani Ahmed Hardwick, 36, was taken into custody after allegedly shooting his father, a prominent judge, during a domestic incident.

An alumnus of Alabama State University, the elder Hardwick has served as a circuit judge since 2001 and also serves as president of the Alabama Association of Circuit Court Judges, according to the Advertiser.

ALABAMA IVF RULING REIGNITES DEBATE ON ABORTION, A MOTIVATING ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS AHEAD OF ELECTION



Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed reacted to news of Hardwick's shooting in a statement Saturday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Judge Johnny Hardwick during this difficult time," Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton said in a statement of his own. "The entire Montgomery County Commission wishes him a full recovery. Wed also like to thank the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office on their quick response."





Original article source: Prominent Alabama judge shot, seriously wounded in alleged domestic incident; son taken into custody
Russian President Vladimir Putins opponents continue to disappear in a pattern of strange and sudden deaths, and his greatest domestic opponent, Alexei Navalny, died after a sudden collapse, according to Russian authorities.

"Generally, as a culture, the Russians dont believe in coincidences. But, in this particular case, theres a reason why, although we are unlikely to determine conclusively exactly how Navalny died, many analysts agree that Russian intelligence services are likely behind his death," Rebekah Koffler, a strategic military intelligence analyst and the author of "Putin's Playbook," told Fox News Digital.

"Theres a specific intelligence tradecraft that dates back to 1920 that the Soviets used to eliminate the so-called enemies of the state," Koffler said. "The Soviets and now the Russians are also masters of covering their tracks and making the assassination look like its a natural or accidental death.

"Wet affairs, which connotes the spilling of blood is a doctrine of targeted assassinations, includes poisonings, executions with a shot in the back of the head, forced suicides  such as throwing yourself out of a window  explosions of a mini-bomb hidden in a box of chocolates  and other contrived methods," Koffler explained.

RUSSIA'S WAR ON UKRAINE UNLIKELY TO END IN 2024; CONGRESS PLAYS PIVOTAL ROLE IN DIRECTION CONFLICT TAKES

Individuals who have died under mysterious circumstances during Vladimir Putin's reign.

Koffler argued that Putin has not been shy about indicating that the deaths of opposition  be it a direct rival like Navalny or an ally challenging his authority like Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin  occurred at his behest because "he wants us to know that his operatives are behind the operation."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"He sends us subtle signals that are easily picked up by those who understand who Putin is and know Russian intelligence signature tactics," Koffler said. "For example, after [GRU officer] Sergei Skripal was poisoned, Putin, in an interview with the Financial Times in June 2019, said that treason is the biggest crime on Earth, and traitors must be punished.

NAVALNY SPOKESPERSON SAYS HIS BODY WAS HANDED TO HIS MOTHER

"In 2010, responding to a question as to whether he had ever had to sign an order to liquidate enemies of the motherland abroad, Putin said, Traitors will kick the bucket on their own  whatever they got in exchange for it  those 30 pieces of silver they were given, they will choke on them," she added.

Navalny died in prison last week after collapsing in what prison officials claimed was a case of "sudden death syndrome," but an anonymous paramedic claiming to work for a morgue told independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe that he saw bruising on the body consistent with a person being held down while having a seizure.

Prigozhin, who died when his plane suddenly exploded, killing him and everyone on board, and Navalny are two of the highest-profile examples of Putins opponents meeting sudden demises, but many examples have occurred throughout his reign.

A site after a private jet allegedly carrying Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin and other passengers crashed in Russia's northwestern Tver region, Russia Aug. 23, 2023.

Boris Nemtsov, another major domestic rival, died in 2015 right before an opposition rally. A gunman from a passing car shot Nemtsov four times while he was crossing a bridge outside the Kremlin. Putin offered condolences and called the death "provocation" before ordering authorities to investigate.

Authorities eventually arrested five men who ended up sentenced to 11 and 20 years in prison for Nemtsovs murder, but the Russian government has consistently refused to classify Nemtsovs death as a political assassination.

BRET BAIER REFLECTS ON THE IMPORTANCE, COST OF WAR JOURNALISM AS RUSSIA'S WAR ON UKRAINE ENTERS ANOTHER YEAR

Anna Politkovskaya, an American Russian journalist and human rights activist, was gunned down in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building in 2006. She regularly criticized the Kremlin, particularly regarding policies related to Chechnya. A probe into her death failed to determine who ordered her death, and investigators dismissed the involvement of a Moscow-backed Ramzan Kadyrov, who eventually took power as the head of the Chechen Republic.

Kadyrov also denied any involvement in the death of journalist Natalya Estemirova, who was abducted and killed in 2008 outside her home in Grozny. Chechnya reinstated Russian federal rule in 2009 and has remained a staunch ally of Russia, speaking out in favor of Putins war against Ukraine and supplying troops.

People gather at a memorial for late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny organized at the monument to the victims of political repression in Saint Petersburg Feb. 16, 2024.

More recently, a number of high-profile Russian businessmen died in a series of bizarre accidents after speaking out against Russias invasion of Ukraine, including oil giant Lukoils Chairman Ravil Maganov, who fell out a hospital window. Lukoil said Maganov died from an illness, but Russian media and investigators determined he had fallen out of a sixth-story window.

Pavel Antov, known as the "sausage king" of Russia and a local politician, also fell from a window in late 2022. Authorities found him dead outside the Hotel Sai International in Rayagada, India, after celebrating his 65th birthday only days earlier. One of Antovs traveling companions also died at the hotel.

At least eight other Russian oligarchs died under strange circumstances over the first year of the invasion, and international investigators suggested the deaths could have been staged suicides or assassinations as retaliation for their opposition to the invasion or links to corruption in Russian gas company Gazprom.

Koffler explained to Fox News Digital that the deaths, if carried out by intelligence, will always be designed "deliberately to be stealthy so no investigator could identify foul play.

"They are usually deemed tragic accidents, [which is] also part of the doctrine," she added.





Original article source: Putins greatest hits: Russian dissidents continue disappearing in pattern of bizarre deaths
DALLAS - Saturday marked two years since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Overseas, Ukrainian flags cover the ground to honor the lives lost in the war.

The same flags sit on the counter of Olena Jacobs store in Dallas.

"We dont want anybody to forget about Ukraine about the immense struggle that Ukraine is going through," Jacobs said.

Jacobs works to raise awareness as part of the Ukrainian Cultural Club of Dallas.

The group planned an auto rally to mark the grim milestone of the war.

"The event [Saturday] is to mark and honor whats going on in Ukraine and to remind those who are forgetting about it," Jacobs said.

Every car that showed up was decorated in Ukrainian colors, and many showcased the countrys flag.

"I love it, because we need to voice, we need to attract attention. Its very important," Nadya Brown said.

Browns family was forced to leave their home when the war started.

For two years, the war hasnt left her mind, and she hopes the group will remind others that the war isnt over.

"Is today some special day? Maybe theyll open their minds a little bit, research a little bit, or maybe it will remind people who are already familiar with the situation in the political world," Brown explained.

MORE: Russia-Ukraine War Coverage

The U.S. has already given tens of billion in aid to Ukraine, but the latest aid package remains stalled in Congress.

"We hope its just a temporary delay and the U.S. will not stop supporting Ukraine," Jacobs said.

One by one, people showed their support for the war-stricken country at the rally Saturday.

The caravan of cars drove through Downtown Dallas onto I-35, then headed back on I-635 to end in Richardson.

"We just invite everyone to do what is right, and also hopefully, we can collect some more help. The need in Ukraine is great," Jacobs added.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump should tap Kristi Noem or Vivek Ramaswamy as his running mate ahead of a likely November rematch with President Joe Biden, according to attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Noem, the South Dakota governor, and Ramaswamy, an Ohio businessman who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination, tied with 15% support among CPAC attendees at the conference outside of Washington when asked in a straw poll who Trump should pick as his vice presidential candidate.

Former Democratic US Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii was third at 9%, followed by US Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and US Representative Elise Stefanik of New York at 8% each among a list of 17 potential candidates listed on the ballot.

The straw poll results were announced after Trump spoke to an enthusiastic crowd, focusing on a general election rematch with Biden even as South Carolina Republicans cast ballots in a primary contest between the ex-president and Nikki Haley.

Earlier: Trump Deepens Biden Focus With Latest Haley Match Underway

Trump had 94% support from the 1,478 CPAC attendees who participated, compared with 5% for Haley. The former president had a 96% approval of the job he did in office.

Several of the potential Trump running mates included on the straw poll ballot spoke at this years conference in what was seen as an audition for the role, including Noem, Ramaswamy, Stefanik and Gabbard.

When asked in a Feb. 20 Fox News town hall what hes looking for in his pick, Trump said, The first quality has to be somebody that you think will be a good president because if something should happen, you have to have somebody thats going to be a great president.

You would like to get somebody that could help you from the voter standpoint, he added.

Last year, Trump was the choice of 62% of the 2,028 CPAC attendees who participated in the straw poll, compared with 20% for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 5% for Michigan businessman Perry Johnson, 3% for Haley and everyone else at 1% or less.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
An Abbeville man wanted on warrants in two parishes led Rapides Parish Sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase on Interstate 49 Saturday morning.

An Abbeville man wanted on warrants in two parishes led Rapides Parish Sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase on Interstate 49 Saturday morning.

According to a news release, the 41-year-old man didn't stop when a deputy tried to pull him over in the southbound lanes. He kept driving, sometimes more than 95 mph, it reads.

Alexandria Police Department officers and Louisiana State Police troopers placed spike strips near Alexandria that disabled the vehicle. The man was arrested and "later found to be in possession of a large amount of marijuana and a firearm," reads the release.

He is wanted on warrants in Vermilion and Lafayette parishes, it reads.

Dorian Lewis case: Man pleads guilty to negligent homicide in 2023 fire that killed Pineville woman

Louisiana State Police: Bunkie, Marksville residents killed in single-vehicle crash

He was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center #1 on charges of speeding, aggravated flight from an officer, reckless operation of a vehicle, driving under suspension, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm with drugs.

Bail on the traffic violations was set at $1,200, but no bail was set on the other charges. He remains in jail.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Rapides chase leads to arrest of man wanted in 2 other parishes
Nikki Haleys campaign manager told reporters on the eve of the South Carolina primary that Haley would continue her campaign until our door closes.

But when it comes to the delegate math, its already swinging shut.

Haley made a big deal Saturday night about winning close to 40 percent of the vote in South Carolina, but its only gotten her 16 percent of the delegates. Former President Donald Trumps sweep of the first four states on the Republican calendar netted him 110 delegates to Haleys 20.



In the next few contests, the delegates are about to pile up quickly, and theres no sign that Haley will survive the avalanche. Even in a best-case scenario that stretches the limits of Haleys appeal so far, based on current polling and each states delegate-allocation rules, Trump would end Super Tuesday on March 5 with 897 delegates. Haley would have just 225.

And thats being generous to Haley.

Even though only about 6 percent of all available delegates have been awarded so far, primaries in the month of March alone account for 65 percent of the delegates. And the rules are structured in a way that means that Haley  whos already down by large margins in the polls in many of the upcoming states  will likely receive an even smaller share of the delegates than she does votes over the next month.

Of the first three contests in which shes competed, Haley won about 38 percent of the votes  and 16 percent of the delegates.



Many of the upcoming states have rules that allow the victor to get all of the delegates if they win a majority of the vote. Trump, in probably all cases  will get all of the delegates. (And starting March 19, most states go to a true winner-take-all system, so as long as Trump wins a plurality, hed sweep all the delegates.)

Trumps allies engineered some of those rules, like in California, the biggest prize of the entire primary. They pushed for the rule that triggers the state to flip to a winner-take-all system if a candidate receives a majority of the vote. Its a smart move if you believed that the field would consolidate enough to allow Trump to win more than 50 percent, which turned out to be accurate so far.

Trump is a near shoo-in to get all of Californias 169 delegates: He led Haley, 64 percent to 17 percent, in a Public Policy Institute of California poll released last week.

And hell clean up the delegates across the rest of the country through Super Tuesday, too, even in this generous state-by-state scenario for Haley. Lets game it out, giving her every plausible edge:

In Tuesdays Michigan primary, say Haley actually wins her first state and gets a majority of the delegates awarded, seven of 13. But the bulk of Michigans delegates, 39, will actually be awarded next weekend at a state convention, where Trump is expected to romp with the party insiders.

Let's also assume Haley cleans up with voters in the District of Columbia (which has 19 delegates up for grabs) and American Samoa (9)  two contests too small for there to be reliable polling.

And say Haley also wins delegates from Utah (40) and Virginia (48), which were splitting evenly between the two candidates since their Republican electorates have historically been skeptical of Trump. But to be clear, similar majority thresholds exist there that could net the winner  most likely Trump  most or all of the delegates.

But even in the most charitable hypothetical for Haley, Trump will still almost certainly capture all of the delegates from the Super Tuesday states of Alabama (50), Arkansas (40), California (169), Maine (20), Massachusetts (40), Oklahoma (43) and Vermont (17)  all of which become winner-takes-all once a candidate hits a majority. Hell also win all of the Tennessee (58) delegates if he captures two-thirds of the vote there, which is likely.

Texas (161) has the same majority threshold for its statewide delegates, though it also awards delegates for each of its 38 congressional districts. For this purpose, weve assigned two-thirds of the district delegates to Trump and one-third to Haley, though the former president is likely to win more of them than that.

Alaska (29), Colorado (37), Minnesota (39) and North Carolina (74) are proportional, and using a rough, 60-40 Trump-Haley breakdown to divide those delegates  again, probably generous to Haley overall, but thats similar to what she received in New Hampshire (the state with the friendliest electorate so far) and South Carolina (her home state) they will deliver Haley dozens of delegates even if she loses by more than that.

Hard reality sets in for Haley within two weeks of Super Tuesday, which has additional contests that would likely push Trump across the finish line.

There are 170 delegates at stake during a three-day stretch in mid-March, and then another 350 up for grabs on March 19  by which time Trump will have, in all likelihood, clinched the nomination.

Haley on Saturday night vowed to continue her campaign, and if shes still an active candidate on Super Tuesday, shell earn delegates. Just not that many. And it wont do much to get her anywhere close to the nomination.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report included an incorrect number for the delegates at stake in the District of Columbia's Republican presidential primary. Nineteen delegates will be awarded.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  In the chrome reflection of the restored red 1957 Chevy Bel Air visitors could be seen gravitating to the cars of their youth, and the owners were equally excited to see their preservation recognized.

Lugnuts 10th annual Red Car Show at Nostalgia Street Rods brought exhibitors and families alike for the car show meant to raise awareness and money for STOP DUI, a Nevada grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to stopping the violent crime of driving under the influence.

It took my family of seven to stop a drunk driver, Sandy Heverly, Executive Director of STOP DUI, said. My husband, myself, my four children and my mom were all very seriously injured and ultimately the injuries my mom sustained led to her death.

Sandy Heverly, Executive Director of STOP DUI (KLAS)

Photos of lost loved ones were attached to the nonprofits booth behind Heverly at the car show.

Its all about saving lives thats the bottom line, we dont want people to have to suffer what we have suffered, she said. We dont want to add any more photographs to that victim board back there.

10th annual Red Car Show at Nostalgia Street Rods (KLAS)

The organization released information on how a typical drink for most drivers, which is just over one-half ounce of pure alcohol, is not the common amount of alcohol found in most popular drinks.

Martini 2 typical drinks Manhattan 2 typical drinks Black Russian 2 typical drinks Margarita 1.5 typical drinks Daiquiri 1.5 typical drinks

The Driving Force

Randall Connell, or Lugnut as friends call him, looked out on the red sea of cars behind him and recalled how the car show all started ten years ago.

Ive probably been around the car scene for 25 years and all those years I went to car shows and noticed a lot of red cars, he said. So, I figured lets do a little red car show.

Randall Connell, or Lugnut who has been in the car scene for 25 years (KLAS)

Next to the car lot is the Nostalgia Street Rod museum led by Sheri Goldstrom, which displays memorabilia and vehicles from 1910 to 1965 in a custom, hot rod themed garage.

I wanted to preserve history, Goldstrom said. Randy and I have two shows a year and one of them is the Red Car Show and one is called Nostalgia Street Rods, this one, in particular, is dear to our heart.

The Nostalgia Street Rod Museum is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. near Hacienda and Decatur.

The specific car that brings people back to the show isnt the same for everyone, but as Connell noted, they all share one thing.

Thats the first car they look at, the one from their childhood, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in NetChoice v. Paxton and its companion case, Moody v. NetChoice. NetChoice is a trade association that represents internet platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Twittersome of the biggest names in Silicon Valley. With a party like this, the case is bound to be pivotal for the many millions of users of digital services. Sure enough, while the debate at the center of the suit may seem abstruse at first, it could determine whether Big Tech platforms operate fairly for all who use them.

NetChoice sued Texas and Florida to block state laws that were enacted to restrict social media networks ability to suspend or otherwise marginalize users. According to NetChoice, the laws violate these companies First Amendment rights and, therefore, should be struck down as unconstitutional.

The Open Markets Institute, where we work, filed an amicus brief in support of the states. Those who are familiar with the organization may be surprised by our siding with two conservative state governments. We, however, believe that the underlying question of whether states and the federal government have the authority to regulate social media and other internet platforms as common carriers is critical. If the Supreme Court decides in favor of Big Tech platforms by ruling that they cannot be designated and managed as common carriers, it will take essential regulatory tools away from the government.

Why is this such an important issue? At heart, common carriage requires certain entities to generally serve all paying customers on the same terms. While most peoplewell, at least those of us who are lawyersprobably think of railroads and telecommunications companies when they hear common carrier, the principle stretches back several hundred years to a time long before these industries even existed. Its origins, in fact, were comparatively humbler than its modern application: Courts in England and the United States historically placed special duties on certain businesses such as inns and ferries, hence a distinct body of law called the common law of innkeepers and common carriers.

Notably, in many states, this meant that a hotel in the early nineteenth century could not deny service to customers based on race or ethnicity. And so the common carrier norm played a vital role in the modern world, informing multiple civil rights laws.

The courts did not indiscriminately designate businesses as common carriers. Rather, common carriers had to possess one of two distinguishing features. First, some businesses, expressly or implicitly, held themselves out as open to everyone. That is why courts deemed inns, ferries, wharves, delivery services, and farriers as common carriers. Second, certain enterprises required special public permissions to operate. For instance, gas companies needed municipal franchises to use the streets to lay pipes for distributing fuel. Businesses that belonged to one of these two classes could be subject to common carrier duties. By contrast, a manufacturing business or a private boarding house would not be a common carrier.

The courts applied the common carrier concept in a dynamic fashion. It was not fixed in amber in the distant past. Over time, courts and subsequently legislatures expanded common carriage obligations to cover new industries, such as railroads and electricity. Although the telegraph did not exist at the inception of common carriage, the Supreme Court of Vermont in 1889 described the lines of the Western Union Telegraph Company as a common carrier of speech for hire.

The common carrier concept remains alive and well. The judicial reinterpretation of the First Amendment to protect corporate prerogatives has not led to the death of common carriage principles for communications networks. In upholding the Federal Communications Commissions 2015 net neutrality order, a court of appeals wrote, Common carriers have long been subject to nondiscrimination and equal access obligations akin to those imposed by the [FCC] rules without raising any First Amendment question. The late Justice Sandra Day OConnor, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, stated, If Congress may demand that telephone companies operate as common carriers, it can ask the same of cable companies. Congress and the courts treated these networks not as expressive outlets themselves but as conduits to facilitate the speech of others.

Social media platforms fit within notions of common carriage. They are open to all comersa person only needs to provide their name and email address to start using their platforms and posting. The platforms do some curation; they promote select content and users and suppress others. But they are distinguishable from magazines and newspapers. The New Republic, for example, reserves full authority to run the stories and commentaries it chooses and makes clear its editorial and news pages are not open to the public. Twitter and YouTube do not do that.

How would common carriage apply to social media and other tech platforms? A good system would restrict the ability of Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook to suspend users without cause. As a general matter, they couldnt ban users for expressing views they find distastefulwhether conservative, centrist, or progressive.

NetChoice and the social media companies they represent want us to believe that common carriage would lead to an explosion of racist, misogynistic, and other bigoted content. But well-designed common carrier rules would merely establish a presumptive right to post content. Such rules wouldnt lead to a free-for-all in which social media becomesor persists asa sewer of violent and libelous speech. Just as common carrier doctrine permitted railroads to deny service to belligerent passengers, a good system of federal or state regulation should allow social media platforms to suspend users for threatening or defaming others, using racial and other slurs, posting pornography, or employing the networks to conduct illegal activity. Under this system, the elite and powerful few who answer to no one (cough, Elon Musk) would no longer solely decide what constitutes reasonable speech and what runs afoul of social norms.

Moreover, the common carriage approach isnt a recipe for more hate speech: This problem is a function of these platforms basic business modelsurveillance advertising. In the 1990s, people could express white supremacist views on bulletin boards, but their posts wouldnt be amplified and disseminated widely the way they often are today.

But todays social media companies profit from keeping people online as much as possible, both to sell more ads and to track usersthe better to develop more fine-grain profiles of our wants, needs, and fears. That means incendiary content, whether conspiracy theories about the Rohingya in Myanmar, the 2020 presidential election in the United States, or undocumented immigrants, sells. It keeps people highly engaged and very online. Indeed, a casual examination of recent history indicates that social media companies, at present, are not responsible stewards, but are instead leading purveyors of hate speech.

In addition to social media, common carriage principles could be applied to other tech companies that hold themselves out as open to the public. For example, lawmakers could designate cloud computing companies, such as Amazon Web Services, as common carriers. These businesses provide an important service that is purportedly available to all paying customers and should be operated on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Likewise, Google Search could also be regulated as a common carrier: at present, Ohio is seeking to do just that. In Ohio v. Google, the state attorney general is asking a court to declare Google a common carrier under state law. Other states could adopt its model and seek to have Google declared as a common carrier as well.

What does common carriage look like if applied to Google Search? At the outset, we acknowledge some discrimination is unavoidable in online search because results that coughed up disorganized information would be useless. To be helpful, Google must determine which 10 links show up on the first page of search results and which links will be pushed to lower pages.

But a system of common carriage would limit the grounds for discrimination, much like a hotel cannot deny service to a paying guest based on their race or ethnicity but can do so if they arrive late after all rooms are occupied or threaten staff. Google would be prevented from elevating its own affiliates or contractually favored partners in organic search results. In 2017, the European Commission ruled that Google abused its dominant position and fined the company 2.42 billion euros for elevating its own comparison shopping service over those offered by independent rivals. Common carriage would prevent Google from engaging in similar conduct in the future.

Preserving the authority of the states and federal government to enact common carrier rules on social media and other tech platforms is vital. The two of us have no affinity for the current governments of Texas and Florida and are skeptical of the laws being challenged in the NetChoice cases. But that does not blind us to the stakes. The ordinary fix for bad laws is legislative amendment or repeal, not asking the Supreme Court to play super-legislature. Stripping government of the authority to enact common carrier rules for digital platforms would further aggrandize judicial and oligarchic power in our country.
The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department arrested a man following an incident of domestic violence and sexual assault that left the victim with serious injuries.

Authorities say they received a call around 11:50 p.m. Friday regarding a domestic violence incident in the 23000 block of Straight Way in Crestline.

When responding deputies arrived on the scene, they made contact with the suspect, identified as Anthony Richard Yodock, 38, a registered sex offender in California. During the investigations, authorities determined that Yodock had violently physically, and sexually assaulted the victim.

The 38-year-old was arrested on the scene. Deputies say the victim suffered significant injuries that required immediate medical attention.

Yodock was arrested and booked pending charges of penetration with a foreign object, and felony domestic violence. A bail enhancement was sought and approved due to the suspects violent history.

Yodock is currently being held on $500,000 bail.

Anyone with information about this case or who may be a victim is asked to contact the Twin Peaks Sheriffs Station at 909-336-0600.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Former Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus said he was not sure if former President Trumps recent remarks about Black voters were racist.

I dont know. Look, I remember, back in 2016, when President Trump went in to say, Hey, what the hell do you have to lose? Priebus said on ABCs This Week when asked if Trumps comments at the Black Conservative Federation annual gala were racist.

And today, if you look at the polling, hes looking at recent polling about 22 percent in the Black community, in the seven battleground states, he added.

Priebus was responding to remarks made by Trump on Friday when he said his four criminal indictments have increased his support among Black Americans because they understand what it means to be victims of discrimination. His comments were swiftly denounced by Black leaders and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as racist.

I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing, Trump told the crowd. And a lot of people said thats why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against. Its been pretty amazing, but possibly, maybe, theres something there.

Trump also referenced his mug shot that was taken in connection to his election interference case in Fulton County, Ga., to the crowd on Friday.

When I did the mug shot in Atlanta, that mug shot is No. 1, Trump said. You know who embraced it more than anyone else? The Black population.

Former DNC Chair Donna Brazile pushed back when Priebus attempted to point to President Bidens past comments on why Black voters should back him instead of Trump when talking about the former presidents remarks.

Reince, this is not a conversation about whether or not  who has a record, OK? Because we know Donald Trumps record. This is about the future, and what Donald Trump said was racist tropes. And its insulting and demeaning to basically go to Black people and say, Oh, dont you like the fact that I have 91 convictions? Dont you want to see this mug shot? she said.

Hell, no. We want freedom and justice and equality like everybody else, she added.

Priebus said he does not disagree with Brazile.

Wait a second. I dont  for the record, I dont disagree. These things that are said are not helpful. Theyre distractions. I think that part of it is hes trying to be entertaining, Priebus responded.

I dont disagree. However, what I also see are the facts, and the facts are that 22 percent of Black voters in America like what hes saying, like what he stands for and likes him as a candidate. So thats something youre going to  your sides going to have to deal with, he added.

Trump is facing a total of 91 criminal charges spread among four state and federal criminal indictments. He has repeatedly claimed that the cases are politically motivated and has pleaded not guilty in each of the cases.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Texas state Rep. Eddie Morales, D-Eagle Pass, represents a far-flung district that extends from his hometown of Eagle Pass in South Texas to West Texas and East El Paso.

Morales, who has represented House District 74 since 2020, was in El Paso on Friday, Feb. 23. He participated in the Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting that happened that day. He also made an appearance at the Annunciation House news conference to express support for the migrant-support organization as it fights a lawsuit filed by the state Attorney Generals Office..

Earlier this week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he was suing Annunciation House and seeking to close it down. Paxton contends that the organization encourages illegal entry into the United States and is a de facto stash house.

I did not want to be the Hispanic state representative from the border that only focuses on the border, Morales said in an interview Friday at the KTSM 9 studio.

Morales said that the districts biggest needs are infrastructure whether it is El Pasos growing East Side or places in South Texas like Eagle Pass or in between.

The needs of our district are infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure, he said. Roadways, waterlines. We still have to deal with a lot of colonias in Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Presidio and other places. El Paso has some colonias also.

Morales is running unopposed in the Democratic Texas Primary on March 5. There are two Republicans running on that side of the primary  Robert Garza and John McLeon. Morales will face the winner in the November election.

Morales, whose family owns a tortilla business in Eagle Pass, ran for office for the first time when he won election to the state House of Representatives in 2020.

Morales said he has worked closely with El Pasos legislative delegation since learning in 2021 that his district was being redrawn to include part of East El Paso.

East El Pasos needs are similar to much of the rest of the district with the chief concern being infrastructure to keep up with growth, he said.

Infrastructure, waterlines, roadways, sewer lines, broadband connectivity, he said. There is a lot of traveling in and out of El Paso County and I represent all of that West Texas portion.

I am very familiar and have the same concerns as many of our constituents, he continued. My wife and I see it on a regular basis (traveling the district). Its also access to quality health care, making sure we have vocational and trade school opportunities as well as focusing on and injecting more money into higher education.

Morales said that what UTEP and Texas Tech have been doing in El Paso is formidable.

Morales also said it was important to show support for El Pasos Annunciation House as it fights a suit from the Attorney Generals Office aiming to shut it down.

He said that Paxton and other top leadership of the state government have overreached in the suit against Annunciation House and have been taken over by extreme far right views.

Their rhetoric is causing much more divisiveness in Texas between communities, Morales said.

He also criticized Gov. Greg Abbott for calling multiple special sessions of the Legislature during the past couple of years.

We are supposed to be a part-time legislative body, Morales said. I think Gov. Abbott has lost that memo.

During the past legislative session, the governor called the Legislature to convene for four special sessions, Morales said.

We have now become the longest serving legislative body in Texas history, Morales said. We were in session for 67 percent of the total time of the year. My wife did the math. We slept more in our apartment (in Austin) and in different hotels than we did in our home in Eagle Pass.

There is a lot of work that needed to be done, but a lot of the special sessions really werent needed, he continued. It was more to address political theater and rhetoric by a certain few at the top of the state leadership. The common message was to create chaos and confusion and not let Texans and Americans focus on the things that unite us.

Morales said that compromise and negotiation have been dirty words especially in Washington and Congress, but those concepts are needed for the state and federal government to function properly.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
CHICAGO  Cody Bellinger is coming back to the North Side.

After a career resurrection in Chicago in 2023 that resulted in the National League Comeback Player of the Year award, sources told ESPN that Bellinger, 28, is back with the Cubs, the two sides agreeing on a three-year, $80 million contract. ESPN first broke the news early Sunday morning.

The signing ends a lengthy free agency for the center fielder and former NL MVP, who signed with the Cubs last offseason on a one-year, $17.5 million deal, with a mutual option for 2024, after playing his first six seasons with the club that drafted him, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chicago White Sox claim OF off waivers from Baltimore Orioles, place pitcher on 60-day IL

Bellinger hoped to get his career back on track, and he did just that in 2023, batting .307 with a .356 on-base percentage and a .525 slugging percentage for an .881 OPS (on-base plus slugging). He blasted 26 homers, drove in 97 runs and stole 20 bases, finishing 10th in NL MVP voting in his best season since winning the NL MVP award with the Dodgers in 2019.

Most importantly, Bellinger stayed healthy, appearing in 130 games for the Cubs, 84 in center field, 59 at first base and three as the designated hitter. Not surprisingly, he opted out of his contract with the Cubs, which wouldve paid him $25 million in 2024, to become a free agent.

Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras  well-known for driving up contracts for his players  hoped that Bellingers comeback season would secure him a huge contract in free agency this offseason. Bellinger remained unsigned at the start of spring training, still hoping to cash in.

But, as ESPNs Jeff Passan reports, that type of market never materialized for Bellinger, clearing the way for a three-year deal to return to the Cubs.

ESPN reports that, according to its sources, Bellinger will receive opt-outs after the first and second years of the deal. He will get $30 million in salary in 2024, $30 million in 2025 if he doesnt opt out after the first year and $20 million in 2026 if he doesnt opt out after the second year, according to sources via ESPN.

Bulls forward Patrick Williams to have season-ending foot surgery

Bellingers deal is pending a physical.

Bellinger, the son of former big-leaguer Clay Bellinger, was picked by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft. He burst onto the big-league scene in 2017, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award. He was named an All-Star for the first time and finished ninth in NL MVP voting.

Bellinger was named the NL MVP and added a Gold Glove and another All-Star selection in 2019. But he had a down season in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, as did a number of players, and suffered a shoulder injury during the Dodgers 2020 postseason run that resulted in a World Series title.

Bellingers production fell off mightily after that, as he posted an OPS of .542 in 2021 and .654, despite playing in 144 games, in 2022. A left-handed hitter, Bellinger especially struggled against left-handed pitchers, putting up a paltry .583 OPS against them in 2022, with 44 strikeouts in 160 plate appearances.

But Bellinger rebounded against lefties in 2023, with a .984 OPS, 10 homers and just 29 strikeouts against them in 183 plate appearances.

The Cubs have not been big players in the free-agent market this offseason, despite pilfering manager Craig Counsell away from the NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers in a stunning offseason move in November.

But now, by bringing back Bellinger, the North Siders have one of their key pieces in place as spring training progresses toward Opening Day on March 28 in Texas against the defending World Series champion Rangers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Former President Donald Trump vowed at last year's Conservative Political Action Conference to be his supporters' "retribution" -- and many attendees this year seemed eager to see what that looks like if he is reelected to the White House.

When more than a dozen attendees were asked by ABC News what they'd like to see in a potential Trump term, many organically said they wanted some version of mass firings in the federal government and payback against President Joe Biden, with many also saying Trump's detractors within the GOP should be politically exiled.

"I would like to see him actually drain the swamp," said Laura McGarraugh, a nurse from Austin, Texas, using a favored Trump term for Washington. "I liked Vivek [Ramaswamy]'s idea: fire 70% of the deep state, the people that are government employees."

Ramaswamy's proposal, as he has acknowledged, would likely spur legal challenges over worker protections.

Trump has both touted and downplayed how much vengeance he'll inflict on his perceived enemies should he return to the Oval Office.

The former president in June wrote on his social media platform that he would "appoint a real special 'prosecutor' to go after" Biden and his family, whom he called "corrupt," as well as "all others involved with the destruction of our elections, borders, & country itself!"

But, in his speech at CPAC this year, on Saturday, Trump said: "The unprecedented success of the United State of America will be my ultimate and absolute revenge," echoing similar rhetoric on the campaign trail.

A handful of attendees brought up that change in tone to suggest that he wouldn't weaponize his power should he win this November.

MORE: 'Red meat,' J6 and Trump regalia: The GOP base rallies outside Washington

Still, Trump also warned on Saturday that the day after the general election -- if he wins -- "will be our new liberation day" but for his and his supporters' enemies, "it will be their judgment day."

Many CPAC attendees advocated for a more scorched earth stance should he retake the presidency, with some caveats.

"If it's warranted," said Vanessa Alban, a homemaker from Ocean City, Maryland. "Clearly some people in the Biden administration have failed this country. So I would support them being fired."

And while many conferencegoers believed that Trump would put an emphasis on policy, they were supportive of him specifically targeting Biden and his family over unproven claims of wrongdoing and influence peddling -- allegations that are currently at the heart of House Republicans' impeachment effort, which the White House denies as partisan.

"I think it's very important. They're going to have to get into the weeds on all that," said Mark Wehrum, a physician from Orlando, Florida."

"I think charges are coming for him [Biden] and they should be," added Sharon Schifflett, a retired elementary school teacher from Connecticut. "I think he's compromised."

PHOTO: Former President, Donald J. Trump speaks at the CPAC Conference in Washington, Mar. 4, 2023. (Pacific Press/LightRocket via Ge)

Biden himself has pushed back on the impeachment push as politically motivated, previously saying, "I get up every day not focused on impeachment, I've got a job to do."

But the CPAC crowd's appetite for revenge didn't stop with just Biden -- many said there is no longer a place in the party for some of the candidates who ran against Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Attendees who spoke with ABC News said there is still a place for Ramaswamy, a hard-liner whose 2024 campaign was based largely around defending Trump, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who butted heads with the former president for months as his most serious primary rival, could be "rehabilitated."

But they scoffed at the idea that there was still a place in the party for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is hanging on in the 2024 GOP primary; former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one of the GOP's most vocal Trump critics; and former Vice President Mike Pence -- who remained loyal as the former president's No. 2 until he helped certify the results of the 2020 election as required by the Constitution, breaking with Trump's insistence otherwise.

"I think Haley burned those bridges," said Jonathan Grier, a physician from Altoona, Pennsylvania, who said he was at the Ellipse near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, where Trump spoke but did not go in the U.S. Capitol building.

"Christie can go jump in a lake. There's no place for him. He's worthless," Grier said. "Pence can go jump in the same lake Christie just jumped into."

"Pence is a weasel, he's a snake in the grass," Grier added. "He bailed on Donald when the going got tough. And I don't respect that. I'm sorry, I just don't."

CPAC's organizers and attendees appeared to agree with the sentiment.

The conference in recent years has bragged about not inviting more establishment-oriented lawmakers like Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, a former GOP presidential nominee, and speakers at times seemed to take as many shots at fellow Republicans as Democrats over appearing insufficiently loyal to Trump and his brand of politics.

Mike Lindell, the MyPillow chief and prominent election denier, received a rock star's welcome when he took the stage Saturday before bashing "uniparty Republicans" for not supporting his baseless claims of election fraud and pushing his effort to recall Wisconsin state House Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican.

PHOTO: Former President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) meeting on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

While the tack pleased attendees here, many of whom said they enjoyed attending CPAC because of the chance to interact with "like-minded people," conservatives who came up in the pre-Trump Republican Party said the conference and its tone were unrecognizable.

"CPAC used to be an event where a broad ideological swath of the party would come together under the conservative banner," said Mike DuHaime, a former Republican National Committee political director and aide on Christie's now-suspended campaign.

"Even while many people disagreed on some issues, most followed [Ronald] Reagan's maxim that my 80% friend is not my 20% enemy. Not anymore," DuHaime said. "Now, if someone is not 100% on board with 100% of Trump's agenda, personal or policy, you will not be deemed conservative enough."

Not every attendee at the conference wanted Trump to put a premium on revenge, instead urging him to focus on the country's ills.

Thomas Siens, an economist from Fort Worth, Texas, dismissed "all this dictator talk," pointing to Trump's remarks that his success in another term would serve as his critics' comeuppance.

But even those who wanted more policy focus suggested it wasn't for lack of cause for potential retribution.

"I just want him to focus on our country and not worry about revenge," said Pat Thomas, a retired hay farmer from North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. "That'll come in time."

Republican base sounds ready for Trump's promised 'retribution,' with some exceptions originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Participants of the international conference on "Decolonization: Awakening of the Renaissance" in Istanbul, Turkiye have addressed a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron.

In the letter, they expressed their deep concern over the colonial yoke of the peoples of Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean and the Antilles, Azernews reports.

The letter emphasizes that after the signing of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) in 1945, the international norms of self-governance began to develop thanks to the review by the UN General Assembly of the conditions required for self-determination and decolonization. It is noted that relevant resolutions were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1946-1960 and a global consensus on these international principles emerged. In 1960, the process was accelerated by the adoption of the historic declaration on decolonization (Resolution No. 1514), followed by Resolution No. 1541. These developments gave an impetus to the independence movement of countries in colonial territories.

It is further pointed out that although 64 years have passed since the adoption of the above-mentioned historic resolution, the peoples of Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean and the Antilles are still subjected to new manifestations of colonialism.

The letter notes that the main goal of the Baku Initiative Group, which was established as an international non-governmental organization in 2023, is to support the fight against colonialism and neocolonialism.

Numerous international conferences organized by the Baku Initiative Group exposed ample firsthand information by independence supporters and nationalists of Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean and the Antilles about discrimination in employment, housing, exploitation of natural resource and other areas, including mass emigration organized under the auspices of the French government.

For example:

- The deliberate implementation of a poor economic development strategy in certain countries, which involves excessive food dependence of the population (more than 80 percent of food products come from France) and a high cost of living to meet the interests of French monopolies; poverty (50 percent of the population of French Guiana lives below the poverty line), mass unemployment and all kinds of abuses (violence, arms and drug trafficking) in order to seriously jeopardize the future of these territories;

- Non-ratification of Convention No. 169 of 1989 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples related to Guyana;

- The institutions of French cultural hegemony, the gradual disappearance of local languages and the application of a policy of assimilation to our children, which involves the teaching of the French school curriculum to our children and does not correspond to the history, geography, culture and the future ambitions of our peoples;

- Land grabbing (90 percent of French Guiana belongs to the French state), control over millions of square kilometers of our Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) (which makes France the second biggest sea power in the world with 11 million square kilometers of EEZ) and decades of a policy of deportation of our youth to France for settlement colonization of Guadeloupe and Martinique, which has greatly contributed to an unprecedented demographic crisis and the plundering of natural resources;

- The creation of a two-tier colonial justice system that criminalizes all resistance movements and protects bribe-takers (chlordecone poisoning in Martinique and Guadeloupe and the arrest of young people fighting against land occupation, creation of exclusive jurisdictions for the Corsicans in order to try them without recognizing their status as political prisoners and conditions of their imprisonment);

- An "empty chair"policy since Polynesia was re-incorporated into the list of countries to be decolonized;

- Use of the territories from the Indo-Pacific zone (Polynesia, New Caledonia), as well as the Caribbean-American zone (French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe) and Corsica (Solenzara base) as military bases for war preparations without any consultation with local peoples whatsoever;

- Failure to comply with the decolonization process initiated under the Noumea Accord, thus holding an illegal referendum and reducing the number of voters.

It was also emphasized that, realizing their responsibility to history and their own peoples, representatives of the organizations of Polynesia, Corsica, Melanesia, the Caribbean and the Antilles, the last colonies of France, as well as the Baku Initiative Group, demanded that President Macron prevent the actions of the French government against international rules and practices.

"We emphasize the need to establish an international expert group under the auspices of UNESCO and immediately send it to the relevant territories to prepare a report on the state of the cultural and religious heritage of local peoples."

"We call on the French government to request the dispatch of a special OSCE mission in order to study the situation in the fields of environment, economy, human rights and rights of indigenous peoples on the ground."

"At a time when the humanity is faced with the implications of global warming and unprecedented dangers that threaten the future, we ask you (President Macron - ed.) to respect the provisions of the UN Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the letter says.

Organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), the conference on "Decolonization: Awakening of the Renaissance" brought together 50 representatives from 13 countries and four international organizations. The majority of conference participants represent overseas territories that are still French colonies.

Representatives of independence movements and nationalist movements from Caribbean islands, French colonies in South America, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, French overseas territories - New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, as well as all other stakeholders, drew attention to the facts related to the consequences of the French state's colonial policies in their countries.

Note that Baku Initiative Group was established on July 6, 2023, by participants of the "Total Elimination of Colonialism" conference within the framework of the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The BIG launched its office in Baku on October 21, 2023.
Luticha Doucette is a member of the Inner Loop North community advisory panel's racial equity subcommittee and owner of Catalyst Consulting Associates.

Luticha Doucette loves all the quirky people she encounters living in downtown Rochester. The sense of community makes her feel safe. That's why she's against a potential Business Improvement District.

"It's going to chill the vibe," Doucette said about the idea for a BID.

For Doucette, the vibe is accessibility and neighborliness.

The 38-year-old small business owner uses a wheelchair to get around and says downtown is the most accessible section of the city for her. Getting in her car and traveling elsewhere for events or shopping "makes things more complicated."

Doucette fears BID's impact on downtown will mirror her experience with a rent hike at her current downtown apartment building near Sibley Square. In that scenario, residents who made her feel safe and included were pushed out after a reported rent increase. Her sense of community vanished.

"When those folks move, it's destabilizing," she said. "Some of the different folk are not the vibe."

Suddenly, the new residents were full of complaints. The quirky people Doucette treasured and the noise they made around the Liberty Pole was now a nuisance to the newest tenants.

"Who are those people? They don't belong here," she remembers overhearing.

That brand of profiling is what Doucette fears if the city council helps usher in a downtown Business Improvement District. She admits that downtown needs to be enhanced, but doesn't believe a BID is the answer.

Like many downtown residents who oppose a BID, it is the cautionary tales from other cities that implemented BIDs that have her nervous about what the district could mean for small business owners and renters. Word on the street, accurate or not, is that those two groups will be pushed out of downtown Rochester while developers and landowners reap the monetary benefits of downtown's new vibe.

It has happened elsewhere in America.

Making a BID work for everyone

Those fears are what Galin Brooks, president & CEO of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, hopes to quell in 2024 as the Partnership For Downtown Rochester pushes to establish a BID.

"With a BID, the right tools can be in place to grow jobs, support small and local businesses, and reinvigorate the magnetic and bustling heart of Rochester, " Brooks said.

The partnership is a public-private collaboration between New York State, Empire State Development, the City of Rochester and RDDC.

The partnership says its goal is to increase private sector participation to activate public spaces better and help guide the revitalization of Rochester for the benefit of downtown stakeholders, visitors and the overall community. It represents a collaborative effort involving New York State, Empire State Development, the City of Rochester and RDDC, blending public and private sectors.

Its board members include Mayor Malik Evans, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, former Mayor and President & CEO of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Bob Duffy and City Council President Miguel Melendez.

Ultimately, the City Council will vote on the proposed plan.

But the big names behind BID leave people like Luticha Doucette skeptical of how much the voices of everyday people in Rochester will matter in the final decision.

What is the Rochester BID?

This is how the Partnership for Downtown Rochester describes a Business Improvement District:

At the intersection of people, place, and economy, BIDs leverage new resources to generate activities and services that strengthen local economies, stimulate vibrancy, and create inclusive communities. BIDs can provide a wide range of services designed to meet the needs and priorities in each individual community. BIDs operate within defined geographic areas (districts) and are formed when the majority of property owners in a given area choose to pitch in and pool resources to fund new programs and services that cities are often unable to fund.

Who will pay for the downtown BID?

This is who they say will pay for a BID:

BIDs are funded through an assessment which is charged to property owners within a defined area. This assessment generates new funding to implement new programs and services that are supplemental to city services. In the current proposal for a potential Downtown Rochester BID, residential owners of buildings with less than four units are exempt and will not be charged an assessment.

What is the next step for the business improvement district?

The Partnership for Downtown Rochester says this is what's next in the process:

Community input received will inform revisions to the draft district plan by the BID Formation Committee. A revised district plan will need to be presented to property owners for petition and, if there is a majority of support from property owners, to the Rochester City Council for review in 2024. The City Council will then need to vote on the proposed plan. If it advances, City Council will hold a public hearing to receive feedback on the proposal, as well as complete several more steps in the process before a Downtown Rochester BID could be established.

Galin Brooks expects the petition process will be conducted most likely over the spring and into early summer.

Support means a yes from 51% of property owners and 51% of the accessed value in the proposed district.

"We want to make sure we have some sort of a clear majority of support."

Word on the street about the BID  the skeptics

On October 2, 2023, local artist, Zie Stauffer stands outside of the Hyatt Regency in support of No BID ROC's protest of the RDDC's Business Improvement District efforts.

Skepticism is a sentiment echoed by Abby Lupi, a community advocate, at a meeting discussing the initiative. "They have intentionally tried to make the messaging confusing," she said concerning the city power players' description of a BID.

How is the rollout of BIDs going in other cities?

Last year, the Council of Racial Equity did a racial equity impact assessment of the Friendship Heights Business Improvement District in Washington, D.C. The assessment concluded that a BID would likely exacerbate racial inequity in D.C.

The report says the Friendship Heights BID wouldn't worsen racial inequity uniquely but expand a system that causes Black displacement, lacks Black representation, wields unchecked power over communities, and serves wealthy, white interests over those of the unhoused or low-income Black and other residents of color.

In response to the study, the Washington D.C council said:

The hearing record reflects that BIDs are organizations in our community that provide a wide range of services that assist businesses, residents, and visitors. BIDs provide employment services, outreach to the unhoused, additional street and public space cleanings among other services. Some BIDs explicitly include residents within their boundaries as members. COREs determination that the Friendship Heights BID would not uniquely worsen racial inequity in the District should have been reflected in the REIAs ultimate conclusion.

The CORE report was backed by research on Washington's 11 business improvement districts.

What is the positive vision of the BID?

Before coming to Rochester to lead RDDC, Galin Brooks worked for two of those Washington, D.C., BIDs mentioned in the CORE report.

Brooks was vice president for planning and economic development of the North of Massachusetts Avenue BID and director of planning and placemaking for the Downtown DC BID.

Before the calendar flipped to 2024, Brooks worked in a conference room at Rochester's Central Library during a community open house on Dec. 13 to clear up any confusion or concerns community members had. Seventy-six people attended. An additional 364 community members were engaged through a survey.

A community BID meeting at Rochester's Central Library.

Brooks says RDDC has hosted seven tabling events and engaged over 140 people at those events since the release of the initial draft plan and has received 1500 community responses in one form or another.

"We've reached as far and wide as we can," she said. "We are always open for conversations."

At the library pop-up, giant white pads were stationed throughout the room for the residents to write questions and talk to experts and Partnership for Downtown Rochester board members.

What happens to rent with a BID?

One of the biggest concerns of a potential BID was written on a pad near a station with Joe Stefko, president of ROC2025 and chair of the Partnership for Downtown Rochester. Will the landlord pass the extra tax (property owner assessment) on to the tenants?

Stefko explained how the already too-high vacancy rates in downtown mitigate the risk that increased costs would be directly passed on by property owners.

Downtown property owner Patrick Dutton offered more transparency.

Dutton is a re-developer who owns downtown commercial and mixed-use residential and vacant buildings. "Is my rent going to be higher because of this? It's not a definitive yes," he said at the pop-up event.

Dutton supports a BID in Rochester and believes downtown needs to be marketed and supported to attract development and foot traffic to make it a booming city center.

"There's hundreds of thousands of square feet vacant on our ground floors," he said. "We have no identity. There's nowhere to go. I want the community to be clamoring to be part of this district."

The city council will ultimately decide the fate of the BID.

Another Good Read by Rob Bell: A mayors job is to speak up for their people. Is Malik Evans loud enough?

 The Democrat and Chronicle will be writing a series on BID plans. Do you have a question? Something you are looking forward to about the district idea? Or a concern? Reach us at rlbell@gannett.com and use "BID comment" in the subject line of the email.

 Robert Bell is a multimedia journalist and reporter at The Democrat & Chronicle. He was born in Rochester, grew up in Philadelphia and studied film in Los Angeles. Follow him at @byrobbell on X and @byrobbell on IG.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester downtown residents, developers differ on plan for BID
The RAF was in action again over Yemen at the weekend, bombing Houthi positions being used to attack shipping. Four Typhoon FGR4s, supported by two Voyager tankers, struck military facilities conducting missile and drone assaults in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

This was the third RAF mission using planes based in Cyprus that needed to be refuelled for the task, itself an indication of the absence of a UK aircraft carrier in the region. American warplanes have also carried out attacks from their Red Sea carrier group, though so far without destroying the Houthi sites.

This is not altogether surprising given that neighbouring Saudi Arabia has failed over many years to degrade the Iranian-backed groups military capabilities. What is surprising is that it is only the UK and the US involved in this action.

Although it is described as a coalition mission supported by several other countries including Australia and New Zealand, it is Britain and America doing the heavy lifting. The only EU countries lending logistical and intelligence support are Denmark and the Netherlands.

Where are the French, the Spanish and the Italians? They have the wherewithal to help out and yet have not even accepted the legitimacy of the action. Arguably, the Americans with a carrier in the Red Sea and the British with bases in Cyprus may need to be in the vanguard.

But other major European countries, all of which rely on trade through the Suez canal, are absent from the fray. It makes a mockery of their vainglorious talk of an EU army and a common foreign policy.

When in history has a group of piratical rebels been allowed to threaten and intimidate international shipping with so much indifference on the part of those affected? The Barbary pirates plundered and kidnapped their way around the Mediterranean and they were defeated by an international coalition in the 19th century.

A huge volume of Chinas exports go through the Suez canal as does a great deal of oil and gas from the Gulf yet Beijing voted against action and the Arab states have stayed out.

Once again it is left to the UK and the US to police the worlds trade routes. The problem with this is that it can then be used as anti-Western propaganda when keeping the waterways open is to everyones advantage. This matter should not be left to the usual participants to sort out.

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.
US couple Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry disappeared while sailing off the Grenada coast.

Their yacht, SV Simplicity, was found abandoned, blood-stained, and 80 miles off course.

The Royal Grenada Police Force links the couple's disappearance to the escape of three prisoners.

Nick Buro and Bryan Hendry were baffled by the sudden silence from their parents, Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry, who had lived on a yacht for over a decade, People reports.

The American couple vanished while sailing off the coast of Grenada on February 18. Their yacht, the SV Simplicity, was discovered abandoned 80 miles away. Authorities suspect foul play in the couple's disappearance.

Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are seasoned sailors who had recently completed a "Caribbean Rally" from Virginia to Antigua, The Washington Post reports.

They were seeing out the winter island hopping in the Eastern Caribbeanin their catamaran, according to a statement from their sailing club, per The Washington Post.

According to the Post, the last sighting of Hendry and Brandel was near Grand Anse Beach in Grenada on February 18.

A sailing captain stumbled upon the ransacked vessel while paddle-boarding along the Saint Vincent shore, per People. The yacht was splattered with blood stains. The captain came across Brandel and Hendry's American passports, prompting him to call for help.

Authorities were swiftly notified, with the Coast Guard Service reporting the vessel as "unoccupied" and noting the blood stains.

Three prisoners escaped custody on the day the couple disappeared

Grand Anse Beach, Grenada Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock

Three Grenadian prisoners  Ron Mitchell, Trevor Robertson, and Atiba Stanislaus  escaped custody on the same day as Brandel and Hendry's disappearance. Police suspect a connection, suggesting the trio may have been involved in the couple's disappearance.

A statement shared by the Royal Grenada Police Force revealed that "Ron Mitchell was charged separately with one count of rape, three counts of attempted Rape, two counts of indecent assault, and causing harm." The three men were charged jointly with one count of robbery with violence.

They escaped from a holding cell at South St George Police Station on February 18, 2024, the same day the American couple disappeared.

The RGPF statement said the three men made their way to the nearby island of St Vincent "via a yacht which was docked in the St. George area. The RGPF is currently working on leads that suggest that the two occupants of the yacht may have been killed in the process. It is believed that the occupants of the yacht were American citizens."

In a statement posted to Salty Dawg Sailing Association, Nick Buro and Bryan Hendry requested that cruises and anyone not affiliated with the officials with presiding jurisdiction stand down. "The only way we feel this situation could be worse would be if anyone was hurt or endangered trying to conduct searches," they wrote.

A GoFundMe fundraising appeal started by Jessica Mause on behalf of Nick Buro said:

"It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the senseless act of violence that tragically claimed the lives of husband and wife, Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Disagreements about reality often lie at the heart of ideological division. And those questionsWhat is reality? How do we access it?consumed Simone Weil (190943), the French theologian, philosopher, mystic, and activist who is rightly considered among the most important thinkers of the 20th century.

Some may associate theology with cloisters, and mysticism with escapism. Many may associate philosophy with classrooms. Simone Weil combusts these associations. She refused to advance ideas that she had not lived or, more specifically, that she had not substantiated with her own body in the coarse complexity of the real world. She remained tenaciously committed to realityits pain, its unpalatability, its contradictionsfor all of her short and remarkable life. She didnt only make very strong comments, she went out and did them, which absolutely astounded people, one scholar said recently.

In recent days, many have been similarly astounded by the example of Alexei Navalny returning to Russia in 2021, into the hands of those whod poisoned him and who would eventually kill him. Freedom in Russia was no mere idea for Navalny. It was a hope that he carried back to his country in his own body, the novichok barely out of his bloodstream.

Much of our own politics has become the opposite: disembodied. Reductive answers to intractable questions are the bread and butter of the internet. Never has it been easier to assert, with utter conviction, ideas that are simply untethered from the irreconcilable qualities of reality. This can lead to profound dishonestyto lies about the world as it really is. Often those making the strongest claims have the least to lose. Their own bodies arent on the line.

But Weil, by contrast, embodied paradoxes, evading simple political or ideological definitions. She was, in the apt words of a recent biographer, an anarchist who espoused conservative ideals, a pacifist who fought in the Spanish Civil War, a saint who refused baptism, a mystic who was a labor militant, [and] a French Jew who was buried in the Catholic section of an English cemetery.

An intellectual prodigy with particular gifts in mathematics, logic, and languages, Weil received an elite education in Paris in the wake of World War I and qualified as a professor of philosophy in 1931, at the age of 22. With an uncommonly sophisticated grasp of philosophy and classical literature, academia might have seemed an ideal home for Weil. But she found the confines of classrooms and the mere exploration of ideas intolerably disconnected from the real world, where she witnessed the ravages of poverty and unemployment, the residue of one world war, and the tremors of another.

I have the essential need, and I think I can say, vocation, to move among men of every class and complexion, mixing with them and sharing their life and outlook, she wrote in a letter at the end of her life.

Allying herself with the poor meant, for Weil, experiencing their affliction firsthand. She left her teaching job in 1934 and spent a year working in industrial factories around Paris. It was a brutalizing experience, exacerbating the migraines from which shed suffered for years and, more deeply, shattering her psychologically.

As I worked in the factory, indistinguishable to all eyes, including my own, from the anonymous mass, the affliction of others entered into my flesh and my soul. Nothing separated me from it, for I had really forgotten my past and I looked forward to no future, she wrote.

Yet she continued seeking ground-level reality. Despite her pacifist instincts, when civil war erupted in Spain in 1936, Weil insisted on going to the front to fight alongside the Republican anarchists. There she witnessed firsthand the brutal violence of war. Just as importantly, Weil experienced the deep moral confusion that results from war. She discovered that in its deliberate destruction, its non-stop massacre in the firing-line, war shrouded reality in a thick fog, contorting the perceptionsand the bodiesof those involved.

Of the Spanish conflict, Weil wrote that those on the political right would argue that they must continue until the forces of order are triumphant and anarchy is crushed, while those on the left would insist with equal indignation that the fight must continue until the peoples freedom and well-being are assured and the oppressors and exploiters crushed.

Key for Weil is that both of them forget that during the long months of civil war an almost identical regime has grown up on both sides. Each of them has unconsciously lost sight of his ideal and replaced it with an entity without substance. These entities without substance, these disembodied ideals, were disconnected from reality. They, and the people whom they bound, suffered as a result.

But for Weil, accessing reality and embodying ideals is both extremely difficult and emphatically not political. Accessing reality is about God, whom Weil came to understand not as an abstract theological entity, but as a stable reality outside the world and the sole foundation of good.

Those minds whose attention and love are turned toward that reality are the sole intermediary through which good can descend from there and come among men, she wrote.

Attention here is not an abstract meditative practice, and by Weils own definition, it is nearly impossible. It involves an emptying of ones own egotism, fear, power, and presumption.

Attention consists of suspending our thought, leaving it detached, empty and ready to be penetrated by the object, she wrote. Above all our thought should be empty, waiting, not seeking anything, but ready to receive in its naked truth the object which is to penetrate it.

Thus conceived, attention is an imitatio Christi: It emulates Christ in his self-sacrificing love. When God created the world, he restricted himself to make space for creation. When Christ died on the cross, he emptied himself for the sake of humankind. To pay attention is to, as far as humanly possible, retreat from the self to make space for the other person, idea, or desire, perhaps most especially when that other is someone or something wed rather not confront: our ideological enemy, our political foe, or verifiable events that dont conform to our understanding of the world.

This act isnt a mere human achievement, Weil believed, but a capacity given by God, through grace. Gods grace, then, is the first reality to embrace. It opens our eyes to the paradoxical qualities of our world, while refusing Gods grace closes our eyes and advances our own thoughts in realitys place.

All wrong translations, all absurdities  all faulty connection of ideas  all such things are due to the fact that thought has seized upon some idea too hastily and being thus prematurely blocked, is not open to the truth, she wrote.

In other words, true attention protects us from idols of our own making. True attention also allowed Weil to see with lucidity the murderous similarities between Hitlers Germany and Stalins Russia. Two years before Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, Weil was already writing about the false distinction between fascism and communism. Shed witnessed it in Berlin in 1932, where shed often see Nazis arguing with communists and after a time it always became clear to both disputants that they were defending exactly the same programme; and this made their heads swim.

Fascists and communists could not discern the falsity of their positions, nor could they see the irony that they prioritized the defeat of an enemy idea over the integrity of their own idea.

The anti-fascist position is this: Anything other than fascism; anything, including fascism, so long as it is labelled communism, she wrote. And the anti-communist position: Anything rather than communism; anything, including communism, so long as it is labelled fascism.

During Holy Week and Easter of 1938, Weil had a mystical experience. It occurred less as a journey into a distant plane of being, and more as a totalizing, painstaking encounter with Gods love within her bodily suffering. I was suffering from splitting headaches; each sound hurt me like a blow, she wrote. Yet she insisted on intently listening to the Gregorian chant of each liturgical service of Holy Week, during which, she wrote, she experienced a personal visitation from Christ.

In this sudden possession of me by Christ, neither my senses nor my imagination had any part; I only felt in the midst of my suffering the presence of a love, like that which one can read in the smile on a beloved face, she wrote.

Its for this reason that Weil could take seriously the Christian doctrine of Gods entry into creation. Christs incarnation and crucifixion dont merely signal sacrificial love to the world, a remote reality waving to our concrete one. Rather, they bring that love into the world: into bleeding flesh, into shelled out buildings, into Nazi-occupied France. Christ fulfills a longing for the good, without denying the horror that surrounds us.

The tension between absolute good and grinding eviland often, their close proximitytormented Weil for all of her short life. She could find no easy resolution to it. This painful conflict was the price of her commitment to self-abnegating attention, and it cost her huge pain, bodily and spiritually.

The only reconciliation was Christ, who on the Cross brought two paradoxical realities into an indissoluble relationship: magnificent love and excruciating suffering. For Weil, Christs body, brutally nailed to the cross, is the greatest antithesis to the disembodied idea. It is an undeniable, carnal reality, and it is the very essence of love.

In our time, intangible notions of reality threaten to overtake much of our discourse. Perhaps we perceive in our societal ills the machinations of a coordinated and evil deep state. Perhaps we perceive rigidly dichotomous categories, in which some are intractable oppressors and others are intractable victims. We often sink into false reality with relief, unchallenged by the daunting, endlessly complex qualities of the real world.

Weil implores us instead to interrogate, deeply, the quality of our perception. Does it do justice to the reality that is actually there, waiting to be encountered? To traduce that reality by reducing it to a simplified and dishonest account of the world is the most serious moral failure she can imagine.

Reality, even in its brutality, is often infinitely more interesting and extraordinary than reductive fiction. Consider the reality of the Weilian integrity that persevered, even in a darkened cell, north of the Arctic Circle, until the final hour. Alexei Navalny could have written about freedom, corruption, and oppression from exile. Instead, he staked his life on these ideas, and paid the ultimate price.

He put his body in the way of reality: the reality of tyranny, the reality of affliction. It is in affliction itself that the splendour of Gods mercy shines, Weil wrote. From its very depths, in the heart of its inconsolable bitterness.

We can draw the strength to face reality only from this assurance: that something much stronger than bitterness is at the heart of it all.

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.
Doesnt that sound inspirational? How could anyone take issue with moms who support  as Merriam-Webster defines liberty  the power, right, or opportunity to choose?

And, really, who doesnt love Mom? And what closet Commie isnt for liberty?

But, in truth, theres some cynical marketing going on there. Check that branding construction. Theres a subtle inference suggesting that moms who are not affiliated with Moms for Liberty (M4L) are, somehow, "against" liberty.

Richard Wolfe

Cynical marketing, with no small irony attached to it. Because M4L cares not one whit about anyones liberty other than their own. Theres zero altruism as a motivating factor to their mission. Their credo and tactics reflect a "my way or the highway" approach.

M4L self-identifies as part of the so-called modern parental rights movement. The group grew out of opposition to public health regulations for COVID-19, they oppose LGBTQ+ and racially inclusive school curriculum, and have advocated books bans.

But there are cracks in the M4L foundation.

In one priceless display of karma the newly inaugurated school board president in a Philadelphia suburb  where the Board had been flipped from Republican to Democratic  took her oath of office by placing her hand on a stack of books targeted by book bans. Karen Smith said she wanted to demonstrate the commitment Ive had to fighting for the books, and for our students freedom to read.

The broader perspective tells the full story. In 2022, M4L endorsed 500 candidates, with 55% winning their elections. In 2023, 43% of the 202 candidates they endorsed won their school board elections. Do the rough math and youll see that 275 M4L zealots secured school board seats in 2022. In 2023, that dropped to about 87 seats.

That trend line would not suggest a bright future for M4L candidates.

And the M4L member chapters arent happy places either.

Earlier this month, the local chapter in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, simply shut down, due to lack of interest. The chapter had 200 members when it was first formed in 2021, but just three showed up at a diner in Allentown to vote to dissolve the group, the internet news website The Daily Beast reported.

Janine Vicalvi, who originally founded the local chapter, told The Daily Beast that she reached her end point. Between homeschooling and working two jobs, its just a lot, she said. And I guess there wasnt as much willingness to do the work thats required to propel the movement forward.

The Brevard County, Florida chapter was the national organizations first chapter. Recently, the Brevard County school board held a meeting, in part to discuss a challenge to the books The Kite Runner and Slaughterhouse-Five. Only one M4L member showed up.

All the other attendees spoke in favor of keeping the books on the shelves  and heavily criticized the parental rights organization. One attendee compared the growth of the Taliban and its repressive autocracy in the name of religious nationalism in The Kite Runner to the rise of parental rights groups that want to limit what students learn.

The Moms for Liberty member did not speak and eventually left the room. Both books remained on school shelves.

[Speaking of book bans, two long years of M4L-inspired activism repeatedly threatened the public funding of Patmos Library in Jamestown Charter Township. Mounting criticism, press coverage up to and including the national press, and, most importantly, ceaseless citizen opposition ensured the library continuous funding.]

The national M4L organization still holds a lot of influence among politicians, with many Republican primary candidates speaking at the groups annual summit last year. Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis and, oh yes, the disgraced and discarded and thus far four times indicted, not immune, sexually predatory former president (DADATFFTINISPFP) all made appearances.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has labeled M4L as an extremist group. The SPLC explains that an extremist group is an anti-government group is an organization or collection of individuals that  based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities  believes the federal government is tyrannical.

In 2022, the eight Ottawa Impact (OI) County Commissioners ran for office promising to "thwart tyranny" in county government. Theyve since employed statements and activities that fit the SPLCs bill.

So, even if we dont have an Ottawa County chapter of Moms for Liberty, we do have our own collection of extremists.

The difference is we can vote our extremists away.

 Community Columnist Richard Wolfe is a resident of Park Township. Contact him at wolf86681346@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Richard Wolfe: Moms for Liberty
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will chair a cabinet meeting in Yorkshire and the Humber on Monday.

Cabinet meetings usually take place in Downing Street, but Gordon Brown introduced regional meetings in 2008.

It comes as money for local transport across the north and midlands using reallocated HS2 funding is set to be announced by the transport secretary.

But Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor for Greater Manchester, cast doubt over the credibility of the latest plans.

Monday's funding announcement is worth 36bn, the spokesperson added.

Mr Sunak, who represents the constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire, said the reallocated investment would benefit "more people, in more places, more quickly".

Called the Local Transport Fund, the money "fully empowers local people to invest in the transport priorities that matter most to them and their communities," Mr Sunak added.

"Whether it's repaired roads, or refurbished train and bus stations - it will be local leaders who decide what transport projects to invest in based on local needs."

The prime minister is expected to use the meeting to call on ministers and MPs to hold local authorities to account in ensuring the funding is used "appropriately", the spokesperson said.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the "unprecedented" investment would be "transformational for smaller cities, towns, and rural communities across the north and the midlands".

It had been made possible "because this government is willing to take tough decisions like reallocating funding from the second phase of HS2", he added.

The government announced it was abandoning plans for HS2 to reach Manchester last year

The decision to axe HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester, after the Leeds link was previously scrapped, was heavily criticised by northern leaders.

Mr Harper said the government was "sticking to our plan to level up communities with greater transport links right across the country".

But speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Burnham criticised the plans.

"Will anybody in the north of England look at this and not think they are taking us as though we are mugs?" he said.

"They just think they can keep promising us this stuff, it's just not going to work," he added, in reference to previous government promises for transport funding in the north.

Mr Burnham was among those who mocked the government for a post announcing 235m of transport funding for roads in London under the "Network North" logo.

"This money that was saved from cancelling HS2, some of it they proudly said they spent on fixing potholes in London," he said.

"They have tried it once too often."

The exact location of Monday's cabinet meeting has not been released for security reasons, a government spokesperson said.

The first cabinet meeting away from London or Chequers since 1921 was held in Birmingham in October 2008.

A month later, then Prime Minister Mr Brown took the Labour cabinet to Leeds.

In 2010 David Cameron's coalition cabinet met in Bradford for its first meeting outside London.

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastyorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak taking part in a media interview in Deganwy, Conwy, during a visit to north Wales on Friday.

Rishi Sunak has warned of the dangers of polarisation and hatred in politics, after a fractious week in Westminster.

He was speaking after Tory MP Lee Anderson was suspended from his party for refusing to apologise for "Islamist" comments about Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

The prime minister did not directly address the remarks, but talked about protests and the safety of MPs.

Labour's Sir Keir Starmer called for Mr Sunak to "get a grip" of his party.

Ashfield MP Mr Anderson was criticised by both Labour and Tory MPs after he told GB News on Friday evening that Islamists had "got control" of Mr Khan and that he had "given our capital city away to his mates".

Responding to the remarks on Saturday, Mr Khan called Mr Anderson's comments "Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and racist" and criticised the prime minister and his Cabinet for what he called a "deafening silence" on the issue.

Mr Khan called Mr Anderson's comments "Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and racist" and criticised the prime minister and his Cabinet for what he called a "deafening silence" on the issue.

An hour later, a spokesman for the Tory party's chief whip Simon Hart confirmed that the whip had been removed from Mr Anderson "following his refusal to apologise" for his comments.

Removal of the whip means that Mr Anderson, who is also a GB News presenter, has been suspended from his party in Parliament and can no longer sit as a Conservative MP.

Following his suspension Mr Anderson said he "understood the difficult position" he had put the prime minister in and said he would "continue to support the government's efforts to call out extremism in all its forms - be that antisemitism or Islamophobia".

But Mr Khan described the Conservative Party's decision as "belated" and sought to maintain pressure on the prime minister by saying his silence on the matter was "tacit endorsement".

Until January Mr Anderson served as one of the deputy chairmen of the Conservative Party, but he resigned so he could rebel against the government over the Rwanda vote.

On Saturday evening, Labour leader Sir Keir questioned the prime minister's judgement in appointing him to the role.

He said Mr Sunak needed to "take on the extremists in his party" and had a responsibility to "stop this slide into ever more toxic rhetoric".

Lee Anderson told GB News Islamists had "got control" of Mr Khan and he had "given our capital city away to his mates"

In a statement, also on Saturday evening, Mr Sunak did not address Mr Anderson's words but warned of an "explosion in prejudice and antisemitism" since the attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7 October.

"The events of recent weeks are but the latest in an emerging pattern which should not be tolerated," the prime minister added.

He said legitimate protests had been "hijacked by extremists" and said elected representatives had been "verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted".

"And in Parliament this week a very dangerous signal was sent that this sort of intimidation works," he said.

Mr Sunak was speaking following a week which as seen a heightened tension in Westminster, with a row over a vote by MPs on a ceasefire in Gaza, and concerns for MPs' safety.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said his controversial handling of a debate on Gaza was to ensure MPs' safety, while crossbench peer Lord Walney, the government's Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption, has said MPs needed protecting from "intimidation".

The Sunday Times has reported that three female MPs have been given bodyguards and chauffeur-drive cars due to concerns about their safety.
A member of the Republican National Committee (RNC) floated two draft resolutions Saturday that would bar the committee from paying former President Trumps mounting legal fees and ensure it stays neutral in the GOP primary race.

The resolutions, shared by Henry Barbour  an RNC member from Mississippi  were first reported by The Dispatch, and come as speculation surrounds Trumps influence on the committee before a 2024 nominee is officially chosen.

Trump, who is the likely GOP nominee, recently tapped North Carolina GOP chair Michael Whatley and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as co-chairs of the committee. The current chair, Ronna McDaniel, signaled she would step down following Saturdays South Carolina primary.

Lara Trump vowed earlier this month to spend every single penny of the RNCs funds to help elect Trump to the Oval Office.

Every single penny will go to the No. 1 and the only job of the RNC: That is electing Donald J. Trump as president of the United States and saving this country, she said.

If enacted, Barbours proposal would prevent usage of funds to help with Trumps legal bills  which are upwards of $500 million following verdicts in his New York civil fraud trial and E. Jean Carroll defamation cases.

The Republican National Committee and its leadership will stay neutral throughout the Presidential primary and not take on additional staff from any of the active Presidential campaigns until a nominee is clearly determined by reaching 1,215 delegates, part of the proposal said, according to NBC News.

The other proposal, according to outlets, states: Spending any RNC financial resources for any candidates personal, business, or political legal expenses, not related to the 2024 election cycle, does not serve the RNCs primary mission of helping to elect our candidates in 2024.

The former presidents two political action committees have already spent over $50 million on his legal fees last year, according to Federal Election Commission fillings.

The proposals were not welcomed well by the Trump campaign.

The primary is over and it is the RNCs sole responsibility to defeat Joe Biden and win back the White House, Trumps senior advisor Chris LaCivita said. Efforts to delay that assist Joe Biden in the destruction of our nation. Republicans cannot stand on the sidelines and allow this to happen.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Not all members of the Republican National Committee are thrilled with the idea of the party paying for Donald Trumps legal defense.

Henry Barbour, a RNC member from Mississippi, has sponsored two draft resolutions obtained and first reported by The Dispatch, both of which have only a longshot chance of passing. One resolution would bar the RNC from paying the legal bills of any of our candidates for any federal or state office. Another would require the party to stay neutral throughout the Presidential primary and would block the RNC from bringing on additional staff from active presidential campaigns until a nominee is decided.

The party has an upcoming meeting, scheduled for March 7-9 in Houston, where members could be vote on the resolutions. Current RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel is expected to resign from her role at the meeting, and it is likely that Trump-backed North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley, who currently serves as RNC counsel, would take her place as chair. Trumps daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is anticipated to become the partys vice chair. In interviews, Lara Trump has not clearly stated that party funds would not go towards Trumps legal representation.

If Barbours resolutions pass, according to The New York Times, they would not be binding, and even so, Barbour is not optimistic that the party would vote to adopt them. This is not going to pass, I understand that, Barbour said in an interview with The Times. Its about making a point.

Barbour would need two cosponsors from 10 different states to back the resolutions by Tuesday in order to move them forward to a full vote by all committee members.

Thus far, Trump has funded the majority of his legal expenditures with donor funds from the Save America political action committee that he controls. But, the paper reported, the groups funds are quickly dwindling. Save America reported spending more than $47 million on Trumps legal expenses in 2023.

The RNCs job is to win elections. Its not to pay the legal bills for any leading candidate. Hes got to fight his own legal fight, Barbour told Reuters.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Marc Sherland became president of the World Burns Federation in 2020. His real identity was uncovered by another member in December

The president of an organisation set up to promote the works of Robert Burns across the globe has resigned after it emerged that he was a convicted child sex offender who had changed his name.

Marc Sherland quit as the head of the World Burns Federation (WBF), a post in which he organised childrens poetry competitions and boasted that he was safe to work with vulnerable children.

The Sunday Mail disclosed that he had changed his name from Douglas Stuart Hammond after being convicted of sexually assaulting two boys in 1991.

He took on a series of roles in organisations celebrating and commemorating Burns works, working with children, presenting awards and judging competitions.

The 67-year-old became the WBFs president in 2020, but his identity was uncovered in December by another member and he was forced to resign from all the clubs.

Sherland denied that he had changed his name in order to avoid his convictions becoming known, saying he was an author and his birth name was too common to write under.

Deeply concerning case

But MSPs said it was chilling that he had gone undetected for so long. The Sex Offenders Register was set up in 1997 but it is not retroactive, meaning Sherland would never have been placed on it.

Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tories shadow justice secretary, called on the SNP government to fast-track legislation to stop sex offenders changing their names.

He said: Only an investigation can establish the exact circumstances of this deeply concerning case. While this individual was free to change his name, his past crimes should still have shown up in background checks working with children.

If checks were done, did they reveal his offending history? If they did not, was that because of his name change?

The Sunday Mail reported that, as Hammond, he was convicted of the indecent assault of an eight and 10-year old boy when he was an educational community worker at Strathclyde Regional Council.

Court reports at the time said he assaulted the youngsters during dummy fighting at his home and claimed the games helped the boys break down emotional barriers.

One child had to punch him to get him to stop the abuse, while another confided in his grandmother about what was happening.

Apologised and resigned

After changing his name, he became president of the Lanarkshire Association of Burns clubs, Glasgow Haggis Club and a vice president of the Glasgow and District Burns Association, among others.

In 2017 he started organising the Aye Can poetry summer school for 11 to 16-year-olds at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. He then became president of the world federation, formed in 1885 to educate, celebrate and promote the life and work of Burns.

A source at the WBF said: A conviction from over 30 years ago came to light. Bridgeton Burns Club president confronted him around Christmas time.

We did background checks, and it showed a name change. Enquiries were made and the president alongside another trustee met him to confront him about the name change and the convictions. As far as Im aware he admitted it, apologised and resigned in writing.

Speaking from his home in Erskine, Renfrewshire, Sherland told the Sunday Mail: I am a writer, and the reason I changed my name was because as a writer I realised that my given name was relatively common and changing it to a name that was not relatively common was a good idea.

Im now suffering because of that, I have to say, but thats the reason. It wasnt because of my convictions.

Did not want to bring any club into disrepute

Asked whether he accepted that working with children would be a concern to parents and he should not have been doing it, he said: Yes I think that probably is the case.

I thought that the distance in time was so great and the change in my personality was so great that it wasnt such an issue. On reflection, yes I believe thats true. Ive never been in a situation where I have been one-to-one with a child, nor would I put myself in that situation in a school.

He said he had instantly resigned as he did not want to bring any Burns club into disrepute.

A Royal Conservatoire of Scotland spokesman said the Aye Can event was commissioned by the Glasgow and District Burns Society, and Sherland did not teach children during the summer school.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Ministers are aware that changes are being proposed by the UK Government in this area and are giving these very serious and detailed consideration. Given the imminent Crime and Justice Bill deadlines, we would welcome further details from the UK Government, so that any implications for Scotland can be properly considered.

Sex offender notification requirements apply to the individual, irrespective of what name they use  and Disclosure Scotland is alert to the possibility of any person concealing previous names or trying to hide their identity.

The WBF did not respond to a request for a 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.
BEIJING, Feb 25 (News On Japan) - A long-standing Japanese restaurants in Beijing has been forced to close, suffering the impact of a three-year-long zero-COVID policy and the backlash from Japan's policy to release treated water from Fukushima's stricken nuclear plant.

It was a restaurant beloved by regular customers.

Manager Kenta Takenaka of "Nadaman" Beijing: "We have been able to offer experiences that cannot be had in Japan."

Head Chef Yu Igarashi: "We look forward to meeting you somewhere again."

Customer: "It's sad that there will be no place in Beijing to truly enjoy Japanese cuisine."

On the other hand, some Japanese restaurants have returned to Beijing...

"Yuritei," a Japanese restaurant located in Beijing, has reopened after some time.

Yuko Asako, known as the "mother of Beijing," has been running an izakaya in China for 28 years. After temporarily returning home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for medical treatment, she returned to Beijing in October last year, after about four years.

Regular Customer: "We've been eagerly awaiting her return. She looks so lively. Very lively indeed."

Yuko Asako: "During my absence, the Chinese customers really helped me. I want to repay their kindness somehow."

Undeterred by adversity, she held an Okinawan event on this day. Customers from Japan and China enjoyed the event together.

Customer: "I can't wait to visit Okinawa!"

Beijing has seen numerous dramas in its various Japanese restaurants. But which of these restaurants was the first?

Yuko Asako: "I think it was 'Baiyun.'"

Japanese Chef Kei Miwa: "That's what I've heard too."

The Japanese restaurant "Baiyun" was opened in July 1983 with the goal of private exchanges between Japan and China under the cooperation of both countries. Along with a Japanese restaurant in the luxury hotel "Beijing Hotel," it is considered the first generation of Japanese cuisine.

Former Chef of "Baiyun," Juan Yong Liu (64): "I was 22 or 23 years old."

Liu was dispatched to Tokyo for six months to open "Baiyun" and learn Japanese cuisine from scratch.

Juan Yong Liu: "I couldn't even hold a knife at first. I cut my hands a lot."

Aiming for authentic Japanese cuisine, beef and tuna were airlifted from Japan. Essential vegetables such as trefoil and perilla were grown from seeds brought from Japan in Beijing fields.

Juan Yong Liu: "Because it seemed like it was run by Chinese, some Japanese people didn't believe it was good. However, after seeing our ingredients and eating the food, they loved it."

Now retired...

Juan Yong Liu: "Because of this job, I have an attachment to Japan. After retiring, I have been visiting Japan every year."

Digging deeper, even more history was revealed.

In the early 1960s, ten years before the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, there was the first post-war Japanese restaurant "Wafu" in Wangfujing, Beijing's downtown area. It is introduced as "a rare Japanese-style entrance" at the time, saying "you can enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine in Beijing."

Shiro Minami, who was called a pro-Japanese figure and played a role in the opening of "Wafu," along with Liao Chengzhi and Koichi Saionji, who were called civilian ambassadors.

Minami, Representative of the Japan-China Future Association (94): "I was worried about opening a Japanese restaurant. I was worried that even if it opened, Chinese people would come and complain."

Despite the anxiety, it was a successful start...

Minami: "As soon as we opened, it was packed every day. The rooms were mostly full every day, which was unusual."

It is said that tatami mats imported from Kyoto were used in the banquet hall, and people from both countries, who were called "the people who dug the well of Japan-China relations," enjoyed sashimi and sushi while discussing the future of both countries.

Minami: "I think that restaurants have contributed to Japan-China exchanges. I think it's the foundation. If civilians from Japan and China cooperate, the government will have no choice but to move."

After 60 years, Japanese restaurants in Beijing have steadily expanded their foothold. Today, Ms. Asako continues to stand by her restaurant.

Yuko Asako: "To be honest, the dining situation in Beijing is very bad. My dream and hope for next year (2024) is that everyone who passes through the gates of 'Yuritei' will return home feeling better."

Source: ANN
Robert Downey Jr. is facing a social media backlash after thanking Mel Gibson in his SAG Awards speech.

While accepting the award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, Downey took a moment to shout out a handful of stars who had impacted his career. Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Jodie Foster, and Annette Bening were among those named, along with Gibson.

Gibson has been criticized for a number of controversies, including racist rants and domestic violence, antisemitic remarks, and homophobia. The actor has been caught using the n-word a handful of times, once asked Winona Ryder if she was a Jewish oven dodger, and also said that Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.

Social media users tuned in for the SAG Awards were upset to see Gibson mentioned in such high praise from Downey. Were really gonna thank/acknowledge Mel Gibson in an acceptance speech in the year 2024? Yikes, one audience member shared.

Were really gonna thank/acknowledge Mel Gibson in an acceptance speech in the year 2024? Yikes  Bonnie Stiernberg (@aahrealbonsters) February 25, 2024

robert downey jr shouting mel gibson out in his speech is definitely a choice  sabrina ramirez (@sabrinaonfilm) February 25, 2024

You know i feel like none of the other supporting actor nominees would have mentioned mel gibson idk, shared another X user.

you know i feel like none of the other supporting actor nominees would have mentioned mel gibson idk  kenzie xcx  (@kenzvanunu) February 25, 2024

Robert Downey Jr thanking Mel Gibson in his speech  #SAGAwards pic.twitter.com/L57BW9Ymkl  Steven (@StevenNYPhoto) February 25, 2024

You know who wouldn't have mentioned Mel Gibson at the #SAGAwards? pic.twitter.com/L2II4qhvZ0  Olivia Truffaut-Wong (@iWatchiAm) February 25, 2024

Downey has been candid about his support for Gibson even after the controversy. The Oppenheimer star has continued to express his gratitude after Gibson helped to cast Downey in his 2003 film The Singing Detective, resurrecting Downeys career.

I couldnt get hired, so he cast me in the lead of a movie that was actually developed for him, Downey said at an American Cinematheque ceremony in 2011. And he kept a roof over my head and he kept food on the table.

Downey went on to ask the audience to join him in forgiving my friend his trespasses, offering him the same clean slate you have given me and allowing him to continue his great and ongoing contribution to our collective art without shame.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Boris Johnson, former UK prime minister, considers Putins Russia attacking a NATO country a real possibility.

Source: Johnson in an interview with European Pravda

Quote: "I think he might. I think you cant rule that out," Johnson said.

In this context, he specifically mentioned Putin's interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson.

"I didnt like at all what he was saying about Poland in his ghastly interview I think that he could try something," Johnson explained.

He stressed that the chances of Russia's attack on NATO states will increase if Putin succeeds in Ukraine.

"[Therefore - ed.] he mustn't succeed in Ukraine. He must fail," he concluded.

In recent weeks, a number of European NATO countries have also issued warnings about the possibility of future Russian aggression.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated in January that the Alliance should prepare for a Russian attack on a NATO country within the next 5-8 years.

Watch the full interview with Johnson on the European Pravda Youtube channel.

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Russian forces attacked six communities near the Sumy Oblast border on Feb. 24, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported via Telegram.

The attacks caused nearly 200 explosions throughout the day, which marked the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The communities of Krasnopillia, Bilopillia, Myropillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Khotin, and Nova Sloboda came under fire in 20 separate attacks. No casualties or damage to local infrastructure were reported.

Bilopillia experienced the heaviest assault, logging 145 explosions in 24 hours. Russian forces assailed the small border settlement with artillery, drones, mortar, and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).

Residents who live near the Sumy Oblast border endure constant shelling from nearby Russian forces. The Russian military has targeted the region since Ukrainian troops liberated parts of the region in April 2022.

Read also: After 2 years of Russias full-scale war, Ukraine keeps fighting

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Russia's Ministry of Defence has claimed that six drones, supposedly launched by Ukraine, were shot down over Russia's Belgorod Oblast and the Black Sea on the night of 24-25 February.

Source: Russian Defence Ministry

Quote: "Uncrewed aerial vehicles were intercepted and destroyed by on-duty air defence forces over the territory of Belgorod Oblast (two UAVs) and the Black Sea (four UAVs)."

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It is difficult to pin down the exact moment that Russia began morphing into a totalitarian state, but the transformation didnt take long.

For over a decade, the Kremlin was taking away civil liberties and feeding the population a revamped and increasingly more aggressive version of nationalism. For nearly a decade, most Russians didn't seem to care.

In 2012, the Kremlin ruthlessly ended the wave of demonstrations known as the Bolotnaya protests. Named for the square in Moscow where demonstrators gathered, the rallies began in December 2011, when thousands of Russians flooded the streets to protest against election fraud.

Among key protest leaders were charismatic opposition politicians such as Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny. Many believed Russia could see its own pro-democracy revolution inspired by the bubbling tail-end of the Arab Spring.

That dream, however, never materialized. Russian President Vladimir Putin was reelected as president for the third time, methodically decreasing the space for dissent.

"Afterwards, (Putin) became fully invested in this narrative that Russia is surrounded by enemies. That's when the regime fundamentally changed the basis of its legitimacy from electoral and economic performance to a national fight against the West in the name of Russian civilization," says Graeme B. Robertson, director of the Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Over the coming years, Russia's political and social fabric continued to disintegrate.

In February 2015, Boris Nemtsov was gunned down in central Moscow. Last week, on Feb. 16, Alexei Navalny died in a remote penal colony in the Russian Arctic.

Both his supporters and governments across the world believe that the Russian government killed Navalny for his continued fight against the state. No large-scale protests followed.

Navalny's demise marks 12 years that transformed Russia from a competitive authoritarian state, in which the opposition was allowed to compete in local elections, into an aggressive totalitarian regime where any form of dissent is punishable by imprisonment or death.

How did this happen, and why, despite having all the tools, did the Russians opt out of putting up a fight?

Popular autocrat

There was no key turning point that struck a fatal blow to Russia's civil society. Instead, there was a slow erosion of rights, says Dan Storyev, an editor at OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests and provides legal aid.

"The repressions didn't start overnight. To create this kind of war machine that the Kremlin possesses right now, they needed to neuter civil society, they needed to repress the people, they needed to terrify everyone into submission," says Storyev.

"You have this gradual, slow, deliberate restriction of civil liberty with the purpose of creating a highly militarized, highly repressed, highly autocratic state."

This erosion often took the form of vaguely worded, piecemeal legislation.

People stand on the tightly packed Bolotnaya Sqare during an authorized opposition protest against the alleged mass fraud in the Dec. 4 parliamentary elections in central Moscow, on Dec. 10, 2011. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

In 2012, for example, Russia introduced its infamous "foreign agent" law, initially presented as Moscow's version of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act. It required individuals and organizations that received foreign funding and worked in the "political sphere"  a deliberately nebulous term  to submit to strict auditing requirements.

They were also forced to carry a disclaimer on all of their work labeling them as a "foreign agent": an emotionally loaded, Soviet-era term suggesting national disloyalty.

Used sparingly at first, the law started to be rapidly applied to Kremlin opponents. In 2013, eight organizations were named as foreign agents, according to OVD-Info. In 2014, that number hit 25. By 2015, it was 85.

Later down the line, that law was also strengthened. In July 2022, foreign agent laws expanded so that any Russian individual or business that appeared to have "fallen under foreign influence" could receive the designation  even if they received no financial support.

These laws were never popular among the large majority of Russians.

"There was a minority of people who did support such legislation, but it is quite a small minority. I don't think there was ever any real groundswell support," says David Lewis, professor of Global Politics at the University of Exeter.

But such legislation also wasn't broadly condemned. While each blow to human rights would spark some protest, usually in Russia's large cities, there was never enough unrest to reach a critical mass.

Most complied. Many Russian people and organizations, who, after the start of the full-scale war left Russia, continued to write the dull wording forced on them by the foreign agent law when sharing posts online.

The quick repression of street rallies by riot police was enough to deter some demonstrators. But the gradual nature of such laws also caught people off guard. Many ordinary Russians simply thought that such rulings would never affect them, says Lewis.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny attends a rally in support of opposition and independent candidates after authorities refused to register them for September elections to the Moscow City Duma, on July 20, 2019 in Moscow, Russia. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"Until quite recently, prosecutions under these laws have been quite selective. So although there were these widespread repressive laws, it didn't seem that you or your friends would ever be targeted," he says.

"Most Russians thought that these laws were only focused on a few people in Moscow, perhaps liberals they didn't have a great deal of sympathy for, people with whom they have little in common."

It also helped that Putin and his United Russia party remained broadly popular. In the early 2010s, the Russian economy was on the rise, and Moscow was becoming a more dominant force on the world stage.

Even when Putin's approval rating began to suffer at the end of 2013  a trend attributed to slowing economic growth rather than social policy  it only dipped to 61 percent, according to Levada Center, a mostly independent pollster.

That popularity and acceptance only grew with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which marked the start of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Despite some demonstrations, largely in the country's major cities, many Russians rallied around the Kremlin's cause as troops appeared on the streets of Ukrainian Sevastopol, eager to embrace the narrative of a strong, proud Russia.

Two months after the start of the war, Putin's approval was as high as 82 percent.

For many years, even Russia's great liberal hopes, such as Navalny, were unwilling to commit to returning Crimea to Ukraine and risk upsetting their electorate.

Asked in an interview whether he'd be willing to return occupied Crimea to Ukraine, Navalny famously said "Crimea is what, a sandwich to be passed around?"

At this time, millions of Russians began to emotionally invest in the Putin regime and its narrative of a great Russia reclaiming its destiny as a global superpower, says Professor Robertson.

For the Kremlin, that popularity meant greater security, knowing that the vast majority of Russians would accept it as they tightened the noose around the neck of civil society.

Laws targeting the media and NGOs ramped up in the years following the annexation.

In May 2014, two months after the formal annexation of occupied Crimea, Russian laws made it illegal to call for the return of occupied and annexed land to its rightful owners.

In 2015, Russian authorities were given the power to name foreign and international groups deemed to threaten the country's security, defense, or constitutional order, as "undesirable organizations" and shut them down.

In the same year, Putin's approval rating remained as high as 89 percent, according to Levada Center.

"I'm not saying that if Moscow had failed to annex Crimea that Putin wouldn't be in power and that Russia wouldn't be repressive," says Robertson. "But there is a huge difference between the type of repression done by an unpopular regime. It's far easier for a popular regime to be oppressive."

Putin's high approval ratings also provided a greenlight for the Russian state to crack down on those who did not support the Kremlin.

Pro-Ukrainian protests in 2014 were quickly put down.

Dmitrii Anisimov, a spokesperson for OVD-Info, has spent months tracking Russia's authoritarian decline.

"Elements of Russia's legal and political process have been rotten for years," he says. "But the number of people being detained at rallies or coming under legal sanctions used to be far, far less."

Pitfalls of adaptation

Ultimately, Russian civil society decided not to fight but to adapt to the state's increasingly repressive laws.

American Jennifer Castner has worked with Russian environmental NGOs since the 1990s.

For more than a decade, she was director of the Altai Project, an environmental charity focused on the Altai region: an area that spans Russia, western Mongolia, northwestern China, and far eastern Kazakhstan. As well as protecting species such as snow leopards, it worked with regional partners to support nature conservation and local indigenous practices.

She saw many international donors pull out of Russia during the 2010s, often because they didn't want to put their Russian partners in the Kremlin's firing line.

They had reason to be worried.

"The 'foreign agent law' passed in 2012," says Castner. "Two or three years later, six out of my seven NGO partners in Altai had been named foreign agents and had to liquidate their organizations."

Castner believed that the best thing her organization could do was adapt to this hostile landscape.

"We worked really hard to be able to support those activists and meet them where they were," she says.

Yet these activists were also squeezing themselves to try and fit state requirements. It didn't help the organization survive, nor did it save people from prosecution.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on a screen set at Red Square as he addresses a rally and a concert marking the annexation of four regions of Ukraine Russian troops occupy - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, in central Moscow on Sept. 30, 2022. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

Ultimately, the sliver of space for Russian civil society would disappear.

In July 2023, Castner's Altai Project was named an "undesirable organization." The Russian Prosecutor General's Office accused the group of threatening the country's economic security, obstinately due to previous work with groups who sought to reroute the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline away from Altai, it said.

The organization made the decision to close after 25 years of work in Russia.

Over time, oppression became normalized across wider Russian society, says journalist Olya Churakova, who also wasn't saved from prosecution.

"At first, every media outlet that was shut down (by the authorities) got so much attention, it was huge," she says. "And then it became routine that they will just destroy everyone."

"It's funny because when I graduated and started working for (independent Russian TV channel) TV Rain in 2015, I used to think it was such a shame how my generation of journalists had missed the golden age when publications had more freedom and money," says journalist Sonya Groysman.

"Now, I think how lucky we are that we at least got some years working and reporting from our country, not from exile. It was so much easier to get access to the courts to the Duma (Russia's lower house of parliament). And then, year after year, we lost all of that."

Olya Churakova and Sonya Groysman were named foreign agents in 2021 while working for independent Russian investigative outlet Projekt. Today, they live abroad, continuing to work on journalistic projects, including their joint podcast, "Hello, You're a Foreign Agent."

Whether Russia's civil society could have wrested back control from the state if they had taken different or more decisive action earlier is a question with no clear answer.

Long before the crackdown against civil society began in earnest, Russia was already skilled at clamping down on dissent: threatening protesters' jobs and putting pressure on their relatives, as well as police brutality.

Jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny is seen on a screen via a video link from the IK-3 penal colony above the Arctic circle on Jan. 11, 2024. (Vera Savina/AFP via Getty Images)

But even as threats continued to mount, the Russian opposition largely remained fractured and ununified, inhibiting its ability to rally, organize, and fight back effectively, says Professor Lewis.

"The Russian opposition is very diverse. They may all be against the regime, but they've not always had a common cause or an idea of what they actually want," he says.

But many feel that warning signs were missed, including by the West.

"Among the veteran activists I know, there is this sense that we kept banging on all doors, we kept engaging with policymakers, and we kept telling them: hey, something really big is coming. There are going to be consequences to these years of repression. There is going to be a mass atrocity. They are turning Russia into a warlike state," says OVD-Info's Dan Storyev.

"Unfortunately, we have to say that many Western leaders did not listen."

Now, as the full-scale invasion enters its third year, both the violence in Ukraine and repression back at home has become normalized to many Russians.

While opposition activists in Russia are jailed, the country's silent majority keep their heads down and try to maintain a bubble of normality, ignoring atrocities at home and abroad.

Similar behavior was seen in the Soviet Union and in authoritarian regimes across the world, says Lewis.

"In a lot of authoritarian regimes, if you don't get involved in politics, you can maintain a relatively normal lifestyle," he says. The majority in Russia tends to try and wait it out, experts agree.

Lewis says that Russia is not unique in this regard.

"We like to think of revolutions as mass affairs. But most people just want to wait and see what happens when it all blows over," he says.

In the meantime, repression in Russia is likely to worsen, says Professor Robertson.

"Political scientists talk about a repression trap, where dictators become caught in a cycle. Repression is a ratchet that's easy to turn up and hard to turn back down again," he says.

"I worry that that's what we're seeing in Russia today. When you see people in restaurants or on buses reporting on others, these are very worrying signs."

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Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraines Defence Intelligence, explained that there are only six A-50 aircraft left in Russia, and if another one is lost, the Russian military will be unable to operate them continuously.

Source: Budanov in a comment to journalists on the sidelines of Ukraine. Year 2024 forum

Quote: "Six more [left]. [That makes] two complete rotations.

Should another one fall, round-the-clock duty will have to be stopped."

Details: Budanov asserted that the operation was prepared for several weeks but not planned for 23 February in particular, as they were "waiting for the plane, not the date."

Background:

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Ukraines Air Force has reported that the Russians launched a missile strike on Ukraine on the evening of Sunday, 25 February.

Source: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster

Details: At 18:48, Kropyvnytskyi came under Russian attack.

An air-raid warning was later issued in Odesa Oblast.

Suspilne reported that explosions rocked Poltava and Kropyvnytskyi on Sunday evening.

Andrii Raikovych, Head of the Kirovohrad Oblast Military Administration, also reported that explosions had rung out in the Kropyvnytskyi district during the air-raid alert. "Information about the consequences [of the attack] is being confirmed," he added.

Updated: At 19:52, Ukraines Air Force said a missile was advancing towards Kryvyi Rih. The missile later changed course, targeting Kropyvnytskyi instead.

Suspilne reported more explosions in Kropyvnytskyi.

Quote from Raikovych: "Kirovohrad Oblast has suffered another massive missile attack.

There were no casualties or damage to civilian sites in Kropyvnytskyi district."

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Russia says its forces improve positions near Avdiivka and Donetsk

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Sunday its forces had taken more advantageous positions near Avdiivka and Donetsk after President Vladimir Putin ordered the military to push further into Ukraine following two years of full-scale war.

A Ukrainian report made no mention of Russian gains in Donetsk region, the focal point of Moscow's slow advance in eastern Ukraine. It noted clashes around Avdiivka, captured by Russian forces last week, and other areas contested for months.

Russia's defence ministry said its troops had pushed back Ukrainian forces near Klishchiivka, Dyliivka and Kurdiumivka, villages south of Bakhmut, a town taken by Russian troops last May but an area where Ukrainian troops remain active.

The Russian report also said Moscow's troops had taken better positions near Avdiivka.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern grouping of troops improved the situation along the front line and defeated formations of the 22nd, 28th and 92nd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Klishchiivka, Dyliivka and Kurdiumivka," it said.

"In the Avdiivka direction, units of the Centre group of forces occupied more advantageous lines and positions, and also defeated manpower and equipment of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 107th Air Defence Brigade."

The ministry said Russian troops had repelled seven Ukrainian counterattacks in the area. Seventy-seven Ukrainian drones were destroyed, the ministry said.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, in its evening report, said Kyiv's forces had repelled 18 attacks near Avdiivka. It said five Russian attacks had been beaten back near Bakhmut, referring to Klishchiivka, Kurdiumivka and other localities.

Reuters was unable to immediately verify battlefield accounts from either side in the war.

Putin said last Tuesday Russian troops would push further into Ukraine to build on their success after the fall of Avdiivka, where he said Ukrainian troops had fled in chaos.

Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering full-scale war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies on the other.

Along the 1,000 km (600-mile) front line, Russian troops are dug in behind deep mine fields patrolled by drones and guarded by heavy artillery.

Russia controls a little under one-fifth of territory internationally recognised to be Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he will not rest until every last Russian soldier is ejected.

Russia says the territory its forces control is part of Russia and that it will never be given up. The West has committed about 250 billion euros ($271 billion) worth of aid to Ukraine in an attempt to defeat Russian forces.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Ron Popeski and Richard Chang)
Mick Ryan, an Australian general suggested that Russian attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine are actually reconnaissance by combat, and are intended to find tactical weaknesses on the Ukrainian front, he said in an interview with Radio NV on Feb. 23.

These weak points could be exploited in future offensives.

"Russians will certainly try to seize more territory over the next six months or so. They are obviously conducting operations in the south and east, preparing for what could be even more large-scale attacks in the spring," the general stated.

Read also: Russia escalating assaults at multiple fronts seems aimed at dispersing Ukrainian forces  UK intel

A Feb. 21 report by the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that the new phase of Russia's offensive in Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts on the Kupyansk-Lyman area is a rare example of a larger-scale campaign by the Russian army, which Russian forces have not attempted since the first months of the invasion. Its hypothetical success could be dangerous for Ukraine, as it would have not only local tactical but also broader operational consequences for the entire front line and the course of the war.

Read also: Tavria grouping warns of mopping-up operations as Russian forces secure grip on seized Avdiivka

The New York Times wrote that, after the capture of Avdiivka, Russia's offensive split into five main directions, covering settlements along most of the frontline in eastern and southern Ukraine. The Russians are advancing in the Avdiivka, Maryinka, and Bakhmut directions, as well as near Robotyne and Kreminna.

The article noted that the capture of Avdiivka was Moscow's first major victory on the battlefield since the capture of Bakhmut in May 2023.

Even if the front line stabilizes after the Russians capture Avdiivka, its fall will allow the occupiers to move troops and equipment more efficiently as they advance in other areas, the NYT says.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Shizuoka, Feb 25 (News On Japan) - The new sport of pillow throwing, which burst into the spotlight 12 years ago inspired by high school students' school trips, is about to uncovered a new hero, with the launch of the 12th annual "All Japan Pillow Throwing Competition" held in Ito Onsen, Shizuoka Prefecture.

On the first day of the two-day competition, AKB48's Kahime Narita plumped up the pillows to liven events.

Teams of eight players each participate, throwing a total of 10 pillows. The objective is to hit the opposing team's captain.

This year, 40 teams from all over Japan competed, with participants in yukata (summer kimono) protecting their captains with defensive futons while engaging in heated battles.

Participants expressed their excitement, saying, "It's incredibly fun. I didn't expect it to be this lively."

On Sunday, the tournament will enter the final rounds, with the winning team receiving a prize of 100,000 yen.

Source: TBS
If Russia loses another A-50 AWACS aircraft, they will be unable to continue continuous air reconnaissance operations, HUR head Kyrylo Budanov said at the Ukraine 2024 Forum, Ukrainian outlet UNIAN reported on Feb. 25.

"The Russians have six more A-50s. Two full shifts, the head of the HUR said.

If one more goes down, they will have to stop round-the-clock patrols."

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force takes out a Russian A-50 reconnaissance plane over the Azov Sea

Downing of Russian A-50s: what is known

On Jan. 14, the media began to spread information that the Ukrainian military had shot down a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft and an Il-22 command and control aircraft over the Sea of Azov. The next day, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk, indirectly confirmed this information by writing on Telegram: "This is for Dnipro! Burn in hell, you inhumans!".

Read also: Ukraine unveils 700km range weapon at Kyiv forum

Later, the information about the destruction of Russian A-50 and Il-22 aircraft was confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who thanked the Ukrainian Air Force for the "perfectly planned and executed operation" in the Azov Sea.

According to the Defense Express, the downing of the A-50 was the first-ever destruction of a long-range radar detection aircraft.

On the evening of Feb. 23, the Ukrainian defense forces shot down a second A-50. This was officially confirmed by the Ukrainian Air Force and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. According to media reports, the plane was hit by a Soviet S-200 air defense system.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Russian overnight attack completely destroyed the Kostiantynivka Central Station in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's state-owned railway company Ukrzaliznytsia reported on Feb. 25.

No casualties at the train station were reported.

The strike was among seven other attacks Russian forces conducted in the embattled eastern region, according to the local authorities.

The train station has not operated for a long time, did not receive trains, and did not serve passengers, the company said in a Facebook post.

The regional prosecutor's office reported that Russian forces likely used a KAB-250 guided bomb to strike the Kostiantynivka Central Station, injuring one civilian.

A 75-year-old woman was injured as the blast wave broke the windows at the home near the train station.

Russia uses KAB smart bombs, ranging from the KAB-250 and KAB-500 to KAB-1500, which can be laser-guided or satellite-guided. The KAB-500L, equipped with a highly-explosive warhead, is frequently used in Russia's war against Ukraine, although multiple KAB-type bombs have been used.

The regional prosecutors office has launched an investigation into the violation of the rules and customs of war.

Donetsk Oblast Military Administration reported on Feb. 25 that Russian attacks also damaged three educational facilities, two administrative buildings, 12 apartment buildings, two houses, 21 shops, a church, and an infrastructure site across the region over the past day.

The front-line city of Kostiantynivka, as well as many other places in Donetsk Oblast, comes under regular strikes by Russian forces.

Read also: I still imagine being there: A trip through memories of Ukrainian cities in tatters from Russias war

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The threat of a Russian strike forced German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to call off her visit to Mykolaiv Oblast on Sunday.

Source: This was reported by AFP and Bild, writes European Pravda

Details: According to AFP, during a visit to the frontline city, a Russian reconnaissance drone was spotted, briefly following the minister's armoured motorcade before turning around. As a result, the German Foreign Ministry decided to evacuate the area immediately for security reasons.

It should be noted that such flights by Russian reconnaissance drones are typically accompanied by a direct Russian air strike. An air-raid warning was issued in Mykolaiv Oblast, and residents were urged to seek refuge in the nearest shelter.

The minister and her delegation left the motorcade at high speed, claiming that the "safest option" was to keep moving.

According to an AFP reporter accompanying the minister, the drone warning came as Baerbock was about to visit a water treatment plant built with German assistance near the front line.

"The visit to the water station had to be cancelled prematurely for security reasons," the German Foreign Ministry claimed, as reported by Bild.

The night before, Baerbock was in Odesa, and the minister had to spend about 15 minutes in the basement of a hotel before the all-clear was given.

During her visit to Mykolaiv, Baerbock announced that her country would provide an additional 100 million in humanitarian assistance.

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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock gives a press statement in front of the former headquarters of the regional administration of Mykolaiv Oblast during her two-day visit to Ukraine. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had to cut short her visit of a waterworks facility in southern Ukraine on Sunday when a Russian spy drone was sighted, a Foreign Office official said.

Baerbock had been visiting the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv over the weekend when members of the delegation were asked to quickly return to the armoured vehicles in Baerbock's convoy after a Russian drone was spotted flying over the area of the waterworks.

Such reconnaissance drones are usually followed by direct airstrikes, the official said, noting that staying on the move is the best response in such instances.

The spy drone then followed Baerbock's column before turning away. Shortly after Baerbock's column left, there was an air alert in the Mykolaiv region for around 15 minutes.

Baerbock already had to go to a shelter in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa on Saturday evening when air raid sirens began sounding for about 20 minutes in the city centre.

According to a dpa reporter, Baerbock was in the shelter of her hotel together with members of her delegation and other guests. People in the delegation reported that it was a rocket alarm.

An explosion was then heard in the Odessa region. It remained unclear whether there was a missile hit or whether the Ukrainian air defence fended off the projectile.

Details about possible damage or casualties were not initially known. Shortly before Baerbock's visit, two Russian drone attacks had left a total of four people dead and several injured in the city of Odessa.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock gives a press statement in front of the former headquarters of the regional administration of Mykolaiv Oblast during her two-day visit to Ukraine. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock signs a poster during a visit to a project for a water desalination plant near Mykolaiv. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock gives a press statement in front of the former headquarters of the regional administration of Mykolaiv Oblast during her two-day visit to Ukraine. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had to cut short her visit of a waterworks facility in southern Ukraine on Sunday when a Russian spy drone was sighted, a Foreign Office official said.

Baerbock had been visiting the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv when members of the delegation were asked to quickly return to the armoured vehicles in Baerbock's convoy after a Russian drone was spotted flying over the area.

Such reconnaissance drones are usually followed by direct airstrikes, the official said, noting that staying on the move is the best response in such instances.

The spy drone then followed Baerbock's column before turning away. Shortly after Baerbock's column left, there was an air alert in the Mykolaiv region for around 15 minutes.

The decision to cancel the visit was made by the Ukrainian and German security teams - and not by Germany'S Foreign Office, the official said.

Baerbock already had to go to a shelter in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa on Saturday evening when air raid sirens began sounding for about 20 minutes in the city centre.

According to a dpa reporter, Baerbock was in the shelter of her hotel together with members of her delegation and other guests. People in the delegation reported that it was a rocket alarm.

An explosion was then heard in the Odessa region. It remained unclear whether there a missile hit or whether the Ukrainian air defence fended off the projectile.

Details about possible damage or casualties were not initially known. Shortly before Baerbock's visit, two Russian drone attacks had left a total of four people dead and several injured in the city of Odessa.

Earlier on Sunday, Baerbock said that Germany is to provide an additional 100 million ($108 million) in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to support the water supply, hospitals and housing.

"Putin's terror is continuing here every day," Baerbock said in Mykolaiv in reference to the Russian president.

"But the people here in Ukraine are clear: No day, no attack will be able to destroy their struggle for survival," she said.

Germany intended to promote aid for reconstruction alongside providing military assistance for defence, she said. The German government is to hold an international reconstruction conference in support of Ukraine in Berlin in June.

Mykolaiv, the capital of the region of the same name, lies around 130 kilometres to the east of Odessa and 65 kilometres from the Black Sea. Its port is Ukraine's third largest, and the city is home to a university for shipbuilding.

In the solar-powered waterworks visited by Baerbock and built by a Berlin company in Mykolaiv is a seawater desalination plant. Some 1,000 cubic meters of water are produced there every day which supply water for about 200,000 people.

Baerbock also viewed the former regional administrative headquarters in the company of Mykolaiv Governor Vitalii Kim and Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych.

Baerbock ended her two-day visit on Sunday and was en route to Berlin on Sunday evening.

A Russian missile, believed to have been aimed at Kim, struck the building, killing 37 and injuring more than 30, at the end of March 2022, a month after the Russian invasion began. It has been left there as a memorial.

The port is out of action. In a recent report, the authorities said that more than 1,300 residential blocks and more than 1,000 private homes had been destroyed or damaged by Russian action.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock gives a press statement in front of the former headquarters of the regional administration of Mykolaiv Oblast during her two-day visit to Ukraine. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Ukrainian forces have reported that the Russian army launched guided bombs (KABs) to attack Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of 25 February.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Details: The Air Force reported that Russian tactical aircraft had launched KABs on Kharkiv Oblast.

Meanwhile, an air-raid warning has been issued across Kharkiv Oblast.

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Russian military officials are trying to shift responsibility for war crimes committed in Ukraine, including the execution of prisoners of war, to mid- and lower-level commanders, according to a new report by the Institute for the Study of War on Feb. 24.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has published footage of a commander of the Central Group of Russian troops, Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev, reporting to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, on the capture of about 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast.

Read also: Prosecutor's office investigates execution of two unarmed Ukrainian POWs by Russians in Donetsk Oblast

Shoigu stated that Russian troops need to treat prisoners of war humanely, "as they have always done.

According to ISW, the Russian leadership is likely concerned about the international repercussions of Russian war crimes and may even have reached out to Ukrainian POWs in response to recent international attention to Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

On Feb. 18, the DeepState analytical portal reported that Russian occupiers shot six captured Ukrainian soldiers at the Museum position (formerly the Zenit military unit) in Avdiivka, who remained there after the Ukrainian army retreated from the city. Four were wounded and could not escape the encirclement along with other Ukrainian military.

Read also: Ombudsman accuses Russia of disregarding Geneva Conventions as evidence emerges of PoW executions

Relatives of the soldiers identified their bodies from the video. Journalist Yuriy Butusov published a list of the names of the soldiers who remained in Zenit after the retreat of the Defense Forces.

The Office of the Prosecutor General stated that an investigation had been launched into the shooting of six Ukrainian prisoners of war at the Zenit position in Avdiivka and two in Veseloye, Donetsk Oblast.

On Feb. 20, the prosecutor's office announced the launch of an investigation into the shooting of Ukrainian prisoners of war near Robotyne, Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin noted that Ukrainian law enforcement officers are investigating 18 criminal proceedings over the killing of 38 Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russians.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The National Resistance Centre has reported that the Russians are actively preparing to provide opportunities for the Russian military to vote in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) during the so-called Russian presidential elections.

Source: National Resistance Center (NRC)

Quote: "The Russian occupation administrations continue to take preparatory measures to hold the so-called elections of the Russian president in the TOT of southern and eastern Ukraine.

In this context, since the beginning of this month, the occupation authorities have been focusing on ensuring the electoral rights of representatives of the Russian occupation forces in the occupied territories."

Details: NRC said that the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation has agreed to hold the voting of representatives of the Russian troops at the end of this month. According to operational data, the Russians will be able to vote through mobile and static polling stations at a specially designated time.

In addition, the NRC adds, the Russians are taking additional restrictive measures to ensure security and prevent the Ukrainian underground from disrupting the voting.

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In the village of Chornomorsk, in occupied Crimea, soldiers from the Bears volunteer brigade, which is part of the Redut PMC, broke into a cafe, started shooting, and brutally beat visitors with batons, said local Telegram channels on Feb. 25.

The incident took place in the Krepost cafe. The footage shows people in military uniforms insulting civilians, beating them with batons, and shooting in the air and next to people's heads. The attack allegedly took place on the night of Feb. 23-24.

One eyewitness wrote on social media: "My loved one is in serious condition in the hospital... My heart is bleeding from this atrocity."

Later, she told the Important stories news outlet the details of the attack. It is alleged that the two soldiers had a conflict with visitors of the cafe, where they were celebrating on Feb. 23.

"They didn't like something, and they called for reinforcements from the Bears unit," the witness said.

Read also: Ukrainian drone captures Russian soldier pummeling subordinates with wooden stick  odd video

Russian pro-war Telegram channels report that a criminal case has been opened over the attack, but this has not been verified.

Some Russian military channels, citing the military, claim that the initiators of the attack on the cafe visitors were "harshly punished at the unit level," publishing photos of severely beaten men. Allegedly, the people in the pictures are the initiators of the attack and were beaten by their own comrades.

According to the Krym.Realii news outlet, the volunteer 81st Bears Brigade was created in 2023 in Crimea. It is part of the Redut PMC, which is controlled by the Russian Ministry of Defense, and is allegedly stationed in a military camp in the village of Perevalne.

Read also: Ukrainian forces withdraw from Lastochkyne amidst Russian advancement  DeepState

In addition, instructors from the Bears trained the so-called Crimean People's Militia, allegedly at the request of the Russian "head" of occupied Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov. Aksyonov's adviser Oleg Kryuchkov claimed that the Bears were not connected to the Russian "authorities" of Crimea.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian soldiers forced to rape each other, says report alleging brutal violence on Ukraine front line

Russian soldiers are facing brutal punishments on the Ukraine front line, Verstka reported.

Soldiers claim that enlisted convicts abuse fellow service members.

The outlet published videos appearing to show naked soldiers being beaten and others tied to trees.

A shocking article from the independent Russian news outlet Verstka reported that Russian soldiers are subjected to brutal treatment in Ukraine, including being tied to trees for days, being forced to rape each other, and being thrown naked into dug pits.

Over the course of three months, the outlet interviewed several Russian soldiers who described brutal conditions in which troops recruited from Russia's prisons bully and abuse mobilized soldiers while commanders remain stationed away from the front lines.

"Our convicts have completely lost their heads," one soldier told Verstka, citing a lack of rotation on the front line and mounting fatalities as reasons for their anger.

The outlet obtained a video that appeared to show four naked men being hit and verbally abused by military personnel and then made to enter a dug pit.

In the video, a soldier shouts vulgar insults and commands at the naked victims, Verstka reported.

Business Insider was unable to independently verify the claims made in the article.

The soldier who shared the video with Verstka, Misha Maltsev, said that this form of unofficial punishment is often used on soldiers who drink or do drugs while on duty.

He also claimed that the soldiers carrying out the abuse "make them have sex afterwards. They sit and watch it. Laughing, pissing on top of them. Like they're watching TV."

Handcuffed to trees

"It's hell here," another Russian soldier said. "They're killing each other. The Ukrainians are killing each other. The orders are stupid. Everyone understands that you can't succeed, but they send them to die anyway."

Verstka also published a video that appears to show an unidentified soldier being tied to a tree.

Another Russian soldier, Semyon Kiskorov, told the outlet that soldiers who refused to fight could be handcuffed or tied to trees for days and not allowed to eat or drink.

Kiskorov said this happened to him and his brother in November after they refused to go on an assault mission.

Maltsev told Verstka that wounded soldiers are stitched up and sent back to fight, and the bodies of dead soldiers are often left to rot around them.

The outlet noted that after interviewing him, Maltsev and his entire unit were killed in December in the village of Krynky, on the east bank of the Dnipro River, where Ukraine has established a bridgehead.

In a third video, two men appear to be beaten with sticks as machine guns are fired close to their heads. Groans, shouts, and screams can be heard. "That's it, please forgive me," howls one of those being abused.

Russia's 'Storm-Z' units

Russian soldiers take part in military exercises at the Uspenovskyi training ground outside the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, on September 4, 2022. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

The Russian army has suffered heavy casualties throughout the war, with some analysts describing its use of "human wave" tactics, intended to overwhelm Ukrainian positions by sending in masses of soldiers on foot.

These soldiers are often poorly trained or under-equipped, leading to a high number of fatalities.

Last year, the Kremlin set up what it calls "Storm-Z" units. Some of the troops in this force are convicted criminals who go into combat in exchange for time off their sentences.

Ukraine has said that Storm-Z soldiers demonstrate extremely low combat capability, according to a press release translated by Pravda .

The soldiers in this group suffer from alcoholism, engage in looting, and are prone to desertion, the main intelligence directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
OSAKA, Feb 25 (News On Japan) - After a hiatus of three years, the Kinishita Circus, one of the world's three major circuses, has finally rolled back into Osaka.

Due to the impact of the new coronavirus, the Osaka performance in 2021 was canceled on the first day, and the audience was banned from cheering. This year, after three years, cheering is once again allowed, making for a lively stage.

On the opening day, the heart-stopping 15-meter-long "aerial wheel" and the iconic White Lion "beast show" were showcased, delighting the audience with a magical performance.

The show will run until May 27th.

Source: YOMIURI
Remains of a Kh-59 missile. Stock photo: the National Police of Ukraine

The Russians launched missile attacks on the city of Dnipro on 25 February in the evening.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force; Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster

Details: At 21:17, the Air Force reported about a missile launched in the direction of the cities of Pavlohrad and Dnipro.

At 21:20, the information about other missiles launched on Dnipro emerged.

At 21:26, the Air Force reported about "missiles (presumably Kh-59s) launched on Dnipro".

Suspilne reported that explosions had rung out in the outskirts of Dnipro.

At 21:35 the Air Force reported about a Shahed drone spotted in the outskirts of Dnipro.

At 22:13 an all clear of the threat of use of ballistic armament and attack UAVs was sounded.

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Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada (Parliamentary) Commissioner for Human Rights, has reported that the Russians shot at least seven soldiers of the Defence Forces of Ukraine as they were surrendering in the Bakhmut district on 24 February.

Source: Lubinets on Telegram

Quote: "Another war crime was likely committed on 24 February 2024 in the Bakhmut district. In the video we got hold of, the Ukrainian soldiers can be seen giving themselves up into captivity: their hands were raised, they were showing they were unarmed and posed no threat. The Russians should have captured them, but instead, they shot them without mercy.

The exact number of the Ukrainians shot by the Russians is unknown, but there were probably at least seven of them. These were soldiers of the Defence Forces of Ukraine."

Details: Lubinets added that he has information on which part of the Russian army the Russian soldiers who shot the Ukrainian soldiers were from.

"This incident must be documented as another violation of the norms of international humanitarian law by Russia. I will be sending official letters to the UN and the Red Cross immediately so that these organisations record and publicly recognise that Russian soldiers are killing Ukrainian prisoners of war," Lubinets wrote.

Update: The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine reported that the incident occurred during the Russian assault on the Ukrainian positions between the villages of Ivanivske and Khromove in Donetsk Oblast.

Upon the procedural management of the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office, a pre-trial investigation on the fact of violating laws and customs of war combined with premeditated murder (Article 438.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) was initiated.

In total, 19 criminal proceedings on the fact of murder of 45 Ukrainian prisoners of war are being conducted in Ukraine.

Quote by the Prosecutor Generals Office: "It can be seen in the footage filmed by a drone that the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Russia at first order our defenders to leave the trench. Then, having gathered all the soldiers in one place and stepped back several metres, the Russians fired at them. The Russian soldiers deliberately killed the injured and unarmed Ukrainian soldiers, ignoring the norms of the international humanitarian law."

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Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland's Foreign Minister, speaks at the plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly on "The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine". Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is warning Western countries that Russia could expand its military aggression in Ukraine to other countries.

If Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev make threats, then unfortunately he has to believe them, the liberal-conservative politician said in comments carried by broadcaster TVN24 on Sunday.

It was necessary to prepare for the fact that Russia could put NATO's security guarantees to the test, Sikorski said. Poland has been a member of the transatlantic defence alliance since 1999.

The pro-Russian prime minister of Ukraine's neighbour Slovakia, Robert Fico, on the other hand, warned against a "false demonization" of Putin in a video message published on social media.

The leader of a left-wing nationalist coalition said the West's previous strategy in the Ukraine war was a failure. Russia could not be brought to its knees, neither politically nor economically, Fico said, sharply criticizing the European Union.

Fico accused the bloc of not having developed a real peace plan. "The EU's only plan is to continue supporting the mutual killing of Slavs," said Fico. Russia has been waging an all-out war of aggression against Ukraine for two years.
Were about to get our first real look at Samsungs Galaxy Ring. In a blog post this weekend ahead of Mobile World Congress, the company revealed itll have the Galaxy Ring on display at its booth at the Barcelona convention, which starts tomorrow. Samsung hasnt said much yet about what the Galaxy Ring will be capable of since teasing it at the end of its Unpacked event in January, but we do know its a wellness-oriented wearable positioned to rival the likes of Oura.

Samsung today described the Galaxy Ring as a new health form factor that simplifies everyday wellness, supporting smarter and healthier living via a more connected digital wellness platform. All weve really seen of it so far is a rendering, though.

Aside from the Galaxy Ring, Samsungs booth will heavily promote its Galaxy AI, with a hands-on interactive experience. The company also says its expanding Galaxy AI to more of its products, including the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5 and Tab S9 series, plus the Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy S23 series and S23 FE. It's also got plans for Galaxy AI applications in its new Galaxy Book 4 series and, of course, the Galaxy Ring we still know next to nothing about.

Catch up on all of the news from MWC 2024 right here!
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A former student of San Diego Mesa College has made history as part of the team that just recently successfully landed a privately owned spacecraft on the moon, the college announced.

Mario Romero, an alumnus of San Diego Mesa College, is part of the team from Intuitive Machines whose uncrewed lander made history Thursday as the first privately owned spacecraft to touch down on the lunar surface.

Not only was Romero part of the team, he named the spacecraft after winning a contest among coworkers.

Private lander makes first US moon landing in more than 50 years, but signal weak

Odysseus, an unmanned moon lander designed by Houston-based company Intuitive Machines, successfully landed on the moon Thursday, Feb. 22 at 3:23 p.m. PT, delivering six experiments for NASA.

After four years of preparations, the companys 14-foot Nova-C lander navigated to a spot near the moons South Pole.

US spacecraft successfully lands on the moon. Now what?

FILE - A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying Intuitive Machines' lunar lander, lifts off from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., early Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Intuitive Machines reported Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, that its communicating with its lander, Odysseus, and sending commands to acquire science data. But it noted: We continue to learn more about the vehicles specific information regarding location, overall health and positioning. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Romero attended San Diego Mesa College from 2013 to 2015 as an Astronomy/Astrophysics major. While at Mesa, he helped form the Student Veteran Organization (SVO) and advocated for an on-campus Veteran Resource Center. He also worked to help homeless and food insecure veterans and children.

He then transferred and graduated from Columbia with a Bachelors in Pure Mathematics and a Masters Degree from U.H. Clearlake in Systems Engineering.

Odysseus lander tipped over on moons surface, now on its side

Romero is now an Assembly, Integration, and Test Engineer for Intuitive Machines.

This journey takes much longer due to the many challenges, setbacks and delays, Romero said in Intuitive Machines press release for the mission. Traveling the daunting, wine-dark sea repeatedly tests his mettle, yet ultimately, Odysseus proves worthy and sticks the landing back home after 10 years.

2024 solar eclipse: San Diego to have best view of solar eclipse in California

Notably, Romero chose the name for the project Odysseus after winning a contest against other Intuitive Machines employees. He commented in the release the travels of the hero of the ancient Greek epic poem Odyssey provided an apt analogy for the lunar mission.

Word came just a day after its historic landing on the moon that the Odysseus lander has tipped over and is now on its side. However, the lander appears to be alive and well, according to an update on the companys website.

Odysseus launched last week from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Only five countries have successfully landed on the moon. This moon landing was the first time the U.S. has touched down on the moon since Apollo 17 landed in 1972.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Sara Haines told fellow The View co-host Sunny Hostin on Friday that she was focused on facts and science, in a tense onscreen debate over a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling on reproductive rights.

On Friday, the co-hosts of the daytime talk show discussed the fallout from a decision from the Alabama Supreme Court last week that ruled that frozen embryos should legally be considered children.

Haines discussed some of the dangerous implications that could come from the ruling, such as restrictions on fertility treatments.

The shows hosts had previously talked about how egregious a six-week ban was, Haines said, and a fertilized embryo is three to five days old.

It is not alive outside of a uterus. It has no organs, it is not a life yet, it is not viable till its 24 weeks, she added.

You may not think that, but there are at least 50 percent of Americans Hostin said, interrupting Haines before Haines countered.

This is science, Sunny, she said.

Hostin continued, Fifty percent of Americans believe that a human embryo is a baby  Im one of them.

The two co-hosts continued to go back and forth. Hostin invoked her personal experience into the debate, saying she underwent in vitro fertilization. Haines argued that Hostins personal experience doesnt mean facts change.

The embryo is an embryo until 10 weeks when it becomes a fetus, a fetus is not viable until 24 weeks, Haines said. If were going to use science, lets use scientific terms.

Hostin then repeated her stance on when human life begins, adding that she has always had anti-abortion views. (Watch the clip below.)

Last week, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that couples who lost frozen embryos destroyed in a fertility clinic and hospital could sue for wrongful death, reversing a lower court ruling.

Following the decision, the University of Alabama at Birmingham health system announced this week that its Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility paused services due to fear of criminal prosecution.

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, Hannah Echols, a spokesperson for UAB, told HuffPost.

Additional Alabama fertility clinics have since halted IVF treatments.

We have made the impossibly difficult decision to hold new IVF treatments due to the legal risk to our clinic and our embryologists, Alabama Fertility Specialists announced on Facebook Thursday.

Related...
Venice High student Aryana Lovely is one of the recipients of a 2024 STRIVE Award from the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

Aryana Lovely plans to pursue a career in risk-management insurance. That might sound like a curiously specific career path for a high school senior, but Aryana knows risk well and has honed her ability to assess situations and proceed accordingly.

A student at Venice High School and a 2024 recipient of a STRIVE Award, which recognizes seniors and juniors who have overcome challenges to succeed, Aryana was two years old when she was placed in the care of her grandparents to avoid the foster system.

She was living in Ohio at that time but moved when she was nine to Parrish, Florida. Aryana was happy to move and leave behind a traumatic past.

At her new school, she met nice classmates and found a much-needed mother figure in her aunt. Through her love and guidance, she showed me what a mother should be, Aryana said.

For almost a year, Aryana lived with her aunt and uncle then moved again with her grandparents to Venice. When she was 11, she received awful news. Her aunt found a growth on her head and was diagnosed with cancer. She would need surgery.

The week before the surgery, Aryana stayed at her aunt and uncles house, watching her young cousins. She was in the house the night her aunt returned from surgery and was there the next day when Aryanas grandmother found her aunt unresponsive.

For the next four days, Aryana stayed with a neighbor and watched her cousins, and then she learned that her aunt had passed.

Today, these difficult parts of her life aren't reflected in Aryana's outward personality. While working at Publix on Fridays and the weekends, she is earning all As and was recently accepted to the college she most wants to attend, Florida Southern College, where she plans to double major in business administration management and psychology.

She is one of the most positive and joyous students I know, which is remarkable considering her circumstances, said Director of the Rotary Futures College Resource Center at Venice High School Caitlin Joyner.

Inwardly, Aryana continues to struggle with her past, but she is guided by a deep conviction that she wants to succeed and one day be an amazing mother. This belief leads her to weigh each choice she makes, to assess the risk, and it has kept her going through challenging times.

She has also found outlets that allow her to express herself and find joy. In fifth grade, she joined the school choir and instantly fell in love with singing. Throughout middle school, she sang in her school chorus.

While she lost a year of singing with her classmates when she studied remotely to keep her grandparents safe at the height of the pandemic, she is singing again in school and around the community.

I love seeing the faces of people in the community when they hear us singing, Aryana said.

The transformative power of singing has ignited her interest in psychology, particularly music therapy.

Along with outlets such as singing and theater, Aryana credits the strong support network she has found at Venice High School. Her chorus teacher, college advisor, and school counselor all play essential roles in her life, keeping her positive and focused. Theyve been a wonderful team who give me so much information and support, Aryana said.

She is also grateful to her best friend Erica, one of the best people in my life, and her boyfriend Joshua, who is always there to give me supportive advice. These great people always make me strive to be a better person, Aryana said.

Today, her support network is as important as ever because Aryana faces a new challenge: finding ways to pay for college. Complications with her guardianship status and how that will affect scholarships and in-state tuition pose a new risk, one completely out of her control. As she tries to navigate this, having these people in her life keeps her moving forward.

Aryanas advice to young people facing significant challenges: Its cliche, she said, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. It might seem pitch black, but its there. She also encourages students to look out for each other, because when you give someone support, you think of your own issues less because youre making a difference.

And, of course: "Always assess the risk of the situation, Aryana said.

About the Education Foundation of Sarasota County & the STRIVE Awards

For 35 years, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County (EdFoundationSRQ.org) has supported students and teachers because education transforms lives. As a champion for life readiness, the Education Foundation provides personalized, comprehensive resources and relationships so that students can find their purpose and progress intentionally through their K  12 schooling. Its mission is to enhance the potential of students, promote excellence in teaching, and inspire innovation in education, guided by strategic philanthropy.

The STRIVE Awards were born out of H. Jack Hunkeles vision to recognize students who have overcome tremendous challenges to succeed in life. Learn more about the STRIVE Awards and this years remarkable recipients at EdFoundationSRQ.org/STRIVE.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota STRIVE student overcomes challenges, assesses risk
Former President Donald Trump spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on Saturday. The event precedes the South Carolina primary results expected later on Saturday, where he is predicted to defeat his competitor, Nikki Haley, the former U.N. Ambassador and former South Carolina governor, in her home state.

The hour-and-a-half rambling speech covered Trumps typical gamut, where he touted his cognitive abilities while demeaning President Bidens; defended Jan. 6 insurrectionists; ripped on the media; and preached a doomsday scenario if he is not reelected. He compared migrants to Hannibal Lecter, claiming they are terrorists who are killing our people, and a contagion  echoing his previous Hitler-like poison the blood rhetoric.

I stand before you today  not only as your past but hopefully future president  but as a proud political dissident. I am a dissident, he proclaimed. The term, typically reserved for those speaking truth to power over authoritarian rule, like Alexei Navalny whom he also recently compared himself to, riled the internet over the hypocrisy. Trump has previously said hed act as a dictator on Day One (then later said he was joking).

Trump: I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president. But as a proud political dissident, I am a dissident. pic.twitter.com/Z6rh0qMWi0  Acyn (@Acyn) February 24, 2024

Trump also dissed California and its Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for the states water shortage, which has been a result of warming temperatures and low precipitation, attributed to climate change, per a California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. When Trump was in office, his environmental policies ran counter to combating climate change. And its true, in Beverly Hills you pay a fortune in taxes. They say you can only brush your teeth once a day, he said. (There is no law in California stating one can only brush ones teeth once a day.) You cant use too much water on your hair. That would put me out, the water pressure crusader noted.

Trump: In Beverly Hills, you pay a fortune in taxes. They say you can only brush your teeth once a day. pic.twitter.com/TR7kTymrtY  Acyn (@Acyn) February 24, 2024

During Trumps section of his speech where he claimed he made the President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, provide soldiers to keep migrants out (He goes No way. I said, Way, Trump described of one of their exchanges), he segued into bashing migrants for the different languages they speak. We have countries that honestly nobody has ever heard of. We have languages coming into our country. We dont have one instructor, in our entire nation, that can speak that language, he claimed. These are languages, its the craziest thing. They have languages that nobody in this country has ever heard of. Its a very horrible thing.

Trump on migrants: "They have languages that nobody in this country has ever heard of. It's a very horrible thing." pic.twitter.com/gSev5N3ISs  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 24, 2024

Trumps appearance closed out the CPAC conference, and gave the GOP frontrunner the chance to take what looks to be, as polls appear to indicate, a victory lap for the impending GOP presidential nomination.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Senators are set to deal with the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in swift fashion this week as they look ahead to a pair of government funding deadlines.

The Senate returns to Washington on Monday from a two-week recess staring down a number of priorities, including averting a partial government shutdown. But first, they must deal with a pair of articles of impeachment against Mayorkas the House approved earlier this month.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said the articles would be transmitted upon the Senates return, with senators set to be sworn in as jurors shortly after.

Its unclear how Schumer will try to dispense with the articles. He could try to dismiss them, or he could refer them to a special committee, both of which would require a simple majority vote.

No matter which he chooses, members on both sides of the aisle widely expect the chamber to spend the minimal amount of time possible on the topic, especially with government funding on the front burner.

I dont know what leaderships preference would be. But I bet the preference is going to be to spend as little time as possible so we can focus on [appropriations], Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told reporters last week, noting the Senate also has to act on the Houses tax reform bill and could return its focus to the national security supplemental it passed before recess.

Those are items that we want to turn our attention to. Those are meaningful and substantive, Kaine continued. Unlike the Mayorkas impeachment.

Many Republicans agree.

There has been increasing skepticism from corners of the Senate GOP conference who question whether Mayorkas  who has no shortage of detractors among the membership  reached the bar of high crimes and misdemeanors and whether impeaching him was a good use of time.

They also have wondered aloud whether impeachment is the correct remedy as some believe Mayorkas is simply carrying out the Biden administrations agenda, and that an ouster of the secretary wouldnt change much.

Theres so much happening.  We already know the outcome, so why would we spend time on a pointless exercise, said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). Im not even comfortable impeaching cabinet secretaries. They work for the president. To the degree that their boss would be facilitating high crimes and misdemeanors in the cabinet, thats the bosss fault.

I just think its weird to be impeaching somebody who already has a supervisor, Cramer said.

It remains unclear exactly when the articles will come over. One Senate GOP source said the House has not yet decided when to transmit them because doing so next week could be complicated by the first government funding deadline.

The first four funding bills need to be dealt with by Friday at midnight, while the rest of the funding expires the following Friday.

Top senators still expect the articles to arrive this week though, and for Schumer to move quickly once they are transmitted. Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican, told The Hill in an interview that he expects the chamber to take up the articles this week and that Schumer will move to table them almost immediately.

Thats my assumption on how hes going to play it, Thune said. I think that well get a better read on that [this week], but thatd be my guess.

The two impeachment articles accuse Mayorkas of refusing to comply with immigration laws passed by Congress and of obstructing and misleading congressional oversight.

Skepticism from both sides hasnt dissuaded a group of Senate conservatives who called on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to pressure Schumer to have a full trial on the pair of articles against Mayorkas. Thirteen Republicans signed the letter, which was organized by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).

This is an action rarely contemplated and never taken by the U.S. Senate in the history of our Republic, the letter read. It remains to be seen if the Senate rules will even allow us to brush aside our duty in this manner, but one thing is sure, if a similar strategy was contemplated by Senate Republicans when we were in the majority with a Republican occupying the White House, the opposition would be fierce and the volume from Democrats would be deafening.

Cramer took issue with the letter, saying that he doesnt know why theyre pushing it and questioned why it was addressed to McConnell as Schumer controls the floor.

He also noted the conference has not discussed the Mayorkas impeachment at recent lunches and meetings, the last of which came during as the chamber debated and ultimately passed the national security supplemental.

Biden, meanwhile, is weighing an executive order that would tighten how asylum claims are handled at the southern border, a move that would attempt to stem the flow of migrants at the Southern border and give him a political boost ahead of November. The move would come after a bipartisan legislative effort flamed out quickly after months of negotiations, which Biden was supportive of.

However, Republicans are panning him for the potential move, arguing it is too little and too late as border crossing numbers have exploded throughout his presidency, culminating with more than 300,000 crossings in December.

The Biden administrations irredeemable. Theres just nothing they can do at this point. Theres no executive order he can issue. Theres nothing else that can restore his credibility on the border, Cramer said. This is all on him. In fact, anything he does to correct it is an admission of his own failures.

One question that still looms is whether Schumer will move to dismiss or table the articles, or to refer them to a special Senate committee to review the impeachment articles. The latter move would bury the articles until after Election Day and be beneficial for a number of Senate Democrats, including Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who are running for reelection in red or purple states and would avoid a tough vote months before Election Day.

People are already blaming Biden and Democrats on the border, so wed love to keep talking about it, one Senate GOP aide said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said just seven of its 23 health centres in Gaza are operational, with only one still functioning in the north
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov have visited the frontline command posts of Ukrainian military units in the combat zone.

Source: Syrskyi on Facebook

Quote from Syrskyi: "We have heard reports from the group commanders on the situation in their areas of responsibility. The enemy is consistently storming the positions of our troops. The situation is challenging in many areas and requires constant monitoring.

We analysed the current situation in detail during the visit and discussed the next steps which need to be taken. In particular, we focused on utilising the potential of manoeuvre and positional defence and reinforcing certain parts of the front line.

We also talked to brigade and battalion commanders about the situation on the ground. We analysed the problems that arise in the brigades.

Once again, I drew the commanders' attention to the importance of coordination and proper operational interaction of the entire Defence Forces, as well as preserving the lives of our defenders."

Details: Syrskyi stressed that he had made several decisions on the spot "to improve the combat capability, resilience and command and control of the units".

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Advocate for Turlock housing plans

Housing plan for mentally ill in Turlock CA draws protests, (modbee.com, Feb. 15)

Shame on those in Turlock  specifically elected leaders  who oppose plans to house mentally ill individuals in a former senior care home on Colorado Avenue. Our leaders love to give lip service about aiding the mentally ill, but when they are actually called on to do it, they buckle under pressure from people whose fears are irrational.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, most people with mental health conditions are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. And those who have severe mental illnesses will not be placed in this facility. These kinds of clients have been housed there for over 40 years. They are peoples children, parents, siblings and spouses. They are ill and need to be near their support systems, not on some 10-acre island in the middle of nowhere.

I live less than a quarter of a mile from the facility and welcome its presence in our neighborhood. I know parents want to protect their children from every possible threat. But it is our responsibility to do that based on sound evidence, logic and reasoning, not scapegoating and fear.

What message are we sending our young people when we treat the mentally ill like pariahs and criminals?

Monica Cooke

Turlock

Mass of a walnut

Donald Trump again compares his criminal indictments to imprisonment and death of Putins top rival, (modbee.com, Feb. 20)

If you took the brains of Donald Trump Jr,, his brother, Eric, and even added the brain of their father, Orange Face (U.S. President #45), you would not have the mass of a walnut.

Alan Seliger

Turlock

Opinion

Dangerous man

Donald Trump again compares his criminal indictments to imprisonment and death of Putins top rival, (modbee.com, Feb. 20)

Donald Trumps list of accomplishments? His ability to shoot someone in Times Square and not be charged; mocking and insulting our military heroes; characterizing COVID as a hoax; removing many of our air, water, food and endangered species protection acts; encouraging the Jan. 6 insurrection, resulting in citizen deaths; supporting Vladimir Putins policies; appointing Supreme Court puppets; encouraging nuclear war by bragging that his red button was bigger than North Koreas; put on trial for rape and assault; having tantrums and throwing food in the White House; making racist comments; and more

This dangerous person is seeking the presidency. Please remember this when voting.

Ken Westervelt

Modesto

Clearing up misconceptions

Nebraska GOP bills target college professor tenure and diversity, equity and inclusion, (modbee.com, Feb. 15)

I have taught for 20 years, in two states, at seven schools and at grade levels 6-12. Id like to take a moment and clear up a few things I hear and read in the media:

History and social studies is taught in school, at every level, every day and in all 50 states. Indoctrination is not happening in schools. In order to indoctrinate or brainwash a child, they need to be docile and unquestionably accepting of everything their teacher says. And, dear reader, I have been in arguments with my students about whether or not the Earth is flat and whether or not the sun will rise tomorrow. Children question everything (as they should) and cant be indoctrinated in a free society.

Children are not being transitioned in schools. We cant even give a child an aspirin, let alone a hormone blocker. If a child goes to a teacher and says they want to be called something other than their legal name, do you really want us to conduct the Spanish Inquisition over a kids nickname?

Perhaps the ire about societys woes should be aimed a bit higher (above our pay grades). Sacramento? Washington, D.C.? Or, dare I say, home life?

Tim de Lorimier

Modesto

Guide your vote with honesty, facts

VOTER GUIDE: Who and whats on the March 5 primary ballot in Modesto and Stanislaus County, (modbee.com, Feb. 15)

Today, I mailed my ballot. It felt like an honor to have this bit of power. Voting is personal, but the results are collective. Reviewing accurate information about candidates and prospective laws is therefore crucial.

While I love every person as a child of God, I recognize some people are not suited to hold office. They may be simply lacking judgment or pertinent knowledge. More dangerously, they may be lacking a core of peace and self-worth and seek to fill that void by manipulating others. Through practice, they can become very skilled at this and at recognizing those who might fall prey to their tricks.

Regarding political aspirants, I use various reputable sources. For more depth, I recommend Too Much and Never Enough for Psychologist Mary Trumps view of her uncle, as well as Republican Liz Cheneys new book, Oath and Honor, for a mesmerizing report on the recent past in government.

Whatever we study and however we vote, may we all be guided by honesty and facts  not by lies or prejudice.

Diana Doll

Modesto
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Arleas Upton Kea remembers meeting Judge Harriet Mitchell Murphy for the first time sometime in 1977. She and a group of students at the University of Texas had dreams of going to law school.

They had the idea to start a pre-law association. Upton Kea remembers sitting with the group, deliberating on who they would ask to be their advisor when everyone had the same thought at once.

Judge Harriet Mitchell Murphy's 1967 UT Law School yearbook photo (The University of Texas School of Law

We all simultaneously said Judge Harriet Murphy, Upton Kea said.

When Murphy came into the student center to meet her group, Upton Kea said she radiated joy and excitement. Murphy wanted to know all about them. She peppered them with questions: What will you do with the degree? Why do you want to pursue law?

She told them about herself, too. Murphy grew up in Atlanta and went to school with Martin Luther King Jr., whom she called M.L. She also talked about her meeting with Thurgood Marshall and her work as an activist. Then, she talked about her experience at UT Law more than a decade before.

She told us that there were some who actually told her, you will never graduate from law school, and you will never pass the bar, Upton Kea said.

Murphy was a 37-year-old widow when she enrolled at UTs law school. The school was integrated 15 years before when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered it to allow Heman Sweatt to enroll. But Murphy was still the only Black student in her class when she started classes in 1966. She was the only Black student in the law school for a brief period.

A handful of Black students graduated in the 15 years between the Supreme Court case, Sweatt v Painter, and Murphys enrollment. Sweatts legal win opened doors for Black UT Law hopefuls and influenced the later Brown v. Board of Education ruling, but he grew too sick to graduate himself.

Murphy met a new love and was teaching at Huston-Tillotson University while earning her law degree. She also worked diligently to bring more Black students to the law school. In her memoir, There All the Honor Lies, she describes working to recruit Black students at Prairie View University and Jarvis Christian College.

We netted 12 or 13 student recruits for the fall of 1968, Murphy wrote in her book.

And in 1969, with at least one other Black student enrolled at the law school, Murphy graduated and passed the bar  shattering the doubt cast on her years earlier. Four years later, she made history as the first Black woman in Texas to be appointed a permanent judgeship.

Arleas Upton Kea and Judge Harriet Mitchell Murphy (Photo/Arleas Upton Kea)

She served for nearly 20 years on Austins Municipal Court.

Harriet just never met an obstacle or a problem that could not be resolved, and she did that in a very, very positive way, Upton Kea said.

Upton Kea gained a lifelong friend and mentor during that meeting in the student center 50 years earlier. Upton Kea also graduated from UT Law School in 1982. She was the first Black president of the law schools Alumni Association and is a trustee for The University of Texas Law School Foundation.

Why should I keep passing by?  The story of the first 12 Black students to integrate Austin schools

Her portrait hangs just around the corner from Murphys at the law school she dreamed of attending as an undergraduate. After Judge Murphy passed away in late January, Upton Kea spoke at her funeral about the last conversation with her mentor.

I had come to her home from a scholarship award luncheon, Upton Kea said. She wanted to know: who are the students? It reminded me of the questions she asked when she met with me and other pre-law students almost 50 years ago.

I think one of her biggest concerns was that she not be the last and that door be permanently opened for other people like her, Upton Kea said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A man has been charged with murder after a teenage father-of-two was shot dead in Sheffield.

Kevin Pokuta, 19, was shot on Page Hall Road shortly before 01:00 GMT on 12 December and died the following day.

Jake Brown, 22, has been charged with murder, conspiracy to rob and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He has also been charged with the attempted murder of a second person.

South Yorkshire Police said the second person was "in the car at the time of the shooting".

Mr Brown, from Sheffield, is due to appear in court on Monday, a spokesperson for the force said.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Pokuta died as a result of a single gunshot wound.

A total of 11 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
The Middleboro community is left heartbroken after an 11-year-old girl died in a house fire early Saturday morning.

The young girl was a student at Nichols Middle School in Middleboro.

Firefighters were called to a home on Pearl Street around 2 a.m. for reports of a fire with people trapped inside. Upon arrival, the fire has already consumed the first and second floors. Firefighters attempted to rescue the young girl who was trapped inside but were unable to get inside the home due to heavy fire conditions.

Once the fire was extinguished, the girl was found dead inside the home.

This unforeseen event has left us all shocked and saddened, said Middleboro Superintendent Carolyn Lyons in a statement. " This profound loss impacts not just our Nichols Middle School community but also the Burkland Elementary School and Middleborough High School communities where family members attend. We extend our deepest condolences to our students family and friends as they navigate this extremely tough time, she added.

According to firefighters, three other family members were taken to the hospital. A woman had serious burns, and a man and another young girl suffered less severe injuries.

Neighbors say the grandparents were watching the grandkids while the parents were on vacation. The parents are now on their way home.

Its one of those types of towns, it affects everybody, said Middleboro resident said Mark Westgate.

Grief counselors will be available at Nichols Middle School on Monday.

Firefighters from Raynham, Bridgewater, and Lakeville provided mutual aid at the scene.

The Fire Marshals office says the fire does not appear suspicious and the cause is under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Algebra 1 students take notes during class at Spokane High School in 2019. The district is one of the several in the Springfield area operating on a four-day week.

In 2018, the Missouri legislature passed Senate Bill 743, marking a significant shift in the states approach to public school requirements. This bill eliminated the mandatory number of days for schools to be in session, replacing it with a focus exclusively on instructional hours. Since the implementation of the new requirements in the 20192020 school year, there has been a remarkable 400% surge in the number of districts adopting a four-day school week  soaring from 34 districts to 173. If this trajectory persists, a majority of rural districts could soon embrace the four-day model.

While proponents of the four-day school week suggest the move may bring financial benefits and improve teacher retention, the academic literature reveals a lack of conclusive evidence in these areas. In a systematic literature review we conducted on the topic, my colleague Avery Frank and I found little rigorous research showing either financial savings or increases in teacher retention. The reviews findings indicate that the impact of the four-day model on academic progress is, on average, negative, with small declines observed in math and English language arts test scores. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations own recent analysis showed no significant impact on academics.

Taken together, these findings make it all the more important to consider the desires of parents and taxpayers. To that end, the Show-Me Institute conducted a poll of parents. A total of 1,200 completed the entire survey. Our survey revealed that the majority of respondents  64% to be exact  preferred the traditional five-day school week, while 24% preferred a four-day school week.

You will not be surprised to learn those most opposed to the condensed school week are parents who cannot provide reliable childcare. In our survey, 30% of respondents indicated that they were or would be unable to provide reliable childcare under a four-day school week. Eighty-four percent of this subgroup preferred the traditional five-day model, and just 6% favored the four-day week. This underscores the practical considerations and challenges that families may face in adapting to the shortened school week. The strongest support for the four-day school week came from parents in rural communities (31%) and those already in a four-day school week district (49%).

These results should give further caution to school board members considering the move to a four-day school week.

More: Do 4-day school weeks hurt Missouri students academically? Here's what report found

One key finding from our survey is that the majority of Missourians do not believe students should be forced into a four-day school week without any alternative. A clear majority  69%  expressed support for the idea of allowing students to transfer to another public school if their district adopted a four-day school week, and 59% supported the notion of offering private school vouchers to students in such districts.

In light of the recent shift toward four-day school weeks, it is crucial for policymakers to take a measured and informed approach. The decision to move away from the traditional five-day model should not be based solely on alleged logistical or financial benefits; policymakers must also consider the preferences and practical challenges faced by Missouri families.

James V. Shuls, Ph.D., is an associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of MissouriSt. Louis and Director of Research / Senior Fellow of Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Survey says Missourians prefer a traditional five-day school week
The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning of a significant storm system currently slamming Western Washington.

A significant storm system will move across Western WA on Sunday. It will be a prolific snow producer in the mountains Sunday through Monday. Gusty winds will also develop across much of the area Sunday afternoon. A colder air mass follows w/ temps near freezing by Tue AM. #wawx pic.twitter.com/xfcyWQJ8GS  NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 24, 2024

KIRO 7 Chief Meteorologist Morgan Palmer expects Sunday nights Pinpoint Alert to continue into Monday.

Winds could gust up to 40mph in the North Sound with gusts over 30mph in many other spots.

The NWS is warning of 50-mile-per-hour gusts covering Whidbey Island.

With a strong surge of winds just behind this afternoon's cold front, we have issued a Wind Advisory for the Admiralty Inlet area, covering Whidbey Island through 10 PM this evening. Wind gusts up to 50 mph possible. #WAwx pic.twitter.com/t2q35P0vv9  NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 25, 2024

Rain will be heavy in many locations but well likely have a bit of a lighter rain pattern in the Central Sound around Seattle due to rain shadowing from the Olympics.

Winter Storm Watch is up for the Cascades above 1,500 elevation for very heavy snowfall starting on Sunday but increasing in intensity from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.

One to two-inch per-hour snowfall rates are likely with totals of one to three feet, including at the passes. Pass travel will be very difficult once the heavy snow begins.

6-10" of snow at Snoqualmie Pass today with another 4-8" tonight. 1.5-2"/hour rates expected from 3 to 9 p.m. The pass can expect another couple of feet of snow through mid-week before snow tapers off Thursday afternoon.  Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass) February 25, 2024

While moisture will be more limited in the lowlands by Monday, we will have low snow levels around 500 feet so a rain/snow mix or wet snow will be possible to start the work week.

The best chances for any brief accumulation will be nearer the mountains and in the North Sound but this could occur anywhere in the lowlands.

Accumulations would mainly be on grassy or elevated surfaces and not last very long as temperatures will be above freezing. A similar change will exist on Tuesday morning but possibly more limited because moisture looks more limited too.

For Wednesday and beyond, expect milder temperatures with light showers.

Watch Chief Meteorologist Morgan Palmer on KIRO 7 for more updates.
A 22-year-old Queens man was one of six people arrested for a bloody brawl that broke out steps from a Times Square migrant shelter and ended with a 17-year-old boy being stabbed in the back, police said Saturday.

Michael Colome was charged with gang assault, assault and weapons possession for the Thursday night clash on 42nd St. near Eighth Ave.

The clash occurred steps from the Candler Building, a vacant office tower that has been converted into a migrant shelter and was the scene of a caught-on-video attack on cops that roiled the city in January.

At arraignment Saturday in Manhattan Criminal Court, Colomes bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 insured bond.

Colome lives in Queens and doesnt appear to be a migrant, police said. He was arrested with three 16-year-old boys and two 14-year-old boys, who are facing the same charges.

Sixteen others involved in the brawl were still being sought by police.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the 5:30 p.m. Thursday clash. During the fight, someone pulled out a knife and chased about a dozen others down Eighth Ave., witnesses told the Daily News.

At the same time, officers patrolling on foot near the intersection spotted the fight and ran after the person carrying the knife, cops said.

It was like 10 or 15 of them and they were just running back and forth, said witness Michael Williams. The cops were chasing the one with the knife as he ran down the block.

The teenage victim, who is believed to be a migrant, had been stabbed in the lower back before his attackers were apprehended.

The knife was still sticking out of his back when he went down, said Mohamed Belal, who sells hot dogs on the corner. The one guy was on the ground, and his friends ran from the guy with the knife.

Medics rushed the teen to Bellevue Hospital, where he was expected to survive.

A police source told The News at the time that all those involved in the fight were migrants but couldnt provide further details. Colome and the teens arrested were caught on video coming and going from the Candler Building shelter, police sources said.

On Jan. 27, a group of migrants was caught on surveillance camera beating on an NYPD lieutenant and cop outside the Candler Building. Eight migrants have been arrested for assaulting those officers.

On Feb. 15, residents of a migrant shelter on Randalls Island were caught on video hurling debris and other items at police trying to remove a disorderly man from the premises. One cop was beaned in the head with a backpack as shelter security surrounded the cops to protect them.

These clashes have amplified the ongoing strife between police and the citys migrant population,officials said.
NEW YORK  A 22-year-old Queens man was one of six people arrested for a bloody brawl that broke out steps from a Times Square migrant shelter and ended with a 17-year-old boy being stabbed in the back, police said Saturday.

Michael Colome was charged with gang assault, assault and weapons possession for the Thursday night clash on 42nd St. near Eighth Ave.

The clash occurred steps from the Candler Building, a vacant office tower that has been converted into a migrant shelter and was the scene of a caught-on-video attack on cops that roiled the city in January.

At arraignment Saturday in Manhattan Criminal Court, Colomes bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 insured bond.

Colome lives in Queens and doesnt appear to be a migrant, police said. He was arrested with three 16-year-old boys and two 14-year-old boys, who are facing the same charges.

Sixteen others involved in the brawl were still being sought by police.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the 5:30 p.m. Thursday clash. During the fight, someone pulled out a knife and chased about a dozen others down Eighth Ave., witnesses told the Daily News.

At the same time, officers patrolling on foot near the intersection spotted the fight and ran after the person carrying the knife, cops said.

It was like 10 or 15 of them and they were just running back and forth, said witness Michael Williams. The cops were chasing the one with the knife as he ran down the block.

The teenage victim, who is believed to be a migrant, had been stabbed in the lower back before his attackers were apprehended.

The knife was still sticking out of his back when he went down, said Mohamed Belal, who sells hot dogs on the corner. The one guy was on the ground, and his friends ran from the guy with the knife.

Medics rushed the teen to Bellevue Hospital, where he was expected to survive.

A police source told The New York Daily News at the time that all those involved in the fight were migrants but couldnt provide further details. Colome and the teens arrested were caught on video coming and going from the Candler Building shelter, police sources said.

On Jan. 27, a group of migrants was caught on surveillance camera beating on a New York Police Department lieutenant and cop outside the Candler Building. Eight migrants have been arrested for assaulting those officers.

On Feb. 15, residents of a migrant shelter on Randalls Island were caught on video hurling debris and other items at police trying to remove a disorderly man from the premises. One cop was beaned in the head with a backpack as shelter security surrounded the cops to protect them.

These clashes have amplified the ongoing strife between police and the citys migrant population, officials said.
Protesters hit with water cannons during clashes with security forces at an anti-government demonstration in Tel Aviv - ALEXI ROSENFELD/GETTY IMAGES

Benjamin Netantyahu has said a hostage deal with Hamas would not stop the Israeli invasion of Rafah, as the two sides edged closer to a temporary ceasefire agreement.

The prime minister of Israel said a deal was on the table after negotiations in Paris on Saturday, but that the terror groups demands were currently on another planet.

The talks began with crazy demands that Israel would not agree to, he told CBS on Sunday.

Its too soon to say if theyve abandoned them, but if they do abandon them and get into what you call the ballparktheyre not even in the city. Theyre on another planet, he said.

But if they come down to a reasonable situation then, yes, well have a hostage deal. I hope so.

Ronen Bar and David Barnea, Israels two intelligence chiefs, and officials from the US, Egypt and Qatar held talks in Paris on Saturday. Negotiations are expected to continue next week in Qatar.

The framework agreement would reportedly involve a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of up to 40 hostages.

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released, some of whom have been convicted of killing Israelis, according to US news site Axios.

A limited number of Palestinians will be allowed to return to northern Gaza, while humanitarian aid will be significantly increased, it reported.

People gather outside HaKirya base in Tel Aviv, which serves as the IDFs headquarters, to demand the return of hostages held by Hamas - ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY IMAGES

US, Arab and other mediators have voiced hope a deal can be reached before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around March 10, a date that was previously given by Israel as a deadline before it invaded Rafah.

However, Mr Nethanyahu said that a hostage deal would only delay the controversial offensive, not cancel it.

If we have a deal, itl be delayed somewhat, but itll happen, he said. If we dont have a deal, well do it anyway. It has to be done. Because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. Not months away, weeks away once we begin the operation.

It comes as Israels military proposed a plan on Monday for evacuating civilians from the Gaza Strip.

Israels military presented the War Cabinet with a plan for evacuating the population from areas of fighting in the Gaza Strip, and with the upcoming operational plan, a statement in Hebrew from Netayahus office said on Monday.

The statement did not give any details about how or where the civilians would be moved.

Israel has said four of Hamass 24 battalions are sheltering in Rafah from IDF forces in the north of Gaza.

The US, along with other world leaders and major aid groups, has warned that an offensive in the southern city, currently home to around 1.5 million Gazans who have fled as far south as possible, would lead to a humanitarian disaster unless it is evacuated.

Mr Biden has reportedly told Mr Netanyahu to find a credible and executable plan to protect Palestinian civilians.

Israeli official claims Hamas had dropped some of its demands following pressure by Benjamin Netanyahu (centre), the prime minister - KOBI GIDEON/SHUTTERSTOCK

On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister dismissed concerns about Washingtons support, arguing that the US agrees with us on the goal of destroying Hamas and on the goal of releasing the hostages.

The decisions of how to do that are left with us, and with me and the elected cabinet of Israel, he said.

He also criticised Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, who last month floated the prospect of the international recognition of a Palestinian state.

If people try to foist it on us, it will be a terrible mistake, because it would be seen as a reward for terror, after the most atrocious attack committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, he said.

[The] people of Israel are not going to buy it, and if you want peace, you shouldnt go that route.

Micky Zohar, the Israeli minister of culture, told The Telegraph that the Israeli army is ready to start the war at Rafah.

The terror organisation Hamas needs to decide if it agrees to a deal to release hostages before we enter there, he said.

Bring them home

Tzachi Hanegbi, the national security advisor, told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 on Saturday that a deal with Hamas must include a return of all hostages, and that the temporary ceasefire could under no condition be interpreted as an end to the war.

Hamas is yet to officially comment on the details of the proposal, but has previously stated that any ceasefire with Israel must be long-term and include a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

The Israeli army continued to strike both southern, central and northern Gaza over the weekend, with dozens of Palestinians killed, according to local media. Nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed over the course of the war. Israel claims that 12,000 of those are Hamas fighters.

Israel announced it had arrested more than 200 terror suspects at the Nasser hospital in southern Gaza in the past week.

Some 134 hostages are thought to remain in Gaza, with about 50 presumed dead, according to a report in the New York Times.

Released hostages from the November ceasefire have testified that some of the women still held captive in Gaza are being sexually assaulted.

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated across Israel on Saturday evening in protest of the governments handling of the hostage crisis. Twenty-one people were arrested and several injured in Tel Aviv, where police used water cannons and mounted police officers to disperse demonstrations.

Families of hostages have long accused the government of abandoning their loved ones by refusing to compromise on its terms for a deal, while calling on Mr Netanyahu to resign.

Betzalel Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister, caused uproar earlier this week when he told Israeli public broadcaster KAN that returning the hostages from Gaza isnt the most important thing for Israel and that a deal shouldnt be made at any price.

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National Harbor, Md.  This years Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) underscored the clear divide among Republicans on aid to Ukraine, with speakers and attendees largely expressing their opposition to giving the nation more assistance.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has dragged on for two years, but Democrats and some Republicans have been supportive of offering further aid to the Eastern European country. The Senate passed bipartisan legislation this month that includes assistance geared toward Ukraine and Israel, for its ongoing war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

But, a vocal faction of the Republican Party are pushing back against giving more money to Ukraine, as lawmakers argued at CPAC that the U.S. needs to focus more on domestic issues, like border security, and as some cast doubt that Ukraine can win against Russia.

I think that it is absurd for us to devote so many resources, so much attention and so much time to a border conflict 6,000 miles away when our own U.S. southern border is wide open, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) argued Friday.

The issue of providing Ukraine with additional resources has become a lightning rod issue among former President Trump and Republican lawmakers. Trump, and many conservatives, have argued that the Biden administration is more interested in foreign conflicts than whats happening in their own backyard.

Decide, Joe Biden, which country matters more to you: The border of the United States or the border of Ukraine? Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said.

Trump and his allies have also expressed frustration around the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying allies that are a part of the military alliance have not been following a commitment to put 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) toward defense spending.

The former president made headlines earlier this month when he suggested that he would let Russia do whatever the hell they want if that defense spending commitment wasnt adhered to by a NATO country  though some attendees at CPAC either shrugged off the comment or said that would have been a step too far.

Our European allies, which consists of some very wealthy nations, underspend on their own defense, because they dupe you into paying for much of it, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) told CPAC attendees Friday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg projected earlier this month that 18 NATO nations would meet the defense spending commitment this year, saying European allies are spending more. However, some allies still have a ways to go.

At the same time, a cohort of Republicans still believe its in U.S. interests to continue supporting Ukraine.

Earlier this month, senators voted to pass emergency defense spending bill that included the support of most Democrats and 22 Republicans that would put $60 billion toward aiding Ukraine and $14 billion toward Israel. The legislation, however, faces an uncertain future given House Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) opposition to it.

The Senate understands the responsibilities of Americas national security and will not neglect them, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement after the Senate passed the legislation.

Our adversaries want America to decide that reinforcing allies and partners is not in our interest, and that investing in strategic competition is not worth it, he added. They want us to take hard-earned credibility and light it on fire.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, reasoned in a statement that lawmakers were stepping up to fill a void left by President Biden.

By strengthening and equipping America to push back against our adversaries aggression, Congress has stepped up to do the job this President will not, she said. This step is critical to reversing President Bidens weakness on the world stage that has abandoned our partners, emboldened authoritarians, and put American lives at risk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Monday that Moscow is taking advantage of the delays in aid to Ukraine. Lawmakers in recent days have traveled to Ukraine to meet with Zelensky.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and a handful of Senate Democrats met with Zelensky Friday during a trip to Ukraine as they looked to underscore support for the country as it defends itself against Russia. A bipartisan group of House lawmakers met with the Ukrainian leader earlier this month.

Yet Republicans keen to continue aiding Ukraine have found themselves at a crossroads with members of the party who have taken a more isolationist foreign policy approach. That message was not lost among attendees at CPAC, whose slogan this year was where globalism goes to die.

It is outrageous that too many people in the media, the Democratic Party and Joe Biden are trying to pull us into a war in Europe, no talk of peace deals. No talk of sitting down and resolving age-old conflicts, claimed Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which hosts CPAC.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), another Trump ally who also sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he voted against the emergency defense spending bill because I know they cant win.

Many attendees at CPAC told The Hill they were also against or expressed skepticism toward further aid to Ukraine, echoing comments made by Trump and Republican lawmakers.

Absolutely not. 100 percent not, said Christine Blanchard, a visitor from California. Its not our war, and we have plenty of problems domestically to take care of. Our funds should not be going to that.

At the beginning of the conflict, I think we were all  all on board with that, another visitor from Virginia, Ana Viso, responded. I think now, as the crisis in our own countrys getting worse with our own border, I feel that we are  we should be moving more towards negotiations and trying to make peace between those two countries.

Viso acknowledged that while the U.S. should be concerned about Putin, she added that we also I think have to look inward.

But others at the conference, including former lawmakers, believe the issue isnt so black and white.

It makes no sense for the United States from a national security perspective, not to support our allies who are engaged with enemies of the United States, said former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). Russia is an enemy of the United States.

Santorum added that the fissure between Republicans around offering further aid to Ukraine baffled him.

I dont understand it, he said.

Its an alien view of thought to me as someone whos been around the Republican Party for a long time, the former lawmaker explained. I understand that there is  theres a lot of sentiment because of the war in Afghanistan and particularly Iraq, that people are concerned about foreign commitments. But, you know,  these are apples and oranges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The commission modelled a reduction in the UKs annual net migration from 315,000 from 2028 to a figure of 150,000 - Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Slashing net UK migration would leave people more than 1,100 a year better off over the long term, research suggests.

Analysis by the Growth Commission ahead of next months Budget also found that abolishing inheritance tax would deliver a bigger increase in per capita GDP than an equivalent cut to income tax.

The commission was launched by Liz Truss, the former prime minister, last year to investigate how to boost Britains anaemic economic growth.

In research to be published this week, it will say that reducing annual net migration would improve living standards over the long term.

The commission modelled a reduction in the UKs annual net migration from 315,000 from 2028 to a figure of 150,000. It said such a move would reduce GDP by 2.4 per cent by 2045 but raise GDP per capita by 2.1 per cent by the same year. This would be equivalent to a 1,157 boost per person per year in 2023 prices.

The commission said high migration lowered per capita GDP because it increased the UK population and put additional strain on housing stock.

Its research suggested that increased housing demand resulted in higher house prices and rents, eating into peoples disposable income and the consumer power needed to stimulate the economy.

Douglas McWilliams, the Growth Commission co-chairman, said: Weve tried to move the migration argument away from crude assertions on all sides to more carefully quantified estimates of its economic effects.

Mr McWilliams said that because Britain has an especially degraded planning system, with excessive red tape making house-building a nightmare, extra demand largely goes into higher house prices rather than into new house-building as in other countries such as the US.

He added: Ultimately the answer is to reform the planning system, but 3,240 pages of rules wont be reformed overnight  which is why it makes sense to slow down net migration.

In 2022, net migration hit a record of 745,000, but a package of measures being introduced by the Government from next month is expected to reduce that by 300,000. Cutting the number to 150,000 would require far more stringent measures.

As well as modelling the impact of migration, the Growth Commission analysed the effect that different tax cuts would have on growth, finding that reducing corporation tax or scrapping inheritance tax would deliver a bigger boost than action on income tax.

For each tax, the research looked at the effect of reducing the tax by 7.6 billion  the amount inheritance tax is expected to deliver in 2024-25.

According to the analysis, cutting corporation tax by this amount  equivalent to about a 2p cut  would boost per capita GDP by 1.6 per cent, around 865 per person per year, by 2044.

Scrapping inheritance tax would deliver a 1.4 per cent increase  a 757 boost  while cutting income tax by about 0.5p off the basic rate and similar proportionate amounts to the higher rates would deliver just a 0.3 per cent increase (162).

The Growth Commission said abolishing inheritance tax would be so effective because it could lead to 4,300 of the richest taxpayers remaining in the UK, while the move would also boost employment by 1.1 per cent by reducing early retirement.

While the initial benefit would go to those wealthy enough to be caught by inheritance tax, it said the overall long-term economic benefit would support a better fiscal environment for higher living standards in the general population.

The research comes ahead of the Budget on March 6, with Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, understood to be leaning towards action on income tax or national insurance rather than inheritance tax.

Mr McWilliams said: Before we ran the analysis, I was not convinced that abolishing IHT [inheritance tax] was a good idea. But the research is pretty persuasive, showing that the tax has bad effects on savings, which leads to an exodus of high taxpayers and encourages early retirement.

With an ageing population and with so many other countries with low or zero rates of inheritance tax, keeping this tax for purely ideological reasons looks to be a luxury the UK cannot afford.

Shanker Singham, the commissions other co-chairman, said: Not all taxes lead to the same GDP per capita impacts. By being more forensic about the type of tax cuts we choose, we can boost growth, while at the same time protecting the public finances.

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Dr Lisa Cameron said that the divisions in politics today, and particularly Scottish politics, are really quite upsetting - Jamie Williamson

A Scottish MP who defected from the SNP to the Tories said she had to go into hiding after death threats from nationalists.

Dr Lisa Cameron said she had no option but to move to a countryside safe house to protect her two daughters while extra security was installed at her family home.

The East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP received an email that said: Listen... your time living on this earth will come to an end soon, be careful.

An online troll threatened to brick her in the street, while another said they hoped she burned.

The 51-year-old said she just couldnt take the chance that she would be murdered. Her friend Sir David Amess, the MP for Southend West, was killed in his constituency in October 2021.

Dr Cameron also told The Scottish Mail on Sunday she was never accepted in the SNP because she is a Christian.

She defected to the Tories last October in a move, engineered by Rishi Sunak, that sent shockwaves through the SNP.

Politics has descended into such depths

Referring to the threats she received, Dr Cameron said: I thought I have to protect my girls. I had to move the family out of our home while our house was fitted with security measures.

The Houses of Parliament security detail installed reinforced doors and windows and four panic alarms in her home.

She said: The divisions in politics today, and particularly Scottish politics, are really quite upsetting.

Weve had situations where politics has descended into such depths that good MPs across the parties, such as Jo Cox and David Amess, who I was very friendly with, have lost their lives for serving their constituents, and I just couldnt take the chance. That is a very sad place for our politics to be.

At the time of her defection, Dr Cameron disclosed that she had required counselling after standing up for a young staffer who was sexually harassed by Patrick Grady, an SNP MP, claiming she was shunned by colleagues.

She said she had also needed antidepressants and suffered panic attacks after being ostracised by colleagues.

Red flag

Dr Cameron told The Scottish Mail on Sunday that another red flag was the partys treatment of Kate Forbes, a devout Christian, when she stood for the SNP leadership last year.

Ms Forbes said she would have voted against legalising gay marriage if she had been an MSP in 2014, prompting John Swinney, who was then deputy first minister, to question whether her views were appropriate for an SNP leader.

But Dr Cameron said: The way people withdrew support from her made me feel that Christian views are maybe tolerated to some degree but not accepted within the party.

I dont want to be tolerated as though theres something wrong with me. I want to be, as a Christian, accepted.

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It is a measure of how badly things are going for Humza Yousaf, the leader of the Scottish National Party, that Rishi Sunak  despite being pretty beleaguered himself  could score a direct hit on him last week in remarks to Scottish Conservatives before their annual conference. The Prime Minister said that the two great achievements of Mr Yousafs first year as Scotlands first minister were the courts throwing out Nicola Sturgeons preposterous self-ID gender laws, and the loss of his health minister, Michael Matheson, after running up an 11,000 bill for roaming charges on his departmental iPad while on holiday in Morocco.

It is not clear why Mr Sunak stopped there. He could have cited plenty more evidence of Mr Yousaf running Scotland into the ground. The main pledge Mr Yousaf made to his party conference last autumn  a freeze on council tax  has just been blown apart by news that Argyll and Bute are raising theirs by 10 per cent, to help meet a 40 million hole in their budget.

Using money from Westminster, Mr Yousaf promised grants to councils equivalent to a 5 per cent rise: but Argyll and Bute is not alone in finding that inadequate. The SNP council that runs Glasgow  the partys heartland  is threatening to cut 172 teaching posts to reduce costs, thus helping it spare Mr Yousaf further embarrassment.

The SNP has also been exposed as incapable of running the National Health Service. The countrys spending watchdog, Audit Scotland, reported last week that the service could not cope with rising demand, and that there was no overall vision for it.

And although passing himself off as a devotee of green politics, Mr Yousaf has picked a fight with Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, criticising that partys policy of a windfall tax on the North Sea oil and gas industries. Despite his own hostility to fossil fuels, Mr Yousaf dares advocate nothing that might put Scottish workers in the North Sea out of work.

Apart from the SNPs responsibility for the decline of Scotlands public services, economy and infrastructure, it must also await the outcome of a police investigation  Operation Branchform  into alleged financial irregularities within its own party organisation.

It is unsurprising therefore that Mr Yousaf should cast around desperately for distractions from his own inability to run his country, and to keep even his party under control.

He was lucky last week that his party at Westminster appeared to have been badly wronged. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the Commons, defied convention by allowing a vote on a Labour amendment to an SNP motion on a ceasefire in Gaza, enabling Labour to escape an embarrassing rebellion.

The allegation that the Speaker had been bullied by senior Labour figures allowed an outburst of SNP righteousness, with Sir Lindsays actions criticised as an English insult to the whole of Scotland in the Nationalist press.

For the SNP, however, it was merely another distraction: and no distraction is better for the SNP than calling the English names, for it is part of SNP folklore that everything wrong with Scotland is not because of the utter incompetence of Mr Yousaf and his friends, but because of the chronic wickedness of the English. Ironically, despite the failures of the SNP and its leader, the tribal and essentially racist, anti-English nature of much of their support could well stop Labour picking up the large number of seats in Scotland that would help give them a large majority at the general election.

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Campaigners are celebrating after a High Court judge said a council's approval of plans for a solar farm was unlawful.

Approved by Durham County Council, Lightsource bp's contentious plans to transform a 92-hectare site near Burnhope into a huge solar farm are fiercely opposed by residents.

Villagers challenged the proposals with a judicial review, which has now concluded with a judge's order to quash planning permission.

The council said it was "disappointed" but accepted the High Court's decision.

The proposals would have drastically altered the landscape around Burnhope

Despite hundreds of objections, the council approved the proposals in March 2023.

They would have seen up to 14 fields overlaid with panels, including areas around a popular nature reserve.

Developers Lighthouse bp says the site is well-suited for solar, because it is a former coal mine and "dominated by low-quality agricultural land".

However, residents believe a solar farm would "industrialise" the environment and took their battle to preserve the landscape to the High Court.

Attempting to persuade the judge to stop the proposals progressing, the group argued that the development was too big - they said its size meant it had not been within the council's powers to agree planning permission.

Local authorities are only permitted to give permission to solar power stations up to a certain size (50MW) - and the judge agreed that the Burnhope plans exceeded that size.

In a written decision, Mr Justice Fordham ordered the quashing of the planning permission.

He said: The planning permission is unlawful because the council failed to take into account an obviously material consideration, namely addressing whether it was approving more panels over a larger area than were required to produce the stated (and a lawful) electricity-generating capacity.

'Amazing'

A spokesman for the residents' group said: "We know we have done something amazing together.

"We've stood up to people who aren't interested in our health and well-being, who aren't interested in local jobs for local people, who aren't interested in the landscape, and the walks and the wildlife."

Michael Kelleher, Durham County Councils head of planning and housing, said the council would now redetermine the planning application.

He added: We are aware of the outcome of the judicial review and, whilst we are disappointed at the outcome, accept the High Courts decision.

A spokesman for Lightsource bp said the company had listened to the community and concerns raised by other parties, including the RSPB.

As a result, he said, acreage would have been reduced, footpaths retained and new wildlife habitats incorporated into the plans.

Describing the company as "very disappointed", he said the project would deliver about 500,000 in community benefits and millions in business rates, while "driving down electricity bills and addressing climate change".

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Farm silos appear in the background behind rows of solar panels at the Yellowbud Solar Power Plant on Sept. 28, 2023, in Williamsport, Ohio.

BETHLEHEM TWP.  The township Board of Zoning Appeals will meet Monday to decide whether to grant a conditional use permit to a Boston company to build a solar farm.

Galehead Development wants permission to install a 19.3-watt "pole-mounted solar energy system" on a 76.7-acre site just north of Bolivar and west of Interstate 77. The company would lease property at 8798 Beth Drive SW.

Galehead in a 2020 project document described itself as a "renewable energy and infrastructure development company." It said the project was being financed by "American investors exclusively interested in advancing the development of competitive renewable generators."

According to Galehead Development's application submitted in September, this solar farm will be on four parcels zoned rural residential that total more than 317 acres. The land has Hudson Drive SW to the south, Sherman Church Avenue SW and I-77 to the east and Beth Avenue SW to the west. Berlin Mineral, with a post-office box address in Berlin in Holmes County, owns the properties.

Boston-based Galehead Development wants to build a 19.3-megawatt solar farm on a 75-acre site on these four parcels of Bethlehem Township that total more than 317 acres. The township's Board of Zoning Appeals will consider Monday the company's request for a conditional use.

Related: Samsung presses on with solar farm plan after Washington Township trustees vote to oppose

"The proposed solar project will make use of the reclaimed mine property and help to bring clean energy to the power grid," Galehead said in its application. "The proposed solar project will not substantially impact traffic in the area or create noise disturbances given its nature and design. The solar project will create a positive impact to the community."

Because the site would generate less than 50 megawatts, the project owner does not need to apply for approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board, according to Matt Butler, a spokesman for the board.

Attorney Rod Moore of the local firm Black McCuskey, who's representing Galehead Development, said, "Really there's no additional information we can share at this time aside from the project application."

The Board of Zoning Appeals meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Township Hall at 8600 Blough Ave. SW.

What does the Bethlehem Township solar farm project involve?

The Stark County Regional Planning Commission has conditionally approved the solar project. But that approval expires Sept. 17, 2025, according to board meeting minutes.

Galehead hopes to obtain all permits by around July and then start construction, which will take about a year. The project will generate 80 construction jobs during that year and 1.2 full-time equivalent long-term jobs.

The facility is expected to last at least 35 years. The solar panels are 10 feet tall and do not move. The area would be fenced and Galehead representatives said there are no adjoining residences.

Galehead representatives said they would present a drainage plan that would show how the site would handle water runoff. They would come up with a traffic plan with the Stark County Engineer's Office apparently for the trucks that would bring in construction materials and equipment.

Township zoning inspector Scott Borojevich said no one has yet to express opposition to the solar farm.

Township Trustee T. Renee Veselenak said that she and township officials are trying to find out more about the solar project. She said this is the first time anyone has asked to construct a solar farm in the township since she became trustee in 2022.

Trustees Ronald Lambert and Jim Urbach could not be reached for comment.

How much is being invested?

The application includes a description of the project on a document labeled confidential apparently prepared for investors in 2020. It said the solar facility, called the Bolivar Solar Project, would be constructed with an investment then of $20 million.

The solar panel arrays, arranged in east to west rows, would generate electricity to be sold at market rates to customers connected to the mid-Atlantic power grid managed by regional transmission organization PJM.

The connection to the grid would be via a 34.5-kilovolt distribution line about half a mile away.

The document said Galehead would need to file paperwork or obtain permits from the Ohio Public Service Commission, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Historic Preservation Office, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Transportation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The document indicated that initial work on the project had started by around April 2019.

Reach Repository writer Robert Wang at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Galehead Development wants to build solar farm in Bethlehem Twp.
You may believe that solitary confinement in prisons is reserved for serious infractions by violent people. You would be wrong.

Solitary confinement is used in Washington prisons for many purposes including punishment for fighting or separation between people. But it is also frequently used for minor prison rule violations, arbitrary retribution, and undeserved punishment for false positive drug tests.

People are held in solitary for months, years or even decades. It is barbaric, and is defined worldwide as torture.

Substitute House Bill 1087 would have restricted the use of solitary to no more than 15 days at a time, and require that people have more time out of their cells each day. Other states have made this change and saved money. The WA Department of Corrections (DOC) said it would cost $228 million dollars. SHB 1087 is no longer being considered this legislative session.

DOC Secretary Cheryl Strange committed to reducing solitary by 90% in five years. Her plan is to use more staff (300+) to allow people 4 hours a day out of cell.

However, nothing in Stranges steps to reducing solitary actually says DOC will reduce the number of people in restrictive housing. It just expands the definition of what is not solitary, to change the reported numbers.

In DOCs 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, DOC states there are 218 beds statewide within the definition of solitary confinement. Yet, in a funding request, DOC told legislators that DOC has 642 segregation beds and 394 intensive management beds system wide and that 600 to 800 beds are usually filled.

If the number is 700, DOC is not moving toward reducing solitary confinement; if the number is 218, they have no justification for the exceedingly high fiscal note.

They cant have it both ways.

That is not a reduction in solitary confinement. Thats saying give us money to hire 300 more employees; we will isolate more people for up to 20 hours a day, and call it progress.

To be fair, some of those hired would be mental health professionals. And improved behavioral health care is sorely needed inside our prisons. But the need for such services would be greatly reduced by reducing the time that people are in solitary.

Are there people in solitary who may never be able to function in general in general population? Yes. And there people in solitary who should never have been in prison to begin with. But these are the ends of the spectrum. Lets talk about the hundreds in the middle.

Solitary confinement causes psychological harm to every person subjected to it, and exacerbates existing mental health conditions. The outcome is both harmful and costly. Solitary confinement makes us all less safe.

By redirecting our investment into proven means of reducing recidivism  including increasing educational access  we can reduce the number of people in prisons and reduce the overall cost of incarceration in our state.

About 96% of the people who are in prison are coming home. The question is whether they come home better-prepared to successfully navigate life in their communities. That is what makes our communities healthier and safer.

Washington is currently 30th out of 50 in terms of recidivism  an indicator of whether the time in prison was spent on preparing for successful reentry. We can do better. Much better.

We need to get people out of solitary and into environments that contribute to positive outcomes. Four hours out of cell time is a step forward for those now getting one hour on some days, none on others. But it is not a reduction in solitary confinement.

It is atrocious that DOC is literally holding people hostage in solitary confinement and demanding millions of dollars to treat them humanely.

We need state leaders who have the courage to say: We will not torture people in this way, and we will not pay DOC to continue torturing people in their care.

Survivors Opposing Solitary and our community implore you: Talk to your legislators. Tell them long-term solitary confinement is torture and we can end it.

Noreen Lights son has been incarcerated for more than two decades and has spent months in solitary confinement. She works with a coalition called Survivors Opposing Solitary. She lives in Olympia.
Donald Trump's winning streak continued Saturday after he easily defeated former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her political backyard.

The victory adds to the former president's delegate lead in his pursuit of the 2024 Republican presidential nomination after besting her in previous primaries and caucuses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

But by handily winning the Palmetto State  where voters twice elected Haley as their chief executive  Trump may have sent a final, decisive message that despite multiple criminal indictments and massive civil judgments from fraud cases, he remains the GOP's top dog.

"I have never seen the Republican party so unified, as it is right now," Trump said during Saturday's victory speech.

Former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump points as he walks onto stage to address Christian broadcasters at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) International Christian Media Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 22, 2024. (Photo by KEVIN WURM / AFP) (Photo by KEVIN WURM/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776108662 ORIG FILE ID: 2023800708

Haley's underdog bid now shifts to carpet bombing the airwaves in the 15 states that will cast their ballots on March 5, known as Super Tuesday, where a hefty 874 Republican delegates will be up for grabs.

Here are five takeaways from Saturday's contest.

Trump wins within minutes, ignores Haley

CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 10: Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump gestures to members of the audience as he leaves a Get Out The Vote rally at Coastal Carolina University on February 10, 2024 in Conway, South Carolina. South Carolina holds its Republican primary on February 24. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776101565 ORIG FILE ID: 2000944133

If you blinked after the polls closed at 7 p.m. EST, then you would have missed it when multiple news outlets immediately called the race for Trump.

The former president never seemed to sweat the outcome either. He told supporters a day before the election that "honestly we're not very worried."

"This was a little sooner than we anticipated," Trump said Saturday evening.

Trump's popularity in the state hasn't wavered since his 2016 bid, and polls  including an exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University survey  showed him with a consistent and commanding 2-to-1 lead.

Joined by prominent South Carolina Republicans on stage, Trump avoided taking any shots at his former U.N. ambassador by name.

That is notably different from a month ago when he railed about how Haley should drop out after he won in New Hampshire.

Instead, Trump mocked how the "none of these candidates" option received more votes than her in the Nevada primary.

Haley is staying in the GOP primary  for now

Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers a speech in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, on Feb. 23, 2024, the night before the states GOP primary.

Haley's chances were always bleak, but after losing South Carolina there will likely be a deluge of critics questioning the point of her staying in the race.

The former U.N. ambassador has yet to win a single primary election, and it is rare for anyone to be their party's nominee after being rejected by their home state.

When Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., lost his home state primary to Trump in 2016, for instance, he bowed out quickly.

Haley repeated her promise to stay in the race on Saturday, reiterating that she doesn't believe Trump can defeat President Joe Biden in the fall and that the roughly 40% margin of the vote she held at the time she spoke is significant.

"America will come apart if we make the wrong choices," she said.

But Trump leads in most state and national surveys as his allies are poised to takeover the Republican National Committee, which will further fuel uncertainty about her chances.

Trump's veep-stakes to take center stage?

CPAC attendees await the start of the first day of the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

As much as experts will pick apart the South Carolina results and make bets on Haleys chances ahead, many Republicans backing Trump have been ready to move on.

That means other issues could begin to eclipse the remaining primary contests, such as who he will pick to be his 2024 running mate.

VEEPSTAKES: Donald Trump's campaign says Ron DeSantis isn't on Trump's list of candidates for VP

The CPAC straw poll conducted Saturday shows conservative activists think South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are the best choices.

The two tied at 15% among attendees, who are looked at as a pulse of what Republican base voters want.

Donald Trump brought his returning bid for the White House to Greenville, S.C. The former President was in town for a Ingraham Angle Town Hall at the Greenville Convention Center on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, left, joins Trump on stage with host Laura Ingraham.

But there are several other GOP players who are viewed as likely contenders, such as Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who joined Trump on the trail after he bowed out of the presidential contest weeks ago.

RNC member standing up to Trump

One shot in the arm for Haleys long-shot bid could be a move by a Republican National Committee member who wants to stall Trumps takeover.

Henry Barbour, a national committeeman from Mississippi, submitted two draft resolutions, according to The Associated Press.

Feb 24, 2024; Kiawah Island, SC, USA; Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley spoke with the press after voting in Saturdays GOP primary Saturday in Kiawah Island. Megan Smith-USA TODAY

The first says the RNC must remain neutral for the remainder of the primary, and not hire anyone from the active campaigns until a nominee is named.

Barbour's other resolution says the RNC will not pay the legal bills of any candidate, which is clearly about Trumps mounting court costs.

This echoes a warning Haley has been sounding about Trump looking to insert allies into key positions within the organization. She said the RNC has a responsibility to hire people who are "going to look out in the best interest of all of the Republican Party, not just one person."

Michigan's primary up next

Guests attend a rally hosted by Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump on Feb. 17, 2024 in Waterford, Michigan. People waited in lines for hours outside the event as temperatures held in the mid-20s and a strong wind cut through the crowd. The Michigan primary election is scheduled for Feb.. 27.

The 2024 presidential election now turns to Michigan, where both parties will hold their primaries on Feb. 27.

That gives Haley another bite at the apple, but just as intriguing will be a fight on the Democratic side.

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, has been rallying urging progressive voters to pick "uncommitted" over President Joe Biden due to his support for Israel in its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

That could prove to be the more compelling contest at this rate.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump quickly bests Haley in her home state of SC: 5 takeaways
South Carolina man arrested for threatening judge: 'I'll rip your face off'

A South Carolina man was arrested and charged after sending threatening emails to a judge, according to officials.

David Matthew Zwicker, 36, sent nine separate emails between Dec. 30 and Jan. 19 to the judge with no legitimate purpose except to cause a person to "suffer mental or emotional stress," according to an affidavit.

One email to the judge from Jan. 14 said, "I'll rip your face off."

SOUTH CAROLINA WOMAN RUNNING LATE DRIVES THROUGH CEMETERY FOR A SHORTCUT, DAMAGES GRAVES

Zwicker was charged with threatening the life, person or family of a public official, intimidation of court officials, harassment in the second degree and unlawful communication, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced Friday.

He was booked into the Spartanburg Detention Center.

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Original article source: South Carolina man arrested for threatening judge: 'I'll rip your face off'
Nikki Haley at a campaign stop on Feb. 21. (Alyssa Pointer/Reuters)

Haleys path to the nomination will only get narrower after South Carolina. Other states have open GOP primaries (meaning independents can vote). But registered Republicans, who overwhelmingly favor Trump, still dominate the partys primary electorate, and the calendar is about to become crowded with contests that award their delegates on a winner-take-all basis, rather than proportionally.

Citing these dynamics, senior Trump advisers estimated (in a memo shared with the press Tuesday) that even if Haley keeps performing as well as she did in New Hampshire, her strongest state so far, Trump will secure the 1,215 delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination on March 19. If Haley does not perform up to her Granite State levels, they added, Trump will hit the 1,215 mark a week earlier.

Could Haley continue running at that point? Sure. Last month, her campaign and super-PAC raised a combined $23.6 million  $7.4 million more than Trumps. As long as anti-Trump donors keep contributing to Haleys candidacy, she can keep giving voice to their concerns  and holding out, perhaps, for some seismic legal shift to upend the race.

People are not looking six months down the road when these court cases have taken place, Haley said in an interview earlier this week with the Associated Press. [Trumps] 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 judgments keep coming?
Former President Donald Trump continued his winning streak in South Carolina on Saturday, prevailing over Nikki Haley in the fourth Republican primary election this year. The latest defeat came in Haley's home state.

Haley, a born-and-raised South Carolinian, served as the states governor from 2011 to 2017. Before that, she was in the states House of Representatives.

So why did she lose her own state? Prior to Saturday's election, I spoke with two college students about the decision of their campus groups to back Trump over Haley in South Carolina. Their qualms with Haley outweighed any possibility of supporting the local candidate.

Our conversations affirmed what I assumed: that a hometown advantage doesn't matter when you're running against Trump. Not only do these students remember what life was like while Trump was in office, they are contrasting it with the past four years of Joe Biden's presidency and assume that Trump is the only one strong enough to defeat him come November. They don't have the same familiarity with Haley, nor do they have confidence in her leadership.

South Carolina students dislike Haley's track record

For younger Republican voters, the hometown connections weren't enough to pull them away from Trump. In fact, her track record within the state is part of the reason that some College Republicans chapters chose to endorse the former president ahead of the state's primary.

Noah Lindler, vice president of University of South Carolinas College Republicans chapter, said the decision to endorse Trump was unanimous among the clubs executive board. In its Feb. 2 endorsement of Trump, the group said they miss when our border was being secured, terrorism was being rooted out and destroyed, and gasoline did not cost an arm and a leg.

"There's always gonna be controversies with Donald Trump," Lindler told me. "However, we've seen what his presidency looks like, we know how good it was for America and we want that again."

Alabama IVF ruling hurts families. Nikki Haley wants this?

He said the club analyzed the candidates based on five issues: gun rights, abortion, economic policy, foreign aid and immigration. The club hosted watch parties for the different debates and talked about them as a group. They picked topics to correspond with each of the candidates: One meeting was about Vivek Ramaswamy as a young conservative, another focused on Haley as a moderate.

"A lot of us like Trump, like what he did when he was president," Lindler said. "And we saw that, compared to what Nikki Haley was saying during the debates and the way she's voted in the past, what she's done in South Carolina."

Even Republicans at Haley's former university passed

Clemson University's chapter also endorsed Trump. The move was significant, considering it's Haley's alma mater.

She continued to promise South Carolinians things, Jeanais Mitchell, the PR chair for the Clemson University College Republicans, said of Haley in a phone interview. As a native-born, we hoped for the best, but she just never delivered.

The Clemson chapter has been visibly supporting Trump since October, when it posted to Instagram about signing up students to volunteer for the former president at a tailgate. Members phoned people and knocked on doors for the Trump campaign, meeting MAGA-verse celebrities like Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Jim Jordan from Ohio.

During her volunteer shift, Mitchell said, she talked to people who also liked Trump's track record, while pointing to issues with Haley's record in the state.

Democrats should be glad: Republicans want no part of Haley. If you want Biden to win, you should thank them for that.

In its Feb. 7 endorsement, the Clemson College Republicans said that Trump came down on the DC status quo with a sledgehammer, and that Haley was bought, sold, and owned by deranged billionaires.

The statement also noted the weaponization of the justice system against the former president. In our phone call, Mitchell said the lawsuits and felony charges were a ploy to take his time and energy.

"People may assume that this is Nikki Haley's voter base," she told me. "It's really, I think, way more than that. The momentum that Trump has has been huge, and I think that's really important."

Republicans object to Haley's policy record

Both Mitchell and Lindler mentioned Haleys record on taxes as reasons they did not support her.

As a state House member in 2006, Haley co-sponsored a bill that raised the sales tax by a penny while also cutting property taxes for school operations. As governor, she proposed a 2016 gasoline tax increase coupled with an income tax cut that never came to fruition.

Republican Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. Photos by Getty Images

There were other concerns, as well.

Lindler said Haley seemed to favor militarization over diplomacy in debate questions on foreign affairs and noted that her campaign has received donations from the left. He included her surprise appearance on "Saturday Night Live" as another thing working against her, despite the fact that Trump hosted during his 2016 campaign.

Mitchell, meanwhile, disliked that Haley had gone back on her word: In 2021, Haley said she would not run for president if Trump sought reelection.

Trump supporters made it clear Haley had no chance

Looking back on these conversations, it's hard to see a world where Haley would have won South Carolina. Trump's branding still has a stronghold on conservatives, who can easily dismiss the red flags in favor of what they see as the United States returning to what it is supposed to be.

Conversely, both of the college groups saw Haley as the weaker candidate and held onto the ways they said she'd let down conservative South Carolinians.

Haley can't win Republicans over: Powerful Nikki Haley speech should be a turning point. But in Trump's GOP, it won't be.

For these two students  first-time voters who saw the Trump presidency, the 2020 election and everything that came after  there was a clear favorite. And if Haley couldn't win over the young, politically engaged voters in her home state, she was doomed before the polls even opened.

The clubs Trump endorsements are in line with what the polls told us. A Suffolk University/USA TODAY survey of those very likely to vote in South Carolina's primary found that 63% are for Trump, compared with the 35% supporting Haley. He has more support in every age group, as well as among both high school and college graduates.

Possibly seeing that polling, Haley held a news conference Tuesday to announce that she would not suspend her campaign if she lost South Carolina. She intends to stay in the race until at least Super Tuesday, on March 5.

People have a right to have their voices heard, and they deserve a real choice  not a Soviet-style election where theres only one candidate, and he gets 99% of the vote, Haley said.

It's admirable that she plans to stay simply to offer voters a choice, but my conversations with the Republican college students made it clear that Trumps time in the White House and his latest messaging make him the more appealing candidate.

Come Super Tuesday, this will be apparent in half the country. Haley may drop out of the race or she might keep her word and keep trying. She has said she wants to give Republican voters a choice.

The thing is, they've already made it. They want Trump.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeno on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno and Facebook facebook.com/PequenoWrites.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Haley lost the South Carolina primary. Young Republicans told me why
(Stacker)  In New York, there are a total of 438 high-hazard dams. Up to 37.7% of them could pose a threat to residents, including those that were assessed to be an immediate threat or in poor condition, those that were not rated, and those which had ratings withheld.

As part of a national analysis, GetMyBoat identified counties in New York with the most dams at risk of failure that pose the greatest potential threat to nearby residents, using data from the Army Corps of Engineers National Inventory of Dams, pulled in October 2023. The public database allowing Americans to look up the conditions of nearby dams has grown to include more than 90,000 dams.

As more dams get added to the national inventory, analyses of this database reveal a growing number of dams in poor and unsatisfactory condition, some of which have the potential to be life-threatening should they faildams the inventory deems high-hazard.

Counties in this analysis are ranked by the share of high-hazard dams that could pose a danger to human life, including those assessed to be in poor or unsatisfactory condition, those that havent received inspections, and those where the state agency that oversees them has not rated its conditions. Ties were broken by the overall number of dams meeting those criteria, and then by their concentration among local populations, though some ties may remain.

Chemung County now accepting grant applications to improve tourism

A designation of poor is given to inspected dams showing deficiencies that threaten the dams integrity during normal operations. Unsatisfactory is given to dams that require immediate or emergency remedial action, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. About 1 in 10 of the inventorys dam listings have no condition reported by state agencies.

It is likely most of these dams should be listed at not rated, but we will work with the appropriate agencies to verify the information and update the NID accordingly, Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Gene Pawlik said in a statement.

Read on to see how dams in your area fare based on publicly available data.

43. St. Lawrence County

 Total high-hazard dams: 29

 Number potentially dangerous: 2 (6.9%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

 1 not rated

42. Warren County

 Total high-hazard dams: 8

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (12.5%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

41. Schoharie County

 Total high-hazard dams: 7

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (14.3%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

40. Sullivan County

 Total high-hazard dams: 14

 Number potentially dangerous: 2 (14.3%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 posing immediate threat

39. Saratoga County

 Total high-hazard dams: 13

 Number potentially dangerous: 2 (15.4%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 in poor condition

Food Bank of the Southern Tier sees $2,700 donation from Centers Health Care

38. Madison County

 Total high-hazard dams: 6

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (16.7%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

37. Dutchess County

 Total high-hazard dams: 14

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (21.4%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 in poor condition

 1 condition withheld

36. Cattaraugus County

 Total high-hazard dams: 12

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (25.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 3 not rated

35. Rensselaer County

 Total high-hazard dams: 10

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (30.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 3 in poor condition

34. Clinton County

 Total high-hazard dams: 10

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (30.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 in poor condition

 1 not rated

33. Erie County

 Total high-hazard dams: 3

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (33.3%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

32. Albany County

 Total high-hazard dams: 15

 Number potentially dangerous: 5 (33.3%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 3 in poor condition

 2 condition withheld

31. Orange County

 Total high-hazard dams: 33

 Number potentially dangerous: 11 (33.3%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 3 posing immediate threat

 7 in poor condition

 1 not rated

30. Chemung County

 Total high-hazard dams: 8

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (37.5%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 3 in poor condition

29. Herkimer County

 Total high-hazard dams: 10

 Number potentially dangerous: 4 (40.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 in poor condition

 2 not rated

28. Putnam County

 Total high-hazard dams: 22

 Number potentially dangerous: 9 (40.9%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 4 in poor condition

 5 not rated

27. Ulster County

 Total high-hazard dams: 7

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (42.9%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 3 in poor condition

26. Onondaga County

 Total high-hazard dams: 9

 Number potentially dangerous: 4 (44.4%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 4 in poor condition

25. Westchester County

 Total high-hazard dams: 36

 Number potentially dangerous: 16 (44.4%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 12 in poor condition

 4 not rated

24. Ontario County

 Total high-hazard dams: 2

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (50.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 not rated

Governor Hochul looking to make alcohol to-go permanent

23. Cayuga County

 Total high-hazard dams: 2

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (50.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

22. Livingston County

 Total high-hazard dams: 2

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (50.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 condition withheld

21. Montgomery County

 Total high-hazard dams: 2

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (50.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

20. Seneca County

 Total high-hazard dams: 2

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (50.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 posing immediate threat

19. Tompkins County

 Total high-hazard dams: 4

 Number potentially dangerous: 2 (50.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 in poor condition

18. Oneida County

 Total high-hazard dams: 10

 Number potentially dangerous: 5 (50.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 in poor condition

 3 not rated

17. Monroe County

 Total high-hazard dams: 14

 Number potentially dangerous: 8 (57.1%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 in poor condition

 6 not rated

16. Chautauqua County

 Total high-hazard dams: 5

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (60.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

 2 not rated

15. Chenango County

 Total high-hazard dams: 10

 Number potentially dangerous: 6 (60.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 6 in poor condition

14. Cortland County

 Total high-hazard dams: 3

 Number potentially dangerous: 2 (66.7%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 2 in poor condition

13. Fulton County

 Total high-hazard dams: 7

 Number potentially dangerous: 5 (71.4%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 5 in poor condition

12. Delaware County

 Total high-hazard dams: 7

 Number potentially dangerous: 5 (71.4%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 3 in poor condition

 1 not rated

 1 condition withheld

11. Broome County

 Total high-hazard dams: 23

 Number potentially dangerous: 17 (73.9%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

 15 not rated

 1 condition withheld

DEC will let people print hunting, fishing licenses at home

10. Steuben County

 Total high-hazard dams: 4

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (75.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 not rated

 2 condition withheld

9. Hamilton County

 Total high-hazard dams: 4

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (75.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 3 in poor condition

8. Tioga County

 Total high-hazard dams: 5

 Number potentially dangerous: 4 (80.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 4 in poor condition

7. Rockland County

 Total high-hazard dams: 13

 Number potentially dangerous: 11 (84.6%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 6 in poor condition

 5 not rated

6. Nassau County

 Total high-hazard dams: 1

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (100.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

5. Schenectady County

 Total high-hazard dams: 1

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (100.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 not rated

4. Wyoming County

 Total high-hazard dams: 1

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (100.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 not rated

3. Yates County

 Total high-hazard dams: 1

 Number potentially dangerous: 1 (100.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 not rated

2. Wayne County

 Total high-hazard dams: 2

 Number potentially dangerous: 2 (100.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

 1 not rated

1. Schuyler County

 Total high-hazard dams: 3

 Number potentially dangerous: 3 (100.0%)

 Potentially dangerous dams include:

 1 in poor condition

 2 not rated

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten, writing by Dom DiFurio, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

This story originally appeared on GetMyBoat and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

SpaceX launched 24 of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Sunday (Feb. 25), on the company's 18th mission of 2024.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 5:06 p.m. EST (2206 GMT).

Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

The Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. It made a vertical landing on the SpaceX droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

It was the 13th launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. Eight of its 12 flights to date have been Starlink missions.

The rocket's upper stage, meanwhile, continued powering its way toward low Earth orbit, deploying the satellites there about 65 minutes after launch.

A time lapse exposure captures a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites as it lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

RELATED STORIES:

 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites on record-breaking 19th mission

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Sunday's launch was the 18th of the year for SpaceX. And many more will follow over the coming weeks and months: The company aims to launch 144 orbital missions in 2024.

SpaceX's most recent two launches have been milestone missions. On Tuesday (Feb. 20), the company lofted an Indonesian telecom satellite called Merah Putih 2 on the 300th successful Falcon 9 liftoff to date.

And a Starlink launch on Thursday (Feb. 22) was the 19th flight for that Falcon 9's first-stage booster, tying SpaceX's rocket reuse record.
The issue of student behavior and discipline has taken center stage in the Springfield school board election,

Student behavior has become an issue in Springfield Public Schools  on that, there appears to be widespread agreement between top district officials, the teachers union and school board members and candidates.

"Clearly, there is a problem," said board candidate Kyler Sherman-Wilkins. "If you don't acknowledge the problem, then you are living under a rock."

At issue is whether the state's largest district is doing enough  and taking the right steps  to fix the problem.

The leader of the Springfield National Education Association has repeatedly said the district is failing to take action, calling on administrators to do more to safeguard students and employees in public meetings, social media posts and a December protest in front of the central office.

"Safety has to be first and foremost or students will quit coming to school and staff will leave, as we have continued to see them do," said Laura Mullins, president of Springfield NEA, in a November board meeting. "The safety of our students and staff cannot be subordinate to other goals like making our numbers look good."

Board candidate Landon McCarter, who joined the December protest along with fellow candidates Chad Rollins and Sherman-Wilkins, said the time for change is now.

"This has hit a real boiling point," he said.

Superintendent Grenita Lathan said addressing discipline and protecting the learning environment is "at the top of my priority list." It was part of the "entry plan" she presented after a listening tour with teachers, staff, parents and community members.

Asked to respond to comments the district is not doing enough to address student behavior, Lathan said "look at the discipline reports" that have been presented to the board.

"That shows an increase over the past three years in the number of referrals, an increase in the number of out-of-school suspensions and in-school suspensions and how it has been handled," Lathan said. "I would take them back to our scope and sequence, looking at our student handbook. I'd ask them to review all the facts and information that has been shared."

Springfield Superintendent Grenita Lathan takes questions from the public during an October 2023 community event.

Lathan said principals are the "people on the ground, making those decisions" and they know what expectations have been set by the district.

"They have the autonomy to run their schools and make the decisions that are in the best interests of their staff members and their students," she said.

"There are times we overruled the principal and said there should a greater or stiffer consequence for some situations. And mainly those have been at the high school (level)."

'It will not be an overnight fix'

In public schools, the safety of students and employees is a perennial topic and discipline is an important piece of the ongoing conversation.

In Springfield, issues surrounding discipline have been discussed with more frequency and intensity in the past 10 or so years and spurred two separate work groups, four years apart, by different superintendents.

A slew of pandemic-related disruptions  the shutdown in spring 2020, a period of virtual or hybrid learning, and many families opting to keep young children out of preschool  have placed a national spotlight on poor student behavior.

Springfield parents and teachers noted the uptick in behavior issues in a sweeping survey 1 1/2 years ago, which helped shape the district's new strategic plan approved in late 2022.

Recently, two January incidents heightened concerns. An assault at Hickory Hills Middle School sent one girl to the hospital and three girls to juvenile detention and a fight in the cafeteria at Parkview High School left one employee with a minor injury.

Videos of both incidents have circulated on social media.

Lathan said work to safeguard classrooms and the people in them has been a priority but the work has intensified in the past year. She said progress is being made.

In the past two years, Lathan and her leadership team  with support from the school board  expanded training and programs, beefed up mental health and behavior support, and revamped and added alternative programs to serve students who have struggled in traditional classroom settings.

That ongoing work was accelerated during the current school year based on a 15-point discipline plan that Lathan provided to the board during a May 2023 retreat.

It included training principals, teachers, paraprofessionals and even substitutes on the expectations; gathering and reviewing discipline data; auditing what disciplinary steps are taken; and tweaking the plan as needed.

The plan called for the creation of a guide that outlined a consistent sequence of progressive discipline, based on the infraction and the circumstances  for example, an elementary student breaking a rule for the first time will, in most cases, face a less serious consequence than an older student who is a repeat offender.

The district used federal pandemic relief funds to add temporary staffing to help address learning loss and behavior issues. However, the funding will end this school year, meaning many of the temporary positions will go away. Final decisions about the budget will be made this spring.

Board president Danielle Kincaid described discipline as "a major issue, a pressing issue."

"There are steps being taken to address it," she said. "But it will not be an overnight fix. It will take time."

'Take those infractions very seriously'

At the start of the 2023-24 year, a copy of the student handbook went home to all parents. It includes the code of conduct and "scope and sequence," which spells out behavior expectations and the consequences of breaking the rules.

Nicole Holt, deputy superintendent of academics, said said the said the guide was written in "exact alignment" with the handbook, principals and site leaders still have flexibility in the discipline they impose.

"They are the ones who know the most about the unique student. They know the most about the situation. They know the most about the classroom environment and the context. They know the most about that student's home environment, the things they would be bringing with them into the situation," Holt said. "... They are the best-equipped to make that in-time decision."

Nicole Holt

In November comments to the board, Mullins of Springfield NEA said programs the district put in place to help improve behavior have lowered expectations for students and replaced consequences in certain situation.

She alleged the district has required staff to start ignoring "infractions they deem as minor" and that a series of serious incidents  such as bullying and threats of violence  did not result in consequences in the weeks before Thanksgiving.

She added that when a "student's behavior rises to the point where a referral is finally allowed, in many cases they are not getting processed or staff is told not to write them at all," especially if the student has special needs.

In a recent interview, Mullins said teachers and staff want the changes to come more quickly.

"They're going to say on discipline that this can't change overnight. It actually can. It actually can change overnight," she said. "They changed the rules overnight and now we're in this situation. I don't buy it."

Laura Mullins, president of the Springfield National Education Association, has repeatedly spoken about student behavior and discipline in school board meetings.

Mullins said there is a lot riding on the district getting this right.

"I have members waiting for the election to decide if they stay or leave," she said.

The district issued a lengthy response saying it holds students accountable for unacceptable behavior and alleging the union was "misleading to advance narratives that are either untrue or lacking in context."

As part of the response, the district said "statements that incorrectly represent the record" or "falsely assign blame" are counter-productive to the shared goal of improving student behavior.

Bret Range, chief human resources officer, said the revamped "code of conduct" offers little or no flexibility in how the most serious infractions are handled. Those include assaults, weapons and threats of violence.

"Those codes given the principal the autonomy to suspend students and to take those infractions very seriously and we continue to do that," said Range, who has been heavily involved in discipline oversight in prior district roles. "We do take those infractions seriously and we expect principals to take those infractions seriously."

Holt also noted there is no wiggle room in how the district handles the most serious incidents, which violate the Missouri Safe Schools Act, first approved in 1996.

State statute requires suspension or expulsion of a student who commit certain types of assault, sexual offenses, and drugs and weapons violations.

'Treating offenses fairly and equitably'

The district-level rules regarding student behavior expectations and discipline were fairly stable for years.

A series of changes made by former superintendent John Jungmann  whom Lathan replaced in 2021  were aimed at reducing suspensions and keeping students in school whenever possible.

During that period, the district also scaled back its alternative programs for students in K-8 who committed various offenses or struggled with behavior and academic issues.

Range said a discipline work team convened in 2018 led to streamlining and reworking parts of the code of conduct. "It had been a long time since a review had taken place."

Bret Range

He said, among other things, the changes allowed for the district to once again assign students to detention before and after the school day.

"When Dr. Lathan came in and asked us to redo that or relook at the code of conduct, it was to make sure that we are treating offenses fairly and equitably  that we are taking discipline seriously," Range said.

Lathan convened a new discipline work team in 2022 that included a range of stakeholders, including parents and community members.

Range said part of the role was to take a "deeper dive into bullying" and how it was being addressed. He said that was not part of the earlier review under Jungmann.

"That was in her entry plan to look at how we're handling bullying," he said.

Lathan said there are times where students need to be removed from their classroom or school building and placed in an alternative program.

"We have tried to strengthen that," she said. "But we still have some work to do to ensure we have a continuum from K-12 of alternative education options for our students."

She said programs will look different based on the needs and ages of the students. Study Alternative Center mostly serves older students.

In 2013, the former Harry P. Study Middle School closed and the building reopened the next year as a hub for the district's alternative programs. It is now known as Study Alternative Center.

"What we've heard from principals ... and staff members is for elementary students, they prefer to have them on their campus but maybe in a separate setting," she said.

The district also is exploring a way to better serve students who qualify for special education services who have behavior issues that need to be addressed.

One model the district piloted for younger students, the RISE pullout program, is going away. Lathan said feedback showed it was not working.

She said the district is looking at different models to provide a "truly alternative setting" for younger students who "need to be in seated instruction versus virtual."

'Keep students and staff safe'

As the district works to address student behavior and put changes into place, Lathan said it also struggles with public perception.

"The biggest challenge we are dealing with ... is the misinformation that is put out there about how discipline is being handled across the district and in our buildings," she said.

"Along those lines, is people not understanding that principals have the autonomy to make a decision that is the best interest for their building and it may not be the same from building to building."

She said the principals and behavior interventionists working in schools are best equipped to explain what is going on in their buildings.

"My teachers usually are removed from the discipline scope and sequence, per se, that falls on me," said Watkins Elementary Principal Joanna Brockwell. "If they have a student who is exhibiting an upset or negative behaviors, we have a protocol here at Watkins that teachers just call for support."

Joanna Brockwell

She said when a "call for support" goes out over the two-way radio, she responds. She is often joined by Jodi Grable, lead teacher interventionist, a paraprofessional or two, and sometimes the counselor.

"Those are the ... first-responders," Brockwell said. "They might just sit with the child if the child is exhibiting an upset but it's not causing a class disruption or it's not unsafe."

She said if the student is calm and can get back on track, they remain in the classroom. If not, the student is usually placed in the "focus room"  a designated space in each building  where they may do a breathing exercise, talk to a staffer and calm down.

Brockwell said if all goes well, the expectation is for the student to return to the classroom within 30 minutes. But if the student is disruptive or the situation is more severe, a discipline referral is made. She refers to the guide and the circumstances to decide which consequence the child faces.

"I take into account a lot of things ... how many times this offense has occurred and then build from there," she said.

The school tracks calls for supports, visits to the focus room, and discipline referrals. If they notice a pattern with a student or a classroom, they may provide extra support proactively.

"Maybe I'll go in and do a whole class lesson on a missing executive skill like self-control or organization," Grable said. "If we're noticing it's just a student ... we might have scheduled breaks where they come to the (focus) room with one of the staffers and they might play a game or ... just have a chat."

Jodi Grable

Brockwell and Grable listed off other strategies they use, including giving a student a "school job" or responsibility so they can bond with an adult mentor, as a way to foster belonging.

They said students communicate through their behavior and may act out because they need a connection, skills and support, love or care.

"Everywhere we go, we're implementing these calming strategies and connection opportunities," Brockwell said.

She said there are times when the proactive steps and extra support do not work. She said disruptive students will be removed from a classroom and may face other consequences, depending on the behavior.

"I sent one home last week for assaulting a student and a staff member," Brockwell said. "... It's my job to keep students and staff safe here."

Brockwell said if a student is exhibiting the same behavior over and over, applying the same consequence may not be the answer. "I want to see some change. I want to see some shifting in behaviors."

Grable said many of the students with chronic behavior issues have unmet mental health needs, which takes a toll on them, their families, and the school community.

"We're navigating the best we can every day and people ... don't realize how difficult this is for the other students, for the families that are struggling with this and your coworkers, to keep the morale up. We're going to get through this and we're in this together," she said. "And people think we're not doing enough? That is disheartening because we are trying our absolute best every day."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield school leaders say discipline issue will take time to fix
Seven years ago, prisoners at HMP Liverpool were seeing out their sentences in a squalid environment infested with rats and cockroaches.

Now, the failing prison is a clean, successful hive of industry where inmates spend their days making belts for their own guards and doing laundry for athletes.

In 2017, it was in such a state of disrepair that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) had to transfer out 500 prisoners, bring in a new governor and invest millions to restore the decrepit fabric of the jail, first opened in 1858.

But thanks to millions of pounds of extra investment and an ongoing programme of refurbishment of its wings, it has become a beacon, and prisoners have been unlocked from their cells to work on multiple contracts for not only the prison system but wider industry.

Its prisoner-staffed laundry washed all the bed linen for athletes at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, and during Covid restrictions, the clothes and linen for the north-west region prison system. Its leather factory produces 12,000 belts a quarter for the prison service as well as pouches for radios, cuffs and batons.

Inside one of the cells - PAUL COOPER

Positive and caring culture

Standing in the governors boardroom on a visit to the jail last week, Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, pulled out the inspection report from 2017 which highlighted squalid living conditions, cockroaches, piles of rubbish and rats.

Alongside it, he held the same inspectorates most recent report - filed after the emergency action led by then governor Pia Sinha, now chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust (PRT).

By 2022, commendable improvement. Positive and caring culture. Calm and well-ordered. Good staff/prisoner relationships, said Mr Chalk. It shows prisons as well as prisoners can be redeemed.

The laundry at HMP Liverpool has taken on a number of outside contracts, including one for the 2022 Commonwealth Games - PAUL COOPER

HMP Liverpool is undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment in which each of its wings is being renovated and brought into the 21st century on a rolling basis.

The aim is to increase its current capacity of 840 prisoners by 350 to help tackle the nationwide overcrowding crisis. This should be achieved by 2025/26.

The old damp and dingy 10 sqm cells, which had windows with flaps used by prisoners to try to secure drone-delivered drug drops, are being revamped.

The overhaul aims to provide lighter, airier living spaces with wardrobes, shelves for books, a TV and en suite toilets. It is still a prison cell, though, so the windows will have ventilated grilles to combat drugs being smuggled in, and the shortage of prison places means offenders will still have to share cells with bunk beds.

An exterior view of HMP Liverpool - PAUL COOPER

However, Rob Luxford, the current governor, said it is an important factor in how prisoners respond to life behind bars: Behaviour matches the environment.

Mr Chalk added: I think the built environment makes a huge difference. What this shows you is that Victorian prisons present challenges but its not like they are irredeemable. With investment, you can make it into a decent prison with the right staff, people who are passionately committed.

Prisoners learn the habit of work

Prisoners are given some autonomy over their lives through a computer system, which, using their fingerprint, they can use to book gym, education and work sessions, request GP appointments, choose their meals from a menu, check their prison account balance and make general requests.

Each of the wings of the prison are being renovated and brought into the 21st century - PAUL COOPER

The regime is designed to try to get prisoners back into the habit of work. A bicycle workshop offers offenders the chance to repair bikes, including those donated by police as unclaimed stolen property. Once refitted, they are offered to charities.

The prisons leather workshop has established links with the Liverpool satchel company to provide three prisoners with the training to become leather craftsmen, while the laundry is cleaning the overalls of staff at Slaters Workwear and mats for Golden Hygiene.

One prisoner, six months from release, said: It is helping me back into the working environment. It makes me feel good and shows I am taking responsibility. I want to get back to work. I was a manager at Subway.

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.
ST. LOUIS  One St. Louis-based Girl Scout troop has apparently disbanded after the organization reportedly warned of legal action over a fundraiser to help Palestinian children.

The St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (STL PSC) reports that Girl Scout Troop #149 of Eastern Missouri disbanded from the Girl Scouts organization after careful consideration and reflection over a recent situation.

In previous reports from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and NBC News, the former troops adult leader, Nawal Abuhamdeh, claims the organization threatened her with legal action over an attempted fundraiser. Her troop intended to sell bracelets and donate money to a Palestine childrens relief fund amid the months-long global conflict in Gaza.

More than 29,000 people have died since Hamas, a militant group that controls Gaza, launched attacks against Israel in October, triggering a response by Israeli forces.

Jefferson County deputies fatally wound man while attempting to serve warrant

According to both reports, Abuhamdeh shared a post about the fundraiser through social media, then received an email from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri asking her to remove any Girl Scouts branding associated with the bracelets, citing concerns that the fundraiser was political and partisan.

Abuhamdeh then sent an email back inquiring how this fundraiser was different than previous Girl Scouts fundraisers for Ukraine. She also contended that it wasnt political.

Our intention was solely to provide aid to children facing a humanitarian crisis, and we firmly believe in teaching our girls the value of compassion and social responsibility, said an excerpt from former Troop 149 cited by STL PSC.

According to the Post-Dispatch, the Girl Scouts organization replied with a lengthy email claiming her troops efforts were a direct violation of the organizations codes and that legal counsel could be activated if the fundraiser continued.

We are deeply disappointed by the circumstances that led to this decision, said former Troop 149s excerpt via STL PSC. It continued, We initially joined Girl Scouts with the belief that the organization valued all lives equally and committed to empowering girls to stand up for causes they believe in. However, recent events have made us question whether this belief aligns with the organizations true stance.

According to a Girl Scouts USA Blue Book of Documents from last year, Girl Scout troops and leaders are not allowed to solicit financial contributions for purposes other than Girl Scouting.

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The former troops statement via STL PSC doubled down on Abuhamdehs initial claim that raising money for children overseas was not political. It closed, Although we do not identify as official Girl Scouts anymore, we do hope that Girl Scouts align with other organizations to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and ending the countless and useless deaths of children. After all, it is the Girl Scout way.'

According to the Post-Dispatch and NBC News, the former troop previously consisted of members from Palestinian and other backgrounds.

FOX 2 has reached out to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri for comment, but we have yet to hear back as of the time of this storys initial publication.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A memorial service in Lackawanna County commemorating the two-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

More than a dozen honored and remembered the lives lost and those at war.

Members of the group called Scranton for Ukraine gathered at a coffee shop in downtown Scranton two years to the day after Russia invaded Ukraine.

February 24, 2022, is a day people at this event will never forget. that was the day Russia invaded Ukraine. More than a dozen people living in northeastern Pennsylvania met at Commonwealth Coffee House to talk and share about how their lives were affected after the invasion there.

The founder of the Scranton for Ukraine shares how he felt on this day two years ago when he first heard about the Russian invasion in his home country.

My brother and I we wanted to go over there and help but didnt do that so we had to do something locally. we couldnt find local support so we formed our own group, said Alex Groysman the founder of Scranton 4 Ukranie.

Peace, love, and unity rally held in Sunbury

Their goal was to continue spreading awareness about the war conflict in that region, raise funds, and promote their 5k event, which will be held later this summer.

Merchandise like pins, shirts, and bumper stickers with Ukrainian colors, Ukrainian flags, and Ukrainian-style clothing were sold with funds going to a group in Philadelphia called Life for Ukraine who helps refugees from the conflict area.

Life for Ukraine in Philadelphia like we did last year they did a lot of work directly with refugees in Ukraine. They have more connections than us, says Groysman.

Members Saturday felt comfort being with loved ones but were also reminded and upset about the war continuing.

I wish we didnt have to do this especially two years after and theres no end in sight so its kind of bittersweet. its nice to see people out but its not nice to see them for this reason, added Groysman.

It brought back a ton of memories with friends and family that we still have living there. we lost a couple of people that we do know when it first started, I thought it was dreaming, stated Kira Moore member of Scranton 4 Ukraine.

The group is concluding the event by walking from the coffee shop to downtown Courthouse Square to keep awareness up for the war in Ukraine

Were ending it with a walk down to the courthouse just to commemorate the war that is still going on in its second year, continued Moore.

To read more information or donate please head to the groups website titled Scranton 4 Ukraine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
If youre a Ferrari fan, you might want to race on over to Legoland in Winter Haven on March 8.

Thats when the park will officially open its Lego Ferrari Build and Race attraction.

It will feature three zones designed for guests to build a Lego race car and then test drive it.

The attraction officially opens March 8.

In the primary zone, park visitors will design their Ferrari.

READ: Universal Orlando shares first look at Epic Universe, new theme park opening in 2025

Theyll then move on to the test zone, which will include three varying tracks, park officials said.

At the digital zone, guests can then see how their Ferrari performs on a virtual racetrack.

The attraction officially opens March 8.

Legoland also said the attraction will boast a life-size Lego Ferrari 296 GTS.

READ: SeaWorld food festival has expanded the performance lineup

For more information about the new attraction, click here.

Are you ready to race? LEGO Ferrari Build & Race opens March 8th!



Build with us this Spring Break. Plan your visit now: https://t.co/7NZzsc3q6M pic.twitter.com/ly3u7ipKBy  LEGOLAND Florida (@LEGOLANDFlorida) February 13, 2024

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The legal age to get married will be 18 after both chambers of the Washington State Legislature passed a bill outlawing child marriage.

The bill will now go to the governor who is expected to sign it into law. It would take effect June 6 and apply only to marriages on that date and after.

HB 1455 seeks to close loopholes that currently allow for the marriage of minors under certain circumstances. (A PDF of the original bill can be viewed here.)

Under current law, people as young as 17 can obtain a marriage license with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian or through judicial approval.

However, critics argue that this system leaves minors vulnerable to coercion and exploitation.

The new law, originally introduced during the 2023 session, renders any marriage involving a person under 18 void, regardless of parental or judicial consent.

It also removes the ability of judges to waive the age requirement and eliminates the option for 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent.

Its not that much of a burden to wait until theyre 18 compared to the potential for exploitation and abuse that exists in a system where a judge can have them be married when theyre younger than 18, Sen. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell, told fellow lawmakers before the vote.

Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, offered an amendment that would allow judges to decide the necessity for a marriage in limited circumstances.

I support the bill overall. Its just that it seems in these very, very limited circumstances, there ought to be some relief from this total ban, Padden said.

The amendment went down to defeat in a voice vote.

Supporters of the bill contend that minors, particularly young girls, are often forced into marriages against their will, with grave consequences for their physical, emotional, and financial well-being.

They argue that marriage should not be used as a tool to circumvent laws against child rape and abuse.

I think when we want to end child marriage in Washington, we should end child marriage in Washington, period, no exceptions, said Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond.

Concerns have also been raised about the lack of autonomy granted to married minors. While they may be considered emancipated, they are unable to access legal resources such as hiring lawyers, seeking protection orders, or filing for divorce.

This, critics argue, further exposes them to potential harm and exploitation within the confines of marriage.

However, there were voices of opposition to the proposed legislation. Some argue that individuals should have the freedom to choose whom they marry, regardless of age.

They suggest that instead of outright banning child marriage, laws should be amended to grant emancipated minors greater legal rights and protections.

The bill now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature.

This story was originally posted by MyNorthwest.
What if saving water and money was as easy as letting your lawn go au naturel? Utah lawmakers think this can be a reality.

In January, the state legislature proposed earmarking $12 million to continue paying residents to give their thirsty, high-maintenance grass the old heave-ho.

Since 2019, Utahs turf buyback program has helped homeowners pull up over four million square feet of lawn. In return, participants get cash to landscape with climate-approved plants or hardscaping.

The result? Drought-tolerant yards that need little upkeep, which is beneficial given the water scarcity ailing the Great Salt Lake region.

Utah residents dont have to go all-or-nothing. Whether they downsize just one section or ditch the whole thing, theyll conserve resources, namely water and money. The program even gives extra funds to low-income and disabled residents.

If you dont live in Utah, you can take a page out of the Beehive States book. Trading even one grassy patch for native blooms like coneflowers or blanket flowers invites helpful pollinators to your yard. Hardier choices like clover or buffalo grass thrive with less water.

Or, you can opt for xeriscaping with gravel, boulders, and cacti. The options morph your landscape into a beautiful commentary on water waste and environmental health.

Urban homeowners arent the only ones who stand to save. The funding could help facilitate split-season leases that pay farmers to grow fewer water-hungry crops per year.

When we look at water, there is not any more water being created today, said Mark Stafford, general counsel with the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. We need to look at what we are using today and find ways to be more efficient.

While Utah leads the turf-stripping pack, the future of our country looks green  with or without the lawn.

If you are only walking on [your lawn] once a week to mow it, it could probably be turned into something else, suggested Candice Hasenyager, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  A prayer service was held in the Cathedral of St. John in Cleveland on the two-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

We gather tonight to offer our prayers for the repose of the souls of those killed in this war, Bishop Edward Malesic said. And for healing, and for recovery for those who have been maimed.

Malesic and more than a dozen other Catholic leaders called for unity and support for Ukraine as we approach year three of a brutal war that many in attendance deemed senseless.

Just stop killing, Bishop Bohdan Danylo said. Ukrainians are not looking to taking portions of St. Petersburg or Russia we just want them to leave and live in peace.

3 shot at Cleveland restaurant, suspect in custody: Police

Among the hundreds in attendance in the crowd are refugees, a Ukrainian soldier injured in battle and a Ukrainian military chaplain who landed in Cleveland an hour before the start of the service.

Harder and harder, worse and worse, Military Chaplain Marina Serdichenko said of the strain on her home country and people. We are in big danger and every day we are under bombing and shots and rocket attack.

She and her husband Denis Serdichenko said their children just sent them a video of a barrage of rockets flying through the sky overnight. They said they are relieved to be temporarily away from the war zone that has become their home in Odesa, Ukraine. But they will not give up hope.

Its hard, but we really work and do everything what we can to stop this evil, to have a victory, she said. And we really believe in this. We believe that Ukraine will have freedom, that Ukraine will win.

More than 410,000 Ukrainians have been injured or killed since the start of the war, according to data from the Cleveland Maidan Association. More than 6 million have been displaced outside of Ukraine and more than 3 million are internally displaced.

Damages to Ukraine now exceed $480 billion according to the World Bank per the White House Press Office.

Myroslav Pylypchuk is a Ukrainian Lieutenant who lost his leg in battle and has since been rehabilitating in Cleveland. He said continued aid for Ukraine is extremely important now more than ever as Russian aggression continues.

A body washed up on a Rocky River beach: Police

Ukraine depends to the great extent for the help that is coming from the outside, from the United States, from Europe, Pylypchuk said through a translator. Unfortunately, Ukraine is not in the position to manufacture all the necessary things that they need to fight the war. So, it is very important that the support from the world continues.

There is no sign that Russia will stop its attack on Ukraine and its people. But those gathered in Cleveland hope their prayers and support will continue to make a difference.

I would ask them to pray in whatever prayers they say, be it a Christian, Jewish or Muslim prayer, Bishop Danylo said. Second, please help us to have advocacy to the U.S. government Europeans are now a little bit faster than us. We are slowing down the newest $60 billion I think, you know, package for Ukraine. Who are the first who help? Ukrainians are not asking American Marines or American soldiers or air force to fight. Just help us to fight that giant.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Abandoning the Democratic Party

As an 85-year-old man with a very long history of being a loyal Democrat it wasn't easy for me to become an unaffiliated voter. I come from a family with a long history of supporting Democrats.

As a child, I once overheard one of my elderly aunts say that she would vote for a dead skunk before she'd vote Republican. It seems that the children of her age worked at a very young age of 13 or 14 for a pay of 10 cents an hour. Soon after that time the Democratic Party began campaigning on representing working men and women everywhere. Who remembers when the Blackstone Valley was the heart and soul of the Rhode Island Democratic Party? Who remembers when the main ballroom on the top floor of the Providence Biltmore Hotel was filled to capacity during its state convention? Top Democrats and elected officials were seen all over the hotel holding meetings and caucuses.

Now it's fortunate if it can gather enough people to hold a meaningful convention at a local Burger King. That's because the party has lost its way. It's been hijacked by a few noisy radical left-wing progressives who have scared the hell out of all of the other elected officials. I can promise you that the progressive Democrats represented by President Joseph Biden are not the same as when I was a Democrat.

There is no doubt that the crisis at our southern border presents a clear and present danger to the safety and security of this country. Who the hell would have ever believed that our two Congressmen, Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner, would ignore that danger and repeatedly vote against closing it.

Compounding that issue is President Biden's refusal to close it by executive order. That raises a very important question. Why won't he close it? It also poses another very significant question. Why would any morally responsible person be associated with a political party that is so blatantly corrupt, irresponsible and callous that it smacks of treason?

James M. Mageau, Charlestown

Democratic Party workers and supporters celebrate during election night 1960 at the Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel, now Graduate Providence.

Sanctity of life in Alabama

In its ruling that frozen embryos are "children," the Alabama Supreme Court (all Republicans) has sent shock waves throughout the world of reproductive medicine.

Chief Judge Tom Parker, in his concurring opinion, extensively cites scripture and theological writings. Man is made in the image of God and human life is sacred. Each person has a "value that exceeds the ability of human beings to calculate." In this view of Judge Parker, the destruction of human life incurs the wrath of a holy God who views the destruction of His image as an "affront to Himself."

On Jan. 25, less than a month before this decision, the state of Alabama experimented with a novel way to kill a human being. For the first time, nitrogen gas was used in a state execution, with excruciating results according to witnesses. Presently, Alabama has 166 inmates on death row. The "sanctity of human life" apparently only goes so far.

Frank Pannozzi, Providence

Unconscionable to deprive state retirees of COLAs

Dear Governor McKee, Speaker Shekarchi and Senate President Ruggerio,

I write to each of you as you begin formulating your budget for the next fiscal year. There will always be a plethora of groups vying for the pool of money available in the state. No matter how you devise your list of priorities there will always be people/groups who will criticize how you allocate these funds.

I am asking you to think about the advice I received from my parents and grandparents as I ventured out into the world of adulthood. Never overextend yourself! Before you take on another bill, you need to ensure you can pay the bills you currently have.

The General Assembly made a decision that the state was unable to honor its obligation to provide its retirees with a COLA. There has always been a difference of opinion on whether the General Assembly explored all the facts before they changed the pension which had a negative impact on so many lives.

I am not here to rehash that issue. Instead I believe it is wrong for the state to begin exploring investing in new programs that will take money out of the budget pool before committing to reinstating a COLA to teachers and state workers.

I cannot understand how this General Assembly believes it is conscionable to deprive a retiree, especially those earning $20,000 with no Social Security income, from receiving a COLA. I only ask that you think about honoring past obligations before taking on new ones.

Cherylann Leaver, Little River, S.C.

The writer is a retired Rhode Island teacher, counselor and assistant principal.

Proud of the work of 360 High School students

I was disappointed to read about 360 High Schools impending closure ("Confusion, tears over closing of 360 High School," News, Feb. 10).

Only three days prior, I watched their Junior and Senior teams deliberate with high school students at public, private, and charter schools from throughout the state in the annual Rhode Island High School Ethics Bowl hosted by Brown University. I was proud of all of our students who came together to lead ethical discussions with the local educators, community leaders, and college faculty and students who served as judges.

Any Rhode Island school should be honored to welcome the talented, thoughtful, and dedicated students and educators Ive had the privilege of working with from 360 High School. Our future Ethics Bowls will be poorer for 360s absence, but I hope some of those same students and educators will have the opportunity to join us again from their new schools.

Derek Bowman, director, Rhode Island High School Ethics Bowl

A loved and respected priest

There was almost universal joy when Pope Francis appointed the Rev. James T. Ruggeri as the next bishop of Portland, Maine ("Providence priest appointed bishop of Portland, Maine," News, Feb. 14).

Father Ruggeri is a holy, humble priest. He is loved and respected by just about anyone who has ever met him, and yet you attempted to denigrate rather than praise him. You rehashed a story that you printed recently which relied heavily on accusations made by a select, progressive few media-savvy individuals about Father Ruggeris supposed authoritarian leadership style.

The words authoritarian and Father Ruggeri do not belong in the same sentence. Shame on you.

The Rev. Joseph Creedon, Narragansett

Naming a library

After 14 years of controversy ("New chapter in Narragansett library battle: Naming it," News, Feb. 19), isnt it just fine to name the library the Narragansett Public Library?

That kind of name seems to have worked for the Providence Public Library, the New York Public Library and more. Isnt that really who paid and support it?

Brenda Bedrick, East Greenwich

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Sunday letters: Democrat to unaffiliated; Alabama's double standards; deprived of COLAs
Editors note: The following is the fourth in a Black History Month series from Ebony Vision. Click here to read the first in the series, here to read the second in the series and here to read the third in the series.

Ebony Vision is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that has been around for 14 years, focusing on African-American youth development and community engagement in the Fond du Lac area.

We want to invite you to participate in or become a sponsor of our 16th annual Juneteenth Celebration, which will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 15 at Buttermilk Park.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

This historical festival is a family filled day of entertainment, poetry, song, dance, childrens activities, speakers and food that we share with the entire community for free.

Juneteenth is also a time to strengthen our bonds of unity and offer support to one another as we all share in the blessings of freedom. Its important that we share and grow with the community as well as have a voice in the community, and we believe celebrating Juneteenth in the Fond du Lac community helps educate all people about African-American culture. Come and help celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity in Fond du Lac.

People gathered June 16, 2018 in Buttermilk Creek Park in Fond du Lac to celebrate Juneteenth. A June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas.

Ebony Visions mission is to impact and improve the Fond du Lac and surrounding communities through unified efforts that educate and enhance African-American culture.

The organization was founded to bring people together from various ethnicities and areas of our great city. From working with the Fond du Lac school district, Boys & Girls Club, United Way and with Fond du Lac law enforcement, Ebony Vision has helped people see we have more in common than different.

You can support the Juneteenth Celebration and Ebony Vision by being a sponsor, vendor or volunteer.

Promotional image for Ebony Vision's 2024 Juneteenth Celebration.

We are looking for sponsorships, vendors, contributions of door prizes/raffles, and volunteers for the Juneteenth Celebration. Here's more about those opportunities:

Sponsorships: For sponsorships, we offer the following:

Community Support: $500  This includes a thank-you letter and recognition on the day of the event.

Friends of Ebony Vision: $1,000  This includes a thank-you letter, recognition on the day of the event, and your logo on fliers and promotional materials. Also included is a discounted vendor booth fee of $25.

Ally for Equity: $1,500  This includes a thank-you letter, recognition on the day of the event, your logo on fliers and promotional materials, plus recognition in radio and news releases. Also included, you will be listed on the Ebony Vision website, get a free vendor booth and receive a plaque of recognition.

Vendors: If youre interested in being a vendor, find the booth application at https://www.ebonyvisionfdl.org/copy-of-volunteer-vendor-reg-1. The non-profit early bird special is $30 for a booth if paid by May 20 or $45 if paid after that date. The early bird rate for commercial or other organization is $55 if paid by May 20 or $70 if paid after that date.

Volunteering: If youre interested in volunteering at the Juneteenth event or in other capacities with Ebony Vision, complete this form: https://www.ebonyvisionfdl.org/copy-of-volunteer-vendor-reg-1.

For more information or to find out how else you can support Ebony Vision and get involved ...

Contact us at ebonyvisionfdl@ebonyvisionfdl.org or 920-410-4132, or visit ebonyvisionfdl.org or our Facebook page.

Daisy Frazier is president of Ebony Vision. Other Ebony Vision Board members are Antonio Godfrey Sr., Paulette Brown, Kyonna Henry, Lakesha Ford, Pam Ziegler, Alex Berg and Rufus Frazier.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: How you can support Ebony Vision, this years Juneteenth Celebration
From its humble beginnings in 1987 in two small rooms tucked behind the Baptist Hospital Emergency Center to developing technologies and treatments that have changed the course of cardiovascular medicine worldwide, Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is primed for its next move to expand and elevate cardiovascular services.

Spearheading the ambitious growth initiative is the Institutes new leader, Tom C. Nguyen, M.D., FACS, FACC. In his role as chief medical executive and Barry T. Katzen Endowed Chair of Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, where he is also the director of Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery, Dr. Nguyen plans to focus on research and innovation with patient-centered care at the Institutes core.

Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, whose experts have pioneered many innovative and less invasive cardiovascular procedures, recently opened a new cardiovascular care office that includes a dedicated arrhythmia center, the first of its kind in South Florida and one of the few in the U.S. Building upon the Institutes strong foundation, Dr. Nguyen will continue to strengthen teams that will enable the launch of other new programs such as robotic heart surgery.

To best serve the needs of the community and make Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute the crown jewel of South Florida and beyond, we will be exploring new services and recruiting the best cardiothoracic surgeons and other specialists from around the world, he says.

With a passion for minimally invasive surgery and for treating valvular heart disease, Dr. Nguyen has spent more than 20 years researching the mitral valve and has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles. He comes to South Florida from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), where he was chief of cardiothoracic surgery and the Charles Schwab Distinguished Professor of Surgery. While at UCSF, he transformed the cardiothoracic surgery program as co-director of its Heart and Vascular Center.

Growing up, Dr. Nguyen never imagined hed be an internationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon. A political refugee whose family fled Vietnam when he was only 4, he believes life is about opportunities, second chances and paying it forward. His experience left him vowing to always fight for the underdog and the sickest of the sick, particularly when patients are told that they have no options left.

Everyone deserves a second chance, he says. When my dad and older sister and I came to Houston, we spoke no English. We were very poor and lived on rice, eggs and soy sauce, he recalls.

His father, who was always his role model, had been in the military and was also an engineer in Vietnam. In the U.S., he took whatever job he could find. He worked as a welder. He worked at a convenience store.

One day while working at the store, Dr. Nguyens father was shot in the shoulder during a robbery. He survived and eventually established a large nonprofit organization that assists other immigrants, a job that Dr. Nguyens brother embraced when their father later died.

At a young age, Dr. Nguyen realized that their close-knit community cared deeply for each other. Neighborhood nannies stepped in to watch children while parents worked. Helping hands were never far away. From this, he became aware that his success was not his own doing but was the result of support systems, luck and many mentors.

Dr. Nguyen graduated from Rice University with honors in economics and then attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery residency at Stanford University, a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian and a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) fellowship at Emory University. As an innovative heart surgeon, he has performed many first-in-man operations.

I had the chance to go back to Vietnam for the first time after I completed medical school, he says. One morning at the crack of dawn, I saw a young man working tirelessly on a shrimping boat. We were about the same age. I wasnt stronger or smarter. I was just luckier.

Because of its complexities and challenges, cardiac surgery was of particular interest to Dr. Nguyen. I can zone out and get laser-focused, he explains. There are at least 100 critical steps in heart surgery with small margins of error. You need to be composed in the most chaotic environment. Everyone has a role, and every person is vital to the team. You cant be duplicating efforts. If we work together as a team, we are unstoppable.

He and his wife, interventional radiologist Gina Landinez, M.D., are the parents of two young girls. As someone who is keenly aware of womens contributions to society, he is an active advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion.

The stories of hardship and the obstacles overcome by many immigrants and marginalized people resonate with Dr. Nguyen and give him a special reason to appreciate the diversity of South Florida and that of his patients and their families.

My experience shaped me as a doctor, he says. Its a privilege and an honor to care for patients who have put all of their trust in you. When a patient comes back to me and says, Ive gone fishing again, or Heres a picture of me hiking, that is amazing. Getting them back to their families is magical.
The suspect in two armed robberies in Bostons Back Bay neighborhood this week has been arrested, Boston police said Friday night.

Joseph Laffey, 61, was arrested will face two counts of armed robbery after being arrested in the area of Island Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

The first robbery happened Wednesday at about 5:00 p.m. near 470 Commonwealth Avenue. The second robbery happened the following night on Thursday at 9:15 p.m. near 324 Newbury Street.

When Laffey was arrested, police say he was in possession of drugs and will be charged with possession of Class B and Class A drugs.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Police are looking for a suspect who broke in and sexually assaulted a woman in north Charlotte, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Officers responded to the call on the 4400 block of Hucks Road shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

The victim told police that the unknown suspect broke into her residence before physically and sexually assaulting her before fleeing on foot.

Police say the victim was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect is described as a black man who is possibly in his mid to late 20s. Hes 511 with a heavy set and was last seen wearing jeans, a jacket and a hat.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Detective Harrington can also be contacted directly at 704-336-6052.

This is a developing story; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Australian retired Major General Mick Ryan listed the challenges that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, will have to address, in an interview with Radio NV on Feb. 23.

I see that there are several issues that Syrskyi will need to address this year. First and foremost, it is personnel management in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which requires further improvement. Training  both for individuals and units at the company, battalion, and brigade levels  should continue to improve and become better, Ryan said.

Read also: Ukrainian military correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko discusses Avdiivka withdrawal and frontline threats

The general also noted that Syrskyi will face significant challenges on the battlefield due to new technologies, including drones, digital command and control, the use of a wide network of systems that make the battlefield more transparent, and solutions for these problems have not yet been developed.

I think General Syrskyi will need to address such issues as how to conceal forces, how to camouflage troops without exposing them to attacks, how to break through Russian minefields and obstacles safely for the troops to penetrate Russian positions, he added.

Ryan summed up that Syrskyi will face personnel, technological, and combat challenges, as well as the task of rebuilding the Armed Forces after two very tense years while simultaneously defending Ukraine.

Read also: Ukrainian officer on withdrawal from Avdiivka  interview

So, he faces the task of transforming the Ukrainian Armed Forces while employing these armed forces. These are very complex and contradictory tasks that the Commander-in-Chief will have to deal with, noted the Australian general.

On Feb. 8, Zelenskyy, by his decree, dismissed Valerii Zaluzhnyi from the post of Commander-in-Chief, which he held for over 2.5 years, appointing Syrskyi, the commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in his place.

On Feb. 9, Syrskyi made his first statement as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, listing the tasks ahead of him:

Clear and detailed planning of actions by all military management bodies, taking into account the needs of the front in modern weapons, the fastest and most rational distribution of everything necessary for combat units;

Read also: Russia will try to seize more Ukrainian territories in the next six months  Australian general

Availability of information on all the needs of the front and the situation in each area: The qualification of the personnel of the military management bodies is crucial for the development and successful implementation of plans and projects, emphasized the Commander-in-Chief.

Maintaining a balance between performing combat tasks and restoring units and subunits with an emphasis on strengthening training and preparation;

Introduction of new technical solutions, scaling the use of unmanned systems, and electronic warfare means.

On Feb. 13, Syrskyi announced that Ukraine had transitioned from offensive actions to defense aimed at wearing out the Russian army, and on Feb. 17, Ukrainian troops left Avdiivka.

He said that measures are currently being taken to stabilize the situation and maintain the positions held, adding that the lives of servicemen are the highest value. We will still reclaim Avdiivka.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced the reinforcement of some sections of the front line during a visit to the front.

Syrskyi and Umerov visited front-line military units at command posts in an undisclosed locations on Feb. 25. The visit comes the next day as Ukraine marked the second anniversary of the Russian full-scale invasion.

"During the visit, we analyzed the current situation in detail and discussed the necessary further steps, primarily to protect troops from drones and air strikes by anti-aircraft missiles, as well as to strengthen certain parts of the front," Syrskyi wrote on Facebook.

Syrskyi noted that the "situation is complicated (at the front) and requires constant monitoring," adding that he emphasized the importance of coordination among the defense forces.

"Despite the difficult situation, our soldiers are bravely holding their lines and positions. The enemy is suffering irreparable losses," he said.

Russia has lost 409,820 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Feb. 25. This number includes 810 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Read also: Editorial: Its been 2 years and worlds on the brink. Time to wake up or fall

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.


Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi highlights efforts for marginalised communities, wildlife conservation During the Mann Ki Baat programme on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned about the Musahar community of Bihar and said that this community has been extremely marginalised in the state. The Prime Minister talked about one Bhim Singh Bhavesh from Bihar and said that there has been a lot of discussion among the Musahar community in his area about his actions.



Bhim Singh has focused on the education of children in this community so that the future of these children can be brightened. He has enrolled 8,000 children from the Musahar community in schools, said the PM.



The Prime Minister further said that Singh has established a library, providing better facilities for education to children.



He is also helping in obtaining essential documents for the people of his community, improving access to essential resources in the village, thus enhancing the health of the people. He has organised more than 100 medical camps to improve the health of the people, said the PM.



The Prime Minister said that when the COVID crisis was at its peak, Singh motivated the people of his area to get vaccinated. PM Modi said that there are many people like Bhim Singh who are engaged in such noble deeds in society.



If we fulfil our duties as responsible citizens, it will be very helpful in building a strong nation, said the PM.



During the programme, the Prime Minister also mentioned wildlife conservation and said that in recent years, due to the efforts of the government, the number of tigers in the country has increased.



He said that the Chandrapur Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, where the number of tigers has increased to more than 250, is using artificial intelligence to reduce conflicts between humans and tigers.



Similarly, a company in Bengaluru has developed apps called 'Bagheera' and 'Garuda'. Through the Bagheera app, speed of vehicles and other activities can be monitored during jungle safaris. This app is being used in many tiger reserves across the country. Moreover, connecting the Garuda app, based on artificial intelligence, with any CCTV results in real-time alerts, said the PM.



The Prime Minister said that for thousands of years, we have lived with a sense of coexistence with nature and wildlife.



He also mentioned the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, where tribal families have converted their homes into homestays.



The PM said that goat farming is becoming a means to improve the livelihoods and living standards of the people in Kalahandi, Odisha.



He mentioned the decision of Jayanti Mahapatra and her husband Biren Sahu, who were management professionals in Bengaluru, to come to the villages of Kalahandi. With a sense of service and dedication, they started working with farmers here. They have also opened a goat bank here, said the PM.



The Prime Minister said that here, farmers are given two goats for 24 months. During this time, goats give birth to 9 to 10 kids. Of these, six goats are kept by the bank, and the rest are given to the same family engaged in goat farming. Today, more than 1,000 farmers from 50 villages are connected to this scheme, said the PM.




Lisa Nandy said Labour finds itself in an extraordinary and unprecedented position - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph

A front bench Labour MP has told the people of Rochdale that she cannot advise them who to vote for in next weeks by-election.

Thursdays contest takes place without an official Labour candidate after the party withdrew its support from Azhar Ali earlier this month.

The move came after it emerged Mr Ali had claimed that Israel deliberately let Hamas massacre its citizens to pave the way for attacking Gaza. He later apologised for the remarks.

Lisa Nandy, the shadow international development minister, said she would not advise voters to select any particular candidate because of the extraordinary and unprecedented position in which the party found itself.

Asked who she would advise people in Rochdale to vote for, she told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg: Well, I wouldnt advise them to vote for any of the candidates. Im afraid were in the extraordinary and unprecedented position of having to withdraw our candidate in the by-election, so there is no Labour candidate to vote for.

Ms Nandy had appeared alongside Mr Ali at a constituency event after the comments he made about Israel were first reported, and before Labour announced that it was suspending him after further comments came to light.

She said: I would just say to people in Rochdale, if you are going out to vote, please consider voting for anybody who you believe will help to bring an end to this hate and division at a time when its spilling out onto our streets. We need political leaders who are prepared to stand up to it and not stoke it.

She said that when she was in Rochdale she had seen hate and division being stoked by particular candidates, which she said people in Rochdale dont need and dont want.

Among the candidates standing are George Galloway, for the Workers Party of Britain, and Simon Danczuk, for Reform UK.

Mr Galloway has put the Israel-Gaza war at the centre of his election campaign, with some of his leaflets reading: The people of Gaza dont have a vote in this election; you do.

There have also been billboards put up around the Greater Manchester town that accuse Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, of being in the pocket of Israel.

Mr Ali will still be on the ballot paper as the Labour candidate, but as he has had the partys support withdrawn he would sit as an independent MP if elected.

Ms Nandy also criticised the Tories for what she described as absolute poison thats been allowed to seep into their political debate.

Her comments came after Lee Anderson, the former Tory deputy chairman, lost the party whip for saying that Islamists had got control of Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor.

After Mr Anderson had been suspended, Rishi Sunak released a statement warning of an explosion of prejudice and anti-Semitism since the Hamas attacks on Oct 7 , but did not mention him or his remarks.

Ms Nandy took a swipe at the Prime Minister, who she said was seemingly unwilling to even acknowledge the term Islamophobia, let alone stand up to senior politicians in his party dragging our politics into the sewer.

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.
Taiwan fears that stalled Ukraine aid foreshadows their future if China invades

Taiwanese officials expressed concern to a visiting US delegation about stalled aid to Ukraine.

The island is concerned what that means for US support if China invaded them.

Taiwan is also anxious about what would happen if Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election.

Taiwanese officials have expressed concerns about stalled US aid to Ukraine, fearing implications for US defense support in the event of a Chinese invasion.

During a three-day visit to the self-governing island, Taiwanese officials repeatedly questioned a visiting US congressional delegation about US support for Ukraine, Politico reported.

US and senior Taiwanese officials, including President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect Lai Ching-te, attended the meetings.

"Taiwan is extremely interested in Ukraine and extremely worried that we might walk away from Ukraine," Rep. Mike Gallagher, the chair of the House Select Committee on China, told reporters on Friday following the Taiwan visit, Politico reported.

Taiwan has long feared a possible invasion due to rising tensions with its neighbor and China's historical claims of sovereignty over the island.

Taiwan is concerned about a Trump victory

Taiwanese soldiers stand in front of M60A3 tanks during a military drill in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, January 30, 2018. Reuters

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the US has become its biggest ally, sending billions of dollars worth of aid.

However, recent attempts by President Joe Biden to pass more aid packages have been stalled by Republicans.

"They are watching the supplemental requests for Ukraine like hawks, and they view Ukraine prevailing against the criminal invasion by Russia as incredibly important in sending a message to the Chinese Communist Party," committee member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said, per Politico.

Last week, the Senate approved a $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes about $1.9 billion to replace US munitions supplied to Taiwan.

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has vowed to block the bill unless it includes measures to stop migration into the United States across the Mexican border.

Taiwanese officials are further concerned about a potential Donald Trump victory in the 2024 presidential election and what that would mean for US support of Taiwan.

When asked in July 2023 whether Trump would defend Taiwan if it were invaded, he responded: "If I answer that question, it'll put me in a very bad negotiating position."

"With that being said, Taiwan did take all of our chip business," he added, referring to the dominance of the Taiwanese semiconductor industry.

Trump has also raised alarm after he recently suggested that he would let Russia attack non-paying NATO countries.

The congressional delegation tried to alloy Taiwan's fears, with Gallagher saying: "The people in Taiwan should be confident that regardless of how fractious our election gets, America will stand firmly with Taiwan."

While the US has been increasing its arms sales to Taiwan, there is a $19 billion worth of weapons backlog due to supply chain issues.

Gallagher said that the backlog won't be resolved "anytime soon" and said the problem required "creative" solutions, such as shifting the production of US aerial and submersible drones to Taiwan, per Politico.

China has for decades pressured governments not to recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation and has promised to "unify" the self-governed island with the mainland by 2050.

The US has long attempted to maintain a delicate balance between supporting Taiwan and preventing war with China. Tensions heightened following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taipei, Taiwan's capital, in 2022.

In response to her visit, China conducted military drills around Taiwan and said that further "training and war preparation" would continue.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By James Oliphant

(Reuters) -Frontrunner Donald Trump was hoping to use a sizable victory in South Carolinas Republican primary on Saturday to persuade rival Nikki Haley to drop out of the presidential race. While the outcome put Trump even closer to clinching the partys nomination, Haley has vowed to press on.

Here are some takeaways from the South Carolina primary:

WORK TO DO

In his victory speech, Trump made it clear that he was looking ahead to a November general election matchup against Democratic President Joe Biden. He didnt mention Haleys name once, apparently in a bid to act as if the primary race is over.

But while it appears increasingly improbable that Haley can wrest the nomination from Trump, his win in South Carolina masked a schism in the party that doesnt seem to be closing.

Haley was on track to finish with about 40% of the vote, a better performance than polls predicted. Last month in New Hampshire, she took about 43% of the vote.

"Forty percent is not some tiny group," she told her supporters on Saturday. "There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative."

In both states, Haley's numbers may have been bolstered by moderates or Democrats who voted in the Republican primary for the purpose of stopping Trump.

In South Carolina, Haley got the larger share of votes from voters who said they had never participated in a Republican primary before, according to exit polls by Edison Research. And 69% of self-described moderates went for her.

For Trump, it means there remains a solid chunk of the Republican electorate - as well as large share of independent voters - that he likely will need to win over if he is going to defeat Biden. As of yet, theres little sign Trump is doing much to court them.

ON HER OWN

Right now, Haley seems to be a candidate without a party. And apparently shes OK with that.

In 2016, when Trump rolled over U.S. Senator Marco Rubio on Rubios home turf of Florida, Rubio dropped out immediately under somewhat humiliating circumstances.

But Rubio had a job in Washington to go back to and had to worry about getting along with Trump should he win the White House. Haley has no such concerns.

As she has reiterated time and again on the trail in South Carolina, shes not gunning for a vice presidential slot and she doesnt want a cabinet job. When she leaves the race, as she may very well do in the coming weeks, shell only have private life awaiting her.

Haleys motives for staying in remain largely hidden, and she is certain to face increasing pressure to drop out.

But as the race has evolved, she has become the voice of a portion of the Republican Party that feels rootless, those traditional-minded conservatives who backed presidential candidates such as George W. Bush and Mitt Romney.

Haley is the closest thing they have now to a champion and advocate  and for now at least, she retains a public platform to air her views.

"I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden," she said on Saturday.

NO LOVE FROM VETS

Trumps win gave him a clean sweep of all five nominating contests so far: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and now South Carolina. Saturday's result has to be especially frustrating for Haley, who became a political star in the Deep South state where she served as governor for six years.

She invested more time, money and effort in campaigning ahead of the primary, while Trump held just a handful of rallies. At the same time, she watched as much of the states political establishment turned their back on her and sided with the former president.

Perhaps most vexing was how poorly Haley did with veterans after she took Trump to task for criticizing her husband, an officer in the South Carolina National Guard currently on deployment to Africa, for being absent on the campaign trail. Haley also played up Trumps past disrespectful comments about the late U.S. Senator John McCain, a decorated Vietnam vet.

According to exit polls conducted by Edison Research, Trump won 67% of the vote of those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces compared with just 33% for Haley.

Perhaps it was not surprising given how veterans told Reuters that even though they faulted Trump for his remarks, they were standing by him. Some were concerned Haleys aggressive foreign policy views could lead the United States into another war.

According to Edison, 47% of Republicans felt the U.S. should take a less active role in world affairs, and Trump won nearly 77% of those voters. But Trump also won the lions share of voters (60%) who believed that the U.S. should take a more active role.

If all of that left Haley and her team scratching their heads, you couldnt blame them.

BORDER BASH

Exit polls also made something else clear: Trump has boxed out Haley on the issue of immigration and border security.

That mattered in South Carolina, where 37% of voters listed immigration as their top priority. Of those voters, 82% backed Trump and just 18% supported Haley. And of the 66% of voters who believe undocumented immigrants should be deported to their countries of origin, 77% voted for Trump.

At campaign events, Haley has argued that she, too, takes a hard line on immigration, but Republicans dont seem to be buying it. Trumps campaign this week released a TV ad titled Weakness that claimed Haley opposed Trumps so-called Muslim travel ban during his administration and questioned the need for a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.

The site FactCheck.org called the Trump ad misleading, noting that Haley has been supportive of a wall, but she would have favored a more narrowly tailored ban than the one Trump instituted.

Regardless, Trumps attacks seem to have stuck, which does not auger well for Haleys prospects in a party increasingly consumed by the issue of migrants coming across the border.

A WINTER OF DISCONTENT

Trump also continues to hold a strong advantage when it comes to voters who are unhappy with the state of the economy, which, unfortunately for Haley, comprises a large share of the Republican electorate.

A whopping 83% of voters surveyed by Edison said the condition of economy was not so good or poor despite low unemployment and a booming stock market. Almost three-fourths of those voters backed Trump.

Even voters who said their personal financial situation was stable went for Trump in large numbers. Only the small fraction of voters who said the economy was in good shape preferred Haley.

Trump won the majority of voters in all income brackets surveyed by Edison. In what has been his historical pattern, he did best with those who lack a college degree and those who earn less than $50,000 a year.

Overall, if you were a voter upset with the status quo in America, you went for Trump: 44% of respondents to the exit poll said they were angry about the state of the country, with Trump grabbing 83% of that vote.

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Ross Colvin and Jonathan Oatis)
Californias Bay-Delta is in trouble, and its outdated water regulations need to catch up with the challenge.

For a generation, the State Water Resources Control Board has not updated legally required and much needed rules for sharing water between the environment and other water uses throughout the Bay-Delta watershed. These new rules should result in additional flows for this water-starved system to protect fish and wildlife and improve water quality.

Instead of finishing more than a decade of work and establishing long-overdue protections for the Bay-Delta ecosystem, the state is banking on voluntary agreements among water users to guide its actions. Some voluntary agreement proponents suggest there must be a choice between such agreements to provide flows and habitat and updated environmental protections.

Opinion

But this is a false choice. The water board needs to update the environmental flow requirements for the Delta and the rivers that feed into it. Instead of competing with voluntary agreements, these requirements would motivate, inform and enable agreements that could pass legal muster.

The stakes couldnt be higher: Californias economy and the livelihoods of millions of Californians hinge on what happens in the Bay-Delta watershed, as do entire populations of native fish and the people who depend upon them (including commercial fisheries, subsistence fishers and tribes), along with the people who live and work in the remarkable Delta region.

But the watersheds ecosystems are collapsing and algae blooms are increasing. In some areas, water users regularly divert well over half (and as much as 80%90%) of river flow in some reaches. Water flow is crucial for ecosystem health, creating habitat and keeping water temperatures cool so native fish can live and thrive. Sufficient flow also helps keep waterways fishable and swimmable as well as protecting communities drinking water.

California and federal law require the state to balance the benefits of water diversions for human uses with ecosystem needs. The process must determine what environmental water is needed and who should provide it. The water board, other federal and state agencies and the legislature have known that its regulations have been inadequate since at least 2009, but progress has been too slow.

Meanwhile, the state has prioritized developing voluntary agreements with water users. In theory, these agreements could couple habitat restoration with less additional flow to meet environmental needs. The promise of voluntary agreements is sweetened by the hope that they can be implemented quickly (new flow rules can necessitate lengthy administrative proceedings).

But the focus on voluntary agreements has come at the expense of fully updating the water boards inadequate and overdue regulations for the Bay-Delta watershed.

California needs to finish the regulatory framework required by law. Fortunately, the water board is finally moving forward with the stalled regulatory process. It is assessing different options, including preliminary voluntary agreements outlined by other state agencies and a group of major water diverters, with the promise of advancing regulations soon. It must not falter.

To respond to the false choice between regulation and voluntary agreements and help set a bar for these agreements to meet, we recently published a UC Berkeley policy paper that lays out guiding principles for developing and evaluating such agreements.

Most fundamentally, the state must establish a strong regulatory baseline for voluntary agreements by updating the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan. This regulatory backstop is required but also needed to ensure effective agreements that could implement flow requirements in creative ways, not replace them.

Voluntary agreements also need to pass the science test. Their ecological outcomes must equal or exceed those expected from science-based regulatory requirements. They must also include explicit biological goals, a detailed pathway for implementation, adaptive management informed by robust monitoring and the best available science, clear consequences for failure and transparent and frequent assessment by the water board.

Our analysis suggests proposed voluntary agreements do not yet measure up, but they could with improvements.

Protecting the Bay-Delta ecosystem is the states legal responsibility, not something it can bargain away. It has taken California far too long to get the job done, and there is no more time to waste.

Felicia Marcus is the William C. Landreth Visiting Fellow at Stanford University Water in the West Program, a founding member of the Water Policy Group and former chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. Michael Kiparsky is the water program director at the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) at the UC Berkeley School of Law. Nell Green Nylen, a senior research fellow at CLEE, and Dave Owen, a professor of law at UC Law San Francisco, also contributed to this piece.
Palestinian children inspect the destruction caused by an Israeli air strike on the Al-Khatib family's house and other buildings. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

Indirect negotiations on a ceasefire in the war in Gaza were continuing at official levels in the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday, the pro-government Egyptian broadcaster Al-Kahira News reported, citing Cairo government officials.

Egypt, Qatar and the US are mediating in the talks, which are also intended to lead to the release of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas.

A high-ranking Israeli delegation led by foreign intelligence chief David Barnea met representatives of the mediating states in Paris on Saturday, where reports said "significant progress" was made.

The Israeli war cabinet, which met on Saturday evening under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, authorized the continuation of the talks at official level, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan.

According to Israeli government officials cited by the broadcaster, 35 to 40 hostages could be released in the first phase if an agreement is reached.

These would mainly be women, children, elderly men and men with serious illnesses or injuries. In return, Israel would release 300 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.

Hamas still has around 100 hostages presumed to be alive. The ceasefire would last around six weeks and would come into force before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, beginning March 10.

It is unclear how much Hamas has adjusted its conditions for an agreement. The Arabic television channel Al-Jazeera quoted an unnamed Hamas official on Sunday as saying that the reality on the ground did not reflect the reported optimism for an imminent deal.

In any case, Netanyahu is expected to remain opposed to Hamas' central demand for an indefinite cessation of hostilities and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli bombardment of Gaza continued over the weekend with Palestinian sources reporting a large number of civilian victims from the latest attacks.

The state-run Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that three people had died in a bomb attack on a residential block in Sabra in Gaza City.

Dozens more, including women and children, had died in Israeli artillery and air attacks in Khan Younis and in Gaza City, Wafa reported. These reports could also not be independently verified.

More than 29,600 people have now died in Isreali attacks on Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. Israel's invasion followed the October 7 attacks led by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel.

Palestinians inspect the destruction caused by an Israeli air strike on the Al-Khatib family's house and other buildings. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

A tractor removes the rubble of a ruined house following an Israeli air strike. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
EAST CHICAGO, Ind.  A teacher at a school in Northwest Indiana was found dead on Friday morning after family members said he never showed up for pickup the evening before.

According to East Chicago police, 47-year-old Craig Jones, a Gary resident, was found dead at East Chicago Light House Charter School in the 3900 block of Pulaski Street, early Friday morning.

Police search for driver after man injured in hit-and-run crash in Portage Park

Police say a preliminary investigation revealed that Jones had contacted his family on Thursday to tell them that he was planning on working late at the school. He later called a family member around 10:30 p.m. to ask for a ride home.

Shortly after the call, authorities say the family member came to the school to pick Jones up, but he never came outside. The family member told police that they never received any other calls from Jones, so they left.

Man accused of robbing Northwest Side business facing felony charge

Officers say the teacher was later found by maintenance staff in a second-floor stairwell, just after 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning.

The Lake County Prosecutors Homicide Task Force was called to the scene to investigate, but authorities say there is currently no reason to believe any foul play was involved.

The cause of the teachers death is currently unclear and an investigation continues.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
As state legislatures continue to restrict what topics can be discussed in classrooms, 58 percent of teachers say their government has too much influence over whats taught in public schools, according to a new survey of 2,531 public school educators from Pew Research Center. Even more, 71 percent say teachers dont have enough influence over the subjects taught in public schools in their area.



While the majority, 53 percent, say the debate over school curricula has neither positively nor negatively affected their ability to do their job, a sizeable chunk of 41 percent say that the discourse has negatively impacted them. Just 4 percent say there has been a positive effect.

Furthermore, many educators support curricula that include the topics their legislators are banning. The majority, 64 percent, believe students should learn the legacy of slavery, and how it still affects the position of Black people in American society today. Just 23 percent said that students should learn the history of slavery, but that it does not have a lasting impact on Black Americans. Only 8 percent said the topic should not be taught in schools.

Teachers were less likely to defend lessons related to gender identity, as half of those polled said the subject should not be taught in schools. However, a sizeable share of 33 percent said that students should learn that "someone can be a boy or a girl even if that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth." Only 14 percent said students should learn that someone's gender is determined by their sex at birth, an opinion that all major medical organizations dispute.

Support for teaching gender identity also increased among instructors of higher age groups. Whereas 62 percent of elementary teachers and 45 percent of middle school teachers said gender identity should not be taught in schools, only 35 percent of high school teachers said the same. Most high school teachers, 45 percent, believe that students should be taught gender identity is not defined by one's sex.

While the majority of public K-12 teachers, 60 percent, say parents should not be able to opt their children out of learning about racism or racial inequality in school, 48 percent say parents should be able to opt their children out of learning about sexual orientation or gender identity. Among parents, 54 percent agree that they should be able to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ lessons, but only 34 percent say they should be able to opt out of topics involving racism or racial inequality.

Despite the culture war surrounding LGBTQ+ subjects in schools, 68 percent of teachers said sexual orientation and gender identity rarely or never came up in their classrooms in the 2022-23 school year. Topics related to racism or racial inequality came up more frequently, with 56 percent saying they came up at least sometimes in their classroom, and 21 percent saying they came up often or extremely often.


The U.S. government won't be extending its semiconductor export restrictions on China to "mature chips or legacy chips," per a Nikkei interview with the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration. This means that, for now, chips made on mature nodes (usually defined as 28nm or older) won't be subject to sanctions like processors made with more advanced technology.

At a press event at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo, Thea D. Rozman Kendler, in her capacity as Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, stated there was "no interest in expanding [export restrictions] further to mature chips or legacy chips." This decision comes after the Department of Commerce said it would consider putting sanctions on legacy processors in December over concerns that China was flooding the market with cheap chips the West couldn't compete against.

After surveying over 100 companies in several industries, the Commerce Department concluded it wouldn't be putting sanctions on legacy chips, at least for now. When explaining the Department's decision, Kendler said, "We've tried very hard to make sure that our semiconductor controls are as narrow as possible to make sure that we are addressing only our national security threat and nothing more."

Kendler also hinted that a factor in this decision was the U.S.'s reliance on Chinese-manufactured chips, saying the point of the survey was "to make sure that we have supply chain resilience." The implication is that if sanctions were placed on legacy chips, it could cause a shortage of simple but important processors used for a wide range of devices, such as electronics and cars. Clearly, the Department of Commerce won't pursue sanctions that could have significant collateral damage.

This means at least for now, U.S. sanctions will only impact silicon using more advanced nodes. These sanctions have forced Nvidia to downgrade its 8nm and 4nm GPUs twice to be legally compliant. Additional sanctions also aim to prevent China from obtaining Western technology that can be used to produce chips on 7nm nodes or smaller, but apparently, they haven't been entirely effective. Chinese foundry SMIC is reportedly developing its own 5nm and 3nm nodes, and if successful would be a massive hole in U.S. sanctions.
CHICAGO  Its not often a childs thought becomes a young mans mission, but on Saturday in Bronzeville, Jahkil Jackson had another big day.

When Jackson was eight years old, he came up with the idea to give out essentials to those experiencing homelessness, calling the essentials given out Blessing Bags.

I say that Ive been working at this pretty much half my life, said Jackson, now 16 years of age. In the blessing bags are toiletry items like soap, socks, hand sanitizer, conditioner, lotion  Just the daily essentials that we can sometimes take for granted that they dont even have.

I call them blessing bags because when I was younger, I was trying to come up with a name for them and in the bag  The items are like a blessing for them.

Jacksons mission became a non-profit organization called Project I Am.

On Saturday, Jackson and a team of volunteers helped put together another 500 Blessing Bags to be given out to area homeless.

Outside of volunteerism and charity, Jacksons written two books based on his journey inspiring change around Chicago, and he said theres a third on the way.

His affirmations through Project I Am have made it onto pillows for Crate and Barrel, while his mission has caught the attention of many affluent people, including former US President Barack Obama, who he met back in 2018.

Probably one of the best days of my life, Jackson said. It was great getting to meet him. It was actually a surprise. So, getting to meet the first Black president  always looking up to him  is one of the best experiences Ive ever had.

More from Sean: Lunch with a Leader program hosts CPS students for 10th year

Jacksons goals moving forward include getting other young people involved in Project I Am branches in other cities, and to expand his sights on helping those without a place to live.

This journeys been amazing to me. These past eight years have been filled with lots of experiences not a lot of kids my age get to have, Jackson said. Getting to work with corporations, work with other young people and inspire other young people to do the same thing Im doing in their communities.

Eight years of being driven by a young boys imagination of what can be, now a young man whos finally able to drive himself toward new heights helping his community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
A group of teens believed to be part of a Chicago-area organized crime ring broke into a luxury Range Rover dealership in Wisconsin last week and drove away with nine cars with a total value of over half a million dollars, authorities said.

Surveillance video captured the moment nine masked suspects busted into the Jaguar-Land Rover dealership at about 6 a.m. on Feb. 18 in Waukesha, about 19 miles west of Milwaukee.

Waukesha Police Capt. Dan Baumann told WISN-TV that the suspects broke into the dealership and found where the car keys were stored before activating the key fobs to locate each car they would steal.

"Kids nowadays are becoming more and more brazen to go out, and to take a group like this, and commit a crime like this," Baumann said.

ARIZONA MAN JUST RELEASED FROM PRISON STEALS TRUCK HAULING CORVETTES BECAUSE HE NEEDED A RIDE HOME: SHERIFF

Police said the nine masked suspects are believed to be teens from a Chicago-area organized crime ring.

Video also shows the suspects reverse one car inside the service center and smash through a service door into the parking lot before all nine cars drive off from the dealership in single file.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Surveillance footage captured a suspect driving a vehicle though a service door.

The nine high-end vehicles are valued at more than $583,000, Baumann said.

Police at the time said that the suspects were believed to be "an organized crime group of teenagers from the Chicago area" and most are known to members of a police task force in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

The nine luxury vehicles stolen from the dealership have a combined estimated worth of over $583,000.

COURT DOC SHED LIGHT ON WISCONSIN BAR SHOOTING WHERE NEWLYWEDS WERE GUNNED DOWN

One suspect, a 17-year-old Chicago boy, was arrested Sunday in the southern Wisconsin community of Pleasant Prairie after the stolen vehicle he was driving crashed along Interstate 94 during a police pursuit, police said. He was being held at the Waukesha County Jail on a $50,000 bond and faces burglary, theft and criminal damage to property charges, Baumann said.

Police in Wisconsin and Illinois were still searching Friday for the eight other suspects.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Six of the nine stolen vehicles have been recovered  four in Chicago, one in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield, and one in Wisconsin after the highway crash that led to the 17-year-old's arrest, according to police.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Teens bust into Wisconsin luxury dealership, steal 9 cars worth over $500,000, police say


Explosive device found in RSS office in MP's Bhind, defused The Madhya Pradesh Police on Sunday said they recovered an explosive device at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office in Bhind district, which was later defused. The device was found on Saturday night when an office attendant, Ram Mohan, noticed it. The RSS office is located in a residential colony, Hanuman Bajaria in the district.



Local police were alerted immediately and subsequently, Bhind SP Ashit Yadav along with other police personnel reached the spot around midnight. A bomb disposal squad also reached the spot from the neighbouring district Morena, and the device was disposed of.



"A pin bomb was found at the place where the Dhwaja (flag) was installed in the premises of the Sangh office, which was seized," a senior police officer said, adding that further investigation was underway.



The RSS office was empty as the 'pracharaks' and 'vistaraks' had gone to Indore to attend a meeting, said the officials.




Tenino police arrested a 17-year-old male accused of rape last week, then had to address the rumor mill three days later, according to two announcements on social media.

The Feb. 21 announcement was that the teen was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree rape of a child and indecent exposure. Three days later, Tenino police made a second announcement.

It has come to the attention of the Tenino Police Department that rumors are circulating saying that the alleged sexual assault had occurred on Tenino School District property, the post reads.

The rumor is patently false, police said. Some details of the investigation will not be released as the investigation is ongoing. However, we can confirm that the crime occurred within the city limits of Tenino and not on any Tenino School District property.

It was a difficult arrest, according to police, saying that the teen began kicking at the doors of the police car.

The subject also bit and chewed protective foam along the cage in the back seat, chewed through electric wiring for backseat lighting and chewed and tore off a camera with his teeth, the post reads.

Because of the suspects behavior, he was placed in a restraint known as a WRAP.

The teen was booked into Thurston County Juvenile Detention. Bail was set at $25,000, according to police.
This report is an update to KXANs Medical Debt Lawsuits investigation. Our team followed this legislation during Texas regular legislative session.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Bernadette Moore remembers the frustrations.

woman on a path by the river

All she needed was an itemized bill after a vein surgery last August in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

They just gave me the runaround. I mean, nothing. I got bounced around to seven different people at one point. I was on the phone weekly, she explained.

Moore said she is part of a health-sharing ministry where patients get reimbursed, but an itemized bill is required.

I remember crying to them on the phone  I cannot get ahold of this. Ive never had this much problem receiving an itemized bill, Moore said.

In November, she filed a complaint with the Texas Attorney Generals Office.

I have requested an itemized bill  at least 20 times. As of Sept, that is a TX state law, that businesses must give an itemized bill, she wrote in her complaint.

READ: New medical bill transparency law in effect; what you need to know

Through the Texas Public Information Act, KXAN obtained five itemized medical billing complaints sent to Attorney General Ken Paxtons office since September 2023. Thats when the law went into effect requiring hospitals and other health providers to give patients an itemized invoice before sending bills to collections.

KXAN obtained seven complaints about itemized medical bills submitted to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Office of Attorney General, from September 2023 to mid-January. Source: Texas HHSC and OAG (KXAN Interactive/David Barer)

State oversight

Senate Bill 490 also requires itemized bills be written in terms the patient understands and include medical codes and prices. The invoice can be issued electronically through a patient portal.

Its important for consumers to have more transparency in health care, said State Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock. It has become so convoluted, so complicated, and it really shouldnt be because when its complicated, people may put off care. They may make poor decisions about their health care.

woman sits behind a desk with gavels on it

Harris Davila knows every detail of the itemized billing law  she wrote the companion House bill.

The legislation only applies to health care facilities and hospitals but does not apply to doctors or federally-qualified health centers.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is overseeing the rollout of the law and compliance. Since the law went into effect in September, the agency received two complaints that are pending investigation. These complaints are separate from what the Attorney Generals Office received.

Late last year, HHSC posted draft rules online and gathered informal comments from two providers including clarification needed on language of the law and concerns about the costs of providing itemized bills. Harris Davila said her office would reach out to the providers with concerns.

EXPLORE: KXAN Investigates Medical Debt Lawsuits

We really think it might just be a misunderstanding of the way that theyre interpreting the bill. And so, were going to work with them and make sure that everybodys on the same page, she said.

Central Texans sued

Passage of the itemized billing law followed a KXAN investigation in September 2022 into a Central Texas hospital that sued hundreds of patients over unpaid medical bills. Many patients told us they couldnt get details on what they owed.

Those cases are still being heard in Williamson County. Kasey Ybarra, from Liberty Hill, was in court in early February after being sued.

woman in hospital gown poses with another woman in hospital bed

Theyre suing us for not paying, right. But theyre also suing my husband; my husband never got services there, Ybarra explained.

The billing saga started in November 2020. Ybarras sister needed a liver transplant and Ybarra was a match. They traveled to San Antonio to have the surgery.

It wasnt even a thought  I dont want to lose my sister, she said.

After Ybarra returned home, she explained that she started having complications. She said she went to a Williamson County hospital for treatment. Then, last February, she was shocked to learn the hospital was suing her for almost $4,500. She had insurance and said she tried to make payment arrangements for anything not covered.

Ybarra said her attempt to make payment arrangements with the hospital didnt work, and once the bill was part of a lawsuit, the hospital referred all questions to the attorney handling the case.

The medical billing transparency law doesnt apply to cases before Sept. 1, Harris Davila said. KXAN investigators are not naming the hospital because Ybarras treatment happened before the law went into effect, and there is no evidence the hospital violated the law by suing her for medical debt.

Ybarra explained she also asked the hospital for an itemized bill but never received anything.

Backlog of cases

Its a common defense Judge Angela Williams, Williamson County Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2, said she hears in her courtroom.

I think its important that individuals have the ability to examine these itemized bills and know what theyre being charged prior to a court date, Williams said.

In the year Williams has been in office, she said at least 60% of her small claims caseload has been for medical debt.

Most of the cases are a year or two old, and I am still hearing those cases, and we continue to have new filings as well, she added.

Judge Angela Williams, Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2, hears medical debt cases regularly in Cedar Park. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost)

Judge Angela Williams, Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2, hears medical debt cases regularly in Cedar Park. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost)

Judge Angela Williams, Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2, hears medical debt cases regularly in Cedar Park. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost)

Judge Angela Williams, Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2, hears medical debt cases regularly in Cedar Park. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost)

Judge Angela Williams, Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2, hears medical debt cases regularly in Cedar Park. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost)

She now even has a copy of the itemized billing law right next to her during those cases. Some defendants have told her they havent been able to get an itemized bill until their day in court.

READ: Medical billing transparency legislation signed by Gov. Abbott

woman looks over papers

I let them know that there is a  there is a new bill. Its Senate Bill 490. And while it may not help you today, it is beneficial that you know that this bill has been put into effect because of the concerns of the people, Williams said.

KXAN Investigators were in the courtroom the day Ybarras case was heard and dismissed. Court documents show the hospitals lawyer failed to appear in court.

Days after Ybarra was in court, she said she received some of the itemized invoices, but details of what services were provided were blacked out. She kept calling the hospital and said she finally got invoices without anything marked out.

How do you trust a system thats supposed to be there to help you, make you feel better, find things that are wrong with you? Its like you get punished, you know, because youre sick, Ybarra said.

Do not give up

KXAN investigator Arezow Doost talks with North Texas resident Bernadette Moore about medical bill transparency. Last year, Moore said despite citing a new Texas law, it took her two months to get an itemized medical bill.

The Texas Hospital Association, or THA, opposed the law due to costs it anticipated, according to legislative records.

We issued comprehensive guidance to help Texas hospitals comply with the new law, and hospitals across the state have worked diligently to follow SB 490, THA said in an emailed statement. While this work comes with significant administrative cost, Texas hospitals are committed to making sure patients have transparency about their bills.

THA has not specified why the law would lead to increased costs, and the laws fiscal note said it did not anticipate any significant fiscal implications to the state.

Harris Davila said its too early to tell if any changes are needed in Texas but shes already looking ahead.

Its just a lengthy process to get the itemized statement, even if you request it. And thats actually something that we will try to work on next session, she said. I heard from people I noticed an error in my billing, but it took me so long to get through to the billing department to figure it out and get it resolved. And so, I think thats a piece that were recognizing now that this law has been in effect.

woman takes a selfie with a man

KXAN investigators asked Paxtons office about the status of the complaints filed and the process to investigate them, but as of this report no response has been provided.

I simply received an acknowledgement that they received my complaint, but nothing since then, said Moore regarding the complaint she sent the AG.

She added she finally got the itemized invoice two months after requesting it. She said there were charges for things that didnt happen on the day of the surgery. She even mentioned the law when she requested the itemized bill.

Do not give up, Moore said about getting an itemized receipt. If its happening to me, I wonder how many people this  is happening to also.

Harris Davila urges patients who are not able to get an itemized bill to file a complaint through HHSC or contact her office. HHSC is responsible for taking disciplinary action against providers in violation.

Shes also now pushing for the law to be nationwide. She said shes been working with the American Legislative Exchange Council or ALEC, a conservative organization of state legislators, on highlighting Texas law.

I am actually working with that organization to be able to present at their next conference and talk with all these members from all across the states on how to get this bill implemented in other states because Texas is, you know, we do things differently here. We do things better here. Were always looking forward. And so, Im happy that were leading on this as well. And Im so excited to help other states implement this.

Investigative Photojournalist Richie Bowes, Graphic Artist Wendy Gonzalez, Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle, Digital Special Projects Developer Robert Sims, Graphic Artist Christina Staggs and Digital Director Kate Winkle contributed to this report, which is part of the Medical Debt Lawsuits project.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
When Catherine Herrings husband Mason brought her breakfast in bed one day in April 2022, she wanted to believe it was a romantic gesture. The pair had been fightingthey were currently living apart at his requestbut were in marriage counseling, hoping to work things out.

She had recently learned that she was pregnant with their third child, and their counselor suggested spending spring break together to process. They had spent the last week snuggled up on the couch, watching movies and saying I love you, Herring said. So when the breakfast tray came in, she wanted to assume the best.

But Herring says she sensed something was off. Along with a biscuit, her husband brought her a tall glass of water that he urged her to finish, telling her she needed to hydrate more for the pregnancy. As the minutes went on, he became more and more forcefulalmost angrypushing her to finish the water before he left for the office.

He starts urging me, like, Chug it, I need to go, and he kind of had anger in his voice, she told The Daily Beast.

All of a sudden I was like, Something weird is going on, she added. And thats when I looked down into the cup and saw that the water wasnt clear.

What Herring found in that cup would catapult her and her now-estranged husband into the headlines and raise questions about how men and women are treated under Texas abortion laws. But the full story of how she uncovered her husbands secrethow she collected evidence and mounted a case right under his noseis even more breathtaking than court documents and previous news coverage suggest.

Catherine and Mason Herring on the day they got engaged. Courtesy of Catherine Herring

Herring, 39, was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana and attended college in Texas, where she met her future husband through mutual friends in his law school class. The two got married in 2010 and moved into a quiet, verdant Houston neighborhood, where they soon had two children. Mason established a successful personal injury law firm while Herring stepped down from her job as a nonprofit executive to raise the kids, working as a grant writer on the side.

A life-long painter, Herring also ran a small business selling hand-painted stationery: cards and gift tags emblazoned with cheery watercolor flowers and colorful pumpkins. On her business Instagram she posted photos of her husband and kids, the four of them forming the perfect picture of a happy, well-adjusted family.

I always knew youd be a great Dad, she wrote in one post, alongside a photo from their first month of dating. What I didnt know then was how special it would be to see how much our kids ADORE you  We are grateful for everything you do for us and hope you have a wonderful Fathers Day!!!

But in February 2022, after more than a decade of marriage, Herring says, her husband suddenly informed her he wanted a separation. She had recently caught him lying about his whereabouts and texting a former female colleague with whom he claimed to have cut contact, she later told police officers. When she confronted him about the situation, she told The Daily Beast, he told her he needed to work on himself and moved out. He just started acting really weird and wouldnt tell me what was going on, she recalled.

Still, Herring thought he was committed to salvaging the marriage. He was unhappy about the pregnancyin a personal statement filed in their divorce case, Herring says he told her he wanted a divorce and would look like a jerk for leaving me when I was pregnantbut agreed to spend spring break with her and the kids. Despite their issues, she said, she believed they would make it work.

Then came breakfast in bed.

About 30 minutes after Mason left for work that day, Herring began having painful stomach cramps and explosive diarrhea, according to an indictment filed by the Harris County District Attorneys Office. On her third trip to the bathroom, she realized she was bleeding heavily from her vagina, like she had her period. Fearing she had been poisoned, Herring rushed to the emergency room, where the urine sample she gave was almost black, she told later police. She kept bleeding even after she left the hospital that night.

Unnerved, Herring called her mother and asked her to stay with her, saying she was having pregnancy complications but never revealing her true fear: that her husband was behind her medical crisis.

I just wanted desperately to be wrong, she told The Daily Beast. I wanted there to be another explanation, because this is your husband who you love and adore and have children with.

But my instinct was, Somethings wrong, I need to protect myself, she added. And I just need to make sure he doesnt know Im onto him. Because I really felt like that was the only way I could collect evidence.

Catherine and Mason Herring on their wedding day. Courtesy of Catherine Herring

When Herring returned home from the hospital, her husband continued plying her with more drinks, all of them containing an unknown substance, according to the indictment. (A memorable example, Herring said: a bottle of orange juice had its seal broken and a powdery substance at the bottom.) She did not drink any more of the beverages, but stashed the cups and bottles away for safekeeping.

On March 21, she brought them all to a private investigator she had hired a week before her hospitalization in hopes of figuring out why her husband had suddenly requested a separation.

I walked into the PIs office and I said, Something weird is going on, she said. And he just snapped into action.

The PI, a former state tax fraud investigator named John Moritz, sent the containers to a lab for testing. While they waited for the results, and her husband went on vacation, Moritz taught Herring about collecting evidence. They installed video cameras on her doorbell, along the exterior of the house, even in the air ducts of the kitchen. Moritz urged her not to be alone with her husband; to keep friends and family around whenever he was in the house.

As soon as Mason returned from vacation, so did the drinks. He handed one of them to her in front of two friends she had invited over for a meeting, even though she had already had two beverages in front of her. Both friends observed the familiar unknown substance floating in the one he brought, she told police.

The cameras in front of the house also turned up something suspicious. On April 24, Mason cleaned out his truck and brought the trash bags to the curbsomething Herring dryly told police was out of character because he does not do chores around the house. When she looked through the bags, she found something that made her shudder: a blister pack of Cyrux, a generic version of misoprostol, the drug most commonly used to induce an abortion.

Two days later, the cameras in her kitchen air ducts caught Mason taking out a plastic baggie full of white powder, removing the substance, and putting it into her drink. She had a friend with her that night, to avoid being alone with him, she said. But he just stood in the kitchen, had a whole conversation with us, and then left for the night as if nothing had gone on.

The next day, she went to the Houston Police Department.

Private Investigator John Moritz Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty

Texas has some of the strictest abortion laws in the United States, many of them on the books even before the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade. A 2021 law allows anyone in the state to sue someone they suspect of performing or abetting an abortion after six weeks gestation. Since the fall of Roe, performing an abortion has been a felony punishable by life in prison.

While the law allows for exceptions for life-threatening medical emergencies, doctors worry about performing abortions in such cases, for fear of losing their medical license or going to jail. More than 20 women have sued the state of Texas, claiming doctors denied them an abortion during life- or health-threatening pregnancies.

Attorney General Ken Paxton has made it clear that prosecuting abortions is a priority. He personally vowed to prosecute any doctor who performed on abortion on a 31-year-old woman who asked the state to let her terminate her high-risk pregnancy last year, and later convinced the state Supreme Court to block her from receiving the procedure, forcing her to travel out of state.

Paxton has targeted abortion pills like misoprostol, strongly cautioning manufacturers and major pharmacies not to distribute the drugs in Texas. Last February, he sued the Department of Health and Human Services for directing pharmacies to continue supplying the drugs for other conditions like autoimmune disorders. He declared that Texas had dutifully passed laws to protect the unborn, and that the state was not going to back down just because unelected bureaucrats in Washington want to create illegal, extremist federal policies.

But when Herring told Houston Police that she believed her husband was trying to force an abortion pill on her against her will, it took nearly a month for an arrest. She felt more encouraged after speaking with then-District Attorney Anthony Osso, who seemed eager to prosecute, she said. He gave interviews to local media about the arrestthe first in Harris County under a 2017 felony assault to induce abortion statuteand called her husbands actions a pretty heinous act.

But a few months later, the DAs office told Herring that Osso would no longer be on the case because he was leaving for the private sectorspecifically, for Cogdell Law, the firm defending her husband.

The move struck Herring as odd. He was the face of the case, he was the one speaking to the media about it just a few months before, she said. [I thought], That seems weird.

Osso said in an email that he and Cogdell always kept discussions on the case separate from any discussions of working together, and that he never made any substantive decisions about the case after [those discussions started. He added in a phone call that he had never made recommendations about a sentence or punishment for Mason while at the DAs office.

Mason Herrings booking photo Houston Police

From there, Herring says now, it felt like her case got lost in the paper shuffle. Her daughter was born in August, three months after the arrest, and Herring dedicated much of her time to caring for her. The girl was born 10 weeks premature, weighing just over three poundsso small that Herring was not allowed to hold herand spent seven weeks in the NICU. She still uses a feeding tube to eat and has weekly appointments with physical, occupational, and speech therapists. She is a special needs child, Herring said. Every day is a struggle for her. This impacts us on a daily basis, even now.

In late 2023, the DAs office called Herring to say they were considering a plea deal for her husband with significantly reduced charges. She says she tried to push back, but the office just kept telling me this was the best they could do. She even had her divorce lawyers write a letter to the judge, saying: To be clear, Ms. Herring does not think probation is an appropriate offer given the homicidal actions of the Defendant and the life-altering consequences of his attempts to poison her child. It made no difference.

On Feb. 7, Mason accepted the deal. Prosecutors dropped the charges of assault to induce abortion charge and assault on a pregnant person; he pleaded guilty to a single count of injury to a child under 15. The judge sentenced him to 180 days in jail and 10 years parole and barred him from contacting Herring or their youngest daughter.

Herring, who filed for divorce shortly after the arrest, assailed the court in a blistering victim impact statement that was picked up by news outlets across the country. I do not believe that 180 days is justice for attempting to kill your child seven separate times, she said, according to the Associated Press. (Her husbands attorney called the sentence reasonable, and said: Its a sad situation and Mason has accepted his responsibility.)

In an interview this week, Herring was just as angry. One hundred and eighty daysits less than 26 days per attempt that he will serve in jail, she said. She was reluctant to discuss the abortion politics of the decisionthe topic can be really polarizing, she saidbut when asked about the discrepancy between what a doctor in Texas could serve for performing a wanted abortion and what her ex is serving for attempting to force one on her, she did not hold back.

Its very apparent that the state of Texas is treating men and women differently in this situation, she said.

I think the impactful conversation thats coming out of all this is that we all universally think this assault and this situation is wrong, she added. And its just silence from the state. Silence.

Womens rights advocates also pointed to the vastly longer sentences women have served for similar offenses. Dana Sussman, executive director of the nonprofit Pregnancy Justice, noted that women have spent years in prison for attempting their own abortions or for using drugs or alcohol while pregnant.

Purvi Patel, a now 44-year-old woman from Indiana, was famously convicted of feticide for taking abortion-inducing drugs and served three years in prison before her sentence was overturned. Just one month before Mason Herring was arrested, prosecutors in nearby Rio Grande City charged now 28-year-old Lizelle Herrera with murder for attempting her own abortion, although the charges were dropped after national outcry.

Sussman told The Daily Beast that conservative prosecutors often use charges like attempted murder or manslaughter in such cases. Her organization recently helped win release for a woman who was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison for a stillbirth after testing positive for drugs. A recent Pregnancy Justice report found 1,379 pregnant people were arrested between 2006 and 2022a quarter for using legal substances like prescription opiates, alcohol, and nicotine.

Not only did many of these women face harsher sentences than Mason Herring, Sussman said, they had not committed any acts of violence against another person.

These are their own bodies, this is their own existence, she said. Theyre not doing something that is not consented to by someone else, that is abusive or harmful to anyone else.

Even Osso, the former district attorney who first brought the case, said he could see the hypocrisy in the sentence. Six months of jail time is standard for a first defender charged with a third-degree crime, he said, but the crime itself is very jarring.

The [Texas] legislature is very caught up in telling women what to do with their bodies, and here is a man whos doing the same thing but way worseand not his own bodyand it feels like a slap on the wrist, he said.

Herring is still angry with the sentence her ex-husband received, but lately she has started turning her attention to more hopeful avenues.

All I can do is speak up for victims of domestic violence and call out injustice, and Im happy to lend my voice if I can, she said.

I cant change anything now, but I just hope that no one should ever have to go through this again.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Participants walk behind a banner reading "Together for democracy" during a demonstration against right-wing extremism in Hamburg. Axel Heimken/dpa

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hamburg on Sunday ahead of a march through the inner city to demonstrate opposition to right-wing extremism in Germany.

The organizers are expecting some 30,000 to march under the slogan "We are the firewall  together against right-wing extremism." Police had not yet put a figure on the number attending shortly after midday.

The demonstration was the third of its kind in Hamburg since the start of the year, and cities across Germany have seen regular marches since it emerged that members of the far right had met to discuss mass deportations of millions of people living in Germany.

A local Hamburg band played as the demonstrators assembled at Dammtor to the north of the centre before marching along the Inner Alster Lake. The Hamburg hip-hop electronic band Deichkind is set to play at the protest.

The Hamburg demonstrations on Sunday are just one of at least 12 protest events planned in as many German cities all over the country, including in the capital Berlin and in south-eastern city of Dresden.

Countrywide protests erupted after information about a meeting by extremists in Potsdam near Berlin in November at which members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the ultra-conservative Values Union (WerteUnion) discussed plans to deport immigrants.

The protests come ahead of elections in eastern states this year in which the AfD is predicted to do well.

People take part in a demonstration against right-wing extremism in Hamburg. Axel Heimken/dpa

The band "Deichkind", whose members wear sweatshirts and pants with the slogan "Impulsive people against the right", performs at a demonstration against right-wing extremism. Axel Heimken/dpa
People hold flags during a large demonstration for democracy and against right-wing extremism at Neumarkt. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hamburg on Sunday ahead of a march through the inner city to demonstrate opposition to right-wing extremism in Germany.

The organizers said that more than 50,000 people to marched under the slogan "We are the firewall  together against right-wing extremism." Police said they would issue its estimate of the crowd's size after the rally ends.

The demonstration was the third of its kind in Hamburg since the start of the year, and cities across Germany have seen regular marches since it emerged that members of the far right had met to discuss mass deportations of millions of people living in Germany.

The Hamburg hip-hop electronic band Deichkind played at the protest and chanted "We don't want any Nazis and no AfD" in their final song.

The Hamburg demonstrations on Sunday were just one of at least 12 protest events planned in as many German cities all over the country, including in the capital Berlin and in south-eastern city of Dresden, where several thousand people gathered for a large rally against the right.

A spokeswoman for the organizers said around 20,000 people attended. The police initially did not name the number of participants.

Speakers included prominent German climate activist Luisa Neubauer from the Fridays for Future movement. "You dont have democracy. You live democracy," Neubauer said, calling for people to stand up against indifference.

People also took to the streets in other East German cities near Dresden on Sunday - for example in Zwickau, Bautzen, Gorlitz and Meissen.

Protests erupted across Germany after investigative journalists reported on a meeting by extremists in Potsdam, near Berlin, in November.

At the meeting, members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the ultra-conservative Values Union (WerteUnion) discussed plans to deport millions of people who had migrated to Germany.

The wave of protests come ahead of elections in eastern states this year in which the AfD is predicted to do well.

People take part in a large against right-wing extremism stand in front of the Frauenkirche on Neumarkt square in Dresden. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

The band "Deichkind", whose members wear sweatshirts and pants with the slogan "Impulsive people against the right", performs at a demonstration against right-wing extremism. Axel Heimken/dpa

Maja Goepel, transformation researcher and political economist, stands on the stage next to a sign reading "Grandmas against the right", during a demonstration against right-wing extremism. Axel Heimken/dpa

The band "Deichkind", whose members wear sweatshirts and pants with the slogan "Impulsive people against the right", performs at a demonstration against right-wing extremism. Axel Heimken/dpa
Three Iowa men were arrested in connection to the kidnapping and killing of a 20-year-old woman whose body was found dumped near a lake, police announced.

McKinley Louisma, 23, and Dakota Lyle Van Patten, 18, were arrested and charged on Wednesday with kidnapping and murder in connection to the death of Louismas girlfriend, Melody Hoffman, according to criminal complaints shared by Marion police on Thursday. Van Patten also face an additional charge of conspiracy to commit forcible felony.

According to the documents, Iowa County Sheriff deputies responded to a report of a deceased person near Amana Lily Lake in Iowa County, Iowa on Feb.18 to discover Hoffman with numerous stab and slash wounds to her body.

Melody Hoffman via Facebook

Melody Hoffman via Facebook

Preliminary opinions by state medical examiners determined that Hoffmans cause of death was from strangulation, the complaints read.

According to the complaints, investigators were able to track Hoffmans activity through her iPhone and Apple Watch to determine that she was picked up by Louisma and Van Patten the night before her body was discovered.

Investigators said Hoffman was at Morgan Creek Park when her Apple Watch recorded her heartbeat intensify before it either stopped or the device deactivated, according to the complaints.

Law enforcement soon located and searched Louismas vehicle and found the victims phone case, her Apple Watch band with blood on it, a towing rope and clothing that matched the clothes Hoffman was wearing.

According to the complaints, Louisma allegedly confessed that he was with Van Patten and Hoffman the night of the incident and that they duct taped the victims wrist, then forced her into the trunk. Louisma allegedly drove Hoffman from the park to several different locations across Linn County, Iowa.

Louisma also allegedly admitted that Hoffman was beaten during the kidnapping and was begging to be let go, according to the complaint.

Surveillance footage cited in the complaints allegedly shows Louisma and Van Patten had purchased gloves and two machetes at a local Walmart, along with a third individual later identified in the Thursday press release as Logan Kimpton, 20.

Kimpton was also arrested and charged on Thursday with conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in connection to Hoffmans death. According to Kimptons complaint , he allegedly confessed that he was with Louisma and Van Patten when they were purchasing the items.

Kimpton was asked by an investigator whether he had chickened out of the murder, to which he responded, Damn right I did, according to the complaint. Investigators also learned Kimpton told three other people the night before the alleged murder that they planned to kill someone.

According to the complaints, an unnamed witness reported to police that Van Patten had told them he killed Melody. Police then executed a search warrant on Pattenshome.

Detectives found portions of the towing rope believed to have been used in the killing, along with Hoffmans glasses, according to the complaint.

Although law enforcement did not specify a motive behind Hoffmans murder, Louisma admitted to being in an intimate relationship with the victim while alsoin a relationship with another woman, according to the complaints.

Speaking at Hoffmans vigil on Thursday, the victims mother, Megan Hoffman, described her daughter as a loving and caring person who was also mischievous, The Gazette reported.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-866-331-9474 or text loveis to 22522 for the National Dating Abuse Helpline.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has stressed that Russia understands what Ukraine needs long-range armament for, and it specifically concerns ATACMS ballistic missiles.

Source: Zelenskyy at the press conference

Quote: "As for ATACMS  [that's] 300 km (the effective range of the ATACMS missiles  ed.) Do you realise what we need this for?

I would not disclose the details but we do realise this. And Russia understands what we will do with these weapons.

We have been working on facilitating the supplies of long-range armament for a long time.

I am pleased by the recent response of our partners concerning this armament."

Background:

As of October 2023, according to the New York Times, the US has supplied Ukraine with about 20 ATACMS long-range missiles.

The White House noted that it had provided Ukraine with the ATACMS missiles type able to strike a target at a distance of up to 165 km.

The Chamber of Representatives of the US went on a break until the end of February without considering the package bill with the funding for the aid for Ukraine, already approved by the Senate.

The Chamber of Representatives presented the bill with less aid for Ukraine than the amount suggested by Joe Biden.

A week ago, the Biden administration reported that it was considering the possibility of supplying Ukraine with the ATACMS long-range missiles for the strikes on Russia-occupied Crimea. The missiles might be included in the first aid packages after the final approval of the funding for the support for Ukraine.

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The New York City Police Department on Sunday released a new photo of one of the more than a dozen suspects accused in a massive brawl near a Times Square migrant shelter where a 17-year-old was stabbed.

The stabbing attack unfolded at approximately 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the vicinity of West 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, steps from the Candler Building, a vacant office tower-turned-migrant shelter, according to New York Daily News.

Eight individuals remain sought in connection to the attack, including five males described as having a light complexion and three other males described as having a medium complexion, the NYPD said Sunday.

Police have already released photos of the eight individuals who remain at large.

Sunday's new image better depicted one of the suspects, seen wearing a blue jacket, who had hidden his face.

NYPD RELEASES SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM TIMES SQUARE STABBING OF 17-YEAR-OLD MIGRANT

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The NYPD released a new photo on Sunday of one of eight suspects wanted in connection to the Times Square brawl where a 17-year-old migrant was stabbed.

Six people, including five teenagers, already have been arrested in connection with that stabbing.

The 17-year-old stabbed in the back is believed to be a migrant from Nicaragua, WABC reported.

Police surveillance images of some of the suspects wanted in the Times Square attack on a 17-year-old migrant from Nicaragua.

The NYPD said a group of unidentified individuals approached the 17-year-old and started a verbal dispute.

Police are seeking the identities of suspects involved in the stabbing of a 17-year-old in a Times Square gang assault on Thursday.

"A physical altercation ensued, and the individuals repeatedly punched and kicked the victim about the body," police said in a press release. "The victim also sustained a stab wound to the back and was transported by EMS to NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue in stable condition. The individuals fled the location on foot and were last seen entering the Times Square subway station."

Two of the eight suspects who remain at large in a Times Square stabbing attack.

On Saturday, NYPD Crime Stoppers released surveillance video of the group wanted in the gang assault.

Daily News identified the lone adult charged so far in connection to the stabbing as Michael Colome, 22, of Queens.

NYPD released video of the suspects wanted in the Feb. 22, 2024, gang assault.

He  and three 16-year-olds and two 14-year-olds  are facing charges of gang assault, assault and weapons possession. Colome was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday and remains held on Rikers Island on $100,000 bond, the newspaper reported.





Original article source: Times Square migrant shelter stabbing attack: Police release new photo of suspect; 8 remain at large
The Azerbaijan Foreign Affairs Ministry has congratulated Estonia on Independence Day, Azernews reports.

"On the occasion of Estonia's National Day, we extend our congratulations to the people and government of Estonia. We wish Estonia continued progress and prosperity! Happy National Day!" the Azerbaijani ministry said in a post on X.




Andhra Pradesh Congress president Y. S. Sharmila Reddy has lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police in Hyderabad against some individuals running a "malicious" campaign against her on social media.

Sharmila stated in her complaint that the accused were posting social media messages with "criminal intent to frighten" her.



She complained that they uploaded some contest on some YouTube channels and other social media platforms to tarnish her image.



Cybercrime police have registered two cases on the basis of the complaint made by Sharmila through her husband Anil Kumar.



Sharmila, the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy stated that after taking over as the president of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), she had been meeting people.



She stated that ever since she started touring districts, some people have been targeting her and her followers.



Sharmila, in her complaint, cited some of the insulting comments made against her and requested police to take action. The Congress leader also named eight persons in her complaint. A couple of them are reportedly based abroad.



Sharmila had earlier slammed YSR Congress Party leaders for making personal comments against her after she joined the Congress party.
Three men were arrested in the 1989 killing of a woman in Missouri after someone came forward with a tip over three decades after her death, authorities said.

Kelle Ann Workman was reported missing on June 30, 1989, in Douglas County, and her body was found eight days later in a national forest in neighboring Christian County, officials from Douglas County said in a news conference on Wednesday.

Bobby Banks, Leonard Banks and Wiley Belt have now all been arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping and rape, all in the first degree, in connection with the case, according to authorities.

The arrests came after a person in the last couple of months gave law enforcement information tying the suspects to Workmans killing, Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Weatherman said. The tipster was not a person of interest in the case, authorities said.

There was a person that came forward after almost 30 years of holding this inside and finally told us the last piece we needed to slide it all together, Weatherman said.

The three men had been on authorities radar in relation to the cold case for some time, Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase said Wednesday.

The suspects were arraigned and are being held on a cash bond of $250,000 each, according to Weatherman. All three have a court hearing scheduled for March 5, according to court records.

CNN has sought comment from Belt and Leonard Banks legal representation. Its unclear whether Bobby Banks has legal representation.

Authorities did not provide information on the tipster who came forward, or the information that was shared.

Were gonna have live witnesses, Weatherman said. Theyre gonna testify to what they know, what they saw and what they think, and were gonna let the jury sort it out.

Officials said that Workmans family is relieved and told law enforcement they never thought this day would come.

I think were able to give Kelle some justice and hopefully give the family some closure, Degase said.

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With South Carolina now in his column, Donald Trump has covered most of the compass, having notched victories in the Northeast, Midwest, South and West (TIMOTHY A. CLARY)

Former US president Donald Trump eased to victory in South Carolina, dismissing Nikki Haley and closing in on the Republican nomination as he seeks a second term in the White House.

Here are five takeaways from Saturday night:

- The speed of victory -

Trump's opponents griped bitterly that the media had jumped the gun when his victory in Iowa was announced just half an hour after polls closed in the first contest of the primary season in January.

Those howls of complaint were largely absent when the first projections for South Carolina came in within seconds on Saturday.

The former president had already won all four previous nominating contests and opinion polls gave him almost double Haley's support -- making an early call almost inevitable rather than a potential controversy.

Some experts were reckoning ahead of the vote that Haley could count defeat by 15 points or less as a decent night, although the margin looked like it was going to be closer to 20 percent with most of the ballots tallied.

Whatever the final score, it was another big "L" for Haley -- and a reminder that she has yet to pose a credible threat to the former president in any state.

- No home advantage for Haley -

In a primary contest that looks like it could be a rocky ride for Haley in every corner of America, her home turf of South Carolina was seen by her more optimistic backers as a port in a storm.

The 52-year-old Ronald Reagan-style conservative was a popular governor, known as a cost-cutting advocate of small government and even smaller tax bills.

It was a manifesto that got her elected for two terms from 2011 to 2017.

But her defeat was never so much about Haley herself as the deep loyalty South Carolinians have for Trump -- and the deference of a political establishment that got fully behind the candidate once seen as an outsider.

Both of the state's US senators and five of the six-strong delegation it sends to the House of Representatives endorsed Trump.

He was also backed by 25 state representatives to Haley's four -- not to mention South Carolina's incumbent governor, Henry McMaster, and three of his top officials.

Trump's appeal was obvious in opinion polling that showed him up to 30 points in the run-up to Saturday's vote.

But anyone studying his presidential election history in the Palmetto State -- wins in 2020 and 2016 with 55 percent and 54 percent respectively -- would have been able to read the runes before a ballot was cast on Saturday.

- Trump moves on... -

With South Carolina now in his column, the former president has covered most of the compass, having notched victories in the Northeast, Midwest, South and West.

Trump's frustration at Haley continuing to fight was obvious when he turned his victory speech in New Hampshire last month into a bitter rant against his sole remaining challenger.

In South Carolina, he cut an altogether calmer, more focused figure, neglecting to mention Haley at all as he made clear that he had moved past the primary campaign mentally, with his sights set on November.

Expect Trump's campaigning in the coming weeks to follow a similar pattern -- concentrating on the catastrophe he claims President Joe Biden has been for the United States instead of dwelling on his polling numbers against Haley.

- ... But Haley refuses to bow out -

Haley's defiant promise to fight on after Saturday's loss was hardly a surprise.

Her official position -- made clear in the days before the primary -- was that she would be all-in until at least "Super Tuesday" on March 5, when 16 states and territories weigh in on the Republican presidential nomination.

She had also addressed supporters in California and Texas, and her aides told reporters the campaign was committing to a "seven-figure" national cable and digital ad buy in the Super Tuesday states.

"South Carolina has spoken -- we're the fourth state to do so," she told supporters at her election night watch party.

"In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate."

bur-ft/des
Designers at Milan Fashion Week, including Dolce & Gabanna, went all out for the see-through trend. (Marco BERTORELLO)

Milan Fashion Week's catwalk shows wrapped up Sunday, providing an early glimpse into women's looks for Fall/Winter 2024-2025. Here are a few of the top trends.

- Transparency -

Despite chilly fall and winter temperatures, designers went all out for the see-through trend, whether at Armani, Prada, Gucci or Alberta Ferretti and more.

At Dolce & Gabbana, it wasn't just supermodel Naomi Campbell on the catwalk and Eva Mendes in the front row supplying the wow factor, but a series of chic, skin-bearing looks -- all in black and inspired by the classic tuxedo.

The design duo devoted nearly their entire collection to the trend. Inky-black transparent silk skirts came tied at the hip or front and were paired with Bolero-style tuxedo jackets, while sheer black blouses were set off with satin belts and fringed with feathers.

Especially daring were dresses made from fishnet, revealing black hot pants and triangle bras underneath.

Giorgio Armani provided a softer, gentler version, with sheer baby blue blouses in silk knotted at the neck peppering the Japan-influenced collection, some with printed floral motifs.

A hot pink robe -- an uncharacteristic burst of colour from the master of muted tones -- was a boudoir look ready for the nightclub, transparent but with embroidered flowers near the hem.

At Tom Ford, a stunning long sheath in grape may have fully encased the body with long sleeves and a high turtleneck, but it was entirely sheer, with just bikini bottoms peeking from beneath.

- Faux Fur -

The ethical debate over the use of fur continues, as day one of the shows was marked by the storming of the Fendi catwalk by a protester, while animal rights groups similarly targeted Max Mara in an ongoing campaign.

But designers have shown the possibilities for fake 'faux' fur to be endless -- with furry synthetics making appearances throughout the week at brands as diverse as Prada and Diesel, Emporio Armani and Marni.

Marni's show was held inside a paper mache cave, so it was only fitting that its fake fur had a Flintstones feel.

Attended by Ye, the former Kanye West, and his wife Bianca Censori in a barely-there leather outfit, the show offered up a collection infused with leopard print and other faux versions of prehistoric prey.

Coats were short but oversized with long, sloth-like sleeves, while furry black stoles were in abundance.

At Diesel, fuzzy looks -- somewhere between furry and woolly -- were worthy of Star Wars' Chewbacca, while at Emporio Armani short furry jackets in black and red, or navy and sea green, were elegantly tipped with grey.

Prada opted for maximum contrast, adding faux sable to the necklines, hems and shoulders of feminine white dresses, while purple, chestnut and royal blue fake fur decorated oversized naval captain hats.

- Cable Knits/Ribbing -

Cable knits and ribbed sweaters and dresses were everywhere on the Milan runways, imparting cozy glamour to their wearers.

At Max Mara, a form-hugging cable knit grey dress enclosed the lithe model within, the pattern knit at a diagonal to better follow her curves.

Wide ribbed bands evoking Japanese obis on kimonos cinched the waists of pants or skirts, while oversized ribbed black sweaters were paired with long skirts, the only exposed skin revealed at the neck.

Fendi evoked British style in its knitwear, but there was nothing staid in the collection, with capes jauntily tossed over one shoulder, or shrug-like sweaters worn over jackets that covered the neck and arms but not the torso.

The debut of Argentine designer Adrian Appiolaza at Moschino offered up an oversized cable knit camel sweater and pearls -- a classic concept subverted by the addition of an asymmetrical red ruffled skirt over grey slacks.

- Mustard to Moss Green -

Although the warm autumnal shades of mustard and moss green have been seen before in seasons past, they continue to have traction.

Roberto Cavalli designer Fausto Puglisi chose a mustardy yellow for the marble-inspired fabric stitching his creations, while a brighter tone popped from a satin strapless gown at Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini.

Gucci chose mustard for a roomy sweater jacket with a plunging neckline while opting for moss green for hot pants with a matching long leather coat.

At Alberta Ferretti, the green shade imbued a luxurious wool overcoat and matching shawl, and was seen on a long satin slip dress with a lace bodice.

A belted coat with generous lapels and a thick plush vertical border was seen in soft moss at Fendi, where designer Kim Jones teased the colour into other garments and accessories, including over-the-knee leather boots and arm warmers.

ams/yad
Record rainstorms have hit California's Death Valley National Park, replenishing Lake Manly.

The amount of rain in Death Valley in the last six months is more than double a typical year.

The "uncommon" phenomenon prompted tourists to paddle board and frolic in the lake.

Heavy rainfall created a temporary lake in Death Valley National Park, one of Earth's driest locations, prompting travelers to take a potentially once-in-a-lifetime swim.

The unexpected phenomenon began earlier this week at Death Valley's Badwater Basin after recent rainstorms battered California.

Located 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is North America's lowest point. It used to be the site of Lake Manly before it evaporated tens of thousands of years ago, according to the National Park Services.

Tourists wading through Death Valley's temporary lake. Ty ONeil/Associated Press

Park Ranger Nichole Andler told the Associated Press that Badwater Basin is typically "a very beautiful, bright white salt flat," but the recent water created a new landscape. The rainfall over the past six months in Badwater Basin is more than double the typical amount accumulated during an entire year, AP reported.

"So it's going to collect water, but to have as much water as we have now  and for it to be as deep and lasting as long as it has  this is extremely uncommon," Andler told the outlet.

A family at Death Valley's new old lake. DAVID SWANSON/Getty Images

Andler estimated the lake would probably last until April. "If we're lucky, May. And then it'll be a muddy, wet mess, and then it'll dry out into those gorgeous white salt flats," she said.

The rare temporary lake has attracted hundreds of curious tourists, including Heather and Bob Gang. The couple told the AP that most people waded into the water on Thursday, but they and a group of others paddled.

Tourists paddle boarding and wading in Death Valley's temporary lake. Ty ONeil/Associated Press

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kayak Lake Manley," Heather Gang said.

The lake is more than fun, however, according to scientists.

Guo Yu, Desert Research Institute's assistant research professor of hydrometeorology, called the lake's size a "simple natural phenomenon" and suggested scientists should study if the water in Lake Manly could be utilized in other ways moving forward.

Two tourists sit beside Death Valley's temporary lake. DAVID SWANSON/Getty Images

Desert Research Institute's associate research scientist, Tiffany Pereira, added that the additional water could provide a boost to the flora and fauna in the area.

The recent rainfall in Southern California has had other unintended consequences across the state. In addition to life-threatening floods, locals have also encountered mudslides and landslides. Earlier this month, photos showed three multimillion-dollar mansions sitting on the edge of an eroded cliff after a storm.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Leeks grow in a field in West Flanders, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. After hundreds of tractors disrupted an EU summit in Brussels in early February, farmers plan to return on Monday to be there when farm ministers discuss an emergency item on the agenda; simplification of agricultural rules that some fear could also amount go a weakening of standards. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

WESTROZEBEKE, Belgium (AP)  It was the puddles of green sludge left by the tires of massive tractors in western Belgiums industrial farmlands that drew the attention of biological engineer Ineke Maes.

The slime was destructive algae, the result of the excess of chemicals used by farmers to boost their crops, but at a high cost to nature. Maes had hoped the European Unions environmental policies would start to make a fundamental difference by improving exhausted soils.

In recent weeks, some of those tractors moved off the land and onto the roads, blocking major cities and economic lifelines from Warsaw to Madrid and from Athens to Brussels. Farmers were demanding the reversal of some of the most progressive measures in the world to counter climate change and protect biodiversity, arguing that the rules were harming their livelihoods and strangling them with red tape.

And the impact has been stunning.

The farmers' protests affected the daily lives of people across the 27-nation bloc, costing businesses tens of millions of euros in transportation delays. The disruption triggered knee jerk reactions from politicians at national and EU level: they committed to rolling back policies, some of them years in the making, on everything from the use of pesticides to limiting the amount of manure that could be spread on fields.

To environmentalists like Maes, who works for the Belgian Better Environment Federation umbrella group, it would almost be laughable if it were not so depressing.

In the environmental movement, we joke that we should get tractors ourselves to make a point. Then we would be competing fair and square. The purpose should be that we get negotiations, and that we get a deal through democratic process  the rules, you know," she said. Reasoned arguments, she says, have been drowned out by the rumble of tractor engines.

And there's no end in sight.

After hundreds of tractors disrupted the EU summit in Brussels early this month at a volume that kept some leaders awake at night, farmers plan to return on Monday. They intend to be there when agriculture ministers discuss an emergency item on the agenda  the simplification of agricultural rules and a decrease in checks at farms that environmentalists fear could amount to a further weakening of standards.

The political noise level from the tractors  not to mention the loads of manure dumped outside official buildings  does get through, officials said. That puts a bit more pressure on the ministers inside. So I would believe that ministers will be a bit more  insisting to have concrete results, said a high-level EU official, who asked not to be identified because the meeting has yet to take place.

It is this attitude that drives the environmental lobby and NGOs to distraction: knowing that scientific arguments are too often no match for the rule of the street. As a result, the EU's flagship Green Deal, that aims to make the continent carbon-neutral by 2050, is under threat.

You really should not lose that long-term view, that vision of the future when you are working on policy, said Maes. You should not respond to the issues of the day by simply scrapping very important rules that have been seriously discussed, considered, that have been included in environmental impact reports and so on  and that have also been democratically approved in that way.

Yet ahead of Monday's farm protest and meeting of agriculture ministers, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for many the most powerful EU politician, insisted that she remains fully committed to delivering solutions to ease the pressure currently felt by our hard-working farming women and men.

Von der Leyen's change in emphasis comes ahead of the June 6-9 elections, when a good showing by her Christian Democrat group, the European People's Party, will be key to keeping her at the helm of the all-powerful Commission. As her party has swayed toward putting farmers and industry first, so has she.

It is a bit difficult putting a pin on Mrs. von der Leyen, said Jutta Paulus, a Green member of the European Parliament. "She started off in 2019 being a climate and environment champion, more or less saying, We dont need the Greens anymore, we are green ourselves. And now she says: Well industry called me and they are worried. So I have to do something.

In the wake of the tractor protests, action came fast and furious.

Early this month, von der Leyen's Commission shelved an important anti-pesticide proposal, insisting a different approach is needed. She also allowed farmers to continue using some land they had been required to keep fallow to promote biodiversity. And the proposals on the table for Monday's meeting about simplifying paperwork go in the same direction.

At the same time, a nature restoration law which was seen as another element in the Green Deal aspiration has already been watered down to appease farmers before it goes to a final legislative vote next Tuesday.

And at a national level, politicians have been bending the same way, from France to Spain and Belgium.

Flanders, in northern Belgium, has already relaxed its policy on the use of manure which was intended to limit emissions of nitrates that can harm water quality. Under pressure from multinational food manufacturers, whose processing plants dwarf even the biggest family farms in western Belgium, farmers are likely to stick with the industrial methods that exhaust soils and pollute waterways, Maes fears.

It is mind-boggling that this whole process is now grinding to a halt, she said.
The following is a transcript of an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that aired on Feb. 25, 2024.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to the crisis in the Middle East and the war between Israel and Hamas. Joining us from Tel Aviv is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Welcome back to "Face The Nation", sir.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Thank you. Good to be with you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Prime Minister, the US is working on a hostage deal that President Biden has said would bring with it at least six weeks of calm. The intelligence chiefs met on Friday. Are we close to a deal?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Well, I'm not sure the exact duration, but I can tell you that we're all working on it. We want it, I want it. Because we want to liberate the remaining hostages, we've already brought half of them back. And I appreciate the effort, the combined effort of Israel, the United States, to bring back the remaining hostages. I can't tell you if we'll have it. But if Hamas goes down from its delusional claims and goes down- can bring them down to earth, then we'll have the progress that we all want.

MARGARET BRENNAN: What specifically is holding up the deal at this point? It- reportedly, this would have 30 to 40 hostages, women, elderly, wounded, released in exchange for a few hundred Palestinian prisoners being released.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:I don't think it makes any sense to have a public discussion of this. But Hamas started out with just crazy demands. And, you know, it's- it's too soon to say if they're- if they've abandoned them, but if they do abandon them and get into what you call the ballpark, they're not even in the city. They're in another planet. But if they come down to a- a reasonable situation, then yes, we'll have a hostage deal. I hope so.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There are at least six U.S. citizens among those being held by Hamas. For you, is the return of living hostages necessary and essential for you to declare victory in this war?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:Yes, we set- I've set three war goals. The first is to release the hostages. The second is to destroy Hamas. And the third is to ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future. And obviously, the three are intertwined. They, they're achieved, basically by our very effective and often heroic military operation. And also by tough negotiations, we're combining the two and I hope it- it yields a result, but understand that unless we have total victory, we can't have peace. We can't leave Hamas in place. We can't leave a quarter of Hamas battalions in Rafah and say, well, that's- that's fine, they'll be there. It's like saying a quarter of ISIS will be left and with a defined territory, because you know, they will reconstitute themselves immediately. So total victory is important to achieve the war goal of destroying Hamas, releasing the hostages, and ensuring that Gaza doesn't pose a threat. But I think also is essential for any future peaceful Middle East.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure but on the issue of

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: and the defeat of the Iran terror axis.

MARGARET BRENNAN: On the issue of the hostages, as you know, time is of the essence here. So if this deal happens, and there are six weeks of calm that go with it, does that provide an opening to end this war? Or will you still go into southern Gaza, into Rafah regardless?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Yeah, well, victory is within reach, and you can't have victory until you eliminate Hamas.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How within reach?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Hamas is a terrorist organization that- once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion, not months, weeks away from completion. And that is- we've already destroyed 18 of the 24 Hamas terrorist battalions. So we- we have and four of them are concentrated in the Rafah. We can't leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it, obviously, we have to do it. But understand, too, that I've asked the army to submit to me a double plan, first to evacuate to enable the evacuation of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and, obviously, second, to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions. That gets us a real, real distance towards the completion of our victory, and that- we're not going to give it up. If we have a deal, it'll be delayed somewhat. But it'll happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway. It has to be done. Because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. Not months away, weeks away once we begin the operation.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the White House says they need to see a credible and executable plan to protect civilians and the 1.4 million people who are sheltering in southern Gaza. This morning, the White House says they still have not seen such a plan, and no major military operation should proceed without it. Have you approved the plans that you've said you've asked for?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Actually, Margaret, I'm going from here to a meeting with the General Staff where they're going to show me this dual plan.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: A plan to evacuate, and a plan to dismantle those remaining battalions. So yes, we by the way we agree on this. I mean, we don't have to be (indistinguishable). We're on the same page with the U.S. on this, because that's how we do it. The reason you have that population in Rafah is because we actually cleared them away from the other places, the zones, combat zones that we had, that's why they're there. So now there's room for them to go north of Rafah, to the places that we've already finished fighting in.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That's where you're gonna move

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: that's basically what we're gonna do

MARGARET BRENNAN: That's the plan?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Yes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: To move 1.4 million people into northern Gaza? Can you guarantee that the IDF will not push

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I didn't say northern Gaza, I said

MARGARET BRENNAN: will not sorry. Go ahead.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I said north of Rafah.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I said north of Rafah. In the northern part of the Gaza Strip, we still have fighting going on.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: But we- we are that is important. It's important to understand, moving civilians out of an area that is going to be a combat zone is not a bad thing. It's a good thing.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: And that's what Israel is going to do.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood but the IDF, can you guarantee that they won't push Palestinians out of Gaza and into Egypt? As you know, Egyptian officials have said, if you do that, you are putting at risk 46 years of peace.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Look, I think that the Egyptians know very well, that that's not our purpose. And that won't be the result. And we're coordinating. We're talking to the Egyptians all the time. So that's not, I don't think that's an issue. The peace between Israel and Egypt to serve the interests of both countries, and will continue to serve the interests of both countries, I don't think it's in any danger.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You said that victory is with reach within reach. But U.S. Intel says the IDF has only destroyed 30% of Hamas leadership, and that the amount of tunnels that Hamas uses have really only been tiny in terms of what has been destroyed by the IDF.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There is growing distrust

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Well

MARGARET BRENNAN: of you personally, sir, you know this, in the U.S. Congress and within the Biden White House. When your closest ally is telling you things like this, and telling you that you need to reconsider a strategy, isn't it worth considering?

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Look, I- I think that the U.S. is- agrees with us on the goal of destroying Hamas--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: And on the goal of releasing the hostages. The decisions of how to do that are left with us, and with me and the elected cabinet of Israel. And we're doing that. A lot of things that the U- that we were told by the best of friends initially, turned out not to be true. They said you can't enter the- the ground war without having enormous complications. They said you cannot fight, you can't enter Gaza City, you can't go into the tunnels, it will be a terrible bloodbath. All of that turned out to be not true. Our soldiers are in the tunnel network. We don't have to take apart hundreds of kilometers of tunnels, we are taking apart the missile production factories that are underground, the command and control headquarters, the computers that are there, the money that is there, the weapons that are there, and the ammos that- that is there. We're doing that methodically. So we're- we're doing the war- you can't substitute for the Israeli military command. And we're doing it very responsibly. The- John Spencer, who's the head of urban warfare at West Point, says that no other army has gone to the lengths that Israel's army has gone to clear civilians out of harm's way, even though Hamas--

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure--

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: --is doing everything to keep them in harm's way. We respect our American--

(END CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, but the former head of Central Command was on this program just a few weeks ago and said, basically, you have not articulated any specific end game here. So- but putting that aside, I want to come back to a few different things you said--

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Wait- wait- wait a minute Margaret, Margaret, hold on, you- you lob these- these grenades at me and you keep on moving. Well, first of all, you say, there's no confidence me? Well, the Israeli public has confidence in me. Last week--

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: There were massive protests throughout Israel yesterday.

(END CROSSTALK)

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: The Knesset voted overwhelmingly- of course, we have protests. We- we have protests, Israel is a democracy that protests for 30 years. But the Israeli people are united as never before. Last week, they voted 99 to nine in the Knesset for my proposal that says that the way- that we have to do two things, we have to win the war, have total victory, but also not have an international dictate of a Palestinian state on it- shoved down our throats that would endanger Israel, but people are overwhelmingly united on this. When is the last time we had 99 votes in the Knesset?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I'll tell you, 30 years ago.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: So the people are united. The policy is right, the people support it. And I intend to take it to completion because that's what we have. We can't compromise with total victory, because I'll tell you, we can't win the peace if we don't win the war, and we will win this war.

MARGARET BRENNAN: One of the members of the Knesset, the former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he asked the Americans about what you just said about a unilateral declaration of recognition Palestinian state and he said, "You invented a threat that doesn't exist. . . There is not one official in the world that suggested unilateral recognition of the Palestinians." So, putting that aside, I want to--

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Well, actually, the foreign-- actually, the foreign secretary of Britain just spoke about it. There have been many--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, this was the U.S.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I hope that's true.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: We've heard- we've heard a lot of briefings coming from- from the U.S. to that effect. So I hope it's true. And if it's true, then- then that will reinforce the decision made by the government- by the people of Israel, through their elected representative. And by the way, if people try to foist it on us, it will be a terrible mistake, because it would be seen as a reward for terror, after the most atrocious attack committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. So- people of Israel are not going to buy it. And- and if you want peace, you shouldn't go that route. Peace will be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties down the line, I don't think the Palestinians are ready for it. But when they are, that's the way it will be achieved, not by international fiat.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to come back to something you said where you were raising questions about US intelligence and advice to you from the Biden administration, where you said it was wrong. You also said there was no bloodbath--

9:16:21

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I didn't say it was wrong, I said- I said some good friends gave us advice. It turned out to be that we performed a lot better than they anticipated. And by the way, we performed a lot better than we anticipated.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, on the no bloodbath, Doctors Without Borders went to the UN this week and said the civilian toll in Gaza is so high, they came up with a new term: wounded child, no surviving family. Save the Children says there are over 1000 children who have lost a limb over these past days since the beginning of the October 7 war. What Hamas has done is horrific. But President Biden has said your actions, Sir, are are "over the top." Aren't you concerned that Israel is creating more terrorists than it is killing?

9:17:13

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I- I think that any civilian casualty is a tragedy. And I don't say that halfheartedly. I lost a brother in war, I myself was wounded while releasing hostages from a kidnap- from a hijacked plane. I've lost friends in battle. I- I know what it means to lose friends and what it means to lose family members. So I- we don't have an argument there. But this war has been forced upon us by a cynical enemy that not only targets our civilians, has raped, beheaded, burnt babies alive, killed children in front of their parents and parents in front of their children. This enemy not only targets civilians, but hides behind civilians, Palestinian civilians, so they're committing a double war crime. I have to come back and say that in terms of the- the way this battle is fought, there is no parallel to the difficulty that we face. And John Spencer, the head of urban warfare at West Point, says that no other army has faced such a task. He- he gives one comparison--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, that's not the question I asked, though.

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: --he gives Mosul as a comparison. Well, it is, but it- that's the answer. You can't say, oh, you- you give immunity to the terrorists because they're hiding amongst civilians and forcing civilians not to leave. So what do you do? You say, okay, we'll give you immunity? Hamas survives, will live to fight another- to commit another massacre and another massacre? What would America do? What would America do, Margaret, if you faced the equivalent of 20 9/11s, 50,000 Americans slaughtered in one day, 10,000 Americans, including mothers and children held hostage? Would you not be doing what Israel is doing? You'd be doing a hell of a lot more. And all Americans that I talk to, nearly all, say that. So Israel has gone to extraordinary lengths, calling up people, civilians, Palestinians in Gaza, telling them leave your home, sending pamphlets, we have done that effort, Hamas tries to keep them at gunpoint, we'll clear them out of harm's way, we'll complete the job and achieve total victory, which is necessary to give a secure future for Israel, a better future for Gaza, a better future for the Middle East, and a setback for the Iran terror axis. That's in all our interests. It's in America's interest too.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Prime Minister, I'm told we are out of time. "Face the Nation" will be back in one minute. We hope you'll stay with us.

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Open: This is "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Feb. 25, 2024
The following is a transcript of an interview with Rep. Debbie Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, that aired on Feb. 25, 2024.

MARGARET BRENNAN: President Biden's refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza has been a source of considerable controversy in Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday. The state has a significant Arab and Muslim population. A good number are Democrats. Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell joins us now from Southfield, Michigan. Welcome back to Face the Nation.

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL: Good morning, Margaret. Good to be with you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman I know there is this protest effort underway to vote "uncommitted" among some Democrats to voice upset with the president. Will this damage him in a significant way?

DINGELL: So I wanna say to, I know many of this community, I've lived in Dearborn for many years with my husband, and there are two campaigns. One is an abandon Biden campaign, but the other, the major campaign that has made over a hundred thousand calls, we'll see how many people vote on Tuesday, are trying to make sure the president hears them. They have so many family in Gaza. I cannot tell you how many people I know who have lost grandparents, some parents, aunts and uncles and cousins, families who have lost 20 or 40 members. I- the case work that I'm doing, the people- I don't sleep at night. When you talk to them about how they don't have food, how they don't have any access to healthcare, they're drinking salt water, and almost out of salt water, which isn't healthy, the sanitary conditions on the ground. There's- I mean, one woman, the aunt of somebody, goes to the bathroom once a day. There- a month ago, there was one toilet for every 220 people, one shower for every 15,000 people. It's a nightmare. And they're scared for their families and they're worried. But I also- when we get a ceasefire, they need this ceasefire, then we sit down and, and, and talk. And there are a lot of things that Donald Trump have done who are pretty- which are pretty horrific, and when you go back and review them, we're gonna have to remind people of what he said.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I understand. And the nuance of what you are saying there, that this is not political, this is personal for a lot of people. On- on that note, we just heard from the Israeli Prime Minister that he is going into southern Gaza whether President Biden likes it or not. You said you're working to help some of your constituents without family. Do you think the United States is doing enough to get Americans or families of Americans out of harm's way?

DINGELL: So I'm gonna first say that none of us know what's going on in all of these negotiations. We know that Bill Burns was over in- the director of the CIA was in Paris. I know members of the National Security Council have been there and I know that the President has directly told the prime minister that he is very concerned and he needs to be very careful. People need to understand that- what is going on in Rafah right now. The population of Gaza is approximately 2.2 million people. 1.5 million of them have been forced into Rafah. We've already lost somewhere- you know, we can argue about the numbers, nobody denies that 12,000 children have already died. You just heard the- during that interview that the Doctors Without Borders have talked about 1,000, uh, children who have lost limbs, the number of children that don't have families, it would be outrageous for further innocent civilians to be killed. I know that the White House is working very closely with a number of other countries to make it clear that we cannot continue this loss of life. And I- I continue to talk to the white house every day, tell them how important it is. And they assure me that the President is very engaged in delivering very direct messages.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But he has not rhetorically called for a ceasefire.

DINGELL: They- he has, in private conversations say he is working towards a temporary ceasefire. You know, I know we need a cease fire, temporary ceasefire. If you get the six week cease fire, then hopefully leads to- we also need the, we need the hostages to be returned--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.

DINGELL: There's people hurting on both sides. I think that that's--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah. I wanna talk to you more. I just have to take a commercial break. So let- stick with me, if you would, Congresswoman. We'll be back with more.

(BREAK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face the Nation. We continue our conversation now with Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Congresswoman, you've been very clear, the humanitarian side of this conflict, in terms of the political impact, was it a mistake for President Biden, when he went to Michigan, not to meet with any members from this particular community?

DINGELL: Look, I- I do believe that he is going to need to do that at some point down the road. This community is pretty angry right now. Uh, look, I get protested. I had a town hall meeting this week and a number of people- and I think I've been one of the people that has been the most em- empathetic and has been working this issue really hard. I think he sent his team out. What- when he sent many of his team out, they developed relationships or connected with people that, from both sides, I've heard that they've got ongoing conversations. And that's gotta continue. I mean, this is really- look, Michigan's a purple state.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

DINGELL: I wanna make that clear. It's been a purple state, as long as I've been doing presidential elections. This is a very important issue here, but there are gonna be other issues too. This state's gonna be purple from now until November. And I'll tell you one more thing, because I am the person that fought 30 years to have a state like Michigan as one of the early primaries. I wanna be talking about this issue now in February, 'cause it will matter in November, and not on October 15th, which has happened too many times in previous presidential elections. That issues that matter in November, aren't talked early.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Is the concern about reproductive healthcare access enough to cancel out these negative headwinds?

DINGELL: Look, we- Michigan had a- unprecedented turn out two years ago when the issue was on the ballot. I- I'm gonna tell- I'm gonna be blunt. You know me, I am. We gotta get young people, we gotta get women and we gotta go in the union halls. And it's great that we've got the union presidents and the union organizations endorsing, but we've gotta go in those union halls and draw the comparison. Remind people about what Donald Trump did and didn't do, he talked, didn't deliver, and about what Joe Biden has delivered on. Women turning out is gonna be absolutely critical. And they thought that when they voted on this, on the ballot last year, they were safe. And now we've seen what the Alabama court has done in terms of IVF. Now the Republicans are scared to death and all running out and saying they support IVF. You know what? They've never been someone who's tried to get pregnant. They've never had to live through all of this. And I think a lot of women are going to be very emotional about their- women's health decisions should be made between them, their doctor, their faith, and their family and the federal government's got no business in it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman and dangle. Thank you--

DINGELL: --And state government.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you for being direct, as you said.

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Full interview: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on "Face the Nation," Feb. 25, 2024
The following is a transcript of an interview with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican of Pennsylvania, and Jared Golden, Democrat of Maine, that aired on Feb. 25, 2024.



MARGARET BRENNAN : -- And pick up another one, with Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrat Jared Golden, two congressmen who have proposed an alternative to the foreign aid bill that passed the Senate and was declared by the Speaker of the House to be dead on arrival. Do you have any confidence that there's a way to get Republican leadership to move on this?

REP. BRIAN FITZPATRICK: I do. We have a bipartisan bill. It's the only one in the House. And as of Friday, we have filed with the clerk, expedited consideration. Normally, any kind of discharge like that would take 30 days to be considered right, we figured out a way with a parliamentarian to expedite that to a seven-day period.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Just to be clear, this is to go around the Speaker of the House who has refused to put a bill on the floor?

REP. FITZPATRICK: Well it's--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Or forcing him to consider--

REP. FITZPATRICK: -- It's- it's just a way to get a mechanism to get a bill to the floor. And just to be clear about what we're trying to accomplish here. This is time sensitive, it's existential. I just got back from Ukraine. Avdiivka fell in the past seven days. We lost Laken Riley in the past seven days. And in the past seven days, 200 families had to bury their kids because of fentanyl. So what our bill does is it combines border security with this foreign aid, both existential. And we are forcing this bill to the floor to make sure that everybody acts because as President Zelensky said, they have weeks and not months to get reinforcements on the frontlines.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So you are trying to create an alternative to the bill that's about 60 billion- yours is about 49 or so billion. Congressman Golden- Golden here, one of the things that's not in this bill, though, is humanitarian aid for Israel and for Ukraine. That's a non-starter for a lot of Democrats. And you have a Remain in Mexico border security policy here that forces migrants to wait outside the US while their asylum claim is processed. How are you going to get fellow Democrats to get on board with this?

REP. GOLDEN: Well, I think that the most important thing to remember here is that the votes are there to support Ukraine and our other allies, Israel, Taiwan. And I think that the votes are there on border security as well. You know, the Senate started with a bill, they had to boil it down to whatever could get 60 votes. The House needs to go through a very similar process. Brian and I are actually talking about having a more open debate on the House floor. Amendments should be in order, we need to find a way to get a deal that gets us to 218. I think a deal like that has to grow out of the middle, and is unlikely to begin with a one-party solution.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So are you saying within that then, if your bill is up for consideration, amendments, like adding in things like humanitarian aid are possible?

REP. GOLDEN: Potentially, yes. Although I think that we also have to set priorities. So at the end of the day, what are the most important crises that we have to deal within the here and now in the very short term, and I would say that that would be securing our border, and also helping avoid battlefield catastrophes in Ukraine.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Fitzpatrick, in choosing to go this route, it is defying the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who has said that, you know, he- I mean, he- he said the initial Senate Bill was dead on arrival here. But then he is also seemingly speaking to the Democratic Leader in the House. Are you concerned that you might be undercutting the opportunity to get that bigger package ultimately passed? Or is it indeed, so dead on arrival, you need this backup plan?

REP. FITZPATRICK: I don't think we're short circuiting anything, we are adding a pressure point to make sure this gets done because we cannot afford to wait here. And, you know, if the Senate bill were to make it to the floor, it would have, you know, a lot of Republican votes--

MARGARET BRENNAN: -- you would vote for it?

REP. FITZPATRICK: I would. If our bill gets to the floor, it will also have a lot of votes. I mean, Jared can- can reflect the Democratic caucus perspective, but we think, you know, super, you know, a super majority, I think, two thirds of the House would support this. It is open to amendments. So our bare bones language was just a vehicle to get to the floor. But what we're trying to do is to make sure that we do not waste another day, because these are, I mean- Ukraine is in dire straits right now. And that's what I wanted to do. That's why we're doing this. This is actually to complement all the other conversations going on and a potential compromise that might ensue.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Does the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries support what you're doing?

REP. GOLDEN: You know, they currently are pushing for the Senate Bill. Obviously, they have a discharge petition. What I would say is that the discharge petition doesn't have any Republican support. What we have now is a bill with a discharge petition that is led by a Republican,

MARGARET BRENNAN: This is just the procedural way to bypass leadership to get a vote.

REP. GOLDEN: Correct. That's right.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But you're not concerned, to borrow your phrase, that you're short circuiting the bigger package.

REP. GOLDEN: My concern is, what is it going to take to get a bill to the floor that can enable the House of Representatives to take action on two key priorities. One, how do we get our own border under control. Two, how do we support our allies in their existential fights in Ukraine and in Israel.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So we're also up against the deadline of this potential partial government shutdown, March 1. What is the timeline for what you're trying to do and isn't the priority number one, keeping the lights on?

REP. FITZPATRICK: Absolutely. And maybe we hit you right on the CR with this, right? I mean, hopefully we can think--

MARGARET BRENNAN: -- Something this big, you think?

REP. FITZPATRICK: Yeah, this is not very big. This is I mean, this is--

MARGARET BRENNAN: -- Fifty billion?

REP. FITZPATRICK: This is a pared down. But well, it's military aid, which by the way, 80% of which gets spent inside the United States. That's a big misnomer that's being perpetuated. You either believe that what we're doing for Ukraine, Israel, and- and Taiwan, is an act of charity or you believe it's an act of global security. We believe it's an act of global security. That's an investment. 80% of that money gets spent inside the United States modernizing our own military in a way that we weren't prepared to do before.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Patrick McHenry was with my colleague here on CBS just the other day, and he said, "you can either die a speaker and worry about them taking you out or live every day as your last." He's trying to prod the Speaker of the House to be more decisive, is your action a sign that you also think Speaker Johnson needs to be more decisive?

REP. FITZPATRICK: I think Mike's in a tough political spot right now and needs all the help he can get from all of his allies in the House. So this is a mechanism--

MARGARET BRENNAN: -- Because he could be ousted.

REP. FITZPATRICK: That's always a risk. I mean, anytime you have a one person motion to vacate, which by the way is never going to happen ever again. We're not going to buy that line ever again. Because you see how it's manifested on the floor this cycle. It's basically created gridlock. We will never ever agree to that ever again. But we got to get through this cycle. We have time sensitive existential challenges right now. Ukraine is weeks away from giving up significant ground, and we cannot allow Russia to win. So what we're doing is adding an additional pressure point to get a bill to the floor that has bipartisan support in the House. My conversations with my Senate colleagues, any bill that comes out of the House with bipartisan support, in all likelihood will emerge out of the Senate.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Even though this would not be what the Senate has already approved.

REP. FITZPATRICK: What we're going to open up to amendments, we're- our- our vehicle is bare bones. It's going to be open up to amendments and let the House work as well.

REP. GOLDEN: And it's important to point out that the Senate would likely take up something that passes the House with a bipartisan vote.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We will watch this important move and we'll talk more about Ukraine ahead in the program. We'll be right back.

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Full interview: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on "Face the Nation," Feb. 25, 2024
Public transport will be running as normal this week

A 72-hour strike by bus and train workers in Northern Ireland, planned for later this week, has been suspended.

The Unite, GMB and Siptu unions had notified Translink that they would take the action on 27, 28 and 29 February.

However, following talks on Sunday the unions said there had been an improved pay offer from Translink.

The three public transport unions said they will now ballot their membership on the new offer.

In a statement, they said: "Pay negotiations between the transport unions and Translink management were reconvened today [Sunday] following the rejection of an initial pay offer by management on Thursday [22 February].

"Following the receipt of an improved pay offer for all Translink employees workforce reps suspended the planned 72-hour strike action set for 00:01 on Tuesday (27 February)."

It is understood it could be later in the week before the outcome of the ballot of workers is known.

Union representative Peter Macklin said he was "encouraged" by the offer

Peter Macklin, GMB regional organiser, described the offer as "satisfactory and enough for us to suspend the strike action".

However, he would not give any further details of the pay offer before it could be communicated to union reps and members.

"We are encouraged by [the offer], but ultimately the members will have their say," he said.

Mr Macklin said the offer would go to GMB members with no recommendation to vote either for, or against.

Public sector pay dispute

He said he hoped to get ballots out to members this week.

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd welcomed the suspension of the strikes, describing it as a "positive development".

Mr O'Dowd said he wanted to thank the unions and Translink management for their "determination to find a resolution to this dispute".

The minister said that resolving public sector pay quickly "has been a key priority" for the new executive.

Transport was one of the sectors affected by a huge public sector strike in January

The British government is expected to release a 3.3bn package now that power sharing has been restored at Stormont, about 580m of which is to settle public-sector pay claims.

On 18 January, 16 trade unions and tens of thousands of public sector workers took part in one of Northern Ireland's largest strikes, affecting many sectors including transport and health.

Public transport workers in Northern Ireland cancelled a strike that would have brought bus and rail services to a halt on 15 February.

That was to give political leaders space to make an improved pay offer, unions said.


UP STF makes first arrest in police recruitment paper leak case The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, which is probing the police recruitment paper leak case, has made its first arrest in the case. The STF, on Sunday, arrested one Neeraj Yadav who had sent the answers to aspirants on WhatsApp. Yadav belongs to Ballia.



Neeraj, according to officials, was sent the answers from another accused in Mathura. STF officials said that they had started zeroing in on the second accused too.



It may be recalled that on Saturday, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered cancellation of the police recruitment examination "to maintain sanctity of screening exercise" and directed the Special Task Force to probe threadbare all allegations of paper leak.



He had tasked officials with conducting the re-exam within the next six months besides ferrying candidates to the examination centres free of cost using special UPSRTC buses. He also ordered a probe into complaints of irregularities in recruitment exams for Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer.



Of the 50 lakh applicants, over 43 lakh candidates had appeared in four shifts of the exam held across two days for over 60,400 posts of constables in UP Police.



In all, over six lakh students from outside the state took the exam that was held on February 17 and 18.



An FIR was registered on Friday following protests by candidates in Lucknow and some other places alleging paper leak.



The chief minister, after a meeting with top officials, issued the cancellation order. "There can be no compromise with the sanctity of examinations. Those who play with the hard work of the youth will not be spared under any circumstances. Strictest action will follow against such unruly elements," the chief minister posted on X.



Following Yogi's directive, the home department issued an order to cancel the examination. "The recruitment board has been instructed to proactively pursue legal measures, including initiation of FIRs, in response to any instances of negligence," the order stated.




The claim that MPs from unrecognized Transnistria plan to appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Feb. 28 congress to join the Russian Federation has been debunked by Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) on Feb. 25.

The dissemination of information about purported intentions bears all the signs of a deliberately disinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region, the HUR said.

On Feb. 22, messages began to spread on the Internet that MPs of all levels during the congress on Feb. 28 in the capital of the unrecognized Transnistria may appeal to Russia with a request to accept Transnistria into the Russian Federation. In particular, this was stated by local oppositionist and activist Gennady Chorba.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is set to address the Federal Assembly in Moscow on Feb. 29 and could potentially announce his acceptance of the MPs request, Chorba said.

Read also:

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in one of its February summaries reported that the Kremlin is conducting information operations against Moldova, very similar to those Moscow used before the invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.

On Jan. 15, Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that in the spring of 2024, Russia would try again to destabilize the situation in the country.

In February 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian intelligence intercepted a Russian plan to destabilize the political situation in Moldova.

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
Ronald Nenner, who served in the Lakeland Police Department for 30 years, retiring in 1990 as police chief, died recently at 94.

LAKELAND  For 30 years, Ronald Nenner served as the City of Lakelands police chief and through more than three decades of service, he was known as a police chief who worked to bring security for Lakeland, its business owners and residents.

Nenners final call came Sunday. He died at 94 at the Lakeland home of his daughter, Wendy Adolphson, and son-in-law, Dr. Curits Adolphson of heart disease.

Nenner decided to become a police patrol officer with the Lakeland Police Department in 1960 at 30 years old, worked as a motorcycle patrol officer for 10 years and then spent the majority of his career as an investigator. He was lieutenant of the Criminal Investigation Unit and in 1982 appointed to captain of that division.

But although he retired from the Lakeland police force in 1990, his legacy as a law enforcement officer, police chief and a Lakeland resident known for mentorship and respect will remain. He began as the LPDs chief in April 1987.

A big part of Nenners career legacy comes from his duty as head of security for former President Jimmy Carters Oct. 31, 1980, campaign visit to Lakeland.

That day, after leaving Columbia, South Carolina, Carter landed at 11 a.m. at the Lakeland Municipal Airport. He was greeted by former Lakeland Mayor Carrie Oldham and then headed to what was then the Lakeland Civic Center, now the RP Funding Center, for a Jimmy Carter-Walter Mondale re-election campaign event.

During his visit, LPD Officer Edgar Pickett Jr. worked with the FBI and identified a local suspect in a possible threat to assassinate Carter. By 1:38 p.m., Carter and Mondale took off for Memphis, Tennessee.

As LPD police chief, Nenner oversaw the visit. But it wasnt just overseeing security for Carter and Mondales visit that stood out among Nenners duties as chief.

Frank OReilly, 89, who served as mayor when Nenner was on the police force, said the former police chief has an easy-going demeanor in his strict dedication to duty and was overall a good person.

OReilly was mayor in 1983, 1987 and from 1989 to 1993. He was a career accountant and was Lakelands first elected mayor in 1989. He also worked as a city commissioner for eight years.

From his home, OReilly said Nenners staff loved and respected him, and his legacy was in his ability to motivate and encourage his staff to make up a wonderful police force. He said the last time he saw Nenner was about four years ago when he brought dinners to Nenner's South Lakeland home as a volunteer with Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE).

He was really nice and a great chief of police, he said. He was a very, very fair, honest and very equal with his men and women; he treated all of them with respect.

Nenner oversaw the LPD with as many as 145 officers on staff. The department currently has about 260 sworn officers on duty, according to Stephanie Kerr, LPD public information officer.

'Lived the word of God': Community members remember Lakeland pastor Alex Harper

One of those currently with the LPD is Chief Sammy Taylor, who was hired by Nenner in February 1989. He said Nenner was one of the only chiefs hes known in his 35 years on the force that got promoted from captain directly to chief, skipping over duties as a major and assistant chief.

He said he last saw his former chief in 2016 when Nenners wife, Joy, died. He said Nenner's legacy was in his desire to help out younger and newer officers, particularly those in the detective division.

I have a special place in my heart for him. Anytime you can go with 25 years of service and walk out of here with a good name intact and good reputation, its great, Taylor said. He was kind of a quiet guy, but when he spoke, you paid attention.

Nenner was born to Bernard and Sophia Nenner in Long Island, New York and was the grandson of a rabbi. After high school and two years in the U.S. Navy, Nenner married Joy Thomann, his wife of 65 years, and they moved to Florida after selling the dry-cleaning plant and stores. He graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, on protection of US government leaders.

Nenner had a daughter, Wendy Adolphson (husband, Dr. Curtis Adolphson) of Lakeland and Clearwater; a grandson, Alex Adolphson of Gainesville; a son, Stephen Nenner (Rosemary) of Kingston, Tennessee, and granddaughters Katherine and Christine of Tennessee. He also has a sister, Elissa Silverberg of New York and nephews Jay and Roy Silverberg.

Services for Nenner are pending and will be announced.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Ronald Nenner, former Lakeland police chief, dies at 94
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump won the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina delivering a blow to rival Nikki Haley in her home state as the former president continues his sweep of the 2024 nominating contests.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Trumps victory, called immediately Saturday after polls closed, solidifies his path to the Republican nomination. He has sought to quickly wrap up the primary race as he faces a flurry of legal troubles and pivot to a rematch with President Joe Biden.

Trump led Haley by more than 20 percentage points with about 60% of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press. Still, Haley vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday on March 5, when more than a dozen US states hold primaries.

Trump is still short of the delegates needed, but his win over Haley in the state where she served as governor leaves him with an unobstructed path to the nomination.

Haley is Trumps last major challenger in a race that has seen the former president dominate every Republican primary contest, with commanding wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada ahead of South Carolina.

Trump took the stage in Columbia, South Carolina, shortly after the race was called, joined by daughter-in-law Lara Trump and other allies, including South Carolina US Senator Tim Scott, considered to be a potential running mate.

This was a little sooner than we anticipated, Trump said. An even bigger win than we anticipated.

Haleys Future

Haley is likely to face increased pressure to exit the race and questions about whether her impressive slate of donors will continue funding a longshot bid.

In a speech to supporters, Haley vowed to press on, citing support from about 40% of voters.

Im a woman of my word. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, she said.

Haley pointed to polls showing Americans have little appetite for a 2020 presidential rematch between the two men.

From the start of this campaign, I have made clear that Im running for president to save America, Haley said.

A quick end to the GOP primary would benefit Trump, who is facing four criminal cases  involving 91 felony counts  and multiple civil lawsuits. His court appearances are scheduled to ramp up this spring and threaten to keep him off the campaign trail.

The legal issues are also impacting his finances. Trumps political operation has spent more than $50 million on his defense and he owes hundreds of millions of dollars in court judgments.

Trump 2.0

A second Trump administration would mark a major policy shift in Washington. Trump has pledged a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, large tariffs hikes on imports, and domestic tax cuts. He has also floated abandoning NATO allies who dont keep up defense spending targets, sparking worries from European leaders.

Trump pressured lawmakers earlier this month to kill a bipartisan proposal that sought to address the migrant crisis on the US-Mexico border and unlock over $60 billion in Ukraine aid, urging them to hold out for a perfect deal on immigration.

He has sought to tighten his grip on the partys campaign apparatus, endorsing Lara Trump to help lead the Republican National Committee after publicly urging current chair, Ronna McDaniel, to step down. McDaniel has been in discussions to leave her role, according to people familiar.

Earlier: Trump Endorses His Daughter-in-Law as Co-Chair of the RNC

For Haley, the result is a humiliating defeat after she poured her campaigns resources into the state, spending significantly more time and money there than Trump.

She urged voters to turn the page from Trump, 77, and Biden, 81, to embrace leaders from a younger generation, and appealed to moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats to capitalize on South Carolinas open primary system.

The contest became increasingly acrimonious with Trump, who mocked Haley with derogatory nicknames and questioned why her husband, a National Guard member deployed to Africa, was not on the trail with her, as he sought to pressure her from the race.

Haley in turn questioned Trumps mental fitness after he confused her with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and telling voters that the former presidents policies and legal woes would ensure chaos if he were reelected.

The former UN ambassador broke with Trump on foreign policy, assailing him for threats to NATO members and for obstructing aid to Ukraine.

--With assistance from Gregory Korte and Alicia Diaz.

(Updates with Haley comments beginning in eighth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  Donald Trump won South Carolinas Republican primary on Saturday, beating former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in her home state and further consolidating his path to a third straight GOP nomination.

Trump has now swept every contest that counted for Republican delegates, with wins already in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The former presidents latest victory will likely increase pressure on Haley, who was Trumps former representative to the U.N. and South Carolina governor from 2011 to 2017, to leave the race.

A 2020 general rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden is becoming increasingly inevitable. Haley has vowed to stay in the race through at least the batch of primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday, but was unable to dent Trumps momentum in her home state despite holding far more campaign events and arguing that the indictments against Trump will hamstring him against Biden.

Trump confirms names on VP shortlist: Theyre all good, theyre all solid

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner as polls closed statewide at 7 p.m. The AP based its race call on an analysis of AP VoteCast, a comprehensive survey of Republican South Carolina primary voters. The survey confirms the findings of pre-Election Day polls showing Trump far outpacing Haley statewide.

South Carolinas first-in-the-South primary has historically been a reliable bellwether for Republicans. In all but one primary since 1980, the Republican winner in South Carolina has gone on to be the partys nominee. The lone exception was Newt Gingrich in 2012.

Haley said in recent days that she would head straight to Michigan for its Tuesday primary, the last major contest before Super Tuesday. She faces questions about where she might be able to win a contest or be competitive.

Trump and Biden are already behaving like they expect to face off in November.

Trump and his allies argue Biden has made the U.S. weaker and point to the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and Russias decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump has also repeatedly attacked Biden over high inflation earlier in the presidents term and his handling of record-high migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump has questioned  often in harshly personal terms  whether the 81-year-old Biden is too old to serve a second term. Bidens team in turn has highlighted the 77-year-old Trumps own flubs on the campaign trail.

Biden has stepped up his recent fundraising trips around the country and increasingly attacked Trump directly. Hes called Trump and his Make America Great Again movement dire threats to the nations founding principles, and the presidents reelection campaign has lately focused most of its attention on Trump suggesting hed use the first day of a second presidency as a dictator and that hed tell Russia to attack NATO allies who fail to keep up with defense spending obligations mandated by the alliance.

Haley also criticized Trump on his NATO comments and also for questioning why her husband wasnt on the campaign trail with her  even as former first lady Melania Trump hasnt appeared with him. Maj. Michael Haley is deployed in the Horn of Africa on a mission with the South Carolina Army National Guard.

Trumps lawyers call for dismissal of classified documents case, citing presidential immunity

But South Carolinas Republican voters line up with Trump on having lukewarm feelings about NATO and continued U.S. support for Ukraine, according to AP VoteCast data from Saturdays primary. About 6 in 10 oppose continuing aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Only about a third described Americas participation in NATO as very good, with more saying its only somewhat good.

Haley has raised copious amounts of campaign money and is scheduled to begin a cross-country campaign swing on Sunday in Michigan ahead of Super Tuesday on March 5, when many delegate-rich states hold primaries.

But its unclear how she can stop Trump from clinching enough delegates to become the partys presumptive nominee for the third time.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., complimented Haley while speaking to reporters at Trumps election night party in Columbia but suggested it was time for her to drop out.

I think the sooner she does, the better for her, the better for the party, Graham said.

Trumps political strength has endured despite facing 91 criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, the discovery of classified documents in his Florida residence and allegations that he secretly arranged payoffs to a porn actress.

The former presidents first criminal trial is set to begin on March 25 in New York, where he faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in the closing weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Biden won South Carolinas Democratic primary earlier this month and faces only one remaining challenger, Dean Phillips. The Minnesota Democratic congressman has continued to campaign in Michigan ahead of the Democratic primary there, despite having little chance of actually beating Biden.

Ohio eclipse map: Which cities will have the best view?

Though Biden is expected to cruise to his partys renomination, he faces criticism from some Democrats for providing military backing to Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Some in his party support a ceasefire as the death toll in Israels war has reached 30,000 people, two-thirds of them women and children. The war could hurt the presidents general election chances in swing states like Michigan, which is home to a large Arab American population.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Former President Donald Trump is increasingly casting himself as a martyr on the campaign trail as he finds himself facing more than 90 charges in various jurisdictions and court-imposed fines totaling more than $400 million, for misconduct that ranges from sexual assault to election meddling.

I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president, but as a proud political dissident, Trump said Saturday onstage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.

I am a dissident, he repeated.

Earlier in the week, Trump made a bizarre comparison between himself and the recently deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Fielding a question on his New York civil fraud case and the massive fine currently threatening his real estate business empire, Trump called it a form of Navalny.

He managed to make the comparison without mention of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was widely accused of orchestrating Navalnys death at age 47  and to whom Trump has cozied up in the past.

Trump: I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president. But as a proud political dissident, I am a dissident. pic.twitter.com/Z6rh0qMWi0  Acyn (@Acyn) February 24, 2024

Trumps CPAC speech touched on many of his frequent talking points, such as the migrants arriving at the U.S. border with Mexico and his own cognitive genius.

He elicited big cheers from the crowd when he talked about Election Day  particularly what the results might mean for his enemies.

Nov. 5 will be our new Liberation Day, Trump began.

But for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government, he went on, it will be their Judgment Day.

Trump said he was leaving to appear in South Carolina, where voters were casting ballots in the states Republican presidential primary.

Trump: November 5th will be our new liberation Day, but for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government, It will be their judgment day pic.twitter.com/7PSxiP84qw  Acyn (@Acyn) February 24, 2024

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FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Trump delivers a keynote speech at the Black Conservative Federation gala dinner, in Columbia, South Carolina

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Trump delivers a keynote speech at the Black Conservative Federation gala dinner, in Columbia, South Carolina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's comments asserting that Black voters were more drawn to him after his multiple indictments on criminal charges drew sharp rebukes over the weekend from his Republican challenger for the presidential nomination, civil rights activists and others.

Trump on Friday likened his 91 criminal charges in four separate criminal cases to discrimination faced by Black Americans and said that they had come to "embrace" his mug shots. He was speaking to a Black conservative group in South Carolina before the state's primary election, which he went on to win.

"And then I got indicted a second time and a third time and a fourth time. And a lot of people said that that's why the Black people like me because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against," Trump said. "They actually viewed me as I'm being discriminated against."

Trumps legal challenges, including federal charges over his alleged efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and his handling of classified documents, among other state charges and civil lawsuits, differ greatly from the historic inequities Black Americans have experienced in the criminal justice system.

"It's disgusting," former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who has been the target of racist comments from Trump and vowed to keep challenging him for the Republican nomination, told reporters on Saturday.

She reiterated her argument that Trump will again lose the 2024 general election against U.S. President Joe Biden if he secures the party's nomination. "This is a huge warning sign," she said.

Biden earlier won the Democratic primary contest in the southern state, where Black voters are a critically important constituency and more reflective of the more diverse general electorate who will go to the polls in the Nov. 5 presidential election, a likely rematch between Biden and Trump.

About 60% of those taking part in Saturday's Republican contest were white voters who consider themselves evangelical or born-again Christians, exit polling showed.

"Trump claiming that Black Americans will support him because of his criminal charges is insulting. Its moronic. And its just plain racist," Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond, who is Black, said on Saturday. "He thinks Black voters are so uninformed that we wont see through his shameless pandering."

The NAACP and National Action Network both blasted Trump's comments to the Black Conservative Federation, saying he wrongly tied his alleged crimes to the debate over systemic racial bias in the U.S. criminal justice system.

Trump, who has called the cases against him a political witchhunt and election interference, has denied any wrongdoing. "I'm being indicted for you, the Black population," he told the conference on Friday.

The NAACP responded in a Saturday post on X, formerly Twitter, saying: "This wouldnt be the first time Trump equated Blackness with criminality. Lets be clear: We have nothing in common."

Republican U.S. Representative Bryon Donald, who is Black, on Sunday defended Trump's comments, telling NBC News that Black Americans see Trump's many legal entanglements as "'if the government's going after him with foolishness, he can't be that bad.'"

(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Valerie Insinna and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Kat Stafford and Bill Berkrot)
By Tim Reid, Gram Slattery and Nathan Layne

(Reuters) - Donald Trump's big primary victory on Saturday over Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina was the result of a ruthless and methodical campaign to eliminate her as a threat, according to aides and people close to both campaigns.

Despite having already secured a string of primary victories, it was crucial for Trump to win South Carolina, a key early Republican primary state that often predicts the party's nominee. Unlike in 2016, Trump was facing a rival who had won two terms as governor of the state and is still locally popular.

The plan was to isolate Haley politically by locking down endorsements from scores of officials in the state as quickly as possible to demonstrate publicly that she had no path to the presidency through South Carolina, aides with knowledge of the Trump campaign plan said.

Trump's victory on Saturday was not a complete blowout but he still defeated her by a comfortable 20 percentage points on her home turf.

"We were facing a two-term governor. That necessitated a show of force. We needed endorsements to stop donors and voters taking a look at Nikki," a senior Trump campaign adviser told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Chris LaCivita, a co-manager of Trump's campaign, said the series of big-name endorsements played a critical role in snuffing out the competition in the state.

LaCivita said another crucial part of Trump's success was to harvest data on the thousands of voters who attended the former president's rallies.

"What happens in the state after we're on the airplane. That's where the real work begins," LaCivita said.

Working out of a nondescript office park in North Charleston, campaign staff have been toiling for months to use voter data to communicate regularly with potential voters. Trump used a similar game plan to win in Iowa and New Hampshire.

ENDORSEMENT WINDFALL

As recently as December, Haley was still saying publicly that South Carolina was where she would finally score a win over Trump and turn the nominating contest around. Instead, it may be remembered as the state where her campaign suffered its fatal blow.

By Jan. 24 - a month before the primary - Trump had secured the endorsements of 158 current and former South Carolina Republicans officials, including lawmakers, mayors and sheriffs. By this week Haley had received endorsements from one member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 11 current state lawmakers and two mayors.

"Those endorsements (of Trump) do matter. They are absolutely embarrassing in their numbers for Nikki Haley," the Trump campaign adviser said.

"If you have the local police chief or a city council person evangelizing about President Trump at a barbecue or at a local meeting, it's a force multiplier on our ground game and grassroots efforts," the adviser said.

Spearheading the push to lock up endorsements was the state's governor, Henry McMaster; Ed McMullen, Trump's former ambassador to Switzerland and a veteran of South Carolina politics; and Justin Evans, a state operative who ran Haley's first political campaign in 2010.

The influential South Carolina House of Representatives speaker, Murrell Smith, who endorsed Trump in August 2023, also played a key role in securing endorsements inside the State House, as did the state's lieutenant governor, Pamela Evette.

McMullen said he and other Trump allies began sketching a plan to ensure the former president's total dominance in the state as early as June 2022, months before Trump officially announced he was running for president that November. Haley declared her candidacy in February 2023.

Trump's South Carolina surrogates began contacting every state House and Senate member in May 2023. Lawmakers who were reluctant to endorse Trump were invited to personal meetings with him when he flew into the state, either at airports or other venues.

"The president was very generous with his time, he met with numerous people, it made clear to people he was serious and very much wanted their support," McMullen said.

For her part, Haley said publicly she was not bothered by the endorsements Trump received, although associates have spoken of a sense of betrayal that some high-profile allies deserted her.

Her effort relied on some 1,700 volunteers across the state, and she crisscrossed South Carolina aggressively in recent weeks.

"Just like when she ran for governor, Nikki is the outsider, conservative candidate," said Olivia Perez-Cubas, a campaign spokesperson. "As governor, she signed pro-life legislation, cracked down on illegal immigration, and took on both parties over spending and transparency issues."

Seeking endorsements is common practice in U.S. presidential politics, but securing so many played a significant role in South Carolina for Trump, given Haley's ties to the state.

The former president employed similar tactics to try to force Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, out of the race. Trump highlighted his overwhelming advantage in endorsements in Florida to fuel the narrative that he was the runaway favorite to win the nomination. DeSantis ended his campaign in January.

'DESIGNED FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT'

A much sought-after endorsement was that of Tim Scott, one of South Carolina's U.S. senators and a onetime presidential rival to Trump who dropped out of the race in November.

Scott had been appointed to his Senate seat in 2013 by Haley when she was governor, so securing his endorsement over the woman who sent him to the U.S. Senate was a big prize, several donors and operatives close to both Trump and Haley said.

Trump had maintained a relationship with Scott for some time. In 2020, he called Scott's mother on her birthday, a source close to Scott said. Toward the end of his presidency, Trump invited Scott and his mother to ride aboard Air Force One.

Trump called Scott shortly after the senator dropped out of the race, a person close to Trump said, while Trump allies kept talking to Scott about an endorsement.

One person close to Haley said she exchanged text messages with Scott after he dropped out, but never verbally discussed an endorsement. It is unclear why they never directly discussed the matter, but Scott and Haley's relationship deteriorated over the course of a campaign during which both camps took jabs at one another, said the person.

At a rally in New Hampshire on Jan. 19, four days before the primary election there, Scott endorsed Trump, a big blow to Haley and her hopes in South Carolina.

Trump's team made sure Scott was standing prominently alongside the former president at his New Hampshire victory rally on Jan. 23. Trump appeared triumphant, suggesting to Scott he "must really hate" Haley. Scott replied: "I just love you!"

Haley was not deterred.

Fueled by donor money she persisted with her insurgent campaign even as she seemed to acknowledge she faced certain defeat to Trump in her home state. Trump and his allies hoped that a loss on home ground would finally persuade Haley to quit the race, but she said on Saturday night she was not giving up and would continue her presidential campaign.

(Reporting by Tim Reid, Gram Slattery and Nathan Layne; Additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis)
Former President Trump is projected to handily win the South Carolina GOP primary, dealing a crushing blow to rival Nikki Haley, according to an exit poll conducted by Decision Desk HQ.

The Palmetto State becomes the third state in a row in which Trump has trounced Haley on the ballot. The two did not compete together in Nevada, which held a dueling primary and caucus.

Trumps win was largely expected, given that an average of South Carolina surveys compiled by Decision Desk HQ and The Hill found Trump leading Haley 64 percent to 33 percent.

Haley is Trumps last remaining major GOP challenger. Trumps win will fuel further questions about her viability, especially given that she had previously served as governor of South Carolina.

Yet Haley has signaled that shes in it for the long haul, saying earlier this week, South Carolina will vote on Saturday, but on Sunday I will still be running for president.

Many Republicans have largely started to shift their attention to the general election as it increasingly looks like a rematch between Trump and President Biden.

All eyes are now turning to Super Tuesday on March 5, where Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and American Samoa will be casting their ballots in the presidential contest.

The Trump campaign projected in a memo this week that the former president would notch the necessary number of GOP delegates to secure the nomination by March 19.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This composite image, made from a cell phone video released by attorney John Burris, shows the moments before and immediately after Johannes Mehserle shot Oscar Grant on the Fruitvale BART station platform on Jan. 1, 2009. (Top left) BART police officers talk to Oscar Grant as he sits against the wall at the Fruitvale station platform. (Top right) Mehserle and another officer place Grant on his stomach. (Bottom left) Mehserle holds his gun after shooting Grant. (Bottom right) Mehserle looks up moments after discharging his weapon. John Burris/Courtesy to The Chronicle

Fifteen years after BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle killed Oscar Grant, and more than a decade after the shooting was depicted in the film Fruitvale Station, the incident is recalled by many observers as the most seismic moment for police accountability since the 1991 beating of Rodney King, which also was caught on video.

The shooting of Grant still ricochets: It touched off a national conversation about racism and police violence and initiated a form of stark, instantaneous documentary in which witnesses capture use-of-force incidents on cell phones and post the footage to YouTube and social media.

In recent months, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Grants uncle, Cephus Johnson of San Jose  who became an activist and organizer after his nephews death  to a state board that reviews police misconduct cases. And the Alameda County District Attorneys Office finally returned Grants two cell phones, which had been seized as evidence, to his mother.

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Yet it can be easy to forget exactly what happened on that Oakland train platform in the early hours of New Years Day 2009.

Most everybody knows the outlines  a white officer fires a pistol into the back of an unarmed black man who has been pulled off a train as fellow passengers wield phones and digital cameras to capture the scene, spurring mass protest and a murder trial. The officer says he meant to shock the victim with a Taser, not shoot him.

What people may not know is how many lives changed as a result of that single gunshot. And they may not understand that some of the central facts of the case remain in dispute even today.

Lets take a closer look:

Who was Oscar Grant?

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Undated image of Oscar Grant with his mother, Wanda Johnson (right), and sister, Chantay Moore (center). Grant was shot and killed by a BART police officer on Jan. 1, 2009. Yoshi James / Courtesy Johnson family

As the Chronicle wrote in 2010, Oscar Grant III became a symbol in death, but in life he was a 22-year-old retail worker and young father. He grew up in Hayward, the son of a United Parcel Service supervisor, Wanda Johnson. She raised him without the help of his father, who is serving a life sentence for murder. Grant worked at KFC, a medicine-delivery service and Farmer Joes Marketplace in Oakland, but wanted to become a barber.

Loved ones described him as a loyal friend and doting father. He got into a fair bit of trouble, serving jail time for crimes, including dealing the party drug ecstasy. He also became a father as a young man  his daughter Tatiana was 4 when he was killed  and planned to marry the mother of his child.

Grants uncle, Cephus Johnson, said that on Christmas Day 2008, seven days before his death, Grant opened up about his life: It was clear he was more in the mode of settling down, Johnson said. Hed done a little time. He was telling me about the bad choices he had made. He said, Im done.

Tatianas mother, Sophina Mesa, said she and Grant had a long talk about their future two days before his death, deciding they would move out of his mothers house in Hayward and get their own place  perhaps in the quieter suburbs of Dublin or Livermore. Grant planned to go to barber school, she said, and just wanted to change his whole life.

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Who is Johannes Mehserle?

In this Jan. 14, 2009, file photo, Johannes Mehserle, left, talks with his attorney Christopher Miller in the East Fork Justice Court in Minden, Nev., after his arrest in the killing of Oscar Grant. Cathleen Allison / Associated Press 2009

Mehserle grew up in Napa and was a 27-year-old Lafayette resident, working as a BART police officer at the time of the shooting. He testified during his trial that he got into law enforcement in 2006 in part based on the recommendation of a friend who had joined the Stockton police force. He wanted to help people, it sounded exciting and the pay was good, Mehserle said. He joined BART in March 2007.

Mehserle had no record of disciplinary problems. Six weeks before he shot Grant, he was one of five BART officers whose arrest of a man prompted an excessive-force lawsuit. A federal jury, however, later cleared the officers of wrongdoing. Mehserle almost wasnt on duty at the time of the shooting because his girlfriend was in the late stages of pregnancy; she gave birth to the couples first child the next day.

Why did BART police pull Grant off a train?

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A still image from Karina Vargas' video shows the scene at the Fruitvale BART platform on Jan. 1, 2009 in Oakland. Moments after this video was taken, BART Officer Johannes Mehserle shot Oscar Grant. KPIX-TV 2009

Evidence suggests that BART officers repeatedly violated Grants rights at Fruitvale Station before he was shot at 2 a.m.

The episode began with a scuffle. Grant was on his way home from San Francisco, surrounded by a group of friends and packed into a train full of New Years revelers, when he fought with another passenger. Prosecutors identified that rider as David Horowitch, who was once in jail with Grant, though Horowitch, who was then 34, has never spoken publicly about the incident.

People called the police about the altercation, and, at Fruitvale Station, Grant and four friends were detained by BART Officer Anthony Pirone, a thickly muscled Marine who was already at the station with his partner.

According to court testimony and video of the incident, Pirone pulled Grant and his friends off the train so aggressively that other riders loudly objected. Pirone got physical at least two more times with Grant, kneeing him and pulling him violently to the concrete platform. At one point, apparently angry at being called a profane name, Pirone leaned in close to Grant and shouted back at him, Bitch-ass n, right? Bitch-ass n, right?

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Why did BART police arrest Grant?

After Pirone and Grant shouted profanities at each other, Pirone told Mehserle  who had arrived after driving to the station in a patrol car  to arrest Grant for resisting, announcing that this motherfer is going to jail.

Video footage, though, suggests Grant had put up little resistance and that Pirone  who was fired for his actions on the platform  had been the aggressor. Alameda County prosecutors called the arrest unlawful. John Burris, an attorney for the Grant family, said Pirone had made a contempt-of-cop arrest. One person who was on the same BART train as Grant, Marcus Torres, testified in court that when he heard the gunshot, he assumed Pirone had fired it due to his behavior that evening.

How did the shooting happen?

An image from a video of the 2009 BART police shooting of Oscar Grant at Fruitvale Station in Oakland shows the scene just moments before former Officer Johannes Mehserle shot Grant. Former Officer Anthony Pirone can be seen holding Grant's head down with his left hand, with his left knee on Grant's neck. Mehserle is bent over, about to fire his pistol. Two of Grant's friends look on. Courtesy John Burris

What everyone agrees on is this: After being instructed to arrest Grant and one of his friends, Mehserle struggled to handcuff Grant while forcing him from his knees to his chest. After about 10 seconds, Mehserle  who later testified he feared Grant might pull a gun, though he was unarmed  unholstered his service pistol, stood up and fired a single shot into Grants back.

At trial, prosecutors and defense attorneys sparred over whether Grant was resisting Mehserles efforts to pull his right wrist behind his back. The defense said the resistance is clear in videos, but prosecutors offered a different explanation: They said the officers had awkwardly pinned Grant against the outstretched left leg of one of his friends, Carlos Reyes, who also was detained.

Video footage showed that as Mehserle raised his gun, Pirone had his left knee on Grants neck. Pirones left hand was pressing Grants head into the platform, and Pirones right hand was holding Grants right arm  the same one Mehserle said he had struggled with  behind his back.

According to some witnesses, Mehserle announced before the shooting that he was about to use his Taser on Grant. Seconds after shooting Grant, Mehserle put his hands on his head, then moved them to his knees, doubling over. One of Grants friends testified that moments after the shooting, Mehserle said, Oh s, I shot him.

Grant looked at Mehserle and said, You shot me.

What do the videos show?

At least three BART passengers captured the shooting on video. Perhaps the clearest footage was provided by Tommy Cross, a 20-year-old San Francisco State University student who recorded what happened on his digital camera. Here is the video:

Tommy Cross, a 20-year-old San Francisco State University student, who recorded what happened on BART with his digital camera. San Francisco Chronicle

Other cameras  including from passengers Karina Vargas and Margarita Carazo  caught all or part of the shooting, as did BART surveillance cameras. At Mehserles trial, the defense synched six videos to allow the jury to see the incident unfold from multiple angles at the same time. Here is what that looks like:

At Mehserles trial, the defense synched six videos to allow the jury to see the Oscar Grant incident unfold from multiple angles at the same time. San Francisco Chronicle

And here is how the shooting was depicted in Fruitvale Station, the 2013 film that dramatized Grants last day and that helped launch the careers of director Ryan Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan:

The shootings aftermath

Protesters in a rage over a BART police killing jump on an Oakland police car at the intersection of 8th and Madison on Jan. 7, 2009. Frederic Larson / The Chronicle 2009

Mehserle resigned on Jan. 7, less than a week after the shooting, avoiding an interview with BART internal affairs investigators. He quit as video recordings made by BART passengers began to air repeatedly on TV news, and as Grants family prepared a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against BART.

Hours after Mehserle resigned, some protesters marched and others rioted in downtown Oakland, angry about the shooting and that the officer had not been arrested immediately. People smashed storefronts and set cars ablaze while demanding that Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff file a murder charge.

These things normally take weeks rather than days, but I am trying to expedite this and get it resolved as quickly as we can, Orloff, who now is retired, said at the time.

Two weeks after the shooting, Orloff charged Mehserle with murder based on video evidence that he said showed the killing was intentional and unjustified. He noted that Mehserle had refused to talk to investigators about why he shot Grant. Mehserle was arrested at a friends home near Lake Tahoe, where his attorney said he had gone after receiving death threats in the Bay Area.

Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff takes a moment to answer a question from the media at a news conference in January 2009 to discuss the arrest of former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle in the killing of Oscar Grant. Lance Iversen / The Chronicle 2009

After a June 2009 preliminary hearing of the evidence, an Alameda County Superior Court judge ordered Mehserle to stand trial, saying he didnt believe defense attorneys assertion that Mehserle had mixed up his pistol and Taser. Theres no doubt in my mind, Judge C. Don Clay said, that Mr. Mehserle intended to shoot Oscar Grant with a gun and not a Taser.

Four months later, another judge moved the trial to Los Angeles, citing extensive media coverage, inflammatory comments by public officials and the specter of possible unrest. Mehserle and his defense attorney, Michael Rains, had received death threats, and someone had fired shots at Rains Pleasant Hill office overlooking Interstate 680, prompting him and his partners to move up three floors.

Mehserles defense

This artist's sketch shows Johannes Mehserle, a former transit officer charged with the killing of Oscar Grant, testifying during his murder trial on June 25, 2010 in Los Angeles. Mona Shafer / Associated Press 2010

At Mehserles trial, which began in June 2010, the former officer said he did not mean to shoot Grant.

I didnt think I had my gun, Mehserle testified. I remember the pop. It wasnt very loud. It wasnt like a gunshot, and I remember wondering what went wrong with the Taser.  I remember looking to my right side and seeing my gun in my right hand. I didnt know what to think. I just thought it shouldnt have been there.

Rains said Mehserle had no motive to intentionally shoot a man in the back in front of hundreds of witnesses. And he blasted BART for its substandard Taser program: Training had lasted one day, with officers allowed to fire the weapon just once.

Meanwhile, as a cost-cutting move, the agency hadnt bought everyone a personal Taser and Taser holster, instead forcing officers to swap them between shifts. That meant Mehserle couldnt practice drawing the weapon, and that he carried it in whatever holster he could get his hands on  sometimes setting up for a right-hand draw and other times for a draw with his weaker left hand.

Mehserles actions, the defense said, showed a man trying to use a Taser, including his warning, Im going to Tase him. Rains focused on video suggesting that when he reached for his pistol, he struggled to yank it free from the holster. Under the stress of a chaotic platform, Rains said, Mehserle turned to a motor skill  drawing his gun  that had become automatic after thousands of repetitions, rather than to a skill  drawing his Taser  that he had just picked up.

The officer rose to his feet, the defense said, so he could create enough distance between him and Grant for the two Taser darts to spread out and incapacitate Grant. Then he fired just once, even though he was taught that multiple gunshots were often needed to stop a suspect. When he looked at his right hand and saw the gun, Rains said, he recognized his mistake. Thats why he shouted, Oh s, I shot him.

The prosecution case for murder

This photograph shows a BART police Taser and holster. Lance Iversen / The Chronicle 2010

Both the district attorneys office and the Grant family believe the Taser story is a fabrication. David Stein, the prosecutor who tried the case, told jurors that no police officer had ever, while wearing a Taser in a holster positioned on his or her weak side, accidentally grabbed a gun from the strong-side hip and fired it.

Mehserles Sig Sauer P226 pistol was black and weighed 2 pounds. His Taser X26 was yellow and weighed one-third as much. The Taser had an on-off switch that had to be flipped with the thumb and a laser sight. The pistol had no on-off or safety switch and no laser.

The Safariland gun holster was designed to keep assailants from snatching the weapon, and it wouldnt have come free unless a hood was rocked forward and a lever depressed with the gun-hand thumb. The Blade-Tech Industries holster for the Taser, meanwhile, had a thumb snap that had to be opened.

Prosecutors scoffed at Mehserles justification for deciding to use his Taser  that Grant, while lying on his chest, appeared to reach for a gun in a pants pocket. Had he believed that, Mehserle would have pinned the hand down or opted for his own pistol, not his Taser, Stein said. He wouldnt have gotten up from his knees and broken contact with Grant, giving Grant a chance to wheel around and fire.

Had he really meant to use his Taser, Stein said, Mehserle would have immediately told those around him. But he didnt tell Grant, and in fact handcuffed him. He didnt tell Pirone, instead explaining, Tony, I thought he was going for a gun. He didnt tell at least three other officers he spoke to in the 10 minutes he remained on the platform. Finally, after asking a close friend on the BART force to sit with him at police headquarters, he didnt tell him either.

The jurys options

Former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle, center, arrives at Renee C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland on May 18, 2009. Laura A. Oda / Associated Press 2009

Jurors were given the option of convicting Mehserle of second-degree murder (punishable by a sentence of 15 years to life in prison), voluntary manslaughter (three to 11 years), involuntary manslaughter (two to four years) or nothing at all. For each of the three possible crimes, Judge Robert Perry gave jurors two theories under which they could convict.

Second-degree murder theories: (1) Mehserle unlawfully intended to kill Oscar Grant or (2) intentionally committed an inherently dangerous act, while knowing it was dangerous and acting with conscious disregard for human life.

Voluntary manslaughter theories: (1) Mehserle killed Grant in the heat of passion or (2) acted in imperfect self-defense, based on an actual but unreasonable belief that he needed to use lethal force.

Involuntary manslaughter theories: (1) Mehserle committed a lawful act but with criminal negligence or (2) committed a crime  using excessive force on Grant by deciding to shock him with a Taser  that was not in itself potentially lethal, but became so because of the manner in which it was committed.

The verdict  and a complication

Javone Sloan holds a sign saying "Justice For Oscar Grant" during a protest outside the Alameda County Superior Court on Jan. 30, 2009 in Oakland. A $3 million bail was set for former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

On July 8, 2010, the Los Angeles County jury convicted Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter, suggesting that the panel believed the ex-officers testimony that he had intended to tase Grant. But there was a confusing twist: Jurors also convicted Mehserle of a separate allegation of intentionally firing a gun, exposing him to up to 14 years in prison.

Four months later, Judge Perry threw out the firearm conviction  saying there was no evidence to support it  before sentencing Mehserle to the minimum of two years behind bars. With credit for time served, Mehserle was eligible for release in about seven months. Jurors refused to speak to reporters covering the trial, and have never explained their verdict, including their seemingly contrary decision on the second allegation.

In comments during sentencing that elated the defense and outraged Grants family, Judge Perry said Mehserle would have been justified in using the Taser because Grant was resisting the attempts to handcuff him. Mehserles weapons confusion was owed in part to BARTs poor training of its officers and to near-riot conditions at the train station, Perry said. Mehserle, he added, was deeply remorseful.

Mehserles muscle memory took over in this moment of great danger and stress, Perry said. No reasonable trier of fact could have concluded that Mehserle intentionally fired his gun.

In a statement to the court before sentencing, Mehserle apologized directly to Grants family for the first time and said it was Grants actions on the Fruitvale platform  not the fact that he was black  that led him to reach for his Taser. I am deeply sorry, he said. Nothing I can ever do will heal the wound I have created.

Long recovery for BART

Mandingo (center) and others managed to shut down the Fruitvale BART station on Jan. 7, 2009, in Oakland, as hundreds protested the killing of Oscar Grant by a BART police officer. Michael Macor / The Chronicle 2009

The episode exposed deep shortcomings at BART, which embarked on a series of reforms recommended by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, or NOBLE. A study by the group found BARTs police force had antiquated policies, a poor relationship with passengers and toothless discipline for officers.

The police chief at the time of the shooting, Gary Gee, retired in August 2009 while suffering from serious medical issues. BART paid $1.5 million and $1.3 million to settle federal civil rights lawsuits filed on behalf of Grants daughter and mother, respectively.

BART gradually improved, but with some stumbles. In 2014, one of the agencys officers accidentally shot and killed another officer while the two were searching a robbery suspects apartment in Dublin. Two years later, a Chronicle investigation revealed that more than three-fourths of security cameras inside BART trains were decoys. BART replaced the fake cameras with real ones the next year.

The agency is haunted by Grants killing, which remains a point of controversy for some BART officials and a deep wound for others. Five years ago, agency staff commissioned an art project to acknowledge this painful part of BARTs past, a mural to honor Grant at Fruitvale Station. Grants family also filed an application to rename the station for Grant.

A shootings long legacy

Oakland resident Julia Hutton lays flowers on the sidewalk in front of an Oscar Grant mural on 17th and Broadway following demonstrations over the Johannes Mehserle conviction. John Sebastian Russo / Special to The Chronicle 2010

The shooting profoundly changed the lives of numerous people, including many who were on the platform that night:

Johannes Mehserle changed his name and his profession.

Grants mother, Wanda Johnson, received $1.3 million from BART to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit she filed shortly after the shooting. She runs the nonprofit Oscar Grant Foundation, a social justice organization started by her brother, Cephus Johnson. The group seeks to build trust between communities and law enforcement.

Grants daughter, Tatiana Grant, received a $1.5 million settlement from BART over her fathers killing.

Anthony Pirone was fired in early 2010 for his role in the shooting and was later charged with fraudulently collecting thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits  allegedly collecting money even though he had joined the Army. Alameda County prosecutors, though, dismissed the charge on the eve of trial in 2013, citing a lack of evidence. Pirone is currently serving in the California Army National Guard.

Marysol Domenici, a BART police officer who helped detain Grant and his friends, was fired in 2010 for allegedly lying to investigators and an Alameda County judge about the killing. After a 14-day hearing to contest the allegations, an arbitrator reinstated her job with full back pay. Domenici was later promoted to sergeant and remains at BART.

Two of Grants friends who were with him on the train, Johntue Caldwell and Kris Rafferty, were later slain in street crimes that remain unsolved. Caldwell, 25, was fatally shot while behind the wheel of a car at a Hayward gas station in July 2011. Rafferty, 30, was shot and killed in January 2016 in Hayward. The three friends are buried next to each other in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Hayward.

Undated image of Oscar Grant with his daughter, Tatiana. Grant was shot and killed by a BART police officer on Jan. 1, 2009. Yoshi James / Courtesy Johnson family Motorists in Oakland react as demonstrators jump on their car following the sentencing of Johannes Mehserle on Nov. 5, 2010. Mehserle, a former police officer who fatally shot Oscar Grant on New Year's Day 2009, received a two-year prison sentence. Noah Berger / Associated Press 2010 This film publicity image released by The Weinstein Company shows Michael B. Jordan in a scene from "Fruitvale Station." Ron Koeberer / Weinstein Co. 2013 Oscar Grant and his daughter, Tatiana, in a 2007 photograph. Grant was killed by a former BART police officer in January of 2009. Courtesy Johnson family 2007 Two people hold hold hands and a flyer in support of Oscar Grant while protesters gather in downtown Oakland after jurors convicted Johannes Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter on July 8, 2010. Mike Kepka / The Chronicle 2010 Demonstrators hold signs during a Jan. 7, 2009, protest of the BART police killing of Oscar Grant. Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press 2009
Nothing but sore losers

I have a hard time understanding how 70% of Republicans still believe that the 2020 election was stolen. This after some in his circle have admitted in court that they lied and fabricated many of the conspiracies they used to justify their actions. Then the Trump Justice Department said that there was no evidence that the election was stolen.

You would think that to steal a national election, some evidence could be found. Yet not a single thread of evidence has been presented. I therefore finally concluded that these people are just poor losers.

Lawrence Samora, Madera

Vote no on Measure E

Sure wish I was a good friend of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. You know, someone who has a lot of money to contribute to someone. Then I might be appointed to the Measure E oversight committee and make $80,000 a year. Sure sounds like a way to show favoritism.

How about we make those oversight committee seats voluntary? There is plenty of people who care about Fresno State to serve without pay. Maybe then I would vote for it. Till then, vote no on E.

Daniel Houts, Fresno

Netanyahu like Putin?

I submitted a letter to The Bee months ago regarding the key similarities between Hitler and Putin. Hitler built concentration camps with gas chambers to kill the Jews. Putin is just killing the Ukrainians in their homes.

Where does this put Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also killing Palestinians in their homes? Looks like Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu have similar missions? And the world continues to watch as the killing continues.

Lydia Torres, Fresno

This voters City Council pick

I have lived in Fresno for more than five decades and am quite familiar with the demographic politics of our community. I will be voting for Raj Sodhi who is running for the City Council from District 6.

Raj Sodhi is well qualified to serve on our council. Appointed by Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, she has served on the citys Planning Commission and is quite familiar with city government and its structure.

With her background in banking,she is knowledgeable about the business and financial climate of our community. She will keep a sharp eye on every taxpayers dollar to ensure it is well spent efficiently and effectively for the greater good.

She is also above the party and communal politics that often divides our community. She will add rich diversity to the City Council. I have six votes in my family and all are going for Raj Sodhi, who deserves your consideration also if you are a voter in District 6.

Sudarshan Kapoor, Fresno

Need fair utility pricing

All Californians should have clean, affordable energy. And the cost shouldnt mean families go without at a time when housing, groceries, and gas prices are spiking.

The light bill is going up across California. One-fifth of families getting their power from the largest utilities are behind on their payments. In Huron, where I serve as mayor, my farmworker neighbors now pay more than double the price a decade ago.

Farmworkers should not be charged the same as tech billionaires for upgrading/maintaining the grid. An income-based fixed charge bills these costs according to household income, so the weight doesnt fall hardest on those least able to pay.

Income-based fixed charge lets California install necessary, climate-change-fighting technologies without loading the transition on the backs of working people trying to make ends meet.

Hurons farmworkers do the difficult, important work of feeding California with their labor in the fields. It is only fair that California does the difficult, important work of getting the formula right in setting electricity rates.

I call on the California Public Utilities Commission to pass a fair and equitable electricity pricing plan with an income-based fixed charge, for Huron and for all working people in California.

Rey Leon, Huron

Prop. 1 hurts local mental health programs

In 2004 California voters passed Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act.That legislation imposed a 1% tax on income in excess of $1 million to expand and support badly needed public mental health services.

Since the inception of the MHSA, locally delivered mental health services have expanded dramatically. Mental health service departments across the state developed their programs through needs assessments in partnership with consumers of mental health services, hospitals, community service providers, and local stakeholders. Those services are regularly reviewed to assess their effectiveness and or need for revision.

Proposition 1 on the March 5 ballot would take nearly a third of the MHSA money fromlocal programs and re-imagine the MHSA, cutting many local programs and imposing new requirements without being clear as to what those requirements are, how they would be paid for, or what kind of accountability there would be.

Additionally, voters are asked to approve a $6.4 billion bond in a year that the state is facing another budget shortfall. Clearly California needs to do more to address homelessness and mental health issues. Proposition 1 is simply the wrong approach. Please vote no on Prop. 1.

Ken Baird, Hanford

More no on Measure E

I agree with Marek Warszawski on Measure E. The maintenance of Fresno States buildings does not belong on the backs of Fresno County taxpayers. No means no.

In Nov. 2022, voters said no to this measure. Supporters repackaged a bad idea and brought it back for a March 2024 vote. This time instead of the $38 million a year they wanted last time, they now want $63 million a year for 25 years. That is $1.57 billion they want for Fresno State.

Our state funds state projects and our county funds county projects. Shouldnt the state be funding this project?

What do we get for our $1.57 billion? They claim more and better educated graduates and that the majority will stay in the county area. No one can guarantee they will stay.

Nor is there any guarantee from the university system that they will increase their maintenance budget by a single dime after we give them the $1.57 billion.

Then there is the $14 million to be paid out to the oversight committee members  $80,000.00 per year to each of the seven oversight committee members. What will they be doing to earn this $80,000?

Please vote no on Measure E.

Roger Hann, Fresno

Its a real mess

I dont understand why we have a public Health Department if the homeless are allowed to defecate on our streets, behind businesses and neighborhoods.

Seems counterproductive to try and protect us from disease, yet this filth is serious, especially where children may gather.

I know people want to help the homeless, but this is now out of control.

I am sure other states are dealing with this at a higher success rate than we currently are. The more we condone this behavior, the worse it is going to get.

Sharon Hahn, Fresno

Garvey success could be good for Dems

A recent opinion piece argues that if Steve Garvey comes in second to Adam Schiff in the March primary, Republican candidates across the board will benefit in November because Republican voters in California will be more motivated to cast their ballots.

But this view leaves out of consideration two additional factors.

First, Republicans will turn out in November whether Garvey is on the ballot or not because Trump will be on their ballots. They voted for him in 2016 and 2020 and they will do so again this year.

Second, Democratic candidates in swing congressional districts and other contested races will benefit from a Garvey-Schiff matchup because California Democrats, feeling justifiably confident that Schiff will prevail, can as a result give more of their attention, donations, and volunteer time to candidates like Rudy Salas, Adam Gray and Jacky Rosen in Nevada, among others.

Though Schiff would still have to spend millions of dollars to ensure victory in our huge state, millions more in donations from Team Blue will be freed up if the opponent is not a fellow Democrat.

Though it may seem counterintuitive, a second-place finish for Garvey is a win for Democrats in November.

Jill Fields, Fresno

Social Security is not welfare

The story Feb. 18,Poll: Vast Majority Worried About Cuts to Social Security, continues the completely uniformed statement that Social Security is a welfare program.

Again and again the news calls it welfare. It is not. It is a retirement program we all pay into. It is not welfare.

The payments are our own money, not the governments. Payments from our paychecks are to go into a trust and be paid back to us when we reach the appropriate age. The problem is Congress has borrowed from this trust, over and over again, and has not paid it back.

It is not welfare.

John Garvin, Madera

Sees unfair helmet law being proposed

When I was 16 in 1976, I wanted to buy a 1969 Honda 350 motorcycle. When I talked to my mother about it, she said I could buy it as long as I promised to wear a helmet.

Im 64 and ride a 2023 Heritage softail anniversary edition. I still wear a helmet because of the law. A proposed law will let people have a religious exemption because they wear a head dress .

If they dont have to, I dont have to. People will be able to claim religious exemption for seat belt laws, speed laws.

Who ever thought this up needs to stop, its ridiculous and totally reverse religious discrimination.

A Sikh doesnt have to wear a helmet, but a Christian will still have to?

Dana Bobbitt, Fresno

Choose fresh voice for supervisor

Many Fresno County residents have recently received their primary ballot or are preparing to vote this coming March in the California primary. As you fill out your ballot, I ask all those living in Fresno County District 2 to closely look at the candidates running for office.

Among the group of candidates you will find individuals who have made it their goal to continue in rhetoric that divides our Valley, state and country, as well becoming lifelong, forever politicians.

The recent battle to waste taxpayer money to gain control as to naming historical landmarks is absurd, wasteful, and frivolous.

I urge all voters to consider a new and fresh voice who is not beholden to big money interest and will represent all who live in District 2 honorably and respectfully. Please vote Bryce Herrera.

Froylan Ramirez, Clovis

Digust over election mailer

My wife and I received a political flyer that bore the headline: Would you trust Steve Brandau with YOUR kids?

The flyer listed three facts critical of Brandau. These facts involved foster youth, child neglect, and failure to save our children.

It warned us: On March 5, vote like our children depend on it.

I was aghast. Who sent this dire warning? It took me time to carefully examine this scary notice, but I finally found the answer: Paid for by Bredefeld for Supervisor 2024.

I intend to vote for neither Garry Bredefeld nor Steve Brandau. It disturbs me nonetheless but by no means surprises me that Bredefeld would stoop down into the muck of filthy politics. I work on transforming my disgust into pity.

Jim Steinberg, Fresno
At this very moment, political journalists all over the country are searching theasurus.com for synonyms for decisive. Good luck to them.

After all, there are only so many ways to describe the results of South Carolinas GOP primary on Saturday. The votes havent been fully counted as of this writing, but all indications suggest a humiliating margin of victory for Donald Trump over Nikki Haley, who mounted a last stand in the state she governedto mixed reviewsfor six years.

Massive SC landslide for Trump, University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato wrote in a social media post, predicting that the results would be so obvious, and so skewed, that the race would take no time to call.

Nikki Haley Lost Her Home State. The Entire Primary Is Next.

He was right. Trump has never been stronger, at least among the GOP electorate. No thesaurus could do justice to the hold Trump has over the Republican Party: in Iowa, in South Carolina, in Washington, D.C.

Even though Haley has vowed to soldier on, her campaign is going to end on or around March 5, when 15 states hold their primaries on what is known as Super Tuesday. It will not implode as did the disastrous presidential bid of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but that is small consolation for a woman who emerged from the GOPs primary scrum looking convincingly presidential.

Haley polls magnificently well against Biden, and while one could easily envision her hitting the president with a devastating haymaker during a debate, or outworking him on the campaign trail, shes ultimately going to lose in the primary to a guy who barely campaigned for the nomination. You go to war with the army you have, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld once said. And so the Republicans will go to war with Trump.

And many are happy to do so. Somehow, he is now doing better with Black voters than he did in 2020, according to a Howard University poll. And a recent Emerson College poll showed him beating Biden among Hispanic voters.

A scene from Trumps South Carolina victory party. Win McNamee / Getty

Every day, it becomes more likely that Trump is not just the nominee but is elected president, Republican pollster Frank Luntz said in a recent Forbes interview.

But even as he celebrates his win in South Carolina, Trump hasin many waysnever been weaker.

The weakness has nothing to do with his political support, which remains as solid as the granite of New Hampshire (a state where Haley was thought to have a chance, only to lose to Trump by 11 percent); rather, whats causing Trump trouble is the 91 indictments, across several civil and criminal cases, that could impoverish and imprison him.

The runup to South Carolina has been a perfect illustration of Trumps bifurcated reality. Depending on whom you ask, he is either in the best position of his political career or about to see that same career implode as spectacularly as it began nine years ago, with that famous escalator ride.

The romp in South Carolina comes a little more than a week after Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay $454 million in a New York fraud casebrought by the states Attorney General Letitia Jamesthat alleged he grossly inflated the value of his properties. And in January, he was ordered by another judge in another civil case to pay $83 million to E. Jean Carroll, a writer who alleged that he raped her in the 1980s.

Is the Nickname Donald Rapist Trump Defamatory?

Trumps attorneys are fighting both rulings, and they may succeed in at least delaying final dispensations until (they hope) he is back in the White House and legal matters become infinitely more complex. But the fight isnt free, and Trump has devoted millions of dollars from his campaign funds to his legal troubles, which include not only the two civil judgements in New York, but also two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, as well as an electoral fraud case in Georgia.

Oh, and dont forget Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who charged Trump last year with financial improprieties related to a hush money payment he made to a porn star. That trial is set to begin on March 25. Meanwhile, Smith is also pushing for a speedy trial.

In 2020, Trump mocked Biden for running his campaign from a basement. This time around, Trump might run his campaign from a courthouse.

But it would be delusional to think that legal troubles have Trump on the ropes. The South Carolina results should not be dismissed as simply a gratuitous MAGA flex. Trump is especially dangerous because Biden is in such perilous electoral territory.

At this same moment in the 2012 election cycle, Barack Obama had a 45 percent approval rating. Biden hasnt been at 45 percent since April 2022, according to Reuters. He is now as underwater as the Titanic, with a widening 38-57 percent approval-disapproval differential.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Donald Trump, and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette stand on stage during an election night watch party on Feb. 24, 2024. Win McNamee / Getty

Concerns about Bidens age are becoming more and more pronounced at the worst possible time, since the months to come will see the campaign enter its most intense stage. Every gaffe (as when he called Russian dissident Alexei Navalnys widow, whose name is Yulia, Yolanda) will reinforce the image of a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Those are the infamous words of special counsel Robert K. Hur, a devastating aside in an otherwise exculpatory report on the presidents handling of classified documents.

Bidens support for Israel has proven unpalatable to many younger voters, not to mention the large Arab-American constituency in the swing state of Michigan, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian-American, urging Democrats to vote uncommitted in next weeks primary. Biden will obviously win, but Tlaib could still manage to humiliate him. In some ways, she already has.

Biden cant even get credit for the economy: His raft of investments, known collectively as Bidenomics, has been a political failure, New York Times columnist David Brooks recently put it.

Ron DeSantis Never Should Have Run for President

His Times colleague Ezra Klein went even further, arguing that Biden should forgo his re-election campaign. To make matters worse, Vice President Kamala Harris is even less popular than Biden. No matter how you look at it, the Democrats are stuck.

Republicans, meanwhile, are sticking by Trump. South Carolina exit polls showed that 65 percent of voters agree with Trumps false claims that he won the 2020 election. And only 13 percent said what mattered most to them was an ability to beat Bidenthe trait Haleys supporters most often tout. More than one-third of respondents (37 percent) said they were looking for a candidate who fights for people like me. In other words, Trump.

The nomination is effectively Trumps. South Carolina has been a reminder of that fact. He is spoiling for a fight with Biden. I just wish we could do it quicker, he said on Saturday night of the general election, still many months away.

Yet the courtroom proceedings in New York and elsewhere offer another angle from which to regard Trump, a cautionary corrective to his primary romps. Weve never had a presidential candidate so wounded and invincible at the same time, so plausibly poised for both victory and defeat.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Former President Donald Trump greets supporters during an election night watch party at the State Fairgrounds on Feb. 24, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. The Associated Press called the race for Trump over former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley as soon as the polls closed. He was joined on stage by various S.C. elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

COLUMBIA  Former President Donald Trump won an expected blowout victory over former S.C. governor Nikki Haley Saturday in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary.

The Associated Press called the race at 7 p.m. with zero percent of the precincts reporting.

Once all counties had reported, Trump had 59.8% of the votes to Haleys 39.5%, according to unofficial results from state election officials.

This is a little sooner than we anticipated and an even bigger win than we anticipated, Trump said as he took the stage to Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA. He told supporters who had been gathering at the fairgrounds in Columbia all day, You can celebrate for about 15 minutes and then we have to get back to work.

The preliminary results actually appear closer than predicted. A South Carolina poll published 10 days ahead of the primary by Winthrop University put voter support for Haley at 29%, compared to 65% for Trump.

Trump was joined on stage by S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and U.S. Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham. Graham, who spoke briefly, was booed by the crowd while a Trump mention of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as a very noncontroversial person brought cheers and chants of Gaetz, Gaetz, Gaetz.

Trump was on stage for about 30 minutes and stuck to his usual talking points  the situation on the border is the worst its ever been and the country is a failing nation. He predicted that Michigan autoworkers would support him in that states primary on Tuesday.

He added Nov. 5  its going to be the most important date, perhaps, in the history of our country before thanking his supporters and telling them to go home and get some rest because we have a lot of work ahead of us.

Former S.C. Gov. and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during her primary election night gathering at The Charleston Place on Feb. 24, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina. Haley was defeated in her home states primary by Republic challenger, former U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Haley waited until about 8:30 p.m. to come out to address about 400 supporters at her watch party in the ballroom of a downtown Charleston hotel.

I know 40% is not 50% but I also know 40% is not some tiny group, Haley said of the preliminary results. She reiterated her promise to stay in the race, saying: Im a woman of my word.

Despite losing in her home state, Haley said, Im grateful to South Carolina; I always have been and always will be. And Im grateful that today is not the end of our story. She added that the campaign heads to Michigan on Sunday.

Pointing out that over the next 10 days, 21 states will cast votes, 15 of those on Super Tuesday, March 5, Haley said to cheers: They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet style election with only one candidate.

She also congratulated Trump on his victory but added as she has said repeatedly in her speeches that she does not think he has the support needed to beat Joe Biden in November.

What I saw today was South Carolinas frustration with our countrys direction. Ive seen that same frustration nationwide. I share it; I feel it to my core, she said. But heres the thing, America will come apart if we make the wrong choices.

South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain issued a statement on the results, saying: The stage for November has been set and the choices South Carolinians will have at the voting booth are becoming clear. Voters have seen whats at stake: Donald Trump is running to ban abortion nationwide, end the Affordable Care Act, and gut Social Security and Medicare  all while pulling apart the fabric of our democracy.

Three weeks ago, a diverse coalition of Black voters, rural voters, Medicare recipients, college students, teachers, service members and veterans overwhelmingly showed up to support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and theyre ready to do it at the ballot box once again so they can continue delivering record accomplishments for South Carolina.

About 131,000 voters cast ballots in the states Democratic primary earlier this month. Because voters in South Carolina do not register by party, any registered voter in the state who did not vote in the Democratic primary was eligible to cast a ballot in the GOP primary.

S.C. GOP Party Chairman Drew McKissick said earlier Saturday that he did not expect many Democrats to cross over and vote for Haley. Self identified Democratic participation in our presidential primary has been going down over time, and thats largely because most of those folks were conservative Democrats who now have joined the Republican party, he said.

McKissick added that he expected the state would set voting records on Saturday. According to the S.C. Election Commission, 205,099 people voted early in the primary and 12,018 people had cast absentee ballots ahead of Saturday.

Shell have her time

The candidates and their allies have spent the past month pushing their message to voters across the state. Trump held Get Out the Vote rallies in Conway, North Charleston and Rock Hill, and a Fox town hall in Greenville, while his proxies toured the state. Haley meanwhile spent weeks crisscrossing the state on her tour bus.

The former president also made international news during his visits to South Carolina, including saying he told the head of a NATO ally he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want if they did not meet defense spending goals.

Messages like that rang true for Andrew Middleton, a 40-year-old IT network engineer in Charleston, who said he wants a president who will keep the U.S. out of foreign conflicts and focus on a domestic agenda. Middleton, who grew up in rural Illinois but has lived in the Charleston area for 12 years now, pushed his young son in a stroller as he walked out of West Ashley High School in the Lowcountry after casting his ballot for Trump.

Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Trumps administration, attacked the former president over his comments, and President Joe Biden said the remarks were shameful and dangerous.

Trumps comments, however, did not lessen enthusiasm for the former president at the polls.

If anybody can get things straightened out quickly, itll be him, said Charleston-area voter Amy Coffey.

Saturday marked the first time the 48-year-old office administrator had cast a ballot in a primary. She said the current presidential race felt crucial to her and Malcolm Coffey, a 49-year-old electrician, prompting them to come out.

Both cast ballots for Trump, citing border security as the top issue concerning them.

Its not that I dont like Nikki Haley, Amy Coffey said.  I just dont think now is the perfect time to bring someone new in. Shell have her time.

Haley has been careful to manage expectations for her results in South Carolina, saying victory would be making sure it looks close rather than winning outright.

All I can do is my part; I dont know if it will make a difference or not, said Colleen Geis, a 48-year-old medical care coordinator living in the Charleston area who voted for the perceived long-shot Haley.

While Haley cast her own ballot on gated Kiawah Island, Geis was among a steady stream of James Island residents who stepped into the polling place at Harbor View Elementary.

Some living in the surrounding neighborhood used the opportunity to walk their dogs as they fulfilled their civic duty.

Anybody but Trump, said Lauren May, a 32-year-old doctors assistant, after casting her vote.

Haley also earned the support of Mark Leon. The 51-year-old marketing consultant said 2016 was a difficult year. It was the first time he saw people become emotional and angry over politics. It was the first time he saw lifelong friendships end based on who they voted for.

Its only going to get worse this year because its the same players, Leon said of a Trump-Biden faceoff.

He felt if Haley were chosen as the Republican nominee, she would bring more empathy to the race rather than instantly polarizing an issue.

Haley is the last major candidate opposing Trump, but two extreme long-shot candidates remain in the running  Pastor Ryan Binkley of Texas and veteran Air Force combat pilot David Stuckenberg of Florida.

Three other candidates, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, all dropped out of the race after making it onto the South Carolina ballot.

This story was published earlier by the South Carolina Daily Gazette, an affiliate of the nonprofit States Newsroom network, which includes the Florida Phoenix.

The post Trump triumphs over former SC Gov. Nikki Haley in SC GOP primary appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
CHARLESTON, S.C.  Donald Trump easily won the South Carolina Republican presidential primary on Saturday, handing Nikki Haley an embarrassing defeat in her home state and bringing him one step closer to officially becoming the GOPs 2024 nominee for the White House.

Trumps victory in South Carolina was never really in doubt. The former president led in polls of the race for months despite doing little campaigning and spending only a small amount on advertising. He secured support from the states top elected officials as soon as he entered the race, finishing a near-clean sweep after Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) dropped out and endorsed him last month.

Trump quickly claimed he had won overwhelmingly, speaking after several news organizations called the election in his favor moments after polls closed but before many vote tallies had been released.

We won in a landslide, Trump said, surrounded on the stage at his victory party by South Carolina state and federal politicians who had endorsed him. Trumps RealClearPolitics average lead in polling ahead of Saturday gave him a 23.3-point cushion, though it was unclear early Saturday night if that would translate into his actual vote margin.

With big wins in all the early primary states, Trump now heads into Super Tuesday on March 5  when voters in 15 states and one U.S. territory go to the polls  with a commanding delegate lead. His campaign expects to have the nomination locked up as early as March 12, even as he faces an unprecedented 91 criminal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn an election that he lost and his retention of classified information after he left the White House.

Trumps first criminal trial is scheduled to begin March 25 in New York, where he is charged with falsifying business records dealing with hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Trump is awaiting a decision by the Supreme Court on whether to rule on his claims of presidential immunity from all prosecution.

Lawyers are my best friend, Trump told supporters at a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Friday. I campaign during the day and I go to the courtroom at night. Its all I can do.

He brushed off the charges against him as bullshit and cast himself as a martyr who is being persecuted because he is running for president.

Im being indicted for you, he claimed at the rally.

Later, at an event with Black conservatives in the city of Columbia, Trump said that his indictments are why the Black people like me.

Haley, meanwhile, sought to persuade Republican voters in the closing days of the race that it was time to turn the page and side with a younger voice who eschewed chaos for competency and conservative governance. The former governor of the Palmetto State  who once served as Trumps ambassador to the United Nations  slammed Trump for turning his back on U.S. allies abroad and aligning with authoritarians like Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump is siding with a man whos made no bones about the fact he wants to destroy America, Haley said at a rally in Georgetown, South Carolina, on Thursday.

Her increasing attacks on her former boss attracted some Republicans who opposed Trump and who believed that he was setting the GOP on an ugly path, but it was a segment of the party that has long since been shunned as a minority that is fading into the past.

Theyre all just about gone, Trump boasted at his Friday rally, mocking his top GOP critics like Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.).

Haley has vowed to stay in the race despite losing her home state, even though many think the writing is on the wall for her campaign. She has scheduled events across the country next week, including in Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado and Utah, spoiling plans by Trump and the GOP to unite under one banner and switch gears.

Trump on Friday suggested that Haley should perhaps become a Democrat, criticizing her for receiving donations from some in the opposing party.

Republicans arent supporting her, they dont like her, and they dont like her policy. Shes essentially a Democrat, the former president said. I think she should probably switch parties.
A group of teenagers has visited nearly every London Underground station in one day, raising more than 5,000 for a knife crime prevention charity.

The "Tubeathon" saw 27 groups of young people visiting 271 Tube stations, covering a distance of about 250 miles (402km) across the capital.

It is thought to be the first attempt by a group of people to walk the length of the Tube map in a single day.

Organiser Eitan Okrent, 17, said it was important to help other young people.

Starting early on Sunday, each team was allocated its Tube stations to visit and a route.

Put together, the 27 routes covered the entire Tube map from Ealing to Epping and from Amersham to Wimbledon.

The group visited 271 Tube stations, only missing out on Heathrow Airport's terminal two and three stop - because it is not accessible on foot.

Eitan, from Barnet, who recruited 120 people for the challenge, told the BBC earlier: "Londoners in general know the Tube map, that is their geography of the capital.

"This allows people to see what's above ground what would usually be underground.

"Some of them have long walks, so they're struggling a bit. But they'll get through it, it's a challenge."

The more than 5,600 raised by the participants will go to Lives Not Knives, a charity that works to prevent youth violence in London by providing mentoring and advice for young people.

Speaking about why he chose to fundraise for the charity, the year 13 student said: "We really thought it would be important for young people to go out on a challenge in London to help other young people in the capital, which I think is really special.

"They [Lives Not Knives] do extremely good work helping people get out of school exclusion, mentoring - really helping to stop young people going into knife crime

"We know its a big issue in London, so it's a really important issue to solve."

Eitan has previous experience with London Underground challenges, last year missing out on beating the world record for the quickest time to visit every London Underground station. Even so, he managed to complete the challenge in 19 hours and raised 1,400 for a homelessness charity.

"I guess I've always had a weird obsession with the London Underground," he said. "Also, I've always been quite an activist so this kind of challenge appeals to me."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Last week I heralded some environmental presidents, namely including Teddy Roosevelt and his part in the American Conservation movement. To round out the debate, I must make the critical note that the conservation movement was built from and for the benefit of white urban elites, discriminating against lower class citizens and appropriating native lands. To balance our understanding of conservation and the critical ways that race and class continue to be a foundational lens, I will explore African American leaders that are heralding environmental justice today as a part of Februarys Black History Month celebration.

By definition Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

As such, the movement has no exclusive ties to any one community. Injustices are not only happening to people of color, but disproportionally, people of color bear more exposure due to the historical constructs of racism in our society.

However, people of color have not been drawn into environmental activism historically. In general, race and class issues have superseded environmental issues. Bullets may be a more immediate threat, but ingesting lead is no less dangerous. A line drawn from the environment to peoples health and wellbeing may take years to connect. The crisis in Flint, Michigan, which came to a head in 2018 is a more recent battle cry that we are inextricably the air we breathe, water we drink and food we eat. Impacted communities tend to be more vulnerable in other situations, take COVID for an example.

Dr. Dorceta Taylor, an environmental sociologist from the Yale School of the Environment, has been outspoken in the need for Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) to be present and active in environmental justice issues. Dr. Taylor is making history with her important work on climate justice and inclusion in environmental organizations. She voices issues and brings the stories of action-oriented grassroots organizations such as We the People of Detroit, UPROSE, WE ACT to the publics attention. These are groups that are centered on regenerative programs to empower whole communities to have meaningful work, create sustainable solutions to energy costs and access to transportation.

Other current Black environmental justice leaders include Dr. Robert D Bullard, one of the first African Americans to bring hard data to the publics attention that pollution (namely the siting of landfills) were directly linked to Black neighborhoods in the south (Dumping in Dixie was his 1990 book). Another activist and writer is Beverly Wright who has worked with the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (namely for the Mississippi Chemical Corridor aka Cancer Ally). Catherine Coleman Flowers whose work focuses on improving sanitation and water infrastructure in Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and poor rural communities in the United States and Jacqui Patterson founder and executive director of the The Chisholm Legacy Project, a resource hub for Black frontline climate justice leadership.

You will often hear me say that the environment itself should not be a red or blue political issue. Science is not inherently politicized. However, mapping policies and regulations onto industry, landscape, and how it affects people, very quickly moves into systems of institutionalized thought and power. I challenge you to look up these leaders and consider their work and your place in providing a better tomorrow for all our citizens - stateside and beyond.

Becca Hurd is the recycling coordinator for Gaston County.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: YOUR TURN: How ethnicity plays into conservation efforts in Gaston County
Ahmad abu Alezz, left, and Mohammad Al Farra spend their evenings in Ramallah watching the news, smoking and talking about their loved ones trapped in the Gaza Strip by the war. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Since the war began, two friends have spent most evenings holed up at the Ramallah television studio where one of them works.

They remain long after the nightly news has taped and most of the staff has departed, chain-smoking cigarettes and talking about the only thing that matters: Gaza.

Both men have families who are trapped there. Ahmad abu Alezz's four sons are crammed into tents in the southern city of Rafah. Mohammad Al Farras parents are camped in the nearby town of Al Mawasi.

At least thats what he hopes. It has been six weeks since Al Farras mother or father answered one of his messages. Each day he scans lists of the latest victims of the Israel-Hamas war, praying he wont find their names.

The Gaza Strip and the West Bank, territories that Palestinians claim for their future state, are separated by some 25 miles. But they are worlds apart.

Since 2007, when Hamas seized control in Gaza, an Israeli blockade on the territory has almost completely curtailed Palestinians' ability to move between the two regions, and residents from each area have led increasingly disconnected lives.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Top, a boy takes trash to a bin on a hilltop overlooking the Qalandiya checkpoint on the outskirts of Ramallah, West Bank. Bottom, commercial trucks near the checkpoint. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

The war in Gaza has exacerbated that sense of distance, with periodic power outages and scarce internet leaving people there more cut off than ever from the outside world. In the West Bank, where news channels feature constant coverage of the nearly 30,000 Gazans who have been killed by Israel's attacks, the war has stirred feelings of solidarity  and impotence.

Read more: Did Israel's dramatic raid on a West Bank hospital violate the rules of war?

Al Farra, 44, can barely sleep not knowing whether his parents are alive or dead. One of the last times he spoke to his mother, she told him she was so hungry she had resorted to eating weeds.

Im the oldest son, he said. I should be there to protect them.

He was unable to protect his sister.

Mohammad Al Farra, center right, carries son Yosef, 8, on his shoulders as he and his family march at a Ramallah rally calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

A cameraman, Al Farra left Gaza in 1999 for a work opportunity in the West Bank.

He never returned. But he managed to stay close to his family, beaming in virtually for birthdays and other celebrations.

He was especially attached to his sister, Semat, who was one year older. She was full of life, a gossip who knew so much about the neighbors that Al Farra jokingly called her Reuters, after the news agency. Semats eldest daughter was to be married on Oct. 25. Al Farra had sent her a gift.

Read more: An unlikely friendship is tested by war. Can it survive?

On Oct. 7, Hamas militants broke through the border barrier that encircles Gaza and killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, in southern Israel. In Gaza, Al Farra's family postponed the wedding and braced for Israel's response.

Al Farra tried to stay in touch with his relatives as Israel unleashed a massive bombing campaign and he worked overtime as a journalist in the West Bank, where many feared spillover violence.

Palestinians march in Ramallah, West Bank, to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

On Oct. 25, he was in the field with his camera when colleagues told him the news: A missile had struck his familys apartment building in Gaza. His parents had survived, but Semat and most of her children  including the daughter whose wedding had once been planned for that day  were dead.

A video of Al Farra weeping, still dressed in a bulletproof vest emblazoned with the word press, went viral.

In the subsequent weeks, Al Farra found himself lingering at the studio long after he finished work. He didnt want to bring his misery home to his wife and two children.

Abu Alezz, 52, stepped in, showing up to cook Al Farra dinners of fish seasoned with Gazan spices. The men had met years before through a mutual friend  the manager of the station  but the purgatory of war had brought them closer.

We calm each other down, said Al Farra. It makes it easier.

Abu Alezz, who lives alone in a small apartment filled with caged songbirds, was dealing with his own nightmare.

He fled Gaza in 2007 after getting cross-ways with Hamas, which had unleashed a campaign of violence against political rivals when it seized control of the enclave. His sons remained there with their mother.

Ahmad abu Alezz tends to his songbirds. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

When bombs started falling in October, the family fled its home in Jabaliya and was forced to move four more times, eventually ending up with other displaced civilians  more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million population  in Rafah.

Israel had declared the city a safe zone from the fighting.

This month, the military said it plans to invade Rafah to root out remaining Hamas fighters. Abu Alezz has been gripped with fear.

Its maddening, he said. They want to encircle 1.5 million people with tanks?

It was approaching midnight, and the studio was mostly empty. Al Farra had his arm draped over Abu Alezzs shoulder as they smoked and watched TV. Eventually Abu Alezz rose from the leather sofa and began to pace.

Mohammad Al Farra tears up as he speaks about his family trapped in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

If they invade Rafah, Israel will regret this for a million years, he said. How will you convince the people there to ever want peace?

Al Farra nodded. This is a genocide," he said. "How will a child who saw their siblings or a parent blown apart ever forget this?

Both lighted another cigarette.

Before Oct. 7, they each smoked a few packs a week. Now they needed two or three just to make it through the day.

For each other's sake, they try to keep things light.

Al Farra joked that his wife is jealous of all the time he spends with Abu Alezz  and of the fish dinners his friend feeds him.

"At least she's saving on groceries," Abu Alezz quipped, and they laughed.

But everything comes back to the war. Images of leveled buildings in Gaza aren't abstractions to the men who grew up there. "Of course I know that street," Al Farra said when an image flashed on screen showing a bomb crater in a residential neighborhood in Khan Yunis.

For months, Abu Alezz has helped people stuck in Gaza recover identity documents they lost while fleeing their homes, searching for birth certificates in archives kept by Palestinian authorities in the West Bank.

He also takes advantage of his Palestinian phone number, which allows him to make calls to Gaza, to facilitate conversations between people there with loved ones abroad.

On most nights, Ahmad abu Alezz connects calls from Palestinians overseas to their family members in Gaza. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

On a recent evening, Abu Alezz put two phones together, screen to screen. On one line was a man in Egypt. On the other, a relative of his in Gaza.

Is there any flour? the man in Egypt asked.

Yes, but not a lot. People are starving. People are sick.

How is my dad?

Hes OK. But the situation is very difficult."

Al Farra also tries to stay busy. He works overtime, and sometimes takes his young children, 5-year-old Lilia and 8-year-old Yosef, to protests calling for a cease-fire.

At a recent event in downtown Ramallah, the kids each wore a checkered kaffiyeh scarf  long a symbol of Palestinian resistance. They helped carry a banner memorializing the war's victims, a majority of whom are women and children. It included the names of Al Farra's sister and her children.

Their deaths thrust Al Farra into the center of a story that he had long covered as a journalist. "It feels different because I am part of this thing," he said. The death toll in Gaza was so high, he said, that few Palestinian families were untouched.

At a rally in Ramallah, Mohammad Al Farra's children, Yosef, 8, and Lilia, 5, wearing scarves at center right, help hold up a banner covered with names of people killed in the Israel-Hamas war. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Once, Al Farra and Abu Alezz dreamed of returning to Gaza. They'd study maps of the enclave and talk about how they would like to rebuild it. No longer.

I dont want to go back, except to say goodbye to my sister and make her a nice grave," Al Farra said. "I want to take all the people and move them far from there.

My Palestinian identity is in my heart, he said. "And I'm tired of war."

Abu Alezz said he felt the same. He has been trying to cobble together funds to evacuate his children. If they get out alive, he wants to join them and for the family to move far from the Middle East.

But for now, all the friends could do was sit in the studio in Ramallah.

They turned back to the TV and its endless montage of destruction: missiles striking buildings, women screaming in a hospital, a young girl pulled from the rubble of a collapsed home.

Mohammad Al Farra looks out with his daughter, Lilia, at a rally calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Such a young child, Abu Alezz remarked.

Al Farra said nothing. They sat and smoked in silence.

Times staff photographer Marcus Yam and special correspondent Asala Zreiqi in Ramallah contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
As we mark two full years since Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian government forces have reportedly withdrawn from Avdiivka, a town they first captured from pro-Russian forces in the Donetsk region in July 2014. Situated only 10 miles from Donetsk city, Avdiivka gave Ukrainian government forces a base from which their artillery bombarded Donetsk for nearly 10 years. From a prewar population of about 31,000, the town has been depopulated and left in ruins.

The mass slaughter on both sides in this long battle was a measure of the strategic value of the city to both sides, but it is also emblematic of the shocking human cost of this conflict, which has degenerated into a brutal and bloody war of attrition along a nearly static front line. Neither side made significant territorial gains in the entire 2023 year of fighting, with a net gain to Russia of a mere 188 square miles, or 0.1% of Ukraine.

And while it is the Ukrainians and Russians fighting and dying in this war of attrition, with more than half a million casualties, it is the United States, along with some of its Western allies, that has stood in the way of peace talks. This was true of talks between Russia and Ukraine that took place in March 2022, one month after the Russian invasion, and it is true of talks that Russia tried to initiate with the U.S. as recently as January 2024.

In March 2022, Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Turkey and negotiated a peace agreement that should have ended the war. Under that agreement, Ukraine would become a neutral country between east and west, on the model of Austria or Switzerland, giving up its controversial ambition for NATO membership. Territorial questions over Crimea and the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk would be resolved peacefully, based on self-determination for the people of those regions.

But then the U.S. and U.K. intervened to persuade Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy to abandon the neutrality agreement in favor of a long war aimed at driving Russia out of Ukraine and recovering Crimea and Donbas by force. U.S. and British leaders have never admitted to their own people what they did, nor tried to explain why they did it.

It has been left to everyone else involved to reveal details of the agreement and the U.S. and U.K.s roles in torpedoing it: Zelenskyys advisers; Ukrainian negotiators; Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Turkish diplomats; then-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who was another mediator; and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who mediated with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Ukraine.

The U.S. sabotage of peace talks should come as no surprise. So much of American foreign policy follows what should by now be an easily recognizable and predictable pattern, in which our leaders systematically lie to us about their decisions and actions in crisis situations. By the time the truth is widely known, it is often too late to reverse the catastrophic effects of those decisions. Thousands of people have paid with their lives, no one is held accountable, and the worlds attention has moved on to the next crisis, the next series of lies and the next bloodbath, which in this case is Gaza.

But the war grinds on in Ukraine, whether we pay attention to it or not. Once the U.S. and U.K. succeeded in killing peace talks and prolonging the war, it fell into an intractable pattern common to many wars, in which Ukraine, the U.S. and the leading members of the NATO military alliance were encouraged, or we might say deluded, by limited successes at different times into continually prolonging and escalating the war and rejecting diplomacy, in spite of ever-mounting, appalling human costs for the people of Ukraine.

U.S. and NATO leaders have repeated ad nauseam that they are arming Ukraine to put it in a stronger position at the negotiating table, even as they keep rejecting negotiations. After Ukraine gained ground with its much celebrated offensives in the fall of 2022, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, went public with a call to seize the moment and get back to the negotiating table from the position of strength that NATO leaders said they were waiting for. French and German military leaders were reportedly even more adamant that that moment would be short-lived if they failed to seize it.

They were right. President Biden rejected his military advisers calls for renewed diplomacy, and Ukraines failed 2023 offensive wasted its chance to negotiate from a position of strength, sacrificing many more lives to leave it weaker than before.

On Feb. 13, 2024, Reuters Moscow bureau broke the story that the U.S. had recently rejected a new Russian proposal to reopen peace negotiations. Multiple Russian sources involved in the initiative told Reuters that Russia had proposed direct talks with the U.S. to call a ceasefire along the current front lines of the war.

After Russias March 2022 peace agreement with Ukraine was vetoed by the U.S., this time Russia approached U.S. officials directly before involving Ukraine. There was a meeting of intermediaries in Turkey, and a meeting between Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CIA Director William Burns and national security adviser Jake Sullivan in Washington, but the result was a message from Sullivan that the U.S. was willing to discuss other aspects of U.S.-Russian relations, but not peace in Ukraine.

And so the war grinds on. Russia is still firing 10,000 artillery shells per day along the front line, while Ukraine can only fire 2,000. In a microcosm of the larger war, some Ukrainian gunners have told reporters they were only allowed to fire three shells per night. As Sam Cranny-Evans of the U.K.'s RUSI military think tank told the Guardian, What that means is that Ukrainians cant suppress Russian artillery anymore, and if the Ukrainians cant fire back, all they can do is try to survive.

A March 2023 European initiative to produce a million shells for Ukraine in a year fell far short, only producing about 600,000. U.S. monthly shell production in October 2023 was 28,000 shells, with a target of 37,000 per month by April 2024. The U.S. plans to increase production to 100,000 shells per month, but that will take until October 2025.

Meanwhile, Russia is already producing 4.5 million artillery shells per year. After spending less than one-tenth of the Pentagon budget over the past 20 years, how is Russia able to produce five times more artillery shells than the United States and its NATO allies combined?

RUSIs Richard Connolly explained to the Guardian that while Western countries privatized weapons production and dismantled surplus productive capacity after the end of the Cold War in the interest of corporate profits, The Russians have been subsidizing the defense industry, and many would have said wasting money for the event that one day they need to be able to scale it up. So it was economically inefficient until 2022, and then suddenly it looks like a very shrewd bit of planning.

President Biden has been anxious to send more money to Ukraine  a whopping $61 billion  but disagreements in Congress between bipartisan Ukraine supporters and a Republican faction opposed to U.S. involvement have held up the funds. But even if Ukraine had endless infusions of Western weapons, it faces a more serious problem: Many of the troops it recruited to fight this war in 2022 have been killed, wounded or captured, and its recruitment system has been plagued by corruption and a lack of enthusiasm for the war among most of its people.

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In August 2023, the government fired the heads of military recruitment in all 24 regions of the country after it became widely known that they were systematically soliciting bribes to allow men to avoid recruitment and gain safe passage out of the country. The Open Ukraine Telegram channel reported: The military registration and enlistment offices have never seen such money before, and the revenues are being evenly distributed vertically to the top.

The Ukrainian parliament is debating a new conscription law, with an online registration system that includes people living abroad and with penalties for failure to register or enlist. Parliament already voted down a previous bill that members found too draconian, and many fear that forced conscription will lead to more widespread draft resistance, or even bring down the government.

Oleksiy Arestovych, Zelenskyys former spokesman, told the Unherd website that the root of Ukraines recruitment problem is that only 20% of Ukrainians believe in the anti-Russian Ukrainian nationalism that has controlled Ukrainian governments since the overthrow of the Yanukovych government in 2014. What about the remaining 80%? the interviewer asked.

I think for most of them, their idea is of a multinational and poly-cultural country, Arestovych replied. And when Zelenskyy came into power in 2019, they voted for this idea. He did not articulate it specifically but it was what he meant when he said, I dont see a difference in the Ukrainian-Russian language conflict, we are all Ukrainians even if we speak different languages.

And you know, Arestovych continued, my great criticism of what has happened in Ukraine over the last years, during the emotional trauma of the war, is this idea of Ukrainian nationalism which has divided Ukraine into different people: the Ukrainian speakers and Russian speakers as a second class of people. Its the main dangerous idea and a worse danger than Russian military aggression, because nobody from this 80% of people wants to die for a system in which they are people of a second class.

If Ukrainians are reluctant to fight, imagine how Americans would resist being shipped off to fight in Ukraine. A 2023 U.S. Army War College study of Lessons from Ukraine found that a U.S. ground war with Russia  which the U.S. may be preparing to fight  would involve an estimated 3,600 U.S. casualties per day, killing and maiming as many U.S. troops every two weeks as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq did in 20 years. Echoing Ukraines military recruitment crisis, the authors concluded, Large-scale combat operations troop requirements may well require a reconceptualization of the 1970s and 1980s volunteer force and a move toward partial conscription.

U.S. war policy in Ukraine is predicated on just such a gradual escalation from proxy war to full-scale war between Russia and the United States, which is unavoidably overshadowed by the risk of nuclear war. This has not changed in two years, and it will not change unless and until our leaders take a radically different approach. That would involve serious diplomacy to end the war on terms on which Russia and Ukraine can agree, as they did on the March 2022 neutrality agreement.
Members of the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association perform with a steam- breathing dragon during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Members of Leungs White Crane Dragon & Lion Dance Association perform a dragon dance on Kearny Street during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Members of Leungs White Crane Dragon & Lion Dance Association perform a dragon dance on Kearny Street during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle The Grant Avenue Follies appear in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle A student performer with Yick Wo Alternative Elementary School dances during the Chinese New Year Parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Karen Tieu, Mrs. Chinatown 2019, waves to attendees of the Chinese New Year Parade. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Lion dancers perform near firecrackers during the finale of the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Spectators gather for fireworks in Chinatown after the Chinese New Year Parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Members of Leungs White Crane Dragon & Lion Dance Association perform a lion dance during the Chinese New Year Parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle San Francisco Mayor London Breed, center, prepares to ignite firecrackers on Kearny Street during the parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Spectators along Kearny Street watch the Chinese New Year Parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Students with Presidio Knolls School dance on Kearny Street during the parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Members of the Chinese American International School wait for the start of the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A dancing lion head on a car is part of the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Tally Sue Szeto of San Francisco covers her ears amid firecrackers at the Chinese New Year Parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Wearing a dragon outfit, Keo Edgette high-fives a firefighter as he and father wait to watch the parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A crowd gathers on Market Street to watch the Chinese New Year Parade. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Grand marshal Awkwafina greets spectators at the Chinese New Year Parade. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Grand marshal Awkwafina greets fans at the Chinese New Year Parade. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle District Attorney Brooke Jenkins participates in the Chinese New Year Parade. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Betty Yu with WWII Pacific War Memorial attends the Chinese New Year Parade. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Spectators anticipate the passing of the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle Members of the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association prepare to celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Members of the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association attend the Chinese New Year Parade. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Members of the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association prepare to celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the Chinese New Year Parade. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle Reily Luu, 5, of the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association stands ready to perform during the Chinese New Year Parade. It was his first year performing at the parade. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to the Chronicle

Thousands flocked to San Franciscos Chinatown on a balmy February afternoon to celebrate Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Dragon.

Saturdays festivities began with a festival of live music, crafts, food vendors and merchants that stretched down a closed Grant Avenue. The event ended with a parade around Chinatown and a fireworks display, as one of the largest celebrations of Asian culture outside of Asia has for many years.

As the temperature climbed, lines for Thai iced tea, dumplings and roasted chestnuts snaked down Grant Avenue, no queue longer than the one at the historic Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory tucked away around the corner on Ross Alley.

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Its moving fast and going to be worth it, Cindy Yuen, 16, said from the back of the line. Im just glad we can wait in the shade.



Others were more excited about the stuffed dragons offered by vendors.

Miles and Val Naughton of San Mateo brought their sons, 6 and 11, who said they couldnt wait to see the dragons in the parade.

This is our first time at an event like this. We had so much fun, but I dont think the boys will last through the parade, Val Naughton said.

The Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative hosted arts and crafts during the two-day festival, in partnership with the Childrens Creativity Museum.

The collaborative opened their gallery, Edge on the Square, to teach festival-goers how to make traditional Chinese lanterns. They also brought in Derek Tam from Dragon Papa Dessert, who made dragons beard candy, a handmade Chinese dessert that traces its roots back to the Han Dynasty, more than 2,200 years ago.

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The sweet treat consists of fine, silky white threads of sugar and starch wrapped around a filling of crushed peanuts, coconut and sesame. The strands cling to the chin, giving the candy its name. Tam has been making the dessert since he was a young child, he said. He was the fifth generation in his family to do so.

Members of the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association practice their dragon dance routine on Market Street, ahead of the 2024 Alaska Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Just like my new dragon, said a giggling Emi Chen, 10, after she and her father, William, tried the candy.

Thousands lined the parade route, pressing in, the last row standing on tiptoe to peer over the crowd. The cracks and booms of fireworks rang out with increasing frequency as night set in.

Amid dance troupes and marching bands, numerous elected officials passed, each riding on the back of flashy convertibles, waving from Porsches or Ferraris. A lowrider carrying Supervisor Myrna Melgar bounced down Kearny Street, bobbing along to thundering drums. Melgar smiled from the back seat, one hand waving, the other clutching the cars frame.

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Other politicians present included Mayor London Breed, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, State Assembly Member Phil Ting, and a slew of supervisors.

U.S. House Speaker emeritus Nancy Pelosi was also in attendance. She encouraged everyone to embrace the dragon within, before continuing down the parade route.

San Francisco is back! State Sen. Scott Wiener announced to cheers.

Nobody does it like San Francisco! said Mayor Breed, who added that the year of the dragon symbolizes progress. Nothings going to get in our way now. Nobodys going to stop us or stand in our way.



Marjory Willet and Hector Vazquez arrived to the parade late. We had to get some dim sum, Willet said. They noticed the restaurants were clearing out as patrons headed to the parade. We were like, If we dont eat now we might miss out,  she added.

Luckily, they arrived in time to see the parades headliner, actress and comedian Awkwafina.

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Predictions by the Naughton family from San Mateo made earlier in the day Saturday proved to be largely correct. After arriving early in the day to take in the sunshine and street fair, Val and Miles Naughton were spotted hours later, each carrying a snoring son.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Two Navy SEALs drowned last month while trying to board a vessel that was intercepted by U.S. naval forces in the Arabian Sea. On Thursday, federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal complaint against four foreign nationals they say were transporting suspected Iranian-made missile components on the vessel.

The four sailors were later taken to Virginia where they were criminally charged. Material witness warrants were filed against another 10 crew members.

In an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, an FBI agent wrote that the sailors admitted they had departed from Iran after at least one of the them initially claimed they left from Pakistan. All four sailors had Pakistani identifications cards.

Prosecutors said they were smuggling missile components for the type of weapons used by Houthi rebel forces in recent weeks.

Heres a look at the case and what comes next:WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ARABIAN SEA?

On the night of Jan. 11, U.S. Central Command Navy forces, including Navy SEALs, along with members of the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team, boarded an unflagged vessel described as a dhow in international waters of the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Somalia.

U.S. officials have said that while boarding the boat, Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers slipped into the gap created by high waves between the vessel and the SEALs combatant craft. As Chambers fell, Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram jumped in to try to save him, according to U.S. officials familiar with what happened. Both men were lost at sea. Efforts to find and rescue them were unsuccessful.

During a search of the ship, U.S. forces found and seized what an FBI official described as Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry, including critical parts for medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, a warhead, and propulsion and guidance components.

The FBI affidavit said the type of weaponry found on the vessel is consistent with weaponry used by Houthi rebel forces in recent attacks on merchant ships and U.S. military ships in the region.WHY CAN THE U.S. ARREST FOREIGN NATIONALS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS?

Navy forces were conducting an authorized flag verification when they boarded the vessel in international waters.

U.S. authorities can board a ship to verify if it has the authority to fly its flag or to determine the nationality of a vessel without a flag. Any country has a right under international law to board vessels and check for documentation of its nationality.

In this case, U.S. forces determined the vessel was violating international law by not having any flag in international waters. That made it a vessel without nationality subject to U.S. jurisdiction, the FBI affidavit states.

Navy forces ultimately determined the dhow was unsafe and unseaworthy and sunk the vessel according to protocol, the FBI agent wrote.

All 14 sailors on the vessel were brought onto the USS Lewis B. Puller and were later taken to Virginia.

Martin Davies, director of the Maritime Law Center at Tulane University Law School, said flag verifications are more common in drug investigations because ships smuggling drugs often conceal any signs of identification.

Its clearly permitted under international law, Davies told The Associated Press. Any country would have the authority to do this.

Some countries may not like the U.S. throwing its weight around in another part of the world, Davis noted.

But thats a political thing, not a legal thing, he said.WHY CAN PROSECUTORS HOLD THE 10 CREW MEMBERS?

The other 10 crew members are being detained under the federal material witness law. It allows courts to issue warrants for the arrest and detention of a person if their testimony is material in a criminal proceeding, and if it may become impracticable to secure the presence of the person by subpoena.

The law attracted attention and sparked controversy when it was used in international terrorism investigations after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Defense lawyers have criticized the law because it can result in people being detained for lengthy periods even though they are not charged with or suspected of committing a crime.

A 2014 report by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General identified 112 cases in which material witnesses were detained from 2000 until 2012. The median period of time those witnesses were detained was 26 days.WHATS NEXT FOR THE MEN WHO WERE CHARGED?

All four sailors are being held in custody pending preliminary and detention hearings scheduled for Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Richmond. A judge will determine whether to detain the defendants without bail as they await trial.

Muhammad Pahlawan is charged with attempting to smuggle advanced missile component and providing false information to U.S. Coast Guard officers during the boarding of the vessel.

Pahlawans co-defendants  Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah and Izhar Muhammad  were charged with providing false information.

Melissa OBoyle, Ullahs attorney, and Charles Gavin, Muhammads attorney, declined to comment on the charges. Attorneys for the other two defendants did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment Friday.

___

Kunzelman reported from Silver Spring, Maryland.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden paid a visit to the critical battleground state of Michigan. He came to Detroit  Motor City  to court union voters. Mr. Biden had just won the United Auto Workers' endorsement, and he was eager to share the spotlight with UAW president Shawn Fain.

Fain told the crowd, "You know what the hell's going to happen if this man's not president, because we've seen what happens. Labor went backwards."

"You all are the ones that brung me to the dance," Mr. Biden told union workers. "And I never left it."

UAW chief Shawn Fain explains why the union endorsed Biden over Trump ("Face the Nation")

Fain wants to ramp up the fight over unions and workers' rights, not just with auto companies, but with corporate leaders nationwide.

Asked if he stood with Fain, President Biden said, "Absolutely, positively. Look, I don't have anything against corporations. They've just got to start paying their fair share. The idea we have a thousand billionaires who are paying an average of 8.2 percent in federal tax? Come on, man!"

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and President Joe Biden, with CBS News chief election & campaign correspondent Robert Costa. / Credit: CBS News

Last September, Mr. Biden was the first sitting president to walk a union picket line, showing his support for the unprecedented six-week walk-out at all of the Big Three car makers. He told the workers, "Wall Street didn't build this country; the middle class built this country."

The UAW went on to win historic contracts for 150,000 of its members, making Shawn Fain the standard-bearer for the labor movement's comeback in 2023.

"This is what happens when workers get power," Fain said. "When the workers got this union back, they were able to elect their top leadership for the first time in history, and we saw massive change in a short amount of time, and we're gonna continue to do that."

"You've shaken up the place," said Costa.

"Well, that's what they elected me for."

UAW President Shawn Fain. / Credit: CBS News

Fain was the first UAW president elected directly by membership, and within months he led shutdowns on assembly lines at Ford, GM, and Chrysler/Jeep parent company Stellantis. He also broke with tradition: while negotiations usually happened behind closed doors, Fain broadcast updates via Facebook to union members and the world at large. In one video he exclaimed, "All three companies wanted concessions on profit sharing. And we said, 'Hell, no.'"

Fain explained, "It was important to us to be, you know, open and transparent with the membership, not just in bargaining, but it's in everything we're doing."

The union's new contracts not only make up for pay cuts workers took more than 15 years ago during the great recession; they provide a foothold for the union in Detroit's electric vehicle future.

Ford CEO Jim Farley recently warned the contracts will have "a business impact" on the automaker. Fain says impact is what he's all about.

A native of Kokomo, Indiana, the 55-year-old came up the ranks as an electrician, and still carries his grandfather's union pay stub in his pocket. "I remember my grandfather talking about a 110-day strike at Chrysler back in 1950 to get pensions," he said.

"If you would have asked me when I was in high school, 'Are you gonna be an electrician one day?' I would have laughed and like, are you kidding me?"

He recalled the difficulties of being on unemployment: "When my first daughter was born, we were getting WIC. It was a humbling experience. But experiences like that, they laid a groundwork for me for what was important in life and why things mattered and why wages mattered, why having good jobs mattered, why having good benefits mattered."

From Hollywood actors and writers, to hotel and hospital workers, even neighborhood baristas, last year's labor protests were like a dam bursting. From 2021 to 2023 the Big Three automakers made more than $100 billion in profits (according to the Economic Policy Institute), while average auto worker pay has fallen nearly twenty percent from pre-recession levels.

Fain said, "What gave us power at the bargaining table was the company saw how eager members were to go out on strike, and when we were calling plants to go out on strike, that plants that didn't get called were disappointed. It was just a matter of when and how long it was gonna take, because I knew our members had the resolve to make it happen.

"This is our generation's defining moment," he said.

According to Kate Bronfenbrenner, a professor at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, "If unions don't run the kind of campaigns that force employers to come to the table and bargain with them, because the cost of not bargaining with them is greater than the cost of bargaining with them, they aren't going to be able to build their power and organize more workers. Workers aren't stupid; they know that the companies weren't going to give them that bump."

Bronfenbrenner notes the American public sided overwhelmingly with striking autoworkers: "They had given huge concessions in 2007. Now the companies were making money and they weren't sharing it. They had risked their lives during COVID. And so, [Fain] did a very good job of getting the public to see those issues. This was about something that was fair, and this was just, and that we're living in a time where corporations are taking too much."

Fain may come across as mild-mannered, but he also rails against the "billionaire class," and has even worn T-shirts that say "Eat the Rich."

"I don't think billionaires should exist," he said. "No one needs that much money. I think it's inhumane. Pick any city, walk around, you know, you see people starving, people without basic necessities. There's no excuse for that. And it's not because people are lazy or don't want to work. The billionaires that keep amassing more and more wealth, so they can build rocket ships and do whatever the hell they want to do, that does nothing for humanity."

"Your critics say that's class warfare," said Costa.

"Yeah, class warfare has been going on in this country for the last 40 years  the billionaire class has been taking everything and leaving the working class with nothing," Fain replied. "Whenever working class people ever step up and say, 'This is wrong, we want it to stop,' all of a sudden, Oh, it's class warfare. It's the end of the world."

If there is a labor war being waged in America, the front lines are in the non-union factories of the South and Midwest. Volkswagen's plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, builds their latest electric cars  and it's a top target of UAW organizers.

UAW to organize workers at all US nonunion factories after winning new contracts in Detroit

Fain told workers in Tennessee, "When the company uses fear, we're gonna come back with facts. And these are the facts: You know, Volkswagen made $78 billion since 2020 in profit. They paid out $24 billion in dividends to corporate executives and shareholders. The CEO of Volkswagen makes $12 million a year."

United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain speaks outside Volkswagen's plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. / Credit: CBS News

The UAW has tried twice before in the past decade to organize in Chattanooga. What's changed since then? After the UAW's recent victories, non-union automakers (including Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and VW) offered raises, too. But the extra pay came without the union's benefits or job protections.

Fain explained coming into a more hostile territory: "We don't ever rest," he said. "Workers deserve justice."

"Sunday Morning" was there in December when workers tried to petition management for a meeting with organizers.

In a statement to "Sunday Morning," Volkswagen Group of America said: "Volkswagen is proud of our 5,500 employees who power our world-class assembly plant in Chattanooga. Our culture has been built through frequent, transparent, and two-way dialogue with our people. We respect their democratic right to determine who should represent their interests in the workplace without interference, intimidation, or misinformation."

But Volkswagen worker Shaun Lawler says skepticism of the UAW runs deep in the community. When asked how his family views unions, he replied, "They don't see it as a good opportunity; they see layoffs."

What do they call unions? "They call them communist," Lawler said.

Still, after the UAW's success last year, 13-year Volkswagen employee Vicky Holloway says the union's time has come. "I really think we have a chance this time," she said. "Unless your eyes are just closed and your ears, and you just don't hear anything, then you realize that we do need a union."

The UAW now says a union vote in Chattanooga is approaching. It will be another defining moment for Shawn Fain  and for the American labor movement.

"You know, organized labor led the way for the American dream," he said. "And that's fallen by the wayside over the last 40 years. And it is our obligation to humanity to change that."

And, he adds, he's not going to give up: "Not at all. That's the mission."



For more info:

Shawn Fain, president, United Auto WorkersKate Bronfenbrenner, director of labor education research, Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations



Story produced by Ed Forgotson. Editor: Ed Givnish.

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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is demanding answers from the White House following the tragic killing of a 22-year-old nursing student, Laken Hope Riley, on Thursday at the University of Georgia in Athens. The alleged perpetrator, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra from Venezuela, was arrested for her murder near Lake Herrick on UGA's campus during a morning run.

During a press conference on Friday night, UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark disclosed that Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen. Furthermore, Ibarra's older brother, Diego Ibarra, aged 29, was arrested for possessing a fraudulent U.S. permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card.

DIEGO JOSE IBARRA

Despite this information, the United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia, stated on Saturday morning that they lack details about Jose Ibarra's immigration status. Media reports, including from FOX News, claim Jose Ibarra illegally crossed into El Paso, Texas, in September 2022, although ICE has reportedly not officially commented on the matter.

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Expressing concern, Gov. Kemp addressed a letter to the President on Saturday morning, seeking clarification. In the letter, Kemp questions why his administration was not informed about the situation involving the murder suspect's brother, who was arrested for possessing a fraudulent U.S. permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card. He also seeks information on Jose Ibarra's current immigration status and underscores the urgency of receiving these details promptly.

Laken Riley's tragic death struck the hearts of Georgians everywhere and has sparked national outrage.



Joe Biden's failed policies have turned every state into a border state, and I'm demanding information from him so we can protect our people when the federal government wont! pic.twitter.com/wsD4H6BSr6  Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) February 24, 2024

Gov. Kemp emphasized the reliance on unofficial sources and leaks to media outlets for information about Jose Ibarra. He asserted that answers to these fundamental questions must be provided publicly as soon as possible to ensure that state and local officials have the necessary information to safeguard communities.

On social media, several prominent Republicans in Georgia, including Rep. Mike Collins and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, are placing blame on what they perceive as President Biden's lenient immigration policies. They have expressed their concerns and criticisms through statements on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The blood of Laken Riley is on the hands of Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, and the government of Athens-Clarke County.



The Venezuelan suspect in Laken Rileys murder is one of millions of illegal aliens that the Biden administration has released into this country to be welcomed  Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) February 24, 2024

Athens, Georgia is a sanctuary city which gives illegal aliens safe harbor.



There should be no sanctuary cities in the state of Georgia!



Im calling on our Republican-controlled state legislature and our Governor Brian Kemp to end sanctuary cities in GA. https://t.co/M1hona1VLr  Marjorie Taylor Greene  (@mtgreenee) February 24, 2024

Similarly, Speaker of the House Jon Burns placed the blame for the tragedy on the immigration system in the U.S., releasing the following statement:

"We continue to mourn Laken Rileys tragic death, and lift up her family in our prayers. A precious young lady with a bright future appears to have lost her life because of the failures of so many to secure our border and end the mass influx of illegal immigrants.



"Let me be clearthis tragedy was created by the inaction of politicians to fix our broken immigration system, and it has been exacerbated over the past three years by an administration that has refused to secure our southern border.



"But there are certainly also questions surrounding the administration of justice at the local level, and House leadership will be pressing for answers over the coming days as to why exactly the suspect and his brother continued to roam freely in the Athens area.



"This tragedy is as lamentable as it is maddening - and while our state continues to mourn Lakens loss, over the coming days, the Georgia House will be looking at ways to strengthen the security of our state, enhance public safety, and act where the federal government has failed to do so. At every step, we will be guided by the facts, do whats right for the people of Georgia, and work to deliver justice to a family whose light was taken far too soon."

Jose Antonio Ibarra should not have been in this country. Laken Riley should be alive today. And now we mourn the loss of a vibrant young woman who was training for a life of service to others.



My heart breaks for the loved ones of Laken, and for every parent who has lost a  Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) February 24, 2024

Our thoughts are with Laken Rileys family & loved ones. Were also thankful for the LEOs & first responders who acted quickly to make an arrest.



This crime was avoidable. Jose Ibarra shouldnt have been in America & I stand with @GovKemp in demanding answers. #gapol #ga03 https://t.co/2kNxMFHuge  Mike Dugan (@MikeDuganGA03) February 24, 2024

Sen. Jason Esteves (D-Dist. 6) expressed disappointment in his fellow lawmakers for turning Riley's death political, and suggested the blame should instead be placed on former President Donald Trump.

"Laken Rileys family deserves space to grieve without being used for cheap political points. Those who bring up border security should take that up with Trump, who recently whipped Republicans in DC into shelving a bipartisan border security bill. #gapol," he said on X.

Laken Rileys family deserves space to grieve without being used for cheap political points. Those who bring up border security should take that up with Trump, who recently whipped Republicans in DC into shelving a bipartisan border security bill. #gapolhttps://t.co/DYDv9G3I5N  Jason Esteves (@jasonesteves) February 24, 2024

Jose Ibarra made his first appearance in front of a judge in Clarke County on Saturday morning. He was denied bond. Ibarra was not seen on camera because his lawyer requested that he not be shown because they did not want him to be seen in jail clothing. The judge granted the request.

It is not known when Diego Ibarra will face a judge.
CLARKE COUNTY, Ga. - In the wake of the tragic murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Hope Riley on the University of Georgia campus in Athens on Feb. 22, there has been renewed attention and discussion around sanctuary cities and counties. Many people have criticized Athens for being a "sanctuary city" on social media.

RELATED: Gov. Kemp wants answers about murder suspect's immigration status

Although there is no official definition, a sanctuary city, county, or state is generally characterized by laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that hinder immigration enforcement and provide a shield for criminals against ICE. This can be achieved through various means such as refusing to or prohibiting agencies from complying with ICE detainers, imposing unreasonable conditions on detainer acceptance, denying ICE access to interview incarcerated aliens, or obstructing communication and information exchanges between local personnel and federal immigration officers.

Laken Riley, a nursing student, was brutally murdered on the University of Georgia campus. The suspect in custody is a 26-year-old illegal from Venezuela, Jose Antionio Ibarra. Athens-Clark County is a sanctuary city. Every crime committed by an illegal alien is an avoidable pic.twitter.com/wviDqNoHGC  Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) February 24, 2024

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, many states, including Georgia, enacted robust anti-immigration legislation. Georgia's initial major anti-immigration bill, which mandated individuals seeking employment or public benefits to prove legal status, was signed into law in 2006. Notably, Georgia officially outlawed sanctuary cities in the state in 2009.

The blood of Laken Riley is on the hands of Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, and the government of Athens-Clarke County.



The Venezuelan suspect in Laken Rileys murder is one of millions of illegal aliens that the Biden administration has released into this country to be welcomed  Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) February 24, 2024

Additionally, in 2011, a state law was implemented allowing local police to demand proof of citizenship from almost anyone suspected of being undocumented. The new law also penalized people who harbored or transported undocumented immigrants in some situations. Over the subsequent years, Georgia introduced legislation that restricted access to driver's licenses, postsecondary education, employment, and more.

Despite the statewide prohibition, there are so-called sanctuary cities and counties in Georgia, including Atlanta, Clarkston, Decatur, and Athens-Clarke County, according to the USCIS Guide. While specific policies vary by city, there is a general recognition of the importance of safeguarding immigrants from deportation and enforcing federal immigration laws.

RELATED: Republicans slam Athens mayor for running a sanctuary city, but the city denies being one

Moreover, as of February 2021, Cobb and Gwinnett counties no longer participate in the 287(g) immigration program. This decision effectively stripped police departments of their authority to enforce federal immigration policy.

In 2017, Atlanta's city council passed a resolution asserting that the city is not responsible for "immigration affairs," and in 2018, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms terminated the city's relationship with ICE.

Simultaneously, in 2018, Clarke County Sheriff Ira Edwards declared that the sheriff's office would no longer honor detainers set in place by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, the policy appeared to be changed back later that day.

Nevertheless, despite these local decisions, Georgia reportedly harbors the third-largest detained immigrant population in the country. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI) highlight that numerous communities continue to support the 287(g) program, enabling state and local law administrators to enforce immigration laws on behalf of ICE.

It's crucial to note that sanctuary cities exclusively provide protection to individuals accused of or convicted of non-violent crimes, such as immigration and drug-related offenses. Individuals convicted of violent or serious crimes, such as murder or rape, are not eligible for protection under sanctuary city policies. Furthermore, sanctuary cities do not offer protection from federal immigration enforcement agents.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on the countrys allies to be bolder in efforts to seize Russian assets amidst the invasion of Ukraine in an op-ed in The Sunday Times.

Sunak called on the Group of Seven (G7) nations to find a lawful way to more aggressively seize frozen assets belonging to the Russian government and its richest citizens and pass the proceeds back to Ukraine to aid its defense.

We must be bolder in hitting the Russian war economy  And we must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets, he said.

The prime minister visited Ukraine himself last month and reiterated his call for more Ukraine aid from Western allies. Aid has run into partisan opposition in the U.S., where Democrats insist on the funding while Republicans are split, with some being skeptical of the spendings usefulness.

Sunday marks the two-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, a protracted conflict that has killed tens of thousands and driven a wedge between the U.S. and Europe. The war is at a near standstill, with Russian and Ukrainian militaries bogged down in the countrys east with the winter weather.

G7 nations and other allies began freezing Russian assets shortly after the countrys invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The allies have gathered about $600 billion in assets and funds, though efforts to route the money to Ukraine have been met with legal hurdles.

In addition to questions over legality, some have also raised concerns over precedent and the future of the Ukrainian economy. Cornell University sanctions expert Nicholas Mulder told The Associated Press last month that the seizures could actually hurt the long-term health of Ukraine aid.

The European Union reached a tentative agreement to transfer its portion of the global funds, about $216 billion from the Russian central bank, to Ukraine late last month.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced legislation enabling the U.S. to freeze Russian assets for Ukraine late last month as well.

If signed into law, the legislation would mark the first time the U.S. has seized foreign assets of a country it is not at war with. Lawmakers said the Biden administration is supportive of the bill.

Generally speaking, we are supportive of having domestic legislative authorities that will give us flexibility as we continue to discuss with partners and allies on how best to cease Russias aggression in Ukraine and ensure Russia pays for the damage it has caused, a Biden administration official told The Hill last month.

The official continued, We are also engaged in active conversations with our allies and partners, including the [Group of Seven], to ensure we are all coordinated in making Russia pay.

At least $500,000 has already been transferred from the U.S. to Ukraine, with a first-of-its-kind transfer via Estonia announced last week.

Estonia is receiving the funds first, since under current authorities, the facts of this case do not allow for a direct transfer to Ukraine, the Department of Justice said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- Ministers will be urged to remove barriers and speed up decisions to boost investment in the UK at an inaugural meeting of a cross-government panel led by Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The new committee will meet soon and will be attended by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch and senior figures from most other government departments, Dominic Johnson, the UKs investment minister, said in an interview. Its formation was one of several proposals by Richard Harrington, a former business minister who published a review into foreign direct investment in November.

The UKs Conservative government is trying to boost business investment after investor sentiment was weighed down by concerns about Brexit, visa shortages and economic uncertainty. In November, Hunt made a tax relief on business investment permanent as part of the biggest package of tax cuts implemented since the 1980s.

Johnson said he would encourage ministers attending the committee meeting to grapple with some of the biggest obstacles to businesses investing in the UK, including lengthy planning decisions and tear-inducing delays for those wanting to launch new projects not being able to connect to the national grid for an energy supply.

Harrington pointed to a lack of co-ordination between government departments as a source of frustration for businesses and called for a beefed-up concierge service to help land large projects. Hunt said he would accept all the reviews headline findings as part of the governments push to make the UK a hub for investment particularly in areas such as science and technology.

Harrington told Bloomberg hes pleased with progress so far, which includes a new group made up of senior civil servants from different departments to sit alongside the ministerial one.

The mood of government is moving very clearly, he said. However, he renewed a call for the government to make the investment minister a cabinet position rather than a junior posting. The CEOS of sovereign wealth funds sit in the cabinet in their countries, he said.

Johnson quit his role as a fund manager in the City to join the government in 2022 and his office is a room that James Bond author Ian Fleming used when he worked for the Navy.

He oversees the Office for Investment, which has a staff of 25 and was created by former prime minister Boris Johnson in 2020. The government has held two international investment summits, at Windsor Castle in 2021 and at Hampton Court in November last year, in a move that was widely seen as inspired by French President Emmanuel Macrons Choose France initiative launched after Brexit.

Johnson said his team is following up on 29.5 billion ($37.4 billion) of commitments by businesses at Hampton Court, including 15 billion from Australian investors.

He pointed to areas of progress, including a Tata gigafactory in Somerset backed by hundreds of millions of pounds, of government support. Such financial packages are hard to negotiate as the government needs to see value for money while companies do not want to take all the risk, he said, adding that the deal had helped revive the British car industry.

We have lit the flare for other companies to have confidence to come back into the UK, including Stellantis and BMW, Johnson said. I think other car companies are about to come in. Now we have an EV car industry in a meaningful way.

Nuclear energy is another area where there has been a reset after 25 years of inconsistency, Johnson said. In nuclear, you cant do stop-start.

With government commitments to sites in Sizewell in Suffolk and Hinkley in Somerset and a competition for new small modular reactors that could be built in the UK and also exported, we have committed billions to a future nuclear industry and weve made it very clear that it is at the core of our sustainable energy revolution, Johnson said.

The ministers role has not always been straightforward, and some lawmakers criticized his trip to Beijing and Hong Kong last year following Chinas crackdown on human rights. Johnson said he supports the need for the rule of law and freedoms in the former British territory, but added its also important to have contact with China as one of Britains major trading partners.

Overseas investors understand that the British government does not want them to buy stakes in certain sensitive businesses but they want clarity over the policy, Johnson said, adding that the UKs scrutiny of business transactions is working well.

We are faster than any other measurable country, he said. Just a tiny number of the thousands of transactions have been been altered, called in or blocked.

There are still difficult areas, such as the current push from politicians in some countries including the UKs Foreign Secretary David Cameron to seize some of Russias $300 billion of frozen assets to help Ukraine.

Cameron is right to be looking at an exceptional situation in an exceptional way, Johnson said. But any action needs to be within the constraints of the rule of the law and property rights.

It is very important that international investors dont think that the UK is being discretionary or capricious about property rights which in my view  are completely inviolable. Thats what builds a strong economy.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Ukraine has submitted applications to the European and American security regulators to confirm the plan to open airspace.

Source: Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraines Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, at the Ukraine. Year 2024 forum

Details: Kubrakov noted that Ukraine is in consultation with American and European airspace security regulators.

"A complex process, but Ukraine is taking the first formal steps now. In these weeks, we will submit official risk assessment statements to the relevant regulators," the minister said.

At the same time, the timing of the opening is not specified, indicating the extreme complexity of the issue of ensuring security.

"It is critical to us that the American and European regulators confirm our algorithm of actions," Kubrakov added.

Background:

Ukraine announced in January that flights from Kyiv and Lviv would resume.

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Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that in 2024, Ukraine intends to access income from frozen Russian assets.

Source: Shmyhal at the Ukraine. Year 2024 forum

Details: The Russian Federation's frozen assets abroad total more than US$300 billion.

Ukraine has been unable to receive any of these funds for the past two years because Western countries where these funds are blocked face difficulties in confiscating them.

Some UK bankers and lawyers, for example, have warned that high-profile asset seizures risk undermining London's reputation as an international financial centre and raising concerns about the rule of law.

To avoid problems that may arise with the transfer of Russian money in favour of Ukraine, alternative proposals are being developed; so far, there have been two:

Bonds are issued using funds as collateral.

The scenario that has gained popularity among EU banks is to separate the interest accrued on seized assets and transfer it to Ukraine, while keeping the assets intact.

The latter is deemed the most acceptable.

International banks, seeking to avoid legal ramifications, urge the UK to establish certain legal principles before transferring frozen Russian funds to Ukraine.

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Ukraine possesses an undisclosed military action plan for 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov revealed during the Ukraine. The Year 2024 forum, emphasizing its potency and anticipated effectiveness.

The plan for 2024 already exists, but we do not publicly discuss it. It is powerful, it is strong, and it not only gives hope, but will also yield results for 2024, emphasized Umerov.

Read also: A difficult choice for Ukraine. What is the war plan for 2024, and how to procure arms?

He stressed that the Ministry of Defense is currently coordinating work on fortifications. The Minister noted that more than several thousand strongpoints and firing positions have already been equipped.

We will continue our work, focusing on these initiatives. Everyone says that our results speak better about our actions. We are doing everything possible and impossible to make a breakthrough, added Umerov.

Read also: Russias war plan after fall of Avdiivka  expert interview

The Office of the President is hosting a major conference of military-political leadership on Feb. 25 with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Earlier, NV sources confirmed that on the evening of Feb. 21, for the first time since the full-scale invasion began, Zelenskyy gathered all Servant of the People MPs to discuss the war and future plans.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The water of Horsetail Fall glows reddish orange during the annual firefall phenomenon in Yosemite National Park on Thursday. The light show occurs when the waterfall is illuminated by the setting sun around El Capitan during three weeks in February. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle The water of Horsetail Fall turns the golden color of the sunset during the annual firefall phenomenon in Yosemite National Park on Thursday. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

No embers, flames or fire are involved in Yosemites annual firefall but the naturally occurring phenomenon is drawing thousands of visitors to see and photograph the event at Horsetail Falls.

Firefall occurs in Yosemite Valley on February evenings as the setting sun hits the falling waters at just the right angle, and casts a reddish glow that resembles fire.

The natural event also resembled an outlawed Yosemite tradition in which flaming embers were pushed over the edge of Glacier Point, producing a waterfall of fire on summer evenings as hundreds gathered below at Curry Village to watch the man-made spectacle.

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The water of Horsetail Fall turns the golden color of the sunset during the annual Firefall phenomenon in Yosemite National Park in Yosemite, Calif., on Thursday, February 22, 2024. The light show occurs when Horsetail Fall in Yosemite is illuminated by the setting sun around El Capitan during three weeks in February. San Francisco Chronicle

Yosemite Firefall was accidentally started in 1872 by the owner of an old lodge atop Glacier Point, who would sometimes extinguish an evening campfire by kicking embers over the edge.

When he found out visitors in the valley enjoyed the display, he made it a regular event that continued for 25 years. Every summer night, a bonfire atop Glacier Point would be pushed over the edge, sending a cascade of fire into the valley.

The firefall occurred only on special occasions until it resumed its regular appearance in 1917, pausing during World War II.

It was halted permanently in 1968 by the National Parks Service, which decried crowds trampling meadows and sensitive habitats. Of course, it also created a fire hazard.

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Photographer Galen Rowell is credited with first photographing the natural illumination of Horsetail Falls in 1973. Thousands have followed suit, and the event is now so popular that reservations are required on weekends at the falls viewing area.

Chronicle photographer Carlos Avila Gonzalez, who became a fan of Rowells work at a young age, shot the firefall for the Chronicle this week. Hes captured it six times now since his first assignment in 2016.

Hundreds of visitors set up cameras hours ahead of time to capture the water of Horsetail Fall reflect the fiery color of the sunset during the annual phenomenon in Yosemite National Park on Thursday. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

I love the challenge of it, he said. You dont know if youre going to get it because of the changing conditions  the clouds, the weather.

Battling the crowds  many of them social media influencers  adds to the challenge, he said.

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Some arrive at 8 a.m. to get a good spot, and parking is so crowded and controlled that Gonzalez had to hike 1 miles each way, carrying as much as 40 pounds of gear, then jostle his way in to get some good photos of the firefall.

Its a challenge on a lot of different fronts, he said.
Ukraines counter-offensive plans were leaked to Russia last year, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.

In a startling admission at a press conference marking the second anniversary of the war, the Ukrainian president said the plans were on the Kremlins table before the long-awaited offensive began.

Kyivs forces made little progress against heavy Russian defences despite being provided with billions of dollars in Western weaponry.

The Ukrainian president said several plans for a new offensive are now being drawn up to fool Moscow if they are leaked again. He gave no further details on what was leaked to Russia.

Earlier this year, Mr Zelensky ordered a reshuffle of his top brass which included replacing the popular commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny.

In Kyiv, Mr Zelensky also issued an emotional appeal for Western allies to step up military aid, saying large numbers of soldiers would die without it.

Whether Ukraine will lose, whether it will be very difficult for us and whether there will be a large number of casualties depends on you, on our partners, in the Western world, he said.

Mr Zelensky took questions from journalists for nearly two hours - VALENTYN OGIRENKO

Striking a hopeful note, he said he was sure that Congress would approve a stalled $60bn aid package, despite little sign that Republicans are prepared to drop their objections.

If we cant count on the support of the US I am not sure what world we are living in, Mr Zelensky added, warning that Ukraine would cease to exist as a country if it lost the war.

The presidents remarks came after Rusten Umerov, Ukraines defence minister, said half of all Western military aid was delayed and Russia was gaining territory as a result.

At the moment, commitment does not constitute delivery, Mr Umerov said. Fifty per cent of commitments are not delivered on time.

This means that Kyiv will lose people, lose territories.

In his lengthy question-and-answer session, Mr Zelensky said that four brigades were unable to take part in Ukraines counter-offensive last year as promised Western supplies did not arrive in time.

Ukraine had a fist prepared but soldiers were forced to sit and wait.

Ukraine death toll

Announcing Ukraines first official death toll, he also said that only 31,000 soldiers had died in the war to date, not 300,000 or 150,000 or whatever Putin and his lying circle are saying.

Western officials have estimated a total around 70,000 and Ukrainian sources said that Mr Zelenskys figure did not include many missing in action who are likely deceased.

But the president admitted that Russian forces on the battlefield are currently outnumbering Ukraines by a factor of seven-to-one.

He denied that the current situation on the battlefield was the weakest for Ukraine since Russian troops threatened Kyiv two years ago, saying that would only come if Kyivs unity collapsed.

Now is the most difficult moment for our unity, and if we all fall apart, from the outside and God forbid inside, then this will be the weakest moment. It has not happened yet, he said.

On the subject of potential peace negotiations with Moscow, Mr Zelensky reiterated he would not talk directly to Vladimir Putin.

Can you talk to a deaf person? he said. Can you talk to a man who kills his opponents?

Russian society disappointing

Alexei Navalny, the chief foe of Vladimir Putin, died in an Arctic prison this month.

Addressing the death of the opposition leader, Mr Zelensky said the reaction inside the country was a let-down, asking wheres the response from Russian society.

As fears rise of an all-out war between Russia and Nato, Mr Zelensky said European societies were not prepared for conflict.

A local resident and her child walks past the railway station destroyed by a Russian missile attack in Konstyantynivka, Donetsk region - ANATOLII STEPANOV

Putin is not only our enemy hes the enemy of all of Europe, he said I think they [European societies] at least understand he will continue this war anyway.

Within Europe, military supplies are no issue, he added: The question is your societies are not ready to fight.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, will attend a gathering of world leaders in Paris on Monday aimed at countering the narrative that Russia is certain to win the war.

Elysee Palace

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has invited his European counterparts to the Elysee palace for a working meeting announced at short notice because of what his advisers say is an escalation in Russian aggression over the past few weeks.

We want to send Putin a very clear message, that he wont win in Ukraine, a presidential adviser told reporters in a briefing.

Our goal is to crush this idea he wants us to believe that he would be somehow winning.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, will attend, along with the prime ministers of Spain and the Netherlands.

04:31 PM GMT

Ukraine unity at most difficult point

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine had reached the hardest point for maintaining the unity crucial to sustaining the war effort

Now is the most difficult moment for our unity, and if we all fall apart, from the outside and God forbid inside, then this will be the weakest moment. It has not happened yet, the Ukrainian leader told a news conference in Kyiv.

His comments come after the president appointed a new army chief, appointing General Oleksandr Syrskyi in place of the popular general Zaluzhny.

The decision was viewed as a potential source of division within Ukrainian military circles and comes at a time when Russia is making military advances on Ukraines eastern front.

04:14 PM GMT

Zelensky: This year will define the ending of this war

President Zelensky has said 2024 will be the year that defines the end of the Ukraine war.

The first year was a year of survival, the second year was about resilience (of the economy, gdp). The third year could be a turning year. [] this year will define the ending of this war, he said.

In this turning year, we need courage; we need resilience. This year will provide the format for the ending of this war.

04:08 PM GMT

Where's the response from Russian society over Navalny, asks Zelensky

President Zelensky has called out Russian society for failing to respond adequately following the death of Alexei Navalny.

The death of the imprisoned Russian opposition leader in an arctic circle penal colony last week was met with widespread condemnation from Western leaders, with many placing the blame squarely with Vladimir Putin.

Addressing the death of Navalny, Zelensky asked the audience at a press conference: Wheres the response from Russian society?

The president repeated his accusation that the Kremlin has killed Navalny but accused Moscow of indifference.

They dont care. They are kind of blinded, he said.

04:00 PM GMT

Zelensky: Money is Putin's priority

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West to impose more stringent financial sanctions on Vladimir Putin and his allies, claiming that money is always [Putins] priority.

He tries to ensure security of his money. So I think the sweet spot surely is the public opinion and about businesses who fear losing him, he said.

Addressing the prospect of ramping up sanctions on Putins supporters, Zelensky added: It would be bloodless and very to the point.

03:51 PM GMT

Zelensky: 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed

Pesident Volodymyr Zelensky said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since Russias full-scale invasion two years ago, giving the first official figure for more than a year.

Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv that he could not disclose the number of wounded because it would help Russian military planning.

31,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed in this war. Not 300,000, not 150,000 ... (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is lying there ... But nevertheless, this is a big loss for us, he said.

Ukraine has not put a number to its military losses since the end of 2022, when presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the invasion on February 24.

Russia does not disclose military losses, which it regards as secret.

03:48 PM GMT

Zelensky: Germany crucial for providing weapons

Asked whether Germany could provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles, President Zelensky lauded the significance of German aid, suggesting it could follow the example of the US.

The United States then Germany. This is how it always goes, he said. The order of precedence in respect of certain weapons has always been like that.

When the US make a certain move ahead, then we could use it as an example with talks with others.

As I have optimism regarding the US, I think we will get results everywhere.

03:43 PM GMT

Zelensky calls on the West for aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers media questions during his press conference in Kyiv - AP/Evgeniy Maloletka

03:35 PM GMT

Zelensky: European societies not ready to fight'

President Zelensky said fellow European societies are not ready to fight.

The question is not in munitions...the question is your societies are not ready to fight. And you will see, god bless, that Putin will not come to you.

Asked whether the attitude is changing in Europe with regard to providing aid to Ukraine, President Zelensky said that Europe is shifting.

Their attitude to Ukraine in this war. I think they at least understood that it is dangerous for them. Putin is not only our enemy hes the enemy of all of Europe. I think they are at least understood he will continue this war anyway.

03:21 PM GMT

Zelensky: Ukraine reliant on US

Asked if Ukraine can trust US Congress, President Zelensky said: If we cant count on the US I will be wondering what world I am living in.

02:46 PM GMT

Ukraine floats possibility of a peace summit

Ukraine and its foreign partners could invite Russia to a peace summit to discuss an end to Moscows two-year-old invasion on Kyivs terms, a senior Ukrainian official has said.

Switzerland will host a summit to discuss a vision for peace as outlined by Volodymyr Zelensky, which could be handed to Russia during a second meeting at a later date, said Andriy Yermak, President Zelenskys chief of staff.

There can be a situation in which we together invite representatives of the Russian Federation, where they will be presented with the plan in case whoever is representing the aggressor country at that time will want to genuinely end this war and return to a just peace, he said during a televised conference in Kyiv.

Zelensky first announced his peace formula at a November 2022 summit of the Group of 20 major economies. It calls for restoring Ukraines territorial integrity and a total withdrawal of Russian troops.

Kyiv has maintained that it would not speak with Moscow until all Russian troops have left Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has said there is no current basis for peace talks.

02:15 PM GMT

Listen: Ukraine the Latest podcast

01:41 PM GMT

Watch: Interview with Lieutenant General Budanov

01:25 PM GMT

Encounter: David Knowles meets Gen. Budanov

Sitting in the centre of the stage, Kyrill Budanov, Ukraines spy chief, scans the room. His feets are planted apart, closed fists resting on the armchair. With close cropped brown hair and a fresh face theres little indication of the responsibility laden on one of Ukraines most effective intelligence operators.

Charismatic and calm, hes the centre of attention for journalists. Cameras and reporters clutching dictaphones fall over themselves to record a few seconds of questions.

This close, I can see his wedding ring. Budanovs wife was poisoned several months ago by suspected Russian agents. The other day, he told my colleague Dominic Nicholls that he knew who the suspects were and vowed revenge.

Asked what must be done in the case of inferior numbers of weapons, Budanov speaks softly. In 21st century its high time you go from quantity to quality, he says.

The focus of the panel is Ukraines Peace Formula, and Budanov is asked which three forms of influence will make sure Russia is compliant with the peace formula.

Concentration of efforts, maintaining unity in international support to unity for Ukraine, number three, all depends on us, he says.

12:58 PM GMT

Pictured: Ukrainians commemorate the dead

The wife and son (left) of Ukrainian serviceman killed near Avdiivka mourn next to his coffin - AFP/ROMAN PILIPEY

Musicians play next to the graves of Ukrainian soldiers during a funeral ceremony for a Ukrainian serviceman killed near Avdiivka - ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP

12:31 PM GMT

Pope calls for diplomatic solution to the war

Pope Francis has called for a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine that would lead to a just and lasting peace.

So many victims, wounded, destruction, anguish, and tears in a period that is becoming terribly long and whose end is not in sight. It is a war that not only devastates that region but also unleashes global waves of hate and fear, Pope Francis said during his weekly Angelus message.

I plead for that little bit of humanity to be found to create the conditions for a diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace, he said.

Heads of the Group of Seven major democracies on Saturday pledged to stand by war-weary Ukraine, and Western leaders travelled to Kyiv to show solidarity on the second anniversary of Russias invasion.

I join the bishops in their call to pray for peace, hoping for an end to the clashes and a search for genuine and constructive dialogue, he said.

12:21 PM GMT

Russia builds first unmanned naval drone

Moscow has developed its first unmanned naval drones, the Russian news outlet MASH reported.

Called the Alfina, it is a surface one-way attack drone that uses artificial intelligence, MASH said.

The drones, which are thought to cost around one million rubles (8,500) each, reportedly have a top speed of 60kmph, a range of 500km and can carry up to 200kg of explosives.

If confirmed, the naval drone would provide Russia with a similar weapon to Ukraines Magura V5 sea drone recently used to sink the Russian landing ship the Caesar Kunikov.

12:02 PM GMT

Ukrainian trade soars thanks to Black Sea dominance, says MoD

Ukrainian trade in the Black Sea is thriving as persistent missile attacks have forced Russias navy to reassess its approach, the Ministry of Defence reported.

In its daily report, the department outline how the ongoing success of Ukrainian attacks, including the sinking of the Ivanovets and the Caesar Kunikov in recent weeks, have forced Moscow to relocate its Black Sea Fleet to the eastern parts of the sea.

This has prevented Russia from interfering with Ukraines maritime trade routes, the MoD said.

Despite the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had been viewed as essential for maintaining trade for Kyiv, Ukraines dominance in the western Black Sea has allowed it to deliver higher trade volumes than under the BSGI, putting them on par with pre-war levels, it said.

11:43 AM GMT

Russians occupy village near Avdiivka

Russian soldiers place a Russian national flag on the rooftop of the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant - Getty Images

Russian troops have occupied a village near Avdiivka, Ukrainian media reported.

Russian forces have captured the village of Lastochkyne, four miles west of Avdiivka, as they continue their advance in the Donetsk region on Ukraines eastern front, Ukrainian MilBlogger Deep State reported.

The enemy occupied Lastochkyne. [Russians] continue to put pressure on Severny and Orlivka, it said on Telegram, referring to two nearby settlements.

Russias defence ministry said its forces have taken more advantageous positions in settlements near Avdiivka and have rebuffed seven Ukrainian counterattacks.

Earlier, a Ukrainian soldier from the 24th Aidar battalion reported that Ukrainian units had to withdraw from Lastochkyne to avoid blocking logistics paths and to preserve personnel.

According to Russian MillBlogger War Gonzo, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian forces in Lastochkyne from the north and east using long-range weapons.

The capture of Avdiivka earlier this month marked Russias most consequential territorial game since seizing Bakhmut last year.

11:28 AM GMT

Swipe: Avdiivka before and after

11:04 AM GMT

Ukraine projects optimism despite shell hunger

David Knowles, from Kyiv

Against a stylish blue backdrop and a detailed set of slides detailing increased production of everything from drones to missiles, top Ukrainian ministers, from Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to Minister Of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kamyshin, set out their work and plans for the year ahead There are smiles, handshakes and a few hugs. The language is more reminiscent of a Davos panel than a nation at war. Theres talk of stakeholders, start-ups, miltech and real time mode. There is, of course, some good news. The Ukrainian economy is growing, the countrys innovative naval drones are defeating the Russian Black Sea Fleet and, this winter, the Russian assault on Ukrainian infrastructure has broadly failed. In Kyiv, the lights have stayed on. A stranger observing this might conclude that, although the nation faces many problems, things arent going too awfully and that the country is ready for the next challenges. But its a dangerous strategy. The Ukrainian government is desperate to show how imaginatively and effectively it is responding to the challenges of the war, from continued strikes against infrastructure, to recalcitrant allies and an uncertain future for military support. Positivity is needed for Ukrainians themselves, for whom years of brutal war are taking a heavy toll. But this positivity risks obscuring important truths. That the shell hunger is severely restricting the ability of Ukrainian soldiers to fight back against Russias army, that many are worried about the quality of the fortifications the army is building to thwart the next Russian push across the front. The Telegraph has been told that the lack of munitions is the greatest problem for front line soldiers and that it risks the Russian army making further gains in the future. To put it another way, watching these panel sessions and absorbing the upbeat tone, its increasingly clear why the former commander in chief, General Zaluzhny, was fired from his position at the head of the army. Time will tell whether this communication strategy will work. It certainly feels a long way from this smooth, glitzy conference to the front-lines, where soldiers wonder when the help they desperately need will come.

10:47 AM GMT

Kyiv slams Kremlin disinformation campaign over Transnistria

Ukraines intelligence bureau has accused the Kremlin of spreading fake news over a potential annexation of Transnistria.

This follows reports published in Moldovan media and by the Institute for the Study of War that said Transnistria may later this month organise a referendum on annexation by Russia to facilitate a Russian operation against Moldova.

Transnistria at their congress do not plan to appeal to the Russian dictator Putin with a request to join the Russian Federation. the GUR wrote on Telegram.

Ukrainian intelligence has dismissed this suggestion as disinformation spread by Russia, stating: spreading information about such intentions bears all the signs of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at destabiliing the situation in the region.

the ISW reported earlier this month that the Kremlin is using the same rhetoric towards Moldova as it used before its invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022. It states that this is likely intended to set conditions to justify possible future Russian escalation against Moldova.

10:05 AM GMT

Polls open in Belarus amid calls for boycott

Polls opened yesterday in Belarus tightly controlled parliamentary and local elections that are set to reaffirm the iron grip on power of Alexander Lukashenko.

President Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for nearly 30 years, accused the West of trying to use the vote to destabilise his government, as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, urged voters to boycott the elections, which he described as a senseless farce.

There are no people on the ballot who would offer real changes because the regime only has allowed puppets convenient for it to take part, Mr Tsikhanouskaya said in a video statement.

Yesterdays balloting is the first election in Belarus since the 2020 vote than handed Lukashenko his sixth term in officer and triggered an unprecedented wave of mass demonstrations that swept the country for months, leading to 35,000 arrests.

Mr Lukashenko has been one of Vladimir Putins closest allies since Russias invasion of Ukraine and allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

09:47 AM GMT

Sunak calls for the transfer of frozen assets to Ukraine

Rishi Sunak has backed calls to send Ukraine billions of pounds in interest from frozen Russian assets, the Sunday Times reported.

The prime minister said he also wanted to be bolder in seizing assets themselves, following on from Foreign Office meetings in recent weeks to discuss legal routes for seizing Russian central bank reserves, which have been frozen since February 2022.

Writing for the paper, Mr Sunak said: We must be bolder in hitting the Russian war economy  And we must be bolder in seizing the hundreds of billions of frozen Russian assets.

That starts with taking the billions in interest these assets are collecting and sending it to Ukraine instead. And then, with the G7, we must find lawful ways to seize the assets themselves and get those funds to Ukraine too.

09:30 AM GMT

Ukraine army chief visits front line

Ukraines top general has visited the front line to analyse the battlefield and boost defences.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraines newly appointed army chief, paid a visit to Ukraines embattled troops along with the countrys defence minister, Rustem Umerov, as Kyiv struggles to stave off Russian forces along the sprawling eastern front.

We analyzed the current situation in detail and discussed the necessary further steps, primarily the protection of troops from drones and strikes by aerial bombs as well as the strengthening of certain areas of the front, Gen. Syrskyi posted on Telegram along with images of himself and Mr Umerov meeting commanders.

Gen Syrskyi, who did not say when the visit took place, added that the situation is complex and requires constant monitoring.

09:13 AM GMT

Russian forces advance in Zaporizhia

Russian troops have made advances in the village of Robotyne in Western Zaporizhia, The ISW reported, citing Russian sources.

Russian forces advanced further northwards into the central part of the village and clashed with Ukrainian troops in settlements to the east and southeast, Russian MilBloggers reported.

Moscows troops launched their assault on the village from the south and east with support from artillery fire, Russian blogger War Gonzo reported.

In the forest belt to the west of Robotyne, Russian troops captured several Ukrainian soldiers with the support of armoured vehicles, Russian MilBloggers reported.

Tass, the Russian state-owned news agency, reported earlier this week that Ukraine is redeploying equipment and personnel to Robotyne in an effort to repel Russian advancements.

08:50 AM GMT

2. More Russians died in Avdiivka than in entire Soviet-Afghanistan War

More Russian soldiers have likely died to seize Avdiivka than died in the entire Soviet-Afghan war, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.

Russia seized the city last week despite the arrival of Ukrainian reinforcements after months of intense fighting.

The situation in Ukraine following the second anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion remains grave, but it is far from hopeless, the thinktank said, adding that although Russia is making gains, these have been very limited and extremely costly.

The ISW report comes comes after an investigation from Russian independent news outlets Meduza and Mediazona found Russia has lost 83,000 soldiers since its full-scale invasion.

08:39 AM GMT

Six drones shot down over Russia, Moscow claims

Russian Air Defence shot down six drones bound for targets in Russia and the Black Sea overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.



The ministry said that two drones were shot down over Belgorod Oblast and four were intercepted over the Black Sea.

Ukrainian drone attacks on targets within Russia and in occupied Crimea have increased in recent months, though Kyiv rarely comments on these reports.

Meanwhile, Ukraine destroyed 16 out of 18 attack drones launched overnight by Russia, Kyivs military reported.

The drones were destroyed over the Poltava, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

Elsewhere, a woman was injured as a result of Russian shelling in Kostyantynivka, Donestsk, which destroyed several apartment buildings and a railway station, Ukrainian media reported.

Russia launched a big missile attack on Konstiantynivka with S-300 ballistic missiles. It is reported that several private houses and apartment buildings are hit, as well as the railway station building and 2 more administrative buildings. pic.twitter.com/iwQQBLXvIp  NOELREPORTS   (@NOELreports) February 25, 2024

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Key developments on Feb. 24-25:

Zelensky: 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in Russia's war

Western allies reaffirm support for Ukraine on 2 nd anniversary of full-scale invasion

Yermak: Ukraine could invite Russia to global peace summit in future

Budanov: Russia's goals for 2024 same as previous two years

Umerov: 'Corruption during war is worse than terrorism'

EU to send 4.5 billion euros to Ukraine in March in first payment under new aid program

Ombudsman: 28,000 Ukrainian citizens in Russian captivity.

Around 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been recorded as killed by Russia's war, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum in Kyiv on Feb. 25.

"Each person is a very big loss for us. 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in this war," the president said. "It is very painful for us."

The announcement is the first time Zelensky has publicly stated a figure on the death toll of Ukrainian soldiers since the start of the full-scale invasion. The Ukrainian government has kept a tight lid on casualty numbers during the war.

Zelensky did not clarify if the number covers the entire 10 years of Russian aggression against Ukraine or is just for the last two years of the full-scale invasion. The number is those that have been officially accounted for as killed in the war. The actual figure is likely to be higher.

He also said that 180,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the war, and that along with the wounded, Russia has suffered 500,000 casualties.

"I won't say how many wounded (Ukrainians) there are because Russia will know how many people have left the battlefield."

Independent Russian media outlets Meduza and Mediazona reported in a joint study on Feb. 24 that 83,000 Russian soldiers had been killed in Russia's war.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in Russia's war in occupied territories, Zelensky said, adding that the exact amount is unknown and it would only be possible to find out once the territories were liberated.

At least 10,582 civilians have been killed and nearly 20,000 have been injured in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said on Feb. 24.

Read also: Our reserves will run out: Ukrainian artillery sounds alarm on Western shell shortage

Western allies reaffirm support for Ukraine on 2nd anniversary of full-scale invasion

Western allies have publicly reaffirmed their support for Ukraine on Feb. 24, the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Two years ago, Russia launched its all-out war against Ukraine, the largest military attack in Europe since World War II. This day in 2022 also marked a turning point in a decade of ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine that started with the illegal annexation of Crimea and the onset of war in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in 2014.

Despite Russia's reported plan to "seize Kyiv in three days," Ukraine has defied the odds and kept fighting, managing to liberate swaths of territory that fell under Russian occupation. The fight has come at a significant cost.

"The future of Ukraine lies in the European Union," read a joint statement released by European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

"We will continue to address Ukraine's pressing military and defense needs, including deliveries of urgently needed ammunition and missiles," the statement continued. "Russia and its leaders will pay a growing price for their actions."

Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced that the Netherlands will sign a long-term security agreement with Ukraine and reiterated that country's military aid for Kyiv since 2022 has totaled 2.81 billion euros.

"We must continue to take a united stand against Putin's aggression," Ollongren wrote.

The Dutch Royal Family also released a statement conveying that the Netherlands remained "united for the men and women of Ukraine who are fighting for freedom, democracy, and justice," adding that Ukraine's resilience is "an example and inspiration to us all."

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto also stressed "the capacity and resources to support Ukraine in the long run" while also working toward peace, reiterating the Finnish government's support for Zelensky's Peace Formula.

The Danish Foreign Ministry wrote that it "stands with the Ukrainian people and their fight for freedom and justice," and released a video about its ongoing aid for the country. This includes the Ukraine Fund launched in 2023 to provide military and civilian support and engage private companies and civil society organizations in Ukraine's reconstruction.

On Feb. 23, U.S. President Joe Biden recalled his trip to Kyiv marking the first anniversary of the full-scale invasion and wrote that "a dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never be able to erase the peoples love of liberty. Brutality will never grind down the will of the free. And Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia."

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi thanked Ukraine's allies on Feb. 24 for their ongoing military aid, emphasizing that "every shell, every tank, every armored vehicle is first and foremost about saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers."

In his statement marking the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Syrskyi also thanked Ukrainian soldiers, emergency service workers, and volunteers for their commitment, adding that "today, more than ever, we need unity."

"No one (believed that we would endure) except the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who engaged the enemy from the very first moments," Syrskyi wrote.

Read also: Editorial: Its been 2 years and worlds on the brink. Time to wake up or fall

Yermak: Ukraine could invite Russia to global peace summit in future

Ukraine could invite representatives from Russia to a future peace summit if an upcoming meeting of global leaders in Switzerland proves successful, Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, said at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

In January, Switzerland agreed to host a global peace summit on Ukraine. Over 160 countries will be invited to discuss Kyiv's peace formula and create a joint document on what needs to be done to restore the countrys sovereignty.

If successful, the document could be presented to representatives from Russia at a second, future summit.

They would be presented with this document in case whoever is representing the aggressor country at that time really wants to end this war and return to a just peace, Yermak said, as quoted by a Kyiv Independent reporter.

Everything that we understand by a just peace is set out in our peace formula.

Yermak noted that the participating countries have different opinions and motivations on how to end the war. Nevertheless, they all recognize Ukraines independence and are ready to join the peace process, he added.

A personal meeting of leaders is very important, where what we have been talking about all these months at the level of ambassadors and advisors will be recorded," he said.

Meanwhile, Russias strategic goals for 2024 remain the same as before, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told the Kyiv Independent at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

He said that Russias goal is still to destroy Ukrainian statehood and reach the administrative border of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts to keep what they already have," but that they "have been unable to do (so) by military means."

In 2022-2023, they failed to do so, and in 2024 they will not be able to do so either, Budanov said.

Read also: How has Crimea changed after 10 years of Russian occupation?

EU to send 4.5 billion euros to Ukraine in March

The European Unions new 50 billion euro ($54 billion) Ukraine Facility will make its first transfer of 4.5 billion euros ($4.9 billion) to Ukraine in March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Feb. 24.

Von der Leyen announced this on the social media platform X after a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv. The two also discussed issues with Ukrainian exports at the land border and joint work in the defense industry, according to her post.

Von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Feb. 24, the second anniversary of the launch of Russias full-scale invasion. Also in Kyiv for the anniversary were Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

All 27 EU members agreed to creating the 50 billion euro support package on Feb. 1, following a delay due to opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Financial support from the EU has become increasingly vital in Ukraine's fight against Russia, as foreign aid from the United States remains stalled for months in the countrys Congress.

The EU has so far delivered 28 billion euros ($30.3 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine, according to von der Leyen.

Earlier in the day during a press conference, von der Leyen announced that the EU will open an office for Defense Innovation in Kyiv. The new office will support Ukraine's integration with EU defense programs and allow European countries to learn from Ukrainian battlefield experiences.

Read also: Generation of Fire: Young Ukrainians forced to survive first, plan for future later

Umerov: 'Corruption during war is worse than terrorism'

Ukraine is committed to cleaning up corruption, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said, speaking at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum in Kyiv, Ukraine.

"Corruption during war is worse for me than terrorism. There will be no negotiations with those who steal from our soldiers and our society," Umerov said, as quoted by a Kyiv Independent reporter.

According to Umerov, the Defense Ministry uncovered "violations worth tens of millions of hryvnias" during its regular inspections of food supplies to military units in recent months.

"We continue to work with the Security Service of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) to identify corruption schemes in the Defense Forces," Umerov continued.

Umerov added that the Defense Ministry is auditing its structural units and the military, noting that Ukraine must use its internal resources efficiently and effectively.

"Together with the United States, we have launched a joint inspection of the end use of weapons. The Defense Ministry's Inspector General actively cooperates with the Pentagon's Inspector General. Transparency and close cooperation with our partners is a very important priority," Umerov said.

Several corruption scandals have rocked Ukraine's defense ministry since the onset of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Just recently, on Feb. 13, the Appeals Chamber of Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court ordered the arrest of Oleksandr Liyev, the former head of the Defense Ministry's department in charge of weapons procurement.

Liyev's case was related to a corruption scheme revealed by the Security Service of Ukraine on Jan. 27 that involved the procurement of almost 100,000 mortar shells, amounting to almost Hr 1.5 billion ($40 million).

Meanwhile, on Dec. 18, 2023, Umerov introduced the state enterprise Defense Goods Procurement Agency, a new procurement body for Ukraine's Armed Forces to counter corruption and the misuse of funds related to food procurement for the military.

Read also: Opinion: In the past 2 years of war, we have all died a little

Ombudsman: 28,000 Ukrainian citizens in Russian captivity

There are 28,000 Ukrainian citizens in Russian captivity, Ukraines Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets told reporters at the "Ukraine. Year 2024" forum on Feb. 25.

The captives are spread across Russia and the occupied territories, according to Lubinets. Many are religious figures, journalists, NGO workers, and representatives from local governments, he said.

Some of them go a long time without any criminal investigations from the Russian side, he added.

Ukraine has managed to return 3,135 citizens, including 147 civilians. Around 90% of Ukrainian prisoners of war are tortured every day, Lubinets said.

Speaking about the return of kidnapped children, Lubinets said that he believes partner countries, like Qatar, are more effective than international organizations. Currently, 70 countries have joined Canadas International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which was officially launched on Feb. 2.

The Ukrainian government has identified over 19,500 children who have been deported or forcibly displaced by Russia, less than 400 of whom have been returned to Ukraine.

If we return one Ukrainian child every day, it will take us 55 years. Do we have that kind of time? No, we don't, Lubinets said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 17, 2023, over the deportation of Ukrainian children. The 123 member states of the ICC are required to arrest Putin if he steps foot on their territory.

Read also: Im afraid well never find them: Russia holds thousands of Ukrainian civilians hostage

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A group of miners from south Wales loaded cars up with medical supplies and drove from Pontypridd to Kyiv

When Ukrainian miner Vasyl Yavorsky donated his own wages to striking Welsh miners in 1984, he never thought that help would one day be returned.

However, a group of Welsh miners have now loaded up on medicine and supplies and driven from south Wales to Kyiv to repay the old favour.

The convoy is supplying much needed aid to miners fighting on the front line, two years after Russian forces invaded.

"They did not forget about us, just like we didn't in 1984," said Vasyl.

Communities in Wales affected by the miners' strike in the 1980s received much-needed support from the former Soviet Union, and from around the world.

"We are mining brothers - I remember the donation box we had, everyone donated as much as they could, and sent it to those miners", said Vasyl.

"Now 40 years later we are in need, seeking help, and our English and Welsh friends responded, and are helping our soldiers on the frontlines."

Vasyl Yavorsky welcomed the Welsh miners as they arrived in Kyiv with medicine and supplies

It is a four-decades-old bond that bridges a strike and now a war, forged in shared experiences underground.

In Ukraine, there are currently hundreds, if not thousands, of miners fighting on the front lines in the war against Russia.

Wayne Thomas, who organised the trip, said he had "never forgotten" the support from Ukrainian miners during the strikes.

"I was one of the men on strike 40 years ago. I was a young man then, with a wife and child," said Mr Thomas, head of the Nation Union of Mineworkers in south Wales.

"I am now very proud to have the opportunity to show how grateful I am for the support we received then from Ukrainian miners," he added.

Wayne Thomas was one of the tens of thousands of miners who went on strike in 1984

He was joined on the journey by fellow former miner Carwyn Donovan and Welsh-Ukrainian Member of the Senedd Mick Antoniw, who has had relatives killed in the war.

Mr Antoniw said the gesture was important to commemorate the donations of food and money received from Ukraine during the strikes.

"The people we are delivering these supplies to are not only fighting on the front line, but some of the older ones were the ones collecting money and food for Welsh miners," he said.

"This is about repaying them and reminding people that Ukraine is the frontline of democracy in the fight against Russian aggression."

A former lawyer, politician Mick Antoniw represented many Welsh miners who were caught up in the battle of Orgreave, one of the most violent clashes in British industrial history

In 1984 miners from all over the world, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, arrived in Britain to support the strike.

Some were hosted by the former Swansea East MP Sian James, who took a group to her local shop in Ystradgynlais, Powys.

She said: "They were from behind the iron curtain, so we took them over to the Golden Save - they were absolutely entranced by it.

"We were saying it's a shop, it's a corner shop, it's a local supermarket. They couldn't get over how many goods were on the shelves, or the variety of things."

One of those impacted by their visit to the UK was Mykhailo Volynets, the now-president of KVPU, the independent Union of Ukrainian miners, who welcomed the Welsh convoy in Kyiv.

He said speaking to British miners about their struggles during a visit in the mid-1980s made him realise he "lived in a country without truth".

"Their brave fight influenced my outlook on life... after seeing how the UK miners behaved, I tried to copy their fight when I came back here."

Mykhailo Volynets is president of the independent Union of Ukrainian miners

Although Mr Volynets said his attempts to set up independent trade union in Ukraine led to an "order to kill me and my family, and my son was kidnapped, but he managed to survive".

He would eventually find success in 1989, leading over a million miners on strike in the USSR, which preceded the break-up of the Soviet Union.

"We are grateful you are standing with us, we are grateful because you are miners, brave people not afraid to come to a country where you could lose your lives", he added.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will not disclose any details concerning the action plan of the Armed Forces of Ukraine because the fewer people know about this plan, the sooner victory will be achieved.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference on 25 February

Quote: "I cant tell you the details of this plan because the fewer people are aware of the plans of the Ukrainian army, the sooner victory and an unexpected outcome for the Russians will be achieved. I must confess that the plans for our counter-offensive actions last autumn were on the table in the Kremlin before those counter-offensive actions had even started. Full stop."

Details: Zelenskyy admitted that at the moment "not everything is going according to plan, and not everything is up to us".

He explained that some things depend on Ukraine, and other things depend on its partners, so that "some processes get drawn out".

"The main thing is to have a plan. And we have one," Zelenskyy summed up.

Several journalists wanted to know about Ukraines military strategy going forward and whether the Ukrainian Armed Forces are preparing a new offensive, but the president reiterated that he would not disclose any details.

"We have a plan. A clear plan. I cant give you the details. I dont have the right to. This plan is related to the leadership changes, there are certain changes in that regard. Several [detailed] plans will be prepared to account for possible leaks," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

Earlier, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov stated that the Ukrainian government had a defence plan for 2024 but did not disclose it publicly.

"Its profound, its solid, it doesnt just give hope, but will deliver results in 2024," Umierov stressed.

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Vigil for Alexei Navalny held in front of the Russian Consulate General in Munich. Stock photo: Getty Images

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, has stated that Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny died of natural causes, specifically a blood clot.

Source: Budanov on the sidelines of Ukraine. Year 2024 forum, as reported by hromadske

Quote: "I may disappoint you, but we know he died from a blood clot. It's more or less confirmed. This is not taken from the Internet, but, unfortunately, a natural [death  ed.]."

Details: Budanov also urged people not to believe that Russia's regime "will be toppled naturally, by itself," stating that "without our help, it is unrealistic."

He also stated that a stable regime in Russia is a threat to Ukraine and the world, and that Ukraine will continue to conduct operations on Russian territory.

"As long as we are at war, there will be problems within the Russian Federation," Budanov added.

In addition, he announced new attacks on Russian military bases in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

"New surprises await our enemies, and I would not recommend the civilian population using the so-called Crimean 'bridge'," Budanov wrote on Telegram.

Background:

On the afternoon of 16 February, Russias Federal Penitentiary Service reported the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at Correctional Facility No. 3 in Kharp, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, in northwestern Siberia.

Alexei Navalny had been imprisoned since early 2021. The Moscow City Court sentenced him to 19 years in prison in a high-security prison for "extremism" in August 2023.

On the morning of 19 February, Lyudmila Navalnaya arrived at the morgue in the town of Salekhard where the body of her son, opposition politician Alexei Navalny, was allegedly kept. Still, neither she nor her lawyers were allowed in. On 20 February, Lyudmila recorded a video appeal to the president of Russia, demanding her son's body be returned so that she could bury him.

On 24 February, Russias prison employees finally handed over the body of opposition leader Alexei Navalny to his mother.

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Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, stated that the main goal of the Russian operation Maidan-3 is to sow doubts about the legitimacy of Ukrainian authorities within the country, but that operation is failing.

Source: Budanov on the sidelines of Ukraine. Year 2024 forum, as reported by hromadske

Details: Budanov claims that this is the Russians' "most expensive" operation, but it is already failing because the Ukrainian side "knows everything they have in mind."

Budanov stated that the Russians intended to create a situation in which not only President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but also Ukrainian decision-making in general, could be called into question.

Quote: "After this, in a short period when they are counting on a certain confusion in Ukrainian society and the ambiguity of decision-making (the same will be projected on our army), during the first half of June, [they count on] inflicting a military defeat [upon us] in the east, taking advantage of the fact that the army is supposed to have their opinions split: who is in command, and whose orders they would carry out, etc.

This is the whole point  they are not so much interested in changing political leadership as in the task of inflicting a military defeat."

Earlier: On 16 November 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was seeking to split Ukrainian society, wreak havoc inside the country and ultimately overthrow the president. According to Ukraine Defence Intelligence, this plan is called Maidan-3 in Russia.

On 21 November, Zelenskyy said that Russia wanted to remove him from the post of President of Ukraine by the end of 2023, for which it came up with a destabilisation plan codenamed Maidan-3.

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Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has stated that promises to deliver aid do not always mean that Ukraine receives it in a timely manner, during remarks made at the Ukraine 2024 Forum on Feb. 25.

Currently, aid allocation does not always mean aid provision, as 50% is not delivered on time," Umerov said.

"If we look at the enemy, their economy is about $2 trillion, and they use up to 15% for the war, which is more than the promised $150 billion.

Read also:

According to him, Ukraine is losing personnel and territory due to delays in the supply of weapons. Umerov noted that allies must ensure timely supplies.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that without US support, "not all Ukrainians will survive." Zelenskyy also reported on the difficult situation at the front. According to him, the occupiers are taking advantage of the delay in Western military aid.

The head of the EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that the Ukrainian army was experiencing difficulties at the front due to a lack of ammunition. The politician called on European countries to urgently supply Ukraine with ammunition.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Crews investigate a house fire in Little River (Mendocino County) in which the body of a 75-year-old woman was found. Investigators with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office determined that the victim was first shot and have arrested her son as the suspect. Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Fletcher Pinkham has been arrested in the shooting death of his mother, whose body was found in the debris of a house fire in Little River (Mendocino County). Mendocino County Sheriff's Office

A man was arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting his 75-year-old mother, then burning down her home in Mendocino County, where investigators found remains they believe are hers in the rubble three days after the fire, authorities say.

Fletcher Pinkham, a 39-year-old Santa Rosa resident, was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of his mother, Linda Mercurio, according to the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office.

Firefighters summoned deputies to the house fire on Little River-Airport Road near Comptche Ukiah Road about 7:40 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters believed Mercurio was in her home, but the four-story house collapsed into the basement, making it difficult to fully extinguish the fire and safely search for Mercurio, Capt. Quincy Cromer of the county sheriffs office said in a statement.

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Mercurio lived alone, and her vehicle was charred during the fire, Cromer said.

About five minutes before deputies arrived, Pinkham walked out of a wooded area near the home in an altered state, apparently in need of medical attention, though he refused treatment, Cromer said. Because of the suspicious nature of the circumstances, deputies detained him while they investigated, he said.

During a search of the wooded area, deputies found guns, ammunition, clothing, personal belongings and a vehicle  all of which they believe belong to Pinkham, Cromer said.

Investigators determined Pinkham fatally shot his mother and intentionally set the fire to destroy evidence and conceal the violent nature of Mercurios death, Cromer said. He added that investigators relied on evidence and statements Pinkham made to them. Pinkham was arrested and later booked into Mendocino County Jail.

After the debris finally cooled off, investigators and experts with Chico State Universitys Forensic Anthropology Department systematically searched it for several hours Friday morning, locating and recovering remains they believe are Mercurios, Cromer said.

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Crews investigate a house fire in Little River (Mendocino County) in which the body of a 75-year-old woman was found. Investigators with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office determined that the victim was first shot and have arrested her son as the suspect. Mendocino County Sheriff's Office

Further investigation will be necessary to positively identify the remains, the captain said.

Pinkham has worked in the commercial security systems industry as a technician and lead system designer. He is president and owner of Blockchain Tech Consultants, a company that provides consulting services in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Investigators do not believe anyone else was involved in Mercurios death, Cromer said. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the sheriffs office at 760-463-4086 or the agencys anonymous tip line at 707-234-2100.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine disclosed Ukrainian militarys efforts to repel attacks in the vicinity of Lastochkyne, while DeepState military portal reported Russian troops occupation of the settlement on the Avdiivka direction on Feb. 24.

The enemy occupied Lastochkyne. The Russians continue to press on Severne and Orlivka, DeepStates report said.

At the same time, the General Staff stated that Ukrainian troops repelled 14 Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements Lastochkyne, Severne, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske in Donetsk Oblast.

Read also: Tavria grouping warns of mopping-up operations as Russian forces secure grip on seized Avdiivka

Stanislav Buniatov, a Ukrainian military from the 24th Separate Assault Battalion Aidar, noted that the Ukrainian forces withdrew from Lastochkyne to avoid logical routes closure and to preserve personnel.

The Institute for the Study of War mentioned that Russian forces had advanced west of Avdiivka.

Geolocation footage published on February 24 indicates that units of the Russian 35th Motorized Rifle Brigade recently advanced within the southeastern limits of Lastochkyne in Donetsk Oblast.

DeepState/Telegram

Russian sources claim that the Russian army captured Lastochkyne, Severne (west of Avdiivka), as well as Stepove (northwest of Avdiivka).

However, the Institute for the Study of War did not observe visual confirmation of Russian achievements in Stepove or Severne.

Additionally, a Russian war correspondent claimed that Russian forces had advanced 1.5 km towards Orlivka (west of Avdiivka) from the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant.

Read also: Ukrainian military correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko discusses Avdiivka withdrawal and frontline threats

The U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) pointed out in its Feb. 24 report that positional battles continue near Orlivka, Lastochkyne, and Severne, as well as near Pervomaiske and Nevelske.

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from Avdiivka, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on the night of Feb. 17.

Based on the operational situation that has developed around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and to preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I have made the decision to withdraw our units from the city and transition to defense on more advantageous positions, Syrskyi said.

He added that measures are currently being taken to stabilize the situation and maintain the positions held.

The lives of servicemen are the highest value. We will still reclaim Avdiivka, he noted.

Dmytro Lykhoviy, the Head of the Public Relations Department of the Joint Forces Operation, said that the withdrawal of troops from Avdiivka was as successful as circumstances allowed.

Commander of the Operational-Strategic Group of Troops Tavria, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, emphasized that Ukrainian troops have entrenched themselves on new defense lines on the Avdiivka direction.

ISW

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Standing up on a stage nearly two years from the date she began hiding under a bunker in Ukraine with her infant son, Anna Zaitseva delivered a defiant message to a crowded auditorium on Capitol Hill.

I know that right now, in this very moment, Russians are committing a real genocide of the Ukrainian nation, she said Wednesday. But please dont take us as a nation of victims. We are Ukrainians and we are a nation of fighters  and we will fight to the victory.

Anna Zaitseva and her now 2-year-old son, Sviatoslav, survived 65 days in a crowded shelter in the Azovstal steel plant in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. They were part of a group of civilians sheltering while Ukrainian soldiers defended the plant from Russia early in the war.

The steel plants defenders, who were the last to surrender to Russia in Mariupol in the spring of 2022, became a symbol of resistance that year. Zaitseva has emerged as one of the citys most resilient survivors after turning her harrowing experience into passionate global advocacy to support Ukraine.

Zaitseva, 26, plans to return to Ukraine to be a paramedic. And she is also tirelessly fighting for the freedom of her husband, Kirilo Zaitsev, a Ukrainian soldier who remains in Russian captivity, along with other Mariupol soldiers captured in 2022.

Im grateful to the soldiers, the Mariupol defenders, because they saved my life, she told The Hill. Now I have to do the same because we have around 2,000 Mariupol defenders who are still detained.

From left, Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova with Israeli-American director Evgeny Afineevsky and Anna Zaitseva. (Brad Dress)

On Tuesday, Zaitseva traveled to New York to meet with members of the United Nations for talks on securing more prisoner releases. She is also participating in a book project about the experience of the siege of Mariupol, called Heart of Mariupol.

Zaitseva still struggles with the pain of her experience  as does her son.

Its especially hard as the two-year anniversary of the war approaches Saturday, which was also when the first bombs began to fall on Mariupol. Zaitseva said she and her son still struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, which she explained is even harder for a young child to cope with.

Its difficult. Its practically impossible, she said. He has problems with sleep and noise, for example if you are a little bit loud, he puts his hands on his ears in order to protect himself.

On Feb. 25, 2022, one day after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Zaitseva and her 2-month-old son rushed for cover from Russian bombs in a shelter underneath the Azovstal steel plant.

The shelter was small and overcrowded, a dark corridor lined with sleeping mats and bunks in the hall. There was little medicine, food and water available to keep everyone healthy. Zaitseva estimated about 75 people were in the shelter, including 17 children.

Taking care of Zaitsevas son became a priority for the sheltering community. The Ukrainian military worked hard to deliver her baby formula for her infant son, but the experience was trying.

I was crying because this is the worst feeling in the world. You see that children are hungry and you can do nothing, she said. This is really a shame of our world that in the 21st century, children are struggling because of hunger, children are struggling because of missile attacks.

It was too risky to leave the shelter because bombs were constantly landing across Mariupol, which prevented at least one escape attempt, Zaitseva said. Inside, people struggled to keep the shelter lit and were also cold without blankets, forcing them to use uniforms at the steel plant for warmth, while shards of glass, shattered by the bombing, scattered the shelter.

On April 30, an agreement was finally reached to evacuate the civilians through a humanitarian corridor. Russian soldiers were accompanied into the plant by humanitarian response personnel from the United Nations and the Red Cross.

But Zaitseva was not yet free. She had to pass through a filtration camp, where she was forced to strip naked as Russians searched for Nazi tattoos, she said. Zaitseva said she was interrogated by Russias Federal Security Service.

During her time at the camp, Zaitseva was forbidden from speaking Ukrainian. And she spent at least one night in a school, where she overheard Russians saying they wanted to kill Ukrainian soldiers.

It was awful, she said.

She finally secured freedom from Russian forces after reaching a neutral area around the city of Zaporizhzhia, and eventually made it into Ukrainian hands.

Zaitseva now lives in Berlin, Germany. Her parents live in Kyiv. And her husband remains in Russian captivity.

I have no news about my husband, she said. Its forbidden for prisoners to speak with relatives, to call relatives, to exchange letters.

Zaitseva noted this violates a section of the Geneva Convention, which requires authorities to allow prisoners of war to communicate with relatives and loved ones.

Zaitseva also lamented the destruction of the city she grew up in, a once-bustling coastal town on the Sea of Azov, which connects to the Black Sea. Like other Ukrainian cities that endured heavy fighting, Mariupol was reduced to rubble.

They raped my city, they killed my city, she said.

Zaitsevas experience attracted the attention of the international media, as she willingly shared details  in fluent English  about the horrors she faced to shine a light on Russian aggression.

Her story was told in greater detail by Evgeny Afineevsky, an Israeli American director who was born in Russia and produced the documentary Winter on Fire about Ukraines 2014 Maidan Revolution.

Zaitsevas account is featured in his 2022 film Freedom on Fire: Ukraines Fight for Freedom, which follows the Russian invasion that same year and the impact it continues to have across Ukraine.

Afineevsky said he wanted to include Zaitseva in the documentary film because in his work, he tries to build a human bridge between humans.

For me to give a voice to the mothers of Ukraine is really important, he said. To connect to other mothers, they can feel the pain, they can feel what she goes through every night  Thats the human bridge that I tried to create.

Zaitsevas story is also included in the Museum of Civilian Voices by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, which records stories of Ukrainian civilians affected by the conflict with Russia going back to 2014.

Zaitseva remains confident in Ukraines fight. She has pushed for the U.S. to pass a new package of aid to Ukraine, which remains in limbo amid Republican demands over the southern border.

The U.S. has to help us, because first of all, Ukraine is right now a shield against Russian actions, a shield to protect whole civilized world, she said. We are not asking you to die for [our] country. Im asking you to give more weapons supply.

Only in such a way can we get a victory, she added. I believe in victory, otherwise if we dont win, it could mean the whole civilized world falls.

After Freedom on Fire screened for a private audience on Capitol Hill this week, Afineevsky invited Zaitseva up to share her thoughts.

Zaitseva exudes an energy and confidence that is not conveyed in the documentary interview, at which point she had just survived a horrifying experience in the shelter. Footage of the days underneath Azovstal shows her in the dark, rocking her infant son in her arms, trying to stay alive.

Im here in order to [represent] the voice of people who are  voiceless, the prisoners of war. My husband is among them, she said on Capitol Hill. We dont know if our relatives are alive. We dont know in which conditions they are held.

Im here to remind you that we need your help in the returning process of our relatives  in the returning process of our heroes.

After a round of applause, she had two last words: Slava Ukraini!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The backup power line at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has been repaired after sustaining damage from Russian shelling, Ukraine's state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo reported on Feb. 24.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been occupied by Russian forces since March 2022.

"The 330 kV overhead line that provides backup power to the facilities at the nuclear power plant site has been repaired and put back into operation," Ukrenergo said.

The company reported that the overhead line had been heavily damged by Russian shelling on Feb. 20.

"The damage site was located in a place where there are constant hostilities. The military allowed our repair crews there during short periods of relative calm, so we had to work day and night," Ukrenergo said.

In their statement, Ukrenergo representatives said the repairs could have been completed much faster if they did not have to deal with frequent interruptions caused by nearby artillery fire.

The six reactors at the Russian-occupied plant are currently shut down, but the facility's front-line position puts it at risk. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has warned that heavy fighting near the plant poses serious threats to nuclear safety.

Read also: Life near Russian-occupied nuclear plant: I dont know if tomorrow will come

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For that past 20-plus years, if you wanted to find Jim Medina, he was probably crawled up underneath a car or otherwise engaged in his work at Van Ness Auto Repair.

Its been a 12-hours-a-day, six-and-a-half-days-a-week kind of job, with zero vacation. He jokes that he probably spends more time at the shop than at his home, which happens to be less than a mile away in the same Fresno High neighborhood.

He could walk to work or jog, but he says hes too lazy for that.

To me, this is home, he says of the business, which was recently listed for sale, along with two properties, at a price of $1.98 million.

Medina will retire and spend more with his family and grandchildren. Hes hoping someone can take over the business, clients and all.

Its time, he says.

Van Ness Auto Repair, located on Van Ness Boulevard in the Fresno High neighborhood is up for sale. The historic building was originally opened in 1926 as a Standard Oil service station, and still has the old pumps displayed in front.

Opened as a Standard Oil station in 1926

Van Ness Auto Repair isnt just any old mechanics shop.

Its thought to be the oldest operational service station in the state; the second oldest in the nation.

Tucked amid residential houses along a tree-canopied stretch of Van Ness Avenue near Fresnos Christmas Tree Lane, it originally opened as a Standard Oil station in 1926 and sold gas until regulations changed and the tanks had to be removed, though the vintage pumps remain out front as a historical reminder and a nice bit of nostalgia for the neighborhood.

For longtime Fresnans, the spot is likely to be remembered as Russ Clements Service Station.

Thats how its named on the local registry of historic resources.

Russ Clements Service Station at Van Ness Boulevard and East Princeton Avenue is shown in this undated Bee file photo. The station was built in 1926.

Memories at historic gas station

Clements bought the building in 1928 and ran it for nearly five decades before selling it in the 1990s.

So, the place holds its share of memories, Medina says.

There was a woman who visited Medina who said that back in the day she had crashed her dads Studebaker into the shop. She just wanted to make sure he wasnt going to repair over the damage.

Medina has stories of his own. As a child, he used to visit the service station with his father. He remembers getting caught stealing a piece of candy and having to fess up to Clements.

And he said, Nah, kid. Just keep it.

It was partly out of that childhood nostalgia that Medina started visiting the shop with his own son. The owner at the time took a liking to the visits and the relationship led to Medina taking over in 1998.

It was actually a true blessing for me, Medina says.

Jim Medina, owner of Van Ness Auto Repair at 2740 N. Van Ness Ave. at Princeton Avenue is shown in a picture from 2013, after the Fresno City Council voted to allow him to expand its hours of operation and rezone a portion of his property.

Community connection to station

Not that it hasnt been without some controversy. When the station was built, this part of Van Ness was considered the outskirts of Fresno. As the neighborhood filled in around it, not everyone was happy having an auto repair shop next door.

About a decade ago, city officials debated whether to allow the business to continue operations. There was a series of hours-long city council hearings in which the shop heard an outcry of community support.

Eventually, Medina won out and was even allowed to extend his hours of operations.

These days, Medina says he turns away more work than he takes in and that he has a solid client base, many of whom have been coming to the shop for years.

The hope is to find a buyer willing to continue that business, says Vasili Sotiropulos, the agent who is listing the property, which is being sold in bulk with a second piece of real estate on Palm Avenue south of McKinley. It also houses a repair shop.

Given the history and location, Sotiropulos says, Van Ness Auto Repair could continue as a successful business for years to come.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pauses during a ceremony at Hostomel Airport in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday, February 24, 2024. The ceremony was to mark the second anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

The U.S. ambassador to Canada says the world is closely watching Canada's defence spending commitments, as the NATO alliance scrambles to shore up Ukraine's supply of military goods.

In an interview that aired Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live, David Cohen praised Canada's "very significant" military contributions on a variety of fronts, including purchases of new equipment and its activity around Ukraine, the Arctic, NORAD and more. But he also applied some pressure when it comes to military spending.

"By the same token, I have been quite clear  and the United States has been quite clear  that NATO and the world is watching what Canada is doing with respect to its commitment.... It's not something we've imposed on Canada. But the world is watching," he told CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.

Cohen noted that other countries belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization had either already reached the target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence or had a robust plan to do so.

"I don't think Canada has any interest in being that kind of an outlier in NATO."

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But Cohen did make it clear that spending is only one factor when looking at contributions to defence.

"I think you have to look at more than any one single metric, and the percentage of Canada's GDP that it spends on defence is just one metric," he said.

In 2023, Canada invested an estimated 1.38 per cent of GDP in defence, placing it 25th out of 30 allies.

At the 2023 NATO leaders' summit, Canada signed a joint communique committing allies to meeting the two per cent target.

That communique also acknowledged that in "many cases, expenditure beyond two per cent of GDP will be needed in order to remedy existing shortfalls and meet the requirements across all domains arising from a more contested security order."

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters, "We will be there to step up with our NATO partners. We will be there to continue to make sure that the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces have the equipment they need and that our allies can count on us to continue to be there for them."

Concerns over U.S. aid

Concerns over military spending and readiness are also tied to Western support for Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia two years ago. Countries in the NATO alliance have struggled to ramp up armament production and to provide Ukraine with timely aid.

Ukraine, which now appears to be on the defensive in the war, has articulated a wide range of needs.

"The need is the whole range of weapons and ammunition, starting with armoured vehicles and artillery shells," Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine's minister of strategic industries, said in a separate interview on Rosemary Barton Live.

The United States, which has provided a major portion of the military and economic support to Ukraine so far, has yet to authorize additional aid.

Cohen expressed confidence that the U.S. would be able to pass a $60-billion US aid package for Ukraine, a legislative proposal that has been delayed and disrupted by ongoing negotiations between Democrats and Republicans.

"This is tied up in some of the messiness of democracy, and there are other issues at play," he said, adding that "the package is going to pass."

Deal is 'stop-gap solution'

During a visit to Kyiv this weekend to mark the second anniversary of the war, Trudeau announced a $3-billion security assurance deal with Ukraine.

That deal can be seen as part of a "stop-gap solution" when it comes to support for Ukraine, as allies wait for American aid to be finalized, said Christian Leuprecht, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.

But Leuprecht said Canada and others needed to commit to substantive aid for Ukraine and have a better plan for support.

"We need a Plan B, in case the Congress in the United States doesn't come through, in case there's a President Trump that gets elected and in case the Ukrainians can't hold the defensive lines with which they're currently struggling," he said. "It's a fight of wills, on both sides."
Howard Buffett, the son of American billionaire Warren Buffett, has promised that his philanthropic foundation will donate $300 million in aid to Ukraine this year.

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has already donated over $500 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The combined funds exceed the humanitarian aid contributions of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada.

In an interview with Business Insider published Feb. 24, Buffett praised President Volodymyr Zelensky's wartime leadership and said it would be a mistake for the United States to withdraw support for Ukraine at this critical time.

"Anybody who feels that Ukraine doesn't need our support is failing to recognize what Zelensky is leading his country against, and it's an incredible force that he's up against," Buffett said.

Buffett's foundation has helped repair agricultural infrastructure in Ukraine, aid demining efforts, and provide essential supplies to healthcare facilities. Funding for the foundation comes primarily from Howard's father Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway CEO and seventh-richest person in the world.

"When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, I felt like it was one of those situations where you have to step up right away, and you have to step up big," Howard Buffett said.

Buffett has traveled to Ukraine during the war and met with Zelensky twice, in 2022 and again in December 2023. He called Russia's invasion the "largest humanitarian crisis" he's seen in his life, and said he feared support for Kyiv could waver amid "Ukraine fatigue."

"People lose interest over time, so keeping this going is tough," Buffett said.

"And it's going to be one of the biggest mistakes that the United States makes historically if we don't continue to support Ukraine."

Delays in U.S. military aid to Ukraine have been felt on the front lines, where soldiers face an increasingly desperate ammunition shortage. A security assistance package worth $61 billion remains frozen as obstructionist Republican legislators refuse to approve the bill.

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The United States and United Kingdom carried out more than a dozen strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, two U.S. officials told Fox News.

The targets were hit successfully and include weapons storage facilities, and drone and missile launchers.

The operation hit five Houthi-controlled locations in Yemen and is a response to the near-daily Houthi attacks involving Iranian drones and anti-ship ballistic missiles, a senior U.S. official said.

The fourth round of American and British strikes came days after a British cargo ship was hit by a Houthi missile.

In a joint statement, the U.S, U.K. and the other allied countries said: "In response to the Houthis' continued attacks against commercial and naval vessels transiting the Red Sea and surrounding waterways, today the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted an additional round of strikes against several targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen."

HOUTHI REVELS' ATTACK SEVERELY DAMAGES A BELIZE-FLAGGED SHIP IN KEY STRAIT LEADING TO THE RED SEA

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The USS Mason shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile launched into the Gulf of Aden on Saturday, the U.S. Central Command said.

The statement called the strikes "proportionate," adding that they "specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across 8 locations in Yemen associated with Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter. These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, naval vessels, and the lives of innocent mariners in one of the worlds most critical waterways."

The statement added, "These strikes are in response to Houthis continued attacks against commercial and naval vessels that have not only endangered international seafarers but the lives of the Yemeni people, including the February 22 missile attack that struck the United Kingdom-owned M/V Islander and injured a crewmember, the February 19 missile attack that nearly struck the U.S.-owned M/V Sea Champion while delivering humanitarian aid to Yemen, the February 19 UAV attack that struck the U.S.-owned M/V Navis Fortuna, and the February 18 missile attack that struck the United Kingdom-owned M/V Rubymar and forced the crew to abandon the ship."

PENTAGON CHALLENGED ON NOTION US STRIKES ARE DETERRING HOUTHIS ATTACKS

It said that the Houthis have launched more than 45 attacks on commercial and naval vessels since mid-November that "constitute a threat to the global economy, as well as regional security and stability, and demand an international response. Our coalition of likeminded countries remains committed to protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels."

The countries said their aim was to "de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but we will once again reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats."

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea.

The strikes were carried out with F-18's from the USS Eisenhower, according to two U.S. defense officials.

An assessment of any casualties is ongoing. Two U.S. defense officials said a very low number is expected, if any.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also put out a statement that said: "Today, the militaries of the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted strikes against military targets in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. Coalition forces targeted eight locations, which included Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter, to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their destabilizing and reckless attacks against U.S. and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea, the Bab AI-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden."

US COALITION FORCES DESTORY 6 HOUTHI ONE-WAY ATTACK DRONES

He said the "United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways. We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks, which harm Middle Eastern economies, cause environmental damage, and disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen and other countries."

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement: "On Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. (Sanaa time), USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) launched into the Gulf of Aden from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. The missile was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a U.S.-Flagged, owned, and operated chemical/oil tanker. Neither USS Mason nor MV Torm Thor were damaged and there were no injuries."

The U.K. Ministry of Defence said that four Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, supported by two Voyager tankers, again participated in a "deliberate coalition strike" against Houthi targets.



"Intelligence analysis had successfully identified several very long-range drones, used by the Houthis for both reconnaissance and attack missions, at a former surface-to-air missile battery site several miles north-east of Sanaa," the ministry said. "Our aircraft used Paveway IV precision guided bombs against the drones and their launchers, notwithstanding the Houthis use of the old missile battery revetments to try to protect the drones."

A missile is launched from a warship during the U.S.-led coalition operation against Yemen's Houthi rebels in earlier this month.

The ministry said that previous RAF strikes on Jan. 11 and Feb. 3 had already "successfully destroyed a number of buildings used to support drone and cruise missile operations at Bani, some fifteen miles west of Abbs airfield in north-western Yemen. Additional buildings at the Bani site had subsequently been confirmed as also being involved in the drone and missile activities there and were therefore targeted during this latest strike."

The strikes come days after a British cargo ship was hit by a Houthi missile which Centcom is now calling an "environmental disaster" after an 18-mile oil slick was observed from space and the ship has been taking on water and is in danger of sinking. Over 40,000 tons of fertilizer is onboard.

Earlier this week, a U.S.-owned cargo ship was also hit by a missile.

U.S. and British forces launched their first round of strikes Jan. 11, but the attacks against commercial shipping at sea have continued.

British forces have been using Tornado strike fighters launching from the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean. U.S. jets came from the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. U.S. warships have also launched Tomahawk cruise missiles against targets in Yemen.

British warships in the Red Sea have no ability to launch strikes into Yemen. Royal Navy destroyers and frigates cannot launch missiles against land targets.

Both British and French warships have destroyed drones in the air in recent weeks.





Original article source: US, UK conduct joint strikes on more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen: 'Specifically targeted'
Burned debris was all that remained after a car fire early Saturday at Mabini and Bonifacio streets in San Franciscos South of Market neighborhood. The owner of the Tesla Model Y, who suspects arson, said police had the car towed before he returned to it. Courtesy photo

San Francisco authorities are investigating two car fires that occurred early Saturday within blocks of each other South of Market  both Tesla Model Ys and possibly the result of arson, according to the owner of one of the vehicles.

The first fire was reported shortly before 1 a.m. at Shipley and Fourth streets, a spokesperson for the Fire Department told the Chronicle. A second vehicle fire within two blocks of the blaze triggered a request for a police response, he said.

A Tesla Model Y owner, whose car burned at Mabini and Bonifacio streets, said Fire Department responders told him it was the second such vehicle ablaze that night.

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Chris, who withheld his last name out of safety concerns, said that when he went to find his car, all he saw was burned debris. Police told him they had towed the car but didnt show him a picture of the damaged vehicle, he said.

We didnt even hear any sirens or explosions last night when it happened, so we were completely surprised when we couldnt find our car, he told the Chronicle in a text message. First thought was maybe I parked somewhere else, then second thought was maybe someone stole it, then saw the ashes.

Chris, 33, said he was planning to drive to Costco on Saturday morning with his wife and 7-month-old child.

Quite sad. We love S.F. and our neighborhood.  We loved our 1.5 year old Tesla, he said. But this may accelerate our moving to a suburb now.

Chris said investigators told him they are learning toward arson and are working with local buildings to review surveillance footage. The Fire Department spokesperson declined to comment on whether the fires were the result of arson or another cause.

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Ive been parking there for several years now with my residential permit and never had any issues, Chris said. Theres a retirement home next to it so had always been very safe  no broken glass from cars. So this incident was shocking in that two cars were set on fire in a normally very safe neighborhood  and both are Tesla Model Ys.

The incident came two weeks after a Waymo driverless car was vandalized and set on fire in Chinatown.
The White House is continuing to sound the alarm bells over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plans to invade the Gaza city of Rafah  where more than 1 million civilians are estimated to be seeking refuge at Israels direction.

The expected Israeli invasion into Rafah has been anticipated for weeks after Netanyahu ordered evacuations out of the southern city earlier this month. Netanyahus plan appears to be at odds with the Biden administration, which has repeatedly urged Israel to not move forward with the operation in Gaza.

Netanyahu said on CBSs Face the Nation that he will review the plans for the militarys expected invasion later Sunday, adding that going into Rafah has to be done. He said once Israel begins the operation in Rafah, total victory against the militant group Hamas will be weeks away.

Netanyahu also claimed that Israel is in agreement with the United States on its operation into Gaza despite mounting concerns from the White House.

Were on the same page with the U.S. on this, because thats how we do it. The reason you have that population in Rafah is because we actually cleared them away from the other places, the zones, combat zones that we had, thats why theyre there. So now theres room for them to go north of Rafah, to the places that weve already finished fighting in, Netanyahu said.

But the U.S. sounded a different tune Sunday when it revealed a lack of information sharing from its top ally in the Middle East. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBCs Meet the Press that the president hasnt seen any plans for a military operation in Rafah or any plan to evacuate Palestinians who have been pushed into the area.

He has not, he told anchor Kristen Welker when asked if President Biden has seen Israels plans for Rafah. And beyond that, Kristen, we have been very clear about our view here. Were talking about more than a million people who have been pushed into this small space in Gaza because of military operations elsewhere.

Its also the area where all of the humanitarian assistance comes into Gaza to serve all of Gaza. And so weve been clear that we do not believe that an operation  a major military operation  should proceed in Rafah, unless there is a clear and executable plan to protect those civilians, to get them to safety and to feed, clothe and house them, he continued.

And we have not seen a plan like that, he added.

Rafah is home to the largest refugee camp for Palestinians fleeing the war. It is estimated that more than 1.4 million people are staying in Rafah amid the ongoing conflict.

Sullivan also said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union that he has not seen Netanyahus plans for a postwar Gaza, but conceded he may have some concerns about the future of Gaza. Netanyahu unveiled the plans last week, which outlined a scenario in which Israel will retain indefinite security control across a demilitarized Gaza, The Associated Press reported.

I havent had any Israeli officials send that plan to me so Im not going to speak to that plan. Our position is very clear about what we expect with respect to the future of Gaza and our overall vision for the future of the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, Sullivan said on CNN.

We have laid out in detail both publicly and privately where we are in that, and I look forward to hearing more directly from the Israeli government what their intentions are. And from what Ive seen in the reporting, I have some concerns, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Unknown vandals in Poland spilled Ukrainian grain from eight wagons at the Kotomezh station, marking the fourth such incident in recent days as the grain was en route to the port of Gdansk.

Photos from the scene were published by Polish media.

Unknown individuals opened and spilled onto the ground eight wagons overnight on Feb. 25. According to Polish media, corn was inside.

Read also: Poland maintains embargo on Ukrainian grain pending EU decision

Polish media also report that representatives of local authorities and police arrived at the scene.

In the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, it was stated that 160 tons of Ukrainian grain were damaged.

This is the fourth case of vandalism at Polish railway stations in recent days.

On Feb. 24, at the Polish railway station Dorohusk, unknown individuals damaged Ukrainian wagons with beans.

On Feb. 23, at the same location, unknown persons spilled rapeseed from three grain wagons heading through Poland to Germany.

Read also: Poland announces plans to check all grain transit from Ukraine

On Feb. 20, Polish protesting farmers blocked the railway near the Medyka checkpoint on the border with Ukraine and spilled grain from a freight wagon onto the tracks.

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
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Virginia Beach police have arrested and charged a Portsmouth man accused in a shooting near a Town Center parking lot.

On Saturday around 4:10 p.m. police responded to reports of gunshots near Apex Entertainment in Town Center.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found spent shell casings by an entrance to the parking garage.

Courtesy of the Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office

Officers quickly began clearing each level of the garage and eventually located a single suspect, 30-year-old Eric Oliver of Portsmouth.

Oliver was taken into custody and officers recovered a Glock 23, .40 Caliber Pistol, equipped with an extended magazine on his person.

No injuries were reported.

Chris Green told 10 On Your Side he was heading to an office party at Apex Entertainment Center when he heard about six gunshots.

And literally as soon as I was pulled in the parking garage, got around the corner, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, Green said. I was like, Oh, no. And then everybody just started hitting the brakes. All you hear was wheels spinning inside like everybody was in a panic because they didnt know what to do. I dont know where the shots were coming from. It was kind of scary.

He said he saw the suspects after shots rang out.

And obviously it was a group of young guys just taking off running, Green said.

He also said he didnt hear any cars get struck by the bullets.

Nothing sounded like it was hitting metal, Green said. It sounded like it was hitting the walls. And some of them were actually, I guess, clearly coming through because some of the shell casings ended up like right outside the entrance.

He told 10 On Your Side at the end of the day, hes just glad it didnt turn out as bad as it couldve.

Youve got a parking garage full of innocent people, Green said. People shooting. We dont know who theyre shooting, what theyre shooting for. But it was it was unnecessary. It ruined a lot of nights.

Oliver faces two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling, felony use of firearm in commission of a felon, violent felon in possession of a firearm, discharge of a Firearm within City Limits, two counts of Destruction of property, reckless handling of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public, shooting across a roadway, and public intoxication.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
The bloc imposed sanctions on all three countries following military coups (Kola Sulaimon)

West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS said Sunday it was easing sanctions imposed on Guinea and Mali, a day after announcing a similar decision for Niger, another country under military rule.

The bloc imposed The bloc imposed sanctions following military coups in the countries sanctions following military coups in the countries between 2020 and 2023.

ECOWAS said it was lifting financial and economic sanctions against Guinea and ending restrictions on the recruitment of Malians to professional positions within the bloc's institutions.

The measures concerning Guinea and Mali, while decided during Saturday's emergency summit, were not mentioned during the closing speech by ECOWAS Commission chief Omar Alieu Touray but appear in the bloc's closing statement.

ECOWAS has suspended all three countries -- and Burkina Faso -- from membership of the bloc because of the military takeovers there.

The bloc banned financial transactions with its member institutions in Guinea after Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted president Alpha Conde in 2021.

Economic and financial sanctions on Mali, which underwent coups in 2020 and 2021, were lifted in 2022 after the military announced a timetable for a transition back to civilian rule.

A no-fly zone, border closures and asset freezes against Niger were among the measures lifted on Saturday on "humanitarian grounds", after last year's coup that overthrew elected leader Mohamed Bazoum. Political and individual sanctions remain in place, however.

The ECOWAS move signals a desire to renew dialogue with military regimes among its members after Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso announced their intention to leave the bloc.

The three countries have formed an alliance, severed ties with traditional security partner France and forged closer relations with Russia, which is seeking greater influence in Africa.

At the start of Saturday's emergency heads of state summit in Abuja, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had said: "We must re-examine our current approach to the quest for constitutional order in four of our member states."

Nigeria currently holds the rotating chairmanship of ECOWAS.

fvl/imm/jj
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at the Black Conservative Federation's Annual BCF Honors Gala at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Andrew Harnik/AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at the Black Conservative Federation's Annual BCF Honors Gala at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Andrew Harnik/AP Members of the audience cheers as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at the Black Conservative Federation's Annual BCF Honors Gala at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Andrew Harnik/AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at the Black Conservative Federation's Annual BCF Honors Gala at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Andrew Harnik/AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, accompanied Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., right, arrives at the Black Conservative Federation's Annual BCF Honors Gala at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Andrew Harnik/AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at the Black Conservative Federation's Annual BCF Honors Gala at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Andrew Harnik/AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at the Black Conservative Federation's Annual BCF Honors Gala at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Andrew Harnik/AP

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Former President Donald Trump claimed Friday that his four criminal indictments have boosted his support among Black Americans because they see him as a victim of discrimination, comparing his legal jeopardy to the historic legacy of anti-Black prejudice in the U.S. legal system.

Trump argues he is the victim of political persecution, even though there is no evidence President Joe Biden or White House officials influenced the filing of 91 felony charges against him. Earlier in the week, Trump compared himself to Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's top domestic rival, who died in a remote Arctic prison after being jailed by the Kremlin leader.

I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing, Trump told a black-tie event for Black conservatives in South Carolina ahead of Saturday's Republican primary. And a lot of people said thats why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against. Its been pretty amazing but possibly, maybe, theres something there."

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Trump has centered his third campaign for the White House on his grievances against Biden and what he alleges is a deep state targeting him, even as he faces charges from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, keeping classified documents at his Florida estate, and allegedly arranging payments to a porn actress. He is the dominant Republican front-runner, as many GOP voters echo his beliefs, and is favored to soundly beat former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in her home state.

Trump noted the mug shot taken by Georgia authorities after he was indicted on state racketeering charges over the 2020 election.

When I did the mug shot in Atlanta, that mug shot is No. 1, he said, adding: You know who embraced it more than anyone else? The Black population.

Trump's campaign has predicted he can do better with Black voters in November than he did four years ago, citing Biden's faltering poll numbers with Black adults and what Trump sees as advantages on issues like the economy and the record-high number of people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, often ending up in cities with large Black populations.

He was flanked on stage at the Black Conservative Federation's gala in Columbia, South Carolina, by Black elected officials including Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Wesley Hunt of Texas. Many in the crowd cheered throughout the speech.

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In a freewheeling speech, Trump mixed his regular campaign remarks with appeals to the Black community and jokes that touched on race.

The lights are so bright in my eyes I cant see too many people out there. But I can only see the Black ones. I cant see any white ones. Thats how far Ive come, Trump said to laughter from the audience.

He also said that he knew many Black people because his properties were built by Black construction workers.

In telling a story about how he renegotiated the cost of remodeling Air Force One, Trump criticized his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, the first Black person to be elected to the White House.

I have to tell you, Black president, but I got $1.7 billion less, Trump said. Would you rather have the Black president or the white president who got $1.7 billion off the price?

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As the crowd cheered, he added, I think they want the white guy.

Republicans face an uphill battle in courting Black voters, who are overwhelmingly supportive of the Democratic Party. And while Black voter enthusiasm for Biden has cooled over the last year, only 25% of Black Americans said they had a favorable view of Trump in a December AP-NORC poll.

Democrats lambasted the speech, with former Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, a co-chair of Biden's reelection campaign, saying that Donald Trump claiming that Black Americans will support him because of his criminal charges is insulting. Its moronic. And its just plain racist.

He thinks Black voters are so uninformed that we wont see through his shameless pandering," Richmond said in a statement. He has another thing coming.

And Haley, speaking Saturday morning in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, called his speech disgusting.

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Thats what happens when he goes off the teleprompter, she said. Thats the chaos that comes with Donald Trump.

Black voters who spoke with The Associated Press ahead of the gala expressed skepticism that Republicans, and Trump in particular, could persuade them to switch parties.

Theres just so much controversy, said Ebony McBeth, a Columbia resident and transportation worker. I would go for Biden just because Trump has his own agenda.

Isaac Williams Sr., a retired cook from Columbia and a lifelong Democrat, said he disliked both parties but found Trump to have mobster tendencies. Hes only out for himself.

Multiple conservatives interviewed said the Democratic Partys appeal to Black voters was based on emotional politics by evoking racism.

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In order for the Republican Party to win more of the African American community over, well have to invest a lot of time and more money into really letting people know our platform, because the truth of the matter is a lot of them, they agree with our platform but they dont associate that with the Republican Party, said Samuel Rivers Jr., a former Republican state senator in South Carolina.

Rivers, who is Black, argued that Black voters view Republicans in a negative way based on emotional triggers of racism that no longer exists."

Trump has a long history of stoking racial tensions. From his earliest days as a New York real estate developer, Trump has faced accusations of racist business practices. In 1989, he took out full-page newspaper ads calling for New York state to reinstate the death penalty as five Black and Latino teenagers were set to stand trial for beating and raping a white woman in Central Park. The five men were eventually exonerated in 2002 after another man admitted to the crime and it was determined their confessions were coerced.

He spent years spreading the lie that Obama was ineligible to hold office. When he was president, Trump derided shithole countries in Africa and said four congresswomen of color should go back to the broken and crime-infested countries they came from, ignoring the fact that all of the women are American citizens and three were born in the U.S.

___
Our common humanity will be either our common triumph or our common downfall. Right now, it is our lack of humanity that is making room for conversations about new execution methods. We are desperate to find ways to humanely kill those we condemn. There is no humane way to kill a person. We seem so determined to go backward. Last month in Alabama, we were promised humanity in the first nitrogen hypoxia execution. What we saw was everything but.

As Kenneth Smiths spiritual advisor, I was in the chamber before, during and after the curtains were opened for his execution. Meaning, I watched him slowly suffocate to death. There is no one alive today who has been closer to a nitrogen hypoxia execution than I have. Having witnessed four previous executions and being a student of history, I can assure you that the experimental barbarity that I witnessed has few comparisons.

Nitrogen hypoxia is not just an execution method  it is torture. And that is why I find it so curious (though not entirely surprising, based on his national reputation) that Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is so certain that he wants to bring the same barbarity to your state.

Kobach commented in a recent interview, I have spoken directly with the attorney general of Alabama, and he confirmed that the hypoxia method worked extremely well.

Let me put the above quote in context. You have Kansas attorney general describing his desire to pursue an execution method that he has never actually seen carried out, based on the perspective of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who has never actually seen the method carried out either. Because of Kansas large beef industry, the juxtaposition reminds me of the old saying, all hat and no cattle  meaning somebody wears a big hat to hide the fact that he doesnt actually own any cattle.

Both of these guys talk a very big game for something theyve never even seen, much less had to carry out themselves. Runaway big government always rises and falls with such bluster.

The reason I know that Kobachs quote is so absurd is that I did see the method carried out. I know that Marshall didnt tell the truth and  in the most generous possible way of stating it  Kobach is being led astray. The only way that one could say that what I saw went well is if the only measure of well means that Kenneth Smith is no longer alive. If such a standard is a measurement, then we should start hanging people on a short rope and watch them squirm until they die in front of our courthouses. Id like to think that our society has evolved beyond such lunacy. Then again, what I saw wasnt all that far off from that.

Affixed with a gas mask that went from the top of his head to under his chin, Kenneth said goodbye. Then, the nitrogen started to flow. I watched as Kenneths head turned redder and redder. His body began to pump adrenaline ferociously. It looked as if his head was going to explode  perhaps even his whole body. We were told that Kenneth would go unconscious in seconds. Then, seconds started to turn into minutes. Kenneth began to heave. Each time he rose, mucus, saliva and other fluids shot from his mouth and out the front of the mask. The liquids began to drizzle down like a waterfall. His eyeballs were bulging out. Back and forth over and over, everything, everywhere moving all at once. Like a fish out of water being stepped on until they flop no more.

There are times when the bluster of politicians is nothing more than that. There are other times where that bluster has real consequences. Morality is earned, not given. Nitrogen hypoxia is evil. When the Kansas Legislature begins to discuss the possible adoption of suffocation as an execution method, I encourage legislators to not take the bait of Kobachs declarations about its humaneness. If youd seen what I saw, youd know that he has absolutely, positively no idea what he is talking about.

Jeff Hood is a pastor, theologian and activist living and working in Little Rock, Arkansas.
An "essential" Wayne County contractor and former right-hand man to County Executive Warren Evans was charged with domestic violence last month, raising questions about "Who knew what, when?" and whether taxpayers should continue to foot the hefty bill for someone accused of beating a woman.

The case of Tony Saunders is a complicated one. Saunders is a respected turnaround expert and former wunderkind credited with helping Wayne County avoid bankruptcy when he served as chief financial officer from 2015 to 2017. He is, of course, also considered innocent until proven guilty. And domestic violence prosecutions sometimes fall apart because the victim declines to cooperate or testify after the cops have come to their rescue.

But Saunders' legal problem  he is scheduled to appear on Friday in 36th District Court in Detroit for a pretrial conference  got me thinking about other aspects of his relationship with Wayne County that have nothing to do with whether he committed a crime.

For starters, why is the county paying Saunders $425,000 over 17 months for a part-time job helping top county officials do much of the work he helped hire them to do? Why did the Evans administration violate county rules by allowing Saunders to do $75,000 worth of work before commissioners approved the deal? Why does the county continue to turn to Saunders for help after becoming aware of his business deals that even the most generous observer must concede created, at best, the appearance of a conflict of interest? Finally, why won't county officials  including county spokespeople paid to speak  discuss this?

While the wheels of justice turn, let's take a closer look at Saunders' meteoric rise through local politics and lucrative relationship with the county he helped save from financial ruin.

A man in demand

Few 37-year-olds can match Saunders' rapid rise.

After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2007, Saunders started WYLD Marketing Group. In 2009, he got involved in Detroit politics, handling social media for Charles Pugh's city council campaign. After the election, Saunders joined Pugh's city council staff. He told Crain's Detroit Business in 2011 that this was when he began to focus his efforts on his passion for "budget, finance and pensions." By then, he was working as chief of staff to Detroit Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins.

Somewhere along the way, he worked for Conway MacKenzie, a turnaround and restructuring firm that worked on Detroit's bankruptcy. In 2013, Saunders became the emergency financial manager for Benton Harbor. In January 2015, a month before his 29th birthday, Saunders became Wayne County's Chief Restructuring and Chief Financial Officer. Over the next two years, Saunders helped the county avoid bankruptcy.

We dont get where we are today in Wayne County without Tony Saunders," Evans said in April 2017, after Saunders announced he would resign to start a turnaround and private equity firm. "His work stabilizing our finances has been remarkable."

"Wayne County is in its best financial shape in years and weve restored stability," Evans added. "We knew once we did, a young, passionate guy like Tony would be out there seeing where else he could deploy his talents.

But Saunders didn't wait until he stepped down from his county gig to "deploy his talents" elsewhere.

In 2015, the same year he was being paid $158,000 to help save Wayne County from financial ruin, Saunders also was working as a consultant to the city of Pontiac's Receivership Transition Advisory Board. He was paid $10,000 and deemed so valuable to Pontiac's turnaround that the board won approval to pay Saunders another $15,000.

WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) investigative reporter Ross Jones also reported that in 2015 Saunders' consulting firm pitched its services to Shelby County Schools in Tennessee and Prince George's County in Maryland. The firm made $95,000 in Tennessee and about $35,000 in Maryland. A Wayne County spokesperson told Jones that Saunders' side hustles were approved in February 2016 but said the county couldn't find the original paperwork, so it "re-created" the approval form.

In 30 years as a reporter, that's the first time I've heard of paperwork being "re-created."

Saunders raised more eyebrows back home with some of his other entrepreneurial efforts.

In 2017, Jones reported that Saunders, while still on the county payroll, had a side job working with a businessman who managed some county buildings. Jones later reported that Saunders was part of the county team working to find an alternative to its failed jail project on Gratiot and that he was working for Rock Ventures, which eventually reached a $533 million deal with the county to build a jail and criminal justice complex just off Interstate 75. Spokespeople for Evans and Rock told Jones that Saunders stopped working on the jail deal after he started working for Rock Ventures, where he became chief operating officer.

If that doesn't sound fishy, consider that Saunders' consulting deal with the county paid him $49,900  or $100 less than the amount that would have required the deal to go before the county commission. (Somehow, even after shenanigans like this, the county now allows Evans to give out contracts worth up to $150,000 without commission approval.) Jones also reported that Saunders didn't file the required conflict of interest forms with the county that should have disclosed his role with Rock until days after Jones started asking about Saunders' job with Rock.

A watchdog awakening

Despite Jones' fine watchdog work, I confess I didn't pay much attention to Saunders until his arrest for domestic violence. As I dug into Saunders' role with Wayne County, I uncovered what may be his most startling deal of all.

In 2022, Evans gave one of Saunders' companies a contract paying him $25,000 a month to help the county manage its finances and find a new chief financial officer. County officials were either so happy or so desperate for Saunders' help that they allowed him to keep working even after hitting the contract's $100,000 maximum. This was a violation of county rules, which forbid officials and contractors from doing work that isn't approved and budgeted.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, shown here at a 2022 news conference at Elizabeth Park in Trenton, declined to speak to the Free Press about the county's relationship with former employee and current contractor Tony Saunders.

But county commissioners knew nothing about this until county officials asked them last summer to approve a $325,000 contract extension so Saunders could continue to help with the budget, revenue forecasts and labor negotiations. And once commissioners started asking questions, some details you may find troubling began to emerge.

For starters, the county agreed to pay Saunders $425,000 over 17 months. That comes out to $300,000 a year  almost twice what Wayne County paid Saunders when he was its chief restructuring and chief financial officer. When you consider that the contract only requires Saunders to work an average of about 20 hours a week, it turns out that as a part-time worker, he will be paid about four times what he was paid as a full-time employee.

The commission's fiscal analysts highlighted another concern: Saunders is being paid to act as a financial adviser and labor negotiator even after he helped the county hire a new CFO, a chief deputy CFO and an interim director of labor relations.

"Why the need to spend additional monies on an outside counsel?" an analyst wrote to commissioners after reviewing Saunders' deal.

Evans' management and budget officials told commissioners in August that Saunders is "essential" because he has "in-depth knowledge of and expertise" with county operations and "as such, he is uniquely qualified to provide guidance and other support" to the finance and labor departments. They said the CFO and deputy CFO Saunders helped recruit still needed "time to get well acclimated with the County's vast and complex financial operations"  even after they'd been on the job for three months. The management and budget officials also said the county needed Saunders' help negotiating union contracts because the new labor relations director is "the only member of the County's labor relations team due to vacancies."

Commissioner Glenn Anderson, a Westland Democrat, was the only member of the commission's Ways and Means Committee to vote against recommending the contract to the full commission.

"I think the amount of what he's getting on that contract is excessive for the amount of time that he's going to spend working for the county," Anderson told me last week, adding that the officials Saunders helped hire should be able to do their jobs without his assistance.

Proceed with caution

After examining Saunders' conduct as a public official, we've come to the unpleasant and unavoidable subject of his alleged conduct as a man. Some of you may want to stop here because I'm going to report what police said happened on a winter Wednesday evening before they arrested Saunders at his home in Jefferson Chalmers' exclusive Shorepointe Village subdivision.

Neither Saunders nor his attorney would discuss why police were called on Jan. 10 to his 3,600-square-foot home  built right on the edge of the Detroit River. The following account comes from the police report.

It was about 7:45 p.m. when Saunders walked into his home and accused a woman making dinner of cheating. After throwing his car keys at her  and missing  the woman asked Saunders to go upstairs to "finish the argument."

"Once in the bedroom," police said, Saunders "stated, 'I told you not to mention his name' and starting pushing the complaintant around in the room causing her to fall on the bed and floor." ("Complaintant" is the term police use for people they believe to be victims of a crime. The Free Press generally does not name people believed to be victims of domestic violence.)

Saunders "grabbed the complaintant by her legs and threw her off the bed and got on top of her and held her down. (Saunders) struck the complaintant in the face and about the body several times with a closed fist causing her head to bounce off the floor. The complaintant tried to gather her things and pack a suitcase when (Saunders) grabbed the suitcase and threw it at her (hitting her) and said 'You not going nowhere.' The complaintant further stated that at one point (Saunders) threw her on the ground and pinned her between the bed and nightstand and repeatedly slammed her head on the floor. (Saunders) took the complaintant's cell phone and threw it on the balcony to prevent her from calling the police. Once the assault stopped (Saunders) told the complaintant 'Now you can leave and then I'm going to off myself.' "

Saunders was charged with domestic violence, which is a misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Jan. 24.

Executive silence

When I asked Anderson, who has been critical of Saunders' contract and apparent conflicts of interest while working for the county, what he thought of Saunders' alleged conduct, he said he would reserve judgment until he knew all the facts. But he was concerned.

"I think someone in that position, there should be some consideration about their conduct," Anderson said.

Like Anderson, Commission Chairwoman Alisha Bell said she had not heard about the criminal charge against Saunders until I called to ask the Detroit Democrat whether she was concerned taxpayer money was being paid to someone accused of domestic violence.

"I don't think it's wise to speak of something I'm not aware of," Bell told me Wednesday. "I think that's unfortunate and I'm sure the executive will speak to it."

Alisha Bell, Wayne Commission Chairwoman

Evans does not have a long track record of commenting on questions about Saunders' conduct beyond praising his performance as CFO. Nevertheless, I asked two of Evans' communications team whether they were aware of the charges against Saunders and whether they would affect his deal with the county.

After 24 hours, interim director of communications Kimberly Harry sent me an email that said: "Mr. Tony Saunders previously served as Wayne County Chief Financial Officer and is a contractor for the County. We were made aware of the situation late last week and have no further comment."

Unfortunately, this feeble response failed to address virtually all of the questions I had, so I wrote back: "I am reiterating my request to speak to a county official who can address Mr. Saunders role with the county, as well as how it may be impacted by these criminal charges.

"If no one is available to speak to these matters," I added, "I will note that in my column."

One hour and nine minutes later, Harry sent me an email that said:

"Sharing again 

Mr. Tony Saunders previously served as Wayne County Chief Financial Officer and is a contractor for the County. We were made aware of the situation late last week and have no further comment.

If saying the exact same thing again in italics was an elegant way to impart some subtle wisdom, I'm afraid it eluded my simple mind.

What, if anything, will come of the criminal charges against Saunders will be decided in a courtroom. But the spotlight those charges cast on Saunders illuminated some other questions about his conduct as a county employee and contractor and whether taxpayers are getting their money's worth out of his continued partnership with Evans.

Situations like these require reporters to ask questions that make people uncomfortable. It's a part of this job I don't relish. But as extraordinary as these circumstances are, they highlight a problem that has become all too common these days: Officials who refuse to answer questions about how they conduct the People's Business.

That's why, however this case ends, we should all continue to demand answers to the questions it has raised.

M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of the ML's Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wayne Co. contractor Saunders' domestic violence case raises questions
CMS retraining

As a retired history teacher, its interesting that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teachers will be retrained after the door display at West Charlotte High School showing colored- and white-only entrances.

It is my hope that there will also be a sign placed outside the school saying this land was originally home of the Catawba Nation. Will it upset folks to learn that the land of the Native Americans was taken by the whites? Will teachers also be trained on the destruction of the slave family as a unit and the replacement of people as property?

These training sessions must also expose teachers to the building of internment camps where 90,000 Japanese Americans were held behind doors from 1942-1945, though they were U.S. citizens.

All of this is appropriate content.

Michael Cox, Charlotte

Why all the fear?

The writer is an English teacher in Gaston County.

Censorship is on the rise across the country. School libraries, my refuge as a grade school student, are under threat. A week doesnt go by where I dont see the phrase banned book list in an article on social media.

I was raised Southern Baptist, and I come from a family that knits brows at the sight of unseemly content. Fortunately for me, they prioritized the quest for knowledge above any divine sensibilities. Growth was the norm.

What are we really scared of? An educated populace that empathizes with people that arent like them? Im scared of not knowing my neighbors, of fences becoming the edges of a war zone.

Richard Morris, Belmont

Congress

American help to Ukraine is imperative. We can not let that country be annihilated by a man who does not even respect his own people and wants to revive an empire lost in time.

It is incredible that the U.S. House, with a minimal majority, is bowing to Donald Trump and his extreme words against NATO. Not even the death of Alexei Navalny will move them to say yes to sending help to Ukraine.

Let us accept the fact that Republicans in the House are becoming doormats, taking orders from a past president. They are cowards who are not even thinking about the horror of their actions.

Marita Lentz, Charlotte

Tim Scott

Watching U.S. Sen. Tim Scott recently on State of the Union made me cringe. He never gave a direct answer to any of the questions. Instead he took the opportunity to bash the Biden administration with typical MAGA scare tactic falsehoods and praise Donald Trump with over-the-top platitudes. He wouldnt even say he stood with Ukraine and NATO despite his own words to the contrary just months ago during a debate. I once respected the man for what he has accomplished. Sadly, hes now joined a long list of previously principled Republicans whove sold their souls for political gain.

Willard Osburn, Cornelius

Burr, drug prices

I was disappointed to see The Observer publish a Feb. 19 Opinion piece by former U.S. Sen. Richard Burr on reducing prescription drug costs. In it, he blamed excess cost on pharmacy benefit managers rather than drug companies. Can he be trusted to be free of bias?

Research by ProPublica has shown that Burr received over a million dollars from the drug lobby, and traded medical stocks while in office, clear conflicts of interest. He was also investigated for dumping stocks at the beginning of the pandemic, while suggesting to some in the public that it was not a major concern. (Editors note: Burr was later cleared of wrongdoing).

Consider the source.

Dr. Vincent Keipper, Concord

Get informed

Many of us forget that the term democracy means more than one person, one vote. For democracy to succeed, it requires informed voters. Those who lie and misrepresent are rotting our democracy. Voters must seek out reliable sources of truth, not just websites with the word truth in them, nor hollow claims of fair and balanced. Russia and China are safely spreading false propaganda that confounds U.S. voters. Find and use a fact checker or lose our informed democracy.

Tom E. Bowers, Charlotte
An agreement that has been called a roadmap to breaching the four Snake River dams in Eastern Washington was signed in a Biden White House ceremony Friday, with tribal leaders and the governors of Oregon and Washington in attendance.

The agreement made public in December lays the groundwork for the federal government to work with four Northwest tribes and the states of Oregon and Washington to protect and restore salmon, steelhead and other native fish to the Columbia River Basin, including the Snake River.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, right, watches as Chairman Jonathan Smith of the Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs signs the Columbia River Basin restoration agreement at the White House. Office of Gov. Jay Inslee

We will not allow extinction to be an option for the salmon, nor for us, said Chairman Shannon Wheeler of the Nez Perce Tribe. The United States is bound to salmon and to us by treaty, where we reserved all of our fisheries.

The agreement was hashed out by the federal government behind closed doors to temporarily halt a long-running lawsuit over the Columbia River hydrosystem, and particularly the lower Snake River dams, as salmon and steelhead runs have dropped far below levels when treaties were signed in 1855.

Since time immemorial, the strength of the Yakama Nation and its people have come from Nchi Wana  the Columbia River  and from the fish, game, roots and berries it nourishes, said Chairman Gerald Lewis of the Yakama Nation.

Corinne Sams, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and chairperson of Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, signs an agreement between the Biden administration and the CTUIR, Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, Yakama Nation and states of Oregon and Washington. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Its fishers have empty nets and its homes have empty tables, due to the impact of human development on the Columbia River system, he said. More clean energy is needed, but it needs to be developed in a way that is socially just, he said.

My heart is big today, said Corinne Sams of the board of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and chairperson of Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

We are Wykanish-Pum, the Salmon People, and in our creation story Salmon gave up himself so we can have nourishment. And in return, we promised to speak on behalf of our resources, Sams said at the ceremony.

Since the federal dams were constructed, 13 salmon and steelhead stocks have been listed as threatened and endangered.

But the Umatillas and others at the ceremony also discussed the complexity of the issues surrounding historic salmon declines, including climate change and population growth.

Under the agreement the Biden administration will spend more than $1 billion, including $300 million from the Bonneville Power Administration over a decade to restore native fish and their habitats.

The Department of Energy will help develop tribally sponsored clean energy infrastructure to help replace hydropower production should the four dams  from Ice Harbor near Pasco to Lower Granite near Lewiston, Idaho  be torn down.

Studies will be conducted by the federal government or with federal funding on how the services now provided by the dams could be replaced, including the barging of farm products and other goods, irrigation, recreation and electricity production.

Fish viewing area at Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River facility near Burbank. Tri-City Herald file

President Biden understands the Columbia River is the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest for its culture, for its economy and for its people, said Brenda Mallory, chairperson of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

In the federal government it is all hands on deck to restore the wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin, she said.

The historic agreement is charting a new and exciting path to restore the river, provide for clean energy and live up to our responsibilities to tribal nations, she said.

The six governments negotiating the agreement with the federal government included Washington state, Oregon state and the Yakama Nation, the Umatilla Tribes, the Nez Perce Tribe and the Warm Springs Tribes.
Superior Court Judges Michael Begert (left) and Patrick Thompson face challengers in the March 5 primary election. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle 2023

The fact that judicial elections look and feel like elections for partisan political offices masks the reasons they should be treated differently. Unlike the legislative and executive branches, trial courts do not make public policy. They apply legal rules and constitutional principles. Therefore, the standard by which trial judges should be measured is not whether their rulings conform to voters political preferences, but whether the incumbent enforces the law fairly, diligently and impartially.

Stop Crime Action disagrees. The group is one of the loudest voices in the campaign to defeat San Francisco Superior Court Judges Michael Begert and Patrick Thompson in the March 5 election and does not disclose its financial backers. According to its website, trial judges must answer to the citizens of San Francisco just like the members of the other two local branches of government  the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and the District Attorney. Aside from being untrue, if superior court judges were accountable to political forces and public opinion, the Superior Court would constitute a political body and the rule of law, the foundation of our democracy, would be compromised.

Fortunately, California still has an independent judiciary. Almost all Superior Court judges in the state are appointed by the governor after rigorous vetting by the State Bar of California. As a result, Californias judicial system is widely considered the strongest in the nation and the states judges are rarely challenged in an election. The only reason to challenge one is if the incumbent judge is mentally unfit, intemperate or unethical, as none of those grounds would infringe on the judicial independence and impartiality our system requires. But those are not the claims of those seeking to unseat Judges Begert and Thompson. They claim that, indifferent to public sentiment, these judges release individuals awaiting trial on drug offenses who then repeatedly resume their illegal activity.

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The proponents of these groundless claims distort the facts of the few cases they rely upon and ignore the applicable law and the extent to which the rulings they complain of protected public safety. Lets start with the rulings of Judge Thompson.

Thompson has been a Superior Court judge for only a year and a half, most of which he served on the traffic court, as do many new judges. He now conducts preliminary hearings to determine whether the evidence of guilt is sufficient to warrant a trial of the accused. Thompson does not decide whether defendants are innocent or guilty, or impose sentences, but he does decide motions requesting pretrial release on bail, and his rulings in those cases are the ones his critics focus upon.

The facts of Thompsons bail cases highlighted by his critics are exemplified by the case of Jefferson Arrechaga, which they single out for attention. According to the transcript of the bail hearing in the case, Arrechaga, who was charged with selling fentanyl, had one felony conviction during the past five years, zero misdemeanor convictions, zero bench warrants, no pending cases and was convicted of a felony 10 years ago as an accessory after the fact of a drug offense. Arrechaga had a wife and two children, was a long-time Bay Area resident, graduated from high school, had some college education and was seeking employment with the assistance of caseworkers. The public safety assessment of the pretrial services agency recommended his release with check-ins two times a week to ensure structure and compliance.

Because drug offenses are not considered violent, people who are charged with those offenses, like Arrechaga, possess a constitutional right to bail. The law regarding that right was revised by the California Supreme Court in 2011. Recognizing that the disadvantages of being jailed while awaiting trial are immense and profound, the court held that a judge who believes the release of an accused person might endanger public safety must determine the availability of conditions less restrictive than detention that also protect the public  such as electronic monitoring by a GPS device, home confinement, daily check-ins with a case manager or drug and/or alcohol treatment. A judge may keep a defendant in jail prior to trial to protect public safety, the Supreme Court ruled, only if the district attorney produces clear and convincing evidence that less restrictive conditions of release that would reasonably protect public safety do not exist.

In Arrechagas case, the transcript of the hearing shows that the district attorney did not do that. Instead, he claimed detention was necessary to protect public safety simply because Arrechaga had committed drug offenses five and 10 years earlier and the present arrest showed he had not stopped. The failure of the district attorney to comply with the need to show that a less restrictive way to protect public safety did not exist (as well as undisputed evidence that Arrechaga would appear at trial, as he did) required Thompson to grant him bail.

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However, while he ordered Arrechaga released, Thompson also subjected him to assertive case management  the highest level of supervision of post-release conduct. Depending on the case, individuals in the program can be required to physically check in daily with their case manager and any failure to comply is reported back to the court. A recent report by the San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project found that more than 90% of defendants released on that level of supervision are not charged with any new offense pending disposition of their case.

Stop Crime Actions description of Judge Begerts conduct is just as misleading as its superficial description of Judge Thompsons rulings.

For the past five years, Begert has been assigned to the drug court and several other collaborative courts, which combine judicial supervision with rehabilitation services that are closely monitored and focus on helping defendants address the causes of their criminal conduct, such as substance abuse, homelessness or a mental health disorder. The decision to divert such defendants for treatment is made in the criminal court, not the collaborative court, by joint agreement of the court, the district attorney and the public defender. To be clear: Begerts assignment is to supervise out-of-custody drug treatment; it is not his responsibility to decide which cases should or should not be sent to his court for release to a treatment program. Moreover, the defendants sent to his court ordinarily enter a guilty plea prior to commencing treatment. If the treatment plan, which may last 18 months or longer, is completed satisfactorily, Begert orders the legal benefit agreed upon by the parties, which may be a reduction or dismissal of the charges. If not, or if the defendant reoffends, rendering him ineligible for diversion, Begert returns the defendant to the criminal court for prosecution.

Begerts critics also fail to disclose that diversion for treatment and rehabilitation in a collaborative court cannot take place unless the district attorney agrees. Because the present district attorney often disagrees, there has been a 70% reduction in such diversion since she took office (and a commensurate increase in the jail population), even though studies show that defendants released after diversion and treatment are least likely to re-offend.

As is standard practice, Judges Thompson and Begert have been vetted and approved by the State Bar. They also have been vetted by the Bar Association of San Francisco, which determined both judges to be well-qualified. Their opponents, on the other hand, have not participated in the county bar association evaluation process, despite being invited to.

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Shannon Street, where police responded to gunshot reports the morning of Feb. 12.

WORCESTER  A man and woman have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a teenager on Shannon Street earlier this month.

Kidam Oquendo, 21, of Wawecus Road in Worcester, and Alexis Medeiros, 18, of Gardner, were arrested Friday night, according to Worcester police.

Oquendo is charged in the shooting; Medeiros is charged as an accessory.

According to court records, which include a police report, Medeiros drove the gunshot victim to St. Vincent Hospital. Later, when talking to investigators, she denied involvement, saying she was asleep, something police would eventually doubt.

"These statements by Alexis resulted in police wasting valuable time in a murder investigation having to check her false statements," police wrote in report.

Investigators have been pursuing leads since a 17-year-old male was gunned down at 14 Shannon St. the morning of Feb. 12.

The suspects were located by Worcester investigators and members of the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Squad.

More: 17-year-old dead after overnight shooting in Worcester

Oquendo is charged with armed assault to murder, attempted assault and battery by firearm, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID Card, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and possession of a firearm during a felony, police said.

Medeiros is charged with accessory after the fact and obstruction of justice.

Police have not released the name of the victim, who was pronounced dead at a hospital not long after the 3:15 a.m. shooting

Officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation on Shannon Street  a dead-end street off Dorchester Street  and found evidence of shots fired, but no victim.

Police then checked local hospitals for gunshot victims, learning that a 17-year-old with gunshot wounds was brought in for treatment.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester PD: Two charged in Feb. 12 killing of teen on Shannon Street
After almost four years, Yale University is joining another Ivy League school to once again require applicants to submit an SAT or ACT score, saying the change could help boost admittance for underprivileged students despite concerns from advocates.

The school said Thursday it would also allow applicants to provide scores from advanced placement or international baccalaureate instead of the tests. The change followed Dartmouth College, the first Ivy League school to bring back the requirement on February 5, although it is not offering AP or IB scores as an alternative.

Other schools  including the rest of the Ivy League, along with the California State University System and the University of Michigan  have stuck with the decision to do away with the testing requirement. Yale was one of hundreds of schools to go test-optional during th e Covid-19 pandemic, meaning students could choose whether to submit their scores on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT on applications.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court gutted affirmative action in 2023, ruling colleges and universities could no longer take race into consideration as a specific basis for granting admission.

After years of debate, Yale explained through its data the change would help boost admittance students from low-income backgrounds and underrepresented minorities. But critics argue the tests could worsen inequalities and hurt the chances for many minorities, who tend to score lower, to gain access to better schools.

Boosting low-income students, Yale says

Requiring test scores doesnt further economic inequality in the admissions process, dean of undergraduate admissions, Jeremiah Quinlan, said in a news release announcing the change. In fact, he argued, it can do the opposite.

Strong test scores can help boost students from low socioeconomic backgrounds who might not have other opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities on an application, a news release from the Yale admissions team said.

Quinlan argued while the last few years pool of applicants had the most economic and racial diversity in Yales history, the lack of test scores at times worked toward the disadvantage of these students.

For students attending high schools with fewer resources, applications without scores can inadvertently leave admissions officers with scant evidence of their readiness for Yale, Quinlan said. When students attending these high schools include a score with their application  even a score below Yales median range  they give the committee greater confidence that they are likely to achieve academic success in college.

In the news release, Yale said a students scores on standardized tests were the single greatest predictor of the students future grades.

Quinlan also said Yale had been able to increase its diversity even before the shift to making tests optional  citing a 65% increase in first-generation students admitted and a 52% increase in underrepresented minorities between 2013 and 2019.

Testing worsens inequities, critics say

However, some advocates criticized Yales new test-flexible policy, arguing it disadvantages students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds and underrepresented minorities.

If you go back far enough, the SAT and its cousin the ACT were developed essentially within the eugenics movement, out of intelligence test and IQ tests, said Harry Feder, executive director at FairTest, which advocates for equitable and fair student testing. It was designed to be an exclusionary tool against those who were not part of the dominant majority culture.

The SAT has also long been criticized for bias against marginalized communities.

White and Asian students overwhelmingly make up the SATs top scorers, as do students of wealthier socioeconomic backgrounds. Students whose parents are in the wealthiest top 1% are 13 times more likely than low-income students to score above a 1300 on the SAT, research from Opportunity Insights showed.

A study by the Brookings Institution noted many colleges use SAT scores for admissions and financial aid decisions. The group said more selective institutions require high SAT scores for entryand there are even bigger race gaps at the top of the score distribution.

Jeff Selingo  author of Who Gets in and Why, which examined who gets into the most elite universities  previously told CNN going test-optional means admissions officers would be looking at applications they would not have seen previously when they required test scores.

These applicants, Feder said, only get into the pool in the first place if schools dont require test scores.

By requiring a score, youre saying to tens of thousands of talented kids  particularly of disadvantaged socioeconomic status and racialized minorities you didnt get a high enough score? Youre not applying.

Its going to stop those applications from coming in, he added. School after school, study after study, shows test-optional policies gets them a more diverse applicant pool, and an equally talented pool.

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When educating bilingual students, the largest school district in the Coastal Bend, Corpus Christi ISD, currently relies on a transitional model that aims to move students into mainstream English classrooms within a few years of starting school.

But another bilingual education model is growing in popularity locally, with proponents arguing the dual language model leads to better outcomes for students. Until a couple of years ago, Corpus Christi ISD had its own dual language program. Since then, other area districts, including Tuloso-Midway ISD and Gregory-Portland ISD, have launched their own.

Tuloso-Midway Primary School kindergarten students Cataleya Sanchez and Santiago Rodriguez practice the Spanish alphabet during class, Dec. 8, 2023, in Corpus Christi.

Over the past 10 years, the number of bilingual students in Texas has increased substantially. Across the state, 23% of students are considered emergent bilingual, which means they do not speak English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English when they start school.

The state has historically struggled to close the achievement gap between bilingual students and non-bilingual students.

The graduation rate for bilingual students is lower than the rate for other students, including economically disadvantaged students. Emergent bilingual students also score below their peers in state assessments and are less likely to be considered college-ready.

Comparing bilingual education models

Texas has approved six bilingual program models  English as a Second Language pull-out, ESL content-based, transitional early-exit, transitional late-exit, dual language immersion one-way and dual language immersion two-way.

English as a Second Language: In ESL programs, students are taught by ESL-certified teachers who might not be fluent in the students native language. In ESL pull-out programs, students are placed in general education classrooms, but sometimes receive group or one-on-one English instruction from an ESL-certified teacher. An ESL program is often the best option for students if their school district does not have a teacher fluent in their native language, for example if there are less than 20 students in the same grade level who speak the same language.

Transitional: Students are served in both English and another language and have a bilingual-certified teacher. Early exit programs aim to transition students to English-only instruction after two to five years. In a late exit model, that transition happens between six and seven years after the student enrolls in school.

Dual language: The one-way model serves emergency bilingual students with the goal of success in English-only instruction after six or seven years of school. In the two-way model, emergent bilingual students are integrated in the classroom with students who are proficient in English where instruction is given in English and another language, promoting biliteracy for both sets of students.

The goal of the ESL and transitional bilingual program models is English proficiency.

The dual language, or DLI, program models have the added goals of promoting bilingualism and biliteracy.

Years of research have shown that students in dual language programs outperform students in transitional and ESL programs.

A 2004 study of large and small districts in 15 states showed that dual language programs are successful in closing the academic achievement gap between bilingual students and English proficient students.

Overwhelming evidence shows that DLI programs are the only instructional programs that close the academic achievement gap between emergent bilingual students and non-emergent bilingual students, according to a 2023 update to the Texas Effective Dual Language Immersion Framework.

The framework cites research showing increased academic achievement, cognitive development, self-regulation, emotional control, flexibility in thinking, planning skills, engagement in higher-level learning, linguistic proficiency, graduation rates, sense of identity and self-esteem and parent engagement and satisfaction.

In the Coastal Bend region, most bilingual students are served by transitional early-exit programs. Years ago, Corpus Christi ISD offered a dual language program. It doesnt anymore.

Across the region, only a small handful of students  less than 30 in Gregory-Portland  were served in a dual language classroom last year, according to the Texas Education Agencys 2022-2023 Emergent Bilingual/English Learner Program Report.

But that is now changing.

Gregory-Portland ISD first began offering dual language in 2022-23. Tuloso-Midway ISD launched a program this fall.

Tuloso-Midway ISD focuses on closing achievement gaps for bilingual students

In line with state and national trends, bilingual students in Tuloso-Midway ISD have historically underperformed compared to other students.

We were unintentionally creating learning gaps for kids  asking them not to speak their native language, teaching them in a language they were unfamiliar with, meant they were getting these huge academic gaps  while they could cognitively do whatever we were asking, linguistically, they didnt understand, T-MISD assistant director of curriculum and instruction Kenna Moody said.

By the time their language ability caught up, students were already behind in academics.

To address this, Tuloso-Midway ISD turned to the dual language model. T-MISD Superintendent Steve VanMatre championed dual language in the district, instructing the leaders of Tuloso-Midway Primary School to implement a dual language program.

Though there is a shortage of bilingual educators in the state, the school already had a well-staffed bilingual staff and was able to add two new bilingual-certified teachers.

Tuloso-Midway Primary School first grade teacher Raquel Covarrubias holds a card with a letter from the Spanish alphabet over student Mackenzie Armendariz's head. Fellow classmates enunciate to help Armendariz guess what's on the card, Dec. 8, 2023, in Corpus Christi.

Additionally, two of the schools leaders, Principal Laura Davila and assistant principal Nidia De La Cerda both have experience as bilingual educators. Some educators on staff, including De La Cerda, had prior experience as dual language teachers.

To start the program, Tuloso-Midway ISD turned to Gomez and Gomez, a consulting firm specializing in dual language. The firms founders, brothers Leo and Richard Gomez, were both professors of bilingual education at universities in Texas and have been helping school districts implement dual language programs for three decades.

This year, the school added a dual language program in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade at Tuloso-Midway Primary School. Eventually, as these students progress through school, the district plans to offer dual language through fifth grade.

There are two dual language classrooms in kindergarten and first grade and one classroom at the pre-K level because not all students start school in pre-K.

Dual language is the only bilingual program offered in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade, serving all bilingual students. Until dual language is rolled out for all elementary grade levels, the district will continue to offer transitional bilingual programs.

Through a two-way immersion model, students whose primary language is Spanish and students whose primary language is English are placed together in classrooms with bilingual teachers.

Students learn to read in their native language. Math lessons are in English and science and social studies are taught in Spanish.

We genuinely believe that if we teach them the academic skills in their native language, the language part of things will happen by exposure, Moody said. Theyll be able to take their reading and phonics knowledge and transition that into either language as they get older.

Teaching academics early in a students native language also helps educators identify potential learning disabilities or struggles, Moody said. Otherwise, it can be hard to tell if a child is struggling because they dont have the language skills or because they need special education services. Its also easier to identify gifted and talented students earlier, Moody said.

From center left, Mario Castro, Andres Villasenor Diaz, teacher Elizabeth Barger and Sofia Briones practice the Spanish alphabet during class, Dec. 8 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The goal in dual language is for students to learn from each other, supporting and helping one another understand both languages.

Weve already seen the academic skills in our students  both our native Spanish speakers and our English students  how they have progressed, Davila said.

For English-proficient students, theres a waiting list to get into the program.

Many of the English-proficient students in the program come from bilingual households and have family members who speak Spanish. Some have parents whose own parents spoke Spanish, but after growing up speaking English in the classroom, werent able to maintain their own bilingual abilities.

This is partially due to historical practices that discouraged the use of Spanish in schools in Texas, the impacts of which are still being felt today.

My mom got in trouble for speaking Spanish in school, so when we were growing up, she did not want us to speak Spanish, assistant principal Lepe Chapa said. She didnt want us to have an accent because she had a bad experience with it. Now, everybody wants to be bilingual... that these kids are going to be able to grow up speaking Spanish and writing and reading in Spanish and English, thats amazing.

De La Cerdas first language growing up was Spanish. She was placed in a transitional bilingual classroom in pre-K, transitioning to an English classroom by kindergarten.

To see these kids not have to go through that, as a native Spanish speaker, its something that I appreciate because these kids dont have to lose their language, De La Cerda said. Were going to help them keep it.

Other students come from entirely English-speaking backgrounds, but their parents hope that speaking Spanish will benefit them in life.

Our parents have been extremely supportive of the program, Davila said.

For Spanish-dominant students, having Spanish coursework allows parents to become more involved with their childs learning.

The parents are very happy with the fact that they can support them, De La Cerda said. Ive talked to some parents who (had students in a transitional program) last year and are in dual language this year and they just love knowing that the kids come home, and they can help them with their reading and they can help them with science and social studies.

Regardless of background, students in the program are engaged and excited in the classroom, school staff said.

Whenever were in the hallways or if were just passing by and we walk into the classroom, the students are ready to show us their Spanish, Davila said.

The program has instilled a sense of pride in bilingual students, staff said.

Before, it was like, I have to learn everybody elses language, De La Cerda said. But now, theres a value placed on that language and everybody notices that value.

To further integrate the program into the wider campus community, the school plays morning announcements and the pledge of allegiance in English and Spanish for all students and includes signs and labels in both languages in the hallways.

Its not just in isolation, Davila said. We are promoting biliteracy across the campus and thats only going to get better as we go on.

Because the two-way model relies on a consistent ratio of Spanish and English students, growth of the program is limited by the districts bilingual student enrollment.

Tuloso-Midway Primary School first-grade teacher Raquel Covarrubias leads a class through the Spanish alphabet, Dec. 8, 2023, in Corpus Christi.

Kindergartener Isabella Campos comes from a bilingual household. Her father Paco grew up in a Spanish-speaking household, while her mother Kandice has an English-speaking background, though her parents are bilingual.

Both Paco and Kandice Campos believe that being bilingual is an advantage in the workplace. Paco added that it's also important to him that his children learn Spanish so that they can remain connected with older family members.

"Spanish was spoken in my home, but I didn't learn to speak it well and it was lost," Kandice Campos said. "We didn't want that to happen to her."

How Texas approaches bilingual education

Until about 50 years ago, Texas schools taught only in English.

A 1972 report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, based on a hearing held in San Antonio in 1968 and a 1969 survey of Mexican American education in the Southwest found that many schools in Texas in particular discouraged the use of Spanish on schoolgrounds.

Norma Guzman is a professor of bilingual education and doctoral program coordinator at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Before moving to higher education, Guzman was a school psychologist trained in bilingual assessments.

Historically bilingual ed was established as part of the civil rights era, Guzman said. The initial programs were part of that social justice movement to ensure that English language learners were getting an equitable education.

During the 1960s and '70s, South Texas civil rights advocates called attention to discriminatory practices against Mexican American students.

In the 1960s, some schools began experimenting with bilingual education models. In 1968, the Bilingual Education Act created a federal policy for bilingual education.

Corpus Christi ISD was the subject of a 1970 court case noting that the district had knowingly implemented discriminatory practices and segregated against Mexican American students.

In 1972, students in Robstown boycotted school for a month in response to a lack of bilingual and bicultural programming, calling for an end to discriminatory policies against Mexican American students and for the introduction of Chicano history courses.

Former senator Carlos Truan, who represented Nueces and Kleberg counties in the Texas Legislature, successfully sponsored the Texas Bilingual Education Act in 1973. Truan was a state representative at the time.

The act directed school districts with 20 or more students in the same grade sharing the same language to institute a bilingual instruction program beginning in 1974-75. It also helped fund bilingual education programs.

In the early 1970s, Texas A&M University-Kingsville launched a bilingual teacher preparation program for undergraduates and a bilingual education doctoral program.

Many early bilingual programs focused on helping student learn English so that they could be successful in mainstream classrooms. But, at the same time, another type of program gained steam  dual language.

Dual language programs often include English-proficient and English-learner students, with the goal of creating bilingual, bicultural and biliterate students.

Weve had dual language as a form of education since the 60s and probably before that, Guzman said, referencing a program formed in Florida in 1963 to serve Cuban refugees.

The first dual language immersion bill in Texas passed in 2001, focusing on biliteracy goals. In 2019, the Texas Legislature approved a new dual language program allotment to incentivize school districts to offer dual language programs, particularly for emergent bilingual students.

In the 21st century, part of the appeal of dual language programs are the academic benefits to English-speaking students.

It has become a program of choice for districts, Guzman said.

But emergent bilingual students can also benefit greatly from a dual language program.

To have that foundational amount of instruction in their native language really is the biggest predictor of how well theyre going to do academically, Guzman said. The more time they spend in the classroom with their native language, developing that academic language, really is the key to having them transfer those skills over to the language of instruction.

A sign indicating Spanish as the language of the day hangs outside of a classroom, Dec. 8, 2023, in Corpus Christi. Tuloso-Midway Primary School dual language kindergarten and first-grade students learn in Spanish on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Transitional programs can sometimes be more like a crutch, Guzman said, as opposed to a long-term solution.

Districts who launched dual language programs often maintained them for several years, so that children who started elementary school in a dual language program could finish elementary school in a program.

But Guzman said, when funding dries up, dual language programs sometimes disappear. At the same time, districts across the state and nation can also struggle to find bilingual teachers.

Corpus Christi ISD

Corpus Christi ISD first launched a dual language program in the mid-1990s. The program lasted until 2022, when the district shifted focus to pre-K at the Early Childhood Development Center.

Rebecca Palacios was a part of the first generation of bilingual teachers in Corpus Christi in the 1970s. She retired in 2009.

The biggest difference with my generation is that even though we knew Spanish, we really never got Spanish education, Palacios said. We were punished for speaking it. Even though we were Spanish speakers and grew up with it, we never had any formal, Spanish education. It was always English.

When she first became a bilingual teacher, Palacios was trained in the transitional bilingual education method.

We taught Spanish to get them quickly speaking English, Palacios said. That was the whole point... basically, youre extinguishing the language  you're taking away as you move forward.

In the beginning, there werent many materials in Spanish for teachers, and what did exist often relied on Spanish from Spain that differed from the vocabulary local children were familiar with, Palacios said.

Bilingual educators began working together to create and share more appropriate materials through groups like the National Association for Bilingual Education, the Texas Association for Bilingual Education and the Corpus Christi Association for Bilingual Education, a group that eventually folded over the years.

When Corpus Christi ISD began implementing dual language, Palacios found it to be far superior. Palacios has published books in English and Spanish for dual language families.

In 1995, Corpus Christi ISD and A&M-Corpus Christi partnered on a school of the future with a dual language model. Palacios was selected as the lead teacher for the pre-K 3-year program.

After a few years, Palacios started a dual language program at Zavala Elementary School. A federal grant helped start dual language programs at Zavala and Garcia elementary schools.

But the programs didnt last. Eventually the district switched back to focus on the transitional early-exit model, which is how most elementary-age emergent bilingual students are currently served.

During the 2021-22 school year, the TEA's Emergent Bilingual/English Learner Program Report documents 778 students in transitional programs, about 30 in dual language and over 375 in an alternative bilingual program in Corpus Christi ISD. Over 80 non-bilingual students were also in a dual language program.

At the secondary level, bilingual students are served through ESL programs. The program also includes parental engagement and events. In January, the district hosted an event for students focused on supporting students on the path to college.

In the ESL program, teachers use strategies such as visuals with vocabulary cards, gestures and cognates to help students when there is something they dont understand. Students who speak a wide variety of languages are part of the program.

At the elementary level, 19 campuses offer bilingual programs. Previously, the district had a transitional program at each district elementary school. But after years with the district unable to find enough bilingual certified teachers, the district shifted to a centralized model this year.

In 2022-23, the district was short nearly 90 bilingual certified teachers. Under the centralized model, more bilingual students are in the classroom with a bilingual teacher.

Students zoned to schools without a transitional program were moved to neighboring campuses with programs. Every campus still offers ESL programs for students speaking other languages, such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian and German.

In CCISD transitional programs, students are taught by bilingual certified teachers and provided supports to help them be successful in listening, speaking, writing and reading.

When a student scores high enough on a standardized test measuring English proficiency, they are reclassified and moved into English classrooms.

We have the bilingual early exit model where students can reclassify at the end of first grade or after having been in the program for two consecutive years, CCISD director for special programs and curriculum and instruction Zonia Lopez said.

In addition to gaining English proficiency, transitional bilingual programs also aim to allow students to keep their native language, Lopez said.

The goal, to me, of the bilingual program is to use the students native language to acquire the English language and continue to use their native language, Lopez said.

Cooperation and engagement are currently on the rise among Corpus Christi bilingual educators. Years after the dissolution of the Corpus Christi Association for Bilingual Education, local educators have formed a new group  the Coastal Bend Association for Bilingual Education.

This group includes members from around the region whose schools operate a variety of different bilingual programs, including Corpus Christi ISD and Tuloso-Midway ISD.

Looking forward, Palacios believes that for new successful dual language programs to succeed, schools need community support.

If you put that energy in there and that supportive piece from the community, its going to happen, Palacios said.

Here's how Driscoll Children's Hospital has provided therapy in Corpus Christi ISD

Academics and post-graduation readiness: Corpus Christi ISD reflects on 2022-23

Kingsville ISD switched to a shortened school week this year. Here's how it's going.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: How Coastal Bend schools approach bilingual education
Jessica Flores is a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. Before joining The Chronicle in 2021, she worked for USA Today, NPR affiliate KPCC and Curbed LA. Originally from L.A., she received her masters degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a bachelors degree from Mount Saint Marys University in Los Angeles.

She can be reached at Jessica.Flores@sfchronicle.com.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion.

Source: President Zelenskyy during the press conference following the Ukraine.Year 2024 conference

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Thirty-one thousand Ukrainian military personnel have been killed in this war. Not 300,000 or 150,000, as Putin and his deceitful circle falsely claim. But each of those losses is an enormous loss for us.

A total of 180,000 Russians have been killed.

(...) I dont know how many of their soldiers are missing, but I know that there are up to 500,000 [Russian soldiers] who are injured or missing."

Details: Zelenskyy refused to say how many Ukrainian soldiers have been injured, as it would give Russia information about how many Ukrainian soldiers "left the battlefield". He also did not say how many Ukrainian soldiers were missing.

"We know about tens of thousands of Ukrainians who have been killed in the occupied territories," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

In November 2023, the Economist magazine, citing data from US officials, claimed that at least 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In April 2023, leaked US Department of Defence documents estimated that Ukraine suffered 124,500 to 131,000 total losses, of whom 15,500-17,500 have been killed and 109,000-113,500 wounded.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on negotiations with Germany regarding supplies of Taurus missiles, saying he believes that Ukraine "will achieve [the desired] results".

Source: Zelenskyy during a press conference following the Ukraine.Year 2024 conference, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In response to a question about Taurus missiles, President Zelenskyy began by thanking Chancellor Olaf Scholz for all the support Germany has provided.

"He has shown leadership in Europe. He has a strong agreement with us and serious support [for us]," Zelenskyy said.

The president emphasised how important Taurus missiles, which Scholz has not yet agreed to provide, are for Ukraine. He hinted that Germany may make a favourable decision, following the example of the US in sending Ukraine ATACMS missiles.

"This weapon is very important for us, as you mentioned. Let me tell you something: the United States [acts first], then Germany [follows], and it's always like that in everything. Im not saying that the chancellor depends on the president [Joe Biden], but in my experience, thats how the sequence of actions regarding decisions on certain types of weapons has always been. If the United States takes a step forward, then we can talk about it and cite it as an example to others," Zelenskyy pointed out.

"Since I am positive about the United States, I believe we will achieve [the desired] results everywhere," Zelenskyy concluded.

Background:

An opposition-introduced resolution calling for the provision of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine did not receive enough votes in the German Bundestag to be passed.

However, the German Bundestag did vote in favour of a proposal prepared by the ruling parties regarding weapons for Ukraine which included a call for the provision of long-range missile systems. Taurus cruise missiles were not directly mentioned in the proposal.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he believes the Russian public reaction to the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Russian detention centre was largely missing.

Source: President Zelenskyy during the press conference following the Ukraine.Year 2024 conference

Quote from Zelenskyy: "As for the Russians, what do I have to talk to them about? They had one opposition leader, and they killed him. We have to talk to them now, but how? The Kremlin killed [Navalny]. Where is the public response? He is one of them.

I recently talked to a US journalist about this. He also asked me about it, but why was he asking me? Ask those people, he was their compatriot!

They dont care

Judging by the Kremlins messages, they all talk about 2030. The year until which [Russian President Vladimir Putin] will remain in power."

Background:

On the afternoon of 16 February, Russias Federal Penitentiary Service reported the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at Correctional Facility No. 3 in Kharp, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, in northwestern Siberia.

Alexei Navalny had been imprisoned since early 2021. The Moscow City Court sentenced him to 19 years in prison in a high-security prison for "extremism" in August 2023.

On the morning of 19 February, Lyudmila Navalnaya arrived at the morgue in the town of Salekhard where the body of her son, opposition politician Alexei Navalny, was allegedly kept. Still, neither she nor her lawyers were allowed in. On 23 February, Lyudmila Navalnaya said that the prison administration threatened to bury her son's body at the prison cemetery if she did not agree to a secret, quiet burial.

On 24 February, Russias prison employees finally handed over Navalnys body to his mother.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine is focused on resolving the issue of lifting the blockade at the Polish border, but if this cannot be achieved, the authorities will defend Ukrainian businesses.

Source: Zelenskyy during a press conference following the Ukraine.Year 2024 conference

Quote: "Ukraine needs to be supported now. We have a working relationship with [Polish Prime Minister Donald] Tusk and we have had meetings. I recently met with [Polish President Andrzej] Duda as well. And with Ursula von der Leyen [President of the European Commission].

I have been saying that this is a political issue since last April. And today, the European Commission has confirmed this."

Details: Zelenskyy believes that "there is an internal struggle in Poland" and that "it is simply unfair to use Ukraine as leverage against European institutions".

Quote: "I believe that the prime ministers will find the appropriate steps. As president, I say openly that it is very important for us to maintain our alliance with Poland. And if steps are not taken, then we will defend our businesses."

Read also: Why border blockade doesn't mean Poland's rejection of pro-Ukrainian course

Background:

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